11/8/24 post: Joan M. learned the hard way that people over 65 should not take Tylenol PM and certainly should not take it every night! She learned the hard way that it is known by doctors and those who study the small print to accumulate in the body and cause black-outs." Joan M. 10/4/24 post: Below is some cautionary advice/information for the annual Medicare Open Enrollment: Here are three signs of health insurance scams:1. Someone says they’re from the government and need payment or personal information - Government agencies do not call you out of the blue looking for information. If someone asks you for your social security number, bank account, or credit card over the phone, they are most likely trying to scam you.2. Someone wants your personal information in exchange for a price quote - Keep in mind that HealthCare.gov will only ask you for your monthly income and your age to provide a quote. If someone calls you and offers to “check your eligibility” in exchange for personal information like your social security number or bank account, they could be setting you up for identity theft.3. Someone asks you to pay for a quote - The Marketplace has trained assisters in every state to help you for free. You will never be asked to pay for services or help to apply for Marketplace, Medicaid, or CHIP coverage. If someone is asking you to pay, it’s a scam.The bottom line is this: if something feels “off,” it probably is. If someone calls and pressures you to give out personal information or tries to rush you into giving over your credit card information, hang up immediately and block the number. If you receive a call you believe is a scam, you can also report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Jennifer Y. 7/3/23 post: Well here is a SCAM I had not heard about. We have a drawer full of Covid tests and certainly didn't need anymore. But this spring our mailbox was full of test kits on numerous occasions. I just got a statement from Medicare saying they had paid several of the $266 charges but I would have to pay the final $266. What??? I never ordered these kits! I thought the government had so many left over they were sending them out to all the folks who had requested the free ones two years ago! So I wrote Medicare a letter contesting the charge. A quick internet search shows this is a Medicare scam that has affected quite a few people. No idea where they got my Medicare account number from. Watch your back, friends!!! Pam B. 5/21/23 post: Make sure you remove sterling silver or gold jewelry prior to using swimming pool or hot tub! The chemicals will turn your metal a dark dull grey, which is exceedingly hard to remove. (Try pouring boiling water into a dish lined with aluminum foil, some baking soda and a dash of Dawn, add jewelry, cover and let soak awhile then you can use a polishing cloth.) Pam B. 3/14/23 post: Beware cooking in your microwave oven. Even though the oven finishes and indicates "Ready," make sure you leave the heated item inside the oven behind the closed door for a minute or so. The item is still "cooking" and taking it out right away may cause an explosion. Someone among us heated up honey in its plastic container, took it out, and it exploded in his hand. Third degree burns. Jennifer Y. and Richard C. 12/31/22 post: Recently my credit card was charged a fraudulent charge. This was a Bank of America card. Just before the charge was made I had used the card at Cost Co to buy gas. Bank of America personnel informed me that some gas stations pumps, like Costcos, scan the card and the information gets in the hands of scammers on the black market who sell it to others. This is the second time this card has been "stolen" (virtually) in the past month. B of A caught one of the charges and denied it but the other went thru and will have to have a fraud investigation. Luckily they were both small amounts. BE careful out there! The security person suggested I pay in cash or go inside to pay if possible at gas stations. This particular card was one that you could just "tap" instead of inserting it.   Judy H. 8/31/22 post: For those allergic to MSG (Monosodium glutamate), beware of it possibly being in the salad dressing packets here at TVAB. A resident with said allergy was recently surprised to notice this ingredient listed on a dressing packet because upon moving here years ago was assured that it was hospital policy NOT to serve food with MSG. Resident immediately contacted Dining and re-confirmed that "no MSG" policy. However, at a subsequent meal the packet with MSG was still being brought to the tables. Warning: read the labels. Jennifer Y. 5/21/22 post: Beware when driving into an intersection with stoplights for both directions. So often, drivers see the "somewhat distant" yellow light as a signal to speedup to hurry through the intersection...often going through on a completely red light! Don't invite a tragedy, by taking off the moment your light turns green (if you are first in line to cross)! ALSO, be sure to watch out for a vehicle turning left (on yellow) into your street...sometimes they cut it close, coming across and right in your path! 3/27/22 post: Beware of a carjack scheme when you've parked in a public space (street or a parking lot). Scenario: you get in your car and start the motor and look over your shoulder or mirror to back out. You see a note or sticker on your back windshield. Do NOT get out of your car to quickly remove it, unless you have a passenger who can do it while you stay behind the wheel. If you're the driver and get out to see what the note is or to remove it, carjackers may spring into action. They could jump in your car, speed off, and leave you standing there. The perps would then have your car, your keys, and possibly a purse and phone.