Vice President Joe Biden chairs a task force called A Strong Middle Class that is targeted at raising the living standards of middle-class, working families in America. One of their initiatives is more stable and secure health care for seniors.
The middle class task force recently held a health care reform discussion in Alexandria, VA with the goals of lowering costs, cutting waste, creating stability, and improving quality for seniors. Sounds pretty promising, right?
It couldn’t come at a better time, either, as seniors face rising health care cost increases on a fixed income. And there’s another group that is also profoundly affected by the increase — early retirees (aged 50-64). They are all too familiar with the rising costs of health care and stand to benefit from this reform:
Americans aged 50-64 are often the most at vulnerable and at risk in the current health care system. Too young for Medicare, they experience sky high insurance premiums and costs because of their age. Premiums for 50-64 year olds buying coverage on the open market were three times that of their peers who were lucky enough to have employer coverage. And that’s for people who aren’t automatically excluded because of a pre-existing condition.
Health care reform will lower costs for 50-64-year-old Americans by providing assistance to employer health plans to encourage them to cover recent retirees and by giving individuals access to an insurance exchange where participants will be able to compare prices of health plans ” including a public plan – and decide which option is right for them. Individuals will be eligible for help paying for insurance in the exchange based on their income. And in order to market a plan in the Exchange, insurance companies will have to comply with its rules: no denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions; no discrimination based on age; and fair prices, for good benefits.
While no one can predict what will and won’t work, I think it’s an important step for the government to look at those affected most by increasing costs, and make the effort to provide some stability in the system as Americans age.
A new Q&A discussion from Boomerater’s forums appears here each Friday. In this week’s post, learn tips about choosing the right fitness program to keep in shape.
Question: I am mid-50s and want to start going to gym but don’t want to over strain myself. What are the tips for someone getting started on this regime for the first time?
Responses from other Boomerater members:
Reply #1 – I am suffering from arthritic knees but was determined to get moving again. I found a wonderful ‘basic’ exercise regimen close to home, but what really keeps me going back is the music! Beach Boys and the Shirells make the experience of exercise dramatically different than counting reps! Anyway, I’m sure that the most important aspect of exercise is not what you choose, but that you keep going back. I unabashedly admit that it is not the exercise, but the music! Good luck.
Reply #2 – Check out the gym you are considering. See who the target clients are. See if they offer initial training with staff experienced in boomer-aging concerns. Take some lessons and most of all, listen to your body as to what feels right during/after the workout. Your body will know better than the trainer if some activities aren’t right for you personally. Good luck! It’s the best insurance policy we can write for ourselves
Reply #3 – A personal trainer can make a huge difference. For those of you starting a new fitness regimen, better late than never! If you haven’t been to a gym in a long time (or ever), it is worth your time and effort to work with a professional trainer. We all have friends that can show us a couple of exercises. But if you are interested in having a balanced program that suits your individual needs, one-on-one training is essential.
A few tips on finding a trainer:
1. Find the busier trainers. They are usually more sought-after for a reason.
2. Fit trainers exercise themselves regularly. They are usually more effective than an out-of-shape trainer.
3. They are certified, motivating, creative, focused and punctual.
4. They suit your individual needs and personality. It’s called “personal training” for a reason.
Once you have found your trainer, you have an obligation to be honest about your diet and lifestyle. Are you drinking/eating excessively? Are you doing cardio several times a week? Are you taking medications?
Healthful grains, fruit, eggs, and yogurt are a great way to start the day. ALWAYS eat a good breakfast! This will help you eat well the rest of the day and reach your ideal weight. Also eat chicken, fish, beans, vegetables, salads and lots of water. Come on, we all know what’s good for us by now! Beware of sports drinks, supplements (unless supervised by your doctor), and fad diets. A well balanced meal, lots of water, exercise and rest go a long way. Consistency is key and when you are new to anything, practice makes perfect. This is something you will do the rest of your life. The sooner you start doing it correctly, the sooner you will reap the wonderful benefits.
As a member of the Sandwich Generation, I’m all too familiar with the dilemma of having to take care of an aging or ill parent while caring for your own family as well as maintaining a job. When my mother was ill, I missed a great deal of work. While I was fortunate enough to be able to work it out with my employer, many workers aren’t as lucky as I was, and are penalized for work time lost.
The employer pays $2 a month to the program for each enrolled worker and the benefits are many:
When employees enroll in the program, they get unlimited free counseling — face-to-face, phone or e-mail — and referral services from an elder care specialist. The program also entitles an employee to a 10 percent discount for an in-home assessment and home health care services given to the relative.
While there is no way around senior care being expensive, sometimes part of the battle is knowing where to start and how to obtain services. The search for care and services can further take away from work productivity when you have to do the legwork yourself. The free counseling can be invaluable as the elder care process can really take a lot out of a caregiver. To have that support in the workplace is a very rare gift.
Does your employer offer a caregiver-friendly program? Tell us about it, or share your thoughts for what you’d like to see.
Welcome to our August 25, 2009 edition of Boomers and Seniors – News You Can Use. In other words, it’s our say-goodbye-to-summer edition, which is why we’ve packed it with hot topics and sizzlingly useful advice! Enjoy…
For many caregivers and those who have elderly loved ones, keeping seniors happy in their own homes for as long as possible is first and foremost. Find out the moves baby boomers just like you are making to accommodate “Seniors Who Decide to Stay Put.” Aging in place is a popular topic of conversation these days — add your feedback to this recent SeniorsforLiving.com blog post.
In Kaye Swain’s two-part series, Email For Our Aging Parents and Relatives Part 1 and Part 2,she highlights email options that are easy for aging seniors. “While most of us who are Sandwich Generation caregivers would be lost without our email, cell phone, and other hi-tech communications,” she explains, “our aging parents are often quite a different story. Fortunately, there are some new options available for our aging seniors, with a little help from us.”
Geriatric care managers may seem like a luxury in this tough economy, but think about the value they bring in terms of knowledge, experience, and access to resources, says Dale Carter in her postFive Things You Need to Know about Geriatric Care Managersat Transition Aging Parents. Find out what five things you should consider before you begin your search for the right geriatric care manager for your parent.
You’re only as old as you feel, right? Well, to see that mentality set to hip-hop (yes, hip-hop!) music, you just may want to head to the theater to see “Gotta Dance.” Watch and see the first senior dance troupe with the New Jersey Nets take the court – and America – by storm. The trailer, embedded on SeniorsforLiving.com’s Gotta See Gotta Dance, will definitely get you movin’ and groovin’!
For another heartwarming read about aging with class, click into Going Gray — or Purple — Is Easier With Friendsposted at All Things Aging. This reflective article about connecting with friends who know you well by Ellen W. Miller, executive director of the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community, underscores the importance of social engagement in our older years.
Did you know about the big AARP backlash going on with regard to the latest health care debate? Nearly 60,000 members have actually left the organization, reports Derrick Grant in his postAARP versus American Seniors Association (ASA) and the Health Care Debate. Learn more about the issues, how they affect you, and check out the ElderGuru.com blog.
Financial Issues
When it comes to paying for elder care, families often have to think outside the box and seek out alternate ways to afford it. Patricia Grace presents a look at the Senior Living Line of Credit option in her post Eldercare Funding Options – Part 1at the Aging with Grace CareConnection. See if it’s a viable tool for you!
Here’s some food for thought, courtesy of our very own Michelle Seitzer: Drinking and Swearing Might Improve Your Health. Find out what some recent studies are saying, and get the scoop on why moderation is key.
If you ask Jody T. Fransch, it’s totally possible to live and thrive to 100. Follow the advice posted in 7 Health Habits That Will Help You Live To 100, and give yourself a shot at shooting for those triple digits. And, for more on the goal of living to be a centenarian, click intoEmma Taylor’s100 Web Tools to Help You Live to 100.
How we stay healthy – at any age – is intrinsically connected to what we eat (and don’t eat), which is whyNancy Lapid’s Celiac Disease in Elderly People posted at About.com Celiac Disease, fascinated me so much. Find out how eliminating gluten from one’s diet can help counter the affects of Alzheimer’s, age-related illnesses, and more.
That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of Boomers & Seniors: News You Can Use to be held at CareBuzz.com on September 8th using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Hope you enjoyed this short but sweet and relevant edition of Boomers and Seniors – News You Can Use. Please let us know your thoughts on the above posts — we can’t wait to hear from you! And, if you’re a blogger who writes about these senior-related issues, you can submit your blog post using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Moms and wives across the country are probably less than thrilled about two recent health reports that contend moderate drinking and cursing may be good for your health.
Written by CNN Medical Associate Producer Caitlin Hagan, [BLEEP!] That hurts! highlights the results of research conducted by Dr. Richard Stephens and his team at UK’s Keele University. The study says “swearing actually has a pain-lessening effect.”
According to Hagan, Stephens asked study participants to “submerge one hand in nearly freezing water for as long as they could while repeating a curse word.” Participants then submerged the same hand in the same freezing water, but were asked to repeat a descriptive word for a table, rather than the curse word of choice from the first go-around. He discovered that “when people were cursing, they kept their hand in the water for 40 more seconds than they could otherwise.”
Last month, HealthDay News published an article with results from another study claiming that moderate drinking might guard against Alzheimer’s. Moderate, in the case of the study, is defined as 1-2 drinks per day, which was associated with a nearly 40 percent drop in dementia risk (as compared with those who did not drink at all). Dr. Kaycee M. Sink, assistant professor of medicine at Wake Forest, states the results: “We found that for cognitively normal older adults, the lowest risk of dementia was for those who drank an average of one to two alcoholic drinks per day… However, for older adults who started the study with mild cognitive impairment, alcohol use was not protective.”
So while the title of this blog post may be a bit presumptuous (moms and wives, breathe a sigh of relief), it seems to prove Aristotle’s adage: “Everything in moderation; nothing to excess” – which goes for cursing, too. While it might help take the edge off the next time you stub your toe, it’s probably not necessary (nor healthy) to let an expletive fly when your boss is around or your young children are nearby. And, a glass of red wine with dinner may help preserve brain health, but 2 large shots of 80 proof vodka is probably not your best bet.
Be wise, and take care of your health in the best way possible. Experts’ opinions on cursing and alcohol consumption should not dramatically impact day to day living, but it’s interesting to note.
A new Q&A discussion from Boomerater’s forums appears here each Friday. In this week’s post, members share their experiences about aging in place.
Boomerator Question: My mom and dad are in their 70s and in good health. They have told me they would never consider leaving the home they have lived in since they were married, and where they raised all five of their children. With the high cost associated with assisted living and the loss they will probably take in the real estate market, I can also see the financial benefit of them staying in their home. I’d like to hear from other boomers who have helped their parents stay in their homes successfully. What are the modifications to make the home safe and what else should be considered?
Responses:
They should consult a financial planner and develop a budget for current and changing financial needs. With an attorney they should draw up a will, and an advanced health care directive, and any other documents their attorney deems necessary.
An architect, residential designer or accessibility contractor can look at the existing floor plan to see how it could be made fully accessible, incorporating elements of universal design so that the space will serve them well into the future. Think about the following:
Would a dish drawer make more sense than a regular dishwasher? Should your oven be at a lower height? Should it have a door that lifts up?
Is there a bedroom on the main floor? Or is there a den or bonus room that could be converted to use as a bedroom? If they don’t have a shower or bathtub on the main floor, is there a half bath or a laundry room? There may be a way to reconfigure existing rooms to accommodate an accessible stall shower as well as a front loading combination washer/dryer that takes up less space.
If it has steps, add ramps. Add lifts on the stairs or a pneumatic elevator if necessary, but ensure that they have a good fire escape route and exit route during a power failure.
Instead of door knobs, change to lever handles.
Make the property wheelchair accessible. Most wheelchairs are between 27-28 inches wide. With knuckles on either side you should allow a minimum door width of 32 inches.
One of the biggest hurdles was losing the ability to drive to doctors, veterinarians, senior centers, etc. Ask the local hospital, senior center, or local agency on aging (AAA) or Council on Aging (COA) about transportation resources for seniors in your area. My parents had a companion who came in twice a week to drive them to doctor appointments, the grocery store, the library, to have their hair cut, etc. Eldercarelink.com can refer you to pre-screened companions in your area, as well as adult day-care, home care, assisted living services, etc. Peapod.com is national service that delivers groceries from local stores. Most drugstores deliver prescriptions without a fee and drugstore.com can ship a huge variety of products. If you don’t have a local store that delivers, netgrocer.com is a backup, though its shipping is expensive. My parents also used Meals on Wheels to get a hot meal brought in everyday.
Find out what others had to say about aging in place on Boomerater.com.
I couldn’t be happier about the recent rise in the number of films featuring seniors and baby boomers. It’s about time we bring more silver to the so-called silver screen! Census 2010 is just around the corner, and while I’m no statistician, it’s safe to say the numbers will show that baby boomers and seniors make up a much larger percentage of our population than ever before. So really, filmmakers, there’s no excuse anymore. The challenges, victories, histories, and experiences of this age cohort will provide interesting, exciting, funny, sad, romantic and inspirational material for years to come…the stuff movies (and real life) are made of.
Set for release in LA on Friday, August 21st, Gotta Dance has already won dozens of awards and has drawn rave reviews from critics and audiences everywhere. Check the website to find out when it hits your local screen.
So what’s it all about? I couldn’t put it any better than the Gotta Dance website:
“Who says you can’t hip-hop if you’re 80-years-old? Who says your days as a performer are long gone? Who says you can’t shake things up and light up a jam-packed sports arena with your hot moves and cool attitude? Just because you’re a card-carrying member of AARP, do you have to give up on your dreams?
No. You don’t. Absolutely not.
GOTTA DANCE is BAD NEWS BEARS morphed into the flip side of MAD HOT BALLROOM.
GOTTA DANCE the movie chronicles the debut of the New Jersey Nets’ first-ever senior hip-hop dance team, 12 women and 1 man – all dance team newbies, from auditions through to center court stardom.
As smooth dance moves are perfected and performed in front of thousands, aging myths and misperceptions are pulverized.
Despite swollen ankles, exhausting rehearsals, fashion clashes and seemingly impossible dance steps, the NETSational Seniors go for it, spreading joy, inspiration and cool dance moves as they hip-hop their way into the hearts of Nets fans and beyond.”
Wow. I cannot wait to see this movie. I’m already jealous of the contestants’ ability on the Fox hit “So You Think You Can Dance” – I can only imagine what seeing this movie will do for my dance esteem. But I also know that it makes me smile to see seniors and boomers “pulverizing aging myths and misperceptions,” so I have no doubt that I’ll be grinning from ear to ear. Check it out…
Visit the website to find out everything you need to know about this exciting documentary, including information on hosting your own screening, making a donation, or sharing the film with your social networks. You can also pre-order the DVD or buy your very own Gotta Dance jersey.
What a great opportunity for grandparents, parents and grandkids to enjoy a movie together too – get your tickets now!
…takes on a whole new meaning, according to a recent entry in the Wall Street Journal’s health blog. Well, most everyone knows that eating fruits and veggies does a body good, but who knew that eating whole-grain cereal could lower your risk of heart failure?
While leafing through a recent JAMA article, WSJ author Jacob Goldstein noticed “consumption of breakfast cereals” listed among the usual heart-enriching activity lineup. He was intrigued, so he called Luc Djoussé, a Harvard doctor who had contributed to the study. Goldstein learned that “…researchers combined various risk factors together. They found that, in combination with other healthy behaviors, eating more breakfast cereal of any kind lowered the risk of heart failure.”
We’re not talking about any old bowl of cereal here – Cocoa Pebbles or my favorite junk food cereal, Cap’N’Crunch, probably won’t cut it. But whole-grain cereal that is high in fiber and low in fat can have a positive effect on your overall heart health. Granted you can’t just eat a bowl of Special K and call it a day – you need to combine your cereal-eating with other healthy habits like exercising, limiting your alcohol intake, and kicking your smoking habit to the curb.
And while Djoussé says they are “not planning a randomized trial for cereal,” it’s good to know that one of my favorite breakfast options (and my favorite college cafeteria fall-back meal) makes my heart happy!
What’s in your favorite bowl of cereal (whole-grain or not)?
I wish I’d interviewed my grandparents and recorded some of their stories before they died. One grandfather worked in the Roosevelt administration and entered Germany with the first Allied troops right after World War II ended. My grandmother graduated from college at a time when few women received more than a high school education. I can still clearly remember the sound of my grandparents’ voices, but I’ve forgotten many of the stories they told me. I wish I’d asked more questions before it was too late.
I’m lucky that I grew up in a time where my mother and my grandmother did tell me stories, but as an only child, I was kind of a captive audience. I’m glad now, though. I try to impart these stories to my kids, but I don’t really know how I’m doing.
The end of summer is a popular time for family reunions with all the generations and a great time to reminisce. When you want to record family stories, there’s “no time like the present”, so how do you get started?
An oral history is simply the systematic collection of people’s experiences told by them, and there’s a few things to do in preparation:
1. Create a list of questions and topics, and give the interviewee an idea of what you’ll be asking to assess if they are comfortable with the topics.
2. Decide what equipment you ‘ll be using (audio only? video?). Though it doesn’t have to be fancy, make sure it works and that you know how to use it beforehand.
3. Start each recording with who, what, where and when you are interviewing.
4. Use a mix of open ended questions to get stories and other questions to elicit facts.
5. Practice ways to elicit more information if an answer needs elaboration (”Tell me more” or, “Could you explain that in more detail?”)
6. Start with less personal or probing questions and move toward more intense questions.
7. Be aware that the interview could be emotional for the interviewee, so be sure to end on a light note so they aren’t left “hanging” with their emotions.
8. Determine how the information will be saved and if it will be distributed. Will it be put on a website? Will the information be transcribed? Who will get copies?
With a little planning, you can use the technology available to us today to create a valuable family treasury and keep the history alive for generations to come.
U.S. News & World Report recently released its compilation of the top 100 hospitals, providing results by a range of 16 specialties, from Cancer to Geriatric Care to Urology.
Don’t be disappointed if your local small-town hospital didn’t make the grade, even though you might feel their services are top-notch. The report is “a tool for patients who need medical sophistication most facilities cannot offer.” We’re talking about complex medical procedures and management of extraordinary conditions, or, as the article describes it, “High-stakes medicine.”
It goes without saying that if you need to schedule a colonoscopy or visit the ER to get stitches for that huge gash you acquired while chopping onions in the kitchen, that most doctors can do it right or well. We all want quality and competence when we visit a medical professional. But, if you need a triple bypass and you’re suffering from diabetes and hypertension, you naturally need a higher level of expertise. Likewise, you might be overwhelmed by the healthcare decisions that must be made, and who is going to provide the best care for your special situation – and that’s why this list was created.
A total of 4,861 hospitals were considered (of which only 174 were ranked in even one of the 16 specialties) and were rated on reputation, death rate, patient safety (a new category this year that indicates how well a hospitals manages risk for the patients entrusted to their care), and other care-related factors (i.e. nurse staffing and technology).
Honor roll participants (the top 21 on the list of 100) achieved their noteworthy status by earning high scores in at least 6 of the 16 specialties, demonstrating an “unusual breadth of excellence.” The A++ “student,” Johns Hopkins Hospital, has held the prestigious #1 ranking since 1991, and was surpassed on this list only once by the Mayo Clinic (the first report was published in 1990).
As a former resident of Baltimore, I say “Way to go, Johns Hopkins!” and I’m glad to know that if there was ever a need for complex medical intervention for me or my family, I’m only an hour from the best of the best!
Vice President Joe Biden chairs a task force called A Strong Middle Class that is targeted at raising the living standards of middle-class, working families in America. One of their initiatives is more stable and secure health care for seniors.
Boomerater, a free online resource for Baby Boomers helping you find everything from a 
Question: I am mid-50s and want to start going to gym but don’t want to over strain myself. What are the tips for someone getting started on this regime for the first time?
As a member of the Sandwich Generation, I’m all too familiar with the dilemma of having to take care of an aging or ill parent while caring for your own family as well as maintaining a job. When my mother was ill, I missed a great deal of work. While I was fortunate enough to be able to work it out with my employer, many workers aren’t as lucky as I was, and are penalized for work time lost.
Welcome to our August 25, 2009 edition of Boomers and Seniors – News You Can Use. In other words, it’s our say-goodbye-to-summer edition, which is why we’ve packed it with hot topics and sizzlingly useful advice! Enjoy…
In Kaye Swain’s two-part series, 
You’re only as old as you feel, right? Well, to see that mentality set to hip-hop (yes, hip-hop!) music, you just may want to head to the theater to see “Gotta Dance.” Watch and see the first senior dance troupe with the New Jersey Nets take the court – and America – by storm. The trailer, embedded on 
When it comes to paying for elder care, families often have to think outside the box and seek out alternate ways to afford it. Patricia Grace presents a look at the 
If you ask Jody T. Fransch, it’s totally possible to live and thrive to 100. Follow the advice posted in 
Moms and wives across the country are probably less than thrilled about two recent health reports that contend moderate drinking and cursing may be good for your health.
This guest blog post is contributed by Boomerater, a free online resource for Baby Boomers helping you find everything from a 
My mom and dad are in their 70s and in good health. They have told me they would never consider leaving the home they have lived in since they were married, and where they raised all five of their children. With the high cost associated with 
I couldn’t be happier about the recent rise in the number of films featuring seniors and baby boomers. It’s about time we bring more silver to the so-called silver screen! Census 2010 is just around the corner, and while I’m no statistician, it’s safe to say the numbers will show that baby boomers and seniors make up a much larger percentage of our population than ever before. So really, filmmakers, there’s no excuse anymore. The challenges, victories, histories, and experiences of this age cohort will provide interesting, exciting, funny, sad, romantic and inspirational material for years to come…the stuff movies (and real life) are made of.
…takes on a whole new meaning, according to a recent entry in the 
It used to be that our family stories and history were passed down from generation to generation. That was back when we had time to sit down and talk, though. Today, despite the wonders of technology 
U.S. News & World Report recently released its compilation of the