Blog

With COVID-19 and the impending flu season, it is more important than ever to properly wash your hands on a regular basis. Handwashing is an important step in preventing the spread of germs that cause certain viruses and diseas.....

Among the red and orange leaves falling, there’s a splash of pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This October, AFSPA encourages you to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer. Part of raising awareness is being educated about early detection. Accordin.....

September is National Yoga Awareness Month! This is a time to learn about the health benefits of yoga and to promote living a healthy lifestyle. Yoga offers physical and mental benefits for people of all ages. And if you’re going through an illness, recovering from.....

Every September, people come together from all around the world to raise awareness and to challenge the stigma surrounding dementia and Alzheimer’s. Dementia is the name for collective brain syndromes which affect memory, thinking, behavior, and emotion[1]. A.....

Before hopelessness takes over, remember there is always help. This September, National Suicide Prevention Month, AFSPA encourages you to support friends or family who may be dealing with an emotional crisis. Here are some tips from Suicide Pr.....

We’re all familiar with physical pain, a warning sign in our body indicating a problem that needs attention. Pain can either be acute, meaning new; subacute, lasting for a few weeks or months; or chronic, lasting more than 3 months [1]. Near.....

We can never truly be emotionally prepared to lose a loved one, but we can be financially prepared by having life insurance. September is Life Insurance Awareness Month, a time to learn how to help protect your families’ financial security and future. Generally, yo.....

We’re in the midst of a major public health crisis; the opioid epidemic. In 2020, drug overdose deaths in the U.S. surged nearly 30%, the result of a deadlier supply of opioids combined with the destabilizing effect of the COVID-19 pandemic[1]. .....

Moving one’s career overseas can be an exciting transition for a family. But it is crucial to ensure everyone in your home has health care coverage while away. However, what if some individuals in your household are not eligible for coverage under your Federal Employee Health .....

Breastfeeding can be vital to an infant’s growth process. August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, a time to build a “landscape of breastfeeding support[1].” This month focuses not only on the benefits of breastmilk, but also on empowering and .....

We’re officially in August, which means going back to school is right around the corner. For many, this means returning to an in-person classroom for the first time since March 2020. Because we are still in a time of uncertainty surrounding our health, it’s important to take cert.....

The past 16 months have been tumultuous. During times of unease, change, and uncertainty, it’s essential to prioritize your mental health. AFSPA stands by the statement that mental wellness leads to better physical health. We’ve asked some staff members to share their personal ex.....

Physical activity is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This summer, AFSPA encourages you to be active by working out. We understand that everyone is at different fitness levels so below we have outlined flexible workouts you can do at home. Feel free to get some free weights to a.....

For many of us, summer is a time to lay back and relax. Summer is about the pool or the beach, picnics in the park, being carefree and having fun. However, when packing lunches for a day on the water or filling up your picnic basket, it’s importa.....

We are officially in the midst of summer! As you pack your beach bags, get your children ready for camp, and take time to soak up some Vitamin D, it’s important to remember to take steps to help protect yourself from the sun. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a form of.....

Long term care (LTC) and Long term disability (LTD) insurances are all about protecting yourself and your loved ones against worst-case scenarios. Is it time to start thinking about LTC or LTD insurance? What’s the difference between these two? While LTD and LTC may seem similar, they .....

It’s not luck….it’s preparation A line often quoted from the movie Titanic states that “a real man makes his own luck.” Well, be it man or woman, we all know that while we can’t possibly anticip.....

Most of us are familiar with head pain. Some is worse than others, but we’ve all had headaches. June is National Migraine & Headache Awareness Month. This month, AFSPA wants to raise awareness about .....

It’s June, which means it’s Men’s Health Month. This month, AFSPA wants to help men prioritize their health. Part of that is knowing its top threats. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (.....

Take a moment and close your eyes. Imagine a normal person. How do they look? What do they like? Who do they like? More likely than not, you pictured a heterosexual, or straight, person. That’s what we’re tra.....

It’s been a long year. We’ve been stuck inside, discouraged from traveling, and staring at the same scenery for, frankly, too long. Now that people are getting vaccinated, it’s time to start exploring again, to begin adventuring, to reach new places.....

We all know that sleep is important because it’s essential for our bodies to function. However, what’s less commonly considered is that your daily routines – what you eat and drink, the medications you take, how you schedule your days, and how you choose to spend your eveni.....

Acting quickly is essential during a stroke because it can lessen the amount of associated brain damage[1]. Therefore, knowing the signs and symptoms of stroke is crucial. Signs of Stroke in Men and Women[1] .....

Many of us experience mental health struggles such as depression, anxiety, suicide ideation, and more at some point in our lives. But as with many things, women may experience these differently. This can be caused by bi.....

Over the past year, going to the doctor or receiving in-person care have become a risk to your health. In order to stay safe, telehealth and telemedicine have been utilized as a more comfortable option. While this technology is not ne.....

We’ve all been there! Work is asking for too much at once, your family needs you, and you are stretching yourself too thin. You’re stressed. For some of us, this happens more often than for others. We all react differently to stress, and th.....

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, a time to increase understanding about the dangers of alcohol-related issues and alcoholism. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults of legal drinking age choos.....

From work life to home life, you deal with stress from a multitude of sources on a daily basis. Even more so now, amid the pandemic, stress is everywhere. And when your home life and work life collide, there’s no avoiding certain stressors. But there are w.....

In this world of fast food, sedentary lifestyles, and growing rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes is more prevalent than ever. In 2018, 34.2 million Americans, or 10.5% of the population, had diabetes. Of those, 26.8 million were diagnosed, and 7.3 million were undiagn.....

Why is Protein Important and How Much Do I Need? Are you getting enough protein in your diet? It’s common to watch your calories, sugar and salt intake, but it is equally as important to make sure you are eating enough protein. Protein is an essential nutrient to make the b.....

National Poison Prevention Week is observed annually during the third week of March. It highlights the dangers of being poisoned by household products and how to prevent them. Children and pets are those most .....

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. About 1 .....

Happy Nutrition Month! This March, AFSPA encourages you to focus on your nutrition. Part of focusing on your nutrition includes making your plate, at meals, diverse and filled with the nutrients you need. According to the 2020-2025 Dietary Gu.....

There are two types of cholesterol, often referred to as “good” and “bad” cholesterol. Good cholesterol is high-density lipoprotein (HDL)[1] that, when at a healthy level, may protect against heart attack and stroke.[1] Bad cholesterol .....

By John Ermer, CPA; Beers, Hamerman, Cohen & Burger, PC For many reasons, 2020 and 2021 have had constant changes in tax laws and how to interact with the IRS and state tax agencies. Here are some tips for both that a.....