The Golden Rule: Seniors Helping Seniors

Bone Health

2007-01-06T08:00:00.001-05:00

The Food and Drug Administration's proposed changes to
its calcium health claim including adding vitamin D for bone health
throughout life. Vitamin D is critical for bone health and, when combined with calcium, works to help reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Americans do not get enough calcium and vitamin D in their diets. They
need easier ways of consuming the recommended intake of these essential
nutrients. One option is drinking orange juice fortified with Calcium and Vitamin D.

Look for orange juice that contains calcium citrate malate (CCM), known as FruitCal(R), which is an ideal calcium source for fortifying fruit juices since it is very soluble and does not affect the juice's natural taste. This highly absorbable form of calcium has been clinically tested and shown to help build strong bones in children and
adolescents and help maintain bone mass in adult women. In addition to
its excellent solubility, CCM is better absorbed by the body than calcium
carbonate supplements (the most popular calcium supplements). Vitamin D
further enhances the body's ability to absorb calcium.

Tropicana, through a partnership with the Osteoporosis Research Center at
Creighton University, a leading center for bone health, has provided a
brochure to educate consumers about the recommended intake of these
essential nutrients. The brochure, The Calcium-Vitamin D Connection:
Strong Bones, Healthy Bodies, is available by calling 1-877-398-0228 and
can be downloaded at Tropicana.com.

AARP 38 Million Members Strong: Rx Bargaining Power

2007-01-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

If you or anyone you know has to make a choice between buying medicine or pay other important expenses, you'll want to follow this story. Have you found ways to cut your pharmacy costs? After you read this article, share with your ideas with fellow readers.

Congress will take up akey issue next week that can benefit the 43 million people enrolled in Medicare, and AARP is putting the full force of its nearly 38 million members behind efforts to pass H.R. 4, the "Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act."

"Drug prices are too high," AARP CEO Bill Novelli said. "We believe in giving the HHS this important step to lower prescription drug prices. Our members have been visiting, writing and calling Congress urging support of H.R. 4, and our national ads beginning this weekend say-'It's time for Congress to give Medicare the bargaining power it needs.'"

Under current law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services is prohibited from using the full bargaining power of 43 million Medicare beneficiaries to help bring down prescription drug prices. H.R. 4 would remove the prohibition and direct the Secretary to commence such negotiations. "We need to do everything we can to hold down drug prices," said Novelli. According to AARP's 3rd Quarter 2006 Watchdog Report, manufacturer prescription drug prices for brand name drugs rose 6.2 percent in the last 12-month period, outpacing the rate of general inflation, which rose 3.7 percent.

According to exit polls, roughly 1 out of every 4 voters in the November elections was a member of AARP. Nine out of 10 AARP members acrossall political affiliations support allowing Medicare to bargain for lower prescription drug prices.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole.

For more information go to http://www.AARP.org.

American Medical Association Goals for Medicare and Uninsured

2007-01-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

As lawmakers return to Washington for the 110th Congress, the American Medical Association (AMA) unveils its 2007 advocacy agenda, with a renewed focus on covering the uninsured and reforming the Medicare payment system.

"The AMA is committed to improving the health care system for patients and physicians, and working with Congress on the leading health care issues outlined in our agenda will help us achieve that goal," said AMA Board Chair Cecil Wilson, M.D.

Some of the specific issues the AMA will tackle this year through federal, state and private sector advocacy include:
-- Expand health insurance coverage for the uninsured
-- Reform the Medicare physician payment system
-- Reform the medical liability system
-- Ensure clinical quality improvements through standards developed by the
medical profession
-- Promote healthier lifestyles
-- Close gaps in health care for minority patients
-- Prepare for and respond to disasters and other public health
emergencies.

"Covering the uninsured has long been a top priority of the AMA, and through partnerships and advocacy we will work to reduce the plight of 46 million uninsured Americans this year," said Wilson. "We know that the uninsured live sicker and die younger. New legislation is needed that will make it easier for the uninsured to get health care coverage."

"Congress took critical action late last year to stop the 2007 Medicare physician payment cut, providing an important but temporary reprieve from access concerns for seniors and the physicians who care for them," said Wilson. "This year we will work with Congress, the Administration and seniors to stop the 2008 Medicare cut and enact a more permanent solution to the flawed Medicare physician payment formula. We will also work closely with Congress and the Administration to address concerns with the Medicare quality reporting framework."

"The AMA is the nation's leading voice for America's physicians," said Wilson. "Our 2007 agenda sets an ambitious course for improving health care, and will help physicians care for their patients."

Resolving to Exercise

2007-01-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

Not only have I committed to eating better, but to exercise more this year. Have you committed to a healthier lifestyle for 2007? We'd love to hear what you have resolved to do for a healthier you.

The key is to find what you enjoy. Check with your health care provider before starting any new exercise programs.

Clinical studies

have shown that exercising

with a Thera-Band elastic

resistance band is effective

for managing many chronic

diseases that affect older adults,

including osteoarthritis,

osteoporosis, obesity and

diabetes. (PRNewsFoto)

Need Calories?

2007-01-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

I’ve decided to overhaul my eating habits for the New Year.

But have you ever wondered how many calories individuals over 50 should consume? The National Institute on aging suggests the following:

Women:

1,600 calories if physical activity is level is low
1,800 calories with moderate physical activity
2,000 – 2,200 for an active lifestyle

Men:

2,000 calories if physical activity is level is low
2,200-2,400 calories with moderate physical activity
2,400-2,800 calories for an active lifestyle

For more information visit The National Institute on Aging.

What’s up With Long Term-Care?

2007-01-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

Do you need information on long-term care? The United States Department of Health and Human Services published a long-term care planning kit entitled Own Your Future.

To request the kit or to down load it visit: Own Your Future.

We'd love to hear from you. What is your experience with long-term care?

Do you Still Make New Year's Resolutions?

2007-01-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

I stopped making resolutions for the New Year ages ago. But with suggestions from life coach Laura Berman Fortgang I might try this year.

"I know first hand how hard it can be to keep a New Year's resolution.Though it's great to aim high and be optimistic, it's important to be realistic, and choose resolutions that can gradually build up to something positive that can follow you throughout life," says Laura. "There are many small things you can do to keep you motivated and make you feel confident towards achieving your long-term goals."

* Rid your closet of things you don't wear to start fresh in the New Year.

* Change your look and breathe new life into your appearance. Try a new hairstyle or brighten your smile with a product like Crest Whitestrips that is only a seven-day commitment. You'll smile more, and it will give you added confidence and keep you positive towards reaching bigger goals.

* Be nice to your body. Treat yourself to that full body massage you've been holding back. Eat more fruits and veggies; drink more water to improve your health, or try and new sport or workout.

* Prioritize your life. Determine and declare your top five priorities like have a more positive attitude or going after that new job, and be willing to let go of the rest -- at least for now.

* Take consistent action. Commit to do one thing a day -- no matter how small -- that will put you closer to an upbeat mindset. Play your favorite song every morning to help you start your day on the right foot. Do something for someone else. Volunteer at a local charity feeding the homeless or walking dogs at the humane society. You'll be surprised how good helping others will make you feel, and motivate you to do good in your own life.

* Make a change for the right reasons. No matter what your resolution, make sure you're doing it for yourself. Don't let external pressures force you to change. Figure out what inspires you from the inside and then devote yourself to it. You can do it, this year is your year! You can win a personal session with Laura Berman Fortang to keep you motivated throughout the New Year. Visit http://www.whitestrips.com/ and enter for your chance to win a one-on-one session with Laura and lots of other great prizes!

Winter Safety

2006-12-31T08:00:00.000-05:00

In the winter, I am always cold—in my house! So I wear layers of clothes and socks to combat my freeze-baby tendencies. Whether inside the home or outside in the elements, take steps protect yourself against the dropping numbers on the thermometer.

Hypothermia (hi-po-ther-mee-uh) occurs when a person’s body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit because of exposure to cold, either indoors or outside. Low body temperature can cause heart attack, kidney problems, liver damage and sometimes death. According to the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 600 people in the United States, half of them age 65 or older, die from hypothermia each year.

“Older adults can lose body heat faster than when they were young, and some health problems and medicines can make it harder for them to stay warm,” says NIA Director Richard J. Hodes, M.D.

There is a brochure available to help you. To preview or order free copies, or for more information about Stay Safe in Cold Weather! and other NIA publications, visit the NIA Web site at www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/staysafe or call 1-800-222-2225. Bulk orders are welcome.

Are you bothered by cold winter temperatures? Have you found a way to combat it? Share your ideas with your fellow readers. We'd love to hear from you soon.

Use It So You Don’t Lose It

2006-12-30T11:27:00.000-05:00

You can maintain cognitive capabilities as you age according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The study entitled: The Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly or ACTIVE found that community-dwelling seniors who received cognitive training had less of a decline in certain thinking skills than their peers who did not have the training.

Three groups received specialized training. One group focused on memory, the second on reasoning and the third on speed of processing information. A fourth group received no training. Members of the first three groups increased their cognitive skills, even five years after the training ended.

“The challenge now is to further examine these interventions and others to see how they can be employed in real-world settings,” says NIA Director Richard J. Hodes, M.D. The lesson is clear—use it so you don’t lose it.

For more information, visit the National Institutes of Health.

Medicare Prescription Drug Plan for 2007

2006-12-29T09:35:00.000-05:00

Have you signed up for the Medicare Prescription drug plan? According to the Medicare web site they suggest, “Enroll as soon as possible – the sooner the better – to avoid any inconvenience at the pharmacy counter in January. However, if you’re satisfied with your current plan’s cost and coverage for next year and the customer service you receive, you don’t need to do anything.”

For more information visit the Medicare site.

Have a Happy, Safe New Year

2006-12-29T00:23:00.000-05:00

Start the New Year with a focus on fall prevention. Do you know what to do to prevent a fall? According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons falls occur mainly in the home. So making some simple changes around the house can reduce your risk of a fall and serious injury. Included on the AAOS checklist are the following suggestions:

*Install handrails on both sides of the stairway and use them.
*Do not place loose area rugs at the bottom or top of stairs.
*Keep a telephone near your bed.
*Keep a flashlight near your bed.
*Arrange furniture to create clear pathways between rooms.
*Immediately clean up any liquid, grease or food spilled on the floor.
*Store food, dishes and cooking equipment at easy-to-reach waist-high level.

For a more comprehensive home safety checklist to prevent falls visit: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

We’d like to hear from you. Share with your fellow readers tips you have in place to prevent falls.