The real estate market is always changing, and one of the largest recent shifts is the way in which homes are marketed! In the past, agents specialized in fairly small geographic areas, such as the Boise Bench or North End Boise exclusively. This was essential because there was no Internet, and new listing information came via the fax machine and weekly or biweekly paper copy updates. Today, listings are put on the local Intermountain Multiple Listing Service (IMLS) electronically with tons of information available to anyone with access. Millions of people can now view your listing! In the past, most sellers expected their listing agent to put ads in the local newspaper, host open houses & bring the buyer to their home. Today, an exceptional listing agent understands that although there are still great ways to market through print ads, statistically, OVER 90% of buyers look for homes online via their computer, smart phones, tablets, etc. Furthermore, 40% of buyers find the home by themselves online, compared to only 2% using print ads! Your agent must understand this statistic and market where buyers are looking!Preferably, the listing agent will have a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation as well. This designation means the agent understands the unique situations Seniors face in buying or selling their homes, including: loss of loved ones, trusts, 401Ks, IRAs, down-sizing or right-sizing, community requirements, emotional attachments to the home, etc.A great agent can also assist their clients in preparing their home for sale to maximize profits by helping the seller stage their home, make necessary repairs, take professional photos, create a website for the home, etc. A SRES agent understands that Seniors may want to buy in a community that features specific amenities that are most desirable to Seniors, and also may consider proximity to health care professionals. Being near a local hospital could mean the difference between life or death. Be sure your agent has the SRES designation and is FULL-time, and do not be afraid to ask how many homes they sell annually. Everyone knows someone who sells real estate, but having a professional & caring agent will make a huge difference.By Sean Taylor Boise SRES Realtor & Top Producer

How many times have you been to the doctor this past year? Did you see your primary care physician for your regular check-up? Perhaps your cardiologist? Your dentist? For most people, health care is extremely fragmented. This means that the information discussed or obtained from each of these visits is not shared with any other provider. This can result in duplicate tests being performed and perhaps delayed diagnosis or treatment. Even for the very healthy, the burden of keeping different doctors apprised of what you're experiencing is typically on you. Electronic medical record systems in Saint Alphonsus hospitals and clinics are helping to make a difference in sharing important medical data between Saint Alphonsus providers, and making great strides in resolving the fragmentation of your care. We are working diligently to extend this same benefit and communicate to independent medical providers in your life who should know what's happening with you. However, for now, you or someone you trust should be the center point of your care. Here's what you can do. 1.When you get a test result or have a procedure, get the summary in writing, and send copies to all your other healthcare providers with a simple note: Wanted to keep you up- to-date on my health status. Please put this in my chart. Be sure to bring up the data or problem at your next visit. 2.Keep a list of all your medications in your wallet or purse and update it any time a healthcare provider adds or deletes a drug or changes a dosage. 3.Dont leave your dentist or your eye doctor out of the loop. It will help them diagnose and treat any issues they may identify with you. 4.If you have a test or procedure and you do not hear the results soon afterwards, do not assume the results were normal. Call the healthcare provider who ordered the test and ask them to send you a written copy of the test summary. 5.If you are hospitalized, it's okay to ask all your caregivers questions about what is happening. Be sure you understand what tests you're getting and why. If you are being discharged from the hospital ask for the results of any tests or procedures you had in the hospital. Editor's Note: This article was submitted by Saint Alphonsus. To find a Saint Alphonsus primary care or specialty physician, call (208) 367-DOCS (3627).

Health care costs have been on the rise over the past few years, with health spending for Americans costing more than $8,680 per person, according to 2011 data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.1 Making matters worse, about 80 percent of older adults have at least one chronic condition, such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes, driving up the need for prescriptions and treatments that can add up over time.2 However, saving money on your medicine and your overall wellness doesn't have to be a pain-staking endeavor. Here are some tips you can use to help lower your health care costs while still maintaining your health. Ask your physician if there is a generic version of your medication, said Dr. Richard Smith, Medical Director of Senior Products for Humana's Intermountain Region. Generics, which are typically 30-80 percent less expensive than brand name drugs, are equivalent in dosage, form, safety and strength.3, 4 Each year, generic alternatives for top-selling brand name drugs go off patent, helping you save money on common medications, including blood thinners and cholesterol fighters. Another way to cut costs is to see if your health plans pharmacy benefit manager offers a mail-order pharmacy service. An alternative to traditional community pharmacies, mail-order prescription delivery provides 30, 60 and 90-day supplies of your medications shipped directly to your home, usually with significant savings off the regular retail price. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates health care costs for chronic disease treatment account for more than 75 percent of national health expenditures.5 Be proactive and get regular checkups and screenings from your physician, Dr. Smith said. These visits are usually covered by most health insurance plans, which can help monitor for and prevent chronic conditions before they become too serious and require treatment. In fact, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has made preventive screenings more available and more affordable than before. Under the act, Medicare and new private-insurance policies are required to either completely or significantly cover the cost of 45 medical tests and services currently shown to be most effective in early disease detection and prevention, such as mammograms, diabetes, colon cancer, prostate cancer and cardiovascular issues. For a complete list covered by Medicare, visit http://www.medicare.gov/coverage/preventive-and-screening-services.html. Health care plans often provide a number of health and wellness discounts from deals on nutritional supplements to discounts on vision care to help members keep their costs down. For instance, health benefits company Humana Inc. offers its members various deals through its online Savings Center, including discounts for everything from colds to heartburn medications. The key to saving on health care costs and using these tips effectively is planning, Dr. Smith said. It might take a little bit of scheduling to order your medications ahead of time or make an appointment for a screening; however, the payoff, in terms of the impact on both your health and wallet, is worth it. Editors Note: This article was submitted by Humana. For more information on Humana's senior products in Idaho call 1-800-884-8328. 1 https://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/NationalHealthExpendData/NationalHealthAccountsHistorical.html 2 http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/AAG/aging.htm 3 http://www.gphaonline.org/about/generic-medicines/ 4 http://www.fda.gov/drugs/resourcesforyou/consumers/questionsanswers/ucm100100.htm 5 http://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/businesscase/reasons/rising.html

The need for hospice services for military veterans has never been greater, but often those who were the first to answer our nations call for help are among the last to seek help when they need it. Today, more than 37 percent of the veteran population is 65 years or older. More than 1,800 veterans die every day, but most veterans still die in their communities only 4% occur in Veterans Administration facilities.There are many reasons why veterans do not seek end-of-life care. A culture of stoicism might prevent veterans from admitting to being in pain, or from asking for pain medication. Some may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with symptoms that can include social isolation, alcohol abuse, and anxieties.However, much of avoided care comes down to education. The benefits of hospice care can meet the special needs these brave men and women have at the end of life. VA and hospice programs have learned a critical lesson in caring for dying veterans: A patients military service history is highly relevant to providing the most appropriate, personalized end-of-life care. Although hospices routinely ask and record their patients age, family make-up, racial/ethnic group and religion at the time of enrollment, far too few ask about service status. But they should. There may be health coverage and benefit issues, if the veteran is enrolled at a local VAMC or would like to be, along with burial and other benefits.When seeking hospice care for a veteran, it is important to ask about services that will meet his or her specific needs based upon the timeframe of service. Some hospices have developed care programs specifically designed for the conflict the veteran served in, such as World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Some also have specially trained volunteers, many of whom are veterans themselves, to assist with care and comfort. This gives the patients a level of comfort knowing that those who are taking care of them have been through many of the same things they have.For some veterans, the effect of combat experience may remain buried for years, emerging only when they are very sick and dying. Finding the right end-of-life care can make all the difference. Hospice is a choice to live life to its fullest, empowering patients and their families to redefine hope in the last months of life. Finding a hospice that has made it its goal to care for veterans is another way to honor their sacrifice.-Devin Limb is Executive Director of United Hospice in Meridian.