SANTA CRUZ — Carol Fuller was approaching 65 and in fine health.
The longtime Santa Cruz resident and former business owner had little reason to visit the doctor in previous years and relied mostly on annual visits to the gynecologist to catch anything wrong.
Just before her 65th birthday, Fuller was surprised to discover that in leaving her private medical insurance provider and becoming a Medicare recipient, she would need to find a primary Read the rest of this entry »

Almost 70 percent of older adults who take prescription medications also use non-prescription drugs,
or both, researchers have reported, and one in 25 older adults is at risk of suffering a bad reaction to a poor combination of drugs.
Older people also are using more medications than in the past, the scientists also found. Almost one third take more than five prescription drugs, and more than half rely on a combination of five or more prescription Read the rest of this entry »

United Way of Allegheny County today awarded $714,625 over two years to five agencies to keep senior citizens healthy and safe at home.
They are among 31 agencies that applied for the grants in the first competition that the local United Way has offered for programs to serve the elderly. Last year, United Way’s board awarded money for programs serving youngsters and young adults.
The five recipients helping the elderly are AgeWell Pittsburgh, Read the rest of this entry »

“For a long time, the standard recommendation for people of moderate age — those under 65 — has been 150 minutes a week of aerobic type activity,” noted study co-author Robert Ross, a professor in the school of kinesiology and health studies at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. “But for older adults, we haven’t had a standard, and there has been little evidence to base guidelines on.”
“So now we have found, as a first-time observation, Read the rest of this entry »

According to Drugs.com, the most controversial feature of Part D is the
benign-sounding donut hole. Also known as the coverage gap, it is an
abrupt discontinuation of benefits that occurs when drug costs (the
total paid by both the member and the plan) hit the $2700 mark. Once
this threshold is crossed, the member must bear the full cost of his or
her drugs – a heavy burden indeed. To many seniors, news of this Read the rest of this entry »

DALLAS —Seniors may see their Social Security increases next year trimmed back by higher prescription costs unless they shop for a Medicare drug plan this fall that better fits their budget.
Social Security beneficiaries will get an average of $63 more each month, but part of that increase may be claimed by higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs in their drug coverage.
“Seniors who enrolled in a drug plan several years ago should Read the rest of this entry »

02:17 PM CST on Sunday, November 2, 2008
Seniors may see their Social Security increases next year trimmed back by higher prescription costs unless they shop for a Medicare drug plan this fall that better fits their budget.
Social Security beneficiaries will get an average of $63 more each month, but part of that increase may be claimed by higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs in their drug coverage.
“Seniors who Read the rest of this entry »

Phyllis Rygg is 87 and has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.
Despite arthritis and hip replacement surgery, Rygg still looks forward to working out three times a week in the Chandler-Gilbert Community College Fitness Center.
A Gilbert resident, Rygg says she has been working out in the center for nine years, and plans to keep up her endorphin-inducing workouts as long as she can.
“I think it’s so important for seniors to work out. It Read the rest of this entry »

Area seniors are invited to attend senior class, a luncheon and educational session sponsored by South Jersey Healthcare, at noon Friday at South Jersey Healthcare Fitness Connection, 1430 W. Sherman Ave., Vineland.
The program is offered to seniors who seek to make new friends, learn about healthy living and enjoy an educational luncheon with fellow senior citizens. The December event will be the group’s holiday celebration and will feature live Read the rest of this entry »

Three out of five seniors in California had high blood pressure in 2005, up from half in 2001. Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Merced, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, Tulare and Yolo counties all saw statistically significant increases in high blood pressure, according to a
.
“If those trends continue . . . we’re going to come up against a wall as to what medicine can do to keep these people alive,” said Steven P. Wallace, a
Read the rest of this entry »