Artificial Intelligence Enriches Lives of
Elderly Patients in the Digital Age

BOSTON, Mass., May 30, 2018 – Making the right long-term care decision for a loved one is a challenging experience. Nearly 27 million people will need a long-term care solution by 2050, according to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor. Many of these individuals experience cognitive deficits. Caregivers are often at a loss about how exactly to support patients’ cognitive training.

Mobile App Breaks New Ground for Seniors
Enter Constant Therapy, a digital speech, language and cognitive exercise program that has been recognized by the American Stroke Association and AARP. This program allows users to conveniently access brain exercises from their phone or tablet while at home or in a healthcare facility. Today, the company is partnering with FirstLight Home Care to bring its software to non-medical caregivers for the first time.

The Boston-area digital health brand is particularly well versed with the elderly population as its median user is 64 years old. App users have completed more than 65 million brain exercises—creating one of the world’s largest health and wellness database of speech, language and cognitive exercises.

“Organizations are increasingly looking for the right activities to enrich the quality of elderly homebound clients’ lives. We’re excited to be using AI to enable ‘digital aging in place’ with FirstLight, since close to 90 percent of adults aged 65 and older prefer aging in their homes. We can facilitate a deeper connection between seniors and their non-medical caregivers,” said Veera Anantha, The Learning Corp. founder and creator of Constant Therapy.

Artificial Intelligence Helps to Standardize Elder Homecare
FirstLight Home Care facilities have become early adopters of the Constant Therapy digital platform—powered by its proprietary NeuroPerformance Engine.

Constant Therapy’s real-time advanced analytics mine global user performance data, scientific research, and each patient’s performance history to automatically recommend optimal tasks for each individual—and keep aging users engaged.

Non-medical caregivers can use Constant Therapy to provide clients with opportunities to practice memory, language and cognitive tasks from the convenience of a tablet or smartphone. Patients who need in-home support often struggle with dementia and cognitive declines associated with aging.

“With Constant Therapy, we are pleased to offer digital exercises to our clients. Many of our offices have reported that their clients are less anxious and more engaged as a result of using the Constant Therapy app to practice cognitive exercises. I’m pleased that the augmented AI provided by the app enables our clients to get personalized care at home,” said Devin Bevis, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Franchise Services, FirstLight Home Care.

About Constant Therapy
Constant Therapy—a product of The Learning Corp.— is an award-winning digital speech, language and cognitive exercise program that pairs perfectly with your cognitive and speech therapy. More than 100,000 evidence-based cognitive and speech language exercises across more than 80 task categories are available on the mobile app.

Thousands of clinicians at prominent institutions such as Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Moss Rehab, Genesis Rehab and the Stroke Comeback Center are using Constant Therapy as part of their speech therapy programs. More than 65 million exercises have been delivered to users in clinics and at home worldwide through the Constant Therapy app.

Exercises and reporting are HIPAA-compliant and delivered on Apple, Android and Amazon Fire devices. Look for Constant Therapy on an app store or visit www.constanttherapy.com to learn more.

About FirstLight Home Care
FirstLight Home Care provides compassionate non-medical home care, senior care and respite care to any adult in need. Whether it’s illness, injury, dementia, or just the challenges that come with old age, FirstLight can help.

World Heart Federation: Tobacco is Responsible For More Than One in Ten Deaths Caused by Cardiovascular Disease

Summer is finally here and the days of laying by the pool, beautiful hikes and beach fun are upon us. Unfortunately, the combination of the Summer heat and outdoor activities can lead to excess sweating. This helps keep the body cool down, but it can also lead to dehydration so instead of endless glasses of water opt for some healthy fruits and veggies. Incorporating these into your diet can add to your water intake and keep you hydrated all through the summer.

Dr. Christopher Calapai, D.O., an Osteopathic Physician board certified in family medicine, anti-aging medicine and chelation therapy has created a tip sheet of his seven favorite healthy foods to help fight dehydration.

1. Watermelon

• Watermelons contain around 92% water and one of the most hydrating foods out there. They can be a great alternative to snacks like pretzels, chips and peanuts. These popular snacks have large amounts of sodium and can make you more dehydrated.

2. Cucumber

• Cucumbers are about 96% water and they contain no saturated fat or cholesterol. They are high in Vitamin B6 helping to produce serotonin, which is the brain chemical that controls mood. I suggest making small cucumber-watermelon bites, which are both incredibly hydrating and delicious.

3. Strawberry

• Strawberries have the highest water content of any berry, 92% to be exact. This berry is a great source of vitamins C and K. You can enjoy the tart-sweet flavor without consuming too much sugar.

4. Cantaloupe

• This popular melon is 90% water and packed with rich flavor. One cup of cantaloupe provides 100% of the daily recommended values of Vitamins A and C.

5. Tomato

• Tomatoes are made up of about 95% water. Along with their sweetness they are perfect to take the place of higher calorie condiments. One medium size tomato contains only 22 calories.

6. Zucchini

• Zucchinis are 95% water and help to give you more energy. They also contain a good amount of potassium helping to reduce blood pressure. The veggie also promotes skin health giving a glow and restoring moisture.

7. Lemon

• While I don't think a lot of people enjoy eating lemons, adding them to water is a great way to change up a plain glass of water. Besides enhancing the flavor, lemons are a great source of vitamin C and aids in digestion.

Please let me know if you’re interested in featuring Dr. Calapai’s tips editorially. He’s also happy to elaborate on any of the tips!

I hope to hear from you soon!

Best wishes

Sarah

Sarah Gartner

Account Superlative

1. Couri Hay Creative PR
2. 212-580-0835

About the Doctor:

" src="blob:http://www.trainitright.com/ecd98824-2f2f-4592-b48c-569a87fa258a" alt="xxpublicxx:* * Current:>Social Life 2015:Sonja Morgan September_2015:JPG Sonja Morgan:DSC_3543-look004-C-Sonia-Morgan-NYC_©2015-VITAL-AGIBALOW.JPG" align="left" hspace="9" class="Apple-web-attachment Singleton">Dr. Christopher Calapai, D.O. is an Osteopathic Physician board certified in family medicine and anti-aging medicine. Proclaimed the "The Stem Cell Guru" by the New York Daily News, Dr. Calapai is a leader in the field of stem cell therapy in the U.S. His stem cell treatments have achieved remarkable results in clinical trials on patients with conditions as varied as Alzheimer's, arthritis, erectile dysfunction, frailty syndrome, heart, kidney and liver failure, lupus, MS and Parkinson's. He has worked with Mike Tyson, Mickey Rourke, Steven Seagal, and Gotham's, Donal Logue; and as a medical consultant for the New York Rangers. Connect with him via twitter @drcalapai or at www.drcal.net

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15 YEARS OF CANINE CELEBRATION!

WOOFSTOCK, NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST FESTIVAL FOR DOGS,

HOLDS ANNIVERSARY EVENT ON MAY 26^th& 27^thIN TORONTO

TORONTO – Woofstock, North America’s Largest Festival for Dogs, kicks off its 15^thAnniversary season with its annual event on Saturday, May 26^thand Sunday, May 27^that Toronto’s Woodbine Park. 2018 is guaranteed to be the biggest PAWty for dogs and their human companions, as Woofstock marks 15 years of canine love with 200 exhibitors, incredible attractions and entertainments, new additions, and opportunities to give back to local rescue groups. All of this has been wrapped in a retro twist with the theme of “Peace, Love, Woof” – looking back on the festival’s beginnings and how far Woofstock has come since its debut.

Woofstock began in 2003 and held its first event in Toronto’s Distillery District. From its very first year, Woofstock charmed many Torontonians with its focus and celebration of dogs. Within a few years, the festival outgrew two more locations in Toronto and gained its status as the largest dog festival in North America, welcoming hundreds of thousands of attendees over the years.

“We are thrilled to be celebrating 15 years of Woofstock and to have witnessed this festival becoming one of the most beloved festivals in Toronto and in North America,” says Teanna Lindsay, co-owner of Woofstock. “For our anniversary, we are encouraging all Woofstock attendees to embrace our ‘Peace, Love, Woof’ theme and dress up in nostalgic, vintage gear as a way to celebrate this milestone.”

In 2018, Woofstock will showcase 200 exhibitors, giving our guests the opportunity to learn about and shop many dog brands. Favourite activities and entertainments such as the Mr. and Ms. Canine Canada Pageant, Fashion Show, Wiener, Pug Chihuahua and French Bull Dog races, Doga (yoga for dogs), Children’s Village and many other Woofstock staples, will be returning to the festival mix.

New and exciting additions for this year include the Puppy Prowl race and a unique Kitty Korner sponsored by Whiskas, Iams, Crave, and Temptations, giving attendees an opportunity to experience all things for cats!

This year, Woofstock welcomes Open Farm as the Official Dog Food for the festival, who will be sponsoring the festival’s Off-leash area and VIP Lounge.

For the second year, proceeds from Woofstock ticket sales will be donated to all canine rescue groups in the festival’s Rescue Village. Last year, Woofstock donated over $25,000 to the cause.

With upwards of 100,000 dog lovers and four-legged loved ones in attendance last year, Woofstock is looking forward to making its 15^thannual festival the best yet.

EVENT DETAILS:

WHAT: WOOFSTOCK 2018

WHERE:  Woodbine Park (1695 Queen St E Toronto, ON M4L 1G7)

DATES & TIMES: Saturday, May 26^th10am to 6pm and Sunday, May 27^th, from 10am to 5pm

TICKET PRICE: $12 in advance (weekend pass); $15 at the event gates (weekend pass);                                      Children under 10 and Dogs are FREE.

***Proceeds from this year’s Woofstock ticket sales will be donated to all dog rescue organizations that have partnered with Woofstock in 2018.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:Please call 416-234-WOOF or visitwww.woofstock.ca

The Best Offense is a Good Defense for Optical Safety as Activities Move Outdoors

For Eyes Offers a Variety of Preventative Options for Athletes from Little Leaguers to Weekend Warriors

Miramar, FL (May 23, 2018)- With a rise in recreation over the spring and summer months, so comes the potential for increased eye injuries.

Sporting mishaps account for nearly 15 percent of the 2.5 million eye injuries in the U.S. each year, with children the victims of one-third of the accidents. The leading cause of blindness for children is trauma to the eye.

Yet only 15 percent of youngsters on the court or in the field are protected by proper eyewear.

Dr. Matthew J. Modderno, O.D., who practices Optometry in Norwood, Mass., and at the For Eyes location at 138 Nahatan St., says the most common injuries to children are cuts or lacerations to the eyelid or the eye itself.

“Sometimes you get a corneal abrasion,” Dr. Modderno said. “That’s pretty common. They scrape up against something, or the ball glances at them. Sometimes they run into another kid, and they scrape their eye against a uniform, or dirt or dust particles get into the eye. Those are the two most common ones. Less commonly, you’ll get a severe blunt trauma—like a ball impacting the eye. Then you’ll get the swollen eyelid, the internal inflammation and it’s a lot more serious."

“The adult eye can be a little more resilient in a way. Kids' eyes are more reactive. In general, if a kid is accidentally poked in the eye, it’s going to water up a little faster. They’ll be much more sensitive with it. Whereas the adult eye, in general, the older you get the less sensitive you get. If you get hit in the eye at age 50, depending on how hard it is and where it is, it will likely be less traumatic. But a kid's eye will blow up real fast.”

Most of the sports injuries Dr. Modderno treats at his practice stem from accidents occurring in baseball, lacrosse, basketball and hockey for children, as well as racquetball and squash for adults.

“As lacrosse has become more popular, those injuries are on the rise due to the close contact,” Modderno said, citing a litany of sources of possible injuries. “Traditionally, baseball and basketball—with the elbows and banging into each other at close proximity--you get a lot of elbows to the face and the eyes. That happens quite a bit. Any sport where there are small balls like tennis, and they’re not wearing headgear, that’s another one where you can see the tennis ball hit up against the eye.”

While 42 percent of eye traumas will result in a trip to the emergency room, nine out of 10 injuries could have been prevented with the appropriate eyeglasses or goggles. Polycarbonate lenses, which resist the impact from an object traveling at up to 90-miles-per-hour, are recommended.

“The challenge is trying to convince parents and kids that it’s a good idea,” Dr. Modderno said. “Most of the ones that don’t need vision correction will fight you a little bit. It’s kind of an uphill climb. In the sports where it’s a lot more dangerous, obviously, they’ve got the headgear in lacrosse and hockey, so they have something between them and the rest of the field when objects are coming at them."

“With corrected vision, they can avoid injury by being able to move quicker with improved reaction times, he added. “It helps them get out of the way and avoiding random injury.”

When enjoying outdoor activities for sports or leisure, protecting the eyes from the sun is paramount to achieving good optical health. Polarized lenses can cut down on both glare and harmful UV rays.

“Whenever a parent comes in, after we’ve completed the exam and fix their vision correcti

on needs, the next thing on my list to mention and strongly recommend is that adults and kids should have sunglasses—and not just inexpensive ones off the rack,” Modderno said. “Something of a decent quality that has

a polycarbonate lens. If they’re going to be active, they’ll have the protection. If they’re going to be outside for long periods of time playing sports, especially in the daytime, they’ll have UV protection and that’s pretty important."

“Patients usually think about sunglasses mainly when they’re going on vacation where they’re out in the sun, but they don’t think about it in their own backyard or out in the field all day where kids absorb the same amount of UV rays as adults.”

So whether its baseball, basketball, golf, tennis, soccer or any number of sports, good vision and proper corrective eye care is just as important as cleats, clubs, balls and rackets.

About For Eyes by GrandVision

For Eyes was founded in 1972 in Philadelphia, PA, on the foundation that an optical store should have a friendly open environment with fair pricing and high-quality standards. Throughout the years, For Eyes has grown to nearly 120 stores across the United States. In December 2015 For Eyes became a part of GrandVision, the global leader in optical retail. For Eyes leverage this global knowledge in eye care, technology and products, along with expertly trained ophthalmologists, optometrists and technicians to provide the highest level of expert vision care in each of its stores.

About GrandVision 

GrandVision is a global leader in optical retailing and delivers high quality and affordable eye care to more and more customers around the world. The high-quality eye care offered by GrandVision includes a wide range of services provided by its vision experts, prescription glasses including frames and lenses, contact lenses and contact lens care products, and sunglasses both plain and with prescription lenses. These products are offered through leading optical retail banners which operate in more than 40 countries across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia. GrandVision serves its customers in approximately 7,000 stores and with more than 36,000 employees which are proving every day that in EYE CARE, WE CARE MORE. For more information, please visitwww.grandvision.com.

Leave in or Rinse Out?

Which Conditioner is Right for Your Hair?

When it comes to hair treatments the conditioner we choose can really impact not only how our hair holds a style but it’s overall health and appearance. Most people feel overwhelmed by the number of conditioners available. Do I leave in or rinse out? Which conditioner is right for my hair type? How long do I leave it in for? How much should I use? To help us crack the code on hair conditioners we connected with Maya Smith, International Master of Natural Curls and founder of The Doux®, a haircare line created specifically for naturally curly hair which includes The Fresh Rinse® conditioner.

Below are the most common questions about hair conditioners with awesome insights and tips from Maya, where she lends over 2 decades of hands on experience as a stylist.

What are the benefits of a conditioner?

Conditioners help protect the hair from dryness and breakage by coating the hair shaft to help it retain moisture and softness. People tend to use it mainly for the added benefit of detangling hair however, it’s important to choose a conditioner that won’t weigh your hair down.

What are the benefits of a rinse?

A rinse unlike a conditioner doesn’t coat the cuticle of the hair. A rinse has a much thinner consistency and is in actuality a detangler.

Do I use a leave in conditioner or a conditioning rinse?

You can use both if your hair is dry, course, or color treated, however, fine hair or hair that tends to be porous should stick to conditioner only.

Should everyone with curly or kinky hair use a conditioner?

Yes. Conditioners help maintain the hair’s elasticity, or its ability to stretch and expand without breaking, which is essential for curly hair.

How long do I leave in a conditioning rinse?

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions start there. Every formula is different, so you want to be sure to use the product as directed to avoid under or over-conditioning. You can always leave it in a bit longer or switch to another conditioner specifically for the result you want to achieve.

What’s the best water temperature to use when rinsing it?

I prefer luke-warm to cool water, because it help the cuticle of the hair close during the rinse, which makes the hair shiny and sleek.

How much conditioner should be used for every inch of hair?

It depends on the density, or thickness of the hair. Again, follow the manufacturer’s directions on how much to apply. Many suggest the amount of a quarter however if hair is thinner or really thick you may need more or less.

What are some ingredients that can weigh hair down?

Oils and certain types of silicones can weigh hair down. However, some formulas include these ingredients intentionally, because of the smoothing effect that they create on the hair. This is why it’s important not to leave it in too long and to make sure to get it all out unless it’s a leave in conditioner.

What ingredients should be avoided?

I’m not a fan of petroleum jelly, or mineral oil. There’s a lot of controversy surrounding silicone, but what most people don’t know is that silicones get a really bad rap because they’re commonly associated with silicones found in products that aren’t made for your hair. Cosmetic-grade silicones like dimethicone actually creates slip, protects the hair from breakage, and helps the hair shaft retain moisture during the styling process.

What about conditioners for color-treated hair?

Some ingredients can break down artificial pigment in the hair, causing it to fade, look dull, or turn brassy. Make sure that the label says that the product is color-safe. You certainly want to switch to products formulated for color treated hair.

Can I dilute a regular conditioner with water and use it as a detangler?

You can, however, I recommend opting for a product that was intended to be a leave-in conditioner. This will help you avoid unnecessary build-up. Some people like to put a leave in conditioner mixed with water in a spray bottle and add it to their beach bag. After swimming they spray it in to make hair easier to comb through.

What are some mistakes people make when using a leave in or a rise out conditioner?

Over-conditioning is the most common mistake, because too much coating on the hair can cause dryness, brittleness, and ultimately breakage. Make sure you’re not leaving a conditioner in longer than 3 minutes unless the manufacturer instructs you to do so.

The Doux's Fresh Rinse Conditioner, sold at Target for $12.99, addresses the need for deep nourishment for wavy, curly or kinky hair without heaviness or build up. 

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About Maya Smith:

Maya Smith is an International Master Stylist and Founder of The Doux Salon and haircare line now available in Target. With over two decades of styling experience, Maya dedicated two decades to cracking the code on curl care, maintenance and expert styling. When it comes to caring for one’s natural hair and styling it, according to NaturallyCurly, Maya is among the best there is.

While still in high school, Maya got her hair cutting license and graduated from beauty school. Soon after graduating high school, Maya began following her passion and worked as an assistant for celebrity stylist Tracy Johnson. She learned from Johnson and progressed as a hair stylist for celebrities and entertainers. Years later the military wife would relocate to Germany, where Maya opened up her first salon The HoneyComb, a mecca for textured hair care for women from all over Europe, The UK, and as far as Africa. Maya's unique system of textured hair styling sparked the development of The DOUX® haircare products, first launched overseas, and distributed throughout Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Currently, Maya leads a carefully selected team of stylists at The DOUX® Salon in Macon, Georgia and celebrated the arrival of The DOUX® in select Target stores nationwide. Maya Smith, wife, mom of 5 and savvy business woman is an example not just for women of color but for all women who believe their gifts can impact the world, striving for entrepreneurial endeavors with grace, ease and hustle.

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