THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2024 Page 19 munities and ensuring a coordinated, eff ective response in times of need.” $1.75 MILLION IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION GRANTS — Gov. Healey announced the awarding of $1.75 million in Energy Effi ciency and Conservation Block Grants to 45 municipalities across Massachusetts to fund 29 clean energy initiatives that help municipalities meet their own climate goals and share the benefi ts of climate action equitably. “Massachusetts’ cities and towns are on the front lines fi ghting climate change, and we are committed to supporting their efforts through funding like Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants and more broadly through our Green Communities Program,” said Executive Offi ce of Energy and Environmental Aff airs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “These grants will help municipalities reduce their use of harmful fossil fuels, protect local governments from energy price volatility and help build more resilient communities.” “Energy efficiency and building decarbonization is core to our strategy to combat climate change and lower energy costs,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony. “With this funding, 45 communities will get another chance to reduce their energy needs and municipal budgets. The energy manager seed funds will help many communities who want to act but lack the resources to plan expansive energy projects leverage additional funding.” ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE SEEKS INPUT ON DRAFTING OF ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCES REGULATIONS — Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s offi ce announced it is seeking public feedback on the drafting of consumer protection regulations for assisted living residences in Massachusetts. Members of the public can provide comments to the offi ce through an online form, available here. “We know the best way to serve our constituents is by listening to them,” said Campbell. “Every resident of an assisted living facility - Legal Notice - COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THE TRIAL COURT PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT DEPARTMENT DIVORCE SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION AND MAILING KASSANDRA CLYDINE TURBELA CHARLES CAMERON To the Defendant: REGISTER OF PROBATE has the right to live in a safe and habitable environment, free from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Our older adults deserve to age safely with dignity and respect, which is why creating consumer protection regulations for assisted living facilities is so important and responsive to their advocacy.” Assisted living residences are designed for older adults who can live independently in a home-like environment, but may need help with daily activities like housekeeping, bathing or medication assistance. According to the Executive Offi ce of Elder Aff airs, more than 17,000 people currently live in these residences in Massachusetts and have various options available to them. QUOTABLE QUOTES “We shouldn’t pollute our air and endanger our health just by doing everyday yard work. We have better options. It’s good to see more cities and states across the country take action to improve our health and quality of life by switching away from dirty gas lawn mowers and leaf blowers.” --- Janet Domenitz, MASSPIRG Education Fund Director, unveiling a study showing nationwide progress on transitioning away from gas-powered lawn equipment. “The signifi cant decline in recidivism rates refl ects the Department’s focus on evidence-based practices and strategic interventions designed to support successful reentry into society. Reducing recidivism not only benefi ts those who are reintegrating but also enhances public safety across Massachusetts.” ---Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy on the BEACON | SEE Page 20 Best CPAP Alternatives for Sleep Apnea Dear Savvy Senior, I’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea and have been trying to use a CPAP device for the past six months but can’t tolerate it. Are there any alternative treatment options you can tell me about? Sleepy Sam Dear Sam, I’m sorry to hear your CPAP mask is keeping you awake at night, but I’m happy to hear that you’re addressing your obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) problem. Left untreated, OSA is linked to daytime sleepiness and an increased risk of anxiety, diabetes, hypertension and stroke. For those whose aren’t familiar, OSA causes your breathing to pause during sleep because something blocks your airway, like your tongue or relaxed throat muscles. Losing weight, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol can all help ease obstructive sleep apnea symptoms such as snoring. The primary treatment for people with moderate or severe OSA is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which keeps your airway open by pumping air through a mask you wear over your mouth and/ or nose when you sleep. But many people, like yourself, have diffi culty tolerating CPAP and don’t stick with it. But CPAP machines have become smaller and quieter, with more comfortable options available. And for some people with mild to moderate OSA, less invasive alternatives to CPAP may be worth considering. Here are several to ask your doctor about. Dental device: This is designed to move the jaw so that the tongue shifts toward the front of the mouth to help keep the airway open. It’s one of the primary alternatives to CPAP and can also be used with CPAP to help make severe obstructive sleep apnea milder. A dentist who specializes in sleep medicine (find one at dentalsleep.org) will be able to customize its fit to help your breathing without causing harm to your bite or teeth. These custom-made oral appliances can cost between $2,000 and $4,000 but may be covered by insurance. There are much cheaper options available online to treat snoring, but experts say these may not help with OSA, and could move teeth out of place or cause jaw issues if they’re not properly fi tted. Position therapy: For some, sleeping on the back can make obstructive sleep apnea dramatically worse. In these cases, switching to side sleeping — perhaps using pillows or a tennis ball attached to a shirt back — can sometimes help. Tongue trainer: In 2021, the Food and Drug Administration approved a tongue-stimulating device for mild sleep apnea called eXciteOSA (exciteosa.com), which people wear for 20 minutes a day for six weeks and then 20 minutes a couple of times a week indefi nitely. It costs $1,650 and is not covered by insurance. Surgery: Those who can’t tolerate CPAP could have upper airway surgery to reduce the size of their soft palate or other tissue in their throat. But such options don’t always work, have serious potential complications, and cannot be reversed. So, in general, they should not be fi rstline treatments. A newer option is a surgically implanted device called Inspire (inspiresleep.com). Approved in 2014, it stimulates a nerve that moves your tongue to keep your airway open. Inspire can be removed if it is not tolerated, but it should also be tried only if someone is unable to use CPAP, and it is not an option for everyone. Drug therapy: A new study, recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that tirzepatide — the main ingredient found in type 2 diabetes medication Mounjaro and weight loss treatment Zepbound — helps reduce symptom severity by almost twothirds in adults with obesity and obstructive sleep apnea. Ask your doctor about this option. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
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