Forever Young
January 28, 2010
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage, against the dying of the light.
—Dylan Thomas
Q.I’m tired of taking this sitting down. What can I do to fight the aging process?
A: There’s nothing that will stop aging, but you know that. The most you can hope for is longevity with health. Here are some pointers from health professionals for a high quality of life. You may find these boring, but they work: [Read more]
Beating the Blues
December 31, 2009
Q. Is depression just a “normal” part of aging?
A: There are a lot of problems to face as you get older. There are losses of all kinds that can get you down. And feeling blue for a while is a normal part of living at any age.
But unrelenting depression is not normal. If you feel this way, you should seek medical attention. Most people get better if they treat their depression. [Read more]
Blurry Vision? See Your Doc
November 25, 2009
Q. I’m 70 and I’m starting to see a blurred area in the middle of my vision. Any ideas?
A: Have this checked immediately by an eye care practitioner. What you describe is a symptom of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older.
The macula is at the center of the retina in the back of your eye. The retina transmits light from the eye to the brain. The macula allows us to perform tasks that require central vision, such as reading and driving. [Read more]
The Flu and You
October 29, 2009
Flu season in the northern hemisphere can range from as early as November to as late as May. The peak month usually is February.
However, this coming season is expected to be unpredictable because of the emergence of the H1N1 influenza virus, or swine flu. H1N1 has caused the first global outbreak—pandemic—of influenza in more than four decades.
There is concern that the 2009 H1N1 virus may make the season worse than a regular flu season. It is feared that there will be many more hospitalizations and fatalities this season. The 2009 H1N1 virus caused illness in the United States during the summer months, when influenza is very uncommon. <!–more–>
The best time to get a seasonal flu vaccine is October and November.
The 2009-10 flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. The seasonal vaccine is not expected to protect against the 2009 H1N1 virus. A vaccine for 2009 H1N1 is being produced and rolled out now.
The 2009-10 vaccine can be administered anytime during flu season. However, the best time to get inoculated is October and November. The protection provided by the vaccine lasts about a year. Adults older than 50 are prime candidates for the vaccine because the flu can be fatal for people in this age group.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that up to 20 percent of the population gets the flu each year.
The CDC reports that vaccination rates are better for those older than 65. About 7 in 10 seniors get their flu shots. You can get the flu vaccine from your doctor, at public health centers, senior centers, pharmacies and supermarkets.
For more than four decades, the flu vaccine has been strongly recommended for older people, but now some scientists say the vaccine probably doesn’t work well for those older than 70. About 75 percent of flu deaths happen to people in this age group.
Flu is a contagious illness of the respiratory system caused by the influenza virus. Flu can lead to ear problems, dehydration, pneumonia, bronchitis and sinusitis.
Droplets from coughing and sneezing spread the flu. An adult with flu can infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick. Children may spread flu for more than seven days.
The best way to combat the bug is to get the flu vaccine. You have to get inoculated annually because new vaccines are prepared every year to combat new versions of the virus. When you battle the flu, you develop antibodies to the invading virus, but those antibodies don’t work on new strains. The vaccine does not prevent flu in all people; it works better in younger recipients than older ones.
Contrary to rumor, you can’t catch the flu from the vaccine. The flu vaccine is not made from a live virus.
The recovery time for the flu is about one to two weeks. However, in seniors, weakness may persist for a longer time.
The common scenario for flu is a sudden onset of symptoms, which include chills, fatigue, fever, cough, headache, sore throat, nasal congestion, muscle aches and appetite loss.
While nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can be related to the flu, these are rarely the primary flu symptoms. The flu is not a stomach or intestinal disease. The term “stomach flu” is inaccurate.
When symptoms strike, get to a doctor as soon as possible—the faster, the better. There are prescription antiviral drugs to treat flu. Over-the-counter medicines can help relieve symptoms of the flu. You should also drink liquids to prevent dehydration, and sleep to bolster your immune system.
<em>–
If you have a question, please write to<a title=”Send an e-mail to Fred” href=”mailto:fred@healthygeezer.com”> fred@healthygeezer.com</a>.
All Rights Reserved © 2009 by Fred Cicetti</em>
Easing in to a New Home
October 29, 2009
One of the hardest changes to deal with emotionally and financially as a senior citizen is a move from one living arrangement to another. Whether needing to de-clutter and downsize, moving to more appropriate housing—such as assisted living or a nursing home, to accommodate disabilities—or conducting an estate sale or tag sale to raise funds, seniors and their families are often compelled to make transitions, often against their will. These moves involve many steps, but if planned in advance and done properly, the transition can leave both the seniors and their families in a better situation than before.<!–more–>
Here are some items to consider when faced with a transition:
• Getting Prepared: When a move is done with lots of time for planning and organizing, the individual will find him or herself in a more suitable, de-cluttered and safe environment at the end of the process. Having a plan in place may prevent impulsive decisions and financial losses that can result when a move is undertaken too quickly. With a moving plan written “just in case,” no time will be lost in trying to figure out what to do, and there will be no financial or emotional surprises. Even in the face of an emergency, the transition can be carried out in an orderly way to maximize the value of the household goods in an estate sale that may even result in a profit for the family.
Without pre-planning or giving thought to disposal of precious items, those things can end up as trash, sold at rock-bottom prices or, in the worst case, the family will be forced to pay for the disposal of items that could actually have been sold. While planning, consider if appraisals are needed as part of the process and if there are any family members who can actively participate.
• Making a Move and Handling the Heirlooms: Many transitions are the result of an unexpected emergency such as a stroke, fracture, divorce or the uncertain economy. A plan will help families keep precious heirlooms that mean so much and are full of a lifetime of memories, but get rid of meaningless stuff that accumulates over the years. When downsizing or making a transition, it is important to figure out what to do with items that simply take up space or have no value. Do you need to send personal items to family and friends in distant cities? Do you know how to operate online auctions? Do you want to maximize your return by offering items for sale locally, nationally and through specialty venues?
• What You Can Do: The most important thing is to be prepared, whether you are transitioning yourself or transitioning a loved one. This means that you should know what you want to give to loved ones, what you want to take to a new place, what should be donated to a favorite charity and what should be sold.
If this process is undertaken in an orderly way, the emotional and financial value of your household goods will be maximized, and your living situation will be improved.
<em>–
Adrian Walter-Ginzburg, Ph.D., is president of Caring Transitions, which specializes in senior transitioning, downsizing and estate sales. For more information, visit <a href=”www.CaringTransitions.net” target=”_blank”>www.CaringTransitions.net</a> or contact Walter-Ginzburg at 212-228-7282 or <a href=”mailto:adrianwg@caringtransitions.net”>adrianwg@caringtransitions.net</a>.</em>
Understanding Chest Pain
September 23, 2009
Q: My understanding is that angina is not as serious as heart disease. Is this true?
A: Angina pectoris—or simply angina—is the medical term for chest pain or discomfort usually caused by coronary artery disease. Angina is a sign that someone is at increased risk of heart attack, cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death. If you get angina, you should get medical attention immediately.
Angina (pronounced “an-JI-nuh” or “AN-juh-nuh”) hits when the heart doesn’t get enough blood. This usually happens when there is a narrowing or blockage in one or more of the vessels that supply blood to the heart. [Read more]
Prepping for Long-Term Care
September 23, 2009
Q: What is long-term care insurance?
A: Long-term care insurance is custodial care insurance. It covers care generally not covered by health insurance or Medicare insurance. Long-term care insurance generally covers home care, assisted living, adult day care, respite care, hospital care, nursing homes and Alzheimer’s facilities. When home care coverage is purchased, long-term care insurance pays for home care from day one. It will also pay for a visiting or live-in caregiver, companions, housekeepers, therapists or private duty nurse. [Read more]
Tax Facts You Need to Know
August 26, 2009
I often get a lot of tax-related questions in my business. Here are the answers to some of the most common queries:
• For how many years do I need to keep tax returns? You should keep your tax returns from 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005. The IRS will usually only go back three years, and New York State will go back four years. If you practice fraud, they can go back seven years. Fraud entails understating your income by more than 25 percent, or taking fake deductions of more than 25 percent. The State of New York does not have any limitations. After eight years, the IRS destroys their microfilm records. You cannot get a copy of your tax return after eight years. [Read more]
Debunking the ‘Base Tan’
August 26, 2009
Ultraviolet rays, an invisible component of sunlight, can cause skin damage, cataracts, wrinkles, age spots and skin cancer. These rays also impair the skin’s immune system.
Ultraviolet, or UV, rays can hurt you on cloudy as well as sunny days. UV rays also bounce off surfaces of the ocean, sand, snow and cement.
One of the surest ways to reduce your exposure to UV rays is to stay out of the sun when it is the strongest. Those times in North America are between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the late spring and early summer. [Read more]
The ABCs of UV rays
July 29, 2009
Q:There are lots of sunblocks out there with SPF numbers on them. What exactly do these numbers mean?
A. Sunblocks—or sunscreens—work to prevent the damage of ultraviolet (UV) rays, an invisible component of sunlight. There are three types of UV rays: UVA, UVB and UVC.
UVA is the most abundant of the three ultraviolet rays at the earth’s surface. These rays penetrate through the outer skin. Many of the UVB rays are absorbed by the stratospheric ozone layer, so there aren’t as many of these at the earth’s surface as the UVA rays. [Read more]
