Senior News Line
by Matilda Charles

Three years ago I started thinking about getting a dog. My friends had told me about sites like shoppok that have dogs listed for sale and rehoming, but I wasn’t sure whether to buy a younger dog, or whether to rehome an older dog. All I knew was that seeing neighbors out with their small dogs, made me realize that I wanted a real dog, a big one, not a dog that would fit in my purse. I made a pro-con dog ownership list, but over time the list of reasons for not getting a dog has gotten longer and longer.

Maybe my story will help if you’re considering adopting a dog.

Where I live there are a lot of rules, and one of them concerns the size of dogs. Specifically, the dog cannot top 25 pounds. The neighborhood rumor mill supplied this story: A woman was told to get rid of her dog after management showed up at her door with a set of scales and demanded to weigh the pooch, which unfortunately came in at nearly 30 pounds. The owner moved out and took the dog with her.

A size limit means I can’t adopt a young mixed-breed shelter mutt because there’s no real way to know how large the dog will be when it grows.

There are no sidewalks here. What we have for half the year are increasingly narrow roads with snow banks on the sides. I don’t have a fenced yard either, which means no place to let a big dog romp and play.

By the time I got this far, I knew it was hopeless. I never even got to the part about potential veterinary costs, or the price of quality dog food and grooming, flea treatments like the difference between frontline plus and gold, and toys.

I’ve found a partial solution, however. I’m thinking of signing up as a dog walker volunteer at the shelter. Maybe I’ll fall in love with a tiny, purse-size dog.

(c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.

by Barbara Radziszewska Health Scientist Administrator, Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology.

Starting this year, a new NIH inclusion policy mandates that participants of all ages be included in human subject’s research, unless there is a scientific or ethical reason for exclusion of any age category. The NIH Inclusion Across the Lifespan policy, developed in response to requirements in the 21st Century Cures Act, has been in effect since the Jan. 25, 2019, grant submission deadline.

The inadequate inclusion in clinical trials of older adults, especially those affected by age-related conditions, has been amply documented across many disease areas, including those that disproportionally affect older people. Participants enrolled in clinical trials are frequently younger and healthier than the typical population affected by a given disease or condition.

Some studies impose arbitrary upper age limits of enrolled participants. Others use exclusion criteria that disproportionally affect older people, such as multiple morbidities, polypharmacy, frailty, and physical or cognitive impairments. These restrictions reduce the relevance of the data collected in clinical trials to real-life patients in clinical settings. As a result, there are critical gaps in the evidence base and in clinical guidelines for older, more complex patients.

NIA staff and our NIH colleagues have been conducting ongoing research and analysis of this issue for a number of years. The 21st Century Cures Act mandated a workshop held in 2017, which resulted in recommendations for change (PDF 857K). More recently, NIA Deputy Director Dr. Marie A. Bernard and I, along with our colleagues Dr. Jaron Lockett and Dr. Samir Sauma, analyzed data on subject inclusion in Phase III clinical trials from 1965 to 2015, focusing on diseases that are the most frequent causes of hospitalization and/or disability in older adults.

Our analysis revealed striking evidence for the need to include more older adults. We found that 33 percent of the studies had arbitrary upper age limits, and 65 percent of the trials reported data of participants who were younger than the typical population affected by the disease under study. In addition, many clinical trials excluded participants based on multimorbidity and polypharmacy.

The expanded inclusion policy presents a new set of challenges to the scientific community, as it has implications for study design and recruitment planning. Although the implementation of the new policy may necessitate increasing the planned sample size to overcome the additional variability introduced by more inclusive enrollment policies, the expected result is well worth the additional effort and expense, given the urgent need to address critical gaps in the evidence base on the diseases and conditions of later life. This is a solid step in the right direction for improving clinical care for the nearly 50 million U.S. adults over age 65.

by Stacy Washington

President Trump thinks Americans pay too much for prescription drugs — and says foreign countries are to blame. In a speech, he criticized nations that use socialist price controls to artificially hold down the cost of pharmaceuticals. “For decades,” he noted, “other countries have rigged the system so that American patients are charged much more . . . for the exact same drug.”

The president’s criticism is spot on. That’s why a new initiative from his Department of Health and Human Services is so shocking. HHS Secretary Alex Azar just proposed a major overhaul of Medicare that would impose those socialist price controls here in the United States.

Instead of putting America first and forcing other countries to play by the rules, the proposal legitimizes foreign freeloading. The price controls would limit seniors’ access to lifesaving drugs and chill pharmaceutical research efforts.

President Trump correctly notes that prescription drugs are more expensive in America. The reason for the price disparity is simple. Nations with socialized medicine, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and France, cap prescription prices. If a drug is too expensive, the government won’t offer it to patients.

Once drug companies have developed a medicine, they have a limited amount of time to sell it and recoup their costs before the patent expires. So it makes sense for American drug companies to market their products in price-controlled nations, even if that means granting steep discounts. The alternative is earning no foreign revenue at all.

As a result, American patients fund the lion’s share of global research and development costs. The HHS proposal wouldn’t rectify this injustice — it would only further harm American patients.

Right now, Medicare drug payments are based on each medicine’s average domestic sales price. Sec. Azar wants to instead index Medicare payments to the average prices paid in 14 other countries.

Copying other nation’s socialist price controls would reduce American patients’ access to the latest medicines.

Consider treatments for respiratory conditions. All new respiratory drugs released globally in the last seven years are available to Americans. Patients in Japan and France — two of the reference countries included in Sec. Azar’s pricing index — can only access 55 percent of those medicines.

Domestic price controls would also smother drug innovation, depriving future patients of potentially lifesaving cures.

Europe is a cautionary tale. The region led the world in biopharmaceutical R&D investment in the 1980s. But once several nations adopted price control policies, Europe suffered a dramatic decline in research investment. Today, the United States spends 40 percent more on biopharmaceutical R&D than Europe.

Sec. Azar’s proposal would reward the forces of socialism abroad and threaten American ingenuity and prosperity at home. Patients can only hope that President Trump orders his HHS secretary to scrap the plan.

Stacy Washington is a decorated Air Force Veteran, an Emmy nominated TV personality, and the host of the nationally syndicated radio program “Stacy on the Right.”

Volunteers Assisting the Elderly, one of 25 original pilot programs launched in 1984, now joins hundreds of volunteer caregiving organizations across the nation in celebrating the 35th Anniversary of Volunteer Caregiving starting in April with National Volunteer Month. (https://nvcnetwork.org/wp/index.php/program-map/)

“It’s comforting to know that there is an entire month dedicated to celebrating and recognizing volunteers,” said Jay Friedman, treasurer for the National Volunteer Caregiving Network. “I chose to give my time to help seniors through Volunteer Caregiving, which is a total contrast to my ‘day-job.’ That’s one of the reasons I enjoy being a volunteer.”

Every week, thousands of volunteer caregivers across the country are lending helping hands to seniors by picking up groceries, providing a ride to the doctor or helping change a light bulb–all at no cost. “Here in Ventura County, we have hundreds of volunteers serving our current enrollment of 500 seniors,” said CAREGIVERS Executive Director Tammy Glenn. “We’re so grateful to the donors who allow us to offer these services at no cost to one of our most vulnerable populations.”

In fact, 10,000 people are turning 65 every day for the next 12 years in the United States, making support for our aging Americans one of the most critical needs of our time. “Opportunities to volunteer with seniors are abundant, and among the most rewarding of all volunteer experiences,” said Inez Russell, president of the Board of Trustees for the National Volunteer Caregiving Network. “I can’t think of a better way to ‘pay it forward’! Plus, we’re all headed in that direction, so now is the time to fuel a culture of care and compassion.”

To that end, Ventura County’s own CAREGIVERS serves seniors over the age of 60 who need a helping hand to remain living independently as they age. The hallmark of Volunteer Caregiving is a one-on-one match, but there are lots of ways to give a couple hours per week and make a difference.

Volunteer Caregiving is a national movement that was launched 35 years ago in 1984 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Faith in Action program. Transportation to medical appointments is one of the most requested needs that helps seniors continue to live independently, with dignity through end-of-life.

For more information, call (805) 658-8530 or visit www.vccaregivers.org to volunteer, donate or refer a senior.

Have you ever asked yourself why you are on the earth? Have you ever asked why you, you very specifically, are alive? Local Ventura County author Fawn Parish has. According to Parish, your story, your past, your personality, your treasure map of life, is intended to outlive you as you embrace another generation into their destiny.

In her book, ‘How To Live A Life That Outlives You’, Parish uses stories to illustrate how everyone can do some simple thing that creates a huge impact in another’s life. And it is easier than you think according to the author.

Parish is bringing this message of hope and inspiration to the upcoming Cypress Place Health and Wealth Expo. The annual event promotes the active and engaging lifestyle of Ventura County seniors. This year’s event features 35 local vendors, as well as Parish as keynote speaker.

In addition to enjoying Parish’s uplifting presentation, attendees can get their blood pressure checked, receive glucose screenings, along with balance and hearing tests. Wealth management and veteran benefit consultants will also be on hand to answer any questions. A free healthy gourmet lunch will also be provided.

Raffle prizes will be given away throughout the event, including one grand prize: a 50’’ HD flat screen TV. Free shuttle parking will also be available at Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura located at 5654 Ralston Street in Ventura.

Corporate sponsors for the event are Mission Home Health, Meditech Health Services, Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association, Buena Vista Hospice and UCLA Health.

For more information or to RSVP, please call 805-650-8000 or visit the Cypress Place website at www.cypressplaceseniorliving.com/events. The Health and Wealth Expo is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, at Cypress Place Senior Living, located at 1200 Cypress Point Lane in Ventura. The event is free and open to the public.

by Genesis staff

Last year marked our silver anniversary; we are pleased to be serving families in Ventura County for over 25 years. We have been fortunate, a fantastic and dedicated staff which allows us to continue to grow in community events and additional insurance contracts to keep reaching families in need. While we continue to utilize the best recovery practices available, we also recognize that there has been a need to respond to the changes in the industry as well as our own company.

We are proud to announce that Athena Naranjo, Genesis Programs Clinical Director is now new owner and leader of Genesis Programs, Inc. She comes with years of experience and dedication and is committed to serving the company and community with excellence.

We are accelerating our efforts to gear up to reach out to our military families through our new contract with Tricare. We are in the final stages of becoming one of the only outpatient treatment providers to except Medi-Cal in Ventura County. In addition, we are in network with Noridian Medicare and working diligently to insure coverage to those eligible for our Over 60 Track. All while we continue to proudly be accredited with the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities International (CARF) and the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).

Please join us April 4th from 3-4:30, at 1732 Palma Dr Ste 208 Ventura, for our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony! Welcoming Athena Naranjo as Genesis’s new owner and to hear more about what Genesis Programs, has planned for the future of Ventura County!

by Thair Phillips President of RetireSafe.

At his campaign rallies, President Trump promised to protect Medicare. But now, his administration is quietly embracing drastic changes that could choke off seniors’ access to lifesaving treatments.

Consider the administration’s new guidance for Medicare Advantage, which enables about 20 million Medicare beneficiaries to obtain subsidized health plans from private insurers. The guidance, which took effect this January, allows insurers to force beneficiaries to try older, low-cost medications before they can access more advanced, expensive drugs.

This callous practice, known as “step therapy,” was previously prohibited in Medicare Advantage because it prevents doctors from prescribing the medicines they feel will work best for each individual. During the months that patients are forced to try older, less effective treatments, their ailments can worsen, causing immense suffering and even premature death.

Administration officials have also proposed weakening key patient protections in Medicare Part D, the popular prescription drug benefit used by 44 million Americans. Right now, all Part D plans must cover all medications in six “protected classes” of therapies — anticonvulsants (epilepsy), antidepressants (mental health), antineoplastics (cancer), antipsychotics (mental health), antiretrovirals (HIV/AIDS), and immunosuppressants (transplants).

When it created the Part D program more than a decade ago, Congress specifically protected these classes to ensure that seniors who battle cancer, HIV/AIDS, depression, and other serious diseases would have a full range of treatment options. It also leveled the playing field by ensuring that all the insurance companies that participated in Part D included medicines associated with expensive diseases in their formulary.

But the administration wants to allow Part D plans to stop covering some of the most critical medications in these classes. It’s no surprise, then, that many of the top medical organizations in the country, including the National Kidney Foundation, the AIDS Institute, and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, have lined up against this proposal.

The administration is also pursuing misguided reforms to Medicare Part B, which covers sophisticated treatments, such as gene therapies and advanced biologics, which must be administered by medical professionals in a healthcare facility. One change could slash reimbursements for some doctors who administer these treatments.

Cutting payments to doctor’s offices and clinics could force many of them to stop treating Medicare patients. The last time authorities substantially cut Part B payments, fully half of community oncologists “reported sending their Medicare patients elsewhere for chemotherapy, primarily to more expensive hospital outpatient infusion centers,” according to a survey conducted by the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

For more than half a century, Medicare has helped seniors access the care they need and deserve. Our government promised us that the Medicare taxes, which were deducted from our pay checks every payday, would be used to ensure we had acceptable health care when we retired. Up to this point, especially in Medicare Part B and Part D, that promise has been kept. RetireSafe believes the proposed changes described above break that promise our government made to each of us.

“In 2018, Jim was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Every nine minutes since he was diagnosed, another person received the same devastating news. Unfortunately, each year more and more people are touched by Parkinson’s Disease. A staggering one million people live with PD today in the United States and millions of family members, caregivers, friends and colleagues are impacted as well. The Parkinson’s Foundation is determined to meet the needs of this growing PD community, with better information about care and treatments to live fuller, healthier lives.“ (Parkinson’s Foundation March 14, 2019). April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month – what can you do about it?

Join Sarah Osborne and the Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group on Wednesday April 10th from 1 to 3pm at the Lexington Assisted Living (5440 Ralston St.) to learn more about what the Parkinson’s Foundation’s mission is and what you can do to help impact the future of Parkinson’s Disease. Sarah will also present a recap of some of the important points learned at the Parkinson’s Foundation’s “Exercise and the Brain: The Parkinson’s Connection” symposium held in Camarillo in February. You will learn a lot about the mechanics of how exercise impacts PD and how it can improve your quality of life. Sarah will lead a discussion about the types of exercises, challenges to exercising, and tips for getting started.

Information will also be presented about the Parkinson’s Foundation’s upcoming “Moving Day” event on April 13th at the Ventura Promenade. Find out how you can be a part of this opportunity to bring awareness to Parkinson’s Disease and help bring better treatments, quality of life and hopefully a cure some day!

Sarah Osborne is the Parkinson’s Foundation Community Program Manager for California. She came to the foundation after her younger brother was diagnosed with Young Onset PD at the age of 32. Sarah’s background is in healthcare marketing and she’s currently pursuing a Master of Education with plans to complete a Doctorate of Education soon after. She’s also been teaching Pilates, Yoga and Indoor Cycling with the YMCA since 2007 and believes in the power of movement for people with PD and for everyone!

The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group welcomes the public along with our members, their care-partners and new friends who find themselves navigating the challenges of Parkinson’s Disease and other neurological conditions. Thanks to the generosity of the Lexington Assisted Living, they host their meetings every second Wednesday of the month from 1 to 3pm. There is a drop-off/loading and unloading driveway in the front of the Lexington. Extra parking is graciously available across the street in the Baptist Church parking lot.

Attendees are invited to check in at the front desk for directions to the 3rd floor and sign-in at the meeting so we can keep in touch with you. Reservations are not required. For more information, call Patty at 805-766-6070. The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group is an independent and volunteer-organized group, not affiliated with or a part of any other organization or group.

The Ombudsman Program of Ventura County is looking for volunteers in the Ventura/Oxnard area to advocate for older, and dependent adults, living in long-term care facilities such as skilled nursing and assisted living facilities for the elderly.

Did you know that 60% of all older adult residents in skilled nursing facilities have no family or friends to speak for them? Join this program and make a difference in the lives of the forgotten, vulnerable older adults in the Ventura and Oxnard communities.

For more information about the next training, please call Kathy Terry at Long Term Care Services of Ventura County, Inc., Ombudsman Program at 805-656-1986, and/or visit www.ombudsmanventura.org.