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Snowshoeing is an excellent winter workout that can help burn calories, strengthen muscles and boost cardiovascular health. Explore the top 8 snowshoeing spots and experience this ultimate workout adventure! Significant Health Benefits: Exceptional cardiovascular workout – burn up to 1,000 calories per hour! Low-impact muscle building Endurance building Balance strengthening and agility Improves your sense of well-being by connecting to nature Prepping for Your Adventure There are some crucial details to think about when it comes to snowshoeing, especially if you are a beginner. Make sure to pick the right kind of footwear to go on top of your snowshoes; a pair of comfortable waterproof boots are a great choice and remember to wear lots of layers. Several local places rent snowshoes if you aren’t sure about spending money on a pair. Check out Bobos Ski and Board Patio or our local REI Co-Op. Check out REI’s Beginner’s Guide to Snowshoeing for reference. 8 Cool Snowshoeing Spots 1. Galena Creek Park Close to Reno, this beautiful, low-altitude park offers several trails. You’ll find various creeks and streams under cover of pristine ponderosa pines. From beginner to advanced, the differing trail systems provide a challenge for everyone! Head west on State Route 431 (Mt. Rose Highway) for about seven miles until you see the park sign on the right side of the highway. 2. Tahoe Meadows – Chickadee Ridge This local favorite not only gives fantastic views of Lake Tahoe but the best part? – friendly little chickadees will eat seeds right out of your hand! Be sure to pack plenty of sunflower birdseed, as that seems to be their favorite. From the trailhead parking lot, head southeast into the open meadow. Then follow the ridgeline to your right (southwest). Continue southwest up toward the top of the ridgeline to the west, and you’ll get to Chickadee Ridge in just under two miles. 3. Spooner Lake Trail The easy 2.5-mile loop around Spooner Lake is excellent for all skill levels. This alpine lake is surrounded by aspen trees which house varied bird species, so bring your binoculars! Dogs are allowed on a leash, and all-day parking is $10. 4. Kirkwood Ski Resort You’ll need a trail pass, but this South Lake Tahoe resort has various routes from beginner to advanced, with roughly 50 miles of terrain. Nighttime snowshoe treks during the full moon are also available throughout the winter. Kirkwood is located on Highway 88, close to Carson Pass. 5. Camp Richardson Heading north, you can find this well-established and favorite local snowshoeing spot. If you’re up for an adventure, you can trek up to Fallen Leaf Lake. It’s located off Highway 89 and near Fallen Leaf Road. 6. Dry Pond Loop This moderate, 6.5-mile loop near Washoe Valley has impressive views of Carson Valley, Washoe Lake, and the Mt. Rose Wilderness. If you like the sound of rushing water, most of the trail meanders along White’s Creek. This area is dog-friendly and kid-friendly, which makes it a family favorite. 7. Royal Gorge Soda Springs is home to this resort, which is well known for its cross-country skiing trails. Enjoy extensive trails leading deep into the trees with spectacular views. Find Royal Gorge from the Soda Springs exit on West Interstate 80. 8. Ash Canyon Creek Tucked away in the Carson Valley, these trails are filled with mountain bikes in the spring and provide excellent snowshoeing trails in the winter. Find it from Interstate 580 by taking the Highway 395 Business exit to Winnie Lane.

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Dana and Mark Combs met through mutual friends and had a long friendship before they became a couple in 2009. They were married in 2011 in a private ceremony at a small Reno chapel, and a few months later had a big celebration with their family and friends.   Encouraging Others to Succeed  Over the years, the happy couple has spent much of their time volunteering and giving back to others in their community. Twenty-six years ago, Mark became a bilateral lower limb amputee. For the past 10 years, he has been a prosthetic consultant, helping other amputees learn how to cope with various challenges and encouraging them to keep living life to the fullest. “Mark is great with helping people,” said Dana.   Dana also does a lot of rewarding work through a Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O). She is an advocate for raising money to help women ages 18 and up gain an education. Dana also enjoys tutoring English as a second language.   Enjoying Quality Time, Hobbies & Travel When Dana and Mark aren’t helping others, they are spending time with their family and friends, their dog Mia (a 3-year-old Maltipoo) or enjoying one of their many hobbies. Some of Mark’s favorite things to do include playing Solitaire and strumming on his guitar.  “I love to garden and play crossword puzzles and word games,” said Dana. “I’m really looking forward to the springtime to spend more time in the garden.” She loves to work out and has a membership at the UFC gym in Reno through her Senior Care Plus gym benefit. Dana also has her own online Etsy store, where she sells homemade jam jars, candle holders and vintage dolls. “Last summer I sold my first edition Barbie that I got when I was 9 years old,” said Dana. “I made quite a profit on it.”

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Meet and get to know Patty Warren, our featured Sterling Silver Club member this fall. You may recognize her from the latest Senior Care Plus commercial on television, where she joins a coffee chat discussing the many benefits of being a Senior Care Plus member. She’s one of the kindest souls you’ll ever meet – and has a positive outlook on life that we should all strive for. Patty's Story Patty was born and raised in a small Kansas town called Baxter Springs, where she grew up with an older brother, an older sister and two younger sisters. She and her siblings all enjoyed playing sports like softball and basketball, in addition to playing instruments. Patty developed a love and passion for music at a young age that carried into her adulthood. “I wanted to be an opera singer,” said Patty. “I decided to go to college at Pittsburg State University in Kansas where I majored in vocal performance.” After college, Patty moved to Manhattan in New York City to audition to be an opera singer, but she soon realized it wasn’t what she wanted to do after all. She eventually decided to work in the brokerage industry.   After living and working in New York for three years, Patty moved back to Kansas where she later met the love of her life, Michael. “In 1992, I had put a dating ad in the local newspaper,” said Patty. “I received over 30 responses, and I went out on quite a few dates.” Then she had her first date with Michael, and the two of them quickly realized how much they liked each other. He asked her to marry him on Valentine’s Day in 1993, and they went on to get married in front of the Justice of the Peace on May 3, just a few months later. “We had a small wedding so that we could move into our first home together,” said Patty. A few years later in 1999, Patty and Michael moved to Arizona, where they lived for 22 years. Patty worked at Edward Jones Investments for 18 of those 22 years and loved her job and the people that she worked with. She retired in January 2021 during the pandemic, and three days later she and Michael moved to Sparks, Nevada.

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Injuries happen to everyone. They are caused by participating in sports, recreational activities like hiking, and even by accidentally stepping off a curb wrong. If you experience a sprain or strain, the first few days are often the most painful. Renown Sports Medicine physicians Luis Palacio, MD and Brandon Hockenberry, MD walked us through what to do after an injury.  Listen to Your Body See a medical professional right away if: You know or suspect that a bone is broken You are having difficulties putting full weight on a joint of the leg Pain or swelling is severe There is a sign of an infection, such as redness and warmth in the joint  The First 24-72 Hours Joint sprains tend to swell more than muscle strains. You can use ice as needed for comfort and to relieve any pain, but do not use ice for more than 15-20 minutes at a time. Ice and NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen) can help prevent excessive swelling and mask the pain, but they do not speed recovery. Some research shows that overuse of ice actually delays recovery.    During the first 24-72 hours, your injury will go through an inflammation phase. Inflammation is your body’s natural way to dispose of dead tissue cells, build new healthy structures, and hopefully heal even stronger than before.

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Over the past couple of years, pickleball has become the fastest-growing sport among people of all ages.  It’s a combination of tennis, ping-pong and badminton that originated in 1965. This sport can be played indoors or outdoors on a pickleball court where two players (singles) or four (doubles) hit a perforated hollow plastic ball over a 36-inch-high net using solid-faced paddles. A pickleball court is the same size as a double’s badminton court and measures 20×44 feet.  Pickleball is a fun, low-impact game that keeps people healthy and active. Kaitlyn Jacobson, Physician Assistant at Renown Urgent Care – Ryland, plays pickleball herself and is a big fan of the sport. Here she shares the top five health benefits of playing pickleball.

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Tendonitis occurs when a tendon in your body is inflamed or irritated. This painful condition can impact your day-to-day activities, but can be managed and prevented. Luis Palacio, MD, shared some insights into how to manage tendonitis. Overuse and Repetitive Motion Tendons are complex tissues in our body that connect muscles to bones, allowing us to move. Unfortunately, sometimes these tendons become inflamed, worn down or injured, a condition called tendonitis. Symptoms of tendonitis include pain or dull ache, tenderness and mild swelling at the site. While tendonitis can be caused by a sudden injury, it is more commonly seen in frequent motions, including: Repetitive motions in exercise, work or other physical activities. Awkward positions in a movement, including poor posture. Forced movements that strain your body. Sudden increase in frequency of movement or level of difficulty, including little to no recover time between new activity. Shoes without proper support or hard surfaces, such as concrete floors. Evaluation is Key If you suspect that you have tendonitis and it does not resolve on its own after a few days, you should get it evaluated by a primary care or sports medicine doctor. They can make recommendations to aid your recovery and refer you to the right sub-specialist if needed. With some intentional actions, you can help reduce the risk of tendonitis with the following suggestions: Add variety: Mixing up the type of exercise you do will help prevent repetitive motions that can result in overuse. Stretch and condition: Make sure the keep up with proper stretching and muscle strengthening to support your physical activities. Do it right: Make sure that the way you are completing exercise or work-related physical activities is correct. Seek out a professional for lessons or guidance if you are unsure.

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Concussions are an unfortunate occurrence in youth sports and other physical activities. Learning the signs now will help you respond if you suspect that someone near you has suffered a concussion. A concussion is a mild type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that can occur after any injury to the head/neck area. It’s important to seek the appropriate level of care if they occur. Brandon Hockenberry, MD with Renown Sports Medicine shares tips on concussion signs to look for and what to do next. Look for these Dangerous Signs First Call 911 or visit an ER right away if you notice one of the following in the person who suffered a blow to the head or body: One pupil is larger than the other Severe or worsening headaches Drowsiness or inability to wake up, including any period of unconsciousness Slurred speech, weakness, numbness or decreased coordination Multiple episodes of vomiting Convulsions, shaking or twitching Monitor for Concussion Signs and Symptoms If someone suffers a bump, blow or other jolt, it’s important to look out for changing symptoms. Symptoms can continue to evolve for up to 24 hours after the injury. Seek care from your primary care provider, an urgent care or a sports medicine provider if you notice any of the following: Cannot recall events prior to or after the incident Appears confused or disoriented Clumsy movements Slow reaction, including movements and speech Changes to normal behavior or mood You should also question the person about how they are feeling. If they report any of the following symptoms, seek care: Headache or feelings of pressure in their head Nausea or vomiting Dizziness or balance issues Problems with eyesight, such as blurriness or double vision Increase sensitivity to light or sound Sluggishness, or feelings described as “hazy” or “foggy” Struggles with remembering or concentration Just “not feeling right”

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Did you know that 218,000 veterans and their families call Nevada home? That is almost 7% of our total population who served this country and will require quality access to healthcare at some point in their lifetime.  When faced with a daunting diagnosis or procedure, such as cancer or surgery, Renown rises to the occasion to provide veterans and their loved ones with the highest caliber of care possible to protect the lives that protected ours.  Accessing that care, however, can be a challenge for some. As Renown serves veterans across 100,000 square miles, veterans living in rural communities often must travel long distances – with the costs of overnight lodging standing in the way, making healthcare access out-of-budget, and sometimes, nearly impossible.  That’s where Veterans Guest House comes in. Veterans Guest House provides veterans and their families with temporary overnight accommodations while receiving medical treatment in the Reno/Sparks area. Founded in 1993 in response to the growing number of veterans sleeping in their cars to access healthcare, the nonprofit embraces veterans and their families who would otherwise not be able to obtain the medical care they need because of inabilities to pay for overnight lodging.  A support system for veterans, especially veterans who are senior citizens, is vital to their overall health and well-being – and seniors at Veterans Guest House never have to feel alone in their care journey.  Enter Dyana Parks, a senior care assistant working with Veterans Guest House. A friend to Renown Health and the William N. Pennington Cancer Institute, Dyana goes the extra mile for seniors staying at Veterans Guest House – she not only helps them navigate the logistics of their care, but she also is one of their biggest mental well-being champions.  A Helping Hand for Guests in Need  A proud member of a veteran family herself, senior and veteran in-home care is a family affair for Dyana. With a sister experiencing post-accident brain damage, elderly parents – one of whom facing dementia – and a son and daughter-in-law in the same field of work, Dyana has a unique passion for in-home and dementia care and holds several decades of hospice experience. As such, when she was assigned to help the clients at Veterans Guest House in September 2022, it was a natural fit for her, and she immediately jumped into action.  Dyana takes special time during her work hours to transport seniors in need to their appointments at Renown (and keeps track of all of them), sits with them through chemotherapy and radiation treatments, ensures patients stay hydrated and nourished after major procedures, picks them up from surgery and always ensures everything goes well with each patient’s care. When patients coming from Veterans Guest House need extra emotional support, Dyana is always there to make sure they are okay and push them to keep going.  “I always say to my seniors, ‘never give up,’” said Dyana. “If a need arises, I am there to help. I love getting to know my clients and helping them go home healthy.”  As a ‘frequent flier’ at Renown and the William N. Pennington Cancer Institute, many of our team members are thrilled when they see Dyana walking through the doors with her clients, as they know that their patient is going home with one of their strongest advocates. To Dyana, Renown is akin to a family for both herself and her clients.  “I love Renown,” said Dyana. “Everyone there makes my clients feel as though they are more than just a patient – they make them feel like family, especially when going through a scary diagnosis like cancer. As someone who has been going there with my own family forever and who now guides veteran seniors through the process, I will always recommend Renown to anyone.”  Dyana emulates exactly what it means to make a genuine difference in the health and well-being of our community, all while raising awareness for both Renown and Veterans Guest House.  “More people need to know about Veterans Guest House,” said Dyana. “When I came here, I was in awe. They do so much for every guest, making them feel comfortable at home while not having to worry about finances. Almost everyone that comes here, whether it be from the rural surrounding towns or all the way out to Alaska and even the Philippines, needs treatment of some kind, and I know Renown will always give them the best care.”  To learn more about Veterans Guest House, visit veteransguesthouse.org.

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Senior Care Plus is pleased to announce we are now a proud sponsor of Jam On It Pickleball, open to the community seven days a week at the Reno Sparks Convention Center. We’re excited to help promote this fun activity to our members, employees and the public. Pickleball has many wonderful health benefits – particularly for seniors. It’s a low-impact game that raises the heart rate, improves hand-eye coordination and increases mobility. In addition to the obvious physical benefits, pickleball is a great social activity. Getting out of the house and playing a fun, easy-to-learn game with others is a great way to make new friends while improving your physical and mental health!   Ralph Barbato, a Senior Care Plus member from Reno, is a huge fan of pickleball and all it has to offer. “Pickleball has made such a positive impact on my life. I love the physical and mental health benefits along with the social aspect – it’s a great way to meet new people and I’m excited to have it in our community,” said Ralph.

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Hygiene in healthcare is an essential backbone to providing the safest, most optimal care to every patient. From everyday handwashing techniques and getting all necessary vaccinations to surveilling our health system before the onset of outbreaks, at Renown Health, creating and maintaining a low-infection environment is a group effort. From ensuring fundamental infection prevention practices are carried out to identifying process improvement opportunities, Renown’s Infection Prevention (IP) department is here to help care teams be successful in their role. This effort is led by members who are devoted in sharing evidence-based best practices to our patients, employees, healthcare organization partners and community. Making “Zero” A Reality Reducing healthcare-associated infections is possible when core infection prevention practices are incorporated into the daily care of our patients. These team members are dedicated to Renown’s commitment to creating a culture of Excellence, caring for our healthcare environment, and our care teams. “Often times, when asked what we do in our work it can be a challenge to answer because unpredictability is built into almost every day; and in that, we as a team must divide and conquer,” said Susanne James, Manager of Infection Prevention. Every day, each team member is assigned a day to perform required surveillance activities. Whether they are reviewing patients’ infections and isolation and evaluating lab orders for possible infectious processes or reporting communicable diseases to the local health authorities and the CDC, every Infection Preventionist participates in improvement projects and address issues as they arise. The Infection Prevention team plans, organizes, manages and evaluates the Infection Prevention Program and ensures IP policies reflect current best practice. They work closely with all departments at Renown in order to achieve high levels of standards that are implemented to reduce transmission of infection. “As a team, we perform ‘Infection Prevention Environment of Care Rounding’ on all units and departments to ensure our environment complies with regulatory requirements,” said Erika Clark, Operations Analyst at Renown Health. "We work together with Facilities and Site Practice Leaders to ensure a safe environment.” The pandemic challenged all Renown teams to find creative solutions for issues no one ever imagined. Our Infection Prevention department worked tirelessly alongside Renown's Hospital Incident Command Structure (HICS) and care teams in creating several lines of defense against COVID-19, including: Launching Renown's Alternate Care Site to meet the need for critical patients. Bringing on the new lab tests and specimen collection criteria. Managing demand for personal protective equipment (PPE). Bringing vaccines to staff and then to the community. Managing ill employees and our visitors. Keeping all locations informed on pandemic status and changes (which were occurring at breakneck speed). These initiatives enabled Renown's care teams to focus on providing the safest care possible to patients saving countless lives. This solidified the fact that together, the team can accomplish anything. “Infection Prevention is proud to be a valued and respected member of the care team,” said Susanne James. “We appreciate being a trusted resource and take this responsibility seriously as this enables us to provide staff the best possible tools to be successful.” Fight the Good Fight Against the Spread of Disease Educating patients and providers plays a huge part on the Infection Prevention stage. This team provides educational materials on a range of topics, some of the most important are, proper hand hygiene and the use of PPE. All these materials can be found throughout our health system and serve as an important reminder – infection prevention starts with all of us. “We partner with every aspect of the health system – environmental services, nutrition services, lab services, facilities, pharmacy, physical therapy and occupational therapy, respiratory care, patient access, security, nurses, providers and quality...just to name a few!” said Susanne James. Our Infection Prevention team also partners with Washoe County Health District and other public health agencies to report – and in turn, stop the spread of – diseases and exposures. These close partnerships poise our team to do what we do best: Fight the Good Fight. “I greatly appreciate everyone in the IP department for sharing their expertise as I learned a new position,” said Erika Clark. “I love working with my team and how closely we work with other departments to ensure excellence in all we do.” Our health system is ever-changing. But according to the experts in our Infection Prevention department, the three main ways to prevent illness and disease that remain the same time and time again are to: Clean your hands. Hand hygiene is the most effective way of preventing the spread of infections. The CDC recommends washing your hands with warm soap and water for 15-20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Clean your hands often and assist our patients to do the same. Learn expert hand-washing advice here. Get vaccinated. Immunizations are one of the top methods you can embrace the fight against preventable diseases, such as COVID-19, flu, measles, tetanus and more. Discover how you can get vaccinated with Renown. Keep germs from spreading. Practice good hygiene by covering your cough or sneeze or wearing a mask and sanitizing frequently touched spaces. Stay home if you feel ill to prevent the spread of illness and infection. Be sure to bring up any illness concerns with your primary care provider. “Every aspect of our health system has an infection prevention component, and we work daily to ensure our staff, patients and visitors are providing and receiving care free from potential harm or infections,” said Susanne James. “We are often the first call staff make when they have questions, concerns or just need someone to help improve process or outcomes.” Reveling with Renown Proudly defining themselves as a “small but mighty” team, the six-person Infection Prevention department moves mountains to ensure the safety of anyone who walks through Renown’s doors. The tight-knit nature of this team can be felt from miles away, and to them, being “small but mighty” is not a hindrance, as they have the support of the IP Champions and the entire health system.   “I originally came to Renown in 2018 as a nurse traveler, the facility and people I worked with immediately made an impact on me,” said Brian Stroud, Infection Preventionist at Renown Health. “My wife and I chose Renown and Reno due to the positive impact the people had on us. Everyone is welcoming, helpful and caring. Now, I am a full-time employee, and the team has made my transition into infection prevention trouble-free." Renown’s mission of providing a genuine difference for the health and wellbeing of the community is heightened and echoed by the Infection Prevention team. “I chose Renown because of the reputation Renown has earned in the community because of the excellent care and level of services provided,” said Shannon Oriola, Infection Preventionist at Renown Health. “I absolutely love this team and my Renown family!” “What brought me to Renown was the opportunity to acquire diverse skills which then motivated me to pursue my master’s degree,” added Paul DeLeon, Infection Preventionist at Renown Health. “What keeps me here is the people – Renown attracts hard working, ethical and caring people.” "My wife and I loved coming out to the Nevada mountains on vacations," added Russ Laarman, Infection Preventionist at Renown Health. "After being in Michigan for 47 years, we took the plunge and made NV our home. The experience has been great! I work with a great team that is very knowledgeable and works hard to ensure positive outcomes for our patients and colleagues at Renown.” Their pride shines through with their own individual accolades, both inside and outside of work. This past year: Shannon Oriola received a scholarship from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) for “improving outcomes through knowledge and practice,” which provided her with a $1,000 scholarship to attend the annual APIC conference in Indianapolis. Paul DeLeon earned his Certification in Infection Control and Prevention from APIC. Erika Clark completed Renown’s High Potential program, a six-month program that gives employees hands-on learning experience with several competencies, including emotional intelligence, effective communication, building successful relationships and organizational knowledge. Brian Stroud and his wife Charla became official Nevada residents. Russ Laarman scaled Mount Whitney. ...And the list keeps growing! Charged with the goal of keeping disease spread at bay, our Infection Prevention team remains vigilant and dedicated to their mission. Their commitment to Renown and to keeping our health system clean and healthy proves the age-old saying true: not all heroes wear capes. “I’m so very proud of the work Infection Prevention does every day, working with the vast teams throughout the health system to improve lives,” said Susanne James. “We would like to thank all of you for protecting the health and safety of your colleagues, our patients and the community.”

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While the appearance of a winter wonderland in your yard can be a welcome one, an accompanying aspect is not: the idea of clearing your driveway and sidewalks. The sometimes-daunting task of snow shoveling is a repetitive activity that can cause muscle strain to the lower back and shoulders. However, by following the tips below, you will spend more time appreciating your winter wonderland -- when your sidewalk and driveway are all clear, that is. But, we all know that injuries happen, and if you do find yourself with back pain that does not resolve in a few days, contact your primary healthcare provider, or visit a Renown Urgent Care. Another way to avoid injury during strenuous activity, or help heal an injury that won't go away, is to work with a physical therapist who can offer at-home exercises to keep your body strong. 6 Tips for Safe Snow Shoveling Following these tips from the American Physical Therapy Association can help you avoid injuries: Lift smaller loads of snow, rather than heavy shovelfuls. Be sure to bend your knees and lift with your legs, rather than your back. Use a shovel with a shaft that lets you keep your back straight while lifting. A short shaft will cause you to bend more to lift the load. Using a shovel that’s too long makes the weight at the end heavier. Step in the direction where you are throwing the snow to prevent the low back from twisting to help prevent “next-day back fatigue.”  Avoid excessive twisting because the spine cannot tolerate this motion. Bend your knees and keep your back as straight as possible so that you are lifting with your legs. Take frequent breaks when shoveling. Stand up straight and walk around periodically to extend the lower back. Backward bending exercises while standing will help reverse the excessive forward bending of shoveling. Stand straight and tall, place your hands toward the back of your hips and bend slightly backward for several seconds. When in doubt, ask for help. The Reno community is a generous one and you can typically find snow shovelers for hire on local message boards like Nextdoor and Facebook. Or, if you have a kid in your neighborhood, they might be looking to make some extra money on a snow day.

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Don’t worry, there’s still time to enroll in a Medicare plan! You’ve probably noticed all the advertisements lately encouraging Medicare beneficiaries to enroll before AEP ends on Dec. 7. But what is AEP, and how can you ensure the best decision for Medicare enrollment? If you’ve been asking yourself this same question, you’re in the right place. Here we’ll explore some of the most important things you need to know before you choose your Medicare plan for 2023. What is AEP? AEP stands for Annual Enrollment Period, and for Medicare this takes place Oct. 15 – Dec. 7 every year. You might hear people refer to AEP as Open Enrollment or the Fall Enrollment Period. All Medicare beneficiaries can enroll during this time, and their new policy will take effect on Jan. 1 of the following year. If you’re already enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B, you can use AEP to enroll in a Medicare Supplemental or Advantage Plan. You can also choose to drop your Supplement or Advantage Plan and revert to traditional Medicare.

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