January/February 2021

Sponsored Content Provided by Ohio Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)

Ohio Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) provides information and counseling related to Medicare fraud, errors and abuse. Learn how to protect your medical and personal identity. We provide virtual presentations to groups of all sizes.

You can also join us on the Ohio SMP app. Look for the FREE download on the Apple App Store or Google Play.

If you suspect Medicare fraud or are interested in a virtual presentation, contact Ohio SMP. Call 1-800-488-6070 or go to proseniors.org/ohio-smp.

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I noticed two things not so long ago, while I was working outside getting my yard ready for winter. First, all my neighbors had the same leaf blower. Did I buy the wrong one? Was there a Groupon I missed? The other thing I noticed is they were all putting their grills away, and that’s when I stopped feeling crazy for having the wrong leaf blower and started thinking they were crazy for not wanting to do some wintertime grilling. ...

Interest rates are at an all-time low. They have been ridiculously low for the past year and economists are not expecting them to increase anytime soon. Low interest rates have brought buyers into the real estate market, some of them first-time buyers. ...

Dr. Bombay from the ‘60s sitcom “Bewitched” treated his witch patients (and an occasional non-witch) with a combination of spells, miracle pills and other unconventional treatments. If that’s your reference point for non-mainstream medicine, it’s time to adjust your thinking. Sound therapy, biofeedback, hypnosis and other clinically tested therapies can be valuable tools for caregivers and patients, widening treatment options. The alternative has become mainstream. ...

Meaningful tidbits: Send a thank-you note… every day. For a year. Akron Urban League - meeting needs in trying times. Punches, kicks, spit and thanks - a reporter’s story. Cleveland Public Library bring the world to your doorstep. And meet Virginia Phillips, the artist behind our cover ...

While digital world intrusions and breaches affect us, unfortunately, they are outside our domain of control. We can’t control the security of the information stored at these government agencies and private companies. Should we then throw up our arms and give up? What can we do for something we have no control over? ...

Many of us have turned to hiking as a way to safely connect with friends while getting some much-needed exercise, fresh air and sunshine. That was easy to do when the weather was nice and the days were long. Winter is a tougher sell. Don’t be intimidated. Judging by the dozens of hikes scheduled each week throughout Northeast Ohio, a lot of people are doing a lot of wintertime hiking and they encourage the winter-weary to join them. ...

It’s easy to idealize our 20s, now that they’re firmly in our rearview mirror. It was a fun part of my life, but it also came with an undercurrent of uncertainty. I knew that a lot was going to happen, but my path was bracketed by fuzzy outlines that intimidated rather than inspired. ...