Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 16, 2013

12

THE GOOD LIFE

 Mountain Views News Saturday, February 16, 2013 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

HOW MEDICARE COVERS DIABETES

 
By Pat Birdsall

FYI: The last column I wrote was: “I’ve Fallen and I can’t Get Up”…

I think that was dated January 12th. What a difference a day makes, as they say! This is going to be 
brief ( I hear a collective sigh of relief)…So much has happened since my hip replacement surgery, 
which, by the way was a piece of cake compared to what was in store for me. I had the surgery on 
the 16th of January and was home by the 21st! I was recovering very well and performing my rehab 
exercises with ease…how deceiving. The day after I got home I think I was feeling too smug and sure 
of myself when I had to get up to go to the bathroom and in doing so, I tried to get out of bed properly 
and instead, rushed the process and heard a loud POP! The sound I heard was my femur, next to the 
hip-replacement sight, breaking. Not good…

 I felt compelled to write this today to clarify the reports of my falling and breaking my hip…that 
isn’t how it happened…However, it really hurts to sit at the computer, so bear with me. To be 
continued…ad nauseum.

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HELPFUL HINT: Rusty Nuts & Bolts- If you have any nuts or bolts with rust on them, 
just pour club soda on them and let them soak until they are clean of rust. (If you have any club soda 
left, mix yourself a drink using fruit juices or syrups). 

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FOR YOUR FUNNY BONE 

 “I have good news and bad news,” the defense lawyer says to his client. “What’s the bad news?” The 
lawyer says, “Your blood matches the DNA found at the murder scene.” “Dammit! Cries the client. 
“What’s the good news?” “Well,” the lawyer says, your cholesterol is down to 140.”

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 A man and his wife were sitting in the living room. He said to her, “Just so you know, I never want 
to live in a vegetative state dependent on some machine. If that ever happens, just pull the plug.” So 
she gets up and unplugs the TV. 

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY! … February Birthdays…

 Anne-Marie Stockdale, Gordon Caldwell, Peter Lippincott, Georgia Lippincott, Janet 
Emery, Sharon Lefler, Lorraine Bush, Mary Beth Knox, Vickie Vernon, Hilda Pittman, 
Susan Henderson, Sylvia Lorhan Ann Luke, Janet O’Day, Ana Ptasinski, Jan Reed, Allie 
Atay, Ursula El-Tawansy, Winifred Swanson, Marian DeMars. *To add your name to this 
distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required.

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Quote of the Week: For 200 years we’ve been conquering Nature. Now, we’re beating it to

 death. ~Tom McMillan 

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ACTIVITIES: Unless listed differently, all activities are at the Hart Park 
House (Senior Center) 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre

YMCA San Gabriel Valley Intervale Senior Café: Monday-Friday at 12:00 Noon

(Participants are urged to arrive no later than 11:45 A.M.) 

All seniors 60 and up can take part in the lunch program. There is a suggested donation of $2.00 
for those 60 and over and $3.75 for non-senior guests. Daily reservations are necessary as space is 
limited. Please call 24 hours in advance...626.355.0256

 

Free Blood Pressure Testing: On the 2nd Tuesday of the month 11:00 am-12:00 pm: A nurse from 
Methodist Hospital, Arcadia volunteers to do the readings. No appointment necessary.

 

Bingo: Every Tuesday afternoon from 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm Cards are only .25c each! 

Free Chair Yoga: Every Wednesday morning from 11:00 am-11:45 am Volunteer Teryl Willis offers 
this class that focuses on senior yoga techniques. It is geared toward gentle movements, breathing 
techniques and balance improvement. No reservations are necessary.

Free Legal Consultation: Pasadena attorney Geoffrey Chin volunteers on the 2nd Wednesday of the

month. He focuses on estate planning, trusts, wills, probate, conservatorships and business law. 
*Appointments are a must! Please call: 626.355.7394 to make yours* Conflicting court schedules can 

 occasionally cause cancellations.

Free Income Tax Assistance: Wednesdays through April 10th from 1pm to 2pm Don Brunner will 
provide is available to all seniors for income tax consultation. Appointments are required, call 626-
355-7394.

Birthday Celebrations: The 2nd Thursday of the month the Senior Center celebrates the birthdays of 
our patrons at 12:30 pm. Please join us for free cake and ice cream and “celebration.” (The cakes are 
provided due to a generous donation from the Sierra Madre Civic Club.)

Game Day: Every Thursday at 1:00pm. Poker is usually the game of choice, or should I say chance? 
Board games and other card games are also available. Outside, on the patio, a beautiful, one-of-a-kind 
chess table is anxious for players.

 

Free Strength Training Class: Every Friday from 1:00 pm -1:45 pm. Conducted by long-time 
volunteer, Lisa Brandley. The class utilizes light weights for low-impact resistance training. Weights 
are provided by the Sierra Madre Senior Center. It’s a great way to stay in shape and to socialize with 
your peers. (Gossip included)

Senior Citizens Club: Every Saturday at the Hart Park House (Senior Center). Brown bag lunch at 
11:30am; Club meeting at Noon; Bingo 12:30- 3:30 pm. Only .25c per card… For more information 
call Pat at 626.355.7290.

NEW CLASS - Hawaiian & Polynesian Dance: Starting Feb 25th, this six week introductory course will 
teach hand, hip, and feet movements for one full dance. Classes will be held on Mondays from 1:00pm 
to 2:00pm for six weeks. Sarongs and leis will be provided. Class taught by Sierra Madre resident Cheryl 
Mason.

AARP DRIVER SAFETY COURSE This class focuses on learning current rules of the road,

defensive driving techniques, and how to operate your vehicle more safely in today’s increasingly 
challenging driving environment. You’ll also learn how you can manage and accommodate common 
age-related changes in vision, hearing and reaction time. Manystates including California offer 
discounts on auto insurance rates for those who complete this course..

EXCURSIONS:

Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise Date: Friday, February 22, 2013

Description: View actual costumes from movies released in 2012, including 2012 
Academy Award Winner for Best Costume, The Artist.

COMING UP: Whale Watching Trip - 2 hour boat ride (Long Beach, CA) Date: Saturday, March 2, 
2013 Time: 10:00am - 3:30pm Meeting Location: Community Recreation Center Cost: $31.00 (does 
not include lunch) Register by: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 Join the Community Services Department 
on its annual whale watching excursion. The 2013 excursion will visit the same whale watching 
Charter Company as 2012, which features a 2 hour cruise narrated by Aquarium of the Pacific staff 
and a boat that features indoor and outdoor seating. Participants can bring their own lunch to enjoy 
on the boat, or purchase snack items on-board. Bus leaves from the Community Recreation Center. 

Jeopardy Taping at the Sony Lot Date: Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Description: Attend a taping of America’s favorite quiz show. Test your knowledge while host Alex 
Trebek challenges the contestants.

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SENIOR MOVIE PROGRAM: FREE movies are shown on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays 
of the month. The films, one contemporary and one vintage, are chosen by the seniors themselves. 
February’s selections are:

WE BOUGHT A ZOO (2011) February 6th Set in Southern California, a father moves his 
young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo. Adaptationof Benjamin 
Mee’s memoir about buying and saving a run-down zoo, complete with escaped tigers and a zoo crew 
of misfits. Featuring Matt Damon and Scarlet Johansson. Rated PG Start time: 1:00 pm (run time is 
126 minutes)

GOLDFINGER (1964) February 20th The third installment in the 007 series, which racked 
up an Oscar for Best Sound Effects, finds überspy James Bond trying to thwart antagonist Auric 
Goldfinger and his elaborate gambit to corner the gold market by contaminating Fort Knox.

Featuring Sean Connery as James Bond. Not Rated Start time: 1:00 pm (run time is 111 minutes)

All movies are shown in Sierra Madre’s City Council Chambers, 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. 

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Dear Savvy Senior: What does Medicare cover 
when it comes to diabetes? I’m 65 and have pre-diabetes, 
and would like to find out what all is covered.

Fat Albert

Dear Albert:

Medicare actually offers a wide range of coverage 
to help beneficiaries who have diabetes, as well as 
those who are at risk of getting it – but they don’t 
cover everything. Here’s a breakdown of what 
Medicare covers when it comes to diabetes services 
and supplies along with some other tips that 
can help you save.

Doctor’s services: If you’re a Medicare beneficiary, 
Medicare Part B will pay 80 percent of the cost of 
all doctor’s office visits that are related to diabetes. 
You are responsible for paying the remaining 20 
percent after you’ve met your annual 2013 $147 
Part B deductible. 

Screenings: If you don’t currently have diabetes, 
but you do have pre-diabetes or some other health 
conditions that put you at risk of getting it – such 
as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, 
are overweight, or have a family history 
of diabetes – Medicare will pay 100 percent of the 
cost of up to two diabetes screenings every year. 

Education: If you have diabetes, Medicare covers 
80 percent of the cost of self-management training 
(after you meet your Part B deductible) to teach 
you how to successfully manage your diabetes. 

Supplies and medications: Eighty percent of the 
cost of glucose monitors, test strips and lancets 
(100 per month if you use insulin, or 33 per month 
if you don’t), glucose control solutions and insulin 
(if you use an insulin pump) are covered by Medicare 
Part B, after you’ve met your deductible. 

If, however, you inject insulin with a syringe, 
Medicare’s Part D prescription drug benefit may 
help pay your insulin costs and the supplies needed 
to inject it – if you have a plan. Part D plans also 
cover most other diabetic medications too. You’ll 
need to check your plan for details. 

Nutrition: Medicare will pick up the entire tab for 
medical nutrition therapy, which teaches you how 
to adjust your diet so you can better manage your 
condition. You’ll need a doctor’s referral to get this 
service. 

Blood sugar tests: Also known as a hemoglobin 
A1c test, this checks your average blood sugar 
level over the past three months to determine how 
well your diabetes is being controlled. Medicare 
covers this test when your doctor orders it. 

Foot exams: Since foot problems are common 
among people with diabetes, Medicare also covers 
80 percent of foot care every six months for 
diabetics with diabetes-related nerve damage, and 
therapeutic shoes for people with severe diabetic 
foot disease. Orthopedic shoes are not covered.

Eye exams: Because eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy, 
glaucoma and cataracts are more common 
in diabetics, 80 percent of dilated eye exams 
are covered each year, but eye exams for glasses are 
not. 

For more information, call Medicare at 800-633-
4227 and ask them to mail you a free copy of the 
“Medicare’s Coverage of Diabetes Supplies & Services” 
booklet (publication 11022), or see medicare.
gov/pubs/pdf/11022.pdf.

Other Insurance

If you have a Medigap (Medicare supplemental insurance) 
policy, it may pay some of the costs that 
Medicare doesn’t cover. Call your plan’s benefits 
administrator for more information. 

Or, if you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan (like an 
HMO or PPO), your plan must give you at least 
the same diabetes coverage as original Medicare 
does, but it may have different rules. You’ll need to 
check your policy for details. 

Financial Assistance

If you’re income is low, and you can’t afford your 
Medicare out-of-pocket costs, you may be able 
to get help through Medicare Savings Programs. 
Call your local Medicaid office for eligibility 
information. 

Also, find out if you are eligible for “Extra Help” 
which helps Medicare Part D beneficiaries with 
their medication expenses. Visit www.ssa.gov/
prescriptionhelp or call Social Security (800-772-
1213) to learn more. 

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 
5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim 
Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author 
of “The Savvy Senior” book.


KNOW YOUR VICTIM

 You’ve heard it before: some unsuspecting victim receives an authentic-looking 
email from a “friend” or “relative” who’s gotten themselves into a bad situation and 
needs to be bailed out by means of an electronic check or money order. Eventually, 
the victim realizes that their loved one (who was said to be holed up in Mexico or 
Uzbekistan) was never in real danger, and some con artist has made off with their 
money. It’s an old story.

 It’s conceivable that grandparents or other distant 
relatives who don’t interact with “the victim” very often 
would fail to recognize uncharacteristic nuances that 
would otherwise set off red flags in their minds. Simply 
put; if you know the person who’s supposedly sending you 
an email begging for money, you’ll be able to tell between 
the real deal and a fake.

 Similar situations happened twice to my mom (and 
everyone else on these two “victims’” contact lists). The 
first was allegedly from one of our pastors. The subject 
line was something to the effect of “Stranded in London, 
Need Cash NOW!!” First of all, anyone acquainted with 
this man knows that soliciting money over the Internet is 
the last thing he’d do, short of posting a rap on You Tube. 
“Send me yo’ dough, cuz I’m in Edin-burgh!” I don’t think 
those scammers got a red cent from that scheme.

 The second fraudulent email was also supposedly from 
another member of our church. The subject line itself was 
enough to confirm that the request wasn’t real. It read, 
“Mary, Hey!” Now, if this email was from my cousin in 
South Carolina, we wouldn’t have batted an eye. She can turn “ya’ll” into a five-syllable word. In 
stark contrast, this fellow is very formal. Added to that the fact that he is Dutch (see my earlier article 
referencing Dutch tendencies). These factors made the plea totally implausible.

 I don’t know many Dutch people, but I know this church member, another cousin (this one an 
American living in the Netherlands), and my scant online research. Compared to our relatives in the 
South, the Dutch are blunt. So blunt, some say that their “honesty” borders on rudeness. What we 
Americans consider politely indirect, the Dutch view as hypocritical. 

 Needless to say, the fraudsters posing as our Dutch church member were probably dismissed 
sooner than those who pretended to be our pastor stranded in London. The take away lessons are: 
1) if you’re going to victimize --know your victim, and 2) if you’re pretending to be Dutch, research 
Dutch peculiarities. “Stuff Dutch People Like.com” is a fine blog that’s sure to entertain, if not fill you 
in on how to pose as a Dutch person, at least online. With that, I wish you immunity from scammers 
and clarity for the next time you receive an urgent request for CASH!