CAREGIVER PROVIDING OPTIONS AND SUPPORT
Issue 11
The UNMASKING of
AMERICA TEARS
OF A NATION
FEARS
OF A NATION BONUS CONTENT
Available at CaregiverOklahoma.com
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CONTENT Are You At Risk?
08
ASK Lisa
10
Taking Symptoms Seriously
Be Careful What You Wish For!
VA Medical Center 12 On A Service Mission
34 Battling Anxiety Through The Chaos
35 Keepin’ It Real With Will America’s Favorite Cowboy
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36 Community Heartbeat
Living With Purpose
Inter-Agency Crisis Response
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Never Forgotten
38 Remember When?
A Life Of Service
Spring Meant “Refreshed”
16
Kem King Cain
40 Learn Herbal Alternatives Building Immunity By Growing Basil
CAREGIVER Magazine 18 To Your Devices - FREE!
42 Cannacian’s Corner Is It Time To Grow Your Own?
The Toughest of Topics 20 Jess’s Story
Better With Age 24 A Time For Renewal
Unmasking America 26 Tears and Fears of A Nation
Starfish in the Short Run 28 Choose to Make a Small Difference
Lessons From History: 30 The Untold Story of Anne Frank
No Empty Holster 32 Facing Down Your Fears
46 Our Natural Rights Are We Even Aware?
49 Raised Bed Gardening Get Out Your Green Thumb
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52 Well, Shut My Mouth Where Do We Go From Here?
56 On The Lighter Side
Finding Peace In Troubled Times
62 Financial Fitness
Check Those Stimulus Checks!
65 Reflections
We Do Not Consent!
73 Playing It Safe Mask In A Minute
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On the Cover:
The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of hope, opportunity and freedom to the World. Lady Liberty represents America’s acceptance of all people fleeing oppression, seeking a better life through American ideals of freedom. She stands tall and welcoming to all who want to work hard, all who wish to strive to prosper through freewill and personal responsibility. She clutches the Constitution of the United States of America close to her heart, reminding those seeking a new life that our democracy is based on rights and privileges given to all humans from God above, not man; our founding fathers understanding both the heart of God and man brought forth the Constitution as a proclamation that our governance - established through rule of law - is to ensure and promote a civil society, seeking peace and prosperity for all. Read more on page 22.
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” 4 CAREGIVER Magazine
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Dear Readers, To produce and publish this issue has been a tidal wave containing all of the emotions a human body encompasses. I have been thinking a lot about all of you. I know many of us have never met in person but if you read and appreciate CAREGIVER Magazine, we share experiences and commonalities that make us friends through our core beliefs and the journey we are on caring for others. This month the magazine has expanded compared to our previous 48 page publications - because I realized there was no possible way to fit everything the editorial staff needed to convey in only 48 pages. This issue is different in a few ways. I am encouraging the writers to utilize our 1st amendment rights as journalists to express some of their views on what is going on around us. Writers that typically stick to aging, caregiver stress and healthcare are also regular people with feelings and emotions and part of who they are is expressed in their written word. We are proudly American and believe in the core principles established in our Constitution given to us by our Creator and proclaimed by our founding fathers that are the foundation of our Democracy. It is what makes us America. What an interesting time in the world to be alive. Not very often does the whole world get shook on its axis all at once to focus intently on the same thing. There are so many dark and horrible thoughts we are being fed to focus on but what this stutter in time has given us all is a moment of reflection. More than ever we are thankful for our health and safety. More than ever we are thankful for friends and family. More than ever we are thankful for those tornado storm buckets that have a few extra rolls of toilet paper and essentials hidden down in the storm shelter. More than ever we are thankful for our sense of humor and innate resilience as a Nation in time of crisis. As we cross the one year mark since the launch of CAREGIVER Magazine, I want to thank you all for making this first year in business incredible. It has been filled with memories and experiences that will stay with me forever. I so appreciate all your support and feedback on how the magazine has positively impacted your life! With complete admiration and gratitude I thank my staff and advertisers - who without their support, none of this would be possible. We started this journey as strangers and now we are friends. May God bless you and your families and may this year be even better than the last, for all of us.
P.O. Box 721673 Oklahoma City, OK 73172
EDITORIAL Editor-In-Chief LASHANYA NASH Managing Editor MICHAEL E. BROWNING Art Director ANGELA BLAKE Writers HARVEY W AUSTIN, MD ANGELA BLAKE MICHAEL E. BROWNING DENISE GLAVAN ROBBIE LAMBERSON LASHANYA NASH SUE NORTHCUTT C V RAMANA, MD JOHN SPIVEY LISA SYDNOR Photographers EMBERLEE NASH JESSIE NEWELL WYNELLE RECORD Community Outreach LISA SYDNOR Social Media Coordinator WYNELLE RECORD Layout WISE MARKETING ADVERTISING Publisher LASHANYA NASH 405.532.6057 l.nash@caregiveroklahoma.com
Business Development MICHAEL E. BROWNING 405.906.5405 m.browning@caregiveroklahoma.com
Account Executive ANGELA BLAKE 985.662.6581 a.blake@caregiveroklahoma.com
Sincerely,
Accounting ANDREA O’HAIR
LaShanya L. Nash Publisher
Digital Copy: CaregiverOklahoma.com
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From The Publisher: I recently read a post on our Facebook page of a gentleman sharing the story of his neighbor who had died of a heart attack. Because he was fearful of possibly catching COVID-19 at the hospital, he did not seek medical attention. The warning signs were there - but his fears (of contracting a potentially deadly disease) were his actual death sentence. I was so struck by how, in times of panic and fear, logic and rational thinking don’t seem to be a valid option. Concerned that others might be doing the same under stress, I reached out to Dr. C.V. Ramana in Oklahoma City to provide information on the warning signs that everyone needs to take very seriously. Thank you Dr. Ramana for giving your time and expertise to provide this life saving information. May it help sharpen our awareness of when it is truly time to contact a medical professional. When it is truly life-threatening. I wanted to share a little of Dr. Ramana’s background with you. He is a vascular and interventional radiologist at Naadi Health with more than 20 years of practice experience. He has expertise in all areas of vascular and interventional radiology, specializing in treatment of peripheral vascular disease and venous insufficiency. He utilizes the latest technologies and techniques for revascularization and limb salvage. Dr. Ramana has a Ph.D from Yale University and his MD is from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio (where he pursued residency training in Internal Medicine and Diagnostic Radiology; subsequently completing a fellowship in Vascular and Interventional Radiology at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic).
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Taking Symptoms Seriously... Are You At Risk? By Dr. C.V. Ramana What Is Atherosclerosis, Coronary Or Peripheral Arterial Disease (CAD, PAD)? There are many synonyms for this disease or abnormality – it refers to the narrowing of arteries that provide blood flow from the heart to the entire body. This is oxygen and nutrient rich blood providing essential sustenance to all areas of the body. The narrowing generally worsens over time, and can progress to complete blockage if there is no intervention. WHO IS AT RISK FOR IT? Typically, people over the age of 50 (men are more commonly affected than women). Also, people with: • Diabetes • Hypertension • Tobacco use/abuse ` • High cholesterol • Obesity • Sedentary lifestyle • Family history
HOW TO KNOW WHEN (AND HOW) TO SEEK TREATMENT HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE IT, AND WHAT AREAS OF THE BODY ARE AFFECTED? The narrowing of blood vessels or loss of blood flow can affect any part of the body, and can lead to symptoms like this: BRAIN – light headedness, dizziness, blurry or decreased vision, difficulty with speech, weakness of arms or legs – this may be temporary (TIA or transient ischemic attack) or long-term (stroke) HEART – chest pain or arm, neck, jaw paint (angina), shortness of breath (especially with any exertion), abnormal heart rhythm, heart attack KIDNEYS – uncontrollable hypertension, long term can lead to loss of kidney function or even kidney failure – requiring dialysis DIGESTIVE – abdominal pain after eating, blood loss in the intestines, intestinal infarction (or dead gut) SEXUAL – Erectile dysfunction
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LEGS – Numbness, tingling, burning pain in legs, restless legs, pain with walking that is relieved with rest (claudication), pain even at rest, discoloration of feet and legs, hair loss in legs, swelling in legs, wounds in legs or feet that are very slow to heal or do not heal, fungal infections in toenails. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS? If you have stroke symptoms or chest pain, you should call 911 and go immediately to the nearest emergency room by ambulance. For the other symptoms, you should bring them to the attention of your primary healthcare provider. WHAT POSSIBLE TESTS WILL THEY DO TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM? • Ultrasound of the carotid arteries • Heart scan (specialized CT to measure calcium in heart arteries) • Blood tests for heart, kidney disease, diabetes • EKG, Echocardiogram • Stress test • Ultrasound of kidney • Ankle brachial index (measurement of blood pressure in wrists and ankles – as an indicator of arterial disease) • Ultrasound of arteries in the legs WHAT CAN BE DONE TO TREAT THESE PROBLEMS? STROKE – should be treated in hospital – may require blood thinners, procedure to remove blood clot from arteries in brain, surgery or stents in carotid arteries HEART – heart catheterization, medication, stents, or bypass surgery LEGS – arteriograms (procedure like heart catheterization but directed at the arteries in the legs) – with removal of plaque in arteries, balloon angioplasty or stents in arteries. May require blood thinners and other medication as well. WHICH SPECIALISTS TREAT THESE PROBLEMS? BRAIN – neurologists, neurosurgeons, neurointerventional radiologists CAROTID ARTERIES – vascular surgeons, cardiologists, interventional radiologists HEART – cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons ABDOMEN – gastroenterologists, general surgeons, interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons
KIDNEYS – nephrologists, cardiologists, vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists LEGS – cardiologists, vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists WHAT CAN YOU DO TO REDUCE YOUR RISK FOR DEVELOPING THESE MEDICAL PROBLEMS? • Stop smoking • Manage your diabetes with medications and/or insulin to maintain tight blood control • Blood pressure – monitor regularly and receive regular follow up with your provider, take your prescribed medications regularly • Diet – follow your provider’s recommendations for a healthy diet • Exercise – establish and follow a regular exercise routine • Weight loss – establish a weight loss regimen based on diet and regular exercise with your provider • Discuss taking aspirin (or other blood thinner) on a regular basis with your provider During this difficult time as the world is impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important to stay aware of the signs and symptoms listed above. Our country has been greatly impacted by the novel virus and is treating those impacted with the upmost importance, but there are still many individuals that need treatment for other medical reasons. It is important to continue to protect yourself as our communities begin to reopen and relax restrictions. If you must go out in public or to appointments - and you think you may be ill - contact your care provider and ask how they would like to proceed. Many providers are now available by phone or offer virtual visits that would allow you to stay home and still receive medical care. In public, continue to wear a mask and wash your hands frequently. If you have questions about any of the circulatory signs and symptoms listed above, please contact your primary care physician or you may also contact our center, Naadi Health at (405)-608-8884.
Find the services you need in Oklahoma at CaregiverNearYou.com
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ASK Lisa By Lisa Sydnor
The staff of CAREGIVER Magazine is committed to connecting those in need with services and programs.
If you have a question, call 405-314-7840 or email l.sydnor@caregiveroklahoma.com Include your name and phone number in the message.
Remember the old adage, “Be careful what you wish for”? Over the years, there were many times when I wished for more time. Wouldn’t it be great to have the luxury of staying home? No meetings; no commitments; no responsibilities? To have the opportunity to just enjoy some “down” time, to bond with your family and accomplish some of the projects you started? Or, just read a book? That would be such a gift! I mean, I have often lamented my own lack of down time.
accomplished any of the projects on your list? Have you read a book?
Funny how staying home is often seen as a luxury. That is, until “sheltering in place” is mandated (and you are quarantined). That luxury is now viewed as a burden. How is the down time working out for you? Have you spent more quality time with family members? Have you
Is it easy? Heck, no! But how you chose to greet each day is ultimately up to you.
This quarantine is a prime example of how your choices will make all the difference in your experience. It is all in your attitude. You decide.
Depression is my worst enemy. At the first signs of depression I take immediate steps to combat the
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symptoms. I stick to a daily routine, stay active and stay busy. I am a people person. I like to talk. I don’t like staying home all the time. Those who know me know I will talk to anyone and everyone. Yes, I’ve had the honor of embarrassing my children; then my grandchildren; now, my great grandchildren, by striking up a conversation with a random stranger. It is who I am; what I do without thought. How can I connect now and in the future?
I am writing letters - which I haven’t done in years. Someone may even answer! ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!! Start each day with a smile and the determination to get through this uncertain time. If you are sheltering in place alone, it can be hard to stay positive. Just remember, this too shall pass. Think of it in terms of days, not weeks. You can do anything for a day. Have a daily routine and identify projects you want to accomplish. If you are with family/friends: remember, be respectful and kind. Give yourself - and others - the benefit of the doubt when things get grumpy. Daily routines might include: get fully dressed; call at least two people you have not connected with regularly; exercise; take a walk in the neighborhood; identify a project each day and complete it. I added a few personal projects to my schedule: re-pot some plants; tend a small garden bed; crochet blankets (already finished two!); clean out drawers/cabinets/ closets; sew; upholster a storage box; organize my “office” space; try a few new recipes; and, complete a college credit course online. It is important for me to spend time outside; fresh air and sunshine have antiviral, immune supporting, and overall healing benefits, so I take walks in the neighborhood.
Home Care Assistance Helps Seniors Stay Safer at Home by Providing a Personally Committed, Professionally Trained and RN-Supervised Caregiver • One-on-one care in your loved one’s home helps limit exposure to Coronavirus. • Personal care assistance, meal prep, housekeeping, medication reminders and errands make daily life easier. • Our uniquely holistic Balanced Care MethodTM focuses on higher-level needs of older adults to help them thrive in place. • Our professional caregivers are screened for virus exposure and follow infection prevention precautions.
Daily routines should probably NOT include: watching non-stop news; staying in bed; lounging around in sweats or pajamas; consuming hours of non-stop TV (or cable or Netflix or YouTube). We can survive this and come out knowing that we made positive choices – ones that can only improve our mental and physical wellbeing. I hope to see many of you soon and catch up on how you made it through the COVID-19 Quarantine of 2020. One of the surest ways to stay healthy in times of stress is to start with your attitude!
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Find the services you need in Oklahoma at CaregiverNearYou.com
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VA MEDICAL CENTERS
On A Mission By Lisa Sydnor
What does it look like as all the VA Medical Centers around the country experience an increased need for services?
Have there been increased calls around mental health or domestic violence issues?
The Oklahoma City VA Medical Center continues to increase its capacity for inpatient hospital beds and ICU beds in anticipation of an influx of COVID-19 patients.
We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to increase stress and anxiety, and the OKC VA wants Veterans to know that VA staff is always available to talk to.
“We want to plan for the worst case scenario so that we are fully prepared should we see a surge in coronavirus cases,” said Wade Vlosich, Medical Center Director. The OKC VA is setting up additional areas in order to increase inpatient capacity. As each unit gets full, they will activate the next unit. “The increase in beds is why we are currently crosstraining staff to ensure we have adequate staffing coverage to run all the units,” said Vlosich. The facility has also setup negative pressure tents inside the hospital, which are able to treat 20 patients in each tent without the risk of exposure to others. A pharmacy drive up window was created on the west side of the parking garage near the radiation oncology entrance for urgent medication refills. Since March, the OKC VA Medical Center has increased its overall inpatient bed capacity from 168 to a surge capacity of more than 300. The facility is not currently experiencing shortages with personal protective equipment and continues to monitor current supplies closely to ensure necessary levels are maintained for the safety of staff and patients. As local hospitals experience inpatient surges, Veteran patients can be transferred to OKC VA Medical Center in order to free up additional beds for the general population. For now, the hospital remains dedicated to treating Veteran patients. However, as the situation evolves, VA could be called upon to assist with treating patients from the community.
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Social Work Service Social Workers are available to assist you in a variety of settings to include the primary care clinic, during hospitalization, at Emergency Department visits, in mental health and rehabilitation units, and upon enrollment in specialty medical programs to name a few. They want to assist you, your family members, and Caregivers in resolving housing, finance, mood, relationship, and physical limitation issues in individual, group, or family treatment, whichever suits your needs. Veterans can call 405-456-3024 (in OKC) or go to socialwork.va.gov/ and get support. More info about all Veteran Health Benefits can be found at va.gov/ healthbenefits/resources/epublications.asp Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program COVID-19 may have us feeling a lack of control over our lives. Many are struggling to manage that lack of control and may take it out on someone they love. If you or someone you know is experiencing or using domestic violence; which includes yelling, talking down to or insulting, threatening, and further emotional, physical or sexual violence, the VA Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program (IPVAP) is here to help. Please contact Stephanie McCabe, IPVAP Coordinator in OKC at 405-456-5729 (office) or 405-568-9869 (VA Cell) - find the number for the IPVAP Coordinator in your area at: socialwork.va.gov/IPV/Coordinators.asp - or call the 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline any time at 800-799-SAFE (7233) for safety planning, community resources and further information.
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Veteran’s Crisis Line If you or a Veteran or Armed Service Member you know are in a crisis, there are specially trained responders ready to help you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. To speak to qualified, caring VA responder, you can: CALL: Dial 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 to talk to someone. TEXT: Send a text message to 838255 to connect with a VA responder. CHAT: Start a confidential online chat session at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat Behavioral Health/Mental Health Information Hotline The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System has set up a local hotline, available 24/7, to help answer any questions you might have about the options available for receiving Behavioral Health at this time - without needing to come to the VA in person. CALL: Dial 405-456-4488 to talk to an OKC VAHCS employee about options for receiving Behavioral Health during the COVID-19 pandemic. CALL: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Hotline The OKC VAHCS has also set up local hotline, available 6am to 8pm, to help answer general questions you may have. CALL: Dial 405-456-7119 to talk to an OKC VAHCS employee about COVID-19 related questions.
Isolation can be difficult. The OKC VA wants Veterans everywhere to know that there are Social Work Staff available to assess their needs during this stressful time. “It's important for Veterans to know they are not alone, and we're here for them,” said Michelle Johnston, OKC VA Social Work Chief.
“Concerns about COVID-19 can be stressful for many people. There are clear steps here that Veterans can take to manage stress and to get support.” What support is in place especially for caregivers? The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Caregiver Support Program (CSP) recognizes that caregivers play a critical role in caring for Veterans every day, and even more so now, in the time of COVID-19. Always remember to care for the caregivers! Caregiver Support Program Learn how you can protect and support yourself and your Veteran loved one through these challenging times with tips on Caregiving During COVID-19 and Coronavirus FAQs page. For more information or immediate support call 1-855-260-3274.
Is there an increase in food requests? We are working with Health and Senior Programming with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma to obtain emergency food kits for Veterans who are working with our VA Social Workers. These food kits are for Veterans who are homebound, high risk, or otherwise unable to access food resources. Resources for homeless Vets are always available at va.gov/homeless Updated, special resources for those who experience homelessness during pandemic are found at: usich.gov/covid-19
How are Veterans handling the distancing of these "shelter in place" orders?
Get this caregiver tip sheet: Caregiver. VA.Gov/pdfs/CSPCaregiving-DuringCOVID-19-Tip-Sheet3Apr2020.pdf
this
Find the services you need in Oklahoma at CaregiverNearYou.com
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Living with Purpose
Several years ago, I had a counselor that I met with weekly. Over that time, we explored many topics related to my vocation. One day he asked, “Who are your role models?” And without even thinking, I said, “My parents.” “Ok, that’s admirable. Who are your female role models?” “My mother,” I said, just as quickly. We all have people who influence us. They help us understand life, and therefore, how we view life. My parents did that for me and I’ve always been proud of that. In my last article, I spoke of my recently deceased father and his positive influences on me. My mother, who died 12 years ago, was his equal in this regard. She was intelligent, hardworking, kind, and very wise. She continues to shape me to this day. Many of her earliest lessons were simple, but timeless, and they have served me well in my life.
By Denise Heath
If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. If life throws lemons at you, make lemonade! Listen to what others are saying, before you talk. Always do your best and never give up. Be polite. Forgive.
Never Forgotten
She taught me how to cook and clean. She taught me manners, and integrity. She taught me to appreciate beauty,
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art, and especially God’s gifts of flowers and trees. She taught me to sing and dance. She taught me how to create and design a beautiful interior in my house. She even taught me how to stand up straight! She taught me the importance of love - love makes life worth living. And she taught me how to pray. In memory of my mother, I want to share a scripture that depicts her very well. Proverbs 31:10-12, 26-31. “A good wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” May is the month we honor, and remember, our mothers. I missed mine this past Mother’s Day so very much (my heart goes out to anyone who wasn’t able to spend it with their mothers who are still living - due to social distancing policies).
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I give thanks to all mothers for their role in our lives.
Children and mothers never truly part, Bound in the beating of each other’s heart. Find the services you need in Oklahoma at CaregiverNearYou.com
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A Life OF Service By Lisa Sydnor
In 1955, joining the military was not the usual path chosen by an 18-year-old woman, particularly, a black woman. But, then, Kem King Cain isn’t at all usual. Kem has broken many barriers and accomplished much in her life journey. She has experienced support and encouragement in some unexpected places and maintains that the positives always outweighed the negatives. Her journey of service and caregiving spans over seven decades. Kem was raised in South Bend, IN. In high school, track was her sport; the long jump her specialty. She worked toward qualifying for the Olympics training program. During her senior year, a training accident ended her dream of becoming a part of the Olympics team. Upon graduating from high school, she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. According to the Defense Manpower Data Center (www.dmdc.osd.mil), in 1955, there were 2,935,107 enlisted military personnel and black women accounted for less than .032%. After basic training at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB) in San Antonio, Kem’s first duty assignment, as an administrative secretary, was at F. E. Warren, AFB, Cheyenne, WY. Later, she was assigned to March AFB, Riverside, CA., where she served until she was honorably discharged from the USAF.
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She Believed She Could, So She Did Kem’s professional caregiver career began as an operating room scrub tech at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, MO. Her outstanding work and commitment as a scrub tech lead the doctors to recommend her for nursing school. In 1967, with the support and encouragement of the hospital staff and her family, the 32-year-old mother of five entered nursing school (utilizing VA Preference and American Legion scholarships). Upon graduation in 1970, Kem returned to St. Luke’s as a Registered Nurse. According to the 1970 census, only 5% of RNs were black, marking this achievement as a groundbreaking milestone. Then in 1975, prompted again by the recommendation of the doctors at St. Luke’s Hospital, Kem went to Milwaukee, WI, to complete a degree program for Nurse Practitioner, specializing in Family Planning. A Nurse Practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are trained to access needs, order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests, diagnose, formulate and prescribe treatment plans. Included in this degree program are disease prevention, coordination of care and promoting wellness. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, NPs are educated at the graduate level to provide primary, acute, chronic and specialty care for patients of all ages. Kem and family moved to Oklahoma City in 1978. From 1978 until joining Griffin Memorial Hospital in 1984, she worked with five nurse-staffing agencies. As a private duty nurse, she has cared for two former governors and other Oklahoma dignitaries. Kem has worked in hospice care, geriatrics, home health, private duty, in medical clinics and hospitals.
As a member of the Oklahoma State First Responders team, Kem was called to the Murrah Building on April 19, 1995. Issue 11
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She was among the first medical professionals on the scene. Her assignment was to setup triage and coordinate establishing a portable morgue. Upon arrival, it was clear there were few survivors. As she surveyed the devastation, her heart broke and only years of professional training allowed her to perform the duties required. I asked her how she functioned, she said, "I was in shock, there was no time to stop and think. I did what was asked of me and cried. Having been an ER and a surgery nurse, blood and trauma were not new, but such devastation was heartbreaking. The youth pastor of our church was a teacher in the daycare. It was personal. With tears running down my face, I did what was needed. " Until 2008, Annie Mae King (Kem's mother) lived in South Bend, IN. She was active in the community and attended the same church for 68 years. After a phone conversation with Annie Mae, Kem called relatives in South Bend asking for a wellness check. The result was a call saying you need to come home. Her mother was asking for her brothers, reliving times past and referring to herself in the third person.
caring for mom Kem brought her mother to Oklahoma City, watching her continuous decline in cognitive thinking. Keeping Annie Mae safe was a 24/7 job. At 88 years old, her physical health was good. Kem worried as Annie Mae roamed the house at night. Ensuring doors were locked and limiting her access to leaving the house was a constant challenge for Kem. Kem once found Annie Mae having a seizure. She was transported to ER. Kem was shocked when the doctor asked when Annie Mae had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. By this point, the tumor was inoperable. On doctor's orders, Annie Mae was admitted to a full-care facility. Kem and herchildren rotated assisting in the daily care of Annie Mae. Eighteen months later, Annie Mae King, age 89, went to her heavenly home.
Kem’s long history of personal achievements and caring for others is an inspiration to those who know her. Kem has been a caregiver in many different situations. Her personal caregiving has included her mother, a daughter, a son, an aunt and, most recently, her brother, Joe King. No longer able to physically care for her loved ones or other patients, Kem still monitors medication, doctor appointments, and the emotional and spiritual wellbeing of the patients in her family (and their caregiving teams). Kem states that, at 84 years of age, the mother of ten (nine boys & one girl), grandmother of forty, great grandmother of ten, great-great grandmother of seven and loving aunt to her many nieces and nephews; she has all she needs. Her skill at tickling the ivories is legendary and she is ever in demand for leading a spirited sing-a-long. Kem King Cain has blazed trails, pursued her dreams, and lived a life of service; to her country, her family, and the communities in which she has lived. Kem is indeed, not the usual. When asked what keeps her going, she stated: "I do the best I can, for as long as I can, for as many as I can, with the Lord as my strength."
The Next Chapter Knee replacement surgeries in 2013 and 2015, prompted Kem’s decision to retire from nursing in 2017. But her nursing retirement didn't mean that she quit working. Kem currently serves as the Health Program Manager at Envision Success for Veterans in Norman. She works with veterans to provide support through counseling, education and training as they continue to live productive lives. Various programs are available to assist in reintegration for veterans returning to civilian life, veterans returning from incarceration or facing incarceration, women leaving an abusive relationship or addiction or mental illness. Envision (or ESV) also offers testing and assistance for achieving a GED. One of Kem’s current projects is the Envision Wellness Fair. The goal of this annual event is to ensure veterans are aware of services available, where to find them and how to access specific assistance. Sounds a lot like what we here at CAREGIVER Magazine try to do in every issue. We are proud to have sponsored the 2020 fair and we’ll look for all you veterans at the next event! Find the services you need in Oklahoma at CaregiverNearYou.com
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HOME DELIVERY to Your Devices During these times, many of us find it harder to get around than it was before the quarantine. Some of us haven’t seen the inside of a store for weeks. If you’ve been missing out on CAREGIVER Magazine, or if you just discovered us, you can now get a fresh copy delivered right to any email address you want!
If you’ve never beheld the online, page-flipping feel of a CAREGIVER Magazine digital issue, surf over to CaregiverOklahoma.com next time you have a minute. It’s very visual! It’s also interactive. You can blow it up to full screen size, you can zoom in on pictures and you can even jump directly to videos, websites, advertiser links and offers when reading a digital issue on a digital device. Could be on your
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When you hover your mouse over an ad or link to contact information in an article, it will light up and if you click, away you’ll go to that information. Pretty neat. Best of all, you’ll get all the stories and info you’ve grown to love from CAREGIVER Magazine, with ease. This FREE Digital Subscription Offer is for a limited time only. The good news is, our first 5000 digital subscribers on this promotion will get grandparented in, and NEVER pay for their digital subscription at any time in the future. Ever. Tell your friends and get in while the gettin’s good!
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BETTER WITH AGE HEALTH & SAFETY FAIR ANTI-VIRAL SUPERF OOD THE TOUGHEST OF TOPICS A Changing Situation
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In Our Nation
S OF LIFE
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“At what point did you begin to wonder how this was going to be playing out?” I asked. “They told us that it should be, at most, a couple of days. On the third day, I began to ask questions about where we stood in this process and we were told that soon, he should begin to exhibit the kind of physical symptoms that would indicate that the end was near.”
The Toughest of Topics By John Spivey
“On the fourth day, those signs began to appear and I was told that I should call my brother, Mike, who lived almost 4 hours away. From that day on, one of us was always there. But Dad, God love him, continued to hang on.”
Mark Felder, Executive Director of The Oklahoma Golf Association, is one of my oldest friends. His father, Jess, passed away last October - after suffering a stroke - just days from his 90th birthday. Jess Felder was as solid as they come: a devoted husband and father, a man of faith, healthy and active until the last year of his life. It was in the ER that physicians explained to Mark and his mother, Joy, that Jess would not be coming home again. The massive clots they found in his brain would end his life in days, perhaps hours. He was admitted to Hospice House on October 1st and he defied the doctor’s predictions for nine long days. Jess’s story is a difficult one but not unique. And I want to be clear from the start that CAREGIVER Magazine is not advocating for medical aid in dying. We do, however, want to explore timely and tough topics like this because, whether you agree with it or not, it is fast becoming one of THE issues of our time. “The staff at Hospice House were like family to us,” Mark began. “They were angels. They could not have been more loving to Dad, and our family.”
“I learned that hospice isn’t just about the one who is dying. It’s about the whole family. I will always be grateful for the way they looked after us, especially Mom.” What was not immediately clear to the Felders, however, was that at Hospice House, the dying person is not given any food or water. The life expectancy of those admitted is typically never more than a few days, and giving them food and water can cause severe complications. 20
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“We talked with the staff frequently and on the sixth day, I asked, how long can a person actually go without nourishment? The unfortunate answer was – we don’t know. Some of the nurses would have a couple of days off and when they returned, they would say, wow, you’re still here?” “We didn’t dispute what was going on, we believed that he was getting exactly what he needed. But until you’ve been through this, you just can’t conceive of what it’s like to sit there helplessly as your father goes without food and water, for nine days no less. And we were told that one woman lasted for 22 days. So by this time, I understood that we were stuck in a place I never could have imagined.” And then, he asked a question. “Is there anything that can be done to help him along, like more morphine?” I pressed Mark, “You asked them that?” “I know how that sounds,” he said, “but it was agonizing. It was Day Seven. You see, Dad was ready to go. Months before, he had asked God to come and take him. When he lost his quality of life, when all he could do was go from his bed to his chair and back again, when he realized that he couldn’t even remember that his grandkids had visited just the day before, he told Mom that it was time for God to bring him home.”
“This I know, if Dad was of sound mind but was this sick and disabled, had there been a button on his bed that he could have pushed to end his suffering, he would have. And had he asked me to do it, I would have pushed it for him.”
May 2020 Issue 11
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Doctors don’t send them to Hospice House with the idea that they’re coming home again. My dad would have liked to have been as in control of his death as he was in control of his life.” Jess died in his sleep on the evening of October 9th, shortly after Mark arrived for his nightly vigil. He kissed him on the forehead and told him that he loved him. Then he whispered, “Dad, it’s okay to go.” Mere minutes later, he did.
y r o t S s ’ s s Je “Of course, we need to give God the opportunity to take a dying person first. But after four or five days, now we need to help them. We’re not trying to hurt them, we’re trying to help them. They’re not coming back.
Mark’s “question” is asked in America every day. Ten states would not have legalized Death With Dignity Statutes if it weren’t. Where does Oklahoma stand with this? In 2016, the state Legislature considered the Oklahoma Death with Dignity Act. However, the bill died in committee without ever receiving a hearing. Does it surprise you that seven in ten Americans support death with dignity as an end-of-life option for the terminally ill? Most people have come to support this movement because of a difficult personal experience like the Felders’. In our next issue, you and I will take a look at how these laws work, and what states like Oregon have learned after 20 years of experience with medical aid in dying.
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BETTER WITH AGE
new adventures. A time for stepping out of comfort zones and tackling the things we have kept in the back of our minds for “some other time”. Now is the time!
With Robbie Lamberson
Have you wanted to learn to paint, sail, ride a bike, write a book, or conquer a different language? Each of us has a desire hidden inside of us. As someone inching ever closer to my eightieth year, I can assure you we are allotted just so much time. To waste it is (to me) criminal at best, sinful at the worst. So dear readers do yourselves a favor and listen to this wise woman. As I remind my great grandchildren, seniors don’t live this long and remain stupid! HELP AND HOPE GO TOGETHER If you wonder how some people seem to be filled with joyful enthusiasm, follow along with them and chances are that they are filling up some of their daily hours with helping others. It’s a life changing experience when we lend a hand to someone else. Whether it’s monetary from our pockets, contributing with our valuable time, or giving quiet words of comfort to a hurting friend, or a searching grandchild; these things always turn around so that we receive the gifts of joy and satisfaction that come from sharing a part of ourselves.
A TIME FOR RENEWAL It’s beginning, as it always does, this time of year. You can smell the aroma of the earth starting the process of new birth. I’ve witnessed it countless times and yet it always stirs my heart, making my eyes dart and search with every step. With coffee in hand, a walk through my garden lends sight of small new beginnings. Tiny heads of different plants swell up through the soil and stir forgotten memories of what I planted there years ago. The excitement of new life continues, thus I never tire of this remarkable change in the earth around me. It’s also time for a cleaning out of the old to make room for the new, not only in our gardens, yards, and closets, but in our lives as well. This time of renewal brings opportunities for
Funny how that works, the more we do for others the better we feel. Feeling better gives us renewed energy, healthier bodies, and more alert minds. That’s a formula that beats all heck out of some prescription pills we pop into our mouths, isn’t it? The more we do for others, the more we have to move ourselves. Now there’s a bright idea: keep moving! Staying inert withers our bodies and our minds. I know this for a fact! [I would tell you about my recent experience with sitting in front of the television for several days, while my body healed from a surgery, but listening to people spending their valuable time to get together only to discuss each other’s body ailments is a pet
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peeve of mine.] Moving on… I used to think it was what women of a certain age were inclined to do but recently I’ve discovered both genders delight in telling others about their most private ordeals. And as the discussions deepen, there is an odd competition that raises its’ ugly head and well, let’s just say the conversations can become heated. Of course these painful discussions are better than opening the Pandora’s Box of politics. Good grief people, when did we become a society of “My way”, or “No way”?
I prefer pretty flowers and butterflies…
but whether you say man kind, woman kind, or person kind, it doesn’t matter – we are going to celebrate our risen Savior. You can call it “Shelter in Place”, “Quarantine” or “Unauthorized Assembly”, that doesn’t matter either. Whether we are able to congregate together or not, we are going to celebrate our risen Savior. And if you do not know Him, you need to. Because when you do, you will look forward to a renewal that is beyond anything on this earth. Springtime for your soul. Seriously, did you honestly think I am filled with joy and peace on my own accord? HELP AROUND THE HOUSE
Maybe not quite that unrealistic, but thinking and discussing topics that are uplifting and unifying do actually make a significant difference in our mind sets. Like Lisa Sydnor notes on Page 10, that choice is ours.
Hopefully we all have a special something or someone who lifts our spirits and brings joy into our lives. Don’t tell my great grandchildren - but the something that also gives me great contentment is a fourteen-year-old, overweight, deaf, with dimming eyesight, pug baby.
As long as we are on the subject of renewal, we just observed - through quarantine - an annual event that represents the most amazing renewal known to mankind. I know it is not correct to say, “mankind” anymore,
She wiggles gleefully on her short little legs whenever I come into her view and curls up against me during the night (emitting loud snores that have become sweet music to my ears). Now, if you don’t want to hear any more about my Miss Sally, I can tell you about my surgery…
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25
The UNMASKING of
AMERICA
TEARS
OF A NATION By LaShanya Nash
By now you know the great personal loss I have experienced losing my Mother, Father and paternal Grandmother in a span of less than three years. I often say that CAREGIVER Magazine is my personal way of coping with all my grief and honoring my loved ones who I miss greatly (on a daily basis). Knowing how hard my own grieving process has been I truly can not imagine the level of grief, emotional pain and anger the families who have lost loved ones during the pandemic of COVID-19 must be feeling. Grief is a very personal journey and there is no right or wrong way to grieve. But I do fear the families that are in a state of deep sorrow will need help in dealing with their loss. My mother died from misdiagnosed and prolonged Histoplasmosis. In most cases, “histoplasmosis causes mild, flu-like symptoms. Most symptoms go away on their own, in a few weeks.” But Momma’s did not. “If the exposure is heavy, or the patient more vulnerable, symptoms may progress and become more severe. They will experience shortness of breath and could eventually show signs of respiratory failure. If the histoplasmosis spreads throughout the body, patients can suffer from complications. These include enlarged spleen and liver, gastrointestinal bleeding, lip and mouth ulcerations and decreased white and red blood cells leading to bone marrow failure.
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If this all sounds familiar, what Momma had is a zoonotic disease, like COVID-19. Zoonotic diseases are infectious disease caused by a pathogen (an infectious agent, such as a bacterium, virus, parasite or prion) that has jumped from an animal to a human. Typically, the first infected human transmits the infectious agent to at least one other human, who, in turn, infects others. Most strains of influenza that infect humans are human diseases, although many strains of bird flu and swine flu are zoonoses; these viruses occasionally recombine with human strains of the flu and can cause pandemics such as the 1918 Spanish flu, 2009 swine flu or the current COVID-19 pandemic. To see someone you love so deeply fade out of this world in such a tragic, needlessly horrific way is an experience that leaves your heart and mind never whole again. Momma didn’t need to die like she did - just like so many people currently who are suffering an agonizing death. Their loved ones from all over the world, speaking languages not understood by my ears, but crying mournful, longing tears for their loved ones that immediately melds my heart to theirs and I can’t help but grieve with them. I am transported back to a time and place that is the definition of Hell on Earth. COVID-19 fears have robbed so much from so many.
DispatchHealth Travels DispatchHealth Travels SoSoThe TheFlu Flu Doesn’t Doesn’t
DispatchHealth DispatchHealth Travels Travels DispatchHealth Travels So The So The Flu Doesn’t Flu Doesn’t
As a family, we were able to be there for Momma. IfMaking you suspect you flu symptoms, youflucan call 1.866.FLU.CREW If have you suspect you have symptoms, you the ICU a home away from home for her. Brushing her hair, a team of medical professionals sent to your home for diagnosis and tr can call 1.866.FLU.CREW to have a team of moistening her mouth and wiping her tears while saying our medical professionals sent to your home goodbyes. But these families cannot be there with their loved If you suspect If you you suspect have flu yousymptoms, have flu symptoms, you can call you1.866.FLU.CREW can call 1.866.FLU.CREW to have ones; this disease robbed them of a vital step in closure. They for diagnosis and treatment a team of amedical team ofprofessionals medical professionals sent to your home to your for diagnosis home for diagnosis and treatment. and If you suspect you have flu symptoms, yousent can call 1.866.FLU.CREW to have cannot be a comfort or an advocate. They are left in aAt deep Who’s Risk? a team of medical professionals sent to your home for diagnosis and treatment. state of anxiety, stuck in confusion and despair, praying for the best and preparing for the worst.
So The Flu Doesn’t
Who’s at Risk? DispatchHealth Travels So The Flu Doesn’t
Who’s At Risk? Who’s At Risk? Who’s At Risk?
After their loved one passed away, families were also not allowed to have funerals to memorialize and honor their loved ones. Another valued and necessary step in grieving was denied to them because of this horrible disease.
If you suspect you have flu symptoms, you can call 1.866.FLU.CREW to have a team of medical professionals sent to your home for diagnosis and treatment. Seniors
Young children
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There are so many unanswered questions concerning Seniors Who’s At Risk? Young children Those diagnosed with Seniors is able Seniors Young Younginjuries childrenand Those Those with the chronic diagnosed illnesse wit DispatchHealth to provide high-quality carechildren forhigh-quality complex illnesses, including DispatchHealth is able to provide care fordiagnosed complex COVID-19 - some that are so very polarizing and some we flu. Last year alone, DispatchHealth treated thousands of flu cases, with nearly one-fourth of all visits injuries and illnesses, including the flu. Last year alone, Dispatchbeing flu-related during the 2018 - 2019 season. will most likely never know the answers to but the one thing DispatchHealth is able to isprovide high-quality care complex injuries and illnesses, ini DispatchHealth DispatchHealth able to provide is ablehigh-quality to provide high-quality carefor for complex care for injuries complex and injuries illnesses, and including illnesses, the Health treated thousands of flu cases, with nearly one-fourth of ofone-four all of humanity can agree upon is that those flu. whoLast year flu. Last year flu. alone, Last year DispatchHealth alone,treated DispatchHealth treated thousands treatedof thousands flu cases, of with fluwith nearly cases,nearly one-fourth with nearly all visi alone, DispatchHealth thousands of flu cases, one-fourt allflu-related visits during the 2018 - 2019 season. being flu-related beingduring thebeing 2018 during -flu-related 2019 the 2018 season. - 2019 season. have lost someone to COVID-19 are in an agonizing DispatchHealth Also being flu-related during the 2018 - Treats: 2019 season. place of grief. Seniors Young children Those diagnosed with chronic illnesses + Dizziness / vertigo + IV placement + Nausea + Strains or sprains + IV fluids + Dehydration DispatchHealth is able to provide high-quality care for complex injuries and illnesses, including the
+ Minor fractures + Splinting + Asthma / COPD DispatchHealth Also Treats: Also Treats: If you are grieving and need help with all the emotions DispatchHealth flu. Last year alone, DispatchHealth treated thousands of flu cases, with nearly one-fourth of all visits + Nosebleed + Stitches + And much more being flu-related during the 2018 2019 season. DispatchHealth Also Treats: surrounding the loss of your loved one please find a local grief + Facial injuries / vertigo + Falls + Dizziness +/ Dizziness vertigo + IV placement + IV placement + Nausea + Nausea support group in your community. If you feel an urgent need + StrainsDispatchHealth or +sprains Strains or + IV fluids + IV fluids + Dehydration + Dehydration cansprains treat nearly everything an emergency room can. + the Dizziness /+ vertigo + IV +placement + Nausea DispatchHealth Also Treats: to speak with someone, you can always reach US Health Minor fractures + Minor fractures Splinting + Splinting + Asthma / +COPD Asthma / CO + Strains or sprains + IV +fluids Dehydration & Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health + Nosebleed Nosebleed Stitches + Stitches + And+much +more And much mo ++ Dizziness / vertigo + IV placement + Nausea ++ Strains or sprains + IV fluids + Falls + Dehydration Care: + Facial Request injuries Facial injuries + Splinting + Falls Services Administration at samhsa.gov or call National + the Minor fractures + Asthma / CO + Minor fractures + Splinting + Asthma / COPD Phone: 1.866.FLU.CREW (1.866.358.2739) Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). + Nosebleed + Stitches + And much more + Nosebleed DispatchHealth Stitches + And much mor Website: DispatchHealth.com/flucrew | Available 7 Days Weekcan. room can. DispatchHealth can treat nearly can+treat everything nearly an everything emergency anAroom emergency + FacialDispatchHealth injuries + Falls can treat nearly everything + Facial injuries + Falls DispatchHealth accepts most insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid. Check out The Unmasking of America: Fears of a Nation on DispatchHealth can treat nearly an emergencyroom room can. can. an everything emergency page 58 in the digital edition, online at CaregiverOklahoma.com! DispatchHealth can treat nearly everything an emergency room can. Request Care: Request Care:
Request Care:
1.866.FLU.CREW
Phone: 1.866.FLU.CREW Phone: 1.866.FLU.CREW (1.866.358.2739) (1.866.358.2739) www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-diseasePhone: 1.866.FLU.CREW (1.866.358.2739) Website: DispatchHealth.com/flucrew Website: DispatchHealth.com/flucrew | |Available Available Days A Week 7 Days A Week Website: DispatchHealth.com/flucrew Available|77Days A Week lookup/histoplasmosis/symptoms-diagnosis DispatchHealth accepts most insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid. DispatchHealth DispatchHealth accepts mostaccepts insurance, mostincluding insurance, Medicare includingand Medicare Medicaid. and Medicaid. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoonosis Request Care:
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27
Starfish
Short Run in the
By Harvey W. Austin, MD
Bottom line, I am a predicamentalist. (Pree dick uh ment uh list — It’s got a rhythm to it.)
By this, I mean, in contrast to most people’s belief that we have a worldwide set of problems to be solved, I believe we now live within a worldwide predicament. A predicament, by my definition, has no solution. It simply is. And our worldwide predicament is a big IS, indeed. This (likely human engineered) flu-like bug is very real and threatens to result in the extermination of many, many humans. Being an either/or kind of guy, I had assumed that if I, as an individual… or even as part of a group … couldn’t solve some big problem, there was no point to trying. I would do nothing.
Unconsciously, I assumed I would simply go on living my life in in a slowly diminishing ‘business-as-usual’ kind of way. At the same time, consciously, I would remain joyful, enthusiastic and saying ‘yes’ to whatever showed up. I would do only what truly pleased me to do. If it pleased me to write of the predicament, I would do that. And I have.
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Also, I have advocated that others do what they love doing. And if it is being an activist, by all means do that. But don’t do it out of a sense of obligation. And don’t do it out of a sense that it will “make a difference”. I often speak my favorite metaphor, “If you say it is yours to re-arrange the deck chairs of the Titanic … re-arrange the heck out of them!” It was OK for me to tell others that. But I didn’t always self-apply it. Until I read a long-forgotten piece that abruptly opened up a third possibility. At the beach, the boy picked up tide-stranded starfish, one by one, and threw each back into the ocean. His mother says to him, “You know, sweetheart, in the long run, that’s not really going to make any difference”.
“Yeah, Mom, I know … but it makes a big difference to this starfish, in the short run.”
short-run difference: • perhaps relieving a little suffering here, or a worry there • listening to one person in despair • giving ten bucks here, twenty there to support others who support others • perhaps something as small as carrying out the trash without being asked • smoothing her pillow • giving mindful attention This seems like the path of kindness, the path of compassion, doesn’t it? Maybe we could even think of it as the Elder path. Where the wise ones walk day to day, treading lightly. Starfish-boy has gotten to me. In a sense, I am starfish-boy. The short run does matter while we’re here. Perhaps you, with me, might also take the path of the Starfish-Thrower?
Ah, a third path: The Path of Short Run. Or, perhaps, the Path of the StarfishThrower. Maybe I will make that gesture! Like that child, I find myself looking at what is in front of me that might make a
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29 29
Lessons From History:
The Untold Story of ANNE FRANK By LaShanya Nash
“In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” ~ Anne Frank An African proverb that pricks my heart every time I hear it is, “When an elder dies a library burns”. With COVID-19 taking the lives of so many elders throughout the world it saddens me greatly to think of how many family stories and traditions have also been casualties of this wretched disease. Stories that so desperately needed to be recorded to pass on to future generations that have now been lost forever. This made me think of The Diary of A Young Girl as Anne, along with her family, were in hiding from the deadly Nazi regime. She found purpose and an escape from her solitude and fear by writing in her diary. She wrote so much about nature and with only a small window to the
world she documented her time in hiding. The facts behind how her diary came to be one of the best selling books of all times is the most amazing part of her story. Anne Frank’s name and memory is ever immortalized. Her words gave a voice to the Jewish children and all those who suffered and died unspeakable deaths during the holocaust and helped future generations have a better understanding of both the evil, and goodness, of humanity. Anne Frank was born in Frankfurt, Germany on June 12th, 1929. At this time, Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party were coming into power, bringing with them the hatred for the Jewish people. Hitler took advantage of the anti-Semitism that was gaining strength in Germany. The Nazis introduced more and more draconian laws and regulations that made the lives of Jews unbearable. They restricted the civil and human rights of the Jews in Germany and all “Non-Aryan” groups. Jews could no longer attend public schools and universities, could not go to cinemas, theaters, and sports facilities. In many cities, Jews were forbidden to enter designated “Aryan” zones; they could not shop at non-Jewish stores. The rules meant that more and more places became off-limits to Anne and her family. Since Jews were no longer allowed to run their own businesses, her father lost his company. Hitler blamed the Jews for all the problems going on in their country. The economy was collapsing. Unemployment was very high while poverty and despair were rampant. It was a cauldron of emotions and frustration ready to boil into war. Because of the deterioration of the tolerance for Jews in Germany, Anne’s parents, Otto and Edith Frank, decided to move the family to Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Continued on page 50 in the digital edition at www.CaregiverOklahoma.com 30
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No Empty HOLSTER By Sue Northcutt
There are some things you never forget over the course of your life: the birth of your children, when your parent or your child dies, where you were on Sept 11, 2011 - and having a gun pointed at your face. Most people go their entire life without having a gun drawn on them, but I can assure you that when they have, they never forget it. I am now of what many call a “mature” age, and the events of the gun incident at the time of my nineteen-year-old self still bounce around in my memory banks, popping up often at inopportune times. I can still recall very specific details of the day when I found myself opposite a man intent on robbing the business where I worked. At the time, I was employed as the cashier/receptionist for a finance company in California that made small to large personal loans to the general public. Although we did not lend out cash, we did have a small amount of cash on hand for those customers that came into the business to make a payment on their outstanding loan in cash. This was before the time of the Internet and online banking, where paying by check or cash was the norm, rather than an anomaly. Laura, our office manager was from a very small town in North Dakota. I cannot remember the name of the town, but I do remember how excited she was to taste what she deemed to be “real” Mexican food now that she lived in California: Taco Bell. Not only did this small town in North Dakota not have other cuisines to sample, but apparently did not have many fast food restaurants. As a side note, I made it my mission to introduce Laura to real Mexican cuisine as quickly as possible. However, that 32
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escapade is a story for another day. Eddie was a former police officer that had decided to no longer be a part of law enforcement saying it was just “not his thing”. Instead, he chose to embark upon a career as a loan officer at a small finance company. Eddie would often break out into stories of his life as a police officer, entertaining us on slow days with his fantastical stories of the criminal faction. The day of the robbery started the same as most of the days we three passed at the finance company. People would call or come by to borrow money, come into our storefront to make a payment or just say hello. Many of our customers were the friendly sorts that would stop and chat a bit if they had the time. The ones that did not chat were either very serious or were poor payers who really did not want to stick around after they made their late payment - lest we ask them to bring their account current. We kept track of balances due on written ledger sheets as this was before most businesses had computers. These late payers would slip in and out before you could pull their ledger sheet to inquire about the remaining balances. Laura was on the telephone, Eddie was doing who knows what, and I was updating one of these ledger sheets when the door opened as a male voice whispered, “Don’t scream, just open the drawer and give me the money”.
Looking up, I saw the barrel of a gun.
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“Hey man, how can I help you?” said Eddie from behind me. I did not turn around, but from the sound of his voice, along with the movement of the firearm in front of me, Eddie was walking towards us. The former police officer back in action I suppose. “Stay where you are and shut up!” said the gun. The words may have been spoken by the person holding the firearm; however, from my vantage point, all I saw was a gun with a hand attached to it - and the voice was coming from the gun. I emptied the cash drawer of all the money, watching it drop into a plain paper bag (held by another floating hand - next to the gun-holding one). A whimpering voice arose from the back of the room, “um, um, um, ugh, um, um”. I am assuming it was Laura, since the voice sounded female, but at the time I could not be 100% sure. My entire focus was on the advancing weapon, the large, metal threat that now filled my entire field of vision.
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“All of you, move to the back, now!” the gun said, leading us to the back of the office. Laura was still whimpering, babbling, “um, um, ugh, um, ugh” while Eddie continued trying to talk to the floating gun. I wanted to yell at Eddie to shut up, but the gun did that job for me, “Shut your damn mouth!” All three of us were pushed toward the tiny bathroom that was just a little bigger than an outhouse. The room had a commode and a sink with little room for anything else – especially three adults. Closing the door was a circus act where Eddie climbed on top of the commode so we could close the door. All this at the insistence of the talking firearm. Once the door was closed, we looked like the snakes in a can joke. In any other situation, I am sure it would have been humorous. “DO NOT open this door until you have counted OUT LOUD to fifty,” came the voice from the other side of the door. I started to count. Laura continued to babble with her eyes glazed over, staring into space. Surprising me, Eddie chose that moment to launch into his (former police officer’s) commanding voice.
“Remember everything about this guy – his height, his hair, his facial features; EVERYTHING!” I was pretty sure that loudly telling everyone to “remember this guy” - who two seconds prior was pointing his gun at three people crammed into a 20 cubic foot box - was not a smart idea. Not being a former police officer (and not being as “mature” as Eddie) this tactic was impossibly illogical to
Continued on page 54 in the digital edition at www.CaregiverOklahoma.com
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BATTLING ANXIETY Through the Chaos By Angela Blake
I believe it’s safe to say that in the past few months, most of us have experienced many unplanned changes. The pandemic has caused worry over illness; safety of friends, family, or other loved ones; and job situations as well as many other factors of our daily lives. These unplanned changes may have caused many of you to experience anxiety.
Find activities that relieve stress. The weather is finally getting nicer and you can take advantage of that. Getting outside and getting fresh air can instantly help boost your mood. Other people enjoy reading, watching a movie, listening to music, or playing a game. Sometimes this helps to focus their energy on other outlets and get their mind off what is worrying them.
Anxiety is a very normal reaction to stressful situations. Those who feel anxiety may feel irritable, tired, nervous, or have trouble sleeping. Severe or prolonged anxiety may need medical treatment. The majority of anxiety that people experience can be dealt with in a healthy way and doesn’t need medication.
Lastly, you can utilize technology. There are many wonderful apps that you can get access for free that can help with anxiety. There are apps that can connect you with multiple resources, tools, and activities to help with anxiety. Some good and free apps that you can download include Calm, Breathe2relax, Simply Yoga, and Mindshift. There are also hundreds of other apps and websites out there that you can utilize.
There are many ways people deal with anxiety. Some people may not have had anxiety in the past or experienced a situation like we have currently been in. Do not be afraid to talk about your feelings. You are not alone in feeling anxious about the effects of the pandemic. Talk with friends or family and express your concerns. Sometimes just talking about things can help relieve some tension and worry that you have. Remember, you are not alone and we are all in this together.
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If you are still struggling with anxiety and having problems completing normal tasks of your daily life, please reach out to your healthcare provider so you can both work together to create a treatment plan that will work best for you. Never be afraid to ask for help!
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“This would be a great time in the world for some man to come along that knew something.” “We shouldn’t elect a President. We should elect a magician.” “Let this country get hungry and they are going to eat, no matter what happens to budgets, income taxes or Wall Street. Washington mustn’t forget who rules when it comes to a show down.” By LaShanya Nash
“A flock of Democrats will replace a mess of Republicans. It won’t mean a thing. They will go in like all the rest of ’em. Go in on promises and come out on alibis. “ “We cuss the lawmakers. But I notice we’re always perfectly willing to share in any of the sums of money that they might distribute.”
My Daddy was a “real cowboy” and we grew up drenched in all things country and western and I’ll tell ya, Will Rogers seemed more like the coolest great uncle I never got to meet than the cowboy superstar he was at the turn of the last century. Many a laugh was shared at the supper table over the relevance of an “old Will Roger-ism”. The laughter sure helped another bowl of beans and cornbread go down with sincere gratitude. Will Rogers helped America get through the Great Depression and helped my family get through the depression caused by the Savings and Loan Crisis that hit our small town hard in the 1980’s. Because of his straight shooting, satirical style he will forever be relevant in hard economic times - like we find ourselves in today. Will Rogers will always be ready to step up and help America laugh through the pain. I present to you the timeless words of Oklahoma’s Favorite Son”, Mr. Will Rogers: “Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” “If stupidity got us in this mess, how come it can’t get us out?” “All I know is just what I read in the papers, and that’s an alibi for my ignorance.” “I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.” “Ain’t it funny how many hundreds of thousands of soldiers we can recruit with nerve? But we can’t find one politician in a million with backbone.” “The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it in your back pocket.” “Remember, write to your Congressman. Even if he can’t read, write to him.” “America is a land of opportunity and don’t ever forget it. We don’t have to worry about anything. No nation in the history of the world was ever sitting as pretty. If we want anything, all we have to do is go and buy it on credit.”
“Never blame a legislative body for not doing something. When they do nothing, they don’t hurt anybody. It’s when they do something is when they get dangerous.” “Tax relief, farm relief, flood relief, dam relief—none of these have been settled, but they are getting them in shape for consideration at the next session of Congress with the hope that those needing relief will perhaps have conveniently died in the meantime.” “We’ll hold the distinction of being the only Nation in the history of the world that ever went to the poor house in an automobile.” “When ignorance gets started, it knows no bounds.” “Common sense ain’t common” Laughter during tough times truly is the best medicine but the reality of it’s need sure can be a big, hard pill to swallow. If we can all embrace a little more common sense and kindness our day-today life will be so much easier. Be personally responsible for your own actions and let others do the same. Be thankful we live in a country where we can disagree. Celebrate that, don’t ridicule it. Extend grace to others because we never know the burden they carry. Take care of your basic needs before you start in on the wants. An extra bag of beans and rice is never a bad thing to have on hand. Sunshine and nature can help chase away the blues. Laughing at yourself will lighten a heavy soul. I have never watched a squirrel - just being a squirrel - that I don’t know for certain that God is a comedian and created us to enjoy divine laughter. Know what you believe, believe what you know. If you see your neighbor in a bind, offer a helping hand. Hold on to the values that have made you content in life. And those habits that are a hindrance to feeling good about yourself, work on them. The Lord blesses us with a new day, each sunrise is a great symbol of no matter what yesterday may have been, today is a fresh start and all yours - to make the most of, or you can mess it up like the day before. That’s your choice too. Oh! Remember to remind young folks to wash their hands and not cough on people - surely that nugget of common sense is already a habit for the rest of us...
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C MMUNITY HEARTBEAT
Oklahoma’s Inter-Agency Response: Crisis Assistance By Lisa Sydnor Some of you may recall my story of Jacci from AARP’s Senior Community Service Employment Program… First appearing in our second issue last summer, COMMUNITY HEARTBEAT is dedicated to the non-profit organizations and social services agencies (city, county, state and federal) serving Oklahoma. While many are local chapters of a national organization, or are government agencies, their emphasis is on our immediate communities. The goal here is to highlight the impact of the work performed and services provided for caregivers and care receivers. The stories we are bringing you in this issue highlight how our community is changing and meeting many of the COVID-19 quarantine challenges with innovation, imagination and improvisation. It is a time to shine! It takes a village to ensure everyone has the essentials. But standing and working together is what Oklahomans do whether it is a catastrophic pandemic, a natural disaster, or a terrorist attack - we step up, we help, we support each other. My non-profit career spans more than fifty years. I found my passion in serving others and am grateful for the opportunities I have had to help so many people throughout our great state and country. My philosophy in providing services has always been to serve all. Serving others means walking by faith and searching for a solution for every situation. Especially ones like we find ourselves in now. We are not aware of every non-profit or agency that serves Oklahomans. You can help build our referral list by sending information to l.sydnor@betterwithageok.com or call 405-314-7840. Share your innovative approaches to new challenges! In the subject line note: COMMUNITY HEARTBEAT. Include your website, contact, title, phone number, email address, physical address and mission statement.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of Oklahomans cannot be measured and put down on paper. The human impact is virtually immeasurable. We are CAREGIVER Magazine
The role of the United Way is to ensure the partner agencies have the resources they need to effectively respond and efficiently provide needed health and human services, especially during a time of crisis. United Way nonprofit partner agencies are serving an unprecedented number of clients due to COVID-19. United Way of Central Oklahoma has established the COVID-19 Response Fund dedicated to increasing resilience among our most vulnerable individuals and families. This fund supports Partner Agencies of United Way of Central Oklahoma, United Way of Logan County and United Way of Canadian County and as of April 29, has raised $1,285,000. This funding will be used to address the needs of those individuals who are experiencing COVID-19 related hardship primarily due to temporary unemployment, lost income or unexpected expenses related and due to COVID-19. As of April 29th, United Way has distributed $848,845 in
UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
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talking about lives – not statistics – and every life is precious. Debby Hampton, President & Chief Executive Officer of the United Way of Central Oklahoma, knows and understands the gravity of this horrific disaster. She called in for the interview from a drive-thru food distribution site of one of the United Way agencies and was concerned that they were running low on protective wear such as gloves and facemasks. So, Debby added locating supplies of personal protection equipment to her list of imperatives. These are things that keep her up at night. It scares her for the hereand-now; but terrifies her for what the future may hold for the majority of Oklahomans. According to a 2019 CBS news report, based on findings from economic advocacy group Prosperity, millions of Americans are just one missed paycheck away from poverty, with 4 of 10 considered “liquid-asset poor,” or without enough reserves to cope with a sudden disruption in income. We are well past the “one” missed paycheck.
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Read what these agencies have to offer in the digital edition at www.CaregiverOklahoma.com
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Remember When? Remember When spring meant a new dress, shoes, hat and gloves to match for Easter Sunday?
Remember When wild flowers were wild and free? We would drive down the road, stop and hike into a field to pull up Black-Eyed Susans; Lilacs; Hollyhocks; Sunflowers and many others; then, replant them on the fence line or around the house.
Remember When lilacs bloomed and the fragrance was heavenly?
Remember When we hung our clothes on the lines in the backyard? Spring rain made them soft and fragrant! Did you have a bag hanging on the line filled with clothespins? Every Christmas my grandmother made new clothes pin bags for each family.
Remember When the garden plot was readied
for planting? Our garden contained potatoes, tomatoes, green beans, green onions, snap peas, corn, cucumbers, strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, celery, etc.
Remember When we canned everything we harvested?
Remember When you got a deep freeze (in the late 50s) and learned how to freeze foods?
Remember When you learned to make pickles?
Bread ‘n’ butter, sweet or dill – I could take out a whole jar!
Remember When your hands, face, lips, teeth and
tongue all turned black from eating blackberries which we picked wild in the country?
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Spring Meant “Refreshed” By Lisa Sydnor
Remember When going fishing was a pole, some
sinkers, hooks and a jar to hold the worms you dug up on the riverbank? Going fishing was always a funfilled outing. If we were lucky, the day ended with a fish fry at home.
Remember When picnics were a family affair,
consisting of fried chicken, homemade potato salad and cookies – usually in conjunction with fishing?
Remember When it was time for “spring cleaning the
house?” That meant ceiling-to-floor C L E A N I N G. No whining. No shirking.
Remember When we made our own Easter baskets -
using green, shredded “grass” - and filling them with hard-boiled eggs that we colored and decorated ourselves?
Remember When we hid dozens of Easter eggs all
over the yard (or house, if raining!)? The plastic eggs sometimes had pennies or nickels along with small chocolates or hard candy inside.
Remember When smaller kids sat on top of the ice cream freezer to hold it down while the bigger, stronger folks cranked that handle? Vanilla, strawberry or banana was my favorite.
Remember When fresh clover meant laying on your tummy looking for a four-leaf clover?
Remember When we caught lightening bugs and put them in a jar?
Remember When we would spend our days riding
your bike for hours, waving at (and talking to) all your neighbors, then being so exhausted that falling asleep at night was not a problem? Find the services you need in Oklahoma at CaregiverNearYou.com
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Building Immunity by Growing
BASIL By Michael Edward Browning
Sweet Basil, Ocimum basilicum, Tulsi or Holy Basil, Ocimum tenuiflorum as well as other Ocimums, like minimum, make up the genus of Basil. Varying widely in terms of color, plant size, leaf looks and whether they can last a winter outdoors, basil is one of the heartiest and healthiest plants to add to your Victory garden this summer. Cannabis has been at the forefront of terpene research, but we have been studying terpenes, and adding them to all sorts of products, for over a century now, since German chemist Otto Wallach determined the isoprene substructures of terpenes in 1887. Cinnamate, citronellol, Eugenol, geraniol, linalool, pinene and terpineol are some of the terpene-rich essential oils that one can find all across the many species of basil. Research concludes that it is the presence of these heavily scented oils that chiefly assume the medicinal benefits of basil leaves. A mood enhancer as well as a stress buster, basil contains two important water-soluble flavonoid antioxidants, which are known as orientin and viceninare. These potent pair of antioxidants strengthen our immune systems, protect
cellular structures, DNA and delay the effects of ageing. As fresh cut herbs hit my nostrils, when they come on salad, pizza or topping any other creation, it’s like a little lift hits the spirit. A tiny little aromatic cleansing. Count on basil to give your liver and kidneys a scrub too, antiox-detoxifying. The more I learn about its’ blessings, the more I want to work into the daily diet routine. Many varieties of basil, including the sweet and holy types, may in fact combat certain viral infections. One test-tube study found that sweet basil extracts, including compounds like apigenin and ursolic acid, exhibited potent effects against herpes viruses, hepatitis B, and enterovirus. Did you know that acne is a conspiracy between a bacterium and a virus? Apply a paste of mashed, fresh basil leaves, thinned with last issue’s anti-viral coconut oil to watch zits disappear. Every basil type has been shown to increase immunity, which may also help fight viral infections. Through extensive international research, we now know Basil: • Is Anti-inflammatory • Fights Free Radical Activity • Has Skin pH Benefits • Fights Depression & Insomnia • Aids Diabetes Management • Supports Liver Function • Helps Detoxify the Body • Promotes a Healthy Gut • Heals An Upset Stomach • Assists Proper Digestion • Curbs Headaches • Fortifies the Nervous System • Boasts Antimicrobial Properties • Stimulates Hormone Regulating Neurotransmitters • Is a Powerful Adaptogen (or Anti-stress Agent) • Cuts down Triglyceride and Cholesterol Levels • Reduces Bloating and Water Retention With all the recent supply chain disruption, I’ve heard a cry raised up to “plant your pantry”, so I tried it. Black turtle beans and black-eyed peas sprout amazing easily. But when I’d tapped the dry bean and red pepper seed fertility
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of my cupboard, I had to go visit Bethany Country Store for some stellar basil seed options. You can also propagate endless generations from cuttings off a full-grown plant you see at a lot of stores, but starting from seed allows you to choose annuals or perennials, flavors and colors. Bethany Country Store also has an amazing selection of organic vegetable seed stock, beyond basil. I’ve got beans and greens, corn and peppers and squashes. If all that sounds a bit laborious, basil is a fantastic place to get your garden started, and is one plant that might be persistent enough to outpace any discouragement. When I woke up to a potful of bare stumps - that had been a nice covering of new basil starts the day before - I figured it was re-seeding time. Whatever critter it was who visited, had won. But after some rain and a few days of neglect, the tiny forest is back! With a bit of attention and a grain of faith, I see some purple pesto in my summertime future. This list is far from complete, but gives you an idea the level of diversity available to suit your taste, both your palate and your exterior design palette: Sweet Genovese Napoletano Italian (or Curly) Large Leaf Lettuce Leaf Dark Opal Purple Ruffles Lemon Lime Holy (or Sacred) aka Tulsi Greek Greek Columnar Greek Yevani Spicy Globe Spicy Bush Cinnamon Summerlong Sweet Thai Siam Queen Green Ruffles Ararat Christmas Cardinal African Blue Pesto Perpettuo
Now might be a good time to let basil lead your Victory garden growing, with this ornamental medicine chest, or at least get to know some local farms with fresh basil. Localharvest.org can help you locate options and farmer markets when the food you want isn’t always in stock at the store. CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) weekly box delivery is another way to keep the fresh food flowing all summer - at a set price. Before we bolt, let’s talk about tops. Trimming your basil plant is key to getting full production and a heaping, months-long harvest. Trim tips early and often to gain girth and clip new flower buds off to forestall the eventual end of season blooms. When the time arrives, let plenty of flowers go to seed. They are tiny and black and we didn’t even get to the amazing coronary nutrition, minerals and dietary fiber these end-ofseason “extras” pack. They have a nutrition profile similar to chia seeds, so make a great alternative. https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/9-incredible-benefits-of-basilleaves-you-may-not-have-known-1834742 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/basil-seeds https://morningchores.com/types-of-basil/ https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266425 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/basil https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/antiviral-herbs http://Localharvest.org https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt5o1eCyAQ4 http://thevictoryseed.org/
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cannacian
annacian's o r n e r
[ka-nish-uh n] noun A phytocannabinoid caregiver having direct contact with - and responsibility for - medical patients; clinicians and counselors who are trained in the human endocannabinoid system and dispensing cannabis therapy.
By Michael Edward Browning
Is it Time to Grow Your Own? Hey all. Anyone else notice how beautiful it is here in God’s country? When a handful of individuals (with opinions and models) convinced the entire planet that grinding to a halt on their authority was a good idea, I went outside to catch my breath. And there in the sky was the sun, shining. Oklahomans were “fortunate” that independent business license holders operating cannabis dispensaries weren’t lumped in with, say, hair salons (and other small business owners whose livelihoods were not declared “essential”). OMMA patients have still been able to access medicinal herbs during this stress bomb. What if that weren’t the case? What if your access to medicinal herbs was up to you?
Could you do it? Are you up to the task? I’ll submit that you are.
CAREGIVER Magazine
The very most core concept for the absolute beginner is to get the experiment underway, get your grow started! Every season is a learning season for the home producer. Every day you spend time around your plants is a day of increasing knowledge, increasing communication, increasing growth. It all starts with your intention. Add in awareness of the other four factors and the dance begins.
You
The task itself is scalable. The simple formula outlined in 2018’s “Growing Your Own Medical Cannabis In Soil: 5 Core Concepts of Cultivation Success for the Absolute Beginner” you get to choose how big you go, how big you grow. 42
Remember the vigor of weeds. They’re naturals. Some of the tastiest flowers ever to cross my palate were crispy blossoms collected after a scattering of seeds in the dog days of August (onto sandy, parched ground). With a variable degree of attention to five items, everyone is guaranteed a variable degree of success at harvest time, indoors or out. There’s not one concept covered that outweighs the other four, but there is an integral reason to why the book is outlined with You right up front.
Any conditions will produce some results; it’s when we understand how we can improve the conditions for our plants that we learn how to help them thrive. Effectively, we partner with them (and many more microbial associates) in the dance to create the optimal results from the ingredients we are working with. Issue 11
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Grow big and get started today for well under $100 babies, of (under $50 in most cases). Here are the only five course! items you’ll need to grow two (or more) plants to flower this summer, besides your babies, of course! • 1 x Bag of Organic Garden Soil • 2 x Fabric Pots [you can always trust Oklahoma’s own Smart Pot™] • 2 x Saucer Reservoirs (Black plastic or “other of your own fashion”) KEEPING WITH A THEME, THERE ARE ONLY FIVE STEPS TO GET YOUR GARDEN UNDERWAY. 1. Place one Fabric Pot on each of the Saucers 2. Fill each Pot with half the bag of Gardening Soil 3. Place your clone (a rooted cutting off of another female cannabis plant) or seed start (baby cannabis plant you germinated in a damp paper towel) gently into the center of the Fabric Pot 4. Add water and light 5. Watch and listen to how they respond – as you activate their environment
Light Solar is my preferred option, #1. Absolute best spectrum for plant growth is the source outside. The Oklahoma weather dynamics on the other hand. Weather protected full sun is as good as it gets – and at just the right price. When it’s time to upgrade inside, the array is dazzling. LED, HPS, Induction, oh my! Your room and (up front plus ongoing) budget will dictate your selection. Talk with someone you trust, then maybe check their logic at another source before buying.
Water The relative alkalinity or acidity of your water, soil and amendments all factor into the root system’s nutrient uptake ability. Ultimately, pH will become important to you. Temperatures too (for optimizing). Most common rookie mistake is overwatering. Let the soil surface dry out and get the roots to work for it.
Air Outside, it’s weather and humidity throughout the cycle that is your main concern (drying out the plant or molding the flowers). Same thing inside, at least one fan is required – at a minimum. Sometimes venting and AC get involved in larger closed rooms. Temps essentially in the seventies Fahrenheit is what you’re aiming for, stress occurs in either direction outside that base range.
Soil Start out with a bag of whatever if it’s your first time. The more you grow, the more you’ll know about the Soil Food Web. Suffice to say that beyond salts, minerals and acids there are beneficial bacteria and helper microbes in there to become acquainted with, if you want to. Soil pH, bottled or bagged nutrients, hydroponics and other topics are deep wells of knowledge and theory to dive into. Entirely optional. “Bare bones” has amazed me time and again.
This easy, DIY approach helps even the helpless grow a green thumb! It’s got a built-in backup plan so that if you do manage to off one of your upstarts, this setup is “made for two”. There’s no rule about limiting your populations to one per pot either. Experiment! Use whatever size fabric pots, corresponding saucers and bag or amount of soil that suits you and your budget. Or, for the ultra low impact, Ruth Stout no-dig approach, toss some seeds in the yard, cover them with an inch or so of dirt and hose them down when it’s hot outside. Couldn’t be easier. Well, now that you have a basic overview of cannabis cultivation, you can see how very simple (and very complex) it can be! You really get to choose how much detail you wish to apply to your garden. Getting to know the guys from the gals is useful. Results, of course will vary, but you can almost rest guaranteed that you’ll come out with something usable by harvest time. Even if that’s only a few cups of tea. Disasters do strike, but the plant itself wants to succeed. It grows like a weed! Isn’t it time for program patients, like you, to exercise their privilege of a personal Victory Garden?
To help get you started in this herb gardening, simply send an email to contests@ CaregiverOklahoma.com to get an eBook version of “Growing Your Own Medical Cannabis In Soil: 5 Core Concepts of Cultivation Success for the Absolute Beginner” emailed back to you. Just please include “Growing” in the subject line. Find the services you need in Oklahoma at CaregiverNearYou.com
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Digestive Disorders and Pain Cannabis Therapy Q&A
A documentary that explores what it's like for families who are suffering from debilitating or life-threatening illnesses. For the Turners, it's Crohn's Disease - having to sacrifice everything in search of a treatment that actually works.
Wednesday, July 22, 2020 Noon
LIVE!
Film and discussion brought to you by:
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CAREGIVER Magazine
OPEN Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm
5300 N. Meridian Avenue, Suite 12, OKC Issue 11
CaregiverOklahoma.com
Longterm Care Options in Oklahoma
ASSISTED LIVING
— Brought to you by the Oklahoma Assisted Living Association —
ASSISTED LIVING A home or establishment that may provide assistance with personal care, medications, ambulation, nursing supervision and intermittent or unscheduled nursing care. They cannot provide 24-hour skilled nursing care. Licensed by Oklahoma State Department of Health Mainly Private Pay, LTC Insurance may cover , VA Aid & Attendance, & Tribal Benefits Medicaid Option through DHS (Advantage Waiver)
NURSING HOME A nursing facility that provides 24-hour skilled nursing care and related services for residents who require medical or nursing care. Nursing Home Care Act - October 1, 1980. Licensed by Oklahoma State Department of Health. Nursing homes provide the highest level of care. Options for Medicare/Medicaid
ADULT DAY CARE Provides health, recreational, social and supportive services to impaired adults for more than four hours per day. Participants do not stay in the center overnight. Adult Day Care Act - November 1, 1989 Licensed by Oklahoma State Department of Health VA allows respite benefits Medicaid Option through DHS (Advantage Waiver)
VETERANS CARE Created in 2013, this program is for residents who are veterans living in the state veteran’s centers. They are licensed as a nursing facility and can provide 24-hour skilled nursing care and related services for residents who require medical or nursing care . Falls under Nursing Home Care Act - May 29, 2013. Licensed by Oklahoma State Department of Health
CONTINUUM OF CARE Combines the services of a nursing facility with an assisted living center or an adult day care center. It is licensed under the Continuum of Care and Assisted Living Act and must also meet requirements applicable to nursing facilities, assisted living centers and adult day care centers. Licensed by Oklahoma State Department of Health Currently inOklahoma, all Continuum of Care’s only have assisted livings. Medicaid Option through DHS (Advantage Waiver) for Assisted Living and Adult Day Care.
RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES Provide residential accommodations, food service, and supportive assistance. May also provide assistance with meals, dressing, bathing, other personal needs, and medication administration. Cannot provide medical care such as skilled nursing. Residential Care Act - November 1, 1984 Licensed by Oklahoma State Department of Health A typical residential care resident is younger than other long term care options and only requires assistant with medication administration. NO Options for Medicare/Medicaid
INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING/HOME CARE Apartments, cottages, and single-family homes for seniors 55 & over who do not require assistance with daily activities or 24/7 skilled nursing but may benefit from convenient services, senior-friendly surround-ings, and increased social opportunities. NOT Licensed by Oklahoma State Department of Health. No oversight since they are not licensed. May have “High Acuity” that is receiving Home Health and or Hospice services.
For a list of OKALA Members Visit www.OKALA.org Become a member or for more information call 405-235-5000 45
Our Natural Rights and Freedoms By Denise Heath
As children, we learn right from wrong, mainly from our parents (then at school and at church). I learned at an early age that I did not like getting into trouble. In fact, I did everything I could to stay out of trouble. So one could say I was a pretty good kid. But I also liked to push the limits as far as I could - and more than once, that got me grounded. It felt like a life sentence, the worst possible punishment my parents could inflict upon me. I grew up aware of what I could do, and what I couldn’t do. My parents gave me the freedom to speak my mind, as long as I did so respectfully. They gave me the freedom to go anywhere I wanted - but I had to respect the rules of the house, which included a curfew. They let me be
a kid, act out, and be silly but not inappropriate. Over time, I learned that our country was founded on similar rules and regulations. We have natural rights and freedoms. And with that, we have limits and boundaries. If we do not follow the laws of the land, we can get into trouble. But very few nations enjoy what we have been given – the right to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I would like to think that most Americans know and understand their rights but we are seeing that this is no longer true. You can find videos on YouTube all day long of young Americans who cannot name a single Founding Father (let alone comprehend the Bill of Rights). And how could they? Civics has not been taught in our public schools since the 1970’s.
SO FOR THE RECORD, THIS IS A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
1. Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly,and petition. 2. Right to keep and bear arms in order to maintain a well regulated militia. 3. No quartering of soldiers. 4. Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. 5. Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, double jeopardy. 6. Right of accused persons, e.g., right to a speedy and public trial. 7. Right of trial by jury in civil cases. 8. Freedom from excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments. 9. Other rights of the people. 10. Powers reserved to the states. 46
CAREGIVER Magazine
Issue 11
CaregiverOklahoma.com
Would you like to read the Bill of Rights? Visit CaregiverOklahoma.com page 84. The Bill of Rights outlines ten key Amendments to the United States Constitution, ratified on December 15, 1791, 229 years ago. These rights are meant to protect us from the tyrants of the world, like Hitler, Mao and Stalin. Not only can our younger generations not generally name a Founding Father, most have no idea who the 20th century’s greatest mass murderers are. Most have heard of Hitler. Adolf Hitler was the leader of the National Socialist Party. National Socialists took over the economy of Germany and its means of production. Hitler implemented gun control, while proclaiming, “To conquer a nation, first disarm its citizens.” Nazis also nationalized healthcare, banned free speech, and put the state before God. Sound familiar to any of the platforms being pushed during these current times of universal basic income? This is how history repeats itself. In perhaps his greatest speech, A Time For Choosing, President Ronald Reagan said we are always but one generation away from losing our freedoms. Our experience with America’s COVID-19 response shows that we may be closer to that reality than we ever could have imagined.
“No power was given to Congress to infringe on any one of the natural rights of the people.” ~ Theophilus Parson [Editor’s Note: Younger generations of public officials (AND those who should know better) might be well reminded of U.S Code, Title 18 that addresses the actions of our public officials under the “Color of Law”. Section 242 of Title 18 makes it a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.
For the purpose of Section 242, acts under “color of law” include acts not only done by federal, state, or local officials within the their lawful authority, but also acts done beyond the bounds of that official’s lawful authority, if the acts are done while the official is purporting to or pretending to act in the performance of his/her official duties. Persons acting under color of law within the meaning of this statute include police officers, prisons guards and other law enforcement officials, as well as judges, care providers in public health facilities, and others who are acting as public officials. This point of law, perhaps fittingly brought up just after main stream media news channels completely ignored the recent proclamation on “Law Day” last May 1st, concludes rather punishingly for those in government who overstep: The offense is punishable by a range of imprisonment up to a life term, or the death penalty, depending upon the circumstances of the crime, and the resulting injury, if any. How will the courts assess (economically, personally, professionally) the “resulting injury” when relationships, careers, businesses, estates and human lives are lost as a result of their “official” actions? The court of public opinion is in session. What kind of judgment do you suppose is coming for those “officials” who have deprived us of our lives, liberties and our pursuit of happiness? Let us know what you think at CaregiverOklahoma.com/forums. youtu.be/qXBswFfh6AY A Time For Choosing www.justice.gov/crt/deprivation-rights-under-color-law www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamationlaw-day-u-s-2020/
“On Law Day, we celebrate the distinctive framework of our system of Government, which secures individual liberties and protects against arbitrary exercise of government power so that all citizens have their right and the freedom to pursue their American Dream.”
Find the services you need in Oklahoma at CaregiverNearYou.com
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