www.alanoninthedesert.com That openness extends to Hazelden Betty Ford’s family and children’s programs. Families do not need to have a loved one receiving treatment on the Rancho Mirage campus to participate. “If your loved one is going to care in another treatment center and that treatment center doesn’t provide those resources, we welcome you here,” Wilke says. Integration for whole person care Hazelden Betty Ford is increasingly treating addiction as a chronic medical condition requiring personalized care that considers mental health, physical health, family dynamics and each person’s individual circumstances. As a result, the campus transformation will significantly expand clinical capacity. Three-quarters of the organization’s patients have co-occurring mental health conditions, President and CEO Joseph Lee, MD, told community members gathered for the expansion announcement in September. New spaces are being designed to better integrate clinical, mental health, substance use and family services while also supporting research and innovation. The renovation will also expand wellness services. Plans also call for a new residential building with 60 beds, bringing the campus total to approximately 161 beds once all phases are complete in 2029. Workforce development helps address a critical need The organization hopes its local impact will extend even further through workforce development. Since 1963, Hazelden Betty Ford has trained addiction professionals, and its graduate school has awarded master’s degrees in counseling since 1999. Now, the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School offers an alternative admissions pathway that lets qualified individuals without a traditional bachelor’s degree pursue graduate education. With behavioral health professionals in short supply throughout California and the Coachella Valley, leaders see the program as another way to strengthen the community it serves. At the September event, the former first lady’s daughter, Susan Ford Bales, expressed how the expansion is a continuation of her mother’s original vision. “Mom believed people struggling with addiction deserve dignity, compassion, and most of all, honesty. She believed in talking openly about addiction and recovery…and we [now] better understand the role that families play in healing...and the importance of ongoing support and community after treatment.” “We will open new spaces for community outreach and education,” she added. “We will offer more programs to the recovery community and to the greater Coachella Valley.” As the Rancho Mirage campus evolves, that may be the most meaningful change of all. The Betty Ford Center is not simply expanding its capacity to treat more people. It is opening its doors wider, inviting the community to become a greater part of recovery itself. Lauren Del Sarto is the founder/publisher of Desert Health. For more information, visit www.hazeldenbettyford.org. (Cover image AI generated). www.DesertHealthNews.com November/December 2026 Medical News The Valley's Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 7 Continued on page 21 Families and friends are suffering too. Office: (760) 341-6202 Hotline: (760) 980-7988 alanoninthedesert.com 73-441 Fred Waring Drive, Ste. 2 • Palm Desert Al-Anon and Alateen can help. Do you worry about how much someone drinks? NOT EVERYONE BY ALCOHOL IS AN TRAPPED ALCOHOLIC. Serving the desert communities www.palmdesertsmiles.com The latest technologies for a healthier, more youthful smile Technology in dentistry is very exciting and evolves as new materials and equipment are introduced. 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Baumann, DDS "Dr. Nick" www.movementforlife.com/desert www.movementforlife.com/desert • Orthopedic rehab with board certified PTs to restore mobility and strength • Sports performance to boost your game including pickleball • Work injury recovery to get you back on track Power up your game Cathedral City 35325 Date Palm Dr. Ste 131 Cathedral City, CA 92234 (760) 202-0368 Indio 81557 Dr Carreon Blvd. Ste C4 Indio, CA 92201 (760) 347-6195 A rendering of the new dining hall at the Hazelden Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage Betty Ford Embraces Community and Integrative Care Continued from page 1 COVID-19. Here We Go. Again. By Judi Shor, PharmD, CMC, ACP First, the good news: Due to widespread immunity and groundbreaking new treatments, COVID-19 is no longer the world-disrupting pandemic it once was. On the flip side, the predominant burden of the disease continues to fall on the elderly due to age-related waning immunity and more chronic illness. Adding to senior concerns, current studies show inadequate antiviral prescriptions for elders diagnosed with COVID-19, low vaccination uptake over the past few years, and a critical lack of proactive immunization conversations between patients and physicians. The national COVID-19 vaccine formulation for 2026-27 targets the dominant XFG subvariant strain (nicknamed “Stratus” or the “American Strain”) derived from the Omicron lineage. This latest mutation is highly contagious, but thankfully, no more dangerous than previous variants. Like Nimbus, Stratus is marked by throatrelated symptoms. While Nimbus became known for “razor throat,” Stratus seems to cause hoarseness, leaving voices scratchy or raspy. Though formal studies have not yet confirmed this, medical professionals have anecdotally reported observing these patterns. For adults ages 65 and older, four FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine choices are currently available. Three are mRNA formulations: Moderna’s Spikevax and mNexspike, and Comirnaty by Pfizer-BioNTech. Novavax, the only protein-based option, is marketed as Nuvaxovid and manufactured by Sanofi US. Each of these vaccines are made to train the immune system to recognize and respond to the COVID-like spike proteins embedded within their formulation. All four vaccines are free of eggs, preservatives and latex. Side effects are generally mild, occurring up to three days post-injection and may include muscle and joint aches, injection site pain, fatigue and fever. Swollen lymph nodes, most commonly in the armpit, are a benign immune response that may persist for several weeks before shrinking back to normal. No single vaccine is recommended over another, as each option achieves the same result. The key is to get the COVID-19 vaccine in a timely manner, considering the virus’ annual infectious peaks in winter and late summer. An up-to-the-minute American Medical Association-sponsored study through June continues to validate the benefit of respiratory vaccinations, particularly for preventing severe disease and hospitalization. The 2026-27 season vaccination schedules are fairly complex and may benefit from individualized medical guidance. Briefly stated: • Adults age 65 and older are recommended for two vaccine doses spaced six months apart to ensure yearlong protection. • Seniors with moderate-to-severe immune disorders face more serious COVID-19 outcomes and are advised to complete a three-dose mRNA series from the same manufacturer or two doses of the protein-based option, Nuvaxovid. • Immunocompromised conditions include various carcinomas such as solid tumor and blood malignancies, active cancer treatment, immunosuppressive medications and organ transplant. • Vaccination should not be delayed in patients receiving immunosuppressive treatment. • Elders undergoing cancer treatments who simultaneously contract COVID are extremely vulnerable, requiring hospitalization in up to 60% of cases. Additional vaccine doses at two-month intervals may be given to those in the defined immunedeficient group through a collaborative process called ‘shared decision-making,’ a balanced discussion between the patient and their healthcare provider.
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