Buying a gift card for a graduate in your life? Choose wisely. In the store, thieves can remove gift cards from racks, copy the codes, and then dial the number on the back of the card to learn when they were activated and their value for online spending or to clone cards for in-store use. Purchase gift cards directly from a store cashier, customer service counter or the company’s website. The cashier should scan and activate the card in your presence. And get a receipt in case there’s a problem.

Don’t let scammers ruin your summer vacation. One way thieves prey on travelers is through front-desk fraud. Hotel guests receive a call in the middle of the night, supposedly from the front desk. There’s a problem with your payment, the caller says, asking you to confirm your credit card number. Only it’s not hotel staff calling (they’d wait until morning); it’s a scammer using a lobby phone. Never give your account numbers in unsolicited calls; contact the front desk yourself.

Getting calls from debt collectors? They might be fake if the person is trying to collect on a loan you don’t recognize, asks you for sensitive information, or uses threats to try to scare you into paying. Tell the caller you won’t discuss the debt unless they provide a written notice that includes the debt amount, the name of the creditor, and your rights under the federal Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. Never give out or confirm personal financial or other sensitive information unless you know who you’re talking to. If the debt is legitimate, but the collector may be a fake, contact your creditor about the calls.

Scammers are creating fake websites that look like known and trusted news sites to sell “brain booster” pills. They post bogus articles about the pills with endorsements from people like Stephen Hawking and Anderson Cooper (neither has endorsed any such product). The site then links you to the sales page for the pills where you can place an order with a credit or debit card. The scammers claim the pills will lead to an increase in concentration and memory recall, but there is no evidence to support these claims, according to the Federal Trade Commission. It’s always a good idea to consult with your doctor before purchasing health products.

Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.

Report scams to local law enforcement. Contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork for more information on fraud prevention.

by Jayson Cohen, American Legacy Solutions

As our healthcare landscape continues to broaden and change so do the terms that services are referred to as. As we know that none of us were born speaking insurance, we have identified some main questions we have gotten over the years and included the definitions* for your benefit below.

Critical Access Hospital (CAH) – A small facility that provides outpatient services, as well as inpatient services on a limited basis, to people in rural areas.

Deductible – The amount you must pay for health care or prescriptions before Original Medicare, your prescription drug plan, or your other insurance begins to pay.

Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) – A type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide you with all your Part A and Part B benefits. Medicare Advantage Plans include Health Maintenance Organizations, Preferred Provider Organizations, Private Fee-For-Service Plans, Special Needs Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, most Medicare services are covered through the plan and aren’t paid for under Original Medicare. Most Medicare Advantage Plans offer Prescription Drug Coverage.

Medicare-approved amount – In Original Medicare, this is the amount a doctor or supplier that accepts assignment can be paid. It may be less than the actual amount a doctor or supplier charges. Medicare pays part of this amount and you’re responsible for the difference.

Medicare Summary Notice – A notice you get after the doctor, other health care provider, or supplier files a claim for Part A or Part B services in Original Medicare. It explains what the doctor, other health care provider, or supplier billed for, the Medicare-approved amount, how much Medicare paid, and what you must pay.

Original Medicare – Original Medicare is a fee-for-service health plan that has two parts: Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance). After you pay a deductible, Medicare pays its share of the Medicare-approved amount, and you pay your share (coinsurance and deductibles).

As we know there are many terms used on a regular basis that were not covered in this article please feel free to email us and let us know what other terms or questions that are needed to be addressed. Please check back regularly as we will be addressing different questions and concerns in this section.

*All definitions are taken from CMS product number 11021, revised march 2016

by Connie De La Rosa

Does it seem that your loved one’s home is not quite as organized as it used to be? Does it seem like the home needs more maintenance than usual? Offering to help with whatever needs to be done around the house will give you a pretty good idea of things that are not getting done from minor to major repairs. Many times, it may be a simple item dropping to the floor such as a hair brush and the aging person may not be able to bend and pick it up due to pain or being at risk of falling.

Appearance of parents – Does it seem like your parents have lost weight or appear to look frail? Are they showering, grooming or changing clothes regularly if not, what are the reasons? Depression? Inability to lift arms due to pain?

Hearing – If your parents are giving you answers to your questions that don’t make sense, were they able to hear you? Can they hear doorbell, phone or if driving, cars honking and ambulances?

Paying bills – Are your parents paying bills on time? Are there unopened envelopes that require payment or other important information?

If you are a family caregiver, and need resources or information on programs that may be able to assist in these area, please call 420-0608.

by Tammy [email protected]

A senior citizen falls every 13 seconds in this country. And each year, more than one million elderly people go to the ER with injuries. Local families scramble to keep their elderly loved ones safe, but often don’t know how.

For Older Americans Month, which was in in May, we have a compelling visual story for you to demonstrate Senior Life-Saving Hacks — simple techniques families can use to keep seniors safe. Local senior care experts will show how to prevent injuries with things around the house, like curlers, pantyhose, and soap.

Eighty percent of senior falls happen in the bathroom. Slippery surfaces are hazardous and usually to blame. Place a bar of soap in the leg of pantyhose. Tie the open end to a towel bar in the shower or the shower head. Seniors can still use the soap through the stocking. Best of all — no dropping the soap, or slipping and falling trying to pick it up.

Staircases and stairway accidents are the second leading cause of accidental injuries — second only to motor vehicle accidents. Each year 12,000 people die from stairway accidental deaths — many of them seniors.

Place a strip of colorful duct tape on the edges of stair steps to make it easier to judge the depth and distance to keep from tripping and falling. Place strips of puffy plastic shelf liner on stair handrails to increase grip and reduce slip risk.

46% of persons aged 65 and older are dealing with some form of arthritis. Arthritis is a leading cause of disability in the U.S.

Get a Grip – Arthritis and other conditions can impact how well a senior can grip, hold, or open items. A poor grip can lead to injury while using simple items around the house.

Slip a foam hair roller over the end of silverware to improve hold — especially with knives.

Wrap rubber bands around a glass to prevent it from slipping out of hands and breaking. This hack reduces the risk of cuts.

Use rubber coated gardening gloves to help open jars or bottles. Puffy plastic shelf liner works, too!

Make doorknobs easier to grip by placing a foam roller over the end.

But wait, there’s more. Here are some other helpful hacks for seniors.

Zip It – Attach round key rings or bobby pins to zipper pulls to make getting dressed easier.

Canned Do – Use canned goods as weights during exercise. Grab those peas and get pumping!

Recipe Rescue – Attach a cookbook or recipe page to a pants hanger and hang from a kitchen cabinet door knob for hands-free recipe reading.

Ice, Ice Baby – Use an upside-down ice cube tray to hold playing cards.

Have a Ball – Push a writing utensil or paint brush through a tennis ball to get a better handle on things.

A variety of medical issues affecting aging women – from breast cancer to osteoarthritis – will be discussed when Community Memorial Health System holds its Women’s Health Symposium on Saturday, June 24.

Women of all ages are invited to the Aging for Women Symposium that begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Ventura Beach Marriott, 2055 E. Harbor Blvd. Local experts will be on hand to discuss the latest research, procedures, treatment and support available for women’s health. They include:

• Rita Krane, M.D., breast mammography: TOMO and whole breast ultrasound
• Omid Fatemi, M.D., women’s heart health
• Kameron Poole, M.D., hormone replacement
• Miki Takase-Sanchez, M.D., pelvic prolapse
• Michelle Manalo, specialty R.N., mindfulness
• Bob Bernstein, M.D., lung cancer
• Susan Slater, osteoarthritis

Doctors Slater and Takase-Sanchez also will serve as panel moderators. The symposium will have exhibit tables and a continental breakfast will be served.

Registration is free but reservations are required. To secure reservations visit cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call Brown Paper Tickets at 800-838-3006.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, along with the Centers for Family Health serving various communities within and located in Ventura County, California.

What the jeep was to Americans during World War II, so was the “Huey” helicopter to those who fought in Vietnam, according to the The National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. All branches of the U. S. military operated them during this conflict.

The term ‘Huey’ originated in the U. S. Army as a derivative of the original designation HU-1A – meaning, Helicopter, Utility, Model 1A, hence the nickname “Huey”. For a time, the Huey was one of the most recognizable aircraft in history. People knew it not just on sight but by sound, too. They usually heard the unmistakable whop-whop-whop of the main rotor blade long before they saw a Huey.

On Wednesday June 28, at Cypress Place Senior Living in Ventura, a real Huey Army MEDEVAC helicopter will be on display from 11am to 1pm during the senior community’s annual “Salute To Our Veterans” event.

The helicopter on display has bullet holes from its time in Vietnam, according to Bryan Scofield of Scofield Catering and Management, the owner of the retired Huey. The helicopter is over fifty feet in length according to Scofield, and evokes powerful emotions in Veterans and almost anyone who sees it.

No less emotional will be the ceremony recognizing residents of Cypress Place, as well as members of the public, who served their country.

A military Color Guard presentation will lead the tribute, followed by a special Veteran recognition, along with recognition of widows and widowers of Veterans. Keynote speaker will be Captain Chris Janke, Commanding Officer, Naval Base Ventura County.

Attending the event with Captain Janke will be several sailors from the naval base. They will be available to meet members of the audience after the ceremony, and to meet and thank the Veterans in attendance.

Special words of thanks will be also be offered during the ceremony by Mike McManus, Veteran’s Service Officer from the County of Ventura, as well as Ventura City Assistant Fire Chief Matt Brock, and Ventura Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Stephanie Caldwell. There will be live musical entertainment, a flag folding ceremony, and TAPS will also be played at this touching tribute.

A free BBQ lunch will follow the powerful program. “Touching History”, a private war memorabilia collection by Tom Weaver will also be displayed, along with memorabilia from residents of the senior community.

A patriotic quilt, made by the daughter of a current resident Veteran of the senior community, will also be given away. The event is free and open to the public. All Veterans are encouraged to attend, as well as families, friends and neighbors.

“This is an event for the community to come out and show their support for Veterans, whether you know them or not,” said Mike Macke, director of sales and marketing at Cypress Place. “And it’s also a unique opportunity to see a storied piece of military aviation history, up close and personal.”

The event begins promptly at 11am. Cypress Place Senior Living is located at 1200 Cypress Point Lane in Ventura. For more information or to RSVP, please call 650-8000.

Free shuttle parking will be available at Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura (corner of Ralston Street and Cypress Point Lane).

by Lori Harasta

As Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association celebrates “70 Years of Caring”, let’s explore the man behind the name.

Livingston’s namesake, Dr. William Reinhardt Livingston, was the son of well-known Nebraska plains buffalo hunter and early California pioneer, Robert G. Livingston.

Robert came west to California at age 15 in 1854. He first settled in Placerville, then known as ‘Hangtown”, and moved to Ventura County in 1869.

William was born in Wynema (Port Hueneme), California on December 1^st, 1870. His grandfather was Robert R. Livingston, who helped draft the Declaration of Independence, and as chancellor of New York, administered the presidential oath of office to George Washington.

Dr. Livingston earned his medical degree in 1893 from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago. He interned in Chicago before moving to Tampico, Mexico where he was in charge of the Mexican Railroad Hospital from 1895-96.

He and his family settled back in Oxnard shortly thereafter, and by 1908, he had a growing medical practice. He opened a hospital on B Street with Drs. A.A. Maulhardt and R.D. Potts.

It is estimated that Dr. Livingston brought more babies into the world in the Oxnard area than any other doctor. In many instances, he delivered three generations of babies within the same family.

Dr. Livingston was a leader in the Ventura County medical community serving as the Chief of Staff of St. John’s Hospital. The following is an excerpt from the archives of St. John’s Hospital:

“We all feel that the name of Dr. W.R. Livingston, one of the chief benefactors of our hospital, should be written in golden characters in the Annals, instead of in these few lines. We realize that without the support of this loyal friend and head surgeon, St. John’s Hospital would soon cease to exist.”

Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association was founded in 1947 by a group of civic-minded business and professional people who saw a need for the provision of home care services as an alternative to institutionalizing the frail, elderly, sick and disabled.

Founding Nurse Olivia Hathaway (Mrs. Julien Hathaway) made her first house call on July 21, 1947. By 1955, the agency’s three nurses were visiting nearly 300 patients a year—and one third were indigent residents who could not pay.

Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association supports the total well-being of our community. As part of their services, they host free monthly education classes throughout the county which include the following in Ventura:

Adult Bereavement Support Group Wednesdays, July 5, 12, 19, and 26 from 6:30-8:00 pm. These groups are open to individuals who have experienced loss and are free of charge

Newly Bereaved Support Group Thursday, July 13th from 6-7:30. This monthly group is designed for adults who have recently experienced the loss of a loved one and is free. These groups meet every 2nd Thursday of each month.

Joint Replacement Classes Thursday, July 6th from 1:00-2:00pm. You will learn what to expect before, during and after knee or hip replacement surgery and how to be an active participant in your care. These meetings are 1st Thursday of each month.

For information or to RSVP call Dinah Davis at 642-0239 ext. 739.

Monday, July 10th for both English and Spanish speaking. English 4:00-5:00 pm and Spanish 5:30-6:30 pm. You will learn what to expect before, during and after knee or hip replacement surgery and how to be an active participant in your care. For information or to RSVP call Dinah Davis at (805) 642-0239 ext. 739.

All classes at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association office, 1996 Eastman Ave., Suite 109. . Call 642-0239 for more information or email [email protected].

by Jayson Cohen, American Legacy Solutions

We commonly hear different things from different people about facts and figures. In today’s world we are never quite sure what is opinion and what is accurate fact, In the following article I will be addressing some of the common myths that we hear surrounding Long Term Care. Hopefully this will help with some clarity and answer some questions for you.

Myth: Long Term Care insurance only covers Care in a nursing facility

Fact: Long term care insurance can provide benefits for your care in the following setting: your own home, adult day care, hospice care, residential care facility or a nursing benefit.

Myth: There is a government program that will take care of me.

Fact: Medi-Cal (Medicaid) is a government program that will pay for certain long term care services. However, eligibility for Medi-Cal requires you meet state-specific poverty guidelines. Medicare is a senior health insurance plan that covers skilled care designed to improve and individuals’ health condition. It does not cover custodial care.

Myth: Long Term care is only for old people or end of life care.

Fact: Accidents and chronic illness can happen at any age and can include the need for extended custodial care. The availability and cost of long term care insurance are based on your health and age at time of application. Planning ahead can pay off.

Myth: I do not need Long Term Care Insurance. I have health insurance.

Fact: Long Term Care is the assistance, care of services a person needs when they are unable to perform basic activities of daily living – such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring, or continence. Most long term care is due to a chronic illness and is progressive in nature with the need for care often growing overtime. This type of care is not covered by health insurance plans, which are designed to cover skilled or acute care needed to return someone to good health.

Some of these myths may apply to you and your family. As you explore this type of protect for yourself, a friend or a family member make sure you talk to a licensed individual. Some individuals will only represent one company (captive agents) and some will represent many (Brokers). Whichever route you choose make sure that you discuss your options with a trusted family member while making sure that option is right for you and your family.