The Senior Scene

Information from Pierce County and state officials will be presented in free public workshops this month on the subject of Medicare options for health insurance.
“Checking on Choices for Medicare” will be presented by the Pierce County Aging and Disability Resource Center and SHIBA – Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors, a service of the state Office of the Insurance Commissioner. The information-only event is for Medicare beneficiaries and anyone else interested in Medicare coverage.
The presentation will be held three times:
• Nov. 3 from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. at the Pierce County Annex main meeting room at 2401 S. 35th St. in Tacoma.
• Nov. 5 from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. at the County-City Building’s seventh-floor Rainier Conference Room in Tacoma
• Nov. 8 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Soundview Building at 3602 Pacific Ave. in Tacoma.
The sessions will include an overview of Original Medicare, Medicare Parts A, B and D, and Medicare Advantage, as well as wrap-around coverage options. Participants will learn about comparing plans and the basic elements to consider for coverage that will provide the best coverage for the least amount of money, said Aaron Van Valkenburg, manager of Aging and Disability Resources, an agency of Pierce County government.
“There’s good news and not-so-good news with Medicare,” said Van Valkenburg. “The good news is that consumers can now make choices for their coverage that will offer the best coverage based on their lifestyle, medical conditions and budget. The not-so-good-news is that if consumers do not take a close look each year, they could end up spending money needlessly.”

Did you know that one in three older Americans falls every year? Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for people aged 65-plus.
Falls can result in hip fractures, broken bones, and head injuries. And even falls without a major injury can cause an older adult to become fearful or depressed, making it difficult for them to stay active.
If you have an aging parent, grandparent, or neighbor in your life, helping them reduce their risk of falling is a great way to help them stay healthy and independent as long as possible.
Common factors that can lead to a fall include balance and gait, vision, medications and chronic conditions.
Here are six easy steps you can take to help your older loved one reduce their risk of a fall:
1. Enlist their support in taking simple steps to stay safe. Askif they’re concerned about falling. Many older adults recognize that falling is a risk, but they believe it won’t happen to them or they won’t get hurt—even if they’ve already fallen in the past. If they’re concerned about falling, dizziness, or balance, suggest that they discuss it with their health care provider who can assess their personal risk and suggest programs or services that could help.
2. Discuss their current health conditions. Find out if they are experiencing any problems with managing their own health. Are they having trouble remembering to take their medications, or are they experiencing side effects? Is it getting more difficult for them to do things they used to do easily? Are hearing and vision changes becoming problematic?
3. Ask about their last eye checkup.Make sure they have a current prescription and they’re using the glasses as advised by their eye doctor.
4. Notice if they’re holding onto walls, furniture, or someone else when walking or if they appear to have difficulty walking or arising from a chair. These are all signs that it might be time to see a physical therapist.
5. Talk about their medications. If your older loved one is having a hard time keeping track of medicines or is experiencing side effects, encourage them to discuss their concerns with their doctor and pharmacist. Suggest that they have their medications reviewed each time they get a new prescription.
6. Do a walk-through safety assessment of the home.There are many simple and inexpensive ways to make a home safer. For instance, increase lighting throughout the house, especially at the bottom and top of stairs. Make sure rails on stairs are secure. And install grab bars in tubs and showers.

Source: National Council on Aging

The mayors of Tacoma, Lakewood, Puyallup, and University Place have signed proclamations making September Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in an effort to raise awareness of the disease.
Prostate cancer affects one in six men during their lifetime, with an estimated 232,000 men being diagnosed nationally in 2014, according to Tacoma Prostate Cancer Support Group. It’s expected that approximately 30,000 men will die from the disease this year, making it the second-leading cause of death for men.
When screened and diagnosed early, prostate cancer is easily treated by a variety of methods, making it a survivable disease. Most deaths are caused by late diagnosis after the cancer has spread beyond the prostate.
The Tacoma Prostate Cancer Support Group initiated the Prostate Cancer Awareness Month proclamation process with 11 cities in the South Sound region.
The group conducts monthly meetings on the fourth Tuesday of the month (except December) at University Place Presbyterian Church, offering open discussion and talks by members of the medical community about prostate cancer. The meetings are open to all men and their families who have been diagnosed or just want to educate themselves about the disease. More information about the group is available from Bob Freeborn (253-228-3616) or Jack Hudspeth (253-381-8831) and at www.tpcsg.info.

We walk all over them, but most of the time there’s no complaint – until it’s too late.
“If the Shoe Fits … The Secrets of Walking for Health,” a free, information-only presentation about feet, shoes and the science of selecting the right fit to last a lifetime, will be offered four times – twice each on two days – in September in Pierce County. Participants in the workshops hosted by Pierce County Aging and Disability Resource Center will learn about how and why feet change and how shoes should be evaluated for long-term benefit.
The presentation will be held on:
• Sept. 15 from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. at the Pierce County Annex Main Meeting Room (2401 S. 35th St. in Tacoma) and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Lakewood Senior Center (9112 Lakewood Dr. SW. in Lakewood). Organizers are asking for participants to RSVP for this site at 253-798-4090.
• Sept. 17 from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. at the County-City Building’s seventh-floor conference (903 Tacoma Ave. in Tacoma) and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Summit branch of Pierce County Library (5107 112th St. E. in the Summit area).
The average woman will own 450 pairs of shoes in a lifetime. Men will own about half that many. Yet few people have their feet measured professionally, trusting only their feel. A lifetime of ill-fitting shoes can result in pain and discomfort in our later years, according to officials of Aging and Disability Resources.
“We talk all the time about aging in place,” said Aaron Van Valkenburg, manager of Aging and Disability Resources. “The most important way to age in place is to stay physically active. Owning the right pair of shoes makes all the difference in the world if someone wants to keep moving. Good-fitting shoes are the best way for families to support their loved ones –and themselves – into their later years.”
“If the Shoe Fits… The Secrets of Walking for Health” will be presented by Bobby Lozier, a pedorthist certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics. He will speak about foot anatomy, balance and circulatory issues, shoe design and features, shoe fit, how feet change, diabetes and foot care, health issues that are revealed in feet and specialized pedorthic products.
Additional information about the workshops is available at 253-798-4600.