Citizen Special Section

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Rockdale Citizen and Newton Citizen • Sunday, December 19, 2010

Better Hearing Aid Service Better Hearing is Better Living!

Serving Metro-Atlanta for 35 years!

Barbara Stock, Ga. Licensed HIS Diane Kaplan, M.S., CCC-A Joe Stock, BC-HIS Board Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist

• Audiologist on staff • Specializing in new “open fit” digital aids • Interest-free financing available • Most major brands • All make repairs • Earmolds and batteries • Loaner aids

COVINGTON

New hearing aids “open” doors to better hearing Are you wearing an uncomfortable hearing aid that makes your ear feel “plugged up?” Have you procrastinated scheduling a hearing evaluation because friends have complained about their older hearing aids being uncomfortable or unsightly? New technology has virtually eliminated these issues!

In the past few years, a new style of hearing aid has been developed, where the electronics of the hearing aid rest in a thin casing worn behind the ear with a 1mm, almost invisible tube connecting it to a small dome that fits in the ear canal. This innovative configuration allows the majority of the ear canal to remain open, preventing low frequency sounds from being amplified, and thereby emphasizing amplification of the high frequencies of speech.

The open ear canal maximizes the natural high frequency resonance characteristics of the unaided ear.

What does this new style mean for hearing aid wearers? These new aids are much more comfortable to wear than the in-the-ear, canal, or CIC styles of the last decade. These aids prevent the “echo” or “hollow” or “plugged up” sensations that wearers complain of when hearing their own voices. Additionally, the new instruments allow increased perception of very soft, high frequency consonant sounds which allow us to differentiate one sound from another. The consonant sounds improve the clarity of speech, permitting improved perception of a grandchild’s question or a spouse’s comments. For previous wearers of CIC aids, this new style incorporates directional micro-

Two Locations:

Directly across from Newton Medical Center ER 4165 Hospital Dr., Covington, GA 30014

phone technology into the instrument, providing improved understanding of speech in background noise. Previous CIC wearers may also benefit from the improved battery life this style affords (1-2 weeks, vs.

3-5 days).

Cosmetically, patients are impressed with the fact that the casing of the behindthe-ear portion of the hearing aid comes in a wide variety of colors to match either hair or skin color, camouflaging the device. In addition, the 1mm tubing is virtually undetectable, with many patients commenting that weeks after wearing them, friends still don’t notice that they’re wearing hearing aids.

Can all hearing aid wearers switch to the new open fit hearing aids? This newer style is appropriate for patients with mild to moderately-severe hearing loss in the middle and high frequencies. Many people who know they have a hearing loss, but have not yet purchased hearing aids will find that they are candidates for the open fit style. If your hearing loss is due to either noise exposure or aging, this style may be appropriate, although it would not be for wearers with a severe or profound, flat hearing loss across all frequencies.

How would I know if I’m a candidate for this style instrument? A thorough hearing evaluation will determine your candidacy for the open fit style instrument.

DECATUR

Corner of Lawrenceville Hwy. & N. Druid Hills Rd. 2179 Lawrenceville Hwy., Decatur, GA 30033

678-625-4908 404-634-6361 Compassionate, state-of-the-art hearing healthcare PAGE 2 • DECEMBER 19, 2010 • SILVER SENIORS • THE CITIZEN

Get the facts on reverse mortgages A Reverse Mortgage is a FHA program which can be an option to consider in meeting your financial objectives. There is a lot of misunderstanding of this program, read on to better understand reverse mortgage myths versus facts.

• You do not have a payment. Myth or Fact?

Fact. As long as you occupy your home as your principal residence, pay the property taxes and insurance and maintain the property.

• The bank owns your

home. Myth or Fact?

Myth. As long as you follow the program guidelines, you are the owner.

• Everyone on the deed must be at least 62 years old to qualify? Myth or Fact?

Fact. This FHA loan is age restricted so that everyone who is on the deed must be at least 62 years old.

• You only qualify if your home is paid off.

Myth or Fact?

Myth. You can still qualify if you have an

existing mortgage balance. You would use the reverse mortgage funds to payoff the existing mortgage.

• A reverse mortgage does not affect Social Security or Medicare.

Myth or Fact?

Fact. These programs are not affected, however; eligibility for Medicaid or SSI may be affected and should be reviewed before doing the program.

• If you pass away, your heirs are responsible for repaying the loan. Myth or Fact?

Myth. Your heirs are not personally responsible or personally liable for the repayment of your reverse mortgage. The heirs may sell the home, payoff the reverse mortgage and keep all additional funds. If heirs decide not to keep the home, the home will be sold by the lender and the reverse mortgage will be satisfied.

• No income, employment or credit requirements are required. Myth or Fact?

Fact. FHA does not

require the standard credit / income qualifications that are associated with traditional loans. You can be in foreclosure and still qualify for a reverse mortgage when meeting program requirements.

• The out-of-pocket expenses are very

high. Myth or Fact?

Myth. The funds due from the borrower are a deposit for the appraisal. There are additional costs such as FHA insurance and funds paid to third parties such as attorney fees which are financed as party of the beginning loan balance.

DECEMBER 19, 2010 • SILVER SENIORS • THE CITIZEN • PAGE 3

PAGE 4 • DECEMBER 19, 2010 • SILVER SENIORS • THE CITIZEN

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DECEMBER 19, 2010 • SILVER SENIORS • THE CITIZEN • PAGE 5

Boomers Turning to Online Dating Individuals over the age of 50 are turning more frequently to Internet dating to find a new significant other.

After losing a loved one or completing a divorce, many baby boomers are considering getting back into the dating pool. Internet dating sites often provide a good number of candidates for busy people to consider. In busy times filled with work responsibilities and family obligations, logging on to the computer to find a date can be much easier than finding a date in a social setting.

Twenty-two percent of the registered members of Match.com are over the age of 50.

There's a good chance that other popular dating sites also have a growing number of older participants as well. There are also dating sites geared to the over-50 crowd to make narrowing down prospects even easier.

Finding oneself in midlife and looking for a date or new mate is actually quite common.

Thousands of people are in the same situation.

In a September 2003 study of singles aged 55+,

The American Association for Retired People discovered that 49 percent said of respondents cited, "Having someone to talk to or do things with" as the most important reason for dating.

Seniors dating can have a unique set of challenges in comparison to younger daters. These include: * Habits or routines that have developed after months or years of living single. * Added baggage from divorce. * Older children who may not be keen to their parents dating again. * Elderly parents who need care. * Physical appearance woes, such as wrinkles and extra weight. * Medical conditions that may be embarrassing or serious. * Self-esteem issues from being out of the dating loop for so long.

Baby Boomers now represent more than a quarter of the population, and many are being spurred on by children to look into online dating.

PAGE 6 • DECEMBER 19, 2010 • SILVER SENIORS • THE CITIZEN

Answers to puzzle on page 5

Slow-Cooking Can Be Both Healthy and Inexpensive

by Jeff Yeager, AARP Maybe it's the time of year, or maybe it's the tough economic times, but these days I find myself longing for old-fashioned comfort foods, such as hearty stews, soups, and other simple, inexpensive dishes. And nothing reminds me of more of comfort food than a simmering slow-cooker.

My mom still has—and recently drafted back into active duty—the avocadogreen-colored one with the funky paisley designs that I fondly remember her using to serve up myriad lentil concoctions in the 1970s. I guess those were relatively lean times too, at least for our family, but I'd be hardpressed to name a time in my life when I was any happier.

Maybe I'm just waxing nostalgic, but that slow-cooker is no small part of the slowcooked memories from that

simpler time in my life, which I cherish to this day.

I'd go so far as to say that the slow-cooker may be the ultimate mean, green, recession-fighting machine.

Slow-cookers cost around $30 and use just 100 watts of electricity, which means that if you used one once a week for eight hours at a time, it would cost less than $1 a month in electricity!

But that's only the beginning of the savings.

Slow-cooking is a great way to transform inexpensive ingredients—including cheap-

er, less choice cuts of meat— into tender, delectable, onepot meals. If you're a meateater, consider trying recipes that incorporate inexpensive cuts of meat you might not otherwise buy: whole fryers, pork hocks and neck bones, smoked turkey legs and wings, and tougher cuts of pork, lamb, and beef.

Since most slow-cookers hold between four and six quarts, they're also perfect for batch cooking. You can freeze the leftovers and save even more on groceries and dining out down the road. Because few slow-cooker recipes call for adding extra oil or using grease, most of these dishes can be relatively lower in fat compared to frying or other traditional cooking methods, which often add extra fat.

Jeff Yeager is the author of the book, The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches. His Web site is www.UltimateCheapskate.com.

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DECEMBER 19, 2010 • SILVER SENIORS • THE CITIZEN • PAGE 7

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Medicare – Which plan is best for you The health care industry is most likely one of the faster changing, expanding industries today, with the exception of the tech industry. We can really see this in comparison to when Medicare was first enacted during the L B Johnson administration in 1965.

Back then, people retired at 65 and it was considered a normal life span to enjoy five to seven years of life beyond that. Not today, with the faster growing age group over age eighty five!

All seventy million plus baby boomers will anticipate longer life with the great advances of medicine and technology today. We are definitely not living our mother and father's world when it comes to health care. Along with that comes the ever “sometimes” worrisome changes in our health coverage to be able to make certain

that these procedures, medicines etc. are available to us.

With our country in a recession today, our government is looking for ways to control health care cost. This enviably involves changes in Medicare. The ever popular Medicare Advantage plans for example will no longer have an option of “Open Enrollment” in which one could opt to change out their current plan selection one chose at the end of 2010 to a new “like plan” change out. It has been replaced with an annual “disenrollment” period from Jan 1 until Feb. 14. During this time, one can disenroll in a Medicare Advantage plan and go back to original Medicare and a drug plan.

To add to this year of changes, the government also approved some signifi-

cant changes in the Medicare supplement plans available. Some new ones were added and some old ones were taken away.

This makes it even more important to obtain the best suited plan available for the upcoming year. There have also been new rules as far as plans having established providers networks, with some rural counties having an exception to this. It is interesting to see the changes from year to year. It is recommended that one should seek professional help and guidance to have a good understanding and be prepared for what the upcoming year brings. Even after all my years as a home health nurse and insurance broker, specializing in this area, it can still be a challenge for me and a continual learning process.

It’s time for you to talk with a Professional about your Health Care & Wellness Coverage Protection!

“Offering a Full Line of Coverages for Your Unique Needs” We offer assistance with: Sheridan & Associates

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Rhonda Sheridan, RN, BSN, CLTC Licensed Independent Insurance Agent COVERING: MEDICARE ADVANTAGE, MEDICARE PART D, MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTAL, LONG TERM CARE PAGE 8 • DECEMBER 19, 2010 • SILVER SENIORS • THE CITIZEN

AND

MUCH MORE!