Serving Our Seniors Magazine: April - June 2024

As we continue to get older and live longer there is another change taking place… Family size is shrinking. Young adults are not having as many children or having no children. This brings consequences for people of older age. In the next ten years, and beyond, there will continue to be workforce shortages – especially in health care. The American Association of Medical Colleges study reported an overall projected shortfall in America of 37,800 to 124,000 physicians by 2034. (www.aamc.org/news/aging-patients ) In response, we will see more computerization and artificial intelligence filling the health care gaps. Where does this leave older Americans? ANSWER: In a difficult position. If older Americans are serious about aging successfully, they must gain an understanding of what is taking place at their healthcare appointments (virtual and in-person) and take better care of him/herself, in later life. Often, people of older age believe their declining health or their inability to do things, independently, is because they are “old.” That is not true. There is something causing the decline and it is not due to a chronological number. Join us for the following forums: What I Ought To Know For My Age: Vital Reasons For Vital Signs, April 18, 2024, 1:30 – 3pm. Tina Sluga, Health Care Advocate Trainer, will answer your questions so the audience will understand the reasons vital signs are taken, she will explain commonly used medical jargon and basic information most patients don’t understand, but should . What I Ought To Know For My Age: Should I Tell My Doctor? June 13, 2024 1:30 – 3pm. Dr. James Preston (retired) and Tina Sluga, Health Care Advocate Trainer, will talk -- in easy to understand terms – about the importance of being open and honest with your doctor/ nurse practitioner (NP); and give examples of bringing small changes to the doctor/NP’s attention. Location: Erie Co. Senior Center, 620 E. Water Street – Sandusky. I’m writing to thank you, Serving Our Seniors, for providing an expert and facilitating the seminar on Thursday, November 30, 2023 on scams. I learned so much! After leaving the facility, I ran a few errands before returning to my apartment, shortly after 4:30pm. In catching up on my e-mail, that evening, to my surprise was this e-mail, which under no circumstances was I going to open. It said, “Tom Pascoe your order #ML018JH payment is completed. Invoice date: Friday, 01, December 2023. Invoice #350496930. Thank so… 7:07 a.m.” Needless to say, (1) this sender didn’t know my spouse passed, several years ago and (2) Americans don’t date communication like this. Duh! – Patty Pascoe If you missed it… Patty is referring to the forum entitled, “How to Detect a Scam Artist on Your Computer or Telephone.” This was a question & answer session with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Attorney, Fil DeBante. If you would like to receive a printed list of upcoming forums contact Serving Our Seniors at 419-624-1856 or Mail@ServingOurSeniors.org or check out our website www.servingourseniors.org and click on the word Events at the top of the web page. Helping YOU Age Successfully By Tina Sluga, Health Care Advocate Trainer and Sue Daugherty, Director L Tina Sluga, Health Care Advocate Trainer with Barb Leal This is Personal: An Attempted Scam on ME! 6