The Health Fair provided by Meridian yearly will be held at the Senior Center on MAY 4th from 10:00 am -1:00pm. Please fast for aacurate test results. You may register by calling 732-920-8686.
Some of you may be aware that there was recently a security breach at a company called “Epsilon”, a marketing and advertising company in Dallas. The security breach includes only names and email addresses. They claim that no other personal information was compromised. Many major corporations utilize Epsilon to do their email marketing. Here is small list of some of those companies:
·Citibank
·JP Morgan Chase
·Capital One
·Verizon
·US Bank
·Target
·Best Buy
·Astra Zeneca
·Walgreens
·Home Shopping Network
·Dell
·M&T Bank
Due to this breach, almost everyone can expect to see a larger number of emails at home and work that could be spam or a phishing scam. Some of these emails will appear as though they are coming from you. Here are some helpful tips on what to expect and to keep you and your finances safe:
·If you are going to shop online, do so directly from the retailer’s website. Do not use links contained in emails. Links in emails can be deceiving. For example, this link says it will take you to http://www.bestbuy.com/ – click the link and see where it takes you. If you hold your mouse over the link without clicking it, a tool tip will appear telling you what website it will really take you to.
·If the email has an attachment, don’t open it! Legitimate retailers will not send you marketing emails with attachments.
·If you get an email asking you to log into your account to update information, do not click on any links in the email. Banks do not ask you to do this. Citibank now includes the following graphic in their emails to let you know it comes from them. It will include the last four digits of your account number and show you your “Member Since” date.
·Never respond to an email asking for personal information such as social security number, account numbers, user names or passwords.
·Any email you receive that says it came from your email address is fake and should be deleted immediately (unless of course you do send yourself emails).
·If an email is urging you to do something, think twice about it. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
·Sometimes a friend or family member’s computer can be compromised and a spammer can get your email that way. Then they can make the email look like it is coming from someone you trust. Remember the telephone? It’s how most of us once communicated back in the dark ages. If you get an email from someone you trust that doesn’t look right, call them and ask them if they sent it.
No. Growing older does not always mean you see poorly. Many older people have relatively good eyesight well into their eighties and beyond. But age can bring changes that may weaken your eyes, making reading in particular more difficult. There are some easy things to try when these changes happen. You might add brighter lights in more places around the house--like at work counters, stairways, and favorite reading places. This may help you see better and can sometimes prevent accidents caused by weak eyesight. You might need prescription glasses for reading, or simple reading glasses bought at the drug store might be enough. If you already have eyeglasses, you might need a stronger prescription.
Cataracts are common among older people. Cataracts are cloudy areas in part or all of the eye lens. The lens is usually clear and let’s light through. Cataracts keep light from easily passing through the lens, and this causes loss of eyesight. Cataracts often form slowly and cause no pain, redness, or tearing in the eye. If a cataract becomes large or thick, it usually can be removed by surgery.
Glaucoma is another common eye disease. This is the result of too much fluid pressure inside the eye. It can lead to vision loss and blindness. The cause of glaucoma is unknown. African-American women over the age of forty are at particular risk for glaucoma, as are all women over 60. If treated early, glaucoma often can be controlled and blindness prevented. To find glaucoma, the eye doctor will look at your eyes through dilated pupils. Treatment may be prescription eye drops, oral medications, or surgery. Most people with glaucoma have no early symptoms or pain from increased pressure.
As always, it is important to see your doctor regularly to check on your eye sight and other related problems
10.Dental health and mental health. US News and World Reports’ HealthDay has an article on a study in Japan that attempted to find a correlation between a person’s dental health and psychiatric condition. 4,000 participants aged 65 and older were given exams in both areas:
Compared with participants who still had many of their natural teeth, those with fewer or no teeth were much more likely to have experienced some memory loss or have early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
The researcher theorized that tooth infections may cause inflammatory substances to be released that damage the brain.
Participants with symptoms of memory loss tended to report that they had visited the dentist rarely, if at all. Dr. Nozomi Okamoto, the study's principal investigator, said that this may be one explanation for the study's findings but suggested that there may be other links between tooth loss and memory problems.
"Infections in the gums that can lead to tooth loss may release inflammatory substances, which in turn will enhance the brain inflammation that cause neuronal death and hasten memory loss," she said in a news release from the journal's publisher. "The loss of sensory receptors around the teeth is linked to some of the dying neurons."
This may lead to a vicious cycle, Okamoto explained. The loss of these brain connections can cause more teeth to fall out, further contributing to cognitive decline. www.health.usnews.com
1.Affordable Care Act to improve quality of care for people with Medicare. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today released proposed new rules to help doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers better coordinate care for Medicare patients through Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today released proposed new rules to help doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers better coordinate care for Medicare patients through Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). ACOs create incentives for health care providers to work together to treat an individual patient across care settings – including doctor’s offices, hospitals, and long-term care facilities. The Medicare Shared Savings Program will reward ACOs that lower health care costs while meeting performance standards on quality of care and putting patients first. Patient and provider participation in an ACO is purely voluntary.
The proposed new rules will help doctors, hospitals, and other providers form ACOs and are now available for public comment. HHS also announced it will hold a series of open-door forums and listening sessions during the comment period to help the public understand what the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency administering the ACO program, is proposing to do and to ensure that the public understands how to participate in the formal comment process.
“The Affordable Care Act is putting patients and their doctors in control of their health care,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “For too long, it has been too difficult for health care providers to work together to coordinate and improve the care their patients receive. That has real consequences: patients have gaps in their care, receive duplicative care, or are at increased risk of suffering from medical mistakes. Accountable Care Organizations will improve coordination and communication among doctors and hospitals, improve the quality of the care their patients receive, and help lower costs.”
By focusing on the needs of patients and linking payment rewards to outcomes, this delivery system reform, as part of the Affordable Care Act, will help improve the health of individuals and communities while saving as much as $960 million over three years for the Medicare program.
Under the proposal, ACOs – teams of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers and suppliers working together – would coordinate and improve care for patients with Original Medicare (that is, who are not in Medicare Advantage private health plans). To share in savings, ACOs would meet quality standards in five key areas:
·Patient/caregiver care experiences
·Care coordination
·Patient safety
·Preventive health
·At-risk population/frail elderly health.
The proposed rules also include strong protections to ensure patients do not have their care choices limited by an ACO. For immediate release: Thursday, March 31, 2011.
The Brick Township Senior Center located at 373 Adamston Road is hosting craft classes on the following dates: Tuesday, April 12th and Tuesday May 3rd.The Instructor and all supplies are donated by Laurelton Village.To participate in craft class
you must be sixty years and older. Please call to register for this event at 732-920-8686.
Press 1: For a Reservationist Press 2: To request a Return Trip Press 3: For Administration Press 4: For Route Information Press 5: Comment & Complaints Press 0: For an Operator
The Department of Transportation Services county transit system, Ocean Ride, includes two major services. the Reserve-A-Ride Program and local bus routes. Reserve-A-Ride provides door-to-door, non-emergency medical transportation service to seniors (age 60 and over) and person with disabilities. This service is offered by advanced registration basis primarily to destinations within Ocean County. Pre-registration is required.
Ocean County Transportation Information and Updates
Transportation Regular Meeting:
The Ocean County Transportation Advisory Committee for Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Meeting will be held Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 1:30 PM at the Ocean County Transportation Facility at 1959 Route 9 in Toms River. Please call 732-736-8989, ext. 244 if you have any questions.
Get Information on MOM
Ocean County continues its support of the proposed Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex rail line also referred to as MOM. For information on the proposed rail line Click here to view the website
wecommute program
Ocean County employees can now take advantage of a new carpool service sponsored by the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders and COAST TMA.
Click here for more information and to enter your name along with your work and home addresses into the carpool partner database.
The Ocean County Department of Transportation Services will hold annual Public Hearing on Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 1:00 PM in the Ocean County Administration Building located at 101 Hooper Avenue, Room 119 in Toms River.
A copy of the Ocean Ride Service Bulletin which describes the changes to the Ocean Ride system is available here for review.
The Ocean Ride transportation system currently includes 14 bus routes which operate throughout Ocean County ( PDF map of routes). The routes are designed to connect key residential areas with popular destinations such as local governmental facilities, healthcare, shopping, employment, social services and other transit connections. The bus routes operate on a fixed schedule, making it easy for you to plan your trip!
Funding for the Ocean Ride System is provided by County tax dollars as well as state and federal grants. The Board of Chosen Freeholders contribute more than 51% of the total annual budget.
Contact Phone numbers for Ocean Ride Transportation
The enclosed information has been compiledto assist and support family caregivers. Please feel free to call the Office of SeniorServices regarding the following information
Institute for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders
UniversityBehavioralHealthCare
UniversityofMedicineandDentistryofNewJersey
100MetroplexDr.Suite 200Edison,NJ08812
This listing ofagenciesor services is strictlyinformational and in noway indicatesan endorsement;nordoestheabsenceof anyagency orservicefrom thislistsignifydisapproval.
as well as therapeutic activities that may increase orientation and stimulate memory.
**KaringwithKindness732-341-4321
245Atlantic City Boulevard(Rt.166),Beachwood,NJ08722
Hours:8:30a.m.to5:00p.m.,MondaythroughFriday
Saturday:Hoursavailable uponrequest
Services:ThisSocialDayCareprovidestransportation,continentalbreakfast,home-style lunches and snacks, stimulation, cultural activities, socialization with peers,
Services:Ocean View is an all-inclusive Medical Day Care Program.Servicesinclude transportation, meals, individualized medical care plans, socialization, group
Services:YoungatHeartisanadulthealth&socialdayprogramthatservesclientswith physical and cognitive limitations. Also available: transportation,meals and nursingsupervision.
***YoungatHeart732-928-9222
115GrawtownRoad,Jackson,NJ08527
Hours:8:00a.m.to5:00p.m.,MondaythroughFriday
Services:YoungatHeartisanadulthealth&socialdayprogramthatservesclientswith physical and cognitive limitations. Also available: transportation,meals and nursingsupervision.
*NJDepartmentofHealthandSeniorServicesAlzheimer’sDementiaProgram,Providesfundingforadult day care; financial eligibility criteria;apply through adult day care center.
Consumer Support, for the Jersey Assistancefor Community Caregivers Program (JACC)
***Agency accepts JACC and Department of Healthand Senior Services Alzheimer’s DementiaGrant This list ofagencies orservices is strictlyinformationalandin no way indicatesan endorsement;nordoestheabsenceof any agencyorservicefromthislistsignifydisapprovalTheAdultDayCarelistwascompiledbytheOceanCountyOfficeofSeniorServices:3/6/08JR
Thislistofagenciesorservicesisstrictlyinformationalandinnowayindicatesanendorsement;nordoestheabsenceofanyagency or service from this list signify disapproval.
*Agency alsoprovides live inservices upon request.
Thislistofagenciesorservicesisstrictlyinformationalandinnowayindicatesanendorsement;nordoestheabsenceofanyagency or service from this list signify disapproval2/26/08DR8/19/08CG1/28/09CG6/4/09CG3/5/10CG10/12/10CG
•Whenpossible,talk aboutyourangerorfeelingswiththe personwhois ill.
TakenfromKeystoSurvival for CaregiversbyMaryK. Kouri, Ph.D.
Compiledby Louanne Kane, M.S.
COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES
•“I’d like to talk about the appreciation’s and the regrets both of us have in this relationship.Areyouwillingtoset asidea time whenwecoulddothat soon?”
•Looktheotherpersonintheeyeandlistenashetalks. It’sanopportunitytolearnabout yourselfandyourlovedone.Oftenthereareastonishingdifferencesinthewaytwo peopleexperiencethe same event.
•Iftheillpersonbecomesinsultingorabusive,say,“Iwanttotalkwithyou,butIwon’t listentohurtfulremarks.”Ifthepersoncontinues,say,“I’llcomebackafteryouare finishedsayinghurtfulthings”,andleave the room.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia.
Liver, Not Brain, May Be Origin Of Alzheimer’s Plaques
March 4, 2011
Adapted from the Scripps Research Institute
Unexpected results from a Scripps Research Institute and ModGene, LLC study could completely alter scientists' ideas about Alzheimer's disease—pointing to the liver instead of the brain as the source of the "amyloid" that deposits as brain plaques associated with this devastating condition. The findings could offer a relatively simple approach for Alzheimer's prevention and treatment.
The study was published online March 3 in The Journal of Neuroscience Research.
In the study, the scientists used a mouse model for Alzheimer's disease to identify genes that influence the amount of amyloid that accumulates in the brain. They found three genes that protected mice from brain amyloid accumulation and deposition. For each gene, lower expression in the liver protected the mouse brain. One of the genes encodes presenilin—a cell membrane protein believed to contribute to the development of human Alzheimer's.
"This unexpected finding holds promise for the development of new therapies to fight Alzheimer's," said Scripps Research Professor Greg Sutcliffe, who led the study. "This could greatly simplify the challenge of developing therapies and prevention." An estimated 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, including nearly half of people age 85 and older. By 2050, the number of people age 65 and over with this disease will range from 11 million to 16 million unless science finds a way to prevent or effectively treat it.
As for the future of this research, Sutcliffe says he hopes to find a partner and investors to move the work into clinical trials and new drug development.