Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland New Home Purchase Opportunity in Suitland
By JEFF DEE
Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland
Silver Spring, Md. (September 4, 2019)—Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland (HFHMM) is extremely pleased to announce our newest Home Purchase Opportunity located in Suitland, MD—Southern Prince George’s County.
We are delighted to showcase the affordable home purchase opportunities offered by Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland. This new construction home will feature four bedrooms, two bathrooms, approximately 1200+ square feet, and is well suited for one to six family members. The home will be built to Universal Design specifications—contemporary design accommodating family members at all stages of life.
Applications for Home Purchase are now being accepted, to apply please visit our website www.habitatmm.org/
home+purchase for a list of qualifications and more detailed information. Also, you’ll find our Ads at the Suitland and Branch Ave Metro Stations. HFHMM works with residents that have a demonstrated need for affordable housing, are income qualified, can afford to pay back a mortgage, and who are willing to partner with the
organization. Habitat provides an affordable mortgage, ensuring that buyers do not pay more than 30% of their income on housing.
Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland is pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, sex, marital status, physical or mental disability, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, presence of children, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity, age and family responsibilities.
Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland, Inc. (HFHMM) is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International that serves Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland. Since 1982, HFHMM has partnered with income qualified families to build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. To date, HFHMM has provided over 500 decent and affordable housing solutions served over 1000 individuals and spent approximately $18 Million in the local community to build, renovate and provide affordable housing solutions for hard working families. Habitat for Humanity is about changing lives, one home at a time. Visit www.HabitatMM.org.
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Department of Corrections Donates Book Bags And Supplies to Hundreds of Students
By ANDREW R. CEPHAS
Prince George’s County Department of Corrections
UPPER MARLBORO (August 30, 2019)—The Prince George’s County Department of Corrections donated close to 600 book bags filled with school supplies to Riverdale Elementary School on August 29, 2019, as part of the 23rd Annual Pencil Box Project. Every student at the school will receive a book bag filled with school supplies. The book bags were donated before the start of the school year, so families wouldn’t feel the need to go out and buy supplies.
“We want to give you every tool that you will need to succeed this year. When students are prepared they are more likely to have a successful school year,” said Mary Lou McDonough, Director of the Department of Corrections, to an auditorium full of parents and students.
Every year the Department of Corrections donates supplies to a local school in an effort to ensure students are prepared for success. Riverdale Elementary School was selected because it is a Title I school, meaning it receives supplemental funds to meet the educational goals of the large concentration of low-income students.
The Department of Corrections raised more than $5,000 internally, received a monetary donation from the Prince George’s County Correctional Officers, and secured in-kind donations from local businesses including Applebee’s, Staples, Home Depot and Dollar Tree. Our county partners demonstrated that it takes a village to support our children.
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Health & Wellness News:
Maryland Department of Health Launches Electronic Toolkit To Help Prevent Overdose Deaths
BALTIMORE, Md. (August 30, 2019)—The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) has launched an innovative tool to help prevent overdose deaths—the Naloxone Electronic Toolkit (NET).
Naloxone is a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose and can help save lives when administered quickly and correctly. Created by MDH’s Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) to assist businesses, public entities and organizations interested in expanding access to naloxone, NET contains downloadable content that can be promoted on public and employee websites. By providing access to information about naloxone and naloxone administration, Marylanders can be better prepared to both recognize the signs of an overdose and know how to respond appropriately.
“This International Overdose Awareness Day [August 31], we want to remember those who lost their lives to overdose, to reduce stigma about addiction and build on the progress we’re making in driving down the number of fatal overdoses we’re seeing across Maryland,” said MDH Secretary Robert R. Neall. “NET is another method of getting the word out and teaching people what to do in case of an overdose. Any approach that will save a life is worth taking.”
NET will reside on BeforeItsTooLateMD.org, which provides comprehensive resources and information related to the opioid crisis. NET includes information about recognizing the signs of an opioid overdose and a brief training video on how to correctly administer naloxone nasal spray. Printable posters and brochures are also included, in addition to information about the standing order that allows people to go to any pharmacy in Maryland and ask for naloxone without a prescription or certificate. All information is provided in English and Spanish.
Funding for NET is part of the federal State Opioid Response (SOR) grant funding, which has allowed MDH to expand outreach efforts and bring help to those in need. Produced in partnership with Maryland Public Television, NET is one component of multiple campaigns designed to raise awareness among Marylanders about the pervasive impact of the opioid crisis—including eliminating addiction stigma, the dangers of fentanyl and how to access mental health and substance use treatment via 211, Maryland’s helpline.
“We are trying a variety of techniques to reach residents with information about how they can save a life by learning to use naloxone appropriately,” said Lisa Burgess, Acting BHA Deputy Secretary. “This is no different than teaching people first aid techniques or how to use an AED or a Stop the Bleed Kit. We’re helping to empower people to save lives.”
“International Overdose Awareness Day gives us an opportunity to focus on helping people to change the direction of their lives and to get into treatment. It also is the appropriate time to focus on innovative ways to help combat the epidemic,” said Steven R. Schuh, Executive Director of the Opioid Operational Command Center. “The Naloxone Electronic Toolkit will increase awareness of and provide education about this life-saving medication.”
Naloxone is available at Maryland pharmacies without a prescription and through authorized training entities. For a list of these entities, visit: https://bit.ly/2ZDKAsk.
To access NET, visit: https://howtoadministernaloxone.maryland.gov/.
For more information about the opioid epidemic in Maryland, visit: https://beforeitstoolate.maryland.gov/.
For information about the standing order to obtain naloxone without a prescription, visit: https://bha.health.maryland.gov/NALOXONE/Pages/Naloxone.aspx.
—Maryland Department of Health
What You Need to Know About Interventions
Dealing with loved ones can be difficult sometimes and that only gets harder when they have a problem with drugs and alcohol. A big part of dealing with a loved one’s addiction is getting them into treatment. But what if they are unwilling to go? Intervention is the next logical step, however what is an intervention and how you pull one off?
Contrary to popular belief, successful interventions usually aren’t like the ones you see on TV. Interventions that are successful usually consist of several different techniques.
The first thing is to do your research on a treatment facility. Once you get someone willing to go to treatment it is imperative that they go straight in. When someone is struggling with substance abuse they can waffle on the idea of treatment, so you must have the facility already picked out so there are no slows or stops on which facility.
Number two is building your team. An intervention can either be done by the family or by a professional interventionist. Since a lot of interventionists are ex-addicts themselves, they will have a point of reality with the addict which may facilitate the reach for treatment. In some cases, the interventionist may decide to call in family members but that will be decided by the interventionist. Make sure any family or friends who are involved are all on the same page and have the same goal; getting the addict into treatment.
With everyone on the same page, you would then bring in the addict. Approach them kindly and at first try to get them to see how treatment will benefit them. Show them the website or brochure of where they are going. It is also a good idea to have someone ready to talk to them from the center to answer any questions they may have.
If this doesn’t work, you should be prepared to bottom line them. An example of a bottom line is, “If you don’t go to treatment you aren’t staying here anymore.” If they run off and refuse to listen, do not give in. You must hold strong or they won’t take it seriously. Even if they do run, most of the time they will come back and listen and then agree to go to treatment.
If you have more questions or want to find out more about getting someone into treatment, read here: https://www.narcononnewlife
retreat.org/blog/intervention-101.html or call 1 800-431-1754 to get help for your loved ones.
—Angel Serna, Narconon NewLife Retreat
Maryland Department of Health Investigating Cases of Severe Lung Illness in People Using E-cigarettes
Baltimore (August 28, 2019)—The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Maryland Poison Center at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy have identified five individuals who in the last two months developed severe lung illness after using e-cigarettes, often referred to as “vaping.” (Editor’s Note: As of September 3, 2019, there are 10 cases of Vaping-Related Lung Illness)
Respiratory symptoms reported by patients included shortness of breath, pain associated with breathing and cough. Other symptoms reported included fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The cases displayed no clear infectious cause and all required hospitalization.
To date, none of the cases in Maryland have been fatal. These cases are part of the nearly 200 reported incidents of vaping-related illness in 22 states, resulting in at least one death.
“The Maryland Department of Health is taking this issue seriously and is working with local health departments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration to identify anyone who may be experiencing similar symptoms,” said MDH Deputy Secretary for Public Health Frances B. Phillips.
The cause of these illnesses is not yet known and has not been linked to any particular device, substance or brand. People who became ill reported using a variety of vaping products, including those containing marijuana and THC and those containing nicotine.
“This is a serious and potentially life-threatening illness,” said Bruce Anderson, Executive Director of the Maryland Poison Center. “If you have used e-cigarettes or vaped in the past weeks or months, and you start to have trouble breathing, stop using these products and seek immediate medical attention.”
Many vaping products have been found to contain substances that can be toxic when inhaled and might not be listed on product packaging.
MDH encourages medical providers caring for patients with unexplained serious respiratory illness to ask about a history of recent e-cigarette use or vaping, and to report suspected cases to their local health department.
MDH will post updated case information as it becomes available to https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/OEHFP/EH/Pages/VapingIllness.aspx.
For free help to stop using these devices or any tobacco product, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
—Maryland Department of Health
Forgetting Is Normal For Most People as They Age, But Take Precautions if Memory Loss Persists and Interferes With Daily Life, Says Amac
WASHINGTON, DC, (August 23, 2019)—Dementia, in general, and Alzheimer’s disease, in particular, have emerged as a clear and present danger for America’s aging population. And, this has many seniors scaring themselves every time they forget someone’s name, according to Dan Weber, president of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].
“One of our members recently told me that his wife of 54 years was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease five years ago and finally asked her neurologist to check him out because he was becoming increasingly forgetful, himself. He did and, to his relief, he was diagnosed with a simple case of growing old. Indeed, as we grow older it is normal for us to forget simple things such as where you parked your car or you might have trouble coming up with the right words. It is not necessarily the onset of dementia,” says Weber.
“Nonetheless, it is a good idea to have yourself checked out. Self-diagnosis is not safe. Forgetting where you put your glasses is normal. Forgetting that you wear glasses just might be
dementia.”
The Alzheimer’s Association says the signs of abnormal memory loss include a new found inability to complete routine tasks such as paying bills, remembering appointments, making plans or solving problems. It’s time to see a doctor if you are experiencing these types of extreme forgetfulness on a regular basis.
Meanwhile, there are things that you can do to help sharpen your memory, according to the Mayo Clinic. In an article published on its Web site the Clinic suggests getting more physical exercise, doing things to remain mentally active, getting a good night’s sleep and maintaining a healthy diet.
The folks at the Mayo Clinic also point out that it is important to adopt an engaging social life, something that AMAC’s Weber says may be a particularly effective way of dealing with memory loss. He cites a recent study that shows social activity can reduce dementia risk by as much as 12% as we age.
The research was led by Andrew Sommerlad, Ph.D., at University College London in the U. K. And, its findings “suggest a protective effect of social contact against dementia and that more frequent contact confers higher cognitive reserve.”
Harvard Medical School says “cognitive reserve is developed by a lifetime of education and curiosity to help your brain better cope with any failures or declines it faces.” It’s a concept that was first identified in 1982.
Essentially, researchers studied individuals who had no apparent symptoms of dementia while they were alive. But, when they died and were autopsied, it was discovered that their brains showed “changes consistent with advanced Alzheimer’s disease. Since then, research has shown that people with greater cognitive reserve are better able to stave off symptoms of degenerative brain changes associated with dementia or other brain diseases.”
The 2 million member Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] [https://www.amac.us] is a vibrant, vital senior advocacy organization that takes its marching orders from its members. We act and speak on their behalf, protecting their interests and offering a practical insight on how to best solve the problems they face today. Live long and make a difference by joining us today at https://amac.us/join-amac.
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