50 Plus - November 5, 2013

A guide to good living in the Brazos Valley

Inside...

Klemm

Being lazy shrinks brains

Pg. 3

Recipe

Herb Roasted Turkey

Pg. 5

November 2013 • Vol. 9, Issue 4 • A monthly publication of the Bryan-College Station Eagle

Honoring those who serve Bryan-College Station Veterans Day events PAGE 8

Fall activities

PAGE 4

Brazos Valley Christmas events

PAGE 6

How to prevent back pain PAGE 12

50plus November 2013 The Eagle • theeagle.com

Understanding insurance, getting physical therapy

Hi, I had problems with my hip and had physical therap therapy apy in March Mar . In August, Au I had hip surge sur ry and needed more mor physical therap therapy apy but was told I onl had $500 available befor only before ore I reached my cap.

I am a Medicar Medicare patient but signed up for a Medicar Medicare Advantage vanta vantage Plan. They sa I can say LISa BraDwaY Dw DwaY request PHySical tHeraP HeraPy additional tr treatments but they the can’t guar guarantee I will receive them. I ma also may al need another surge sur ry before befor ore the end of the year. ar Do I ar. really have to pay pa cash for my physical therap therapy apy visits? Sara Sar T., Navasota

what Medicare Adva Ad ntage Plan you have, ha let me just mention that when you choose a Medicare Ad ntage Plan you are Adva choosing a “new” payer. You are agreeing to the benefits and coinsurance that they permit and are no longer a traditional Medicare patient. While the general benefits may be the same, the cost sharing, limits, deductibles, copayments, pre-authorizations, choice of providers and so forth may dif . I called three Medicare differ Ad ntage programs in our Adva area to determine if they would pay under your specific circumstances. I also called traditional Medicare. This is what I was told: Traditional Medicare - This year, ar traditional ar,

Sara, since I don’t know

See Medical care caps ca pa 13 page

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

Leisure: Fall family activities Recipe: Herb Roasted Turkey Christmas fun: Brazos Valley holiday events Finances: Pooling money Feature: Veterans Day events Health: Don’t bow to back pain Calendar: Local senior events

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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!

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.

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

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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.

Rhine River Cruise October 4-12, 2014

Experience the Rhine River! To know the Rhine River is to know Europe. Historically important and visually stunning, the Rhine provides the perfect "highway" from which to explore the heart of the Old World. From your cruise ship you will see fairytale castles, endless vineyards and ancient cities. Legendary landmarks like Lorelei Rock, which soars high above the river, river complete a perfect picture.

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.

The study established that memory and other cognitive gniti functions seem to gnitive diminish in many old people, but not all. Some old people could actually outperf m young people on tests of outperfor memory and cognitive gniti functions. gnitive In the current study on brain shrinkage, participants completed neuropsychological tests of cognitive gniti gnitive function three times every three years. In both test groups, an MRI volume analysis scan at the end of nine years was perfor perf med on seven cortical regions known to be particularly ticular invo ticularly in lved in thinking.

Scans revealed that only the elder with signs of cognitive elderly gniti gnitive decline had brain shrinkage, and the shrinkage appeared in all seven cortical areas. Old people with normal cognition did not have ha brain shrinkage.

Apparently, the conve con ntional wisdom error arose from earlier ear studies that perfor perf med scans on old people without distinguishing those who were starting to develop brain diseases, such as alcoholism, Alzheimer’s disease and other kinds of dementia.

As the authors rightly pointed out, their findings need to be confirmed in a larger group of people, and future studies should include brain

scans repeated over time in the same person, not just one brain scan as was the case for this study.

But a clear implication is that healthy brains may never shrink, regardless of age. Cognitive gniti ly normal gnitive old people are normal because their brains have ha not shrunk. Perhaps a more accurate way to say it is that their brains have ha not shrunk because they have ha been mentally active acti over the years. Such normal old people may have ha preserved their normal-size brain by a lifetime of mental activity acti .

There is overwhelming evidence that continuous mental activity acti is good for the brain, paralleling the fact that exercise is good for the body.

People can be mental “couch potatoes” as well as physical ones, and in either case they could pay a huge price for their laziness. Yes, laziness is what this is. Excuses or political correctness do not change the reality.

Source: Burgmans, Saartje, et al. (2009) The prevalence of cortical gray matter atrophy may be overestimated in the healthy aging brain. Neuropsychology, gy 23: 541-550. gy, doi: 10.1037/a0016161 Dr Klemm is a senior professor Dr. of ofessor of neuroscience at Texas Te A&M. See his site, thankyo thank ubrain.b ubr logspot.com.

Come play with someone your own age!

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to recall my dismay at seeing a brain scan of my 76-year-old father when he was in the hospital in what turned out to be his last days. The scan showed a large space between the brain surface surf and the skull, and the ventricles (the ca cavities that hold cerebrospinal fluid) were much larger than normal.

My sadness was compounded by thinking that I, too, and my other loved ones, might have ha this happen as we age. I had these dark dar thoughts because conve con ntional wisdom among scientists and lay people alike is that brain shrinkage is an inevitable consequence of getting older.

However, er a new brain-scan study er, made it a point to first categorize old people (ave (a rage of 72 years) as cognitive gniti ly normal or as having gnitive ha signs of cognitive gniti decline. There were 35 gnitive “healthy” subjects and 30 who had some signs of cognitive gniti decline but gnitive did not have ha dementia. Subjects who developed dementia within six years after the scan session were excluded.

The cognitive gniti assessment of brain gnitive function was based on procedures in the Maastricht Aging Study (MAAS), which was a longitudinal study in nearly near 1,900 individuals indi aged between 24 and 81 years. Since 1992 participants have ha been tested at fixed intervals over a period of 12 years.

November 2013

Deterioration of the brain sneaks up on most of us. The first clue might be hearing loss, especially in the higher frequencies. We may be forced into bifocals bif , even trifocals trif . Such deterioration occurs in the sense organs, not the brain. But the most serious signs of deterioration occur in the brain.

As our brain ages, our reflexes slow. We walk and act slower. We even talk slower. We have ha more diffi dif culty in paying attention and staying focused.

Our memory starts to fail, especially the short-term form of memory ability that is so crucial for learning new things.

Dr. BILL KLeMM Brain-scan tHe MeMOry MeDic technology reveals that aging can shrink the brain.

Nerve tracts in the brain shrive shri l, making the cerebrospinal fluid ca cavities larger and can leave lea gaping holes in the brain. Shrive Shri ling occurs in the neuron terminal branches that form the synapses among neurons.

People may lose 40 percent or more of dopamine neurons, causing Parkinson’s disease.

A recent research report on agerelated brain shrinkage caused me

50plus

Aging minds: Being lazy shrinks brains

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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50plus November 2013 The Eagle • theeagle.com 4

Family activities made for autumn

Pumpkin picking is a great activity come the fall, perfect for all ages.

Metro Creati Cr ve Connection

Fall is a great time to enjoy the great outdoors. Beautiful fall foliage coupled with great weather compel many people to spend ample time outdoors bef e the arriva befor ri l of harsh riva winter weather drive dri s them back indoors. The following are a handful of actvities that are tailor-made for fall.

• Raking leave lea s: While raking leave lea s might not jump out at you as a great way to spend a nice fall afternoon, families often find raking lea s together soon turns leave into a fun day in the yard.

Build leaf piles and let the kids jump in, and then do it again.

When raking, encourage kids to collect some colorful lea s and set them aside. leave Once the raking is done, you can then enjoy making some homemade crafts with the leave lea s you and your youngsters just collected.

• Apple picking: Perhaps no activity acti is more synonymous with fall than apple picking. Many apple orchards encourage customers to come by and pick their own apples in the fall. Once your family and you have ha scoured the orchard for the perfect apples, relax with a cup of warm apple cider befor bef e returning home to make some homemade apple sauce and, of course, a delicious apple pie.

• Hayride: Hayrides are another fall tradition, and many farms offer of relaxing hayrides throughout fall.

Younger children who may tire if asked to patrol an apple orchard for apples might find a hayride is more their speed. Some farms may even allow customers to walk the grounds and visit the animals on the premises.

• Hiking: Hiking is a fun acti activity that can be enjoyed near year-round, but it’s nearly especially enjoyable in the fall. That’s because few things in nature are as captiva pti ting ptiva as a park par or forest when the fall foliage is in full bloom.

Ear fall also boasts ideal Early temperatures for hiking, as the mercury likely won’t rise enough or sink low enough to produce the kind of extreme temperatures that can compromise a hiker’s afternoon. Instead, fall temperatures tend to be mild and comfor comf table, allowing hikers to fully enjoy their often beautiful surroundings.

• Corn maze: Visiting a corn maze is another activity acti that many people instantly associate with fall. Some farmers transfor transf m their cornfields into corn mazes once the temperatures dip, and such mazes can be fun for adults and children alike.

Though adolescents can often be trusted to find their way through corn mazes, younger kids should be accompanied by an adult.

• Pumpkin picking: Much like apple picking is

See Pumpkin picking pa 13 page

• Wound Care “W focus on community. Quality care in a friendly environment.”

“We

No holiday feast is complete without turkey. The main course at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner tables alike, turkey is something many people look forward to more and more as the holidays approach.

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks)unsalted butter, softened 1/4 cup packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped, plus 4 whole sprigs 1 large sprig fresh rosemary, leaves chopped, plus 2 whole sprigs 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme, plus 4 whole sprigs 15 leaves fresh sage, chopped, plus 3 whole leaves 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for the turkey 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for the turkey 1 15-pound turkey 1 lemon, quartered 8 shallots, peeled and halved 1 head garlic, cloves separated and peeled 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth or stock 2/3 cup dry white wine 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2. Position a rack in the bottom third of the oven and preheat the oven to 450 F. Sprinkle the main cavity of the turkey with salt and pepper. Place the whole sprigs of parsley, rosemary and thyme and the sage leaves into the cavity. Add the lemon, 4 shallot halves and half of the garlic cloves.

3. Starting at the neck end, carefully slide a hand between the skin and the breast meat to loosen the skin. Spread 3 tablespoons of the herb butter over the breast meat under the skin. Tuck the wing tips under the skin, and tie the legs together to hold the shape.

Season the turkey generously all over with salt and pepper.

4. Place the turkey on a wire rack set in a large roasting pan. Rub 4 tablespoons of the herb butter over the turkey. Roast about 30 minutes, until golden brown, and reduce the heat to 350 F. Baste the turkey with 1/2 cup of the broth. Cover only the breast area with a sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Scatter the remaining shallots and garlic cloves in the pan around the turkey.

5. Continue to roast the turkey for about 11/2 hours, basting with 1/2 cup of broth every 30 minutes. Remove the foil from the turkey breast. Continue to roast the turkey, basting with

pan juices every 20 minutes, about 1 hour longer, until it’s golden brown and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 F. Transfer the turkey to a platter and brush with 1 tablespoon of the herb butter. Tent it loosely with foil and let it rest for 20 minutes before carving.

6. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the shallots and garlic from the roasting pan to a plate. Transfer the pan juices to a medium bowl, then skim off and discard the fat. Set the pan over two burners on medium-high heat. Deglaze the pan with the wine and 1 cup of chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits. Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until it’s reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Pour the sauce into a large measuring glass. Add the degreased pan juices, and broth, if necessary, to equal 3 cups of liquid.

7. Blend the flour into the remaining herb butter until combined.

Pour the broth mixture into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.

Gradually whisk in the herb-butter mixture. Add any accumulated juices from the turkey platter and boil until the gravy thickens enough to coat a spoon, whisking occasionally, about 6 minutes. Add the remaining shallots and garlic to the gravy and simmer for 1 minute. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Serve the turkey with the gravy.

closertohome.org

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Those about to cook their first turkey or even turkey-cooking veterans who want to stray from the norm may want to consider the following recipe for “Herb-Roasted Turkey” from Yolanda Banks’ “Cooking for Your Man” (Broadway Books).

Serves 10

1. In a small bowl, combine the butter, chopped parsley, chopped rosemary, chopped thyme, chopped sage, salt, and pepper, and mix well.

November 2013

Metro Creative Connection

Herb-Roasted Turkey

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A turkey tailor-made for a holiday feast

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Holiday events in the Brazos Valley area

By HOLLI L. KOSTER

The Eagle • theeagle.com

November 2013

Special to The Eagl Ea e

The sights and sounds of the holidays will be everywhere in the Brazos Valley, lley from the bright, lley, twinkling holiday lights in Santa’s Wonderland nder nderland to the carolers seated upon floats in the Bryan-College Station Christmas Parade.

The line up of holiday events in and around Bryan-College Station of offers countless opportunities for revelers to make lasting memories.

The Bluebonnet Garden Club is hosting a Victorian Christmas Tea and Flower Show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Ross-CarrollBennett House, located at 515 East Main Street in Brenham. Tickets are available for the first-time event from the Washington County Chamber of Commerce office of , at 314 S. Austin Street in Brenham, the Washington County Visitor Center, Center at 115 West Main St. or from any Bluebonnet Garden Club member. Tickets include tours of the Ross-Carroll-Bennett House, the Giddings Stone Mansion and the Brooks House. All three homes are also part of the annual Heritage Homes Tour and Trunk Show on Nov. 23 and 24.

The club will lavishl la y decorate the Ross-Carroll-Bennett House, a

Victorian home built of cypress wood cut to look like stone bricks, and the Giddings-Wilkins House, a home built in the 1840s.

The tea, a come-and-go light lunch similar to a high tea menu, will be catered by Design II and served throughout the day.

Tickets are $20, and reservations are due by Nov. 8. For more inf mation on the tea and flower infor show, e-mail charlottelar ar arlottelar oche56@ gmail.com .

The Holiday Home Tour and Trunk Show will be held Nov. 23 and 24, with the trunk show being held at the Giddings Stone Mansion, at 2203 Century Circle in Brenham. Tickets are available at the mansion for $15, covering both days.

The trunk show, featuring painted furniture, clothes, candles, antiques and many other items, will be held 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 23 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 24. Complimentary wine and cheese will be served from 5 to 6 p.m. Nov. 23.

The home tour will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Nov. 23 and 24 in the Giddings Stone Mansion, the Giddings-Wilkins House, the 1898 Ross-Carroll-Bennett House and the 1897 Victorian Wood-Hughes House (opened by Carol and Bill Brooks).

Connie Hall, treasurer of the Heritage Society of Washington County and an organizer of the event, said the flower show and home tours of offer a great way for residents to get a taste of what it was like in the 1800s.

“W have “We ha these fabulous Victorian homes decorated for Christmas and wonderful vendors at the trunk show,” said Hall. “The Happy Pickles (sweet and hot pickles) are popular.”

Stop by these other holiday events for fun with the family: Nov. 16 Lights On! Downtown 6 p.m.

Gloria Stephan Sale Park in Downtown Bryan The Woman’s Club of Bryan, city of Bryan employees and the Lemon Wedge restaurant will serve cookies and hot chocolate while patrons watch “Shrek the Halls” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

The program of events includes perf mances by the Salvation Army perfor Band, local high school choirs and Santa’s Grand Entrance, downtown street music and a letters to Santa station.

For more infor inf mation, visit downtownbryan.com/lightson.

Nov. 23 The Christmas Mile and 5K Fun Run 5 p.m.

Santa’s Wonderland nder nderland in College Station Runners experience the sights and sounds of Santa’s Wonderland nder nderland on foot, running or strolling through millions of holiday lights for the attraction’s opening weekend. The race features a festive festi one-mile or 5K run/walk.

Included in the race fee of $30 to $50 (depending on the race) is free admission to Santa’s Town, 50 percent of hayrides after the race for the off participant and two guests, after-race refreshments, free race photos and an opportunity to meet Marshall Frostbite.

The Christmas Mile begins and ends in Santa’s Town, and the 5K begins at the Jockey Lot Flea Marke Mar t, running through the park par and finishing near Santa’s Town.

For more infor inf mation, visit www. santas-wonderland.com. onder onderland.com.

See Holiday da fun day pa 10 page

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.

New and Happy Relationship” sa that each person needs says to reflect on their own money values. Share your money background with your significant other. Talk openly about your financial goals and how you feel about spending and saving. sa “Talk money more often – not just when it’s tax time, when you have ha high debt, or when bills come along.”

Pooling money If studies show that pooled money couples are happier than separate money couples, did the pooling make them happier or were they happier to begin with? Are the couples who keep all their money separated the least happy because they previously learned they could not trust their spouse with the family money? I have ha not found answers to this chicken-or-egg question. However, er I did read er, that couples who set aside 5 percent for independent discretionary spending are just as happy as those who pool every dollar.

Ad cates of pooling Advo

money say sa that combining finances reinfor inf ces the trust infor the two of you have ha and that this helps you get through the tough times. They say sa that independent money is a sign of a lack of commitment.

Pooled money is easier to manage and to access cash as well as simpler to stick to a budget. However, er if you er, must continually watch the bank balance because you are married to a spender, spender you may ma see pooled money as more dif difficult to manage.

Tips for couples Keep it Open. Befor Bef e making a commitment, of offer to share your financial details. Trade credit reports.

Routinely review credit card and bank statements. Share stories about how money was handled and discussed when you were kids.

Set a Money Date. At least once a month – preferably weekly – shut down the computers and turn off of the phones. Have Ha a focused con rsation about money conve and goals, both short and long-term.

Di Divide and Conquer. In many households, one person is the chief financial officer officer, ficer, understands the inve in stments, compiles the annual income tax infor inf mation, and generally has the big picture well in hand. While this may ma make life easier in your relationship, this imbalance of invo in lvement can cause confusion and stress. Share the duties. At tax time, one person can compile the income data while the other assembles the spending and deduction documents.

One person writes the checks while the other balances the checkbook.

Hire an Advisor Ad . A neutral third party is sometimes a good option to avoid tensions about money. A financial ad advisor can work with you to create and attain short-term and long-term financial goals, secure a funded retirement, monitor accounts and notice any unusual spending patterns, should they occur.

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

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dif ent perspective differ perspecti based on past experiences,” says sa Jordan Amin, former chair of the National CPA CP Financial Literacy Commission (to which I was appointed a member). “It’s critical for couples to communicate openly and regularly gular about gularly financial matters in order to establish a common language around money and move toward shared goals.”

Da Ramsey goes a bit Dave bolder with the opinion that men take more risks and don’t save sa for emergencies while women see money as a security issue. I have ha seen many couples who break this mold, but I agree that couples with dissimilar money attitudes and a lack of open and effecti effective fective communication struggle more with financial issues than do couples who share similar financial values.

Separating money Sociologists who conducted a study of Swedish married couples concluded that women highly valued having ha money that was defined as “mine” versus “ours” because it made them feel fiscally independent. Having Ha some independent money give gi s each person the power to spend that money as they please.

This can diminish a struggle for control between the indi individuals , which is a good thing for marital harmony.

Quasi-independent financial arrangements come with the sticky points of negotiating how to fund the joint account and which expenses are paid from that account.

For example, is my daily Muldoon’s cappuccino a joint expense, or is my caffeine caf addiction my own problem?

To be successful and avoid conflict when you have ha separate finances, you both need to talk openly about money. How do we define what is household spending?

How much is yours versus mine? Shall we allocate based on relative ti income levels? tive While these particular questions do not apply to pooled money couples, those couples also need to talk regularly gular about money. The gularly need to openly communicate is the same whether you pool or not. Dr. Terri Orbuch, a psychologist at the Unive Uni rsity of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research and author of the book “Finding Love Again: 6 Simple Steps to a

November 2013

In my business of advising ad couples on financial issues of di rce, married individuals divo indi ask me if they should have ha joint or separate financial accounts. I never know what to tell them because I see di rcing couples who have divo ha pooled their money as often as those who have ha chosen to keep their money separate.

Since my experience does not qualify as a statistical sample, I recently looked for articles to identify a consensus on one side or the other. As with many questions in life, the answer is “it TracY STewar ewarT ewar arT depends.”

Financial literacy iter There is new research concluding that couples who pool their money are happier with their marriages than those who keep finances separated. But there are also valid reasons to keep your money separated, and a happy marriage is still possible. There are enough online articles to gather plenty of reader comments on this topic. Generally the readers who agree with pooling money wrote positive positi and polite comments. The few dissenters tended to write angry comments about the folly of trusting anyone with your money. I suspect the unhappy comments were from people who have ha had disastrous marital experiences related to pooling money.

A 2012 survey conducted for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICP by Harris Interactive (AICPA) Interacti showed that finances can cause rifts for American couples. Among those aged 45 to 54, the average number of arguments over money is four per month. Three in 10 adults who are married or living li with a partner owned up to potentially deceitful behavior beha about money. Disagreements about money rank higher than arguments about children, chores, work or friends.

Fifty- eight percent of these arguments are over “needs” versus “wants.” Nearly Near half argue over unexpected expenses and a third fight about inadequate savings sa .

“Money is a lightening rod for conflict in relationships because it’s a sensitive sensiti topic and each person brings a

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Does pooling money bring marital bliss?

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Several organizations holding Veterans Day events in Bryan-College Station

By STAC STACY ACY CANTU

November 2013 The Eagle • theeagle.com

“Anything this visual draws attention because of the sheer quantity of flags on display,” Pratt added. “When you first see it, you take it in collective collecti ly, ly as a whole. But, when you walk among the rows, you see the flags individuall indi y, and the tags attached represent those who have ha served their country or community in the military or as first responders. It’s a special tribute, and we are proud to recognize these honorable vocations.”

For more infor inf mation on the Field of Valor, lor visit www. lor, bryan-rotary.org.

Texas A&M Unive Uni rsity will also hold an event on Veterans Day. From 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Rudder Plaza, Texas A&M will join several colleges and unive uni rsities in the National Roll Call of Remembrance. During the Roll Call, the names of those from any era of service, living li or deceased, will be read aloud by volunteers. At the same moment across the country, country all will observe a minute of silence. A&M will observe this moment of silence at 1 p.m.

The unive uni rsity will also have ha a display titled “Remembering Our Fallen” from Nov. 1 through Nov. 8 at the Texas A&M Memorial Student Center in the Flag Room. This display Center, was created to honor those from Texas who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The display contains a picture along with their name and hometown. There are 19 Texas Aggies included in this display.

College Station Independent School District has two Veterans Day events planned on Nov. 11. College Station Middle School will have ha a Veterans Day Assembly from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in its competition gym, and Oakwood Intermediate School will have ha a Veterans Day ceremony from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Bryan Independent School District will celebrate Veterans Day in several ways. On Nov. 11, Henderson Elementary will have ha a musical program at 9:30 a.m. and again at 6 p.m., and Jane Long Middle School will have ha a Veterans Day program at 9 a.m. Sam Rayburn Middle School will have ha a Veterans Day program at 9 a.m. on Nov. 8. Texas A&M’s Corp of Cadets and the color guard will be at Nava Na rro Elementary from 7:15 a.m. to 7:50 a.m. on Nov. 11, and Nava Na rro Elementary will also have ha a Veterans Day luncheon during its regular lunch time, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In addition to these events, Branch Elementary is having ha a school wide contest. All students are asked to wear red, white and blue on Nov. 11, and the class with the most students who participate will have ha their photo taken, to be published in the school yearbook.

Metro Creati Cr ve Connection

Veterans Day is an annual holiday when veterans of the armed forces are honored and celebrated in the United States. Many people confuse Veterans Day with Memorial Day. While both days honor members of the armed forces, there’s a distinction between the two holidays. Memorial Day, which is celebrated in May, is a day designated for remembering servicemen and servicewomen who died while serving. Veterans Day, which is observed in November, mber honors all military veterans. mber, The role of the brave bra men and women who serve in the military is an important one, and it’s one that warrants appreciation and celebration. The following are a few easy ways to celebrate veterans and their significant contribution to our country this Veterans Day. • Offer Of your thanks. Serving in the military can feel like a thankless job, as those who have ha not served might not be aware of the risks men and women in the military take and the sacrifices they must make to protect our country and help the less fortunate across the globe. As a result, something as simple as saying “Thank you” to a current service member or military veteran can go a long way. Veterans know they don’t serve in vain, but it’s still a great idea to let them know how much you appreciate their effo ef rts and sacrifices.

• Help families of active acti military. Many service members are currently stationed and serving overseas, and their families back home may need or just appreciate a helping hand. Invite In family members of active acti military over for dinner, dinner offer of to do chores like cutting the grass or shoveling the drive dri way when it snows or help around the house if something needs fixing. Even if families of acti members serving overseas appear to be getting active along great, offer of your friendship and let them know you’re there to help should anything arise.

• Visit hospitalized veterans. Unfor Unf tunately, many veterans are hospitalized after suffering suf an injury during a tour of duty. These veterans sacrificed their physical well-being to protect our way of life, and many spend extended periods of time in the hospital. Visiting a hospital to get to know a veteran and spend some time with him or her, her sharing a few laughs and thanking them for their service, is a great way to celebrate the holiday and lift a veteran’s spirits at the same time. Recruit friends and family members to visit hospitalized veterans as well.

• Pay for a veteran’s night out on the town. Like many people, veterans appreciate an escape from the daily grind. Men and women who want to show their appreciation to veterans can treat a veteran to a night out on the town. Have Ha extra tickets to a ballgame or play?

Donate them to a local VFW. Or if you see a veteran out on the town, offer of to pay for his meal.

• Thank businesses who support veterans. Many businesses show their gratitude to veterans by offering of them free services on Veterans Day. When a local business shows its appreciation to veterans, patronize that business and let them know you appreciate their ef rts to help veterans. effo

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8

Above photos: The “Remembering Our Fallen” traveling exhibition will be on display fr from Nov. 1 through thr Nov. 8, in the Flag Room at the Texas A&M Memorial Student Center.

Center For more mor information, visit http://remember http://r ingourfallen. or org.

Right photo: (Photo by Michelle Wagner Yeatts) Visitors look at the Bryan Rotary Field of Valor last year. ar The Field of Valor will be at Veterans Park in ar.

College Station Nov. 10 to Nov. 16.

This Veterans Day, several events will be held locally to give gi the Bryan-College Station community a chance to honor and show their appreciation for those who have ha served, or who are currently serving, in the United States Military.

According to History.com, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as “the Great War.” Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, ar Nov. 11 became a legal federal ar, holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.

“V “Veterans Day events give gi American people a chance to express their appreciation of the sacrifice and selflessness of veterans and veterans’ spouses,” said General Randy House, president of the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Foundation and the master of ceremony of the Veterans Day activities acti at the Veterans Park and Athletic Complex.

“If America wants to have ha young men and women join the military and put themselves in harm’s way, it is important to have ha these events to show people that it’s a big deal to be a veteran.”

The Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Board of Directors will be hosting three events on Nov. 11, at the Veterans Park and Athletic Complex, at 3101 Harvey Road in College Station.

The first event is a dedication that will be held at 4 p.m., at the World War II site on the Lynn Stuart Pathway, ay at the Veterans ay, Park and Athletic Complex. A new statue titled “Letters From Home’ will be unve un iled. The statue is of a soldier sitting on a wall and reading a letter from home.

The second event, which will take place at 5 p.m. following the statue unve un iling, will be a formal reading of the veterans’ names being added to the Wall of Honor. Each of the veterans’ names being added to the Wall of Honor will be called aloud, and family members and friends

may answer “Here.”

The annual Veterans Day program will follow at 5:30 p.m. This year’s keynote address will be delive deli red by John H. “Lucky” Luckadoo, a World War II veteran from the 100th Bomb Group. Members of the A&M Corps of Cadets, Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band and Corps Center Guard will participate in the ceremony.

For more infor inf mation on these events, visit www.bvvm. org.

The Bryan Rotary Field of Valor will also be on display from Nov. 10 through the Nov. 16 at Veterans Memorial Park. The Field of Valor features 1,000 American flags, each one representing someone who has served in the military, military the police force, as a firefighter or as an EMS worker.

“The primary purposes of the Bryan Rotary Field of Valor are to honor those who serve selflessly in the military and as first responders, to serve the community with the funds raised with our 1,000 flag display, and to educate students through history-based field trips at the park,” par said Bunny Pratt, Bryan Rotary Club field of valor chairwoman.

Easy ways to celebrate Veterans Day November 2013

Special to The Eagl Ea e

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Honoring those who serve

9

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Holiday da fun day from page pa 6

Nov. 28 - Jan. 1 Christmas lights will be on display after dark dar in Stephen C. Beachy Central Park, located at 1000 Krenek Tap Road in College Station.

Nov. 29 - 30, Dec. 6 - 7, 13 - 14 and 20 - 21 Ledbetter Volunteer Fire Department’s Christmas Lane of Lights 6 to 9 p.m.

Lights will be at the intersection of Highway 290 and F.M. 1291, at Stuermer’s store (hayride trailers pick up there).

Enjoy a hayride through nearly near a mile of lighted Christmas scenes, including animated displays, two historic houses and Santa. The fire department will serve cookies, hot chocolate and wassail.

Entry is $8, and children under 2 are free.

For more infor inf mation, visit www. ledbetterschristmaslaneoflights.com Nov. 30 Twilight Firelight at Fanthorp Inn in Anderson 4:30 - 8 p.m.

The Fanthorp Inn’s Twilight

Firelight event at Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site in Anderson celebrates with a journey back to the 1850s. The old stagecoach inn will be open and featuring period music, stagecoach rides, chuck wagon cooking, carol singing and a host of living li history characters. Activities Acti begin at the Grimes County courthouse, at 100 Main St in Anderson, where visitors board a replica stagecoach or wagon for a ride down Main Street to Fanthorp Inn. Upon arriva ri l, visitors will riva meet their hosts from 1850, Henry and Rachel Fanthorp, along with cowboys, trave tra lers from the 1800s and personalities who will entertain with stories, music, wassail and good cheer.

For more infor inf mation, visit www. tpwd.state.tx.us/calendar/twilightfirelight-1.

Dec. 3 Breakfast with Santa 9 a.m. to noon Lincoln Recreation Center at 1000 Eleanor St. in College Station The Breakfast eakf eakfast with Santa will include free hot breakfast, eakf eakfast, face painting, arts/crafts coloring acti activities , entertainment and more.

All participants ages 15 and under will receive cei a gift from Santa. ceive The event is free and open to the public.

For more infor inf mation, contact the Lincoln Recreation Center at 979-7643779.

Michael Martin Murphey’s Cowboy Christmas Concert 7:30 p.m.

Rudder Auditorium, near the intersection of George Bush Drive Dri and Houston Street on the Texas A&M Unive Uni rsity campus MSC Opas For more infor inf mation, visit opas. tamu.edu.

Dec. 5 Holiday Magic 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Sue Haswell Memorial Park, at 1142 E William J Bryan Parkway in Bryan This event features activities acti like a letter-writing station, holiday mural, games, rock walls, a snowcovered hill, free photos of Santa, li entertainment and food and live beverages.

For more infor inf mation, visit www. bryantx.gov.

Dec. 6 to 15 Christmas Show: “Whistle Down the Wind” Theatre Co., located behind the Te Tejas Center at the intersection of Villa Maria and Texas Ave. in Bryan

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s newest London musical hit based on the Christmas classic movie starring Hayley Mills, WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND is the heart-warming story of three orphaned children who find a wounded stranger in their barn and help him to celebrate Christmas.

For more infor inf mation, visit www. theatrecompany.com.

Dec. 6 to 7 Christmas at the Creek Wolf Pen Creek Park, at 1015 Colgate Drive Dri in College Station Acti Activities include a live li nativity tivity, tivity vity, concert, hayrides, dance perf mances, petting zoo, live perfor li entertainment, photos with Santa and more. A holiday vendor village is a new attraction this year at the festi l site with a variety of shopping festiva vendors from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday, selling arts, crafts, jewelry, lry candles lry, and other items.

The Artisans’Corner gift shop, live li entertainment and photos with Santa will be held at the Arts Council of the Brazos Valley at 2275 Dartmouth St. Parking is located at Post Oak Mall. There will be a hayride drop-off op-of op-off and pick-up at Post Oak Mall, The Arts Center and the Colgate Street

See Events ent ents pa 11 page

Join us in celebrating the opening of our new Porter’sCove Memory Car Caree N Neighb eighborhoo or d!

Thursday, November 7th • 5:30-7:30 pm

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from page pa 10 entrance of Wolf Pen Creek Park.

Dec. 10 Christmas with the Boston Brass 7:30 p.m.

MSC Opas Rudder Auditorium, near the intersection of George Bush Drive Dri and Houston Street on the Texas For more infor inf mation, visit opas.tamu.edu.

Meet the Team that Cares

Matthews DENTAL GROUP

Formerly Known As Aspen Dental

Dr. Ian J. Daulton

Dr. Todd Matthews

Dr.. Jay M. Erickson

Thank You Brazos Valley

for your continued patronage!

www.thematthewsdentalgroup.com

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.

Aspen Dental of The East Coast has come to our community and has forced us to change our name.

We have NEVER been associated with this giant retail dental clinic.

WE ARE NOT MOVING OR ADDING A NEW LOCATION

Please continue to visit our Caring Team at our convenient Emerald Parkway location.

1509 EMERALD PARKWAY SUITE 105 • COLLEGE STATION • PHONE 979.696.8681 | FAX: 979.680.1330 103 CHURCH ST. • NAVASOTA • PHONE: 936.825.6225 | FAX: 936.825.8412

For more infor inf mation, visit cstx.gov.

Dec. 13 Downtown Bryan Christmas Parade 6:30 p.m.

The parade will begin at 24th St. and Bryan Ave. in

Bryan, trave tra l south to 28th St. and end at 24th St. and Main St. For more infor inf mation, visit downtownbryan.com.

Dec. 14 Home for the Holidays Event

All day Na sota City Hall, Nava located at 202 E. McAlpine The city of Nava Na sota is hosting free fun activities acti for the family. The downtown Christmas Parade begins at 6 p.m.

For more infor inf mation, visit nava na sotatx.gov.

Vision for the way you live.

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Dec. 11 Holiday Open House 10 a.m. to noon Southwood Community Center at 1520 Rock Prairie Center, Road in College Station The center will serve refreshments, live li entertainment, door prizes, photos with Santa and provide infor inf mation on acti activities of ed for seniors. offer

Childr perform during last year’s Christmas at the Creek Children Cr event at Wolf Pen Creek Cr in College Station.

November 2013

Dec. 8 Jingle Bell Fun Run 2:15 p.m.

This two-mile run starts at the corner of Unive Uni rsity Dri and South College Drive Avenue and ends at the corner of Texas Avenue and Villa Maria. Entry fee is $15 befor bef e Nov. 15 and $20 between Nov. 16 and 29.

Race shirts are provided to participants who register bef e Nov. 15 and while befor supplies last. Dogs are welcome.

Participants can register online at rectrac.cstx.gov or in person at the Stephen C. Beachy Central Park, at 1000 Krenek Tap Road. Packet pick-up will be on Dec. 5 and 6 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more infor inf mation, call 979-764-3486.

Bryan-College Station Christmas Parade 2:30 p.m.

The parade begins near the intersection of Unive Uni rsity Dri and Polo Road in Drive College Station, runs north down Texas Avenue and ends just befor bef e the intersection with Villa Maria.

For more infor inf mation, visit bcsparade.com.

Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

MSC Opas

Rudder Auditorium, near the intersection of George Bush Drive Dri and Houston Street on the Texas A&M campus It’s holiday time, and everyone’s favo fa rite first grader is back to celebrate.

All of the students in Room One are happily creating the perfect holiday party. Except how is Junie B. supposed to enjoy anything when she has drawn the name of her arch nemesis, Tattletale May, for her Secret Santa Gift? But wait -- the Secret Santa gift is the perfect opportunity to gi May exactly what she give deserves - maybe.

For more infor inf mation, visit opas.tamu.edu.

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Events

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2801 East 29th at Memorial Drive • Bryan WHEN EXPERIENCE COUNTS, WE’RE THE ONES TO SEE

11

50plus

Don’t bow to back pain

By JAMES GAFFNEY GAFFNE

The Eagle • theeagle.com

November 2013

Matur Life Mature Lif Features atur atures

While lower-back pain has many dif ent causes, including the normal differ wear and tear that comes with aging, experts at the Unive Uni rsity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center suggest ways older adults can keep backs healthy.

1. Stay fit.

Exercise strengthens and stretches muscles and a regimen should be developed to target your back, abdomen and buttocks. Strong abdominal flexor muscles help you maintain an upright posture, as do strong extensor muscles that run the full length of the back and maintain vertebrae alignment.

Weak back and abdominal muscles resulting from a lack of conditioning or age cause or exacerbate many cases of lower-back pain. Stretching and strengthening both your back and abdominal muscles is important not only to beat that pain but to help prevent a recurrence of the problem.

Stretching is a valuable component of any treatment plan for a person plagued by back problems.

Most experts believe supple, wellstretched muscles are less prone to injury. Shorter, ter less-flexible muscle ter, and connective connecti tissues restrict joint mobility, mobility which increases the likelihood of sprains and strains.

Certain aerobic activities acti are safer for your back than others. For instance, bicycling (either stationary or regular), swimming, and walking lead the list of low-risk, high-benefit acti activities for most people’s backs. All

First

are low- or minimal-impact exercises that strengthen muscles that support the back. None invo in lve awkward or stressful movement detrimental to back muscles.

Sports and activities acti such as football, tennis, gymnastics, wrestling, weight lifting, rowing (crew), running, aerobic dance and ballet invo in lve a relative ti ly high risk for tive back injury because of the extension, lifting or impacts invo in lved. Other unnatural motions that could induce pain include back arching during gymnastics and diving; di twisting while hitting a golf ball, swinging at a baseball or bowling; vertical jolting while riding a horse, and stretching your legs strenuously when hiking or balancing a sailboat during a race.

2. Maintain a healthy weight.

Carrying too much weight has not been proved to be a primary cause of back pain, but being overweight can slow your recovery and increase the risk that back pain will return.

The heavier hea you are, the greater the load your spine must carry. To make matters worse, if the bulk of your weight is abdominal fat rather than muscle, your center of gravity can shift forward, a condition that puts added pressure on your back.

By maintaining a healthy weight, you can ease the burden on your spine as well as lower your risk for such threats as heart

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attack, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

To see if you are at a healthy weight, calculate your body mass index (BMI). Ask your doctor to assess it or you can make a quick calculation online by typing in “calculate body mass index” into your favo fa rite web browser. It takes both your height and weight into consideration. For example, someone about 5 feet 9 inches weighing about 150 to 160 pounds usually can be considered to have ha a healthy BMI. 3. Kick the cigarette habit.

Smoking harms your health. Not only does it raise your risk for lung cancer heart disease, hypertension, cancer, and a plethora of other health problems, it also jeopardizes your back.

Research shows that smokers have ha more frequent episodes of back pain than nonsmokers. The more people smoke, the higher the risk of such episodes, according to one study.

See Lighten Li up pa 15 page

from page pa 2

from page pa 4

best in fall, so is pumpkin picking. Rather than buying your Halloween pumpkin from the grocery store, where your options may be limited, go straight to the source and pick your

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.

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future jack-o’-lantern from a nearby pumpkin patch, which will provide a much wider selection. Let your youngsters pick their own pumpkins and then spend the rest of the day carving them at home. And don’t forget to sa those seeds, which can save be roasted over an open flame to make a delicious snack.

set dollar limit on benefits as long as the care is medically necessary.

I understand your frustration with the insurance process. In several instances, I called more than once and receive cei d differ ceive dif ent infor inf mation.

I receive cei d the most accurate ceive inf mation when I requested to talk infor to a supervisor. So to summarize, depending on your Medicare Ad ntage Plan, there are some Adva dif ences, but it appears that you differ should be able to receive cei care beyond ceive the physical therapy annual cap if it is medically necessary (according to Medicare’s definition). Call the payer to be sure. Be persistent; call more than once if you get infor inf mation that doesn’t match the benefits traditional Medicare covers.

If readers have ha an interest, I would be happy to offer of an Insurance 101 class. I know the current insurance envir en onment is confusing and we often feel powerless. If you are interested in attending an Insurance Class, contact our office of at sbpmcof sbpmcoffice@gmail.com or 776-2225.

Lisa Brad Br way is a Ph.D. in Human Resource Manage na ment and nage Organizational Behavior and has an Orga Heal alth Orga Or nizational Manage na ment nage Certification from Texas Tech Universi er ty. ersi ty She is Co-Owner of the Sp Sports, Back & Pain Manage nagement Clinic (sbpmcoffice@ nage gmail.com). om). om).

The Most Important Thing in any Relationship

The Eagle • theeagle.com

Pumpkin picking

indi individual basis.

Aetna Medicare Adva Ad ntage - In Texas, Aetna uses a third party administrator (ATA (A ) to administer their physical therapy benefits. ATA AT contracts with physical therapists and pays providers a set rate per episode depending on how they classify the episode (mild to severe). I mention this because recently the Brazos Valley Physicians Organization (a credentialing organization not to be confused with the Physician Center) closed and any contracts they negotiated between provider and insurer terminated. While this does not affect af everyone, it does affect af Aetna patients who need physical therapy. After reviewing the ATA AT contract, we did not feel we could of offer the level of care we feel is necessary under their contract terms and thus have ha made the difficult dif decision not participate with Aetna any longer. They offer of ed a take it or lea it situation. Thus, as of Nov. leave 1, Aetna patients may have ha fewer choices in the physical therapists who participate in Aetna. However, er when er, asked for clarification on Medicare Ad ntage plans, Aetna indicated Adva that their Medicare Adva Ad ntage PPO patients do not fall under ATA. AT Thus, in essence there are no “out of network” or penalties if you choose ork” an out of network or PT provider. ork For Medicare patients, they follow Medicare guidelines, but don’t have ha a

November 2013

Medicare covers $1,900 in outpatient physical therapy and speech therapy (this year the limit or cap includes hospital outpatient). A provider can use a KX modifier on the claim to exceed the $1,900 if they can satisfy Medicare’s medical necessity requirements. Medicare monitors the use of this modifier and sends out notices to providers who use it more often than others in their area (regardless of how many Medicare patients they see or the severity of the conditions). This may discourage some providers from using it for fear of audit. If the patient still needs care beyond $3,700, there is no guarantee of payment and the claims are sent to a regional auditor. If they audit the file and determine, in their view, the treatment is not medically necessary, necessary they can take back money paid to the provider for services already rendered. Their compensation is based on a percentage of the money they can get returned to Medicare. We do see Medicare patients that require a KX modifier at times and have ha had one patient exceed the $3,700. We receive cei d pre-authorization for that ceive patient, but have ha still not receive cei d full ceive payment for services in 2012.

Scott & White Senior Care – Scott and White in our area is actually

a supplement of sorts versus a Medicare Adva Ad ntage Plan. You are still a traditional Medicare patient; the provider bills Medicare but Scott & White administers the copay/ deductibles/pre-authorizations. As with traditional Medicare, you have ha a $1,900 cap for physical therapy per calendar year. If you need care beyond the cap, the provider must send in a pre-authorization request (prior to exceeding the cap). Thus, if the provider believes the patient will likely exceed the cap, they must submit the pre-authorization prior to you reaching the cap. We have ha had one patient this year require a preauthorization. Although there was confusion initially, the request was approved timely.

Humana Medicare Adva Ad ntage – Humana Medicare Adva Ad ntage plans follow Medicare guidelines.

In addition, a provider does not necessarily have ha to be In Network or ork with Humana depending on the plan you have ha chosen (PPO vs. HMO).

Providers bill Humana not Medicare.

We have ha several Medicare Adva Ad ntage patients and yet are not “in network” or ork” with Humana. So you may have ha more freedom to choose your provider than you think. Humana follows Medicare guidelines, but whether pre-authorization is needed is less clear and may depend on the patient’s specific plan. In our clinic, we will likely call for clarification on an

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CALENDAR

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November 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 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.

Pickelball – Seniors play pickleball at 11 a.m. every Wednesday at the Lincoln Center gym, 1000 Eleanor St. in College Station.

Call Lincoln Center at 979-764-3779 for more information.

Nov. 6

Computer Club for Seniors - The Computer Club is open to all seniors interested in learning more about the computer world. The next program will be “Learn What is New in Stores.” See what new gadgets are available.

The meetings are held at the Carter’s Creek Training Room, at 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.

Nov. 11

Beginning Computer Class for Seniors - Class meets for two weeks on Monday and Wednesday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road.

This class is for seniors who would like to learn more about how to search the Internet and use e-mail. Class size limited. Cost of the class is $45. To register, 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 to register in person. For more information call College Station Senior Services at 979-7646371 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov.

1000 Eleanor St. in College Station. Blinn College nursing students will be doing checks for high blood pressure, diabetes, vision, hearing, height and weight and answer health and medical questions. For more information contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Nov. 15

College Station 75th Anniversary Homecoming Event - 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. College Station’s A&M Consolidated High School alumni groups will host a barbecue dinner with live music by Chris Austin-Martinez (AMCHS ‘84) at Southwood Community Center in Brian Bachmann Community Park. Open to the public. Tickets are $12. RSVP; contact Linda Harvell at 979-703-5305 or go online to Texas Trading Post to purchase tickets.

Nov. 18

AARP Driver Safety Class – Class for drivers 50 and older is offered of from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Cost is $14 or $12 for AARP members. To register

Nov. 12

Free Health Fair for seniors - Seniors are invited from 9 to noon at the Lincoln Center,

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See Calendar pa 15 page

Over 30 Years Experience Caring for the Hearing Needs of the Brazos Valley

from page pa 14 contact College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Nov. 19

Nutrition education presented by Texas A&M AgriLlife - 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. Contact Annie Williams at

Lighten up from page pa 12

Nov. 21

Nov. 20

Exploring History Luncheon - The College Station Historic Preservation Committee and Parks and Recreation Department present monthly lectures with lunch on the history of the community. Topic: “Tribute to Veterans,” a panel discussion with veterans who will share their stories. Luncheons are held at Aldersgate Church, 2201 Earl Rudder Freeway S. A reservation is necessary for lunch; the cost is $5. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. Make reservations by the Friday before; call 979-764-

Nov. 22

Bingo and Birthday Celebration - Seniors

back.

When carrying a heavy hea load, put the heaviest hea items as close as possible to the center of the back, and use the hip strap for support. For very heavy hea loads, use a backpack with wheels.

Above all, remember to bend from your knees when picking up your pack.

5. Develop back-healthy habits.

Everyday activities acti , from vacuuming your house to sitting in front of the computer for hours, can take a toll on your back, particularly ticular ticularly if you aren’t schooled in proper body mechanics. But you can take some of the pressure off of your back by following these simple tips: • While standing to perfor perf m ordinary tasks like ironing or folding

Nov. 25

Senior Advisory Committee Meeting - The Senior Advisory Committee meets on the last Monday of each month at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road, at 10 a.m. Visitors welcome. For more details call 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov.

laundry keep one foot on a small step laundry, stool.

• Don’t remain sitting or standing in the same position for too long.

Stretch, shift your position or take a short walk often.

• When bending from the waist, always use your hands to support yourself.

•When sitting, keep your knees a bit higher than your hips and bend them to at least a 90-degree angle.

Sit with your feet comfor comf tably on the floor. If your feet don’t reach the floor, floor put a book or a small stool under them.

• Because vacuuming can take a toll on your back, tackle rooms in chunks, spending no more than five to 10 minutes at a time doing this task.

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A survey by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons revealed that nearly near 60 percent of the doctors responding had treated school-age patients complaining of back and shoulder pain caused by heavy hea backpacks. Hauling an overloaded er erloaded backpack can also cause muscle fatigue and strain and encourage the wearer to bend forward unnaturally.

If you use a backpack, you can take steps to protect yourself. For starters, use both of the pack’s straps instead of slinging one strap over a shoulder. Carry only the essentials and lighten the load whenever possible. Choose backpacks that have ha dif ent-sized compartments to help differ distribute weight evenly. And look for wide, padded straps and a padded

Free Movie and Popcorn: “Promised Land” - Seniors are invited to enjoy a free movie and popcorn at Southwood Community Center.

Movie starts at 1 p.m. Contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 for more information or College Station Parks and Recreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

are invited to a birthday celebration with cake and Bingo, at 1 p.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road. Home Instead Senior Care will provide prizes for Bingo.

For more information, contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

November 2013

Scientists believe nicotine in cigarettes contributes to lower-back pain in two ways. First, nicotine hampers the flow of blood to the vertebrae and disks. This impairs their function and may trigger a bout of back pain. Second, smokers tend to lose bone faster than nonsmokers, putting them at greater risk for osteoporosis, another common cause of back pain.

4. Lighten your load.

Backpacks have ha become ubiquitous -- at school, at work and at play. But an overstuffed erstuf erstuffed backpack can be a harbinger of back pain.

6351 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

50plus

Lincoln Center at 979-764-3779 or awilliams@ cstx.gov for more information.

Calendar

ArrAnge A PrivAte viewing By CAlling MiChelle wAgner-yeAtts At 979-774-1298

www.waldEnbrookEEstatEs.Com

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50plus November 2013 The Eagle • theeagle.com

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