Every individual has unique health needs. Ask your personal health advocate for additional preventive measures tailored for you.
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TED DANSON SHARES TIPS FOR
healthy aging annual wellness exams, and make that time meaningful by being open about everything you’re feeling,” says Dr. Dirk Wales, chief medical director with Cigna Medicare. For healthy aging, Dr. Wales recommends the following preventive measures:
living S E N I O R
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In his distinguished career, actor Ted Danson has played many iconic roles, including a cantankerous but caring doctor. In real life, the 70-year-old says good relationships with health care providers are critical for healthy aging. “I like the personal relationship with a fellow human being who has compassion, and offers a solid plan to fix whatever is going on with both body and mind,” says Danson. “If something is going on with me, or I’m afraid something is, usually just knowing the facts not only relaxes me, but empowers me, because the doctor will tell me what to do to make it better.” Danson is currently promoting whole person health with Cigna, which serves older adults in 16 states through its Medicare Advantage plans. He’s encouraging people to talk to their health care providers about emotional and physical health, including preventive care, as well as common issues like stress, anxiety, loneliness and sleeplessness, which can impact overall health, according to experts. “Preventive care plays an important role in long-term wellness. Issues like stress can lead to serious health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. That’s why it’s so important to have
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a HEALTHY AGING from page 3 Annual health risk assessment
Eye exams, if you have diabetes
Colorectal cancer screenings
Annual flu shots
Your physician or insurer will likely ask you to take an annual HRA – a quick series of questions designed to help flag issues early, so you can access the right benefits and resources for you.
Too few older adults get screened for colorectal cancer, the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the country. When caught early, the disease is curable. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends starting screening at age 50. MA plans, like those offered by Cigna, cover screening costs at various intervals depending on risk.
Breast cancer screenings
Breast cancer, the most common cancer in American women outside of skin cancer, affects one in eight women in their lifetimes. USPSTF recommends women ages 50 to 74 years old with average risk get a mammogram every two years. Screenings can help detect breast cancer early, when it’s easier to treat.
People with diabetes have a higher risk of blindness, but early detection and treatment can help protect against vision loss. Getting an annual eye exam – which Medicare covers if you have diabetes – is critical. Certain MA plans may offer additional coverage. Between 70 and 90 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths occur in people 65 years old and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The best defense, an annual flu shot, is covered fully by Medicare and MA plans when you visit a participating provider.
Discuss mind and body
Depression isn’t a normal part of aging and it’s treatable. Be open with your health care provider about everything you’re feeling – body and mind. To learn about Cigna’s Medicare products, visit www.cigna.com/medicare. For more information about the connection between physical and emotional health, and the Body & Mind initiative featuring Danson, Queen Latifah and Nick Jonas, visit, Cigna.com/takecontrol. (STATEPOINT)
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Exercise is an important part of maintaining your health. A daily walk is a great way to spend time with family and friends while getting your steps in.
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Babysitting can be a joyous task for grandparents who are ready for the job.
Babysitting for grandparents Witnessing your children getting older and starting their own lives and families can be bittersweet. There is pride that comes with seeing their successes, but the melancholy of knowing that the years have passed so quickly. Although you may no longer be tucking your children into bed, reading them bedtime stories or bandaging “boo-boos,” when your children have children, the chance to nurture can start anew. One of the great joys that comes from having older children is the ability to welcome and love grandchildren. Grandchildren are points of light in people’s lives and provide the exuberance
and excitement that reminds you of your own youth. Grandparents often are thrilled to be involved in the care and upbringing of their grandkids. Some may also live with their grandchildren to help take some pressures off of adult children. Babysitting is one way that grandparents can be a frequent fixture in their grandkids’ lives. If it’s been some time since you cared for little children, it’s well worth it to take a refresher course in child care.
Make sure it’s safe
Conduct a safety audit of your home if grandchildren will be coming over to your place. Are outlets secured with covers? Are medications you may be taking out of reach? Do you have gates to block stairs or restrict access to certain rooms? Modifications may be needed.
Assess your health
Chasing after children can be a workout. Be sure you are up for the challenge and
have the stamina. If you have any medical conditions that can impair judgment or reaction time, you might want to reconsider babysitting.
Take directions
The way you parented may not be the same way your own children parent. Be humble and follow their lead with regard to instructions. The parenting guide Apt Parenting advises that you should ask about the eating and sleeping habits of the child. You may have to defer to your own children’s guidelines on discipline and behavior.
Learn what’s new
Many things regarding childcare have changed in the last 20 years, including safety laws and guidelines. Be sure you are up to date on these changes. And if you aren’t certain about something, ask. This involves everything from crib bar widths to car seat installation. (METRO CREATIVE)
LIVING SENIOR • SUMMER 2019
Become a fixture in your grandkids’ lives
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Most seniors want to age at home
But more are moving to make it a reality Most older adults – about 94 percent – want to stay at home as they age. But a new survey from the Home Instead Senior Care network shows many seniors are redefining what it means to age in place, revealing that one in four plan to move to a new home to accommodate their changing needs. Among those who want to age in a new home, many older adults are searching for improved practicality – with top desired features, including single-floor living and easy or low cost of maintenance. For those who want to stay in their current homes, nearly twothirds have given thought to agefriendly modifications, such as adding grab bars to bathrooms or other safety measures. When seniors and loved ones are
LIVING SENIOR • SUMMER 2019
a CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
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From math puzzles to crossword puzzles to nature walks, prioritizing workouts for the mind will help you stay sharp.
HALFPOINT/STOCK.ADOBE.COM Living Senior
Solve a crossword puzzle A crossword puzzle asks you to reach into your long-term memory bank to solve clues. You may be filling in boxes, but well-constructed crossword puzzles will require you to think outside the box, as sometimes clues are a bit trickier than they seem at first glance, relying on word play or double meanings to work. A relaxing way to unwind and concentrate, consider adding this ritual into your morning.
Get more from nature On your next nature hike, don’t check out mentally. Set goals and keep your senses alert, paying attention to sounds, sights and smells. New tech, such as Casio WSD-F30 Pro Trek Smart Outdoor Watch, can help. The watch features apps to support your hike, including Location Memory to record information on trails and viewpoints along the way, as well as Moment Setter to notify you when you
reach your targeted altitude.
Learn a language A multilingual brain works more efficiently, and it is never too late to pick up a new language. There are many languages apps available to help, some of them free, as well as more traditional taped audio lessons you can pop on while commuting to work or doing chores around the house.
Make math fun Want to build your critical thinking skills and improve your ability to problem solve? Delve into mathematics with fun math puzzles found online. Free online software, such as ClassPad.net, includes resources to help you solve problems, from simple calculations to statistics, graphing and more
Get enough sleep Sufficient high-quality sleep is one of the most fundamental ways to maintain a sharp mind and keep your brain healthy through the years. Between 7-9 hours a night is ideal for adults, according to the National Sleep Foundation. If you aren’t sleeping well, or feel foggy during the day, consider how to shift your evening routine to get more and better quality sleep.
LIVING SENIOR • SUMMER 2019
Great ways to keep your mind sharp
When you think about exercise, you likely envision using the treadmill or lifting weights. But every bit as important to your long-term health and wellness are activities that keep your mind sharp and your cognitive abilities strong and limber. Here are several things you can do to help keep your mind sharp:
(STATEPOINT)
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(NEWSUSA)
a AGE AT HOME from page 6
faced with the question of what features are best for them, it’s important to consider effects of aging that could make certain areas of the home hazardous, such as:
Agility and mobility
Conditions such as arthritis can impair mobility. Stairs that were once easy to navigate might now present a challenge.
Balance
Neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and other chronic conditions increase the risk for balance problems, as well as falls on slippery floors and getting in and out of the bathtub.
Eyesight
STOCK PHOTO Living Senior
Studies indicate that a 60-year-old needs at least three times more ambient light to see than a 20-year-old. Poor eyesight may make medication management and personal grooming difficult, and can lead to tripping hazards.
Memory
The effects of memory loss might make it hard for an older adult to stay on a medication plan, remember to turn off stove burners or pay bills on time.
With so much to consider, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed navigating the decision of where to age. In fact, just one in four seniors surveyed report having specific plans for where they will live as they become older. To help seniors make an informed decision on the best place to age, Home Instead is introducing Home Your Own Way, a new collection of free resources for seniors and their loved ones to navigate options and determine what “home” might
look like for them. Whether older adults age in their current home, downsize, move to a senior living community or choose to live with relatives, the goal of Home Your Own Way is to provide seniors and families with the resources they need to make a decision that is right for them. To learn more about defining home your own way, visit www.HomeYourOwnWay. com or, contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office or www.homeinstead.com.
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Scammers are getting harder to spot and the elderly are at high risk of being the victim of fraud. Take steps to protect loved ones and yourself. Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it usually is.
The financial exploitation of older people is a rampant epidemic in America. A recent report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau revealed that each incident of financial fraud cost older adults ages 70 to 79 an average of $45,300. And when the older adult knew the suspect, the average loss rose to about $50,000. As older adults experience more wealth events – from selling a home to making IRA withdrawals – they become more vulnerable to scammers. This can often happen when older people lose touch with those who can help protect them. While technology has made lots of things easier, including managing money, it has also increased the ways for scammers to weaponize fraudulent activity. It is more
critical than ever to empower older adults to protect their financial accounts – and for trusted family and friends to help them do so, before it’s too late. Through increased awareness and concrete steps, we can help our loved ones better protect their financial assets.
How to spot financial fraud
Financial scams, no matter the amount lost, are devastating to older adults, who rely on those resources and are unable to recoup the loss.” Common types of scams targeting older adults include healthcare insurance scams, counterfeit prescription drug schemes, romance scams, person-in-need scams, lottery scams, funeral and cemetery scams, telemarketing/phone scams and investment schemes.
Former FBI section chief of the Cyber How family Threat Division Greg Ruppert, now the head of financial crimes risk management members can help at Charles Schwab, said, “I’ve seen every trick scammers use to separate older adults Help protect your older family member against financial scams by staying engaged from their money and they are ever more targeted and sophisticated in their approach. a CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
LIVING SENIOR • SUMMER 2019
FINANCIAL FRAUD IS TARGETING OLDER ADULTS AT RECORD LEVELS
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a FINANCIAL FRAUD from page 9 so you can spot the signs of an investment scam and help if warning signs appear. Speak to them regularly and be on alert for clues, for example if they mention being asked for money, or that managing their finances is confusing or overwhelming. When you visit them in their home, notice visual cues such as unpaid bills or piles of unopened mail and physical clues like fearful behavior, worsening of an illness or disability as the result of the pressure from a scammer’s tactics. One of the biggest risk factors for older adults when fraud has taken place is being too embarrassed to admit they may have been scammed to ask for help. This hesitancy can only be overcome with regular communication and wellness check-ins with trusted family members.
Steps to safeguard financial assets Here’s how you can avoid scams and make sure you and your senior family members are not victims of financial fraud: • Designate a trusted contact. Financial institutions like Charles Schwab provide an option to designate a trusted contact – a person who can speak to your financial services provider in the event of an
emergency, such as financial exploitation. • Get your financial affairs in order. Understand your full financial situation, including locating and filing key financial records, creating or reviewing wills, establishing trusts and power of attorney declarations, and updating account and insurance policy beneficiaries as your life situation changes. • Guard your passwords. According to the 2018 FBI Internet Crime Report, people older than 60 experience the most incidents of online investment scams and the highest monetary loss. To protect your online financial accounts, create unique passwords and never share usernames, logins, passwords or personal identification numbers. • Get smart with your smartphone. Scammers can mask their phone number to make it appear that a call is local or from a trusted party. Prevent telemarketing scams by joining the National Do Not Call registry and let calls from unknown phone numbers go to voicemail. • Up your technology game. Local recreation centers and libraries offer technology and digital literacy classes to help older adults and their family members protect themselves online and learn about the latest financial schemes.
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To learn more about how to educate yourself and your older family members on the latest financial schemes, visit www. schwab.com. (BPT)
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On June 1, 172 veterans took an honor flight to Washington, D.C. Among the stops while in Washington was a visit to Arlington National Cemetery, which included seeing the changing of the guard.
Local vet goes on special Washington trip By Michael S. Hoey
Local veteran Ed Boutelle took a whirlwind tour of Washington, D.C. on June 1 as part of the Stars and Stripes Wisconsin Honor Flight program. Boutelle, of Delavan, left Milwaukee’s Mitchell Field at 6 a.m. and retuned to Milwaukee late the same night. Boutelle, 73, served one two-year tour of duty in Vietnam in the 101st Airborne division of the Army. He was born and raised in Delavan, attended technical college, and worked at Webster Electric in Racine and then Sta-Rite in Delavan before being drafted at the age of 22. He said at that point in his life he did not think he was going to be drafted. He was already married and was not fresh out of high school like so many draftees were. Boutelle went to Fort Campbell in Kentucky for 10 weeks of basic training and then was stationed at Fort Polk in Louisiana. After a two-week leave, Boutelle was sent to Vietnam. Despite all of his training, he said there is nothing like on-the-job training.
Boutelle returned to Delavan and worked at Sta-Rite for 41 years. He said there was not much incentive to re-enlist as the infantry – which he said was viewed as expendable – was not rewarded much for doing so. Boutelle’s wife Valerie passed away 18 years ago. They had three children and five grandchildren. One of them was responsible for Boutelle’s trip to D.C. – Courtney Peyer, who found out about the program and nominated him. The nomination process takes about eight months and a “guardian” accompanies each veteran. Peyer made the trip with Boutelle. Peyer said she found out about the program from someone at her church and after doing some research, asked her father if he would be interested in making the trip and he said he would. “I wanted to nominate him because I felt it was important that he get a welcome home that he deserved for his time in the service, especially since he was drafted and it wasn’t
his choice,” Peyer said. In addition to flying veterans to Washington, the program welcomes the group home with hundreds, sometimes thousands of supporters, many of them veterans themselves, at the airport for their return trip. “When I came home from Vitenam, I never got anything like this,” Boutelle said. Boutelle said he returned to the country through Seattle and was not well received. People yelled at him and for years, he said, and Vietnam veterans were careful not to say much about their service unless they were talking to other veterans. Boutelle said things have been much different the last 10 years or so. For his recent return from Washington, there was the crowd and a band giving him the welcome home he did not get the first time. “Most veterans don’t see themselves
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as heroes, including my dad,” Peyer said. “The Honor Flight truly shows them that they are.” Peyer said many people came up to the veterans and thanked them for their service, something Boutelle said never happened during the war.
How it all began The tour of the capitol city’s monuments was courtesy of the Honor Flight program, a Wisconsin chapter of a national program designed to get veterans to the monuments to honor them for their service. The Wisconsin chapter was started in 2008 by Joe Dean after he saw a news segment on the national program, that inspired him to bring it to Wisconsin. It’s funded with fundraisers and partnerships with local businesses and organizations. Retired Air Force captain Earl Morse started the national program in 2005 after the completion of the World War II Memorial. Morse, a physician assistant, asked several of his patients who were veterans if they would visit the memorial. Most of them were in their eighties and many said they would like to but couldn’t afford the trip. Morse was inspired to make the trip a reality and six small planes flew 12 veterans to D.C. in May of 2005.
A day to remember The trip Boutelle made included 172 veterans from southeastern Wisconsin on two flights. In order to get the veterans to all the memorials in one day, the busses were given police escorts. The veterans saw the Washington Monument and the World War II, Iwo Jima, Korean War and Vietnam War memorials. They also went to the Pentagon and saw the 9/11 Memorial. Boutelle said the Vietnam Wall, understandably, had the biggest impact on him. Boutelle was up for 21 hours straight for the honor flight, in leaving home at 4:30 a.m., seeing all of the things he saw in Washington, and returning to
Milwaukee all in one day, but it was worth it. “It was really something,” he said. “I think the impact hit home twice,” Peyer said. “The first time when so many people at the airport were thanking him for his service from the moment he got out of the car and the second time on Sunday morning when it all sank in.” Peyer said another memorable moment came when there was a “mail call” during which Boutelle was given letters from his friends and family. Peyer said she asked as many people as she could think of to write letters thanking him for his service. She said that part of the trip was a surprise to the veterans. Boutelle said the entire experience was very emotional. He said Vietnam veterans didn’t talk about their experiences for so long and were actually shunned by society when they came home. He said he understood why people reacted the way they did during a terribly unpopular war and he didn’t feel any ill will toward them, but it did bother him that most veterans were treated way. Boutelle said he learned a lot about people during his tour, like how amazing it was that soldiers could stay together so well. “Everyone was there to help if you were in a tough spot,” he said. “It was never every man for himself.” He said soldiers were willing to lay down their lives for each other if they had to. Boutelle said he was amazed at how well the trip was organized and how many volunteers helped out. He said he could not thank Peyer enough for nominating him and did not think his daughter knew half of the things that he experienced in Vietnam until about 10 years ago when he finally started to share. Overall, Boutelle said, he was happy to see so many veterans get the opportunity to visit Washington and get a welcome home like the one he received.
SUBMITTED PHOTO Living Senior
At top: Local veteran Edward Boutelle, of Delavan, recently took an honor flight trip to Washington. Above: Sgt. Boutelle served in Vietnam from 1969-70.
LIVING SENIOR • SUMMER 2019
a LOCAL VET from page 11
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GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY PROVIDES SUPPORT THROUGH AGING Many positive changes come with aging. Financial independence, freedom to pursue hobbies and more time to spend with loved ones are some such benefits. But as men and women age, they also must give consideration to those changes few consider until they’re happening. Retirement, loss of a spouse, distance from family, downsizing, and fears of illness must be given their due attention so aging adults can get the assistance they need when they need it. Geriatric psychiatrists can fill the gaps where others cannot. The American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry defines the profession as a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy with special training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders that may occur in older adults. These disorders may include, but are not limited to, dementia, depression, anxiety, late life addiction disorders, and schizophrenia. Although geriatric psychiatrists can treat these and more, they also may help adults navigate emotional, physical and social needs that come with getting older.
STOCK PHOTO Living Senior
Geriatric psychiatrists are tuned into the unique needs of aging men and women.
The AAGP estimates that the rate of mental illness among older adults will double over the next 10 years from what it was in 2000. Many of the people treated will need assistance with symptoms of dementia. The organization Alzheimer’s Disease International indicates there are more than 9.9 million new cases of
dementia each year worldwide. Geriatric psychiatrists can provide specialized care to this unique demographic. Geriatric psychiatrists often focus on prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of mental and emotional disorders in the elderly, says the American Psychiatric Association, an advocate for improvement of psychiatric care for elderly patients. Geriatric psychiatrists understand how medication dosage and therapy treatments may need to be customized as one ages. These psychiatrics also can consult with experts in neurology and primary care physicians when there are symptoms across various fields, which may be the case when patients are experiencing memory impairment, anxiety and depression. Geriatric psychiatrists suggest speaking with mental health professionals early on if symptoms of low mood, restlessness, insomnia, and other hallmarks of potential mental dysfunction are present in elderly patients. This way doctors can step in early and improve their quality of life. (METRO CREATIVE)
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Finding a quality dementia caregiver can provide invaluable peace of mind for families of dementia sufferers.
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HOW TO CHOOSE A When a loved one is diagnosed with dementia, a family’s life can turn upside down. In such situations, families may not know much about the disease, including what to expect with treatment and how soon before the dementia patient begins to need care that the family cannot capably provide. Over time, dementia patients’ loved ones are likely to benefit from the expertise and assistance of qualified dementia caregivers. It can be overwhelming for loved ones to offer the right level of care for someone who is unable to perform the activities of daily living. Bathing, medication management, dressing, and feeding are often very difficult for dementia patients. The Alzheimer’s Association says that providing good care for someone with dementia goes beyond meeting basic needs. It also means finding caregivers who treat the whole person and provide an environment that can enable the person to be safe yet independent.
In order to get started, one should first assess the needs of their loved one with dementia. How many services he or she will require depends on whether that person can use the bathroom, walk, eat, or bathe independently. Alz.org says care needs tend to be lesser in the early stages of dementia. However, during the middle and end stages of dementia, 24-hour supervision and potentially more intensive medical care may be necessary. Some families start with a visiting caregiver who can come to the house. For example, a service like Visiting Angels is certified to offer care according to advanced dementia care protocols after working with leading dementia specialists. Caregivers may offer companionship and helpful reminders. Others may assist clients with personal tasks. One key aspect of dementia care is preventing wandering. Alz.org indicates
that six in 10 people with dementia will wander. A person with Alzheimer’s may not remember his or her name or address and can become disoriented, even in familiar places. Caregivers can put protocols in place to help reduce wandering. Alert bracelets and GPS tracking devices can help in this regard as well. At some point, caregivers can help families transition someone with dementia to nursing facilities with memory care divisions. Social workers and other aides may help families navigate the legalities of medical insurance and long-term care insurance as well as government assistance programs that may help offset the costs of more intensive care. It’s never too soon to develop a care plan for someone with dementia. Qualified and compassionate caregivers can help ease the burden of dementia on patients and their families. (METRO CREATIVE)
LIVING SENIOR • SUMMER 2019
dementia caregiver
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How to prepare your family when an aging loved one is moving in No man or woman, regardless of his or her age, wants to consider that a day may come when they need to rely on loved ones to help them perform everyday activities. But every day tens of millions of people serve as unpaid caregivers for their aging friends or family members. A 2015 survey from the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP found that approximately 34.2 million people had provided unpaid care to an adult age 50 or older in the last 12 months. Many unpaid caregivers are pulling double duty, caring for their aging parents while also raising families of their own. While there’s no guarantee that aging men and women will require care, caregivers figure to become more necessary as life expectancies increase. In fact, recent years have seen the senior population in the United States exceed 50 million for the first time in the country’s history, and figures from the U.S. Census Bureau suggest that figure will continue to rise until 2029. The following are some tips that can help families prepare to welcome an aging friend or family member into their homes.
SPEAK WITH YOUR LOVED ONE’S PHYSICIANS
Speak with an aging loved one’s physicians so you can get a complete picture of their physical and mental condition. This can give you an accurate depiction of how much care your loved one needs now and how much they might need in the future if their condition worsens.
DISCUSS FORTHCOMING CHANGES AS A FAMILY
Once you gain a full understanding of your loved one’s physical and mental
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Millions of people across the globe welcome aging loved ones into their homes when they can no longer care for themselves. Such caregiving changes family dynamics, and these changes should be discussed before and after a loved one moves in.
condition and before this person moves into your home, discuss it with your family. Adding a new member to your household will affect everyone, so each member of the family, including young children, should be included when discussing how the family dynamic will change. Parents must recognize that even young children may be asked to make sacrifices to accommodate aging loved ones. Explain these sacrifices in advance and how important it is to make an aging loved one feel welcome when they move in.
DISCUSS CONDITIONS WITH CHILDREN
Children may recognize their grandparents or elderly loved ones have physical limitations, but they likely won’t understand conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Parents can ask a physician about how to explain cognitive decline to young children. Children may not recognize cognitive decline as readily as adults, so parents may need to discuss these conditions with their children periodically and/or if the (METRO CREATIVE) conditions worsen.
LIVING SENIOR • SUMMER 2019
There really is someplace like home...
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& Arbor View Memory Care
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By being proactive and knowing your risks, you can take control of your health.
Even as chronic diseases like prediabetes and high blood pressure touch more and more Americans, physicians are urging patients to keep in mind that early detection is key, and that chronic disease can often be managed with lifestyle changes. “To confront our increasing chronic disease burden, patients must be aware of their risk for type 2 diabetes and hypertension,” says Barbara L. McAneny, M.D., president of the American Medical Association. “To prevent both of these chronic diseases, awareness and action are key.” As part of the effort to empower Americans to confront chronic disease, the AMA offers the following guidance.
aware they are at risk. Eighty-four million people in the U.S. are living with prediabetes, and of those that have it, 90 percent are unaware, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The AMA urges patients to find out their risk by taking a one-minute online test at DoIHavePrediabetes.org. In addition to the risk test, the site contains other resources and links. Developed as part of a first-of-itskind joint national prediabetes awareness campaign launched in 2016 by the AMA, Ad Council, CDC and the American Diabetes Association, the campaign has helped hundreds of thousands of Americans learn their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The campaign website also Prediabetes features lifestyle tips and links to CDC’s While prediabetes – the precursor to type National Diabetes Prevention Program, 2 diabetes – has serious health implications, which connects visitors to a registry of CDC-recognized programs across the people who are at risk can take steps to country. reverse the condition and prevent or delay type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes Hypertension like weight loss, healthy eating and “With nearly half of all adults in the increased physical activity. U.S. now living with high blood pressure Unfortunately, not everyone is even
and at increased risk of heart attack and stroke, more Americans should be monitoring their blood pressure levels and taking quick action to get their high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, under control,” says Dr. McAneny. Unfortunately, there are often no signs or symptoms of high blood pressure, which is why it is often referred to as the “silent killer.” If left untreated, the condition damages the blood vessels and increases the risk for heart attack, stroke and other serious conditions. To help understand and manage your blood pressure numbers, visit LowerYourHBP.org, a site launched by the American Heart Association, American Stroke Association, and the AMA in partnership with the Ad Council. The site helps raise awareness of the life-altering consequences of uncontrolled high blood pressure and motivates people to work with their doctors on developing and committing to a treatment plan. (STATEPOINT)
LIVING SENIOR • SUMMER 2019
Prediabetes and high blood pressure can be managed
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Things people should know about creating wills Drafting a last will and testament is an essential component of estate planning. Despite the importance of having a will, a recent survey from AARP found that two out of five Americans over the age of 45 do not have one. Putting wishes down on paper helps avoid unnecessary work and sometimes heartache upon the death of a loved one. Wills allow heirs to act with the decedent’s wishes in mind, and can ensure that assets and possessions will end up in the right hands. Estate planning can be tricky, which is why many people turn to attorneys to get the job done right. Attorneys who specialize in estate planning will no doubt discuss the following topics with their clients.
ASSETS OWNED
Make a list of known assets and figure out which assets are covered by the will and which will have to be passed on according to other estate laws, such as through joint tenancy on a deed or a living trust. For example, life insurance policies or
retirement plan proceeds will be distributed to your named beneficiaries. A will also can cover other assets, such as photographs, clothing, cars, and jewelry.
GUARDIANSHIP
Parents’ wills should include a declaration of who they want to become guardians their underage children or dependents.
PETS
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Some people prefer to use their will to also dictate guardianship for their pets and to leave money or property to help care for those pets. However, pets do not have the legal capacity to own property, so one shouldn’t gift money directly to pets in a will.
FUNERAL INSTRUCTIONS
Settling probate will not happen until after the funeral. Therefore, funeral wishes in a will often go unnoticed, states the legal advisement resource Find Law.
EXECUTOR
An executor is a trusted person who will
To avoid having a court-appointed administrator, a will and other estate planning documents are crucial.
carry out the terms of the will. This person should be willing to serve and be capable of executing the will. People who die without a valid will become intestate. This means the estate will be settled based on the laws of where that person lived, and a court-appointed administrator will serve in the capacity to transfer property. This administrator will be bound by laws and may make decisions that go against the decedent’s wishes. (METRO CREATIVE)
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800 Park Dr 800 Park Dr Lake Geneva, WI Lake Geneva, WI 53147 53147
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