2 •
Morning Journal Prime Time •
Fall Edition • Sunday, October 27, 2013
Morning Journal Prime Time •
Fall Edition • Sunday, October 27, 2013 • 3
Planning ahead for retirement (NAPS)—If you or someone you love is among the 13 percent of Americans over 65—or soon will be—there are a number of things that may pay to know when it comes to retirement planning. What You Should Know According to the U.S. Census Bureau, persons reaching age 65 have an average life expectancy of an additional 18.6 years, meaning retirement could last for decades. To make the most of your retirement years, careful and strategic planning is critical.
There will be many decisions to make, including whether you need to make lifestyle changes, whether you want to continue working, what goals and priorities you have, sources of income and benefits, and how you want to spend your time. Often times, it can be helpful to consult with a financial services professional to make these decisions—and maybe, the place that you work. 6 Decisions to Consider Financial professionals say it’s important for your financial plan to include products that provide lifetime income. Six key planning elements to think about before retiring include: 1. Decide how you want to structure your retirement savings. If you are married you may wish to consolidate accounts, while others will choose to keep accounts separate.
2. Communicate openly with your significant other and talk through your financial differences. Set goals and spending budgets so you are in agreement about how to spend during retirement.
3. Learn about your pension and what rules apply to your pension and retirement savings. 4. Establish a Social Security game plan. Work through the numbers and decide if it’s more beneficial to draw those benefits through your spouse’s working years or your own. 5. Consider age when purchasing financial protection products. Is one spouse significantly older? 6. Seek legal counsel about all your estate planning options. Wills, living wills, trusts and powers of attorney are all legal means of ensuring your wishes are carried out. It is also important to update all these documents any time there is a change in your marital status or family structure. Helpful Resources An easy, but often overlooked resource in retirement planning is your current employer and the resources it offers. Through the workplace, many Americans can take advantage of a program that provides an opportunity for personalized guidance.
For example, one St. Louis woman never knew she’d be an entrepreneur in retirement until she participated in an employer-offered program, and met Todd Gentry, CFP, ChFc, CAP, a Financial Services Representative and Special Needs Planner. Through the retirewiseSM program, a MetLife-driven comprehensive educational program offered to individuals in the workplace, Gentry was able to assist this woman facing early retirement reach unexpected success.
EELLS-LEGGETT-STAUFFER FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICE “Caring for our community since 1828”
Chip Stauffer Funeral Director
Dedicated to providing affordable and personalized funeral and cremation services. Convenient payment options and Prearrangement services available.
Available 24 hours at 330-424-5500 • 215 West Lincoln Way • Lisbon, Ohio
The more you know about yourself and your finances before you retire, the better off you may be afterward.
Tim Essman, a Financial Services Representative with Wealth Strategies Group in San Diego, helped another woman who had worked for 35 years achieve her dream of visiting her Italian relatives, which included the purchase of a condo in Italy. “Programs like retirewise encourage individuals to think about their retirement and provide tools and resources to help them reach success,” says Jeff Tulloch, vice president at MetLife. “At the conclusion of our program, for example, participants and their spouses have the opportunity for a complimentary face-to-face con-
sultation with a specially trained representative to take the training to the next level and move toward execution. It can be extremely helpful to ask your employer or HR representative if they offer such a program.” Overall, it’s a good idea to first envision what you want your retirement to look like and then work with an advisor to see that vision come to life. He or she can help you articulate the retirement you want and help you finance and plan based on current and future financial planning trends.
Visit our friendly independent neighborhood store for continued down home service and competitive prices. Also, stop in and check out our Gift Shoppe.
J. H. LEASE LEASEDRUG DRUGCO. CO. Reliable Prescription Service Since 1919
Still Serving the Nicest People 229 N. Ellsworth Ave. • Salem, Ohio Monday-Friday: 8:30-7:00; Saturday: 8:30-1:00; Sunday: 10:00-1:00
330-337-8727
4 •
Morning Journal Prime Time •
Fall Edition • Sunday, October 27, 2013
New tools for families with Alzheimer’s (NAPS)—There’s helpful news for those caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease.
for addressing the issue right now and preventing it in the future.
Thanks to the most experienced provider of in-home care for seniors, free resources are now available to help families cope with the common challenging behaviors associated with Alzheimer’s.
“Alzheimer’s impacts not only the 5 million Americans with the disease, but also the handful of people that provide care and support for that person,” said Home Instead President Jeff Huber. “We want to replace fear with a sense of confidence that they are equipped to handle any situation.”
The Home Instead Senior Care network is offering free Confidence to Care at Home kits. Available on www.helpforalzheimers families.com or from a local Home Instead office, the kit is an at-a-glance collection of information, tips and resources to help handle difficult situations, avoid household accidents, encourage engagement and prevent caregiver stress. It’s designed for any member of the household to reference, anytime it’s needed. In addition, the company has developed a free, downloadable smartphone app that families can use to search behaviors and help find solutions when they have to quickly react. Called Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias Daily Helper, the app is designed to help families manage issues as they arise, whether at home or in public. For example, if a smartphone user types in “wandering,” the app will provide a list of tips
24 Hour Paramedic Service
MAPLE COTTON
AMBULANCE SERVICE, INC. 11009 STATE ROUTE 644 • KENSINGTON, OHIO
330-223-1712 • 1-800-791-7182 Call us directly. We offer 24 hour service.
For more information about Home Instead’s free Alzheimer’s and dementia suppor t resources, visit www.helpforalzheimersfami lies.com.
A free smartphone app has been developed to help families find solutions when they are caring for a family member with Alzheimer’s disease.
A heritage of understanding...
Curtis Cotton learned at a very young age the importance of dignity for all families. Left: Howard Cope, Deceased and Right: Curtis Cotton, Funeral Director
MAPLE COTTON FUNERAL HOME
11009 STATE ROUTE 644 • KENSINGTON, OHIO
330-223-1712 • 1-800-791-7182 Call us directly. We offer 24 hour service.
Morning Journal Prime Time •
Fall Edition • Sunday, October 27, 2013 • 5
Understanding the Affordable Care Act regard to the new health law.
(NAPS)—As the Affordable Care Act is set to be fully implemented, there is still much confusion about how the law will affect you and your family. Here are 10 things to know about the health care law’s protections and benefits, cour tesy of AARP: 1. Health insurance companies can no longer drop your health coverage if you become sick or disabled.
9. The “doughnut hole” is going away and the improved coverage means your out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs will be lower if you have Medicare Part D. If you have high drug costs and reach the doughnut hole this year, you will get a 52.5 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs and a 21 percent discount on generic prescription drugs.
2. Insurance companies cannot discriminate against you because of your health conditions or gender. That means health insurance companies can no longer charge you more simply because of your health status or gender.
Visit the Doughnut Hole Calculator at www.aarp.org/doughnuthole to learn more about when you might reach the doughnut hole and potential medication options that may reduce your costs or help you avoid the coverage gap entirely.
3. Insurers cannot deny health insurance to anyone under age 19 because of a pre-existing condition, such as cancer, diabetes or heart disease. In 2014, Americans of all ages will be afforded this protection.
10. There’s help to pay for insurance coverage. If your job does not offer health coverage and you have a limited income, you may be able to get financial help to pay for insurance coverage purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
4. The health care law stops insurance companies from limiting lifetime coverage for essential health benefits. In 2014, this applies to yearly limits, too. 5. Preventing illness with the right immunizations and screenings will be simpler and less expensive. Most insurance plans, including Medicare, now must cover preventive benefits such as immunizations and screenings for diabetes and certain cancers. Be sure to check with your insurance plan about what preventive ser vices are covered with no out-of-pocket cost to you. 6. If you are uninsured, finding affordable health coverage is now easier, as it can be purchased via your state’s Health Insurance Marketplaces. It’s like an online
If you are a small-business owner, you will have more insurance choices and opportunities to qualify for tax credits. Starting on January 1, 2014, insurance companies cannot discriminate against you because of your health conditions or gender.
shopping mall. You’ll be able to compare the benefits and costs of health plans side by side and pick the plan that works best for you and your family. For more information on your Health Insurance Marketplace opening October 2013, visit www.HealthLawAnswers.org. 7. Your children can stay on your family policy up to age 26, even if they don’t live
with you or are married. 8. You can sleep well knowing that your guaranteed Medicare benefits are safe. The Affordable Care Act strengthens Medicare, and your guaranteed Medicare benefits are protected, including doctor and hospital visits and rehabilitation services. If you have Medicare, there aren’t any other steps you need to take with
To learn more about how the law affects you and your loved ones, visit www.HealthLawAnswers.org in English, www.MiLeydeSalud.org in Spanish or call 1-888-702-9345 for more information.
W H ISPER IN G P IN ES V IL L A G E ASSISTED & INDEPENDENT LIVING
“Comfort and Security You Can Count On”
937 Park Ave. • Columbiana, Ohio • 330-482-9400 www.whisperingpinesvillage.com
6 •
Morning Journal Prime Time •
Fall Edition • Sunday, October 27, 2013
Staying in your home as long as possible (Family Features) Most people prefer to stay in their home or apartment for as long as possible. The best way to make this a reality is to plan ahead of time to make the amenities in your home as safe and accessible as possible. It can be hard to imagine that tasks around the house that were once done with ease can one day pose a challenge. Anticipating the challenge and planning accordingly may allow you to remain in your home for an extended period of time. Often, with some minor modifications, your home can be adapted to help you stay as long as possible even with some loss of mobility. Home Modifications Living at home longer may mean renovating a home to make it more accessible. This can include such things as installing ramps to bypass stairs, building a bedroom on the main floor, placing grab bars in the shower, changing the height of kitchen countertops or making a bathroom safer and more accessible.
Before you make home modifications, you should evaluate your current and future needs by going through your home room by room and answering a series of questions to highlight where changes might be made. Several checklists are available to help you conduct this review. The National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modifications is a good place to star t. Go to the center’s website at http://www.homemods.org and click on the link to the “Safety Checklist and Assessment Instrument.” Getting Help Keeping a house running smoothly requires a lot of hard work. If you are no longer
Let our experienced and compassionate staff care for you in the privacy and comfort of your own home. We’ve been helping people just like you since 1919.
• Skilled Nursing • Infusion Therapy • Rehab Therapies • Lab Services • 24 Hour Services • JCAHO Accredited • Diabetes Education • Maternal & Child Health • Certified Home Health Aides
330-332-9986 or 800-879-6070 Medicare/Medicaid certified 718 E. Third St., Suite A • Salem
For Your Private Duty Needs...
• Nurses • Home Health Aides • Homemakers • Companions • Private Duty Care & Passport Waiver 1-24 Hours • 7 Days A Week BWC and Veterans Provider
330-337-HOME • 330-337-4663 718 E. Third St., Suite C • Salem
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
able to keep up with the demands, you may need to hire someone to do laundry, buy groceries, run errands, clean the house or perform any necessary repairs. Those who are unable to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), such as getting in and out of bed, walking, bathing, dressing, and eating, can often continue to stay at home with outside help. There are a number of services that can be brought in to assist with ADLs and other personal care. You can hire someone, such as a personal care aide or home health aide, to help you out a few hours a day or around the clock. Some health care services can be provided at home by trained professionals, such as occupational therapists, social workers or home health nurses. Check with your insurance or health service to see what kind of coverage is available, although you may have to cover some of these costs out of pocket. If very specific conditions are met, Medicare will help pay for all or a portion of home health care. Transportation Declining health often causes a decline in independence and mobility. Many seniors lose the ability to drive or simply feel uncomfortable behind the wheel at night. Investigate transportation options in your area so you can maintain an active social life, get medical care and shop for necessities.
You might find family members willing to take you to the grocery store, friends who will drive you to social events, nearby bus routes, reduced fare taxis or senior transportation services funded by a local not-for-profit. Staying in your home should not mean being cut off from community activities you enjoy. Finding new ways to get around, even after you are no longer driving, may allow you to stay engaged and active.
Morning Journal Prime Time •
Don’t be ashamed
Fall Edition • Sunday, October 27, 2013 • 7
(NewsUSA) - Do you or someone you know take a medication to alleviate a condition like chronic pain, or perhaps to treat high cholesterol or high blood pressure? The medication may also cause a side effect that many of us don't want to talk about... constipation.
Helping others
Photo by Simon Bruty
AARP’s Tax-Aide program, a muchneeded service for older Americans that’s free, individualized and has no strings attached needs your help.
(NAPS)—You can help yourself to good feelings and others to what they need and deserve by giving some time to the nation’s largest volunteer-run tax preparation and assistance service. Almost four out of five people who turn to this AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program are 60 or older. For many of them, a tax refund could mean they won’t have to choose between paying for groceries and keeping the lights on. You don’t have to be a tax professional. Volunteers get free training on the latest tax preparation forms and software. The program also needs coordinators, greeters, administrative volunteers, leaders, and people who are bilingual and can assist with translation. For more information, visit www.aarp.org/taxvolunteer.
That's right, while your medication can effectively manage your condition, it might also “clog you up.” The list of culprits include certain products from classes of medications such as analgesics, high blood pressure medications, and high-cholesterol drugs. Occasional constipation can be uncomfortable, but there should
be no shame in discussing this condition with your health-care provider. If you become constipated, try Senokot-S Tablets. Senokot-S Tablets contain a natural vegetable laxative ingredient, plus a stool softener, to provide gentle, overnight relief from occasional constipation. Please read full product label before use.
8 •
Morning Journal Prime Time •
Fall Edition • Sunday, October 27, 2013
Making long-term health care plans (Family Features) The best time to make decisions regarding long-term care is well before it’s needed. An unexpected illness or injury may force you or a loved one into making hasty decisions. Long-term care is a set of services and supports for people who are unable to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). ADLs are self-care activities, such as getting in and out of bed, walking, bathing, dressing, eating, and bowel and bladder management. About 70 percent of people turning 65 can expect to need some kind of long-term care services as they age. Experts encourage everyone over age 50 to take the time, while you have it, to research options and make important choices. Long-term care planning means developing a personal strategy now for how things should be handled later when you or a loved one is in need of care. Important considerations include the following: Staying In Charge An important part of long-term care planning is outlining how you would like things to be handled. Expressing preferences clearly about how any declines in ADLs should be handled, what financial resources are available, and who should provide needed care is a good way to retain control. All adults over age 18 should execute legal documents that appoint one or more individuals to make health care and financial decisions for them in the event they become unable to make decisions for themselves. Adults who lose the ability to make decisions before executing these documents must have the court system appoint someone to make decisions for them. An attorney can also prepare an advance care directive, which is a set of written instructions detailing what medical care you want or do not want.
Our Family Is Here for Yours
The passing of a loved one is a painful experience. As a family-run business for generations, we understand the need for services which preserve the memory and dignity of your loved one. As a full-service funeral home, we can help ease your burden by making the necessary arrangements and assisting you in making tough emotional choices in a caring, professional manner. Our goal is to make your family’s transition easier in your time of need. Prearrangem entavailable •Crem ation Services
WEBER
FUNERAL HOME 3 40 E. Lincoln Way Lisbon, Ohi o
330-424-7011 www.weberfh.com
Housing Those who would prefer to stay at home for as long as possible should make a plan to do so, and consider making modifications as needed. Home modifications are often intended to allow maximum self-care, and to help avoid a fall. Avoiding a fall can help delay or avoid the need for long-term care. Typical modifications include widening doorways, adding wheelchair ramps, improving lighting, mounting stair way chair lifts, installing medical alert systems and adding handrails or safety grips. An important consideration for anyone planning to stay home is to ensure the bathroom can be used safely. Ideally, your residence should maximize your ability to continue performing ADLs, and help you avoid a fall. Primary Care Maintaining a good relationship with a primar y care physician is key. Regular check-ups can lead to early diagnosis of any physical, mental or emotional decline. Be honest and open about symptoms, daily habits or changes in appetite. Be sure to have the primary care physician review all medications. Ongoing medication management is an important part of staying healthy and avoiding a fall.
Family Care Unpaid family members are the most common source of long-term care help. But, they may not be able to provide all the care you need, or be there every hour of the day. If you intend to rely on family members for long-term care services be sure to involve them in your long-term care planning. Make sure they are willing and able to be caregivers for you. Paid Care As part of your long-term care plan, look into caregiving services in your area, including in-home care providers and elder daycare centers. Find out about elder shuttles, meals on wheels and other low-cost services offered in your community. Several types of housing come with support services for people who cannot fully take care of themselves due to aging and/or disability.
-Public housing is available for low-to-moderate income elderly and persons with disabilities. -Assisted living homes are group living settings that offer housing in addition to assistance with ADLs and other services, such as meals. Generally, they do not provide medical care. -Continuing care retirement communities provide a range of housing options, including independent living units, assisted living and nursing homes, all on the same campus. -Nursing facilities, or nursing homes, are the most service-intensive housing option, providing skilled nursing services and therapies as needed. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the different types of facilities available in your area. Ask family and friends for any recommendations they may have and take advantage of information available on the Internet. Visit www.longtermcare.gov to find out more information about each type of facility and costs associated with long-term care. Your local Area Agency on Aging office also offers a list of resources available to the elderly in your area. Having your long-term care plan squared away and clear, so there are no misunderstandings or second-guessing, can be the greatest gift you can give to your loved ones, and yourself. For more information, visit www.longtermcare.gov.Source: Administration for Community Living
Morning Journal Prime Time •
Fall Edition • Sunday, October 27, 2013 • 9
Take your multi-vitamin to control diabetes (NewsUSA) - For people with diabetes, taking a multivitamin every day can mean much more than a little protection against the common cold. Research is finding that multivitamins can be the first line of defense against many different types of infections, including respiratory infections and influenza. “Once a person with diabetes gets an infection, it’s much harder for them to get rid of it, and it can lead to dire consequences, even death,” says Registered and Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist Debra Spector. “And since some diabetic patients don’t normally respond well to treatment, prevention is key.” Taking a special diabetes multivitamin — usually found in the diabetes section of a drugstore, not the vitamin section — allows a diabetic person to be proactive with their health, and avoid nutrient deficiencies that can lead to problems. The year-long study among 130 patients, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that the incidence of infection was much lower among diabetics who took a multivitamin versus those who did not. Infection occurred in only 17 percent of diabetic patients who took a multivitamin versus the 93 percent who took a placebo. The study also found that regular multivitamin usage reduced the rate of minor urinary tract and gastrointestinal infections in peo-
ple with diabetes. Because of the nature of the disease, it’s not uncommon for diabetics to experience nutrient deficiencies. Diabetes medications and frequent urination can lead to the loss of vital nutrients that protect the body. “Since there are many health risks that can result from vitamin and mineral deficiencies, I encourage my diabetic patients to find a multivitamin supplement with more potent levels of important nutrients to meet their needs,” says Spector. “It should contain Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), an important nutrient that most ‘regular’ multivitamins do not have. I like Multi-betic Diabetes MultiVitamin since it has 23 important nutrients, including ALA, designed to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels, support vision and promote nerve function.” Learn more about Multi-betic and other diabetic products at www.diabeticproducts.com.
10 •
Morning Journal Prime Time •
Fall Edition • Sunday, October 27, 2013
Important news for seniors with diabetes (NAPS)—Recently, the approximately 10.9 million American seniors on Medicare1 who live with diabetes were alerted to new changes that could impact access to their blood glucose testing supplies.
Visit these websites http://www.diabetes.org/advocate/our-priorities/health-care/medicaid-andmedicare.htm
Many people with diabetes use these supplies—including blood glucose meters and testing strips—to monitor their blood glucose (also known as “blood sugar”). Learning to use and maintain a blood glucose meter usually requires practice, and, over time, patients often become very comfortable with a particular meter. This is important, because consistent blood glucose monitoring is critical to help people with diabetes track blood glucose levels, identify the best approach to control their diabetes, and avoid the potentially serious complications of the disease.2
http://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/Living-with-Diabetes/Type-1-Diabetes/Managing-Type-1-Diabetes/Blood-Glucose-Monitoring
Medicare Changes The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently instituted a new program that reduces Medicare reimbursement for certain diabetes testing sup- plies, including blood glucose test strips, for people with diabetes.3 These changes could limit seniors’ access to their preferred diabetes testing supplies—those they’re comfortable using and that their doctors recommend. CMS may suggest that patients switch to unfamiliar products, causing confusion or frustration. Or worse, according to a survey by the American Association of Diabetes Educators,4 patients who can no longer access the products they’re comfortable using may test their blood glucose levels less frequently or stop testing altogether. This could potentially result in poor blood glucose control.
http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/Partnerships/Downloads/ DMEPOSBeneFactSheetNatMailOrderProgApril201311634.pdf http://www.diabeteseducator.org/export/sites/aade/_resources/Advocacy/AADE_ DME_SURVEY.pdf FreeStyle and related brand marks are trademarks of Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. in various jurisdictions. Precision and related brand marks are trademarks of the Abbott Group of Companies in various jurisdictions.
Finding Support A number of resources are available to help seniors with diabetes understand and manage the Medicare changes and make it easier for them to access their familiar supplies or, alternatively, find new products that are both appropriate for them and affordable. The American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org) provides comprehensive information and guidance regarding the changes. Many blood glucose testing suppliers provide free training and support services for seniors who either decide to switch products or want to continue using their familiar supplies.
To help seniors navigate through these changes, the global health care company Abbott has enhanced its FreeStyle Promise® diabetes support program to provide new resources and support services to Medicare patients. Seniors with diabetes, their doctors and caregivers can learn more about Abbott’s FreeStyle Promise program at http://www.freestylecoveredbymedicare.com and 1-855-578-2660. Medicare changes for blood glucose supplies need not cause seniors with diabetes to test their blood glucose less frequently or stop testing. Support services are available!
Nentwick Care Center is committed to providing the finest physical, medical, cognitive, recreational and spiritual care for our residents. Our genuine concern guides our endeavors to create an environment that provides dignity, respect and enriched quality of life for all of our residents. 500 Selfridge Street, East Liverpool, OH 43920 • Phone 330-385-5001 • Fax 330-385-5201
Columbiana County Office of Aging
M em o rial C raftsm en Fo r O ver 85 Years
• Adult Day Care: $40 Day *Free hot lunch w/Day Care
Ac ro ss fro m th e Fairg ro unds in Lisbo n
*Free to Public/Seniors
330-424-7623 Carly Brock
• Matter of Bounce Classes Exercise For Seniors 785 E. State St. • Salem, OH
330-332-1163
Morning Journal Prime Time •
II N N VV II SS II BB LL EE
H H EE AA RR II N NG G
Fall Edition • Sunday, October 27, 2013 • 11
SS O O LL U U TT II O ON N SS
WHY CHOOSE US? WHY CHOOSE US? Modern Hearing Solutions dispenses quality, Modern Hearing Solutions dispenses quality, name brand hearing instruments at a fair name brand hearing instruments at a fair price. We are one of the largest providers in price. We are one of the largest providers in the area with 3 locations and over 26 years the area with 3 locations and over 26 years of experience. We are Canton and Akron’s of experience. We are Canton and Akron’s exclusive Lyric Hearing provider. exclusive Lyric Hearing provider.
July 28th 29th through through November August 9th, 2013 October 8th, 2013
www.modernhearing.net www.modernhearing.net
12 •
Morning Journal Prime Time •
Fall Edition • Sunday, October 27, 2013