Category Archives: Health

Stressed During the Holidays? There’s an Exercise for That.

By Danielle Friedman in the NYT The holidays may be known for their go-go-go stressful energy, but we also tend to spend a lot of time in December being sedentary. Historically, people are least physically active during the winter, thanks to falling temperatures, limited hours of … Continue reading

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Assisted living too often fails older, sicker residents, report says

Thanks to Diana C – Published in the Washington Post Assisted-living communities too often fail to meet the needs of older people and should focus more on residents’ medical and mental health concerns, according to a recent report by a diverse panel … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Caregiving, Dementia, Disabilities, end of life, Grief, Health | 1 Comment

Better believe it – research into the placebo effect

Thanks to Marilyn W. Ed Note: Placebo is a Latin word which translates as “I shall please.” If you’re interested, click here to read a blog post I wrote about one of my patients responding to the “drug” obecalp. By Sam … Continue reading

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Researchers begin trial for mRNA flu vaccine

The investigational vaccine is in the third phase of trials and targets flu strains expected to circulate this winter Researchers at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) are now recruiting participants age 65 and older who have not yet … Continue reading

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19,000 Polyclinic, Everett Clinic patients face in-network insurance loss

Ed note: Once again, we’re faced with consumer unfriendly restrictions and costs in the health care industry. Now we’re seeing bargaining over care vs. profits! United Health Group Inc (UNH) is for profit and it’s stock continues to soar gaining … Continue reading

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Relationships 2.0: An Antidote to Loneliness

When you go to a medical appointment, your doctor may ask you several questions. Do you smoke? Have you been getting exercise? Are you sleeping? But rarely do they ask: are you lonely? U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy believes we are suffering … Continue reading

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A Neurologist’s Tips to Protect Your Memory

A new book by a renowned brain expert says there are a few simple things we can do to prevent memory decline as we age. As we age, our memory declines. This is an ingrained assumption for many of us; … Continue reading

Posted in Dementia, Health | 2 Comments

Extreme heat will change us

Thanks to Gordon G. who notes “Time to buy property in Wash. or Maine, along the shore, but about 20 feet above sea level😐!” What levels of temperature can the human body endure? By 2050, nearly half the world may … Continue reading

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Medicare Advantage or Just Medicare?

Ed note: Most people are happy with their Medicare, whether “Advantage” or not. I’ve had excellent care under both. It should be emphasized though that the Federal government (your money) pays a premium to privatize Medicare in it’s array of … Continue reading

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Kaiser Permanente pays over $36M for Yesler Terrace site on 9th Avenue just south of Harborview. Nine story facility planned.

Ed Note: If you happen to receive your care from Kaiser Permanente (this editor does not), this construction may bring much of your care, possibly including urgent care, much closer to home. As planned, Kaiser Permanente has paid a little … Continue reading

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TERREWODE Womens Hospital: A Tribute to Skyline Residents Friday October 28 at 3 pm Mt. Baker Room

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Poor air quality — stay indoors if possible

The best air quality is east Puget Sound or up in the San Juan Islands. Seattle area today shows generally unhealthy air. Click here for the latest air quality map.

Posted in Health, In the Neighborhood | 1 Comment

‘A New Frontier’ for Hearing Aids

Over-the-counter hearing aids are coming at long last. But lower prices and greater accessibility may take time to materialize. By Paula Span in the NYT The world of hearing health will change on Oct. 17, when the Food and Drug Administration’s … Continue reading

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‘The Cash Monster Was Insatiable’: How Insurers Exploited Medicare for Billions

Ed note: Privatizing Medicare has perverted the incentives to provide good care at a reasonable cost. The insurance companies quickly discovered if they could claim (often fraudulently) that its enrollee patients had multiple sickness, they could rake off huge profits … Continue reading

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They Were Entitled to Free Care. Providence Hounded Them to Pay.

Ed Note: This article raises the question about the blurred lines between a non-profit and for-profit organization. Some non-profits, like the Providence system, enjoy huge tax brakes and may not living up to their mission, moral or legal responsibilities. On … Continue reading

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Recommendations for a single booster dose of an updated bivalent BA.4/BA.5 COVID-19 vaccine

Thanks to Skyline resident Ed M. who is a member of the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup

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Food as Medicine: Exploring the intersection between the nutritional sciences, medicine and the culinary arts

This conference is open to the public and has some wonderful outside speakers from Harvard and Tufts, as well as the head chef at Canlis giving cooking demonstrations. The cost is $25 to watch online. Sadly it is all just … Continue reading

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Dr. Oz Claims That Eating Classified Documents Was Essential to Trump’s Healthy Diet

Thanks to Pam P. By Andy Borowitz August 29, 2022 PITTSBURGH (The Borowitz Report)—Eating classified documents was “an essential part of President Donald Trump’s super-healthy diet,” Dr. Mehmet Oz has claimed. Oz, the longtime television host and, more recently, Pennsylvania’s G.O.P. … Continue reading

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Caregiver survey

Friends, Santa Clara University’s Bioinnovation and Design Lab is partnering with Maude’s Ventures to address the challenges of caregiving for patients and family members with dementia. They are gathering perspectives from individuals who have first-hand experience caring for people with … Continue reading

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The Long COVID Conundrum

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Not found on any label

Thanks to Rosemary W.

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Beating the price of those expensive meds

The new Congressional legislation will take a while for savings on our medications to kick in. The $2000 maximum out-of-pocket per year won’t take effect for a few years and Medicare will take some time to negotiate down exorbitant drug … Continue reading

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Wonder about the impact of your daily cup of coffee on the planet? Here’s the bitter truth

Thanks to Gordon G. Whatever your preference, if you’re reading this story, chances are, drinking coffee is among your daily rituals. Everyday, people drink more than two billion cups worldwide, and experts predict that demand for it could triple by mid-century. Coffee consumption … Continue reading

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Events and Programs at the Memory Hub

FREE 30 minute Memory Navigator consultations provided by an Alzheimer’s Association care consultant on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Discuss resources for living well with memory loss or caregiving. Sign up here. Relaunch of the Alzheimer’s Cafe with the Frye Art Museum, 2:30-4 … Continue reading

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We are not powerless against gun violence: Turn to civic action

By Helen Donnelly Goehring Special to The Seattle Times July 23, 2022 Ed Note: Helen is a resident of the Terraces at Skyline It is with a heavy heart that I ponder the media accounts of yet one more mass shooting … Continue reading

Posted in Guns, Health, Mental Health | Comments Off on We are not powerless against gun violence: Turn to civic action