SWW Seniors • February 2013
Seniors Southwest Washington
Higher Health Insurance Costs Hit Seniors Proposed Bill: Insurance Commissioner’s
Office Hopes to Enact Change
By Kyle Spurr kspurr@chronline.com
Rochester logger Gary Aldrich’s life changed on April 20, 2008, when a woman driving a pickup truck ran a stop sign and struck Aldrich while he was driving in his Toyota Prius. Aldrich, 64, survived the crash, but was left permanently disabled with injuries to his shoulders, left hip, lower back and neck. The injuries forced Aldrich to retire from logging after 43 years. “The next day, I couldn’t even get out of bed,” Aldrich said. Without being able to work as a contract logger, Aldrich was left with a fixed income of $735 a month from Social Security. Aldrich’s health insurance through Premara was $1,106 a month. As of Jan. 1, Aldrich’s health insurance increased $254 to $1,360 a month. “I have diabetes and all kinds of pills,” Aldrich said. “I have problems in my eyes and it’s a death sentence to me. That’s the way it is.” Aldrich, although an extreme case, is one of many seniors in Washington and the greater Lewis County area that are struggling to afford increasingly expensive health insurance while on a fixed income. Rich Roesler, a spokesman with the
Serving LewiS County
state Insurance Commissioner’s Office, said the trend is nothing new, considering health insurance rates have inflated over the years at a rate much higher than the overall consumer rate. “Medical costs are going up, but so are (health insurance companies’) surpluses,” Roesler said. In an effort to combat the insurance price hikes, Roesler said, the Insurance Commissioner’s Office has performed rate reviews and is proposing a bill that would take insurance companies’ surpluses into account. “When doing rate reviews,” Roesler said, “we have to ignore the current laws that health insurances have built up million dollar plus surpluses.” Roesler said people like Aldrich, who is below the Medicare age of 65, are among some of the most fragile markets out there for high insurance rates. “Fifty to 60 are absolutely the most expensive years to get health insurance,” Roesler said. “It’s an unfortunate reality.” Lance Fletcher, an insurance agent at Centralia General Agencies, said he agrees that seniors below 65 years old are seeing the most expensive health insurance rates. But even for those above 65 who are qualified for Medicare, the Medicare coverage has its holes. “A lot of people are getting hit with
Pete Caster / pcaster@chronline.com
Gary Aldrich, 64, drives his truck around Rochester on Monday, Jan. 11. Aldrich claims his health insurance went up 22.75 percent this year. He is permanently disabled and can no longer afford his insurance.
prescription drugs,” Fletcher said. “Prices are skyrocketing. I’ve seen people have to pay for a lot of drugs out of pocket.” The federal Affordable Care Act, known informally as Obamacare, is expected to offer seniors on Medicare more options after Jan. 1, 2014, Fletcher said. But seniors will have to wait and see what the impacts of the changes are. Fletcher, who has worked for Centralia General Agencies since 1989, suggests seniors with low incomes contact the state Department of Social
and Health Services for possible subsidies for coverage. Veterans should research available coverage through the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, Fletcher said. For Aldrich, who sold all of his logging equipment once he had to retire, said he felt helpless when his insurance spiked this year. “That is a hell of an increase on your medical insurance when you are permanently disabled,” Aldrich said. “But if I don’t have the insurance, I’ll just die. That’s what it amounts to.”
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2 • SWW Seniors • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash. Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013
Improve Your Memory
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Everyone forgets things from time to time. Periodically forgetting where you left your keys is likely not indicative of a bad memory. But some people find themselves forgetting things more frequently, a troubling development for those who can't explain their sudden loss of memory. Memory loss is often considered to go hand-in-hand with aging. As a person ages, conventional wisdom suggests memory will begin to fade. But sometimes memory loss has nothing to do with aging, and a lot to do with a brain that isn't sharp because of an unhealthy lifestyle. The following are a few ways men and women can improve their memory.
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Get Some Sleep
Men and women who aren't getting enough sleep can almost certainly blame that lack of shut-eye for at least some of their memory loss. When you don't get enough sleep, your brain's ability to think critically, solve problems and even be creative is compromised considerably. In addition, research has shown that memoryenhancing activities occur during the deepest stages of sleep, further highlighting the importance of getting a full night of interruption-free rest.
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Exercise is another activity that can improve memory. Daily physical exercise increases the amount of oxygen that gets to your brain while reducing the risk for certain disorders, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease, both of which can lead to memory loss.
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Make Some Dietary Changes
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Diet can also have an impact on memory. What you eat is fuel for both your body and your brain, and a poor diet can have a negative impact on your memory. Be sure to include omega-3 fatty acids, sources of which include salmon, tuna and other cold water fatty fish, in your diet. Research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids, which can also be found in walnuts, can boost brain power and possibly reduce your risk for Alzheimer's disease. Foods with antioxidants, including fruits and vegetables, can also protect your brain cells from damage, which can have a positive impact on your memory. Leafy green vegetables like spinach, romaine lettuce and arugula as well as fruits like apricots, mangoes and cantaloupe are good sources of antioxidants. A diet high in saturated fat, which is found in red meat, whole milk, butter and cheese, has been found to have a negative impact on memory. Research has shown that such a diet increases a person's risk of developing dementia while impairing an individual's ability to concentrate and remember things.
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Stress has a host of negative side effects, not the least of which is its impact on your memory. Chronic stress that goes untreated can destroy brain cells and damage the region of the brain that deals with the formation of new memories as well as the retrieval of older memories. Numerous studies have shown that men and women cite their career as their primary source of stress. Since quitting your job is not likely an option, find ways to manage your stress more effectively. This may mean finding a way to make the most of your time, be it working more efficiently, emphasizing planning ahead or even vowing to stop procrastinating. Other ways to manage stress include making time to relax and recognizing that you have limits and seeking the help of others.
Loss of memory is often a momentary lapse, but those who find themselves becoming more and more forgetful can take steps to improve their memory and their quality of life. SWWS
SWW Seniors • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash. Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013 • 3
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My 76-year-old father used to laugh all the time, but ever since he started having problems with his health, he stopped smiling and laughing. How can I get him laughing again? - Craig, 52 ••• Dr. Marion (Marion Somers, PhD) is the author of "Elder Care Made Easier" and has over 40 years of experience as a geriatric care manager, caregiver, speaker, and expert in all things elder care. She offers practical tools, solutions, and advice to help caregivers everywhere through her book, web site, iPhone apps (Elder 411/911), cross-country speaking tours, and more. Visit www.DrMarion.com for more information.
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I use a concept called humor therapy quite often since it has proven to be a very effective device for most of my elderly clients. Good things happen when someone enjoys a belly laugh. It’s like an internal massage for the soul. Humor can take your father away from his aches and pains and concerns, even if it’s just for a moment. That should be the goal of any caregiver. Each person is different, so you have to read the situation. There is no one way to get someone to laugh again, but it usually works if you draw on his or her past likes. For example, one of my clients was a big Lucile Ball fan, so I bought her a compilation DVD of old “I Love Lucy” shows. We made a date to watch them, and then sat there laughing together for hours, even though we’d both seen the episodes more than a few times before. Another one of my clients used to love telling jokes, so I bought him a joke book. We spent a good part of one day reading the book. From then on, he would have a joke or two to tell me every time I visited, and the jokes always lifted his spirits. We also watched standup comedy shows on television. So try using humor therapy. I’m sure your father will be smiling again in no time. It’ll also provide you with some lighthearted moments, and I know you probably need that as well right now.
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Laughter and music just may be good for the heart. Millions of people routinely take prescription medications or make dietary changes, such as eliminating salt from their diets, in an effort to lower blood pressure. However, for those who are interested in making some easy lifestyle changes that can result in modest reductions in blood pressure, listening to music or laughing more may do the trick. In a Japanese study presented in May at an American Heart Association meeting, researchers explained that people who took part in bimonthly group sessions built around music or laughter lowered their systolic blood pressure (the top number in the reading, which measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats) by an average of five to six points after three months. In contrast, the average blood-pressure reading in a control group that received neither therapy didn't move. According to experts, this decline in pressure is the equivalent of what someone could expect from adopting a low-salt diet or losing 10 pounds. ………………………… The American Heart Association recommends that healthy blood pressure should be less than 120 for systolic and less than 80 for diastolic.
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4 • SWW Seniors • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash. Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013
Distinguished Renovations for the Home You Cherish
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Lewis County has more going on that you might think. Next time you find yourself sitting at home, stand up from the couch and get out and about instead!
"Catch the Buzz" Spelling Bee and Silent Auction
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Centralia College, Corbet Theatre Supports the Lewis County Special Olympics!
W hat :
Call: 360-425-3430 or 1-800-383-2101, ext. 304
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Host agency: Lower Columbia CAP in Longview, WA
Enjoy a night out with friends. The social includes a baked potato bar, silent auction, dessert auction and spelling bee with proceeds supporting the Lewis County Special Olympics. $10 at the door.
W hen : February 22, 2013 5:30 p.m.
Find more Lewis County events and happenings in our next Southwest Washington Senior issue, May 16, 2013, and also every Thursday in The Chronicle's "Arts and Entertainment" section!
Questions? Please call Julie at 360-736-3830.
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Free in-home consultation (P) 360-996-4487 • (Toll Free) 877-688-1136 (F) 360-996-4389 • (E) Info@homecareprosnw.com
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SWW Seniors • February 2013
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