Baby Boomers need to stay active and social in their golden years

This year — every 10 seconds — America's 78 million baby boomers began turning 65, according to the American Medical Association. That means for physicians an increase in elderly patients and the conditions that come with age.

For example, about two-thirds of seniors have at least one chronic disease by age 65 and 20 percent of people older than 65 have five or more chronic diseases — and likely a lot of questions.

That is why Porter Health System started Senior Circle, a membership program that uses innovative ways to teach about health care topics important to seniors.

"Health care is changing now and baby boomers are the fastest growing part of the population," said Bonny Hildebrand, coordinator for Senior Circle. "By 2030, the over-65 population will triple. We're really trying to embrace that change."

Senior Circle is open to Northwest Indiana residents who are 50 and older. Hildebrand said the program will take a look at issues seniors face. There is a $15 membership fee.

"We want to see them active and social," Hildebrand said. "Aging comes with other side effects and we want to lessen the impact."

Dr. Omar Ansari, a family practice physician with Porter's Chesterton Medical Group, said the number of seniors without health insurance is "very alarming."

"I have seen people who don't come see me because they don't have insurance," he said.

With the passage of the Affordable Care Act in March 2010, health care for seniors got a sizable boost. Relief is on the way for prescription drug costs, and in January the law made preventative care for seniors on Medicare free, including an annual wellness visit.

Ansari said those wellness visits are an important part of staying healthy in the golden years. He said baby boomers already are seeing problems such as high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, cancer and high blood pressure. About 95 percent of people 65 and older have at least one of those six problems, he said.

Ansari suggests people 65 and older should get on Medicare, and if they haven't seen a physician in a few years to see one as soon as possible.

After a wellness visit, Ansari suggests maintaining a healthful lifestyle that includes fresh food, daily exercise and a limited alcohol intake.

"Prevention is better than a cure," he said.