FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com june 9, 2016 • The QUEE NS COURIER 41 FOR THE HEALTH OF IT Health and Financial Fitness Expo returns to excited crowds Story and photos by Stephen Vrattos Unseasonable cold and soggy weather did little to keep back the flood of attendees who descended on Towers on the Green catering hall at North Shore Towers on the morning of Friday, June 3, to enjoy the semi-annual Health and Financial Fitness Expo. And it’s no wonder. With thirty tables, featuring health professionals from every sector, offering free advice on the latest advances, innovations and important changes in the field; giveaways; coffee, juice and pastries; as well as a raffle with hundreds of dollars-worth of prizes, the semi-annual event has become one of the most anticipated of the year. As previous, the highlight was the speakers. Dr. Kevin Pak from the Orthopedics department of New York-Presbyterean Queens presented the keynote address, “Assessment of Fall Risk.” As people age and lose strength and mobility in their limbs, the issue of falling becomes a grave concern, one that should not be taken lightly. Fortunately, Queens residents no longer have to travel to Manhattan to obtain world-class Orthopedic advice and treatment. And Dr. Pak was quick to point out that New York-Presbyterean Queens “treats patients conservatively,” concentrating their efforts on keeping patients away from surgery unless absolutely necessary. With a podiatrist as the Keynote, it was only fitting that Michael Schwartz of venerable Eneslow Shoes speak of the biomechanical principles of house slippers, delighting the crowd with his examples of walking correctly and in correctly while wearing footwear designed without ankle support, such as slippers and clogs. While answering a question on the benefits of support hose from an audience member, Schwartz showed off his own to appreciative oohs and aahs, giving the hose a thumbs-up for helping direct blood flow back to the heart from the lower extremities. During his audio-visual presentation, Gabriel Strauss of Hometeam Care challenged the audience to ignore the status quo and start thinking about senior living options now to ensure you and your family are prepared when the time comes for important decisions to be made and offered the pros and cons of the choices available. “87% of adults over 65 want to remain in their current homes,” he noted. It was with that sentiment that New York-Presbyterian Queens with Keynote Speaker Dr. Kevin Pak (far right) Maureen Schneider of Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care focused her talk, explaining the myriad ways seniors receive services and treatment, while still in their homes. She, too, recognized that sometimes a move is inevitable, but enlightened the crowd with the positive changes that have occurred in nursing-home care in recent years, the focus today being on the convenience of the individual and not the facility. AETNA Better Health’s Maggie Gonzalez advised taking careful consideration of a patient’s individual needs when hiring a homecare worker, while her colleague Karen Taylor highlighted some of the changes in Medicare in 2016. Dana Sherwin, Associate Executive Director of AgeWell New York, stressed the importance of preparing for next fall’s annual Medicare enrollment period now, over the summer, so you are not scrambling and making rash decisions when the time comes. “You’re looking at the practice,” said MDVIP’s Adam Cohen, surprising many in attendance when he said he still makes house calls and pointing out the advantages of obtaining care from a small business, such as more personalized service. As a homecare worker herself, Michele Wachter of Home Instead Senior Care related the wonderful experiences she’s had engaging seniors and the importance of cognitive stimulation— just being present is not enough. But it wasn’t just health and homecare information, financial advice was also provided among the speakers. Ronald Fatoullah of Ronald Fatoullah and Associates shared his legal expertise on the changes in Estate Taxes for New Yorkers and ways to ensure that your heirs retain as much as possible when you’re is gone. Sherrie Footman of U.S. Mortgage Corporation explained Home Equity Conversion Mortgages, more popularly known as Reverse Mortgages, and how they can be used to establish loans for your grandchildren’s college education; supplement your Social Security income; or even provide your loved ones their inheritance before your passing, so you can witness the joy it brings them, among other helpful options. Of course, eschewing scams or fraud is another important way to remaining financially healthy and Glen Doyle, Assistant Security Manager of New York Community Bancorp, provided the latest schemes crooks are using to target seniors and how to prevent yourself from being a victim. “After all, we all have an expiration date,” reminded Funeral Director Christine Feingold of Sinai Chapels, who stressed handling the preparation of dying earlier rather than later, even though medical advancements in the past few decades have allowed people to live longer. “It’s always too soon before it’s too late.” Hosted by Star Network and Schneps Communications, publishers of the Queens Courier and North Shore Towers Courier, the Expo was sponsored by New York- Presbyterean Queens, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care, AgeWell, AETNA Better Health, Ronald Fatoullah & Associates, Hometeam Care, Sinai Chapels, MDVIP, New York Community Bancorp and U.S. Mortgage Corporation. Look for the next and Financial Fitness Expo in the fall with even more guests and goodies! Parker Jewish Institute Health Care and Rehabilitation and AgeWell NY
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