December = Safe Toys & Gifts Month

December is Safe Toys and Gifts Month

*REPOST* https://www.healthtradition.com/december-is-safe-toys-and-gifts-month/

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 251,700 toy-related injuries in 2010 throughout the United States. 72% were to people less than 15 years of age. Additionally, in 2007 alone, toymakers recalled over 19 million toys worldwide because of safety concerns such as lead paint and small magnets.

When it comes to toys and gifts, the excitement and desire to get your children their favorite toys may cause shoppers to forget about safety factors associated with them. Before you make these purchases, it is critical to remember to consider the safety and age range of the toys.

Prevent Blindness America has declared December as Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month.  The group encourages everyone to consider if the toys they wish to give suits the age and individual skills and abilities of the individual child who will receive it, especially for infants and children under age three.

This holiday season (and beyond), please consider the following guidelines for choosing safe toys for all ages:

• Inspect all toys before purchasing. Avoid those that shoot or include parts that fly off. The toy should have no sharp edges or points and should be sturdy enough to withstand impact without breaking, being crushed, or being pulled apart easily.
• When purchasing toys for children with special needs try to:  Choose toys that may appeal to different senses such as sound, movement, and texture; consider interactive toys to allow the child to play with others; and think about the size of the toy and the position a child would need to be in to play with it. Consult the “AblePlay” website at http://www.ableplay.org/ for more information.
• Be diligent about inspecting toys your child has received. Check them for age, skill level, and developmental appropriateness before allowing them to be played with.
• Look for labels that assure you the toys have passed a safety inspection – “ATSM” means the toy has met the American Society for Testing and Materials standards.
• Gifts of sports equipment should always be accompanied by protective gear (give a helmet with the skateboard)
• Keep kids safe from lead in toys by:  Educating yourself about lead exposure from toys, symptoms of lead poisoning, and what kinds of toys have been recalled; being aware that old toys may be more likely to contain lead in the paint; having your children wash their hands frequently and calling your doctor if you suspect your child has been exposed to lead. Consult the last two websites listed below for more information.
• Do NOT give toys with small parts (including magnets and “button” batteries which can cause serious injury or death if ingested) to young children as they tend to put things in their mouths, increasing the risk of choking. If the piece can fit inside a toilet paper roll, it is not appropriate for kids under age three.
• Do NOT give toys with ropes and cords or heating elements
• Do NOT give crayons and markers unless they are labeled “nontoxic”.

For more information:

• Call Prevent Blindness America at (800)331-2020 or go to their website immediately below
• www.preventblindness.org/children/safetoys.html
• www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html
• http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/safe_toys.html
• www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/faq/toys.html
• www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002473.htm

← November is National Diabetes Month

Staying Healthy During the Holidays 

Alzheimer's Awareness

NOVEMBER IS ALZHEIMER’S AWARENESS MONTH

Every 70 seconds, another American family is affected by Alzheimer’s

*REPOST* https://www.alzinfo.org/articles/november-is-alzheimers-awareness-month/

Alzheimer’s is a complex neurological disease that is the most common form of dementia.  More than 5 million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s and more than 10 million are caring for a loved one with the disease.

Many of us here at Fisher Center Foundation know the devastation of Alzheimer’s firsthand.  Our families, like yours, have had to make so many difficult decisions about a loved one’s long-term care, financial assets and both physical and mental health.  Dealing with Alzheimer’s is not an easy task and, because Alzheimer’s affects each sufferer and caregiver differently, there is never one right way to cope.

As we honor our loved ones this November, Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, we would like to offer you the opportunity to arm yourself with the best information on Alzheimer’s disease.  A better understanding of the disease can prepare you for the road ahead.  We have also revised our Caregivers Corner to include up to date information that will help if you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s.  We hope that you find the information useful and that you gain a better understanding of this disease.

A great way to honor those you love during Alzheimer’s Awareness Month is to make a donation in their name.  Donate Online to make Alzheimer’s nothing but a memory for everyone.

Thank you for visiting ALZinfo.org and we hope that you have a happy and healthy November.

Alzheimer’s 101:

• Clinical Stages
• 10 Signs and Symptoms
• Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
• Drug Treatment & Research

Caregiving & Resources:

• Family Caregiving
• Caregivers Corner
• www.ALZTalk.org – the free online social network for Alzheimer’s and dementia
• Connect on Facebook and join the cause

Sign up to receive expert reviewed Alzheimer’s information in your inbox – FREE!

Veterans Day

Veterans Day is approaching and here at Senior Benefit Services, we’re very appreciative of those who have served this great country of ours. 

The SBS family would like to take this moment to thank the 20.4 million veterans and the 1.3 million active duty members this Veterans Day. 

We were curious about the origins of Veterans Day and thought you might be too...
Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. holiday to honor the end of World War I. In 1938 United Sates Legislation approved Armistice Day, a day “dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as Armistice Day." In 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, Congress amended the Act of 1938 by removing the word Armistice and inserting the word Veterans. Veterans Day honors military veterans with parades, speeches, and other celebratory events across the nation to honor and celebrate those who have served.

Senior Benefit Services would like to recognize and thank our team members, Tom and Brett, for their service to our country:

Tom Weislocher

Tom was drafted during the Vietnam War and served in the United Sates Army from 1970-1972. Tom was a Spec4, radio and radio-teletype operator, cryptographic communications specialist.  Tom was stationed in Vicenza, Italy, and had the opportunity to return on a bicycle tour in 2011 and reconnect with the country and old friends.




Brett Winter

Brett enlisted in the Navy in 2008 and is currently enlisted in the Navy Reserves. Brett is 2^nd Class Petty Officer. Brett worked as a Plane Captain and assisted pilots in takeoff and landing, and repaired planes. Brett has worked several air shows, and has performed maintenance on the Blue Angels Fleet. Through the Navy Brett has been stationed in New Orleans, Guam, and several other locations including Naval Air Station Fallon also known as “TOPGUN.”




Thank you for all you have done for your country, families and the SBS Family!

Senior Benefit Services
Written by Olivia Helmandollar
11/10/17

Medicare Glossary

The Must-Read Medicare Glossary

*Repost* http://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-insurance/info-2017/medicare-glossary-reference.html

A reference tool for some of the most commonly used Medicare terms

by Dena Bunis, AARP Bulletin, October 2017|Comments: 0

There are key terms you should know when researching Medicare options.

Medicare: The federal program that helps people over 65 and some people with disabilities pay for their health care. It is structured as an insurance program with several “parts.” Each covers a different type of cost.

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Part A: Covers hospital stays, selected costs of continuing care after a hospital stay, some home health services and hospice.

Part B: Covers doctor visits and services, preventive care, lab tests and screenings, medical equipment and supplies, and some home health care.

Part C: Allows private health insurance companies to provide Medicare benefits. Known as Medicare Advantage plans, they are often HMOs or PPOs offering comprehensive health coverage that includes the services covered by parts A and B and sometimes more. Most also cover prescription drugs (Part D).

Part D: Covers outpatient prescription drug costs.

Supplemental Insurance, also known as Medigap: This is optional private insurance that Medicare recipients can buy to pay for out-of-pocket expenses (such as coinsurance costs) that traditional Medicare doesn’t cover. 

Coinsurance: The percentage of the cost that you pay for a medical service or equipment. For example, for many Part B services, Medicare pays 80 percent of the cost; your coinsurance in those cases is 20 percent.

Copay: A specific dollar amount that you pay as your share of the cost of a medical service or equipment. For example, in a Medicare Advantage plan, you might have a $25 copay for a doctor visit; under Part D, you might have $10 copay for a particular prescription each time you get a refill.

Coverage gap: Also called the doughnut hole, this kicks in when you and your prescription drug plan costs reach a coverage limit that the government sets each year — $3,750 for 2018. After that, you pay a larger share of your prescription drug costs until your out-of-pocket costs reach a government-set threshold — $5,000 in 2018. After that, the government picks up most of the tab for your drugs. Under the Affordable Care Act, this coverage gap will be eliminated in 2020.

Deductible: The amount you must pay before insurance pays anything. For example, the Part B deductible in 2017 was $183; that means you must pay for the first $183 in expenses that fall under Part B before it will begin covering costs. 

Also of Interest

• READ: Medicare Resource Center
• WHERE AARP STANDS: AARP CEO: We'll fight for Medicare
• READ: Navigating the Medicare maze
• TELL US: What are your concerns about Medicare?

Learn about health discoveries, explore brain games and read great articles in the 'Your Health' Newsletter

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Flu Shots, do they really work?

Log into myuhc.com  Benefit Awareness News | September 2017 Do flu shots really work? Yes! Here’s how What to do next Don’t wait. Get your flu shot from a network provider as soon as it’s available. Here’s how to find a flu shot near you. Be sure to bring your health plan ID card with you. And tell your provider the flu shot is covered under your medical benefits, not your pharmacy benefits. Also in this edition Do flu shots really work? Yes! Here’s how Did your child catch something at school? Try a Virtual Visit Is your hospital safe? Discover a healthier you with Rally® Is it a cold or the flu? Colds and the flu have some similar symptoms. So it isn’t always easy to know which one you have. With a Virtual Visit, you can see a doctor from the comfort of your home or on the go. Connect with a doctor from your mobile device or computer 24/7. *Check your benefit plan to see what services may be covered. Benefit Awareness News sends articles based on topics of general interest to our readers. They are not targeted to individual members, nor are they individually customized. We do not have access to members’ personal health information. Therefore, we cannot send articles to members based on that information. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; U.S. Food and Drug Administration © 2017 United HealthCare Services, Inc. 9700 Health Care Lane, Minnetonka, MN 55343 USA. Privacy policy

How To Get Prescription Drugs During A Disaster

How to Get Your Prescription Drugs During a Disaster

Medical stations are open in Houston and Dallas — and soon in Baton Rouge

by Victoria Sackett, AARP, August 31, 2017|Comments: 0

Repost: AARP http://www.aarp.org/health/drugs-supplements/info-2017/emergency-prescriptions-hurricane-harvey-fd.html?cmp=SNO-ICM-FB-AO-EV&socialid=1056705924

MICHAEL CIAGLO/HOUSTON CHRONICLE VIA AP

Even for people who were able to gather their medicines before evacuating their homes, there’s concern about drugs that require refrigeration.

Thousands of people rescued from rooftops and plucked from rising water during Hurricane Harvey had to leave everything behind. For many, prescription drugs were among the items they abandoned.

Missing days of essential medicine can pose a health threat and adds to the sense of panic people feel during such emergencies — especially natural disasters. Fortunately, disaster response teams and medical units have been set up across the ravaged Texas counties. Those teams are helping provide access to prescription refills and vital medical care.

“This is a horrible, devastating time, but people should realize that continuing to take their medicines will help them meet the challenges,” said Barbara Young of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

For example, the more than 10,000 evacuees taking shelter at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston have an on-site medical facility — established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Additional medical stations have opened in Dallas and are ready to be deployed in Baton Rouge, La.

Texas state law allows pharmacists to dispense as much as a 30-day supply of a prescription drug during a natural disaster without a doctor’s authorization. American Red Cross volunteers also are authorized to help with refilling prescriptions in an emergency.

Even for people who were able to gather their medicines before evacuating their homes, there’s a concern about drugs that require refrigeration. It’s important to check with medical experts or a pharmacist for advice. Any drugs that have been exposed to flood water or unsafe tap water should be discarded, as they might be contaminated.

Government and charitable organizations have some tips for individuals and their families who require medicine or need places to receive treatments, such as drug infusions and kidney dialysis. Here is a sampling of available resources.

• To find an open pharmacy, go to RxOpen.org, which maps open and closed pharmacies during disasters. The site also has locations of American Red Cross shelters and infusion centers in the affected communities.
• Low-income patients can go to community health centers or clinics where the charity Direct Relief (directrelief.org) provides free prescription drugs and medical supplies.
• For those with a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, medicare.gov recommends contacting the plan to find the nearest network pharmacy that is open. If one is unavailable, the plan can connect evacuees with an out-of-network pharmacy. People might have to pay full price, but may be eligible for a refund. Call your plan for more details and instructions. To find your plan’s phone number, call 1-800-MEDICARE.
• Medicare recipients who need dialysis treatments should contact their End-Stage Renal Disease Network (ESRD) or call 800-MEDICARE to get ESRD Network contact information. Those who have a Medicare Advantage Plan should contact their provider to find out how they can get supplies, transportation to dialysis services and other information about dialysis treatments.
• For people who need chemotherapy or other cancer treatments, the National Cancer Institute (800-4CANCER) can help locate cancer care providers.

More on Hurricane Harvey

• Financial impact of Harvey will affect everyone
• Medical red tape cut for Hurricane Harvey victims
• WATCH: Disaster preparedness tips from AARP live

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