Welcome March

For many years, March was the month when Presidents' were inaugurated. That ended with Franklin Roosevelt, but one thing that remains the same is the welcomed transition from Winter to Spring! This year the Spring season begins March 20th. Read on as American Senior Benefits presents information on protecting your vision, a healthy recipe, and more.

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Seniors: Protect Your Vision at Home

About half of all eye injuries happen in or around the home — often during improvement projects. That makes it a good idea to keep at least one pair of safety glasses on hand. ¹

The fact is, as we age, vision and balance changes increase our risk of falling at home. Here are tips to prevent fall injuries to your body and eyes:

• Make sure that rugs are slip-proof.

• Avoid small rugs.

• Secure stair railings.

• Cushion sharp corners.

• Increase lighting in the home.

March is also Save Your Vision Month, (sponsored by American Optometric Association). This is a time to encourage people to get their eyes checked and become aware a possible vision problem. Although Medicare does not cover routine eye care, it may cover care for injuries and other problems. NOTE: We do offer vision insurance and I'd be glad to discuss it with you.

1. Kierstan Boyd, Tips for Eye Health in Adults Over 65, American Academy of Ophthalmology, aao.org (accessed February 8. 2021)

Advantages of Graded Benefits Insurance

Graded death benefit insurance can have important advantages for certain people, many of whom are older.

What it does, essentially, is allow people to get life insurance who may not otherwise qualify. As the name suggests, this coverage is graded over time, probably two or three years.

Your premiums will not increase from year to year, but the benefits paid out will increase after the initial waiting period.

Let me know if this kind of coverage may be of interest to you. I would be happy to offer additional details.

NEED COVID-19 VACCINE INFORMATION? View the CDC website for facts on vaccines and immunity.

Good Taste, Good Health

Chicken Fried Steak (Healthy Way)

Here's a take on an old favorite that's easy to make and brings you great taste in a healthy way.

INGREDIENTS:

• 6 (4 oz) cube steaks
• 1⁄2 tsp salt
• 1⁄2 tsp pepper
• 1/4 cup all- purpose flour
• ½ up egg substitute
• 45 crushed crackers
• Vegetable oil cooking spray

DIRECTIONS:

Sprinkle steaks with salt and pepper. Dredge steaks in flour. Dip in egg substitute, and dredge in crushed crackers. Lightly coat steaks on each side with cooking spray. Cook steaks, in batches, in a hot nonstick skillet over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until golden, turning twice. You can transfer steaks to a jelly roll pan at 225o if needed to keep them warm.

Source: Food.

Your Blood Pressure

Do you know what blood pressure really is? It's a measure of how hard your blood presses against your blood vessels. ²

Pressure rises when blood is met with greater resistance in the blood vessels (caused by narrower blood vessels). Your heart has to work much harder to pump blood out to the body.

Called hypertension, high blood pressure is dangerous, and it can damage artery and blood vessel walls over time. It can lead to dangerous complications and even death if left untreated. ³

Experts say many people with high blood pressure don't show symptoms. But some symptoms include headaches, shortness of breath or nosebleeds. There are two types of high blood pressure. "essential" is a major condition; "secondary" is an underlying condition. Doctors see a healthy lifestyle as a way to prevent or control high blood pressure.

2. Mayo Clinic Staff, Blood Pressure chart: what your reading means, MayoClinic.org (accessed February 7, 2021)

3. Rena Goldman, "The effects of hypertension on the body'" Healthline, HealthLine.com (accessed February 8. 2021)

This month is National Nutrition Month. The goal is to help people make smart food choices and develop physical activity routines.

Senior Financial Glossary

The Velocity of Money is an economic measurement of the rate at which money moves from one person or organization to another.

A Venture Capitalist is a private equity investor who provides capital to companies showing potential for high growth.

Volatility refers to the amount of uncertainty or risk related to the size of changes in a stock's value.

Volume is the amount of a stock that changes hands over some period of Time.

SOURCE: Investopedia Dictionary

Spring allergy season is almost here. Talk to your doctor. There's no cure but you can take steps to curb springtime allergies. Surviving Spring Allergy Season.

Did you know this about March?

The "Boston Massacre" occurred March 4, 1770.

March 1, 1781, the Articles of Confederation were ratified.

The first U.S. paper money was issued, March 10, 1862.

On March 11, 1918, the "Spanish flu" began in the U.S.

December Celebrity Birthdays: "Dr. Seuss" (March 2), Stephen Curry (14), Nancy Pelosi (March 26),Mariah Carey (27)

Quote of the Month

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." ³
- Theodore Roosevelt

3. BrainyQuote

For information about Medicare or Claiming Social Security, please visit [[SPONSOR_URL]]. Should you have any questions, please email me at [[SPONSOR_EMAIL]] or call [[SPONSOR_PHONE]].