Senior Snips – August 2012

| August 13, 2012

Health Roundup

ASK MEDICARE – How to Find Answers to Medicare Questions

If you’re one of the 66 million Americans who care for an aging, disabled or seriously-ill family member or friendly you’re probably doing everything from running errands, to coordinating doctor appointments, to helping find long-term car.

Fortunately, caregivers have resources they can turn to for help and support, including Ask Medicare, a service developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

As Medicare offers tips online at www.medicare.gov/caregivers to help caregivers address numerous challenges, including

  • Enrolling Medicare and comparing prescription drug plans.
  • Coping with chronic illnesses and understanding the ways Medicare can support care and treatment.
  • Managing health care transitions, such as when someone is discharged from the hospital.
  • Finding local organizations that can provide additional support for caregivers and their loved ones.
  • Finding the best nursing home or assisted living arrangement.

“Caregivers are part of a nationwide community of people who sacrifice a lot for others,” says Susie Butler, acting deputy director, Partner Relations Group, Office of Public Engagement, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “We want caregivers to know they’re not alone.”

The Ask Medicare site highlights the challenges caregivers face each day, and offers a free quarterly e-newsletter with Medicare program updates and links to state and local organizations that help with meals, transportation and caregiver training. “Ask Medicare is an online, one-stop shop where caregivers can get all the support they need,” says Butler. “It has interactive tools that help caregivers compare doctors, hospitals and nursing homes, find local home health agencies and dialysis facilities, and learn which services are covered by Medicare.”

Caregivers for older Americans can also link to additional resources through CMS’s sister agency, the Administration on Aging. The AoA site features the Eldercare Locator, which points to services in local communities as well as national organizations, including the American Association of Retired Persons, the Alzheimer’s Association and the Family Caregiver Alliance. Ask Medicare has links to their care giving resources, too.

To find out more about Ask Medicare, visit www.medicare.gov/caregivers.

 

Senior Movies in Leyden Township

LaVerne Andon, a resident of Rosemont, should be called the area’s Movie Maven. She is host to area seniors when she presents movies, complete with free popcorn and coffee, in Franklin Park, Schiller Park, River Grove and Leyden Township.  LaVerne welcomes everyone, no matter where they live. As Bonnie Gardeck of Schiller Park writes, “Please welcome all seniors to view the movies with free popcorn and a hug from LaVergne Anton. Below is an upcoming schedule of movies for August. All Show Times are Thursdays 10am and 1pm.

Aug. 2 2501 N. Mannheim, Franklin Park The Iron Lady Starring Meryl Streep. PG-13
Aug. 9 Carol Fiorito Senior Center, 2601 N. Mannheim in Franklin Park Reality of Love Starring Bradley Cooper, Jason Priestley, Emma Caulfield PG-13
Aug. 16 River Grove Senior Rec Center 8664 Grand Ave., River Grove Flypaper Starring Patrick Demsey and Ashley Judd NR
Aug. 23 Schiller Park Community Center, 4501 N. 25th Ave., SP Zookeeper Starring Kevin James and Rasario Dawson PG
Aug. 30 Carol Fiorito Senior Center, 2601 N. Mannheim in Franklin Park Sundays at Tiffany’s starring Cameron Crowe, Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson PG

 

Some Tips To Save Money

NO COPAY

The health care law provides for free preventive tests by participating Medicare providers. Included are wellness visits, mammograms, colorectal cancer screenings, bone density scans, pap smears and other tests. Check with your Medicare-participating doctor. Search for the official handbook Medicare & You, which provides details on tests.

FREE YOGA

Yoga provides many benefits for people over 50. Newbies can try a free week of classes in September and October. To find a participating studio near you, visit yogamonth.org/yogamonthcard/.

DENTAL CHECKUP

Treating common problems like toothaches at an E.R. can cost 10 times more than preventive care. Contact a local dental school or nidcr.nih.gov/ to get information about free or low-cost care.

COST ESTIMATOR

Repairpal.com gives free quotes for car repairs based on surveys of thousands of shops.

BATTERY BUSTER

Summer’s heat, not winter’s cold, is the leading cause of car battery failure. To minimize problems, clean corrosion from terminals, tighten cable connections and add distilled water, if necessary, to “unsealed” batteries. Get your battery tested if it’s older than four years.

SIMPLY SHERLOCK

To confirm that your garage did tire rotations as promised, place a white mark on your rear tires; you should find it on front tires before you pay the bill.

RETUNE YOUR TV

You could save a bundle on your electric bill by reducing the brightness on your HDTV. Many are shipped set at “retail mode” for optimum picture clarity in a showroom. Go to your TV’s setup menu and look for “home mode” or some other way to tune down the brightness.

TROUBLE AFFORDING YOUR PET?

Type those words into the search box at www.humanesociety.org  for a list of programs offering assistance with food, veterinary care and other pet expenses.

Watch for more money saving tips next month!

 

How Safe Do You Feel In Your Home?

A poll was taken of 1,021 adults age 18 and older by the SSRS that asked the following questions:

“How safe do you currently feel living in your home?

Very Safe? 74%
Somewhat Safe 22%
Somewhat unsafe 2%
Very unsafe 1%

 

Respondents 50+ who say the following home features are important; percentage who actually have them:

  Important Have
Working Smoke detector on every floor 98% 92%
Fire extinguisher in Kitchen 94% 65%
Well-lighted stairways 92% 72%
Handrails in stairways 91% 67%
Grab bars in bathtub or shower 77% 48%

 

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