ASCOG Aging Advocate October 18, 2012

Happy Thursday!

Today is the 58th anniversary of the day Texas Instruments announced it's first transistor radio.

Going against stereotype, more men are taking care of their aging parents according to a study published in the Wall Street Journal.  Unfortunately, as Kelly Greene points out, many men are less likely to seek out help.

Think you are too old to date?  Think again as you view this video produced by Graceful Aging.

Preventive services, drug discounts and donut holes have you confused?  The US Department of Health and Human Services published this fact sheet on five things you need to know about the Affordable Care Act.

Will this be the first year you file a tax return on your own?  The IRS published this tip sheet on what happens after you file a tax return.

The USDVA has published a fact sheet called "What Veterans and Their Families Should Know When Applying for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Pension Benefits."  It also spells out how payments could be increased for those who are "housebound."

Sitting is scientifically proven to be hazardous to your health if you do it too often.  The New York Times published research pointing to the need to "get up" and "get out."

Many consumers are taking on medical debt without their knowledge.  As many as 40 percent of consumers in the US have medical debt on their credit reports and often they are unaware.

Hand washing is a growing concerned in US nursing home.  The Journal of Applied Gerontology reports that hand washing deficiencies in long-term care facilities are on the rise. 

First to be fired and last to be hired?  The Huffington Post and Forbes examine ageism in America. 

Save the date!  The 2013 Oklahoma Conference on Aging has been set for May 21-23 at the Embassy Suites Norman Hotel and Conference Center.  For general questions about the conference, please contact the conference coordinator at 405-521-2281 or email asd.conference@okdhs.org.

ASCOG AAA is asking for participants, caregivers and professionals in south-central Oklahoma to complete the annual Senior Needs Survey.  The results of the survey will be published in the 2014 Area Plan on Aging.

Newsweek announced this week that it is going to "kill" it's printed edition in favor of online media.  This comes at a time when just over half of the seniors in America are actively using the Internet.

Dallas war veterans are able to stay out of a nursing home longer through the VA's Medical Foster Home Program.  VA medical foster homes are a growing trend but are not yet active in Oklahoma.  For more information, read the VA's Guide to Long Term Care.