The Importance of Eye Exams for Those with Diabetes
(ARA) - Nearly 23 million Americans are affected by diabetes and, of these people, one-third, or almost 6 million, are unaware that they have the disease. Undiagnosed, diabetes can result in vision impairment, a frequent complication of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and blindness.
An optometrist is an important member of the diabetes health care team. Part of living with diabetes is having a dilated eye examination on at least an annual basis — more often for those people with existing eye issues or more serious retinopathy.
Diabetic retinopathy, a diabetes-related eye disease, is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults 20 to 74 years old. Other vision problems caused by diabetes include: vision changes, glaucoma, and cataracts. Through a comprehensive dilated eye exam, doctors of optometry can look inside the eye and examine blood vessels directly, detecting signs and symptoms of retinopathy.
Prolonged blood sugar elevation damages the delicate blood vessels inside the eye, causing them to leak, bleed and become blocked. Symptoms may include:
* Fluctuating or blurring of vision
* Occasional double vision
* Night vision problems
* Flashers and floaters seen by one or both eyes.
Diabetes and its complications may affect many parts of the eye, resulting in changes in nearsightedness, farsightedness, and premature presbyopia (the inability to focus on close objects that often occurs in the early-to-mid-forties as a natural part of aging).
During a comprehensive eye exam, your doctor of optometry will perform a variety of tests, including looking in your eyes with lights and lenses that magnify the view of the retina, to identify signs of diabetes and other eye-related health problems, because early detection is important. In the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, laser therapy may be effective. In more advanced cases, surgery may be required.
Anyone experiencing changes in vision should immediately see an optometrist. Equally important is monitoring and maintaining control of diabetes, including adherence to your primary care physician’s instructions on diet, exercise and medication. By doing so, chances are good that you can enjoy a lifetime of good vision and health.
For more information, visit www.aoa.org.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
CHARLOTTE - They come from Florida, the Rust Belt and the Northeast. And the way they vote is changing the political complexion of North Carolina.
The waves of moderates and independents who have moved here have made this a battleground state, one that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has a chance to win, pollsters say. That’s a massive shift for a state where Sen. Jesse Helms used race in 1990 and 1996 to beat Senate seat rival Harvey Gantt, Charlotte’s only black mayor.
But many of today’s voters weren’t even here then.
Newcomers have everything to do with the state’s being in play, said Ferrel Guillory, director of the Program on Public Life at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Republican political consultant Dee Stewart disagrees. North Carolina is a battleground, he says, because Obama has outspent Republican John McCain and is ahead of him nationally.
Obama “is running further ahead than the Democratic nominees in 2000 and 2004, and some of that is spilling over into North Carolina,” Stewart said. Another factor, he said: “The economy is not performing well right now with a Republican in office.”
Still, he believes the state’s conservative roots are strong and McCain will win here.
Where they come from
People have flocked to North Carolina because of better job opportunities, leaving behind places where the economy has been worse off, such as the Midwest and Florida. Charlotte’s big banks have also drawn transplants from the Northeast, a traditional Democratic stronghold.
Last year, Florida and New York delivered the most newcomers, while three Rust Belt states — Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania — were in the top 10. A Charlotte Observer analysis of county voter registration records shows more than half of Mecklenburg’s eligible voters registered after 1999.
Newcomer Fran Walshin, of Davidson, says she got out of Florida just in time — three years ago, when she could still sell her house. But it’s not all rosy here, she said, noting that as a job recruiter, she meets lots of “devastated” professionals.
“We got in trouble, and now we need a new outlook to get us out of this problem. You can’t speak to the same people to get us out of this mess,” said Walshin, who is in her 60s and will cast a ballot for Obama.
Past predictability
Until now, North Carolina had been a politically predictable state — one that hasn’t voted for a Democrat for president since 1976, when Jimmy Carter was elected. In 2004, President Bush won the state by 12 percentage points over Sen. John Kerry and North Carolina-raised running mate John Edwards.
Polls show McCain and Obama are tied in North Carolina less than two weeks before the election. McCain has visited the state twice, and Obama has been here four times. Both vice presidential picks have made multiple visits. And both campaigns are flooding the airwaves with ads.
But newcomers — 263,000 last year — aren’t the only reason North Carolina is in the election spotlight.
The Democratic Party has held huge voter drives targeting blacks. Then, there are economic and banking woes. The state was late to the slowdown but is now feeling the effects of slumping home prices and rising unemployment. The recent collapse of home-grown, Charlotte-based Wachovia Corp. is yet another reason people are on edge about jobs and the future.
Tina Gerbino, 39, who moved to Charlotte two years ago from Long Island, N.Y., cast her early vote for Obama. It was her first time ever voting. Her issue: the economy. Soon after moving, she lost her job, and her husband can get only part-time hours at his job.
Read More:News & Observer
How to Keep Your Family Flu-free
(ARA) - “Sniffle, sniffle, wheeze, wheeze.” These are tell-tale sounds of cold and flu season, which is right around the corner. With a little knowledge and a few smart tips, you and your family may make it through the winter without a single “ah-choo!”
Lifestyle expert Hannah Keeley, author and founder of TotalMom.com, offers the following tips for keeping your family flu-free this winter:
Get your daily dose of healthy food.
Eating raw fruits and vegetables not only helps your digestive health, it also strengthens your immune system. But as any mom can tell you, it’s hard to get your family thrilled about noshing on raw carrots all day. Try fresh or frozen fruit smoothies or offer raw veggie slices served with a zesty dip. Be creative – look for opportunities to slide some sprouts in a sandwich or hide sliced peppers in a wrap. A healthy diet makes for a healthy family.
Wash your hands.
Mothers have been chanting the same mantra for ages, so why mess with a good thing? The simple act of washing hands with good old-fashioned soap and water is, hands down — no pun intended — the best way to prevent the spread of colds and viruses. Make soap easy for children to reach and try paper towels for drying instead of cloth towels, which can harbor germs.
Keep your body moving.
Daily exercise is a great way to strengthen your immune system; and we all know that a strong immune system is key to fighting off potential infections. Even though the cooler winter weather drives us indoors, make time during the day to get up and move. Turn on some music and dance around the house or bundle the kids up and go skating. Find ways to make exercise fun and get the whole family in on the action.
Take a daily multi-vitamin.
Many people suffer from diets that are low in the essential vitamins and minerals your body needs to guard against disease. Protect the health of you and your family by taking a daily multi-vitamin. Remind the kids to take their vitamins by making it a part of your family’s morning breakfast routine.
Tell a good joke.
Stress can make the body more susceptible to catching colds and the flu. Fight off stress this season with a little laughter, fun and games. Host a weekly family game night, watch a hilarious family comedy together, or share funny stories around the dinner table. You’re not just strengthening bodies; you’re strengthening your family.
Clean the air.
During the winter, your family is exposed to viruses that circulate in the air they breathe both outside and indoors. While indoors, protect your family by installing a whole-home air filtration system like American Standard AccuClean. Not only does the American Standard AccuClean system remove a whopping 99.98 percent of particles and allergens from indoor air, but according to a recent Harvard University research study, it also removes more than 99 percent of the common flu, or influenza A virus, from your home’s filtered air. It’s an easy way to keep your family breathing clean, comfortable air all year long.
Forget stocking up on the tissues and expensive meds. In just a few simple steps, you can protect your family and look forward to a fun and healthy winter together.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Make Smart Spending, Saving a Family Resolution
(ARA) – With the economic crisis hitting everyone in the pocketbook, it’s more important than ever for parents to talk to their children about how to manage money. New Year’s — a prime resolution time for millions of Americans — is a great time for children and their parents to learn better spending and savings practices together.
Forty-six percent of American families hold a credit card balance according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2004 statistics. And in 2007, more than 800,000 bankruptcy cases were filed in the United States.
Managing money is a family affair. By resolving to set financial goals and working together to practice management, families can enjoy independence and security. “Parents and their children can learn from and challenge each other to plan better ways to use the money they earn and save,” says Scott Oberkrom, director of Community Investments at American Century Investments.
As families sit down to discuss their financial resolution, they need to determine how the changes will affect each member. Once the resolution is finalized, post it in a public place so all members can see it every day. Visit www.YesYouCanOnline.info to learn more on how to make sure resolutions stick.
Some tips families can incorporate into their smart money management resolution include:
1. Financial responsibility starts with examples from home.
Parents need to evaluate their budgets and make wise spending choices — don’t buy a new speed boat if you just told the kids you couldn’t afford to get them a new iPod. Share the family budget with your children to demonstrate how money doesn’t grow on trees and the family has regular expenses that must be paid.
2. Set up allowances for children.
Once your children are old enough to understand basic math, an allowance can help them learn how to budget, spend and save. Parents can also set up allowances for themselves. Showing the children that Mom and Dad fit haircuts, buying lunch or shopping for new clothes for themselves within a weekly cash budget gives children the best example of wise money management.
3. Take a trip to the bank and organize savings accounts.
Children — and many adults, it seems — need to be taught how to save money. Take the whole family to the bank to set up savings accounts. Decide as a team what goal you’re saving toward. Parents should consider saving to help secure the family in case of a financial crisis. Kids’ accounts could be earmarked for college tuition or to buy their first car.
4. Teach kids creative ways to earn money.
A hobby could become an income-generator for all members of the family. Perhaps you have a tremendous green thumb. And maybe you have your children help tend the vegetables and pull the weeds in the garden. The entire family can turn this hobby into a small income by taking the produce to farmers markets or setting up a neighborhood stand.
All New Year’s resolutions take work, but they can be accomplished if all family members share in the effort. Having all family members work together, giving encouragement and little reminders, also can help you stay on track.
“Setting goals, both at New Year’s and throughout the year, is one way people can achieve their dreams,” says James Stowers, founder of American Century Investments. “As I reflect on what I have learned through the years, I am convinced that anyone — and I mean anyone — can become what they are absolutely determined to be.”
Make 2009 the year your family resolves to take charge of your money management together. Visit www.YesYouCanOnline.info for additional tips.
Courtesy of ARAcontent.com
Less than sixty minutes in seven days.
That’s the amount of exercise that can measurably improve quality of life for people who are obese, according to Duke Diet and Fitness Center research released today.
People in a study of 1,200 people who exercised for a little less than one hour a week still enjoyed better quality of life and improved ability to perform daily tasks.
“Things that many people take for granted, like tying one’s shoes, getting dressed or simply moving around, were easier for those who reported routine exercise,” Martin Binks, research director at the Duke Diet and Fitness Center, said in a news release.
The benefits of exercise for obese people have not been as thoroughly studied as for mild or moderately overweight people, said Binks, who presented the research at this weekend’s meeting of the Obese Society in Phoenix, Ariz.
“It shows the value of starting to move no matter how overweight you are,” he said.
In July, obesity researchers, including Wake Forest University’s Wei Lang, found that four hours and 15 minutes of exercise per week was necessary for overweight and obese women to lose pounds and keep them off during a two-year period
Read More:News & Observer
ARA) - Helping a parent move to senior housing can seem more intimidating than orchestrating a rocket launch.
The death of a spouse, declining health or safety concerns can trigger the need to move. The first phase comes with the realization that what has been home is no longer suitable.
Emotional ties to a place are hard to overcome. Finding a new home that is appealing and appropriate is no easy task, and neither is culling through a lifetime’s accumulation of “stuff.”
It may not take a rocket scientist to work through this multi-phase life change. But finding a professional who knows the ropes can make it easier for the more than 29 percent of home sellers age 65 and older who move into an active-adult community or senior-related housing each year.
That professional may be a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES), an agent who receives special training and demonstrates the expertise to navigate the unique housing needs of clients age 50 and older. “Services to seniors are changing to meet the lifestyles we live. Senior communities are changing to meet the expectations of baby boomers and today’s retirees, too,” says Carol Kairis, managing director, SRES Council and Specialties, National Association of Realtors.
“The range of senior housing options is diverse and would surprise many Americans who often think of senior housing as only nursing homes. Assisted living facilities address the needs of those who need support services, and continuing care retirement communities are wonderful options for those who wish to age in place.”
Nationwide, more than 16,000 realtors have attained the SRES designation. In the same way a real estate agent recommends a plumber or landscaper to a client, an SRES agent assembles a team to address client needs — repair companies, professional organizers, estate sales agents, and senior move managers who pack, transport and unpack in the new location.
“An SRES agent can help you develop a strategy, then bring in a team to help take one room at a time to organize and dispose of goods. They can help you decide where you’re going to go, and recommend a mover,” says Armand Christopher, a seasoned SRES real estate broker and member of the SRES National Advisory Board of the National Association of Realtors.
Christopher has an active practice in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and offers these tips no matter where seniors live:
1. Plan ahead. Don’t wait for a health crisis to start the process. The smoothest transitions occur when the person moving is in the driver’s seat.
2. Engage professionals. SRES agents understand the dynamics of a senior move. They are trained about the benefits and drawbacks of reverse mortgages and can help you understand how to use pensions, 401K accounts and IRAs in real estate transactions. They also know how Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security will affect your real estate decisions.
3. Get a full assessment of the current situation. Physical care needs and financial resources are where to start. Consider the costs of staying in place, including renovation and ongoing maintenance. Add the cost of rising utility bills and taxes, and don’t forget transportation and food. Make a list and decide whether it’s cheaper to stay or move to a community designed for seniors.
4. Take a multi-phase approach. Christopher says his customers often take longer than a year to actually make the move. An SRES agent can connect the senior with professionals to help walk through the process.
5. Fully explore new housing options. Senior living offers a broader range of options than ever before. SRES agents have an understanding of the services each type of community can provide and can best match the client with the right place.
Christopher and other SRES professionals use SNAPforSeniors (www.snapforseniors.com), an online search tool that is akin to the Multiple Listing Service for senior housing. The SNAPforSeniors database includes more than 60,000 licensed senior housing facilities in the country and is available at no charge.
“It’s a great tool,” Christopher says. “Especially when adult children live out of state and are working with their parents on a move, I tell them about options I find on SNAPforSeniors. Typically seniors want to relocate close to their children, and the online search allows adult children and their parents to search research options and start the search together.”
Innovative surgical techniques and joint replacements are helping arthritic baby boomers maintain healthy and active lifestyles as they age.
(NewsUSA) - As they approach retirement, many members of the “Me Generation” aren’t ready to slow down, even if their bodies are. Foot and ankle surgeons say baby boomers are more likely than previous generations to seek care when arthritis develops in their toes, feet and ankles.
“Unlike their parents, baby boomers do not accept foot pain as a natural part of aging,” says John Giurini, DPM, a Boston foot and ankle surgeon and president of the 6,000-member American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS). “When conservative treatments fail, they want to know what other options exist.”
After they’re diagnosed, many boomers hold high expectations for treatment. They may look forward to playing sports or to running again. While there is no fountain of youth for a degenerative condition like arthritis, there are more medical options available than ever before.
The big toe joint is the most common part of the foot to develop osteoarthritis, according to FootPhysicians.com. For boomers with early-stage arthritis in this joint, modern surgical procedures may provide more pain relief and increased joint movement.
Boomers with advanced and severe arthritis may need to have the joint fused or replaced. Now, stronger screws and hardware are helping fusions last longer, while slashing recovery times. A new generation of big toe joint replacements also shows promise.
Ankles are another prime spot for arthritis. Innovative surgical techniques allow foot and ankle surgeons to transplant small plugs of cartilage from one part of the ankle to another in some patients, slowing joint deterioration.
Ankle replacements, however, are not as durable as hip and knee replacements. The ankle is a more challenging joint to replace. It’s smaller and moves in multiple
directions. But better and promising ankle implants are hitting the market.
For more information on osteoarthritis of the foot and ankle, visit the ACFAS consumer Web site, http://www.FootPhysicians.com .
NAPSI)-A new national health campaign is working to remind the senior community about the value of eyesight.
“I truly understand the importance and value of eyesight. It is a precious gift that should not be taken for granted,” says multiple Emmy-winning actress Betty White, who has teamed up with EyeCare America to remind seniors: “Don’t Lose Sight of Your Independence.”
The three-month promotional campaign runs May 31 through September 1 and encourages people to call the EyeCare America Seniors EyeCare Program. This program offers eye exams and up to one year of medical care at no out-of-pocket cost for seniors who are without an ophthalmologist (a medical eye doctor).
EyeCare America’s Seniors EyeCare Program is designed for people who:
• Are U.S. citizens or legal residents
• Are age 65 and older
• Have not seen an ophthalmologist in three or more years
• Do not belong to an HMO or the VA.
To supplement its award-winning referral program, EyeCare America has recently created a new Web site specifically designed to assist online users in learning more about vision-limiting diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.
The site, eyecareamerica.org, contains up-to-date clinical information about eye diseases that is reviewed by certified ophthalmologists, with links to current treatments and even an interactive tour of the eye’s anatomy. Visitors can share important health topics with family and friends through a convenient e-mail forward function and order free brochures that give in-depth information on treatment, tests/diagnoses, causes and risks factors for a wide variety of common eye diseases.
Other easy-to-use functions include online tools such as a vision simulator, which allows users to see how vision would be affected from common eye diseases, and informative videos created by the American Academy of Ophthalmology that will provide visitors with a complete interactive experience.
“I’m happy that I can do my part in helping older Americans get the eye care they need,” adds White. “I only hope that seniors across the country will pick up the phone and take advantage of EyeCare America’s free eye exams. It’s a call that can save their sight.”
EyeCare America, a public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, operates one of the largest programs of its kind in American medicine. All eligible callers receive a referral to one of 7,000 volunteer ophthalmologists. The seniors program–co-sponsored by the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc.–provides a comprehensive eye exam and care for any disease detected in the initial visit for up to one year, at no out-of-pocket cost.
For additional information on the “Don’t Lose Sight of Your Independence” campaign, call (800) 222-EYES (3937) or visit the Web site at www.eyecareamerica.org.
(ARA) - John is 82 and lives in Manhattan. Since the death of his brother, he regularly checks on his 87-year-old sister-in-law who lives about 90 minutes away. She has dementia and needs help with daily needs. An aide lives with her, but John is concerned the help is getting burned out. The last time John visited he noticed his sister-in-law’s condition was worsening, and he wonders what he can do to help.
John is a long-distance caregiver, one of an estimated 6.9 million Americans who care for someone living at least an hour away, according to a study by MetLife and AARP. Americans age 85 and older numbered 4.2 million in 2000, the fastest growing segment of the population according to the National Institute on Aging. By mid-century, as baby boomers transition from being the caregiver to needing care, that segment is estimated to swell to 21 million.
“This is a national problem with local solutions,” says Nora Jean Levin, executive director of Caring From a Distance (CFAD), a non-profit organization for distance caregivers. CFAD’s Web site, www.cfad.org, extends resources and advice to caregivers like John who e-mail their questions and concerns or search the site’s many resources and links. Help from CFAD is also available by telephone at (202) 895-9465. CFAD helped John consider other solutions such as assisted living, finding adult day care facilities and calling a home care agency to arrange to give the live-in help a break.
Levin understands that despite the obstacles of time and miles, distance caregivers are in a unique position to help.
“Long distance caregivers can offer perspective because they aren’t on the scene every day to really observe small changes, and that perspective is very valuable,” she says. “Sometimes if you’re in a care situation day after day, you feel overwhelmed and hopeless and you can’t see out of that box. But a person who comes in from the outside can help pinpoint a problem and recommend ways to help improve the situation.”
Levin offers these tips to buoy long-distance caregivers:
1. Offer help.
Lend a hand solving problems that daily caregivers may not have time to think about. Shop for gadgets that help with daily needs, like telephones with large buttons or “grabber” devices that help seniors reach items they need. Make arrangements for a handicapped permit. If appropriate, help manage finances and pay bills.
2. Don’t be a “swooper.”
It’s really hard when you’re the daily caregiver and the long distance caregiver swoops in and tries to change everything. Instead, plan time for listening to problems and perhaps for handling a few, and spend quality time with your loved one.
3. Make observations, but be careful how you share them.
“Retain respect for the individual who needs care, and be mindful of preserving personal dignity when every step towards dependence may be viewed as loss of control,” Levin suggests.
4. Visit and look for changes that indicate a need for more care.
Is your loved one eating regularly? Is personal hygiene slipping? Are prescriptions unfilled or forgotten? A helpful checklist, “Ten Warning Signs: Your Older Family Member May Need Help” can be found at http://www.cfad.org/library/HolidayFactSheetFinal.pdf .
5. Use the Internet to ease a transition.
“Transitions can be rough or smooth, depending on the nature of the situation, whether it’s a crisis or something that’s been coming gradually, and the nature of the person being cared for,” Levin says. Transitions to senior housing are smoothest when approached proactively, before a crisis arises.
For example, long-distance caregivers can screen more than 60,000 housing options online by visiting www.snapforseniors.com. The SNAPforSeniors online search tool is like the Multiple Listing Service for senior housing. Long-distance caregivers can narrow the search by geographic location, care needs, type of facility and personal amenities.
A new tool from SNAPforSeniors and the Alzheimer’s Association, the Caregiver Conversation Checklist, helps families discussing housing options. The checklist, which can be found on alz.org, offers tips for determining if long-term care is appropriate and explains how to broach the conversation.
“The possibilities offered by the Internet to help long distance caregivers are fabulous, and we’ve made our Web site a portal for people looking for solutions,” Levin says. “SNAPforSeniors is a site designed to help families deal with the housing part of the picture. Long-distance caregivers can also get help from CFAD when investigating other local personal and community-based resources like home care, daily money managers, eldercare lawyers, or geriatric care managers to coordinate activities or even where you can donate a wheelchair.”
Destination Clubs Offer Peace of Mind in a Risky Market
One reason for the switch — most clubs provide a guaranteed refund of deposit, which may be more appealing than the liability of purchasing a second home in a potentially risky real estate market.
“With the current market, people are looking for alternatives to owning a vacation home. They still desire the quality time spent on vacations, but they want options,” says Steve Greer, founder of the LUSSO Collection, a boutique luxury travel destination club. “Destination club members get the opportunity to have luxury vacations around the world, without the hassle of second home ownership. Plus they have peace of mind because of the refund available on their deposit.”
Besides being concerned about the unstable real estate market, many people are finding that having a second home is simply too much work. Although you have the benefit of total control over design and decor in your own home, it often requires a lot of maintenance that can add up fast in time and money. If you live far away from your vacation home, that means hiring out the upkeep of the property. If you live close, you might spend half your time there tending to necessary household tasks.
Destination clubs are another option that consists of members who join a country club type of organization to utilize a portfolio of properties that the club owns. The clubs work well for people who enjoy the privacy, space and conveniences a home offers, but don’t want to worry about maintenance hassles or be limited to one destination. Additionally, certain destination clubs also provide vacation planning and on-site concierge services that you would normally find at a luxury hotel.
Decor and amenities are determined by the club, and although this freedom is forfeited, many view this as a positive. Some people prefer not to spend their own time on these items and find comfort in knowing the organization is consistently keeping the properties in superb shape.
Interest in destination clubs is evident in the recent growth of LUSSO, which has doubled in size since 2007 and recently reported its strongest quarter since its start in 2006. The concept for the LUSSO Collection came to Greer after traveling with his wife and first child. They found rented homes to be unsatisfactory and the prospect of buying a second home unappealing. The need for rented cars, car seats, toys, games and groceries made the travel experience less than pleasant.
With its unique boutique structure and a members-to-residence ratio of 5.5-to-1, LUSSO is a choice that makes sense for a lot of people. Members get unlimited use of private luxury homes that are fully equipped with all needed items including a Lincoln Navigator, golf clubs, a gourmet kitchen stocked with pre-arrival groceries and amenities for all travelers regardless of age. The membership deposit is 100 percent refundable upon resignation as well as annual dues.
With an economic structure that is similar to a country club, members pay a fully refundable deposit (currently $425,000) and annual dues for unlimited access to the club’s portfolio of residences and services. Properties are in locations such as Lake Tahoe, Calif.; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Aspen, Colo.; Manhattan; Hawaii; the Bahamas and other choice destinations. For more information, visit http://www.lussocollection.com , or call (866) GO LUSSO.
