The Brentwood Police Department is warning citizens of an alleged phone scam that is occurring at this time. The suspicious calls have been targeting elderly residents.

The caller typically has a heavy foreign accent and promises that a large sum of money and a new car have been won. The caller advises victims to purchase a pay as you go Visa card with $500.00 deposited to the card. Once the card is purchased victims are told to give the account information to the caller in order for winnings to be deposited on the account.

Once the account information is received the account is then emptied. Some of these callers are advising residents that they will be coming to their residence.

If you have received a suspicious call of this nature there is no need to report it to the police department. If you have suffered a loss due to a scam please report it to the police department as soon as possible.

The Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department invites all area seniors to participate in a wide variety of ongoing programs at the Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Road.

Senior programs are designed for residents age 55 and older (unless otherwise noted). For more information, contact Mary Clark at (615) 790-5719, ext. 25 or view the monthly newsletter at www.wcparksandrec.com. You may also receive up-to-date information by “liking” us on Facebook. Williamson County Parks and Recreation is a public organization, here to benefit the community. Anyone may register for and participate in the department’s programs, teams, classes and events. Some programs require pre-registration.

Aquamotion - Arthritic/Post Rehab Water Class

Is the pain of everyday living getting you down? Then join Heather Atkinson’s “Aquamotion” on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Road. This class provides an opportunity for people with arthritis and post-rehab conditions to improve flexibility, coordination and muscle strength. No registration required. Please pay at the front desk before class! The fee is $2 for participants ages 55 and older and $3 for ages 54 and younger.

Power Tools

Nancy Rieves, a certified personal trainer, leads this group fitness class designed to increase strength and flexibility for independent living. Power Tools is for ages 55 and older, and no registration is required! Classes are held on ongoing Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, (skip 4/4) from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Road. The fee is $3 per class paid at the front desk. Wear comfortable clothes!

BOWLING

Seniors are invited to join Williamson County Parks and Recreation for drop-in bowling on Tuesday, April 3 and 10 at 9:30 a.m. at the Franklin Entertainment Center, 1200 Lakeview Dr. Enjoy bowling with friends without the obligation of a league. Games are $1, paid to the bowling center, and the fee includes shoes. For more information, contact Mary Clark at (615) 790-5719, ext. 25.

Potluck and BINGO

Seniors are invited to monthly potluck and bingo on Monday, April 16, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Road. Meat and drinks will be provided, and participants are asked to bring a side dish or dessert. Registration is required March 26-April 15. Call (615) 790-5719, ext. 10. Please note: due to potluck preparations, doors will open at 11:30 a.m. There is no charge for this event!

The Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department invites all area seniors to participate in a wide variety of ongoing programs at the Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Road.

Senior programs are designed for residents age 55 and older (unless otherwise noted). For more information, contact Mary Clark at (615) 790-5719, ext. 25 or view the monthly newsletter at www.wcparksandrec.com. You may also receive up-to-date information by “liking” us on Facebook. Williamson County Parks and Recreation is a public organization, here to benefit the community. Anyone may register for and participate in the department’s programs, teams, classes and events. Some programs require pre-registration.

Aquamotion - Arthritic/Post Rehab Water Class

Is the pain of everyday living getting you down? Then join Heather Atkinson’s “Aquamotion” on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Road. This class provides an opportunity for people with arthritis and post-rehab conditions to improve flexibility, coordination and muscle strength. No registration required. Please pay at the front desk before class! The fee is $2 for participants ages 55 and older and $3 for ages 54 and younger.

Power Tools

Nancy Rieves, a certified personal trainer, leads this group fitness class designed to increase strength and flexibility for independent living. Power Tools is for ages 55 and older, and no registration is required! Classes are held on ongoing Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, (skip 3/7) from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Road. The fee is $3 per class paid at the front desk. Wear comfortable clothes!

BOWLING

Seniors are invited to join Williamson County Parks and Recreation for drop-in bowling on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. at the Franklin Entertainment Center, 1200 Lakeview Dr. Enjoy bowling with friends without the obligation of a league. Games are $1, paid to the bowling center, and the fee includes shoes. For more information, contact Mary Clark at (615) 790-5719, ext. 25.

Potluck and BINGO

Seniors are invited to monthly potluck and bingo on Monday, March 26, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Road. Meat and drinks will be provided, and participants are asked to bring a side dish or dessert. Registration is required February 27-March 25. Call (615) 790-5719, ext. 10. Please note: due to potluck preparations, doors will open at 11:30 a.m. There is no charge for this event!

For more information contact:

Debbie Sims, Public Information Assistant

Williamson County Parks & Recreation Dept.

1120 Hillsboro Road

Franklin, Tennessee 37064

(615) 790-5719, ext. 42

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Seniors, age 55 and older, are invited to join the Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department on November 4 for a trip to historic Fiddler’s Grove Village in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Take a guided tour of over 30 historic buildings (both original and replicated) that are significant to local history. The quaint village includes a church, sawmill, doctor’s office and school. After the tour, enjoy lunch at Demo’s (Dutch treat).

The cost is $25 per person, which includes motor coach transportation and a guided tour. Transportation will be provided from the Longview Recreation Center, 2909 Commonwealth Drive in Spring Hill and the Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Rd.

Check-in at Longview will begin at 8 a.m., and the group is estimated to return at 3 p.m. Check-in at Franklin will begin at 9 a.m., and the group is estimated to return at 2:30 p.m. Space is limited for this event.

Registration is from October 14 to October 31 or until full. Registration may be made in person or by speaking with a receptionist at (615) 302-0971, ext. 10 in Spring Hill or (615) 790-5719, ext. 10 in Franklin. No messages please. To hold a reservation, payment must be received within five days of the initial registration. Payments may be mailed or made in person at either of the locations listed above. Refunds are available through the last day of registration.

Williamson County Parks and Recreation is a public organization, here to benefit the community. Anyone, including out-of-county residents, can register for and participate in classes and events, even if you don’t have a facility pass!

Seniors, age 55 and older, are invited to join the Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department on a trip to see the smash Broadway musical “Wicked” at TPAC on October 20. “Wicked” has won over 35 major theatre awards and has been hailed as “best musical of the decade.”

The cost is $81 per person, which includes transportation and the show. Transportation will be provided from the Longview Recreation Center, 2909 Commonwealth Drive in Spring Hill and the Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Rd. Check-in at Longview will begin at 11 a.m., and the group is estimated to return at 7 p.m. Check-in at Franklin will begin at noon, and the group is estimated to return at 6:15 p.m. Space is limited for this event.

Registration is from September 16 to October 10 or until full. Registration may be made in person or by speaking with a receptionist at (615) 302-0971, ext. 10 in Spring Hill or (615) 790-5719, ext. 10 in Franklin. No messages please. To hold a reservation, payment must be received within five days of the initial registration. Payments may be mailed or made in person at either of the locations listed above. Refunds are available through the last day of registration.

Williamson County Parks and Recreation is a public organization, here to benefit the community. Anyone, including out-of-county residents, can register for and participate in classes and events, even if you don’t have a facility pass!

The Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department invites seniors ages 55 and over to join the Senior Wii Bowling League at The Longview Recreation Center, 2909 Commonwealth Drive in Spring Hill. 

Our league will consist of 7 teams, with 4 people per team. You may register as an individual or a team; if you don’t have a team we will find one for you. League play starts September 1 and will be held on Thursdays from 10 a.m-12 noon. Teams will compete for the “Wii Champion Title” at the end of the season on November 10. Space is limited, early registration is recommended. Registration is from August 4-August 18. Spectators are welcome! For more information or to register, call the Longview Recreation Center at (615) 302-0971, ext. 10. This is a free program.

(ARA) - Schools with only a third of the students sitting in chairs, offices sending out notices to employees asking anyone with a fever or cough to please stay home, and hand sanitizer stations popping up everywhere; the signs are very visible this year that flu season has arrived.

Seasonal and H1N1 flu viruses are making big headlines. And while everyone has the potential to catch either variety, senior citizens tend to suffer more from the complications of flu.

"It's a good idea for everyone - including caretakers of senior citizens - to get the flu shot. And there are many other ways to help prevent the spread of viruses from one person to another," says Richard Bitner with Visiting Angels, a senior home-care service. "If you provide care, or even just frequently visit with a senior, pay attention to their living environment to make sure it is safe and protects your loved one from viruses. And make sure you take care of yourself as well, so you don't pass on the germs."

Seniors are more vulnerable because they spend time with grandchildren, get out and explore new activities and visit with friends and family. The CDC recommends everyone over the age of 50 get a yearly flu vaccine because the flu can be more serious and even deadly for seniors. About 36,000 people die from flu complications annually, and of those deaths, 90 percent are age 65 or older.

In addition to getting both the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following steps to help protect your health:

* If you are sick with flu-like symptoms, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone - unless you need to get medical care.

* Even if you aren't sick, keep your home stocked with a supply of over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand rubbing solution and tissues, so that if you do start experiencing symptoms, you don't need to go out and to purchase supplies.

* Wash your hands every day with soap and water - or if this isn't available, hand sanitizer.

* Avoid close contact with sick people.

When you are visiting a senior citizen in senior home care, make sure they have supplies on hand and are practicing good personal hygiene. Do they have a squirt bottle of soap next to every sink in their house? Do the counters and bathroom sinks get cleaned frequently? Are tissues available next to chairs in every room?

Remember, seniors may not pay attention to basic preventative measures when it comes to viruses. But by practicing good health habits yourself, you can help keep them from getting sick from the flu. For more information about flu prevention and seniors, visit visitingangels.com/library.asp.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - It's been called "the disease of kings" because of its association with historical figures like Henry VIII, Benjamin Franklin and Isaac Newton, but gout, a painful and potentially debilitating form of arthritis, is anything but a "historical" condition. In fact, 3 million to 5 million Americans currently suffer from gout, and this number is expected to rise as the population ages.

Despite gout's growing prevalence, results from a survey of more than 2,000 Americans reveal that 65 percent of adults admitted to being "not at all knowledgeable" about gout. The new survey by the Gout & Uric Acid Education Society illustrates major gaps in the public's understanding of the condition.

"Gout has a rich history, but the notion that the condition is no longer a major health problem can't be further from the truth," says Dr. N. Lawrence Edwards, chairman of the Gout & Uric Acid Education Society, a specialist in rheumatology and professor of medicine at the University of Florida, Gainesville. "What many people don't realize is the number of Americans with gout has actually doubled over the past 30 years."

Gout is one of the most painful forms of arthritis and the most common form of inflammatory arthritis among adults. It causes sudden intense pain and swelling in the joints and, if left untreated, can lead to permanent joint damage and destruction of tissue.

The survey revealed that many Americans don't realize just how serious a condition gout can be - almost half (49 percent) of adults were not aware of the potential crippling effects of gout, such as needing to use a cane or walker, or having to stop working because of limited mobility. More than 70 percent did not know that gout is a form of arthritis.

"Advanced gout leads to the same level of work loss, physical disability and diminished quality of life seen in advanced rheumatoid arthritis, but, as these survey results indicate, the severity of the disease remains underappreciated," Edwards says. "People with gout are often stereotyped as being overindulgent or heavy drinkers, and there is a perception that sufferers bring the condition on themselves. If we are going to improve care for the growing number of Americans living with gout, these myths need to be corrected."

If you have gout or think you may be at risk, Edwards and the experts at the Gout & Uric Acid Education Society have some tips to help manage the condition:

1. Know the risk factors and triggers for gout

Risk factors include obesity, previous joint injury or disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, kidney disease, genetics (one out of four people with gout has a family history of the condition) and elevated uric acid levels (hyperuricemia).

Triggers for attacks include surgery or sudden severe illness; consumption of large quantities of purine-rich foods, especially meat products; or excessive intake of alcohol, especially beer.

2. Stay in control of your uric acid levels

Most experts agree that lowering a person's uric acid level to less than 6.0 mg/dL is helpful to reduce urate crystal accumulation and prevent the consequences of hyperuricemia and gout. It is important to work with your physician to monitor your uric acid level.

3. Talk to your doctor and visit www.GoutEducation.org to learn more

The www.GoutEducation.org Web site features a downloadable patient brochure with key information about gout.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - While a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, is extremely frightening for patients, there is ongoing research, new technology and medications to help make life easier.

"While we are waiting for a cure, people need to know that a lot can be done to make life easier and longer for people with ALS," says Dr. Robert G. Miller, the lead author of guidelines on treating ALS that are published by the American Academy of Neurology in the Oct. 13 issue of the medical journal Neurology.

ALS is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurologic disease that attacks the nerve cells controlling voluntary muscles, or the muscles a person can control. These muscles - for example, the arms, legs, and throat - eventually stop working. About 10 percent of people diagnosed with ALS will live 10 years or more, significantly longer than the three to five years typically predicted.

Tom Kobler, 57, of Eden Prairie, Minn., noticed he didn't have good control of his left foot in the spring of 2007, and received an official ALS diagnosis in May 2008.

"I had a lot of people at work asking why I was limping," he says. "I first thought I had lower back issues."

In addition to seeing his regular physician, Kobler attends an ALS clinic at Mayo Clinic on a quarterly basis to meet with several specialists, including a neurologist, dietician, speech pathologist, swallowing specialist, nurse and a physiatrist (a doctor of physical therapy). They anticipate together the challenges he will face over the next several months, and plan ways to get around those challenges.

"I probably see seven people over the course of four to five hours at that clinic, and they're all talking to each other," Kobler says. "[ALS] symptoms can progress quickly. Knowing what you can do with the use of various types of equipment is very helpful. We try to anticipate when my weaknesses would come and have the equipment in place as I need it."

Dr. Miller says research affirms the importance of multidisciplinary care. "Attending a multidisciplinary clinic will likely increase survival and access to treatments, and may improve quality of life," Miller says. Several ALS clinics have met standards set by well-known medical organizations, and if you've been diagnosed with ALS, your doctor can help guide you in finding a clinic in your area you can work with.

Kobler has been involved in reviewing the last decade of ALS research and agrees with Dr. Miller. "In my battle with ALS, I have tried to anticipate my family's future needs to make living with ALS as manageable as possible. That is not something easily done, but with frank conversations with my medical team at Mayo and at home, we have been fairly successful in having the equipment and expertise on hand when needed to allow me and my family to enjoy my remaining life as fully as possible," he says.

One guideline identified by the American Academy of Neurology recommends people with ALS use the drug riluzole, which slows the rate at which the disease progresses. It is the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ALS, and has a modest effect on prolonging survival.

As ALS progresses, it starts affecting the muscles in the mouth, which can cause eating, talking and drooling issues. The drug botulinum toxin B is recommended by the Academy for patients who are suffering from sialorrhea - also known as drooling - if oral medications aren't working.

Kobler's disease has limited him to a wheelchair, but he continues to prepare for future needs. He says any equipment that allows him to conserve energy helps.

"More recently we have gained access to a lift that lifts me out of bed and into my wheel chair," he says. "I have also recorded my voice for certain requests - 'I need water,' 'I'm cold,' 'I need to go to the bathroom.'"

Recent studies indicate the disease typically proceeds to affect the muscles that control breathing, so people with ALS have problems getting enough oxygen. People with ALS who use an assisted-breathing device usually have increased life expectancy and may have better quality of life. Longer life expectancy is also likely for people with ALS who use a feeding tube known as a PEG tube, since nutrition plays a critical role in extending survival.

People with ALS who develop thinking or behavioral problems will be less likely to initially accept treatment with an assisted-breathing device or a PEG tube. Doctors need to approach these people differently to help them accept these treatments.

The cause of ALS is still a question mark, and it's not known why the disease strikes some people and not others. About 30,000 Americans are currently diagnosed with ALS.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - Even in the best of times, life insurance can offer an extra measure of peace of mind in terms of helping to provide financial security. But the need for life insurance is even more significant during difficult economic times, when jobs are harder to find and dependents are in greater need of financial assistance.

The current high rate of unemployment is causing consumers to re-evaluate the importance of individual life insurance coverage, with many viewing it as an essential component of long-term financial security for their families and loved ones.

"People have been hit hard and aren't sure where to turn," says Mark Hug with Prudential's Individual Life Insurance business. "They see life insurance as a way to help provide stability and financial protection."

Hug notes that a recent report titled Navigating Life Insurance Choices in Challenging Times issued by Prudential Financial, Inc. in September, found recent layoffs made two-thirds of consumers realize they need more insurance than their employers provide. But, 22 percent do not have more coverage beyond what they get at work and 18 percent have no coverage at all, according to the report.

The discrepancy between the coverage people have and the coverage they believe they need seems to boil down to the fact that the choices in life insurance policies can be confusing.

Getting started

The good news is, determining your needs is not as complicated as it may first appear. When selecting a policy, consider several key things, including:

* Calculating how much coverage you need.
* Considering the period of time for which you need coverage to determine if term or permanent insurance is right for you.
* Determining how your needs fit within an overall plan that suits your personal circumstances, your financial priorities and your budget.

Understanding your options
Like its name implies, term life insurance provides coverage for a specified "term" or period of time. It is usually less expensive than whole life or permanent insurance, especially in the early years of the policy, and can be a good option for people who want maximum coverage at minimum cost.

Whole or permanent life insurance provides lifetime coverage and premiums are typically paid for as long as the policy remains in place. In addition to providing a death benefit, permanent policies can potentially accumulate cash value, which can be accessed via loans or withdrawals. Loans and withdrawals will reduce policy cash values and the death benefit and may have tax consequences.

When in doubt, a combination of coverage can be a good approach to cover all your bases. A financial professional or a life insurance agent can play an important role in helping you determine what level of protection you need by evaluating present and future financial responsibilities and income, and identifying the right products to help meet those needs. When it comes to financial security, life insurance offers the kind of guarantee you can take to the bank. Of course, it's also important to note that all guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuing company. For more information, download a copy of Navigating Life Insurance Choices in Challenging Times.

Courtesy of ARAcontent