Decide to Live a Healthier Life in 2012!

You can live a healthier life by eating more nutritious food, by making sure that you have enough Calcium, B12, and Vitamin D, and by starting an exercise program. If you need information to help you get started, the National Institutes of Health have a webpage called "Eating Well as You Get Older".  This website has recommendations for healthy food, eating well on a budget, and it also has videos on nutrition. You can access this information here. 

The National Institute on Aging has created a new website to help older adults to begin and continue an exercise program. This website, Go4Life, explains the benefits of exercise, recommends exercises, and helps you to set your goals. They recommend that you pick activities that you enjoy and that you make exercise a social activity, by having a friend or family member as an exercise buddy. You can access this information here.

New "Life after Cancer" Information

The National Institutes of Health NIH SeniorHealth website has added a new section about "Life after Cancer".  According to the National Institutes on Health, approximately 12 million people in the United States have a history of cancer and 60% of these cancer survivors are 65 years of age or older.  This website helps older cancer survivors to learn what to expect after cancer treatment, including:

• follow-up care
• physical changes
• relationships with family and friends
• and a very useful "frequently asked questions" (FAQ) page

Medicare Information for Older Adults and Caregivers

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for adults 65 and older, and for people under 65, who have disabilities. Medicare helps to pay medical and prescription drug costs. There is now a "Medicare Basics for Caregivers" web page hosted by the National Institutes of Health on its Senior Health website. MedlinePlus also has Medicare resources here.

In addition, Medicare has launched a website specifically for caregiver information called "Ask Medicare". This website has resources not only about how to navigate the Medicare system, but also resources for financial support, local geriatric care, and legal support for caregivers. Medicare.gov also provides a list of search tools for finding a doctor, comparing hospitals, comparing health plans, and finding medical equipment suppliers in your area.

In addition, you can sign up for the "Ask Medicare" email newsletter or you can view the newsletter online on this page.