Medicare Misty's Let's talk! Magazine

Welcome from misty Bolt

Dear Reader,

Wow! What a ride it has been to get this first issue of our magazine, “Let’s Talk!” into your hands! What you’re holding is the culmination of many years of hard work in the business of Medicare, a personal passion for serving the senior population and a long-lived dream of bringing you a magazine that would be a valuable resource for you and your family. Look for us to be coming to you each quarter through your mailbox and online. Our vision is to bring you “Insights & Inspiration for Your Later Years” with each issue and we welcome your feedback!

Inside these pages, you’ll find a mix of contributed columns from Tennessee Valley experts on a variety of topics that many of you have told me are important to you - health, business, money, lifestyle, and of course, the ever-evolving and sometimes complex issue of Medicare. In a column co-authored by Andy Bailey and Jim Coltrin of True North Advisors, Raymond James Financial, you’ll find an update on The SECURE Act of 2019. Information in this article may affect you, and we think you need to know about it. On the topic of health - you’ll find an article from the amazing folks behind the seniors’ programming at the YMCA and from our columnist Susan Ross, LNP, an article to help you make sense of alllllll those vitamins and supplements that may be sitting in your medicine cabinet. I could go on, but better for you to start reading and enjoy all that “Let’s Talk!” has to say for yourself.

ABOUT MEDICARE MISTY

I’m a native Chattanoogan with a love for life and people. I spent nearly two decades as a single, working mom to my amazing son, Landon Anderson. During that season I also built my individual Medicare broker business into what is now a team of 20 agents across TN, AL, and Northwest GA. In 2018, God blessed me by bringing my high school sweetheart, Patrick Bolt, back into my life and we soon married. God first, then family, are my priorities, yet it’s my clients who have taught me how to be a good agent and I’m grateful daily for their trust placed in me. Best of all, many of them are also my friends and mentors, and they inspire me to keep doing what I do every day. The name “Let’s Talk?” Well, it was the obvious choice for the magazine name! If you know me, then you know I love to talk - it’s what I do! My business is about relationships - and how can we have relationships without conversation? So I suppose that’s just what “Let’s Talk” is - a conversation between you, me, and the contributors to this magazine. Feel free to write me at medicaremisty@gmail.com or call me on my mobile at 243-240-0794 if I can be a resource for you.

Understanding the SECURE Act and How it Affects You

By Jim Coltrin and Andy Bailey | Managing Partners, True North Advisors

For some time now, we’ve been following the SECURE Act as it made its way through Congress. Now the retirement savings reform bill has become law, and we wanted to offer an update on its provisions.

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019 broadens the effectiveness of individual retirement accounts and employer-sponsored retirement savings plans. Essentially, it expands access to tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts and, ultimately, aims to help Americans save enough for a secure retirement. That’s a goal we can all get behind.

Among other things, the act:

• Provides a startup credit to make it easier and more affordable for small businesses to set up retirement plans for their employees, even allowing them to band together to set up a plan for their collective employees.

• Introduces a credit for those small employers who encourage savings through automatic enrollment, which has been shown to increase employee participation and boost retirement savings.

Removes the age cap that limits contributions to traditional IRAs after age 70½, which would give working people more time to contribute toward retirement.

Delays required minimum distributions (RMDs) until age 72, which allows the account to continue growing as life expectancies increase. The SECURE Act also eliminates the “stretch IRA,” an estate planning strategy that allowed much-younger beneficiaries to inherit an IRA and “stretch” the required minimum distributions across their actuarial life expectancies. Basically, the heirs received smaller RMDs over a longer period of time until the money ran out, reducing their tax liability on the withdrawals. In the meantime, the account would continue to grow tax-deferred.

Withdrawals over a lifetime are no longer an option for inherited defined contribution accounts. The SECURE Act gives non-spouse beneficiaries (including trusts) just 10 years to withdraw all the money from inherited IRAs, 401(k)s or other defined contribution plans. These supersized distributions are likely to trigger higher taxes for heirs, with few exceptions. This change does not apply to IRAs inherited in 2019 or prior, but will be effective for IRAs inherited in 2020 and beyond.

As we sort through the potential tax, retirement and estate planning implications, we are always here to assist you with your planning needs. To learn more, call us at 423-531-4111.

Please note, changes in tax laws or regulations may occur at any time and could substantially impact your situation. While familiar with the tax provisions of the issues presented herein, Raymond James financial advisors are not qualified to render advice on tax or legal matters. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.

© 2019 Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, and are not insured by any financial institution insurance, the FDIC/NCUA or any other government agency, are not deposits or obligations of the financial institution, are not guaranteed by the financial institution, and are subject to risks, including the possible loss of principal. True North Advisors and the financial institution are not registered broker/dealers and are independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc.

PumPkin SPice mouSSe

This light and creamy pumpkin dessert is the ultimate tastes-like-fall treat.

INGREDiENTS

• 1 15-ounce can pure pumpkin (1 3/4 cups)

• 1 tsp. grated peeled fresh ginger

• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg

• Kosher salt

• 3 oz. cream cheese, cubed

• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

• 1 c. sweetened condensed milk

• 2 c. heavy cream, cold

• Sour cream and crushed ginger cookies, for serving

DIRECTIoNS

In medium saucepan, combine pumpkin, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pinch salt. Cook on medium, stirring frequently until steaming heavily, darker in color and slightly thicker, about 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in cream cheese and vanilla until smooth. Transfer to bowl, then stir in condensed milk. Let cool completely.

Using electric mixer, beat cream until medium peaks form. Fold in cream cheese mixture, then spoon into 4-ounce jars. Chill until ready to serve. Makes 8 cups. Serve dolloped with sour cream and crushed ginger cookies if desired.

SOURCE: GOOD HOUSEKEEPING MAGAZINE. PHOTO BY: MIKE GARTEN

HOW TO KNOW IF YOU’RE READY TO RETIRE

Eric Brotman, Forbes.com

Retiring is a huge life event, and it isn’t one that comes with many do-overs. You have to get it right the first time.

Luckily, there are ways to prepare for retirement—and even practice it—to help ensure you’re ready when the day comes.

What to do first

A few years before you plan to retire, have a practice run. If you have a retirement plan that gives you a clear picture of how much money you’ll have to live on annually, spend a full year to two years living only on that amount. If you don’t, your first step is to meet with a financial advisor to get sense of your retirement income estimate.

If you can live comfortably on the decided amount, that’s great. If not, it’s better to know that now rather than later, and it’s time to devise a plan to increase your future income.

Have a timeline for your decisions

Do you know when you must make certain retirement-related decisions? Do you even know what decisions you’ll need to make? Having a clear idea of these decisions and a timeline to make them will reduce your stress and make retirement a smoother event.

Pre-retirement decisions

Before you retire, you’ll need to determine if you have any debts that need to be refinanced. It’s hard to refinance mortgages or other loans when you don’t have demonstrable income, so do this long before you give notice at work.

You’ll also need to decide how you’ll handle long-term care expenses and if you want to use long term care insurance for some of those potential costs. Applying for this insurance should ideally be done ten years prior to retiring, and three to five years before is basically the last chance for it to be affordable.

Retirement day decisions

Retiring likely means losing your employer-sponsored benefits, so you’ll need to make decisions about health insurance. If you’re retiring at or after age 65, then you can seamlessly transition into Medicare. Make sure you remember to enroll in Medicare Part A 60 to 90 days before your 65th birthday whether you’re planning to retire or not. For Part B, you can wait to enroll until after

your retirement as long as you’re at least 65 years old. You can learn more about Medicare in this episode of my podcast.

If you’re retiring after age 63 ½, you can use COBRA provisions to continue your employer health plan for up to 18 months until you’re eligible for Medicare. However, if you’re retiring earlier than that, you’ll either need to join your spouse’s health plan or to use the health insurance exchange in your home state.

If you’re one of the fortunate few people who will still be receiving a pension, you’ll need to decide how you’d like to receive your benefit. You will likely be given the option to maximize your benefit as a single person—meaning it expires after your death—or a few options on how you’d like a spouse to receive income from your pension should he or she outlive you.

Post-retirement decisions

Social Security is a very complex benefit, and timing your benefit claim is an important decision you’ll need to make. You and your spouse must determine whether to claim immediately at age 62 or to wait until full retirement age or even age 70 to begin receiving benefits. The decisions you and your spouse make can greatly impact how much money you’re eligible to receive during your lifetimes and during a period of widowhood for either of you. While I could go on and on about this, I’ll let those interested read more in this article I published on the topic.

You’ll also want to review your current insurance coverages to see where you can save money. Since you’re no longer commuting to work, you may be able to lower your car insurance premium. If you’re paying for disability insurance, you’ll no longer need it and can let it expire. Lastly, if you have term life insurance, you may no longer need the extra death benefits and can consider discontinuing the coverage after claiming your Social Security and pension income.

The most important step

The most important thing to do before you retire is make sure you have a substantial nest egg you’ve built up over the years.

You don’t know what the future will hold, and having access to capital— especially funds not subject to market volatility—is vital to a successful retirement.

The lesson

There’s a lot to consider when you’re thinking about retiring. Starting to make decisions and prepare for the life change early will help you be successful in your retirement.

Retirement is the one thing you cannot borrow money to accomplish, so make sure you’re able to live off the income you’ll have. Returning to work out of necessity after you’ve started your retirement is not only the opposite of what you’ll want to do, but it can also be incredibly difficult to do so.

The Top 10 Things You Need to Know about Medicare Today

Hello friends, if you’re reading this there’s a good chance you’re eligible for Medicare coverage but may not know it, or may have no idea where to begin to acquire the optimum coverage for your specific needs. Enrollment season begins in October, so it’s time for you to be “in the know!”

I’ve been in the business of helping individuals and couples sort thru Medicare coverages and options for over a decade. It truly can be overwhelming! Recently, Money.com published a well-written and accurate summary of what you need to know. Give it a glance-through, jot down questions and THEN contact me. There is no charge for a consultation with me and you will leave feeling clear on your next best steps to take.

Sincerely, Medicare Misty

MOST RETIREES RECEIVE health insurance through Medicare, the federal government's health insurance program for people age 65 and older. To maximize the value of the health plan, make sure to sign up at the correct time and take advantage of the free and low-cost services Medicare provides. Here's what Medicare covers and how much you can expect to pay for benefits and services.

What Is Medicare?

Medicare is a government health insurance program for people age 65 and older. Medicare helps cover the costs of health emergencies and chronic conditions, but it can also be used to help maintain good health. Medicare beneficiaries have to pay premiums and a variety of other out-of-pocket costs, and must make decisions about their coverage options.

What Does Medicare Part A Cover?

Medicare Part A covers hospital care and hospice. Part A will also pay for short-term stays at a skilled nursing facility if it follows a hospital stay of at least three days. Most retirees don’t pay a premium for Medicare Part A, but there is a $1,408 deductible in 2020 and additional charges for long hospital stays.

What Does Medicare Part B Cover?

Medicare Part B is medical insurance that pays for doctor’s visits and outpatient care. Part B provides a variety of free preventive services, such as an annual wellness doctor’s office visit, flu shot and screenings for certain conditions. Beneficiaries can go to any doctor, specialist or other health care provider that accepts Medicare and is taking on new patients.

Most beneficiaries pay the standard Medicare Part B premium of $144.60 per month in 2020, but higher-income retirees pay more. “If your income is at least $87,000 or more, then you pay the income-related premium, which is indexed and rises with income,” says Tricia Neuman, director of the Program on Medicare Policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation. Medicare Part B has a $198 deductible in 2020, after which beneficiaries are generally responsible for 20% of the cost of most doctor’s services.

What Does Medicare Part C Cover?

Medicare Part C or Medicare Advantage Plans are an alternative to original Medicare in which private insurance companies pay for Medicare-approved and sometimes other services, but with different prices and restrictions than original Medicare. You may be required to use doctors in the plan’s network and get a referral to see a specialist.

What Does Medicare Part D Cover?

Medicare Part D provides prescription drug coverage. Part D plans are private health insurance policies that follow rules set by Medicare. The premium for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage varies depending on the plan you select. Plans can charge deductibles of up to $435 in 2020.

What Does Medigap Cover?

Retirees can purchase Medicare supplement insurance policies called Medigap to pay for original Medicare’s out-of-pocket costs and additional services Medicare doesn’t cover. Medigap policies typically cover the copays, coinsurance and deductibles of original Medicare in exchange for a monthly payment.

It’s important to enroll in a Medigap plan during the six-month period that begins when you’re 65 or older and enrolled in Part B, because after this

enrollment period ends, you may not be able to buy a Medigap policy or could be charged significantly more.

What Isn’t Covered by Medicare?

Medicare doesn’t cover all of the health care services older people are likely to need in retirement. Medicare generally won’t pay for glasses and contact lenses or the routine eye examinations to prescribe corrective lenses. Dental care and hearing aids are also commonly needed services that aren’t covered. Perhaps most significantly, while short-term nursing home stays might be covered under specific circumstances, Medicare does not pay for long-term care.

When Should You Enroll in Medicare?

Retirees can first enroll in Medicare during a seven-month window that begins three months before the month they turn 65. Sign up at the beginning of this period if you want coverage to begin the month you reach age 65.

If you miss the initial enrollment period, you can sign up between Jan. 1 and March 31 for coverage that will begin July 1, but you will be charged late enrollment penalties for as long as you have Medicare. “Late enrollment penalties from Medicare can be long-term,” says Anna Maria Chávez, executive vice president and chief growth officer at the National Council on Aging. “You don’t want to have to worry about higher costs just because you didn’t act when you became eligible at 65.”

If you delay Medicare enrollment because you or your spouse is still working at a job with group health insurance, sign up within eight months of leaving the employer or health plan to avoid the penalty.

How Do You Sign Up for Medicare?

Social Security beneficiaries are often automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, with coverage starting the month they turn 65. If your birthday falls on the first of the month, coverage will start at the beginning of the prior month.

Medicare cards are mailed out to most Social Security beneficiaries three months before their 65th birthday, and Medicare Part B premiums are withheld from Social Security payments. However, you will need to actively sign up if you want prescription drug coverage, a Medicare supplement policy or a Medicare Advantage plan.

For a FREE consultation on Medicare coverage, help with enrollment and more, contact Medicare Misty at 423-240-0794 or visit socialsecurity.gov to sign-up online.

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

Then and Now with TN Football Hall-of-Famer Bobby Majors

STORY BY SHERI KAMP

On July 7, 1949 the youngest of Tennessee’s “First Family of Football” made his debut into the world. Born to parents Elizabeth and Shirley Majors in Lynchburg, Tennessee, Robert Owens Majors, or “Bobby” Majors, would one day make Tennessee Volunteer history as their best defensive back of all time.

As a young boy, Bobby spent all of his spare time outside - in the yard or on a field - playing one sport or another. His father Shirley was a high school football coach for several years before going on to serve as Head Coach at the University of South (Sewanee) for 20 years. His four older brothers, Johnny, Bill, Larry and Joe all played football from the time “they could walk” through college. His sister, Shirley Ann, played basketball through high school, before college basketball was available to women.“The reason I don’t know how to swim and the reason I don’t like water is because I was always on dry land playing football, basketball, baseball, and golf,” Majors says. “I have pictures of me at 2 or 3 years old, throwing and kicking a football. That was just it. That was how we were raised.” Bobby gives his family the credit for his early and outstanding development of skills, ““Basically, if I made a mistake I faced quick correction, given I always had five or six people watching me,” says Majors. “And off the field as well, my family trained me in how to get through life, manage people and they encouraged me in my goals and achievements.”

By his youth, it became apparent that Bobby’s athletic talent showed itself most in his versatility on the field and the ability to master multiple positions. His talents earned him early recognition as “the most athletic of all the boys.”He went on to play for the Tennessee Volunteers where, in 1972, he set the single-season record for interceptions with ten and led the NCAA with 36 interceptions. He set and still holds the school records for career punt returns with 117 and career punt return yardage with 1,163. He was named to the University of Tennessee 100-year team as the “Defensive Back of All Time”.

As described in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, “A model of versatility as a football player, Bobby Majors played free safety, was one of the best punt and kickoff returners in the nation, and also handled punting chores. A consensus All-American in 1971, Bobby Majors is possibly the only player to ever win Defensive Player of the Year in the SEC and be awarded Offensive Player of the Game by ABC-TV during the Penn State game. In that game, he returned two kickoffs 113 yards and two punts eighty-two yards, including one for a touchdown.” All of this occurred before oldest brother Johnny would begin what would become a legendary coaching career with the Tennessee Vols in 1977.

Following his college career, Bobby Majors played for the NFL Cleveland Browns. In 1974 he joined the World Football League before retiring in 1975. From there he went on to pursue a professional career in industrial and printing supply sales and later motor sales, which took him to Georgia, Chattanooga, and other parts of Tennessee. He spent several years in the professional sector, but soon Majors again began to feel the call of playing sports and at age 50, returned to Chattanooga and decided to revisit his dream of playing professional golf.

After only one year of traveling and competing in regular tournaments, he qualified to play in the Senior US Open in 2001. “That was a great experience,” he shares. “I had the opportunity to meet and play with a bunch of old-timers,” he laughs, “ many of whom I had long admired.” Having achieved that goal as a senior athlete, he returned to business via a chemical manufacturing venture and later opened Chattanooga’s Oreck Store, near Hamilton Place Mall.

Bobby Majors pictured at home in Ooltewah, Tennessee. With wife, Michelle; son, Bradley; daughter, Tiffany; (daughter Ambrianna not pictured).

Today, when not running the store, he enjoys spending his free time with wife of 27 years, Michelle, and their three childrentwo daughters Tiffany (23) and Ambrianna (17), each adopted from China when less than one year old. Bobby and Michelle’s heart for children in need of families later took them to the foster system in Tennessee, through which they brought home their son, Bradley (13) at age three months. “He’s a good young man and a great little athlete,” beams Majors, who invests a good deal of time coaching and training Bradley in flag football. When asked about his desire to play football, with all seriousness, Bradley explains that he remembers deciding at a young age, while watching football with his dad, that he too wanted to be a part of the family tradition. “It’s just something I knew I wanted to do; something I wanted to be a part of,” he says. When asked about his goals, Bradley says, “I just want to keep improving and maybe one day be better than him,” to which his father quickly quipped with a snicker, “that ain’t gonna happen!” Majors also maintains close relations with his three sons from his first marriage, Rob (50), Brent (42), and Seth (40).

When asked about the quality of his life now….what he values and treasures most, Majors responds with a chuckle, “Well the Majors men in the family aren’t known for their long life-spans. I’m 70 years old and about ten years ago l realized I needed to take a hard look at my coverage. I started taking my social security at an early age and began researching Medicare and other healthcare options.” It was around that time that Misty walked into his Oreck store to buy a vacuum. They started talking and before long she “did a great job” placing him with the coverages and a plan that would address his needs. “She asked me all about my medications and went on to research my health history and was extremely thorough. Really, what she did for me at that time has been a Godsend,” he continues. “Because of her I moved from one plan to another and it’s been great ever since.”

In loving memory of Johnny Majors who passed peacefully on June 3, 2020 at the age of 85, looking out over his beloved view of the Tennessee River. Among the many roles Majors played in his lifetime, he was the eldest brother to Bobby, coach of Pittsburgh’s 1976 championship and a legendary player turned coach at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He was inducted into the College Sports Hall of Fame in 1987. “Johnny was a great man and a great brother,” Bobby shared. “He is deeply missed!”

Remaining Active DURING COVID-19

Are you ready to get back to being more active? Are you feeling isolated and need motivation to get going? Two of the most positive benefits the YMCA hears from senior members are the benefits of camaraderie with peers, and how much better they feel when they move more. Now is the perfect time to re-start your wellness journey and join the Y.

Senior programs at the Y cultivate a supportive, engaging, and active environment. At every age and every level of activity, you will find people just like you looking to live a healthier life. When you walk through the doors, you will feel the support and enthusiasm from our staff and members. When you join the Y, you join our Y Family.

As Covid 19 has impacted the nation, the Y too has had to make changes. The Y offers in-person classes and programming, as well as utilizing many interactive and social media platforms as well. Members are Zooming in for classes, taking part in Facebook live programming and enjoying in-person, smaller, social-distanced classes with their classmates. We can offer you whichever method or a combination of classes to get you back in touch with your peers and started on a healthy journey.

A supportive community is a big part of health and wellness. We know now more than ever that we must focus on the whole person the mind, body, and spirit. Just as you cannot out-exercise a bad diet, you also cannot out-exercise a body that needs more self-care. We are the nation’s largest provider of group exercise classes for all ages, all levels and all interests. From low-impact

exercise and chair classes, stretching and strength training, to indoor cycling, water exercise and yoga, you will find a group class that is fun, supportive and keeps you moving. Outside of exercise classes, we offer periodic blood pressure checks, annual fall prevention programs and screenings, senior luncheons, support groups, caregiver workshops, just to name a few. We also offer additional programming to help folks through their healthy living journey to prevent or manage chronic conditions. We offer exercise and educational programs for cancer survivors, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and heart disease as well as nutrition services, quarterly nutrition workshops, and Food Rx programs.

One of the key tenets of the Y is social responsibility. We believe we have a duty to help protect each other. The Y is taking this pandemic very seriously. We have protocols in place to ensure we are keeping ALL members as safe as possible. All staff must have their temperature taken upon entry of the building. Our staff are frequently sanitizing the facilities and equipment before and after use. We are also monitoring programs and facilities to make appropriate decisions as things change daily. In accordance with the recent directive given by the Hamilton County Mayor, anyone entering the YMCA facilities must wear a face covering or mask EXCEPT DURING EXERCISE (including wellness floor, cycle, group exercise classes, pool, etc.). The mandate will not impair your workout experience at the Y, as an exception is in the mandate to allow for those exercising outdoors, in small groups, or adhering to proper social distancing.

The Y also offers financial assistance through scholarships for those who apply and qualify. In addition, many insurance companies provide memberships for their clients. We can ascertain if your insurance provides this benefit.

It is our mission at the YMCA to aim to improve the nation's health and wellbeing by providing programs and activities that promote wellness, reduce risk for disease and help others reclaim their health. These programs and everything else the Y does are in service of making us—our Ys and our communities— better. The result is a country that values health and communities that support healthy choices.

The Y stands out because it is truly for everyone, which is what makes us unique. Our programs, services and initiatives enable kids to realize their potential, prepare teens for college, offer ways for families to have fun together, offer specific programs and services for our seniors and empower people to be healthier in spirit, mind and body; prepare people for employment, welcome and embrace newcomers and help foster a nationwide service ethic.

Call us today for more information or come in for a tour to see first-hand the array of membership opportunities. Visit YMCA.org. To locate the nearest branch today.

WHY SHOULD YOU TAKE VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS?

Susan Ross, NP

I have answered this question many times in the last 15 years as a nurse practitioner. Some of my patients are taking supplements daily but the dose is usually too low or the quality is poor, so they are wasting their money. The information I will provide today is based on research and clinical trials over the course of many years. Consumer Laboratory has conducted extensive evaluations of all supplements available in the market today. They provide purity levels, details of lead contamination, how long it takes for the product to dissolve in the stomach, as well as product labeling accuracy. Their recommendations are based on the best quality for the best price. I also follow research from Mayo Clinic, Usana, doterra, and Swanson Vitamins. These companies have scientists, medical doctors, Registered Dieticians and other health care professionals who study nutraceutical risks and benefits in order to ensure accuracy of information available for consumers.

I believe in taking supplements because the soil has been depleted of nutrients for many years; also, genetically modified foods are harmful to our bodies and many times, foods are not fresh when frozen or canned. Don’t forget about the pesticides and herbicides that are applied to plants & then become part of the foods. We need supplements to replace lost nutrients

and to act as antioxidants to protect us from disease causing toxic substances we ingest daily.

Let’s talk about two vitamins which are critical to our health today. The first one is vitamin D3. Why do we need it and why are our levels so low? Vitamin D is a hormone that is produced from cholesterol when skin is exposed to the sun for 10-15 minutes. Since most of us don’t spend time in the sun or we are always covered up or wearing sunscreen while outdoors, the risk of deficiency is high. Vitamin D3 deficiency leads to increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases. Studies have proven that adequate vitamin D levels protects endothelial cells, improves nitric oxide levels and lowers toxic levels of peroxynitrite which causes cell damage and cell death. Normal vitamin D3 levels supports bone and tooth mineralization and growth along with improving muscle strength and coordination. Vitamin D3 also promotes robust and balanced immune function, increases calcium absorption and balance. More details about the biochemical reactions is available from the sites listed above.

We need to take supplements in doses high enough to provide for all the functions previously discussed. I

recommend 5000 international units daily of a high quality product that has been vetted by Consumer Laboratory for purity and bioavailability. A list of my favorite sources is given at the end of this article.

The second supplement that is so important to staying healthy is vitamin C, ascorbic acid. How many times were you told to take vitamin C when you had a cold? How many times have you taken those powder packets thinking you were really helping to recover from a virus or other infection? Well, those little packets were also full of sugar which the viruses and bacteria love to eat & grow stronger! If you took one tablet of 500 milligrams a day which also contained sugar, you were not providing as much support as you thought. Our bodies need thousands of milligrams of this amazing vitamin to fight off illnesses, but lower levels can be effective in prevention. Let’s talk numbers. On the average day when you have not been exposed to viral or bacterial diseases, 500 milligrams (mg) might be enough. Personally, I would take more because bugs are everywhere & we never know what we are picking up in the stores or offices we visit.

I always take this one with food because it is an acid which might cause stomach pain. Higher doses such as 1 gram or one thousand mgs, taken 3 times daily with food, might also cause increased bowel function (loose stools). This could be a good thing if you happen to also have constipation issues. If you are able to tolerate even higher doses, I say go for it. This is a case of more is better. If you are living with a chronic illness that diminishes your immune system, IV vitamin C could be the answer to preventing serious viral or bacterial illness. Dr. Charles Adams, MD, owner of Personal Integrative Medicine on Cloud Springs Rd in Ringgold, GA, will be more than happy to explain the risks & benefits of IV vitamin C for your particular

medical needs. His concierge practice offers this treatment as well as many other therapies including hyperbaric oxygen, prolozone injections, platelet rich plasma, and stem cell injections .

Deficiencies in vitamin C lead to impaired immune response since it is needed for normal development and function of many white blood cells. Healthy adults need at least 75-100mg of vitamin C daily to avoid deficiency. It is a water soluble vitamin that our bodies cannot produce and must be supplied in food or supplements. Remember, food sources are not always sufficient and most citric fruits contain fructose, unless you like straight lemon or lime juice!

Vitamin C helps prolong the activity of vitamin E which is important for a healthy immune system. So, do your self a huge favor and take a sugar free vitamin C tablet daily of at least 500mg if your body will tolerate that dose. The low dose mentioned above is only for healthy adults, not the rest of us who are routinely exposed to viruses and bacteria because we do not live in a bubble!

Trusted

Susan Ross is an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with Aspire Medical, Inc. in Chattanooga, TN. Her experience spans more than 40 years in a variety of areas. Today she specializes in house calls for adult general medical patients, hospice and home health certification visits, and managing palliative care patients before admission to hospice. For more information call 423-664-1140 or visit aspirehealthcare.com.

Gardening Your Way to Mental Health: A Simple Way to Relieve Stress

The pandemic has upended life in so many ways across the U.S. So many of us feel as if we are no longer in control of our surroundings as we lose our jobs, watch our loved ones pass away, and struggle to plan for the future. Amid all this uncertainty and grief, people all over the world are turning to gardening as a way of dealing with their stress, anxiety, and depression.

Numerous studies have shown that exposure to green spaces, particularly gardening, is beneficial to mental and physical health. It’s an easy way to feel connected to something larger than yourself when so many of us are stuck in isolation.

It can also give you and your patients a sense of hope for the future, even as we struggle to make sense of what’s going on around us.

The Gardening Boom Gardening sales are up all over the world. Seed suppliers have had to put online orders on hold due to increased demand. U.S. seed company W. Atlee Burpee & Co. sold more seeds than at any time in its 144-year history back in March, the height of the pandemic. Some retailers are seeing ten times the number of orders they usually process this time of year.

This activity is up across the U.S. and abroad for several reasons. Food insecurity and economic uncertainty have played a substantial role. Many people are looking for ways to grow their own food instead of visiting their local supermarket. Some products have also been hard to find on the shelf as worried consumers buy in bulk or out of panic. Produce and other food shortages have resulted in a new generation of green thumbs.

Many residents are turning to gardening as a way of getting out of the house and spending time in nature without increasing their chances of infection. For some, growing a few plants on their own property is much safer than going to the local park.

The Mental and Physical Health Benefits of Gardening However, many people are also gardening by choice, not out of necessity. Mental health professionals have been studying the effects of gardening for years.

Studies show that just looking at plants and observing nature can improve a person’s mood and reduce blood pressure, fear, anger, sadness, and even muscle tension. Communities with greater access to green spaces tend to have lower rates of anxiety, depression, and stress. Scientists say spending just two hours a week in nature can lead to better health and wellbeing.

Growing plants can also improve air quality by getting rid of dust and other toxins that may be circulating through the air. They also mitigate the effects of climate change, pulling carbon dioxide out of the air, reducing flood risk, and providing shade on a hot, sunny day.

Even Florence Nightingale used plants as part of the healing process. She found that putting plants in hospitals improved the surroundings for patients, visitors, and staff.

Tending to plants can be a great alternative to antidepressants and pharmaceuticals, many of which come with powerful side effects. Senior citizens especially tend to have trouble with this kind of medication, but they may find gardening to be just as beneficial.

Working with nature does more than just reduce anxiety. It can give you and your patients a reason to look towards the future, even as the world seems to descend into chaos. Planting a seed comes with so much potential. Watching these plants grow over the next few weeks and months can help you and your patients feel more in control of your surroundings. After losing a patient or loved one to COVID-19, gardening gives you a chance to create life. It’s a sign of hope and beauty amid this ongoing storm.

Consider taking up a new hobby or prescribing gardening to some of your patients as a way of coping with the pandemic. If you don’t have access to a garden, it’s less expensive than you might think. All you need is a little light, soil, water, seeds, and a pot. Source:

Moving Your Business Forward During the Great Pause

By Attorney, Whitney Standefer

The Waiting Place... for people just waiting. If you know Dr. Seuss, you may remember his warning against allowing yourself to become trapped by the Waiting Place. Unfortunately, Dr. Seuss could never have imagined the Great Pause of 2020.

For business owners and serial entrepreneurs, this forced Waiting Place is particularly painful and counter intuitive. If you fall into this category, you are not the type to sit around and wait for direction. You are a person who makes decisions, crafts your path, and executes your plans. You are a person of action. But now what?

Hopefully you have been lucky and been able to work from home or able to make social distancing rules work for your place of business. Perhaps you still have some faithful clients or demand for your products. But, as time goes on, it is the rare business unaffected: be it due to restrictions on trade channels or decrease in demand due to consumer economic uncertainty. Whatever the reason, you need to know two things: 1) struggling to “pivot” to the top during a historic pandemic is not a cause to

question yourself and 2) there is still time to take advantage of the slower pace.

With almost every business I work with, be they a startup or a stalwart of the community, there are foundational tasks that have been sacrificed to the back burner in favor of more immediate production and customer responsibilities. Regardless of good intentions, the result has been the continued growth of that business without ensuring that the foundation is built to hold the weight and truly stand the test of time. Sometimes there are compliance issues risking the business to government fines. A lot of times there is no Operating Agreement or Partnership Agreement ensuring that there are mechanisms in place for the smooth operation of the business. In almost every instance, there is no succession plan to safeguard the business as it transfers from one generation to the next (one of the main reasons why 60% of second generation businesses fail). I have yet to meet a business owner who does not agree that these tasks are important. The problem is not having enough time to make them a priority over their money generating efforts. Herein lies your current opportunity: the world has hit the pause button, and you now have the time.

Now is the time to take inventory of those foundational tasks and move them to the forefront of your action plan. While they may not be what Dr. Seuss had in mind when he encouraged you to find the bright places where boom bands are playing, reach out to your attorney, CPA, and/or other advisors. Allow them to do a stress test on your operation and find the holes.

In a world full of uncertainty, you can create peace of mind that when the world reopens you have placed your business in its strongest possible position.

Whitney Standefer-Smith, Attorney, is the owner and founder of Local Venture Legal, PLLC: a Chattanooga-based law firm focused on tax law, business law, and succession/estate planning. www.localventurelegal.orgwhitney@localventurelegal.org

THE CLASSROOM OF LIFE

By Phyllis Nicholson

One night after seventeen years of marriage and living the charmed life, the greatest of all challenges happened one night that would forever change my life. My husband, Eddy, had a major brain bleed, a major stroke. After four major strokes, four times to a rehab center, he was left unable to sing and speak. This was his livelihood, a national speaker, and revival leader all his life. We use to say it was like being in prison and never getting out. He loved being a national speaker and now his life was taken away.

We did all we could for Eddy, and during this time I truly learned what it was like to be a caregiver, provider, mother, and still minister to others in my church through my position. We did all we could for Eddy for five long years which finally ended in a nursing home. I went to the nursing home two to four times a day to see him and let him know how much we loved him. You see we had a daughter who was only in middle school and needed normalcy in her life. So needless to say there was lots of juggling going on. After five years, Eddy fought the good fight and died with Carolyn and me by his side. Now he was telling jokes in heaven and leading the choir in Amazing Grace.

Slowly I got through the angry, selfpity, resentment, and emotion and began to find hope in living again. No, we never want to forget, we will never be as we were, but we can learn to embrace the past and remember it is a gift from God and there are blessings through it all and opportunities to share in unique ways with women, children, youth, singles, and widows. Grace carried me through many years, and I love sharing my story with others. It can only be explained through His mighty presence in my life. My daughter grew up to be a wonderful Occupational Therapist who wants to help others as her Dad was helped through the years. Carolyn says she chose Occupational Therapy to help give people the quality of life they deserve and to get back to doing the things that bring them happiness and joy in life. She is the best and loves her patients. God really does bring light out of darkness! She has two beautiful children, Denton 2 ½ and Masie 5. I am Nana to them and love sharing life with them.

God was my eye in the storm and oh how he carried me under his wings. He gave me blessings beyond expectation. He saw beyond my faults and saw my needs. It has now been 17 years since Eddy’s death, and I continue to see how He blesses me every day and shows me new life after grief. At some point in our life when we are experiencing difficult situations (and they will come) we can choose to be a victor or a victim. I choose to be a victor.

Phyllis Nicholson has worked in both paid and volunteer positions in ministry for over 30 years. Prior to ministry she was Director of Sales for the Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Gulf Coast Convention Bureau. Phyllis has led multiple groups in both the GriefShare and DivorceCare curriculum (visit www.griefshare. org or www.divorcecare.org for more information) and is presently developing and small groups on a volunteer basis. She lives in Ooltewah, TN and has one daughter, Carolyn, who has two beautiful children, Denton and Masie. She enjoys being Nana to them!

Phyllis with daughter, Carolyn, and grandchildren Denton and Masie.

Mind the Gap

I have never felt more confused, lost and alone than when I ended up on the wrong train, headed in a direction I didn’t want to go, in a city I had never been. I am talking about riding the subway in NYC, but if you think about it, families facing decisions regarding their loved ones' care...can feel the same way.

In the 1980’s and before there weren't many options for seniors as their care needs increased. There were basically only two options - move in with family or live in a nursing home. Thanks to the aging baby boomer population, that has all changed. We now have so many options and levels of care, from in the home to skilled nursing facilities. Not only that, but the quality of care and regulation has increased resulting in better environments and standards for seniors.

Let’s face it though, no one wants to talk about care needs or cognitive declinelet alone plan for it! I’ve realized over the years that people go to their financial advisor to get the number they need for retirement, then to the funeral home to write down their wishes. And that’s it. Seems like there is a significant gap in their planning. Like riding the NYC subway it could never be more important than to ‘mind the gap.’

Here are a couple of tidbits that may help you navigate your next trip to the city... or perhaps some difficult care decisions.

Know where you are, right now.

Like any other kind of plan, it’s important to know where you are starting from. There are specifically two characteristics to consider - medical needs and financial position. Given the various options out there in our aging health services industry, it's important to understand your loved ones medical care needs, diagnosis, medications and other treatments so that the correct services are considered. Understanding your loved ones income, assets, insurance and benefits will help get things started.

Find your pathway.

Not only do you need to know where to start, but it's good to have some idea of the steps needed to get there. Everyone is different, but goals, plans and objectives are always better when written down. As your family begins to discuss the needs of an elder member, document your options, the cost of care services and even the approach to starting the conversation with your loved one. Educate yourself every step of the way.

Form your team.

John Donne said it best, “No man is an island,” meaning that we can’t do it all on our own. It takes the love, support and guidance of others to ensure the smoothest transition through these challenging decisions. Don’t hesitate to reach out to family, friends, professionals or other support organizations to call on for help.

You know the next time I went to NYC...I knew a little more than the first time, but I still needed someone to help guide me through. I fully believe there is a better way to prepare for this gap, it’s through communication, clear understanding and a comprehensive plan.

Brett Billings, CMC Advisor

Choosing the right health care plan can be daunting for many, but especially for senior citizens. For over 20 years, Misty Bolt and her team have been educating seniors about their personalized options for Medicare. Let MedicareMisty help you understand your insurance options! Simply call today! 423-240-0794 or medicaremisty.com