As an active student of Cellular Response (CR) energy healing, I am also interested in other energy healing arts. A few years ago, a reiki practitioner volunteered her reiki healing to help me recover from an injury. More recently, I listened to Eva Arciszewski , a reiki master, talk about her practice, Reiki Wisdom, and watched as she demonstrated on a volunteer at one of our energy healers meeting. A couple of weeks later, my sister (Dianne), a level two trained reiki practitioner, and I exchanged the experience on each other, with Dianne performing reiki on me and with me performing Cellular Response on her.

According to Eva, we are all energy. Any information comes to the heart chakra first (the heart chakra is one of the seven centers of spiritual energy in the human body according to yoga philosophy — dictionary.com) then it goes to the brain. Illness results when we are unbalanced — it originates in the energy field.

Eva Arciszewski

Eva says reiki can be learned. There are three levels plus the master level. Neuropathways are opened and we can feel more energy. The healer is the vessel for energy to flow, not the energy itself. You need to trust your own body as a source of self-healing.

Dianne added that in reiki, the practitioner is not treating the person, reiki is doing it. It is like a garden hose that’s serving as the vessel to go to someone else. In order to practice, you must be initiated by a master.

As I experienced reiki, the biggest differences as compared to Cellular Response were the touch and breathing. In Cellular Response, the touch is very light, whereas with reiki, it was a heavier touch. In reiki, there is no specific breathing pattern, whereas with CR, there is a specific breathing sequence in order to bring up the energy. As I experienced reiki, I could feel the energy in my feet. Reiki also involves symbolism which is not part of CR. In both modalities, permission must be granted before the practitioner can work on you. After the treatment, I felt a greater energy balance.

With seniors facing more and more health challenges each day, energy healing offers the possibility of having the body heal itself and perhaps avoiding the need for medication. It is definitely worth the time to investigate the energy-healing modalities.

This is the last in a three-part series on long-term care insurance written by Pat O’Neill. Pat has pointed out that long-term care insurance is not for everyone. But if you do not have long-term care insurance, I hope it has provided you with insights as to whether or not you should consider it.

When should you buy long-term care insurance?

If you decide LTCI is right for your situation, the best time to buy is now. Why?

• Lower premiums now and lower cumulative premiums over the life of your policy. See the example below.
• Avoid the risk of developing a condition that may make you uninsurable.
• You are covered immediately should you develop a need now.
• Wider choice of insurance companies to choose from.
• If you cannot care for yourself, you will get the care you need.

Example:  Bob is 50 years old and purchases a LTC policy. He pays for it until age 90. Now, let’s say Bob waits four years and buys an equivalent policy at age 54. (We assume Bob remains healthy and the company does not change the base premiums.) He pays for this policy until age 90. The cost of waiting four years could cost Bob an additional $17,362 in premiums. Bob did not save anything by waiting. It cost him money, and he took the risk of not being covered for four years and of becoming uninsurable.

What are the benefits of LTCI?

A good LTCI policy delivers broad and flexible benefits to help provide and pay for the LTC services you need.

• Relieve the potential burden on your loved one
• Maintain choice and quality of care.
• Maintain independence
• Protect assets for spouse’s use or to pass on
• Avoid having to rely on Medicaid.
• Potentially save hundreds of thousands of dollars, should you need care.

What does LTCI cost? Like a car, it depends on which one you buy.

The cost of a LTCI policy is based in part on your age and health when you apply. It also is based on the level of benefits you choose:

• Monthly or daily benefit
• Benefit period/lifetime benefit amount (pool of money)
• Elimination period
• Inflation protection
• Additional options (e.g., shared care for spouse/partner, etc.)

What discounts are available?

• Spousal discount
• Preferred health discount
• Group coverage discount with an employer or association

The most important thing to remember is that you should have a plan for your long-term care. It costs no more to meet with a dedicated specialist who can help you analyze all your choices and help you make an educated decision about what is best for you.

Pat O'Neill

Pat O’Neill is an independent long-term care insurance specialist. She works with individuals, businesses, and associations. You can visit her Web site at http://web.ltcfp.com/PatriciaO’Neill and download her booklet, Dignity for Life, or you can reach her at 703 534 3255 and pat.oneill@ltcfp.net.

Last week we noted that there is a high risk of needing long-term care (LTC) at some time in our lives (68% for those 65 and older), the cost is high, and it is an especially important issue for women. There are four options to provide the care:

1. Self-insure (use your own assets, including retirement funds)
2. Family (spouse, children, siblings)
3. Government (Medicare [very limited] and/or Medicaid)
4. Transfer some of the risk to an insurance company

What is LTC insurance?

LTC insurance pays for LTC services. Policies vary in terms of what they will cover, and insurance companies require that applicants qualify for the coverage through an underwriting process.

Do you need LTC insurance?

LTC insurance is not appropriate for everyone. The poor should not buy it because they will likely qualify for Medicaid. The independently wealthy may want to self-insure. Middle-class Americans may want to consider LTC insurance for peace of mind and to protect their family, their retirement assets, and to maintain their quality of life, independence, and control.

What are the types of LTC insurance?

• A reimbursement policy reimburses you for the actual costs of specific, defined services up to the selected benefit.
• A cash policy pays the full selected benefit regardless of services provided.
• Combination of the two.

Are LTC insurance premiums tax deductible?

• The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) provides a tax incentive for individuals to take financial responsibility for their long-term care needs.
• A portion of tax-qualified plan premiums may be deducted as a medical expense on Schedule A of the federal form 1040.
• Some states allow tax credits for premiums not deducted on a federal return.
• Premiums may be paid for from Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).
• There are specific deductions for business owners and self-employed individuals. Please consult with your

What does Partnership mean?

Partnership-qualified policies can further help middle-class Americans protect their assets. In addition to preserving assets that would have been spent for LTC services, a partnership-qualified policy provides dollar-for-dollar asset disregard should you ever need to apply for Medicaid. Every dollar spent from a LTC policy for your care will protect a dollar of your assets from needing to be spent down in order to qualify for Medicaid.

More information can be found at The National Clearing House for Long-Term Care Information at www.longtermcare.gov.

NEXT WEEK:  When should you buy LTC insurance, what are the benefits, and what does it cost?

Pat O'Neill

Pat O’Neill is an independent long-term care insurance specialist. She works with individuals, businesses, and associations. You can visit her Web site at http://web.ltcfp.com/PatriciaO’Neill and download her booklet, Dignity for Life, or you can reach her at 703 534 3255 and pat.oneill@ltcfp.net.

Pat O'Neill

Pat O’Neill is an independent long-term care insurance specialist. She works with individuals, businesses, and associations. She will be enlightening us on long term care in America in a three-part series.

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter said,
There are four kinds of people in the world:
Those who have been caregivers
Those who currently are caregivers
Those who will be caregivers
And those who will need caregivers.

Rosalynn Carter

What is long-term care?

Long-term care (LTC) is for people with a prolonged illness, a disability, or a cognitive impairment (such as Alzheimer’s disease). Care may be provided at home, adult day care, nursing home, and assisted living community. LTC includes both skilled care and personal care. Up to four generations can be affected by a LTC need.

The need for LTC can start gradually, or it may come on suddenly due to an accident, stroke, heart attack, or major illness. You may need care for a short time or for many months, years, or the rest of your life.

Leading causes of LTC:

• Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia – 31% of LTC claim dollars
• Circulatory Disease and Hypertension Related – 16%
• Parkinson’s and other Central Nervous Systems Conditions – 14%
• Stroke – 9%
• Broken Hips and Related Injuries – 9%

Who may need LTC?

• Today, about 63% of people needing LTC are over 65. However, 37% are 64 years of age or younger.
• The longer you live, the greater chance you will need assistance due to chronic conditions.
• For people ages 65 and older, there is a 68% lifetime probability of needing LTC at some point in their lives.
• About 44% of people reaching age 65 are expected to enter a nursing home at least once in their lifetime.
• LTC is an especially important issue for women.

How much does LTC cost?

The cost depends on the amount and type of care you need and where you get it. Below are national average annual costs for care provided in different settings as of 2009. You can learn the current average cost for your area by going here.

• Nursing Home – national average cost was about $219 per day for a private room, or $79,935 annually.
• Assisted Living Facility – national average of $3,131 per month (for a one-bedroom unit) or $37,572 per year, including rent, meals, and most other non-medical fees. Costs can be higher if more care is needed.
• Home Care – The national hourly rate for home health aides was $21. Yearly costs vary widely depending on the amount of care needed.

Who pays for LTC?

• Personal resources (income and assets) of individuals or their families
• Long-term care insurance
• Some assistance from Medicaid for those who qualify (must have low income and very little assets)
• NOT – Medicare, Medicare supplement insurance, and health insurance usually will not pay for LTC.

NEXT WEEK:  What is long-term care insurance and do you need it?

You can visit Pat O’Neill’s Web site at http://web.ltcfp.com/PatriciaO’Neill and download her booklet, Dignity for Life, or you can reach her at 703 534 3255 and pat.oneill@ltcfp.net.

Previously, I did a post on the Nintendo Wii. Now, according to  Jason Allaire, an associate professor of psychology at North Carolina State University and co-director of its Gains Through Gaming Lab, “There’s a growing body of evidence that suggests playing video games actually can improve older adults’ reflexes, processing speed, memory, attention skills and spatial abilities.”  Wii can even provide physical exercise.

In an article on healthday.com, reporter Dennis Thompson says, “One study found that a Wii bowling game boosted the heart rate of players at a senior center in Pensacola, Fla., by about 40 percent. The game required that the players, who were in their 60s, 70s and 80s, hold the controller like a bowling ball and swing it to hit the pins in a virtual bowling alley.”

In July of last year, dailynews.com reported that California State University, Northridge, researchers say that a Nintendo video game, Brain Age 2, is helping to reverse mental aging among the elderly. They have seen some seniors in their 80’s improve their brain age to the 20’s. Giovanni Sosa, the CSUN psychology professor who heads the program, said the game helps stimulate the brain through tasks like solving simple math problems, counting currency, drawing pictures on the Nintendo DS touch screen and unscrambling letters. “The game is designed to help work your brain and increase blood flow to the prefrontal cortex,” according to Sosa.

In order to play Brain Age 2, it does require that you also have Nintendo DS Lite. Click here for more information on the Nintendo DS Lite and click here for Brain Age 2.

Since writing the post on the Wii, we have received it as a gift from our boys and their families and it has brought us many hours of fun and challenges. Although you can play with others, the goal is to always better your own score so basically you are competing with yourself. Hence, if one person is much better than you are, it does not matter.

What are your experiences with Brain Age or Wii Fitness?

Urmilla Khana, left, and workshop leader Joanne Glenn talk about writing. (Photo courtesy of Betty Baumgartner)

Here, retired pediatrician and former caregiver Urmilla Khana shares what writing means to her. Urmilla took to writing after being the primary caregiver to her husband Kris, who had Parkinson’s Disease for fourteen years and died from a massive heart attack in 2003, when they were taking a cruise. At first, her writing was mostly about her life growing up in India. Later, her thoughts fixated upon her life with Kris …and her writing took another direction.

I had led such a busy life, even after I was retired, taking care of Kris, doing all the things we wanted and loved to do. When he passed away, there was such a void. I was looking for something to fill up my life—knitting, watercolor, movie clubs. One day, when I was visiting my cousin in England, playing around on the computer and practicing how to type, I started writing. It felt good, and somehow I got stuck on the word “word painting.” Word painting was better than painting—which would have taken too much room, too much space, too much equipment.

At the time I did not think of writing as a coping strategy. When Kris was sick, there was no time for writing, that’s not your priority. I feel that as a caretaker you’ve just got to enjoy every moment with that person. But I did record events and get things down—maybe that was the extent of my writing for coping. You may not have time to write, but putting memories down is another matter.

I started writing about PD later. It helped me settle my thoughts. When I’m sitting gathering all the details and thinking of the words to write, and what aspects of the story to write, it hits me again and again that I wouldn’t do anything differently. That gives me a lot of comfort. Sometimes I feel that maybe if I can write or express my story properly, maybe it would help other people. For example, it’s only in hindsight that I’m developing an awakening about my husband’s initial mental symptoms being a forerunner of Parkinson’s.

I am being more comforted by writing now than by not writing at all. If I didn’t write our story, how would I get it out of my system? Now, by writing, I can reminisce in a pleasant way. And it helps me understand my own life, and our life together.

If you are interested in giving yourself the gift of sanity—the chance to make sense of your life, to write, alone and with others—consider attending the “Writing Workshop for Caregivers” on February 20, 2010, from 10 A.M. – 2 P.M. We’ll meet in the welcoming environs of the Fireplace Room in Hollin Hall, a lovely historic home on the grounds of Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church in Alexandria, VA. Or share this information with another caregiver, someone who may need or want a chance to write her story. For details, please email Joanne Glenn or call 703.721.2088.

In previous posts, I’ve talked about insomnia and have recommended cherries and walking to solve sleep problems. I was recently at a meeting where someone mentioned yoga as a panacea to sleep problems. So I visited Gus, who owns and teaches at Cosmos Yoga and Healing in Alexandria, Virginia.

Cosmos Yoga and Healing

Cosmos Yoga and Healing is especially designed for his students to walk into a calming environment. The color, music, and smell of the room will leave a person relaxed by the end of the session. Gus teaches the Iyengar school of yoga which stresses body alignment and aims to unite the body, mind and spirit for health and well-being.

How can yoga be a cure for insomnia? Gus tells me that it’s through correct breathing, stretches, and alignment of the body. Additionally, about 10 to 15 minutes is spent in meditation where one “centers” oneself as well as removes toxins from the mind. He says we have too many things in our mind and the correct environment will bring a different mood. Stresses such as driving in traffic, a bad day at work, kids to care for — yoga removes the stresses, balances the body, and helps you to see clearly. With your body balanced and your mind cleared — it will help you fall asleep.

Gus

Gus’s definition of yoga … “Forever Young.” He says that the most positive energy we can get is from the sun’s rays so he encourages his students to get fresh air. If you live or work in the Alexandria, Virginia area, plan to check out this studio and try a class. Click here for a schedule.

It’s amazing how easy it is to accumulate stuff – clothes, toys, electronics, kitchen gadgets, books, garden pots, children’s artwork, articles you’ve cut out of magazines, and papers of all kinds.

Do you remember the very first time you moved as an adult? I was just out of college and moved to Washington DC taking everything with me on the train. That was many years and many purchases ago. My last two moves involved hiring professional movers (who moved 55 boxes of just books in one of those moves).

Recently I spent a couple of weeks in Wisconsin helping my dad move into assisted living. Neither he nor my mother had accumulated a lot of stuff. When I was growing up, our home was never cluttered, and as Dad got older, he still kept the house clutter-free. Even so, there was a lot of stuff to go through (there were many, many closets).

When I returned home, I resolved to revert to my every-five-years habit of pretending I was moving and getting rid of things. Things I haven’t used in years, that I wouldn’t want to have to pack, and to pay to have moved, and to make room for if I were moving to a smaller space.

I have a few clients who live simply in 600 sq foot spaces. I envy them. Wouldn’t life be a lot simpler without all this stuff? The more we have, the more we have to take care of, the more we have to dust (or move out of the way so the cleaning people can clean), the more we have to push aside to get to stuff we need.

January is Get Organized month. This is a great time of year to get rid of things you no longer use or love. Gather those unused items and donate them now! If you itemize deductions on your tax return, make sure you get a receipt.

Go through your winter clothes. Someone out there could really use that winter coat, or nice warm sweater or business suit you no longer wear.

I’ve already started working on my downsizing. (I downsized those 55 boxes of books many years ago.) I took a dozen items to a consignment shop last month. I’ve got three bags of clothing ready to donate, two boxes of papers ready to go to the shredder, and four boxes to go to recycling. I feel great!

There’s a side benefit of downsizing – you make room for new things to come into your life that are important to you now, rather than giving space to things that were important to you 20 years ago. Just don’t go overboard and bring in more than you got rid of! If you have things to donate and don’t know where you can take them, call or e-mail me at 703-742-9179 or Susan@BalancedSpaces.com and I’ll give you some ideas.

Downsize your schedule too. Don’t overbook your social calendar. Leave some time for yourself – to just relax.

© 2009-10 Susan Kousek

This article was written by senior Susan Kousek, Certified Professional Organizer (CPO), who works with clients in their office and home to declutter their space and set up systems to stay organized. She also offers workshops on organizing and time management. You can sign up for her mailing list to receive organizing tips like this by e-mailing her at Susan@BalancedSpaces.com.

Susan Kousek, CPO®
Balanced Spaces®, LLC
Reston, VA
Susan@BalancedSpaces.com
www.BalancedSpaces.com
703-742-9179

Sonia Gow leading a group of seniors

This is the time of year when you’ll see and hear a lot in the media about exercise. There are lots of reasons why it’s good for you:

• lose weight
• improved strength and flexibility
• stronger bones
• better sleep
• help prevent diseases
• more energy
• alleviate pain

These are all valid reasons, but what if you don’t like the word exercise? What if it sounds like a really dreary, boring thing to do even when you know it’s good for you? When you’d much rather curl up with a book or be like my friend who says when she hears the word exercise she washes her mouth out with chocolate?

How about instead of using the word exercise we use the word movement? There are lots of ways to move our bodies:

• dancing
• gardening
• walking
• bowling
• playing in a pool (walking, classes)
• playing with grandchildren
• mowing the lawn,
• shoveling snow
• and even cleaning the house!

I have a friend who puts on happy music and dances around the house. Another one bounces on a stability ball while she watches her favorite TV show. Whatever you do, it will work best if you enjoy what you’re doing, and you do it every day.

“If you rest, you rust.” Actress Helen Hayes.

I love this quote – for me it says it all. Maintain and increase your independence and control over your life. Forget about exercise and get moving!

This post was written by Sonia Gow.  She is a certified fitness instructor with special certifications in older adult fitness and aquatic exercise. Her focus is on balance and fall prevention through her Flamingos in Training program. The exercises she uses are also suitable for those with chronic illnesses like Parkinson’s, MS and arthritis, as well as post-rehab. Many are the same as those recommended by physical and occupational therapists. Sonia is a member of the International Council on Active Aging and volunteers with the Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area. She was previously featured in another blog post. Click here.

She calls her exercise program, Flamingos in Training, because flamingos have good balance and so can you! She works primarily with older adults, and offers classes specifically for people with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers, both land and aquatic, in the home and in retirement communities. For more information on her program, click here.

Dianne Eppler Adams

As we launch not only a new year but a new decade in 2010, it is clear many things are changing in our world. Fear of loss and deprivation as a result of the economic crisis, healthcare issues, government and corporate corruption, climate change, global epidemics and more could prevent us from living a happy life. But fear is not the best response to these threats.

I suggest that one powerful survival response is to recognize what is enough. It is an antidote to fear and the answer to finding satisfaction in living. Most of us are warmly clothed, living in comfortable homes surrounded by people we care about. The vast majority of Americans have far more than enough of what they need. Witness our trash piles.

What is enough must be answered by each person individually. A really good definition is “as little as possible and as much as necessary.”

Those who have lived long enough to remember the Great Depression of the 1930s will have no trouble understanding that definition. My mother-in-law still saves aluminum foil and washes out plastic bags for reuse.

Somehow, we lost sight of proportion and the last couple decades have been lived like unlimited growth and expansion could go on forever. Irrational exuberance took over and money and what it could buy became the measure of happiness…or did it?

Yet, just as you cannot breathe out without eventually breathing in, we have arrived at the need to restore the value of non-monetized things like a walk in the Sun, a hug from a loved one, or kind words from a neighbor.

As you begin a new decade, why not begin by first acknowledging what you already have. Before worrying about the future, if you start from appreciating what you have, you might realize that…you already have enough.

May you always have enough of what is really valuable in your life!

Senior guest blogger, Dianne Eppler Adams, is a certified astrologer and has offered life-affirming insights since 1995. Visit her Web site, http://SpiritinMatters.com, to sign up for her monthly newsletter.