Free Senior Citizens Solutions

Thoughts and Musings on the Health Care Debate

2009-10-22T08:22:00.003-04:00

With all of the talk about health care and the battling propositions, there are a few points I'd like to make.

First, as I say this, I am not commenting as someone who is FOR or AGAINST the administration's proposal, but as a concerned citizen who sees some serious issues with the process.

The first point is that I am VERY concerned over the fact that any new changes in the health care system would EXEMPT the Congress, the very people that are debating this issue for us. It comes across as elitist in nature. I am sure that any Congressman's reaction would be ,'We are already covered by a great plan'.

To this I have a few reactions:

1) If what Congress has is so great, then why aren't you proposing that for the rest of the United States.

2) If what you are proposing for the rest of us is so great, then how come you are not willing to go into that plan yourself?

The other point that is concerning to me is that the debates on this issue going on right now are 'closed door'. For an administration that has stated its goal is to be the most transparent administration in US history this is a troubling and concerning development, especially in light of the fact that it was the lack of transparency that killed the Clinton administration's attempts to reform health care in the early 1990's.

But the most concerning part about this is that for people like me, this lack of information leads to all sorts of rumor mongering about what the final bill will look like. I wonder if anyone really knows?

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman

President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

Prescription Drug Program

2009-09-30T18:24:00.001-04:00

We have come across a new, reliable prescription drug program.

The prices are extremely competitive, and the customer service and delivery is exceptional. However, he feels the best part is that every prescription is thoroughly reviewed before it is shipped. This ensures your peace-of-mind, and ours, in every transaction. If there is any question as to the accuracy of the prescription, the company will actually go over it with the doctor and the patient. I just changed over to this pharmacy plan. I feel that this plan fills all of my needs.

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman

President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

A VirtueMart To Benefit ALL

2009-09-30T11:34:00.002-04:00

We are announcing the opening of our VirtueMart on FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com. This VirtueMart will feature products that are designed to save people money, especially in these difficult economiv times.

Also, if you have a product that can provide greater value for less money that we can pass along to our members please reach out to us.

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman

President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

Another Take On The Health Care Debate

2009-09-19T13:03:00.001-04:00

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you realize that there is a major debate regarding health care in this country. And while everyone is putting their ‘two cents’ into the debate regarding Medicare, Medicaid and Tort Reform, we feel that there is one topic that isn’t being adequately addressed.

This is the fact that we all need to take personal responsibility for our health.

Our society is the richest and most prosperous in the history of the world, and as a result the ‘affluent’ diseases of coronary artery disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer have far more prevalence in our society than in other areas of the world. These diseases, which are for the most part lifestyle motivated, cost the US health care system tens of billions of year. This is wasted money, as the diseases are so easily preventable before they occur.

If we take personal responsibility for our health, stay active and eat right, these diseases of affluence would be greatly reduced in this country, and as a result billions of dollars would be saved.

So in the debate regarding health care, would we be better to focus on the prevention of disease and wellness campaigns to get people in better shape so that these diseases would be reduced in our society? Your thoughts and feedback would be appreciated.

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman

President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

Solving Everyone’s Dilemma With The Click of a Mouse

2009-09-03T21:02:00.001-04:00

To all of our fellow bloggers and readers, we want to expose all of our networkers to a fantastic business idea that we have just developed and put live. A place where so little from your wallet can mean so much in your loved one’s heart. Come join us and please read on.

Solving Everyone’s Dilemma With The Click of a Mouse

“It’s what everyone needs for their loved one. A fabulous tribute of their love and devotion”

This is the ultimate gift with the smallest price tag. No candy, no cards, no clothes shopping, no jewelry. Your sweetheart doesn’t need another gift. Your sweetheart needs a tribute, a tribute that keeps on giving forever in their memory.

When flowers wilt, when clothes wear out, when candy is finished and cards are lost, this will last forever in their heart.

How will your sweetheart feel and react the next time they are with their friends and RAVE about, not a gift, but a tribute from you.

You can use this for any occasion, or no occasion at all.

This is why we created http://www.TenMillionDollarSweetheart.com, to enable you to pay this type of tribute to that special person in your life.

Don’t wait for Christmas, an anniversary or a birthday. Your tribute will be up for five years but we will only be accepting ads until the homepage fills up.

Once again, thank you to our friends from Blogger.

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman

President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

My Reflections

2009-09-02T19:23:00.000-04:00

The other day while relaxing I started reflecting on the almost six decades that I have lived through. From what I remember of my first ten years, life was all very new and exciting. Everything I saw and did was a new learning experience. When I reached ten years of age, I felt like I was a grown up and a very important person. During my second ten years of life, I met many new people. And was able to make more of my own decisions and to interact with many of my newfound friends.

At the age of 20, I was a grown up. At this point, I had been in the military and I was married to the most wonderful girl in the world. Life was bringing me new challenges and new learning experiences all the time. And with it, I was still amazed by the world around me. No question about it, at this point I was finally an adult.

My third decade was amazing. My two wonderful boys were born and my life really changed. I now had a great responsibility, caring for them and I started to think of something I never had thought of before, the future. I was all grown up but still learning. I had now reached my fourth decade. And was even given a party for doing so…WOW.

To say that I was working hard was putting it mildly. If my memory serves me correctly, I spent more time working than being at home. My sons went through college and to say I was proud of them is not enough; I was in heaven. During this time a great new lesson was learned: how to love your family more than yourself. Now I was a full fledged grown man. To my utter astonishment, I woke one day and I was in my fifth decade. Could this possible be?

My sons were married and the family was growing. During this time, I was blessed with four beautiful grandchildren. Being a grandparent is one of the most wonderful experiences that life has to offer. I am still amazed by life and continue to learn every day. I hope to be able to continue my journey into the future and report back my experiences. What I have definitely figured out is that without the wonderful girl I married 39 years ago I would never have gotten this far. I will always love you B.

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman

President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

Social Security Crunch Coming Faster Than Expected

2009-08-20T20:42:00.001-04:00

By Bill Fleckenstein of MSN Money

The debate over health care has captured everyone's attention, but it appears the next big government program that needs to be addressed will be Social Security. That's the focus of the July 30 article "The next great bailout: Social Security" by Allan Sloan, Fortune's senior editor at large.

Those who've been paying attention have long known there is no money in the Social Security Trust Fund -- it's all been spent. Thus, former Vice President Al Gore's famous assessment that Social Security receipts should be placed in a "lockbox" was actually correct.

Given that so few people really understand the Ponzi nature of the current Social Security financing scheme -- created in 1983 by a commission chaired by none other than the world's greatest serial blower of bubbles, Alan Greenspan -- I decided to reprise Sloan's article. (The Social Security problem is especially important because it likely will put additional pressure on the dollar and on bonds, and exacerbate the funding crisis down the road.)

The story begins: "In Washington these days, the only topics of discussion seem to be how many trillions to throw at health care and the recession, and whom on Wall Street to pillory next. But watch out. Lurking just below the surface is a bailout candidate that may soon emerge like the great white shark in 'Jaws': Social Security.

"Perhaps as early as this year, Social Security, at $680 billion the nation's biggest social program, will be transformed from an operation that's helped finance the rest of the government for 25 years into a cash drain that will need money from the Treasury. In other words, a bailout."

Could Social Security's number be up?

As I've already noted, there is no money in the Social Security Trust Fund -- just IOUs from the government to itself. What is liable to spark debate and grab headlines is that instead of producing its biggest surplus ever in 2009-10, the trust fund could start running deficits in the next year, primarily because the weak economy is generating less tax revenue.

That's years earlier than expected. Social Security wasn't supposed to go into the red until around 2015.

Past projections were for a cash-flow surplus of about $87 billion this year and $88 billion next year. But new projections show those figures may drop to around $18 billion or $19 billion, which could easily go negative. And once the red ink starts spilling (a temporary bounce into the black in the next couple of years notwithstanding), that deficit will grow for the next 20 or so years unless something is done to halt it.

In order to better illuminate what has transpired and how misleading government accounting is, I would like to use the example from Sloan's article to explain what has happened: "The cash that Social Security has collected from my wife and me and our employers isn't sitting at Social Security. It's gone. Some went to pay benefits, some to fund the rest of the government. Since 1983, when it suffered a cash crisis, Social Security has been collecting more in taxes each year than it has paid out in benefits. It has used the excess to buy the Treasury securities that go into the trust fund, reducing the Treasury's need to raise money from investors."

In other words, the government spent it. Throughout all those years in the 1980s and 1990s, when folks worried about the budget deficit, it was reported to be lower than it would have been had the Social Security Trust Fund's money not been going into government coffers, thereby reducing the size of the deficit. Also untenable is the projected worker-to-retiree ratio, which will jump from 30 Social Security recipients per 100 workers in 1990 to 46 per 100 in the next 20 years.

The next (orthopedic) shoe to drop?

And Social Security funding isn't the only time bomb. Sloan notes that "when it comes to problems, Medicare makes Social Security look like a walk in the park, even though at about $510 billion this year, it's far smaller. Not only are Medicare's financial woes much larger than Social Security's, but they're also much more complicated. . . . Medicare is more convoluted, because the health-care system is much more complex than Social Security. Which, when you think about it, involves only money."

Summing up, Sloan cautions: "Social Security may not make it onto the agenda until next year. But it's going to show up sooner or later, and probably sooner, because the numbers are so bad that something's got to be done."

All of these future funding issues will come under scrutiny in the next couple of years as the budget deficit explodes and worries about how it will all be financed take center stage.

A Fed follow-up

Turning to last week's main event, the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee meeting, here's what I wrote ahead of the release: "There is just too much pressure on the Fed (not the least of which is Bernanke's view of the 1930s) for it to do anything that even remotely resembles tightening."

The Fed did not contradict me, as it chose to continue pursuing the policies it had previously articulated. That must have put a smile on the face of Paul McCulley of Pimco, who recently stated in an interview on Bubblevision that he wanted the Fed to avoid raising interest rates too soon and that the economy needed to see more inflation.

That, ladies and gentlemen, coming from the country's largest holder of bonds. In the old days, bondholders were thought to be inflation vigilantes. But as we can see from McCulley's statements, they are now really just liquidity hogs.

Commodities primed for higher prices?

As for the ramifications of all the money printing the feds are doing and the recent growth spurt in China, it's worth passing along the conclusions reached by "Government Sachs" in a report headlined "Commodities in the Crosshairs" (not available online to the public). That report described the moves we've seen so far this year in commodity prices as "just the beginning" of a new bull market that "ultimately would likely be even more extreme" than what we saw in prior commodity rallies.

Goldman Sachs (GS, news, msgs) noted: "The reality is that the commodity problem is one of supply shortage due to years of under-investment. . . . This chronic problem has been exacerbated during the financial crisis by tight credit conditions and large price declines, which impact producers."

Goldman says that when the global economy recovers, we're likely to see severe price constraints and some wild action, just as we did in mid-2008.

I pass that along as food for thought, and it jibes with the view of a friend of mine that I find intriguing: that as crazy as commodity prices seemed to be last year, they could get even crazier, just as tech stocks' wild ride from 1995 to 1998 paled in comparison to what occurred in 1999-2000. I'm not saying that's going to happen, but given the amount of money printing that has gone on (and will go on), anything is possible.

Housekeeping

I was interviewed last week by Eric King (again) of King World News. It was another excellent, wide-ranging conversation, in my opinion. Click here to watch it and decide for yourself

Housekeeping

I was interviewed last week by Eric King (again) of King World News. It was another excellent, wide-ranging conversation, in my opinion. Click here to watch it and decide for yourself.

t/"eqotion: underline; ">Click here to watch it and decide for yourself.

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman

President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

You can use this for any occasion, or no occasion at all.

2009-08-11T09:09:00.001-04:00

You can use this for any occasion, or no occasion at all.

We have developed a great business model that we are ready to launch. We did a ‘pre-test’ and before the website is up we already have 100 tributes ordered.

http://www.TenMillionDollarSweetheart.com is a tribute site for the loved ones in our lives, whether your sweetheart would be a person, your car, your pet or anything else you consider to be the thing you love the most.

When flowers wilt, when clothes wear out, when candy is finished and cards are lost, this will last forever in their heart.

This is the first press release going out and you will see many more in the days ahead that will reach millions. We are seeking US and international representatives where you would get your own domain name and the opportunity to market this unique business idea from the ground floor. After extensive research and pre-testing, we have come to the conclusion this is an opportunity for us to mutually benefit from a great idea. Now to further advance this idea, we are doing an enormous amount of press releases to insure its success. We are looking for partners who are willing to put in the same amount of effort in marketing the idea as we did in developing it so we can all achieve the level of success we are looking for.

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman

President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

Music From a By-Gone Era

2009-08-08T19:46:00.001-04:00

Billy Joel come said that he once heard that justice was blind. He just hoped it wasn’t deaf.

Listening to the radio these days, a lot of us wish we were deaf. When music just consists of ‘techno-rifs’ generated by computers and singers that lip-synch and don’t play their own instruments, it leaves many of us boomers yearning for music from the Woodstock days, when music was REAL!!!!

That’s why the new music page on http://www.FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com will be such a welcome change from the ‘music’ that gets played on the airways these days. It is a breath of fresh air and a reminder of when you never trusted anyone over 30.

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman

President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

Health Overhaul

2009-07-13T10:02:00.005-04:00

This is a recent news article relating to the administration's attempt to overhaul the nations health care system. We want to hear from your thoughts on the debate at:

info@freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com

WASHINGTON – Lawmakers from both parties are telling the White House they will go on vacation next month and leave behind — and incomplete — President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

White House officials sought a massive reworking of the nation's health care system before Congress left on August recess, but key lawmakers signaled on Sunday the administration would be disappointed. Work was set to continue Monday on the Senate's version, although officials acknowledge they are far from finished with a plan that could cost taxpayers trillions over the next decade and reshape how Americans receive care.

"Well, we don't expect it to be signed into law by the August recess," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. "But we expect the House and Senate to have passed bills, yes."

The same bill? Unlikely.

The White House's strategy to leave the legislative back-and-forth to Congress has produced varying and sometimes contradictory versions of health care legislation — along with delays. As the Senate turns its attention to Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings, the focus on that side of the Capitol will turn away from Obama's top domestic priority.

The administration's Democratic partners in Congress hinted they would not deliver legislation before leaving town for an August recess.Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said Obama should be pleased with lawmakers' progress; Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., said "there really is plenty of time."

The delay would be a blow to the White House and to Democrats' electoral prospects.

The House and Senate are working toward legislation that would deliver on Obama's popular goals from his presidential campaign, but they are hardly in unison. House Democrats have proposed raising taxes on wealthy Americans to pay for the plan. Democratic leaders, meanwhile, have tried to calm moderate and conservative lawmakers about a proposal that could guarantee tough re-election bids.

Republicans, seizing on an issue that affects all Americans and has shown a glimmer of hope for an out-of-power political party, have lambasted the proposals as rash and irresponsible. They also see the issue as a way to win House and Senate seats in the 2010 midterm elections.

"There is no chance that it's going to be done by August," said Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz. "President Obama was right about one thing: He said if it's not done quickly, it won't be done at all. Why did he say that? Because the longer it hangs out there, the more the American people are skeptical, anxious and even in opposition to it."

Obama's Health and Human Services secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, tried to calm fears Democrats would tax some employer-provided health care benefits as income. She said the details are far from finished.

"Well, the House has a version," she said, discounting any version as final. "There are a couple of different proposals being worked on in the Senate."

Schumer appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press." Stabenow, Conrad and Sebelius spoke with CNN's "State of the Union." Kyl appeared on ABC's "This Week."

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman

President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

Overlooking the largest group in history

2009-07-10T23:52:00.002-04:00

I feel with all the other things going on in the world we are overlooking a huge impending group we need to reach out to. This huge group is our baby boomers with one hundred million strong.

This huge group of us needs to see how our aging at this time will affect everything in our country in the near future. I could fill a page with these effects; however it is ALL across the board. Thus I have started www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com and will make sure I stand up for the one largest group in our history. I believe we need a sub group to address this situation and I would love to continue my efforts. Please give me any and all of your feedback which will let me keep going on this tremendous undertaking.

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman

President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/

mark@freescs.com

And on the lighter side of things.....

No Cost-of-Living Raise?!?!?!? We want your feedback

2009-07-10T11:00:00.001-04:00

NO COST-OF-LIVING RAISE? IS IT AN OUTRAGE?

Here is a sample of the outrage over word that, for the first time, there won't be a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), a raise, in Social Security benefits for the next two years - January 2010 and 2011 - because the cost of living isn't rising.

George Billy of Massapequa: "Are they kidding or what about zero inflation? Where are they getting their data from - Mars?"

James C. Nicholas, Diamond, Ohio: "Everything has gone up in the last year. What about gas increasing, insurance increasing until we are almost forced to cancel? Prescription drugs increasing? This makes me sick."

Charlie and Peg Firth, of Vero Beach, Fla.: "The cost of everything we need to buy has gone up, food, gas, electric, rent, home insurance. Congress spends billions on bailouts but the senior citizen who worked gets nothing."

The subject has been debated in Congress and among economists almost since 1972, when President Richard Nixon signed the law providing for an automatic COLA each year, based on the rate of inflation. That made Social Security the only defined benefit pension with inflation protection. Now, beneficiaries are questioning that protection. Let me explain what's happened.
The official measure of inflation comes from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And based on the CPI, the COLA has given Social Security beneficiaries yearly raises averaging 2.5 percent for the past 10 years, ranging from a low of 1.4 percent in 2002 to a record 5.8 percent last year, starting this past January, which was greeted with cheers.

Actually there are three different CPIs:

The CPI-U, for urban consumers, the CPI-W (which is the one that is used for all wage earners and clerical workers) and the CPI-E, which stands for "experimental." Many think it stands for "elder" because it's limited to people 62 and older and was designed to see if their costs of living differed from other wage earners.

The Consumer Expenditure Survey, from which the CPIs are compiled, monitors a vast array of prices for food, transportation, medical care, education, utilities and virtually every other service. Each category is weighted for each group; medical care is weighted heavily for older people; education costs for younger wage earners who likely have children in school.

According to Social Security, a COLA "is equal to the percentage increase in the CPI-W from the third quarter of one year to the third quarter of the next." Last year, with the onset of the recession, when some prices went down, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that inflation, overall, was so minimal there would be no COLA this January or next (see ssa.gov/OACT/COLA).

But the "overall" inflation rates may be flawed, said Shawn McMahon, a researcher on the subject for the nonpartisan Wider Opportunities for Women. During this past quarter, he said, "Food, housing and medical costs have all increased by approximately 4 percent. Elders are correctly seeing continued increases in their most basic expenses. The costs elders face are also dependent on where they live, their housing status and their health."

Some elder organizations have lobbied for the bureau to use the CPI-E, which they believe is weighted toward the more typical spending among older people for health care and food. But over a 25-year-period, the bureau says, there was little difference between the CPI-E, which rose at 3.3 percent, and the increases of 3.1 percent and 3 percent, for the CPI-U and CPI-W, respectively.

But the tables from 1983 through 2007 show several years in which the CPI-E had the highest cost increases but none where it was the lowest. Moreover, there were more years when the costs of food, medicine and health care were considerably higher than other costs.
McMahon said the bureau "uses the same stores, the same goods, the same prices for all inflation measures. These may not represent elder consumption patterns as well as they should." But the bureau counters that the CPI-E sample, limited to people over 62, is too small to be accurate and should be used "with caution."

Senior advocates and lawmakers have suggested changing the bureau's methods; many federal poverty programs depend on the CPI. McMahon's group, advocates on women's economic issues, has created an "elder index," which, he says, monitors actual costs at local levels, along with the CPI data. Their aim is to get Congress to adopt a true "economic security index" for all families, including the elderly. See wowonline.org /ourprograms/fess. Meanwhile, with the prices of fuel and medicines rising again, the outrage among older consumers continues.

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman

President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

I feel with all the other things going on in the world....

2009-07-07T13:20:00.001-04:00

I feel with all the other things going on in the world we are overlooking a huge impending group we need to reach out to....

I feel with all the other things going on in the world we are overlooking a huge impending group we need to reach out to. This huge group is the baby boomers, one hundred million strong.

This massive group needs to see how our aging at this time will affect everything in our country in the near future. I could fill a page with these effects; however it is ALL across the board, from Social Security and Medicare to local housing and caregiving issues.

This is why I have just started http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com and will make sure I STAND UP for the largest group of people in the history of our world. I believe we need a sub group to address this situation and I would love to continue my efforts and discussions there.

Please give me any and all of your feedback which will enable me to continue this noble undertaking.

‘Yesterday's just a memory, tomorrow is never what it's supposed to be’-Bob Dylan

We want to hear your thoughts regarding our feelings. Please contact us with your feedback.

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman

President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

The REAL meaning of the 4th of July

2009-07-04T10:21:00.002-04:00

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.

Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Rutledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying.. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman

President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

Caregiving Tips for Boomers: 5 Tips for Decreasing the Cost of Caring for Elderly Parents

2009-06-12T08:59:00.001-04:00

Caregiving Tips for Boomers: 5 Tips for Decreasing the Cost of Caring for Elderly Parents
by: Vicki Rackner MD

Over 30 million Baby Boomers provide countless hours of assistance to elderly parents at no charge. It is estimated that, using average hourly wages, the total amount of this uncompensated care is comparable to the entire Medicare budget. For the estimated 7 million Boomers who provide long distance care, actual out of pocket expenses amount to almost $5,000 per month. For caregivers who have, or are considering leaving the workforce to care for an ailing parent, the costs are even greater over $650,000 in forfeited salaries, benefits and pensions.

This stark economic reality shows only one dimension of the price caregivers pay for this act of love.

Caregivers pay with losses that extend well beyond their bank accounts. They often forego the activities that bring joy and richness to their lives, like meeting friends for dinner, or going out to the movies or taking family vacations. They pay with their time, the loss of professional opportunities and the erosion of personal relationships that result in isolation.

Sometimes, otherwise healthy loved ones need a short dose of care as they recover from an acute medical episode like a broken leg. Usually loved ones are on a path of steady decline with cascading assistance needs. Some caregivers sacrifice large chunks of their own lives as they help their parents and other family members and friends peacefully make their transitions. Caregivers can pay with their own health and well-being. In fact, we have evidence that some caregivers pay for their acts of care with their very lives.

You can decrease the personal and economic costs of caregiving. This means proactive planning rather than reactive responding. Planning saves money. You know this as you reflect upon your experiences of going to the grocery store with and without a shopping list. Planning also minimizes personal wear and tear and decreases stress. You will feel much better when you know your options and develop back-up plans before you jump into a challenging project.

5 Tips to Decrease the Cost of Caregiving:

1. Begin the conversation today. We have tremendous cultural resistance to the recognition of aging, disability and death. Just as the first few steps uphill are the hardest, so, too, you may meet the greatest resistance simply starting the conversation about their possible need for care. Say today, Mom and Dad, it would be great if you lived forever, but the discovery for the fountain of youth is nowhere on the horizon. What thoughts and plans do you have about enjoying your golden years?

2. Create a plan. Talk with your parents about their ideal plan if they are no longer able to care for themselves. Then, start to work toward that proactively. Investigate long-term care insurance. Draw up the appropriate legal documents. Find out who would make medical choices if they were not able to make them on their own, along with some guiding principles for the choices. You can anticipate and limit parental resistance by saying, Mom and Dad, I just got back from the lawyer’s office signing my will and durable medical power of attorney. I’ve asked Mitch to make my medical choices if I cannot make them myself. Just so you know, if I were in vegetative state, I wouldn’t want to be maintained on a machine. You probably already planned ahead too, right?

3. Use personal and community resources. Make caregiving a family job to which each member contributes. Even children can make grandmas life special with drawings and phone calls. Identify services that make your job as a caregiver easier. If you and your parents live in the same community, check with friends and neighbors and local organizations to learn about services and resources that will make your job easier. You say, Mom has just moved in with us, and she wants to find a card game with the girls. Do you know of any senior centers that have social events? How about transportation?

We’re a mobile society and millions of caregivers live more than an hour away from their parents. Executive William Gillis learned from his own personal experience how challenging it is to identify community resources from afar. As he was carving the path that ultimately led his on-line portfolio management service, he became the caregiver for his father. Talk about mixed emotions! Professionally, he was introducing a service that let millions manage their investments with one click of a computer mouse. Personally, he was investing untold hours just to find one bit of information to help his dad.

As with so many innovators, he used his personal and professional experience to launch Parent Care (www.parents-care.com), a service that he wished would have made his life as a caregiver-at-a-distance easier.

4. Gather cost-savings tips. This might mean something as simple as ordering generic medication or regularly inquiring about senior discounts. But, most cost savings opportunities aren’t as obvious. Mr. Gillis found, for example, that some states will pay for phones for hearing, visually or mobility limited seniors or fund home safety improvements. He said, we’ve invested heavily to locate time and money saving resources that most would have difficulty finding. I made it a personal mission to help other caregivers avoid some of the costs and frustration I encountered. You don’t have to re-invent the wheel. Tap into the resources others have collected.

5. Take care of yourself. You will be able to provide the best care as a caregiver when you’re at your best. Get good nutrition, enough sleep and regular exercise. Manage your stress and do a little something every day to nurture your soul. Understand that you are at increased risk for anxiety, depression, and weakening your immune system. Talk to your doctor if you see worrisome signs such as problems sleeping, changes in appetite or loss of interest in activities you enjoy.

Despite the costs, most caregivers say that they received much more than they gave. Most say they would do it again, and many do.
Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman

President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

Exercises For Better Sex

2009-06-11T08:54:00.001-04:00

FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com

Mission Statement:
To be a free resource for Senior Citizens regarding Medicare, Medicaid, Medigap policies, Discounts for Senior Citizens and other essential information for independent living.

Exercise For Better Sex

Do you get winded by simply walking up a flight of stairs? Are you straining to pick up a gallon of milk? Do you crawl into bed shortly after arriving home from work? If so, you shouldn't expect to have the energy for a sexual marathon. But with proper exercise, one can get on the right track to feeling young and energetic in bed again.

At Ask UncleTerry.com we regularly have people emailing us - asking how they can improve their sexual stamina, get better aroused, last longer in bed and enjoy better enjoy sex. One of the best ways to achieve all of these desires and a whole lot more is exercise. Unless you're a cold fish, there's a great deal of body movement during sex. Together as a couple, go running or bike riding. This is a great way to spend quality time together while building physical endurance.

Having healthier arteries will allow the blood to flow better to the genitals. With a healthier blood flow, men will develop a harder erection, and women will be more easily aroused.
With a conditioned body, one is able to last longer in bed and have sex numerous times. After climaxing once, break the habit of falling asleep afterward. Pleasure your mate for a while, instead. When the blood gets flowing again, "round two" can commence. This will keep both of you interested, and make your mate go wild with anticipation during intermission.
With endless positions to choose from during intercourse such as those found at AskUncleTerry.com, don't stick to the same routine. If you work your upper body, it will be easier to grab your mate with authority and try a new position. Different positions will keep the spark alive. Use each muscle. Guys, this doesn't mean you should just lay back and let the woman do all the work. You need to be engaged, as well. Sexual energy will increase exponentially if both bodies thrust towards one another. Exercising your legs, arms and chest is great, but working the hidden muscles will help build stamina, as well.

Kegel exercises work for both men, and women. This exercise will thoroughly help each partner to gain control of his or her body. To do Kegel exercises, participants must tighten the muscle as if they are holding back urine. This is not about squeezing your stomach, or rear end. Next time you are going the bathroom, try holding back the stream. This should give you a feel of where that muscle is. Once you have found it, try working the muscle with reps of about 10 to 30 times. Then try repeating this at least 50 times a day. Once you are able to do 50, step it up to 30 reps at 200 times a day. It may seem like a lot of work, but you can do these while reading the paper or typing on the computer. If you are faithful to the routine, you should feel results within a month. A woman who does Kegel exercises can control and tighten her vagina. To help stimulate the male, she can use this muscle to get a firmer grab on the penis. Men who are going to climax should tighten their pubococcygeal (PC) muscle and release as desired. This will help them develop a skill to control ejaculation. Every time you hold back an orgasm, try to last a little longer than the previous one. Remember, practice makes perfect and the ladies love a man who can hold his own.

Climb the stairs to your bedroom without feeling exhausted. Pick up that gallon of milk after a glorious morning of sex. After work, you should plan on another sexual marathon. Sex is a great stress reliever and an amazing way to show the teamwork of a couple. Although exercising may seem hard at times, your body and your spouse will thank you.

Writer Terrance Lile brings you Ask Uncle Terry & ForumErotica, the fastest growing sexual education experience in cyberspace. Through a blend of morality, sincerity and humor this website provides sexual information for the enjoyment of diverse and safe sexual practices, while at the same time encouraging abstinence until in a committed relationship. http://www.askuncleterry.com/

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman

President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

Updating FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com

2009-06-05T12:17:00.002-04:00

We are so excited to let you know about the changes and improvements we have made with http://www.FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com.

First of all, we have just completed a major optimization of our website, resulting in a Google PageRank of 5 and greatly increased traffic. This is why we haven’t posted here in a bit. But now that the optimization is underway we will put a renewed focus to our Yahoo Group.

We are asking for people to go to the site and give us your feedback. Let us know how we can continue to improve the site.

Secondly, we wanted to announce that we will shortly be sending our free eBooks on topics that will be important and relevant to the senior community, and these eBooks will be exclusively for members of our Yahoo Group, so stay tuned for the emails which will detail where to get these free eBooks. If you have a special interest, let us know and we will create an ebook just for you.

And finally, I just wanted to say that in the next week I’ll be expecting my 4th grandchild. Name and pictures will be coming soon.

Mark A. Bowman
President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

NeedyMeds Discount Card

2009-05-20T18:53:00.001-04:00

In our affiliation with NeedyMeds.org, members of FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com now have access to a drug discount card that is free and accepted at over 50,000 pharmacies nationwide. We would encourage everyone to visit NeedyMeds to get more information regarding the discount card.

Warm Regards,
Mark A. Bowman
President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions Helps Seniors Re-Enter The Workforce

2009-05-14T09:32:00.001-04:00

FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com is proud to announce their recent affiliation with RetiredBrains.com, an organization devoted to helping elder Americans get back into the workforce after retirement.

“In this economy, many seniors who were retired are being forced back into the workforce. These seniors are energetic, hard-working and can be a valuable resource for companies in these turbulent times.” states Mark Bowman, President of FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com. “As a boomer myself, I know firsthand the struggles that many seniors experience living on a fixed budget. And with our partnership with RetiredBrains.com, we will have the ability to provide our members with the resources and told they need to equip themselves to re-enter the workforce.”

For more information regarding this business partnership, as well as information regarding Charities, Other Discounted Services For Seniors, Medicare, or just for a laugh at our Jokes pages, go to http://www.FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com.

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman
President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

Announcing our new affiliation

2009-05-08T23:28:00.002-04:00

FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com is proud to announce their recent affiliation with NeedyMeds.org, an organization devoted to helping Americans of all ages get access to the prescription drugs they need, regardless of their ability to pay.

“This partnership will allow the members of FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com to have access to all of the most recent information regarding Patient Assistance Programs, Low Cost Drug Cards and government programs that can allow low-income senior citizens to get access to the prescription drugs they desperately need” states Mark Bowman, President of FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com.

“As a boomer myself, I know firsthand the struggles that many seniors experience living on a fixed budget. And when the unexpected costs of health care do occur, it can put a severe strain on our resources. This partnership with NeedyMeds.org will enhance our position of being able to provide the essential information that senior citizens need to live independently and enjoy their golden years.”

For more information regarding this business partnership, as well as information regarding Charities, Other Discounted Services For Seniors, Medicare, or just for a laugh at our Jokes pages, go to http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/

Warm Regards,
Mark A. Bowman,
President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

New site rollout

2009-05-06T00:42:00.001-04:00

We would like to take a moment to announce that our website, http://www.FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com has been re-designed after receiving feedback from our members. Here are some of the improvements:

First of all, while we will continue to bring you the most complete information regarding Medicare and the other essential services that seniors need, we realize that seniors need to have fun. That is why we have ‘Senior Jokes By Joan’, eight full WebPages (and growing) of jokes, pictures and videos to bring a smile to your face.

Secondly, to help seniors deal with the current economic conditions, we will be establishing a ‘Coupons and Rebates’ section to our website within the next few days. This information will help all of us save money on the items that we use daily.

And finally, we will be set to launch by the end of the month a dedicated travel section which will feature great ideas for vacations, travel tips, discounts on hotels, airfare and car rentals. We are also finalizing an exclusive agreement with AvisBudget to give our members discounts on car rentals worldwide.

And finally, if you would like to recommend a topic to us, feel free to do so by clicking on the ‘Contact Us’ link on our homepage, or emailing us at info@FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com.

Warm Regards,
Mark A. Bowman,
President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

A growing entity--FreeSCS.com

2009-04-07T19:18:00.001-04:00

FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com

Mission Statement:
To be a free resource for Senior Citizens regarding Medicare, Medicaid, Medigap policies, Discounts for Senior Citizens and other essential information for independent living.

I have to say that we are starting to see a ‘spark’ with FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com. In addition to working with Goodwill International, we are beginning partnerships with:

Caregivers Marketplace-the nation's first cash back program for anyone who gives, gets or needs care. You can receive cash back on eligible products that are not typically covered by insurance or Medicare – no matter where you buy them. The program is free and your information is always kept confidential.

HearingLoss.org-the nation’s leading organization representing people with hearing loss. In the United States, 31.5 million people (one in ten) have a hearing loss making it a public health issue third in line after heart disease and arthritis.

What these affiliations symbolize is the fact that our business model is viable and needed for a senior population that will be growing for the next 25 years.

And even though our business is in its infancy, receiving the level of positive feedback that we have is a fantastic motivator for us to move ahead and help those who need it.

Feeding An AD Patient

2009-03-28T22:26:00.000-04:00

Eating can be a challenge. Some people with AD want to eat all the time, while others have to be encouraged to maintain a good diet.

· View mealtimes as opportunities for social interaction and success for the person with AD. Try to be patient and avoid rushing, and be sensitive to confusion and anxiety.
· Aim for a quiet, calm, reassuring mealtime atmosphere by limiting noise and other distractions.
· Maintain familiar mealtime routines, but adapt to the person’s changing needs.
· Give the person food choices, but limit the number of choices. Try to offer appealing foods that have familiar flavors, varied textures, and different colors.
· Serve small portions or several small meals throughout the day. Make healthy snacks, finger foods, and shakes available. In the earlier stages of dementia, be aware of the possibility of overeating.
· Choose dishes and eating tools that promote independence. If the person has trouble using utensils, use a bowl instead of a plate, or offer utensils with large or built-up handles. Use straws or cups with lids to make drinking easier.
· Encourage the person to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day to avoid dehydration.
· As the disease progresses, be aware of the increased risk of choking because of chewing and swallowing problems.
· Maintain routine dental checkups and daily oral health care to keep the mouth and teeth healthy.

Warm Regards,
Mark A. Bowman,
President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

Tips on Bathing An AD Patient

2009-03-26T00:01:00.002-04:00

While some people with AD don’t mind bathing, for others it is a frightening, confusing experience. Advance planning can help make bath time better for both of you.

· Plan the bath or shower for the time of day when the person is most calm and agreeable. Be consistent. Try to develop a routine.
· Respect the fact that bathing is scary and uncomfortable for some people with AD. Be gentle and respectful. Be patient and calm.
· Tell the person what you are going to do, step by step, and allow him or her to do as much as possible.
· Prepare in advance. Make sure you have everything you need ready and in the bathroom before beginning. Draw the bath ahead of time.
· Be sensitive to the temperature. Warm up the room beforehand if necessary and keep extra towels and a robe nearby. Test the water temperature before beginning the bath or shower.
· Minimize safety risks by using a handheld showerhead, shower bench, grab bars, and nonskid bath mats. Never leave the person alone in the bath or shower.
· Try a sponge bath. Bathing may not be necessary every day. A sponge bath can be effective between showers or baths.

Warm Regards,
Mark A. Bowman,
President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSCS.com

Communicating With A Patient Suffering From AD

2009-03-24T23:40:00.000-04:00

Trying to communicate with a person who has AD can be a challenge. Both understanding and being understood may be difficult.

· Choose simple words and short sentences and use a gentle, calm tone of voice.
· Avoid talking to the person with AD like a baby or talking about the person as if he or she weren’t there.
· Minimize distractions and noise—such as the television or radio—to help the person focus on what you are saying.
· Call the person by name, making sure you have his or her attention before speaking.
· Allow enough time for a response. Be careful not to interrupt.
· If the person with AD is struggling to find a word or communicate a thought, gently try to provide the word he or she is looking for.
· Try to frame questions and instructions in a positive way.

How To Deal With The Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

2009-03-21T22:23:00.001-04:00

Finding out that a loved one has Alzheimer’s disease can be stressful, frightening, and overwhelming. As you begin to take stock of the situation, here are some tips that may help:

A Guide For The Caregiver

· Ask the doctor any questions you have about AD. Find out what treatments might work best to alleviate symptoms or address behavior problems.

· Contact organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association and the Alzheimer ’s disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center for more information about the disease, treatment options, and caregiving resources. Some community groups may offer classes to teach caregiving, problem-solving, and management skills.

· Find a support group where you can share your feelings and concerns. Members of support groups often have helpful ideas or know of useful resources based on their own experiences. Online support groups make it possible for caregivers to receive support without having to leave home.

· Study your day to see if you can develop a routine that makes things go more smoothly. If there are times of day when the person with AD is less confused or more cooperative, plan your routine to make the most of those moments. Keep in mind that the way the person functions may change from day to day, so try to be flexible and adapt your routine as needed.

· Consider using adult day care or respite services to ease the day-to-day demands of caregiving. These services allow you to have a break while knowing that the person with AD is being well cared for.

· Begin to plan for the future. This may include getting financial and legal documents in order, investigating long-term care options, and determining what services are covered by health insurance and Medicare.

Warm Regards,
Mark A. Bowman,
President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com

Tips For Caregivers For Those With Alzheimer's Disease

2009-03-20T13:17:00.001-04:00

Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) at home is a difficult task and can become overwhelming at times. Each day brings new challenges as the caregiver copes with changing levels of ability and new patterns of behavior.

Research has shown that caregivers themselves often are at increased risk for depression and illness, especially if they do not receive adequate support from family, friends, and the community.

One of the biggest struggles caregivers face is dealing with the difficult behaviors of the person they are caring for. Dressing, bathing, eating—basic activities of daily living—often become difficult to manage for both the person with AD and the caregiver.

Having a plan for getting through the day can help caregivers cope. Many caregivers have found it helpful to use strategies for dealing with difficult behaviors and stressful situations. Through trial and error you will find that some of the following tips work, while others do not. Each person with AD is unique and will respond differently, and each person changes over the course of the disease. Do the best you can, and remind yourself to take breaks.

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman,
President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
This site content is copyright 2009 by http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/

Dietary Guidelines For Seniors

2009-03-18T12:55:00.001-04:00

Dietary Guidelines

Make smart choices from every food group.

The best way to give your body the balanced nutrition it needs is by eating a variety of nutrient-packed foods every day. Just be sure to stay within your daily calorie needs.

A healthy eating plan is one that:

Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products.
Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts.

Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.

DON'T GIVE IN WHEN YOU EAT OUTAND ARE ON THE GO

It's important to make smart food choices and watch portion sizes wherever you are—at the grocery store, at work, in your favorite restaurant, or running errands. Try these tips:
At the store, plan ahead by buying a variety of nutrient-rich foods for meals and snacks throughout the week.

When grabbing lunch, have a sandwich on whole- grain bread and choose low-fat/fat-free milk, water, or other drinks without added sugars.

In a restaurant, opt for steamed, grilled, or broiled dishes instead of those that are fried or sautéed.

On a long commute or shopping trip, pack some fresh fruit, cut-up vegetables, string cheese sticks, or a handful of unsalted nuts—to help you avoid impulsive, less healthful snack choices.
Mix up your choices within each food group.

· Focus on fruits. Eat a variety of fruits—whether fresh, frozen, canned, or dried—rather than fruit juice for most of your fruit choices. For a 2,000-calorie diet, you will need 2 cups of fruit each day (for example, 1 small banana, 1 large orange, and 1/4 cup of dried apricots or peaches).
· Vary your veggies. Eat more dark green veggies, such as broccoli, kale, and other dark leafy greens; orange veggies, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and winter squash; and beans and peas, such as pinto beans, kidney beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, split peas, and lentils.
· Get your calcium-rich foods. Get 3 cups of low-fat or fat-free milk—or an equivalent amount of low-fat yogurt and/or low-fat cheese (1½ ounces of cheese equals 1 cup of milk)—every day. For kids aged 2 to 8, its 2 cups of milk. If you don't or can't consume milk, choose lactose-free milk products and/or calcium-fortified foods and beverages.
· Make half your grains whole. Eat at least 3 ounces of whole-grain cereals, breads, crackers, rice, or pasta every day. One ounce is about 1 slice of bread, 1 cup of breakfast cereal, or ½ cup of cooked rice or pasta. Look to see that grains such as wheat, rice, oats, or corn are referred to as "whole" in the list of ingredients.
· Go lean with protein. Choose lean meats and poultry. Bake it, broil it, or grill it. And vary your protein choices—with more fish, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds.
Know the limits on fats, salt, and sugars. Read the Nutrition Facts label on foods. Look for foods low in saturated fats and trans fats. Choose and prepare foods and beverages with little salt (sodium) and/or added sugars (caloric sweeteners).

NUTRITION:

Most packaged foods have a Nutrition Facts label. For a healthier you, use this tool to make smart food choices quickly and easily.

Try these tips:

Keep these low: saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, and sodium.
Get enough of these: potassium, fiber, vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron.
Use the % Daily Value (DV) column when possible: 5% DV or less is low, 20% DV or more is high.
Check servings and calories. Look at the serving size and how many servings you are actually consuming. If you double the servings you eat, you double the calories and nutrients, including the % DVs.

Make your calories count. Look at the calories on the label and compare them with what nutrients you are also getting to decide whether the food is worth eating. When one serving of a single food item has over 400 calories per serving, it is high in calories.

Don't sugarcoat it. Since sugars contribute calories with few, if any, nutrients, look for foods and beverages low in added sugars. Read the ingredient list and make sure that added sugars are not one of the first few ingredients. Some names for added sugars (caloric sweeteners) include sucrose, glucose, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, maple syrup, and fructose.

Know your fats. Look for foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol to help reduce the risk of heart disease (5% DV or less is low, 20% DV or more is high). Most of the fats you eat should be polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. Keep total fat intake between 20% to 35% of calories.Reduce sodium (salt), increase potassium. Research shows that eating less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium (about 1 tsp of salt) per day may reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Most of the sodium people eat comes from processed foods, not from the saltshaker. Also look for foods high in potassium, which counteracts some of sodium's effects on blood pressure

Warm Regards,

Mark Bowman
President
FreeSCS.com

Safety Tips When Exercising For Seniors

2009-03-13T00:38:00.000-04:00

Safety Tips When Exercising

Here are some things you can do to make sure you are exercising safely:

Start slowly, especially if you haven’t been active for a long time. Little by little build up your activities and how hard you work at them.

Don’t hold your breath during strength exercises. That could cause changes in your blood pressure. It may seem strange at first, but you should breathe out as you lift something, and breathe in as you relax.

Use safety equipment. For example, wear a helmet for bike riding or the right shoes for walking or jogging.

Unless your doctor has asked you to limit fluids, be sure to drink plenty when you are doing activities. Many older adults don’t feel thirsty even if their body needs fluids.

Always bend forward from the hips, not the waist. If you keep your back straight, you’re probably bending the right way. If your back “humps,” that’s probably wrong.

Warm up your muscles before you stretch. Try walking and light arm pumping first.

Exercise should not hurt or make you feel really tired. You might feel some soreness, a little discomfort, or a bit weary, but you should not feel pain. In fact, in many ways, being active will probably make you feel better.

Warm Regards,
Mark A. Bowman,
PresidentFreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
This site content is copyright 2009 by http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/

Who Should Exercise?

2009-03-07T10:02:00.003-05:00

Who Should Exercise?

Almost anyone, at any age, can do some type of physical activity. You can still exercise even if you have a health condition like heart disease or diabetes. In fact, physical activity may help. For older adults, brisk walking, riding a bike, swimming, weight lifting, and gardening are safe, especially if you build up slowly.

But, check with your doctor if you are over 50 and you aren’t used to energetic activity. Other reasons to check with your doctor before you exercise include:

· Any new symptom you haven’t discussed with your doctor
· Dizziness or shortness of breath
· Chest pain or pressure, or the feeling that your heart is skipping, racing, or fluttering
· Blood clots
· An infection or fever with muscle aches
· Unplanned weight loss
· Foot or ankle sores that won’t heal
· Joint swelling
· A bleeding or detached retina, eye surgery, or laser treatment
· A hernia
· Recent hip surgery

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman,
President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/
mark@FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
This site content is copyright 2009 by http://www.freeseniorcitizenssolutions.com/

Four Ways For Seniors to Be Active

2009-03-03T09:01:00.001-05:00

To get all of the benefits of physical activity, try all four types of exercise—
1) Endurance, 2) strength, 3) balance, and 4) flexibility.

1. Be sure to get at least 30 minutes of activity that makes you breathe hard on most or all days of the week. That’s called an endurance activity because it builds your energy or “staying power.” You don’t have to be active for 30 minutes all at once. Ten minutes at a time is fine. Just make sure you are active for a total of 30 minutes most days. How hard do you need to push yourself? If you can talk without any trouble at all, you are not working hard enough. If you can’t talk at all, it’s too hard.

2. Keep using your muscles. Strength exercises build muscles. When you have strong muscles, you can get up from a chair by yourself, you can lift your grandchildren, and you can walk through the park. Keeping your muscles in shape helps prevent falls that cause problems like broken hips. You are less likely to fall when your leg and hip muscles are strong.

3. Do things to help your balance. Try standing on one foot, then the other. If you can, don’t hold on to anything for support. Get up from a chair without using your hands or arms. Every now and then walk heel-to-toe. When you walk this way, the toes of the foot in back should almost touch the heel of the foot in front.

4. Stretch. Stretching can help you be more flexible. Moving more freely will make it easier for you to reach down to tie your shoes or look over your shoulder when you back the car out of your driveway. Stretch when your muscles are warmed up. Don’t stretch so far that it hurts.

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman
President
http://www.FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
mark@FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com

Reverse Mortgages

2009-02-28T00:13:00.002-05:00

Reverse mortgages come in many different forms. You should only seek out an FHA-insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage.

These are the things that you need to know about a reverse mortgage:

How they work
How to qualify
The involvement of the Federal Government
Consumer Safeguards
Other pertinent facts

How they work

A reverse mortgage was created by the Federal Government for homeowners age 62 and over and could be considered as a financial empowerment tool. It allows you to convert a portion of your equity into tax-free cash to supplement your monthly income without incurring a monthly loan payment. Yet you still own your home and your name still stays on title.

You are still responsible for the property taxes, homeowner’s insurance and the general maintenance and upkeep of the property.

The entire loan is repaid when the home is sold or the last remaining homeowner passes away or permanently leaves the home.

As stated earlier, the proceeds of the loan are tax-free and do not affect any Social Security or Medicare payments you may be receiving. They, however, could affect Medicaid payments.
You are able to use the proceeds of the loan for any purpose, including:

Home improvements
Travel
Long Term Care planning
Debt consolidation

What is the difference between a Home Equity loan or Line-of-Credit and a Reverse Mortgage?

The answer is the in the case of a reverse mortgage you can access the equity in your home without having a monthly payment, which you would incur if you simply refinanced your home or took out a line-of-credit on the property.

How to qualify

It is surprising how simple the qualification process is for a reverse mortgage. It is a very straight forward process:

Everyone on the title to the property must be 62 years old or older
You must live in a 1-4 family residence, condo or co-op
You must be the principal resident and cannot be renting out the property.

That’s it. There are NO income qualifications. This is because you do not make payments on a reverse mortgage.

The amount of money you will receive as a result of a reverse mortgage is based on:

Your age
Your home value
The location of the home
The prevailing interest rate

You must pay of all existing mortgages when you close on a reverse mortgage, which means that you will have no monthly payment.

Payout Options

You can access the proceeds of a reverse mortgage in several different ways:

LUMP SUM-you receive all of the cash at once
CREDIT LINE-You take the money when you need it. You accrue interest only on the amount that you withdraw.
MONTHLY PAYMENTS-which can come in two ways
The term payout option-which enables you to receive a fixed amount of money for a fixed amount of time
The tenure payment option-which enables you to receive a fixed amount of money for as long as you live
You can also combine any of the above options to best fit your individual needs.
And after the reverse mortgage is paid off, the remaining equity in your home goes to your estate.

Government Involvement and Consumer Safeguards

Federal requires that you have a counseling session with an FHA approved individual counselor before submitting any reverse mortgage application to any mortgage company. The counselor will review your loan options and explore any alternatives that may be available to you. This session can be either face-to-face or over the phone.

Other Pertinent Facts

The closing costs associated with a reverse mortgage are similar to the closing costs for a refinance or home equity line-of-credit.

Due to the ‘Non-recourse’ feature of a reverse mortgage, you can NEVER owe more than the house is worth.

Because there are no payments to the mortgage company, you can never lose your home, so long as you continue to pay the property taxes, insurance and maintain the home.

You have the ability to sell the home at any time

A reverse mortgage is also an excellent way to fund long-term care, whether you wish to self-fund for such costs or are looking to fund a long-term care insurance policy.

Overall, a reverse mortgage could be a great option for senior citizens in these difficult economic times. As with any financial decision, however, you should seek out thr advice of a competent financial professional who is familiar with your individual situation and personal needs.

Mark A. Bowman
President
http://www.FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
mark@FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com

Bridging The Coverage Gap

2009-02-24T00:37:00.001-05:00

Most Medicare drug plans (Part D) have a temporary limit on what they will cover for prescription drugs, or a “coverage gap.” The good news is that all Medicare drug plans provide coverage if you have an unexpected illness or injury that results in extremely high drug costs. This is called “catastrophic” coverage. It assures that once you have paid $4,350 (in 2009) out-of-pocket for drug costs in a calendar year, almost all of your drug costs above that amount are covered. If your plan has a coverage gap during the time between a drug plan’s standard level of coverage and the catastrophic coverage, you pay all of your drug costs.

If you have limited income and resources, and qualify for full extra help, most of the information here doesn’t apply to you. You will continue to pay the same copayment or coinsurance amount during a coverage gap if your plan has one.

If your drug plan has a coverage gap, here are some ways you can avoid or delay entering the gap, and continue to save money on drug costs while in the gap:

Consider switching to generic, over-the-counter (OTC), or other lower-cost drugs. Ask your doctor about generic, OTC, or less-expensive brand-name drugs that would work just as well as the ones you’re taking now. Switching to lower-cost drugs may be enough to help you avoid the coverage gap, and can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars a year.

Keep using your Medicare drug plan card, even while in the coverage gap. Using your drug plan card ensures that you’ll get the drug plan’s discounted rates and that the money you spend counts toward your catastrophic coverage.

Explore National and Community-Based Charitable Programs that might offer assistance (such as the National Patient Advocate Foundation or the National Organization for Rare Disorders). These organizations may have programs that can help with your drug costs. Comprehensive information on Federal, state, and private assistance programs in your area is available on the Benefits Checkup Website (www.benefitscheckup.org) website.

Look into Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (sometimes called Patient Assistance Programs) that may be offered by the manufacturers of the drugs you take. Many of the major drug manufacturers are offering assistance programs for people enrolled in a Medicare drug plan. You can find out whether a Pharmaceutical Assistance Program is offered by the manufacturers of the drugs you take by visiting www.medicare.govand selecting “Lower Your Costs During the Coverage Gap.”

Look at State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAP) for which you may qualify. There are 23 states and 1 territory offering some type of coverage to help people with Medicare with paying drug plan premiums and/or cost sharing.

You can find out if your state has a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program by visiting www.medicare.gov and selecting “Lower Your Costs During the Coverage Gap.”

Apply for Extra Help. If you have Medicare and have limited income and resources, you may qualify for extra help paying for your prescription drugs. Contact Social Security by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov or calling 1-800-772-1213.

Warm Regards,

Mark A. Bowman, President
FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
By Baby Boomers…For Baby Boomers
http://www.FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
mark@FreeSeniorCitizensSolutions.com
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