Retirement ~ Can You Say MEXICO

Boomers May Soon Overcome Top Objection to Retirement in Mexico

As retirees and 12 year residents of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, it’s quite easy to extol the benefits of living in Mexico. Of course, not every part of Mexico is the same (as is true in the US or Canada); however, we can certainly vouch for Puerto Vallarta. With its beautiful climate and landscape of the Sierra Madres cascading down into Banderas Bay, its kind and friendly local citizenry, its proximity to the US and Canada, and its lower cost of living, what’s there not to like in this wonderland south of the border?

English, as a second language, is widely spoken throughout the city, the safety of expats is of highest priority for the authorities with the rate of violent crime at a fraction of that back home, corruption significantly reduced, poverty virtually eradicated, and the cleanliness of this city make it a favorite resort destination for millions of visitors from throughout the world. All of the “Big box” stores such as Sam’s Club, Costco, Wal-Mart, Builders Square, Office Depot, nine beautiful signature golf courses, world class deep sea fishing, high speed internet, satellite TV, VOIP telephone service, etc. are all available in this beautiful city in the center of the Mexican Riviera.

The face of Vallarta has been dramatically altered during the past decade with well maintained city parks, esplanades, a new malecon walkway along the beach, new water treatment facilities and miles of new water distribution lines, new or upgraded power distribution system throughout the city, new downtown above ground and underground parking garages, a new University of Guadalajara branch, a new Convention Center, the tripling in size of the Maritime Terminal, the quadrupling in size of the International Airport, and the addition of four new hospitals with modern and sophisticated diagnostic and surgical equipment, staffed with highly trained and experienced English speaking doctors.

Now that we’ve established the fact that Vallarta is a fine place to live or retire, let’s take a closer look at the last item above related to medical care.

With high quality medical care readily available in Vallarta, the cost of it, even though at a fraction of the cost in the US, can be a deciding factor when considering Mexico as a retirement location. Assuming that most retirees have reached or are fast approaching their 65th birthday, the availability, quality, and cost of medical care are of high importance. The quality of medical care in Vallarta is generally equal to or better than that received in the US and the cost varies from one third to one half of that in the States (speaking from experience and with authority!).

Having high quality medical care available in Mexico is one thing but paying for it is another since US provided Medicare for seniors fails to cross the border at this time. Various supplements to Medicare cover seniors traveling abroad for a limited period of time (for example, supplement F covers the holder for the first 60 days of international travel), however, they are inadequate for full time residents living abroad.

Although Mexican Social Security (IMSS) is available to expats, most under the age of 65 have their own private international health insurance which is somewhat costly as discussed in numerous articles and covered on websites such as MedToGo. For many years, we have used IHI/BUPA and can state emphatically; their coverage and service is absolutely great for expats living in Mexico and traveling worldwide.

Now, let’s assume you’ve reached the age of 65 and are considering Mexico as your retirement destination. It’s very difficult to abandon your free Medicare that you’ve contributed to for a lifetime, the cost of private insurance is almost prohibitive, and you can’t afford to take the risk of being uninsured. This is the main dilemma for seniors considering retirement abroad. Even so, there are more than five million (some reports indicate six million) Americans living abroad, of which more than a million reside in Mexico per the Association of Americans Resident Overseas (AARO). In fact, there are more US expats living abroad than reside in 24 of the states in the US as reported by Republicans Abroad!

Well, perhaps we’re on the verge of overcoming this top objection to retiring in Mexico! The US government has been approached by numerous expat groups such as the Puerto Vallarta based chapter of Democrats Abroad and the bipartisan group of American Citizens Abroad (ACA) with the intent of promoting the advancement of Medicare for expats living abroad.

Before Congress can enact such a law change, they must conduct demonstration projects in order to determine the feasibility and cost effectiveness of such law changes. The Americans for Medicare in Mexico, A.C. (AMMAC) have put forth a tremendous effort in promoting this benefit to eligible retirees and have encouraged many members of Congress to initiate such a demonstration project. They argue that not only have these eligible Medicare recipients paid into the fund over a lifetime, but the cost to the US taxpayers will be significantly reduced because rather than returning to the US for expensive and long term medical care, the majority of these expats will merely elect to have their medical care provided near their foreign residence at a fraction of the cost.

Proponents of the law change such as Professor David C. Warner of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas have written books and papers on the subject of “Getting What You Paid For: Extending Medicare to Eligible Beneficiaries in Mexico” and the newly appointed US Ambassador to Mexico, Carlos Pascual, has been following the current efforts to establish a demonstration project for the initiation of Medicare in Mexico as a pilot program. In fact, Ambassador Pascual recently accompanied President Obama to a North American Summit in Guadalajara where one of the topics covered was Medicare in Mexico as reported by the Guadalajara Reporter.

In summarizing, we are anticipating the availability of Medicare for eligible retirees residing in Mexico in the not too distant future. Once this obstacle to retiring abroad has been eliminated, not only will millions of baby boomers in search for a less expensive and better quality of life be heading south of the border, but so too will millions of retiring Mexican Americans desiring to return to their homeland. Combined with all of the other obvious benefits of living in Paradise, free and high quality medical care for boomers will just be the icing on the cake!

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Westchester NY Library Helps Seniors Save

Westchester Library System Helps Seniors Save a Buck with New Senior Benefits Information Centers:

Tarrytown, NY 2010 -- Today’s struggling economy has left many older adults facing financial hardship and filled with uncertainty when it comes to their healthcare. For those on a fixed income, saving money wherever possible has become increasingly important. The Westchester Library System’s (WLS) new Senior Benefits Information Centers (SBICs), located at libraries in Mount Kisco, Shrub Oak, Tarrytown, and Yonkers, offers older adults benefits counseling covering a broad range of topics including Medicare health and prescription plans, food stamps, HEAP, EPIC, weatherization, minor home repair, and tax relief programs.

WLS has partnered with the Medicare Rights Center and Westchester County’s Department of Senior Programs and Services to make the free one-on-one counseling available at four Westchester locations. SBICs are now open at the John C. Hart Memorial Library in Shrub Oak (Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10am to 1pm) and the Grinton I. Will Library in Yonkers (Mondays and Tuesdays from 10am to 1pm; Thursdays from 11am to 1pm). Grand openings are scheduled for The Warner Library in Tarrytown on April 21, 2010 and Mount Kisco Public Library on May 12, 2010. Counseling at both locations will be available on Wednesdays from 10am to 1pm.

“In this economy, everyone needs to save a buck – especially seniors,” said Robin Osborne, Director of WLS’s Office of Community Connections. “WLS’s SBICs help Westchester’s older adults hone in on the specific programs that qualify for – whether it’s related to healthcare, home care, or tax relief. Seniors receive one-on-one attention to have their questions answered and leave armed with the information they need to save.”

SBIC’s counselors address each visitor’s specific needs and guide them through a variety of online resources to identify their individual eligibility. All locations are equipped with a dedicated phone line to answer questions as well as computers and printers that enable seniors to leave with the appropriate information and referrals. In an effort to make SBIC services available to an even greater number of seniors, WLS is also exploring the possibility of expanding the program to other libraries in Westchester County.

Ann Acken, a senior citizen from Somers, recently visited the SBIC at the John C. Hart Memorial Library in Shrub Oak with questions about her Medicare coverage. "My experience was very enlightening. The volunteer counselor, Marna, was very patient and answered all of my questions."

Volunteer SBIC counselors are trained by the Medicare Rights Center and include retired professionals such as nurses, teachers, social workers. WLS and the Medicare Rights Center are seeking additional volunteers, particularly in the Northern Westchester area. Westchester residents who are interested should be at least 50 years old with excellent public speaking and interpersonal skills, be computer literate, and able to commit to a minimum of 12 hours per month. Some knowledge of the health care system and fluency in Spanish is a plus.

“The SBIC counseling program is especially important this year because many people are not aware of their eligibility for Medicare Savings Programs and savings available through other public benefits, such as Food Stamps,” said Lois Steinberg, Westchester Program Director for the Medicare Rights Center. “Our trained counselors can help them find the benefits they are eligible for and show them how to apply.”

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Extraordinary People of the Senior Kind ~

RETURNS IN THE FALL ~

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Can Brain Scans Detect Alzheimer's?

CHICAGO (Reuters) - People with a family history of Alzheimer's disease often have clumps of a toxic protein in their brains even though they are perfectly healthy, researchers said on Monday.

They said the findings could lead to new ways to identify people most likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, when there is still time to do something about it.

"The hope is to one day be able to diagnose very clearly the Alzheimer's disease process before any symptoms occur, when the brain is still healthy. Then the treatments would have the best chance of success," said Lisa Mosconi of New York University Langone Medical Center, whose study appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The team wants to continue to follow the people in the study to see whether they develop dementia, and they want to replicate the findings in a much larger study.

Several teams have been working on better ways to detect early-stage Alzheimer's disease in hopes of developing drugs that can fight it before it causes too much damage.

Current treatments cannot reverse the course of Alzheimer's, a mind-robbing form of dementia that affects more than 26 million people globally.

Mosconi's team used an imaging technique called positron emission tomography or PET with a fluorescent dye called Pittsburgh Compound B that lights up clumps of a protein called beta amyloid that are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.

The team imaged the brains of 42 people with an average age of 65, all with healthy brain function. Of these, 14 people had mothers who had Alzheimer's; 14 had fathers with the disease; and 14 had parents with healthy brain function.

Brain scans of all 42 showed that those whose parents -- either fathers or mothers -- had Alzheimer's were more likely to have amyloid plaques in their brains.

This was especially true of people whose mothers had Alzheimer's.

"They have pretty much 20 percent more amyloid beta deposits in their brains. In other words, they had an almost four times greater risk for amyloid beta pathology," Mosconi said in a telephone interview.

The finding confirms other studies that suggest having a mother with Alzheimer's may be a greater risk factor.

"It looks like if you have maternal history of Alzheimer's disease, the risk of amyloid beta plaque and a reduction in brain activity is much greater as compared to having a father affected," Mosconi said.

After advanced age, a family history of Alzheimer's is the single biggest risk factor for developing the disease.

Not everyone who has beta amyloid plaques in their brain develops Alzheimer's disease, but Mosconi said having the plaques does increase the risk.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Senior Health Insurance

Senior health insurance

People at the age of 65 or getting older comes into the eligibility of social security and they qualify for receiving Medicare health insurance coverage. Apart from getting all the benefits of Medicare also, some seniors want more advantage than what they are getting. Therefore they decide to go for some private insurance which can supplement the Medicare policy. Let us discuss the health insurance supplementary plans that rein the market for senior citizens.

Medigap

Health Insurance which the old people purchase as a supplement of their Medicare policy is often called as the Medigap insurance. As the very name suggests the Medigap is actually meant to fulfill the gaps which Medicare leaves in the treatment, for the senior citizens. Medigap usually meet the individual needs; such as they can cover deductibles, prescriptions, and also long term nursing care. The premiums generally vary with the coverage of the plan chosen. As long as you pay the premiums regularly, the insurance is guaranteed to renewable. The interest rates of supplementary health insurance vary among the various agents. Thus it is always wise to get the complete rates first over the internet, before buying one of them.

Long Term Care Health Insurance

The other type of insurance that seniors choose as a supplemental to Medicare is long term care insurance. This insurance is specially to cover the long term care. They include several services as the staying in nursing homes and the assisted living facilities. Whereas Medicare covers only a stay for first 100 days in the nursing home, the long term care insurance can bear the extended stays in both the cases. Thus, if an extended stay becomes necessary in a nursing home or assisted living facility – long term health insurance is very much helpful in such situations. Purchasing such insurance removes the worry of having to pay for extended stays in a nursing home or assisted living facilities. Long term care insurance also gives the facility to the patient to choose the best plan available in the nursing home.

Medicare coverage is an excellent option for the people of age 65 years and above. But those who can afford it, they look forward into additional coverage options which can ensure them to get the full quality of health care that they require


For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Dementia Defined

To many, Alzheimer’s disease is a thief. It is the illness that steals their loved one and replaces them with someone else.

Belleville resident Sue Cooke is all too familiar with Alzheimer’s disease. One of the few words she ever hears her 79-year-old mother speak anymore is “Help.”
Since the diagnoses three years ago, her mother’s condition has declined rapidly.
“Before, you could see she would know who you were at first,” says Cooke.
“When you said ‘I’m so and so,’ you could see it in her eyes – you could see it click in, but that doesn’t happen anymore,” she says.

Alzheimer’s is a disease of the brain and the most common form of dementia.
According to Kristel Nicholas, public education co-ordinator with the local chapter of the Alzheimer Society, there are several different types of dementia. The important thing, she says, is in understanding what dementia is.

“Dementia is someone having trouble with understanding, reasoning, judgment, making decisions and short-term memory. If someone is experiencing those symptoms, those are symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia,” says Nicholas.
To simplify the relationship between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, Nicholas uses the analogy of an umbrella.

“Underneath the umbrella, all the little spokes that are coming down, those each represent a different type of dementia. So that’s where the Alzheimer’s disease would be – it would be one of those spokes along with some other common types of dementia, like vascular dementia, Pick’s disease, Lewy body dementia – there’s so many different kinds,” she says.
First identified in 1906, Alzheimer’s disease was discovered by Dr. Alois Alzheimer. It was then he described two distinctive characteristics of the disease - what he described as “plaques” and “tangles.”
“I’m definitely not a neurologist and I don’t pretend to be, but my understanding of it is that it’s the plaques that are attacking the brain cells. They choke them and cause them to shrink and die. And when we lose brain cells, we don’t grow new ones,” explains Nicholas.
“So part of the problem going on in the brain is that the connections are just not getting through. It’s the plaques that are doing the attacking and the damage and then the tangles are what’s left behind,” she says.
As the plaques and tangles develop, the brain shrinks and brain function decreases.
Cooke has witnessed the evidence of these symptoms in her mother. Last year, they had to have her placed in a nursing home.
“She doesn’t know how to eat anymore. They have to help her. They have to remind her what to do. Like, I can tell she’s forgetting how to eat,” says Cooke.
Cooke’s parents have been together for more than 60 years, but now her father lives alone in their marital home.
“It’s hardest on him because they’ve been together so long. And it’s sort of taken his wife away. They are each other’s lives. They always have been,” says Cooke.
“Unless he’s not feeling good, he goes every single day to see her,” she adds.
For many family members, the most upsetting aspect of the disease is the effect it has on the memory of their loved one, particularly the short-term memory.
Nicholas can also explain that in the most simplistic of terms.
“If you can picture knitting a scarf and you’ve got the two needles, and you’re casting on those first few stitches, those represent the person’s earliest memories in life – the very first things that they can remember doing. And throughout your life, you lay down all of these memories, all of these stitches in layers and so as time goes on, you end up with this long gorgeous scarf of all of your memories.
“When someone develops a dementia like Alzheimer’s disease, their knitting stops. No more new stitches are laid down. No more new memories. Instead, what begins to happen for them, is that their scarf starts to unravel from the most recent stitches that were knit, form the most recent memories that were laid down,” says Nicholas.
Determining how far the “scarf” has unravelled is essential to understanding the effect the disease is having.
“However far it’s unravelled, that is now their new reality,” says Nicholas.
“No amount of arguing or reasoning or logic is going to bring them back. We need to jump in there with them and be with them in their reality,” she says.
Sadly, for Cooke’s mother, “reality” does not include her four children.
“Dad - she sometimes knows who he is, sometimes not. She doesn’t always recognize him,” she says, adding, “she knows she likes him, but that’s about it.”
Cooke’s mother is now living somewhere in the distant past – in a time when her father played a key role.
“Sometimes she calls dad ‘Chuck’ – that’s her father,” says Cooke.
According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, one in 11 Canadians over the age of 65 develops some form of dementia. For Canadians over the age of 85, the occurrence is even higher: one in three.
Age, says Nicholas, is a definite risk factor.
“We know that as people age, their likelihood of developing this disease increases,” she says.
But, she says, “more and more, this disease seems to be affecting younger people.”
Prior to the age of 65, the disease is categorized as early onset Alzheimer’s.
“Just since January, we’ve had probably half a dozen people come to us between the age of 50 and 65,” says Nicholas.
“I have a couple of gentlemen in their 50s,” she says.
Regardless of the individual’s age, understanding their memories, and the emotional connection to them, is the key.
“That will help you as they go backwards in their memories to know what’s going on, and memories and emotions are so closely linked, “ says Nicholas.
“Communicating with words becomes harder and harder for people with any kind of dementia and so if you don’t have your words, it’s the non-verbal behaviour that they rely on - that we rely on them for. So we need to be really good at reading their non-verbal behavior and their cues because eventually they’re not going to be able to tell us with words what the problem is,” says Nicholas.
For Cooke, the word “help” could mean so much. She isn’t really sure what her mother is trying to communicate in that one, simple word and it is getting increasingly difficult to “help” her mother.
“Her health is pretty good, but it’s her mind,” she says. “But as your mind goes, your health goes too,” she says.




For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

You Can Retire But Your Brain Keeps Working

Brain Tips For Senior Citizens:
How To Preserve Mental Health In Retirement

The light of understanding is shining brighter when it comes to the human mind. For too long culture has presumed that little could be done to preserve or enhance the capabilities of our brains. But those days are gone.

Leaders in science are peeling back the layers of the human mind and revealing an incredible pattern-making organ that is constantly interacting with the world and essentially learning how to adapt and grow. The brain’s capacity to stay active and in peak condition relies on consistent stimulation just as our bodies rely on physical exercise. Senior Living

Even as senior citizens, it is absolutely wrong thinking to assume that poor brain functioning is inevitable. Science is demonstrating the brain’s capacity to actually grow new neurons and expand its capacities despite age.

Severe declines in mental health are most often associated with some type of disease whereas memory loss or diminished motor skills are more likely caused by our failure to stay active in our older years.

If seniors don’t engage the mind with consistent forms of mental exercise, you will face real loss that is difficult to retrieve. Memory

Because our brains are pattern making machines, we have a tendency to observe life and quickly dismiss the wonder right in front of us. Unlike a child, we no longer have curiosity and the drive to discover new things or try something new.

When was the last time you saw or heard something on the news that struck your curiosity and sent you scurrying to the computer or library to learn more? These learning moments are literally a call to engage in life and keep your brain fit.

Sometimes brain fitness can be as simple as doing something you routinely do but in a different way. For example, try to tie the knot in your shoes using reverse motion.

Just like learning as a kid, it will feel almost impossible but in that moment you are engaging your mind to learn a new skill. Or try writing your name or brushing your teeth with your left hand if you are right handed. Let the process be fun.

Find a task or a topic to study every week. Get on the computer and play with hundreds of brain games that will stimulate your mind and help pass the time.

Another excellent way to stimulate the mind is simply traveling to places you have not been before. Too many seniors are reluctant to stray too far from home. Like rats in a maze, the fear of getting lost overpowers the desire to see a new place. Senior Lifestyle

Here are some day to day tips to help keep the senior mind alert…

• Engage all your sense every single day. Smell, touch, hearing, seeing, tasting, textures, hardness etc.
• Communicate with friends and spouses using different methods e.g. eyes only, facial expressions, no hands.
• Take on some of your daily tasks but do it with your eyes closed. Can you feel your way?
• Multi-task with the senses…actively use your seeing and hearing capacities at the same time and pay attention to slight distinctions.
• Get out of daily routines-do things in different order; try to accomplish a task in a completely different way;
• Travel about on new roads. Get to the store a new way. Drive home on a different route. Shut off the radio while driving and listen to the sounds;

For seniors, the key is to stay playful with life. Have fun. Be curious. Learn something everyday. Be attentive. Engage the senses. Smile. It is good to be living this very moment!


For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Seniors: Jokes to Make You Smile

Romance?
Karl and Milly were lying in bed one night. Carl was falling asleep but Milly was in a romantic mood and wanted to talk. She said, "You used to hold my hand when we were courting."
Wearily Karl reached across, held her hand for a second, and rolled over to try to fall asleep.
A few moments later she said, "Then you used to kiss me."
Mildly irritated, he leaned across, gave her a peck on the cheek and settled back down to sleep.
Thirty seconds later she said, "Then you used to bite my neck."
Angrily, he threw back the bed clothes and got out of bed.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"To the bathroom to get my teeth," he replied.

Hard of Hearing
An old man decided his old wife was getting hard of hearing. So he called her doctor to make an appointment to have her hearing checked. The doctor said he could see her in two weeks, and meanwhile there's a simple, informal test the husband could do to give the doctor some idea of the dimensions of the problem.
"Here's what you do. Start about 40 feet away from her, and speak in a normal onversational tone and see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response."
So that evening she's in the kitchen cooking dinner, and he's in the living room, and he says to himself, "I'm about 40 feet away, let's see what happens."
"Honey, what's for supper?"
No response.
So he moves to the other end of the room, about 30 feet away. "Honey, what's for supper?"
No response.
So he moves into the dining room, about 20 feet away. "Honey, what's for supper?"
No response.
On to the kitchen door, only 10 feet away. "Honey, what's for supper?".
No response.
So he walks right up behind her. "Honey, what's for supper?"
"For the fifth time, CHICKEN!"

Old Wisdom

After working his farm every day, an old farmer rarely had time to enjoy the large pond in the back that he had fixed up years earlier with picnic tables, horseshoe courts, and benches. So one evening he decided to go down and see how things were holding up. Much to his surprise, he heard voices shouting and laughing with glee. As he came closer he saw it was a group of young women skinny dipping in his pond.
He made the women aware of his presence and they all went to the deep end. One of the women shouted to him, "We're not coming out until you leave."
The old farmer replied, "I didn't come down here to watch you ladies swim or make you get out of the pond naked. I only came down to feed the alligator."


Wrong Color Suit

An old lady was very upset as her husband Albert had just passed away. She went to the undertakers to have one last look at her dearly departed husband. The instant she saw him she started crying. The mortician walked over to comfort her. Through her tears she explained that she was upset because her dearest Albert was wearing a black suit, and it was his fervent wish to be buried in a blue suit.
The mortician apologized and explained that traditionally they always put bodies in a black suit, but he'd see what he could arrange.
The next day she returned to the funeral parlor to have one last moment with Albert before the funeral the following day.
When the mortician pulled back the curtain, she managed a smile through her tears as Albert was resplendent in a smart blue suit. She said to the mortician, "Wonderful, wonderful, but where did you get that beautiful suit?"
"Well, yesterday afternoon after you left, a man about your husband's size was brought in and he was wearing a blue suit," the mortician replied. "His wife was quite upset because she wanted him buried in the traditional black suit."
Albert's wife smiled at the undertaker.
"After that," he continued, "it was just a matter of swapping the heads."

Quiz: How Old Are You Really?
From the following list of 25 items, count all the ones that you remember -- not the ones you were told about! How to score yourself is at the end.

1.Blackjack chewing gum
2.Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar-water
3.Candy cigarettes
4.Soda-pop machines that dispensed bottles
5.Coffee shops with tableside jukeboxes
6.Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers
7.Party lines
8.Newsreels before the movie
9.P. F. Flyers
10.Butch wax
11.Telephone numbers with a word prefix (e.g., Olive - 6933)
12.Peashooters
13.Howdy Doody
14.45-RPM records ... and 78-RPM records
15.S&H Green Stamps
16.Hi-fi systems
17.Metal ice trays with lever
18.Mimeograph paper
19.Blue flashbulb
20.Packards
21.Rollerskate keys
22.Cork popguns
23.Drive-in theaters
24.Studebakers
25.Washtub wringers
If you remembered!
0 - 5 = You're still young
6 - 10 = You are getting older
11 - 15 = Don't tell your age
16 - 25 = You're older than you think!
Be sure to pass this along -- especially to all your friends with really good memories.

Oh, the pity of old age.

When I went to lunch today, I noticed an old man sitting on a park bench sobbing his eyes out. I stopped and asked him what was wrong. He said, "I have a 22 year old wife at home. She rubs my back every morning and then gets up and makes me pancakes, sausage, fresh fruit and freshly ground coffee."
I said, "Well, then why are you crying?"
He said, "She makes me homemade soup for lunch and my favorite brownies, cleans the house and then watches sports TV with me for the rest of the afternoon."
I said, "Well, why are you crying?"
He said, "For dinner she makes me a gourmet meal with wine and my favorite dessert and then makes love with me until the wee hours"
I said, "Well, why in the world would you be crying?"
He said, "I can't remember where I live!"



For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Simplifying Senior Travel

How to Make Travel Simple for Senior Citizens
By Fred Rodriguez on April 11, 2010

Have you long wished to see the Golden Gate Bridge or the Arc de Triomph? Are you missing family from a far away place? Has the idea of traveling to Ireland or Scotland peaked your interest? As the saying goes, “Seize the day!” and start making plans now that will allow you to take a fun-filled trip that will provide lasting memories. Just explore your options and value the experience.

Staying healthy and maintaining energy levels can be challenging as we grow older, but research shows that staying active makes it easier to accomplish both. Taking a trip employs your mental and physical abilities, which helps you to stay active. Consider travel to places you’ve never been, to cultures that stretch your mind and spirit. More and more, travelers over the age of fifty are outnumbering younger travelers at popular destinations.

Here are some travel suggestions for those who may be advanced in years but remain young in spirit. When you are choosing a travel agency, ask if they specialize in working with and helping senior citizens with their traveling needs. Second, it’s safer to travel with someone than alone, like with a family member, a new or old friend, or even an member of a group you belong to.

Keep in mind when you travel with larger groups that can often mean discounted rates for both hotels and airlines. These days, there are many lightweight and compact travel cases available. You might consider the suitcases that have wheels on the bottom. If you must travel with a narcotic prescription, make sure you bring a note from your physician, as well as the paperwork for the medication. Having appropriate paperwork with you makes it easier to get through the airport security.

Traveler’s insurance may be a useful thing to invest in, depending on the details of your trip. Checking on medical insurance coverage abroad is a smart thing to do before you embark on your trip. There are a few policies that do not provide this coverage, so check to make sure. Finally, do some thorough research on your planned destination before finalizing your travel itinerary.

A little thoughtful planning beforehand will make your trip a much safer and enjoyable one. Here are some simple safety tips for senior tourists.

Be prepared to take along enough prescription medication to last the length of your trip and extra seven days. It’s better to err on the side of caution, as you never know what could delay you. Make an appointment with your doctor before hand to get a clean bill of health. Talk to your physician about the steps you should take in case the unexpected happens.

You should also carry a list of who you would like to be contacted in case of emergency. The list should include your name, home address, family members, primary care physician, any health concerns you have and any medicines you take. Have it on you at all times; in case of an emergency situation, make sure your travel companions know how to obtain it.

Your physician can advise you on when to take medications if you are traveling through time zones. Ask about possible food and medication interactions. Be sure to get all the immunizations you will need for diseases that may be common to the area you will be visiting. Depending on where you are traveling, you may need to get specific immunizations before you go–sometimes up to six weeks in advance. Also consider the conditions inside the aircraft. Air quality can be dry, so hydrate often. Drink plenty of water while in flight. Get up and move around during your flight. Stretch your arms and legs a few times. Sitting in one place during your flight will make you feel stiff and tired.

When packing your suitcases, try to limit your items to only those you know you will actually need; this prevents you from having to carry more than necessary. Pack clothes that mix and match, such as two or three tops that can be paired with slacks or a skirt. For men, trousers and a suit jacket can be worn with two or three long or short-sleeved shirts. Include an item or two for warmer or cooler weather than expected. Sweaters and shawls can be worn during cool evening temperatures and places where air is climate controlled. Clothing that can be continually washed and worn is the best option.

And don’t forgot comfortable shoes for walking, but be aware of the image you will be presenting to the local people. Wearing some traveler items can actually make you stand out for local criminals looking to take advantage of tourists. Losing baggage happens and it can take as much as several days to find them. Be sure to let other people know where you will be. Jot down your agenda, travel plans, hotel address and phone numbers with someone at home.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Extraordinary People of the Senior Kind ~

RETURNS IN THE FALL ~

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Slowing the Onset of Alzheimer's Disease

FROM THE NIH
Targeting the Blood-Brain Barrier May Delay Progression of Alzheimer's Disease:

Researchers may be one step closer to slowing the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. An animal study supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health, shows that by targeting the blood-brain barrier, researchers are able to slow the accumulation of a protein associated with the progression of the illness. The blood-brain barrier separates the brain from circulating blood, and it protects the brain by removing toxic metabolites and proteins formed in the brain and preventing entry of toxic chemicals from the blood.

"This study may provide the experimental basis for new strategies that can be used to treat Alzheimer’s patients," said David S. Miller, Ph.D., chief of the Laboratory of Toxicology and Pharmacology at NIEHS and an author on the paper that appears in the May issue of Molecular Pharmacology.

Alzheimer's is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually disrupts function of major organs. Estimates vary, but experts suggest that as many as 2.6 million to 5.1 million Americans may have Alzheimer’s. One hallmark of Alzheimer's is the deposition of beta-amyloid protein in the brain. This protein clumps to form plaques that destroy neurons and lead to cognitive impairment and memory loss in Alzheimer patients.

"What we've shown in our mouse models is that we can reduce the accumulation of beta-amyloid protein in the brain by targeting a certain receptor in the brain known as the pregnane X receptor, or PXR," said Miller.

The researchers from NIEHS and the University of Minnesota Duluth demonstrated that when 12-week-old genetically modified mice expressing human beta-amyloid protein are treated with a steroid-like chemical that activates PXR, the amount of beta-amyloid protein in the brain is reduced. The activation of the PXR was found to increase the expression of a blood-brain barrier protein known as P-glycoprotein. This protein transports beta-amyloid out of the brain.

"Our results show several new findings. We now know that P-glycoprotein plays a pivotal role in clearing beta-amyloid from the brain. Secondly, we know P-glycoprotein levels are reduced in the blood-brain barrier, and that the Alzheimer's mice treated with the chemical to activate PXR were able to reduce their beta-amyloid levels to that of mice without Alzheimer's," said Bjorn Bauer, Ph.D., assistant professor at the University of Minnesota and senior author on the paper.

Anika Hartz, Ph.D., lead author on the study, added that it is also likely that reduced P-glycoprotein expression at the blood-brain barrier may be an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease, even before the cognitive symptoms appear. One of the challenges confronting the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's is being able to clearly diagnose the disease process when brain damage is minimal, before any symptoms occur.

"More research is needed before this animal model discovery can be tested in humans, but the paper suggests some new targets for treatment that offer hope to patients and families dealing with this devastating disease," said NIEHS Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D.

The researchers plan to conduct a study where the Alzheimer's mice are fed a PXR-activating compound in their diet for 12-18 months. The cognitive skills of the animals will be monitored regularly, along with their P-glycoprotein levels, to determine whether the feeding regimen delays the onset of cognitive impairment.


For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

OPINION: Obama Not Helping Seniors

Seniors get disrespect from Obama
By Letters to the Editor/Gloucester County ...

It appears that senior citizens are having a harsh awakening about what the government is inflicting upon them.

The value of Social Security benefits is shrinking. About 50 million retired and disabled Americans receive Social Security.

The government claims there was no need for a 2010 cost-of-living increase in these benefits. Where do they obtain this misguided information? Everything is skyrocketing.

Medicare Part B premiums that most Social Security recipients pay are expected to rise, yet there was no cost-of-living increase.

Did you know the retirement nest egg of an entire generation is stashed away in Parkersburg, W. Va., where the Social Security Administration is expected to start cashing in $2.5 trillion worth of IOUs from the federal government?

Social Security previously collected more from payroll taxes each year than it paid out in benefits. But this year, there is a projected $29 billion shortfall.

The federal government has already spent the IOU money over the years on other programs. This money should belong to the people who invested into the system. Wouldn’t you call such stealing a federal offense?

Our country is overwhelmed. We took a bad slide when we allowed millions of illegal immigrants to invade and stay in this country. Our schools are overloaded. Who is paying the taxes if these immigrants are not?

I’m sure there are many seniors without health care or who could use more help to survive.

We need to rid this country of these illegal immigrants. Let them wait their turn to enter this country, as our ancestors did.

We are entirely too lenient with our laws. Our systems are drying up. That’s why all the states are going broke.

Our seniors don’t deserve the disrespect they have sustained from President Barack Obama. He can print trillions of dollars to bail out the banks and other corporations, but he can’t find the funds to give seniors a modest cost-of-living raise.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Alzheimer's Can Cause Weight/ Muscle Loss

Alzheimer's Disease May Eat Away Muscles
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People with Alzheimer's disease may begin to lose weight even before they begin to show memory loss and other symptoms, according to a new report.

Dr. Jeffrey Burns of the University of Kansas School of Medicine found that people with Alzheimer's disease lost weight from their bones, organs and muscles -- known as lean mass -- as they lost brain function and volume.

The findings suggest that lean mass, as opposed to body mass index or other measures of overall weight or fat levels, may be a more sensitive measure of the changes in body composition associated with dementia.

"We observed a direct correlation between whole-brain volume (an estimate of brain atrophy) and lean mass, suggesting that brain atrophy and loss of muscle mass may co-occur," the authors of the study said.

They also found that people with Alzheimer's disease have lower levels of physical activity, which could also cause them to lose lean mass.

The study appeared in the April issue of Archives of Neurology.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Seniors Traveling to Mexico

All around the world, senior travel is increasing in popularity. A large number of senior citizens are making the decision to get out and travel. If you are one of those individuals, you have likely examined a number of popular vacation destinations. If so, was Mexico on your list?

Mexico is an amazing place to vacation. It is ideal for individuals of all ages. A large number of senior citizens travel to Mexico, each year. Despite what many believe, the United States and Europe are not the only vacation destinations that are ideal for senior citizens. If you are able to take the time to examine what Mexico has to offer, you will likely want to schedule your next vacation there.

As with any other vacation destination, Mexico has a wide range of activities. Many of these activities are perfect for senior citizens. Just a few of the many activities found in Mexico include relaxing at the beach, taking a boat cruise, or going on a guided tour. If you are only able to select a few of these activities, you will want to examine each activity and determine which one brings you the most excitement.

One of the most preferred activities, in all of Mexico, for senior citizens is guided tours. When you think of a guided tour, what first comes to mind? Many individuals assume hiking or biking through rough terrain, but that is not what Mexico guided tours are all about. It is true, you may find guided tours that require a large amount of walking, but additional alterative are available.

Popular guided tours, that are ideal for senior citizens include, ATV tours, bus tours, and boat tours. ATV tours are ideal for those who wish to have a little bit of freedom and excitement while touring Mexico. For those that wish to relax while seeing what Mexico has to offer, boat tours or bus tours may be best.

Similar to guided tours, boat cruises are also available. Many senior citizens consider Mexico boat tours similar to travel aboard a cruise ship. Instead of taking an extended cruise, most boat tours only last a few hours. The length of your tour may be a deciding factor in whether or not you wish to take a boat cruise.

While boat cruises are often used to sightsee, there are many that serve other purposes. Many boat cruises offer exciting onboard activities. These activities often include a night of dinner and dancing. With a little bit of research, it may be possible to find a boat cruise that is designed specifically for senior citizens.

Mexico is most known for their beautiful, fun, and exciting beaches. If you are interested in relaxing at the beach, you have a number of options to choose from. Due to Mexico’s popularity, many public beaches are overcrowded, especially in the spring and summer months. If you would prefer to stay away from large crowds, you may want to consider scheduling your beach vacation at a beach resort.

Mexico beach resorts come in all different sizes and styles. As with most popular beaches, many beach resorts quickly fill up with tourists. Aside from large, well-known resorts, Mexico offers a number of smaller resorts that have a focus on relaxation and privacy. If you are interested in spending your vacation in a private and intimate setting, you may want to consider these types of resorts.

Relaxing by the beach, taking a boat cruise, or going on a guided tour are just a few of the many activities that you can participate in while on a Mexico vacation. Additional activities may include, but should not be limited to, boating, fishing, snorkeling, or horseback riding.

Before participating in a certain activity, you are encouraged to examine your health and your ability to participate. This is not something that is limited just to senior citizens. All individuals are encouraged to examine their ability to complete and participate in certain activities. It is advised that you enjoy your vacation, not push yourself to the limits.


For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

New Jersey Budget Cuts Affect Seniors

Assembly Democrats rap Senior Services budget cuts

Democratic legislators had harsh words for Gov. Christie's proposed budget on health and senior services Monday, arguing that while the governor had called for "shared sacrifice," his budget would seriously hurt the elderly and other vulnerable citizens.
At the Assembly Budget Committee's 31/2-hour hearing on the Department of Health and Senior Services, Commissioner Poonam Alaigh said the budget decisions had been difficult, but she defended the administration's proposals. Even with 6 percent funding cuts to the department, she said, the budget preserves the core mission of the department, including protecting public health.

Funding for hospital charity care would increase under the budget, she said, along with funding to help seniors remain in home and community-based programs as a cost-effective alternative to nursing-home care.

And Alaigh said that even with the proposed changes, New Jersey would continue to offer among the best health benefits nationwide.

Democratic lawmakers disagreed.

"I don't understand our race to mediocrity," said committee Chairman Louis Greenwald (D., Camden), speaking about proposed changes to New Jersey's low-cost prescription programs for lower-income elderly residents, Pharmaceutical Assistance for the Aged and Disabled and Senior Gold. "This is a program that New Jersey should be proud of."

Legislators said they particularly disliked a proposal to add a $310 annual deductible for the prescription-drug programs and to increase co-payments for brand-name prescriptions from $7 to $15. Co-payments for generic drugs would drop from $6 to $5.

Greenwald predicted that with the increased costs, "we'll see senior citizens rationing drugs, getting sicker, and ending up in emergency rooms and nursing homes for expensive treatment that will cost taxpayers even more."

Assembly Appropriations Chairwoman Nellie Pou (D., Passaic) was one of several lawmakers who noted that increased health-care costs would come on top of cuts to property-tax relief.

"We're talking here about our parents, grandparents, and the cornerstones of our communities who will be out $1,725 in lost property-tax relief and increased prescription-drug fees as people making $500,000 enjoy a $1,630 tax break," Pou said.

Others on the panel echoed those sentiments. "Senior citizens in communities throughout our state are going to feel the sting of this budget while the wealthiest residents enjoy their tax cut," said Assemblyman Albert Coutinho (D., Essex).

Assembly Republican Budget Officer Joseph R. Malone III, of Burlington County, hinted that Christie's proposals were not very different from those offered in previous years by other governors, including Democrats.

"Have you heard about co-pays in the past?" Malone asked Alaigh. "Have you heard about pretty much everything you've heard about today?"

Medicaid co-payments are frequently proposed by New Jersey governors in budget proposals, typically to be dropped by the Legislature under pressure from advocacy groups.

Last year, Gov. Jon S. Corzine called for more than 400,000 low-income residents receiving Medicaid assistance to pay up to $10 a month for prescription drugs. The co-payments were eliminated in the final budget.

"This is the beginning of a process in which I think all of us are going to try to work with you to mitigate any damages done by these suggested cuts," Malone said.

The budget committee also met with Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin yesterday to discuss his department's proposal.


For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Vacation Insurance Is A Must

Envision breaking an arm while falling off the precipice of a mountain in a secluded area. Your vacation would become quite a venture if this happened in a third-world country, far from your familiar emergency and medical services. Travel insurance may have been the last thing on your mind until your fall.

If a hospital wasn’t close by, it could take you two days in order to get to a hospital. Once arriving at a medical center, your troubles are not over; you’d likely need to pay a local teen to bring you ethnic food and painkillers from neighborhood kiosks. The reason for this is that many third world hospitals don’t stock these kinds of things.

And if surgery is required, being able to trust the anesthesia, or hoping for sterile procedures, could be a real concern. Your total hospital bill could be as little as $100 cash for having both of your arms set and put into casts. Your next need would be finding a flight to your country and negotiating a seat on the plane.

In this situation, private insurance may cover four operations and a further six months of physical therapy. This would not be available to those without insurance. Most travelers do not consider these risks as they set out for their trips, but insurance becomes more and more essential as your destination becomes more remote.

Trip cancellation coverage could be included with the medical travel insurance that is available through some travel agencies and health insurers. The policies that you can purchase vary depending on which insurance company that you choose, as well as your budget, but many of the will base your overage on increments of one hundred dollars.

Most people who buy travel insurance are elderly people who often worry about canceling a trip because of illness or worried they will require care abroad for an existing health problem. Medicare will not cover you as you are traveling out of the country, but other insurers may. Of course, Medicare is the prime medical insurance provider for senior citizens in the United States.

When a patient is a tourist, often hospitals demand cash, travelers checks or credit card payment. Smaller incidents, such as a few stitches, are often no problem with this form of payment. On the other hand, if you are in need of an emergency room, having travelers health care insurance could save you a lot of trouble.

When you have travel insurance, the party insuring you will compensate you if death or illness causes the cancellation of your trip. This may be either related to you personally or that of a relative. Insurance will also compensate you if your tour group or airline goes bankrupt.

There are numerous other healthcare concerns that you should be aware or prior to traveling overseas, outside of travel insurance. Visit your area hospital’s travel clinic in order to get any vaccinations and shots that might be required by the area you are visiting. It would be smart to ask your medical insurance company for the proper procedure to obtain medical treatment at your vacation destination.

A good preventative plan is to include the following when you pack: thermometer, antibacterial ointment and bandages, in addition to a general first aid kit. In order to make sure that you don’t run into any medical problems, be sure to pack several days more of medications than what you plan to need. Having prescription information in Latin, including generic names, is a good idea, as well.

Credit cards provide some travel insurance, regardless of whether you have travel insurance. For instance, if you used your American Express card to cover the cost of your trip, they will cover the cost of your car rental damage, and baggage the airline company may have lost, and on occasion, injuries. If you choose to pay a small extra fee, they will even cover the cost of a flight you may have missed, emergency evacuations, medical costs, and other precarious situations.

Proper planning can minimize the trauma of many unexpected events that can arise during foreign travel. You should always read the fine print of any policy that you buy, as well as your credit card policies, and your traveling agent’s policies. Travel insurance can be a great help, but policy details are important and should be understood.


For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Extraordinary People of the Senior Kind ~

RETURNS IN THE FALL ~

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Kids of Elderly Parents ~ Mistakes Not to Make

The 5 Most Common Mistakes Made By People With Elderly Parents:

1. Not having a discussions about alternative living arrangements for your parents.
It is important to be proactive concerning this! It is so much easier and less confrontational to start this process early and often. If you start early having discussions about options and choices, you can be much more low key about it.

If you wait and start talking about it after your Dad has fallen and broken his hip, there is no time to be low key-you are now “under the gun” to find answers quickly!

2. Not having a clear picture of your parents’ finances.

Know whether or not they have a long term care policy. If so, you should know where it is and make sure it’s easily accessible. Also, take some time to read through it so you know what it does and does not cover.

If they do not have insurance, what other financial resources do they have? Perhaps it would make sense for you and your parents to talk with a lawyer about Medicaid eligibility and spend down rules. Also, if you have a parent who is a Veteran, it’s possible they’re eligible to receive coverage for some services.

3. When your parents’ health starts to fail, thinking that a nursing home is the only option.

There are no shortage of options around these days. If your parent is resolute about staying in their own home, it is very possible to arrange for care there.

You can also get a bit creative about combining several types of care. As an example, a family could have Dad go to an adult day care facility a few times a week. Other days you may have a caregiver that stays with him other days and also overnight. Then you and other family members can fill in other times, if needed. When it comes to customizing a plan that is right for you and your loved ones, the possibilities are endless.

4. Trying to find help at the last minute

This is a big one. If you wait until Mom is schedule to come home tomorrow from a hospital stay, it will be extremely difficult to make good, rational decisions in such a short time. Trying to develop a good plan of care under such stress will be overwhelming.

You’ll want to do your research as early as possible. Identify some facilities or agencies and contact them. See which ones you get a good vibe from and build a relationship with them. Arrange for you and/or your parent(s) to visit or have someone come to the home for an assessment. By starting the process sooner rather than later, you can call on people who are familiar with your situation if an emergency occurs.

5. Only taking cost into consideration when selecting care providers

This can go either way. Very expensive nursing home facilities may not have very good track records when it comes to caring for their residents. Don’t just look at pretty websites, videos, fancy tours or brochures. It’s important to talk to as many residents and their loved ones as possible to get a true sense of the care the facility provides.

And it you’re looking to arrange home care, selecting the company with the lowest rates might not be the best option. The quality caregivers out there command (and deserve) a higher salary. Good home care agencies can’t be the lowest cost providers yet offer the best caregivers. Lastly, if you go the home care route, be sure to meet with, and approve of, anyone that will be provider care for your loved one before they start care.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

We Need More Adult Day Care Now

The Need For Adult Day Care
By Kelly Wheaton
Adult day care services and centers are needed more and more each day. In these difficult times, adult care services are a lifeline for many who need care. Centers can be a place where adults meet to socialize or a place where those suffering from a mental illness can find treatment. This kind of care is needed in all communities.

These centers are designed to provide adults with some social and health services. Care centers are also able to give those who need supervision a safe place outside of their home. These centers provide both professional and compassionate services to adults within a community-based group setting.

There are many who cannot afford a skilled nursing facility or in-home care. For these people, a care center is a perfect solution. Day centers often cost much less than the other options and are open during normal business hours. Some facilities may even be open during evening hours and on the weekend.

All centers are different. Most offer general services. These are meals and snacks, personal care, therapeutic and social activities. Many centers also give transportation to and from the facility. Many social and therapeutic activities include board games or light cardiovascular workouts. Many will give assistance for daily personal needs like eating, grooming, and toileting.

Centers are generally divided into three types. These are social, medical or health, and specialized. As mentioned above, social centers will offer the more basic services in health but provide meals and recreational activities. Centers which deal with medical and health issues offer the general services with more intensive therapeutic services and more social activities. The third type only provides care to those adults in specific care areas. Most of these treat adults with developmental disabilities or diagnosed dementias. The type of facility needed is entirely based on the level of care needed.

Centers like these provide care for many who would not otherwise be able to afford it. As health care costs continue to rise, these centers will become more necessary. Without them, many adults would have no place to go and would be in an unsafe environment at home alone.


For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Can The Right Diet Prevent Alzheimer's?

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables as well as omega-3 fatty acids may not only be good for your heart -- it may also reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
(Iconica/Getty Images)Looking at more than 2,000 dementia-free adults ages 65 and older, researchers revealed that persons who consumed a Mediterranean-type diet regularly were 38 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease over the next four years, according to Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas of Columbia University in New York and colleagues.

The findings were published online in the journal Archives of Neurology.

The dietary pattern is characterized by eating more salad dressing, nuts, tomatoes, fish, poultry, cruciferous vegetables, fruits, and dark and green leafy vegetables and lesser quantities of red meat, organ meat, butter, and high-fat dairy products.

"Our findings provide support for further exploration of food combination-based dietary behavior for the prevention of this important public health problem," Scarmeas and colleagues wrote.

A Mediterranean-style diet has already been linked to improved cardiovascular health, and this latest study joins a growing literature linking diet and Alzheimer's disease, according to the researchers.

Scarmeas and his colleagues reported in 2006 that the Mediterranean diet, characterized by high intakes of fruits, vegetables, and cereals and low intakes of meat and dairy products, lowered Alzheimer's disease risk in participants in the Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project (WHICAP).

Commenting on the study, Dr. David Knopman of the Mayo Clinic questioned whether it added much to previous analyses by Scarmeas' group, pointing out that the current study used the same data set in the same population.

"What's really needed are more instances of validation in independent populations," he told MedPage Today.

In an e-mail, Dr. Samuel Gandy of Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York said what the diet identified in this study shares with other diets linked to decreased Alzheimer's disease risk is that it is heart healthy.

"This may explain their apparent ability to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's, since heart disease increases the risk for Alzheimer's disease," he said.

"In any event, the diets do no harm and may have some benefits, hence their frequent recommendation by physicians," he wrote, noting that proof of which foods and the appropriate quantities have effects on disease risk remain to be clarified.

In the current study, the researchers further explored dietary patterns in this cohort of Medicare beneficiaries living in northern Manhattan.

Seven different dietary patterns emerged based on their ability to explain the variation in seven nutrients most often reported in previous studies to be related either positively or inversely to Alzheimer's disease risk.

The nutrients were saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, vitamin B12, and folate.

Through an average follow-up of nearly four years, 253 of the participants developed Alzheimer's disease.

Only one of the dietary patterns evaluated was associated with Alzheimer's disease risk, after adjustment for demographic factors, smoking, body mass index, caloric intake, comorbidities and genetic risk factors.

The diet, which was rich in omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, and folate but poor in saturated fatty acids and vitamin B12, was similar to the Mediterranean diet.

Although the study could not prove a causal relationship, Scarmeas and his colleagues said that there are several ways the diet could protect against Alzheimer's disease.

Folate reduces circulating homocysteine levels, vitamin E has a strong antioxidant effect, and "fatty acids may be related to dementia and cognitive function through atherosclerosis, thrombosis, or inflammation via an effect on brain development and membrane functioning or via accumulation of beta-amyloid," they wrote.

"It may also be that eating healthy is a marker for other factors such as education, intellect, and income, which may be protective," said Dr. George Grossberg of St. Louis University.

Dr. Steven DeKosky, vice president and dean of the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, said there are several unknowns regarding the relationship between diet and Alzheimer's disease risk.

"At an individual level, we don't know how powerful an effect the foods might have on suppressing expression of Alzheimer's disease, or how long you would have to eat them to have an effect, or what interactions of nutrition or individuals' genes may occur and affect risk," DeKosky said.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

10 Ways Seniors Can Save Grocery Money

If you’re a family caregiver for a senior parent or elderly loved one, you know it can be difficult to get your parent to eat properly and to get good nutrition. Shopping for the right foods and saving money can be a lot easier if you follow some simple rules.

Here are 10 shopping tips to help make a caregiver’s next trip to the grocery store a successful one:

Make a list – Sit down with your senior and make a list of what she wants to eat for the week. This pre-planning can cut down on the time and money you spend at the store.

Don’t shop hungry – Shoppers are always tempted to buy more when hungry, so share a snack before hitting the aisles.

Review store ads, clip coupons and organize them at home. You’ll save money, time and hassle at the checkout stand.

Invite a friend – Have mom bring a friend along. The resulting companionship makes the task of grocery shopping easier and more fun. If a senior can’t shop alone, arrange for grocery delivery or a caregiver companion to go along for help.

Sign up for a grocer’s bonus/discount card – Seniors can reap additional savings and take advantage of grocery store specials by signing up for special programs.

Try store brands – The most costly brands are often placed at eye level. Store brands that may be cheaper and just as good are often placed higher or lower on the grocery shelves.

Think variety – It’s easy to get in a rut. Encourage dad to try new foods or ethnic alternatives.
Shop the perimeter of the store – That’s where most of the fresh, healthier foods are located.

Stock up on sale items – Choose only as much as your senior can use in a timely manner. Buy in bulk for quality and value, but serve healthy portions.

Use your food budget wisely – For the price of a large bag of chips and a box of cookies, you can buy a good supply of apples, bananas, carrots, potatoes, peppers and other healthier foods.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Caregivers ARE The Elderly

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — One recent morning Antonia Antonaccio, a home care aide, got a call to help an elderly couple whose regular aide could not make it. The regular aide, who is 68 years old, had thrown out her back.

Ms. Antonaccio said she empathized. Sometimes her legs hurt from going up and down stairs. “But it’s nothing I pay attention to,” she said. “I don’t have the time.”

Ms. Antonaccio is 73.

In an aging population, the elderly are increasingly being taken care of by the elderly. Professional caregivers — almost all of them women — are one of the fastest-growing segments of the American work force, and also one of the grayest.

A recent study by PHI National, a nonprofit organization that advocates on behalf of caregivers, found that in 2008, 28 percent of home care aides were over age 55, compared with 18 percent of women in the overall work force.

The organization projects that from 2008 to 2018, the number of direct care workers, which includes those in nursing homes, will grow to 4.3 million from 3.2 million. The percentage of older caregivers is projected to grow to 30 percent from 22 percent.

The average caregiver in Rhode Island from Home Instead Senior Care, the private agency that employs Ms. Antonaccio, is about 60, said Valerie Topp, chief operating officer for the state franchise. Younger aides often do not work out, Ms. Topp said, adding that clients frequently ask that the agency not send over someone too young.

“The older ones came to us after being family caregivers, so they understood the stresses that families were under,” Ms. Topp said. “They came with respect for age. They didn’t see age as a disability.”

Carmine Spino, 89, and his wife, Mary, 88, who are hoping to live out their lives without moving to a nursing home, are two of Ms. Antonaccio’s clients. She often shares stories about growing up in Italy during World War II; Mr. Spino served in the war — a common ground. They know the same music, share the same cultural reference points.

And as Mrs. Spino, who was always quiet, has become more withdrawn with the onset of dementia, Mr. Spino relies on their caregivers for conversation.

“We talk about our experiences,” he said of Ms. Antonaccio. “I don’t look at her as a stranger.”

Caregivers often nurse their own aches and pains, or manage their medications, as they tend to those of their clients, said Dorie Seavey, director of policy research for PHI National. Clients who have to be lifted may not be suited to some older workers, she said.

Linnette Hutchinson, 71, in Tucson, said she often had the same complaints as her clients. “Your eyes are going, and the aches and pains,” she said. “Your back, your legs, your teeth. The aging process sets in.” Ms. Hutchinson has had spinal surgery but still works four hours a day.

For Mara Torres-Rullan, 74, also in Tucson, the big challenge is pain. She started work as a caregiver in 1987 after a divorce; in recent years she has cut her hours because of arthritis.

“My last lady, I had to put pantyhose on her,” Ms. Torres-Rullan said. “I thought my back was going to break in half.”

She continues to work because she needs the money, but she refuses any clients who want vacuuming done because the work is too painful.

In Plymouth, Mass., Judy Brueggeman, 68, felt increasingly fatigued last year and had a stress test on her heart. “After three to five seconds on the treadmill, the doctor shut it off and told me to lie down and be quiet,” she said. She had triple bypass surgery in September.

But even so, she is now back on the job, putting in 12-hour weeks. “This is perfect for me,” she said. “I love my clients, and I love my work.” In some ways, Ms. Brueggeman said, the work has gotten easier because she is better at it than when she started, in 1991. “I learned a lot from my clients, especially not to talk too much,” she said. “They want to do the talking.”

But the industry does not have career paths for workers as they get older, putting a strain on them to continue with the most physically demanding aspects of the job, Ms. Seavey said. “If you look at older women as an asset, to train younger workers, they can be valuable,” she said. Ms. Antonaccio worked in the jewelry industry for 40 years before retiring, then went to work as a caregiver after her husband’s death, drawn by the flexible hours. She did not need health benefits because she was eligible for Medicare. She did need a sense of purpose.

“At 65, I felt my life was ending,” she said. “I took care of my mother, then my mother-in-law, then my husband, then I went into this. And I don’t have any intention to stop.”

Home Instead pays her roughly half the $19.25 an hour it charges clients in Rhode Island.

Her age, she said, makes her more sympathetic to the needs of her clients.

“They need someone to understand them,” she said. “When I first came, Carmine was in the hospital” — Mr. Spino was having respiratory problems — “and Mary was scared. She didn’t understand what was going on. She woke up and her husband wasn’t there. She wanted to call him every five minutes. I had to say he needs his sleep.”

Grace Jackson, who is 101, said she never wanted a helper at home and resented Mary-Lou O’Neill, 73, when she arrived four years ago at Ms. Jackson’s daughters’ insistence. But as their relationship has grown, “It’s developed into a friendship,” Ms. Jackson said, adding that friends who had younger aides were often offended by their manners or language.

Ms. O’Neill worked as a nurse until she was 66, then found herself restless in retirement. Now she is one of the large number of Americans in their 70s who are still active and robust, without physical pain or limitations. She works only for Ms. Jackson.

“She’s a role model to me,” Ms. O’Neill said. “When she has physical problems, she doesn’t complain.”

Ms. Jackson said she appreciated having a companion with a wealth of life experiences. Last spring, after hip surgery, she complained in the rehabilitation center that she wanted to die.

“‘O.K.,” Ms. O’Neill told her, “if you want to die, get better and die at home.”

Ms. Jackson got better. From a younger aide, Ms. Jackson said, she would not have accepted such a challenge.

“Not that I don’t get along well with younger people,” she said. “But I’m not always pleased, I don’t like the way they talk. Maybe that’s what keeps you alive — not accepting everything.”


For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Seniors Can Benefit From Quitting Smoking Now

Smoking: It Is Never Too Late to Stop
By Caring Space

Although the challenge of quitting smoking seems too great for the benefits that will result, there are many short term and long-term benefits of kicking a bad habit like smoking at any point in one's life. Many senior citizens, especially those who are life-long smokers, may not realize that they too can gain from quitting. Still, it is especially important that senior citizens try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Those who provide elder care for senior citizens should encourage them to quit smoking.

Some of the benefits of quitting smoking include:

•Having a lower risk for cancer, heart attack, and lung disease
•Having better blood circulation
•Having no odor of smoke on your belongings and in your house
•Having a better sense of taste and smell
•Having healthier family members
•Adding more years to your life and having more energy to do other activities that you enjoy
Smoking is bad for your health because it damages the lungs and airways, causing swelling and complications with breathing and clearing mucus from the lungs. Smokers who cannot easily clear the airways often develop a chronic cough which can lead to chronic bronchitis. Some smokers develop emphysema where the lung tissue is destroyed and makes breathing very difficult.

Life long smokers have a 50% chance of dying from a smoking related disease. Smoking does not only cause direct effects as referred to above, but it can also lead to the development of other illnesses like:

•Heart disease. A combination of smoking and high cholesterol or blood pressure will increase the likelihood of heart attack.
•Cancer. The risk of cancer in the lungs, larynx (voice box), esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, and cervix increases as you smoke more.
•Respiratory problems. Smoking increases your susceptibility to the flu, pneumonia, and other infections that interfere with the breathing passages. This is more dangerous for senior citizens who are already at risk to the adverse affects of these diseases.
•Osteoporosis. Women especially who are past menopause can experience earlier and more severe bone weakening if they smoke regularly.
Quitting smoking is beneficial for people of all ages, including senior citizens. This statement is valid in that the effects of quitting are immediate as the body begins to heal after smoking has ceased. This is evident in the following trends observed in people who have quit smoking:

•The chance of heart attack and stroke drops within the first year of quitting.
•You are half as likely to develop heart disease within one year of quitting.
•Flow of blood to the hands and feet get stronger after quitting.
•Breathing becomes easier within a few months.
•The chances of cancer are decreased (within 10-15 years after quitting, your chances of developing cancer may be as low as that of a nonsmoker).
•Although there may be some weight gain, your health will most likely be better regardless.


For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Extraordinary People of the Senior Kind ~ Lola

Whatever Lola wanted, Lola got, and that specifically included liquor and men. Lola is an incredible octegenarian, a world traveler, bon vivant, who has lived in several countries and had a fabulous life with her husband who died about 20 years ago. Her family hired me to try and break those two habits previously mentioned.

Her 50 year old boyfriend took one look at me and took off with everything nhe could get his hands on. I had him tracked down by private investigators working with the police and we eventually got some of the monies back and had the satisfaction of sending him to jail for criminal elder abuse (financial) and fraud. If he were to show up on Lola's doorstep tomorrow, she'd invite him in.

The next steps were extremely hard for Lola because we forced her into the toughest alcohol rehab we could find and forced her to claw her way out of it. She made it to subsequently easier rehab stints and finally today she is alcohol free. She has 24/7 live in help and we all keep our eye on her looking for signs of recidivism.

Although Lola freely credits me with saving her life, in truth it was her daughter who faced up to the harsh reality and saw through her Mom's nonsense and made it all happen. Wherever Lola goes and she goes to quite a few places (even 7 day cruises) she remains the life of the party. She's everybody's favorite and if you're down in the dumps, she'll cheer you up. She may tell you the same story every 6 minutes, but I can guarantee it'll be a charming one.

I'm really pleased with my Lola (a work in progress). She's living a wonderful life. Opera, Theatre, Luncheons, Dinners, Movies. Short term memory loss (resulting from alcohol) doesn't stop her. She's great and likes her life as it is today.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Europe Creating ROBOT to Help Elderly

Home help robot will give the elderly independence

A new EU-funded project will build an intelligent robot that operates in a 'smart home' to help elderly people secure a better quality of life and allow them to live independently for as long as possible.

The KSERA ('Knowledge service robots for ageing') project has a total budget of EUR 4 million, EUR 2.9 million of which comes from the 'Information and communications technologies' (ICT) Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

KSERA got underway in February 2010 and will run for three years. The project is coordinated by the Department of Engineering and Innovation Sciences at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) in the Netherlands and brings together seven partners from five EU countries.

The team says that the robot will be a 'sensible family friend' that will help elderly patients make the right decisions. KSERA will initially focus on people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a disorder that mostly affects the elderly. World Health Organization (WHO) figures estimate that by 2030, COPD will be the third main cause of death worldwide.

Over the next three years, the KSERA project partners will build three demonstration houses that will demonstrate what is possible in a smart home. The houses will be equipped with a robot that will help COPD patients in their daily lives. The robot will follow the patient through the house, make helpful suggestions, offer advice, learn their habits, monitor the patient closely and inform a doctor if the patient is unwell. 'We want to show what is possible in this area,' said project coordinator Dr Lydia Meesters from TU/e.

Dr Meesters emphasises that the smart homes will be comfortable places to live, not cold, robot-controlled environments. 'It should be as homely as possible,' she explained. 'In an ideal situation the only technology you will see will be the robot. It will be the contact for all the domestic systems, but otherwise the place will just look very homely.'

To achieve this objective Dr Raymond Cuijpers from TU/e will study robot/human communication to make it as easy as possible for a human being to understand a robot and vice versa. For the robot to be useful it must understand the patient's wishes, be intelligent and able to anticipate what the patient needs.

For this aspect of the research the team will work alongside another TU/e project called RoboEarth which is building a global central memory for robots to enable them to communicate with each other and with human beings.

Special attention will be paid to ethical issues such as what the robot should do if a patient lights a cigarette or how much information should be passed on by the robot to the central operating system. 'We need to define clear limits, for the robot will continuously measure and see very private data,' Dr Meesters pointed out.

Other partners working on KSERA alongside TU/e are the Central European Institute of Technology (CEIT) (Austria), Vienna University of Technology (Austria), Hamburg University (Germany), Institute Superiore Mario Boella (Italy), ICT company Consoft (Italy), and Maccabi Healthcare Services (Israel). The demonstration homes will be located at CEIT and Maccabi Healthcare Services.


For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

The Sandwich Generation: Baby Boomers

The challenges of caring for aging parents can be taxing for the in-between generation.

IT IS one of the most difficult problems any of us will ever face. Mom and Dad are getting on in years, and they aren't quite as sharp as they once were. Mom broke her hip last year and has a hard time with the stairs. Dad probably shouldn't be driving anymore. Or maybe Dad has passed away and Mom has started to let her once-immaculate house go a bit. You would love to help out more, but you live 2,000 miles away and you've got about all you can handle taking care of your own kids.

Situations like this are becoming increasingly common. In fact, there is even a name for people being squeezed between the demands of their children and the responsibility they feel to assist their aging parents--the Sandwich Generation.

For as long as there have been families, people have had to find ways to care for aging relatives. In days gone by, multi-generational families often lived in the same town, and sometimes even in the same house. Everyone could pitch in to help their grandparents. It was almost expected that, after a long life, they would be taken care of by their children and grandchildren.

It is important to remember that, when you are trying to help your aging parents from a distance, you don't have to do it alone. There are many resources available, including:

Senior centers. Not to be confused with nursing homes or retirement facilities, these are places where seniors can go during the day to socialize, exercise, and have a good time. Many offer extensive programs of activities, including guest speakers, dances and parties, organized book/discussion groups, and outings to museums, shows, sporting events, etc.

Dependent care counseling. Some employee health benefit plans come with telephone access to counselors who can assist you with issues involving caring for your aging parents. These counselors can often provide referrals to experts who can help you with needs as diverse as finding an accountant to do their taxes to helping you locate information on diet and exercise for seniors. Some services can be a big help in performing the costly and time-consuming legwork associated with finding care for your parents. Ask your employer or health plan if your benefits include such a service.

Warning signs

One of the hardest parts of trying to assist your aging parents from a distance is monitoring their health. Since many parents don't want to complain, their children may never know that a health problem is developing. It is not uncommon for parents not even to tell their children if they are hospitalized.

While senior health conditions can be subtle and hard to detect, there are several warning signs. Any of the following could signal the start of a situation that needs attention:

Sometimes, the health concerns brought on by aging necessitate more formalized, regular care, such as in-home custodial care or moving to a nursing home. It is often difficult for adult children to come to terms with the fact that their parents may need this kind of care, especially when their mother or father vigorously protests the idea. There are, however, a few things you can do to make such a transition easier:

Involve your parents in choosing their care. A large part of the anxiety seniors feel when they are placed in the care of others comes from relinquishing control and autonomy over their own lives. To help alleviate this fear, make sure that Mom or Dad has as large a role as possible in interviewing candidates for in-home nursing or visiting prospective retirement communities and nursing homes. This will help them retain their dignity and sense of independence.

Choose a nursing home carefully. All facilities are not alike. Try to find one with as low a ratio of residents to staff as possible. Be sure that it offers plenty of activities and programs to keep residents engaged and vital. Check out the buildings and grounds to see if they are clean, safe, and in good repair. Ask for references so you can talk to current residents and their families. Above all, meet and talk with as many of the staff as possible and have your parent(s) do the same. If you and your mother or father both get a good feeling about the place and the impression that it is staffed by caring, experienced professionals, chances are it will be a good fit.

Investigate long-term care insurance. Nursing homes and in-home nurses aren't cheap. Visits by in-home nurses run about $20 per hour, and nursing homes average around $35,000 per year. Medicare doesn't always provide enough to cover these expenses, so it may be a good idea to look into long-term care insurance. Such policies are designed to cover care associated with aging, and some allow the policyholder to use the benefits either for themselves or their parents.

As members of the baby boom generation approach their golden years, seniors' issues may dominate the national agenda like never before. How will the sandwich generation of today manage their own care? Will they expect their children to take care of them or will they somehow manage to retain their independence?

Advances in medical science have lengthened life, but in many cases a longer life doesn't mean one free from health concerns and the need for ever-higher levels of care. Indeed, it could be argued that medical advances have exacerbated the problem of looking after the growing ranks of older seniors in this country. Meanwhile, the responsibilities facing the sandwich generation today continue to be a challenge. While caring for aging parents is difficult, there are ways to make it easier--on your parents and yourself.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524