As tax filing season rolls on, be on the lookout for the IRS imposter scam. You get a call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, saying you owe a specific amount in taxes, and may threaten to arrest you if you don’t pay immediately. Know the IRS will never call and demand immediate payment without first sending a notice through the mail. Nor will the IRS ever ask for credit or debit cards over the phone, or threaten you with arrest. If you get a call like this, hang up. If you are concerned that you may owe taxes, call the IRS directly at 800-829-1040.

 File your taxes early to beat the cons

It’s tax season which means that scammers want your refund! When you file your taxes, keep your Social Security number safe. Don’t put sensitive documents in your mailbox or leave them unattended in your car. If you file online, use a secure site and don’t transmit sensitive info via wifi, particularly in a public place. Have all your tax documents? File early to beat the cons. 

reprinted from Seniors Plus

We humans are generally helpful by nature, and this tendency is something criminals often seek to manipulate, whether it’s a sham tug-at-your-heartstrings charity, a fake crisis of a loved one or now the “Can you do me a favor?” scam. The latter typically involves criminals posing as bosses, friends, family members or even a local faith leader. But they all have one thing in common—a request for gift cards.

How It Works• You receive a brief but urgent message from someone you know asking for a quick favor—run to the store and pick up some gift cards, and they’ll reimburse you later.•The message can come by email, text or social media, and the sender claims to be traveling or is otherwise tied up.•The ask may come from a supervisor at work who needs the gift cards for an employee appreciation event, a faith leader who is looking to quickly help a family in need, or a family member or friend.•The request is for specific gift cards and a specific amount, and they ask you to snap photos of the front and back (exposing the PIN) and send the pictures. What You Should Know• Gift cards are attractive to criminals—they are everywhere, aren’t generally trackable and can be converted to cash in an instant.•Anytime someone asks you to buy gift cards and share the numbers off the back, it’s a scam—full stop. What You Should Do• Verify. If you get a message like this, contact the person in a way you know to be legitimate and ask them if they sent it.•If you buy gift cards only to later learn it was part of a scam, contact the retailer or card issuer immediately. If the funds weren’t drained in full, you may be able to get some of your money back.•Remember that all scams are crimes. If you ever experience financial loss from a scam, contact the police to file a report. If you get resistance, persist so you have a formal record in the event of possible future restitution.

It’s time to think about New Year’s resolutions. More than 4 in 10 U.S. adults make at least one, surveys say. Health resolutions are popular. So are resolutions about saving money. That might be especially true this year, due to inflation and an uncertain economy.

What if you combined your desire to get healthier with your determination to stretch your dollars in 2023? You might try some of these ideas:

Resolution #1: Walk more, drive less

If you are lucky enough to live within walking distance of your favorite stores and gathering places, resolve to walk to them more often. You’ll save money on gas and reap the health benefits of walking. Those include lower risks of high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes, stronger muscles and bones, easier weight maintenance and a better mood, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Not sure you are up to walking through your errands? Start with shorter jaunts: Research suggests every minute matters. If you need some help getting going, in some communities you can find walks led by health professionals, through the Walk With a Doc program (AARP is a sponsor).  

Resolution #2: Lower your thermostat for better sleep

You can take a bite out of your winter heating bills and sleep better by setting your nighttime temperature lower than most people do, research suggests. The Sleep Foundation suggests a range of 60 to 67 degrees, with a sweet spot around 65 degrees.

But Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist and sleep specialist, says that range is too low for many people, including those who sleep nude or with minimal bedding. Also, he says, we tend to feel colder with age, because we lose fat directly beneath our skin, which acts “like a long underwear layer of insulation.”

The best idea, he says, is to experiment with lower temps. If you are younger than 65, he suggests trying 65 degrees to start; people over 65 might start at 70 degrees, he says.

Resolution #3: Drink more water, from fewer bottles

Water is the perfect health drink. But bottled water is much more expensive than tap water, with no health advantages in places where tap water is safe, as it is in most of the United States. If you don’t like the taste of your tap water, are worried about its quality or like fizziness or added flavor, there are simple, inexpensive solutions.

First, you can put a filter on your faucet or under your sink or use a filtered pitcher to remove chlorine, lead and other substances that might affect taste or safety. A pitcher, for less than $40, is the most affordable option, according to Consumer Reports.

For fizzy water, get a soda-making kit, starting for less than $60. Though you can buy flavor packs for soda makers, you can more cheaply add your own fruit juice, herbs or other mixers.

Resolution #4: Rediscover the library

Reading is good for your brain: Studies suggest it can slow memory decline and, if you read fiction, increase your sense of empathy. But buying books and magazines can get expensive.

Luckily, in most U.S. towns and cities, there’s a place where the books are free and plentiful: the library. If you haven’t been to one lately, give it a try, in person or online. The library is a great source of printed books (including large-print versions), and you can also borrow electronic and audiobooks

Resolution #5: Cook with less meat and more beans

“Extend meat dishes by replacing a portion of the meat with canned beans, like black beans, kidney beans or pinto beans,” suggests Christine Rosenbloom, a registered dietitian nutritionist who is the coauthor of Food & Fitness After 50 and a nutrition professor emerita at Georgia State University.

Beans are cheaper protein than meat, and they are full of fiber and other nutrients, Rosenbloom says. To cut the sodium in canned beans, she says, rinse them before use.

Resolution #6: Find free or low-cost exercise classes

In part because of the COVID-19 pandemic, online choices have exploded, and some are free or low-cost, says Cedric Bryant, president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise. For example, at Fitness Blender, you can find hundreds of cardio, strength, yoga and other workouts for free (with advertisements). Other sites offer free trials. The best sites, Bryant says, offer classes at varying fitness levels and let you adjust the level if you find a class too hard or too easy.

In-person classes at community recreation centers can also be a bargain, Bryant says. Some people 65 or older qualify for free online and in-person classes through their Medicare Advantage plans. Some insurance companies give discounts on gym memberships, so check with yours. 

Want to try some online classes? AARP’s Staying Fit section has a selection of on-demand exercise videos. Senior Planet from AARP has free online fitness and wellness sessions on weekdays and AARP’s Virtual Community Center also has live exercise and wellness classes. 

Resolution #7: Find the best bets in the center grocery aisles

Nutrition gurus have often told us to focus on the outer edges of the grocery store, where the fresh produce, meats and fish are found. But fresh is not always better, when it comes to price or nutrition, Rosenbloom says. Fish is a great example. “Fish at the fish counter is often frozen fish that has been thawed,” she says, “and it’s more expensive than what’s in the frozen aisle.” Canned tuna and salmon are other affordable options.

Frozen veggies are also great because they cut down on waste. Rosenbloom says: “You only use what you need (and then) reseal the bag and put it back in the freezer for the next meal.”

Resolution #8: Volunteer at a theater or concert hall

If the sound of an orchestra tuning up makes you smile, but a glance at ticket prices at your local theater or concert hall gives you pause, consider volunteering as a ticket-taker or usher. You’ll get to enjoy the performances and a mental health boost, from both the cultural experience and the volunteer work, studies suggest.

If you don’t have time to volunteer, research shows that simple acts of kindness toward others have multiple health benefits.

Resolution #9: Try pickleball

If you haven’t tried it, consider this wildly popular sport to get your heart beating and have some fun with friends. One reason for the craze: The game is easy to learn and costs little to pick up, compared with sports such as tennis and golf, Bryant says. All you need is a paddle, a few people to play with and a court — increasingly available year-round in many gyms and community centers, he says.

Resolution #10: Find your entertainment in nature

Instead of spending a pricey afternoon at the movies or in the mall, go to a park. Soaking up some nature can lower your blood pressure and heart rate, reduce stress and improve memory, studies suggest. While you are out there, look and listen for birds: One study found that seeing and hearing birds boosted mental well-being, even in people with depression.

Resolution #11: Plan and grow a garden

Creating your own natural oasis by planting flowers or food can give you a boost. People who garden see reductions in depression, anxiety and body mass index, and increases in life satisfaction, quality of life and sense of community, research shows.

Those who grow food probably save money, too. On average, home gardens produce about $677 in fruits and vegetables, after subtracting $238 spent on seeds, soil, watering and other costs (but not labor), according to research from Oregon State University. Here are some tips on how to get started gardening.

Resolution #12: Practice more gratitude

Feeling thankful can improve sleep and immunity and reduce depression, anxiety and pain, according to the Mayo Clinic. There’s an obvious way in which gratitude might improve financial health — by reducing urges to spend money on things that don’t make you happy.

“The more grateful we are, the more content we tend to be with what we have,” says Kristi Nelson, executive director of A Network for Grateful Living and author of Wake Up Grateful.

One thing she suggests: When you wake, think immediately of a few things that make you grateful. You might focus, she says, on the parts of your body that work well or the fact that you slept or “that the sun is rising, no matter where you are.”  

Reprinted from AARP

When your personal information is stolen, it is identity theft. When your stolen data are used fraudulently, it is identity fraud. For the second consecutive year, the Federal Trade Commission’s tracking shows identity fraud is topping the charts.

•Criminals have many ways to obtain our personal information. They steal mail, hack corporate databases or use emails, texts and phone calls designed to deceive people into sharing their information.•They may sell your data to the highest bidder or use it themselves to open new accounts in your name or take over existing accounts. They may file for federal benefits in your name, too.•To safeguard yourself against identity theft and fraud, avoid sharing sensitive information to anyone who contacts you. Avoid clicking on links in emails and texts, set up electronic access to your financial accounts, and consider setting up a fraud alert or credit freeze to protect against fraudulent account openings.

​Check out this list of what you need and when you need them

You already know it’s important to get your flu vaccine every year, ideally by the end of October. And when you go in for the shot, it’s a great time to make sure you’re up to date on all the other immunizations you should be receiving as an adult.

After all, it’s not just babies and youngsters who need a poke to protect against serious, and potentially lethal, diseases. Adults need them too, especially as our immune systems weaken with age.

So what shots should you get at 50 and beyond? “There are new vaccines that have come out in the past several years, specifically aimed at older adults,” says Morgan Katz, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Checking In On Polio Vaccination Status

With newfound evidence that the poliovirus is circulating in the U.S., experts are recommending that anyone who is unvaccinated get immunized against the potentially debilitating disease. The CDC says most adults in the U.S. were vaccinated against polio as children (the vaccine first became available in 1955), and that continues to be the case. However, if you’re unsure of your status and are concerned, the CDC says it’s safe to repeat the vaccine.

One of them is Shingrix, the amazingly effective shingles vaccine. And there are a few new pneumococcal vaccines on the market that go hand-in-hand with updated recommendations for older adults.

Below you’ll find the vaccinations every adult needs, followed by two — for hepatitis A and B — that you need only if you have certain risk factors. What you won’t see on the list? Measles and chicken pox vaccines. Anyone born before 1957 wouldn’t need a measles vaccine because the disease was so prevalent when they grew up that immunity as an adult is assumed.

Chicken pox is similar in that most adults already have immunity from childhood exposure to the disease, Katz says. “Almost all adults over 40 have been exposed to chicken pox,” she adds, noting that it would be “an extremely rare case” for an adult not to have been. That said, if you think you could be in that tiny minority, ask your doctor about getting the chicken pox vaccine as an adult.

For the rest of the list, you can get your necessary shots at doctors’ offices, pharmacies, workplaces, community health clinics and other locations. And most health insurance plans will pick up the tab. So stop in and let ’em stick it to you. 

Influenza vaccine 

Who needs it: All adults, no matter the age.

How often: Once a year. “The virus itself changes every year,” Katz says. “Researchers try to predict what will be the most common strain that season, then reformulate the vaccine accordingly.” 

Flu season typically begins in October and ends in March, though experts predict it could hit earlier this year. And so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends rolling up your sleeve by the end of October, since it takes about two weeks after a vaccination for flu-fighting antibodies to develop in the body. 

What you need: While experts say a standard flu shot is certainly better than no flu shot, the CDC is now recommending that adults 65 and older — a group at higher risk of complications from an influenza infection — opt for a high-dose version. Here’s a rundown of the options:

• Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent is an injectable vaccine that contains four times the antigen (the flu proteins that our immune system recognizes and attacks) of a standard-dose inactivated flu vaccine, to help create a stronger immune response. A study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine reported that people 65 years and older who got Fluzone High-Dose (a previously available trivalent high-dose vaccine) had a lower risk of hospitalization compared with people in that age group who got the standard dose, especially those living in long-term care facilities. What’s more, research published in The New England Journal of Medicine found it to be more effective in preventing flu in adults 65 years and older relative to a standard-dose vaccine.
  
• Fluad Quadrivalent is an adjuvanted flu vaccine, made with an MF59 adjuvant, an additive that creates a more robust immune response
  
• Flublok Quadrivalent. This is a recombinant vaccine, which means it does not require an egg-grown virus and does not use chicken eggs in the manufacturing process. This may be a good option if you are allergic to eggs (the Fluzone and Fluad offerings are grown in eggs). Flublok Quadrivalent contains three times the antigen of other standard-dose inactivated flu vaccines.

Why you need it: The flu can lead to hospitalization and sometimes death — and seniors are the most vulnerable. In any year, 50 to 70 percent of flu-related hospitalizations occur among people 65 and older, according to the CDC. Still, research compiled by AARP found that only half of U.S. adults ages 50 to 64 had the influenza vaccine in 2020; 70 percent of adults 65 and older went in for the jab.

Talk to your doctor if: You’ve had a severe reaction to the flu shot in the past, are allergic to eggs, have (or have had) Guillain-Barré syndrome, or have a fever. (In that case, you’ll likely be asked to wait until your temp is back to normal before you get the vaccine.)

Parting shot: Even if you’re vaccinated, there’s a possibility you could get the flu. How well the inoculation protects depends on different factors, including your age and health status. That said, a flu vaccination may lessen the severity of illness if you do get sick. A 2017 study found that flu vaccination reduced ICU admissions and the length of hospital stays among flu patients, especially among older adults. It also reduced death.

COVID-19 vaccine  

Who needs it: All adults, no matter the age, and especially people ages 50 and older, who are considered to be at increased risk for complications from a coronavirus infection.

How often: It’s recommended that all adults receive their primary series (this is two shots, given a few weeks apart), followed by an updated (omicron) booster to protect against the coronavirus variants that are currently circulating. In the past, booster schedules varied — some older adults may have received two or more. However, the new recommendation is that all fully vaccinated adults — no matter how many boosters are under their belt — should get the newly authorized omicron booster at least two months after their last shot. Health officials are hopeful boosters from here on out will be on an annual schedule; stay tuned.

What you need: There are four different vaccines available, one from Novavax, one from Moderna, one from Pfizer-BioNTech and one from Johnson & Johnson, though the CDC recommends the J&J vaccine be considered only in some situations. The vast majority of Americans have been vaccinated with either Pfizer or Moderna.

The primary series for the Novavax, Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines requires two shots, spaced a few weeks apart. Both Moderna and Pfizer have updated boosters; Novavax is expected to have a booster soon.

Why you need it: COVID-19 has killed more than 1 million Americans since it started circulating in the U.S. two years ago and has hospitalized countless others. It’s especially risky for adults 50 and older who are more likely to suffer complications from an infection.

CDC data from June 2022 shows that unvaccinated people are five times more likely to die from COVID-19 than their vaccinated peers. And among adults 50 and older, unvaccinated people are 14 times more likely to die from the illness than adults who are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.  

Talk to your doctor if: You’ve had a severe allergic reaction to a medication or vaccine in the past.

Parting shot: As the newly authorized omicron boosters ship out and supplies ramp up, health experts are encouraging people to schedule their COVID-19 booster at the same time as their flu shot for added convenience and enhanced protection against two illnesses that tend to spread more in the cold-weather months.

Pneumococcal vaccine

Who needs it: Healthy adults 65 years and older, or adults 19-64 with certain risk factors (smoking, or health problems, such as chronic lung or heart disease, leukemia, lymphoma or alcoholism).

How often: Adults who haven’t received a pneumococcal vaccine should opt for either the PCV15 or PCV20. If PCV15 is used, it should be followed by a dose of PPSV23 a year later. (If you’re immunocompromised, you may get it sooner.) 

Why you need it: Before COVID-19 came along, pneumococcal disease, which can cause pneumonia, killed more people in the U.S. each year than all other vaccine-preventable diseases combined. Young children and those over 65 have the highest incidence of serious illness, and older adults are more likely to die from it. Experts estimate PCV13 (one of the pneumococcal vaccines available) prevented more than 30,000 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease and 3,000 deaths in its first three years of use. About 65 percent of adults 65 and older received the pneumococcal vaccine in 2020, an AARP report shows.

Parting shot: If you work around chronically ill people — say, in a hospital or nursing home — you should get the vaccine, even if you’re healthy.

Tdap vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) and/or the Td booster (tetanus, diphtheria)

Who needs it: The Tdap vaccine came out in 2005, and along with protecting against tetanus and diphtheria, like the vaccine it replaced, it also includes new, additional protection against whooping cough, also known as pertussis. If you can’t remember ever getting this shot, you probably need it. And doing so, says Katz, can also count for one of the Td boosters you’re supposed to get every 10 years. (You know the one … it’s the shot you wonder if you’re current on after you step on a rusty nail during your vacation.)

How often: Adults should receive a booster dose of either Tdap or Td (a different vaccine that protects against tetanus and diphtheria, but not pertussis) every 10 years, the CDC says, or after five years if you get a severe wound or burn.

Why you need it: Due to a rise in whooping cough cases in the U.S., you really do need to be vaccinated against it, even if you’re over 65. In the first year after getting vaccinated, Tdap prevents the illness in about 7 out of 10 people who received the vaccine. 

Talk to your doctor if: You have epilepsy or other nervous system problems, had severe swelling or pain after a previous dose of either vaccine, or have (or have had) Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Parting shot: This vaccine is especially crucial for people who have close contact with children younger than 12 months of age — including parents, grandparents and child care provider

Shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine

Who needs it: The CDC recommends that everyone 50 and older get the Shingrix shingles vaccine, even if they had the earlier recommended vaccine, Zostavax — which was much less effective — and even if they’ve already had shingles. 

How often: For now, the CDC is recommending only that you get this new vaccine, which is given in two doses spaced two to six months apart, to prevent both shingles and its complications. It remains to be seen if the agency will recommend getting it again after, say, five years, as its effectiveness starts to wane. 

Why you need it: One in 3 people will get shingles, usually after age 50. The risk rises with age. By 85, half of adults will have had at least one outbreak. Chicken pox and shingles are caused by the same virus, varicella zoster. After a person recovers from chicken pox, this virus stays dormant for decades in the body, ready to appear when the immune system is weakened by stress, medication or disease. This infection causes a red rash and painful blisters. About 15 percent of sufferers are left with extreme nerve pain — a condition called postherpetic neuralgia, which can last for months or years. Shingrix can protect 97 percent of people in their 50s and 60s, and 91 percent of those in their 70s and 80s. Data compiled by AARP shows that 16 percent of adults 50 to 64 received the shingles vaccine in 2020; that percentage jumps to 43 percent when looking at adults 65 and older.

Talk to your doctor if: You are not feeling well, or currently have shingles. There are few other reasons not to get the vaccine. 

Parting shot: Older adults should also get this vaccine whether or not they remember having had chicken pox as a child. Why? More than 99 percent of Americans over the age of 40 have been exposed to the varicella zoster virus, even if they don’t recall getting chicken pox. 

Hepatitis A vaccine 

Who needs it: People 50 and older who are at high risk for hepatitis A, a disease of the liver. Infections result primarily from travel to another country where hepatitis A virus transmission is common, through close contact with a hepatitis A–infected individual, or recreational drug use.

How often: Once, but given in two doses over six months.

Why you need it: Hepatitis A rates in the U.S. have declined by more than 95 percent since the hepatitis A vaccine first became available in 1995. In 2016, there were an estimated 4,000 hepatitis A cases in the U.S.

Parting shot: This is a sneaky disease. You may not have any telltale signs — and the likelihood of symptoms decreases as you age.

Hepatitis B vaccine

Who needs it: Adults 50 and older who are at risk for contracting hepatitis B, a liver infection. Hepatitis B is transmitted when a body fluid (blood, semen, saliva) from a person infected with the hepatitis B virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. This can happen through sexual contact, or things like contact with blood or open sores (say, from a job that exposes you to human blood or other bodily fluids), or sharing anything from a needle to a razor to a toothbrush with an infected person. Other risk factors for infection include being on kidney dialysis, traveling to countries where hepatitis B is common, or having HIV.

How often: Adults getting the vaccine need three doses — the second dose given four weeks after the first; the third dose five months after the second. There is also a combination vaccine for both hepatitis A and B called Twinrix, which is given in three doses over six months.

Why you need it: The CDC estimates that the number of new hepatitis B infections in 2016 was 20,900.

Talk to your doctor if: You have a life-threatening allergy to yeast, or to any other component of the vaccine, or are moderately or severely ill when a dose of vaccine is scheduled.

Reprinted from AARP

The festive season means fun with friends and family, goodwill and giving. Sadly, it’s also a prime time for cybercrooks to cook up nefarious schemes.

Three-quarters of U.S. consumers have experienced or been targeted by at least one form of fraud that can be tied to the holidays, including requests from (often fake) charities, online shopping scams and fraudulent communications about shipping problems, according to a new AARP Fraud Watch Network™ report, “Preparing for the Holidays? So Are Criminals: Already Rampant Fraud Expected to Spike.”

Most scams are variations on everyday fraud, ramped up to match seasonal spikes in spending and web traffic. Not surprisingly, they often center on shopping, especially online. As real retailers roll out their seasonal deals, scammers seek to snare bargain-hunting shoppers with bogus websites and social media campaigns that impersonate major brands. These “spoofing” sites and fake posts entice you to spend money for products you’ll never receive.

No matter where you live, fraud is never far away. Report a scam or search for existing scams near you.

Many are vehicles for harvesting credit card numbers and other personal data that criminals use to commit identity theft or sell on the dark web. Scammers may distribute malware-loaded links or attachments via supposed coupon offers or “order confirmation” emails. Fraud involving drained gift cards — hugely popular for both giving and receiving — also shift into high gear.

Other hallmarks of the season provide grist for grifters:

• Charity scams: One-third of all charitable giving is done in December, reports fundraising software company Network for Good. That means more sham charities exploiting Americans’ goodwill via fake websites and pushy telemarketers. 
• Delivery scams: As holiday packages crisscross the country, scammers send out phishing emails and texts disguised as UPS, FedEx or U.S. Postal Service notifications about incoming or missed deliveries. Links lead to phony sign-in pages asking for personal information, or to sites infested with malware.
• Travel scams: Some criminals send scam emails and texts offering promotions such as free flights to get you to share credit card information or click on links that download malware. Also be wary of the many spoofed websites pretending to be legitimate hotels, airlines and other travel-related businesses.

How to Avoid Holiday Scams

Warning Signs

• Huge discounts on hot gift items, especially when touted on social media posts or unfamiliar websites. 
• Spelling errors or shoddy grammar on a shopping website or in an email or text. 
• An unsolicited email that asks you to click on a link or download an app to access a deal or arrange a delivery.
• Pressure from a charity fundraiser to donate right away.

How to protect yourself from this scam

• Rather than clicking on a link from an email or text to a hot deal, go to your web browser and type in the web address of the company purportedly offering said great deal.
• Pay by credit card. This way you can dispute charges and limit the damage if the transaction was fraudulent. 
• Buy gifts cards online directly from the issuing business instead of from a retail rack, where the cards can be tampered with. When receiving a gift card as a present, register it if that’s an option, and use it sooner rather than later.  
• Avoid conducting any business online (making a purchase, donating, accessing password-protected sites) while using a public Wi-Fi network unless you employ a virtual private network (VPN).
• Pushy charities could be an indicator that the cause is bogus; legitimate charities will accept your donations on your own timeline.
• Anytime you are prompted to make a purchase or a donation by wire transfer or gift card, it is a scam. 

More Resources

Charity Navigator, CharityWatch and GuideStar provide a bevy of resources on charitable organizations, including ratings, reviews and financial information.

If you encounter a holiday scam, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (online or at 877-382-4357) and report it to your state’s attorney general and consumer protection office.

Reprinted from aarp.com

It’s Medicare open enrollment season, which means it’s also Medicare scam season. Eligible beneficiaries have until‍ Dece‍mber ‍7 to shop for the best deals for their health care dollar. Unfortunately, some of the offers won’t be deals at all. Here’s how to avoid the scams this open enrollment season. How It Works • The Medicare Open Enrollment Period runs from Octo‍ber 1‍5 to Dece‍mber ‍7‍. During this time, Medicare recipients can explore other health plans. • Because plans change from year to year, beneficiaries can save money by exploring different coverage options. • However, Medicare scams spike during open enrollment season, with bogus offers from real or impersonated insurance providers pitching free gifts or limited time offers. • Scammers also call Medicare beneficiaries claiming to be from Medicare, asking them to verify their information to issue a “new” card. What You Should Know • These scams are designed to capture personal information that can be used to bill Medicare fraudulently. • Criminals use free offers to entice people. From cheap giveaways to promises of free medical supplies, these tactics seek to harvest Medicare information or even a credit card number for alleged shipping charges, for instance. Unscrupulous salespeople may also try to pressure you to buy often worthless supplemental insurance products that will supposedly save thousands. Know that Medicare will never call you out of the blue. Criminals use “spoofing” technology to make it look like their incoming calls are coming from Medicare, so your caller ID is not trustworthy. Medicare is not sending out new cards; anyone suggesting otherwise is lying to you. What You Should Do Beneficiaries can compare plans safely and change their enrollment by going to www.medicare.gov or by calling 80‍0-‍63‍3-‍42‍27. Also, every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) with counselors who can help answer your questions. • Be suspicious of unsolicited offers, offers that are exceedingly generous and offers for free products in exchange for your personal information.

What to eat or drink to build a stronger defense this winter

The saying “you are what you eat” applies to your entire body, but it’s especially important when it comes to your immune system during flu season. “As we get older, our immunity starts to decline, but if we get the right nutrients, we can help our immune systems do their jobs to protect us against viruses like the flu,” says Samantha Heller, a New York City nutritionist.

You can keep it in tip-top shape during this flu season — which may be a doozy — if you focus on a plant-based diet rich in whole unprocessed foods, Heller says. One of the best eating patterns to illustrate this is the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, beans and healthy fats such as fatty fish and olive oil. A study published in March in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition found that people who followed this diet were less likely to become infected by or die from COVID-19, suggesting it may provide an immune system boost that could protect you from other viral infections, too.

Here, more immunity boosting foods that research, and nutritionists, recommend for right now.

1. Green tea

Whether these particular tea leaves can really fend off the flu has been a source of debate among health researchers for years. But a new meta-analysis published in July in the journal Molecules looked at more than eight studies involving more than 5,000 participants to conclude there really is ample evidence to believe the beverage — and specifically, the catechins that provide its antioxidant power — can help your immune system fend off influenza.

2. Sweet potatoes

They’re a great source of beta carotene, a phytonutrient that helps your body make vitamin A. “It supports respiratory health by increasing the number of immune cells in the body,” explains Anna Taylor, lead outpatient clinical dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Human Nutrition. This is especially important for older adults, as our bodies make fewer immune cells as we age, she adds. Instead of cooking them with butter or brown sugar, Taylor recommends that you roast them with olive oil, oregano and black pepper. “You’ll get additional benefits from the spices, but you’re not loading up on sugar and saturated fat, both of which suppress your immune system,” she says.

3. Berries

They’re a rich source of vitamin C, which stimulates production of infection fighting white blood cells, Taylor says. A 2018 review of studies found that berries increased levels of disease fighting cells in older adults, such as natural killer cells and T-cells. They also contain flavonoids, substances that have antioxidant properties and protect all your cells — including your immune system cells — from damage, she adds. It’s so easy to incorporate them into your diet: ”Add them to your morning yogurt or oatmeal, or even cook them and throw them on your French toast instead of maple syrup,” Taylor recommends.

4. Beans

Chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans, they’re all rich in vitamin B12, a nutrient many older adults are low in, Heller says. “People over the age of 50 don’t absorb vitamin B12 as well in their body, but your immune system needs it to fight disease and repair damaged cells to keep you healthy,” she explains. They’re also high in zinc, which helps boost your body’s production of white blood cells, Taylor says. “Zinc deficiency has been linked to immune system dysfunction,” she says. Taylor recommends at least a half a cup of cooked beans three times a week. You can throw them into soups, chili, salads or even rice dishes. For a healthy crunchy snack, roast chickpeas in some olive oil.  

5. Nuts and seeds

These foods are rich in vitamin E, which plays a key role in your immune system by supporting the growth of T-cells, says Lauri Wright, chair of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of North Florida. They’re also a good source of omega-6 fatty acids. Walnuts are an especially good choice, as research shows they have a very positive effect on your gut microbiome, says Kate Cohen, a registered dietitian nutritionist with the Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. They also have more alpha-linolenic acid — an essential fatty acid important for immune function — than any other type of nut.

6. Salmon

It’s not plant-based, but it is one of the few foods that provides vitamin D, which plays a huge role in regulating your immune system, says Jennifer McDaniel, owner of McDaniel Nutrition Therapy in Clayton, Missouri. A 2020 study published in the journal JAMA Network Open found that people who had untreated vitamin D deficiency were almost twice as likely to test positive for COVID-19 as patients who had sufficient levels of the vitamin. A 6-ounce salmon filet has about 600 IU of vitamin D, which is close to the 800 IU that is recommended for people 70 and older. Another bonus: It’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have also been shown to strengthen your immune system.

If you’re not a fan of fish, McDaniel suggests marinating it in brown sugar and Dijon mustard for 45 minutes, then throwing it on the grill. “It mellows out that fishy taste, and it gives it a smoky flavor,” she explains. Canned salmon counts, too: Throw it over a salad for a quick meal, she says. 

7. Garlic

It’s rich in a compound called alliin, which may be the source of its immune boosting properties, notes Libby Mills, a Philadelphia nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. A 2020 review published in the journal Medical Hypotheses found that garlic itself seems to stimulate cells related to immune system function. Another study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that people given about 2½ grams of aged garlic extract for 90 days not only had higher levels of immune system cells, but they also had fewer symptoms of cold and flu, and missed fewer workdays due to these respiratory illnesses, than a control group. At the very least, if you eat enough of it, you’ll probably keep people away from you, Mills jokes.

Although there’s probably not enough research to support taking a garlic supplement, Mills recommends that you cook with it in the colder winter months. You can make your own pasta sauce with tomatoes and garlic, since vitamin C (found in tomatoes) is itself an antioxidant that helps the immune system she says.

8. Kefir

Recent research, including a 2021 study published in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, suggests that certain compounds found in fermented dairy such as kefir (which is like a thin yogurt) have anti-inflammatory properties that can help the immune system fight viral infections. The probiotics found in kefir and other fermented foods also help to calm chronic inflammation, according to Harvard Health.

“Fermented dairy is rich in probiotics, which seem to have a positive effect on the immune system,” Mills explains.

Why Fluids Matter if You Get the Flu

Whether water, electrolyte-rich beverages, broths, or green tea (see above), you really do need liquids if you’re sick with the flu. Not only is it important to fend off dehydration, staying hydrated helps you maintain enough circulating blood volume to treat infection. (Just go easy on the caffeinated sodas and coffee.) And yes, doctors say chicken soup can’t hurt, since fever can cause you to lose water as well as salt.​

Reprinted from AARP.org

Scams aren’t always high tech, and they aren’t always new. Stealing checks from the mail and “washing” them used to be a common crime but faded away over time. Now it’s back with a vengeance. In 2021, the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) received 33,000 reports of incidents involving mail carrier robberies and mail theft, up from 24,000 in 2019.More from the AARP Fraud Watch Network•Learn More About Fake Check Scams•How to Prevent ID Theft•Do you think you have been targeted or have fallen victim to a scam? Contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline. Call 877‍-‍908‍-‍3360.

How It Works• Residential mailboxes with the raised flag that indicates outgoing mail are a big draw for criminals since they often contain bill payments with personal checks included.•Thieves also go “fishing” inside the blue mailboxes by inserting long flexible items with adhesive on the end in hopes of pulling out checks.•Another way into mailboxes is to steal a master key from a postal worker. These “arrow keys” open multiple mailboxes and sell for between $5,000 and $10,000 on the black market.•Once they have a personal check, thieves “wash” the ink off with household chemicals and fill it out to a new recipient for whatever amount they wish. Often, they will apply super glue on the signature to keep it intact. What You Should Know• Mail theft cases used to be more prevalent on the West Coast; however, USPIS has recently seen more incidents in the eastern US, particularly around Philadelphia, New York City and Washington, DC.•Rather than cashing forged checks themselves, criminals often sell the “washed” checks through online black-market channels, with personal checks fetching around $175 a pop.•Financial institutions typically make your account whole in the case of forged checks, but the investigation could take weeks, leaving you without access to funds during that time. What You Should Do• Bring checks inside the post office for mailing, or, if you choose to deposit mail containing checks, cash or sensitive personal information in collection boxes, do so as close to the indicated pickup time as possible.•When you put outgoing mail in your mailbox, don’t put up the flag and try not to leave outgoing mail in your mailbox for long periods of time.•Keep an eye on your account balances and report any suspicious activity right away.•Sign up for Informed Delivery from the US Postal Service. It’s a free daily service that emails you a scan of what is coming in your mail. Also, place a hold on your mail when out of town.

More than 600 drugs have been linked to hearing loss and tinnitus, including over-the-counter pain relievers

It’s normal to experience hearing loss and balance issues as you get older. But before you chalk up those problems to age, experts say you should consider whether a medication could be damaging your ears.

More than 600 medicines have been linked to hearing loss, ringing in the ear (tinnitus) or balance problems. The list of so-called “ototoxic” drugs includes both over-the-counter and prescription options. Among them: medications that treat heart problems, pain, infections and more.

In some cases, the hearing problems caused by a medication is reversible and will go away when you stop taking it, says Lawrence Lustig, an otolaryngologist at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

But some drugs can cause permanent damage.

Older patients are especially vulnerable because their kidneys often aren’t as efficient at flushing out medications, putting them at higher risk of toxicity if a drug builds up in their system, Lustig says. Adults age 65-plus are also more likely to be taking more than one drug at a time and sometimes the combined effect of two medications can be worse than a drug on its own.

3 Ways to Protect Yourself

1. Ask about side effects. Ask your health care provider if hearing loss or tinnitus is a side effect of any of your prescriptions or over-the-counter medications.
2. Recognize early signs of trouble. Ringing or buzzing in your ears — or worsening tinnitus if you already have it — is often the first sign that a medication could be harming your hearing.
3. Opt for nondrug alternatives. Instead of reaching for a pain reliever for your bad back or bum knee, consider trying physical therapy, yoga or acupuncture.

Before starting a medicine classified as ototoxic, Lustig recommends getting a baseline hearing test and balance assessment, and then going for regular testing during treatment. That can help you and your doctor identify any hearing-related side effects early, since medicines often impact high frequency hearing first, so you might not notice the change without a hearing test.

Here are some common medications linked to hearing loss and what you need to know about this potentially life-altering side effect.

1. Over-the-counter pain relievers

Because painkillers such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil and Motrin are widely available without a prescription, many patients take them regularly and assume that they are harmless. In fact, about 1 in 3 Americans takes a store-bought pain medication every day, according to a 2022 survey.

However, research indicates that over-the-counter pain relievers can contribute to both hearing loss and tinnitus, especially if they’re used for two or more days per week, says Sharon Curhan, an epidemiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School and author of several studies on the connection.

In a 2012 study that followed more than 62,000 women, Curhan discovered that frequent use of acetaminophen or NSAIDs, even in typical doses, was linked to an up to 24 percent higher risk of developing hearing loss.  In men, a similar study demonstrated that regular use — two or more times per week — of acetaminophen, NSAIDs and aspirin are all associated with a higher risk of hearing loss.

Another large study, the Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study, found that among adults who already had hearing loss, NSAID use was associated with a 45 percent higher risk of progression of their hearing loss.

Researchers speculate that the medications may reduce blood flow to the cochlea, an organ in the inner ear that helps with hearing.

“The overarching message from these findings is that even though these analgesics are widely available without a prescription, these are still medications and there are potential side effects,” Curhan says. “For anyone who is considering taking these types of medications regularly, it is advisable to consult with a health-care professional to discuss the risks and benefits and to explore whether there are alternatives to using medication.”

Fortunately, frequent use of low-dose aspirin (100 mg or less) has not been linked to hearing-related side effects. Many older adults take a low dose of the drug daily to prevent cardiovascular disease.

2. Aminoglycoside antibiotics

Some of the most damaging medications to hearing are a class of antibiotics called aminoglycosides, Lustig says. Available in pill form, as well as intravenously, they are believed to damage the sensory cells inside your ear needed for balance and hearing.

One aminoglycoside, called gentamicin, is often administered intravenously in the hospital to fight severe bacterial infections, such as a bone or an organ infection. Other drugs in the class also include “micin” or “mycin” at the end, such as streptomycin, neomycin, kanamycin and tobramycin.

Studies show more than 50 percent of patients who require multiple rounds of intravenous aminoglycosides may experience hearing loss. Even at recommended dosages, taking them “can result in rapid, profound, and irreversible hearing loss,” according to one review study. That study’s authors found that a single dose can result in permanent hearing loss in patients with a certain genetic mutation.

Despite the risks, these antibiotics are sometimes needed to treat what can be a life-threatening infection, says Wendi D. Jones, a pharmacist with AspenRX Health in Washington, North Carolina.

If your doctor prescribes an aminoglycoside, your health care provider should do concurrent blood testing to ensure the drug levels in your blood don’t get too high, Jones says. They should also monitor you for hearing-related side effects.

3. Loop diuretics

Loop diuretics are powerful medications that are used to treat high blood pressure and fluid retention due to heart failure, liver disease or kidney disease. The most commonly used loop diuretics are Lasix (furosemide), Bumex (bumetanide) and Demadex (torsemide).  

Experts believe these medications interfere with the ionic composition of the fluids in the ear, contributing to hearing loss. Although loop diuretics can cause permanent damage if you get a large dose by injection in the hospital, in most cases, they cause only temporary hearing loss that clears up once you stop using the drug.

“Using the lowest dose that will effectively treat the condition helps prevent ototoxicity,” Curhan notes.

If you already have hearing or balance problems, you might want to ask your doctor if a different type of diuretic would be a better choice for you.

4. Some chemotherapy drugs

Platinum-based chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin and carboplatin are used to treat many types of cancer, including lung, reproductive, head and neck cancers.

However, they can cause permanent hearing loss, tinnitus and balance problems.

Because the drugs can be lifesaving, health care providers have to balance the pros and cons when deciding about treatment. “If a patient has to have it for a life-threatening condition, you give it to them,” Lustig says.

Scientists are working to develop medications and treatment protocols to help protect hearing while a patient is being treated with the drugs.  

5. Long-term hormone therapy

Hormone therapy can be helpful for treating menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, but a large study led by Curhan and published in the Menopause in 2017 found a strong correlation between oral hormone therapy and hearing loss. The study, which followed almost 81,000 postmenopausal women for more than 20 years, found that the longer a woman took hormone therapy (estrogen therapy or estrogen plus progestogen therapy), the greater her risk of hearing loss.

Compared to those who never took hormones, the risk of hearing loss was 15 percent higher among women who used oral hormone therapy for five to nearly 10 years and 21 percent higher among women who used the therapy for 10 years or longer, the study showed.

Based on those results, Curhan recommends that women concerned about hearing limit their use of hormone therapy to five years or less.

6. Quinine, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine

Quinine, a therapy to prevent and treat malaria, has long been known to cause temporary hearing loss, especially if given in large doses. Quinine is also sometimes prescribed off label to treat nocturnal leg cramps.

Two similar drugs, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, are also used to treat malaria and are sometimes prescribed for autoimmune diseases such as Lupus. Both chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine were investigated as possible treatments for COVID-19 infection.

Although all three drugs have been linked to temporary hearing loss and tinnitus, fortunately most patients find the hearing problems go away once they stop the medication.

Signs a Drug May be Harming Your Hearing

Just because a medication has been tied to hearing problems doesn’t necessarily mean you need to worry.

The severity and extent of the damage, if any, depends on many factors, including the dosage, how long you have been taking it, how often you take it, your kidney function, what other drugs you take, your age, if you’re dehydrated and even your genetic susceptibility, Lustig and Curhan say.

Contact a health care provider if you experience any of these signs that a medication could be harming your hearing:

• A ringing, roaring or buzzing sound in one or both ears or in your head (tinnitus)
• Worsening of existing tinnitus or you notice a new sound
• A feeling of fullness or pressure in your ears (that isn’t due to an infection)
• New onset of hearing loss or worsening of existing hearing loss
• Vertigo or a spinning sensation, which sometimes can be accompanied by nausea

If you’re concerned, it’s important to consult to your health care provider before you make any changes to your medications, Curhan says. “Together, you can evaluate the risks and benefits and explore possible alternatives,” she says. 

Reprinted from AARP.