Health Info & Resources for Seniors
Colorectal Cancer Screening Saves Lives
March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month
Would you exchange a day or two of discomfort for the chance to extend your life? If yes, schedule your colorectal screening today. Colonoscopy, and other tests that screen for colorectal cancer – the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths – have been widely credited for saving lives of people over 50. And yet, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 33 percent of adults aged 50 to 75 have either never been screened, or are not up to date in screening. Of those, 85 percent are insured.
General Health Facts Spring 2019
General Health Facts Spring 2019
- Laughing is good for the heart and can increase blood flow by 20 percent.
- Your skin works hard. Not only is it the largest organ in the body, but it defends against disease and infection, regulates your temperature and aids in vitamin production.
- Always look on the bright side: being an optimist can help you live longer.
- Exercise will give you more energy, even when you’re tired.
Food for Thought Winter 2019
Corey attended the Restaurant School of Philadelphia. He has experience cooking in hotels and restaurants and has 10 years working in senior living. In his free time he barbecues his favorite recipes for family and friends, and occasionally participates in Iron Chef competitions. He enjoys working with seniors because of the home-like feel of the work environment and freedom to be creative with the menu and cuisine.
Caring for Those With Dementia with Memory Care
Few families in America have been unscathed by Alzheimer’s disease or another forms of dementia. It is a disease that begins subtly and slowly robs the individual of cognition and memory, all while preserving physical function and outward appearance. Losing one’s intellect is terrible, but the real travesty is the personality transformation and inability to sustain the loving relationships that makes life so precious. Dementia makes one physically close and mentally distant.
Improved Diet, Exercise Can Reverse Chronic Illness
Your health, especially as you grow older, is a combination of your genes, your lifestyle and luck, says Alaa Mira, MD, Chief of Geriatrics, St. Luke’s University Health Network. “Even in your golden years, you can slow, and in many cases actually reverse, the progression of many diseases,” he said. “For example, although lung disease runs in your family, you can reduce your risk of developing lung disease by no longer smoking. Even after decades, your lungs will begin to heal. You also reduce your risk of heart diseases and many other health conditions.”
New Medicare Card
As of July of 2018, all Pennsylvania Medicare beneficiaries should have received their new Medicare cards. The new cards should safeguard individuals from a wide range of identity theft-related crimes as the Medicare benefit is no longer associated with an individual’s Social Security number.
Even so, scams surrounding the release of the cards have been reported throughout the state. Therefore, people should guard their Medicare unique IDs. For example, in Franklin County a Medicare beneficiary’s spouse received a call from “Linda from Medicare”, asking whether his wife received her new Medicare card. The consumer correctly responded that he wasn’t aware that Medicare would call anyone and asked for her telephone number. The caller hung up when questioned again.