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Rheumatological Care Can Be Life-Changing, Especially for Seniors

by MAGGIE THARP Sponsored by Central Florida Health Care How much thought do you give to daily activities like getting dressed, tending to hygiene, and preparing food? If these things are easy for you, the answer is probably “not much.” However, if you experience debilitating pain and joint stiffness, your ability to do these simple…
Pop Quiz! Drilling Down on Dementia

Our brains are responsible for all of our functions—thinking, feeling, and doing—but there’s a chance that your brain can falter in its duties, called dementia. The CDC maintains that approximately 4% to 10% of the US population age 65 and older has dementia. Take our quiz to explore what dementia is, what its symptoms are,…
Tiny Paws, Big Heart

Central Florida Therapy Dog Koda the Fluff Spreads Smiles Worldwide by REBEKAH PIERCEphotos provided by JENA McKINSTRY What’s more adorable than a fluffy Pomeranian sporting hip black sunglasses, jetting around town in a bright red pup-sized convertible? We’ll wait. Koda the Fluff is a registered therapy dog that works with area healthcare facilities, including Orlando…

Delicious food and the diabetic’s diet

It’s in the Bag Diabetes is a group of diseases characterized by high glucose levels caused by insufficient production of insulin. That’s a fairly simple definition for a disease that is not simple to treat. In general, and that’s all we can deal with in a short article, a balanced diet is a good starting…
Body, Mind & Spirit: Giving thanks by giving back

What it Means to be a Foster Family Foster parents provide a safe, nurturing home for children to heal. While there are currently about 150 licensed foster homes in Circuit 10, which covers Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties, more are needed. According to Teri Saunders, CEO of Heartland for Children here in Polk County, “That…
Editor’s Dose: More than just comfort food

Reading this article on food “made with love” for the sick really brought back some memories. As a young teenager, my mother had to undergo open heart surgery twice within four years. She has a blood disorder that causes her body to produce too many of the clot-forming platelets. Adding to that complications of…