Category Archives: Health

Consider this letter to Senator Jamie Pedersen

Posted on February 16, 2024 by Jim deMaine

House Bill 2166 (with revisions) recently passed the House unanimously (97-0). This bill allows our POLST forms to be placed in a statewide registry, so that our POLSTs can rapidly be retrieved by 911 responders or emergency rooms. Oregon has … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, end of life, Health, Politics | Comments Off on Consider this letter to Senator Jamie Pedersen

Trump’s COVID life threatening infection

Posted on January 31, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Ed M.

Posted in Health | Comments Off on Trump’s COVID life threatening infection

Take a Hike in the Andes: a virtual walk

Posted on January 30, 2024 by Jim Tanner

The Fitness and and Wellness subcommittee is bringing back the popular Skyline Virtual Walk. Among the many “walks” we have taken in the past are the Oregon Trail, Route 66, and the Pacific Crest Trail. For those of you who … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventures, Education, Fitness, Health | Comments Off on Take a Hike in the Andes: a virtual walk

How to (and not to) boost your immune system

Posted on January 25, 2024 by Jim deMaine

KATELYN JETELINA AND DR. ANDREA LOVE Thanks to Ed. M. The rumor mill is hot with ways to “boost your immune system” this viral season. Legitimate and illegitimate claims on prevention and treatment are entangled on social media and massive podcasts (cough, … Continue reading →

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Swedish Health System set for $1.3B expansion of First Hill Campus

Posted on December 7, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Perkins&Will is designing the 750,000sf tower Swedish Health System is set to break ground its largest project in its more than 100-year history, reports the Puget Sound Business Journal. The $1.3-billion North Tower project, planned at the corner of Marion Street … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, In the Neighborhood | Comments Off on Swedish Health System set for $1.3B expansion of First Hill Campus

Trying to understand long term care insurance.

Posted on November 22, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Janet M. who shares two articles from the NYT: A Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance and Why Long Term Care Insurance Falls Short for Many

Posted in Health | Comments Off on Trying to understand long term care insurance.

Learning about Assisted Living – Do we need federal guidelines for staffing?

Posted on November 19, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Janet M. There are two excellent New York Times articles recently about Assisted Living pros, cons, costs and staffing. The first is titled A Guide to Assisted Living along with a companion articled titled Added Fees Drive Assisted-Living … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging Sites, Health | Comments Off on Learning about Assisted Living – Do we need federal guidelines for staffing?

Enlightened Aging

Posted on November 16, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Recent presentation at Skyline by Eric Larson MD, MPH

Posted in Dementia, Health | Comments Off on Enlightened Aging

An Invitation to Gratitude: November 12-19

Posted on November 8, 2023 by Jim Tanner

From Your Fitness and Wellness Subcommittee When: November 12th — November 19th Where: Note from our chaplain: Mayo Clinic psychologist Matthew Schumann reminds us that expressing gratitude is brings a host of mental and physical benefits: feeling thankful can– improve … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, happiness, Health, Mental Health | 1 Comment

Enlightened Aging – Tuesday November 14th at 3PM

Posted on November 7, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Please join us for this special presentation in the Mt. Baker Room sponsored by your Health Care Committee. Eric is a researcher, teacher and author widely recognized for his studies on aging and dementia, particularly the Adult Changes in Thought … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging Sites, Dementia, Health | Comments Off on Enlightened Aging – Tuesday November 14th at 3PM

Is it time to evaluate our indoor air quality?

Posted on October 30, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Research now shows a virus such a COVID can travel well beyond the 6 feet “limit.” For more data from the EPA click here: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/clean-air-buildings-challenge

Posted in Health | 1 Comment

It’s Covid Season. What Are the New Rules for Staying Safe?

Posted on October 25, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mary Jane F. A primer on how to minimize your risk and know when you’re in the clear after an exposure. By Dani Blum We want to be done with Covid. But the virus isn’t done with us. While … Continue reading →

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Rite Aid, Facing Slumping Sales and Opioid Suits, Files for Bankruptcy

Posted on October 16, 2023 by Jim deMaine

The pharmacy chain, one of the country’s largest, faces more than a thousand lawsuits that say it filled illegal prescriptions for painkillers. By Jordyn Holman and Lauren Hirsch in the NYT Rite Aid, one of the largest pharmacy chains in the United States, … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Health, Law | Comments Off on Rite Aid, Facing Slumping Sales and Opioid Suits, Files for Bankruptcy

I don’t want CPR; will anyone listen?

Posted on October 11, 2023 by Jim deMaine

By Jim deMaine Special to The Seattle Times published Saturday September 23rd I’m 85 years old and am in reasonably good health considering my age — mild hypertension, cured prostate cancer and macular degeneration. It’s been a wonderful life and I … Continue reading →

Posted in end of life, Health | Comments Off on I don’t want CPR; will anyone listen?

Slides from “Speaking of Dying Presentation”

Posted on October 11, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Click on this icon to enlarge Here are the slides presented yesterday by Dr. Kate Brostoff. The full presentation will be on CareMerge within two weeks. Also these slides will be available on CareMerge under documents from the Health Care … Continue reading →

Posted in end of life, Health, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

As you get your COVID vaccine, thank these two scientists

Posted on October 5, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Ed M. Yesterday, the 2023 Nobel Prize Winners for Physiology or Medicine went to Drew Weissman and Katalin Karikó for their discoveries in the biotechnology behind our Covid-19 mRNA vaccines.  Behind the amazing story of perseverance and collaborative … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Science and Technology | Comments Off on As you get your COVID vaccine, thank these two scientists

I don’t want CPR; will anyone listen?

Posted on September 27, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: For more about advance care planning for serious illness, please attend a special showing on October 10th at 3 PM in the MBR of the documentary “Speaking of Dying” ; followed by discussion and Q&A with Kate Brostoff, … Continue reading →

Posted in end of life, Health | Comments Off on I don’t want CPR; will anyone listen?

Recommended vaccines as of September 2023

Posted on September 13, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Ed Note: This is a summary slide of Ed M’s excellent presentation yesterday.

Posted in Health | Comments Off on Recommended vaccines as of September 2023

We Know the Cure for Loneliness. So Why Do We Suffer?

Posted on September 10, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Put B. sent me the article below and wrote the following. It raises important questions, particularly about the ease and convenience of dining together and meeting new friends over a shared meal. But is there even more we … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Caregiving, Essays, happiness, Health | 2 Comments

What to Know About the New R.S.V. Immunizations

Posted on August 29, 2023 by Jim deMaine

By Dana G. Smith in the NYT Respiratory syncytial virus is the leading reason for hospitalization among infants in the United States. Between 58,000 and 80,000 children under the age of five, the majority of whom are less than a year old, are … Continue reading →

Posted in Health | Comments Off on What to Know About the New R.S.V. Immunizations

Should You Get the New RSV Vaccine?

Posted on August 23, 2023 by Jim deMaine

From Yale Medicine – thanks to Ed M. This winter, when the usual sneezing, wheezing, coughing, and fevers start up, there will be extra protection for people at high risk from at least one common illness. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes mild … Continue reading →

Posted in Health | 1 Comment

Help for Maui residents affected by the fires

Posted on August 18, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Karen McM brought this to our attention and recommends Maui Strong as good place to consider making a donation to help. There are many other good organizations listed below.

Posted in Advocacy, Caregiving, Food, Health, Homeless, Kindness, Philanthropy, Social justice | 1 Comment

How do we fix the scandal that is American health care

Posted on August 16, 2023 by Jim deMaine

Photographs by September Dawn Bottoms. Article from the NYT Mr. Kristof is an Opinion columnist reporting from Greenwood, Miss. Ms. Bottoms is a photographer from Oklahoma whose work focuses on mental illness, family and poverty. This is the third in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Health | 1 Comment

Why Sunscreen Is the Only Anti-Aging Product You Need

Posted on July 25, 2023 by Jim deMaine

By Dana G. Smith in the NYT Have you ever looked at the skin on the buttocks of a 90-year-old? Dr. Fayne Frey has. “It’s beautiful,” said the dermatologist and author of the book “The Skincare Hoax.” “There’s very little pigment, … Continue reading →

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José Andrés Is the First Chef to Serve Good Meat’s ‘No-Kill’ Chicken in the U.S.

Posted on July 20, 2023 by Jim deMaine

by Tierney Plumb  in Eater-Washington DC Thanks to Pam P. Culinary superstar José Andrés just made history by selling Good Meat’s cell-cultivated chicken for the first time in the U.S., right here in D.C. The chef and global humanitarian hosted the landmark … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, environment, Food, Health | Comments Off on José Andrés Is the First Chef to Serve Good Meat’s ‘No-Kill’ Chicken in the U.S.