It always happened on a Sunday in Spring. Right before we attended church services, in fact.

My Mom would slide a small handful of coins into my tiny fist with instructions to give them to the man or woman standing on the sidewalk in front of the church. I would return with two or three stiff, red, paper poppies. Each flower stem carried a paper label emblazoned with “VFW” and “disabled veterans” on it. Then, we would head into the church.

Those were the days before I had any inkling of who disabled veterans were or why they would be assembling paper poppies. Not too many years later, the Vietnam War would provide me with battlefield photos and reports putting the glaring truth out in the open.

Memorial Day (originally called Decoration Day) was first enacted to honor Union soldiers of the Civil War. It was expanded after World War I to include any war or military action.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) first distributed poppies right before Memorial Day in 1922. The funds raised support veteran’s and their families welfare. In 1924, the VFW trademarked the term “Buddy Poppy” under the category of artificial flowers so that the public would know that any poppies carrying the name of the VFW were actually made by needy and disabled veterans.

Today, the VFW continues to raise funds for disabled vets in VA hospitals who assemble the poppies that are sold by VFW members around this time of year. The poppies were inspired by a poem by Col. John McCrae of Canada.

In Flander’s Field
by John McCrae

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow,
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky,
The larks, still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead.
Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved and now we lie,
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw,
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us, who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow,
In Flanders Fields.

I hope you’ll take a few moments out of your day today to silently remember all of those brave men and women who have made watching public fireworks displays and holding backyard barbecues part of normal life for Americans.

Happy Memorial Day!

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“Does your Dad wear dentures?” the nurse asked.

“Yes, partials.” It seemed like an odd question at that moment as the hospital staff were preparing my father for a procedure.

“Is he wearing them now?” the nurse persisted.

“I . . . I don’t know,” I said slowly as I tried to peek in Dad’s mouth.

The nurse poked her fingers in Dad’s mouth and determined that no dentures were there. He was taken downstairs for the procedure.

Back in his regular hospital bed and awake after having the procedure, I asked my father about his dentures.

“Oh, I think I threw them away. They were bothering me.” Dad muttered.

I never did find his dentures, even after an exhausting clean out of his apartment. So, maybe he did toss them in the trash in a moment of extreme frustration.

Denture Cream Can Make You Sick

Approximately 34 million Americans wear dentures. Many frugal seniors don’t give up as easily as my father did on poor fitting dentures. They resort to denture adhesives to hold them in place.

And, a few seniors use too much each day. Some of them end up with neurological problems like loss of balance, weakness in the limbs, pain or tingling in the hands and feet from using too much. It may be misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis or other diseases.

A recent report on ABC News Good Morning America told the story of Ellen Isaacs whose neurologist diagnosed her loss of balance as the result of using denture cream.

Isaacs problems began with tingling in her toes that progressed over four years to total loss of balance.  She has used denture cream regularly for ten years, often leaving her dentures in overnight. She had no idea that it could hurt her!

The culprit in all of this is not some strange chemical but zinc, a mineral our bodies need. The zinc in the denture cream helps it adhere better.  But, too much zinc can deplete our bodies of copper. Both zinc and copper are needed in the right balance to protect the nervous system. Too much or too little of one or the other can cause problems.

Because the most commonly sold denture creams don’t list ingredients, researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center-Dallas tested several for excessive zinc as part of a study to explain why a small number of patients had abnormally high zinc and abnormally low copper levels in their blood. These patients were experiencing neurological problems that could not be explained.

The researchers concluded that these patients were exposed to about 330 mg  of zinc daily over a long period of time. The National Academy of Sciences has stated that the largest daily tolerable zinc intake is 40 mg.

There were four patients in this study.

One patient had weakness in the hands and poor balance, while another had weakness in her arms and legs that kept her in a wheelchair. She also experienced cognitive decline and urinary incontinence.

These patients had “mild neurologic improvement” after they stopped using denture cream and began taking copper supplements. Another patient took copper supplements but didn’t stop using denture cream. His copper levels improved, but his zinc levels remained too high and he showed no improvement in his neurological symptoms.

The fourth patient took copper supplements and stopped using denture cream. This patient showed improvement in copper and zinc levels, but no improvement in neurological symptoms.

The Moral of This Story Is NOT About Lawsuits

Ellen Isaacs attorney is suing the manufacturers of the denture cream claiming that it needs a warning label. While a better product label is always a good idea, this story is really about overusing an over-the-counter product and poor fitting dentures.

Dentures are supposed to be removed every evening, not slept in overnight. And, the denture cream needs to be used in very small dots – not in thick gobs that ooze out around the denture.

If your elderly parent squeezes through a tube of denture cream in a week, it is a sign that those dentures don’t fit properly.

Please schedule a visit with the dentist for your parent as soon as possible. It may be expensive to have the dentures relined or replaced. But it is far better than developing permanent neurological damage. More information about dentures is available on the American Dental Association website.

Denture Cream Without Zinc

You can also get your loved one to switch to a denture product that doesn’t contain zinc. Here is one brand to look for:

• Secure Denture Bonding Cream
• Secure Denture Adhesive Cushion Strips

(This was the only brand I could find that put its ingredient list online.)

Be aware that switching to another brand of denture cream is not a solution for ill-fitting dentures. But, if they fit well, denture adhesive can help them stay in place better to make eating and speaking more comfortable.

If you don’t know whether your parent wears dentures or uses dental adhesives, now is a good time to ask. You may just help your loved one avoid a serious problem.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

P.S. Secure Denture products are available at health food stores and online at iHerb.com and Amazon.com

Take $5 off your first order from iHerb.com. Use code CON570 at checkout.

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Are you planning to buy your son or daughter a new computer to take to college in the Fall? Here is a what you need to know to get the best computer and best deal on that machine.

Walter Mossberg has been reporting on personal technology for the Wall Street Journal since 1991. Every day he puts the latest computers and devices through real life testing to find out what really works. And, then, he explains all his findings in clear and concise language.

Here is his video summary of what you need to know before buying your student a new computer:

This year there are added factors to consider because both Apple and Microsoft are coming out with new operating systems soon. This may affect the equipment you will want to buy. No one wants to be stuck with a computer that can’t run the latest software!

Mossberg advises that you may want to hold off buying a computer until the Fall to make upgrading. Here is a link to Walter Mossberg’s complete set of recommendations on All Things Digital.

There is such a dizzying array of choices at bargain prices right now that you may be tempted to run out and buy as many as you can get you hands on. But, Mossberg warns that you want to protect yourself by getting a machine that can be upgraded to the new operating system whether you choose Apple or Microsoft.

Great advice!

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I’m not afraid of my own shadow, but there’s lots of others out there that are scary!
Dennis the Menace by Hank Ketcham

Today is the second time in about a month that I have read about a grandmother being scammed on the phone. The scammers follow the same formula each time. They called “grandma” on the phone posing as an older grandchild in trouble.  The “grandchild” doesn’t want to upset Mom and Dad and asks “grandma” to wire money.

In the most recent case, the San Jose, California police believe that the most recent victim was taken in by an organized crew operating out of Toronto, Canada. It is not clear how they find their victims. They could be purchasing mailing lists that provide date of birth and phone numbers.

Better Communication Can Prevent Heartache

It is the most natural thing in the world for a loving grandparent to want to help a young adult grandchild in distress. The con artists take advantage of that.

They also take advantage of the fact that families often live farther apart and communicate less often with each other. So, the best deterrent is better communication.

My Dad was suspicious by nature. He managed to fend off any number of strange phone callers. He would proudly tell me how he rebuffed them after the fact. But, I’m convinced that our regular phone chats, during which I would casually mention scams I had heard about, helped him keep his guard up.

So, even if your elderly parents are still self-sufficient, make time at least weekly to chat. Help them know about possible scams before they happen.

Help your parent feel comfortable telling you anything.

You could say, “I think it is always better to know. Please call me if you believe that anyone in our family is in trouble. Together we can help them.”

Here are some other scams mentioned in that same San Jose Mercury News article by Mark Gomez:

Call today.

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© 2009 CK Wilde. All Rights Reserved. Please feel free to link to this post but you must have prior written permission (please use the comments) to reproduce this post either whole or in part.

“Isn’t it over yet?” I muttered to myself when I saw the article in the San Jose Mercury News this morning.

Reporter Troy Wolverton was describing an older woman’s frustration and dismay about Comcast’s recent changes in our area. Joan Courtney was “surprised and annoyed” that Comcast was now saying that she had to get new set-top boxes to view the enhanced basic cable stations she loves to watch.

Have you seen Comcast’s commercials on TV about the Digital TV Transition?

I did.

They clearly said that if you subscribe to Comcast, you are all set for the Digital TV switch that was supposed to happen in February and then was postponed by Congress until June 12th.

Comcast didn’t mention in those commercials that they would be doing their own digital conversion at the same time. Now, Comcast says that some Comcast subscribers with older TVs need set-top boxes to receive their favorite channels on Comcast cable.

And, setting up these set-top boxes can be a bit complicated if you also have a VCR or TIVO. In this article, Comcast answers questions about setting up the set-top boxes with other devices.

So, if you have elderly parents who rely on Comcast cable for TV, you may want to check that they are able to receive all of the basic cable channels they enjoy. And, if they need set-top boxes, you’ll want to help them get connected properly.

What is the Digital TV transition on June 12th?

Here are earlier articles from this blog that explain what it is about and what you need to do:

• dtv-converter-not-working-what-jimg-did
• update-on-digital-TV-conversion

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While there are small signs that the economy is beginning to turn around, pink slips are still being issued by many companies still trying to survive the recession. For those people losing their jobs, it may mean losing the only health insurance they can afford.

And, for many, that means not being able to pay for prescription medications they need.

This has serious implications for people like diabetics. They can suffer major complications if they don’t test their blood sugar levels several times a day and take appropriate medication.

Yesterday, Pfizer, the world’s largest drug manufacturer announced that it will provide medicines for up to a year to Americans who have lost jobs since January 1, 2009. “Our aim is to help people bridge this point,” said Dr. Jorge Puente, Pfizer’s head of pharmaceuticals outside the US and Europe.

To take advantage of this program, which covers 70 of Pfizer’s most widely prescribed medication including Lipitor and Viagra, patients can call a toll-free number 866-706-2400 to sign up. Pfizer currently has several assistance programs, so those whose drugs are not included in this new program will be referred to other company aid programs.

Starting July 1, you can also apply through the website, www.PfizerHelpfulAmswers.com. Right now, this website only has information about other aid programs.

In order to qualify for the free medications, you will have to sign a statement that you are suffering a financial hardship and provide your pink slip or other employer notice. The application period ends December 31, 2009.

Pfizer will provide the medication for up to 12 months after approval, or until you become insured again.

See Your Doctor To Save Your Liver and Kidneys

This is certainly good news for people who have recently lost their health insurance as a result of layoffs. But, while continuing needed prescription drugs is important, it is also critical that patients continue to see their doctors regularly.

These powerful medications can sometimes put extra stress on your liver or kidneys. It is very important that your doctor monitors your progress closely to assure that your vital organs are not damaged. This is particularly true if you take several medications.

My Dad lost the functioning of his kidneys in the final months of his life. Dialysis did not work for him. His kidney problems were apparent to the nephrologists at the local hospital three years earlier when he was admitted for a heart problem.

But, my Dad didn’t want to pay for the specialists. He just didn’t understand the importance.

Please see your doctor regularly.

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This is Part Two in a two part series about recognizing the signs of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease so that aging family members can get the help they need.

In Part One, Your Mother’s Day Visit – Seeing Signs of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease, I described how Theresa Robaldo recognized the signs of dementia and convinced her family that her grandmother, Lita Baker, needed treatment. And, when Lita was no longer able to live alone, Theresa became Lita’s loving, full-time caregiver.

Mother’s Day offers the perfect time to share our appreciation and love with elderly family members. It also offers an opportunity to look for signs that your Mom (or Grandma) needs help.

Dementia is difficult to understand and even more difficult to discuss. Before you take Mom out to dinner on Sunday, check out the resources on YouCanBeTheOne.com. It is an easy-to-read website filled with information and tools to help you talk with your loved one, your family and the doctor about the signs you are seeing.

In addition to sharing her thoughts about the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, Lita’s neurologist, Dr. Susan Steen, emphasized two important aspects of caregiving for families of Alzheimer’s patients.

Dementia Doesn’t Go Away

First, treating Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia is not like treating an infection. When my sons attended preschool, I got to know the treatment regimen by heart.

After diagnosing an ear infection, pink eye or bronchitis, the doctor would send us home with a 10 day prescription for antibiotics. Exactly ten days later, my child was back to normal.

But, dementia isn’t like that. It is much more like treating diabetes or heart disease. It is always there.

The physician will help the patient and the caregiver set up a program of exercise, diet, supplements and medication to slow down the progression of the dementia. Dr. Steen even looks at the other medications a patient may be taking for possible drug interactions that can cause cognitive or other problems.

Dr. Steen said that she often gets asked by family members, “Why isn’t the medication working?” Most families are hoping that their loved one will make a major recovery. She reminds them that the medication is working. It is slowing the loss of mental function. It gives the patient more time . . . time at the current level.  That’s why early diagnosis and treatment is important.

Paying Attention To The Caregiver

Theresa has a lot of support now in caring for Lita. Family members have rallied to help her. But, it wasn’t always like that.

When she first started out, Theresa tried to do everything herself. Even with her knowledge as a registered nurse, she quickly discovered that caring for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease is physically and emotionally exhausting!

“We need to pay attention to the caregivers. Caregivers need: 1) a support group, 2) to get educated about their loved one’s disease by reading as much as possible, and most importantly, 3) to take care of themselves first. The flight attendants on an airplane instruct you to put your oxygen mask on first before helping others. It works the same for a caregiver. You have to take care of yourself first,” Dr. Steen stressed.

With Dr. Steen’s encouragement, Theresa gathered a support team of family members together to care for her grandmother.  Lita is never left alone. Someone is always with her while Theresa is out of the house.

Theresa doesn’t have to worry while she is away. She knows Lita is safe.

If you are a caregiver, the Family Caregiver Alliance offers a guide to help you with common issues that caregivers face including getting help with care, legal and financial issues, even fact sheets in Spanish and Chinese.

What I discovered in caring for my Dad in his final years was, that as difficult as it was, the time I had with him was a gift that I continue to treasure. Other caregivers I have chatted with say the same thing. They all feel blessed to have been the ones to provide care for their aging parents.

You can be the one, too.

Return to Part One

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Susan Jane Steen, MD

Dr. Steen is a board certified neurologist, practicing at Tampa Neurology Associates and also serves as the president for Axiom Clinical Research of Florida and Medical Director of South Tampa Memory Center.

Dr. Steen is available to further discuss Alzheimer’s disease as a growing health issue, the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, and the differences between signs of “normal aging” and something more serious.

Dr. Steen completed her training at the University of Florida

Theresa Robaldo
Registered Nurse and Alzheimer’s disease Caregiver

As a registered nurse and primary caregiver for her 87-year-old grandmother, Lita Baker, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in 2007, Theresa encourages anyone noticing changes in memory or behavior in their loved ones to talk to a doctor right away.

Theresa first started noticing changes in her grandmother’s behavior after her grandfather passed away in 2007. She knew that some of the changes were related to memory problems, but experienced some challenges getting answers toward a diagnosis. When they did receive the diagnosis, the family was able to start taking steps to address the issue. Theresa has seen firsthand the benefits of an early diagnosis, and knows there are no advantages to waiting or stalling when it comes to AD.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Many thanks for Dr. Susan Steen and Theresa Robaldo for sharing their stories for this article.

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This is Part One in a two part series about recognizing the signs of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease so that aging family members can get the help they need.

By the time Lita Baker came to see Dr. Susan Steen,
Lita, a frail woman in her 80s, was already on Aricept and an anti-psychotic drug to deal with her Alzheimer’s Disease. She had also had a baseline MRI and a documented medical history thanks to granddaughter, Theresa Robaldo.

Dr. Steen,who is a board certified neurologist and researcher practicing at Tampa (FL) Neurology Associates, was able to assess how Lita was faring using that information along with additional tests. By carefully reviewing the situation,  Dr. Steen was able to adjust the doses of those medications so that Lita would be less sedated and able to participate more in daily activities.

When Did It Start?

Lita’s issues surfaced shortly after her husband died two years ago. At first, there were minor annoyances like losing her glasses and misplacing her dentures. Then, she developed a funny habit of hiding food around the house.

Being a registered nurse, Theresa was pretty sure she saw a medical problem beyond age and frailty.  Other family members didn’t want to believe it and just excused the odd behavior as part of Lita’s personality.

For a short while, Lita managed to hide her growing problem from her family, but eventually it became too difficult to hide. The family physician admitted that Lita probably had dementia but, like many doctors, was hesitant to make a diagnosis.

Theresa lobbied the family to get Lita more help.

Lita understood that Theresa was trying to help her and gave Theresa power of attorney. (The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 – HIPAA – restricts the amount of information a doctor may share with family members about an adult patient without the permission of the patient. Having power of attorney allows a family caregiver to work closely with doctors on the patient’s behalf.)

When Lita finally reached the point that she couldn’t work the telephone, Theresa took Lita into her own home and became Lita’s full-time caregiver.

Are You Visiting Mom or Grandma on Mother’s Day?

Just mentioning the words dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease can strike terror in anyone who ponders loved ones or themselves getting older.  But, contrary to what some people think, these diseases are not a part of normal aging.

Dementia is the general word used to describe a progressive loss of cognitive function. Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common type of dementia. Researchers are vigorously working to find answers about how and why people develop dementia.

While there is no cure right now, early diagnosis and treatment can slow a person’s decline and increase the quality of life. Family members are a critical factor in getting a patient the right diagnosis and treatment. Unfortunately, many adults are confused about which signs point to Alzheimer’s rather than normal aging.

If you are planning to spend some quality time with an older family member on Mother’s Day, it may be helpful to know what to look for. A great website for information and encouragement is YouCanBeTheOne.com

Here are some common signs of dementia / Alzheimer’s:

• Problems doing simple tasks, such as getting dressed
• Difficulty talking with others, withdrawing
• Trouble with knowing the time, date, or place
• Poor judgment, such as letting strangers in the house or going out in winter without a coat
• Trouble solving problems or tasks like balancing a checkbook
• Losing things, such as glasses or keys, more often than usual
• Rapid swings in mood or changes in behavior, like being secretive or suspicious
• Forgetting both recent and past events

Additional information about symptoms can be found on this page at YouCanBeTheOne.com

Not everyone will have these symptoms, though. A recent study by researchers at the University of Washington indicates that the first signs may be physical impairment rather than mental. The study showed that walking more slowing and poor balance were more common in people later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or some other dementia. This was certainly true in my Dad’s case.

Where To From Here?

Theresa insisted on getting a proper diagnosis and treatment plan for Lita. That involved changing doctors.

Some doctors are hesitant to make a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s fearing it will make the patient and family more anxious. “A recent study indicates that once a diagnosis is made, levels of anxiety for the patient don’t change,” Dr. Steen remarked.

And, early treatment can slow the progression of the disease. With Theresa’s help, Lita found Dr. Steen and became her patient.

“When we are dealing with a patient with multiple health problems, we rely on history from the family to find the right issue. Unfortunately, families sometimes react out of fear. They may be hostile to the patient or believe it is the patient’s fault,” Dr. Steen indicated.

Dr. Steen and her colleagues work with family members to help them understand what is happening to the patient and what they can expect in the future.

Theresa commented “Even though I am registered nurse, I struggled at times to understand Lita’s behavior. Dr. Steen recommended that our family read The 36 Hour Day. The book helped me and other members of our family better deal with this.”

You Can Be The One

Your visit with elderly family members on Mother’s Day can be the perfect time to start the conversation that helps your loved one get the medical care she needs. If you notice any of the signs shown above, you can make a playful game out of The Clock Draw Test. (The web page allows you to print out the blank and sample pages.)

It is a simple paper and pencil test that will provide your family doctor with helpful information about your Mom’s condition. The sooner she gets help, the better chance she has for slowing or halting the dementia.

Speak up! You can be the one who makes a difference in your loved one’s health.

Part Two – Being the Caregiver

Many thanks for Dr. Susan Steen and Theresa Robaldo for sharing their stories for this article.

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© 2009 CK Wilde. All Rights Reserved. Please feel free to link to this post but you must have prior written permission (please use the comments) to reproduce this post either whole or in part.

Unless you have been isolated in a remote retreat, you probably have heard and read all  about the swine flu. Comedy Central’s programs “The Daily Show with John Stewart” and “The Colbert Report” are buzzing about it. Vice President Joe Biden angered the airline industry today by advocating that his family stay away from plane trips to avoid getting sick.

It is so important not to panic.  Medical experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that each year 5% to 20% of Americans get the flu. Peak season is October through March.

Most people recover from the flu without serious complications. Reports indicate that folks in the US who had this latest version of the swine flu have recovered without using special medications.

3 Things You Must Do

The key is to focus on the 3 most important basic actions to maintain a healthy immune system:

1. Wash your hands frequently and help your children to wash their hands. Sing (or say) the ABC’s to help your children wash for at least 20 seconds. Avoid touching your face, nose or mouth with your hands.
2. Get at least 8 hours of sleep each night. Our bodies recharge and heal while we sleep. Work on reducing stress during the day, too.
3. Eat well. Skip the sweets and heavy fat meals in favor of vegetables and fruit, lean protein and legumes and whole grains.

Really? Is that it?

Yes, those are the basics.

What If You Start To Feel Ill?

• Stay home. You will recover faster and will help prevent the spread to others.
• Get rest. Your body is telling you it needs rest.
• Drink plenty of fluids but not alcohol.

An herbal tea like chamomile or ginger can soothe an upset stomach. Green and black teas can help clear your throat. Chicken soup really does work to clear your sinuses. Some friends swear by spicy soups. I made onion soup without the cheese for my younger son when he was under the weather recently.

CK’s Super Fast Onion Soup

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

2 medium onions, thinly sliced ( I use red onions for the milder taste)

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 quart beef broth ( I use one container of organic broth  that I buy and keep in the pantry. You can substitute vegetable or chicken.)

A sprinkle of Paul Prudhomme’s Magic Seasoning Blend or a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Instructions

Heat olive oil in a 2 quart pan or dutch oven over medium low heat.

Add onions. Sprinkle with seasoning.

Cook  until onions are soft. Stir occasionally and add a little water if they start to stick.

Once onions are soft and translucent, add beef broth.

Turn heat to medium-high until soup starts to bubble, then turn heat down to medium-low and simmer for 15-20 minutes.

Taste soup and adjust seasoning to your taste.

Here’s to your good health!

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© 2009 CK Wilde. All Rights Reserved. Please feel free to link to this post but you must have prior written permission (please use the comments) to reproduce this post either whole or in part.

The students who did not get accepted to their first choice school have more work to do.

In my post, “Was Your Son Or Daughter Rejected By A Top College?” I suggested strategies and resources to help your child adjust to rejection from a top college. Many more students will be opting for alternatives this year.

If you ask family members who lived during the Great Depression why they did not go to college, most will admit wistfully that there wasn’t any money for college. They went to work to support the family. My Dad and Mom were both in that situation.

Many educators were expecting college applications to drop off this year because of the current financial turmoil. But, that did not happen.

Applicants came out in force.

The plight of the colleges is described in a March 29, 2009 article in the New York Times. Despite the economy, students are applying to top colleges in record numbers. These schools are digging deep to provide financial aid to as many students as possible. But, the sheer numbers of applicants means the percentage of students admitted to each school is smaller than ever.

A few days ago, I was talking with a counselor at our local community college. Our state budget crisis is causing a huge problem for the most prestigious campuses of the University of California. The UCs won’t be able to accommodate all of the eligible freshmen in the Fall. The admissions officers for the UCs will be offering “creative” admissions plans to even more students than before. They are also encouraging students to considered beginning college at a two year school, then transfer in the third year.

The University of California isn’t the only institution of higher learning to be affected. Budget woes are impacting every college and university in the United States. Where they can, colleges are choosing to cut parts of the budget other than financial aid. They are postponing or canceling new construction projects on campus.

But, it is the worst possible time for this financial crunch to happen. Record numbers of children were born between the years of 1988 - 1995. Just look at these birth statistics:

Year        Births           Year of College Graduation

1988 — 3,913,000  - Class of 2010
1989 — 4,021,000 - Class of 2011
1990 — 4,179,000 - Class of 2012
1991 — 4,111,000 - Class of 2013
1992 — 4,084,000 - Class of 2014
1993 — 4,039,000 - Class of 2015
1994 — 3,979,000 - Class of 2016
1995 — 3,892,000 - Class of 2017

Unless you plan to start your own company (like Bill Gates or Steve Jobs), a Bachelors from an accredited university or college is the minimum education required for most decent paying jobs. There is competition to get into “safety schools” these days.

No, I’m not saying not to apply to any of the top schools. Princeton, MIT and Yale are still in business. It’s just that they can only accept 7% or less of the number of applications they receive. You need to find less well known schools that you can happily attend if you don’t make it into your top choices.

Now the need to stand out from the crowd is greater than before.You may have higher than a 4.0 GPA (thanks to AP and Honors classes) and perfect scores on the SAT or ACT.  That’s not enough.

The college counselor I talked to suggested that the summer between Sophomore and Junior years is a great time to get involved as an intern with a company, as a volunteer with an organization or cause that ignites the student’s passion, or  interests.

But, you are probably wondering, isn’t summer a time for a teen to relax? Yes and no.

With a bit of creativity and thought, your student can find a way to enjoy summer and develop experience that will make great stories on a college application that stand out from the crowd. And, every experience helps the teen answer the all important questions:

• who am I?
• what are my talents?
• what do I want to do with my life?

The answers to these questions provide the basis for many college related decisions:

• what college do I attend?
• what courses do I take?
• what major do I choose?

Right now is a great time to start.

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