News & Updates

Hamaspik Choice is inviting Members and Caregivers to join:

Member Advisory Council Meeting
Thursday, March 18, 2021 - 3:00pm to 4:00pm

You can join the meeting by calling:
Toll free number: 888-364-1212 / Access code: 343-211-689

Or, you can click on this link if you want to access the meeting through your computer:
https://www.gomeet.com/343-211-689

Hamaspik Choice is inviting Members and Caregivers to join:

Member Advisory Council Meeting
Thursday, December 17, 2020 3:00pm to 4:00pm

You can join the meeting by calling:
Toll free number: 888-364-1212 / Access code: 154-086-062

Or, you can click on this link if you want to access the meeting through your computer:
https://www.gomeet.com/154-086-062

Statement from our CEO – On recent Events, June 2, 2020

Statement from our CEO, Yoel Bernath
The death of George Floyed was tragic and should’ve never happened, its devastating to his family, community and to all Americans.

At such critical times, I appreciate even more to be part of such an amazing team that serve and support the most vulnerable population regardless of their skin color, race, gender, culture, or religious affiliation.

Its only by looking out for each other and caring for one another that we’ll overcome these very troubling times.

I can only imagine how painful this situation is as we’re still dealing with Covid and now we have to witness such an injustice! I remind you to please put safety first, be careful and vigilant. We are not aware of any of our offices being damaged at this time but we’re keeping a close eye on and closely monitoring the situation.

I’m optimistic that together we can all make the difference, it’s your resilience that will help us overcome the inequalities that exist and I am optimistic about a brighter future.

Hamaspik Choice complaint and appeal update

Member Notice - Download this article to learn more.
Handbook Complaint and Appeal - Download this article to learn more.

Hamaspik Choice is pleased to announce the calendar of meetings of the Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) Advisory Council for 2019.

Our MLTC Advisory Council is open to all members and/or member representatives. You are invited to join us, meet our administration and staff, and share your ideas with our team.

Please join us on:

• January 24, 2019 at 2pm
• April 11, 2019 at 2pm
• July 18, 2019 at 2pm
• November 7th, 2019 at 2pm

The January 2019 council meetings will take place at our office:
58 Route 59
Monsey, New York 10952

Parking is available in the back of the building. For wheelchair access, please enter through the rear parking lot. Enter the glass doors marked Hamaspik, and take the elevator to the second floor.

The April 2019 council meeting will take place at Hampton Inn by Hilton New Paltz
4 S Putt Corners Rd
New Paltz, NY 12561

The July 2019 council meeting will take place at our office:
58 Route 59
Monsey, New York 10952

The November 2019 council meeting will take place at Days Inn in Liberty NY
52 Sullivan Ave, Liberty, NY 12754
(right off the 17 after Exit 101)

If you would like to participate and cannot attend, you may call in to the meeting by dialing 855-552-4642 # 4642.
Please RSVP for the upcoming meeting by calling 845-503-1592 and leaving a message with your name.
We look forward to seeing you.

What Is Extreme Cold?

What constitutes extreme cold and its effects can vary across different areas of the country. In regions relatively unaccustomed to winter weather, near freezing temperaturesare considered "extreme cold." Whenever temperatures drop decidedly below normal and as wind speed increases, heat can leave your body more rapidly. These weatherrelated conditions may lead to serious health problems.
Extreme cold is a dangerous situation that can bring on health emergencies in susceptible people, such as those without shelter or who are stranded, or who live in a home that is poorly insulated or without heat.
Download this article to learn more.

The Flu Vaccine - What You Need to Know

Flu season is upon us again. The flu is a highly contagious disease that can strike suddenly, at any age. While many people can ride out the flu safely, thousands of Americans die from the flu each year and many more are hospitalized.  The flu can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, diarrhea and blood infections.  Individuals over the age of 65, very young children and pregnant women, as well as those with chronic conditions such as heart disease or a weakened immune system are at greater risk for serious complications of the flu. Luckily, the flu is easily preventable with a vaccine that is readily available at your doctor's office.  Being vaccinated can help ensure that you don't get the flu this season or that if you do get it, your symptoms will be less severe.  The attached brochure will provide you with more information on the risks of benefits of getting vaccinated and the different types of vaccinations available.  Speak to your doctor about the right option for you. The flu can strike suddenly so don't delay!

Influenza (Flu) Vaccine (Inactivated or Recombinant): What you need to know

Intelligence may improve physical abilities later in life.

We all know that the better our physical stamina in middle age, the more likely we are to retain our independence and cope with everyday activities in old age, such as carrying our shopping and getting dressed.  An interesting new study published in the Journal of Aging and Health reveals a link between intelligence and midlife physical performance, as measured by a number of strength resistance tests.

In this study, researchers examined the relationship between intelligence in early adulthood and subsequent physical performance between the age of 48 and 56 years. They found that every 10 point increase in intelligence in early adulthood was linked to increases in physical stamina and balance later on.

Although it is likely that childhood factors, exercise, health status and socioeconomic background may also affect physical performance in later life, it's equally likely that more intelligent people find it easier to understand health information - such as advice on lifestyle and exercise - and put it into practice, which may explain the findings.

Last month, Medical News Today reported the findings of three studies showing that not only is it likely that physical exercise reduces risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia - it may also serve as an effective treatment. For example, one study found that aerobic exercise reduces the levels of a certain protein in the brain that is characteristic of Alzheimer's– an effect that cannot be achieved by any currently approved medication.  Just another reason to keep exercising! (www.medicalnewstoday.com)

Influenza (Flu) Vaccine (Inactivated or Recombinant): What you need to know

Increased stress may increase the risk of cognitive decline.

A new study published in the journal Neurology reveals that older individuals with high levels of the "stress hormone" cortisol in their saliva had smaller brain volumes, which was associated with poorer performance on tests of memory and thinking.

The authors of the study believe their findings could lead to a saliva test that helps determine which individuals may be at risk for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, as well as strategies to try to reduce the negative impact of cortisol on cognitive function.

Previous studies have suggested that depression raises the risk of dementia for older adults but experts aren't sure why.  High levels of cortisol have been found in individuals with depression and the thinking is that the cortisol has a negative impact on the area of the brain that controls moods.

The researchers set out to investigate this theory further, analyzing the cortisol levels, brain volumes and cognitive skills of 4,244 adults of an average age of 76 who were free of dementia. Compared with subjects in the low cortisol group, those with high cortisol levels were found to have overall brain volumes around 16 millimeters smaller. Furthermore, participants with high cortisol levels performed worse on memory and thinking tests than those with low levels of the hormone.

The researchers admit that because their study only looked at a short time period, they are unable to determine what occurs first - the high levels of cortisol or the loss of brain volume.  Researchers believe it is possible that the loss of brain volume that can occur with aging may impair the brain's ability to stop the negative effects of cortisol and this can lead to further brain cell loss. (www.medicalnewstoday.com)

No mental benefits when stopping hypertension meds.

It's known that high blood pressure during middle age is a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease -- impaired blood flow in the brain. But the effect of high blood pressure on the brain during old age is less clear. In fact, some studies have suggested that lower blood pressure in old age, rather than higher blood pressure, might boost a person's odds for mental decline.  Therefore, a new study focused on whether discontinuing high blood pressure medications might make any difference to an older person's thinking and memory.

The new study, published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, included 385 people, aged 75 and older, with mild memory and thinking problems. While all were taking high blood pressure medications, none had serious heart disease. Half of the participants were randomly selected to stop their high blood pressure treatment, while the other half continued their medication as usual. Both groups were followed for four months, according to a team led by Dr. Justine Moonen, of Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands.  However, by the end of that time, the Dutch team saw no improvement in the participants' mental functioning, whether they stopped the medications or not.

According to Dr. Luca Giliberto, an investigator at the Litwin-Zucker Research Center for the Study of Alzheimer's Disease, the issue of blood pressure control and mental function in the elderly is worth looking into, because the vessels that supply blood to the brain deteriorate with advancing age. He explains that it becomes more difficult for our brains to adapt to varying blood pressure as we age.  High blood pressure can cause "mini-strokes" that could impair mental function, while low blood pressure may negatively impact blood supply to the brain.  All this may end up contributing to mental decline. He therefore feels studies such as this are extremely important.  He added, however, that this particular study has its limitations, especially because people with serious heart disease were not studied. And he believes that the study period may have been too short for any real effect to become apparent. According to the researchers, future studies with longer follow-up might help determine if seniors with poor blood circulation in the brain could benefit from more relaxed blood pressure targets. (www.medicinenet.com)