A Special Section Focusing on Senior Lifestyles
Lifestyles January 2013
This Month’s Focus: Health+Wellness
Hearing loss affects life connections ‘People expect you to hear what they have said’ BY EMILY HEDGES CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jane Hutar doesn’t take hearing for granted. With her new hearing aids from HealthInnovations, the 74-year-old is reminded just how sweet the simplest sound can be, like your name across a crowded room. “I noticed when I was in a large group of people, I couldn’t hear or understand one word. That went on for quite a while,” said Hutar. She recalls at one gathering, she mentioned to the woman standing next to her that she couldn’t hear. The woman responded that she too was thinking of getting hearing aids. “I thought that’s what I should do,” she said. “People expect you to hear what they have said, and it’s so difficult when you don’t hear at all.” Hutar’s daughter, who works for UnitedHealthcare, told her about hi HealthInovations. She went to the clinic in Eden Prairie and had her hearing tested at no charge. According to Dr. Lisa Tseng, M.D., CEO, because hi HealthInnovations is part of UnitedHealth Group they can offer higher quality at a lower cost. She also points to the support infraHEARING: TO PAGE 6
Jane Hutar
2 Mature Lifestyles – Thursday, January 17, 2013
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Thursday, January 17, 2013– Mature Lifestyles 3
Learning and loving through dementia Burnsville woman cares for her mother dealing with Lewy Body Disease BY EMILY HEDGES CONTRIBUTING WRITER Tammy Lofthus was always her mother’s helper. As a child, she followed Flo around the garden and kitchen, learning self-sufficiency and resourcefulness as the military family reinvented itself in communities all over the world. “I had the most phenomenal childhood anyone could ask for. I was very close to my mom and dad,” said the Burnsville resident. At 53 years old Tammy is still her mother’s helper, but now she is the one creating the safe and loving home. Flo, now 83 years old, suffers from Lewy Body Disease, a kind of dementia. “It’s a terrible thing when aging parents suffer from dementia. She has a good long-term memory, what we did in the past, the places we traveled to, but zero short-term memory,” she said. Tammy is no stranger for caring for loved ones at home. She grew up with her grandmother living with her family. She watched her mother care for her until she passed away from stomach cancer. “As a young girl and woman, I didn’t know any different than caring for parents. I knew I would do the same for my mother,” she said. As an adult, Tammy was constantly flying home to Georgia to visit her parents and help take care of things. All that changed in 2010 when her father passed away unexpectedly. “I had promised my dad that I’d take care of her. I brought her back to Minnesota from Georgia, and have been her caregiver ever since,” she said. The first thing Tammy did was to make her home look as much like her parents’ home as possible. She believes the key for her mother is a rigid, predictable schedule. “The more consistent the schedule, the better it is. If everyday we get up to the same, it lends less confusion for them, the less they’re upset within the
Tammy Lofthus uses the services of Home Instead Senior Care of Burnsville to help her take care of her mother, Flo, at home. world they live in, the better,” she said. Every morning Tammy eats breakfast with her mother, get washed and dressed. When she leaves for her job at Kraus-Anderson Insurance, her fiancé stays with Flo until Tammy returns home at lunch. One or all of Tammy’s three daughters – two in college and one at Burnsville High School – stay with their Grandmother until she gets home in the evening. “It definitely takes the entire family,” she said. “I understand why some families can’t do it. I’m just happy that we can.” Although her mother’s basic needs were being met, Tammy knew Flo needed connections that were lacking since she moved away from all of her friends. That’s when she saw an ad for Home Instead Senior Care in Burnsville. She called and spoke with a staff member about Flo’s needs. A short time later Uni, a Home Instead CAREGiver, entered their lives.
“They instantly fell into a one-onone conversation,” said Tammy. “Now Uni comes on Thursdays. I always have some type of dessert for them. She is here for two hours. It’s wonderful. It lets my mom talk. My mom has a friend.” It also gave Tammy the chance for some self-care. “When Uni is there, I try to have lunch with a girlfriend, or go shopping. It gives me that time with no worries about my mom. I know she is in good hands,” she said. Vitaly Salo, executive director of Home Instead Senior Care, believes the education and resources they offer to families is one of the most important factors in helping those families provide better care and enjoy caring for their loved ones. “We have a training center with free education for caregivers. It’s important for them to be good at what they do. This experience will define
them for years as loved ones need that care. A few things they learn will go a long way,” said Salo. “We want caregivers to enjoy more and be less stressed. My hope is that more people will come out and learn.” For Tammy, the built-in support system she has with Home Instead gives her confidence that no matter what happens in the future, she will be able to give her mother the care she needs. “Caring for loved ones at home is not for the faint of heart, but if you have a good support system, it’s possible,” she said. Home Instead of Burnsville offers services by the hour with rates starting at $24 per hour. Overnight services, around the clock care and personal care are all available. For more information on Home Instead, go to www.homeinstead.com/505 or call 952882-9300.
4 Mature Lifestyles – Thursday, January 17, 2013
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Inspiration by example Hopkins resident teaches aerobics class for 29 years BY EMILY HEDGES CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jean McSwiggen only knows one way to inspire her senior exercise class – by example. The Hopkins resident is known for rarely missing a class in the 29 years she has volunteered to teach low-impact aerobics at the Minnetonka Senior Center. As a result, the 88-year-old can run up stairs with no problem, and has a loyal following of fellow seniors who consider her a friend and role model. “I believe it is the largest senior exercise program in Minnesota by number of students,” said Steve Pieh, senior services and activities manager for the Minnetonka Senior Center. “The class draws 75 to 80 people a day.” McSwiggen was first moved to lead a more active life during a trip to Barbados with her husband in 1972. “We were there visiting my sister in the Peace Corps. We walked the beaches and I kept getting bushed. It was hot, but we really weren’t doing anything that extreme,” she said. From that time on, she began incorporating exercise into her life. She recalls waking up at 5:30 a.m. and walking four miles before breakfast. During bad weather, she would walk up and down her basement steps 100 times. After awhile that got boring, so she decided to start going to the Minnetonka Center for the Arts in Orono where her husband was taking classes of his own. She drove regularly to Orono until the 80’s gas crunch hit, and she didn’t feel right wasting the gas. She took the opportunity at
Jean McSwiggen leads an aerobics course at the Minnetonka Senior Center. (Photo by Chris Dillmann – Sun Newspapers) church one Sunday to ask the current director of the Minnetonka Senior Center if they offered an exercise program there. “She told me, ‘We need a new leader, and you’re it!’” she said. McSwiggen went to a training program for Park Nicollet’s “Over 50 and Fit” program, where she learned the exercise routines. Since then, she has added a few original ones choreographed by the late Dagmer Locke, who served as her co-leader for a number of years. “Now I can’t find anyone to do new routines for me,” said McSwiggen, who volunteers to teach classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and is known for always showing up. “I don’t miss because of snow or anything like that because it’s good for me. I keep telling the gang that I
wouldn’t do this if it wasn’t doing me some good,” she said. McSwiggen is no stranger to serving others. The day she turned 20 years old, she and a friend went in and volunteered for WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service), a World War II division of the U.S. Navy. Stationed in Pennsylvania, she served from 1944-1946 tracking the location of supply ships. “Women couldn’t join until they were 20. I already had most of my family in the military, including two sisters in WAVES,” said McSwiggen. She returned home and enrolled in the University of Minnesota. However, marriage and the birth of her first child cut her academic career short. After raising eight children, she decided to return to the University in 1974 to get a degree in Political Science.
“I needed to put a period to that part of my life. I needed to get that degree,” she said. Whether it’s exercising her mind, or body, McSwiggen is determined that growing older is a time to thrive. “As you get older, it gets harder for your friends to get out, and you need someone to talk to,” said McSwiggen. “Here they have people to talk to while they exercise, and they do. They talk all the way through it.” She says she enjoys the social buzz of conversation. “I’ve made lots of good friends that way. They are my support system. Everyone needs that,” she said. The Minnetonka Senior Center is located at 14600 Minnetonka Blvd. For more information on classes, call (952) 939-8393 or go to www.eminnetonka.com.
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Thursday, January 17, 2013– Mature Lifestyles 5
★★★ ★★
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Dear Maria & Staff: Thank you, for making my father’s stay, both at Rembrandt and Tiffany, a good place for him to be. He felt it was home, and always wanted to go back. He liked it when Maria took the time to say hello, and the high teas for birthdays. He enjoyed the gifts she gave, especially the glass fish. I have them, where everyone can enjoy them. Vicki and Shirley, plus all the others at Rembrandt were great to him. Vicki knew when he needed a stronger touch, and used it. Thanks. She did not abuse him, just talked to him in a way he knew she was the boss. Sandy, LaVonne, and Marketing were great, when we had problems, when I first took over as Power of Attorney. They were always there, to answer questions or concerns. He was 6 months from 100 years old, and went downhill fast. But you all knew how to handle him, when demetia got worse, and he wouldn’t like to follow directions, or eat. Thanks again. We still have my Aunt Jessie Warner in Roybet, and her sister Irene Medvic. So I may come to see them once in awhile. So you may still see me around. Know you will say hello. Take Care,
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Fiona Friedrick
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6 Mature Lifestyles – Thursday, January 17, 2013
Hearing FROM PAGE 1 structure as unique in the industry. “The affordability of our hearing aids and the amount of customer support we provide set us apart,” she said. “We have free oneon-one phone support from product specialists, online user videos, daily new user seminars hosted by audiologists, and in-person support in many cities nationwide.” For Hutar, there is no downside to her new hearing aids. “I love them. They don’t show even with my short hair. I don’t think it would bother me even if they did show,” she said. “It’s nice to know what everyone is talking about and hear when someone calls your name. It gives you more of a feeling of being included when you can hear everything.” According to Dr. Tseng, seniors sometimes don’t realize that hearing loss can impact our closest rela-
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tionships. “It’s really hard to be intimate and engaged when you feel the other person isn’t hearing you. It’s difficult enough sharing feelings without having to repeat yourself,” she said. Dr. Tseng points out that the misunderstandings that occur as a result of hearing loss is another important reason for seniors to seek help. “Many people with hearing loss have a harder time distinguishing consonants, so they tend to have difficulty correctly recognizing words. Two people can be having a conversation and have two different understandings of what went on. It
really can be quite challenging,” she said. Studies show that untreated hearing loss can affect a person’s ability to stay connected to friends and family, contributing to social isolation, depression and lower income. While 90 percent of people with hearing loss can benefit from hearing aids, fewer than 20 percent currently use them, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The high cost of most hearing aids is one of the reasons many seniors choose not to seek help. “It is so important to treat hearing loss. It’s not something you
have to live with,” said Dr. Tseng. Hutar thinks that some seniors might hesitate because they’ve heard they are difficult to set, or they won’t actually use them, or they will be self-conscious. “I suggest going in as soon as you can. You don’t realize how much you miss until you get your hearing aids. Don’t wait a year or longer like I did. You’re just losing out.” hi Health-Innovations also recently launched a new program to make hearing aids more affordable for U.S. veterans and their spouses. Hearing loss is a growing health concern for some veterans, in part because of their history of noise exposure during service. Hearing loss is the second most common health condition among veterans, affecting more than 670,000 members of the armed forces nationwide, according to The Hearing Journal. For more information on the veteran discount program and hearing tests, call 1-855-523-9355 or go to www.hihealthinnovations.com.
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Thursday, January 17, 2013– Mature Lifestyles 7
Marjorie Johnson: A recipe for successful life BY EMILY HEDGES CONTRIBUTING WRITER Marjorie Johnson may be known as a blue-ribbon baker, but red is definitely her color. Standing only four feet, eight inches tall, the Robbinsdale senior dons her signature red dress and apron each time she appears on one of many national shows that clamor for her award-winning desserts and powerhouse personality. “When you’re on TV you aren’t supposed to wear stripes, plaids or white. I noticed in every picture I see, red stands out. Since I’m small, I thought that a little spot of red would be a pretty good way to get noticed,� she said. Marjorie’s national fame began when the James Beard Foundation contacted the Minnesota State Fair for someone to represent the state in one of its programs. Having won more than 2,500 fair rib-
bons including more than 1,000 blue ribbons in her lifetime, Marjorie was the ideal person. She flew to New York City for the event, and while there volunteered to do publicity appearances to promote the foundation’s Meals on Wheels program. She appeared on the Rosie O’Donnell show, and the two women hit it off. “She kept inviting me back. I was there for the last show in 2002,� said Marjorie. “Rosie had lost her mother. Perhaps she thought of me as a substitute mother.� A producer from the Rosie O’Donnell Show went to work for Wayne Brady in 2003, and an invitation to appear soon followed. One visit evolved into a contract to appear 23 times. Amateur bakers could “Challenge Margie� to a baking contest judged by celebrities. MARJORIE: TO NEXT PAGE
Marjorie Johnson’s most recent appearance on The Tonight Show occurred on Dec. 20, 2012 where she made a Christmas tree cake with Jay Leno and Katherine Heigl. (Photo courtesy NBC Studios)
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Marjorie FROM PREVIOUS PAGE She recalls the most memorable battle when Wolfgang Puck pronounced her pie the winner, complimenting her superior piecrust. Wayne Brady also began to send Marjorie as a correspondent to marquee events like the Emmys and Sundance Film Festival. When the Wayne Brady Show ended in 2004, she thought her TV days might be over. Then in 2006 Rosie invited her on The View. Soon after, she was asked to appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. “I was on in January and they all liked me. I was invited back,” recalled Marjorie. “That March I went back on The View to make Rosie’s 45th birthday cake.” When Marjorie returned to The Tonight Show that May, they asked her a strange question. “They wanted to know if I knew a lot about sports. They said, ‘We’re going to send you to San Antonio to cover the NBA Finals.’ I told them if they sent me, I’d know all about it.”
ON: ATTENTI
Lifestyles MARCH EDITORIAL FOCUS:
HOUSING. We are looking for people who have added a mother-in law apartment to their home or have you bought a house specifically because it had one? If so, please contact Krista Jech at
952-392-6835 or krista.jech@ecm-inc.com
Marjorie and her good friend Rosie O’Donnell. The Tonight Show viewers loved her. She went on to cover Major League Baseball, NBA Basketball, the X Games, and the Las Vegas Bike Fest motorcycle rally. Her most recent appearance on The Tonight Show occurred on Dec. 20, 2012 where she made a Christmas tree cake with Jay Leno and Katherine Heigl. She has also appeared on The Martha Stewart Show, Dr. Oz, HGTV, the Travel Channel, and Twin Cities Live. Marjorie began baking at eight years old in a family of six girls. “My mother was a fabulous baker,” she recalled Marjorie earned a B.S. degree in Foods and Business with a minor in Journalism from the University of Minnesota. “Things have changed so much
since then, but I like to keep up on everything new in nutrition and health,” she said. Marjorie hasn’t changed her attitude towards life in decades. She has the same vitality, zest for living, interest in new recipes and perfecting her baking as she did when she was in her 20s. This is one of the reasons she was selected for inclusion in the new book, Awaken Your AgePotential: Exploring Chosen Paths of Thrivers (Beaver’s Pond Press, 2012) by Twin Cities author and gerontologist Lori Campbell. “So many people fret their ‘inner passions’ are not worthy to promote. Marjorie is a fine example that there is no passion too big or too small to bring forward and share with the world,” said Campbell. In the book, Marjorie sums up her
advice to seniors on how to thrive later in life: eat healthy, exercise, get enough sleep, think positively, and be interested in something. “For me that is baking. You have to be vitally interested so you will wake up and want to discover and be interested,” she said. “I expect the best. There’s always something to be happy about — little things, like a walk, or that first cup of coffee in the morning.” For more information about Marjorie, her award-winning recipes, and upcoming local and national appearances, go to www.blueribbonbaking.com or read her book, The Road to Blue Ribbon Baking with Marjorie (Oh My Gosh! Press Nov. 2007). For more information about The AgePotential Movement, go to www.agepotential.com.
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Thursday, January 17, 2013– Mature Lifestyles 9
Four tips for the new retirement Boomers have different retirement expectations from their parents A recent study conducted by the Bankers Life and Casualty Company Center for a Secure Retirement found that 67 percent of middle-income baby boomers are expecting a retirement that is different from the one their parents enjoyed. For one thing, the study found that roughly three-quarters of the generation born between 1946 and 1964 believe that financial factors, not their age, will determine when they retire. Despite these new uncertainties, more than half are looking forward to retirement. If you’re trying to navigate plans for the new retirement landscape, the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants offers four key pieces of advice. 1. Be prepared to be the decision maker In the past, workers were asked few questions about their retirement or health care choices. Employers provided specific benefits, and employees could generally count on well-defined, reliable pension and health care coverage. However, all that’s changed now. Today, workers have more options, greater responsibility and higher costs. You may find yourself faced with choices about how much to set aside in a health savings or medical spending account or which Medicare supplement plan to select. 401(k) plans and other taxadvantaged retirement options also provide an array of sometimes confusing choices. Your certified public accountant CPA can explain your options and help you with your financial planning concerns, so be sure to turn to him or her with all your questions. 2. Planning is more important All of the choices and responsibilities you face make it more critical than ever to have a realistic sense of your financial situation and whether you’re ready for retirement. According to the study, about half of middle-income boomers aren’t certain they will have enough in savings to guarantee a comfortable retire-
ment. If you’re not sure where you stand, you can begin to find out by using the tools on the 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy website, a public service provided by the CPA profession. The site’s retirement pension planner, for example, helps you to estimate your savings needs based on factors such as current age, income, savings rate and expected retirement age. Articles on the site also walk you through retirement and estate planning basics. You may learn that you’re running a bit behind in your savings if you want to reach your retirement goal. But finding this out now allows you to consider your options and take the steps to get back on track. 3. Get ready to work longer According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there was a 101 percent
jump in the number of people 65 and over in the workforce between 1977 and 2007. Numerous reasons factor into the escalation in the percentage of people 65 and over staying in the job market. These include losses in retirement savings due to the recession, recent stock market crashes and changing attitudes about work among those of retirement age. Given the changing climate, you may have to adjust not only your savings plans, but also your career expectations, as your professional life is likely to extend longer than anticipated. 4. Make the most of your opportunities Given the new retirement realities, it’s especially important to take advantage of any options that will maximize your financial assets. That means, among other things, that you
should make full contributions to company retirement plans that include a matching employer contribution. If you don’t contribute, you’re missing out on free money from your employer to further feather your nest egg. On the other side of the coin, avoid dipping into your retirement account, particularly if doing so entails a penalty for early withdrawal. The longer the money stays in the account, the more time it will have to earn interest or dividends. You work hard for your money and to secure your future. Your local CPA can help ensure your efforts earn you the most comfortable retirement possible. A CPA can help you navigate the complexities of retirement planning so that your golden years are indeed golden. More information: mncpa.org
10 Mature Lifestyles – Thursday, January 17, 2013
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Seniors helping seniors
Northeast Senior Services:
BY EMILY HEDGES – CONTRIBUTING WRITER Kay Acton of Columbia Heights knows what Northeast Senior Services means to seniors around the area because she is one of them. As a long-time board member, she has helped design the non-profit from the ground up. As a volunteer, she stays connected by giving rides to those who can’t drive or manage public transportation. As an 80-year-old resident, she uses Northeast Senior Services to keep herself healthy. A group of local churches and community groups formed Northeast Senior Services in 1973. In 1996, Acton was asked to represent Faith Methodist in St. Anthony Village. She says her volunteer work has made her more aware of the needs of others. “It can be really lonely for a lot of people. We provide a pal to go and visit. People need someone to talk to and discuss things with. You’ve got to have connections with people,” she said. Kay Anderson, executive director of Northeast Senior Services, hopes to see the program expand through volunteers like Acton. “I envision a program where seniors can call other seniors and stay in touch,” she said. “Many seniors don’t drive, so they kind of get stuck in their house. They need to talk to someone outside to get them engaged.” Anderson believes these connections have a direct link with improved health. “When seniors stay at home too much they can get depressed and don’t eat well. Sometimes they don’t keep up with doctor appointments. Our program was designed as a way for seniors to connect with someone,” she said. Acton provides door-to-door service for seniors who need a ride to their appointments. “I really enjoy it. I think these older people really appreciate it. Of course now I’m 80 myself, but I still feel comfortable driving,” said Acton, whose own mother lived to be 106 years old. Acton said she usually waits at the appointments and reads the newspa-
Northeast Senior Services gives Kay Acton the chance to give back to her community, and will continue to help her stay independent in her home as she ages. per unless they will take longer than about an hour. In that case, another volunteer might do the taking or picking up, or she’ll go home and come back. “They all have a story, and I love hearing them. We just have a nice, pleasant time,” she said. “People feel like you’re a neighbor giving them a ride.” Acton, a retired school nurse, raised five kids in the Columbia Heights school system. She has 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She served as the Republican Chairwoman in Columbia Heights for many years until finally getting disillusioned by politics. “When Nixon did his Watergate
thing, that’s when I left it,” she said. “I was tired of politics and went back to work.” Acton says she has depended on Northeast Senior Services for Medicare counseling, and regularly uses the exercise program offered through Northeast Methodist Church. “It’s exercise for seniors. Most of it is sitting in a chair, but it’s a good, hard workout,” she said. She anticipates needing more from Northeast Senior Services as she ages. Northeast Senior Services assists residents of Columbia Heights, New Brighton, St. Anthony Village and Northeast Minneapolis. Northeast Senior Home Connection helps with
low-cost yard maintenance, home repairs, electronics troubleshooting, housekeeping, and housing counseling. Volunteers like Acton provide rides to appointments through the Senior Rides Program. Riders donate what they can afford. The suggested donation is $8. Seniors can call by noon on Thursday for rides starting the next Monday or after. Northeast Senior Wellness helps seniors improve their health and continue to live independently. Seniors can sign up to have a friend to visit with once per week in-person or by phone. For more information, call 612-7815096 or go to www.neseniors.org.
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Thursday, January 17, 2013â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mature Lifestyles 11
A major brand hearing aid provider wishes to field test a remarkable new digital hearing instrument in the area. This offer is free of charge and you are under no obligation. These revolutionary 100% Digital instruments use the latest technology to comfortably, and almost invisibly, help you hear more clearly. This technology improves speech understanding while reducing background noise. If you wish to participate, you will be required to have your hearing tested in our office FREE OF CHARGE to determine candidacy and report your results with the hearing instruments each week for a two week period. At the end of this period, you may purchase your instruments, if you so desire, at a reduced charge. Otherwise, there is no charge whatsoever for participating in this field test. Special testing will be done to determine the increased benefits of this technology. Benefits of hearing aids vary by type and degree of hearing loss, noise environment, accuracy of hearing test, and proper fit. This is a wonderful opportunity to determine if hearing help is available for your hearing loss while you evaluate your performance with this technology.
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12 Mature Lifestyles – Thursday, January 17, 2013
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YOU
If you’re a Baby Boomer age 65 or older, it’s time to find your groove with Medicare. UCare is ready with health plans that are as flexible and forward-thinking as you are. UCare for SeniorsSM lets you choose from plans that cover prescription drugs, travel, eyewear, dental, fitness programs like SilverSneakers® and more. There are no co-pays for primary care visits with most plans. And you’ll get to talk to a real person 24/7 when you call customer service. It’s just what you’d expect from health care that starts with you. UCare Minnesota and UCare Wisconsin, Inc. are health plans with Medicare contracts. ©2012, UCare H2459 H4270_ 090512 CMS Accepted (09102012)
STILL HAVE ALL THE RIGHT MOVES.
WE’VE
BEEN EXPECTING YOU.
Learn more about the benefits of UCare for Seniors in our new eGuide to Medicare at ucareplans.org/eguide. Or call (toll free) 1-877-523-1518 (TTY) 1-800-688-2534, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.