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You don’t have to go ice skating or skiing this winter to experience a
serious fall. In fact, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that,
for people ages 65 and older, half to nearly two-thirds of all falls occur in
or around the home.1
With winter approaching, you’ll probably spend more time at home.
To ensure your safety, there are a number of steps you can take.
An effective way to prevent falls is to make sure your house and entryways
are properly lighted. This is particularly important during the winter
months when the hours of darkness grow longer, and holiday decorations
occupy more and more of our living space.
To keep from tripping over the extra clutter, be sure to run power cords
behind couches or along walls, and try to hang most decorations at eye
level. If you use a ladder, be sure it’s firmly planted on level ground, and
that you move it as often as needed to pre vent stretching. ( Also, never
climb a ladder in bare or stocking feet, and always wear shoes with sturdy soles
and good traction.)
In addition to improving your environment, there are a few simple steps you
can take to enhance your physical condition, and therefore be
less likely to fall in any situation.
One step is to have your doctor or pharmacist review your medications
to see if they can cause dizziness or instability. Similarly, you should
probably have your eyes checked at least once a year to make sure your
vision hasn’t changed.
If possible, the CDC also recommends exercising to increase lower
body strength and balance. In particular, they name tai chi as a
very effective activity that can be done safely inside the home.2
For those in colder climates, one of the best ways to keep from slipping
inside your home is to make sure you leave the inclement weather
outside. Try to brush or stomp off as much snow and ice as possible
before entering, and then quickly remove any wet garments. ( You may
want to place a chair near the door so you can sit and remove your clothes
comfortably.) Be sure to hang any wet clothing away from doorways
or other frequently trafficked areas where puddles can cause a problem.
And lastly, be sure to give your body plenty of time to adjust to any
dramatic changes in temperature. A sudden blast of cold air can
be very disorienting, as can moving too quickly inside a well heated home.
No matter what your age, winter can be a wondrous, magical time.
With the right precautions, you should be able to enjoy all the season
has to offer.
1 “Falls Among Older Adults: Summary of Research Findings,” National Center for Injury Prevention and Control,
Page 1, 3/30/06 @ http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/toolkit/SummaryOfFalls.htm
2 “Fall and Hip Fractures Among Older Adults,” National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Page 1,
3/30/06 @ http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/falls.htm
For many Americans, the holidays are a time for giving money to charities in
need. Deciding which charity to support can be a daunting task, especially when
you consider that there are now some 1.2 million nonprofit organizations in
the United States alone1.
Last year, charitable giving in the U.S. rose to a near-record $260 billion2 —
much of it undoubtedly donated during the holidays. Now may be a good time to
start thinking about where you would like to spread your holiday cheer.
How do you determine which charity deserves your donation? In addition to
supporting a cause that appeals to you, there are a few commonly accepted
standards that may provide some guidance.
Tax Exempt … Or Tax Deductible?
Contrary to popular belief, not all contributions to nonprofits are tax
deductible. If you would like to claim a deduction, be sure the organization in
question has been granted 501(c)(3) status by the IRS.
Watch That Overhead. Most reputable charities will supply an annual report or
financial statements listing their income and expenses. Since you want your
money to be put to good use, make sure that the majority of all funds (some recommend
at least 60%) are spent directly on programs and services, as opposed to
administration and fundraising.
Go With Groups You Know. While it’s natural to want to help in the wake of a
tragedy or natural disaster, it’s usually best to do so with a familiar name. After
Hurricane Katrina, dozens of fraudulent charities sprung out of nowhere and
attempted to defraud well-meaning Americans.
Call A Watchdog. When in doubt, check with an independent agency to make sure
an unfamiliar charity is legitimate. Some sources are your local United Way, Better
Business Bureau, or even your State Attorney’s Office.
If you would like additional information on nonprofits and ways to better evaluate
their services, please visit www.give.org (a service of the Better Business Bureau’s
Wise Giving Alliance), or search for charity ratings found at www.charityguide.org.
1 “Wise Giving to Charities,” by Daniel Borochoff, American
Institute of Philanthropy, December 2004 @
http://www.heartsandminds.org/articles/wisegive.htm
2 Yahoo News, “Charitable giving in U.S. nears new high,” by
VinneeTong, AP Business Writer, Monday,
June 19, 2006
There are a number of good reasons why AARP members should feel
good about their affiliation with the AARP Life Insurance Program
from New York Life. In addition to receiving quality coverage at a
reasonable price, the Company continues to receive accolades for
its fiscal responsibility and overall conduct as a corporation. In fact,
New York Life currently occupies a prominent position in several of
the nation’s most prestigious lists and rankings:
 New York Life is one of only
three life insurance companies in the nation to receive the
highest possible rating (Aaa) for financial strength from
Moody’s Investors Service (as of 12/20/05).
Based on total revenue, New
York Life now ranks #74 on the celebrated “Fortune 500” list —
ahead of such well-known companies as Cisco Systems
and Coca-Cola. Fortune also recently named New York Life
one of “America’s Most Admired Companies,” citing among other
attributes: quality management, quality products and services,
fiscal soundness and social responsibility.
While it’s an honor to receive any form of recognition, these rankings
hold a special significance for New York Life and its customers. “Our
Company is committed to being a good corporate citizen and to
conducting ourselves responsibly for the sake of our policyholders,”
said Michael Horan, AVP for the AARP Life Insurance Program.
“This level of recognition helps demonstrate that we are a thriving,
fiscally responsible company — one that our customers and
communities can count on for many years to come.”
As someone who is already taking advantage of the AARP Life Insurance Program from
New York Life, you understand the value of having the right protection plan. Now you
can share that value with the young ones in your life, with AARP Young Start.
AARP Young Start is permanent life insurance designed especially for the grandchildren
of AARP members ages 50-80. You can give the young ones in your life a head start on
security that they can keep for the rest of their lives. It’s a gift that they will remember
even as they have grandchildren of their own!
If you would like to know more about AARP Young Start, please call one of our
professional customer service representatives at 1-800-595-5597.
The AARP Life Insurance Program is underwritten by New York Life Insurance Company, New York, NY 10010, on policy forms
AA-45, AA-52 and ILJUV. AARP membership is required for Program eligibility. Specific products, features and/or gifts not available
in all states or countries. Young Start is a service mark of New York Life Insurance Company.
While you’re keeping an eye out for bargains this holiday
season, you may also want to keep an eye on your personal
and financial information as well. That’s because the holidays
— with online, mail order, and credit card activity —
provide ample opportunity for identity theft.
According to the Office of the Inspector General, identity
theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the U.S., costing
consumers more than $5 billion annually.1 Fortunately, there
are plenty of ways to protect yourself — many of which
involve little more than an increased awareness on your part.
To help you get started, you may want to consider the “3-D”
approach mentioned below.
Defend: Deny potential thieves access to personal information.
Here are just a few ways to help keep potential thieves
at bay:
Never give anyone your account numbers, access codes,
PIN numbers and most importantly, your social security
number without being 100 percent sure how that
information will be used.
Refuse to give out personal information over the phone,
unless you’ve initiated the call and are confident of the
source. By the same token, be wary of e-mails or links
to official looking Web sites that request personal
information.
Install firewalls and regularly update the virus protection
software on your computer.
Destroy: Identity thieves gain access to your personal information
through a variety of sources — some sophisticated,
and some ordinary. Eliminate them before your information
falls into the wrong hands.
Shred all financial documents, bills and receipts before
placing them in the trash.
Destroy any unwanted mail offers so that someone cannot
apply in your name. You may also take outgoing mail to a
secure location such as the post office.
Delete any unsolicited or unfamiliar e-mails as they may
contain viruses or spyware.
Be sure to purge all information from your computer’s hard
drive and disks before discarding them.
Limit the number of identification cards you carry, and be
sure to keep your social security card in a secure location.
Detect: In the event you do fall victim, early detection can
make all the difference in limiting the amount of damage
that’s caused.
Review all credit card and other financial statements
thoroughly, and look for unusual activity. An unfamiliar
charge could serve as a warning signal.
Regularly monitor your credit reports to see if any fraudulent
activity or new applications for credit have appeared.
Fortunately, this is easier than ever as you now have the
right to receive one free credit report a year from each of
the three reporting companies.
Watch your check numbers. If you see checks clearing with
numbers well in advance of those you are currently using,
it’s most likely a sign that someone has ordered checks
from your account.
The 4th D? If you discover — or even suspect — that
someone has stolen your identity, don’t delay before taking
action. Issue a fraud alert by immediately contacting any of
the credit reporting companies listed below (you only need
to contact one, as they’re required to share such requests).
This will prevent any further credit applications from being
processed, and make sure that no one can access your credit
report without notifying you first.
In addition, you’ll also want to file a report with the local
police, and complete the Federal Trade Commission’s
universal fraud affidavit to document your claim and
help limit your liability.
To issue a fraud alert, call any of the following credit bureaus: |
Experian: |
1-888-397-3742 |
Equifax: |
1-800-525-6285 |
TransUnion: |
1-800-680-7289 |
To request free credit reports from any of the
companies listed, call The Annual Credit Report
Service at 1-877-322-8228 or visit their Web site
at www.annualcreditreport.com.
1 Office of Inspector General, “What Is Identity Theft?” @
http://www.ed.gov/print/about/offices/list/oig/misused/idtheft.html (last updated 2/22/05)
Later this year, AARP members will be
able to make their money work even
harder for them at the new AARP
Financial Savings Center. Designed
exclusively for AARP members, the
AARP Financial Savings Center is a
24-hour online banking center.
As a member of AARP, you will have
exclusive access to a suite of banking
services that offer some of the country’s
highest yields. These products
have been designed to help you with
your banking needs.
Members can choose from a variety of
financial products such as certificates
of deposit, checking accounts, or savings
accounts. These offer competitive
features and benefits such as:
Competitive yields - some of the highest in the country!
No minimum balance on Savings and Checking
Free bill payment services
Free check writing
Worldwide access to your account with an ATM/Debit MasterCard
Overdraft Protection
Online, secure access to your account — 24-hours a day
Superior FDIC Coverage
Knowledgeable customer care professionals to help you
every step of the way.
For the latest information on the savings center launch visit
www.aarpsavings.com.
While on the site, signup for the notification service to be one of the first to
learn about the AARP Savings Center launch .
Checking and Savings deposit products and processing
services provided by Union Federal Bank of Indianapolis.
Member FDIC. CD deposit products and services offered
by Reliance Trust Company. All deposit products are
FDIC insured by one of the participating financial
institutions to the full extent of the law.
For My Grandchild: A Grandmother’s
Gift of Memory is a runaway
hit! This unique memory book gives a
new generation of grandmothers a
way to share their rich and wonderful
life experiences: how you became
engaged, your high school fashions,
your role models—even your personal
values. As they learn about you,
grandchildren gain a better understanding
of themselves. Celebrate
Grandparents Month in September
with this wonderful gift!
AARP members receive 35% off this and other AARP titles when
ordered through AARP’s website:
www.offers.aarp.org/books/grand.
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