"Increased hospital costs have forced a whopping 16.7 percent increase in the premium that will be paid by those who are not automatically eligible for hospital insurance under Medicare," HEW Secretary Joseph Califano noted. In September, HEW announced an increase in the deductible that all Medicare beneficiaries must pay News of Federal Agencies under Part A, starting Jan. 1, 1978, from $124 to $144. The premium rate for Part B must cover estimated costs for the 12month period beginning July 1, 1978. However, since the percentage by which the premium is increased may not be greater than the percentage by which Social Security cash benefits increased during the year, the premium increase had to be limited to 5.9 percent above the current premium. The difference between the $13.40 that would fully cover estimated cost increases and the $8.20 which is the maximum permitted by law will be made up by general revenue funds. Publications General Large Type Books in Print for 1976. R.R. Bowker Co., 1180 Avenue of the Americas, N.Y., N.Y. 10036. 467 pp. $14.95. An estimated six million Americans cannot read the print normally used in books, newspapers, and magazines, even with corrective lenses. These include the visually handicapped, the physically disabled, and the elderly with failing vision. To meet their needs, Large Type Books in Print for 1976 lists 2,552 titles produced by some 45 houses. Included are materials appearing in 14 pt. type size or larger. To encourage independent book selection by users, Large Type Books in Print for 1976 is itself in 18 pt. type. The book includes three indexes. The main index is arranged by subject under two categories. These include general reading (fiction, general nonfiction, home economics, literature, reference, religion) and textbooks. Listings in the Subject Index contain the title, series affiliation (if any), author, publication year, type size, book size, price, and publisher. The Author and Title Indexes guide the user to the appropriate page in the main index. A Directory of Publishers is provided which includes those involved in duplicating books in large type editions on order. A Report on Services to the Elderly. By Phil Jones and Elizabeth Rott. Aging Program, National Association of Counties Research Foundation, 1735 New York Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006. 1977. 13 pp. Free. This is the fifth in a series on activities undertaken by counties to meet the needs of their elderly residents. The book documents the successful efforts of Cuyahoga County Ohio to help its elderly combat crime through its Senior Safety and Security Program. Included in the report are an outline of the issue of crime and the elderly, a history of Cuyahoga's program, and an inventory of crimefighting tips. Launched in 1974, the Cuyahoga County Senior Safety and Security Program is funded by an AoA Model Projects grant and a grant from the Law Enforcement Assistance Agency (LEAA). Through slide-shows and discussions with groups of elderly citizens, the project's staff demonstrates how the elderly can make themselves less vulnerable to crime and help the police apprehend criminals. Pension Facts 1977. American Council of Life Insurance, 1850 K St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006. Free. Some 685,000 Americans have private individual pension plans (IRA's) with reserves totaling $1.125 billion at the beginning of 1977, the American Council of Life Insurance reports in its latest edition of "Pension Facts 1977." The reference publication, which gives a history of ERISA and the pension movement in the U.S., provides a summary of the emerging problems and trends affecting public and private systems in the nation. Among facts included in "Pension Facts 1977" are: Some 150 million persons had social security earning credits at the beginning of 1977, including about 126 million who had been in the program long enough to qualify for payments at retirement. • About 15.2 million Americans were enrolled in pension plans administered by life insurance companies at the beginning of 1976, and 30.3 million are covered by other private plans. • Pension reserves and assets of life insurance company plans totaled $88.4 billion at the beginning of 1977. Nearly half of all workers in commerce and industry in the U.S., and about three-fourths of all government civilian personnel, are now covered by retirement plans other than social security. Publications Retirement Prep for Your Future. By Stanley I. Hayes and Peter G. Beatty. Action for Older Persons, Inc., Broome County Court House, Room 307 Court House Square, Binghamton, N.Y. 13901. 1977. 181 pp. illus. biblio. $5.00 for 10 copies. This pre-retirement education manual is intended for use in group discussion sessions, which corporations may conduct for their employees or which schools or other organizations may offer the community in general. Assisting in the development of this pre-retirement education program (PREP) was an advisory committee representing business, industry, education, government, unions, agencies, and retired persons in the model project area. Funding for the project came from the New York State Office for the Aging. The book is divided into eight sections on retirement planning, including "Opportunities in Retirement," "Where to Live," "Health and Well-Being." "Legal Affairs," "Adjustment and Activities," "Income Planning," "Budget Planning," and "If You Are Alone." Each section offers basic information and guidelines on these topics and presents situations for discussion. Also included in each chapter is a test for general knowledge of the topic discussed, as well as a list of references. Families A Book for Grandmothers. By Ruth Goode. McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10020. 1976. 204 pp. index. $3.95. The theme of this warm and witty guide by a grandmother of two is that "grandmothering" is an endeavor bordering on a fine art. And today, the author adds, this has grown increasingly more complex. She comments: "Grandmother flies across continents and oceans in time of trouble, tends sickness, holds everybody's hand through dissension and divorce. She walks a tightrope among grandchildren and stepgrandchildren, in-laws and ex-in-laws and step-in-laws, the children's other grandparents and step-grandparents. With daughters and daughters-in-law launching themselves on jobs, professions, and careers, some grandmothers nowadays find themselves back in the mother role, rearing their grandchildren." The book is written with wisdom, tolerance, and perception. Traditional as well as jet set grandmothers, can derive practical advice from it on a wide array of topics. Mrs. Goode has suggestions on keeping close by phone or mail without overdoing it, bridging the generation gap, when to give advice, and when to intervene between parent and child. She also explores such subjects as the family reunion, choosing toys, books, and games for grandchildren, how and when to give money, helping to buy the house or pay college bills, doing things together, and coping with family crises or the unfit parent. The author also devotes a section to grandfathers, asserting that in today's world they are joining in the nurturing role once reserved exclusively for grandmothers. Ruth Goode has written several books in the fields of medicine and psychology and is senior staff writer on MD, a leading medical magazine. P.R. Survival Handbook for Children of Designed to help enrich the relationship between middle-aged children and elderly parents, this book offers useful information to help children communicate with their aging parents and approach them with "an open mind and heart." Dr. Schwartz, who is director of the Adult Counseling Program at Andrus Gerontology Center within the University of Southern California, asserts that his book is intended as a non-technical guide for the layman based on current research, common sense, and his own experience as a counselor in the field of gerontology. He strives to dispel the negative stereotypes of old age and offers the middle-aged encouragement and support to help them turn their parent's years of loss into years of promise. The author deals pragmatically with problems confronting the children of aging parents including helping the older person to maintain self-esteem and compensate for social, economic, and vocational losses, dealing with physical and psychological changes in the older adult, suggesting alternate "careers" for the retiree, selecting a long-term care facility, and coping with death and dying. A final reassuring chapter called "You Are Not On Your Own" tells the reader where to go for help at local, State, and national levels. This thoughtful and humane guide can benefit both layman and professional. P.R. There are 30 million people 60 years of age and over in the United States. Their number increases daily. Congress, adopting the Older Americans Act of 1965, and subsequently amending it, has taken due notice of them. AGING, official publication of the U.S. Administration on Aging, reports on programs for, by, and with this large and important segment of our population. It reports on what States, area agencies on aging, and foreign countries are doing in the field. AGING has been called "the single most comprehensive" source of such news. It is must reading for those in the field. Subscription price is $5.05 a year plus $1.30 if mailed outside the United States. Changes of Address Paid subscribers should notify the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 of a change of address eight weeks in advance of their actual move. Please include the mailing CLIP AND MAIL TODAY label from the back cover of the magazine. AGING Magazine does not process subscriptions or changes of address. Submitting Articles Aging Magazine welcomes news and information from its readers. Especially valuable are stories about innovative programs or projects which have worked well and can be duplicated or adapted for use elsewhere. Material should be typed and should not exceed 15 pages double-spaced. Articles may be bylined. In all cases the Editor reserves the right to make changes in length or style or presentation. Photos, if any, should be captioned. Black and white, 5" by 7" or larger glossy photos are preferred. Color snapshots are not acceptable. Photos cannot be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed envelope or mailing label. Information for Conference Calendar and Course Calendar should be submitted at least eight weeks prior to the issue month in which they are to appear. All material should be sent to Editor, AGING Magazine, Administration on Aging, Room 4551, 330 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201. Information Information about articles appearing in or submitted to AGING Magazine may be obtained by writing the Editor at the above address or by calling (202) 245-1190. Published since June 1951. Contents may be reproduced or reprinted without permission, but credit to Aging is appreciated. Use of funds for printing this publication approved by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, November 31, 1978 DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED-Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states "No person in the United States shall on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." Therefore, the programs discussed in this publication, like every program or activity receiving financial assistance from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, must be operated in compliance with this law. |