Senior Helpers hosts a weekly radio program called Everything Elderly. We talk about all sorts of topics related to seniors, with an emphasis on health. The show airs on 1290 am WLBY, every Saturday morning at 8:30. Earlier today, we enjoyed hosting two guests, Linn Storch and Theresa Likert.

Linn is with St. Joseph Mercy Health System, and is a dietician who focuses on weight management. She works with people to help them achieve their weight loss objectives. She holds classes on a regular basis, and she works with families, and also provides private counseling.

Linn shared with us the value of eating foods high in fiber, because those foods fill you up. Eating more fruits and vegetables is a good place to start. I was pleased to learn that Mexican food can be good for you, since tacos and burritos are favorites of mine! Linn emphasized the importance of antioxidants, which can be found in carrots, oranges, strawberries, and just about any colorful vegetable.

Supplements can be a valuable part of your daily intake, but of course getting your vitamins from food sources is usually the best. Linn is a supporter of taking a multi-vitamin, if you need that to get you started on better nutrition. Low vitamin D intake is something else to watch out for, especially in winter.

Linn shared a great success story about a patient she’s been working with for three years. He weighed over 400 lbs and has now lost 180 lbs! He’s a grandfather, and can now be much more active with his grandchildren. Linn continues to work with this patient, as it takes a lot of work to achieve permanent behavior changes.

If you are interested in contacting Linn Storch, you can call St. Joe’s at 734-712-5551, or go to the web at www.sjmercyhealth.org/hmr. If you’d like to listen to the full 12-minute discussion, click on this podcast Everything Elderly 0206 Linn Storch.mp3.

Sheila Doeden, our radio co-host, shared a story from the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. Recent research with mice indicates that use of cell-phones may actually reduce the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease. The research now shifts to human testing to see if the same benefit occurs in people.

Theresa Likert is the owner of Oxygen Plus, a home medical equipment and supply company. This is a fairly small business right on North Ann Arbor St. in Saline. Theresa has been open for about for about three years, and continues to successfully grow her business.

Oxygen Plus has ‘cash and carry’ items such as walkers and wrist splints, and also supplies the larger products like scooters. Of course, as their business name implies, respiratory therapy (oxygen) is a large part of their trade. About sixty percent of their customers are seniors.

Theresa and her staff really focus on home-town, personal service. She wants to make sure all of their patients fully understand how to use any equipment or supplies provided by Oxygen Plus. Theresa also has a specialty business serving breast cancer patients.

I am particularly impressed with how Theresa really wants families to think about the future, to plan ahead. If you’re remodeling, consider the eventual needs that come with aging. Being proactive, being observant and addressing a medical problem early can help keep the problem in check, and significantly lessen longer-term issues.

If you would like to contact Theresa or Oxygen Plus, please call 734-429-7444, or go to the website, www.oxygenplusmichigan.com. If you’d like to listen to the full 13-minute discussion, click on this podcast Everything Elderly 0206 Theresa Likert.mp3.

Alan Caldwell is the owner of Senior Helpers, providing in-home care services, primarily to the elderly. He can be contacted at acaldwell@seniorhelpers.com, or at 734-927-3111.