senior lifesTyle ’11
The Daily DispaTch
TRAVELING,
BASICS,
erly. If you plan to travel out of the country, contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for required immunizations.
• Fight against falls. Falls are the most common cause of hospital visits for those older than 65, according to the Home Safety Council. To help prevent falls in the bathroom — while maintaining stylish decor in your home — add new grab bars with integrated accessories from Moen Home Care. These unique products combine functional accessories, such as a shelf, towel bar and toilet paper holder, with the safety of a grab bar. • Ensure help is a call away. Cell phones are not just for social uses, they are a valuable emergency response tool — and they don’t have to come with a pricey monthly bill. In fact,
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Get protection
Whether traveling 50 miles or 5,000, prepare for the unexpected by purchasing a membership from a travel and medical assistance company like On Call International before you leave. Senior travelers ages 77 to 85 can purchase a special Mature Membership, which includes services like emergency medical transportation to the hospital of their choice, transportation home, worldwide physician referrals, a 24-hour nurse helpline and emergency travel assistance. The membership
ADVOCACY, FROM PAGE THREE
days of medical procedures to drain the cyst, a seven-pound solid tumor was removed and tested for cancer. “Once my doctor removed the tumor, I wanted to make sure that the hospital did the proper tests to check if the mass was cancerous,” said Williams. “I wasn’t going to leave it up to chance so I requested that an oncologist perform the tests. I am glad that I pushed for this, because I was soon diagnosed with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor, or GIST, which is considered a rare form of cancer. I was then able to get the information I needed to help understand my disease.” When it comes to helping manage their own disease
also includes pre-travel destination and health information, lost-luggage assistance, worldwide legal assistance and even covers the cost of transporting grandchildren or a traveling companion home if you need to stay in the hospital.
With a little planning, seniors can travel without worry and enjoy the best of their golden years exploring the world. For more information about safe travel and medical assistance memberships, visit www.oncallinternational.com.
and acting as their own advocate, patients should seek out resources both through their physicians and reliable online websites. For some rare cancers, like GIST, there are a number of online resources, including www. GISTTheFactsInfo.com, an educational site for GIST patients and their families that was developed by Novartis Oncology. “It is so important for people with cancer, especially
those with a rare cancer like me, to act as their own advocate when it comes to getting the right diagnosis, disease information and ultimately the right disease management plan,” said Williams. “Working with my doctor and learning more about my disease has helped me focus on the other important things in my life, including enjoying time with my husband and taking care of my son. They mean the world to me.”
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sunDay, June 26, 2011
From taking a trip with their grandchildren across country, to living out dreams in far, exotic destinations, today’s seniors are choosing to enjoy their golden years traveling.
plans are available for as low as $10 per month without a contract to AARP members. • Keep your mind moving. Cognitive performance levels drop earlier in countries that have younger retirement age, according to a study published by the RAND Center for the Study of Aging and the University of Michigan. But if you’re no longer in the workforce, don’t fear. Just be sure to keep your brain busy by engaging in activities that combine social, physical and intellectual stimulation. By following these simple tips, you can ensure the golden years will be happy, healthy and safe. For more information on Moen Home Care safety products, visit www.moen. com/homecare.
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