Keeping Healthy during the Swine Flu Outbreak

The recent swine flu outbreak in Mexico and the few reported swine flu cases (50 as of this writing) in the United States are causing worry among older citizens who are generally more vulnerable to infections.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has published information to clarify the situation and allay the public's anxiety.

Swine flu is a respiratory infection caused by a strain of influenza virus A known as H1N1.  It is generally a disease found in pigs but from time to time it finds its way to humans.  Transmission is from person to person only, by droplet (sneezing, coughing or touching a surface like door knobs, telephones, and desks, with the virus and touching the nose, mouth, or eyes).  You cannot get swine flu by eating pork.  It is contagious one day before symptoms appear and up to seven days after the person feels better.  Previous outbreaks have been relatively mild.  In 1976, 200 cases were reported in Fort Dix, North Carolina and in the three years between 2005 to he end of 2008, 12 cases of human infection wer reported.  The April 2009 cases reported in the US seem to be mild as well. 

The symptoms of swine flu are similar to any influenza infection and consist of tiredness, fever, chills, cough, sore throat, and body aches.  Some people complain of diarrhea and vomiting.  As in seasonal flu, swine flu is self limiting although the course and intensity may be shortened by antiviral medications.  Of significance to older adults is that flu can worsen other medical conditions and persons with decreased immune responses may be quite susceptible to complications such as bacterial infections like pneumonia.  

Keeping safe and healthy:

• Get plenty of rest, stay hydrated and continue with physical exercise.
  
• Wash your hands frequently.
• If you cough or sneeze, cover the mouth and nose with tissue paper and throw it in the trash.  If you do not have tissue paper, cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow.
• Stay away from sick people.
• If you feel sick, stay home, rest and drink plenty of fluids.
• Call your health care provider if you get dizzy, experience chest pain or oppression, trouble breathing, or severe persistent vomiting or diarrhea.

There is no vaccine for swine flu just yet. Two prescription antiviral agents, oseltamivir and zanamivir, can shorten the course of the illness if taken within two days of the onset of symptoms.

Swine flu cases reported seems to all be mild and self-limiting.  Don't panic.  Call your health care provider if you have concerns or check the CDC website for further information.

Florists Love Mother's Day

The second Sunday in May is one of the seasons in a florist's year. Along with Valentine's Day, Easter and Christmas, Mother's Day, represents high sales volume. Weddings, professional recognition days such as Administrative Assistant Day ring up a smaller volume. Little wonder that florists, nurseries, and grocery stores ensure that they don't run out of Mother's Day flowers.

Since flowers now come from all over the world, florists can play with a variety of flower arrangements. No longer confined to local floral variety and seasonal blooms, florists are now only limited by their creativity in crafting floral arrangements. Well, perhaps the customer's budget as well. It can be an Ikebana arrangement with its simple style and line, an English garden style with radial colorful blooms or a contemporary high style arrangement. Any time of the year, florists can have orchids, birds of paradise, tulips and various flowers for every occasion. Recipients are equally pleased. A mom in Asia can have a spray of tulips while another mom in Greenland might receive a pot of phaelonopsis orchids.

Customers can have Mother's Day flowers hand delivered by their local florist or through floral wire and online services such as 1-800-Flowers.

Adapting the Home for Mobility Access

Sometime in our fifties, we bought a home with an eye on the lifestyle changes in our senior years. We bought a reverse story and a half patio home with an open floor plan. Not until we had to cope with disability did we realize the barriers to mobility that most homes present.

These are what we found out:

• The doors were not wide enough for wheelchair mobility access. This is especially difficult in the toilet where the door was even smaller. We had to remove the doors for easier access.
• The stair steps were not wide enough to accommodate a walker. Although there were only two to three steps from the garage or the front porch to the house, the steps were too narrow to plant a walker safely.
• Shower doors were too narrow for either wheelchair or walker. Taking a shower proved to be a long ritual. We are still struggling with options retrofitting the shower and bathroom, all of them expensive.
• Kitchen counters can be formidable for someone who is wheelchair bound. Needless to say, reaching up to a built in microwave or over the counter shelves are next to impossible.
• Getting in and out of the bed can be very difficult for someone with bum legs. There is nothing to grip to pull up.

These are seemingly mundane things and for sure there are remedies as we quickly and by necessity found. But for those nearing their senior years and looking to move to a new home, these should be realistic considerations. At the very least, look for wide doors, wide garage steps and disability friendly bathrooms. These can be added without detracting from the decor. You just never know when you will need them.

Choosing a Retirement Community

Many senior adults like me think about retirement long before we apply for our social security retirement income. We go on vacation with an eye on retirement communities and resorts wondering what it might be like to actually live there for good. Downsizing to a condominium, patio home or a 55 and over apartment can be a logical move for most seniors.

Before making that big commitment some factors are worth looking into:

• Geographic location: Is the climate suitable, especially for your health? Persons with asthma, arthritis, or other medical conditions may want to make sure the climate is conducive to their health. Will you like it in the off season when it is too cold or too hot, too dry or too wet? Is it close to loved ones? Many of us may choose to be close to grandchildren and close family members or be within driving distance.
  
• Real estate professionals: Once you decide on a geographic location for a retirement community, it is valuable to hire a good real estate agent and have access to legal counsel. Good real estate professionals have knowledge of the area, comparable costs of homes, and other information not readily available to the buyer. A lawyer can read through the contract and give important legal advice. A house inspector is invaluable in looking below the surface and preventing costly surprises after the purchase.
  
• Evaluating a retirement community: Is it close to grocery stores, health care providers, shopping centers, and recreational activities? What is the age mix and ambiance of the community? Is it compatible with your lifestyle? How secure is the home, condominium, or apartment building and the community in general? Talking to potential neighbors can be very informative.
  
• Before making the purchase: It is important to understand some planned retirement community requirements. Condominiums and planned communities are often governed by homeowner (HOA) or property owner association (POA) rules and regulations. These are legal entities, often non-profit and organized for the purpose of maintaining the retirement community standards. These are often governed by conditions, covenants and restrictions (CCR) These associations may collect dues for maintenance of community infrastructure. Remember that association dues will continue long after the mortgage is paid for. Check the association debts, reserve fund, how often dues are raised and special assessments levied. What do amenities cover? Check covenants and restrictions and make sure you can live with them. ( Examples include restrictions on fences, outside paint colors, pet areas, placement of satellite dish, yard decorations, etc.)

Chosen well, a retirement community can be very practical, fun and enhancing to one's later life.

Venus, a Movie of Love, Friendship, and Being Old

Venus, a movie released in December 2006, is a wonderful poignant vehicle for Peter O'Toole, who once again engages us with an unforgettable performance. Portraying Maurice, an aging, has been actor relegated to bit parts ( such as corpses), O'Toole generates a charming character.Once a ladies man and not too responsible husband, he now spends his days in coffee shops with similarly aging has been actor friend, Ian ( Leslie Phillips.) Into their lives come Venus (Jodie Whitaker), Ian's niece from the country, sent to the city to look after Ian while looking for a modeling job. She quickly disrupts Ian's and Maurice's lives with her narcissistic, self-absorbed , flirtatious lifestyle. She becomes a catalyst for Maurice' coming alive once again as he relentlessly pursues his growing infatuation. Sadly, she tantalizes him with simple pleasures such as allowing him to touch her bare shoulders for which he is immensely grateful. He, in turn, showers her with presents , pays for her tattoo, and takes her to movies sets and museums.

We are reminded how love is alive at any age. Love and sex remain a vital part of many older adult couples. The August 2007 volume of the New England Journal of Medicine contains the University of Chicago's National Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) which shows that there is only slight decline in sexual activity from age 50 to 70 and that older adults can and do participate in sexual activity well into their 80's. Dr. Stacy Tesser Lindauer reports that health rather than age is a bigger factor in sexual function.

The need for touch is a universal need at any age. Little wonder that there is that bond between grandchildren and grandparents, children having no qualms about hugging nana or poppa or touching their faces. Children do not see age as a barrier.

The movie moves us to think through very difficult issues of aging and the universal fear of facing the end of our lives alone. It looks at friendships, among men and peers, between Maurice and his ex-wife ( played by Vanessa Redgrave.) The actors' masterful performance, subtly draws us to look into our own future and the inevitability of growing old. O'Toole is perfect in the role, ( maybe as good as inLawrence of Arabia.) And Whitaker holds her own as the characters take us to their transformation. Even as Venus selfishly takes advantage of Maurice' infatuation, we see Maurice, an old man come alive at the end of his days and Venus evolve into a more caring woman.

This is a thought provoking movie. Watch the movie for Peter O'Toole. Watch the movie for yourself.

Can You Afford to Buy Prescription Medications?

Buying prescription medications on a fixed retirement income is a problem many retirees face when deciding on competing necessities like rent and food. Many patients opt to not buy medication, take a lesser dose than prescribed to make the medicine last, or resort to buying prescription drugs online. Even with Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, there are pitfalls not easily anticipated. This blog aims to clarify some of the confusion in prescription drug plans and to suggest ways to make prescription drugs more affordable.




Medicare Part D




Effective January 2006, persons with Medicare became eligible to purchase Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage by: 1.) joining a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan by paying additional premium or by 2.) joining a Medicare Advantage Plan such as an HMO ( health maintenance organization) or a PPO (Preferred Provider) or a Medicare health plan that provides prescription insurance.




Things to consider when obtaining Medicare D coverage:

• Coverage: Does the plan cover the medications on your list?



• Cost: May include: a.) monthly premium b.) annual deductible and c.) coinsurance and copayments. Persons falling under certain income guidelines may qualify for "extra help" also known as low income subsidy. This helps pay for the monthly premium, annual deductible, coinsurance and copayments.



• Convenience: Some plans allow for obtaining prescription through the mail.



• Coverage gap: (Also known as the doughnut hole) This is a very important but poorly understood aspect of the Medicare Part D plan. Essentially, in any given year, when prescription drug cost reaches a certain amount, ( $2,510.00 in 2008), the patient is responsible for 100% of the cost of medications for the next $3,216.00. Once this total of $5,726.00 is reached, Medicare Part D catastrophic coverage kicks in and pays for 95% of drug cost. This doughnut hole was built in by Congress to limit taxpayer cost while at the same time ensuring that persons with extremely high drug cost can get assistance. Individuals who qualify for " extra help" do not have a coverage gap.



• Note: The monthly Medicare D premium must be paid during the doughnut hole period.

Some Strategies for Negotiating the Doughnut Hole and High Drug Cost:

• Obtain coverage gap insurance ( in addition to regular monthly premium.) Many of these plans pay only for generic drugs, so check what you are buying.



• Go bare and self insure by setting aside savings equal to the coverage gap amount each year.



• Talk to your health care provider about generic medications or class equivalent drugs.



• Monitor prescription drug expenditure to avoid the doughnut hole.



• Check with WalMart Pharmacy if your medication is in their generic medication $4.00/month supply list. Other pharmacies such as Target Pharmacy offer a price match. Costco Pharmacy also offers the lowest mark-up on many generic medications.

Understanding Prescription Drug Tiers:

Medicare requires that all drug coverage plans cover at least two drugs in each category of drugs except that they are not required to cover certain drugs such as sedatives ( barbiturates and benzodiazepines), weight loss or weight gain drugs, drugs for erectile dysfunction and over the counter medications. Some prescription drug plans may limit the quantity of medication per fill, require prior authorization for certain medications or request stepwise therapy where one must try a similar or less expensive drug before progressing to a more expensive drug. Prescription drug plans also classify medications in what is known as a tier system.

• Tier 1 covers most generic medications and has the lowest copayment.



• Tier 2 covers preferred brand name prescription medications ( usually brand name medications deemed to be equally effective but less expensive as similar drugs) and has medium copay.



• Tier 3 covers non-preferred brand name medications and has a high copay amount.



• Specialty tier covers very expensive unique medications and have the highest copay.

Generic medications must be bioequivalent to the brand name and has the same active ingredient, efficacy, and safety profile as the trade brand medication. They undergo the same oversight by the Food and Drug Administration as its brand name equivalent.

It is also helpful to discuss bioequivalent medications with your health care provider. Talk about the intended treatment outcome and whether or not a less expensive medication will do just as well. For example, will aspirin have the same therapeutic outcome as more expensive blood thinners? Will a less expensive ace-inhibitor work just as well as other brand name blood pressure medication.

Patient Assistance Programs

When brand name medication is essential, talk to your health care provider about patient assistance programs. Drug manufacturers have agreed to provide medically necessary medications to persons falling below certain income guideline ( different from drug company to drug company) and who do not have prescription insurance coverage. Persons who are in the doughnut hole may qualify for this program. This requires that your physician and you complete an application form. Proof of income is usually required but may differ with each patient assistance program.

Talk to your pharmacist about discount prescription drug plans. These plans do not require a premium and usually provide the patient with a discount card where medication cost is discounted.

And don't forget the incentives such as gift cards and rebates that some pharmacy chains give out for obtaining your business. Every little thing helps.

A Caution About Buying Prescription Drugs Online

There is no substitute for the services of a pharmacist that you can ask questions of and who can counsel you on your medications. Online drug stores do not have the regulatory oversight that brick and mortar pharmacies do. Be suspicious of medications purchased this way.

Baby Boomers

On October 15,2007, Kathleen Casey-Kirschling went online and applied for Social Security retirement benefits. This would have been a non-event for anyone else but Kathleen and her family had she not had the distinction of having been born on the first second of January 1, 1946 making her the first American baby boomer to transition from the workforce to retirement. This event was not lost to Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue who witnessed the event. Kathleen leads an expected 80 million Americans who will reach retirement age over the next 20 years, an average of about 10,000 a day, a phenomenon referred to in some circles as the "silver tsunami."

Baby boomer is a term given to people born in the post World War II era between 1946 and 1964. A fairly lengthy period, it is sometimes divided into two epochs the first from 1946 to 1954 and the second from 1954 to 1964. This generation has had defining moments such as the Vietnam War and the beginning and end of the Cold War, political initiatives such as civil rights, feminism, gay rights, handicap rights and the end of the military draft, technological advances such as the internet and the conquest of space, and cultural changes in music, movies and arts. It boasts of influential persons, the likes of Bill Gates.

The White House Conference on Aging ( September 2006) calls for formulating a proactive plan for anticipating the impact of aging baby boomers on the nation.. The sheer numbers of retirees are staggering and the nation has not yet come up with a plan for managing the retirement, health care and living needs of this group. On the one hand, many boomers are expected to live healthier longer and be affluent both from their own achievements as well as from transfer of wealth from their parents. On the other hand, with many persons living longer, it is anticipated that a good number of the elderly will be women and minority individuals groups that typically fall within the poverty level. Since the social security system is not a true retirement plan, funding of retirement benefits fall on the backs of those currently working. Boomers retirement also poses problems on the work force. It is expected that boomer retirement will leave gaps in skilled and specialized areas unable to be filled by a decreasing number of the younger working generation.

Boomers are expected to wield great political clout and are the target of marketing strategies of consumer product advertising. The good news is that many retirees are expected to return to the work force for different reasons. Many will need to supplement retirement income to meet living needs. Many who continue to enjoy life will embark on new careers. And there are those who are simply retirement flunkies who find working to be a very fulfilling part of their lives. Retirees might return to work for an employer full-time or in creative variations of part-time work. Some might choose self employment and entrepreneurship. Some might work as permanent part-time or part-time intermittent employees. Still others might choose to work full time for a few months out of the year.

Clearly baby boomers will be influential in their old age as they have been in their younger years and will continue to contribute wisdom and experience.

Health Care and the Senior Citizen

I understand that if I live long enough, I am likely to come down with some illness at one time or another. This reality prompted me to pay attention to what is coming down in Medicare, the national health insurance plan for people age 65 and older, under 65 with certain disabilities, and any age with end stage renal disease ( kidney failure.) Understanding Medicare insurance can be a daunting task and this is it in a nutshell.

Working persons pay into Medicare through mandatory payroll deductions. It is government administered and consists of four parts.

• Medicare Part A covers hospitalization, skilled nursing facility, hospice and home health care under certain conditions and is provided with no additional premium.


• Medicare Part B covers 80% of Medicare allowed medically necessary services outpatient services, physician and other health care provider fees and certain preventive services to prevent some diseases from getting worse. This requires payment of a premium usually billed quarterly or deducted from retiree social security pension. Enrollment may be made during specified enrollment periods. Individuals falling within certain income guidelines are entitled to some premium assistance.


• Medicare Part C also known as Medicare Advantage Plans represents a privitization of Medicare wherein individuals enroll with approved private health insurance companies. These insurance plans must cover medically necessary services and thus provide similar services despite some differing advertising claims. They may differ, however, in copayments, co-insurance or deductibles. Medicare C plans combine Medicare A, B and oftentimes, D benefits.


• Medicare Part D is Medicare prescription drug coverage. Again it requires the payment of a premium and enrollment during certain open enrolment periods. Individuals within certain income guidelines are entitled to premium subsidies.

Since Medicare health insurance only pays for 80% of allowed charges, the patient is liable for the remaining 20% which he/she pays out of pocket or subcribes to private health care insurance companies for Medicare supplemental insurance plan ( also known as Medigap.) All of these insurance premiums could take a big chunk out of the senior citizen's retirement benefits. Small wonder that many seniors opt to go bare and just go with Medicare Part A.

It is important for seniors to research and compare offerings of private health insurance companies when choosing Medicare Part C, Medicare Part D, and Medigap. Companies such as AARP Medicare Insurance, Humana Medicare Insurance, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Insurance are among those commonly marketed to seniors. When choosing a Medicare D prescription plan, it might be necessary to check with your pharmacist to make sure that expensive maintenance medications are covered by the plan.

A Threat to Health Care Access

A White House Fact Sheet pledges, "Medicare is the binding commitment of a caring society to our most vulnerable citizens and a commitment that America must always keep." At the same time, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) announced a 10% cut in Medicare allowed physician fees effective 2008. There is will continue for the next four years for a total of 40 % cut in reimbursement. A poll by the American Medical Association of its members, shows that 60% of physicians indicate they will have to cut down on accepting new Medicare patients should these cuts come to pass. Physicians faced with increasing overhead from quality improvement and best practice initiatives do not feel that afford further decreases in their revenue base. This places many senior citizens at risk for not having an identified primary care health care provider at a time in their lives when diseases move to chronicity and consistent medical follow-up becomes necessary.

A Call to Action

Senior citizens will soon comprise a voting majority. It is time to take our elected officials to task in honoring " the binding comittment of a caring society" to its vulnerable citizens in particular and to all citizens in general. It is imperative that we demand that candidate and party platforms have a viable health care plan for all which moves health care from an option to a right similar to education and safety. A country that can send men and women to the stars and spend billions in other nation building must commit to ensuring a healthy nation.

I Want an Aeron Chair

I don't usually think about growing old ,except for those ocassions which come more often now, when the hip and the low back start aching. One of these ocassions, prompted me to check out desk chairs. I spend a great deal of time sitting in front of a desk, talking to people and typing on a computer. I thought it was time to treat myself to a high end desk chair.



I first sat on an Aeron chair a few years ago, on one of those few ocassions I stayed in an expensive hotel suite. It was quite comfortable and I have wanted to upgrade to an Aeron desk chair since.



Introduced in 1994, Aeron chairs quickly became the rave in office furniture. Designed by Don Chadwick and Bill Stumpf for the Herman Miller Company, it was and many would argue, still is the desk chair to sit on. Aeron chairs combine the notion that form follows function with stylish design, making it at home in any office setting be it the boardroom or the home office.



There are executive chairs, side chairs and task chairs in this line। The tall wide back is designed to relieve stress on the lower vertebrae while the arm rest design helps minimize arm and hand fatigue from repetitive keyboard strokes. The seat front has a waterfall design to minimize numbness from circulation to the legs being cut off during prolonged seating. The mesh design of the chair back allows good aeration and ventilation thus keeping the back cool especially on warm weather. Adjustable tension allows modification for different body size and form. Durable materials including titanium alloy make these office chairs easy to clean, maintain and repair.

Designed for comfort, Aeron chairs quickly became popular with computer types tired of ill fitting desk chairs while hunched in front of their computer screens, with people with low back pain and with corporate and government offices। It soon was a symbol of opulence and alas, of fiscal mismanagement as well। When dotcom companies and huge corporations such as Enron went belly up, the large quantities of Aeron chairs in their inventory were taken as yet another evidence of fiscal irresponsibility.

There is no question Aeron chairs are pricey, an executive chair easily setting one back well over $1000।00 and task chairs over $500।00. Used Aeron chairs are not any less expensive and remain a favorite on Ebay and other auction houses. The best compliment, of course, is in the fact that Aeron chairs are being copied as knock offs or less expensive variations, much to the consternation of Herman Miller. The Herman Miller Company has approached this problem by offering incentives to knock off customers to trade in their copy for an authentic one and by a cease and desist legal action towards knock off manufacturers. Before buying a used Herman Miller Aeron chair, it would be wise to check with the company on the warranty. While Herman Miller honors warranty on original purchase, it might not honor waranties on previously owned chairs.

Customer reviews are mixed. Many consider the Herman Miller Aeron chair to be the chair to own while some find that the chair did not deliver as well as they expected or they did not get relief from back pain as they had hoped.

Price and reviews aside, the Aeron chair continues to be the office chair to have. I, for one, still covet it and look beyond water heater replacements, car repairs, and new carpeting to that time when I can finally own one.