Senior Magazine

“Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot without result.” The Malakand Field Force by Winston Churchill, published 1898.

Gather your weapons and prepare for war. We are all in the midst of defending against the tribulations that come with old age.

Protect your health. We’re not talking vitamins and exercise here. We’re talking about making sure that people respect your decisions.

In the last issue we reviewed what Medicare does cover and in this issue we will address what Medicare does not cover related to eye care.

Medicare does not pay for routine vision services or glasses/contact lenses other than the life-time benefit after cataract surgery (refer to page 46 of Fall/Winter issue of ­Colorado Springs SENIOR Magazine). Medicare does not pay for the refraction portion of the eye exam that measures how well you see at a specific distance. As any secondary insurance will only cover the remaining 20% of what Medicare covers, with refraction as a non-covered benefit, it and must be paid for at the time of service whenever it is deemed necessary. Refraction could even be charged during post-operative care. For example, St Luke’s charges for a refraction when making the prescription determination of post-cataract surgery eyeglasses, or at anytime when providing a written prescription for visual acuity. St Luke’s Eye Care & Laser Center offers the Medicare Beneficiary a discount off our normal-and-customary refraction fee, when this is paid at the time of service.

If you are embarrassed by unsightly, painful spider or varicose veins, you are not alone. Up to 40% of women and 25% of men suffer from varicose veins or some form of vein disease. Fortunately, assessment of the symptomatic patient is non-invasive. Dr Lorenzo can review the pertinent aspects of your medical history and perform a physical exam that is complemented by an ultrasound study of the affected leg. And, with summer just around the corner, it’s a good time to initiate a treatment program for unsightly veins. Have the quality of life you deserve without the embarrassment of varicose or spider veins. Love your legs…again.

Clinical back pain affects 212 million adults ages 18 and over. About 70-85% of Americans experience back pain at some time in their lives, and about a third of adults experience some back pain each year. Of these individuals, about 40% of people report they have experienced back pain in the past month. Finally, and even more disturbing, 7-14% of adults in the US report some restriction of their daily activities due to back pain in the past 12 months.

The increase in the number of retirees, longer lifetime expectancies, the decrease in appetite for risk, and prospects for lower returns of both equity and fixed income, have all caused people to re-think retirement investment assumptions. Old “rules of thumb” work well until the underlying assumptions change.

With federal grant money received under the Older Americans Act (OAA), Holladay Brothers Construction, Inc has patched walls, stopped toilets from falling through rotten floors, provided heat and hot water, made numerous repairs, and installed a multitude of grab bars. HBC has also remodeled many homes for disabled veterans as a preferred contractor with the Veteran’s Administration.

John Wilkinson, developer of the self adjusting, clinically proven, patented sleep system, has made it possible for you to have a pressure-free spinal-supported sleep. This technology has been used for several years in hospitals and nursing homes to improve comfort and eliminate pressure points for patients. This system is also used in hospitality facilities such as the Hilton Garden Inns world wide, which have many returning guests because of the comfort of their Natural Form Sleep Systems.

In the Intensive Care Unit at Memorial Health System, a multi-disciplinary team of medical professionals care for Colorado Springs’ sickest of the sick. Every day on the unit, patients fight for their lives, whether they’re suffering from a brain aneurism or pneumonia. What often makes a difference in the outcome is the level of care that they receive. The skill of the care giver—usually a registered nurse—is pivotal.

Last fall, Memorial’s ICU team received the coveted Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. The award is given to the top intensive care units in the country that have met rigorous standards for excellence.

Fifty-five percent of Americans, 50 years of age and older, are at risk of developing osteoporosis. Currently 10 million individuals are estimated to already have the disease, and 34 million more are estimated to have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis. Women can lose up to 20% of their bone mass in the five to seven years after menopause, making them more susceptible to osteoporosis. While women are four times more likely than men to develop the disease, men also suffer from osteoporosis.

We all know someone with breast cancer. It could be a coworker, our dearest friend, or even our daughter. There’s a reason we all know someone with the disease: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. In fact, the American Cancer Society estimated that approximately 2,840 women in Colorado would be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer last year, and about 520 women in our state would die from the disease.

Despite these statistics, there is good news. Thanks to early detection and state-of-the-art treatment options, the mortality rate is decreasing each year. At Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers (RMCC), we’re doing our part to raise awareness of the disease and to bring to our community the best treatment options available.