2016 Winter Respondent Newsletter (6-15-16)

Winter
2016
IN THIS
ISSUE:
Winter Safety

MCBS in the USA

Eating Healthy

Puzzle

What is
the MCBS?
The Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey
(MCBS) is a continuous survey of people who
receive Medicare benefits. It includes a group of
individuals in the community or in long-term care
facilities that represent the entire population of
those receiving Medicare benefits.
The survey’s main goal is to determine all costs
associated with health care services provided
to people with Medicare. MCBS is the only
comprehensive source of information on the
health status, health insurance coverage, health
care use and costs of the Medicare population.
It is sponsored by the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS).
You are receiving this newsletter because as a
MCBS respondent, you are an important supporter
of the MCBS. The success of the survey depends
upon the cooperation of every MCBS participant!
We welcome your feedback on this newsletter and
hope you find this issue informative.

About NORC
NORC is an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to conduct high quality
social science research in the public interest. NORC has offices in Chicago, IL; Bethesda,
MD; Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; and San Francisco, CA. In addition, we have interviewers
across the nation working on the MCBS. Since 2014, we have worked on the MCBS and
are very excited to begin the next round of data collection. NORC is deeply committed to
protecting the privacy of all respondents’ personal information; therefore, the information
you provide will be kept private to the extent permitted by law. To learn more about NORC
or reach the MCBS team, please call NORC toll-free number 877-389-3429 or e-mail
NORC at [email protected]. You can also visit the website: http://www.mcbs.norc.org.

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Winter Safety Tips for Seniors
Winter is here! Winter weather can be hazardous to anyone’s health but can especially
affect older adults. Older adults are more vulnerable to falls, injuries, hypothermia, stroke
and other winter safety hazards than the rest of the population.

Here are some Winter Safety Tips
Preventing
Heart Attack
and Stroke
Strokes occur more frequently
in the winter, likely due to
the narrowing of arteries
in response to the cold. In
addition, commonly performed
activities during the winter
such as shoveling, wiping snow
and ice off of cars, and walking
through ice and heavy snow
can burden the heart, causing
a sudden increase in blood
pressure and heart rate resulting
in a stroke or heart attack. To
prevent the risk of a stroke or
heart attack you should:
77Put

a plan in place before the
first storm arrives so that the
walkways and driveways will
be cleared. The best option is
to recruit family members or
hire someone for this work.

77Keep

a supply kit stocked
with bottled water,
nonperishable food, batteries,
a flashlight, first aid kit and a
cell phone on hand in case of
winter weather emergencies.

2

Preventing
Falls in Winter
Weather
Winter weather brings in snow and
ice which leads to slippery walking
conditions that can increase fall
risks. A fall could result in an
injury such as a fracture.
Here are tips to avoid falls:
77Avoid

wearing pants that
drag and could get caught on
the pavement.

77Place

a sturdy winter floor mat
by the door to help soak up the
water from your shoes when you
come home.

77Wipe

your shoes when you
enter the home and clear up any
puddles right away.

77When

you plan to go outside, you
should wear winter boots that
firmly grip the ground. Rubber
or neoprene soles with tread
grooves are safer than leather
and plastic soles.

77Engaging

in balance training
exercises can lessen your risk
of falling. Many community
organizations and senior centers
have fall prevention programs
that you can participate in.

Preventing
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a
condition in which the
body’s temperature drops
below normal. This is a
major concern during the
winter months as you may
become less active or take
medications that may alter
the body’s ability to regulate
temperature. To avoid
hypothermia you should:
77Set

the home thermostats
to at least 68 to 70
degrees Fahrenheit.

77Wear

layers indoors
and outdoors, and wear
a hat, scarf, and gloves
when outdoors.

MCBS in the USA
This map shows in blue all of the states
where MCBS respondents live. MCBS
Field Interviewers conduct interviews with
respondents all across the country. The MCBS
collects information from respondents living
in the community or in a long-term care
facility. As you can see, respondents and Field
Interviewers are all over the United States!

ALASKA

HAWAII

States Where MCBS
Respondents Live

PUERTO RICO

Healthy Eating in the Cold Months
The colder months can bring nutritional hurdles for many people. It can be harder to find
fresh local produce, and driving conditions to grocery stores may be dangerous in icy or
slippery conditions. Here are some healthy food tips:
77Purchase

frozen produce because it can be stored
for a long periods of time.

77Increase

your intake of foods containing Vitamin
C in the winter. Food that have high Vitamin
C include oranges, broccoli, strawberries,
cantaloupe, and other citrus fruits. Vitamin C
can boost the immune system and protect against
winter cold and flu season.

77Dehydration

is a major concern in the winter
months because of the drier winter air so it is vital
to drink plenty of water.

77Keep

a stock of nonperishable food items during
the winter so you are ready in the event of a winter
storm. These items include protein bars, canned
beans and soups, and bottled protein shakes.

Here is a delicious and healthy recipe for a Hearty Winter Vegetable Soup:
INGREDIENTS
772

tablespoons extra‑virgin olive oil

774

leeks, white and pale‑green parts
only (cut into 1‑inch pieces)

773

celery stalks (cut on the bias into
1/2‑inch‑thick pieces)

773

medium carrots (cut into cubes)

772

garlic cloves (crushed)

772

pinches of red pepper flakes

77Coarse

pepper

salt and freshly ground

775

1/4 cups homemade or
store‑bought low‑sodium chicken
or vegetable stock

771

1/2 cups water

771

small (1 to 1 1/2 pounds)
butternut squash (you can also
substitute a package of frozen
butternut squash cubes)

772

Yukon Gold potatoes about
12 oz. (cut into cubes)

DIRECTIONS
1 Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or pot
over medium‑high heat. Cook leeks,
celery, carrots, garlic, red pepper
flakes, and 1 teaspoon salt, stirring
occasionally, until leeks are translucent
(about 5 minutes).

771

2 Add stock and water, and bring to a boil.

771

3 Add squash and potatoes. Return to a
boil. Reduce heat, and simmer, partially
covered, until vegetables are tender
(about 15 minutes).

head escarole (cut into
1‑inch‑thick ribbons)
can (15 ounces) chickpeas
(drained and rinsed)

772

tablespoons lemon juice

772

4 Stir in escarole and chickpeas, and
return to a boil.

772

5 Stir in lemon juice and herbs. Season
with salt and pepper, and enjoy!

tablespoons thinly sliced
fresh mint
tablespoons thinly sliced
fresh dill

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Word Search Puzzle
Words to find:

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H T

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COLD

NUTRIENTS

H N O

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GLOVES

PREVENTION

G K W G P

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HEALTH

SCARF

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HYDRATION

SHOVEL

Q U

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ICE

B

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SNOW

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S D R

INJURIES

SURVEY

D E

MCBS

VITAMIN

MEDICARE

WINTER

NORC

RESPONDENTS

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Meet The Field Interviewer: Barbara Walter
I live in Fredericksburg, Texas, which is mostly a rural area, but I have had the
opportunity to travel all over the country interviewing MCBS respondents,
including Arkansas, California, Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. I have interviewed respondents
living in the community and facility portions of the MCBS study and have also
had the opportunity to be involved in the training of new interviewers to the
MCBS. One reason I have chosen to work on the MCBS for 10 years is that
I have seen first‑hand the positive changes MCBS has helped to create in the
Medicare program. Information from the MCBS has helped policy analysts better understand the cost
associated with health care services provided to people with Medicare. Further, MCBS was instrumental
in establishing Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage), since data from the study was used to
set benefit needs and levels of funding for the program. MCBS data continues to be used to monitor
the program. None of this would be possible without the contributions of respondents like you and
interviewers like me. I truly enjoy the work I do in the field and love getting to know the respondents.
References:
Castaldina, D. L. (2014). Winter Safety Tips for Seniors. Care Coordination. Retrieved from
http://www.lifelinesys.com/content/blog/healthcare‑professionals/care‑coordination/winter‑safety‑tips‑for‑seniors

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Winter Vegetable Soups. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.marthastewart.com/330140/hearty‑winter‑vegetable‑soup