Older Workers Provide High Value for Employers

from Businesstn Magazine

The Tennessee-based online magazine 'Businesstn ' ran an article recently extolling the virtues of older workers in Tennessee small businesses. The article also explored Tennessee's Senior Community Service Employment Program SCSEP.

From the Article:

Don’t let his gray hair fool you. At 71, Al Jenkins is still a rising star at Broadwater and Associates Group. He’s one of a growing number of seniors working well into their sunset years, as Tennessee small business owners looking to cut costs and reduce turnover are realizing that, when it comes to hiring new employees, older just might mean better.

Read the entire article at Businesstn Magazine.

Innovative Senior Transportation Project in Charleston Logs 1,000th Rider

This week the Independent Transportation Network, called ITNCharlestonTrident (or ITN), established last November, honored its 1000th rider. A nonprofit membership organization using private automobiles and both volunteer and paid drivers, transports seniors (65 and older) and the visually impaired around the clock to and from destinations in the Low country.

Celebrating the 1000th ride is William Gaillard, a frequent ITN rider who is visually impaired. His volunteer driver, using her own car, is Marianne Seabrook who coordinates the Advantage program for Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s Senior Services. Also on hand to celebrate the ITN milestone was Paul Franklin of Franklin Funding, a founder and chairman of the ITN governing board.

Individual seniors over 65 years of age and anyone who is visually impaired may become members of ITN for a nominal annual fee of $35. For each ride, members pay a $3 pick-up charge plus $1 per mile—about $8 on average.

Rides scheduled in advance are provided to members for any purpose at any time round the clock. Rides are provided for example to keep a doctor’s appointment, to go to church, or for shopping. To schedule a ride member riders call the ITN dispatcher. Either a volunteer or paid ITN driver comes to the rider’s location and takes them where they need to go.

The Independent Transportation Network recruits volunteer drivers with personal cars that are safe and clean. Volunteer drivers who meet simple ITN screening criteria can schedule times when they’re available for driving assignments. For more information, to join as a rider-member, or to volunteer as a driver, phone (843) 225-2715 or via e-mail at Info@ITNCharlestonTrident.org.

Universal Design Can Help Seniors Stay in Their Homes Longer

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control's National Center for Injury Prevention teamed up recently with the "Universal Design Alliance" to showcase new technologies in home design designed to help people stay in their homes longer.

This year, the Atlanta Home Show in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control featured the Safe Home for Life pavilion. This new and informative exhibit area included models of rooms that incorporated facets of universal design, providing homeowners an opportunity to see first-hand a home that plans for and easily adapts to people's changing needs throughout their lifetimes. The exhibit was designed to make your home safer for all people at every stage of life - single young adults, active families, people with a temporary or permanent disability, and seniors. The best part is, you don't have to sacrifice style to incorporate universal design elements.

Find more information on home safety from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Read more about the Universal Home Design movement at AARP.org.

Read about the Universal Design exhibit at the Atlanta Home Show on CNN.com.

New York Times and Other Papers Detail Yet Another Telemarketing Scam Targeted at Vulnerable Elderly

Banks and companies that sell lists of names and telephone numbers collected through "sweepstakes offers" or similar promotions may not be doing enough to keep sophisticated con artists from preying on vulnerable senior citizens, according to an article in the May 20th edition of the New York Times [free registration required] that was picked up by many newspapers around the U.S.

The article, "Bilking the Elderly: With a Corporate Assist," looks at a federal investigation and lawsuit brought by the U.S. Attorney in Philadelphia into a scam that involved bogus unsigned checks created using information gleaned by telemarketers that were then used to withdraw funds from Wachovia and other major banks. The articles makes the case that some of the banks - as well as the companies who sell the huge databases of names and telephone numbers that the thieves use to target their victims - aren't paying enough attention to who they're doing business with.

Read the entire article on the Wilmington (NC) Star News' online edition.

Medicare’s Healthier US Starts Here Initiative Kicks off in Columbia
Local Partners, Volunteers Gather to Raise Awareness about the Importance of Prevention

Media Advisory from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Office of Public Affairs:

For more information, contact Lee Millman with CMS at (404) 562-7902

WHO:

South Carolina Lieutenant Governor, André Bauer

Curtis M. Loftis Jr., Director, Lt. Governor's Office on Aging

Honorable Sam Davis, Mayor Pro Tem, Columbia, SC

Honorable Joseph McEachern, Chairman, Richland County Council

Honorable Earl C. Hunter, Commissioner, Department of Health and Environmental Control

Gloria McDonald, Director, State Insurance Counseling and Referral for Elders

Christopher Downing, Regional Director, Atlanta Regional Office, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Roger Perez, Regional Administrator, Atlanta Regional Office, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Constantinos I. Miskis, Regional Administrator, Atlanta Region, Administration on Aging (AOA)

WHAT:

HHS, CMS and AoA will be joining area officials and community representatives, including members of the South Carolina Alliance for Health Care Excellence to educate South Carolina residents about the importance of preventing chronic disease and illness by taking advantage of screenings and preventive benefits offered through Medicare. CMS wants to encourage beneficiaries to take control of their health and talk with their healthcare providers about preventive services available to them. Throughout the spring and summer, CMS will work with various health organizations at health events and community forums to provide information on preventive services and learn about the services they may be eligible to receive to manage their healthcare.

Columbia area partners in healthcare will showcase the city’s wellness programs at a partnership meeting at the Capital Senior Center. Following the meeting, the center will showcase their exercise program for seniors including a Strong to the
Bone class. The CMS’ My Health. My Medicare. Prevention Mobile Office Tour bus will be on location as well as the Santee-Lynches Mobile Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) van.

WHEN:

May 29, 2007
Partner Roundtable 9:15 to 9:45 A.M.
Strong to the Bone class 10:00 to 11 A.M.
Note: Media availability for one-on-one interviews 9:45 to 10:10 A.M
Note: Media to arrive at 9:30 A.M

WHERE:

Capital Senior Center
1650 Park Circle
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Contact: 803-779-1971

BACKGROUND:

Medicare covers many important screenings and other preventive benefits to help people with Medicare live healthier and more active lives. As part of the Healthier US Starts Here initiative, Medicare and its partners will raise awareness of the importance of preventing chronic disease and illness like heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. The Medicare tour bus will visit each of the 48 continental states over the course of this spring and summer, bringing spokespersons to work with community partners, city and State leaders, and disease prevention advocates involved in these initiatives. People with Medicare will be asked to take action, talk to their healthcare providers and visit www.mymedicare.gov to learn more about preventive services they are eligible to receive and access tools to help manage their healthcare.

Read more about the "Healthier US Starts Here" bus tour.

U.S. House Committee Holds Hearings on Cost of Medicare Advantage 'Private Fee For Service' (PFFS) Plans

The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health held hearings on May 22 to investigate the cost to the government (and ultimately taxpayers) of one particular type of the new Medicare Advantage plans.

from the House Ways and Means Committee media advisory announcing the hearing:

Private Fee-For-Service plans are very different from other MA plans. They are exempt from many of the rules and reporting requirements that apply to other MA plans. For example, PFFS plans are not required to: collect and report Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS ®) quality data; coordinate care; conduct utilization review; or, have standards for timeliness of access to care. These plans generally do not have a network of providers, and advertise the ability of enrollees to choose any provider.

The law requires PFFS to pay non-contract providers at least the original Medicare rate. Providers, however, are not required to accept PFFS plan enrollees, and physicians can balance bill patients beyond the plan payment. Some providers around the country have refused to treat patients in PFFS plans. Like other MA plans, PFFS plans have widely varying co-payment structures that may lead to increased or decreased out of pocket costs for beneficiaries depending on what type of care is required.

Advocates for senior citizens and insurance commissioners across the country have reported numerous abuses by insurance agents and brokers selling PFFS plans. According to reports, some beneficiaries have been enrolled in PFFS plans with little or no knowledge of what they were signing up for. Beneficiaries have also reported surprise when learning their preferred provider will not accept their PFFS plan.

Read the entire media advisory and download the written testimony of hearing participants.

Web Sites Promote South Carolina as Retirement Destination

Building housing developments for retirees and "near-retirees" looking to relocate to South Carolina is big business, these days; so is marketing the state to these potential new residents.

It's no secret that a steadily growing number of people are choosing the South - and South Carolina in particular - as a place to retire. In fact, an entire cottage industry is springing up aimed at providing information to people considering the state as a retirement location and connecting them with the army developers and home sellers that are building new homes to serve that market.

One such site is RetireSouth.com, which offers articles and other content promoting South Carolina lifestyle and regional gems, as well as offering numerous links to web sites for developers and real estate companies. The site also offer a free magazine, "Retirement Lifestyles," to anyone willing to sign up for their e-mail newsletter.

Other sites that pop up on a quick google search of "South Carolina" and "retirement" include Carolinas Retirement.com, Carolina Senior.com and Retirement Homes.com, just to name a few.

Good Advice for Long Distance Caregivers from Money Magazine

More people than ever before in the U.S. live hundreds, or even thousands, of miles away from aging parents, and that can prove to be stressful for people trying to arrange long-distance care. CNN's 'Money' magazine online edition ran a story May 17 offering some tips on staying involved with older relatives when you don't live close by.

Read the entire article on money.cnn.com.

In South Carolina, the Lt. Governor's Office has several programs in place that can be of tremendous help to individuals trying to arrange care or look for services that will help older relatives living in the state. Chief among them is SC Access, a web-based directory of supports, services and programs available in every community in South Carolina.

SC Access receives hits every day from states across the U.S. and even foreign countries from people interested in locating senior services in South Carolina. In conjuction with our regional system of Information Referral and Assistance Specialists, SC Access can be an invaluable tool for long-distance caregivers.

Brain Exercise Can Benefit Older Adults

Dr. Paul Nussbaum, a University of Pittsburgh neuropsychologist with a specialty in gerontology says the benefits of mental exercises in staving off memory loss and symptoms of dementia are substantial. Dr. Nussbaum was interviewed in a May 16 article by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter, Christina Rouvalis.

From the article:

Dr. Paul Nussbaum is a lobbyist for brain exercises.

The man who has been dubbed the brain doc and the guru of brain health tells boomers and seniors who are forgetting things to drop the remote and start exercising their brains.

Learn a new language. Travel. Play a board game or a brain-stimulating computer game.

"The heart gets a lot of attention. It doesn't deserve it. It really is all about the brain," says Dr. Nussbaum, a University of Pittsburgh neuropsychologist with a specialty in gerontology.

Read the entire article on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's online edition at www.post-gazette.com.

South Carolina Chapter of National Chronic Disease Effort Announced

A press conference held yesterday (May 22) at the headquarters of the United Way Association of South Carolina and organized by the "Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease" (PFCD) announced the formation of a South Carolina Chapter of the national organization.

PFCD-South Carolina's launch included short speeches by representatives of some of the member organizations of the state effort, and by national PFCD Co-Director Dr. Ken Thorpe. Speakers representing the state initiative partners included United Way South Carolina President Timothy Ervolina, former State Education Secretary Inez Tenenbaum, South Carolina Pharmacy Association Board Chairman Lynn Connelly and Joseph Dipiro, Executive Dean of the South Carolina College of Pharmacy. All of the speakers emphasized the newly formed organization's focus on raising awareness of the cost of chronic diseases - in terms of both health and healthcare spending - and on the need for a concerted effort aimed at pushing politicians to address new strategies for prevention and management.

We need to challenge candidates and current officials to focus on chronic disease," said Dr. Thorpe, referring to the recent Republican and Democratic presidential primary debates held in South Carolina.

Dr. Thorpe pointed out "6 truths" that form the guiding focus for the PFCD effort.

• Chronic diseases account for 70% of all deaths in the U.S.
  
• Chronic diseases account for 75% of all healthcare spending in the U.S.
  
• Two-thirds of the rapid growth in healthcare spending is due to the increasing prevalence of chronic disease.
  
• Obesity rates in the U.S. have doubled in the last two decades.
  
• The vast majority of chronic diseases are preventable or at least manageable.
  
• Policy makers don't have a good understanding of the problem

"Our goal - state and nationally - is to focus attention on these issues," said Dr. Thorpe.

Former Education Secretary Inez Tenebaum, speaking on behalf of the Alliance for Women, said that treating chronic disease costs the state of South Carolina $11 billion annually. The Alliance is working to fight obesity in children, said Tenenbaum, work that will be supported by the goals of the PFCD.

"We will make certain that every candidate running for president understands the importance of fighting chronic disease," said Tenenbaum.

United Way Association of South Carolina President Tim Ervolina said that currently, 39% of all children in South Carolina will develop a chronic disease, "due to a lifestyle choice."

"This is something that we've got to change," he added.

Chronic diseases may have their roots in decisions made earlier in life, but for many people, the health problems caused by chronic diseases can really begin to manifest as they age. However, many chronic diseases and their symptoms can be managed - or even reduced - if older people are taught the proper strategies. That's the focus of "Living Well SC," an evidence-based chronic disease self-management program introduced earlier this year by the Lt. Governor's Office on Aging. Living Well SC is being piloted in 14 of South Carolina's rural counties, but plans are to take the program statewide if results from the pilot counties show positive results.

'Healthier U.S. Starts Here' Campaign Bus Tour Visiting South Carolina May 29 and 30

Columbia and Charleston are scheduled stops on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) latest effort at promoting the benefits available to Medicare beneficiaries under the plan.

HHS's big blue buses were a common site in South Carolina and other states during the rollout of the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, as federal and state officials used the bus tour to promote the new program. This time, though, the emphasis is on a whole range of preventive services available through Medicare, not just prescription drugs. During the spring and summer, the Medicare Prevention tour bus will visit each of the 48 continental United States to promote conversations between people with Medicare, families, caregivers, health professionals, and community organizations. Many disease prevention advocates, employers, and civic and state leaders have joined the effort to create awareness of disease prevention and wellness.

“Preventive health care can help people live healthier lives and can help reduce costs associated with treating chronic disease. From Seattle to Miami and Boston to San Diego, A Healthier US Starts Here will enlist the support of local organizations to help Medicare beneficiaries and all Americans learn how to live longer, healthier, and happier lives,” HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said.

Medicare currently covers:

• One time “Welcome to Medicare” physical (including an abdominal aortic aneurysm screening)
• Cardiovascular screenings
• Smoking cessation counseling
• Cancer tests – mammogram screening for breast cancer, pap test and pelvic exam screenings for cervical and vaginal cancer, colorectal cancer screenings, and prostate cancer screening
• Shots and vaccines – flu, Pneumococcal, Hepatitis B
• Bone mass measurement
  Diabetes screening, glucose monitoring supplies, and self-management training
• Medical nutrition therapy for people with diabetes or kidney disease
• Glaucoma test

“The unprecedented efforts of our local and national partners have helped ensure that 38 million Americans—more than 90 percent of people with Medicare—have prescription drug coverage. Community-based outreach, individual counseling, and compassionate support for beneficiaries and caregivers enabled people to choose the drug coverage that was right for them. We’re using the same strategy to reach millions of people with Medicare about the importance of prevention—one person at a time,” said Acting Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Leslie Norwalk.

The bus stop in Columbia scheduled for May 29 at the Capital Senior Center will be at 9:00 a.m. Activities planned include a roundtable discussion among the leaders of federal, state and local aging programs and look at the Senior Center's "Strong to the Bone" exercise class designed to reduce and prevent osteopososis. The Santee-Lynches Area Agency on Aging's mobile Aging & Disability Resource Center project will also be on display.

At the May 30 event at Charleston's Mills House Hotel, Mayor Joe Riley will host a luncheon to showcase that city's wellness programs aimed at seniors.

Find out more about the "Healthier U.S. Starts Here" campaign.

Partnership for Prescription Assistance Bus Tour Events Scheduled for South Carolina

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA), a national non-profit organization dedicated to helping people of all ages get needed prescription drugs, has scheduled a number of outreach events in South Carolina in conjunction with their U.S. bus tour.

According to Abby Horn with the PPA, bus tour stops in South Carolina began in Florence on May 19, and stops scheduled for this week (May 21 -26) include the following times and locations:

Monday, May 21
Chesterfield General Hospital
711 Chesterfield Highway
Cheraw, SC 29520
10 – 11 a.m.

Tuesday, May 22
Hartsville Health Department
130 Camden Avenue
Hartsville, SC 29550
10 – 11 a.m.

Wednesday, May 23
McLeod Medical Center – Dillon
301 East Jackson Street
Dillon, SC 29536
10 – 11 a.m.

Thursday, May 24
First Baptist Church of Georgetown
219 Cleland St.
Georgetown, SC 29440
9 – 10 a.m.

Thursday, May 24
Walterboro City Parking Lot (across the street from First Federal Bank, 300 Hampton St.)
Walterboro, SC 29488
2 – 4 p.m.

Friday, May 25
Barnwell County Health Department
11015 Ellenton St. (Hwy 278)
Barnwell, SC 29812
10 – 11 a.m.

Download a fact sheet about the PPA (Abobe PDF).

Manpower Inc. Study Says U.S. Companies Not Focused Enough on Retaining Older Workers

From press release

Although U.S. employers are struggling to fill jobs in the midst of talent shortages, most do not have specialized retention and recruiting strategies targeting the largest available workforce segment -- those over age 50 -- according to new research from employment services company Manpower Inc.

In the study of 1,000 U.S. employers, 78 percent indicated they were not concerned that an aging workforce might hamper their
ability to recruit and retain talented workers. Additional findings support this sentiment, including the fact that only 28 percent of
survey respondents reported having a strategy to retain workers past retirement age while just 18 percent have a strategy to
recruit older workers.

"There is a real contradiction occurring in hiring trends right now," said Melanie Holmes, Vice President of Corporate Affairs -
North America. "Employers acknowledge that they are having trouble finding qualified candidates to fill open positions, but we
are learning that they need help implementing programs that are tailored to older workers. With the first wave of Baby Boomers
on the cusp of traditional retirement age, there is still time to engage a generation that is willing and able to continue working."

Employers do perceive roadblocks when it comes to hiring older workers, primarily cost and productivity issues, according to
Manpower's research.

"Business savvy employers are right to consider the time and money that goes into establishing retention and recruiting
programs aimed at older workers," said Holmes. "However, to make a fully informed decision, the business impact of unfilled
positions and the value of the knowledge and productivity that mature professionals offer must also be weighed. Even though it
may require extra effort, employers are likely to come out ahead in the return on investment."

Employers that explicitly include older workers as part of their talent strategy have found success with programs that appeal to
the wants and needs of the workers themselves. Companies considering retention and recruiting programs that appeal to older
workers should explore some of these successful practices:

• Training programs - Mature workers are lifelong learners, and programs that build skills and increase employment opportunities will positively impact employee engagement.
  
• Flexible scheduling options - Studies confirm that non-traditional schedules are one of the top priorities for older workers. Policies that offer part-time, flextime, job sharing, project work or generous time-off plans allow those in their retirement years to have ample time for work and personal pursuits.
  
• Job Redesigns - While mature employees want to work, many would elect to bring value to an organization in a different capacity. Whether it's less travel, fewer responsibilities or a decrease in physical demands, consider job accommodations in order to retain the institutional knowledge and skills of the most experienced employees.
  
• Targeted recruiting strategies - As with any hiring plan, employers should consider how to reach people in the demographics that meet their needs, and older workers are no exception. Look to professional organizations, company-sponsored alumni groups and online communities for possible candidates.

"Employers who respond to the aging workforce will fare better in the competition for talent and find that they benefit from a
richer, more diverse workforce," Holmes said. "The key is to start planning now for future talent needs."

The U.S. findings were part of a global study in which Manpower surveyed more than 28,000 employers across 25 countries
and territories in November 2006. The study found that 14 percent of employers worldwide have strategies in place to recruit
older workers and 21 percent have implemented plans to keep them participating in the workplace.

Visit http://www.agingworkforce.us for more information about Manpower's older worker research. The site includes press
materials, complete research findings, story ideas and more.

Lower Savannah Senior Golf Tournament

A Senior Golf Tournament scheduled for June 4 at Aiken's Woodside Plantation Country Club will benefit the Lower Savannah Council of Government's (LSCOG) Family Caregiver Support and Medication Assistance Program. These programs are part of the Lower Savannah Area Agency on Aging and the Aging and Disability Resource Center.

The Captain's Choice-style tournament will begin at noon, and is limited to 240 players. All players on a team ( $65 each or $240 for 4) must be at least age 50. Grand prize is a $500 gift certificate from Home Depot. Sack lunch and post-tournament cookout are included.

For more information, contact Mary Beth Fields at:
Lower Savannah Council of Governments
PO Box 850
Aiken, SC 29802
(803) 649-7981 or toll free at 1-866-845-1550
e-mail: mfields@lscog.org

American Foundation for the Blind Launches Web Site for Seniors

From U.S. Administration on Aging e-mail Press Release

It's no secret that current rates of vision loss from diseases like age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy are expected to double as the nation's 78 million baby boomers reach retirement age. To help address this growing public health concern, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) has launched the AFB Senior Site, designed for seniors losing their vision, their families, and the professionals who serve them. 

The site is rich with information-including photos, videos, articles, and resource links-to enhance the independence of older people beginning to experience vision loss. Visitors will also find inspiring messages from seniors who have been recently diagnosed with eye diseases. Their compelling stories offer a positive outlook and help dispel fears about what living with vision loss means.

In conjunction with the launch of AFB Senior Site, AFB released the results of a national opinion poll that details people's fears about vision loss:

• Losing one's sight and paralysis top the list of the public's health fears that were tested. Most feared are losing one's sight (21%) and paralysis (21%), followed by HIV/AIDS (16%), cancer (14%), stroke (11%), heart attacks/disease (6%), and diabetes (4%). The last 4% don't know.
  
• Americans say their biggest concerns about low vision are losing the ability to live independently (75%) and read (68%).
  
• After physicians (56%), Americans would turn to web sites (29%) and organizations for the blind (20%) for information on blindness and severe vision loss.

"Over the next few decades, rates of age-related vision loss in this country are expected to double as our country's population ages. Given how much fear people have concerning the impact of vision loss, AFB hopes our new web site will enlighten Americans about ways they or a loved one can adapt successfully to low vision or vision loss and maintain a full, rewarding, and independent life," said AFB President & CEO Carl R. Augusto.

Currently, 6.5 million Americans over the age of 65 have severe vision loss. While some are adapting successfully there are many others who don't know where to turn for help, or even if such help exists. AFB's web site is meant to address this knowledge gap.

Visitors to the AFB Senior Site will find instructional videos and articles describing independent living solutions geared specifically to people with age-related vision loss. The web site also connects seniors and their families to important resources in their own communities, such as vision loss specialists who can recommend solutions and instruct older adults with vision loss.

National Coalition Organizing Around Fighting Chronic Disease

The online magazine SeniorJournal.com reported in its May 17 edition on a new national group formed to fight chronic disease. The national "Partnership to fight Chronic Disease" (PFCD) hopes to make the issue a key part of the debates in the 2008 presidential race.

According to the group's web site, the rapidly escalating costs of treating preventable chronic diseases are the single greatest threat to the nation's healthcare system.

From the PFCD web site:

The Prevalence of Chronic Disease -Today and Tomorrow

About 133 million Americans – 45% of the population – have at least one chronic disease. (Citation: Wu S, Green A. Projection of Chronic Illness Prevalence and Cost Inflation. RAND Corporation, October 2000.)

Chronic disease is on the rise in the United States. According to the CDC: The number of people diagnosed with diabetes almost doubled from 1995 (4.4%) to 2005 (7.3%).

The number of adults with asthma has increased 10% in just five years, with 8% of the population affected in 2005 and only 7.3% in 2000.

Many chronic diseases are caused or exacerbated by poor nutrition, lack of exercise, smoking, and other lifestyle choices. The resulting risk factors are also on the rise:

Over the past 20 years, adult obesity has risen significantly in the United States. Latest data from the CDC show that 30% of U.S. adults 20 years of age and older – more than 60 million people – are obese.

Chronic diseases will have many implications for the future of our nation, including skyrocketing health care costs, given current demographic trends toward an aging population, and increasing obesity rates. For example:

One in three of today's first graders will develop diabetes over the course of a lifetime given current trends, according to estimates from the American Diabetes Association.

The Cost of Chronic Disease

The increase in chronic disease comes at a high cost to individuals, communities, and the nation. Individuals living with chronic disease must adjust their lives to cope with the disease. Families are affected when loved ones die at an early age or face challenges associated with living with a chronic disease. Everyone – individuals, families, and the nation – are affected by the financial strains associated with chronic disease. The leading U.S. disease research center reports that:

70% of all deaths – or 1.7 million deaths per year – result from chronic diseases.
Chronic diseases account for more than 75% of the approximately $2 trillion Americans spend each year on health care.
If current U.S. health trends continue, the results could be catastrophic for future generations, the health care system, and the economy.

In South Carolina, the United Way is organizing a statewide PFCD effort. The first organizational meeting is scheduled for May 22 at the United Way Association of South Carolina Headquarters, 2771 Midleburg Drive, Columbia at 10:30 a.m.

Contact Jamie Shuster for more information at (803) 255-7248.

Social Security Administration Begins Mail Out to Notify Low-Income Beneficiaries of Medicare Help This Week

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, an annual mailing of Social Security Administration (SSA) outreach letters to low-income Medicare beneficiaries began this week.

These purpose of these letters is to inform low-income Medicare beneficiaries about the Medicare Savings Programs and the extra help available for Medicare prescription drug plan costs. Approximately, 4.7 million people in the United States will be receiving a letter between May 16 and June 26 of 2007.

Background:

Section 1144 of the Social Security Act requires SSA to notify low-income Medicare beneficiaries each year about specific programs available to assist them with their medical and prescription drug expenses. Attached are copies of the four versions of the 2007 outreach letters.

The Medicare Savings Program (MSP) provides help to Medicare beneficiaries with limited incomes. MSP may pay for Part A and B premiums, deductibles and co-insurance. For more detailed information about the eligibility requirements and the help available to pay for premiums, cost-sharing, and deductibles, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/DualEligible/ .

Senate Committee Holds Hearings on Medicare Advantage Plan Marketing Abuses

The United States Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing on May 15 designed to collect information and testimony about widespread media reports of marketing abuses related to the open enrollment period for Medicare Advantage plans.

Medicare Advantage plans provide the same type of benefits as traditional Medicare Parts A & B (mainly Hospitalization and outpatient Doctors visits) and some of the plans also include drug coverage. The difference between Advantage Plans is two-fold: Number one, the plans are administered and sold by private insurance companies rather than the government. Number two, each plan is different, with a wide array of benefit packages and price levels available. This has made it difficult for some consumers to choose an appropriate plan for them, as well as opening the door for a small number of unsrcupulous agents or salespeople to use high pressure tactics - or even outright fraud in a few cases - to sign up new customers. Such sales to consumers are driven by the salesperson's desire to garner a commission, rather than what would be the best choice for the consumer. Such tactics violate the guidelines for marketing Advantage Plans set by the federal government, but tracking down violators and fixing the problems left in their wake has proven tricky and time-consuming for affected seniors and their caregivers.

Senator Herb Kohl (D-Wi), Chairman of the committee, says he is determined to get tougher on enforcement of these types of violations.

"Our investigation has revealed a disturbingly consistent picture, one which only seems to be growing," said Sen. Kohl. "Countless seniors purchasing Medicare Advantage plans have been preyed upon and unwittingly taken advantage of by insurance agents. Seniors
have been removed from traditional Medicare without their knowledge, signed onto plans they can’t afford, misled regarding coverage, and told their doctors accept these plans, when in reality they don’t. This is simply unacceptable."

Read transcripts of the expert testimony given at the hearing or watch a video of the hearing.

Download a bulletin regarding Advantage Plan marketing practices issued April 23 by the South Carolina Department of Insurance. (Adobe PDF file)

More on this story and related issues from the online magazine SeniorJournal.com.

Virginia Department of Aging and DMV Team Up to Offer Driver Education for Older Drivers

The Virginia GrandDriver initiative was created to educate seniors and those who care about them about how to drive safely, stay mobile and remain independent for as long as possible.

The initiative is a combined effort of the Virginia Department for the Aging and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. It is funded by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

GrandDriver:

• Gives older Virginians and their families suggestions to improve driving skills and provides resources that will help older drivers compensate for age-related changes so they can stay on the road as safely as possible, for as long as possible.
  
• Encourages everyone to plan ahead for safe mobility before his or her later years.
  
• Offers suggestions for alternative forms of transportation to help older Virginians maintain their mobility and independence

Joint Legislative Committee on Aging Meeting Rescheduled for June 5

The Joint Legislative Committee on Aging (JCLA) will hold its annual public hearing to receive comments and testimony from people and organizations concerned about issues impacting seniors in South Carolina on June 5.

This meeting was originally scheduled for May 17 in room 101 of the Blatt Building in the State House Complex in Columbia, but was rescheduled due to a conflict with the House and Senate budget negotiations. The Blatt Building is located at the corner of Pendleton and Assembly Streets.

The Committee will hear testimony from various interest groups representing seniors around the state will testify, including the Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging.

Individuals or groups who wish to testify before the Committee should contact Rep. Denny Neilson’s office at (803) 734-5805.  Individuals planning to testify should bring 15 hard copies of their planned written testimony for distribution to committee members. An electronic copy should also be provided to Judi Davis in the Lt. Governor’s Office on Aging at jdavis@aging.sc.gov.

JCLA Committee MEMBERS:

Representative Denny W. Neilson, Chair
Representative Walton J. McLeod
Representative Robert W. Leach, Sr.
Senator Ronnie W. Cromer
Senator J. Yancey McGill
Senator Glenn G. Reese
Ms. Linda Mitchell Johnson
Mr. Ollie Johnson
Mr. Bill Riserter

Concert Will Benefit Columbia's 5-Points Wheels Transportation Project

Tomorrow night (May 16) at 7:30 p.m., Columbia's Capital Senior Center will welcome piano player, actor, stroryteller and all-around entertainer Phil Markert for a concert to benefit the 5-Points Wheels volunteer transportation project.

“Five Points Wheels” is a planned combination transportation program that will serve the elderly and disabled without access to transportation in the Five Points and downtown areas of Columbia. The program's leaders expect the service will operate 6 days a week approximately 6 hours per day. There will be no charge for rides, with donations accepted, and drivers will be volunteers.

Phil Markert recently retired from a 10-year run on WTAL radio in Syracuse, New York where he entertained generations of fans with live in-studio piano, colorful yarns and stories, call ins from the listeners, and both rare and memorable songs from today and yesterday.

Tickets are $8.00 in advance and $10 at the door. The Capital Senior Center is located at 1650 Park Circle (off Pickens Street). Call 5 Points Wheels Coordinator Roger Cranford at (803) 779-1971 for more information about the project or to purchase tickets.

Walhalla Mayor to Lead Silver Haired Legislature

Walhalla Mayor Lamar Bailes has been elected Speaker of South Carolina’s Silver Haired Legislature.

Bailes succeeds Tom Lloyd of West Columbia, who had completed his second two-year term. Other officers elected by the SHL during its May 10 organizational session include:

• Treasurer Henry Baranoski of Conway

• Records Clerk Hannah Timmons of Columbia

• Secretary Arlis Hinson of Anderson

• Speaker Pro Tem Eugene Bondurant of Greenville.

The General Assembly created the SHL in 1999 to identify issues, concerns and possible solutions for problems faced by the citizens of South Carolina with special emphasis on issues related to seniors and to make recommendations to the governor and the Legislature.

The SHL’s Eighth Annual Legislative Session will be held Sept. 11-13 at the Statehouse in Columbia. Its legislative committees will meet in Columbia on July 26 to prioritize resolutions that will be developed in June by its 10 regional caucuses. Created in 1999, the Silver Haired Legislature advises the State General Assembly on issues of importance to older South Carolinians. Participants are chosen in each county in coordination with the state’s 10 Regional Area Agencies on Aging.

The group's legislative priorities for 2007 include instituting mandatory criminal background checks for all in-home or adult day care facility workers; reforming the "payday loan" industry; increasing state funding for home and community-based services for the elderly; increasing funding to provide emergency shelter for elderly abuse victims; and creating a student loan debt foregiveness program to reward nurse practitioners who specialize in geriatric care.

Lowcountry Senior Center Celebrates 5th Anniversary
More than 200 Programs Now Offered Monthly to Adults Age 50+

From press release

(Charleston, SC) The Lowcountry Senior Center is celebrating its 5th Anniversary, marking the success of an organization that has grown from the grass-roots efforts of 75 local residents to a current membership of nearly 1,200 individuals. The Center, located at 865 Riverland Drive on James Island, now offers more than 200 programs monthly to adults age 50+.

“The Lowcountry Senior Center has created a wonderful legacy in their first five years,” said Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. “The growth and success of the facility has exceeded all of our expectations. More than just a facility, it has provided a means of continuing learning and growth for our senior citizens along with a wonderful opportunity to make new friends. This Center will hopefully be a model for future expansion throughout the county.”

“The Lowcountry Senior Center continues to improve the quality of life for many Charleston area seniors, providing a unique place for them to connect through social, intellectual and physical activities,” said David L. Dunlap, President and CEO of Roper St. Francis Healthcare, which manages the Center for the City of Charleston. “Thanks to the everyday efforts of the Center’s staff, volunteers and members, a wide range of programs and services are offered to encourage healthy living.”

"The Center's growth and success has exceeded all of our expectations,” said Jill Jackson Ledford, the Center’s Executive Director. “It has been rewarding to be a part of an effort that has such a positive impact on people’s lives. Our vision is to expand the existing facility as well as take more programming out to other areas. We would also like to replicate our successful model in other areas of the county so that more people can benefit."

Under Jackson Ledford’s leadership, the Center has been recognized for numerous achievements:
• It was the first senior center to achieve national accreditation in the state and was recognized as a "Geriatric Best Practice" by the South Carolina Hospital Association and SAGE Institute.

• It was recognized as the nation’s top "Senior Wellness & Fitness Program" in 2005 when it received the NuStep Pinnacle Award for excellence in wellness programming for seniors.

• Earlier this year, the Center received a $283,000 multi-year grant from the South Carolina Lieutenant Governor's Office on Aging to offer expanded programs and support to seniors learning to live with and effectively manage a chronic illness such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.

The Center’s goal is to promote health and wellness, control stress, reduce depression and anxiety, and ultimately lower the cost of healthcare for people 50 years old and up. From exercise classes to art workshops, movies, day trips and health and medical seminars, the Senior Center provides a wide variety of activities to suit many interests. All of the programs offered by the Center contribute to the overall belief of wellness defined as having six dimensions: emotional, intellectual, physical, social, spiritual and vocational.

The Lowcountry Senior Center is currently accepting applications for membership. For more information, call 843-762-9555.

State and Nation Honor Older Americans Month

Older Americans: "Making Choices for a Healthier Future”
A message from the U.S. Administration on Aging

Never has it been more evident that one of the biggest challenges facing the United States is how we will care for our grandparents, parents, and loved ones as they age. Views may vary on how to prepare for what will be a diverse wave of seniors, whose ranks are growing due to the aging of 78 million baby boomers who will begin to turn 65 in 2011. But all agree that this shift in our nation’s demographics will have profound implications for our economic and social landscapes at the national, state and community level.

Federal, state and community leaders are witnessing sweeping fundamental transformations in the way we think about and deliver health and long term care in this country. More and more we hear that the overwhelming preference of the American people is to remain at home for as long as possible and to have choice and control over how and where they live as they age. The nation’s national aging services network, led by the U.S. Administration on Aging and comprised of State, tribal and area agencies on aging, as well as more than 29,000 community service providers, caregivers and volunteers, know this and have worked hard to carry out their mission under the Older Americans Act to provide for and protect the independence and dignity of our older citizens.

For 44 years, our nation has paused to honor older Americans during May. During this special month, the ongoing contributions of our older citizens are highlighted with a national proclamation issued by the President of the United States, and activities and events planned in communities across America.

The theme for Older Americans Month 2007 is “Older Americans: Making Choices for a Healthier Future.” This theme encourages us to think differently about health and long term care, and work together to rebalance and modernize our current systems so that we may adequately plan for and address the needs of current and future generations. Older persons are entitled to live lives of dignity and independence through:

• Streamlined access to information as well as to home and community services, including information that will enable people to plan ahead for long term care

• Information about cost-effective prevention practices and activities that will improve health and quality of life and reduce risk of disease, disability and injury, and,

• Innovative, affordable and flexible options of care and support that will provide an array of choices about how and where to live.

We urge people of all ages to seize upon the occasion of Older Americans Month to plan, promote and participate in activities during May and throughout the year that reflect the tenets of the national theme. We must all work together to ensure that every older person in this great country is treated with dignity and respect and moreover, has the opportunity to make the choices they desire to enjoy a healthy and rewarding future.

Read South Carolina's State Older Americans Month Proclamation.

Senior Farmer's Markets Scheduled in 34 Counties

Seniors aged 60 and older on fixed incomes in 34 South Carolina counties can qualify for $25.00 in vouchers that can be used to purchase fresh produce through the "Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program' sponsored by the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) during May and June.

For more information, contact DSS Program Coordinator Larry G. Young at (803) 898-7396

Download a fact sheet about the program from DSS (Adobe PDF file).

Download a full schedule of Farmers Market times and locations.

Participating Counties include: Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Chester, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Horry, Jasper Lexington, Marion, Marlboro, Oconee, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union, Williamsburg, York .

Older Americans Month Celebrated at Newberry's Dave Waldrop Senior Center May 16

From press release:

Newberry County Council on Aging will sponsor a luncheon with special entertainment to celebrate Older Americans Month at the Dave C. Waldrop Senior Center, Wednesday, May 16, 11:15 a.m.

Older Americans Month recognizes the extended role seniors play in our families and work places as they live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. The observance encourages our working together to advance the quality of life in South Carolina through increased physical activity and improved eating habits to help our seniors experience a satisfying longer life.

Lynn Stockman, executive director, Newberry Council on Aging. will host the celebration luncheon.

“Seniors are the foundation of our state, and we treasure them. With their hard work, intelligence and guidance, we will lead the younger generation into the brighter 21st century,” said Stockman.

Dave C. Waldrop, Jr. will welcome the guests to the luncheon. The Honorable Rita Allison will bring a message from the office of Governor Mark Sanford and preside over the entertainment.

A variety of sparkling performances by former Ms. South Carolina Seniors will prove that life can and does begin after 60:

• Jackie McNeill, Ms. SC senior 1999, will bring a variety of vocal selections to the production. She will also direct the Classic Singers in choral selections.

• Margie Crowley, Ms Senior 1998, will bring lively special entertainment to the program with performances by the Camak Quartet.

• Kate Dorn, Ms. SC Senior 1992, will light up the audience with variety dance routines. Kate at an active 90 years is an aerobic instructor.

• Williene Ogbum, Ms. SC Senior 1994, costumed in the early “20’s,” will dance the “Charleston” to add southern custom to the show. The dance will be a dazzling inspiration to all seniors to make their mark in this world as she has at 85!

• Dr. Jacqueline Haymond, Ms. SC Senior 2001, is a motivational speaker/happiness specialist. She has chosen to teach the audience “ laughing lion”, a yoga experience, and lead a meditation exercise.

The Ms. South Carolina Senior Program was the first State pageant to give recognition to lovely and talented senior ladies. The program was a competition for contestants who could best represent southern ladies of the south with dignity, maturity, intelligence and inner beauty. Fourteen queens were crowned. This luncheon represents the fifth reunion the Council on Aging has hosted in their honor during Older Americans Month.

Visit the U.S. Administration on Aging's 2007 Older Americans month page.

Facts about Older Americans month fron the U.S. Census Bureau.

Read a proclamation from President Bush.

Lowcountry Real Estate Developers Targeting 'Active Adults'

The cooling real estate market hasn't slowed down interest in "active adult" retirement communities in South Carolina's Lowcountry region, according to an article posted May 7 on Charleston.net, the online version of Charleston's Post and Courier newspaper.

The story, "New communities to cater to active seniors," by Post and Courier real estate and economic development reporter Katy Stetch, described retiree-targeted developments underway in Summerville and Berkley County. Developers are focusing hard on active lifestyle "baby boom" retirees more interested in travel and recreational opportunities than mowing the lawn or other chores associated with more traditional housing.

From the article:

More than 1,500 people attended informational sessions on the community in late April.

Both neighborhoods are marketing a retiree lifestyle that centers around social events and travel.

They also have restrictions that limit who can buy and live in the homes, essentially limiting residents to a "55 or better" age group.

In marketing the communities, the emphasis is more on the community's quality of life and less on the physical attributes of the house, Smithem explained.

"We see that empty nesters and people who retire early have tremendous assets, but what they'd like to do is downsize their level of (home maintenance) responsibility," she said.

"It really is a lock-and-leave lifestyle."

Read the entire article on Charleston.net.

It's hard to overstate the economic impact that the thousands of affluent retirees and "near retirees" flocking to South Carolina in recent years is having on the state. It's estimated that South Carolina's rate of percentage growth in senior population (seniors measured as a percentage of total population) is the fifth highest in the nation. Coming mainly from the Northeast and Midwest states, these "in-migrants" bring with them higher than average incomes, resources and educational levels, making them extremely desirable new residents from an economic development perspective. That hasn't been lost on local governments around the state, many of whom have been actively courting development of senior-oriented housing developments like the ones described above.

At the recent 2007 Aging Leadership Summit in Myrtle Beach, Lt. Governor André Bauer echoed that sentiment during a portion of the Summit being taped by the Retirement Living Television channel that will air later this month to RLTV's 28 million viewers nationwide.

"This is real economic development for South Carolina," Lt. Governor Bauer told RLTV host John Palmer, "and I hope the people watching this show will come in floods. We'll send a bus to get you!"

Marketing Study Zeroes In on Baby Boomer "Pivot Spenders"

The approximately 78 million-strong "baby boom" generation (those folks born between 1946 and 1964) have long been a subject of interest for marketers because of their numbers and their spending power, and that fascination with boomer spending patterns hasn't waned at all as the boomers have begun hitting retirement age. If anything, it's increased.

ACNeilson, a global corporation based on studying consumer trends, and AgeLessons, a "think-tank" focused exclusively on baby boomers, recently announced the results of a new joint marketing study that they say shows a large number of Boomers are providing significant financial support to either a parent or an adult child. They've dubbed this niche market (approximately 46% percent of Boomers) "pivot spenders," and hope that by studying the group's spending habits, businesses can target their marketing efforts to reach them more effectively.

From the release:

A national study of Baby Boomers conducted by The Nielsen Company and Age Lessons has uncovered a new market segment known as Pivot Spenders who provide financial support to elderly/retired parents or an adult child 18+ on an ongoing basis. Fully 22% of Boomers contribute to the financial upkeep of a senior parent, while 24% help out an adult child not in college. “This finding adds to the already considerable purchasing clout of the Baby Boomer segment,” noted Todd Hale, senior vice president of Nielsen Homescan & Spectra. “In addition to buying for their live-in family, many Boomers are shopping for multiple households including their aging parents and empty nest children. Boomers are proving to be both the social and financial epicenter of the family unit.”

“The Pivot Spender study underscores that ‘the buck starts here’ with Baby Boomers,” added Laurel Kennedy, Age Lessons president. “Boomers, who account for at least 55% of consumer spending, now prove to be an even more influential factor at retail than ever before. This poly-household perspective may account for the popularity of club stores like Costco and multi-packs with the Boomer audience. It also opens up a host of cross-merchandising possibilities for retailers, now that they know Boomers are stocking the pantry for seniors and Millennials.”

The Pivot Spender study determined that almost 40% of Boomer Pivot Spenders paid out $1,000+ per year to help their elderly parents, while an impressive 56% contributed at least that amount to supplement an adult child as they established an independent life outside the family home. The top two areas of need/contribution for both older parents and adult children were groceries [58% and 47% respectively] and housing [47% and 37% respectively].
Other areas where senior parents were likely to receive financial assistance included medical care [22%], clothing [21%] and car expenses [18%]. For adult children, additional areas of Boomer support included car expenses [46%], clothing [41%] and medical care [37%].

Read the complete release.

CMS Proposes Increase in Medicare Payments to Nursing Homes for 2008

From CMS press release:

Medicare payments to nursing homes would increase by approximately $690 million in fiscal 2008 under new rates proposed today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

This 3.3 percent increase would affect payment rates to nursing facilities that furnish certain skilled nursing and rehabilitation care to Medicare beneficiaries recovering from serious health problems. The proposed rule for the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system (SNF PPS) was placed on display at the Federal Register today.

Under Medicare’s SNF PPS, each facility is paid a daily rate based on the relative needs of individual Medicare patients, adjusted for local labor costs. The daily rate covers the costs of furnishing all covered nursing facility services, including routine services such as room, board, nursing services, and some medical supplies together with related costs such as therapies, drugs and lab services; and capital costs including land, buildings and equipment.

“These new payment rates reflect our commitment to improving the quality of care in the long-term care setting while maintaining predictability and stability in payments for the nursing home industry,” said Leslie V. Norwalk, acting administrator of CMS. “This represents yet another step to enable nursing homes and the Medicare program to continue to move forward in providing quality services for patients who need post-acute care.”

Read the complete release on the web site for CMS' Office of Public Affairs.

Computerized "Brain Workouts" Continuing to Gain Popularity Despite Lack of Hard Evidence of Benefit

This story, first reported by Philadelphia Inquirer writer Linni S. Kadaba, leads with a description of a "brain gym" at a New Jersey retirement commmunity.

From the story - 'Chasing mental fitness':

In June, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Alzheimer's Association plan to issue a "road map" to cognitive health. And at the Joint Conference of the American Society on Aging and National Council on the Aging in March, at least 10 sessions highlighted brain fitness and the need to master ever-more-complex tasks...

In the last decade, research has shown that the brain changes in response to stimulation, and that novel and complex learning adds neurons. Less certain is the connection between rousing cells and warding off mind-robbing diseases.

Most studies have been small and have shown only limited benefits to brain training. While they have not disproved the usefulness of cerebral calisthenics, they have not proved it, either. Results of the first rigorous clinical trial, published in December's Journal of the American Medical Association, showed that while mental exercise didn't help seniors tackle real-life tasks better, performance on certain tests improved.

"The findings are important and provocative, but not yet conclusive," said Richard Suzman of the National Institute on Aging, which helped fund the study.

Insurance company Humana has begun giving Posit Science's $395 Brain Fitness software to its Medicare Advantage customers for free — about 5,000 have requested it — and at a discount to employees. It also plans Brain Fitness Camps around the country.

Read the complete story at the deseretnews.com web site.

National Institutes of Health's Eye Institute Promoting Glaucoma Screenings for People over 60

May has been designated as National Healthy Vision month, and the NIH's Eye Institute, the federal agency charged with promoting research and awareness of eye disease, is encouraging people in "high risk groups" to get screened for Glaucoma at least once every two years.

From the NEI press release:

More than four million Americans have glaucoma, an eye disease that damages the optic nerve and destroys eyesight. However, nearly half of those with glaucoma are not even aware they have it. Are you one of them? You owe it to yourself to find out by getting a dilated eye exam. With its painless and gradual loss of vision, glaucoma comes with no early warning signs, but it can be detected during a comprehensive dilated eye exam. In an effort to encourage Americans to make vision a health priority, the National Eye Institute (NEI), one of the Federal government's National Institutes of Health (NIH), observes Healthy Vision Month each May. This year's observance highlights the importance for early detection of glaucoma.

Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., director of the NEI, said, "NEI-funded research has shown that treatment during the early stages of glaucoma can control the disease and prevent future vision loss and blindness. This is why NEI encourages people at higher risk for glaucoma to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam every one to two years."

Those at higher risk for developing glaucoma include:

• African Americans over age 40
• Everyone over age 60, especially Mexican Americans
• People with a family history of the disease.

With a dilated eye exam, an eye care professional can see inside the eye to detect signs of glaucoma, such as subtle changes to the optic nerve and other vision problems, before any symptoms appear. This allows the eye care professional to monitor patients and treat glaucoma as early as possible.

For more information, contact the NEI's Office of Communications at (301) 496-5248, or via e-mail at neinews@nei.nih.gov.

Find out more about the National Eye Institute.

U.S. Administration on Aging Announces New Strategic Plan for 2007-2012

U.S. Assistant Secretary for Aging Josefina Carbonell, head of the Administration on Aging, announced Thursday that a new strategic plan for the agency has been completed that will guide the direction of federally-funded aging services over the next five years.

Carbonell made the announcement via an e-mail to members of the nationwide "Aging Services Network," made up of the state and local government and non-profit organizations involved in delivering services funded fully or in-part by the federal Older Americans Act. All such federal funds in South Carolina (approximately $26 million in 2006) are administered by the the Lt. Governor's Office on Aging and are used to purchase services or run programs that improve the health and welfare of our state's senior population. The announcement coincides with the beginning of Older Americans month, celebrated each year during May.

Assistant Secretary Carbonell's e-mail to the Network:

I am pleased to announce the release of AoA's Strategic Action Plan for 2007-2012. This Plan continues AoA's focus to bolster the role of the Aging Services Network in long-term care, and gives particular attention to implementing the new provisions in the Older Americans Act that reflect the key principles of Choices for Independence. As a result of the 2006 Amendments, the Act now authorizes all levels of the Network to actively promote the development of consumer-centered systems of long-term care, and specifically encourages the Network to implement Aging and Disability Resource Centers, evidence-based prevention programs, and flexible service models, including consumer-directed options, to help individuals avoid unnecessary nursing home placement and spend down to Medicaid. As outlined in this plan, these and other new provisions in the Act hold great potential for modernizing aging services in the 21st Century and enhancing the quality of life of our older citizens. A full copy of the Plan can be accessed on our Strategic Plan webpage.

The 20-page plan offers a detailed blueprint for AoA's efforts to prepare the "Aging Network" for the major demographic shift underway as the nation's 78 million baby boomers begin reaching retirement age. The plan embraces five basic goals:

Empower older people, their families, and other consumers to make informed decisions about, and to be able to easily access, existing health and long-term care options.

Enable seniors to remain in their own homes with high quality of life for as long as possible through the provision of home and community-based services, including supports for family caregivers.

Empower older people to stay active and healthy through Older Americans Act services and the new prevention benefits under Medicare.

Ensure the rights of older people and prevent their abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Maintain effective and responsive management.

Visit the AoA's Strategic Plan page on the AoA main web site.

Download the complete plan (Adobe PDF format).

National In-home Senior Care Company Offers $5,000 In Free Services for Essay Contest Winner

According to the " Home Instead Senior Care" office serving Richland and Lexington Counties, Home Instead Senior Care and Caring Today magazine are sponsoring the second annual "Give a Caregiver a Break'' essay contest to honor family caregivers for their tireless service to elderly loved ones.

In 500 words or less, family caregivers can tell their caregiving experiences, including the challenges they've faced, how they've embraced their role as a caregiver for a senior loved one and how a Home Instead CareGiver could make a difference. Entries can be submitted starting May 1, 2007 (at www.caringtoday.com or by mail to Caring Today, 1465 Post Road East, Westport, CT. 06880). Entry deadline is July 16, 2007.

The Grand Prize is $5,000 of free care from Home Instead Senior Care, the world's largest provider of non-medical companionship and home care for seniors. Two First Prize winners will receive $2,500 of free care from Home Instead Senior Care. Winning essays will be published in the November/December issue of Caring Today and the top l0 essays will appear on www.caringtoday.com.

Visit the Caring Today.com contest web page.

Find out more about the national Home Instead Senior Care Company.

You can contact the Columbia Office of Home Instead at (803) 736-4242.

Kiplinger Financial Article Offers Prescription to "Save" Baby Boomer Retirement

Kiplinger.com, an online magazine offering advice on personal finance and investing recently posted an article predicting hard times for Baby Boomer retirees if changes to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security and other changes aren't adopted to meet the coming demographic challenge

The article, 10 Steps to Reforming Baby Boomer Retirement, by National Center for Policy Analysis founder John Goodman, outlines a 10 point plan for reforming government programs and encouraging more people to save on their own.

Goodman's recommendations include the following:

Step 1: Improve Traditional Pension Plans.

Step 2: Improve 401(k) Plans.

Step 3: Expand Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs).

Step 4: Remove Social Security's Penalties on Work.

Step 5: Repeal the Social Security Benefits Tax.

Step 6: Use the Roth Method of Taxation.

Step 7: Make Health Insurance Portable.

Step 8: Provide Tax Relief for Post-Retirement Health Insurance.

Step 9: Create Health Savings Accounts for Seniors.

Step 10: Encourage Preparation for Long-Term Care.

Read the article at Kiplinger.com.

Find out more about the National Center for Policy Analysis.

Insurance Industry Poll Shows Concern over Funding Long Term Care not Translating into Action

Genworth Financial Services, a company that specializes in retirement planning issues and offers products such as annuities, life insurance and long term care insurance, has issued a survey report on the cost of long term care for 2007.

Genworth's study shows the cost of long term care in a nursing home setting is high, and getting higher. Nationwide, the average cost for a private nursing home bed exceeds $74,000 per year. South Carolina was slightly below the average, included in the study in a group of states where nursing home care was descibed as "moderately priced."

"Moderately," in this case, equates to $58,000 per year for a private room, or $54,122 for a semi-private room - quite an expenditure, and beyond the reach of many middle class families without the help of private insurance or the government.

Genworth also commissioned a poll to survey people's attitudes about the cost of long term care. Disturbingly, the poll found that while the majority of folks are concerned about the cost of long term care, 3 out of four haven't done any saving or planning to prepare for that eventuality for themselves or a loved one. Many of the people in the study (72%) were concerned about the threat of Alzheimer's Disease, and said it would be a very important factor in motivating them to plan for their own long term care.

The vast majority of people in the survey (75%) also said they would prefer to live at home and receive assisted living supports, but nearly half (43-44%) believe incorrectly that Medicare or their health insurance plan will pay for in-home services or institutional care.

Download the complete nursing home cost survey (Adobe PDFD file).

Find out more about Genworth Financial.

South Carolina's Seniors' Cube Project Receives National Recognition

Josefina Carbonell, Assistant Secretary for Aging for the US Department of Health and Human Services, announced Friday at the state leadership summit in Myrtle Beach that South Carolina's Seniors’ Cube would be recognized May 1 as the initial 2007 Choices for Independence Program Champion.

“Program Champion” is the term AOA has coined to salute initiatives that complement its efforts to increase older Americans' options in taking personal responsibility for addressing their long term care needs. AOA will feature a different Champion each business day during May, which is Older Americans Month.

The Seniors’ Cube is a nationally unique data warehouse, created by the Lt. Governor's Office on Aging, that can gauge the effectiveness of services for older persons.

"We believe technology, data and research can allow us to make evidence-based decisions to give us the best results as we invest our scarce tax dollars. South Carolina may be unique in its creation of a senior data cube, which links together large data bases so they may be cross referenced. We are early in this process, and have been helped, as always, by creating partnerships and being alert to private sector and foundation funding. Preliminary conclusions are showing a direct correlation between the intensity of Older Americans Act services and the avoidance of hospital ER use and in-patient admission," - testimony of Lt. Governor André Bauer before the Subcommittee on Select Education, Committee on Education and the Workforce, United States House of Representatives, May 2, 2006.

Funding has been provided through the Duke Endowment and has resulted in a partnership with the USC Arnold School of Public Health and the South Carolina State Budget and Control Board, Office of Research and Statistics. The Lieutenant Governor's Office on Aging utilizes a statewide steering committee of major universities, AARP, the South Carolina Hospital Association, the South Carolina State Budget and Control Board, Office of Research and Statistics and other related groups. It will maintain the effort through state funds, foundation grants and access/user fees in the future.

Read more about AoA's Program Champions recognition program.

'You Can! Move to the Music' Healthy Lifestyle Event Draws Big Crowd at Columbia's Riverbanks Zoo

They came from as far away as Greenville and Spartanburg Counties and as close by as West Columbia; they came in large groups on buses and in small groups of two or three; some came to dance, some just to walk or enjoy the beautiful spring weather; but come they did. Approximately 300 seniors turned out for the third annual "You Can! Steps to Healthier Aging" statewide event at Columbia's Riverbanks Zoo on Monday (April 30).

For those who made the trip, whether long or short, it was a day of good music, exercise and fellowship, along with a serious message about the tremendous health benefits of light exercise.

"The point is, you don't have to go out and run a marathon," Lt. Governor André Bauer told the crowd. "That's great if you can, but everybody can benefit from just a short walk or stretching or even some dancing like we're doing today."

Lt. Governor Bauer, known for his dedication to a rigorous routine of exercise and healthy eating, has made raising awareness of the huge health benefits - and savings to public healthcare expenditures - that can be gained by older adults engaging in moderate exercise and changing their eating habits a priority of the State Office on Aging since it was placed under is leadership three years ago. The first "You Can!" event was held in May of 2005 on the Statehouse grounds. Since that time, Lt. Governor Bauer has walked with literally thousands of seniors at events held around the state to promote and encourage physical activity.

Monday's event featured dancing as its centerpiece, with local radio personality Woody Windham spinning Beach Music and other oldies tunes that hearkened back to the 50's and 60's, when the Shag was by far the most popular dance in the Carolinas. In additon to Lt. Governor Bauer, the attendees also heard from Russ Bell, a motivational speaker who is also the Director of Columbia's Finlay House Independent living high rise.

See more pictures from You Can! Move to the Music at Columbia's Riverbanks zoo.

See pictures from past You Can! Steps to Healthier Aging events and get more information about the You Can! campaign.