National Healthcare Decisions Day

On April 15, Americans will file their taxes. April 16, following Benjamin Franklin’s saying, “nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes,” is a day for health care decision planning. Each year, National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) is observed the day after tax day. NHDD is a day of education and awareness, aimed at encouraging…

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Dementia Infrastructure Bill (S.2076/H.R. 4256)

It is evident during this National Public Health Week, that Alzheimer’s is the most under-recognized threat to public health in the 21st century, as proclaimed by Dr. David Satcher, former U. S. Surgeon General and former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director (CDC). In recognition of this urgent public health issue, the Alzheimer’s Association,…

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Georgia Legislative Action

The 2018 Legislative Session in Georgia has ended. Listed below are outcomes regarding issues affecting seniors, as reported by the Alzheimer’s Association National Office, alz.org SB 444—Establish the Georgia Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias State Plan (GARD) Advisory Council—Senator Renee Unterman and Representative Eddie Lumsden.  This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 55–0; passed the…

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Delay in VA Claims

Robert DiCicco left a Fields Corner three-decker in 1952 to join the Marines he had idolized while growing up during World War II. A year later, he found himself crouched in a crude Korean trench, fighting for his life against a swarm of Chinese troops who outnumbered his unit 20 to 1. DiCicco survived the…

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Alzheimer’s Funding, Facts and Figures

Today we can celebrate that Alzheimer’s research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is at $1.8 billion. This is due to an increase that has just been signed into law. Congress included the largest increase in history for Alzheimer’s research in the 2018 federal funding bill, of $414 million. Another priority of the…

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Depression in Older Adults

Dr. Sarah Yarry, licensed clinical psychologist specializing in gerontology, reports: “Often in older adults, when they’re depressed, you don’t see high levels of crying and sadness you might see in a younger adult; you see it more often as withdrawal – apathy, hopelessness, loss of appetite and interest.” Depression is correlated with a higher risk…

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Wealth and Health for Retirement

A goal for retirement is to be happy, healthy and financially comfortable. To achieve that goal, you want to ask yourself: am I saving enough, how long will my money last and when will I be able to retire? With an average lifespan of 83 to 85 years, your retirement savings need to last a…

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Risk Factors for Dementia

Snoring – Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) – Breathing starts and stops, already linked to high blood pressure and heart disease, may also be tied to poorer cognitive performance and an increased risk of dementia. By treating OSA the risk may be lowered. Drinking diet soda – Strong evidence shows an increased risk of dementia for…

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Hobbies for Retirement

Advice to retirees is to create a portfolio of activities blending socializing, moving, creating and thinking – all of which correlate with high scores on standard measures of aging and cognitive health. To find out what hobbies the active and engaged seniors participate in, Road Scholars was surveyed; Road Scholars is the not-for-profit leader in…

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Deduction Changes on Tax Returns

This may be your last chance to benefit from write-offs that are easy to overlook, since the new tax law has eliminated some of them starting in 2018. If you can, claim some of these: Unreimbursed Employee Expenses – They are deductible along with other miscellaneous expenses if they exceed two percent of your adjusted…

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