Guide to senior living 021717

Guide to

SENIOR LIVING

A Blank Slate Media/Litmor Publications Special Section • February 17, 2017

34 SENIOR LIVING • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 17, 2017 ADVERTORIAL

Grace Plaza Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Offers Alzheimer Caregivers Support Group Great Neck, NY 11021 - In collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center (ADRC), Grace Plaza is proud to begin offering an Alzheimer Caregivers Support Group. These meetings, which are open to the community, consist of families, caregivers, friends and other interested individuals meeting to share feelings, experiences and information. It will offer an opportunity to give and receive mutual support and exchange coping skills with one another in matters of relating to people with dementia and their care.

Education, support, common experiences and friendship give people the strength to cope with the tragedy of Alzheimer’s disease. People learn from each other and most importantly

they learn they are not alone.

The meetings, will be held on the third Thursday of every month at 2:00pm at Grace Plaza, located at 15 St. Paul’s Place, Great Neck.

So whether this disease directly affects your family or you know of someone in this situation, this group is here to help..

Grace Plaza Nursing & Rehabilitation Center was established in 1972 as a 214-bed short & long term skilled nursing & rehabilitation center located in Great Neck, Long Island, New York.

Grace Plaza offers expertise care in the field of sub-acute rehabilitation, including geriatric care, rehabilitative care, respiratory therapy and medically complex care.

For more information about the services Grace Plaza offers, please call (516) 466-3001 or visit us on the web at www.graceplaza.com.

You Can’t See Glaucoma Coming…

But We Can.

Doctor available for glaucoma & cataract testing, exams, contact lens fittings, dry & red eyes. By appt. only.

MEDICARE ASSIGNMENTS ACCEPTED If you are over the age of 60, and it has been more than a year since your last eye exam, talk to us today about your vision care needs.

$

30 OFF

Any One Complete Pair of Prescription Eyeglasses At time of purchase. Not retroactive. $100 min. purchase. Cannot be combined w/any other offer or Union plans. W/coupon only. Exp. 3/31/17

70 OFF

$

Any Two Complete Pairs of Prescription Eyeglasses At time of purchase. Not retroactive. $100 min. purchase per pair.

Cannot be combined w/any other offer or Union plans.

W/coupon only. Exp. 3/31/17

OUR EXPERIENCE & QUALITY MAKE THE DIFFERENCE FULL-SERVICE, FAMILY OWNED OPTICAL CENTER SINCE 1982

Focal Point Optical

2016

FAMILY OPTICAL CENTER

GARDEN CITY PARK

COME IN FOR YOUR EYE EXAM.

MOST UNION PLANS & MEDICARE ASSIGNMENT ACCEPTED. 2453 Jericho Tpke.

(We Accept Eyemed) 516-746-3836 Visit Us At: www.focalpointgcp.com

ADVERTORIAL

How Can I Tell If I Have Glaucoma?

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye disease in which the optic nerve is damaged, causing permanent vision loss. Most commonly, the damage occurs when your eye’s internal fluid pressure rises too high.

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the U.S. What causes glaucoma?

The exact cause of glaucoma is not known. For some reason, the passages that normally allow fluid within your eye become clogged or blocked. Fluid within your eye builds up and increases pressure on the optic nerve. The nerve fibers and blood vessels in the optic nerve are easily damaged by this pressure, resulting in vision loss. An injury, infection or tumor in or around the eye can also cause the pressure to rise. People who have glaucoma with normal eye pressure likely have poor blood flow to the optic nerve.

Who gets glaucoma?

Glaucoma most frequently occurs in individuals over the age of 40. In some families, the disease is hereditary. It is estimated that over 2 million Americans have glaucoma, and this number is expected to rise as the U.S. population ages.

How is glaucoma harmful to vision?

The optic nerve, at the back of the eye,

carries visual information to the brain.

As the optic nerve fibers are damaged, the amount and quality of information sent to the brain decreases and a loss of vision occurs.

Will I go blind from glaucoma?

If diagnosed at an early stage, glaucoma can often be controlled with little or no further vision loss. If left untreated, first peripheral vision and then central vision will be affected, and blindness may result.

How Is glaucoma detected?

A comprehensive optometric examination will include tests for glaucoma. A simple, painless procedure called tonometry measures the internal pressure of your eye. Health of the optic nerve and your field of vision will be checked.

How is glaucoma treated?

Glaucoma is usually effectively treated with prescription eye drops and medicines that must be taken regularly.

Some cases require laser therapy or surgery.

Will my vision be restored after treatment?

No. But early detection and treatment can control glaucoma and reduce the chances of vision loss.

Focal Point Optical

2016

FAMILY OPTICAL CENTER

GARDEN CITY PARK 2453 Jericho Tpke.

(Between Herricks Rd & Marcus Ave) 516-746-3836

COME IN FOR YOUR EYE EXAM. MOST UNION PLANS & MEDICARE ASSIGNMENT ACCEPTED. (We Accept Eyemed)

Visit Us At: www.focalpointgcp.com

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 17, 2017 • SENIOR LIVING

Yearly eye exams can reveal more than just vision trouble

More evidence points to the importance of routine eye exams, not only to pinpoint potential conditions of the eye, but also to serve as windows to diseases that aect the entire body. Now more than ever it is essential to make and keep annual eye exams, as they can help to reveal the ďŹ rst signs of serious ailments.

Doctors from around the world say dozens of diseases — from certain cancers to arthritis to high blood pressure — can show symptoms in the eye. Under the watchful and knowing gaze of an eyecare professional, individuals can get early diagnosis and begin treatment promptly.

According to Dr. Roy Chuck, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and MonteďŹ ore Medical Center, there are many systemic diseases that can be seen in the eye. In addition to the conditions mentioned, jaundice can indicate liver disease while retinal detachment and bleeding in new blood vessels may indicate hypertension. By looking at the color of the cornea, some doctors can tell if a patient has elevated levels of cholesterol. Many people have had their eye doctors be the ďŹ rst healthcare professional to detect the presence of their diabetes.

If an ophthalmologist suspects an underlying medical condition, he or she will likely refer men and women to their primary care doctors for a more thorough examination.

Going to the eye doctor can do more than ensure your vision is sharp. It’s a life-saving decision for many people who have major health conditions diagnosed through the eyes.

ADVERTORIAL

39

HEALTH UPDATE FOR SENIORS A FREE COMMUNITY EDUCATION SEMINAR

HOW TO REDUCE YOUR “WHATTAGE�

ROY F. SULLIVAN, PHD

Roy Sullivan, PhD, Audiologist

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40 SENIOR LIVING • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, February 17, 2017 ADVERTORIAL

Rebounding from a late start to retirement savings

ible? Downsize cable packages or skip that costly cup of coffee on the way to work. Perhaps it’s time to look for a smaller, less expensive home or a compact car instead of an SUV. Any money saved now will benefit you when the time comes time to bid farewell to the workforce.

S

ome people do not have the ability to begin saving for retirement early on. Others may have brushed retirement savings aside for so long that they are now worried that it’s too late to begin socking away money for retirement.

While it’s best to start saving for retirement as early as possible, the good news is that it’s never too late to start planning for retirement. If your 40th birthday has long passed and you’re finally thinking ahead to retirement, consider these catch-up strategies.

• Research tax-advantageous retirement savings plans. A financial planner can point you in the right direction, or consult with your employer about employee programs. Deposit money into a 401(k) or 403(b) plan or another retirement vehicle. Jump on any opportunities when your employer matches invested funds.

Investigate an IRA and find out if there are any government incentives.

Depending on your age, you may be able to deposit more money into such accounts than other investors.

• Cut back on expenses. Cutting back on unnecessary expenses is a great way to save more money for retirement. Figure out where you can save some money you can then allocate to retirement savings. Maybe you can reduce insurance coverage on an older car or raise your deduct-

• Delay your retirement. Many people who retire find themselves bored and looking for ways to fill their time, and as a result more and more people are delaying their retirement, which also gives them more time to save for that day when they do call it quits. If you want to work less, discuss and negotiate a phased retirement with your bosses that allows you to stick with your employer but gradually work fewer hours until you retire completely. You may be able to work part-time for several years and retire when you’re most comfortable.

• Consider more aggressive funds.

Even if you are 50 you still have a few decades before retirement, which leaves lots of time to grow your retirement savings. But you may want to consider more aggressive funds that can help you catch up more quickly than less aggressive investments.

Just know that aggressive funds may also leave you susceptible to substantial losses.

• Don’t amass debt. If you’re saving for retirement but only paying minimum balances on your credit cards, then you’re not really saving. Pay down credit card debt before you begin to set aside money for retirement.

Delaying retirement planning may mean you have to work a little harder to build up a solid reserve. But by following some financial tips and persevering, you can still enjoy retirement with security.