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1. AGS Foundation for Health in Aging Releases Beating the Holiday Blues Tip Sheet
2. Al Roker and Deborah Roberts Receive Award at FHA's 7th Annual Lifetime of Caring Gala
3. Open Enrollment for 2007 Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Ends December 31; Kaiser Updates Resources on Medicare Drug Plans
4. National Cancer Institute Releases New Resources on Cancer Prevention and Treatment Clinical Trials
5. Hospice Foundation of America Launches New Online Hospice Finder
6. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Online Newsletter Focuses on Older Adults' Health

1. AGS Foundation for Health in Aging Releases Beating the Holiday Blues Tip Sheet

The holidays are a celebratory time for most, but not all. Some older adults may find that the season that used to bring them joy is now a source of the blues. To help them cope with the melancholy that may accompany the holidays, the AGS Foundation for Health in Aging provides some helpful tips. Its Beating the Holiday Blues tip sheet, and many other easy-to-understand health tip sheets for older people, are available here. They can be printed and distributed at no cost.

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2. Al Roker and Deborah Roberts Receive Award at FHA's 7th Annual Lifetime of Caring Gala

Al Roker, NBC News' "Today" Show co-host, and his wife, Deborah Roberts, correspondent with ABC News' "20/20," received the FHA's inaugural Celebrating our Parents Award at the foundation's 7th annual Lifetime of Caring Gala on October 26. More than 350 friends of the FHA turned out for the black tie event, at New York City's famed Rainbow Room. The event raised more than $525,000 to support the foundation's vital work on behalf of older adults.

The Gala celebrated the accomplishments of several individuals and institutions whose work has contributed, in important and diverse ways, to the health and wellbeing of older adults. It also celebrated the vital work of the Foundation.

In addition to honoring Roker and Roberts, who were recognized for their exceptional commitment to enhancing the quality of life of older adults, the Gala feted Greenwich Hospital's standard-setting geriatrics programs; Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation's Chief Executive Officer and head of Pharma North America, Alex Gorsky; and pioneering American artist Jane Freilicher.

Visit www.healthinaging.org/about/events/gala_2006.php for more information about the Gala.

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3. Open Enrollment for 2007 Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Ends December 31; Kaiser Updates Resources on Medicare Drug Plans

For Medicare beneficiaries interested in signing up for a Medicare prescription drug plan for the first time, and those interested in changing plans, open enrollment runs through December 31. Beneficiaries who are satisfied with their current plans need not do anything during the enrollment period. Those looking for a first, or new, plan can make use of several online Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) through the Information for Providers on Medicare Part D pages www.americangeriatrics.org/news/medicarePart_D.shtml on the AGS site. These tools will help them choose among available plans.

Additionally, Kaiser updated its resources on Medicare Drug Plans for the 2007 enrollment period. The resources include an updated state-by-state fact sheet, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit fact sheet, and Talking About Medicare consumer guide. An index of all of the Medicare resources is available at http://www.kff.org/medicare/index.cfm.

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4. National Cancer Institute Releases New Resources on Cancer Prevention and Treatment Clinical Trials

The Clinical Trials Education Series, a collection of more than 20 multimedia resources aimed at educating cancer patients, healthcare professionals, advocates, and the general public about cancer prevention and treatment clinical trials, is now available through the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Resources include workbooks, videos, booklets, brochures, slide programs, and online training and education courses. The resources are designed to help individuals and organizations understand and find ways to participate and engage their communities in clinical trials outreach and education activities. Visit the NCI Clinical Trials Education Series to learn more.

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5. Hospice Foundation of America Launches New Online Hospice Finder

The Hospice Foundation of America recently launched HospiceDirectory.org - a free online service that allows families and individuals to locate hospices within their communities. The new consumer database lists hospices in the US, Canada, and their territories and offers reliable and easy-to-follow information about hospice and end-of-life care.

The new directory also allows visitors to email hospice experts questions about hospice care, read others' stories, get detailed information about eligibility and advice on paying for hospice care, and more.

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6. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Online Newsletter Focuses on Older Adults' Health

Maturity Health Matters is the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) free, electronic newsletter which provides current information about the Agency's regulated products that help older adults live longer, more productive lives.

The newsletter's website offers additional resources, including an index of articles organized by topic, and a health calendar featuring national health events of interest to older adults, their families and their caregivers.

Maturity Health Matters can be read online or printed from the website, free of charge at http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/maturityhealthmatters/. You can also subscribe to the newsletter, at no cost, which will be emailed to you three times a year.

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