The health care reform buzz may be front and center in the news these days, but with so many media outlets and so many opinions, it’s not easy to keep up. And yet it is most certainly an issue that many of us are watching with great concern and curiosity.

A number of senior advocacy organizations are offering valuable resources for the general public to stay current on the latest and greatest, specifically in terms of the impact on seniors. I’ve listed a few of them here:

- The Senate Special Committee on Aging held a briefing on “How Health Reform will impact seniors” on September 17, 2009.  To view the archived webcast of the hearing, visit http://aging.senate.gov/.

- If you’re like me, you want to see things on paper (or read it on a computer screen). To see a comprehensive, side-by-side comparison of major health care reform proposals, check out this excellent tool from the policy experts at the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF): http://www.kff.org/healthreform/sidebyside.cfm.

- Another great side-by-side comparison from KFF takes a specific look at key Medicare provisions in the health reform proposals. To view the tool, go to http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/7948.pdf.

- AAHSA (American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging) explores a number of topics relating to seniors and health reform on their advocacy page – including an overview of the CLASS Act/Affordable Health Choices Act legislation: http://www.aahsa.org/classact.aspx

- You can also visit AARP’s home page to “Get the Facts on Health Reform” (go to http://www.aarp.org/health/articles/health_reform_get_the_facts.html) or to read a feature article on the impact of changes to Medicare at http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/medicare/articles/medicare_question.html.

- Most likely, your Member of Congress or U.S. Senator has a number of links or articles on their home page, outlining their position on and understanding of the reform debate. Many legislators have and continue to host Town Hall meetings to garner input and feedback from their constituents; some have been met with great success while others have encountered some heated opinions that have certainly made the news. Visit http://www.house.gov and http://www.senate.gov/ to find your elected official’s home page. Visit http://www.thomas.gov/ to access the actual legislation (you can do a keyword search, or get the bill numbers from the KFF’s report above).

Proposals are just that – so they are liable to change as the debate goes on. But for now, you can get up to speed by accessing a few of the above resources.

- Michelle Seitzer

As winter draws near, people with respiratory problems are waiting with bated breath. The winter months often cause an exacerbation or acute worsening of COPD symptoms, often leading to other illnesses and even hospitalizations. When I worked in the emergency room, I saw firsthand that a large percentage of hospital admissions this time of year are COPD patients.  Even my mother suffered from COPD.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. It’s believed that by 2010, COPD will move up to third place.

COPD refers to a group of lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema that interfere with breathing. These diseases cause lung damage and decrease the lung’s ability to take in oxygen and remove carbon dioxide, resulting in severe breathing difficulties. COPD is progressive, meaning that it grows worse over time. It’s nearly always caused by smoking.

COPD can cause a variety of symptoms, including:

• Chronic, persistent cough
• Increased mucus
• Shortness of breath, especially during physical activity, but can occur at rest
• Wheezing
• A tight feeling in the chest

While there is no cure for COPD, it can be treated. The most important thing to do is to stop smoking. There are several medicines that make breathing easier, including steroids or inhalers. Many people with COPD will eventually need to use supplemental oxygen.

It is important to diagnose COPD as early as possible. Sometimes the subtle symptoms can be dismissed as signs of aging, leaving it undiagnosed until quality of life has rapidly deteriorated and more than 50 percent of lung function has been lost. Unfortunately, many people don’t know they’re at risk, further delaying diagnosis and treatment.

If you or anyone you know is at risk for COPD, see your doctor and learn more about about symptoms and treatment options at the American Lung Association.

–Elizabeth Thielke

This guest blog post is contributed by Boomerater, a free online resource for Baby Boomers helping you find everything from financial advisors to trip ideas. Seniors for Living contributes its properties to Boomerater’s senior housing directory.

A new Q&A discussion from Boomerater’s forums appears here each Friday. In this week’s post, members share their experiences with Macular Degeneration, the number one cause of age-related blindness.

Question: I was just diagnosed with Macular Degeneration and I’m freaking out. Anyone have experience with this disease? Are there any treatments that work? I’ve never had a problem with my eyes and this came from out of the blue.

Reply #1:
I have macular degeneration (md) in both eyes. The Amsler grid is used to determine if you have md. When I look at the grid with just my right eye all of the lines of the grid seem straight and clear. With my left eye the lines are wavy and distorted. My ophthalmologist diagnosed macular degeneration and sent me to a retina specialist. My mother and both of her siblings had md so I was genetically predisposed to get it. The retina specialist took pictures of my macula, the central part of the retina that provides for sharp, clear vision. The pictures showed I had “dry” md in my right eye, and “wet” in my left. Wet is the worse of the two. Both eyes have “drusens” which are yellow deposits under the retina. These are early signs of md but they alone don’t cause severe vision loss. My center of my left retina has a protuberance that is distorting my vision.

Every six weeks I have Lucentis injections in the white part of my left eye. Sounds like it would hurt, but it really doesn’t. They numb the eye before the injection. After the injection I use antibiotic drops for 3 days to protect against infection. At each visit he takes more pictures to check for change in my left eye. Unfortunately there’s been no improvement, but it hasn’t gotten worse, so maybe injections have held off progression of the disease. The injections are very costly, so make sure your insurance company agrees to pay before you take them. I also take “AREDS” which is a vitamin complex very rich in eye nutrients. And I take lutein, long considered helpful for eye health. My new glasses include a prism in my left lens that has helped a lot for my distant vision. My reading glasses don’t help much, I actually read better with my left eye closed.

Reply #2:
It’s important that anyone diagnosed with macular degeneration check their eyes with the Amsler grid daily and report any changes to the eye doctor. You can download a copy at http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/amsler-grid.htm. This site also has the latest news articles on the disease. By the way, smokers are 2.5 times more likely to get macular degeneration – one more reason to kick the habit.

Reply #3:
I also have Macular Degeneration. As people live longer, experts expect it to become America’s #1 cause of age-related vision loss to become even more prevalent. I read a Times on-line article entitled “Blind to be cured with stem cells” that gave me lots of hope. In London they have been experimenting with laboratory trials on animals, replacing degenerated cells with new ones created from embryonic stem cells. The trials have been successful. While the therapy may not be available for 6 or 7 years, it is encouraging that Pfizer, the world’s largest pharmaceutical research company, will produce the artificial membranes on which the embryonic stem cells are placed. Also it appears the treatment may take less than an hour as an outpatient procedure. Read the article at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article6122757.ece

Add your comment or find out what others had to say about age-related Macular Degeneration on Boomerater.com.

Sometimes, memory problems are dismissed as being just part of getting older, but they can be a subtle sign of something more. New research from the American Academy of Neurology shows that memory problems in middle age may be related to high blood pressure:

High blood pressure is linked to memory problems in people over 45, according to research published in the August 25, 2009, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

The study found that people with high diastolic blood pressure, which is the bottom number of a blood pressure reading, were more likely to have cognitive impairment, or problems with their memory and thinking skills, than people with normal diastolic readings.

For every 10 point increase in the reading, the odds of a person having cognitive problems was seven percent higher. The results were valid after adjusting for other factors that could affect cognitive abilities, such as age, smoking status, exercise level, education, diabetes or high cholesterol.

High blood pressure (hypertension) is defined as repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90. It’s called the “silent killer” because there are no symptoms. Diagnosis is made by having your blood pressure checked by a professional.

There are many physical changes that come with aging and high blood pressure in particular can cause many problems. Preventing and treating high blood pressure at it’s onset may prevent damage to brain vessels that may contribute to dementia later in life.

High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for stroke. Consult your doctor or other health care provider and get yours checked regularly.

–Elizabeth Thiekle

This guest blog post is contributed by Boomerater, a free online resource for Baby Boomers helping you find everything from a Chicago financial advisor to family vacations. Seniors for Living contributes its senior housing properties to Boomerater’s local directories including Minnesota Alzheimer’s Care, Missouri assisted living, and more.

A new Q&A discussion from Boomerater’s forums appears here each Friday. In this week’s post, members share their solutions for insomnia.

Question: Does anyone have a good suggestion for help falling asleep besides Ambien?  I’ve also tried warm milk and honey — not bad. Any other ideas?

Reply #1: This has worked for me… a form a self-hypnosis. Get comfortable. Relax your body. Consciously check each muscle group and make sure you really are relaxed (sometimes we’re kind of tense without realizing it). Now, focus on your toes and imagine that they’re starting to get warm. Keep thinking about your toes getting warm until you can “feel” them get warmer. Then imagine that warm feeling gradually expanding to the rest of both feet. When you “feel” both feet are warm, imagine that warm feeling slowing moving up your legs, toward your knees.

Follow this process, with the warm feeling that started in your toes slowly moving up the rest of your body. Don’t let anything distract you.  You’ll be asleep before the warm feeling gets up to your belly button!

Reply #2: I was having a tough time getting to sleep and sleeping through the night. Starting a regular exercise routine has helped me a lot. I run on the treadmill (or outside if the weather is OK), and work out with light weights. I exercise early in the day; if I do it at night I find I’m too geared up to fall asleep. What you eat and drink can also affect your sleep, as can the environment (too hot, too cold, too noisy, too bright). For good info on all of sleep tips and the pros and cons of sleep medications, check out helpguide.org/life/sleep_tips.htm.

Find out what others had to say or add your own sleep solutions on Boomerater.com.

The Swine Flu (H1N1 virus) was all over the news this year, and is still around. Now, health experts are concerned that a second wave is occurring as kids head back to school.

The Food and Drug Administration announced that approximately 160 million doses of a Swine Flu vaccine should be ready by October. And who will get the vaccine first? The CDC has named priority groups to receive the H1N1 vaccine:

• Pregnant women because they are at higher risk of complications and can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated;
• Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age because younger infants are at higher risk of influenza-related complications and cannot be vaccinated. Vaccination of those in close contact with infants less than 6 months old might help protect infants by “cocooning” them from the virus;
• Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel because infections among healthcare workers have been reported and this can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. Also, increased absenteeism in this population could reduce healthcare system capacity;
• All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
• Children from 6 months through 18 years of age because we have seen many cases of novel H1N1 influenza in children and they are in close contact with each other in school and day care settings, which increases the likelihood of disease spread, and
• Young adults 19 through 24 years of age because we have seen many cases of novel H1N1 influenza in these healthy young adults and they often live, work, and study in close proximity, and they are a frequently mobile population; and,
• Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

As for vaccinating seniors, it’s important to know that there’s not expected to be a shortage of the vaccine, but current studies have shown that that the risk for infection among persons age 65 or older is less than the risk for younger age groups. As a matter of fact, it’s thought that as many as one-third of the American population over 60 has some antibodies to the H1N1 flu strain. Still, experts stress that seniors should be given the vaccination as soon as the priority groups are completed.

Though the H1N1 vaccine priorities seem counterintuitive since we are used to seniors being among the most vulnerable populations, that doesn’t mean seniors shouldn’t take precautions to avoid both the H1N1 and seasonal flu. Common precautions include: hand washing, avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes, avoiding sick people. It’s also important to get proper rest, nutrition and exercise to maintain a strong immune system.

Remember that the H1N1 or Swine Flu vaccine is not the same as the seasonal flu vaccine and you still need to receive that as directed by your health care provider. Be sure to ask them any questions you may have about the H1N1 vaccine.

For more information, visit the CDC’s H1N1 flu website.

For many people, one of the signs of aging is gradual hearing loss. Many people resist buying hearing aids because of a reluctance to admit a disability or they don’t even realize they have a hearing problem. But perhaps the biggest deterrent? Hearing aids can cost thousands of dollars each, depending on the equipment:

About 37 million people suffer from some form of hearing loss — from minor impairment to total deafness — in the United States. But less than a quarter of the people who could benefit from hearing aids actually use them. One reason is people’s reluctance to admitting a disability.

But cost is a big factor, says Lise Hamlin, director of public policy for the Hearing Loss Association, an advocacy and lobbying group. Hearing aids average about $2,000 each, Ms. Hamlin said, “but I’ve seen prices range from $1,400 to $5,000 apiece.”

While a portion of hearing aids may be covered by insurance (check yours), it’s important to know that hearing aids aren’t covered by Medicare, though the evaluation visit is covered.

There are several styles of hearing aids including: behind the ear (BTE), in the ear (ITE), in the canal (ITC) and completely in the canal (CIC), But, no matter the style, consider these tips before buying hearing aids:

1. Seek recommendations for hearing aid providers. Ask family and friends, or perhaps your doctor about their experiences and look for a provider that offers a variety of products. Be sure to note any Better Business Bureau or local online feedback.

2. Ask the audiologist (who tests your hearing) what hearing aid features you need and be sure to get a copy of your hearing test results.

3. What is the total cost of the hearing aid? Is there a separate fitting fee? Are you charged for adjustments?

4. Is there a trial period for the hearing aid and are any of the fees refundable?

5. Check the contract for the warranty period and loss or damage coverage. Does the contract cover repairs or replacement? Where are repairs made? Will the hearing aids need to be sent away to get fixed, or are minor repairs done in the office? What about batteries? Hearing aids use a lot of batteries and they are sometimes covered in the contract.

Hearing aids are an important investment, so it’s important to know what to look for and what to ask before you make a purchase.

The Hearing Loss Association of America offers some advice about financial assistance for hearing aids and be sure to check out the Lions Club International’s Affordable Hearing Aid Project.

In a recent issue of Southeastern PA’s Senior Guidebook, I found an intriguing article called “Taming Your Adult Children” that offered practical, albeit tongue-in-cheek strategies for keeping well-meaning adult children in check.

I’ve seen it firsthand in dealing with my own family. And while I never doubted that my parents, aunts and uncles had my grandfather’s best interests at heart, the approach was often, if you asked me, less than satisfactory. I don’t fault them for trying, and it’s not easy to watch your loved one experience numerous losses without feeling the need to step in and become the parent. In some cases, it may be necessary to do so, but it still must be done in a way that affirms the parent in his/her given role.

Author Kellie Moeller recommends the following to aging parents looking to keep their children from cramping their style:

1. Drive safely and without accidents.
OK, adult children, so we all know that Mom’s vision just isn’t what it used to be, but knocking down the mailbox while backing out of the driveway does not signify that her driving days must come to an end. We all have our share of bad driving moments. Before you take away the keys, consider the track record. If that is the only incident in a few months’ time, chalk it up to sun glare or fogged up lenses. Cut Mom some slack.

Parents, step back and evaluate – and be honest about it, too. You probably hate the thought of losing your license, but if your safety and that of others on the road is compromised when you get behind the wheel, reconsider. Take control of the situation before your adult child takes the reins.

2. Stay chubby and healthy
Dad, little sets off your worried daughter more than dramatic weight loss or a recurring bout of the flu. I’m not suggesting binge eating here, but be sure that your cupboards are stocked and you can get around without falling (as much as you hate it, you might need to purchase that cane or walker).

Worried daughter – check first to see if the weight loss is a result of something other than Dad’s lack of interest in food. It could be a signal for something serious like depression or dementia, but don’t jump to that conclusion immediately. Maybe he doesn’t like to cook for himself. Invite him for dinner once in a while, or drop off a prepared meal for him.

3. Be social
We all know how important it is to stay connected. What a great way for independent parents to keep doting children far away… just stay busy!

4. No overdoses
According to the article, an estimated 30 percent of all hospital admissions are directly related to drug toxicity or adverse drug reactions. While keeping track of the green pill for Mondays, blue pill for evenings, white pill for cramps, and pink pill for lazy afternoons is not always easy (even with those handy little pill holders), this is a serious issue –  even the most independent of parents may need the help of their adult children to keep things on track.

5. Balance dependency
Mom, it’s OK if you rely on your son to take you to Bingo every Saturday and your daughter for trips to the grocery store on Tuesdays. Just don’t burn them out: If your needs increase and trips to the grocery store are requested on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, maybe you need to look into other options for transport.

Likewise, children, don’t burn out because you feel obligated. If you’re cooking and cleaning for Dad and it’s turning into a full-time job, maybe he needs to move in, or maybe a call to a cleaning service will do the trick. It’s all about balance on both sides of this equation.

6. No weird purchases
Scammers are everywhere, and they are after consumers of all ages. However, elders are often targeted. Maybe Mom and Dad have always sent away for Publisher’s Clearing House “freebies” – if so, don’t be alarmed unless the knickknacks are rolling in more frequently than usual. Parents, be wise about your purchases. If you’re unsure of a group that is soliciting for donations, ask someone about it before you send large sums of money.

7. Be useful and active
Mom, you’ve worked hard all your life. If you want to watch Judge Judy or Cosby Show reruns, you are more than entitled. However, your darling daughters may check in more often than you’d like if you sit in front of the tube from sunup to sundown. Get out there and volunteer, or if you can’t get out, stay in and volunteer. Moeller writes of a woman who knits baby hats for a local non-profit for unwed mothers… all from the comfort of her own home!

8. Make sure bills are paid
Again, elders are often targeted when it comes to money – they might pay for something they don’t need (see number 6), or they might pay for services (i.e. landscaping, housekeeping, etc.) that were never rendered. Parents, make sure you are paying bills on time, and know what you’re paying for – it’s a surefire way to keep your kids from meddling.

9. Talk about it
Let’s face it, sophisticated parents – the challenges of aging are not easy to bear. Lighten the load!  Talk to your kids; keep the lines of communication open. Kids, if you’re worried about Mom’s driving skills or the seeming lack thereof, express your concern directly to her before plotting with your siblings on ways to hide the keys. She’s an adult, she raised you, and she’s been around a few years more than you (maybe even decades more). Respect her role. You might not live under her roof anymore (and maybe you wish she lived under yours so you can help her), but she’s still your Mom.

SFL followers, let’s hear from you: how do you strike a balance between the difficult role of caring for your parents and maintaining their independence? Or, if you’re the parent, how do you tell your children “thanks, but no thanks”?

-Michelle Seitzer

Chalk up another benefit of exercising. Researchers have found that elderly adults who are more physically fit tend to have bigger hippocampus size and better spatial memory than those who are less fit:

The researchers, from the University of Illinois and the University of Pittsburgh, measured the cardiorespiratory fitness of 165 adults (109 of them female) between 59 and 81 years of age. Using magnetic resonance imaging, the researchers conducted a volumetric analysis of the subjects’ left and right hippocampi. They also tested the participants’ spatial reasoning.

They found a significant association between an individual’s fitness and his or her performance on certain spatial memory tests. There was also a strong correlation between fitness and hippocampus size.

“The higher fit people have a bigger hippocampus, and the people that have more tissue in the hippocampus have a better spatial memory,” said U. of I. psychology professor Art Kramer, who led the study with Pittsburgh psychology professor Kirk Erickson.

Now, I’ll translate it for you in English. In neuroscience, spatial memory is the part of memory responsible for recording information about one’s environment and how it relates to your body. The hippocampus is the structure in the brain that is a vital part of memory formation. Studies have found that the hippocampus shrinks with age, causing cognitive declines.

A decline in spatial memory is one reason that adults lose their independence as they age, as balance and walking can become problematic. Regular exercise, especially lower body work, will help improve balance and reduce the risk of falls.

In other words, you’ve got another reason to get moving. Just be sure to check with you doctor before you start any exercise program.

-Elizabeth Thielke

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.

–Elizabeth Thielke

What are your thoughts?