Omaha Insurance Solutions - August 2021

Omaha Insurance Solutions - August 2021

Club MED

August 2021

Grandchildren Visits Are Kinda Like D-Day (but We Love It)

B eing a grandparent is a huge blessing! But, man, isn’t it the best feeling to give your grandkids back to your kids at the end of the day? You love them, you miss them, and they’re the best things ever invented, but I think we can all agree that humankind thrives today because we have our own kids while we’re young. With many COVID-19 mandates being lifted, maybe you’ve been just as busy seeing your family as I have been. I was extremely excited for my grandkids to come visit, as most grandparents are, especially because we don’t get to see them that often anymore. Two years ago, my wife’s daughter Rachelle, her husband, and our three grandkids (ages 2, 5, and 16) moved to Booneville, Arkansas — that’s a six-hour drive away from our house. Then, this past June, the family arranged a drive to Omaha to stay at our home for two weeks. Bev and I were elated for months beforehand! It took a couple weeks just to clean and prepare the house for our guests.

grabbed him in time, but to this day, we have no idea how he managed to get out.

Man, he’s a troublemaker! And tremendously full of energy — Duracell would have a run for its money. The 5-year-old is also full of energy, but she’s a very nice girl and doesn’t try to run out of the house with zero self- regard. She even helps put the 2-year-old to sleep by singing the ABCs, which is both adorable and bizarrely effective. He goes out like a light. The 16-year-old has been a huge help, too! She gave us a helping hand while we spent a few nights supervising the kids, just so the parents could go out and spend some time with friends in town. I joked with the family about putting barbed wire on the front door, but it probably wouldn’t have worked anyway. The 2-year-old is an escape magician. Anyway, even with all the trials and tribulations, I can safely say it was a great visit overall. After my grandkids left, I might miss them, but I also grew a huge amount of respect for day care workers, young moms, and anyone else who has to look after young kids for an extended amount of time.

We were so excited that we couldn’t even hear the war drums approaching.

As soon as our grandkids landed at our house, it was like D-Day — our house was littered with bomb shells and landmines of toys and kids’ snacks, while our pets were the men dying at the beach. Our large pit bull — who is already intimidating for regular-size humans — wanted to play with the kids, but the kids weren’t exactly comfortable being near him. Instead, the kids wanted to play with the furry, adorable Ragdoll cat, but the cat was not interested in being buddies. To make things even better (read: worse), about four hours into the visit, we noticed that the 2-year-old grandson hasn’t been seen in a while. Then, we noticed the front door was open. My heart started pounding louder than it’s ever pounded before. I ran outside to the driveway, and there went my grandson — down our driveway into the street. “We fight to liberate!” he must have thought. Luckily, I

If that’s you, I hope you get plenty of the wonderful, long, restful naps you deserve. I know I did!

Christopher J. Grimmond

Medicare Insurance Made Easy

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3 OLDEST ROOKIES IN SPORTS HISTORY Have you ever felt that fate meant for you to take a different path than the one you took? In some fields, making that change is possible, or even common — as any law student can tell you, where the “average” age of students is in their 30s. But other worlds, like the world of professional sports, are less welcoming to those over 25. Besides, the careers of pro athletes aren’t nearly as long as icons like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning would have you believe. The average MLB career may be a few years longer than Morris stuck it out, but in the NFL? Most players make it less than three years and Philadelphia Eagles in the 1970s. Modern football has come a long way, critics will argue. But there’s no denying the old-school toughness and tenacity Papale showed in making it to the NFL. NBA player Pablo Prigioni’s career was

twice as long as either Morris’ or Papale’s was, with four years in the big leagues starting in 2012 at age 35. But basketball is arguably less demanding on the body than football

quit, depending on the position. While you’re meditating on the ethics of chewing up football players for three years and spitting them out, all in the name of

Which only makes for a better story when it does happen, of course.

That’s what Jim Morris discovered when he signed with a Major League Baseball team in 1999 after his 35th birthday. Morris’ life became the subject of the Dennis Quaid movie “The Rookie,” filmed just after Morris’ major league career had ended. You might think that two years is a short time in the majors, but hey, you try throwing 98-mph fastballs for hours a week, 104 weeks in a row!

and even baseball if we look at the potential damage major league pitchers can do to their throwing arm. Their careers may not have been the stuff of dreams, but these three men showed something we all like to see: tough players hanging on long past their “prime.” And they lived the dream — if only for a while. We all love that!

entertainment, consider the case of another similar story that was turned into a movie, that of Vince Papale — played by Mark Wahlberg in “Invincible.”

Of course, Papale — whose flag football prowess in his late 20s overrode his lack of college ball experience — signed with the

WILL I HAVE COVERAGE FOR THE NEW ALZHEIMER’S DRUG?

You might’ve heard of a new Alzheimer’s drug called Aduhelm, or aducanumab, most notable for being the first Alzheimer’s treatment to be FDA-approved in over 18 years. This has huge cost implications for people on Medicare. What implications, exactly? Let’s dive into it. What does Aduhelm do? If your cognitive function were a highway (aka nerves), imagine amyloid proteins as cars that can easily crowd and jam that highway. When amyloid protein buildup starts to occur, and the traffic jams don’t go away, some scientists believe this can be a significant contributing factor to Alzheimer’s. Aduhelm — specifically in high doses, as its lower dosages failed clinical trials — prevents amyloid protein buildup and may improve cognitive function over a long period of time, such as one trial’s result of 22% clearer cognitive function over 18 months. Will it be covered? The odds are looking good as an FDA-approved medication, but it’s not guaranteed. There’s a chance Medicare Part B

regional carriers and Medicare Advantage plans will push back. For an item or service to be considered for coverage under Medicare Parts A and B, it must be safe and effective, not experimental, and appropriate for Medicare patients. Because Alzheimer’s is a multifaceted disease, there’s still controversy over whether or not Aduhelm’s strategy of targeting amyloid proteins is effective enough to be put on the market. Also, this long-term treatment will cost over $56,000 a year. A Kaiser report says that if 500,000 Medicare patients were prescribed Aduhelm, the program would cost over $29 billion a year, far more than any other medication. With 2 million Medicare beneficiaries under currently available Alzheimer’s treatment under Part D, that might create further issues. If you want to take Aduhelm, new updates may have come up since this newsletter was written and published. Don’t hesitate to give our office a call to find out! Thanks so much for reading, and we’ll be back next month with more current Medicare-related information.

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3 Self-Care Tips for Grandparents

Testimonial

Are you a little more

“Chris Grimmond helped both my husband and me out immensely when we both qualified for Medicare. He came to our house (he has an office, too); however, it was nice to discuss different plans in the comfort of our home. He checks on us quite often (at least yearly) to see if we are happy with our plans. Chris is also available through email and phone and gets back to you quickly. I have referred Chris to several people, and they are all pleased! If you are getting close to turning 65, give Chris a call. You won’t be disappointed!”

stressed out than you imagined you’d be at your age? Today, we wanted to give tips for grandparents

who don’t make time for self-care to enjoy their

favorite stress- relief activities. Here’s how you can look out for your own mental well-

– Sharen W.

being, too.

Tomato and Watermelon Salad (Yes, Really!)

No. 1: Ask for help, even in short intervals.

Feeling exhausted lately? What do you need help with? Ask your supportive family members, friends, and neighbors for short, easy favors if you’re too shy to ask for larger ones. For example, if you’re watching or even raising a grandchild, ask someone to watch them for 15–20 minutes while reading a book or taking a short walk.

Inspired by BonAppetit.com

Bon Appétit magazine calls tomato and watermelon “soul mates,” and they’re right! This surprising gourmet salad will be a hit at your next barbecue.

No. 2: Be honest about your needs.

When asking for help, make sure to be clear about what you need. Vague requests can lead to confusion, dissatisfaction, and anger. Sometimes, though, we’re dishonest about our needs without realizing it. Try to explain the task and urgency as clearly as possible. For example, don’t minimize your request by adding phrases such as “if you can” or “maybe.” Show that your needs are important, too.

Ingredients

• 1 tsp peppercorns, coarsely crushed

• 4 cups seedless watermelon, rind

removed and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

• 1 tsp coriander seeds, coarsely crushed

• 2 heirloom tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

No. 3: Be open to trying new forms of self-care.

• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds

As a grandparent, there’s a good chance you have your go-to self-care tactics already, whether it’s watching a great TV show, journaling, going outside, or having a cup of tea. That’s great! But you’re definitely not limited to your lifelong favorites, either. Clint Eastwood is 91, and he’s still making new movies. There’s always room to explore! For example, maybe give mud, gel, or cream face masks a try. You might also want to try coloring, which has shown to have similar relaxing benefits as meditation! It’s easy for grandparents to put their kids and grandkids first, but don’t forget about you, too! Your loved ones would likely be bummed out if you felt overwhelmed due to helping them. So, take a long bath, crack open a good book, and make sure to enjoy yourself once in a while.

• 8 oz feta cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

• 1/2 tsp turmeric

• 1/4 cup coconut oil

• Sea salt, to taste

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, sauté spices and herbs in the coconut oil for 3 minutes over medium heat to create turmeric oil. Take the pan off of the heat, then let it cool. 2. Combine the watermelon, tomatoes, and feta on a large platter or in a bowl. Drizzle with cooled turmeric oil. Now, simply sprinkle with sea salt and enjoy!

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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

11414 W. Center Rd., Suite 250 Omaha, NE 68144 402-614-3389 OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com

INSIDE This Issue

1

Grandchildren Visits vs. D-Day

2

The Rookie: 3 Oldest Rookies in Sports History Will Medicare Cover the New Alzheimer’s Drug?

2

Self-Care Tips for Grandma and Grandpa

3

3

Testimonial

3

Tomato and Watermelon Salad (Yes, Really!)

4

Fight SAD Early!

Fight SAD Early!

Do you get SAD? We’re talking about seasonal affective disorder, which affects 1%–10% of the population depending on the state you live in. Symptoms of SAD are similar to symptoms of depression, but unlike chronic depression, which can occur at any time, people with SAD only experience symptoms during a certain time of year, usually winter.

There are a few ways to combat wintertime SAD. Establishing a regular sleep schedule is important, as is an exercise routine and healthy diet. As mentioned, it’s hard to find vitamin D in

foods, but milk and other food products are often intentionally enriched with it during processing. The most common solution, however, is taking a vitamin D supplement, which can be purchased over the counter at

SAD has been strongly linked with shorter days and less sun — although summertime SAD can result from long days that make sleep difficult, resulting in irritability and mood swings. In most cases, however, winter is the problem season, likely due to a link between less sun and a vitamin D deficiency. Depression is one common symptom of vitamin D deficiency, especially in patients who aren’t prone to depression due to other circumstances. Unfortunately, very few foods are good sources of vitamin D. The best source is sunlight itself.

drugstores and grocery stores. It is commonly recommended for people living in places with harsher winters, and although there are negative side effects if taken in excess, a regular daily dose of vitamin D is a healthy way to ensure you have the right levels in your system. This month is the perfect time to begin that process. Vitamin D can take several months to build up to effective levels in our bodies. It may be the hottest time of the year in many places, but it’s also the ideal time to start fighting SAD early!

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