Low Vision Awareness

February is Low Vision Awareness Month.

Glaucoma causes loss of sight by damaging the optic nerve. Once lost, vision cannot be restored. More than 2.2 million Americans have the most common form of glaucoma; half don't even know they have it.

Risk factors include:
- Age - The American Academy of Opthalmology has warned that everyone over the age of 60 is at risk for developing glaucoma.
- Race - The National Eye Institute says glaucoma is five times more likely to occur in blacks than in whites, and blacks are four times more likely to become blind from it. After age 60, Hispanics are more likely to develop glaucoma than any other group.
- Family History - If you have a parent or sibling who has glaucoma, you are more likely to develop the disease.
- Diabetes - People with diabetes have a 40% higher risk of developing glaucoma.
- Nearsightedness - Very nearsighted people are at greater risk of developing the disease.
- Eye Injury or Surgery - People who have had eye surgery or eye injuries may develop secondary glaucoma.
- Steroid Medication - Steroid use, over extended periods of time, may increase the risk of glaucoma.

Regular eye examinations are vital to preventing this "sneak thief of sight".

Assisted Living

Make assisted living arrangements before you need them. If you wait until you need assisted living, you may have a long waiting list ahead of you. Average wait is three years.

Medicaid Planning

It's never too early to plan for Medicaid -- but it may be too late.

Hooray for Pets!

People who own pets live linger, have less stress and fewer heart attacks.

Help with Prescription Costs

If you are having trouble paying for your prescription medications, the pharmaceutical companies may have a program to help you.

I wonder ...

Why do natural/organic products that are grown without chemical fertilizers & insecticides cost three times more than those products that are grown using chemical fertilizers & insecticides?Seems to me they should cost less.

Everybody's in Survival Mode

I went grocery shopping today. It was nuts! I guess they heard about the big storm down in D.C. Here in New England, at the sign of the first snowflake, everyone goes into survival mode. They clean out the grocery stores and start laying in emergency provisions.