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Alzheimer’s Awareness Day Recognized By State Officials

Thursday is Alzheimer's Awareness Day in West Virginia. More than six million Americans are affected by the cognitive disease, including around 40,000 West Virginians. Less than half of those with the disease are formally diagnosed.

Thursday is Alzheimer’s Awareness Day in West Virginia. More than six million Americans are affected by the cognitive disease, including around 40,000 West Virginians. Less than half of those with the disease are formally diagnosed.

Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association’s West Virginia chapter Sharon Covert said with so many suffering from Alzheimer’s under the care of family or friends, it’s important for caregivers to meet them where they are and that each person makes progress differently.

“Trying to make them remember something that they do not remember, it’s like talking to someone having a heart attack and saying, ‘If you would just control your heart muscle, you could really stop that heart attack, and you’re just not trying hard enough,’” Covert said.

Covert said as West Virginia has one of the oldest populations in the country, much of the state population is at risk.

“There’s a lot of factors that add to it. You have to think about your health on the whole, if it’s good for the heart, it’s good for the brain. And you know, we have high instances of heart disease, high blood pressure. Just those contributing factors,” Covert said. “This contributes to all chronic illnesses, and they do their factor when talking about dementia later in life too.”

For the state government’s part, it passed bipartisan legislation during last year’s session that would require law enforcement and corrections officers to undergo training on how to deal with those suffering from Alzheimer’s. As a result, education programs have been rolled out both at the state’s police academy and online.

“We provide it for free. All of our training and resources are absolutely, 100 percent free, so they don’t cost the taxpayers anything, they don’t cost local police department’s anything. And I’m just really proud of that, because I think that this is an opportunity,” Covert said. “It can’t be something that is an encumbrance on local police departments.”

The state capitol building will be illuminated in a teal color Thursday night in recognition of the day, joining 800 other buildings worldwide in an initiative led by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. Gov. Jim Justice also issued a proclamation Wednesday, recognizing the event statewide.

“Alzheimer’s is something that is racing across this land, and it’s been terrible in many, many ways for lots and lots and lots of folks,” Justice said during Wednesday’s COVID-19 briefing as he announced the proclamation.

Information and resources can be found at the Alzheimer’s Association’s website.

A 24/7 helpline can also be called at 800-272-3900.

DHHR Highlights Behavioral Health Resources

The Department of Health and Human Resources is reminding West Virginians of available behavioral health resources.

The DHHR’s Bureau for Behavioral Health is raising awareness about the resources available across the state through 844-HELP4WV.

HELP4WV and its Children’s Crisis and Referral Line link adults and children with Mobile Crisis Response Teams.

They can de-escalate behavioral health crises by phone or have the ability to respond in person in most areas of the state.

Children’s Mobile Crisis Response Teams are available statewide. Adult Mobile Crisis Response Teams are operational in 10 counties, with additional counties currently in development.

Visit help4wv.com for information about the program, or kidsthrive.wv.gov for more information about behavioral health resources for children and families.

State Health Leaders Tracking New COVID-19 Variant

Dr. Clay Marsh, the state’s coronavirus czar, said he’s closely watching how the most common COVID-19 variant is changing, which could lead to an increase in hospitalizations.

The COVID-19 BA.5 variant, which is now the most common COVID-19 variant across the country, is mutating.

“Which is giving this new form of COVID-19 a higher ability to infect people and to avoid immune systems, particularly immune systems that are not up to date with vaccinations,” Marsh said Wednesday during Gov. Jim Justice’s press conference.

He said New York has seen an uptick in hospitalizations from the new variant and West Virginia tends to lag a few weeks behind their experience.

Dr. Ayne Amjad, acting state health officer and commissioner of DHHR’s Bureau for Public Health, added, “So far it isn’t deadlier like the Delta variant … but it’s still infectious.”

Maj. Gen. James Hoyer, who is part of the governor’s administration and has led the state’s vaccination efforts, noted that it’s now considered best practice to receive your COVID-19 booster shot and flu shot at the same time.

Marsh also urged parents of young children to avoid gatherings where people are sick as the state braces for a possible “tridemic,” a simultaneous surge of COVID-19, the flu and RSV.

The state’s pediatric intensive care units were at 90 percent capacity at the end of last month.

Information on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters is available here.

With Rule Change, More Families Likely Eligible For Cheaper Health Insurance

Changes to Affordable Care Act coverage could mean cheaper health insurance for some West Virginia families.

Open enrollment for people who buy health insurance through the marketplace begins Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 15.

This year, a rule recently finalized by the Treasury Department attempted to fix what’s been called the “Family Glitch.” Families who qualify can now forgo their job-based insurance for a more affordable ACA plan. The White House estimated the change could help about one million people gain coverage or get more affordable insurance.

Workers will be permitted to sign up for a plan through the marketplace if their job-based coverage exceeds 9.12 percent of their expected income.

“This is great news for West Virginia families who need health insurance,” said Jeremy Smith, programs director for WV Navigator, which helps West Virginians navigate the ACA enrollment process.

“Thousands of families have never been able to get a plan through the marketplace only because they were offered unaffordable health insurance from their spouse’s job. They have finally created an affordability test,” he said.

Additionally, the signing of the Inflation Reduction Act secured enhanced subsidies and locked in lower prices for marketplace plans for three more years.

“These are probably the most affordable rates I’ve seen in this program,” Smith said. “People should definitely check it out if they need health insurance.”

WV Navigator will host in-person enrollment events around the state, and help is available by calling 304-356-5834.

W.Va. Group Begins Monkeypox Education Efforts In Appalachia

A West Virginia nonprofit group has been awarded $100,000 in grants for monkeypox vaccination and education efforts among LGTBQ individuals in 13 Appalachian states.

A West Virginia nonprofit group said Monday it has been awarded $100,000 in grants for monkeypox vaccination and education efforts among LGTBQ individuals in 13 Appalachian states.

The Community Education Group received $50,000 grants each from Gilead Sciences and ViiV Healthcare to develop and distribute materials, offer grants and hold meetings aimed at reducing cultural stigmas and barriers related to the virus, the group said in a statement.

CEG will create and distribute monkeypox digital resource guides to more than 300 Appalachian health departments, along with rural healthcare associations and LGBTQ groups.

CEG also will accept applications for mini-grants from organizations in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, the statement said.

The virus has mainly spread among gay and bisexual men, though health officials continue to stress that anyone can be infected.

“One of the things that we realize with monkeypox is that we were asking people to have a conversation with a population of folks that they may not normally engage with,” CEG President and founder A. Toni Young said in a telephone interview. “And many of them want to have this conversation but just simply didn’t know how to.”

CEG wanted to be able to provide a toolkit “so that folks actually feel safe and free to access the care and services at our county health departments,” she said.

The Community Education Group, founded in 1994, is based in the Hardy County community of Lost City, with offices in Washington. It works to eliminate disparities in health outcomes and improve public health in disadvantaged populations and underserved communities.

Groups Collecting Prescription Drugs For Take Back Day

For more than ten years, the Drug Enforcement Administration has organized National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. It’s a safe way to dispose of expired or unwanted medications. Groups across the state are collecting old prescription drugs Friday and Saturday.

For more than ten years, the Drug Enforcement Administration has organized National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

It’s a safe way to dispose of expired or unwanted medications. Groups across the state are collecting old prescription drugs Friday and Saturday.

A majority of people who abuse prescription drugs obtained them from family and friends – and the home medicine cabinet. To remove the hazard, groups will accept tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids and needles will not be accepted. Vaping devices and cartridges are allowed,

The collections are also meant to prevent unused prescription drugs ending up in the trash, where they can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold. It also helps to prevent unused drugs from being flushed, contaminating the water supply.

Most Sheriff’s offices will take part including Oceana Police Department in Wyoming County and the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department and Crab Orchard Pharmacy. Drugs can also be dropped off at the Charleston Police Department and several pharmacies across the capitol city.

Most Sheriff’s offices will take part including in Raleigh County as well as the Oceana Police Department in Wyoming County. Drugs can also be dropped off at the Charleston Police Department and several pharmacies across the capitol city.

The DEA has created a collection site locator where you can find a location near you.