GRAND Magazine - September/October 2016 - 33

grand health

CONNECT WITH GRAND

5 questions for your healthy future
BY MONICA STYNCHULA

s someone who advises seniors on what they have to
face when the intersection of rising medical expenses
and declining health outcomes becomes their reality,
I've come up with 5 questions each person should be prepared
when asked to answer:

Do you have a realistic idea about how you will age?
Many of us are racking up multiple chronic health conditions. According to studies, the typical Baby Boomer currently has two to four issues that cause aches and pains, and
the number of issues will most likely increase over time. Our
lifestyle choices and behaviors account for 80% of these
illnesses rather than genetics predisposition, so it's really up
to you to manage your health by taking steps to limit future
health issues. Exercising and eating healthy matter but so
does extending social ties and staying mentally active. If you
have chronic issues, it's important to know what they are so
you can plan and prepare to know what they are so you can
plan for them.

Have you identified the people in your circle of care?
According to many surveys, the vast majority of Baby
Boomers intend to live independently as long as possible. But to
do so, seniors need to remain socially connected and engage and
build a circle of care. You can start by answering these questions:
* Whom do you call first when you have an emergency?
* Who knows where your legal documents are stored?
* Who has access to your financial accounts?
* Whom do you trust most?
33 GRAND

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2016

Some members of your Circle of Care may be professionals, family, or friends, but it can also be agencies or companies
that provide those services. REUNIONCare.com, for example,
provides a private and low-cost way to engage your Circle
of Care when the need arises. Whether you work with us or
someone else, get your list in order and start building a
wider circle.

Have you collected and properly stored your
health data?
In recent years more doctors and health plans are
storing health data online, but the realities of
electronic data transfers can negatively impact
our everyday existence. Just when you need
access to your digitally stored health information it may not be available. If they have one
in place, be sure to join your physicians' and
healthcare plan's patient portals and make
sure you sign a "Release of Information"
form to access and retain your own information. If you'd like to further secure your information, REUNIONCare's cloud-based data
storage services secures your data in a personalized private account that's accessible to
you 24/7, anywhere your smartphone has service.
Being able to access your complete medical record
during an emergency is often the difference between
life and death.
Continued on next page

https://www.facebook.com/GRANDmagazine/ https://www.twitter.com/grandMmagazine https://www.pinterest.com/GRANDmagazine2/ https://plus.google.com/114746402480325356757 http://www.reunioncare.com/ http://www.reunioncare.com/ http://www.hhs.gov/aging/healthy-aging/index.html http://www.hhs.gov/aging/healthy-aging/index.html https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/foundation-health-measures/Determinants-of-Health http://bluebuttonconnector.healthit.gov/ http://www.reunioncare.com/what-is-the-circle-of-care/

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - September/October 2016