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Over the last week or so I have been social distancing in the face of the COVID-19 virus. Its the right thing to do, especially since Im in a vulnerable age group.

As we all know, seniors are not able to access their usual haunts (seniors centres, coffee shops, recreation centres and the libraries) and they cannot see their family and friends as much.

I asked colleagues, friends and family for coping strategies especially for people who do not have access to electronic devices and the internet. Bonus: This meant I was in touch with lots of people which helped me deal with my own need to socialize and stay connected.

Many people said keeping busy was crucial. Sitting around a lot might bring on anxiety, stress and social isolation. Try organizing your day by setting an agenda which includes exercise, changing or upping your usual cleaning schedule, eating a regular, healthy diet, staying socially connected, trying something different or finishing those projects that you started and never finished.

While it might seem like fun sitting around in your pajamas all day, keep up your routine by showering and dressing for the day in the morning.

Of course, keep up the old solitary activities like reading, watching your favourite shows on television and gardening. You could clean a closet, sort and organize photos, shred old papers and listen to the recording that you received for your birthday and never listened to all the way through. Consider these activities as stay at home fun activities and dont feel guilty about binge watching a Netflix series.

Try though, not to obsessively watch television or listen to the radio about the current situation too much information can be stressful and not always very helpful.

While we cannot go to the gym or attend our regular exercise classes we can get outside for a walk, in fact everyone is encouraged to so if possible and you are able. I have been walking but keeping my distance (two metres is suggested).

But I have also been trying to be social, smiling and nodding to people and maybe having a short distance conversation. We are so fortunate on the North Shore to have so many walking trails.

For instance, try the Spirit Trail, the West Vancouver Seawall, the Kings Mill Walk, the Maplewood Conservation Area or just walk in your neighbourhood. If you cant get out, perhaps create an exercise program in your house, dust off that old exercise bike and check out exercise programs on TV.

One of the best ways to stay connected is the good old-fashioned telephone. Try phoning a friends and family regularly. Maybe get in touch with an old out of touch friend. Find out if they need anything or just have a good chin wag.

Many seniors centres and groups are setting up phone trees or other programs to keep in touch with their members and participants. Check out the centres you went to before the virus hit if you want a regular call or you want to volunteer to phone people. To find out how to reach these groups and organizations look for the new 2020 Seniors Directory created by the North Shore Community Resources Society and published by the North Shore News.

The directory can be found on-line at nscr.ca. Also, because the Red Cross Equipment Loan program is open for business at 600 West Queens Rd., you can get a guide there.

Another way to stay socially connected is to write some letters to people by hand and let them know you will write back quickly. Drop your letters off at the good old mail- box down the street

If you use an electronic device such as a tablet or smartphone perhaps set up a photo exchange, weekly book club reading group, play Scrabble or other online games with friends and Skype or Facetime regularly. Use email and texting, but perhaps write longer emails and ask for responses.

The goal of social distancing is to eventually stop the spread of the virus. The goal for us as seniors when we are practicing social distancing is to stay hopeful, busy and still, somehow, socially connected.

I dont usually quote celebrities, but Ryan Reynolds, our homegrown Canadian star, aptly stated recently: Take care of your bodies and hearts. Leave room for joy. Call someone whos isolated and might need connection.

Margaret Coates is the co-ordinator of Lionsview Seniors Planning Society. She has lived on the North Shore for 50 years and has worked for and with seniors for 25 of those years. Ideas for future columns are welcome Email: lions_view@telus.net.

Originally posted here:
OLDER AND WISER: We all need to go the extra mile when it comes to social distancing - North Shore News

While all of us face the daily challenges and major concerns surrounding the coronavirus epidemic and accompanying societal lockdown measures, there are also handfuls of smaller-scale crises sparked by the outbreak. Like...what do I do if I cant go to the gym?

Gyms and workout facilities in many areas are already closed until further notice, so how do you keep from comfort-binging mint chocolate chip ice cream and watching your fitness goals fall off a cliff in the meantime?

Well, these six workouts and full-body wellness programs might help do the trick. And right now, you can also save an additional 15 percent by entering the code SPRINGSAVE15 during checkout. Were all in this together, people. Stay strong.

From the weight room to the living room, iBodyFit workouts can help keep you toned up, no matter where you do the work. Ranked no. 1 in online fitness by TopTenReviews.com, this premium plan includes the entire iBody package, including all 400 online workouts, all 40 custom diet plans and all the daily support and feedback you need from the iBodyFit team. So whether you want to do a 4-week Fat Burner plan, an 8-week Muscle Toner plan or the 12-week Beach Bod Shredder plan, youre covered.

Maybe the best way to maintain all your lofty fitness goals is to just become a trainer yourself. With this expansive 11-course collection, youll get all the instruction you need to not only know all the dietary, exercise and lifestyle paths toward keeping yourself happy and healthy, but also how to work that magic on others. Youll even learn how to market yourself as a fitness trainer and get certified in disciplines like diet and nutrition, health and wellness, workouts and bodybuilding, weight loss and more.

If you arent carving out time to go to the gym these days, it also seems likely you arent finding a full hour or more to do a complete workout regimen either. TMac Fitness is geared around 20-minute, no-equipment workouts that cater to busy, on-the-go lifestyles. In addition to the over 70 workouts crafted for both beginners and advanced workout fiends, TMac also centers on forging a healthy, productive lifestyle as well, so each workout ends with a brief meditation to help strengthen your mind, body, and soul.

If you miss the personal, communal feeling of hitting your favorite gym classes, Live Streaming Fitness can give you the next best thing -- daily live streaming courses. And these arent just workout classes either. Sure, you get a full slate of yoga, cardio, strength training, and other specialized workout sessions, but your subscription also includes a variety of cooking and nutrition tutorials with advice on healthy foods, meal plans, weight loss and more.

LSF offers classes 24/7 with a roster of elite-level trainers and nutritionists standing by to help whenever you need it.

With many workout facilities closed for at least three weeks to a month, the 28-day Project Hasiko plan fits right in to fill the gap. Over four weeks, the Hasiko Flow offers a 60-minute morning session that combines pilates, yoga, and meditation to help you get healthier, reduce stress, have more energy and exude vitality. Not only will you become physically stronger and more flexible, 100 minutes of guided meditation each week will help you shape a life that fits with your core values.

This 60-day, two-phase interactive home workout guide is specifically designed to help you crush fitness goals from the comfort of your home. With the Crush60 program, youll focus on decreasing overall body fat while you build lean muscle and gain strength. This hard-charging workout test different types of muscle fibers with drastic weight changes to challenge your body into greater results. Theres even a Booty Bootcamp here, dedicated to...well, you get the picture.

Hackers tried to break into the World Health Organization earlier in March, as the COVID-19 pandemic spread, Reuters reports. Security experts blame an advanced cyber-espionage hacker group known as DarkHotel. A senior agency official says the WHO has been facing a more than two-fold increase in cyberattacks since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Additional $15M will go to third parties and nonprofits

The death toll in Italys coronavirus outbreak today passed 1,000. Schools throughout Italy are completely shut down, which is reportedly driving a surge in internet traffic as bored kids forced to stay indoors turn to online games.

Youve seen whats happening at your neighborhood Costco or Target. Its not exactly armageddon-level rioting and lawlessnessbut it aint exactly fun out there right now either. Just trying to stock up on all the meal staples youre looking for is taking a little more hustle, ingenuity, and good old dumb luck than it used to. []

Today, theres no shortage of ways for consumers to live a socially conscious lifestyle. They now have access to vehicles with improved fuel economy, a wide selection of organic groceries and manufacturers are increasing the amount of recycled materials they use in their products. Despite these widespread shifts, the financial services sector hasnt kept pace. []

Absent-minded. Forgetful. Stupid. Those are just a few of the words that likely ricochet around inside your head after leaving your briefcase in a cab. Or forgetting where you put your keys. Or realizing you dont have your wallet when its time to pay the dinner tab. Hey, dont beat yourself up. In our hyper-adrenalized []

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Home fitness has never been more important and these deals can help - Boing Boing

ElderCircle was awarded funding to help older adults maintain active living and independence.

The Community Foundation provided ElderCircle with several grants during our Annual Grant Cycle, says Sarah Copeland, Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation Director of Grants and Programs. Their services and professional staff make it possible for many of our older citizens to remain independent and healthy. This week, we will talk about ElderCircles Bone Builders S.A.I.L. program.

Bone Builders Stay Active & Independent for Life (S.A.I.L.)

Bone Builders is a no-impact exercise program for older adults to increase strength, flexibility and balance, all of which can prevent falls and prevent or reverse osteoporosis. Bone Builders also provides socialization for older adults who may otherwise be isolated and lonely.

In 2020, ElderCircle will transition Bone Builders to Stay Active & Independent for Life (S.A.I.L.), which is very similar to Bone Builders but adds aerobics. SAIL is evidence-based which means it is scientifically proven to produce intended results. It is designed for active older adults to maintain activity levels and prevent or delay the effects of aging, and for frail or less active adults to increase/regain their activity levels.

The twice-weekly sessions include slow-moving light arm and leg weight exercises to build muscle and increase bone density, balance and stretching exercises to increase mobility, flexibility and energy. SAIL includes 18-20 minutes of aerobics to exercise the bodys most important muscle, the heart, and to raise oxygen levels in the body.

Bone Builders brings exercise, education and socialization to 14 outlying communities in rural Bigfork, Bowstring, Deer River, Dora Lake, two sites in Grand Rapids, Hill City, Jacobson, Northome, Lawrence Lake, Nashwauk, Pengilly, Togo, and Wabana. During January-June 2019, 277 participants attended 5,633 sessions, and the average participant age was 73. There is no cost for participants and sessions are led by volunteers age 55+.

Respondents in a June 2019 survey reported improved balance (87% of respondents), increased physical strength (92%), improved flexibility (88%), and increased energy (82%) all of which indicate Bone Builders has a positive impact on the health and well-being of participants.

ElderCircle received two grants for the Stay Active & Independent for Life (S.A.I.L.) program (formerly Bone Builders). The Endowed Sharing Fund provided $1,312 and Gibbons Family Donor Advised Fund provided a $500 grant.

Anyone can start a family Donor Advised Fund. Donor Advised Funds allow you make tax-deductible contributions whenever you want, and then advise the Community Foundation about where and how you want to give back.

Copeland adds, The Gibbons Family has two generations with each family member contributing at different times throughout the year. The family then gets together and determines where they want to give back. Its really neat when they join our Annual Grant Cycle. Everyone has done their homework, reading through grant applications, and then they talk about where they can do the most good.

The Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation has been connecting donors charitable intentions to community needs for over 25 years to make our Greater Itasca Area and the world a better place to live. We invite you to become part of the good work we do, and to include us in the conversation with your financial or estate planner to answer the question What good do you want your money to do? For more information, visit our website at http://www.gracf.org or schedule a visit by calling (218) 999-9100.

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Helping adults remain independent and healthy - Herald Review

Partners with WWE Superstar Becky Lynch to Develop Series of Peer-Led Workout Videos to Inspire Year-Round Fitness

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in its over 50-year history, Special Olympics has created a fitness video series in partnership with WWE for Special Olympics athletes, led by Special Olympics athletes. Launched today, the School of Strength fitness campaign targets Special Olympics athletes in their teens and late 20s, and lives on http://www.SpecialOlympics.org. The fitness campaignfeatures four workout videos with varying levels of difficulty in flexibility, strength, balance and endurance exercises encouraging athletes to commit to a lifetime of fitness habits. Now, more than ever, all athletes, including those with intellectual disabilities, need to keep their bodies fit and strong in a challenging routine. The videos are accompanied by downloadable interactive toolkits for coaches and caregivers that feature recipes, a fitness tracker, games and health tips. The School of Strength campaign was created in response to Special Olympics athletes' requests for the development of more fitness resources that excite and inspire them to stay fit year-round, especially now, because like many other athletes, they aren't able to train or compete alongside their teammates.

This fun, engaging workout video series features WWE Superstar Becky Lynch in the ring alongside six Special Olympics athletes and trains them in a series of exercises to achieve varying levels of fitness, including Superstar Trainer, Champion Trainer and Master Trainer levels. Special Olympics athletes selected to participate in this campaign and leading their fellow peers in exercise include: Angel Athenas (Special Olympics New York), Beth Donahue (Special Olympics Massachusetts), Stephanie Ching (Special Olympics Northern California), Vince Egan (Special Olympics Colorado), Gerarado De La Cerda (Special Olympics Southern California) and Greg Demer (Special Olympics Southern California). Exercises demonstrated in the videos include warm-ups exercises such as arm circles and leg swings, endurance exercises including mountain climbers and jumping jacks, balance exercises including leg lifts and half-kneeling chops and strength exercises including power push-ups and super squats.

"The goal is for everyone, no matter your fitness level, to benefit from these videos," said WWE Superstar Becky Lynch. "It's important to me to join this campaign and support those who are breaking barriers for inclusion."

Special Olympics fitness programs focus on physical activity, hydration and nutrition and offer year-round fitness clubs, fitness challenges for friends and families as well as wellness classes. The School of Strength campaign is the latest addition in a selection of fitness resources created for Special Olympics athletes.

The School of Strength campaign resources augment the Fit 5resource series developed in 2017 to educate and empower athletes to live a healthy lifestyle with the promotion of fitness cards, videos, and a guide that emphasizes exercising 5 days per week, eating 5 total fruits and vegetables per day and drinking 5 bottles of water per day. Both the Fit 5 resources and the School of Strength campaign support a Unified approach to fitness where people with intellectual disabilities can join their friends and family members for workouts in their homes or on the go. To date, the Fit 5 resources have been utilized by over 50 Special Olympics Programs in at least 36 countries. Special Olympics fitness programming has demonstrated strong impacts on health outcomes:

"Fitness plays a vital role in both physical and mental health as well as sports performance. Our athletes are fierce competitors who should have the same opportunities as everyone else to be active, workout, and eat healthy. We are changing the face of inclusive health by giving our athletes opportunities to enhance their fitness even while we are all physically distanced from each other," said Dr. Alicia Bazzano, Chief Health Officer, Special Olympics. "People withintellectual disabilitydieon average 16 years earlier than those withoutintellectual disability due to preventable causes. We know that becoming and staying fit can reduce those gaps. The School of Strength campaign is a fantastic asset that encourages our athletes to not only stretch their fitness goals, but stay committed to their health journeys during these tough times."

About Special Olympics Special Olympics is a global inclusion movement using sport, health, education and leadership programs every day around the world to end discrimination against and empower people with intellectual disabilities.Founded in 1968, Special Olympics movement has grown to more than 6 million athletes and Unified Sports partners in over190 countries. With the support of more than 1 million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers32 Olympic-type sportsand over100,000 games and competitionsthroughout the year. Special Olympics is supported by individuals, foundations and partners, including Bank of America, the Christmas Records Trust, The Coca-Cola Company, ESPN, Essilor Vision Foundation, the Golisano Foundation, IKEA Foundation, the Lane Family, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, Lions Clubs International, Safilo Group, Stavros Niarchos Foundation, TOYOTA, United Airlines, and The Walt Disney Company.Click here for a full list of partners. Engage with us on:Twitter,Facebook,YouTube,Instagramandour blog on Medium. Learn more atwww.SpecialOlympics.org

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/class-is-now-in-session-special-olympics-launches-school-of-strength-fitness-campaign-in-response-to-athletes-need-for-at-home-workouts-301029316.html

SOURCE Special Olympics

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Class is Now in Session! Special Olympics Launches School of Strength Fitness Campaign in Response to Athletes' Need for At-Home Workouts - Yahoo...

A panel of four speakers U-M Senior Associate AD and Chief Health and Welfare Officer Darryl Conway, Michigan Director of Performance Nutrition Caroline Mandel and U-M Assistant Director/Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work Abigail Eiler joined a live webinar this morning to discuss the wellbeing of the Michigan Wolverines' student-athletes during their time away from sports due to the coronavirus.

Associate Athletic Director Kurt Svoboda hosted the event, and presented several questions from listeners to the panel regarding the current state of Michigan's athletes and their training programs.

All competitions and practices have officially been canceled through April 21," Svoboda reiterated.

"Anything after that will be decided upon in the future. Right now, April 21 is the date that is on the books.

It was announced on March 12 that U-M had terminated the remainder of its winter and spring sports seasons, with the NCAA revealing that senior athletes who fell into the latter category would be allowed to return next season across the country.

The cancelation of all active sports events undoubtedly came as a shock to many, with student-athletes not even being allowed into Michigan's athletic buildings at the current time.

Signs have been placed on all the doors of the aforementioned buildings around campus clearly prohibiting access.

We did our best to attend every single team meeting to provide support on the spot during the grieving process," Eiler revealed.

"In addition to that, we have made a conscious effort to reach out to all the student-athletes we were currently working with to continue establishing ongoing care, whether that be face-to-face appointments or checking in with people remotely.

"One of the access-related issues that has definitely come up has been being able to reach people across state lines.

"Our athletes are all over the globe, so weve been providing them with support and linking them to care if they need it.

"Weve done our best to check in and see how our student-athletes are doing and walk them through this transition in their lives, because it has been very difficult for some.

Prohibiting access to Michigan's athletic facilities doesn't mean its athletes aren't still training though.

The various strength and conditioning coaches of U-M's sports teams are still working with their athletes from afar, and presenting them with workouts to do from home.

Our strength coaches have worked hard to develop home exercise programs for them," Conway revealed.

"Its amazing what you can do with body weight, a simple can of soup or a textbook, or different items from a pantry or in your house.

"You can lift various things in and around your garage as well. Weve been sending out rehab packs to student-athletes, so some have received recovery machines in order to help them with strength training.

"Our strength coaches are very good at devising ways to get things done. Student-athletes can still go outside, and there are always things around the house like bricks, tires and cinder blocks you can use."

The discussion will hopefully soon turn to what the plan will be once the student-athletes return to campus, though that arrival date still remains a mystery.

With the rest of spring classes being taken online and summer proceeding that, fall may be the earliest date the majority of athletes return to U-M.

Ive had a lot of conversations with our strength coaches, and have started talks with our coaches as well about not doing too much too fast [once the athletes return]," Conway explained.

"Itll be about having a good ramp up and a period to make sure theyre safe. Everyone communicating together will be even more important to make sure were giving athletes enough recovery time and not doing too much too soon.

"Well need to pay attention to what their bodies are telling them. Im hopeful this whole crisis completely changes how we do business on a daily basis for the better, especially at the University of Michigan.

"We didnt offer online classes before this, and now all of them for the next six months will be online.

"Will that wake people up and say we can offer online classes now? It has been proven some companies can now work remotely and get the same amount of work done from home, so all of this makes me very hopeful."

---

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A panel of experts in the Michigan Wolverines' athletic department discuss the wellbeing of its student-athletes. - Rivals.com

Heather Hazzan. Wardrobe Styling Nicole Chapoteau. Makeup by Ingeborg. Hair by Hide Suzuki8. P90X

What it is: An intense 90-day fitness program done for one hour a day, six days a week.What it costs: $120 for the DVDs, or you can join Beachbody On Demand ($39 for three months, $59 for six months, or $99 for 12 months) for access to this and other Beachbody exercise programs.

P90X is something of a "cult classic" workout program, and it's got a hardcore reputationafter all, the X stands for "extreme." Created by Tony Horton, the challenging workouts are done for one hour a day, six days a week, for 90 days. The workouts are varied, incorporating resistance training, cardio, plyometrics, abs work, martial arts, and yoga.

There are a few pieces of equipment required: Namely, a set of dumbbells or lightweight resistance bands, plus a chin-up bar that you can put in a doorway. The program comes with a DVD set of 12 workouts, as well as a nutrition plan and a workout calendar.

Get it here: $120 for the DVDs, beachbody.com; or $39-$99 for a Beachbody On Demand membership, beachbodyondemand.com

What it is: A fitness community offering a variety of free and paid workouts, plus a paid nutrition plan.What it costs: Free, or $13/month for Studio Tone It Up membership

Tone It Up, created by Katrina Scott and Karena Dawn, is more of a fitness community than a program, per sethe website is full of free workouts and offers daily moves. The brand also runs regularly rotating challenges throughout the year, which you can catch on the Instagram or website.

There's also a weekly workout calendar that incorporates additional workouts from the Studio Tone It Up app, which costs $13 a month. And there's no shortage of variety. Types of workouts include HIIT, total-body strength, cardio, and routines geared toward certain areas, like arms, abs, or glutes. There are also workouts inspired by boxing, barre, yoga, and more. The workouts range in length, and while some are bodyweight only, others require equipment such as an exercise ball, sliders, resistance bands, and dumbbells.

(If you're also looking to work on healthy eating habits, you can also opt for Tone It Up's signature nutrition plan, which costs $100.)

Get it here: $13 per month, toneitup.com

What it is: A different strength or cardio workout every day for 80 days.What it costs: Only available on Beachbody On Demand, which costs $39 for three months, $59 for six months, or $99 for 12 months (and includes access to all other Beachbody exercise programs).

There's no getting bored with Autumn Calabrese's 80-Day Obsessionthere are 80 different workouts, so you'll have something new every day. There are cardio classes and strength sessions geared toward different muscle groups, including legs, arms, abs, glutes, as well as total-body strength workouts, and each workout lasts 30 to 60 minutes. As for equipment, you'll need light, medium, and heavy dumbbells, looped resistance bands, and sliders.

The program is available with a Beachbody On Demand subscription, and in addition to the workouts themselves, you'll also get an 80-Day Obsession workout calendar, tracker sheets, and an eating plan.

Get it here: $39-$99, beachbodyondemand.com

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10 of the Best At-Home Fitness Programs | SELF

Worried about COVID-19? You may be putting yourself at undue risk, because chronic anxiety suppresses the immune system and increases our risk for infection.

The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is causing incredible distress. I ran into a friend at the grocery store the other day. She was wiping down her cart with antiseptic. Under normal circumstance, this behaviour would seem bizarre, but in the current COVID-19 climate, it has become acceptable.

Although it is important to be prepared during this pandemic, we do not need to panic. Physical activity can help protect the immune system from the effects of stress.

As an associate professor in the department of kinesiology at McMaster University, I direct a team of researchers in the NeuroFit Lab, where weve shown that psychological distress can compromise mental health.

Anxiety about the unknown (such as our risk of COVID-19) can hyperactivate the fear centre in the brain called the amygdala. In terms of evolution, this is one of the oldest parts of the brain and its operations are quite primitive; it acts like a trigger-happy alarm that interfaces with the stress system to keep our body and mind on high alert for as long as we are feeling anxious. Research shows that the mere suggestion of danger, even if it never is experienced, is enough to trigger the amygdala and activate the stress response. This is what keeps people awake at night, lying in bed worrying about COVID-19.

The problem is that chronic activation of the stress systems can damage our cells and upset many of the bodys functions. Our immune system bears the brunt. Although psychological stress is not pathogenic per se, the damage it causes to the bodys cells triggers an immune response that makes us more susceptible to a foreign pathogen. This may increase our risk for infection with SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

The immune system acts like border security, patrolling the body for cells that are foreign and harmful to it. It works a lot like the Nexus or Global Entry programs for pre-approved travellers; anyone enrolled in the program has their iris scanned to quickly confirm their identity for fast border crossing. But instead of iris scanning, the immune system scans the outer surface of a cell for its biological passport, or what scientists call a motif.

The bodys cells have a motif (a self motif) thats different from the non-self motif of foreign cells and pathogens, like SARS-CoV-2. This non-self motif is known as a pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP).

Another type of motif is the damaged self motif, known as a damage-associated molecular pattern, or DAMP. This motif is expressed by a damaged or dying cell that no longer serves the body. Stress damages the bodys cells, transfiguring self motifs into damaged self motifs. This elevates inflammation throughout the body in a similar way as if it were infected. This response, in the absence of an actual infection, is called a sterile immune response.

Chronic over-worrying about COVID-19 can intensify our vulnerability to viruses by creating an imbalance in immune function. This is because the immune system reacts to multiple breaches in immunity in a similar way that airport security reacts to multiple breaches in safety, by escalating the response. Think back to how vigilant airport security became after 9/11, implementing the strictest screening procedures for all passengers and luggage.

Read more: Coronavirus weekly: expert analysis from The Conversation global network

Excessive anxiety about COVID-19 can trigger an immune response that increases inflammation and readies the immune systems equivalent of special forces, known as inflammasomes. If SARS-CoV-2 acts like other viruses, then upon infection the inflammasomes will be called to action to escalate inflammation even further. But too much inflammation does more harm than good; it deregulates immune function, increasing our risk of a viral infection.

My lab recently demonstrated how quickly our health declines under chronic stress. We tracked sedentary but otherwise healthy students during the weeks leading up to their final exams, and we observed how six weeks of stress gave rise to the symptoms of depression.

What can we do to prevent panic and bolster immune protection?

Physical activity can protect your body from chronic stress-induced inflammation.

In our study, during that same stressful six-week period, we enrolled some of the students in a new exercise program in which they cycled on a stationary bike at moderate intensity for approximately 30 minutes, three times per week. Moderate intensity exercise is about 40 per cent of maximum workload: the point at which someone can still talk, but cant sing.

Blood samples were collected to track changes in inflammation. Although the exercisers were exposed to the same psychological stressors as the sedentary students, their inflammation remained low and their mood remained high with no increase in symptoms of anxiety or depression.

But the intensity of the exercise mattered. Higher intensity exercise was not as effective at protecting mental health or reducing inflammation. The vigorous nature of the intense exercise may have exacerbated an already stressed-out system, especially in individuals who were not accustomed to exercise.

The key take-away from our research: a brisk walk, jog or bike ride can help keep you calm and healthy during these uncertain times so you can be prepared without the panic.

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Anxiety about coronavirus can increase the risk of infection but exercise can help - The Conversation CA

BEING STUCK AT HOME can suck. But with the COVID-19 coronavirus causing companies to shut down workplaces and governments to urge people to stay away from crowds, you could wind up spending the majority of your time at your place of residence for the immediate future.

While it shouldn't be your most pressing concern, that likely means that you'll have to skip out on going to your local gym. Fitness facilities have been bracing for the impact of the pandemic from the beginningespecially those that are focused on group classesand while most haven't shut down yet, you might not be willing to risk your overall health for a workout. If you've been forced to join the legions of work from home employees against your will, it can feel even tougher to get up and moving in the same space you've been lolling on your laptop in your favorite pair of sweats.

Unless you have a killer home gym, that you'll have to adjust your fitness routine to match the equipment at your disposal. No need to worrythere are endless options available to you if the only place to get your sweat on is in your living room. Don't know what to do? There's an app for that (or more accurately, 22 that we recommend, since we're counting). Better yet, our All Out Studio streaming platform, where you can follow programs like Superhero Shred, The New Rules of Muscle, and Kettlehell to get your fitness class fix with some of the world's best trainers.

If you're looking for even simpler ways to stay in shape inside, our favorite bodyweight workouts can be completed just about anywhere, anytime, at any fitness level. Don't spend your time inside on the couch doing nothingget up, get moving, and stay healthy.

This Beginner's Abs Workout Is Worth Everyone's Time

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Build Perfect Biceps With the Mixed-Style Curl

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Elevate Your Ab Workout While You Build Up Your Back

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Finish Off Your Leg Day With This Killer Goblet Squat Series

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How to Do the Single-Leg Deadlift Without Losing Your Balance

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This Wall Sit Finisher Will Crush Your Hamstrings and Glutes

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Men's Health

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30 Home Workouts to Stay Fit When You're Stuck Indoors - Men's Health

As we noted in our previous Health Law Scan blog CMS Issues Program Instructions for Medicare Telehealth Waiver, CMS issued program instructions on March 17 to implement the Medicare telehealth waiver in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. We noted that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at HHS simultaneously issued policy statements with respect to their exercise of enforcement discretion regarding, respectively, telehealth-related copay waivers and HIPAA violations. These coordinated policy announcements represent a concerted effort by federal government agencies to broaden telehealth flexibility to immediately promote and expand the use of technology to help Medicare beneficiaries follow guidance from the CDC, including practicing social distancing, thereby enabling vulnerable beneficiaries and beneficiaries with mild symptoms to access the care they need from their homes. Not only will this help protect Medicare beneficiaries who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, it presumably will help deter the spread of the virus and ease the burden on already over-stressed emergency departments, doctors offices, and other healthcare facilities.

CMS observed when it issued its program instructions that, absent action by OIG, traditional Medicare coinsurance and deductible payments still would apply to the expanded services furnished pursuant to the telehealth waiver. OIG, however, took coordinated action through the release of its own policy statement to address this issue. Pursuant to the determination of a public health emergency made by the secretary of HHS on January 31, 2020 (retroactively effective to January 27, 2020), OIG on March 17 granted healthcare providers the flexibility to reduce or waive cost-sharing for telehealth visits reimbursed by federal healthcare programs.

As OIG noted, reductions or waivers of costs owed by federal healthcare program beneficiaries, including cost-sharing amounts such as coinsurance and deductibles, potentially implicate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the civil monetary penalty and exclusion laws, and the beneficiary inducements civil monetary penalty statute. OIGs policy statement, however, notifies providers that OIG will not enforce these statutes and will not impose administrative sanctions on physicians and other practitioners if they choose to reduce or waive cost-sharing for federal healthcare program beneficiaries related to telehealth visits during the unique circumstances presented by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Specifically, OIG stated that it will not view the provision of free telehealth services alone to be an inducement to influence future referrals, i.e., OIG will not view the furnishing of subsequent services occurring as a result of the free telehealth services, without more, as evidence of an inducement. Telehealth services pursuant to any such arrangement must, however, be furnished consistent with applicable CMS coverage and payment rules in order to warrant the exercise of OIGs enforcement discretion.

OIG is careful to note that the policy statement does not mandate that physicians or other practitioners reduce or waive cost-sharing obligations related to telehealth services for federal healthcare program beneficiaries. It also disclaims that anything in the OIG policy statement affects (a) the operation of CMSs programmatic rules and regulations or (b) a providers responsibility to bill only for services performed and comply with legal authorities related to proper billing, claims submission, cost reporting and related conduct.

Similarly, OCR on March 17 announced a policy of enforcement discretion and penalty waivers for HIPAA violations when healthcare providers make a good faith effort to use audio or video technology to provide telehealth to patients during the nationwide COVID-19 public health emergency through everyday nonpublic facing remote communications technologies, such as FaceTime or Skype. OCR noted, however, that Facebook Live, Twitch, TikTok and similar video communication applications that are public-facing should not be used.

OCR encouraged providers to enable all available encryption and privacy modes when using such nonpublic facing applications, and to nevertheless notify patients that communicating using the applications potentially introduces privacy risks. Finally, OCR stated that it intends to provide further guidance on how providers can use remote video communication tools to responsibly offer telehealth to patients.

In sum, federal agencies are quickly waiving on a temporary basis many of their existing authorities. So long as providers are working in good faith to treat patients, those laws that affect beneficiary access to services should not be viewed as a barrier for providers to furnish necessary services.

Link:
HHS to Exercise Enforcement Discretion in Response to CMS Telehealth Waiver - Lexology

Four families in the Danville area are trying hard to cope with their new normal.

All are feeling the stress of staying at home to practice social distancing amid the coronavirus outbreak, but also are trying to find the blessings in their new way of life.

Brian and Liz Tubbs have four children ages 11 and younger, two of whom were in school until it was suspended last week.

Liz describes their new stay-at-home life as going well, but a little crazy and off.

Because it was a sudden school closure, we are having to adjust to kids being out faster than if it was for summer vacation. I will not lie, there have been times this last week that I wanted to pull my hair out, but we are learning and adjusting and trying to figure out what is best for our family right now, she said. There have also been some good times with siblings playing more, helping each other and having fun.

The hardest part is coming up with a new routine that works for both the older children and the 4- and 2-year-old.

When the teachers from the kids schools put together packets of work for them to do this changed things for us tremendously. It gave some guidance as to what to do with the kids to keep up their school work and learning so that when they go back they are not behind, she said. So we have implemented school time in the morning, and the kids spend about two hours sometimes, more or less, working on school assignments.

There also are chores in the morning, then play time inside or out, depending on the weather. Quiet time is while their sister takes a nap and Liz can get some tasks done.

During this time they can read books, use their tablets for educational activities and movies, or actually sleep, which never happens, she said. We have also been playing board games, having dance parties, painting, using play dough, drawing, etc.

Its been hard coming up with ideas for things to do, but we are working on different ideas and lots of people have posted ideas on social media or Pinterest, which have helped, she said.

Maddox, 11, asks a lot of questions about the coronavirus and his parents do their best to answer them.

But I think the thing that has helped the most is that we as parents have remained calm during all this and have put our faith and trust in the Lord. We have talked with the kids about how the Lord has a plan and is mindful of us and will help us, and we pray every morning and night regarding the virus, she said. This does not mean we are sitting back and not doing anything to help minimize our risk of getting the virus.

We definitely are. We have tried to make sure we have enough supplies for two weeks and longer, as well as obeying the social distancing, and other recommendations from government leaders.

But we are at peace because we know that we will get through this and no matter what happens we know, the Lord has a plan and is mindful of us and will help see us through.

She said the feeling in their home is not fear or anxiety, but maybe just cabin fever.

Ellie Tubbs (left) and Rylee Tubbs (right) read books during quiet time at their home.

There has been a little frustration in that Maddox would like to see his friends and have friends over and my daughter who is in first grade misses her teacher and friends, she said. So that has been a little difficult for them, especially when my son, who is the oldest, has three younger sisters and doesnt necessarily want to play house or princesses.

Above all, the family tries to keep a positive attitude and be kind.

I think the hardest part of all this is not knowing what the future holds and what lies ahead and realizing that what our normal used to be may not be the case in the future, she said. But we can only take this day by day, do the best we can, realize were not alone in all this and that people all over the world are going through what we are.

Brian works as a licensed clinical social worker and had some professional advice for families like his who suddenly are together at home all the time.

Do anything and everything that you can find to be creative. Now is the time to slow down, re-evaluate priorities and get to things you havent done because you were too busy, he said. Phone calls, texts and written letters to others can help with feelings of isolation because even though you might be alone, others are in the same predicament.

He noted it will be stressful to have the children home and parents need to manage their expectations of behavior.

Its not going to be perfect, and parents need to lead by example how to cope with stress and cabin fever. Now is the time to engage with your children more, he said.

The Chapman family consists of dad Jaxon, mom Lindsy, son Ryker, 14, and daughter Ami, 12.

Jaxon is a schoolteacher, but hasnt had to do much homeschooling. Lindsy said the children are in the gifted programs at school and usually just need help proofreading a paper or with the citations.

They have Chromebooks the middle schools provide for the students to use throughout the school year and do most of their work in Google Classroom already, so their teachers are just putting assignments in there that the kids check every day, Lindsy said. [They] are pretty motivated and self-sufficient, so I just check in and give them a reminder to check their classes. They do it on their own in their rooms just like they would do homework.

Cabin fever has been the biggest problem of the past week of staying inside.

Getting out and being in the world is important to Jaxon and me even if its just window shopping, she said. And since both kids are on the autism spectrum I worry about them regressing in their social skills.

She loves having the children at home, though, and has embraced the opportunity, which she chose to call this time, of being together and getting to know each other without distractions or obligations.

Most of her fear is with sending the children and Jaxon back to work too soon.

I want to make sure they are safe. Kids in schools do not socially distance themselves, and they definitely dont wash anything, she said. For now, the kids are not worried because they are here, but the thought of leaving does worry them. I get concerned we will all have a little agoraphobia before this is all over.

Curtis Nichols plays with a new game his mother and caregiver, Rhonda May, bought him so he would have a new activity. Nichols has special needs and doesn't understand why he suddenly can't go out.

Rhonda May has different challenges with so many places being closed and trying to keep their distance.

She is the caregiver for her 32-year-old son, Curtis Nichols, who has special needs and doesnt understand the new restrictions in his life. Her friend, Timmy Hutcherson, lives with them, as well as a 14-year-old dog Westie.

I used to take Curtis to the YMCA three days a week to swim in the pool, we went to church on Sunday and we had other outings like the library or Sams Club and Walmart, she said. He has been on edge and had some upsets due to having to stay in. He doesnt really understand why he cant go to the Y and other places, which he sees as social opportunities.

Keeping Curtis entertained and calm is their main goal during the isolation.

We try to keep him distracted with driving around, playing with his tablet or games, or television, she said. We sit on our front porch when it is warm and watch cars go by. Ive played Barney songs on my guitar and we sang one afternoon. He enjoyed that.

She misses seeing her parents, her daughter and her grandchildren, as well as going to church.

Its sad to think I might not be able to celebrate my daughters birthday with her, she said. But I have had time to do a little spring cleaning, and I actually took a nap last Monday.

She feels stress from the uncertainty of when things will return to normal and thinking about the damage of people being out of work and the effects that will trickle down from that.

But I try very hard to focus on the fact that God has a plan and this is part of that plan, she said. Im not driving this bus; Im just a passenger. So I wont pretend I know where its going or where its going to stop. I will just try to enjoy the scenery and trust that the bus drivers got this.

Robin Thompson is using her time off work as the manager of American Eagle, which temporarily shut down, to slow her pace and rest a bit. She lives with her husband and their animals.

The worst part is the sudden change to my system of not going 100 miles an hour with work and home, but it has allowed me to do some early spring cleaning and to spend time with my husband, she said.

She has slept late, cleaned the house, caught up on multiple Netflix shows and explored all of Disney Plus.

Ive also enjoyed my deck during the nice weather and taken time to actually cook, she said. I feel like I can relax.

To her, the worst part about the virus scare is feeling anxious about the uncertainty of the future and worrying about people she loves getting the virus.

I know this is scary and can be very stressful for a lot of people, worrying about money, health and the coming weeks ahead of us, she said. But I cant help but take this as an unexpected blessing of some sort for me and my family.

We dont live above our means, so we are financially OK for now. Ive been able to channel my 100-mile-an-hour energy of working retail and invest it into my home and family. Its helped me to reflect on more important issues, and pull back on the I want this, we need that and be grateful for what we do have already.

Linda McConahey, who with her husband, Bill, is a relationship coach in Pelham, North Carolina, said the best way to cope with the sudden change in life is to remind yourself that this change isnt permanent, that this too shall pass.

Breathe. Develop an exercise program for everyone, she advised. Learn and practice relaxation techniques and focus on what you can do rather than what you cant do. Use this time to accomplish some tasks youve been putting off, such as cleaning closets, cleaning out the refrigerator, collecting items for Goodwill, etc.

To deal with the tasks involved with children, she said to include all family members in meetings with agendas and have everyone contribute suggestions and solutions, then re-evaluate if necessary.

Negotiate free time and work time, and ask your children for ideas and help, she said. Working together as a family with everyone contributing and supporting each other empowers everyone.

Elzey is a freelance writer for the Register & Bee. She can be reached at susanelzey@yahoo.com or (434) 791-7991.

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Danville families try hard to find the blessings in their new normal - GoDanRiver.com

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