One For The Aging

USA.gov News - January 2012

2012-01-09T14:45:00.003-05:00

Here is the latest news from USA. gov. It has a lot of important information in it. USA.gov News - January 2012

Tips to Avoid Online Holiday Shopping Hoaxes, Copycat Website Cons: Scam Alert - AARP Bulletin

2011-12-12T14:51:00.005-05:00

Tips to Avoid Online Holiday Shopping Hoaxes, Copycat Website Cons: Scam Alert - AARP Bulletin

How to stay clear of online holiday shopping hoaxes.

Holiday Scammers, Cons - Identity Theft Protection - Scam Alert - AARP Bulletin

2011-12-11T08:12:00.008-05:00

Holiday Scammers, Cons - Identity Theft Protection - Scam Alert - AARP Bulletin

Five gifts you don't want.

Benefits.gov

2011-09-12T15:22:00.011-04:00

Benefits.gov is here to serve you! Find more than 1,000 Federal and state benefits including housing, food/nutrition, education, grants/loans, disaster relief and Medicare/Medicaid. Getting started is simple: click the "Start Now" button on the homepage to begin your one-stop search for government assistance programs today.

Business Credit Cards for the Self-employed - AARP Bulletin

2011-09-11T15:55:00.005-04:00

Think these credit cards are better? Think again. Read more here:

Business Credit Cards for the Self-employed - AARP Bulletin

Save Money - 99 Money Saving Tips, discount information, and more – AARP

2011-07-15T12:48:00.003-04:00

Save Money - 99 Money Saving Tips, discount information, and more – AARP Here are some ways to save money. You don't have to be young or old to save money or even be a member of AARP. Get started on saving money today by checking out these tips!

More U. S. Householders Own Their Homes

2010-05-06T20:25:00.005-04:00

A ratio of 2-in-3 U.S. householders (69.8 million or 66.2 percent) owned their homes last year, according to new analysis of Census 2000 data.

The analysis showed a total of 115.9 million housing units in the United States in 2000, an increase of 13.6 million units or 13.3 percent since 1990. During the same period, the increase in owner occupied homes 10.8 million, or 18.3 percent far outpaced the rise in renter occupied units 2.7 million, or 8.3 percent. Rental units totaled 35.7 million.

The 2000 Census showed that the South (17.5 percent) and the West (16.7 percent) regions experienced higher rates of housing growth than the Midwest (10.1 percent) and Northeast (6.6 percent).

Historically, between 1890 and 1940, less than half of U.S. households owned their homes.

The Great Depression drove ownership rates to their lowest level of the century in 1940 (43.6 percent).

Since the 1950 census, when homeowners represented 55 percent of all householders, the rate of homeownership has increased steadily.

By 1960, because of the post-World War II economic boom, favorable tax laws and easier mortgage financing, homeownership topped 60 percent.

The majority of householders in each of the four census regions owned their homes: Midwest, 70.2 percent; South, 68.4 percent; Northeast, 62.4; and West, 61.5 percent.

West Virginia led all states in homeownership, with about 3 out of 4 householders owning their homes.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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FTC Warns Consumers About Economic Stimulus Scams

2009-03-16T21:33:00.001-04:00

The FTC is warning consumers that they could get stung by an economic stimulus scam. The scams come in different forms.

Right now, on the Web and in e-mail, scammers are telling consumers they can help them qualify for a payment from President Obama's economic stimulus package. All they have to do is provide a little information or a small payment.

E-mail messages may ask for bank account information so that the operators can deposit consumers' share of the stimulus directly into their bank account. Instead, the scammers drain consumers' accounts of money and disappear. Or bogus e-mail may appear to be from government agencies and ask for information to "verify" that you qualify for a payment. The scammers use that information to commit identity theft. Some e-mail scams don't ask for information, but provide links to find out how to qualify for funds. By clicking on the links, consumers have downloaded malicious software or spyware that can be used to make them a victim of identity theft.

"Web sites may advertise that they can help you get money from the stimulus fund. Many use deceptive names or images of President Obama and Vice President Biden to suggest they are legitimate. They're not," says Eileen Harrington, Acting Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "Don't fall for it. If you do, you'll get scammed."

Some sites suggest that for a small sum of money - as little as $1.99 in some cases - consumers can get a list of economic stimulus grants they can apply for. But two things can happen: the number of the credit card the consumer uses to pay the fee can fall into the hands of scam artists, or the $1.99 can be the down payment on a "negative option" agreement that may cost hundreds or thousands of dollars if the consumer does not cancel.

"Consumers who may already have fallen for these scams should carefully check their credit card bills for unauthorized charges and report the scam to the FTC," Harrington said.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,500 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Medicare Extra Help

2009-03-12T21:30:00.001-04:00

There is a federal low income subsidy program, called Extra Help, that Medicare beneficiares may be eligible for based on their limited incomes and resources.

The Extra Help program can increase cost savings by paying for all or part of the monthly premiums, annual deductibles and provide lower prescription co-payments under a Medicare prescription drug plan.

To qualify for Extra Help, the annual income must be limited to $16,245 for an individual ($21,855 for a married couple living together). Additionally, the total resources must be limited to $12,510 for an individual ($25,010 for a married couple living together). The resources do not include a primary residence or a vehicle.

People may apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Christian Online Dating

2008-12-30T12:57:00.001-05:00

Christian online dating is one of the safest portals for meeting other people for dating or a serious relationship. Most people consider online dating as an option in getting to know other people outside of their circle. The Christian community now utilizes this current trend of communication to widen their reach and to create a fun-loving environment.

You can search thousands of other Christian profiles and get to know each one online. There’s a vast Christian network that has varied interests, hobbies, likes and dislikes. You can check out their profiles and you may even find one that you like. Christian online dating has proved to be very effective for most people who participate with friendships and often blooms into serious relationships.

Christian online dating provides a very comfortable environment and is considered safe. The online dating community is a place where you can create lasting relationships for acquaintance, friendship, companionship, romance, and can even lead to a permanent commitment.

A Christian online dating website should include chat rooms where you can have fun discussions. You can also post memos and notes on message boards and share pictures with photo galleries. And of course, you can send personal messages to private mail boxes. Many dating websites also feature instant messaging and voice introductions for a more personal touch. Some of the Christian websites even offer Christian dating services aside from online matching.

In a Christian online dating site, the center is spirituality. You include faith in your search for a mate. Most people go to a Christian community for dates because they prefer to have somebody within their faith. People here believe they have filtered out the dates with people who may not share the same set of values.

Mellow people usually belong to this group of online daters. They are those who dislike too much loud music, bar hopping, and disco dancing. Most dates here end in a cozy restaurant or a sweet music place. Although this is not necessarily true all the time, it can be frequently observed on date outcomes based on testimonials.

Dating a stranger sharing your beliefs would be more reassuring than starting with somebody who does not share the same principles. If you are joining a Christian online dating site, you’ll know what you can expect. And as implied, the online society is Christ-centered. And by association, Christ is all pure love and kindness. If you join the group, this indicates you support Christian values and standards. Meeting the love of your life could be a possibility!

Article by Dawg
E-DateCentral.com

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Older Workers, Hot Prospects

2008-12-12T21:09:00.007-05:00

To stay competitive, employers are reaching out to workers 50-plus as never before.

With The Value of 401(K) plans and other retirement accounts plummeting, many workers who had been planning to retire are now following the blunt advice of financial advisors: Stay on the job. The good news? Employees age 50 and older are in demand as the availability of younger workers declines. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that by 2016, one in three workers will be 50 or older.

Responding to this shift, many companies are enacting new policies to recruit and retain older employees.

One employee who has benefited from these policies is Mike Peters, a 35-year veteran of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. Peters took early retirement in 2000 after 28 years on the job, but returned two years later to work 30 hours per week.

"My 'retirement' has been pushed back to September 2009 at the earliest because of the current market conditions," said Peters. "Blue Cross and Blue Shield has aways created a very hospitable environment for remaining in the workforce, and now I'm especially glad to have the opportunity to continue working."

To find AARP's Best Employers for Workers Over 50 list, go to www.aarp.org/money/work.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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2008 World AIDS Day

2008-11-27T13:39:00.003-05:00

The 1st of December, World AIDS Day, is the day when individuals and organisations from around the world come together to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic. 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. Whilst we have come a long ways since 1988, there is still much more to be done.

World AIDS Day 2008 materials are available online. Click here to download resources.

Sorry, the mail version of the World AIDS Day materials are SOLD OUT!!!!!

To begin preparing for World AIDS Day 2008, you can do the following:

Download World AIDS Day materials for 2008.

Enter your World AIDS Day event on our INTERNATIONAL WORLD AIDS DAY CALENDAR

Read more about leadership and why 2008 is the time to LEAD-EMPOWER-DELIVER

Learn more about events and SMS pledge campaign happening for World AIDS Day in India

Read about what happened on World AIDS Day in 2007

Find out about more information about themes and resources for World AIDS Day 2007, 2006 and 2005

View the campaigners tools available for 2008, 2007 and 2006

Please continue to check back for updates on events and resources. If you would like us to inform you about World AIDS Day updates via email, please sign up here.

Watch leadership pledges now online!
During the 2008 International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, people from around the world made their pledges to stop AIDS. Within this section, you will see some of the pledge videos and photos. We will continue to add more videos, so please check back. To view all of the videos made during the conference, please visit our YouTube site here. If you have a video you'd like to share, please email us at info@worldaidscampaign.org.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Taking Shelter From the Storm: Building a Safe Room For Your Home or Small Business

2008-11-20T21:39:00.004-05:00

(If you live in an area where the frequent threat of an incoming tornado or huricane is a fact of life, you might want to consider this important information from FEMA.)

Having a safe room in your home or small business can help provide "near-absolute protection" for you and your family or your employees from injury or death caused by the dangerous forces of extreme winds. Near-absolute protection means that, based on our current knowledge of tornadoes and hurricanes, there is a very high probability that the occupants of a safe room built according to this guidance will avoid injury or death. A safe room can also relieve some of the anxiety created by the threat of an incoming tornado or hurricane. Our knowledge of tornadoes and hurricanes and their effects is based on substantial meteorological records as well as extensive investigation of damage to buildings from extreme winds. All information contained in this publication is applicable to safe rooms for use in homes as well as in small businesses.

This publication will help you decide how best to provide near-absolute protection for yourself, your family, or employees and answers many questions concerning safe rooms. It includes the results of research that has been underway for more than 30 years, by Texas Tech University's Wind Science and Engineering (WISE; formerly known as the Wind Engineering Research Center or WERC) and other wind engineering research facilities, on the effects of extreme winds on buildings. Download the entire FEMA 320 document.

FEMA 320 also provides safe room designs that will show you and your builder/contractor how to construct a safe room for your home or small business. Design options include safe rooms located in the basement, in the garage, or in an interior room of a new home or small business building. Other options also provide guidance on how to construct an exterior safe room, either buried underground or attached to the existing building, or how to modify an existing home or small business building to add a safe room inside. These safe rooms are designed to provide near-absolute protection for you, your family, or employees from the extreme winds expected during tornadoes and hurricanes and from flying debris that tornadoes and hurricanes usually generate. Download the safe room construction plans and specifications.

The safe room designs presented in this publication meet or exceed all tornado and hurricane design criteria of the ICC-500 for both the tornado and hurricane hazards.

Why is the term "safe room" being used instead of "shelter"?
The terms "safe room" and "shelter" have been used, for the most part, interchangeably in past publications. Typically the difference in usage was limited to differentiating between residential applications called "safe rooms" and larger projects called "community shelters." The release of the ICC-500 standard, as well as other national, state, and local protection initiatives, identified a need to distinguish shelters that meet the FEMA criteria for near-absolute protection and those that do not. Although both the FEMA and ICC criteria are designed to provide life-safety protection for safe rooms and shelters that meet these criteria, only the FEMA criteria provides near-absolute protection from extreme wind events. To help clarify the difference between safe rooms design to FEMA 320 and 361 guidance, the term "safe room" applies to all shelters, buildings, or spaces designed to the FEMA criteria (whether for individuals, residences, small businesses, schools, or communities). This allows for the buildings, shelters, or spaces designed to the ICC-500 standard to be called shelters. All safe room criteria in the FEMA publications meet or exceed the shelter requirements of the ICC-500. Download FEMA 361.

A residential safe room is designed to protect families or small groups of people (up to 16) while a community safe room is defined as a shelter designed and constructed to protect a larger group of people from a natural hazard event. This publication will refer to all shelters constructed to meet the FEMA criteria (whether for individuals, residences, small businesses, schools, or communities) as safe rooms.

The ICC-500 provides the minimum design and construction requirements for extreme-wind storm shelters and is expected to be incorporated (by reference) into the 2009 International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC). It is important that those involved in the design, construction, and maintenance of storm shelters be knowledgeable of both FEMA guidance and ICC standards that pertain to sheltering from extreme winds.

What is new in the third edition?
The latest edition of FEMA 320 includes many updates and modifications of recommended designs for residential safe rooms and further expand their applicability to small businesses and public facilities intending to shelter 16 persons or less. The designs comply with the new criteria that has been presented in the updated FEMA 361 and the newly released consensus standard (ICC-500). Updates to FEMA 320 also include:

New hazard occurrence maps
Revised discussions on hazards, protection from hazards, and the use of safe rooms
New consumer guide section
New success stories section
Revised safe rooms plans with expanded sizes
Contact the FEMA Publication Warehouse at 1-888-565-3896 for this publication in hardcopy or CD-ROM form.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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The Holidays Are Here Again: FTC Offers Tips to Help Consumers Shop Safely Online

2008-11-13T21:49:00.004-05:00

The Federal Trade Commission has issued an updated consumer alert to help consumers use the Internet wisely while shopping this holiday season. The FTC’s alert, “Holiday Shopping? Don’t Take a Holiday from Savvy Online Shopping,” gives consumers tips on how to protect their personal information and avoid scams while shopping online and is available in English and Spanish.

The alert is available at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt082.shtm and offers the following advice to consumers shopping online this holiday season:

Know who you are dealing with. Confirm the online seller’s physical address and phone number in case you have questions or problems. If you get an e-mail or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial information, never reply or click on the link in the message. Legitimate companies do not ask for this information via e-mail.

Know exactly what you are buying. Read the seller’s description of the product closely, especially the fine print. Words like “refurbished,” “vintage,” or “close-out” may indicate that the product is in less-than-mint condition, while name-brand items with “too-good-to-be-true” prices could be counterfeits.

Know what it will cost. Check out Web sites that offer price comparisons. To receive the best consumer protections, pay with a credit card. Factor shipping and handling — along with your needs and budget — into the total cost of the order. Do not send cash under any circumstances.

Check out the terms of the deal, like refund policies and delivery dates. Make sure you understand the seller’s return and refund policies. Find out when you can expect to receive your order – an FTC rule requires sellers to ship items as promised or within 30 days after the order date if no specific date is promised.

Keep a paper trail. Print and save records of your online transactions, including the product description and price, the online receipt, and copies of correspondence with the seller. Read your credit card statements as you receive them and be on the lookout for unauthorized charges.

Never e-mail your personal information. E-mail is not a secure method of transmitting financial information like your credit card, checking account, or Social Security number. If you want to pay for something online through an organization’s Web site, look for indicators that the site is secure, like a lock icon on the browser’s status bar or a URL that begins “https:” (the “s” stands for secure).

Check the privacy policy. The Web site should let you know what personal information its operators are collecting, why, and how the information will be used. If you cannot find a privacy policy — or if you cannot understand it, consider taking your business to another site.

The FTC also has issued a consumer alert, “Holiday Shopping Online: Plan Ahead for Secure Surfing,” which gives consumers tips on how best to secure their personal information before they begin shopping. The alert reminds consumers to use anti-virus software and a firewall and keep them up-to-date; make sure their Web browser and operating system are up-to-date; and use caution when opening e-mail attachments. The alert is available at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/holidayalrt.htm.

For more information about protecting your computer and your personal information online, visit http://www.ftc.gov/infosecurity. If you feel you have been the victim of an online shopping scam, you may visit http://www.ftc.gov to file a complaint with the FTC.

Copies of the FTC’s consumer alerts are available from the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and also from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish (bilingual counselors are available to take complaints), or to get free information on any of 150 consumer topics, call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or use the complaint form at http://www.ftc.gov. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Assisted Living

2008-11-12T22:23:00.008-05:00

WHAT IS ASSISTED LIVING?
Assisted living facilities offer a housing alternatives for older adults who may need help with dressing, bathing, eating, and toileting, but do not require the intensive medical and nursing care provided in nursing homes.

Assisted living facilities may be part of a retirement community, nursing home, senior housing complex, or may stand-alone. Licensing requirements for assisted living facilities vary by state and can be known by as many as 26 different names including: residential care, board and care, congregate care, and personal care.

WHAT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED?
Residents of assisted living facilities usually have their own units or apartment. In addition to having a support staff and providing meals, most assisted living facilities also offer at least some of the following services:

Health care management and monitoring

Help with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and eating

Housekeeping and laundry

Medication reminders and/or help with medications

Recreational activities

Security

Transportation

HOW TO CHOOSE A FACILITY?
A good match between a facility and a resident’s needs depends as much on the philosophy and services of the assisted living facility as it does on the quality of care.
The following suggestions can help you get started in your search for a safe, comfortable and appropriate assisted living facility:

Think ahead. What will the resident's future needs be and how will the facility meet those needs?

Is the facility close to family and friends? Are there any shopping centers or other businesses nearby (within walking distance)?

Do admission and retention policies exclude people with severe cognitive impairments or severe physical disabilities?

Does the facility provide a written statement of the philosophy of care?

Visit each facility more than once, sometimes unannounced.

Visit at meal times, sample the food, and observe the quality of mealtime and the service.

Observe interactions among residents and staff.

Check to see if the facility offers social, recreational, and spiritual activities?

Talk to residents.

Learn what types of training staff receive and how frequently they receive training.

Review state licensing reports.
The following steps should also be considered:

Contact your state’s long-term care ombudsman to see if any complaints have recently been filed against the assisted living facility you are interested in. In many states, the ombudsman checks on conditions at assisted living units as well as nursing homes.

Contact the local Better Business Bureau to see if that agency has received any complaints about the assisted living facility.

If the assisted living facility is connected to a nursing home, ask for information about it, too. (Information on nursing homes can be found on the Medicare website at: http://www.medicare.gov/nhcompare/home.asp).

WHAT IS THE COST FOR ASSISTED LIVING?
Although assisted living costs less than nursing home care, it is still fairly expensive. Depending on the kind of assisted living facility and type of services an older person chooses, the price costs can range from less than $10,000 a year to more than $50,000 a year. Across the U.S., monthly rates average $1,800 per month.

Because there can be extra fees for additional services, it is very important for older persons to find out what is included in the basic rate and how much other services will cost.

Primarily, older persons or their families pay the cost of assisted living. Some health and long term care insurance policies may cover some of the costs associated with assisted living. In addition, some residences have their own financial assistance programs.

The federal Medicare program does not cover the costs of assisted living facilities or the care they provide. In some states, Medicaid may pay for the service component of assisted living. Medicaid is the joint federal and state program that helps older people and those with disabilities pay for health care when they are not able to afford the expenses themselves. Additional information on financing can be obtained from the resources listed below

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT ASSISTED LIVING?
Older persons who want to find out more about the assisted living option can start by contacting their local area agency on aging (AAA). Contact the U.S. Administration on Aging’s Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or visit http://www.eldercare.gov to find the AAA office closest to you.

Here are other places you can check for more specific information about assisted living

Assisted Living Federation of America
11200 Waples Mill Road, Suite 150
Fairfax, VA 22030
(703) 691-8100
http://www.alfa.org or email info@alfa.org

Consumer Consortium on Assisted Living
2342 Oak St.
Falls Church, VA 22046
(703) 533-8121
http://www.ccal.org

National Center for Assisted Living
201 L St., NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 842-4444
http://www.ncal.org

American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
2519 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20008-1520
(202) 783-2242
http://www.aahsa.org

The American Seniors Housing Association
5100 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Suite 307
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 237-0900
http://www.seniorshousing.org

Additional Websites:

Assisted Living INFO at http://www.assistedlivinginfo.org
Elder Web at http://www.elderweb.com
The Family Caregiver Alliance at http://www.elderweb.com
The Senior Resource Center http://www.seniorresource.com

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Obama promises action on economy

2008-11-10T21:20:00.002-05:00

BY NEDRA PICKLER and TERENCE HUNT
Associated Press Writers | Saturday, November 08, 2008 |

CHICAGO | Inheriting an economy in peril, President-elect Obama warned on Friday that the nation faces the challenge of a lifetime and pledged he would act urgently to help Americans devastated by lost jobs, disappearing savings and homes seized in foreclosure. But the man who promised change cautioned against hopes of quick solutions.

"It is not going to be easy for us to dig ourselves out of the hole that we are in," Obama said at his first news conference since winning the presidency on Tuesday.

The No. 1 priority, Obama said, is to get Congress to approve an economic stimulus plan that would extend jobless benefits, send food aid to the poor, dispatch Medicaid funds to states and spend tens of billions of dollars on public works projects. If the plan is not approved this month, in a special session of Congress, Obama said that "it will be the first thing I get done as president of the United States."

In his first appearance since a jubilant election-night celebration, Obama sought to project an air of calm and reassurance to a deeply worried nation. He stood in a presidential-like setting with an array of eight American flags and a lectern showing a presidential seal above the words "The Office of the President Elect." The stage behind him was lined with advisers he had summoned, his economic brain trust.

Almost 20 minutes late to his first meeting with reporters, Obama spoke for just 20 minutes and broke no ground with new policy announcements or disclosures of who would be in his Cabinet. In lighthearted moments, he joked about seances with dead presidents and the appeal of animal shelter dogs that are "mutts like me."

Constrained by the fact he will not take office until Jan. 20, Obama deferred to President Bush and his economic team on major decisions. "The United States has only one government and one president at a time," he said.

Declaring he would not respond to issues "in a knee-jerk fashion," Obama declined to say how he would deal with Iran, whose president sent a letter of congratulations to Obama. "I want to be very careful that we are sending the right signals to the world as a whole that I am not the president and I won't be until Jan. 20," he said.

A new jobless report offered no comfort. The unemployment rate climbed to a 14-year high in October, and 10.1 million people were out of work. In Detroit, General Motors reported a huge third-quarter loss and said it may run out of cash next year. Ford planned more job cuts after burning through billions of dollars of its own.

While standing back as long as Bush is president, Obama said his advisers would keep close watch on the administration's efforts to unlock frozen credit and stabilize financial markets. Obama said he wanted to make sure the Bush administration was "protecting taxpayers, helping homeowners and not unduly rewarding the management of financial firms that are receiving government assistance."

Obama spoke after he and Vice President-elect Joe Biden met privately with economic advisers to discuss ways to stabilize the economy.

"We are facing the greatest economic challenge of our lifetime, and we're going to have to act swiftly to resolve it," Obama said.

He said he was confident that "a new president can have an enormous impact," but he tempered that optimism by adding, "I do not underestimate the enormity of the task that lies ahead."

"Immediately after I become president, I will confront this economic challenge head-on by taking all necessary steps to ease the credit crisis, help hardworking families, and restore growth and prosperity," Obama said.

"Some of the choices that we're going to make are going to be difficult," he said. "It is not going to be quick. It's not going to be easy for us to dig ourselves out of the hole that we are in." But he said he was confident the country could do it.

Obama left the door open to the possibility that economic conditions might prompt him to change his tax plan that would give a break to most families but raise taxes on those making more than $250,000 annually.

"I think that the plan that we've put forward is the right one, but obviously over the next several weeks and months, we're going to be continuing to take a look at the data and see what's taking place in the economy as a whole," Obama said.

Democratic congressional leaders want to pass a broad economic aid package in a postelection session later this month, but prospects appear dim because of Bush's opposition.

Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., the majority leader, said the House wouldn't reconvene for a postelection session unless Bush did an about-face and drops his opposition. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., isn't sure such a package could get through the Senate either, he added.

"Clearly there's no point in us doing something if the administration's going to take a position that they're not going to sign something," Hoyer said.

If Congress and Bush can't come to terms on a stimulus bill this fall, lawmakers have spoken with Obama's team about a Plan B: The new Congress could quickly pass an economic aid package when it reconvenes in early January, readying it for Obama's signature as his first official act after being inaugurated, Democratic leadership aides said.

That measure would probably be just the first installment of a broader package, including a middle class tax cut, that Congress could pass separately after Obama is in the White House.

Terence Hunt and Julie Hirschfeld Davis contributed to this report from Washington.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Social Security COLA for 2009

2008-10-19T22:42:00.003-04:00

From the Social Security Administration:

Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for more than 55 million Americans will increase 5.8 percent in 2009, the Social Security Administration announced today. The 5.8 percent increase is the largest since 1982.

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits increase automatically each year based on the rise in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), from the third quarter of the prior year to the corresponding period of the current year. This year's increase in the CPI-W was 5.8 percent.

The 5.8 percent Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that over 50 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2009. Increased payments to more than 7 million Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries will begin on December 31.

Some other changes that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $106,800 from $102,000. Of the estimated 164 million workers who will pay Social Security taxes in 2009, about 11 million will pay higher taxes as a result of the increase in the taxable maximum.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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2009 COLA Announcement

2008-10-16T20:39:00.006-04:00

Today's 2009 COLA Announcement Will Leave Millions of Seniors in Poverty

WASHINGTON,, Oct 16, 2008
5.8 Percent COLA Increase Is Being Touted as Largest Since 1982,
But Fails to Keep Up With Rising Costs

This morning, The Social Security Administration announced a 5.8 percent increase in Social Security checks next year, the largest such increase since 1982.
However, the announcement ignores the fact that the increase still badly trails inflation, will leave seniors with less buying power than they currently have, and will thrust more elderly Americans into poverty.
Although the COLA is intended to help seniors keep up with inflation, a recent study by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) that analyzed 15 key expenditures found that people 65 and over have lost 51 percent of their buying power since 2000. Expenses such as home heating oil and gasoline have more than doubled since the beginning of the decade, while food staples such as eggs and potatoes have increased by 137 and 97 percent, respectively.
In addition, the average Medicare Part D prescription drug program will increase by 24 percent next year, and home heating oil this winter is forecast to increase by 23 percent from last year.
"Social Security is supposed to protect seniors in need - but with five million seniors below the poverty line, it's clear the system is failing them," said Shannon Benton, executive director of The Senior Citizens League. "Seniors know that even the relatively large increase isn't nearly enough to shield them from costs skyrocketing by double digits."
A majority of the 50 million Americans who receive a Social Security check depend on it for at least 50 percent of their total income, and one in three beneficiaries relies on it for 90 percent or more of their total income.

With 1.2 million members and supporters, The Senior Citizens League is one of the nation's largest nonpartisan seniors groups.
For Full Press Release, Visit http://www.SeniorsLeague.org.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Medicaid for Medicare Recipients?

2008-10-11T22:05:00.011-04:00

In some states individuals who have Medicare coverage may be eligible to have their Medicare premiums paid by Medicaid if their income is between 100% and 135% of the poverty level.

(Medicaid does not pay for prescription drugs for people on Medicare.)

Medicare-Aid

Medicare-Aid is a free Medicaid program for people who have Medicare and also have limited income and resources. The program can help pay your Medicare premiums, co-payments and deductibles. It is also known as Medicare Savings Program. There are three different levels of Medicare-Aid. All are based on an individual’s countable income.

Comprehensive Medicare-Aid (MQB-Q) covers:

Medicare Part B premium
Medicare Part A premiums (when applicable)
Medicare hospital deductible
Medicare annual deductible
20% Medicare co-payment
If you go into a nursing home, Medicare-Aid only covers the first 20 days.

Limited Medicare-Aid (MQB-B) covers the Medicare Part B premium

Limited Medicare-Aid Capped Enrollment (MQB-E) also covers the Medicare Part B premium. Funds for this program may be limited.

Your Medicare-Aid Benefit depends on your monthly income

Income includes:

Social Security
Veterans Benefits
Pensions and other retirement benefits and
Wages (some income can be disregarded).

Resources Include:

cash
bank accounts
second car
retirement accounts
stocks and bonds and
real estate that is not your home.

Your resources must be no more than $4,000 for an individual, or $6,000 for a couple. Resources DO NOT INCLUDE your home, car, household furnishings, clothing or other personal effects such as jewelry.

Medicare-Aid Monthly income limits (Effective 04/2008)

Program - Number in Family

_________1________2______

MQB-Q _$867 ___$1,167

MQB-B _$1,040 __$1,400

MQB-E _$1,170 __$1,575

Medicare-Aid for Working Individuals with a Disability can help you keep your Medicare Part A coverage.

If you have lost your entitlement to free Medicare Part A benefits because you returned to work and now have earned income, Medicaid has a Medicare-Aid program that may pay your Medicare Part A premium for you.

To be eligible for Medicare-Aid for Working Individuals with a Disability, you must be under 65, disabled, and entitled to enroll in Medicare Part A.

Contact your local Department of Social Services (DSS) for more information.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Lifetime Care: What Does It Cost?

2008-10-07T16:51:00.002-04:00

A 65-year-old couple retiring this year will need close to $250,000 to cover their “routine” out-of-pocket medical costs through their lifetimes, according to two new estimates.

In June the nonprofit Employee Benefit Research Institute predicted that $235,000 would be needed to give a couple “a 90 percent chance” of having enough money for retirement health costs. A month earlier, Boston-based Fidelity Investments put the figure at $225,000—nearly 5 percent more than its 2007 prediction, and a 41 percent jump since the company began the annual estimates in 2002.

In both cases, the estimates cover the cost of prescriptions, deductibles and Medicare premiums—but not long-term care, over-the-counter medications or dental and vision care.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Cash Before Care: Don't Get Blindsided

2008-10-07T16:28:00.003-04:00

By Sid Kirchheimer

How to protect yourself from unexpected—and expensive— upfront medical costs:

• Know your coverage. Understanding the specifics of what is and isn’t covered can help you avoid pre-admission sticker shock. When Shirley Giarde’s husband was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and needed to have a defibrillator and pacemaker implanted, she discovered that her health policy considers the devices as durable medical equipment, which isn’t covered. Giarde, 55, of Walla Walla, Wash., owes $102,000 for his treatment and has refinanced her car to help pay for it.

• Challenge the decision. If faced with unexpected expenses, call your insurer and say you need relief, advises Nancy Davenport-Ennis, CEO of the Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF). Medicare patients should contact their state health insurance assistance programs. Go to www.shiptalk.org

• Apply for “charity care.” Check with your state health department to see if you qualify. Some hospitals may give you the runaround and say they don’t have a charity care application, Davenport-Ennis says. But federal law requires that hospitals receiving federal funding—and most do—must devote a certain percentage of services to charity cases.

• Get an advocate. Last year, the PAF www.patientadvocate.org or 1-800-532-5274) took on the cases of 45,000 patients from all 50 states and gave telephone guidance to nearly 7 million others—at no charge. “If an older person is acutely ill and needs hospitalization, we can go to court and try to receive an injunction to facilitate immediate admission. Then we fight with the insurer and hospital about payment,” says Davenport-Ennis.

• Seek other money. Specialists at the National Cancer Information Center are available 365 days a year to help cancer patients with treatment-related financial problems. The center maintains a database of community and national resources that have funds available for medical care or to help patients with utility bills, food or rent. Call 1-800-227-2345.

• Avoid medical credit. Big-name lenders such as Chase, Citigroup and GE Money are pushing lines of credit and credit cards specifically to pay medical costs. Some hospitals and doctors get incentives for promoting the deals to patients, but these offers can come with penalties, high interest rates and other fees, according to Consumer Reports.

• Get insurance. If you want to buy individual insurance, and don’t have a preexisting condition, go to www.healthinsuranceinfo.net for information on your options and state insurance rules.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Cash before Care

2008-10-07T16:15:00.004-04:00

by Sid Kirchheimer

After Dave Williams learned in April that the mass in his neck was malignant, his doctor referred him to a local cancer center. At his appointment, he was stunned at what he heard. “They said, ‘We’re looking at $30,000 worth of treatment, and we need $20,000 upfront,’ ” says Williams, 62, of Beeville, Texas. “I said, ‘I don’t have that kind of money.’ ”

For the retired landscape designer, the hospital’s demand was an especially heavy blow, since he had recently paid off $273,000 in out-of-pocket costs for his ex-wife’s care for ovarian cancer (his employer-sponsored health plan refused to cover her because she had cancer when he enrolled). “I became poor trying to save her, but she died,” says Williams, who now lives in a trailer on a friend’s property.

In his case, he applied for “charity care” at other hospitals but was rejected because he has saved about $10,000 in a 401(k). “They all asked for a lot of money, upfront, before they would do anything to help me,” says Williams, who is still exploring his options.

His story is all too familiar to Anna McCourt, supervisor of the American Cancer Society’s National Cancer Information Center, which helps patients 24 hours a day. “We’ve seen this for quite some time, but it’s now happening more and more. Requests from hospitals for tens of thousands of dollars upfront are not uncommon,” she says, “and there are occasions where patients have been asked for hundreds of thousands before they can access the care they need.”

Those most likely to be hit with upfront fees are the underinsured and the recently uninsured. And having employer-provided insurance is no guarantee that you won’t need to pay before check-in, a startling change from the traditional practice of billing after treatment. Today, the typical patient with private insurance is responsible for 23 percent of his or her medical bills—more than twice the out-of-pocket costs in 1980.

Moreover, copayments and deductibles are rising at a time when health plans are imposing new caps on the total number and cost of certain therapies, says Nancy Davenport-Ennis, CEO of the nonprofit Patient Advocate Foundation in Newport News, Va., which assists people with conditions that are expensive to treat. So if you need 30 radiation treatments, but your insurance will cover only 12, you pay for the other 18, Davenport-Ennis says. “And increasingly, you’ll be required to pay for them beforehand.”

Hospitals say these pay-before-stay policies are necessary to help offset unpaid debt. Uncompensated care cost U.S. hospitals $31.2 billion in 2006—up from $19 billion in 1998, according to the American Hospital Association, which represents the nation’s nearly 5,000 community facilities.

“There are patients who can’t pay,” says AHA official James Bentley. “But there are also patients who have some portion of their bill that they simply don’t pay. What hospitals have done is try, with fairness and decency, to collect from people who can pay.”

Bentley says he has no “hard data” on how many hospitals ask for upfront payments—usually from patients with long-term, costly conditions such as cancer and heart disease that may be life-threatening but aren’t classified as “medical emergencies.” (Hospitals are required by law to treat medical emergencies before asking for payment.)

Bentley also points out that half of all hospitals lose money on patient care and see only a “narrow window of profit” from other income sources—such as grants and community donations—leaving one in four U.S. hospitals operating in the red. According to the AHA, for every dollar provided in patient care, hospitals receive only 92 cents in Medicare reimbursements and 87 cents from Medicaid, the federal-state health program for low-income people.

Even so, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of data from the American Hospital Directory, the 50 largest not-for-profit institutions enjoyed a combined net income of $4.27 billion in 2006, an eightfold increase since 2001.

Meanwhile, the nation’s 2,919 nonprofit community hospitals receive some $50 billion in annual tax exemptions and other subsidies. Of those facilities, one in seven that responded to a 2006 Internal Revenue Service survey required patients to pay or make an arrangement for payment prior to being admitted.

“It’s shocking that some hospitals badger sick people for ‘down payments’ when they arrive for treatment or even withhold treatment until they produce a check,” says Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who has requested a Government Accountability Office report on how nonprofit hospitals fulfill their charitable mission and pay executives, some of whom receive annual salaries of more than $1 million. “This is like applying the principles of home or car sales to health care,” he says.

Dave Williams would agree. As the mass on his neck continues to grow, he says he’s planning a road trip to Mexico with a friend “to see what can be done down there. I have to do something.”

Sid Kirchheimer is a Philadelphia-based journalist writing about health and consumer issues.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Proactive Ways To Protect Your Identity

2008-09-25T20:53:00.006-04:00

For the eighth consecutive year, identity theft topped the Federal Trade Commision's (FTC) list of leading consumer fraud complaints. In 2007, the FTC received 258,427 complaints - more than four times the next-highest entry. And a recent survey conducted by Javelin Strategy & Research found that 8.4 million Americans were victims of identity fraud last year alone.

There are a number of steps you can take to limit access to your personal information and reduce your risk of falling victim to identity theft. Here are just a few:

Safeguard Personal Information
- Since "dumpster diving" is a proven way to gather personal information, shred account statements and financial documents before tossing them in the trash. You may also want to send mail containing personal information from a secure location, such as the post office.

Don't Fall For Scare Tactics
- Beware of anyone who reports a service issue or emergency and asks for your account information. If you have a legitimate business relationship, the person should already have any information needed.

Click Carefully
- Don't open attachments or click on links sent to you from an unknown source. Pop-up ads and e-mail links may sometimes contain viruses or spyware - and may even attempt to capture your information by using a Web site that resembles a familiar company or service (a practice known as "phishing").

Protect Your Social Security Number
- In many ways, your Social Security number is your most valuable asset. It holds the key to your personal information, such as your health and financial records. As a result, you should never write your Social Security number on a check, use it as a password, or give it to anyone unless necessary.

Monitor Your Credit Reports and Accounts
- If you see any unfamiliar charges, or notice that your billing statements haven't arrived, be sure to report it to your creditor or fnancial institution. You can also request a copy of your credit report to see what accounts have been opened in your name and check your payment history. To receive your free credit reports, just call 1-877-322-8228, or Click Here.

It's possible to protect your personal information and keep identity thieves at bay. For additional resources, please Click Here.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Let’s Put a Leader in the White House

2008-09-10T14:34:00.003-04:00

By Lee Iacocca - July 7, 2008

Some people call me a grumpy old man. Well, I’m beyond grumpy. I’m verging on outraged. A couple of years ago, I came out of retirement (I wasn’t very good at it anyway) to write a book, Where Have All the Leaders Gone? I couldn’t sit silently by and watch this country that I love so much continue to veer off course. My goal was to light a fire—to get people thinking about where we’re headed. I felt a sense of extreme urgency about our need to put a leader in the White House, not just a sound bite with a good haircut. Well, my book has received an overwhelming response, but the campaign year still feels like the silly season. I’m not sure the media got my message.
You’d think that with 80 percent of the American public saying we’re on the wrong track, there would be a lot of serious discussion about leadership in this election. Not so. The media cover every twitch and gaffe of the candidates. We know where they buy their suits (and pantsuits) and where they go to church. We know their bowling scores and whether they prefer a beer and a shot or a glass of Chablis. But how much do we really know about their leadership qualities?
I want to hear specifics. Show me instances where the candidates have demonstrated creativity in solving problems, courage in the face of adversity, curiosity about people who aren’t like them, and the ability to communicate forcefully, with friends and enemies alike. Show me examples of competence—that’s a quality in short supply these days. Show me examples of conviction and good old-fashioned common sense. I know the candidates can talk the talk. They’re politicians. Can they put some actions behind those words? I’m not so sure.
Here’s another thing I want to know before I cast my vote—and this is a pet peeve of mine: Who is going to be on their teams if they’re elected? The presidency is not a one-man or one-woman show. If we’ve learned nothing else in recent history, we’ve learned that it matters who is appointed secretary of defense, or secretary of state, or attorney general. It matters who the key advisers are—the people who have the president’s ear. But have you noticed that when you ask a candidate about possible appointments, you get some drivel about how it’s premature to name names? Why should it be such a secret? When have you ever heard a reporter press a candidate about this? I think we should demand an answer. Let’s hear their lists.
I’ve never been commander in chief, but I’ve been a chief executive officer, and I know that you’re nothing without your team. If you want to be a great leader, you’ve got to surround yourself with great people.
My message to each candidate is simple: Prove that you’re a leader, and name the team—now—that will back you up. That’s what America deserves.

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Lee Iacocca is a former chief executive officer of Chrysler Corp. and the author of the book Where Have All the Leaders Gone? This article appeared in the AARP Bulletin

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Everlasting Debt

2008-09-07T21:42:00.008-04:00

By Andrew L. Yarrow

Despite centuries of distaste for debt, the United States will be nearly $10 trillion in debt by Election Day 2008. It has promised another $50 trillion or so in explicit and implicit benefits to be paid in the future--a number that has almost doubled during the presidency of George W. Bush; in fiscal parlance, these are "unfunded liabilities," which businesses and state and local governments are forced to report on their books--but the federal government is not. To put these numbers in varying perspectives, $50 trillion is equal to nearly 100 percent of Americans' total net worth--everything that we as individuals, as businesses, and as a country own. It also adds up to a cool half a million dollars in debt for every American household.

--From Forgive Us Our Debts; The Intergenerational Dangers of Fiscal Irresponsibility by Andrew L. Yarrow, Yale University Press, 2008.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Money and energy saving washing machine tips you can use

2008-07-25T14:09:00.012-04:00

Do loads of good

by: Kate Goodloe

The summer sun is a great tool to dry your clothes. But hanging your laundry on the line isn’t the only way to be more efficient when you do the wash.

Your washing machine is a great place to start when you are trying to reduce your energy use. Unlike clothes dryers, where there is little difference in energy efficiency among different models and brands, clothes washers come in a great variety of shapes and efficiencies. Choosing the right model and using it wisely can lead to big energy savings – and that helps both your home and the environment.

New, efficient washing machines that meet the Energy Star standard cut both energy use and water consumption by 40% when compared to normal washers, according to Energy Star. Two main features are responsible for the bulk of these savings. First, the new models are front-loading, and they don’t have a central agitator. So instead of filling a tub full of water, the new machines tumble your laundry through a small amount of water. Second, they have a very high spin speed – and that extracts more water from your clothes, helping them dry quickly and ensuring they don’t use a lot of time or energy in the dryer.

These more efficient models make a big difference. While traditional machines can use 40 gallons of water for each load of laundry, efficient machines use far less. Over the span of a year, they can save 7,000 gallons of water over a traditional washing machine, according to Energy Star. And because they don’t have an agitator, they can fit more clothing – an average of 20 pounds, compared with 15 pounds in a standard washer. The way you use the machines is important, too.

Always wash your clothes in cold water, if possible. About 90% of the energy your washer consumes is used just to heat the water. Avoid the hot cycle, and don’t use the sanitary cycle, which increases the water to very hot temperatures and uses a great amount of energy. Switching the temperature setting from hot water to warm for a load of laundry can reduce your energy use by one half, according to Energy Star. Using cold water is even better.

When you do the wash, make sure you are filling up the machine with dirty clothes. Washing a small load of laundry uses roughly the same amount of energy as washing a large load, so run it at capacity when possible. Also use the high-speed spin option, so that the washer will extract as much water from your clothes as possible to help them dry quickly.

Finally, if you are using a new, efficient front-loading washer, make sure you are caring for it properly. Only use high efficiency detergent, as regular detergent will create too many soapsuds in front-loading machine. And leave the door open for an hour or two after your laundry is done. Because the door is made to be watertight, it won’t let any water evaporate from your machine if you keep it closed. Leaving the door open for an hour allows the remaining moisture to evaporate, and keep your machine working well.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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T. Boone Pickens: Kicking Off the World's Largest Wind Farm

2008-07-23T20:27:00.010-04:00

Written by Katie Fehrenbacher

Posted April 14th, 2008 at 9:03 am in Energy

Our favorite oil-baron-turned-wind-power-wildcatter, T. Boone Pickens, will make the first down payment this month on 500 wind turbines for his plan to build the world’s largest wind farm in Texas, says the Guardian. Over the next four years, Pickens plans to build 2,700 wind turbines that would supply 4,000 megawatts — enough to power 1 million homes.

It’s interesting that Pickens tells the Guardian that the wind farm will cost $10 billion to build, because we’ve previously heard figures closer to $6 billion (via the WSJ). Perhaps Pickens underestimated the cost last year. As we pointed out in February, the cost of the raw materials to build turbines, as well as demand for turbines themselves, have been lifting the upfront costs of building wind farms.

And the costs of building Texas’ transmission lines, to move the power from the farms to more populated areas, has been adding up, too. The state could spend anywhere between $2.95 billion and $6.38 billion on laying new lines, according to a recent report.

But Texas and its entrepreneurs like Pickens are willing to make the investment. The state leads the nation in wind power and is building a booming industry off of the renewable energy technology. Texas not only has large stretches of windswept rural plains, but it has the kind of regulatory atmosphere that can fast-track wind projects.

The farmers who own that windswept land can also make significant money off the farms. A New York Times story mentioned a farmer that makes $500 a month for each wind turbine on his property. Pickens tells the Guardian he’s paying $10,000 and $20,000 in annual royalties for every turbine farmers allowed on their land.

And it’s becoming a point of pride for Texas — Jerry Patterson, the Texas land commissioner, told the NYT, we are No. 1 in wind in the United States, and that will never change.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Al Gore lays down green challenge to America

2008-07-18T20:56:00.005-04:00

Zachary Coile, Chronicle Washington Bureau

Friday, July 18, 2008

Former Vice President Al Gore, seeking to shake up an energy debate that is focused mostly on drilling, challenged the United States to shift its entire electricity sector to carbon-free wind, solar and geothermal power within 10 years, and use that power to fuel a new fleet of electric vehicles.

The goal is the most ambitious energy plan by a major U.S. political figure - and one many energy experts say is unrealistic. Gore insists the only real obstacle is the reluctance of America's leaders to seek bold solutions to high energy prices and global warming. He likened his challenge to President John F. Kennedy's 1961 call to put a man on the moon.

"This goal is achievable, affordable and transformative," Gore told more than 1,000 cheering supporters at the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall in Washington. "It represents a challenge to all Americans in every walk of life: to our political leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, engineers and to every citizen."

Gore is seeking to pressure the presidential candidates and Congress, which is in the middle of a fierce debate on energy policy. He said he has spoken to both Republican Sen. John McCain and Democratic Sen. Barack Obama about his ideas. Obama issued a statement Thursday saying he strongly agrees with Gore's goal.

New jobs, safer world
"It's a strategy that will create millions of new jobs that pay well and cannot be outsourced, and one that will leave our children a world that is cleaner and safer," Obama said.

McCain said that while he and Gore might disagree on some aspects of climate change, he supports the goals Gore outlined for developing wind and solar. "If the vice president says it's doable, I believe it's doable," McCain said.

Gore's challenge would require a massive restructuring of America's electricity sector. The country currently relies on coal for about half of its electric power - 49 percent - followed by natural gas (22 percent) nuclear (19 percent) and hydropower (6 percent), according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Renewable power accounts for 2.5 percent, although it's growing rapidly in many states, especially California.

Jim Owen, a spokesman for the Edison Electric Institute, which represents investor-owned utilities that produce 70 percent of the nation's power, said his group supports Gore's call for more electric vehicles and a major increase in wind, solar and geothermal. But Owen said there's no way renewables could meet all the country's energy needs in 10 years.

"We cannot do the job with renewables and energy efficiency alone," he said. "We have to have a balanced energy portfolio that includes all those things in even higher percentages, but also has to include nuclear. And we frankly think that nuclear should be increased."

Gore, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and 2000 Democratic presidential candidate, presented his challenge as a solution to three overlapping crises: an economic crisis fueled by rising energy prices; a global climate crisis; and a national security crisis fed by instability in the Middle East, the largest source of the world's oil supply.

"We're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet," he said. "Every bit of that's got to change."

Gore said as the prices of oil and coal have increased, wind and solar have become more economically competitive. He noted that the price of the specialized silicon used to make solar cells fell from $300 per kilogram to as low as $50 per kilogram recently.

But Gore acknowledged that there are barriers to reaching his goal. The nation's electric grid is still not sufficiently developed to move solar power from sunny states out West or wind power from windy states to power-hungry markets, he said.

A centerpiece of Gore's plan would be to help beleaguered U.S. automakers produce a new national fleet of plug-in electric vehicles. Foreign competitors, especially Toyota, have taken a lead in selling fuel-efficient hybrids. Gore said U.S. automakers could regain their edge with new electric cars that can be plugged in at night - saving consumers money while reducing air pollution and U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

Gore isn't the only one touting a new energy plan focused on renewables. T. Boone Pickens, a Texas oilman who has recently invested heavily in wind, is pushing a plan to use wind power for about 20 percent of the nation's electricity needs, and then use the natural gas that would have gone to power plants for new fuels for cars and trucks.

Gore has previously supported cap-and-trade schemes, which could raise revenue to subsidize renewable projects. But he said Thursday he also likes the idea of cutting the payroll tax and creating a new tax on carbon emissions, which would give a leg up to low-carbon sources.

Cheers against drilling
Gore drew his loudest cheers from a crowd packed with environmentalists when he denounced efforts, backed by President Bush, McCain and congressional Republicans, to boost oil drilling. Gore said, "It is only a truly dysfunctional system that would buy into the perverse logic that the short-term answer to high gasoline prices is drilling for more oil 10 years from now."

Environmentalists have been disappointed at the recent energy debate, where even some Democrats have backed more drilling as an answer to $4-per-gallon gasoline. Gore's speech could convince Democrats to take a different approach, they said.

"It's a very aggressive, bold, comprehensive proposal and it's great to challenge the politicians to go where they need to go," said League of Conservation Voters President Gene Karpinski.

Throwing down the green gauntlet
Former Vice President Al Gore challenged the United States to produce all its electricity from carbon-free renewable sources such as wind, solar and geothermal within 10 years. His speech sparked strong reactions from all sides:

Gore: "Scientists have confirmed that enough solar energy falls on the surface of the Earth every 40 minutes to meet 100 percent of the entire world's energy needs for a full year. And enough wind power blows through the Midwest corridor every day to also meet 100 percent of U.S. electricity demand."

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, Democratic presidential candidate: "I strongly agree with Vice President Gore that we cannot drill our way to energy independence, but must fast-track investments in renewable sources of energy like solar power, wind power and advanced biofuels, and those are the investments I will make as president."

Arizona Sen. John McCain, Republican presidential candidate, on Gore's goals for more wind and solar power: "There may be some aspects of climate change that he and I are in disagreement (on)," but "if the vice president says it's doable, I believe it's doable."

T. Boone Pickens, Texas oilman and wind-power booster: "Former Vice President Al Gore put forward a framework of a plan that is focused on global warming and climate issues. ... My plan is aimed squarely at breaking the stranglehold that foreign oil has on our country. We import 70 percent of our oil, and that number is growing larger every year. Vice President Gore's plan does not address this enormous problem."

Jim Owen, spokesman for Edison Electric Institute: "We cannot do the job with renewables and energy efficiency alone. We have to have a balanced energy portfolio that includes all those things in even higher percentages, but also has to include nuclear. And we frankly think that nuclear should be increased."

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.: "The vice president's main effort is to mobilize the American people behind meaningful action and less talk about global warming."

Gene Karpinski, League of Conservation Voters president: "It's a very aggressive, bold, comprehensive proposal, and it's great to challenge the politicians to go where they need to go."

Former Rep. Bob Barr, Libertarian presidential candidate: "None of us can walk away from this issue without agreeing with him that we do have a very serious problem, and it's only going to get worse unless we do something about it. ... I hope to be a part of that, and I would like to see the free market take the lead, not the government."

Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash.: "It pointed out that the only way we have a chance to drive down oil prices is if we become free of the slavery of oil. If we can give Americans choices of electrical cars or ... biodiesel cars, then and only then do we have a chance of dealing with this cost issue. That is why $4-a-gallon gas is not an enemy of action, it's an ally of action."

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Lions Clubs Free Vision Screenings

2008-07-14T21:59:00.010-04:00

Sharpness of vision or visual acuity is recorded as a fraction, e.g. 20/20. This means that a person can read a line of type standing 20 feet (or six meters) from an eye chart.
Vision Screenings can Detect a Variety of Conditions:

Nearsightedness or myopia - the eye can focus on close images but not on distant images. Eyeglasses, contact lenses, or laser surgery can correct this condition.
Farsightedness or hyperopia - the eyes can focus on distant images but not on close images. Eyeglasses, contact lenses, or laser surgery can correct this condition.
Astigmatism - visual distortion of both close and distant images. Eyeglasses, contact lenses, or laser surgery can correct this condition.
Presbyopia - a reduction in the ability to adjust from distant and/or close images. This condition cannot be corrected. It is a normal condition of aging.
Amblyopia or lazy eye - in young children (under age five), caused by: a misalignment of the muscles controlling eye movement; a focusing disorder; or a cataract. The child relies on his/her good eye for vision.
Glaucoma - a variety of diseases of the eye characterized by increased pressure within the eye. This pressure destroys the optic nerve. Medication, incisional surgery, or laser surgery can correct this condition.
Cataract - a cloudy or opaque areas in the lens of the eye caused by a change in the chemical composition of the eye lens. Surgery can correct this condition.

Lions clubs often conduct free vision screenings. Often, the screenings are performed by Lions who are eye care professionals. Some Lions districts have their own mobile van for vision screenings. In other instances, clubs arrange with local hospitals or health departments for an eye care professional to perform the screenings.

Children should have their vision tested at age three. Indicators of vision problems in children include:

attempts to brush away blurred vision
blinking more than usual
rubbing eyes frequently
squinting when focusing on distant objects
frowning excessively or tilting of the head from one side
stumbling over small objects
sensitivity to light
red, swollen, or encrusted eyelids
recurring sties in the eyes
inflamed or watery eyes

Helping The Blind See
Lions are recognized worldwide for their service to the blind and visually impaired. This service began when Helen Keller challenged the Lions to become "knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness" during the association's 1925 international convention.
Click here to read her inspiring speech.

The World Health Organization estimates that the eyesight of one-fourth of the world's population can be improved through the use of corrective lenses. Unfortunately for many, a pair of glasses is both unaffordable and inaccessible. In developing countries, an eye exam costs as much as one month's wages, and a single doctor may serve a community of hundreds of thousands of people.

The general public is encouraged to donate their used eyeglasses and sunglasses to their local Lions club, or to send them to one of the ten regional
Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers.

Prevention and reversal of blindness is the Lions clubs major service commitment. This program takes the name of SightFirst, and includes the activities of every club working to control blindness. SightFirst is an international program dedicated to controlling blindness worldwide. Clubs work individually or through their districts to prevent and reverse the major causes of blindness in their area.

For more information, contact your local Lions club or the Program Development Department at Lions Clubs International Headquarters at: programs@lionsclubs.org

To locate a Lions club in your area Click Here.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Heat Stress in the Elderly

2008-07-13T20:57:00.007-04:00

Elderly people (that is, people aged 65 years and older) are more prone to heat stress than younger people for several reasons:

Elderly people do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature.
They are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that upsets normal body responses to heat.
They are more likely to take prescription medicines that impair the body's ability to regulate its temperature or that inhibit perspiration.

Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body's temperature rises rapidly, the body loses its ability to sweat, and it is unable to cool down. Body temperatures rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.

Signs and Symptoms of Heat Stroke
Warning signs vary but may include the following:

An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F)
Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
Rapid, strong pulse
Throbbing headache
Dizziness
Nausea
Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids.

Signs and Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion
Warning signs vary but may include the following:

Heavy sweating
Paleness
Muscle Cramps
Tiredness
Weakness
Dizziness
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Fainting
Skin: may be cool and moist
Pulse rate: fast and weak
Breathing: fast and shallow
What You Can Do to Protect Yourself
You can follow these prevention tips to protect yourself from heat-related stress:

Drink cool, nonalcoholic beverages. (If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask him how much you should drink when the weather is hot. Also, avoid extremely cold liquids because they can cause cramps.)
Rest.
Take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath.
If possible, seek an air-conditioned environment. (If you don't have air conditioning, consider visiting an air-conditioned shopping mall or public library to cool off.)
Wear lightweight clothing.
If possible, remain indoors in the heat of the day.
Do not engage in strenuous activities.
What You Can Do to Help Protect Elderly Relatives and Neighbors
If you have elderly relatives or neighbors, you can help them protect themselves from heat-related stress:

Visit older adults at risk at least twice a day and watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Take them to air-conditioned locations if they have transportation problems.
Make sure older adults have access to an electric fan whenever possible.
What You Can Do for Someone With Heat Stress
If you see any signs of severe heat stress, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the affected person. Do the following:

Get the person to a shady area.
Cool the person rapidly, using whatever methods you can. For example, immerse the person in a tub of cool water; place the person in a cool shower; spray the person with cool water from a garden hose; sponge the person with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the person in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously.
Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101°–102°F
If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
Do not give the person alcohol to drink.
Get medical assistance as soon as possible.

For additional information Click Here.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Uninsured Seek Free Medical and Dental Care From Volunteers

2008-07-13T20:40:00.005-04:00

Remote Area Medical (RAM) is a group of volunteers who provide free medical and dental care to the needy. RAM travels around the world, providing care to third world countries, but the New York Times reports that they are increasingly needed here in the U.S. to treat uninsured Americans living in rural areas. A recent RAM "expedition" to Appalachia drew so many uninsured residents that the volunteers had to turn hundreds of people away. Many of these individuals have chronic health conditions. Although RAM cannot provide continuing care, they can diagnose health conditions and refer patients to local physicians for follow up.

Be sure to click through the photo essay, which provides a disturbing view of the "third world" that exists in our "first world" country.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Hill-Burton Free and Reduced Cost Health Care

2008-06-18T14:31:00.010-04:00

In 1946, Congress passed a law that gave hospitals, nursing homes and other health facilities grants and loans for construction and modernization. In return, they agreed to provide a reasonable volume of services to persons unable to pay and to make their services available to all persons residing in the facility’s area. The program stopped providing funds in 1997, but about 200 health care facilities nationwide are still obligated to provide free or reduced-cost care.

Steps to Apply for Hill-Burton Free or reduced-cost Care

Find the Hill-Burton obligated facility nearest you from the list of Hill-Burton obligated facilities.
Go to the facility's admissions or business office and ask for a copy of the Hill-Burton Individual Notice. The Individual Notice will tell you what income level makes you eligible for free or reduced-cost care, what services might be covered, and exactly where in the facility to apply.
Go to the office listed in the Individual Notice and say you want to apply for Hill-Burton free or reduced-cost care. You may need to fill out a form.
Gather any other required documents (such as a pay stub to prove income eligibility) and take or send them to the obligated facility.
If you are asked to apply for Medicaid, Medicare, or some other financial assistance program, you must do so.
When you return the completed application, ask for a Determination of Eligibility. Check the Individual Notice to see how much time the facility has before it must tell you whether or not you will receive free or reduced-cost care.

If there is no Hill-Burton Obligated Facility nearby

If you owe bills or need care, contact the department of social services at the hospital where you were or intend to be treated and your county department of social services to see if they can help you.

To learn more about Hill-Burton click here.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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It's in Your Hands

2008-06-18T14:21:00.003-04:00

A layman can indeed save the life of a heart attack victim--without special training or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, according to the American Heart Association.

Its new Hands-Only CPR guidelines, issued in March, say that in an emergency, first call 911. Then push hard (depressing about 2 inches) and fast (about 100 pushes a minute) on the center of the victim's chest, and don't stop until help arrives.

Bystanders help fewer than a third of heart attack victims, the AHA reports, because they may be reluctant to do mouth-to-mouth or fear they can't do CPR correctly. But the new technique can more than double a victim's chances of survival. Go to http://www.americanheart.org/handsonlycpr for an instructional video.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Find and Compare Health Care Services Online

2008-06-18T14:09:00.005-04:00

SeniorDECISION is a free Web site featuring consumer ratings and reviews of nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, retirement communities and home health care agencies. The site lists more than 65,000 care and housing services nation wide. Visitors can rate a provider and share opinions on topics ranging from cost to cleanliness, administration to activities. For more information, visit SeniorDECISION.com.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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High Blood Pressure and ED: When Medicine Is a Problem

2008-05-13T20:34:00.003-04:00

To treat erectile dysfunction (ED), you have to lower your blood pressure first. Some people are able to do that through lifestyle changes alone. Others need help from prescribed blood pressure medication.

A problem for many men, however, is that some types of blood pressure medicines can actually cause erectile dysfunction. That may make it difficult to stay on your medication, especially if your high blood pressure never caused any symptoms before. An estimated 70% of men who have side effects from blood pressure medicine stop taking it.

Many drugs used to treat high blood pressure have been linked to erectile dysfunction. But some are much less likely than others to cause problems. Certain of the blood pressures drugs may even improve erectile dysfunction for some men.

It's known that diuretics (or water pills, like hydrochlorothiazide) and beta-blockers (like Atenolol) can cause erection problems. These are also the first drugs that a doctor is likely to prescribe if you are not able to lower your blood pressure through diet and exercise.

If you're taking a diuretic, you should stay on your medicine until your blood pressure is under control. If your erection problem persists, or your blood pressure goes back up, then your doctor might switch you to a drug that's less likely to cause erectile dysfunction. Or, a combination of medications might work better to control your blood pressure and reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction.

If you take a beta blocker you may also want to ask your doctor if it might cause erectile dysfunction. You might be better off on a medication less likely to cause a problem.

Erection-Friendly High Blood Pressure Drugs
Some families of high blood pressure drugs rarely cause erectile dysfunction as a side effect:

ACE inhibitors
Alpha-blockers
Calcium channel blockers
ARBs
ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors -- such as Lotensin, Capoten, Zestril, Prinivil, etc. -- widen blood vessels and increase blood flow. Erectile dysfunction is rarely a side effect, occurring in less than 1% of patients. There are several different medications in the category. This seems to be true of all of them.

There are also medications known as calcium channel blockers, such as Diltiazem, Verapamil, or Amlodipine. As a group, they rarely cause erectile dysfunction. But erection problems may be less common with some individual drugs within that group than with others. Your doctor can tell you which.

In general, alpha-blockers do not often cause erection problems either. In one study published in the journal Hypertension in 1997, a small number of men actually had a 100% improvement in their erectile dysfunction after two years on the alpha-blocker Cardura.

Drugs known as ARBs (angiotensin II receptor blockers, like Losarten) are not only unlikely to cause erection problems, but they may actually improve sexual function in men with high blood pressure.

A 2001 study published in the American Journal of the Medical Sciences looked at the drug Cozaar, an ARB. At first, just 7% of men and women in the study said they felt sexually satisfied overall. After 12 weeks of Cozaar, about 58% said they were sexually satisfied. The percentage of men who reported having erectile dysfunction dropped from 75% to 12%.

Another study compared the drug Diovan, an ARB, with Coreg, a beta-blocker. The study, published in the American Journal of Hypertension in 2001, compared the effect of the two drugs on blood pressure and frequency of sexual intercourse.

The drugs controlled blood pressure equally well. But people who took the ARB reported having sex more often during the 16 weeks of treatment. They said they had sex about eight times a month before, and 10 times a month after. People taking the beta-blocker had sex much less often: eight times a month before, and four times a month after.

Steps to Take If Your Medicine Causes Erection Problems
Tell your doctor if you think your blood pressure medicine may be causing problems with your erections.

If it is your medication, and not just your high blood pressure, switching to another prescription may solve the problem. Never stop taking your medicine without your doctor's OK.

But high blood pressure itself still could be to blame for your erectile dysfunction. In that case, ask about trying an erectile dysfunction drug like Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra.

You should only take these drugs once your blood pressure is under control. They are not safe for men with untreated high blood pressure. They are also not safe for men taking alpha-blockers, or men taking nitrate drugs for heart disease.

This article can be found at: WebMD Medical Reference

SOURCES: American Urological Association, "AUA Guideline on the Management of Erectile Dysfunction: Diagnosis and Treatment Recommendations." Barksdale, J. Pharmacotherapy, May 1999; vol 19: pp 573-581. Ferrario, C. Journal of Clinical Hypertension, November/December 2002; vol 4: pp 424-432. Fogari, R. American Journal of Hypertension, January 2001; vol. 14: pp 27-31. Grimm, R. Hypertension, January 1997; vol 29: pp 8-14. Llisteri, J. American Journal of the Medical Sciences, May 2001; vol. 321: pp 336-341. WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with The Cleveland Clinic: "Hypertension: Treatment With ACE Inhibitors."

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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The Pursuit Of Happiness Is In Your Control

2008-05-11T16:18:00.006-04:00

We are all capable of controlling our happiness. As we age, that ability to be happy becomes ever more immportant. Whether you are retired or still working, your quality of life is affected by the basic emotion of happiness.

Where does true happiness come from? Recent studies suggest that happiness is -- to a great extent -- a matter of attitude, and therefore within our control as human beings. In fact, psychologists have been able to identify a number of steps we can take to make our "pursuit of happiness" more productive:

1. Be an optimist - Researchers have come to see optimism as a skill, rather than an inborn trait. While some people are naturally more adept than others, it can be learned.
By practicing positive thinking, you can develop better coping mechanisms and learn how to manage negative feelings.

2. Be social - Human beings are social animals, and studies have shown that people with five or more close friends are 50% happier than those with a smaller social circle.

3. Challenge yourself - While challenges are often viewed in a negative fashion, they are essential to the human condition. Find something that tests your limits, such as learning a new language or sport, and you will generally be happier for it.

4. Focus on doing, rather than having - If you have a choice between buying a big-screen television or going on a cruise, opt for the latter. The satisfaction you get from ownership fades rapidly, while the memory of an event often grows more profound over time.

5. Take good care of yourself - Your physical appearance directly affects your self-esteem. Do something each day to make yourself feel good, such as exercising, getting your hair done, or simply dressing nicely for dinner.

6. Look after another - The act of caring for another living being fills an important psychological need in all of us. It takes you out of your own world and can give you a sense of purpose. That's why so many empty-nesters and retirees find it rewarding to adopt a pet, become a mentor, or volunteer at a local school.

While these are just a few ways to find happiness in today's world, they are a good place to start. You may even find that the pursuit itself is what really counts in the end.

Source: CNNMoney.com "Can Money Buy Happiness" by David Futrelle, July 18, 2006

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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The Greenest Culture in Modern History

2008-04-28T21:50:00.003-04:00

You may not have thought about it in quite this way, but truth be told, there was a culture of educated people that had elections, maintained equality for women and lived greener than any other.

This culture and the various societies, which grew up around it, were some of the most advanced at the time. They offered free healthcare, shared wealth, and a welcome place within the community. All of this, and completely green to boot! They raised crops when the need arose and understood the value of soil rotation to ensure repeated strong harvests. They used natural organic fertilizers for their crops as well and some of their plantings, particularly the peach orchards they cultivated, were the finest in the world. What was this culture? Why, the Native Americans, of course!

From sea to shining sea, through the woodlands and out into the plains, Native Americans practiced sustainable farming and hunting unlike anywhere else in the world. Their societies were very well established in certain places and although they had access to modern food and wares, they preferred to live their lives off the land.

This made them incredibly efficient hunters and fishers never stripping the land of game or the waters of fish. They were the ultimate conservationists, reusing everything until it could no longer be used, recycling everything until there was nothing left to recycle, and never wasting so much as a drop of water or a bite of food. To say they were a self-sustaining culture would be an understatement because ultimately they never took more than they needed and always gave back more than they took.

Their yields were high and their commodities so valued that buying their items or trading on the open market was highly prized. Buffalo hides and skins were absolutely prized among traders and commanded top dollar on the open market. Cheyenne peach orchards were the finest anywhere. They were also some of the finest craftsmen and women the world has ever seen and this by using ordinary tools and natural goods.

These societies were governed by many advisors mostly elected officials. It was a true democracy where the people and the government worked together for the good of all. If the elected official could no longer do the job, that person was voted out and another was voted in. Everyone had a say in what happened in each particular society including women, which made them equals when it came to politics.

No greener communities could ever have been found, and although now having been relegated to reservations on government land they still practice sustainable methods for hunting, fishing and farming. Native Americans, still going green!

By Dale Y the Green Guy

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000

2008-04-23T21:49:00.011-04:00

(In a nutshell, this program provides low-income, uninsured, and underserved women access to timely, free high-quality screening and diagnostic services, to detect breast and cervical cancer at the earliest stages, through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). Eligible women are also provided with Medicaid to pay for certain cancer related expenses if they are enrolled in the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) prior to having been diagnosed with the above mentioned cancer(s). Many women needing treatment for breast or cervical cancer are not eligible for Medicaid unless they are enrolled in the NBCCEDP program. This is probably true for most or all states.)

Program Eligibility

An estimated 8–11% of U.S. women of screening age are eligible to receive NBCCEDP services. Federal guidelines establish an eligibility baseline to direct services to uninsured and underinsured women at or below 250% of federal poverty level; ages 18–64 for cervical screening; ages 40–64 for breast screening.

On October 24, 2000, President William Clinton signed into law the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-354). (PDF-115KB) This Act gives states the option to provide medical assistance through Medicaid to eligible women who were screened for and found to have breast or cervical cancer, including precancerous conditions, through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP).

On January 15, 2002, President Bush signed the Native American Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Technical Amendment Act of 2001 (Public Law No. 107-121). (PDF-33KB) This bill amends title XIX of the Social Security Act to clarify that Indian women with breast or cervical cancer who are eligible for health services provided under a medical care program of the Indian Health Service or of a tribal organization are included in the optional Medicaid eligibility category of breast or cervical cancer patients added by the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000.

NBCCEDP, which is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provides free breast and cervical cancer screening and follow-up diagnostic services to women in need, such as those who are uninsured or have low incomes. In 2000, CDC began its 10th year of this landmark program, supporting early detection programs in all 50 states, 6 U.S. territories, the District of Columbia, and 12 American Indian and Alaska Native organizations.

As of May 2004, all states have completed all steps required to accept the new Medicaid option.

Medicaid Plan Revisions as of 1/10/03

The Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson has approved a total of 48 states' and the District of Columbia's proposals to expand Medicaid benefits to uninsured women who are diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer through a federal screening program. For additional information, read the press release.

What is the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act?

Contacts for More Information

NBCCEDP Contacts

NBCCEDP contacts can answer questions regarding NBCCEDP program eligibility, as well as provide information about locations where services are offered.

CMS

As the administering agency for Medicaid, CMS can provide additional information.

Mammography

Cervical Cancer Screening

State and Federal Medicaid Contacts

National Conference of State Legislatures

State Legislation Relating to the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000*

Page last reviewed: June 27, 2007

Page last updated: June 27, 2007

Content source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Page Located on the Web at http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/legislation/law106-354.htm

Check It Out

2008-04-15T21:13:00.004-04:00

(I found this important information in the April 2008 AARP Bulletin.)

Benefits QuickLINK, AARP's website that helps people apply for state, federal and private benefits, has added new features.

Starting this month, you can apply online at www.aarp.org/quicklink for Medicare Rx Extra Help, a prescription drug assistance program for limited income beneficiaries. New, too, are publlic-benefits fact sheets for each state and an Applications Forms Center that lets you print applications for some 250 benefits programs.

In 2007 more than 20,000 people used Benefits QuickLINK to find out if they or their relatives qualified for public benefits, and more than 13,000 were eligible to receive at least one, says Lori Strauss, coordinator of the AARP Foundation Benefits Outreach Program.

(If you need this information or you know someone who does, it might be a good idea to "Check It Out.")

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Tree Amigos

2008-04-11T21:20:00.008-04:00

Older eco-activists are logging on--and spreading the word

For 64-year-old Joyce Emery, gray is the new green. The Ames, Iowa, grandmother of six began a personal environmental crusade by often swapping her car for a bike. But when Joyce bit the Web to find out how she could do more, she couldn't find a site that allowed easy access to like-minded people. So she cofounded an online community: www.greenseniors.org. Now, thousands know her by her blogosphere name--Green Granny--and they visit the site for advice, news, and stories of 50-plus "green heroes."

Green Granny's just the tip of the melting iceberg. As talk of global warming escalates, older Americans are increasingly taking a stand on the environment. Tellingly, a recent consumer survey found that people over 55 are more likely than any other age group to conserve energy in their homes. And these eco-elders are organizing online.

Max Lindberg, 76, records his Greening the Golden Years podcast (www.thelindbergreport.org) from his apartment in Tucson, Arizona. The show features interviews with activists and authors. And Robert Lane, 90, helped create a website called Gray is Green (www.grayisgreen.org), after convincing his Connecticut retirement community to conserve energy. "Our generation defeated fascism and Japanese imperialism," he says. "But we exploited the earth. So we owe it to our grandchildren to do what we can to repair it." --Jeffrey R. Young

Public Benefits

2008-04-01T21:44:00.008-04:00

Programs

(It is important to note that final program eligibility determination can only be made by the agencies administering the program(s). We encourage you to contact the agencies with any questions you may have.)

1. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

This program provides monthly cash assistance to people, age 65 or older, blind, or disabled, to ensure a minimum level of income. The benefit amount varies based on the applicant's living arrangements and income. For more information about this program call (800) 772-1213 or Click Here For SSA.

The Social Security Administration counts the date of a spoken or written request for benefits as the filing date of the application. This is important, since the date of the application will determine when benefits are effective. Unless you can submit a full application today, you should call SSA immediately (800) 772-1213 and say that you want to apply for Supplemental Security Income benefits.

For certain individuals who are not US Citizens, eligibility for this program is restricted. For further assistance for non-citizens, Click Here.

2. Veterans' Home Loans

The Veterans Administration offers home loan guarantees as protection against loan default. Loans may be issued directly to the veteran. Additionally, veterans with a service connected disability can obtain a grant to have their home specially adapted to their needs.

Applications for various veterans' programs are available online. For further assistance call the VA toll free number at (800) 827-1000 or visit the VA online by Clicking Here.

3. Veterans' Medical Care

This federal program assists veterans and designated dependents with medical benefits such as: hospital, nursing home, home health services, and inpatient or outpatient treatment. Other services include preventive and primary health care in any Veterans Administration (VA) health care center in the country, eye glasses, hearing aids, homelessness programs, dental benefits, prosthetic and orthotic devices, mental health programs, and rehabilitation services.

Applications for various veterans' programs are available online. For further assistance call the VA toll free number at (800) 733-8387 or Click Here to visit the VA online.

4. Food Stamp Program

This federal program is designed to increase the food purchasing power of low-income households. Food stamps can only be used to purchase food or plants and seeds to grow food. Food stamps cannot be used to buy non-food items such as pet foods or alcoholic beverages. Under certain circumstances, food stamps may be used to purchase food from nonprofit meal delivery services and communal dining facilities (such as senior centers).
Food stamps benefits are issued monthly through the Electronic Benefit Transfer system (EBT). Under EBT recipients receive a common benefit identification card to access benefits through a debit system. Recipients will not receive food stamp coupons. For more information about this program, call (800) 221-5689 or Click Here.

5. Weatherization Assistance Program

This federal program of the US Department of Energy is designed to promote energy conservation in low-income households. The program provides free home energy repairs and services that can lower energy bills for participants. Services include insulation of doors, windows, floors, walls, ducts, and water heaters as well as modification to furnaces and other heating devices.

For further assistance, please Click Here.

6. Senior Community Service Employment Program

This program provides low income individuals, 55 and over, with training and work experience leading to permanent employment. Participants are trained to serve in such positions as teachers, hospital and health aides, word processor operators, drivers, security operators, library aides, and more. The program is designed to bring together the talents of older workers and the unmet needs of communities. Participants in the program average 20 hours of work a week.

For further assistance, please Click Here.

7. Golden Age Passport (for persons age 62 and older)
(The Golden Age Passport is no longer available. The new permit is called the Interagency Senior Pass)

This is a lifetime entrance permit for individuals, 62 or older, to national parks, monuments, historic sites, recreation areas, and national wildlife refuges which charge entrance fees. It also provides a 50% discount on federal use fees for facilities and services. There is a one time processing charge.

For additional information, please Click Here.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Reverse Mortgages

2008-03-28T21:07:00.006-04:00

Thought For Today
Miles and miles may separate us but if we can help one another just a little we are brought closer and closer together.
Anonymous

What is a reverse mortgage?

A reverse mortgage is a complex home loan for senior homeowners who have built up substantial equity in their property. (Equity equals the value of your house minus what you owe on the mortgage. The longer you have lived in the house and paid off your mortgage, the less you owe and therefore the more equity you have.) In a reverse mortgage the lender loans you money based on the value of your home, the amount of equity you have in the home, and your age at the time of the loan application. The lender pays you the money either in a lump sum, in monthly installments, or as a line-of-credit. Unlike a traditional home equity loan or second mortgage, repayment is not required until you sell your home, move out permanently, or die. The amount of money you owe increases over time because you do not make payments. If you sell your home, you can keep any proceeds from the sale of your home in excess of what you owe the lender.

To qualify for a reverse mortgage, you must be at least 62 years old. The mortgage on your home must be completely or nearly paid off. You can get a reverse mortgage regardless of your current income.

What should I consider before applying for a reverse mortgage?

Reverse mortgages are more expensive and complex than traditional loans. Before applying for a reverse mortgage you should consider the following:

The costs of obtaining a reverse mortgage can be very high. You may have to pay some of these costs in cash. However, most lenders allow a portion of these costs to be financed as part of the loan balance. In addition, interest, insurance and service charges will be added monthly to the loan balance. Thus, the amount you owe the lender increases over time.

Is there another, less costly, means of adding to your income or meeting your financial goal? For example, you may reduce your expenses if you qualify for such benefits as a property tax credit or abatement. Even if you determine that you need a loan, another type of loan may better meet your needs and be less expensive than a reverse mortgage.

With a reverse mortgage you will retain title to your home and continue to be responsible for paying the property taxes, insurance and for the general upkeep of the property.

A reverse mortgage may affect your continued eligibility for need-based government benefits programs such as Supplemental Social Security (SSI) and Medicaid. Monthly payments from the loan must be spent within the month they are received. If not, such payments will be considered "income" and may make you ineligible for public benefits. You should contact your benefits provider to ask about how a reverse mortgage may affect your eligibility.

A reverse mortgage may not be right for you if you want to leave your home, free and clear, to your children or others who will inherit from you. Your relatives will not be able to inherit from you unless they pay off the loan after you have passed away.

You may be offered the option of using some or all of a lump sum payment to purchase an annuity. An annuity is an insurance product. Monthly payments are made to you for the rest of your life. The IRS does not tax loan advances as income, but annuity advances may be partially taxable. SEE A TAX PROFESSIONAL FOR GUIDANCE.

Beware of reverse mortgage scams! For example, some senior homeowners have been contacted by firms offering to assist them in finding a lender that does reverse mortgages, in exchange for a "small percentage" of the loan. This information is available for free from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by calling toll-free: 1-888-466-3487. You will be referred to a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. To visit the HUD website: Click Here

Compare offers for reverse mortgages. Reverse mortgages vary in cost. Of course, the cost of the loan affects how much cash you ultimately receive from the loan.

As with any loan, do not sign anything you don't understand. Do not sign a loan application with blank spaces!

Where do I go for help?

Evaluating reverse mortgage options may be confusing. Before you apply for a reverse mortgage you should get counseling from an impartial housing counselor. A counselor can help you decide if a reverse mortgage is right for you, or help you choose among the different types of reverse mortgages. A counselor may also help you identify and apply for public benefits. Such benefits may reduce your expenses or increase your income and do away with the need to apply for a reverse mortgage.

Free counseling is available from HUD-approved housing counseling agency. For referral to a HUD-approved housing counseling agency call: 1-888-466-3487. You can also visit the HUD website: Click Here

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by ONE FOR THE AGING. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Speak Up

2008-03-27T21:19:00.016-04:00

How An Idea Becomes A Law

Someone like you, or a group of people, or a legislator thinks of an idea that they think would be a good (for example) health policy. The legislator and the people that work for them turn the idea into a bill. First this new bill is read to everyone in the House. Then the bill is sent to the correct House committee. The members of the committee talk about the bill. The committee might change what the bill says. If the committee thinks the bill is a good health policy then the bill is sent back to the House of Representatives. Now, everyone in the House of Representatives votes on the bill. If most of the House members like the bill and vote yes, then the bill is sent to the Senate. The bill now goes to the Senate committee to review. If the committee members like the bill, they send the bill back to the Senate.
At this point, all the Senators vote on the bill. If the Senators like the bill, they vote yes. Now, the bill goes to the states Governor or if it's on the federal level, it goes to the President. If the Governor/President signs the bill it is approved. If the Governor/President vetos the bill, the bill is rejected. (The Congress with a two-thirds yes vote can override a presidential veto.) Once the Governor signs the bill it becomes a law of that particular State. When the President signs a bill it becomes the law of the Land (USA).

Things You Can Do To Be Heard

You can call or write your legislator concerning an issue that you feel should be addressed. The legislator can use what you have to say when he or she discusses this issue with the committee that makes decisions related to your particular concerns. You can call or write the legislator that represents your community. Or you can write or call a legislator that is a member of the committee that talks about your issue.

Legislators are people like you and me.

They want to hear from you, the voters who live in their community.

You vote for them. They want your vote.

They work for you. It is their job to help people like you.

Write A Letter

Tips to use when writing letters:
Write a short letter - one page is fine.
A handwritten letter is better.
Note: Since 9/11 some legislators prefer E-mail.
It's probably a good idea to check your legislators Website before communicating.

Sample Letter

Representative Sue Q. Doe
House of Representatives
Raleigh, NC 27601-1096
or
Senator William J. Doe
North Carolina Senate
Raleigh, NC 27601-2808

Dear Senator Doe:

I am writing to you as a voter in your community. I am concerned that too many people in North Carolina do not have Health insurance. I believe the government of North Carolina should make sure that everybody has health insurance. I hope that you will vote for bills that will help everyone receive health insurance.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.

Sincerely,

Joan P. Citizen
2222 Any Street
Littletown, NC 28000

Make A Phone Call

Tips for making calls to your legislator.

You can call your legislator at their office at the Capitol or their
office in your local area.

Tell them who you are and where you are from.

Let them know if you are also calling for other people in your community.

Tell them why you are calling.

Be polite.

Speak slowly.

Keep your cool.

If they can't help you, ask if they know who can help you.

Write down that person's name and number.

If you reach a machine, LEAVE a MESSAGE!

Leave your name and phone number and the reason for your call.

Keep a record of who you called, when you called, and why you called.

Remember to thank them for their time.

To find out which legislator represents you: Click Here and follow the links.

Most of the information on this page was culled from "How YOU Can Work for Better Healthcare" By Holly Franklin. To find more info of this type Click Here.

DID YOU KNOW... On examining the vital statistics for 1995 of 20 industrialized countries, it becomes clear that we definitely have a big problem with the overall approach to medical care in America. In 1993 the cost of health care in the US was almost three thousand three hundred dollars per person, which ranked the highest cost of healthcare per capita in the world (the 2nd highest was 50% less!). Despite the staggering healthcare costs, US was 17th (out of 20) in life expectancy! On the other hand, Japan and Sweden are ranked #1 and #2 in longevity despite having healthcare costs of 50% to 75% less per capita than the US. According to World Health Organization (WHO), the main reason is that other developed countries approach prevention and treatment in a very different manner - they even use alternative solutions that are barely tolerated or rather expressly discouraged in America despite their proven and well documented successes. Prevention is always much higher on the agenda of the citizens and governments of the countries on the top of the list. On the other hand if a doctor in America dares to introduce a natural, less costly method to a patient, no matter how safe or effective, his medical license can be revoked and he can be prosecuted and persecuted in many ways.

In 1999 life expectancy standing in the US plummeted from #17 to #24 in the world according to the World Health Organization whose Dr. Christopher Murray, M.D., Ph.D. had this to say about it: "Basically you die earlier and spend more time disabled if you are an American rather than a member of most other advanced countries."

The World Health Organization, the United Nations specialized agency for health, was established on 7 April 1948. WHO's objective, as set out in its Constitution, is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health is defined in WHO's Constitution as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. To visit the World Health Organization web site: Click Here

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by One For The Aging. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Internet Resources

2008-03-26T21:38:00.006-04:00

Seniors are becoming increasingly familiar with the wealth of information available on the Internet. Below is a list of organizations WEB sites, mailing address and phone numbers that will be of interest to anyone looking for information about consumer issues that affect seniors. This is not an exhaustive list and as everything related to technology, is subject to change.

AARP. Click Here For AARP

American Bankruptcy Institute. Click Here For ABI

ABA Commission on Legal Problems of the Elderly. Click Here For ABA

Alzheimer's Association. Click Here For ALZ

Center for Medicare Advocacy. Click Here For MedAdv

Consumer Consortium on Assisted Living. Click Here For CCAL

Consumers Union. Click Here For CU

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Click Here For NAELA

National Association of Consumer Advocates. Click Here For NACA

National Center on Elder Abuse. Click Here For EBC

National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform. Click Here For NCCNHR

National Consumer Law Center. Click Here For NCLC

National Senior Citizens Law Center. Click Here For NSCLC

The Center for Social Gerontology. Click Here For TCSG

For your convenience we have also listed the name, address, and phone number of these organizations below.

This list will be of interest to anyone seeking the name, address, and phone number of organizations that supply consumer information on issues that affect seniors.

AARP
601 E St., NW
Washington, DC 20049
(202) 434-2277

American Bar Association Commission

on Legal Problems of the Elderly

740 15th St., NW

Washington, DC 20005-1022

(202) 662-8690

Alzheimer's Association

National Headquarters

919 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1000

Chicago, IL 60611-1676

(313)335-5434

Center for Health Care Rights

520 S. Lafayette Park Pl., Suite 214

Los Angeles, CA 90057

(213) 383-4519

Center for Medicare Advocacy

PO Box 350

Willimantic, CT 06226

(860) 456-7790

and

1101 Vermant Ave., NW

Suite 1001

Washington, DC 20005

(202) 216-0028

Center for Social Gerontology

2307 Shelby Ave.

Ann Arbor, MI 48103

(734) 665-1126

National Academy of Elder Law

Attorneys

1604 N. Country Club Rd.

Tucson, AZ 85716

(520) 881-4005

National Association of Consumer

Advocates

1717 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Ste. 704

Washington, DC 20036

(202) 332-2500

National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing

Home Reform

1424 16th St., NW, Suite 202

Washington, DC 20036-2211

(202) 332-2275

National Consumer Law Center

18 Tremont St., #400

Boston, MA 02108

(617) 523-8010

Publications: (617) 523-8089

and

1629 K St., NW, Suite 600

Washington, DC 20006

(202) 986-6060

National Senior Citizens Law Center

1101 14th St., NW, Suite 400

Washington, DC 20005

(202) 289-6976

National Poverty Law Center

205 W. Monroe St.

Chicago, IL 60606

(312) 263-3830

Credit Bureaus (and to order credit reports)

Equifax. Click Here

Experian (formerly TRW). Click Here

Transunion. Click Here

Government Sites

U. S. Administration on Aging. Click Here
Includes links to state and area agencies on aging and consumer resources.

Federal Trade Commission

Consumer credit rights. Click Here

Senior Issues. Click Here

Government Services Agency. Click Here

This is the government's consumer information center.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by ONE FOR THE AGING. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Recall Information

2008-03-24T12:50:00.006-04:00

Safety First
If you plan to buy a used car, truck, or other consumer product from a dealer, private individual, retail store, or over the Internet - be sure it hasn't been recalled for safety reasons. Contact the appropriate Federal agency listed below. Recalls are also posted regularly on the Federal Consumer Information Center (FCIC) Website. To learn more CLICK HERE.

Cars
National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration
(NHTSA)
Department of Transportation
(DOT)
400 7th Street, SW, Room 5232
Washington, DC 20590
Toll free DOT Safety Hotline:
1-888-DASH 2 DOT (1-888-327-4236)
To go there now CLICK HERE.
NHTSA's hotline has information on
safety recalls; crash test ratings;
child safety seats; bicycles; air bags;
and impaired driving prevention.

Drugs and Medical Devices
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 1675
Rockville, MD 20857
Toll free: 1-888-463-6332 (10 a.m.
- 4 p.m. ET)
To learn more CLICK HERE

Food
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Meat and Poultry Hotline
1400 Independence Avenue, SW,
Room 2925 South
Washington, DC 20250
Toll free: 1-800-535-4555
TDD/TTY: 1-800-256-7072
To go there now CLICK HERE.

Seafood
Seafood Inspection Program
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
Department of Commerce
1315 East-West Highway, F/SI
Room 10842
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Toll free: 1-800-422-2750
Fax: 301-713-1081
Need more information? CLICK HERE.
Note: You can also contact the Food
and Drug Administration. (above)

Toy, Baby, Play Equipment and Household Products
Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC)
Washington, DC 20207
Toll free: 1-800-638-CPSC (2772)
(Product Safety Hotline)
TDD toll free: 1-800-638-8270
Fax: on demand: 301-504-0051
E-mail: info@cpsc.gov
To learn more CLICK HERE
CPSC oversees the safety of
over 15,000 kinds of consumer
products, including toys and nursery
equipment, appliances, sports, yard
and playground equipment, furniture,
clothing, computers, and fireworks.

Special Note: Beware of Credit and Sublease Brokers
These are the con artists who prey on people who have bad credit and cannot get car loans.
"Credit brokers" promise to get a loan for you in exchange for a high fee. In many cases, the "broker" takes the fee and disappears.
"Sublease brokers" charge a fee to arrange for you to "sublease" or "take over" someone else's car lease or loan. Such deals usually violate the original loan or lease agreement. Your car can be repossessed even if you've made all of your payments. You also might have trouble insuring your car.
Before you sign the deal take a copy of the contract and contact your state or local consumer protection office. They will be able to determine if this is a legitimate deal.

DISCLAIMER; The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by ONE FOR THE AGING. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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Who Is A Candidate For Clinical Trials?

2008-03-22T22:05:00.009-04:00

Did you know that only a fraction of patients who might benefit from an experimental therapy take advantage of clinical trials. The National Institutes of Health in hope of greater participation, has activated a Web site containing information about thousands of ongoing studies in humans for a range of diseases and conditions.

The site was developed as a result of the FDA's 1997 Modernization Act, which requires the Department of Health and Human Services, through NIH, to establish a national registry of clinical trials for both federally and privately funded trials.

Called ClinicalTrials.gov, it contains easy access to information, including the location of clinical trials, their design and purpose, criteria for participation, and contact information.

Clinical trials are medical research studies that evaluate the safety and effectiveness of new drugs or treatment procedures on volunteers. Without such trials, strides forward in disease diagnosis, treatment, and cures would never be achieved.

The site currently lists approximately 4,000 clinical studies supported by the NIH at more than 47,000 locations nationwide. To go there now, CLICK HERE.

DISCLAIMER; The information and opinions expressed on this blog are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product or course of action by ONE FOR THE AGING. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.

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