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Many older adults are inactive despite efforts to promote the benefits of regular physical activity. Because walking is the most commonly reported form of physical activity among older adults, enhancing community environments to support walking is a promising approach to increase physical activity among seniors. Research shows that modifying a community’s physical environment to ensure access to appropriate exercise venues and address barriers to walking may increase the physical activity of older adults. Specific measures include: repairing si...
(ARA) - Whether you're heading south for the winter or visiting family in far-off locales for the holidays, cool weather driving can be a fun, fulfilling experience. But while drivers of all ages can enjoy the pleasures of a long trip, changes in roads, road rules and driving conditions can make it more important for older drivers to make extra preparations to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey. AARP Driver Safety offers some advice for drivers age 50 and older who are planning to be on the...
The sooner you start putting aside money for retirement, the more you might have once that highly anticipated day arrives. Saving for college tuition, purchasing a new home, unforeseen medical expenses, or life’s other necessities, surprises, or even enjoyments can cause investors to postpone saving. Starting the retirement planning process late in one’s life can be daunting; but it is by no means impossible. Crunch the Numbers The first step to getting back on track is to put together a budget; this will force you to focus on your fin...
Local organizations urge patients and providers to take advantage of new plan options and services available beginning October 15th The Medicare Rx Access Network has re-energized its local partners to help prepare Montana seniors for the upcoming October 15th through December 7th Open Enrollment opportunity for Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans. More than 171,499 Montanans are currently covered by Medicare. While there are still a few weeks until seniors can make changes to their benefits, Medicare Rx Access Network members are urging...
As a result of the Affordable Care Act – the health care law enacted in 2010 – seniors and people with disabilities in Montana have saved $12.0 million on prescription drugs since the law was enacted, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced recently. Seniors in Montana saved an average of $623 in the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap known as the “donut hole” in 2012. Nationwide, nearly 5.4 million seniors and people with disabilities have saved over $4.1 billion on prescription drugs. In addition, during...
In increasing numbers, it seems couples that have built their life around the family farm in America are facing a new dilemma as they reach retirement age. In many cases the farm is producing no more than 2 to 3% of its market value in an income stream. In today’s society, the children often have little or no interest in carrying on the farming tradition of Mom and Dad. And the prospect of relying on this asset for significant retirement income while having to pay someone else to run the farm i...
Dr. Dale Speiser drove through Sidney on a little road trip a few months ago and knew as soon as he hit town this was the place for him. After getting a fifth wheel and finding space in the Yellowstone Mall, he was ready to start working. Dr. Dale was born in Miles City, MT, and has lived in both the eastern and western parts of the state. His family goes back generations in the Ekalaka and Forsyth areas. Dr. Dale did most of his undergraduate work in Rexburg, ID and Las Vegas, NV, and attended...
(ARA) - Two million Americans fall victim to medical identity theft each year, according to a study by the Ponemon Institute, commissioned by Experian's ProtectMyID. While medical identity theft costs victims an average of $22,346, the potential impact can be far greater - medical identity theft could cost some victims their health, or even their lives. Medical identity theft involves the theft of personal information - such as your name, Social Security number or Medicare number - to obtain medical care, purchase drugs or submit false claims...
The Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced that it is moving forward with a plan to provide burial services for Veterans in rural areas where there are no available VA national cemeteries, state Veterans cemeteries or tribal Veterans cemeteries. “VA is committed to improving service to Veterans in rural areas,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “Through an innovative partnership with existing cemeteries, we will be able to ensure burial for Veterans in more locations that meet the high standards of national shrin...
She wears a bright pink dress with a large Art Deco, pastel-jeweled cross at her neck. Her nails are painted with a muted purple glitter polish. She makes it look stylish and pretty. She has soft blond hair (with a touch of grey), and speaks with a warm, pleasant voice. They call her Pastor Vicki. For the last three years, Vicki Waddington has led a prayer service in Sidney, Montana for people touched by cancer-survivors, caregivers, family and friends. Her hope is that it gives them a place to...
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki recently announced the award of $365,000.00 in homeless prevention grants to the MT counties of: Big Horn, Carbon, Stillwater, Sweet Grass and Yellowstone. The grants will serve approximately 75 homeless and at-risk Veteran families as part of the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. This award will serve Veteran families associated with Volunteers of America Northern Rockies, one of 151 community agencies in 49 states and the District of Columbia to receive a grant. “We are c...
Q: I am hearing stories about rebates on health insurance premiums. What is the story behind these rebates? Do I get one? A: Many insurance companies spend a substantial portion of consumers’ premium dollars on administrative costs and profits, including executive salaries, overhead, and marketing. The bigger this portion is, the less health care is provided to you for each premium dollar you spend. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, consumers will now receive more value for this premium dollar, because insurance companies will be required t...
If you know anyone age 60 or older in Divide, McKenzie or Williams counties, think about congregate or home-delivered meals for them. Eligible clients: *Individuals age 60 and older and their spouses, regardless of age. Individuals under age 60 (except for spouses) may receive a meal only when it will not deprive an eligible client the opportunity to receive a meal. Individuals under age 60 (except for spouses) must pay the full cost of the meal unless one of the three criteria listed below is met: *Volunteers under age 60 providing meal servic...
In Montana, the Affordable Care Act – the new health care law – helped 49,819 with original Medicare get at least one preventive service at no cost to them during the first six months of 2012, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced. This is 35% of those eligible for these services in Montana. This figure also includes 6,489 in Montana who have taken advantage of the Annual Wellness Visit provided by the Affordable Care Act. Nationwide, over 16 million with original Medicare received at least one preventive service...
Nothing tastes quite as scrumptious as a homemade pie, one with flaky, melt-in-your-mouth pastry and filled to bursting with some sort of fruit or custard filling. Pie smells delectable, makes one’s mouth water just by looking at it, and usually a homemade pie, when placed on the dinner table, disappears in the blink of an eye. I used to bake a lot of pie. I mixed the pastry, rolled it out, and fit it into an appropriate pie pan. I cut or sliced the fruit and added the necessary additional i...
There are certainly times in life when silence is indicative of brilliance. Everyone experiences those moments when the smart thing to do is leave some things unsaid. But planning for the distribution of an estate is not one of those times. It is a surprising reality that every year the vast majority of adults who die in America die without having given proper attention to the final articulation of their wishes. Most have definite ideas about appropriate estate distribution, business...
More than 100,000 health care providers have been paid under the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) announced today. Of those, 179 eligible providers in Montana have received $11,576,256 in payments. CMS Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner and National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Farzad Mostashari, M.D., Sc.M., first proposed the 100,000 goal in March in a...
Magic, illusion, multiple people with unique and wondrous talents, and a love story as well all intertwine in the book The Night Circus written by Erin Morgenstern. The best way to describe this delectable read is to call it an adult fairy tale, or to classify it as fantasy. The people who populate this book for the most part have an extraordinary talent of one kind or another, and yet they remain believable, likable people. Morgenstern explores the fine line between reality and illusion; what i...
Q: What are the 2012 Cost Sharing Amounts for Medicare Part A & Medicare Part B? A: The 2012 Part B premium for most beneficiaries is $99.90 per month. This is a $3.50 per month increase for most beneficiaries. However, it is a decrease for those who joined the Medicare program in 2010 and 2011, and were paying higher premiums as a result. This is because of a law which freezes Part B premiums for those already in the program, when there is no cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in their Social Security benefits, and the premium is withheld from...
Alexander native Kathy “Jess” James opened her coffee and gift shop, James Gang Java, last week in Alexander, ND. The shop is located in the historic Charbonneau Township Hall building next to Alexander’s Lewis & Clark Trail Museum off Highway 85 in Alexander. An open house for the coffee shop and museum is planned for July 22. The shop offers three blends of hot and cold gourmet coffee, coffee smoothies, Italian sodas, fruit smoothies, spiced chai tea, hot chocolate & steamers and sport tea e...
Summer allows more time for children to play outdoors, but when kids are covered with bug bites after spending time outside, parents may start to worry about diseases by mosquitoes, such as West Nile Virus (WNV). Luckily, parents can take simple steps to prevent bites and diseases spread by bugs. Use an effective insect repellent Parents may feel overwhelmed by the many bug protection products in the grocery aisle, wondering which ones are best. CDC recommends a variety of effective products. Most pediatricians recommend using products with 30...
After serving Richland County for twenty two years, MSU's Family and Consumer Service Extension Agent Judy Johnson will retire from her position effective the end of June. Johnson's duties as consumer service extension agent included family financial management, food and nutrition issues, food safety, human development, and housing and environmental quality. Johnson's responsibilities have changed somewhat through the years, as Extension always seeks to educate and provide services where little...
Rhubarb grows well in most farm gardens and has a special spot in town gardens as well. This tart, tasty vegetable (yes, botanists consider rhubarb, as a member of the garden sorrel species, a vegetable) makes excellent muffins, cakes, tortes, jellies, and juice, and when surrounded by delectable flaky pastry, rivals any fruit pie in flavor and taste. Rhubarb, grown in the ancient world as a medicinal plant, arrived in Maine in the early 1800s, when one enterprising farmer imported seed and plan...
Retirement often offers the opportunity to participate in leisure activities that people never find time to do while they remain in the work force, a fact that Ardean and Donna Skogen, Cartwright, discovered to their joy. After retiring, the couple purchased a thirty foot RV and have enjoyed camping, fishing, and related activities on a regular basis ever since. The Skogens did purchase a small Corsair camper in 1978, but they used it as living quarters for a period of time rather than as a recr...
Q: What is the Medicare Competitive Bidding Program and How Will it Affect Me? A: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) Competitive Bidding Program for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) is an important step towards the Medicare program paying appropriately for medical items and services. The program has and will reduce out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare beneficiaries and has and will save the Medicare Program money while ensuring beneficiaries continue to receive quality products from acc...
