Anyone with siblings whose parents are getting older should consider this new book by longtime journalist and author Francine Russo. In it, she floods light on an under-discussed, highly emotional life stage that can strain even the strongest of sibling bonds: what she calls the "twilight transition," when brothers and sisters who long ago left the families in which they were raised-and in some cases haven't spoken in years-are hurled back together as adults to grapple with their parents' aging, illness, and death. "It's the new life crisis of our original family," she writes. And it can get ugly.

The author was inspired to write this book after a shattering
personal experience. Her parents were frail and aging; she saw them only for a few visits a year while her sister, who lived nearby, assumed the burden of their care. At her mother's funeral, she watched her father and her sister, holding each other up and weeping. She was shattered. She finally understood what they had been through without her help. She began researching this topic and interviewed experts and siblings.  

 

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As part of the health care reform law, as of Jan. 1, 2011, all seniors with Original Medicare now have access to many important preventive health services, and most of them are cost-free.

No Out-of-Pocket: As of January 1st, Medicare beneficiaries will no longer have to pay any out-of-pocket costs for most preventive services, including annual wellness visits. Here is a list of the preventive services that Medicare is offers that are completely free:

Annual Wellness Visits: In addition to the one-time Welcome to Medicare physical (which new beneficiaries can get but only within their first year of enrollment in Part B), free annual wellness visits with your physician will now be available. Each exam will include body and blood pressure measurements, a review of your medical history including any medications you're taking and care you may be receiving from other health care providers, an assessment of your cognitive condition, and establish an appropriate screening schedule for the next five to 10 years.

Health Screenings: In addition to the wellness visits, Medicare will be offering its beneficiaries in 2011 many free health screenings and vaccinations.

Click here to see a list along with the eligibility requirements you'll need to meet to get them.

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