A guide to good living in the Brazos Valley
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Bradway
There’s e’ hope for treating referred e’s pain Pg. 2
Food
Freshen up warm-weather cuisine
Pg. 5
August 2013 • Vol. 9, Issue 1 • A monthly publication of the Bryan-College Station Eagle
Senior Games
The benefits of staying active later in life PAGE 8
What is considered separate property? PAGE 4
Understanding hypertension PAGE 6
Health benefits of caffeine PAGE 11
50plus August 2013 The Eagle • theeagle.com
There is hope for treating referred pain I am so discourag discouraged. aged. I’m not sure sur you can help, help but you’ve helped others other so her goes. I have pain in my here SI joint and have been to chiropractor opractors, opractor actors, neurosurge osur ons, osurge ons orthopedists physical orthopedists, ther therapists and massage massa therapists, therapists apists, and have tried supplements yoga supplements, yo and pain medications. But my pain never goes away permanently. manentl manently. This is affecting aff my mental state, as I feel hopeless. My quality of life lif is suff ing. suffer ing Wh can’t Why someone help me with my back pain?
LeON BraDwaY Dw DwaY First PHySical tHeraP HeraPy let me say, I’m sorry you are feeling hopeless and that you are still in pain. I’ve been treating pain patients for over 25 years, and I can tell you locating the cause can be diffi dif cult when the pain is referred. What this means is the pain originates elsewhere in the body, but you feel the pain in another part of the body. So you might have ha a tight hip or groin muscle or trigger points in those areas, but the pain is felt in and around your SI joint. Thus, treating the SI joint doesn’t address the underly under ing cause, and won’t eliminate the pain. With injections, you
may feel better initially due to the analgesic effect ef from the steroids, but it may not ha addressed the cause. have So the pain will continue to come back. Referred pain can be very diffi dif cult to diagnose. When examining a patient, one must have ha a thorough knowledge of the musculoskeletal system and adjoining fascia and visceral tissue to understand where other potential sources of pain originate. Because this can be diffi dif cult to diagnose, when examining the patient, one must be thorough and must evaluate other potential sources of pain. For example, if I were to examine you, I would likely do the following (assuming I don’t notice anything in your medical history that would alter my thoughts here): • Faber Test – patient lies down, flexes the hip, abducting the leg and rotating the hip. This puts pressure directly across the SI joint and hip adductor muscles. This test is perfor perf med to determine possible SI joint pain and muscular tightness around the hip. • Moderate Pressure Palpation (spine, pelvis and the paraspinal muscles) -- Palpation is necessary to discern what other soft tissue
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CONTENTS Memory Medic: How to improve memory 3 Financial Literacy: What is separate property? 4 Food: Freshen up warm-weather cuisine 5 Health: Understanding hypertension 6 Feature: Senior Games 8 Careers: Job hunting tips after 50 12
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mental images. 6. Compensate. Even in patients with severe impairments, some aspects of mem-ory, mem-ory such as subliminal or implicit memory, memory may ha been spared and can be exploited have to compensate for the lost ability. 7. Rehearse strategically. Memory rehearsal is more effecti effective fective if it is spread out over time rather than bunched into a few closely-spaced sessions. 8. Optimize use of associational cues. A “vanishing clues” approach can help. For example, in a rehearsal session, cued retrieval might begin with cueing the first three letters of a target word, then repeating later with two, then one and even-tually no letter cues. 9. Reduce recall mistakes. Trialand-error learning is generally less effective effecti fective than learning conditions that minimize error because error responses can get stored as memories that compete with the right answers. In short, it is better to not know than to generate wrong answers. 10. Use memory crutches. Using external memory aids (sticky notes, wall charts, notebooks, etc.) should help, bearing in mind, however, er that er, using such aids may themselves be
a memory task. It is like having ha a schedule calendar and forgetting to check the calendar. Smart phones and radio paging devices (“NeuroPage”) can be especially helpful because they remind the patient when to check on the stored infor inf mation. In some patients, repeated use of such aids develops a habit for target tasks and these may even generalize to certain non-target tasks. These 10 approaches are some of the same approaches that work especially well in people with normal memory capabilities. To make them work in patients with impaired memory just takes more effo ef rt, patience and time. Ptak, R., Van der Linden, M., and Schneider, hneider A. 2010. Cognitive hneider, rehabilitation of episodic memory memor disorders: disorder ders: from theory theor to practice. pr Frontiers ontier in Human Re-search ontiers -sear . 4 (57): -search 1-11. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2010.00057. William Klemm writes a memory memor blog, og Thankyo og, ank ubrain.b ankyo ubr logspot.com, and also al authored author the book, Memory Memor Power 101 and e-book, Better Grades Grades, ades, Less Effort Eff (available in all e-for e-f mats at Smashwords Smashwor .com).
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problem. Rehabilitation needs to take into account the type of memory therapy and the cause and severity of the impaired memory capability. Whatever affects af the brain affects af the memory: that can include nega-tive -ti -tive ef effects of stress, depression, obesity, obesity attention, poor nutrition, lack of exercise, etc. 3. Re-package infor inf mation to be remembered. New infor inf mation has to be re-packaged for memory-impaired people, so that it is in simple, concrete form, in small chunks and repeated frequently — with patients required to re-state the in-for in-f mation and make explicit associations with what they already know. (Notice how this sounds like the way one needs to teach young children). 4. Train attentive tenti ness. tentive Attenti ness to new infor Attentive inf mation can be enhanced by self-cueing, wherein patients remind themselves to be more attentive tenti at crucial mo-ments. tentive This can even be done by creating a conditioned reflex in which a cue signal conditions greater attentive tenti ness. tentive (Notice how this sounds like how you “clicker” train dogs). 5. Use mnemonic tips and tricks. This includes using acronyms, rhymes, stories, and constructing
August 2013
A few recent columns have ha pointed out a few adva ad ntages of getting older: 1) we de-velop learning and memory schemas from experience, and 2) cumulative ti experience tive generally empowers seniors to make better decisions. But most of us seniors experience some downside to Dr. BILL KLeMM getting older. Our tHe MeMOry MeDic bodies grow flabby and overweight. Physical ex-ercise can rehabilitate such bodies. Our minds may deteriorate with age: sleep becomes fragmented, and we become distractible and forgetful. Can mental exercise rehabilitate brains that have ha deteriorated because of disease or age? Maybe. A recent scholarly holar review has holarly examined the research literature on this issue, and arrive ri d at several rive useful conclusions. 1. Recognize the specific problem. The two common causes of forgetting, in both normal people and those with impaired memory, memory are a) failure to register new in-for in-f mation effecti effective fectively, ly and b) interference from conflicting sensations and thoughts. 2. Make rehab specific to the
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10 ways to make memory rehab work
S p o n s o re d b y
1 6 0 4 R o c k P ra i r ie R o a d • C S M e d C e n te r. c o m Official Healthcare Provider for Texas A&M Athletics
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What is considered separate property?
Separate property issues come into play in divorces and estates. The Texas rules of separate property are frequently misunderstood. Ignorance can cost a bundle of money. The distinction between separate property and community property in Texas is critical in the event of a divorce or death, especially when the deceased person did not have a will. Local board-certified family law attorney, Andrea James, gives us a peek into the complexity of separate property rules, TracY STewarT along with Financial literacy some tips about how to avoid separate property disputes when facing divorce. What is (and is not) separate roperty In Texas, separate property is property owned by the spouse before marriage; acquired during the marriage by gift, devise or inheritance; and recovery for personal injuries sustained by a spouse during the marriage (but not recovery for loss of earning capacity). For example, separate property might be income earned prior to the marriage; it might be inherited during
the marriage; and it might be the increase in value of separate property stock shares. Separate property is not the retirement account that you started after the marriage and contributed to through payroll deduction. It is also not dividends and interest earned on your separate property investments during your marriage. Those are just a few examples.
Commingling James gives an example of separate property problems when you do not have an appropriate prenuptial agreement (pre-nup) to protect your separate property. “Let’s say you have a separate property savings account. According to the rules, the interest earned on your separate property is not separate property. It is community property. Leaving the earned interest in the separate property savings account amounts to commingling. It starts out as separate property, but with the deposit of interest, which is community property, you may have inadvertently created problems with the characterization of that account. It is possible to lose the separate property character of property if you are not careful.” This might not be a big deal in a short marriage,
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but in a lengthy marriage or when commingling involves considerable wealth, mixing separate property with community property could amount to a mess. Expensive and detailed tracing work by an accountant might be required in attempting to identify the separate property from the community property. It is the burden of the separate property owner to prove the amount of separate property. You can have a situation where your separate property is so terribly mixed up with community property that is called hopelessly commingled. “There are situations in which you cannot recreate separate property because it has been so horribly commingled,” explains James.
Pre-nups are not magic A pre-nup is a premarital agreement that can, among other things, define separate property. It can’t guarantee all your separate property remains separate if you
ignore the rules established by statute and those established in the premarital agreement. Failing to prevent the commingling of separate property can defeat the intent of the pre-nup agreement. The gift James gives the example of the not uncommon story of the bride’s parents giving her a gift of land. “Are they giving the land to the couple or to their daughter? If it is meant as a married gift, the land becomes each of their separate property (half and half). There can be no gift of community property.” Let’s say the land was clearly a gift to their daughter. She and her fiancé did not negotiate and sign a pre-nup prior to the wedding. They are now happily married. They decide to build a home on her separate property land. The bank requires both their names to be on the land title in order to get the financing on the house. The title company
says the wife has to sign a document showing she made a gift of part of the land to her husband. She signs the paper and puts his name on the land title so the house can be financed in both names, using the dirt as collateral. Since there is no such thing in Texas as a gift of community property, they each now have a separate property interest in the entire property - house and land. James explains that when you put someone’s name on a deed, there is a very strong argument that it was a gift. “Is it really a gift or is it intended to be for another reason? Putting someone’s name on a deed merely to facilitate a loan creates havoc down the road. In a divorce the judge has jurisdiction to, and must make a “just and right” division of the community property. But the judge has no authority over separate property. The court is not
See Stewart page 15
Metro Creati Cr ve Connection
When the weather is warm, many people are inspired to expand their culinary horizons and look for foods that are light, fresh and satisfying. Although warm-weather cooking may call to mind backyard barbecues, there is much more to seasonal dining than charbroiled frankfurters
and beef patties. Taking a fresh approach to cooking can yield a number of new and innovative ti meals. tive Cool down When the temperature is high, few people want to fill their stomachs with heavy, heavy vy, hot foods. Instead of cooking up a batch of stew, reinve in nt recipes for inve
Anthony Soriano, M.D. Family Medicine
Kimiye Cabrera, M.D. General Surgery
Sa ry sandwiches Savo Who says sandwiches are only for lunch? When the weather is warm and families are busy hurrying here and there, sandwiches make for fast and portable meals. Grilled vegetables paired with grilled mushrooms can make hearty, ty satisfying ty, sandwiches that are relative ti ly tive low in calories. Previously grilled chicken can be shredded and turned into chicken salad when mixed with Greek yogurt and apple cider vinegar. Even standard cold cuts can be give gi n a new twist when turned into coldstyle reubens by being topped with cole-slaw or chilled sauer sauerkraut on gourmet slices of herbed bread. Pastas and casseroles Much as warm-weather soups can be served cool, so
Ken Hillner, M.D. Family Medicine
Eric South, D.O. Family Medicine
can pastas and casseroles. Pasta is a versatile food that can be paired with traditional salad ingredients or mixed with vegetables or dressings to make a variety of differ dif ent dishes. Baked casseroles can be served at room temperature for pot-luck meals in the yard or brought along when visiting friends and family. Chunks of mushrooms, summer squash, eggplant and garlic can be sauteed and baked together to make a hearty and flavo fla rful vegetable casserole. Seaf Seafood Lobster shrimp and clams Lobster, can be harvested from the coast and then cooked on the grill or over an open fire. For those who want chilled seaf seafood, opt for shrimp cocktail or head out for a sushi and sashimi meal at a local restaurant. Warm-weather dining means exploring differ dif ent fla r options to find lighter flavo fare.
Graciela Villadóniga, M.D. Pediatrics
Robert Schmidt, M.D. Ear, Nose & Throat
Robin Bhavsar, M.D. Urology
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Jennifer Bhavsar, M.D. Family Medicine
of lettuce leave lea s and other greens, use vinaigrettes made from citrus fruits to add both sweetness and tartness to dishes.
August 2013
Embrace salads While salads may be relegated to side dishes for most of the year, ar they tend to ar, take center stage when the weather is warm. The addition of fresh berries, grapes or raisins can lend a differ dif ent flavo fla r to salads. Think about topping salads with grilled fish or chicken to add more substance to salads serving as entire meals. Rather than using heavy hea dressings that may end up covering the delicate flavo fla rs
Salads are a summertime staple. Freshen them up with different dif ingredients to expand your culinary horizons.
THE HEALTH SYSTEM FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT JUST THE RIGHT DOCTOR.
a warm-weather spin. For example, experiment with chilled soups. Borscht is a beet-based soup of Eastern European origin that is very often served cold. Other vegetables or fruits can be pureed and served as a cold summer soup. Gazpacho, a Spanish tomato-based soup, is the most widely known cold soup. However, er cucumberer, and avocado-based soups and creamed vegetable soups also can be enjoyed chilled.
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Freshen up warm-weather cuisine
Bobby Niemann, M.D. Neurology
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Understanding and fighting hypertension go hand in hand Hypertension, often referred to as high blood pressure, affects millions of people across the globe. According to the American Heart Association, more than 76 million adults in the United States alone have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. But even children and teens can suffer from hypertension, making it a formidable but largely preventable foe.
Understanding high blood pressure, or HBP, may encourage adults and children alike to take steps to maintain a healthy blood pressure, which can reduce their risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.
What is HBP? HBP is often associated with men and women who are considered to be constantly on edge, nervous or hyperactive. But even laid back men, women and children can suffer from HBP. As a person’s heart beats, it creates pressure that pushes blood through the body’s arteries and veins. Those arteries are made of muscle and a semi-flexible tissue that stretches when the blood is pumped through them. The more forcefully that blood is pumped, the more that flexible tissue is stretched. When the tissue is stretched too much, a person is at an increased risk of suffering from a host of problems, including blood clots, plaque buildup that can lead to heart attack and stroke, and tissue and organ damage from arteries that have narrowed or become blocked.
Are there symptoms of HBP?
The AHA notes that HBP is typically devoid of symptoms. So people suffering from HBP may not know it if they have not routinely had their blood pressure checked. Over the years many myths have prevailed regarding HBP. Such myths can be dangerous, giving people a false sense of security regarding their blood pressure. For example, in the early 1900s it was assumed that people with high blood pressure experienced more frequent headaches than those with healthy blood pressure. However, a study published in the journal Neurology found that people with high blood pressure were significantly less likely to have headaches than those with healthy pressure readings. Nosebleeds have also been linked to high blood pressure, but one study found that 83 percent of patients treated for high blood pressure did not suffer from nosebleeds. Debunking such myths is important, as it further emphasizes the need to receive routine blood pressure readings as the only reliable means for men, women and children to determine if they have high, low or healthy blood pressure. Anyone experiencing frequent headaches or nosebleeds should consult a physician but should not assume such occurrences are a byproduct of high blood pressure.
• Beet juice: A study from British researchers published by the AHA in its journal Hypertension found that a glass of beet juice can lower blood pressure in a matter of hours.
• Low-fat dairy products: A 2008 study that examined nearly 30,000 women at an average age of 54 found that those who consumed the most low-fat dairy products, including skim or low-fat milk, were significantly less likely to develop high blood pressure than those who consumed dairy products that were high in fat. HBP is a common problem that affects millions of people of all ages across the globe. There are several ways men, women and children can reduce their risk of HBP and lower their blood pressure if it’s already high.
Routine blood pressure screenings are often the only way men and women can learn if they are suffering from high blood pressure.
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Can certain foods help reduce high blood pressure? One rumor concerning HBP actually has some merit. A heart-healthy diet that includes the following foods can help men, women and children manage their blood pressure and reduce HBP if necessary: • Blueberries: Blueberries contain anthocyanin, a natural compound that a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found can protect the body against HBP. • Whole grain cereal: A Harvard University study found that whole grain cereals that are high in fiber can reduce a person’s risk of developing HBP.
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Metro Creative Connection
Maintaining or adopting a healthy lifestyle involves a host of factors. Getting off the couch to be more active is one such factor, as is taking control of your diet so it’s helping you and not hurting you.
Choose lean meat when buying red meat, but don’t overdo it even if you are buying lean meat. Red meat once per week might be enough to satisfy your craving, so enjoy poultry and fish for dinner on other nights of the week.
Another way to alter your recipes is to replace potentially harmful ingredients with lower-calorie alternatives. When preparing a meal that calls for butter, choose a more heart-healthy alternative such as a low-calorie butter spread. You likely won’t be able to taste the difference, but your body will feel the difference.
• Alter your recipes. Many of the foods you enjoy may not be unhealthy. But how you prepare those foods could be compromising their nutritional value or unnecessarily adding calories and causing weight gain. For example, fried foods are typically loaded with salt and contain more calories than foods that are baked or grilled. Foods that are fried are typically fried in oil, and that oil undergoes changes to its molecular structure during the frying process. The molecules become harmful free radicals that can damage the body’s cells while negatively affecting your cholesterol levels and your body weight. Instead of frying foods like fish or chicken,
• Plan your snacks. Many people run into trouble when they find themselves hungry in the hours between lunch and dinner. Healthy snacks that are rich in nutrients do not seem as readily available as snacks like potato chips or cookies that provide little or no nutritional value. But snack time does not have to be a daily sacrifice of discipline in favor of convenience. Plan ahead for snack time just as you do for meal time, packing items like fresh fruit, diced-up vegetables or lowfat yogurt when you leave for work each morning. These foods can satisfy hunger just as successfully as their less healthy alternatives, but they won’t do so at the cost of your
Choosing fresh fruits like melons instead of potato chips at snack time is one way for men and women to maintain a healthy weight. waistline. Food is too often seen as the enemy for men and women looking to maintain a healthy weight. But when you choose nutrient-rich, low-fat foods, then maintaining a healthy weight becomes a lot easier.
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• Choose the right foods. Many people feel the culprit behind their unhealthy weight is the portions they consume. While portion size might have something to do with it, the foods you’re eating are likely the primary suspect. If your diet is devoid of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and the dairy products you choose are not fat-free or lowfat, then this could be why you have difficulty maintaining a healthy weight. Choose low-fat or fat-free, formerly known as “skim,” milk and
grill or bake them instead. It’s alright to occasionally indulge in some fried chicken or other popular fried foods, but keep such indulgences to a minimum.
August 2013
While adopting a more active lifestyle is a relatively simple step for many people, modifying a diet is oftentimes a much steeper hill to climb. Dietary habits can be hard to break. But altering your selections so the food you consume is helping you instead of hurting you is possible, and you won’t have to abandon your favorite foods, either. The following are a few tips aimed at helping you make your diet work for you.
dairy products instead of whole milk for your morning cereal or when preparing recipes that call for cheese. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains each day.
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Brazos Valleyy Senior Games Aug Aug. 15 - 18 The benefits of stayying active after 50 By HOLLI L. KOSTER
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Why stay active? Events like the Senior Games are designed to encourage seniors to stay more active, acti said Rodgers – an effo ef rt experts say will pay off of big for people over 50 years old. Dani Fallon, Joint Care coordinator for My Orthopedic Solutions at College Station Medical Center, Center said seniors sometimes feel discouraged, because they think they are unable to exercise. “Sometimes seniors think exercise isn’t good for them, that they are too heavy hea or they have ha a medical condition that would inhibit them from exercising,” said Fallon. “And, sometimes they are not educated on exercising.” While some seniors may have ha worked hard in their youth – as ranchers, for example – or were otherwise active acti when they were younger, er er, they may think that their later years are a time to rest more, she said. Still others, Fallon said, assume that a health condition – such as arthritis, diabetes or obesity – would preclude them from exercising. But in reality, ality it’s the opposite, Fallon said. ality, “There have ha been numerous studies about the benefits of low-level exercise, especially with arthritis,” said Fallon. “Walking “W and yoga, for example, are just a few suggestions for helping arthritis pain. They say ‘if you don’t move it, you lose it.’ That is true in this case.” Sometimes people also think that they are as strong as they need to be, and women think that they will get bulky if they lift weights, she said. “Y are not going to bulk up unless you are “You supplementing your diet with protein to build those muscles,” Fallon said. “There are loads of studies in frail elderly elder showing health is improved just by doing exercises.” In fact post-menopausal women who have ha low bone density can benefit from high-impact exercise that builds bone mineral density in the knees and back. Seniors who exercise also will see cognitive gniti gnitive benefits because people who exercise regularly gular gularly get more endorphins in their system – a natural chemical that makes people happy and provides a natural way of combating depression. Plus, the vascular efficiencies ef gained by exercise boost memory and reduce the risk for dementia. For seniors just getting into exercise, Fallon said it’s best to talk to a doctor to make sure there is not a reason to run a test befor bef e exercise and to determine what is doable. Also, seniors should check with therapy clinics to see if they have ha a wellness program, as some charge a small out-of-pocket fee for these programs. At a clinic, Fallon said medical staff staf can monitor and keep an eye on patients, as well as make recommendations on a workout as long as it is not considered treatment. Fallon said it is important to change up the routine fairly ir often, to do differ irly dif ent training on differ dif ent days.
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As many as 450 senior athletes from across the state are gathering in College Station this month, to compete in the 2013 Brazos Valley Senior Games. The games, which will be held Aug. 15 through Aug. 18, include competitions in 13 sports, including track and field, swimming and basketball. There’s also horseshoes, washers, a Road Race (a 5K event) and pickleball (a racquet sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis). “W are seeing adults staying active “We acti longer, er and there’s a real er, demand for fitness and health-related programs,” said Marci Rodgers, senior services coordinator for the City of College Station, which is sponsoring the event. “The Senior Games offers of a really fun way for seniors to stay active acti for as long as they can.” Rodgers said many athletes participating in the event have ha been invo in lved in sports their entire live li s, and some have ha picked up sports for the first time, since retirement.
While 2013 will mark mar the city’s first time to sponsor the games, the event has taken place annuall ually for eight years. For the first few years, a board comprised of locals interested in bringing Senior Games to the area worked through the Bryan-College Station Conve Con ntion and Visitors Bur Bureau to host the event. The competitions will occur mostl mostly during the morning at City of Bryan, City of College Sta Station and Texas A&M Unive Uni rsity sporting venues. Seniors over the age of 50, from as far away as San Antonio, will play in the Colle College Station games. Rodgers said seniors also have ha e an option of participating in state and national Senior Games. Senior athletes do not need to qualify in a local event in order to participate in the 2014 Texas State Senior Games Championship Championship, which will take place in San Antonio in March. As for the local games, Rodgers ers said they will start small and hopefully grow over the coming y years. For more infor inf mation on the Senior Games, including a full list of events, visit http://tsga.org or call 979-764-3486.
August 2013
August 2013
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August 2013
Ongoing
Sit and Fit Chair Exercises - Get a workout while sitting in a chair. Seniors meet at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, every Tuesday and Thursday, from noon to 12:45 p.m. For more details, contact the center at 979-7646351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov. Line Dancing - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, holds line dancing for seniors on Tuesdays from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact the center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@ cstx.gov. Bluegrass Jam Session – Bluegrass Jam Session is held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. All levels welcome to participate. Bring string instruments and a friend. For more details, contact the center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@ cstx.gov. Friday Bridge - Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station, offers of bridge for seniors every Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov. Bible Study at Lincoln Center - Join other seniors every Thursday morning at the Lincoln Center, 1000 Eleanor St. in College Station, for Bible Study starting at 9:15 a.m. Contact Annie Williams at Lincoln Center at 979-764-3779 or
Aug. 7
Computer Club for Seniors – Sarah Adams will present “Social Media,” a lesson on staying in touch with friends and family. Meetings are held at the Carter’s Creek Training Room, 2200 North Forest Parkway in College Station, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Free, and no pre-registration needed. For more information contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.
Aug. 15
supplies are included. Cost is $25. To register online visit rectrac.cstx.gov, contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department at 979-764-3486 or visit the College Station Parks and Recreation Department at 1000 Krenek Tap Road. For more information contact College Station Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov. Senior Games – Senior Games will be held Aug. 15 – 18. Men and women 50 years of age or older will compete in track and field, swimming, basketball, cycling, horseshoes, washers, tennis, bowling, runs, pickleball, golf, volleyball and disc golf throughout the community. For a complete list of events and locations, contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department at 979-764-3486 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.
Aug. 20
Nutrition education - Texas AgriLife presents nutrition education with Flora Williams, who will demonstrate healthy cooking and recipes at Lincoln Center, 1000 Eleanor in College Station, starting at 10 a.m. For more information, contact Annie Williams at Lincoln Center at 979-764-3779 or awilliams@cstx. gov.
or Historical Society?” All are welcome to join the group on the third Wednesday of the month at the Carter’s Creek Training Room, 2200 North Forest Parkway in College Station, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. For more information, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-7646351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov. Exploring History Luncheon with Red Cashion - The College Station Historic Preservation Committee and the College Station Parks and Recreation Department present monthly lectures on the history of the community. Red Cashion will speak on his life, including his experience as one of the most recognizable sports officials in NFL history. Held at Aldersgate Church, 2201 Earl Rudder Freeway South. A reservation is necessary for lunch; the cost is $5. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. The speaker will begin at noon. Make reservations by the Friday before; call 979-7646351 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov.
Aug. 26
Senior Advisory Committee meeting - The Senior Advisory Committee meets on the last Monday of each month at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road,
Aug. 21
Movie and Popcorn “42” Jackie Robinson Story – Free moving showing starts at 1 p.m. For more information contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@ cstx.gov. Folk painting - A oneday project workshop to learn the basics of folk art techniques will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at Southwood Community Center. All
Genealogy Computer User Group - The topic is “Why Join Another Genealogy, Heritage
Living life
See Calendar pa 15 page
at Waldenbrooke Estates
We have 2 one-bedroom apartment homes available! enjoy large walk-in closets, a fully equipped kitchen, large living area, and a private patio. your rate includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as transportation, weekly housekeeping and linen service.
Comfort Keepers provides the kind of non-medical in-home care services that help people maintain full and independent lives, liv all in the comfort and familiar surroundings of their own ow home. We would be happy to arrange a free in-home visit to help you learn more. • Light Housekeeping Errands, Shopping • Incidental Transportation • Laundry • Recreation, Crafts • Grooming, Dressing • Pe Personal rsonal Care Care Se Serv Services rvices ices
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awilliams@cstx.gov for more information Exercising with Arthritis – Free “Exercise with Arthritis” class held every Thursday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Lincoln Center, 1000 Eleanor in College Station . Contact Annie Williams at Lincoln Center at 979-764-3779 or awilliams@cstx.gov for more information. 42 dominoes - Seniors meet every Thursday to play 42 at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. New players welcome. For more information, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx. gov.
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The pitfalls of caffeine consumption are well known, but the various health benefits of caffeine are often overlooked. Excessive caffeine can make a person jittery and unable to fall asleep. However, caffeine can also prevent disease by boosting the immune system.
• Fights damage-causing free radicals: Free radicals are molecules in the body that can attack healthy cells and cause damage that precipitates disease. Antioxidants are substances that eliminate free radicals in the body. Recent studies have shown that caffeine’s antioxidant activity actually fights free radicals quite well. In a study published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, the different chemical mechanisms of caffeine were studied in relation to free radicals. Researcher Jorge Rafael Leon-Carmona of Mexico found that a mechanism called radical adduct formation, or RAF, was the main reason caffeine can protect against damage from free radicals. • Improves memory and brain function: Harvard University researchers have determined that men who
• Helps the heart: Although caffeine can cause blood pressure to rise because it constricts the arteries, caffeine does not appear to contribute much to the development of heart disease. In fact, scientists at Brooklyn College found people who drank four cups of caffeinated coffee daily had a 53 percent lower risk of dying of heart disease than those who didn’t consume a cup of Joe. Individuals who do not already have hypertension can tolerate moderate coffee drinking, and over time their bodies actually may become accustomed to the temporary rise in blood pressure. • Aids with type 2 diabetes risk reduction: More than 125,000 participants were studied in a 20-year look at coffee consumption and its potential relationship to type 2 diabetes. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham & Women’s Hospital have found individuals who drank
• Alleviates headaches: Caffeine is often a hidden component of analgesics. Working in conjunction with the pain medication, caffeine helps the body absorb the pain reliever more efficiently. This requires a smaller amount of the drug and brings relief faster. Some other people surmise that since caffeine is a natural mood booster, it also helps the body to feel better faster. Following this line of thinking, caffeine may help to prevent other pain associated with exercise, fibromyalgia and arthritis. Sometimes caffeine is seen as the villain in a healthy
living plan. Yet there is much research and ever-evolving
theories that caffeine may be more help than hindrance.
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Though few might be willing to say with certainty that caffeine is “good” for you, caffeine does have its strong points.
caffeinated coffee lowered their risk for type 2 diabetes considerably. Men saw a 50 percent reduced risk, and women saw their risk reduced by 30.
August 2013
Caffeine is a bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid that acts as a psychoactive stimulant drug. It is a naturally produced plant product that is most often found in coffee beans, tea and cocoa. Whether caffeine addiction is real or not is open for debate; however, regular coffee drinkers who stop drinking coffee have experienced caffeine withdrawal symptoms. In the last 60 years, researchers have conducted thousands of studies on caffeine and they’re continuing to study whether or not it’s addictive.
drink four cups of caffeinated coffee a day are half as likely to develop Parkinson’s disease as those who don’t. The results are believed to be linked to caffeine’s stimulation of dopamine production in the body. Dopamine is a brain chemical that is responsible for alertness, problem-solving capabilities and feelings of pleasure. An Austrian study says caffeine can boost cognitive abilities for about 45 minutes, which means it may help individuals score better on tests or perform better in business meetings. There is also evidence that caffeine can delay or prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. That’s because caffeine can block adenosine receptors in the brain. Adenosine slows down the neurological system so that the body can relax. However, adenosine may also contribute to the buildup of amyloid-beta, a toxic brain plaque that’s associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
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The health benefits of caffeine could outweigh the negative aspects
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Job hunting tips for men and women over 50
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August 2013
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Though the job marke mar t has improved in recent years, many men and women are still out of work. Perhaps most troubling, many of those people are age 55 and older who are fearful of an uncertain future and a job marke mar t where they are seemingly overlook er erlook ed. According to a 2012 study from the Government Accountability Office Of , the number of long-term unemployed people age 55 and older has more than doubled since the onset of the recession. For many unemployed men and women over the age of 50, the harsh reality of a job marke mar t that does not value their experience or skill set is deeply disconcerting. But as difficult dif as the job marke mar t can be for older men and women, it’s not impossible to find a job, though it might take some ingenuity and perseverance. • Don’t limit yourself. Those who were victimized by layoffs ff ffs should expand their job searches to more than just their previous fields. While it’s definitely a good idea to maintain contacts in your old field and routinely look for openings in that field, it’s also a good idea to examine your skill set and experience and find a new field where these things apply. Chances are your years of experience
are transferable to many fields, and redirecting your job hunting effo ef rts to a new line of work might yield opportunities you are not even aware existed. • Embrace the 21st century. Many companies or organizations mistakenly assume that the digital age has passed older workers by. Workers in their 50s might be unfair unfairly airly categorized as dinosaurs with no grasp of mobile technology or the latest software programs. But those applicants who can demonstrate their proficiency in the latest technologies, including mobile technologies like smartphones, tablets and social media, can put themselves above fellow applicants. • Start working. If you are mired in long-term unemployment and spend every day at home, get out and start working. Volunteering is a great way to lift your spirits, network or with ork other professionals and maybe even learn of employment opportunities you won’t hear about on the couch at home. And volunteering, be it with a charity or a professional organization, is a great way to revive vi your resume vive and continue to add accomplishments despite your unemployment. • Emphasize your age. Many unemployed men and women over 50 tend to look at their age as a
hindrance that is preventing them from finding gainful employment. But your age can be an adva ad ntage, as many organizations find older applicants are more reliable and need less time to adapt than younger applicants with less experience. When emphasizing your age as a positive, positi don’t focus on job titles, which many other unemployed men and women your age likely highlight on their resumes. Instead, focus on specific achievements and accomplishments and reduce the emphasis you place on job tasks. Achievements tend to stand out above titles, and men and women over 50 likely have ha achieved more than younger, er less experienced applicants. er, • Think small. Smaller companies wherein employees tend to wear many hats are more likely to value experience than a larger company. By the age of 50, many professionals have ha vast experience in a host of differ dif ent positions, and that versatility is likely to appeal to a small company looking for employees who can multitask. Finding a job after the age of 50 isn’t easy. But taking a broad approach and emphasizing as opposed to downplaying your experience might help you stand out among a crowded pool of applicants.
The number of long-term unemployed people age 55 and older has more mor than doubled since the onset of the recession.
Did you know? The Baby Boomer generation is one of the most influential demographics in the world today. Boomers represent roughly 28 percent of the total population of the United States, according to “Baby Boomer” magazine, and this means they are the largest generational segment as well as the single largest economic group in the United States. They hold 70 percent of the U.S. wealth and are expected to inherit millions of dollars over the course of the next 20 years. Baby boomers comprise a population of adults who were born between 1946 and 1964. That makes boomers people who are
It ’s your time. between 49 and 67 years old. Many of these baby boomers ha grown to be have household names and influential indi individuals in all areas of business. Actor Brad Pitt is a baby boomer, boomer as is President of the United States Barack Obama. Director Peter Jackson, singer k.d. lang and business mogul Donald Trump all belong to the baby boomer generation. Here are some additional facts and figures about baby boomers: • Baby boomers ha more have
discretionary income than any other age group. • Baby boomers own 80% of the money in savings sa and loan associations. • Baby boomers spend more money than other groups. • Baby boomers account for near half of all nearly consumer demand. Baby boomers ha been known have to have ha an unprecedented impact on American culture, society and the economy, and that influence is bound to continue for several more years.
Brenda Sims lives life to the fullest. So when a look in the mirror showed her teeth weren’t keeping up, she made the call to Dr. Michael Reece.
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many of their possessions. This is a simple space issue, as the rooms in a typical nursing home cannot accommodate a life’s worth of keepsakes and possessions. But that doesn’t mean men and women have ha to lea everything leave behind. Encourage your loved one to bring along some possessions, such as his or her family photos, a fa rite chair or favo When moving a relative into a nursing home, find smaller mementos a facility that’s close to home so men and women can from places he still enjoy regular contact with friends and relatives. or she visited Many of today’s nursing homes throughout his provide facilities where residents can or her life. Such items can make a access the Internet. If not, speak to nursing home seem less antiseptic the staff staf and ask if your relative ti can tive and more like a home. bring his or her own computer. If • Set up an e-mail account for your your relative ti will be able to routinely tive loved one. If your loved one still has access the Internet, consider his or her mental health, then set him purchasing a digital subscription to or her up with an e-mail account. This the local newspaper so he or she can allows your loved one to maintain further maintain a connection to the daily contact with family and friends. community.
August 2013
Many older men and women find the transition to a nursing home somewhat difficult. dif Men and women tend to see a move to a nursing home as a step toward surrendering their independence, and this can be a dif difficult hurdle for seniors and their loved ones to overcome. Adding to the difficulty dif is the fact that many men and women move into nursing homes because their physical or mental status requires the help of a professional nursing staff, staf leaving lea family members with little to no recourse when aging relative ti s protest tive the move. But there are ways to ease a loved one’s transition into a nursing home. • Keep a positive positi attitude. The stress of moving an aging relative ti into tive a nursing home can be significant for all parties invo in lved. But focusing on the positive positi s of nursing homes, such as around-the-clock care and daily acti activities , can help aging relative ti s tive look at nursing homes in a new light. In addition, family members who familiarize themselves with nursing homes will begin to see they are often great places for aging men and women to socialize with others their age while receiving cei ceiving the care and attention they need. When discussing the move to a nursing home, focus on
these positive positi s and your relative ti will tive be more likely to follow your lead. • Choose a nursing home that’s close to home. One of the more dif difficult parts of transitioning to a nursing home is the notion that men and women are leaving lea their live li s behind once they move into a home. Choosing a nursing home that’s close to home and makes routine visits from friends and relative ti s possible tive enables men and women maintain a connection to their current lifestyle. A home that is miles and miles away from a person’s support system can foster feelings of isolation and loneliness. • Plan trips with your loved one. Just because an aging relative ti live tive li s in a nursing home does not mean he or she can no longer trave tra l. If a relative ti is healthy enough to trave tive tra l, include them on family trips and outings. This includes more routine events like weekly Sunday dinners, kids’ sporting events and other extracurricular activities acti . The more in lved your aging relative invo ti are in tive the daily life of your family, the more likely they are to see the adva ad ntages of living li in a nursing home. • Encourage your loved ones to take some personal items with them. When moving into a nursing home, men and women must leave lea behind
50plus
Helping a loved one adapt to a nursing home
Ronny nn Baker B.S.,A.C.A. nny 2805 Earl Rudder Freeway S. College Station • 979.680.8808 centraltexasent.com 2010 Business Performance Award
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Different conditions comprise low vision
The Eagle • theeagle.com
August 2013
Metro Creati Cr ve Connection
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Millions of people have ha significant visual impairments that can make daily life challenging. Although many vision problems are readily treated with corrective cti lenses, treating low ctive vision may not be so simple. “Low vision” is a term used to describe the inability to see clearly ear . early Even after correcting for vision with glasses or contact lenses, many people still cannot see well and test at lower than 20/40 vision. The American Academy of Ophthalmology defines low vision as what happens if ordinary eyeglasses, contact lenses or intraocular lens implants do not provide a person with clear vision. Anyone with reduced vision that is not corrected by some method of lenses or surgery is considered to have ha low vision or be visually impaired. Low vision may cause slight vision loss or even blindness. Causes of low vision There are many factors that contribute to the onset of low vision, including disease, aging, injury, injury and heredity. The following are some of the more common causes of low vision. • Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): This is a common eye condition among people age 50 and older. In fact, it is the leading cause of vision loss in older adults, says the National Eye Institute. When a person has AMD, the macula, which is the most sensitive sensiti part of the retina responsible for fine-tuning images receive cei d by the eye, deteriorates and ceive does not work properly oper . Though there operly might be some vision, images won’t be clear. The most common form of age-related macular degeneration is known as nonexudative, ti tive, or “dry” form. This generally causes vision loss that develops gradually. More rapid and severe vision loss comes from exudative, ti tive, or the “wet” form, of macular degeneration. This occurs when abnormal blood vessels develop under the macula and leak fluid and blood. • Cataracts: Cataracts are a clouding of the lens of the eye that usually develops with aging. It may be present at birth or be the result of an injury to the eye. Depending on the severity of the cloudiness of the lens, vision can be impacted greatly. Cataracts may form as a result of long-term exposure to ultraviolet ultra light, exposure to ionizing radiation, secondary effects ef of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and adva ad nced age, or trauma. • Glaucoma: When a person has glaucoma, eye damage occurs to his or her eye when there is a buildup of fluid pressure within the eye, also known as intraocular pressure. This pressure can damage the optic nerve
and cause visual field loss, which over time might escalate to blindness. Glaucoma is often dubbed “the silent thief of sight,” because in most cases it progresses slowly and vision loss is not immediately apparent. • Diabetic retinopathy: Vision can fluctuate daily as a result of diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy can cause blood vessels in the retina to develop abnormal off-shoots of that leak blood and interfere with vision, eventually causing severe damage to the retina. • Retinal detachment: This occurs when the retina separates from its under ing layer. The portion that underly detaches may be rendered useless and cause total impairment of vision. Some retinas can be surgically reattached, and vision may be restored partially if surgery occurs promptly. • Aniridia: Aniridia occurs when the iris, which is responsible for controlling the diameter and size of the pupils and regulating the amount of light reaching the retina, fails to develop normally. If the iris is not functioning properly operly, operly ly, extreme sensiti sensitivity to light and an inability to see clearly ear may result. early
least every year and may need to be more frequent if a person is suffering suf from deteriorating vision. If caught
early, early ly, many eye conditions can be managed to help prevent further loss of vision.
Treatment for low vision Treatment cannot begin until your vision is assessed by a professional. An optometrist may conduct various vision acuity tests to determine what might be the cause of vision loss. Each type of low vision problem requires a dif ent approach differ to treatment, so Symptoms of Hormone Problems: it’s important to correctly diagnose Increa eased Belly Fat Heart Disease He the problem befor bef e Decr creased Energy ergy er Diabetes/Prediabetes Diabete beginning treatment. Poor or Sleep Quality Some treatment Depression/Anxiety De ion/Anxiety ion/ Decr creased Libido options for low Thinning Hair vision may include High Cholesterol specialized optical Thyroid Th Hot Flashes (Women) (W systems, video Hysterectomy (women) Hy omen) Difficult Periods (Women) (W magnification, therapeutic filters, or If you have any of these symptoms... special prescription glasses. There also Call to schedule your FREE Consultation may be the need to perf m eye exercises perfor that help maximize existing visual function. Individuals Indi may have ha to use a combination of devices to find the ones that help the best. Only a doctor can determine the culprit behind vision loss. Routine visual exams 422 Tarrow Street, Colleg llege Station are recommended at
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from page pa 4 authorized to dive di st a spouse of his or her interest in separate property.” Fast forward several years – can this wife re-establish her separate property? James has the answer: “She may be able to fix this situation with an agreement after the fact. There are now provisions in the law that authorize the parties to enter into a written agreement conve con rting community property into separate property or separate property into community property. However, er er, every situation is unique, and there is no guarantee you will be able to remedy the problems after the fact. Everybody needs to be on the same page and make every effo ef rt to avoid
from page pa 2
not limited to the death of a spouse who has no will. Similar legal tangles arise if the deceased spouse had not periodically reviewed her will and made changes to ensure that the distribution of her estate consistent was with her desires.” Separate property rules are complex. Many couples get into legal snar because they were not aware snarls of the legal issues that can arise. Whether you are considering a gift of separate property to an adult child or you have ha inherited separate property, ty ty, learning Texas separate property rules can be well worth the time and expense.
the cause, not necessary where you were initially feeling pain (SI joint). So I may be treating muscles and trigger points along your spine, hip or buttock to address the pain in and around your SI joint. Thus, I may be working on an area other than the one you have ha been complaining about, which can seem confusing. Referred pain can be challenging, but a knowledgeable and skilled provider should be able to locate the source of your pain and have ha a number of procedures available to treat your condition, eventually eliminating your pain. With someone who has had a problem for some time, the treatment process can take a little longer because painful sites need to be relieved and muscle strength rebalanced in order to eliminate the cause. By inve in stigating your
complaints through discussion, tests and manual palpations, a skilled physical therapist can locate and treat the cause of the pain versus the symptoms. This will result in a more lasting solution to your pain problem. The underly under ing cause of a person’s pain can seem allusive allusi . But it is important to take the time to perf m a thorough inve perfor in stigation of the neuromuscular system to determine the source of the pain so we don’t end up treating the symptoms and not the real problem.
When patients have ha pain, they often modify their movement patterns to protect the painful area, causing other areas to become painful. So we ha to treat the pain layer by layer have until we have ha resolved the original cause of the pain problem. Don’t lose hope; there is an answer, but it may be dif difficult to uncover.
starting at 10 a.m. Visitors welcome. For more information call 979-7646371 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov.
Community Center with DJ Tom Byer from 7 to 9 p.m. at Southwood Community Center. Free admission. Light refreshments will be served, and door prizes will be given away. For more information call 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov.
Aug. 28
Aug. 30
Calendar
from page pa 10
Casino Day and Luncheon – Event will include casino games, food and prizes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Southwood Community Center. Free lunch and games. Call 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov to make a reservation, which is necessary to attend.
Aug. 29
Summer Dance - Enjoy an evening of dancing at Southwood
Bingo and Birthday Celebration - Seniors are invited on the last Friday of each month to celebrate birthdays for that month with cake and bingo. Join the fun at 1 p.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road. Prizes provided for Bingo. For more information, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or College Station Parks and Recreation Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.
Contac nt t Trac ntac Tracy acy B. Stewart, CPA, CP PFS, PFS CF CDFA, CFF, CDF CFP® CF through ug her blog at ugh www.Texas www.T .TexasDi exasDivorceFin eF ance.com. eFin
Leon Brad Br way is a doctor of phys ph ical therap erapy erap apy and director of the Sports Back and Pain Manage na ment Clinic. See www. nage www bvphys bvph physicaltherap erapy. erap apy.com.
Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
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structures could be invo in lved that can refer pain to the SI joint. This process can be time consuming but extremely helpful in determining the cause of one’s pain. • Interview and review of medical history - (When do you get the pain, what makes it worse/ better sleep problems and is the better, pain intermittent/constant). A thorough interview and review of your medical history can provide additional infor inf mation that is helpful in determining the underly under ing cause of your pain problem. If I find trigger points and/or tight muscle bands, I analyze how the pattern can be the cause of your pain problem. I would use Trigger Point Dry Needling or Myofascial of ofascial Release, mobilzation, manipulation, exercises (designed to stretch tight muscle bands) and possibly heat, electrical stimulation and traction. Remember the treatment would be directed at
to division di by the court because it is each spouse’s separate property. What about those mortgage payments and property taxes paid? There’s the pickle. The judge cannot award the house to either spouse or even order the sale of the house because each spouse has an undivided, undi separate property interest in it. And, as far as one spouse having ha borne the majority of the financial burden of the house, the reality is that each spouse has a legal responsibility to maintain the household. James explains, “If you are going to buy property with your betrothed, you need to have ha agreements in place as to how bills are going to get paid. If not, you can inad rtently create problems down inadve the road. And the problems can also become apparent if one of the spouses dies. The problems are also
August 2013
Bradway
creating the issue in the first place.” In sting befor Inve bef e the vows In these days of couples cohabitating befor bef e marriage, second marriages and later-in-life first marriages, couples can face separate property issues without even realizing it. James has seen a number of unmarried couples buy a house together with or without plans to get hitched. Each person puts in 50 percent of the mortgage down payment. They later tie the knot. This house is not community property. It is the separate property of each of them. After the marriage, one spouse pays 100 percent of the mortgage payments and all the property taxes with his or her income earned during the marriage. Several years later, ter they ter, break up. The house is not subject
50plus
Stewart
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