Insuring Your Independence

Cancer Gene Linked to American Indians

2008-05-02T13:30:00.003-04:00

A genetic mutation that significantly increases the risk of colon, uterine and ovarian cancer was recently linked to American Indians by researchers. Previously, scientists had traced the American Founder Mutation, which can lead to Lynch syndrome, to a German couple who immigrated to the United States in 1727. About 32,000 Americans now carry the cancer-causing mutation, many of them in Kentucky and Ohio. "this is so prevalent in Ohio and Kentucky, it's terrible," said researcher Heather Hampel of Ohio State University.

In a study published in the journal Cancer Research, researchers from the Mayo Clinic, Creighton University and Ohio State University examined the history of 41 families in Kentucky, Ohio and Texas. Many families reported Cherokee heritage which led researchers to re-examine the German findings. More exact genetic research allowed them to trace the mutant gene to an American woman who generations later married into the German family. Despite aggressive testing, the mutation has not been found in Europe, seeming to validate the Indian origin supposition.

The mutation is easily detectable via a $300 genetic test. Knowing you are predisposed to these cancers, you and your doctors can be more vigilant in watching for cancer signs and more aggressive in treating cancer if it occurs. "Colon cancer is 100% preventable if you do colonoscopies early enough," Hampel said. Future research hopes to pin the mutant gene to a specific Indian tribe which could improve preventative measures.

Seniors Are Happier, More Content

2008-04-18T20:54:00.004-04:00

The older you are, the happier you are, says eye-opening new research about Americans' attitude toward life. "The good news is that with age comes happiness," said study author Yang Yang, a University of Chicago sociologist. "Life gets better in one's perception as one ages."

Older Americans have learned to be satisfied with what they have. They have more realistic expectations about life and have come to accept their achievements. Seniors realize "it's fine that I was a schoolteacher and not a Nobel prize winner," explained Duke University aging expert Linda George.

Between 1972 and 2004, Yang conducted periodic interviews with 28,000 people between the ages of 18 to 88. Although happiness seemed to soar and dip with the economy, at every stage in the study older Americans were happiest. About 33% of those surveyed said they were happy at age 88, compared to 24% of those 18 to 25. As people progressed through life, happiness appeared to increase about 5% with each decade. "Contentment as far as I'm concerned comes with old age," said study participant Ilse Siegler, 84, "because you accept things the way they are. You know that nothing is perfect."

DASH Diet Controls Heart Attack, Stroke

2008-04-16T16:20:00.003-04:00

A comprehensive study has proved that the DASH diet can save people from heart attack and stroke. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan was developed to lower blood pressure in people with hypertension (high blood pressure). The diet plan recommends eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat milk and plant-based protein over meat.

Researchers tracked 88,000 healthy women over a 25-year period to compare food choices with incidents of stroke and heart attack. Women who followed the DASH eating plan were 24% less likely to have a heart attack and 18% less likely to have a stroke than women who ate more typical American diets. The DASH diet has previously been shown to prevent high blood pressure and cholesterol, which can also lead to heart attacks.

After age 50, two in five American women will develop cardiovascular disease which can cause heart attacks and strokes. The DASH diet can protect you from heart attack an stroke. Click here to find out more about the DASH diet.

Health Tips in the News

2008-04-11T18:04:00.003-04:00

I've run across a bunch of little health tips lately and thought I'd share.

50 chocolate chips a day keeps the doctor away: Dark chocolate provides the highest antioxidant benefit of any food, including fruits and veggies. Pecans came in second with 14% less antioxidant punch. Red wine, a perennial favorite, was in the middle of the pack with 25% fewer antioxidants than dark chocolate. Antioxidants lower blood pressure, decrease diabetes risk, eliminate cancer-causing carcinogens, reduce the risk of blood clots, stabilize cholesterol levels and enhance cognitive function. Look for chocolate with a high percentage (70%+) of cocoa. (Bitter is better!) Recommended dose for maximum antioxidant benefit is 1.6 oz. or 50 dark chocolate chips. Now that's a diet plan I can get behind!
Prevent gum disease: Brush, floss, swish your mouth twice a day with anti-gingivitis mouthwash (Listerine or an equivalent generic) and eat at least 2 ounces of yogurt (or other dairy product) a day. A new study in Japan shows that insufficient calcium in the diet increases the risk of periodontal disease.
Lose weight to beat cancer: New research indicates a link between numerous types of cancer and excess pounds. Being overweight increases your risk for cancer of the colon, kidney, breast, esophagus, thyroid and a few others. Researchers suspect that extra fat cells may change hormone levels, increasing the risk of cell mutation. (Yes, you can eat dark chocolate and lose weight. Without all the sugar, dark chocolate has fewer calories than milk chocolate or semi-sweet. Just remember, quantity counts!)

It's Never Too Late to Get Healthy!

2008-04-09T23:56:00.002-04:00

It's never too late to improve your health with exercise and diet, even if your past lifestyle has been less than healthy. Even after age 65, simple lifestyle changes can bring significant health benefits, says a recent study by doctors at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. Eating a healthier diet and including exercise in your day can have a positive effect on many chronic diseases, including obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoporosis.

"I think this is an extremely important and positive message," said study leader Dr. Richard Rivlin, professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. "Many elderly people feel that it is too late for them to improve their health, but that is simply not true. When measures to combat chronic disease are started in one's 60s and 70s, there are still definite benefits. But older adults must realize that there is no quick fix. They must change their lifestyles."

Among the study's specific findings:

Lowering high blood pressure through improved diet and exercise can prevent 20% of coronary heart disease cases in men and 30% in women.
A low-calorie diet and regular exercise lower cancer risk by 50%.
Weight training helps prevent osteoporosis.
Calcium and vitamin D supplements slow bone loss and reduce risk of bone fracture.

Know Your Family's Health History

2008-04-04T23:35:00.002-04:00

Knowing your family's health history can help you preserve your own health, say medical experts. Creating a family health history can make you aware of shared risks for diseases or health conditions. Being aware of a family history of heart disease, cancer, diabetes or other chronic conditions can allow you to take preventive measures to lower your personal risk.

"Having a conversation about your family health history may help ensure a longer, healthier future together," said Acting U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Steven Galson. "By sharing information, loves ones can help each other learn about diseases for which they may be at risk, and take steps which may reduce their vulnerability to them."

Family health history is a powerful screening technique. It can pinpoint possible genetically inherited health risks. While more than 90% of Americans believe that sharing family health history is important, only one-third have actually attempted to gather and record their family's health information. The Surgeon General has created a free computer tool to help families create a health history. To access My Family Health Portrait, click here.

The website takes you through a series of easy steps that help you organize and report your family history. You can save the report to your personal computer, print it and share it with other family members. You can add to and revise the information as necessary. I recently created a family health history for my children. I urge everyone to create a family health history and share it with your family members.

Emotion Sharpens Our Sense of Smell

2008-04-02T23:15:00.004-04:00

Emotion can sharpen your sense of smell when something bad happens, say researchers at Northwestern University. Emotion and smell have long been linked. A scent can often trigger memories of an event or person. However, the Northwestern research shows that our awareness of odors and their association with an event increases significantly when the event evokes strong emotions.

Research subjects were asked to smell and identify sets of laboratory chemicals. In each set, two of the odors were identical, the third similar but slightly different. Subjects were able to pick out the dissimilar odor about one-third of the time. Subjects were then given a mild electric shock when they smelled only the odd chemical. When the test was repeated, they were able to identify the dissimilar odor 70% of the time.

MRI scans showed that the brain stored the scent in its main olfactory region, imprinting it and allowing for faster identification. In other words, the brain is able to sniff out threats. Researchers hope this will lead to a better understanding of post-traumatic stress syndrome disorders.

Heart Disease Often Undiagnosed in Women

2008-03-25T19:31:00.003-04:00

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States, claiming the lives of more women than men each year. More women die from cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes, than from all forms of cancer combined, according to the American Heart Association. This year, heart disease will take the lives of an estimated 490,000 women nationwide. More than half of the women who suffer a heart attack will never even suspect they had a heart problem, indicates research by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Too often heart disease goes undiagnosed when women visit their doctor. Women's symptoms are different from men's and are often mistaken for other health problems. Symptoms include breathing problems, unusual tiredness, anxiety, indigestion and trouble sleeping. The chest pain and numbness that send men racing to the emergency room don't occur when a woman's heart starts to struggle. Women can develop heart disease without exhibiting high blood pressure or high cholesterol. A family history of heart disease is far less indicative of a woman's risk of future heart problems than a man's. Without such obvious clues, women often don't realize they have a heart problem and ignore symptoms they contribute to other health issues until it's too late.

Researchers haven't figured out why men and women exhibit such different signs of heart failure. They suspect that in women heart disease develops more slowly and over a longer period of time. Diagnosis can be more difficult because women are apt to have other chronic health issues like diabetes which may have similar symptoms. By the time heart disease becomes evident it has progressed significantly.

Giving Makes Us Happy

2008-03-22T01:15:00.000-04:00

It's better to give than receive, the Bible tells us; and now scientists agree. People who do something for others or give to charities are happier than those who don't, says a report in this week's issue of Science magazine. Researchers at Harvard University and the University of British Columbia found that the way people spend their money affects their happiness.

What surprised lead researcher Elizabeth Dunn, assistant professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, was the magnitude of the affect and that how people spent their money was more important than how much money they had.

"This work suggests that even making small alterations in how we spend money on a daily basis can make a difference in happiness," Dunn said. "The message is, given what you have, how can you make little alterations to do something for others."

Study participants were asked to assign a "happiness quotient" to various personal spending items -- paying bills, buying gifts for themselves, buying gifts for others, giving to charity. The study found that personal spending like paying bills and buying things for yourself had no relation to happiness. However, giving to others "was associated with significantly greater happiness," Dunn said.

In another experiment, Canadian students were given envelopes containing between $5 and $20. Some were directed to spend the money on themselves; others, to buy a gift for someone. The amount of money spent had no impact on the students' feelings, but the opportunity to give a gift rather than buying something for themselves created significantly greater feelings of happiness. The people on "Oprah's Big Give" must be ecstatic!

How to Live to Be 100

2008-03-19T23:24:00.003-04:00

Americans are living longer than ever thanks to medical advances and healthier lifestyles. In 1900, life expectancy in America was only 47.3. It rose to 77.9 in 2005, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Today, if you can make it to 70, you've got a good chance of living to age 85; and a growing number of people are reaching the 100 mark. In 1990 the country boasted 37,306 centenarians. By 2000, that number increased to 50,454. Last year 84,331 Americans celebrated their 100th birthday. By 2050, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts that 1.1 million of us will be 100 or older. Better start stocking up on birthday candles and fire extinguishers!

So what's the secret? Jeanne Calment of Arles, France, who died in 1997 at age 122, advised, "Always keep your smile." Here are more tips for reaching 100:

Be positive. The Mayo Clinic says cheerful, optimistic people live 50% longer than sourpusses.
Learn to manage your stress.
Just say no. Don't do things that stress you out.
Dance and sing.
Get a pet.
Exercise your body. Aim for 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day.
Exercise your brain. Never stop learning.
Eat smart: more fruits and veggies, less red meat and fat.
Stay socially connected. Get out of the house and see people.
Quit smoking. Now.
Drink in moderation. A glass of red wine or ale a day reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Get or stay thin. Thin people live longer.
Limit sun exposure. Skin cancer can kill you.
Keep track of your medications and take them.
Find a good doctor and go for regular checkups.

Some Causes of Forgetfulness or Confusion

2008-03-13T13:55:00.002-04:00

Forgetfulness and confusion are not necessarily signs of aging or brain disease (see our March 5 post). The following are treatable causes:

Lack of alertness can be a side effect of medication or the interaction of several medications.
Dehydration diminishes blood volume and may reduce the oxygen supply to the brain.
Lack of certain nutritional elements - especially sodium and potassium - may affect the brain's functioning.
Infections, such as urinary tract infections, pneumonia or other treatable medical problems may lead to confusion.
Hearing or vision problems may affect what you learn and remember.
Depression or anxiety can result in decreased ability to concentrate and remember.
Retirement or less structured days may make your recollection of the day and its date less significant.
Lack of social involvement to help you "stay in touch" with what is going on in the world may leave you feeling "out of it" or confused about the date or day of the week.
Not paying attention to what you are doing, seeing or hearing may prevent events from being stored into memory.
Use of alcohol can affect mood, memory, speed or reactions.

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee!

2008-03-12T23:12:00.005-04:00

Spring may be coming, but I still need a cup of coffee to get myself going on these cold, gray mornings. Roughly 8 in 10 workers depend on caffeine to get themselves through the day, according to Workplace Media, a consulting firm that tracks the habits of American workers. Half rely on coffee for their daily jolt, the other half depend on caffeinated soft drinks.

"Caffeine wakes up the brain and gets the metabolism going," said Workplace Media VP Dan Wheeler. According to the National Coffee Association, 57% of Americans drink at least one cup of coffee every day; up from less than 50% four years ago. For the first time since 1980, coffee beat out soft drinks as America's beverage of choice. Driven by the popularity and success of Starbucks, coffee consumption is growing fastest among 18- to 39-year-olds.

"Americans have developed a taste for more inventive, upscale, premium-priced coffee products," noted market-research firm Mintel. Demand -- and big bucks -- have sharpened competition. Everyone from McDonald's to Dairy Queen is concocting specialty coffee drinks. McDonald's has captured 51% of fast-food coffee sales, but fast-food and other family restaurants account for only 20% of total coffee sales. More than 23% of us prefer to buy our cup of joe from gourmet coffeehouses like Starbucks. However, in a taste test last year Consumer Reports picked McDonald's Premium Roast coffee over Starbucks, which it called "bitter." Think about that next time you fork over $5 for a grade latte!

Sunrise Silver Singles Social Club

2008-03-10T16:15:00.002-04:00

Eden Terrace of Louisville and Right at Home present:

A premier gathering of our new group - Sunrise Silver Singles Social Club. This groundbreaking club meets once a month for fun activities and events. Enjoy this opportunity to network, make new friends, try new activities, enjoy a variety of entertainment, and experience life to it's fullest.

The kickoff event will feature a delicious dinner, live entertainment, games and special door prizes. You won't want to miss this exciting and fun event.

Saturday, March 15, 2008
5:30 to 7:30 pm
RSVP to Mary Beth Smith or Ruth Farkas at 502-244-4244

Eden Terrace of Louisville is located at 901 Blankenbaker Parkway across from Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY.

Brain Fitness Important for Good Health

2008-03-05T23:59:00.008-05:00

To live a long and happy life, it's not enough to keep your body in good shape. It's also important to keep your mind sharp and active. Brain fitness is the new buzzword for the over 50 set. The market is awash with new software programs and games that claim to hone mental acuity and blunt the cognitive decline that can accompany aging. But mental game playing is just one facet of brain fitness, writes Mark Miller in his column Retire Smart. To maintain a challenged and stimulated brain, "you also need to get out of the house and stay active," asserts Nancy Merz Nordstrom, an expert on lifelong learning and director of the Elderhostel Institute Network which focuses on adult education across the country.

"It's as simple as use it or lose it," says Nordstrom. "If we want to do everything possible to keep our whole being alert, vibrant and connected as we age, we have to continue to challenge ourselves."

Research indicates that the act of learning causes the body to regenerate brain cells which enhances mental alertness, thought processes, response times and reflexes. Americans are embracing these new scientific discoveries. According to an AARP study, 95% of Americans who have passed the 50-year mark plan to participate in learning activities. The U.S. Department of Education reported that the number of older adults returning to the classroom doubled during the 1990s. "What we find is that people want to study the things they never had time for before," Nordstrom says. But classroom study isn't the only way to keep your brain fit. Educational travel and learning-oriented community service opportunities will also revitalize your brain cells.

If you're looking for an excellent guide to adult learning options, check out Nordstrom's book, Learning Later, Living Greater: The Secret for Making the Most of Your After-50 Years. You'll also find helpful information on Nordstrom's website and on the Elderhostel Learning Network website.

New Book Helps You Select Best Diet for You

2008-03-03T19:36:00.005-05:00

Everyone is dieting! There seem to be as many diet books and diet plans out there as there are dieters. Bookstore shelves are filled with great sounding titles like: The New Sugar Busters, Fit for Life, Good Mood Diet, Intuitive Eating. How do you choose and, more importantly, how do you know what will actually help you without hurting you?

A good place to start is the excellent new book, The Diet Selector: From Atkins to The Zone, More Than 50 Ways to Help You Find the Best Diet for You. Written by Judith Rodriguez, a clinical dietitian and professor at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, the book evaluates 50 weight-loss diets and 25 disease management or healthful eating plans.

In choosing a diet, Rodriguez says the first question you have to ask yourself is: "Does it fit your lifestyle and your (food) likes and dislikes?" She believes that multi-approach diets that address food, behavior and physical activity provide the greatest possibility of success.

Easy to use, The Diet Selector includes a history of each diet or plan, a description of how it works, pros and cons, and a sample menu. Diets are rated on long-term strength, flexibility, cost, family compatibility and scientific basis. While the book doesn't make recommendations, Rodriguez admitted she has her favorites. "There are some diets that I thought had healthier approaches -- such as the Frenchwomen's diet, which doesn't talk about dieting but about behavior and lifestyle values. The Mayo (Clinic Healthy Weight Program) diet is another one." She also liked the heart healthy DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet and the Mediterranean diet which focus on eating plans for life.

Don't Fall for Weight Loss Scams

2008-01-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

"Losing weight consistently ranks as one of the top New Year's resolutions,and many people look for fast, easy fixes or an easy way to get back into
shape," said Joan Coughlin of the Ohio Better Business Bureau.

With more than 100 million Americans fighting extra pounds or obesity, it's no surprise that fat-fighting frauds were the most-reported consumer scam last year, according to the Federal Trade Commission. An estimated 4.8 million folks fell for weight-loss scams in 2007, most of them losing money on purchases of bogus products. The only thing many of these "miracle" products will lighten is your pocketbook, the BBB is warning consumers; these products won't do a thing for your waistline. It's another case of buyer beware. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

The BBB offers these tips for spotting weight-loss scams:

If there's no scientific evidence that the product promotes weight loss, it's a scam.

If the product promises to reduce fat or cellulite in specific body areas, it's a scam.

If the product promises, effortless, large or fast weight loss, it's a scam.

If the product promises weight loss without exercise or without managing food intake, it's a scam.

If the company requires large advance payments or a long-term contract, it's a scam.

Remember the adage: No pain, no gain. Weight loss is work, pure and simple. But the rewards are life-changing. So stop looking for a quick fix and just get on with it. Start counting your calories, decrease portion sizes, eat 5 small meals a day instead of 3 big ones, fill your fridge with veggies and fruit, stock up on whole grains, drink lots of water, join Weight Watchers, sign up for a session at Curves, join your local gym, lace up those tennies and start walking! Like they say in the commercial: "Just do it! "

Healthy Snacks Satisfy Munchies

2008-01-22T16:53:00.000-05:00

If you're like most people in January, you're trying to eat better and exercise more. My downfall is always snacking. I get tired of crunching carrot and celery sticks. It's time to add a little pizazz to your diet! If you've got the munchies, try some of these healthy snacks:

Popcorn. Popcorn has everything going for it. As a whole grain, it helps fight heart disease, diabetes and cancer. It's also fiber rich which is good for your colon. And it's low glycemic which means it's less likely to make your blood sugar spike which can cause you to feel hungry even when you're not. When air-popped, three cups of popcorn have only 93 calories.
Dark chocolate. Chocolate when you're dieting? You bet! Rich in antioxidants, dark chocolate can help lower blood pressure and might protect your heart (the verdict isn't in yet, but let's not look a gift horse in the mouth). Dark chocolate does not spike blood sugar. An ounce of dark chocolate (about 3 pieces of Dove) has 126 calories.
Prunes. Sweet and delicious, prunes have the lowest effect on blood sugar of dried fruits, half the sugar boost of raisins! Recent studies indicate prunes may help fight colon cancer. Three prunes have 69 calories.
Hard-boiled egg. Packed with filling protein and rich in choline which optimizes brain function, each small white orb packs a nutritional wallop. One egg is just 80 calories.
Almonds. Rich in fiber and protein, a handful of almonds makes a delicious and filling snack. Eat them in their skins which are packed with antioxidants. Almonds are good for your cholesterol and may cut the risk of lung cancer and heart disease. A small handful of almonds (about 15) is 100 calories.
Peanut butter. It may be high in fat, but snacking on peanuts and peanut butter helps suppress appetite. Spread a tablespoon on celery sticks or apple slices for a delicious crunchy snack. One tablespoon of peanut butter is 90 calories.

Hospice Isn't Just For Cancer Patients

2008-01-17T07:43:00.001-05:00

My Dad was a hospice patient during the last six months of his life. He didn't have cancer. He was just old and dying. Dad wasn't dying of any one particular thing. He had a whole host of problems: diabetes, neuropathy, heart disease, hardening of the arteries and a touch of dementia. He'd had some small strokes -- little TIAs -- nothing that left him physically or mentally debilitated in any particularly noticeable way, just small losses. He forgot things sometimes, but people do when they get older. He wasn't too steady on his feet and seemed to fall a lot, but then he was stubborn about using his cane, and later the walker, so a few bumps and bruises seemed to go with the territory. Dad was just getting old. He was 83. We didn't expect him to live into the next decade, but we did think he had a couple of good years left.

Dad's balance issues worsened. He had another little stroke. Then he broke his ankle which put him in a wheelchair and a nursing home for two months. He started to have trouble swallowing; things would go down the wrong tube and he'd cough a lot. Some days he couldn't remember "when" it was; his internal timeline seemed to be a little jumbled up. As the months went by, he slept more and got up and around less. He lost weight. His legs got weaker. He started to have trouble picking things up and holding onto them. His body was just wearing out. With Dad there was never one thing you could point to and say, "This is the cause." Dad just lost ability bit by bit. In the medical community, they call it "failure to thrive."

By mid-May, Dad's ankle had finally mended and we wanted to bring him home from the nursing home. But Dad had lost a lot of ground in the past two months and Mom was having a hard time figuring out how she was going to manage to care for him, even with help. I suggested calling hospice. Most people still think hospice is just for cancer patients, but it isn't. Hospice offers palliative care for anyone facing the end of life. Hospice professionals are dedicated to providing comprehensive care and comfort to those who are in the final months of life and to their families. Hospice is not generally a specialized care center, though it can be. It is more a philosophy of care, an acceptance that life is ending and a desire to make the patient's final months as comfortable as possible.

There are several hospice providers in our city, some independent, others connected with hospitals. It was recommended that we work with a center close to my parents' home. Mom, my sister and I met with a HomeReach Hospice nurse and explained our concerns about Dad's health, our desire to bring and keep him at home, and our worries about providing for his care. The nurse later talked with Dad at the nursing home and spoke to the staff. You do have to qualify for hospice, and the patient must meet certain federal medicare/medicaid guidelines. The nurse considered Dad a borderline case. There are three general criteria the patient needs to meet, though the there seems to be some leeway that is left to the experienced judgment of the hospice nurse.

The patient is no longer improving. Should a person be accepted by hospice and begin to improve after a time, hospice simply discharges the patient. The patient can re-enter hospice at a later time should he begin to fail again.

The patient is no longer seeking a cure. The emphasis in hospice is on quality, not length of life. Palliative care, not curative treatment is provided. The patient is made as comfortable as possible. Professional medical care is provided with an emphasis on symptom relief and pain management.

The end of life is expected within the next six months. There is latitude here also. Patients are evaluated periodically. Hospice can be extended past the six-month period as necessary.

Mom was reluctant to consider hospice. She believed Dad would live well past six months, perhaps even three to five more years. And there was considerable hope that Dad would improve once he left the nursing home and came home. With his ankle just healed, Dad was anxious to work on building up his leg muscles and walking again. My parents elected to work with a home health care agency that would provide physical and occupational therapists to work with Dad. They still felt that he would be able to re-achieve his pre-stroke, pre-break level of ability.

The next six weeks were a series of ups and downs. Dad would gain a little, then lose ground again. Physical therapy was a tremendous effort and very frustrating. Dad wanted to spend most of his time sleeping and seemed to be losing interest in life. At the end of June, a urinary tract infection sent him to the hospital for a week. It became apparent that Dad was not going to improve and that hospice would provide the nursing help, medical equipment, medications, health aides and financial relief that would allow us to keep Dad at home. It was time to call hospice.

I can't say enough wonderful things about hospice. Everything hospice provided through the final six months of Dad's life was provided without charge to Mom. Hospice seemed to absorb anything Medicare didn't pay for. Mom hired and paid for home health aides to come in to help with the heavy lifting, and she paid for Dad's regular prescription drugs, diapers, lotions, wipes, etc.; but hospice provided everything else. When he came home from the hospital, Dad was unable to get in and out of bed on his own, so hospice brought over a hospital bed with bars and a trapeze he could use to help maneuver his body. He came home from the hospital with a bed sore, so hospice brought in a fancy air mattress to relieve pressure on his body. He couldn't walk on his own, even with the walker, so they sent over a wheelchair. They sent a physical therapist to teach him exercises to keep his muscles flexible. They sent a bath aide three times a week. They sent a massage therapist. And, most importantly, they sent Betsy.

Betsy was Dad's nurse. Always smiling and upbeat, Betsy came by two to three times a week, joked with Dad while she checked his vital signs, discussed his care and medications with Mom (and the latest episode of Dancing with the Stars), talked to his doctors about medication issues, taught us how to care for Dad, answered our questions, told us what to expect, and always checked to see that Mom and my sister were doing okay. She arranged for aides and equipment, brought supplies and medicines, and made suggestions for making Dad for comfortable and our life easier. She was never more than a phone call away and always responded immediately when we had a concern. Betsy was the glue that held our family together those last six months.

Hospice also sent a wonderful chaplain, Chris, to visit Dad. At first they talked about ordinary things: Dad's life growing up, business accomplishments, World War II, raising a family, his hopes and fears for the world he was leaving. Dad was never a demonstrative person and emotional issues were difficult for him. Somehow Chris was able to bridge that gap and develop a rapport that provided Dad the comfort he needed and the acceptance that was necessary. In talking with Chris, Dad found the courage to accept the fact that life was ending. He was able to come to terms with the necessity of relinquishing his role as the family provider and caretaker. He was able to tell each of us that he loved us and listen while we said our goodbyes, a gift we will always cherish. Toward the end, he even dictated a fanciful obituary to Chris, his sense of humor ever present. Chris soothed Dad's spirit and ours. In her compassion, she always found just the right words to say. She weathered Dad's emotional storms and ours, always making time for our fears and worries when she visited. Chris was our anchor during Dad's last months.

The night Dad died, a hospice nurse came right out. She informed the authorities and funeral home and took care of all the administrative details of death so we didn't have to. Then she stayed with us awhile and shared our grief.

For my family, hospice was a lifesaver. Without fail, everyone we met or had contact with through HomeReach Hospice in Columbus, Ohio was compassionate, professional and kind, from the man who delivered and set up the equipment, to the lady who answered the phone. Hospice gave us the support, assistance, tools and courage to care for Dad at home so that he could die at peace, surrounded by the people that loved him. If someone you love is nearing the end of life, I urge you to contact hospice. You can locate a hospice provider near you by contacting the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. For more information about hospice, visit http://www.hospicenet.org/.

Even Superman Has to Die

2008-01-15T16:18:00.002-05:00

My Dad died just before Christmas. He was 83. Dad suffered a long, hard road these past few years as his body lost strength and ability. With each loss came frustration, anger and fight -- the desire to overcome the latest frailty. The last nine months were a rocky series of ups and downs. There was another small stroke, then a badly broken ankle that necessitated two months in a nursing home. He deteriorated in the nursing home, hating the confinement and loss of independence. When he could finally put weight on his ankle again, we were able to bring him home. It wasn't easy to provide the necessary level of care Dad now needed, but it was so nice to have him at home.

Mom hired caregivers and my sister came over every afternoon to help out. Dad cracked jokes and directed the rearranging of the furniture to accommodate his wheelchair. But every few weeks Dad seemed to take another little step down. Therapy would go well and he'd improve a bit, then he'd lose ground. He never really regained the ability to walk and gradually his muscles got weaker and his body less dependable. A urinary tract infection took a tremendous toll and Dad didn't seem to be recovering.

Hospice agreed to come in and brought with them equipment, medicine, a wonderful nurse, bathing help, a physical therapist, a massage therapist, a social worker and a chaplain. Most of all, they brought expertise, experience, support and comfort -- for Dad, Mom and all of us. Life for my family became considerably easier. At each new step down, at each new problem, Betsy, our hospice nurse, was there to help. She joked with Dad during her twice weekly checkups, reassured Mom, ran interference with doctors, and brought the drugs and supplies Dad needed. She made sure we could give Dad the very best possible care and helped us cope as caregivers.

For quite a long time Dad had trouble accepting what was happening to his body. He wasn't ready to die yet. He hated that his body wouldn't respond and do what he wanted, but mentally there were still things he wanted to do. At first we all thought death was many months, if not years, away. But as Dad's health deteriorated, we could see that his body was failing, even though his spirit was still strong. Accepting the inevitable was perhaps the hardest part of dying for Dad. Though never much of a churchgoer, Dad was a Christian who followed Christ's teachings in his daily life. He was honest, thoughtful and deeply loved his family. He was the most honorable man I have ever had the privilege of knowing.

When Chris, the hospice chaplain, started coming to visit, she and Dad chatted about his life, the business accomplishments he was proud of, his years in the South Pacific during the war, his escapades growing up in Cincinnati, his frustration with his body and health. But as time went on, Dad talked to Chris about the inevitable, who would take care of Mom, how his children would manage, missing his grandchildren growing up. Dad always took care of all of us and it was hard for him to relinquish that role.

As time grew shorter, with Chris' help, he was able to accept that he was dying and be at peace with the ending of life. He asked us to take care of Mom and each other. And then he gave us each the most important gift he's ever given. He allowed each of us to tell him what we needed to say, to clear the slate, to say how grateful we were for all he had done for us, and to tell him how much we loved him. Dad was able to tell each of us that he loved us, that he was proud of us and that he knew we would succeed in life. It was a powerful gift.

As Dad's health failed over the past years, we jokingly called him "Duct Tape Man." The doctors kept patching him up and he just kept on going. He was like that old TV ad for Timex watches: "Takes a lickin' but keeps on tickin'." Even as we watched Dad age, we thought he'd be there forever. But even Superman has to die. For all the months Dad spent dying by frustrating inches, finally confined to his bed and able to do little for himself; when the end came, it was quick and peaceful. He was home, he was with family, and he just drifted quietly away in his sleep.

I miss my Dad but I know he will always be with me. He helped me become the person I am. He was teacher, mentor and friend, someone I looked up to and will always love and respect. Dad loved telling jokes. After Sunday dinner, he'd regale us with one great story after another. I like to think of him in heaven now, trading jokes with the angels. Tell them the one about the penguins, Dad; it was always my favorite.

Tips for Coping with Holiday Stress

2007-12-20T16:34:00.001-05:00

Have you noticed that people are getting a little testy? The stress of the holidays seems to bring out the Bah! Humbug! in us all. Shopping, wrapping, baking, decorating, school programs -- the list of things that have to be squeezed into the next few days seems overwhelming. There's nothing like a little stress to suck the joy right out of the holidays!

It doesn't have to be that way. Follow these tips and you can decrease your holiday stress and have a holly, jolly Christmas. Happy Holidays!

Keep your holiday expectations manageable. Make a list and prioritize it. Be realistic. This isn't the time to reorganize all the closets or scour the fridge. Do what is most important to you and your family. Concentrate on the activities that make the holidays special. Anything else can be scratched off the list and done some other time.
Do something nice for someone else. Shovel the neighbor's walk, help out at the homeless shelter, bake cookies for the fire station, volunteer at the food pantry. Nothing makes us feel as good as helping someone else.
Don't get bogged down trying to create "the good old days." Life is ever changing. Holiday traditions and activities should change to accommodate changes in your lifestyle.
Concentrate on the holiday activities and traditions that make you happy. If you've always gone to your neighbor's cookie exchange but dread baking 6 dozen cookies, skip it this year. If making a dozen batches of the family peanut brittle recipe is getting to be too exhausting, pass the torch -- and the recipe -- to the next generation.
Don't add to your stress by overtaxing your budget. There are plenty of free activities to enjoy, such as driving around to admire the neighborhood Christmas decorations, building a snowman with the kids, visiting the animals at the humane society, stringing popcorn while you watch your favorite Christmas movies.
Spend time with the people you enjoy most. Limit the time you spend with people who make you feel uncomfortable or who add to your stress, even if they are family. If visiting family is stressful, show up for Christmas dinner and just stay an hour or two to visit and exchange gifts.
Save some time for yourself. Do something just for you that makes you feel happy or pampered.

If you're feeling stressed because you haven't selected your Medicare drug plan yet, give me a call at 502-742-4979. If you provide me with a list of your prescriptions drugs, I can recommend the plan that will best meet your needs. Visit my website to find out more.

Get Involved to Cure Loneliness

2007-12-18T15:39:00.001-05:00

The holidays are not a happy time for everyone. For many people who are separated from their families or who have lost a partner, the holidays are a lonely time. Seeing other families gathering together augments their feelings of loss. The burden of loneliness can feel particularly heavy during the holidays.

Rather than dwell on your loneliness, reach out to others. "Loneliness is often caused by wanting people to do something for us," explains psychologist Hap LeCrone. "When we do things for other people, we are rarely lonely."

Here are some things you can do to combat loneliness during the holidays (and all year round):

Reach out. If a friend or acquaintance is also alone this holiday, invite them over for a cup of coffee or a bite to eat. Go to a movie together or out shopping to see the mall decorations.
Volunteer. Serve food at the local soup kitchen, take small gifts and visit with the elderly in nursing homes, drive seniors to doctor appointments, deliver Meals on Wheels, help out at the local food pantry. Check with your church or local volunteer bureau; volunteers are particularly needed during the holidays.
Re-connect with friends. Call someone you haven't talked with in a while and catch up on the news. Send a newsy card or email to an older relative. Invite a neighbor over for coffee.
Get involved. Take a class or start a hobby. Think of something you've always wanted to do and get out there and do it.
Get moving. Loneliness can lead to depression and nothing fights depression better than exercise. Join a gym, take a swim class, join a walking group, sign up for the park district volleyball team, join the yoga class at the senior center. Nothing creates a friendly bond like sweating together!
Help others. The best cure for loneliness is to do something for other people. Giving of yourself lightens your load and theirs. You can find ways to reach out even if you're housebound. Organize a small phone network of other homebound people through your local church or senior services. Take turns checking on each other and sharing news.

When you give of yourself to others, you stop thinking about how difficult your own life is. If you're lonely this holiday, do something to help other people and reap the joy that comes from giving of yourself.

"Bugs" in Your Food Can Keep You Healthy

2007-12-13T14:15:00.002-05:00

It's the latest health craze: adding bugs to your food. Not the creepy, crawly kind! These "bugs" are probiotics, or "friendly" microscopic bacteria like those normally found in your digestive tract. Manufacturers are adding them to everything from yogurt to baby formula to help keep you healthy, not make you sick.

Promising to "regulate your digestive health" or "strengthen your body's defenses," major food manufactures like Kraft and Dannon are promoting a growing number of products that contain probiotics in an effort to capitalize on the burgeoning health food craze. Experts say the microbes are generally safe and might even be helpful, though more research is needed to verify the rather vague claims appearing on food labels. This week the National Institutes of Health is sponsoring a conference where scientists will discuss recent advances.

This year more than 150 probiotic and prebiotic (fiber and nutrient containing microbes that feed probiotic bacteria) products have been introduced in the U.S., compared to 100 in 2006 and just 40 in 2005. Current studies of probiotics suggest they may be beneficial in treating gastroenteritis, diarrhea and some allergic skin reactions.

Holiday Sniffles? Could Be Your Tree!

2007-12-10T14:42:00.000-05:00

Do you have a case of the holiday sniffles? It could be your Christmas tree! Allergists have long suspected a link between "live" Christmas trees and the rash of runny, itchy noses they see each December. The problem is that once they're cut -- usually weeks before Christmas -- the evergreens are no longer live, but dead. And nature's way of breaking down dead plants is through mold, a powerful allergen.

In an experiment to prove the mold theory, Connecticut allergy specialist Dr. John Santilli placed a cut Christmas tree inside an apartment and took air samples for two weeks. The normal mold count in a typical home is 500 to 700 spores per cubic meter of air. Within 24 hours of placing the tree in the apartment, the mold count rose to 800 spores per cubic meter. By day 14, the mold count had skyrocketed to 5,000 spores per cubic meter.

"The longer you keep the tree up, the worse it gets," said Santilli, who recently presented his findings at a meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology in Dallas. A tree begins decaying as soon as it's cut, Santilli explained. "Mother Nature's cleanup crew is the mold. The molds take over and start decaying it." Add in the dry needles, leaves and grass in their branches and Christmas trees are an allergy disaster waiting to happen.

If you or a family member suffer from allergies, you might consider getting an artificial tree this year. Not only will you breathe easier, but there won't be any needles to pick out of the carpet after the holidays!

If your Christmas tradition demands a real tree, allergists suggest spraying the tree down with a good stiff spray from a garden hose first, then letting it dry before bringing it inside. The less time it spends in your house, the easier you'll breathe.

Tips for Safe Holiday Decorating

2007-12-07T15:21:00.001-05:00

I watched the movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation while I was wrapping gifts last night. I laughed at the scene where Clark Griswold (comedian Chevy Chase) skids down the roof, snags the gutter and hangs from his fingertips for one, brief hopeful moment before the gutter comes loose and sends him crashing into the bushes below. Funny stuff on film, but not so much in real life.

Every year overzealous decorators have their own "Griswold moment" while trying to outdo the neighbors and light up the Christmas night. Starting in mid-November when holiday lights start going up, emergency runs increase noticeably, say local firefighters. There's a bit of a lull right around Christmas, then another increase as lights come down after New Year's.

Nationwide, hospitals see an average 5,822 decorating injuries from November through January. Ladders are involved in 43% of those injuries. Foot and ankle injuries (sprains and breaks) are among the most common injuries. The most common causes of ladder injuries are: reaching too far, improperly positioning or supporting the ladder, and not stabilizing the ladder base so it won't slip.

To hang holiday lights without a trip to the ER, follow these safety tips:

Don't lean.
Don't overstretch.
Don't use the top rung as a step.
Wear skid-proof shoes.
Make sure the base of the ladder is firmly planted on the ground.
Have someone hold the bottom of the ladder as you climb.

Take your time putting up outdoor (and indoor) decorations and be safe this holiday. I'd like to see you around to enjoy the new year! Happy decorating!

Scam Warning: Betting on Death

2007-12-03T19:40:00.001-05:00

There's a life insurance scam going around I want to warn you about. Targeted particularly at seniors, STOLI (stranger-oriented life insurance) arrangements allow strangers to buy insurance on your life, effectively betting that you'll die soon enough for them to collect on their investment.

The problem is right on our doorstep. It has become so pronounced in Ohio that legislators are working to pass a law that would outlaw STOLI arrangements.

"You have no idea who has an insurable interest in your life," explained Ohio Rep. Jay Hottinger, sponsor of the anti-STOLI bill. "I wouldn't feel too comfortable walking around not knowing who's betting on me to die and wanting me to die."

Here's how the scam works: Promising free insurance or quick cash, the offers target seniors aged 65 to 85, particularly wealthier folks who can take out large policies. The investors offer to pay your life insurance premium for two years. If you die during those two years, your designated beneficiaries (usually family) get the money. If you don't die, either you repay the entire two-year premium or the investors take over the policy. They either get the money when you die or can cash in the policy and strip it of its value.

So what's the problem? The deal can leave you with less money than you planned on. You may be saddled with unexpected tax liabilities. It can negatively impact your ability to purchase additional life insurance. There's also concern in the industry that the problem could lead to an overall increase in life insurance rates. But the biggest fear is that it could lead to criminal activity.

"I hear lots of people, including regulators, saying that they could see this as a great new field of business for Tony Soprano," said Faith Williams, legislative counsel for the Association of Ohio Life Insurance Companies.

The national life insurance industry has been petitioning states to put a stop to STOLI transactions and ensure that only family members and business partners can purchase life insurance for an individual. "It's not a very good practice, generally, for strangers to have a substantial financial interest in your death," said Hottinger. "That's certainly not what life insurance was designed to do."

If someone approaches you about life insurance, call me. Don't let yourself be scammed. I'll give you the same honest professional advice I'd give my own parents or siblings. For a quick primer on life insurance basics, click the post title. If you would like more information, or I can help you in any way, please click here to contact me or call me today at 502-742-4979.