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Jazzercise...continued from page 1 ney and became certified in 2018. She immediately started teaching several classes a week. "In 2019, Abbi decided to retire and sell me her business," says Berkery. "This was the scariest thing I'd ever done. I never imagined myself an owner of a small business, let alone one in the fitness industry!" Within the first year of ownership, she and her team added classes, certified a new instruc- tor, raised thousands of dollars for local fund- raisers, and participated in several community demonstrations includ- ing a halftime show for the Santa Cruz War- riors. Business grew at a rapid speed, and then COVID-19 hit. But as mentioned earlier, they not only survived—but also thrived—partly due to the strong foundation Berkery had built. "Our classes inspire positivity," says Berk- ery. "The moment you step into a class your mood feels lifted by the smiles of other students, the motivation from the instructors, the upbeat movement, and the fun moves. Not to mention, all of the dance and strength choreography in Jazzercise is approved by exercise physiologists." Susan Condit, who is in her late 60's and attends classes approximately four or five times each week, appreciates all of these elements. "Jazzercise offers me so many things on so many levels," says Condit. "It gives me a fantastic complete workout with its variety of class for- mats (strength training, balance work, cardio, Pilates, interval dancing) and the music with its choreography keeps me current, energized and my mind really focused. Our Jazzercise instructors (Robin, Sandie, Merna, and Giselle) inspire me with their dedication, creativity, and support." Also, Condit cherishes the friendships she has made through Jazzercise, which "extend well beyond the doors of the Jazzercise studio." And the fact that over the past few years Jazzercise Santa Cruz has been "extremely success- ful in raising funds for local non-profit organi- zations, makes me feel even more proud to be a Jazzercise member," she adds. Condit, who began Jazzercise nearly 20 years ago, highly recommends Jazzercise to other seniors. "There is a class format for everyone no matter what their fitness level might be. Any format can be modified to suit the individual. The social aspect of Jazzercise is also an important component. Working out with others is so much more motivating and fun." Still unsure if Jazzercise is right for you? Consider Berkery's response to a question about its bene- fits: "For us, Jazzercise IS health care. Our bodies are our most valuable pos- sessions. Staying active is essential to quality and longevity. Why not have fun while doing it!?" Jazzercise Santa Cruz has several different pass and membership op- tions including a current promotion that gives customers two months of unlimited classes for $99 (must purchase by Jan. 31). For more information, contact: (831) 316-4059, jazzer- cise.santacruz@gmail Jazzercise.com facebook.com/jazzercis- esantacruzaptos Instagram @jazzercis- esantacruz Jazzercise class at Capitola Mall - Contributed Photo Jazzercise class at Capitola Mall - Contributed Photo Over the past 6 months this Young at Heart article has covered Medicare Fraud, Medicare Enroll- ment Periods, Changes to Medicare due to the IRA and Benes Acts, and Medicare Preventive Services. Some may ask "how does HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program) keep up with all the changes in Medicare"? All HICAP counselors are California State registered and go through extensive training to learn about the details of Medicare. Counselors must complete continuing education requirements each year to keep their state registra- tion status. Every day at the HICAP office we receive phone calls and emails from se- niors and/or their families with questions regarding their Medicare. Below is a short list of FAQs that you can share with family and friends. Caller: "Medicare called me. They said Medicare is sending out new laminat- ed Medicare cards. All I have to do is give them my Medicare number." HICAP: No, this is a fraudulent scam call. Nei- ther Medicare nor Social Security will call you. They will always mail you a letter. This is an old scam that comes around every couple of years. Yours is the third call we have received in the last 2 weeks. Please, never give your Medicare number to someone calling you on the phone. Caller: "I am turning 65 in three months, and I plan to keep working for a couple more years. I have employer group health in- surance through my work. My neighbor tells me I can be penalized if I do not sign up for Medicare when I turn 65". HICAP: You can register with the Social Security Administration 3 months before the month of your 65th birthday, the month of your 65th birthday and three months after the month of your 65th birth- day. If you plan to keep working and you have employer group health insurance with an em- ployer of more than 100 employees, you can delay signing up for Medicare without penalty. When you do retire you will get a special enrollment period to enroll in Medi- care. Let's schedule an appointment for you with one of HICAP's volunteer counselors. Caller: "I joined a Medi- care Advantage Plan in November during the An- nual Enrollment Period. I tried calling to get an ap- pointment with a medical provider and have been told by the Advantage Plan that my new medical provider is located in San Jose. How can I get out of this plan?" HICAP: Between January 1 and March 31, 2023, if you are not satisfied with your Medicare Advantage Plan you can switch to an- other Advantage Plan here in Santa Cruz County, or switch back to Original Medicare and then enroll into a new Part D pre- scription drug plan for 2023. Enrolling in a new Advantage Plan or Part D Plan will automatically disenroll you from your current plan. Let's sched- ule an appointment for you with one of HICAP's volunteer counselors. Caller: "I turned 65 last July and didn't know I had to sign up for Medicare. Can I sign up anytime? HICAP: No, you cannot sign up any time after you turn 65 for Medicare. Now in January you are past the 7-month initial enrollment period you had that ended 3 months after the month of your 65th birthday. But you are in luck! Between January 1 and March 31 is the General Enrollment Period and you can sign up for Medicare now, with benefits starting the month after you sign up. This occurs every year from January 1 through March 31. But if you wait until next January, you will accumulate a late enroll- ment penalty for your Part B which is 10% of the monthly Part B premi- um. The penalty can last the rest of your life. Let's schedule an appoint- ment for you with one of HICAP's volunteer counselors. Caller: "I signed up for Medicare this month, and I take no prescription drugs. My sister tells me I have to sign up for a Medicare Part D plan. Is this true?" HICAP: Yes, your sister is correct. When some- one signs up for Medi- care they are also obliged to sign up for a Part D prescription drug plan to avoid lifetime penal- ties. There are a couple exceptions, one being if someone was a veteran and has earned VA ben- efits. But most Medicare beneficiaries should sign up for Part D plan re- gardless of whether they take prescription drugs or not. Let's schedule an appointment for you with one of HICAP's volunteer counselors to research plans. Caller: " My spouse and I both turn 65 in the next couple months and neither of us are working. I have a COBRA plan from my previous job and my spouse is on Covered Cali- fornia. Do we need to sign up for Medicare?" HICAP: Yes. When some- one has Covered California and is turning 65, they need to register for Medicare during their 7-month enroll- ment period. They should contact Covered California at least the month before they turn 65 to cancel the plan. There should be no overlap. There are tax pen- alties involved if someone has Covered California insurance and is eligible for Medicare. Also, COBRA does not work well with Medicare. Let's schedule an appointment for you with one of HICAP's volunteer counselors. Call HICAP at 831-462- 5510 for appointments with our friendly and knowledgeable Medicare counselors. Check out the Senior Network Services website at https://senior- networkservices.org/ or our Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/seniornet- workservices for upcom- ing community Medicare education events. By Bill Proulx Senior Network Services Just Another Day at HICAP (Medicare Counseling) Over the past 6 months Physical activity is one of the key components of a healthy lifestyle. Though physical activi- ty benefits people of all ages, it can be especial- ly helpful for seniors by making it easier for them to overcome some of the obstacles associ- ated with aging. According to the Cen- ters for Disease Control and Prevention, physical activity supports dail living activities and independence. That's a significant benefit for seniors who are worried that age-related physical and mental decline might one day compromise their ability to live independently. The CDC also notes that physical activity lowers the risk for early death, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. The CDC reports that physical activity is generally safe for fit individuals who are 65 and older and have no existing conditions. Despite that, it's best for any senior to consult his or her physician prior to beginning a new exercise regimen. Once doctors give seniors the go-ahead to begin a new workout routine, seniors can take the following steps to reduce their risk for injury. · Warm up before working out. Seniors may think they don't need to warm up before exercising because their workouts are not as high-intensity as they might have been when they were younger. But Harvard Medical School notes that warming up pumps nutrient-rich, oxygenated blood to the muscles and helps increase heart rate. The American Council on Exercise reports that warming up helps reduce workout-related injury risk by improving tissue elasticity. So prior to beginning a workout, regardless of how mod- erate- or low-intensity that regimen will be, seniors should warm up for five to 10 minutes. · Start with a routine that's commensurate with your abilities. Seniors excited by the prospect of working out must temper that excitement if they're not accustomed to physical activity. Such individ- uals should consider working with a personal trainer. Personal trainers design exercise regi- mens based on each in- dividual client's fitness levels and goals. As clients make progress and their bodies become acclimated to routine physical activity, per- sonal trainers can then tweak regimens to make them more challenging. Seniors can take on these responsibilities themselves, but are urged to begin slowly and gradually build up their exercise tolerance. · Don't skip strength training. Seniors may think lifting weights is for young people who want to look buff, but the AARP® notes that muscle-strengthening activities protect the joints, reducing seniors' risk for injury as a result. The Department of Health & Human Services recommends seniors who have been cleared to exercise en- gage in strength training at least twice per week. · Stretch after your workout. Harvard Med- ical School reports that efforts to cool down after a workout, including stretching, can prevent muscle cramps and dizzi- ness a nd lengthen mus- cles throughout the body, which improves range of motion. Harvard Medical School recommends holding each stretch for 10 to 30 seconds, as the longer a stretch can be held the more flexible individuals' muscles will be. Physical activity is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle for se- niors. Active seniors can take various steps to re- duce their injury risk so they can continue to reap the rewards of exercising for years to come. By Metro Create How active seniors can lower their injury risk

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