It’s time to review your Medicare plan

LITTLE ROCK – Medicare’s open enrollment period is now underway, giving current or newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries the opportunity to sign up for benefits or make changes to existing coverage. [Full Text]


In this issue...

This issue’s cover story salutes the Central Arkansas Agency on Aging, CareLink, for its historic groundbreaking of a new Community Kitchen in the old Safeway building on Pike Avenue at 22nd Street in North Little Rock. [Full Text]


Tips for consumers

Medicare open enrollment is just around the corner, ending on Friday, Dec. 7. Whether you’re a person with Medicare, a caregiver, or professional helping clients to review their coverage options, we’ve got some helpful tips for you to keep in mind this season. [Full Text]


Flu season, fall allergies

Q: What sort of flu season is expected for this year? [Full Text]


Taking valuables inventory important

Some families, dealing with the loss of a parent and the enormous job of clearing out the home place, dispose of hidden cash, family history, signed art objects and sometimes jewelry inadvertently. [Full Text]


A senior bride reminiscences about marriage

On October 12, my late-life love and I celebrated 21 years of wed-ded bliss. I remember feeling a little foolish approaching 50 and planning a wedding. Then suddenly I became inspired to write this original one-of-a-kind poem the week before our wedding. [Full Text]


Foundation offers free program for diabetic, cancer and cardiac patients

Jonesboro, Ark. – Wellness Works is now accepting referrals for the next lession beginning Jan. 11. Wellness Works is a free medical and health professional monitored fitness program available exclusively for diabetic, cancer and cardiopulmonary patients. [Full Text]


Medicare Rx enrollment schedule for EAAAA

The East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging’s (Region III) Case Managers have scheduled open enrollment for Medicare Rx thru Dec. 7 at county offices. [Full Text]


A publication for older Arkansans, subscribe today!

November 2012 - Volume 1 - Number 7

Elaine Eubank is all smiles as she is handed a shovel by Chuck Hathaway, chairman of CareLink’s board of directors, at the groundbreaking for major renovation of the old Pike Ave. Safeway which will become a community kitchen and respite center.

CareLink breaks new ground

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – CareLink, a nonprofit agency that provides resources for older people and their families in central Arkansas, today broke ground for a major renovation of the old Safeway building at 22nd and Pike in North Little Rock that will become its new Community Kitchen and the Peggy and Joe Hastings Respite Center. [Full Text]



Don’t surrender to Alzheimer’s

Perhaps the three most terrifying words in the English language are: “You have Alzheimer’s.” For most people those words mean a slow, methodical, diabolical death sentence. Once uttered, they tend to initiate a thought process of defeat, hopelessness, and ultimate surrender to the disease. [Full Text]


West Central Arkansas participates in Alzheimer’s Arkansas Walk

Almost 350 walkers and volunteers raised more than $15,000 to benefit the victims of Alzheimer’s disease and their families on Oct. 13 at Garvan Woodland Gardens during the annual Alzheimer’s Arkansas Hot Springs Walk. [Full Text]


Wrapping up the session

In our September issue, veteran reporter John Hofheimer reported on the previous month’s Silver Haired Legislative Session, a biennial mock legislative session held at the state Capitol in Little Rock. [Full Text]


UAMS awarded $5.5 million from NIH to study health disparities

LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Center for Health Disparities (ARCHD) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has been awarded a fiveyear grant extension from the National Institutes of Health worth more than $5.5 million. [Full Text]


Health status of African-Americans detailed in report

Mortality rates of African-Americans were significantly higher than those of Caucasians for most cancers, HIV and homicide, but lower for motor vehicle crashes and suicide, according to a recent report compiled by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health. That’s just one of many findings detailed in a joint study focusing on the health status of African-Americans in Arkansas compiled by UAMS and supported by the Arkansas Minority Health Commission (AMHC), the Arkansas Center for Health Disparities and the Arkansas Prevention Research Center. The full report can be found here: www.uams.edu/coph/reports/ or www.arminorityhealth.com/ reports_updates.html. [Full Text]


AARP Arkansas honors key volunteer leaders

BENTONVILLE — Billie Jean Dougherty of Ward is the 2012 recipient of the Andrus State Award for Community Service, AARP’s most prestigious and visible volunteer award. [Full Text]


Ending senior hunger in eastern Arkansas

The East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging has applied for a grant through the generosity of the WalMart Foundation that, when funded, will place food pantries, specifically for seniors, in 20 senior centers contracted by the EAAAA in its 12-county service area. [Full Text]


What to do with the leftover turkey

My 86-year-old mother-in-law likes to cook two big meals a week and then graze off the left-overs the rest of the week. Of course, she doesn’t call them left-overs—to her they are “planned” overs. [Full Text]


Nephrology Program earns $650,000 grant renewal

LITTLE ROCK — A strong nephrology training program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) recently became even stronger with the renewal of a five-year grant of $650,000 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). [Full Text]


National Day of Caring Nov. 7

The East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging will observe the National Day of Caring on Wednesday, Nov. 7 at the Agency’s 2005 East Highland office in Jonesboro. The event begins at 10 a.m. and concludes at noon. [Full Text]


Community feast slated in Cabot

The Cabot Community Thanksgiving Feast, a free citywide event, will be held Nov. 22 at the Cabot United Methodist Church. The event is dine-in or carry out. The church is located on South Pine Street in Cabot. For more information, visit www.cabotfeast.com.


EVENT CALENDER

Dazzle Daze: Nov 15-17

Conway - As Conway's holiday shopping extravaganza nears its 11th anniversary, supporters say it is bigger and better than ever. In the past ten years, Dazzle Daze has raised over $300,00 in support of heath care at Conway Regional Health System. [Full Text]


CareLink hosts free, objective Medicare Drug Plan Review

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – Central Arkansas Medicare recipients can call CareLink Information and Assistance at 501-372-5300 or 800-482-6359 to make an appointment today for a free Medicare Drug Plan review during the Open Enrollment Period for Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage until Dec. 7. [Full Text]


Golf tournament Nov. 9 to raise stroke program awareness

LITTLE ROCK – The Swing Out Stroke Golf Tournament to raise awareness for AR SAVES, a statewide program for emergency stroke treatment, will kick off at 11 a.m. Nov. 9 at the Stuttgart Country Club in Stuttgart. [Full Text]