Austin Living Magazine There is much more to the story of Tasse and owner Carmen Tribbett including the part local illustrator Katie Hunerdosse played in bringing the playful pup to life on the printed page. Pick up the upcoming May-June edition of Austin Living and read more on Tasse, Carmen, Katie and much, much more. Photos by Eric Johnson/ photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Lessons from a friendly pooch named Tasse By Hannah Yang hannah.yang@austindailyherald.com
If one were to meet Demitasse, they would know immediately she has a high-class personality. The spunky Shih Tzu exudes human-like tendencies, often casting loving looks at her owner Carmen Tribbett before settling down on the floor. If there’s company, Demitasse — Tasse for short — would lift her head up in a dignified fashion, announcing her presence before walking into any room. “She’s a small dog with a big attitude,” Tribbett explained. “She’s very high class. That’s Tasse.”
Still, the dog earned it, having served as the main character for Tribbett’s self-published book “The Monster Dog: A Small Dog with a Big Attitude,” which is available on Amazon and for purchase at Sweet Reads book store in downtown Austin. Written from Tasse’s point of view, Tribbett crafted a story that explored lessons for children, such as love and forgiveness. Writing children’s books was considered to be her “fifth career,” as Tribbett has lived a long life with plenty of experiences along the way. She just celebrated her 87th birthday
and refuses to let time slip past. Her social calendar is packed with trips, birthday dinners and more. However, writing has taken center stage for Tribbett these days. The makings of another book has appeared on several sticky notes that are stuck onto her bathroom mirror. She emphasized how important it was to continue living and making memories in the everyday moments. Of course, Tasse is there along for the ride. “I felt led to do it,” she said. “It was on my mind Carmen Tribbett brought Tasse to life in the pages of her books, filled with adventures and meaningful stories. all the time.”
Retiring? What you need to know about reverse mortgages By Hannah Yang hannah.yang@austindailyherald.com
When pre paring for your first home, you take on a mortgage. Now when you’re about to retire, what do you do? These were the questions that Kris Heichel of Fairway Mortgage Company hears about regularly. However, there are resources available for retirees such as a reverse mortgage. A reverse mortgage is a type of loan that’s not asked about as much, but Heichel believes should be. “I am not asked about this option as much as I would like because when used strategically, a reverse mortgage can greatly improve an individual’s retirement,” she said. “We are here to provide the
to help those who were retiring with limited income to use the accumulated wealth in their homes to cover basic monthly living expenses and pay for their healthcare. There aren’t any restrictions in how reverse mortgages can be used, and it’s called a reverse mortgage because the lender makes payments to the borrower instead of monthly payments to the lender. With this type of mortgage available, Heichel said that more retirees should be made aware A reverse mortgage can by a great option for those retiring. of the opportunity. Also Metro Image with a reverse mortgage, a education and allow the a loan available to home- home can be purchased as homeowners to make an owners who are 62 years or opposed to the belief that educated decision, but that older, which allows them to it’s only to refinance their cannot happen without the convert part of the equity current residence. knowledge.” in their homes into cash. “I feel that a lot of retirA reverse mortgage is This was created as a way ees do not know about re-
Jane Ballard Life at the Village Cooperative of Austin is retirement living made easy. Beautiful grounds and a walking path surround the property. Our cars are safely parked in a heated underground garage.
John & Catherine Conway After calculating our yearly homeowner expenses of insurance, property taxes, utilities, cable TV/internet and maintenance material and labor costs, we concluded that the Austin Village Cooperative is truly a bargain.
verse mortgages or they have only heard the negative myths and misunderstandings,” Heichel said. “We at Fairway are here to provide education to consumers and professionals, and change the way retirement is done in this country.” With this type of loan, the borrower is also not required to pay it back until their home is sold or vacated. As long as t h e y l ive i n s i d e t h e i r residence, they’ re not required to make any monthly payments toward their loan balance, and must remain updated on property taxes, homeowners insurance and homeowner association dues if applicable. As for any negatives to going for a reverse mort-
gage, Heichel shared that unless a homeowner decides to live in another home as their primary residence while keeping the reverse mortgage on a different home, or failing to pay their property taxes, homeowners insurance and maintenance on the home, then there aren’t really any cons to opting for a reverse mortgage. “We hear the phrase ‘this seems too good to be true’ pretty much any time someone begins to understand how it works because it really does seem too good to be true,” she said. “I would do this for my family, friends, neighbors, pretty much everyone I come in contact with. I will do my own reverse mortgage as soon as I’m eligible.”
2
Senior Living
THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019
A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
How one volunteer is helping end a family cycle of Alzheimer’s By State Point Media
Jacqueline Patterson, 66, knew from a young age what Alzheimer’s looked like, but didn’t call it by its name until she started caring for her mother, Ruby, in 2008. “When I took on caregiving responsibilities for my mom, the only thing I knew was that this is just something that everyone in my family gets – we accepted it,” Patterson recalls. “But once I saw my mom die from the disease, I made it my mission to learn as much as I can and educate as many people as I can, especially African Americans who are disproportionately impacted by the disease. I don’t want anyone to go through what I did.” Patterson has a long family history of Alzheimer’s disease. Her grandfather had the disease, and of her mother’s nine sisters, six passed away with Alzheimer’s or dementia and three are currently living with the disease. Patterson’s father, Matthew, also passed away from the disease. “At that time, it didn’t occur to any of us that this was a disease,” Patterson says. “Once I began to look more closely, I realized there was more to it. It really hit home once my mother developed the disease.” According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are currently more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease,
the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. Disproportionately impacting African Americans, older African Americans are twice as likely as older white Americans to develop the disease. By the time Patterson realized her mother was showing symptoms of Alzheimer’s, she was already in the late stages. “Her doctor said that it was just normal aging, but I knew there was more going on -something was obviously very wrong.” Patterson, a high school biology teacher, retired early to be a full-time caregiver for her mother. Frustrated with the lack of information and support services available, she reached out to the Alzheimer’s Association where she was able to learn about the disease and access needed resources like respite care. After Patterson’s mother passed away, she made it her Jacqueline Patterson, speaking at an Alzheimer’s Association event. Photo provided by State Point Media mission to educate others ethical trials like Tuske- the disease as her family’s Alzheimer’s and encourage about the disease and end Health. Currently, Patterson is gee,” Patterson says. “But I destiny and is encouraging participation in research the cycle within her family. She started volunteering enrolled in a clinical tri- wanted to be the one to say other African Americans to that can help us understand the reasons behind it. I now with the Alzheimer’s As- al. She aims to overcome look – I’m doing this, and it’s do the same. “We need to raise aware- look at Alzheimer’s as a dissociation’s, meeting with the stigma related to such okay.” Patterson says she’s come ness about African Amer- ease that can be cured,” says physicians serving rural research within the Afriand minority populations, can-American community. a long way from “accepting” icans’ increased risk for Patterson. sharing information about African Americans and the importance of early de- other ethnic minorities are tection and diagnosis and vastly underrepresented in making resources available these trials, limiting what to those living with the dis- researchers can learn. “There is still a fear of ease. Since her mother’s diagnosis, she has earned participating in studies, a Master’s degree in Public which is understandable Health and is working to- when you think about the wards a Doctorate of Public history with terrible, un-
Two-wave US flu season is now the longest in a decade Associated Press
NEW YORK — Three months ago, this flu season was shaping up to be short and mild in the U.S. But a surprising second viral wave has made it the longest in 10 years. T his flu season has been officially going for 21 weeks, according to reports collected through last week and released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That makes it among the longest seen since the gover nment started tracking flu season duration more than 20 years ago. Some experts likened the unusual double waves to having two different flu seasons compressed, backto-back, into one. “I don’t remember a season like this,” said Dr. Arnold Monto, a University of Michigan researcher who had been studying respiratory illnesses for
more than 50 years. The previous longest recent flu season was 20 weeks, which occurred in 2014-2015. Flu can cause a miserable, relatively mild illness in many people and a more severe illness in others. Young children and the elderly are at greatest risk from flu and its complications. Flu vaccinations are recommended annually for all but the very young. The current season began the week of Thanksgiving, a typical start time. At the beginning, most illnesses were caused by a flu strain that tends not to cause as many hospitalizations and which is more easily controlled by vaccines. But in mid-February, a nastier strain started causing more illnesses and driving up hospitalizations. Not helping matters: The harsher bug is not
well matched to the vaccine, said the CDC’s Lynnette Brammer, who oversees flu tracking. Still, this flu season is not nearly as bad as last winter’s 19-week season, the deadliest in at least four decades. An estimated 80,000 Americans died of flu and its complications last season. The CDC is estimating that flu-related deaths this season in the range of 35,000 to 55,000. More good news: Brammer said that although the virus is notoriously unpredictable, signs suggest this flu season should be over soon. “It’s on the verge” of being over, she said. “If nothing changes.” Sign up to the Austin Daily Herald E-News Send an email to: enews@austindailyherald.com with ‘ENEWS’ in the subject line.
BRANSON, MO
MAY 16 - 19, 2019
$629
NIAGARA FALLS & TORONTO, ONT CODY, WY & YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK CALGARY STAMPEDE & CANADIAN ROCKIES CHICAGO, IL GANGSTER TOUR SUMMERTIME ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER DOOR COUNTY, WI NEW YORK CITY AMISH COUNTRY TOUR IN OHIO ARK ENCOUNTER & CREATION MUSEUM NEW ENGLAND FALL COLORS TOUR WASHINGTON DC & GETTYSBURG AUTUMN IN THE SMOKY MTS FALL MYSTERY TOUR - ALL NEW 8 DAY TOUR! CHRISTMAS BRANSON
JUNE 11 - 16, 2019 JUNE 18 - 24, 2019 JULY 6 - 14, 2019 JULY 19 - 21, 2019 JULY 24 - 26, 2019 AUGUST 2 - 4, 2019 AUGUST 24 - 31, 2019 SEPTEMBER 17 - 22, 2019 SEPTEMBER 18 - 22, 2019 SEPT 28 - OCT 9, 2019 OCTOBER 5 - 11, 2019 OCTOBER 15 - 20, 2019 OCTOBER 19 - 26, 2019 NOVEMBER 7 - 10, 2019
$999 $1169 $1599 $509 $509 $479 $1649 $999 $809 $1949 $1199 $999 $1229 $639
CHRISTMAS BRANSON
NOVEMBER 14 - 17, 2019
$639
CHRISTMAS BRANSON
NOVEMBER 21 - 24, 2019
$639
A COUNTRY CHRISTIMAS IN NASHVILLE, TN
NOV 30 - DEC 5, 2019
DIXIE STAMPEDE DINNER SHOW, A TRIBUTE TO CONWAY TWITTY, THE IRISH TENORS, PRESLEY’S COUNTRY JUBILEE
DANIEL O’DONNELL, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, PRESLEY’S COUNTRY JUBILEE, TEXAS TENORS
DANIEL O’DONNELL, DIXIE STAMPEDE DINNER SHOW, THE IRISH TENORS, A TRIBUTE TO CONWAY TWITTY
DANIEL O’DONNELL, LEGENDS IN CONCERT, GRAND JUBILEE SHOW, JIMMY OSMUND & THE LENNON SISTERS
FLORIDA DEEP SOUTH TEXAS NEW ORLEANS & LAFAYETTE, LA MYRTLE BEACH & CHARLESTON, SC HOLLAND, MI TULIP FESTIVAL ARK ENCOUNTER & CREATION MUSEUM NIAGARA FALLS & TORONTO, ONT TRAINS IN THE COLORADO ROCKIES MACKINAC ISLAND, MI CALGARY STAMPEDE & CANADIAN ROCKIES CHICAGO, IL GANGSTER TOUR ALASKA - LAND & 7 NIGHT CRUISE COMPLETE PKG W/AIR
FEBRUARY 9 - 22, 2020 MARCH 7 - 20, 2020 MARCH 27 - APRIL 6, 2020 APRIL 17 - 25, 2020 MAY 8 - 10, 2020 MAY 13 - 17, 2020 JUNE 9 - 14, 2020 JUNE 18 - 27, 2020 JUNE 19 - 21, 2020 JULY 4 - 12, 2020 JULY 17 - 19, 2020 JULY 21 - AUG 1, 2020
STARTING AT
$1299
$2369 $2249 $1799 $1499 $499 $829 $999 $1679 $499 $1599 $509 $5249
A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Senior Living
THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019
3
Tips to tackle your financial goals with confidence By State Point Media
Many Americans have a certain vision for their financial future but not a clear path for how to achieve their goals. Use these tips to tackle your finances with greater confidence. • Set a specific goal. Setting goals may actually boost your confidence about achieving them. In fact, those who set a financial goal for themselves in 2017 were more likely to feel that their finances had improved over the course of the year, compared to those with no financial goal, according to research from Lincoln Financial Group. Whether it’s saving more for retirement or paying off a debt, setting a goal is a great place to start. • Make a plan. Having a financial plan in place can help you prepare for life’s surprises and face them with confidence. A financial plan doesn’t need to be complicated, but it should cover everything that’s important to you at this specific stage of your life. A financial advisor
can provide an objective voice to help you stay focused on your goals while balancing your risk preferences and time horizon. They can also provide education to help determine
if and when to fine-tune your plan. If you already have a relationship with an advisor, schedule time to review your plan and make any necessary adjustments.
• Consider sources of protected lifetime income. Eighty-two percent of pre-retirees are concer ned about what will happen to their investments if the market
considered incorporating an annuity as a portion of your plan? “Diversifying your portfolio to include a source of protected lifetime income, like an annuity with optional benefits, can help to safeguard savings and provide for predictable income in your retirement,” says John Kennedy, head of Retirement Solutions Distribution, Lincoln Financial Group. • Strategize taxes. Recent changes in tax laws h ave s o m e c o n c e r n e d about how taxes will impact their finances and retirement income this year. Discuss tax-smart strategies with your advisor to help increase your income and keep you on the right track. More information, tips and resources can be found by visiting www.lincolnfinancial.com. Adobe Stock For financial success, stay focused on your goals drops. Build diversity in- and don’t work without a to your retirement income plan. Also, consider conplan by incor porating sulting an expert who can different sources of life- provide financial and tax time income in addition advice, and can help you to Social Security. Do you strategize ways to be suchave a pension? Have you cessful.
Identifying the warning signs: do you have COPD? By State Point Media
Chances are high that you know someone with COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It’s the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S., and more than 16 million Americans have been diagnosed with it. But according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), millions more people have COPD and don’t realize it. Could you or someone you know be among them? Here are some clues: COPD typically comes on slowly. You may start experiencing shortness of breath while doing everyday activities, and though it’s easy to think of this as just a part of “getting older,” often it’s not. Shortness of breath is a common — and potentially dangerous — symptom of COPD, so see a health professional as soon as you can. And watch for other symptoms — ongoing coughing; wheezing; and excessive production of sputum, a mixture of saliva and mucus. COPD can progress quickly and make it increasingly difficult to breathe. Often by the time people see a health professional, their lungs’ ability to work properly has been significantly impaired, so don’t delay. Without treatment, COPD can prevent you from doing basic activities, such as walking and dressing.
COPD: Why me?
While COPD takes a devastating toll across many
populations and regions, researchers now know that certain people are at increased risk of developing the disease, including those who smoke or have smoked cigarettes. About 75 percent of COPD cases are caused by smoking, but people who have never smoked can also develop COPD, and scientists are continuously working to understand why. Long-term exposure to secondhand smoke and other lung irritants such as air pollution, chemical fumes and dusts from the environment or workplace can put you at risk. If you have a rare genetic condition known as alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, your risk rises. Race, sex and where you live can be influencers, as well. In the past, COPD often had been labeled a man’s disease. Yet, women are 30 percent more likely than men to have COPD. And while the vast majority of people diagnosed are white, COPD affects some other ethnic groups disproportionally. For example, COPD is more common among multiracial or American Indian/Alaska Native adults, but less common among Asian, African American and Hispanic populations. Variances can be found geographically, too. COPD is twice as common in rural areas than in urban parts of the country. Many people with COPD can be found in southeastern parts of the U.S., such as Kentucky and Virginia, the Carolinas, and in areas of the Mississippi and
Austin Living Magazine is on Facebook! Go to: www.facebook.com/AustinLivingMagazine Find out what’s hot and exciting in Austin and the surrounding area. Give us a like!
Ohio River Valleys, where more rural communities are located.
COPD: What to do now?
Visit COPD Learn More Breathe Better, a program by the NHLBI, part of the National Institutes of Health, at COPD.nhlbi.nih. gov to learn more. T h e ke y t o ke e p i n g COPD at bay — or preventing it from getting worse — is to understand and recognize the signs and symptoms early and discuss the disease with a health professional. The sooner this happens, the sooner you or your loved one can get back to doing the things you love. Adobe Stock
4
Senior Living
THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2019
Dan McFarland is raising awareness about Parkinson’s non-movement symptoms. Photo provided by State Point Media
Veteran raising awareness about unexpected Parkinson’s symptoms By State Point Media
Dan McFarland’s family was concerned when he started taking pictures of clouds and posting them on social media with urgent messages about how they were symbols about the need to repent and get ready for the end of the world. His frequent bouts of paranoia and experience with surprising visions seemed out of character, especially since McFarland was a successful businessman, running one of the largest retirement communities in Oregon, and a retired U.S. Air Force senior master sergeant. It turned out that these delusions and hallucinations were non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, which McFarland had been diagnosed with years before. For McFarland, these symptoms were harder to manage than the motor symptoms typically associated with Parkinson’s disease, such as tremors, rigidity or slowness of movement. “My neurologist was abl e t o re c o g n i z e my non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s. Some of my hallucinations and delusions were frightening to me and upsetting to my loved ones, and adjusting my treatment helped lessen this burden,” he says. “To help others recognize these symptoms, I’ve gotten involved in my
local Parkinson’s support group, and am sharing my story during April, which is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month.” Although there is no clear understanding of the exact cause of hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s, around half of all people with Parkinson’s may experience these symptoms over the course of their disease. For McFarland, when he first began to experience hallucinations and delusions, he recognized that what he was seeing and believing wasn’t quite real. But it was confusing to him and as his condition progressed, he began to lose insight. For example, his belief that the end of the world was coming was triggered by a brief news story about a sink hole in South America. He also began to distrust family and friends. After his wife left a camping trip early, he became suspicious that she might be trying to connect with an old boyfriend. In reality, she had simply needed a much-deserved break from work and caregiving responsibilities. Left unaddressed, these non-movement symptoms can impact people with Parkinson’s and their care partners’ ability to make plans with family and friends and even sleep, according to a recent survey
conducted by the Parkinson’s Movement Disorder Alliance. Experts say that if you believe you or a loved one is experiencing hallucinations or delusions as a result of Parkinson’s disease, the first step is talking to a movement disorder specialist. You can also go to MoretoParkinsons.com to learn more about what to expect and how to start the conversation with a physician. While doctors may be able to address non-motor symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, it’s important to keep in mind that everyone is different and for some, other non-motor symptoms may still persist. McFarland continues to struggle with depression and anxiety, which are other common non-movement symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. McFarland sees a therapist to help manage those symptoms. Having a greater understanding of the disease and its possible symptoms has helped the McFarlands deal with them as they arise. “Opening up about my fears and beliefs led to an improvement in my treatment plan and I’m experiencing fewer non-movement symptoms,” says McFarland. “I hope that my story will encourage others to recognize these symptoms in themselves and others, because there are options to help.”
Historic Minnesota bridge to be dismantled after 145 years Associated Press
MANKATO — The Kern Bridge just south of Mankato has remained standing for more than half of the United States’ existence. The longest of its type remaining in America, the bridge just survived its 145th Minnesota winter and the spring torrents that ensued. If all goes according to plan, the bridge’s marathon assignment spanning the Le Sueur River will end late this summer when the
wrought iron structure will be dismantled, put in storage and left to await a yet-to-be-identified opportunity to rise again as a bike-pedestrian overpass at some other location. “I’m hoping that this area will find a place for it, but if it goes somewhere else in the state, that would be OK, too,” said Lisa Bigham, acting state-aid engineer for the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Mankato district. For Bigham and other engineers in the area, the one
place they didn’t want to see the bridge is at the bottom of the Le Sueur River, followed by a trip to the scrap yard. “It isn’t a question of if it will fail, it’s when,” said Blue Earth County Public Works Director Ryan Thilges. Bigham’s yearslong effort to find funding to save the bridge found success just before Christmas, which puts an end to fears that it would be torn down and sold for scrap, the Mankato Free Press reported.
A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD