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Greetings!
Spring fever is setting in! It's time to crack open the windows and breathe in nature's rebirth. Find a senior who may have trouble getting out of the house and go for a springtime stroll. It's sure to invigorate everyone's senses from their wintry sleep. Similarly, we hope to stimulate your mind with this month's newsletter on eldercare-related topics.
Studies show that increasingly people are hunting for healthcare-related information online. In a spirit of sharing and community, we strive to fulfill that need, and hope you will find the following articles in this month's newsletter informative and beneficial.
Thank you,
Vicki Paul
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 Aunt Ann's is Proud to Feature HICAP This Month.
HICAP, the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, is a non-profit and volunteer-based program that is federally- and state-sponsored and supported to provide free, unbiased counseling and advocacy for Medicare beneficiaries, their families and representatives. The mission of HICAP is to provide accurate and objective assistance with Medicare, health insurance, managed care, long-term care, and related health coverage plans including retiree coverage, active employer group health plans, Medi-Cal and/or VA benefits.
A change for 2011 - Beginning this Fall, the Annual Election Period (AEP) will shift. In the past, it has been in November-December; however, starting this year, it will be from October 15 to December 7th. This is a crucial time for Medicare beneficiaries to know since it is one of the only times during the year that people can change their Medicare Part D plan and/or Medicare Advantage plan. HICAP can help! They will do a drug plan search for you on the Medicare.gov website based on your prescriptions and narrow down your options to help you save money.
HICAP of San Mateo County
www.hicapsanmateocounty.org
(650) 627-9350/ (800) 434-0222 |
The Aging of America, City by City
Researchers from the Urban Institute are calling the mass influx of retiring baby boomers the senior tsunami because of the disastrous tidal wave that the number of seniors will have as an impact on our society. Note the top 20 U.S. cities their research has identified where projections place most of the baby boomers retiring and thus where more services will be needed. Raleigh-Cary, NC at 31.6%, Austin-Round Rock, TX at 30.1% and Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA at 29.8% lead the list. Access the list here. |
 Test Your Memory in 15 Minutes
Bob DeMarco writes a daily blog about caring for his mother, Dottie, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. The blog is filled with daily information that spans the spectrum from being informative, to educational, to personal, showing the love and care as he and his mother live together with Bob as her primary caregiver.
His favorite test takes 15 minutes:
Access the test here.
Access all five of his recommendations here.
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 Check Your Birthday Suit on Your Birthday
Treatment performed for non-melanoma skin cancers in the United States nearly doubled from 1994 to 2006, according to a new study, and this is an alarming number since skin cancer is preventable with some behavioral changes. It is very treatable when caught early, thus the suggestion that everyone check their bodies for abnormalities on their birthdays. To minimize risks of skin cancer, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends: - Generously apply a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen
- Wear protective clothing
- Seek shade
- Protect children from sun exposure
- Use extra caution near water, snow and sand
- Get vitamin D safely
- Avoid tanning beds
- Check your birthday suit on your birthday
For more information about skin cancer, visit the SkinCancerNet section of www.SkinCarePhysicians.com. For more information on the American Academy of Dermatology visit: www.aad.org. Access the article here.
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 Texting Shortcuts for Seniors to Share with Grandchildren BYOT: Bring Your Own Teeth FWIW: Forgot Where I Was GHA: Got Heartburn Again LMDO: Laughing My Dentures Out OMMR: On My Massage Recliner OMSG: Oh My! Sorry, Gas. ROFL... CGU: Rolling On The Floor Laughing... And Can't Get Up TTYL: Talk To You Louder WTP: Where's The Prunes? |
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 What Diseases Do Americans Fear the Most? When asked which of five major diseases Americans fear most, cancer was first at 41%, Alzheimer's disease was second (31%) and far ahead of heart disease (8%), stroke (8%) and diabetes (6%) according to a recent Harris poll. Learn more here. |
Recipe for Prescription Drug Management
- Call your local HICAP office.
- Schedule an appointment with a HICAP counselor in your area.
- Bring a list of medications to your counseling appointment, including the dosage amount and number of times per day you take each medicine.
- During your appointment, tell the HICAP counselor you want him or her to do a prescription insurance search for you to find the most reasonable plan for you. The HICAP counselor may or may not have a computer available during your appointment. If not, the counselor will contact you after the search has been completed.
- A HICAP counselor will review and explain the search results with you, detailing the most reasonable plan for you according to the medications you take.
- After reviewing the top three plans with the counselor, you will need to contact the Rx plan to enroll.
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