ShAARP Session: Observations from AARP

With the population of older Americans exploding in the coming years, America's geriatricians will be spread even thinner than they already are. Making sure that older people receive age appropriate care is extremely important and the Martha Stewart Center for Living at the Mount Sinai Medical Center serves as a sterling example of the right way to approach this subject. Focused on primary care and catering exclusively to older people, the Center for Living emphasizes individualized care based on medical history and lifestyle. Few patients have to wait more than ten minutes to be seen at the Center for Living, and each patient's unique needs are always made a priority. This is surely the way to approach health care for older Americans.

Considering there are only a couple of more days of 2008, this is the time that people start putting together their "best of" lists for the year. And while we didn't necessarily make a "best of," you can guess what we were covering: health. Check out AARP's Top Health Stories of 2008:

• Studies raise questions about benefits and cancer risk of cholesterol drug
• On the drug Vytorin and and its potential cancer risk
• Some good news on cancer trends
• First face transplant in the U.S.
• Public and Congress examines chemicals in kids' products
• As economy decreases, stress increases
• Childhood obesity leveling off after decades of increase
• Some good news for breast cancer survivors
• Statin drug Crestor cuts serious risks

Check out the whole piece for details on each story....

There's a recent CNN opinion piece by Marian Salzman suggesting that a "newer" older generation is now taking the ranks:

As baby boomers lose their authority and appeal, generational power is shifting one notch down: to cuspers (born roughly 1954-1965), who arrived in style in 2008 with their first truly major figure, Barack Obama (born 1961).

George W. Bush, born in 1946 at the start of the postwar baby boom for which his generation is named, will leave office with the lowest approval ratings since Richard Nixon was president. As Thomas Friedman has written, Bush epitomizes what's now seen as "The Greediest Generation."

Who's to blame for the economy going into serious decline?

That's right, the author also suggests that baby boomers are the easy group to blame for the economic crisis, labeling them as "the generation that pursued pleasure, proclaimed 'I can have it all' and refused to grow old -- '50 is the new 30,' etc." How dare those boomers not play into the "old fogie" stereotype and - gasp - pursue pleasure!! Those shameless, greedy boomers, trying to have fun!

This is not to say that cuspers isn't a group to acknowledge and be interested in, I was actually excited to learn more about this generation. But I don't think that demonizing the boomer generation by equating them with an unpopular President and blaming them on the economic crisis is necessary to counterpoint.

This isn't a competition, it's a group of people - tens of millions of people - and simplifying them as "George Bush's generation" is patronizing and just plain silly.

Anyone who has been to a doctor in the last few years knows how expensive health care can be. Cutting back on doctor's visits and medications may seem like a tempting way to save money, but there are better ways to reduce expenses without risking your health. For starters, be sure to use your Health Savings Account if you have access to one. Reducing your taxable income is a smart way to save on health care. When it comes to your prescriptions, it's a good idea to go generic and buy in bulk when possible. Here are some other smart tips on reducing your medical expenses.