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uc research of interestYou’ve got tomove it, move itOne in four women over age 65 is unableto walk two blocks or climb a flight of stairs.Known as mobility disability, it is the leadingtype of incapacity in the United States and a keycontributor to a person’s loss of independence.Now, new research from UC San Diegosuggests that light-intensity physical activity,including shopping or a casual walk, mayprotect mobility in older women.“Older adults who want to maintain theirmobility should know that all movement, notjust moderate-to-vigorous physical activity,counts,” said senior author Andrea LaCroix,PhD, MPH, Distinguished Professor and chiefof the Division of Epidemiology at HerbertWertheim School of Public Health. “We foundthat, among older women, light-intensityphysical activity preserves mobility later in life.”Researchers found that women who did nothave a mobility disability at the start of thestudy, and who spent the most amount oftime doing light-intensity activities, were40 percent less likely to experience loss ofmobility over a six-year period.The prospective study observed 5,735 U.S.women age 63 and older, who wore a researchgrade accelerometer for seven days to obtainaccurate measures of their physical activity.The mean time spent in light physical activitywas 4.8 hours per day.Researchers found that women who spentthe most time performing light-intensityphysical activity had a 46 percent lowerrisk of mobility loss compared to womenwho participated in lower levels of physicalactivity. Similar results were observed amongwhite, Black and Latinx women. Women withand without obesity also reduced their riskof mobility disability, but the benefit wasstrongest among women with a body massindex (BMI) of less than 30.Read more: o-move-it-move-itOlder people often incorrectly assumemedicines don’t have potential side effectsDoctors might not need to spend a wholelot of time conveying information on dosage,the number of pills in a prescription or howfrequently medications must be taken. Butthey should spend more time explaining sideeffects to ensure their older patients are fullyinformed, suggests a UCLA study.Researchers examined data on 81 people age 50an older who were in a previous study aimed atimproving how physicians communicate aboutnewly prescribed medications. They foundthat patients correctly ascertained informationsuch as dosage and duration of use for morethan 70 percent of the medications theywere prescribed, regardless of whether theirphysician explained it during an office visit.But when physicians failed to verbally provideinformation about potential side effects,people incorrectly assumed that about 55percent of their prescribed medications hadnone. And even when physicians did discusspossible side effects, their patients incorrectlyassumed there were no side effects for 22percent of the medications.Gaps in knowledge about side effects mayput people, particularly older people, atrisk for medication nonadherence. Patientsmay be less likely to take or continue takingmedications if they discover the existence ofpotential adverse effects without having theopportunity to discuss those side effects withtheir physicians in a timely manner.Study authors were: Timothy Ho, BlancaCampos, and Derjung Tarn, all of theDepartment of Family Medicine, David GeffenSchool of Medicine at UCLA.Read more at: dication-side-effects3

continued storiesRetirees embrace volunteering continued from page 1sociate vice chancellor-corporatefinancial services/controller.John Meyer, CUCRA chair, said,“We believe it’s valuable for ourorganization to assess and reporton the level of engagementretirees maintain with theircampuses and their communities.”“This can then be shared withuniversity and campus leaders tounderscore the ongoing value ofretirees,” said Meyer, who retiredfrom UC Davis in 2014 as itsadministrative vice chancellor.Active retirementA majority of respondentsreported having an active lifestyle:60 percent were engaged instaying physically fit; 58 percenthad traveled; 50 percent gardened;47 percent spent time outdoorsand in nature; and 32 percentenjoyed the performing arts.“Half of my days are spent ondeveloping homeowner handymanskills. I never did it when I wasworking — no time. I enjoy it and itkeeps me moving,” wrote a retiree.Volunteering in communityand UCSeventy percent of surveyrespondents reported somekind of volunteer activity,mostly for community and civicorganizations, faith-based groupsand political causes.A wide range of skills werevolunteered, from book-mendingand boat repair to gardeningand meditation. One retireeperformed magic at a day centerfor adults with memory issues.“My husband and I started anonprofit building schools inBurma (Myanmar),” wrote a surveyrespondent. “We will have built 67schools by the end of 2020.”Twenty-five percent of respondents said they have volunteeredfor UC, indicative of the enduring connection many feel to theirhome campuses, medical centersand laboratories. Retirees for UChave served as volunteer mentors,teachers, advisers, fundraisersand participants in many campusprograms and activities.“I’d like to suggest that the UCmake better use of their retirees.We have institutional memoryand experience that remains avaluable asset. I feel mine is beingwasted (and I am only 61!),” notedone retiree.Professional engagementMore than 42 percent said theyprovided professional services ona pay or pro bono basis. The mostcited examples were teaching,consulting and serving on a boardof directors.of non-fiction such as histories,science writing and journalisticarticles.Encore careersSome survey respondentshave worked in paid positionssince retiring: 17 percent fororganizations outside UC; 14percent self-employed; 10 percentfor UC, full- or part-time.“Moving to a small town of 500closely-knit people, I knew no oneand no one knew me,” wrote a UCretiree. “I became a sub-rural mailcarrier My rural route consistedof 400 residences, and afterdelivering their mail to them fornine years I not only knew everyperson by name but every personknew me by name.”Another retiree wrote, “I met theman of my dreams late in life andwe discovered that we both lovesustainable living so we started asolar business together and it isfinally taking off.”Caregiving“I continue to teach math andstatistics for the college programat San Quentin State Prison,under the auspices of the PrisonUniversity Project. (All instructorsare volunteers.),” wrote a retiree.More than half of the respondents,53 percent, served as caregivers.The high number was perhaps duein part to the upheaval caused bythe pandemic, survey organizerssaid. Some respondents notedthat they were helping outtheir children who had becomeunemployed or assisting with thecare of grandchildren learning athome while their parents worked.Twenty-one percent said theyhave been authors, especiallyMany survey respondentscommented about theircaregiving, which can bring delightor struggle:“Helping take care of grandchildrenbrings me joy. Helping my neighbors in my retirement communityalso gives me joy.”“If I didn’t help my father and myelderly aunt and uncle they wouldneed to live in assisted living. Myhelp keeps them independent.”“I found myself simultaneouslyproviding child care for a newgrandchild and managing medical appointments and care for mymother who was diagnosed withovarian cancer and consequentlypassed away. There is no way tofully prepare oneself for the pressure this can put on an individual.”PhilanthropyUC retirees are not only generouswith their time and talents. Thousands of retirees have also donated more than 60 million to UCcampuses over the past four fiscalyears, according to data providedby retiree associations, retirementcenters and development offices.“The financial contributions retireeshave made to their former campuses, coupled with the extent to whichretirees volunteer at UC, are all indications of the degree to which theseretirees feel a continued connectionto UC and support the mission ofthe university,” Abeles said.To view the complete survey report,visit http://cucra.org/surveyDeferred lifetime income continued from page 1The following are some importantfeatures: To be eligible you must be aUC RSP participant betweenages 62 and 69, and have acombined account balance ofat least 40,000 in your UC RSPaccounts. If you choose to purchaseDeferred Lifetime Income, youenter into an annuity contractwith an insurance companyvetted by UC. You pay theinsurer a specific amount ofmoney from your UC RSPbalance (minimum 10,000, upto a maximum of 135,000 or25% of your balance).4 At age 78, you’ll start receivingguaranteed, monthly paymentsfrom the insurer that continuefor the rest of your life. You can choose one of threeincome payment options: a“Single Life” monthly incomefrom 78 until your death or“Joint & Survivor” options of 50or 75 percent. In the latter, youreceive monthly income from78 until death, and then yourspouse will receive 50 or 75 percent (depending on your optionchoice) for the rest of their life. There will be an annual costof living adjustment; monthlybenefits will increase by 2percent each year to help offsetthe impact of inflation. Be reassured that if you (or youand your spouse, if applicable)die before the total paymentsreach the full purchase amount,your beneficiary(ies) receivethe difference.Before making a decision aboutpurchasing Deferred LifetimeIncome, you’re encouraged todiscuss your financial situationwith a UC-dedicated FidelityRetirement Planner or yourfinancial advisor.To make an appointment with aFidelity Retirement Planner, call(800) 558-9182, Monday–Friday,5 a.m. – 6 p.m. PT, or scheduleonline at fidelity.com/schedule.To learn about other ways tocreate automatic withdrawals,view online tools to decideon an option that is best foryou, or look at other resourcesfor your retirement planninggo to myUCretirement.com retirement income strategies.

share your storiesHealthcare technology towriting fictionLearning Spanish,penning short storiesRobert Steven GoldsteinHealthcare Information Services,UCSFGeary (Reggie) RadcliffeComputer help desk technician,Los Alamos National LaboratoryIt has been a lifelong dream of mine to write fiction.After working 25 years for UC, it was time to retireand begin new adventures. The plan is to travel toSpanish speaking countries and enroll in one-onone Spanish language classes.I learned to read when I was three-years-old andbegan writing stories almost immediately afterthat. At the age of seven, I had a poem publishedin my elementary school newspaper. When I was a senior in highschool I took first prize in Scholastic’s national short story contestwith a ta

Lifetime Income to the UC Pathway Funds—the target-date fund investment series available in the UC Retirement Savings Program (UC RSP),” said Jagdeep Singh Bachher, UC Chief Investment Officer. “The UC Pathway Funds offer an easy way to invest in a professionally managed portfolio that gra