This week’s Shoprite coupons
Login in to your Shoprite account to take advantage of their weekly coupons and discounts.
If you’re new to digital coupons Click Here to learn more.
Featured Senior Center Allen AME
The Allen Community Senior Citizens Center, Inc., located at 166-01 Linden Boulevard, Jamaica, NY, has been serving the seniors of South East Queen since 1974. The program offers a variety of comprehensive services to meet the nutritional, recreational and educational needs of the program participants. At ACSCC, services are designed to increase socialization and help prevent isolation and loneliness. In keeping with the growing diversity of our senior population, ACSCC offers access to language interpretation and translation. Fresh, healthy, hot, meals are prepared daily that meet the dietary requirements as suggested by the Department for the Aging. The hours of operation at the center are Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm, call 718 658 0980.
The Greater Allen Development Corporation has built just under 1000 affordable senior housing in the South East Queens community.
There is ongoing communication and meetings with the senior advisory boards to continually assess the fluctuations of needs on topics such as finances, medical, stay-well living, healthy eating, and more. For more info on Allen AME Church, contact 718.206.4600.
-S. Eric Blackwell
Continue reading
Queens Councilman Looking to Protect Our Seniors
When we arrived at Councilman Daneek Miller’s office, one recent morning, he was already out making the rounds in the community of Southeast Queens. However, we were fortunate enough to catch him as he stopped in the office for a minute, before running out once again. “We are on our way now to a Queens delegation meeting to discuss initiatives that impact the lives of our seniors, not just my area of Queens, but the entire borough”, stated Councilman Miller.
The Councilman stressed the need to continue to do the work and provide the services that assist with the quality of life issues for his senior constituents. “We’ve done everything from digital services for our seniors, to assisting with legal services. We have to
protect our seniors, and we try to do that through the legal initiatives that exist, to fight predatory lending, theft of deeds and other unscrupulous crimes they might face. In this area we have approximately 65% home ownership.”
While the Councilman fights for his seniors, he also takes time to celebrate them through his Senior Month initiative, which takes place during the month of September, as well as hosting a senior luncheon, attracting over 400 seniors. For more information on Councilman Miller’s senior initiatives contact his office at 172-12 Linden Blvd., St. Albans, NY 11434, (718)776- 3700.
– Lawrence Avery
Continue reading
Zumba Senior-Style at Brooklyn Sports Club
If you thought that Zumba, the high energy dance workout was just for young folks, think again. On Thursday mornings at Brooklyn Sports Club in East New York, there’s a group of mature ladies side-stepping, hip- swaying, and arm-swinging to the rhythmic beat of salsa, soca, and reggaeton music.
The women show up for class looking sharp in bright colored workout attire and lace-up sneakers. Some prefer leaving their jewelry on, and others grace the studio sporting perfectly coiffed hair and lipstick. Still, they are not afraid to work up a sweat. Instructor Alicia Rosenberg, leads the class in a series of warm- up, high-intensity, and cool-down moves that last for about an hour non-stop.
“They aren’t afraid to do it,” stresses Rosenberg, who has been an instructor at Brooklyn Sports Club since its opening in 1997. “They do what they can do, and put a lot of energy into it.” Members of her class who are seniors range in age from 62 to 86, and several of them attend class three or more times a week.
“I love Zumba class,” says long-time gym member Barbara Pouncy. “It works my whole body,” she says while dabbing perspiration off her face. Classmate Delores Green, who bikes to class, likes the free-flowing vibe Zumba offers. “It gives me a chance to do my own style of movement and lose weight simultaneously.”
Many of the women we spoke to say Zumba is just one of the classes they take to stay in shape. “A lot of seniors come in the mornings and take a range of classes,” says Rosenberg, including step and weight training classes, water aerobics, seated yoga which is specifically designed for older adults, and more. “They make it a part of their routine, and I think it makes them feel young. They love coming and we love having them”
– Julia Chance
To learn more about what Brooklyn Sports Club has to offer seniors, call (718) 642-2720 or visit www.BrooklynSportsClub.com.
Continue reading
10 Ways to Stay Healthy in NYC this Spring
Healthy living strategies are something to practice throughout our lives, but they
become more significant as we age. Fortunately, the following tips include some of the best immune system boosters and ways to stay healthy as a senior citizen in New York:
- Visit a Farmers’ Market for fresh fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and zinc, which are essential to good health.
- Challenge yourself by joining a Zumba class or a Free Local Exercise class in your area.
- Attend Health Fairs to gain insider knowledge on maintaining your health.
- Take actions to Reduce Stress. Whether it’s social stress, isolation or another form, stress can suppress your immune system, making you more susceptible to viruses.
- Sufficient Sleep is one of the best natural immune system boosters. Sleep helps us respond better to stress and inflammation. It’s also shown to improve our response to the flu vaccine.
- Try Some Superfoods. Kale, broccoli, avocados, certain mushrooms, berries and others have shown to improve seniors’ immune system performance.
- Stay positive by keeping up with activities and hobbies that make you feel happy or challenged. A healthy outlook on life boosts endorphins.
- Consider Multivitamin or Herbal Supplements as an option for increasing nutrients and fighting infections. Talk to your doctor before adding multivitamins or herbs, such as echinacea, ginseng or probiotics, to your regimen.
- Stay Hydrated by drinking at least 8-9 glasses of water a day to keep mucous membranes moist, which lowers the chances of flu or colds.
- Springtime in New York is the perfect time to dine out. Make sure to make healthy choices when ordering from your favorite restaurants.
-Les B. Freeman
Continue reading
10 Things You Might Not Know About Managed Long Term Care
Managed Long Term Care, or MLTC, is a plan that arranges long term services for homebound chronically ill or disabled people, and is covered by the New York Medicaid Program.
1) The New York State Department of Health reviews, approves, and lists all MLTC insurance plans in New York.
2) There are three types of MLTC programs in New York: PACE, MLTC Partial Capitation Plans, and Medicaid Advantage Plus.
3) PACE, or Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, covers all Medicare and Medicaid programs, and requires members to be over 55 and eligible for nursing home admission.
4) FIDA (Fully Integrated Duals Advantage) participants get all their covered Medicare and Medicaid services from one plan, including long term services and supports (LTSS) and prescription drugs.
5) MLTC Partial Capitated plans only cover Medicaid long term care services, not primary medical care services.
6) Medicare Advantage Plans are NOT the same as Medicare Advantage Plus. Medicare Advantage Plans do provide primary medical care paid for by Medicare and/or Medicaid.
7) Medicare Advantage Plus provides both Medicare and Medicaid primary medical care and long term medical care.
8) MLTC does NOT affect other Medicaid and Medicare services. Any services, coverage, and benefits covered by Medicaid and Medicare will not be lost if you receive MLTC.
9) Eligibility for MLTC includes people who meet the age requirement, are either dual or non-dual eligible, and requires community or home-based long term care services for over 120 days. Dual eligibility is when an individual is eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid coverage.
10) CDPAS (Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Services) is a statewide Medicaid program that allows patients who are eligible to receive home care from a family member who can actually be paid for their services.
Source: NYS Department of Health
If you have questions about Managed Long Term Care, our friends at AlphaCare would be glad to answer them for you. Click Here to Submit Your Question(s).
-Nikkia Rivera
Continue reading
Ruben Diaz Creates Partnerships to Address Senior Issues in The Bronx
Q: The Bronx has the fastest growing senior population in New York City. What initiatives does your office have to meet this growing population?
A: Our senior citizens are the backbone of this community and we understand that our senior population is not only growing but also thriving. We understand that we have to meet the needs of seniors and my constituent services staff stands on the front lines in the fight to protect our most vulnerable community. We hosted “Bronx Senior Month,” with local partners that supported the health and well-being of Bronx-area seniors. This
was a month-long senior celebration, which included health and wellness resource fairs and events to foster physical activity, social engagement and fun.
Q: Seniors have been having an increasingly difficult time finding affordable housing. What is your office doing to alleviate this growing problem?
A: We have programs such as our partnership with Phipps Neighborhood Services to provide financial counseling and credit repair services. Through my senior affairs unit, we are enrolling more and more individuals in the NYC Rent Freeze Program, keeping our elders in their homes at a more affordable rate. We are also providing housing for elderly musicians at the Bronx Music Heritage Center in Melrose. In Mott Haven, we teamed up with the West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing to preserve low-income housing for seniors at Borinquen Court.
Q: What are some of your most serious concerns about New York City Seniors?
A: Housing is probably the biggest concern among New York City seniors. Affordable housing can be a problem for younger folks, but more so for our elderly population. Affordable healthcare is another issue that concerns our elderly population.
Q: Where can seniors find assistance with your organization and what services would you like seniors to know is available at your office?
One place to start is calling my Constituency Services Department, where they can best guide you through the resources that we have at our disposal. You can contact them at 718- 590-3554. You can also log onto our Web-site: Bronxboropres.nyc.gov/contact.html
-S. Eric Blackwell
Continue reading
Q & A With Brookdale Dept of Medicine Chairman, Dr. Rose (Part 1)
What community does Brookdale service?
We cover East Brooklyn. Our hospital building is on Linden Boulevard and Rockaway Parkway, but we also have six large practices that are called Brookdale Family Care Centers —one and two doctor practices—scattered throughout the region.
How does the hospital serve seniors in the area?
Through Brookdale Family Care Centers, our older patients are assigned to a primary care physician who coordinate any specialist care they may need including cardiology, kidney disease, gastroenterology, pulmonary medicine, neurology and orthopedics. Many of our doctors are geriatric trained and certified.
What is the advantage of having specialists trained in geriatrics?
The vast majority of people over the age of 65 are receiving generalist and specialty care. They are either healthy, or have one or two chronic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic lung disease, asthma or things of that nature. They’re in the care of generalists and specialists and don’t need the care of super specialists such as neurologists or geriatricians quite as much. So we made the strategic decision years ago to integrate all our services as much as possible.
Tell us about your outreach program Brookdale at Your Door.
Brookdale at Your Door began in July of last year. We bring our doctors into the community and often times to senior centers to introduce them to the seniors to inform them about what Brookdale has to offer. It’s a wonderful program because it’s very responsive to the senior citizen’s needs. Seniors are very interested in things like blood pressure and blood sugar checks. For many people who are not yet attached to our centers, we make the connections right then and there.
– Julia Chance
For more information on Brookdale’s Department of Medicine, call 718.240.5169
Continue reading
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams Discusses Senior Initiatives
Q: Brooklyn has the largest senior population in New York City. What initiatives does your office have in order to meet the needs of our seniors?
A:The goal is to create an environment where seniors can have a good quality life and give them access to all the free services and benefits they have earned from their service and dedication particularly here in Brooklyn. We plan on going door to door and to senior centers to make sure they know what’s available to them including Food Stamps and programs like SCRIE that help seniors to pay rent.
Q: With so much development in Brooklyn, are there any plans in the works that the seniors should be aware of, in regards to affordable housing?
A: I want to make sure seniors can age in place without being forced out of the homes they have lived in for 35 and 40 years. We have
an informative lecture series where we go to senior centers each month. I also want to encourage the Mayor in his housing initiative to think outside the box to look at ways to building affordable housing on top of Post Offices and Libraries. I would like to retrofit and make them more senior friendly, sort of like a one stop shop. We would like to also look at churches as they are some of our largest land owners. Our initiative called Kingdom of Faith Builders allows developers to team up with churches to increase affordable housing.
Q: What are a couple of high priority senior concerns that you would like to address in the coming months?
A: The trauma of moving is a large concern for our seniors. We would like to create grandparent housing in NYCHA Housing so that seniors can stay in the communities they are familiar with. Another concern is public safety. We want to get information in the hands of seniors that will help protect them from individuals who try to take advantage of our most vulnerable population.
Q: Where can seniors find more information about the services and programs that are available within your office?
A: They can always contact my office directly to find out about our latest services 718 802- 3700 but it will always be my goal to meet seniors where they are.
-S. Eric Blackwell
Continue reading
How NYC is Becoming a Global Leader for Senior Living
A glimpse into the lives of New York City’s seniors: How the city is working to hear their voices and meet their needs. Filmed by Mark Peterson, edited by Bridget Mulcahy and Michael Schwab.
Continue reading
Top Five Must Know Beauty Tips for Senior Women
1) Moisturize and Sunscreen. As we age, our skin naturally becomes dryer. This issue can easily be solved by moisturizing daily with a body lotion. Applying either your body lotion or a face cream in the morning or before your makeup routine will make your skin look and feel smoother and less irritated. When shopping for a moisturizer, especially for face creams, look for ones with added SPF. SPF helps protect the skin against sun damage, which can cause dark spots and wrinkles. If your moisturizer doesn’t contain SPF, just apply regular sunscreen before going out, especially if you plan on being outside for a long period of time.
2) Toss out old makeup. Makeup expires quickly. Certain products should be replaced after a specific amount of time to avoid spreading of any bacteria or infections (especially eye infections). Makeup looks and applies best when it’s fresh, so replace these products in each given time period: Mascara, every three months; cream based eyeshadow, once a year; powder eyeshadow, every 2 years; liquid and gel eyeliners, every 3 to 6 months; pencil eyeliner, once a year; foundation, once a year; concealer, every 1 to 2 years; and lipstick, once a year.
3) Don’t be fooled by anti-aging products. While there are some amazing products that do fade aging spots, smooth wrinkles, and tighten pores, there are a lot of products that just don’t work. Watch out for ingredients like collagen or pro-retinol. Collagen only works for wrinkles when injected by a professional into the face, and pro-retinol is a much weaker version of retinol and won’t do much for your skin. When looking for anti-aging products, look for products with retinoids, an ingredient which has been proven to help wrinkles, pores, and dark spots.
4) Use a little foundation or a tinted moisturizer. A little goes a long way. Too much foundation can make the skin appear cakey and can settle into wrinkles. Dab a bit of foundation on your chin, cheeks, forehead, and nose, then blend until the skin tone looks even. Another alternative is using a tinted moisturizer, which feels lighter than a traditional foundation and evens out the skin tone while keeping the skin moisturized.
5) Always use a primer. Primers are used as a base and is applied before any other makeup. A good primer will keep makeup on longer, prevent smudging, allow for a smoother application, and will keep makeup looking fresh all day.
Continue reading
Prescription VS. Ready-to-Wear Glasses. Which One Should You Choose?
Walk into any pharmacy in New York and you’re bound to find an entire rack full of ready-to-wear reading glasses. After a quick do-it-yourself eye test, you can pick a frame, buy it and go. But, should you really be wearing them? Ready-made glasses seem like the easiest way to correct vision problems, since they don’t require an exam with an eye doctor. Yet, while they may be easy to buy, they’re actually pretty hard on the eyes. When compared to prescription glasses, ready-made glasses may be doing more harm than good.
Between the ages of forty to sixty, most people begin to notice negative changes in their vision. Things close up become blurry, prescription eyeglasses start becoming weaker, and small print almost seems unreadable, especially in low lighting. Once this happens, glasses become a necessity, and people’s first stop is to the glasses rack. Ready-made glasses are made for everyone, so they’re not going to have your exact prescription. Wearing glasses with the wrong prescription not only worsens your eyesight, but can cause headaches, nausea and tired eyes. When buying these glasses, most people tend to buy glasses that are too strong for them because they assume stronger prescriptions are better. And many people require separate prescriptions for each eye, but, ready-made glasses only come with one prescription in both eyes.
Instead of putting your eyesight in jeopardy by wearing low-quality glasses, it’s better to just visit an eye doctor and receive a thorough eye exam. Not only do eye exams help you find your personalized prescription, they also test to see whether your vision may or may not be a side effect of cataracts or glaucoma. Your vision is always changing, so finding the perfect eye doctor for yearly check-ups is important.
Once you receive your prescription, it’s your choice which visual aid to choose. For those who prefer not wearing glasses, prescription contacts are a good alternative. But, for those who are not comfortable or cannot wear them, glasses are a better choice. When choosing a pair of glasses, make sure they’re in a shape and style you like. While there are many tips on choosing the right frame based on face shape, hair, age, complexion, and so on, just remember that as long as you love the look and feel of your glasses, then that’s what makes them right for you.
Continue reading
10 Best Fruits for the Spring Season
While most fruits and vegetables are available year-round, it isn’t until spring that all of our favorite fruits start tasting fresh again. The sweet, savory, and even some of the sour fruits we love have come or are coming back into season. So, in anticipation of spring, we have listed our favorite nutritious fruits, and the best ways to keep them fresh.
Apricots are full of Vitamin A and C, potassium and fiber. They are best kept at room temperature until ripe. After fully ripe, store them in the refrigerator inside a plastic bag, where they will stay fresh for another 3 to 5 days.
Avocados are high in Vitamin C and B-6, magnesium, fiber, potassium, and monounsaturated fat (the good kind of fat). To keep avocados fresh, store at room temperature until ripe, then keep them in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. Extra tip: to keep an opened avocado from browning, sprinkle the opened part with lemon or lime juice, place it in an airtight plastic wrap or container, and refrigerate.
Cherimoya contains high amounts of Vitamin C and B-6, fiber, potassium, and protein. Keep at room temperature until ripe (once the fruit softens slightly), then refrigerate for 1 to 2 days.
Grapefruits are high in Vitamin A and C. They can either be kept out at room temperature for 1 week, or in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 weeks.
Honeydew Melons have high amounts of Vitamin C and potassium. They can be stored at room temperature. But, must be refrigerated after opening, where they can be kept for up to 2 weeks.
Mangos are high in fiber and Vitamin C and A. They can be stored at room temperature for 1 to 2 days, and must be refrigerated once cut or peeled.
Oranges contain a whole lot of Vitamin C. They can either be kept out or can be refrigerated for 1 to 2 weeks.
Pineapples are high in Vitamin C and B-6, magnesium, fiber, and potassium. They should be eaten or cut as soon as ripe, and can only be kept out for a day or two. Refrigerate after cutting open.
Plums contain mostly Vitamin C and K, and should be refrigerated for 3 to 4 days after ripening. Extra tip: plums taste great served cold, especially on hot days; just remove the pit and place in the freezer.
Strawberries are high in Vitamin C, magnesium, and fiber. They do not further ripen once picked, so they should only be stored in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
Continue reading
Governor Cuomo Signs Legislation to Support Family Caregivers
Governor Cuomo announced the signing of the Caregiver Advise, Record and Enable Act, which will require that hospitals allow patients to formally designate a caregiver before they leave the hospital, or are transferred to another facility. It will also require hospital workers to provide the caregiver with instruction or training on how to perform tasks for the patient at home, such as changing bandages or administering medication.
“Often, the hardest part of recovery begins once a patient leaves a hospital,” Governor Cuomo said. “This new law will allow New Yorkers to appoint someone they trust to assist in their care and help them return to their daily lives. I thank Senator Hannon and Assemblymember Rosenthal for their diligent work on this important issue. ”
The bill (S.676B/A.1323B), which was signed late Monday, requires hospitals to record the name, phone number and address of the caregiver in the patient’s medical record. The hospital must then notify the caregiver of the patient’s upcoming discharge at least 24 hours in advance and offer instruction in all after-care tasks, which will be designated in the patient’s discharge plan.
Senator Kemp Hannon said, “Patients leaving a hospital often require after-care that is provided by that individual’s immediate family or friends, who are asked to assist the patient with basic activities like walking, eating and dressing, as well as other complex tasks like providing wound care or operating medical equipment. This law will require those caregivers to be included in and receive instructions as to how to perform those post-hospital tasks before the patient is discharged.”
Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal said, “Now that the CARE Act has become law, thousands of caregivers in New York will be provided with the support they need to more effectively look after their ailing loved ones at home. I am pleased that Governor Cuomo recognized the importance of this legislation, and thank AARP, a champion of this effort nationwide, for its relentless advocacy for family carergivers.”
Beth Finkel, State Director of AARP in New York State, said, “This is a great day for family caregivers across New York, and AARP is very thankful to Governor Cuomo for making a real and positive difference in the lives of millions – whether they be those providing care to family members and loved ones at home or those receiving the care. Information is power, and the CARE Act will empower millions of family caregivers.”
Source: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-signs-legislation-support-family-caregivers
Continue reading
What is Managed Care?
Managed Care is a term that is used to describe a health insurance plan or health care system that coordinates the provision, quality and cost of care for its enrolled members. In general, when you enroll in a managed care plan, you select a regular doctor, called a primary care practitioner (PCP), who will be responsible for coordinating your health care. Your PCP will refer you to specialists or other health care providers or procedures as necessary. It is usually required that you select health care providers from the managed care plan’s network of professionals and hospitals. There are many different types of publicly-funded managed care programs in New York State serving residents in all age groups and various income levels.
Managed care plans pay the health care providers directly, so enrollees do not have to pay out-of-pocket for covered services or submit claim forms for care received from the plan’s network of doctors. However, managed care plans can require co-pays paid directly to the provider at the time of service.
There are many different types of managed care plans. Most managed care plans certified by the New York State Department of Health offer health education classes or other programs to help enrollees stay healthy. Depending on the type of managed care plan you join, there may be additional services, such as transportation, available to you.
Source: Medicaid.gov
Continue reading
March is Multiple Sclerosis Month: Here’s What You Need to Know
Multiple Sclerosis affects over 2.3 million people throughout the world. So, in honor of March being Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month, we are breaking down its symptoms and types, and finding out where to find help and how to raise awareness.
What Is Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, is a non-curable disease that affects the central nervous system. Nerve cells are protected by myelin, an insulating sheath. In MS, the body’s immune system begins to break down the myelin, causing communication between the body’s nerves and the brain to slow down or be blocked. In severe cases, the disease can be debilitating, sometimes causing the person to lose the ability to walk, talk, or write. There are no known causes of MS, but the disease is often mild, with medications and treatments slowing down and managing symptoms.
Symptoms of MS can include:
- Fatigue
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the face, body or limbs
- Pain
- Difficulty walking
- Blurred or partial loss of vision, often accompanied by eye pain
- Bladder and/or bowel issues
- Stiffness in muscles or muscle spasms
- Emotional changes, including depression, mood swings, irritability, and episodes of extreme emotional reactions (such as laughing or crying)
There are four known types of MS: relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), primary-progressive MS (PPMS), secondary-progressive MS (SPMS), and progressive-relapsing MS (PRMS).
Relapsing-remitting MS, or RRMS, is categorized by its attacks of worsening neurological functions following periods of remission. These attacks are caused by inflammatory attacks on myelin and nerves fibers. Symptoms of these attacks often differ from person to person. This is the most common type of MS, with about 85 percent of patients being initially diagnosed.
Secondary-progressive MS, or SPMS, follows after RRMS. After the attacks of RRMS, most people will transition to SPMS, which causes the disease to steadily progress with or without relapses. 90 percent of people with RRMS move on to SPMS within 25 years.
Primary-progressive MS, or PPMS, is the steady incline of worsening neurological functioning and MS symptoms without any relapses. While progression may include occasional plateaus, it does not stop.
Progressive-relapsing MS, or PRMS, is the immediate onset of disease progression. Unlike PPMS, people suffering from progressive-relapsing MS experience occasional relapses. This form of MS is the most rare, occurring in only 5 percent of people with MS.
Treatments And Care
Treatments of MS vary from different medications to various rehabilitation methods. MS is an extremely complex disease that requires extensive and professional care. Having and knowing a health care provider that is both meticulous and dedicated to patient care and is within an acceptable price range is a necessity. AlphaCare offers affordable health care to New York seniors living in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Westchester County who are Medicare and/or Medicaid eligible. For more information on the different plans and offers, visit alphacare.com.
Raising MS Awareness
If you or a loved one is suffering from Multiple Sclerosis and wish to get involved in raising awareness, there are many different ways and events dedicated to fighting and finding a cure for MS. Upcoming events in and near the New York area include:
Walk MS
The MS walk is a charity walk series that takes place in over 550 locations each year. Dedicated to raising money for MS research, programs, and the MS community, Walk MS has raised over $920 million since 1988. Visit here for all MS walks in New York.
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Westchester
Glen Island Park
Check In/ Start Time: 9:00 am/10:00 am
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Staten Island
College of Staten Island
Check In/Start Time: 9:00 am/10:00 am
Sunday, April 17, 2016
New York, New York
Pier 26, Manhattan
Check In/ Start Time: 9:00 am/10:15 am
For more information on fundraising events, volunteer opportunities, donations and MS awareness information, visit www.nationalmssociety.org/Get-Involved.
Sources: Nationalmssociety.org, Mayoclinic.org, and nlm.nih.gov.
Continue reading
3 Movement Exercises You Can Do in Your Apartment or Home
For Balance
This exercise is extremely simple and only requires a sturdy chair. Begin by standing with the chair either in front or behind you:
• Stand on one foot while holding onto the back of the chair. With your back straight, balance on one foot for about 10 seconds. • Repeat 10 to 15 times. Then repeat with the other leg.
For Flexibility
Working on your flexibility helps in relaxing and stretching the body, giving your movements more fluidity when doing daily activities, such as getting dressed or reaching for something on a shelf.
• If standing, begin with both feet flat on the floor, shoulder width apart. If sitting, start with both feet flat on the floor with your back straight.
• Without tipping your head forward or backward, turn your head to the side until you feel a slight stretch. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds.
6 | nyforseniors.com
For Strength
This exercise focuses on strengthening your grip and is great for those who have issues picking up, holding onto, and opening things. Begin with a small foam or foam-like ball, such as a tennis ball, and hold it in your hand:
• Squeeze the ball as tightly as you can for 3 to 5 seconds, then relax your grip slowly. Repeat 10 to 15 times. Then switch to the other hand.
• Repeat twice with both hands.
Safety Tips
These exercises should be incorporated into a thirty-minute or longer workout, done 2 to 3 days a week. Always make sure to speak with your doctor before performing any exercise that affect areas prone to pain, such as any areas that have had surgery.
– Nikkia Rivera
Source: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/exercise-physical-activity/introduction
Continue reading
Managed Long Term Care: What is it and Do I Qualify?
Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) is a system that streamlines the delivery of long term services to people who are chronically ill or disabled and who wish to stay in their homes and communities. These services, such as home care, social day care or adult day care, are provided through managed long term care plans that are approved by the New York State Department of Health. The entire array of services to which an enrolled member is entitled can be received through the MLTC plan the member has chosen.
As New York transforms its long term care system to one that ensures care management for all, enrollment in a MLTC plan may be mandatory or voluntary, depending on individual circumstances.
MLTC Eligibility:
- At least 21 years of age
- Enrolled in Medicaid
- Able to stay safely at home
- In need of at least one of the following services for more than 120 days from the enrollment date:
- In-home Nursing Services
- In-home Therapy
- Adult Day Care
- Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Services (CDPAS)
- In-home Personal Care Services
- Private Duty Nursing
MLTC Services and Support can include:
- Extended Care Services such as:
- Dental Care
- Eye Exams & Glasses
- Hearing Exams & Hearing Aids
- Rehabilitation Therapy
- Foot Care
- Nutritional Counseling
- Coordinated Services & Supplies:
- Prosthetics & Orthotics
- Medical Equipment
- Home Safety Improvement
- Transportation to Health Appointments
- Chore Service & Housekeeping
- Delivered Meals
- Care Coordination
- Personally Dedicated Health Professionals:
- Nursing
- Personal Care and Social Workers
- 24-7 On-call Services & Emergency Response Systems
- Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Services (CDPAS)
Source: NYS Department of Health
Continue reading
