Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, degenerative neurological disorder that affects one in 100 people over age 60. While the average age at onset is 60, people have been diagnosed as young as 18. There is no objective test, or biomarker, for Parkinson’s disease, so the rate of misdiagnosis can be relatively high, especially when the diagnosis is made by a non-specialist. Estimates of the number of people living with the disease therefore vary, but recent research indicates that at least one million people in the United States, and more than five million worldwide, have Parkinson’s disease (stats from Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research).

As many as one million Americans live with Parkinson’s disease, which is more than the combined number of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease each year, and this number does not reflect the thousands of cases that go undetected.

An estimated seven to 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s disease.

Incidence of Parkinson’s increases with age, but an estimated four percent of people with PD are diagnosed before the age of 50.

Men are one and a half times more likely to have Parkinson’s than women.

As many as one million Americans live with Parkinson’s disease, which is more than the combined number of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Why A Tulip? On April 11, 2005, the red tulip with a fringe of white was launched as the official symbol of PD at the 9th World Parkinson’s disease Day Conference in Luxembourg.

The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group is pleased to announce that Dr. Sarah Kempe-Mehl will be presenting “Beyond the Tremor: Living with the Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease” at their meeting Wednesday, April 12, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at The Lexington Assisted Living, 5440 Ralston St,. Come participate in a brief round table at the beginning of the meeting.

Dr. Sarah Kempe-Mehl will be speaking from 2 to 3pm. She will be focusing on the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease and also “Why see a movement disorder Specialist” along with the services available from her practice with Dr. Erin Presant, “Central Coast Movement Disorders Specialists”  which was established in March of 2016 in Santa Barbara. (http://www.movementdocs.com).

Dr. Kempe-Mehl is a board-certified neurologist and fellowship-trained in movement disorders. She subsequently completed a one-year fellowship in movement disorders at Stanford University.

Please check in at the front desk for directions to the meeting room. Extra parking is graciously available across the street from the Lexington in the Baptist Church parking lot. Call 766-6070 for further information. Reservations are not required.

As Congress and the new Trump Administration suggest they might repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, fraudsters are taking advantage of the confusion it’s creating. They may pose as insurance company representatives or someone from Medicare or another federal agency. They will be on the hunt for personal information and money. Don’t fall for bogus requests to verify patient information, promises of refunds, or requests for payment of future premiums.

If you buy products on Amazon.com, you are not necessarily buying from Amazon.com. In fact, Amazon.com connects buyers to a wide array of third party sellers. While most of these sellers are legitimate, beware of scam artists lurking in the marketplace. It’s likely a fraud if a seller asks you to make your purchase in a way other than through the Amazon.com website. Amazon.com guarantees purchases made from third party sellers as long as the purchase is made via the Amazon.com website.

A utility scam is reaching record levels in some parts of the country this season. Fraudsters call homeowners, claiming that their gas or electric account is delinquent and threaten to shut off the service if payment is not immediate. The scammers typically ask for payment with a prepaid debit card. While more consumers are recognizing this as a scam, the callers can be very convincing. Know that your utility company will not call and threaten to shut off your service, and you’ll always receive written notification before your service is cut off.

Be a fraud fighter!  If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.  Don’t fall for the jury duty scam. This is when you get a call, supposedly from the courthouse, claiming you failed to show up for jury duty and you face a fine or immediate arrest. The fraudster will typically demand the victim pay by wire transfer or a prepaid card. These forms of payment should always raise alarm bells. If you have questions about jury duty, contact the court clerk in the county where your service was to take place. The court will never ask jurors for financial information, so never provide such information to someone claiming to be from the court.

As the price of prescription drugs continues to rise, you might find yourself searching online for more affordable medications. Beware of bogus companies that take your money and never send you the product, or worse, send you a product that could cause you harm. Also, be sure to read the fine print on prescription drug coupons you find online. You might discover your purchase won’t count toward your deductible, or that the coupon expires after a certain number of refills.

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

SCAN Health & Wellness Center in Ventura is offering new wellness classes to the community (aged 55 and older, or an adult caregiver to someone 55 and older). “Introduction to Knitting,” a six-week class starting April 4, from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. is one of them. The unique part of this class is that it is being taught by an 80-something senior, Marianne Crane, who previously owned three knitting stores. Marianne started knitting at a young age, while she was in elementary school, knitting lap afghans for soldiers during WWII. In the “Introduction to Knitting” classes, participants will learn the basics of knitting and begin a project of their choice. They will supply the basic supplies needed plus a practice skein of yarn.

Looking for a way to de-stress at the end of the day? A new class to help calm the mind and soothe the nervous system starts this spring. “Guided Meditation for Stress Relief” is scheduled for Thursdays from 5:30 – 6:15 p.m. starting April 6. This six-week class features a variety of meditation techniques to improve your mood, sleep, focus and overall general health.

Join a new Better Bones class. Use the latest techniques to build your bones in new and improved ways. Starting Friday, April 7, from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., this 10-week class focuses on balance, strength and flexibility. Better Bones, taught by Suzi Axtell, is tailored especially for older adults and their caregivers.

These classes are all offered at no cost to participants. To register, and for more information  please 658-0365. Address 6633 Telephone Rd.

The Social Security Administration introduced the expansion of online services for residents of California available through its my Social Security portal at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. Nancy A. Berryhill, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, announced that residents of California can use the portal for many replacement Social Security number (SSN) card requests. This will allow people to replace their SSN card from the comfort of their home or office, without the need to travel to a Social Security office.

“I’m pleased to offer the residents of California the added convenience of replacing a Social Security card through the my Social Security portal,” Acting Commissioner Berryhill said. “We will continue to work on innovative initiatives to provide people with safe, secure and convenient options for doing business with us online or in person.”

The agency is conducting a gradual roll out of this service; California is one of the states, plus the District of Columbia, where this option is available. Throughout 2017, the agency will continue to expand the service option to other states. This service will mean shorter wait times for the public in the more than 1,200 Social Security offices across the country and allows staff more time to work with customers who have extensive service needs.

U.S. citizens age 18 or older and who are residents of California can request a replacement SSN card online by creating a my Social Security account. In addition, they must have a U.S. domestic mailing address, not require a change to their record (such as a name change), and have a valid driver’s license, or state identification card in some participating states.

my Social Security is a secure online hub for doing business with Social Security, and more than 29 million people have created an account. In addition to California residents replacing their SSN card through the portal, current Social Security beneficiaries can manage their account—change an address, adjust direct deposit, obtain a benefit verification letter, or request a replacement SSA-1099. Medicare beneficiaries can request a replacement Medicare card without waiting for a replacement form in the mail. Account holders still in the workforce can verify their earnings history and obtain estimates of future benefits by looking at their Social Security Statement online.

For more information about this new online service, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber .

The City of Ventura Parks and Recreation is offering a Zumba Gold series at the Ventura Avenue Adult Center from 12:00-1:00pm every Monday and Wednesday from April 3  to May 22.

Zumba Gold is perfect for all active adults, 50+, looking for a Zumba class at a lower-intensity level. This easy to follow class focuses on heart rate, balance, range of motion, and coordination.  Participants should wear workout shoes, comfortable clothing and bring water to keep hydrated.

For more information call (818)515-8590. Sign up at 658-4726 by requesting Zumba Gold class 7474.

FOOD Share of Ventura County is one of just four California food banks recently selected in a competitive bid process to administer a USDA-funded Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) for seniors 60 years of age and older.  FOOD Share anticipates enrolling a monthly caseload of 3,500 seniors in the CSFP program and serving them through various distribution points across the county.

One in 12 seniors in Ventura County is hungry, a staggering statistic that is consistent with national numbers detailing the challenges faced by the nation’s fastest growing demographic group.    Seven million seniors age 60 and older are served by the Feeding America network each year (Feeding America Senior Hunger Facts).  63% of this population reports choosing between medical care and food, 60% must sacrifice basic utilities or go hungry, and 58% forego transportation in order to eat (Baby Boomers and Beyond: Facing Hunger After 50, 2013).  Perhaps even more poignant is that 77% buy cheap, unhealthy food in an attempt to meet their basic caloric needs (Baby Boomers and Beyond: Facing Hunger After 50, 2013).

FOOD Share’s administration of the CSFP nutrition program will address these specific senior challenges on a local level by providing “Senior Kits” on a once-monthly basis to qualifying participants age 60 and older whose income is equal to or less than 130% of the federal poverty level, or $15,444 per year.    Working in collaboration with the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, the regional food bank currently has five CSFP distribution sites in Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Fillmore, and Thousand Oaks.  Additional distribution sites across the county are expected in the coming months.

“Seniors have always been a high priority for FOOD Share because we understand the significant challenges they face accessing the quality food sources and nutrition they need to live healthy lives,” said Susan Haverland, FOOD Share’s Vice President of Programs and Services.

Seniors can enroll in the program during a distribution event and receive food immediately.  Participation in the program requires a simple application, verification of age and residence using a photo ID and utility or other bill, and self-certification of income (no additional documentation required).  Seniors who receive food from FOOD Share’s CSFP program are still eligible for CalFresh food stamp benefits.  For more information on upcoming distribution dates and locations, seniors can contact their local senior center or visit www.foodshare.com.

Upcoming Senior Nutrition Program  Monday April 3rd from 9am-11am at the Ventura Salvation Army

650 S. Petit Ave. Ventura.

Always young Betty telling it like it is.

Nancy Dressler will be celebrating her one 100^th birthday on April 11.  A grand party will be held for her on April 9 at the Poinsettia Pavilion .  She was born in 1917 in Kansas City, Missouri To Pauline and John Noonan.

She grew up in St. Louis and was a cheerleader in college. In 1939 she met her future husband Ken Dressler who served in the Air Force. He and was assigned to Naknek, Alaska in 1954 during which time Nancy and her children lived in Ventura where they built their hillside home on Hilltop Dr. Ken retired in 1970 and the family settled in to their Ventura home.  Ken passed away in 2010 after 58 years  of marriage to Nancy

Nancy volunteered at Community Memorial Hospital as a Pink Lady for many years.   She still lives in her Ventura hillside home .

by Margie Johnson Ware, Aging and Health Specialist and Bonnie Burns, Medicare Specialist

How will I pay for my prescription medications on Medicare?

If you are not covered by employer insurance, and haven’t signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage, you will need to sign up for a Part D (prescription drug coverage) plan to cover your medications.

In some cases you may have been automatically assigned to a Part D plan if you get Extra Help or Medicare Savings Programs. A call to 1-800-MEDICARE will allow you to find out if you have been automatically enrolled.  If so, you will want to speak with the representative and make sure that all of your medications are covered in the plan they put you in.  If they are not covered, you can choose another plan.  You can also contact your local SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) for help with this process.

What if my disability responds to treatment and I am able to return to work?

First, speak to a representative at the Social Security Office about how many hours you are allowed to work and still retain your SSDI payments.  If you return to what the Social Security Office considers “substantial gainful activity” (i.e a paying job above a certain income level, depending on your disability), you are still eligible for Medicare for seven years.

If new employment provides health insurance, then the employer insurance will become the primary payer if there are more than 100 employees, and your Medicare will become secondary–but still available in case your circumstances change.