golden years 2011

THEGOLDENYEARSNovember 2011 A Supplement to Anton Newspapers

Financial Advicefor Seniors in a

Struggling Economy

Pets Provide Seniors with Joy

and Better Health

...and much more!

Memory Loss: When It’s Normal and

When to Be Concerned

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GOLDEN YEARS – ANTON COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS - NOVEMBER 20112G

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Baking: A Timeless Way to Connect GenerationsBy Ron Scaglia

Do you want an old-fashionedmethod of connecting with oth-ers, especially your grandchildren?

Lauren Groveman, host of Baking MadeEasy, which currently airs on WE tv at 9a.m. on Monday mornings, suggests baking.

The Woodmere native, TV and radiopersonality and author is sharing herrecipe for ginger snaps with Anton News-papers readers to encourage seniors tobake more and connect with others.

“Grandparents baking with their grand-children is a way for them to feel integralin the grandchildren’s lives,” said Grove-man. “It’s a way to be needed, appreciatedand acknowledged. It is a way to shareyour knowledge and to get your grand-children to gravitate towards you.”

Groveman said that baking is a way forgrandparents to be connected to theirgrandchildren. In the high-paced high-tech society we currently live in, it can bedifficult for grandparents to find activitiesthat both they and their grandchildren en-joy. Sharing an activity that family mem-bers from different generations can takepart in and enjoy, helps to form a bond.And by making something that everyoneenjoys, the bond gets further strengthenedas the bakers share the satisfaction ofbringing something delicious to others.

“If your grandchildren live far away,make cookies (such as ginger snaps withthe recipe here) and send them”, saidGroveman of those who do not have theopportunity to bake with their grandkids.

However, Groveman is also encouragingseniors to bake for their own happiness andenjoyment. She says that too many seniorsstop cooking because their children haveleft and they do not realize that there is stillmuch enjoyment to be gained by sharingtheir creations with others.

“There is no reason to stop cooking andsharing,” said Groveman who feels thatbaking is a way of bringing joy to otherswhile also fulfilling an individual’s ownneed for self worth. “Seniors are smarter,wiser, more appreciative of time as well asfeeling self-nurturing. Senior living is notstopping. People have more time to do this.It will make you happy and others as well.Bringing a pie, muffins, or scones is a wayto connect you to the outside world.”

So if you’re looking to make somethingthat might bring you some enjoyment andothers as well, try Lauren’s recipe for gin-ger spice snaps, which is printed belowand can also be found on her website,www.laurengroveman.com

“These are one of my children’s fa-vorites,” said Groveman. “I recommend

these for people who like spiced cookiesor who want to bake and give.”

Special Equipment:Sifter or triple-mesh wire sieveParchment paperCushioned cookie sheetsElectric mixer (optional)Cookie scoop with capacity of 2 liquid

tablespoons (optional)Ingredients:3 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour1 tablespoon instant espresso powder2 teaspoons baking soda2 tablespoons ground ginger1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon ground allspice1/2 teaspoon saltPinch ground cloves1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar1 cup granulated white sugar2 sticks (1/2 pound) unsalted butter, at

room temperature1/2 cup unsulphured molasses1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract1 extra-large egg1) To set up: Position both oven racks

to the upper and lower levels and preheatthe oven to 375º F. Line 2 to 4 cookiesheets with parchment paper; do notgrease the paper.2) To prepare the cookie batter: In a

medium-sized mixing bowl,whisk togetherthe flour, coffee, baking soda, ginger, cin-namon, allspice, salt and cloves. Sift thismixture into another bowl. In a large bowl,using an electric mixer or a wooden spoon,cream the brown and white sugars with thesoftened butter, molasses and vanilla.When well combined, add the egg. Oncethe mixture is smooth, set electric mixer tolowest setting, if using, and then add thesifted dry ingredients, mixing well.3) To shape and bake: Place generous ta-

blespoonfuls of the batter (leveled cookie-

scoopfuls) or level cookie scoops of the bat-ter on the prepared cookie sheets. For bestresults, place mounds in 3 rows of 3, withoutcrowding. Place two of the sheets into thepreheated oven using the upper and lowerthird shelf positions. Bake for 10 to 12 min-utes (10 for chewy, 12 for cookies that snap),switching the position of the sheets after halfthe baking time. While in the oven, thesecookies will first plump as they spread. Theywill then (usually) deflate and become flat,especially if left in the oven for the longerbaking time, which will produce a crispercookie. When baking for only 10 minutes(for a chewy cookie), they might come outslightly puffed. If so, rap the sheet on thewire rack, once or twice, to help the cookiesto deflate. Bake remaining sheets of cookies.4) To cool and serve: After baking,

place the sheets on a wire rack for 10 to15 minutes. Then, using a thin metal spat-ula, transfer cookies to wire racks to coolbefore storing in an airtight tin.

Baking is a way for grandparents toconnect with their grandchildren.

Lauren Groveman, host of BakingMade Easy on WE tv Mondays at 9a.m., encourages seniors to bake as away of sharing with others.

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.laurengroveman.com


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Grandparents as Teachers; How You Can Connect With Your GrandkidsBy Colleen D. Multari, LMSW, Director of Early

Learning at The Early Years Institute

It is said that a parent is a child’s first teacher. As agrandparent, it’s important to remember that youtaught the teacher. As the parent of a young parent,

you have the power to impact the future through yourgrandchildren.

As the author Geoff Dench said, “Grandparents shouldplay the same role in the family as an elder statesman canin the government of a country. They have the experienceand knowledge that comes from surviving a great manyyears of life’s battles and the wisdom, hopefully, to recog-nize how their grandchildren can benefit from this.” Whilethis expectation may seem lofty, it simply means that shar-ing your life, your experiences and your time with yourgrandchild can help them more than you may realize.

Think back to when you were a young parent. You werestressed, tired and unsure of the parenting decisions youwere making. Remember that and then look at your childas the parent they are now. They too are feeling the sameemotions you felt as a young parent. Be empathetic and letthem know that you understand what they are goingthrough. Offer to help them, but don’t get frustrated if theyrefuse! Despite successfully raising a child, your own chil-dren may feel that the issues they are facing are new, spe-cific to this generation and unlikely to be understood byyou. The best help that you can give them is unconditionallove for their child (and occasional babysitting!).

When interacting with your grandchild, think back tohow you played as a child and how you played with yourown children. Even though times have changed and tech-nology has infiltrated childhood, children still love thesame types of play you and your children enjoyed. Playoutside. Be silly. Make a mess. Sing a song. Play withblocks. Bake a cake together. Spend time gardening. Reada book. Tell them stories about your childhood. Build afort out of pillows and sheets. Playing together is learningtogether. You have the power to shape their hobbies andinterests, teach them essential life skills and help themgrow, all while making memories that last a lifetime!

In order for young children to grow and develop, theirbrains must be stimulated through interaction, engage-ment of their senses, nurturing relationships and experi-ences. Grandparents, whether near or far, can play an im-

portant role in a child’s life. Spend time with your grand-children and make time to play with them. If you live faraway, invest in a webcam or make regular, old-fashionedphone calls. While on the phone, sing, laugh and tell sto-ries. Whether on a webcam or on the phone, be sure toask your grandchild open ended questions, meaning onesthat they cannot answer just yes or no. Questions requir-ing more in-depth answers encourage engagement andopen dialogue. Become pen pals (or email pals). Sendeach other original artwork. Send them a video or record-ing of you reading them a story. Go on a trip together.Your grandchild undoubtedly appreciates your sending ofextravagant gifts but having conversations and sharing ex-periences will be more meaningful and valuable to bothyou and your grandchild in the long run. Make sure thatyour interactions are special, whether in person or acrossthe miles.

In the words of former New York City Mayor RudolphGiuliani, “What children need most are the essentials thatgrandparents provide in abundance. They give uncondi-tional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, and les-sons in life. And, most importantly, cookies.” Grandpar-ents often feel that being involved means ‘spoiling’ theirgrandchild. While all grandparents feel that their grand-child is the most adorable, intelligent and talented child,it’s important to be realistic when it comes to praise andpractical when it comes to gifts. When grandchildrenshow you their artwork or a recent project, be sure to offergenuine comments and feedback. When you tell a childtheir artwork is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen,they know you are exaggerating the truth. Instead, start adialogue by asking open-ended questions. Ask them totell you more about the picture, why they selected certaincolors or used specific shapes and if there is a story to goalong with their artwork. Your interest will mean more tothe child than generic praise.

As a grandparent, you have unique ability to nurture,educate, and be both friends and role models all whilehelping to connect a child to the past and their family his-tory. Joyce Allston said “Grandparents, like heroes, are asnecessary to a child’s growth as vitamins.” Don’t ever for-get that through this special bond, you have the power toshape your grandchild’s life simply by sharing your timewith them. If you have multiple grandchildren, make timefor each child. They can benefit from your attention as agroup but also through special, one-on-one interactions.

Today’s world can be overwhelming and chaotic foradults and even more so for children. Relationships keepadults grounded and the same goes for children. Relation-ships that are supportive, nurturing and thought-provok-ing are crucial for humans no matter their age. In thewords of Jay Kesler, former president of Upland Universi-ty, “Young people need something stable to hang on to, aculture connection, a sense of their own past, a hope fortheir own future. Most of all, they need what grandparentscan give them.” Be involved, have fun and make time toplay today, preferably with your grandchild. If you do nothave grandchildren, make time to volunteer with youngchildren or serve as a mentor. Intergenerational relation-ships can help both children and adults to grow, developand find joy.

Sharing your life, your experiences and your timewith your grandchild can help them more than youmay realize.


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Making Driving Safer for SeniorsBy Ron Scaglia

As the senior population continuesto expand, there will be an increasein the number of older drivers on

the road. According to the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention, there are33 million licensed drivers aged 65 andover in the United States as of 2009. Thisis an increase of 23 percent from ten yearsprior. And senior drivers tend to have bet-ter driving safety habits than the rest ofthe population. According to the CDC,senior drivers exhibit:High incidence of seat belt use: More

than three in every four (77 percent) oldermotor vehicle occupants (drivers and pas-sengers) involved in fatal crashes werewearing seat belts at the time of the crash,compared to 63 percent for other adult oc-cupants (18 to 64 years of age)Tendency to drive when conditions

are the safest: Older drivers tend to limittheir driving during bad weather and atnight and drive fewer miles than youngerdrivers.Lower incidence of impaired driving:

Older adult drivers are less likely to drinkand drive than other adult drivers. Onlyfive percent of older drivers involved infatal crashes had a blood alcohol concen-tration (BAC) of 0.08 grams per deciliter(g/dL) or higher, compared to 25 percentof drivers between the ages of 21 and 64years.

However, despite these statistics, olderdrivers are still at risk. According to sta-tistics released by the CDC, in 2008 about5,500 older drivers were killed in theUnited States in motor vehicle accidentsand, on average, about 500 older adultsare injured. Per mile traveled, fatal crashrates increase starting at age 75 and in-crease notably after age 80 according toCDC statistics which conclude that this islargely due to increased susceptibility toinjury and medical complications amongolder drivers rather than an increased ten-

dency to get into crashes.On the CDC website, it states the older

drivers may have more difficulty drivingas age-related declines in vision and cog-nitive functioning (ability to reason andremember), as well as physical changes,may affect some older adults’ drivingabilities. To help, the CDC offers the fol-lowing recommendations to help olderdrivers remain safe:

• Exercising regularly to increasestrength and flexibility.

• Asking your doctor or pharmacist toreview medicines-both prescription andover-the counter-to reduce side effects andinteractions.

• Having eyes checked by an eye doctorat least once a year. Wear glasses and cor-rective lenses as required.

• Driving during daylight and in goodweather.

• Finding the safest route with well-litstreets, intersections with left turn arrows,and easy parking.

• Planning your route before you drive.• Leaving a large following distance be-

hind the car in front of you.• Avoiding distractions in your car, such

as listening to a loud radio, talking onyour cell phone, texting, and eating.

• Considering potential alternatives todriving, such as riding with a friend or us-ing public transit, that you can use to getaround.

In addition, AAA has some programs tohelp older driving. One of these is a comput-er based called Drive Sharp. Available forpurchase, the program is intended to sharpendriver’s skills. The AAA website states thatprogram is clinically proven to help driverssee more, react faster, and cut crash risk byup to 50 percent. For more information, logon to www.drivesharpnow.com.

AAA also has other information avail-able to help seniors stay safe on the road.For more information, log on to senior-drivingaaa.com

While seniors tend to have better driving safety habits age related issues can affectsome of their driving abilities.

Published by Anton Community Newspapers132 E. Second St., Mineola, NY 11501 – 516-747-8282 www.antonnews.com

Angela Susan AntonPublisher

William M. Delventhal, Jr.General Manager

Cary SeamanManaging Editor

Ron ScagliaSpecial Sections Editor

Frank A. VirgaDirector of Sales & Marketing

Iris PiconeClassified Manager

Paul ScheuerArt Director

Lucia D’OnofrioPage Designer

GOLDEN YEARS

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http://www.antonnews.com


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Falls Can Result in Serious Injuries;Seniors Should Take Precautions

By Ronald Scaglia

Most doctors will most likely ad-vise their patients against a late-night junk food snack. For sen-

ior citizens, however, the most dangerousaspect of getting a late-night bite to eatmay not be the food, but the walk throughthe darkened home to get it. Considerthese statistics from the Centers for Dis-ease Control and Prevention:

• One in three adults age 65 and olderfalls each year.

• Among older adults (those 65 or old-er), falls are the leading cause of injurydeath. They are also the most commoncause of nonfatal injuries and hospital ad-missions for trauma.

• In 2008, over 19,700 older adults diedfrom unintentional fall injuries.

• Of those who fall, 20 percent to 30percent suffer moderate to severe injuriesthat make it hard for them to get aroundor live independently, and increase theirrisk of early death.

• Older adults are hospitalized for fall-related injuries five times more often thanthey are for injuries from other causes.

• In 2009, emergency departments treat-ed 2.2 million nonfatal fall injuries amongolder adults; more than 582,000 of thesepatients had to be hospitalized.

“It’s a major reason for seniors to beadmitted to the hospital,” said NancyCopperman, North Shore-LIJ’s Directorof Community Health and Public Policy,who added that falls are more commonthan strokes and the consequences can bejust as serious.

To help seniors, Copperman and DaleChaiken, North Shore-LIJ’s Director ofCommunity Health Nursing have the fol-lowing recommendations for seniors tohelp them avoid potential serious injuries.

1. Improve the Safety of Your Home“Most falls occur in the house,” said

Copperman who ad-vises seniors to re-move tripping haz-ards from theirhomes. She suggest-ed that seniors re-move potential dan-gers such as scatterrugs, which cancome up underneatha person and alsosaid that extensioncords are another potential tripping haz-ard. She also suggests seniors place some-thing in a contrasting color on the edgesof stairs in their home to help them bettersee the steps.

“As you age, your depth perceptionweakens and seniors aren’t as able tojudge the edge of a step,” said Copper-man. “They should highlight the edges.”

Furthermore, she also recommends thatstaircases, both inside and outside thehome, have a railing on each side. Cop-perman also urges seniors to make suretheir homes are well lit, increase wattageboth inside and out, and recommendsnightlights as well as light switches onboth ends of staircases.

2. Get Regular ExerciseCopperman recommends that seniors

get at least thirty minutes of exercise eachday. She suggests walking or balance ex-ercises such as Tai Chi. One balance exer-cise that she recommends is walking“heel to toe.” To do this, put your heel justin front of the toes of the opposite footeach time you take a step. Your heel andtoes should touch or almost touch.

Chaiken agrees that exercise is essentialfor seniors. In addition to regular exercise,she strongly recommends that seniors do

strength and balance exercises at leastthree times per week.

“As you age strength decreases afterage 50 and then rapidly after age 70,” saidChaiken. “The importance of balance andstrength exercises is for seniors to main-tain independence.”

3. Bathroom SafetyBathrooms can be particularly danger-

ous places in the home. Copperman sug-gests that strips be affixed to the tub toprevent slipping. Both she and Chaikenalso suggest installing grab bars in the tuband shower and near the toilet. Addition-

ally they both rec-ommend seniors useshower chairs.

4. PetsOur furry four-

legged friends canbring much joy toour lives. However,they can also walkbehind seniors andpotentially be a haz-

ard. Copperman advises seniors to becareful and be mindful of the whereaboutsof their pets.

5. MedicationsAccording to Copperman, some med-

ications, and especially medications forcontrolling blood pressure, can make sen-iors more susceptible to falls. Patientsshould speak with their doctors or phar-macists and be aware of this potential sideeffect.

6. FootwearCopperman stated that footwear could

also be a factor in a fall and the resultinginjuries. She advises seniors to wear saferfootwear such as loafers, oxfords, walkingshoes, sport shoes and sneakers. She ad-vises against flip- flops, slippery soles andshoes without backs. Both Coppermanand Chaiken also said that slippers can behazardous.

“The bottom of slippers can be slip-pery,” said Copperman. “Wear slippersthat are similar to loafers with a back anda non-skid sole. Just walking around insocks is also dangerous because you haveno traction.”

For more information on preventing falls,visit www.preventfalls.northshorelij.com

Installing grab bars in the tub andshower is highly recommended byphysicians.

“It’s a major reason forseniors to be admitted to

the hospital.”- Nancy Copperman,

North Shore-LIJ’s Director ofCommunity Health and Public Policy


mailto:jnatuzzi@@ft.newyorklife.ft.newyorklife.com

http://www.preventfalls.northshorelij.com


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For Seniors, Avoiding the Flu Can Be a Matter of Life or DeathBy Ronald Scaglia

While no one wants to suffer theaches, pain, chills and overallawful feeling that the flu brings,

seniors have to be especially cautious. Ac-cording to the Centers for Disease Controland Prevention, it’s estimated that 90 per-cent of seasonal flu-related deaths andmore than 60 percent of seasonal flu-relat-ed hospitalizations in the United Stateseach year occur in people 65 years andolder. This is because human immune de-fenses become weaker with age. So in-fluenza can be a very serious disease forpeople 65 and older.

“Flu kills youngsters and older adults,”said Dr. Giselle Wolf-Klein, a geriatricianwith North Shore-LIJ. “It’s a serious ill-ness and something that we can’t ignore.”

Dr. Wolf-Klein strongly recommendsthat all seniors receive annual flu vaccina-tions. She said that it is important to re-ceive the inoculation as it raises immunity.Furthermore, Wolf-Klein said that it is im-portant to receive it annually as the shotchanges every year because the virus canvary from one flu season to the next.

One common misconception is that re-ceiving the flu shot can cause a patient toactually come down with the flu. Both theCDC and Dale Chaikin, Director of Com-munity Health Nursing at North Shore-LIJsay this is absolutely not true.

“You will not get the flu from the in-fluenza vaccine,” said Chaikin.

The regular, traditional flu shot is an in-activated vaccine containing killed virus.By contrast, the nasal spray flu vaccinecontains weakened but not killed virus sois therefore only recommended forhealthy non-pregnant people between theages of 2-49 and is not for seniors, eventhough the CDC states that the nasal spray

will not give recipients the flu either.However, while is it agreed upon that

getting the flu shot is the best way toavoid coming down with flu, it is still not100 percent effective so there are otherprecautions that seniors should take aswell. One potential danger area are grand-children, something some grandparentswould never think twice about being a po-tential source of harm.

“If the child is sick and has not seen a

doctor you’re putting your life in danger,”said Wolf-Klein.

“Many times people want to come outand visit and don’t realize the conse-quences it can have on the elderly whenthey’re sick,” said Peggy Lynch, Directorof Infection Control at Cold Spring HillsCenter for Nursing and Rehabilitation.

According to Wolf-Klein, grandparentsoften feel a sense of responsibility, andwill not refuse a visit from grandchil-

dren, even if the little ones appear to beharboring an illness. She further said thatsome grandparents are reluctant to refusea babysitting appointment with theirgrandkids so as not to burden their chil-dren with paying for a babysitter, whichcan sometimes be up to $20 per hour.Wolf-Klein also said that grandparentscould unknowingly expose themselves toflu germs by handling items that theirgrandchildren have also touched such astoys, silverware, tissues and doorknobs.She recommends that seniors considerusing disposable plastic gloves in suchsituations.

“It’s really important to be extremelycautious about what you handle,” saidWolf-Klein.

In addition, to avoiding potentially in-fectious situations, both Wolf-Klein andChaikin said that frequent hand washingis also vital. Wolf-Klein recommendswashing hands for at least 20 seconds; atimeframe that Chaikin says can be esti-mated by singing “The Happy Birthday”song. Additionally, Wolf-Klein recom-mends removing all rings and dryinghands with a disposable towel that is onlyused once. She said that regular soap isjust as effective as antibacterial soap.Both Chaikin and Wolf-Klein concurredthat hand washing with soap and wateroffers the best protection but if that is notan option, using a hand sanitizer madewith at least 60 percent alcohol is the nextbest option. They both said that these san-itizers seem to work, although their usedoesn’t preclude hand washing with wa-ter and soap and that staff members areinstructed in hand washing to prevent thespread of infection.

One common misconception is that receiving the flu shot can cause a patient toactually come down with the flu. Both the CDC and Dale Chaikin, Director of Com-munity Health Nursing at North Shore-LIJ say this is absolutely not true.

continued on page 22


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YELLOW DOTPROGRAM

NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE

Working for Nassau Seniors

The YELLOW DOT Program was created to assist seniors following automobile accidents

when they might not be able to communicate for

themselves.

The YELLOW DOT Program is a cooperative effort involving the Nassau

County Police Department, the NCPD Emergency

Ambulance Bureau, state and local police and local

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need when they might not be able to help themselves.

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Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are recommended for seniors to get enoughfiber in their diet. Choose fresh or frozen but not canned.

Senior Nutrition: ThreeSuggestions for Staying Healthy

By Ronald Scaglia

You are what you eat. It’s somethingthat is taught to children in an at-tempt to eat healthier foods. Re-

cently, there have been increased effortsin schools to provide better nutrition.However, good nutrition is important forpeople of all ages, including and especial-ly seniors. Because of changes as we ageand the effects of certain geriatric medica-tions, seniors need to make good nutri-tional choices.

Nancy Copperman is the Director ofPublic Health Initiatives for North-ShoreLIJ and is also a registered dietitian. Shesays that as the body ages, metabolismslows down, so seniors don’t need asmany calories as they did when they wereyounger. Copperman recently shared threenutritional suggestions to help maintainproper health throughout the golden years.

Eat Six to Eight Ounces ofProtein Daily

Copperman says that as people age,they lose muscle. To compensate for this,she recommends that seniors eat six toeight ounces of protein per day. Accord-ing to Copperman, lean meat, chicken andpoultry, and low-fat cheeses are all goodsources of protein. As a guide, Copper-man says that a three ounce serving ofprotein is about the size of a deck ofcards, so two such servings will meet thisrecommendation. In addition, Coppermanalso said that chicken, fish and lean meatare also good sources of iron.

“Anemia is also a problem as we age,”said Copperman while discussing the bene-fits for seniors for adding iron to their diets.

Drink Four Glasses ofWater/Fluids Daily

With the explosion of bottled water thatis readily available, it would seem thatgetting enough water should not be aproblem. However, Copperman says thatseniors become dehydrated for severalreasons.

“Seniors are not drinking enough be-cause they are not as thirsty, “said Cop-perman.

In addition, Copperman added thatsome seniors drink less because they areincontinent and combat this by trying todrink less. Furthermore, she also said thatsome of the medications taken by seniorscause them to urinate more and thereforelose water resulting in dehydration.

“Dehydration causes dizziness, fa-tigue, medications going out of whack,constipation, and stomach problems,”said Copperman who advises seniors todrink four glasses of fluids daily to keephydrated.

Eat More FiberCopperman also suggests that seniors

try to get enough fiber into their diet. Todo this, she recommends fruits, vegetablesand whole grains. When choosing vegeta-bles she recommends fresh or frozen butnot canned.

“Canned vegetables have more sodiumand fewer vitamins,” said Copperman.

She also said that fiber helps improveregularity and overall health. In addition,according to Copperman, fiber benefitsseniors by regulating blood sugar, lower-ing high cholesterol levels, and managingweight.

Social Security to StopIssuing Paper Checks

Be aware that all applicants filing for Social Security and SupplementalSecurity Income (SSI) benefit payments now must choose to receivetheir benefits by either direct deposit or through a debit card. Paper

checks are not longer being issues to new recipients and current recipientswho are still receiving payment by check will have until March 1, 2013 toswitch to direct deposit or a debit card. Those who are still receiving paperchecks will be switched to the debit card option if no choice is made by then.If you are already receiving your benefits electronically, no further action isrequired. For more information, visit www.godirect.org.

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Learn About Macular Degeneration and How to Slow Its ProgressAs seniors age, vision loss is a

frightening concern. Oneage-related cause of vision

loss is macular degeneration. TheCenters for Disease Control andPrevention have the followingoverview of the disease and Dr.Anat Benjamin of Williston EyeAssociates added some insights.

Macular degeneration is an eyedisorder associated with aging andresults in damaging sharp andcentral vision. Central vision isneeded for seeing objects clearlyand for common daily tasks suchas reading and driving. Maculardegeneration affects the macula,the central part the retina that al-lows the eye to see fine details.There are two forms of maculardegeneration, wet and dry.

Wet Macular Degeneration:When abnormal blood vessels be-hind the retina start to grow underthe macula, ultimately leading toblood and fluid leakage. Bleeding,leaking, and scarring from theseblood vessels cause damage andlead to rapid central vision loss.An early symptom of wet maculardegeneration is that straight linesappear wavy.

Dry Macular Degeneration:When the macula thins over time as part of aging process,gradually blurring central vision. The dry form is morecommon and accounts for 70-90 percent of cases of macu-lar degeneration and it progresses more slowly than the wetform. Over time, as less of the macula functions, central vi-sion is gradually lost in the affected eye. Dry macular de-generation generally affects both eyes. One of the mostcommon early signs of dry macular degeneration is drusen.

Drusen: Drusen are tiny yellow or white deposits underthe retina. They often are found in people over age 60. The

presence of small drusen is normal and does not cause vi-sion loss. However, the presence of large and more numer-ous drusen raises the risk of developing advanced drymacular degeneration or wet macular degeneration.

It is estimated that 1.8 million Americans 40 years andolder are affected by macular degeneration and an addi-tional 7.3 million with large drusen are at substantial riskof developing macular degeneration. The number of peo-ple with macular degeneration is estimated to reach 2.95million in 2020. Macular degeneration is the leading

cause of permanent impairment ofreading and fine or close-up visionamong people aged 65 years andolder.

While the disease and its poten-tial consequences are frightening,there are steps that patients can taketo protect their vision. Dr. AnatBenjamin of Williston Eye CareAssociates says there are steps thatcan be taken to slow down the pro-gression of macular degenerationonce diagnosed.

“Vitamins have been shown tobe very helpful in preventing theprogression of macular degenera-tion from the dry form to the wetform,” said Dr. Benjamin. “I tellpatients about vitamins that studieshave shown can prevent progres-sion.”

She said that lutein and zeaxan-thin are two vitamins that studieshave shown may slow the progres-sion. In addition, Benjamin saidthat patients should see their eyedoctors if they have blurry vision,glare when driving or are havingdifficulty performing tasks they ac-tively performed previously.

“One of the things we do ismake sure patients use an amslergrid,” said Benjamin. “This allows

us to pick up on subtle changes early on.”In addition, to protect against the development or pro-

gression of macular degeneration, Benjamin recommendswearing sunglasses with UVA/UVB protection to helpprotect your eyes from these harmful rays which can causeboth macular degeneration and cataracts. She suggests see-ing your eye doctor regularly, and especially if you noticechanges in your vision. Furthermore, those with a familyhistory should consult with an eye doctor to discuss thepossibility of taking vitamins before the disease develops.

Macular degeneration results in damaging sharp and central vision. Central vision is neededfor seeing objects clearly and for common daily tasks such as reading and driving.


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Memory Loss; When It’s NormalAnd When to be Concerned

By Ronald Scaglia

Has something like this ever hap-pened to you? You’re having aconversation and the President

comes up in the discussion and you justcan’t remember his name. You can recallthat he’s a Democrat and that he has twochildren but his name eludes you. You gothrough the alphabet hoping to give you aclue. Later on, perhaps much later, out ofnowhere the name Barack Obama popsinto your head.

Should you be concerned? Actually thisis quite common according to Dr. GiseleWolf-Klein, geriatrician at North-ShoreLIJ. She said this is called the “tip of thetongue” phenomenon, where people oftenhave trouble with retrieval.

“Older people and people under stresswill have trouble remembering a word,”said Wolf-Klein, “It will come back toyou when you have less stress such as inthe middle of the night.”

So, it is common to forget a name or aword. And the stress of trying to recall itat that instant actually makes the processmore difficult. So, if this has happened toyou, you are definitely not alone.

And have you recently misplaced yourkeys? Dr. Wolf-Klein says that is alsoquite common.

“You don’t have Alzheimer’s diseasewhen you misplace your keys, you have itwhen you don’t know what your keys arefor.”

Indeed the increased awareness ofAlzheimer’s disease has made everyonemore aware of memory issues. Seniors andtheir family members become concerned atthe first sign of memory loss. However,Wolf-Klein states that there are normalchanges in memory and that half the popu-lation will have memory deficits by thetime they reach their mid to late 80s.

“Memory loss is dreaded by many eld-erly because the spectrum of Alzheimer’shas gained viability in the last 10 to 20years,” said Wolf-Klein. “The first timeyou forget, you wonder.”

So, forgetting is a word or a name is nota cause for alarm. And neither is misplac-ing keys, unless you are quite fastidious inplacing your keys in a certain spot andmisplacing them is a change in a normalpattern of behavior.

Furthermore, hearing loss is sometimes acause for someone not recalling a piece ofinformation. Wolf-Klein said that some-thing could be told to someone with diffi-culty hearing and because of the hearingloss, that information may not have actual-ly been transmitted. However, when theperson later cannot recall that information,red flags go up and statements such as “ButI just told you that” are uttered. Yet, in thissituation it is the hearing loss and notAlzheimer’s that is the culprit.

And sometimes lack of interest is thecause of something being forgotten.Something may be said which is of vitalimportance to the speaker, but insignifi-cant to the listener. If the listener doesn’trecall that information later, it may not beAlzheimer’s but simple indifference.

According to Wolf-Klein, it is changesin behavior and judgment that shouldcause concern. She said that when indi-viduals lose executive function that aphysician should be consulted about thepossibility of Alzheimer’s. Wolf-Klein de-scribed executive function as somethingwe do all the time such as the ability toorganize a familiar task. A person afflict-ed with Alzheimer’s may rememberpieces of a commonly done task, but nowhas difficulty recalling the correct order.As an example, she discussed cooking aturkey for Thanksgiving,

“Cooking is an excellent way to deter-mine this,” said Wolf-Klein. “You mayknow you need a turkey. You may knowyou need an oven. However, you may askwhat the stuffing is or where does thestuffing go.”

She said such a situation could be a sig-nal of executive function loss. If someonewho cooked a turkey at Thanksgiving foryears and was doing so five years ago, isnow suddenly having difficulty with theprocess, it could be a cause for concern.The geriatrist also said that if someoneforgets what ingredients are used to pre-pare the turkey, or perhaps more impor-tantly where to go to get those ingredi-ents, that could indicate an issue.

However, she again cautions that simplynot preparing a turkey is not indicative ofAlzheimer’s. It is complicated to prepare aturkey and physical ailments such asarthritis might prohibit someone from do-ing so.

Prior levels are very important in mak-ing the judgment of whether someone hassimple memory loss or something moreserious. If someone is having difficultywith a task that was handled with aplombpreviously, and the cause is not physical,it is potentially an issue.

She gave another example of going on atrip and getting lost. If an individual istraveling to a new or unfamiliar place it isquite reasonable for that person to getlost. However, if that person is traveling toa very familiar place such as a church or arelative’s house and is taking a route trav-eled extensively in the past, getting lost onthat journey could be indicative of asomething more serious than simple mem-ory loss.

Another signal of Alzheimer’s, accord-ing to Wolf-Klein is a sudden change inbehavior. She said that someone withAlzheimer’s might become irritable, iras-cible, and short-tempered. These individu-als may refuse to see friends and grand-children. They may look to stay homemore and even be irritated by their friend-s’ questioning what is happening withthem.

“The first case of the Alzheimer’s dis-ease brought to Dr. Alzheimer was not be-cause of memory loss but because of be-havior,” said Wolf-Klein.

The increased awareness of Alzheimer’sdisease has made everyone more awareof memory issues.


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Pets Provide Seniors with Joy and Better HealthBy Ronald Scaglia

Do you want to improve your healthand bring joy and companionshipinto your life? If so, then consider

bringing a fury four-legged bundle of joyinto your home. Pets can have many posi-tive benefits on their owners’ lives.

Dr. Paul LaPorta, a veterinarian withMassapequa Hospital for Animals feelsthat pets can bring joy to seniors’ lives asdoes Joanne Yokannan, Senior Vice-Presi-dent of Operations at North Shore AnimalLeague. They both spoke about the happi-ness that pets can bring seniors.

“I have clients who have pets that arebrought into nursing homes and it literallyhas a positive effect,” said LaPorta. “Topet and see them, it brightens up their dayand week.”

“Pets provide companionship and un-conditional love,” said Yokannan.

Both LaPorta and Yokannan also concurthat there are additional benefits for seniorsto own pets. They include giving seniors adaily routine, forcing seniors to get exercise,creating moments for social interaction, andeven providing a sense of security.

“It gives seniors a responsibility, some-thing to do day in and day out,” said LaPorta.

“65 is the new 50, dogs need to walkand cats love to play,” said Yokannan.“Pets provide a great source of joy. It’s anice distraction from one’s own health is-sues. They have to be responsible forsomething besides their own health.”

And related to the senior’s health, own-ing a pet can provide health benefits. Ac-cording to the Centers for Disease Controland Prevention pets can decrease bloodpressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceridelevels, and feelings of loneliness.

So when seniors decide to welcome apet into their homes, the first decision thathas to be made is what kind of pet. In ad-dition to deciding between a dog or a cat,

there are different breeds to choose from.Yokannan says that there are counselors atthe North Shore Animal League to helpseniors choose the proper pet. LaPorta hassome insights as well.

“What’s their personal preference, dogor cat,” said LaPorta adding that a senior

who previously had a pet would likelychoose the same one again. “If you neverliked cats, get a dog.”

If deciding on a dog, he suggests seniorsconsider a smaller dog that is easier tohandle as well as a breed that is more laidback. He suggested Shelties as a possiblegood consideration. For those who want abigger dog, LaPorta again suggests goingwith a more laid back breed such as aGolden Retriever which he says are lessrambunctious than other large breeds.

“If they’ve always had large breeds,they may want one,” said LaPorta. “It’s apersonal preference if the owners thinkthey can handle it.”

LaPorta also feels that cats can be agood choice for seniors. He says that theyrequire less maintenance.

“Cats can make nice pets,” LaPorta said.“They provide company and there’s a lotless you have to do as opposed to puttingon a leash and walking three times a day.”

When meeting a potential pet for the firsttime, LaPorta suggests spending time inter-acting with the animal. For dogs, he says todetermine the attitude and temperament ofthe dog. If it backs up in fear, it shouldmake you wonder how it will do in yourhome. By contrast, if the dog is playful,

looks healthy, is well-rounded and appearsto like people, you may have found yournew best friend. He also suggests checkingthe dog to make sure there is no dischargefrom the eyes or nose and that the animal isnot sneezing or coughing.

For cats, LaPorta also suggests interac-

tion with the potential pet as cats can bemore aloof and be more to themselves. Ifthis is not what you’re looking for in a cat,choose one that likes to be held and does-n’t jump away when you hold it. He alsosaid when petting the cat, it shouldn’t bite.

“You don’t pick a cat the cat picks you,”said Yokannan. “You’ll know when youmake the connection with a cat.”

“If you can lay an animal on its back andstroke it, that’s a good sign that it’s docileand will interact with you,” said LaPorta.

LaPorta also said that seniors need notspend hundreds of dollars for a purebred cator kitten. He suggested considering adoption.

“Adopting a pet saves a life,” saidYokannan. Even though the North ShoreAnimal League is a no-kill shelter, byadopting from there, a cage is opened upto allow another animal in.

Currently, the North Shore AnimalLeague has a special program called Sen-iors for Seniors. Thanks to support fromthe Olga Graham Fund, the Seniors forSeniors program gives qualified seniors 60and older the opportunity to adopt a ani-mal that’s at least two years of age and theadoption fee will be waived. In addition,the new owner is entitled to two freegroomings per year, and ten percent off of

all products at the NSALA Pet Store.For those who aren’t sure if they are

ready to make a full commitment, theNorth Shore Animal League also offers afoster to adopt program. In this program,potential adopters can foster a pet for aweek or two. If they love the animal, theyadopt it. If not, the North Shore AnimalLeague will accept the animal back andthen will find another home for it.

“It’s giving the animal much needed so-cialization and a vacation for a week oftwo,” said Yokannan.

For those who are interested in helpingout, the North Shore Animal League also hasa volunteer program. Volunteers walk dogs,socialize cats, bathe puppies and keep the an-imals fit. According to Yokannan, about tenpercent of the volunteers are seniors.

For those interested in adopting an ani-mal, the North Shore Animal League isopen seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 9p.m. If interested in volunteering, stop bybetween 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Mondaythrough Saturday.

“It gives seniors a responsibility,something to do day in and day out.”- Paul LaPorta, a veterinarian with Massapequa Hospital for Animals

If deciding on a dog, consider a smallerdog that is easier to handle.

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76838

Advice for SeniorsIn a StrugglingEconomy

By Ronald Scaglia

When the financial markets tumbled, many in-vestors had significant declines in their portfo-lios. Historically, the financial markets have al-

ways recovered from market downturns and thereforemany financial analysts have advised their clients to takea “wait it out” approach. Those, whose financial objec-tives are years or even decades away from now, are ableto follow this strategy. However, senior citizens who aredepending on their savings to provide for them today donot have the luxury of waiting the possible five or moreyears that many are forecasting it will take before theeconomy fully recovers. Yet, stashing your money underyour mattress or a non-interest paying checking interestaccount is not a viable strategy either.

Because of taxes and inflation, some rate of return mustbe earned or cash actually loses value. For example, let’ssay you have $20,000 in cash, which you can use to pur-chase a car. However, instead of buying the car you putthe cash in a safe deposit box. In a year from now, with a2 percent rate of inflation, the same car would cost$22,400 and the cash in the safe deposit box would not beenough to cover the cost.

However, more than any other group, seniors can ill af-ford significant reductions in their principal. For thosewho need solid financial advice for navigating the rougheconomic waters of the present, local financial expertshave some advice.

“It’s not one size fits all,” said Michael Driscoll, visit-ing professor and senior executive-in-residence at theAdelphi University’s School of Business. “Strategies, pro-files and needs are different.”

Driscoll strongly advises seniors to have the majority oftheir money handled by a reputable, financial advisor. Hesaid that seniors have drastically different goals from each

other with some looking to retire comfortablly and othershoping to assist their children or grandchildren with ex-penses such as education. He said that seeking advice froma reputable professional is the best way for seniors to de-vise an individualized plan for their finances. He said thatit is dangerous for seniors to try and invest on their own.

“You can Google how to take out your own appendixbut I wouldn’t advise doing it,” said Driscoll.

While adamant that all investors should seek the adviceof reputable brokers, he did highlight three investment

vehicles that seniors may want to ask their brokers about,which might offer some security and the chance to offerslightly higher returns than found with traditional safe in-vestment products such as treasury bonds. Driscoll saidthat municipal bonds, corporate bonds, and parts of theequities market, particularly blue chip stocks and mutualfunds that invest in blue chips may offer opportunities toachieve some return while keeping risk low.

Seeking advice from a reputable professional is the best way for seniors to devise an individualized plan fortheir finances.

continued on page 22


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TO YOUR HEALTHBy Richard H. Blau, M.D., F.A.C.R.

Food For Your JointsEvery part of your body requiresproper nutrition to maintain goodhealth. Your joints are no excep-tion. What you eat can not only helpmaintain joint health, but also mayimprove inflamed and painful jointsand muscles.

Most people know that foods that arehigh in cholesterol or contain satu-rated fats are bad for your heart. Butdo you know that certain foods canbe pro-inflammatory and bad for yourjoints? The good news is that manyfoods can be anti-inflammatory andimprove joint pain and swelling.

So who are the bad food guys? Wecan divide these foods into two cat-egories: unfavorable fats and unkindcarbs. Unfavorable fats include anyfats that are solid at room tempera-ture. The list includes saturated fats,such as those you find in meats, dairyproducts, and some vegetable oils,such as palm and coconut. It alsomeans trans fats (trans fatty acids),which are unsaturated fats withhydrogen adds. The problem withall of these fats is not so much thatthey’re inherently “bad”, but that they contain two types of inflammatory

fatty acids, called omega-6’s (par-ticularly one called arachidonic acid, which plays a major role in arthritis) and omega 9’s. We generally eat fartoo many omega-6’s and omega-9’s.

Unkind carbs are those that cause thevolume of glucose in your blood torise way too fast and way too high.Just stay away from: processed sug-ars, processed grains, and processedcereals. Most ‘white’ foods, such asmilled flour, pasta, and white rice,fall into one of these categories.Unfortunately, potatoes are also on the list of unkind carbs, even ifthey’re not processed. So is corn.

Which ones are the favorable fats?These fats contain omega-3 fatty acids. These acids produce a power-ful anti-inflammatory action in the body. Not only can they help youcontrol the pain and progression ofyour arthritis, but some scientific studies have suggested they may alsohelp keep your heart healthy by sup-pressing inflammation and blood clot-ting in your blood vessels, reducingyour cholesterol levels, lowering your blood pressure, slowing the growth offat deposits on your artery walls, and

preventing abnormal heart rhythms. As for their effects on arthritis,researchers have recently shown that they have benefits as strong as most non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.

Here are some excellent sources of omega-3’s: Cold water, oily fish(wild salmon, cod, tuna, trout, mac-keral, herring, sardines, halibut),flax seeds (ground into meal) andflax seed oil. Other sources includewalnuts and walnut oil, canola oil(rapeseed oil), pumpkin seeds andpumpkin seed oil, free-range chicken, free-range beef, broccoli, pinto, navy beans, kidney beans, chia, purslane, and Lingonberry.

Our goal as rheumatologists is tohelp our patients return to a vibrant, functional way of life and avoid sur-gery. This can often be done with acombination of proper diet, dietary supplements, excercise, and medica-tion. This combined approach has revolutionized the treatment of arthri-tis. It is important to always check with your medical physician before beginning any diet or dietary supple-ment program.One solution is not right for every-

one. Often it may take a combination of treatments to help you with your arthritis. An evaluation by a rheuma-tologist (arthritis specialist) may be helpful to find out which treatment is right for you. Rheumatologists are specifically trained to diagnose all types of arthritis. Their experience allows them to design individualized treatment programs for patients with arthritis.

Just released: Dr. Blau’s acclaimedarthritis self-help book entitled,“Too Young to Feel Old”. Available online and in all major bookstores.

Dr. Richard Blau is a board certified rheumatologist and medical director of the Arthritis Institute ofLong Island®, located in Hicksville.

For your complimentary copy of “The Joint Approach - An Arthritis Overview”, please call 516-932-7777.www.arthritisinstitute.com

Copyright 200776984

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Park Funeral Chapels• Making some simple decisions in advance ensures all of the details of a funeral will be carried out exactly as intended. Family members won’t be left wondering or making guesses as to what should be done.

• Advance planning also gives you peace of mind and savesyour family from the pressure of making emotional decisions at a difficult time. If you have ever had to arrange a funeral or cremation under emotional stress, then you understand how helpful preplanning can be.

• We make planning in advance easy, convenient and with-out cost. For families choosing to pay in advance, our FDIC insured interest-bearing accounts and Medicaid irrevocable trusts help to offset future price increases due to inflation. For many families, this means no additional funds are needed at the time of services.

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Consider all of the things preplanning does:

76629

76844

Social Security Announces3.6 Percent BenefitIncrease for 2012

OnlineHelp for Those ConsideringMedicare Health Plans

Monthly Social Security and Sup-plemental Security Income(SSI) benefits for more than 60

million Americans will increase 3.6 per-cent in 2012, the Social Security Admin-istration has announced.

The 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjust-ment (COLA) will begin with benefits thatnearly 55 million Social Security benefici-aries receive in January 2012. Increasedpayments to more than 8 million SSI bene-ficiaries will begin on December 30, 2011.

Some other changes that take effect inJanuary of each year are based on the in-crease in average wages. Based on that in-crease, the maximum amount of earnings

subject to the Social Security tax (taxablemaximum) will increase to $110,100 from$106,800. Of the estimated 161 millionworkers who will pay Social Security tax-es in 2012, about 10 million will payhigher taxes as a result of the increase inthe taxable maximum.

Information about Medicare changesfor 2012, when announced, will be avail-able at www.Medicare.gov. For some ben-eficiaries, their Social Security increasemay be partially or completely offset byincreases in Medicare premiums.

The Social Security Act provides for howthe COLA is calculated. To read more,please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/cola.

The Medicare open enrollment pe-riod is currently ongoing and willcontinue until December 7.

Medicare recipients who wish to changetheir Medicare plan have until December7 to make changes. Those who want tokeep their current plan do not have to doanything.

For those who are considering achange in plan, resources are availableto assist in making that decision.Medicare recipients may compare their

choices using Medicare’s Plan Finder,which may be used by logging on toMedicare.gov. This tool will help youfind and compare the different kinds ofMedicare Advantage health plans (orPart C) and Medicare prescription drugplans (Part D). You can do a generalarea search by entering your zip code oryou may enter your Medicare numberfor a personalized search, which mayprovide you with more accurate cost es-timates and coverage information.

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Free county programs that help emergency responders are geared toward seniorcitizens.

Nassau County Programs HelpEmergency Responders ProvideCare During Emergencies

Numbers of SeniorsIncrease Significantly

Did you know? Senior citizens are making up an even larger part of thepopulation. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, there are over 40 millionpeople in the United States aged 65 and up which accounts for 13 percent

of the population. The number of people aged 65 and up showed a 15 percent in-crease from the 2000 census when the same group numbered just under 35 millionand 12.4 percent of the population.

In Nassau County, seniors make up an even bigger part of the population as 15.3percent of Nassau’s residents are 65 years of age or older.

Nassau County is offering threefree services to help emergencypersonnel assist residents during

emergencies. Although available to allNassau County residents, the programsare geared toward senior citizens.

“Nassau County is happy to provide anarray of programs throughout the year forsenior citizens in our parks and local sen-ior citizen centers,” said Nassau CountyExecutive Ed Mangano. “The Countyalso offers several free programs to helpseniors in time of emergency. From theYellow Dot program to the Vial of Life,Nassau County is dedicated to protectingthe lives of those who helped build ourcommunities.”

The Yellow Dot Program was created toassist emergency personnel in obtainingvital information about drivers involved ina car accident who are not able to speakfor themselves. Drivers complete the Yel-low Dot form and then display a yellowdot on the left side of their vehicle’s rearview window. This alerts emergency per-sonnel that vital information about thedriver is located in the glove compart-ment. This will assist medical and emer-gency personnel during the first criticalminutes after a crash. To register for theYellow Dot Program call (516) 571-6000.

The Vial of Life Program is a similarprogram designed to help with emergen-cies with homes. A resident completes aVial of Life form and then places it inside

of a plastic baggie, which is placed on theresident’s refrigerator door. A decal isplaced in the resident’s front door to alertemergency personnel that the vital infor-mation is available on the refrigerator. Inaddition, residents may place in their Vialof Life baggie, a photo of themselves, aPhotostat of their last EKG, a living will ifthere is one, do not resuscitate orders ifdesired and any other important documen-tation that may be helpful to emergencyresponders. For more information on theVial of Life Program call 1-(888)-724-1200 or visit vialoflife.com.

R.E.A.C.H. is a database of childrenand adults with cognitive disorders thatmake them both more likely to become amissing person and that potentially limittheir ability to communicate with the po-lice and others.

R.E.A.C.H. registration will assist thepolice with a swift response to missingperson calls. Time is critical in these inci-dents. With R.E.A.C.H., a missing personalert with a recent photograph will quick-ly be available to police officers on patrol.Planning ahead for the worst case sce-nario ensures that the police have compre-hensive and correct information on themissing person to utilize in a targetedsearch. To register a person in R.E.A.C.H.Call Asset Forfeiture and Intelligence at(516) 573-5775, Monday through Fridayfrom 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., for an appointment.Registration is free.

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77020

“People have gone too far out on risk insearch of yield,” said Driscoll of the fi-nancial situation, which he described as a“global problem.” He later added of cor-porate bonds, “Buy blue chips with lowpossibilities of default.”

Andrew Kaplan, Executive Vice-Presi-dent with New York Community Bancorp,the parent company of The Roslyn Sav-ings Bank, agrees that it is very hard tofind significant returns while maintaininga degree of safety. Nevertheless, he saysthat keeping their assets secure is becom-ing a priority for senior investors.

“In today’s economy, a return of principlehas become more important than return onprincipal,” said Ka-plan. “Today the safemoney is at 1 or 2percent. The investortakes great solacethat there’s someguarantee of the re-turn of principle.”

Kaplan advisesseniors to examinetheir financial situa-tion and determinehow much moneythey absolutely must have in reserve in caseof an emergency in the next 12 to 24months. He advises this money be placed ina highly liquid safe account, which willmaintain the principal and gives the deposi-tor access to the money in such an emer-gency. Kaplan said that certificates of de-posit are an example of this.

“(Seniors) could pick up a little more ina CD than in a money market,” saidDriscoll. “Going out, one percent versus10 basis points is 10 times as much.”

“We try to remain competitive with ourCD rates,” said John Fennell, Vice-Presi-dent of New York Banccorp.

Kaplan also said that he is seeing an in-creased interest in products that provideliving benefits such as annuity products,which provide a stream of income whilemaintaining principle. He also mentionedstructured products as another option thatsenior investors are turning too. However,

he said that investors must be aware of theramifications of investing in products,even those that appear to be safe.

“A senior really needs to understand whatthe liquidity (the ease of turning somethinginto cash) is in, in both life and death,” saidKaplan. “Some products may provide liq-uidity if the client passes, some may not.”

Kaplan considers structured products tobe illiquid. He said that some of thesemay have a five to ten year commitmentand those commitments may be difficultto unwind with significant penalties forearly withdrawals.

“Seniors should revisit where they standin terms of their overall financial picture,”said Phil Palumbo, Vice-President andcertified financial planner at UBS Finan-

cial Services.Palumbo agrees

that seniors shouldlook at their overall fi-nancial picture. Hesays that seniorsshould ask them-selves: how much riskdo they need to betaking, are there waysto reduce risk, whatrate of return needs tobe achieved and what

investment solutions are available with lessrisk. He said they also should determine theportion of their money that they don’t be-lieve they will use in their lifetime and areplanning on passing on as an inheritance.Palumbo says that money could be investedmore aggressively.

As for the rest of their money, Palumbosuggests high quality dividend payingstocks. He also suggested massive limitedpartnerships, high yield bonds, structuredproducts and annuities with guaranteesand principal protection.

Despite the struggling economy,Driscoll believes that things will get bet-ter. He said the world has come throughfar greater challenges than this, includingone that some of today’s senior citizensplayed a significant role in.

“In the midst of World War II, that’swhen the world hung in the balance,” saidDriscoll. “It’s uncomfortable but all in allthings will still be okay.”

Advice for Seniors in a Struggling Economycontinued from page 18

“Employees are mandated to have ahand washing training class,” said Wolf-Klein. “They know it’s essential.”

“Every October, we go over infectioncontrol to encourage our staff to cover theircoughs, use tissues only once and then dis-card, practice stricthand hygiene, stayhome when sick anddisinfect equipmentbetween patients,”said Lynch.

Both Wolf-Kleinand Chaikin alsoconcurred that sen-iors need to managetheir stress in orderto keep their im-munes systems strong. They both say thatgetting plenty of sleep, avoiding stress andeating nutritious foods can help keep im-mune systems strong for the flu seasonfight. Wolf-Klein suggests foods high in vi-tamin C such as fruits and vegetables andsays that she eats blueberries every day.

“When you’re over 50 your immunesystem has taken a lot of hits,” saidChaikin. “Get plenty of sleep, stay physi-cally active, drink plenty of fluids andmanage stress.”

“Prioritize your health,” said Wolf-Klein.The geriatrician said that seniors

shouldn’t overexert themselves, whichthey and all groups tend to do as the holi-days approach. She said to not clean yourhouse the day you feel a little bit weakerand to think of themselves first and cancelbabysitting and similar appointments,even if that means disappointing childrenand grandchildren.

In addition, Wolf-Klein says that sen-iors should keepwarm this winter, ascold weather doesaffect nasal passagesand the virus growsbetter in the cold.She suggests keep-ing a fleece jacket orsweater in your carin case the weather

suddenly turns colder when you are out.She also said to be sure to wear somethingon your head to keep it warm. Additional-ly, she said that seniors should also try tostay warm with hot beverages – so chick-en soup does help.

“Hot fluids work nicely in terms of pre-vention and treatment,” said Wolf-Klein.

And if you do come down with the flu,see your physician immediately. Accord-ing to Chaikin, there are anti-viral medi-cines now available that will shorten theduration of the flu and make it less severe,but the must be taken as early as possible.

Flu Can Be a Matter of Life or Deathcontinued from page 8

“It’s a serious illness andsomething that wecan’t ignore.”

- Dr. Giselle Wolf-Klein,geriatrician with North Shore-LIJ.

“In today’s economy,a return of principal hasbecome more importantthan return on principal.”

- Andrew Kaplan,Executive Vice-President withNew York Community Bancorp

http://www.StJosephHospitalNY.org


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