TOMS RIVER – Noting November is recognized as Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and Family Caregivers month, Ocean County public and law enforcement officials joined with state representatives to raise awareness about the importance of the newly implemented Silver Alert System.
“Law enforcement in Ocean County knows the importance of implementing programs that will help our older adults, their caregivers and the more vulnerable residents of the county,” said Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford. “Much like anything else though, unless people are made aware of the importance of Silver Alert it won’t do much to help those individuals that may go missing because of Alzheimer’s or a cognitive impairment regardless of age.”
Under the law, the state Attorney General established a “Silver Alert System” which provides a statewide system for the rapid dissemination of information regarding a missing person who is believed to be suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairment.
“The more eyes and ears you have aware of a missing person, the better,” said Ford, who was joined by Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari and 9th District State Sen. Christopher Connors at an awareness kickoff at the Ocean County Administration Building.
Ocean County Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari, who serves as Chairman of Senior Services in Ocean County, noted this program has special significance in Ocean County because of the large senior population that lives here.
“With more than 160,000 seniors living in Ocean County and with an increasing number of people 85 and over, it’s important that people are made aware of what Silver Alert means,” Vicari said. “We don’t want motorists to see the words Silver Alert on the overhead LED signs on Route 37 and not be aware of its significance.”
He noted it was also important to get the information out to caregivers, because these are the individuals who are charged with the safety and welfare of aging adults in Ocean County.
According to Sgt. Cindy Boyd of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, local law enforcement will be provided with training so the Silver Alert Program has positive results in Ocean County.
“When it comes to a missing person, you can never have too much information,” said Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Chief Michael Osborn, who helps oversee Ocean County’s Project Lifesaver Program.
In 2003, members of the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department with the support of the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders initiated a program that reduces the amount of time it takes to successfully conclude a search for a person who is lost in particular those people who have Alzheimer’s disease or suffer from other dementias.
Under the program Project Lifesaver, an individual is equipped with a bracelet that holds a transmitter. Each transmitter has a separate radio frequency that allows sheriff’s officers to hone in on a missing individual who is wearing a bracelet.
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Today, 52 individuals are equipped with these bracelets in Ocean County including 21 adults and 31 children. The program has had many success stories including 10 searches where the person was found within 10 to 15 minutes of being reported missing.
Silver Alert complements programs like Project Lifesaver, Vicari said.
“More than 50 percent of people who have Alzheimer’s can develop the tendency to wander. Many of them repeat their actions. If they are outside for more than 24 hours their chance of survival drops by 50 percent,” Osborn said.
“Because time is of the essence we want people to understand the significance of Silver Alert,” said Freeholder John P. Kelly, Director of Law and Public Safety. “We encourage family members and caregivers to contact their local police department immediately when aperson who suffers from some form of dementia wanders away.”
According to Silver Alert criteria, the person believed to be missing is believed to be suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairment regardless of age; a missing person’s report has been submitted to the local law enforcement agency where the person went missing; the person believed to be missing may be in danger of death or serious injury and there is sufficient information that a Silver Alert would assist in locating the missing person.
“There is a spirit of cooperation that will make this measure successful,” said Sen. Connors. “This law brings all the resources together to make sure we bring this individual – a mother, a father, a grandparent - home safely.”
Connors noted that New Jersey was one of 11 states to adopt the Silver Alert System.
Brick, NJ – The Brick Township Department of Parks and Recreation is proud to announce the following upcoming Brick Youth Club Events:
Movie Night featuring Alice in Wonderland starring Johnny Depp. Friday, October 22 at 7pm.
Halloween DJ Dance Party. Friday, October 29 at 7pm. Wear your costume!
Movie Night featuring The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Friday, November 5 at 7pm.
DJ Dance Party. Friday, November 12 at 7pm
Movie Night featuring Toy Story 3. Friday, December 10 at 7pm.
All Brick Youth Club movies and dances are held at the Civic Plaza, 270 Chambers Bridge Road.
Brick Youth Club Movies are open to all ages; under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Admission is free and free popcorn and beverages will be available. Seating is limited and will be filled on a first come first served basis. Registration is recommended. Call 732-262-1074 to register.
DJ Dance Parties are open to Brick Township students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades. Pre-registration by the Thursday prior to the dance is required. No one will be admitted without pre-registration. Call 732-262-1074 to register. Student must be picked up inside the Civic Plaza by a parent / authorized adult by 9:30 pm.
The Brick Youth Club is a component of Brick MAC. Formed in 2002, the BYC provides Brick Township residents between the ages of 12 and 18 additional opportunities to participate in enjoyable and beneficial activities in a drug and alcohol free environment.
The Brick Township Department of Parks & Recreation and the Brick Youth Club are hosting a special Dinner and a Movie for senior citizens on Friday, November 19, 2010.The event is free to attend and is open to Brick Township residents aged 60 and over.
A spaghetti and meatball dinner will be served to people in attendance by members of the Brick Youth Club.The dinner will include salad, dinner rolls, beverages and desserts.After the dinner, the 1954 classic There’s No Business Like Show Business starring Ethel Merman, Donald O’Connor and Marilyn Monroe will be shown.
“Our Senior Dinner and a Movie Nights are always well-attended and enjoyed by all,” said Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis.“It is always great to have events where different generations can spend time together.”
Seating is limited for this event.Anyone wishing to attend should call 732-262-1076.The maximum reservation is 8 guests.
Mayor Acropolis has a word of thanks for Oscar’s Pizzeria and Leisure Park for their support of the event.“Oscar’s and Leisure Park are graciously donating the food for this evening,” said Mayor Acropolis.“We are fortunate to have a great business community that is very supportive of our programs and events.Without them and businesses like Oscar’s and Leisure Park, we wouldn’t be able to hold events such as this.”
People who attend the event are asked to bring a donation of canned dog and cat food.The food will be given to the Jersey Shore Animal Center and to the Township’s Trap Neuter Release Program.
The ‘wet’ form of age-related macular degeneration accounts for approximately 10 percent of cases, but results in 90 percent of legal blindness.
Discovery Shows Promise To Restore Lost Vision
September 14, 2010
Adapted from the University of Nebraska Medical Center
Adult stem cells within the retina may be chemically induced to regenerate photoreceptors and restore vision in people with conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a research study at UNMC shows.
The research, which was done on mice and rats, is reported in the August 26, 2010 edition of PLoS One.
The research represents the first indication that the retina can be repaired from within by its own cells. It would be a significant departure from transplantation of stem cells, which is now being studied for restoring lost vision and brings with it a variety of concerns such as immune rejection and the source of cells.
"It's a tantalizing stem cell approach to correct vision loss ... to harness existing stem cells and coax them into repairing the retina," said Iqbal Ahmad, Ph.D., professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences for UNMC and the lead investigator on the study. "Before, stem cell transplantation was regarded to be the only practical way to restore vision. This is a radically different approach, and best of all, it is relatively safe and free from controversy."
The degeneration of photoreceptors, cells in the retina that capture light, is the cause of vision loss in AMD and RP. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for photoreceptor degeneration.
Dr. Ahmad and his team, led by Carolina Del Debbio, Ph.D., a postdoctoral associate, have activated adult stem cells taken from the retina with a combination of chemicals and peptides.
A small proportion of the activated stem cells migrated to the location of dying photoreceptors and differentiated into photoreceptor-like cells. An accompanying result was that rats that were chemically treated demonstrated a transient but significant improvement in light perception.
Preliminary results suggest that the improvement in light perception is likely due to the regeneration of photoreceptors, but further studies are needed to confirm it, Dr. Ahmad said.
Disclaimer:The information provided in this section is a public service of the American Health Assistance Foundation, and should not in any way substitute for the advice of a qualified healthcare professional and is not intended to constitute medical advice. Although we take efforts to keep the medical information on our website updated, we cannot guarantee that the information on our website reflects the most up-to-date research. Please consult your physician for personalized medical advice; all medications and supplements should only be taken under medical supervision. The American Health Assistance Foundation does not endorse any medical product or therapy.
Some of the content in this section is adapted from other sources, which are clearly identified within each individual item of information.
These devices often resemble a pen and have the means to remove and replace the lancet after each use, allowing the device to be used more than once (see Figure 1). Due to difficulties with cleaning and disinfection after use and their link to numerous outbreaks, CDC recommends that these devices never be used for more than one person. If these devices are used, it should only be by individual persons using these devices for self-monitoring of blood glucose.
The shared use of fingerstick devices is one of the common root causes of exposure and infection in settings such as long-term care (LTC) facilities, where multiple persons require assistance with blood glucose monitoring. Risk for transmission of bloodborne pathogens is not limited to LTC settings but can exist anywhere multiple persons are undergoing fingerstick procedures for blood sampling. For example, at a health fair in New Mexico earlier this year, dozens of attendees were potentially exposed to bloodborne pathogens when fingerstick devices were reused to conduct diabetes screening.
Use of Fingerstick Devices on More than One Person Poses Risk for Transmitting Bloodborne Pathogens
Single-use, auto-disabling fingerstick devices:
These are devices that are disposable and prevent reuse through an auto-disabling feature (see Figure 2). In settings where assisted monitoring of blood glucose is performed, single-use, auto-disabling fingerstick devices should be used.
Summary:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has become increasingly concerned about the risks for transmitting hepatitis B virus (HBV) and other bloodborne pathogens to persons undergoing fingerstick procedures for blood sampling -- for instance, persons with diabetes who require assistance monitoring their blood glucose levels. Reports of HBV infection outbreaks linked to diabetes care have been increasing1,2,3. This notice serves as a reminder that fingerstick devices should never be used for more than one person.
Background
Fingerstick devices are devices that are used to prick the skin and obtain drops of blood for testing. There are two main types of fingerstick devices: those that are designed for reuse on a single person and those that are disposable and for single-use.
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP)
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
CDC CLINICAL REMINDER
Recommendations
Anyone performing fingerstick procedures should review the following recommendations to ensure that they are not placing persons in their care at risk for infection.
Fingerstick devices should
never be used for more than one person.
Auto-disabling
single-use fingerstick devices should be used for assisted monitoring of blood glucose.
These recommendations apply not only to licensed healthcare facilities but also to any setting where fingerstick procedures are performed, including assisted living or residential care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, clinics, health fairs, shelters, detention facilities, senior centers, schools, and camps. Protection from infections, including bloodborne pathogens, is a basic requirement and expectation anywhere healthcare is provided.
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Transmission of hepatitis B virus among persons undergoing blood glucose monitoring in long-term-care facilities – Mississippi, North Carolina, and Los Angeles County, California, 2003-2004. MMWR 2005;54:220-223.
2. Patel AS, White-Comstock MB, Woolard D, Perz JF. Infection Control Practices in Assisted Living Facilities: A Response to Hepatitis B Virus Infection Outbreaks. ICHE 2009;30(3):209-214.
3. Thompson ND, Perz JF. Eliminating the Blood: Ongoing Outbreaks of Hepatitis B Virus Infection and the Need for Innovative Glucose Monitoring Technologies. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2009;3(2):283-288
How do you know how many calories you should consume in a day? The answer depends on several factors: gender, age, activity level, metabolism, current weight, and goal weight. In this Health Alert we explain how to calculate your basal metabolic rate (BMR).
The more muscle mass you have, the more calories you need to maintain it. That's why men usually need more calories than women, younger people more than older people, and active people more than sedentary people.
Age robs you of muscle. Beginning at age 45, the average person loses about 10% of his or her muscle mass (1/3 to 1/2 lb) each decade. This muscle tissue is replaced with fat, which burns far less calories than muscle. Also, your metabolism slows down as you age, so your body requires fewer calories.
That's where activity comes in. Exercise can speed metabolism, burn fat, and increase muscle mass. It also lets you eat a bit more without adding pounds or to lose weight without starving. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Dietary Guidelines for Americans outlines three activity levels to help decide how many calories you should be getting:
Sedentary: Lifestyle includes only light physical activity associated with typical day-to-day life
Moderately active: Includes physical activity equivalent to walking about 1.5 to 3 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per hour, or 30 to 60 minutes a day of moderate physical activity, in addition to daily activities
Active: 60 or more minutes a day of moderate physical activity in addition to daily activities.
To determine calorie intake, dietitians use a formula known as the Harris-Benedict principle to assess a person's basal metabolic rate (BMR), which is the amount of energy your body needs to function while at rest.
Step 1: Calculate Your BMR. Women: 655 + (4.3 x weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) - (4.7 x age in years)
Men: 66 + (6.3 x weight in pounds) + (12.9 x height in inches) - (6.8 x age in years)
Step 2: Adjust for Activity. If you are bedbound: Multiply your calculated BMR by 1.2 If you are sedentary: BMR x 1.4 If you are moderately physically active (some planned exercise/ walking most days): BMR x 1.5 If you are very physically active: BMR x 1.6
The resulting number is your targeted calorie intake to maintain your weight.
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·2010 Nutrition & Weight Control White Paper The evidence is overwhelming: a diet abundant in nutrient-rich foods can be a powerful tool in preventing disease. Maintaining a healthy weight through a combination of diet and exercise is known to lower the risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, and many kinds of cancer. In the Nutrition and Weight Control White Paper, nutrition and weight control experts from Johns Hopkins show you how to follow a balanced diet, and to lose unwanted pounds safely, and keep them off. Get facts, not fads, to help you stay healthy and lose weight. 96 pages.
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The Brick Township Department of Parks & Recreation is offering Kick Boxing Classes for residents age 18 and over.Kick Boxing provides a cardiovascular workout consisting of jabs, hooks, uppercuts and kicks.The program is designed to get you on your way to a leaner body and a healthier state of mind.No equipment is used and gloves are not required.
The fee is $50 per person, per 6-class session.Classes are held on Wednesday evenings from 7pm – 8pm at the Civic Plaza, Chambers Bridge Road.
Sessions are as follows:
Session 4: October 20, October 27, November 10, November 17, November 24, December 1
Session 5: January 5, January 12, January 19, January 26, February 2, February 9
Session 6: February 16, February 23, March 2, March 9, March 16, March 23
Students can sign up for more than one session.For more information please call 732-262-1075.
The Township Council adopted an ordinance authorizing the township to secure bonds to pay for the cap and closure of the former French’s Landfill on Sally Ike Road.The closure was mandated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
“This is an historic day for our community and it has been a long-time coming,” said Mayor Stephen Acropolis.“These bonds will allow us to finally close the biggest open sore in our community.We made a promise that we would close this landfill and today we are keeping that promise.”
The Township expects the closure of the landfill to cost in the vicinity of $12 million.The Council authorized up to $15 million in bonds. The closure will include the clearing of vegetation, the installation of membrane over portions of the site and the use of fill materials.It will be done in accordance with an EPA-approved closure plan.
“We are confident that we will complete the closure well under $15 million, but want to be prepared if there are any unforeseen circumstances,” said Mayor Acropolis.“Again, the EPA told us that we must close the landfill.If we don’t, they will close it and will make our taxpayers reimburse them for up to three times the cost.”
The Township is going to apply to the Local Finance Board for a waiver of the 5% down payment that is required when municipalities seek bonds.That 5% must be raised in the municipality’s operating budget.
The Township is also going to seek funding from the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust for the project.NJEIT funding is typically 75% with no interest and the remaining 25% at ¼ of market interest.
“We have been aggressive and very successful in seeking and securing grants to help pay for a number of projects we are working on,” said Council President Anthony Matthews.“We will continue to do so as it is the right thing for our taxpayers.”
French’s Landfill is a 42-acre site that is situated between the Garden State Parkway and Sally Ike Road.It was operated for over 30 years.The Township of Brick bought the site in December 1973.It last accepted waste in April 1979.In 1983, the landfill was placed on the Superfund National Priorities List.For more than 25 years, the site has been the subject of extensive testing and monitoring.
The Township is now working on a plan to construct a solar panel field at the site that would be capable of producing anywhere from $2.5 million to $4.5 million a year in revenue for the taxpayers.
“We are looking at the best use for the site and which use would provide the best return for our taxpayers,” said Mayor Acropolis.“The solar panel field is an exciting plan and will provide millions of dollars of much needed revenue.Plus, it would have the benefit of turning a brownfield into a greenfield, which is being encouraged throughout the state and our nation.”
The Brick Township Department of Parks & Recreation offers a number of Early Childhood Program. Register now for the following programs:
MOMMY AND ME (ages 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 - walking) - Mom or Dad and child will create a variety of crafts and creatively express themselves through songs in a one-hour class. Classes held Thursdays at 9am or 10am. 6 week session fee $40.
FIRST TIME ON MY OWN (ages 2 1/2 - 3 1/2) - Children will create a variety of crafts and express themselves through song, finger plays and activities in a one-hour class. Classes held Thursdays at 11am, 12pm or 1pm. 6 week session fee $40.
PLAYGROUP (ages 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 must be potty-trained) - Children develop learning and social skills while exploring arts & crafts and joining in games. Classes held Tuesdays 9am-11am or 12pm-2pm. 6 weeks session fee $40.
KINDERCISE (Ages 2 1/2 - 3 1/2) - Shared activities with Mom or Dad that will stimulate and help develop large motor skills. Classes held Mondays 9:30am-10:30am. 6 week session fee $40.
DANCING BEARS MUSIC (ages 6 weeks - 4 years) An early childhood music and movement program, each class is a world of discovery and adventure. Fee includes CD, book and tote bag. Classes held Tuesdays from 11:30 am - 12:15pm. 6 week session fee $70.All classes held at the Civic Plaza, 270 Chambers Bridge Road. Call 732-262-1044 for more information and dates of sessions that are available.
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