How to Prepare for Medicare’s Free Wellness Visits

People who have had Medicare Part B health insurance for longer than 12 months are qualified to receive an annual wellness visit with their primary care physician.

It’s important to note that this is not a physical exam. That’s separate (and also covered).

The wellness visit is used for your doctor to develop (on the first visit) or update your personalized plan to help prevent disease or disability. The visit will also create a plan for recommended screenings, vaccines, and/or new medications.

Since this is different from a physical, Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has three things to make sure you do in order to prepare for this wellness visit.

1. Have Your Medical Information Ready

If you already are a patient with the primary care physician, they will have access to your records, but you should bring your vaccine records with you and a list of your current prescriptions at the very least.

2. Know Your Family History

Your family history will guide the doctor in many of his decisions when it comes to your preventative care, including tests, screenings, and other health checks. Make sure you know this information so you can pass it along.

3. Make a List of Questions

When you’re in the room with the doctor, it’s impossible to remember all of the questions that you wanted to ask. The best thing to do is to make a list in advance. It can include direct health questions and other ones like planning advance directives and ways to make your home safer if there are things you’re noticed and are concerned about. If you think you’ll have trouble remembering what the doc says, bring a relative with you.

And before you leave the office, be sure to schedule your wellness visit for the following year!

 

To learn more about Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://wichita-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

Melatonin and the Role It Plays in Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

Melatonin use has gone up five-fold in the past decade—with much of those gains coming during the COVID-19 pandemic. Added anxiety during the lockdown phase of the pandemic, a decrease in activity levels due to being in the home more often, and increased stress over various things from employment to politics led to more sleepless nights and turning to the supplement for help.

However, does melatonin really help, do you need to take more and more for it to be effective, and can you get hooked on it?

Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at these questions about melatonin.

1. What is Melatonin?

Melatonin is a naturally producing hormone in the body that helps regulate your sleep. The body produces more at night when it’s time to rest. Production, however, can be halted by things like blue-light exposure from televisions, tablets or smart devices.

2. Do Supplements Work?

Some studies show that taking a supplement about 30 minutes before bedtime can help people fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Other clinical trials have shown the supplements are as effective as a placebo, suggesting that it instead has a psychological impact on getting people to fall asleep quicker.

3. Is it Safe to Take Long Term?

Melatonin isn’t regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but experts say that it’s safe to take. Instead of taking it nightly, many doctors suggest using it a few nights per week.

4. Is Melatonin Habit-Forming?

Melatonin on its own is not habit-forming, but there is a psychological effect to where people think they need to take it in order to fall asleep. If they don’t take it, it can add to anxiety over whether someone can fall asleep without taking the supplement, so for that reason, it should not be taken every night.

Experts suggest telling yourself that you will take it by a certain time after going to bed in case you can’t fall asleep. This way, you are more relaxed at bedtime and not worrying about whether you will take the supplement or not.

 

To learn more about Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://wichita-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

5 Ways to Save Money on Your Car to Offset Higher Gas Prices

While the summer has offered a little relief from the $5 per gallon we were seeing at the gas pumps in the spring, prices are still much higher than they have been over the past several years—the average in Kansas in late July 2022 being around $3.85 per gallon.

To help offset the increase in prices at the pump, Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at five ways you can save on costs related to your vehicle.

1. Gradual Starts and Stops

If you accelerate quickly, you’re burning more gas than you would normally use to get up to speed; when braking, if you stop suddenly, you’re wasting all that gas you used during your acceleration. If you can anticipate slowing down and it is safe to do so, try to coast a bit to slow down before needing to apply the brake.

2. Sell Your Car Privately

The used-car market is still a hot one, but experts say you’re more likely to get more bang for your buck if you sell your vehicle on your own. If you’re looking to sell as part of a trade-in for a newer vehicle, negotiate the price of your new car and come to an agreement before letting them bid on your car. This way, you know the trade-in value being offered.

3. Choose Low Rolling Resistance Tires

These tires lessen the friction caused by the rubber of the tire meeting the road, which can actually improve your gas mileage from around 5 to 10%. If you live in an area where there is a lot of snow and rain, be sure to check the ratings of these tires for those conditions, but they are generally a good option for most.

4. Look Into an Electric Vehicle

The supply of electric vehicles is rising, meaning that they are becoming more common and affordable across the country. In addition, there could be federal buy-back incentives for purchasing an EV. Experts say that if you drive around 12,000 miles a year, the extra cost of an EV will be negated by your fuel savings.

5. Go By Your Car’s Manual for Oil Changes

If you go by the sticker that most oil-change locations put on your windshield, you’ll be changing the oil every 3,000 miles. But most cars now use synthetic oil that lasts 5,000 or more miles. Check your vehicle’s manual for the recommended distance between oil changes.

 

To learn more about Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://wichita-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

GO Rehab Rocks

The GO™ Rehab Program offers a sweeping new approach that is redefining the rehab experience. The results are clear: It makes rehab more efficient and effective—as well as more comfortable and convenient.

And there are numbers to back that up. UDSMR data confirms that the GO Rehab Program is in the top 5% nationwide for successful rehabs. That’s big news! UDSMR is an independent, not-for-profit organization affiliated with the University at Buffalo‚ State University of New York.

The whole point is to improve clinical outcomes and to enhance the resident experience—and GO is right on point. GO Program clients are overjoyed to have access to an attending physician 5 days a week, to a registered nurse 24/7, and to the Program’s cutting-edge equipment, like the Jintronix biofeedback system.

They all love the private and semi-private rooms, the smart TVs, Netflix, branded coffee, Chromebooks, and a full menu of healthy food choices. Most of all, they rave about the speedy recoveries, getting them back to their lives ASAP.

The GO Rehab Program is a win-win-win: Hospitals, medical personnel, and the clients themselves—everyone wins!

5 Ways to Try and Kick an Addiction to Sugary Drinks

Drinking sugary drinks like soda, sweet tea, fancy coffee drinks, smoothies, and more can lead to diabetes, heart disease, and obesity due to the abnormally high sugar content of many of these beverages.

If there’s soda stocked in your fridge or you make daily stops at a juice bar or coffee shop for one of these drinks, read on because Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has five ways to try and cut back on this habit for your health

1. Switch to Sparkling Water

Some people might not enjoy drinking just plain water, but there are plenty of sugar-free and calorie-free flavored seltzers on the market that can give you some satisfaction without the sugar rush.

2. Brew Your Own Tea

A typical glass of sweet tea can contain up to 44 grams of sugar, which is more than the American Heart Association says that you should consume in an entire day. But an unsweetened glass of tea has zero sugar or calories. And if you need to add a natural sweetener like honey, agave, or stevia, it will surely be in a lower amount than you would get from store-bought sweet tea.

3. Add Fruit to Your Water

If flavored seltzer isn’t your thing, try infusing your water with fruit, or squeeze an orange, lemon, or lime in make it more pleasing to your palate.

4. Eat Fruit Instead

If you’re craving something sweet, instead of guzzling a sugary drink, have a whole fruit as a snack or wash and cut up some berries.

5. Don’t Use Sugary Drinks for Energy

There are other ways to get energy than by a sugar rush. First off, coffee and tea contain caffeine without the sugar, and also look at your lifestyle. Are you getting enough sleep? Are you exercising enough? These are ways to naturally boost your energy levels in a healthier way.

 

To learn more about Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://wichita-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

The Importance of Good Sleep for Brain Health

While there’s no definitive cause of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia that plague so many seniors, there are some steps we can take to help lower our risk.

Most of those things are naturally things we do while awake—eating healthier foods, getting regular exercise, and maintaining close personal relationships. But we can also help our brains out while we sleep too.

Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at the sleep habits you should get into now to help lower your risk of memory problems down the road.

Aim to Get to Sleep by 10 p.m.

Getting to bed by 10 p.m. allows your body to get around three hours of slow-wave sleep (SWS). Studies have found that SWS clears toxins that are known to cause dementia away from your brain, and it also helps your brain create stronger memories.

Our natural body clock, however, prevents SWS from taking place past around 1 a.m. or so, and experts say to aim for at least three hours of SWS per night to get its full benefits.

Don’t Worry if You Wake Up Earlier

If you’re in bed by 10, as you get older, you may notice that you’re waking up around 6 a.m. and feeling fully rested. You only need around seven to eight hours of sleep once you get into your 60s, so if you’re getting around that amount and feeling alert throughout the day, the amount of sleep you’re getting is on target.

Watch Blood Pressure

The American Heart Association recently reported that hypertension (high blood pressure) is a major risk factor for dementia and overall cognitive decline. And while you’re at it, don’t rely on a glass of wine or other alcohol at night to fall asleep. While it may help you get to sleep, you are more likely to wake up during the night after a drink, and regular alcohol consumption can also lead to high blood pressure.

To learn more about Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://wichita-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing With 4 Investment Options Outside of the Stock Market

If you’re looking to grow and expand your portfolio outside of the stock market—which can be volatile, as the situation in Ukraine in March 2022 proved.

If you’re looking for other opportunities to invest your cash, opportunities outside the stock market can be more stable during stressful times.

Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has four investment options for you that are outside of the stock market.

1. Art

Since the turn of the century, art has outperformed the S&P 500 index by a whopping 180%. But where can you start? A site called Masterworks allows you to buy individual shares of famous works of art, and you get paid when they sell. The site does require, however, a minimum investment of $5,000.

2. Real Estate

Real estate is skyrocketing, and by investing through a site like Fundrise, you can also be protected against losses if there’s a downward turn in the housing market. The site has paid dividends in every quarter since the second quarter of 2016.

3. Gold

Precious metals like gold are great to invest in to diversify from the stock market because when the stock market and the dollar goes down, the value of gold typically goes up. You can also transfer funds from retirement accounts like a 401(k) or IRA into a precious metal IRA with no taxes or penalties.

4. Refinance Your Mortgage

If you need to build up capital to use as investment money, check with lenders to see how much you can save by refinancing or get a cash infusion with a cash-out refinance. You can use this money to either invest or pay off high-interest loans.

 

To learn more about Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://wichita-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

Campaign: Care that Moves You

Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on a New Breakthrough Treatment That May Do Away With Reading Glasses

Studies show that nearly half of all adults in the United States have an issue reading small or close text, a version of near-sightedness called presbyopia. This is an issue that progressively gets worse over time, commonly beginning to appear around the age of 40. This is because the lens in the eye becomes less flexible, which makes it difficult to focus on objects up close.

There are two usual solutions for this: bifocals if you already need glasses for distance or reading glasses if your vision is otherwise good.

But now, there is a third option.

Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has details on this new option that’s FDA approved: eye drops.

An Eye Drop to Replace Your Reading Glasses?

The drops, called Vuity, were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in late 2021. The drops are said to take effect about 15 minutes after application and are effective for anywhere from six to 10 hours.

Scientists who helped create Vuity say that it works by reducing the size of the pupil, thus expanding the depth of field and allowing the eye to naturally focus at different ranges.

Talk to Your Doctor if You’re Interested

Side effects from clinical trials were mostly mild, with headaches and red eyes being the most common. It’s also believed that the drops work best in people from 40 to 55 years of age. Clinical trials showed a decrease in effectiveness around age 65. The drops also work best for mild to moderate cases of presbyopia.

A 30-day supply is said to cost around $80, and experts say it’s unlikely that insurance will cover it because it’s not medically necessary.

To learn more about Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://wichita-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.

Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing With 5 Things You Can Do Yourself to Increase Your Home’s Value

You don’t need something drastic like a kitchen or bathroom renovation or a new roof to increase the property value of your home. Sure, those things will work, but it will come at great expense to you.

Instead, if you’re looking for small things to do here and there to add value to you’re home, you’re in luck, as there are plenty of DIY projects you can take on that will serve the greater good.

Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at five things you can do yourself and give your home a boost in its value at the same time.

1. Popular Neighbors

This isn’t a DIY but more based on luck. For example, a 2018 study found that home values got a boost by 0.5% any time that a Starbucks coffee shop opened nearby. That’s not a bad payoff for not having to do anything—maybe outside of having to deal with some extra traffic in the morning near the drive-thru lane.

2. Paint Your Front Door

A recent study found that a fresh coat of paint on your front door can provide a big boost to your home’s value. The 2018 analysis found that a light brown or gray color added around $3,000 to a home’s sale price, while the big winner was black, which added an average of $6,200 to the sale price.

3. A Well-Manicured Lawn—For You and Your Neighbor

Not only was a well-kept lawn an attractive selling point, but research has found that the state of a neighbor’s lawn can affect your house’s value. So if you don’t mind cutting some extra grass, be neighborly and offer to mow the lawn next door too if they have trouble keeping up.

4. New Light Fixtures for the Ceiling

Realtors agree that any time you can make your home lighter and brighter, that’s always a good thing. Inspect your light fixtures to make sure they’re not cracked or discolored, or upgrade for one that allows for the room to appear brighter.

5. Replace Bathroom and Kitchen-Counter Caulking

Cracked, moldy, or worn caulk is an eyesore. Fortunately, it’s easy to replace. You can either get a squeeze tube for small touch-ups or a caulking gun to re-do the job. Either way, it’s inexpensive and can make a big difference when it comes to the presentation of your bathroom or kitchen.

 

To learn more about Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://wichita-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.