Our SeniorAve.com team is excited to welcome a new guest blogger, Roland. He is the Social Media Manager at DependOne, a leading provider in the Personal Medical Alert System industry. Take a look at part 2 of his post on aging healthy by staying fit.

Age Healthy By Staying Fit: Part 2

In Part 1 we discussed the many benefits of physical exercise. Benefits include healthier bones, joints, muscles and more importantly cardiovascular health benefits. One of the more common benefits that many people try to attain from exercise is weight loss. Although I did not touch on the subject of dieting in the previous post it is just as important for weight loss, and overall health as exercise is. Exercising on a regular basis is easier said than done so here are some tips and suggestions to help you become the healthiest person you have the potential to be.

Get Motivated & Stay Motivated

For many of us it is much easier to come up with reasons not to exercise rather than come up with reasons as to why we should. Some common excuses include:

• Feeling too tired
• Not having enough time
• Too many other important things to do
• Saying that exercising is boring

Now let’s shed some light and truths on those excuses. First off, when we exercise, our body releases “good-feeling hormones” called endorphins that give us energy. So if being too tired is an excuse, know that exercise can actually help get rid of tiredness and give you energy instead. Not having enough time is one of the most popular excuses but also one of the most poorly supported ones as well. According to the U.S. Government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics Time Use Survey the average American spends about 3 hours per day watching television. Even if you maintain that average, you could do simple exercises in your living room during commercial breaks and/or between shows. A great way to make exercising more entertaining is to do something you enjoy. Personally, I do not enjoy running on a treadmill because I think it is boring but I love playing basketball which is a great alternative to getting a similar cardio workout. Watching TV, listening to music, and working out with friends are some other great ways to make exercising more enjoyable and exciting. In fact, working out with friends or family helps you stay motivated and accountable to keep exercising on a regular basis. 

Exercises & Routines

Now that we know the many benefits of exercising and ways to get motivated about working out let’s learn what exercises we should engage in along with the amount of time per week we should devote to them. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommend that for optimal health, older people should engage in four primary physical activities:

• Endurance Exercises
• Flexibility/Stretching Exercises
• Balance Exercises
• Strength Exercises

Endurance exercises can include simple things such as brisk walking, light jogging, walking on the elliptical, swimming, and biking outside or on a stationary bike. Some good stretching exercises include back, ankle, chest, shoulder, neck, thigh, hip, calf, lower back, and arm stretches. Yoga and Pilates implement great stretching routines that incorporate stretching of your entire body. Engaging in balance exercises helps your core but most of all strengthens your lower body. Popular balance exercises include back leg raises, walking heel to toe, hip extensions, side leg raises, and standing on one foot. Strength exercises are probably the most critical to the majority of people. Take extreme caution before beginning a strength exercise routine and consult with your physician before doing so. Easy and simple strength exercises include wrist & arm curls, back leg raises, elbow extensions, seated rows with resistance bands, and knee curls. According to the CDC adults need about 2 hours and 30 minutes of aerobic activity every week. The good news is that it can be broken down into increments of 10 minutes each spread over 7 days. Start out slow if you have to by making little changes such as taking the stairs at work instead of the elevator, raking leaves, or even walking your dog more often. Be creative and come up with unique ways you can stay active and improve your health.

Here is a little fact I found that is quoted directly from the NIH: “Being physically active on a regular basis is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself.”

Our SeniorAve.com team is excited to welcome a new guest blogger, Roland. He is the Social Media Manager at DependOne, a leading provider in the Personal Medical Alert System industry. Take a look at his post on aging healthy by staying fit. Be sure to check back for Part 2 coming next week!

Healthy Bones, Joints, Muscles, & More

Generally for most people, health becomes more of an issue as they grow older. People try all sorts of things to get healthy or remain healthy such as taking medications, eating a nutritious diet, getting regular sleep, maintaining good hygiene, and trying to keep a positive attitude. Some of these tactics work, some do not, and some may do more harm than good. However, one simple thing you can do to age healthy is exercise.

Exercise does wonders for your entire body. Proper routine exercise can help your body’s joints and ligaments by stretching them and increasing their blood flow. Exercise generally leads to healthy weight loss which in turn reduces the amount of weight and stress placed on your body’s joints. As people age, they become more susceptible to injuries. For example, as our bones get older they become less dense over time which is a main reason for the many catastrophic injuries among the elderly. That is why it is very important to engage in low-impact exercises such as swimming, walking, light weight-lifting, and bicycling. For people who are unable to engage in these exercises, there are many simple stretching activities that are great for your body as well. You may not experience your desired weight loss with just stretching as opposed to swimming or bicycling but activities like Yoga and Pilates are still great for your muscles, bones, ligaments, joints, etc.

Cardiovascular Health Benefits

Proper routine exercise is extremely beneficial for your cardiovascular system for many reasons. Exercise helps prevent strokes and heart disease by strengthening your heart muscle, improving blood flow, and lowering bad cholesterol levels. Physical activity also helps prevent the development of high blood pressure (HBP) and helps those with HBP lower their blood pressure. Proper routine exercise helps reduce body fat which in turn reduces many risks such as developing diabetes, HBP, heart disease, and obesity. As you grow older, exercise becomes more essential to your health and can keep you looking and feeling younger.

Can Exercise Slow Aging?

Many researchers believe that engaging in regular exercise can slow the aging process. One main way exercise does this is by reducing the many health risks associated with growing older. The Arthritis Foundation posted an article related to this topic and referenced a research study by King’s College in London. Previous studies show that daily exercise can help prevent high blood pressure, heart disease, and osteoporosis. However, their most recent study shows that daily exercise may even slow down the aging process itself.

There are numerous benefits to exercising on a regular basis and we only touched on a few of the main ones. It is a good idea to consult with your doctor to understand your specific capacity, abilities, and/or limitations you have regarding physical activity. Take that next step in becoming a healthier you!

Next…

In Part 2 we will discuss ways to get motivated and stay motivated about exercising. We will also offer some good exercise routines along with appropriate durations and frequencies of certain exercises.

Insurance policies are a gamble sometimes.  You need to have them, but do you really need them and will you ever use them.  Sometimes it’s a coin toss.  But these policies are big money to the companies and they push them hard for you to buy them.  Here are some things to think about before purchasing some of these policies.

1. Private Mortgage Insurance – Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI, is usually tacked onto your mortgage payments as it protects the lender against loss when lending to a higher-risk borrower. The borrower pays for this insurance but derives no benefit. The PMI is required if you purchase your home with a down payment of less than 20 percent.  If possible, put down 20 percent or more when purchasing a home and the PMI is no longer required.  Or when your loan to value ratio reaches 18 percent start talking with your mortgage company about removing the PMI when you reach 20 percent.  As an alternative, you can put down 10% and take out two loans, one for 80% of the sale price of the property and one for 10%.  The problem with this is that the interest rates of the loans may prove to be too high.
2. Extended Warranties – Every time you buy an electronic item or a white item like a stove or freezer the salesperson will offer you an extended warranty.  These rarely pay off when purchased.  If the item is made by a reputable company then the item will probably work just fine.  The cost of the extended warranty for less expensive items like radios and DVD players is a big no no.  The amount you spend on the warranty will simply replace the item if anything goes wrong.  For more expensive items where they cost thousands of dollars an extended warranty may be beneficial, if only giving you the peace of mind.  Find out what the warranty covers – it may be covered under the factory warranty anyways.
3. Automobile Collision Insurance – Collision insurance is likely required by the car loan institution to cover the cost of repairs to your vehicle if you are involved in an accident. However, if your car is paid off, collision is optional and may be an expense that is no longer needed.  If you are fortunate enough to have enough money saved to cover the cost of a new car, collision insurance may be an unnecessary expense.  If you have an older car this is especially true since the value of the older vehicle is worth only a fraction of their purchase price.
4. Rental Car Insurance – Most auto insurance policies offer additional coverage for the cost of renting a car if you are ever involved in an accident and your vehicle is in the shop for an extended period of time.  Statistically, very few people rent a vehicle in this scenario – rather they rely on friends or family for transportation, or they have a second vehicle at their disposal.  While the monthly fee for this coverage is relatively small, over time this adds up to a large, unneeded expense.
5. Car Rental Damage Insurance – When renting a vehicle you have the option of purchasing car rental damage insurance by the rental company.  Most insurance policies already cover this.  Find out how much you are paying for this coverage on your own policy and then compare it with what is charged by the rental company.  Choose the cheaper rate.
6. Flight Insurance – Flight insurance coverage is completely unnecessary and a waste of money.  Airline travel is the safest mode of transportation.  Regardless, should a catastrophic event occur, your life insurance policy should provide adequate coverage.
7. Life Insurance for Children – Life insurance coverage is designed to protect your dependents should something tragic happen to you.  Since children do not have dependents this cost is completely unnecessary.  Instead, take the money that you would have otherwise put into a life insurance policy and invest it in an educational IRA or some other investment in your child’s name.
8. Flood Insurance – Flood insurance is required if your home is located in a designated flood plain.  If you are not in a designated flood plain, don’t waste your money.  However, do your research when purchasing your home.  Find out if any homes in your neighborhood have ever flooded.  If not, save your money.
9. Credit Card Loss Insurance – These policies are a complete waste of time since Federal law limits your liability if your credit card is stolen to $50 per card.
10. Unemployment Insurance – This coverage may seem like a no brainer, especially given the economy of late.  These policies make minimum payments on your bills if you are out of work.  Instead, take the same money and save it in an emergency fund.  Build up a fund that equals six months of your current salary.  This way if you are ever out of work, you do not have the continued expense of paying for the insurance policy.
11. Disease Insurance – Insurance companies offer policies that cover you in the event you are diagnosed with cancer, heart disease and other diseases.  However, how do you know what disease you may acquire – if any?  Instead of gambling, purchase a good medical coverage policy instead which will cover any and all potential diseases.

In today’s world there are way too many insurance policies to choose from.  For each one offered, do a quick cost/benefit analysis to see if the policy being offered is worth the risk and costs.  As a general rule of thumb it is often better to have a broad coverage policy rather than one that is so narrow in scope that they may never be used.  You need to be money smart by providing the right amount of protection without breaking the bank. Before purchasing any policy, read it carefully to make sure that you understand the terms, coverage and costs.  And do not sign any contract until you are comfortable with the coverage and are sure that you need it.  Always ask questions first or you’ll be paying the price later.

The Medicare enrollment period is about to come to a close.  First, determine if you qualify for Medicare.  Medicare is for people over the age of 65, people under 65 with certain disabilities and people with End-Stage Renal Disease.  There are several choices when choosing Medicare coverage.  There are two main ways to get your Medicare coverage:  Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan.  Original Medicare offers Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance).  Part C is the Medicare Advantage Plan and combines Part A and B, similar to an HMO or PPO plan.  Part D is also offered which is a Prescription Drug Coverage Plan.  Additionally, Medicare Supplemental Insurance is offered which is a Medigap policy.

The differences in the different plans are as follows:

Part A – Hospital.  This plan helps cover inpatient care in hospitals and skilled nursing facility, hospice and home health care.

Part B – Medical.  This plan helps cover doctors’ and other health care providers’ services, outpatient care, durable medical equipment, and home health care.  It also helps cover some preventative services to help maintain your health and to keep certain illnesses from getting worse.

Part C – Medicare Advantage.  This plan offers health plan coverage run by Medicare-approved private insurance companies and are a way to get the benefits and services covered under Part A and Part B.  Most Part C plans cover Medicare prescription drug coverage.  Other coverage options are offered for additional costs.

Part D – Prescription Drug Coverage.  This plan helps cover the cost of prescription drugs, helps lower prescription drug costs.  This plan is run by Medicare-approved private insurance companies.

There are some changes this year that should be considered so that enrollment and change opportunities are not missed.  The enrollment period for Advantage Plans, effective January 2012, have changed.  The Annual Enrollment Period beganOctober 15, 2011and will endDecember 7, 2011. This is a change from years past when the Annual Enrollment Period began November 15 and ended December 31.  Additionally, the open Enrollment Period which ran from January 1 through March 31 was eliminated for 2011 plans and is no longer available.  If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan, January 1 through February 14 is your only opportunity to make changes and you will only be allowed to dis-enroll from your Advantage Plan and return to original Medicare.  You can enroll in Medicare outside of these dates if you qualify for a special enrollment period due to special circumstances.

For more information on whether you qualify for Medicare or for frequently asked questions regarding plans, dates and coverage, please visit http://www.medicare.gov/default.aspx for additional information.

If you are like most people you will pull your hair out when attempting to understand all of the insurance policies that are available.  To some people buying insurance is a gamble, to others it is a life saver.  But insurance is not cheap.  Basic insurance policies like general health insurance is a no-brainer – everybody needs it because sooner or later everybody gets sick.  But what about some of the optional policies like Long Term Care Insurance?  No one plans on needing long term care unless you are born with a condition that requires it.  So just what is Long Term Care Insurance?

Long-term care insurance (LTC) is an insurance product sold in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, that helps provide for the cost of long-term care beyond a predetermined period. Long-term care insurance covers care generally not covered by health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.  Those individuals that require LTC are generally those that are unable to perform the basic activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing, eating, toileting, continence, and walking.  This condition is not age determinant with 60 percent of those over age 65 requiring some type of LTC services.  Approximately 40 percent of those receiving LTC are between 18 and 64 years of age.  The problem is that once a change of health event occurs LTC insurance may not be available.

Just what does LTC insurance cover?  LTC insurance generally covers home care, assisted living, adult day care, respite care, hospice care, nursing home and Alzheimer’s facilities.  LTC coverage will also pay for a visiting or live-in caregiver, companion, housekeeper, therapist or private duty nurse up to seven days a week, 24 hours a day.  The policies will likely, however, have a maximum policy benefit that may cap your benefits. Another benefit of LTC is that premiums paid on a LTC insurance policy may be eligible for an income tax deduction – the amount depending upon the age of the covered person – and are generally excluded from income.

But not many people purchase LTC, why?  One reason is that, in theUnitedStateat least, Medicaid provides some of the benefits of LTC insurance.  Although a welfare program, Medicaid does provide medically necessary services for people with limited resources.  Another reason is that private LTC insurance policies are expensive relative to its benefits.  A recent study of LTC policies showed that 65-year old buyers of a typical policy would get back only 68 cents for every dollar that they pay in premiums.  By comparison, the same buyer of a life annuity would get back 75 cents to 85 cents for their investment.  And with Medicaid providing similar services for free for those economically disadvantaged, why pay for something that the government is giving out for free.  This has lead to the Society of Actuaries suggesting in a report that those with savings of less than $250,000 may not want to buy private insurance, while those with assets exceeding $2 million may not need to.

So should you buy LTC coverage?  Maybe.