Fall 2018
A publication of
STAYING HEALTHY IN RETIREMENT
Active senior citizen? Thy name is Don Schiff Retired banker competes in bike and obstacle course races, climbs walls BY LYLE GANTHER lganther@shawmedia.com PRINCETON — Don Schiff of rural Princeton believes life is good at 78 years old. After retiring in 2007 from a Princeton bank at age 67, Schiff has stayed physically active the past 11 years by competing in bike racing, obstacle course races (OCR) and now rock climbing. “Your age is just a number,” Schiff said. “I want to eat better, stay healthy and enjoy my family.” He now stays in shape by jogging to prepare for rock climbing instead of riding a bike, which he did for the first seven years of retirement while winning 104 trophies, medals and jerseys in the 123 races. The past two years, he got hooked on obstacle course races, winning 21 medals. Schiff found obstacle course racing as much of a physical challenge as racing a bike for 40 to 100 kilometers without stopping. After 2014, Schiff lost interest in bike racing and found obstacle course racing to be his next challenge. This is where a person encounters 30 different obstacles during the 90 minutes of competition. He also competed in an abdominal snow race Jan. 7 in Geneva, where he won his age group This past year, he has done rock climbing, most of it being inside. Schiff admits it was scary rappelling down granite walls that were 112 feet tall in Baraboo, Wis. He also likes Upper Limits in Bloomington, where old silos have been renovated to 10 climbing routes of 60 to 70 feet high.
See ACTIVE, Page 4
Shaw Media/Lyle Ganther
ABOVE: Don Schiff of rural Princeton wears his trademark red, white and blue headband while displaying some of the awards he has won during his retirement years while racing bikes or competing in obstacle course races. RIGHT: Don Schiff competes in an obstacle course race. He also started rock climbing this year and competed in bike races for many years to stay active in his retirement years. Photo contributed
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HEALTHY LIVING
Consider these five fun ways to get and keep fit METRO NEWS SERVICE
Exercise benefits both the mind and body. Study after study indicates how physical activity can reduce the propensity for illness, boost mood, lower stress levels, and much more. Still, certain people find it difficult to muster the motivation to get up and move. In 2013, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed data from more than 450,000 American adults ages 18 and older who were randomly polled across the 50 states. Participants were asked about aerobic physical activity outside of their jobs. The findings were eye-opening. Estimates indicated nearly 80 percent of American adults do not get the recommended amounts of exercise each week. People most likely to exercise, according to the CDC study, were between the ages of 18 and 24. Lack of time and inspiration may be to blame for disinterest in exercise. Increasing the fun associated with workouts could lead to greater success in or outside of the gym.
in a study of 800 graduate and professional students at the University of Pennsylvania went to 90 percent more classes than those who exercised independently or were not competitive. The results were published in the journal Preventative Medicine Reports. Competition can be a driving factor in efforts to exercise.
1. Do what you enjoy. Wasting time on activities that you don’t enjoy may cause you to throw in the towel prematurely. Don’t base fitness choices around what worked for others; find things that work for you. Exercise physiologists at John Hopkins Weight Management Center say to start with an activity that you already enjoy. Chances are you can find a class or make up a routine that works for you.
4. Head outdoors.
You may be more inclined to workout if you do so outside. Activities such as hiking, snowshoeing, swimming, and cycling on natural courses can be inspiring and burn calories.
2. Tweak your playlist.
Music can improve performance during a workout and may actually take your mind off of strenuous or repetitive activity. Tunes also can be coordinated to the workout. Songs that feature lyrics such as run, punch, push, or groove can reinforce movements in the routine, offers the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Also, tailor songs to coordinate to the beats per minute of different activities. Strength activities and endurance activities can feature songs with higher BPMs.
3. Exercise with friends or a group.
Having other people around can make workouts more enjoyable,
5. Try sports or another activity.
Metro News Service
Making exercise fun motivates many people to embrace fitness and stick with their workout regimens. Taking a workout outdoors is one way to increase the enjoyment factor. and that interaction may spur competition that can make you more inclined to stay the course. People who were in the competitive groups
Exercise regimens do not have to include running on a treadmill or lifting weights. All types of activities can work, and some may be more enjoyable to you than traditional exercises. Everything from martial arts to dance classes to volleyball can offer cardiovascular and muscle-building benefits in a fun atmosphere. Making exercise fun motivates many people to embrace fitness and stick with their workout regimens.
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THINKING ABOUT HEALTH
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nyone buying health insurance this fall faces a daunting task: having to choose among multiple, often-complex options that offer widely varying degrees of protection. For starters, association health plans are back, allowing small businesses to band together to buy insurance. So are the short-term policies that may last from only a few months to a year. Then there are plans offered by church ministries that look like insurance but really aren’t. Plus, multiple and complex options remain from the Affordable Care Act. And to complicate matters further, if a bill just introduced in Congress passes, it would require insurers to sell policies to people with pre-existing conditions and not use health status in determining the premium. But here’s the catch: Although an insurer could insure a person with pre-existing conditions, the carrier would still be allowed to exclude coverage for those specific conditions. It could, however, cover you for other illnesses you might get in the future.
RURAL HEALTH NEWS Trudy Lieberman
Prior to the Affordable Care Act, the insurance industry used this tactic for avoiding claims from sick people. They would sell the policy but would waiver or “rider out” coverage for any pre-existing condition. That meant someone with asthma would not be able to get coverage for asthma-related illness. Some companies went even further: They would cover no diseases of the respiratory system at all. But in general, before you comb through the fine print in an insurance policy, think about these major factors. The more you pay in premiums, the more you get in benefits. Many of the new options don’t have to cover all of the Affordable Care Act’s 10 essential benefits, and most insurance experts believe that in order to offer cheaper premiums,
many of them won’t. At first glance, a low premium and fewer benefits may seem attractive. Those essential benefits that are part of an Affordable Care Act policy include mental health and maternity coverage, which many older people have squawked about, arguing they don’t want to pay premiums for coverage they would never need. The essential benefits, however, also include prescription drug coverage, generous hospital coverage, emergency services, and rehabilitative services that are important to older people. But those coverages get little attention in stories about 60-year-old women being forced to buy maternity coverage. Look for some of this fall’s new policies, for example, to limit hospital coverage to a certain number of days, or they might limit radiology services or drug coverage. The new so-called short-term policies will come with few if any regulations from the federal government or state insurance regulators. After understanding the relationship between premiums and
coverage, the next big decision is how much risk you want to assume if you become seriously ill. In other words, how much can you afford to pay out of pocket? For a large portion of Americans, the answer is not much. The Commonwealth Fund recently found that nearly half of working-age adults could not pay an unexpected medical bill of $1,000 within 30 days. Over the years, I’ve heard too many families say they are healthy, aren’t going to use the insurance, and might as well buy the cheapest policy possible — or none at all. I’ve interviewed many people who took that position only to end up later in bankruptcy court when unforeseen illness struck because they had no insurance and not enough money to pay the bills. How large a bill can your family assume? If you have a large pool of resources to weather a serious illness, then skimpy benefits might work. If you don’t, think carefully before buying a policy with few benefits. Families tend to underestimate how much coverage they’ll need.
See INSURANCE, Page 7
HEALTH MATTERS| Fall 2018
Choosing insurance in a confusing marketplace
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Photos contributed
LEFT: Don Schiff of rural Princeton has started climbing walls this year in addition to competing in obstacle course races to stay active in his retirement years. RIGHT: Schiff has competed in bike and obstacle course races since his retirement from a Princeton bank 11 years ago.
• ACTIVE Continued from Page 1 Schiff keeps detailed records of the time he spends training various parts of his body and the different exercises he does for specific muscle groups. He trains an average of 40 hours a month at the YMCA and Exercise Science Gym in LaSalle-Peru doing weights and high-intensity intervals. Schiff has overcome various injuries such as two rotator cuff tears, torn arm pronator muscle, three hernia repairs, nine weeks of radiation for prostate cancer, and one heart attack in 2017. Since the heart attack, Schiff has done three OCRs and rock climbing. “Being active in our retirement years is important for many and obvious reasons,” he said. “For me, I worked close to 55 years, raised four girls and a son, paid our bills and saved money. Retirement is our turn to enjoy life’s efforts. How-
ever, one needs to be in good health to really enjoy the benefits of retirement.” Schiff encourages other retired people to enjoy their down time they now have, since they are no longer working, to train and stay fit. “I like the challenge to keep my mind growing, eat good by cutting down on processed foods, and being a role model to my children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren,” he said. Even though Schiff admits he doesn’t want to take a day off from training, he has learned to listen to his body by not overdoing his workouts when he is sick or recovering from an illness. Prior to his retirement, Schiff played racquetball for 40 years, went sky diving, and earned his private pilot’s license. Schiff estimates that six out of 10 young people are obese and feels Shaw Media/Lyle Ganther they need to watch what they eat. Don Schiff displays two bike racing jerseys he won in the 123 races he competed in “Fast food is not on our radar,” he during his retirement years. said.
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Mental Health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. Mental or emotional health refers to your overall psychological well-being. It includes the way you feel about yourself, the quality of your relationships and your ability to manage your feelings and deal with difficulties. Perry Memorial Hospital offers services through the Perry Memorial Family Health Clinic and the Senior Behavioral Wellness program.
MEET LIBBY GRYZBOWSKI
Licensed Case Social Worker and Behavioral Health Therapist Libby will assess for both mental health and substance abuse, offer brief courses of focused treatment and can be a resource to other mental health providers for those who mayy need more intensive treatment.
MEET PERRY’S SENIOR BEHAVIORAL WELLNESS TEAM AM Dr. Scott Arbaugh (left)
Angella Hughes, LCPC, Therapist (right middle) Dave Rodan, LCSW, Therapist (far right) Kris Menzel, LCPC, Therapist (right) HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS • Perry Memorial’s Senior Behavioral Wellness program offers individualized plan of care developed to treat your unique needs. • Treatment may include group or individualized therapy and medication management. • Physician referrals are not required for the Senior Behavioral Wellness program – Perry will work closely with your primary provider and care takers. • FREE Transportation and lunch provided!
Trust Perry Memorial Hospital’s mental health experts by setting up an appointment today!
Schedule a mental health assessment by calling Libby at the Perry Memorial Family Health Clinic, at 815-876-2344. To inquire about Perry’s Senior Behavioral Wellness program, call 815-876-2004.
HEALTH MATTERS| Fall 2018
MENTAL/EMOTIONAL HEALTH
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HEALTH NEWS
Tips on prevention of injuries in young athletes METRO NEWS SERVICE
Sports are a great tool to teach young people various lessons. Sports can instill a sense of teamwork and responsibility in youngsters while promoting a physically active lifestyle that can benefit kids into adulthood. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that roughly 30 million children participate in youth sports in the United States each year. Unfortunately, many of those young athletes suffer injuries while participating in sports. Injuries might be seen as an almost inevitable byproduct of participating in sports, but the CDC notes that more than half of all sports injuries in children are preventable. Parents and children can work together to prevent injuries. • Speak with your young athlete about pain. Johns Hopkins Medicine recommends parents discuss pain with their young athletes, encouraging them to speak up and seek help if they feel pain or if any part of their bodies does not feel right after playing sports. • Emphasize safety during practice. It’s easy to overlook sports
Metro News Service
Young athletes’ injuries are often preventable, especially when parents and children work together and communicate about any aches or pains kids might be feeling. p r a c t i c e s wh e n c o n s i d e r i n g sports-related injuries, but Safe Kids USA notes that 62 percent of organized sports-related injuries occur during practice. In spite of that, Safe Kids reports that one-third of parents do not
have their children take the same safety precautions during practice that they would during a game. Parents and coaches can emphasize to children that sports safety should be a priority during both practice and games.
• Get a sports physical. Preseason physicals are typically required for scholastic athletes, but that might not be so for recreational athletes. Even if leagues don’t require sports physicals, Johns Hopkins advises parents to schedule such exams anyway. Such examinations can determine if kids are fit to play and may uncover injuries or conditions that may make kids vulnerable to injury. • Encourage adequate rest. Johns Hopkins notes that the most common injuries among young athletes are overuse injuries that involve soft tissue. These injuries affect bone, muscle, ligaments, and/or tendons. Overuse injuries can lead to stress fractures characterized by a lack of swelling and feelings of pain and tenderness during movement. Encourage rest between practices, games and events, and make sure to schedule an off-season for young athletes so their bodies have time to recuperate before the next season. Young athletes’ injuries are often preventable, especially when parents and children work together and communicate about any aches or pains kids might be feeling.
ORAL HEALTH
How to breathe easier concerning the topic of bad breath and possibly bad breath. Daily brushing and flossing as well as routine dental cleanings are necessary components of proper oral hygiene.
METRO NEWS SERVICE
Digging into a bowl of pasta topped with a garlicky scampi sauce certainly may fill the belly, but such a meal also can lead to bad breath. Halitosis, or bad breath, is often the catalyst for jokes. But for many people, bad breath is no laughing matter. Many things may contribute to bad breath, and some causes may signal serious underlying health conditions.
Strong foods Foods with strong odors, such as onions or garlic, tend to contribute to bad breath. That’s because the foods are initially broken down in the mouth, but then they have to travel through the digestive system until they are passed through the body. These odoriferous foods may leave their mark in the mouth, get carried to the lungs through blood in the circulator system, and then be excreted through the pores on the body. Some may even linger on the skin after washing.
Dehydration
Metro News Service
Bad breath is more than just a nuisance. In fact, bad breath may indicate the presence of a serious health problem. Avoiding these types of foods can prevent bad breath, as brushing or rinsing one’s mouth may only temporarily staunch their power.
Poor oral hygiene Food and beverage particles can linger on the teeth and gums if proper dental hygiene is not practiced. The Mayo Clinic says that a colorless, sticky film of bacteria can form from the breaking down of food particles, which can cause tooth decay, periodontal disease
Failure to drink enough water can cause food — and the bacteria that feed on it — to stay in the mouth much longer. Drinking water helps flush away food particles. Similarly, dry mouth can contribute to bad breath.
Sore throat disease Diseases of the throat, such as strep or tonsillitis, may cause bad breath. The same bacteria that can cause halitosis may also infect the tonsils and throat, causing the foul aromas, advises the American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.
Gastrointestinal distress The Journal of Medical Microbiology says that bad breath may originate in the gut. Bad breath may be a symptom of gastrointestinal
reflux disease, or GERD, ulcers or other conditions of the stomach and intestines. If persistent bad breath is accompanied by heartburn and stomach pain, it’s worth a consult with a doctor.
Oral infections Surgical wounds from oral procedures like tooth extractions can become infected and produce bad breath. Gum disease and mouth sores also may be to blame. A dentist or doctor can rule out infections as a cause for halitosis.
Tobacco Smokers and oral tobacco users often have bad breath. Quitting smoking or oral tobacco can be an easy way to freshen up one’s breath.
Disease The gases that are excreted through the mouth and causing bad breath may be tied to everything from liver and kidney damage to diabetes to asthma, say researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
THINKING ABOUT HEALTH
Report: U.S. drug overdose deaths are at unprecedented levels
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RURAL HEALTH NEWS Gordon Hopkins
he opioid crisis is a major talking point on the national political stage. On the whitehouse.gov website, President Donald Trump says, “Together, we will face this challenge as a national family with conviction, with unity, and with a commitment to love and support our neighbors in times of dire need. Working together, we will defeat this opioid epidemic.” Despite much talk by the president and many others, relatively little has been done to date to combat the crisis, which continues to grow. This is a problem for all parts of the nation, including rural areas. A May 1 report in the Journal of the American Medical Association stated, “Drug overdose deaths are at unprecedented levels in the United States.” According to the National Safety Council, 63,632 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2016. More than 42,000 of those deaths — about twothirds — were due to opioids. The council recently published a white paper titled, “Prescription Nation 2018.” In it, Deborah A. P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council, said, “Our nation is confronting the most fatal drug crisis in U.S. history.” The paper is available for download from www.nsc.org. The opioid crisis — and drug
dependency in general — is a nationwide problem. Too many people think of it as an “inner city” or “urban” issue and treat it as such. However, rural America has been hit especially hard by the drug epidemic, and dealing with the crisis can be significantly harder in rural areas due largely to the lack of available treatment options. For many living in rural areas, the nearest treatment center for addiction is a two- or three-hour drive away. The expense of such a trip — including time away from work and, possibly, the need to pay for child care — may be financially untenable. Treatment may prove to be out of reach. Indeed, the lack of local health care may be not only hindering treatment but contributing to the problem as well. For many, prescription pills lead to addiction when other options for pain management, like physical therapy, are not available nearby. Another impediment to treatment may be the view of many that drug addiction is some sort of “moral failing.” Fear of being judged and condemned by family and friends can keep addicts from reaching out to the support system they need. Recovering from opioid dependence is not simply a matter of “get-
• INSURANCE
must brave the new, confusing marketplace. For instance, the Texas Medical Association just reported that it is carefully watching the health care sharing ministries, which are not insurance but are organizations that allow those with similar beliefs to share each other’s health care costs. The ministries, which I’ll explore in a future column, may be confusing consumers into thinking they have real insurance, according to the medical association. For 2019, there’s no longer a tax penalty for not buying health insurance. But before rejoicing at that prospect, think about what it would mean for you and your family to be totally on your own when it comes to paying for health care.
Continued from Page 3 Once you understand these two basic principles, the next step is to look at the offerings on your state’s insurance exchange. Obamacare polices have gotten a bad reputation almost since the beginning because they tend to be pricy for families that don’t receive an income-related subsidy to help cover the premium. About 87 percent of people who buy on the exchanges do get a subsidy. If you are eligible, see if you also qualify for a second subsidy the law provides — the cost sharing subsidies that are available only for those with very low incomes who buy certain Obamacare policies. Those subsidies help pay for the deductibles and co-insurance that many of the policies require. People not eligible for subsidies
Note to readers: What trade-offs are you prepared to make this year? Write to Trudy at trudy.lieberman@ gmail.com.
ting clean.” It can take months or even years to recover from the bodily changes caused by opioid abuse. The cravings can crop up again long after an addict has stopped using. That is why many recovering addicts can “fall off the wagon,” even if they have been clean for years. Therefore, ongoing treatment and therapy are essential. The National Safety Council has prescribed six key actions states should take to combat the crisis: • Mandating prescriber education. • Implementing opioid prescribing guidelines. • Integrating prescription drug monitoring programs into clinical settings. • Improving data collection and sharing. • Treating opioid overdose. • Increasing availability of opioid use disorder treatment. To date, only Nevada and New Mexico have taken all six actions. Ten states plus the District of Columbia have taken five of the key actions: Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio,
“It can take months or even years to recover from the bodily changes caused by opioid abuse. The cravings can crop up again long after an addict has stopped using. That is why many recovering addicts can ‘fall off the wagon,’ even if they have been clean for years. Therefore, ongoing treatment and therapy are essential.” Gordon Hopkins Rhode Island and Virginia.
Note to readers: Gordon Hopkins is an award-winning columnist and feature writer for The Fairbury Journal-News. Prior to that, he worked for several years in the health insurance industry. His latest book is “Nebraska at War: Dispatches from the Home Front and the Front Lines.” You can contact him at gordon.fjn@gmail.com.
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HEALTH MATTERS | Fall 2018
Opioid crisis has been hitting rural America hard
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Fall 2018
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