Minnesota - Twin Cities

In his 70s and still going strong, Tom Reid doesnt look like a guy ready to slow down!His pub and hockey broadcasting jobs keep him constantly on the move, but thats just the way he likes it.By Dan Myers Tom Reid is 73 years old. Technically, he retired more than 40 years ago, but the long-time former Minnesota North Star doesn't see himself slowing down any time soon.Born on June 24, 1946 in Fort Erie, Ontario -- just across the Niagara River from Buffalo, New York -- Reid, like most young Canadian boys at that time, spent his winter days on outdoor ice, skating from the time the sun came up until it went down.On school days, he and his brothers and his friends would rush home, throw on their skates and hit the rink they had built in the backyard. He would turn that passion into a career, one that's still going strong some 53 years after he first set foot on a professional ice hockey rink. He's had to chart a new course a couple of times, and things haven't always gone according to plan, but Reid has managed to live life's working dream: he's spent a career in and around something he loves."I wouldn't change this for anything," Reid says with a smile. "I love what I've done. I've met a lot of people along the way, I've met some very good friends that I still stay in touch with. But it's one of those things where I enjoy doing something. I'm not one to sit around the house." Spend time with Reid and that becomes perfectly clear.Reid has been working in broadcasting since the end of his playing career, doing games both on television earlier in his career, and on radio. He's still the radio analyst for all Minnesota Wild games home and away, which means he's on the road for 41 games per season.When he's not with the team, Reid owns a pub in downtown St. Paul that bears his own name, Tom Reid's Hockey City Pub. In the 20 years since it opened, Reid's bar has become a must-stop for any hockey fan visiting the capital of the State of Hockey.But he's not just the namesake of the pub ... chances are good if you stop in, you'll see Reid inside. If he's not visiting with his customers, slapping backs and telling stories, he'll be wiping down a countertop, mopping a floor or fixing a toilet.Reid has never been afraid to get his hands dirty and put some sweat equity into his businesses."I'll do anything," Reid said. "And if I do it, I think it's a big plus for my employees. They see that if I'm willing to do it, they should be able to do it too."Reid grew up just a stone's throw from the northern shores of Lake Erie. His first job was when he was seven picking raspberries, making two cents per quart. He'd eventually graduate to 40 hours per week, making 50 cents per hour, helping to keep Fort Erie's parks clean during the summer.Reid prepared to sign his first pro contract during an era when players didn't have agents. When he sat down to negotiate with former longtime Chicago Black Hawks GM Tommy Ivan, Reid couldn't believe the money they were going to pay him.Ivan promised him $10,000 for the season if he played on the NHL team and $5,000 if he was in the minors. Because he had made an All-Star team with his junior club the year prior, they would give him a $500 signing bonus."That was more money than I had ever heard of in my life," Reid said with a laugh.After signing the deal, Ivan made Reid promise he wouldn't reveal his salary to the veteran players on the team, saying it would interrupt the team's entire pay scale. But during a road trip to the West Coast, Hall-of-Famer Stan Mikita convinced Reid to share the details of his contract, saying it would help them negotiate their own deals. One day, that would trickle down to Reid. So Reid did as he was told and provided his salary to the veteran player."Are you happy with that?" Mikita asked Reid. "Yeah," Reid answered back. "That's the minimum," Mikita said.Reid laughed and shook his head."I said, 'I don't care, I'm in the National Hockey League,'" Reid said. "It's never been about the money for me. I've always just enjoyed the game."Reid's time in Chicago was short. He was traded to the Minnesota North Stars on Valentine's Day in 1969 and it was there where Reid would play for the next decade.During that time, Reid became one of the most popular players on the team. After serving as an extra defenseman in Chicago early in his career, Reid was given more ice time and more responsibility. But later in his tenure, he developed a skin condition that would eventually end his playing career. Every time he would put his equipment on, he would get a painful rash on his upper torso. Reid played through the condition for the final three seasons of his career, being forced to spend up to two weeks in the hospital at the end of the season as his skin grew back and healed.Finally, it became too much, and he walked away from the game he loved in 1978.But he wouldn't walk far.Walter Bush, the founder of the club, asked if he'd be willing to join legendary play-by-play man Al Shaver in the broadcast booth to do color commentary.It was an adjustment for him. Reid had never been a good public speaker; when he was a kid, he couldn't even deliver speeches in front of his class because of his fear. But learning from Shaver helped and over the years, Reid has become one of the most recognizable voices in all of hockey."I got to learn from one of the best," Reid said. "He was great. He taught me a lot and he helped nurture me along."Eventually, Reid would get paired for TV broadcasts with Bob Kurtz, and the two would form a long-time working relationship and friendship. The two would work together for five years in the early 1980s before joining forces again with the Wild in 2001, and the two have been together on the radio ever since.Between the pub and his broadcasting, Reid is always busy. At a time when most folks his age are looking to slow down, Reid's not sure he'll ever give up his hectic lifestyle."The Wild have been very good to me over the years and I enjoy what I do. I try and promote the game as best as I can," Reid said. "Will I ever retire? I don't know which one I could leave first. I love them both."The Seniors Blue Book would like to especially thank Tom Reid, Dan Myers of the Wild, Dr. Robert Keifer and Mike Ohlhauser of Drake Bank for their help in the production of this article for the Seniors Blue Book!

One Sunday morning in early August, Irene woke up with a badly swollen knee. She thought about waiting until Monday to call her Lifespark Nurse Practitioner but was afraid that bacteria from an infected tooth had migrated to her artificial knee joint, something her orthopedic surgeon had warned her about. If left untreated, an infected joint could require additional surgeries, which is why she had taken prophylactic antibiotics before and after a recent dental procedure.The last thing Irene, 74, wanted was another surgery, but based on previous emergency room visits, she dreaded the thought of going to the ER. Youre sitting for hours next to people who are sick with the flu or COVID, when youre already not feeling well yourself, she said. The doctors are regular GPs [general practitioners] so theyd probably just run some tests and send me home with antibiotics, which Im already taking. She was also concerned about the $100 co-pay, adding that she lives in low-income housing and has limited financial resources.Instead, Irene called Urgent Response Services, Lifesparks 24-hour nurse triage line.Convenient, efficient, and trustedAs a member of Lifespark COMPLETE (LSC), Irene qualified for Urgent Response Services which provides acute-level care for members in their homes. Within minutes, Leah Castle, RN, BSN, Mobile Urgent Responder, was on her way, getting briefed by the triage nurse on Irenes concerns.Once at Irenes home, Leah logged onto the secure portal to access key client information, including Irenes health history, medications, allergies, support system, financial considerations, contingency plans, and goals of care. Having this level of detail at our fingertips helps us make more accurate, more efficient assessments, she said. It also gives us a more complete picture of the member, so we can offer recommendations that align with their goals and lifestyle.After taking Irenes vitals, she drew some blood, took a photo of the worrisome knee, and talked through her findings with the on-call provider. They were both confident that it wasnt a bacterial infection but would wait for the lab results for confirmation. Leah sent a note to Irenes COMPLETE team to schedule a follow-up for the next week. In the meantime, Irene was to continue the antibiotics, take a Tylenol every six hours, ice her knee, and keep the leg elevated as much as possible.Leah dropped off the blood samples at the hospital lab for processing, and in less than two hours, the on-call physician had the results. Leah called Irene to let her know that the labs were negative for systemic infection and that her inflammatory markers were within normal range.Irene was relieved. This was so much better than going to the ER, she said.Rule-outs and rule-insIn Leahs experience, older adults often go to the ER to make sure theres nothing seriously wrong. In fact, studies show that roughly 32% of hospital ER visits are non-urgent and unnecessary. As a Mobile Urgent Responder, shes able to rule out those non-emergencies, efficiently and effectively, from the persons home.That was the case with Irene: shes had both knees replaced and was very concerned that shed need more surgery, Leah said. We were able to put her at ease and assure her that we would continue to monitor and manage her symptoms from home. If there is something to be concerned about, Leah added, the Mobile Urgent Response team is able rule in the need for emergency care.Building on career experienceHaving the confidence to make quick, accurate assessments and communicate them to Lifesparks medical experts comes from her diverse career background. One of Leahs first nursing jobs was on a cardiac step-down unit, a fast-paced, intense environment where the nurses were constantly working with different physicians and therapists. I learned how to quickly build trusting relationships with the providers and also with families during some of the darkest moments of their lives, she said.Leah said she grew professionally in that environment, gaining skills and knowledge that prepared her for her next job, at a long-term acute care hospital. The individuals she cared for had complex diagnoses and illnesses, such as extensive wounds, traumatic brain injury, chronic kidney disease, and respiratory failure. Patients were here for two to six months or more, many of them on ventilators and feeding tubes, so I got to know their families and learned how to support them, too, she said.In 2017, Leah joined Lifespark Community Home Care as their first on-call nurse. Coming into the Home Care setting with my background was powerful, because I knew what my clients had just walked out of, whether that was the hospital or rehab, and now I could help them stay healthy at home, she said.Seven years later, she was recruited for Lifesparks Mobile Urgent Response team. I feel like each step in my career has prepared me for the next one, and now, as a Mobile Urgent Responder, I can be the eyes and ears of our providers in the home, she said. I can also bring care and compassion and empathy to our members, so they feel confident in the care were providing.Benefits of early interventionThe Mobile Urgent Response team has been most successful when members call the triage line before their symptoms progress to a critical level. The team has been able to treat early symptoms of congestive heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the home, often with a short-term medication adjustment. However, if a CHF or COPD exacerbation isnt treated, the client would likely need to be hospitalized for IV therapy and increased respiratory support. Recently, Leah collaborated with the on-call provider to diagnose a painful ear infection that had developed quickly. The physician faxed a prescription for antibiotics to the clients pharmacy which they were able to pick up and start taking that same day.Its really fulfilling and rewarding to be able to offer this service to our members and their families who want to be supportive but cant always be there in person, Leah said. Theyre in good hands with Lifespark.To learn how Lifespark helps seniors stay healthy at home, visit Lifespark.com or call 952-345-8770.  

Spotting Anxiety and Depression in Seniors with Memory DisordersAs older adults age into their senior years, health and life issues can foster many adverse changes in their minds and bodies. Some may have difficulties with their memory, like forgetting names, events, or even their eyeglasses. Feeling confused and forgetful about everyday things can cause seniors to feel hopeless, sad, and powerless.Sometimes, the memory lapses are more seriousespecially related to memory disorders like Alzheimers and dementiaand can have worrisome outcomes. Good-natured seniors may lash out verbally and physically, or stoic elders may become depressed or weepy.Spotting early signs of anxiety and depression in seniors with memory disorders can help you seek the right care and treatment for your aging loved one.Discover ways you can adapt and adjust care strategies to help your senior with a memory disorder improve their quality of life at home.Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in SeniorsDid you know that more than 13% of seniors may have depression, and about 10-20% of older adults feel anxiety?If your senior has mild anxiety or depression, they may experience mostly good days with occasional bouts of feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or highly emotional. Talk with your loved one and their doctor if you notice symptoms of anxiety and depression that last longer than a few weeks. Common symptoms may include:        Avoiding social functions and self-isolating        Anxiety attacks that can cause difficulty breathing, racing heartbeat, sweating, or nausea        Feeling empty, guilty, worthless, or hopeless        Feeling upset about schedule changes        Loss of pleasure in favorite activities or visiting with loved ones        Paranoia, irritability, or restlessness        Sleep disturbance (too much or too little)        Repeated wringing their hands, tapping, or picking at their skin or fingernails        Wandering attention or focusTreatments to Discuss with a DoctorWhen seeking treatment for anxiety and depression in your senior, it's essential for them to have an open dialogue with their doctor. Exploring the following therapeutic approaches can significantly improve mental well-being and overall quality of life in later years.        Medication Your seniors doctor can recommend medications that work with the seniors other therapies. Visiting Angels caregivers provide medication reminders for seniors so they dont forget.         Cognitive behavioral therapy Talking with a mental health professional about current symptoms and building skills to manage them.         Psychotherapy Exploring past experiences that may have contributed to current symptoms with a mental health professional.         Exercise Yoga, water aerobics, and armchair exercises can help improve mood and increase energy levels.         Social interaction Encourage your loved one to join clubs or hobby groups to meet friends and avoid isolation. Consider companion care to bring friendship home to them.Tips from Visiting Angels CaregiversLoss of memory or emotional changes in your loved one can be difficult to navigate. You may begin to grieve the person you once knew and find it challenging to communicate. Its normal to feel frustrated if your loved one is distressed and cant express themselves.Here are a few ways to reduce your stress, diffuse episodes, and potentially avoid triggering events:        Acknowledge them with a calm tone.        Ask (dont demand) that they take medication or complete tasks. This will help them feel more in control.        Dont correct them or try to reason with them.        Make use of respite care to get a break and reset your own mood        Provide a few choices at a time to avoid overwhelming them        Reassure your loved one they are safe.        Try not to internalize mean comments.If they become angry or yell, remember the outbursts are due to changes in their memory or emotional health.If you need professional in-home assistance, Visiting Angels caregivers can be your eyes and ears when you cannot be with your loved one and will monitor for signs of anxiety and depression.Contact your local home care office to learn how Visiting Angels can support your senior with anxiety and depression. Schedule a free home care consultation today.  

Are you a senior who is apprehensive and overwhelmed when it comes to technology? Do you think that as youre aging, learning how to use technology feels like a daunting task? If so never fear! With the right knowledge and patience, seniors can easily learn how to leverage different technologies. Technology can be incredibly useful for many aspects of life from connecting with family members who are distant geographically, getting access to valuable resources such as online health records and banking services, staying up-to-date on current news stories or even just having some fun playing games online. By understanding the basics of using different technologies, seniors can reap all these great benefits that come along with living in this digital age. Listen to this video for more information. Listen to this video for more information: https://youtu.be/reKzL2JZK2k