Uncategorized Archives - Hearthstone Assisted Living

Healthcare News State and National Efforts to Lower Prescription Drug Costs

February 26, 2020 Herb

Last month, Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation (A2431) to limit out-of-pocket prescription drug expenses for New Jersey families. The bill, which requires health insurers to provide plans that limit patient cost-sharing concerning prescription drug coverage, will improve affordability and access for those who require necessary medication. “Few issues have a greater financial impact on New Jersey families than the unpredictable and ever-increasing cost of prescription drugs,” said Governor Murphy in a Jan. 21 statement announcing the new law. “Cost-sharing too often presents a barrier to a patient’s ability to access medically-necessary treatments. This legislation will improve the affordability of medical care…

Healthcare News New Report Says, for a Healthy Brain, Take Care of Your Heart

February 20, 2020 Herb

Researchers say that heart and brain health are connecting and that improving your cardiovascular health reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. A recently released report, “The Brain-Heart Connection,” released by the Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH), summarizes the strongest research on this topic and offers practical lifestyle tips people can take to protect their heart and brain health. Brain Health Photo Credit: National Institute on Aging The researchers noted that cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and diabetes, are known to be harmful to the brain. The more…

Healthcare News Poll Finds Many Older Women Can’t Afford Health Care, Skip Care Due to Cost

January 30, 2020 Herb

With the Iowa Caucuses fast approach, the Washington, DC-based AARP releases the findings of a poll, conducted by The Harris Poll that finds that health Care is considered a key issue for Iowa women over age 50 and over. This survey was conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of AARP from Dec. 5 to Dec. 25, 2019 among 1,001 age 50-plus, self-identified registered women voters in Iowa. Paying for Care Photo Credit: National Institute on Aging According to the survey 48 percent of older women voters, including 57 percent of Democrats, rank health care as…

Uncategorized Movies for Grownups® Awards Premiering Sunday, January 19 on PBS

January 15, 2020 Herb

Following on the heels of the Jan. 5 award ceremony of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the recent 2020 Oscar nominations, AARP premieres Great Performances: Movies for Grownups® Awards with AARP The Magazine nationwide, on Sunday, January 19 at 6 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings) and will be available to stream the following day on pbs.org/moviesforgrownups and the PBS Video app. Movies for Grownups with AARP Magazine Photo Credit: Thirteen.org Hosted by iconic stage and screen performer Tony Danza, the following mega-stars are expected to walk the red carpet: Alan Alda, Pedro Almodóvar, Noah Baumbach, Warren Beatty, Annette Bening,…

Uncategorized The Best Movies for Grownups to be Honored at the Annual Awards on January 11, 2019

November 28, 2019 Herb

AARP The Magazine today announced on Nov. 26 the nominees for the upcoming 19th Annual Movies for Grownups® Awards, with A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Bombshell, Little Women, Marriage Story, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Farewell, The Irishman, and The Two Popes contending for Best Picture/Best Movie for Grownups category. For nearly two decades, AARP’s MFG program has championed movies for grownups, by grownups, by advocating for the 50-plus audience, fighting industry ageism, and encouraging films that resonate with older viewers. Annette Bening will receive the esteemed Movies for Grownups® Career Achievement Award. Iconic and beloved screen and stage performer Tony Danza will host the star-studded evening at the Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills,…

Uncategorized Uncompensated Care Provided by NJ Caregivers is a Whopping $12.9 billion

November 20, 2019 Herb

In 2017, approximately 1.08 million unpaid New Jersey family caregivers provided an estimated 910 million hours of uncompensated care ($14.80 per hour)– worth a whopping $12.9 billion – to a parent, spouse, partner or friend, according to a recently released report in AARP’s Valuing the Invaluable series. Taking a Look at the Complexity of Caregiving The AARP Public Policy Institute Report, Valuing the Invaluable 2019 Update: Charting a Path Forward, explores the growing scope and complexity of caregiving, including an aging population, more family caregivers in the paid workforce, and the increasing amount of medical and nursing tasks entering the…

Uncategorized Ten Fun Facts About Halloween (That You May Not Have Known)

October 28, 2019 Herb

Just weeks ago, Karin Lehnardt, senior writer for the website, FactRetriever.com, updated a 2016 article she had penned to give us 56 Spooky Halloween Facts. Let’s take a look at some of the more interesting ones on her list. Not surprisingly, Halloween is the second highest grossing commercial holiday after Christmas. A survey found that 50 percent of children would like to be given chocolate candy when they Trick or Treat on Halloween, compared with 24 percent who prefer non-chocolate candy and 10 percent who preferred bubble gum. The first mention of trick-or-treating occurred in Blackie, Alberta, Canada in 1927….

Uncategorized New PSA Launched to Raise Awareness About Fraud Schemes Targeting Seniors

October 8, 2019 Herb

At an October 4 press conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Department of Justice and AARP joined the iconic country music country music supergroup, The Oak Ridge Boys, to raise the public’s awareness of fraud schemes targeting seniors by releasing a new public service announcement. “The Oak Ridge Boys are honored to bring awareness to elder fraud and abuse,” said Duane Allen of the Oak Ridge Boys. “For too long people have taken advantage of our senior citizens, and we are teaming up with the Department of Justice and the AARP Fraud Watch Network to help you and your loved ones…

Daily Dose of Inspiration! Can Using a Computer, Playing Crafts and Games, Slow or Prevent Age-Related Memory Loss?

September 17, 2019 Herb

Can mentally stimulating activities put the brakes on age-related memory loss. A new study, published in the July 10, 2019, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, has found that mentally stimulating activities like using a computer, playing games, crafting and participating in social activities are linked to a lower risk or delay of age-related memory loss called mild cognitive impairment, and that the timing and number of these activities may also play a role. Participating in Activities You Love Photo Credit: National Institute on Aging Mild cognitive impairment (MCI)…

Healthcare News The Many Benefits of Playing Bingo

August 18, 2019 Herb

“Bingo.” On any given day of the week you can hear this word yelled by seniors at assisted Living facilities throughout the country, who have all the required numbers, or “pattern” to win. It’s considered a game of change and its full play. It’s easy to play Bingo. A player must match numbers (one of 75) printed on a cardboard card which contains 25 squares arranged in five vertical columns and five side by side rows. The caller randomly draws a small wooden ball from a small cage and the players mark the picked number with a tile. When the…