October 2006 Vol. 25. No. 10

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Reading Service of the Redwoods Volunteers
Medicare Rx: October dates can affect prescription plans
California's Universal Health Care - could it have worked?
Senior Aqua Aerobics: A new group likes getting all wet
Del Norte STRONG classes
McKinleyville - Health services at the senior center
Fortuna-Feeling dizzy? Feeling tired? Maybe it's your pills
Diabetes and obesity: a modern day epidemic
Senior softball: World champ gets his ring

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Days are getting shorter and the weather is starting to cool, and with fall come many heath issues - flus and colds among them. At the McKinleyville Senior Center we have many programs designed to assist seniors in staying healthy.

Flu shots

One such program is the Flu Immunization Program. This is funded by the California Department of Health Services. Registered Nurse Susan Wardrip is the immunization coordinator for the Humboldt County Public Health Branch.

This program is designed to help seniors age 60 and older get their yearly flu vaccinations. If you are under the age of 60 you must be an at-risk patient (asthma, diabetes, heart condition) and have a prescription from your doctor.

Starting in October Susan and her team will be at many locations vaccinating seniors. They ask for a $7 donation for the shots, or they are able to bill Medicare if you are covered. Check with your local center for the dates and times nearest you. The McKinleyville Senior Center will have two flu shot clinics in November.

Senior health clinics

One service that I have written about previously are the Public Health Branch's senior health clinics. If you are age 50 or older this program will provide you with a one-hour comprehensive health assessment with a public health nurse. This is a free service and is not based on your income. Even if you have a doctor, the services can include hearing screening, blood pressure measurement, blood testing for diabetes and anemia, review of health history, update on immunizations, screening for skin and oral cancer, vision and hearing screening, nutrition assessment as well as discussing and formulating a personalized heath plan for each person.

To use this service call 268-2107 and ask for an appointment at the senior center closest to you. At the McKinleyville Senior Center our clinics are the first and third Mondays of the month. This service could save your life.

Check the meds you take

A new free service offered in Humboldt County is the Brown Bag Medication Day. To use this service you simply put all your prescription medications, vitamins, supplements and anything else you take in a bag and take it to the center nearest you at a specified date and time. It takes about 30 minutes per person.

Staff from the Kris Kelly Health Information Center, a collaborative project with St. Joseph Health System and the Humboldt County Library, will check out all your medications using reference materials and Internet databases. One of the things they check for is to see if there could be a dangerous drug interaction with any of the medications you are taking. If anything is discovered you will be advised to take the information to your physician.

Often we do not think an over-the-counter product we are taking could cause a problem. After all, it must be safe. It is safe by itself, but it many not be so safe mixed with the other medications we are taking.

Did you know that the fifth leading cause of death among seniors is medications? If this has not convinced you to use this program, here is something else to think about. A person taking five medications has a 50 percent chance of experiencing an adverse reaction. For a patient taking eight medications, the risk rises to 90 percent.

At the McKinleyville Senior Center we will offer the Brown Bag Medication Day on the third Wednesday of the month by appointment only. Please call us at 839-0191 to make appointment at our center.

Work that body

We have many wonderful exercise programs to help keep you fit and healthy, including T'ai Chi, Osteo X, Chair Pilates, Yoga, Folk Dance and Acupressure. Check our schedule on pages 10 and 11.