2 • Morning Journal Prime Time • Friday, February 14, 2014

(Family Features) There are important realities every American must knowabout long-term care. Long-term care is more expensive than most people think.And, most importantly, the cost of care is usually paid for out of savings andincome.

About 70 percent of people turning 65 can expect to need some kind of long-term care as they age. A number of public programs, including Medicare and Med-icaid, may help pay for some long-term care services under certain circumstances.

However, each program has specific rules about what services are covered, howlong you can receive benefits, whether or not you qualify for benefits, and howmuch you have to pay in out-of-pocket costs. To accurately plan for your long-termcare needs, it is very important to know the facts about what may or may not becovered.

Medicare focuses on acute care costsMedicare covers medically necessary care and focuses on medical acute care,

such as doctor visits, drugs and hospital stays. If very specific conditions are met,Medicare will help pay for all or a portion of a short stay in a skilled nursing facility,hospice care or home health care. Medicare does not cover custodial long-termcare services.

Medicaid only available if income and assets are low enoughMedicaid is a joint federal and state government program that helps people with

low income and assets pay for some or all of their health care bills. It covers med-ical care, long-term care services in nursing homes and long-term care servicesprovided at home.

Rules about who is eligible for Medicaid benefits and what services are coveredare based on federal requirements, but states have considerable leeway in howthey operate their programs.

Paying out-of-pocket for careIf you have enough income and savings, you will need to pay for long-term care

services on your own, from your incomes, savings and, possibly, the equity in yourhome.

Many people believe wrongly the medical insurance or disability insurance theycurrently have will pay for all or much of their long-term care.

In general, health insurance covers only very limited and specific types of long-term care. Disability policies serve to replace income and, as such, do not coverlong-term care at all.

Long-term care insurance is designed to cover long-term services and supports.Policies reimburse policyholders a daily amount (up to a pre-selected limit) forservices to assist them with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing oreating.

You can then select a range of care options and benefits that allow you to get theservices you need, where you need them. If you are in poor health or alreadyreceiving long-term care services, you may not qualify for long-term care insur-ance.

For more information about additional methods of paying for long-term care,including reverse mortgages, annuities and trusts, visit www.longtermcare.gov.

Or, for information on the cost of care in your area, visithttp://longtermcare.gov/costs-how-to-pay/costs-of-care-in-your-state/.

Paying for long-term health care

(NewsUSA) - Choosing the right health care plan can have a big impact on your quali-ty of life, especially if you're a senior or otherwise Medicare eligible.

With the 5-star Special Enrollment Period underway through November, now is thetime to consider whether your current plan provides the high-quality care and value of a

5-star Medicare health plan. To helpMedicare beneficiaries understand whyquality matters and what it means to theirhealth, Kaiser Permanente, which has themost 5-star plans nationwide for 2013, issharing information about a key area toconsider when evaluating a Medicare plan --preventive care.

"Medicare members should select aplan that is proactive in helping them stay

healthy and active as they age. They need to know if their plan does a good job prevent-ing them from getting sick through screenings, vaccines and tests," said Jed Weissberg,M.D., medical director, Kaiser Permanente Medicare plans. "They also need to knowhow well their plan manages chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, high cho-lesterol and diabetes." Kaiser Permanente scores well above the national average in pre-ventive screenings.

For example, only one in six traditional Medicare members -- 16 percent -- used a freepreventive service in 2011, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.By contrast, nearly 90 percent of eligible Kaiser Permanente Medicare membersreceived breast cancer screenings, and nearly 88 percent received colorectal cancerscreenings, as reported by the 2012 Health-care Effectiveness Data and InformationSet, commonly known as HEDIS. Ratingsmatter, because if CMS rates a Medicarehealth plan 5 out of 5 stars, beneficiariescan feel confident about choosing the high-est-quality plan available and join that planalmost any time of year.

Learn more about the Medicare StarQuality Ratings and Kaiser Permanente'sMedicare plans by visitingkp.org/medicare or by calling 1-855-817-5831.

Morning Journal Prime Time • Friday, February 14, 2014 • 3

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Talk to your doctor(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?

Well, while treating your issue, the medication may also cause a side effect that manyof us don't want to talk about... constipation. That's right, while your medication caneffectively manage your condition, it might also occasional-ly cause your bowels to "clog up." Constipation is really notthat unusual, so you don't have to feel embarrassed to talkabout it with your doctor or pharmacist.

According to Registered Pharmacist Jim Morelli, "Manypeople are unaware that their prescription, as well as someover-the-counter (OTC) drugs, can cause occasional consti-pation." The list of culprits include certain products fromclasses of medications such as analgesics, high blood pres-sure medications, and high-cholesterol drugs.

Occasional constipation can be uncomfortable, but thereshould be no shame in discussing this condition with yourhealth-care provider. It's important to talk to your doctorabout any side effects that you may experience while taking prescription or over-the-counter products. If you become constipated, try Senokot-S Tablets. Senokot-S Tabletscontain a natural vegetable laxative ingredient, plus a stool softener, to provide gentle,overnight relief from occasional constipation. Please read full product label before use.For more information, go to www.senokot.com.

Which plans providehighest-quality care?

4 • Morning Journal Prime Time • Friday, February 14, 2014

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(NAPS)—Many older adults have found benefit from the centuries-old Chinese mar-tial arts tai chi and qigong. “Chi” or “qi” (chee) means “life energy.” “Qigong” (chee-goong) literally means “life energy cultivation.” Tai chi consists of a series of flowingmovements while qigong focuses on the repetition of isolated movements and breath-ing.

For example, Robert Johnson, M.D., Kaiser Permanente chief of Palliative Care inWalnut Creek, Calif., has practiced tai chi and qigong since the 1970s. He believes thesemind-body exercises promote good health, flexibility, strength and balance, which helpreduce the risk of falling among seniors.

Each year, one out of three adults, age 65 and older, falls due to lack of balance or oth-er reasons. Consider that a record 11,000 baby boomers turn 65 and become Medicareeligible every day, and that can add up to a lot of falls and serious injuries.

“We spend most of our day in sedentary jobs. Many of us sit in front of a computer ortelevision for hours at a time,” Dr. Johnson said. “To age well, we need to move, stretchand keep our joints lubricated and flexible. Otherwise, our muscles, joints and tendonsbecome stiff and brittle, and that can lead to falls and disabilities.”

Dr. Johnson recommends moving the joints in a circular motion. For example, placethe hands on the knees and rotate the knees together in a clockwise and then counter-clockwise motion. Also, try sitting in a squat position and stand up slowly to strengthenthe quadriceps.

At share.kaiserpermanente.org /article/how-strong-is-your-chi/ you can see a shortvideo in which Dr. Johnson demonstrates a few basic exercises and explains why they’rehelpful.

Along with doing exercises thatpromote flexibility, seniors can alsohelp prevent falls and serious injuriesby taking a few simple precautions athome:

Make Your Home Safe• Reduce tripping hazards such as

throw rugs, raised doorway thresh-olds, or loose carpet.

• Keep paths clear of electricalcords and clutter.

• Add grab bars where neces-sary—in hallways, stairways and bath-tubs.

• Add a rubber bath mat in the shower or tub.• Improve lighting throughout the house and use night-lights in hallways and bath-

rooms. • Keep a phone and flashlight by the bed.

Kaiser Permanente offers tai chi and qigong classes at several of its medical facilities.Visit www.kp.org to find classes in your area and learn more about other exercises forstrength and balance as well as preventing falls. You can also check out www.kp.org/carestories for more health-related videos. For questions and advice about a specific con-dition or starting a new exercise regimen, consult with your physician.

Dr. Robert Johnson says traditional Chinese exercises can improve flexibility,strength and balance.

Preventing slips, trips and falls with Chi

Morning Journal Prime Time • Friday, February 14, 2014 • 5

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(NAPS)—A new generation is getting involved withgyms and fitness programs in record numbers—the babyboomer generation. The 78 million Americans who makeup this generation are savvier and better versed in fitnessthan any other aging generation seen before as exercisehas been more ingrained in their culture and daily rou-tines.

Healthways and the SilverSneakers® Fitness Programrecognize that baby boomers’ reasons and motivations forgetting fit are as varied as their workout interests. Fromtennis and yoga to hiking and dance, exercise offersmany benefits for older adults, including reducing andminimizing the signs, symptoms and risk factors forchronic diseases and conditions like arthritis, obesity anddiabetes. Additionally, exercise can help fight depressionand improve energy, balance and strength.

SilverSneakers, the nation’s leading exercise programdesigned exclusively for older adults, knows there is noone-size-fits-all solution for anyone, and trying to fit exer-cise into a busy schedule can be hard.

SilverSneakers offers these workout tips for babyboomers to ensure they enjoy and stick with their work-out routine.

Exercise with a friend. Healthways research hasshown that 80 percent of baby boomers prefer to exercisewith friends or a group they feel comfortable with. Thisgives people motivation and accountability while makingthe activity more enjoyable.

Select an exercise that you enjoy. Not surprisingly,you’re much more likely to stick to activities you enjoyand that fit into your schedule. Think back to activitiesyou did when you were younger and try different types ofexercise to find what works best for you. SilverSneakersoffers a variety of classes to suit each person’s needs.

Do a mix of cardio and strength training. Don’t justfocus on one or the other; do a mix of both to increasestrength, endurance and flexibility.

Healthways is incorporating baby boomers’ needs andwants into its menu of fitness programs with the newFLEX program. FLEX is a community-oriented programconsisting of instructor-led fitness activities at churches,

community centers and parks. Classes are designed tocreate a sense of community beyond the gym, with flexi-ble and fun options that keep participants engaged andactive.

For more information, to see if you are eligible for Sil-verSneakers and FLEX, and to find a class in your area,visit www.Silver Sneakers.com.

• Joy Powell is president of the Fitness Market forHealthways. She oversees a variety of fitness programs,including the award-winning SilverSneakers® FitnessProgram, the nation’s leading exercise program designedspecifically for older adults.

How Baby Boomers get fit

6 • Morning Journal Prime Time • Friday, February 14, 2014

For people with diabetes, taking a multivitamin every day can mean much more thana little protection against the common cold. Research is finding that multivitamins can bethe first line of defense against many different types of infections, including respiratoryinfections and influenza.

"Once a person with diabetes gets an infection, it's much harder for them to get rid ofit, and it can lead to dire consequences, even death," says Registered and Certified Dieti-tian-Nutritionist Debra Spector. "And since some diabetic patients don't normallyrespond well to treatment, prevention is key."

Taking a special diabetes multivitamin -- usually found in the diabetes section of adrugstore, not the vitamin section -- allows a diabetic person to be proactive with theirhealth, and avoid nutrient deficiencies that can lead to problems.

The year-long study among 130 patients, published in the Annals of Internal Medi-cine, found that the incidence of infection was much lower among diabetics who took amultivitamin versus those who did not.

Infection occurred in only 17 percent of diabetic patients who took a multivitaminversus the 93 percent who took a placebo. The study also found that regular multivita-min 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 experiencenutrient deficiencies. Diabetes medications and frequent urination can lead to the loss ofvital nutrients that protect the body. "Since there are many health risks that can resultfrom vitamin and mineral deficiencies, I encourage my diabetic patients to find a multivit-amin 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 Multi-Vitamin since it has 23important nutrients, including ALA, designed to help maintain healthy blood sugar lev-els, support vision and promote nerve function." Learn more about Multi-betic and otherdiabetic products at www.diabeticproducts.com.

Take your multivitamin to control diabetes

Morning Journal Prime Time • Friday, February 14, 2014 • 7

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I would just like to share my experience with wearing hearing aids. My name is Eric Everson and I’m 37. I never thought I would need hearing aids at my age. But I noticed my wife had to repeat things and tell me to turn the TV down and I couldn’t talk on the phone because I would misinterpret things. That’s when I said enough is enough and set up an appointment at Hearing Aids and Devices in Salem, Ohio. She gave me a thorough hearin g test and walked me through each step of the way and was very helpful in answering all my questions.

There is nothing to be ashamed of young or old about wearing hearing aids. I thought hearing aids w ere big and bulky but with today’s technology they’re small and very comfortable to wear. I’ve been hearing thi ngs I have never been able to hear before. I don’t have to turn the TV up so loud, I can hear talking on the phone, and my wife doesn’t need to repeat things as much anymore. These hearing aids have made m y life so much more enjoyable.

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(NAPS)—There is good news for adults who are about toretire. There is a new Web-based talk show designed to givethem fresh perspectives on aging and creative ways to approachtheir lives in retirement.

In partnership with Lutheran Social Services of New York, theAmmerman Center for Creative Aging has launched an initiativecalled “Ignite Your LIFE.”

The mission of this initiative is to serve, educate, support anden gage individuals and the wider community in celebrating theaging process.

The initiative’s “Ignite Your Life Talk Show” is streaming livefrom Valparaiso University on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 at 1p.m. Central Time.

With the help of the University and Thrivent Financial forLutherans’ sponsorship, the show will highlight newly developedresearch related to aging, and en gage and inspire participants byredefining what it means to be 50 and beyond.

To learn more, visit www. igniteyourlife.info.

Online talk show explores retirement

8 • Morning Journal Prime Time • Friday, February 14, 2014

(NAPS)—An increasing number of people have discovered a way to tell their familiesand friends how much they care for them—even when they’re not able to actually say so.

That’s because these folks have found an ingenious new service that lets you createnotes for the most important people in your life and then, once you pass away, each per-son receives the letter you left.

You can say anything, how much you love them, how proud you are of them, a pieceof advice, or just something you never got around to saying. Your note can become a pre-cious keepsake, handed down for generations.

How It Works Once you sign up, you simply write your notes and choose up to three “verifiers,”

trustworthy individuals who will notify the service if anything unfortunate happens toyou. Then, Heart Writing sends your notes by mail or e-mail.

Anyone can join, absolutely free, with a 14-day trial membership atwww.HeartWriting.com.

Learn More Find further facts, inspiration and ideas online at www.Heart Writing.com.

A message from the heart

Morning Journal Prime Time • Friday, February 14, 2014 • 9

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As America Grays, Arthritis Sufferers Turn to Chiropractors for Relief (NewsUSA) -Not only is America increasingly growing gray, it also turns out it's anxious for alterna-tive forms of health care for arthritis -- and many now seem to be finding it in chiroprac-tic care.

The usual approach to arthritis commonly involves over-the-counter and prescriptionmedications that can have serious adverse effects. But a recent article in the respectedjournal "Medscape Rheumatology," titled "CAM for Arthritis: Is There a Role?" -- "CAM"being short for "complementary and alternative medicine" -- confirmed the steadygrowth in chiropractors' popularity among the nation's nearly 50 million arthritis suffer-ers.

"There's little question in my mind that chiropractic works especially for acute mus-culoskeletal pain," wrote Dr. Nathan Wei, M.D. That view is certainly shared by the not-for-profit Foundation for Chiropractic Progress' Gerard Clum, D.C., who has longagreed with Dr. Wei's assertion that chiropractors are "in many cases more knowledge-able about the musculoskeletal anatomy than most other rheumatologists" because oftheir education and experience with managing musculoskeletal conditions.

"The evidence-based, hands-on care provided by a doctor of chiropractic," says Dr.Clum, "helps to significantly relieve symptoms such as joint pain and swelling, andimprove range of motion, endurance and muscle tone and strength. And patient satisfac-tion is high as many arthritis sufferers are looking for ways to stay active and avoid pre-scription medication." Experts say anyone with arthritis should examine all options. Tolearn more, visit www.yes2chiropractic.org.

Arthritis sufferers turn to chiropractors

10 • Morning Journal Prime Time • Friday, February 14, 2014

East Liverpool City Hospital opened its Senior Behavioral Health Center on Thurs-day, December 19th. Located within the hospital, the 14 bed inpatient unit will helppatients 55 and older overcome severe depression, anxiety, grief, emotional instability,chemical imbalances and other psychological disorders.

This new service helps people within the community shorten the length of a lovedone's painful experience by enabling them to heal through proven medical and psycho-logical methods.

A psychiatrist, social workers, nurses and milieu specialists are teamed together topromote the best care possible by treating mental, physical and social impediments. Theprogram enables afflicted individuals to regain their confidence and independence.

An open house was held on Wednesday, December 18th for people from local healthcare agencies. They were on-hand to observe River Valley Health Partners $1 milliondollar investment into the facilities. The newly renovated floor will offer patients com-mon rooms for dinner and activities and quiet rooms for reading and contemplation.

The updated area fosters a healing atmosphere that can accommodate people project-ing varying degrees of emotion. The amenities are peaceful, and patients can benefitfrom receiving the services only a community hospital can offer; access to physicians,lab work, prayer and visitation with pastoral care, and medication from the hospital phar-

macy. River Valley Health Partners Senior Behavioral Health Center provides the bestoption for treating your family members. The service provides support close to home sothat you can participate in family and group therapies.

The objective of the service is to provide long term improvements to the patient'squality of life by significantly reducing or eliminating the effect of mental and behavioralconditions.

For any questions you may have on behavioral health, please contact the unit directlyat 330-386-3590.

River Valley Health Partners is a health system that comprises the East LiverpoolCity Hospital, River Valley Physicians, The Therapy Center in Calcutta, The TherapyCenter II in Lisbon, and Ohio Valley Home Health Services. River Valley Health Part-ners health system accelerates your diagnosis, care, and recovery through seamlesscommunication.

The organization serves residents of Columbiana County Ohio and surroundingcommunities in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Contact us at 330-385-7200 or visitthe website at www.elch.org

ELCH brings new health service to community

Morning Journal Prime Time • Friday, February 14, 2014 • 11

12 • Morning Journal Prime Time • Friday, February 14, 2014

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