This is the June 4, 2003 edition of Keeping in Touch from SeniorS SuperStoreS.com.

Welcome to our new subscribers; and to our established subscribers of Keeping in Touch, a special Welcome Back. We're glad to see you again.

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

If you like the content of Keeping in Touch, please feel free to forward each copy on to as many folks as you wish. And, encourage your friends and family to visit with us at SeniorS SuperStoreS and sign up for their own subscriptions. Or, they may sign up for their own subscriptions by emailing us at "seniors-request@seniorssuperstores.com" and include the word "join" in the body of the email message.

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

1.)Update on prescription drug proposals in congress

2.) Coping with cancer: support for seniors and others with cancer

3.) Summer skin care

4.) The West Nile virus

5.) A simple safety check can reduce household hazards for seniors

6.) Remember our Fathers on Sunday, June 15

7.) Why we love children (a bit of humor)

8.) Your subscription details

1.) Update on Prescription Drug Proposals in Congress

Our friends at TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL) sent us a request to notify our readers and visitors of a legislative update on the most needed prescription drug debate. In order to help them out and to keep you informed, we are passing along the information to you.

"The leaders of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have promised to bring prescription drug proposals before each of their respective bodies as soon as June 2003. The Senate would like to pass a bill before the Fourth of July. We applaud the leaders for their intent, and we continue to support such efforts and hope that Congress will be able to enact a bill this year.

"But prescription drug proposals have been discussed for several years now, and we realize that a bill may not be enacted immediately. We know that American seniors need relief from the high costs of prescription drugs now. Thus, TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL) supports a bipartisan bill (S.951, the "Older Americans' Prescription Drug Tax Relief Act") introduced by Senator John Warner (R-VA) -- along with lead cosponsors Senator Mark Dayton (D-MN) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) -- that would provide for a tax credit of 50 cents on the dollar for out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, even for those individuals who don't pay income taxes. The credit is capped at $500 for individuals and $1,000 for married couples; and there is a phase-out of the credit for those who earn more: $75,000 per individual, $150,000 per couple.

"This is not an end-all, be-all solution. We continue to support legislation that would offer a more comprehensive prescription drug benefit. But, in the short term, this proposal would offer some relief and assistance in paying for the high cost of prescription drugs.

"Won't you please take a moment right now to contact your Senators and Member of Congress and ask them to support legislation that would provide seniors with a tax credit and offer some relief for the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs? It's easy to do that online by going to action.tscl.org and follow the links to send a note to your legislators.

"And, won't you also share this e-mail with a friend who's also concerned? Their message to Congress will help, too. Your friends can click here action.tscl.org/GuidetoContactingCongress to easily find and contact their own Members of Congress.

"We thank you for your time and efforts."

2.) Coping With Cancer: Support for Seniors and Others With Cancer

Quite likely everyone who reads this newsletter has had first-hand exposure to cancer, whether having been affected ourselves, in our families or our circle of friends. Now, courtesy of the National Cancer Institute at cancer.gov and www.nia.nih.gov, we present the extensive guide to "Coping With Cancer: Support for Seniors and Other People With Cancer".

This guide is dedicated to the many people with cancer and their family members whose letters, thoughts, and perceptive comments provided the basis for it. They shared their insights into the special problems people with cancer face and the ways in which they have found the courage to cope with them.

Read the entire heart-warming and enlightening content on this most sensitive and timely subject of coping with cancer in the Health Resources category of our Community Room at COPING WITH CANCER. The material also contains a number of treatment, financial, legal and other resources you, or your family members and friends will find helpful.

3.) Summer Skin Care

All winter you look forward to summer. You can't wait for cold weather to disappear and long, lazy days in the sun to reappear. Everyone likes to be tan, but with the growing horror stories of skin cancer, it’s time to take real precautions.

According to the American Cancer Society, 32,000 new cases of melanoma are expected each year, causing nearly 9,400 deaths. There are 800,000 cases of basal cell and squamous cell cancer, directly related to sun exposure, each year.

To protect yourself from skin cancer, examine all of your sun-tanning habits and eliminate any danger you may be putting yourself in.

The first step for skin protection is choosing a sunscreen with the best protection. You should always read the product labels. Effective and non-irritating ingredients include Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Menthyl Antranilate, Octyl Salicylate, and Titanium Dioxide. Sunblocks should contain at least two of these ingredients to block unsafe UVA and UVB rays from the sun.

Avoid sunscreens with PABA or high levels of Benzophenone, Oxybenzone, and Padimate 0. These contents can cause stinging and allergic reactions in people with sensitive skin. High levels of sunblock can also irritate sensitive skin from the combination of all the ingredients. It’s best for those with highly sensitive skin to avoid using a product with a higher Sun Protection Factor (SPF) than 15 and to carefully limit exposure time in the sun.

Those who do not have sensitive skin should always use a sunblock with an SPF of 15 or more whenever planning outdoor activities in the sun, even mountain climbing and skiing. This is especially true if you are a high skin cancer risk, such as a person who works outdoors, is fair skinned, has a family history of skin cancer, or has already had skin cancer.

The Skin Cancer Foundation grants its Seal of Recommendation to products with SPF 15 or greater and sun protection devices which meet its criteria as "aids in the prevention of sun-induced damage to skin."

When spending time in the sun, take the following precautions:

* Apply sunscreen before every exposure to the sun and reapply frequently and liberally.
* Use back applicators to apply sunscreen to hard to reach areas.
* Avoid or minimize sun exposure during peak hours between 10 am. and 2 pm.
* Wear a hat for protection from the sun’s rays.
* Remember to use sunscreen on overcast days, the sun’s rays are just as damaging on cloudy and hazy days.
* If you are taking medication, consult your doctor about how it may affect your skin’s reaction to sun exposure.
* Beware of reflective surfaces. Shade does not guarantee protection from sunburn.

Since you no doubt want to spend some leisure time in the sun with family members, you should also recognize the importance of skin care for infants. Keep young infants out of the sun and consult with their physician about the appropriate age to begin applying sunscreen to young children. It is important to teach children sun protection at an early age. We are never too young to practice safe and healthy skin care.

By following expert advice and taking special care of your skin today, you can look healthy and vibrant tomorrow and for many years to come.

And, if you do happen to get too much sun and wind exposure, we carry the unique line of Olive Branch OLIVE OIL skin care products in our Skin Care department to replenish your skin's moisture and texture.

4.) The West Nile Virus

The onset of summer, combined with a relatively wet winter and spring, makes the summer of 2003 a time of greater than normal concern for the West Nile virus, although the disease has been around in the U.S. for a number of years. The information in this article, drawn primarily from the Centers for Disease Control website (www.CDC.gov) is intended to summarize what you have heard and read regarding the precautions we should take to avoid the virus.

Read the entire lengthy discussion about the disease, and especially, the preventative steps to take at WEST NILE.

5.) A Simple Safety Check Can Reduce Household Hazards for Seniors

One of the biggest fears for adults caring for senior-aged relatives or loved ones is the individual being injured in a fall. As winter eases, especially in areas of the country where snow and ice occur, it is easy to believe the risk of falls is reduced. However, the majority of harmful falls seniors suffer do not occur out of doors.

According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, the majority of falls for people over age 65 occur in the home. There are everyday fall hazards around the home that can be significantly reduced.

A quick, but complete, inspection for fall hazards is an important step towards safety. We encourage you to read this entire article in the Safety Resources category of our Community Room at SAFETYCHECK.

6.) Remember our Fathers on Sunday, June 15

Here in the USA, Sunday, June 15, is Father's Day - a day set aside to honor our Dads and Grandfathers. Many of us like to give thoughtful and useful gifts (or sometimes whimsical), and if you're among them, we suggest some really neat ideas:

For feature many sporting goods gifts, especially for the golf and tennis enthusiast, in our Sporting Goods department.

Finally, we feature a line of Nostalgic Turntables. (Do you realize how tough it is to find a turntable for records these days?) Both of the models we feature also play cassettes, and one of the models also plays CDs. You can find them in our Music department.

7.) Why We Love Children (A Bit of Humor)

You probably recognize that we try to give you something humorous in each of our "regularly irregular" newsletters because we believe that we can all use a little humor in our lives.

We have not reproduced the entire content of this article here because these quotes from children contains some language that some readers may find offensive; if so, please forgive us. But, what is it they say about "out of the mouths of babes....?"

Here's an example of what you will find in the little article entitled: Why We Love Children:

When I was six months pregnant with my third child, my three year old came into the bathroom when I was just getting ready to get into the shower. She said, "Mommy, you are getting fat!" I replied, "Yes, honey, remember Mommy has a baby growing in her tummy."

"I know," she replied, but what's growing in your butt?"

Read the entire humorous article in the Health Resources category of our Community Room at WHY WE LOVE CHILDREN.

8.) Your Subscription Details

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

If you like the content of Keeping in Touch, please feel free to forward each copy on to as many folks as you wish. And, encourage your friends and family to visit with us at SeniorS SuperStoreS and sign up for their own subscriptions. Or, they may sign up for their own subscriptions by emailing us at "seniors-request@seniorssuperstores.com" and include the word "join" in the body of the email message.

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!