How muscles change with age

Muscle performance declines with age, regardless of one’s health status, activity level, or motivation, however this course may be slowed by specific types of strength training. Physiologic changes begin to occur in our 30’s, but do not pose a serious threat to one’s mobility until ~age 60. Consequently, impairments of decreased strength, power, endurance and balance can emerge, all affecting functional ability. Every day tasks such as household chores and personal care are eventually impacted. As muscle function declines in the elderly, there is an obvious increase risk of falls, fracture with a downward decline in function and activity. Fortunately, the aging muscle is plastic and adapts to positively to strength training with the end result of improved function.

The physiological changes in muscle performance are related to a complicated cascade of events that appear independent of activity decline. This decline can be stemmed by increasing activity, specifically high intensity strength training. It is also apparent that this type of activity should be fostered in youth through the ages as most of the reported functional decline in muscle performance factors were minimized when individuals maintained a high level of activity throughout their life span. Functional decline starts to occur as early as the third decade of life without functional implications until after the age of 60, thus early education and good exercise and activity habits can be beneficial to maintain functional independence as we age. The Physical Therapist is uniquely positioned to promote this type of behavior in rehabilitation from injury or disease. Given the challenges our country faces in the midst of an obesity epidemic the Physical Therapist can serve in a position of health promotion and wellness advocate to decrease the risk associated with age related changes in muscle performance as it relates to impairment and functional disability.

Reduce Cell Phone Cancer Risk

The World Health Organization's statement that cell phones my cause cancer shouldn't really come as a surprise.  Cell phones emit low levels of radiation, some more than others, you can view the EWG's report of cell phone SARs (Specific Absorption Rate) here.

The best thing that you can do to limit your exposure is to keep your cell phone away from your head by using a headset. Headsets emit much less radiation than cell phones.

Text when you can.  Watch the bars that indicate how strong your connection is.  If your cell phone keeps cutting out trying to maintain a connection, postpone your call until you have a full signal. When your phone has to work harder to connect it emits more radiation.

If you have to use the phone without a headset, keep the phone away from your ear until the call connects, and when you talk tilt the phone away from your ear and bring it back closer when you are listening. Radiation levels are higher when transmitting than receiving signals.

Avoid making cell phone calls in elevators or cars because cell phones have to work harder to maintain a connection in enclosed metal spaces.

Use the share buttons below to spread the word and share these tips on reducing cell phone cancer risk. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Keeping the FUN in life at every age

Staying in your house and out of a senior's community saves tens of thousands of dollars a year. It costs $77,745 annually to live privately in a nursing home. That’s a jump of $17,520 per year compared to 2005, according to the Genworth 2011 Cost of Care Survey, which sees prices continuing to rise.

Renovating both the interior and exterior of your home is the way to go if you're healthy and fit. Furniture and design ideas that conform to your active life. Way beyond grab bars and scooters and power chairs.  Eat when you want. Play when you want. See who you want. Your life, your independence, your way. Senior Wellness Specialists, keeping the FUN in life at every age.

Wide Open Plan For Ease of Use with Low Windows and Good Lighting is Functional and Great for Entertaining

Senior Safety Tip: Car Rental Advice

Going on Vacation and Renting a Car?

Renting a car unfamiliar to you can be a source of frustration, especially when not driving in your hometown.   It may be a good idea to rent a navigation system, if the car is not already equipped with one.  Also, take the time to familiarize yourself with the controls of the car being rented: mirrors, lights, seat position, signal switch, radio, heater, air conditioner, windshield washers and wipers. You don't want to be fumbling around for the proper switch while you are driving in unfamiliar surroundings.   Make sure your headrest is adjusted properly too.  Do a walk around with a rental company agent to inspect the car for damage. You don’t want to be responsible for damage that was caused by someone else. A few simple steps taken before you head out in a rental car will ensure your safety and the safety of others.

This tip was brought to you by our Senior Wellness Specialists Guest Blogger, Joe Marconi.

Joe Marconi is an ASE-Certified technician and owner of Osceola Garage, serving Putnam and Northern Westchester County, New York. Osceola Garage never compromises on quality, training or equipment and offers you only the best in automotive car care.

Exercise and Fitness for People over 60

What an Exercise Program's Focus Should Consist Of As We Age

What should we all be focusing on during our exercise programs? The answer is...there is not one answer that fits everyone’s needs. Generally speaking, as we get older, our primary focus should be on consistent exercise and a well-balanced diet. Exercise should revolve around what a person is "weak" in or needs to improve on. Some people go through life with no balance issues but have limited range of motion of their joints, where others simply don't have the strength to do one push up.

 As a trainer, it is my job to asses each client’s needs and design a program specifically designed for that individual. A person’s exercise program should always focus on improving strength, endurance, flexibility, balance and functional training. Picking which one(s), that have to be more emphasized on, is the key to a successful fitness program.

There aren't many, if any of us, that can work out the way that we used to in our younger years. We lose muscle tissue, strength, endurance and balance as we age. We are all unique and our fitness programs should reflect this. What's correct for one person may not be helpful to another and can actually be counterproductive. Be safe, and be smart when exercising.   

Don Demas is a Certified Fitness Trainer and owner of Demas Body-Shaping, Ltd and 133Fitness.com specializing in customized fitness videos, live streaming workouts, web-cam workouts and individual exercise downloads.

Have a questions for our experts?  Please send your question to info@seniorwellnessspecialists.com

Boomer-Ready Means Health, Wealth, Life Fulfillment and Big Fun!

Boomerized and ready for 21st-century style smart living, 76 million Boomers hit 65 this year, that's 10,000 of us a day!

The focus is on what's important to us. A time to stop pleasing others and start living for ourselves (though with aging parents this is increasingly more difficult to do). We find new things to be passionate about, especially when you've been doing one thing for decades.

What do you really want to be doing? Golf everyday?  Great for a while but then what?.  There's more to be had out of life. But Boomers want to stay engaged and want to give back to the community. Boomers bring knowledge and experience. And there is real value in that.  It's about reinventing and redefining yourself and seeing what's fullfilling to you.  From titans of industry to winemaker, cheesemaker and candlestickmaker to even world-peace advocate.

Boomerized means being proactive when it comes to your well-being. It means a new life, and quality of life. Technological innovations coupled with advances in medicine are keeping us going longer. So eat right, exercise right, think right , save, and  live right. Stay informed. And know your options. We're here to help.

Ask your wellness questions on aging. Our panel of experts will answer all questions, from the government's role in taking care of seniors to family and sources to help make the transition. Please send your question to info@seniorwellnessspecialists.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Auto Tips for Seniors

Are Your Car Tires Out of Date?
Mileage is the not the only concern when speaking of the integrity of your car’s tires. The age of the tires is an important factor too. Many seniors do not put a lot of miles on their cars and may be under the assumption that because of the low miles on the car, the tires are ok. This may not be the case.

Tire rubber degrades and dries out over time, no matter what the miles are. This can cause cracking and stress on the tire's structural composition, possibly resulting in failure, including blowouts and tread shredding at higher speeds. Older tires often have problems maintaining proper inflation. This can cause gas consumption to rise, wasting valuable fuel.

All tires have a date code stamped on the sidewall. If your tires are more than 5 years old you should have your auto service professional inspect the tires and check the date code. Remember, the age of a tire is as important as the mileage.

This tip was brought to you by our Senior Wellness Specialists Guest Blogger, Joe Marconi.

Joe Marconi is an ASE-Certified technician and owner of Osceola Garage, serving Putnam and Northern Westchester County, New York. Osceola Garage never compromises on quality, training or equipment and offers you only the best in automotive car care.

Contemporary and Cool Defines Today's Boomerized Home: Increases Home Value While Saving You Tens of Thousands on Long-term Care

Universal design meets style at bath, kitchen show in Las Vegas

Boomers 50 years old and up account for 45 percent of remodels done in The U.S.A. today, according to the National Association of Homebuilders.  The money to remodel the kitchen, bath or the whole house in many cases comes courtesy of the equity in a home in which one has lived at least 20 years. The method by which this happens is called reverse mortgage. The person taking out the equity is the owner/occupant of the house. The cash allows Boomers to age in a cool place until such time they decide to move.  Meantime, the home continues to go up in value thanks to the visit-ability created by the renovations, and opens the door to other Boomers looking for unique home features that suit their vibrant lifestyles and frees them up to pursue life's other passions with the huge savings realized by not having to be in a restrictive environment like assisted living or nursing home.

View our photo galleries of accessible bathrooms, accessible kitchens, accessible laundry, work rooms and offices, accessible living spaces and outdoor living and access.

New Product Recalls Issued This Week

Bottled Water Recall
Recalled Lots Include Water Distributed During Recovery Effort in Clinton
Officials at the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) announced that test results on a sample taken from certain lots of Mountain Pure bottled drinking water show the presence of biological contamination.

The company has announced a voluntary recall of lots marked with a four-digit time code. The time code is written in military time, and the affected time period is from 2200 through 0400. This is etched into the plastic bottle. Also included is an expiration date code that says either Best By 2-27-2013 MPWA or Best By 2-28-2013 MPWA. These are bottles of purified drinking water in the 16.9 fl. oz. (506 ml.) size. ADH is recommending that anyone who might have purchased or received any of this bottled water dispose of it or return it to the point of purchase.
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm254580.htm

Donuts
Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc. Announces Voluntary Regional Recall Of Entenmann’s Bagged Pop’ems Donuts And Bimbo 8 Pack Donitas Donuts Due To Off-Smell And Possible Mold Growth. http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm255026.htm

Light Bulbs
Telstar Recalls Energy-Saving Light Bulbs Due to Fire Hazard
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11219.html

Vanilla Bean Paste
Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, Inc. Issues Voluntary Recall for Specific Lot of Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm255713.htm

If you missed last week's recalls you can read them here

Subscribe to the Senior Wellness Specialists Blog to get up-to-date information on product recalls and other information of value, especially to people 55 and older.

Accessible Bathrooms to Age in Place

Every year, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and The Unites States Department of Health and Human Services, thousands of seniors injure themselves in their own bathrooms. Many of those injuries occur while bathing or showering. Seniors report it's gotten to the point they dread going into their own bathrooms. A curb to access the shower must be stepped over. Some experience claustrophobia in the shower area and now avoid taking a shower. Slipping and falling and not having anyone there to pick them is a major fear. Once not a problem, turning on the water or lights are reported difficult tasks for them.  If you live alone and don't have plans to go into an assisted living facility, you should consider making your bathroom safe and functional without sacrificing elegance.

Companies that specialize in retrofitting bathrooms can recommend a variety of solutions such as non-slip tiles, curbless entry to your shower, in-shower, built-in bench, specialty showering apparatus, wide doorway for easy access, touch-only sensor faucets and a wide variety of other solutions to make your bathroom more accessible.

View our photo galleries of accessible bathrooms, accessible kitchens, accessible laundry, work rooms and offices, accessible living spaces and outdoor living and access.

Seniors: Staying Safe Behind the Wheel

A breakdown on the road is inconvenient and becomes a bigger issue as we age. Before heading out on the road following these simple tips and rules:

• Let your family or friends know your daily routine; where you drive to regularly. 
• If you’re going out of your daily routine; be sure to tell a family member or friend.  
• Carry a cell phone ensure it’s fully charged and ensure you have emergency contact names and phone numbers listed.
• Sign up for roadside assistance in case of emergencies.
• Keep the phone number of your auto repair shop facility in your cell phone or in your car.
• If you’re taking a long trip, have your auto service facility perform a quick check of fluids, lights, horn, battery and tire pressure. Include in your vehicle: a flashlight, gallon of water, blanket and first ad kit.

A little preparation and preventive maintenance will greatly reduce the chances of a mechanical breakdown and keep you safe.

This tip was brought to you by our Senior Wellness Specialists Guest Blogger, Joe Marconi.

Joe Marconi is an ASE-Certified technician and owner of Osceola Garage, serving Putnam and Northern Westchester County, New York.  Osceola Garage never compromises on quality, training or equipment and offers you only the best in automotive car care.

Tele Caregiving: Video Caregiving Service

Here's another question from our mailbag.
Q. Two thousand miles separate us from my parents. We want to be a part of their lives and make them feel they're not alone, and we need a smart way to connect with them on a daily basis to make sure they're safe and stay healthy. How does your 24-7 video communication work? Do you provide a daily summary of their activities? How does the monitoring system work in an emergency?

A. We have a large population of graying people, and a shrinking population of caregivers. Boomers whose parents have beginning stages of Alzheimer's or dementia and other health issues need help now. Being proactive is smart. Don't let distance prevent you from being there for them. Stop feeling guilty.

Telecaregiving is an effective way to prevent trouble down the road, and it’s even a way to help with mundane daily activities like preparing breakfast and reminding parents to take their medication. “Wired” homes keep tabs on Mom and Dad, and it’s a sensible approach to making them feel like they're not alone. Telecaregiving lets them feel someone is always around: whether it's you or a friendly face and voice of the telecaregiver who's monitoring daily activities.

Interactive video communication is common in an era of Skype. People are used to staying in touch with far-flung relatives and friends. Say Mom or Dad is in poor health and you're not able to be there in person. Strategically positioned cameras (you don't notice them, yet they are always scanning and tilting) are mounted in the ceilings and a telecaregiver monitors every move throughout the home. In the kitchen. In hallways. Always keeping track of a person's daily activities. If Mom or Dad has been in the bathroom too long, a relative or friend is notified immediately. The telecaregiver is a constant companion, often joining Mom or Dad at mealtime and engaging them in conversation or reminding them about taking their medications. They become good friends.

Family is central to the service. Loved ones are connected daily. At dinner, baby boomers join their parents at the dining room table to share a meal and catch up on things. Detailed activity information is provided for use by loved ones on a private web site. The service helps provide relief to a spouse whose better half requires constant care. At their age, being the full-time caregiver can be exhausting; a burden that is mitigated thanks to cameras that allow them to leave the house to mingle with friends or attend to personal needs. It takes the pressure off.

Concerns over privacy are quickly allayed when one stops to ponder what would happen in the event Mom/Dad breaks a leg, ankle, arm or worse has a heart attack or stroke. Boomers and their parents who would otherwise be overwhelmed with the duties associated with getting parents back to health quickly learn to appreciate the service.

Ask your wellness questions on aging. Our panel of experts will answer all questions, from the government's role in taking care of seniors to family and sources to help make the transition. Please send your question to info@seniorwellnessspecialists.com

Product Recalls: Grape Tomaotes

Grape Tomato Recall Widens to include the following:

Six L's, Taylor Farms Pacific, Mastradoni Produce (which includes Aldi "From the Vine" Grape Tomatoes, Sunset Grape Tomatoes and Trader Joe's Splendido Little Tomatoes), Del Monte Vegetable Trays that include Grape Tomatoes, Safeway Kabobs made with Grape Tomatoes

All due to possible contamination with Salmonella.

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm253995.htm
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm254610.htm
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm254064.htm

Also this week we are alerted to a recall of Chives:
Goodness Gardens, Inc. Recalls Chives Lot # 0201111 because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Chives were distributed in NY, NJ, CT, MA, PA, MD, AL, IL, and VA through retail stores primarily and one wholesaler in PA.   The Chives were distributed in various plastic clamshell containers: 0.25 oz. (UPC 0 21985 20005 6), 2/3 oz.
(UPC 0 21985 10004 2), in 1 lb. bags, and ½ oz. twist tie bunches. Consumers are urged not to consume the above lot. Consumers who purchased this item are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions can contact Goodness Gardens, Inc. at 845-355-4757, Mon – Fri 9am - 4pm EDT with any questions.

Subscribe to the Senior Wellness Specialists Blog to get up-to-date information on product recalls and other information of value, especially to people 55 and older.

Brooding Boomer Exits Fortune 100, to discover pension and health insurance to be a bust

“Beer-money,” is the way Ray (a childhood friend visiting his elderly parents and me in Florida recently) describes the severance package he got. Caught off guard and let go from a middle-management position after 25 years at one of the world’s premier aircraft manufacturers (the name of which he asked not to have mentioned), at age 55 Ray finds himself unprepared for the challenges that lie ahead in the next leg of his life—which, according to the census, could be another 30 years.

With about three hundred thousand in savings—most Americans didn’t start saving feverishly until after the most recent economic meltdown occurred 5 years ago and most underestimated corporate America’s insatiable appetite to broadly slash jobs—and a $40,000 pension and six weeks of health insurance starting from his last day of work, Ray is at a crossroads.

Ray isn’t spendthrift; he still drives his 10 year-old Tacoma, lives in his paid-for house, no one but himself to be responsible for, and is in good health. What concerns him most, however, is uncertainty over his future health. He‘d never really addressed the need for long-term care. Even though new health insurance kicks in after his current policy expires, he knows it won’t cover long-term care.

At least 70 percent of people over 65 will require some long-term care services at some point in their lives. And, contrary to what many people believe, Medicare and private health insurance programs don’t pay for the majority of long-term care services. Many states’ departments of elder affairs estimate that a semi-private nursing home room is close to $126,000 a year. Fortunately for Ray, there are other options besides senior living facilities. Staying in your own home is one such option.

At age 55 and in good health, Ray is purchasing enough long-term care insurance that’s affordable even on what he calls his beer-money pension. (Most long-term care policies are sold to Boomers between the age of 46 and 58.) More than a long-term care insurance policy, it represents a turning point where peace of mind is critical to his well-being. Control over how and where and when he will use the benefits is important to him. It means being able to one day use funds to retrofit his “man-crib” with the latest high tech gadgetry that will allow him to work and mature in a home he has come to love. With the savings he realizes from the policy, he also will be able to receive wellness care at home. It represents a lifestyle change many of us will soon have to face, if we’re to enjoy a life-time of wellness and health.

What will be your defining moment? And how will you react to your ever-changing needs? For Ray, the unexpected early exit from corporate America, though a surprise to him, is manageable. Being able to talk through the matter with a professional certainly helps. Will you be able to turn lemons into lemonade for a lifetime of fulfillment if it happens to you?

Turns out a life-long passion of Ray’s has been to captain a yacht and travel the Pacific, when he wants and for as long as he wants.

Senior Wellness Specialists was there for Ray and is here to help you reinvent yourself, stay healthy and live longer, all on your terms.

Andy Berger

Andy Berger is the president of Senior Wellness Specialists, a lifestyle and healthcare services company offering Universal Design and Senior Concierge services for all stages of life.

Stretching to Relieve Lower Back Pain (Video)

Back Pain is one of humanity's most frequent complaints. Approximately 98% of back pain patients are diagnosed with nonspecific acute back pain which has no serious underlying pathology.

Here is a video of stretches and simple exercises that can help alleviate lower back pain.



Don Demas is a Certified Fitness Trainer and owner of Demas Body-Shaping, Ltd and 133Fitness.com specializing in customized fitness videos, live streaming workouts, web-cam workouts and individual exercise downloads.

Have a questions for our experts?  Please send your question to info@seniorwellnessspecialists.com

Seniors: Night Driving Can Be Challenging

As we get older, our reaction time begins to slow down and our vision starts to decline. These factors can lead to problems while driving at night. Here are a few helpful hints for driving at night: 

• Make sure your headlights are on at least one hour before sunset and one hour after sunrise. 
• Increase your distance between other vehicles on the road and allow more time when stopping.  
• Stay alert, if you are drowsy or tired, do not drive.  
• If you feel that your vision is not what it should be, get an eye examination, don’t take chances.

Lastly, have you exterior lights and headlights checked often. Also, the headlights lenses on many cars today fade over time, which reduces your ability to see at night. If your lenses are cloudy, please see you auto service professional. In many cases the headlight lenses can be polished and repair, saving you the expense of replacement headlight assemblies.


This tip was brought to you by our Senior Wellness Specialists Guest Blogger, Joe Marconi.

Joe Marconi is an ASE-Certified technician and owner of Osceola Garage, serving Putnam and Northern Westchester County, New York.  Osceola Garage never compromises on quality, training or equipment and offers you only the best in automotive car care.

Skilled Nursing vs. Nursing Homes vs. Extended Care vs. Assisted Living vs. Independent Living

For all intents and purposes, these are all convenient marketing terms created by the seniors industry to make aging and its accompanying health issues more palatable to families. What is sometimes lost in all this is that they are all congregate living lifestyles.

Nursing Homes used to be the darling of the industry because it used to make investors a lot of money: not from the services provided but rather from the sharp appreciation of the real estate.  Not the business for the faint of heart, nursing homes can be injurious to the operator. The staffing nightmares, combined with the extraordinary high liability insurance that has to be carried, makes this business model less desirable than in the past. Couple that with little-appreciating real estate values and less reimbursement from government and a host of other reasons, the Nursing Home business is not desirable and considerably less profitable than in the past.

Recently NHC (one of the country's largest providers of high acuity skilled nursing) pulled out of Florida because of all the litigation problems (medical mistakes), in addition to the above mentioned issues.

High Acuity Care involving Skilled Nursing comes with pitfalls of its own. At the very least, it calls for a Supervising Nurse and full- time RNs on the floor, ranging in cost of about $5,000 a month. You would have to charge residents about $6,000 a month. This would all be private pay. Again, liability would be an issue, but to a lesser extent than Nursing Home Care. Profits would be diluted.

Assisted Living with Extended Care and Memory Care are trauma driven, and require administering services that pose very little chance of mistakes and lessens the likelihood of litigation.  No full-time RNs needed. Built on a tiered system of resident evaluations (say categories 1-5) residents receive the level of care commensurate with their needs.  The sale of their home or funds from family pay for care.  Assisted Living is a proven product with consistently good returns--no wild fluctuations attributable to recessions and catastrophes. IRRs of 20% and higher are the norm. Steady returns for a cash-flow oriented business. The revenues and profits increase as the residents' needs increase. And they do. Again, this is a self-pay approach to congregate living.  In rare cases does this business model accept Medicaid payments.  Current budget cuts to the program make it even more unlikely that the program will exist at all.

Independent Living and aging in place is a lifestyle choice and not driven by trauma.  Given the choice of choosing a more restrictive environment like assisted living and a nursing home, over 85% of adult children and their parents would opt for a lifestyle of health and independence in the comfort of their home. Typically, the sale of ones’ home is enough to buy a resident 4-6 years of lifestyle in an IL (same in an AL). Other sources of cash: pensions and family. These residents typically need and want relief from housekeeping, meal preparation and transportation, etc. Families, most of all, want to make sure loved ones stay safe and have the flexibility, if and when needed, to consider other less desirable options.

Life is about fulfillment. With it comes the shared responsibility (by government, academia, science, business and families) to continue to strive to redefine aging and provide families with solutions that will allow us to retain our dignity and independence for as long as possible.



Andy Berger

Andy Berger is the president of Senior Wellness Specialists, a lifestyle and healthcare services company offering Universal Design and Senior Concierge services for all stages of life. 

Don’t Get Sick After 5 PM

Don’t Get Sick After 5:00 P.M. Any Day of The Week: Your Doc May Be A 9- to- 5 Guy Soon!

Don’t be surprised if one day you find your primary care doctor working for a large corporation that has taken over the helm at your community or regional hospital. Struggling to keep their private practices financially solvent and their family lives intact, many docs--especially the new generation coming out of medical schools with huge debt-- are opting for a steady paycheck and predictable schedules. Hospitals benefit from this new business model as well, as they push to fill beds and at the same time meet the growing demand for specialties in their emergency rooms. Keeping docs on staff is good for business as they are a reliable source for new patients.

The new crop of Docs, like ordinary folk, just want to have more fun and spend more quality time with family, and not have to worry about whether they’ll be able to meet payroll any given week.  Growing frustration over Medicare cuts adds fuel to the fire, as well as patients’ inability to meet their co-pay obligations.  From the doc’s point of view earning $250,000 a year, getting home in time for dinner, relaxing and being able to take vacations without a hassle makes it all worthwhile.

For now—and we don’t know how long this will last—we have the old-school work ethic of the 50-something or 60-something Docs to meet our healthcare needs. For them, 9-to-5 is just the title to a once popular movie.

Frustration and anger over our current medical system continues.  But there are solutions to many of your concerns.

Universal Wellness Insurance, a form of long-term healthcare insurance, provides a boutique-style, concierge oriented approach to wellness. It is an outgrowth of Universal Design that puts more control over your environment and your health, all without time constraints.

So talk to the Doc as much as you want and know that he or she will be there when you need them. All of our wellness services and programs are personalized and address your ever-changing and discerning lifestyle and wellness needs, which defines who we are and provides a strong foundation for building trusting relationships.

Andy Berger

Andy Berger is the president of Senior Wellness Specialists, a lifestyle and healthcare services company offering Universal Design and Senior Concierge services for all stages of life. 

Product Recalls Alert

This week's recalls are for Coumadin, Grape Tomatoes, Wooden Stools, Dietary Supplements, and Canned Seafood.

COUMADIN
Bristol-Myers Squibb Initiates a Nationwide Voluntary Recall of Coumadin® (Warfarin Sodium) Crystalline 5 mg Tablets, Lot Number 9H49374A
The lot number affected in the U.S. is 9H49374A with an expiry date of September 30, 2012. The recall is a precautionary measure based on the company’s testing of tablets from a returned bottle. A single tablet was found to be higher in potency than expected.or information related to this recall:
Stericycle, Inc. 1-866-918-8739

GRAPE TOMATOES
Six L's Voluntarily Recalls Grape Tomatoes because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella

The specific lot was packed on April 11 and was comprised of grape tomatoes that can be identified by Cherry Berry lot code DW-H in either in clam shells or 20 lbs. cardboard containers. The product was distributed to North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Georgia and Canada, and reached consumers through retail stores and restaurant distribution. Consumers with questions may contact Six L's at 877-606-1821, ext. 3955, 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

WOODEN STOOLS
Heartland America of Chaska, Minn., has recalled its adjustable-height, three-legged stools, made in China and sold through the Heartland America catalog and website from June 2010 through February 2011 because the legs and seat can crack and break, causing the consumer to fall.
FOR MORE: Call 800-398-8163; visit http://www.heartlandamerica.com/stoolrecall.

ETHOS ENVIRONMENTAL DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
Ethos Environmental, Inc. Issues a Voluntary Recall of Specific Lots Of The Dietary Supplement Regenerect

Regenerect Lot Numbers:
100521 - blue capsule sold individually in foil packets, expires 5/2012
112850 - clear capsule sold individually in foil packets, expires 11/2013

According to the FDA, use of these products may pose a threat to consumers because the analogue may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs (such as nitroglycerin) and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. FDA has advised that consumers with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates. For more info go to: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm253123.htm

QUINAULT CANNED SEAFOOD
Quinault Tribal Enterprise Recalls All Canned Seafood Products Because of Possible Health Risk
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm253372.htm

Subscribe to the Senior Wellness Specialists Blog to get up-to-date information on product recalls and other information of value, especially to people 55 and older.

Building Muscle After the Age of 60

Here’s a question from our mailbag:
I overheard someone at the gym saying that you can't build  muscle after 60  years old. Is this true and what type of workout routine would you recommend for someone who is over 60, assuming they were in good  health and just wanted to keep fit?

Answer from Fitness Expert, Don Demas:

The most important thing we can do as we get older is to exercise. As we age, our bodies go through changes such as loss of muscle and problems with balance. Weight training helps combat these two aging effects as well as increase our energy levels, mental sharpness, and decreases the chance of chronic illness. Aerobic exercise is just as important as it has been proven to help manage depression, stress and anxiety. As for the original question of building muscle after 60, the answer is yes but not as quickly or nearly as much as we did in our 20's and 30's. With proper diet and consistent exercise, we can increase strength, lose body fat, tone muscle which will actually make you look more muscular.
 I would suggest for those, ages 60 and older, looking to start an exercise program to begin with 2 days a week of weight training, 8-12 repetitions per exercise, 1 exercise/1 set per body part. As for cardiovascular training, I would suggest 10-15 minutes a day for 2-3 days a week.

Don Demas is a Certified Fitness Trainer and owner of Demas Body-Shaping, Ltd and 133Fitness.com specializing in customized fitness videos, live streaming workouts, web-cam workouts and individual exercise downloads.

Have a questions for our experts?  Please send your question to info@seniorwellnessspecialists.com

Mom, Dad Or Both Are Moving In To Join Your Unemployed College Grad

Cost-cutting. Money-saving. Budget-slashing. No matter the description, the bottom line is we are all facing significant lifestyle changes that are redefining the way we age and the way we view long-term care. But trying to keep more money in our pockets doesn't always produce favorable results.  Not for families and not for government.

Mom, Dad Or Both Are Moving In To Join Your Unemployed College Grad

Take the case of adult children (clients of ours) that found themselves having to house an 81 year-old mom and an 85-year-old dad, right alongside their recent college grad who's been living at home for six months because he's been unable to find a job with his business degree. Mom and dad had gone through their savings as a result of medical issues, and had only social security (social security replaces only 40 % of pre-retirement income; most Americans need to replace about 70% of the amount they earned while working), Medicare, dad's modest pension and family to rely on.

The sheer stress would have been enough to rip apart the strongest of families. But this family persevered by making intelligent decisions and by being proactive. By placing a premium on family and wellness and independence, they set out to create a safe, comfortable and beautiful environment for mom and dad by eliminating barriers and improving the quality of life for all who share the home. Learn more about how we integrate universal design and expertise from the medical community into our programs by visiting us at www.seniorwellnessspecialists.com.

Start making healthy lifestyle decisions and saving now. Plan for the future today. The family described in the case study above is atypical of most families, who remain unprepared to cope with the many challenges that aging brings. Responsibility for our collective well-being rests with many publics: Family, friends, business, government and science. Our dependence on a badly frayed and battered safety net of entitlement programs is something we have to wean off if we ever want to regain the respect and edge we once enjoyed over other developed economies.

Medicare and Medicaid funds, once intended to safeguard the-less well-off through retirement, are now cut or frozen. Take Medicaid in the state of Florida. For over ten years there's been a moratorium on new nursing home construction. That means thousands of seniors have been and will continue to be on a waiting list. Only in extreme emergencies and only on a case by case basis has the government stepped in with any kind of plan or money to help a struggling family place a loved one in a nursing home.  Funding for assisted living also has been limited. Families have had to pay the $50,000 to $100,000 annually out-of-pocket for this level of care. Then, of course, there are the traditional pension funds that are for all intents and purposes bankrupt. New York, New Jersey comes to mind. What's left? Long-term life care insurance. If you were smart and could afford the $1,000 or so a quarter in your 40s or early 50s, you're in a good place. Here's to lessons learned.

Ask your wellness questions on aging. Our panel of experts will answer all questions, from the government's role in taking care of seniors to family and sources to help make the transition. Please send your question to info@seniorwellnessspecialists.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Senior Driving and Automotive Tips

Not Putting Many Miles on Your Car? Car Maintenance is Still Very Important

There are many seniors that don’t put a lot of miles on their cars anymore, and ask how often they should change the oil in their car.  Some put less than 5,000 mile in a year.  If the vehicle is being used all year long, you need to schedule a service appointment to check and inspect critical components, battery, lights, belts and fluid levels at least twice per year.  In addition, inspecting tires and tire pressure is important for safe driving. The oil and filter should be changed every 5,000 miles or at least once a year. Maintaining your vehicle is the only way to lessen the chances of a breakdown or component failure.

This tip was brought to you by our Senior Wellness Specialists Guest Blogger, Joe Marconi.

Joe Marconi is an ASE-Certified technician and owner of Osceola Garage, serving Putnam and Northern Westchester County, New York.  Osceola Garage never compromises on quality, training or equipment and offers you only the best in automotive car care.

“Aging in place” is the mantra of elder care

“Aging in place” is the mantra of elder care, ideally at home or in one facility that will serve your needs forever. It rarely happens. Things change. In the trade, moves are known to cause “relocation trauma,” physically and emotionally, for the frail elderly person, already sick and scared, and for the adult children, who must orchestrate everything. -From The New York Times blog, “The New Old Age”

As part of the community “TimesPeople” I regularly comment on the The New Old Age Blog. Here is what I have to say about their recent article, The Last Place She Expected to Be

These are very significant life-style changes, as they signal a loss of independence. It represents a time when our loved ones lose control over their environment and their health. Restrictive environments like assisted living and nursing homes are increasingly pushing adult children and seniors' specialists to redefine how we look at aging. It can be argued they serve a purpose, but the sentiment of a strong majority of seniors and their adult children (over 85%) is these restrictive envirionments are a destination of last resort on the "way out."

Ten thousand Boomers a day are turning 65. Boomers must not only contend with lifestyle and wellness issues of their own but additionally must focus on the well-being of their aging parents, whose age group at 86 is the fastest growing segment of the senior population. Add to the mix angst over money and you could end up with a recipe for disaster. Showing empathy toward your fellow Boomer by way of your comments carries cathartic and therapeutic benefits. But that's not enough. Life should be about fulfillment, and that happens when you're better prepared. So stay engaged and healthy for a lifetime of independence.

Andy Berger

Andy Berger is the president of Senior Wellness Specialists, a lifestyle and healthcare services company offering Universal Design and Senior Concierge services for all stages of life. 

More Time Spent Talking with Your Doctor Keeps You Healthy and Out of the Hospital

Does your physician give you more than the customary 8-10 minutes to figure out what’s wrong with you?  And in that time-frame can the doctor make an accurate diagnosis and prognosis? Most successful practices have around 7,000 patients and for reasons of efficiency can’t devote any more time than that to a patient. And sometimes this adherence to “time is money” mentality can lead to trouble.

A daughter brings in her 93 year-old frail Mom to see her primary care physician for a persistent cough and congestion in her chest. Doctor listens to her chest, takes her temperature, blood pressure, orders an X-ray and draws some blood. Lab results won’t be back for a few days. Meantime, the X-ray shows the lungs are clear, no presence of pneumonia.  Doctor figures it’s just a bad cold, at worst a slight infection, prescribes a Z-Pac for Mom and instructs both mother and daughter to return for a follow-up in a week or so.

Two days pass and Mom’s condition worsens, she becomes comatose and is ambulanced to the local hospital. Turns out had the doctor spent more time reviewing her medical history and talking with daughter and Mom, he would have discovered Mom had been treated by another physician five years back for an infectious disease called Mercer. He would have also learned that the symptoms Mom displayed at her recent office visit were strikingly similar to those associated with Mercer. If not properly diagnosed, Mercer can be deadly.

That delay, that improper diagnosis lands Mom in the hospital for 10 days. There she receives treatment and is subsequently transported to a rehabilitation center, where she appears confused and is hostile towards employees. The on-staff doctor there sedates the mother. After about 18 hours the daughter gets a call to come and pick up the mother, as the rehab center doesn’t work with aggressive patients. Again, had someone taken the time to check on Mom’s history they would have found she suffers from a form of dementia, which would explain the mood swings.

Nowhere to turn, Mom is once again hospitalized.  And so begins anew the vicious cycle of frustration and anger over a medical system that doesn’t appear to be working optimally.  But there are solutions.

Universal Wellness Insurance, a form of long-term healthcare insurance, provides a boutique-style, concierge oriented approach to wellness. It is an outgrowth of Universal Design that puts more control over your environment and your health, all without time constraints.  So talk to the doc as much as you want. All of our wellness services and programs are personalized and address your ever-changing and discerning lifestyle and wellness needs, which defines who we are and provides a strong foundation for building trusting relationships.

Andy Berger

Andy Berger is the president of Senior Wellness Specialists, a lifestyle and healthcare services company offering Universal Design and Senior Concierge services for all stages of life. 

Senior Citizen Alert: Product Recalls

This week we have recalls on SUVs, cucumbers, disinfecting wipes, snow blowers, lawnmowers and smoked salmon.

Toyota Recalls 308,000 RAV4 and Highlanders for Faulty Air-Bag Sensors
The recall covers about 214,000 RAV4s from the 2007-8 model years and 94,000 Highlander and Highlander hybrids from 2008, the automaker.

Nature's Delight Cucumbers
A North Carolina vegetable and fruit distributor has recalled cucumbers distributed to nine states, including Illinois and Indiana, after some of the vegetables distributed to Florida were found contaminated with salmonella, according to the company.

The bulk cartons are marked Nature's Delight and have lot number PL-RID-002990.

Anyone with questions about the recall can call L&M at 919-981-8003, although the hotline is only staffed Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central Time. Messages left over the weekend will be returned, according to the company.

Disenfecting Wipes
Since December, Triad Group and its sister company, H&P Industries Inc., recalled a score of alcohol prep pads that it made for companies including Walgreens and CVS. The products were recalled because of potential contamination from bacillus cereus, a bacterium that could cause a potentially serious infection. Consumers who have to take medical injections -- like diabetics -- use prep pads to clean and disinfect their skin before the injections.

Iodine prep pads are also beinf recalled. These wipes are in many first aid kits
http://www.walletpop.com/2011/04/25/medical-disinfecting-wipes-fda-adds-to-the-recall/

Toro Recalls Nearly 30,000 Snowblowers, Lawnmowers (TTC)
Toro power clear snowblowers and the Toro 20" recycler mowers manufactured by The Toro Company, of Bloomington, Minn., and sold at Toro Dealers in the United States and Canada from September 2009 through March 2011.

The Fresh Market Signature Collection: Atlantic Smoked Salmon
Woodsmoke Provisions Voluntarily Recalls 160 packages of 4 oz. The Fresh Market Signature Collection Atlantic Smoked Salmon Due to Possible Health Risk

he 160 packages of product subject to recall were distributed and sold only in a limited number of The Fresh Market, Inc. stores located in AR, FL, GA, IL, KY, MD, NC, OH and TN.

The product being recalled was packaged in 4 oz. plastic packages with the specific lot code 1459/2 which was manufactured January 15, 2010. The item UPC code is 737094000370.

Consumers who have purchased this product from one of the above-mentioned stores with lot code 1459/2 should not consume it, and are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 404-355-5125, Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm (EST).

Subscribe to the Senior Wellness Specialists Blog to get up-to-date information on product recalls and other information of value, especially to people 55 and older.

Aging in Place

A recent article in The Observer News talks about Aging In Place and how the baby boomers don't even see retirement in the same way as their parents did. Here are my comments on this article.

Clearly money is the driving force behind decisions (both good and bad) being made by both Boomers and their parents, when it comes to aging, their health and wellness. This should be a wake up call for all of us. Making healthy lifestyle decisions and planning for aging has never been more difficult. One generation grew up in or after the Great Depression, and became comfortable saving and making due. One of the negatives to come out of this very disciplined upbringing is its potential for sacrificing the quality of their lives. We see it often with parents of Boomers who place a premium on leaving an inheritance over making their own lives safer. We advise that better planning could save them much heartache and frustration and yes even thousands of dollars.

Boomers on the other hand--until our recent experience with a mini Great Depression-- gained significant wealth and grew very comfortable spending on things that made and still make them feel young and vital. Don't even think about mentioning wheelchairs, canes, scooters, walkers or hospital stays in their company. Boomers don't plan to retire any time soon and don't want to think about the problems associated with aging; many will work from home well past traditionally acceptable retirement age, often giving little or no thought to the hazards present in their home. For Boomers, it's more about satisfying an insatiable appetite for fun and working on their terms. Sidestepping the realities of aging seems to be the answer du jour. It's usually not until an emergency or dire situation arises that they are compelled to take action, and quite often in a panicked state of mind. It doesn't have to play out like that, however. Intelligent solutions to aging are available. For both generations, a healthy lifestyle can mean having FUN and saving money. That's a winning formula.

I Am My Parents’ Keeper

Parents and their adult children are increasingly switching roles. Who’s the child and who’s the grownup? Health and safety are a top priority. But often the parent is in denial that any problems exist, even though their families are aware they exist and bring it to their parents’ attention. As you might imagine, there are consequences to inaction.

Convincing mom and dad you know what’s best for them is no easy task and that waiting until after a terrible illness strikes (a stroke, a heart attack, or Alzheimer’s, etc) to take action is not the way to ensure a long and healthy life. It seems money issues are often at the center of critical decisions that have to be made.

This generation has come to depend on Medicare and other entitlement programs to pay for most of their health needs. Getting them to reach into their pockets to pay for any additional expenses not covered can be frustrating. This reliance on government to take care of all of us will be short lived, as budget cuts force us to consider alternative healthcare programs.

Parents are often less concerned about their own well-being and more interested in not being a bother to their kids and in leaving their family an inheritance. Nevertheless, it somehow falls to Boomer to make sure mom and dad live the second half of their lives with dignity and as independently as possible. So whatever you do to help, try to keep the lid on discussing assisted living and nursing homes. Over 85 percent of seniors prefer staying in their homes. But sometimes seniors who live on their own suddenly find it more difficult to get around the home. Their once easy-to-get-around surroundings and familiar routines can all of a sudden become problematic. Solutions are available.

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Ask your wellness questions on aging. Our panel of experts will answer all questions, from the government's role in taking care of seniors to family and sources to help make the transition. Please send your question to info@seniorwellnessspecialists.com

Product Recalls of interest to Senior Citizens

Every Thursday we bring you the latest recalls posted. Subscribe to our blog to get these weekly notifications and other useful information.

Jonathans Sprouts Recalls Alfalfa Sprouts because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Consumers who have purchased Jonathans Sprouts products containing alfalfa sprouts with sell-by date 4/23 are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 508-763-2577. Get more info here.

Ortho-McNeil Neurologics Voluntarily Recalls Two Lots of TOPAMAX®
Ortho-McNeil Neurologics Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced it is voluntarily recalling two lots of TOPAMAX® (topiramate) 100mg Tablets. These two lots were shipped between 10/19/2010 and 12/28/2010 and distributed in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. While the recall encompasses approximately 57,000 bottles of TOPAMAX®, the company believes there are fewer than 6,000 bottles remaining in the marketplace. The recall stems from four consumer reports of an uncharacteristic odor thought to be caused by trace amounts of TBA (2,4,6 tribromoanisole).
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm251515.htm

ADP Recalls to Repair Unit Heaters Due to Fire Hazard
Sold at: ADP dealers and distributors nationwide from September 2003 through April 2011 for between $2,700 and $4,200.  Consumers should stop using these recalled heaters immediately. Consumers should contact ADP to schedule an inspection and, if necessary, repair of the heater. For additional information, contact ADP toll-free at (866) 303-8634 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.adpnow.com.

Ground turmeric sold under Target's Archer Farms brand name has been recalled nationwide because of elevated levels of lead. The lot numbers and best-by dates involved in the recall are 1740901A, 6/23/11; 2180902A, 8/6/11; 2780906A, 10/5/11; 2920903A, 10/19/11; 3060903A, 11/2/11; and 0071003A, 1/7/12.

Consumers in possession of this voluntarily recalled product may return it to the store at which you purchased it. Consumers or media with questions should contact B&M, Inc. at 1-877-321-5852 (Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm CST) or contact Target Guest Relations toll-free at (800) 316-6151. 

Long-Term Care Plan for Aging Americans

A recent article in the US News titled, 5 Reasons You Need A Long-Term Care Plan, talks about aging older Americans' need for long-term care assistance. Here are my thoughts on this matter.

Past marketing efforts by insurers to get people to think about, let alone purchase, long-term insurance have failed miserably; hence, the low number of those who have coverage today. Probably lacking the research to intelligently market to a rapidly growing segment of the population (Boomers who would have been in their 30s, 40s even 50s), they instead focused too much energy on seniors nearing retirement where the payoff for agents was more immediate. But soon insurers found their payouts too often resulting in low profit margins. There are probably fewer than five long-term care companies left. Odds are more will leave the game for reasons of low returns.

Better medicine, more healthful foods and more exercise just make it all that much more urgent to come up with innovative programs and services that will help ease the pain for the next 20 years or so. As a company that deals with issues of wellness and health affecting Boomers and their parents, we at Senior Wellness Specialists have tried to reach out to a rapidly dwindling number of long-term care insurers such as Genworth to get them to consider suggestions that could save the country and individuals millions of dollars and at the same time let them profit reasonably. One such provision would have a much greater percentage of citizens carrying a policy that would allow them to maintain a healthy and engaged lifestyle in the comfort of their home. Universal Design changes are one such option.

Senior Care – Evaluating a Person’s Ability to “Safely Drive”

By Steven E. Reznick, M.D., FACP

Many of my elderly patients seem to take comfort in the fact that they “no longer drive at night,” or “only drive in the community.”  I am not certain that these self-imposed restrictions actually provide any major reduced risk or protective benefits. In Florida, with a lack of public access transportation, giving up your car is giving up your ability to get around.   It’s also perceived by most elderly as giving up their independence.

As part of a routine office visit, I’ll ask my elderly infirm patients “How did you get to the office today”? A common response is that they are still driving independently.  This same patient, who needs assistance getting up the building’s ramp and a 60 minute appointment just to get out of their clothes and into a gown for an examination, is guiding a 5,000 pound vehicle on the roads.

Unfortunately, there’s very little data available that provides guidelines as to when an elderly infirm person should stop driving.  There is even less data supplied by the State of Florida’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

It is clear that after a neurologic event such as a seizure or loss of consciousness there is a state mandated cooling off period before you are permitted back behind the wheel. It is less clear in an individual with diminished hearing, diminished  eyesight  and diminished flexibility whether they should be driving and how much?

Thus, I was pleased to learn that the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles and a local rehabilitation facility run a State supported Senior Adaptive Driving Program. Pine Crest Rehabilitation Hospital in Delray Beach runs a comprehensive driver evaluation and instruction program. It is far more individualized and comprehensive than the programs run for seniors by their auto insurance companies.

In the Program, trained professionals thoroughly evaluate the person’s abilities to safely drive and help adapt the vehicle to assist the senior. If the professionals say you are good to go then you are qualified and capable. If you are not qualified to drive, they begin the process of rescinding your license.

When patients’ children contact me with their concerns about their parents’ driving abilities I refer them for this evaluation all the time. I highly recommend it for those of you questioning your driving abilities or those of your elderly loved ones.

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Steven E. Reznick, M.D., FACP is a board certified internist, with added training in geriatrics, practicing concierge medicine in Boca Raton, Florida since 1979. He has been recognized by his peers as a “Best Doc” as published in Miami magazine and the Miami Herald.  For more info call 561.368.0191 or go to www.BocaConciergeDoc.com.  You can read Dr. Reznick’s acclaimed blog at http://bocaratonconciergedoctor.wordpress.com/.

Health Insurance Can Keep Seniors from Receiving Optimal Care

Consider yourself fortunate if you have Medicare or other non-HMO as your primary insurer. A leading cause of hospitalization of seniors, congestive heart failure (CHF) patients are being discharged before they have fully recovered from the illness. Medicare wants to make sure you stay healthy. It pays for treatments that get you up and functioning as independently as possible. Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO's) usually have provisions in their plans that limit hospital stays.

Sometimes it's more than just the heart and lungs that are affected, other organs like the kidneys are often compromised as well. That's why you have to know what your plan covers and for how long. The course of treatment and its duration are predetermined by an HMO. Statistics and other formulas are used; and very little or no consideration is given to you as an individual with specific needs. So if you don't get better in that time frame, you go home too soon and have to fend for yourself as best you can. Often, the results are tragic.

Many patients soon develop symptoms that got them hospitalized in the first place: water retention and subsequent swelling of body parts, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, etc. The regimen of pills that are prescribed for CHF often have side effects that can put a senior at risk, as in the case of a fall. For example, Coumadin, given to thin the blood and which has to be monitored regularly, could cause a person to bleed to death. 

The take away is simple: Read your policy and get advice from reputable professionals that work with seniors.  If you have family and friends to check up on you daily, consider yourself blessed.

Senior Citizen Alert: Product Recalls

Pierre Foods’ Jamwich
Pierre Foods announced a company initiated product recall for 320 cases of its Jamwich product. The reason for the recall is the possible contamination of the products by Listeria monocytogenes.

The different types of Jamwich products include peanut butter (crustless), strawberry jam and PB Jamwich. These are packaged in red cartons with the UPC code 7599921368, and Lot number 0068035. The cartons are stamped with a date of sale of March 11, 2011 which can be found on the lower right part of the carton. The products are displayed inside grocery freezers.

The affected Jamwich products were distributed and sold in Giant-Carlisle retail stores in the states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia.

Consumers who were able to buy the affected product can return it to the store and ask for a refund. For concerns and questions related to the recall, customers may also call the company at 800-982-7091. The company’s operating hours start at 8 AM and until 5 PM, Eastern Standard Time.

Voluntary Recall Of Limited 6.5-Ounce Chopped Clams
The product is mislabeled and may contain tiny shrimp. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to shellfish run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product. http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm250479.htm

Cub Cadet Riding Motors
Cub cadet has recalled 4,300 riding mowers that can develop a fuel leak and pose a fire hazard. The recall includes 10 models of zero-turn-radius mowers sold in February and March for between $3,600 and $7,000. see the recall notice for a full list of model numbers. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11733.html

Subscribe to the Senior Wellness Specialists Blog to get up-to-date information on product recalls and other information of value, especially to people 55 and older.

Seniors and Family Need An Advocate When Hospitalized!

Have you or a loved one been admitted to a hospital recently? Chances are that your experience has been anything but pleasant. Our clients increasingly report a lack of communication between doctors and patients when it comes to getting quick and complete information on health issues.  Patients describe their experience as a maze of constant frustration. Sometimes hours pass before medical staff gets back to them. The time constraints placed on physicians between seeing patients at the office and checking on those in the hospital are great. Family members who have flown in to take care of and check on a parent have limited time to navigate the system before heading back to their lives, often in another state.  Those in a hospital without family or kids are especially hit hard. After all, their focus should be on getting better and discharged; unfortunately, their current health status precludes them from advocating effectively for themselves.

There are steps you can take to help you through the process.

The solutions include having a doctor who is immediately available at the first sign of a health issue, services that can be quickly provided, such as an MRI, X-Ray, Lab tests, etc., that can significantly shorten the time it takes to get back to you. We'd like to hear from you. Email your comments on the experience you've had with a hospital--good or bad.

There are many things that consume families with worry and angst while in the hospital. Next we'll address how the type of insurance you have can affect the care you receive from a doctor or hospital and how quickly you get back on your feet.

Caring for Our Aging Parents and Ourselves

A recent article in the New York Times blog talks about long-distance, low-maintenance arrangements between children and aging parents. It is quite common for someone to live in New York, for example, and worry about their parents who are retired and living in Florida. Here is a link to the article and my comments below.

Time for a reality check: The sheer numbers are enough to make all of us anxious--tens of millions, and growing, aging parents and aging Boomers are putting tremendous strain on families and society, and we have only just begun to try to cope with this Tsunami of sorts. And don't look for government to step in with any meaningful solutions--family and friends will, like it or not, be called on to step up and shoulder most of the responsibility.

Starting now and for the next 20 years or so all of us will be put to the test, as your comments have revealed. Do you have what it takes to be an effective caregiver? You'll soul-search about how much or how little you care for your parents. How's your judgment? Will it be clouded by irrational/emotional decisions? Do you have the time, the money and support of family and friends? Do you have the good sense to consult an attorney or expert on aging to prevent panic and chaos? Unfortunately, many problems arise over money and in-fighting among siblings. Issues tend to be about feeling burdened or taken advantage of when it comes to caring for parents. Families squabble over inheritance; how much money mom or dad will go through before they die.

The time to be proactive is now. The aging train will be making many stops. Be prepared. Especially in these tumultuous times, we must keep our sanity.

Don't know where to start? Contact us for a free, no obligation consultation to see if we can help improve the quality of life for your parents and make you rest easier.