Toll-Free National Help Lines

AGING

AARP (American Association of Retired Persons)
800/424-3410

American Society on Aging (ASA)
800/537-9728

Eldercare Locator (U. S. Administration on Aging Helpline)
800/677-1116

Elder Helpline (Florida - links to local helplines)
800-96ELDER
800/963-5337

National Council on Aging
800/424-9046

National Institute on Aging (NIA)
800/222-2225

AIDS
AIDS Clinical Trials Information Service
800/874-2572

National AIDS Hotline
1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-National AIDS Clearinghouse (Information and publication orders):
800/458-5231

TTY: 800/243-1098
International: 1-404-679-3860
International TTY: 1-301-588-1586

ALCOHOL
Al-Anon, Alateen Family Group Hotline
800/344-2666

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
800/729-6686

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
800/622-2255

ALLERGY
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
800/822-2762

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
800/727-8462

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) Clearinghouse
888/644-6226

ALZHEIMER'S
Alzheimer's Association (National)
800/272-3900

Alzheimer's Association of Florida - Gulf Coast Chapter (Safe Return)
800/772-8672

Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center (ADEAR)
800/438-4380

American Health Assistance Foundation
(Alzheimers Family Relief Program)
800/437-2423

French Foundation for Alzheimer's Research
800/477-2243

National Caregiving Foundation (Caregivers Support Kit)
800/930-1357

Suncoast Alzheimer's Information Line (SAIL)
800/633-4563

AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association
800/782-4747

ARTHRITIS
Arthritis Consulting Services
800/327-3027

Arthritis Foundation
800/283-7800


ASSISTIVE DEVICES

ABLE DATA (U. S. Dept. of Education)
800/227-0216

BLIND/VISION IMPAIRED
American Council of the Blind
800/424-8666

Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind
800/548-4337

Lighthouse International
800/334-5497

National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped - Library of Congress
800/424-8567

Vision Council of America
800/424-8422

BRAIN TUMOR
American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA)
800/886-2282

CANCER
The American Cancer Society (ACS)
800/227-2345

The American Institute for Cancer Research
800/843-8114

Asbetos.com for information on Mesothelioma
1-800-ASBESTOS
1-800-272-3786)

Cancer Information Center for the National Cancer Institute
800-4-CANCER
800/422-6237

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation
800/366-2223

Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center
866/981-6660

866/981-6660Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization
800/221-2141

CAREGIVING
Children of Aging Parents (CAPS)
800/227-7294

National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA)
800/896-3650

Well Spouse Foundation (WSF)
800/838-0879

CEREBRAL PALSY
United Cerebral Palsy Association, Inc.
800/872-5827

CLEFT PALATE
Cleft Palate Foundation
800/242-5338

COCAINE
Cocaine Anonymous National Referral Line
800/347-8998

COMMUNICATION HANDICAPS
American Speech Language Hearing Association
800/638-8255

Better Hearing Institute
800-EAR-WELL
800/327-9355

International Hearing Society
800/521-5247

National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
Captioned Media Program
800/237-6213

National Institute on Deafness & Other Communication Disorders
800/241-1044

CONSUMER
Federal Citizen Information Center for Federal Consumer Information (FCIC)
800/688-9889

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
877-FTC-HELP
877/382-4357

FTC Identity Theft Hotline
877-ID-THEFT
877/438-4338

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
English: 800-HELPFLA 800/435-7352
Espanol: 800/352-9832

CROHN'S/COLITIS
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America
800/343-3637

CYSTIC FIBROSIS
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
800/344-4823

DEPRESSION
The International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression (iFred)
800/422-HOPE

DIABETES
American Diabetes Association
800/232-3472

Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
800/223-1138

DIGESTIVE DISEASE
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
800/891-5389

DISABILITIES
National Rehabilitation Information Center
800/346-2742

National Spinal Cord Injury Association
800/962-9629

DISEASES

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
800/232-4636

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
800/999-6673

DOWN SYNDROME
National Down Syndrome Society
800/221-4602

National Down Syndrome Congress
800/232-6372

DRUG ABUSE
National Drug Information and Referral Line
800/662-4357

ELDER ABUSE
Elder Abuse Reporting Line (Florida)
800-96ABUSE
800/962-2873


TDD (for Deaf): 800/955-8770


Florida Domestic Violence Hotline
800/500-1119

ELDER TRAVEL
Elderhostel
877/426-8056

EPILEPSY
Epilepsy Foundation of America
800/332-1000

Epilepsy Information Service
800/642-0500

HEAD INJURY
Brain Injury Association Family Helpline
800/444-6443

HEADACHE
National Headache Foundation
800/843-2256

HEART
American Heart Association
800-AHA-USA1 800/242-8721

HEPATITIS
American Liver Foundation Hepatitis Liver Disease Helpline
800/223-0179

HOSPICE
National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)
800/658-8898

HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE
Huntington's Disease Society of America
800/345-4372

IMPOTENCE
Impotence Information Center
800/843-4315

INCONTINENCE
National Association for Continence (NAFC)
800/252-3337

Simon Foundation for Continence
800/237-4666

KIDNEY DISEASE
National Kidney & Urological Disease Information
800/891-5390

LEUKEMIA
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)
800/955-4572

LUNG
American Lung Association
800-LUNGUSA
800/586-4872

LUPUS
Lupus Foundation of America
800/558-0121

MEDICARE
Medicare Hotline
800/MEDICARE
800/633-4227

MENTAL ILLNESS
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
800-950-NAMI
800/950-6264

National Institute of Mental Health
Publication Ordering Line
800/421-4211

Mental Health America
800/969-6642

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
800/344-4867


MYASTHENIA GRAVIS
Myasthenia Gravis Foundation
800/541-5454

NURSING HOME

Agency for Healthcare Administration (Nursing Home Guide)
888/419-3456

PARALYSIS
Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation
800/225-0292

PARKINSON'S DISEASE

The best Parkinson web site is:
www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org
It focuses on patient education
American Parkinson Disease Association
800/223-2732


Parkinson Disease Foundation
800/457-6676

SCLERODERMA
Scleroderma Foundation
800/722-4673


SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
National STD and AIDS Hotline
800/227-8922

SICKLE CELL
Sickle Cell Disease Association of America
800/421-8453

SOCIAL SECURITY
National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare (NCPSSM)
800/966-1935

Social Security Administration
800/772-1213

SPINA BIFIDA
Spina Bifida Association of America
800/621-3141

STROKE
American Stroke Association
888-4STROKE 888/478-7653

National Stroke Association
800/787-6537

VETERANS
Department of Veteran's Affairs
800/827-1000

WOMEN'S ISSUES
Older Women's League (OWL)
800-TAKE OWL
800/825-3695

National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC)
800-994-WOMAN
800/994-9662

Updated 8/2009

Understanding HDL Cholesterol

Hate Crutches? Perhaps a Knee Walker Will Work For You

Cute, Hip, Cool Designer Reading Glasses for Women

Ok, I admit it - I am a BIG fan of fun reading glasses - and I have, at last count, in excess of 35 pairs!
(I match them to outfits)  I figure if I can't see well I should at least have fun with the glasses.

There are many resources on the web to purchase these but I prefer to shop local whenever possible.....so either google reading glasses to find them or look for them in stores like:

Target (often only $1 !  - They are not the best, they're known to snap and break for no reason whatsoever but hello, they were only $1.

Dollar Stores - you have to look - the cool ones are hit or miss

Stein Mart - more expensive but they they have some very cool reading glasses.

Younique Boutique - Greenville, OH - lots of nice ones... again, higher priced

Morgan House - Columbus, OH - very trendy, higher priced but cool

Peepers.com - Online

When you move on to the next "higher power" - pass your glasses on to a friend who can use them.

Italian style, along with Parisian style, is so far ahead of the states that a woman, who copies the look of European women's glasses, will have eyewear that is trendy for years.

Betsy Johnson readers - Betsy Johnson is a little too old to be a boomer, but she has always been a mod, hippie inspiration for boomer chicks.

Designer Collection by Moxie --- some very inexpensive, but still chic readers.

A great link with lots of eyewear - including eyeglass necklaces - and "Fit Over" sunglasses that fit over regular eyewear

What's in YOUR Yogurt?

I've always been a fan of yogurt but lately I'm rethinking it.... especially after reading this article - and realizing that the lovely color of strawberry yogurt (carmine) comes from insects.....and then there's the fact that a large amount of the calories come from sugars.... 

More

FACEBOOK - How to Sign Up For Your Own Account

Pandora.com - Create Your Own Internet Radio Playlist

Pandora.com allows anyone to make their own radio station by creating a cool playlist. Coordinate a great station for every mood.

Pandora music-lovers can edit a playlist by giving a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” as each song is played. Create a station for special occasions, like these:

•Antonio Vivaldi Radio to increase creativity.

•Frank Sinatra Radio for cocktail hour.

Assisted Living

Motorized LazyBoy Recliner - instead of a scooter or wheelchair

Food items to keep on hand

For a senior with limited range of motion, food preparation becomes almost impossible and many seniors with this problem get Meals on Wheels delivered but they still need to have food items in their pantry for a quick fix in cases of emergency, that is, if food is nowhere to be found!

Here are some things you can keep in stock as they are healthy for you and their shelf life is quite longer than others:


• Granola bars or energy bars. Nothing can be quicker than grabbing a pack, tearing it open and munching up anytime you want to! It can even satisfy your sweet tooth as most granola bars are flavored—flavors ranging from peanut butter, to vanilla, to chocolates.

• Crackers. The ever dependable crackers! Salted, sweet, savory, whole wheat, multigrain.. –you name it, your friendly neighborhood supermarket is most likely to have it! Just make sure that you pack them in re-sealable containers so they will maintain their freshness.

• Trail mix. Trail mixes are good for you. They have nuts and they are energy boosting foods. Same as your crackers, they should be stored in vacuum sealed, re-sealable plastic containers to maintain freshness.

• Peanut butter. Unless you are allergic to nuts then peanut butter must be the best quick fix for seniors since it can be paired with just about anything!

• Freeze dried fruits. They are high in fiber and rich in anti-oxidants. In other words, they will help your digestive system to move a little smoother while keeping you younger looking.

• Canned soups. Contrary to popular notion, not all canned soups are bad. Some are made especially for people with health problems. All you have to do is check labels and make sure you are getting exactly what you need and not those you don’t need at all!

• Power beverages. They can be filling, energy boosting as well as nutritious, not to mention great tasting too. They can also be stacked in the fridge for a quick fix whenever you feel like it. Find one that makes miracles with your metabolism.

• Fruit juices. They are great when chilled and you need to satisfy your sweet tooth without having to worry about calories. Also, most fruit juices in the market today are fortified with vitamins which can be beneficial for you.

• Cereal. They can be eaten dry or with milk. Either way, they are so convenient, they deserve a place in your pantry!
 
Microwave popcorn
Individual size fruit
Walnuts (good for your heart)


Almonds, raw or unsalted

Sunflower seeds,

Raisins, Sweetened dried cranberries,

Figs, dates

Dark chocolate



 

What's the BEST Way to fix Corn on the Cob?

I think we all agree that Americans love sweet corn but it seems when it comes to discussing the best way to prepare sweet corn, we can't agree.

Some people say the only way to prepare it is boiling it - others only microwave it while another group insists that the only way to cook it is on the grill - and even then the methods differs as much as the type of butter to use!


This article from the Huffington Post discusses corn on the cob techniques and includes recipes.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-goldwyn/grilled-corn-on-the-cob-r_b_654572.html#comment
 
So, how do YOU prepare sweet corn?

Zucchini Recipes

It's that time of year - here are some links to zucchini recipes

Layered Zucchini

Zucchini Oven Chips

Zucchini Bread

Fried Zucchini Blossoms

The Brain Gym -Some techniques to keep your brain active

Problematic blood clotting may contribute to Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's diease continues to baffle scientists. Rockefeller University has released findigs from research that looks at the disease from a different angle.

ScienceDaily (July 14, 2010)  reports some new research results with Alzheimer's disease. It has longed been studied primarily as a disease of the neurons but research scientists at Rockefeller University have now shown how the disease process may be damaging the brain by choking off blood flow.

In experiments published June 10 in Neuron, scientists at Rockefeller University reveal that amyloid-β, which builds up around brain cells in Alzheimer's patients, interacts with a common blood clotting agent to increase clotting in the arteries that feed the brain. Such activity could cut off blood flow to neurons, suffocating them over time. A drug that interferes with that process could reduce the memory loss and dementia that are the most wrenching consequences of the disease, the findings suggest.

More

BenefitsCheckUp.org Find benefits for Seniors

The Many Faces of Aging in America

Has the Fountain of Youth Been Discovered? Breakthroughs in Genetic Life Extension

Seniors Are Flocking to Social Media

One in Every 4.5 Minutes Online Spent On Social Media

 

The stats are amazing when it comes to the popularity of social media such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Facebook is  the 2nd most visited website. Nielsen recently released a report that says the world people spend 110 billion minutes on social network and blog sites.

Nielsen asked how much time the average visitor spends on each of these sites, accounting for 22 percent of all the time spent online or one in every four and half minutes.

"Also, social networking and blog sites were visited by 75% of all global consumers who go online. Brazil has the highest percentage of social networking users at 86%, Italy comes in second at 78%.

These figures show an online population who *loves* social networking and craves to be connected to friends and colleagues. Also, it shows that blogs and social networks continue to be great channels for getting the word out for organizations and brands."

Most seniors who engage in social media found out about it from their children or grandchildren.  One of the things seniors really enjoy about Facebook is the ability to read their friends' wall and be kept up today with what friends and families are sharing with each other - they no longer have to wait to be informed.

How has Facebook's Popularity spread so quickly with today's seniors?  Word of Mouth - still one of the best forms of advertising around.

From CreatingResults:

AARP has released new research into the social networking/social media and technology use of Baby Boomers and 65+ seniors.  The upshot:  Americans over 50 are definitely not technophobic.  And, social networking is on the rise, with 27% of Boomers/seniors using social media websites.  Consistent with older consumers’ desires for connections offline, the report finds that they are most often connected to – and most often motivated to join social networks by – their family.

Highlights from AARP’s Social Media Research

* 47% of Boomers and seniors originally heard about social networking from a family member other than their spouse.
* 70 percent of 50+ers first heard about social media from a child or grandchild.
* 24% of Boomers and seniors who are active in social networks were introduced to it by friends.
* Women were more likely than men to be introduced by family members (60% to 29%).
* Among adults 50+ who use social media websites, 73 percent are connected to relatives other than children and grandchildren.  62% are connected to their children.  36 percent are connected to grandchildren.
* Facebook was most popular among AARP’s respondents – 23% of their 50+ social networkers used this site.  LinkedIn was #3, with 4% and Twitter clocked in at #4, with 3% of respondents using or visiting the microblogging service.  Interestingly (and most likely driven by grandchildren) 4% had MySpace accounts."

The overwhelming majority of these boomers are using the social web — at least to some degree — to keep in touch with family members. Almost three quarters of AARP’s survey group said they’re connected online to relatives other than children and grandchildren, 62% are connected to their children and 36% are connected to grandchildren, as well.

And don’t forget, many of these older Americans probably have the loot to spend on high-tech gadgets, if they so choose. Of the 1,360 respondents, 83% knew about the iPad, and 11-14% said they planned to purchase one. Two percent said they’d already bought an iPad.

If you’re in the age-50-and-older crowd, do you use the social web, and why? Is keeping in touch with family an important part of your online routine?

Helping Your Children Learn to Deal with their Aging Parents

Statics over the last 20 years show that people are living longer. Because they are blessed with the opportunity to grow older, there is usually a greater need for assistance as they age. For the majority of people, that assistance comes from their children, especially if their children live close.

Most of us never thought we'd need assistance from our children nor did most of them ever anticipate they'd be assisting us as we age. When this role reversal happens, it can lead to conflict and confusion. Help your children learn to deal with this new role by opening communicating your plans and needs while realizing compromises are both sides are often needed.

Prepare your family for this new role. Your children and their spouses should be aware of your plans and actively participate when they can.

Remind them that development doesn't stop as we age, we all continue to learn and change throughout our lifetime.You are now different than you were when you were raising them and have different interests.

Try to look at their concerns from their perspective and help them to understand your concerns as your world changes and "shrinks". Remind them that the only thing worse than change is change you have no control over. Be sure to help them understand that you still need control over many things in your day to day life and that your goal is to have the highest level of independence possible. When you need additional assistance, try to be the first one to vocalize that need.

Inform them where your essential paperwork is kept... health plans, money management, medical records, - let them know who your doctors are and what medications you take. Visit your attorney and get your affairs in order - have a medical power of attorney set up and someone appointed to take care of your finances if and when you are not able to do so.

Be proactive and do what it takes to maintain the best health possible - nothing is more important when it comes to making a difference in our quality of life as we age.

Maintain a positive attitude and be grateful for their help and assistance. It is not easy for adult children to watch their parents age - often they are pulled in many directions with their own families, spouses, work, etc.

Thank them often - it makes both of you feel better.

Do It Yourself - Old Fashioned Weddings and Parties

This site is one of my favorites and it is just out and out pretty, like looking at Victoria magazine.  I could spend hours "browsing" through this type of site - especially the "Do It Yourself" section.

If you have a family member with a wedding coming up you'll enjoy it even more!

Grab a glass of lemonade and spend some time here - lots of beautiful photos, great ideas and information.

http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/category/diy/