Federal Government rates U.S. nursing homes, clean out your cache, SeniorSSuperStoreS Keeping in Touch newslsetter for baby boomers, seniors, senior citizens and the elderly

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This issue of Keeping in Touch deals with several matters of interest to Prime Time Surfers:

1.) What we can do for our troops in battle

2.) Spring is here - get prepared for gardening

3.) The federal government rates U.S. nursing homes

4.) How will you pay for nursing home care?

5.) Computer tip - clean out your cache

6.) How churches become victims of Nigerian fee scams

7.) Your subscription details

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1. What We Can Do For Our Troops In Battle

Many of us are consumed with the events in the Middle East these days, and much information is circulating about what we can do for our U.S. troops and those of other countries in the coalition forces.

In addition to the personal response of Pray For Them, we have accumulated a number of resources that you may want to refer as you look for ways to help. These range from personal use items that are easily thought of to other goodies that are often overlooked.

What about sending "care packages" to the troops overseas to show your support for them? The Defense Department is urging you not to do so, unless you are a family member or loved one of a service member. Officials say, while the intentions are good, the end result may not be so good. There are alternatives that are both safer and perhaps more meaningful to the recipients.

The military has also asked that you please do not flood the military mail system with letters, cards, and gifts. Due to security concerns and transportation constraints, the Department of Defense cannot accept items to be mailed to "Any Servicemember." Some people have tried to avoid this prohibition by sending large numbers of packages to an individual servicemember's address, which however well intentioned, clogs the mail and causes unnecessary delays.

Your may find the entire detailed article, including an extensive list of both military and civilian resource web sites as well as a list of items that our troops need at SUPPORT OUR TROOPS.

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2.) Spring Is Here - Get Prepared For Gardening

Spring has sprung in most places here in the U.S., and if we can pull ourselves away from CNN's coverage of the Iraqi war we try to spend some of our time working in our yards and gardens.

We have several products in our Hobbies & Gardening department to make this popular pastime even more enjoyable. We feature the Step 2 line of gardening products, such as the Garden Hopper, the Garden Kneeler/Seat, the Grass Hopper, which are all designed to make it easier on your legs, knees and back.

We also feature the "Good Grips" line of Gardening Tools with soft, large handles. The comfort you feel when using Good Grips is no accident. Good Grips takes the time to study the way your hands interact with its products' handles, and the company looks for ways to improve function, alleviate stress, and make your life easier. Ergonomic design, quality and comfort are unique features for which Good Grips is famous. Save stress and strain on your hands and wrists.

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3.) The Federal Government Rates U.S. Nursing Homes

The Federal government, in November 2002, launched a new online database aimed at educating those shopping for a nursing home. The database has existed in some form for years, but this latest version is designed to be more user-friendly and will be updated every three months.

The database shares quality-of-care information such as little-considered factors like the percentages of residents who lose the ability to perform basic daily tasks or who develop bed sores - things that people want to know when putting themselves, a spouse or a parent into a nursing home.

It includes 10 "quality measures", or standardized percentages of patient well-being, for the 17,000 or so nursing homes in the United States that accept Medicare and / or Medicaid.

The new measures are in addition to the results of regulatory inspections of the homes, which are performed about every 14 months. The more frequent release of data will allow for a better overall picture of the quality of a facility's operation. Nursing homes found deficient in the regulatory inspections usually have 30 days to remedy their problems. The new, more frequent data, in addition to covering issues more oriented to consumers, means that nursing homes with problems need to be more responsive in correcting their deficiencies.

Learn more about the program and how to access the online database in our article Web Site Rates Nursing Homes in our Community Room.

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4.) How Will You Pay For Nursing Home Care?

As we age, we begin to be concerned with the high costs of quality nursing home care. How are you and / or your family going to afford this ever-increasing cost?

We have arranged to make available for you, at no cost or obligation, a copy of the "Insider's Guide to Long Term Care Insurance" along with a no-cost instant quote. Just click here to go to Long Term Care Insurance.

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5.) Computer Tip - Clean Out Your Cache

When you view a web page, it is stored on your computer's hard drive; that store is your computer's cache (pronounced "cash"). When you go back to a page, your browser looks in the cache to see if the page is there. If it is, it is displayed for you right off your own hard drive.

It's faster that way to view a web page, since it doesn't have to load via your slow modem connection.

But what if the page has changed? You won't see the new web page; you'll see the old one stored on your computer. To be sure you're seeing the latest pages, you can click the 'Refresh' or 'Reload' button. You can also hold down the Shift key while clicking, to ensure you force your browser to open the page from the server computer instead of from your hard drive.

You should make a habit of doing that if you visit a Web site that you've visited before. Or you could be looking at an older page - stored in your cache.

These cached pages also take up space on your computer.

To clean out your cache so it's not taking up any extra space (those web pages and graphics do take up some space, and you should regularly clean out your cache) do the following:

1. Open Control Panel: Start > Settings > Control Panel.

2. Double click on Internet Options icon.

3. Under Temporary Internet Files, click 'Settings' button.

4. Click 'Delete Files' under the Temporary Internet Files area.

You're done. All the temporary Internet files are removed, and your cache is cleaned out. (Remember that Netscape users will need to go through their browser to clean out their cache.)

You can learn more computer tips, subscribe to a very helpful newsletter and also sign up for help with your \computer if it's just not behaving itself by going to The Newbie Club.

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6.) How Churches Become Victims of Nigerian Fee Scams

(Courtesy of our friends at Internet ScamBusters at www.scambusters.org.)

We've heard about various Nigerian scams many times, but it seems that criminals out there are always coming up with ways to bilk good people. Here's an unusual twist where they're stooping perhaps even lower by approaching churches and other religious organizations.

(The scam in a nutshell: A supposed official from an African -- or other -- country offers you a large sum of money in exchange for some supposed assistance getting money out of their country. You end up paying endless "fees" to the scammer, and you never see anything in return. You may well find yourself the victim of identity theft, as well.)

A minister of a small church contacted Internet ScamBusters to tell them his sad story. He was contacted by a woman in Africa who claimed that her husband had died, and that she wanted to leave some of his estate -- millions of dollars -- to a good church.

Pulling out all the fraudulent stops, she claimed that she'd prayed for advice, had visited the minister's church's Web site, and had been told by God that his was the right church to donate to.

Later, a "lawyer" for the "war widow" contacted the minister, seeking information for the supposed donation to the church, but in reality collecting potential data for identity theft as well as huge closing fees.

This scam is particularly well crafted because it pushes hard on the victim's "hot buttons," using all the right language. It focuses on creating a lot of credibility. For example, in addition to the lawyers calling as promised, the victim is given a private cell phone number so they can call the supposed donor.

The bottom line: If you're promised a huge sum of money for any reason, think Nigerian Fee Scam first. Then, walk away.

For more about the Nigerian Fee Scam, visit www.scambusters.org/NigerianFee.

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7.) Your Subscription Details

You are receiving this free newsletter because you subscribed to it or because someone thought you would enjoy it.

So, until next time, here's goodbye. Remember, if you want us to add any resources or items of interest, just drop us an email from the SeniorSSuperStoreS Contact Us page. Watch your email box for future newsletters!

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Until next time, happy Prime Time Surfing!