׉?4ׁB!בCטsu׉׉ 7cassandra://L_k2bYpu0ZYxGkeZdQwzgCJWXJ0JNCWsW1_tDxlWxZw4`n׉ 7cassandra://wf_Oh5jkzE5alc_mqVHliFVeimRoBu8xo9A-7tzu8G4͹u`׉ 7cassandra://xrjgPbondV4JLtfzpsQXV9vMdra-N5sAcTYXEQoInBU=v`׉ 7cassandra://BJ8RzMhSeesyxP3fI-YTGGkRcnCF4QtVgq-lAJpEGUI l͠EaaW,wj3׈EaaV,wj3׉EPrime Time C ONNEC TICUT JANUARY 2 0 2 2 STAYING IN THE GAME S fa ALSO INSIDE... Daniel O. Tully Taking a look at the risks of being a caregiver Erica Drzewiecki | Pickleball players gather for a picture on one of two courts in the Bristol Senior Center gymnasium, where they play several times a week Call the owner, Tyson, at 860-583-1526. Voted 2021 & 2020 Best Nursing Home! So far, we had 0 residents w/COVID. F ׉ 7cassandra://xrjgPbondV4JLtfzpsQXV9vMdra-N5sAcTYXEQoInBU=v`aaV,wj3aaV,wj3 sבCטsu׉׉ 7cassandra://NrmJTF5koZ3OG-1eP6te0kH7hqK0oamlt7GQgekNZzAr<`n׉ 7cassandra://yr_S3U_5IC2sWFdBRoQsXvja0mndbDoQf4JVzX7tNPw͍`׉ 7cassandra://Uy9zWid1bntRuSPXVYM9aB_ZahRrGBACUm9Bzdbum48.0`׉ 7cassandra://kUmFITqxLXljthOo_89u3usBMOjZJfPF-aU0cYisMRArV͠EaaX,wj3"טsu׉׉ 7cassandra://U9FXhVeOfjj5o52UMBvJAQY_EzvLPr0YnvZoHeZX1x0`n׉ 7cassandra://FhfAn_Nk6RVgvFbojBz-yvxhnyBJt0v9kgFs8JTEqnMʹ`׉ 7cassandra://-v4ubM4il6l8KuO_JGuDr32UbUVP3gde8N8zaxwmj2w6`׉ 7cassandra://plEGGHfyVxGDh6g2ETJAIbxOD_zcuuITetvL8S-w4kYtzD͠Eaa[,wj3#נaa[,wj3-ỵ 9ׁHhttp://www.PinesBristol.comׁ ׁ Јנaa[,wj3,_b 9ׁHhttp://Ktelderlaw.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EGINSIDE January Cold weather not stopping seniors from playing Pickleball PAGE 6 Joanne Cyr-Callaghan, BC-HIS Board Certi fi ed Hearing Instrument Specialist Because I Wear Hearing Aids Myself, I Understand Hearing Loss. VOTED BEST FEATURES 3 Daniel O. Tully | 4 Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri 5 Stephen Allaire | 8-9 Healthy Living 10 Datebook Connecicut Prime Time is published monthly by Central Connecticut Communications, LLC, One Liberty Square, P.O. 1090, New Britain 06050. Free copies are distributed throughout Central Connecticut. For a location near you, call 860-225-4608. Prime Time is a free newspaper and is delivered at no cost. Should you choose to receive copies, or have delivery stopped, please call 860-225-4608. Michael E. Schroeder Editor and Publisher mschroeder@centralctcommunications.com 860-225-4601 Erica Drzewiecki Staff Writer edrzewiecki@centralctcommunications.com 860-225-4601 Gary Curran Advertising Director gcurran@centralctcommunications.com 860-225-4601 Product not available in all states. Includes the Participating (in GA: Designated) Providers and Preventive Benefi ts Rider. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certifi cate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specifi c offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certifi cate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN). Rider kinds: B438, B439 (GA: B439B). 6208-0721 nt BEST OF READERS’ POLL ES OFT O 021 20 MEDICAID ACCEPTED HEARING SPECIALIST YEAR AFTER YEAR BEST OF READERS’ POLL ES OFT O 021 20 860-506-3720 | 72 PINE ST., BRISTOL www.bristolhearingaids.com DENTAL Insurance Getting back to the dentist couldn’t be easier! CALL TODAY 1-877-578-3511 Dental50Plus.com/nbherald Get your FREE Information Kit B2 Connecticut PRIME TIME • January 2022 If you’ve put off dental care, it’s easy to get back on track. Call Physicians Mutual Insurance Company now for inexpensive dental insurance. Get help paying for the dental care you need. Don’t wait. 96656 ׉ 7cassandra://Uy9zWid1bntRuSPXVYM9aB_ZahRrGBACUm9Bzdbum48.0`aaV,wj3׉EHColumn Risk of being a caregiver It may sound strange but there are significant legal and financial risks that a caregiver can assume if they are not careful before entering into a caregiving arrangement for a loved one. It is important that you enter into a caregiving situation with your eyes wide open and understand all options that are available to you. This is extremely important if a parent moves into an adult child’s home or the adult child moves into the parent’s home in order to provide care. It is vital that a legal contract exist between the caregiver and the senior receiving care. Many families do not take into account the importance of the care contract. Some are put off or intimidated by the legality of the agreement. It doesn’t have to be complex, but it must be in place. When I was an Assistant Attorney should they apply for benefits. Having a care contract in place also ensures Daniel O. Tully General for the State of Connecticut under then Attorney General Joe Lieberman, among the many things he taught me was that the law can and must be explained in everyday language. Senator Lieberman further noted that explaining the law in a way that everyone understands enables all to have their rights protected. This is the cornerstone of our elder law practice. Millions of Americans are currently caring for an elderly family member or friend at home, without receiving regular compensation. Depending on the circumstances, however, it may actually be beneficial for both parties to enter into a care contract where the caregiver accepts payment for the care they are providing their loved one and also formally assumes responsibility for that care. For example, as the loved one you are caring for reaches a point where nursing home placement is the only option, all of their money will be considered available to pay for their care at the nursing home and they will not be eligible for Medicaid assistance until all of their assets have been depleted. Certainly the care they were provided by you, while they remained in the community, is just as valuable to them and worthy of payment as that provided by the nursing home. With a care contract in place, they can pay the caregiver and every penny will count toward their “Medicaid spend down” Medicaid will not impose penalties on the money received by the caretaker. Sometimes an elderly person will randomly give sums of money to their caregivers as payment for the care they provide. Without a contract in place, Medicaid will assume the money transferred as a “gift” or a “transfer of assets” and will impose penalties resulting in ineligibility for Medicaid benefits. From a caregiver’s perspective, although they are willing to provide services for free, it is often difficult for them when, at the time of their loved one’s passing, the caregiver receives the same inheritance as the other heirs who may not have been involved in caring for the loved one. On the flip side, if a caregiver is receiving payment and there is no contract in place that defines the care they have been working hard to provide, other heirs may be upset by the additional monies the caregiver received. The bottom line: If you are caring for a loved one or are receiving care from a loved one, a care contract is a good idea for both parties involved, for multiple reasons. Before entering a contract, be sure to consult someone experienced in drafting such contracts and who is knowledgeable with respect to their effect on Medicaid qualifications. Also, if you have been caring for your parent for over two years, there is another Medicaid planning method that may be available that allows your parent to transfer the parent’s home to you without incurring Medicaid transfer penalties. This is not true in all cases, but if you and your parent meet certain criteria, the exemption known as the “caretaker child exemption,” could be a great way to ensure your parent’s home stays in the family. Daniel O. Tully is a partner in the law firm of Kilbourne & Tully, P.C., members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Inc., with offices at 120 Laurel St., Bristol. Contact him at 860-583-1341. ktelderlaw. com. Ktelderlaw.com IF LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE THEN A SMILE IS PART OF THE CURE High Quality Care is not complete without the kindness and compassion of a dedicated staff. At our center, we strive to provide excellence in care with the friendliest of smiles. Our staff is committed to going the extra mile to make your time spent with us a five-star experience. Let our smiles be a part of your road to recovery. Visit us online or call to schedule a personal tour today! • Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies • Orthopedic Injuries and Post-Surgical Care • Respite Care 860-589-1682 61 BELLEVUE AVENUE BRISTOL, CT 06010 www.PinesBristol.com MEDICARE 5 Star Rating BEST OF READERS’ POLL 2021 Prepare for power outages with a Generac home standby generator REQUEST A FREE QUOTE! 860-797-2383 FREE 7-Year Extended Warranty* A $695 Value! Limited Time Off er - Call for Details Special Financing Available Subject to Credit Approval *To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions. January 2022 • Connecticut PRIME TIME B3 • Cardiac & Pulmonary Recovery Programs • Hospice Services Coordination 90998 ׉ 7cassandra://-v4ubM4il6l8KuO_JGuDr32UbUVP3gde8N8zaxwmj2w6`aaV,wj3aaV,wj3 sבCטsu׉׉ 7cassandra://_kOYe-drLpu2Itqnbjt5C--emtSs3BeCsgaXvYVinn0`n׉ 7cassandra://RDqhPRYStm3-HbM5CaQT5VzjmdqSZGuHz4DFMOFY47Eͦ`׉ 7cassandra://rivIKnqTdQmAIO0DIBlhck9oex892BPQc0E6MwUUjJI/`׉ 7cassandra://o2SRcUawoDCEr0GasxvYDOTWwQFkEI1-S5wAZ9NnuYE-n2͠Eaa[,wj3+טsu׉׉ 7cassandra://O0ePSgWIqoPJZLdtCX2FwpDIKedde4nfjeaPfmoCvuEy`n׉ 7cassandra://uETkECF83V4ym4KbW3d0vF9wMBbqKAu3WhbQJOoFFJg͠4`׉ 7cassandra://q3emG9bh-trRvsde4qHq3ToP25kxIuwcmFsEVc2oQxM4`׉ 7cassandra://hll-j9Bel7dsGY7TqncefiLIAbHaE0lDJzpeCGhibisf͠Eaa[,wj3.נaa\,wj32@̸9ׁHhttp://www.allaireelderlaw.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E@Column When the child becomes the parent There are some life experiences that you just can’t understand until you have lived them yourself. For example nothing can truly prepare you for becoming a parent. Read all the books you want and watch all your friends have their own kids—you will never really get it until you’re the one doing the 2 a.m. feeding or calling the pediatrician about how, exactly, one might safely extract a Lego from a child’s right nostril. A similar you-can’t-understanduntil-you’ve-been-there rule applies to the often poignant transition from being your parent’s child to being their caregiver. This kind of role reversal can be deeply emotional, even under the best of circumstances. It’s human nature to want things to stay the same. In general, we aren’t big fans of change, especially unwelcome change. But time stands still for no one, and as parents age someone needs to step up to help. If you are an adult child, perhaps with a family of your own, who is caring for an aging parent, you know how difficult it can be to adjust to a wholly new kind of relationship. It’s hard to realize that your parents—the people who cared for you when you were little, gave you advice throughout your life, and perhaps even mentored you in many ways—now need you in an entirely new way. Whether an aging parent mainly needs help managing complex legal, financial, and medical matters or needs more consistent assistance for basic day-to-day tasks like cooking, shopping, and household care, it is very hard to have to acknowledge their vulnerability. It can also trigger a minor panic attack when you start to think about all the additional responsibilities you may potentially need to handle. The overwhelm is real, and can cause even the most well-intentioned child Metro News Service to default to assuming that they are in charge now. It can seem easier to just take over and handle everything yourself. There’s less back and forth when you decide to just take care of things on your own. And, if we’re being honest, it minimizes the amount of time you have to spend staring the reality of a parent’s decline in the face. But in almost all cases, commandeering control—even if you mean well—is not the way to go. Instead of thinking about your new role as having to parent your parent, think about it as being a trusted ally and resource. Even though it might be tempting to play out a reversal of the “because I said so” scenario that you hated when you were a kid; what you really want to create is a collaborative partnership, not a dictatorship. What does this look like? It looks like mutual respect, consideration and empathy. It looks like The Golden Rule of B4 Connecticut PRIME TIME • January 2022 treating others as you would have them treat you. Learning how to inhabit this new role successfully is no walk in the park, and you will definitely have your moments. You’re only human, after all. Here are a few tips that can help make the whole experience much easier and less stressful: Don’t treat your parents like children. Yes, you may feel like you’re stepping into a parental role, but your parents are grown adults who have lived full lives and deserve your respect and patience. Don’t patronize them. Don’t talk about them like they aren’t in the room. Really listen. Remember how infuriating and frustrating it was when you were a kid debating with your parents about something, and they just weren’t listening? Don’t make your parents feel that way. They may not ultimately get to have everything the way they want it, but take the time to really listen to what they are saying. Don’t dismiss their concerns or ideas as invalid or not worth hearing. Work together as much as possible. Don’t do everything behind the scenes on the assumption that you know best. Involve your parent in every step of the decision-making process. Talk about the options, the pros and cons. Have the hard conversations. And don’t rush through things unless there’s truly an emergency deadline. Don’t let your new role define your whole relationship. Remember that you are still a family. Avoid the pitfall of every conversation revolving around caretaking issues. Talk about the things that interest you and your parent. Tell stories. Go out and experience things together—a meal or a movie or a museum. Take care of yourself. With all the demands on your time and energy, it’s way too easy to slip into bad habits or neglect your own physical and emotional health. Make healthy choices, make time for activities that bring you joy, and ask for help. Even though it might feel like you’re in this alone, there is always a way to get extra support, whether that means getting some professional counseling for yourself, hiring a home care aide or senior companion, or asking your sibling to take on a few more responsibilities. Above all, remember that this is a new and sometimes scary journey for all of you. Your parents have never been here before, and neither have you. In addition to the stress of the unknown and the fear—yours and your parent’s—of losing independence, there are layers of grief at play here, too. Czepiga Daly Pope & Perri is an estate planning, elder care, special needs, litigation and probate law firm with five offices in the state, including Berlin and Simsbury. More information is available at czepigalaw.com ׉ 7cassandra://rivIKnqTdQmAIO0DIBlhck9oex892BPQc0E6MwUUjJI/`aaV,wj3׉E Column Good things to know This is a very brief outline of good things to know if anyone in your family might need long term care. For a typical married couple, it is almost always possible to get help paying for long term care at home, or if absolutely necessary, in a skilled nursing facility. For wartime veterans up to $23,238 per year may be available, and for the surviving spouse of a wartime veteran, up to $14,934 per year may be available. Connecticut has its own state funded program that can pay up to $2,973 per month for care at home, and there is a 9% copay. For those who need more care, Medicaid (Title 19) is the answer. That can pay up to $5,945 per month for care. The applicant cannot have more than $1,600 in their name (the house does not count) but the anti “impoverishment” rules permit the healthy spouse to take steps to protect almost all the assets. That means everything but the $1,600 for the sick spouse must be transferred to the healthy spouse. That is where a thorough and updated Power of Attorney is critical, because, if the sick spouse cannot sign for himself or herself, someone else must have power to sign for them. A key thing to know is that one spouse can transfer assets at the last minute to the healthy spouse, and then using the many rules on how to spenddown, on both countable and non-countable assets, it is usually possible to save all the average family’s assets. The federal and state laws permit this, because long ago Congress realized it did no good to wipe out all the assets of both spouses, as they could not then afford to live at home. For any married couple it cannot be said enough that the key is to have an up to date Power of Attorney so that the car, Stephen Allaire the house, investments, and even IRA’s or 401ks might be transferred to the healthy spouse, without paying income tax. The Power of Attorney must have specific terms in order to accomplish such a transfer with a courts order. There are income limits to the home care program, but if the sick spouse’s income exceeds the limit of $2,382, there is usually a way to solve that by putting the excess monthly income into a “pooled trust”, which is a trust account that the state allows at Plan of Connecticut. The excess income is then used for various living expenses and will not disqualify the needy person from getting home care. That care is A key thing to know is that one spouse can transfer assets at the last minute to the healthy spouse. usually provided by a state licensed company, but it is possible in some cases to have a child paid for providing care. Knowing how these rules work is not simple and requires both knowledge and experience. Taking the right steps in the right order is key. At national meetings with elder law attorneys, we find that Connecticut has some of the strictest rules, but at least up to now it does provide funding for home care if the applicant is physically and financially qualified. Attorney Stephen O. Allaire and Attorney Halley C. Allaire are partners in the law firm of Allaire Elder Law, members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc., with offices at 271 Farmington Ave., Bristol, 860-259-1500, or on the web at www.allaireelderlaw.com. If you have a question, send a written note to either Attorney Allaire at Allaire Elder Law, LLC, 271 Farmington Avenue, Bristol, CT 06010, and they may use your question in a future column. January 2022 • Connecticut PRIME TIME B5 ׉ 7cassandra://q3emG9bh-trRvsde4qHq3ToP25kxIuwcmFsEVc2oQxM4`aaV,wj3aaV,wj3 sבCטsu׉׉ 7cassandra://v9_dplldKZwC7b2Qg7NoKZl-guUNgzMMVf6UuuLyvDY.`n׉ 7cassandra://dhFqOR1Hy001qNP7pXKVH5OzdJ4pKHG1fhAO3eScEao͠`׉ 7cassandra://YqP1kBTTwD3w_COBCOIRwBNu3qqq1qJASEdPWEmq5EM1`׉ 7cassandra://WdV51FXt8h8P9p78f8OkDrgDg9ZTeh98DqGFO9ZotOwT͠Eaa\,wj31טsu׉׉ 7cassandra://hLEzFEpnwQzZAF978O5j0Uca1uQKl48QCi2VVtnBIZo`n׉ 7cassandra://xYKiczV6yIPSvThtc-5UzHtBs82QHGf_fJcieff8RqUͩ`׉ 7cassandra://7xtGRPRb5H105lwBz5HEnpVvX5gt2kdrF_stTKbFBhM3|`׉ 7cassandra://dAo4PGOXDe3czaCxyifjIJfN5rO5OhOhrN2cwk94gvAh6͠Eaa\,wj33׉EKeep playing Ladies play pickleball at the Bristol Senior Center this winter. Pickleball remains popular during winter, moves indoors Story & photos by Erica Drzewiecki What some thought would just be a passing craze has turned into a lifestyle for a growing group of local residents. They come together at the Bristol Senior Center several times a week and when covid-19 closed the facility over the winter, they moved their program outdoors. “We took the nets out back and played in the parking lot through January and February,” said Mike Pletscher, one of dozens of members who comes to the Senior Center every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for Pickleball from 1 to 4 p.m. Dozens more play Wednesday and Friday evenings from 6 to about 8:30 p.m. Pickleball employs a paddle slightly larger than a ping-pong paddle, a ball similar to a wiffle ball and is played indoors and outdoors on a court about the size of one used for badminton with a modified tennis net. It was dubbed “the fastest B6 Connecticut PRIME TIME • January 2022 Pickleball employs a paddle slightly larger than a ping-pong paddle, a ball similar to a wiffle ball and is played indoors and outdoors. growing sport in America” over a decade ago. Back then Bristol Senior Center Director Patty Tomascak and Assistant Director Jason Krueger made it their mission to introduce the sport to local seniors. “It was the fall of 2013; we called it the Director’s Challenge,” Tomascak recalled. The pair started playing in the center’s gymnasium, inviting members who poked their heads in to join a match. Rich Berardy was one of those early players. “I came down here and saw people hitting a ball back and forth,” he remembered. “There were four of us who started playing. Within six months we had a dozen people.” Senior Center staff installed pickleball nets and repainted the gym floor to create two regulation-size courts. Now it’s become such a hit, that ׉ 7cassandra://YqP1kBTTwD3w_COBCOIRwBNu3qqq1qJASEdPWEmq5EM1`aaV,wj3׉Eplayers are asking the City to add more courts to Bristol parks. “The parks department told us it was just going to be a fad,” Berardy said. “Now look.” Eight people can play on the gym’s two courts at once, so the large group has chairs set up to watch the competition while they wait for their turn. Teams rotate so every player gets to play with and against multiple others each session. Pletscher joined about two years ago. “My wife wanted me to get out of the house,” he said. “I was going to the gym a few times a week but this is a lot more fun.” Cheryl Yetke first learned how to play while on vacation in Cancun, Mexico. “We came back here and joined the senior center and started playing here,” she said. Sandra Salomone has played pickleball in Kauai and Utah, but her favorite group to play amongst is the one at the Bristol Senior Center. “This is the friendliest group of players out there,” she said. “Everybody makes each other happy and seniors need that.” The Bristol Boys & Girls Club hosted pickleball players a few times last winter and seniors are hoping they’ll open up their facility again for games. “We have such a fervor for this sport,” Liz Phelan pointed out. “There’s so many of us who want to play.” Age 77, Berardy is hoping to be around when Bristol finally renovates the courts at Page Park and Seymour Park for use by pickle-ballers. “It gets your heart pumping,” Berardy said of what he enjoys about the game. “It’s a lot healthier than playing cards or bingo. We as seniors need our exercise.” Seniors play pickleball at the Bristol Senior Center this winter. Pickleball players wait for their turn to get out on one of two courts at the Bristol Senior Center this winter. Dozens of seniors play several times a week in the facility’s gym, the only location in Bristol with regulation pickleball courts. January 2022 • Connecticut PRIME TIME B7 ׉ 7cassandra://7xtGRPRb5H105lwBz5HEnpVvX5gt2kdrF_stTKbFBhM3|`aaV,wj3aaV,wj3 sבCטsu׉׉ 7cassandra://gy95cSvNbo1yg4aSPOHaWQ3VjIwlK8YqkvX4nEbi9gg`n׉ 7cassandra://1-HZPzAOud7cID07wElJpkMivraHUIvbYWruYf63p_k͠B`׉ 7cassandra://Cph3tN8sZlrnMA_GwLUeu9YsmBKvx7M9q6vWStIoitg1`׉ 7cassandra://_JK9QuCh2SchBboGWgj0eM_09rONt6rnbVsXVneeSj06͠Eaa\,wj35טsu׉׉ 7cassandra://YDra1YcEpQ6hchWkaZ7w2yGdvpbvJI5pp0mrKE_E6ro: `n׉ 7cassandra://HB7NcXqMhnSR-fPLllGWm0pd2sPuOH6Zu27uSV9ZwOA͑!`׉ 7cassandra://b00z6RdlLxW91G0lkSJ0AilL9rNNy1dm399MeUX63Us.`׉ 7cassandra://upLOQqwSA23HJPPyda5nukcF9qlzUNCkoq86ItVHChoB͠Eaa\,wj36נaa\,wj3:ց9ׁH"http://www.hartfordhealthcare.org/ׁ ׁ Ј׉E HEALTHY LIVI NG Healthier new year Think about gastric surgery to address obesity issues in 2022 Now is the perfect time to make a commitment for a healthier 2022. Obesity is a disease throughout the world and about one-third of the U.S. population is morbidly obese. Being overweight or obese can greatly raise your risk for other health problems which include heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, cancer, back pain and sleep apnea. Bristol Health’s Weight Loss Surgery Program is designed to help patients reach their weight loss and health goals in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. The ideal candidate is basically someone who is committed to changing their life. Their body mass index must be greater than 35 and there usually are the accompanying medical problems mentioned above. Candidates also should have tried and failed to lose weight by nonsurgical means such as diet and exercise. Candidates also must be non-smokers. To help patients achieve a complete lifestyle change, the Bristol Health Weight Loss Surgery Program pulls together a variety of professionals including surgeons, a bariatric-trained advanced practice registered nurse, bariatric nurse caregivers, dietitians and mental health providers. There are two types of weight loss surgery procedures performed at Bristol Hospital: One is the sleeve gastrectomy in which about 80 percent of the stomach is removed. It limits the amount of food you can eat by making you feel full after eating small amounts of food. With the sleeve gastrectomy, patients usually lose about two-thirds of their excess weight. Venessa Malit, MD Another procedure is the gastric bypass in which the surgeon forms a small stomach pouch and attaches it to intestine. The gastric bypass changes the way the digestive system absorbs and digests food. Patients usually lose three-quarters of their excess weight with gastric bypass. Your life will definitely change following weight loss surgery. As you lose weight, the results will be obvious and medical conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure will improve or even be resolved. I love hearing the wonderful stories our patients share following their weight loss surgery. For example, someone can now go on a plane without asking for extension seatbelt; some can now cross their legs; put a ring on or tie their shoelaces. Your friends and family will notice the difference in your appearance. It’s an incredible feeling as a surgeon knowing that I have made such an impact on someone’s quality of life. B8 Connecticut PRIME TIME • January 2022 Metro News Service This journey can take up to six months before the actual surgery. The first step is to attend one of our mandatory information sessions which you can now watch online from the comfort of your own home. The online seminar video is about 48 minutes long and features interviews with members of the weight loss surgery team. The online seminar goes over in great detail about all of your weight loss surgery options and it pretty much answers all the questions you might have about your weight loss journey. Vanessa Malit, MD, FACS, FASMBS, is a bariatric and general surgeon with the Bristol Health Medical Group. Dr. Malit also is the medical director of the Bristol Health Weight Loss Surgery program. For more information on Bristol Health’s Weight Loss Surgery program, including information on the free online information session, please call 860585-3339 or visit www.bristolhealth. org ׉ 7cassandra://Cph3tN8sZlrnMA_GwLUeu9YsmBKvx7M9q6vWStIoitg1`aaV,wj3׉E KHEALTHY LIVI NG Staying healthy Getting through flu season during the covid pandemic There’s a tremendous focus on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – and rightfully so. There is heightened concern given the rapid spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant. However, it’s important for people to remember that we are also in the midst of flu season and both viruses are circulating in our communities causing people to get sick. The one thing we know about influenza is that it’s unpredictable. Last year’s flu season was essentially non-existent because of mask wearing and social distancing. Health experts don’t expect that to be the case this year. In fact, influenza cases are increasing across Connecticut and the entire country. We’re seeing cases across all ages, but especially among children and The vaccine works to decrease infection and the severity of symptoms. However, it does have to be given once a year because the strains of the virus that are circulating changes from year to year – similar to what we are seeing with the COVID-19 variants. If you haven’t done so Dr. Virginia Bieluch already, you should certainly get a flu shot. In fact, if you haven’t gotten the COVID vaccine either, they can both be administered at the same time. Studies show you will get the same immune response to both vaccines and the young adults. I anticipate that influenza activity will continue to increase in the coming weeks and months. Bieluch says the most important defense against the flu is getting the flu vaccine. Influenza cases are increasing across Connecticut and the entire country. Bieluch says now is the time to get both your covid vaccine and flu shot. same side effects whether you get them together or separately. By all means, get both vaccines at the same time to help prevent serious illness or you can get them at different times. All that matters is that you get vaccinated for both the flu and COVID. A big question going around right now – how can I tell if I have COVID or the flu? There’s no way to tell the difference between the flu and COVID-19. Both viruses cause Metro News Service respiratory illnesses that are contagious, from person to person and symptoms can be similar. In fact, you can have the flu and COVID at the same time – so testing is key. That’s the only way to know for sure. Of course, taking preventative measures like wearing a mask, avoiding crowds and people who are sick and washing your hands can help minimize a person’s risk of getting sick with either virus. Dr. Virginia Bieluch is the Chief of Infectious Diseases at The Hospital of Central Connecticut. For more information about the flu vaccine, call 877.707.4422 to schedule an appointment at a Hartford HealthCare Medical Group primary care location or visit www.hartfordhealthcare.org/ fluvaccine January 2022 • Connecticut PRIME TIME B9 ׉ 7cassandra://b00z6RdlLxW91G0lkSJ0AilL9rNNy1dm399MeUX63Us.`aaV,wj3aaV,wj3 sבCטsu׉׉ 7cassandra://qk0U5axhwNqjktLK8GCN-K0WbyhLya942B--IA-h9hM"`n׉ 7cassandra://OytIfnjW_zgM5SBEU9dvogFrCt7IbmGlXv2-O1m40mAͬT`׉ 7cassandra://mIB8n0c5OQaHjH66QKwjVfI0YYcQCB34e8oIb4uXvOw/`׉ 7cassandra://uDc95-tgQNlBZA_u68co4zmr7s9MvQcG8WzNXVJQ5Po*qB͠Eaa\,wj3;טsu׉׉ 7cassandra://zt8BOXZRQo8_Px4IVk7VKtKz0wCnPoJlO-Cd8RyLEVk`n׉ 7cassandra://s0JRD0A-5-bQyqhmmbFWpoo0vYiE-Hz7tzoLgYK6G9g͝-`׉ 7cassandra://oPRwlb3iXRESl0o1a1pubEuosLmLvf7mhTeEm1LTbfA8`׉ 7cassandra://9L98pPvlvhX_YIt-bN7AF-Wmgn3kriNFShMGPcwx7dY_^͠Eaa],wj3<נaa],wj3@ :9ׁHhttp://www.TimsAuctions.comׁ ׁ Јנaa],wj3? OQ9ׁHhttp://gmail.comׁ ׁ Јנaa],wj3>Jo9ׁHhttp://bristollib.comׁ ׁ Ј׉ETDAT EBOOK Ongoing Adult Education Program Registration for in-person classes through the Adult Education program has opened and is available to all New Britain residents The New Britain Adult Education program offers a variety of programs, including English as a Second Language, GED Preparation, High School Credit Diploma and National External Diploma Program. Registration will open for English as a Second Language (ESL) and American Citizenship classes. Participants can register for an in person or remote placement test. ESL classes will be offered two times a week from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. depending on the results of the placement test. American Citizenship Class will take place Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Classes will begin Jan. 22, 2022. Monday| 3 HYN Cancer Support Group Hospital of Central Connecticut will hold a support group for any woman who has been diagnosed with gynecological cancer and is interested in peer support. Registration is required. You can register by calling 855-442-4373. The group will meet from 6 to 7 p.m. on Zoom. Tuesday| 4 De-Stress at Manross Manross Library will host a ‘Be Well With Books program’, that will be led by a Manross staff member. They will present several new book recommendations. These books will be offering ideas on reducing stress. They will also complete a simple, stress-reducing art project. Manross Library is located at 260 Central St., Bristol. This program will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday| 5 Learning Microsoft Office The Bristol Public Library will host a class that will teach the basics of Word, Excel, and Publisher. There will be no charge. The class will take place from 2 to 3 p.m. To RSVP go to bristollib.com, or call 860-584-7787 x 2030. The Bristol Public Library is located at 5 High St., Bristol. Thursday| 6 Afternoon movie The Bristol Public Library will hold an afternoon movie from 2 to 4 p.m. The movie will be ‘Best Seller’ that is rated PG-13. The Bristol Public Library B10 Connecticut PRIME TIME • January 2022 is located at 5 High St., Bristol. Democrat membership caucus in Plymouth Enrolled members of the Democratic Party of the Town of Plymouth will be able to meet for a membership caucus Tuesday, Jan. 6 at town hall. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the community room of Town Hall at 80 Main St. Local Democrats will be meeting to endorse candidates for the Democratic Town Committee. Masks are required and social distancing is encouraged. This membership caucus is held every other year and is open to all registered Democrats in town. For more information, email Plymouth Democratic Town Committee Chairperson Erin King at pdtcchair@ gmail.com or call her at 860-484-5157. -The Plymouth Democratic Town Committee Saturday| 8 Coloring Club The Coloring Club, a coloring group for adults, will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. To RSVP visit bristollib. com, at the Circulation Desk or call: 860-584-7787 x 3. There is no charge for this event. The Bristol Public Library is located at 5 High St., Bristol. Wednesday| 12 Memory Loss workshop Hospital of Central Connecticut is holding an 8-week workshop, where participants will join bereavement specialist Nadine Toce, LCSW, and a small group of peers to connect with others with shared experiences and learn about grief reactions and healthy coping strategies. Registration is required. You can register by calling 855-442-4373. The worksop will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The hospital is located at 100 Grand St., New Britain. Thursday| 13 Afternoon movie The Manross Library will show the movie ‘Walk the Line’ happening at 260 Central St., Bristol. The movie will begin at 2 p.m. and end at 4:15 p.m. Thursday| 13 Martin Luther King Jr. Day STIM IS BUYING! ilver pre-1965 dimes, quarters, & 1/2 dollars, 1934 & before silver dollars, Gold coins, early US currency, Indian head pennies, Buffalo head nickels, foreign coin collections. Stamp collections, albums, & hoards. All gold jewelry, pocket watches, diamonds, sterling silver, flatware sets, candleholders, bowls, & more. 860-459-0964 www.TimsAuctions.com 95488 318 ׉ 7cassandra://mIB8n0c5OQaHjH66QKwjVfI0YYcQCB34e8oIb4uXvOw/`aaV,wj3׉EW JANUARY, 2022 CROSSWORD CLUES ACROSS 1. Requests 5. Calendar month 8. Invests in little enterprises 12. Bird sound 14. S. American plant cultivated for tubers 15. Car 16. Bullfighter 18. Hill (Celtic) 19. Strong criticism 20. Detector 21. When you hope to get there 22. Having the skill to do something 23. 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