FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015
A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Jay Haapala from St. Paul discusses identity theft on Wednesday with senior citizens at Primrose Retirement Community. This was the first of a series of programs Primrose is putting out for its residents and the community. Jenae Hackensmith/jenae.hackensmith@austindailyherald.com
Learning for all ages
Primrose Retirement Community of Austin hosting educational programs Jenae Hackensmith
jenae.hackensmith@austindailyherald.com
Jay Haapala wants people to cut the Minnesota nice if they suspect an identity theft attempt over the phone. “Just hanging up is so important because the con artist might get lucky and say something that makes sense,” said Haapala, the associate state director of Community Outreach for AARP Minnesota. That was one of the tips Haapala offered on Wednesday when he visited Primrose Re t i r e m e n t Community of Austin to outline ways to avoid identity theft scams. Haapala was the featured speaker in Primrose’s first installment of a new program meant to approach issues like identity theft and other topics in an educational way. Primrose is offering its members and the community educational and informational programs at 10 a.m. every third Wednesday of the month. The next discussion topics will include Medicare in November and senior advocacy in December. Refreshments will be served at the meetings and the public is welcome to attend. Shannon Pacholl, executive director of Primrose in Austin, has high hopes
for the future of the program. “We have so many people that we want to approach to come I can see it lasting at least through next year,” Pacholl said. The presentation on the dangers of identity theft and how to avoid becoming a victim featured speaker Haapala. “They’re targeting older adults because that’s where the money is,” Haapala said during the presentation. “They know that’s where the money is.” His presentation outlined different ways people can be targeted by identity theft and different scams people use. He hoped the audience would take away what he taught — Jay Haapala and spread AARP Minnesota the message to be careful for the many scams. “This is a big organized crime operation,” he said. Haapala is the head of the Minnesota Fraud Watch Network which serves to educate consumers about fraud, scams and identity theft. He has met with more than 100 community groups across the state to discuss how people are targeted by financial crime. Through his educational efforts, he is working to build a statewide network of fraud fighter volunteers with AARP.
“Just hanging up is so important because the con artist might get lucky and say something that makes sense.”
See PRIMROSE, Page 2-SL
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OCTOBER 23, 2015
Senior Living
AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Jay Haapala explains how identity theft can come in many different forms. Jenae Hackensmith/jenae.hackensmith@austindailyherald.com
Primrose: Scammers know to target people age 50 or older From Page 1-SL “Today, people age 50-plus control more than 70 percent of the nation’s wealth, and scammers know it,” Haapala said in a press release. “Technology has made it easier for criminals to get access to personal information and money. Understanding the latest trends and tactics in fraud can help us all protect our own savings, as well as people who are more vulnerable.” Pacholl hopes residents and community members will take a lot away about the different topics during these presentations. “I hope that they will learn more about whatever sub-
Elderly Koreans bid tearful farewell after brief reunions
SEOUL, South Korea — Hundreds of elderly Koreans are weeping and embracing as they part — perhaps for good — after briefly reuniting for the first time in more than 60 years. About 390 South Koreans traveled to the North’s
ject we’re talking about,” she said. “Anything that has to do with seniors is our first priority, and also anything that’s going on in the community.” She hopes the programs will also help people learn about Primrose and the opportunities available, as Pacholl said many people want to see the retirement home but aren’t quite ready to move in. The programs are a good way for those already living at Primrose to talk with each other and those looking into moving in soon. Pacholl said future programs could feature more community members talking about things hap-
pening in the area, such as having someone come in to discuss the expansion of Austin Utilities. “We thought [people] are always interested in learning things about the community, and learning in general, so if we could find something that they find interesting that would be great,” Pacholl said. “Then they feel they can get the information first hand, versus just watching the news,” she added. Primrose Retirement Community of Austin, located at 1701 22nd Ave. SW, consists of 40 independent living apartment homes and 24 assisted-living apartment homes.
scenic Diamond mountain resort earlier this week to meet for three days with relatives they were separated from during the turmoil of the 1950-53 Korean War. They head back to South Korea on Thursday. Another group of 250 South Koreans will visit the mountain resor t from Saturday through Mon-
day for a second round of reunions. The rival Koreas occasionally arrange reunions of separated families. Reunions are extremely emotional as many applicants are in their 70s and older and are desperate to see their loved ones before they die. —Associated Press
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A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Senior Living
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015
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Nursing home leaders thank legislators for passage of bill with increased funding By Sam Wilmes
newsroom@austindailyherald.com
ALBERT LEA — Two legislators received a thank you from Good Samaritan Society Tuesday morning based on the passage of a bill that increased funding for senior living facilities. Reps. Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, and Joe Schomacker, R-Luverne, were given a tour of the facility. A short conference followed. “Thank you for sticking up for us and being our advocate at the Capitol,” said Good Samaritan Society Administrator Katie Davis.
As part of the payment new law, nursing facilities reform bill, Minnesota’s will be compensated on a nursing homes cost-based formuwill receive $138 la based on their million in new actual cost report. funding. The rev“ We r e a l l y enue isn’t dedistr ug gle to g et cated, meaning people working local facilities can here as nurses determine how to and nursing assisbest use the intants,” said Good come, whether Samaritan Society to increase staff Director of NursBennett wages, buy new ing Kelly Honstad. equipment or make prop- “I thank you for being superty enhancements. portive of long-term care. The law passed in the We’re going to be able to state Legislature’s 2015 leg- give the long-term care paislative session and goes tients deserve, and I thank into effect Jan. 1. Under the you.”
Cancer group’s mammogram advice: Start later and get fewer Associated Press
CHICAGO — The American Cancer Society now says women should start mammograms later in life and get fewer of them, a stance that puts the trusted group closer to an influential government task force’s advice. In new guidelines out Tuesday, the cancer society recommends that most women should begin annual screening for breast cancer at age 45 instead of 40, and switch to every other year at 55. The task force advises screening every other year starting at age 50. It’s not a one-size-fitsall recommendation; both groups say women’s preferences for when to be scanned should be considered. The advice is for women at average risk for breast cancer. Doctors generally recommend more intensive screening for higher-risk women, including those with specific genetic mutations. “The most important
message of all is that a mammogram is the most ef fective thing that a woman can do to reduce her chance of dying from breast cancer,” said Dr. Richard Wender, the cancer society’s cancer control chief. “It’s not that mammog rams are inef fective in younger women,” he said, but at age 40, breast cancer is uncommon and false alar ms are more likely. “Therefore, you’d have to do a lot more mammograms to prevent one death,” compared to older women, Wender said. Concer n about false alarms contributed to the cancer society’s new guidance. These lead to worry and more testing — they mean an initial result was suspicious but that cancer was ruled out by additional scans and sometimes biopsies. The latest guidelines acknowledge that some younger women are willing to accept that, and that for them starting annual exams at age 40 is fine, as long as they know the risks.
Bennett said the visit al- approximately 21 percent lowed her to thank the facil- increase. Good Samaritan ity’s staff. Society will see an “For our comincrease of about munity to show $1.7 million, an the value of our approximately 33 long-term care fapercent increase. cilities, we want The Legislature them to know we also passed two value that,” she scholarship prosaid. grams aimed at The legislaimproving longtors also visited Schomacker term care and the Thorne Crest Sehealth professionnior Living Community al workforce. Tuesday morning. In an infor mationAccording to a press al sheet distributed by release, in 2016 Thorne Schomacker, previous Crest will see $551,049 in nursing facility funding additional funding, an rates were described as
substandard, and private rates were described as being nearly $30 per patient below the average cost for that patient’s care. According to Schomacker, worker shortages at Minnesota’s nursing homes are keeping an estimated 1,500 senior citizens from being accepted by local care centers. Schomacker is touring long-term care facilities throughout the fall to gain a better indication of how the new law will affect facilities. He said more progress needs to be made for longterm care facilities.
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Senior Living
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015
A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
SHIP helps senior homes raise up local foods Austin Daily Herald
newsroom@austindailyherald.com
A Mower County health group is helping residents at many senior homes garden a little easier. T h e M owe r C o u n t y Statewide Home Improvement Project has recently worked to help bring raised community gardens at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and at senior home facilities, including St. Mark’s Lutheran Home, Grand Meadow Care Center, Comforcare Good Samaritan Center, Adams Health Care Center and Sacred Heart Care Center. The senior homes raised gardens are being installed this fall with the goal to have them ready for next year’s growing season. Not only will the raised gardens give the residents a chance to continue a hobby, but they will give them a chance to connect. “It’s really beneficial for the residents on a much bigger level on the social aspect,” Studier said. At the senior homes, the raised beds can help
Karissa Studier, coordinator for the Mower County Statewide Health Improvement Program, stands next to raised gardens on the west side of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Herald file photo
Read a full story on SHIP’s recent work at www.austindailyherald.com/?p=652409 extend the growing season, because they can be rolled indoors. The senior centers plan to start seeds inside before moving them outside.
“They’re excited,” Studier said. “They’re very excited for the opportunity to have some funding to kickstart some of these ideas.” Our Savior’s communi-
ty garden is starting small with the gardens next year after the land is given time to improve through sheet mulching. The gardens feature more traditional allotment plots for community members who don’t have space for gardens, but those community members have not been selected yet.
SUBMIT YOUR MILESTONES: Do you have a birthday, anniversary, wedding, birth or engagement announcement? Submit them for the Austin Daily Herald’s Spotlight section each Sunday via e-mail, jenae.hackensmith@austindailyherald. com; fax, 507-437-8644; phone, 507-434-2236 Announcements are free. The deadline is 5 p.m. Monday.
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Owatonna in Support of Alzheimer’s holds first Art for Hope event By Ashley Stewart Owatonna People’s Press
OWATONNA — In the storefronts of six downtown Owatonna businesses sit 12 masterpieces. These pieces are displayed on guitars that were donated to Owatonna in Support of Alzheimer’s this summer for a new fundraiser. “We wanted to do something different and fun that included our local artists’ talents,” said Deb Gillard with the organization. So, Owatonna in Support of Alzheimer’s took the donated guitars and turned them over to area artists. “We said, ‘Do whatever you do,’” Gillard said. That resulted in 12 original pieces using a variety of media, including oil, acrylic and spray paints, decoupage and stained glass, to transform the guitars. “We have everything from traditional art to whimsical,” Gillard said. “One is even playable. “I’m so pleased with the outcome. They’re all different and beautiful.” And on Saturday evening, the guitars will trade their places behind glass windows at Little Professor Book Center, Selective Looks, Central Park Cof-
fee, Tone Music, Owatonna Shoe and Kristi’s for center stage at the Owatonna in Support of Alzheimer’s inaugural Art for Hope benefit event. “They’re really the focus of the event,” Gillard said. The event, which replaces raffles and dinners held as fundraisers for the organization in the past, will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Owatonna Arts Center and feature a silent auction, live auction, hors d’oeuvres and live acoustic music from The Enablers. At 7 p.m., a social hour with hors d’oeuvres, live music and the silent auction will begin. Gillard said the silent auction will showcase watercolor artwork on old sheet music created by area individuals living with dementia, noting some of their stories will be shared during the event. “They’re really beautiful watercolors framed and matted,” she said. The proceeds for the event will go toward Owatonna in Support of Alzheimer’s, which was founded in 2009 by local families affected by Alzheimer’s and local community professional who work with dementia-specific individuals.
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