SENIORcare
MI Health Link Program Bucket List for Seniors Money Matters for Caregivers National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month
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2 • SENIORcare | 2015
Paul Bridgewater President & CEO Detroit Area Agency on Aging
By Cathy Nedd Associate Publisher Michigan Chronicle As we transition into fall, our October issue of SeniorCare brings awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and the new healthcare option for seniors with MI Health Link. The MI Health Link is the new dual enrollment process of Medicare and Medicaid services for seniors. This edition of SeniorCare delves into money issues that some caregivers face when caring for their relatives, helpful games to keep the memory intact, tips on aging gracefully, and fun ideas for seniors still trying to conquer their “bucket list.” Also, we look into The Manors, an assisted living residence that caters to physical and respiratory therapeutic needs, dementia and more. The SeniorCare publication is a special edition to our Living Well tabloid. It is a unique and valuable community resource that inspires, entertains, educates and supports our seasoned adults. We offer feature stories on health, nutrition, national programs that affect our region, directories for senior services, travel ideas and special programs that cater to the elderly. Sincerely,
Table of Contents Page 4
Seven Games to Jog Your Memory
Page 5
A Healthy Diet May Improve Memory
Page 6
35 Years of Facts About Detroit Area Agency on Aging
Page 8
Medicare and Medicaid: New Options for Seniors
Page 10
Advantage Living Centers for Metro Residents
Page 12
Money Matters for Caregivers: A Prudential Study
Page 15
Detroit “Who to Call” Directory
Medicare and Medicaid are creating a health care system that is more user-friendly and advocating healthy living – setting standards for how health care is delivered. The content in this Senior Care section will discuss ways to strengthen and improve health care for future generations. On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed legislation to establish Medicare for the elderly and Medicaid for low-income adults, children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. Though Medicare and Medicaid started as basic health coverage programs for Americans, the programs have evolved over the years to provide more Americans with improved access to quality and affordable health care coverage. These programs have transformed the delivery of health care in the United States. At Detroit Area Agency on Aging, we also provide important information and resources, like our Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program (MMAP) that has saved our clients over $1.6 million last year in prescription drugs and Part B Medicare premium. MMAP is a free service that helps beneficiaries to navigate through the Medicare and Medicaid systems. MMAP Counselors can: • Compare Plans • Check to see if you qualify for help with the cost of your prescriptions or Medicare Part B premium • Explain your enrollment options Navigating the Medicare and Medicaid can be challenging, but just remember the MMAP Counselor is here to help you, call us at 1-800-803-7174. We are Detroit’s Senior Solution.
Page 16 For Alzheimer’s Patients, Resveratrol Brings New Hope Page 19
Bucket List for Seniors
Senior Editor | Cathy Nedd Managing Editor | Jasmen Jackson Graphic Designer | Juan Sifuentes Michigan Chronicle 479 Ledyard St. • Detroit, MI 48201 • (313) 963-8100 Ext. 301 SENIORcare | 2015 • 3
Seven Games to Jog Your Memory As time goes by, our memory is not the same as it use to be. We forget things that were part of our daily regimen or names and faces of people we know. These seven games play on your memory and increase your brain’s concentration. Some of them are old favorites that you can find in the newspaper, others are computer games that you can play on your smart phone
Rubik’s Cube
Mahjong Chain
Original Tetris
Simon Memory
Dominoes
Sudoku
Tripeaks Solitaire
Games accredited to www.memory-improvement-tips.com
4 • SENIORcare | 2015
Alcohol septal ablation: a heart treatment option at Beaumont Hospital - Royal Oak Mary Campbell, 78, of Detroit, was taking over-the-counter pain medication and sleeping with three pillows in hopes of relieving her discomfort and difficulties breathing at night. But after two visits to the ER for chest pain and shortness of breath, she was referred to interventional cardiologist George Hanzel, M.D., at Beaumont Hospital - Royal Oak. The great-grandmother of 37 and grandmother of 45 says her pain was severe and sporadic, often leaving her exhausted and having to lie down. “I felt like a knife was going through my chest, into my back. I’d feel pain all the way down my left side.” During Campbell’s visit with Dr. Hanzel, he explained to her that she would be a good candidate for a heart procedure called alcohol septal ablation. This is a treatment option for select patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, abnormal thickening of the septum between the pump chambers of the heart causing obstruction of blood flow. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath and fatigue with exertion. He also told her that during the procedure, the alcohol creates a “small controlled heart attack,” causing a scar to shrink the size of the muscle and relieve the obstruction. “Dr. Hanzel examined me and then he drew a picture of my heart. He told me the wall of my heart is hard and needs shrinking,” recalls Campbell.
Regarding the heart attack, Campbell says, “I didn’t give it no thought. I told the Lord, ‘If you’re ready to take me, I’m ready to go.’ I was hurting so bad, I was ready to try anything and Dr. Hanzel said he could take away my chest pain.” Campbell arrived at the hospital with five of her children, her best friend and her daughter-in-law for the heart-attack inducing procedure. “The alcohol ablation procedure is designed to reduce the obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract to improve symptoms, and in carefully selected patients like Ms. Campbell, this is proven to be an excellent treatment option,” explained Dr. Hanzel. Following the procedure and after a several days of rest, Campbell says she started to feel better. “Believe it or not, I’ve had no chest pain. Before, I couldn’t walk from the couch to the front door. Now, I can walk with my grandchildren and don’t get out of breath and I’m not in pain … I feel good and I sleep real good – just like a baby,” says Campbell. With her increase in energy, the great-grandmother has done away with preparing her quick-fix of toast. She’s back to baking her homemade butter rolls and spending quality time with her family.
Healthy diet may improve memory, says study By Azadeh Ansari, CNN
W
e’ve all heard the age old adage, “You are what you eat.” But could what we eat also affect how we think? New research sheds additional light supporting the longstanding notion that eating a healthy diet could potentially be linked to a lower risk of memory and thinking decline, researchers say. The study, published in May 2015 in the journal Neurology, further helps our understanding of the correlation a higher diet quality could have on reducing the risk of memory loss. “This study strengthens the support for the overall idea that eating a balanced diet may be beneficial to reduce your risk of cognitive decline,” said Dr. Heather Snyder, director of Medical and Scientific Operations at the Alzheimer’s Association, who was not involved in this new study. “However, there are many aspects of diet in combination with engaging in a healthy lifestyle that may influence cognitive decline.” Unlike previous findings relating specific diets to improvements in cognitive function, this new study suggests that improving overall diet quality is an important factor for lowering the risk of memory and thinking loss. Researchers defined a healthy diet as one containing plenty of fruits and vegetables, nuts, fish, moderate al-
cohol use and minimal red meat. “The difference in our study is we didn’t prescribe a particular diet or explore for a particular diet pattern,” said Dr. Andrew Smyth, lead author of the study and a nephrologist at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. “We just wanted to look at a diverse cohort of people from all around the world and analyze what their risk for cognitive decline would be if they consumed what most organizations would consider a healthy diet,” Smyth said. For nearly five years, researchers monitored the eating habits of 27,860 men and women across 40 countries. Accounting for regional differences (but not country-specific variation), participants in the study were asked about the overall servings they consumed of different types of foods in both the healthy and unhealthy categories for which they received a corresponding point score. “For example, if participants consumed the standard dietary recommendations for fruits and vegetables per day, they would get a high score in that category. The reverse happens for unhealthy food choices,” said Smyth. Participants were tested for their thinking and memory skills, at the start of the study, then again after two and five years. The results indicate that participants with the healthiest diets were 24 percent less likely to experi-
ence cognitive decline compared to those with the least healthy diets. These individuals were slightly older in age, more active, less likely to smoke and had a lower BMI. “We were interested in looking at this particular group who have a high risk for cardiovascular disease because they are also going to have a high risk of cognitive decline,” said Smyth. “Previous research has suggested that a Mediterranean diet — rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and healthy fats — is associated with reduced risk of cognitive impairment. We’ve also seen preliminary research suggesting that eating vitamin C and folate-rich vegetables like spinach and broccoli may slow cognitive decline. Other research has suggested that blueberries may boost memory, and that a high intake of saturated and trans fats can have negative effects. So it’s no surprise to me that the healthiest eaters in this study fared the best in terms of their cognitive health,” said Lisa Drayer, a New York-based nutritionist. As the body of evidence continues to grow in support of how our food choices can influence our long-term ability to think clearly, researchers say the specific correlation between diet and quality of cognitive impairment still remains uncertain. But for now it seems that eating those peas and carrots could pay off in the long run.
SENIORcare | 2015 • 5
A History of Helping Seniors Live Longer and Healthier Lives; 35 Years of Facts About Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA) 8. DAAA was one of five Michigan AAAs awarded a three-year grant from the Administration on Aging (AoA) to offer evidence-based health promotion programs. 9. Many consumers learned about healthy aging through the Healing Zone, a faith-based initiative administered by DAAA. 10. DAAA partnered with Michigan State University to provide coupon books valued at $20 to eligible seniors for Senior Project FRESH.
1. The Detroit Area on Aging is one of 16 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) in Michigan, among 629 in the U.S. 2. Established by the Older Americans Act of 1965, we assist older persons in maximizing their personal independence and dignity.
11. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren gets support through DAAA with regular support group meetings and the Michigan Kinship Care Conference. 12. DAAA has worked hard to increase support for grandparents raising grandchildren.
3. Our emphasis is on older persons who are frail, low-income and/or minority in the nine communities that make up our service areas, known as Region 1-A: Detroit, the five Grosse Points, Hamtramck, Harper Woods, and Highland Park.
6. The agency raises private dollars to fund home-delivered meals on holidays, which are not covered by federal funding. For every $5 contribution, a homebound senior can receive a hot nutritious meal on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and Labor Day. 7. The Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program is administered by DAAA in Region 1-A to assist beneficiaries with information on their insurance coverage and “Extra Help” programs for prescriptions.
6 • SENIORcare | 2015
17. DAAA’s attention to quality long-term care resulted in the creation of the Detroit Long Term Care System Change Task Force. 18. The DAAA Residential Development Services was created to direct consumers to affordable housing and available options that help them maintain their independence. 19. One of DAAA’s special events demonstrated effective outreach to older adults and it received recognition from the U.S. Administration on Aging.
4. We arrange for essential home and community-based services to consumers through MI Choice – a program available to those who meet Medicaid Waiver income requirements and nursing facility placement criteria. 5. Through Project Choice (for those whose finances are too high to meet the eligibility requirements for the Medicaid Waiver program), support coordinators conduct home visits and design a person-centered plan for care, housekeeping and home-delivered meals.
able to address management, financial, reimbursement and regulation issues.
20. In 2010, DAAA became the site for the Long Term Care Ombudsman for Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, Harper Woods, and the five Grosse Pointes. 13. Adults over the age of 55 who need additional skills to re-enter the workforce are part of DAAA’s Senior Community Service Employment Program, a dual employment and training opportunity. 14. The DAAA’s award winning “Dying Before Their Time” study detailed the reasons behind our region’s accelerated mortality rate. 15. Several DAAA commissioned studies focused on the problems with Detroit nursing homes. Results from these studies led to a $1.7 million grant to implement the Nursing Facility Enhancement Project. 16. By examining nursing facilities, we have been
21. DAAA was one of the 12 agencies in the U.S. selected by the Administration on Aging for its then new Diabetes Self-Management Training Initiative. 22. We broadcast a weekly, 60-minute radio show at 10 a.m., Saturday mornings on News Talk AM 1200 or 99.9 FM WCHB — “The Senior Solution.” 23. In 2014, DAAA received the CARF International Accreditation in the areas of Case Management, Employee Development Services, and Home and Community Services. 24. We employ more than 113 full-time employees, with support from 68 community service trainees in
Specialists and certified professionals to all 90 to 105 callers daily. 28. DAAA’s Nutrition Department administered the federally-funded Home-Delivered Meals and congregate meal programs. 29. DAAA is sponsoring a summer series of recreational and educational events on Belle Isle.
our Mature Workers Program. 25. DAAA provides transition services through Nursing Facility Transition Services to eligible nursing facility residents who want to live independently again in the community.
to create neighborhood-based community wellness centers at St. Patrick Senior Center and Matrix Human Services. 35. DAAA received a $6.1 million Detroit Empowerment Zone that supported the implementation of the Senior Information Systems and the Homebound Elderly Care Management Program.
30. DAAA partners with Elder Law of Michigan, AARP Michigan, Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan and other stakeholders to provide economic security coordination and support. 31. DAAA participates in the LGBT Older Adult Coalition. 32. DAAA was the recipient of a grant from Michigan Health Endowment Fund.
26. We have matched 72,287 older adults with disabilities and caregivers with services in the last year.
33. DAAA received the National Institute of Health/ University of Michigan Grant.
27. I & A at (313) 446-4444 provides information and assistance from Alliance of Information and Referral
34. With 10,000 baby boomers reaching retirement every day, DAAA has leveraged existing resources
2015
www.DetroitSeniorSolution.com
SENIORcare | 2015 • 7
New program MI Health Link offers people with Medicare and Medicaid new options By Donald James SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) recently unveiled a new program called MI Health Link. It allows individuals to receive comprehensive health care and services when they are eligible for coverage by both Medicare and Medicaid. MI Health Link, which launched in May 2015 for Wayne and Macomb counties, provides enrollees with one plan and one card for all physical health care, behavioral health care, home and community-based services, nursing home care, and medications. Individuals who may be eligible for the new program must live in Wayne County or in other Michigan counties, including Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, Macomb, St. Joseph and Van Buren, as well as any Upper Peninsula county. Additionally, eligible individuals must be 21 or older, have full Medicare and full Medicaid, and not be enrolled in hospice care. “One of the biggest challenges that many individuals face is navigating the complex health care system,” said Stephen Harris, president of Molina Healthcare of Michigan. “It’s very hard to find the right primary health care physician that you need, or correct specialist, or just to understand what your true benefits are. MI Health Link is great because it is designed to 8 • SENIORcare | 2015
better coordinate health care for the population of peo- needs and long-term support services. ple who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.” Molina has partnered with numerous health and Harris goes on to explain that some of the pros of MI mental care agencies in the region to facilitate the Health Link are that there are no co-payments or de- program and connecting health and mental services. ductibles for in-network Such organizations inservice, including mediclude Detroit Wayne Mental cations. Additionally, enHealth Authority and Area rollees will have their own Agency on Aging (Wayne care coordinator to help and Macomb counties). • Medical services create a personal care Nationwide, Medicaid plan, answer questions, provides health coverage • Medications (No Co-Payments) and connect respective to almost five million low-ineligible people to needed come seniors, the vast • Dental services health care/treatment, as majority of whom are also • Vision services well as various support enrolled in Medicare. Addiplans and services. tionally, Medicaid provides • In-home services Molina Healthcare of coverage to close to four milMichigan is one of five lion people with disabilities • Community mental health participating integrated who are enrolled in Mediservices care organizations in the care. Thus, just under nine region that facilitates sermillion people across the na• Community-based services vices connected to MI tion are “dually eligible” and Health Link. To date, the enrolled in both Medicaid • Equipment to help with activities company has enrolled and Medicare, comprising of daily living about 12,000 individuals more than 17 percent of all who look to Molina to coMedicaid enrollees. ordinate their respective Molina Healthcare began physical health needs, as well as behavioral health in 1980 as Molina Medical Centers, initially created to
MI Health Link Benefits
serve communities in Southern California. In 1994, Molina was licensed as a health plan in California. In 1997, Molina began serving communities in Michigan. Across United States, the Fortune 500 company now arranges for the delivery of health care services and offers health information management solutions to nearly five million individuals and families who receive their care through Medicaid, Medicare and other government-funded programs in 15 states. “Molina is the second largest Medicaid health plan in Michigan,” said Harris, a native Detroiter who has worked six years for Molina, three-and-half as its president. “We are proud to serve more than 300,000 enrollees statewide.”
There are two phases of MI Health Link enrollment. Enrollment dates vary by region. If eligible, individuals will receive a letter from Michigan ENROLLS, indicating how to enroll and who to contact for assistance. Once enrolled in MI Health Link, enrollees can change respective health plans or leave the program at any time. For more information about MI Health Link, log on to www.michigan.gov/ mdhhs and type MI Health Link in the top search bar, or call MI ENROLLS at 1.800.975.7630. For more information about services offered by Molina Healthcare of Michigan, call 248.925.1700.
MI Health Link Providers •Aetna Better Health of Michigan www.aetnabetterhealth.com/michigan (800) 975-7630 •AmeriHealth Michigan, Inc. www.amerihealthcaritasvipcareplus.com (888) 667-0318 •Fidelis SecureCare of Michigan www.fidelissc.com (844) 239-7387 •HAP Midwest Health Plan www.midwesthealthplan.com (313) 581-2600
BE COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR
HEALTH CARE Choose the Medicare-Medicaid plan that cares for you.
•Molina Healthcare of Michigan www.molinahealthcare.com/members/mi (248) 925-1767
1-877-684-3271 (TTY 711) 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
www.amerihealthcaritasvipcareplus.com To enroll in AmeriHealth Caritas VIP Care Plus and other options for your health care, call Michigan ENROLLS at 1-800-975-7630 (TTY: 1-888-263-5897). Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. AmeriHealth Caritas VIP Care Plus is a health plan that contracts with both Medicare and Michigan Medicaid to provide benefits of both programs to enrollees. We are in Macomb and Wayne counties. All images are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model.
H0192_001_PRA_1555 _APPROVED_04202015
SENIORcare | 2015 • 9
Advantage Living Centers offers needed care to metro residents By Donald James SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Reginald Hartsfield, president/CEO and co-owner of the Southfield-based Advantage Management Group/Advantage Living Centers, is on the move these days, as he and his business partner, Kelsey Hastings, oversee the growth of their company. To date, Advantage Management Group/ Advantage Living Centers owns and operates eight skilled nursing facilities (short and long-term care) in Michigan, two of which are in Detroit. Overall, the company’s facilities have 1,200 beds. Additionally, Advantage owns and operates two assisted living facilities in Michigan, one in Port Huron, the other in Redford. Overall, the company employs approximately 1,200 employees. “When we first started, we had only three employees,” said Hartsfield, with a laugh. “I remember those days, sitting in the office and talking about how we were going to grow the company. It’s pretty amazing, even for me, to look and see how we’ve grown since the 1990s.” First established in 1992 as Advantage Health Systems, the company’s executive management team now has more than 100 years of combined experience in longterm health care. Advantage has developed strong relationships with local, state and federal regulators, which has resulted in creating a reputation for excellence in stabilization, regulatory compliance and long-term management. A native of Detroit, Hartsfield graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He began his professional career at IBM where he worked for 10 years. While his career at IBM, a Fortune 500 company, was rewarding, something was missing. “One day I was at my office and felt that there was a calling telling me that it was time to leave,” he recalled. “I had no idea what 10 • SENIORcare | 2015
to do and where I was going, but followed my spirit and opened a beauty salon with a friend. Still not content with this business, I met Kelsey Hastings when she came into the salon. She told me that she was a nursing home consultant. I was intrigued by that. Two years later, we started a consulting firm called Advantage Consulting and Educational Services, which provided regulatory consulting for the nursing home industry.” In 2003, the company’s name was changed to Advantage Management Group, and he and his business partner opened two skilled nursing facilities. While Hartsfield and Hastings render leadership to Advantage Management Group/Advantage Living Centers, both look at the company as more than a business. “We are both very spiritually focused and look at the company as a calling to us,” said Hartsfield. “We are a for-profit company that acts like a not-for-profit company. We are mission oriented because this company is our calling in life.” In addition to his leadership work with Advantage Management Group/Advantage Living Centers, Hartsfield currently chairs the Board of directors for the Health Care Association of Michigan, the agency that oversees nursing homes in Michigan. He was the first African American to chair the agency. He also serves on such boards as Detroit Area Agency on Aging and the American Heart Association. Additionally, Hartsfield is a board member of the World Mission Organization which serves underprivileged people locally, nationally and internationally by providing food, clothing and support to the homeless. Hartsfield says his company is continuing to grow by leaps and bounds, and assisted living, in general, is on the rise. The two assisted living facilities owned and operated by Advantage Management Group/Advantage Living Centers houses approximately 130 residents. “Right now, we are in the process of re-
branding all of our assisted living facilities,” said Hartsfield. “They are now called The Manors, but eventually they will all be under the name Advantage, so there will be Advantage Living Center/Redford Village, which is in Redford, Michigan, and Advantage Living Center/The Harrington Inn, which is in
Port Huron.” For more information about services offered and facilities operated under the auspices of Advantage Management Group/Advantage Living Centers, log on to www.themanors.biz or call 248.569.8400.
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Money matters for caregivers: A Prudential study By Roz Edward One of the most remarkable social institutions in America is the African American family. Black Americans enjoy close relationships with one another and enthusiastically embrace opportunities to gather family members and reflect on the past while encouraging siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins to look forward to the future. The storied resilience of African American families has been the subject of a number of studies, delving into family support structures and the ties that bind us one to one another. Even the tradition of caring for aging and ailing relatives in the comfort of a family home is getting closer examination as one in five black Americans is a caregiver for a family member. 12 • SENIORcare | 2015
Prudential Inc.’s “The African American Financial Experience 2015-2016” included this growing segment of black culture in a recent survey of African American caregivers who provide physical and financial support to loved ones. “If you look at the changing demographics of the United States, one of those demographics that’s changing is the ‘sandwich generation.’ These are the people that are not only taking care of their children, but are taking care of their parents at the same time,” said Delvin Joyce, managing director of Prudential Financial Inc. Advisors. “So we studied caregivers to see if there were any additional insights as it related to money and finance for that group, and what we found is that their confidence in their ability to care for their loved ones is
higher than it has been in the past.” According to American Association of Retired Persons (AARP,) African Americans are twice as likely to develop late-onset Alzheimer’s disease as whites. The incidence of stroke is twice as high for blacks than among ethnic groups. Those statistics translate to African Americans having the highest rate of disability. The facts are that African Americans tend to care for more than one generation, and more than half of black family caregivers are responsible for an older person plus a person under age 18, or caring for more than one older person. Several of the more outstanding findings of the report indicate that: • African American caregivers view their caring for
others as a long-term commitment; 56 percent indicated they expect to be a caregiver for 10 years or more, which is much higher than the general population in which only 37 percent anticipated being long-term caregivers. • African American caregivers spend more time than other ethnic groups on caregiving activities, approximately 20.7 hours per week compared to 14. 6 per week for other ethnicities. • Nearly a quarter of African American caregivers spend more than 40 hours per week providing care, significantly higher than the 9 percent reported by the general population. • African American caregivers invest more financially for the person they are caring for; 63 percent of respondents said they provide some level of financial support for the person they are caring for, with 25 percent providing all of the financial support for their loved ones. The cost associated with engaging in care-related activities like doctors’ visits, prescriptions, in-home health equipment and providing for basic needs like food, shelter and clothing have drawn national attention as the population ages in general, and black baby boomers are becoming more reliant on their children to provide for them medically and financially. One of the most notable aspects of the expanded research for “The African American Experience” study is that black caregivers are more optimistic than the general population about their
ability to provide for those they care for as well as themselves, and are enthusiastic regarding the prospects for future care. “My overall financial situation is better than it was a few years ago. My income is higher than my parents’ was at my age, and I believe my children will do better financially than I have,” said Vincent Sheffield, a Detroit business owner who cares for his mother at home. “I made some investments and decided to establish a family-owned and operated business. My children work with me and someday the business will be theirs, but in the meantime I have the flexibility of being available to take care of my mother as she enters her golden years.” Sheffield’s mother was recently diagnosed with a brain aneurism and the successful entrepreneur transports her from their Detroit home to Ann Arbor for treatment and doctor’s visits. As baby boomers age, this important segment of African American culture is growing, with 66 percent of African American caregivers engaged in working full- or parttime jobs. “Being prepared financially is the best advice I can offer. Get your financial ducks in a row sooner than later, and that means saving and investing so you can provide care for your relatives,” said Sheffield. “It’s simple — just make sure that you plan for the day when you’re the one needing care.”
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You’ve Gotten Better With Age.
Now Stay That Way. Detroit “Who to Call” Listing Report Abuse of Vulnerable Adults (855)444-3911
Michigan Foreclosure Hotline (866)946-7432
Do-Not-Call Registry (888)382-1222
Medicare/Medicaid Assistance (800)803-7174
Eldercare Locator (800)677-1116
Food for the Elderly (877)664-2233
Kinship Care Resource Center (800)535-1218
Social Security Association (800)772-1213
Legal Hotline for Michigan Seniors (800)347-5297 Michigan Adult Day Services (616)485-5018 Michigan Attorney General Consumer Protection Division (877)765-8388 Michigan Dementia Coalition (800)272-3900 Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (800)MICH-VET
Office of Services to the Aging (517)373-8230 U.S. Veterans Benefits (800)827-1000
If you’re a Medicare-eligible Wayne, Oakland or Macomb County resident, be sure to talk to a representative at Harbor Health Plan today to learn how we can help you with your Medicare needs. As a member, you’ll enjoy more benefits than original Medicare. $0 premium, fitness benefit and more. Our friendly and helpful member services team is just a phone call away. You will also receive personalized medical management, and have access to a large physician and hospital network featuring all DMC Hospitals, Beaumont Health System and Garden City Hospital.
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SENIORcare | 2015 • 15
For Alzheimer’s patients, resveratrol brings new
HOPE By Carina Storrs, CNN (CNN)Over the years, resveratrol, an antioxidant found in grapes, chocolate and red wine, has been touted as a possible antidote to Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, diabetes and many other conditions. Now, the first study in people with Alzheimer’s suggests that the compound, when taken in concentrated doses, may actually have benefit in slowing progression of this disease. Researchers at 21 medical centers across the United States looked at the safety and effectiveness of taking high doses of resveratrol in an experimental pill -- equal to the amount found in 1,000 bottles of red wine -- in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. The researchers looked at several biomarkers of Alzheimer’s, and found that people who took up to four pills a day for a year had higher levels of amyloid-beta proteins in their spinal fluid than those who took a placebo (control) pill. Although accumulation of amyloid-beta in the brain is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, patients actually have lower levels of this protein outside of the brain. The study finding suggests that resveratrol could help 16 • SENIORcare | 2015
change the balance from amyloid-beta buildup in the brain to circulating protein in the body. “The study is encouraging enough that we should certainly go ahead and do a [larger] clinical trial because we showed that it is safe and does have significant effects on Alzheimer’s biomarkers,” said Dr. R. Scott Turner, professor of neurology at Georgetown University Medical Center and lead investigator of the study. The main goal of the current study, which included 119 patients, was to find out whether high doses of resveratrol could be safe. The only small concern they found was that patients taking resveratrol lost about two pounds during the one-year study, and weight loss is already a problem with Alzheimer’s, Turner said. In comparison, the control group gained about 1 pound. Much more research is needed The study was not big enough to answer some important questions, such as whether patients taking resveratrol actually had lower levels of amyloid-beta plaques in their brain, and most importantly, whether
they experienced less decline in their mental faculties. A large, phase 3 clinical trial getting at these issues could start in as soon as a year, Turner said. (The current study was a phase 2 trial, typically meant to evaluate safety and get an early look at efficacy of a new drug.)
Even for the relatively small number of participants in the study, the researchers did see indication that resveratrol could improve cognition. Patients in this group had slight improvements in their ability to carry out daily tasks, such as remembering to brush their teeth. And anecdotally, patients who took resveratrol told the researchers that they felt like they were maintaining their mental ability. (Neither the participants nor the researchers knew who was taking resveratrol and who was taking placebo.) “To really get a better feel of how effective this could be you really need to do larger studies for longer periods of time (such as several years),” said James A. Hendrix, director of global science initiatives at the Alzheimer’s Association, a research and advocacy organization. “Other potential therapies we’ve had had some early exciting results and then they didn’t pan out in later trials,” he added. If resveratrol does pan out in further research, it may add to the medications that are currently available, such as Aricept and Exelon, which slow, but do not halt, progression of the disease, Hendrix said. Ultimately, it will probably be a combination of several drugs, as well as diet, exercise and social and mental stimulation that help stave off the rapid mental decline that is often associated with Alzheimer’s, he added. Antioxidant may be most effective in combination This is one of the first studies to look not only at these biomarkers, but also the metabolites of resveratrol in spinal fluid, to show that resveratrol
is probably getting into the brain, said Dr. Giulio M. Pasinetti, who is the Saunders Family Chair and professor in neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. However, he added that changes in biomarkers may not necessarily lead to mental and behavioral improvements, which larger studies will address. In addition, resveratrol on its own might not end up working as well as a combination of resveratrol and other polyphenol compounds found in red wine, grape juice and grape seed extract, which could help people at risk of Alzheimer’s and those who already have mild symptoms, Pasinetti said. The current study used high doses of resveratrol to increase the chances that enough of the compound got into the brain to have an effect. But for now, the best way to get resveratrol is probably through diet. One glass of red wine a day could help those with mild Alzheimer’s, “but no more than that,” Turner said. There is probably little benefit in taking currently available resveratrol supplements, even if they claim to contain levels similar to the ones used in this study. “The things that are on the market are not regulated, and you don’t know how much is in them,” Turner said. “There could be 500 milligrams, which is what they advertise [researchers gave participants in the study four 500 milligram pills a day] or there could be zero,” he said. Previous research has suggested that people who consume diets rich in resveratrol do not have lower rates of cancer, heart disease and other conditions.
LivingWELL, published monthly, is recognized as the most credible source of fitness, health and nutrition information for African Americans. It reports breaking news on advances in healthcare and provides cutting edge, culturally-relevant information from experts regarding obesity, type 2 diabetes and other health issues.
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2016 Bucket List for Seniors As a youth, you had aspirations of becoming a pilot or skydiving. It’s never too late to do something fun and adventurous. To be young is to feel young. If you want to try something new, just do it. Traveling as a senior has its perks with discounts and special budget offers. This is the time in your life that you have to relax and go wherever your heart desires. Whether traveling with a companion, grandchildren or solo, there are plenty of places to experience an adventure. These 10 bucket list items will make you reminisce about being adventurous and living life for the moment. Go rappelling down Old Rag Mountain – Shenandoah National Park in Northern Virginia Zip line through the El Yunque rain forest in Puerto Rico Take up the guitar at Rock Star Academy Online School Learn to speak a foreign language with Rosetta Stone
Self-publish your book through Amazon.com Go on a European river cruise with Viking River Cruises A volunteer vacation Terracotta Army in Xi’an, China Tour of Charleston’s beautiful house museums in Charleston, South Carolina Golf in Hawaii and take a tour of the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor Do a road trip across America taking Route 66
Open Enrollment 2016 Medicare Coverage October 15 – December 7
Nine Tips for Aging 1. Exercise regularly – Minimum of 45 minutes of aerobic exercise, three to four times a week to keep your heart young, maintain your figure, enhance your mood and keep the brain sharp. 2. Eat healthy – Mediterranean diet where you eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Olive oil instead of butter is a healthier choice. 3. Stop smoking and limit your drinking – One to two glasses a day is good, but excessive drinking causes problems with the liver, risk of cancers and other health obstacles. 4. You need your rest – Getting less than seven hours of sleep at night puts you in jeopardy of a multitude of physical and mental problems. 5. Peace of mind – Avoid stress and leave emotional baggage at the door. 18 • SENIORcare | 2015
6. Stay away from salt – Having too much salt on your food adds to high blood pressure that can lead to hypertension which causes heart attack, stroke and other serious health complications. 7. Take you vitamins – Best way to get vitamins and minerals is from a well-balanced diet. 8. Be social – Maintaining your friendships and having an active social calendar keeps you cognitive 9. Exercise your mind – Playing chess, reading the newspaper, going to the theater and video games will keep you intellectually stimulated. Helps with preventing dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Get a complete package that gives you more than Original Medicare. BCN AdvantageSM HMO ConnectedCare • Monthly premiums starting at $47 • No deductible for medical care and prescription drugs • No copays for primary care doctor office visits • Optional enhanced dental, vision and hearing benefits • Access to SilverSneakers® Fitness program benefits • A large, local network with more than 5,000 providers and 20 hospitals*
To enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan from Blue Care Network, call 1-844-298-1092 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., 7 days a week. TTY users, call 711.
Open Enrollment: Now–December 7 www.MedicareCompletePackage.com/CARE
BCN Advantage is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in BCN Advantage depends on contract renewal. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. Benefits, premiums and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. The provider network may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary. SilverSneakers ® is a registered trademark of Healthways, Inc. Healthways is an independent corporation retained by Blue Cross to provide services to BCN Advantage members. Blue Care Network of Michigan is a nonprofit corporation and independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For a complete list of participating providers, please visit www.bcbsm.com/bcna. *Source: 2015 ConnectedCare Network Report. DP-092215D
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“The biggest thing standing between me and health insurance was the cost.”
“Then I found out how to get help paying for it.”
People in Michigan saved an average of $273* on health insurance You can get one-on-one guidance from a local licensed agent who will provide the information you need to make an informed decision, and help you find out if you’re eligible for a discount through the Marketplace. Choosing affordable health insurance doesn’t have to be complicated. To find an agent near you, visit HumanaHelps.com/agentfinder.
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*Source: cms.gov Offered by Humana Medical Plan of Michigan, Inc. or Insured by Humana Insurance Company