​Congratulations to Sean Simpson, president and chief executive officer of Broken Arrow Seniors, for being named a 2021 Health Care Hero by The Journal Record.
 
Simpson will be recognized as a COVID Champion, which honors individuals whose performance over the past year during the pandemic has exemplified their caring service and commitment to the health care field. Awards will be presented at the second annual Health Care Heroes virtual award program at 4 p.m. May 21.
 
 “This recognition is tremendous validation for the difficult decisions my team and the BAS board made to protect our members during the pandemic,” Simpson said. “We relied on an ever-evolving combination of factors, intuition, scientific data and government recommendations to guide the decisions to prioritize the health and safety of our members, their families and the community as a whole.”
 
Unfortunately, opinions about the pandemic and its related risks have been heavily politicized, playing a significant role in the way information is shared and interpreted. “We understand that the constant change creates anxiety due to the uncertainty of things – especially when it alters how we live, work and play,” Simpson added. “BAS stayed vigilant, paying heed to the science while listening to health care experts.”  There is still a long way to go, according to Johnnie Parks, BAS board chair:
 
“The pandemic has upset many of the daily routines that keep us grounded and comfortable. It creates a lot of change – and people don’t necessarily like change. We are continuing to open BAS and will add programs every month until we are fully open once more.”

​Navigating out of the pandemic and taking charge of your health is a hot topic right now. Every day there seems to be a new study demonstrating how regular exercise is especially important for older adults – and more and more older adults are opting for an active lifestyle instead of a sedentary one. However, as we age, our needs as well as our benefits and limitations have to be considered.
 
And as your requirements change, so too does your personal game plan.
 
Our biology changes as we get older, causing seniors to have different reasons for staying in shape than younger generations, according to the National Council on Aging. Physicians and researchers say seniors should remain as active as possible without overdoing it. Exercise helps older adults live a longer, healthier and more joyous life.
 
If you have a chronic health condition, regular exercise can help you manage symptoms and improve your health. BA Seniors can help you create the pathway to help you re-engage after a year of pandemic living with reduced activity.
 
Aerobic exercise can aid you in improving your heart health and endurance and in weight loss. BAS has many classes from which to choose, including line dancing, as well as access to the equipment in our fitness center.
 
Strength training can improve muscle strength and endurance, make it easier to do daily activities, slow disease related declines in muscle strength and provide stability to joints. Flexibility exercises may help you with optimal range of motion in your joints so they can function best, and stability exercises may help reduce the risk of falls.
 
The new Strength & Tone class fills all of these needs. If you have lower back pain, you might choose low-impact aerobic activities, such as walking and swimming.
 
These types of activities won’t strain or jolt your back. Our Limited Exercise class, as well as yoga and tai chi classes, are great for lower back issues. The elliptical and recumbent bike in the fitness center can also address lower back issues. If you have arthritis, the exercises that are best for you will depend on the type of arthritis and which joints are involved. Work with your doctor or a physical therapist to create an exercise plan that will give you the most benefit with the least aggravation to your joints. Tai chi, Limited Exercise and yoga are beneficial in reducing joint inflammation.
 
Exercise improves balance for older adults. Falling down is a much bigger deal for older adults than for younger ones. Every 11 seconds, an older adult is admitted to an emergency room for a fall-related injury, and, every 19 minutes, a senior dies from a fall, according to the National Council on Aging. No two falls are alike, and preventing falls is complex.
 
Regular exercise reduces the likelihood of falling by 23%. Our Tai Chi for Better Balance class addresses these issues. Are you looking for one exercise that improves muscle strength, mobility, balance and flexibility, all of which are crucial to the health of seniors? Consider chair yoga, an exercise that provides less stress on muscles, joints and bones than more conventional forms of yoga. Chair yoga has been shown to improve mental health in older adults. Regular participants have better quality sleep, lower instances of depression and report a general sense of well-being.
 
One of the most remarkable developments in health science is the revelation that the mind and the body are closely linked. Seniors who exercise on a regular basis have improved cognitive health.
 
A study from the Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation notes that regular exercise has been shown to reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia by nearly 50%.
 
Starting a regular exercise routine can be tough. We are here to help you create your pathway to success. To assist you in sticking with your routine, consider exercising with a friend. You might also ask your doctor to recommend an exercise program from our monthly activity listing.
 
To stay motivated, choose activities that are fun, set realistic goals and celebrate your progress.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is hoping to help ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus.

Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020.
 
Families that lost loved ones to COVID-19 can now get help with funeral expenses. The agency recently launched a hotline to apply for up to $9,000 in assistance per burial. The number to call is 844-684-6333.
 
Some $2 billion was allocated as part of the $900 billion relief deal Congress approved in December, while the Democrats’ $1.9 trillion package supported it by providing the agency with an additional $50 billion to use for coronavirus-related costs.
 
To be eligible for funeral assistance, you must meet these conditions: The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia; the death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19; the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, noncitizen national or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after Jan. 20, 2020.
 
Call the dedicated toll-free phone number to get a COVID-19 funeral assistance application completed with help from FEMA’s representatives. Multilingual services are available. No online applications will be accepted.
 
It should take about 20 minutes to apply over the phone. Calls will not be rushed through because FEMA intends to make sure all applicants get their questions answered and receive the help they need to apply.