In his final State of the Union address, President Obama called on Congress to strengthen Social Security and Medicare for all Americans. The National Council on Aging (NCOA), the nation’s leading advocate for older adults, offers five ways Congress can further support seniors this year.

“Older Americans deserve the support of their families, their communities, and their government to age independently and with dignity,” said Howard Bedlin, NCOA Vice President of Public Policy & Advocacy. “We made important progress in 2015, but there is still work to be done on behalf of our nation’s seniors, especially those who are struggling. We are ready to work with Congress to find bipartisan solutions.”

In 2016, NCOA urges Congress to:

1. Renew the Older Americans Act (OAA) and Elder Justice Act (EJA)

Renewing the OAA and EJA—both overdue for reauthorization—will strengthen and modernize aging services to meet the diverse needs of the growing older population. The OAA funds critical, cost-effective programs, including job training and placement under the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), health promotion and disease prevention, senior nutrition, senior centers, caregiver support, and more. The EJA provides for a nationally coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to the silent crisis of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

2. Restore investments in aging services

Community services help older adults improve their health and economic security, allowing them to stay independent and avoid costly care. Yet, investments in these services have failed to keep up with costs and the rapid growth in the senior population Despite recent relief from budget caps, FY16 non-defense discretionary funding remains 12% below its FY10 level, and FY17 funding will fall to an historic low as a share of the economy, resulting in service reductions and growing waiting lists for older adults and their families.

3. Advance legislation to improve access to Medicaid home and community-based services and finance long-term care (LTC)

The number of Americans needing LTC will more than double as the baby boomers age. Medicare does not cover it, and private LTC insurance is unaffordable for most. Seniors often have to spend-down their life savings into poverty before getting help from Medicaid—which has an institutional bias, with mandatory nursing home but optional home care coverage. Several Medicaid reforms to promote access to home care have or will expire, including Money Follows the Person, which expires this year, and the Balancing Incentives Programs, which expired last year.

4. Improve chronic care under Medicare

The vast majority of older adults cope with multiple chronic conditions, which account for 95% of their health care costs. Last year, the Senate Finance Committee formed a bipartisan Chronic Care Work Group, co-chaired by Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) to improve chronic care for Medicare beneficiaries.

5. Introduce legislation to address the Medicare low-income protection cliff

For Americans under age 65 receiving health insurance through the Marketplaces, eligibility for cost-sharing assistance is set at incomes below 138% of poverty, with no asset test. Yet for those on Medicare, eligibility for this assistance is set at 100% of poverty, with a stringent asset test that penalizes those who do the right thing by saving. At the same time, the average Medicare household spent 14% of total costs on health care in 2012, while non-Medicare households spent just 5%. Beneficiaries with incomes between 100% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) feel the heaviest burden of out-of-pocket health care spending.

To learn more about the pressing senior issues Congress can address this year and how to take action, sign up for NCOA’s advocacy alerts.The National Council on Aging (NCOA) Learn more at ncoa.org and @NCOAging.

Benefits of  pets to elderly love ones
By Connie De La Rosa

Sometimes, as seniors age, they become more withdrawn, losing  the desire and ability to develop new relationships. Pets offer needed companionship, but they can increase the quantity and the quality of social interactions among their owners. Seniors who are pet owners, engage in more frequent conversations and focus on current interests and activities, which can bring unity because of  other senior friends or neighbors who share common interest with their pets.

Pets can provide the emotional and physical benefits associated with pet therapy. Fish, birds, and other animals can reduce loneliness and bring healthy behaviors as well. It can bring motivation because of the responsibility involved in caring for a pet and for those who have dogs, pet owners must take their dogs out for a daily walking which encourages the senior to also get out for that daily walk.

 Things to consider when choosing a pet:

• Type of pet. Give careful thought to what would be the right kind of pet for you or your loved one’s lifestyle and activity level. Dogs can make wonderful companions but demand greater care and training than cats, birds, or fish.
• Future situations. Choose a pet that’s good for both your current circumstances and what’s may occur in the future. Are you planning to stay in the same place for many years, or will you be making a transition to an assisted-living facility? Some retirement communities have regulations that would affect the type of pet you could bring with you but most small animals are welcomed with a pet deposit fee.
• Allergy considerations. People with allergies should be cautious when choosing  a pet.
• Cost. Seniors living on a fixed income must consider vet bills, meds, food and or litter care/cost.
• Contingency plan for care: Make sure to plan for the pet’s future in the event that you or your loved one is no longer able to care properly for the animal. Also, be sure to be  prepared for the sense of loss that this can bring. For many who have come to depend on their pets for companionship, attention will be essential.

Edith Dowsing celebrated her 100^th birthday with her friends from the Oxnard Joslyn Lawn Bowling Club on Monday , Jan.18 .  She and her husband Reg Dowsing were founding members of the club in 1986 .  Originally , from England she is an avid golfer , pool player and lawn bowler.

By Gail Field

“There are 25 million people in the US with inadequate medical care for problems with veins, such as varicose veins, ulcers and other venous disease.” The major challenge for medical community is to identify these patients and refer them to vein specialists. Dr. Haimesh Shah has addressed this problem for Ventura County residents by establishing the Ventura Vein Center. “We are the only comprehensive vein center in Ventura County dedicated exclusively in the diagnose and treatment of venous disorders,” he says, “and we are committed to provide high quality care by offering personalized evaluation and treatment.”

Dr. Shah smiles when he remembers why he went into medicine. “In medicine, I get to participate in doing something good for people. There is no greater joy than the one you feel when you manage to help patients with chronic venous disease.”

Dr. Shah describes the Ventura Vein Center, founded just a year ago, with enthusiasm. “Treatments for varicose and spider veins are minimally invasive, relatively painless with very few side effects. They are performed in the privacy and comfort of our clinic, under local anesthesia. Patients are able to walk immediately after the procedure and most individuals are able to return to work the same day.”

Venous disease is a chronic, progressive disease, and patients need to get early medical attention. There are multiple stages of venous disease. “Working in hospital settings, I have noticed that when patients come in for vein treatment, they are often already in the late stages of the disease. Vein problems occur due to weakened vein walls and damaged vein valves. The risk factors include age, family history, pregnancy, standing for long periods, abdominal straining, and obesity. As a result, patients suffer from leg cramps, leg heaviness, aching pain, burning, itching, leg swelling, numbness in the legs, darkening of the skin and skin ulcers. Here at the Ventura Vein Center, our goal is to help people heal by providing early treatment to slow the progression of the disease, allowing them to enjoy greater comfort and a healthier lifestyle. We are here to provide a complete service to help patients by providing compassionate and comprehensive treatment.”

There are people all over the world who are experiencing problems with their veins, for example, something like thread veins. Thread Veins occurs when tiny blood vessels under the skin become overstretches or weakened, luckily there are places that can help to deal with this. An example of there is a London thread vein clinic that specializes in none laser thread vein removal.

Dr. Shah has extensive experience treating patients with vein problems, including venous insufficiency related ulcers. Dr. Shah serves as a Medical Director for Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound Healing Center at St. John’s Hospitals. In addition, Dr. Shah has served as a committee member for the Department of Medicine at St. John’s hospitals in 2013 and 2014. He is an active staff member at St. John’s Regional Medical Center (Oxnard), St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital (Camarillo) and Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center (Thousand Oaks).

The Ventura Vein Clinic has two state-of-the-art locations: Ventura and Camarillo. The website is www.venturavein.com and features helpful information to prospective patients. The Ventura clinic is located at 2991 Loma Vista Rd., Suite A103. Phone: 484-4625. The clinic is open Monday — Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. Consultations in Spanish and English are available.

A family health history is a written record of a family’s health. The history contains information about a family’s medical conditions, lifestyle habits (for example, whether anyone in the family has smoked), and where and how family members grew up. It’s like a family tree for health.

What a Family Health History May Reveal

You can use a family health history to see if you, your children, or your grandchildren might face an increased risk of developing serious health problems. These health problems might be common ones, such as heart disease, cancer, or diabetes. They could also be less common diseases that are passed from one generation to the next, such as hemophilia or sickle cell anemia.

People can’t change the genes they inherit from their parents, but they can change things like diet, physical activity, and medical care to try to prevent diseases that run in the family. This is good news because many diseases result from a combination of a person’s genes, lifestyle, and environment.

Actions That May Reduce Disease Risk

A health care professional can use a family health history to help assess a person’s risk of certain diseases. The professional might recommend actions to lower the chance of getting those diseases.

Actions to reduce the risk of disease may involve lifestyle changes, such as eating healthier foods or exercising more getting certain medical tests taking medicines that are more effective based on your specific genes.

For example, a son with a family history of diabetes might be told to lose weight and exercise more. A daughter who is considering having a baby might get tested to see if she carries a gene for a rare condition that runs in the family.

How You and Your Family May Benefit

For older adults, a family health history might help explain why you have developed certain health conditions. But it is important to know that simply getting older increases the risk of many diseases, too.

Creating and sharing your family health history with your health care professional can help you be healthier. But perhaps the biggest benefit is providing information that may help your children and grandchildren live longer, healthier lives.

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.

Ventura: Adult Bereavement Support Group Wednesdays, February 3, 10, 17, and 24 from 6:30-8:00 pm at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association office, 1996 Eastman Ave., Suite 109.  These groups are open to individuals who have experienced loss and are free of charge. Call 642-0239 for more information or email [email protected].

Ventura: Newly Bereaved Support Group Thursday, February 11th from 6-7:30 pm at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association office, 1996 Eastman Ave., Suite 109.  This monthly group is designed for adults who have recently experienced the loss of a loved one and is free. Call 642-0239 for more information or email [email protected].  These groups meet every 2nd Thursday of each month.

Ventura: Tuesday, February 2nd from 1-2:30pm at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association, 1996 Eastman Ave, Suite 109.  These meetings are held on 1st Tuesday of each month.  General information is provided about Type 2 Diabetes with emphasis on the development of an individualized plan of care that includes diet, medication, exercise and blood sugar monitoring.  Call 642-0239 for more information.

Ventura: Thursday, February 4th from 1:00-2:00pm at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association offices, in the Community Room at 1996 Eastman Avenue, Suite 109 in Ventura. 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 (805) 642-0239 ext. 739.

Ventura: Monday, February 8th for both English and Spanish speaking.  English 4:00-5:00pm and Spanish 5:30-6:30pm at Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association offices, in the Community Room at 1996 Eastman Avenue, Suite 109 in Ventura. 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  642-0239 ext. 739.

The Ventura Parkinson’s Support Group will host Debra Mansfield, Owner of The Lynd Group at their meeting Wednesday, February 10, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at The Lexington Assisted Living, 5440 Ralston St, Ventura. Public welcome, no admission fee.

The best time to talk and plan for long term care is before you need it. Over 70% of Americans over the age of 65 will need care and the average stay in a care facility is 3 years; will Medicare cover that cost and if not, what can one do to protect one’s finances? What’re the differences between senior homes, assisted living and memory care? Come explore the ins and outs of “Long Term Care“, care giving choices, and alternatives at this meeting.

Debra has very recent personal experience with “the assisted living care system” and has the most recent developments in long term care to share with us. She and The Lynd Group have been helping the community plan for their financial futures since 2009. Debra also has a personal connection to Parkinson’s disease.

Please check in at the front desk for directions and sign-in. 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.

“Are you a Target of Healthcare Fraud?” Protect yourself from Medicare Fraud. What are the Free Preventive Services? How will Extra Income Work for you? Tuesday, February 9,  Ventura Avenue Adult Center, 550 North Ventura Avenue, Ventura, 12:30pm to 1:30pm.

For more information on the presentations contact HICAP at 1-800-434-0222

New Year, New You
By Matilda Charles

Did you make a list of resolutions for the New Year? How are you doing so far? They say if we can keep a resolution for 21 days, we’re likely to stick with it. Here are some ideas to make 2016 a healthier, more active year.

* If you always hear about local events after the fact, sign up for online notices for museum exhibits, special readings at the library, lectures and lunches at the senior center.

* Consider taking a class. Reducing the risk of falls and senior driving safety are both worthwhile. Check the education department course catalog for something new and fun. Classes even might be free for seniors.

* Do a puzzle a day. It doesn’t matter what kind. Crossword, scrabble, solitaire are all good brain stretchers. Go online to AARP at games.aarp.org for free games.

* Get out of the house once a day. Walk to the mailbox, set up a walking routine with a friend (even if you have to go to the local rec center) or pick a different place to visit every day.

* Eat something that’s good for you at least a few times per week, even if you don’t especially care for it. If you don’t like green vegetables, for example, scan the Internet for recipes that will make them more palatable. Do you have a smoothie blender? Many ingredients can be combined to taste better together.

* Consider upgrading your technology knowledge. If your grandchildren have smartphones, think about whether you might benefit from having that instant contact with them, rather than waiting until you open email to see the latest photos from them.

* Look up old friends. If you’re not familiar with social media, take a class, and especially learn about the safety aspects.

(c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.