Commonwealth
Care Alliance
CHECK UP
SENIOR CARE OPTIONS NEWSLETTER
SENIOR CARE OPTIONS NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2016, EDITION 31
ut rece ntly
sho uld kno w abo
end atio ns
Ten thin gs you
tive care reco mm
upd ated pre ven
sary.
cancer isn’t neces
1.
for peop le with
Bloo d press ure
be 140/90
numbers need to
diabe tes: Your
,
prevent kidney failure
or lower to best
e.
diseas
heart
and
stroke,
m ent: Get
testin g and treat
r
2. Chol ester ol
5 years. If your docto
tested at least every
e,
for future heart diseas
says you have risks
sterol
chole
a
ribed
you may be presc
if you have
ially
espec
lowering medication,
.
attack or a stroke
already had a heart
1 to 5 years
Get tested every
3. Diab etes test:
ask
to
sure
risks – be
depending on your
diabetes,
earlier we catch
your doctor. The
do to stop it.
the more you can
r
A rectal exam and/o
55
recommended from
blood test is ONLY
ss it
ONLY if you discu
to 70 years old and
and
risks
and agree on the
with your doctor
benefits for you.
tested at least
scree ning: Get
8. Hepa titis C
much better,
once. There are new,
unsafe sex,
ble. Also, avoid
treatments availa
ct
other blood conta
any
and
es,
needl
sharing
virus is transmitted.
which is how the
STOP MEDICAL
PROBLEMS BEFORE
THEY START
is done
er tests : Testing
4. Cerv ical canc
gets a
now. In fact, no one
MUCH less often
g
e age 21. Then, testin
Pap smear befor
every
until age 30, then
years
3
every
s
occur
testing
(genital wart virus)
5 years, with HPV
prevent and cure
can
You
65.
until age
r Pap smears.
regula
with
r
cervical cance
s: An
aorti c aneu rysm
9. Abdo mina l
en is
e of your abdom
ultrasound pictur
every MAN age 65-75
recommended for
checks to see
test
The
ed.
who has ever smok
of the
ning
balloo
rous
if there is any dange
doctors
ss test that some
artery. It is a painle
offices.
offer right in their
one should
plann ing: Every
10. Adva nce care
cal Orders for Life
have a MOLST (Medi
Care
ment) and Health
Sustaining Treat
way
out and signed. This
Proxy form filled
of lifeknow what types
your doctors will
you are
ent you want when
treatm
ning
sustai
can,
e yourself. If you
peopl
tell
to
sick
too
door so
your refrigerator
post the forms on
located.
they can be easily
Earlier this year, you received
a package in the mail from
Commonwealth Care Alliance
that included “preventive care
guidelines.” These guidelines
were sent to help you get the
tests you need to stop medical
problems before they happen.
does not
: Because the test
5. Mam mogr aphy
y
er women, we usuall
work well in young
s are
age 50. Mammogram
begin testing at
75 years
to
50
age
from
given every 2 years
40,
age
at
start
d
shoul
old. If you think you
r.
talk to your docto
g
l canc er testin
6. Colo n and recta
ed that
: It is recommend
(colo nosc opy)
10
examined every
you have your colon
cannot
at age 50. If you
years beginning
y, testing your stools
tolerate a colonoscop
is one alternative.
for blood every year
experts
er scree ning: Most
7. Prost ate canc
ate
e screening for prost
agree that routin
We hope you have saved the
guidelines. Discussing these
guidelines with your doctor
and members of your care
team can help you get healthy
and stay that way.
If you didn’t save the
guidelines, you can find them
at — and download them from
— the Commonwealth Care
Alliance website. Simply go to
www.commonwealthcaresco.
org, click on “Resources,”
then click on “Preventive Care
Guidelines.”
IN THIS ISSUE
RESOURCES FOR
FAMILY CAREGIVERS
Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA) supports family
caregivers of Senior Care Options members with resources
and assistance to
care for their loved
ones and stay
healthy themselves.
A new section on
the CCA website
offers, “Caregiver
Resources: Caring
for Aging Parents.”
This includes a
downloadable guide
called “Caring for Aging Parents.” The guide includes:
• Forms to organize and manage your senior parents’ care
• A downloadable handbook for “focusing on you while
caring for others”
• Videos
• An interactive quiz for caregivers to assess whether
they’re taking care of themselves
Visit our Caregiver Resources website to download our
tools: www.commonwealthcaresco.org/resources/caringfor-our-caregivers
PAGE 2
PAGE 3
PAGE 4
HEALTH TIP
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
A WORD ABOUT
MENTAL HEALTH
KNOW YOUR BENEFITS
ARE YOU HAPPY WITH
YOUR SENIOR CARE
OPTIONS PLAN?
HEALTH TIP:
MAKE EXERCISE A PART OF YOUR DAY
Exercise is good your body,
your mind, and your spirit.
Did you know that there are
simple ways to get exercise?
Just make physical activity a
regular part of your everyday
activities.
Here are some tips from the
National Institutes of Health
on how to make exercise a
part of your day:
Make it easy: You are more
likely to exercise if it’s easy
to do, and you can find lots
of ways to get a little extra
exercise when you go about
your day-to-day activities.
Put small weights next to
your easy chair so you can do
some lifting while you watch
TV. Walk up and
down the soccer
field during your
grandchild’s game.
Walk the entire
mall or every aisle
of the grocery
store when you go
shopping. When
you go out to
get the mail, walk
around the block.
Make it safe: Exercise and
moderate physical activity
are safe for almost all older
adults. Still, talk to your
doctor before starting an
exercise program. Ask how
physical activity can help
you and whether you should
avoid certain activities.
Make it interesting, fun, and
social: Take a walk with a
friend or family member, or
sign up for a yoga class with
a neighbor. Join a walking
club at your local mall or an
exercise class at a nearby
senior center.
(Source: http://nihseniorhealth.gov/exerciseandphysicalactivityhowtostayactive/makeexerciseahabit/01.html)
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SKIN CANCER
Warmer weather is here, and that means that
we’ll all be spending a lot more time outdoors.
And, while there are great health benefits to
getting out in the sunshine, there are also risks
– particularly skin cancer.
To help you stay safe, here are some important
tips on skin cancer detection and treatment.
Early detection is the key: Most skin cancers
can be cured if they are found and treated
early, so check regularly for potential problems.
Examine all parts of your face, scalp and body.
Regular self-exams: Watch out for moles,
beauty marks, birthmarks, or brown spots
2
that change color or size or have an irregular
shape. Marks that itch, burn, bleed, or don’t
heal could also be signs of trouble.
Contact your doctor: If you think you might
have a problem, contact your doctor right
away. You may be referred to a dermatologist
who can more closely examine the issue and
begin the right kind of treatment.
Use sunscreen: Of course, you should take
steps to prevent skin cancer before it happens.
Start by using sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or
higher when you plan to spend time outdoors.
And reapply that sunscreen every two hours.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS FROM MEMBER SERVICES
Our Member Services
Department is your single
point of contact for
information and answers
about your Senior Care
Options plan. In addition to
answering your questions,
we can connect you to your
Care Manager by sending a
message on your behalf for a
call back within 48 business
hours or sooner, if it’s urgent.
New doctor?
Have you recently changed
your Primary Care Physician
(PCP)? If so, please call
Member Services at 1-866610-2273 (TTY: 711) so we
can update your record.
New ID card
If you have not received your
not, please call Member
Services at 1-866-610-2273
(TTY: 711). We can help you
select a dentist, schedule an
appointment, and answer any
dental coverage questions
you have.
new membership ID card in
the mail, please
call Member Services at
1-866-610-2273
(TTY: 711). Without your
new card, your pharmacy
and other providers may
have difficulty providing
prescriptions and services.
Dental services
Have you received a dental
cleaning or check up in
the last six months? If
Paying out-of-pocket?
Please remember that you
should not pay for any
covered benefits, including
copayments and deductibles.
Do not pay for any covered
services, including dental,
up front even if a provider
or dental office asks you to.
For assistance, always call
Member Services at 1-866610-2273 (TTY: 711).
AN EASY, HEALTHY SALAD RECIPE
As the weather grows warmer, more and more healthy
vegetables are in season and ready to eat. Here’s a salad
recipe using 10 different vegetables from ChooseMyPlate.gov.
It’s nutritious, inexpensive, and simple to make!
Makes: 4 servings
1 cup yellow squash (sliced)
Ingredients
2 cups cucumber (sliced)
4 cups spinach (fresh)
2 cups carrot (chopped)
4 cups romaine lettuce
1 cup zucchini (sliced)
2 cups green pepper (chopped, or use red,
yellow, or orange)
Directions
2 cups cherry tomatoes
1 cup broccoli (chopped)
1 cup cauliflower (chopped)
Wash all of the vegetables and mix them
together in a large mixing bowl. Top this
colorful meal with the nonfat or low-fat
dressing of your choice.
3
Commonwealth
Care Alliance
30 Winter Street
Boston, MA 02108
Your Spring 2016
Newsletter
Contains health and
wellness or preventive
information.
ARE YOU HAPPY WITH YOUR SENIOR CARE
OPTIONS PLAN?
If you are pleased with the supports and
services you receive from your Senior
Care Options plan, spread the word! Tell
family members and friends who you
think might be interested in joining our
program.
Or, have them visit our website:
www.commonwealthcaresco.org.
If you have any comments about the newsletter, please contact
Theresa Kaminski at: [email protected].