Medicare Extravaganza aims to educate seniors on insurance plans

GREENWOOD, Ind. – It’s that time of year again – that open enrollment period to help seniors choose the right Medicare Advantage plan to cover their health insurance needs.

Senior Promise, a Franciscan St. Francis Health-based organization is hosting a Medicare Extravaganza Oct. 19, Oct. 23 and Oct. 26 at the hospital’s Education Services and Support Center at 421 N. Emerson Ave., Greenwood, one mile south of County Line Road.

Four presentation sessions will be held at the following times: 9 to 10:15 a.m., 10:30 to 11:45 a.m., noon to 1:15 p.m. and 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. 

Franciscan Insurance Services staff will be joined by representatives from Humana Health Plan Inc., Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare. Each organization will give presentations on their Medicare Advantage plans to help participants make informed decisions about the right plan for their needs.

Registration is not required. For more information, call Senior Promise and Franciscan Insurance Services at 317-528-8277.

Take a walk through the human heart at the Oct. 2 senior health festival

INDIANAPOLIS – An expanded and fully interactive health fair is in store for the anticipated hundreds who will attend an annual health sponsored by Senior Promise.

“Journey Through Wellness” is slated for 8 a.m. to noon, Friday, Oct. 2, at The Atrium, 3143 E. Thompson Road. Senior Promise is a program based at Franciscan St. Francis Health.

Ever given any thought about what’s going on inside your ticker? Participants can walk through The Ameriheart®, a large, inflatable exhibit. The display offers a realistic view about the parts and mechanics of the heart and cardiovascular disease. Franciscan St. Francis Health clinicians will be on hand to explain these functions.

There also will be numerous lifestyle screenings and other activities available, including health and wellness screenings, physician presentations, exercise (Pilates and yoga chair), cooking demonstrations, genetic counseling and testing for hereditary cancer conditions, chair massages, pharmacy consultations, first aid to name but a few.

Some of the free screenings and services available include:
•  Cholesterol
•  Oral cancer
•  Blood pressure
•  Foot screening

Flu and pneumonia vaccinations will be offered for a fee. However, if you have Anthem, Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan, your vaccinations may be covered. Check with your insurance carrier prior to the event to find out if they provide coverage for a  mobile vaccination clinic.

Emergency Medical Technician Paramedics also will be at the fair to talk with guests about personal safety and assist in filling out free emergency medical information forms.

The event also will offer a durable medical equipment (DME) drop-off location for those wishing to donate used or new medical equipment to help those who cannot afford these items.

Franciscan St. Francis Health has offered a DME program for over 15 years.  Donations are accepted of medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, etc. This equipment is cleaned, repaired and then given to those in need.   

Support program helps kids cope with grief over loss of loved ones

INDIANAPOLIS – Death is a part of the life cycle, but it can be an especially difficult for children to grasp and make sense out of loss.

That’s why Franciscan VNS St. Francis Hospice offers Caterpillar Kids, a free support program that offers learning experiences for children ages 5 to 12 who have experienced the loss of a loved one.

“Children do grieve and they may express it differently than adults, but their feelings are as genuine and essential in healing,” said spiritual bereavement counselor Karla Riggs Norton. “Caterpillar Kids brings children together in a safe, nurturing environment where they receive information about grief and learn healthy ways to cope with the death of a loved one.”

The program will offer its Fall Caterpillar Kids series beginning Wednesday, Sept. 16, and on subsequent Wednesdays (Sept. 23, 30 and Oct. 7).

Meetings are at Christ United Methodist Church, 8540 U.S. 31 South, one mile north of Greenwood Park Mall.

Led by staff trained in bereavement support for children, youngsters will participate in storytelling, art projects, games and other sharing activities. Parents also are invited to participate in a concurrent session to assist them in supporting their children.

To register or for more information about Caterpillar Kids, call 317-528-2636.

Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center offers free classes throughout September

INDIANAPOLIS -- Franciscan St. Francis Heart Center is offering free classes focused on cardiovascular health and wellness in September.

To register for any of the classes, call 317-782-4422 or go online at MyHeartCare.net to see the full listing of fall classes. Seating is limited for these events.

Cardio-Oncology – How can cancer treatment affect the heart?

Fri, Sept. 18 at 12:00 noon

Presented by Vijay Rao, MD and Jaime Ayon, MD

Decatur County Memorial Hospital, 720 N. Lincoln St., Greensburg

Have you or a loved one gone through cancer treatment?  Some cancer drugs can affect the heart muscle, so it is important to monitor your heart condition while going through treatment.  And the effects can last for many years after treatment is complete.  Franciscan Physician Network specialists cardiologist Dr. Rao and oncologist Dr. Ayon will discuss the impact chemotherapy may have on heart muscle and what can be done to help these patients.

Why does it hurt to walk?

Tues, Sept. 29 at 5:30 p.m.

Presented by William Berg, MD

UnaVie Cardiology Center

2451 Intelliplex Dr., Shelbyville

Leg pain can be a result of poor blood flow to the legs through the arteries and can negatively impact a person’s life.  Dr. Berg, cardiologist with the Franciscan Physician Network specializing in peripheral vascular disease, will discuss the blood flow to the legs, signs and symptoms of arterial vs. venous disease and treatment options available. 

Change of Heart classes

If you come to a class in Sept and take an initial health assessment, then attend at least three of our scheduled classes and take a final health assessment, you will receive a gift for your commitment to improving your health.

Cooking for 2

Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Franciscan Heart Center, 8111 S. Emerson Ave.

As we get older, our health becomes more of a priority.  After the kids leave home, it can be challenging to scale back our cooking, so dining out seems like an easy option.  In this class, learn how it really is cheaper and healthier to cook at home for two. 

Fitness Tips

Thursday, Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the Heart Center

Being fit is more than being thin.  Research shows that no matter what you weigh, increasing your fitness helps your heart.  Discover that exercise can be healthy and fun.  Learn how to set up a schedule for yourself.

Healthy Dining Out Tips

Tuesday, Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville, 1201 Hadley Road

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m. at the Franciscan Heart Center

Americans eat nearly half their meals away from home.  How can you control what you eat when you don’t cook for yourself?  Learn how to make wise menu selections and eat smart while dining out.

Healthy Eating

Thursday, Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m. at the Franciscan Heart Center

Wednesday, Sept. 16, 6:30 p.m. at Franciscan St. Francis Health-Mooresville

Healthy eating leads to a healthy life!  Find out how much a “serving” is and how to manage a healthy weight.  Discover how fats, carbohydrates and protein affect our body.  Do you know how much salt, fiber and sugar are in the foods you buy?  This class offers the foundation for a healthy future!

Reduce Stress

Tuesday, Sept.15, 6:30 p.m. at the Franciscan Heart Center

Negative stress causes changes in lifestyle and behavior, which may lead to unhealthy choices.  Learn to identify the causes of stress in your life and techniques to decrease your stress which can improve your health.

Savvy Shopping

Monday, Sept. 28, 6:30 p.m. at Southport Meijer, 5325 E. Southport Road

With all the new and changing products on the shelves, grocery shopping can be overwhelming.  Learn where to find the healthy foods and how to avoid packaging tricks commonly used to market foods.  Discover how food labels make you a smarter shopper.

Franciscan Hospice House: Where compassion, care and life’s journey converge

Dedication, related events to be held in advance of facility’s opening this fall

INDIANAPOLIS – A long-awaited heartfelt dream held by many is about to transform into a glowing reality on the city’s south side.

Construction of Franciscan Hospice House is nearing completion, and Franciscan St. Francis Health will unveil it to the public at an open house 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 19. Visitors can tour the property and meet the people who will staff the facility, located at 8414 Franciscan Lane on the hospital’s Indianapolis campus.

One of the hallmark opening events will be the formal blessing and dedication of Franciscan Hospice House, Thursday, Sept. 17. Leading the ceremony will be the Rev. Monsignor Joseph F. Schaedel of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis; Sister Jane Marie Klein, chairwoman of Franciscan Alliance Board of Trustees; James Callaghan, MD, president and CEO for Franciscan St. Francis; and Robert J. Brody, senior vice president and chief operating of Franciscan Alliance Ambulatory Services.

Building of the facility got under way in June 2014 after a groundbreaking ceremony. It marked the start of a project envisioned for more than a decade, followed a thoughtful fundraising initiative steered by Franciscan Alliance Foundation Central Indiana. Over the course of the campaign, more than $10.3 million was raised by matching contributions from Franciscan Alliance, the generosity of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, employee-giving, corporate partners and support from the community at large.

The campaign continues with the goal of raising more than $2 million to establish an endowment to sustain Franciscan Hospice House well into the future.

Here’s what will be available when Franciscan Hospice House opens to the public in early November:

·        12 private rooms for patients and families (with a build-out potential of four additional rooms)

·        Large common area for families

·        Well-equipped kitchen with dining room

·        Chapel and prayer garden

·        High-quality, holistic medical care for all Hospice House-qualified patients and support for their families

“One of our core values is that the gift of life is so valued and each person is cared for with respect, dignity, joy, fairness and compassion,” said Dr. Callaghan. “Whether through the miracle of childbirth, nursing a patient back to health, or caring for them during the dying process -- our staff carry on Christ’s healing and teaching ministries in our Franciscan tradition.”

Franciscan Hospice House complements the exceptional home, health hospice and palliative care services that Franciscan St. Francis Health has provided to 4,000 families in south-central Indiana for more than two decades.