We want to keep this positive energy going forward. We have increased our Caring Collaborative membership and made it easier to access the Neighborhood Groups.

If you are not a member now,

we would love to welcome you in!

Barbara Stahura

CC Co-Chair

We want to thank everyone who contributed to make this new issue of Caring Times a substantial and meaningful piece of work. Phyllis Edelson has done a great job of organizing the Neighborhood Group reports. Susan Freeman helped edit this issue.

May we all have a healthy, busy and fulfilling new year!

Sincerely,

Nancy Gold nancygold212@gmail.com

Barbara Stahura barbara.stahura@gmail.com

MEDICARE Q & A's

by Barbara Alpern

Barbara Alpern

Many of us who were covered by Medicare in 2014 have recently completed the somewhat confusing process of reviewing the Medicare choices available in 2015 and possibly changing coverage for 2015.

For those of you who will become eligible for Medicare in 2015, here are some frequently asked questions that may help you navigate the process more easily. Read More.

Affordable Care Act

It is not too late to enroll for the Affordable Care Act Insurance!

New enrollees and those currently insured have until February 15, 2015 to select a plan for 2015. While it is easy to re-enroll in the plan selected for 2014, rate and physician network changes might make the current insurance plan a poor choice for 2015.

New York residents can go to https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ to check out all the coverage options and costs in their county without having to provide personal information. The site also offers information about dental coverage for individuals who already have medical insurance.

3 Ways to take full advantage of your Caring Collaborative Membership
by Barbara Stahura & Shawndra Card-Grant You may be one of the almost 270 current members of TTN's NYC Chapter who have attended a Caring Collaborative Orientation, but are you an active member? Read More Back To Top

Health Maintenance Tip

What is Shingles?

Shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster, is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you've had chickenpox, you are at risk of getting shingles.

One out of every three people 60 years old or older will get shingles. One out of six people older than 60 years who get shingles will have severe pain. The pain can last for months or even years.

How to Protect Yourself Against Shingles

Adults 60 years old or older should talk to their healthcare professional about getting a one-time dose of the shingles vaccine.

The shingles vaccine can reduce your risk of shingles and the long-term pain it can cause. Persons who have already had shingles or who have a chronic medical condition can receive the shingles vaccine.

In a clinical trial involving thousands of adults 60 years old or older, the vaccine reduced the risk of shingles by about half. Even if the shingles vaccine doesn't prevent you from getting shingles, it can still reduce the chance of having long-term pain.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/patient-ed/adults/downloads/fs-shingles.pdf:

What Are Your Wishes?

by Barbara Stahura

On October 30th, a lively group of TTNers heard from David C. Leven, JD, that having their health care wishes respected is still not easy in New York City, despite the reputations of many medical centers for clinical excellence.

Mr. Leven, Executive Director of Compassion & Choices for New York, and Natalie Kaplan, JD, Caring Collaborative member and Elder Law attorney, opened the meeting with a role play highlighting the challenges we face when trying to discuss our choices for care with loved ones. Read More

Neighborhood Notes

Click the links below to read more about topics discussed at Caring Collaborative Neighborhood Group Meetings.

Upper West Side 3 Group

These lively, relevant and confidential discussions focus on practical ways to manage health.

Upper Eastside1 Group

How to Review a Medicare Plan, & Looking Back on Your Life vs. Looking Forward - Read More

Midtown Eastside Group

Making the Most of a Doctor's Visit, & Future Housing Plans and How to Pay for Them - Read More

Upper Westside1 Group

Elder Law Documents and Issues, Memory, & Friendships--Past, Present and Future -Read More

Upper Westside2 Group

Keeping Grounded in This Crazy World, & Health and Wellness--Open Mic -Read More

Upper Westside3 Group

Friendship - Read More

Upper Westside Afternoon Group

Transitions/Turning Points, Time -a Most Precious Commodity & Inspirational People -Read More

Downtown 3 Group

Moving Forward, & HealthCare Proxies and Directives - Read More

Brooklyn Group

Hobbies - Read More

Queens Group

Nutrition - Read More

Around TTN Town

Volunteer Committee Event

Habitat for Humanity: It's So Much More than Hammers and Nails

The Volunteer Committee is sponsoring an orientation specifically tailored for TTN members to learn about the expanding volunteer opportunities at Habitat for Humanity. Read More

Additional Volunteer Opportunities

RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) of the Community Service Society of New York

The RSVP Mentoring Program recruits, trains, and places volunteers, ages 55 and older, with youth who have been involved with the criminal justice system or who have an incarcerated parent. Read More

Caring Collaborative Contacts
Caring Collaborative Co-Chairs Nancy Gold nancygold212@gmail.com Barbara Stahura barbara.stahura@gmail.com Caring Times Co-Editors Phyllis Edelson & Karen Gens Caring Collaborative Coordinator Shawndra Card-Grant To contact The Caring Collaborative please email the coordinator at: coordinator@ttncaringcollaborative.org Back to Top