January 2024 by The Senior Voice

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Published Locally Since 1980

January 2024

Her Last Climb on the Mountain

2 • The Senior Voice • January 2024

Published Locally Since 1980 Vol. 44, No. 1

Online at www.theseniorvoice.net

Her Last Climb on the Mountain

PUBLICATION INFORMATION The Senior Voice is locally owned and has been published the first of each month since 1980 for residents in Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland and nearby areas. ADVERTISING Ad deadline is 20th of month. For rates, call 970-229-9204; email wolf@theseniorvoice.net or see www.theseniorvoice.net

Wolfgang Lambdin Publisher and Advertising Director

Fort Collins, Colorado (970) 229-9204 wolf.lambdin@gmail.com EDITORIAL DEADLINE: Announcements and stories must be received by the 10th of the month; ads by the 20th of the month. READER INFORMATION: Subscriptions $52 a year. Writers' opinions are not necessarily those of The Senior Voice. EDITORIAL OFFICE: (970) 229-9204 wolf.lambdin@gmail.com www.theseniorvoice.net Design Production by Ellen Bryant Design ellen@ellenbryantdesign.com © Copyright 2024 The Senior Voice No material may be reproduced by any means without permission of the Senior Voice. William and Peggy Lambdin Founders, 1980

Longs Peak. Photo adobe stock. (Editor’s note: Information for this article was provided by the Colorado State Historical Society.) In 1884 a wealthy woman named Carrie Welton decided to climb Longs Peak near Fort Collins. It was in the fall, and people warned her the weather might be dangerous that time of year, but she insisted. She hired a guide named Carlyle Lamb. The snows of the preceding winter were still very deep, often obscuring the trail. The going proved difficult for the horses, and Carlyle and Carrie decided to leave them well below the usual tethering place at the Boulder Field, the tumbled mass of rocks at the east edge of the peak’s formidable face. This decision, made in sunshine while the two climbers were still fresh, is what likely cost Welton her life. At the Keyhole the weather began to turn against them. They encountered a strong, chilling wind and dark clouds, a sign of worse weather still to come. Carlyle, an experienced climber, wisely advised retreat. Welton would have none of it. She had heard such objections from her guides on Pikes Peak. Her response, Carlyle later told his father, was that “she had never undertaken anything and given it up.” And so they proceeded up the

imposing east face under gathering storm clouds. Even at the time, general knowledge held that it was best to be off the summit well before noon to avoid the inevitable afternoon storms, many of which are quite fierce. By the time Carrie and Carlyle reached the summit it was frigid and very late—after 3 p.m., by Carlyle’s account. Welton was weary, and the stay at the summit proved brief. As Carlyle had feared, dark clouds had intensified, a sign that a storm had already set in below them. Leaving the summit, the clouds briefly lifted; but now, as they recrossed the Narrows and headed down the Trough, they found themselves caught in a fearsome snowstorm—the worst Carlyle had ever seen in the mountains. Their descent became increasingly slow, and Carrie began to complain of exhaustion. Over the next two hours they failed to cover even a mile of ground. The pair struggled to the Keyhole, but by then Carrie had grown entirely numb from the cold and could not stand unassisted. The moment of crisis and decision had come—it was now 10 p.m. The pair descended a short distance below the Keyhole, and Lamb called a halt. Sitting down, he confided in Welton that he too could barely stand after the exertion of helping her across the Narrows and down the Trough.

The only chance that either of them had for survival, he told her, was for him to leave her and go ahead for help. At first, Carrie objected to being left alone, but eventually she relented. They situated Carrie as best they could against the biting cold and fierce winds, and Carlyle stumbled into the darkness, continuing his descent. He reached the horses and rode one while leading the other five miles through the storm to his father’s ranch. The rescurers immediately began a return trip up the mountain, reaching timberline at 1 a.m. the next morning, but a gale made progress maddeningly slow as they continued up the moraine toward the Boulder Field. Just before daybreak, the elder Lamb reached the edge of the uplift. Carlyle would never forget the sight waiting for him. He said, “I came in sight of the tragic spot where Carrie lay at rest. “I remember my expression as I approached the body: ‘I fear, my young lady, that you are past saving.’” And she was. ________ COVER PICTURE: New Year's Eve Fireworks over Breckenridge. Photo Adobe Stock.

January 2024 • The Senior Voice • 3

DRUG PRICES

MEDICARE IN 2024 Starting January 1, 2024, if you have Medicare drug coverage (Part D) and your outof-pocket drug costs reaches $8,000 – the catastrophic coverage phase, you don’t have to pay co-payments and co-insurance for the rest of the calendar year. In addition, the Part D Extra Help program, which helps cover your Part D plan costs, will expand to people with incomes up to 150% of the federal poverty level (FPL). This is up from 135% of the FPL. People who qualify will have $0 premium and deductible costs if enrolled in a benchmark plan. Also, coinsurance amounts for some Part B-covered drugs may be less if a prescription drug’s price increased higher than the rate of inflation. This is thanks to the new Medicare Prescription Drug Rebate Program. A reminder of 2023 chang-

es, your insulin cost sharing is capped at $35for a one-month supply of each insulin product Part D covers, and you don’t have to pay a deductible for it. This also applies to insulin used with traditional insulin pumps under Medicare Part B’s durable medical equipment benefit. Adult vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) are also available to you at no cost. If you have lived with chronic pain for 3 months or more, starting January 1, 2024, Medicare covers monthly services, including assessment, medication management and care coordination and planning. Medicare’s Part B deductible and 20% coinsurance apply.

Medicare drug price negotiations will benefit millions of mature Americans. The Biden administration passed a new law that allows the federal government to lower drug costs by telling drug companies that the price of certain medicines must be lowered. Medicare officials will select what medicines will be affected. The drugs Eliquis, Januvia, NovoLog FlexPen, Enbrel SureClick, and Ibrance are among those that are likely to be in the first group negotiated. These drugs treat conditions such as blood clots, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and breast cancer. Many of these drugs are used to treat chronic conditions, such as diabetes, autoimmune disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and mental illnesses, as well as some types of cancer.

For example, eight of the 22 drugs on the list of those likely to be eligible treat diabetes, including three of the most commonly used insulins: NovoLog FlexPen, Humalog KwikPen, and Levemir FlexTouch. Medicare beneficiaries with COPD and asthma may also benefit greatly: Three inhaled drugs—Symbicort, Spiriva, and Breo Ellipta—would likely be eligible for negotiation. In 2021, Symbicort was used by nearly 1 million beneficiaries, and Spiriva and Breo Ellipta were used by more than 650,000 beneficiaries each. Federal officials will not announce the full selection of drugs for Medicare negotiation until later in 2024. Lower drug prices promise to improve the affordability of and access to prescription medications for seniors and have the potential to improve the health of millions of people.

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4 • The Senior Voice • January 2024

GROWING OLD... FLU IS DANGEROUS IT'S NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART “Arthritis is probably the number one condition that people 65 or older contend with,” said geriatrician Dr. Marie Bernard with the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

The CDC estimates that arthritis affects 49.7 percent of all adults over 65 and can lead to pain and lower quality of life for some.

CDC also reports that 28 percent of men and 21 percent of women over age 65 are living with cancer. Chronic lower respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are the third most common cause of death among people 65 and older. “Osteoporosis can contribute to becoming less mobile and potentially disabled should you fall and have a fracture.

People age 65 and older are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications.

This increased risk is due in part to changes in immune defenses with increasing age. While flu seasons vary in severity, during most seasons, people 65 and older bear the greatest burden of severe flu disease. In recent years, it’s estimated that between 70 percent and 85 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths have occurred in people age 65 and older. People with asthma, heart disease, diabetes, and a number of other chronic health conditions are also at higher risk of developing potentially serious flu problems that can result in hospitalization or death.

Heart disease remains the leading killer of adults over age 65, accounting for 489,722 deaths in 2014. As a chronic condition, heart disease affects 37 percent of men and 26 percent of women 65 and older.

Experts estimate that 25 percent of people ages 65 and older are living with diabetes, a significant senior health risk.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death among people over age 65, with 413,885 deaths in one year, according to the CDC. The

There are other conditions, In fact, during recent flu seabut those are the main things re- sons, 9 out of 10 people hospitaltirees have to deal with, say re- ized with flu had at least one unsearchers. T:9" derlying health condition. That’s

why getting an annual flu vaccine is especially important for people with certain chronic health conditions. In recent seasons, about 30% of adults hospitalized with flu had diabetes. Acute illnesses like

flu can make it harder to control your blood sugar levels. Flu may raise your blood sugar levels, but sometimes people don’t feel like eating when they are sick, and a reduced appetite can cause blood sugar levels to fall. Among adults hospitalized with flu during recent flu seasons, heart disease was one of the most common chronic (longterm) conditions. About half of adults hospitalized with flu have heart disease.

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ERECTILE

DYSFUNCTION

Men now have a new option for treating erectile dysfunction (ED) that supposedly works faster than regular ED medication — and is available without a prescription. The FDA approved the overthe-counter sale of MED3000 (Eroxon), a topical gel treatment for ED. In studies, MED3000 consistently showed statistical improvement over pre-treatment and achieved clinically important differences across all ED severities. MED3000 also showed efficacy and a rapid speed of onset with an excellent safety profile. It will provide an alternative to existing ED treatments that require a prescription, and it will provide an alternative for those ED sufferers seeking fewer systemic side-effects. It also provides an important treatment option for those ED sufferers who are currently precluded from using current prescription treatments such as men taking nitrate

medicine. MED3000 begins to work immediately in some patients, with over 60% of patients seeing onset within 10 minutes of application. In many cases, erectile dysfunction is caused by something physical. Common causes include heart disease, clogged blood vessels, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. One in every five men suffer from erectile dysfunction worldwide with around 22 million men suffering ED in the US. Research has further shown that US men spend between $600 and $3,500 per year on the treatment of their ED, including out of pocket cost for medication, doctor visits, refills and extra costs for additional doses.

January 2024 • The Senior Voice • 5

PREDIABETES Almost half of older adults have prediabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How concerned should they be? Not very, say some experts. Prediabetes—a term that refers to above-normal but not extremely high blood sugar levels—isn’t a disease, and it doesn’t imply that older adults who have it will inevitably develop Type 2 diabetes, they note. “For most older patients, the chance of progressing from prediabetes to diabetes is not that high,” said Dr. Robert Lash, chief medical officer of the Endocrine Society, commenting on recent research. “Yet labeling people with prediabetes may make them worried and anxious.” Experts do believe it’s important to identify prediabetes, especially if this inspires older adults to get more physical activity, lose weight, and eat healthier diets to help bring blood sugar under control.

Recent studies confirm the importance of directing older people with prediabetes — especially those who are most vulnerable — to lifestyle intervention programs. Since 2018, Medicare has covered the Diabetes Prevention Program, a set of classes offered at YMCAs and in other community settings designed to help seniors with prediabetes eat healthier diets, lose weight, and get more physical activity. Research has shown the prevention program lowers the risk of diabetes by 71% in people 60 and older. “It’s OK to tell older adults with prediabetes to exercise more and eat carbohydrates evenly throughout the day,” said Dr. Medha Munshi, director of the geriatric diabetes program at Joslin Diabetes Center, an affiliate of the Harvard Medical School. “But it’s important to educate patients that this is not a disease that is inevitably going to make you diabetic.”

6 • The Senior Voice • January 2024

A Blizzard Remembered

(Editor’s Note: Fort Collins historian Arlene Ahlbrandt wrote this story years ago.) The blizzard of January, 1949, made national news as one of the worst in Colorado history. A raging ground blizzard with winds up to 60 miles per hour swept across northern Colorado and Wyoming. For three days, the area was isolated by huge snowdrifts. Traffic was paralyzed. Over 60 motorists were stranded on what’s now Interstate 25 between Wellington and Cheyenne. If it hadn’t been for the people of Wellington, many of those travelers would have frozen to death.

Wellington residents took them into their homes. Volunteers dug out stalled cars and rescued half-frozen people and brought them into town for shelter and food. One family spent nearly 70 hours in their car, until they were rescued. One of the first people to know about problems was Harmon Wich, who operated the auto garage and tow truck in Wellington. He was told that Leo Tolle’s car had skidded into a ditch. Harmon took his young son, Donald, and headed his tow truck north. When Harmon didn’t return by evening, everyone was concerned. Wilson Leeper talked to a trucker and was told things

A man clears snow from a car during a winter storm. Photo The Voice Archives. Photographer unknown. were getting worse. A Highway Patrol car had to be pulled out of a drift.

wife, Ione, became stranded in their stalled car. They decided to leave the car and started to walk.

Harmon and his son were found the next day. Harmon’s face was frozen, and Donald was severely chilled.

The two children were Tony, 10, and Peggy, 8. They were all found frozen to death. The mother and little girl were together, and the father and son were together, all within a few feet of each other.

The most tragic incident was the death of a couple and their two children. Phillip Roman and his

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Across 1 Bird’s beak 4 Takes to one’s feet 10 Shriner’s fez 13 _____ sapiens (Most common species of primates) 14 “I couldn’t pass it up. It was such ____ ____ deal!” 15 Alphabet trio near the end 16 Founders of Greeley, CO 18 Tibetan gazelle 19 Colorado has a “royal” one 20 Penguin predators 22 Currier and ____ ,19th century printmakers 25 Landed like a butterfly 26 Yuma County site near Wray 31 Economic Development Administration in a text 33 Large flightless bird of South America 34 “You decide; it’s either _____ _____ me!” 35 Palm tree native to Japan 37 “B” western movie, familiarly 40 Ireland on old maps 41 A judge’s question, “How do you _____?” 43 This might offend one’s olfactory receptors 45 Scottish youngin’ 46 Colorado state motto; “Not without providence.” 50 Computer symbol 51 Tom Hanks movie, “The DaVinci _____” 52 “Not only did I receive a broken nose, but I had several teeth _____ _____.” 56 Verdon and Stefani 60 Small morsel, crumb 61 Peak near Estes Park 64 Butterfly catcher, often 65 “I was on the ___ ___ my seat!” 66 Congress numbers 100 of theses. (abbr.) 67 Unspecified sticky substance 68 “I’m innocent. I had ____ _____ in the robbery!” 69 Half a fly?

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January 2024 • The Senior Voice • 7

Down 1 Advice to Nanette in a 1930 or 1940 movie title 2 Leader in Qatar or Kuwait 3 Piano style: _____ Woogie 4 Type of bunt to move runners closer to scoring with less than two outs 5 General on a menu 6 Pointed tools used in leather work 7 New device to deal with ear deformities 8 Famed national park in Alaska 9 Fashionable 10 Lincoln County town on the Eastern plains 11 Neighbor of Vail 12 Clement Moore Christmas poem opening 13 Sign of affection 17 The _____ Summer Range helps form the Continental Divide in Northern Colorado 21 “Let _____ _____ “ is good advice to people about to renew an old argument. 23 It’s hard to get in the last word with this one 24 Ingredient found in many moisturizers: ____ butter 26 Bread roll created in the Jewish areas of Poland 27 Weld County neighbor of Greeley 28 “A miss is as good as _____ _____.” (Old proverb) 29 Ephron who created “Sleepless in Seattle” 30 Landmark Supreme Court case: _____ Scott 31 TV sports venue 32 “Persistence of Memory” artist 36 Desert refresher 38 Education abbreviation 39 Former quarterback now in the booth 42 High rollers, familiarly 44 Trail _____ Road 47 “I’m on vacation. I have ____ _____ _____ lists.” 48 Adequate amount 49 Cheapest items in an antique store? 52 _____ Draw Reservoir up the Poudre Canyon 53 Sweet sandwich 54 Mears known as Pathfinder of the San Juans 55 Physically fit according to the draft of years past 57 “He has very little. He barely ____ out an existence.” 58 Hawaiian goose 59 Former juniors (abbr.) 62 Some 20 across might weigh this amt. 63 Abbreviation for “manufactured”

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The changing brain with hearing loss: Link between hearing loss and cognitive decline

Common link in aging process. Social Isolation: Untreated hearing loss in seniors has been linked to depression and social isolation. Decreased Cognitive reserve: Sensory deprivation taxes the brain by changing its normal resource allocation possibly affecting neural/cognitive reserve.

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8 • The Senior Voice • January 2024

Estate Planning By Ron Rutz, Attorney Q: Have the rules on gifting changed much? A: The basic rules have not changed, but the permitted amounts have been adjusted. Between spouses, one of them can give any amount tax free to the other. This rule has not changed and remains one of the cornerstones in estate planning. A person can give, gift tax free, within a calendar year $17,000 per person. There is no limit as to the number of people so gifted or to the total amount transferred.

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There is a life-time gift tax exclusion of $12,920,000. Thus a person can use part or all to make any size transfer gift tax free to one or more persons. But a gift tax informational form must be filed showing the amount

of the gift over the permissible $17,000 exemption(s) less the $12,920,000 life tax exemption. In other words, the “lifetime exemption” is reduced to show the remaining amount available for future transfers by either gifting or by death. The gift tax exemption (except for the $17,000 per person per year exemption) is tied into the estate tax exemption, thus limiting any transfer to $12,920,000 during the giver’s lifetime. If there is tax liability, the general rule is that payment of taxes is the responsibility of the giver, not the recipient (deceased not the beneficiary unless for a state’s death taxes, the state has an inheritance tax and not an estate tax). (Email rutz@ronaldrutz.com. Call 970-223-8338 in Loveland.)

PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR SHORTAGE

The percentage of U.S. doctors in adult primary care has been declining for years and is now about 25% — a tipping point beyond which many Americans won’t be able to find a family doctor at all, according to The Washington Post and other sources. Already, more than 100 million Americans don’t have usual access to primary care, a number that has nearly doubled since 2014. One explanation for the disappearing primary care doctor is financial. The payment structure in the U.S. health system has long rewarded surgeries and procedures while shortchanging the diagnostic, prescriptive, and preventive work that is the province of primary care. Furthermore, the traditionally independent doctors in this field have little power to negotiate sustainable payments

with the mammoth insurers in the U.S. market. Faced with this situation, many independent primary care doctors have sold their practices to health systems or commercial management chains (some private equity-owned) so that, today, three-quarters of doctors are now employees of those outfits. Some relatively simple solutions are available. Hospitals and commercial groups could invest some of the money they earn by replacing hips and knees to support primary care staffing; giving these doctors more face time with their patients would be good for their customers’ health and loyalty if not (always) the bottom line.

LOWER DRUG PRICES Medicare drug price negotiations will benefit millions of mature Americans. The Biden administration passed a new law that allows the federal government to lower drug costs by telling drug companies that the price of certain medicines must be lowered. Medicare officials will select what medicines will be affected. The drugs Eliquis, Januvia, NovoLog FlexPen, Enbrel SureClick, and Ibrance are among those that are likely to be in the first group negotiated. These drugs treat conditions such as blood clots, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and breast cancer. Many of these drugs are used to treat chronic conditions, such as diabetes, autoimmune disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and mental illnesses, as well as some types of cancer.

January 2024 • The Senior Voice • 9

SEPSIS By The Center for Disease Control

but some people are at higher risk for it:

Sepsis is a medical emergency. It can affect anyone, at any age, and regardless of whether someone has other medical conditions.

Adults 65 or older. People with weakened immune systems. People with chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, lung disease, cancer, and kidney disease. People with recent severe illness or hospitalization, including due to severe COVID-19. People who survived sepsis. Children younger than one.

Sepsis happens when an infection you already have triggers a chain reaction throughout your body. Infections that lead to sepsis most often start in the lung, urinary tract, skin, or gastrointestinal tract. Most cases of sepsis start before a patient goes to the hospital. Without timely treatment, sepsis can rapidly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. About 1.7 million adults in America develop sepsis. At least 350,000 adults who develop sepsis die during their hospitalization or are discharged to hospice. Anyone can develop sepsis,

A person with sepsis might have one or more of the following signs or symptoms: High heart rate or weak pulse. Fever, shivering, or feeling very cold. Confusion or disorientation. Shortness of breath. Extreme pain or discomfort. Clammy or sweaty skin. Treatment is getting the patient on antibiotics and intravenous fluids as soon as possible.

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10 • The Senior Voice • January 2024

Climate Change in Colorado ing.

Colorado’s climate is chang-

Throughout the western United States, heat waves are becoming more common, snow is melting earlier in spring, and less water flows through the Colorado River. Rising temperatures and recent droughts in the region have killed many trees by drying out soils, increasing the risk of forest fires, or enabling outbreaks of forest insects. In the coming decades, the changing climate is likely to decrease water availability and agricultural yields in Colorado, and further increase the risk of wildfires. Our climate is changing because the earth is warming. People have increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the air by 40 percent since the late 1700s. Other heat- trapping greenhouse gases are also increasing. These gases have warmed the surface and lower atmosphere of our planet about one degree during the last 50 years. Evaporation increases as the atmosphere warms, which increases humidity, average rainfall, and the frequency of heavy rainstorms in many places—but contributes to drought in others. Greenhouse gases are also changing the world’s oceans and ice cover. Carbon dioxide reacts with water to form carbonic acid, so the oceans are becoming more acidic. The surface of the ocean has warmed about one degree during the last 80 years. Warming is causing snow to melt earlier in spring. Changes in temperature and precipitation are affecting snowpack—the amount of snow that accumulates on the ground. In most of the West, snowpack has decreased since the 1950s, due to

earlier melting and less precipitation falling as snow. The amount of snowpack measured in April has declined by 20 to 60 percent at most monitoring sites in Colorado. Diminishing snowpack can shorten the season for skiing and other forms of winter tourism and recreation. It also enables subalpine fir and other high-altitude trees to grow at higher elevations. The upward movement of the tree line will shrink the extent of alpine tundra and fragment these ecosystems, possibly causing the loss of some species. Mount Evans in late August with Summit Lake in the foreground. During the winter, the mountain is covered by snowpack, which melts during spring and summer. The water runs off the mountain into streams that eventually flow into the South Platte River. These streams are an important part of the water supply for cities and towns along the Front Range. By August, little of the snowpack remains, as shown in the photo. As climate warms, even less snow will remain at A yearly report suggests that more than 300,000 Colorado

homes are susceptible to wildfire, and the cost to rebuild those homes would top $100 billion. CoreLogic released their yearly wildfire risk report. Colorado trailed only California in the number of homes at risk of burning in a wildfire. The group estimated 332,716 homes are at risk in Colorado. The majority of those are in the Denver and Colorado Springs metro areas, not mountain communities. They estimate 69,284 homes in the Denver area and 51,321 homes in the Colorado Springs area are at the most risk, followed by 14,352 homes in the Fort Collins area. The Boulder area, where the Marshall Fire took place in December 2021, still has 9,754 homes at risk, and Pueblo has 3,242 homes in danger, according to this report. 3 The cost to rebuild all the homes listed in the report comes in at $141 billion. The report points to the increasing cost of reconstruction materials and labor as reasons for the “inflated cost” of wildfires. A July 2022 ranking created for the U.S. Forest Service listed Evergreen and Morrison as the

top fireshed in the Rocky Mountain region, including Colorado and parts of four other western states.

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January 2024 • The Senior Voice • 11

Power Training Improves Balance and Mobility Declining balance and decreased physical ability are both classically attributed to physical age, but Kirk Bemis, owner of Fort Collins based Fit-Rx, challenges that the two are directly correlated. Although there are some age-related declines, Bemis believes much of the trouble is due to a decrease in fast-paced and powerful movements. According to numerous studies, balance, strength, and power (the ability to move weight quickly) all begin to decline around age 40, with power declining at the highest rate. This is partially due to unavoidable physiological deterioration, but many of the changes associated with “normal” aging are actually due to adaptations the body makes in response to reduced physical activity. Performing regular, vigorous activities throughout one’s life is the best way to retain the ability to be active for as long as possible, as evidenced by the “Blue Zone” population (those in Italy, Greece, Japan, and Costa Rica who have lower rates of chronic disease and longer life expectancy). Many health clubs, fitness studios, and senior oriented organizations seek to help the aging population maintain strength and balance through various programs and classes. However, many of these activities, while hypothetically sound, have not been shown to offer tangible benefits in increasing life activity or decreasing fall risk. A recent study in the Journal of Gerontology states, “Many strategies to improve balance dysfunction, a major risk factor for falls, have included specific balance training strategies, strength training, walking, Tai Chi, and multidimensional exercises. Few interventions, however, have showed consistent positive outcomes in balance.” These results make sense because “when threats to balance (narrowed base of support, perturbation, loss of vision, or proprioception) occur, rapid responses must be

engaged to maintain postural stability. “ The speed at which we are able to correct to maintain balance or recover from a stumble is really the key determinant of successful locomotion and activity, and is a primary indicator of balance deficit, fall risk and decreasing physical ability in those over 50. As previously mentioned, many modalities currently exist to attempt to address balance and mobility, but they are not proven to provide tangible benefit in decreasing fall risk and maintaining an active lifestyle. So where does the answer lie, you ask? According to Bemis, “Emerging studies have shown that progressive, lighter load, high velocity resistance (power) training increases muscular strength and endurance, and through increased contraction velocity, also improves balance. This is a win, win, win!!” He continues, “While this research is very encouraging, “power training” typically requires high impact and potentially dangerAdvertorial

ous situations for those not already accustomed to vigorous physical activity.” Bemis says his business, Fit-Rx, is able to address these challenges head on. “Our unique equipment and programming are truly a paradigm shift in the practice of aging well. To my knowledge we are the only facility in Colorado able to “power train” our clients aged 40 to 90 in a low impact and safe environment to promote optimal balance, mobility, and confidence to pursue their most active lives, regardless of starting ability.” Fit-Rx is currently offering a “Holiday Special” package which includes 3 free visits (initial consultation, assessment, and initial session). They are located at 4206 S College Avenue, Unit 108 in Fort Collins (SE corner of the Hobby Lobby shopping center). Appointments can be made by scheduling a tour online at www.fit-rx.net or by calling 970-803-2710.

12 • The Senior Voice • January 2024

NOW IS THE TIME TO REVIEW YOUR MEDICARE. Open enrollment is Oct. 15–Dec 7. Your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is the only place to receive unbiased advice regarding your Medicare. Certified Medicare counselors will help you make your decisions. We do not receive compensation or commission from any of the prescription drug companies. To make an appointment, scan the QR code:

NEW VACCINE Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalizes tens of thousands of people each year in the United States. Now there’s a powerful new tool against it: the first-ever RSV vaccine.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it had granted approval for an RSV vaccine made by GlaxoSmithKline to be used in people age 60 and older. RSV is a respiratory virus that causes cold-like symptoms for many people, but it can cause serious illness, hospitalization and death for infants and older people. In the United States, an estimated 60,000 to 160,000 older adults are hospitalized each year

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with lung infections caused by RSV, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 6,000 to 10,000 of them die from RSV infections each year. Older adults with chronic heart or lung disease, and those with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable. The newly approved vaccine reduced the risk of developing lung infections by 82.6 percent compared with a placebo. In a trial of about 25,000 people age 60 and over, only seven people who got the vaccine developed RSV lung infections, compared with 40 people who got a placebo. The vaccine’s efficacy against severe lung infection was even better at 94.1 percent.

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January 2024 • The Senior Voice • 13

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Why do advertisers choose The Senior Voice? People ages 50 to 60 have MORE SPENDABLE INCOME than any other age group. (U.S. Consumer Research Center) Over 73% of them read newspapers and magazines. (Scarborough Research)

Northern Colorado’s 55 to 60 population increased over 80% in the past 10 years. (U.S. Census Bureau).

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ALZHEIMER'S DRUGS By the Alzheimer’s Association The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved new medicines for Alzheimer’s. These fall into two categories: Drugs that temporarily ease some symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Drugs that change disease progression in people living with Alzheimer’s. As Alzheimer’s progresses, brain cells die and connections among cells are lost. This causes cognitive (memory and thinking) and noncognitive (behavioral and psychological) symptoms to worsen. While these medicines do not completely stop the damage Alzheimer’s causes to brain cells, they may help lessen or stabilize symptoms. Lecanemab (Leqembi®) is

an anti-amyloid antibody intravenous infusion therapy that is delivered every two weeks. It has received approval from the FDA

to treat early Alzheimer’s disease, including people living with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease who have confirmation of elevated beta-amyloid in the brain. Aducanumab (Aduhelm®) is

an anti-amyloid antibody intravenous infusion therapy that is delivered every month. It has recived accelerated approval from the FDA to treat early Alzheimer’s disease, including people living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease who have confirmation of elevated beta-amyloid in the brain. If your doctor says you are medically able to take a treatment, your next questions may be about cost and insurance coverage. Because drugs that treat the progression of the disease are newer, coverage is an issue. You should talk to your doctor about coverage and if they can help with appeals.

CAN'T TASTE FOOD? By Dr. Paul Takahashi

your food to enhance the taste.

Some loss of taste and smell is natural with aging, especially after age 60, according to the Mayo Clinic.

This could be a problem if you

But other factors can contribute: Nasal and sinus problems, such as allergies, sinusitis or nasal polyps.Viral infections, including the common cold and flu. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Certain medicines, including beta blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Dental problems. Cigarette smoking. Head or facial injury. Diseases that affect the central nervous system, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Loss of taste and smell can have a significant impact on quality of life. It often leads to decreased appetite and poor nutrition. It can sometimes contribute to depression. It also might tempt you to use excess salt or sugar on

have high blood pressure or diabetes. Some causes are treatable. A doctor might adjust your medicines. Many nasal and sinus conditions and dental problems can be treated as well. Most people who have loss of taste and smell associated with COVID-19 disease report seeing improvements in their symptoms in a few weeks. If your symptoms don’t improve, your doctor may recommend smell training therapy. That involves smelling four different scents for about 10 to 20 seconds twice a day for at least three months.

January 2024 • The Senior Voice • 15

LAU G HTE R : Do you suffer with BEST M ED I C IN E SCIATICA?

According to science, women who carry a little extra weight live longer than men who say something about it. 6

Why do so few men make it to Heaven? They never stop to ask for directions. 6 I haven’t spoken to my wife in a year. I’m afraid of interrupting her. 6 Why are all dumb blonde jokes one-liners? So men remember them. 6 The patient’s family gathered to hear what the specialist had to say. “Things don’t look good. The only chance is a brain transplant. This is an experimental procedure. It might work, but the bad news is that brains are very expensive, and you will have to pay the costs yourselves.” “Well, how much does a brain cost?” asked the relatives. “For a male brain, $500,000. For a female brain, $200,000.” Some of the younger male relatives tried to look shocked, but the older men nodded in understanding. Then the patient’s daughter asked, “Why such a big difference in price between male brains and female brains?” “A standard pricing practice,” said the specialist. “Women’s brains have to be marked down because they are used.” 6 An English professor wrote a sentence on the blackboard and asked students to punctuate it correct-

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ly:: "Woman without her man is nothing." The men wrote: "Woman

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cation and see a three-story hotel with a sign that reads "for women only." Since they are without their boyfriends, they decide to go in. The doorman explains: "We have three floors. Go up floor by floor, and once you find what you're looking for, you can stay there. Each floor has s sign telling you what's on that floor. The only rule is, once you leave a floor, you can't return to it."

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When they reach the third floor, there is only a sign that reads: "There are no men here. This floor was built only to prove there is simply no way to please a woman. 6

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16 • The Senior Voice • January 2024

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