The Integrace Institute and Proxmire Neurocognitive Clinic at Integrace Copper Ridge are jointly sponsoring a two-day educational course focused on brain disorders and yoga. Designed for healthcare professionals and yoga practitioners, the course, entitled “Introduction to Brain Disorders and Yoga: Transformative Approaches to Supporting Meaningful Living,” will be held August 12-13 at the St. Michaels Harbour Inn Marina & Spa at 101 N. Harbor Road, St. Michaels.

The course will be led by Nicole Absar, M.D., medical director of the Proxmire Neurocognitive Clinic at Integrace Copper Ridge. Dr. Absar is a diplomate in behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry, a Yoga Alliance registered RYT-200 yoga teacher and a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP).

Attendees will learn anatomy, physiology and chemistry of the brain and neurology of various diseases, combined with the philosophies of yoga and the mind-body connection. Dr. Absar will share practical strategies for using yoga postures, breathing and mindfulness to treat common brain disorders and create meaningful change in the lives of loved ones and caregivers.

This event has been approved for continuing education credits by the following boards: Yoga Alliance (ATRA) in the categories of Anatomy and Physiology (AP) and Techniques, Training and Practice (TTO); Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners. Participants will receive a certificate of completion for 11.75 hours of continuing education. Continuing education credit approval is pending for the following: Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners (MPHTE); American Therapeutic Recreation Association (NCTRC); National Certification for Activity Professionals (NCCAP).

Admission for “Introduction to Brain Disorders and Yoga” is available at a discounted rate of $405 until July 14. Attendees should register online at http://integraceinstitute.org/education/.

The aging process doesn’t have to be a daunting one. Talbot Community Connections (TCC) and the Talbot County Department of Social Services are hoping that by sharing the right tools with aging residents that the aging process can be approached with fun, relaxation, and dose of humor. This year, the two organizations are hosting the third annual Senior Summit, “Life Reimagined Challenges and Triumphs,” on Thursday, June 7, 2018, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Talbot Community Center on Route 50 in Easton, MD. This day-long program for seniors, children of seniors, caregivers, professionals and concerned residents will provide presentations and discussions on the issues that seniors face today, including health and wellness, technology, staying active, and transitioning in life.

Talbot Community Connections (TCC), a nonprofit arm of the Talbot County Department of Social Services, has the mission to raise and distribute funds to answer unmet needs that are fundamental to the safety, security, health and well-being of Talbot County’s children and adults. These needs cross all economic levels.

The Senior Summit will include workshops on downsizing, flourishing through transitions, self-defense for seniors, senior fitness, and even a virtual dementia tour. In addition to break-out workshops, there will be the opportunity for participants to have lunch and to visit vendor tables to gather additional information on aging issues and services.

The keynote speaker, Lynn H. Sanchez, Mental Health Advocate, will present “Wine Isn’t the Only Thing That Improves with Age” – an insightful and light-hearted discussion about our personal aging journey. She states, “We will take a look at the physical and emotional energy needed to transition, into our next phase of life.”

Sanchez of Easton, who has worked tirelessly as a mental health advocate on the Shore, attended Florida State University where she completed a bachelor’s degree in Child Development and a Master’s in Education degree in Mental Retardation. She has served on the faculty of Chesapeake College and served as Site Coordinator of Talbot Touchpoints Project & Eldercare Project for the Mental Health Association in Talbot County. Currently, she is Administrative Assistant at the medical office of Robert B. Sanchez and is a Mental Health First Aid Trainer.

The cost of the Senior Summit is $15 for the General Public, including seniors and $85 for Professional Social Work CEUs. A healthy continental breakfast and lunch are included in the registration fee. Pre-registration is required by June 1. For further information, contact Kelley Werner at kelley.werner@maryland.gov or call 410-770-8810 or visit talbotcommunityconnections.org to download a registration form or to purchase tickets online. Registration forms are also available at the front desk at Talbot County Department of Social Services at 301 Bay Street, Unit 5 in Easton.    Platinum sponsors for the 2018 Senior Summit are the Talbot County Department of Social Services and the Talbot County Government. Gold sponors are the Talbot County Health Department, Visiting Nurse Association of Maryland, and University of Maryland Shore Regional Health.

University of Maryland Community Medical Group (UM CMG), is proud to announce the addition of Morton Kalus, MD, FACC, aboard-certified cardiologist with more than 25 years of experience, who will be bringing his expertise and services to patients in Kent and Queen Anne’s counties.

Dr. Kalus is seeing patients at two locations on the Eastern Shore: 126 Philosophers Terrace in Chestertown and 125 Shoreway Drive in Queenstown. Patients may make an appointment with Dr. Kalus at either location by calling 410-822-5571.

A native of Baltimore, Dr. Kalus graduated from Princeton University Magna cum laude in Biology and then completed his medical degree at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He went on to pursue his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical Center. He then spent two years pursuing a Pharmacology fellowship at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.He returned to the University of Michigan Medical Center to successfully complete Cardiology and Nuclear Medicine fellowships. He is certified in Cardiovascular Disease by the American Board of Internal Medicine; and in Nuclear Cardiology by the Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology.

UM CMG is a University of Maryland Medical System-owned network of more than 300 primary care physicians, specialists and advanced practice clinicians. As part of UM CMG, Dr. Kalus is affiliated with UM Shore Regional Health.

“We are very excited to have Dr. Kalus join our team at the University of Maryland Community Medical Group in our cardiology practice,” comments Michele Wilson, Chief Operating Officer for UM CMG. “Dr. Kalus brings with him more than 25 years of experience in academic and clinical appointments that will greatly benefit our cardiology patients on the Eastern Shore.”

UM CMG consists of community-based provider practices affiliated with UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center, UM Charles Regional Medical Center, University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus and UM Shore Regional Health.  A list of UM CMG providers is available at https://www.umms.org/find-a-doctor.

About the University of Maryland Community Medical Group  

The University of Maryland Community Medical Group (UM CMG) is a multi-hospital, multi-specialty, community-based physician-led group, and part of the University of Maryland Medical System. With more than 300 primary care physicians, specialists, and advanced practice clinicians in more than 65 locations across the state, UM CMG offers patients a vast network of highly experienced providers, delivering care right in their neighborhood. For more information, visit www.umcmg.org.

Compass Regional Hospice held a three-day patient care volunteer training from May 1 to 3. Eight Kent County residents completed the training session, which was offered in Chestertown.

Completion of this training qualifies these volunteers to provide emotional support and practical assistance to hospice patients, families and caregivers in their homes, in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and in the residential hospice centers in Centreville, Chestertown and Denton.

Topics included an overview of hospice; the process of dying; spiritual care and its place in hospice care; the stages of grief; effective communications techniques; family dynamics; stress management; and self-care for caregivers.

Those who wish to provide direct patient care will be required to complete several additional hours with patients under the supervision of a Compass Regional Hospice clinical staff member. Volunteers who wish to be involved in providing grief support for hospice family members will work closely with staff from the Compass Regional Hospice support services team. Grief support roles include bereavement volunteers, vigil volunteers and grief support facilitators.

Photo: Volunteers who recently completed patient care training are, from left, Cheryl Conaway-Dill of Chestertown, Michele Bennetta of Chestertown, Barbara Jacquette of Chestertown, Nancy Toy of Chestertown, Janet Davis of Worton, Pat Holland of Chestertown, Barbara Stanton of Church Hill and Cynda Pittcock of Chestertown.

Courtney Williams, volunteer manager with Compass Regional Hospice, said being a patient care volunteer is similar to being a good neighbor, and volunteering is an opportunity to develop special relationships with patients, their families and caregivers.

“It is providing companionship. In many cases, our volunteers are helping caregivers to have some respite, or are visiting a patient who may not have many visitors and who might like some company— whether that is taking a walk or listening to music, or reading a book together,” Williams said.

Other volunteer needs with Compass Regional Hospice include administrative assistance; greeters at hospice center locations in Queen Anne’s, Kent and Caroline counties; assisting with events and outreach;being educational ambassadors for Compass Regional Hospice; and assisting with staffing needs at Estate Treasures, an upscale resale shop in Chester that is run entirely by volunteers.

Compass Regional Hospice relies on more than 300 volunteers of all ages to support its mission of “Care on your terms.” These individuals volunteer their time in a variety of ways. Whatever your motivation to volunteer, there is a place for you at Compass Regional Hospice.

The next patient care volunteer training session is scheduled for September in Centreville, with eight hours offered online and the remaining requirements offered through three evening classes; from 6 to 9 p.m.Sept. 11, 18 and 25. There also will be a three-day training offered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 6 to 9 at the Caroline Hospice House, 613 S. 5^th Ave., Denton.

For more information about becoming a volunteer for Compass Regional Hospice, contact Williams at 443-262-4112 or cwilliams@compassregionalhospice.org, or visit www.compassregionalhospice.org/volunteers to download the patient care volunteer training registration form.

Compass Regional Hospice – Care on your terms

Compass Regional Hospice is a fully licensed, independent, community-based nonprofit organization certified by Medicare and the state of Maryland, and accredited by the Joint Commission. Since 1985, Compass Regional Hospice has been dedicated to supporting people of all ages through the challenge of living with a life-limiting illness and learning to live following the death of a loved one. Today, the organization is a regional provider of hospice care and grief support in Queen Anne’s, Kent and Caroline counties. “Care on your terms” is the promise that guidesstaff and volunteers as they care for patients in private residences, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and the residential hospice centers in Centreville, Chestertown and Denton.Grief support services are offered to children, adults and families of patients who died under hospice care, as well as members of the community who are grieving the loss of a loved one through The Hope & Healing Center. For more information about Compass Regional Hospice, visit compassregionalhospice.org.

The Caroline Foundation, in partnership with the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, invites organizations that provide medical and/or health-related services to residents of Caroline County, Maryland to apply for FY2019 grant funding.

Applicants must be nonprofit corporations with IRS tax-exempt status, or government-related entities. Applications are online at http://www.mscf.org/caroline-foundation. The deadline for submission of FY2019 grant applications is midnight, July 1, 2018.

Grant decisions and distributions will be made in October, 2018. The Caroline Foundation retains the right to accept or reject applications, suggest changes, and support grant requests in full, in part, or not at all.

Organizations that would like additional information about The Caroline Foundation’s grants process should contact Buck Duncan or Robbin Hill at the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, 410-820-8175 or info@mscf.org.