All Posts in "Month: October 2024"

COPD: Myths and truths

(Pictured: The right exercise, such as walks on a beach, has many healthful benefits for people with COPD.)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lifelong chronic lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe and is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. According to experts, the more knowledge a patient with COPD has about the disease, the better off they will be.

A recent review from the American Lung Association found that patient education can help improve COPD self-management, provide skills for coping with related mental health challenges, improve overall health and quality of life, and reduce hospital admissions. This is especially important for those who have been living with the disease for a long time who may not be aware of recent treatment options and updated treatment guidelines, or who may not be inclined to recognize new or worsening symptoms and report them to their healthcare provider.

To help people who have been living with the disease for 10 or more years live better, more active and enjoyable lives, the American Lung Association, with support from Sanofi and Regeneron, launched the new “COPD for Life” campaign. As part of the campaign, they say they are busting the following common myths about the disease:

Myth: COPD is a man’s disease.

Truth: More women are living with COPD compared to men, and deaths from COPD are higher among women than in men. Everyone with risk factors and those experiencing early warning signs, no matter their age or gender, should talk to their healthcare provider.

Myth: There is no treatment for COPD.

Truth: There is no cure for COPD, but treatment and management can help slow the progression of COPD and control symptoms so that a patient feels better and is able to spend more time doing what they enjoy.

Myth: You cannot exercise if you have COPD.

Truth: The right amount and type of exercise has many benefits, and tips on how to get started should be discussed with a healthcare provider

Myth: COPD only affects the lungs so what you eat does not matter.

Truth: Most people are surprised to learn that the food they eat may affect their breathing. Talking to your healthcare provider about the right types of food for you may help you breathe easier.

Myth: If you already have COPD, quitting smoking won’t help.

Truth: Quitting smoking is an important part of any COPD treatment plan. The chemicals in cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and cigars can further damage lungs and may prevent medications from working as well as they could.

Myth: A patient should manage COPD on their own.

Truth: People who work closely with their healthcare providers to have a good treatment plan have better health outcomes. It’s especially important to see a healthcare provider if symptoms change or worsen. Likewise, supportive services, such as in-person or virtual support groups, can have a positive impact on health outcomes. Some studies indicate that positive social support is associated with reduced hospitalizations, fewer exacerbations, better health status, and improved disease management behaviors.

To learn more, call the American Lung Association’s Lung HelpLine at 1-866-252-2959 and be connected to a Lung Health navigator, or visit Lung.org/COPD or Lung.org/Helpline for additional resources and to chat live with a licensed registered nurse or respiratory therapist.

The Lung Association notes that life with COPD can often be challenging. But having up-to-date knowledge and the right resources can help patients stay active, control their symptoms, and know what to do if their COPD gets worse.

Source: StatePoint Media

The Senior Scene by — October 24, 2024 in Health & Fitness
Five things to know about Social Security

By Christina Clem

Social Security is your money — you earned it through a lifetime of hard work. And, like most Americans, that money is needed to help cover living expenses and pay bills. Nearly one in six Washington residents – 1.4 million people – receive Social Security benefits, and 36 percent of residents 65 and older rely on them for at least half of their income.

Here are five things to know about Social Security:

  1. When can I start collecting Social Security?

You are eligible as early as age 62. However, the longer you wait to start collecting after you become eligible (up until age 70), the larger your annual payments will be. For those who are eligible for survivor benefits or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you can start collecting earlier.

  • Can I collect Social Security while working?

Yes. In fact, 26 percent of Social Security recipients in 2023 were still working. But if you are below full retirement age (67) and earn more than a certain amount, your monthly payments will be temporarily reduced. Once you reach full retirement age, your payments will be increased to make up for any previous reduction in benefits caused by earning more than the limit.

  • How much will I receive each year?

Your Social Security income will depend on multiple factors, but the most important is your lifetime earnings from work. The Social Security Administration takes your 35 highest-earnings years, calculates an inflation-adjusted average, and plugs this information into a formula to find your “basic” benefit. How old you are when you claim Social Security will also impact the amount you receive. AARP’s Social Security Calculator, at aarp.org/socialsecurity, can help you estimate how much you will receive.

  • What is the maximum payment I can receive each month?

In 2023, the highest monthly payment for Social Security was $3,627. However, the average retirement benefit is $1,833. To receive the maximum payment, your earnings must exceed the maximum taxable income for at least 35 working years, and you must be at full retirement age, which is age 67 for people born in 1960 or later.

  • How do I sign up for Social Security?

You can apply for retirement, spousal, or disability benefits online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at a local Social Security office. Find the local office closest to you at ssa.gov/locator.

Christina Clem is AARP Washington’s communications manager.

The Senior Scene by — October 24, 2024 in Personal Finance/Consumers
Tacoma closing senior centers, transferring services to park district

(Pictured: LIghthouse Senior Center in Tacoma, one of two such centers the city plans to close.)

Tacoma is moving toward converting two senior centers to other uses and transferring their services for older adults to Metro Parks Tacoma.  

The city announced in October that it’s working on a partnership with Metro Parks to expand and enhance services for people 50 and older—a change from the current minimum age of 60 for participation in the city-sanctioned senior programs. Officials said the new arrangement would produce a wider range of programs, activities, and resources for Tacoma’s senior population.

“This partnership agreement, once finalized, will represent a significant step forward in our commitment to providing exceptional services for our seniors,” said Mayor Victoria Woodards.

 A letter about the change was sent Oct. 17 to seniors who frequent the Lighthouse and Beacon senior centers, the two facilities that city officials want to close at the end of 2024 and then repurpose them. The news reportedly caught seniors by surprise and generated opposition among them. One said the city needs to know “how important these centers are to all of us.” Another said that sentiment likely would be voiced in the form of petitions.

In a formal statement, city officials said that once the partnership with Metro Parks is “finalized,” other uses of the senior center sites  could include affordable housing, types of housing programs addressing homelessness, or space for city operations.

City and Metro representatives plan to meet with seniors in December to “ensure a smooth transition,” officials said.

Franke Tobey Jones, a retirement community in the North Tacoma area, took over operations of Lighthouse and Beacon in 2023 after negotiations with the city. At the time, Beacon was undergoing renovations that officials said would enable it to function long-term as a senior activity center and an overnight shelter for young adults

Lighthouse is located at 5016 A St., near Pacific Avenue, and Beacon is downtown at 415 S. 13th St.

A city spokeswoman, Maria Lee, said Franke Tobey Jones staff members working at the centers may be considered for employment in the revised senior services.

Franke Tobey Jones also runs the city-owned Point Defiance-Ruston Senior Center under a contract that continues through March 2025. The city anticipates renegotiating that agreement next month, according to Lee.

The Senior Scene by — October 23, 2024 in News
Ballots ready: Time to decide

Voters will begin casting ballots this month for president, governor, and other candidates and ballot measures.
County election departments will mail ballots to registered voters Oct. 18. Voters will have until Nov. 5, election day, to mail them back or deposit them in official drop boxes.
Another key date is Oct. 28, the last day new voter registrations can be accepted for the election.
Information is available from the Pierce County election department (253-798-7430, piercecountyelections.org) and the King County elections office (206-296-8683, elections@kingcounty.gov).

The Senior Scene by — October 17, 2024 in News