The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

FDA should ban widely used, deadly gout medication, consumer group says

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration should immediately ban the widely used gout medication febuxostat because it poses unique, serious risks – including the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease – and provides no unique benefit, Dr. Michael Carome, director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, said Friday. Public Citizen petitioned the FDA to ban the medication in June 2018.

The FDA convened advisory committees in response to a request from Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, maker of the brand name febuxostat product Uloric, for approval to update the medication’s labeling to include results of a recently completed clinical trial. The trial, which involved more than 6,000 gout patients, showed that patients taking febuxostat were significantly more likely to die from cardiovascular causes compared with those receiving the much older gout medication allopurinol.

Initial clinical trials testing febuxostat prior to FDA approval linked the medication to possible increased risks of serious cardiovascular outcomes, including heart attack, stroke, and death. The FDA rejected the medication twice due to these safety concerns before approving it in 2009 on the condition that the manufacturer conduct the now-completed large, post-market clinical trial to further evaluate the cardiovascular risks.

Baby boomers face 2019 in a variety of ways

Getting going on 2019 is creating a bit of a challenge for me. I got back from a five-week visit to Spain on Dec. 27 and was gung ho about getting started on new writing projects among other things.

Then I got a cold or the flu. That’ slowing me down.

In addition, I’m writing an article on the top 10 consumer stories of 2018. It’s taking me hours to do research on things such as how much Trump’s Tariff War is costing consumers and how many people had their data breached during 2018. I just finished Item No. 7, so it looks like I’ll be done soon.

Anyway, things looked bleak for consumers in 2018, and the government shutdown is depressing. For 2019, it looks like more of the same.

Meanwhile, here’s what the baby boomers bloggers in the Best of Boomer Blogs are writing about:

Jennifer Kosha of Unfold and Begin went through an overwhelming year last year which included one move and packing for a second move all while decorating and then undecorating for the holidays all while her mother was in hospice care. During all of this craziness, Koshak realized that she needed to simplify and decided that simple will be her word for 2019. She wants to learn how to slow down, keep it simple, and stop over complicating things. Join Koshak as she also starts a year-long program of extreme self-care starting with her January Keep It Simple calendar.

Meryl Baer of Six Decades and Counting can't believe another year is gone. In her post “Cross Off Another Year,” Baer considers how it seems that time passes at a faster rate as we age.  

At A Healing Spirit, Carol Cassara discusses the nature of being human and the best response to challenges. Everyone draws a different hand of cards and life is all about how the hand is played.

Rebecca Olkowski with BabyBoomster.com was feeling lazy after the holidays and wrote about the benefits of being lazy without feeling guilty about it. Read all about it in her article “Six Ways to Embrace Laziness and Not Feel Guilty About It.”

On Sightings Over Sixty, Tom Sightings writes about “10 Things That Are Good for Us” and “10 Things to Avoid If You Want to Stay Healthy.” Check out his articles and see if you agree with his research. Pets are on the bad list.

This is the Best of Boomer Blogs #578. Please click on the links to read the articles. And, be sure to join in the conversations. Boomer bloggers love to hear from readers.

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

How is your Christmas Day going?

Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate this day, the annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.

Nine-in-ten Americans — and 95 percent of Christians — say they celebrate Christmas, according to a Pew Research Center survey. These figures have generally held steady in recent years. Today, 46 percent of Americans say they celebrate Christmas as primarily a religious rather than cultural holiday.

Consumers spent about $1,007 for the holiday season this year, up 4.1 percent from the $967 spent last year, according to a survey conducted for the National Retail Federation. Hopefully, you kept your receipts so you can return clothes that don't fit or gifts that didn't meet their mark in terms of pleasing the recipient.

Micromotivators: The guardrails for healthy behavior

By Louis Bezich, Health Care Executive and Author of “Crack the Code”

Guest blogger

What exactly are micromotivators and how do they help people sustain healthy behavior?

Micromotivators are those tiny strategies, feelings, and approaches that keep you on track every day, the guardrails of healthy behavior.

How can micromotivators help us baby boomers get and stay healthy at this stage of our lives?

Baby boomers, the holidays, and thoughts for December

Do you, your partner, or a family member have a birthday in December?

Rebecca Olkowski of Baby Boomster’s birthday was Sunday, and it was a big day in many ways because she turned 65. Olkowski reports as a December baby, she’s used to sharing her birthday with all the holiday traditions that take place during the month. In some ways, it’s fun, Olkowski says, because it’s a festive time of year, but December birthdays always get mixed up with everything else. December babies are used to receiving combo birthday–Christmas–Hanukkah presents. It’s part of the deal, she says.

Olkowski reports, in the Best of Boomer Blogs #577, that boomer bloggers are writing about the holiday topics of how to create new holiday traditions and how to handle grief at the holidays.

Are you a luxury boomer traveler?

Lately, I’ve been reading financial and boomer blogs to see that others are writing about in the blogging world.

I ran across a blog called My Itchy Travel Feet and an article on “Best Luxury Travel Tips: How to Get the Most for Your Money.”

I left a comment that I didn’t know if telling people to no longer bother about being in a frequent flyer airline club was a good idea. I said I travel to Madrid a couple of times a year and often get a free ticket every few years.

Donna Hull send me an email in reply to my comment:

Three days left to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act

Open Enrollment for 2019 Marketplace insurance ends Saturday, December 15. This means you have only three days to enroll in, re-enroll in, or change a 2019 Marketplace plan.

The Trump administration, which is opposed to anything enacted under President Obama, shortened the enrollment period from 90 days to 45.

However, six states and the District of Columbia have extended enrollment dates: California – Jan. 15, 2019; Colorado – Jan. 15, 2019; District of Columbia – Jan. 31, 2019; Massachusetts – Jan. 23, 2019; Minnesota – Jan. 13, 2019; New York – Jan. 31, 2019; and Rhode Island – Dec. 31, 2018.

Boomers cope as the holidays are upon us

The holiday season is here. My daughter and I have been shopping and we’re planning the Christmas Eve dinner. We’ll be having roast beef again, my son-in-law’s favorite, and making pumpkin and chocolate cream pie. The twins, now teens, like pie – finally. In years past, we’ve made birthday cake-style Christmas cakes because they didn’t like pies.

But sometimes, the holidays are tough, Carol Cassara tell us on Heart·Mind·Soul. Cassara said four of her loved ones died over this holiday and so, for her, it’s always tinged with grief. If you’re having a tough holiday, she offers some advice at “If You Don’t Feel That Holiday Sparkle.”

Cassara reports other boomer bloggers in our group are writing about:

Baby boomers focus on the holidays and life’s ups and downs

Meryl Baer of Six Decades and Counting went to her town’s official party to usher in the holiday season, a Saturday evening with a holiday parade and block party. It rained early in the day, but by the 5 p.m. start, no rain fell and the temperature was almost balmy. Fire engines, school bands, home-made floats, and enthusiastic spectators created a festive atmosphere. 

Other boomer bloggers are writing about:

• Creating a calendar for the holidays to help you enjoy the time and stress less over it.
• Researching whether a charity you’ve heard about it a good choice.
• Recounting stories of holidays past.
• Contemplating our life’s journey.
• Being a caregiver to someone who is chronically ill.

Baer writes about these articles for the Best of Boomer Blogs #575. Click here to get the links to the articles. And, be sure to join in the conversations. Boomer bloggers love to hear from readers.

Copyright 2018, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Scam artists trying to get information from new Medicare cards

The new Medicare cards have now been mailed to recipients in most states.

The cards have a new Medicare number that’s unique to you, instead of a Social Security number. This helps protect your identity. Carrying the old cards around in your pocketbook or purse meant that if either were stolen, the thief would have your Social Security number. I’ve wondered for years why this change wasn’t made. 

You should only give your new Medicare number to doctors, pharmacists, other health care providers, or your insurers.

Scam artists are busy trying to get your Medicare information by contacting you about your new card. If someone asks you for your information, for money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your personal information, hang up and call Medicare at 800-633-4227.