Sunscreen Safety Tips for Older Adults

Summer is a season when most families spend a lot of time outdoors. Picnics, baseball games, family reunions, and trips to the beach are fun intergenerational activities. One thing that isn’t much fun is sunburn or sun poisoning.

Older adults grew up in a time when the benefits of sunscreen weren’t widely known. Today we know more about the importance of sun safety. The need for protection is especially true for seniors who often have very fragile skin. Some seniors also take medications that have sun sensitivity as a side effect.

Here are sunscreen basics that seniors and their caregivers should know in order to protect their skin from the summer sun.

Sunscreen Basics for Senior Safety

1. Older adults need sunscreen.

A popular myth is that sun damage that leads to skin cancer occurs during childhood. If a senior grew up not using sunscreen, they might not think they need it now either. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, over half of skin cancer related deaths are people over the age of 65. Because the risk of developing or dying from skin cancer rises each year, everyone needs to use sunscreen.

2. Sun damage can happen fast.

Ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause skin damage in as little as 15 minutes. So even if you are only running outside to water plants quickly or pick a few flowers, apply sunscreen.

Some UV rays can even penetrate glass. That means if you will be sitting inside near a large window or riding in a car, you likely need sunscreen.

Finally, don’t let cloudy days fool you. The sun’s rays can still affect you. Layer on the sunscreen before going out.

3. Choose a sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher.

A sunscreen’s SPF (sun protection factor) determines how well it can absorb and reflect the sun’s rays. A sunscreen that is labeled SPF 30 absorbs 97% of the sun’s burning rays.

It’s also important to know that wearing sunscreen with a higher SPF does not mean you can stay outdoors longer without applying more. You’ll still need to reapply it to protect your skin.

4. Protect skin from UVA and UVB rays.

When you are purchasing sunscreen, look for one that offers broad-spectrum protection. That will help you stay safe from both UVA and UVB rays.

UVA rays penetrate the lower levels of the skin. They account for 95% of rays. UVB rays make up a smaller percentage of UV rays, but they cause most sunburns and sun damage.

5. Utilize different sunscreen formats.

Research shows there is very little difference in effectiveness between sunscreen sticks, sprays, gels, and creams. Buying several formats can make it easier to protect small or hard-to-reach body parts, such as the back of the ears.

Sunscreen sticks are good for ears and noses, and are also easy to take with you on bike rides and walks. Sprays and creams can cover larger surface areas more efficiently, such as the back, arms, and legs. Gels tend to adhere better on areas with hair, like the hairline and scalp.

6. Follow the directions on the bottle.

A mistake most people make when applying sunscreen is using too little. You should layer it on thickly instead. Also reapply it every two to four hours as directed on the bottle. If you are swimming or sweating heavily, you need to reapply it more often.

Just saw this post and want to share it with you.We need more of this!

Visitors

Positive post here! 3 young ladies just rang our doorbell and said they wanted to say hello and wish us well during this time. We are still new to the area and it meant the world to us! Friendly, well spoken, and beyond mature! Thanks to them (and their awesome parents) for making our day.

United Airlines said it would try to keep middle seats empty. This photo shows a nearly full flight

D

How to not “waste” a crisis

Every cloud allegedly has a silver lining. Estate planners have discovered a potential silver lining in the current economic crisis. Estate planning strategies now may be implemented at a much reduced tax cost, because asset values have fallen.

            At today’s lower

 asset values, much more may be transferred via gift before breaching the taxable threshold of $11.58 million per person.  It’s not just publicly traded stocks that are down in price. Nonmarketable securities, the value of family businesses, and real estate are down similar percentages, according to estate planner Alan Gassman, as reported in Tax Notes. For those who have been contemplating major gifts within the family, this may prove an opportune moment to pull the trigger.

            Roth IRA conversions.  One response to this year’s loss of the stretch IRA for long-term wealth management has been the recommendation to convert retirement assets to Roth IRAs. The immediate tax cost of such a conversion can be hard to swallow. Today’s lower asset values mean lower taxes for conversions now. Should prices recover after the pandemic recedes, all that gain will be tax free.          

            Several estate planning strategies rely upon the “Section 7520” interest rate in determining taxable values of transfers.  As the Federal Reserve has lowered interest rates to help the economy, the 7520 rate has fallen, standing at 1.2% for April 2020 (it was 2.2% in February). Lower interest rates improve the math for some strategies, especially when coupled with reduced asset values.

            GRATs. In a grantor-retained annuity trust, the trust creator is paid a fixed dollar amount for a term of years. If the grantor survives the term, assets pass to the remainder beneficiaries and won’t be included in the grantor’s taxable estate. The GRAT is a useful tool for transferring asset appreciation in excess of the 7520 rate without further transfer taxation.

            Asset freezes.  A grantor may sell an asset to an intentionally defective grantor trust in exchange for a note. If the note equals the value of the asset, there will be no gift tax, it will be a sale for full consideration. The interest rate on the note should match IRS guidelines—for April 2020, the mid-term interest rate is 1.9%. The note will be included in the grantor’s estate, but asset appreciation in the trust assets will pass without further transfer tax, freezing the taxable value. The grantor will owe tax on the trust income, which may further deplete the taxable estate.

            On paper, these strategies appear to confer substantial tax benefits. However, estate planners have been reporting that many clients have not looked at the opportunity with enthusiasm.  There is just too much uncertainty about how the pandemic and its economic fallout will play out. Still, if you’ve been thinking about taking a major estate planning step, this could be an ideal time to move ahead with the plan.

 (May 2020)

© 2020 M.A. Co.  All rights reserved.

Pandemic Delaying Medical Care of Older Americans

THURSDAY, April 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- The coronavirus pandemic has led many older adults to postpone medical care, a new survey finds. 

The University of Chicago survey found that 55% of U.S. adults aged 70 and older experienced a disruption in their medical care during the first month of social distancing. 

Thirty-nine percent put off non-essential care and 32% delayed primary or preventive care since social distancing began. And 15% said they delayed or canceled essential medical treatment, the survey found. 

"The first month of social distancing in America certainly saved lives, and yet it also created a situation where many older adults are not getting the care they need to manage serious health conditions," said Dr. Bruce Chernof. He is president and CEO of the SCAN Foundation, an independent charity focused on care of older adults, that co-sponsored the survey.

"As our nation grapples with when and how to reopen, the health care system will reckon with unaddressed medical needs and learn how to maximize new protocols to care for older adults with complex needs in flexible, person-centered ways," Chernof added in a foundation news release.

The researchers found that older adults are worried about delays in getting support to manage their medical conditions. Many doctors, however, are using telehealth to keep tabs on their patients. 

Nearly 25% said that their doctors had reached out to them since the start of the outbreak to check on how they were doing. 

More than 20% had a telehealth appointment since the start of the pandemic. And nearly 50% said it was like having a personal visit. Only 4% said it was worse. 

Terry Fulmer is president of the John A. Hartford Foundation, a survey co-sponsor. "Health care organizations have stepped up quickly to help older adults get their care needs met with this important technology," she said.

"Comfort levels with telehealth vary, but we are seeing rapid uptake in both urgent and primary care delivery. The survey results offer a promising glimpse into the future," Fulmer added.

In all, 83% of older adults said they were ready to self-isolate for several months, if necessary. 

A month into social distancing, however, 33% said they felt lonely. To combat it, many were spending more time on hobbies, watching TV, chatting with family and being physically active. 

Older Americans also said that health care professionals and non-elected public health officials were the most trustworthy, not elected officials. 

The survey of 1,039 adults was conducted April 10 to 15. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.28 percentage points.

More information

For more on telehealth, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

SOURCE: John A. Hartford Foundation/The SCAN Foundation, news release, April 27, 2020

Seniors, Getting Off the Sofa Brings Big Health Benefits

Physical activity may help seniors live longer and healthier -- and exercise doesn't have to be intense, two new studies say.

"Finding a way to physically move more in an activity that suits your capabilities and is pleasurable is extremely important for all people, and especially for older people who may have risk factors for cardiovascular diseases," said Barry Franklin, past chair of the American Heart Association's Council on Physical Activity and Metabolism.

Brisk walking, for example, can help manage high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and improve blood sugar, Franklin said in an AHA news release.

Here's the evidence:

One study of more than 1,200 U.S. adults, average age 69, found that those who did at least 150 minutes a week in moderate to vigorous physical activity were 67% less likely to die of any cause during the study period than those who didn't do that amount of exercise.

However, even light exercise was beneficial. Each 30-minute session of light-intensity physical activity -- such as household chores or casual walking -- was associated with a 20% lower risk of death from any cause.

In comparison, each additional 30 minutes of inactivity was associated with a 32% higher risk of death from any cause, according to the study.

The results were scheduled for presentation Thursday at an American Heart Association meeting, in Phoenix.

"Promoting light-intensity physical activity and reducing sedentary time may be a more practical alternative among older adults," said study author Joowon Lee, a researcher at Boston University.

The other study -- also scheduled to be presented at the AHA meeting -- included more than 6,000 U.S. women, average age 79.

Those who walked 2,100 to 4,500 steps a day were up to 38% less likely to die from heart attack, heart failure and stroke than those who took fewer than 2,100 steps a day.

Those who walked more than 4,500 steps a day reduced their risk by 48%, according to the study.

"Despite popular beliefs, there is little evidence that people need to aim for 10,000 steps daily to get cardiovascular benefits from walking. Our study showed that getting just over 4,500 steps per day is strongly associated with reduced risk of dying from cardiovascular disease in older women," said study lead author Andrea LaCroix, a professor and chief of epidemiology at the University of California, San Diego.

"Taking more steps per day, even just a few more, is achievable, and step counts are an easy-to-understand way to measure how much we are moving," LaCroix said in the release.

She said there are many inexpensive wearable devices on the market.

"Our research shows that older women reduce their risk of heart disease by moving more in their daily life, including light activity and taking more steps. Being up and about, instead of sitting, is good for your heart," LaCroix said.

Data and conclusions presented at meetings are usually considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about exercise.

SOURCE: American Heart Association, news release, March 5, 2020

STAND UP AND BE COUNTED!

Update 3.18.2020

The Census Bureau announced that all field operation have been suspended for the rest of March due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. This includes census workers walking neighborhoods and canvassing by telephone.

The move puts increased emphasis on households to respond online, over the phone or by mail in the current phase of the census, which is trying to count more than 300 million people across the country over the next few months. 

What to know about U.S. census 2020 and why it is vitally important to seniors

April 1^stis rapidly approaching, and it’s not just April Fool’s Day this year. It is also Census Day 2020, and this is the first time the majority of Americans will fill out their census information online. Official U.S. Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census online, by phone, or by mail, is on the way. As always, if you don’t reply by a certain date, they’ll come to you in person. That being said, there is some concern about the challenges of getting older people to participate this time around.

A recent U.S. Census Bureau survey found that 56% of those 65 and older aren’t comfortable with an online response and prefer to fill out a paper census form—which is still an option in addition to providing the information by telephone. 

“The concerns over privacy and cybersecurity will have to be overcome, and those concerns are highest for those over 50,” says Steve Jost, a former Census Bureau official. 

What the census means for you

It is vital to the senior community to have everyone participate in this important decennial process. The data collected by the census determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives (a process called apportionment), and it is also used to distribute billions in federal funds to local communities. That includes money for schools, roads, hospitals—and programs that specifically aid older Americans. 

Medicaid, the health insurance program for low-income people and those age 65 and older, is the largest federal program that uses census statistics to determine funding. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the second-largest program that uses census statistics to allocate funds, and third is Medicare Part B. 

In addition, adult day care, community center lunches, home-delivered meals, protection and remedy from abuse—both physical and financial—are mostly funded by Social Services Block Grants. The funding levels for these grants, in part, are derived from statistics produced by the Census Bureau. 

Watch out for scammers

A very small percentage of people who knock on doors claiming to be from the Census Bureau are looking to gather personal information so they can steal from you. Real census employees won’t ask for your full Social Security number, for money or donations, or for bank or credit card numbers. 

Check to make sure that the person has a valid identification badge with his or her photograph, a Department of Commerce watermark and an expiration date. If you still suspect fraud, call the Census Bureau at 800-923-8282 to speak to a representative.