Q&A WITH EILEEN SILVERBERG, AUTHOR OF THE NEW BOOK
A WARRIOR OF LIGHT: A GUIDE OF INNER WISDOM FOR CHALLENGING TIMES
Question: Tell us what A Warrior of Light is all about:
Eileen Silverberg: A Warrior of Light tells the story of my journey as caregiver for my mother after her diagnosis with Alzheimer’s, and all the lessons I learned along the way. It unpacks how I worked through feelings of guilt, bitterness and overwhelm to a place of joy. Through A Warrior of Light, I hope to guide all types of caregivers as they face the challenges that come with the role, and help them to relinquish self-sabotage, deepen their spiritual practices, engage in self-care, and ultimately find their own “Inner Warrior.”
Q: What prompted you to want to write A Warrior of Light?
Silverberg: Four years ago, I decided to move my mom, Tuti, from her natal Puerto Rico to Miami, Florida, where I have lived for over twenty years with my husband and daughter, so I could care for her as her Alzheimer’s progressed. Being an only child without any family members living in the same state put an incredible amount of pressure on me. I didn’t have any idea at the moment I made the decision to move my mom that I was about to develop an extreme amount of courage and transform my own life. Eventually after a lot of spiritual searching, I found a place of peace with my caregiving journey, and I wanted to share that with others.
Q: What exactly makes someone a “Warrior of Light?”
Silverberg: The meaning of a warrior is “a brave or experienced soldier or fighter.” A Warrior of Light is that person, that soldier, who takes her role as a servant leader with intention. Who wants to shed light into her own life as well as those she loves. Who feels entrusted to lead and care for their flock but also to care for herself. A Warrior of Light is the one who trains everyday and can go to be strong for those depending on them and herself. A Warrior of Light is the one who knows and expects to get their bums kicked but also knows they are strong enough to get up to care for those who can not care themselves. A Warrior of Light is the one who works persistently and patiently without giving up for the well being of their loved ones. A Warrior of Light is the one who holds the light in the midst of adversity.
Q: In the book you talk a lot about Ho’oponopono. What is this, and how did it help you?
Silverberg: Ho’oponopono to me is a philosophy of life. It has made my spiritual doctrine more meaningful. It is known by Hawaiians as the healing practice of forgiveness. It is a practice that calls you into viewing all that happens around you as 100% your responsibility. It encourages us to discover the Divine essence within us. Ho in Hawaiian means to “do” and Pono means “correct” In Hawaiian when two words are double, it means you must emphasize the action.
Thus, to do correct, virtuous, just, honorable. In order to remind us of our divine essence, some words, mantras are meant to be repeated to trigger that best version of yourself.
Q: You also talk about self-care, but say it is more than just taking a bubble bath from time to time. What do you really mean by true self-care?
Silverberg: All my life I have been interested in what makes people thrive under challenging circumstances. I came to understand that the power lies in the courage to take care of our needs first. Of having the courage to say YES to ourselves more often. When we give permission to say YES to ourselves more often the results are extraordinary. It is so refreshing and liberating to release the people pleaser and perfectionism syndrome. Self Care is about taking the decision to care for your mental, body and spiritual being. Self Care starts by creating rituals and routines to allow yourself to fill up your cup with balance in order for you to serve as a leader in your home, work, or community in a healthy, powerful way.
Q: You talk a lot about breaking down “generational customs” in relation to caring for aging parents. Talk to us about that, and how it relates to your own experience.
Silverberg: We tend to do many things because that is the way we are told to do them. In my experience, I needed to honor my Mother, my family and myself. Researching, contemplating and deciding on other ways or venues of care for my mother was and is against what people, specially, the Latin culture views as correct. “As loving, as being a good daughter.” I want to break those patterns. These are patterns that must of the time we teach our children and they go from generation to generation. Most of the time, these patterns are taught to our children through guilt and shame. Deciding to find a place for my mom was difficult, painful but there is no question due to her debilitating condition, it was necessary and the best decision for us. The key is knowing and understanding what lies behind your intention. If it is love most likely you are divinely guided.
Q: Deciding to place your mom in a home was a difficult decision, but you say you know you made the best choice. How can others determine what the best choice is for their own family member in a similar situation?
Silverberg: First, their diagnosis. The progression of their illness (can she walk, can she be attended to in your home, if there is any aggression). What the future looks like for your parents and for you and your family. Second, Your professional life. Third, how often do you travel? I do not endorse placing your parents in a skilled facility but I do endorse that we must allow and give permission to explore all available options that are available to us without guilt, without shame.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from A Warrior of Light?
Silverberg: That courage has a certain behavior. Sometimes it is loud as a roar and sometimes it is silent. That a Warrior of Light has the great responsibility and the assignment to listen well to our call and mission. In moments like this, we are called to practice empathy with those we love and with ourselves, that we must create hope within reason to those we love, and that our intentions must be watched and evaluated at all times. I want my readers to know that it is possible to get up from a battle and redefine joy and happiness. I want my readers to know that mind set matters in all we do. In order for us to rise from difficulties, and rise as Warriors of Light we must show up well for ourselves and those we love. I want my readers to know that when we are entrusted with difficult challenges we must remind ourselves of our strength and our vision and our loving intentions.
EILEEN SILVERBERG is a Life Coach in Emotional Management. Her mission is to help those who are struggling with life event transitions & crisis to recuperate control of their lives. Through her powerful methodology people can deal, manage, and balance their life in a more positive and healthy way. Eileen has been taking care of her mother with Alzheimer’s for over seven years and has taught and presented lectures for the Alzheimer’s Association on self –care and meditation practices. She felt inspired to write A Warrior of Light after experiencing deep physical and mental benefits integrating her unique methodology. Eileen became a skillful meditation leader for professional caregivers. She has successfully conducted on-going sessions for staff in the most highly ranked nursing and rehabilitation nursing centers in South Florida.
She is the founder and creator of E.S. Being Aloha Soul Meditation, which mixes movement with meditation. In 2018, E.S. Being Aloha Soul Meditation was granted it's own trademark. When she isn’t inspiring other caregivers, she works in the two luxury wine boutiques that she and her husband own in Florida and enjoys going to the beach, hiking, traveling, and playing with her two Chihuahuas. She hopes that her readers will learn to release the guilt, forgive themselves, and act with love and kindness towards themselves and the one they care for.
ChristianaCare develops telehealth Employee COVID-19 Symptom Monitoring and Testing Program for businesses and employers
Easy-to-use program allows employers to take proactive, responsible step to ensure workforce safety as they open for work (Wilmington, Del. – June 8, 2020) To help America get back to work safely as restrictions begin to ease from the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, ChristianaCare has developed a new virtual telehealth service for businesses and employers that provides daily monitoring of employees for COVID-19 symptoms, testing, if needed, and care for employees who test positive.The Employee COVID-19 Symptom Monitoring and Testing Program is designed to increase safety and ease anxiety in the workplace by effectively monitoring employees’ health. For employees, it offers the convenience of access to a registered nurse to discuss their symptoms and the opportunity for a tele-visit with a provider.The program relies on ChristianaCare’s COVID-19 Virtual Practice and its award-winning CareVio care management program for daily bi-directional, secure text messaging.“The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated ChristianaCare’s digital and virtual transformation in ways we could never have imagined, and today we are delivering highly coordinated care through telehealth and virtual visits,” said Sharon Anderson, RN, BSN, MS, FACHE, chief virtual health officer at ChristianaCare and president of CareVio. “By using the Employee COVID-19 Symptom Monitoring and Testing Program, employers can take a proactive, responsible step to ensure the well-being of their workforce and be confident they are partnering with an experienced and trusted health care team that has successfully monitored patients remotely for many years through our CareVio care management program.”Currently, 12 employers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Louisiana and Arizona are using the ChristianaCare Employee COVID-19 program. These companies range from construction and transportation firms to health care facilities and nursing homes. All told, the program is monitoring nearly 5,000 people.“This partnership has been truly amazing,” said Brian Di Sabatino, chief executive officer of EDiS Company, a construction management company headquartered in Wilmington, Del. “We have approximately 80 employees who are managing hundreds of tradespeople over dozens of sites. The implications for shut-downs due to COVID-19 are massive. We sought out a partnership with ChristianaCare to control the one area of risk we could control – the decision to come to work healthy. By educating our employees and subcontractors about the symptoms of the virus, giving them a tool to securely review potential warning signs and a confidential relationship with a nursing staff, we think we are dramatically eliminating the potential for spread of the disease. Right now, all our employees are being enrolled, and we are rolling this program out to our subcontractor base.”How the program worksPrior to the start of work each day, employees receive a text message in English or Spanish with a few screening questions related to coronavirus symptoms. If employees indicate they have no symptoms, they receive an “All Clear” text that it is safe to report to work. If they indicate they have developed symptoms, they will receive a message that they are “Not Cleared” and should not report to work. A registered nurse from the CareVio team will reach out for further evaluation.If the nurse identifies positive coronavirus symptoms, employees are urged to see a provider in ChristianaCare’s COVID-19 Virtual Practice through a tele-visit or visit their own primary care provider. If employees choose the COVID-19 Virtual Practice, they may be sent for a test. If the test is positive and they have symptoms of coronavirus, CareVio will monitor them several times each day to make sure they are improving. If symptoms progress, CareVio will arrange for another tele-visit with the COVID-19 Virtual Practice.“Since the pandemic, the COVID-19 Virtual Practice and the CareVio team have provided invaluable support to patients, especially those who may not need hospitalization, but need monitoring at home to ensure they are managing their symptoms appropriately,” said Sarah Schenck, M.D., medical director of the COVID-19 Virtual Practice. “With the use of our video visit platform, we are able to deliver high-touch, high-tech care right from the convenience and safety of the patient’s home.”The COVID-19 Virtual Practice began mid-March 2020 within ChristianaCare’s Center for Virtual Health. Through June 1, the practice has conducted more than 2,536 virtual visits with more than 2,070 patients.Begun in 2012, CareVio is ChristianaCare’s population health management program that monitors chronic disease patients at home with the use of audio, video, secure texting and biometric devices. CareVio is responsible for the care management services of more than 110,000 lives through state and private contracts. In 2017, the program earned the John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award, the nation’s preeminent recognition for quality and safety in health care. Since the start of the pandemic, CareVio has monitored 5,300 patients, with nearly 2,600 video visits and 308,000 follow-up text messages through June 1.To find out more or to connect with the program, visit the Employee COVID-19 Symptom Monitoring and Testing Program website.About ChristianaCare Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, ChristianaCare is one of the country’s most dynamic health care organizations, centered on improving health outcomes, making high-quality care more accessible and lowering health care costs. ChristianaCare includes an extensive network of outpatient services, home health care, medical aid units, three hospitals (1,299 beds), a Level I trauma center and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, a comprehensive stroke center and regional centers of excellence in heart and vascular care, cancer care and women’s health. It also includes the pioneering Gene Editing Institute and was rated by IDG Computerworld as one of the nation’s Best Places to Work in IT. ChristianaCare is a nonprofit teaching health system with more than 260 residents and fellows. We are continually ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Hospital. With our unique CareVio data-powered care coordination service and a focus on population health and value-based care, ChristianaCare is shaping the future of health care. Learn how we deliver greater quality and value at https://christianacare.org.
COVID, Recession, Unemployment, Race Riots, and An upcoming Election.
Do You Need A Therapist? These 5 Signs Point to Yes
COVID, Recession, Unemployment, Race Riots, and an upcoming election -- 2020 has set out to stress out even the most stable minded among us. Even those full of optimism cannot help but become depressed or anxious during one or more of these circumstances and need help beyond what a trusted friend or loved one can provide.
So many of us right now may be asking ourselves -- "Am I in need of a therapist?" How can we tell when it is time to find a professional to help us process the things we are going through? To walk us through some of the signs we should be observing, we have Dr. Sanam Hafeez, who is an NYC-based licensed clinical psychologist with a faculty appointment at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher's College. Dr. Hafeez is also the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services.
Here are five signs you may benefit from working through some of your stress and anxieties with a therapist:
You are indulging is high-risk coping conduct.
You are not abnormal if you develop coping mechanisms that are not always the healthiest. Many people struggle to find healthy and productive ways to unravel their issues, and this doesn't mean they are bad people, or that their stress cannot be soothed. If you find yourself, masking or ignoring your core issues, by medicating with sex, drugs, alcohol or other behaviors that put you or people you love in harm's way, you may find that therapy can provide tools for you to help with pivoting your experience in a more positive direction. Anytime you attempt to "escape" your problems with substances, or momentary pleasures, you are just shortly forgetting about them. But our issues have a way of resurfacing until we deal with them and find a more hopeful approach to life.
You are sleeping too little or too much.
Grief and depression can often sink someone into a mental space where the thought of getting out of bed, working, or even enjoying themselves is a farfetched concept. For other people, stress, anxiety, and emotional turmoil can manifest in the other extreme of the spectrum. These people cannot fall asleep. They tuck themselves in only to find their mind active into late hours of the night revisiting issues repeatedly. So they get up and start cleaning, working, or distracting themselves on their phones for hours into the next morning. Again, oversleeping or distracting ourselves so far that we don't sleep at all is a coping strategy that we must observe and work through. Therapy can help you better understand your thoughts and as well as the reasons why sleep has become such an issue. Through therapy, you can address the core situation, helping you relieve yourself of side-effects that could be caused by too much sleep or too little rest.
Most of your mental energy goes into focusing on your flaws.
2020 is difficult enough without you constantly counting your shortcomings. If your moments of thought are saturated with self-doubt, remorse, and self-disparagement, therapy can help you navigate some of the things that you have not had an opportunity to work through. Perhaps you find yourself drifting off into negative thoughts and self-disparaging inner monologues, and this can be a sign that you've fallen into a cycle of self-defeating consciousness. A therapist can listen to your perception of yourself and talk through some of the ways in which you can break this cycle of what can often become self-sabotage.
You are physically manifesting the turmoil you feel inside.
If you find that you are a healthy person but have fallen into feeling physically fatigued, faint, and or experience stomach aches, twitches, or trembles when certain situations or topics arise, you can benefit from speaking to a therapist. Therapists screen patients to see if perhaps there are signs of chemical imbalances that may be causing these physical reactions and sensations. It is important once you make the decision to start therapy that you are honest with your doctor about the physical manifestation you are experiencing. A good therapist will ask purposeful questions as part of your onboarding that helps in assessing some of these occurrences.
You are overwhelmed enough that you neglect your duties or loved ones.
The human mind has a finite supply of energy, and the weight of our issues can lead us to neglect things we know we are capable of accomplishing. This can wear down your stamina, your effectiveness, and your ability to focus. You can find yourself preoccupied to the extent that you become forgetful and nervous. This can affect your work, your family, and your goals. A therapist can help you find ways of centering yourself and process the things that are crowding your thoughts. With as stressful a year as 2020 has been, our minds can easily be overwhelmed with concern for the economy, issues pertaining to social justice, health-risks and pandemic, and the state of the environment, to name a few.
Why is there such a stigma about realizing you could benefit from consulting a therapist?
Dr. Hafeez explains that we are living through some of the most stressful times in modern history. "Self-care and mental health go hand in hand and right now our psychological state is under pressure not just because of problems in our personal lives, but also with the current state of the world. It isn't the time to keep yourself from something you think you may benefit from, such as therapy, because of stigma," explains Dr. Sanam Hafeez. There is a perception that going to therapy makes you weak or crazy, but Dr. Hafeez flips this notion saying that "having the determination to deal with your issues instead of letting stress overwhelm you is a brave thing to do." Seeking therapy is a self-loving action to take.
About Dr. Sanam Hafeez:
Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD is an NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens.
Dr. Hafeez masterfully applies her years of experience connecting psychological implications to address some of today’s common issues such as body image, social media addiction, relationships, workplace stress, parenting and psychopathology (bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, etc…). In addition, Dr. Hafeez works with individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), learning disabilities, attention and memory problems, and abuse. Dr. Hafeez often shares her credible expertise to various news outlets in New York City and frequently appears on CNN and Dr.Oz.
Find Therapeutics, a new drug development company dedicated to breakthrough therapies against rare diseases launches in Montreal
The new company raises initial capital to develop transmembrane peptides against GPCRs to address high unmet needs.
Canada – [June 8, 2020]: CTI Life Sciences, along with partners adMare BioInnovations, Domain Therapeutics and PeptiMimesis Pharma, have come together to establish a new Montreal-based drug discovery and development company, Find Therapeutics, dedicated to the development of the next generation of GPCR allosteric modulators to treat rare diseases.
Now being launched with seed funding from CTI Life Sciences, adMare BioInnovations and Domain Therapeutics, and with an initial focus on inflammatory and fibrotic diseases of the airways, liver and gastrointestinal systems, Find Therapeutics is based on a set of novel technologies that capitalize on deciphering disease-modifying GPCR pharmacology: modulation by transmembrane peptides, precise ligand signalling, disease-contextual cellular systems and advanced molecular design. GPCRs represent one of the most important druggable target classes, yet their full potential remains underexploited due to poor understanding of their cellular signalling.
“We are very excited about building this new company based on an innovative approach to discover transmembrane GPCR drugs. We believe this approach will enable the discovery of new therapies that we will first apply to rare disease indications,” said Dr. Laurence Rulleau Partner, CTI Life Sciences Fund, and President, Find Therapeutics. “We are also very proud of this partnership with members of the life science ecosystem bringing together multiple talents.”
Find Therapeutics sourced an original transmembrane peptide-based-technology developed by PeptiMimesis Pharma in France, and a first transmembrane peptide product discovered at the University of Illinois in Chicago. The company will also benefit from bioSens-AllTM, a proprietary GPCR technology platform of Domain Therapeutics, operated by its Montreal-based site, which revolves around the spatiotemporal monitoring of GPCR proximal events directly linked to GPCR activation. The result is a unique drug discovery engine that forms the foundation of Find Therapeutics.
Gordon C. McCauley, President and Chief Executive Officer of adMare BioInnovations, commented, “As Canada’s global life sciences venture, an essential part of adMare’s mission is to source therapeutically and commercially promising research from leading academic and biotech partners to create new companies of scale. This global partnership is an excellent example of how our model of collaboration is advancing new therapeutics and driving the growth of our Canadian life sciences industry.”
“We are extremely pleased by the creation and financing of Find Therapeutics, which will use two technologies, developed under the leadership of Domain Therapeutics in France and in Quebec, to discover a novel class of therapeutic agents for the benefit of the patients,” said Dr. Pascal Neuville, Chief Executive Officer of Domain Therapeutics. “As a major shareholder of PeptiMimesis Pharma, we are convinced that the transmembrane-peptide approach will be efficiently further developed in the rich biotech ecosystem of Montreal, a region which holds very valuable actors in the field –and the incorporation of Find Therapeutics is a nice illustration of this dynamic.”
Dr. Marjorie Sidhoum, Chief Executive Officer of PeptiMimesis added, “As the first developer of the GPCR transmembrane peptide technology, PeptiMimesis is glad to see the advancement of this innovative therapeutic approach pursued by Find Therapeutics. All PeptiMimesis stakeholders are very excited to join this endeavour.”
Dr. Youssef Bennani, Chief Scientific Officer of adMare BioInnovations, will also act as Find’s Interim Chief Executive Officer of the company. Dr. Bennani brings a solid experience in pharmaceutical R&D, as well as business acumen and corporate governance tenure (Chairman of the BOD at Domain Therapeutics, and Board member at Bellus Health). Trained as chemist, he most recently retired from Vertex Pharmaceuticals as Site Head and VP-R&D (Vertex Pharmaceuticals Canada), prior to which he had served as VP-Drug Innovation at Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Cambridge, MA. He also had tenures at Athersys, Abbott (now AbbVie) and Ligand Pharmaceuticals. He can be reached at ybennani@findtherapeutics.com.
Based in Montreal, CTI Life Sciences Fund L.P. was created in 2006. The firm makes venture capital investments mostly in innovative high-quality biotech companies at the pre-clinical and clinical development stages, in North America, and primarily in Canada. Since its second mandate in 2014, CTI Life Sciences Fund manages $245 million of assets. www.ctisciences.com
About Domain Therapeutics:
Domain Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of new drug candidates targeting G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs), one of the most important classes of drug targets. With teams at work in France and Canada, Domain operates multiple technologies aimed at validating targets and discovering first-in-class therapies (small molecules or antibodies), creates a pipeline of high-value programs in immuno-oncology, neurology and rare diseases which are developed as proprietary programs up to early clinical phases or in collaboration with pharma partners. www.domaintherapeutics.com
About adMare BioInnovations:
adMare BioInnovations is Canada’s Global Life Sciences Venture, building the Canadian life sciences industry from sea to sea. We do this by sourcing therapeutically and commercially promising research from leading academic and biotech partners to create new companies of scale, providing specialized expertise and infrastructure to help existing companies scale up, and driving the growth of those companies into Canadian anchors by training the next generation of highly-qualified personnel. www.adMarebio.com
About PeptiMimesis:
PeptiMimesis is a start-up company dedicated to the identification and development of peptide based therapeutic approach as allosteric modulators of membrane receptors such as RTK and GPCRs. Its proprietary technology acts via a cutting-edge mode of action and is originated from University of Strasbourg. PeptiMimesis made the demonstration of its added value particularly for the family of GPCR targets. www.peptimimesis.com
Majority of people expect government to make environment a priority in post COVID-19 recovery
Emerging markets top of the list when it comes to call for action and threat to health
Paris, France June 5, 2020 — Three in four people in 16 major countries expect their government to make protection of the environment a priority when planning a recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, according to a global Ipsos poll conducted to mark World Environment Day.
In a survey of 16,000 people from May 21 to 24, a majority of people in all 16 countries agreed with this action with the highest support in emerging markets of China (91%), India and Mexico (89%), Brazil (85%), and South Africa (84%).
Disagreement over making the environment a government priority in a COVID-19 recovery is highest in Germany (36%), South Korea (29%), Japan and Russia ( 27%), the United States and Canada (23%).
Added to this, there is a view the environment is a personal priority for people with half of the respondents disagreeing that protecting the environment is far down on their list of priorities right now. This sentiment is highest in many European countries including Germany and France (67%), Mexico (65%), Spain and South Africa (60%).
Those that believe protecting the environment is not a top priority right now are most likely in India (67%), Italy (65%) and Russia (58%). People most divided on this issue are in the U.S. with only 1 percentage point separating those that see it as a top priority from those that don’t, followed by Australia and Japan (4).
Environmental threat to health
In terms of how seriously people view environmental issues, more than four in five respondents globally say issues such as pollution, degradation of nature, deforestation, overfishing and climate change pose a serious threat to our health and well-being today.
This sentiment is highest again in the developing countries of China (93%), Mexico (91%), South Africa (90%), India and Italy (88%). Meanwhile, the U.S. has the highest number of people that disagree with this threat at 17%, followed by Australia (16%).
Overall, people feel a strong responsibility to ensure their generation does not destroy the planet for the next generation. Agreement with this sentiment is close to 80% and over in all of the countries with China (92%) and South Africa (91%) at the top.
These are the results of an Ipsos survey conducted May 21st to 24th, 2020 on the Global Advisor online platform among 15,951 adults aged 18-74 in Canada and the United States and 16-74 in Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, South Korea and the United Kingdom. Where available, tracking results from previous studies conducted through March and April, as well as selected results from February, are referenced by date.
The sample for this study consists of approximately 1,000 individuals in each country. The samples in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea, the U.K. and the U.S. can be taken as representative of these countries’ general adult population over age 16 or 18 (as above) and under the age of 75. The sample in Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa is more urban, more educated and/or more affluent than the general population and should be viewed as reflecting the views of the more “connected” segment of the population. The data is weighted so that each market’s sample composition best reflects the demographic profile of the adult population according to the most recent census data.
Where results do not sum up to 100 or the ‘difference’ appears to be +/-1 more/less than the actual, this may be due to rounding, multiple responses or the exclusion of don't knows or not stated responses. The precision of Ipsos online polls is calculated using a credibility interval with a poll of 1,000 accurate to +/- 3.5 percentage points. For more information on the Ipsos use of credibility intervals, please visit the Ipsos website (www.Ipsos.com).
Poor People’s Campaign calls for day of fasting & focus to mark upheaval in-country
The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival is calling for a National Day of Fasting and Focus on Monday to call Americans to repent of systemic racism and turn toward the work of building a more just and loving society for all people.
Bishop William J. Barber II, campaign co-chair and president of Repairers of the Breach, said the campaign seeks not merely a fasting from food, but also a national fasting from systemic racism, systemic poverty, the denial of health care and from other death-dealing policies.
"We must dedicate ourselves to breathing life into our Constitution and its promises and refuse to accept a civility that covers up injustice,” Bishop Barber said. “The very life of our democracy is at stake. Not the democracy that is, but the democracy that could be.”
The upheaval in the country has shown the power of social justice movements, said Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, director of the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights and Social Justice and co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign.
“People across race, across geography, across age have seen that we cannot be silent anymore,” she said. “It is only when the people organize in radical and bold ways that we can build a society that actually takes care of the needs of the people.”
The campaign is asking people to stand still wherever they are at 5 p.m. Monday, June 7, and be still and focus for eight minutes and 46 seconds -- the amount of time that an officer held his knee on the neck of George Floyd, killing him on Memorial Day. They will then be asked to read a litany that the campaign will share on social media.
After that, Rev. Barber will speak to the nation from Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro, North Carolina, where he is the minister. You can watch listen to his sermon here: https://www.facebook.com/anewppc/
People should also remember Ahmaud Abery, who was shot and killed by armed white men as he jogged in Georgia in February and Breonna Taylor, who died in March after she was shot eight times by police who used a battering ram to invade her apartment. As a sign that our collective repentance is real, people will also be invited to dedicate themselves to stay engaged, to vote, to hold elected officials accountable and to work for a moral agenda that addresses historic wrongs and policies that perpetuate inequality.
On Sunday, June 6, the campaign will hold a national interfaith service to recognize the more than 100,000 Americans who have died from COVID-19, especially poor and low-income workers. While President Trump wants to divert attention away from the pandemic and to his misinterpretation of protests in the streets, the Poor People’s Campaign will insist that the country doesn’t forget those who died.
The service will be co-led by Revs. Barber and Theoharis and Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Imam Omar Suleiman and Valerie Kaur. It can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/greenleaf.c.church/
The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, is building a generationally transformative digital gathering called the Mass Poor People’s Assembly and Moral March on Washington, on June 20, 2020. At that assembly, we will demand that both major political parties address the interlocking injustices of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, militarism and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism by implementing our Moral Agenda
Temporary Isolation Can Be TheOpportunity To Permanently Transform Your Weight And Health
Los Angeles, CA, June 5, 2020 ̶ Not sure how to eat and stay healthy this quarantine season without resorting to your familiar diet of spaghetti, bread, pizza, and sugar? Candice Rosen, R.N., MSW, and author of the upcoming book Forget Dieting: It’s All About Data-Driven Fueling! encourages "trophology," or "food combining," which is one of the foundations of Rosen's Data-Driven Fueling Plan. As you combine foods, Rosen adds that "monitoring blood glucose is the key to weight gain vs. weight loss; good health vs. poor health."
1. Make Wednesdays and Fridays Vegan Days. According to Rosen, avoid dairy! Try vegan yogurts, cheeses, and milks. Dairy is inflammatory and will deplete your bones of calcium (it’s true!). There are unsweetened milks of almond, hemp, cashew, etc., and all are available in grocery stores. A low blood glucose breakfast idea would be a sprouted grain English muffin, spread with a tofu or nut-based cream cheese, some sliced tomatoes, and topped off with sea salt or Trader Joe’s Everything But The Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend.
2. Eat fruits that are high in fiber. Apples, bananas, oranges, berries ̶ the list goes on! You will still want to avoid sugary fruit juices, as well as very sweet fruits like pineapples and mangos while trying to lose weight. Fruit is always eaten alone with two exceptions: they can be added to a vegan smoothie and they can be eaten with a nut or seed butter. These healthy fats reduce the chance of a blood glucose spike.
3. Nothing white. To lower blood glucose, do not eat or combine animal proteins with any white potatoes, bread, rice, or pasta… EVER. Sorry!
4. Eat More Sweet Potatoes. Think wholesome, nutritious, responsibly grown, pancreatic-friendly foods (food that doesn’t raise your blood glucose) like sweet potatoes and yams, which are an incredibly nutritious carbohydrate that are low in sugar levels and provide fiber. They’re best consumed baked or steamed, but can also be cooked in a variety of other ways. A great lunch or dinner option (and it is inexpensive) is a baked sweet potato, split down the middle with a large spoonful of black beans, a tablespoon of tomatillo salsa, and a side salad. To lower blood sugar, eat them with veggies and plant-based protein together… NOT MEAT!
5. Try Fish. Give your body a break from animal protein. Red meats increase inflammation and provide poor sources of fat. However, if you crave protein, try fish! For those who aren’t allergic, fish is a fantastic source of protein that’s low in carbohydrates and contains high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, one of the few consumable healthy fats! If consuming fish raw, remember only sashimi-style – no white rice! To lower blood sugar, combine fish with veggies, not starches or fruit.
About the author:
Candice P. Rosen, RN, MSW, CHC, is a registered nurse based in Los Angeles, CA. As the founding member of Gilda’s Club Chicago and its first executive director and program director, she created and coordinated a diverse array of wellness-related programs. She was appointed by Mayor Richard Daley to serve as Chair of Healthcare Initiatives for Chicago’s Sister Cities International Program (CSCIP). CSCIP provided an opportunity to advocate for preventive medicine, improve maternal and infant healthcare, stress disability access, promote nourishing diets, and bring awareness to the obesity and diabetes epidemics that now affect populations on a global level. She is married and the mother of four adult children and grandmother to a precious granddaughter. For more information on Candice, please visit https://candicerosenrn.com.
Experts Offer Insights Into the Mental Health Effects of COVID-19 at Virtual Conference
TORONTO, June 7, 2020 /CNW/ - Leading Canadian and U.S. experts in disaster psychiatry coached health-care providers and first responders on how to recognize and manage COVID-19-related mental health trauma, including in children and those who have lost loved ones.
More than 900 people from 19 countries attended the webinar organized by the Ontario Medical Association and Disaster Psychiatry Canada on Saturday.
"Disasters are usually local and sometimes regional, but COVID-19 is an unprecedented modern era disaster causing global mental trauma," OMA President Dr. Samantha Hill said. "The OMA is proud to host this international forum that examines the significant mental health effects of this terrible epidemic and how to provide assistance to those who are struggling."
This was the OMA's third annual Psychiatric Dimensions of Disaster conference. The concept was developed by Dr. Frank Sommers, a child survivor of the Holocaust from Hungary and former President of the Ontario District Branch of the American Psychiatric Association.
"As many participants here today said, getting through COVID-19 is like running a marathon. It is very important to pace ourselves and remember to stay connected on an emotional level. Social support will help us all to take care of each other, and ourselves," Dr. Sommers said.
Dr. Janet Ellis, Director of Psychosocial Care in Trauma at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, said that people who lost loved ones during COVID-19 are especially vulnerable to acute stress because of the lack of social supports and religious and social rituals. She said it takes about six months to process and mourn a death and stressed that people shouldn't be told to pull themselves together or think positively, or that their loved one wouldn't want them to grieve.
Dr. Frederick J. Stoddard, Jr., Chief of Psychiatry Emeritus at Shriners Hospitals in Boston, said that preschool children are attuned to and affected by their parents' emotions. "Try to stay calm around them," he urged. "Turn off the TV, computers and smart speakers when they are around. They will hear things or see images that are potentially scary. Try turning handwashing or wiping surfaces a playful game."
Children in Grades 1 to 6 can understand more about infectious diseases so parents can explain that the COVID-19 virus is like the cold or flu virus, and that by staying home from school or work, people are preventing the spread of COVID-19. This age group may also become clingy and demanding, which is a way of expressing fear. He suggested this is not a time to tell them to "grow up" even if the behaviour is frustrating. "They may need more time with you – reading to them, watching a TV show together, drawing or playing," said Dr. Stoddard.
The first Psychiatric Dimensions of Disaster conference took place on April 21, 2018, two days before the Toronto van attack that killed 10 people and injured 16. Several Toronto-based attendees used their newfound skills to help victims on the scene and in the aftermath.
About the OMA The Ontario Medical Association represents Ontario's 43,000 plus physicians, medical students and retired physicians, advocating for and supporting doctors while strengthening the leadership role of doctors in caring for patients. Our vision is to be the trusted voice in transforming Ontario's health-care system.
SOURCE Ontario Medical Association
Leaked Audio Recording Reveals Nothing has Changed at Sienna Senior Living Corporation
Union reiterates demand for real change and the end to for-profit delivery of long-term care in Ontario
RICHMOND HILL, ON, June 4, 2020 /CNW/ - SEIU Healthcare, the union that represents over 60,000 frontline healthcare workers in Ontario, joined with families and workers in Woodbridge who are demanding real change and an end to the for-profit delivery of long-term care after a leaked audio recording reveals the disdain that Sienna nursing home executives have for the pain and grief of resident families.
During a telephone town hall with resident families at the Woodbridge facility, Sienna Senior Living delivered prepared talking points in a transparent attempt to rebuild its corporate image after failing to keep workers and families safe during COVID-19. Before exiting the call, executives were overheard mocking and ridiculing the concerns of families.
Following the disturbing call, the long-term care corporation issued a press release that included no substantive change and no real action to address the underlying conditions that contribute poor nursing home conditions.
The failed experiment of for-profit delivery of long-term care must come to an end.
Statement from Anthony Manieri, whose 55-year-old sister Lucia lives at Sienna Woodbridge Vista Community Care with Multiple sclerosis (MS) and is now COVID-19 positive:
"I'm here today to speak for our family members and residents of Woodbridge Vista Care Community who can't speak for themselves. Shame on Sienna Living, its Board of Directors, and Joanne Dykeman the VP of Operations, who during a policed town hall meeting last night danced around questions from family members concerned about operations, only to realize once the town hall meeting was finished that Ms. Dykeman didn't fully end the session and referred to us as those "blood sucking class action lawsuit people," followed by personally ridiculing family members who asked questions."
Statement from SEIU Healthcare President, Sharleen Stewart:
"I would call on VP Dykeman to resign, but that wouldn't change the fact that at the end of the day companies like Sienna are simply not in the business of care.
Yesterday Sienna issued a meaningless press release that includes no financial resources to improve dangerously low staffing levels for better resident care.
Yet Sienna continued to pay out over $15,000,000 in dividends to shareholders during the first four months of the pandemic.
If Sienna is open to a real investigation and real change, they should call on Doug Ford for a full public inquiry and agree to testify in front of a judge."
SEIU Healthcare represents more than 60,000 healthcare and community service workers across Ontario. The union's members work in hospitals, homecare, nursing and retirement homes, and community services throughout the province. www.seiuhealthcare.ca
SOURCE SEIU Healthcare
For further information:
For media inquiries, contact: Corey Johnson, SEIU Healthcare, Head of Strategic Communication, 416-529-8909, c.johnson@seiuhealthcare.ca
4 Athletic Injuries You Shouldn't Try to Push Through on Your Own
Athletic injuries can range from mildly irritating to completely demobilizing. Training through certain injuries or leaving them untended can lead to chronic pain conditions, permanent nerve damage and even arthritis later in life. If you're an active individual, it's important to research common types of sports injuries and how to prevent them. While you may not be able to fully avoid every twist or sprain, you can learn about how to identify different injuries and know which ones require medical attention ASAP.
Stress Fractures
When you try to lift too much weight, muscle tears occur. Similarly, if you put too much pressure on one of your bones, a stress fracture happens. These are microscopic breaks that most often affect the legs. Commonly known as "shin splints," stress fractures in the lower leg are often caused by performing high-intensity exercises too quickly or without adequate endurance training. If you feel any pain touching the area or it worsens when you apply pressure or hop up and down, stop all physical activity and see a doctor. Failure to recover from stress fractures makes you more vulnerable to a full break, which requires casts, bedrest and possibly corrective surgery.
Runner's Knee
Patellofemoral pain syndrome, commonly known as "runner's knee", develops when the cartridge in the kneecap is damaged from overexertion and causes pain, typically by rubbing against the femur. Runner's knee can take up to five months to resolve with treatment; if you push through it and ignore knee pain, you could suffer lifelong pain and further wear away the cartilage. It's best to engage in physical therapy and get new exercise recommendations from your doctor until you recover.
Achilles Tendon Injuries
The Achilles tendon connects your calf muscles to your ankle. Many people mistakenly think that this type of injury always leads to crippling pain, so they could never possibly ignore it, but this isn't the case. Achilles injuries can also be mild, marked by tightness, swelling or a small bump on the heel. Working out with an achilles tendon can slightly alleviate the pain, which makes it tempting to keep training through it. Extended use can lead to a chronic condition called Achilles tendinosis or a full tear, which requires surgery. If you suspect you have anything wrong with your Achilles tendon, speak to your doctor right away. Most cases can be resolved easily through physical therapy at an injury rehab clinic.
Hamstring Strains
If you ever experience sudden spasms of pain in the upper leg or buttocks, you may be suffering from a muscle tear. The tears can be extremely small or large enough to sever attachment to the bone. Most tears are uncommon, but strains or pain in the upper legs should be addressed with a physician. Developing a strong core and engaging in exercises that don't put too much stress on your legs will help prevent hamstring injuries.
Just because your body can pull off an exercise does not mean it's prepared to perform or recover from it. Protecting yourself from sports injuries can be done with pre- and post-workout stretches, proper posture and endurance training. Always build up your routines, and never try to do more than you know your body can handle.
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