The National Nutrition Month campaign focuses on making good, informed food choices and developing sound eating habits with an active lifestyle. The 2018 campaign"Go Further with Food" is timely for many reasons. "Whether it's starting the day off right with a healthy breakfast or fueling before an athletic event, the foods you choose can make a difference" according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Preparing foods at home can be an additional plus. Refer to Food, Health, and Fitness for more information and recipes from Eat Right.

For seniors there are expert food, diet, and health resources available at- https://www.hhs.gov for just the facts and case studies. The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services https://www.cms.gov is also an excellent resource.

One discussion from Eat Right on Understanding Osteoporosis pinpoints the needs for seniors. Osteoporosis is a disease that consists of weakened bones. For many, with a routine of a healthful diet and regular weight-bearing exercise these factors can aid in bone tissue continuing the process to build. Calcium, the major nutrient needed to form new bone cells, is vital for bone health. Eat Right indicates that women over age 50 and men over age 70 need at least 1,200 milligrams of calcium a day. Calcium still can't do it alone. Consulting a registered dietitian will help guide those seeking better nutritionist, recommendations for choosing the best supplements for stronger bones.

Elder law news, Medicare information and other interesting articles by Weatherby & Associates, PC

13 Ways to Make Holidays for Seniors, Including Their  Caregivers, Affordable and Meaningful from the Society of Certified Senior Advisors

"No matter how you celebrate the season, it can be a challenge to come up with money for gift-giving and seasonal festivities." Read on to reveal the 13 tips. Click/tap here.

"Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, fluid coming from the nipple, or a red scaly patch of skin. In those with distant spread of the disease, there may be bone pain, swollen lymph nodes, shortness of breath, or yellow skin." Wikipedia

According to Medical News Today advances in screening and treatment have improved survival rates dramatically since 1989. There are around 3.1 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. The chance of any woman dying from breast cancer are 1 in 37, or 2.7 percent. Awareness and the need for screening are important ways in reducing risk.

In the following are some important discussions:

1. What is breast cancer?
2. Symptoms
3. 10 risk factors
4. Diagnosis
5. Treatment
6. Prevention and outlook

Systemic treatments: Drugs used to treat breast cancer are considered "systemic therapies". The drug can reach cancer cells almost anywhere in the body.

The Department of Homeland Security has put together an online resource center for the planning ahead of a disaster. Included are a toolkit, videos, and a theme for each week.

• Week 1: Make a Plan for Yourself, Family and Friends
• Week 2: Plan to Help Your Neighbor and Community
• Week 3: Practice and Build Out Your Plans
• Week 4: Get Involved! Be a Part of Something Larger
  

The web page dictated to seniors is -  https://www.ready.gov/seniors - with other resources listed at this web page.

Caregiver's Checklist:

1. Put together a plan by discussing with the household.
   
2. Consider specific needs for short-term quality care. 3 to 4 days. For a week, etc.
3. Consider medications, medical supplies/equipment, clothing, availability of family, professional staff, nurses, doctors, food and drink, shelter (with fresh and hot water, power and Internet), transportation and financial needs (cash on hand).
   
4. Document an emergency plan for those in need.
   
5. Practice the plan with those tended to.

For more information go to: https://www.ready.gov

This week we are facing Irma, last week was Harvey, and well before there were Andrew and Katrina. What did we learn? Read this informative article by Gary Barg, editor-in-chief of Today's CareGiver. Click/tap here. And "let's be safe out there".

Dealing with challenges can take a lot of endurance. Most individuals share these experiences and you can’t avoid them but there is something you can do about this unwelcome endurance test. Here are the details discussed in depth by author Bryan Golden from The Residence newsletter.

Don’t:
    •    Foster a victim mentality
    •    Become paralyzed by fear
    •    Let others make decisions for you
    •    Forget to ask friends and family for help
    •    Take your loved one’s symptoms personally

Other Challenges Covered:
    •    Keep things in perspective
    •    Learn from your past. You don’t have to relive it.
    •    Focus on what you have, not what you are lacking.
    •    There are situations where you have to cut lose and move on
    •    Anything worthwhile takes effort
    •    Identifying Late-Stage Alzheimer’s Disease
    •    Prepare as early as possible
    •    Ask for help – and don’t isolate yourself
    •    Consider hospice care
    •    Adjust medications
    •    Deal with grief when it appears

To review all click/tap here.

The Department of Homeland Security, the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Energize Connecticut, and the United Way of Connecticut have prepared some informative discussion points with articles addressing the heat. Included are extreme heat precautions, tips on staying cool, and more. Click/tap on graphic.