Keep Your Cool In the Heat

Keeping Cool Tips Everyone

• Stay in air-conditioned space at home, the library, the mall, movie theater or at a cooling center.
• Drink lots of water and natural juices. Avoid alcoholic beverages, coffee and colas. 
• Keep shades drawn and blinds closed, but keep windows slightly open. 
• Stay out of the sun and avoid going out in the heat.
• Keep electric lights off or turned down. 
• Take cool baths or showers. 
• Wear loose, light cotton clothing. 
• Do not eat heavy meals. Avoid cooking with your oven. 
• Avoid or minimize physical exertion.
• Do not sit in a hot car, even for a short time. Never leave a child in a hot car.
• Check on family members, friends and neighbors to make sure they stay cool and safe.
• If you or anyone you know needs emergency medical attention, call 911.
• It is against the law to open a fire hydrant. An open hydrant hinders the fire department's ability to fight fires, reduces water pressure in your home and may cause basement flooding.

Special Keeping Cool Tips for Seniors

• During heat emergencies, seniors are urged to contact their local area agencies on Aging or the Senior HelpLine at (800) 252-8966 for assistance with locating senior centers, adult day service sites and other buildings that serve as cooling centers.
• Humidity combined with temperature make up the heat index, which is similar to the wind chill factor in winter. If the temperature is in the 90s with high humidity, it can feel like it is well over 100 degrees.

Keeping Cool Tips for Your Pets

• Provide water and shelter from the sun at all times. 
• Restrict activity during extreme heat. 
• Never leave pets in parked vehicles. Even moderate heat rapidly increases and can kill the pet quickly.

Source: Keep Cool Illinois

Study Gauges Seniors' Calorie Burn Playing Active Video Games

According to a study presented at the American College of Sports Medicine's 57th Annual Meeting in Baltimore some types of video games may help older adults become more physically active.

Researchers found that playing Nintendo's Wii can help healthy, overweight seniors burn calories. A study team led by Elizabeth Orsega-Smith, Ph.D., placed ACTICAL accelerometers on the wrists of 24 participants with a body mass index of 26 to 39 (a BMI of 25-29.9 marks overweight; 30+ indicates obesity). The accelerometers measured caloric expenditure during 30-minute bouts of Wii baseball, tennis and team and individual bowling. The gamers, who ranged in age from 66 to 78, burned significantly more calories (20-176 calories) playing individual bowling compared with team bowling (18-89 calories). Those playing baseball burned from 22 to 144 calories, while tennis resulted in 17-72 calories expended.

"Few studies have investigated the use of active video games in aging populations or individuals with disabilities," Orsega-Smith said. "Given that 40 percent of older-adult females and 30 of males ages 70 and above do not participate in any significant physical activity, this population faces growing health challenges. For otherwise sedentary people, games like the Wii offer an enjoyable way to become more active and more healthy."

Orsega-Smith noted that playing games such as Wii generally burns fewer calories than playing the real-life game or sport. However, they offer an option for those who face challenges to becoming physically active. In addition, the social atmosphere and enjoyment may contribute to adherence to this type of activity.

"Wii playing may be a vehicle for physical activity participation, especially for those older adults who do not have access to a fitness facility or who may have physical limitations to their mobility," She said. Participants in this study were independent, lived in communities and visited senior centers.

Source: American College of Sports Medicine

Medicare Rebate Checks

Medicare Rebate Checks Closing Prescription Drug Doughnut Hole Mailed Early - AARP Bulletin

Press Release from AAHSA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lauren Shaham, (202) 508-1219, lshaham@aahsa.org

AAHSA To Co-Sponsor Presidential Tele-Town Hall Meeting on Health Reform
Residents to Attend in Person While Numerous Members Hold “Watch Parties”

Washington - On Tuesday, June, 8, the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) will co-sponsor a national tele-town hall meeting with President Barack Obama discussing with senior citizens to discuss the Affordable Care Act. The conversation will focus on efforts to combat senior scams and fraud in advance of the first mailing of the $250 “donut hole” rebate checks.

President Barack Obama will join HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at 11:25 a.m. Eastern time at the Holiday Park Multipurpose Senior Center in Wheaton, Md., to take questions on health reform. Two residents of AAHSA member facilities will attend in person. About 10 AAHSA members will hold “watch parties” to watch the town hall online and call in with questions. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services representatives will attend AAHSA member events in Denver, Cleveland and Philadelphia.

“AAHSA members serve more than two million elders and family members every day and we are proud to help bring information and explanations to these elders,” said Larry Minnix, AAHSA’s president and CEO. “There is much in health reform that can help seniors with transitions, technology, quality and long-term care. It is important for all seniors and their caregivers to understand health reform, and this tele-town hall meeting is part of our effort to help educate people.”

The tele-town hall will be streamed online through both www.whitehouse.gov/live and www.healthreform.gov. Viewers can call (800) 837-1935 and use pass code: 80272058 to ask questions of President Obama and Secretary Sebelius. Interested parties are encouraged to dial in at 11:15 a.m, Eastern time to secure a line. The town hall meeting is expected to last about an hour.

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About AAHSA

The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (www.aahsa.org) is a national network of community-based nonprofit organizations that provide services and supports to people as they age.  These 5,400 organizations connect with millions of older persons and their families every day. They provide home health care, adult day services, hospice, senior housing, nursing care, assisted living, continuing care and a broad range of related services. AAHSA is the most trusted advocate for aging whose spirit of transformational stewardship and close collaboration with its members consistently improves lives.

'The Care Connection - June'

'The Care Connection - June'

National Safety Month