raouletmartin

1. Always pack a hat. In the winter, a knit hat will keep you warm and take up little room. In the summer, a brimmed hat will keep the sun off your face. In either case, it will save you when your straightening iron doesn’t work in the trapezoidal electrical socket you found in your hotel room.
   

   Warning: sometimes the brim of your hat will get in the way of snuggling.
2. Packing for a trip is infinitely easier when you’ve just done laundry. -
3. Bring a travel first aid kit with the following: ibuprofen (or other pain killer), decongestant, NyQuil, bandages, hydrocortizone cream. You will not believe how often it will come in handy. -
4. Going somewhere with clean drinking water? Pack a reusable water bottle that clips on to your bag. Bonus points if it’s collapsible. In an age where the bottled stuff costs $7, you’ll save a ton, too. -
5. You will never wear that second dressy outfit, so stop packing it. Most trips, you won’t even wear the first dressy outfit (but you should still pack that one). -
6. Bags with wheels are amazing. That backpack might seem more agile, but have you ever seen someone trek across an airport with one of those on their back? Nimble does not come to mind. Sciatica, yes. But not nimble. -
7. Don’t forget your camera charger. You will go through that battery in a second, esp. when your friends insist on flipping through all of the photos that you just took in order to relive something that happened 5 minutes ago. -
8. Don’t pack clothes that require ironing. Hell, don’t buy clothes that require ironing. -
9. If you are staying with someone, get them a present. Either bring it from home, or take them out during the trip, or send them something afterwards. Do it not only because you will likely be invited back, but because your mom will be so proud. -
10. Never pack something that you haven’t worn before. Otherwise you’ll find your new shoes too uncomfortable, your new jacket too flimsy, your new underwear too wedgie-prone. -
11. Buy that delightfully grotesque souvenir, even if you don’t know who to give it to. Odds are, you will think of someone for whom it would be perfect. Worst-case scenario, you’ll keep it for yourself. Which is a really great worst-case scenario.
    

    I really should have bought one of those ridiculous hats. Because you can never have enough.
12. If you hate wearing something at home, you will hate wearing it even more on a trip. -
13. Pack those god-awful tennis shoes you only wear “jogging” (a.k.a., “to the store to buy ice cream”) At some point during your trip, you won’t care what you look like. You will only care about being comfortable. For me, that point is “Day 2.” -
14. Do not go into a McDonald’s. I don’t care if you are scared and starving – McNuggets are NEVER a viable option. If you need fast food, at least hit up a regional chain.
    

    Or consider picking a restaurant based on its name alone.
15. Always ask museum staff for tips. They’ll tell you what the best exhibits are, and what you can skip.
    

    Plus, they probably get bored looking at naked bodies all day and are DYING for a little human interaction.
16. If you are at an aquarium or a planetarium, feel free to skip the IMAX movie. They cost a bundle, and are the same EVERYWHERE. -
17. Tip your hotel housekeeping staff. (A good rule is to leave them about $2 U.S./day.) While you can leave it every day on the pillow, most staff is instructed not to move money or personal items, so they might not pick it up. If this is the case, just leave it in a prominent spot when you check out. -
18. Never carry your wallet in your back pocket, and never carry your purse on just your shoulder. -
19. Take notes. As much as you believe the contrary, once you get home you will not remember your tour guide’s name, or the artist whose worked you loved so much, or even the city where you stayed. Write it down. -
20. If you have an inkling that you should be taking photos of something, take them. -
21. If you have an inkling that you should not be taking photos of something, don’t take them. -
22. The second you think of packing something, PACK IT. If you wait, you will forget. And then you’ll end up using a plastic bag as a shower cap. Subsequent attempts to seduce your husband will be impossible after he’s seen you with a Rite-Aid sack on your head. -
23. If you don’t speak the local language of the place you are heading, then at least learn the following phrases: Please. Thank you. I’m sorry. Do you have those shoes in a size 37? -
24. Wherever you  are, wherever you are going, bring snacks. -
25. Dry shampoo is a godsend for those days when you don’t have time to wash your hair, but still want to interact with other humans. -
26. You will inevitably forget something, either at home or while on your trip. Accept this reality, and pray it is not your passport or your spouse. -
27. Call your credit card company before you leave and put a travel alert on your card. While you’re at it, jot down their international customer service number. -
28. Consider contacting the embassy and letting them know the dates of your trip. Or at the very least, have their contact info on hand. -
29. Make photocopies of your passport and leave one with friends and another tucked into your bag. Or, better yet, scan your passport and email a copy to yourself. -
30. Pack more underwear than you could ever conceivably go through. They don’t take up much room, and after a few days on the road, you will feel FRIGGING DECADENT when you put on a fresh pair in the morning and again in the afternoon. -
31. Stuffing socks into your shoes can help you save space and ensure your loafers retain their shape. -
32. No one will judge you for watching a dumb movie while on a plane. That’s what you’re supposed to do on planes. -
33. When packing, try to match all of the pants/bottoms you are taking with all of the tops. This will prevent you from looking like a total goober by the end of your trip.
    

    Though sometimes you will look like a goober anyway, because you really can't dress yourself.
34. Dryer sheets remove static from your hair and clothing and make your suitcase smell awesome while taking up virtually no room. -
35. Do not, under ANY circumstances, use an airplane lavatory while not wearing shoes. That is not okay. I don’t care how swollen your feet are. Also, consider rolling up the hems of your pants while you are in there, so they don’t brush the floor. -
36. Toilet paper is not a given in many parts of the world. Which is why those little packs of tissues they sell at drugstores are a godsend. -
37. It is far easier to get drunk and make an ass of yourself at 30,000 feet than when you are on the ground.
    

    Of course, that doesn't mean it's difficult to get drunk on the ground. Just MORE difficult than on a plane.
38. Border control agents do not get sarcasm. -
39. If you can’t afford to lose it (either financially or emotionally), don’t pack it. -
40. When in Bulgaria, never get into a cab that doesn’t have a meter. -
41. If you’ve selected the window seat, you’d better have a big bladder. -
42. If you are starting a brand-new book on your flight, bring at least one other form of entertainment with you, because that brand-new book might suck. -
43. Suffer from motion sickness? Ask for a drink that is half ginger ale and half club soda. It will help alleviate nausea without putting you into diabetic shock. -
44. Never check any of the following: your toothbrush, your prescription medications, your deodorant, your pjs. -
45. Wear sunscreen anytime you will be outside, regardless of the temperature or weather. -
46. Regardless of size, never bring more than two bags with you- any more than that is unwieldy and difficult to keep track of.
    

    This poor gal was more pack mule than human. But she did have the legs of a 25-year-old, so there's that.
47. Rolling non-wrinkable items before shoving them into your suitcase really does save space. -
48. A passport protector is the most useless item anyone can buy, ever. -
49. If you’ve forgotten something, check with the hotel before running to a drugstore. Mosthousekeeping departments carry toothbrushes, combs, sewing kits, shower caps, and disposable razors that they will give you free of charge.
    

    Bonus! If you get a teeny tiny tube of toothpaste, you can pretend you are a giant.
50. Budget hotels almost always offer free wi-fi. Luxury hotels will charge you for it. This is almost always the case. -
51. Sleeping in while traveling is only acceptable if there is absolutely NOTHING better to do. In other words, it’s never acceptable. -
52. Never trust a theater review from a London critic. -
53. Don’t take foreign guests to an Americanized version of their cuisine. I know I shouldn’t generalize, but NO ITALIAN HAS EVER WANTED TO GO TO THE OLIVE GARDEN. -
54. If a restaurants posts its menu in more than three languages, the food is probably going to suck. -
55. And, most importantly: never, EVER leave any valuables in your vehicle. I don’t care if it’s safely hidden in the trunk. I don’t care if you’re parked in the safest part of town. Don’t do it. It’s not worth the risk.

When you’re out and about flitting from tourist attraction to subway station to lunch, it’s hard to keep up with your diet and exercise regimen.

Even though you’re out walking all day, and it may seem like you’re getting a lot of exercise, you’re probably also eating a lot of high-calorie and fatty foods that pretty much negate all the good you’re doing with the walking, hiking and stair-climbing.

Those extra pieces of cake and pie for dessert aren’t helping either. Contrary to popular belief, calories do count on vacation, as much as you wish they didn’t. So, if you want to stay on track and earn those meals, you might want to add additional exercise to your vacation itinerary:

Get outside

I love to be outdoors when I travel. It’s the best way to see your destination, so why not get out a little more and burn extra calories?

• Go running – You’re going to bring along a pair of walking shoes anyway, so why not make them running shoes that are also good for walking. If you run at home, then keep your routine set and get up early to run around the block or the hotel grounds.
• 
• Jump rope – This is an easily packable item and gets you great exercise anywhere you have some extra room. Not just little kids love to jump rope. It’s fun and helps you tone and keep in shape. Make sure you buy a nicely weighted one that will stand up to the rigors of the road

Make your lodging your gym

You walked all day yesterday, but you got up early in order to watch the news or eat breakfast in your room. As much as you know you should put on your workout clothes and hit the gym, the thought of looking presentable just doesn’t sound appealing. You aren’t alone. While you’re waiting for your bagel to toast or you’re listening to the weather report, you can take advantage of the floor space in your room to get in a quick workout.

• Chair crunches – If you have a chair, you have a low-impact gym. Work your abs by sitting on the edge and pull your legs up or pump your legs as if you are riding a bicycle.
• Do lunges – You’ll feel a lot less awkward doing them in the privacy of your room than out in public, too.
• Calf raises – Do these anywhere, like while you are brushing your teeth, making oatmeal or waiting in line to get into the Louvre (for bonus exercise points).

• Resist– Pack a resistance band (or set) in your carry-on and do more strenuous workouts in the time you have available. There are also fancy loop bands you can use to strengthen your legs/thighs.
• Boxing– You don’t have to bring along full gear and a punching bag, but a pair of weighted gloves is a fabulous way to tone your arms and legs. Bring along a DVD to pop into your laptop or just search for a few good training videos on YouTube.

Use what’s available at your accommodation

Your hotel or rental property might have some useful ways to help you work out. If the weather cooperates enough to be outside, then you’re in luck.

• Go for a swim – Almost all hotels have a pool. Pack your swimsuit and you can get in some laps. If a fancy indoor pool is available, then you can swim if the weather is uncooperative.
• Use the stairs – Walk or run up the stairs to your room and you’ll start to feel the burn. Generally, the stairwell is pretty private, so you also won’t be disturbing others if you are up early or late doing this.
• Go for a run – Not close to a park or afraid to go out running in unfamiliar terrain? Strap on your running shoes and do laps around the hotel. Chances are it is surrounded by a parking lot and/or sidewalks that make it easy to get your strides in.

Keeping up with an exercise routine when you travel will keep you motivated to continue doing it at home, even if it takes you a few days to get back into your healthy eating habits. You’ll feel better about yourself and might even add to your regular workouts.

WellPoint Offers Seniors Tips for Bouncing Back from Hospitalization

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb 10, 2014 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Imagine you’ve been in the hospital. You’ve eagerly waited for the day you could go home. When that day finally arrives, you’re thrilled. It’s a safe bet the last thing you want to do is to have to return to the hospital.

Unfortunately, far too many people are returning to the hospital after receiving care there, particularly seniors. According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, nearly one-fifth (19.6 percent) of traditional Medicare beneficiaries who had been discharged from a hospital were re-hospitalized within 30 days, and 34 percent were re-hospitalized within 90 days.1 The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has estimated the cost of hospital readmissions at $15 billion.

“We know that many of these instances are unavoidable,” said Dr. Mary McCluskey, chief medical officer of WellPoint’s Government Business Division. “However, some are preventable, which is unfortunate since hospital stays can expose patients to a host of complications, including possible infections, as well as being costly, stressful and inconvenient.”

WellPoint, which serves thousands of seniors through its affiliated Medicare plans, offers the following tips for making sure a hospital stay doesn’t end up turning into a round-trip.

Understand discharge directions. The transition home really starts before the patient leaves the hospital. It is critical to understand hospital discharge directions. This isn’t as easy as it sounds since patients may be medicated, stressed, groggy or confused. For that reason, it is recommended that patients repeat instructions to their physicians to make sure they understand them. It also may help to write down the instructions or enlist a family member or caregiver to help document them. Another way for a patient to smooth the transition home is to make sure someone at the hospital contacts their primary care physician (PCP) with information about their condition and treatment. People with chronic conditions see many different doctors. It is important for those doctors to communicate with each other.

Fill prescriptions and take them as prescribed. Upon being discharged from the hospital, it is important to fill prescriptions immediately and take them as prescribed. Patients should make sure to understand the timing, dosage and frequency of each drug. Also, patients should take care to understand how existing medicines, including over-the-counter drugs, interact with new drugs. Finally, if any drugs have been stopped, it’s important to ask why. It may be helpful to get a pill organizer to keep track of medicines.

Get follow-up care. According to America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), half of patients who were re-hospitalized within 30 days did not have a physician visit between the time of discharge and re-hospitalization, suggesting one of the reasons people end up back in the hospital is lack of follow-up care. That is why it’s so critical for people to transition from the hospital to their PCP. Patients should schedule follow-up appointments with their regular doctor and keep them. The PCP can coordinate care, making sure patients aren’t exposed to dangerous drug interactions or unnecessary tests. Anyone with trouble getting a timely appointment can call their insurer for help.

Eat properly. People recently discharged from the hospital need to get proper nutrition, including following any dietary restrictions. Appetite is often suppressed after an illness; however, if someone is too sick to eat due to pain, nausea, inability to swallow, etc., then they should contact their doctor.

Take advantage of programs that are there to help. People with Medicare Advantage plans may have access to resources, including case managers, to help them return safely to their homes. Case managers may be able to help a recently discharged patient find transportation to doctor appointments, address potential safety issues in the home and help them locate community programs offering everything from meal delivery to free or discounted medicines. These people are experts at understanding the system and it is their job to help.

Know when things aren’t getting better. Patients should understand which symptoms require immediate intervention and return to the hospital, if necessary. People who aren’t getting better shouldn’t wait for their next appointment.

Be an engaged consumer. Many trips to the hospital occur without warning. However, people with advance notice have resources available to help them research quality and cost. Information about readmission rates for certain hospitals, for example, is available at www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov , where visitors can enter a procedure and a zip code, select three hospitals, and click “Outcome of Care Measures” to compare results.

“Most of us will have to go to the hospital at some point in our lives,” said McCluskey. “The key is being an engaged patient to prevent hospitalization from becoming a downward spiral, both physically and financially.”

WellPoint affiliates are PPO plans, HMO plans and PDP plans with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in WellPoint affiliated plans depends on contract renewal.

1 Jencks SF, Williams MV and Coleman EA. “Rehospitalizations among Patients in the Medicare Fee-for-Service Program.” New England Journal of Medicine, 360(14): 1418-1428, April 2, 2009.

SOURCE: WellPoint

WellPointDoug Bennett Jr., (502) 889.2103 Doug.BennettJr@wellpoint.com