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52 The QUEE NS Courier • health • NOVEMBER 3, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com ▶health Ask the Commissioner: Fighting Ageism Donna Corrado is commissioner of the New York City Department for the Aging. She holds a doctorate in social policy and administration and a master’s degree in social work. The city is home to nearly 1.44 million seniors, and that number is expected to keep growing. She looks out for them. We’re now reading more about ageism, but is age discrimination really a problem? Ageism is an overlooked problem in our society. To raise awareness, we recently launched our “End Ageism Now” initiative and changed our mission statement to include combatting ageism. Older Americans experience ageism when their résumés are rejected or they are discriminated against because of their age; they experience ageism when medical practitioners don’t spend adequate time addressing their concerns; they experience ageism when they are portrayed as being grumpy or are infantilized in the media; and they even experience ageism, albeit unintentionally, from loved ones who may marginalize them. One in five Americans will be age 65 or older by 2030, according to census projections. With many Americans living longer, ageism should concern us all. Some people think that the older people are a burden to society. What are your thoughts? Older adults contribute greatly to society, although their potential isn’t always recognized. In addition to being the “social glue” of their communities, they are links between the past and future. They contribute to society as volunteers, as caretakers and as older workers. Rather than being a burden, older people are an untapped resource. How do we fight ageism? To fight ageism, we need to debunk the myth that aging means inevitable physical and mental decline. Many studies have shown that “exercising” the brain helps fight cognitive decline, just as having an active lifestyle helps fight physical decline. Another myth is that older workers are ineffective. A four-year study by the Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy found that older workers on an automobile assembly line committed fewer severe errors, while error Donna Corrado rates of younger workers edged up. Knowing the worth of older workers, the Department for the Aging offers job training to people age 55 and older who qualify so they can re-enter the workforce. We need more programs that build on the strengths of older people instead of writing them off. Elmhurst Hospital is now using robotic technology for women’s health By Awura Ama Barnie-Duah If you haven’t heard about the da Vinci robot, listen up! This new piece of robotic technology is now being used in Elmhurst to perform minimally invasive gynecological surgery for the first time. NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst is using the robot to treat gynecological issues such as cancers and pelvic floor disorders, and to address reproductive health conditions. According to Dr. Barry Brown, Elmhurst’s director of OB/GYN services, “Robotic surgery has several important benefits, including faster recovery times and less blood loss. Women who in the past would have been hospitalized for a week are now able to go home in a day.” This new break in technology allows for smaller incisions during surgeries, meaning less pain and less risk of getting an infection. The da Vinci was previously being used by urologists to remove growths and tumors from the prostate, kidneys and bladder and to treat disorders. This more advanced version of the robot has allowed its usage to spread to gynecology. The hospital hopes to not only continue with urological procedures but do as many as 100 gynecologic procedures a year. To find out more about robotic surgery and health services for women at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, call 718-334-4000. Also, visit them at nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook at facebook.com/ NYCHealthSystem and Twitter at @NYCHealthSystem. Multi Specialty Physical Rehabilitation Center SPINAL & SPORTS INJURIES, ARTHRITIS, POST SURGICAL & MORE! • Pain Management • Internal Medicine • Acupuncture • Chiropractic • Physical Therapy We accept most types of Insurance & Workers Compensation Please call to make an appointment: 516-218-2222 40 East Merrick Road, Suite #104 · Valley Stream, NY 11580 Isabella House, Independent Living for Older Adults Isabella, located in verdant Northern Manhattan, provides high quality care and diverse programs designed to promote independence and healthy living. “Our residents have the flexibility to live their own lives yet have support services available if they need them,” said Betty Lehmann, director of marketing and communications. Isabella House is a high-rise building comprised of independent-living apartments for adults ages 62 or older. Our comfortable dining room offers lunch and dinner buffet style. Activities are abundant and diverse, including music, dance and exercise programs, poetry and art classes, computer training and more. “People always tell me that a surprising thing for them is how spacious our rooms are,” Lehmann noted. “They get a lot of light and have spectacular views.” In addition to a 705-bed nursing home, the non-profit, non-sectarian organization offers moderately-priced senior housing, an adult day health care program, child day care, home care as well as short-stay rehabilitation. Residency in Isabella House also provides free membership in Isabella’s Institute for Older Adults, which offers educational and wellness programs through the 50+ Club and the Walking Works Wonders Program. For more information on Isabella Geriatric Center please contact us at 212-342-9539. http://www.isabella.org Welcome to our family.


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