It appears that in the not too distant future, doctors will be able to tell their patients whether or not they are at high risk for acquiring Alzheimer’s disease, one of the most feared brain disorders affecting older individuals. For Boomers and other senior citizens, this latest advance in the study of this disease may seem like a godsend, but doesn’t knowing also come with its own set of terrible, or at least, undesirable consequences? The jury is still out on that question, though many people certainly have personal opinions when it comes to knowing one’s potential fate.

According to news reports, a simple blood test may be all that is required in the future to tell whether or not a person has a predisposition for developing problems caused by Alzheimer’s, including mild dementia. Researchers at the Georgetown University School of Medicine have come up with a test that apparently can predict with 90-percent certainty whether an otherwise healthy individual will be afflicted by dementia (or mild cognitive impairment — MCI) and its life-threatening complications within three years’ time.

The anguish of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis can be devastating, not only to the patient, but to friends and loved ones as well.

Based on the information coming out of the prestigious medical school in Washington, D.C., in just a few years Baby Boomers and younger seniors will likely be able to have their blood tested to determine the odds of getting this debilitating and currently incurable disease.

As many people already know, Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia, the effects of which only worsen as the condition progresses. Sadly, for most patients the prognosis is not good. Victims often lose their memories, being unable to recognize loved ones and close relatives, as well as losing all sense of who they are or once were. The eventual outcome of this terrible affliction is death.

The specific lipid panel that Georgetown researchers came up could allow doctors to fairly accurately distinguish between two distinct groups of currently cognitively normal individuals: those people who will likely progress to MCI or Alzheimer’s within two to three years, and those who are likely to remain normal for the near future. According to the research study, the lipid panel reveals changes in the breakdown of neural cell membranes, which results in 10 identifiable metabolites that then begin circulating in a patient’s bloodstream. Two of those 10 metabolites reportedly have a strong association with the neuropathology linked to Alzheimer’s.

While Alzheimer’s disease is known to develop differently in each individual, the more common symptoms oftentimes are mistakenly attributed to the basic process of aging. The early onset of the disease can result in a person having difficulty when trying to recall recent events (also referred to as “short term memory loss”). Following the progression of the disease, doctors know that additional symptoms become more and more manifest, such as confusion, trouble with language, irritability (and sometimes aggression), as well as mood swings and longer-term memory problems. The advance of the disease soon leads to gradual loss of bodily functions, which is always fatal.

Although there is currently no known cure for Alzheimer’s, the recent discovery by scientists at Georgetown promises to help potential victims of the disease understand their future risk for getting it. Baby Boomers and seniors in their early 50s and 60s may benefit the most from this latest medical advance, and we can only hope that knowing more ahead of time will help lead to a cure, or at least increase the potential for possible treatments that might stave off the disease’s progression in the future.

Age is the biggest risk factor. After 65, the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s doubles every five years or so. By 85, that risk hits nearly 50 percent. Nobody yet knows why risk increases as we grow older.

News articles have described the potential new test, which relies on analyzing the levels of 10 lipids found in the human bloodstream. By measuring the amount of these key lipids, or fats, researchers were able to estimate the chances of a patient coming down with either mild cognitive impairment (such as memory loss and the marked reduction in the ability to think clearly) or the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

It was discovered that lower levels of those 10 specific fats in the blood acted as relatively accurate predictors of impending dementia. Dr. Howard Federoff, executive dean of the Georgetown University School of Medicine, stated that despite the recent discovery, researchers still do not understand the link between the low levels of those 10 lipids and medical science’s understanding of the pathobiology of Alzheimer’s.

Without a doubt, however, this new research will likely make predicting the early onset of the disease much easier; which could provide patients and their families more time to adjust to the future effects of the disease should they eventually come down with it. Right now, without the help of a simple blood test that checks for specific biomarkers, doctors must rely on expensive PET and MRI scans, which themselves are apparently limited in accurately diagnosing patients prior to onset of the disease.

As researchers have already noted, the use of a blood-based biomarker test would provide physicians with a very useful and economical option. Although a number of these tests are under development, more research is reportedly required, part of which also means a greater amount of investment in the area of diagnosing preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. Ultimately, though, we all hope for a cure.

As part of the Georgetown study, 525 healthy people 70 years of age or older underwent a comprehensive bloodwork exam, plus a range of neurocognitive tests. Those subjects were then followed by researchers for five years. Over the course of the study, researchers noted that 74 of the participants slipped into dementia or were otherwise affected by mild Alzheimer’s disease. By comparing the participants’ blood values, scientists found that the subjects who had developed dementia began the study with measurably lower levels of those 10 lipids.

Researchers later set up a smaller study to test the predictive power of the specific lipids. Doctors performed that study on a separate group of 40 individuals. As a result of that smaller test, Georgetown researchers were able to confirm that a simple blood test could be used to identify people who would be expected to develop mild cognitive impairment in the future. According to news reports, the lipid measuring approach was actually more accurate in determining future dementia and cognitive problems, based on the researchers’ data, than a currently used genetic test that looks for a mutant version of the “APOE” gene, which has been proven to be linked to Alzheimer’s.

Without a cure for MCI and Alzheimer’s, Baby Boomers may be facing the dilemma of living longer while dealing with acute neurological issues as a result of that longer life.

While being able to predict who will come down with a currently incurable disease may seem to be of limited importance at the time, the ability to identify future Alzheimer’s sufferers could eventually play a very important role in finding a cure for this grave disease. In fact, Georgetown’s Federoff believes that the drugs currently available for the treatment of those already afflicted with Alzheimer’s may have some better effect on those individuals who have yet to develop symptoms. This, in addition to increasing the likelihood of improving research efforts into curing the disease, may lend hope to future generations who might be spared the awful effects of such a cruel illness.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the worldwide incidence of Alzheimer’s disease is expected to double every 20 years; rising from nearly 36 million sufferers in 2010 to more than 115 million people across the globe by 2050. Perhaps the Georgetown research, which may lead to the commercialization of what scientists referred to as a “preclinical disease biomarker test,” could end up becoming a large-scale screen test for at-risk individuals. Clinical trials will likely be the next step on a path to identifying those with a predisposition for Alzheimer’s, and maybe a future cure or at least therapies to delay the onset of this fatal illness.

Blood test may predict onset of Alzheimer’s and related disease, new study finds; WashingtonPost.com; March 10, 2014

Fortunately, seniors and older Baby Boomers have generally beaten the odds and made it to their golden years with only a few bumps and bruises. But believing one can beat the odds may actually prove to be the downfall of some people as the years pile on.

What we’re talking about spells trouble… with a capital “T” and that rhymes with “G” and that stands for gambling. While we make light of this here, there is no humor in the way in which some aging Boomers and senior citizens can find themselves caught in the downward spiral of a serious gambling addiction. Perhaps you’ve seen the public service messages on TV promoting help for gamblers of all stripes, but it’s those individuals living on fixed incomes with little or no free cash available to feed a gambling addiction who can be truly hit the hardest.

The innocent-looking and highly popular slot machine is responsible for nearly 70 percent of all casino income in the U.S.

As a teen, I remember my last few summers visiting my 60-something grandparents in the New York area. For years, one of their favorite summertime destinations was Atlantic City, New Jersey. When I was younger, it was just the seaside and boardwalk that drew in the crowds; but then came the casinos and the slow decay of the local community. By the time I was 15 or 16, my grandparents were making monthly trips to Atlantic City for free meals and lots of one-armed bandit action.

Now the good news was that my grandfather was not an over-the-top gambler, plus my grandmother disliked his gambling; she would follow my grandfather into the casino and then would barely touch a machine. In fact, her strategy was mostly to dip into my grandfather’s bucket of quarters every so often and pull a few dollars’ worth out. By the end of the day, even though my grandfather may have lost 50 bucks or so, my grandmother’s version of dollar-cost averaging would have them at just about even. Throw in that free food and going to the casinos on the boardwalk was hardly a costly outing.

But my grandparents’ experience was nothing compared to that of some people who have little or no self-control when it comes to the seemingly endless pursuit of that elusive big payout. Regrettably, hitting an occasional large jackpot may only reinforce the urge to win even bigger and bigger returns, without the realization of the losses that must usually be endured and that typically offset any large winnings down the road.

As mutual fund returns and CD yields aren’t what they used to be, ever more convenient gambling and betting facilities can seduce seniors with the promise of instant earnings.

According to news articles, seniors and older Boomers have been facing unique gambling risks as a burgeoning gambling industry in many places across the country afford more and more betting opportunities.

The bottom line for retirees and other individuals living on a fixed income: with more readily available sources of gambling out there, the temptation to take risks with their limited funds threatens not only the financial well-being of older people, but also can harm their health and happiness.

Tragic stories of gambling mania within the senior community crop up from time to time, but are likely only the tip of the iceberg as many personal experiences with gambling addiction go unnoticed by the general public and the press. One such well-publicized account involved the former mayor of San Diego, California, Maureen O’Connor, who reportedly placed more than $1 billion in bets over several decades, effectively gambling away her deceased spouse’s multi-million dollar fortune as well as stealing a couple million dollars from the nonprofit foundation her husband had founded.

Now 66 years old, O’Connor was known for her love of video poker and told CBS News that she might lose upward of $100,000 in a single day. Once her family fortune was depleted, reports indicate that O’Connor began to sell off real estate holdings to sustain her addiction. The raiding of her late husband’s nonprofit represented her final effort to get her hands on more money with which to gamble. She has reportedly blamed at least some of her apparent gambling addiction on a brain tumor.

But O’Connor’s story is just one high-profile case of disastrous gambling addiction. Other stories of retirees and older Boomers caught in a web of wagering addiction, many untold, paint a grim picture of the state of our nation’s most vulnerable seniors. An article detailing the fate of a retired school teacher who took $300,000 in painstakingly-earned retirement savings and lost it over the course of several years, showed a woman that spend five years pursuing the rush of several initial “big wins” that never came again.

Despite very poor odds, many people believe that the next big jackpot is just around the corner. Bank accounts can be quickly drained over such pie-in-the-sky thinking.

According to news reports, the effect of gambling on older adults is not yet clearly understood. Studies have suggested, however, that pathological gambling affects just one to two percent of the total population. Compare that to alcoholism, which affects about 0.24 percent of seniors according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and gambling appears to pose an increased threat over that of alcoholism by a factor of easily two- to four-times.

Unfortunately, in an effort to increase tax income, states and municipalities have loosened their restrictions on legal gambling businesses, which has led to what many experts describe as an explosion of gambling and betting opportunities. The threat to older Baby Boomers and senior citizens is that losses from gambling can seriously impact the financial condition of many households that exist solely on a fixed income.

There’s no arguing that compared to sitting in a nursing home, being out and about at a casino can be more stimulating, but to what end?

For many decades, as my grandparents so aptly demonstrated during their monthly trips to Atlantic City, gambling has been a very popular pastime with older people.

For my grandfather and grandmother, day trips from Long Island to the New Jersey shore were organized by the casinos, sweetened with meal vouchers and $20 in gambling seed money. These days, outings to local casinos can be found listed as recreational activities on the weekly schedule of events at many assisted living facilities, old-age homes and senior centers.

There is no doubt that as purely a physical and mental activity, a visit to a nearby casino might provide a stimulating diversion for many seniors; but it’s the gambling component that worries some experts. A study by a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania showed that almost three-quarters of senior citizens who were asked stated that they had gambled in the previous 12 months; about ten percent of those interviewed believed that they had gambled and lost more than they could have comfortably afforded to lose.

“Hey Pop, how about taking me to the casino when I’m old enough???”

Sadly, my grandfather is no longer around for me to ask what made gambling so appealing to him, but as a fellow human being I can certainly guess. Having won some and lost some at a few casinos in my earlier years, I understand that the promise of easy money can be a strong draw for many people. I count myself among those who can reason well enough to know that the potential winnings rarely exceed the money one can actually lose in the process.

The problem of pathological gambling addiction is a tough nut to crack. Individuals so afflicted can fairly easily disguise the compulsion for years, which unfortunately is usually sufficient time for the average person to exhaust his or her savings. Only after the money is gone do their relatives and friends begin to realize the scope of the problem, and by then the damage has been done.

If you believe that a loved one may have a gambling problem, there are avenues available that may provide some help. Gamblers Anonymous is one such option. This organization helps addicted gamblers to recognize their problem and hopefully overcome it in time. Similar in approach to the well-known Alcoholics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous holds meetings in most areas around the United States. And just like Al-Anon, Gam-Anon is a support group for those trying to help a friend or family member who is suffering from a gambling addiction.

Popping pills isn’t what it used to be back in the ’60s, though the potential dangers may be just as real.

And, no, we’re not talking about those drug-induced hallucinations “enjoyed” by many enlightened souls during the Age of Aquarius, but the real and actual threat of permanent injury or death that many older people may be facing on a daily basis without even knowing it; a serious danger presented by potentially deadly drug interactions.

According to news reports, the problem of “polypharmacy” (sometimes referred to as polymedicine) has been identified as a key factor in the deaths of more than 100,000 individuals each year; however, it should be noted that the negative effects of Polypharmacy on unwitting individuals should not be confused with the beneficial application of multiple drugs (more commonly known as “combination therapy”) to fight various cancers and other serious medical conditions.

Although the benefits of multiple-drug therapies include enhanced efficacy of treatment, as well as improved safety and tolerability of pharmacotherapy, it is the unexpected or unanticipated side effects from polypharmacy that pose the greatest danger to thousands of people every month in this country.

Older patients, especially those in nursing homes or rehabilitation centers, are at particular risk due to polypharmacy.

Sadly, the most frequent victims of polypharmacy are older Boomers, other seniors, and the elderly; people who by their very age are more likely to be taking a variety of medications prescribed by their family doctor and other medical specialists; in the worst cases, the individual physicians may not be aware of all the medications prescribed by the patient’s other doctors.

For those unfamiliar with the problem, medical professionals typically use the term polypharmacy in cases where a patient is taking a regular course of five of more prescription medications. Doctors and other health experts are quick to remind the public that the actual number of medications is not as important as the possible interactions between one or more of those drugs; in fact, even non-prescription meds or certain foods can interact in an adverse manner.

While doctors are trained to understand the possible side effects that may occur when two different drugs interact, increasing the number of medications that a person is on only serves to complicate the situation. Furthermore, the threshold for dangerous reactions can actually be quite low, as many older seniors and Baby Boomers have likely already experienced.

Quite frankly, these days it doesn’t take much to push a patient above a regular intake of five different medications or supplements each day. For those lucky enough to have avoided being prescribed medication for a chronic condition until their later years, this news may come as some surprise; but as the medical community already knows, the problem of polypharmacy has been with us here in the U.S. for quite some time.

Could an already over-medicated populace be the root of the polypharmacy issue?

In a society that has a way of worshiping the pharmaceutical industry – at least for its ability to develop highly effective medications for many deadly diseases and other serious medical conditions – the commonly-held attitude that “more is better” can have devastating repercussions.

Unfortunately, for many people, receiving treatment from multiple doctors or medical facilities can make for a bad situation, though as we have mentioned it’s not always about quantity. When facing the addition of another medication to an already full prescription pill regimen, it’s best to consider whether or not that new drug is clinically appropriate to treat that particular condition.

Consulting with your family physician and putting all the cards on the table is likely the best first step toward avoiding some potentially deadly consequences. Although polypharmacy is hardly a new problem, statistics and medical data collected over the years indicate that it has been growing with little chance that things will just go away on their own.

In fact, the data indicates that instances of adverse drug interactions may be getting worse. According to news stories on the subject, over the past ten years the number of individuals 60 years of age and older who take five or more prescription medications exceeded 25 percent, hitting 37 percent most recently; and that number actually jumps to more than 50 percent for those aged 65 years and over.

Digging deeper, it becomes obvious that the statistics are skewed slightly toward the female segment of the population, with 57 percent of woman taking five or more drugs on a weekly basis versus 44 percent of men. This might be concerning to some Boomers and other older seniors, especially considering that studies suggest a significant number of older adults are on at least six daily medications.

For our elderly parents and other relatives, the dangers of polypharmacy can rapidly escalate when an individual enters a nursing home. According to reports, institutionalized seniors can have as many as nine or more different drugs administered regularly. In fact, a study conducted by the online pharmacy Express Scripts determined that the typical senior citizen who was seeing just two doctors had a yearly average of 276 prescription fills. As if 20-plus prescriptions fills every month was not shocking enough, more disturbing was the apparent finding that older folks run the risk of being exposed to upward of 10 medication errors every year.

Warning labels are fine for general safety, but only a qualified physician can truly know if adverse drug interactions are on the horizon for patients with multiple prescriptions.

While doctors and other medical professionals understand the risks posed by polypharmacy, it’s a fair bet that the average person is much less informed or has no real idea of the extreme dangers that can arise from mixing numerous, albeit individually useful, medications. The risks can be large and, in some instances, potentially life-threatening.

Ranging from physical or mental impairment to outright death, the side effects of polypharmacy involve what the medical community refers to as adverse drug reaction (or ADR), which even in the most benign circumstances can limit the effectiveness of one or more medications resulting in a negative impact on an individual’s other health problems.

In more severe cases, the interaction of various drugs can cause physical complications requiring the victim to be hospitalized. As Baby Boomers, we may just be hitting our stride, but the realities of multiple medical conditions experienced by older people also means that many of us may be put on more and more medications as we age.

One of the major causes of polypharmacy can come as a result of seeing more than one doctor for our various ailments. Family doctors, emergency room physicians, medical specialists and outpatient clinics are all sources of medical prescriptions. If they don’t communicate – or, more to the point, if the patient doesn’t share the latest drug information with all of them – there can be a risk.

Any person who suffers from multiple chronic conditions requiring several individual medications will likely be seeing more than one doctor. The various prescription medications, as well as any over the counter (OTC) drugs, could have an impact on his or her overall health and well-being.

Avoiding the risks of polypharmacy is something we should all consider whenever a doctor or other medical professional prescribes medication for a condition. Experts in the field offer a number of warning signs that may indicate polypharmacy or the effects thereof. These may include one or more of the following common symptoms:

• Weight loss and/or loss of appetite
• Agitation
• Insomnia and trouble sleeping
• Depression or a marked lack of interest
• Confusion
• Incontinence
• Increase in appetite or thirst
• Loss of (or reduced) ability to do one’s normal everyday tasks

Anyone who believes that they or a loved one is suffering from one or more of the above-mentioned symptoms should get in to see their doctor immediately. Because the symptoms brought on by polypharmacy can also be caused by other medical problems, it is very important to have a qualified physician examine the patient to rule out any other, potentially life-threatening conditions. Furthermore, according to experts in the field, any person who is living in a long-term care facility or transitioning from the hospital to a nursing home should be considered at greater risk of polypharmacy-related issues.

Avoiding complications from polypharmacy may be as simple as making one’s doctors and pharmacists aware of all your meds.

It is critical to understand that while Polypharmacy is a serious problem for many people, it is also preventable. Most of us have it in our control to avoid such problems, by always keeping our family doctor and other specialists aware of what each other has prescribed.

Family members who accompany older parents or relatives to the doctor would be well advised to acquaint themselves with that individual’s regular medications, so that the information can be shared at the time of an examination or other medical visit.

Whether for yourself or a loved one, it is a good idea to create an easy to read list of each and every medication being taken and share that list with the family physician, medical specialists, gerontologist – any doctor who provides treatment – not to mention one’s local pharmacist. That list should include not only prescribed meds, but also OTC drugs and dietary supplements as well. Just as important, the list should be updated as often as necessary to keep it current and to share it with one’s doctors and pharmacy professionals.

Remembering those carefree days, filled with walking to and from school, having kickball games at recess, taking in the smells of hot lunches in the cafeteria and the sounds of rustling lunch bags and clanking Daniel Boone, Lost in Space and Barbie-themed lunch boxes, we had few if any concerns in the world.

Now, time can be a rather abstract concept to a grade school kid, but by fourth grade the calendar was a concrete thing to me; a tangible representation of the future, which I and my sisters would use to plan and contemplate distant, yet important events.

Some of the more important mileposts during our “kid-year” were those precious visits from our grandparents. Inevitably, once an arrival date had been established, we would keep count of the days until Nan and Pop would come into town for one of those longed-awaited visits. Usually coinciding with birthdays, holidays and, of course, summer vacation; those were the times for which we truly lived.

Taking the sleeper train from New York City into Detroit, my mother’s parents would pay our family a visit numerous times during the year. In turn, we all “paid” the price having tacitly agreed to sit still for what seemed like an eternity as we were subjected to our grandfather’s endless home movies and self-made travelogues (many of which we actually treasure now that he is gone).

A summertime fishing outing with my grandfather and friend, Eddie (center), at a nearby lake.

The payoff for us kids were those handful of day-long outings that our grandparents would take us on all around the Detroit area. Looking back on it – now as a grandpa myself – I realize how relieved our mother and father must surely have been when the reinforcements arrived and grabbed the three of us up to head off on any number of adventures around town. Being treated to some really fun spots, like the amusement park at Boblo Island on the Detroit River, Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village (now known collectively as “The Henry Ford”) and, in the warmer months, spending hours upon hours at a beachfront facility on a large local lake for some fresh-water swimming and aquatic hijinks.

In addition to those classic “large-scale” fun-time activities, we also tended to get carted off for breakfast and lunch quite frequently, mainly due to my grandfather’s love of food. As kids, we had no qualms when it came to eating out with our grandparents; as most anyone with kids will attest, a burger, hotdog or grilled cheese sandwich is usually a welcome respite for almost any child when the alternative at home is the dreaded fish sticks and veggies torture meal, especially when that fast-food fare was followed by a chaser of ice cream.

It has to be said that our grandparents were big fans of the then-ubiquitous Howard Johnson restaurants, found here in Michigan and throughout the U.S. in the 1950s and ‘60s.

Howard Johnson’s was THE place to go, not simply because there was one just down the road from our house, but because of our grandparents’ familiarity with the chain. Even AMC’s Mad Men dramatic series featured a visit to an East Coast HoJo’s restaurant and motor lodge during one episode, though it was hardly a high point for the series’ protagonist, Don Draper.

While the original Howard Johnsons is mostly just a faded memory, save for a few remaining locations, back then there were hundreds of locations, which our grandparents often took advantage of during their annual summer road trips all across these vast United States.

The always hospitable Howard Johnson restaurant, cozy in the winter and air conditioned in the summer, were also perfect for us as grandkids way back when. As Baby Boomers, and now grandparents ourselves, my wife and I are always on the lookout for something just as fun, if not more interesting, to share with our children’s children.

Many of our childhood memories bubbled to the surface when we ran across a quaint ‘50s-style diner during a recent trip to the Denver area. This distinctive venue was made all the more enjoyable when compared to the huge number of cookie-cutter eateries found on almost every street corner these days. In fact, it’s always a thrill to find a relatively unique family restaurant with a fun and child-friendly atmosphere that is also inviting to seniors and Boomers such as ourselves.

During that trip, my wife and I stopped into Gunther Toody’s, certainly one of those old-timey spots that brings to mind the light-hearted feel of the 1950s, replete with all the neon lights and sock hop music one could hope for. Add to this the fact that Gunther Toody’s food is delicious and the waitstaff pleasant and fun-loving; frankly it’s one of the best places to go for a morning meal with the kids and/or the grandchildren. Even when we’re on our own, Toody’s makes us smile just strolling up to the restaurant’s art deco-style white, red and chrome façade.

Fictitious patrolmen, Fred Gwynne and Joe E. Ross pose in a 1960’s publicity photo. (Courtesy of General Artists Corporation)

To some Boomers the restaurant’s name may seem oddly familiar, most especially to fans of the early ’60s TV sitcom, “Car 54 Where Are You?” For those who do not remember, the two actors in the show will certainly be familiar. Fred Gwynne, of “Munsters” fame, played Officer Francis Muldoon opposite Joe E. Ross as Officer Gunther Toody. The fictional pair drove the famous Patrol Car 54 for the Bronx precinct of the New York City Police Department as they fought crime, but mostly found themselves in all manner of comical situations. Ross’ short, stocky and slightly more dopey Officer Toody, who often blurted out, “Ooh! Ooh! Francis!” provided a humorous counterpoint to Gwynne’s taller, more vociferous Muldoon.

Just inside the front door, a rather relaxed Marilyn Monroe reminds patrons that the Big Bopper Special is only $2.99. Who could possibly resist?

Regardless of its name origin, the fare is fine at the 20-year-old Toody’s, which has more than a dozen locations in central Colorado including one we visited in Glendale, about 30 minutes from downtown Denver.

With breakfast specials, bottomless soups of the day, BLTs, fish plates and chicken dishes, not to mention burgers, meatloaf and tortillas, the menu is a big draw for adults and kids. But it’s the atmosphere where this venue stands out from many other family-type restaurants, at least in our book.

For those born in the late ‘40s to early ‘60s, the entire operation is a throwback to the days when teenagers regularly rocked around the clock and twisted the night away. Gunther Toody’s mid-century malt shop atmosphere is inviting and fun, especially for Boomers and others looking for a 1950’s-style family-friendly restaurant. Each of the wait staff goes by a nickname one might expect from the era of saddle shoes, poodle skirts and D.A. hair-dos. Our waitress, “Poopsie,” was ever jovial and quite accommodating, having treated our 3-year-old grandson to a small bowl of vanilla ice cream after nothing else seemed to do.

At the Denver location, guests are welcomed by a giant-sized reproduction of a Jerry Lee Lewis record, “Who Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” set into the tile floor.

On the walls and throughout the entire diner, one can find various bits of memorabilia from the ‘50s and ‘60s, while the sound system plays rock & roll favorites – and even a few lesser-known tunes – from artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, Frankie Valle, Mountain, and Sam and Dave.

Bright candy apple red and aqua-colored vinyl bench seats add to the festive mood and are extremely kid-friendly. At the Glendale location there is a ‘60s-era Triumph motorcycle that looks to be balancing on the wall dividing a row of booths, while in another section a late ‘50s blue Corvette floats in the center of a bar island; a perfect conversation piece for a fun setting like this.

The next time you’re traveling through Colorado, or staying over in Denver or the Colorado Springs area, you might consider paying them a visit. Whether you’re a dyed-in-the-wool rock & roll fan or just a hungry traveler looking for a fun eatery, one of Gunther Toody’s locations might just be up your alley.

Memorabilia peppers the interior of Gunther Toody’s. Our table had a non-working remote jukebox unit. Note orange juice in an actual glass.

Whether you go for the Big Bopper breakfast special or stop by on a whim for a burger and fries any other time of the day, memories abound for young-at-heart Boomers. And here at Gunther Toody’s, those Grammys and Grandpas toting along a curious preschooler or two will likely find that these restaurants provide a range of affordable meals (especially on Mondays when kids eat free!), as well as more than a few interesting pieces of the past to linger over. Who knows, it might even be the perfect opportunity for grandparents to show their young charges a little of what it was like when we Baby Boomers were growing up in America’s rock & roll heyday. Enjoy!

It’s safe to say that only a very few would have been completely blind-sided by this stunning discovery. And for those who may have passed out from the information, hopefully there are some smelling salts in your medicine chest….

So what of this latest development? Well, economists and other financial experts estimate that the average Boomer — that is, anyone born between 1946 and 1964 — is about $500K short on his or her retirement savings goal. In a nutshell, the outlook for many Baby Boomers and younger seniors seems quite dim when it comes to kicking back and enjoying their golden years. But perhaps you already knew that.

Many Would-be Retirees Now in Survival Mode

For a large number of people, staying in the workforce longer, but likely working just as hard as they did in their younger days, seems to be the standard course of action for those looking not only to shore up an ailing savings account, but also interested in plain old survival. But according to the experts, savings is not the only the issue; there’s debt out there, and apparently lots of it.

Really? It seems that promises of a comfortable and happy retirement for some have been replaced by doubt and misgivings.

That half-million-dollar figure — the average shortfall for the typical Baby Boomer — is based on a survey conducted by TD Ameritrade. It suggests that the Boomer generation has failed to maintain or build up its collective retirement fund over the years, and now push has come to shove. Of course, the near economic collapse of most of the civilized world may have played a large part of in the equation as well.

While the word on the street is that most seniors are just one medical calamity away from bankruptcy, knowing that a potential life crisis will result in one’s own personal economic meltdown is not making things any easier to deal with. As aging Boomers struggle to make up the difference in their retirement accounts, it only becomes more difficult to work for the money, as physical abilities and stamina begin to wane. In short, the deficit is not just financial; it can be physical and mental as well.

And waiting for those scant savings to grow is no solution, either. With expectations of savings growth sometimes rooted in a 1990s model, many Boomers assumed that seven-percent returns would continue ad infinitum. Under that old model, one could double his money every 10 years or so. Even with a five-percent interest rate, an investment of $20,000 would hit $100,000 before the quarter-century mark. But with current rates of return at less than one percent annually, it would take almost 100 years to see a doubling in one’s savings. Of course, at that point inflation would likely have eaten up most of the accumulated buying power.

Continued Increases in Personal Debt

One of the biggest hurdles for many Baby Boomers is fighting a growing mound of debt, say some experts. Based on a study out of the National Center For Policy Analysis, Baby Boomer spending habits have changed over the past couple decades, reflecting the desperate circumstances coming at them from all sides. For many Boomers, according to researchers, spending increased markedly in the area of education. Over the 20 years prior to 2010, education-related expenditures increased about 80 percent for those individuals aged 45 to 54 years old. This was much higher than for the next older age group (those between 55 and 64), who spent around 22 percent more when compared to 1990 levels.

What is interesting to note, is that in a time of decreasing incomes and meager returns on savings, the increase in the cost of healthcare (spending on which jumped 20 to 30 percent depending on the particular age group), as well as higher education, has outstripped that of personal income over the past 20 years. Experts suggest that a large part of Boomers’ growing retirement problems stems from the fact that many people have borrowed to pay for escalating healthcare and educational expenses. This seems to have been confirmed by data from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), which indicates that overall debt for those retirees 75+ has been on the rise; fueled, some suggest, by increasing healthcare costs.

On a more basic level (though how much more basic can the need for healthcare be?), just consider that many older Americans have cut back extensively in the area of shopping and eating out. Research has shown that outlays for food and groceries — including dining-out expenses — dropped almost 20 percent on average for those aged 45 to 64. Clothing (down more than 50 percent) and home furnishing expenditures (down by at least 25 percent) were off as well for this expanded 45-to-64 age group.

Sadly, thanks to a near-perfect storm of world economic crisis and crashing home values, many Boomers are having to do what they swore to avoid: rely on Social Security benefits almost entirely for their income in retirement. Even with the average monthly Social Security check amounting to just $1,230, a remarkable 74 percent of those polled told researchers at TD Ameritrade that they likely will be hanging a great deal of their financial future on those Social Security payments.

Of course, it’s difficult to tell just how badly Boomers and other seniors will need that Social Security check going forward, since so many people are simply delaying their retirement plans in favor of continuing to work way past 65. According to the latest U.S. Census data, the percentage of those individuals 65+ who choose to stay in the workforce has risen over the past 20 years by about one third — from 12 percent in 1990 to 16 percent in 2010.

Living Longer: Blessing or Curse?

The pursuit of a longer life has fascinated people for centuries, but as we are already experiencing, the relatively rapid strides in medicine and overall improvement in personal health over the past several decades may not be as welcome a development as many have imagined in the past; instead, a longer-lived population may be outstripping society’s ability to plan for and maintain a relatively stable economic future for everyone. Certainly, the idea of retiring at age 65 — once considered a significant milepost toward the end of what was once considered a long life — is fast becoming as old-fashioned a notion as rotary-dial telephones and tube-type TVs.

Something that will likely stick with us into the future is the debt problems experienced by older Americans. According to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), an organization that assists individuals who are in serious financial problems with their bills, out of that group’s three million clients from all around the U.S., more than 30 percent were at least 55 years old in 2012, and that figure was up almost 30 percent from two years prior; furthermore, about 15 percent of NFCC clients were already past the 65-year-old mark.

With less free cash available, Baby Boomers and other retirees are buying more frequently on credit, say financial experts.

With many seniors and Baby Boomers heading into retirement and still carrying what could be termed an unhealthy amount of debt — mortgages, credit card balances, and outstanding student loans, for example — it’s a fair bet that there will be more changes in the retirement landscape before long. A survey by the AARP showed that average credit card debt among those over 50 was a heady $8,248, and worse, close to half of those polled said that they had been contacted by debt collectors regarding payments in arrears.

Add to all this information the fact that most workers, according to the EBRI, currently have virtually no savings or investments of any kind, and that more than one-third fully believe that they will not be retiring until after 65 years of age. And while this may be the future, turning the current retiree debt trend around could take decades. Since there don’t seem to be any simple answers, we may indeed see more and more older people working well into their 60s and 70s. It could easily become the new normal… and sooner than anyone might think.

Retirement Living: Debt holds many Boomers back; USAToday.com; February 8, 2013

For most Americans, both old and young, a great deal of value is placed on the freedom of movement provided by that indispensable and ever-present appliance: the automobile. Over the past century, personal transportation has become a ubiquitous part of our lives, yet we often forget how tenuous our use of these time-saving machines truly can be. Apart from those who live in metropolitan areas blessed with an extensive and well-maintained public transportation infrastructure, it’s a fair bet that a driver’s license and good working car are indispensable components of a free and unfettered lifestyle.

Driving oneself into old age has been an elusive luxury to many in past generations. This may change drastically for Boomers and future generations of senior citizens.

For those without the means to own, or the ability or training to drive a motor vehicle, getting from point A to Point B — or anywhere in between — can certainly be a major challenge; and while some elderly drivers can still be found on the road well into their 80s, many others can find themselves unable or legally prevented from operating their own automobile. In fact, many Baby Boomers may already have found that their own parents or other family members are no longer able to drive themselves. In such cases, except for those who can walk or ride public transportation, one of the only solutions is to hitch a ride with relatives or younger friends.

No doubt, seeing one’s parents being slowly nudged out of the driver’s seat has made many Boomers think about their own future from the standpoint of personal mobility. The idea of being forced into the role of passenger can make even the most independent senior citizen reconsider his or her ability to navigate life in the not-so-distant future. Forget, for a moment, about the actual imposition on the time and energy of others; but just knowing that one must rely on another’s help for visits to the doctor’s office, shopping trips and other necessary outings can weigh heavily on some people’s minds.

As part of the huge Boomer population — and living as we do in an area where automobiles are not just a convenience but a necessity of daily life — we fully understand how most Americans have grown up with a very strong affinity for driving themselves to and fro. The mere thought of losing our individual mobility, even for short time, can cause great concern among those aging Boomers and soon-to-be senior citizens. But, there may be a light at the end of that tunnel, if what we’ve read actually comes to pass.

For aging seniors, looking back longingly to the days when they had more automotive freedom may itself become a thing of the past.

The fear of being relegated to the passenger seat — driven by and beholden to friends and family for even the most basic of daily tasks — could be relieved to a great extent if progress in the development of automated, driver-less automobiles remains on pace, as has been suggested, for the next decade or so. Amazingly, the potential for mass-produced autonomous autos could effectively extend the mobility period for aging Baby Boomers well beyond what we have seen to date.

Imagine a future in which one walks out to his or her own vehicle, steps into the driver’s seat and rather than placing the vehicle in gear and steering into the street, one simply tells the car where to go. Already, we have seen major advances in driver-assisted functions such as self-parking and stability control, but could fully-automatic operation really be on the horizon for Boomers? It appears so.

Take, for instance, an article published a while back in U.S. News and World Report describing a scenario where Boomers could hang on to their car keys and never have to worry about losing their driving independence due to ensuing physical limitations. It’s very possible that the physical problems and medical conditions, which long ago may have sidelined our parents and grandparents, could soon present little challenge, if any at all, in terms of personal transportation.

It’s been suggested that Baby Boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, may be the first to enjoy the benefits of autonomous, computer-driven vehicles. Sound impossible? Maybe not. As of last September, California joined Nevada and Florida as the first three states to legalize the use of self-driving motor vehicles. It would appear that giving up one’s mobility due to age-related limitations may soon be a thing of the past. But what would it be like to be chauffeured around town by a computer in an essentially driver-less car?

A driver-less VW waits at an intersection as a second autonomous vehicle passes during the 2007 “Urban Challenge,” the third in a series of competitions sponsored by the U.S. Government’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

Before we address that question, consider what the term “driverless” really entails. Whether you call it computer-controlled, autonomous, automated, or self-driving, a driverless car is a motor vehicle that is outfitted so that an on-board computer — relying on information collected by video cameras, laser scanners and other sensors, plus various inputs from the driver/passenger (such as destination and intermediate stops) — can provide some or all of the driving functions normally performed by a human being.

For anyone worried about the safety of so-called “driverless vehicles,” the internet search giant, Google, has been operating a number of autonomous fleet vehicles or several years now, reportedly logging more than 300,000 miles without a reported incident since initiating road testing back in 2010.

Although autonomous motor vehicles have yet to be made available to the general public, it has also been reported that many large automobile manufacturers are running some level development in-house. The U.S. Government has been encouraging civilain and military research in this area for at least a decade, most publically through its Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and its various on- and off-road autonomous vehicle competitions.

As can be the case with most new technologies and advanced prototype development, cost is prohibitive with these early self-driven cars. According to news reports, the high-tech laser scanner that acts as the computer’s “eyes” on Google’s test vehicles alone costs around $70,000. Nevertheless, the potential for production cars with autonomous capability is likely high and Boomers may find themselves one of the first groups who will benefit from this technology in the foreseeable future.

Anyone who thinks that autonomy in the automotive world is too far off to get excited about should consider the various individual achievements that many motorists have already enjoyed for years. These enhancements, not the least of which are the now-common anti-lock braking systems (ABS has been available since the 1980s) and the relatively more recent vehicle stability controls, both of which help a driver to maintain control of his or her vehicles under difficult circumstances. Many of these active vehicle systems can react faster than even a professional race driver, not to mention the average motorist.

The Audi TTS autonomous race car, which traveled sans-driver up the Pikes Peak Hill Climb course in 2010, provides glimpse of into the future of autonomous production vehicles.

In addition to ABS, traction control, and stability control, other features making up the vanguard of the driver-less age include crash-mitigation systems. One such system has the ability to constantly monitor the vehicle’s surroundings and can signal the driver and/or other vehicle safety systems when the danger of a collision danger is present, thus minimizing the chances of a crash and reducing the possibility of injuries to vehicle occupants.

A lesser, yet arguably important feature is the drowsy-driver monitoring system that warns a motorist, who may be nodding off, to be more attentive to the task at hand. And, not to be forgotten, there are the various back-up monitoring systems that can detect people and obstacles located behind a vehicle; by providing a driver with a second set of electronic eyes, this type of warning system can signal the driver of an impending collision with an unseen object behind the vehicle.

Some other useful features that can assist older drivers, or those with physical limitations, include blind-spot and lane-departure warning systems; so-called “smart headlight” systems that can adjust the range and intensity of headlamp beams in accordance with nearby traffic to maintain a balance between nighttime visibility and headlight glare for any on-coming vehicles; as well as parking-assist, which contributes to a reduction in driver stress and allows motorists to park more easily in places they might otherwise not choose.

Another current technology that will likely find a place in future autonomous vehicles are the now rather common emergency response systems (such as that included with General Motors’ OnStar service), which can call for assistance from police or EMS personnel if a vehicle that has been involved in an accident. Even relatively common voice-activated vehicle systems have a place in the future of autonomous motoring.

One of the more common concerns among drivers 50 years and older involves reduced night vision capability when operating a vehicle during the evening hours. In fact, a survey by Hartford insurance company determined that nearly a quarter of all 50+ drivers worry about operating a car after dusk. This concern was followed closely by several others, all weighted about equally, including worries from distractions such as music and cellphones, (13pct), changing lanes (12pct) and merging into expressway traffic (12pct).

What all of this means is that driverless vehicles may be able to alleviate the numerous drawbacks that make driving for seniors more of a chore, and sometimes even an impossibility. With the pace of development, it’s possible according to some that Baby Boomers will be the first group to enjoy “independent” motoring well into old age, even if independence means relying on an electronic chauffer to get us to the restaurant for our 100th birthday party. In that case, our most troubling concern might actually be deciding the color in which we will order our new autonomous car.

What we’re getting at here is reflected in recent news articles that indicate many health insurance companies plan to raise customer premiums by a significant amount this year; significant as in upward of 20 percent or more in some cases. According to reports, the increases may be seen all across the United States as insurers seek to raise premium rates for many of their current policyholders. If the so-called fiscal cliff sent chills up the spines of most people, not to mention small business owners, these anticipated insurance hikes could be even worse.

Rising health insurance premiums may cause seniors and Boomers alike to juggle their finances even more.

Of those who would be the most greatly affected by any rate increases, financial experts suggest that small business owners and those individuals who do not have an employer-provided insurance plan may be the most vulnerable. Considering that rate hike percentages in some areas of the country will be in the double-digits, this is nothing to sneeze at, especially if that sneeze leads to a doctor visit in the near future.

Examples of the coming onslaught of higher health insurance premiums include consumers in the state of California, namely those who are insured with Aetna, Blue Shield of California, or Anthem Blue Cross, the latter of which is seeking a whopping 26 percent rate hike for certain of its policyholders. For many people who pay for their own insurance the threatened increases could equate to several hundred dollars extra a month.

Individuals who buy their own health insurance will likely see the biggest premuim hikes, depending on where they live.

Even those Baby Boomers who have company-provided health plans will likely still see a decrease in their take-home pay; although employers are expected to absorb a fair amount of any increase, many workers could find their premiums rising by about four percent. So, never mind that “awful” two-percent increase in social security taxes now that the payroll tax holiday is over and done with, the expected increase in health insurance premiums could treble that amount, depending on what insurance carrier your employer uses.

Of course, under federal health care law, regulators are required to review requests from insurance companies for rate increases greater than or equal to 10 percent. For anyone interested in seeing what the future may hold, you can visit healthcare.gov for a list of requests, as well as regulators’ evaluations of same.

Apparently, there is a distinct difference in the proposed rate increases on a state-by-state basis. For example, according to news reports, consumers in states such as New York, which is one of nearly three dozen where state legislators have handed insurance regulators a modicum of authority to either deny or dial down any increases that are considered excessive, may see fewer and less extreme rate adjustment requests than those who live in states that have not given regulators better control, such as California.

In New York State, for instance, regulators have acted to keep rate increases for the 2013 calendar year in the under-10-percent range for individual policyholders as well as small-business customers. This is in stark contrast to the situation in California where regulators can only review rate requests for technical errors, but have no power to deny increases from insurers in any meaningful way.

The sad part of all of this would appear to be that despite the reported evidence that the rate of healthcare costs in general have tapered off in recent years; affected by the continued weak economic environment, individuals and families have put off medical treatment, elective surgeries and the like, which has affected medical costs overall causing annual increases only in the single digits.

Yet, the reported double-digit rate requests in some areas are coming in spite of the fact that PricewaterhouseCoopers, well-respected consultants serving business and industry, have estimated that healthcare costs may increase less than eight percent in the coming year. With an anticipated increase in healthcare costs of about 7.5 percent, it’s hard to reconcile the 20- to 26-percent jumps that some Boomers and other seniors on fixed incomes may experience soon.

Of course, the health insurance industry has responded to many critics’ comments saying that medical expenses for some policyholders are increasing at a faster rate than the general population as a whole and implying, essentially, that some individuals are in a “sicker” group than the rest of the country.

This would seem to be a problem for people buying their own insurance in states like California. Contrast the expected double-digit increases on the West Coast with the situation in New York. Regulators in the Empire State reportedly denied health insurers’ average rate increase request of about 9.5 percent for individual policies, granting only a 4.5-percent increase on average, according to news articles. For those in the small group market, New York regulators asked for 15.8 percent yet regulators allowed only 9.6 percent, on average.

Nationwide, there have still been large jumps in rates for individuals, though not every request has resulted in exactly what the insurer asked for. Based on reports citing a federal analysis of the insurance industry’s rate requests, more than one-third of the requests increases of 10-percent or greater were deemed reasonable by regulators. Of the remaining two-thirds, insurance companies withdrew 12 percent of the request submissions, they modified 26 percent and another 26 percent were determined to be unreasonable.

Not surprisingly, at least from the cynics’ point of view, consumer advocates have already chimed in, stating that those areas where regulators have no real power to deny insurance rate requests, the insurance companies have reportedly taken advantage of the situation and charged what the local regulators believe were unreasonable rate increases.

As we’ve already said, Baby Boomers who are still working may be in better shape than those who have already retired and are facing a possibly huge increase in their monthly outlay for health insurance coverage. But even so, with the return to a full-strength payroll tax, plus the potential of a premium increase, it would appear then even working Boomers won’t be able to rely on even a modest cost of living allowance to help keep their income in balance with the rest of the economy. Again, we have to ask ourselves, how often can something like this occur before things get even worse for fixed-income seniors and soon-to-be retired Baby Boomers?

Health insurers raise some rates by double digits, MSN.com, January 6, 2013

The cold antiseptic doctor’s examination room; not always a comfortable venue. Perhaps better to imagine it as a (preventive) maintenance bay for humans.

Perhaps I should rephrase. Like many young men, I NEVER visited the doctor; not, at least, until I met my future wife and she began inquiring on all manner of embarrassing topics. Even during our first few months of dating, the ever-cautious Mary Ellen asked a LOT of questions, all across the board. But what embarrassed me most was admitting that I had gone nearly two decades without ever having seen a doctor; not once. Shocking, right? Yes, but probably not atypical.

Actually, it’s not quite true that I never saw any medical professional during those years. I’ve always been big on dental health (with thanks to Drs. Noonan and Alderisio), so semi-annual dental check-ups were not part of my avoidance MO, probably because I’ve never been prone to tooth decay. But when it came to internal medicine — general practitioners, ENTs, gastroenterologists, and all of those other helpful doctoring types — never once in more than 19 years did I feel the chill of a cold stethoscope upon my skin.

The fount of all medical wisdom… a teenage me. Bent on avoiding needles, pain of any kind, and standing naked in a cold doctor’s office.

I can only chalk up that abysmal record to something I remembered hearing as an impressionable teenager. As I recall, someone in a position of great authority (read: any adult at the time) must have said that as a young man, unless one has something seriously wrong going on with himself, you don’t really need to see a doctor all that much. Not sure from where or when that piece of advice came, but it was music to my 15-year-old ears: What, no doctor visits required?!?  You betcha, that’s the regimen for me. Just stay healthy, boy!

But then into my life walked Mary Ellen — a mother and a former wife — who wasn’t at all impressed by my medical acumen. “What!” she exclaimed from across the dinner table, “you haven’t been to the doctor in how long???” That was on our second date, in a café down the street from my house. This wasn’t exactly how I imagined things would pan out during our courtship, but then again, there were many things I imagined that never came to fruition.

Not wanting to appear totally out of touch, I held my ground while using my best diplomatic approach. “Well, it’s not like I’m diseased, or anything like that,” I whispered back in an attempt to suggest a more discrete tone for the benefit of the other diners. “Frankly, I’m pretty healthy, if I do say so my damn self.” But she wasn’t buying any of it. Sure, I was still breathing after 35 years on the planet, I certainly wasn’t overweight, and I could do 100 sit-ups before breakfast; but with a non-existent medical track record from my junior year in high school onward, there was nothing that I could say which would provide any measure of reassurance to her.

It’s a long road to retirement and maintaining one’s good health is a valuable part of the equation.

And this is one of the more common differences between young adults and the more seasoned ones; our priorities as we get older somehow shift from having a good time to making sure we simply have time. Staying healthy is a huge part of that equation. Just ask my wife.

In the back of my mind, that day at the café, all I could think was, ‘What knowledge could this woman possibly possess that my teenage self from 20 years earlier didn’t already know?’ Facts? Maybe. Prior experience raising and caring for a family? Okay, probably. It appeared that as a single, never-married, 30-something male, I had virtually no leg to stand on, even though the two I had been using seemed to have served me pretty well up to that point.

Now, after 15-plus years of marriage, I better understand what my wife was getting at that day. Seeing a doctor is not something you do only when you feel sick. It’s simply good maintenance. Like owning a car; why wait for a problem to crop up when you know you’ll be needing the thing to get to work next week?

Of course, as we get older it’s always a wise idea to have an unbiased opinion from someone who actually studied medicine, at a university. Having a professional’s advice to fall back on is a good thing. This is why, from that second date forward, I have always gone in for an annual physical, and all the attendant tests and prodding which go along with it. I highly recommended it.

All this is meant to remind folks that staying healthy is an active process, which brings me to something that we ran across the other day concerning senior citizens and their general health. That is, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there may be almost one million people walking around the U.S. with hepatitis C who don’t even know they have it. But how could this affect us?

Apparently Baby Boomers are the one group who could be largely affected by this announcement. Based on an article on WebMD.com, one out of every 30 persons born between 1945 and 1965, inclusive, has more than likely been infected with hepatitis C. What’s more shocking than this simple statement is that most of those infected probably have no inkling that they carry this serious and potentially life-threatening disease.

Like the so-called silent killer that is high blood pressure, hep C can and does go undetected for years in a person without the individual ever exhibiting outward symptoms. But untreated, the consequences of this disease can be truly serious and result in a variety of liver-related diseases, including cancer. Moreover, it’s important to understand that hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver transplants in this country.

Liver tissue sample indicating alcohol-related hepatitis with fatty change and cell necrosis.

According to experts at the CDC, about 75 percent of all hep C infections and a similar percentage of hepatitis C-related deaths happen to Baby Boomers. In fact, based on medical statistics seniors are five times more likely to be infected with hepatitis C than any other group in the United States. That’s sobering news and something that every Baby Boomer should take into account when next they visit their family doctor.

This information provides more ammunition to senior citizen health advocates. In addition to prior guidelines that strongly recommend those at high risk of contracting hepatitis C be tested as soon as possible, Baby Boomers have now been added to the top of the list of individuals who are at the greatest risk. This change in the guidelines, according to the article, could ultimately result in another 800,000 people being identified as carrying hepatitis C in the U.S.

Blood-borne diseases are not only a threat to the general public, but pose significant danger to healthcare professionals through their daily activites.

This would add to the estimated 130 to 170 million people worldwide who are infected with hepatitis C. Here in the U.S., approximately two percent of the population has the disease, with many of those people having been infected via blood transfusions prior to the 1990s, when improved blood screening methods were implemented. The existence of what was originally referred to as “non-A, non-B hepatitis” was proven relatively recently, in 1989. Typically spread by blood-to-blood contact, other avenues for transmission include intravenous drug use, poorly sterilized medical equipment and even tattooing instruments and inks.

Because of the seriousness of the disease and its implications for Baby Boomers, understanding the possible causes of infection may help people determine if they are at risk. Some of the more common risk factors are:

• History of blood transfusions or exposure to other blood products
• Having an organ transplant before widespread use of screening procedures
• Long-term dialysis treatments
• Exposure to others with hepatitis C in a healthcare setting
• Children born to mothers with hep C
• Having received tattoos or piercings with non-sterile instruments
• Intravenous drug use

Because the virus can survive literally for decades in a person’s body without outward symptoms, it’s all the more important for seniors to be checked out. The longevity of the virus is especially troublesome for many experts, because those individuals carrying it may simply not remember the specific event that may have caused the infection.

Everyone concerned about this should do their own research, but the bottom line is the sooner one is tested the sooner he or she can get treatment. Especially good advice for those looking to protect themselves from a potentially deadly disease, as well as helping to protect those they love. What are some of the things you can do if you test positive for hep C? The experts offer the following advice:

• Avoid certain medications that affect the liver
• Avoid alcoholic beverages
• Lose weight
• Quit smoking
• Get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B
• Pursue new therapies that can cure up to three-quarters of hep C infections

Combined with early diagnosis through expanded testing, appropriate care and medical treatment of those infected with hepatitis C could save more than 100,000 lives, according to the CDC. As adults, we all owe it to ourselves and our families to be as healthy and robust as we can. And why not? Someone has to help those younger folks understand the importance of good health maintenance and not simply to rely on luck and good genes. Stay well, Everyone!

CDC: All Baby Boomers Should Get Tested for Hepatitis C, WebMD.com, August 16, 2012

With Medicare alone, covered medical procedures can still hit seniors with some hefty out-of-pocket expenses.

For those born before 1948, who are already taking advantage of Medicare, you have probably learned either through trial-and-error or dogged research and investigation that filling the gaps in government-provided medical insurance can be costly, not only in terms of premiums for Medicare advantage and supplemental plans, but also in terms of co-pays or direct costs that non-covered procedures can result in.

The good news, at least for those yet to enter the realm of the Medicare labyrinth is that enough people are clamoring for facts at the same time that there is more than sufficient information available; one just has to make a concerted effort to begin the search.

But getting back to our original thought — that of how to pay for premiums, co-pays and out-of-pocket expenses — this is something that is obviously keeping a lot of seniors and soon-to-be seniors awake at night. As if it wasn’t hard enough to get a good night’s sleep, what with all those midnight trips to the bathroom, persistent hot flashes, and concerns over the next generation’s ability to make their own ends meet, the cost of staying healthier longer is certainly weighing on a lot of people.

Considering the many and varied concerns that are likely floating around in people’s heads, it’s difficult to address any one issue that is tops on everyone’s list. But there are overarching topics to keep in mind as one moves headlong toward the future. Not the least of these is how to transition to Medicare from a private healthcare insurer. Fortunately for many, the time to decide what to do is buffered by an extended initial sign-up period.

Medicare combined with an advantage or supplemental plan can help Boomers and other seniors be prepared for unexpected medical emergencies.

Experts suggest that future Medicare participants start thinking about signing up for Medicare and any Medigap or supplemental plans about six months before one’s 65th birthday. Although this may seem like a long time, it’s not advisable to put off your research in this area. As any Boomer can tell you, whether you’re retired or getting ready for it, already a grandparent or still watching the kids enjoy their single lives, time flies and six months can seem to evaporate in the blink of an eye.

Starting to plan early is always advantageous, especially considering the typical life events that can intervene at just the wrong moment. For those who need a concrete reason to plan early and make the right decisions consider that the National Council on Aging has stated that individuals on Medicare spend about triple their out-of pocket healthcare expenses versus when they were “privately” insured. In fact, when compared to non-Medicare households, Boomers were spending almost 15 percent of their income on medical costs versus less than five percent for those on private, pre-Medicare insurance.

As part of planning ahead for increased medical-related costs, budgeting for future eye and dental care is important; Medicare does not provide coverage in these areas, which can turn out to be expensive for seniors if they have to pay for everything themselves because their supplemental insurance policies don’t offer complete or only partial coverage.

Plan ahead. Medical costs are expected to keep rising at rates exceeding typical cost of living percentages.

If the foregoing tells us anything, it’s that Baby Boomers getting closer to retirement should seriously consider establishing a plan to pay for their future healthcare costs once Medicare kicks in. This may explain why certain polls of individuals nationwide showed that about half of all Americans are either very concerned or extremely worried about how they are going to pay for medical costs once they reach retirement.

Taking the seriousness of the situation into account, it is advisable for future participants that they sign up for Medicare with sufficient time to prepare themselves for the transition. As mentioned previously, the government makes this fairly painless by providing first-timers with a seven-month window. For 64-year-olds, this means the three months prior to one’s birth month, the month they turn 65, then the three months following. Of course, there’s always a catch, and although people get a wide window in which to enroll, those who wait and enroll late will be subject to penalties including having benefits postponed until July 1.

If signing up for the actual Medicare coverage is of primary concern, making certain that one chooses the right supplemental insurance comes right on the heals of the first. Since Medicare doesn’t cover everything, as we’ve said, most people will want to purchase a supplemental policy (like Medigap or Medicare Advantage) to cover what the government plan does not. Many states, such as Florida, which has a large concentration of senior citizens, offer a number of different policies from which to choose. This may complicate matters a bit, but one could say that it is better to have a misery of choice when it comes to healthcare.

One thing that everyone, old or young, can do for themselves is to work on improving their health habits before reaching a more advanced age. For many people, the most cost-effective course of action is to stay healthy. Not having to spend time in a doctor’s office, or worse, a hospital emergency room in the future could be as easy as eating right now and exercising, even moderately. For older folks, many experts suggest keeping a regular eye out for that so-called silent killer, high blood pressure, while adding that monitoring the progress of previously encountered health conditions, such as skin cancer, can go a long way to preventing expensive and potentially life-threatening situations later on.

A devilish band plays a suprisingly happy tune.

Dedicated to the remembrance of friends and relatives who have passed from this life, Dia de los Muertos is considered a mainly Mexican holiday, yet the day itself (actually November 1st and 2nd) is perhaps better known to Roman Catholics as All Saints’ Day or All Souls’ Day. For the population of Mexican Town here in southeastern Michigan, as well as other Mexican and Spanish-speaking areas around the country, this holiday provides an opportunity for family members, neighbors and others in these close-knit communities to share in the prayer and memory of those dearly departed.

A national holiday in Mexico, the tradition of Dia de los Muertos entails the creation of shrines and altars honoring the dead, on and around which offerings (“ofrenda”)

Dia de los Muertos altar decorated with ofrenda.

of food, drink and other items are placed. Of these presentations, there may include small sugar-based representations of skulls, as well as special loaves of bread and arrangements of marigolds. Also included are usually some of the deceased’s favorite foods, beverages and even personal articles left behind with friends and relatives. Many times, these and other offerings are brought to the deceased’s graveside as well. For our part, we enjoy the relative joyous nature of the day, which mixes a love of life with the somber memory of those who have moved on to a greater reward. Small figurines can also be found peppering the altars. The photo at the beginning of this article illustrates one type of Day of the Dead art, in this case a six-inch wide glassed-in diorama featuring a band of demon mariachi musicians.

“To have an uncle such as this!”

Often one will see these small shadow boxes populated by clothed skeletons and set in what can be described as typical scenes from daily life. Many of them are humorous in nature, poking fun at the human condition, not the least of which is sex and politics, but they can also include work, play and more fantastic situations.

It has been said that the modern celebrations of Dia de los Muertos trace their roots back to the Aztec festival devoted to Mictecacihuatl, also known as the Queen of Mictlan, who according to legend ruled the underworld alongside her husband. Mictecacihuatl’s role, per the legend, was to look after the bones of the dead. She was said to preside over ancient festivals honoring and celebrating the dead, all of which eventually merged with more modern Spanish and Mexican traditions leading to the current observance of Dia de los Muertos.

Over the centuries, the holiday diffused across the globe, being adopted by numerous cultures in various geographical regions such as Spain and Brazil, as well as throughout many Asian and African countries. According to scholars, the modern day festival celebrated in Mexico originally fell within the ninth month of the Aztec calendar; those early celebrations, which were dedicated to the “Lady of the Dead,” lasted for weeks on end. The current Day of the Dead holiday is, to say the least, much more streamlined and serves to remind us that life is not just reserved for the living.