Community Update (10/15/22)

Wellness

Balance, Flexibility and Strength, Oh My!

Wednesday, October 19, 2022; 1-2:30 p.m. (Zoom)

Maintaining health and fitness as we get older is so important. Staying active helps us to not only keep doing the things we want to do, but also helps with preventing and managing chronic conditions AND decreases our risk for a fall. Join us for an informative presentation on how to incorporate safe and effective exercises into your daily life. The presentation will include sample exercises (that you can do at home!) and practical strategies for falls prevention and other tips to reduce your risk for a fall.

Dr. Sara Pappa, a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) and ANV Board member, is an Assistant Professor in the Health and Human Performance Department at Marymount University. She holds a BS in Health Education and Promotion from the University of Cincinnati, an MA in Exercise Physiology from Kent State University and a PhD in Health Education from the University of Cincinnati. In addition to teaching, she manages the regional falls prevention initiative, including the Northern Virginia Falls Prevention Alliance. Registration required.

Breast Health Fair

Saturday, October 22, 9:30 am – 12:00 pm at the VHC Health Arlington Campus Atrium

Get the latest prevention and treatment information, see demonstrations and connect with breast health experts from medical, radiation & surgical oncology, breast reconstruction, women’s imaging, nutrition, genetics, massage and more. Ask questions, meet other patients and receive a free gift! Questions: Contact confctr@vhchealth.org or 703.558.6700. Registration required.

Medicare Open Enrollment

Medicare’s Annual Open Enrollment Period (OEP) is the one time each year when Medicare beneficiaries can make changes in their Medicare plan enrollment. The OEP is available between October 15-December 7, with plan changes taking effect January 1st. Why should you pay attention to this?

1. Plans may change their costs, the drugs they cover, or withdraw out of Medicare entirely each calendar year. When a plan stops covering a drug, it shifts the financial cost to the client, leaving the client responsible for the full cost of the drug, if they remain enrolled in the same plan.
2. During OEP, using the Medicare Plan Finder, beneficiaries can assess and make changes to their health insurance coverage, to include adding, dropping, or changing their Medicare Advantage or Part D Prescription Drug Plan. They can also assess Medigap policies.
3. The Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP) can help beneficiaries navigate the information provided on the Medicare Plan Finder and select a plan that is best for them. Get in Touch with VICAP 1 of 3 ways:

• By calling 703-228-1725
• By visiting their website
• By sending an email to MedicareHelp@arlingtonva.us

VICAP is hosting several workshops through the 55+ Program. Please see Page 11 of the Fall Guide for a class near you.

Walk this Way …. To Longevity!

As the season turns, my thoughts go to a “tune-up.” Getting back on a healthy track may take some deliberate effort, after a hot, lazy summer. But here are some great reasons for paying attention to this!

Both the New York Times, and the Washington Post had articles in their “Health” sections on 10/4/2022, describing new research (published in two different professional medical journals; in JAMA Internal Medicine, and JAMA Neurology) on walking.  Researchers found new evidence that regular walking, in various amounts, actually adds years onto one’s life. In the study, 78,500 people were “tracked” (with technology) as they walked for 30 minutes a day at a brisk pace. Results showed a reduced risk of heart disease, cancer, dementia and death. They followed the participants for 6-8 years and examined their health statuses over time.

The number of steps taken was one item of interest. Researchers found that every 2,000 additional steps per day lowered the above risks by about 10 percent. Regarding dementia, they found that 9,800 steps per day was associated with a 50 percent reduced risk, and 3,800 steps per day to a 25 percent reduction in risk.The brisker the pace, the more beneficial the outcome.

One pleasant factor is, one does not have to walk 30 CONSECUTIVE minutes, but one can do sort bursts during the day.

And, this season is very pleasant for walking! You may have heard of about shinrin-yoku, the Japanese practice of “forest bathing.”  Around trees, one absorbs phytoncides, substances that protect trees from insects and other stressors which can increase our natural killer immune cells and decrease cortisol (stress enzyme) levels (Dr. Sanjay Gupta). In October, walking among trees offers a bonus; the dazzling colors surrounding us, lifting our spirits and helping us to “refuel” for future events, as we breathe deeply of the crisp fall air…a walking meditation!