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Growing Together

Lakeland Officials Say Orlando Health Watson Clinic Hospital Partnership Signals Promising Future by PAUL CATALA It’s a collaboration bringing together one of Central Florida’s most renowned and respected hospitals and top physician-led practices to offer specialized care. Watson Clinic, which opened as Watson Health in 1941, is a multispecialty community clinic with comprehensive primary and…
Rhythm & Resilience

Senior Pair Stays Active and Connected Through Dance by RYAN MILEJCZAKphotos by JESS McDONALD Staying active physically, mentally, and socially can be a challenge for anybody, and even more so for seniors. But for Bartow’s Cynthia Aycock, 65, and Polk City’s Doug Wright, 69, the solution was simple: dance. “I grew up dancing, and my…
Care in the Golden Years

From Assisted Living to Nursing Homes, Finding the Right Fit Is Key by MAGGIE THARP At some time or another, many seniors will reach a point where living on their own isn’t the best choice for their health or happiness. But when seniors and families realize this, it’s not always easy to make the transition…

Medical Advice: Your flu prevention to-do list

AS YOU GATHER your “to-do” lists and prepare for the holiday season ahead, the Florida Department of Health in Polk County recommends you add one more important step — get a flu shot! The flu shot is the best way to protect our families and communities against the spread of influenza. When you make it…
Family Health: Flu shots for seniors

HE FLU is nothing to sneeze at. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 200,000 people will be hospitalized this year with the influenza virus, and it has been estimated that 50 to 70 percent of those hospitalized are people age 65 and older.
Word of Mouth: Your dentist is key to early cancer detection

IT SEEMS LIKE you hear about many different kinds of cancers these days, but one that isn’t being talked about enough is oral cancer. Cancer in the mouth and throat are diagnosed in nearly 50,000 Americans a year, and statistics show that only 57 percent of those diagnosed still will be living in five years.