​​​Copyright © Kingston Trust Fund Plan

The Trustee is the official newsletter of the Kingston Trust Fund and is published every month of the school year.  The Trustee is distributed to members via ktfesp.org and email. Hard copies are mailed to retirees without email.  Active members who would like a hard copy, please contact the Trust and provide your name/school name.


Kingston Trust Fund


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THE TRUSTEE 

March 2024
Vol XVII, No. 167


Reduce Stress for a Healthier Heart 

Whether it’s from everyday deadlines, financial struggles, or the COVID-19 pandemic, stress shows up often in life. And your body reacts to it: your heart rate increases, your blood vessels narrow—and over time, these little blows can add up and do damage to your health, particularly your heart. With chronic stress, you’re more likely to have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and poor sleep. Even other parts of your body – from your lungs to your gut – can take a hit.  


But while you can’t always limit the amount of stress in your life, you can work on changing how you respond to it. Just like the automatic “fight or flight” response that kicks in when you’re scared – your muscles tense, heart rate increases, and brain becomes more alert – your body also has a built-in, healthy relaxation response. When that’s triggered, the opposite happens: your breathing and heart rate slow down, and your blood pressure decreases.  

Luckily, with practice, you can learn to trigger that response. Try these techniques on your own or find a teacher or class to help you get started. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get the hang of it quickly. And if one approach doesn’t work for you, try something new. You can learn to de-stress in lots of other ways.  


Meditation. One of the most studied approaches for managing stress, this involves developing your ability to stay focused on the present, instead of worrying about the past or future. Find a quiet location with as few distractions as possible. Get comfortable by either sitting, lying, or walking. Focus your attention on a specific word or set of words, an object or your breathing. And let distractions, including thoughts, come and go without judgment.  

Progressive muscle relaxation. To feel the effect, first tense your muscles for a few seconds, then relax them. Start by tensing and relaxing your toes, then your calves and on up to your face. Do one muscle group at a time. 

Deep breathing. Take in a slow, deep breath, let your stomach or chest expand and then exhale slowly. Repeat a few times. Many people don’t breathe deeply, but it is relaxing and something you can do anytime, anywhere. 

Guided imagery. This involves a series of steps that include relaxing and visualizing the details of a calm, peaceful setting, such as a garden. 

Getting your mind and body to a place of calm doesn’t always mean being still, however. Other healthy ways to manage stress include taking a yoga or tai chi class, talking to a professional counselor, joining a stress management program or an art class, or meeting up with friends for a brisk walk. Being in nature can be very soothing for some people.  

Combining de-stressors like these with other healthy habits can go a long way toward strengthening your heart. Eat more veggies, fruits and whole grains, and less sodium, sugar, and saturated fats, for example. Move your body more – like through dancing and walking meetings. Find exercises you actually love and do them regularly. Get enough good, quality sleep. And develop a strong social support system. Then rethink some of the familiar ways you may be coping with stress, such as drinking alcohol frequently, using drugs and other substances, smoking or overeating. They can actually worsen your stress – and your health.  

Taking care of your heart health is a lifelong journey, but at a time when the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 remains higher in people with poor cardiovascular health, learning new ways to make your heart strong has become even more important.  

Learn how to stress less for a healthier heart and more about heart health from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute by visiting www.nhlbi.nih.gov. If you need help finding additional resources to help you cope with stress, talk to a healthcare provider. Seek urgent care if you can’t cope at all or have suicidal thoughts. Resources are also available at nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help.  

From NIH-National Heart Lung, and Blood Institute

 

Issue with Dates of Birth
Several members have reported being told by providers that their dates of birth are wrong in the system. This has occurred when providers are checking eligibility for the members. Providers use various third-party systems to verify information, which may be the problem. To date all members who have reported this issue were found to be listed correctly in our system.


Retiree Medicare Reimbursement Part B 

In early March, the Kingston City School District sent letters to all retirees who are Medicare eligible and are entitled to reimbursement from the district for their Medicare Part B premiums. Eligible KTF retirees must send proof of payment to the district by May 15, 2024, to receive their reimbursement. Those who submit proof will be reimbursed, including IRMAA, in two payments. The first half will be reimbursed in June and the second half in December. Acceptable proof is your Social Security Benefits Verification Statement from the Social Security Administration or a copy of your SSA 1099. Proof can be sent to Amanda Wells at the Kingston City School, 21 Wynkoop Place, Kingston, NY 12401 or emailed to awells@kingstoncityschools.org.  

Important Reminder for all Members
It is imperative to notify the Trust Office of any status changes (marriage, divorce, legal separation, births, deaths, dependents, dependent age 26, address, child custody, disability, active/retired), and any condition affecting special programs, such as diabetes, prenatal, infertility, and weight loss. Failure to do so can be costly to the member and may even result in loss of benefits. Please send updated information to enrollment@ktftrustfund.com  or call the Trust office at 844-583-3863.





In Memoriam

 Julian Weiner           Margaret "Judy" Matthews        Viola Haggerty