Reminder: Check Your Credit Report!

Please remember that it is essential for everyone to check their credit history on a regular basis to be sure that it’s accurate and does not contain false or fraudulent information. Security breaches are now a common occurrence.

FREE credit reports are available from each of the 3 major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. These three nationwide consumer reporting companies have a central website, a toll-free telephone number, and a mailing address through which you can order your free annual report.

Visit https://www.annualcreditreport.com, call 1-877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. Be sure you are on the "official" www.annualcreditreport.com website. Go to http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reports for more information and important warnings about “imposter” websites to avoid.

The law allows you to order one free copy of your report from each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies every 12 months so, if you stagger your requests to the companies, you can monitor your credit by requesting a report every 4 months.

Over 80% of the general public does not request credit reports. Don’t allow yourself to fall victim to credit fraud because you failed to regularly check your credit history. It's easy and it's FREE!

Exercise Can Ward Off Falls

As we age, our sense of balance deteriorates, making us more prone to falling. And falls can be serious. We have all heard of older people who fall and break their hips. Such injuries can have devastating effects in the future for such individuals even after surgical intervention.

Interestingly, there is some evidence (although much of it is anecdotal) that exercising can improve one’s balance and increase reaction time. (Many falls occur because a person loses his balance but is unable to move his body quickly enough to recover and, hence, falls). Apparently, a system of exercises from the Orient known as Tai Chi can help. It is particularly useful for older people because it does not involve strenuous activity. There is certainly no requirement that you sign up to lift weights at the local gym!

Tai Chi classes are conducted, for instance, at many senior centers.