PrimeTime Magazine March 2014

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RHODE ISLAND

style

At Home and In

Michelle Parenteau shares design tips

AGING IN PLACE

TIPS FROM SPECIALISTS

• home modifications • in-home & day care

A N I W

E G A S MAS AL! I C A F &

MARCH 2014

EXPERIENCE THE 2014 HOME SHOW TOUR

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inthisissue 4 Why Don’t We Stay Home?

Seniors aging in their own home is a real option

6 Golden Years

Homefront helps seniors remain at home

8

It All Starts with Color

Michelle Lee Designs ads style, color and functionality to your home

10 Cornerstone Adult Services

Celebrating 40 years of helping seniors

11 Rhode Islanders Unite

Pr i m e Ti m e March 2014 1944 Warwick Ave. Warwick, RI 02889 401-732-3100 FAX 401-732-3110 Distribution Special Delivery PUBLISHERS Barry W. Fain, Richard G. Fleischer, John Howell MARKETING DIRECTOR Donna Zarrella donnaz@rhodybeat.com Editor/ Creative Director Linda Nadeau lindan@rhodybeat.com WRITERS Jessica Botelho, Michael J. Cerio, John Grow, Don Fowler, Tim Forsberg, Dan Kittredge, Terry D’Amato Spencer, Elaine M. Decker, Joan Retsinas, Mike Fink, Meg Chevalier, Joe Kernan, Kerry Park, Kathy Tirrell, Jennifer Rodrigues

Aging in Place “

The ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level

”

– The Center for Disease Control

18

Staying Home

Home modifications and getting help

23

Adult Day

A critical partner in the family care support system

SENIOR ISSUES

West View lecture series....................................................13 Director’s column..................................................................14 Alzheimer’s Association.....................................................21 Real Estate Downsizing......................................................21 Retirement Sparks.................................................................22

FOOD & DRINK

Cooking for one or two.....................................................15 Everyone’s Irish on St. Patty’s Day!...............................24

LIFESTYLES

That’s Entertainment...........................................................26 What Do You Fink..................................................................27

PRODUCTION STAFF Matt Bower, Brian Geary, Lisa Yuettner

March 2014

Rhode Island companies make safety and comfort possible

Celebrating Senior Olympians......................................20 Glimpse of RI’s Past...............................................................29

Classified ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Sue Howarth – sueh@rhodybeat.com

PrimeTime Magazine is published monthly and is available at over 400 locations throughout Rhode Island. Letters to the editor are welcome. We will not print unsigned letters unless

12 No Place Like Home

PEOPLE & PLACES

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Donna Zarrella – donnaz@rhodybeat.com Carolann Soder, Lisa Mardenli, Janice Torilli, Suzanne Wendoloski, Gina Fugere

A Joint Publication of East Side Monthly and Beacon Communications.

Rhode Islander’s advocate for seniors

professional prospective

Elder Law....................................................................................19 Your Taxes...................................................................................19

nextmonth

You’ve Retired! Now What?

o n t h e c ove r

Michelle Parenteau of Michelle Lee Designs Photo by Kim DiIuro – Kimberli Photography

PrimeTime |

by JOHN GROW

WHY DON’T WE JUST STAY HOME? For more and more seniors, aging comfortably and safely in their own home is a real option.

Back in 1952, when I was very young, my grandfather came to live with us in my parents’ house. It was not long after grandmother died, and it was decided he shouldn’t stay alone. He was 78 and in a wheelchair.

The family couldn’t afford private nurses. There was a nursing home in town but because of some sort of family pride, that also wasn’t an option. Dad said that was for folks who had no family.

Having grandpa stay with us wasn’t easy. We had a rather small, three-bedroom place in town. So to make it work, mom and dad moved him into their room; it was the biggest. They took my sister’s room, she took my little bed, and I got the couch.

The wheelchair wouldn’t fit through any of our doorways, so grandfather kept a cane to help him stand while one of us would partially collapse his chair and get it into the next room. He also used his cane to go to the bathroom by himself, and to trip me and send me sprawling if he caught me running in the house.

Even so, I remember grandpa falling more than once. It scared everyone.

After six months or so things got back to normal when he moved over to my Aunt May’s big house. I saw him there every time we went to visit or to get my haircut – she was the exclusive barber for her three grandsons and me.

All of her doors were big and wide; some were double. But grandfather still kept his cane for trips to the bathroom. And he was as vicious as ever with it, only now he had four targets to try and trip instead of just me.

Six months later he was with my Aunt Edna whose children were all grown, and whom we didn’t visit very often, and after that he was supposed to be back with us. It didn’t happen.

Grandfather fell in the bathroom, went to the hospital and died of “complications,” which is all anyone ever told me at the time.

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My story is quite unremarkable for that day and age. It’s the way most families cared for their elderly up until about a generation or two ago.

Then, people pretty much gave up on the idea of trying to make a home double as a hospital for gram and gramps. Houses are dangerous places for people whose motor skills aren’t working the way they used to. So it was assumed by many, if not most, baby-boomers that when they grew older and more frail, they would find a nice nursing home or assisted living facility to live in.

But aging has taken on a whole different look now. Now we have everything from aerobics classes and dating sites to yoga and zumba sessions designed for people whose age has reached the higher double digits.

Technology has brought us around almost full-circle, so that those of us who want to grow older in our own comfortable, familiar place can do that with a high level of safely.

AARP statistics show that about 10,000 boomers turn 65 every day; a big and growing demographic that demands attention. Nearly 90 percent of them would prefer to stay in their homes as they grow older if they could, the survey says.

A burgeoning industry with the rather awkward (though descriptive) name of “Aging in Place” has developed, and its future is indeed bright.

Semico, a semiconductor company that also does research on end-user markets, released projections in July last year showing that just the health and wellness monitoring market for Aging in Place alone will reach $30 billion in 2017.

Older people have the same problems as everyone else, only amplified.

Everybody falls down sometime. But according to the Center for Disease Control, falls are the leading cause of injury and death in older people.

Everybody forgets to take a pill once in a while. But statistics show that by age 70, a person may have 12 or more prescription medications. And not being able to administer one’s own medications unsupervised is the reason for 40 percent of nursing home admissions.

Like Bette Davis said, being old is not for sissies.

These are concerns for older people themselves, but they are also major worries for their children and grandchildren.

“I know all about those worries,” said Linda Bohmbach of Home Healthsmith, a Rhode Island company that specializes in making modifications to homes for elderly and disabled people. “I’m helping my parents who live out of state, to make them comfortable in their home.

“Most people prefer to stay in their own house if possible. What we do is set up a free assessment

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AGING IN PLACE

BEFORE & AFTER – ramp rental project done by Home Healthsmith in Carolina, RI.

Bill and Linda Bohmbach

in their home. We meet with them and their family to find out what they want to do, and suggest which modifications their home will need to make it happen.

“Each case is different, obviously,” she said.

Linda’s husband Bill owned an elevator company, which he sold a little over three years ago to devote full-time to Home Healthsmith. He has over 30 years experience in equipment installation and maintenance, and is a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) from the National Association of Home Builders.

Once they determine the family’s goals, they can suggest different ideas how to achieve them.

“Modifications may be small or large. The home may need ramps installed outside, or perhaps inside as well, depending on the floor plan. We may need a chairlift for stairs, or an elevator installed. Or we may need to install a vertical platform lift to go from one level to the next. The client may require bath lifts in the bathrooms. There are a number of options available now. We work with the architect when needed.”

Grab bars and railings are a part of almost every modification, especially in the bathroom. And they don’t have to be the cold, hospitalstyle chrome ones anymore; colorcoordinated models are available now.

“We look at everything in the home, in every room in the home.

Lighting, light switches, non-skid

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flooring, cabinets, closets,” Linda explained.

Once they agree on a plan and the work is done, companies like Home Healthsmith provide ongoing assistance to the homeowner.

“For example, we maintain things like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors whether we installed them or not. Just last week we had a client call about a lighting fixture in their bathroom, and we had a crew sent right out,” she said.

“We do whatever the client needs, including general property maintenance. We cover all of Rhode Island, the South Shore of Massachusetts and right up to Worcester. That’s the area we feel we can effectively offer the fastest service to.”

They also work with people with ALS, MS and Parkinson’s, and veterans with disabilities.

“We work closely with Mary Ellen Thibobeau, the local director for the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, and with Mike Holty with the Wounded Warrior Project,” she said. “In fact, a portion of the proceeds from each installation we make is donated to Wounded Warrior.”

I’ve Fallen and I Can’t Get Up! Electronic monitoring for older people who decide to continue to live independently has become amazingly high-tech. Home Healthsmith does not deal with those products directly, but they have

formed relationships with companies that do.

Electronic monitoring gadgets are everywhere, like a benign “Big Brother” watching.

One of the most basic is the Personal Emergency Response System, or PERS. This is a home device connected to a 24-hour call center directly via the phone.

The device is worn as a bracelet or pendant and has a button that activates the call. As soon as the center gets the alarm, someone will call a designated third person, a family member and/or medical emergency personnel.

Typically, PERS can be rented from $15 to $50 a month, which generally includes the monitoring fee, or be purchased from $200 to $1,500, plus the monthly fee.

There are many companies offering PERS. You can ask around for a name, or do a computer search.

Then there are other gadgets you can hang onto PERS, such as one that monitors the bathroom and notifies the call center if you go in but don’t come out in a reasonable amount of time.

Another, Quiet Care Plus, adds a motion sensor to tell the monitor that you’re moving around like you should, and also goes off if your house gets too hot or too cold. You can set it up to watch for a lot of different, unusual occurrences.

E-Neighbor Plus detects anything out of the ordinary in your home, like a faucet running for too long or your refrigerator door not being opened for a day.

Most of these add-ons to PERS will run a couple of hundred bucks, plus a small monthly monitoring fee.

Then you can get some really handy, inexpensive gadgets most homes should have, like the Saf-Telement Cooking system. It’s a set of plates that fit over the burners on a cook stove and turn a burner off if it reaches a pre-set temperature.

The Temperature-activated Flow Reducer runs about $40, and screws onto the faucet in the sink or bath and monitors the temperature of the water. If it gets too hot, it shuts off the flow so you don’t get scalded.

There are many more electronic gadgets to make a home safer for the elderly or for others who need a little assistance with their day-today living but demand independence as well.

If you or a loved one fall into that category, you will be utterly amazed at the possibilities that now exist.

And don’t be intimidated. We’re a long way past “1984,” and “Big Brother.”

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A WORTHY CAUSE

by MICHAEL J. CERIO

Golden Years The

I

come from what many would call a big family. Across both sides I have 10 aunts and uncles, 14 cousins and three siblings. Needless to say, it was sometimes a challenge to find an open seat at the table during the holidays. But more importantly, for the first 20 years of my life, I was fortunate to have in my life the four people who started it all – my grandparents.

Now that I’m married with chil-

dren of my own (sad, though, that only one remains to enjoy firsthand the joys of how the family has grown), I can’t help but realize the incredible marks they each had on my life. I recall vividly how important it was to them that they remain independent and living in their own homes. It was all they knew.

I’m proud to say that my 88-year-old grandfather – who probably still gets out more often than I do – still lives on his own in the house he built over 50

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Homefront helps seniors remain living in the comfort of their own home years ago. There are countless memories there and I long ago lost count of the times he’s said he’ll never leave.

For these reasons, and the fact that many of you likely have similar stories and memories, this month’s column holds special meaning for me. I’m pleased to highlight an incredible nonprofit, Homefront Health Care, that makes it possible for seniors to remain in the comfort of their homes during the Golden Years.

Established in 1966, during the time when the Federal Medicare benefit was implemented to assist seniors in paying for home services, Homefront has grown to become one of the largest and most comprehensive home care providers in the state. The organization’s compassionate and caring staff of 350 nurses, therapists, CNAs, homemakers and companions makes more than 150,000 visits each year.

From helping people with activities of daily living, meals, bathing, laundry, shopping and errands to light housework and rehabilitation services, Homefront covers all the bases.

“We have an incredible staff that’s able to help with all of the things people need done but are no longer able to do on their own,” said Bob Caffrey, president and CEO of Homefront Health Care. “As nursing home use has declined steadily over the past 10 to 15 years – despite the older population growing –we’ve absolutely seen an increase in demand for our services.”

While Caffrey credits part of this growth to seniors being more aware of the options available that help delay the time they may need to move into a facility, there’s the undeniable fact that home is where they want to be – no one ever wants to leave the comfort of their home unless they have to.

The average age of a Homefront clients is well into the 80s and the or-

ganization serves nearly 200 seniors in their 90s during any given year. Most still have their mental acuity but physically they’re unable to do for themselves what they once could.

“Some of the biggest challenges we see are difficulty going up and down the stairs, trying to do laundry, preparing meals and getting out to do their own shopping,” said Caffrey. “This is why we’ve always had a broad definition of our services; it’s all about encompassing all of the things people need in their daily lives.”

Though Homefront provides service anywhere from an hour a day to 24 hours a day, many clients are visited

by CNA for a two-hour period three to five times a week. During each visit, the CNA offers some personal care; helping seniors bathe and dress. On other days, staff may help prepare meals, do laundry and light housekeeping. There are also visits set aside for shopping and errands One of the most valuable side benefits of what Homefront’s staff provides, inevitably, are the connections made with those they care for. Very often, a strong and special bond is created as seniors come to rely on staff as part of their daily routine –greatly appreciating the compassionate work of home care providers.

“We try to stress professional boundaries, but when you’re with someone every day, you can’t help but get close – it’s the nature of what we do,” adds Caffrey. “Very often, we hear that if it wasn’t for one of our CNAs, I don’t know how my mom or dad would have been able to stay home for so long. Our caregivers often become part of the family.”

Caffrey speaks highly of the feedback he and his staff receive from families. As family responsibilities and dynamics have changed over the years

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aging in place

– many of their clients’ children now both needing to work to support their own families – those who were once primary caregivers also rely heavily on Homefront’s services.

“More than 90 percent of our clients have said in surveys that they’d highly recommend us to friends and other family members; we get many of our clients from referrals,” said Caffrey.

“I think this is a testament to us always striving to provide the best care possible and it shows.”

As health care services continue to change and evolve at a rapid rate, Homefront has been able to also move nimbly along. One of these changes relates directly to older patients being discharged from the hospital following a briefer stay than what may have occurred years ago. And, that many may have unique or severe medical needs.

“What we’re able to do at home now probably wouldn’t have been done years ago – we can now help people complete their recovery at home where they are most comfortable,” added Caffrey. “This all speaks directly to the skills of our nurses. They all care deeply about the well-being of our clients – it’s not just a job; they’re proud to make a difference in someone’s life and brighten their day. Our nurses may be the only person a client sees that day; it alleviates a lot of the loneliness that can

March 2014

occur if you live by yourself.”

Working out of six office locations across the state, including East Providence, Harmony, Providence, Warwick, Westerly and Woonsocket, Homefront is easy to connect with to find out how they may be able to help you or a loved one live independently at home longer. They also receive referrals from and work closely with hospitals, partner health organizations, and state caseworkers – coordinating consultations almost daily.

Anyone looking for more information, or to schedule a private consultation, can call Homefront’s statewide information and referral line at 3839696. There is also information available on their website at www.Homefront.org.

“I think the biggest element in home care, and something we take very seriously, is that our clients and their families can trust us to provide the best care possible,” said Caffrey. “This work means a lot to me – it’s why I’ve been here for 35 years – knowing that we’re making someone’s final years at home as comfortable as possible.”

PrimeTime |

by DAN KIT TREDGE

color

it all starts with W

ith any given space, the goal of Michelle Parenteau of Michelle Lee Designs is to maximize its potential, both functionally and aesthetically. Color comes first, she says, because “everything comes to life” when it is introduced.

She works with a broad range of clients, from couples young and old to restaurateurs and lawyers. She tackles a wide variety of spaces, from kitchens, bathrooms and living rooms to offices and eateries.

With each client, she works to shape a unique vision, a way to “transform something they’ve lived with for many, many years.”

The process of realizing a client’s vision is always unique, and with older people and couples, Parenteau said, that aspect of her work takes on a particularly special quality.

Interacting with those clients often involves long conversations – time spent talking about children and grandchildren, and feeling “like one of the family.” She recalled working with one older couple, and how they “were so excited” every time a new piece of the design was finalized.

“It’s a whole different feel,” she said. “I love it … I like to get to know them.”

Parenteau said on the functional side of the planning process, bathrooms – and showers in particular – are a major focus when designing space for seniors. Many of the same issues carry over to clients – those using wheelchairs, for example – who require accessibility to be a major part of a particular design.

Parenteau said such projects involve both a personal connection and an extremely close eye to detail.

“You have to think of every aspect of design,” she said. “You have to keep everything open … everything has to be at their height.”

Parenteau pointed to an example of a kitchen she did for a wheelchair-bound woman and her husband. In that project, she said, everything – the height and positioning of a table, microwave and oven, the configuration of the sink, the way window shades are set up and the removal of carpeting in favor of smooth, open floor surfaces – was carefully considered to maximize ease, access and style.

Other projects require a slightly different approach. For couples with young children and pets, for example, finding the right balance of aesthetic and functional considerations also comes from spending time with and learning the habits of the family, although Parenteau, as a parent and animal lover, has a solid base of experience from which to proceed.

“I know from my own home what works and what doesn’t work,” she said.

Whatever the project, Parenteau said the rewards come from helping clients transform a space that is integral to their daily life.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “To bring the whole entire space together … and to see how happy the clients are afterwards, it’s huge.”

Parenteau’s professional story is itself rooted in transformation. A graduate of Cranston High School East and the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in Florida, she decided to start her own business roughly a decade ago as a way to pursue her passion for design, bringing to the endeavor her experience in window displays, textile design, clothing styling, color coordination and other areas.

“Since I was 7, I’ve been able to kind of pull space together,” she said. “It’s always something that’s been inside of me.”

Parenteau said the design process often involves convincing customers to embrace new colors and elements in their space.

“A lot of people are afraid of color,” she said, adding that she works to help clients “get past beige walls” and accept a major change in a space’s appearance. Some clients, she said, are fully welcoming of her “fun” approach – and in those cases, “you can really do something wild.”

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In keeping with her love of color, she frequently incorporates stained glass in her designs, which can provide a “vintage kind of feel,” and employs artists to create murals.

“I love doing murals. It completely changes up a space,” she said.

Parenteau also frequently utilizes custom furnishings in her designs, such as a unique desk in a lawyer’s office.

“I guess my style’s eclectic,” she said. “It’s like baby steps sometimes … [Clients are] always happy with the end result.”

Like Parenteau’s work, making connections with those clients – and with the contractors, artists and others who help bring her designs to life – has also been defined by transformation.

She was shy when she started out on her own, and she faced skepticism.

“I’ve been told I couldn’t do it,” she said. “That always fuels my fire.”

Much of building Michelle Lee Designs into what it is today has been the result of a growing reputation for quality and Parenteau’s efforts to create connections with the business community. She did her first restaurant project about seven years ago, and said the establishment tripled its business with the new look. In 2005, she joined the Cranston Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s been fantastic,” she said of the Chamber, which has put her in front of potential clients, vendors and collaborators while allowing her to forge relationships and build positive word-of-mouth. “The biggest thing is getting my foot in the door … It kind of grows from there.”

Among the local companies with which she works are Supply New England, Dal-Tile and Lighting & Design by J&K Electric. Parenteau now has an office for the business at 29 Rolfe Square, and has been recognized by design, decoration and remodeling website Houzz.com with its Best of Houzz 2014 in Customer Satisfaction award.

Parenteau’s success also owes to her efforts to showcase and promote her work through photography and new technology. She cited photographer Kimberli DiIuro, with whom she has been working for more than a year to document particular designs.

“You can do a great job, and no one will care” without photos, she said.

Sharing and circulating those images through social media has been a major boon to business.

“Every time I have a project I finish, I can put it on Facebook,” she said.

Parenteau has become active in her hometown, both professionally and personally. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Cranston Chamber and the event committee for the Rhode Island Film Collaborative, and is a member of the Rhode Island Hospitality Association. She has provided design services for such events as the fourth annual World Masquerade Ball held at the Rhode Island Convention Center on New Year’s Eve, which had an “Old Hollywood” theme,” and belongs to the Eden Park Elementary School PTO. “I’m very involved in the community,” she said.

All of that involvement, Parenteau noted, comes in addition to her family life.

She and her husband Steven have three boys – twins Tristan and Jacob, 11, and Noah, 8.

“Running your own business while being a mom, it’s not easy,” she said.

Film is also an area of interest for Parenteau. She provided set design services for Michael Corrente’s feature “Incubus,” and previously took part in the 48-Hour Film Project.

“I have my own IMDb page,” she said with a laugh.

Parenteau is staying busy, with about eight projects currently under way. Among them is a new restaurant, Aruba Steve’s in Warren.

Looking forward, Parenteau hopes to keep growing her business while finding new ways to share her passion with others.

“I’d like to have my own TV show,” she said. “Just keep growing, too.”

Michelle Lee Designs can be reached by calling 954-2065 or emailing info@ michelleleedesigns.com.

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This kitchen, designed by Michelle Lee Designs, done for a wheelchair-bound woman and her husband, highlights the special considerations involved in a project that requires accessibility.

The height of, and spaces beneath, the sink and stove allow for wheelchair access, and the faucet can be operated with a light touch. Appliances are also placed at ideal heights.

The positioning of the table and countertops allows for easy access and creates a level plane for when people are seated. Open, smooth floor surfaces are ideal for wheelchair use.

“You have to think of every aspect of design,” said Parenteau. “You have to keep everything open … everything has to be at their height.”

– Michelle Parenteau

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PT | PHOTO BY KIM DIIURO – KIMBERLI PHOTOGRAPHY

b y J ennifer R odrig u es

(Submitted photo from Dottie Santagata)

Cornerstone Adult Services 40 years helping seniors remain at home

A PIECE OF HOME:

The former Cornerstone Memory Care Center (top) was located in a church at 140 Warwick Neck Avenue.

When the new center opened in 2001, the former building was demolished, but the steeple was relocated to the center’s new garden.

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March 2014

aging in place Cornerstone Adult Services is celebrating 40 years of helping the elderly remain in the community they wish and providing family caregivers with a trusted place for their loved ones to spend the day.

Formerly the Warwick Central Geriatric Day Care Center, the first Cornerstone adult day center in Rhode Island opened in a rented room at the Warwick Central Baptist Church in Apponaug in 1973, directly across from City Hall.

Over the past 40 years, Cornerstone was able to grow from a rented room inside the church to a statewide organization with five centers.

The original location remains, and additional day centers were open in Coventry, Bristol and Little Compton. Cornerstone expanded their service by opening the state’s first dementia specific day center within Pilgrim Lutheran Church in 1987; in 2001, they moved to their state-of-the-art Alzheimer’s Care Center in Warwick Neck.

Cornerstone also has an established partnership with the St. Elizabeth Community, providing an easy transition for those Cornerstone clients who may be in need of more care to St. Elizabeth facilities including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living or affordable housing.

The participants in four of Cornerstone’s adult day center programs include a mix of individuals with stroke-

DOER’S PROFILE

related disabilities, cardiac conditions, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease and other physical or behavioral disabilities that require support during the day which cannot be provided by working caregivers. Participants spend the day at the Center, and than either return to their own home or the home of a family member, depending on the level of care needed. The Memory Care Center is specifically for those individuals living with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Dottie Santagata, Cornerstone administrator, explained that adult day centers differ from senior centers because members of a senior center are more independent; they can come and go as they please and don’t have to be there every day. Participants in adult day centers will be there on the days their caregivers need to work.

Santagata sees first hand the benefits Cornerstone families receive, often hearing caregivers say they don’t know how they would have done it otherwise.

“It makes every day rewarding for us,” said Santagata. “Just for one more day, they’ve [participants] been able to stay in their home.”

During the day, participants are able to participate in a number of activities including exercise classes, art projects, cognitive programs to keep their minds sharp, technology lessons on computers

by JOAN RE TSINAS

or iPads, and a variety of other options to address all areas of life. Participants in Cornerstone also have access to a staff of certified nursing assistants, a physical therapist, occupational therapist and registered nurse. “The level of care is similar to a skilled nursing facility if needed; we’re able to do full range,” said Santagata.

But the best benefit of Cornerstone is the friendships that form between participants. “It’s something that brings love, meaning and support into their lives,” said Santagata, recalling one elderly woman who said Cornerstone gave her the only friends she ever had.

While all Centers provide service five days a week, all participants in any of Cornerstone’s facilities are invited to take part in programming on Saturdays at the Memory Care Center, allowing caretakers the opportunity to run errands, visit other friends and family, or simply relax without having to worry about who is watching their loved one.

Even after 40 successful years, Cornerstone continues to grow. In 2014, Cornerstone will start a Healthy Aging Through Exercise and Nutrition program for early memory loss at all five centers; they are also in the process of transforming a section of their administrative space in the Memory Care Center to be a holistic and comprehensive early memory loss program.

Healthy Aging is a program that will meet three times a week to provide exercise programs, nutrition classes and counseling for those in the early stages of memory loss.

The new Early Memory Program within the Memory Care Center will be five-days-a-week, allowing the support of adult day services with more independence. “It’s much more individualized; there is more choice,” explained Santagata. In the Memory Care Center, individuals may take part in scheduled activities, programs and classes, but those in the Early Memory Loss Program will have the freedom to choose how they spend most of their day. The space will include quiet areas, technology, social areas and a kitchen. There will also be WiFi access so participants can bring their own laptops or tablets.

The Early Memory Loss program will also incorporate the exercise, nutrition and counseling aspects of the Healthy Aging program.

people

and

places

Aging in Place –

Rhode Islanders Unite A fall. The trajectory usually begins with one. The cause – medication, confusion, a loose rug, poor balance – doesn’t matter. The sequel does; often the person who falls goes to a nursing home. Indeed, the way seems greased to go that route.

Of course, every state has a panoply of services: case management, adult day care, respite care, meals on wheels, senior centers, visiting nurses, home health aides.

The list goes on. And states’ Medicaid offices can usually tap into waivers to pay for home services. Yet the clock ticks; the person needs help, quickly; and too often the patient ends up in an institution.

As Susan Pomfret, a banker involved in reverse mortgages, discovered when her mother fell 10 years ago.

“It was a full-time job finding resources, making choices. My head was spinning.”

Crucially, she recognized, “It shouldn’t be that difficult.”

Americans would like to “age in place,” for as long as they can.

Surveys document what common sense suggests. Yet the person who wants to stay home will need help – from home modifications to help with bathing, from medication assistance to transportation, from social outings to shopping. For each individual, the menu of services will differ. For some people, especially those who live alone and need 24-hour supervision, a nursing home may be the best recourse; but many others could stay home, if only they could find the right help, at the right times, for the right price.

Susan plunged into senior advocacy. She is on the board of the Senior Agenda Coalition, and was on the board of the R.I. Chapter of the Alzheimer’s AssociaMarch 2014

tion. In 2009 she joined with Louise Cadieux, director of activities at Arbor Hill Assisted Living Community (formerly with the state’s Senior Service Corps, and also a member of the Senior Agenda board and an officer on the R.I. Elder Minority Task Force), to form a state chapter of the National Aging in Place Council.

Dr. Mary Kay Uchmanowicz, audiologist-owner of Twin Rivers Hearing Health and who has been volunteering at the North Providence Senior Center and at the Villa at St. Antoine’s, joined the executive committee.

They decided that the mission of the National Council, a newly formed 501c3, would complement their efforts to make the disparate providers aware of each other (and, consequently, to make seniors aware of the network of services), and to present a stronger voice in policy discussions around long-term care.

At quarterly meetings, members of the Rhode Island chapter disengage from their professional silos to share tales and offer advice. It is a chance for experts in home modifications to talk to social workers and for bankers to talk to meal-providers. The Rhode Island chapter is positioned now to speak out on such issues as the re-authorization of the Older Americans Act, the efforts to divert more Medicaid monies to community-based care, and the need for Meals on Wheels.

Today the National Aging in Place Council has 17 chapters. Their website, www.ageinplace.org, offers seniors and their families a portal to members’ services.

Their goal is to establish chapters across the nation. Everybody who hopes to age in place wishes this organization well.

PrimeTime | 11

by K AT H Y T I R R E L L

AGING IN PLACE

NO PLACE LIKE HOME “There’s no place like home”

– a famous line for sure and words to live by for most people.

Gerry Plante believes in this motto. He started his company Safely Home back in 1985 with the idea that seniors would rather live out their lives in the comfort of their own homes than anywhere else. A former firefighter and EMT with the Cumberland Fire Department as well as a home improvement contractor, Plante is a certified Aging-in-Place specialist, trained and certified by the National Association of Home Builders.

The term “aging in place” refers to a person’s desire to live for many years in the same family home. But it’s an unfortunate fact that many houses are just not equipped for this purpose, since they often lack features people need in their senior years. That’s where Safely Home comes in.

Plante feels it’s important for people to keep their independence and to keep their homes safe. When someone needs his help, he will make a home visit to see what needs to be done.

“I go into someone’s home and find a way to make things easier,” said Plante.

Here is a sampling of the products Safely Home has to offer: • Grab bars and handrails, especially helpful in bathtubs and next to toilet.

• A toilevator, which is a platform installed under the base of a toilet adding three inches of additional height to any 14 or 15-inch toilet.

• Walk-in baths and barrier-free showers.

• Door-widening options – Many homes were built with doorways that are too narrow for walkers and wheelchairs to get through. Possible solutions are expandable door hinges, replacing the door itself, pocket doors, and wall-mounted sliding doors.

• And for outside the home to make entering easier, wheelchair ramps, portable ramps and platform lifts can be constructed.

“A lot of my contacts are from children of seniors,” said Plante, who explains that’s because seniors may be resistant to talking about making changes in their homes, but their children want to help.

He said the best way for customers to contact him is by phone at 658-4700 or toll-free outside of Rhode Island at 1-888-658-4774. You can also check out the website at www.safelyhome.com or send Plante an email at gerry@safelyhome. com.

Gary Leiter also supports the idea of aging in place, so people’s loved ones can continue living in a home where they feel safe and surrounded by special memories. In 1997, he became the owner of Home Instead Senior Care RI, which has offices located all throughout Rhode Island. Paul and Lori Hogan of Omaha, Neb., founded the company three years earlier, after their own experience caring for Paul’s grandmother.

“Today Home Instead is the world’s largest non-medical caregiver company,” said Leiter. “Our mission is aging in place, providing non-medical care.”

In fact, the Home Instead Senior Care network has more than 950 independently-owned and operated franchises spread across 17 countries, employing more than 62,000 caregivers and CNAs who must complete a training program before their jobs begin.

“Our standards are very high, very exact,” said Leiter. “We could have 200 applicants and only 5 percent that are hired.”

But once they’re hired, Leiter says the company has a high retention rate of caregivers. He said many Home Instead caregivers are in their 50s and a common bond they share is previous experience caring for an older family member or friend.

12 | PT

“Caregivers are very special,” said Leiter. “They have a gift – an ‘I have a need to make a difference in someone’s life.’”

Home Instead caregivers can help clients with a number of daily tasks, including meal preparation, errands, light housekeeping, assisting with laundry, and transportation along with providing companionship.

Home Instead also has a unique training program for Alzheimer’s and other dementias, part of its CARE (Changing Aging through Research and Education) program.

“Those in their 80s may be physically OK to be at home,” said Leiter, “but with the extended life span more seniors have the onset of dementia.”

Leiter said while most of his clients are private pay, some insurance policies may cover certain in-home services. According to Home Instead’s website, the rates for non-medical and personal care services are on a per-hour basis and can be scheduled for as little as three hours a day, two days a week or as many as 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays and weekends.

Also, some veterans may be eligible for an Aid and Attendance benefit that provides funding for services through the Veterans Administration for both the veterans and their spouses.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care, visit their website at www.homeinstead.com/ri or give them a call at 667-2923.

M 

b y jessica botelho

senior issues

West View introduces yearlong lecture series To help educate the community about a variety of health issues, West View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is offering a yearlong lecture series. The lectures, which are free of charge, focus on subjects relevant to caring for the elderly, understanding several disease processes, and changing health care services.

“All these topics are pertinent not only to our elderly community, but for those who are taking care of our seniors or loved ones of our seniors,” said Janice Caianiello, West View’s information officer. “There are a lot of things that people need to know.”

Caianiello began doing lectures at senior centers throughout Rhode Island during the summer after retiring from her position as retired registered nurse from Kent Hospital. She has 29 years of experience, and enjoys sharing information she knows will enrich peoples’ lives.

“Every time I leave a meeting, they thank me,” she said.

“They learn something and it makes them happy. I find it very fulfilling.”

Acknowledging that Caianiello is a “talented” nurse and educator, West View Administrator Hugh Hall suggested the idea for the series. He believes it will make people more informed and able to make better decisions.

“We recognize that there’s a knowledge gap out there and education is so important to make good decisions,” Hall said.

“When we see people at a point where they have to make a lot of decisions about health care and their immediate future, they unfortunately have little or no information to go on. When they become ill, or if they know someone with these issues, they can deal with it more effectively.”

While the series was launched last month, the next lecture,

March 2014

“Brown Bag of Drugs: Know What Meds You Are Taking,” will take place March 11. Pharmacist Stacey Ranucci will join Caianiello for the presentation.

“We’ll have a complete overview of medications,” said Caianiello, noting that every lecture will feature an expert in its particular field. “Questions will be answered right then and there, and there will always be a take-home copy of the lecture. You can bring it home, read it again, and give it to your family.”

Each lecture will be about one hour. The presentations take place at 10 a.m. and again at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month in 2014.

Other programs highlight congestive heart failure, diabetes, mobility and the aging process, understanding stroke, palliative care verses hospice as well as delirium, dementia, depression, and more.

“I think West View is on the cutting edge with the lecture series,” Caianiello said. “They want to help every patient, every day. And they want the community to be the best that it can be.

It’s a great facility.”

According to Hall, the series will continue in years to come.

“We’re committed to this,” he said. “This is just year one.”

That’s good news for Caianiello, as well as participants. She said they are enjoying the lectures as much as she is.

“It’s being received very well,” said Caianiello. “It’s a really nice program for the community. Knowledge is power. West View Nursing and Rehabilitation wants our community strong, knowledgeable, and ready to meet the needs of 2014.”

To register, call 828-9000. West View is located at 239 Legris Road in West Warwick.

MARCH 11: 10:00 AM Brown Bag of Drugs -

& 7:00 PM Know What Meds You Are Taking APRIL 8: 10:00 AM Understanding and Managing

& 7:00 PM Congestive Heart Failure MAY 13:

10:00 AM Understanding and Managing & 7:00 PM Diabetes

JUNE 10

10:00 AM Mobility and the Aging Process & 7:00 PM

JULY 8

10:00 AM Palliative Care Verses Hospice & 7:00 PM

AUG. 12

10:00 AM Addressing Health Concerns of & 7:00 PM Older Adults—Health Promotion

SEPT. 9

10:00 AM How to Navigate the Hospital& 7:00 PM The “Educated Patient”

OCT. 4

10:00 AM Delirium, Dementia, Depression & 7:00 PM in the older adult

NOV. 11 10:00 AM Understanding Stroke

& 7:00 PM DEC. 9

10:00 AM Mobility and the Aging Process & 7:00 PM

PrimeTime | 13

SENIOR

by C AT H E R I N E T E R R Y TAY LO R

D I RE C TO R , R I D E P A R T M E N T O F E L D E R L Y A F F A I R S

ISSUES

The Rhode To Home There’s no place like home. And yet, the common misconception is, among all age groups, that we all end up in a nursing home sooner or later.

Highest-quality nursing homes are an essential option for individuals who need round-the-clock care and supervision, and we are fortunate in Rhode Island to be, according to one recent ranking, second in the country in nursing home quality. However, most of us can live out our lives safely at home.

The mission of the Rhode Island Division of Elderly Affairs is to preserve the dignity and independence of Rhode Island’s older and disabled citizens.

In service to that mission, we administer numerous programs to keep you safe, healthy, well-informed, and living in the community. Our goal is to keep you OUT of expensive medical and institutional settings, whenever that’s possible and appropriate.

Find out more about what’s available to you by visiting our website, www.dea.ri.gov, or by calling THE POINT at 462-4444.

Did you know that some people who currently reside in a nursing home may be able to move out, and return to a home in the community? The Rhode to Home makes it possible. Rhode to Home, also known as the Nursing Home Transition Program, is administered by the Rhode Island Executive Office

of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), Office of Community Programs. In 2011, the state of Rhode Island received a federal Money Follows the Person grant to boost this effort.

Rhode to Home helps seniors and adults with disabilities who are eligible for Medical Assistance (Medicaid) and meet other eligibility criteria, to go back into the community, such as a subsidized apartment or assisted living facility, after living in a nursing home. The key to this innovative program is making sure that the resident has the correct support services in place in his or her new home to maximize the chances of success.

The Rhode to Home process begins with identifying individuals in nursing homes who might be interested in and able to return to the community, through a questionnaire and an “options counseling” process.

A transition team then arranges all of the programs and support services needed for the person to live safely and independently in their new home.

Among the services that be put in place are case management; a personal care assistant for personal hygiene, dressing, grooming, or transfers; homemaker services for meals, shopping, laundry or light housekeeping; Meals on Wheels; adult day health services;

minor assistive devices (such as a shower chair) and home modifications (such as grab bars); medication management; and lifeline response systems. The transition team also develops plans for service disruptions and for emergencies.

For their part, Rhode to Home participants need to agree to meet certain responsibilities as a tenant.

These include paying their rent and utilities; agreeing not to sublease or transfer the use of their home; keep their apartment safe, clean and sanitary; comply with all the provisions of their lease; respect the rights of other tenants; and provide all necessary documentation to the housing manager or assisted living administrator.

Thus far, almost 100 people have taken the Rhode to Home, and moving out of nursing homes across the state and back into the community.

If the Rhode to Home program does not work out, a resident can always choose to return to a nursing home. But if they are able, they can live in the community and in a home that they can call their own. They can truly say, “There’s no place like home.”

For more information about the Rhode to Home program, call 401-462-6393. (valued at $280)

BANKRUPTCY 985

$

00

Flat Fee

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Payment Plan Available

Attorney David B. Hathaway Former Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee

Senior Discounts

401-738-3030

ribankruptcy.net

WINGATE MANAGEMENT SEEKING ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS FOR OUR 2 BEDROOM LOW INCOME APARTMENTS From Woonsocket to Wakefield, Wingate Management is accepting qualified applicants for our apartment communities

We have spacious 1 & 2 bedroom apartments for people who are 62 years and older and/or disabled. Applicants must meet income guidelines. Rent is based on 30% of adjusted gross income.

For more info please call:

Bear Hill Village, Cumberland ~ 401-333-0030 Chateau Clare Apartments, Woonsocket ~ 401-762-2656 Gatewood Apartments, North Smithfield ~ 401-765-0105 Hardig Brook Village, Warwick ~ 401-738-8272

Indian Run Village, Wakefield ~ 401-789-3044 Park Ave. Apartments, Cranston ~ 401-781-3188 Etta Apartments, Providence ~ 401-351-1235 Metcalf Courts I & II, Providence ~ 401-421-4370

Wingate Management Company, LLC. does not discriminate on the basis of disability status in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its federally assisted programs and activities. The person listed below has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in the Dept. of Housing & Urban Development’s regulations implementing Sec. 504 (24 CFR Part 8 dated June 2, 1988). Contact: Site Manager

14 | PT

M 

food

and

drink

Cooking for one or two Seniors face many changes as they move into their golden years. Downsizing living spaces and vehicles is common, as is implementing certain changes to improve quality of life. Many seniors also scale back in the kitchen, where some must make changes because of medical conditions. While it seems like reducing food portions would be easy, those used to prepping meals for a large family may find it difficult. The following tips can make meal preparation efficient and cost-effective.

• Divide and store

Supermarkets are increasingly offering larger packages of food products as well as “family size” offerings to compete with warehouse clubs. Buying in bulk can help individuals save money, but it may not always be practical for people living alone or with just a spouse.

If you must buy in bulk, invest in a food vacuum sealer or freezer storage bags. Immediately separate meats and poultry into smaller portions before storing them in the freezer. Otherwise, look for bulk items that are individually wrapped to maintain freshness. Many canned and jarred items can be covered and stored in the refrigerator after containers are opened.

• Plan meals with similar ingredients

To reduce food waste, use leftovers to create casseroles or mix them in with new meals. Broiled or grilled chicken can be used to make soups, stir-fry dishes, fajitas, and sandwiches. The fewer ingredients you have to buy, the smaller the risk of spoilage.

• Cut recipes in half

Recipes can be cut down depending on how many mouths need to be fed. When baking, cutting back on proportions of ingredients can be challenging. Search online for recipe-scaling programs that can make the work easier.

March 2014

• Cook on the weekend

Use a weekend day to prepare food and package it into small containers in the refrigerator or freezer. Then the containers can be taken out as needed and heated quickly in the microwave for fast meals.

• Organize a meal-sharing club

Get together with a few friends who also have empty nests and split cooking duties. If you’re accustomed to cooking larger portion sizes, do so and then spread the wealth with others in the group. Then sit back and relax when it is your opportunity to have meals delivered to you.

PrimeTime | 15

exhibitors wanted Don’t miss our next expo!

Wednesday, April 30, 2014 WARWICK MALL

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM P R I M E T I M E

g n i v i LE X P O

M A G A Z I N E

SENIOR NIOR

Market your product or service to thousands of seniors and caregivers.

Combine the advertising of PrimeTime Magazine with face-to-face marketing opportunities at the Expo Extensive networking opportunities with major senior organizations We take care of . . .

PLANNING PROMOTION FOLLOW-UP

Exhibitor space includes tables, chairs, pipe & drape, tablecloths & skirting, and electricity.

For registration information call LISA BRONSTEIN AMERICAN HEALTH RESOURCES, INC.

508-588-7700 or 16 | PT

e-mail lisab@ahrevents.com

5 Star Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in the Heart of Providence Our transitional care unit specializes in after-care for joint replacement surgery, healing fractures, cardiac episodes, COPD and more.

Please call 401-454-7970

for more information or to book your tour 100 Borden St., Providence, RI 02903 www.steerehouse.org

Low Cost Burial Insurance No Medical Exam No One Declined Call for a FREE Quote!!

888-961-4904

t h g i l t o p s ON

BUSINESS M 

spotlight BUSINESS

Are You at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes or Pre-diabetic?

Enroll in the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program to help reduce your risk of diabetes and improve your overall health.

ON

Call Joni Bloom at the YMCA of Greater Providence at 401-427-1843 for information.

South County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

There’s so much more to the Y than you realized!

welcomes a new Director of Rehabilitation South County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, a Revera Living facility found tucked into the peaceful woods off Route 4, offers exceptional care to patients seeking short term and sub acute rehabilitation, as well as long term residential services. A whole wing of this center, known as the STAR (Specialized Therapy and Rehabilitation) program, is devoted entirely to those who need intensive rehabilitative intervention following a medical or neurological event such as an orthopedic surgery, a fall that resulted in a fracture, or a stroke, among others. The team here at South County Nursing & Rehab is dedicated to helping their patients return to a life of independence, health and well-being.

South County is proud to introduce its new Director of Rehabilitation, Karen Houle. Houle comes to this honored position following a twenty-eight year career as a Speech and Language clinician, with years of experience in management and program development. When she came on board as director this year, she brought with her all the insights, wisdom and talents accrued during those years, along with a new energy and enthusiasm to the Rehab center. Her excitement is immediately obvious as she tours the STAR wing of South County and showcases its state-of-the-art therapy room.

Karen Houle joins the exceptional team of highly trained and skilled physical, occupational and speech/language therapists at South County. The premiere therapy services provided here are offered in a therapy room that not only has cutting edge equipment such as high level balance machines, a Nautilus machine, specialized bikes and treadmills, but also mock-ups of a bathroom and kitchen where adaptive living skills are mastered before a patient is discharged. There is even a special “transition room”, a bedroom designed specifically for patients who are making that often difficult return to post-rehab home life.

A customized, individualized treatment plan is created here for each patient by an interdisciplinary team of therapists whose primary goal is the patient’s successful and timely release. Constant progress reports are made and digitally documented for coordinated care. South County Rehab Center now offers outpatient therapy services for their patients once they have returned home, adding an unprecedented level of continuity and personalization to their care.

The speech and language therapists at this progressive rehab center have recently incorporated a revolutionary stimulation therapy into their regiment called the VitalStim System®. VitalStim® Therapy is an FDA-approved, safe and effective treatment for patients suffering with difficulty swallowing (known as dysphagia). It is a non-invasive, external electrical stimulation therapy wherein small, carefully calibrated currents are delivered to the motor nerves in a patient’s throat, causing the muscles responsible for swallowing to contract. Only those who are specifically trained by the manufacturers are authorized to use this successful, often life-saving therapy. It is only one of the many advanced technologies used at South County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

If you or a loved one is in need of long-term care or a period of rehabilitation call Reggie Wilcox, Director of Admissions at 294-4545, or visit their website at www.reverasouthcounty.com. The center is located at 740 Oak Hill Road in North Kingston.

MEET KAREN HOULE and her skilled team of therapists at South County Nursing & Rehab Center in North Kingstown.

M 

PUT THE SPOTLIGHT YOUR BUSINESS Contact Donna for more information and to reserve your space

donnaz@rhodybeat.com

(401) 732-3100

SCANDINAVIAN HOME, INC. skilled nursing & rehabilitation center 1811 Broad Street, Cranston, RI 02905

401-461-1433

assisted living community

50 Warwick Avenue, Cranston, RI 02905

401-461-1444

A Community Built with CARE! www.ScandinavianHome.com

Non-Profit - Founded in 1930

PT | 

M

ost people prefer to stay in their home or apartment for as long as possible. The best way to make this a reality is to plan ahead of time to make the amenities in your home as safe and accessible as possible. It can be hard to imagine that tasks around the house that were once done with ease can one day pose a challenge. Anticipating the challenge and planning accordingly may allow you to remain in your home for an extended period of time. Often, with some minor modifications, your home can be adapted to help you stay as long as possible even with some loss of mobility.

Aging in Place

Home Modifications Living at home longer may mean renovating a home to make it more accessible. This can include such things as installing ramps to bypass stairs, building a bedroom on the main floor, placing grab bars in the shower, changing the height of kitchen countertops or making a bathroom safer and more accessible. Before you make home modifications, you should evaluate your current and future needs by going through your home room by room and answering a series of questions to highlight where changes might be made. Several checklists are available to help you conduct this review. The National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modifications is a good place to start. Go to the center’s website at http://www. homemods.org and click on the link to the “Safety Checklist and Assessment Instrument.”

Getting Help Keeping a house running smoothly requires a lot of hard work. If you are no longer able to keep up with the demands, you may need to hire someone to do laundry, buy groceries, run errands, clean the house or perform any necessary repairs. Those who are unable to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), such as getting in and out of bed, walking, bathing, dressing, and eating, can often continue to stay at home with outside help. There are a number of services that can be brought in to assist with ADLs and other personal care. You can hire someone, such as a personal care aide or home health aide, to help you out a few hours a day or around the clock.

Some health care services can be provided at home by trained professionals, such as occupational therapists, social workers or home health nurses. Check with your insurance or health service to see what kind of coverage is available, although you may have to cover some of these costs out of pocket. If very specific conditions are met, Medicare will help pay for all or a portion of home health care.

Transportation Declining health often causes a decline in independence and mobility. Many seniors lose the ability to drive or simply feel uncomfortable behind the wheel at night. Investigate transportation options in your area so you can maintain an active social life, get medical care and shop for necessities. You might find family members willing to take you to the grocery store, friends who will drive you to social events, nearby bus routes, reduced fare taxis or senior transportation services funded by a local not-for-profit. Staying in your home should not mean being cut off from community activities you enjoy. Finding new ways to get around, even after you are no longer driving, may allow you to stay engaged and active.

18 | PrimeTime

March 2014 Photo courtesy of Getty Images

professional perspective b y J . K atherine scott , es q .

Elder Law one size does not fit all In elder law, each situation is unique.

You would be surprised to know how many people try to save money and apply a “what worked for my neighbor will work for me” approach to estate planning, particularly in the areas of elder law and to the process of planning for long-term care costs.

At our first meeting with a client who is concerned about elder law, some common comments include: 1) “My mother has been giving each of the children $10,000 or $14,000 per year for the past three years, so those gifts don’t count”; 2) “My mother has already pre-arranged her funeral, just like our neighbor did when her mother was going into a nursing home”; 3) “I am very worried that Mom will not have a place to live because my father is going to the nursing home and I hear that the state will take the house.”

Although each of these statements might be based upon something that has been said or done by an attorney advising a client in a specific situation, it might have no relevance to the client before us.

For example, the annual gift amount is a “gift tax exemption,” but does not relate to Medicaid or protecting assets from the costs of long-term care. So, a system of annual gifts might make perfect sense for some clients who are concerned with estate taxes, but such gifting plans are not exempt from Medicaid gifting.

Likewise, the timing of the pre-arrangement of the funeral and the best assets from which to pay for a pre-arranged and pre-paid funeral can differ significantly depending upon the actual assets that the individual client might own at the time that the funeral is being pre-arranged.

Finally, the state will not remove a spouse from their home nor will the state force the sale of the house during either spouse’s lifetime, if the home is in R.I. According to current DHS/OHHS Regulations, the primary residence is considered an exempt asset during your lifetime, but, unless you have done proper planning prior to your death, the state can place a lien on the residence after you pass away, assuming the house is part of your probate estate. Again, with proper advanced planning that meets your individual and specific needs, it is generally possible to protect your home even after your death. Any plan should be tailored to your needs.

If you have any similar concerns, you should speak with an elder law attorney about your specific health issues and concerns, assets and planning desires. Elder law is not a “one size fits all” area of the law.

March 2014

your taxes

professional perspective

b y meg chevalier

Who Should File a 2013 Tax Return?

Do you need to file a federal tax return this year? Perhaps, the amount of your income, filing status, age and other factors determine if you must file.

Even if you don’t have to file a tax return, there are times when you should.

Here are five good reasons why you should file a return, even if you’re not required to do so: 1. Tax Withheld or Paid. Did your employer withhold federal income tax from your pay? Did you make estimated tax payments? Did you overpay last year and have it applied to this year’s tax? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you could be due a refund. But you have to file a tax return to get it.

2. Earned Income Tax Credit. Did you work and earn less than $51,567 last year? You could receive EITC as a tax refund if you qualify. Families with qualifying children may be eligible for up to $6,044. Use the EITC Assistant tool on IRS.gov to find out if you qualify. If you do, file a tax return and claim it.

3. Additional Child Tax Credit. Do you have at least one child that qualifies for the Child Tax Credit? If you don’t get the full credit amount, you may qualify for the Additional Child Tax Credit. To claim it, you need to file Schedule 8812, Child Tax Credit, with your tax return.

4. American Opportunity Credit. Are you a student or do you support a student? If so, you may be eligible for this credit. Students in their first four years of higher education may qualify for as much as $2,500. Even those who owe no tax may get up to $1,000 of the credit refunded per eligible student. You must file Form 8863, Education Credits, with your tax return to claim this credit.

5. Health Coverage Tax Credit. Did you receive Trade Adjustment Assistance, Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance, Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance or pension benefit payments from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation? If so, you may qualify for the Health Coverage Tax Credit. The HCTC helps make health insurance more affordable for you and your family. This credit pays 72.5 percent of qualified health insurance premiums. Visit IRS.gov for more on this credit.

To sum it all up, check to see if you would benefit from filing a federal tax return. You may qualify for a tax refund even if you don’t have to file. And remember, if you do qualify for a refund, you must file a return to claim it.

The instructions for Forms 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ list income tax filing requirements. You can also use the Interactive Tax Assistant tool on IRS.gov to see if you need to file. The tool is available 24/7 to answer many tax questions.

PrimeTime | 19

Celebrating Senior Olympians

PEOPLE & PLACES

Rhode Island’s delegation to the National Senior Summer Games in Cleveland was joined by special award recipients, sponsors, and board members at the special event held at Chellos on the Waterfront. Olympians shared their experiences and received special awards.

Lenore Stepanishen of Westerly and Mary Riley of Attleboro, MA OLYMPIANS (from left to right:) Lenore Stepanishen, Ray Carroll, were awarded RI’s highest honor, The Anna Tucker Cup. The award is Barry Glucksman, Janet Freniere, Ann McGowan, Ann Morris, Mike Lyons named in honor of the woman who directed the Department of Elderly Affairs when the Senior Olympics first began in Rhode Island.

Stepanishen’s competed in Swimming and Triathlon against the best gold medal was his second in the sport.

65-69 year old female Senior Olympians in the country. She won a gold Barry Glucksman’s 50 meter medal winning backstroke performance in the swimming medal in the 100 meter freestyle, a silver in the 50 meter freestyle, and competition at the Rhode Island State Games was inspirational. Barry, who has been afflicted finished with a 4th place finish in the triathlon. Mary Riley become a with MS for 20 years, never let his disability bother him. “You beat it, or it beats you.” Swimgold medal winning thrower in multiple events in Track and Field. ming is “more of my passion. I love doing it.”

Ray Carroll of Saunderstown and Barry Glucksman of Warwick “If you think there is something you can’t do, look at my Dad,” said Glucksman’s son both received the John Costine Cup, given in memory of a multi-sport Richard.

Senior Olympian who evolved as he aged from a serious competitor to Patrick T. Conley, 75, of Bristol was honored with the 2013 Outstanding Masters Field a joyful participant. Carroll captained the RI 76’ers to a gold medal in Event Thrower’s AwardConley competed in 4 state championship track & field meets. He won the 75-79 age category in 3x3 basketball at the National Games. The the Gold Medal in all 4 competitions and exceeded the All-American standard of 24 meters.

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b y K E R R Y PA R K

SENIOR ISSUES

Looking to Downsize?

Find a Local Senior Real Estate Specialist If you’re over 50 and thinking about relocating, be prepared for a different type of real estate transaction.

More often than not, the issues we face when buying our first house are drastically different from those we encounter when facing relocation in our later years. Decisions can entail a complex set of issues relating to retirement finances and available senior housing options that can facilitate aging in place.

Fortunately there’s a relatively new breed of Realtor that can help seniors navigate the landscape of selling and buying. The National Association of Realtors Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation is given to a small but expanding group of Realtors who have completed coursework aimed at helping them understand what matters most to those over 50 when buying or selling a home. Most often, sellers and buyers over 50 want to downsize to achieve less maintenance and fewer financial burdens in their senior years. One-level living and less square footage head the list of desired attributes when choosing a new home later in life.

“Selling the family home to downsize or move to a retirement setting can be filled with mixed emotions,” said Sue Moore, a broker with Randall, Realtors in North Kingstown who has completed the SRES course. “The whole process can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. It makes it much easier if someone

is helping you understand the financial impact of a sale on retirement planning or what senior living options are available. Having someone beside you that has dealt with these issues before can help calm buyers and sellers dealing with the emotional tug of war involved in a move that may be their last.”

SRES coursework is comprehensive, covering a myriad of issues that complicate moves for seniors looking to relocate. Students learn about the application of federal laws for the Housing for Older Persons Act, and how Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security can impact real estate decisions. Agents who have taken the SRES course understand the emotions involved in downsizing and getting rid of prized possessions and can recommend specialists to help. They’re also schooled in recognizing financial scams that target senior clients.

Finding a Realtor that’s earned the SRES can also be extremely helpful for families helping an elderly relative with a move. If a friend or family member can’t be beside them every step of the way, or they’re not familiar with housing options, senior services and consultants in the area, a knowledgeable real estate agent can be a lifesaver.

For Moore, the pros of hiring someone who has

Matter of Balance at Elite Elite Physical Therapy has partnered with the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Falls Injury Prevention subcommittee to establish a ‘Matter of Balance’ fall prevention exercise class series free to the local communities. The Matter of Balance Program is a nationally recognized program that was designed at Boston University. It is designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase overall strength, balance, flexibility, and activity levels among older adults.

Falls are a public health problem that is largely preventable. Each year, one in three adults over 65 will fall causing moderate to severe injuries.

The physical therapists work one on one with each patient and their doctors to create personalized rehabilitation programs.

“Preventing injuries and taking active steps to maintain good overall health is so important,” said Dr. Michael Nula, Elite Physical Therapy founder “We want to help keep people moving comfortably, and reduce their risk of injuries so that they can live active, healthy and happy lives.”

The Matter of Balance classes will be offered at Elite Physical Therapy’s Warwick location at 535 Centerville Road on Fridays from 2-4pm, February 14th to March 21st, 2014. For more details and to sign up, call (401) 737-4581.

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earned an SRES designation are incomparable.

“When you move into the area of senior relocations, there are a lot of legal and tax components at play that many people wouldn’t even be aware of. Having the training to identify issues before they become problems or obstacles is invaluable,” she said. “Look for an agent who has a team of senior specialists including estate planners, lenders, moving and staging specialists, and elder care attorneys that can help with estate taxes and trusts.”

Today’s real estate deals are complicated transactions filled with endless paperwork and contracts. The process is even more daunting for those who haven’t bought or sold a home in years. For those individuals in particular, connecting with the services of an agent schooled specifically in senior real estate issues is a move in the right direction.

by C A M I L L A FA R R E L L DE VELOPMENT DIREC TOR , ALZHEIMER ’S ASSOCIATION

RI

CHAPTER

Taking Care of Yourself Caring for a loved one can be one of the most satisfying – and exhausting – experiences in your life. When you find yourself in the role of a caregiver, remember you will be more effective in helping someone else if you take good care of yourself. Some of the ways to care for yourself: - Laugh about something every day - Take care physically - Eat a well-balanced diet - Talk to someone every day - Let family and friends help - Give yourself permission to cry - Exercise-take a walk - Get some rest - Avoid noisy, tension-filled movies at night - Reduce caffeine intake - Get professional help if you feel your support system isn’t adequate or if you feel overwhelmed.

- Take a break every day, even if it is only 10 minutes - Explore community resources - Listen to music - Attend a support group - Give yourself a treat once a month

One of the most common emotions is guilt. How can I be happy if he/she isn’t? Important – If you are taking care of yourself and doing things that are important to you, you bring about more to the relationship.

Caregivers who do not become isolated and/or depressed are able to maintain a more loving relationship with family members. Tough decisions lead to guilt and remember; they are decisions that need to be taken. Our thoughts directly affect our feelings, behaviors, body sensations. Changing negative behaviors is to know what thoughts are associated with the feeling. Is what you are feeling a realistic expectation? Demanding constant perfection – care giving is a learning process that changes day to day. Give yourself permission to make mistakes.

If you have care giving questions, visit our website alz.org/ri, come to our conference coming up on March 27, 2014 at the Crowne Plaza, call 1-800-2723900, or call or email Program Director Marge Angilly at mangilly@alz.org.

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retirement sparks

senior

issues

b y elaine m . decker

Modern Deadly Sins Someone posted a photo of brightly colored wristbands on Facebook. At first glance, they looked like the charity bands you see: yellow Live Strong, pink Komen Breast Cancer, red AIDS awareness. On closer inspection, they had the names of the seven deadly sins etched into them. My friend was wearing Lust, Sloth and Gluttony. My first thought was there should be one that reads “Facebooking,” which in turn led to this post.

Just as the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were updated to the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, we should have Ten Modern Deadly Sins. There will be more than seven, because from a retiree’s perspective, many things should send people straight to hell today. I give them to you here, starting, of course, with Facebooking.

Facebooking per se is not a deadly sin, but Obsessive Facebooking is, and many Facebookers are obsessive about it. Deadly sins are often about excess, and FB can be addictive, which leads to damnable excess. Some of my FB friends post so many tidbits that it takes hours to scroll through my news feed. Since these morsels can sometimes be interesting or funny or informative, I’m afraid to skip over them. Go ahead, charge me with FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out,) but please don’t do it on my Facebook news feed.

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People who are obsessed with FB are sometimes also guilty of the deadly sin of Emoticonstipation. This occurs when you over-stuff electronic messages with emoticons – those yellow smiley faces and such. [My niece cleverly suggested that Textlax might cure this behavior, but that sounds to me like yet another deadly sin.] If you’re going to use emoticons, at least download a variety of styles. Like the cartoon cats. Cats are never sinful.

The modern version of the original deadly sin Gluttony is Gluteny, which emerged from the explosive growth of folks following gluten-free diets. Not everyone who avoids gluten is guilty of Gluteny. The ones bound for hell are those who insist on gluten-free food even when they’re not gluten-intolerant.

They drive everyone around them crazy just because they have a FOMO on this food trend.

Closely related to Gluteny is Veganizing. There are many good reasons why people become vegans. Bill Clinton did it because even after his bypass operation, his arteries were building up cholesterol. Being a vegan is not a sin.

But trying to convert carnivores to vegans (especially without passing through a vegetarian phase) is a deadly no-no. Let people decide on their own to cut out red meat, cheese and everything tasty known to modern man.

I’ll bet many of you will agree that Apostrophornication is one of the worst transgressions. People apostrophornicate when they misuse (or more likely, fail to use) apostrophes. The two most common examples are using “your” instead of “you’re” and “there” (or “their”) instead of “they’re.” This makes those who respect punctuation and grammar very angry. Since anger is an original deadly sin, that one gets charged to the ’phornicator, too.

Speaking of grammar, Substitupidity (the use of “I” instead of “me,” “she” instead of “her,” etc.) is also a cardinal offense. I’m especially irked when I hear a newscaster commit it. It’s bad enough when local media personalities do this; they’re – notice correct use of apostrophe here – lower down in the network food chain. But national talking heads are frequently guilty, as well. “Send Tom and I a message on FB.” On second thought, don’t.

A truly modern deadly sin is Moblastphemy – talking loud on a mobile phone in public. It’s deadly no matter where you do it, but if it’s in a restaurant or a theater, you should go straight to hell, IMHO. We must also list Peeping Thongery – it’s as deadly as they come. No explanation needed, but it’s especially lethal for women of a certain age. In the interest of gender-fairness, let’s include Plumbersbuttitis. I know both sexes can be guilty of each of these, but we see Thongery mostly in women and Buttitis in men. In medicine, “-itis” signals the inflammation of something. Plumbers’ butts always look fatter than average, and they inflame our gag reflex. Enough said.

Finally, we have the newest modern deadly sin: Air Humping, a combination of two national news items. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel was videotaped “chair humping” the back of a folding chair at last year’s Taste of Chicago event.

Singer Miley Cyrus (in an effort to leave Hannah Montana in her rearview) burned “twerking” into the media mainstream with her gyrations on the VMA show. Gag and double gag.

These visuals sent me straight to my stash of vino. Fortunately, moderate imbibing is not on the list of deadly sins, original or modern. Praise the Lord and pass the Chianti.

Copyright 2014 Business Theatre Unlimited

Elaine M. Decker’s books – “Retirement Sparks Again,” “Retirement Sparks” and “CANCER: A Coping Guide” – are available at Books on the Square, the Brown University bookstore, and SPECTRUM-INDIA, on the East Side of Providence, and on Amazon. com, including Kindle editions. One of her essays appears in the recently published anthology: “70 Things To Do When You Turn 70.” Contact her at emdecker@ix.netcom.com March 2014

b y mary k . talbot

aging in place

Adult Day: A Critical Partner

in the Family Care Support System Choosing appropriate care is a challenging and everchanging process. While deciding to keep your mom or your husband at home when their health declines or as they age may be the right decision in the beginning, you may soon learn that they become isolated, need socialization and need more medical monitoring than you can provide 24/7. Maybe it’s difficult to get your husband bathed by yourself, you’re concerned about mom cooking for herself during the day or you need to get to work and can’t rush dad with his hour-long breakfast.

Or, perhaps you have done it all for months (or even years) and you’ve come to a point when you realize that providing continuous care and maintaining your own health is an unsustainable balance. That’s when partnering with adult day programs makes sense.

About Adult Day Programs Over 1,000 Rhode Islanders participate in adult day programs. They are people as young as 50 and as old as 100. According to a 2012 survey by LeadingAge RI, more than two-thirds of adult day participants are age 75 and over, and a full third are age 85 and over.

They may be frail, have memory impairments or just be lonely. They’re physical or mental challenges range a wide gamut. What participants do have in common, however, is the fact that their caring families want them to be in a safe, loving, family-like environment with medical supervision when they (themselves) can’t provide care for one day (or several) each week. In fact, all adult day centers in Rhode Island meet the rigorous licensing standards of the Rhode Island Department of Health.

Two Towns/Two Different Programs Founded in 1972 by the Jewish Seniors Agency of RI, To Life Center Adult Day Services in Providence provides both medical care and personal care in a safe, small-group setting for seniors, and medically and physically challenged adults, thereby allowing family members to work, rest or complete activities of daily life (such as their own doctors’ appointments, family obligations or grocery shopping) knowing that their loved one is in a safe environment.

“We’re like extended family,” said Kerry Turbitt, R.N., of To Life Center Adult Day Services. “We care about the person in our care and their family. Together, we help them socialize, exercise, watch their medical care and keep them busy with activities that coincide with their interests.”

Board games, crafts, exercise, baking, lunch (prepared in a Kosher kitchen) and even occasional performances by professional entertainers round out a client’s day before they are transported home or picked up.

To Life Center Adult Day Services, located on Niantic Avenue, is open five days a week and works with families of all faiths and economic needs to meet their caregiving needs.

“Some people need coverage and peace of mind when they work full-time, so they need our assistance for all five days a week,” reported Turbitt. “While others may just need one or two days a week to catch up on errands and to socialize with friends and family members to keep their own support system active. We’re here to provide support and help them realize their objective

March 2014

of keeping their parent or spouse at home to age in place.”

In Cranston, another adult day program, The Hope Alzheimer’s Center, specializes in caring for adults with Alzheimer’s or other memory impairments.

“We provide specialized, unobtrusive care” said CEO Cynthia Conant-Arp. “We concentrate on the individual gifts and talents that remain, despite cognitive and functional loss. We typically have five or six very different activities going at once so that our participants can choose which type of activity they find interesting – from pet-assisted therapy to tai chi, and crafts to bowling. Our participants return to their families happy, relaxed and tired in the evening (a key benefit since people with memory impairments often have difficulty regulating their sleep/wake cycles).”

Hope Alzheimer’s Center is open six days a week to meet families’ needs. In addition to a full activities staff, Hope Alzheimer’s Center employs five nurses, 13 certified nursing assistants and four case managers.

“What sets us apart is the sensitivity and dedication of our staff,” Conant-Arp added. “Several of them have been here since we first opened our doors. We have very little turnover and that makes a difference to our participants who crave familiarity and routine.”

To Life Center Adult Day Services and the Hope Alzheimer’s Center are both members of LeadingAge RI and are non-profit organizations. Because of their charitable status, these organizations focus on people, not profits. For LeadingAge RI members, quality of life is their bottom line.

To Life Center Adult Day Services client Dina Melnikova (left) with volunteer Dennis Byrnes, explores her creative interests.

Benefits of Adult Day Health Centers Adult day health services can be an affordable alternative to higher-cost care settings such as nursing homes, for which most participants qualify and while the benefits of adult day health services are evident in the quality of care that participants receive, there is also a growing body of research documenting the benefits of adult day health services. A 2010 study by the Institute on Aging published in The Gerontologist found that individuals who attend adult day centers reported that they had fewer problems with daily activities as a result of their physical or emotional health than individuals who did not attend a day center. Adult day centers also benefit caregivers by providing respite from caregiver responsibilities, providing information and referral services, and stabilizing the status of the adult day participant. In fact, a research study published in August 2011 concludes that adult day services significantly reduce the stress levels of family caregivers of older adults with dementia and that dementia patients who attend adult day centers had fewer behavior problems and sleep better at night.

Adult day centers provide a vital role in the complex caregiving continuum of families. Enrolling your loved one in an adult day center isn’t giving in or giving up.

It’s a way to sustain families’ plans to allow their loved one to age in place and it’s a proven method of enhancing the care that you provide at this phase in their life cycle. In the words of Hope Alzheimer’s Director Cynthia Conant-Arp, adult day brings “meaning, purpose and joy” to the people who participate. To find out more, visit LeadingAgeRI.org.

Hope Alzheimer’s Center nurse manager Cheryl Tetreault, RN, (left) takes the blood pressure of program participant Olga Susi (right) who is 100 years young. (submitted photos) Other non-profit members of LeadingAge RI include: - Adult Day Center of Westerly (adultdaycenterofwesterly.com) - Alternative Adult Day Care, Woonsocket (seniorservicesri.org) - Cornerstone Adult Services - five RI locations (stelizabethcommunity.com) - Elmwood Adult Day Health Center, Providence - Forest Farm Adult Day Services, Middletown - Seven Hills Rhode Island Adult Day Health Care, Woonsocket - The Willows Adult Day Care Services, Warren

PrimeTime | 23

Everyone’s on

May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind always be at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face and rains fall soft upon your fields.

Irish St. Patrick’s Day! st. patricks’ day

t fas

facts

1. St. Patrick was not Irish. He was born in Britain to an aristocratic family. His early life was not particularly religious, but he had a religious conversion in his teenage years.

2. The largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade is not held in Ireland. That honor belongs to New York City, where the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade draws more than a million spectators each year.

3. Thirteen million pints of Guinness are consumed on St. Patrick’s Day. That’s double the amount consumed on other days.

4. Although many people wear some form of green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, green was once considered an unlucky color in Ireland.

Blue was the original color associated with St. Patrick.

5. Each year, members of the Shamrock Club in New London, Wisconsin, change highway signs so the town name reads New Dublin

Easy Irish Soda Bread

Whether you’re Irish or not, St. Patrick’s Day is a time for Celtic celebrations – so try your luck with a classic like Irish Soda Bread, a popular Irish recipe with a hint of sweetness from cinnamon and raisins.

“Irish Soda Bread gets its name from the fact that it uses baking soda instead of yeast – which means making it is really as simple as mixing the ingredients together and baking it,” said Mary Beth Harrington of the McCormick Kitchens. “It’s perfect warmed up for an Irishthemed breakfast or dinner, and it makes a great hostess gift for St. Paddy’s Day parties.”

2 1/2 1/2 2 1 1/2 1/2 1 1/2 1/2 1 1/4 2 1/2

cups flour cup sugar teaspoons caraway seed teaspoons baking powder teaspoon baking soda teaspoon cinnamon, ground teaspoon salt cup raisins or currants cups buttermilk eggs teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease 9-inch round cake pan.

Mix flour, sugar, caraway seed, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in large bowl. Stir in raisins.

Mix buttermilk, eggs and vanilla in medium bowl; stir into dry ingredients. Spread in prepared pan.

Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Source: McCormick

24 | PrimeTime

Irish Drinks

Lovely Day for a Guinness • Dry stout characterized by the flavor of roasted barley and a thick creamy head that is the result of beer being mixed with nitrogen when served • The creator, Arthur Guinness, started brewing ales in 1759 • Guinness has fewer calories per pint than milk and orange juice • About 40 percent of Guinness’ worldwide market is brewed and sold in Africa

Wake Up and Smell the Irish Coffee • The Irish coffee cocktail is made from hot coffee, Irish whiskey and sugar, topped with thick cream • Irish coffee was officially invented and named by the head chef at the Shannon International Airport in the 1940s • The heavy cream is often replaced with liqueurs like Baileys Irish Cream • The Irish cream used in Baileys amounts to 4.3 percent of Ireland’s total milk production

March 2014

March 2014

PrimeTime | 25

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT

lifestyles

by DON FOWLER

Acronyms for the Classics RIPO is short for the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, led by conductor Larry Rachleff, who is recognized by his peers as one of the best in the United States.

Rachleff leads an orchestra of gifted musicians from Rhode Island and Massachusetts, many of who also play with the Boston Symphony. He also has the ability and reputation to attract some of the leading guest soloists in the world.

In January, pianist Jean-Phillipe Collard, who has headlined the Newport Music Festival, brought the audience to its feet with sustained applause for his playing of Ravel’s “Piano Concerto in D Major for the Left Hand.”

Concerts for the remainder of the season continue on March 22 with Tchaikovsky’s passionate “Pathetique Symphony,” plus works by Udow and Stravinsky, featuring guest violinist Philippe Quint.

The April 12 concert features pianist Robert Levin playing Mozart, with additional works by Ives and Shostakovich.

The Season Finale on May 10 will bring both pianist Alan Goldstein and the Providence Singers to the Veterans Memorial stage with works by Strauss, Beethoven, and Ravel.

There are special Rush concerts that take place on Friday evenings at 6:30 at the Vets on March 21 and

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April 11. An Open Rehearsal will be held on Friday, May 9 at 5:30 p.m.

The open rehearsals are informal, as the audience has the opportunity to watch Rachleff and the orchestra hone their presentations Philippe Quint before the formal concert. Dress is informal; there is open seating; and you may come and leave as you wish. For more information or to make reservations, call 248-7000.

RIC - Rhode Island College offers a number of the finest classical music and dance concerts at very reasonable prices during the academic year.

The Spring Performing Arts Series begins with Dance Brazil, a unique fusion of Afro-Brazilian music, contemporary dance and Capoeira, a traditional dance/ martial arts form that originated in Africa and evolved in colonial Brazil as a means of fighting enslavement.

There is one performance on Thursday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium at Roberts Hall.

Tao: Phoenix Rising features athletic bodies and string costumes, with Taiko drumming and innovative

choreography. The performers each bring a nontraditional flair to the group by drawing John & Richard Contiguglia on their diverse backgrounds: one as a hard rock musician, another as a gymnast, and yet another as a composer. This unique presentation will be held on Thursday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium at Roberts Hall.

The Muir String Quartet will play selections from Haydn, Kreisler and Mendelsson on Monday, April 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the acoustically perfect Sapinsley Hall in the Nazarian Center.

Identical twins and duo-pianists John and Richard Contiguglia have been playing together since the age of 5. They will perform a 4-hand Tribute to Shubert on Sunday, April 13 at 2:30 p.m. in Sapinsley Hall.

The series concludes on Tuesday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Roberts Hall with Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet.

This San Francisco-based company is highly trained in ballet, yet performs with the speed and energy that belong to the 20th century. King explores the possibilities of movement from a global perspective, renewing and transcending traditional ballet.

General admission for all these world-class events is $35/$30 for seniors. For reservations, call 456-8144 or go online at www.ric.edu/pfa.

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March 2014

lifestyles

wHAT DO YOU FINK?

by MIKE FINK

Year of the Horse As a symbol in art or dream the horse has a wide range of meanings, religious, romantic, astrological, or military. My mother once had the idea that everybody has a personal totem animal. She painted an image of the creature closest to each guest who might come over for coffee, tea, or cocoa. She included herself---as a horse! Her own autobiographical horse was chestnut, and wore blinders. It was primarily a beast of burden, based, I believe, upon the packhorse in Trois Rivieres, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. That poor but pampered being dwelt right in the family homestead, like a beloved automobile in a ranch-house garage in our modern suburbia. But there, through the long northern winters, you had to take excellent care of a pet upon whom your routine and your freedom totally depended. The wagon drawn by your pony was hitched to the star of all your hopes and dreams. The only moral or ethical lesson I ever heard tell about my maternal grandfather was, his good counsel to show courtesy when you fed the hay in the attached stable, like a mystical spirit in a fairytale or in folklore.

And so, as the decades moved ever onward, the

steady steed turned into a motif in my mother’s sculptures, mosaics, drawings, paintings, and decorations. And, what about the mare with the blinders on? I know that for my mother, who raised three boys and ran a family store, all done with the kind, polite manners her father had taught, the blinders meant, she never looked to the right or left but stayed on course, ever and always reliable, bearing her burdens with a full heart.

All across the great landscapes and cityscapes of Asia, this is the year of the horse. And so, even before the month of mother’s day memoirs, I have an extra chance to declare to all who ride horses, or care for any domestic farm fauna, be polite! Feed the hungry with gratitude and with a touch of nostalgia for the old days, when our lives were bound up with everything crafted by God, wild or tame, free or penned in, useful or gloriously and courageously on their own terms.

I offer this glimpse of the cup of life from which my mother sipped her brewed coffee, steeped tea, or mixed hot chocolate!

Senior Restaurant Program expanding Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island announced today that the Senior Restaurant Program will be expanding.

“Seniors outside of Providence have told us they wanted options in their cities” said Pauline Asprinio, Nutrition Director. “I am so happy to be able to offer them their choice of great restaurants.”

Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island’s Restaurant Program is open to seniors, aged 60 and older. The Congregate Nutrition Program began the initiative in 2007 and its popularity continues to grow.

For a suggested donation of $5, the senior obtains a voucher to take to the participating restaurant of their choice.

The restaurant will offer a variety of meal options that meet healthy nutrition standards. Participating restaurants include Newport Creamery (excluding Barrington, Middletown, and Newport locations); IHOP Restaurants in both Warwick and Providence; and Friendship Café, 500 Broad St., Providence.

To learn more or to obtain a voucher, visit the Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island office located at 70 Bath Street, Providence or contact Pauline Asprinio at 401-351-6700 or pasprinio@rimeals. org.

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CLUES ACROSS 1. Plural of eyrir 6. Concord 12. Photographer 16. Atomic #18 17. Tobacco cylinder 18. Of I 19. 1/10 meter (abbr.)

20. In the year of Our Lord 21. Belittle 22. 1/2 of an em 23. Equally 24. Cornmeal mush (British) 26. Desires 28. Of sound mind 30. 1st moon man’s initials 31. Public broadcasting 32. Bodily cavity 34. Insecticide 35. County in China 37. Platforms 39. Frost 40. Crucifix 41. Bodily faculties 43. Seladang 44. Denotes three 45. Imbibe slowly 47. What’s left 48. Liberal degree 50. Competition 52. Confederate 54. 7th Hindu month 56. Senator Frankin 57. “Crying” singer’s initials 59. Taro root dish 60. Bahrain dinar 61. Sun god 62. 39th state 63. In a harmful way 66. Immunoglobulin (abbr.)

67. Differences 70. Moves slowly 71. Snarl, growl (var. sp.)

28 | PrimeTime

CLUES DOWN 1. Aviator 2. Boutros’ group 3. Go over 4. Be among 5. Cloth scrap 6. Clerks 7. Vacuum tube 8. Actress Blanchett 9. Removes the lid 10. Atomic #45 11. Peremptorily 12. Dishonorable men 13. Spanish appetizers 14. Algerian gulf & port 15. Sets again 25. About Freemason 26. One point N of due W 27. Not happy 29. Accumulates on the surface 31. Peels an apple 33. Diamond weight unit 36. Possesses 38. Note 39. About heraldry 41. Hair filament 42. Title of respect 43. Hair product 46. Colas 47. Capital of Huila, Colombia 49. More diaphanous 51. Eliminate 53. Change to a vapor 54. Ancient temple sanctums 55. Pesters 58. Off-Broadway award 60. Light Russian pancake 64. Baseball official 65. Work unit 68. Jr.’s father 69. Atomic #77

March 2014

A GLIMPSE OF RI’S PAST

PEOPLE AND PLACES

h i s t o r y w i t h T E R R Y D ’A M ATO S P E N C E R

The mills of Apponaug The mill created Apponaug village in 1696 A large part of Warwick’s rich heritage can be linked to the mills in Apponaug. While many of the villages in the Pawtuxet Valley owe their existence to the establishment of textile mills in the early 19th century, Apponaug was founded much earlier thanks to a different type of mill.

In order to understand how Warwick developed in the 17th century, it is necessary to remember the original settlers of Warwick believed in the separation of church and state. Because of this, the Town of Warwick, unlike those found in other early colonies such as Plymouth of Massachusetts Bay, did not develop around a church or a village green.

The settlement at Apponaug did not take place during the time of the first generation of settlers. Problems with the Massachusetts Bay Colony, a limited population and difficulties with the Indian sachem Pomham and his followers made it impossible to establish a settlement in Apponaug until after King Philip’s War (1675). At the conclusion of that dreadful conflict, the power of the Narragansett Indians was broken and Pomham was killed. In his classic “History of Warwick,” Oliver Payson Fuller comments, “The sense of security resulting from the enfeebled condition of the natives gradually increased by accession to their own number [of settlers] with the prospect of still greater security as time advanced.” After the war, there was an increase in population and the sons of the original settlers found it desirable to increase their land holdings in order to support their families.

With an improvement of relations with other colonies and the cessation of hostilities, it was soon possible for the settlers to hope for a better quality of life.

The surviving settlers and their families found they were enjoying the necessities of food, clothing and shelter and were now hoping to enrich their lives and begin to seek a more comfortable existence.

Significant improvements came when an increase in population and greater success in farming and trade made it possible for Warwick to attract skilled laborers. These skilled mechanics were very instrumental in establishing the village at Apponaug.

In his book, Oliver P. Fuller tells us, “Hence we find, at an early period in the history of the town, when the supply of wearing apparel of the quality demanded M 

was insufficient from the ordinary methods of production to meet the wants of the inhabitants, a skilled laborer from abroad found it to his advantage to come among them.” John Micarter was the “skilled laborer” referred to by Fuller.

Micarter was capable of setting up a “fulling mill” and chose Apponaug as the site for this enterprise.

A fulling mill for Apponaug When we think of mills in Warwick, our first thoughts are usually for textile mills. There were, however, different types of mills that became influential in creating the village of Apponaug. With the conclusion of hostilities after King Philip’s War, the children of the first settlers in Warwick began to settle in the area called the Four Mile Common at Apponaug Cove. By this time, they were beginning to demand more comfort and material things than their parents had enjoyed. They especially wanted better dwellings and finer clothing. As a result, grist mills, saw mills and fulling mills were in great demand in the 17th century.

The fulling of cloth

“Fulling” is the process of cleansing, scouring and pressing woven woolen goods to make them stronger and firmer.

During the Colonial Period, a water mill was used to scour or wash the cloth. According to the Encyclopedia American, these early mills consisted of a wheel, with pestles and stampers attached to it.

Cloth was put in a trough with “fuller’s earth” (usually clay), and the pestles beat on it to thicken and scour the cloth. After a period of about 48 to 65 hours of this treatment, the result was a considerable shrinkage of the cloth. The threads were firm and closer together and the tendency for the cloth to unravel was eliminated.

Apponaug had soil that contained the “fuller’s earth” or clay, which was necessary to separate the grease and oi1 from the cloth. Realizing this, and finding the area ideal for his enterprise, John Micarter asked for and received permission to build a mill at the stream near the cove.

proviso that “the said fulling mill shall be finished and completed, fit to do the town service at or before the first day of May, which will be in the year 1697...”

Micarter was told that he “shall always be ready to do the towne’s work upon as reasonable terms as they can have it done elsewhere...”

He was given one acre and a half of land, which was situated between two wading places, the uppermost being the foot-way, the lowermost the horseway; as also, allowed liberty for digging a trench at the entrance of Kekamewit Brooke to raise it sufficiently...”

In addition to the right to build the mill, Micarter asked for and received permission to dry cloth on the common and to have “the privileges upon the common for fuel or firewood ... and privileges for ten head of cattle to feed on the common...”

Apparently, not long after the mill was put in operation, Micarter decided to 1eave. The late Dorothy Mayor, who spent many years researching Apponaug’s past, has concluded that John Micarter sold his fulling mill to Jeremiah Westcott in 1698 for the sum of one hundred and fifty-five pounds of current money of New England. In the spring of 1702, Westcott decided to sell “my dwelling house together with my fulling mill, each being situated at or near Aponake...”

Westcott sold his interest to Samuel Greene for one hundred and fifty pounds New England silver money. In addition to the house and mill, all the land, fences, watercourses and privileges belonging to the mill were included. The success of the mill under Greene’s ownership resulted in Apponaug being called “Fulling Mill” for a number of years and also served to encourage the establishment of other mills in the near vicinity.

The story of Apponaug and its mills will be continued.

KOREAN WAR VETERANS KOREAN SERVICE VETERANS MEETINGS HELD 2ND WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH Chepachet Senior Center, Rte. 44

1210 Putnam Pike, Chepachet

Call Frank 231-3736 or Gil 831-3301 For More Information KWVA – Chapter 3

Funeral Directors URQUHART-MURPHY

Edward L. Murphy - Director 800 Greenwich Ave. Warwick 737-3510

BARRETT & COTTER FUNERAL HOME

Peter Barrett Cotter - Director 1328 Warwick Avenue Warwick 463-9000

CARPENTER-JENKS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY

Stephen E. Carpenter - Director 659 East Greenwich Ave. West Warwick 826-1600

THOMAS & WALTER QUINN FUNERAL HOME Michael, Patrick, Jerome Quinn Directors 2435 Warwick Ave. Warwick 738-1977

The site of the mill The site was suitable and Micarter was granted the right to build a mill at “Aponake.” He was also permitted to build some convenient accommodations for the abode and residence of himself and family. He was charged with the

We’re looking for new members . . .

Appears in Tuesday Warwick Beacon, Thursday Cranston Herald and PrimeTime Magazine

Please contact your sales representative for advertising information alphabet SUDOKU solution

Tel. 732-3100

Fax 732-3110

PT | 

alphabet SUDOKU by

Elaine Decker

Each puzzle uses 9 letters. Each letter can be used just once in a row, in a column, and in a 3x3 grid. (Same as numbers 1 - 9 in numerical Sudokus) You aren’t told what the 9 letters are, but the grid is pre-populated so you see each letter at least once. When the grid is completed, it reveals a 9-letter word or phrase in one of the rows.

CALENDAR

OF

EVENTS

Rhode Island Plastic Bag Hunt Providence, March 8, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Plastic bags are one of the most common types of trash littering Rhode Island and our coastline. We will be sending small teams out to track down plastic bags in individual towns across Rhode Island, taking pictures that will be delivered to our town’s representatives to show the impact of plastic bag trash in their own district. For more information and to RSVP - http://www.webaction.org Kitchen to Table Exhibit March 9, 1pm–3pm. Clouds Hill Victorian House Museum, 4157 Post Road, Warick. Showcasing the preparation and presentation of food at Clouds Hill over the years, from formal table settings to picnic baskets—menus, recipes, cooking utensils, and the elements of presentation draw you into the simple act of eating. Adults, $12; seniors $10. (401) 884-9490; Clouds Hill.

Value of the Book with Ray Rickman March 13, 6:30pm–8:30pm. Barrington Public Library, 281 County Road. Using an Antiques Road Show-format with books brought by audience members, Ray Rickman will provide information and insights about what types of books have the highest retail value and will offer estimates of the books’ values. Guests can bring up to three books.

Free. (401) 247-1920 x312; jessicad@barringtonlibrary.org; www.barringtonlibrary.org.

59th Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, Newport March 15, 11:00am. Parade begins at City Hall, 43 Broadway, and continues through Washington Square to Thames Street and ends at Augustine’s Church. Rain, snow, or shine. (401) 8459123 or (800) 976-5122; JBailey@GoNewport.com; www.newportirish.com.

alphabet SUDOKU solution - page 29

Author has a gift for personal history LOCAL HISTORY:

Margaret Pilkington Riley will be celebrating her 90th birthday this year.

She surprised her children, grandchildren & great-grandchildren with “Evening Gowns and Dancing Slippers,” a ‘coming of age” memoir, sharing her wisdom gained from faith life experience. There will be a book release party on March 9 at The Perfect Touch Salon on Point Judith Road in Narragansett from 2 to 5 p.m. For more information about the book and future signings, call Jayne Harvey at 954-8233.

Maple Sugaring Tours, Coventry March 15, 9am–12pm. George B. Parker Woodland, 1670 Maple Valley Road. Step back in time and experience the history of maple sugaring. Taste this delectable treat over breakfast of pancakes, muffins and donuts, and learn how to make this sweet syrup in your own back yard. Tours every fifteen minutes. Society members, $12-$6; non-members, $18-$9; pre-registration required. (401) 949-5454 x3041; programs@asri.org; www.asri.org.

Farmhouse Lunch Tours March 21, 12:00pm–1:00pm. Norman Bird Sanctuary, 583 Third Beach Road. A guided tour of the newly renovated Paradise Farmhouse. Tour includes a lunch of hot organic soup, warm crusty bread, garden salad, beverage and yummy treats. $12. 846-2577; www.normanbirdsanctuary.org.

Volunteer Opportunities at Smith’s Castle

Smith’s Castle is an award winning historic house museum and site where four centuries of Rhode Island history are preserved and interpreted through tours, historic reenactments and educational programs. Smith’s Castle is looking for volunteers to become docents for the 2014 season. Docents lead tours through the museum house and also assist with school programs or special events. All docents are provided with training starting April 2nd before our May opening. Some of our other needs include: EDITOR/WRITER/PUBLISHER-someone who would be willing to collaborate on re-publishing a newsletter, GRANT WRITER- Willing to write Grants to support association, buildings and activities. Individuals with all skills and interests are encouraged to become involved as Smith’s Castle has an ongoing need for volunteers. Smith’s Castle is located at 55 Richard Smith Drive off Post Road north of the State Police Barracks, in North Kingstown , RI. (401) 294-3521, smithscastle@earthlink.net

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M 

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

HOME CARE

LABORATORY SERVICES

MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

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March 2014

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March 2014