Fitness in Your Fifties – Loving Life

Do you realize that in 2012 years the first round of baby boomers will hit 65?!!  That used to be the age that people officially retired.  Of course the retirement age has been raised and I don’t think the baby boomers are going to be like 65 year olds of the past!  There has been a lot of research done on how the aging process has changed.  They are now calling 50 the new 30.  This means that lifestyles and activities of today’s fifty year olds are equivalent to the 30 year olds of previous generations.

 

There is a wonderful organization called the Red Hat Society that was started in 2001 by a group of women that were all over 50 and felt that life still had a lot to offer.  To quote the founder, Sue Ellen Cooper, “The Red Hat Society began as a result of a few women deciding to greet middle age with verve, humor and elan. We believe silliness is the comedy relief of life, and since we are all in it together, we might as well join red-gloved hands and go for the gusto together. Underneath the frivolity, we share a bond of affection, forged by common life experiences and a genuine enthusiasm for wherever life takes us next.”  It’s this attitude and love of life that will keep the 65+ crowd on their toes.  Even if they don’t live to be 100…the years they live beyond 65 will be active and fun…no rocking chairs for this generation!

 

Research shows that belong to an organization like this gives older adults a reason to get out of the house…get dressed up…get moving.  One of the things that prematurely can age someone is inactivity.  If all you do is sit at home and watch TV, your body and your mind will start to atrophy.  Instead all of us “older adults” need to get involved in organizations and activities that force us out of the house and give us a reason to be with other people.  One of the big things that takes place when you get groups of people together for fun…is laughter.  Laughter is amazing for our well being.  It takes much less effort to laugh than to wince or frown and it uses so many of our abdominal muscles.  Think of how much it hurts to laugh after you’ve had any surgery that affects your abdominal area.  Joining a group that has women (or men) that span several decades makes things interesting.  It teaches the younger members of the group that you don’t have to go quietly into old age.  Have you ever taken an aerobics class with 70-80 year olds?  It’s inspirational!  It’s amazing to hear someone 70 years old talk about having problems with her mother…hey that means her mother is in her 90’s!  Staying connected to others increases our life expectancy.  A network of friends is important at any age, but especially after the age of 50.  It’s someone to look in on you…someone to be accountable to…someone to share life’s trials and tribulations with.  There is a growing body of women 50+ who are single and plan to stay that way.  These are active, professional women.  They enjoy their freedom, as well as the companionship of the opposite gender.  These women will be turning the definition of aging on its ear!  Many of these women are shakers and movers in their communities.  They are often the “super volunteers”.  These women have a lot to give and they give of themselves whole-heartedly.  In turn the benefits they reap continue to help them stay young and connected to friends and family.

 

If you are over 50 and don’t belong to any organizations (this can be a class at the Y, a church group, a sports team, a bridge club, a service organization, a hiking group, etc.) you need to make the promise to yourself to find one you like and join before the summer is over.  You will make new friends, expand your horizons, challenge your mind and in general feel better about life.  If you don’t know where to begin, the internet is a great resource.  Type in some keywords of activities you are interested in and your hometown.  You’ll be amazed at what will pop up.  Being fit at this age is so much more than working out!

Are You Or Someone You Love On This List?

MEDICAL CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH LOW GLUTATIONE LEVELS
GENERAL
~ Obesity  ~ Immune signaling  ~ Endothelial dysfunction  ~ Alcoholism  ~ Inflammation  ~ Heavy metal poisoning

CARDIOVASCULAR
~ Angina and spastic angina  ~ Unstable angina  ~ Heart attacks ~ Positive stress tests  ~ Reperfusion after cardiac bypass surgery

PULMONARY
~ Emphysema (COPD)  ~ Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)  ~ Asthma  ~ Muscle wasting in COPD  ~ Chronic bronchitis  ~ Tobacco abuse

NEURO/PSYCH
~ Migraine headaches  ~ Alzheimer’s  ~ Parkinson’s  ~ Multi infarct dementia  ~ Autism  ~ ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)  ~ Bipolar disease
~ Schizophrenia  ~ Lou Geri’s disease  ~ Huntington’s chorea  ~ Multiple Sclerosis (MS)  ~ Depression

OPTHAMOLOGY
~ Cataracts  ~ Macular Degeneration

INFECTIOUS DISEASE/IMMUNOLOGY
~ Hepatitis A, B, and C  ~ Herpes simplex  ~ Herpes zoster/shingles  ~ Influenza and Bird Flu  ~ HIV  ~ MRSA ~ Common viral infections (upper respiratory, gastroenteritis)  ~ Others

RHEUMATOLOGY
~ Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) ~ Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) ~ Multiple Sclerosis (MS)  ~ Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma) Syndrome  ~ Behcet’s Syndrome  ~ ME/CFS ~ Fibromyalgia  ~ Others

DERMATOLOGY
~ Wrinkles, sagging  ~ Acne  ~ Psoriasis  ~ Atopic dermatitis  ~ Eczema  ~ Others

ONCOLOGY  Every cancer studied including:
~ Brain  ~ Head and neck  ~ Thyroid  ~ Lung  ~ Esophagus  ~ Stomach  ~ Intestine  ~ Liver  ~ Pancreas  ~ Kidney  ~ Uterine  ~ Ovarian  ~ Prostate  ~  Leukemia (acute and chronic)  ~ Lymphoma  ~ Multiple myeloma  ~ Others

OB/GYN
~ Infertility  ~ Spontaneous abortions  ~ Pre Menstrual Syndrome

The Devastating Consequences of Glutathione Shortage

Without glutathione, every cell in your body would die prematurely from its own waste products. Without glutathione your entire defense (immune) system would surrender to the first virus you encountered and cease to function. Without glutathione, your liver, which cleanses all the toxins you ingest or inhale and acts as a washing machine, could no longer cleanse any poison or toxin, as glutathione is, in a sense, the detergent for the washing machine. Without glutathione (and I mean a complete absence) oxygen-based life (us) would be impossible.

 

TESTIMONIALS

HEART PROBLEM & E.D.
Serge, Age: 46, Improved Cellular Function
Back in 2005, I suffered a heart attack, three weeks before my 44th birthday; I remember thinking, “What’s going on? I’m too young for this!” But it did happen. Since then, I was plagued with chronic fatigue, heart palpitation, headaches and more.

I started taking the glutathione supplement last spring and after 3 days of taking it my palpitation had ceased. Then one week later my fatigue was gone and so were my headaches.

But on thing I did not expect. Since I was very young, I chewed my fingernails (I was always a nervous child) and one day, after about 3 months on the glutathione supplement, I started to notice fingernails growing for the first time in 40 years. My stress levels had gone down so gradually that I did not notice that I did not chew my nails in a few days, and have not had the urge to chew my nails since then. I’ve also noticed my E.D. as a result of my heart attack had also been corrected. My sleep patterns have also been much better, as well as my mental focus.

FIBROMYALGIA & MENISCUS CARTILAGE TEAR
Jillyn, Improved Cellular Function-Musculoskeletal
In February 2006, working as a teacher I, Jillyn, at 52 years old was tripped in the hall and landed on my left knee. It immediately swelled up and I struggled to walk. I was sent to two doctors, one was an orthopedic surgeon I had X-rays, and an MRI done. I was told my MRI showed a meniscus cartilage tear. It hurt so bad I couldn’t sleep and I walked with severe pain. I was given Prednisone and Amitriptyline to bring down the inflammation and the pain, but to no avail. I was on crutches for a month but that didn’t help either.

Then in April 2007, over a year later and still in pain, I was then sent to another orthopedic surgeon who really is a specialist in knees. He said I definitely needed surgery. But I am allergic to a lot of anti-inflammatories so I wanted to think about it for a few weeks. I then heard about the glutathione supplement and started taking it to see if it would help my fibromyalgia which I was diagnosed with in 1980 by a rheumatologist. Some symptoms of fibromyalgia, besides pain and lack of energy that I also struggle with are severe insomnia where many nights I did not sleep at all and a lack of mental clarity.

The longer I was on the glutathione supplement, the better I felt. After about 2 months of taking it I noticed increased mental clarity, my energy level was up and there was less stiffness in my joints and muscles. I sleep better and I feel better than I have in 27 years! I am sleeping all night, every night, and my knee is NOT painful anymore.

Now 1 ½ years since the fall, Oct. 1, I had a follow up with the knee specialist, the orthopedic surgeon who I saw last April. I was concerned about the surgery and when to have it. After my exam he wrote up the results and asked if I wanted a copy. In those results he wrote,

‘PLAN: Because her symptoms have shown signs of resolution and her exam is benign today would recommend holding off on surgery for now. Continue to follow on a conservative basis using the glutathione supplement. Since the inflammation is now resolving, it will take another 6 months or so for complete healing.”

My orthopedic surgeon then explained that by keeping the inflammation down with the glutathione supplement my body has been able to work on healing my meniscus cartilage tear. He then recommended careful exercise to build my knee strength, so the very next day I walked ONE mile on it, which I had not dared do, and my knee felt fine. I am ecstatic!

My knee is doing wonderful, NO surgery needed, my fibromyalgia seldom bothers me anymore, I have more energy, better mental clarity and I sleep every night.

For years I have also had severe allergies. And after four months on the glutathione supplement, I was able to keep my allergies completely under control. I felt normal and even forgot about my allergies until one day my husband asked me why I wasn’t suffering with them. I said I was only taking my glutathione supplement and had no allergy symptoms.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS)
Frank and Judy, Improved Cellular Function
I am 46 years young and I live in Peachland, BC.

In 1997, we were hit with the news that I was being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a neurological disease which leaves little hope for the future. Our children were young teens at the time and needless to say this was terrifying for all of us. With MS comes many different types of symptoms, muscle pain and spasm, mental and physical fatigue, poor balance, I can go on and on. Activities had to be well planned so that I could be well rested. I hated feeling like a burden to my family.

As things go over the next years so many well intentioned friends and friends of friends were convinced they could “cure” my MS with their various products etc. Being somewhat of a realist I didn’t want any part of bouncing from product to product, I did my research, there is no cure for MS!

In January of 2005 my husband had a heart attack, yet another blow for us! Two surgeries and 11 stints later he is taking huge doses of Lipitor (80 mg daily).

Our children now being young adults and heading out on their own, I wanted a change for us so we moved to Peachland and semi-retired.

In June of 2007 my husband was introduced to a glutathione supplement. I was willing to try it.

About two weeks into taking the glutathione supplement, I had to admit that I was feeling so much better than I had in years! Less spasm, less pain, less fatigue and more energy than I had in some time! WOW and this gets better. After two months on the product, my husband’s medication was reduced by 20% to 60 mg of Lipitor daily.

Glutathione has been so much more than a supplement. It has and is changing our lives daily. I still have MS but MS doesn’t have me! We are looking forward to a much longer life and a better quality of life than we ever could have imagined!

PARKINSON’S
Jean, Improved Cellular Function-Neurologic
I am a 52 year old woman with Parkinson’s. I was diagnosed in 2002, at the age of 47. My neurologist is Ali H. Rajput, OC, SOM, MBBS, FRCPC, of Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon, Canada. I was last seen by Dr. Rajput in December of 2006, when it was determined I could no longer work (I was a bakery manager at the time). This is a part of his letter to my family doctor. “Jean was examined 3 hours and 30 minutes after the last dose of Sinemet. There was a 2+ resting tremor in the left upper limb and 1+ resting tremor in all other limbs. There is 2+ postural tremor in the right upper limb and 1+ in the left upper limb. Her pronation/supernation is at 2+ on the left side and 1+ on the right side, and heel tapping is 3+ on the left and 1+ on the right. There is 1+ rigidity. Her posture is stable; she is therefore at Stage 2 disability.”

I first started taking the glutathione supplement in late May 2007. I started with three capsules in the morning and three in the afternoon. I felt nauseated, weak, developed a headache, and broke out in hives. So I then started taking only 1 capsule twice daily for three days. Then I went to 1 and 2 for 3 days. I still did not feel really well. Then I went to 2 and 2. By day 10, I started to feel really good. I actually slept for 4 hours straight, something that had not happened in the last 2 years. By day 12, I was feeling great! My medication did not “wear off” in one to one-and-a half hours like it usually did, but lasted 3 hours before wearing off! My pain level went from about an 8 to a 2. For the first time since about January of 2007, I did not have to use a came to walk! What a wonderful feeling that was! There was no more Parkinson’s shuffle, and the cramping in my left arm and leg was minimal. And instead of sleeping half the afternoon away, I only need about a 15-minute nap. I started taking 3 and 3 capsules on about day 30. The hives have gone away and no more headaches. So, to sum up the first 3 months;

1) My energy level increased (from about a 2 to a 6)
2) I sleep for about three hours straight and for a total of about 6 hours per night, whereas before, I was lucky to get a total of 4 hours per night.
3) My medications last 3 to 3-and-a-half hours instead of 1 to 1-and-a-half hours, resulting in:

a) Less tremors
b) Less muscle cramping
c) Less muscle rigidity
d) Do not lose my voice very often
e) Do not have as much trouble swallowing
f) Pain in joints is minimal (as opposed to all day)
g) Do not need cane to walk
h) Less depression
i) My thinking is a lot clearer, not so foggy in the morning
j) Panic attacks are less
k) I fee more confident in such things as my driving, going put alone, etc.
l) Overall, more “on” time than “off” time

In September, I felt the glutathione supplement was not working as well, so I started taking 3 in the morning, 3 just after lunch, and 3 at around 4 or 5 p.m. This seems to be working well.

JOINTS, BONES AND MUSCLES
Shirley, Improved Cellular Function
About three months ago, I had problems with my joints bones and muscles, I wasn’t very good company. I felt old, much older than my age. I couldn’t walk upstairs or hills. Just standing after sitting for a while would give me excruciating pain. I never felt good about anything in my life for about 10 years. Although I was skeptical, I started taking the glutathione supplement.

In one week, I started to notice little things, like going about the house humming. The first time I caught myself humming n the morning before coffee, WOW! Then I was walking upstairs without stopping halfway or on my hands and knees. Now I feel so good I can walk up a hill, that before I would have had to stop three or four times before reaching the top. Now I just keep on going without getting out of breath or feeling any pain whatsoever. I would recommend the glutathione supplement to anyone, at any age. I am now 68 going on 45 or 50. Before I felt like 68 going on 80.

ANXIETY, DEPRESSION & CHEST PAIN
Carvel, Improved Cellular Function
I am 66 years old. Using the glutathione supplement has changed my life. Yes, I have reentered life!

I experienced a significant benefit within 2 hours of using this product. I feel better now than I have in many years.

Here is my story.

I was in near perfect health, so I believed, through my late 50’s. Then I was assaulted by serious mental and physical health challenges.

I had been an outdoor enthusiast. I ran my first marathon at age 47. I ran at least one marathon a year for 10 consecutive years. I did a lot of mountain biking and backpacking into the backcountry. Also, I snow skied —- never at a high skill level, but I had the energy and strength to do it.

All that great outdoor stuff stopped when I became ill. I stopped exercising and gained 75 pounds. For several years I was not living life —- I was merely surviving from one day to the next.

I was diagnosed with severe depression and an anxiety disorder. Every day for at least 5 years, I had pains in my chest; some days it was only at an uncomfortable level, but most days the pain was excruciating.

I was committing many thinking errors. It adversely affected every area of my life, including financial, spiritual, and social.

Nothing seemed to deliver relief. I was hospitalized 3 times. I sought help from several different medical doctors. Many different pharmaceutical medicines were prescribed and used.
Still no relief.

I tried several alternative approaches to my health problems, including acupuncture, hypnosis and chiropractic. Nothing worked.

I spent a week with a holistic practitioner in Mexico. It didn’t help.

Many well intended people gave me advice – what to do – what to eat – what to drink – what to swallow, etc. Nothing worked.

I decided to take an early retirement. I retired from my career in 2003. Life was still very hard.

Then I decided to move from Utah to Hawaii. I made the move early November, 2006. I believe that helped, but I was still hurting.

I woke up every morning with turmoil in my chest. I can best describe it by reporting that it felt like cats inside my chest clawing.

Sometime late December, 2006, I learned about glutathione supplement. I began using it mid-January, 2007.

This is what happened. Within an hour or two after I first took the supplement, I felt softening of the anxiety in my chest. The pain went away, and has not returned. It is an absolute miracle.

But the softening of the anxiety per se, is not the most miraculous part of my experience. Not only was my anxiety going down, but my energy was increasing.

Never before had I taken anything, good or bad, that increased my energy and also reduced the anxiety. Usually when my energy increased, my anxiety cranked up.

So, my first two noticeable benefits were my anxiety reduced and my energy went up.

Here are some other benefits I noticed:

Better sleep – that is, more restful slumber Natural color returning to my hair Old scar tissue on my right shin repairing Increased desire to accomplish things each day Increased sense of well being

 

I do not use any prescribed medications. I feel discouraged sometimes, but I no longer suffer from depression; I know the difference.

Yes, using this product has changed my life. It is true that I feel better than I have in many years.

I am not yet back to the point to where I thought I was enjoying near perfect health. But, that is now up to me. I know I need to exercise more, and shed some pounds.
There is more, but I think I have captured, and shared the essence of my experience using the revolutionary product.

RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME, EYESIGHT, ARTHRITIS PAIN, DEPRESSION
Shirley, Improved Cellular Function and Mood
I am 68 years of age. I have always been in very good health, eat organically and am a competitive athlete enjoying a great deal of energy. In 1995, I was run over by a car while practicing for a triathlon and had my leg crushed. I was 4 years in physio, in and out of a wheelchair along with 3 operations. The end result was —— no more running, limited walking, leg could not fully extend and the pain of arthritis began.

I also suffered for many years with familial arthritis in my hands, twisted, swollen fingers along with 24/7 pain. I always continued with a healthy lifestyle, exercising regularly, Tai Chi and walking the doggies. I did not let the pain stop me from keeping fit. I was known among my friends as the gal who could do anything regardless of how difficult it was. I was a bit of a role model for some.

In 2006, my life changed for the worse, I became more and more depressed, had a total lack of energy, my previous mental drive became “mush” and it was all I could do to drag myself for my doggies’ daily walks. I was in fear of becoming one of those ‘old ladies’ that lie around eating bon-bons. It was hard to believe it was me!

The end of February 2007, I first took the glutathione supplement and three days later I returned with the vitality and drive that I had always enjoyed! I am talking three DAYS, not years! I was back to being me. Yes I still had pain BUT, 3 days after starting the supplement (2 packets a day) I commented to my husband that my eyesight was clearer as was my mental focus. It continued to improve to the point that I no longer used my glasses while driving at night. After four months I had my eyes checked by my specialist and he confirmed that yes indeed, “your eyesight has improved!”

My mental focus changed immediately from being in a depressed state to one of —- excitement waking to a new day! I felt absolutely wonderful and in such a positive state. I have suffered from Restless Legs Syndrome and that was gone within a month —– that was a delightful surprise. The next to go was the pain of arthritis —- it took 5 weeks. Now my rings spin on my fingers, no leg pain, and I can enjoy lying down in bed. I am now back on the treadmill, doing walk/run for one hour at an incline and practicing for the New York Marathon. My gym workout is 3 days a week. When I complete my walk/run (which I increase on a 2-week basis), I drop down and do 60 FULL pushups, then do stretches and yoga poses. I also do Tai Chi weekly and Pilates. I also run my own business. My life is good —- really good!

SEVERE PAIN – SPONDYLOLISTHESIS
Cindy, Improved Cell Function & Anti-Inflammation
Hi, my name is Cindy M. I’ve suffered with severe scoliosis since I was 12 years of age. I also have a lower back problem that caused my scoliosis; which is known as Spondylolisthesis. I was in severe pain. I went through surgery at 13 and was in a body cast for 9 months and in bed for 6 months. I couldn’t sit up or hang my leg off the bed. I was basically confined to my bed. They did the surgery to slow the curve down and I didn’t have your typical surgery that you would have for scoliosis, because of my Spondylolisthesis. I had a Harrington type pin placed in my lower back instead of rods. Prior to all of this I wore a Milwaukee brace for two years. It didn’t work because of my lower back, however. Now they would like to go in and put four Harrington rods in from top to bottom.

And also some stainless-steel pins in the front to secure what they would have to do in the back. My doctor at University of Michigan has told me that he would like to tell me that he’s doing it to get rid of my pain but he is not. My spine’s not just curving, but it’s turning my torso and they would lie to try to stop that. I have suffered every day of my life with this pain. I have tried several different natural methods and I didn’t choose synthetic pain killers because this would be with me for the rest of my life, and I would have to take stronger doses with each passing year.

The day I was introduced to the glutathione supplement, I was in severe pain. I was very skeptical because of all the things I’ve tried. But I was always praying something would work. So I took the glutathione supplement and I went and rested because I didn’t think I was going to be able to go do errands that I had to do. Twenty minutes later, I started feeling better. I got up and started moving around and my pain was gone! I didn’t say anything to my family because I was still skeptical, wondering “was this really this supplement? How could it work this fast?”

So I finished the week’s supply and two days went by without the glutathione supplement and I felt like I had been hit by a Mack truck. I was back to severe pain, calling everyone to see if I could get some more. I’ve never done crack, but I felt like an addict. I was looking for that fix. At that point I knew that it was the glutathione supplement. It’s been almost four months now, and the glutathione supplement has changed my life. My quality of life has never been this good since I was a little girl. I know everybody is different. It might not work on some people as fast as it did on me, but it was like the forest fire was put out on my back. I still have scoliosis but I’m not living with pain anymore.

FIBROMYALGIA & OSTEOARTHRITIS
Joanne, Improved Cellular Function
I am 61 years young — feeling like I’m 39 and holding due to the glutathione supplement! I can think more clearly now (less senior moments), major pain nearly gone -more energy. I love to dance and there is no more lactic acid after dancing or exercise! Inflammation is the cause of almost all pain but with the glutathione supplement and my positive attitude, I am experiencing major pain relief. But my life wasn’t always this enriched — healthwise!

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis back in the late ‘80’s — early 90’s. I have been in pain since that time! Fibromyalgia is a condition where you hurt all over your body. I would take over-the-counter pain medicine to help with the pain —- but it would help for a short time only. My doctor gave me antidepressants a few years ago. I told him that I wasn’t depressed. He told me that antidepressants work for the pain of fibromyalgia. So I went home and tried it. I took one tablet —- a few minutes later I was sick to my stomach. I threw the pills in the garbage. So over the years I put up with the pain, dealing with it as best I could. Due to this condition, I only slept 3-4 hours a night as well. And we all know that as we sleep — our bodies are repairing themselves. A person needs their proper sleep or they can’t function the next day!

But since learning about the glutathione supplement — I’ve been taking it since July 9, 2007 noticing AMAZING RESULTS within 48 HOURS! First of all, I noticed my pain was not as bad as it used to be — my arms and legs had a lot less pain. As the days went by, the pain got even less! I have a great sleep every night now and energy galore. An amazing supplement!

MACULAR DEGENERATION & ITCHY SKIN
Kay, Improved Cellular Function
This is Kay C. I am almost 96 years young and live in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. Since starting on the glutathione supplement about seven months ago, I have had a number of positive changes, but for one in particular, I am most grateful.

For several months I had been having a problem with my right eye being sore and “fuzzy” and I was using drops several times a day. I was afraid I was losing the
sight in that eye. An eye doctor told me I had macular degeneration, confirmed later by an eye specialist. Neither gave me any positive help. Three days after starting on the glutathione supplement, I looked in the mirror and was surprised to note I could see a “little bit” better. After eight days, I was looking out the window and could not believe how well I could see, and couldn’t remember when I had stopped using eye drops. That is the way the supplement works — all of the sudden you notice a positive change in problems that you were just living with as part of life. For example, itchy skin disappeared after many years, my hearing is a “bit” better, and I’m sleeping better. My right foot had intermittently been very painful. It was thought to be gout but recent blood tests showed it was not. Although the pain had gone, I had swelling and inflammation. One day noticed that was gone. I also had shooting pains in different parts of my body, especially at night, but recently noticed they have disappeared. My energy level is great and at almost 96, I am living a very happy, healthy and active life. I have invitations out for my 100th birthday!

ILEITIS & LYMPHEDEMA
Xarhis, Improved Cellular Function and Anti-Inflammation
I am absolutely excited about this glutathione supplement because it helped me with two major health concerns: ileitis and lymphedema! The ileitis inflammation was located in the “terminal ileum” (area of the small intestine) just before the ileocecal valve to the large intestine. Apparently, this condition started some months prior from food poisoning. Over a period of months and delays in getting a correct diagnosis, I began to experience ongoing significant pain in the lower right area of my abdomen. It got to the point I literally could not sit, stoop, bend, wear tight clothing or walk without PAIN! Certain foods began to bother me, as well. The only way to get relief was to eat bland food, wear a robe and be in a reclining position.

Finally, I had a CT scan that showed “thickening” in that area attributable to infection and inflammation. Upon seeing a specialist in gastroenterology, I was given an antibiotic for the “infection” (presumably, caused by an amoeba), but was told the “inflammation” would take a “long, long time” to heal. In fact, the specialist informed me that since this condition had been left that long, he believed this thickening could very well already be ulcerated putting me at risk for Crohn’s disease. The recourse for that would be surgery or Prednisone. I wanted neither. I was encouraged to have a colonoscopy after the antibiotic. However, I postponed this exam because I felt 90 percent better and had “some” continued pain. I also had an Alaskan cruise I wanted to take two weeks later; and I was concerned about the risk of possible perforation by the camera used in the exam (in my mind) designed for a colon and not a much smaller ileum.

All of this was stressful to me because in 1994 I faced the big “C” of cancer and I certainly didn’t want to face another big “C” for Crohn’s disease! I knew several people who had it and I didn’t want it. Being into natural health alternatives, I started on chlorophyll capsules and concentrated whole leaf aloe vera. It seemed to help some, but I was still having pain and knew I wasn’t well enough for me to believe I could make the cruise.

I heard about the glutathione supplement and obtained a week’s supply. On the first day, I noticed a lot of energy. By the second day, I began to have less pain and within days I was actually able to increase my activities. After only taking eight (8) packets of the supplement, I saw my physical therapist for a scheduled manual lymphedema massage. (During my bout with *** cancer, I worked with natural herbs in lieu of chemo or radiation and my cancer was gone, but I was still left with lymphedma. My surgeon removed auxiliary lymph nodes, although I was assured they would not be.) My therapist, within a few minutes of putting her hands on me, asked excitedly, “What are you taking? What are you doing differently?!” The glutathione supplement had reduced some of the swelling from retained fluids and it softened much of the tissue that was usually hardened by trapped fluids from adhesions that would often take the therapist 20 minutes just to soften it. Immediately, she noticed my tissue was different. Never had it been like this during all the eight years she treated me, nor when I had taken chlorophyll or aloe vera in the past, so, it had to have been the glutathione supplement! (By the way, my lymphedema is still improving and I feel like I’m getting my life back.)

After only 14 packets of glutathione supplement, I also knew it had significantly helped my ileitis condition. There now was no question about packing for the trip! I was able to drive ten hours the first day toward Canada for the cruise, with no problem. Just two weeks prior, I still could not sit more than a half-hour without experiencing some level of pain.

I made the cruise and handled it fine: sitting, walking, climbing stairs, dancing, wearing my pretty “tight” clothes, eating whatever I wanted now (gained 9 pounds) and had no problems whatsoever! Upon returning home, I took only four packets of the supplement (making it a total of 18 packets) before my scheduled colonoscopy and “knew” even before the exam that I was fine —- and I was! The specialist took the camera into the ileum and it was normal.

Excerpt from GLUTATHIONE Your Best Defense Against Aging, Cellular Damage and Disease by Dr Robert H. Keller, MD, MS, FACP, AAHIVS – Director of Medicine & Research/KBK Institute of Advanced Medicine, Published 2008

Dr. Robert Keller was voted one of America’s Top Physicians for the past 5 years, as well as being recognized as one of the Top 2,000 scientists of the 21st century. Dr. Keller treats people with Aids, Cancer and Auto-Immune disorders in his Florida clinic. In an effort to help his patients, Dr. Keller created/formulated and has been using MaxGXL in his practice (and also in Africa) for over 10 years with great success!

http://masterantioxidant.mymaxsystem.com

Senior Care Homes-Care and Housing Options in NJ

Many times, adult children of seniors find themselves playing the role of advocate to obtain care of parent. This may begin when a parent becomes ill or injured and has to be hospitalized or you may see that your parent is declining and can no longer be alone and will require ongoing care. What do you do then? So many people, it’s like a “trial by fire”, trying to learn the language of senior care homes options in order to make the best decision for their loved one. Understanding the different senior care terms can make this an easier task.  

Rehabilitation/Sub acute Care Center-this type of facility provides short term therapeutic care for patients once discharged from the acute care of a hospital. The therapy provided includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. A typical stay in a rehab center is usually about two to three weeks. The goal is to restore the patient to normal capacity.

Home Care-also known as senior in home care or home health care. This type of service provides a range of services that include assistance with bathing, toileting, dressing, and ambulation. Home care can also include meal preparation, light housekeeping and laundry services. In-home care can be provided for a few hours per day or on a 24 hour per day basis depending on need.

Adult Day Care/Medical Day Care-a protective environment for seniors needing a structured program. Services for adult day care vary from custodial care, offering stimulating activities for independent seniors along with meals, to an adult medical day care which provides activities to seniors with medical needs.  Seniors are usually brought to an adult day care program in the morning and leave in the evening. Transportation to and from the center is often available.

Assisted Living-is a combination of housing and personal health support services for seniors. Services in an assisted living usually include:
-private or semi-private apartment
-emergency call systems
-daily meals served in a common dining room
-social and recreational activities
-transportation
-assistance with personal care
-medication management
-24 hour staff
-laundry and housekeeping services
In addition, many assisted living facilities have a secure unit for memory impaired seniors.

Nursing-Convalescent Home/Skilled Nursing Facility-For those with a need for more acute care, a nursing home provides patients with 24 hour care. This type of facility is generally for patients requiring ongoing skilled care such as bathing, toileting, dressing, as well as assistance with ambulation. Medical supervision and rehabilitation services are also provided.  

Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)-a community that offers multiple levels of assistance to seniors. Levels of care range from independent living, assisted living and nursing home care. A CCRC provides a continuum of housing and health care options on one central campus.  Seniors who opt to live at a CCRC usually sign a long term contract (often the length of a resident’s life). This offers the senior the peace of mind that they can receive housing and assistance at one site, as their needs increase.

The Great 401K Experiment and 16 Strategies for Creating Wealth

You have been diligently saving into your 401K and looking forward to your retirement. You are 57 years old and you open your statement. You?ve lost half of your retirement investment. Suddenly retirement has been pushed back beyond age 65 and you will need a part-time job when you retire. You have been saving into your 529 college plan. Junior is about to turn 18; instead of the one hundred thousand dollars you expected based on what you were told were the historic returns of the market, you have less than half of that. Now you have to have the conversation with Junior, valedictorian of his class, about going to the Junior College.

What if your financial planner told you that you were about to embark on a great experiment? That the experiment would require you to set a consistent amount of money aside for 30 years in a lock box controlled by investment banks and the United States Federal Government, limit your investment options to mutual funds and bonds, and hope that certain beliefs about long term historical returns hold true until you need your money at the end of your working life.

That is exactly the first conversation that I had with my financial planner 7 years ago. She said to me, ?Ouida, these mutual funds, 401Ks and 529 college plans?this is all a great experiment Large groups of people have never retired or planned for college in this way before and we won?t know how this experiment is going to turn out for another 10 years or so.?

When I heard that,I realized television pundits and financial authors simply articulated unproven strategies in an overall experiment that began in the late 1970?s when corporations began to shift the responsibility for retirement planning and pension funding onto employees. I thought about the meaningless conversations that I had with my erstwhile plumber about the latest hot mutual fund and whether or not he should buy Google. The Great 401K Experiment has turned the majority of employees into investors and turned the man on the street or the salesman behind the desk into a financial guru.

Wikipedia defines an experiment in the following manner: In scientific inquiry, an experiment (Latin: ex- periri, “to try out”) is a method of investigating causal relationships among variables. An experiment is a cornerstone of the empirical approach to acquiring data about the world and is used in both natural sciences and social sciences. An experiment can be used to help solve practical problems and to support or negate theoretical assumptions.

I wonder who ever thought that by diligently placing money in their 401K that they were ?trying out? their retirement plan?

As a physician, I rely on the outcomes of well-designed experiments to determine the best therapeutic strategy for my patients. In health care, by the time an experiment involving a therapeutic intervention is carried out on human test subjects, basic assumptions about the therapeutic intervention have already been formulated and tested in the laboratory. In medicine, we know what the variables are and we control for them, we have specific outcome measures and, most importantly, we can stop the experiment if the outcome is out of line with expectations and proves to be harmful to patients.

Despite involving human test subjects, the goings on in the world of finance and retirement planning have nothing to do with a safe controlled experiment. No, in the world of personal finance and retirement planning, we have what is known as an observational study. In an observational study, people participate in a series of activities and we follow them long term to the end. Whatever that end is. We are simply along for the ride waiting to see what happens. In terms of retirement planning, that could mean a retirement lived in poverty or a retirement in which all of the financial needs are met. But this experiment does not guaranty the latter outcome.

Let?s look at the assumptions that financial planners and employees alike have made:

1) In retirement, expenses will go down. Therefore retirees will need only 75% of their pre-retirement income. This means that a person with an annual income of $100,000 during his working years, should set enough aside to generate an annual income of $75, 000 in retirement. This assumption has one basic flaw: it ignores inflation. Current estimates are that retirees will need $250,000 to $300,000 dollars just to handle health care expenditure. This basic tenet of retirement planning ignores the realities of many retirees, personal illness, the need to care for a sick spouse or adult children.

2) Stock market returns average 8% per year over the long haul. This is simply untrue. A quick trip to moneychimp.com shows that the S&P has returned 8.76% since 1871. However that percentage drops to 6.56% when adjusted for inflation. If you could have been invested in the markets for the past 137 years you could have done okay. But 137 years really does challenge the idea of just what the long haul is. The long haul is certainly more than 10 years. From January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2008 market returns were 0.96%. Inflation-adjusted returns were -1.44%. As I discuss in my article, The Stock Market: The Second Greatest Financial Scam of the 20th Century, the long haul for stocks is more like 30 years. It becomes obvious, then, what you should do if you are 50, intend to retire at 65 and are contemplating putting money in the markets as an investment.

3) Home prices will always go up. This assumption made home ownership tantamount to putting money away monthly into a super-charged savings account. I?ve never seen a savings account lose value the way the housing market did during the Savings and Loan crash and this most recent financial downturn.

4) Capital gains are better than cashflow. The current economic environment is a prime example of what happens when people invest for capital gains alone. When the capital gains party stops wealth is devastated. With cashflow, however, businesses can operate as usual. It is estimated that 20 percent of real estate loans made during the housing boom went to investors. What if all of those investors had invested for cashflow? Price appreciation made cashflow impossible for most of the investor purchases that were made in the last 4 years. Absent cash flow, investor money would have remained on the sidelines, fewer loans would have been made, property valuations would have remained in check and part of the speculation that drove the recent housing market would have been absent.

What happens when the basic assumptions of an experiment prove false? The experiment fails. In medicine, a failed experiment sends everyone back to the drawing board looking for answers. Not so in the world of personal finance. Personal Finance is called personal finance for a reason. You are the person and it is your finance. You are the only one who goes back to the drawing board usually with less money than you started with. The broker who sold you the stocks made his money. The fee-only planner that you were told to use by Smart Money Magazine made her money. The fund manager made his money.

What is the solution? Education. Education of the financial type. Every waking minute of every waking day. Yes this is work, but it is the only way. Those who don?t want to do this type of work should remain participants in the observational experiment to whatever end. My financial planner made sure that I stayed out of 529 plans, and that I did not invest in IRAs outside of my 401K plan. The way to wealth is simple and it is the following:

1) Live below your means
2) If housing prices in your area are too high, rent, but aim to keep total housing costs at less than 20% of income
3) Buy a quality car no more often than every 10 years and maintain that car. Car leases and frequent new car purchases are among the greatest drainers of household wealth
4) Eliminate consumer debt.
5) Obtain skills in writing, sales and marketing
6) Save
7) Invest savings into income-producing assets:
a) businesses such as network marketing
b) real-estate
Work with those assets once you do invest to make sure they produce income.
9) Protect all assets via entities
10) Find advisors and partners that you can trust who have your interests in mind. They are not hard to find.
11) Understand yourself and your tolerance for risk. For many putting money into bonds and not giving financial education another thought is the best strategy.
12) Read a financial book per month and attend one business development seminar per year that teaches a specific skill
13) Stay away from mainstream financial magazines. They only offer the same pabulum that has left many high and dry, stripped of their wealth.
14) Subscribe to Investors Business Daily, The Financial Times or The Wall Street Journal
15) Stay away from personal development seminars but read personal development books
16) Implement the strategies and skills from the seminars and books

Your time investment will be at least 10 hours per week. Are you ready to invest the time and get going?

Apart From A Proper Golf Swing Trainer, A Golfer Needs More Than One Golf Course!

There you are, the newest member of the golf retirement community, putting to engineer that innocent looking little white ball into the black hole at last. The soft sea breeze stroking your aching back after that one wild swipe at the dodgy little Callaway golf ball when you thought no one was watching. And something else is bothering you. You know what it is, but you don’t want to acknowledge it, because you don’t know what to do about it. You don’t yearn for the latest golf swing trainer, golf cart accessory or other related retirement gift. It is something entirely different that is tap-tap-tapping away at your thoughts.

Too many greens to play, too many beautiful community golf courses whispering their names to you in that salty wind coming in from the sea. And there is only one you. With a wife that is adamant to have her say in the unfolding need for more than just the one golf course in one lifetime.

As that wise old German psychologist mentioned in quiet desperation, women are different. They are most likely aliens from a far off galaxy where there are no open green, gated golf course communities that are synonymous with heavenly pleasures. In that galaxy the rule has been laid down that a specimen from the female species will always have the need to have an own home where the specimen can indulge in home making. A serious golfer, in his advanced cosmic state, knows that it is not about the house, it is all about the green course. She will not let go. She will not understand. She will want her own home to beautify. She will want a verandah where she and her friends from that far off galaxy can sit down and drink tea while watching whales in the sea, or buffalos grazing, or soft green hills against pure blue heavens. That is what she wants, and you can just as well go and drown yourself with your beloved golf bag in that water hole at the 16th. She will not budge.

But then, to your relief, you remember that phrase of the great Chinese writer, or it could be an Australian, and you know that it is likely that you are making a mistake about this great man’s background, but what he said was something like ‘it is in the play that I’ll catch the conscience of the queen’…

Careful planning, my golfing mate, is what will save the day. Those were the words of those great and advanced guys that roamed the great plains of ancient courses long long ago. Give the specimen a house overlooking the greens. There she can buy curtains to her liking, plant flowers in clay pots, read JM Coetzee or Ian McEwan whilst listening to Mozart. And the little wifey with her specimen friends can sit on the verandah, laughing and spilling tea while they watch your approach to do something to that little white ball that once again moved for only a few inches (the English), or centimeters (the rest of the world).

The plain truth is that this ancient wisdom of golfers now swinging clubs in the pinkish clouds at days end, only provides a partial answer to the greater issue. You know that if you can’t get the swing right on this open green, there are surely so many other beautiful retirement community golf courses. Courses that will appreciate your next swing, which will be the one that Ernie Els aspires to.

The thing is, your specimen has now settled into her golf course community house overlooking the 18th hole. Since buying that piece of golf real estate for her, she happily opens the front door at your disheveled return from the game, and she always displays those bright twinkling eyes, shining with mischievousness. Now you know that she found something so great or amusing in that house overlooking the 18th hole that she will not even consider moving to a different, more lenient course.

Now, this is the moment that I will come to your rescue. I have given that game up because I do not yet want to play it in the day end pinkish clouds before it really is time to do so, on account of heart attacking golfing seizures. So I would rather sell you and your specimen a house at a gated, retirement golf community estate of her liking. At the same time I would suggest that you get your specimen’s best friend to maneuver her golfing husband to one of the other beautiful courses. Doing so, you can explain, they can visit each other, go to art galleries, coffee shops, mesmerizing shopping centers and they can even sit on the verandah overlooking the very first hole, laughing their buds and their butts off, …so long as you and your golfing friend can have another go at another course where nobody can possibly know your real handicap.

Just don’t turn your eyes towards all the verandahs of all the other houses in the gated golf community, with all the other specimens rolling and reeling in laughter over their little cups of tea.

It will only prolong that fight of dwarfing inches towards the shrinking little black hole of redemption.

Senior Citizens Should be Aware of Private Long Term Care Insurance

Long term care is a major concern of American senior citizens and their families. Studies have shown that Americans rank long term care second, behind saving for retirement, when prioritizing financial needs. Unfortunately, many Americans do not want to think about needing long term care and, therefore, fail to plan for it. Others wrongly assume that Medicare or standard health insurance policies will cover the costs of long term care services. As a result of this failure to plan, tens of thousands of Americans are impoverished each year by the costs of long term care.

The best time to plan for long term care is before it is needed. Start thinking about long term care when you plan for retirement. If you are already retired, it is not too late to begin planning for potential long term care needs.

Private long term care insurance is an excellent way to finance long term care. This brochure will guide you through the important process of selecting the right long term care insurance policy. This booklet provides information on long term care services, what to look for in a long term care insurance policy, and a glossary of terms.

Finding a good policy will take some effort, but the effort will be worthwhile. Here are some steps to take when considering the decision to purchase a long term care insurance policy:

1. Talk to your financial planner or insurance agent about whether long term care insurance makes sense for you.
2. Ask your financial advisor to recommend a company and a policy.
3. Check with insurance rating services to make sure the insurance company you are considering is financially secure.
4. Call your state insurance department and ask about the company and its record in your state.
5. Make sure your insurance agent is licensed to sell long term care insurance in your state.
6. Review all the details and options of the policy. Do not rely just on the marketing materials or outline of coverage.
7. Make sure you understand all the provisions before you purchase any policy.
8. Ask your insurance agent questions. Seek guidance from the state insurance commission office, the Area Agency on Aging, or local senior centers. Discuss policies with friends, family, and others whose opinions you respect. Take time when choosing a policy, and don’t allow yourself to be pressured into making quick decisions. And remember: Never pay cash.

The decision to purchase long term care insurance is not a simple one, but thorough investigation and thoughtful planning now can offer you and your family financial protection for the future, and, most importantly, peace of mind.

Defining Long Term Care

Long term care includes a range of nursing, social, and rehabilitative services for people who need ongoing assistance. Most people in long term care facilities are older, but many young people need long term care during an extended illness or after an accident.

Assistance with routine personal needs such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and taking medicine is the most common long term care service. Long term care facilities also provide skilled nursing and rehabilitative care, which is ordered by a physician and supervised by skilled medical personnel such as a nurse or licensed therapist.

Long Term Care Is Offered In A Variety Of Settings

Nursing facilities are the primary settings for people who require medical care daily or intermittently. You must have a physician specify needed services in a written treatment plan for admission to a nursing facility. Many nursing facility stays are short periods of recuperation from an acute medical episode such as a hip fracture or surgery.

Assisted living facilities or residential care facilities provide general supervision, housekeeping services, medical monitoring, and planned social, recreational, and spiritual activities for people who are still independent and ambulatory. Assisted living facilities do not provide medical care.

Facility care services include skilled nursing care, speech, physical, or occupational therapy, facility health aides, or help from facilitymakers. Sometimes, family members, or caregivers, provide most of the care with the help of facility aides and skilled professionals.

Adult day care services are available in many communities, providing personal care, skilled care, and recreational services.

Financial Issues And Long Term Care

The cost of long term care varies by the level of care needed, the setting where the care is provided, and geographic location. Nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and facility care services provide different levels of care to different resident populations; therefore, costs are not comparable.

On average, round-the-clock long term care services in a nursing facility cost $40,000 per year, or $112 per day.

Assisted living costs vary dramatically-anywhere from $900 to $3000 per month depending on room size, amenities provided, and services required.

Facility care, if needed daily, also can be quite expensive. In 1996, an average facility care visit from a registered nurse (RN) cost $99. RN visits for facility care typically do not exceed 2-4 hours per day, so care is not round-the-clock.

Eight hours of adult day care can cost an average of $45 per day.

Nursing Facility Care: About one third of the costs of nursing facility care are paid directly by individuals and their families. Two government programs may pay for some of your care.

Medicare, a health insurance program for people age 65 or older, only covers skilled facility care and up to 100 days of skilled care in a nursing facility if you are admitted after a three-day hospitalization (not required if you are an HMO member) and your physician prescribes skilled care in your treatment plan. Many people think that Medicare is the primary payor of nursing facility stays, but Medicare accounts for only 9 percent of nursing facility expenditures.

Medicaid, a program for the poor, pays for approximately 52 percent of the nation’s nursing facility care, but only for people who have spent almost all their assets and become impoverished. Due to lack of planning for long term care, Medicaid is the source of payment for nearly 70 percent of people in nursing facilities!

Unless you have long term care insurance, qualify under limited conditions for Medicare coverage, or become poor, you will pay out of your savings for nursing facility services.

Assisted Living: About 90 percent of the nation’s assisted living services are paid for with private funds. The Supplemental Security Income, Older Americans Act, and Social Services Block Grant programs pay for some assisted living services, while about one-fifth of the states allow the federal Medicaid program to pay for some service components.

Facility Care: Private funds pay for about 46 percent of facility care costs; Medicare covers 32 percent; Medicaid, 22 percent.

Adult Day Care: There are some out-of-pocket expenses for adult day care; however, the majority of funding comes from public sources either the state exclusively, or, in some states, Medicare and Medicaid. Private donations from corporations and charitable groups such as the United Way also supplement the costs of adult day care.

When To Buy Long Term Care Insurance

Because long term care insurance premiums are based on age at the time of purchase, the younger you are when you purchase a policy, the less expensive the annual premium. These premiums for most policies stay level each year as you age. If you buy at age 55 a policy that cost $800 per year, you will continue to pay the same premium. However, if you wait until you are 65, the same policy will cost you $1,700 per year.

What To Look For In A Policy

The best policy for you depends on several factors, including your family arrangement, your financial situation, your preferences regarding long term care choices, and the level of risk you are willing to accept. There is no one best company or one best policy for everyone. You should select a policy that meets your needs.

Before you buy a policy, make sure you know the product you are buying and from whom you are buying it. Be sure your agent is licensed to sell insurance in your state and has received specific training on long term care insurance. Consult friends, consumer guides, and information from your state’s insurance counseling program or local agency on aging.

A Visit To The Spa Is More Than Just A Luxury…It’s A Necessity!

I don’t know about you, but as I get closer to retirement age I am becoming more conscious about taking care of myself  both inside and out.

In fact, what was once a “luxury” is now a “necessity”.  I am referring to spending time at the spa. At first, a spa trip was something exciting – a day out with girlfriends to celebrate a grand event or just to “get away for the day” and catch up with one another.  A planned trip once or twice a year was something fun to look forward to.

That was then and what is now is something I consider “maintenance” meaning a trip to the spa is more than just something that’s fun – it’s something that’s needed!  As I battle the fine lines and wrinkles that have made my face and body home, the frequency of trips to the spa has increase.  Annual or bi-annual trips have now transformed into monthly (at least) visits.

With retirement right around the corner my quest to stay and look youthful intensifies.  A monthly facial keeps my skin clear and glowing.  A massage helps me to “de-stress” rather than “distress” with today’s hectic lifestyle.  With summer right around the corner body wraps, waxes, pedicures and manicures are in order to keep me looking polished.

I mentioned retirement being right around the corner.  It is.  And, I am realizing that it is important to familiarize myself with the variety of 55+ retirement communities that come in all shapes and sizes.  As an active adult with a spa addiction it’s going to be very important for me to make sure I am within a short distance of a nice spa that will cater to all my wellness needs.

I have heard about Arizona active adult communities and because I love warm weather I am thinking Arizona may be the retirement spot for me.  In fact, I came across a beautiful spa which calls Trilogy at Encanterra home.  The Alvea Spa in Greater Phoenix is absolutely beautiful and is on my list of “Must Visit” next time I’m in the area.  If Alvea Spa is as beautiful and serene in person as it is in magazines, you can bet that Trilogy of Encanterra will be a strong contender for my future new retirement home.

Senior Care Costs

The Costs of Senior Care Options

When planning for our retirement, most of us allocate money into a 401K or another savings program to take advantage of tax write-offs and to make sure we will be able to enjoy a nice lifestyle when we are no longer working from nine to five. We imagine using the money to supplement our monthly social security checks to enjoy vacations and other leisure activities while taking advantage of all those senior discounts.

The financial companies advertisements assist us with the visions of enjoying gardening, sailing and relaxing during our retirement years. They don’t show the other side of the reality which includes health problems which accompany aging. Along with a longer life comes an increased chance for developing an age-related disease, such as Alzheimer’s Disease or Parkinson’s Disease. Alzheimer’s Disease is now the sixth leading cause of death, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. As we all witnessed from watching former President Ronald Reagan battle the disease, a senior with Alzheimer’s Disease can live for many years, while requiring a caregiver to assist with their daily living. As Medicare does not pay for long-term senior care (only stays of 100 days or less in a nursing home for rehabilitation after a hospital stay, with doctor preapproval, with only the first 20 days paid at 100% by Medicare), the costs can quickly add-up.

What are your senior care options when you need caregiving assistance for your activities of daily living?

Senior Home Care Agency Nursing Home Assisted Living Community Continuing Care Retirement Community

How much do these options cost? Based on prices effective as of January, 2009, here are the costs.

Senior Home Care Agency: $15 – $25 per day/$190 – $350per day (Most common hourly rate = $19, Most common daily rate = $225) Nursing Home: $145 – $400 per day Assisted Living Community: $3800 – $5,000 per month Continuing Care Retirement Community: Down payment @ $250,000 + $3,000 – $5,000 per month

These costs are consolidated to account for the lowest to highest fees nationwide. You can find actual costs per state and metropolitan area for specific nursing homes, senior home care agencies and assisted living communities at Caregiverlist.com.

What are the ways to pay for these senior care options?

Private pay with your own savings Long-term care insurance policy Qualify for Medicaid care (nursing home only with the exception of a few states experimenting with home care, must have assets of $2,000 or less)

Remember that senior home care agencies actively manage the caregivers and provide for all the necessary insurance and payroll taxes for the caregiver as their employee. This guarantees that a substitute caregiver will be available when the regular caregiver cannot make the shift and provides active training and management of the caregiver.

When evaluating nursing homes, you should inquire about their ability to provide for your care if you end up needing to spend down your assets and go onto Medicaid insurance. Medicaid is administered by each state and provides for the needs of very low-income seniors, with the minimum in assets usually around $2,000. Most Continuing Care Retirement Communities do provide for care should a senior spend down their assets and need to be covered by Medicaid insurance. These communities also usually will refund a portion of the deposit upon a senior’s death, based on the number of years and services actually used. As demonstrated by their name, they provide peace of mind for seniors by continuing to provide care at all levels of need, from independent living to around-the-clock nursing care.

Remember, Medicare does not pay for long-term care, which means to effectively plan for your senior care needs, you must plan for where you want to receive the care and save to pay for the care services either in a nursing home or in your home. While less than 7% of Americans over the age of 70 currently have long-term care insurance, it is predicted that more than 50% of Americans will have long-term care insurance in twenty years, as people witness their parents burn through their life savings to pay for their senior care needs. Research the options and manage your investments to allow you to choose your preferred senior care.

North Carolina Lake Houses: Spend Your Old Age In One

North Carolina lake communities have several of the finest spots and present a respite from our hectic pace of life.

Fontana Trace is positioned on beautiful Fontana Lake which is 11,700 acres in size with two hundred and forty miles of shoreline. Fontana Lake is situated in Western North Carolina, off Bryson City. 90% of the land encircling the lake belongs to the National Park Service and the US Forest Service. Deep in the Pisgah National Forest, the Fontana Trace community is not very big, covering two hundred and fifty acres and seventy houses. Its minimal homeowner’s fees make this a very affordable community. Fontana Trace has a harbor on the lake, for fishing and boating access, a swimming pool in resort style, hiking trails that are looked after, locations for outdoor cooking and picnics, a clubhouse that has a wonderful room and a kitchen which can be hired for functions.

Nestled in the mountains in Western North Carolina about forty minutes away from Bryson City, is Lake Santeetlah. Lake Santeetlah is around three thousand acres amidst the 1.35 million acre Nantahala National Forest and the habitat of a 10 acre community known as Santeetlah Lakeside and definitely one of the finest locations for retirement snow birds. Houses on the lakefront have a dock for themselves and lakeview houses have a allocated dock in the community’s marina. The community has an outdoor hearth, a room for games, a clubhouse on the lake with a roofed deck, launching area, hiking trails and kayak/canoe storage.

Also in the mountains of Western North Carolina is Grey Rock at Lake Lure. The lake covers approximately 720 acres. The surrounding cities and towns are Asheville and Charlotte (22 miles and 2 hours respectively), Lake Lure and Chimney Rock. Grey Rock is a fantastic Carolina retirement community of forty hundred acres and nine hundred houses. Facilities include lakeside clubhouse with docks, lots of space and hiking trails. You can fish in the creeks and streams, and 2,500 acres are kept aside as green space. Proposed facilities will be a helipad, tennis and swimming facilities, and an equestrian center.

Lake Hickory is a narrow lake of 4,100 acres. The Lake Hickory area has been increasing in the last few years as a result of its nearness to large cities. Charlotte, Winston-Salem and Asheville are not very far away. The Oliver’s Landing community will put you in a great position to enjoy it all. It covers three hundred and six acres, with 330 dwellings to be built. The facilities include an 18-hole semi-private golf course, designed by Karl Litton, match play, prop shop, clinics, clubhouse, informal dining and privileged boat launch.

One of the most sizzling real estate markets in North Carolina is Lake Norman, situated half-way through the state. Lake Norman is 32,000 acres and the abode of Morrison Plantation. Morrison Plantation is a 430 acre community, with four hundred and fifty houses, located close to Mooresville. It is affordable in a neighborhood where houses can get to staggering prices. The community has a grocery store on the premises, café, volleyball, soccer fields, basketball, bicycling and walking trails, YMCA, parks, clubhouse, lots of room, swimming-pool, conference room and a community boat ramp and dock.

Visit www.PlacesOfValue.com for more articles on best places in North Carolina and South Carolina, relocation and/or retirement made easy, top retirement communities, cost of living, and designing and building your Dream Home.

To get your FREE REPORT on “Affordable Best Places In The Carolinas”, and find your Best Place to Live in the Carolinas: http: http://www.PlacesOfValue.com/page/best_places.php

Carolina Lake Properties: Search For The Best One To Relocate To In South Carolina

South Carolina has a great number of beautiful, affordable lake communities for any budget and lifestyle, be it retirement or relocation.

Lake Thurmond is seventy thousand acres, and is one of the largest water bodies in South Carolina. Sandwiched amidst two parts of the lake just beyond McCormick, surrounded by half a million plus acres of Sumter National Forest, encompassing forty hundred acres is Savannah Lakes Village community. The 4,300 real estate owners have access to a twenty three thousand square foot recreation center, bowling alley, eighty clubs of various types, shuffleboard, mini-golf course, bocce ball courts, 2 eighteen golf courses with practice facilities and matches; a grill-deli; a couple of clubhouses with cafeterias, 4 tennis courts, indoor and outdoor pools. So welcome are guests that they maintain an eighty room inn at the marina and 2 bedroom townhouses to hire.

One of the best places when searching for a Carolina retirement community! Northeast of Savannah Lakes Village is the city of Greenwood South Carolina. Around 12 miles east of Greenwood you have the 11,000 acre Lake Greenwood. The Plantation at Grand Harbor is sixty miles from Greenville-Spartanburg airport and roughly seventy miles to Columbia. The showpiece of the community is “The Patriot,” a full golf course themed on the American Revolution, planned by Davis Love III. You’ll have a golf and yacht clubhouse with catering, a marina, a 50 acre equestrian center; nature reserve, spas, the beach on Lake Greenwood and pools, plus a gym.

One more community on Lake Greenwood is the forty acre New Urbanism community of Palmetto Crossing. Living at this Carolina retirement community presents you with walkable access to the Towne Center, which boasts a book library, specialty retails shops, galleries and cafeterias. But the most significant facility is The Palmetto Club, with its tavern, rooftop club, fireside, billiards, concierge, and screening theater for movies. There is a gymnasium, swimming pool and a eighty four slip marina. Palmetto Crossing offers reasonably priced condo homes, single family homes and town homes. It is has similar conveniences to a gated community.

Situated on the 50 thousand acres of Lake Murray, Harbor Watch is a little west of Columbia South Carolina. This affordable Carolina retirement community is merely one hundred thirty acres. 270 residences are envisaged to be constructed; starting at approximately $50K for a one-fourth acre plot. Each and every homesite is given a deeded, deep water boat slip. Homeowner’s fees are kept minimal, as the promoters did not splurge on the facilities. They have a chipping and putting green, clubhouse with a kitchen that can be used, 2 tennis courts, a pool with lake views, and an exercise room. Residents of this community come here for one reason, the lake.

In the northwestern end of the state, amidst the mountains, you have the 18,000 acre Lake Keowee. On the lake shorefront about an hour from Greenville, 2 from Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina is Keowee Key. This Carolina retirement community provides single family homes, town homes and condo living, together with plain land commencing at about $120,000. Residents enjoy an eighteen hole course, envisaged by George Cobb; six tennis courts, an indoor racquet ball court, fitness center, swimming pool, common garden, trails, harbor and numerous clubs. The community is located in one of the most unspoiled locations in the state.

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