August 2011 PrimeTime

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inthisissue

Cest la vie.

Seize the day.

Live in the moment.

Go with the flow.

4 for sale Real estate agents Donna DeLauro and Laura Bittinger cater to seniors

I can think of dozens of expressions that mirror this sentiment. They tell us to live each day to the fullest, and not get hung up on the past or too focused on the future.

But when I try to think of expressions that advise us to plan ahead, there are very few examples that come to mind.

Financial planner Karen Melo said something this month that I thought was very poignant.

“I think our school systems are not focused on teaching these types of financial skills, especially as it relates to retirement.”

It’s a good point. The education system in Rhode Island, and across the country, doesn’t go far enough to prepare students for the financial realities that await them after graduation. Students go off into the world with no experience balancing a checkbook, no knowledge of how to establish credit, and no concept of what dollars and cents mean in real terms. That ignorance creeps into adulthood, and rather than planning for retirement, young couples get caught up in the exciting new changes in their lives - new jobs, a new home, and maybe children.

It’s not until retirement is closing in that too many of us start to think about it.

In this issue of PrimeTime, we’ve tried to reverse that trend, with an entire edition about life planning. We spoke with financial planners, real estate agents, elder law attorneys and senior advoAugust 2011 cates in order to get a grasp on some of the most 1944 Warwick Ave. important issues facing older Americans today.

Warwick, RI 02889 If you’re not sure of where to start when saving 401-732-3100 FAX 401-732-3110 money, Melo has a pointer or two. If you’re ready Distribution Special Delivery to downsize, the team at Mature Matters will get your house sold and Stephen Olson at R&W Realty can get you settled in a new, handicap-accessible apartment. If you’re worried about senior predaPUBLISHERS tors, John Gannon can show you the red flags for Barry W. Fain, Richard G. Fleischer, scammers.

John Howell Life planning is serious business, but don’t forget to take a break and catch up with your favorite EDITOR columnists like Mike Fink and Don D’Amato, as Meg Fraser megf@rhodybeat.com well as Don Fowler, who shares his experiences with repositioning cruises - a cheaper alternative MARKETING DIRECTOR to the traditional water adventure.

Donna Zarrella And on this month’s cover, you might recogdonnaz@rhodybeat.com nize the old-fashioned style of one of our favorite couples - not to mention the pitchfork. In our spin Creative Director on the classic painting, “American Gothic,” Mark Linda Nadeau and Betty Garrison have some fun in front of their lindan@rhodybeat.com new waterfront bungalow. From a career in the Foreign Service to Ivy League academia, from a WRITERS Don Fowler, Don D’Amato, Heather Fraser blueberry farm to retirement, the Garrisons have Joan Retsinas, Mike Fink, Meg Chevalier, paved their own way into the future. They’re aging Cynthia Glinick, Joe Kernan, Kerry Park in place, but making their own rules, and they’re a good example of how your senior years can be the ADVERTISING best of your life.

Pr i m e Ti m e

REPRESENTATIVES Donna Zarrella – donnaz@rhodybeat.com Carolann Soder, Lisa Mardenli, Janice Torilli, Suzanne Wendoloski, Gina Fugere Classified ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Sue Howarth – sueh@rhodybeat.com Brittany Wardell – brittanyw@rhodybeat.com PRODUCTION STAFF Matt Bower, Joseph Daniels, Brian Geary, Lisa Yuettner

Happy planning

Meg Fraser editor

nextmonth

In September, we’ll lighten the mood again with an issue dedicated to style and beauty.

We’ll help you get in shape, reduce your wrinkles and find the perfect fall look.

A Joint Publication of East Side Monthly and Beacon Communications.

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

o n t h e c ove r Mark and Betty Garrison (photo by John Howell)

5 a new place to call home

The DePasquale brothers provide housing for hundreds of Rhode Island seniors

6 a new chapter

Mark and Betty Garrison are the new American Gothic

9 Common Cents

Q&A with financial planner Karen Melo

11 elder law

Laura Krohn talks about understanding the senior population

14 Red flags How to spot, stop and prevent elder abuse

24 Medicaid Secrets How to protect your assets from nursing home costs

FOOD & DRINK In the kitchen.................................................................................12 PEOPLE & PLACES Doer’s profile..................................................................................10 Travel...................................................................................................15 A Worthy Cause............................................................................18 Glimpse of RI’s past.....................................................................28 LIFESTYLES What do you Fink?.......................................................................13 That’s Entertainment..................................................................16 Gay & Gray.......................................................................................19 SENIOR ISSUES Senior Beat......................................................................................21 Long-term care.............................................................................21 Retirement Sparks.......................................................................27 Professional perspective Your Taxes.........................................................................................26

b y Meg Fraser

life planning

For sale

Not long after Donna DeLauro and Laura Bittinger broke into the real estate business, the Keller Williams colleagues began working with seniors. They quickly realized that the specific needs of seniors were being overlooked, and they set out to change that.

Eight years ago, the real estate agents formed Mature Matters, a full service agency that helps seniors navigate the process of downsizing, moving, buying or selling a home.

“Laura and I sold a couple of senior properties and realized this isn’t something you can do alone,” DeLauro said. “The senior transition is one that needs a lot of hand holding.”

On a hot Saturday morning in July, DeLauro and Bittinger pull up a pair of mismatched chairs in a living room filled with strangers. It’s an estate sale, which is one of the many services Mature Matters offers. The sale is packed, even though the team has been there for hours.

They’ve brought in outside experts to appraise the content of a home, to value the home itself, and to advertise sales.

“We don’t profess to be anything we’re not. If we have an expert, we let them do it,” Bittinger said.

They also work closely, and network, with antique dealers, assisted living facilities and elder law attorneys.

“We network with senior providers and what we do is we get to know folks who have the same values as we do,” DeLauro said, pointing out that there are many predators who take advantage of seniors during their most vulnerable times. By creating a safety net of resources, she and Bittinger hope to provide comfort to senior clients.

W h i l e the housing market is constantly changing, especially

4 | PrimeTime

in this economy, the team doesn’t worry much about the sale. That’s their area of expertise. The biggest challenge is getting the house ready.

“One of the biggest hurdles I think for people is just what to do with all the stuff. The goal is to get rid of things,” Bittinger said, adding that she advises children and relatives to come in and take what is important to the family.

For the senior, she advises, “Start thinking about who might want this stuff.

Start sharing your treasures.”

Before they can get to that point, a family must recognize the need for a change. Either a senior wants to downsize, has to move for health or safety reasons, or a family is charged with selling their aging parent’s home. Often times their clients have lived in a home for decades, raised their children there, and occasionally are being encouraged to leave by those same children who recognize the importance of planning ahead. DeLauro sees many seniors whose home sales are being overseen by adult children who live out of state.

“Very typically, it’s not the senior, it’s the family that comes to us,” she said.

“They don’t know where to start.”

She and Bittinger say it’s never too early to start having these discussions.

Even if it’s not time to make a move, planning early means avoiding last minute, emergency moves. Leaving a longtime home is never easy, so families should give themselves time to say goodbye.

“It’s never too early to start knowing what your options are. What we usually advise, early on, is to get an elder law attorney involved,” DeLauro said.

Then comes the sale. ”We try to make it as easy as possible. We lift the burden off the senior and the family members,” DeLauro said.

The Mature Matters team does not believe a senior, or their family, should put significant investments into a home before selling it. Most homes doing well on the market now are under $200,000, so the payoff isn’t there.

Moreover, buyers near that price point are looking to put their own spin on the property.

“For the senior property, it’s often a little bit dated, but usually, mechanically it’s in tact because a senior will take care of things like roofs and furnaces. It’s perfect for a first time homebuyer,” DeLauro said.

DeLauro and Bittinger finish out their service by helping clients find a new home, whether it be a smaller, one-level home, an apartment or a retirement community.

“I think aging in place can mean a variety of things.

It doesn’t always mean the place you’ve been in for 50 years,” Bittinger said, adding that leaving your home and finding a new one doesn’t have to be stressful. With a team of experts in place, it can be the start of a new and exciting chapter. “Because they don’t have worries, their children don’t have worries.”

For more information on Mature Matters, go to www.maturemattersrealestate.com or call 785-1700. ■

August 2011

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a new place to call

F

our decades ago, the DePasquale brothers broke into the construction business. Soon thereafter, they were managing properties.

Now, that family business has grown exponentially, and is known for providing housing for hundreds of Rhode Islanders over the age of 55.

R&W manages Douglas Commons, Douglas Terrace, Douglas Mansion, Douglas Terrace Townhouses and Tanglewood, apartment communities with 423 units that cater to the 55 and older.

Stephen Olson, senior vice president of DePasquale Bros., Inc., and R&W Realty, who is a former president of the Rhode Island Builders Association, says that demographic looks at housing in a different way. Many of them are downsizing, and are on the hunt for a new home where they can age in place.

“The 55 and older age group is unique in the way they think about how they’re going to live. They typically stay a lot longer than your average apartment dweller,” he said.

On average, residents stay for about eight years, though R&W has clients who have lived in their communities for 25 years.

Referrals are the company’s top source for new residents.

Douglas Terrace Townhouses

“The great thing about 55 and older housing is if you do it really well, your residents ultimately become your best salespeople,” Olson said.

Making the move, however, isn’t always easy. Property Manager Cathy Koehne works closely with residents, and sees the challenges they face as they decide how they can age successfully in the community.

“Their home is where they’ve raised their family. It’s full of memories, but they’re at that point where they can’t keep up with it,” she said.

Despite the emotional nature of a move, Koehne tries to keep things positive.

“This is a new, positive chapter in their life. I have met folks who have never lived in an apartment. That in itself is really exciting,” she said.

And when a resident is feeling down, she is quick to remind them of the benefits of living in an apartment.

“They don’t have any of those worries that come with owning a home; everything is taken care of,” she said. “It is a carefree environment for them, which is wonderful.”

In addition to having property issues such as shoveling snow or landscaping taken care of, residents are on the hunt for units that are handicap accessible, even if they’re not at the point where accessibility is an issue.

August 2011

“The mindset is a little bit different,” Koehne said, explaining that more and more people are planning ahead.

For the younger residents, updated kitchens and bathrooms are important, as well as lighting.

The majority of potential renters, she said, also look for balconies and space.

“Many of them are coming out of homes so space becomes an issue,” Olson said.

Safety, he added, is paramount to the client and the company.

“They’re looking for a safe place in a country setting, but they like to be close to everything at the same time,” he said. “They’re looking for a quiet place that’s well maintained that has residents who are their peers.”

With all of their properties on the North Providence/ Smithfield line, R&W positioned communities in rural areas, but close to shopping and a hospital.

Olson believes it’s a unique place, and encourages seniors looking to downsize to give R&W a call.

“It’s a family-owned business and we tend to treat everyone here like family,” he said. “Our residents are number one.”

For more information, call 353-5555 or visit www. rwrealty.com. ■

PrimeTime | 5

b y meg fraser

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American Gothic

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August 2011

life planning

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ark and Betty Garrison have never taken the conventional path.

Though they both grew up in the farmlands of Indiana, the couple knew there was something else out there for them. They spent 25 years in the Foreign Service, and another 13 years at Brown University, where they established a foreign policy research center.

Then, they did something really unexpected.

They bought a blueberry farm.

“There were some raised eyebrows,” says Mark from his home on the eight-acre Warwick farm, a view of Narragansett Bay filling the doorway behind him.

Blueberries turned out to be a more challenging crop than the Garrisons expected, but it was rewarding work. When their four children would visit during the summer, the grandkids didn’t waste any time before trekking out to the patch to lend a hand. And when the blueberries are ripe and the sun is glistening off the Bay, it’s tough to imagine life could get any better.

But once again, the Garrisons are ready to chart their own course.

At 81 and 79 years old, respectively, tending to eight acres was becoming increasingly difficult for Mark and Betty.

They began to wonder if their plans were realistic.

“We thought we would live out our lives in this house,” Mark said. “We came to realize it didn’t make much sense. It’s the upkeep of a farm that made the decision for us.”

August 2011

A New Chapter They looked at condos and apartments, and attended open houses for small ranches with modest yards. They even looked at retirement communities.

“We weren’t ready for that,” Betty says, laughing.

But nothing seemed to fit. The Garrisons wanted to prepare for the future, but they weren’t willing to give up the things that made them fall in love with the farm. They wanted to be close to the water, to have a place to relax and enjoy retirement - for real this time.

The “Lot for sale” sign couldn’t have come at a better time.

On Narragansett Boulevard in Cranston, once again overlooking the Bay, the Garrisons found a slice of the life they created when they originally settled in Rhode Island.

“One of the things we carried from this place is a view of the Bay. That was the important consideration,” Mark said. “A view of saltwater, in a sense, provides a connection to the rest of the world. It harkens back to our first career.”

When they purchased the Warwick Neck blueberry farm, Mark had enrolled in a class at the Rhode Island School of Design. With Betty’s help, he drew up his own blueprints for what their dream home would look like.

And when hiring a general contractor was too expensive, they hired subcontractors and did much of the work themselves.

“That was fun but we were younger then,” Mark said.

This time around, they enlisted the expertise of contractor Tim Grenier to implement the floor plan they were looking for. The design is similar to their Warwick home, but more open, and they don’t have to deal with stairs at the Cranston bungalow. They considered universal design elements, such as door handles instead of doorknobs and wide doorways to accommodate them, as they get older.

“It’s a question of facing reality. You can’t avoid the fact that we all grow older,” Mark said.

The Garrisons sympathize with their peers who may be struggling to face that reality. Even their grown children are reluctant to accept their parents’ new address, especially as they weed through decades of photographs and mementos from their travels.

“We’re asking our kids to make choices on things they don’t want to see leave,” Betty said. “Most of it we’ll end up taking with us and putting in the basement.”

Saying goodbye to a home after 27 years is not easy, but it was important to them that they make the decision before it was a matter of necessity.

“You sort of grow into it,” Betty said.

And as their last summer on the farm fades, they’re ready for this next chapter in their lives. They’re ready to make their new house a home - a second dream home.

“I’m looking forward to sitting on the porch and watching the world go by, either by sea or by car.” ■

PrimeTime | 7

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August 2011

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life planning

b y Meg Fraser

ommon ents

Q&A with Financial Planner

Karen Melo

Karen Melo, CFP, ADPA, has more than 10 years of experience in the financial services industry. She began her career as a retirement specialist for a major mutual fund company, and while she serves clients with a variety of financial planning needs now, she continues to help people navigate their way to retirement.

She is a registered representative and financial planner with New England Securities, and a financial advisor for Baystate Wealth Management and New England Securities. Baystate has offices all over the region, but Melo works out of the Oceanstate Financial Services office in East Providence.

We caught up with her this month to talk about how to plan for the future, and make retirement a lifestyle to look forward to.

When should people start thinking about retirement?

As soon as possible, and I mean 18 is not too early. The whole goal in retirement planning, is start early and start small, and do as much as you can for as long as you can. It gets them in the habit of saving.

Where should people start?

Start a budget. Really create what expenses they need and what expenses they would like to have, and put that in writing. That, and sit down with a professional advisor and physically put together a plan to make it less confusing.

In your experience, do people start early enough?

No one does because, I think, our school systems are not focused on teaching these types of financial skills, especially as it relates to retirement. Kids are mostly focused on college and buying a home. I always say, take advantage with your 401k plan at your very first job, especially if there’s matching from your employer.

It’s almost like you’re getting free money.

What are the advantages to using an employer’s 401k?

The company is managing the plan for you, which is a positive and a negative. It’s a plan with some good choices, and they may do a match. It gets you to start saving. It’s easier sometimes, since often you have the option of doing a payroll deduction.

And the disadvantages?

On the negative side, it’s a double-edged sword because now you’re having someone make those choices for you. You’re now bound to the company’s choices for you, which mean a lack of control. If you’re investing on your own, the money will be in an account in your name and you get a lot of options. It’s much more tailored; it’s much more flexible.

August 2011

You probably get this question a lot, but how much savings should a person have before going into retirement?

There is not a magic number. It depends on the person.

The way we approach it is we look at the person’s current lifestyle, and we look at when they’re going to retire. For example, if we sit down with someone who loves to travel and wants to travel in retirement, their income needs are going to be much higher. The rule of thumb, is anticipate about 60 percent of what your income is while you’re working.

How do you account for unanticipated expenses, like medical emergencies?

It depends on the strategy that they’re taking. Someone who’s on the lower end of net worth, those people may be able to do some Medicaid planning. Someone who is well off knows they can afford those expenses. The majority of people fall right in between, so they’re doing some kind of prepayment of those expenses, or mostly people will look into some long term care insurance.

What are the concerns you hear from clients?

Most people are really nervous that they’re not doing the right thing. They feel embarrassed because they don’t think they know enough about this stuff to have an intelligent conversation with me. What I wish all people knew is they all feel the same way. Don’t be embarrassed to ask when things don’t make sense. They all have similar fears and worries, and it’s okay to talk about that.

What’s the best choice you can make for a client?

A lot of times it’s giving them structure and being a coach. Without a little hand holding, it sometimes stops short. It’s kind of like having a trainer at the gym.

How much debt can you go into retirement with?

Ideally, you want to retire with no debt; that’s the bestcase scenario. Realistically, you just want to pay down as much as you can, like credit cards or things that are high interest. The day you go into retirement, you’re not accumulating anymore. You’ve just flipped the switch. If you’re taking out money to live on and you’re having to do that and still pay debt at the same time, you can really start to spiral downward quickly.

The economy is still in rough shape. Are you seeing people retire later?

That’s definitely a trend for people, whether we’re being forced to by the Social Security system or we’re electing to because our investments did not perform as we thought. I’m seeing people work longer. A statistic that I think is really telling is that 30 percent of workers have increased their retirement age.

Any other advice?

People are definitely scared sometimes to get in the process. Their questions tend to be around what is the first step. With retirement planning, you may have a goal of - I have to save a million dollars - it’s very intimidating. But my favorite saying with clients is, “how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” It takes baby step.

For more information on retirement or financial planning, contact Karen Melo at Oceanstate Financial Services at 432-8805 or at kmelo@oceanstatefinancial. com. Oceanstate is located at 401 Wampanoag Trail, Suite 100, in East Providence. ■

How should people be investing their money?

It has to be part of a larger plan. A Roth IRA (individual retirement account) is a really fantastic account because it’s a retirement vehicle but it’s made in such a way where it’s flexible and you can tap into it if you need to. It’s a matter of having balance in your plan.

PrimeTime | 9

DOER’S PROFILE

PEOPLE AND PLACES

by JOAN RE TSINAS

Your New Best Friends Retirement brings more time, more energy to fill that time and more friends - or at least more people who want to be your friends.

It won’t be your personality that will draw them. It will be your nest egg.

A slew of people will offer financial advice. You want the nest egg, however respectable, to earn more than today’s 1 to 2 percent rate of interest. Years of pleasure beckon, but they won’t be so pleasurable if money earns so little. These new best friends have come at a vulnerable time for you, an opportune time for them.

Here are some red flags: 1.) The new best friend fits comfortably into your world. If you were a schoolteacher, this person was too. If you belong to a religious denomination, the new friend is a layperson.

If you love to bowl, the friend bowls! The coincidences mount. But as police who investigate fraud warn, scammers are chameleons, adept at “affinity fraud,” where the salesperson claims a usually fictitious affinity with clients.

2.) Your neighbors, friends and colleagues have all used this person’s service and are thrilled. That may be an endorsement, but maybe not. Remember Bernie Madoff; his friends were his clients, and ended up getting duped. Many dupes did no research on what turned out to be a Ponzi scheme. Their mantra: “If so and so trusts Bernie, I will too.”

3.) You are invited to free lunches and dinners to hear sales pitches. Calculate the bill for feeding 50 “select” invitees a gourmet meal, add in the thousands of mailed glossy invitations to get those attendees, factor in the compensation for the salespeople. The meal is not free.

Protect yourself from financial scammers

10 | PrimeTime

4.) You are told that you are special. Consequently, if you invest today you will receive special compensation. This ploy, heard in television infomercials, snares enough people to merit its continued use, even for thousand-dollar investments.

John Gannon, senior vice president for investor education at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, calls retirement scams “a smart person’s crime” because the targets are smart. The prototypic victims are men, 55 to 65 years old, college graduates, with some financial expertise. They know about the existence of scams, but Gannon notes, “They believe they are not susceptible.”

And, because they tend to be self-reliant and used to making investment decisions, they trust their gut reactions. The agent, broker, planner - whatever the title - wears the trappings of success, but Gannon points out that anybody can buy an expensive suit, rent a suite or lease a Mercedes. The encounter of scam artist and target becomes a contest of wits.

Unfortunately, many targets lose.

Gannon urges would-be investors to ask skeptical questions. What is the broker’s background? Is he or she licensed? Where? Are there any

consumer complaints filed against them? Do they have a criminal history? Where has the broker worked?

For how many firms in the past decade? Any bankruptcy proceedings?

Any judgments or liens?

You can call FINRA’s BrokerCheck at (800) 289-999, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., or e-mail them at brokercheck@finra. org for background on brokers or firms registered within the past 10 years.

You can also check with the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Securities Division, at 462-9527. George Wesolowski, securities examiner, encourages prospective investors to call. The Division can report not just on licenses, but can also help request (through the Freedom of Information Act) the details of disciplinary hearings and customer complaints.

The federal Securities and Exchange Commission’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) Program compiles information on

firms that manage at least $25 million in assets. You can check a firm online. Firms that have not registered with the SEC electronically will not appear on the IAPD page. If you do not see a firm listed through IAPD, contact the SEC at (202) 551-6825.

Once you have vetted the wouldbe adviser, question him or her about the product, whether an annuity, a reverse mortgage, a mutual fund, or some high-yield, low-risk chimera.

What is the agent’s commission?

What is the risk? If an annuity, how soon can you draw on it? Even if the product is legitimate, it may not enrich you (but would enrich the agent earning a 40 percent commission).

Kathleen Connell, Rhode Island state director of AARP, suggests people “Google” the name of the broker with “scam” in the query, to tap into complaints lodged in cyberspace.

Be cautious. ■

August 2011

life planning

b y Meg Fraser

Elder

Law

Walk into Laura Krohn’s East Greenwich office and you’ll find yourself sinking into a comfy chair and helping yourself to a cup of coffee. Above the doorway, hanging on the pale blue wall, is a sign that says, “It’s a wonderful life.”

It’s not a typical lawyer’s office, but then again, Krohn isn’t your typical lawyer.

Though she started her legal career in estate planning in New Jersey and New York, Krohn wanted more.

When she was finished helping a senior plan their estate, she couldn’t shake the feeling that they still had more questions and more problems she could help with.

She became certified in elder law, and is now one of the state’s foremost resources on senior services. Mixed in with inspirational messages and photos of her family and clients, the walls of her lobby are covered in brochures, covering everything from emergency response systems and electronic medical records to assisted living facilities and rehabilitation options.

If you have a question about seniors, Krohn’s office is a good start, which is why she wrote - and continues to update - the “Senior Resource Guide of Rhode Island.”

“In Rhode Island, a lot of people are unsure of where to go for this information,” she said. “They don’t know where to start.”

In addition to aggregating information about senior services, Krohn offers a free weekly support group on Thursdays at 6 p.m., for caregivers and friends who are struggling with disease and disability.

Krohn wanted to make sure she was looking out for those individuals as well as the elder.

“That’s the biggest part of elder law, is the caregiver,” she said. “What they need to know is there are other people going through the same thing.”

For Krohn, client and caregiver come first, which is why she calls her practice “holistic.”

“It’s client centered,” she said. “It’s very rewarding.”

Before she begins getting a client’s legal papers in order, Krohn gets to know them. She talks with family members to get a better understanding of the family dynamic.

Do the children get along?

How willing to ask for help is the senior?

Where does the couple hope to live as they get older?

“Every situation is different, but most of the time, people do want help,” she said.

They also want their family involved.

Krohn is fine with walking adult children through the process, but she stresses that the parent is her first concern. “ I always meet with the client alone. It’s to protect the client and the child, because there is a presumption out there that seniors are susceptible to undue influence,” she said. “I’m really strict about this. The child can come with the parent, which is completely appropriate, so long as everyone knows the senior is my client.”

Once she has all the information in order, Krohn sits down with the client and family and maps out a plan. She handles the immediate legal documents they’re worried about - for example a will - and gets a rough idea of what the coming years will hold.

“We try to put a plan together that has foresight into the future,” she said. “Once all that’s in place, I may not see those clients for five years.”

Still, she recommends planning early. If a senior waits until an emergency situation, their needs might not be best represented. Planning for any situation that could arise

“I can’t stop the aging process.

But I can make it less stressful.”

I’m Jenny Miller. I’ve devoted my life and career to assisting seniors and people with disabilities. My goal is to help them maintain their well-being, independence and dignity. If you or your family aren’t sure where to turn, how to gather information or who can help—then get in touch with me today.

means Krohn will know how to advocate for that individual and how to help the family coordinate care.

No one imagines they will be unable to care for themselves, but Krohn sees it all the time. She says long-term care insurance is a good way to go, and as you get older, you should look into what assets can be protected.

The most important protection Krohn advises seniors - or anyone - to take advantage of is Power of Attorney. A will is great, she said, but Power of Attorney means staying out of court for guardianship.

“Everybody should have this because accidents happen,” she said. “You need to have been given authority in writing to do everything.”

There’s a lot to think about, but Krohn says an elder law attorney is a good place to start. Seniors should educate themselves about their options, and make sure they have a plan before the unexpected strikes.

“I’m always learning too,” Krohn said. “I could do this 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and not even get at the stuff I want to get done.”

For more information, contact Laura Krohn at 3988383, or visit www.seniorguideri.com. ■

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PrimeTime | 11

in the kitchen

food & drink

Chef Shannon Legault from

Pr i m e Ti m e

chefseries

Saint Elizabeth Court What are the must haves in your fridge?

I think some of the must haves here at Saint Elizabeth Court are some nice fresh fruits, yogurt, cheese and herbs. Of course, being New England, some type of seafood.

Where did you train to become a chef?

I attended Johnson & Whales University where I received my Associates in culinary arts and my Bachelors in food service management.

Have you had any other jobs in the culinary industry?

Coming from New Jersey before moving to Rhode Island, I had the opportunity to work at Chef Tell’s Manor House in Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania. I also worked at a local New Jersey Country Club.

What’s the best part of your job?

The best part of my job would be the residents and their history. Whenever you ask a question about a certain food they may want or love to have, usually it has a story to follow with that resident’s history. It is interesting to see how we all view things differently.

Describe your perfect meal A perfect meal at Saint Elizabeth is not necessarily what is on the plate, but the tone of our dining room. When you walk into the dining room and all you can hear is the silverware on the plate, it is that quiet that lets you know you have just served them their perfect meal. ■

What’s the most popular item on your menu?

One of the most popular dishes would be our seafood alfredo over angel hair pasta.

What’s the strangest menu request you’ve ever gotten?

I think the strangest request I have ever gotten would be a tie between hot dog stew and grilled sardine sandwich.

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12 | PrimeTime

August 2011

wHAT DO YOU FINK?

LIFE S T Y LE S

by MIKE FINK

Portrait of the Artist

I clink a cup of cheer to the drawings of Robert Lawson. He came to Hope High School in 1950, during my junior year. I was asked to introduce him in the auditorium.

He sketched the story of Ferdinand the Bull, the Spanish entry into the ring who chose not to fight. Ferdinand preferred to stay with his cow-mama and smell the flowers around the shade of the cork tree. It was MY story, about my love of home and garden in the decade of great troubles in the violent world beyond our safe personal borders. That Civil War that started at Guernica made the whole world shudder, but this reassuring artist gently poked respectful fun at all forms of resistance and hope for peace.

Robert Lawson came back in focus for me when I ran across his illustrations for “Ben and Me,” the tale of a mouse who lived in the fur hat of Benjamin Franklin and kept a journal of his friendship with the famous Dr. Franklin. I purchased the charming little children’s book in the gift shop of historic downtown Philadelphia. The book was the work of “Amos” the mouse and the delightful pen and ink images were crafted by Robert Lawson.

I have a copy of the January 1945 bulletin of the Newport Historical Society. An article by Elizabeth Greene Covell traces the routes of Ben (and Amos) in Warwick, East Greenwich and, of course, that great boomtown, Newport, with its generosity of spirit and its innate good will.

Now, his style is a marvelous mix of the actual with the imaginary. “Amos” looks just exactly like a mouse, not like “Mickey.” And yet, he has the character, the personality, the wit and mischievous wisdom, of an author and a sage. In fact, there is a lot of information about the saga of Ben Franklin but without a yawn of boyish boredom.

My toast to Robert Lawson has yet another chapter. I looked forward to Jim Carrey’s performance as Mr. Poppermof the Penguins. An admirer of Carrey’s zestful energy, madcap genius, and plastic features, I couldn’t wait to see him in the role and stayed to squint at the screen for a glimpse of a credit for Robert Lawson’s part in the history of the children’s book. I could not find it and sighed in disappointment.

But then I made my way to the nearest children’s department of the closest bookstore.

And there I got to have and to hold the original work of art, “Mr. Popper’s Penguins.” Yes indeed, the Atwaters may have penned the plot, but my auld acquaintance Robert Lawson

August 2011

penned the pictures. Superb personifications of the penguins, of the persons, even of the “ice box” that serves as the bedroom suite for the first of the pet birds, named for Captain Cook. You know, it is fun to get the book and watch the motion picture version, of a tried and true tale. No, the book is not always better, nor is the film always more exciting. They are simply different styles of telling the tale.

I have been doing some traveling this summertime, some voyages along our coastline and some trips abroad. And yet, I like very much to spend July and August just moving short distances, strolling the shoreline from Narragansett to South Kingstown, paddling or biking among our nearby rivers, or over the bay to Newport or the bridges from there back to Providence harbors. But wherever I go, I am deeply devoted to Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. It seems to me that the world comes to us, and that we visit beyond the lines declared by Roger Williams as Rhode Islanders. Since nobody ever sketched or painted Roger Williams, we project our own identities and mirror images upon our founder’s face and figures. We greet one another in chatty peace, like the refugee from Massachusetts, pursued by a posse and hoping to pitch a tent and dig a well to share “a shelter for persons distressed.” I bet Robert Lawson could have come up with some terrific pictures of the legendary and lyrical Roger Williams and imprinted us with his vision of a kindly, lively and great-hearted hero for us all to share. ■

PrimeTime | 13

life planning

b y Meg Fraser

Red Flags

How to spot, stop and prevent elder abuse

Persons 85 years and older are the fastest growing population in the country. That group of baby boomers is exploding here in Rhode Island as well.

But according to the National Clearinghouse on Abuse in Later Life, an astonishing 11 percent of these Americans over the age of 60 reported experiencing abuse within the last year.

It is estimated that 84 percent of elder abuse incidents go unreported.

“Every years we’re busier and busier, and that’s the sad thing,” said Anita Corley, the elderly services coordinator for the Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center.

In the past year, Corley has handled 100 criminal cases of elder abuse in just 10 Rhode Island cities and towns. And as is true with other forms of domestic abuse, victims often know the offender.

In fact, in 63 percent of the cases Corley handles, the abuse is at the hands of an adult child or other family member. Nationally, the statistics are even higher.

The remaining offenders are intimate partners (33 percent) and professional caregivers (4 percent).

And while home is supposed to be a safe haven for seniors and individuals new to retirement, 96 percent of elder abuse occurs in private residences.

Abuse is not only characterized as physical or sexual. There is verbal, emotional and financial abuse as well.

“It’s pretty evenly distributed, but financial abuse is really increasing,” Corley said.

Substance abuse and untreated mental illness go hand in hand with elder abuse. The offenders have a problem that has been left to fester, and they either take out their frustrations on the senior, or take advantage of their kindness.

“Entitlement is just the behavior of offenders,” Corley said. “The senior feels like they’ve done something wrong.”

Men are susceptible to financial abuse, in particular. They now make up one-third of elder abuse vic-

14 | PrimeTime

tims, and often are targeted by women who ingratiate themselves to a man and steal from him.

While the vast majority of offenders are male, elder advocates are seeing an up tick in women perpetrating abuse. Corley estimates women now make up 11 percent of the offenders in Rhode Island.

“That’s scary to me, as a woman,” she said.

Adult children, home care workers or anyone who works with seniors, should also be on the lookout for the physical signs of abuse, malnutrition, missing money, or the knowledge that a senior is supporting someone beyond their means.

Having a younger relative move in suddenly is frequently the start of the cycle of abuse.

Withdrawal from family and friends is a major red flag of elder abuse. If a normally bubbly and friendly senior is isolating himself or herself, other issues may be at play.

“Isolation is key to the abuser,” said Meg Underwood, the director of the Pilgrim Senior Center in Warwick.

The statistics are staggering, but elder advocates believe that solutions are out there - socialization being one of them.

“The socialization is very important for seniors and one of the biggest problems we have with the senior population,” Underwood said.

Getting engaged in a senior center, faith community or volunteer work increases the chances that a senior will share their experience with someone they trust. It also means more chances for someone else to see the warming signs.

In trainings and at elder abuse forums, Corley works to empower seniors to protect their interests.

“What we try to do here is teach elders to be more assertive,” she said.

They should be especially assertive when it comes to money. EBC is working with the Pilgrim Senior Center in Warwick to host a forum with Congressman Jim Langevin on Aug. 11 about protecting assets. It is

free and open to the public.

“They have to be very careful with their finances,” Corley said.

If a senior needs home care, Corley advises them to always go through an agency, like Senior Helpers, rather than relying on distant relatives or friends.

Maggie Seibold, RN, the director of nursing for Senior Helpers, says professional caregivers are trained to see the warning signs and can intervene when they fear for a client’s safety.

Many times, the senior is afraid for their safety too, if they do not comply with the abuser’s demands.

“These elderly people are dependent on the offender, or at least feel as though they’re dependent on them,” Underwood said.

In the cases where the offender is a child, guilt plays a big part as well.

“There’s fear and there’s often guilt as well,” Seibold said. “They’re always their child, no matter what age they are.

Education is equally important to stopping the cycle of elder abuse. Health care professionals need to be trained in the warning signs for elder abuse, but all people would benefit from that increased awareness.

“Elder abuse is well behind the curve,” Underwood said, explaining that public service campaigns have brought to light domestic and child abuse, but many people don’t know how to recognize elder abuse when they see it.

“They feel a lot of shame,” Corley added of the victims. “It’s the same dynamic as domestic abuse; it’s just a different age.”

If you suspect a senior you know might be a victim of abuse, call the EBC hotline at 738-1700, call your local police department or contact the Department of Elderly Affairs. For more information about counseling and other EBC services, visit ebchouse. org. ■

August 2011

travel

with

PEOPLE AND PLACES

joyce & don fowler

Thimble Islands Thumbing through the 2011 Conway Tour catalogue, I noticed a day trip to the Thimble Islands, off the coast of Stony Creek, Conn.

The description of the rocky coast of the tiny seaside community brought back memories of my youth, when my Uncle Ed took me fishing and crabbing in his rowboat.

Conway offers a comfortable motor coach ride down Route 95 to the beautiful, historic, seaside town of Guilford, where we stopped for lunch at the Stone House Restaurant. Guilford has an enormous town green, surrounded by churches, antique shops, 18th century houses and quaint stores.

Lunch was a giant step up from the usual quick stops at McDonalds or local diners. The Stone House <I>is<$> a stone house, with separate function rooms where our group of two dozen enjoyed an eclectic salad, sinful dessert and choice of perfectly prepared salmon and moist, tender chicken.

The Conway coach was too tall to fit under the railroad trestle leading to Stony Creek, so we switched to a local school bus for the five-minute ride to the pier, where we boarded the 40-foot Volsunga IV, complete with covered deck, for our 45-minute tour of the Thimble Islands.

Capt. Bob Milne was not only a good pilot, avoiding all of the dangerous reefs and jutting granite rocks, but also a humorous and knowledgeable guide. And what a great tour! We learned the fascinating history of how the islands were formed, and first inhabited, with a few tall tales about pirate treasure. The islands are described as “a piece of the Maine coast that drifted into Long Island Sound and came to rest at Stony Creek.” The 30-passenger boat gives everyone a clear view, and even has padded seats for your comfort.

I always thought that “Thimble” stood for the size of most of the islands, but learned that they were named after the thimbleberry bush, which once was prominent on the rugged islands.

The tour takes you “up close and personal, by 23 inhabited islands, ranging in size from less than a half acre of pink granite to 12 acres of lushly landscaped estates. Approximately 85 homes were constructed on the islands during the Victorian era, complete with widow walks, gingerbread trim, gazebos and even swimming pools. A few have electricity from underwater cables.

We have taken many island and harbor tours over the years, but the Thimble Island tour has to be one of the most interesting, educational and relaxed. Our trip home allowed for an hour and 15 minutes at Mystic Village, where we had a chance to shop, eat or just walk around the pleas-

ant, shaded complex.

Brian, our helpful driver, suggested a popular restaurant, Ten Clams, with an ice cream take-out window. The sandwich menu included a hot lobster roll, a delicacy we remembered from our Connecticut days but have never been able to find in Rhode Island, where a lobster roll is cold lobster with mayonnaise, celery and lettuce. The toasted hot dog bun was loaded with nothing but lightly buttered fresh lobster and a bargain for only $9.95. It was a pleasant ride home after a most relaxing day.

Second best option is a drive down Route 95 to Exit 56, turn right and travel two miles to a stop sign. Proceed straight to the shore on Indian Point Rd. Warning: Parking is at a premium.

For information on the island tour go online at www.thimbleislands.com or call them at (203) 481-3345.

Conway has one more tour planned this year on Saturday, Sept. 3, and I highly recommend it. Call 1-800-888-4661 for reservations, information or to request their colorful catalogue of day and overnight tours. ■

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THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT

by DON FOWLER

First class vacations at bargain prices Looking for an inexpensive, relaxing, first-class vacation?

Try a repositioning cruise.

Cruise lines usually need to change their homeport for the summer and winter seasons.

When they do, they offer bargain prices; the theory being, why sail an empty ship when you have the ability to provide a fun-filled vacation opportunity for those who don’t mind a few extra days at sea?

In our case, we boarded the Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Sea in Boston, where it had just returned from a leaf peeping cruise up the North Atlantic Coast, and needed to reposition the ship for the winter season, where it operates out of Fort Lauderdale.

For less than half the price, we sailed from Boston to six islands for a two-week vacation in the Caribbean before docking in Florida.

We opted for a stateroom on the third deck, which included a large porthole, twin beds, a large bathroom and sitting area. A room with a balcony raises the price and is not necessary if you don’t spend much time in your room.

You do need to figure on additional expenses. We were given an on-board credit of $225 by our travel agent, which covered the bar bill and island tours. Tips for waiters and housekeepers are not included.

There are opportunities to shop on board the ship and at all ports of call. While there are many bargains, you still need to be careful, and always need to “negotiate.”

16 | PrimeTime

Security When you arrive at the pier, expect the usual lines that you would find at an airport. Baggage is checked. You go through metal detectors.

You are issued a plastic card, which serves as your room key, ID, charge card (The only money seen on board is in the casino) and ticket back on the ship.

When leaving and entering the ship, you must enter the card in a slot, where your photo is taken, and show a photo ID. Health and Safety One of your first activities is a “muster” drill, where all passengers must go to their stations, where they are instructed as to what to do in an emergency.

Cleanliness and disease prevention are major issues on cruise ships, where a spread of the novo-virus could spoil a vacation for hundreds of people.

It begins every time you board the ship. Staff members are on hand to spray your hands with antibacterial soap. Dispensers are everywhere,

August 2011

lifestyles including restrooms, corridors and especially dining rooms.

Dishes and wrapped silverware are handed to you at the buffets by staff wearing plastic gloves. Buffet items are protected and constantly monitored.

Extra care is given to walking areas, with many “watch your step” signs, and constant reminders to use the railings when using stairs. You are encouraged to use the elevators.

Seniors and the Handicapped

One big positive on the large cruise ship is the attention paid to the health and safety of senior citizens and those with handicaps.

Wide, carpeted aisles make it easier for those with canes, wheelchairs, walkers and even powered scooters to get around. Doors are wide. Many are automatic. There are handicap accessible bathrooms and a special lift to get in and out of the pools.

There are a number of handicapped rooms available, but most staterooms are wide enough for those with walking limitations.

Activities Being a Type A person, I was anxious to get to the islands and head for the beaches to do some swimming and snorkeling, while my wife chose the motorized guided tours.

Our itinerary called for visits to six Caribbean islands, with the ship docking at 8 a.m. and not leaving until 6 p.m.

St. Thomas allowed a return to my favorite beach, Meeghan’s Bay. Second stop was St. Maarten, where I enjoyed the more active surf of Orient Beach.

Joyce got her fill of shopping on these two islands.

Dominique’s highlight was a trip through the rain forest and a visit to the magnificent Trafalga Falls.

I snorkeled with turtles and over shipwrecks in Barbados, while Joyce did the island tour by bus.

Snorkeling was a bit of a disappointment as strong winds made the best locations inaccessible in Aruba, but we did find a good reef off DiPalm Island, while Joyce did the island bus tour.

While Joyce saw the historic UNESCO city of Willemsted, Curacao by bus, I walked the streets for over three hours, managing to stray off the beaten track and see how the islanders live.

Food My goal was to watch my diet, especially my blood sugar, by eating the many fresh fruits and vegetables on the buffet.

After the first day, I abandoned that goal.

Cruising is another name for overeating. The buffets, threecourse dinners, and 24/7 dining opportunities are irresistible.

Can’t decide between two appetizers, entrees or desserts? Your waiter will happily bring two of each without making you feel guilty.

Special diets are available, and your waiters cater to your every need. The only thing lacking is will power.

Entertainment Being an entertainment writer, I went on the cruise with low expectations on the quality of entertainment. I was pleasantly surprised.

Cruise ships attract high quality entertainers, and the shows are spectacular, including singer Evan Andrews from Providence.

Andrews has a 10-year contract with Royal Caribbean, and enjoys cruising and meeting so many people from all over the world.

How to Choose a Cruise

Check with travel agents, comparing prices and perks. Some offer larger onboard credits than others. Many provide package deals, arranging your airfare and shuttles to the airport.

Check the time of year and predicted weather. Check the ports of call and the amount of time in each.

Buy travel insurance. You never know if sickness or an accident will occur.

Sign up early, so you have plenty of time to plan your vacation. Many younger folks, and those who are free to pack at a moment’s notice, will sign up at the last minute for some extra bargain prices.

Once you are on the ship, RELAX, leaving your troubles behind. ■

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PrimeTime | 17

a worthy cause

b y M ichael j . cerio

PEOPLE AND PLACES

The Rhode Island Foundation Meeting the needs of past and future generations

For more than 90 years, the Rhode Island Foundation has been dedicated to meeting the needs of Rhode Islanders while helping to shape communities across the Ocean State. It is one of the oldest and largest community foundations in the country, and the only one that serves Rhode Island. If you’d like to create a legacy that will help future generations, the Rhode Island Foundation wants to help you make the biggest impact.

Established in 1916 with a $10,000 gift from founder Jesse H. Metcalf, the Rhode Island Foundation has grown to include more than 1,200 permanent endowments with assets totaling $572 million at the end of 2010.

And, when benchmarked against foundations and endowments of under $1 billion nationwide, the Rhode Island Foundation outperformed the top quartile for the one- five- and seven-year periods.

Last year alone, 38 new, permanent funds were established.

The primary goal of the Foundation is to inspire philanthropy and increase permanent resources for Rhode Islanders. It provides leadership on community issues, collaborates with businesses to develop solutions to longstanding challenges and aims to create maximum positive impact through investing in the community.

The needs of Rhode Islanders have changed over the years, but the Foundation remains dedicated to the principles that have framed its success.

“We want to ensure that every dollar we invest in the community is working as hard as possible, just as our donors expect and our founders intended,” said Melanie Coon, vice president of Marketing and Communications. “A big part of our success is due to the fact that we’ve had strong leadership and a clear vision for addressing the needs of our state. While needs change over time, the Foundation continuously adjusts its focus to best keep in line with the community’s current needs.”

Last year, despite the struggling economy, or perhaps due to it and the growing needs of Rhode Islanders, the Foundation experienced a record year, awarding $29.2 million in funding.

In fact, the amount of funding provided by the Foundation has grown by 25 percent over the past five years.

“There is a practical upside to being the only community foundation in Rhode Island,” added Coon. “We’re not competing with other foundations for donors; we’re focused solely on strengthening our communities.”

She sees the size of the state as an advantage.

“For example, if we fund an education program in Woonsocket, we know it can be scaled to other communities and have success,” Coon said.

In 2010, the Rhode Island Foundation renewed its commitment to grant making in six sectors: education, health, human services, arts and culture, the environment, and economic and community development.

“What we’ve done is identify the main issues that are broadly important to the state so we can make a concerted impact on those issues, measure that impact, and communicate it to the public and perspective new donors. We want to be a resource for knitting things together to move in the same direction,” said Owen Heleen, the Foundation’s vice president for Grant Programs.

In order to fulfill this mission, the Foundation relies heavily on the support

18 | PrimeTime

of its donors, past and present. There are a number of ways to make a taxdeductible gift through the Foundation.

You can establish a permanent endowment fund, contribute to an existing fund or make a deferred gift such as a bequest or gift of life insurance.

There are also options to designate the Foundation as the beneficiary of a retirement fund or create a charitable gift annuity, which is attractive to people who depend on income after retirement and are passionate about philanthropic giving.

“It’s very important to us to honor the wishes of the donor,” said Coon.

“Our donors see the benefits of giving into the future. By making sure the things you care about are taken care of perpetually, it allows you to leave a legacy. It’s truly a selfless act.”

One of the most common ways that people are introduced to the Rhode Island Foundation is through a financial advisor during their estate planning process. After arrangements have been made for family and loved ones, an advisor will often ask their client whether philanthropy is something they’re interested in.

“What happens is we talk to you about your interests and passions, and if there is a particular cause or organization that you would like to be the recipient of funds,” explained Coon. “We also discuss the options of making an unrestricted gift to support the critical unmet needs of Rhode Islanders and giving through our discretionary funds which enable our grant officers to identify grantee organizations.”

One of the things the Foundation is most proud of is the fact that donors can be as involved or as hands-off as they’d like.

“Some donors know the direction that they’d like their philanthropy to go into the future, where others entrust the Foundation to direct the funds to make the biggest impact for the needs of our neighbors,” Heleen said.

Another giving option, donor advised funds, can be a valuable vehicle to teach philanthropy within the family. Through this model, a designated advisory group meets each year to determine where to direct funds.

Additionally, the Foundation has discretionary grant funds available that allow the organization to respond to the emergency needs of the community. Overall, 40 percent of the $29.2 million in funding provided by the Foundation last year was directed by the organization’s grant officers.

“Along with our designated and donor advised funds, we awarded $12 million in discretionary grants last year. These grants allowed the Foundation to determine the direction of our funding among the primary focus areas where we saw the greatest need and had the opportunity to make the biggest impact,” Heleen said.

As the Rhode Island Foundation sets its sights on continued growth, they are acutely aware of the need across the state.

“We are here to help our communities solve the pressing issues that exist today and anticipate the needs of the future,” Heleen said. “To do this, we want to have glass walls so everyone understands what goes on at the Foundation, what we do, and how they can help facilitate change.”

For more information about giving through the Rhode Island Foundation, contact Carol Golden, executive vice president and chief development officer, at 427-4027, or visit www.rifoundation.org. ■

August 2011

GAY & GRAY

LIFE S T Y LE S

by CYNTHIA GLINICK

Come on out, John The struggle for equality in the gay community has a long and rich history, beginning with Dr. Karl Heinrich Ulrichs who, in 1869, is the first known person in modern history to come out of the closet publicly by writing and speaking in defense of homosexuality. He effectively set for those who have followed, the positive standard that homosexuality is natural, not a sin, a disease or a crime. He demanded equal rights for gays (and women) and encouraged homosexuals to come out. Ulrichs began to change the way people thought about samesex love.

But, it is never just one movement but rather a confluence of movements by bold people, to bring about radical change in entrenched societies.

It has been 142 years since Karl Heinrich Ulrichs spoke out in defense of homosexuality and was most certainly a catalyst for The Stonewall riots 100 years later, which was most certainly the catalyst for the Queer movement 30 years later which was most certainly the catalyst for the recent legal strides toward marriage equality.

So, why is “John” still in the closet?

Rhode Island has a new law allowing gays and lesbians to engage in civil

unions. In the estimation of many, it is short of the same-sex marriage law that New York most recently passed, and relegates us to second-class citizens by permitting religious organizations to discriminate against us as they choose. But it is a nod in our direction, I suppose, and the world hasn’t come to an end because of it.

So, why is “John” still in the closet?

I recently read an article about troubles at the Gay Softball World Series. It seems one of the teams was “cheating” by having members who were bisexual or married to women but identifying as gay. Not such terrible problems to have when many older lesbians and gay men remember having virtually no choices whatsoever. Sheldon Whitehouse, along with other Democratic Senators, participated in a video recently, addressing gay youth and endorsing the It Gets Better Project. The Boston Red Sox have jumped on that same bandwagon.

So, why is “John” still in the closet?

I’ve known “John” for many years. We met in the seventies. He and his then partner spent time at my apartment in the eighties. I’ve run into him at Gay Pride over the years.

He is a musician, a writer, a steward of the earth and something of a local historian and avid preservationist. He lives in a semi-rural Rhode Island community where he gardens, has devoted his life to collecting historical artifacts in an 18th century house and lives a quiet life along side a family of foxes up on the hill. In a nutshell, “John” isn’t your stereotypical gay man. He is self-admittedly socially inept. Spent the better part of a 20-year span being celibate, which afforded him the dubious opportunity to watch the deaths of his friends from AIDS. In short, “John” is a perfect subject for this column, which illustrates the normality of the gay community and attempts to bring some clarity through what is an otherwise opaque window. I knew he was on the fence after the interview, but decided he wasn’t comfortable being out in his tiny hamlet. I respect that and I would never “out” someone without their permission, but I also feel that he is misguided in thinking that by being himself he will lose the respect of his fellow villagers. He is, rather, reinforcing their preconceptions and supposed intolerance by participating in it and allowing it to continue.

So, why is “John” still in the closet?

Internalized oppression. And only “John” can free himself of the outdated and antiquated belief that there is something wrong with him. When he does, it will change the minds of others. Karl Heinrich Urlichs would be 186 years old on Aug. 24. Celebrate it, “John,” by coming out of the closet and becoming one of the historical relics you work so hard to save and cherish so much. ■

Meals on Wheels Serves Up

Another Program

Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island has expanded the senior nutrition program to include 3 great PRovIdence restaurants! chelo’s hoMetoWn BaR & GRIlle 505 silver spring st.

IhoP RestauRant 45 Pleasant valley Parkway neWPoRt cReaMeRY 673 smith street With a donation to the agency, seniors age 60 & older can receive a coupon at the Meals on Wheels office, 70 Bath street, Providence For more information call Pauline asprinio, nutrition director

(401) 351-6700

August 2011

PrimeTime | 19

calendar of events

Funeral Directors

Care for some tea?

Grab the grandkids and head to Newport to munch on tea sandwiches and desserts, or sip on an assortment of iced teas while playing croquet or making a crazy hat as part of the Mad Hatter Iced Tea Party at Ballard Park. There will also be an Alice in Wonderland-themed scavenger hunt along the park’s trails.

For tickets, call 619-3377 or go to www. ballardpark.org.

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

Rock ‘n’ Roll On Aug. 5 and 6, visit more than 60 exhibitors in the Rhode Island Convention Center for the 2011 Rock ‘n’ Roll Providence 1/2 Marathon Health and Fitness Expo. Admission is free, and the expo is open on Friday and Saturday from 12 to 6 p.m.

By land or by sea Pig out on Rhode Island’s best seafood at the annual Charlestown Seafood Festival from Aug. 5 to 7. It’s a must-see event this summer in Ninigret Park, and will be open Fridya from 12 to 10 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Hungry for more? Go to www.charlestownrichamber.com or call 364-4031.

Carpenter-Jenks FUneral hoMe & CreMatory

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

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20 | PrimeTime

CLUES ACROSS 1. Manuscripts (abbr.)

4. Came to grips with 9. Smallest element component 11. Esprit de corps 12. Grandmothers 14. Unhinge and distract 15. Largest municipality in Finland 16. Not win 17. Red Cross work 18. A theatrical performer 19. Renounced under oath 21. Thick center cut of beef tenderloin 23. Cathode-ray oscilloscope 24. Before 25. Negative 26. Paronomasia 27. Mortar trough 28. Swiss river 29. Adornment 36. More dismal 37. Helper 38. The cry made by sheep 39. Ceases to live 40. Give qualities or abilities to 41. Cordialities 43. Alt. spelling of tayra 44. Verb conjugations 45. Furnace product 46. Long & difficult journeys 47. Stallone’s nickname

CLUES DOWN 1. An insane person 2. Stem 3. First movement form 4. Warn beforehand 5. Macaws 6. Deliberately misleading story 7. 60120 IL 8. Transfer property 10. 16th C. Fr. poet Clement 11. Adult males (Fr.) 13. Beget 14. R.I. rebellion 1841 - 1842 16. Wolf (Spanish) 19. State of violent mental agitation 20. A single unit or thing 22. Private secondary schools 25. Persons of no importance 26. A set of two similar things 27. Health Maintenance Organization 28. Brews 29. Comic & actress May 30. States a falsehood 31. A minute amount (Scott) 32. Tropical Asian starlings 33. Stream disturbances 34. Relating to a nerve 35. Agreement between two states 36. Computer game player 38. Large bale of stuffing material 42. Sound expressing disappointment

August 2011

senior

b y L arry G rimaldi 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

Senior Beat With all the talk about the federal budget and deficits, holding down escalating costs for medical care has been an area of focus for Congress. The challenge is to preserve the high quality of service and capacity for choice for Medicare beneficiaries at reasonable costs. And while some parts of the Act won’t take effect for a few years, if the preliminary reports of the Affordable Care Act are any indication, this challenge is being met one program at a time.

When the Affordable Care Act was passed, one of the key provisions in the law will gradually reduce prescription drug costs for beneficiaries who are in the “donut hole” of their Medicare prescription drug plans (Medicare Part D).

Just recently, a report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) revealed that more than 500,000 persons are received a 50 percent discount on their name brand medications already this year. The average savings per beneficiary, to date, was $535. The Affordable Care Act calls for incremental increases in name brand prescription drug discounts through the next nine years until the beneficiary co-payment of 25 percent is reached in 2020. Currently, Medicare beneficiaries who reach

the “donut hole” in their Part D plan receive a 7 percent discount on their generic prescription medications. These discounts will rise incrementally for the next nine years until the beneficiary’s co-payment will be fixed at 25 percent.

Another target of the Affordable Care Act was Medicare and Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse. CMS estimates that the taxpayers are defrauded of more than $60 billion each year. Fraud, waste and abuse not only rob the Medicare Trust Fund of resources, but these crimes also compromise the effectiveness and integrity of the program. In January, CMS released a report citing recovery of $4 billion taxpayer dollars in Fiscal Year 2010 from fraudulent providers and suppliers for the Medicare, Medicaid and Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs. According to the annual Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program report, this was the highest amount of taxpayer dollars actually recovered from the government’s prevention and enforcement units.

In addition, new rules established under the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP would work cooperatively to prevent fraud, waste and abuse.

These rules include a more rigorous screening process of providers and suppliers that

i ss u e s

Editor’s note: Director of DEA Catherine Taylor was unable to submit a column this month. She will continue her column in September, but this month, Larry Grimaldi walks us through costs associated with the Affordable Care Act. want to enroll in federal health care programs and places temporary stops of payments to providers and suppliers that are suspected of fraud.

CMS reports that the Affordable Care Act will achieve a savings of $8 billion in 2012. More importantly, the projected savings to Medicare from the provisions of the Affordable Care Act are expected to be more than $575 billion over the next decade and will also double the life of the Medicare Trust Fund, extending its life from 2017 to 2029.

In addition to savings, the Affordable Care Act is fighting for the Medicare beneficiary, as a consumer. According to new rules, starting September 2, an independent panel of experts will analyze any proposed health insurance plan rate increase request of 10 percent or more for small group insurance and individual plans. The states will assume the primary role in reviewing these rate increase requests. Federal authorities will review some requests.

This rule is aimed at moderating price increases and providing the consumer with greater value for their health insurance dollar.

This rule also requires insurance companies to provide consumers with easy-tounderstand information about proposed

rate increases that exceed the 10 percent benchmark. The explanation must be posted on their website, as well as the Affordable Care Act website at www.healthcare.gov.

Some provisions in the Affordable Care Act have already been implemented. In addition to coverage in the “donut hole” for Part D enrollees, enhanced benefits that encourage beneficiaries to seek preventive medical care went into effect on Jan. 1. On Jan. 1, 2014, the full force of the pre-existing conditions provision will be implemented. As of that date, insurance companies will no longer be able to turn down someone requesting health insurance based on pre-existing conditions. Also effective at that time, insurance companies will no longer be allowed to place annual coverage dollar limits on their insurance policies. Most importantly, Jan. 1, 2014, is the date when everyone should have health insurance through employer plans, retiree plans, health insurance offered by various organizations or labor unions, Department of Defense or Veterans plans, or plans offered by established health insurance exchanges.

Regardless of how we receive our health care, the Affordable Care Act will impact our health care for years to come.

■

senior issues

b y kerry park

Early planning for long term care is essential When it comes to long term care, planning is essential. The fact is, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 70 percent of people over 65 will require some type of long term care. Forty percent will receive treatment in a nursing home; 10 percent of those residents will live there for five years or more. The price tag can get costly and if you haven’t prepared ahead, navigating through the maze of information about long term care can get overwhelming.

The unfortunate reality is that many people find themselves needing long term care services with little knowledge of their treatment and payment options, making what is often a difficult time, even more complex. While you may not want to dwell on the possibility of needing help in the future, better to plan ahead now than be faced with circumstances you’re unprepared for later.

A great misconception is that Medicare or health insurance pay for long term care but they generally cover very August 2011

little. While Medicaid can cover long term care costs, it is available only to those who qualify. As a welfare program, Medicaid is available only to the most impoverished citizens. It’s also important to note that programs like Medicare and Medicaid have been on the receiving end of many government cutbacks, so the best bet is to understand well ahead of time that savings, long term care insurance and the help of family are the best options to rely on for long term care needs.

The costs associated with long term care vary greatly and often cost $50,000 per year or more. Having a basic understanding of the continuum of care will help you plan. Today, seniors needing assistance or medical treatment have a number of choices, running the gamut from home and community-based care, adult day care, assisted living and skilled nursing care. Each has their own particular niche in the market and each bear different costs. Given that 70 percent of the over-65 population will need to access one or more of these services, it’s a good idea to

get a basic knowledge of the services available in your area and their price.

The Point, which falls under the auspices of the Rhode Island Department of Elderly Affairs, offers a variety of information for seniors and adults with disabilities. Their Community Elder Information Specialists assist with information about programs and services and can be found in communities across the state. A list of specialists can be found on the Point’s website at http://adrc.ohhs.ri.gov/information/info_referral.php. Trade associations like the Rhode Island Assisted Living Association (www.riala.org) or the Rhode Island Health Care Association, which includes most of the state’s nursing homes, (www.rihca.com) provide a list of facilities throughout Rhode Island with address and contact information.

Once you have a basic understanding of the options available to you, you can prepare yourself financially. Savings, long term care insurance, home equity or reverse mortgages and family resources are all options that help to pay for long term

care. Consulting with other family members and planning professionals will help steer you in the right direction.

Beyond that, establishing advance directives, living wills and power of attorney will help your loved ones insure that your wishes are fulfilled should you become unable to render decisions yourself. An attorney can explain these instruments to you. Taking care of these issues well ahead of time should give you and your family peace of mind.

There can be great sacrifices and financial costs to the spouses and children of those using long term care services. Although it’s difficult to think about a time when you may need to rely on someone else, you can alleviate the emotional and financial burdens associated with long term care for both you and your children by planning ahead. ■

PrimeTime | 21

ght business spotlion Victoria Court

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The banner that drapes a tall post as you enter the driveway of Victoria Court says it all: There is no place like home. When faced with the often heart-wrenching decision to move an elderly loved one from the comforts of their own home, there is no better choice than the welcoming, cozy Victoria Court in Cranston. This private-pay, long-term residential home for those living with memory-related impairments such as dementia and/or Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, will help ease that difficult transition and nurture your loved one into a place that will feel as close to home as possible.

Located on Oaklawn Avenue, Victoria Court has 45 private, semi-private or shared suites designed to approximate a small, apartment-like setting. Each suite has a full bathroom, adapted to meet the needs of an aging resident, as well as a small kitchenette (including a sink, small refrigerator and ample storage space). As soon as you walk into the lobby, you find yourself double-checking to be certain you have not mistakenly entered a five-star hotel. Soft comfortable chairs, a baby grand piano and private gathering areas greet you. The smell of delicious food being prepared by Chef Matt Giuseffi wafts through the air, enticing you to enter the nearby dining area. There you will see elegantly set tables waiting for you at each and every meal. You may be tempted to rest here, but do not tarry for long because a lovely, shady and colorful terrace will beckon you outside. Bring the grandchildren â&#x20AC;&#x201C; everyone is welcome here.

The setting and ambience are important when considering this level of care for a cherished family member, but none of these things would matter if it werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t for the sensitive, skilled and loving care provided for your family member here. An attentive and compassionate staff awaits you at Victoria Court, including a full complement of service directors, nurses and therapists. To make your experience more complete, there is also a full-service salon on the premises, to say nothing of the laundry and housekeeping services, and spiritual activities available to all the residents. Every day, you will find Victoria Court residents exercising, enjoying entertainment, or busily engaged in a whole assortment of activities, lovingly tailored to the level of the residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; abilities. A special note for animal lovers considering Victoria Court â&#x20AC;&#x201C; if you can provide the care; you may keep a small pet in your suite. Every effort is made to make this truly a place you can call â&#x20AC;&#x153;homeâ&#x20AC;?.

If you are only looking for an Adult Day Care facility, it may surprise you to know that this comprehensive facility also offers such care from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm on Mondays through Fridays. If you are exploring the option of assisted living, memory care or adult day care, it is easy to contact the loving staff of Victoria Court. Come to 55 Oaklawn Avenue in Cranston for a full tour, or call 946-5522 to speak to director Lillian Jean Delmonico. You may also find the answers to your questions on their website www. pacificaseniorliving.com.

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22 | PrimeTime

August 2011

ght business spotlion Hope Medical Supplies A medical equipment supply company committed to serving you When your independence and mobility depend on the caliber of your medical equipment, you need to find a dealership that is trustworthy, professional, reputable and mostly, well-equipped to meet your needs. Hope Medical Services, located on Reservoir Avenue in Cranston, is just such a supply company. Hope Medical Supplies provides personalized home medical equipment tailored to your healthcare needs. Your satisfaction with their products and their customer care are of paramount importance to the operators of this locally owned company, and they willingly welcome your feedback.

Hope Medical Services offer an extensive range of certified, durable medical equipment, including ambulation aids, bath safety equipment and incontinent care, among others. Amongst their long line of products, you will find wheelchairs, canes, crutches, and walkers (including “rollator” walkers with four wheels and a padded seat). If you need a shower chair, a raised commode, a transfer bench, or grabbing bars to ensure bathroom and bedroom safety, these are readily available as well. Personal items such as underpads, compression stockings, cast protectors and adults briefs are also in stock.

Finally, if the time comes when you need a hospital bed (with a bed wedge, memoryfoam pillow or overbed table) or a Hoyer lift, these can be arranged as well through help of Hope’s attentive and skilled staff.

When you are ready to make necessary purchases, and need some direction, you will be grateful for the personal assistance of one of Hope Medical’s friendly, bilingual and professional team members. Their nurses and customer care specialists participate in a training program to update them on the latest information available in this everevolving field. They will come to your home to assess what your personalized needs are, and will work with you and your insurer to purchase any necessary supplies. They will then deliver your equipment for free, install it and show you how to use it before they leave, alleviating any concerns you may have. Most major insurance companies are billed directly through Hope Medical and the required paperwork is completed so you don’t have to navigate the often complicated process yourself.

Hope Medical Supplies is owned and operated by health care professionals and is a registered dealer of Invacare and Medline. They are an authorized provider for Medicare and Medicaid. They know that their loyal customers depend on them in a way that many who take independence and mobility for granted may not fully understand.

They live by their motto: “If you hope for the best, turn to Hope Medical Supplies.”

You will not be disappointed with their high standards for excellence in service delivery and customer satisfaction.

Hope Medical Supplies is located on 478 Reservoir Avenue in Cranston, right before the ramp to the eastbound Rte. 10. Their store hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. You can also visit their website at www.hopemedicalsuppliesRI.com or for more information, call them at 941-6300 or at hopenursing@msn.com.

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August 2011

PrimeTime | 23

life planning

b y K. Gabriel heiser, esq.

Medicaid Secrets

As we get older, it is almost a certainty that we will need an increasing amount of assistance with our daily activities. According to federal statistics, four out of every 10 people turning age 65 will need nursing home care at some point in their lives, and about 20 percent of these will spend five or more years there.

In Rhode Island, the average nursing home cost is close to $8,000 per month, so you can see that such expenses can rapidly deplete all but the wealthiest among us.

The good news is that it is possible to plan for a long-term nursing home stay by taking advantage of the federal and state laws that govern the Medicaid program. Medicaid is the only government program that will cover 100 percent of a person’s nursing home costs for a long-term stay. Medicare will - at best - only cover you for 100 days, and many of us cannot qualify for private longterm care insurance (though if you can still qualify, you should investigate its coverage and costs).

However, in Rhode Island, Medicaid will only cover you if you have no more than $4,000 in countable assets (a spouse at home can keep an additional $109,650).

Does that mean you must spend the rest of your money before you can qualify for Medicaid coverage?

Well, that’s what the Medicaid authorities may suggest, but they are not in the business of saving you money, any more than the IRS will point out taxsaving techniques for you. There are, in fact, many ways you can protect your assets and position them for the possibility of your requiring long-term nursing home care.

First of all, these assets are all excluded when you apply for Medicaid: pre-paid funeral and burial accounts, one car of any value and all household property and personal effects.

Second, consider establishing an irrevocable income-only trust. If properly drafted, this trust can protect any amount of assets you transfer into it as long as you don’t apply for Medicaid within five years of such transfers.

Third, consider purchasing a “Med-

house for the amount of Medicaid benefits it paid out on your behalf (unless there is a surviving spouse, child under 21 or disabled child). Because of this, you must carefully plan for how the title to your house will pass following your death. Because this can involve creation of deeds, you need to confer with an elder law attorney to ensure you will not lose your home following your death.

As you can see, although nursing home costs are very high, it is still possible to

Protecting assets from nursing home costs icaid annuity,” which is an immediate, fixed, irrevocable annuity with equal monthly payments. Such an annuity is not a countable asset for Medicaid purposes, and purchasing such an annuity is not a gift, so it does not cause a period of disqualification. Such an annuity is typically not purchased until just before you need to apply for Medicaid.

The largest excluded asset is your home.

If you are single, the home is excluded if its equity value is less than $500,000 (and if you are married, it is an unlimited exclusion). However, following the death of the Medicaid recipient, the state may file a claim against the

exhibitors wanted For registration information call Lisa Bronstein American Health Resources, Inc.

508-588-7700

or e-mail lisab@ahrevents.com

24 | PrimeTime

preserve some, if not all, of your assets while still qualifying for Medicaid. Be sure you are well informed about the current rules and regulations before acting on any of the above advice.

K. Gabriel Heiser is an attorney with over 25 years’ experience advising clients on Medicaid planning. He is also author of the book “How to Protect Your Family’s Assets from Devastating Nursing Home Costs: Medicaid Secrets” (www.MedicaidSecrets.com).

He also runs a free forum dedicated to answering your questions about Medicaid planning, at www.

MedicaidSecretsForum.com. ■

ur fall expo!

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your taxes

professional perspective

letters

b y meg che v alier

Are you prepared for a disaster?

to the editor To the Editor:

Planning what to do in case of a disaster is an important part of being prepared. The Internal Revenue Service encourages individuals and businesses to plan ahead and to safeguard themselves against natural disasters by taking a few simple steps.

• Create a backup set of records electronically: Taxpayers should keep a set of backup records in a safe place.

The backup should be stored away from the original set.

Keeping a backup set of records - including, for example, bank statements, tax returns, insurance policies, etc. - is easier now that many financial institutions provide statements and documents electronically, and much financial information is available on the Internet. Even if the original records are provided only on paper, they can be scanned into an electronic format. With documents in electronic form, taxpayers can download them to a backup storage device, like an external hard drive, or burn them to a CD or DVD. • Document valuables: Another step a taxpayer can take to prepare for disaster is to photograph or videotape the contents of his or her home, especially items of higher value. The IRS has a disaster loss workbook, Publication 584, which can help taxpayers compile a room-by-room list of belongings. A photographic record can help an individual prove the market value of items for insurance and casualty loss claims. Photos should be stored with a friend or family member who lives outside the area.

• Update emergency plans: Emergency plans should be reviewed annually. Personal and business situations change over time, as do preparedness needs. When employers hire new employees or when a company or organization changes functions, plans should be updated accordingly and employees should be informed of the changes.

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Saul Ricklin Bristol

• IRS ready to help: If disaster strikes, an affected taxpayer can call 1-866-562-5227 to speak with an IRS specialist trained to handle disaster-related issues. Back copies of previously filed tax returns and all attachments, including Forms W-2, can be requested by filing Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return. Alternatively, transcripts showing most line items on these returns can be ordered online by calling 1-800-908-9946 or by using Form 4506T-EZ, Short Form Request for Individual Tax Return Transcript or Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return. ■

Saint Elizabeth Court

like

• Check on fiduciary bonds: Employers who use payroll service providers should ask the provider if it has a fiduciary bond in place. The bond could protect the employer in the event of default by the payroll service provider.

Gracious, aFForDaBLE assisTED LiViNG

Just

I find it very strange that with all of the great advances in medical technology, no improvements have been made in hospital and medical examination gowns, with the almost impossible to tie strips in the back of the gown, especially for elderly arms and fingers. A simple solution would be Velcro instead of ties.

stelizabethcommunity.com

PrimeTime values the opinions of its readers and wants your feedback -positive and negative.

Whether you want to drop a line of thanks to one of our writers or you disagree with something in the magazine, we want to hear from you. Letters, comments or questions can be sent directly to the editor at MegF@rhodybeat.com or by mail to 1944 Warwick Avenue, Warwick, RI, 02889 I look forward to talking to you soon!

calendar of events A play in one act From Aug. 5 to 28, the Black Box Theatre at the Artists’ Exchange in Cranston will host a One Act Play Festival, showcasing 19 plays over the month of August.

Admission is $15, and all performances are at 7 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. For a complete performance schedule, go to www.artists-exchange. org or call 490-9475.

See the light Take a narrated sightseeing cruise of Narragansett Bay on the 400-passenger Catamaran Millennium. Get an up close look at 10 lighthouses from Wickford to Castle Hill, 10 islands, Fort Adams, waterfront mansions and more.

Advance reservations are recommended, and tours run through Oct. 30. Tickets are $25 for adults, $23 for seniors, $15 for kids ages 4 to 12 and free for other children. To make a reservation, call 295-4040 or go to www.rhodeislandbaycruises.com.

Enjoy RI’s natural beauty Through the end of August, check out the Benjamin Family Environmental Center on the Goosewing Beach Preserve. Admission is free and visitors can take in the spectacular views of the barrier beach and dune, and historic meadowland. Join a walk or view one of the educational exhibits, Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On Saturdays, start your morning with a guided stroll along the coastline. For more information, visit nature.org or call 331-7110.

Must see polo If you’ve never seen a polo match, don’t miss your chance this summer at the Glen Farm Polo Grounds. Pack a picnic and your beverage of choice and cheer on the home team during the Newport International Polo series.

Matches take place every Saturday this month at 5 p.m. The grounds are located at 715 East Main Road in Portsmouth. For a complete schedule of matches, go to www.nptpolo.com or call 846-0200.

August 2011

retirement sparks

senior

b y elaine m . decker

i ss u e s

Downsizing:

Facing the music For many of us, retiring means downsizing. Moving from a big house, reducing its contents, thinning out closets. Retiring can mean having to give up things we’ve owned and loved forever.

The attraction may be illogical, but the more it’s based on sentiment, the harder the decision. For me, downsizing is one of the most difficult aspects of retirement planning. It hits me with a double whammy.

For many years, I was an obsessive collector. I always felt that one of something was lonely and needed a friend.

Once I made the pair, I was sunk.

Because whenever I came across another related item, I was compelled to bring it home to introduce it to the others. You can see how this got out of hand.

Though I’ve managed to curtail the incoming additions, I have a problem

breaking up the families that already live with me. If you haven’t picked up on this already, I have a more serious problem than simply amassing stuff. I anthropomorphize almost everything, no matter how inanimate the object. So my double whammy is that I’m not just breaking up families, I’m parting with my children.

If I’m evaluating two wrought iron floor lamps, trying to decide which stays and which goes, I imagine the one I plan to discard saying, “Why me? Why not him? Why am I not as lovable? Look how interesting MY shade is! Just put a stronger bulb in me, for heaven’s sake!”

Sadly, the lamp may be elegant, but it can’t use those newfangled fluorescent bulbs that look like a strand of DNA on LSD. You try explaining this to a lamp that’s close to 100 years old.

I’ve concluded that the only way to thin out my collections is to get rid of each one in its entirety. This comes with its own problems. Take my collection of figural cookie jars. I know there won’t be room for them in a smaller home.

But as I prepare to sell them, I find myself thinking: “Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy must be priced as a pair.

Can’t split them up,” (even though she’s perfect and he has a chip on his hat.)

And then, “The tortoise and the hare really belong together.” (Nevermind that my brother brought me the turtle from his trip to Guatemala, and the rabbit was made by one of my father’s co-workers in her ceramic class and isn’t even a cookie jar. It just looks like one.) And then, “Chances are, the pig in the farmer’s overalls and the elephant in the sailor suit will appeal to the same buyer. But

wait! That leaves the cat in the French schoolgirl uniform all by herself...”

I naively consider the possibility that somewhere out there is someone as obsessive as I am who will take the entire collection, in tact. Yeah, right.

And maybe someday pigs will fly. But if so, please don’t let him leave without his friend, the elephant. ■

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PrimeTime | 27

PEOPLE AND PLACES

A GLIMPSE OF RI’S PAST h i s t o r y w i t h d o n d ’a m at o

Young William Sprague comes to power When William Sprague III (1799-1856) died of typhoid fever in 1856, the A&W Sprague Company was operating over 3,000 looms, thousands of spindles and was using over 2,000 employees. When he had taken sole control of the company after his brother Amasa was murdered, the enterprise was worth $3 million.

When he died, it was worth $6 million and was on the verge of becoming the world’s largest calico printing company.

This huge textile empire fell into the capable hands of his 26-year-old nephew, William, who along with his brother Amasa and his cousin Byron, made the A&W Sprague Company one of the most powerful businesses in the world during the late 19th century. Both William and his older brother Amasa were given what the family regarded as a good education and were sent to the Irving Institute in Tarrytown, New York, to prepare them for their lives as heirs to the A&W Sprague company fortune. The carefree boyhood days abruptly came to an end when, in l844, Amasa Sprague was brutally murdered.

Young William’s introduction in the company had begun at an early age as after his father, Amasa, was murdered. Young William was called back to Cranston from the Irving Institute at Tarrytown, and placed by his uncle in what was then called the “factory-store.” According to John Russell Bartlett’s “Memoirs of Rhode Island Officers,” written in 1867, he spent a year “dealing out tapes and buttons, pins and needles ... to the crowds of men, women and children who came to make their purchases.”

From the store, we are told, he was sent to the counting house, where after three years of making fires, cleaning lamps and sweeping offices, he was promoted to the position of bookkeeper. When only 22, he became an active participant in the concern.

In addition, the “Congressional Globe and Appendix” tells us that in 1869, Sprague told the United States Senate that he was “thrust into the counting-room, performing its lowest drudgeries, raising himself to all of its highest positions,” and at 26 “was left with the interest under his sole charge.”

By 1860, Sprague told his colleagues, he had given the country “the largest, the best arranged, the most successful and prosperous establishment of the kind in the world.”

With this success coming quickly to William and his partners, the young men were free to pursue their own private dreams as well as the business. Amasa was an ardent sportsman, loved horses and began to acquire some of the finest breeds available. Byron felt he would like to turn Rocky Point in Warwick into a paradise for the very wealthy with a fine hotel and a golf course that would attract the affluent from all over the world. While they pursued these goals, William became more and more interested in a military life.

While still in his teens, William joined the Marine Artillery Company in Providence. When Private Sprague first enlisted in this company, originally composed of seafaring men, he found a weak, deteriorating organization. The members rarely drilled or performed any duties, save parading on public occasions. Within a few years, Sprague injected new spirit into the company. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and then captain, and finally he was made colonel. Once in command of the company, he used his money and influence to create a well-dressed, well-disciplined organization. He paid all the bills and devoted much of his time to his avocation, finally increasing his group to a full battery of light artillery. This seemingly boyhood dream was to later have a profound affect upon his life and that of the state of Rhode Island. ■

28 | PrimeTime

August 2011

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PrimeTime | 29

Korean War 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

Sail away this summer The admission doesn’t come cheap, but for $68, you can aboard one of the America’s Cup 12 Meter yachts for a two-hour afternoon or evening cruise. Cruises run Monday through Sunday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 3 to 5 p.m. Go to www.12metercharters.com or call 851-1216 for details.

A real gem Native Rhode Islander Stephen J. Tierney will present his exhibit, “Nature’s Gems, Jewels and Treasures of the Natural World” at the Museum of Work & Culture through Aug. 28. The exhibit is available for viewing Tuesday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is located at 42 South Main Street in Woonsocket.

For more information, go to www.rihs.org or call 769-9675.

Theatre by the Sea You have until Aug. 13 to sing along with “Hairspray” at Theatre by the Sea. The Tony Award winning musical follows a chubby girl named Tracy Turnblad as she follows her dream of dancing on a popular local television show. For tickets, call 245-1426 or go to www.theatrebythesea.com.

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We’re looking for new members . . .

calendar of events Summer spooks Go to Prospect Terrace Park on Aug. 5 for the Providence Ghost Tour. From 8 to 9:30 p.m., wander the streets of the East Side, hearing stories that will send a chill down your spine. Tickets are $15 online or $18, cash only, in person. More information can be found at www.providenceghosttour. com or call 484-8687.

NAME ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ PHONE __________________________________ ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________ CITY __________________________________ STATE ____________ ZIP ___________________ USE 1 BLOCK FOR EACH LETTER, NUMBER OR PUNCTUATION MARK. LEAVE ONE BLANK BLOCK BETWEEN EACH WORD OR AFTER EACH PUNCTUATION MARK.

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30 | PrimeTime

August 2011

exhibitors wanted r f a u ll expo! o s s i m t ’ n o D

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g n i v Le xi p o

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