Smart Connections - Show Me Health

Trauma Smart is a program created by Crittenton Children’s Center to provide support to children who have experienced trauma as well as caregivers and teachers who love and take care of them. 

Un-resolved trauma in childhood can have life-long effects and is linked to adult aggression, substance abuse, eating disorders, depression, and suicide.  Trauma Smart helps resolve the effects of trauma so children can live confident, productive lives. 

Trauma can be one event or a series of events that frighten, confuse or hurt a child.  What is hard and scary for one child, may not be hard and scary for another.  Some examples of trauma are; death of a loved one, painful or extended medical procedures, separation from family, physical or sexual abuse, violent crime, incarcerations or arrest of a loved one, house fire or car accident, hurricane, tornado or flood.

Children may show these signs if they are suffering the effects of trauma.  Children may have a change in sleep pattern, nightmares or night terrors.  You may see frequent crying, anxiety, nervousness, more quiet than normal or a change in eating habits.  Other signs are frequent temper tantrums, aggressive behavior, acting younger than their age or trouble separating from caregivers. 

In the event of a traumatic event, parents and caregivers should remain calm, soothe and comfort your child.  Then parents can encourage their children to express their emotions while maintaining a consistent routine and preparing children ahead of time for any changes to routine.

Smart Connections, the parent education piece to Trauma Smart, teaches parents the skills to connect with their children.  Starting October 18^th, Mary Taylor from the Livingston County Health Center will offer Smart Connections at the Livingston County Health Center.

On October 18, parents and caregivers can learn how to Manage the Ups and Downs by learning how to take care of themselves so they can better care for their children.

The next session on November 1, will teach parents how to Read the Signs and strengthen connections with your children.

On November 15, you learn how to Create Comfort by implementing routines and rituals with your children.

At the November 29 class, parents will find out about Encouraging Growth by learning about praise and how it affects behaviors.

After the first of the year on January 10, learn how to become a Feelings Detective and help your child identify his/her feelings, energy and moods.

At the January 24 session, parents and caregivers learn ways to teach children to Express Feelings and the effects of grief and loss.

On February 7, Blow Worries Away and help the child regulate their energy level, mood or feelings.  Also learn the calm down steps and how to implement these steps.

Build a Calm Down Spot is the topic for February 21, where participants will and learn the importance of having a safe place for every child.

Encouraging Learning and ways to help a child problem solve will be the topic on March 7^th.

The final class of the series on March 21 parents will learn how to “Identify the Superhero in Your Child”, by identifying their unique, positive, coherent ad future selves.

If you would to attend please call the Health Center at 646-5506 to sign up. Every parent and caregiver is welcome.

Meditation - Show Me Health

If stress has you anxious, tense and worried, consider trying meditation. Spending even a few minutes in meditation can restore your calm and inner peace.

What is Meditation?

Meditation is the practice of focusing your attention to bring the mind to a deep state of concentration. Our mind wants to think in a linear fashion about past worries and future anxieties.  Meditation brings our mind to the present moment to witness what is happening here and now.

There are many different meditation styles and techniques. Some are practiced sitting still while others can be set in motion, such as Tai Chi.

Why Meditate?

A regular meditation practice can reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus, stabilize emotions, promote physical health, and increase compassion towards others and ourselves.

■ It brings your attention to the current moment and helps you realize that life’s conditions
are not permanent which can reduce stress and anxiety.

■ It shifts your mind from a state of distraction to deep concentration and focus.

■ It trains you to observe your thoughts and feelings before acting on them which stabilizes emotions.

■ It changes gene expression patterns that bring biological systems into better balance which improves physical health.

■ It disrupts habitual thought patterns which can increase compassion towards others and ourselves.

■ It allows you to discriminate between useful and non-useful thoughts. With practice, you will be able to identify the non-useful and negative thoughts quickly and push them away to find ease in everyday life.

Anyone can practice meditation. It's simple and inexpensive, and it doesn't require any special equipment.

You can practice meditation wherever you are — whether you're out for a walk, riding the bus, waiting at the doctor's office or even in the middle of a difficult business meeting.

Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years. Meditation originally was meant to help deepen understanding of the sacred and mystical forces of life. These days, meditation is commonly used for relaxation and stress reduction.

Meditation is considered a type of mind-body complementary medicine. Meditation can produce a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind.

During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. This process may result in enhanced physical and emotional well-being.

Benefits of meditation

Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that can benefit both your emotional well-being and your overall health.

And these benefits don't end when your meditation session ends. Meditation can help carry you more calmly through your day and may help you manage symptoms of certain medical conditions.

Meditation and emotional well-being

When you meditate, you may clear away the information overload that builds up every day and contributes to your stress.

The emotional benefits of meditation can include:

•  Gaining a new perspective on stressful situations

•  Building skills to manage your stress

•  Increasing self-awareness

•  Focusing on the present

•  Reducing negative emotions

•  Increasing imagination and creativity

•  Increasing patience and tolerance

Meditation and Illness

Meditation might also be useful if you have a medical condition, especially one that may be worsened by stress.

While a growing body of scientific research supports the health benefits of meditation, some researchers believe it's not yet possible to draw conclusions about the possible benefits of meditation.

With that in mind, some research suggests that meditation may help people manage symptoms of conditions such as:

•  Anxiety

•  Asthma

•  Cancer

•  Chronic pain

•  Depression

•  Heart disease

•  High blood pressure

•  Irritable bowel syndrome

•  Sleep problems

•  Tension headaches

Be sure to talk to your health care provider about the pros and cons of using meditation if you have any of these conditions or other health problems. In some cases, meditation can worsen symptoms associated with certain mental and physical health conditions.

The health center is hosting an “Introduction to Meditation” Class Series every Wednesday at 12 Noon for six weeks.  The class is led by Kasey Peyton, a local yoga instructor popular with many of our residents.  The first class was an introduction to meditation and a short practice of one style.  The remaining classes will feature a different type of meditation each week

Meditation isn't a replacement for traditional medical treatment. But it may be a useful addition to your other treatment.

Sources: WebMD, Kasey Peyton

Upcoming high-dose flu clinic for county residents 65 and older

Livingston County Health Center has announced an upcoming high-dose flu clinic for county residents 65 and older on Tuesday, September 19^th from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Livingston County residents 65 and older can walk-in anytime during the hours of the clinic to receive their high-dose vaccination.

Those with private insurance or Medicare should bring their card to the clinic. 

More opportunities to get vaccinated will be announced until vaccine supply runs out. 

Health Center to Host Free Meditation Series

Livingston County Health Center is excited to announce an upcoming series of 30-minute Meditation Classes led by Kasey Peyton.  Classes will be held every Wednesday for six weeks, beginning on Wednesday, September 13^th at 12 Noon in the Health Center classroom, located at 800 Adam Drive.

A regular meditation practice can reduce stress, improve focus, stabilize emotions, promote physical health, and increase compassion towards others and ourselves. 

This six-week course will introduce students to a different type of meditation each week with instruction on proper posture and breathing.  The first class is an introduction to meditation itself.   Information and helpful tips will be shared to encourage students to develop a home meditation practice of their own.

Kasey Peyton is a certified yoga and meditation instructor and a 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance.  In a culture and age of fast-paced, outward focus, Kasey enjoys bringing people back to themselves through the inner work of yoga and meditation.  She is rewarded by the serene look of transformation on her students’ faces at the end of every class.

The Health Center requested Kasey to teach meditation to educate county residents about alternative methods of preventive self-care. 

For more information about the upcoming classes, please call 660-646-5506.

Tai Chi for Arthritis - Show Me Health

Originating in ancient China, tai chi is one of the most effective exercises for health of mind and body. Although an art with great depth of knowledge and skill, it can be easy to learn and soon delivers its health benefits.  For many, it continues as a lifetime journey.

In 1997, Dr. Paul Lam led a team of tai chi and medical specialists to create the Tai Chi for Arthritis program. It is easy, enjoyable and safe for people with arthritis to learn. Medical studies have shown the program to relieve pain for people with arthritis and improve their quality of lives, as well as preventing falls for the older adults.  For this reason, arthritis foundations around the world and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in America are giving it their full support.

Although especially effective for arthritis, it is a great start for beginner to improve health and wellness. The program is proven to be effective to prevent falls, that is why health departments around the world have utilized it for this purpose. 

Tai chi is a slow motion, low-impact exercise that promotes physical and mental health and relaxation. It is practiced as an effective exercise for health through a series of flowing, graceful, gentle postures and movements. The gentle flowing movements contain inner power that can strengthen the body, improve mental relaxation and mobilize joints and muscles. Tai chi is an especially suitable therapy for arthritis because of the slow and gentle movements. Here are some of the benefits, according to Nina Chen, Ph.D., CFLE, Human Development Specialist, University of Missouri Extension.

Tai chi improves balance, strength and flexibility and lowers the risk of falls. A study from the Oregon Research Institute found that tai chi improved balance and reduced the frequency of falls and risks of falling among older people.

Tai chi also reduces pain, stiffness and stress. Researchers from Tufts University School of Medicine noted that patients older than 65 with knee osteoarthritis who practiced a 60-minute tai chi class twice a week for 12 weeks showed a significant decrease in joint pain and stiffness compared with those in the control group. They also found the patients in the tai chi group had improved physical function, self-efficacy, depression, and health status.

Both the Oregon and University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) researchers reported that tai chi improves sleep quality in older adults.

Other UCLA studies also suggested that tai chi helps people reduce high blood pressure and tension headaches.

Tai Chi for Arthritis isn’t for everyone.  If you are looking for a drop in class you can attend when you have time, this is probably not the course you are looking for.  Learning the movements of Tai Chi is a progressive effort.  It takes time and repetition to learn the series of moves, so class attendees need to be present for as many classes as possible. 

Learning Tai Chi can also be slow-paced for some. Health Center Instructors have been trained in the Step-Wise Method created by Dr. Paul Lam, so each move is taught in steps.  The method intended to ensure safety for those with balance issues. 

The Health Center will be starting Tai Chi for Arthritis Classes in September.  We will host an exhibition on Friday, September 8^th at 10 a.m. for those that would like to learn more about Tai Chi, and see it in practice.  Classes will begin on Monday, September 11^th at 10 a.m.  Classes are tentatively set for Mondays and Thursdays.   Call 646-5506 for more information.

Sources: Tai Chi for Health Institute, University of Missouri Extension

Health Center to Host Free Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention Classes

Livingston County Health Center would like to announce a new Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention class for seniors 60 and older, or those living with arthritis, fibromyalgia and other conditions that cause balance issues and joint pain.   

There will be a free demonstration class led by Instructors Mary Taylor and Ann Burchett on Friday, September 8th at 10 a.m. in the Health Center classroom, located at 800 Adam Drive.

Tai Chi for Arthritis is a low impact, graceful form of exercise using gentle movements that puts minimal stress on muscles and joints, making it suitable for adults that are age 60 and over. Tai Chi is proven to help reduce the prevalence of falls among and is rated as the highest level evidence-based program for senior adults for health and wellness.

Tai Chi has been proven to improve balance, increase leg strength, improve mobility, increase flexibility, reduce stress, improve posture and reduce the fear of falling.

Weekly one-hour Tai Chi classes begin at the Health Center on September 11th and will be tentatively set for Mondays and Thursdays at 10:00 a.m.  

For more information about the upcoming classes or to register, please call 660-646-5506.

Upcoming Skin Cancer Screening Clinic

Livingston County Health Center will be the site of a free Skin Cancer Screening Clinic from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  on Friday, August 18th by appointment only.  Dr. Edna DeCastro will be providing screenings for this clinic.

You must have an appointment to attend this screening, as space is very limited.  If you receive an appointment and later need to cancel, please let us know, so we can fill your slot.   

It’s important to remember that skin cancer can happen at any age, it doesn’t just affect seniors after years of damage.  Skin cancers like melanoma are deadly, and need to be treated sooner rather than later.  If you have never been checked for skin cancer, or have some spots, moles or other areas on your skin that concern you, come to this free clinic.

To make your appointment for the August 18th Skin Cancer Screening Clinic, call the health center at 646-5506.