Safer Food Choices for Adults 65 Years or Older

"Older adults have a higher risk of getting sick from food poisoning and having a more serious illness.

To prevent food poisoning, some foods are safer choices than others. That’s because some foods—such as undercooked meat and eggs, unwashed fruits and vegetables, and unpasteurized milk — are more often associated with foodborne illnesses. Use the table below as a guide to safer food choices.

Riskier vs. safer foods for adults aged 65 and older

Foods	Riskier Choice	Safer Choice
Poultry and Meat	Raw or undercooked poultry or meat Poultry includes chicken and turkey Meat includes beef, pork, lamb, and veal Unheated deli meat, cold cuts, hot dogs, and fermented or dry sausages Refrigerated pâté or meat spreads	Poultry and meat cooked to a safe internal temperature. Use a food thermometer to check. All poultry, including ground chicken and turkey, cooked to 165°F Whole cuts of beef, veal, lamb, and pork cooked to 145°F (then allow the meat to rest for 3 minutes before carving or eating) Ground meats, such as beef and pork, cooked to 160°F Deli meat, cold cuts, hot dogs, and fermented or dry sausages heated to 165°F or until steaming hot Pâté or meat spreads in sealed, airtight containers that don’t need to be kept refrigerated before opening

 

Deli salads	Premade deli salads, such as: coleslaw potato salad tuna salad chicken salad egg salad	Homemade deli salads
Vegetables and Fruits	Any raw or undercooked sprouts, such as alfalfa and bean Unwashed fresh fruits and vegetables, including lettuce and other leafy greens Cut melon left out for more than 2 hours (1 hour if it’s exposed to temperatures hotter than 90°F, such as a picnic or hot car)	Cooked sprouts Washed vegetables and fruits (washed and then cooked are safest) Freshly cut melon or cut melon kept refrigerated for 7 or fewer days
Juice	Unpasteurized juice or cider	Pasteurized juice or cider Unpasteurized juice or cider brought to a rolling boil at least 1 minute before drinking
Milk	Unpasteurized (raw) milk, and dairy products made from unpasteurized milk	Pasteurized milk, and dairy products made from pasteurized milk
Cheese	Soft cheese made from unpasteurized (raw) milk— for example, queso fresco, brie, camembert, and blue-veined cheese Unheated cheese sliced at a deli	Hard cheese, such as cheddar and swiss Cottage cheese, cream cheese, string cheese, and feta Pasteurized soft cheeses heated to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot Deli-sliced cheeses heated to 165°F or until steaming hot
Eggs	Raw or undercooked (runny) eggs, and foods that contain raw or undercooked eggs, such as Caesar salad dressing Raw cookie dough Eggnog	Eggs cooked until the yolks and whites are firm Egg dishes (frittata, quiche, casserole) cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F if they contain meat or poultry Egg dishes cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F if they do not contain meat or poultry Pasteurized eggs in foods that will not be cooked to a safe temperature, such as mousse and salad dressing
Seafood	Raw or undercooked fish or shellfish, including sashimi, sushi, and ceviche Refrigerated smoked seafood (except in a cooked dish). Refrigerated smoked seafood is usually labeled as “nova-style,” “lox,” “kippered,” “smoked,” or “jerky”	Fish cooked to a safe internal temperature of 145°F or until the flesh is opaque and separates easily with a fork Shellfish cooked until shells open during cooking or until flesh is pearly or white, and opaque Smoked fish in sealed, airtight packages or containers that don’t need to be kept refrigerated before opening Smoked fish cooked in a casserole or other cooked dishes Canned fish and seafood.."

Safer Foods Seniors 

Age Without Injury: Still Going Strong Campaign

"Injuries from falls and car crashes are more common as we age. You can take simple steps to prevent these injuries from happening, so you can stay healthy and independent longer.

Older adults – those age 65 and older—are at an increased risk of health problems and injuries from falls and car crashes. CDC developed the Still Going Strong campaign to help older adults and their caregivers learn about risk factors for falls and crashes—and ways to prevent them.

Injuries Are Common as We Age

Over 10,000 people in the United States turn 65 every day. Each year, older adults experience 36 million falls and 1.6 million car crashes. An injury from a fall or car crash can decrease their independence. But, getting older doesn’t have to mean giving up your favorite hobbies and activities.

It’s important for older adults and their caregivers to understand common injuries that can happen as we age and what we can do to prevent these injuries.

Older Adults Can Take Simple Steps to Prevent Injuries

• Tell your doctor if you have fallen, if you feel unsteady when standing or walking, or if you’re afraid you might fall. Talk to your doctor about fall prevention and safe driving strategies.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review the medicines you take—both prescription and over the counter. Some medicines might make you dizzy or sleepy or may reduce your reaction time.
• Have an eye doctor check your eyes at least once a year and update your eyeglasses as needed.
• Have your doctor check your feet at least once a year and discuss proper footwear to reduce your risk of falling.
• Do exercises that make your legs stronger and improve your balance, like Tai Chi.
• Make your home safer by removing throw rugs, using extra lighting or brighter light bulbs, installing grab bars in bathrooms and handrails on both sides of staircases.
• Only drive during daylight and in good weather, and always wear a seat belt—as a driver or passenger.
• Never drink and drive—alcohol reduces coordination, impairs judgement, and increases the risk of being in a crash.
• Plan your drive to find the safest route and leave a large following distance between your car and the car in front of you.
• Avoid distractions in your car, such as listening to a loud radio and talking or texting on your phone.
• Consider riding with a friend or family member, taking a ride share service, or using public transportation.
• If you have fallen or are in a car crash, have your doctor check you for signs and symptoms of a brain injury.

Caregivers Can Help Loved Ones Age Without Injury

• Talk openly with your loved ones and their doctors about fall prevention and driving safety.
  
• Check with their healthcare provider to see if it’s safe for participate in strength and balance exercises, such as Tai Chi.
• Have your loved one’s eye checked by an eye doctor at least once a year and replace eyeglasses as needed.
• Have a healthcare provider check their feet once a year and discuss proper footwear.
• Help make their home safer by removing trip hazards, like throw rugs, and keep floors clutter free. Brighten their home with extra lighting or brighter bulbs. Install grab bars in the bathrooms and handrails on both sides of staircases.
• Encourage your loved one to always wear their seat belt as a driver and as a passenger.
• Encourage them to only drive when conditions are safest and to use alternative transportation options or offer to drive them yourself.
• Learn the signs and symptoms of mild TBI and concussion and moderate to severe TBI. Brain injuries are often missed or misdiagnosed in older adults..."
  Age without injury 

CFPB Issues Guide and Best Practices to Help Communities Create Protection Partnerships for Seniors

"Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a report that found that hundreds of counties around the country have developed coordinated community-based efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to elder financial exploitation. The report also found that a strong collaboration among community stakeholders – like financial institutions, adult protective services, and law enforcement – can be very effective in protecting their older residents from financial exploitation. To help other communities across the country create their own protection partnerships to fight elder financial abuse, today the CFPB also released a resource guide and best practices..."
Consumer protection for seniors

65+ in the United States:2010

"In 2011, the Baby Boom generation, people born 1946 to 1964, began to turn age 65. As the large Baby Boom cohort ages, the United States will experience rapid growth in both the number aged 65 and older and their share of the total population. The social and economic implications of the aging of the U.s. population will be of significant interest to policy makers, the private sector, and individuals..."
65+, Aged

FTC Seeks Public Input on How Identity Theft Impacts Senior Citizens

"The staff of the Federal Trade Commission is seeking information from the public on how identity theft impacts senior citizens, which the agency will use to inform its law enforcement agenda, policy initiatives and consumer education efforts.
Seniors may be particularly susceptible to identity theft. They are often targeted for phishing scams; some seniors have granted powers of attorney giving wide access to their personal information; and most seniors' Medicare cards list their Social Security numbers. In addition, the personal information of senior citizens may be vulnerable in hospitals, nursing homes, and other care facilities..."

90+ in the United States: 2006–2008American

"This report presents an overview of the population aged 90 and over in the United States and a comparative analysis of selected characteristics between the 90-and-older and other older age groups. Data for this report primarily come from the 2006–2008 and 2008 American Community Surveys (ACS)..."

2010 Census Shows Nation's Population is Aging
"The U.S. Census Bureau released today a 2010 Census brief on our nation's changing age and sex composition that shows the nation grew older while the male population grew faster than the female population over the last decade.

According to Age and Sex Composition: 2010 [PDF], the median age of Americans is now 37.2, with seven states recording a median age of 40 or older. The brief also shows the male population grew 9.9 percent between 2000 and 2010, while the female population grew 9.5 percent. Of the total 2010 Census population, 157.0 million people were female (50.8 percent) and 151.8 million were male (49.2 percent)..."

Sebelius Visits Maine, Releases New Report on Importance of Health Insurance Reform for Older Women and Senior Women
"U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will travel to Maine today and formally release a new report on the importance of health insurance reform for older women (ages 55-64) and senior women (ages 65 and older). In Maine, Sebelius will participate in a roundtable discussion in South Portland sponsored by AARP and the Maine Women’s Lobby. Later, she will hear from Mainers who are struggling under the status quo at the University of Maine, Orono at a discussion sponsored by Maine Change that Works. The report Sebelius will formally release today, Strengthening the Health Insurance System: How Health Insurance Reform Will Help America’s Older and Senior Women
is available at www.HealthReform.gov.

“Our mothers and grandmothers have unique health needs and under the status quo, they aren’t getting the quality, affordable care they deserve,” said Sebelius. “Health insurance reform will strengthen health care for older women and senior women in Maine and across the country.”

The report released today identifies problems with the status quo for older women and senior women and proposed solutions in health insurance reform including:

Senior women spent on average 17 percent of their income on health care in 2005. The growth in Medicare Part B premiums from 2000 to 2018 is predicted to cost seniors an additional $1,577 per year out-of-pocket. Health insurance reform will reduce overpayments to private plans and clamp down on fraud and abuse to lower premiums for all seniors and extend the life of the Medicare trust fund by 5 years.
One in five women aged 50 and above has not received a mammogram in the past two years. By ensuring that health plans cover preventive services for everyone, investing in prevention and wellness, and promoting primary care, health insurance reform will work to create a system that prevents illness and disease instead of just treating it when it’s too late and costs more."

Secretary Sebelius Releases New Report: America’s Seniors and Health Insurance Reform: Protecting Coverage and Strengthening Medicare
"HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today issued a new report, America’s Seniors and Health Insurance Reform: Protecting Coverage and Strengthening Medicare. The report highlights the problems with the status quo that leave seniors paying escalating costs for their health care while outlining how health insurance reform will strengthen Medicare and protect coverage for seniors...

“Senior citizens have seen their premiums and out-of-pocket drug costs rise and without reform, many seniors on Medicare could lose access to the doctor they know and trust,” Secretary Sebelius said. “Health insurance reform will protect the coverage seniors depend on, improve the quality of care and help make Medicare strong.”

The report highlights current problems in the status quo and the solutions health insurance reform will provide, including:

Overpayments to Private Plans: A typical older couple in traditional Medicare will pay almost $90 next year on average to subsidize private insurance companies who are not providing their health benefits. Health insurance reform will eliminate these overpayments.

High Prescription Drug Prices: Health insurance reform will cut the drug costs that seniors have to bear in the “doughnut hole” by 50 percent.

Imminent Doctors’ Payment Cut will Limit Access: Because of a flawed system for paying physicians, Medicare is scheduled to reduce its fees next year by 21 percent next year. According to a recent survey by the American Medical Association, if Medicare payments are cut by even half that amount, or 10 percent, 60 percent of physicians report that they will reduce the number of new Medicare patients they will treat, and 40 percent will reduce the number of established Medicare patients they treat. Health insurance reform will stop this cut and ensure seniors can continue to see the doctor they know and trust.

Preventing Medicare from Going Bankrupt: The Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund is projected to be exhausted in eight years, sometime during 2017. Health insurance reform will reduce overpayments to private plans and clamp down on fraud and abuse to bring down premiums for all seniors and extend the life of the Medicare trust fund by five years."

EPA Releases New Guidebook to Encourage Smarter Community Design and Healthier Living for Seniors
"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a new guidebook to help older adults access information about the importance of environmentally friendly community design and how to become involved in decisions about what is termed as “smart growth.” Smart growth covers a range of development and conservation strategies that help protect our natural environment and make our communities more attractive, economically stronger and more socially diverse.

"Growing Smarter, Living Healthier: A Guide to Smart Growth and Active Aging” addresses the basic principles of “age-friendly” neighborhoods and town designs that are healthier for people and the environment.

The guide offers suggestions and links to resources to learn more about how to remake neighborhoods to get around easier, whether someone lives in a city, suburb or small town. It also presents ideas for getting involved, providing housing options and gathering places, eating healthier and making it easier to carry out daily activities.

The guidebook also contains a self-assessment tool that allows communities to rate themselves based on how their communities are following the principles of smart growth."

SENIOR CITIZEN FRAUD: How To Protect Yourself
"Why are the elderly such an attractive target for con artists?

* Many seniors have a "nest egg."
* They're less likely to report a fraud because they don't know where to go or they’re too embarrassed to talk about it.
* If they do report the crime, it's sometimes hard for them to remember exact details.
* Many of the products/services being hawked by con artists appeal to individuals of a certain age—i.e., anti-aging and other health care products, health care services, and investments related to retirement savings."