The Press-Dispatch
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C-8 Health and Wellness Wednesday, September 2, 2015 The Press-Dispatch Rehabilitation Services Outpatient erapy • Physical erapy Occupational erapy • Speech/Language erapy Semi-private rooms with free cable TV available for extended rehab Good Samaritan Home & ReHabilitative CenteR Where Caring People Make the Difference ASCSeniorCare.com Good Samaritan Home & Rehabilitative Center 231 North Jackson Street, Oakland City, IN Phone 812-749-4774 Ask SHIP: Medicare quick reference Change often requires an adjustment period. Men and women who switch jobs may need a few weeks before they feel fully comfortable in a new office, while students chang- ing schools may also need some time to adapt to their new surroundings. An adjustment period is also common when people decide to adopt healthier diets. Diet is often habit-forming, and men and women will need some time to adjust as they kick some bad dietary habits in fa- vor of healthier fare. The fol- lowing are some simple ways to make that adjustment period a little easier to swallow. • Go slowly. Some people are capable of going cold tur- key when adjusting to a new diet, while others must take a more gradual approach. Un- less a health condition that re- quires immediate change is driving your dietary chang- es, take things slowly so your body acclimates to its new di- et over time. Such an approach may make your efforts more successful over the long haul than making more sudden, drastic changes. For example, suddenly cutting your daily calorie intake in half may force you into old, unhealthy habits when hunger pangs inevitably arise. But gradually reducing your caloric intake over time may make it easier for your body to adjust, decreasing the likelihood that you will relapse into bad habits. • Explain your motivation to loved ones. Adults, especially married men and women and parents, may find adjusting to a new diet especially difficult unless their spouses and/or families are making similar adjustments. If you are the on- ly member of your household who will be adjusting to a new diet, explain your efforts and motivation to your loved ones. Such an explanation will make them less likely to bring un- healthy foods into your home. In addition, your loved ones can prove an invaluable source of support as you make this big adjustment in your life. • Embrace positive results, even if they are initially un- derwhelming. Just because you have adopted a new di- et does not mean you will see immediate results. Fad diets meant to last just a few weeks may produce immediate re- sults, but such results likely will not withstand the test of time, and you may even gain weight when you revert to some of your old eating hab- its. The right diet will produce long-lasting results, but you must allow for some time be- fore such diets lead to signifi- cant weight loss. In the mean- time, place more emphasis on how you feel than the figure that shows up on your bath- room scale each morning. Up- on adopting a healthier diet, you will start to notice how much better you feel than you felt when eating a diet filled with fatty, unhealthy foods. Re- mind yourself of this extra hop in your step as you continue on the path to a healthier lifestyle. • Don't give up. Your adjust- ment period will require some discipline, and there may be moments when you backslide into bad habits. If that hap- pens, don't allow it to derail all of the progress you have made since switching to a healthier diet. Just accept that you had a setback and resolve to do your best to avoid having an- other one. The sooner you get back on a healthier track, the better you will feel. Q: Sometimes, my friends and I have ques- tions about our Medicare benefits and other topics related to Medicare. Are there any helpful websites when we have a quick question? A: The State Health Insur- ance Assistance Program (SHIP) is always a great re- source for people with Medi- care. SHIP's website, www. medicare.in.gov, covers a little bit of everything relat- ed to Medicare. The following websites are some of our favorites for Medicare beneficiaries. MEDICARE www.medicare.gov • Check your enrollment • Compare Medicare Health Plans and/or Part D Drug Plans • Enroll in a Medicare Plan • and numerous other re- sources and information MYMEDICARE www.myMedicare.gov • Search and review your Medicare claims and Medi- care Summary claims and Medicare Summary Notices • Track your preventive services • Keep track of your healthcare providers • View your healthcare plans, prescription drugs, and supplemental insurance all in one place. SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION www.socialsecurity.gov • Get or repplace a Social Security card • Apply online for retire- ment benefits • Apply online for disabil- ity benefits • Apply online for Medi- care • Apply for Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs • and many more other helpful tools NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING www.NCOA.org Get matched with pro- grams to pay for medica- tions, health care, food, util- ities, and other information geared toward seniors. HEALTHCARE MARKETPLACE www.healthcare.gov Purchase insurance plans (typically not for Medicare beneficiaries) INDIANA FAMILY AND SOCIAL SERVICES www.in.gov/fssa • Check your eligibility for Medicaid • Learn more about as- sistance with Medicare costs • Apply for the Medicare Savings Program • and other information and resources for affording personal care INDIANA ASSOCIATION OF AREA AGENCIES ON AGING www.iaaaa.org • A A As deliver home and community-based ser- vices to older adults of any age and their caregivers. • Find a comprehensive list of resources relevant to older adults and people with disabilities living in Indiana. • Find an agency near you. If you or someone you know needs help under- standing their Medicare benefits or with other Medi- care related issues, call at 1- 800 -452-4800, 866 -846 -0139 TDD. ADJUSTING TO A HEALTHIER DIET Strategies to motivate students to be more physically active Today's students arguably have more on their plates than any generation that came before them. But even with their hec- tic schedules, kids still have free time, which many are not always using in the healthiest ways pos- sible. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one-third high school stu- dents play video games or com- puter games for three or more hours on an average school day. Sedentary lifestyles can increase kids' risk for being overweight or obese, and many parents strug- gle in their efforts to encourage their school-aged children to get off the couch and embrace physi- cal activities. The following are a handful of strategies concerned parents can employ as they at- tempt to motivate youngsters to be more physically active. • Choose the right activity. Physical activity and organized sports are not one and the same. Kids can still be physically active even if they are not athletic or if they are simply not interested in sports. Find an activity kids can embrace, such as hiking, swim- ming or even riding bikes, and they will be more likely to get off the couch. • Limit screen time. Kids spend lots of time in front of computer and television screens, which can be detrimental to their overall health. Parents can place restrictions on the amount of time kids are allowed to spend surfing the Internet, playing vid- eo games and watching televi- sion, encouraging youngsters to spend time enjoying the great outdoors or playing with friends rather than spending it staring at a screen . • Join in the fun. Parents can set positive examples by being physically active and even exer- cising with their children. Rath- er than retiring to the couch af- ter dinner, take nightly walks or bike rides as a family. This is a great way to get kids off the couch, but also a great way to spend more time together as a family. • Involve kids in your own pursuits. Parents who are week- end warrior athletes can involve their kids in their own activi- ties. Take kids along on week- end jogs, kayaking trips and so on, all the while explaining the important role physical activity plays in living a healthy lifestyle. REAL COVERAGE The Press-Dispatch Stay informed with full coverage of the news and events that matters to you! 812-354-8500