TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2018 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | SECTION B
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Barbara Sosebee, left, said the cooks at Semcac senior dining are “just super.” She joined Roger Hermanson and Betty Hermanson for lunch Jan. 8. SARAH KOCHER/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE
SEMCAC LOOKS TO INCREASE VOLUNTEER NUMBERS FOR SENIOR DINING PROGRAM By Sarah Kocher
sarah.kocher@albertleatribune.com
As the community ages, so does its volunteers. Semcac site manager Theresa Knudtson said that volunteers are sometimes unable to return if they can no longer help with the serving and cleaning tasks necessary for the senior dining program run at Senior Tower. This is the case now as Semcac looks to fill between six and 12 volunteer spots for its senior dining program. The program already has between 15 and 20 volunteers. Semcac provides subsidized lunchtime meals for seniors above 60 years old. The meals cost $4, or $3.50 if five meals are purchased together. “We have a lot of people that don’t eat very well,” Knudtson said. She said
oftentimes, the meal size allows diners to take leftovers home, which may make it easier to eat when it’s there and ready to heat up. Judy Menssen has been eating at Semcac for around 10 years. She said the food is only half the reason she comes to Semcac meals. The other half? Company. “It’s such a treat to come here instead of eating three meals alone at my kitchen table,” Menssen said. Barbara Sosebee and her son, Tom Sosebee, both come to Semcac during mealtimes. Barbara Sosebee sits in the dining room while Tom Sosebee helps staff the kitchen. He has volunteered at Semcac for over three years, he said, and he does it in his Sunday best. “I always wear a shirt
“It’s such a treat to come here instead of eating three meals alone at my kitchen table.” — Judy Menssen, Semcac diner and tie, because they deserve it,” he said. Both Sosebees said they have met people through the program they would not have met before. Semcac board member Pat Sorensen said the program fills a community need, as many seniors don’t cook for themselves. “It’s just no fun to cook for yourself and eat alone,” she said.
Volunteer Shirley Avery, right, adds bread to a meal served at Semcac senior dining on Jan. 8. Avery was named KIMT3 volunteer of the month in December. “She’s a worker,” Semcac site manager Theresa Knudtson said.
Senior Spotlight: Evelyn Spielman Age: 94 Native of: Bricelyn, has lived in Albert Lea for 21.5 years. Place of residency: Good Samaritan Society — Hidden Creek Family: One of seven siblings in my family. Education: Completed high school in Bricelyn. Former occupation: Bookkeeper in Montgomary Ward in Albert Lea and
St. Paul. What is your favorite childhood memory? Family reunions and family Christmas gatherings. What is your favorite memory from adulthood? Traveling to Alaska for five weeks with my brother and his wife. What would you say is your greatest accomplishment? Multiple sewing and crafts, including counted cross stitch. I always loved volunteering.
Is there a piece of advice you wish someone had given you or you would have listened to when your were younger? I can’t think of anything at the moment. What is the greatest lesson life has taught you? To be happy and kind to others. What do you enjoy most about where you are living now? I feel safe here. The workers are so good and kind to the people that live here.
Evelyn Spielman is a resident at Good Samaritan Society — Hidden Creek. PROVIDED
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Senior Spotlight: Shirley Christopherson Age: 82 Native of: Winona Place of residency: Oak Park Place Family: Shirley is the youngest of five children. She has three children Mark and his wife, Mary, live in Rochester. He is a doctor. Kimberly lives in Nebraska. She is a special ed teacher, and Gregory and his wife, Deb, live in Albert Lea. She also has four grandchildren: Graham, Andeane, Alexandrea and Peter. Education: Shirley went to school in Winona. For Elementary she went to St Martin’s Lutheran School, where in ninth grade she was valedictorian. She then attended Winona
High School. She went on to college at Winona State for her elementary education degree and later received her special ed licensing at Mankato State. Former occupation: She was a teacher for many years. She has taught first, third and sixth grade and later taught special education. What is your favorite childhood memory? She really enjoyed her days at St. Martin’s Lutheran School, but her favorite memory is when she was confirmed. It really meant a lot to her. She will never forget the pastor reading Psalms 23 at the ceremony. She also enjoyed being Part of the royal court for Homecoming queen
different times: once for Homecoming court in high school and again in college. She was also in the royal court for Steamboat Days. What is your favorite memory from adulthood? Some of her most treasured memories were spent at the cabin in northern Minnesota. She would go with family to the cabin and waterskiing, even putting their toes in the water during the summer trips. It was making those family memories that meant the most. What would you say is your greatest accomplishment? Shirley is very proud of receiving her special education licensing. It was a lot of work but well worth the
effort. Is there a piece of advice you wish someone had given you or you would have listened to when you were young?Develop patience for the challenges that you will face along the way. Life will throw you many curve balls. My husband was diagnosed with MS when I was just 26. I had to find strength along the way that I did not know I had. What is the greatest lesson life has taught you? Turn to your faith when life throws you challenges along the way. It will comfort you and know you’re not alone in the challenges. What do you enjoy most about where you are living now? Good food and good friends.
Shirley Christopherson is a resident at Oak Park Place. PROVIDED
St. John’s gets in the seasonal spirit
Staff and volunteers pictured for the St. John’s Lutheran Community Christmas party. St. John’s Lutheran Community has an annual family Christmas party, where residents invite their family and friends for a Christmas meal. PROVIDED
The Albert Lea Caroleers entertained St. John’s in December.
Art and Donna Ludtke and their daughter-in-law, Brenda Ludtke, attended the St. John’s family Christmas party.
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The Albert Lea High School Caroleers sang at the St. John’s on Fountain Lake Christmas party.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2018 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | SECTION B3
Senior Spotlight: Elzo and Joy Peterson Age: Elzo — 88, Joy — 87 Native of: Both grew up in the Clarks Grove area. Elzo grew up in town and attended a school in Clarks Grove. He grew up with a brother and sister. Joy grew up on a farm in rural Clarks Grove and attended the Barlow School. She has three sisters and one is her identical twin. Place of Thorne Crest
residency:
Family: Children John, Jerry, Paul and Linda; grandchildren Jason, Jill, Laura, Katie, Scott and Beth; great-grandchildren Trent, Noah, Audrey, Trisha and Eddie.
Education: Elzo attended High School and then went on to have additional training in the Navy. Joy attended high school and then went on to complete nursing school. Former occupation: Elzo worked in the metal shop at Streater Inc. for 31 years. Joy worked as a nurse at Naeve Hospital for 45 years. She began her nursing career in surgery and then moved to being a floor nurse on the night shift after starting their family. She also worked in coronary care, and her last 15 years at Naeve hospital were in the emergency room. What is your favorite memory from adulthood?
Elzo was drafted into the military in 1951. He spent all of 1952 and part of 1953 in Korea. He was trained to be a message center clerk, but when they did not have the need for that service in Korea, he was sent to Japan for six weeks to become a radio operator. What is your greatest accomplishment? Having a very loving family. What is the greatest lesson life has taught you? To be patient. What do you enjoy most about where you are living now? The great people, staff and residents.
Joy and Elzo Peterson are residents at Thorne Crest. PROVIDED
Christmas at Thorne Crest
Thorne Crest residents celebrated the holidays with a visit by Santa Claus to distribute gifts to residents. PROVIDED
Thorne Crest residents enjoy a holiday dinner.
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Some of the Thorne Crest veterans gathered for a photo with visitors from the Alden American Legion, who presented Thorne Crest resident veterans with a monetary gift to thank them for their service to our country. They were also visited by the American Legion Riders Club, Chapter 56, of Albert Lea, and presented with challenge coins.
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Tom Nyers, Larry Weigel, Gary Newman and Joe Avelar of the Alden American Legion stand with an Oak Park Place resident after giving a monetary gift. PROVIDED
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PAGE B4 | SENIOR LIVING | TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2018
LEGALLY PREPARING FOR END OF LIFE CAN MEAN A BURDEN TAKEN AWAY By Sarah Kocher
sarah.kocher@albertleatribune.com
In end-of-life planning, there’s a trifecta of documents to consider. Albert Lea attorney Don Savelkoul said those three documents are a will, a health care directive and a power of attorney. “It’s one of those things that people put off year after year,” Savelkoul said. In addition to creating a will, Savelkoul said sometimes wills need to be updated. For young families, it can make sense to create a will when children become part of the picture, to sort out guardians and benefits. At retirement, it can be time to re-examine that will, Savelkoul said. Many older adults like to contribute to grandchildren and may have more assets to direct. A will is a chance to determine not just who gets what, but when and how they will receive any benefits, Savelkoul said. Savelkoul has also seen a change in the way parents address estate planning
“It’s a hard enough situation to begin with. This just makes it less hard.”
— Craig Rosell, social services designee at Thorne Crest with their children. “There’s a movement to be more open with parents’ estate plan,” he said. Savelkoul encourages his clients to speak with their children, as it avoids surprises and disagreements and also allows children to have discussions with their parents about why they may be doing something a certain way. Upon admittance, Thorne Crest Director of Marketing Catherine Buboltz said the team checks in with new residents regarding several documents. On this list are health care directives and power of attorney. “By them having these
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Albert Lea attorney Don Savelkoul recommended speaking to your doctor, banker and children when preparing for end of life. PROVIDED things for us, it helps us to follow whatever their wishes are,” Buboltz said. A health care directive, Savelkoul said, identifies how to treat patients if medical conditions arise. It may give individuals a chance to lay out how they would like to be treated in the case of a terminal illness. Thorne Crest social services designee Craig Rosell said between 30 and 40 percent of individuals who come to live at Thorne Crest have a health
care directive or power of attorney. “It’s a hard enough situation to begin with,” Rosell said. “This just makes it less hard.” Buboltz said having these documents means senior living facilities like Thorne Crest can help the facility provide care in the way individuals want their care to be provided. Savelkoul also recommends talking to your doctor while preparing a health care directive, so that the person providing
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your care can have an idea of what you want and why you want it. For similar reasons, Savelkoul recommends talking to your children. While power of attorney can deal with health care, Savelkoul said the document also allows a designated party to deal with finances, real estate, vehicles and banking if the individual is not able to take care of their personal affairs for health or proximity reasons. “Although it may be a difficult subject to broach, it’s a very important thing to do,” he said. Things to think about when planning for end of life: • Set a date — a physical date — to sort out your affairs. Because there is no set deadline for preparing these documents, Savelkoul said they can be easy to-do items to push further back on the list. Setting a
date is the first step. • Put together a list of your assets and liabilities. This can give an attorney a snapshot of your financial picture. • As you are planning to leave money or property to someone, consider when and how you would like them to receive their benefits. Do you want them to have a lump sum right at 18, or would a trust fund set-up or delayed inheritance be a better format for what you want? • Make sure your beneficiaries are identified in several places: in your will, but also with your insurance, with your bank and in your retirement accounts. This is something you can do without an attorney. According to Savelkoul, you can also sign a transfer on death deed that allows a property transfer to a named survivor without requiring the estate to serve as a go-between.
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