50 Plus

A guide to good living in the Brazos Valley

Inside...

Move it or lose it

How to decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

Pg. 3

Sliders

Chef Diane Lestina creates Father’s Day dish

Pg. 2

June 2012 • Vol. 5, Issue 2 • A monthly publication of the Bryan-College Station Eagle

Staying safe over the summer How to prevent heat-related health problems

PAGE 10

Cutting down after the nest is empty PAGE 6

50plus June 2012 The Eagle • theeagle.com

Celebrate Father’s Day with CONTENTS beef tenderloin sliders In honor of Father’s Day this month, I came up with a beef tenderloin slider recipe. Sliders or mini-hamburgers are traditionally made with ground beef, although many variations have been created. Beef tenderloin can make it a bit special and actually takes less time dIane LeSTIna to cook. My variation uses cOOK iT siMPle balsamic mushrooms as WWW.cheFDiane.cOM a topping, but I have also topped them with caramelized onions and blue cheese or a little horseradish sauce and Swiss cheese.

The real key to cooking the beef is to make sure your pan is really hot, and the heavier the pan the better (cast iron is best and do not use non-stick). And with tomatoes in season, a simple tomato salad is a great accompaniment.

Beef Tenderloin Sliders with Balsamic Mushrooms 12 ounces Beef Tenderloin Steak Olive Oil cooking spray Steak seasoning such as Chicago or Montreal 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

8 ounces white mushrooms, sliced 1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons soy sauce Fresh baby greens –such as arugula or spinach 6 Slider rolls

Slice tenderloin steaks into small medallions, about 2 ounces each, (or have your butcher do it for you), and season on both sides with steak seasoning. Spray seasoned medallions lightly with olive oil spray. Prepare pan; heat on high for 2 minutes. Give the pan a quick spray with olive oil and place medallions in pan. Cook 2-3 minutes per side depending on desired doneness.

Remove from pan to a plate and cover with foil. Reduce heat to medium-high and add butter to skillet. Add mushrooms and shallots, stirring frequently, until mushrooms are browned and tender, about 4 minutes. Add vinegar and soy sauce to skillet and simmer, stirring and scraping up any brown bits, 2 minutes.

Place greens on slider buns, top with tenderloin medallions and using a slotted spoon, add some mushrooms.

Makes 6 sliders.

Bradway: Arthritic changes

4

Technology: Staying connected

5

Travel: Interest in travel pays off

8

Financial Literacy: Interest rates

14

Cover: Seniors and summer health

10

Calendar

18 50plus is a monthly publication of Bryan-College Station Communications Inc. 1729 Briarcrest Drive Bryan, Texas

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Tasty sliders, or miniature hamburgers, make great dishes for holidays such as Father’s Day.

s e n i o r c i t i z e n s r e c e i v e a d i s c o u n t.

A new study finds that exercise, at any age, may reduce a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

By Renee Lee CTW Features

Physical activity, even simply cooking or washing dishes, may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, even in people over the age of 80, according to a study by neurological researchers from Rush University Medical Center.

The study recently was published

washing the dishes, playing cards and even moving a wheelchair with a person’s arms were beneficial,” Buchman says. “These are low-cost, easily accessible and side-effect free activities people can do at any age, including very old age, to possibly prevent Alzheimer’s.

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Those individuals in the bottom 10 percent of intensity of the physical activities were almost three times as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as the people in the top 10 percent of intensity.

“Since the actigraph was attached to the wrist, activities like cooking,

June 2012

in the online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Rush researchers had 716 older individuals without dementia wear an actigraph, a device that monitors activity, on their non-dominant wrist for 10 days.

All exercise and non-exercise was recorded, and study participants also self-reported their physical and social activities.

“This is the first study to use an objective measurement of physical activity in addition to self-reporting,” says Dr. Aron S. Buchman, lead author of the study and associate professor of neurological sciences at Rush. “This is important because people may not be able to remember the details correctly.”

Over a mean of 3.5 years of follow up, 71 of the participants developed Alzheimer’s disease.

The study showed that people in the bottom 10 percent of daily activity levels were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease as people in the top 10 percent of daily activity.

50plus

Move it or lose it?

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50plus June 2012 The Eagle • theeagle.com

Arthritic changes can bring about problems caused from past wreck injuries

Question: I was involved in a car accident a number of years ago and suffered whiplash in addition to hitting my head against the roof of the car. I wore a cervical collar immediately following the accident and received physical therapy treatments and felt fine. However, I’ve recently started having pain in my neck and wondered if this is related to that earlier injury? Can you explain how this can happen and what I can do to eliminate my pain? I’m tired of taking aspirin all the time. S. H. College Station Answer: Many people involved in a car accident suffer whiplash, in fact it is the most common injury following an accident. A whiplash injury is a sprain involving the muscles and ligaments of the neck due to the head and neck being forced into hyperextension as the seat pushes the person’s torso forward and the unrestrained head and neck fall backwards. This is immediately followed by the head and neck being thrown into a hyperflexed position.

This abnormal motion causes damage to the soft tissues that hold the cervical vertebrae together (ligaments, facet capsules, muscles).

There are seven cervical vertebrae with supporting ligaments. Generally speaking, the sprains of the neck are classified as mild, moderate or severe, depending on the extent of the symptoms. A mild whiplash typically is better in three to ten days while moderate whiplash usually takes 10-21 days to heal. Severe whiplash can take up to 12 weeks or longer to heal. It sounds as if you had

most common age for a ruptured disc traction and manual therapy and the appropriate is between 35 and 55. The typical stretching exercises can reduce the treatment onset of pain from a herniated disc inflammation on the irritated nerve following your is sudden and severe. It is difficult to and increase the space between the injury which is find a comfortable position. Usually, vertebrae. why you recovered the symptoms radiate into the arm.

Another common condition with little pain.

In some cases, the reflexes can be that can develop is muscle trigger However, arthritic absent in the upper extremities. The points. A trigger point is an area changes can result arm may become numb and weak. An in the muscle where there is a high due to your hitting MRI test can often reveal disc bulges level of activity or contraction. It is your head and Leon Bradway or disc herniation. typically about the size of a quarter because of the Physical TheraPy The vast majority of people and can cause radiating pain. Studies trauma to your diagnosed with these problems can have shown that a person with an neck. The arthritic changes are not recover using conservative treatment, acute muscle spasm which created a obvious initially as they progress such as physical therapy. Surgery trigger point can exhibit symptoms over time. The arthritic changes are is not always the answer and more very similar to a pinched nerve in the due to compression of the ligaments neck. Trigger point dry needling is an conservative treatments should and facet joints, which can create be attempted first. If conservative extremely effective physical therapy inflammation which can progress to management fails, surgery is looked technique for treating trigger points. arthritic changes. More specifically, at as a more aggressive option. Since Another injury that can occur when you struck your head on you have been experiencing pain from a car accident is a herniated the roof of the car, this may have recently and the cause is uncertain, disc. Many people refer to a disc progressed into a condition known it would be a good idea to set up an problem as a slipped disc. However, as cervical spondylosis which results appointment with your doctor or that description doesn’t really when your discs compress losing physical therapist for an evaluation to illustrate the problem. When a disc their height and their suppleness, herniates, it can bulge. In some cases, determine the cause. It is very likely causing the bones of the neck to a treatable condition. You mentioned a fragment of the disc can actually move closer together. In later years, that you are taking aspirin to dull separate from the main body. In the vertebrae develop spurs which the pain, but remember medication our teen years our discs are very can put irritating pressure on the only treats the symptoms and doesn’t malleable but as we age, the discs nerves. When this happens, you can address the cause of the pain. can become dry and brittle. The experience pain that starts in the neck and radiates into the arm. This condition is known as cervical radiculitis. If the irritation on the nerve is extensive, the patient can develop weakness, Cracked driveways, buckled sidewalks, BEFORE: Trees drink the water reduced reflexes and damaged home foundations and patios from your foundation. reduced sensation are the result of conflict between in the shoulder or arm. Cervical hardscapes such as asphalt and concrete,

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50plus

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or six months when he looked like a different person,” she adds.

cell phone.”

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they were able to see him in all the baby stages instead of every quarter

June 2012

Grandparenting, or even parenting, long distance is easier than ever with modern technology.

Camille Noe Pagán’s two toddlers use Skype, a free service for Internet video calls, to visit regularly with her husband’s parents, who live states away.

“Indi was about two-and-a-half when we started Skyping with JP’s dad,” says Pagán, a novelist in Ann Arbor, Mich. “We see him about two to three times a year, and I think that virtual chatting has definitely helped Indi remember who he is.”

And her son, Xavier, has been Skyping since birth — long before he had any idea what he was doing.

“It helped JP’s parents feel like

But keeping in touch with older kids may be more difficult. A new study by Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project found that only 14 percent of teens talk daily with friends on a landline, and only 26 percent do so on cell phones.

However, the study notes that 75 percent of teens send text messages through their cell phones, with the average number of texts rising to 60 a day in 2011.

Technologysavvy parents and grandparents might be wise to keep texts simple, lest their well-intended communications end up on a website like “When Parents Text,” a blog “dedicated to the trials and errors that come when a parent handles a

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50plus

Decreasing portion sizes when nest is empty key to keeping off weight

cook more often?

Cooking larger amounts of the main course, such as lasagna, and having leftovers for later meals makes sense to Buch.

However, if you’re embracing your inner Top Chef, and are excited about trying new dishes every night, look for recipes that serve one or two.

Consider your health goals, too.

“As we age we don’t need as many calories, though we still may have a big appetite,” says Johnson, who is on the faculty of gerontology at the university.

Satisfy your appetite and your nutritional needs with vegetables, fruits and whole grains as you cut back on meat and starches.

Try new ingredients and flavors to make meals appetizing.

Johnson, for example, loves bottled ginger-sesame sauce.

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Cooking Think about your lifestyle as you plan menus.

Do you prefer having a few frozen

12

ERVICE

Shopping Change your mindset. Forget the hungry hordes (aka, your kids); they’re feeding themselves.

Instead of the “big trip” to the supermarket twice a month, shop two or three times a week for fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and lean meat, purchasing only what you’ll eat in a few days.

Buying food in large quantities could cost you money now, according to Beth Kitchin, PhD, a registered dietitian and assistant professor of nutrition sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“You may find that when you buy just what you need, while a little more expensive on the front end, you actually save money because you’re less likely to throw leftovers away,” writes Kitchin in an email response.

Although having some food in the cupboard or freezer for emergencies

entrees on hand, or would you rather is sensible, don’t overdo it, say the experts.

“I give my husband a maximum of how many cans of corn he can buy,” says Mary Ann Johnson, Ph.D., the Bill and June Flatt professor in foods and nutrition at the University of Georgia in Athens.

Her ultimatum is to buy no more than what they’ll eat within two months.

If you discover that you’re stockpiling staples, go through your pantry and eliminate foods you won’t eat. Donate products still within “use by” dates to food pantries, says Buch.

Johnson and her husband were surprised to see that their appreciation for soup resulted in having about 20 cans 2 Y EAR S G1 O on hand. Many of IN those were donated.

See Cut page 15

FS

6

Now that your kids are grown and you’re officially an empty nester, you’re thinking about your living space.

Maybe you want to move to smaller quarters, or maybe you’re dreaming about putting those empty bedrooms to different uses.

Don’t overlook your kitchen as you anticipate this new stage.

Your cooking and shopping habits when children, and especially ravenous teens, were home may not be appropriate or even beneficial to your well-being now.

Your cookware may need a postkid overhaul, too. Do you still need a 10-quart stockpot? Imagine filling and lifting it. Are your muscles still up to the task?

By adjusting your culinary techniques while streamlining your kitchen so it’s more convenient, you’ll enjoy cooking and eat healthfully, say nutrition educators.

If you question whether it’s worth the time to cook when you’re an empty nester, think of preparing meals as an opportunity for culinary adventure or a new hobby, says Karen Buch, registered dietitian and director of lifestyle initiatives for Weis Markets, Inc. Sunbury, Pa. It also can bring you and your spouse closer.

“Cooking for each other is an act of love and kindness,” she says.

Here are tips to help you plan.

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June 2012

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50plus

Interest pays dividends on guided tours

By Igor Lobanov-Rostovsky Mature Life Features

The Eagle • theeagle.com

June 2012

Taking an interest in the sites and sights on a guided tour can pay

dividends.

If you’ve signed up for an escorted tour because you think “All I have to do is show up each morning and ride along,” you could miss out on a lot.

On a motorcoach tour in southern Germany not long ago, I asked our guide, Sonja, what one should do to get the most out of the experience.

Her eyes lighted up. I had zeroed in on what, for professional guides, is a major motivating factor: seeing a response from the people they are leading.

“We love to have people express interest in what they are seeing,” she said.

“In fact, we tend to concentrate on those who do.”

Your tour

leader and local guides are a rich source of knowledge just waiting to be mined.

For those truly interested in a place, it makes sense to stay close as possible to the guide. If a particular subject fascinates you, ask your questions on the spot, before the tour’s focus shifts to the next part of the itinerary.

You may have to be patient, because others in the group also may have questions. But asking for more information about a particular location can pay off, especially when you have an open half-day and would like to see a nearby attraction not included in the tour.

Ask your guide how to get there.

Most guides are delighted to see such interest and will provide plenty of information. Occasionally, he or she even may offer to take you.

Keep in mind that a tour leader’s workload extends beyond what you see. Hidden from view is the abundance of paperwork, calls to locate a missing bag, constantly confirming arrangements, and other behind-the-scenes tasks done while tour participants are in their rooms or off on an excursion.

How much you get out of an

escorted tour also can depend on how knowledgeable you are about the country or region when you arrive.

It’s a good idea to start collecting descriptive literature, articles, and maps of the region and its cities several weeks before your departure date.

If your itinerary begins with a city tour, try to get a preview the night before by asking your tour leader to point out the route on the map. You can use a highlighter to mark the streets on your route.

On the opening morning, try to get a seat at the front of the motorcoach. The first row obviously is best because you have the windshield as a picture-window view. While the guide’s narration probably can be heard from speakers throughout the vehicle, those who sit in the front rows will have less distraction from the engine sound or the inevitable chatterbox toward the rear of the vehicle, and have easier access to the guide to ask questions.

On some tours, a seat-rotation plan assures that each person is able to

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June 2012

ride in the front seats at some point during the trip.

Get off every time the bus makes a stop, even if you are not terribly interested in the particular sight.

Just climbing down from the coach, strolling a bit and then re-boarding provides a bit of exercise and can take away the sense of lethargy that comes with a long period of sitting.

There’s also a valid medical reason for getting out and walking about.

Spending long periods in a cramped seat, just as in an airliner, can cut off blood circulation. Blood will tend to pool in your legs, setting the stage for clots to form.

So what are the down sides of traveling with a tour?

You may find yourself chafing at what feels like a slow pace, perhaps constantly waiting for a member who likes to dawdle or might have difficulty walking. Or you might get upset at being rushed through a world-famous collection of art because the tour is behind schedule.

These are some of the trade-offs you can expect to encounter in return for the convenience and camaraderie of

traveling en-masse.

Try to maintain a “roll with the unexpected” attitude.

And the unexpected will happen: a late spring snowstorm blocks your route, fog takes away the view of that fairy-tale-like castle on a rocky crag, or road construction slows your trip so you arrive too late to view a sunset.

Look for a bright side in such situations, such as an experience that ends up a cherished memory.

On one tour, our group leader would read a thought for the day as our coach got under way each morning. The readings were usually a brief passage from the writings of a renowned poet or philosopher that served as a catalyst to boost our interest and attitude.

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50plus

How seniors can avoid oid heat-related hea problems this summer

By Holli L. Estridge

The Eagle • theeagle.com

Heat exhaustion and heat Stroke “The biggest danger we see from the primary care perspective is heat exhaustion,” Cheng said. “The Texas summers can be pretty rough. If people push themselves too much without taking a break and staying hydrated, they can quickly become dehydrated.”

Dehydration affects major organs, including kidneys and the entire circulatory system. Because they relieve swelling, heart failure and blood pressure medications are diuretics, he said, and some diabetes medications, such as Metformin, can become dangerous when kidney functioning is compromised.

“It’s important to make sure you drink regularly,” Cheng said. “Water or Gatorade is best. Caffeinated drinks don’t count because they make you even more dehydrated.”

Cheng said heat exhaustion often occurs when seniors are doing active things outside, such as gardening, and are focused on a task, not going into the shade enough and not drinking enough fluids.

Symptoms often include dizziness, a tacky mouth, dark urine, muscle cramps, nausea and sometimes chest pain or a racing heart. Heat exhaustion can escalate to heat stroke if a senior stops sweating, Cheng said.

“If you’re suffering from mild symptoms, you should go inside and drink lots of fluid, rest up and recover,” he said. “Sometimes it takes up to a day to recover. If you are about to pass out, or you can’t hold down fluid, you should go to the hospital.”

Heat stroke ste past heat exhaustion. The body e is a step loses the ability r bility to regulate its temperature, and seniors often pass out, he said.

If a senior is suffering suf from heat exhaustion or heat stroke, physicians la work to check kidney sicians can conduct lab ensur patients function and set up fluids on an IV to ensure rehydrate quic te quickly.

Skin Cancer concer for seniors as outdoor Another health concern activities incr vities commence is increased risk of skin damage exposur due to sun exposure.

Ajay Mitter an oncologist with College Station y Mitter, Center said seniors should enjoy the sun, while Medical Center, pr taking necessary precautions to prevent cancerous melanoma. Some of those precautions include staying out of the sun between betw 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., staying under an umbrella str ella or shade structure, using sun block with an SPF of att least 30, wearing w protective garments -- such V as cotton -- and supplementing Vitamin D and alphaand beta carotene otene, among other nutrients. Seniors also

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10

Enjoying sun in moderation and drinking plenty of water can help keep summer health concerns at bay as outdoor temperatures rise.

As seniors age, they have a little less reserve in them than they perhaps did at 20, said Dr. Clint Cheng, a family physician at the St. Joseph clinic in South College Station. Add to this the fact that some common medications -- particularly for heart failure and blood pressure -- are diuretics, seniors often have to be more diligent than most about replacing fluids to protect themselves in the searing Texas heat.

Cancer is a disease so complex that even the most veteran of cancer researchers cannot fully explain the disease. Progress toward the diagnosis and treatment of cancer continues to be made, but there’s still no telling if an individual will or won’t get this potentially deadly disease.

One of the many things the medical community can say with certainty regarding cancer is that treatment is most effective when the cancer is found early.

Melanoma skin cancer, for instance, can be easily removed if it’s detected early and has not grown into the skin. In fact, the five-year survival rate, which indicates the percentage of people who live at least five years after diagnosis, for those whose melanoma skin cancer is detected early enough to remove the melanoma is nearly 100 percent. However, if that melanoma has already spread to other parts of the body by the time it’s detected, the five-year survival rate is below 20 percent.

While the disparity between survival rates is not as severe for all cancers as it is for melanoma skin cancers, early detection is still imperative when it comes to beating cancer. Part of the reason cancer is not always detected early is that it doesn’t always make its presence felt until it has already reached an advanced stage. Pancreatic cancer, for instance, does not usually cause any noticeable symptoms in its early stages. Instead, the first noticeable signs of pancreatic cancer can be back or belly pain. At this point, the cells in the pancreas have grown and begun to press on nearby nerves and organs. While these might be the first signs of pancreatic cancer, by this point the cancer is typically at an advanced stage.

Still, knowing the signs and symptoms of cancer is a great way for men and women to catch the disease early when it’s most treatable. Though the following signs and symptoms are not always indicative of cancer, their presence should be enough for adults to consult their physicians.

• Fatigue: Extreme tiredness that does not improve even with ample rest could be a sign that cancer is growing. In certain cancers, including leukemia, this happens in the early stages. In addition, some colon or stomach cancers cause blood loss, which can result in fatigue.

• Pain: Early on, bone cancers or testicular cancer often manifest themselves through pain. Back pain can be a symptom of ovarian cancer or cancer of the colon or rectum. Unfortunately, when pain is a result of cancer, the cancer has already begun to metastasize.

• Unexplained weight loss: One of the first signs of cancer might be the unexplained loss of 10 pounds or more. This is most common with cancers of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus, or lung.

• Skin changes: Cancers of the skin and other cancers can cause certain changes in the skin. Jaundice, when the skin and eyes turn a yellowish color, is one such change. The skin can also redden, itch or darken, a condition known as hyperpigmentation. Excessive hair growth on the skin is another skin change that might indicate the presence of cancer.

• Fever: A common side effect of cancer, fever most often happens after the cancer has metastasized.

Cancers that effect the immune system often cause fever as the body finds it more difficult to fight infection. In certain blood cancers, including leukemia or lymphoma, fever is an early sign of cancer.

Should any of the aforementioned signs or symptoms appear, men and women should consult their physicians immediately.

June 2012

June 2012

Special to The Eagle

should wear sunglasses to protect their eyes -- where melanoma also can develop.

Recent medical studies of risk factors for melanoma development show that individuals with light skin types show a higher incidence of melanoma, as well as individuals who use tanning beds. In fact, tanning-bed users who tanned before the age of 20 often carry a higher risk of developing melanoma, as well. Also men have a higher incidence of melanoma than do women.

According to health experts, the rise in melanoma incidence over the last 20 to 30 years could be attributed to a change in sunseeking behavior over the same period, with more holidays abroad and a desire to tan.

Mitter said as with any cancer, early detection of melanoma is key.

Seniors can self-screen for melanoma using the ABCD method, looking for asymmetry, border irregularities, color variation (for example, different colors within the same region), a diameter of greater than 6 millimeters and enlargement or evolution of color change, shape or symptoms. Other symptoms to watch for are inflammation, bleeding or crusting, sensory change and a lesion diameter of greater than 6 millimeters.

Mitter said seniors detecting these sorts of symptoms should contact a physician.

With early detection, melanoma often can be treated with surgical removal. The larger the tumor, the larger the surgical margin for effectively removing the tumor.

For example for a 1-millimeter tumor, a physician would have to remove 1 centimeter surrounding the tumor.

In more advanced stages, Mitter said additional treatment options are now available -- where they were not before. For melanoma that has metastasized -- or spread -- throughout the body, oncologists can prescribe immune-regulating medications (which have been shown to increase overall survival in inoperable stage III or stage IV patients) and mutation inhibiting medications. Each comes with a list of side effects.

Mitter said regular screenings are key for seniors and individuals with a family history of melanoma.

Regular ophthalmology and dental exams can also reveal melanoma in the mouth and eyes.

Signs of cancer

50plus

Havingg fun f in the sun

11

50plus

I’m happy, you’re happy, we’re happy ‘Gray divorce’ is on the rise, but experts say the key to a healthy marriage once the nest is empty is to find purpose, happiness and stability.

By Darci Swisher

The Eagle • theeagle.com

June 2012

CTW Features

With divorce rates for couples over 50 at record levels, couples need to work harder than ever to keep their marriage – and themselves – happy as they enter their senior years.

“Fifty is like a watershed moment in a lot of people’s lives,” says Gina Ogden, Ph.D., author of “The Return of Desire: A Guide to Rediscovering Your Sexual Passion” (Trumpeter, 2008).

At a half-century, changes abound: Children begin leaving home. The body’s aging process is in full swing.

Careers can be at a demanding level.

And all of these changes have the potential to affect a marriage – even long-term relationships. A recent study from Bowling Green State University found that a quarter of the couples who divorced in 2009 were over the age of 50. That number is double what it was just two decades ago, when less than one in 10 people who divorced were over 50. Interestingly, the study notes that divorce rates, in general, stayed steady during that time period.

But it’s empty-nest syndrome – the term commonly used for when children move out and leave their parents at home, alone, for the first time in many years – that is often attributed to post-50 relationship issues.

“Couples who are doing the demanding, stressful job of raising children have a tendency to stop focusing on their personal relationship and instead see each

other only as co-parents,” Tina B. Tessina, Ph.D., psychotherapist and author of “Money, Sex and Kids: Stop Fighting about the Three Things That Can Ruin Your Marriage” (Adams, 2008). “When the kids leave the house, the couples are faced with a moribund couple relationship.”

The next major life event for many, retirement, may only compound issues, Tessina adds. “Not only do the couple lose their parental roles, they also lose the structure of work – it drastically changes the amount of time they have together, and highlights the lack of connection between them.”

She notes a common reason people over 50 cite for divorcing is a lack of connection. A wife may not feel her husband listens to her anymore, a husband might not think his wife cares about him, or both may feel bored with their relationship, she points out.

But all is not lost. Happiness may be the key to staying together. But spouses shouldn’t just be happy with their marriage, Tessina says, they also should be happy with themselves.

“All three work together,” she explains. “A happy wife or husband has more to contribute to the partnership, and more to give the partner. If both parties sincerely desire a happy, committed relationship, it isn’t difficult to figure out what they need to do

to be happy, to make each other happy and reap the benefits of a happy relationship.”

Ogden agrees, pointing out the importance of people determining what makes them happy, and how they bring self-esteem to themselves.

Perhaps it’s shopping, gardening or making money, she says; regardless, knowing how self-esteem is achieved and whether the method is healthy and nurturing is essential to achieving happiness.

Thankfully, there’s good news ahead for 50-somethings in the happiness department: A May 2011 study for the Gallup-Healthways WellBeing Index found that Americans over age 65 have the highest overall well-being and are less sad and depressed than other age groups.

To find happiness as a couple, spouses need to realize that they may be entering into a new relationship with each other, because the person they fell in love with may have morphed over the years, according to Ogden.

But change doesn’t have to mean all is lost.

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“There’s growth possible through every age and stage of our lives,” she explains. “At 50, we need to understand that we can change, and we can keep reinventing ourselves, in terms of self esteem, in terms of noticing our partner, and update what we want now.”

The key is for spouses to identify who they are and what they want, both together as a couple and separately, Ogden notes. They should do so with an awareness of balancing their bodies, minds, hearts and spirits, she stresses.

Those who find themselves dissatisfied with their partner should try to create a new partner before looking outside the marriage to fill that need, adds Ogden. For example, those dissatisfied with their love life might consider writing an ad for an ideal partner – together, or alone, and then sharing it – and then owning all those qualities for themselves. Or someone looking for a partner who is more sensitive should try to be more sensitive.

“Become the partner you want to be,” she says.

979.846.6515 www.drreece.com

Dr. Michael Reece

www.drreeceblog.com

Your dental guided health professional.

2. While your doctor may order a computed tomography (CT) scan to get a better picture of what’s going on inside your sinuses, abnormalities are quite common and most don’t require surgery. Your doctor can’t just look at your CT scan and know that you need sinus surgery. Your doctor needs to talk with you, evaluate your symptoms, and consider a course of medical therapy before suggesting sinus surgery.

3. If you have severe headaches, sinus surgery is not likely to help. Most often, severe headaches are caused by migraines or other conditions.

4. After diagnosing chronic sinusitis, your doctor should offer what is known as “maximal medical treatment,” which may include a combination of extended antibiotic treatment, oral steroids, sinus rinses and nasal steroid sprays.

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See Get page 17

June 2012

Get Second Opinion on Sinus Surgery It’s not uncommon for patients seeking a second opinion about sinus surgery to be told they don’t need the procedure, according to doctors at the University of Michigan Health System’s Sinus Center.

Many patients may not have had a full assessment of their symptoms and the underlying causes of their sinus troubles not been fully identified or treated.

Here are five things everyone should consider before undergoing sinus surgery.

1. The most common causes of sinus problems are nasal allergies, chronic sinusitis that can be caused by a combination of infection and allergic reaction, and a deviated or crooked septum.

This means your doctor needs to do a full evaluation of your symptoms, understand your medical history, and attempt to treat any underlying allergies that may be wreaking havoc in your sinuses before recommending surgery.

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50plus June 2012 The Eagle • theeagle.com

Interest rates vs. real interest rates

Remember that passbook savings account you had as a kid? You would take your money to the bank and the teller would write your deposit amount and the interest you had earned into your passbook. Ah, that was the simple life.

Your teller was writing in your nominal interest rate. Now that you are all grown up, you might want to be thinking about your “real interest rate” instead of your nominal rate. Tracy STewarT This will help you Financial liTeracy figure out whether and how much your purchasing power will change during your golden years.

Real Interest Rates Real interest rate equals nominal interest rate minus inflation rate.

Most people think of the inflation rate as something that is known. It is reported in the past tense. But when you are evaluating an investment and the nominal interest rate, future inflation rate is a guess or a prediction.

So, if you lock in a 5 percent interest rate for the coming year and you think inflation will be 1 percent, you are expecting or hoping to increase your savings by 4 percent.

Thus, 4 percent is your expected real interest rate.

If your friend buys the same investment at 5 percent but thinks inflation will be 2 percent, then she is expecting to grow her savings by her expected real interest rate of 3 percent.

Inflation is the rate at which the

prices of goods and services rise.

When the price of goods and services rise, your purchasing power falls.

If your investment is in bonds that carry a 2 percent nominal interest rate and inflation is running at 3 percent, you have a real interest rate of a negative 1 percent. You would be losing ground. This is actually more or less how US Treasury bonds are behaving these days.

TIPS: Interest rates steady while investment changes For those of you who are concerned about losing the race against inflation, you might want to read up on TIPS, Treasury InflationProtected Securities. They are popular with long-term investors who want to preserve their purchasing power over many years.

Like U.S. Treasury bonds, TIPS are backed by the U.S. government. Both kinds of securities are loans to the government. With both investments, you get interest payments twice a year based on a fixed interest rate.

TIPS are a little different from traditional US Treasury bonds. TIPS guarantee that your real interest rate will keep up with inflation. The key is to hold onto the TIPS until it matures.

The amount of principal invested in your TIPS is automatically adjusted every six months, based on the ups and downs of the Consumer Price Index (a measure of inflation). So, while your interest rate stays the same, the amount of interest will fluctuate based on the revised

investment or principal amount As a hypothetical TIPS example, we can take a $20,000 TIPS investment. It has a fixed interest rate of 2.5 percent. You would expect the first semi-annual interest payment to be $250. However, during the first six months, the Consumer Price Index (a measure of inflation) goes up at an annual rate of 3 percent. The $20,000 investment will go up by half that annual inflation rate or 1.5 percent to $20,300.

This new investment balance is going to change the semiannual interest payments. The original 2.5 percent interest rate stays, but the investment amount changes. Thus, the original 2.5 percent interest rate is multiplied times the newly adjusted investment amount of $20,300. This causes the next interest payment to be $253.75 instead of $250. Every time inflation rises, your interest payment rises because the investment balance is adjusted.

Earlier I mentioned that the key is to hold the TIPS to maturity.

When you hold a TIPS to maturity, the investment you are repaid will likely be greater than the amount you originally invested, in a period of inflation. If there is a period of deflation, when the TIPS matures the

investment you are repaid will be the inflation-adjusted investment amount or the original investment amount, whichever is greater.

Need to know If the Consumer Price Index falls over six months, the investment amount will be adjusted downward.

This will cause the next interest payment to be lower than previously.

If the Consumer Price Index is ever negative (a sign of deflation), the investment balance and the interest payments will both drop.

TIPS are not tax-free. Federal taxes will be due every year on the interest you receive as well as the adjusted increase in your investment.

You might want to consider investing tax-deferred money in a TIPS, such as in an IRA account.

You have many other investment options. Since a TIPS will generally offer a lower interest rate than other options, you must consider whether the expected inflation rate is high enough to cover the difference between the low TIPS interest rate and a non-TIPS interest rate.

A financial advisor can help you decide whether a TIPS investment is right for you as you try to win the race against inflation.

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From page 6 “It adds flavor without a lot of fat.

You can jazz up a meal that looks kind of bland,” she says.

The nutrition professor also recommends spice blends in grinder bottles.

“These are so much more flavorful [than ground seasonings]. Find the flavors you like.”

You’ll also find smaller yield spice blends in supermarkets, allowing you to experiment without a large investment, says Buch, who offers nutrition and culinary advice to supermarket shoppers.

reaches 450 degrees fahrenheit, which means you can brown a steak. You’ll see this at specialty kitchen retailers and high-end department stores.

“There may be many options for Mom, but waiting is not one of them. At Crestview, we found an inspired lifestyle, a loving staff, elegant surroundings and great value.”

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New Kitchen and Cookware For Empty Nesters As an empty nester, you’ll be pleased to see more products designed for your streamlined kitchen. Here are a few helpful items, recently introduced at the International Home and Housewares Show in Chicago.

A casserole built for one.

That’s the idea of the Microstoven ramekins, in 3-inch or 3.5-inch sizes from Maxwell &

Williams. You can use this cookware in a conventional or microwave oven. The ramekins also can go in the freezer, so you can prepare and freeze foods for baking later.

Find this at general merchandise stores.

Instead of a knife and big boxy grater for carving up a hunk of cheese, try the adjustable, dualaction Cheese Plane from Microplane. This slim handheld blade can slice cheese thin for salads or thick for grilled cheese sandwiches. The upper portion of the blade has a ribbon grater surface to grate small amounts of cheese. The plane is available in cookware and general department stores.

If you’re shrinking your countertop, choose multifunctional appliances. The Cuisinart Oven Central bakes, roasts, steams and toasts. The temperature

June 2012

Cookware Pots, pans and bakeware in more sizes than your collection of jeans are probably taking up valuable kitchen real estate. In addition, your cookware could be an accident waiting to happen. One false move and you’re hit with a cake-pan avalanche.

“Ask yourself which pots and pans you use. When company comes what do you reach for? Get rid of what you don’t need,” Johnson says.

Also weed out scratched nonstick cookware, plastic storage containers without proper-fitting lids, plastic containers that aren’t designed for food storage and oversized pots that are a strain to lift.

You can let go of one of your four sets of dishes, says Buch.

At the same time, invest in utensils

and small appliances that make cooking easier and more enjoyable.

A microwave oven, even in a smaller size, is an asset for good nutrition.

“Use your microwave more – especially for vegetables,” writes Kitchin.

“Two and a half minutes will do it for frozen corn or broccoli. The ice crystals add enough moisture for cooking. The less water, the more nutrients are preserved,” Kitchin writes.

A slow cooker in a 2- or 3-quart size instead of the 5- or 6-quart version will be welcome for preparing smaller batches of soup, chili and stew.

Johnson took stock of her canned soup habit and opted instead for a small slow cooker.

“My husband and I like making soup in a slow cooker,” she says.

An immersion blender that allows you to make velvety purees without adding high-fat cream is one of Buch’s favorite kitchen appliances.

“Appliances have evolved and you can do most of your cooking with downsized equipment,” Buch says.

50plus

Cut down on cooking, cookware after kids leave

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50plus June 2012 The Eagle • theeagle.com

Falls leading injury-related cause of hospital trips “Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.

Help! Help.”

This TV commercial scene happens all too often in the real life of seniors. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related visits to hospital emergency rooms in the United States in people over the age of 65, according to a report in the Journal of the American Family Organization.

Another survey in 2010 revealed that over 10 percent of people over 75 had a medically consulted fall.

More than 90 percent of all hip fractures occur as a result of falls.

Complications dr. BILL KLeMM The MeMOry MeDic from falls account for 70 percent of accidental deaths in the elderly.

We in the Brazos Valley are fortunate to have the award-winning “Joint University” at St. Joseph hospital for treating hip injuries.

Even so, hip replacement surgery is serious business, as I experienced January 2011 when my hip joint had to be replaced due to arthritis.

A recent survey revealed that risk factors for falls in the elderly include

increasing age, medication use, cognitive impairment, faulty memory, and sensory deficits. Another major factor is poor strength and balance, both of which can decline markedly with age.

In a recent column, I have touted the general value of exercise for the elderly. Exercise should also help reduce the risk of falling, and to the extent that exercise increases general athleticism, might help falling seniors to catch themselves, fall more gracefully, and thus be less likely to suffer a fracture.

Yoga is a good preventive for building strength and balance. Can you stand on one foot while the other leg is propped on that leg and holding your hands together high above your head? I couldn’t begin to do that until I took a yoga class and I am now up to about a minute. I’ll discuss yoga in the next Memory Medic column.

What is not pointed out in the survey report is a recent study showing that vitamin D levels affect falling. The elderly are especially likely to have low vitamin D levels because their skin makes less of it from sunshine. Also, the elderly generally spend less time outdoors.

One recent study of 463 people

over 70 revealed that 1/3 did not have normal blood levels of vitamin D, and these people were weaker, had a slower reaction time, poor balance, slower gait, and performed below normal on mental function tests. Over the course of a year in which they were studied, 46 percent of the people had fallen down and half of these were injured in the falls. The problem seemed greater in men, who had lower-than-normal scores on stepping and balance tests.

Findings like this have led other researchers to test the usefulness of vitamin D supplementation for reducing falls in the elderly.

In a survey of 10 research papers that were based on randomized controlled tests of people over 60, the researchers found a consensus that daily supplementation of 800 I.U. of vitamin D3 significantly reduced the number of falls. Including calcium supplementation was also helpful.

How vitamin D reduces falling is not known for certain, but it does improve muscle tone.

The studies used in this metaanalysis had excluded elderly with overt neurological conditions, such as stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, or Alzheimer’s Disease.

The optimum dose of vitamin D3 and the duration of supplementation have not been determined, but the data indicate that less than 800 I.U. is ineffective.

The studies thus far have not directly addressed whether vitamin D levels affect the percentage of fractures that result from falling.

But we know that vitamin D helps improve bone density, and abnormally thin bones, which are common in the elderly, are much more likely to break.

Sources: •Fuller, G. F. (2000). Falls in the elderly. Am. Fam. Physician.

61(7):2159-2168.

•Menant, J. C. et al. (2011).

Relationships between serum vitamin D levels, neuromuscular and neuropsychological function and falls in older men and women. Osteoporos Int. (E pub, ahead of print).

• Kalyani, R. R. et al. (2010).

Vitamin D treatment for the prevention of falls in older adults: systematic review and meta-analysis.

J. Amer. Geriartics Society. 58:12991301.

•http://www.cdc.gov/ HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/ index.html

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5. If you have chronic sinusitis that has failed to respond to these medical treatments, then surgery could be a logical next step.

Calcium-Potassium Team May Reduce Risk of Kidney Stone Healthy postmenopausal women taking calcium citrate supplements are not at an increased risk for developing kidney stones, say researchers at the University

of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Adding a potassium citrate supplement provides even more protection.

“Postmenopausal women who need calcium to prevent bone loss but are at risk of, or afraid of, forming kidney stones might take both calcium supplements and potassium citrate,” said Dr..

Khashayar Sakhaee, chief of mineral metabolism.

“When you give both together, the combination provides additional protection against both calcium-oxalate and uric-acid stones.”

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Summer’s a good time to look at solar power if you haven’t devoted much thought to it so far.

You might start by taking a look at solar grills that cook by focusing the sun’s rays on the food.

Such an introduction may expand your interest in using solar equipment to heat the water in your home or even producing and providing all the power you need. And you can sell the excess electricity to your utility company.

All of this requires some homework to make sure you understand how the linkage with the power company in your area works, tax credits available, and the cost of installing and maintaining solar systems. A major installation costs a sizeable amount up front and requires several years in electrical-bill savings to pay back the initial investment.

For more information, visit the websites energystar. gov and dsireusa.org.

Mature Life Features

Get your doctor to suggest treatments before trying surgery From page 13

A “ Life Lived for Others is a Life Worthwhile”

June 2012

Read Kiplinger’s retirement reports, ask your neighbor or write down your choice of retiree- friendly spots and there’s little doubt all three lists will be different.

A quick look at six favored cities cited by a California professor who wrote a book on the subject and a list of the top 10 compiled by Kiplinger. com shows that each list is totally different.

The half-dozen is listed by California State University at Northridge geography professor Warren R. Bland, who wrote “Retire in Style: 60 Outstanding Places Across the USA and Canada,” are Portland, Ore.; Boulder, Colo.; Asheville, N.C.; San Antonio, Texas; Tallahassee, Fla., and Victoria, British Columbia.

None of those cities made the Kiplinger list, which included Birmingham, Ala.; Tucson, Ariz.; WinstonSalem, N.C.; Manchester, N.H.; New Orleans; Spokane, Wash.; Charleston, S.C.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Palm Bay, Fla., and St Louis.

The Kiplinger criteria include quality of life, healthcare options, choices of things to do, and affordability. For more on these choices, visit the kiplinger.com website.

The professor’s choices include climate, community services, crime rate, cost

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of living, cultural and educational activities, employment and volunteer opportunities, health care, landscape, recreational activities, retail services and transportation. According to reports, he plans to retire in Ithaca, N.Y.

50plus

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50plus June 2012 The Eagle • theeagle.com 18

CALENDAR Ongoing Bridge players - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road, offers bridge for senior adults every Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Line Dancing - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road, offers line dancing for senior adults every Friday from 10 a.m. to 11 am. For more information, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Sit and Fit - Join other senior adults at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road, Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 12:45 p.m. For more information, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Transitions of Life seminars - Free seminars are offered every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road. Sessions, a collaborative effort with area health care professionals, feature information on the health care resources and services available in the Brazos Valley. Topics include information on community programs for senior adults, elder law and financial planning, Medicare benefits, home health services and pre-planning for funeral/burial.

Refreshments provided. For more information, contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Line dancing - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road, offers line dancing for seniors every Tuesday from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Crafts at Lincoln Center - Learn a new craft every Wednesday at 10 a.m. at Lincoln Center, 1000 Eleanor St. For more details, call the Lincoln Center at 979-764-3779 or e-mail awilliams@cstx.gov.

Bible study - Seniors gather at Lincoln Center, 1000 Eleanor, every Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. for

the door with a reservation. Lecture begins and noon. Reserve by calling 979-764-6351 or e-mail kkelbly@ cstx.gov. Free shuttle offered from Southwood Community Center to Conference Center with a reservation.

RSVP for shuttle by calling 979-7646351 or e-mail kkelbly@cstx.gov.

Bible study. For more information, call 979-764-3779 or e-mail awilliams@ cstx.gov.

42 Dominoes - Senior adults meet every Thursday to play 42 at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

June 7 AARP Driver Safety Class will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at The Senior Circle, 1651 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. To register, call 979-764-5107. Cost is $12 for members or $14 for non-members.

Rock Prairie Road, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Refreshments served. For more information, contact Southwood CommunityCenterat979-764-6351or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

June 20 Exploring History Lunch/ Lecture presents: Reliving Texas history: Muskets, Cannons & Knives with Dr. Lou Hodge - College Station Conference Center, 1300 George Bush Drive. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. Cost is $5 payable at

June 21 Movie & Popcorn “Joyful Noise” - Enjoy a free movie and popcorn at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road.

Movie starts at 1 p.m. For more information call 979-764-6371 or e-mail mrodgers@cstx.gov.

June 25 Senior Advisory Committee Regular Meeting - The Senior Advisory Committee meets at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road starting at 10 a.m. Visitors welcome. For more information call 979-764-6351 or e-mail mrodgers@cstx.gov.

June 26 Recipe Taste and Nutrition

Education - Nutrition taught in a fun way. Sample recipes with Wendy Contrera with Agrilife at 10 a.m. at Lincoln Center, 1000 Eleanor St. For more information call 979-764-3779 or e-mail awilliams@cstx.gov.

June 27 Senior Chic Fashion Fun – Fashion show and luncheon at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Free admission and lunch with RSVP by June 22. Fashions by Witt’s End. Home Instead Senior Care is providing lunch. Limited seating. RSVP with the College Station Parks and Recreation Senior Services at 979-764-6371.

June 29 Bingo and Birthday Celebration - All June birthdays will be celebrated at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road, at 1 p.m. with cake and Bingo. All seniors are invited. At Home Health Care provides prizes for Bingo. For more information, contact 979-764-6351, 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx. gov.

June 8 Chicken Foot Dominoes - A fun game played with dominoes every second Friday, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road. Refreshments provided by Home Instead Senior Care. For more information call 979764-6351 or e-mail mrodgers@cstx. gov.

June 12 Introduction to the Internet Learn the basics of the Internet, its usage and how to use various search tools to find information. The two- day class meets at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road on Tuesday and Thursday from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Cost is $45. Register online at rectrac. cstx.gov or contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

June 13 “Health Talk” Topic: Physical Activity with Easy Exercises and Blood Pressure Screening Health talks are presented by Brazos County Health Department on the second Wednesday of each month at Southwood Community Center, 1520

Listen Hear Audiology Center Robert Herring, Au.D.

Kimiye R. Cabrera, MD, FACS Dr. Cabrera has joined General & Bariatric Surgical Associates in Bryan, TX where she joins Dr. Richard Alford and Dr. Michael Steines. Dr. Cabrera specializes in general surgery with an interest in breast and colon surgery.

Dr. Cabrera is accepting new patients. For appointments and additional information, please call (979) 776-5631.

www.GBSABCS.com

LivingLife

As a retirement community we are well known for unmatched hospitality and great food. The moment you enter Waldenbrooke Estates you’ll experience a community that is inclusive, welcoming and warm. The very spacious apartments at Waldenbrooke Estates are larger than most in the area. Many of our apartments come in a variety of floor plans that include walk-in closets fully equipped kitchens and individual parking.

The Eagle • theeagle.com

• Don’t pay in advance for services, and be wary of highpressure tactics that require you to act immediately in order to receive a special price or offer.

Medical fraud is another area of particular risk for seniors, who tend to have more doctor visits, hospital trips and prescriptions, and since Medicare can be confusing and complicated.

It’s important to protect your identity by guarding Medicare and health insurance information, just as you would your bank account number or Social Security number. The FBI offers these tips for avoiding health insurance fraud: • Never sign blank claim forms or give a medical provider blanket authorization to bill for services.

• Make sure you understand what your medical providers will charge and how much of it you will be expected to pay out of pocket. Review your coverage with your health insurance company so you understand what your financial responsibilities are.

• Don’t do business with anyone selling medical equipment door-to-door or over the phone, or who tell you that you can get services or equipment for free.

• Provide your insurance or Medicare information only to those who have given you a medical service.

• Keep accurate records of all your medical appointments and prescriptions.

Finally, if you’re having trouble keeping track of your medical information, ask for help from a trusted friend or family member.

Navigating Medicare, health insurance and health care can be challenging. Getting assistance and staying on top of your medical information are key steps toward protecting your identity, and help minimize the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft.

June 2012

(ARA) - Tommy and Susie aren’t the only ones who love Grandmom and Grandpop.

Identity thieves love seniors too.

Identity theft among Americans 50 and older is rising, according to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics.

In 2010, more than 3.5 million households headed by people 50 and older experienced identity theft, according to bureau figures.

Identity thieves find seniors attractive targets for a number of reasons, according to the FBI, including for their financial stability. Seniors are more likely to have savings, own a home and have good credit. Fortunately, taking precautions - including monitoring one’s identity and credit through products like ProtectMyID.com - can help seniors reduce their risk of identity theft.

Two types of identity theft that have targeted seniors in the past are phone scams and medical fraud.

The FBI advises seniors to be wary of telemarketers and phone solicitations, since money lost through a phone call is very difficult to get back. The bureau recommends taking precautions when doing business over the phone, including: • Asking for written material before committing to any charitable request or special offer. If you receive written material, review it with someone you trust.

• Avoid dealing with companies you don’t know, and research unfamiliar companies through consumer agencies like the Better Business Bureau, state attorney general or National Fraud Information Center.

• Know who you’re talking to. Ask for the person’s full name, business title, phone number, physical address, mailing address and business license number. Verify the information before any transactions take place.

50plus

Ways for seniors to avoid identify thieves

Calendar of Events June 7 - Dining for Wellness - highlighting memory care - 4:00 pm

Chef Brian will create a dinner highlighting foods which promote memory care.

June 28 - Summertime Easy Living Brunch - 10:00 am

Learn about the many benefits of living at Waldenbrooke Estates while having brunch.

RSVP for all events by calling 979-774-1298.

Space is limited so please call now.

All activities are informational for seniors or their families

Independent Living 2410 Memorial Drive. Bryan, TX 77802 (979) 774-1298 | www.seniorlifestyle.com

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50plus June 2012 The Eagle • theeagle.com

S D R AY, J U H T UN

E 21ST • 4PM

M P –6

ENTERTAINMENT PROVIDED BY BAILA PACIFICA ENTERTAINMENT AN AUTHENTIC HAWAIIAN HULA DANCING AND FIRE TWIRLING GROUP

Call now for tour and details on Special Close-Out Pricing!

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R U O T A E K A T D N A S JOIN U 1-888-82O-6799 RSVP DAY, JUNE 18TH

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3801 East Crest Drive • Bryan, TX 77802 • 1-888-820-6799 (near the corner of University Drive and Boonville Road)

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www.watercrestbryan.com