lifestyle health happiness Issue

Transcription

1 Sunflower lifestyle health happiness Issue H9870_ADVG Accepted 12/17

2 Welcome to the Passport Advantage Newsletter Travel & Safety Letter from the Editor Hello valued members! As the end of the year approaches, now is the perfect time to think about Medicare coverage needs in If you already have access to all our amazing Medicare benefits, great news! There s no need to re-enroll. Just stick with us, the plan you know and trust. If you re considering enrolling for the first time, make sure to complete all your paperwork and contact our Member Services team for all your questions. Additionally, be sure to take advantage of our new Over-The-Counter (OTC) benefits, which give you an extra $40 a month for medicines and products like: Cough, cold, and allergy Pain relievers and sleep aids Skin care First aid Eye, ear, and dental Vitamins and minerals For a full list, please visit At Passport Advantage, we know how confusing health care can be, and we are here to help you. Sometimes it s difficult to know what questions to ask or even where to start, and that s where we come in. We are your partner and want to assist you in focusing on your health. We are proud to offer great services to all our members in Jefferson, Bullitt, Nelson, and Hardin counties in Kentucky. We hope you enjoy the latest issue of The Sunflower and learn more about making the most of our local plan, which was designed for Kentuckians just like you. Happy Reading! Mike McCook Director of Sales Take Simple Steps TO AVOID FALLS Did you know that 1 in 4 older Americans fall every year? In fact, tripping over your own two feet is one of the leading causes of injury in people 65 years and older. Check out these tips to help avoid falling in your home. 1) USE THE HANDRAILS Steady yourself when going up or down the stairs by grabbing onto handrails. 2) GET AN EYE CHECKUP Are you having trouble with balance? Vision changes can affect your balance. Make an appointment with your eye doctor to make sure your vision is healthy. 3) REVIEW YOUR MEDICATIONS Some medicines can make people dizzy and cause falls. Have your doctor review ALL your medications, including over-the-counter drugs. 4) TURN ON THE LIGHTS Improve the lighting wherever you can. Turn on all the available lights and consider adding more to brighten up your home. 5) START AN EXERCISE ROUTINE Weak muscles can increase your chances of falling. Getting more exercise can help strengthen your muscles and increase endurance. Try something that improves both balance and coordination, like yoga. Passport Advantage (HMO SNP) Sunflower

3 Healthy Living Natural Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure Keeping your blood pressure under control can be hard. It s tough to stick to diets or change your routine. The good news is that there are lots of ways to lower your blood pressure naturally. And by slowly trying out some of these changes, you can create a much healthier version of you! 1. BREATHE DEEPLY Stress can be a major factor in high blood pressure. And slow, deep breathing is a great way to decrease stress. Try by inhaling to expand your belly, and hold for 2-3 seconds. Then exhale slowly, to release tension. 2. PUMP UP THE POTASSIUM Potassium which is found in foods like avocados and bananas can help counteract the effects of sodium, a leading cause of high blood pressure. Interestingly, potassium supplements are not usually as effective as simply eating foods that are high in potassium. 3. CONSIDER A FISH-FOCUSED DIET Try adding more veggies and fish (like salmon!) to your daily diet. 4. RELAX WITH MUSIC According to recent research, the right tunes can help lower your blood pressure almost instantly! Try listening to smooth, classical music to naturally slow breathing and boost your sense of calm. 5. DON T SMOKE Smokers are at higher risk of hypertension than nonsmokers. Not to mention, the other health benefits to quitting smoking are countless! Issue

4 Better Breathing Keeping Asthma Under Control People don t think about how to breathe very often. But if you have asthma, chances are you know a thing or two about inhaling and exhaling. Create an Action Plan When you re experiencing an asthma attack, it can be difficult to talk. When this happens, having a written action plan will help other people know how to help you manage your breathing. Your action plan should contain all the information you need in one place, including: The number of puffs you need to take of your preventer inhaler, and how often you use it A list of triggers that can make your asthma worse A list of symptoms that mean you need your reliever inhaler The signs and symptoms that you are having an asthma attack (including when you need to call 911) Know Your Triggers A trigger is anything that sets off your asthma or makes breathing harder. It s not usually possible to avoid all triggers, but it s still important to know what can affect you. If you re not sure about your personal triggers, talk to your doctor. Take Your Medicine as Prescribed There s no cure for asthma yet, but taking your medicine correctly can cut down on your risk of unexpected attacks. If you ve been given a preventative inhaler, use it every day as advised. Try keeping it in the bathroom, and using it when you brush your teeth in the morning and at night to get into a routine. Get Annual Checkups Adults with asthma should get checkups at least once a year. They are good opportunities to see how you re doing with your treatment plan, and your chance to discuss triggers, lifestyle influences, and any other factors that could affect your asthma. 3 Passport Advantage (HMO SNP) Sunflower

5 Prioritizing Primary Care Health Monitoring Immunizations Aren t Just for Kids Vaccinations are important in keeping up with your health care. And they re not just for growing kids anymore! Adults need various immunizations to stay healthy over time too. Some of the most common vaccines include: Diphtheria Hepatitis A and B Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Influenza (Flu Shot) Measles Meningococcal Mumps Pneumococcal Rubella Tetanus Varicella (Chickenpox) How many or how often you need immunization shots will vary. Talk to your doctor for a recommended immunization schedule. And remember, vaccines and immunizations are very safe. In fact, the World Health Organization says that you re more likely to get hurt by a vaccinepreventable disease than by a vaccine itself. Diabetes and Cold Weather Did you know that cold weather can impact people with diabetes differently? For example, cold hands can make regular blood testing more difficult. And lower temperatures can make it hard to get out of the house to stay active. Exercise is important all the time, but just a little bit of exercise goes a long way in the wintertime. With this in mind, it s important for people managing diabetes to keep an extra eye on blood sugar levels during colder months. First, don t let the cold put you off doing your blood sugar tests. Regular testing will help you catch highs and lows before they become problematic. If your hands are cold, try rubbing them together to warm them up before pricking. Or, you can try holding a warm mug of tea for a few minutes before conducting the test. It s also important to keep your activity levels up. Exercise is important all the time, but just a little bit of exercise goes a long way in the wintertime. Not only does it help keep you warm, but it can also help your body better regulate blood sugar, and keep your mind feeling nice and relaxed. Be proactive too! Be sure to get plenty of rest during cold and flu season. Wash your hands more often, get the flu vaccine, and drink plenty of fluids. Diabetics should keep a supply of glucose tablets or other fast-acting blood sugar booster on hand in case of sudden bad weather. Issue

6 Healthy Eating Healthy Takes on Cold Weather Comfort Food SLOW COOKER VEGETARIAN LASAGNA When using crockpots, people generally go for soups or stews. Broaden your dinner horizons this winter by letting your slow cooker step up to the pasta plate. All you have to do is chop up the ingredients and then layer them straight into the crockpot! INGREDIENTS: 1 large egg 1 16oz container of ricotta cheese 1 10oz package of chopped spinach (thawed from frozen) 1 small zucchini, sliced and quartered 1 28oz can crushed tomatoes 1 28oz can diced tomatoes 3 cloves garlic, minced 15 lasagna noodles, uncooked 3 cups shredded mozzarella DIRECTIONS: 1. Combine egg, ricotta cheese, spinach, and zucchini in a large bowl. 2. Combine crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and garlic in a medium bowl. Add a large pinch of salt and pepper to taste. 3. Coat a 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray, and spread 1.5 cups of the tomato mixture on the bottom of the slow cooker. Arrange 5 noodles over the sauces, overlapping them slightly. Spread half the ricotta-vegetable mixture over the noodles and pat down. Spoon 1.5 cups of the tomato sauce over the ricotta-vegetable mixture and sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella. 4. Repeat the layering process once more, starting with the noodles. Finish layering with a third layer of noodles on top, and then cover the top noodles with the remaining tomato sauce. Set aside the remaining 1-cup of mozzarella. 5. Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for 2 hours, or on low for 4 hours. Turn off slow cooker, sprinkle the reserved mozzarella on the lasagna, cover and let stand for 10 minutes to let the cheese melt. 5 HAMBURGER HEAVEN With finely chopped onion, carrot, and mushrooms, this recipe is BIG on taste, but with vegetables that are hard to detect for picky eaters. INGREDIENTS: 3 cloves garlic, crushed and peeled 2 medium carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces 10oz white mushrooms, cut in half 1 large onion, cut into 2-inch pieces 1lb 90%-lean ground beef Large pinch of salt and black pepper 2 cups water 1 14 ounce can beef broth 8 ounces elbow noodles (2 cups) 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour ½ cup sour cream DIRECTIONS: 1. Medium chop garlic, carrots, mushrooms, and onion (try using a food processor if you have one for finely chopped veggies). 2. Cook beef in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until meat is browned (3-5 minutes). Stir in the chopped veggies, salt, and pepper, and stir until the vegetables begin to soften (5-7 minutes). 3. Stir in water, 1.5 cups beef broth, and noodles, and bring to a boil. Cover the skillet and reduce heat to medium, stirring occasionally until the pasta is tender (8-10 minutes). 4. Whisk flour with the remaining ¼ cup beef broth in a small bowl until smooth, then stir into the hamburger mixture. 5. Stir in the sour cream and simmer, stirring frequently until the sauce has thickened (approximately 2 minutes). HOT COCOA ICE CREAM Spoiler Alert: This ice cream only tastes fancy, and it goes perfectly with a piping hot cup of cocoa! INGREDIENTS: 3 cups heavy cream 1 14oz can condensed sweetened milk 3 hot cocoa packets 1 cup mini marshmallows, leaving a few for garnish DIRECTIONS: 1. In a large mixing bowl, use the whisk attachment on a mixer to beat heavy cream until stiff peaks begin to form. 2. Fold in the sweetened condensed milk, hot cocoa packets, and mini marshmallows. 3. Transfer mixture to a 9 x5 loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Top with additional marshmallows and freeze until mixture firms (around 5 hours). 4. When ready to serve, remove from freezer to let soften, 10 minutes.

7 Medication Management MANAGING MULTIPLE MEDICATIONS Making errors with medicines can be scary. Mix-ups are often dangerous, sometimes painful, put you at risk for permanent impairments. But there are lots of things you can do to make sure your prescriptions are always being taken correctly, keeping you safe and your treatments effective. MEDICATION LIST: Create a checklist that outlines every medicine you take. Be sure to include over-the-counter drugs, any creams, and all various drops. Then make a note next to each medication about how often you re supposed to take each medication. (Be sure to keep this updated too!) OUTSIDE THE HOME: Once your personal medication list is complete and up to date, post a copy in your home. Share a copy with a trusted friend or neighbor in case of emergencies. And most importantly, always bring your personal medication list with you when you visit your doctor or pharmacist. INSIDE THE HOME: Try using a weekly pill organizer to take the guesswork out of taking pills each day. And set alarms to make sure you re taking them on time. Refill your pill organizers on the same day every week for simplicity, and try separating your organizers by AM and PM doses. Remember, sometimes conversation is the best medicine. So, if you don t know something about one or more of your medications, just ask! Additional Information We Want to Hear From You! At Passport Advantage, we are always here for you and your loved ones. Let us know what you want to learn about in our next newsletter by calling us at (TTY/TDD users, please call 711). Issue

8 5100 Commerce Crossings Drive Louisville, KY PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL US POSTAGE PAID LOUISVILLE, KY PERMIT #712 Contact Our Member Services TTY (TTY/TDD users, please call 711) Available from 8 am to 8 pm EST Monday Friday from February 15 to September 30 and 7 days a week from October 1 to February 14. Passport Advantage is an HMO Special Needs plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Kentucky Medicaid program. Enrollment in Passport Advantage depends on contract renewal. This plan is available to anyone who has both Medical Assistance from the State and Medicare, and resides in Jefferson, Hardin, Bullitt, or Nelson County. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, co-payments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits, premiums and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. This premium is covered as long as you remain a full-dual Kentucky Medicaid enrollee. Premium, co-pays, and deductibles may vary based on the level of Extra Help you receive. Please contact the plan for further details. Passport Advantage (HMO SNP) complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al (TTY: 711). 注意 : 如果您使用繁體中文, 您可以免費獲得語言援助服務 請致電 (TTY: 711).