The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
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Keystone Place at Terra Bella

Not-so-random acts of kindness

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Even when life is ‘normal’ — it’s not always easy to find the time, energy or resources to help others who are struggling to get by, or whose spirits need a lift.

During a pandemic when people are feeling pressures on all sides and many of life’s big moments must be delayed or canceled — the challenge is even greater.

But, ingenuity and generosity prevailed in The Laker/Lutz News region, providing a counterpoint to the sadness and loss, and injecting a bit of joy.

Here’s a condensed look at some of those not-so-random acts of kindness that occurred during 2020.

Ed DelValle, of Miriam’s Bakery, left, poses with his family: daughter Erika; wife Miriam; and daughter Victoria. All four work at the bakery. (File)

Let them eat cake
When the Sunlake High band program decided it had to cancel its annual banquet, Miriam’s Cakes, in Land O’ Lakes, sprang into action. The bakery provided an individual cake — featuring the school’s mascot — for each of the 29 seniors in the band program.

Ed DelValle and his wife, Miriam Ruiz, who own the bakery have been a band family for years.

They wanted to do something special for members of the Class of 2020, including their daughter, Erika.

“I know the banquet is the biggest event for the band program every year. All of the kids look forward to it because it’s kind of like a mini-red carpet,” DelValle said.

(Courtesy of Marie Joles)

Celebrating seniors
Marie Joles couldn’t stand the thought of high school seniors missing out on all of the special moments that make up part of senior year.

So, the dental hygienist, who wasn’t able to work because of the COVID-19 pandemic, came up with a social media way to create Senior Spotlights, showcasing individual graduates.

She solicited submissions, then tweaked them before created postings that provided a glimpse of  their accomplishments, their ambitions, their interests and personalities.

It took work, but it was worthwhile, Joles said.

“I wanted to let them know we appreciate them,” she said.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey and State Rep. Ardian Zika were at Medical Center of Trinity, when meals were delivered for hospital workers. (File)

A double dose of help
When Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey saw a news report about the Frontline Appreciation Group, she knew she wanted Pasco to get in on the idea.

The initiative purchases meals from restaurants — struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic — and provides the food to frontline health care workers engaged in the battle to help people who have been infected by the deadly virus.

The initiative was launched in New Jersey, but Starkey spearheaded a local chapter, called FLAG2020Pasco.

The effort has resulted in meals prepared by area restaurants, delivered to local hospitals.

Other local political leaders and government agencies also have stepped up to the plate, so to speak — in a number of other efforts to collect and distribute food. The county itself has created and managed new programs using federal funding to feed the hungry, and support local restaurants.

(File)

Spreading joy through bubbles
Blaise Ryndes, of Land O’ Lakes, a nationally known bubble magician, decided to take to the streets in his neighborhood to spread some joy amidst the pandemic. He put on a one-car bubble parade – making the way through the subdivision spreading what he calls, “little orbs of happiness and cleanliness.”

 

 

Gerry Ackley and Yvonne Wassman stand on one side of the truck loaded with food, while Steve Graves and Sandy Graves stand on the other.

 

 

 

 

Grad bash funds go to feed the hungry
When Pasco 2020 Grad Bash was canceled this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sunlake High seniors decided to make a big donation from the money they’d raised to pay for event buses. They decided to help Keystone Community Church’s Second Serving program, which provides food for the homeless, operates a food pantry and helps people who are struggling, with other essentials.

 

 

 

Coty Darmoth is busy working at Nabruzzi Trattoria, a restaurant that decided to give back to frontline workers.

Giving back to a giving community
The executive chef and founder of Nabruzzi Trattoria credits his restaurant’s success to the support it has received from the Lutz community.

So, when the pandemic hit, it stepped up to deliver free hot meals to firefighters and medical workers, and others, who serve the community.

“Every Wednesday we’re going to pick somebody in the area that has put themselves at risk, that are out there every day,” said Massimo Sabetti, the chef/owner of Nabruzzi Trattoria at 6062 Van Dyke Road in Lutz.

And, they delivered — to emergency department workers, firefighters and others.

Now, that’s what you call a chef’s special.

Kevin Taggerty, a retired master sergeant of the U.S. Air Force, and his daughter, Ryah, a first grade teacher at Lacoochee Elementary created this work of art.

Keeping art alive
Lots of opportunities to do art and see art have been curtailed by COVID-19, but the Dade City Center for the Arts found a way to give artists a chance to express their talents, and art lovers a chance to view it through an outdoor public art exhibit.

The artists painted hay bales that were stationed in various places around Dade City.

 

 

 

 

 

This giant spider is just one of the creepy creatures that goes on display on Oct. 31, at Sid Siamandl’s annual ‘Halloween House.’

Lifting spirits, at Halloween
Sid Simandl has been decking out his “Halloween House” every year for 18 years, and this year was no exception. But, because of COVID-19, he changed things up.

Instead of an enclosed Haunted House inside his garage, he created a haunted trail, instead.

Simandl, who lives in the Stagecoach subdivision in Land O’ Lakes, gets a big kick out of treating visitors to a haunted spectacle. Indeed, it’s his favorite holiday. He nicknames himself Mr. Halloween for the occasion, and dons a pumpkin sports.

 

Keystone Place at Terra Bella, a senior living community in Land O’ Lakes, hired The Boomer Band, featuring keyboard/vocalist Kevin de Champlain and drummer/vocalist Vance Fontanella to inject some joy, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Easing isolation blues
The Boomer Band was towed around on a trailer through the community of Keystone Place at Terra Bella, in Land O’ Lakes, so its senior residents could be entertained — from a safe distance, on their apartment balconies.

It was the senior living community’s way of easing the isolation blues.

 

 

 

 

The ‘green shirt’ ladies forge on
The GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club has been maintaining its commitment to helping a broad range of community groups and organizations. The club’s tradition of community service goes back for decades, and it has not allowed COVID-19 to stop it. There are many other clubs throughout The Laker/Lutz News region that also have been doing their part to help others who are struggling, especially during this difficult time.

Published December 23, 2020

Health and Wellness Fair focuses on the elderly

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A free community Health and Wellness Fair, held recently in Land O’ Lakes,  focused on services that are available to the elderly, as they face changes in mind and body.

The Aug. 1 event was hosted by Keystone Place at Terra Bella, 2200 Livingston Road, which offers residential options for independent living, assisted living and memory care.

Bryan D’Onofrio spoke at the event on behalf of the North Tampa Behavioral Health Hospital. The Wesley Chapel facility serves people who are suffering from issues such as depression, anxiety or substance abuse, by providing in-patient and out-patient services – including a geriatrics unit.

Local organizations in the Tampa Bay area gathered at a Health and Wellness Fair held at Keystone Place at Terra Bella to inform the public about various services available to help the elderly. (Brian Fernandes)

Many of the elderly patients who are admitted are dealing with depression,  D’Onofrio noted.

“As we get older, things don’t work like they used to,” he said. “As those things hit us, we can suffer some depression.”

At the behavioral health hospital, patients engage with a psychiatrist, therapist, social workers and licensed mental-health counselors, to receive the right treatment.

Patients also partake in group therapy to keep social, and recreational therapy, such as board games, yoga and other exercises. They are encouraged to continue activities when released home, to help them stay positive, D’Onofrio said.

Bayada Home Health Care and Bluestone Physician Services also participated in the event.

These companies offer mobile services — providing medical care to residents in assisted living facilities, such as Keystone Place at Terra Bella in Land O’ Lakes.

Tyler Patrick, marketing manager at Bayada, said that the goal of this type of care is to help prevent the need for hospitalizations.

Patrick added that, “If you’ve got a resident that has a disease that’s becoming exacerbated, the doctor may want an RN (registered nurse) checking in on that resident two, three times a week to monitor [and] make sure the medications are working. Our nurses can come in and do that.”

Assisted living facilities also provide a safe and secure environment for those known to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.

Amanda Wood, a program manager at the Alzheimer’s Association, shared information that help individuals, or their loved ones, identify the disease.

The Alzheimer’s Association, offers this list of 10 early warning signs:

  • Memory loss that disrupts daily life
  • Challenges in planning or solving problems
  • Difficulty completing familiar tasks
  • Confusion with time or place
  • Trouble understanding visual images
  • Difficulty with speaking or writing
  • Misplacing things and difficulty retracing steps
  • Decreased or poor judgement
  • Withdrawal from work or social activities
  • Changes in mood or personality

“One of the best things to do for noticing these signs, is to talk about it,” Wood said. “Go talk to your primary care physician.”

She emphasized the importance of initiating the conversation, whether it’s the individual exhibiting the signs, or a loved one witnessing them.

That person’s doctor can then refer them to a neurologist for further analysis.

An ongoing consistency in these signs may be a red flag that can differentiate them from usual memory loss, Wood said.

When a current or potential Alzheimer’s patient is living at home, it is also important to plan ahead for emergencies.

Teresa Haver, of the Alzheimer’s Family Organization, gave a demonstration on how the Wanderer’s Reunification Program is set up. This personalized kit can be useful in helping locate an Alzheimer’s patient gone missing.

Teresa Haver stood at the Alzheimer’s Family Organization booth and showed visitors one preparation technique – the Wanderer’s Reunification Program.

This is a free kit made up of sterilized equipment used in helping locate a missing patient.

“What you do is take the sterile pad and rub it on your loved one to get their scent, put it in the jar [and] seal it up,” Haver explained.

The jar is then placed on top of the refrigerator and is good for seven years.

Should the person go missing, the local sheriff’s department has already been trained to look for the jar on the fridge. Deputies then use blood hounds to search for the scent on the pad.

Haver also said the caregiver should familiarize themselves with the patient’s dominant hand, because they tend to wander in the direction of that hand.

She also recommended that a caregiver place an identification bracelet on the patient’s wrist and to have door locks that are higher than the patient’s reach.

Wood said there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are lifestyle choices that may help the brain age well.

Those include exercise, staying socially active, challenging the brain and a proper diet.

“Every time our heart beats, 25 percent of that blood goes to our brain,” Wood explained. “If we’re getting exercise, we’re getting more nutrient and oxygen-rich blood up to our brain.”

Exercise can include such things as walking up stairs and dancing, she noted.

Social activities, such as playing strategic games like chess, can help preoccupy and strengthen the mind, she said.

Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets are good alternatives, Wood noted.

These heart-healthy choices consist of nuts and grains, as well as foods high in protein and low in sodium.

The Rev. Virginia Walsh, of Unity North Tampa Church, also shared her knowledge at the health and wellness fair.

Proper nutrition can help lead to effective meditation practice, Walsh said.

Before doing a meditation session, participants should drink plenty of water.

They also should eat foods rich in protein, and stay clear of foods high in carbohydrates, processed sugar, flour and starches.

Walsh conducted a meditation class during the fair, offering participants tips they could apply at home.

“Meditation can help us think more clearly, be able to focus, and also has shown to often improve memory,” the reverend said. “Being mindful helps us to cope better with what happens in life.”

This in turn, produces more peace and may lead to a healthier brain, she said.

Published August 14, 2019

Making sense of choices available in senior care

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As a generation of Floridians transition into retirement age, they and their families may have questions regarding what senior care facilities have to offer.

Keystone Place at Terra Bella is providing information to help the public find those answers.

The Land O’ Lakes senior living facility had several open house sessions in January to explain the different levels of care available in senior homes.

Keystone Place at Terra Bella is making efforts to educate the public on the lifestyle of senior care facilities. The Land O’ Lakes center opened in May 2018. (Brian Fernandes)

“In general, we did the topic for what is assisted living; what is memory care; [and] what are the benefits,” explained Arlana Guckenberger, community relations and sales director at Keystone Place.

Many people do not understand the distinctions between different levels of care, she said.

Independent living for seniors refers to elderly people who are self-sufficient and have few or no cognitive impairments.

They tend to be seniors who are on the younger end of the spectrum, and simply don’t want the responsibilities of owning a home, Guckenberger said.

Assisted living facilities cater to residents who are somewhat independent, but have physical limitations that may require help with grooming, dressing or getting around.

There are others who need around-the-clock assistance.

“The memory care community is designed for people with Alzheimer’s [disease] or certain forms of dementia, who being out in a larger population is too much stimulus for them,” Guckenberger said.

While individuals vary, residents with dementia can be agitated by loud noises and other stimuli.

A dining hall is not only a place to eat meals, but to socialize and play games with fellow residents at senior care facilities.

They also are prone to wander off in states of confusion.

In memory care units, residents have free range to move about the community, but for their safety, are secured from leaving the premises.

A physician evaluation can determine the type of residency that works best, Guckenberger said.

Those suffering from cognitive declines may be eligible for assisted living, rather than memory care units, she said.

Others, who are recuperating from severe body trauma, may be placed in skilled nursing facilities, she added.

Admission can be a result of incidents, such as falls or strokes, and are Intended to be short-term.

In some instances, a case manager, along with a physician, may decide that an individual is not able to live alone.

When that occurs, the individual may be referred to an assisted-living facility for long-term care.

Some facilities offer a single type of care, but others, such as Keystone Place, offer independent-living, assisted living and memory care residents.

Helping people to understand the different types and levels of care can help dispel the notion that seniors are stuck in a bed at these facilities, Guckenberger said.

Offering various daily options can help residents remain physically active and agile.

And, besides sharing meals in the dining room, residents congregate for other kinds of gatherings, too.

Movies theaters are one of the amenities that can be found at some senior care living facilities. Keeping residents engaged in daily activities is considered important in senior care circles.

Many facilities have a “Happy Hour” to promote opportunities to enjoy refreshments, listen to music and socialize.

At some senior living facilities, current residents serve as ‘ambassadors’ — welcoming newcomers, showing them around and introducing them to other residents, to help them feel at  home.

Making arts and crafts is another avenue — allowing residents to be productive and showcase their creative works.

At Keystone Place, the warm outdoor pool is a big hit, Guckenberger said, noting, “we’ve found that aqua-fitness is huge.”

There are also field trips, where residents can visit museums, malls or restaurants.

In addition to knowing what types of residencies, care and amenities are available, it’s also important to check into the financial aspects of senior living, Guckenberger said.

At the open houses, Keystone addressed not only insurance plans, but also encouraged seniors to compare expenses related to living at home versus those from living at a senior care facility.

While Medicaid and Social Security may help offset costs, there is still other coverage available – especially for former military.

For instance, there’s an Aid and Assistance benefit available to veterans and their spouses that many are unaware of, Guckenberger said.

Through the Elder Resource Benefits Consulting program, those who have served in the military may be eligible for financial assistance, if they meet certain criteria.

There’s a growing need for these types of living facilities, Guckenberger said.

Keystone Place opened last May, and its independent living section already has a waiting list.

Two upcoming open house sessions are scheduled at Keystone Place, 2200 Livingston Road in Land O’ Lakes, to help people gain a greater understanding of interacting with individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.

Those sessions are set for Feb. 27 and March 6, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Lunch will be provided and guests are encouraged to RSVP.

Reservations can be made at (813) 388-2121 or online at KeystonePlaceAtTerraBella.com/RSVP.

Published February 13, 2019

New retirement community arriving soon in Land O’ Lakes

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A new retirement community is coming to Land O’ Lakes, which will offer independent living, assistant living and memory care housing options.

Keystone Place at Terra Bella will be opening soon in Land O’ Lakes. The development will feature independent, assistant living and memory care apartments. It also will boast an array of amenities including a pub, a theater, a heated swimming pool, a beauty salon, a library and restaurant-style dining. (Courtesy of The Roche Associates)

Keystone Place at Terra Bella is expected to open within months at 2200 Livingston Road in Land O’ Lakes.

The development will have 140 total apartments, with 62 dedicated to independent living, 56 to assisted living and 22 to memory care, said Beth Barber, the development’s executive director.

The idea is to provide a continuum of care on one campus, so residents won’t have to move away when they need a greater degree of care, she said. Current residents will have priority for access to the assisted living and memory care accommodations.

Those moving in won’t need to pay a large entrance fee or buy-in cost, Barber added.

The development will have:

  • One-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments in independent living
  • Studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom in assisted living
  • Studio and one-bedroom in memory care

Square footages vary, based on floor plans.

The retirement community also will provide an array of services with an increased level of assistance for residents in the assisted living and memory care apartments.

Residents also will be able to enjoy a host of amenities, including a pub, a theater, a heated swimming pool, a beauty salon and a library, Barber said. It also has a chapel.

A wide assortment of activities also will be offered — to provide opportunities for learning, socializing and having fun, she added.

Costs vary based on the type of apartment and the level of services provided.

The apartment designs are different, too.

Keystone Place at Terra Bella is coming to the area because “definitely there was a need for senior housing in Land O’ Lakes,” Barber said. “It is such a growing area.”

Barber noted that people she has chatted with have confirmed the need for senior housing in the area, and they want a place that will allow them to continue to live in Land O’ Lakes.

Keystone Place at Terra Bella is now taking reservations.

For more information, call (813) 388-2121, or visit KeystonePlaceAtTerraBella.com.

Published April 18, 2018

Is your memory problem a normal part of aging, or a form of dementia?

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Those attending Dr. Andrew E. Budson’s talks at the Plantation Palms Golf Club in Land O’ Lakes last week had two key takeaways.

Dr. Andrew Budson (Courtesy of The Roche Associates)

First, if you’re having problems with your memory, go to a doctor who specializes in memory issues. In some cases, the problem may be the result of something that’s completely reversible, and even when it’s not, the sooner treatment begins, the better, said Budson, co-author of the book “Seven Steps to Managing Your Memory.”

The second takeaway was this: If you’re looking for something that’s very likely to help your memory, exercise is the key.

“People often ask me, ‘Dr. Budson, is there a magic pill out there to help improve my memory?’ My answer is, ‘Yes, there is. It’s called exercise.’”

Budson gave two talks on April 6 as part of a program presented by Keystone Place at Terra Bella, a new retirement community that will be opening in Land O’ Lakes, which will offer independent living, assisted living and memory care accommodations.

To get things rolling, Budson asked the audience during the 12:30 p.m. talk to consider whether these common memory issues were a result of normal aging, or something else:

  • You walk into a room to get something and you forget why.
  • You’re having trouble remembering the name of a friend of yours from church, even though you’ve met her a half-a-dozen times.
  • You’re having trouble remembering some of the details of your life, such as your wedding.
  • When you are driving and not paying attention, you take one or more wrong turns, and you end up somewhere you did not intend to be.
  • You spend too much time looking for your keys, glasses, wallet or purse.
  • Your family said you’ve asked that question before.

One of the key things to watch for is a change in behavior, Budson said.

“If you are someone who every morning as you’re getting ready to leave the house you spend 5, 10 or 15 minutes hunting around for keys, glasses, wallet, purse, and now you’re getting a little bit older and you’re still spending 5, 10, 15 minutes hunting around the house for these things, well, that’s probably normal for you.

“But if you are someone who is always very organized, never spend any time hunting around for these things — and now you’re spending 5, 10, 15, maybe 20 minutes, maybe an hour, maybe you never find that wallet, you have to replace the credit cards or you have to replace the cellphone because you couldn’t find it, you know, that would be concerning,” Budson said.

He gave another example.

“Anyone can forget that they’ve already told their best friend that story and start to tell it again, or cannot remember the answer to a question and ask it again. Sure, that can happen once or twice, no big deal.

“But, for somebody that’s telling the same story, again and again and again … every time you meet this individual they tell it, maybe even twice during the same visit, that sounds like rapid forgetting. Rapid forgetting is never normal,” he said.

To help explain how memory works, the doctor used the analogy of a filing system.

“The file clerk is our frontal lobes. It is our frontal lobes’ file clerk’s job to take the information in from the outside world and to put it inside the file cabinet.

“So, when we want to retrieve a memory, you can picture the frontal lobe file clerk pulling open the file drawer, leafing through the files until he finds the memory that he’s looking for,” he said.

As we get older, our file clerk doesn’t hear quite as well as he used to, so information may need to be repeated a couple of times in order for it to be stored in the file cabinet.

It also can take longer to retrieve a memory, and we may need a hint or cue about what a memory was about, he added.

But, the main thing is, if a memory goes into the cabinet — it can be retrieved.

Using the same filing system analogy, he then focused on the file cabinet itself.

“The file cabinet is another part of the brain. It’s actually our hippocampus. The hippocampus is the part of the brain that stores new memories. It’s located in the temporal lobes.

“The problem with diseases like Alzheimer’s is that it damages the hippocampus, and ultimately, in fact, destroys the hippocampus.

“Imagine if you pull open the drawer of the file cabinet and you look down inside, and you find out there’s a big hole in the bottom of the file drawer.

“You can have the most efficient file clerk in the world, taking information in from the outside world, putting it into the file cabinet. If there’s a big hole there, the memories are going to disappear, never to be retrieved again,” he said.

Diet and exercise can strengthen memory
The doctor also explained the distinction between the terms dementia, Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment.

Dementia is a general term that means that someone’s thinking and memory have declined to the point that it interferes with day-to-day function, he said.

It can be caused by things that are easily treatable and actually completely reversible, but also can be caused by serious diseases, including Alzheimer’s.

Mild cognitive impairment means that a person has a confirmed memory loss, but that the individual’s day-to-day function is normal, Budson said.

Over time, about half of the people with mild cognitive impairment go on to develop Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, but the other half don’t, he said.

Once a memory problem has been determined, the next step is treatment, Budson said. There are standard medications that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, he said. Plus, there’s more research underway now than there ever has been during the 110-year history of Alzheimer’s.

Early treatment is crucial, he said.

“They (medications) can turn the clock back by six to 12 months,” he said. “I am much more likely to be able to turn the clock back all of the way to 12 months, all the way to make their memory like it was a year ago, if they come to see me early.”

Research also shows that lifestyle changes can help, he said.

“The Mediterranean diet, and a few variations of it, is really the only diet that study after study after study has been proven to be healthy for the brain and good for the memory,” he said. That diet includes fish, olive oil, avocados, fruits and vegetables, nuts and beans, and whole grains.

Exercise also is good for you, but before increasing your activity, be sure to check with your doctor, he said.

The recommended amount of exercise is at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise five days a week, plus two hours a week of things that help with strength and balance, and flexibility.

Besides reducing the risk for stroke and improving your mood, exercise can help you sleep better — which is critically important for the memory, he said.

“Remember we talked about how the new memories are stored in the hippocampus, in our new memory file cabinet? Well, it turns out there’s another memory file cabinet that is storing the older memories. It is during sleep that the memories go from the short-term, temporary store (file) to the long-term permanent store (file),” he said.

Besides exercise and diet, other ways to strengthen the memory including social engagement and learning new things, Budson said.

There is no evidence, however, that doing brain-training games and crossword puzzles will improve the memory, he said.

“What the studies show is that if you spend time doing crossword puzzles, or Suduko or computerized brain training programs, you get better at crossword puzzles, Suduko and computerized brain training programs. It simply does not translate to overall brain function,” he said.

Know the 10 signs

  • Memory loss that disrupts daily life
  • Challenges in planning or solving problems
  • Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work, or at leisure
  • Confusion with time or place
  • Trouble with understanding visual images or spatial relationships
  • New problems with words in speaking or writing
  • Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
  • Decreased or poor judgment
  • Withdrawal from work or social activities
  • Changes in mood or personality

For more details on this list and for more information about Alzheimer’s, visit ALZ.org.

Published April 11, 2018