EL SEGUNDO HERALD December 5, 2019 Page 13
Health & Wealth
Finance Seniors
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5 Easy Ways To Save During
The Holiday Season
(BPT) - The holiday season is a time of
family, friends and ... spending. In the process
of hosting and attending large or intimate
holiday gatherings, the inevitable costs of
travel, presents, decorations and food tend
to stack up. With thousands of Americans
celebrating holidays in November and
December, it is no surprise that according to
the National Retail Confederation the holiday
season is the largest consumer spending
time of the year. So, instead of starting the
New Year with a nasty credit card bill, here
are five simple tips to protect your finances
during the holiday season:
• DIY festive wrapping paper: Use the
brown paper from grocery store bags when
wrapping gifts by cutting the bag at its corners
and removing the handles to become a flat
piece of paper. If you feel the minimalist
kraft paper look is too plain for your liking,
decorate the paper using markers or cotton
swabs dipped in paint. For a more festive
touch, try stringing a pinecone or stick of
cinnamon to the package using twine.
• Shop holiday décor at a thrift store: Over
the past few years there has been an uptick
in online thrift stores, such as LetGo or The
RealReal, that sell high-end secondhand
items. Score vintage pieces for your next
holiday party or decor to style your home
for the season.
• Book holiday travel smart: The holidays
are one of the most expensive times to fly,
but if your holiday feast is waiting for you
a plane ride away don’t fret, as there are
still ways to save on travel. While there is
speculation around savings on the day you
book, it is true the day you fly can drastically
change the price tag. According to CheapAir’s
5th annual Airfare study, you can save if you
fly in or out on a Tuesday or Wednesday.
Apps like Hopper monitor and track trends
in flights prices, with helpful notifications of
when the best time to buy is.
• Make your Friendsgiving a potluck:
Instead of catering or cooking your
Friendsgiving feast, invite your pals to
participate in the fun. Potluck dinners take
out the pain of hours of preparation, giving
you the chance as the host to spend more
time with your guests. You can even make
it themed by having each person bring a dish
they grew up eating around the holidays,
which can spark interesting conversations
about family history and sentimental story
telling. •
Ask The Expert: Important
Questions About Alzheimer’s
(BPT) - Alzheimer’s is a progressive medical
condition, and one of the deadliest diseases in
the United States. That’s why it is important to
learn about the disease along with some simple
steps that can help delay the potential onset,
or help facilitate an early diagnosis.
Dr. Rhonda Randall, a board-certified family
physician, geriatrician and chief medical officer
for UnitedHealthcare, answered the following
questions relating to Alzheimer’s disease.
What is Alzheimer’s disease and how is it
distinguished from other dementias?
While the terms are often used interchangeably,
“dementia” is an umbrella term for many
types of diseases associated with cognitive decline
and memory loss, whereas “Alzheimer’s”
references a specific diagnosis. Alzheimer’s
is referred to as a progressive disease, as the
dementia symptoms generally worsen gradually
over time.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of
dementia. In fact, someone in the United States
develops the disease every 65 seconds, according
to the Alzheimer’s Association. That means
roughly 5.8 million people are living with the
disease. However, Alzheimer’s will only become
more prevalent - around 14 million people are
estimated to be living with Alzheimer’s by 2050.
How is Alzheimer’s diagnosed?
Alzheimer’s disease is commonly diagnosed
after conducting a memory screening and ruling
out other reasons for cognitive decline. It is
important to have a memory screening done
each year, as having a historical record can
increase your health care practitioner’s ability to
accurately diagnose memory disorders earlier.
Memory screenings can be performed during
your annual wellness visit, which is free to
anyone on Medicare. Make sure to ask your
physician to perform a memory evaluation the
next time you visit the doctor’s office. It only
takes a few minutes.
Eligible UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage
members can take advantage of the
HouseCalls program, which brings a yearly
health and wellness visit to the convenience
and privacy of home, at no additional cost. A
HouseCalls licensed practitioner can conduct a
memory screening and refer you to additional
care, if needed.
What are some common
symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease?
One of the most noticeable symptoms is the
inability to retain newly learned information,
as Alzheimer’s generally impacts the part of
the brain that affects learning. That said, it
is important to distinguish Alzheimer’s from
normal, fleeting memory loss, sometimes associated
with aging - Alzheimer’s is marked
by serious memory loss and confusion.
Examples of serious memory loss might be
having to ask for the same information repeatedly
or requiring memory aids, such as notes,
to remember basic information. If you feel like
you or a loved one is suffering from serious
memory loss, contact your health care provider.
Is there anything that can be
done to help prevent or delay the
potential onset of Alzheimer’s?
Staying physically and mentally active is
key, regardless of age. That may mean taking
a brisk walk, playing online brain games or
participating in other activities that can improve
circulation and challenge your mind.
Additionally, it is important to keep your
blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar
levels in check. If you are a smoker, quitting
is important, as it increases your chances of
developing Alzheimer’s.
Taking these steps to help prevent Alzheimer’s
is key, as there is currently no cure for the
disease. •
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