Impact Stories

Massage for Better Health Samantha Blaine enjoys an active life in Sun City West and wants to do what she can to keep health issues from slowing her down. For her, massage therapy through Sun Health’s Center for Health & Wellbeing is one of the “tools in the tool kit for health.” “As we all age, we have problems that crop up,” she said. “I’ve been having recent issues with tendonitis, edema and plantar fasciitis, conditions that are familiar to many seniors.” At her doctor’s recommendation, Samantha initially tried physical therapy, and the procedure that always had the most impact was the massage offered by her therapist. At the gym whirlpool, she also noticed that the pressure of the jets against her feet and legs improved circulation. As luck would have it, Samantha was volunteering at a community event where Sun Health was represented and offering free 10-minute massages. The idea of incorporating regular massages into her life through Sun Health, a familiar and trusted organization, just felt right. “With the Sun Health family, you can have confidence in the therapeutic massage services” she said, “You know that the procedures are medically based and safe, offered in a safe environment.” “Then I discovered Sun Health, I thought ‘This is what I’ve been looking for’,” she said. Samantha worked with her therapist Sally Springs on a tailored massage plan. “Sally knows what the issues are and what will help.” she said. “She’s cognizant of what I’m trying to achieve.” “Perhaps many people have a preconceived idea of what therapeutic massage is,” she said. ““It’s not a matter of only coming in to get a full-body massage. Massage can be very, very specific to a particular condition.” You can dictate what you want done. In my case, a lot of the massages

Finding the right fit for diabetes prevention Diabetes runs strong in Susan Hershberger’s family and she was determined not to go down that road.She had tried different programs, and nothing seemed to be a good fit for her. However after finding out she had prediabetes, her doctor told her about the Diabetes Prevention Program from Sun Health Wellness.The classes, the instructors and the camaraderie – along with Susan’s new determined attitude – were just what she needed to succeed.Today, she is grateful for the physical and mental changes as a result of the program.An added bonus? Planning a 19-day cruise along the Panama Canal with her husband Don and packing a favorite sparkly jacket that hasn’t always fit.“I have no trouble wearing it right now. I’m going to take it with me!” Susan said. Adopting a healthier lifestyle Sun Health’s Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) offers evidence-based education and support to guide those who have been diagnosed with prediabetes as they make healthy changes that can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Participants learn, practice and adopt a healthier lifestyle by implementing nutrition strategies, setting activity goals and problem solving. It is the first in-person Diabetes Prevention Program in Arizona to achieve full recognition status from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It’s also a covered benefit of Medicare and most insurance providers.The year-long program includes 16 core classes followed by monthly maintenance classes.Participants experience a range of successes through DPP. For some that means weight loss. For others, it’s establishing a new fitness routine. And for others, it’s finding social support during classes.Susan knew that finding the right program was important given her family history. Once she started Sun Health’s classes, she realized how severe the consequences could be if she were to develop diabetes.Her original goal of

Lorraine’s Road Back To Health with the Diabetes Self-Management Program At 65, Lorraine Roerig was the picture of health and it came as no surprise, because her entire life she had been healthy and very active, busy with everything from golfing, swimming to hiking. She enjoyed working part-time. And, her annual check-up confirmed how she felt: up for anything, including a wonderful 12-mile hike with friends. “I was telling my friends, ‘I’m 65 and here it is the best time of my life’,” Lorraine said. “And two weeks later, in May 2019, I ended up in the emergency room with sugar levels up over 1,100. They told me I never should have survived it.” Lorraine and her husband were shocked to discover that she had Type 1 diabetes, a condition normally diagnosed during childhood. In between that hike and hospital stay, Lorraine had been experiencing flu-like symptoms, but nothing could have prepared her for the unexpected diagnosis. The family immediately began researching the condition and looking for signs of any family history. On the recommendation of Lorraine’s doctor, Dr. Dipti Patel, they also turned to Sun Health’s Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) program.“I was very thankful and extremely grateful that there was somewhere I could go to get information,” Lorraine said. Boosting quality of life The DSME program is offered in a series of six classes through the Sun Health Center for Health & Wellbeing. The program has been proven to decrease A1c, control blood pressure and cholesterol and improve quality of life.Though most in Lorraine’s classes were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which is most common in adults and seen in children, she said she benefitted greatly from the discussions about eating right and balancing carbs. She also appreciated receiving an information-packed workbook that became a valuable resource. “It was

Keeping life balanced with acupuncture Jane Willis spent decades as an occupational therapist, helping others engage more fully in their lives. Now retired, Jane is focused on living a full life with the help of acupuncture and yoga offered through the Sun Health Center for Health & Wellbeing. Practicing yoga is key for stretching and fitness, Jane said. Monthly acupuncture helps round out her wellbeing. “I go for what I think of as tune ups, to stay in balance,” she said. Sun Health offers a wide range of services designed to help individuals live longer, healthier and more purposeful lives. For some, that may mean creating an individual exercise plan that improves physical health; for others, it’s learning new mindfulness and relaxation techniques for pain control. The center’s services run the gamut, including: acupuncture, nutrition, fitness, balance and mobility, weight management and massage. Before Jane retired, she enjoyed a long career that covered the lifespan, starting out in pediatrics and ending at Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center assisting senior citizens. Much of that career was spent in Iowa City. She moved to Arizona and has settled into a life filled with yoga classes, church, reading and giving back to the community through her volunteer work with the nonprofit Benevilla and P.E.O, a philanthropic organization. Jane first heard about the benefits of acupuncture in Iowa and has used it off and on over the years for pain management, stress reduction and low energy. Sometimes she has turned to acupuncture when she simply feels “out of whack.” “The whole idea is that at acupuncture points, energy – called chi – can get blocked and that’s what contributes to illnesses,” she said. She now seeks out acupuncture once a month with acupuncturist JoDee Chenaur at Sun Health’s Center for Health & Wellbeing.

New Road Map with Memory Care Navigator Program Bob and Sandi Johnson met on a blind date and married four months later. Soon, the couple was settling into their new life, focused on work, family and the picturesque Wyoming property they called home. That’s how it went for years. But life veered off course when Sandi began experiencing health problems, first diagnosed as lung disease and ultimately Alzheimer’s disease. By then, the couple was living in Arizona and Sandi’s primary care physician made a suggestion to help them on this new path: Sun Health’s Memory Care Navigator Program. The service is provided at no charge to clients through the generosity of Sun Health Foundation donors, and is supported by USAA, Sundt Foundation and the John F. Long Foundation. The navigator program is designed to assist clients, family members and caregivers as they make their way through the maze of emotional, psychological and physical effects of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The guidance is tailored to meet the needs of each client. For the Johnsons, that meant a wide range of assistance from program navigator Marty Finley, M.Ed. After an in-home assessment, she talked through everything from a respite program for Bob to gun safety in the home. “I realize there’s no roadmap for each person that has dementia, but at the same time there’s a lot of common threads,” Bob said. “Marty was really helpful.” The support and guidance from navigators like Marty help improve the lives of program clients in ways big and small, whether locating the right support group or having a caring shoulder to lean on in a difficult moment. Clients praise the program for all it offers at such critical times in their lives. Living a full life Married for 47 years, Bob and Sandi have enjoyed

Pat’s Road to Good Health After Pat Tierney had open heart surgery to replace his aortic valve, he knew keeping his weight down was vital. At the same time, he faced a pre-diabetes diagnosis. To meet the challenges ahead, he turned to the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) offered through the Sun Health Center for Health & Wellbeing. It was a life-changing decision. “I had never in my 70 years established eating discipline,” Pat said. “I ate whatever wasn’t moving. When I was younger I was an athlete and I could eat like a horse, not gain weight and not have any problems.” “The program was a personal education for me,” he said. Pat’s not alone. Every year, residents throughout the Sun Cities experience successes – large and small – through DPP. For some that means weight loss. For others, it’s establishing a new fitness routine. For still others, it’s finding camaraderie and social support during classes. The evidence-based education and support program guides participants to adopt healthy changes that can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Participants learn, practice and adopt a healthier lifestyle by implementing nutrition strategies, setting activity goals and problem solving. The year-long program includes 16 core classes followed by monthly maintenance classes. Healthy Jumpstart Pat’s journey with DPP began after reading about the program in Sun Health’s LiveWell magazine. Pat’s wife of 50 years had always watched her diet, but he had never been very disciplined when it came to healthy eating or watching his portions. He figured the program would be a good jumpstart, though he wasn’t crazy about the idea of a group setting. “Quite frankly I was anti-support group coming in,” he said. “I felt like it was more an individual thing. I had to have the willpower…That was my naive opinion.” But

Caregiving Help for Socorro Socorro Cerda’s days begin early in the mornings and become a blur of responsibility as she cares for her 85-year-old father, diagnosed with both Parkinson’s disease and dementia. Meals, medications, doctor’s visits, personal care, activities to keep her father content – the to-do list is never ending. But Sun Health’s Memory Care Navigator program helps ease the load. The program extends Socorro’s support network and provides vital information about community programs and services for her father, Bulmaro Carranza. What’s more, both Socorro and Bulmaro are Spanish speaking, and the availability of a social service expert through the program has been particularly important. “It’s very good, it’s a huge help,” Socorro said. The Memory Care Navigator (MCN) program, helps patients, family members and caregivers navigate the emotional, psychological and physical effects of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The service is provided at no charge, and is funded through donations to Sun Health Foundation. Socorro’s full-time caregiving journey began when her mother passed away and her father moved to Arizona from California to live with her family. The father Socorro once knew had changed. Gone were his upbeat personality, easy going nature, and love of cooking. With the dual diagnoses, he was easily upset and angered. Following difficult hospitalizations, her father required more and more care. A social worker’s referral during hospitalization to MCN was life changing for Socorro. She was encouraged to apply for a scholarship to cover the cost of adult day care, and now her father attends twice a week. The half-day breaks give Socorro time to herself, to catch up on things around the house or enjoy crocheting. Through MCN, Socorro also received guidance on applying for state-funded services that include transportation, meals, personal care and more for her father. By utilizing these services,

Support Helps Jim and Maria Navigate Memory Loss After 45 years of marriage, Jim and Maria Eagar had plenty of experience leaning on each other through life’s twists and turns. So as Maria’s Alzheimer’s disease advanced and her caregiving needs increased, it was only natural that Jim would be by his wife’s side caring for her almost entirely by himself. But a series of falls and a nighttime call to 911 changed all that. “I didn’t know what to do,” said Jim, recalling a particularly bad fall with Maria. Thankfully, the experts with Sun Health’s Memory Care Navigator Program knew exactly how to help the couple. Following an assessment, program navigator Marty Finley was able to make several referrals for community resources and suggested that Jim explore hospice care for Maria. The support and guidance have been invaluable for the couple – much the same way that help has improved the lives of so many other program clients. The navigator program is designed to assist clients, family members and caregivers as they make their way through the maze of emotional, psychological and physical effects of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The navigators work with clients and their caregivers to develop a plan of care tailored to their needs. Navigators also can serve as a liaison between clients and families, physicians, and community services. Navigators make home visits and are available by phone. Clients praise navigators like Marty for providing so many connections – and a caring shoulder to lean on – at such critical times in their lives. Dancing the Years Away Jim and Marty started their path together decades ago at a single’s dance. They dove into a whirlwind romance and six weeks after meeting, they were married. It was the second marriage for both, combining families and five

Health Makeover for Gladys Gladys Eckel knew the devastating effects of diabetes after watching several family members battle the disease. So when Gladys learned that she, too, had diabetes during a routine doctor’s visit, she was determined to take a different path. “I didn’t have any symptoms, but after the diagnosis I said, ‘I’m not going to allow this to take over my life. It’s not an option,” Gladys said. “My mother had her legs amputated…I’m not going down that road.” Fate intervened when she spotted a LiveWell magazine article about the Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) training offered through the Sun Health Center for Health & Wellbeing. The five-week program focuses on diet, nutrition, and other lifestyle changes to better manage the disease. For Gladys, it was a life saver. “I was really skeptical in the beginning,” she said. “But I stayed the course and in that timeframe, I learned a lot and thought, ‘Oh, this might just work.’ It’s been about two years now, and it is working.” DSME, a benefit under Medicare and most insurance companies, is designed to educate participants and help improve their quality of life. Considered a medical standard of care, the training is vital to managing the disease, said Tracy Garrett, the Center’s diabetes program coordinator and a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes educator. “Most of the individuals that I come in contact with are unaware of the magnitude of impact that behavior changes can have,” Tracy said. In addition to Gladys participating in the classes, she and her husband Ken began exercising daily and dramatically changed their diets. They have lost a combined 200 pounds, and Gladys was grateful for the education on diabetes she received from Tracy. Gladys also keeps a daily food journal, tracking calories, sugars and carbohydrates to help

Woody’s New Game Plan Woody Leach is no stranger to serious health issues, but a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes pushed him to the edge. “I freaked out,” Woody said. “I just totally freaked out.” He had seen his sister-in-law battle the more serious Type 1 diabetes and feared a similar fate to stay healthy. Uncertain about the road ahead, Woody and his wife Kathy turned to the Diabetes Self-Management Education training offered through Sun Health Center for Health & Wellbeing (CHW). It wasn’t long before Woody’s fears began to fade away. He credits instructor Tracy Garrett, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at CHW, who offered the perfect mix of education, patience and understanding. “I cannot stress enough how good she was,” Woody said. “The program taught me so much, it alleviated so much of my fear and anxiety.” In addition to diabetes, Woody has battled heart and kidney issues so reducing his anxiety is vital to his overall health. The DSME training was so beneficial that, with guidance from his physician, Woody was able to go off one of his blood pressure medications. “That was the main thing, learning that this is totally manageable,” he said. “It will have a less than critical effect on my lifestyle and things I like to do.” The five-week DSME training focuses on diet, nutrition and other lifestyle changes. A benefit under Medicare and most insurance companies, the program is designed to help participants better manage the disease and improve their quality of life. A physician recommended the training, and Woody reluctantly agreed to go with his wife. He also became a Medical Nutrition Therapy client at CHW. In short order, Woody could see the benefits of the training. The self-avowed “meat and potatoes guy” learned about the importance of changing

Bonnie’s Wellness Journey A nurse by training, Bonnie White faced down diabetes and a challenging weight loss goal. But she knew the road ahead would have obstacles. How could she continue to eat healthy? What was the best way to incorporate regular exercise? Would old habits sideline her success? To stay on course, Bonnie turned to Sun Health’s Center for Health & Wellbeing (CHW). “Even though I had lost weight myself, I knew that I needed some help with maintenance,” Bonnie said. “Because maintenance is actually more complicated, lifestyle-wise and emotion-wise. You’re changing your whole relationship with food.” Today, Bonnie is living a healthy and active life. It’s fitting that the new lifestyle came as a birthday surprise. Bonnie had already lost 100 pounds and lowered her A1C levels. “I lost half of my weight,” she said. Then, after reading a story about CHW in Sun Health’s LiveWell magazine, Bonnie picked out the perfect birthday gift for herself. She invested in her future with nutrition and fitness packages offered through CHW. Bonnie credits Susan Welter, registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes educator, for helping her stay focused on meal planning and nutrition. As important, Susan has helped Bonnie understand how to enjoy meals and give food less “power” over her life. “Susan’s been very perceptive in all ways, not just with her dietitian skills,” Bonnie said. Through education and determination, Bonnie has kept the weight off. Bonnie is also committed to staying fit with the help of Rhonda Zonoozi, Sun Health’s exercise physiologist and health coach. “I’ve gone to many classes over the years,” Bonnie said. “Rhonda actually prepares for the class…and she explains a lot about why you’re doing what you’re doing.” Walking an hour a day, Bonnie feels stronger, has built up muscle, and, as a result, has

Good Grief Grief Counseling Helps Those Who Have Experienced a Loss When Barbara Pigott’s husband Dave passed away in 2016, she felt profoundly numb. “I blocked out all of my feelings to get through the day. I functioned — I had to — but I wanted to block the pain,” Barbara says. The couple, who met on a commuter train, had been together for 33 years, all of them “wonderful,” according to Barbara. “Dave was very sociable, always wanted to help others and had a repertoire of jokes that could keep you laughing for hours,” Barbara says. He also was an avid golfer who enjoyed volunteering for the Sun City West Sheriff’s Posse. After her husband developed dementia, Barbara began to experience grief as she watched the man she adored slowly begin to decline mentally. Many times, she felt the urge to pull the covers over her head, stay in bed and forget about everything. But she persevered knowing that Dave would want her to keep going. “I had put aside most of my health concerns during the 10 years I was Dave’s caregiver, and now I had to take care of myself and look to my future alone,” Barbara says. Barbara, who is a member of Sun Health at Home, says she received a great deal of help and support from Jennifer Keiser, a Wellness Coordinator for the program. “She stayed throughout Dave’s memorial service and was with me the day I collected his belongings from memory care. Her presence was a great support during those difficult times,” Barbara says. Jennifer encouraged her to attend a grief support group offered by Rev. David Klumpenhower, corporate director of Spiritual Life at Sun Health Senior Living. As a certified grief counselor, Rev. David provides members of Sun Health at Home and