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One evening in early January 2018, workers at the Kent office of the Washington Department of Children, Youth and Families called police three times.

Their emergency? An out-of-control 11-year-old foster child.

As with hundreds of other children in recent years, the state had been keeping the girl in a hotel because no foster families or group homes would take her. The child was awaiting counseling for sexually aggressive youth and could not be left unsupervised with children more than two years younger than her, according to state records. The previous month, the girl had assaulted three workers while they supervised her overnight in a hotel.

On the night the cops were called to the Kent office, the girl stayed there because she couldnt be safely transported to a hotel, according to state documents obtained by InvestigateWest.

A month later, after cycling between hospitals and hotels, the girls behaviors had escalated, social workers noted in the reports they must file each time a child spends a night in a hotel or office. After at least seven weeks of instability, the 11-year-old finally got a spot in a program for troubled foster youth with behaviors that most foster parents find too hard to manage.

This girl is one of a growing number of children the state has been housing in hotels and state offices sometimes on and off for weeks or months as it struggles to rebuild services for a relatively small number of foster youth with significant mental health and behavioral challenges.

1,514 nights sleeping in hotels and offices

A record 282 children spent a total of 1,514 nights in hotels and state offices between September 2018 and August 2019, according to a recent report by the Washington Office of the Family and Childrens Ombuds. Thats nearly 39% more hotel stays than the previous year, and the highest number since the Ombuds began tracking them five years ago. The trend continued through late last year, records show.

Placement exceptions refer to nights when children who are wards of the state stay in a hotel or a state office instead of with a foster family. Of the number of placement exceptions from 2018 to 2019, only six nights were in state offices. (Source: Washington State Office of the Family and Childrens Ombuds)

The steady increase in hotel stays, state officials say, is the legacy of recession-era budget cuts. Those chipped away at treatment and support services for youth in foster care and in the general population who have mental illnesses, autism and developmental delays, addictions and behaviors that parents, relatives and foster families feel ill-equipped to handle. In particular, DCYF says the state has too few group home spots for youth who need intensive treatment before they can return to parents, relatives or foster families.

The shortage of in-state options has also led the state in recent years to ship many of the hardest-to-place foster youths to out-of-state group homes, some of which have come under fire for mistreating kids. The state is now working to bring all foster youth back to Washington, where it can better monitor their care, but those efforts also are hindered by a lack of in-state group homes qualified to care for severely troubled youth.

Dee Wilson, a former regional administrator in Washingtons child welfare system who now trains social workers, is an advocate for professional foster parents in order to address the foster care placement crisis. (Photo: University of Washington)

This is chickens come home to roost for bad public policy and inadequate funding of both child welfare and public mental health during the past 10 to 15 years or longer, said Dee Wilson, a former regional administrator in Washingtons child welfare system who now trains social workers.

Now legislators in Olympia are preparing to approve the second half of a two-year budget that, if Gov. Jay Inslee has his way, will continue to fall short, critics say, presaging more expensive overnights at hotels for foster youth.

Meanwhile, the toll on both children and state social workers mounts.

$2,100 a night hotel stays

Children staying in hotels have made suicidal gestures and attempts, have sexually assaulted other youth, set fires in state offices and faced multiple arrests, the Ombuds report says. Most spend their days sitting in DCYF offices instead of attending school, and they subsist largely on a diet of fast food. They report that being in a transient situation makes them feel no one wants them and they are unlovable, the report concludes.

This is just another level of trauma we are inflicting on these children, Ombuds Director Patrick Dowd told the DCYF oversight board earlier this month.

To address the problem, Governor Jay Inslees proposed 2020-21 supplemental budget includes $7.6 million for 33 long- and short-term beds in facilities with enhanced therapeutic services for children with acute mental health, developmental and behavioral needs.Some Democratic lawmakers say the governors proposal falls short, especially since the state recently had to move 26 of those foster youth out of the childrens mental health agency Ryther.

The Seattle nonprofit said it could no longer afford to serve foster youth at the reimbursement rate the state was offering.

Rep. Gerry Pollet, D-Seattle, says its nothing short of criminal that high-needs foster children are being sent to out-of-state group homes or kept in hotels. (Photo: Washington State House Democrats)

Its nothing short of criminal that high-needs foster children are being sent to out-of-state group homes or kept in hotels, instead of in a safe setting like Ryther, said state Rep. Gerry Pollet, a Seattle Democrat whose district includes Ryther. And the crazy thing about it is, it actually ends up costing far, far more.

DCYF spends roughly $2,100 per night for a hotel stay, most of that for two social workers, and often a security guard, to stay up all night and watch over a child. Thats nearly five times the $422 per night the state now pays in-state group homes, and three and half times more than Ryther said it needs to break even. Since 2015, hotel stays have cost taxpayers an estimated $9.3 million.

Pollet and other lawmakers say they will seek to supplement the governors request in order to stem what the department calls a crisis.

Kids with mental illness, disabilities drive hotel stays

Children placed in hotels and offices include the occasional healthy infant or young adult on the verge of graduating from high school. But kids with no significant barriers to placement rarely show up among the more than 200 DCYF reports justifying individual hotel and office stays from 2016 through 2018 reviewed by InvestigateWest.

More typical are youngsters such as the 17-year-old who functions at the level of a 3- or 4-year-old; the 11-year-old with sexualized behaviors who cant be around small children; and the 7-year-old displaying significant disruptive behaviors, including destruction of property and assaults of staff and caregivers. Many have been diagnosed with, and hospitalized for, a variety of mental health conditions that are blacked out in the records obtained by InvestigateWest.

More than 38% of kids in hotels last year had a history of being physically aggressive, while nearly 28% needed mental health treatment, the Ombuds found. Running away, developmental disabilities, sexualized behaviors and self-harm were also common.

But even children without a lot of special needs, when placed in hotels, begin to exhibit more challenging behaviors, said one state social worker in King County who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity out of fear of losing his job. Then those behaviors have to be disclosed to potential foster parents, he said, making them harder to place.

(Source: Washington State Office of the Family and Childrens Ombuds)

The Ombuds report found that a relatively small number of youths with the most extreme behaviors are driving the bulk of hotel stays.

One child, 77 nights in hotels

Nearly 40% of children staying in hotels last year spent only one night there, often while transitioning between foster homes. Meanwhile, just 40 children accounted for more than half of all hotel stays, and of those, a dozen kids spent 20 or more nights in hotels. One child passed 77 nights in hotels during the year.

Social workers often note that children had been kicked out of or turned down by programs in the state that, in theory, are designed to handle them. Those include group homes and specially trained foster homes in DCYFs Behavior Rehabilitation Services (BRS) for foster children with behavioral and mental health challenges.

Very few BRS programs will take youth who require two or three line staff and a security guard to manage them overnight, said child welfare veteran Wilson, who reviewed about 100 social worker reports on hotels stays at InvestigateWests request. These reports, he said, suggest that some of these youth need intensive residential mental health treatment in the Childrens Long-Term Inpatient Program (CLIP). But, he added, capacity in the CLIP program hasnt kept up with the states growing population.

DCYF, in its budget request to Gov. Inslee, suggested adding at least 10 CLIP beds especially for foster youth, on top of the current 84. Those were not included in Inslees proposal to the Legislature.

Disability Rights Washington

Confidential Exhibit A from a 2018 report is an excerpt from a youths letter pleading with Washington State to take him and others back home.

The number of foster kids out of state is down from a high of nearly 100 to 31 today.

That places greater demands on existing placement resources, the Ombuds report says. But its unclear whether more kids are in hotels because fewer are being sent out of state. Hunter said he didnt think theres a connection.

If that were the case, he said, I would go back to putting them out of state, because I think its better for kids to be in a stable placement, rather than being in a hotel or an office stay, even if that placement is out of state.

Hotel stays appear to be concentrated in the DCYF regions that cover King, Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties, according to the Ombuds. But in other parts of the state, social workers might be relying more on night-to-night stays in licensed foster homes that function much like hotels, in that they keep children only from bedtime to breakfast. The department currently does not track such placements but says it is building a way to do so. Sometimes those stays have cost taxpayers $600 a night, records show.

Those night-to-night stays also can be emotionally harmful to children, Hunter said.

The message youre sending to a kid there is, Theres no place for you, Hunter said. And thats not the right message. Kids need to feel welcome.

Assaults on staff not uncommon

In November 2018, a 6-year-old staying in a hotel punched a social worker in the face five times and threw a cup of coffee at her, according to a Kent DCYF office supervisors email about the incident obtained by InvestigateWest. The boy also threw a water bottle at another worker, hitting her in the face. While jumping on the hotel furniture, he broke two lamps. Eventually, the workers called police, who took the child to the hospital for mental health observation.

According to the Ombuds report, children assaulting staff in hotels and state offices is not uncommon. Neither the Ombuds nor DCYF tracks how often assaults occur.

Staying in hotels and offices has a dysregulating effect on youth, particularly those with mental health issues, the report says, and can contribute to youths criminal behavior. Some youth incur multiple criminal charges and convictions while in placement exceptions, which may impact them for the rest of their lives.

Unlike staffers in group homes, state social workers lack special training to handle the extreme behaviors some of these children exhibit, the Ombuds report says.

And the after-hours workers who supervise kids in hotels are almost always the least experienced. Some are even students looking to gain experience.

Those overnight workers can and do use approved physical holds to restrain children who are acting out violently, according to Hunter.

State records, for example, describe a supervisor in an office wrapping his arms around a 7-year-old child who had been hitting the worker and had tried to run out the front door.

We are required to restrain kids when theyre either dangerous to themselves or dangerous to other people, Hunter said. Workers likely to be in that position are required to take training class, he said.

Its only a matter of time before a child or worker is seriously injured, Wilson said: This is just a tragedy waiting to happen.

Among caseworkers, the stress of watching kids in hotels at night and in offices during the day also contributes to high rates of turnover, Hunter said. Being in this kind of situation that they are not trained for and that they dont feel adequate to handle is one of the factors that people cite when they talk about why they leave, he said.

And when kids experience frequent changes in social workers, it takes longer for them to return home or get another permanent family.

Its a bad spiral, Hunter said.

Child welfare is stop of last resort

Not all children staying in hotels have been removed from their parents due to neglect or abuse. In some cases, parents have become overwhelmed by childrens needs and feel unable to care for them.

Social workers reports detail children whose parents refused to pick them up when they were discharged from the hospital or from juvenile detention, triggering a call to Child Protective Services. A growing number of children with developmental delays, particularly extreme forms of autism, are also winding up in the departments care, the Ombuds report says.

Post-recession cuts to community mental health resources and services for children with developmental disabilities are partly to blame, the Ombuds concludes. Children can wait six months just to have their mental health assessed, DCYF regional administrators told the Ombuds.

These children are finding themselves in DCYF care, the report says, even though there are no allegations of child maltreatment, and the only parental deficiency is that the parent is unable to provide the level of extraordinary care the child requires.

DCYF, Hunter said, has become the stop of last resort.

Hunter said he is working with leaders from the state Health Care Authority and Developmental Disabilities Administration to develop solutions.

Those include budget requests for more facility-based beds for both the most troubled foster youth and children with developmental disabilities. The three agencies, Hunter said, are also working to smooth youths transitions from one system to another for example, children returning to foster care from mental health treatment so they dont land in hotels.

A search for solutions

Washington, like most other states, has long struggled to attract and retain enough foster parents. But, given the challenging nature of many of the kids staying in hotels, recruiting more regular foster parents wont be enough, the Ombuds notes. In fact, foster homes mostly unequipped to care for children prone to starting fires, acting out sexually and so forth sit empty while kids languish in hotels.

Its not as simple as, Oh, we just need more licensed foster homes, and everything would be fine, Ombuds Director Dowd said.

DCYF regional administrators interviewed for the Ombuds report suggested creating a class of professional therapeutic foster parents who are trained and paid to be full-time caregivers for high-needs kids.

Wilson, long a proponent of professional foster care, agrees. The only good alternative to residential care currently is professional foster care, he said. Based on his review of DCYF reports on youths in hotel stays, he estimates that perhaps half of them could have been cared for by professional foster parents.

Retired Washington state Supreme Court Justice Bobbe Bridge, the founding president and CEO of Center for Children & Youth Justice, thinks its time for the state to revisit the idea of professional foster parents. (Photo: Crosscut.com)

At a meeting of the DCYF Oversight Board this month, former Washington Supreme Court Justice and longtime child welfare advocate Bobbe Bridge told her colleagues that its time for the state to revisit the idea of professional foster parents. The state studied the concept more than a decade ago before shelving it.

The state should also increase short-term receiving foster homes that keep bedrooms available for children in emergencies, both the Ombuds and Wilson suggest. In fact, that was part of DCYFs original budget request to Inslee for this years legislative session, at a cost of $3.3 million annually. The department also asked for $721,000 to add workers dedicated to finding placements and services for the complex youth who might otherwise wind up in hotels, among other items intended to address the issue. Inslee didnt include those in his budget request to the Legislature.

Wilson called Inslees budget a pathetic, token response to the states foster care crisis. It is virtually an announcement of the intent to continue business as usual in a placement crisis that endangers both foster youth and DCYF staff, he said.

Inslees officeon Wednesday evening issued a statement to InvestigateWest that reads in part: Funding to increase the number of placements for youth who need more intensive behavioral supports is an important first step to eliminating the need for hotel stays. The statement provided no specifics. It said the state will identify additional strategies in the future.

The Legislature last year allocated an additional $38 million over two years for the first significant bump in the amount the state pays Behavior Rehabilitation Services group homes since before the Great Recession (the allocation fell short of the $50 million recommended by a rate study lawmakers had requested). The goal was to halt a decade-long decline in those services, which the department says has contributed to kids in hotels and out-of-state placements.

Those new, higher BRS rates went into effect last fall. Hunter said he expects agencies will respond by opening more beds.

Yet agencies in the Seattle area say that even that new rate, which is the same across the state, doesnt account for the regions higher minimum wage and cost of living.

Ryther would have lost about $1.2 million per year at the new rate, according to CEO Karen Brady. (Ryther continues to accept a small number of children on private insurance into its residential program.) It decided it could no longer afford to do business with the state.

Between Ryther and a second Seattle-area child mental health agency, Navos, which also stopped accepting foster children in 2017, the state has lost access to 41 long-term Behavior Rehabilitation Services spots in Western Washington. That leaves about 10 BRS group home slots in the Seattle area, according to providers. DCYF refused to provide the current number of in-state BRS beds.

Hunter said he anticipates that the governors proposal for 21 long-term enhanced Behavior Rehabilitation Services beds, which come with more money, will lure agencies like Ryther back.

Hunter said he would like to rely less on group homes, though he admits that might not be feasible. Child advocates say kids do better in family settings. Washington already places a smaller proportion of foster kids in group settings than the national average.

But, Hunter added, Id like to have more capacity in group homes, and have some slack, so I dont have so many emergencies.

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Surge in abused, neglected kids housed at hotels 'just another level of trauma' - InvestigateWest

One of the more polarizing mens basketball players this season is junior guard Dachon Burke Jr. After transferring from Robert Morris University, Burke was forced to sit out a year and some expected him to leave after the firing of former head coach Tim Miles. However, Burke stayed, and this loyalty was rewarded with a significant role in head coach Fred Hoibergs offense.

First, though this piece is about Burkes offense, it should be noted that Defensive Box Plus-Minus ranks Burke as Nebraskas best defensive player. Much of this comes down to his steal percentage, which is the highest on the team. At the same time, some of his intangibles also shine through. He rarely gets beaten off the dribble and does well to keep hands in the passing lane. He has been punished on switches, but Nebraska shouldnt let him be switched onto a big man in the first place because of his slight frame.

Burkes offense isnt rated highly in Offensive Box Plus-Minus. Hes Nebraskas second-least impactful offensive starter, next to freshman forward Yvan Ouedraogo (whose O-BPM was covered in an article earlier this month), despite having the second-highest usage rate on the team. When this happens, its generally indicative of a player whose team role has outpaced their relative efficiency.

This is known as a skill curve, an old formulation from statistician Dean Oliver. It said that players can increase load while keeping about the same level of efficiency, but a continual increase in that load will reduce efficiency past equilibrium. Sometimes its the job of the coach to find that equilibrium and use the player in the best way to serve the team.

This is Burkes situation. The load hes asked to take is more than he should get, however Nebraska lacks secondary scoring punch, and Burke has to make up for that. Ideally, Hoiberg likes to spread his usage across players, but Burke needs to serve the role of secondary ball-handler and off-ball guard at the same time.

Hoibergs lineup is meant to sustain a primary play initiator. In Nebraskas case, sophomore guard Cam Mack, a pure off-ball creator, plays this role alongside junior guard Thorir Thorbjarnarson (note, creator does not mean off-the-dribble shooter but rather someone who has a fair profile of shots). The lineup also includes a screen-setting forward often times Ouedraogo, but sometimes freshman forward Kevin Cross and Burkes role, which is effectively two positions merged into one.

Why is this? Burke is most often used in lineups with either senior guard Haanif Cheatham or, more recently, freshman guard Charlie Easely. Neither of these players have much of any scoring ability. Cheatham is largely a liability in half-court offensive sets and has the seventh-lowest usage rate on the team. Most of his scoring comes in transition. Easely has a nice 3-point stroke, but hasnt quite shown it yet this season and his inside scoring punch is poor. Both of these players are played with Burke because they have useful defensive qualities (though Cheatham is more of a glue-guy currently).

In theory, lineups with both Burke and junior guard Jervay Green would be advantageous to Burke because that fulfills the role of off-ball guard and secondary ball-handler if needed. They would be able to coexist, but defensively the lineup may suffer. This is part of the reason why lineups with Burke and Green are only on the floor 6.4% of the time according to kenpom.com. Theyre similar players, who operate the same way in Hoibergs offense, and thered be redundancies if the two played together too often.

Burke can also be a highly volatile player. Against Wisconsin, he kept Nebraska from getting embarrassed, scoring 20 points on 10-14 shooting. Then, a game later against Rutgers, he only scored two points and didnt play in crunch time. This kind of instability can mean Burkes output swings games, and it also means that it can doom them. Surely, his eight shots against Rutgers couldve been better spent elsewhere.

With this all in mind, lets analyze how Burke scores his points to see whether or not itd be best to scrap his offensive diet altogether or if there can be minor tweaks to maximize efficiency. Again, Burke isnt playing hero-ball, his offense is Hoibergs aim, and its a matter of whether or not he can scale with higher-caliber players.

First, Burke likes to drive down the baseline, which can be a very good shot. In this highlight, Burke shows excellent basketball IQ against a Wisconsin team that wasnt set for the defensive possession. Hes called for an offensive foul, but it was still good recognition:

He has a less enviable tendency in that he likes to go cross-key even if theres a better option down the lane. This next highlight ends in a crafty finish, but it may have been better to not try to split the defenders and go in amongst the trees. A drive down the lane wouldve meant having only one defender in front of him rather than the two it ends up being:

Theres an old saying that good shots are shots that go in. And while that may be true, Burkes cross-key drives dont always go in.

Burke is good about not stalling out possessions off drives; he rarely will pass it back out if he drives in, but at the same time he can be forced out of drives into stepback shots or the complete re-initiation of play. This just generally decreases pace, which is not preferable in Hoibergs system.

Heres a highlight where Burke foregoes the drive in favor of a bad off-the-dribble, mid-range shot. Generally speaking, play re-initiation is probably preferable to mid-range shots:

This also highlights a bigger problem with Burkes offense. Hes fairly static, and if the drive is prevented, he has few consistent tools to punish the opposition. His 3-point shot is also inconsistent, and defenders can play off him fairly safely. If Burke was in an offense that was more dynamic and had more scoring outlets, the shortcomings in Burkes personal portfolio would be less obvious, but with his current usage these problems are stark.

Burke is the kind of player who scales well with high level talent but is definitely not a floor-raiser. If Nebraska was relying on him, thats a bad idea. Mack and Thorbjarnarsons more consistent production means Burke can be carried on his bad nights and let loose on the good, but switch the premises on either one of those and the result is inefficiency.

sports@dailynebraskan.com

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Nebraskalytics: What the numbers say about Dachon Burke Jr.'s role on offense - Daily Nebraskan

As people get old, you may realize that they start having challenges with their mobility. Mobility issues among seniors are common, and they are as a result of aging. However, a lack of movement can lead to a lot of distress. Mobility challenges among your elderly can also lead to more severe health problems. As such, you must look out for problem signs and take the necessary steps to solve these issues. Here are the common mobility issues that seniors experience and how you can help.

How you can Help Seniors with Mobility Issues

Mobility problems can be stressful for seniors. As such, ensure that you help your elderly relatives to maintain their independence.

NetNewsledger.com or NNL offers news, information, opinions and positive ideas for Thunder Bay, Ontario, Northwestern Ontario and the world. NNL covers a large region of Ontario, but we are also widely read around the country and the world.To reach us by email: newsroom@netnewsledger.com. Reach the Newsroom: (807) 355-1862

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Common mobility issues that seniors experience and how you can help - Net Newsledger

Figures from the health board reveal more than 1,000 people were admitted into hospital with hip fractures across North Wales within the last year.

Experts in the field - doctors Ibrahim Malek, Ian Starks and Sara Gerrie told the Leader that the vast majority of falls they see day in, day out are accidental but could be preventable with some moderate changes to lifestyle or home environment.

Dr Gerrie said: "Our jobs here at Wrexham Maelor are to help those who have already fallen and suffered an injury, which is what we would like to avoid, by educating people on the simple steps that can help reduce the risks of elderly friends and relatives having a fall.

"From some of our data, fracture hematoma could be a potentially catastrophic injury for older people, and their families. Sadly, it is common within Wales and across the UK but the chances of dying following a fracture are quite high."

Back from left; Dr Ibrahim Malek, Cindy Wakenshaw, clinical specialist in trauma and orthopaedic physiotherapy, district nurse Phyllis Hughes and nurse Katie Warbuton - Front from left; Dr Ian Starks and Dr Sara Gerrie

Dr Gerrie said despite this worrying fact, data in Wrexham appears to buck the trend, with a mortality rate of about two per cent in cases seen at the Maelor - significantly lower than the national average, ranking ninth best performer in the UK, according to the most recent National Hip Fracture Database report by the College of Physicians.

Praise was also extended to the Maelor as one of the best hospitals in England and Wales for being able to remobilise their fracture patients within a day of surgery - lending itself to the speedy recovery of most patients in more than 95 per cent of cases - and get them back into their own homes to continue recovery.

Dr Malek adds: "Pain, loss of mobility and the inability to return to their own home; these are just some of the things that makes it harder for a patient that has had a fall to deal with. But, by understanding what puts them at risk, we can take action to prevent possible injuries.

"It is also important to point people in the community towards the right direction to the advice and support available that we can provide here at the hospital."

He said falls services will vary depending upon where you live but the best point of contact will be your own (or relative/friend's) GP. Help can also come from the local authority social services team.

Dr Starks said people at risk of falls are often reluctant to discuss it because they fear their independence will be taken from them, but doctors say it is up to us as friends or relatives, to help people realise taking steps to prevent falls will in fact have the opposite effect and allow them to live both safely and independently.

Dr Gerrie added things are much different in 2020 for hip fracture patients, thanks to both medical advancements and better understanding.

She said: "Even in the last 20 years, there have been revolutionary changes in this field of medicine but, around 50 years ago, we would put these patients to bed and the vast majority of them would die. And they died in pain, from infections, from pressure sores.

"So, although fracture hematoma surgery is risky, it is better than leaving people in pain. This is a big bone, and it hurts."

She says work is ongoing within communities to be able to prevent falls.

Dr Gerrie said people need to learn that falling over at an old age is not, and should not be seen as normal.

She continues: "I think a key thing to highlight would be that we are also working to stop people from having these falls in the first place because, as the age old saying goes, prevention is better than cure. If we never see another fracture hematoma patient again, I would be delighted."

Dr Malek adds: "It is important for the community to understand hip fractures are not just a broken bone, it is a very serious and life-threatening injury. We can try our best but, regardless of what we do, that mortality rate is still high and to some extent it is comparable to some very aggressive cancers.

"Really, the key message that we want to convey here is that you must never underestimate an injury, as it could be terminal."

PANEL

MANY patients attending the Maelor having experienced a nasty fall are elderly people coming from their own homes or care homes.

But work within the health board is aiming to educate the wider community about how these accidents can potentially be avoided.

Jo Davies, BCU East community falls prevention lead, said "falling should not be seen as an inevitable part of ageing" and explains what is being done in the community to help educate people on how best to prevent falls.

She said: "It is reported that 60 per cent of people living in residential homes fall. The impact of falling can have such debilitating effects, both physically and psychologically, especially if fear of falling or loss of confidence is experienced.

"Falls risks can often be multi factorial, from reduced strength and balance, reduced vision or hearing, environmental hazards, poorly fitting footwear, changes to dietary or fluid intake."

Ms Davies adds that falls amongst the older population is a major public health concern, with one in three people over the age of 65 years having a fall each year, with that figure rising to one in two people over the age of 80.

She added: "Welsh Government wants everyone to have healthy and happier lives, and Betsi Cadwaladr is committed to working with primary care and secondary care sectors.

"Three service models have been formulated: inpatient, care home setting and those living in their own homes. These pathways are aimed at providing clear, concise, evidenced-based pathways to aid clinical assessment recognising falls risk factors and employ individualised falls prevention interventions."

She added work in the community with the falls prevention services aim to review the risks for an individual and tailor intervention to help maintain their own independence.

She said: "This could be ways to improve strength and balance, medication or medical reviews, reviewing their environment and offering home adaptions support, the importance of good fitting footwear, advice on good bone health, regular eye and hearing tests to reduce trips and slips, as well as the importance of a well-balanced diet and sufficient fluid intake to prevent dehydration or even urinary tract infections, which can so often increase the risk of falls.

"The aim is to work with our patients to look at ways we can help maintain healthier happier and safer living and since working in partnership with the care homes, we have seen a 46 per cent reduction in falls in the past 12 months."

Ms Davies also works with schools in the local area to educate the younger generation and get the family talking more openly about the risk of falling at home and pass on information and tips they have learnt to their parents, aunties, uncles and grandparents themselves.

Advice issued by the health board to help minimise the risks of falls:

Preparing your home

Good lighting in your driveway and clearing wet/dry leaves

Keep your home clutter free

Ensure your stairs are clear of any items and have sturdy railings

Don't leave loose wires or cables on the floor

Remove rugs or any slippery items

Clean fluid spillage from the floor as soon as possible

Ensure you have non-slip bath and floor mats in your bathrooms and toilets

Install grab rails in the shower, bathroom and toilets

Good bedroom lighting during the night

Look after yourself

Maintain healthy diet

Do gentle exercise to maintain muscle power and tone

Have your eyes and glasses checked regularly

If you have any problems with your balance, see your GP

Plan your activity and attire

Wear well-fitting, non-slip shoes

Put on well-fitting and warm clothes if going outside and use a walking stick if wet and windy

Stay in touch with family and friends

Have access to a mobile phone

PANEL

SOMEONE who has benefitted from the care of the Maelor's falls team is Carolyn Lloyd, from Buckley, who was admitted to the hospital following a fall at home.

The 72-year-old said she was getting out of the car when her foot got caught on the strap of her handbag and was sent crashing to the floor.

She was admitted to Wrexham Maelor on Tuesday, January 21, and went into the operating theatre for her procedure with Dr Malek on the Wednesday. By Thursday afternoon Mrs Lloyd was moving about with the aid of a walking frame and on the road to recovery.

Wrexham Maelor patient Carolyn Lloyd, from Buckley, with Dr Ibrahim Malek

Mrs Lloyd described herself as being reasonably active and would never have considered herself a typical risk of falling.

She said: "It just goes to show you that it can happen to anyone and we all need to be aware of little things around us that can cause us to trip over and take away our mobility.

"It takes something like this happening to you to become much more aware of it, I will certainly be telling my friends and family about little things that could be hazards and lead to a hospital trip. I notice them now much more as potential hazards since my accident.

"It is often just silly little things, often when you're rushing or just not thinking. We take things like mobility for granted. It can all happen in just a minute, so you just have to be aware, it can happen so easily. I know that I will be ever so careful from now on."

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Meet the team who are working on falls prevention at Wrexham Maelor Hospital - LeaderLive

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Every decade brings new trends, like big hair in the '80s, grunge music in the '90s, and low-rise jeans in the early 2000s. The same thing happens with the food that we eat. There are some old standbys, but in public consciousness, different dishes are always cycling in and out of popularity and there's a whole new crop of food trends that are poised to take over this year (see ya later, juice cleanses and cake pops!).

In 2020, we predict you'll see food trends leaning away from indulgence and into a more health-minded space and with promises like better gut health and higher nutrient-density, adding these so-called healthy foods to your diet may sound like a no-brainer. But not all dishes, ingredients, proteins, and vitamins are created equal. Some of these foods either make grandiose claims, lose their nutritional value in the way that they're made, or are more popular than they are good for you (or all of the above).

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1Mocktails

Sober curious? You're not the only one. About 66% percent of millennials said that they are making a conscious effort to reduce their alcohol consumption, according to a Nielsen study. Companies like Curious Elixirs are leaning into the trend with booze-free cocktails.

"Giving your body a break from alcohol can help naturally detox and also cut down a considerable amount of calories," says Stefani Sassos, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist at the Good Housekeeping Institute. "If you are choosing mocktails, just be mindful of sugar and try to have something with a club soda base."

RELATED: 7 Major Dry January Health Benefits, According to Experts

2Plant-Based Proteins

There's no doubt that plant-based proteins like Beyond Meat and the Impossible Burger have a pretty positive environmental impact. The synthetic meats go a long way in terms of sustainability, but when it comes to how good they actually are for you. The waters start to get a little murky.

"When comparing nutrition facts, many of the trending plant-based burgers (i.e. Impossible Burger and Beyond Meat) arent much different than a standard 80/20 beef burger," says Sassos. "Youre not saving any calories or saturated fat by eating these plant-based burgers, and many of these varieties are highly processed." So, if you're judging on sustainability, these burgers are great. But when it comes down to their actual health benefits, they're not much better for you than the real thing.

RELATED: A Nutritionist Weighs In on the Impossible Burger

3Korean Food

Korean cuisine had a surge in popularity last year in the US and is poised to be one of the most popular cuisines this year, according to Yelp. One dish to look out for? Kimchi. Fermented food like kimchi can be a great source of probiotics. "Filled with healthy probiotics, kimchi and other probiotic-rich foods can help replenish the 'good bacteria' in your gut," says Sassos.

RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Probiotics, According to Experts

4Oat Milk

With oat milk, it all depends how you drink it. If you're looking for something creamy to sweeten your coffee in the morning, and you're trying to steer clear of almond milk, oat milk is great choice for your heart. "Oats are super heart-healthy and contain beta-glucans, which can help maintain normal cholesterol levels," says Sassos. However, compared to other plant-based milk alternatives, it has minimal protein and fiber.

RELATED: The Best Milk Alternatives to Pour in Your Coffee

5Ube

If you haven't heard of this one, you will. Dubbed by some as the new matcha, the Filipino yam is high in nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and the antioxidant anthocyanin, which is responsible for its picture perfect hue. The Instagram-favorite ingredient is actually one of the fastest rising searches, according to Yelp. But before you get too excited, this pretty purple dessert is not necessarily better for you than any other ice cream flavor. "Oftentimes, ube is combined with sweetened condensed milk, cream, or sugar, which defeats the purpose of eating this pretty tuber," said Sassos.

6Kombucha Beer

One of last year's biggest crazes was kombucha. Like kimchi, the beverage is fermented, and therefore full of natural probiotics. So this boozy version may sound like the best way to consume alcohol. But if you're thinking of your gut health, you might be better off just sticking with regular kombucha. "The probiotics used to make alcoholic kombucha are either killed or removed before theyre packaged, so consumers arent reaping any of the benefits that health-promoting bacteria could provide," says Ali Webster, PhD, RD, the Associate Director of Nutrition Communications at the International Food Information Council.

RELATED: The 4 Best Health Benefits of Kombucha, According to Registered Dietitians

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How to Biohack Your Brain and Boost Your Business

Alisa Vitti believes it's time women start using their biological rhythm to their advantage. She says, "The myth that we're hormonal, or that our hormones are a liability, is part of an old, misogynistic narrative that isn't actually based on the scientific facts."

Shesays most women are in tune with their monthly menstrual cycle, but they might not know there is asecond monthly clock called the infradian rhythm, which she explains is just as important as the daily circadian rhythm for maintaining our health. "Ignoring our infradian clock actually makes us sick, overwhelmed, and tired," she adds. "Most research in health and fitness is actually done on MEN and is not appropriate for women. For example, if you do HIIT interval training at the wrong time, you actually trigger fat storage. Most diets that work well for men dont work over the long-term for women because our metabolism changes twice per month!"

Vitti has dedicated her life's work to understanding how the female body operates, educating women about their hormones anddisrupting menstrual healthcare.A pioneer of female biohacking and founder of the period-positive platform @floliving, Vitti has released her latest book,In the FLO. She says, "This book shows us how mainstream health plans, self-care routines, fitness regimens, and time management schedules, and even the power morning concept, are all founded on a system that only optimizes male biology, and leaves out the specialized and cyclical needs of women."

Related:How to Biohack Your Brain and Boost Your BusinessHow This Entrepreneur Overcame Depression When Self-Help Didn't WorkThe Entrepreneur's Diet for Success and Brain-Boosting Performance

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We all need more vegetables in our life, but including them in our core three meals is easier said than done. As it turns out plant-based diets actually work the best when an individual drafts their own guidelines around unique health needs and objectives.

A plan that encourages plant-based meals while allowing room for animal products on occasion is alternatively known as the Flexitarian diet.

Helping Ladders navigate the specifics of an optimal Flexitarian diet is the expertise ofSergeyYoung, founder of the Longevity Vision Fund.

For years Young has dedicated his assets, network connections and global research community toward developing affordable and scientifically proven wellness habits. His self-professed mission is to fund the next phase in the longevity revolution.

In Youngs estimation, the first step begins with debunking the falsehoods keeping too many people from breaking away from their toxic dietary habits.

Young explains to Ladders, You dont need to stick to a vegan or vegetarian diet to reap the health benefits. Focusing on getting the majority of your calories from plant foods without excluding animal products completely will have a positive impact on your health. Some nutrients like EPA and DHA are best obtained from fish, seafood, and eggs.

According to the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Diet Rankings, the regimen Young intimates above is one of the healthiest and easiest to follow of all the many plans currently circulating the diet sphere.

Lowering your intake of processed meats will dramatically improve cognition, reduce your risk for developingType 2 diabetesandheart disease, help regulate weight gain and boost longevity as a consequence of the previously mentioned attributes.

More than the rich sources of energy and protein provided by lean meats like chicken and omega-3 rich sources like fish, allowing room in any regimen for foods you enjoy makes any plan that much more sustainable over time.

With a Flexitarian diet youre getting the macro-nutrients you need from organic sources most of the time but when you want to have maybe a piece of grass-fed steak or even just a piece of steak at a restaurant, or you want to have eggs, you can. It allows room for these other kinds of food without being so hardcore, dietitian Keri Glassman recently told Ladders.

One of the critiques lobed at plant-based diets the most often claims that it isnt plausible to get the majority of the daily calories needed from plants. While its true that even the most balanced plant-based regimens are not as calorically dense as other plans, this isnt necessarily a bad thing.

Young continues, Habits common among areas where people live the longest include a reduced calorie intake and fasting and a25-year study in monkeysfound that eating 30% fewer calories than normal led to a significantly longer life and less age-related diseases. Even if your calorie requirements are higher, youre still able to get enough from other calorie-dense foods like sweet potatoes, nuts, and oils.

Of course, calorie intake is much more about where youre getting your calories than it is about how many calories youre consuming day to day. Protein is the nutrient most often lamented by those skeptical of taking on a plant based diet.

Although not as packed with amino acids, proteins obtained from plants actually contain more nutrients and fiber than protein derived from animal sources.

Tofu (contains about 10 g of protein per cup), lentils (cooked contains 8.84 g of protein per cup) and chickpeas(7.25 g per cup) all on their own sufficiently fuel vegan bodybuildersa group with a protein demand significantly higher than yours and mine.

Make no mistake, its not enough to limit meat intake and increase plant consumption in order to boost longevity. the source matters a great deal. Variety is key to any diet plan.

Local, farm-grown and organic produce nurtured without the use of pesticides, manmade fertilizers or genetic modifications is more nutritious than non-organic commercial foods, Young informed Ladders. Superfoods like maca, spirulina, goji berry, etc. might be marketed as nutritional powerhouses but food variety is even more important than its nutritional density. Its important to make sure you eat a full rainbow of fruits and vegetables for a balanced and varied diet.

Longevity is bolstered by a panoply of physiological factors: optimal brain health, metabolicregulation, weight management, cellular vascular health, cardiovascularhealth, and emotional stability. Every one of these requires balance, especially when it comes to our diet.

Although there arent many studies that have been done on this topic,there appears to be a link showingthat plant-based diets can influence brain function positivity through altered microbial status and systematic metabolic alterations. However, despite the positive effect of plant-based diets on brain health, there is a risk of these diets creating a deficiency in the essential brain nutrient cholinewhich is why some proportion of eggs and other animal-based products must still be kept in your diet, said Young.

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When I was a young veterinarian, many moons ago, I had a patient named Heidi. A quintessential Island Lab. Short, stocky, sensible. An all-around great dog. When I first diagnosed her with diabetes mellitus, her elderly owner was overwhelmed. I cant give shots every day, he protested. Cant we control it with diet? Unfortunately, diabetic dogs really need insulin injections. I convinced Heidis dad to try, and he soon discovered it wasnt difficult. Pet owners often have these questions and reservations. This month Im working with both a newly diagnosed diabetic cat and a dog. Right now, both need insulin. Canine Lassie will need insulin the rest of her life. Feline Jennyanydots might ultimately go into remission, meaning we might eventually be able to control the disease with dietary management alone. Why are cats different from dogs? Well, first lets review diabetes basics.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder caused by an absolute or relative insulin deficiency. When animals eat, the body digests food, breaking it down into simple sugars (glucose) that are absorbed into the blood. As blood sugar rises, an organ called the pancreas responds by secreting insulin. Insulin is a hormone that works like a courier, transporting sugar molecules from the blood into the cells, where it can be utilized to fuel the body. Without sufficient insulin, sugar cannot get inside the cells where it needs to go. The animal eats and eats, but loses weight. High blood sugar makes her feel thirsty. She drinks and drinks, and pees and pees.

So why isnt Heidis pancreas making enough insulin? There are three types of diabetes mellitus. In Type III, some other illness, such as Cushings disease, interferes with insulin activity. Relatively uncommon, Type III may resolve with treatment of the underlying disease. Type II diabetes afflicts many of us chubby, sedentary baby boomer humans. It is also the most common form in cats. Often triggered by obesity, as well as genetics, the body becomes resistant to insulin, requiring increasing work from the pancreas, until it just cant keep up with the demand. In people, Type II diabetes can often be controlled with diet, exercise, and oral medication. In cats, it is best to start with insulin injections along with diet changes. If aggressive treatment, including insulin, is begun soon after diagnosis, up to 60 percent of cats will eventually be able to stop insulin and maintain with just diet. But without fast, aggressive intervention, remission rates drop to 30 percent.

Dogs are different. Dogs are almost always Type I insulin-dependent. Thought to be an autoimmune disease compounded by genetic and environmental factors, the immune system gets confused and attacks the pancreas, destroying the cells that produce insulin. Treatment invariably requires daily insulin injections. In people, Type I used to be called juvenile diabetes, because typical age of onset ranged from infancy to early 30s. In dogs, Type I diabetes usually occurs in middle-aged to senior animals. Breeds predisposed include German shepherds, beagles, schnauzers, cairn terriers, Samoyeds, and poodles. Juvenile onset is rare, but more common in golden retrievers and keeshonden. Females are more often affected than males (although the reverse is true in cats). I talked to both Lassies and Jennyanydots owners. Youre going to take over the job of her pancreas by giving insulin injections, I said. A normal pancreas responds to blood sugar fluctuations, constantly adjusting insulin output. We make do with just two injections daily, starting with low doses, then monitoring to adjust. Both pets need a predictable diet fed on a specific schedule. Because cats are usually Type II, choice of food is very important. Cats fed only canned food with less than 7 percent carbohydrates have much higher remission rates. For dogs, diet is less of a factor, though low-carb, high-fiber food will keep blood sugar more level throughout the day.

Ideally, each pet will come into the hospital periodically for a glucose curve, during which we check blood sugar every few hours throughout the day to assess when the insulin effect peaks, and whether to increase or decrease the dose. At home, clients can monitor in various ways. One easy way is testing urine glucose with a dipstick. Normal urine does not contain glucose, but when blood sugar is elevated, glucose spills into the urine. By testing urine sugar levels, we can get a rough idea of how well blood sugar is being controlled. Too little insulin is a problem in the long term, but too much insulin can be rapidly fatal, causing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which manifests as weakness, staggering, vomiting, incoordination, seizures, coma, and sometimes death. Nowadays, owners sometimes learn how to test blood sugar at home with a Glucometer. Pricking the ear or footpad to yield a drop of blood, owners can measure pets blood glucose at home. Although not approved for use in animals, some veterinarians are trying continuous glucose monitoring devices marketed for people. These devices are implanted on pets backs, allowing owners to take blood glucose readings without having to obtain blood samples. If blood sugar drops too low, the pet needs to be fed immediately, or even given a dose of concentrated sugar, such as Karo syrup.

Jennayanydots and Lassie have started on insulin. We will rely on a combination of in-hospital and at-home monitoring while getting them regulated. It is always a steep learning curve for both owners and pets, but in general I find both humans and animals soon get the hang of managing their diabetes. Heidis owner did brilliantly for a year, but when the old Lab developed cataracts and went blind, a common sequela to diabetes, it was just too much for him. We discussed euthanasia, but I had gotten so attached to the old girl, I took her home myself. It gave me useful, firsthand experience dealing with the day-to-day challenges of owning a blind, diabetic pet. More important, it gave me a wonderful year of companionship with a truly special dog. Thanks, Heidi. I hope Jennyanydots and Lassie do as well.

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Given the choice between mealworms and melons, the Smithsonians National Zoos sloth bears6-year-old female Remi and 5-year-old male Nikowill almost always choose the former, even when their diet is presented to them in the form of a photo. Animal keepers at the Zoos Asia Trail exhibit are the first to confirm that sloth bears can recognize 2D images as representations of 3D objects, a discovery that can enable institutions that exhibit and breed this species to better manage and enrich the lives of individual animals in their care. The findings of this study were published Jan. 26 in the journal Animal Cognition.

Now that we know that sloth bears can make the connection between a photo of food and diet items that they are familiar with, we can use this information to give the bears more choice and control over how they spend their day, said Stacey Tabellario, Asia Trail keeper at the Smithsonians National Zoo and the papers lead author. Applying what we have learned from this cognition study, we can present the bears with photos of their enrichment items or their habitats to learn even more about their preferences. We are always looking for ways to increase our animals wellbeing, and this is a great opportunity for Niko and Remi to have a say in the way we manage them.

To determine whether the Zoos sloth bears could identify 3D objects by looking at 2D photos, animal keepers chose food as the studys subject, knowing that the bears would be familiar with the choices presented and that viewing the images would elicit a behavioral response. Sloth bears have a long snout, flexible lips, nostrils that can close and large lung capacity. The bears use their lips like a vacuum, blowing dirt and debris away to uncover insects, then sucking them up to consume them.

To determine which foods the bears preferred, keepers presented Niko and Remi with 25 and 34 foods to choose from, respectively, and the bears would blow at the item to indicate which food they preferred to eat. At the conclusion of this step, keepers narrowed down the options to six high-preference foods and six low-preference foods per bear.

In the wild, insectsmainly ants and termitescomprise the majority of the sloth bears diet, though they have been documented eating seasonal fruits, honey, carrion and farm crops. At the Zoo, Niko and Remi receive a comparable diet that includes a variety of insects, fruits, vegetables, nuts, bear chow (kibble) and cereal.

Nikos top six favorite foods included almonds, mealworms, leaf-eater biscuits, raisins, prunes and grapes. He was least fond of orange, mango, omnivore kibble, butternut squash, turnip and banana. Remis most preferred foods included mealworms, raisins, prunes, pecans, Brazil nuts and cheerios. She showed the least amount of interest in oranges, honeydew melon, omnivore kibble, broccoli, celery and zucchini.

Keepers then printed high-resolution photos of each food option, which the bears had not seen prior to this study, and held up two images at a time. Niko and Remi looked closely at the photos, assessed each image and blew on the option they preferred. According to keepers, Niko and Remi made their decision in a matter of moments, and quickly indicated their preferences when a food in the high-preference category was presented. Both sloth bears selected mealworms as a preferred food, as well as nuts, prunes and raisins. At the opposite end of the spectrum, omnivore kibble and orange were some of the least desirable foods.

As a sloth bear keeper, I see evidence of Niko and Remis intelligence, communication, problem-solving skills and even their sense of humor, Tabellario said. For the first time, we have data to support what those of us who work closely with this species know to be truethat these animals are remarkably intelligent, and it is worth delving deeper into their cognitive abilities. The information gathered in this study will help influence not only the way we at the Smithsonians National Zoo manage these bears, but could also help other institutions that care for this vulnerable species.

Sloth bears are not related to sloths but were given that moniker by English settlers who named them due to their dark, shaggy coat and long claws. Native to India, Sri Lanka and Nepal, sloth bears are considered vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Fewer than 20,000 remain in these countries due to habitat destruction and increased agricultural activity.

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Photo 1 Caption: The Zoos 6-year-old female sloth bear, Remi.

Photo 2 Caption: The Zoos 5-year-old male sloth bear, Niko, carefully considers two photographsof almonds and mangobefore indicating to keepers which food he would prefer to eat.

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From psychic mediums to energy healing and hallucinogenic mushrooms,there are quite a few weird things in Netflixs The Goop Lab. The new series had its first season release in January 2019, with six episodes that dive into supposed treatments and cures that are actually deeply rooted in pseudoscience.

Netflix had partnered with Gwyneth Paltrow to deliver a series that brings her lifestyle brand Goop - particularly, the weird products and treatments her website shills to wealthy and curious customers - to the general public. After all, this is the company that preaches the benefits of coffee enemas, vaginal steaming, and walking around without shoes so you can absorb the earths energy through the soles of your feet.

Related:Netflix Giving Gwyneth Paltrows Goop Lab A TV Show Is Irresponsible

The announcement that Goop had teamed up with Netflix for The Goop Lab had us wondering how much weirder things could get. Oddly enough, the show is pretty mellow by Goops usual standards, but that doesnt mean its any less bonkers! Were looking into the weirdest things youll see in The Goop Lab.

To kick things off, the first episode introduces Goop staff and their audience to the practice of therapy via the ingestion of hallucinogenic mushrooms. The team fly out to Jamaica, where such drugs arent illegal, and drink some tea that quickly has them all lying on the floor, laughing hysterically before falling into fits of sobbing as they revisit traumatic periods in their lives. There is some science behind the use of hallucinogens for controlled mental and physical health benefits, so this isnt the most bonkers thing for The Goop Lab to dive into. Still, the image of all these people embodying the purest clich of getting stoned has its entertainment value.

The controversial guru Wim Hof is front and center in episode 2, preaching his ethos that his breathing techniques and cold exposure therapy can help with all manner of illnesses and mental issues. While the show overlooks the number of deaths connected to this method and the more outlandish claims Hof makes about his work on his website (including that his techniques can be used to treat multiple sclerosis and Parkinsons disease), it gives full airtime to his theatrics.

Hof acts like an overexcited folk-rock musician most of the time, and the zenith of his zany antics comes when he leads the Goop team in a session of outdoor yoga with at least a foot of snow on the ground, all while the women are in their scantiest bikinis. Its certainly a striking image, although its hard to shake your skepticism about this process when the women all look freezing and miserable while insisting they feel invigorated by this endurance feat.

RELATED:The Goop Lab Promotes A Treatment That's Linked To Multiple Deaths

Perhaps the greatest, most unironically helpful thing The Goop Lab does across its six-episode run is show a whole lot of vulvas. Episode 3 dives into the topic of sexual wellness and destigmatizing female pleasure. Its actually the most interesting and genuinely radical episode of the show as Goops usual snake oil tactics take a backseat to listening to sex expert Betty Dodson give advice on matters such as orgasms. On top of showing a woman have a full-on orgasm, The Goop Lab gives viewers a direct look at the different shapes, forms, and colors of the human vulva. Its extremely rare to see such things in entertainment outside of porn, let alone on Netflix, and it goes a long way to helping tackle the way that womens bodies and desires are scorned and made shameful by society.

In episode 4, Paltrow and her team undertake diet changes and new beauty treatments to see if they can slow down their internal aging process. Alongside a period of intermittent fasting as part of a supposed cleansing diet that consists of as little as 500-800 calories of food per day, Paltrow undergoes a treatment morbidly nicknamed the Vampire Facial. This infamous beauty therapy has been tried by various major celebrities, including Kim Kardashian, who reacted very negatively to it and has admitted she regrets ever trying it. The facial involves the removal of the patients own blood, which is then separated from the plasmaand re-injected into their face. Medical opinions arent exactly united on whether this treatment truly provides the anti-aging benefits it espouses. A New Mexico clinic offering the vampire facial also recently faced a HIV infection crisis through the treatment. The Goop Lab seems to show the treatment more for the novelty value of its name than any possible benefits, since Paltrow doesnt look any different after receiving it.

The Goop Lab episode 5is dedicated to the deeply eyebrow-raising practice of energy healing. Energy healer John Amaral is shown mostly waving his hands over people's bodies without touching them, claiming that this process can help to remove both physical and emotional pain from people. Dancer Julianne Hough turns up randomly as a guest star and devotee of energy healing, and the audience watches as she groans and contorts like Linda Blair from The Exorcist during this intensely loopy process.

The Goop Lab continues to insist that it is merely asking questions and offering viewers an insight into something new, but it's clear from episodes like this that they blindly believe deeply questionable ideas and never push back against the outlandish claims made. Not one mention is made of the placebo effect, which is widely considered to be one of the most active forces in such "healings". There is some benefit to placebos as a way to help people relax and overcome anxiety, but it is not a cure and shouldn't be positioned as such.

By the seasons final episode, The Goop Lab has entirely given up pretenses of vague skepticism and dives headfirst into the truly loopy by offering up psychic mediums as the new cure-all treatment. Laura Lynne Jackson, a self-described psychic medium, offers readings to the Goop staff. Any attempts the show had made to be informative go out the window with this obvious manipulation, and the show's implication that psychic readings, which are essentially cold readings that any critical thinker can do, are equivalent in scientific and medical validity to deep breathing techniques is deeply dangerous.

Its also manipulative when said psychic pretends they have connections to peoples dead relatives. The effectiveness of such supposedly psychic activity is rooted in the Barnum Effect, wherein people are susceptible to believing that the most general descriptions ("Hmm, I sense a letter... A?") apply specifically to them. The entertainment with this episode comes from the one Goop staff skeptic who goes along with the reading and doesn't buy into any of it. They are the true hero of this series.

NEXT:Netflix's Goop Lab Suggests Gwyneth Paltrow Doesn't Believe In It

Arrow Series Finale Ending Explained (& What Happens Next)

Kayleigh Donaldson is a full-time pop culture and film writer from Scotland. A features contributor to Screen Rant, her work can also be found regularly on Pajiba and SYFY FANGRRLS. She also co-hosts The Hollywood Read podcast. Her favorite topics include star studies, classic Hollywood, box office analysis, industry gossip, and caring way too much about the Oscars. She can mostly be found on Twitter at @Ceilidhann.

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