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Fall 2014
BOOMERS
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Boomers 2014
Boomers 2014
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What’s inside Publisher: Sam R Fisher
Become a better boomer ....................................... Page 5
High-tech ways to keep an eye on aging parents ........ Page 15
Advertising Director: Jennifer Baratta
Managing your IRA ..... Page 9
New treatments, getting screened for Hepatitis C ..................................... Page 17
Advertising Sales: Jill Reyna Kelly Shroyer
The importance of sharing your health history .... Page 10
Editors: Larry Lough Marla Seidell
New treatment regenerates, produces collagen ...... Page 12
Treating chronic pain with spinal cord stimulation ..................................... Page 21
Page Design: Marla Seidell
Is your diet making you sick? .................................... Page 13
Many Americans in denial over long-term care needs . Page 22
Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media, P.O. Box 498, Sterling, IL 61081, 815-625-3600. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Sauk Valley Media. The information in this guide is believed to be accurate; however, Sauk Valley Media cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Sauk Valley Media cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine.
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Boomers 2014
Avonlea Cottage Where loved ones feel at home.
Avonlea Cottage of Dixon A Dedicated Memory Care Community! We are pleased to announce that Avonlea Cottage of Dixon will begin accepting residents as a dedicated Memory Care Community in October 2014, pending licensure.
We are a Person Centered Care Community caring for each person in a positive environment. We do our best to provide a supportive environment because people with dementia are just like you and me, with the same emotional and social needs. Avonlea Cottage is dedicated to helping those with memory loss find security and fulfillment in everyday life. Our dedicated licensed staff caters to each individual resident’s needs.
Our mission is to create a community that dignity and respects each resident’s individuality, and to promote quality of life in all aspects of our care and services. Our warm, home like surroundings create a calm environment, and our staff is compassionate and encouraging. Here the residents participate in a variety of memory based activities that are thoughtfully planned by our caregivers, who provide close supervision and gentle support to our residents. Life is challenging for the family who cares for the individual with Alzheimer's or other dementia disorders. Families can be at peace knowing their loved one is cared for here at Avonlea Cottage.
Avonlea Cottage Services & Amenities
“Senior friendly” private bathrooms with easy access showers 24-hour protective care by an attentive staff of licensed and certified nursing personnel Medical Director services onsite Personal emergency response system 3 nutritious home cooked meals per day, plus snacks Memory based planned activities and special events Music therapy twice per month by a licensed therapist Housekeeping and laundry service Beauty Salon TV and phone hookups available Month to month rent; No leases or hidden commitments Avonlea Cotta 503 Countryside Lane ♦ Dixo Respite and short term care available at a daily rate
District Administrator: Mar
Avonlea Cottage of Dixon 503 Countryside Lane ♦ Dixon, IL 61021 District Administrator: Marge Cornejo Director of Nursing: Diane Hawkins Phone 815-288-6044 ♦ Cell 815-590-6582
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Become a better boomer
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
Seniors work up a sweat during a recent exercise class at the Dixon Family YMCA. The Y has many different classes and equipment for seniors to use.
Regular exercise can reduce effects of aging, help to maintain healthy joints
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BY LUCINDA HALL Special to Boomers
eady to ramp up your metabolism? It’s no surprise that baby boomers are lacing up their sneakers and heading to the gym, but it’s not just about the treadmill anymore. And, if you don’t have a fitness regiment, consider this: regular exercise can reduce the effects of aging, ease anxiety, boost your immune system, preserve lean body mass, maintain healthy joints, promote better sleep, and increase your energy. The Sterling Park District and Dixon Family YMCA have programs that can
help boomers add a spring to their step and tone to their tummies. Take, for example, the Silversneakers program offered by Dixon Family YMCA. The classes are designed to increase strength, flexibility, muscular endurance, balance, coordination, agility, speed, and power. Whew! The 45-minute sessions gently work all parts of the body. The Sterling Park District offers a fitness class just for people 60 and older at the Westwood Fitness and Sports Center. The program includes the use of Dyna-bands: wide, flat elastic bands that are used for strength training, replacing the need for heavier weights. The bands work with the body to create
resistance to strengthen muscles. The 45-minute classes are held three times a week. Yoga, the ancient art of using body positions to achieve a state of physical and emotional tranquility, is offered at Dixon Family YMCA and the Sterling Park District’s Duis Recreation Center. Yoga has been praised as a way to lower blood pressure and improve digestion, posture and sleep, while helping to maintain an overall youthful feeling by slowing the aging process. Beginner to advanced programs are offered at both facilities. EXERCISE CONTINUED ON 7
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Boomers 2014
Sterling Pavilion, Ltd. SINCE 1974
105 E. 23rd St., Sterling 815- 626-4264 www.sterlingrehab.com
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Programs provide positive motivation class using stationary cycles. Becoming increasing popular at WestCONTINUED FROM 5 wood is weekend adult competitive Dixon Family YMCA tennis with an increase in the number 110 N. Galena Ave., Dixon of baby boomers taking to the courts. If you’d like to make a splash, water 815-288-9622 Singles competition is held on Saturaerobics is a great way to go. Offered at www.dixonymca.org days and couples competition on Sunthe YMCA and the Duis Center, water days. aerobics are especially beneficial for Sterling Park District Dixon Family YMCA is particularly individuals who are looking for lowWestwood Fitness and Sports Center proud of the Operation Move to Win impact exercise. Classes include a car1900 Westwood Drive, Sterling program, which has been popular with diovascular workout and movements to 815-622-6201 boomers. Operation Move to Win is a improve muscle tone, as well as exercises 12-week health improvement partnerto increase flexibility and circulation. Duis Recreation Center ship with KSB Hospital, which resulted The YMCA also offers a water Pilates 211 E. St. Mary’s Road, Sterling in the Y’s new KSB Wellness Center. Stretches and Strength class. Held in the 815-622-6200 The goal of the program is to provide shallow end of the pool, Pilates exercises www.sterlingparks.org positive motivation for participants to are used to improve breathing, coordinalose weight and make healthy lifestyle tion and mental well being. changes. While the program is primarAerobic classes, which pair cardio and Both locations also offer scheduled lap strength training, are offered at both the ily made up of business and corporate and open swimming. employee teams, individuals who want Duis Center and YMCA. Aerobics help No boomer fitness program would be to participate can join the YMCA team. to increase oxygen to muscles through complete without a cardio component. physical activity while supporting cardio More information on the program can Westwood offers a Saturday Cardio Trio be found on the Y’s website. class as a great way to start the weekend. and circulation health. Classes range Like it or not, your body is changing. from step aerobics – focusing on the The workout, which is different each week, incorporates many different types lower body for firmer bottoms, hips and Become a better boomer. Break away thighs, to spinning – a high-energy work- from the treadmill and discover all the of cardiovascular activities to improve fitness fun that’s out there! out that can burn up to 700 calories per heart and circulation health.
EXERCISE
Where it’s at, baby
Dixon Family YMCA has a water Zumba class on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com
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Boomers 2014
Meet Our Staff At Heritage Woods! FRONT ROW: Denise Garcia (Director of Marketing), Sharon Taylor (Dietary Service Manager), Rebecca Hawkins (Receptionist), Brenda Legaspi (Business Office/Move-In Coordinator) BACK ROW: Ryan Schrader (Maintenance Director), Brittany Herwig (Administrator), Mia Weber (Resident Services Coordinator), Nikki Burkett (Director of Nursing), Mariann Hall (LPN)
Enjoy the worry-free lifestyle seniors deserve! Heritage Woods is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for older adults and their families. Not just any supportive living community, but one that provides exceptional care, support and dignity to all of our residents. Affordable for all incomes, call Denise Garcia for more information.
To arrange a visit contact Denise Garcia, Marketing Director 815-625-7045 marketing@hw-sterling-slf.com 2205 Oak Grove Ave., Sterling (3 Blocks N. of W. LeFevre) Managed by BMA Management, Ltd. www.bma-mgmt.com
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Are you a savvy IRA manager? Many individuals missing out on long-term savings benefits BY MARK JEWELL The Associated Press
BOSTON – When it comes to retirement planning, most of the focus is placed on 401(k)s. The reality is that individual retirement accounts represent the largest share of America’s savings. At the end of last year, IRAs had $5.4 trillion in assets compared with $5.1 trillion in 401(k)s and other defined contribution plans. Some 40 percent of U.S. households own at least one type of IRA, which offer tax incentives to save for retirement. Many of these IRA holders are left to their own devices to manage their accounts. Of course, some investors are take-charge types with the ability to maximize savings without taking on too much risk. But in many other instances, portfolio management is hit-or-miss, with little attention to selecting an appropriate mix of mutual funds or other investments. “Many individuals are still missing out on the long-term savings benefits of IRAs, simply because they don’t understand what they are and how they work,” says Dan Keady, director of financial planning for TIAA-CREF, a financial services company. In a recent telephone survey of 1,008 adults, his company found that nearly half of the respondents lacked a basic knowledge. IRAs provide individuals not covered by workplace retirement plans with an opportunity to save on a tax-advantaged basis on their own. The money put into a traditional IRA can be deducted from the accountholder’s taxable income for that year, and the money isn’t taxed until it’s withdrawn at retirement. Also, workers who are leaving jobs can use IRAs to preserve the tax benefits that employersponsored plans offer.
Haphazard management With so many IRA holders managing accounts on their own, approaches vary widely, often to the detriment of longterm savings. For example, surveys by the fund industry’s trade organization, the Investment Company Institute, found that lowyielding money-market mutual funds make up a far larger proportion of IRA portfolios than is typically considered appropriate. For example, the ICI found that IRA holders in their 60s had invested
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“A Random Walk Down Wall Street”; and Charles Ellis, founder of the investment consultancy Greenwich Associates and author of another renowned investing book, “Winning the Loser’s Game.” Both are advocates of low-cost index mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, which seek to match market performance rather than beat it. Customers can set up portfolios investBurton Malkiel, Princeton University ed exclusively in ETFs, after a free phone economist and author consultation with Rebalance IRA’s professional financial advisers to assess their goals and existing investment accounts. Initial calls usually last around an hour. nearly 25 percent of their portfolios in For a $250 initial fee, a customized low-yielding money funds. That’s four account is established and the adviser times larger than the average allocamaintains periodic contact with the custion to money funds in 401(k) accounts tomer. A fee of 0.5 percent of the total owned by people in their 60s. assets invested is charged annually for Perhaps even more surprising, IRAs portfolio management, with a minimum held by people in their 20s had an averfee of $500. An accountholder also pays age 22 percent in money funds. management expenses of the ETFs. Among the reasons cited for the unusu- Those expense ratios vary depending on ally high weighting: Money funds are which ETFs are selected, and average often a default investment for small roll- less than 0.20 percent. overs into IRAs from other investment Because Rebalance IRA’s $500 miniaccounts, and IRA holders may be more mum annual management charge per likely than other investors to keep invest- account is steep for someone with a ed savings readily available for conversmall IRA, it’s not recommended for an sion to cash. account with less than $75,000. Most investors use money funds as parking places for cash that’s temporarSystematic approach ily kept out of higher-yielding investThe service includes automatic portments. But it’s no way to build retirefolio rebalancing to help IRA holders ment savings because money funds have become more disciplined investors. offered returns barely above zero for the “People tend to buy when everybody past 4 years. is optimistic and the stock market is David Schehr, who follows investment industry trends for research firm Gartner up, and sell when everybody is pessimistic and the market is down,” MalInc., says it appears that people “are a little better at investing for the long-term kiel says. “Rebalancing makes you do the opposite of what your emotions tell with their 401(k)s than they are with you to do.” their IRAs.” He cited findings that systematic He believes there’s a growing need for rebalancing over the past 15 years products to help IRA owners manage added 1.5 percentage points to an averaccounts on their own. Among the startage annual return of a portfolio investup firms that have launched in recent ed in stocks and bonds, while reducing years to address this need are onlinevolatility. based services such as Wealthfront, Schehr, the Gartner analyst, sees ShareBuilder, Betterment and Motif significant potential for start-ups Investing. like Rebalance IRA if they can market themselves effectively. “A lot of New option boomers really haven’t dealt with how The latest entrant into this niche is they’re managing their IRAs,” he says. Rebalance IRA, which launched in Janu- “And with retirement around the corary. Its advisory board includes Burton ner, they’re finding out they’re late in Malkiel, a Princeton University econothe game to start taking charge of their mist and author of the investing classic, accounts.”
A lot of boomers really haven’t dealt with how they’re managing their IRAs. And with retirement around the corner, they’re finding out they’re late in the game to start taking charge of their accounts.
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Boomers 2014
Share your health history
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Many health conditions run in the family, so knowing the health history can help you or your loved ones take the right steps to stay well and get tested if you or they are at risk.
Start a new tradition at your family reunion
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FAMILY FEATURES
amily reunions are a great opportunity to reconnect and turn relationships into strong, eternal ties. This year, try starting a new tradition – share your health history with your family. Passing down family health history can be as important as sharing that heirloom recipe your great grandmother shared with your grandmother. Many health conditions run in the family, so knowing the health history can help you or your loved ones take the right steps to stay well and get tested if you or they are at risk. Sharing a health history means having a conversation about your health conditions or those experienced by another family member. These conver-
sations can transform a simple update about a loved one’s wellbeing into a piece of prevention. Why is sharing a health history important? Though marked with stories and laughter, family reunions are also a perfect time to talk about important matters that affect the health of your family members. As the number of those with common ailments such as obesity, heart disease and cancer continues to rise, other major conditions should not be overlooked, especially kidney disease. According to the U.S. Renal Data System, nearly one in six African American adults (or 6.2 million) has signs of kidney disease. There are usually no symptoms for early kidney disease, which is why it
is sometimes called a “silent disease.” The two primary causes of kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure. The National Kidney Disease Education Program is encouraging relatives at family reunions to talk about the connection between diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease. The Program’s Family Reunion Health Guide can help you plan large group or one-on-one conversations about kidney disease. You do not need to be a healthcare professional or expert to start these important conversations – the guide has everything you need. To download or order a free copy, visit http://nkdep.nih.gov/get-involved/talkwith-family.shtml?ref=MAT.
Boomers 2014
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Five tips for starting the conversation Talking about health history at family reunions can be challenging. Having a strategy for difficult conversations can help guide the discussion and make it a meaningful and productive experience. Here are some tips for getting a one-on-one conversation started at your next family reunion: 1. Ask permission to have the conversation and try to choose a convenient time and comfortable environment. Look for a quiet, private place that is free from distractions. 2. Acknowledge that it is not always easy to face personal health problems. Try to be supportive and listen to their concerns. 3. Include personal stories in your health discussion. Try sharing your story on how you manage diabetes or high blood pressure to help put them at ease. 4. Offer to go with family members to their health care provider and encourage them to bring information about kidney disease, diabetes and high blood pressure to appointments. 5. Follow up with family members in ways that work for them. Some relatives may prefer a phone call to an email or text message. Make the kidney connection with a loved one and start a new, healthy tradition at your next family reunion. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/ MaketheKidneyConnection. Photo courtesy of Getty Images #12194 Source: NKDEP
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Boomers 2014
Fresh approach A Family Features
woman’s face and hands can be tell-tale signs of years creeping by, but there is another area of the body that is often overlooked and can be one of the best indicators of a woman’s true age – her dÈcolletage. The chest is one of the most-exposed and least-cared-for areas of the body. Sun damage conspires with the passage of time to thin the skin and create wrinkles, sunspots and crepe paper-like texture. Even sidesleeping, which chronically compresses the skin, contributes to vertical wrinkling patterns on the chest.
Finding the right solution: While there are a number of products that target this area – from topical skin care creams and serums to structural devices worn on the chest for side sleepers – the options are still relatively limited. The available options require ongoing use, offer a preventive focus, and are limited in their ability to repair damage. Those looking to find a cure in a bottle can pick from a number of creams at their local department stores, pharmacies and salons.
Treatment regenerates weak, and produces new collagen
time, there is now an option specifically indicated to non-invasively treat the chest to improve lines and wrinkles of the dÈcolletage. The Ultherapy(r) DÈcolletage Treatment utilizes imaging and micro-focused ultrasound therapy capabilities, only takes about 30 minutes to administer and boasts no downtime after the procedure. Unlike lasers, radio frequency, surgery and other technologies, non-surgical Ultherapy bypasses superficial skin to deliver the right amount of ultrasound energy at the right depths and the right temperature. This Photo courtesy of Getty Images Sun damage conspires with the pas- energy triggers a natural response under the sage of time to thin the skin and create skin, jumpstarting the regenerative process that strengthens weak collagen and producwrinkles. es fresh, new collagen. The treatment also uses traditional ultrasound imaging, which Yet, these over-the-counter treatments allows practitioners to see the layers of are not regulated by the Food and Drug tissue they are treating, ensuring the treatAdministration, potentially offering false ment energy is delivered to where it will be hope to consumers. Lasers can be effective, most beneficial. but must be used at low levels over several For those ready to don V-neck blouses treatments, and the patient must avoid any again without the risk of revealing their sun exposure throughout the multi-month real age, Ultherapy may be a simple solutreatment regimen. tion to supplement a cabinet full of miracle Fresh approach to an age-old problem: creams. To learn more, visit NewUltherapy. With a recent FDA clearance, for the first com.
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Boomers 2014
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Is your diet making you sick? Many ailments can be caused by what we eat
While organic produce may reduce your exposure to pesticides, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will be more nutrient-rich. So in addition to a healthy diet, what can you do to ensure you’re getting StatePoint Media Service sufficient nutrition? Smith offers a few tips: eeling under the weather? Many common ailments, as well as seriTake an ideally dosed multious life-threatening conditions, vitamin/mineral. From Vitamin A to are caused by what you are and aren’t zinc, your body is dependent on these putting into your body, experts say. nutrients for optimal health. But not all “Even if you stick to a well-balanced multivitamins are the same. Skip the diet, you may not be getting sufficient bare-bones variety that provide mininutrients,” says Dr. Michael A. Smith mal doses of some essential nutrients, M.D., author of the new book and educa- and opt for a robust multivitamin that tional tool, “The Supplement Pyramid” delivers ideal doses of a full spectrum and host of Healthy Talk on RadioMD. of essentials. com. Omega-3 fatty acids are healthy fats In fact, nearly all Americans have an that your body can’t live without, supinadequate intake of Vitamin E and nearly a third do not get enough Vitamin porting mental and cognitive health, decreasing cardiovascular disease risk, C according to government statistics. “It doesn’t matter how many fruits and and lowering systemic inflammation. vegetables you’re eating if they’re grown But because your body can’t make them, you either have to get omega-3 fatty in nutrient-poor soil,” Smith says. “The acids through your diet or supplementaunfortunate truth is that the nutrient content of our soil – and thus our crops – tion. has been steadily declining for decades.” DIETCONTINUED ON 14
F
Endocrinology
Rheumatology
‘‘ ’’ Even if you stick to a well-balanced diet, you may not be getting sufficient nutrients. Dr. Michael A. Smith, M.D.
StatePoint Media Service
It doesn’t matter how healthy your diet is. If your gut is compromised, it can’t extract the protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals you need to survive.
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Boomers 2014 • Lunch Served Daily from 11:30-12:30 • Educational Programs • Senior Services • Daily Activities • Social Trips • Computer Resource Center
Taking supplements can improve the way you feel DIET
CONTINUED FROM 13
All of your cells need energy to function, particularly your heart and brain cells. You may have never heard of coenzyme Q10, but it plays a critical role in cellular energy production. Look for this supplement in ubiquinol form, which is absorbed much better by the body. It doesn’t matter how healthy your diet is. If your gut is compromised, it can’t extract the protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals you need to survive. Not only that, but about 70 percent of your immune system is actually located in your gut. Since so many factors diminish levels of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointes-
tinal tract, it’s essential to replenish their numbers with daily probiotic supplementation. When seeking out supplements, stick with a company that has an established track record of selling high-quality products and uses only pure, potent raw materials. They should also include dosages of key ingredients high enough to impact your health. Find out if your supplements make the grade by doing your research. For free tools to build your personal supplement regimen and for more information about Smith’s new book, visit MySupplementPyramid.com or call 855-870-0687. Don’t assume a healthy diet is sufficient. Key supplements can improve the way you feel.
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Signals to Look for: • Social circles will dwindle with age. This can have profound effects on our loved ones. • Does your parent no longer engage in their regular social activities? • Is your loved one worried about living alone?
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Boomers 2014
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Peace of mind
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High-tech ways to keep an eye on aging parents
pany’s co-founder and chief operating officer, who is a college friend of Sturdivant’s fter her 75-year-old mother sufhusband. When Glickman and his colfered a severe health problem leagues founded the company 2 years ago, last fall that required surgery, they set out to create a product that would Colleen Sturvidant needed a way to bethelp seniors live independently for as long ter keep an eye on her. as possible while helping their families Because Sturdivant lives in Oakland, keep an eye on them. California, and her mom lives by herself Lively is just one of a growing number Colleen Sturdivant in Sacramento, California, it wasn’t easy of companies offering senior monitoring for Sturdivant to check on her, and there devices and systems. Among its competiwas little chance she could respond tors are startups such as BeClose and has been reassuring to both Sturdivant quickly in an emergency. So when a GrandCare Systems as well as Care Innoand her mom. The system can’t directly friend of her husband suggested she vations, a joint venture formed by Intel notify Sturdivant when there’s an emer- and General Electric. try out a new device his company had designed for just such situations, Sturdi- gency, but by keeping track of her mom’s Their products are meant to address some regular patterns, it can indicate when vant, 45, decided to give it a try. of the implications of the aging of the Amersomething might be wrong. The product, from a San Francisco ican population. The U.S. government’s “I talk to my mom often, practically startup called Lively, is built around a Administration on Aging forecasts that the daily,” said Sturdivant, who works in the number of Americans age 65 or older will system of network-connected sensors information technology department of a grow from 40 million, or 13 percent of the that can tell Sturdivant when her mom local retailer. “But I want that conversagets something out of the fridge, when population, in 2010 to 72 million, or 19 pertion to be about what’s going on in her she opens her front or back door, when cent of the population, in 2030. People are life and not about, ‘Are you OK?’ ” she takes her medicine and even when living longer, and are contending for longer That kind of peace of mind is precisely she leaves the house. periods with chronic illness. what Lively’s founders wanted to offer It may sound creepy to those conHIGH-TECH CONTINUED ON 16 cerned about privacy, but Lively’s system customers, said David Glickman, the com-
A
BY TROY WOLVERTON MCT News Service
I talk to my mom often, practically daily. But I want that conversation to be about what’s going on in her life and not about, ‘Are you OK?’
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Lee County Council on Aging Assisting seniors to better quality of life Founded as a non-profit organization in 1974, Lee County Council on Aging provides services and programs to Lee County seniors which help seniors to remain independent.
Many activities are available at the center: Lifescape Meals • Exercise Classes Zumba • Bridge Games Pool Tables • Bowling • Wii Fun Medical Screening Programs - Flu Shots & Blood Pressure Checks Computer Classes • SHIP (Senior Health Insurance Program) Tax Counseling (February, March & Early April) Every Day - Coffee & Conversation with old & new friends
Santa’s Workshop for Kids Saturday, Dec. 6 • 8-11am Now accepting donations of new or lightly used items!
100 W West Second S d Street, S Di Dixon, IL • 815 815-288-9236 2
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Boomers 2014
Many aren’t aware of these products HIGH-TECH
‘‘ ’’
the box. The hub includes a built-in cellular data connection, so users don’t have to worry about connecting it to their home network or to the The number of seniors suffering from Internet. Basically, all they have to Colleen Sturdivant Alzheimer’s disease alone is expected to do to set it up is attach the sensors to grow from about 5 million today to more refrigerator doors or medicine cabithan 7 million in 2025. At the same time, nets and plug in the hub. there’s a dearth of assisted-living faciliGlickman and his colleagues intenties and lack of trained health givers, aware that such products are availtionally left out a camera and designed noted BeClose CEO Liddy Manson. able, Caressi and other analysts say. the system so that it doesn’t provide “We’re definitely going to have a In many cases, the costs have been fine-grained details of seniors’ activihuman resources crunch,” Manson said. prohibitive to consumers and health ties. It can’t tell what they’re eating “So technology is going to have to bridge insurers often don’t pick up the costs. or what pills they’re taking, and it the gap.” Glickman and his colleagues hope doesn’t keep track of their movements While the potential demand for prod- they can expand the market by outside the home. ucts such as those offered by BeClose addressing some of the flaws they saw Perhaps most importantly, Glickman and Lively is huge, the market is still in earlier senior monitoring systems. and his colleagues priced the service nascent, industry analysts say. Greg They were expensive; complicated, relatively cheaply. The system costs Caressi, an analyst who focuses on sometimes requiring professional $149 plus a $20 monthly subscription health care technology for research installations; or invasive, some includ- fee. By contrast, similar systems can firm Frost & Sullivan, estimates that ing video cameras or requiring seniors cost $400 or more with monthly chargonly about $15 million worth of senior to wear something around their neck es starting at $50. monitoring products were sold in the at all times. For Sturdivant, the system has been United States last year. He forecasts By contrast, Lively’s service is well worth its cost. the market will grow to about $25 mil- designed to be simple. The kit comes “The monthly service price is fine for lion in 2017. with six sensors and a hub device that the peace of mind that it gives me,” Many consumers simply aren’t are already paired when users open she said. CONTINUED FROM 15
“ L e t U s L i f t Yo u ”
The monthly service price is fine for the peace of mind that it gives me.
Maintain Your Independence
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Boomers 2014
17
The medical roller coaster of Hepatis C treatment
MCT News Service
Barbara Walter, 67, of Fairview, Pennsylvania, poses for a portrait on Sept. 18, 2014. Walter was cured of hepatitis C. She contracted it from a blood transfusion in 1976, was diagnosed in 2000, and cured with expensive drugs this past summer.
CDC recommends everyone born between 1945 and 1965 get tested BY DAVID TEMPLETON MCT News Service
PITTSBURGH – Barbara Walter has experienced the full medical odyssey of chronic hepatitis C infection, having faced its every major challenge while benefiting from all of the modern breakthrough treatments. She is one of the lucky few. She is cured, with no detectable virus in her blood since July. But it is a medical roller coaster ride for the 4 million Americans and 180 million people worldwide with
hepatitis C. The latest issue involves two new antiviral medications that can cure a patient in 12 weeks and one expected soon to be available once the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalizes approval. But those breakthroughs are tempered by the drugs’ price of $1,000 a pill, limiting their use to only those with the severest complications or biggest bank accounts. TREATMENT CONTINUED ON 18
Study: Hepatitis C will be rare by 2036 MCT News Service
PITTSBURGH – Hepatitis C, a major infectious disease in the United States with 180 million cases worldwide, will likely become a rare disease by about 2036, according to a University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health analysis. But that time period could be shortened by a decade to about 2026, according to computer modeling of factors and trends involved in infection rates. STUDY CONTINUED ON 19
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Boomers 2014
A single-drug regimen awaits FDA approval TREATMENT
CONTINUED FROM 17
A 12-week treatment regimen with one of two drugs costs $60,000 and $80,000, respectively, with a full regimen of both drugs costing $144,000, which is a prohibitive cost for public and private health plans for most people with the disease. The major step forward in treating the infection must be weighed against the drugs’ costs that pose a “potential threat to the viability of the U.S. health-care system,” states proposed guidelines for use of the drugs outlined last week in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The controversy involves the drugs sofosbuvir (sold as Sovaldi) and simeprevir (sold as Olysio), often prescribed along with other drugs. A single-drug regimen awaiting FDA approval could cure the disease in as little as 8 weeks. Gilead Sciences Inc., the manufacturer of sofosbuvir, raised the bar of controversy recently with its announcement that it would license generic versions of sofosbuvir to be manufactured by various drug companies to be sold for a fraction of
the American price in India and 90 other nations whose citizens cannot afford fullmarket price. A full round of treatment in India could cost less than $1,800, about a penny on the dollar when compared with the American price. One in 100 Americans has hepatitis C, with 80 percent of the cases infecting baby boomers. Many contracted the disease decades ago when blood transfusions were not screened for the virus. The infection also can be transmitted through intravenous drug use and sexual transmission. The National Medical Association says of every 100 people with the infection, 75 percent to 85 percent develop chronic hepatitis, with 60 percent to 70 percent of those developing chronic liver disease. As many as 20 will develop cirrhosis of the liver (liver scarring), and as many as five will die from cirrhosis or liver failure. Walter, 67, of Fairview, Pennsylvania, received a blood transfusion in 1976 during a medical procedure. This eventually led to her diagnosis of hepatitis C in 2000 after a routine blood test. Most people with the virus often don’t know they have it until they begin experiencing the symptoms of cirrhosis or liver cancer.
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“Actually, I felt good,” she said. “A lot of patients get discoloration, but I wasn’t yellow. I did not lose weight. I really looked healthy.” Soon after diagnosis, she was placed on the traditional course of peginterferon and ribavirin, which requires about a year of treatment to produce a cure about 50 percent of the time but with adverse side effects. The drugs did not work for Walter, and the side effects required medication. But back pain in December 2011 led to discovery of a cancerous liver tumor, which University of Pittsburgh Medical Center physicians removed. That led to her being listed for a liver transplant due to advancing cirrhosis. She underwent a successful transplant in April 2013 at UPMC Montefiore. Then, last April, the liver began showing signs of rejection once hepatitis had infected the new liver. So she received insurance approval for the expensive dual-drug combination of sofosbuvir and simeprevir, which she took May through July, with a $10,000 copay and a total medication cost of $144,000, she said. And it worked. Since her blood test in July, she has had no signs of infection. TREATMENT CONTINUED ON 20
Boomers 2014
19
Hepatitis C declining steadily due to advances in treatment STUDY
CONTINUED FROM 17
“We picked an ideal scenario – one that really is ideal – that assumes that all unaware patients get screening once and everyone who is infected is treated,” said Mina Kabiri, a doctoral student in health services research and policy and the study’s lead author. “We wanted to show what would be the difference if you had the most optimal situation and illustrate how it changes the time before it would become a rare disease. It would be a 10-year difference.” The analysis and computermodeling methodology used to reach the conclusions was published recently in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The predictive model, developed with assistance from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
at the University of Texas, was funded through the National Institutes of Health. Hepatitis C causes about 15,000 deaths annually in the United States. Prevalence of a rare disease is fewer than one of every 1,500 people. Currently, hepatitis C infects about one in 100, although the rate has been declining steadily in recent years due to treatment advances. “We compared the base case – the current trend – with the very ideal to show the range,” Kabiri said. “There are new drugs and changes in physicians’ reactions to new drugs. It is pretty hard to pick a year between 2026 and 2036 because everything is changing so fast.” The model was run with data and trends from recent eras, and the outcomes compared favorably with what actually did occur, she said.
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Boomers 2014
Don’t be afraid or ashamed to be screened TREATMENT
ple aware that hepatitis C is more common than HIV and it is curable.” Screening allows for earlier recognition of symptoms and allows for lifestyle changes, “If you already went through a transplant, including dietary changes and abstinence you don’t want anything to happen to the from alcohol, Dr. Rustgi said. new liver,” Walter said. “Life depends on it. “When you look at an area like Pittsburgh, So my husband said, ‘Whatever the cost, it’s where there are 2.4 million people (in the worth it.’” metropolitan area), we may have 50,000 The liver is the body’s largest organ, with people with hepatitis C, with only 10,000 more than 500 functions, said Vinod K. identified as having it,” he said. “That is why Rustgi, the UPMC medical director of liver screening is so important. transplantation. “It is important that the average person The U.S. Centers for Disease Control now not be afraid or ashamed to be screened recommends people born between 1945 because there is better recognition of the and 1965 be screened with a blood test for problem, and we can address it before we the hepatitis C infection. Symptoms don’t get to a point where the situation is irretypically appear until liver function declines trievable,” Dr. Rustgi said. to less than 30 percent, with typical sympWalid F. Gellad, co-director of the Center toms of jaundice, a swollen abdomen, con- for Pharmaceutical Policy and Prescribing fusion and bleeding, Dr. Rustgi said. People at the University of Pittsburgh, said the hepwho reach this stage of infection face a 50 atitis debate “may be a harbinger of what’s percent death rate within 5 years, which to come” with expensive drugs to treat varipoints to the need for drug treatments and ous illnesses. liver transplants. “A lot of drugs are really expensive, but In 2007, the death rate from hepatitis C they are not used for conditions as combegan exceeding that of human immunomon as hepatitis C,” he said. “These decideficiency virus infections in the United sions about what drugs to cover and what States. “HIV has received a lot of publicity, to screen for are extremely difficult deciand it is incumbent upon us to make peosions.” CONTINUED FROM 18
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For now, many of those decisions are made by Medicare and private health insurance providers. Treating people early to prevent huge costs in 20 years might seem like a no-brainer in terms of cost and conscience. “But not everyone who has hepatitis C will end up with a transplant or cirrhosis, and we don’t know how to exactly predict who those people will be,” Dr. Gellad said. “I don’t want to minimize it. This is an important cause of death and liver transplants, and a very important disease, but not everyone who gets the infection ends up with these advanced conditions.” One issue being debated is the cost to research, develop, test and manufacture the drugs. That question arose in recent weeks when the pharmaceutical company Gilead announced agreements to sell generic sofosbuvir overseas at the dramatically reduced price. Gilead is seeking FDA approval for yet another revolutionary hepatitis C medication – a fixed-dose pill that combines sofosbuvir with the experimental drug ledipasvir that has been shown to cure hepatitis C in just 8 weeks in most cases. “Everyone will be waiting with bated breath to see how it will be priced,” Dr. Gellad said.
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Boomers 2014
21
Going beyond medication Spinal cord stimulation helps treat chronic pain
N
StatePoint Media Service
early 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain – that’s more than the number of people living with heart disease, cancer and diabetes combined. Often experienced as pain that lasts over 3 to 6 months, chronic pain is a serious and debilitating condition that, if left unmanaged, can negatively impact nearly every aspect of your life. Chronic pain is the leading cause of long-term disability in U.S. and is a significant burden to the health care economy and society as a whole. It costs as much as $635 million annually in direct medical treatment costs and low productivity, according to government statistics. Surprisingly, 40 percent of work absences are due to back pain, second only to the common cold. Zac Cover, a former firefighter and triathlete, knows the devastating impact of chronic pain. In 2006, the Floridian was hit by a car while cycling and suffered multiple injuries, including broken ribs, a badly injured leg, fractured arm and severed nerve in his broken collarbone. He underwent seven operations and was bedridden for nearly 6 months. While the surgeries corrected the physical damage to his body, Cover was left with excruciating pain that lasted for years. His doctor prescribed medication that helped ease the pain but left him foggy-headed, with a poor memory and unable to enjoy activities he loved. After months of trying other unsuccessful treatments, Cover’s doctor recommended neurostimulation, also known as spinal cord stimulation – an advanced therapy option used to manage chronic pain in the arms, legs and trunk, and pain caused by failed back surgery. SCS involves implanting a small device (the size of a silver dollar) along the spinal cord where it emits low intensity electrical pulses that intercept the body’s pain signals before they reach the brain, replacing feelings of pain with a more pleasant tingling sensation. Dr. Timothy Deer, president-elect of the International Neuromodulation Society, says he has seen an increase in the number of people receiving SCS. “Spinal cord stimulation is an important therapy option for patients who have not been able to alleviate their chronic
StatePoint Media Service
Zac Cover, a former firefighter and triathlete, knows the devastating impact of chronic pain. In 2006, the Floridian was hit by a car while cycling and suffered multiple injuries, including broken ribs, a badly injured leg, fractured arm and severed nerve in his broken collarbone.
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Over time, Cover was able to resume almost all his normal activities – like biking, swimming and running – because he can now better manage his pain. In fact, he was able to draw from this experience and began working as a clinical specialist at St. Jude Medical, the company that manufactured his device. He now works with patients also suffering from chronic pain who Dr. Timothy Deer, president-elect of the have or are about to receive SCS sysInternational Neuromodulation Society tems. Cover urges others suffering from chronic pain to talk to their doctor about the best treatment option for pain through traditional methods, such them. “Spinal cord stimulation has as back surgery or pharmacological given me back a life I didn’t think I options,” Deer said. “Studies have shown would have again,” he said. “My pain SCS can reduce pain by 50 percent or level is much lower and I’ve been able more, and patients have the option to to stop taking pain medication. It’s try a temporary implant to see if they’re dramatically transformed my quality of comfortable with the therapy.” life.”
Studies have shown that SCS can reduce pain by 50 percent or more, and patients have the option to try a temporary implant to see if they’re comfortable with the therapy.
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22
Boomers 2014
Long-term care needs Two-thirds of Americans over 40 are in denial BY LAURAN NEERGARED and JENNIFER AGIESTA The Associated Press
Find out more
WASHINGTON – We’re in denial: Americans underestimate their chances of needing long-term care as they get older – and are taking few steps to get ready. A new poll examined how people 40 and over are preparing for this difficult and often pricey reality of aging and found two-thirds say they’ve done little to no planning. In fact, 3 in 10 would rather not think about getting older at all. Only a quarter predict it’s very likely that they’ll personally need help getting around or caring for themselves during their senior years, according to the poll by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. That’s a surprise considering the poll found more than half of the 40-plus crowd already have been caregivers for an impaired relative or friend – seeing from the other side the kind of assistance
For more information, visit government long-term care primer: http://longtermcare.gov. they, too, are likely to need later on. “I didn’t think I was old. I still don’t think I’m old,” explained retired schoolteacher Malinda Bowman, 60, of Laura, Ohio. Bowman has been a caregiver twice, first for her grandmother. Then after her father died in 2006, Bowman moved in with her mother, caring for her until her death in January. Yet Bowman has made few plans for herself. “I guess I was focused on caring for my grandmother and mom and dad, so I didn’t really think about myself,” she said. “Everything we had was devoted to taking care of them.” The poll found most people expect
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family to step up if they need long-term care – even though 6 in 10 haven’t talked with loved ones about the possibility and how they’d like it to work. Bowman said she’s healthy now but expects to need help someday from her two grown sons. Last month, prompted by a brother’s fall and blood clot, she began the conversation by telling her youngest son about her living will and life insurance policy. “I need to plan eventually,” she acknowledged. Those family conversations are crucial: Even if they want to help, do your relatives have the time, money and knowhow? What starts as driving Dad to the doctor or picking up his groceries gradually can turn into feeding and bathing him, maybe even doing tasks once left to nurses such as giving injections or cleaning open wounds. If loved ones can’t do all that, can they afford to hire help? What if you no longer can live alone?
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Boomers 2014
23
“The expectation that your family is going to be there when you need them often doesn’t mean they understand the full extent of what the job of caregiving will be,” said Susan Reinhard, a nurse who directs AARP’s Public Policy Institute. “Your survey is pointing out a problem for not just people approaching the need for long-term care, but for family members who will be expected to take on the huge responsibility of providing care.” Most people who have been caregivers called the work both worthwhile and stressful. And on the other end, those who have received care are less apt to say they can rely on their families in times of need, the poll found. With a rapidly aging population, more families will be facing those responsibilities. Government figures show nearly 7 in 10 Americans will need long-term care at some point after they reach age 65, whether it’s from a relative, a home health aide, assisted living or a nursing home. On average, they’ll need that care for 3 years. Despite the “it won’t happen to me” reaction, the AP-NORC Center poll found half of those surveyed think just about everyone will need some assistance at some point. There are widespread misperceptions about how much care costs and who will pay for it. Nearly 60 percent of those surveyed underestimated the cost of a nursing
home, which averages more than $6,700 a month. Medicare doesn’t pay for the most common types of long-term care. Yet 37 percent of those surveyed mistakenly think it will pay for a nursing home and even more expect it to cover a home health aide when that’s only approved under certain conditions. The harsh reality: Medicaid, the federalstate program for the poor, is the main payer of long-term care in the U.S., and to qualify seniors must have spent most of their savings and assets. But fewer than half of those polled think they’ll ever need Medicaid – even though only a third are setting aside money for later care, and just 27 percent are confident they’ll have the financial resources they’ll need. In Cottage Grove, Oregon, Police Chief Mike Grover, 64, says his retirement plan means he could afford a nursing home. And like 47 percent of those polled, he’s created an advance directive, a legal document outlining what medical care he’d want if he couldn’t communicate. Otherwise, Grover said he hasn’t thought much about his future care needs. He knows caregiving is difficult, as he and his brother are caring for their 85-year-old mother. Still, “until I cross that bridge, I don’t know what I would do. I hope that my kids and
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wife will pick the right thing,” he said. “It depends on my physical condition, because I do not want to be a burden to my children.” The AP-NORC Center poll found widespread support for tax breaks to encourage saving for long-term care, and about half favor the government establishing a voluntary long-term care insurance program. An Obama administration attempt to create such a program ended in 2011 because it was too costly. The older they get, the more preparations people take. Just 8 percent of 40- to 54-year-olds have done much planning for long-term care, compared with 30 percent of those 65 or older, the poll found. Mary Pastrano, 74, of Port Orchard, Washington, has planned extensively for her future health care. She has lupus, heart problems and other conditions, and now uses a wheelchair. She also remembers her family’s financial struggles after her own father died when she was a child. “I don’t want people to stand around and wring their hands and wonder, `What would Mom think was the best?’” said Pastrano, who has discussed her insurance policies, living will and care preferences with her husband and children. Still, Pastrano wishes she and her husband had started saving earlier, during their working years.
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