Page 21 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens - November '24

Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens, Page 21
Commissioner’s Update

Palm Beach County Senior • North County Senior Center, 5217 Northlake Blvd., or educational programs, visiting in person allows you to
Centers: A Hub Of Resources Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418, (561) 694-5435 see firsthand what’s available. When you arrive, you’ll
meet with a staff member who will answer any questions
• Mid County Senior Center, 3680 Lake Worth Road,
And Community For Older Lake Worth, FL 33461, (561) 357-7100 you may have. They will provide a quick tour of the
facility and explain the programs and events offered at
• West County Senior Center, 2916 State Road #15,
Residents Belle Glade, FL 33430, (561) 996-4808 the center.
Palm Beach County offers an impressive selection of To complete your registration, you will be asked to
By Vice Mayor Maria G. programs designed to meet the diverse needs and interests provide a photo I.D. and fill out a registration form. This
Marino of older adults. Whether you want to stay physically active, form includes the senior center’s rules and a waiver that
Palm Beach County’s socialize with peers, or learn something new, there’s outlines the participation guidelines. Once the registration
senior centers are a something for everyone. Here’s a look at some of the process is complete, you will receive a program schedule,
community focal point resources available at various locations: daily meal programs, flyers for upcoming events, and the latest newsletter. A name
where active older persons health education classes and resources, recreation programs, tag will also be provided, which helps foster a friendly,
socialize and participate exercise programs, community outings, community partners community-oriented atmosphere among attendees.
in programs and activities meetings and lectures, and social programs including group Palm Beach County’s senior centers are more than
which enhance their games, billiards and special events. just activity centers—they are a vital resource that offer
quality of life, support their Getting started at one support, companionship, and opportunities for personal
independence and encourage of Palm Beach County’s growth. Whether it’s health education, exercise, social
their involvement. With senior centers is a events, or simply a welcoming place to meet new friends,
a simple enrollment process and numerous activities to smooth and personalized these centers enrich the lives of local seniors. If you’re
choose from, Palm Beach County senior centers are a experience. Simply visit interested in learning more about the programs and
valuable resource providing essential support services for the senior center you are opportunities available, please visit your nearest senior
residents over 60 years old looking to enrich their lives interested in to begin center or call (561) 355-4746. Additional information
while staying connected to the community they help build. the enrollment process. can also be found here: https://discover.pbcgov.org/
Palm Beach County operates three senior centers that Whether you’re seeking communityservices.
serve as hubs for older adults and veterans. meals, social opportunities,
Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center’s

Dedicated Spine Care Team Offers Minimally Invasive

Surgical Techniques To Treat Neck And Back Pain

Neck and back pain are among the most common are inserted and manipulated within the patient’s body by way. Physicians may recommend non-surgical options
medical problems in the United States. It can come on the surgeon. first, such as lifestyle changes, stretching exercises,
1
suddenly – as the result of an accident, for example – or At Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, Dr. Afshar and posture correction, medications and/or physical therapy.
gradually, due to age-related degeneration of the spine or other fellowship-trained spine surgeons use cutting-edge If these do not resolve the patient’s pain or disease,
another disorder. 3-D surgical imaging technology to visualize the spine in spine specialists may offer advanced treatment options,
2
Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center’s dedicated greater detail, allowing for greater precision in performing including minimally invasive spine surgery.
spine care team of medical specialists offers personalized minimally invasive procedures. “The minimally invasive For more information about the spine program at Palm
treatment options utilizing minimally invasive techniques approach to spine surgery not only enhances surgical Beach Gardens Medical Center, please visit our website.
to manage and resolve both acute and degenerative outcomes but also reduces the risk of complications,
conditions affecting the spine. leading to shorter hospital stays and faster recoveries,” 1 https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/back-pain
“When neck and back pain persists, it may be a sign Afshar said. 2 https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/back-pain
of a more severe problem. Our goal is to minimize pain Afshar has 38 years of experience treating patients
and preserve mobility, while helping our patients regain with neck and low back conditions. He completed his
control of their lives,” said John Afshar, M.D., a board- residency at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.,
certified, fellowship-trained neurosurgeon specializing and completed his spine fellowship at the University of
in minimally invasive surgery of the spine and the brain. South Florida at Tampa General Hospital. Afshar is part
“With minimally invasive spine surgery, we can address of the Palm Beach Health Network Physician Group.
complex conditions and allow patients to return to their Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center’s commitment
daily activities sooner.” to the comfort of patients with back pain goes beyond
Traditional spinal surgery typically requires a large surgical expertise. Each patient is accommodated in a
open incision and extensive tissue dissection to allow private room, ensuring a peaceful and healing environment
the surgeon to access the spine. This can often involve during their recovery.
lengthy recovery times and significant discomfort for the The compassionate spine care team, with physicians
patient. Minimally invasive spine surgery helps limit the from several medical and surgical specialties, including
damage to muscles and other tissue by utilizing several orthopedics and neurology, is focused on providing
smaller incisions through which specialized instruments patients with the support they need every step of the

Book Review from page 20 For me personally, as I turned the last page of
What the Chicken Knows, one thought struck me
awareness. Previous experiments show that apes, like most poignantly: Ever thoughtful and considerate of
humans, do this.” her readers, Montgomery has kept this book’s focus
• “Only hours after leaving the egg they are able to walk, entirely on helping us to better understand and enjoy
run and peck.” (An adult chicken can run as fast as nine the fascinating and fun facts about these remarkable
miles an hour!) birds who are so much a part of our lives.
• “Relationships are important to them. The average Not once in these pages does this author mention
chicken can recognize more than 100 other chickens. that she herself is a vegetarian, nor does she devote
They can remember the past and anticipate the future, a single sentence to the suffering of these sentient
and they communicate specific information through at creatures from the cruelty of the factory-like poultry
least 24 distinct calls.” A warning signal from a rooster industry. It was not her purpose in writing this book.
to his hens, for example, will alert them to whether an Sparing us such a balanced narrative is her gift to
enemy is approaching by ground or from the air! this book’s readers despite what I know to be her own
There is hardly a page without an eye-opening deep feelings on the subject, having read and reviewed
surprise: “The disturbing fact that, on the way to the half a dozen of her earlier books.
soup pot, a chicken can continue to run around after As a senior now, I realize that if this book had been
decapitation does little to bolster appreciation for the written decades ago it might have been a life-changing
species’ more refined traits. In fact, one rooster was able experience in one sense for me. Perhaps it’s not too
to live for 18 months after his head was cut off. Farmer late. I hear those plant-based burgers and other meat Captain’s was established in 1980 servicing
Lloyd Olsen, hoping to please his visiting mother-in-law, substitutes are pretty good … and I would feel so good Palm Beach County and is a privately
who particularly savored boiled chicken neck, failed to about myself. owned and managed company.
kill the rooster when his axe missed the bird’s carotid I strongly suggest you lay your hands on a copy of Captain’s is committed to providing
artery and left one ear and most of the brain stem intact. this book as soon as possible … even if you have to dependable, reliable and professional
ground transportation to and from all
Not only did the victim survive, but he grew from two scramble to get it! South Florida Airports and Seaports.
and a half pounds to eight and attained national fame To reserve your vehicle: PBCVH212
as Mike the Headless Chicken from 1945 to 1947.” 561-798-2180 or 800-634-7890 www.captainsairport.com