Boomers - Central 01-31-2019 - Herald Community Newspapers

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February 28, 2019

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BALDWIN HERALD — February 28, 2019

Boomers

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February 28, 2019 — BALDWIN HERALD

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If you are fortunate, you will retain your physical and mental capacities throughout your life and can always live independently.

But there are no guarantees for any of us. If you ever require some form of long-term care, will you be prepared?

So what is the risk of needing long term care services? According to the Department of Health & Human Services, about 40 percent of individuals over age 65 receive some form of paid in-home care, with an average care period lasting less than one year. However, about one-third of the population receives care in a nursing home: Of those individuals, about half stay less than one year, 30 percent stay between one and three years, and 20 percent stay longer than five years.

And, unfortunately, this care can be expensive. For example, it costs $97,500 per year, on average, for a private room in a nursing home, according to the 2017 Cost of Care Survey produced by Genworth, an insurance company. In some major metropolitan areas, the cost is much higher. Furthermore, Medicare typically pays only a small percentage of these expenses.

So, how do you protect yourself against these potentially catastrophic costs?

Essentially, you have four options.

Self-insure: You can try to build enough financial assets to cover the costs of a long-term care event. However, you would need to accumulate an extremely large sum to fully protect yourself, and you’d be diverting assets that could be used to help fund your retirement.

Long-term care insurance: A traditional long-term care (LTC) insurance policy will pay for qualified long-term care costs. The younger you are when you purchase your policy, the lower your annual premiums are likely to be.

Keep in mind, though, that a basic LTC policy offers no death benefit or cash value — your premiums are only paying for a nursing home stay, home health care or other type of long term care service. (Also, even a good LTC policy will include a waiting period before the

insurance kicks in and a maximum amount of coverage, such as three years.)

Hybrid/linked benefit insurance: Because of some concerns about paying for insurance but never needing care with traditional long-term care insurance, this type of insurance provides a death benefit plus longterm care coverage. You can accelerate the death benefit to help pay for long-term care costs, and you can also choose to create an additional pool for these costs after the death benefit has been exhausted. But if you don’t need long-term care, you still have the life insurance death benefit. Due to the death benefit, your premiums will be higher than those of a traditional long-term care policy.

Life insurance with long-term care/ chronic illness rider: By choosing a permanent life insurance policy with this rider, you can accelerate all or part of the death benefit to pay for long-term care costs. (Your death benefit will then be reduced.) This option generally provides more flexibility in paying premiums than a hybrid policy, which may require a larger dollar commitment. Similar to hybrid, you still have the life insurance benefit if you don’t need care.

Which option is best for you? There’s no one “right” answer for everyone, but a financial professional can help you choose the method that’s most appropriate for your situation. And from an economic standpoint — and possibly an emotional one, too — you may be better off by taking action sooner, rather than later.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by Steven Katz, a local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones is a licensed insurance producer in all states and Washington, D.C., through Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P., and in California, New Mexico and Massachusetts through Edward Jones Insurance Agency of California, L.L.C.; Edward Jones Insurance Agency of New Mexico, L.L.C.; and Edward Jones Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, L.L.C.

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BALDWIN HERALD — February 28, 2019

What’s on your Bucket List?

Carpe Diem!

Finding the motivation and tools to finish your bucket list

By Chelle Cordero In 2007, a movie premiered about two men who had terminal illnesses. Although they started out as strangers, they soon began traveling the world together, fulfilling the “Bucket List” one of them had written down.

The term “bucket list” is a list of things to do before you die. The term is derived from “kick the bucket,” an idiom and euphemism for dying. The good news, though, is that a bucket list can be started at any age and no longer carries the morbid finality of being close to one’s deathbed.

All people should write a list of all the things they would like to do, including places they would like to visit, activities they would like to try, concerts they want to attend and maybe even new foods they’d like to eat. Don’t worry if you can’t think of everything right now; there will be plenty of time to modify and add to your list, as you no longer have to wait until the twilight years to start it. The concept has become so popular that the internet is teeming with blogs about enjoying life and fulfilling bucket list activities.

So, you start out with a list. It could be 10 or 100 items, and it might seem a bit overwhelming.

These pie-in-the-sky dreams, although definitely exciting, may seem too far out of reach for the average human being, and before

long, this lengthy list with all of your fanciful dreams is shoved deep in a drawer and forgotten. Along with that forgotten list, the desires and hopes that were recorded slowly fade until there’s nothing but regrets about the things you could have done. Maybe, when you realize how close you are to the average life expectancy, you might try again, but you just don’t have the energy anymore to climb Mount Kilimanjaro or hike the Appalachian Trail.

Here are some tips to get through your bucket list no matter what age you are when you start it.

Write down anything and everything that thrills you over the thought of carrying it out. Next, prioritize and choose the three to five things you most want to do.

What do you need to do in order to pursue any one of these items? For instance, if you want to fly a plane, you’ll need to get a pilot’s license, or at least take flying lessons toward that goal. You’ll need access to a plane, and you’ll probably have to file a flight plan. Take a look at the activity and decide if it is best to do in a particular season. These are the type of details you’ll have to work on in steps.

Decide whether you need or would prefer a buddy to work with on an activity — such as hiking the Appalachian Trail. To work with a buddy, you would have to coordinate timing and even supplies, and

Publisher StuaRt RIChneR

Section Editor KaRen Bloom

Executive Editor SCott BRInton

Editorial Designer Cover Design JeffRey a. negRIn

both of you need to be in decent physical shape. Having a bucket list buddy helps with accountability, encouraging you to actually follow through on your list.

Many people simply let their lists go because no one else is watching, but holding yourself accountable by sharing your dreams is a very strong motivator.

Let your friends know about your bucket list, enlist their help and even participation and share your accomplishments when you get to cross something off as DONE. Annette White, author of “Bucket List Adventures: 10 Incredible Journeys to Experience Before You Die,” says:“The reminder that our time is limited is actually one of the best gifts given. It is one that can guide us to achieve what is most important to us before it is too late.”

There are several bloggers who share their bucket list endeavors online. There are also sites where people are invited to join and post their lists within a group so everyone can see when you cross something off; each list owner begins to cheer everyone else on and is encouraged by hearing the success stories. It is never too early or too late to begin your bucket list.

Carpe diem!

Seize the day and enjoy life. n

Vice President of Sales Rhonda glICKman

of Operations mIChael Bologna

Sales Manager SCott evanS

Operations Manager RoBeRt KeRn

Boomers is an advertising supplement to the Herald Community Newspapers.

Vice President

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Encouragement is one of the most useful tools when it comes to maintaining a positive attitude.

A good attitude The one thing we need to keep going

By Mary Hunt Encouragement. For me it is a basic need, or perhaps a character flaw — I’m not quite sure. All I know is that I need encouragement, and I need it often. I have a feeling that you do, too. This matter of getting out of debt, living below our means and learning how to manage our money can be a very discouraging proposition at times.

I want to become one of the encouragers in your life — someone you can count on to cheer you on in the good times and help dust you off so you can get up and back on track during the bad times.

I want to be the one you can always count on to help you see the big picture, to point out the glimmers of joy in seasons of sorrow. I want to be there to help pull you up to the top of the mountain so you can see all the beauty below.

Over the years I have built up my own collection of “encouragers.”

Some are people, but some are books, websites and activities like exercise and prayer. I know the people, places and things that are a source of encouragement for me. I count on them. They help me to focus and give me the confidence I need to keep going. I try to concentrate more on them than on those people and situations that tend to be discouragers.

One of my favorite encouragers is a short essay written by Chuck Swindoll, a well-known author. I’ve kept this close to me for years now and have read it so often I’ve memorized it.

I want to encourage you to pay attention to your attitude. Print out the following if you can and then stick it in a place where you will see it the first thing every morning. Re-read it. Apply it to your life for the day.

If you do this for one full month, you’ll have it committed to memory.

And in the process you’ll have a new habit of choosing your attitude for the day even before you choose what to wear.

Attitude The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do.

It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company ... a church ... a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.

We cannot change our past ... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable.

The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. n

Senior Update

Easy, Trusted Help for Homeowners

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I’m a retired health care administrator and college professor. I grew up in Brooklyn and Queens and ultimately moved to Nassau County.

How’d you come to be an Umbrella Neighbor and why do you do it?

When I retired, I was looking for something to do. I have handy skills from fixing stuff around my own house for 20+ years. I saw an ad, talked with Sam, and signed up.

I’ve done furniture assembly, electrical fixtures, painting, minor plumbing, cleaning out gutters. I enjoy all of that! I’ve always been interested in home repairs and renovations.

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I went to assemble a backyard furniture set for someone. Half of it had already been done and when I got there all these parts were left over. So I did the other side and I still had all these parts and I said, “You want me to take apart the other side?”

She said, “No, no. We’ll save the parts and if it falls apart, we’ll call you.”

I really like doing this. I’ve gotten to meet a lot of people — essentially my neighbors, people in my community.

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Best service ever. Five stars.” - Joe H., Lynbrook As seen in:

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GOLD! The Gold Seal reflects Mercy’s commitment and dedication to providing the highest standard in sepsis care.

I like the idea of helping people that otherwise might not be able to do things on their own. Also, they get a visit from somebody. It’s nice to have somebody come into your house, especially if you live alone.

About Umbrella Umbrella is the easy, trusted way for people 65+ to care for their homes. Tell Umbrella what you need done and get a vetted, skilled person from your community to help on your schedule for a flat, affordable hourly rate.

Call 516-882-4498 for more information.

hello@askumbrella.com • 516-882-4498 • askumbrella.com/herald Senior Updates are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff.

Mercy is the first hospital in New York to earn a Gold Seal from The Joint Commission in Sepsis Care.

Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to infection. It is a life-threatening medical emergency.

mercymedicalcenter.chsli.org

516-62-MERCY (63729) 1000 N Village Ave, Rockville Centre, NY 11570 1021270

Umbrella is a membership service for people 65+

Interview with Umbrella Neighbor Brad Cohen

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February 28, 2019 — BALDWIN HERALD

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New tech that makes life easier

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By Kristen Castillo These days, you don’t have to be a millennial or a tech junkie to understand how to use some of the latest technology, like smartphones and fitness trackers, because the gear is becoming more user-friendly. Older Americans who embrace technology can enhance their lives by staying informed, shopping, connecting with friends and family, and even tracking their health and fitness progress.

Personal Connection Technology allows seniors to stay in touch with family and friends near or far, and some technology is made especially for a senior audience. The GrandPad tablet connects seniors through voice and video calls and instant photo sharing.

Targeted toward people over 75 who may not use cellphones or computers, it has large buttons and an intuitive interface. Family members can preload contacts and pictures and then use the GrandPad companion mobile app and web portal to start chatting, ensuring that no memories are missed.

Nixplay is a digital picture frame that uses Wi-Fi to immediately display media sent from anywhere in the world with friends and loved ones. It’s compatible with Amazon Alexa, and it connects to platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Dropbox and Google Photos.

Nixplay can function as a family social network to strengthen your relationships.

Wearables Wearables have been adopted by just 13 percent of the over-50 crowd, according to the AARP study, though new wearables that cater to seniors can actually make a difference in personal safety and health and wellness.

Fitbit users can expect the gadget to track their sleep patterns, heart rate, steps and stairs climbed. They can manually enter data such as when and what they eat or how much water they drink. Staying mobile and active is key for seniors’ physical health and well-being, and this device helps wearers be mindful.

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Older folks are using technology, like GrandPad tablets, to connect with family through calls and photos sharing.

A safety wearable called run angel, which is worn on the wrist like most wearables, can be used to help caregivers and family members know the whereabouts of their loved one. In an emergency, you can press an alert button that produces a loud alarm and alerts up to three designated people with the time, date, coordinates and map to your location.

Trusted family and friends will be with you every step of the way.

Freedom Guardian is an all-in-one medical alert smartwatch that provides aroundthe-clock monitoring and support, including unlimited emergency calls, speech-to-text messaging, calendar and appointment reminders, weather forecast, GPS and Wi-Fi triangulation. A caregiver can check in via the companion mobile app.

The PC Magazine product review website gave the device an excellent rating but notes a drawback: There’s a monthly $44.95 monitoring fee. Any of these devices make fantastic gifts and go a long way to offer you and your loved ones peace of mind.

Health Tech Medical expenses increase as we age, but technology can actually help us save money on medicine. FamilyWize is a prescription savings program that offers free digital tools including a mobile app to help seniors find the lowest drug prices and manage their prescriptions. With the app Medicine Cabinet tool, users get alerts when a lower price becomes available. The drug price lookup tool allows users to search for the lowest price within their ZIP code for any FDA-approved medication.

A new generation of hearing aids is here.

According to the What Mobile website, the new Signia Styletto allows users to adjust the volume and other audio settings via a mobile app. Its portable charging dock allows up to four days of continuous use before needing to power up, and it has fully rechargeable builtin lithium-ion batteries. With innovative function and design, seniors will be proud to wear this device. n

Thinking of purchasing a second home or moving off Long Island to a new town?

Whether “downsizing”, changing ownership style or relocating to a new community, Baby Boomers have many options.

We invite you to call on your local Coach Realtors Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) sales associate to answer your questions.

Or call us toll free to receive your FREE copy of “The 8 Questions Most Frequently Asked by Mature Property Buyers.”

516-536-8100 Follow us on

@coachrealtors

Coach Realtors Rockville Centre | 516-536-8100 rockvillecentre@coachrealtors.com

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Smart Investment The over-50 crowd is getting more and more engaged with tech. According to a November AARP study of 1,520 adults over 50, 70 percent of Americans own a smartphone; 90 percent own a laptop or computer; and 40 percent own a tablet.

With functions like taking and storing photos, playing music and games, and tracking everything from your heart rate to your finances, the devices are both practical and fun.

Eighty-nine percent of respondents send and receive emails and texts on their devices; 77 percent use it for traffic information and directions; and 28 percent use it to manage their health care. Seventy-nine percent say they do their banking on their computer, while 35 percent do it on their smartphone. For entertainment, 42 percent play games on their gadgets (“Words with Friends,” anyone?), while 34 percent watch videos or shows. Regardless of the device, tech is a personal tool for day-today activities and communication.

Serving Long Island since 1954

BALDWIN HERALD — February 28, 2019

Freedom and ease with Fitbits, iPhones and more

Senior Update

Sepsis is a medical emergency: causes, symptoms and treatment

E

ach year, at least 1.7 million adults in the U.S. develop sepsis, the body’s extreme response to an infection, and nearly 270,000 Americans die as a result of sepsis*.

Sepsis happens when an infection you already have — in your skin, lungs, urinary tract or somewhere else — triggers a chain reaction throughout your body. Without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death. And, in most cases, sepsis occurs even before the patient is admitted to the hospital.

Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre, a member of Catholic Health Services, is the first hospital in New York State to receive The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Sepsis Care. The Gold Seal reflects Mercy’s commitment and dedication to providing the highest standard in sepsis care. Mercy has been working on implementing a robust sepsis care program for the last several years. The program integrated evidence-based clinical practices into the medical management of sepsis and reduced risk in the community by educating our clinical staff and the public about the illness.

Emily McMahon, RN, sepsis coordinator at Mercy and member of the Mercy Sepsis Program committee, underscores the importance of sepsis education and awareness. She offers the following tips on how to prevent, identify and treat sepsis.

Prevent: • Scrub the germs off by washing your hands.

Lather your hands with soap and running water, rub your palms, back of hands and between fingers for 20-30 seconds. Rinse and dry well; • Exercise caution by staying up-to-date with vaccinations. For example, the seasonal flu (influenza) vaccine, pneumococcal, childhood vaccinations; • Take antibiotics, if needed and as directed by your health care provider; • Schedule and keep appointments for medical checkups; • And seek treatment for possible Infections early. Therefore, keep cuts clean, dry and covered until healed as any infection can lead to sepsis.

Identify symptoms: • Shivering, fever, or very cold; • Extreme pain or general discomfort (“worst ever”); • Pale of discolored skin; • Sleepy, difficult to rouse, confused; • 0And shortness of breath.

For more information, visit www.mercymedicalcenter.chsli.edu or call 516-62-MERCY (63729). *According to the CDC

Treat sepsis: • Seek treatment immediately from a medical professional; • Educate yourself of the symptoms so you are aware of signs; • And act fast! Without timely treatment, sepsis can be deadly.

1000 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre 516-62-MERCY (63729) www.mercymedicalcenter.chsli.edu

Senior Updates are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff.

Physical Therapy Report

Patient Progress:

Excellent

!!

Therapy That Transforms Lives Lynbrook Restorative Therapy and Nursing, 243 Atlantic Avenue, Lynbrook, New York 11563 • 516.634.1400 www.lynbrookrehab.com

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February 28, 2019 — BALDWIN HERALD

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