Mature Arkansas

Mature Arkansas march, 2013

The Sound of

Isolation what you are missing pages 10-17

MATURE ARKANSAS

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2 march, 2013 MATURE ARKANSAS

G UEST ED IT OR IAL

Pay Back Social Security, Don't Cut It

By Herb Sanderson

A

re your Social Security benefits about to be cut? Amid the talk about deficit reduction and sequestration looms a proposal to do just that.

Proposals to reduce Social Security benefits through adoption of the “chained Consumer Price Index” (CPI) would immediately hurt current recipients who overwhelmingly depend on Social Security income in retirement.

The chained CPI is not a minor tweak—it is a significant benefit cut that snowballs over time. The adoption of a chained CPI would take approximately $208 billion out of the pockets of current and near retirees, working families, veterans and the disabled over the next 10 years.

In Arkansas, 399,589 seniors and 254,000 veterans would face benefit cuts. The poorest would be hit the hardest. Women would lose more than men.

The Chained CPI would cut your benefits, plain and simple.

This shortsighted change would reduce benefits on average about $2,000 over the next 10 years – and even more in the years beyond, making it more difficult for seniors to afford rising utility costs, groceries, and lifesaving prescriptions.

Reducing Social Security benefits for the purpose of deficit reduction, including efforts to address sequestration, is wrongheaded. AARP believes that using the Social Security benefits Americans have earned over a lifetime of work to remedy a problem that Social Security did not create is neither right nor fair.

In the face of declining pensions, shrinking savings, fallen home values, and rising health costs, Social Security deserves its own national conversation that focuses on preserving and strengthening the retirement security of Americans and their families for generations to come.

For decades, Washington has paid some of its bills by borrowing money America’s workers have contributed to the Social Security Trust Fund. Washington should be paying Americans back, not balancing the budget through cuts to Social Security. The President and Congress should leave your hard-earned Social Security and veterans' benefits out of any shortsighted budget deal.

Mr. Sanderson is associate state director for advocacy with AARP Arkansas.

We Want To Hear From YOU MATURE ARKANSAS welcomes letters or emails from readers on any subject of interest to older Arkansans. Letters to columnists are also welcome. Email your letters to annewasson@arktimes.com and include “letter” on the subject line.

GUEST EDITORIALS, on issues of interest to Arkansans over age 50, are encouraged.

This is a forum for readers’ opinions and comment. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the Publisher. Contact the Editor at 501-375-2985 to discuss topics or send 300-500 word editorials to annewasson@arktimes.com All editorials are subject to editing and space limitations cover photo: Photos.com, Tatiana Popova©

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Mature Arkansas Publisher Alan Leveritt Editor Anne Wasson Art Director Mike Spain Photographer Brian Chilson Graphic Artist Bryan Moats account executives Katherine Daniels Jeff Borg

Circulation Director Anitra Hickman ad Coordinators Roland Gladden Kelly Schlachter Production Manager Weldon Wilson Production Assistant Tracy Whitaker Office Manager Angie Fambrough Billing and Collections Linda Phillips

Mature Arkansas is published monthly by Arkansas Times Limited Partnership, 201 E. Markham St., P. O. Box 34010, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203, phone 501-375-2985. Reproduction or use, in whole or in part, of the contents without the written consent of the publisher is prohibited. Manuscripts and artwork will not be returned unless sufficient return postage and a self-addressed stamped envelope are included. The publisher assumes no responsibility for care or safe return of unsolicited materials. All letters will be treated as intended for publication and are subject to Mature Arkansas’ unrestricted right to edit or to comment editorially. All contents copyrighted 2013 Mature Arkansas.

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L E T T E Rs T O T H E EDITOR

ID and Nursing home concerns Dear Editor:

A AMOENA SwiMwEAr 2013 COllECtiON

s an older Arkansan, I’m very concerned about the (Arkansas General Assembly’s) bill (SB 2) requiring all voters to present a photo ID before they are allowed to vote. I’m concerned for the friends I take to the polls because they no longer drive and don’t have a driver’s license or a current photo ID from a job. I’m equally concerned about people with disabilities who may never have had a driver’s license or photo ID from a job, or who may no longer have either due to a catastrophic accident or major health issue.

The bill is very specific in that an expired driver’s license will only be accepted at the polls for up to four years. If you stopped driving five years ago, you’ve lost the right to vote that you have cherished all these years, unless of course you live in a nursing home. Nursing home residents can ask the facility administrator to vouch for who they are so they can submit an absentee ballot. Unfortunately, that leaves the rest of us who have not been institutionalized standing at the polls, trying to prove to our neighbors—the volunteers at the polls—that we are who we have been saying we are for decades.

The bill does provide exceptions and suggests other forms of documentation to take to the polls, including a hypothetical voter identification card to be issued by the Secretary of State. So why am I worried?

Because provision of voter identification cards will only happen if funds are allocated by the legislature, even if the consumer picks up the tab for the card....It will cost the state money that it doesn’t have. Considering all the other demands for funding like Medicaid, education, senior centers, etc., I don’t see state issued photo IDs happening too soon, but the bill will still go into effect without them. Also, there will be no funding to pay for education of the public about new voting regulations and the alternate ways to confirm a voter's identity.

I understand the purpose of this bill was something other than disenfranchising Arkansas seniors and people with disabilities. Nevertheless, I resent the fact that we may become the collateral damage of this thoughtless bill and, should it not pass and we retain our right to vote, I will rally other seniors to vote out of office all elected officials who signed on to SB 2.

— Gloria Gordon North Little Rock

If you stopped

driving five years ago, you’ve

lost the right to vote...unless

of course you live in a nursing home.

Breckenridge Village

501-227-5537

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4 march, 2013 MATURE ARKANSAS

Dear Editor:

M

ost of us carry liability insurance on our vehicles and homes. This protects us if a visitor falls at our home and sustains injury or if we are involved in an auto accident. As responsible citizens, we provide for the protection of our persons and our property and we pay our own insurance premiums. If we are irresponsible enough to receive a DUI or other infraction, naturally our insurance premiums rise.

The difference between us and nursing home owners is, as taxpaying

Call CareLink at 501-372-5300 or 800-482-6359 citizens, we also pay for nursing home owners’ liability insurance. Through taxation, we pay for Medicaid and Medicaid pays for most nursing home residents’ care, including reimbursement for the owners’ Professional Liability Insurance Premiums. Nursing home liability insurance might involve various categories of coverage such as injury accidents that visitors incur, transport van accidents, along with abuse and neglect to residents.

It is always shocking to me, as President of Ark. Advocates for Nursing Home Residents (AANHR), when I request nursing homes’ “Professional Liability Insurance Cost Reports.” The annual amount continues to increase and totaled $27,284,255.00 for 2012.

Nursing home owners’ liability premiums go up because they continue to provide bad care. Being cited for poor care means they are violating state and federal laws. Yet taxpayers’ have to pay to protect the nursing home administration from the results of its poor care. You can see on the list found at www.aanhr.org that the highest reimbursement in this reporting period was for Searcy Healthcare’s insurance--$984,594. Magnolia is second with $641,131; followed by three homes in the $500,000 range--Broadway, Batesville, and Heartland.

We have a vicious cycle going on within the nursing home industry. Medicaid reimburses for care and pays their liability insurance premiums; the nursing home doesn’t always give good care; abuse and neglect occur. Liability insurance premiums rise and more tax dollars are required.

If resident care improved, premiums could be reduced, resulting in tax savings in federal and state budgets. In a time of record deficits and national debt, wouldn’t that be a welcome set of circumstances?

— Martha Deaver, President AR. Advocates for Nursing Home Residents Conway

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poor care means they are violating state and federal laws.

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Stephany is very active. She works in her garden, drives herself to church and takes water aerobics at the neighborhood pool. A while back, she began having dizzy spells, and although her daughter lives just a few blocks away, Stephany was concerned about what would happen if she needed help quickly.

She called CareLink to install an Emergency Response Button she wears around her neck and one by her bedside. “They were very nice and made sure it worked everywhere before they left,” said Stephany. “I haven’t needed to use it yet, but if I have an emergency, I know it is there.”

Make a call to CareLink or visit carelink.org to get help without feeling helpless.

Dear Editor:

T

he article, “Staffing Dictates Quality of Care,” in the February issue of Mature Arkansas is excellent but it has a major flaw. It sets out a problem (lack of staffing in nursing homes) but leaves the caregiver/ reader with a feeling that all is hopeless, that not much can be done to resolve the problem. This is simply not true.

I have written about this problem and its resolution. The material is posted as an e-book where it is available for 99 cents, of which I receive 40 cents. (Go to BN.com, click on Nook Books and, when the space above that line activates, type in Ken Forrester. This will cost you 99 cents.)

My writing about the subject is not an attempt to get rich, but rather is a hope to inform and help people in nursing homes and their caregivers.

I am also convinced that your disseminating this material (especially the regulations) would be beneficial to the public.

— Ken Forrester Maumelle

administration from

JUST IN CASE YOU NEED HELP

www.carelink.org

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If you are interested in learning more about Mature Arkansas and how you could promote your business or services, please contact katherine@arktimes.com or call Katherine Daniels at 501-375-2985.

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CA L EN DA R P IC KS

Marvelous March

By A.H. Wasson

ART Now through March 10—“Museum School Faculty Exhibition: Past and Present,” and “55th Annual Delta Exhibition,” two new exhibits at the Arkansas Arts Center, 9th & Commerce St., Little Rock; FREE, call 372-4000 or visit arkarts.com Now through Mar. 31—“Mixing It Up,” an exhibit featuring the works of Marlene Gremillion, Sheliah Halderman and Linda Shearer; the Magnolia Room, Garvan Woodlands Garden, 550 Arkridge Rd., Hot Springs. FREE to view the exhibit, no garden admittance. Call 800-366-4664.

Now through Mar. 28—“Contemporary Art of the Osages,”a new exhibit at Sequoyah National Research Center’s J.W. Wiggins Native American Art Gallery, UALR’s University Plaza, 2801 S. University and Col. Glenn, Little Rock; weekdays 8:00 AM- 5:00 PM; FREE, call 569-8336 for more information.

Mar. 8—Second Friday Art Night, open house at downtown Little Rock art galleries and museums includes art and entertainment from 5:00-8:00 PM; FREE. Mar. 15—Argenta ArtWalk features galleries’ open house; 300-700 blocks of Main St., North Little Rock; 5:00-8:00 PM; FREE, call 993-1234.

CLASSES & LECTURES Mar. 9—“Reflections of My Visit to Ghana & Senegal,”by Professor Adjoa Aiyetoro; Hearne Fine Art, 1001 Wright Ave., Little Rock; 1:30 PM. FREE. Call 372-6822.

The following two lectures are at 6:00 PM in Sturgis Hall, Clinton School of Public Service, 1200 Pres. Clinton Ave., Little Rock; call 683-5239 to reserve seats.

Mar. 13—“The Life and Legacy of Wilbur Mills,” a lecture by author Kay Goss chronicling the life and career of the longest serving chairman of the US House Ways and Means Committee,

“Bouquet of Pipes” by Daniel Coston

Now through Apr. 27—Printmakers Exhibition, The Butler Center Mezzanine Gallery, Ark. Studies Institute Building, 401 Pres. Clinton Ave., Little Rock; FREE; call 918-3086.

N ow t h ro u g h m i d - M a r c h —18t h Anniversary Exhibition at Greg Thompson Fine Art; 429 Main St., North Little Rock; 10:00 AM-5:00 PM, Sat. 10:00 AM-2:00 PM; FREE. Call 664-2787.

6 march, 2013 MATURE ARKANSAS

Mar. 25-30—“JFK 50 Years Later,” an archival photo exhibit of 120 never-before-seen photos from the Rogers Photo Archives; on display at various locations in the Argenta Arts District (200-400 blocks of Main St.), North Little Rock, including The Joint, Thea Foundation, Starving Artist Café, Thompson Fine Art, and Argenta Community Theater. FREE except for special ticketed fundraising events.

Related events include: Craig Renaud directs a new film about JFK at 7:00 PM on Mar. 25; “Tales from the South” with writers discussing “Where Were You?” and Oliver Stone’s film, “JFK” showing at 7:00 PM Mar. 28. Visit argentaartsdistrict.org/ jfk-50-years-later-2/ Mar.26—Betsy Fischer Martin,executive producer of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” has produced the longest running TV program in the world since 2002; 6:00 PM; in Sturgis Hall, Clinton School of Public Service, 1200 Pres. Clinton Ave., Little Rock; call 683-5239 to reserve seats.

Mar. 8-Apr. 27—Structures II, an exhibit of acrylics by Daniel Coston, Cantrell Gallery, 8206 Cantrell Rd., Little Rock; Mon.-Sat., 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; call 224-1335; FREE

Now through Apr. 8—“The Struggle Continues…History Unfolds,” an exhibit of mixed media paintings, serigraphs and collages

by Frank Frazier; Hearne Fine Art, 1001 Wright Ave., Little Rock, FREE. Opening reception on Mar. 8, 5:00-8:00 PM. Call 372-6822.

Springs First Baptist Church, 12400 I-30, Little Rock; 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM. FREE for family caregivers; $60 for professionals or those wanting CEUs; includes lunch, breaks and trade show. Free respite care services for your loved one during symposium.

Speakers: Dr. Mark Pippenger, Gerontological Nurse Melanie Bunn and Attorney Raymon Harvey. Call 501-224-0021 or visit alzark.org

and architect of Medicare, tax reform, interstate highways and Social Security.

Mar. 14—“Southern Women and the Civil War,” a lecture by Ohio State Univ. Assoc.

Prof. Joan Cashin on the role of women in the war and about the First Lady of the Confederacy, Varina Davis.

Mar. 19—“Fit 2 Live,” monthly topics to keep you healthy will feature “Black Belt Taekwondo;” includes free Taekwondo class by ATA martial Arts; Laman Library, 2801 Orange St., North Little Rock; 6:30 PM; FREE; call 758-1720.

Mar. 15—Hope for the Future, 11th Annual Alzheimer’s Caregiver Symposium, presented by Alzheimer’s Arkansas Programs & Services.; Geyer

Mar.—FREE Fitness Classes, open to the public, in North Little Rock at Community Center, 2700 Willow St. (791-8541); Sherman Park Rec. Center, 624 Beech St. (340-5373); Glenview Rec. Center, 4800 E. 19th St. (945-2921) and North Heights Rec. Center, 4801 Allen St. (791-8576).

Call for class schedules; NO registration or center membership required.

Mar.—Yoga classes; Quapaw Community Center, 500 Quapaw Ave., Hot Springs; 5:30-6:30 PM on Wed. & 10:00-11:30 AM on Sat. Call 501-6239922. FREE for members; $5 non-members.

Mar.—Conversational Spanish lessons; Oley Rooker Library, 11 Otter Creek Ct., Little Rock; meets every Mon. 6:00-7:00 PM. For beginners; join class at any time—there’s a lot of review. FREE. Call 907-5991.

Mar.—Zumba Gold classes sponsored

by CareLink. Call each location for class schedule.

In Little Rock: • UAMS Institute on Aging Ottenheimer

March AARP’s Driver Safety classes update you on defensive driving and new rules of the road. Completion (no tests required) gets you a discount on auto insurance. March classes listed below; for more information 501-767-4409.

Date Arkansas City Time Location Contact Phone 13th Hot Springs 8:30 Nat. Park Med. Cntr.

501-620-2705 14th Hot Springs Vill. 8:30 McAuley Center 501-984-5594 14th Hot Springs 8:30 Mercy Hospital 501-622-1033 15th Pine Bluff 12:30 JRMC 870-247-4898 st 16th Sheridan 8:30 1 United Methodist 870-942-3121 20th Bryant 12:00 Bryant Senior Center 501-943-0056 20th Jacksonville 9:30 St. Jude’s Catholic 501-982-4891 Church 20th No. Little Rock 9:00 No. Point Toyota-Kyle 501-210-1016 22nd Hot Springs Vill. 8:30 Pres. Kirk in Pines 501-922-1333 26th Benton 8:00 Benton Senior Center 501-776-0255 28th Hot Springs 8:30 Irwin Agency 501-623-7066 29th Maumelle 8:00 Senior Wellness Center 501-851-4344 Fitness Center, call 526-5779, includes Zumba Gold and Aqua Zumba • Bess Chisum Stephens Community Center, call 664-4268.

• Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, call 664-3600.

• LifeQuest of Arkansas, 2nd Presbyterian Church, call 225-6073 • Tai Chi class: Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church, Little Rock, call 529-2140 • Tai Chi class: Holy Cross Baptist Church. Little Rock, call 666-2060.

In North Little Rock: • Indian Hills Church, call 835-2838.

• Lakewood United Methodist Church, call 753-6186.

Mar. 14—Super Noggin classes, UAMS Institute on Aging, Little Rock.

20-person capacity, call Kellie Coleman at 526-5779 for details.

Mar.—UAMS Therapy & Fitness classes include: evening pool classes like Aqua Cardio and Aqua Zumba; evening gym classes such as line dancing, Zumba Gold, strength and cardio fitness. UAMS Reynolds Institute, 629 Jack Stephens Dr., Little Rock; 4:30-5:30 PM. Call Kellie Coleman at 501-526-5779.

Join Us for the Second Annual - A Grand Lawn Party to Benefit the Old State House Museum -

Celebrate in Vintage Style!

Thursday, April 18, 2013, 6 to 9 p.m.

Libations & Appetizers • Croquet • Live Jazz Music Tickets on Sale March 18 ~ $50/person See OldStateHouse.com for more information.

Sponsored by the 1836 Club and

The Old State House Museum is a museum of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.

George Washington’s

Family BiBle ibit on exh h t hroug July 12

Mar.—SeniorNet Classes in Little Rock will include Fundamentals for Beginners, Navigating the Internet, and Extending Your Skills. From Mar. 4 to 27 at Reynolds Institute on Aging, Room 2156, UAMS campus, Little Rock. $45 per class ($75 for couples), manuals are $15. Call 603-1262 or visit seniornetjoan2@gmail.com Apr. 11—Hope in the Midst of Alzheimer’s, presented by Alzheimer’s Assoc. Okla./Ark. Chapter; 8:00 AM-4:30 PM; Holiday Inn Airport Conference Center, Little Rock. Open to professional and personal caregivers. Vendor and sponsorship opportunities available. www.alzconference.org

COMEDY & GAMES Now through April 27—“The Last Night at Orabella’s,” familyfriendly, original live comedy at The Joint; 301 Main St., North Little Rock; Fri. & Sat. nights at 8:00 PM; $20, reservations at 372-0205. The most popular honky tonk in Dumpster, AR is closing down…see who shows up.

Now through Mar. 16—“’Til Beth Do Us Part,” a new comedy; Murray’s Dinner Playhouse, 6323 Col. Glenn Rd,. Little Rock. Dinner 6:00 PM; curtain 7:45 on Tues.-Sat.; Sun. matinees. Call 562-3131 for reservations. Starting Mar. 19-Apr.13, “Rex’s Exes,” a comedy.

A museum of the Department of Arkansas Heritage

MATURE ARKANSAS

200 East Third St. Downtown Little Rock 501-324-9351 HistoricArkansas.org

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C AL EN DAR PIC KS

Mar. 14 or Mar. 28—play Dominoes or Poker, all skill levels welcome; Ester Nixon Library, 703 W. Main St., Jacksonville; 6:00 PM; Dominoes meets 2nd Thurs; Poker on 4th Thurs. FREE. Call 457-5038.

Mar.10—Bingo; Andover Place, 2601 Andover Court, Little Rock; 2:30 PM; FREE and open to public, light refreshments will be served. Call 224-0441.

Mar.—Bingo at the Quapaw Community Center, 500 Quapaw Ave., Hot Springs; Tues. & Thurs. 12:30-3:30 PM. Call 501-623-9922.

CRAFTING Mar. 16—Quilting Workshop at the Plantation Agriculture Museum, Hwy. 161, Scott; 9:00 AM-4:00 PM. Beginners and experienced quilters welcome; preregister due to limited space; $30 includes kit fee; call 501-9611409.

DANCES Mar. 15 & 22—Arkansas Country Dance Society dances will include a contra dance on Feb. 22; Park Hill Presbyterian, 3520 JFK Blvd., North Little Rock, 7:30-9:30 PM. No experience needed, all ages welcome. $4 for society members, $5 nonmembers.

Call Carolyn at 252-0094 or visit arkansascountrydance.org Mondays—Scottish Country Dance Society, Park Hill Presbyterian Church, 3520 JFK Blvd., North Little Rock. Beginner’s and intermediate classes; no experience or partner needed; $5. Call 821-4746.

Wednesdays—Village A-Team Square Dancers, Coronado Community Center, Hot Springs Village, 7:30 PM; $5 for guests.

Fridays--Spa City Bop and Swing Dance

AM-noon; and Dance Party, 8:00-10:00 PM Thurs.; 500 Quapaw Ave., Hot Springs. Call 501-623-9922.

Mar.—Dances and dance lessons at Bess Stephens Community Center, 12th & Cleveland Streets, Little Rock: Little Rock Country Dancers; 6:00-9:00 PM, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Sundays (821-9353); $5; Ballroom, Latin and Swing Social Dance Assoc.; 7:00-11:00 PM; 1st, 2nd, 4th Fridays; (6644268); $10; Little Rock Bop Club; 7:00-10:00 PM, every Wed. (350-4712); $4.

Square Dance; 2:00-4:00 PM, every Thurs. (4901197); $3.

MUSEUMS Now through Mar. 16—“For All the World to See: Visual Culture and the Struggle for Civil Rights;” Laman Library, 2801 Orange St, North Little Rock, features photos, TV clips and other images that transformed public opinion about racial justice in America. FREE, call 758-1720.

Photos.com, Mauro Rodrigues ©

Mar.—Looney Bin Comedy Club, 10301 Rodney Parham Rd.; 7:30 PM, Wed.-Sat $7; FREE for ladies on Thursdays; 10:00 PM Fri. & Sat., $10; call 228-5555.

Mon.—Knitting Circle; Roosevelt Thompson Library, 38 Rahling Circle, Little Rock; 1:00 PM. FREE. All ages, all skill levels welcome. Call 821-3060.

M o n.— Kn i ts & P u r l s; Adolphine Terry Library, 2015 Napa Valley Dr., Little Rock, 5:00 PM; FREE, refreshments provided.

Call 228-0129.

Third Tues.—Sit & Stitch; Main Library, 5th Floor, 100 S. Rock St., Little Rock; Noon-1:00 PM; all skill levels of knitting, croquet, embroidery; FREE. 918-3000.

Mar 22-23—Beginning Beekeeping Class, hosted by Central Ark. Beekeepers Assoc.; Levy Church of Christ auditorium, 5124 Camp Robinson Rd., North Little Rock; Fri. 6:00-9:00 PM; Sat. 9:00 AM-3:00 PM. $30 if pre-registered, $35 at the door; manual included. For more information contact dwayne.mcfarlan@yahoo.com

Thurs.—Stitch Night; enjoy knitting, crocheting, cross-stitch; all are welcome Argenta Branch Library, 506 Main St., North Little Rock; 6:00 PM; call 687-1061.

Club, VFW, 2231 E. Grand Ave., Hot Springs, 7:00 PM, 2nd, 4th 5th Fridays, $2. Free lessons with $20 membership at 7:00 PM Thurs. Call 501-760-7375.

Thurs.—Fiddlesticks Knitting Group; Amy Sanders Library, 31 Shelby Dr., Sherwood; 1:003:00 PM; all skill levels. FREE. Call 835-7756

Saturdays—Merry Mixers Dance Club; Coronado Center, Hot Springs Village; 1st Sat. 7:0010:00 PM; $10; 3rd Sat., 7:30-10:30 PM, $10. Call 501-922-2997.

Fri.—Pinnacle Piecemakers Quilting Circle; Roosevelt Thompson Library, 38 Rahling Circle, Little Rock; all skill levels; 10:00 AM. FREE. Call 821-3060.

Third Sat.—Burns Park Dancing; Burns Park Hospitality House, North Little Rock; polka, waltz and potluck supper; 7:00-10:00 PM; $10. Call 680-2994; $10.

Sat.—Let’s Stitch Together, meets first Sat. at 11:00 AM; Laman Library, 2801 Orange St., North Little Rock; all ages, all stitching hobbies are welcome. Call 758-1720.

Tues. & Thurs.—Quapaw Community Center dancing includes ballroom lessons, Thurs. 7:00-8:00 PM; Clogging, Tues & Thurs, 8:30-11:00 AM; Line Dancing,Tues.&Thurs. 11:00

8 march, 2013 MATURE ARKANSAS

N o w t h r o u g h J u ly 12—“TreasuresofArkansas Freemasons,” and“Phenomena of Change,” through May 5, at the Historic Arkansas Museum, 200 E. Third St., Little Rock; Fri. 5:00-8:00 PM & Sat. 9:00 AM-5:00 PM; adults $2.50; 65+ $1.50; 17 and younger $1. Call 324-9351.

Mar.—Old State House Museum offers multiple exhibits about Ark. history and people, 300 W. Markham St., Little Rock; FREE; Mon-Sat, 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM; Sun. 1:00-5:00 PM.

Mar.—Baum Gallery of Fine Art, University of Central Ark, 201 Donaghey Ave., Conway. See four art exhibits, FREE; call 501-450-3265.

MUSIC Mar. 7-9—Mountain View Bluegrass Festival; Music Auditorium, Ozark Folk Center, Mountain View. Festival and single-day passes available. Call 870-269-8068 or visit mountainviewbluegrass.com Mar. 15-19—Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival; Hot Springs; all ages, non-smoking; $40 for festival pass includes all shows, after parties, secret shows, trail shows (with Park Service Guide and acoustic musicians), daily workshops, teeshirt and poster; individual

shows (without festival pass) $8-$10 each. Workshops at 4:00 PM daily will cover illustrating, breakdancing, block printing and making a mix tape.

Valleyofthevapors.com for full schedule of events, musicians and venues.

Mar. 17—“Celtic Spring,” a concert with Irish harpist Shana Norton, flutist Adrienne Inglis and soprano Deleen Davidson, at The Anthony Chapel, Garvan Woodlands Garden, 550 Arkridge Rd., Hot Springs; 3:00 PM. $25; call 501-463-4514 or visit themusesproject.org for full concert series details.

First Thurs. of each month—Bluegrass Jam; Garland Co. Library, 1427 Malvern Ave., Hot Springs; 5:30-7:30 PM; all acoustic, all ages; FREE. Call 501-623-4161.

Second Thurs. of each month—Ark. Accordion Association; Community Room, Whole Foods Market, I-430 & Rodney Parham Rd., Little Rock; warm-up starts at 6:30 PM. FREE, call 228-7166.

Third Fri.—Ark. River Blues Society; Cornerstone Pub & Grill, 314 Main St., North Little Rock; 8:00 PM; $3 members, $5 non-members. Call 870-833-3498.

Saturdays, “Pickin’ Porch;” Faulkner County Library, 1900 Tyler St., Conway, Sat. 9:30 AM, FREE. Call 501-327-7482.

Second Sat.—Ark. Dulcimer Society; Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, 2200 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock; hammered and mountain dulcimers welcome; 2:00-4:00 PM; FREE. Call 661-1129.

First and third Sun.—Traditional Irish music; Hibernia Irish Tavern, 9700 Rodney Parham Rd., Little Rock; 2:30- 5:00 PM; FREE. Call 246-4340.

Also on second and fourth Mondays at 7:00-9:00 PM. First & Third Wed.—Ark. Celtic Music Society session; Something Brewing, 1156 Front St., Conway; 7:00-9:00 PM; FREE. Call 501-602-5508.

Everyone welcome to sit in and jam.

11:00 AM-5:00 PM; $9; $7 for 65+ and ages 3-12; Call 501-767-3461.

Now through May 26—“The Science of the Human Body,” Museum of Discovery; 500 Pres. Clinton Ave., Little Rock. Also,“GPS Adventures” through April 1. 9:00 AM-5:00 PM Tues.-Sat. &1:00-5:00 PM Sun.; $10 adults & $8 children 1-12. Call 396-7050.

Mar.—Little Rock Zoo, #1 Jonesboro Dr., War Memorial Park, Little Rock; 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, during winter the Café Africa, Zoo Train and Carousel closed Mon. & Tues.; $10, $8 for 60+ and children under 12; Call 666-2406.

FREE Music Downloading now available from the Central Ark. Library System (CALS). You may download three free songs a week with a CALS library card.

Songs are downloadable from Freegal in MP3 format and work with any musicplaying device or software, including iTunes and Amazon. Apps available for Apple and Android without additional software.

Call 918-3097.

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TAKE THE GRANDKIDS Mar. 8-10—Let them choose their own books at FOCAL’s Used Book Sale, Main Library basement, 100 Rock St., Little Rock’s River Market District; 10:00 AM-4:00 PM on Fri. & Sat., 1:00-4:00 PM on Sun; paperbacks $.50, hardbacks $1. In addition, FOCAL members get 50% off used books throughout the FOCAL sale at River Market Books & Gifts, 120 River Market Ave. in the Cox Creative Center, the largest used bookstore in Little Rock. Call 918-3000.

501.376.3564

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Mar. 8-31—“Treasure Island, A New Musical” premieres at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 601 Main St., Little Rock; 8:00 PM. Tickets at Box office 378-0405, children half-price, $5 off all seats if purchased before 3-6-13.

Wed, Thurs, Sun at 7:00 PM; Fri & Sat at 8:00 PM; Sun matinee 2:00 PM. Mar. 11—“Treasure Island,” the movie will be featured at Reel Classics with the Rep, Laman Library, 2801 Orange St., North Little Rock; 6:00 PM. Enjoy discussion with the cast of “Treasure Island, A New Musical.” FREE Mar. 16—Opening of the new Children’s Library and Learning Center, 4800 W. 10th St., Little Rock; FREE. Includes computer lab, teaching kitchen, greenhouse, garden, study rooms, theater, community room, walking paths, and outdoor amphitheater.

Nowthrough Mar.16—Daffodil Days andTulip Extravaganza at Garvan Woodland Gardens, 550 Arkridge Rd, Hot Springs.

Experience the guaranteed smiles that 250,000 blooming daffodils can bring.

9:00 AM- 6:00 PM daily; call 800-366-4664 for more information.

Mar.—Mid-America Science Museum, 500 Mid-America Blvd., Hot Springs; features over 100 hands-on exhibits; Tues.-Sat. 10:00 AM-5:00 PM, Sun. MATURE ARKANSAS

march, 2013

9

ListenUp! L Lots of things are easy to ignore and your slowly declining hearing may top the list. You're

getting by. You've learned to stand closer, guess at laugh lines, hedge on questions you

don't understand and have learned 100 synonyms for "What?” More than three fourths of Americans with hearing problems play variations of these coping techniques. n If you're conscientious or lucky, your illusions will shatter and something, an epiphany if you'd like,

will tell you this cannot continue. Good; if you wait too much longer you may not have the mental capacity to make the decision.

My epiphany came at a political rally last summer. It was like the 100 or so I've covered as a reporter: Candidates talking to people in mostly simple language. But the huge difference was I couldn't understand parts of what was being said in that boomy hall. I couldn't do my job. I had to use that silly written response format so I was able to reconstruct it easily and file a story. Yet I can never testify as to what was truly said. I had failed.

For me taking action was easy. One of the factors that eroded my hearing would help restore it. Drafted during one of the botched Vietnam War buildups of the 1960s and assigned to Army infantry, it was a noisy two years. For me it was two years of small arms

10 march, 2013 MATURE ARKANSAS

fire, occasional firefights, grenades, rockets, mortars and air and artillery support.

When I mustered out of the Army, I was told I had hearing loss and was eligible for a small disability. But I was young, felt great and did not want the stigma of being disabled. At the time, hearing aids were as conspicuous as a cowboy hat in Connecticut and I was single.

Ignore hearing loss at your peril That vanity and ego-fueled decision has proved costly. Denying my hearing loss may cost me my sanity. I’ll always wonder how those decades would have been with all my senses.

My denial has likely more than tripled my chances of dementia, more than tripled my

chances of falling and cost me a lot in my personal, social and business relationships.

A recent study from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine confirms that hearing loss accelerates cognitive decline. The worse the hearing loss, the worse the decline will be. Cognitive problems develop about 40% faster with mild (25 decibels) hearing loss.

Wars are noisy and the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans Health Administration (VA) is, out of demand, a world leader in treating hearing loss.

Some 60% of the combatants returning from Southeast Asian wars suffer with hearing damage. The VA has decided that if it doesn’t mitigate hearing problems now, it will end up paying for far more expensive dementia care in the future.

Obstacles to better hearing Three quarters of those who would benefit from hearing aids don’t get them. I’d overcome the biggest obstacle to getting hearing aids: myself. The VA was the best way for me to tackle the other two: cost and professional support. Consumer Reports found that twothirds of hearing aids did not adequately fit the individual. The hearing aid industry has

Photos.com, diego cervo ©

W h a tB y yC a ol u W a sas ro n e m i s s i n g

a reputation for making a sale and then skimping on the crucial follow-up support.

Testing and fitting

The McClellan VA in Little Rock got me an appointment quickly. The testing showed my hearing was worse than my worst fears. VA Audiologist Mercedes Lede started with a detailed interview on what I did during the day and what I needed to hear. In my case, I often need to hear one person critically in a noisy place, a hearing aid’s most difficult task.

I was given a choice of cool looking equipment and could have gone for an aid that fits into the ear and is virtually invisible. I’m old but, hey, I’m vain.

Lede advised against it. She said those only have one microphone and given my hearing and needs, a behind-the-ear, amped, with a double-mic would be better. This gives me more control over incoming noise.

The fitting was easy. Warm, clay-like material was stuffed in my ears, measurements were taken and I waited a few moments for it to harden so it could be used as a mold.

A few weeks later, I was back at the VA for a long training session on use and care, potential problems, and strong urgings to wear them—some 20% of users never wear theirs.

World changing When they were plugged in, my world changed.

It was confusion, not auditory nirvana. The words were too crisp; too perfect. There was far too much range in the audiologist’s voice. Was she singing at me?

I could and couldn’t tell where the sound was coming from. Looking directly at her it sort of made sense but a background beep sounded like a fire alarm and I flinched. My voice sounded as though it were coming from the tomb.

The defense system I had built to cover my hearing loss was under attack and I was listening to a world I had never heard before. The one vaguely similar experience I had was as a soundman on a movie shoot, hearing the world through microphones and headsets. It was the same feeling of aurally observing the world rather than really being a part of it.

Hearing aid technology has improved quickly, along with microcomputers. Yet it’s far short of replicating the ear’s so far irreplaceable ability to gauge distance, detail and range. Now, I’m quite aware I’m listening to a representation of the real world. Think of looking at a scene through ill-fitting glasses where edges are fuzzy and perspectives blurred. Now look at the same scene as a crisp, bright, black and white movie. You can see everything clearly now but it’s not the same.

Who Treats Hearing Loss?

O

tolaryngologist is a medical doctor and surgeon who specializes in ear, nose and throat diseases. He or she will perform an exam and prescribe tests or treatments.

Audiologist is a health professional who can identify and measure hearing loss but cannot prescribe medications or perform surgery. Some are licensed to help you choose hearing aids.

Hearing aid specialist (or dispenser) is a licensed professional that can check your hearing, fit a hearing aid(s), evaluate treatment of tinnitus and help with noise protectors or swimming molds.

MATURE ARKANSAS

march, 2013

11

A third of Americans ages 65-74 have some degree of hearing loss; nearly half have hearing loss by age 75; 90% will have impairment in their 80s.

My first test was that night at the new James Bond film. My first lesson was I’d forgotten I was wearing them by the time we got to the theatre. They are hard to see and with Bluetooth gadgetry hanging everywhere, few notice my hearing aids. My vanity hadn’t lasted the trip. But this wasn’t much of a test. It was the movie machine talking to my ear machine in a special sound system called an induction loop system. Twiddling with the mics and settings let me balance the room well and this, as I’m learning, is a critical skill. It was loud, so loud, it covered every hearing aid user’s complaint, distracting outside noise.

Making Politics Personal

The Story of the Arkansas Travelers

The next test was at a classical choral concert. It immediately brought out that I wasn’t enjoying vocal music the way I used to because I wasn’t hearing great gobs of it. My worst damage is the most common loss of higher ranges; sopranos and even altos were lost to me. Using the aids brought it all back, along with nuances and flavorings I had forgotten existed. It convinced me that the benefits far offset the shortcomings.

The problem was, I was ready to have it out with the older gentleman sitting three seats down whose sin was rattling the paper program.

Before, I wouldn’t have even noticed the harmless, slow shuffling that now sounded like someone crushing a big paper bag.

Several things were going on. I was hearing sounds I wasn’t used to hearing and they were really annoying in this formal situation. By not hearing program rustlings and such over the years, I had developed unrealistic expectations of how an audience should behave. They’re much noisier than I remembered.

Walking outdoors brings out the aids’ strengths and weaknesses. I can hear birds, falling water and other forest noises with a clarity that wasn’t there before. But the leaves crumbling under my feet are loud, out of place and annoying. On one of my favorite walks on a remote stretch of Garvan Woodland Gardens, a once distant highway was “acoustically moved” to the parking lot.

My ear machines can’t judge distances all that well. There’s a sort of convergence of sound that hits you all at once. The person seven feet from you sounds about the same as one four feet away. A half dozen voices at the same level becomes an indecipherable drone.

This fades a bit as I become more skilled with the equipment and my mind adopts to a new reality. Frighteningly powerful hearing systems

When then-Governor Bill Clinton decided to run for President of the United States, a small group of supporters banded together and set out to travel the country to share their enthusiasm about their governor.

Their efforts were substantial and effective during the 1992 and 1996 campaigns. To celebrate their part in history, the Clinton Center welcomes a temporary display created in their honor.

January 27 – June 2, 2013

CLINTONPRESIDENTIALCENTER.ORG • 501-374-4242 12 march, 2013 MATURE ARKANSAS

The first step is to get your hearing tested because 75% of those with hearing loss could be helped with hearing aids.

Symptoms of Hearing Loss T

he National Institutes of Health offers the following checklist of hearing problems.

A“yes”to three or more questions indicates a hearing problem.

• Problems hearing over the telephone • Trouble hearing when there’s background noise • Straining to understand a conversation • Hard to follow a conversation if two or more people talk at once • People seem to mumble or slur their words • Misunderstand what others are saying (especially words that end in “s,” “th” or “k”) and respond inappropriately • Often ask people to repeat themselves • Difficulty understanding the speech of women and children • The level at which you can hear TV or radio is too loud for others • Regularly hear a ringing, roaring, clicking, buzzing or hissing sound • Some sounds seem too loud.

Sudden deafness—either rapid loss of hearing or a loss over one to three days—is a medical emergency and you should contact a doctor immediately.

are in the offing and that will help. The background noise flaw won’t go away until we understand fully how the brain processes sound waves. The ear feeds information to the brain. The brain then feeds information back to the ear. The hearing aid must learn how to join that loop.

My expectations for wearing hearing aids weren’t good. As with us all, I’d heard aberrant aids send shrieks across the room that stilled crowds. I’ve known users who could barely hear a thing; others who were constantly fiddling with stuff in their shirt pocket or belt, or getting tangled in wires.

I’d seen people rip them out of their ears in agony as some electronic glitch amplified itself.

I’m having none of these problems. Other than the inherent weaknesses of the technology, the equipment has been near flawless. It’s doing all it’s supposed to do

without whistles, pops, buzzes and such. My aids are designed for older wearers and mine is ergonomically exquisite, intuitive, easy-to-learn and with good sound quality.

My success is largely due to the VA—the world’s top provider— offering the best of equipment and a top-flight audiologist working in a tight, quality-controlled, non-profit, cost-benefit environment. Plus, I’m a motivated client. When these factors deteriorate, the success rate also declines.

Electronic hearing aids — yes, most people will need two — cost between $50 and $10,000. There evidently is that much difference in quality and features. Consumer agencies say $5,000 is about the best buy-in point. The equipment itself seems less important than getting it set up right for you and that takes a professional. Your audiologist is crucial and you can’t afford not to have one. continues on page 14

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MATURE ARKANSAS

march, 2013

13

There are more than 27 million Americans over 65 with severe hearing loss and that’s about half the country’s hearing impaired population.

If the cost-benefitdriven VA has opted for top-end equipment, that means it’s the right choice. But it’s not an obvious one. We know there is a distinct connection between hearing and mental decline.

We’re not certain hearing Hearing aid technology has improved aids can help. The two dramatically over the past 10 years. phenomena may be the results of something else.

My biggest disapSure, that’s a whale of a lot of money and pointment with my new hearing aids came neither Medicare nor your health insurance is when I researched this story and learned they going to cover it. Seriously, if you need them may not be offsetting dementia at all. this is the smart place to spend your money.

The same Johns Hopkins University study Do you want to be known as the old deaf fool that reported the hearing-mental decline correwith a new car? Go for the good hearing aids lation said hearing aids weren’t that much instead, and don’t be chintzy. of a factor. The researchers didn’t trust the results because they didn’t know how often The bigger picture the devices were being worn, there were big This brings up a truly serious choice for society. differences in equipment, training and other If we don’t pay for hearing aids now, we are variables. We think hearing aids help but we facing higher rates of dementia at a much higher need to prove it. treatment cost. The numbers are staggering.

There’s justified hope that today’s hearing

technology will seem primitive in a few years and hearing aids may not be around at all. The majority of hearing loss occurs with the loss of “hair cells” within the ear, leaving the main nerves and overall structure intact. New hair cells could mean renewed hearing.

Birds and fish can regenerate the equivalent of hair cells. Using stem cells, this has been artificially done with a frog. Harvard University had a major breakthrough in stem cells used to regenerate mouse hair cells. Stanford University researchers say primitive stem cells will not work. It’s going to take tailoring the cells to mimic the positioning and orientation of the cells in the cochlear spiral. Harvard indicates five or so years before human use; Stanford estimates at least twice that.

If cell replacement flops, the FDA has approved the first, full-time, implantable system. Hearing aids will get smaller and more powerful with each new filtering software. It’s a huge and rapidly growing field, drawing lots of investment because the baby boomer market demand is nearly infinite. Public health will eventually have to respond.

The right choice Even if hearing aids aren’t helping me avoid senility, and even if they don’t get much better, they’re the right choice for me. While far from perfect, I’m greatly reducing my “beg your pardons” and I’m part of conversations that I couldn’t hear before. I’m laughing more

Physical activity can have a direct and positive influence on how well you hear.

Exercise increases blood flow throughout the body. A person in their 50s, in good physical health, has comparable hearing to a person in their 30s.

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14 march, 2013 MATURE ARKANSAS

because I’m not working as hard translating the conversation and more able to just enjoy it.

My work is improving as I can now understand what is being said and immediately use this information to hone my questioning. The aids let me join and manipulate new feedback loops. The zoom external device gives me hearing powers no human has ever had.

It’s not all pleasant. These are plastic things stuck deeply in my ears and I know they are there. Yet this eases away in a few hours, or about the same time my ears begin to itch. Battery life is excellent and they’re easily available.

I’m getting more out of all music, especially live acoustic music. I’m

Arkansas Relay Keeps You in Contact

FOR PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS

T

he Arkansas Relay service is a free service that provides full telephone accessibility to people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, or speech-disabled or who cannot use the telephone on their own.

One of the services is provided via a special phone that uses voice recognition technology. Called a CapTel (captioned telephone), it has a display screen so the user can read the words that the other party is speaking. It is used the same way as a regular land-line telephone.

CapTel calls are routed to a service that provides captions via a relay operator that transcribes everything that is said by the other party.

“The stress, embarrassment and frustration at having a hard time hearing someone speak is more crushing than you can imagine,”Jeff Prail, account manager with Arkansas Relay, said. Prail uses the relay service at home and work. “Now I can call anyone, anytime. The freedom is not just to make phone calls—it’s freedom from shame and stress and frustration. I can make calls on my own without relying on someone else. The difference in quality of life is enormous.”

The CapTel phone is available free to qualified users (income below $50,000) and at a reduced cost to others through the TAP program, a program within the Ark. Rehabilitation Services.

If you experience difficulty hearing, now is the time to stop in for a Free Precision Hearing Screening by the experts.

There’s no charge or obligation, and you’ll be amazed by how comfortable, effective and discreet today’s digital hearing aids can be!

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Other TAP equipment that will help you hear better includes: • Amplified telephone—a standard phone with volume and tone adjustments, large number buttons and a louder ring. Some have called-ID displays, speakerphones and backlit keypads.

• Talking telephones speak each number as it is pressed and has large buttons with Braille.

• Signaling systems alert a person when the phone is ringing including audible, visual, visual/audible combo, and tactile or vibrating signals.

• Hands-free phone offers one-touch access to dialing, answering and memory scanning from up to 40 feet away.

• Jitterbug J is a cell phone with big buttons and a large bright screen that is easy to see for those with low vision and has a powerful speaker.

MATURE ARKANSAS

march, 2013

15

Photos.com, MorePixels ©

A recent survey by AARP shows that 70% would seek treatment for their hearing impairment if asked to do so by family or friends. Early intervention is important but most people wait an average of 10 years from the time hearing becomes a problem until they seek help. hearing it with range, depths and tones I couldn’t even remember. I gave up on piano and it might be because I wasn’t hearing it well. I will give it another try.

The big breakthrough moment for me came at Hot Springs’ Wednesday Night Open Mic Poetry Reading. It literally and surprisingly brought me to tears. I’d heard the featured poet, retired Henderson University Professor John Crawford twice before and had read his work. He’s among the nation’s best and a favorite of mine.

That night was different. It wasn’t that his words were clearer or sharper or that I was catching nuances and inflections that I had missed before. I had expected that. It was that, beyond mere comprehension, I was finally understanding him. The best poetry is best understood live. For me the cliché came alive that night.

This breakthrough is due to what’s called “cognitive overload.” Before, my mind was working so hard just to hear and translate the words that nothing was left to interpret their intent. I heard, I could repeat but I didn’t understand.

Free of this burden I was able to fly with his language and understand the poem and not just the words. There were heavy intellectual burdens I didn’t even know were there. Now, I can not only hear better, I can better tell what it all means.

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Hearing Loss Worsens Overall Health

H

aving a hearing problem is one of the three most common chronic conditions among people over 65. No one should accept hearing loss as a normal part of aging. Untreated hearing loss can strain relationships, limit activities and cause social withdrawal at a time in life when regular contact with others is important to overall health.

To avoid the embarrassment of not hearing what’s being said, many people with hearing problems withdraw from social activities and even from family. People with hearing problems cannot fully participate in everyday life, mistaking words in conversation, missing directions or warnings or leaving a phone or doorbell unanswered. Those with hearing problems may be perceived as confused, unresponsive, uncooperative or as having dementia.

People with mild hearing loss (25-decibel loss) were three times more likely to have fallen than those with no hearing loss, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.

Every additional 10 decibels of hearing loss means an increased 1.4-fold risk of falling.

People with impaired hearing don’t have good awareness of their overall environment, making them more likely to trip and fall. Maintaining gait and balance are cognitively demanding.

Hearing loss imposes an increased “cognitive load” as the brain tries to compensate for limited senses.

The worse the hearing loss, the higher the risk of developing dementia. There is an up to five-fold increase in dementia with severe hearing loss. Those with a milder loss had a 30-40% faster rate of loss of thinking skills and memory.

Who Pays for Hearing Aids?

I

f you have original Medicare, you will have to pay. Medicare will not cover routine hearing exams, hearing aids or exams for fitting hearing aids.

Medicare Part B will cover hearing exams to diagnose a hearing problem or a balance exam IF your doctor orders these tests.

You must pay 100% for routine exams and hearing aids. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the doctor’s services for covered exams. If you get services in a hospital outpatient setting, you will pay a copayment.

Under Arkansas law, consumers have a guaranteed 30-day trial period, allowing you to test the aids in typical situations.

Consumers may cancel the purchase within 30 days after receiving the hearing aid.

For More Information

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Visit asha.org/hearing • To find an audiologist near you, visit asha.org/findpro •The Arkansas Relay Service provides FREE telephone accessibility to deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speechdisabled. Call toll free 800-981-4463 (voice or TTY) or visit ArkansasRelay.com

WOODLAND H E IG H TS

invites you to join

Dr. David Lipschitz

as he presents a monthly series of talks on lifelong health

beginning Monday, March 25 Noon Dr. David’s greatest goal is to educate the public about aging. Most importantly, he aims to empower people with the tools to live longer, happier and healthier lives.

Refreshments will be served.

Events are free but seating is limited.

Please call Wendy Hudgeons for reservations at 501-492-2911 or email whudgeons@woodlandheightsllc.com.

8700 Riley Drive Little Rock

501-224-4242

woodlandheightsllc.com MATURE ARKANSAS

march, 2013

17

M O N E Y n by G ary G arrison

Rolling Over — Or Out Of — Your CDs N

ow is a good time to reevaluate your certificates of deposit (CD) because April is one of the two busiest months in CD-rollover activity; the other is October.

The term "rollover" means activating a CD account following the maturity of another CD, as opposed to owning one long-term CD. The rollover principal includes the original deposit and any interest it has earned.

Some investors t a ke t h e ro l l ove r concept a step further by owning several CD accounts with varying maturity dates—called CD “laddering.” It's possible to generate additional interest income by rolling over CDs with time--a lot of time at current rates.

Traditional wisdom has held that, because they're backed by

A fixed annuity, structured properly, can offer a higher rate of return than current CDs.

Photos.com, Jim Larkin ©

the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), in most cases CDs are a safe haven for investors in their retirement years. But, with current market conditions, that safety comes at a high price. According to Bankrate. com, return rates for CDs are near historic lows. The annual return rate for a five-year CD is just over 1%. Factoring taxes into the equation brings increased scrutiny to CDs as an investment vehicle.

Fixed annuities are becoming an attractive alternative to CDs. Fixed annuities offer the option to determine when and how much you want to pay in taxes, whereas CD interest is taxed each year of ownership. A fixed annuity, structured properly, can offer a higher rate of return than current CDs. Annuities feature a minimum guaranteed interest rate; that’s the rate below which your investment will not fall in case of poor market conditions. Additionally, some fixed

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annuities offer stock market participation—allowing an investor to reap the benefits of favorable market conditions without exposure to unfavorable market conditions. There are no stock market participation options with CDs. Investors will also want to consider the effect of owning CDs on their heirs. Owning CDs can complicate that aspect of investing. Individually owned CDs may have to pass through probate before transferring to any heirs. Fixed annuities allow investors to designate an inheritor, thus avoiding probate.

Careful research now will save you and your family from the unintended consequences your heirs may face by inheriting CDs. As with any other investment strategy, CDs versus fixed annuities should be studied with an eye toward your ultimate goals, current situation, lifestyle and tolerance for risk. Part of that study includes consulting with your financial advisor. He or she will know your situation and are in the best position to suggest the best investment option.

Mr. Garrison is president of Asset Protection Wealth Management, specializing in financial retirement planning.

If You Can’t Pay Your Taxes: 3 Options I

f you can’t afford to pay your taxes by April 15, The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has three options that can help.

• Request a tax extension, using IRS Form 4968. This will give you more time to get the money. You are still responsible for paying it in full and you will be incurring penalties until you pay your tax bill in full.

• Offer a smaller amount, using IRS Form 656. Called an “offer in compromise,” you ask the IRS to accept a smaller amount. You will have to explain in detail why paying the full amount would be an extreme financial hardship. Your explanation must be verifiable and reasonable. You can request to pay a small lump sum or spread payments out over time.

• Set up a payment plan. The IRS will accept a payment plan that fits your budget but there are fees attached to payment plans. A plan where the IRS direct debits your bank account costs $52. A standard payment plan costs $105. If your income is very limited, you can get the standard plan for $43. Use IRS Form 9465-FS if you owe less than $50,000; use Form 433-F if you owe more than $50,000.

If you’ve already received a tax bill from the IRS, call the number on your tax bill or notice and write down everything they tell you to complete for your specific case. Include the name of the IRS agent you spoke with and the date.

Any refund you qualify to receive on future tax returns will be applied to your tax debt until it is paid off.

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H I K I N G WITH L EE HIL L ER

You Probably Need More Vitamin B12

By Hiedi Mason and Lisa C. Hutchison, PharmD, MPH, BCPS Q. I’ve read that people my age need to take extra Vitamin B 12. I usually eat a balanced diet; do I need a B 12 vitamin?

A. Vitamin B 12 deficiency can cause a host of common symptoms including muscle weakness, fatigue, shakiness, rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, weight loss, easy bruising or bleeding, and low blood pressure. A severe deficiency can result in numbness or tingling in the extremities, trouble walking, depression, memory problems and anemia.

People over 50 may think many of these symptoms are just part of growing old and don’t report them to their doctor. It is important to discuss these symptoms with your doctor so he/she can test you to see if there’s a deficiency. A severe deficiency left untreated could result in permanent nerve damage.

Mature adults often have a Vitamin B 12 deficiency because they are more likely to have these conditions: • Up to 30% of older adults do not have sufficient stomach acid to absorb Vitamin B

Up to 30% of

12. Stomach acid and enzymes must be released in order for B 12 to be absorbed from animal sources.

• Chronic users of acidsuppressing drugs like omeprazole (Prilosec).

• Vegan vegetarians don’t get enough B 12 from food sources, like meat and dairy.

• B 12 supplements are needed if you’ve had stomach surgery for weight loss or ulcers.

• Suffer from Crohn’s or Celiac disease; both interfere with food absorption.

• Take certain prescription drugs—metformin, phenytoin and phenobarbital—that reduce absorption of Vitamin B 12.

Vitamin B 12 is an essential vitamin needed for the production of DNA, red blood cells and maintenance of the nervous system. Its

natural form is found in red meats, turkey, liver, fish, and shellfish; and in lesser amounts in dairy products, eggs, and chicken.

It is a water-soluble vitamin, but the body stores extra vitamin B 12 in the liver and other tissues.

When intake and absorption are not adequate, the body uses the stored vitamin to prevent symptoms of deficiency. Body stores can last for up to two years, so most people cannot connect the onset of symptoms with a change in diet.

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends that all adults over age 50 take about 25 mcg. of B 12 daily—about 10 times the minimum required for adults. Even if the blood test is normal, take 25 mcg. if you are over 50. Older adults need to be in the high normal range or even above normal for best effects. The body will eliminate any excess B 12 in the urine that

older adults do

not have sufficient stomach acid to absorb

Vitamin B 12.

Understanding Probiotics

Probiotics are

By David S. Bachman, MD

microorganisms such

20 march, 2013 MATURE ARKANSAS

biotics, the balance of friendly intestinal bacteria is disturbed and can cause intestinal problems. Taking probiotics can help by having the friendly bacteria overwhelm the diarrhea-causing bacteria.

as bacteria or yeast ... similar to the “live cultures” contained in yogurt, cheese.

Benefits Researchers at Yale University in 2008 reviewed the latest findings and concluded probiotics are most effective for: • Preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea • Treating diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficiclle bacteria • Regulating immune response • Easing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome • Preventing pouchitis, an intestinal inflammation that can follow serious intestinal surgery

Photos.com, Comstock ©

Q. What are probiotics and should I be taking them at age 64?

A. If you are eating a perfectly balanced diet without a lot of processed foods and have a stress-free life, you may not need probiotics to maintain your health. However, most of us live with a lot of stress. We consume antacids, antibiotics, food additives, alcohol and other foods and drugs that can cause reduction of healthy bacteria. Probiotics restore healthy bacteria in our gut to fight against illness and improve health.

Probiotics are microorganisms such as bacteria or yeast, available in foods and supplements. They are similar to the “live cultures” contained in yogurt, cheese, sauerkraut and other foods. There are more than 500 different bacterial species in our digestive system. These microorganisms help keep the intestinal lining healthy, help break down food and help regulate the immune system.

If you have an infection or are taking anti-

• Treating and preventing eczema associated with cow’s milk allergy.

Cautions Taking probiotics is usually safe and cause few side effects. However, probiotics may be dangerous for people with weakened immune

Snell Prosthetic & Orthotic Laboratory

it cannot store. No side effects have been associated with excess Vitamin B 12.

Most regular multivitamins only contain 6 mcg. of vitamin B 12. But geriatric multivitamins usually contain 25 mcg, which meets the IOM recommendations.

The IOM also recommends that those over 50 consume foods fortified with Vitamin B 12 (breads, cereals and other grains) or take a supplement containing Vitamin B 12.

If your doctor finds your Vitamin B 12 body stores are depleted, a weekly injection is necessary to replenish the body’s supply. Then, daily supplements of 1,000 mcg. will be enough to maintain adequate levels.

To make your life more enjoyable, consider increasing the Vitamin B Photos.com, Lin Zhang © 12 in your diet, through fortified foods or a daily supplement.

It can help prevent problems with memory, weakness and anemia.

Growing Relationships Whether our patients are playing with their grandchildren, running a 10K, volunteering at the local soup kitchen, or beautifying their corner of the world, we want them to always be able to perform at their best. That's why Snell Laboratory makes the commitment to build strong relationships with those we serve so that we can determine which of our lightweight materials, hi-tech components, or state of the art techniques will work best when fabricating their orthoses or prostheses.

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Dr. Hutchison is a professor, UAMS College of Pharmacy. Ms. Mason is a pharmacy student.

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systems or serious illnesses. Always check with your doctor before starting probiotics.

Choose products from well-known companies, especially those that have been tested in research studies. Reliable products should indicate the name of the precise probiotics organisms they contain and how many organisms a single dose provides.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate probiotics as it does prescription medications because probiotics as in the same category as food and supplements. The FDA is reviewing their status and may regulate them more closely in the future.

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Dosages Probiotics come in many forms--powders, foods such as yogurts and dairy drinks, tablets or capsules. The form you take doesn’t matter, as long as it contains enough live bacteria to begin growing in the intestines. The effective dose varies widely from 50 million to as many as 1 trillion live cells per dose.

To maintain a healthy digestive tract, a probiotic dose of 1-2 million is recommended.

If you are taking antibiotics, or have symptoms of bacterial imbalance such as diarrhea, take up to 10 billion until the problem clears up.

CM

MY

CY

CMY

Frequency To maintain microorganism balance, take a dose of 1-2 million every other day. To correct a problem, take 10 million for up to two weeks.

Dr. Bachman is a former surgeon who has retired to Dardanelle.

K

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A W O U L D - B E G O U M E T n B y B ob W ood

Mr. Chen's — Just Go There

L

ast year I noticed a billboard advertising Mr. size steamed dumplings filled with meat Chen’s Authentic Chinese Cooking in the (pork?) in a warm, juicy broth. The center Village Shopping Center. The word “authentic” of the steamer has a bowl of soy sauce for piqued my curiosity. I enjoy Asian cuisine, dipping, and the little buns were delicious. but most local restaurants have limited menu Shredded Beef Bean Curd with Cilantro choices. The food still ranges from passable to ($8.95) was my favorite. This is a traditional quite good, but the offerings are generic. Mr. Chinese stir-fry, and consists of marinated Chen’s has changed all that. strips of beef stir-fried with dried tofu and Mr. Chen’s is part restaurant and part Asian topped with cilantro. In Mr. Chen’s version, grocery, fish and meat market. Enter the front only the stems of the cilantro are cooked Beef with cilantro doors and immediately turn to your left, otherwith the meat and tofu, and we detected wise you’ll be wandering among smoked ducks, a surprising hint of cinnamon in the sauce.

The broth had a delightful vinegary aroma, but fresh fish and woks big enough to stir-fry Pat Wonderful. was not as peppery as I prefer. This may be a Sajak. I’ve eaten there several times, and the I ordered the Seafood Hot and Sour Soup reflection of a more “authentic” food preparation The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation food has consistently been and Syndication (for 2/$4.95) first, because the sequence of food there, but the Hot and Sour soup at Hong Kong Theinteresting New York Times Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 flavorful. ordering and food arrival at Mr. Chen’s is, let’s Inn is still supreme in the Little Rock area.

For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 Release Thursday, March It7,came 2013out third and was good, but On a recent trip my friend andFor I tried four say, flexible.

A special that night was Double-Cooked For Release Friday, February 8, 2013 dishes. The Small Steam Bun ($4.95), 10, bitethe “seafood” consisted of two lonely shrimp.

Pork with Pickled Cabbage ($8.95). Most local double-cooked pork is fairly spicy, but Mr. Chen’s takes a more traditional Edited by Will Shortz No. 0131 approach and eliminates the peppers.

Edited by Will Shortz No. 0104 C C Their version consisted of chunks of ACROSS 28 True: Ger. 56 Trig functions ACROSS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 38 Went after very tender pork arranged around a 30 Tear up 1 Toon/live 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 57 Treating all 1 Inveigle 40 Planes are DOWN action film of 13 14 15 fairly 31 studied Tetley products mound of pickled cabbage—think in it 14 15 16 5 1996 Some 1 Really go Toboggan 32 Kitchen Twit downloads 41 device 58 through Chinese pot roast. It was a hearty winter 16 17 9 Typewriter’s 17 18 19 34 Tear Tiger’s bagful 59 Taxed 9 Go for a light up 43 dish with a nice balance of flavors. spot 2 Anti-aging 18 19 20 35 Taoism, e.g.: bite?

45 ___ gratia 20 21 22 product name 13 Tool for the We also ordered a vegetarian dish: Abbr.

14 It may follow ye DOWN 21 22 23 Sari scatterbrained 46 3 Lake cabin 23 24 25 36 Technical work Bok Choy with Black Mushroom 15 Thin accompaniment 1 Tosses, as sight 15 Thereafter requirement 24 25 seeds 16 Sapphire 48 Put safely ($6.95). Fans of that sharp, tangy 26 27 28 29 30 31 16 Tragedy4 Some gas 37 away, Total in a way alternative 2 Theorem work 26 27 28 29 30 stricken atoms cabbage will enjoy this one, and the 38 Finish Tense, maybe 32 33 34 35 17 Target of some 50 3 Titan booster 17 “Three politicalSisters” attacks 52 5 Ways to go 42 Mata TV channel black mushrooms blended the flavors 31 32 33 34 ___ 4 The Café 36 37 38 39 40 playwright with “Style 20 How many 6 You may feel Carlyle and nicely. This would be a good foil to 53 Gray shade Chekhov 35 36 37 learn Report” and below 41 42 43 44 45 othersit 55 ___ instruction 18 Torpedo something with lots of spice and heat.

“Beauty 21 Turn 75 Does 38 39 40 41 42 43 Timesstreet to (on) 56 Harps detector 46 47 48 49 Report” 22 Corps of Our bill before tip was $41.21, and campaigning start new 19 Trademarked 59 from 44 Words Tsars and Engineers 44 45 46 47 50 51 52 calendarios 8 Bobby of the included hot tea and lots of steamed one who’s at a project Intel chip others Panther loss for words 6 Black “The ___ is 48 49 50 rice. Plenty of good food for not much 23 “This Nonpareil 21 Little 53 54 55 56 57 58 45 Tide’s ebb, e.g.

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62 Racket of Mine” 24 Girl Submitted 48 Threaded 51 52 53 54 55 money, as we’ve come to expect from 59 60 61 97 Part Typeof ofmany dye a country singer 63 Amanuensis, across and 26 Cook up welcome kit e.g.: Abbr.

Chinese restaurants. But, Mr. Chen’s is 8 Target audience 56 ___ Young 57 down 62 63 64 29 Learn of 64 Finish of Maxim 10 Suffix with 23 Take different in two significant respects: its 49 Texas hold’em 32 Important 58 59 65 66 67 9 special Ten-spots and 24 connection?

Telegraph suffix 65 Danish action man’s impressive variety of food and its seemname with a such novel 11 1894 25 Told totrisyllabic come 51 line Text through you might 33 Noted the ingly authentic preparation. Both are a PUZZLE BY MIKE BUCKLEY whose title 10 Taken Puzzle by DAVID J. KAHN R.S.V.P. letter to second 26 metrist Tripp’s rank on character 11 Traveled by pleasant departure from the local norm.

52 Actor Thing LaBeouf that’s 31 Toned quality 47 Tenor standard 41 “That’s 35 “CSI: Snow Miami”: ___ 66 Secreted again 44 54 It may be said likes to collect 31 Haggard Vespa highly explosive “___aMio” terrible!” with brushing My hope is that Mr. Chen’s will fingerprints 36 Abbr.

Snow ___ 67 Certain stake 33 Tunnel effect 12 Ted and others 34 Outbreak of motion 47 Ring figure in 12 “Votre toast,” become popular, and this will put presANSWER TO PREVIOUS PREVIOUS PUZZLE PUZZLE 50 Brest Took (out) 34 2003 Trumpet blares 43 “Carmen” Tec group in 14 Third way, ANSWER TO 57 milk e.g. old France sure on other Chinese restaurants to maybe 37 Q S R J E W A S P OB LR LI OE 58 Last word of a 39 Actress Treated Ward for A UL A L D F O 13 Span 49 Zesties! maker 53 party Test figs.

15 “The House song EL FI R O N I M O K M E N U expand their menus. That would be preservation, 39 Fortune 500 E A B E D S N I P E A T 18 Measures 46 Terri with of the Seven DI O T O R N microcomputer maybe Japanese N C A C O M A O NI OI N SA IF SA TR ___ the eye 60 51 “… great for those of us who love this type 54 Tough ___ the 1980 Gables” locale firm bourse: Abbr. of bean A X B M A E N J S O TJ EO 19 Kind can see”hit O E D H O V A T O country 40 Touchdowns : of cuisine. My fingers are crossed.

20 News Towering tree AT C T A L NI A L TA A TR OA RP 25 42 2010 Jude 61 Hit CBS series clipping O C S E T P A D

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22 march, 2013 MATURE

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Mr. Chen's Authentic Chinese Cooking 3901 S. University Ave. Village Shopping Center 501-562-7900 Open 7 days a wk.; 11:00 AM-9:00 PM.

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