Health & Wellness

Village Project is excited to invite incoming freshmen and current high school students to volunteer at Village Project this summer. Combining the experience of adults and the energy of youth results in an explosion of contagious enthusiasm.

Village Project brings ordinary people together to make extraordinary differences. Volunteers are equipped, empowered and encouraged – reflecting the true strength of community.

Bay High Senior, Norah Schlegel ‘23, co-started the BHS Mental Health Advisory Group alongside BHS grads, Annalise Johnson ‘21, Priya Goddard ‘21, Aliza Butchart ‘23, and BHS Principal Jason Martin. Currently the group is led by myself, Norah Schlegel ‘23, BHS Principal Jason Martin, and Athletic Director Matt Spellman, who also runs the Sources of Strength Group.

The Mental Health Advisory Group was started after the profound loss of fellow student, Sabrina DuPrey ‘22, in January 2021 and the swatting incident that occurred at Bay High School during the end of January 2021. Each year during Mental Health Awareness Month, which takes place in May, we host a variety of educational events and fundraisers to promote the advocation and education of mental health in the Bay Village community.

Each day during the designated Mental Health Awareness Week, we pick a mental or neurological condition to recognize and wear the color of awareness for the day. Alongside, we share information about the condition and coping mechanisms that work for not only that condition, but could universally work for anything.

With the continued long-term leadership of Patricia Heinke, our group of 15-20 people, including a couple of people who live at the Knickerbocker Apartments in Bay Village, perform these beneficial exercises as they have done for up to 25 years. The group includes all ages, up to 89 years young; some have been regulars for all these years.

The group from Bay and other nearby cities meet at 10 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and enter Knickerbocker through the main doorway. The Knickerbocker is very welcoming. We start with the traditional Chi Gong exercises and do three sets of the Tai Chi short form. There is no payment for participation. Some stay for the long form. We are there about one hour. 

Many look forward to May and the warming weather to do the exercises at Huntington Park on Lake Road in Bay Village.

Are you or a loved one living with ADHD, anxiety disorders, autism spectrum, bipolar disorder, dementia, major depression, personality disorders or schizophrenia?   

Healing Hearts and Minds is a faith-based recovery group experience to alleviate the stigma and encourage understanding of mental illness. It is a confidential group discussion of shared experiences to improve the understanding of mental illness and how it affects families. No diagnosis. No therapy.

In this support group all will receive loving understanding with the strictest confidentiality. A list of mental health resources in Northeast Ohio will be made available.

Methods to enhance communication between persons with dementia/Alzheimer’s and their care partners are the primary focus of the Carolyn L. Farrell Foundation in Westlake. This major goal of the foundation is the focus of a recent project grant they will be receiving from the Ohio Arts Council (OAC).

With a $6,415 grant the foundation will create a film series to illustrate methods to avoid conflict and anxiety within daily living, says co-founder and board member Dr. Charlie Farrell.

“In addition to care partners the series can be used for other segments in the community such as businesses, first responders, the medical field and faith communities. An innovative process based on improv, an approach in theatre, will be addressed in the film and can make a significant improvement in care.”

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered Thursday, March 4, at the Westshore Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center. 

Testing begins at 11 a.m. each day. No testing will be done after 2 p.m. It is recommended that individuals arrive at least an hour before the site closes in order to get through the line. Testing is completed on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary.

The testing service is available to area residents as well as Tri-C students, faculty and staff. The program offers testing to individuals regardless of their symptom status, insurance status or ability to pay. Individuals will not be charged for the test.

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered Thursday, Feb. 4, at the Westshore Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center. 

Testing begins at 11 a.m. No testing will be done after 2 p.m. It is recommended that individuals arrive at least an hour before the site closes in order to get through the line. Testing is completed on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary.

The testing service is available to area residents as well as Tri-C students, faculty and staff. The program offers testing to individuals regardless of their symptom status, insurance status or ability to pay. Individuals will not be charged for the test.

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing will be offered Thursday, Jan. 7, at the Westshore Campus of Cuyahoga Community College through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center. 

Testing begins at 11 a.m. Individuals seeking tests must be in line by 2 p.m. Testing will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary.

The testing service is available to Tri-C students, faculty and staff, as well as community residents. The program offers testing to individuals regardless of their symptom status, insurance status or ability to pay. Individuals will not be charged for the test.

Drive-thru and walk-up COVID-19 testing will be offered Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Westshore Campus of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) through a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center. 

Testing will take place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is available to Tri-C students, faculty and staff, as well as community residents. Testing will rotate between Tri-C campuses every Thursday through Nov. 19. 

The program offers testing to individuals regardless of their symptom status, insurance status or ability to pay. Individuals will not be charged for the test.

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted every organization in our community and Hospice of the Western Reserve is no exception. To protect everyone’s safety, the nonprofit agency made the difficult decision this year to replace Walk to Remember, its largest community fundraising event, with a virtual walk.

Now through June 14, families can go online and register to walk in their neighborhood or anywhere they choose to raise funds supporting HWR’s work, including special programs for hospice home care patients in the West Shore communities and at Ames Family Hospice House in Westlake. To register for Virtual Walk to Remember, visit hospicewr.org/wtr. The registration donation is $20.

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed daily life for all of us. Changes came quickly and many times without warning. Concerns for our health and the health of our loved ones, friends and community have added emotional pressures.

Stress, worry, anxiety and depression can overwhelm any of us at any time. It is very important to keep in mind that there is help and mental health services available in our community, in Westlake, at Far West Center.

Just because you have to stay indoors or simply cannot make it to the Westlake Rec Center or your local gym does not mean you have to miss out on a quality workout guided by knowledgeable instructors. 

The Recreation Department’s staff has compiled various workout videos online at www.cityofwestlake.org/764, focusing on cardio, strength training and circuit training featuring our staff and personal trainers.

Among the videos are several yoga instructional sessions – some geared specifically toward seniors – demonstrating low-impact exercises that can be performed in the comfort of your own home.

Far West Center, a nonprofit community mental health services agency, offers a Compeer mentoring program for youth ages 14-17. Far West Center has a successful ongoing Compeer Program, starting in 1989, for adults in recovery.  Compeer International was awarded a federal grant to promote nationwide mentoring for youth receiving mental health services. Far West Center, located in Building 4 on the UH St. John Medical Center Health Campus, is one of 12 Compeer affiliates to receive funding for a youth mentoring program.

Compeer is looking for caring adults that can offer 4 hours each month being a caring mentor for a teen, ages 14-17. Compeer provides training and continuous, one-to-one support to qualifying mentors. Compeer mentors serve to provide compassion, emotional support and a sense of acceptance for their teen mentor matches.

Arden Courts Memory Care Community received a specially prepared iPad to help families and patients communicate during the COVID-19 visitor restrictions. The iPad, which is equipped with cellular capabilities and infection control covers, can be used for residents that do not have their own smart phone.

“The iPad will give us one more tool to help our residents and their family members communicate during this challenging time,” said Jeff Harris, Chief Information Officer. “We have included training for our staff on how to use FaceTime and other video chat solutions so that we can communicate with families no matter what device they are using.” The staff is also given instructions for infection control protocols between each use.

Continuing its dedication to promote health and well-being, the Westlake Recreation Center is excited to be hosting YogaFit for Warriors yoga teacher training in April 2020. YogaFit, accredited by Yoga Alliance and International Association of Yoga Therapists, is committed to bringing the healing power of yoga to individuals and communities throughout the world.

YogaFit for Warriors was created by Shaye Molendyke, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, in order to help veterans and first responders combat the devastating effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury. This training equips individuals, and those who work with them, with the necessary tools for integrating yoga into one’s healing process. YogaFit trainings combine expert knowledge with scientific research to maximize the efficacy of positive outcomes for the students, trainees, and teachers with whom they work.

Before addressing the topic of placebo effect, I would like to begin by explaining the initials following my name, so readers will know the credentials of the person addressing this topic. In Ohio, nurses who hold a master's or doctorate degree and are licensed as nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists and clinical nurse specialists are considered Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) and are licensed to treat clients and prescribe medications within their specialities. In my case, I treat adults with mental health concerns.

I chose the subject of the placebo effect because it has been an interest of mine for at least the past 10 years. To get FDA approval for a new medication, trials are conducted usually comparing the new chemical compound with a "fake" pill that looks exactly the same. The participants in the study do not know if they are getting the new medicine or a tablet with no active ingredient.

Beautiful Huntington Park is the venue for the Tai Chi practice group, where they do exercises benefitting all parts of the body. As a bonus in the fall, there are golden colors in the trees and the ever-changing deep blue Lake Erie. However the chilly weather will soon turn colder.

As of Nov. 4, the group meets at 10 a.m. at Unity Spiritual Center, 23855 Detroit Road, Westlake on Monday, Wednesday and Friday until spring. The practice group has been led by Patricia Heinke for over 25 years; there is no charge and no membership application. Just come to enjoy exercise and a community of interest.

On the grounds of the Carolyn L. Farrell at the Center for Artful Living in Westlake are six large garden flowers. Each represents the Foundation’s mission and celebration of care for individuals affected by dementia. The Farrell Foundation was created in 2011 and serves the community with a variety of arts enrichment programs at its Detroit Road location along with community outreach in Cleveland, Parma and Beachwood.

The large, three-dimensional flowers were created to raise awareness of dementia and its impact on society, families and the community. The Foundation stresses and supports a positive approach for dementia care. The flowers are a beautiful statement and were the vision of artist and Westlake resident Lee Ann Eyre.

The Westlake Garden Club welcomes Dr. Dvora Nelson, M.D., co-founder of the Lakewood Medical Clinic, who will discuss Ohio’s newly implemented medical marijuana program. Join us for this free program at Westlake Porter Public Library on Wednesday, Oct. 16, from 7-8:30 p.m.

Dr. Nelson appeared on Ideastream’s "The Sound of Ideas" this past July to shed light on how medical cannabis can alleviate suffering from a range of severe and chronic conditions. She touched on the importance of working with your state-approved doctor who will evaluate your eligibility. Because there are many strains of cannabis, it is important to make sure the product you get is tailored to your disease or condition for the best possible outcome.

Mental health problems are not uncommon among teenagers. However, despite 20% of youth experiencing a diagnosable mental illness, the National Institute of Mental Health estimates that only half of those suffering ever seek treatment.

There are many reasons why a young person may not seek medical help for mental illness – shame being a large factor. It is safe to assume, though, that someone with a broken bone wouldn’t get embarrassed to get medical help. I mean, can you think of the last time a student broke their leg, and the gym teacher said, “You’re fine. Just ignore it and run!” I can’t. Why? Well, this all comes down to one detrimental factor: mental illness is still very stigmatized.

A Tai Chi practice group meets at Huntington Beach in Bay Village, just west of the water tower and ice cream shop, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. Pat Heinke leads the group first in an opening exercise, a break, then the Wu style Tai Chi often called Qigong, the short form (24 steps); another break and then some people stay for the long form (108 steps).

Many of the participants have taken some formal classes before, but experience is not necessary to participate in the Huntington Beach sessions.

Residents of Westlake, Bay Village and the surrounding West Shore communities are invited to walk in memory of loved ones while benefiting Hospice of the Western Reserve. Walk to Remember will be held at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on Sunday, June 9. A variety of family-friendly entertainment is planned, including team photos and walk T-shirts, raffles, crafts for kids, face painting, live music and more.

Registration is $25 for adults and $12 for children under age 12. A special family rate is also available. Register online at hospicewr.org/WTR, or contact Monica Cowans at 216-383-3714, or mcowans@hospicewr.org.

Aphasia is a language disorder resulting from an injury to the brain, such as stroke or head trauma. People with Aphasia experience varying degrees of communication difficulties. Symptoms may include having difficulty speaking – a person may have trouble finding the word they want to say; speak with many pauses or verbal repetitions such as “um…um…um”; omit smaller words such as “the” and “of”; or put words in the wrong order.

In addition, people with Aphasia may have trouble understanding what is being said to them. They may have difficulty understanding longer sentences and conversations and find it challenging to follow fast speech. Added complications include problems identifying letters, numbers, words, objects or pictures and difficulty following directions. Aphasia makes it very difficult for someone to be able to read or write, furthering limiting the ability to communicate.

The experts at UH Sports Medicine and UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital are holding a sports physical event at UH St. John Medical Center in Westlake on Saturday, June 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event – which will occur in the hospital’s outpatient surgery wing – is free and open to all students aged 13 and older who are required to receive a physical before starting a school-sanctioned program.

The sports physicals are multifaceted exams for school athletes, including vision, musculoskeletal and cardiac risk assessments. They do not replace an annual well check-up with a pediatrician.

Finally, we are starting to hear good news about the treatment of memory loss. It can be prevented. It is not a hopeless situation and a normal or expected part of aging.

Research and results are giving us hope to fight and prevent cognitive decline. According to the Chief Scientific Wellness Officer for Kemper Cognitive Wellness, Dr. Nate Bergman, the key is knowing and getting ahead of it early. In fact, the younger we start the better.

According to the CDC, 60% of adults fear memory loss. We fear memory loss than more than we fear loss of physical abilities. One reason for this, is the unfortunate perception that this decline is untreatable, inevitable and hopeless.

Action for Healthy Kids, in partnership with ALDI, awarded Bassett Elementary a grant to create an event aimed at mobilizing school professionals, families and communities to take actions that lead to healthy eating, physical activity and healthier schools where kids thrive. The Bassett PTA designed, coordinated, and empowered the inaugural Bassett Baking Blast, which took place on April 18.

Mayor Dennis Clough, principal Jim Sanfilippo, head chef Linda Martin, law enforcement personnel, firefighters, ALDI volunteers, AFHK Midwestern Regional Manager Ashley Green, parents, and of course the students of Bassett Elementary baked and enjoyed 19 unique recipes. All chefs were awarded business cards for their entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to the project.

Humans need to connect with other living beings. Fulfilling this need is strongly tied to health and happiness. Connection and social interaction far exceed wealth and success as measures of happiness according to numerous studies.    

Conversely, chronic illness and even early mortality are strongly linked to loneliness. Even homelessness in the long run is found to be more about a lack of people than a lack of money. Connectivity is the main purpose of senior and community centers.

Pet therapy, among other things, is also about connection. Hospital patients experience measurable benefits from spending time petting a therapy dog, for instance. Connecting with animals helps people take a mental break from their problems and enjoy companionship in the here and now. The concept is simple, but no less powerful. The other side of connecting is that it also feels good to take care of another living being, and play a role in their well-being.

Ohio ranks among the states with the highest incidence of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in the country. So, each year we are asked in various ways in March, including this article, to be aware of this often-misdiagnosed, often-disabling disease.

While these awareness weeks or months help (even if it’s only one person) it seems the most effective awareness of a disease comes when a celebrity is diagnosed with it. An, actress Selma Blair, is the latest well-known person to announce that she has MS.

The City of Westlake Fire Department has teamed up with St. John Medical Center and University Hospitals Community Outreach to offer free CPR training for local community members. These classes are open to adults but not limited to Westlake residents.

Participants will learn HeartSaver CPR/AED for adult, child and infant. The certification from the American Heart Association will be sent as an e-card to those who complete the class.

“Becoming trained in CPR can mean the difference between life and death in certain medical emergencies,” said Rich Mecklenburg, an instructor for University Hospitals.

Have you ever heard the expression, “Don’t let your mind run away with you”? This is a common phrase, but what does it mean exactly? Before we can answer that, I think it is important to define the word "mind."

The dictionary tells us the mind is "the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel; the faculty of consciousness and thought." As you can see, the mind is complex, which can make it tricky when it comes to “not letting it run away with us.”

Being a mother of three, working and going to school, my to-do list can be endless. I have often found myself waking up at 1, 2, or 3 o’clock in the morning and not being able to go back to sleep. Maybe you can relate.

Are you aware that stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States? Approximately one-third of strokes result in aphasia which is a language impairment that can affect speaking, understanding, reading or writing. The National Aphasia Association estimates that there are 2,000,000 people in the USA living with aphasia.

Aphasia is always due to injury to the brain – most commonly from a stroke, particularly in older individuals. But brain injuries resulting in aphasia may also arise from head trauma, brain tumors or from infections. If you are one of the more than 750,000 people in the United States who have a stroke each year, you or your family should not have to face aphasia alone. Knowing there are others in your community in the same situation can make a world of difference.

“I’m trapped in a spider web of endless work/stress and I have lost my sense of balance – is work my only life?" a career counseling client once said to me.

Too many American adults are struggling with work demands that are overwhelming, endless, and limit the full development of adult life.

We seem to have come full circle since 1998, when my counseling staff at InfoPLACE, the adult career planning program at the Cuyahoga County Public Library, began to counsel adults struggling with work/life balance. We researched and wrote the first edition of ABLE (Adult Balanced Life Enhancement) and began to use it widely in workshops and individual appointments. Since then, and several editions later, ABLE is a vital element of my career counseling with a broad range of clients.

The independent living residents of Brookdale Westlake Village stretch into the New Year with a daily dose of fitness. A line in the classic song that we all ring in our New Year singing, "Auld Lang Syne," says “And there’s a hand my trusty friend, and give me a hand o’thine!” Our residents realize the importance of social connection and the benefits it pays on physical health and psychological well-being.

The feeling of being connected, having that support system, a feeling of belonging, a purposeful day which ignites a cooperative spirit and blossoms an empathetic nature is all part of the path. This path in turn supports good health, strengthens the heart, brings forth a joyful mind and increases longevity. The residents are proud to share with you the power of exercising in a group setting as it is a contagious and energizes the entire being.

Many individuals throughout various stages of life recognize the importance of regular physical exercise to maintain health and physical function. Wellness services, fitness centers, parks and senior centers offer physical activities and fitness experiences on a routine basis.

Cognitive fitness or exercising one's thinking abilities is another important aspect of healthy routines that one should consider. Cognitive decline may be described as one of the biggest fears of our aging population. Prevention of cognitive decline can occur through modifying lifestyle habits as well as a concerted, focused plan of cognitive stimulation.

Is the glass half empty or half full? If you ask me, I’ll tell you that it’s all the way full – half with water and half with air. I’ve always considered myself to be an optimist, and I really believe that positive thinking is a powerful skill. Like any other skill, it’s important to practice it.

At the end of my freshman year of high school, I started a positivity journal. After each day, I would fill one line in the book with my favorite things about that day. Now, over two-and-a-half years later, I’m still continuing this tradition. On Dec. 14, I filled 1,000 lines in my journal for 1,000 days of positive thinking.

Sidney comes home from a rainy lacrosse game. It’s their fourth loss this season. Damp, dispirited and discouraged, he edges around the landfill of dirty laundry on the floor of his room. Sitting at his desk, he leans back in the chair, and opens a pack of “toffee” which he got from a dispensary in Michigan. He prefers edibles for their prolonged effect. After half an hour, he looks around the room and, this time, no longer sees the squalor. He’s relaxed, as if in a “meadow of wildflowers.”

Sidney is a senior in high school. To combat his stress and anxiety, he is prescribed 10mg of Lexapro daily. And for the past two years, Sidney has been using marijuana “when I really feel stressed or depressed because it makes me calmer. Things taste better, feel better. Music sounds better … Lexapro calms me down long term, weed [is] a short high.”

Like Sidney, 2 million US teenagers experience depression, and 6.3 million teenagers experience anxiety, reports the Department of Health and Human Services. Joan Jerome, a guidance counselor at Westlake High School, sees it daily. “There’s a lot of depression, stress and anxiety that drowns students. Sometimes, they self-medicate by using marijuana.”

Mary and Dr. Rustom Khouri, longtime supporters of University Hospitals St. John Medical Center, have committed $3 million to support renovations at the hospital’s emergency department which, in recognition of their gift, will be renamed the Khouri Center for Emergency Medicine. This is the largest gift to the hospital in its nearly 40-year history.

“The Khouris’ gift is truly transformative,” said Thomas F. Zenty III, UH Chief Executive Officer. “It will help us advance UH’s strategy for delivering highly specialized emergency care on Cleveland’s Westside for the more than 35,000 annual visitors to the UH St. John emergency department.”

Renovations to the Khouri Center for Emergency Medicine will include state-of-the-art technology and diagnostic equipment, a modern and open layout, and standardized exam and treatment rooms to reduce the possibility of an error during the care process.

Take a step toward a healthier lifestyle with Cuyahoga Community College by attending a Wellness Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, at Corporate College West.

The free event opens with an hourlong discussion on brain health with Krystal Culler, director of the Center 4 Brain Health at Menorah Park in Beachwood. The lecture is part of the Learning for Life lecture series offered through Tri-C’s Westshore Campus.

This fall, the West Shore Family YMCA will introduce new soccer and flag football leagues for adults in the community, in addition to current adult basketball leagues. 

Adult soccer and flag football leagues will run from Oct. 8 through Nov. 27. Soccer games will be held on Mondays and Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m.; flag football games will be held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. Adult basketball will run from Sept. 24 through early December. Basketball games will be held on Mondays and Tuesdays between 7:00 and 10:00 p.m.

In her nearly eight years with Arden Courts of Westlake, Michele Dietrich is described as a team player like no other. She is upbeat, kind and compassionate, and a wonderful representative of the HCR ManorCare values.

While making residents’ rooms and the entire memory care center sparkle, she goes beyond with her versatility to assist residents with their meals, assist with programming, help with restocking and calm residents in need. Michele amazes with what she accomplishes and is the epitome of being helpful, caring and responsive in every way, every day.