Senior Concerns
Seniors worry about many things: some they have control over (like political elections) and some they do not. Seniors are the most reliable group of voters and politicians should be courting them and the things that matter to them like Social Security and Medicare. Places like Arizona are actively engaged in an aspect of VOTER SUPPRESSION that will have a heavy impact on senior voters. A new law there makes collecting and turning in early ballots for individuals unable to physically go to the polls a class 6 felony. Penalty: 6 months in prison. Low mobility seniors often rely on others to get their ballot turned in. This disenfranchisement, led by AZ Republicans, will suppress hundreds of thousands of voters this November. Experts fear that the law will have a serious negative effect on voter numbers; it is the strictest in the US. Texas has the strictest voter ID law in the nation. It has limited types of identification to prove identity at the polls since 2011. Gun licenses are allowed but college Ids are not. A disproportionate number of seniors are among the 600,000 registered voters that do not have the required ID. Since many seniors do not drive their driver's license has not been maintained and they do not have a gun license. Some of those seniors' stories are devastatingly tragic. Wisconsin has enacted new voter ID restrictions that prohibits counties and towns from issuing photo identifications. To learn what states require or get voter assistance click http://www.866ourvote.org or call 1-866-OUR VOTE.
Newer and future retirees should be VERY CONCERNED. There is a new study out that reaffirms alarming trends toward a very insecure retirement for future retirees: 1) fewer households have retirement savings 2) fewer households have a defined contribution plan 3) 60% of all households had no retirement savings at all 4) African American and Hispanic households are the least likely to have access to a defined contribution plan
Medical Errors have become the third highest cause of death in the US. 250,000 Americans die each year due to doctors' and other providers' mistakes. The #1 cause of death is heart disease and the #2 is cancer.
The types of errors vary: mistakes during surgery, prescribing the wrong doses of medication, organizational issues such as breakdowns in communication are among the top types of errors. “Standard operating procedure” and a consistent investigative techniques are anything BUT standard. Researchers recommend a standardization of meticulous records that would hold providers accountable.
What can you do to minimize your risk? Keep records of your medications and dosages. Ask your providers questions.