50 Plus

A guide to good living in the Brazos Valley

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Klemm

Mental competence beliefs become self-fulfilling prophecies Pg. 3

Recipe

Holiday Trifle

Pg. 11

December 2013 • Vol. 10, Issue 1 • A monthly publication of the Bryan-College Station Eagle

Christmas cheer

Helping seniors over the holidays PAGE 8

Volunteer opportunities for retirees PAGE 5

Secrets to holiday baking success PAGE 10

Last-minute gift ideas PAGE 12

50plus December 2013 The Eagle • theeagle.com 2

Try natural treatments for back pain before considering surgery

I’m 48 years ar old and have ars been in the construction business all my life. lif The heavy lifting has taken a toll on my back. I went to my doctor about my back pain and was re rred refe rr to a pain specialist who recommended that I get a “spinal fusion.” I don’t want to have back surge sur ry, ry I’m too young. ung There ung. er must be other ere options besides sur ry? surge JS College Colle Station Back pain originating from heavy hea LeON BraDwaY Dw DwaY lifting PHySical tHeraP HeraPy is very common, particularly ticular if you ticularly overdo it and forget to lift with the proper techniques (meant to protect your back) or are less active acti when not at work. The cause of this type of back pain is generally due

to overuse/strain, bulging or slipped disc and/or trigger points (tight muscle bands and muscle knots). I have ha seen many patients who have ha had back surgery (e.g., spinal fusions, disc replacements, etc.), injections or are on strong pain medication but ha never seen a doctor have of physical therapy. I always recommend the most conservative approach first. So if you have ha n’t tried physical therapy, py ask your py, doctor for a referral. If you ha tried physical therapy have and it didn’t help, befor bef e assuming physical therapy won’t work, inve in stigate local physical therapists, look for someone with a proven record in helping back patients.

Ask friends and family who they recommend or look at patient testimonials. Physical therapy does work, so don’t

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50plus is a monthly publication of Bryan-College Station Communications Inc. 1729 Briarcrest Drive Bryan, Texas PUBLISHER Crystal DuPre

DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING Ron Prince SPECIAL PROJECT PR S EDITOR/ PUBLICA PUBLICATION DESIGNER Shauna Lewis shauna.lewis@theeagle.com

CONTENTS

DISPL ADVER DISPLAY ADVERTISING VERTISING MANAGER MANA Joanne R. Patranella SP SPECIAL PROJECTS/ PROJECT OJECTS/ MARKETING COORDINATO ORDINA R ORDINATO Dawn Goodall dawn.goodall@theeagle.com

Finances: Do you have what it takes to retire? 4 Volunteering: Opportunities for retirees 5 Health: Living with diabetes 6 Feature: Helping seniors over the holidays 8 Recipe: Holiday Trifle 11 Shopping: Easy, last-minute gift ideas 12 Calendar: Local senior events 14

that Latinos would perfor perf m less well because they had been exposed ear earlier in life to the stereotype that Latinos are less intelligent. In stereotype-primed groups, but not Latino controls, the Latino women perf med less well than whites perfor on the working memory task. No dif ences were seen in the math test differ perf mance. perfor The third experiment aimed to examine stereotype priming on perfor perf mance on academic examinations, with emphasis on whether test scores were influenced by differ dif ences in working memory capacity. All-women groups, primed and non-primed controls, took a working memory test and a standardized math test, extracted from a practice Graduate Record Examination. The stereotype primed group was told by male administrators that the experiment was designed to collect data to compare male and female math aptitude. Again, primed women had poorer working memory and lower math-test scores than controls.

The larger implication of such results is that working memory capacity, pacity and ability to solve problems pacity, is not fixed in a give gi n individual. indi Belief about capability is a factor, ctor and ctor, beliefs can be changed.

This concept has been pursued in older people who live li in the U.S. culture that stereotypes them as more forgetful. As with young people, experiments have ha shown that age stereotyping contributes to poor perf mance. More importantly, as perfor I will explain in the next column, manipulating seniors’ beliefs in a positi way actually improves their positive memory perfor perf mance.

In short, confidence matters.

Sour Sources: 1. Schmader, hmader T., and Johns, hmader, hns hns, Michael. (2003). Converging evidence that stereotype ster thr threat reduces working wor memor capacity. J. Personality and memory Social Psychology. olog 85 (3), 440-452. ology.

Klemm is a senior professor of ofessor of neuroscience at Texas Te A&M. He writes learning and memory memor blogs for Psychology olog Today ology da maga day magazine gazine and his site at thankyo thank ubrain.b ubr logspot.com.

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to remember the steps throughout the process). The working memory capacity of males and females was measured and subjects ranked on a seven-point scale whether they believed women had less innate math ability than men. Only those that had stereotypical beliefs were used in the study. Then subjects, except for controls, watched a computer narration from a male who explained working memory capacity and indicated probable gender differ dif ences in working memory as it relates to math perfor perf mance. Subjects then took a working memory test and a math test, and afterward completed a survey on how much test anxiety they experienced. Among the stereotype-primed subjects, women in the stereotype-priming condition underperfor perf med men in a post-test perfor working memory task. The women also thought the math problems were harder.

A second experiment was designed to see if this undermining effect ef of stereotyping on perfor perf mance could be replicated under other conditions.

Here, all-female groups of Latinos and whites were compared, but in a dif ent way. The differ stereotype framing was delive deli red as in experiment one, but the working memory task was framed as a “highly predictive edicti ” measure edictive of intelligence, in the expectation

December 2013

We are supposed to get less mentally competent and more forgetful as we get older. At least that is the stereotype. If you believe that stereotype, it will probably become true, if it hasn’t already. But the belief increases the odds that aging will result in more forgetfulness. This is a biological effect, ef somewhat akin to the nocebo effect ef in medicine, where if you are told that a Dr. BILL KLeMM harmless treatment tHe MeMOry MeDic will make things worse, they may actually get worse.

Part of the problem in memory stereotyping is that negative ti beliefs tive clutter up our working memory, memory which has very limited capacity.

Yet it is working memory that we think with, and that, if adequately rehearsed, gets formed into lasting memory. But if the distractions of negative ti thoughts clog our working tive memory then it obviously can’t work memory, very well.

Three sets of experiments by Toni Schmader and Michael Johns at the Uni rsity of Arizona reveal that Unive negative ti stereotype disrupts optimal tive working memory capacity (1). In one experiment with college women, they examined the stereotype that women are less able than men in math. Prior studies by others had shown that people who have ha math anxiety have ha lower working memory capacity, pacity pacity, and working memory is important in solving math problems (you have ha

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Beliefs about mental competence can become self-fulfilling prophecies

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Do you have what it takes to retire?

According to a recent Ameriprise Financial study of 10,000 American adults between the age of 40 to 75, only 23 percent have ha actually crunched the numbers on readiness for retirement, but a whopping 75 percent feel they are on the track to retire. Are you a member of the small group or the large group or both?

If you are one of the 23 percent, ha you have run your numbers based on your expected income or based TracY STewar ewarT ewar arT on your Financial literacy iter anticipated spending?

I have ha met only one couple who accurately nailed their spending level. Back in 2001, they were a pair of engineers who tracked every dollar of outgo. Wherever they are now, I am certain they are ready for a comfor comf table retirement, even after having ha been through a divo di rce.

What’s the number?

The number is 15.9. You need 15.9 times your final gross pay in some sort of sa savings on the day you retire at age 65. If you estimate your final gross pay to be $80,000 per year, ar you will ar, need $1,272,000 on hand when you retire. This includes retirement accounts such as

401(k), 403(b), and IRAs or other retirement accounts. It also includes any additional sa savings you have ha amassed for your retirement. Knowing where to stash all this money is the subject of my May 2013 column, “Five “Fi Tiers: In sting for Retirement” Inve with Jene Tebeaux, CFP®, CF CFA®, CAIA® of Paragon Financial Advisors Ad . (If you would like a copy of the article, send me an email at stewart@TexasDivo exasDi rceCPA. exasDivo eCP eCPA. com.)

While the Ameriprise study does not address spending levels, it assumes that you live li within your means and that your spending doesn’t exceed your take-home pay. Remember, member member, your take-home pay is less than your gross pay. We are also assuming that you wish to retain your current standard of living li throughout retirement with due consideration of the inevitable eroding effects ef of inflation. The life expectancy used in the report was age 87 for males and age 88 for females. If you believe you might live li longer, er you should er, use a number higher than 15.9. A longer life expectancy depends in part on whom you picked for your parents and grandparents.

If you qualify for Social Security benefits, your number can be as low as 11 times your gross pay. This is because Social Security

apples to oranges. Calculating the present value of a pension is like conve con rting the oranges to apples so you can compare apples to apples. Alternately, you can mathematically reduce your cash needs by your pension benefit and then use 15.9 or 11 times your adjusted gross pay number.

You can do this yourself, but it can be tricky.

If you don’t have ha what it takes If you don’t have ha what it takes to retire and you are not going to inherit a substantial sum, there are three basic things you can do.

1. Retire later. The study shows that postponing retirement until age 67 will allow almost 50 percent of those surveyed to have ha suf sufficient retirement income.

During the two years past age 65, you can contribute extra money to your retirement and have ha more time for in stment returns to grow. inve Simultaneously, you have ha reduced your retirement needs because you will have ha shortened the number of

years that you will live li past your retirement date.

2. Save Sa more and spend less. You may need to increase your personal sa savings . If you increase your savings sa rate by just 1 percent of pay every year for the next five years and maintain that higher savings sa rate until you retire, there is greater likelihood that you’ll be able retire at age 65 with enough income to meet your needs. This works best for younger people and not so much for those closer to retirement. Also, reduce your living li expenses. Avoid retirement plan loans and ear withdrawals. early 3. Manage income after retirement. The results of this study are averages and not guaranteed to fit your unique situation. You may wish to have ha more retirement funds in case you live li longer than the average ages noted above. To cover roughly six more years of living li

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Dr. Todd Matthews proudly welcomes Dr. Ian J. Daulton and Dr. Jay M. Erickson to the Matthews Dental Group Family. Matthews Dental Group has served the Brazos Valley for more than 22 years and now serves the Grimes County area as well. Thank you for allowing us to serve your family’s dental needs.

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benefits are valued at 4.9 times your gross pay.

If you are a teacher who expects to get a TRS pension retirement check and you do not pay into Social Security, Security the 11-times-pay number might or might not be the number for you. Last time I checked, the TRS benefit was intended to be high enough to ha included the equiva have equi lent of Social Security benefits.

If you will get any kind of pension or monthly retirement check such as an annuity, uity it gets a bit trickier uity, to figure your number.

(I am not talking about a Social Security check here.)

You won’t need as much in savings sa and retirement accounts because your pension will fill in for your cash flow needs. For divo di rce cases, I frequently calculate the present value of pension benefits so that people can equate an annuity or pension benefit to a retirement account. Comparing an account such as an IRA or 401(k) or 403(b) to a pension benefit is like comparing

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Today’s retirees recognize that an active acti retirement tends to be more rewarding than simply sitting around the house, and that attitude is reflected in the vast number of retirees who volunteer with various nonprofit organizations and other programs across the globe.

The following are a handful of volunteering opportunities for those retirees who want to give gi back and make the most of their retirements.

Senior Circle is out to expand your horizons with an exciting calendar of events scheduled around town and around the world. If you’re 50 or better, better want to meet new people, learn more about your health, travel and just have fun, then Senior Circle is for you. Dues are just $15 a year.

To join or for more information, call Mandy Williams at 979-764-5107 or visit CSMedCenter.com. Become part of the Circle.

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This cruise and land program featuring Strasbourg and the romantic Rhine Valley will take you through one of the most historic and dramatic regions in all of Europe. For more information about this exciting trip, please contact the Senior Circle office at 979-764-5107.

Service vacations Retirement is often seen as a time to trave tra l and see the world, and many retirees have ha started to combine that love of trave tra l with service opportunities. Globe Aware, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, develops short-term volunteer programs in international envir en onments.

Each activity acti aims to promote cultural awareness and promote sustainability in needy communities.

Volunteers work to address issues identified by the host communities as particularly ticular pressing, interacting ticularly with the local residents in ways that are often impossible on more traditional vacations.

Meals on Wheels Retirees tend to have ha their mornings and afternoons free, making them ideal candidates to volunteer with programs such as Meals on Wheels, a nonprofit organization devoted to delive deli ring nutritious meals to those with limited

mobility who are unable to prepare their own meals.

The program delive deli rs more than one million meals per day across the United States, and Canada has its own meal delive deli ry programs as well.

Many Meals on Wheels volunteers are retirees, who can decide their level of in lvement upon volunteering. invo Disaster relief Disaster relief programs may be less predictable than more routine volunteer programs, but retirees often make great volunteers at disaster relief sites. Unlike working professionals who cannot travel to disaster relief sites without ample planning ahead of time, retirees often find the flexibility of retirement allows them to pitch in when an unforesee natural disaster strikes and volunteers are needed seemingly overnight.

Many disaster relief programs need volunteers who are certified in CPR or have other unique lifesaving skills, but even retirees without such skills can help by handling supplies or by comforting and assisting survivors of natural disasters.

Come play with someone your own age!

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Work with children Many retirees, especially those without grandchildren or who live li far away from their grandchildren, find volunteering with children to be especially rewarding.

The opportunities to work with kids are numerous, and retirees can choose a volunteering opportunity where their own life experiences come in handy. For example, retirees who worked in the medical field might want to volunteer their time at a local children’s hospital, where they can assist families as they cope with a child’s illness and spend time with the children themselves, whether’s it’s tutoring sick children, reading them stories or helping them understand their illnesses.

Retirees with considerable experience in the business world may want to work with a mentoring

program that matches them up with career-minded youngsters.

December 2013

Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that builds and repairs homes for people in need. It has a program titled “CareA-V A-Vanners” in which volunteers typically spend two weeks trave tra ling around the United States and Canada in rented RVs RV (retirees who own RV may be able to drive RVs dri their own vehicles) building and restoring homes.

Volunteers must pay their own way and bring along their own supplies, such as work shoes, gloves, tool belts, and some tools (power tools are typically provided by the

local Habitat for Humanity chapter), and free or low-cost RV parking par is provided by Habitat for Humanity.

Ad nturous retirees who enjoy Adve hitting the open road may find “CareA-V A-Vanners” matches their love of tra l with their desire to give trave gi back.

50plus

Volunteering ideas for retirees

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50plus December 2013 The Eagle • theeagle.com

Living with diabetes and maintaining healthy vision

(BPT) - In 2012, diabetes health costs in the U.S. were $245 billion, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that by 2020, one in every three health care dollars in the U.S. will be spent on diabetes-related care.

Diabetes is now the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged 20-74 years, according to the American

Diabetes Association (ADA).

Maintaining healthy blood vessels is essential for preserving healthy vision, especially those located in the retina in the back of the eye that are particularly ticular ticularly susceptible to damage. The need to preserve blood vessel health is supported by the projected rise of diabetes in the U.S. population.

In the U.S. today, diabetes af affects approximately 25

million people, or 8 percent of the population. The most common form of diabetes, type 2, accounts for 90 percent of diagnosed cases. Another 79 million people are at risk for developing diabetes, and near 2 million new cases nearly are reported each year. It is estimated that 7 million people have ha undiagnosed diabetes, and that by the year 2030, more than 500 million people worldwide will have ha diabetes.

Being proactive about your eye health The National Eye Institute states that more than 40 percent of people with diabetes have ha diabetic eye disease. The most common form is diabetic retinopathy, which usually affects af both eyes. However, er many patients er, with diabetic retinopathy may experience no symptoms at all until the condition progresses.

There are two forms of diabetic retinopathy: nonproliferative ti retinopathy tive and proliferative ti retinopathy. tive Nonproliferative ti tive

retinopathy occurs when blood vessels in the retina become weak, resulting in tiny bulges within retinal capillaries that may allow leakage of fluid and blood. If the central part of the retina that is responsible for good detail and color vision, the macula, is affected, af vision loss may occur (a condition called diabetic macular edema or DME).

Proliferative ti retinopathy tive is when abnormally fragile new blood vessels that grow on the surface surf of the retina in an effo ef rt to improve circulation may bleed profusely and cause growth of fibrotic scar tissue that detaches the retina from the back wall of the eye (tractional retinal detachment), resulting in severe vision loss or even blindness.

The longer a patient has diabetes, the more likely they are to develop some level of diabetic retinopathy. Of the approximately 25 million people with diabetes in the U.S., 9.6 million have ha some level of diabetic retinopathy, while another 3 million have ha

sight-threatening retinopathy (STR). Most diabetes patients will eventually develop nonproliferative ti retinopathy tive and a significant number will develop DME, but the more serious, proliferative ti tive retinopathy, is less common.

As diabetic retinopathy progresses, patients may experience spots or floaters, red veils or streaks, blurred vision, a dark dar or empty spot in the center of their vision, and difficulty dif seeing well at night. Significant damage to the retina occurs long befor bef e patients develop any of these symptoms.

Several factors influence if and when a patient develops diabetic retinopathy, including blood sugar control, blood pressure levels, how long the patient has had diabetes, poor nutritional habits, cigarette smoking, and inherited genes.

All of these factors can lead to blood vessel breakdown in the retina, but keeping blood sugar levels

See Factors ctor ctors pa 15 page

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ornaments are legitimate charities or con artists, you should not feel compelled to reciprocate a free gift with a financial donation.

• Beware of solicitors pressuring you to donate.

Reputable charities should not be on the verge of shut down if you fail to make a donation, so such organizations never pressure prospective ospecti donors into making ospective donations. If a solicitor is pressuring you into making a donation over the phone or in person, chances are strong that this person is not representing a reputable charity. In such instances, hang up the phone or, or if the solicitor is on your property, ty ty, politely close the door, door ask the solicitor to leave lea your property and contact the local authorities.

• Send donations directly to the charity after independently confirming their address. When making charitable donations, those donations should never be give gi n directly to solicitors. Donations should only be made after you ha independently confirmed the have charity’s address and mailed straight to the organization. Never make a cash donation, as cash provides no paper trail should you want to deduct your donation or should you learn that you were victimized by a con artist posing as a representative ti of a tive

reputable charity.

• Request personal infor inf mation not be shared. Upon receiving cei ceiving a charitable donation, many charities share their donors’ contact inf mation with other charities. infor Such actions are legal as long as no sensitive sensiti infor inf mation is shared.

But many donors would prefer their contact infor inf mation not be shared so they don’t find themselves being inundated with solicitations from other charities. Donors can ask to opt out of having ha their personal inf mation shared upon making infor a donation. This is especially important for seniors living li on fixed incomes who simply cannot affo af rd to support many causes no matter how compelling those causes are.

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• Be skeptical of solicitors.

Many con artists will indicate that persons have ha give gi n to the charity in the past, hoping that prospective ospecti ospective victims simply won’t remember if that claim is valid or not. If a solicitor or appeal letter claims that you donated in the past, don’t simply take it at face value, especially if you don’t recall making such a donation.

Get specific infor inf mation about alleged past donations, checking that inf mation against your own bank infor records and receipts. Many donors claim donations as deductions on their tax returns, which also can be used to verify or debunk solicitors’ claims. Though not all solicitors claiming a past history of donations are dishonest, this is one way that criminals attempt to create a rapport with potential victims, so such claims should be verified befor bef e making any donations.

• Don’t feel obligated to reciprocate a gift with a donation.

Many charities send gifts, be it mailing labels or holiday cards, to prospective ospecti donors as a token ospective of appreciation for past donations and as a way of encouraging future donations. Con artists are fully aware of this tactic and may try to imitate it in an attempt to defraud potential victims. No matter if the people behind those mailing labels or holiday

December 2013

Charities often target certain groups of people when soliciting donations. Those groups may include past donors and people who ha recently attended charitable have fundraisers. Such an approach can be very effecti effective fective. It should come as no surprise that criminals posing as legitimate organizations tend to target specific groups of people, as well.

Anyone can be fooled by a fraudulent charity, arity but such criminals arity, tend to target seniors more than others. According to the Federal Bureau of Inve In stigation, seniors often make attractive tracti targets to con artists tractive because seniors are most likely to ha substantial savings have sa , own their homes and/or have ha excellent credit.

In addition, the FBI notes that elderly elder victims of fraud and other crimes are less likely to report those crimes out of fear that their families may feel they are no longer able to take care of themselves or manage their own finances.

These factors make seniors especially attractive tracti and vulnerable tractive to con artists, particularly ticular those who ticularly prey on well-intentioned men and women by posing as fake charities.

But there are steps seniors can take to protect themselves from fraud.

50plus

Precautions seniors can take when solicited for donations

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50plus

Helping seniors over the holidays

By HOLLI KOSTER Special to The Eagl Ea e

December 2013 The Eagle • theeagle.com

(StatePoint) The holidays may be filled with joy, but for the ever-growing number of aging Americans and those who care for them this otherwise celebratory season can become mired in challenges.

The stress of visitors, eventful meals, gift giving gi and social obligations can be overwhelming for anyone, but especially for those juggling busy schedules with caring for an elderly elder family member.

An estimated 15 million Americans are sandwiched between two generations and working to support both, according to the Pew Research Center. Known as the “Sandwich Generation,” these adults struggle to balance caring for their children and their elderly elder parents.

“Staying organized is especially important during this time of year to ensure that loved ones aren’t ignored in the hustle and bustle of the season,” says Mark Mar Armstrong, founder and CEO of ComForcare Senior Services, an international senior care franchise that provides in-home, non-medical care to seniors and others in need of assistance.

Armstrong is offering of some juggling tips for family caregivers: • Map out doctor’s appointments, prescription pick-up dates, school holiday pageants and other planned events on a calendar or on your smart phone to avoid double booking and overextending yourself.

• Members of the sandwich generation often feel they don’t spend enough time with their children because they’re busy caring for their parents and vice versa. Combat this issue with intergenerational activities acti , such as decorating the home, trimming the tree, planning the menu or wrapping presents.

• Caring for another human being for an extended period of time can take its toll on even the most caring and nurturing of people. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It may mean alternating days with a relative ti or tive bringing in a professional caregiver.

• Watch out for these red flags that could mean your aging relative ti tive is in need of additional assistance: mismatched, wrinkled or soiled clothing, weight loss or gain, trouble remembering names or an unclean home.

• Discuss the possibility of hiring a professional caregiver to relieve some strain on you, especially around the holidays. In the long-term, a caregiver can help your loved one age safely and comfor comf tably in his or her own home, by providing a wide range of non-medical home care services, including help with bathing, hairstyling and dressing, incontinence care, medication reminders, chores and light exercise assistance.

Look for a company that offers of a wide range of services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.

For example, ComForcare Senior Services develops a customized care plan based on an in-home evaluation by a nurse and provides ongoing training and education to caregivers.

More infor inf mation can be found at www.ComForcare.com.

• Even you need some care sometimes! Set aside “me” time every day to do something just for you and you’ll be able to return to your caregiving duties refreshed and ready to help.

This holiday season, take the time to address the challenges facing you and your aging loved one.

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Photos: Attendees enjoy the 2012 Holiday Open House for seniors at the Southwood Community Center.

Center One way to help seniors over the holidays is to take them to events, such as community and church chur prog pr rams. The Holiday Open House, set for Dec. 11, will prov pr ide information on local prog pr rams for seniors.

Getting invo in lved Seniors wanting to help other seniors during the holidays do not necessarily need to do so in a coordinated way.

“I know the biggest problem for some seniors is transportation,” said Marci Rodgers, senior services coordinator for the city of College Station. “Simply getting out to see the decorations and attend the holiday activities acti and programs can be a challenge.”

Transportation to church and community programs can be a challenge for those who don’t dri or prefer not to drive, drive dri especially at night.

Rodgers said she suggests that people in the community could offer of to take their neighbor or family member to see Christmas lights or to events targeting seniors, such as the Holiday Open House event that the city of College Station will host Dec. 11.

The event, during which the city of College Station will tell members of the community what the Southwood Community Center has to offer of seniors, will be held 10 a.m. to noon at the center, center located at 1600 Rock Prairie Road.

For more infor inf mation, contact Rodgers at 979764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Senior events held through College Station Medical Center’s Senior Circle program and St. Joseph’s Gold Medallion Club continue through

Needs for senior living facilities There are several nursing homes, assisted li living facilities and senior communities in BryanCollege Station, providing many opportunities to help out with activities acti , donations or just keeping seniors company.

Becky Pittman, activity acti director for Carriage Inn in Bryan, said during the holidays people from the community often come in to help with arts and crafts, health presentations and more.

“Games are always great, and our seniors love visitors,” Pittman said. “They love speaking to people of all differ dif ent ages. Our residents really want visitors to come and keep them company.”

Watercrest at Bryan Marke Mar ting Director Kinsey Biggs said the senior community also has a number of opportunities for members of the community to come in to give gi a program, provide prizes for bingo or assist with chores like gift wrapping.

While many seniors at Watercrest are independent – and often leave lea town to visit their families during the holidays – there are some seniors with greater needs who are not as readily able to trave tra l. Watercrest continues programming through the holidays to reach many of these seniors.

For more infor inf mation on ways to get invo in lved with Carriage Inn, contact Pittman at 979-7311300. For more infor inf mation on Watercrest, call 979-703-7088.

Holidays can be stressful for seniors: Advice for caregivers

December 2013

According to the American Geriatrics Society, Society small gestures – such as inviting in a senior out and to get-togethers -- taking into account their needs, such as transportation or special diets – can help boost a senior’s spirits during a sometimes tough holiday season.

“Many times, seniors get very depressed during the holidays,” said Raschel York, director of community outreach for St. Joseph Regional Health System. “Their families may be far away and can only visit with them for maybe one day during the holiday season or on just one of the holidays.”

They may also not have ha any family at all and tend to be shut-ins during the holidays. These factors can affect af their overall mood during the holidays, contributing to their depression.

Mandy Williams, Senior Circle advisor ad and Healthy Woman coordinator for the College Station Medical Center, Center said many of the seniors with whom she interacts are widowed or suffer suf from the holiday blues.

“It is important to recognize the symptoms of depression and acknowledge the loss of their loved ones,” she said. “There have ha been many instances when a senior just wanted to visit a while about his or her spouse, discuss fond memories and have ha an opportunity to live li them out again through conve con rsation.”

the holidays.

The Gold Medallion Club offers of Breakfast eakf eakfast Break and Meet & Eat at area restaurants, a knitting club to work on holiday projects and Habitat for Humanity afghans, game days once per week (cards and bingo) and health seminars.

For more infor inf mation, visit www.st-joseph. org/GoldMedallionClub or call 979-774-4653.

Williams said she strongly advises ad seniors to become a part of a group, whether through a city program or a program like Senior Circle.

“By offering of weekly activities acti , Senior Circle presents seniors with a variety of ways to stay acti active, which is absolutely critical, and develop lasting friendships to ease the burden of solitude and boredom.”

Senior Circle has been collecting items for nursing home residents in the community throughout the year, ar through its Giving ar, Gi Hearts program. For the fourth quarter, ter the group is ter, collecting small, wrapped gifts to distribute.

“W hope that by doing this, it will bring “We a smile to the face of someone who might not ordinarily receive cei acknowledgement in the ceive holiday season,” Williams said. “Some have ha relative ti s far away, tive ay unable to visit and some ay, simply have ha no relative ti s at all.” tive For more infor inf mation on Senior Circle or to contribute gift items, such as body lotions, small fleece blankets, new games or slippers, visit www. csmedcenter.com or call 979-764-5107.

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Giving a little Christmas cheer

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Secretstoholidaybakingsuccess Metro Creative Connection

Baking is popular come the holiday season, when baked goods are often gifted or shared with family and friends at holiday gatherings. Individuals turn out sweet treats left and right, and these treats are often gobbled up by appreciative holiday revelers.

The Eagle • theeagle.com

December 2013

Although some people have mastered baked goods, others can benefit from a few tricks of the trade. Utilize these tips to make holiday baking that much easier.

• Overworked cookie dough may result in dry cookies. Try not to handle dough more than is necessary to roll it out to desired thickness. When rolling the dough,

put it between two pieces of waxed paper to reduce flour usage on the rolling pin.

• When baking brownies or other bar-type cookies, line the inside of the pan with greased aluminum foil. This way you can lift out the dessert and cut it neatly instead of risking sticking.

• The same technique can be used when baking cookies. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper and bake as directed. The cookies should slide right off when done, and you won’t have messy pans to wash afterward.

• Double-check your oven temperature with a reliable thermometer to make sure it is

accurate. This will help you bake more efficiently and adjust the time or temperature accordingly.

• Many cookie doughs can be refrigerated or even frozen, so you can make a big batch and then spread out your baking as needed throughout the season.

The basics of caring for poinsettia plants all year Metro Creati Cr ve Connection

Although poinsettias are most often associated with the holiday season, they are actually tropical plants. In spite of their origins, poinsettias can thri during the holiday season thrive and even last long after the holidays have ha come and gone.

Poinsettias are native ti to tive Mexico and Central America.

Aztecs called the plant cuetlaxochitl. The flowering plant was first introduced to the United States by Joel Poinsett, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, and was subsequently renamed the poinsettia. The flowers of

the poinsettia are actually the yellow blooms at the middle of the bright red or white bracts that form on the plant.

Perhaps due to the bright red of the bracts, the plant quickly became a popular Christmas plant.

It’s important to note that

poinsettias grow in a warm climate and therefor ef e must efor be kept in tropical conditions to ensure the plant’s health.

Furthermore, poinsettias bloom

See Tropical plants pa 13 page

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1 package instant vanilla pudding

Metro Creative Connection

The holiday season can be a busy time of year dominated by shopping trips, visits with friends and family and late-night sessions of wrapping presents. With so many things on the agenda, sometimes people can benefit from a few shortcuts to save time.

1 small container frozen whipped topping Milk for preparing pudding Trifle bowl

Holiday Trifle 1 vanilla pound cake loaf 1 container of strawberries 3 ripe kiwis

2. Let the frozen whipped topping thaw.

3. Wash and slice the strawberries and kiwis. These fruits were chosen to give the dessert a red-and-green look, but any fruits or candies can be used depending on the theme.

4. Begin to prepare the trifle by alternating layers of pound cake, fruit, pudding, and cream. Continue until you reach the top of the trifle and then top with the remaining whipped topping.

5. Put in the refrigerator to chill and set. Use a long spoon to serve the trifle in individual bowls when ready to eat.

blueberries can be layered for a blue-and-white look. Red and green M&Ms(R) also can be used.

Gingerbread fans can create layers of

crushed gingerbread cookies with the cake and pudding. Experiment with flavors as you see fit until you find combinations you love.

Other trifle combinations can include peppermint candies and mint pudding or strawberries and bananas.

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Trifles are a popular no-bake holiday dessert. A trifle is made by alternating layers of different confections in a tall container. Many different flavors can be combined and ingredients can vary depending on personal preference. Very often fruit, pudding, cake and cream are used to create the perfect treat.

1. Cut the pound cake into cubes and set aside. Prepare the pudding in adherence to the directions on the box and allow to thicken.

December 2013

Dessert is a key element of holiday celebrations. Cake or cookies are frequently the requisite hostess gifts.

But revelers who do not want to bake have many options at their disposal, including recipes for no-bake desserts that look great and taste delicious.

Whip up a holiday trifle for your next holiday gift or gathering and your fellow celebrants will be hardpressed to pass up this delicious dessert.

50plus

Createano-bake holidaydessert

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Last-minuteshoppingfortheholidays ManypeoplewaituntilthelastminuteforChristmasshopping,whentherearestillgiftsanddealstobehad.

Metro Creative Connection

It’s December 22 and you’ve just barely made it through half of your holiday shopping list. The panic may have set in that you just don’t have enough time to get everything done.

This is a common scenario around the holidays. Shoppers have the best intentions to get their gifts early, but whether because of work obligations or social events, the task seems to get pushed further and further into December. Soon many are staring down the calendar experiencing sweaty palms. Many others may be putting off holiday shopping simply because of the current state of the economy and affordability.

December 2013

For the scores of shoppers who consciously or subconsciously wait until the last possible minute to shop, there are ways to survive and surprise friends and family with great gifts.

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• Gift cards: They may not have sentimental meaning behind them, but gift cards are fast and easy.

Chances are you can run into a store and be out with a handful of gift cards in less than 15 minutes, depending on lines at the checkout counter. Also, many supermarkets, bookstores and other retailers offer gift card kiosks enabling you to shop for different gift cards all in one place.

• Food and beverages: While everyone is heading to the mall in droves, you can be stepping inside of a gourmet food or spirits store.

Splurge on fine cheeses or that trendy bottle of liquor that a gift recipient has mentioned but not yet purchased for him- or herself.

• Magazine subscription: A magazine subscription is an easy fix as a last-minute gift. Purchase one copy of the magazine at the newsstand and wrap it up nicely.

Put a note that a year’s worth of this periodical is on the way. No one will suspect that the gift was a last-minute thought.

prices, filling up the tank can be an expensive venture. Having a pre-paid gift card can help.

• E-certificates: Retailers like music or book sellers will e-mail a gift certificate code to the person of your choice on a selected date. For those who are never without an e-reader or mp3 player, digital gifts could fit the bill.

Online retailers are also there to help last-minute shoppers. Many online retailers guarantee in-timefor-Christmas shipping even on gifts ordered as late as December 23.

However, overnight shipping charges will cost more. But it’s all worth it to get the item in time.

• Gas card: It may sound funny and tacky, but a gas card from a brand-name station is a universally acceptable gift for anyone who drives regularly. With fluctuating gas

Waiting until the last minute for shopping can induce some anxiety.

But knowing about easy gifts for procrastinators can take the stress out of this type of shopping.

Do I qualify for Home Health Care?

You qualify for home health care if you meet the following requirements:

Phone: 979-846-7870

www.healthquesthomehealth.com

1. You have the need for skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy services 2. You are homebound.

3. Your physician certifies your plan of care.

What does it mean to be homebound? You can be considered homebound if: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Leaving your home requires considerable and taxing effort.

Taxing effort can mean that you require help from another person to leave your house.

Taxing effort can mean that you require the use of a wheelchair, walker, crutches, or cane.

Taxing effort can mean that you are fatigued after you go out and need considerable time to rest.

Who decides if I am homebound?

Information provided by you and/or your family, your physician determines if you are homebound.

How much will home health care cost me if I qualify?

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If Medicare is your primary insurance, 100% of services are covered. If you have an HMO, PPO or other primary insurance, contact your provider for complete details.

Stewart

from page pa 4 expenses, you need to save sa an additional 2.4 times gross pay.

Back to the $80,000 gross pay – you would need $1,464,000 on hand when you retire. It is important to inve in st so as to self-insure against the risk of outli outliving your money.

People who save sa for retirement over long periods of time and inve in st wisely ha a greater chance of have maintaining their standard of li living throughout retirement.

Being optimistic about your golden years is not enough.

Contac nt t Trac ntac Tracy acy B. Stewart, CP PFS, CPA, PFS CFF, CF CDFA, CDF CFP® CF through ug her blog at www. ugh www TexasDi xas vorceFin xasDi eF ance.com. eFin

from page pa 10

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in response to shortening daylight hours. That means they will need ample dar darkness each night in order to simulate the dark dar nights of short, winter days. To achieve this, you may need to put the plant into a dark dar closet for 12 to 14 hours each night.

During the day, the plant should be in a sunny window where it will have ha access to bright light. The more light the better. Keep the soil evenly moist. Misting the plant will help it to retain some humidity. Also, fill the overflow saucer on your flower pot with gravel to allow water seeping through the pot to evaporate from the gravel. Hot temperatures indoors combined with high humidity will help the plant to thrive thri . Even one day without adequate moisture

can cause the leave lea s to drop.

Furthermore, decreasing temperatures can cause lea s to fall off. leave of The goal is to keep the indoor temperature consistent.

While many poinsettia plants are discarded after the holiday season, these plants can actually be cut back and save sa d for next season. Trimming back any remaining leave lea s and continuing to care for the plant by keeping it moist can help.

To force the blooms next season, start reducing the plant’s exposure to sunlight in mid-September to October.

Again, this will mean removing the plant to an area that is shrouded in complete dar darkness . Even streetlights or indoor lighting can affect af blooming. If the plant does not begin to turn color befor bef e the holiday season, you may need to purchase a new plant and try again next year.

December 2013

Tropical plants

First

50plus

You have ha to crunch the numbers and take action based on the results of your calculations. Befor Bef e you adopt and rely on 15.9 or 11 or any number as the right number for your retirement planning, I recommend that you visit with a fee-only financial planner to make sure you are on track to retire comfor comf tably -- and if not, what you can do to remedy that. This is one situation where ignorance is not bliss.

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50plus

CALENDAR

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December 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 Monday, 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 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

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 details, 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.

Pickelball – Seniors play Pickelball at Lincoln Center on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon. The game is similar to tennis but played on a court the size of a badminton court. For more information contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Dec. 4

Computer Club for Seniors: “How to buy and sell on eBay” - The Computer Club is open to all seniors interested in learning more about computers. Meetings are 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 details, contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Dec. 8

Yoga class - Free yoga class and information session on 2014 200hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program with Yoga Yoga. Class will be

Peace

of mind

Hospice Brazoss V Valley provides peace of mind with a plan of care to meet the individual needs of each patient and family with dignity. nity nity.

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Bryan: 979.821.2266 Brenham: 979.277.9525 LaGrange: 979.968.6913 Inpatient Facility: 979.821.5030

Visit us online at

www.hospicebrazosvalley.org HospiceBrazosValley.org

Clinical Excellence. Unwavering Compassion

held at Brazos Healing Center, 1804 Brothers Blvd. in College Station. For more details, visit BrazosHealingCenter.com or call 402-3595.

Dec. 11

Holiday Open House for seniors - All seniors are invited to learn more about the variety of activities and classes available at Southwood Community Center. There will be refreshments, entertainment and photos with Mr. and Mrs. Clause. For more information contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Dec. 12

Senior Dance - Enjoy an evening of dancing with music by DJ Tom Byer from 7 to 9 p.m. at Southwood Community Center. Light refreshments served and door prizes will be given away. Free. For more information call 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Dec. 14

“The Age of Elegance” Senior Pageant Seniors 55 and older are invited to participate in the Senior Pageant from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Lincoln Center. There will be free food and door prizes. Those interested in modeling should contact Annie Williams at 979-764-3779 or awilliams@cstx.gov.

Dec. 17

Shuttle rides to George Bush Presidential Library exhibit - Join other seniors to tour the new exhibit, “College Station: a Community History.” The exhibit’s memorabilia, photographs and stories highlight the rapid development of local business, school and life from a small, rural area into a city of nearly 100,000 in population. Shuttles will leave from Lincoln Center and Southwood Community Center at 10 a.m. and return by noon. A reservation is necessary due to limited seating on the vans. To make a reservation, call 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Dec. 19

Movie and popcorn - Seniors are invited to enjoy a free movie, “The Santa Clause” and popcorn at Southwood Community Center.

Movie starts at 1 p.m. For more information, call Southwood Community Center at 979-7646351 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Dec. 20

Bingo and Birthday Celebration - Seniors are invited at 1 p.m. to celebrate birthdays for the month with cake and bingo, at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road.

Prizes for Bingo provided. For more information, contact Southwood Community Center at 979764-6351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

from page pa 2

Factors

from page pa 6

option, assuming the doctor is certain that the bulging disc is the cause of the back pain.

To sum up my answer, I don’t know the specifics of your care, but I would recommend conservative, natural methods befor bef e surgery. At the very least, you can request a consultation with an experienced doctor of physical therapy who can examine your records, tests and render an opinion. On a final note, Dr. Ullrich, an orthopedic surgeon with NeuroSpine Center of Wisconsin was asked if most people with low back pain will eventually need lumbar fusion surgery, ery he said, “No, actually ery, very few of them will. Lumbar spinal fusion surgery only works for specific indications and only can work if we can identify what the specific pain generator for the patient is. Probably 80 to 90 percent of the time, the pain generator can’t be identified” (http:// www.spine-health.com/doctor/ physiatrist/grant-cooper-princetonnj).

Patients with diabetes or those atrisk should always engage in healthy nutrition, exercise, and consult with a physician as well as a diabetes educator. To preserve healthy vision, patients with diabetes should get an annual dilated eye exam from an eye

doctor experienced with diabetes.

They should also see a retina specialist if STR is detected during an eye exam. Finally, science-based nutritional supplements for the eye, like EyePromise, may support retinal health by helping to maintain healthy

blood vessels in the eye.

The adve ad rse effects ef on eye health and vision caused by diabetes can be debilitating, but patients with diabetes can significantly reduce their risk of vision loss by proactive oacti ly oactive managing their health.

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.

Join Us for...

Christmas Open House December 12th, 4-6pm

We will be serving hors d’oeuvres & desserts from our chef and providing entertainment, music & door prizes!

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closer to normal reduces the risk and severity of diabetic retinopathy.

cause is overuse and the muscles are tight/knotted or weak, the treatment plan will consist of: instructing the patient on how to protect the area of pain when doing daily activities acti , hands on mobilization (soft tissue work), release restricted movements, Trigger Point Dry Needling of local and regional muscle trigger points, retrain muscle movement patterns and specific lumbo-pelvic muscle re-education and strengthening.

This generally take four to six weeks. If the cause is a bulging disc, my treatment plan will consist of identifying the cause of the disc problem. Many disc bulges are normal at your age and don’t cause pain. To properly oper determine the true operly cause of pain, I have ha to perfor perf m a thorough hands-on evaluation of the immediate and surrounding muscle structures to determine what problems exist. Disc problems are problematic, because you don’t know if strengthening the muscles surrounding the disc and adhering to rest and lifting instructions will be enough. If physical therapy cannot resolve or significantly minimize the problem, surgery may be your only

December 2013

gi up on the more conservative, give natural treatment option, particularly ticular ticularly at your age. A doctor of physical therapy should be able to resolve most back problems, and help you prevent back pain in the future. If the treatment is successful, you will have ha save sa d time, discomfor discomf t, money and avoided or postponed the need for surgery. Befor Bef e I continue, let me clarify to the readers what “spinal fusion” is and why it is often recommended (quotation from WebMD http://www.webmd.com/ back-pain/spinal-fusion-arthrodesis).

“Spinal fusion (Arthrodesis) is major surgery to join, or fuse, two or more vertebrae. Spinal fusion is often needed to keep the spine stable after injury infection or a tumor. But there injury, is not a lot of research about how well it works for other spinal problems.

One study showed no clear differ dif ence between spinal fusion and intense rehabilitation for treating chronic low back pain.* As you decide about ha having spinal fusion, talk with your

doctor about the benefits and risks.

The surgery is expensive expensi and has serious risks. Although this type of surgery is common, there is no guarantee it will work to relieve your pain. Rehabilitation can take a long time. It includes walking, riding a stationary bike, swimming and similar activities” acti . (*Fair (*Fairbank airbank J, et al.

(2005). Randomized controlled trial to compare compar surgica sur l stabilization of the lumbar spine with an intensive rehabilitation program for patients with chronic low back pain: The MRC spine stabilization trial. BMJ, BMJ 330(7502): 1233-1239.)

When I see patients with back pain, particularly ticular if they have ticularly ha a history of heavy hea lifting, my examination, in most cases, will in lve: localizing any restrictive invo stricti strictive trunk movement, perfor perf ming a neurological examination, reviewing recent diagnostic tests, checking for muscle system imbalances and perfor perf ming a hands-on soft tissue palpation. This will help me determine the causes for your back pain and the most appropriate treatment to resolve the problem and keep it from returning. If the

50plus

Bradway

Join us for a Holiday Open House and find out why Watercrest at Bryan was voted Best Independent Living Community of the Brazos in 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013!

Seating is limited, so please RSVP to 979-703-7088 or by email to manager@watercrestbryan.com

by Friday, December 6th.

We will be collecting new toys for the Toys for Tots program

979-703-7088 w w w.watercrestbr yan.com

15

50plus December 2013 The Eagle • theeagle.com

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You’ll discover one of the most ingenious ideas in senior living: Life Care, which helps you manage the costs of long-term care, just in case you ever need it. You’ll also find a community of happy, friendly residents and helpful staff – every one of them determined to make independent living at Arbor Oaks the most gratifying, satisfying, enriching, mind-expanding, soul-stirring, laughter-filled experience you can imagine.

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A N M RC H E A LT H Y L I V I N G C O M M U N I T Y