pencil next to drawing of lightbulb

August is Medic Alert Month!

by Kathryn Larlee, J.D., Hotline Attorney Did you know that August is Medic Alert Awareness Month? MedicAlert Foundation is a nonprofit organization that started 60 years ago with the mission to alert first responders to medical conditions that could affect a person’s treatment. A medic alert is a simple bracelet or necklace that is worn by a person with certain medical conditions such as severe allergies, asthma, … Continue reading August is Medic Alert Month!

Medical Fitness 

by Shirley Brown, MiCafe Community Partner Engagement Specialist No matter your age, if you are considering adding exercise to your daily routine, recognize the safe ways of be more active. First, speak with your doctor about the exercises and physical activities that you are planning. Even if you do or do not have a health condition, your doctor can help you choose exercises that are right … Continue reading Medical Fitness 

Man and woman jogging.

National Senior Health & Fitness Day

By Jennifer Blanck, MiCAFE Network Coordinator People over the age of 65 are at a higher risk of obesity, heart disease and fall-related injuries.  This is greatly due to the fact that as people age they tend to lose muscle mass, bone density, energy, and flexibility causing them to lead a more sedentary lifestyle.  What many people don’t realize is that they can combat many of these … Continue reading National Senior Health & Fitness Day

Red heart decoration.

National Wear Red Day

by Sara Jackson, MiCAFE Network Specialist When you go to the store during the month of February, you will see lots of red and pink decorations for Valentine’s Day. However, the red decorations can be used for another special event. That special event is American Heart Health Month. During the month of February, the American Heart Association raises awareness throughout the whole month to express … Continue reading National Wear Red Day

Breast cancer mortality is decreasing for black and white women, especially among younger women. However, even though death rates are going down, we need to do more to level the field.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

by Sara Jackson, MiCAFE Network Specialist October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. During this month and a few weeks leading up to the beginning of October, you will start to see a lot of bright pink items on the shelves in just about every store you go in. These items are to help bring attention to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Many families are affected … Continue reading Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Firefighter wearing helmet and mask.

Fire Prevention Week

by Chris Jackson, Communications Coordinator and Project Administrator Did you know that smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years? Once a year, you should check your smoke alarms to review their date of manufacture. If the date is more than ten years old, you should replace the unit with a new smoke alarm. Additionally, you should test your smoke alarms monthly by pressing the … Continue reading Fire Prevention Week

Side view mirror with traffic reflected in it.

Tips and Resources for Aging Drivers 

by Dawn Kepler, Project Administrator Older adults (age 65 and up) comprise just under 20% of all drivers licensed in Michigan, and this number is projected to increase. Similarly, recent Michigan vehicle crash data reveals that older adult crashes are also increasing, up to 45,864 in 2015 from 36,997 in 2006. Older drivers were more likely than other age groups to engage in the following crash … Continue reading Tips and Resources for Aging Drivers 

Pills spread out on a white surface.

Avoiding Overmedication and Harmful Medication Interactions 

by Gay Nell Jenkins, MiCAFE Community Partner Liaison Many older people have a higher risk of overmedication and medication interactions which are very harmful and deadly to them. Anytime a senior takes more than one medication, the medications can interact with each other. Most seniors do not ask questions regarding new medications prescribed or a change of dosage of the current medication because they trust the doctor, or feel … Continue reading Avoiding Overmedication and Harmful Medication Interactions 

Unused Medication Disposal

by Darling Garcia, J.D., Director of Operations I was recently going through my medicine cabinet and was astounded by the amount of unused medicine we had stashed in our medicine cabinet. We are a relatively healthy household but looking at the piles of unused medicine, you would have guessed otherwise. Without a doubt, medication has a vital role in treating diseases and other conditions. However, … Continue reading Unused Medication Disposal

Options for communicating with people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

Improving Communication

By Nicholas Goodman, Network Engagement Specialist Are you Deaf or Hard of Hearing? Do you know someone who is? A great tool for drivers was recently printed by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR). Whether it’s a routine traffic stop or an emergency, being able to communicate with Law Enforcement Officers is vital. The visor card from MDCR has a simple layout with icons … Continue reading Improving Communication