Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, May 20, 2017

WHAT TO DO WITH CREMATED ASHES? 
Mountain Views-News Saturday, May 20, 2017 10 THE GOOD LIFE THE GOOD LIFE 
SHOULD ALL BABY BOOMERS GET TESTED 


FOR HEPATITIS C? 

Dear Savvy Senior,
I’ve recently read that all baby boomers should gettested for hepatitis C. Is this really necessary, and ifso, what are the testing and treatment procedures?
Healthy Boomer 

Dear Healthy,
It’s true. Both the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force 
and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
(CDC) recommend that all baby boomers - peopleborn from 1945 through 1965 - get a hepatitis C test.

The reason is because baby boomers account for 75percent of the 3 million or so hepatitis C cases in the

U.S. Those that are infected are at very high risk ofeventually developing liver cancer, cirrhosis or otherfatal liver diseases. 
Most hepatitis C infections occurred in the 1970sand 1980s, before there were tests to detect themand before the nationÕs blood supply was routinelyscreened for the virus. 

Hepatitis C is transmitted only through blood, soanyone who received either a blood transfusion oran organ transplant prior to 1992 is at increased risktoo. So are health-care workers exposed to blood, andpeople who injected drugs through shared needles.
The virus can also be spread through microscopicamounts of infected blood that could occur duringsex, from sharing a razor or toothbrush, or getting atattoo or body piercing at an unsterile shop.

Most people that have hepatitis C don’t knowthey’re infected because there are no symptoms untiltheir liver becomes severely damaged. It can actuallytake 30 years for people to show any signs of thevirus, but by then, it may be too late to treat. But ifit’s detected in time, new treatments are now available 
that can cure it. 

Testing and TreatmentIf you’re between ages 52 to 72, or fall into one of thepreviously listed high risk categories, you should seeyour primary care doctor for a basic blood test todetermine whether you have ever been infected withhepatitis C. This is a relatively inexpensive test andtypically covered by health insurance under routinemedical care. 

If the test is negative, no further tests are needed.
But, if the test is positive, you’ll need another testcalled HCV RNA, which will show whether the virus 
is still active. 

If you test positive, you have chronic hepatitis Cand will need to talk to your doctor about treatmentoptions. If you’re infected, but have no liver damage,
your doctor should monitor your liver at your annualphysical.

The main treatments for chronic hepatitis C todayare several new FDA approved antiviral medicationsthat have a 95 percent cure rate. Compared to older 
treatments, these new medications have minimal 
side effects. Unfortunately, all the new drugs arevery expensive, a 12-week treatment course can costanywhere from $50,000 to $90,000.

Not all health insurance plans, including MedicarePart D plans, cover all prescribed medications forhepatitis C. And due to the expensive nature of thesemedications, most insurance plans require that youmeet several requirements in order to get coverage.

If your insurance provider doesn’t cover theantiviral therapy your doctor recommends, there arefinancial assistance options available. To look for help,
visit HEPC.liverfoundation.org and put your cursoron “Resources” and click on What if I need Financial 
Assistance to Pay for Treatment?

And for more hepatitis C information, along witha quick online quiz you can take to determine yourrisks, see CDC.gov/knowmorehepatitis. You can alsoget information over the phone by calling the nationaltoll-free HELP-4-HEP helpline at 877-435-7443. 

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 showand author of ÒThe Savvy SeniorÓ book. 


SENIOR HAPPENINGS 



HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …May Birthdays* 

Joann Serrato-Chi, Harriett Lyle, Jean Coleman, Birgitta Gerlinger, Donna Mathieson, 
Dorothy Murphy, Linda Wochnik, Marian Woodford, Debbie Sheridan, Joanne 
Anthony, Carole Axline, Kika Downey, Shirley Hall, Annie Scalzo, Janet Ten Eyck, Jane 
Thomas, Ray Burley.
* To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. 


YEAR of birth not required 
................................................................... 



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

Hawaiian & Polynesian Dance Class: Every Tuesday morning from 10a.m. to11a.m. Join instructor Barbara Dempsey as she leads you in the art of Hula. 

Bingo: Every Tuesday beginning at 1:00p.m. Cards are only $0.25 each! Everyone is welcome to join.
May be canceled if less than five people. 

Free Blood Pressure Testing: 2nd Tuesday of the month from 11a.m. to 12p.m. No appt. is necessary. 

Brain Games: Thursdays, 10:30a.m. to 11:30a.m., improve your memory and strengthen your 
brain. Activities facilitated by Senior Volunteers. 

Free Legal Consultation: Wednesdays from 10:30a.m. to Noon. Attorney Lem Makupson isavailable for legal consultation. He specializes in Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Estates, and Injury.
Appointments are required by calling 626-355-7394. 

Senior Club: Meets every Saturday at the Hart Park House Senior Center. Brown Bag Lunch at 
11:30a.m. 

Tax Assistance: Every Wednesday beginning on February 1st through April 12th from 1:00p.m.
to 2:00p.m. - Don Brunner is available for income tax consultation. Appointments are required by 
calling 626-355-7394. 

Chair Yoga: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:00 to 11:45a.m. with Paul Hagen. 3rd Monday of eachmonth, a variety of balance exercises are practiced. All ability levels are encouraged and welcomed! 

*A suggested donation of $5 at one of the classes is requested, but is not required. 

Case Management: Case Management services are provided by the YWCA and provide assistance in 
a variety of areas. Appointments are required and can be scheduled by calling the Hart Park HouseOffice at 626-355-7394. 

Birthday Celebrations: Every 2nd Thursday of the month at the Hart Park House, share some freebirthday cake provided by the Sierra Madre Civic Club. 

Game Day: Every Thursday starting at 12:00p.m. Come join this group of Seniors in a poker game. 
Other games are offered to all. Please note time change. 

Free Strength Training Class: Every Friday from 12:45p.m. to 1:30p.m. with Lisa Brandley. Thisenergetic class utilizes light weights for low impact resistance training. All class materials are provided. 

Stress, Resilience, Positivity: Finding Balance - by The Kensington Sierra Madre Four Tuesdays,
March 7 - 28th from 2:00 - 4:00p.m. Register by calling 213-821-6919 or 213-821-6908. 

SEASONAL FUN AT THE SENIOR CENTER 

Thursday, May 25th from 10:30a.m. – 11:30a.m. at the Hart Park House! 

Just in time for spring! Join us in making a silk flowers planter. All supplies will be provided. Let’s getcreative... Please call the Hart Park House, 626-355-7394, to make your reservations. 
Invite your friends and family for some arts and crafts fun and take home your planters for the season 


SENIOR EXCURSIONS 
MAY EXCURSION 


BOWERS MUSEUM - SANTA ANA 


Date: Tuesday, May 30th 
Time: 9:15a.m. to 3:00p.m. 

Meeting Location: Hart Park House 
Cost: $15.00 (Not including Lunch) 


The Bowers Museum is an art museum located in beautiful Orange County. The museum’s permanent
collection includes more than 100,000 objects featuring notable strengths in areas of pre-Columbian
Mesoamerica, Native American art, the art of Asia, Africa, and Oceania, and California plein-air 
painting.


 Participants will have time to explore the museum and have lunch on their own. Restaurant is open in
the museum and fast food places are a short walk away. There will be a docent-guided tour in the afternoon
which will feature highlights of galleries throughout , providing a great overview of the museum’s unique
collections. Level of walking: Medium – High; please call us at the Hart Park House for reservations at 
626-355-7394! 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com