Independent You

With the Olympics underway, many families with seniors are more excited about the games than ever. Fortunately, when the final games are complete next weekend, Olympic fever does not have to end in the Northern Virginia area just yet. In a few months, the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics will take place in eleven counties and cities. In fact, the program is celebrating its 50th year.

What are the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics?

The Northern Virginia Senior Olympics is an event that promotes fitness and health (physically and mentally) for senior adults. Seniors can partake in numerous activities, many of which are featured in the London 2012 games.

When are the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics?

This year, the Senior Olympics will run from September 15-26.

What Kinds of Games are Featured in the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics?

Many traditional Olympic games are featured, such as swimming, tennis, javelin throw, and track/field. In addition, the Senior Olympics include fun activities that are not featured in the Olympic Games, including:

• Golf & Miniature Golf
• Yo-Yo tournaments
• Bridge
• Bowling (real and Wii versions!)
• Team Line Dance
• Bunco
• Scrabble

Who Can Participate in the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics?

Olympic activities are open to all residents ages 50 years and older who live in a sponsoring jurisdiction. Anyone who prefers not to participate in the games can volunteer at the events. Volunteering is also open to participants who are not competing in an event.

How Do I Register for the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics?

Participants can register online. They must complete and sign the entire form, along with credit card payment. The deadline for online registration is September 4. Alternatively, they can print out the form, complete it, and mail it; the form must be postmarked by September 1.

Some, but not all, events have on-site registration.

How Much is the Registration Fee for the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics?

The registration fee is only $12 for as many events as the senior wants to enter. However, there are additional fees for golf and bowling events.

Where Can I Find More Information About the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics?

Visit the official Northern Virginia Senior Olympics website for more information on the Olympics and to register online.

My Senior Cannot Drive. Is There a Way He/She Can Arrive at the Event Locations?

Don’t worry-Independent You has transportation services for Northern Virginia senior citizens! Your senior will arrive at the event locations for a low price, and you can be assured that our drivers are fully insured and have completed background checks.

Enjoy watching the Olympic Games from now til next week, but remember that Olympic times don’t have to end in Northern Virginia. Letting your seniors attend the Senior Olympics in September will inspire them to go for the gold!

Summer is here, which often means more trips to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. You and your parents enjoy spending plenty of time outside with your children, whether playing games or having a cookout. However, you should be aware of how much time your seniors are exposed to sunlight and (sometimes extreme) heat. Senior citizens are at a very high risk of heat stroke and other heat-related injuries, since their bodies are usually more insensitive to heat than their juniors’ systems.  Below are 5 tips to make sure your seniors stay healthy while doing the summer activities they love:

1. Have your seniors drink plenty of water. Even if they don’t think they’re thirsty (often as a result of a minimized “thirst reflex”), it’s important to remind them to keep themselves hydrated in hot weather. Water is their best option (soda, coffee, and alcoholic drinks tend to dehydrate, so limit them as much as possible), and advise them to drink 4 to 8 glasses a day.  Also encourage them to eat foods that have lots of water. Go to a farmer’s market and buy melons of all kinds, then make and enjoy a fruit salad! Snow cones, popsicles, and ice cream are also a great treats to savor in the dog days of summer.
2. Wear light clothing and sunscreen when going outside. The best options for heat-beating clothes are those made out of loose fabric (such as cotton) in light colors (darker colors tend to absorb heat, making your senior feel uncomfortably hot). It’s also important for your seniors to protect their heads and eyes from the sun by wearing brimmed hats and sunglasses. Sunscreen is a must; it should have at least a 15SPF and be reapplied either after every few hours (especially after they have been in the water or sweating for long periods of time). When they’re outside, make sure they don’t do too much too fast in the heat; let them take frequent breaks in the shade or indoors.
3. Go to a location indoors that has air conditioning if your senior does not any in the house: A common result of severe thunderstorms is losing power in the house, and that often includes air conditioning. If you senior loved ones lose theirs, make sure that they go somewhere that does. It could be a supermarket, a relative or friend’s home, the mall, or a community center. If they don’t drive a car and need to go somewhere, don’t have them wait for a bus in extreme heat. Instead, have them call a friend, a taxi, or a transportation service. If your seniors cannot leave the house for any reason, have them take a cool bath or shower to lower their body temperatures.
4. Talk to your senior’s doctor about his or her body’s reaction to certain medications. Many of them, especially antibiotics and diuretics, have the ability to block the body’s natural way to deal with the heat and sun. Some medications could have side effects of electrolyte and fluid loss. You should check with your senior’s doctor or pharmacist to make sure his or her medications are not causing your senior to be more probable of heat-related issues.
5. Tend to seniors that experience any signs of dehydration or heat exhaustion (weakness, nausea, low/heavy sweating, rapid pulse, and/or fainting). Immediately move them to the nearest area with cool shade, and give them plenty of cool liquids and ventilation (you could also apply a cold compress on any overheated areas of their bodies). Seek immediate medical assistance if seniors experience serious heat-related problems.

Follow these tips above and your senior loved ones will enjoy all their summer activities with friends and family.

Right now you may be going on summer vacations and attending summer holiday gatherings . Perhaps you and your senior loved one are getting ready to watch the Summer Olympics on television. If you are, you may have seen the commercial for the Alzheimer’s Association’s “Walk to End Alzheimer’s”. You may be wondering, “What is this walk all about?” “When is the walk?” “Is the walk located where I live?”

If you’re interested in walking for Alzheimer’s awareness (either because you or someone you know has a senior living with Alzheimer’s), read on for details on this event sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association.

What is The “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” Event?

Held annually, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the United States’ largest event to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s research, care, and support. Its purpose is to offer support and care for individuals and families affected with Alzheimer’s disease each year, and, eventually, end Alzheimer’s altogether.

The best part is that it’s not just “1″ walk- it’s over 100 across the country! In fact, there are more than 600 walks held in various communities each year!

Where and When Are the Alzheimer’s Walks in Northern Virginia?

There will be 3 “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” events in the Northern Virginia area this fall:

1. Reston: 2012 Walk to End Alzheimer’s and Candlelight Rally in Northern Virginia (Sept. 30)
2. Manassas: 2012 Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Prince William County – Manassas, VA (Oct. 13)
3. Washington, D.C.: 2012 Walk to End Alzheimer’s in the Nation’s Capital – Washington, DC (Oct. 27)

Should I Register If I Want to Participate in An Alzheimer’s Walk Event?

The Alzheimer’s Association would like you to register for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s event of your choice because they want to know that you’re enthusiastic about Alzheimer’s awareness! You can register in 1 of  2 ways:

• Online: look for the event you want to attend, choose 1 of the 3 participation options (Form a Team, Join a Team, or Walk as an Individual), and follow the steps to complete the registration
• Print and complete an offline registration form: you can find it at alz.org/walk

How Do I Create a Team to Participate in  A ”Walk to End Alzheimer’s” Event With Me?

The Association makes it simple to create a Walk team of your own online. After you find your local Walk, click “Start A Team.” Becoming the Team captain, you can ask family, friends, and coworkers to join your team. Though there’s no limit of how many people can be on your team, the Association recommends teams of 8-12 individuals.

I Want to Start Fundraising for “Walk to End Alzheimer’s.”

There are 2 ways you can raise funds for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s event:

• When you become a Team captain, you’ll have access to a team fundraising page and other tools to help you and your teams raise money for Alzheimer’s
• If you choose the Walk as an Individual option, you can share your own Alzheimer’s story on your personal Walk to End Alzheimer’s  fundraising webpage. Then, share your page with others by email, social networking, and word of mouth.

I Cannot Participate in A ”Walk to End Alzheimer’s” This Year, But I Want To Donate to the Alzheimer’s Association.

You can quickly and easily submit donations to the Alzheimer’s Association if you cannot or would not like to participate in the Alzheimer’s Walk. You can make your donation in 1 of 3 ways:

• Make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association online.
• Submitting a money order or check by mail
• Hand-delivering check, cash, and money orders to your local Alzheimer’s Association chapter.

Spend some fun time in the sun with your senior loved one, but make sure he or she doesn’t stay out too long. (lots of cool air and water will make your senior happy!) However, if you want to attend a Walk to End Alzheimer’s event in your area, the time to plan is now. Before you know it, temperatures will drop and the leaves will too.

You care about the well being of your senior loved one, especially his or her health. However, you’re concerned that you cannot afford health care for him or her because of age, medical issues, or disabilities. You don’t have to be concerned any longer-Medicare can be a possible option for quality, affordable health care for your senior.

What is Medicare?

Medicare is health insurance for individuals  that meet the following qualifications:

• Ages 65 or older
• Under 65 years of age with certain disabilities
• End-Stage Rental Disease (ESRD), permanent kidney failure that requires a kidney transplant or dialysis (at any age)

There are four parts of Medicare, which cover specific services:

• Part A (Hospital Insurance): This helps cover impatient care in hospitals, as well as hospice, skilled nursing facility, and home health care.
• Part B (Medical Insurance): This helps cover doctor’s (and other health care providers’) services, outpatient care, home health care, and durable medical equipment. It also provides some preventative services (flu shots, Pap tests, etc.) to help maintain your senior’s health and to prevent specific illnesses from getting worse.
• Part C (Medicare Advantage): This offers health plan options that run by private insurance companies that improve Medicare, a great way to obtain benefits from Parts A and B, and most programs include prescription drug coverage (Part D); some Advantage plans include additional benefits for an additional price.
• Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage): This helps cover the cost of prescription drugs, as well as possibly help lower the cost of prescription drugs and protect against increased prices in the future; programs are often run by Medicare-approved private insurance companies.

How Can My Senior Qualify for Each Medicare Program?

Each Medicare program has different eligibility requirements. Sometimes your senior automatically qualifies for some Medicare programs if he or she is signed up for other programs. Usually, he or she may need to to sign up for Medicare programs for various reasons.

Parts A & B

Most individuals get A and B automatically if one of the following applies to them:

• Receiving benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB): He/she automatically receives Parts A and B starting on the 1st day of the month the person turns 65, or if the 1st day of the prior month if the birthday is on the 1st day of the month.
• Under 65 and disabled: Both parts are automatically received after the individual gets disability benefits from Social Security or certain disability benefits from the RRB for 24 months.
• Has Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): He/she automatically gets both parts the month the disability benefits begin.

Most people receive Part A if they live in Puerto Rico and get Social Security and RRB benefits. They will need to sign up for Part B if they also want to participate in that program.

Your senior will receive a Medicare card 3 months before his/her 65th birthday or their 25th month of disability if he/she is automatically enrolled.

You may need to sign up for Parts A and B if your senior isn’t receiving Social Security nor RRB benefits and he/she qualifies for Medicare because he/she has ESRD. You can sign up for Parts A and B when:

• The person is first eligible.  He/she will have a 7-month Initial Enrollment Period (begins 3 months before the month the person turns 65, includes the month he/she turns 65, and ends 3 months after the month he/she turns 65) to sign up for Part A and/or Part B
• The period between January 1 and March 1 of each year occurs
• The person is qualified for a special enrollment program
• The person has volunteered abroad

You can sign up for Parts A and B in one of the following ways:

• Apply online at the Social Security website
• Visit your local Social Security office
• Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213
• Call the RRB at 1-877-772-5772 (if your senior worked for a railroad)

If your senior doesn’t want Part B, you should follow the instructions that come with the Medicare card, and then send the card back. If your senior keeps it, he/she will keep Part B and the premium costs will have to be paid.

What Are the Costs of Parts A & B?

Part A: There’s usually no monthly premium payment if your senior automatically qualifies for Part A. However, if he/she buys it, the cost can be up to $450 per month.

Part B: Most individuals pay $115.40 per month, but the amount may increase if your senior modified his/her adjusted gross income as reported on their federal tax return from 2 years ago is above a certain amount. Please be aware that if your senior doesn’t sign up for this program when he/she is first eligible,  there will be  a late enrollment penalty for the duration your senior has Medicare. The monthly premium may go up 10% for each entire 12-month period that he/she could have had Part B, but didn’t sign up for the program. If he/she met certain conditions that allowed them to sign up for Part B during a special enrollment period, the penalty usually doesn’t have to be paid.

Parts C & D

The times when you can sign up for Medicare Advantage (Part C) and/or Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) are based on your senior’s specific situation:

• He/she is newly eligible because he/she has turned 65: He/she can sign up for Part C and/or D during the 7-month initial enrollment period, which starts 3 months before the month he/she turns 65, includes the month he/she turns 65, and ends 3 months after the month he/she turns 65.
• He/she is newly eligible because he/she is disabled (under 65): He/she can sign up for Part C or D starting 21 months after he/she gets Social Security or RRB benefits. Your loved one’s chance to sign up lasts through the 27th month after he/she gets Social Security or RRB benefits. After signing up, his/her Medicare coverage will begin 24 months after he/she started to receive Social Security or RRB benefits.
• He/she is already eligible because he/she turned 65 and is disabled: He/she can do one of the following:

1. Sign up for Part C and/or D
2. Drop Part C or D completely
3. Switch from current plan (C or D) to another plan.

One of these tasks can be done during the 7-month period. If he/she signs up for a Medicare Advantage Plan during this time, he/she can drop that plan at any time during the next 12 months and go back to original Medicare.

• He/she doesn’t have Medicare Part A coverage, and he/she enrolls in Part B during the Part B general enrollment period : He/she can sign up for Part D between April 1 and June 30.
• He/she has Part A coverage, and he/she enrolls in Part B during its general enrollment period: He/she can sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage) between April 1 and June 30.

These are just the basics of Medicare. Various exceptions and benefits apply if your senior is in other situations (he/she is a veteran, has other insurance, moves to a new location, loses current coverage, etc.). But if you want to be confident that your loved one is receiving the health care he or she needs at an affordable cost, Medicare may be an excellent option. If you can help your senior be healthy, happiness can follow.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, “one in eight older Americans has Alzheimer’s disease.” Perhaps you have a family member or friend who has Alzheimer’s. You may know someone who has a friend or family member living with the disease. Do you wish you can do something to show your support for Alzheimer’s care and research?

The Alzheimer’s Association, the leading health organization in Alzheimer’s disease worldwide, created an annual event dedicated to the disease’s awareness, support, and research, The Longest Day. It is held on the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, and this year it’s on June 20.  The purpose of the event is “to honor the passion, dedication and strength displayed by people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers every day.” The association strives to continue the event until a cure for Alzheimer’s is found.

On this day, you create a team of at least four members, and choose a physical activity, route, and time of day to get active. However, you have to make sure that a member of your team is moving throughout the 16 hours of daylight. In addition, each team member pledges to raise a commitment fee and is asked to raise at least $100/hour per activity. The Association will help you with your Longest Day activities, from providing fundraising support and event day kits to connecting your team to a virtual community of other  teams.

Here’s some ideas of activities to help your team (or just yourself) get started:

• Running/jogging
• Rigorous gardening
• Walking
• Biking
• Golfing
• Playing tennis
• Dancing
• Rock climbing
• The possibilities are endless!

For more information on how you can get involved in the Longest Day, visit the official website.

What do you do to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease? Share your ideas in the reply section!

Your 80-year-old mother drives for many purposes: visit family and friends across the county, go to church, and run errands. However, you’re concerned that her weakened eyesight and reaction time is inhibiting her ability to drive. At the same time, you know that when you ask her to give you the keys, you’ll be taking away her freedom and joy to be self-sufficient.

Are you in a situation similar to the one described above? Asking your senior to stop driving may be one of the most difficult decisions you have to make. There is one thing that mainly influences your decision: safety. Before you consider having your loved one rely on other modes of transportation, answer the following 3 questions, based on dmv.org’s assessments:

1. Does my senior feel safe driving? 

Independent You now accepts VISA and Mastercard!

Many of our customers have been asking so we’ve finally added the convience of using VISA and Mastercard as payment for services!

This makes it easy for you to get the services you need when you need them with just a phone call.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

As a daughter of two aging parents and being in a business with seniors, I believe one of the most difficult things to witness is seeing the ones we love grow old.  To watch them shuffle across a room and then forget what they went to get or to hear them speak of their siblings and watch as they struggle to recall their names or where they live is truly a hard thing to see. As they grow older, into their 80′s and 90′s, I think we all start to wonder is longevity really a good thing?   

Sometimes I wonder if long life is really a gift.

Bone-tired and weak, I can’t even open a jar of jelly.

I feel so useless.

Then I begin to think of the many blessings long life has provided.

                     I have watched children and grandchildren grow from chubby-cheeked toddlers to remarkable adults.

Tears of joy have filled my eyes at countless graduations and weddings.

My life has been chockful of Christmas mornings and summer vacations.

These are the special gifts of a long life.

Tender memories that make me rich beyond measure.

It’s true I have known heights and depths, both joy and heartache.

May the footprints I leave behind my long life guide others to you.

I accept today as yet another gift.

I will open it with a grateful heart knowing I have purpose in this day.

To thine be the glory.

By: Missy Buchanan

Yes, a longevity is a good thing.  It is a blessing given from God and as I go through my days helping my parents or someone elses, I will thank God for the blessing before me.     M. Crosson

Fairfax County Seniors Service Company Launches New Web Site

In order to better communicate with and serve the needs of Senior Citizens in Fairfax County, Virginia, Independent You has launched a new web site at IndependentYou.net.

The site includes a listing of resources available to Fairfax County Senior Citizens along with an interactive blog called NoVa Senior News which will communicate upcoming events and items of interest to this growing audience.

Independent You provides a wide variety of services to Fairfax County Senior Citizens who wish to Age In Place, remaining in the comfort and familiarity of their own home as long as possible.

Independent You’s services include:

• Transportation Services
• Driving and Accompanying to Appointments
• Assistance with Errands
• Cooking and Light Housekeeping
• Monitoring
• Telephone Check-Ins
• And Much More

Based in Fairfax Station, Virginia, Independent You serves Senior Citizens located in:

• Fairfax
• Chantilly
• Centreville
• Burke
• Springfield
• Merrifield
• Oakton

And selected other locations in Fairfax County and Northern Virginia.

For more information about Independent You or their new web site, contact:

Mary Beth Crosson
Founder

Independent You

703-999-3006

marybeth@independentyou.net