ANSWERS FOR AGING January 2017

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Each year Americans ususally make New Year’s

Resolutions. Statics prove that 45% of the

American popultation have resoltions, but only

about 8% actually stick and succeed in their

resolutions.

Top 10 New Year’s Resolution

1. Lose Weight 6. Learn Something Exciting 2. Getting Organized 7. Quit Smoking 3. Spend Less, Save More 8. Help Others in Their Dreams 4. Enjoy Life to the fullest 9. Fall in Love

10. Spend More Time with Family

According to history.com Martin Luther

King Jr. (1929-1968) was a Baptist minister

and social activist who played a key role in

the American civil rights movement from

the mid-1950s until his assassination in

1968.

LIMESTONE COUNTY

COUNCIL ON AGING

Special Points of interest:

New Year

Resolutions

Martin Luther King

Jr.

Shared Thoughts

from Susan

Glaucoma

A Matter of Balance

Announcements

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Shared Thoughts from Susan

res·o·lu·tion [ˌrezəˈlo͞oSH(ə)n]

According to Oxford, resolution can mean “a firm decision to do or not to do

something” or “the action of solving a problem or dispute”. Many of us have made

grand lists of things we will give up, improve upon or make right during 2017. In the

past, I have spent hours recording plans for big changes, only to be frustrated when

my list is identical year after year, because I didn’t follow through.

This year, I have decided to make small resolutions each day. Today, I resolved to fold

the laundry that has taken up residency on the bed in my guest room. Tomorrow, I

may resolve to walk an extra mile. The next day, I may go to bed an hour earlier. In

my mind, daily goals are more manageable. If I resolve to keep my closet perfectly

tidy, run six marathons or get ten hours of sleep each night for the next twelve

months, I will be sadly disappointed in myself come next December. Starting today, I

will keep track of the small victories and goals met each day. Hopefully, by the end of

the year, I will have 365 success stories. If not, there’s always next year!

I hope you find a blessing in each day of this new year!

Susan McGrady, Director

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month

According to glaucoma.org, Glaucoma can cause blindness if it is left untreated.

And unfortunately approximately 10% of people with glaucoma who receive

proper treatment still experience loss of vision. Glaucoma is not curable, and

vision lost cannot be regained. With medication and/or surgery, it is possible to

halt further loss of vision. Since open-angle glaucoma is a chronic condition, it

must be monitored for life. Diagnosis is the first step to preserving your vision.

Everyone is at risk for glaucoma from babies to senior citizens. Older people are

at a higher risk for glaucoma but babies can be born with glaucoma

(approximately 1 out of every 10,000 babies born in the United States). Young

adults can get glaucoma, too. African Americans in particular are susceptible at a

younger age. With open-angle glaucoma, the most common form, there are

virtually no symptoms. Usually, no pain is associated with increased eye

pressure. Vision loss begins with peripheral or side vision. You may compensate

for this unconsciously by turning your head to the side, and may not notice

anything until significant vision is lost. The best way to protect your sight from

glaucoma is to get tested. If you have glaucoma, treatment can begin

immediately.

A MATTER OF BALANCE:

Managing Concerns about Falls

Beginning January 2017, Council on Aging (COA) will offer weekly, “A Matter of Balance Class.”

According to Maine Health, many older adults experience a fear of falling. People who develop this

fear often limit their activities, which can result in physical weakness, making the risk of falling even

greater. A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls is a program designed to reduce the

fear of falling and increase activity levels among older adults. A Matter of Balance includes eight

two-hour sessions for a small group led by a trained facilitator. This nationally recognized program

was developed at the Roybal Center at Boston University. For more information, call Council on

Aging at 256-216-3897.

During the class, participants learn to:

•View falls as controllable

•Set goals for increasing activity

•Make changes to reduce fall risk at home

•Exercise to increase strength and balance

Council on Aging

912 W Pryor St. Athens, AL 35611

Nutrition Center

Athens 256-233-6412

East Limestone 256-230-2829

Elkmont 256-732-4777

Owens 256-230-2753

Tanner 256-230-6400

Activity Centers

Ardmore 256-423-2099

Goodsprings 256-232-0813

Come join us at any of our

centers. They provide

opportunities for

socialization, education,

recreation, and the nutrition

centers serve noon meals,

Monday through Friday. Call

the center nearest you for

information about various

activities and programs.

The Limestone County Council on Aging’s program utilizes available

resources to empower older adults to enhance independence, personal

satisfaction, vitality, and the ability to enrich the quality of life for

themselves and others. Working closely with The Limestone County

Commission, Tarcog, The City of Athens, the Area Agency on Aging, and

other local agencies, the COA provides information, referrals, and

services for the elderly (age 60 and older) which include the following:

Transportation SHIP/Medicare Part D Nutrition Centers SeniorX program Meals-on-Wheels Legal assistance In-home services Volunteer Opportunities

When does current employee insurance pay primary?

Medicare generally pays first for most people who have Medicare, but Medicare by law is the secondary payer in certain cases. Current

employee insurance may pay primary to Medicare. Whether it will pay

primary or not depends on how you are eligible for Medicare and how

many people work at the company that provides the insurance.

Insurance from your or your spouse’s current employment pays primary

to Medicare if you:

Are eligible for Medicare because you are 65 or older and the

company has 20 or more employees.

Are eligible for Medicare because you have received Social

Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments for more than 24 months and the company has 100 or more employees.

Upcoming Events

A Matter of Balance Class beginning. Call Council on Aging

at 256-216-3897.

Council on Aging and ALL Senior Centers will be closed

January 16, 2017 in observance of Robert E Lee/ Martin L

King Jr. Day.

Like our Facebook page for announcements

https://www.facebook.com/LimestoneCountyCouncilOnAging/?fref=ts