Category Archives: Senior Living

Help adults improve their reading and writing skills

“A few more classes and you will be able to read the Ventura Breeze.”

Ventura County Library Adult Literacy READ Program is now recruiting Adult volunteer tutors who would like to help other adults improve their reading and writing skills. No teaching experience is required and the training is free. The five-week tutor training series will be starting soon!

The READ program trains adult volunteers to provide free one-to-one reading instruction for adults in need of basic literacy skills. Instruction in basic literacy includes the development of phonetic reading skills combined with communication skills. Ventura County Library is encouraging residents to take this opportunity to volunteer as a tutor or encourage someone you know to take advantage of the free program.

After completion of the five-week training, tutors will meet with their adult learners at locations throughout the county. Tutoring is scheduled by the availability of the tutors and the learners.

Illiteracy is an issue that can be debilitating in so many ways for adults who never received the proper instruction. Adults who are unable to read have a much more difficult time with many daily activities that others may take for granted, along with a clear disadvantage in today’s competitive job market.

For more information about how you can support literacy and make a difference in someone’s life, call Carol Chapman, READ Program Manager at (805) 677-7160.

Become a volunteer to seniors

Want to start the New Year right by checking two resolutions off your list? You can do just that by attending one of two volunteer trainings offered by RSVP soon.

The senior volunteer program oversees two distinct exercise programs designed for those 55 and over, both of them free, and they are seeking volunteers to train who will lead them. Trained instructors make a difference in the lives of those enrolled in the class as well as improving their own wellbeing through a regular exercise program.

RSVP Bone Builders is an osteoporosis exercise and education program with 33 classes currently. Using light weights, participants build bones while also improving their balance and making new friends. Training for Bone Builders is scheduled for Tuesday, January 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance is an evidence-based program comprised of eight forms. This simplified Tai Chi for seniors helps reduce repeat falls and teaches proper body alignment. Training is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Feb 1 and 2, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.

No experience is necessary to become an instructor for either program, although the first training step is to attend a class and observe. Volunteers must be 55 years of age or better, enjoy working with people, and be willing to volunteer. Instructors teach in pairs, allowing time away for vacations/illnesses.

Volunteer positions are available in RSVP’s four-city service area of Oxnard, Ventura, Camarillo and Pt. Hueneme. To see current class locations, go to http://seniors.oxnardrec.org and follow the Senior Services link or call 805-385-8019.

RSVP is a volunteer recruitment and placement program, helping people 55 and older find volunteer positions that match their interests, talent and available time. Oxnard RSVP has about 600 members and is locally sponsored by the City of Oxnard with grant funding from the federal Corporation for National and Community Service. To learn more about the benefits of being an RSVP member or for help finding a volunteer position, call 805-385-8019.

New Tai Chi Balance Classes in Ventura

Multi-ethnic group of adults practicing tai chi in park. Main focus on senior man (60s) in blue shirt.

Join as a participant or attend training and serve as an instructor.

It’s the new year! Let’s improve our balance together and kick off a year of wellness by enrolling in one of three free senior Tai Chi classes starting in January. Registration is open now by calling 805-385-8019.

Or consider joining the program as a trained, certified volunteer instructor! The free training will be held the first weekend of February. No experience is needed. Call 805-385-8023 to learn more about this opportunity to serve your community.

Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance is a 12-week program offered by Oxnard RSVP and focused on improving the mobility and balance of older adults. Classes are free, designed for those age 50 and older, and taught by certified senior volunteers.

The evidence-based program consists of a simplified eight-form routine of Yang-style Tai Chi. Intended for beginners who can walk easily with or without assistive devices, it teaches participants balance skills and good body alignment by using coordinated and flowing movements. The classes have been proven to reduce repeated falls by 55%.

New classes are offered in Ventura at the following locations:

CMH Wellness and Fitness Center, 2723 E. Main Street, January 8, T/F, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Our Lady of the Assumption, 3175 Telegraph Road, January 14, M/W, 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

The Bonaventure, 10949 Telegraph Road, January 29, T/TH, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

New participants are accepted only until the third class of each session. Another class located near the Ross store on Telephone and Main is tentatively scheduled to start in late February.

New volunteer instructors will be trained February 1 and 2. You must be 55 and older to volunteer. Training is free and new volunteers are asked to commit to teaching at least two full sessions following certification.

RSVP is a volunteer recruitment and placement program, helping people 55 and older find volunteer positions that match their interests, talent and available time. The Oxnard RSVP has almost 575 members and is sponsored by the City of Oxnard. To learn more about being an RSVP member or to discuss other volunteer opportunities, call 805-385-8023.

The California Senior Legislature announces top legislative priorities for 2019

“Listing the purpose for which the medication is prescribed is very helpful.”

The California Senior Legislature (CSL) adjourned its 38th Annual Legislative Session and announced the Top Ten State Legislative Proposals and Top Federal proposals earlier this week. Members will advocate diligently during the 2019 legislative session to have state lawmakers carry and support these priorities.

The following were listed as the top ten State Legislative proposals:

AP-18: Labeling of Prescription Drugs
This measure would require physicians and surgeons to include the purpose for which the medication is prescribed on all prescriptions, unless the patient requests that this information be omitted.

AP-2 Transportation: Seniors’ & Disabled Individuals’ Access to Transportation to Medical Services
This measure would authorize the use of moneys in the electric program investment charge to fund grant programs in counties to provide transportation to nonemergency medical services for the senior and disabled populations located in rural, desert, and mountain areas through the use of energy renewable vehicles.

SP-10 Financial Elder Abuse: Mandated Reporting
This measure would amend the definition of “Mandated Reporters of Suspected Financial Abuse of an Elder or Dependent Adult” to include the officers and employees of businesses licensed under the Money Transmission Act for making wire or money transfers and that would increase penalties, including providing for full reimbursement of losses.

SP-7 Veterans Housing: Affordable Rental Housing
This measure would establish a rental housing assistance program and would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to coordinate access to affordable housing with existing State and Federal Veterans services.

AP-7 Fall Safe Housing
This measure would amend the Building Homes and Jobs Act to ensure that specific falls prevention structural features designed to prevent falls and facilitate aging in place are built into new housing using funds generated by the Act.

AP-8 Affordable Housing for the Elderly
This measure would, for the purpose of meeting housing element goals under the Planning and Zoning Law, classify housing units participating in a home-sharing arrangement in which at least one of the occupants is an elderly person who qualifies as a person of low or moderate income, as defined, as very low income households.

SP-4 Dental Insurance
This measure would memorialize the Legislature and the Governor to enact legislation that would require the Department of Insurance to commission a study to determine whether requiring Medi-Cal and private dental insurance plans to provide increased dental coverage at low cost for seniors would result in lower overall costs to the state for emergency room visits and inpatient hospital treatment.

AP-17 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
This measure would require any facility that provides electric vehicle charging stations for public use or common use to provide at least one van accessible station regardless of when the electric vehicle charging stations were added to the facility.

AP-15 Homelessness: Seniors & Persons with Disabilities
This measure would propose that a count of the number of homeless individuals include the number of seniors and individuals with disabilities that are homeless.

AP-3 Travel Safety
This measure would require all hotels, motels, inns, and bed and breakfasts to install grab bars in the tub and shower areas and nonskid surfaces on the tub and shower floors in all rooms available for public accommodation.
The following were identified as the Top Federal Legislative proposals:

AFP-2 Medicare Durable Medical Equipment: Grab Bars
This measure would memorialize the Federal Government to adopt appropriate regulations for the Medicare Program, or to enact appropriate legislation, that would add grab bars to the list of covered durable medical equipment under the Medicare Program, upon an evaluation by the Medicare Program to demonstrate that grab bars meet the requirements of durable medical equipment.

SFP-2 Medicare: Penalties
This measure would memorialize the Congress and the President to adopt appropriate regulations for the Medicare Program, or to enact appropriate legislation, that would prohibit Medicare late enrollment penalties related to the enrollment for Medicare parts A, B, and D.

-END-

MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
For more information contact Janice Bailey, CSL Staff Services Manager, at (916) 552- 8056 or [email protected].

A possible way to reduce dementia

African Americans are more likely than whites to develop the condition.

Older African Americans with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who got help setting goals to be more socially, physically, or cognitively active had slower memory decline than those who did not receive such help, concludes an NIA-funded study published Sept. 10 in JAMA Neurology. The results point to a possible way to reduce dementia risk in African Americans, who are more likely than whites to develop the condition.

Past studies suggest that a more active lifestyle may help prevent cognitive decline, but few of these studies have included African Americans. MCI—a condition in which people have more memory problems than normal for their age—often, but not always, leads to memory loss and other signs of dementia.

In the study by researchers at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, 221 African Americans age 65 and older with MCI (average age, 76 years; 79 percent female) were randomly assigned to one of two interventions, and 164 completed the trial. One group received “behavioral activation,” in which community health workers helped them choose goals to be more active, then develop step-by-step action plans. Goals included, for example, relearning how to play chess or rejoining a church group. The control group received “supportive therapy,” conversations with community health workers that did not involve setting goals. Both groups had 11 one-on-one, in-home sessions with African-American community health workers, with each session lasting 1 hour, over 2 years.

After 2 years, the behavioral-activation group participated in significantly more cognitive activities, the researchers found. There were no differences in physical or social activity levels. Both groups had memory decline, measured by performance on a standard memory test, but the behavioral-activation group declined by just 1.2 percent, compared with 9.3 percent for the control group. In addition, behavioral activation was associated with stable everyday function and improved executive function.

The study provides evidence that a behavioral intervention can slow memory decline in older African Americans at risk for dementia. Although several factors may influence cognitive decline in this population, it’s possible that planning a more active lifestyle could reduce the disparity in dementia risk between African Americans and whites.

This research was funded by NIA grant 1R01AG035025. ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01299766.

Reference: Rovner BW, et al. Preventing cognitive decline in black individuals with mild cognitive impairment: A randomized clinical trial.JAMA Neurology. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.2513.

Eligible for the Medicare Special Enrollment Period Due to the California Wildfires?

by Rick Beavin, California Market President Humana

The federal government has announced a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for people with Medicare impacted by the wildfires in California and who live (or did live at the time of the disaster) in impacted areas where the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared an emergency or major disaster. This SEP is also available to people who don’t live in impacted areas, but rely on help making health care decisions from friends or family members who live in the impacted areas.

The SEP will run at least through March 8, 2019, giving individuals with Medicare additional time to change their Medicare medical and prescription drug plans for 2019, including Medicare Advantage plans, in the event they were unable to do so during another qualifying enrollment period.

If you are eligible for Medicare, qualify for the SEP, and haven’t yet selected a 2019 Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan here are four simple steps to help you make the best decision:

1. Review your current Medicare health plan. Look at what you’ve spent on health care in the past year, including hospital expenses and prescriptions. Evaluating what you spent in 2018 will help you decide whether your current health plan meets your needs, both financially and medically.

2. Know your options for Medicare coverage:

· Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B): Provides basic coverage for medical services and supplies in hospitals, doctors’ offices and other health care settings. Original Medicare does not include coverage for most prescriptions and includes cost-sharing in the form of deductibles and coinsurance.

· Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C): Includes all the coverage offered under Original Medicare, and typically also includes prescription drug coverage. Medicare Advantage plans may include additional benefits as well, such as dental, hearing and vision coverage; a nurse advice line; and a fitness program. Medicare Advantage plans are offered through private insurers, like Humana, and are steadily gaining in popularity: The number of Americans choosing this option is expected to climb to 36 percent in 2019, up from 33 percent in 2017, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

· Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Medicare Part D): Offers coverage for prescription medications. Such a plan can be added to Original Medicare, a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan or to some Medicare Advantage plans (that do not include prescription drug coverage), some Medicare Cost Plans, and some Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) plans.

· Medicare supplement (Medigap) Plans: Pays most costs not included under Original Medicare, such as deductibles and coinsurance. These plans do not have a set provider network, and enrollment is not limited to the Medicare Annual Election Period but they are often subject to underwriting. These plans are also sold by private insurance companies, like Humana. Medicare Supplement plans on the market today do not include prescription drug coverage.

3. Comparison shop. Research a plan’s out-of-pocket costs, and its network of doctors and hospitals. Check to see if your prescriptions are on your plan’s formulary (list of covered drugs), as these can change each year. Compare plan benefits, such as dental, vision and hearing benefits; a fitness program; virtual doctors and behavioral health coverage.

4. Ask an expert. You are not alone! There are resources if you have questions:

· If you prefer to learn more in person, you can meet with a licensed sales agent. To speak to a Humana licensed sales agent call 1-877-877-0714 (TTY: 711) 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, seven days a week.

· If you prefer to do your research online, you can visit websites such as Medicare.gov and humana.com/medicare to view and compare plans in your area.

· You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY: 1-877-486-2048) 24 hours a day, seven days a week to speak to someone by phone about 2019 Medicare plan information.

To learn more about Special Enrollment Periods, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (or TTY: 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Start your year end planning now

by Jayson Cohen American Legacy Solutions

It may seem as if the end of the year is very far away and that there is no need to start making end of the year financial plans as of yet. However, the reality is that the end of the year, and the activities which surround it are busy.  At times, with all the festivities going on, it becomes close to impossible to do anything sensible where financial planning is concerned. You should consider starting your end of year plans now because early plan may spare you the heavy fines. Here are a few things that you should consider doing right now.

If It’s Time, Get Your RMD

You probably know that you are supposed to start making withdrawals from your IRA or other retirement plans when you reach the age of 70 and a half. If you don’t take your RMD on time, you may be forced to pay a 50 percent excise tax on the amount which you will have failed to distribute. This is another reason why working with a Financial Advisor can help you avoid penalty’s and anxiety.

Making A Charitable Contribution

Did you know that if you make a charitable contribution using a Qualified Charitable Distribution, you will get a tax exemption of the amount and the amount donated could also qualify as RMD?   If you have not made any donation this year, perhaps now is the right time to make a meaningful contribution from your IRA.  Again, seek professional guidance on this strategy.

Other Tax Mitigating Strategies

This is the perfect time to look into all your accounts and see whether there are tax gains which you can still capitalize on this year. If you do not understand how having investments such as mutual funds could affect your taxes and distribution, talk to a financial expert and have everything straightened out before the year ends and you are left with massive losses in your hands.

Avoid Tax Deferral

Don’t Delay!   When the year is coming to an end, some postpone all their tax related items until a later date. Tax deferral may seem like a quick fix to grow your money, but it is important to note that it puts off your taxes as opposed to getting a permanent resolution to the problem. If you are employed, it may be wise to fund your employer sponsored plan as much as possible to get the full match of the company.  After all, free money is indeed the best kind that there is, right?

Yes, all of this takes knowledge and effort but can pay off with the proper plan.  We are here to help you plan for everything that comes with a successful retirement.  Start early, plan ahead and you will have the best shot at a confident retirement

6 ways to stay physically active in winter

If you are really active skiing is a great way to stay fit.

by Kathleen Zuke

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services just released the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The guidelines recommend that adults move more and sit less throughout the day by engaging in a combination of aerobic activities, as well as balance training and muscle strengthening.

Exercising during the winter months can be challenging as temperatures drop, roads and sidewalks are slippery, and storms prevent outdoor activities. Here are 6 ways to keep active this season.

1. Explore arthritis-friendly exercise videos

Check out these short videos with exercises focused on reducing joint pain through stretching and building strength. There are options for working out your upper and lower body, as well as trying out Tai Chi, all in your own home.

2. Find an exercise class near you

It can be hard to stay motivated while exercising alone. Find an evidence-based exercise class that can offer different options for activities and provide an opportunity to meet up with friends.

3. Go mall walking

This Mall Walking Resource Guide provides ideas for walking solo or with a group at a local mall. Moving your regular walks inside for the winter provides a warm, safe, and well-lit environment to keep active.

4. Take steps to prevent falls

If you do walk outside, take precautions to avoid slips and trips on icy sidewalks. Check out how you can Winterize to Prevent Falls.

5. Get a workout to go

Go4Life’s Workout to Go guide has several options for exercising in your own home, including hand grips, wall pushups, and arm raises.

6. Find an indoor community pool or track

Many local Parks and Recreation Centers and YMCAs offer physical activity options, such as swimming, walking on indoor tracks, and group exercise for older adults.

Kathleen Zuke is Senior Program Manager for NCOA’s Center for Healthy Aging. Her work focuses on empowering individuals and communities to better manage chronic conditions.

Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroscience

Capitalizing on recent advances in neuroimaging and genetic biomarker research, scientists have been able to identify specific pathways by which tau and beta-amyloid, two proteins that are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, accumulate in the brain over time. The NIA-supported researchers also found that the patterns of tau and beta-amyloid accumulation were related to specific genetic profiles, providing better understanding of Alzheimer’s disease risk and possible new avenues for diagnosis and monitoring of the disease.

Improved technology makes possible for intensive, side-by-side comparisons of how tau and beta-amyloid spread in the brain in distinctive patterns. Using this technology, researchers were able to reveal nuances into how, even in disease, the brain follows a dynamic and complex network of circuits and connections. The results were reported in the Oct. 29 issue of Nature Medicine.

The study was led by Dr. Jorge Sepulcre and Dr. Keith Johnson of The Gordon Center for Medical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and Dr. Reisa Sperling, director of the Center for Alzheimer Research and Treatment at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. The team used data from the Harvard Aging Brain Study and the Allen Human Brain Atlas.

In a brain with Alzheimer’s disease, abnormal deposits of tau and beta-amyloid do not randomly appear, but instead show unique spatial patterns that follow the brain’s existing connected neural networks. To better understand how tau and beta-amyloid interact with and influence each other, the researchers looked closely at 3-D brain network and gene maps and found that both tau and beta-amyloid were associated with genes devoted to lipid metabolism, and that the APOE E4 gene – a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease – played a central role in the relationships of these genetic networks.

The scientists found common genetic background for the malfunction of both proteins. The findings showed that in addition to APOE, other variations in genetic pathways shared by tau and beta-amyloid could trigger their accumulation. The study also found that tau propagation was associated with an axon-related (parts of neurons that pass messages away from the cell body) genetic profile, while beta-amyloid’s spread was connected with a dendrite-related (parts of neurons that receive messages from other cells) genetic profile.

The researchers hope this new understanding of tau and beta-amyloid’s propagation patterns can be combined with a person’s genetic profile to help develop precision medicine approaches for improved diagnosis, monitoring and therapies for Alzheimer’s disease in the brain.

Reference: Sepulcre J et al. Neurogenetic contributions to amyloid beta and tau spreading in the human cortex. Nature Medicine. 2018 Oct 29 doi: 10.1038/s41591-018-0206-4.

Should you update your will and estate plan?

by Jayson Cohen American Legacy Solutions

Everyone should have a will; it ensures that your loved ones will receive the assets you wish them to have in the event of your death. Ideally, it’s best to make a will face to face with a local law firm so that you can thoroughly discuss exactly what you want it to consist of; its importance shouldn’t be underestimated. To be clear, a will is a legal document that states how you want your property to be distributed and to care for any minor children. To ensure that your wishes are carried out as stated by you, a will must be written and signed by you and your witnesses.

Keep in mind; even though you have set up a will for your family; you may have several reasons to update your will, especially if your family situation has changed such as a birth in the family, an adoption, marriage or divorce. Another reason to update your will is if you have another child, or even if you’ve moved across states after your will was created. The laws in California may not be the same as the laws in Texas, and if that is a move you’ve made consider speaking to an estate lawyer austin to make sure everything is up to date.

There are other possible factors. Very importantly, if your marriage ends, your estate plan will need to be updated. For example, if you divorce your spouse, you may not want to leave any assets to your ex. This would be a time and situation that you may want to discuss with your attorney; what changes you want to make to your will. You may also want to talk with your lawyer about how to protect your assets should your will be contested. All of that will be discussed when it comes to the actual divorce. If you are thinking of getting a divorce from your partner, you might want to get in contact with these jacksonville divorce lawyers if you live in that area. If you don’t, there will be other lawyers in your local area that can oversee the divorce. When divorcing, be sure to state the assets that you don’t want to share with your partner. Lawyers will ensure this is all done legally.

Another reason to update your will and estate plan is if your relationships have changed. Relationships, over time, change due to how you feel about people in your life. When relationships change or deteriorate, you may want to modify your will to either cut them out or readjust the distribution of property and monies.

In addition, adjustments to your will may need to be made if you move to a different state. Keep in mind; each state in the U.S. has different rules and regulations; especially when it comes to estate taxes and property. It is important, once you move, to consult with a lawyer to ensure that your will is adjusted to your new state and that it is legal.

If you have had important changes made to your assets; especially if you have had an increase or decrease in the value of your estate, you need to update your will and estate plan. Examples of such changes might be, making a large investment and upping the value of your estate or a family member dies and leaves a substantial amount to you.

Or, maybe you change your mind about certain parts of your will. Perhaps there may be some in your life have emotionally turned away from you and your spouse and you want to adjust your will according to how you feel about that person or persons.

When it comes to updating a will, there are two options on how to make it happen; you can revise your will or create a new one. You can set up your own will; however, you may want to consult a lawyer if you have doubts about the content of your will, if you anticipate leaving a substantial amount of money to people not originally listed in your will or if you want to change the executor of the will.

Other reasons why you may want to consult with a lawyer are if you want to make arrangements for long-term care for a loved one, if you fear that someone will contest your will or if you wish to disinherit your spouse.