“Social media is as harmful as alcohol and drugs for millennials” – The Conversation
“The word ‘addiction’ brings to mind alcohol and drugs. Yet, over the past 20 years, a new type of addiction has emerged: addiction to social media. It may not cause physical harms, such as those caused by tobacco and alcohol, but it has the potential to cause long-term damage to our emotions, behaviour and relationships.
“While the older generation – those born in the baby boom period shortly after World War II – had alcohol and drugs as their vice, the younger generation – the so-called millenials – have social media as theirs. The millennials, born between 1984 and 2005, have embraced the digital age, using technology to relax and interact with others. Social media is a big deal for them; it is a lifeline to the outside world.
“Although people of all ages use social media, it is more harmful for younger users than it is for older people.
“All consuming
“Addiction may seem a bit of a strong word to use in the context of social media, but addiction refers to any behaviour that is pleasurable and is the only reason to get through the day.”
Click here to continue reading this article at The Conversation.
“The content of our lives – who cares enough to save it?” – Aging In Place Technology Watch
“Imagine all the non-digital photos and memorabilia. Forget Airbnb and driving for Uber. Boomers with creativity, organizational skill and some technology can follow multiple small business paths that have large emotional implications for the customer. Consider the large and small albums of photos, cassette tapes, home movies – not just from the boomers aged 51-71, but from their parents, and even some from their parents’ parents. Will anyone want it? Cynics contend that not only will the old content be lost due to disinterest, but that current content (selfies, group photos, Facebook and Instagram shots of that great dinner) will also be lost, some say, to collective disinterest – the photo only mattering in the moment.”
Continue reading this brief article at Aging In Place Technology Watch.
“What the Future of Caregiving Looks Like” – next avenue
by Denise Logeland
“Here’s what to expect in 5 years, 10 years and the ‘Jetsons’ future”
“Expect a caregiving environment rich in technology in the not-so-distant future. But along with that, there’ll be an emphasis on human connection to counter the devastating health effects of social isolation on older people.
“This month, we’ve been marking the fifth anniversary of Next Avenue, but not with a look back. Instead, we’ve been trying to peer into the future for people 50 and older. We wanted learn how everything will change — or not: living, learning, work, personal finance, health and now caregiving.
“We received help on the caregiving front from three experts who have an eye on trends.
“Demographically, we’ll be facing hard realities in the next five to 10 years, says Ken Dychtwald, founder and CEO of the research and consulting firm AgeWave, and a 2016 Next Avenue Influencer in Aging.”
“Medicare Issuing New ID Cards in 2018 | Removing Social Security numbers to prevent identity theft” – AARP
Medicare ID cards will remove Social Security numbers in 2018. – Getty Images
“Medicare is preparing to stop using Social Security numbers for identification next year and will send new cards to patients with Medicare ID numbers. The move is required by a law enacted two years ago to discourage identity theft.
“The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently updated its web page to help health care providers prepare for the change. The agency plans to begin mailing the new cards with Medicare beneficiary identifiers (MBIs) in April 2018. During a transition period through 2019, providers can use the MBIs or health insurance claim numbers (which are based on Social Security numbers) on transactions such as billing and claims.
“The 2015 law, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, requires CMS to remove Social Security numbers from Medicare cards by April 2019.
“‘We’re now figuring out the best way to mail the cards,’ the agency advised providers. ‘We’ll keep you posted about critical information so you can be ready to ask your Medicare patients at the time of service if they have a new card with an MBI.’”
Disability Helper | explore a helpful Website
Here’s a website that can be quite helpful for persons with a disability or caretakers of a someone with a disability.
“DisabilityHelpers.net is a place for those with friends or family members who are disabled to get together and share ideas, suggestions and learnings about the challenges and joys of life. Having someone in your life with different abilities offers a unique perspective on things that may seem mundane to others, and we hope that through this collaborative effort we are able to help others see the beauty in the everyday in a new way.
“Many social barriers have already been removed from those with disability, but there is much work yet to be done to allow everyone to be as independent as possible to live, learn and love within their community. Our goal is to provide information for caretakers of those with a disability about healthy living, school, safety, transitions, finding support and independent living.”
And here (thank you, Linda J. for sharing) are some really useful links you may find useful:
“How to make a home much more friendly to seniors using wheelchairs or walkers” – California Healthline
The housing industry has failed to accommodate an aging population, experts say. (iStock)
by Judith Graham
“When Dan Bawden teaches contractors and builders about aging-in-place, he has them get into a wheelchair. See what it’s like to try to do things from this perspective, he tells them.
“That’s when previously unappreciated obstacles snap into focus.
“Bathroom doorways are too narrow to get through. Hallways don’t allow enough room to turn around. Light switches are too high and electrical outlets too low to reach easily. Cabinets beneath a kitchen sink prevent someone from rolling up close and doing the dishes.
“It’s an ‘aha moment’ for most of his students, who’ve never actually experienced these kinds of limitations or realized so keenly how home design can interfere with — or promote — an individual’s functioning.
“About 2 million older adults in the U.S. use wheelchairs, according to the U.S. Census Bureau; another 7 million use canes, crutches or walkers.
“That number is set to swell with the aging population … ”
Continue reading this article at California Healthline, click here.
“AARP charts Tech Adoption among older adults — what does it mean?” – Aging In Place Technology Watch
“What’s happening with older adults and tech adoption? Not much. Let’s take a look at the AARP 2016 Technology Trends Among Mid-Life and Older Americans. Hint, the report focused most of its analysis on boomers and below. So that leaves the rest of us to look more closely at what they found about older ages, since it seems that this is the most recent set of material on this topic. From Page 10: ‘Adults age 70+ are the least likely to have adopted any device.’ And on Page 12: only 29% of those aged 70+ own a smartphone – and of non-owners in that age group, only 4% plan to buy one in the coming (2017) year.”
Continue reading the article at Aging In Place Technology Watch.
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission: PUC encourages consumer awareness of the Lifeline program; now available for voice & internet services.
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today encouraged consumers across the state to understand the resources available through the Lifeline program, which is used by nearly 500,000 Pennsylvanians. Lifeline has now been expanded to include broadband internet service for low-income households, in addition to, or in combination with, landline or wireless voice telephone service.
“Lifeline is intended to help make communications more affordable and more accessible for low-income households, helping them stay connected to information about jobs, family, health care, schools and emergency services,” said PUC Chairman Gladys M. Brown. “It is essential that consumers understand the expanded options now available – including a variety of voice and internet services – and also make note of federal efforts to streamline the list of eligible assistance programs used to qualify for Lifeline.”
In an effort to increase awareness about the Lifeline program, the PUC developed a new informational brochure, “Stay Connected with the Lifeline Telephone Assistance Program.” Copies of the brochure can be obtained by calling the PUC at 1-800-692-7380 or downloading the information from the PUC website. Consumers also are encouraged to reach out to their local telephone, wireless or internet companies, to see if they qualify for Lifeline and other available programs for limited-income telephone customers.
Additionally, all five Commissioners have reached out to the CEOs of Pennsylvania telecommunications companies, requesting their assistance in educating consumers about federal changes to the Lifeline program and enhanced opportunities for low-income households to connect to voice and internet service. Responses from those companies have been published on the PUC website, including information about outreach and education plans; any focused efforts to reach current subscribers about program and eligibility changes; and details regarding any additional discounts or promotional programs.
Effective Dec. 1, 2016, consumers have several communications choices under the Lifeline program:
- Landline or wireless internet service only;
- A combination of landline or wireless telephone and internet service; or
- Landline or wireless telephone only (Lifeline support for voice-only telephone service will be phased out by the end of 2021).
Federal rules limit Lifeline participation to one discount per household, so it is important for consumers to carefully evaluate their options when applying for service. Lifeline provides a monthly $9.25 per household discount on telephone or internet service, from either landline or wireless providers. The discount appears in the form of a reduction to consumers’ monthly bills.
Lifeline services are available to consumers who are enrolled in the following eligible assistance programs: Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Veteran’s Pension or Survivor’s Pension benefits, Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Additionally, Lifeline is available to households whose income is at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty guidelines (currently $32,805 for a family of four).
Additional information about Lifeline and other communications assistance programs, along with contact information for various telephone companies that participate in the Lifeline program, is available on the PUC website.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.
For recent news releases and video of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov. Follow the PUC on Twitter – @PA_PUC for all things utility. “Like” Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on Facebook for easy access to information on utility issues.
“Caring for your aging family member? Our voice-initiated concierge makes it a whole lot easier!”
Here comes help for caregivers!
Graphic is from the AskMarvee Website -Marvee simplifies and notifies. Sometimes it’s just difficult to do or see what used to be easy. Routine tasks are now a breeze utilizing the one thing most people can easily use… their voice! Verbal commands allow the Marvee user to ask loved ones to call them, send along an I’m OK or hear a digest of the latest family news (just to name a few services). And what a relief for family caregivers to have increased awareness!” Marvee is a care companion and Alexa Skill for the Amazon Echo.
According to Aging In Place Technology Watch: “Tech announcements spew forth, fast and furiously – but most do not help older adults. Stay tuned and hopeful if you can, to the hundreds of announcements that will pour forth in the coming weeks from The Consumer Technology Association’s CES 2017 – hopefully a number of them focused on or at least interested in the care and/or services related to an aging population – and yes, according to the CDC, if one lives to age 65, life expectancy is unchanged. In the meantime, let’s reflect on 2016, which saw the rise in awareness of future caregiver shortages, shortages in family time, but not shortages in investor money.”
Read more at Aging In Place Technology Watch.
PUC encourages consumer awareness of the Lifeline program; now available for voice & internet services.
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today encouraged consumers across the state to understand the resources available through the Lifeline program, which is used by nearly 500,000 Pennsylvanians. Lifeline has now been expanded to include broadband internet service for low-income households, in addition to, or in combination with, landline or wireless voice telephone service.
“Lifeline is intended to help make communications more affordable and more accessible for low-income households, helping them stay connected to information about jobs, family, health care, schools and emergency services,” said PUC Chairman Gladys M. Brown. “It is essential that consumers understand the expanded options now available – including a variety of voice and internet services – and also make note of federal efforts to streamline the list of eligible assistance programs used to qualify for Lifeline.”
In an effort to increase awareness about the Lifeline program, the PUC developed a new informational brochure, “Stay Connected with the Lifeline Telephone Assistance Program.” Copies of the brochure can be obtained by calling the PUC at 1-800-692-7380 or downloading the information from the PUC website. Consumers also are encouraged to Continue reading →
Berks - Lancaster - Lebanon LINK Service Area 
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