Seniorlivingapril2014 by The Heights Leader, Fort Bend Star and The Greensheet

Senior Living APRIL • 2014

Oﬃcial publication of THE LEADER’S Senior Expo

INSIDE • Meet the Heights’ Junction Boy • Mystery of a WWII Purple Heart • Oak Forest’s nonagenarian volunteer • It’s fun (for seniors) at the YMCA • Complete event schedule to The Leader’s 2014 Senior Expo

Page 2 • SENIOR EXPO • April 12 , 2014

Welcome to Senior Living In a way, we want to welcome you to something brand new. Then again, in the pages that follow, we’re offering you something that has been around as long as newspapers have delivered their pages to households around the country. For the ﬁrst time in recent history, The Leader has pulled all of its resources together to focus on the senior citizens who live in our community. We’re not just talking about writing a few stories and selling a few advertisements. We talking about hundreds of hours of staff time devoted to putting together two products that delve into the most important issues facing our seniors. The ﬁrst product is the one you’re holding in your. Senior Living is a publication that tells the stories of seniors who have found excitement in the primes of their lives. Along with personal stories of local seniors, Senior Living also looks at opportunities that abound for citizens who may want to add volunteering or activities to their lives. From the YMCA to MANNA to a host of other local agencies, there are plenty of options for those who want to give back with their time. And then there are topics on quality of life and healthy living. Whether you’re thinking about selling your home, or you want a spark to your marriage, the content in Senior Living is something we believe you can sit back, read and enjoy. But this section has a second purpose, and

it’s one we’re very excited about at The Leader. On April 23, we will host the inaugural Senior Expo, from 9:30-3:30 p.m. at the SPJST Lodge #88 at the intersection of Beall and 15th Street in the Heights. As you read through this publication, you’ll find local businesses who not only have purchased advertisements but will also be present with booths at our Senior Expo. Every business in this publication has a local service they provide to people like you, and they’ve graciously decided to partner with The Leader to put on an event we all believe will be an exciting day for you. In Senior Living, we have combined stories about local people and issues with what you might consider a “program” for our Senior Expo. You’ll find a list of every business planning to attend. You’ll find a map to the Expo, which will show you where every business will be located on the day of the event. And you’ll find descriptions on most of the businesses that will attend. We’re looking forward to April 23, and we hope you are too. If you haven’t registered for The Leader’s 2014 Senior Expo, there’s still time. Call us at (713) 686-8494 and we’ll sign you up. The event is free, and we believe you’ll leave the Expo with information that answers nearly any quality of life question you have.

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Harriet & Joe Foster Famiy YMCA 6

Kotzur, Debbie

Hayes & Wilson, PLLC

MANNA

Prudential Premier Properties

Hampton Inn & Suites

Kroger

Companile

Brookdale Senior Living

Claude’s Pharmacy

Complete Medical Supply

Connect Hearing Dr. Deborah Thomas Eric C. Simon, Edward Jones

7 19 6

Hilbun Law Firm

Lawton, Mark DDS

Pat H. Foley & Co.

St.Joseph Medical Center

Texas Plus

AseraCare Hospice

Carnes Funeral Home

Doctors Express

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Houston City Living

Constable Preceinct 1

6 6

Houston Area Community Services, Inc. (HACS) 8 Houston Highway Credit Union

Lorms, David (Farmers)

Markus Tolson, State Farm

McGlone, Neil ( LegalShield)

Right at Home Metro Houston

Village at the Heights

Will Cooper, Allstate Insurance 19 7 SEAS Water

American Medical ID

Beldon Home Solutions

Champions Urgent Care

CIGNA - Healthspring

Dr. Olga Swanson MD, OB/GYN

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Randall’s Transportation Services 17 Roadnight,Dana

Scott & Associates

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Shady Acres Personal Care Home 18 Waterwise Irrigation

Comm. Cagel’s oﬃce

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Phyllis Oeser

The Pinemont Apartments

Wendy Prater

Kelsey Care Advantage

Harris Health System

Memorial Hermann

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Page 3 • SENIOR EXPO • April 12 , 2014

Come see us at The Leader’s Senior Expo Eric C. Simon Financial Advisor Edward Jones 1343-J W 43rd St Houston, TX 77018 713-956-9419 www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC If You’re Not at Your Last Job, Should Your 401(k) Be? Leaving a 401(k) with a previous employer could mean leaving it alone with no one to review it. At Edward Jones, we can explain options for your 401(k) and help you select the one that’s best for you. If you’d like to roll it over to an Edward Jones Individual Retirement Account (IRA), we can help you do it without incurring taxes or penalties. So you can feel conﬁdent someone is looking out for you and your 401(k). To ﬁnd out why it makes sense to talk with Edward Jones about your 401(k) options, call or visit today.

Specialization, and an Accredited Attorney with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Our services include areas of planning with the elderly, Veterans pensions, estate planning, writing wills, powers of attorney, asset protection and guardianships. We offer guidance with Medicaid and long term care planning. We specialize in probate, estate and trust administration. Our legal services also include planning for retirement, business succession and special needs planning. What’s unique about our firm is our education process that helps you eliminate worry and determine the legal approach to protect your family. Elizabeth presents free workshops regularly that are informative and interesting, as well as light hearted and fun. Elizabeth’s personal mission is to be legal support for families during times that are stressful and overwhelming.

Wendy Prater Attorney at Law 713-802-9171 1919 N. Loop West, Ste. 490 Houston, TX 77008 www.praterlaw.com or praterlaw@sbcglobal.net Wendy Prater is a native Houstonian, having graduated from St. Pius X High School, Baylor University, and Baylor University School of Law. She is active with the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo currently serving as Division Chairman on the Directions and Assistance Committee. Wendy enjoys handling probate matters and drafting wills and powers of attorney. She is also available to assist with all types of family law matters, including divorce, child support, modiﬁcations, paternity cases, name changes, adoptions and other legal needs. Having grown up in the area, and in the same location since 1992, Wendy wants to be your neighborhood attorney. Someone you can count on to trust with your legal matters. Give her a call to see how she can assist you. Credit cards accepted.

Debbie Kotzur The Clark/Kotzur Real Estate Team Re/Max Metro 713-822-4951 cell 713-528-1800 oﬃce The Clark/Kotzur Real Estate Team with RE/MAX Metro is waiting to help you with all of your real estate needs. RE/MAX is an established industry leader and just celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 2013. RE/MAX is looking ahead to even greater real estate achievements in the years to come. Whether you’re in the home buying process or looking to sell, choose a RE/MAX agent – The Clark/Kotzur Team. You will have a real estate agent for life. Mike Clark and Debbie Kotzur are constantly striving to make sure that all your real estate wants, needs or concerns are taken care of. We are there for you from start to ﬁnish and even after! Double the experience, double the exposure.

Houston Area Community Services, Inc. (HACS) 2150 W. 18th St., Suite 300 Houston, TX 77008 Houston Area Community Services (HACS) was established in 1998 as a not-for-proﬁt 501(c)3

The Leader’s inaugural 2014 Senior Expo will be held Wednesday, April 23, at the SPJST Lodge #88 on Beall and 15th Street. health and human services organization to provide affordable, quality medical care, a pharmacy, behavioral health services and living assistance to individuals and families residing in Harris County and the surrounding areas. We accept Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and Most Private Insurances. Our Women’s Center offers the full array of women’s obstetrical and gynecological services that include breast and cervical cancer screenings, ultra sounds and X-ray services. For more information visit our website www.hacstxs. org or call us directly for an appointment at 713-426-0027. Kroger The Kroger Southwest Division operates 211 stores, 202 pharmacies and 113 fuel centers in Texas and Louisiana and is part of one of the nation’s largest retail grocery chains serving customers in 31 states. For more than 125 years, Kroger has emphasized a customer-first approach to providing quality products, value pricing, outstanding service and an

exceptional shopping experience. Headquartered in Cincinnati, the supermarket retailer is dedicated to making a diﬀerence in the communities it serves by supporting hunger relief, education, health and wellness, and diversity programs. Resulting from the retailer’s philanthropic commitment, Forbes magazine lists Kroger as the most generous company in America. Additionally, customers can help their favorite charity raise money with the Kroger Community Rewards Program, a quick and easy way for schools, churches, and nonproﬁts earn a percentage of $1.5 million donated annually in Texas and Louisiana. For more information about Kroger, please visit www.kroger. com, Facebook or Twitter. Campanile on Justice Park 39 Justice Park Dr. Houston, TX 77092 713-681-6666 Campanile on Justice Park is a lovely brand new, luxury 55 and better community. We are

currently leasing and searching for active independent seniors on a fixed income. Our apartment homes are leasing fast. Call 713681-6666 if you are interested in see/leasing at our community with rents as low as $668 to $792. Water, sewer, trash and pest control is included. Granite, faux wood floors throughout, washer and dryer included, resident activities and events, movie theater, resort style pool, butterfly garden, and business center with five computers. LegalShield Neil McGlone Independent Associate 832-547-7040 LegalShield: Quality legal and identity theft protection for you and your family Over the past 30 years, we’ve chosen some of the finest law firms throughout North America to serve our members. Your law firm is carefully selected for their philosophy, size and ability to provide you with caring, responsive legal services when you need them most. Additionally, all our

law ﬁrms are paid in advance, so instead of worrying about billing you, our attorneys are waiting to serve you. Call about whatever you want. It’s that easy. It’s LegalShield. Identity Theft Experts Kroll Advisory Solutions, our ID Theft protection partner, is the largest fraud solutions provider in North America, with more than 3,700 licensed investigators who totally restore your identity to pre-breach status should you become a victim of Identity Theft. Just one phone call and Kroll investigators go to work for you, eliminating the worry, stress, hassle and extensive time required to solve these issues. Elizabeth S. Hilbun The Hilbun Law Firm, P.C. 12527 Cypress N. Houston Cypress, TX 77429 281-955-9292 The Hilbun Law Firm has been serving the Houston and Cypress community since 1992. Elizabeth S. Hilbun is Board Certiﬁed in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal

The Hampton Pinegate Brookdale Senior Living 2121 Pinegate Dr. Houston, TX 77008 713-861-9952 www.brookdale.com We are all aging; some of us never stop living. So when the time comes to determine how you or your loved one will spend

See BUSINESSES, P. 4

Page 4 • SENIOR EXPO • April 12 , 2014

BUSINESSES, from P. 3 their later years in life, you’ll have questions – Will I be heard? Will I be forgotten? How can I stay active? How can I just be her daughter again? What do we do next? What do I do to keep on living my life? The Hampton is a senior community designed to help those who need assistance with daily activities such as bathing, dressing and administering needed medication. We also offer transportation, social activities, and on-site wellness/rehabilitation when needed. Just like family, we provide the extra assistance you may need with your daily activities, while helping you maintain privacy, dignity and independence. The Pinemont Apartments 6000 Pinemont Dr. Houston, TX 77092 713-957-4430 www.thepinemontapartments.org Age 62 or over? Apply Now. The Pinemont Apartments, Inc. provides subsidized housing for the elderly or adults over 18 with the need for an architecturally accessible unit. Efficiency apartments for those who qualify may be available within six months or less. Applications are processed in date and time order with rent based on 30 percent of your income/assets. Proof of age and income is required. The Pinemont is a non-smoking facility. The owner does not discriminate against persons with disabilities. Let’s Travel Together 5800 Lumberdale, Suite 13 Houston, TX 77092 713-681-4001 www.letstraveltogether.com Do you have unfulfilled travel dreams? Pull out your “Travel Bucket List.” Don’t wait any longer -- act now. Call the Let’s Travel Together Team -- Melodye, Cheryl and Rebecca and together they can help you plan and prioritize those travel dreams. They are a premier Aussie specialist. Our team offers: • Experienced world travel • Friendly respectful service • Focus on your style, interests and budget • Highly competitive pricing • Attention to details to provide “worry free” travels • We have many ideas and suggestions • Our services start from the first consultation until you return home from your travels

individualized care- plan for her patients that may include conservative options, medical treatments, alternative treatments, as well as minimally invasive surgical techniques. She has a strong dedication to preventive care as well. Dr Swanson specializes in treating patients with pelvic ﬂoor prolapse, incontinence, sexual dysfunction, hormonal imbalance/menopause, vaginitis, and pelvic pain.

• We love and appreciate our clients • Referrals from our happy clients are available Stephanie L. Taylor Hayes & Wilson, PLLC 1235 N. Loop West, Ste. 907 Houston, TX 77008 713-880-3939 www.hayeswilsonlaw.com Estate planning, probate, special needs planning, and other asset protection matters can be complicated and stressful, but they do not need to be. With the help of the experienced legal team of Hayes & Wilson, you can rest assured that your wealth is being passed on properly, and that everything is well in hand. Whatever assistance you need to plan for your family’s future, to resolve probate and care issues now, our firm supports and guides you. We help you develop a tailored, comprehensive estate plan, complete with wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives and other appropriate instruments. All of our attorneys share a strong dedication to our clients. When you work with our firm, we will take the time to listen to you, understand your asset protection goals, and answer your questions. Using extensive knowledge and compassion, we help every client plan well to provide them with peace of mind. Dana Roadnight Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan 5050 Westheimer , Ste. 200 Houston, TX 77056 832-215-4824 dana@roadnightrealty.com www.roadnightrealty.com Dana Roadnight, a realtor with Keller Williams Realty, brings an extensive background of 15 years in sales and negotiation. Having lived in Houston for 13 years, Dana has obtained a wealth of knowledge of its neighborhoods as well as foresight into up and coming areas. Dana provides the highest standards of quality and integrity in residential property advisory services. Her reputation for uncompromising professionalism in everything she does is earned by serving her clients and earning their trust. Dana offers a personable professional service advising clients ranging from homeowners, buyers, private investors to major developers, putting innovation and passion for property at the heart of everything she does and striving to go the extra mile to

The Pinemont Apartments, 6000 Pinemont Dr., is a 62+ community. They’ll have a booth at the The Leader’s Senior Expo on April 23. exceed her clients’ expectations. If you want to know how much your home is worth, please ask for a free complementary market analysis. Go to www.RoadnightRealty.com to ﬁnd out more information. Phyllis A. Oeser 4001 N. Shepherd, #121 Houston, TX 77018 713-692-0300 Phyllis A. Oeser began training for her legal career when she popped into this world in Monticello, Ark., as the fourth child of a farmer/carpenter and homemaker. She honed her negotiating skills and killer instincts while growing up with her older brothers and sister. In 1977, Phyllis moved to Houston. In 1984, she attended Southwestern Paralegal Institute. In 1989, she graduated from the University of Houston, at Clear Lake with a BA in American Jurisprudence and began attending South Texas College of Law at night while working full-time, graduating in 1994. It took many years of working and attending school at night for Phyllis to achieve her goal of becoming an attorney. As she has always stated “Press on! Nothing in the world can take the place of

persistence!” Phyllis assists her clients in wills, probate, estate planning, real estate and some other general civil matters. The goal is to oﬀer her clients personalized service at aﬀordable rates. Phyllis’ approach to being an attorney is to be a problem solver. Hard work and perseverance are the key to her achievements and the backbone of her practice. Phyllis understands how it is to work long and hard in life and people should make sure what they have accumulated through their hard work is preserved and is distributed to the people they desire to receive it. Phyllis believes in taking the time to visit with and get to know her clients as this allows her to better serve their needs. If you ever need legal assistance, Phyllis hopes you will give her that opportunity. Come by and visit with her and her assistant, Darlene Funderburke. Nadia Troutenko Troutenko Insurance Services 3318 Tanglewilde Ave. Houston, TX 77063 713 789-3196 troutenko@sbcglobal.net TexanPlus specializes in Medicare Advantage plans. The

goal of those plans is to help you stay active, live healthy and be independent. In our plans, you’ll work closely with a Primary Care Physician from our doctor-built network to manage your care and coordinate your treatment. Our simple, all-in-one plans are affordable and provide the coverage you want – including more benefits than Original Medicare and plans offering Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. Dr. Olga Swanson Preferred Gynecology 427 W. 20th St., Ste. 209 Houston, TX 77008 713-485-4302 Preferred Gynecology provides cutting edge care in the convenience of a private office, in your community. A commitment to undivided attention to Gynecological care without the unpredictable physician emergencies associated with obsteric care, that often lead to cancelled gynecologic office visits. Dr Olga Swanson MD FACOG has extensive experience with the DaVinci Surgical System, which allows her unique microsurgical precision, allowing her patients are able to benefit from a speedy recovery and minimal post-operative pain. She is a believer in developing an

Houston Highway Credit Union 8120 Washington Ave. Houston, TX 77007 713-864-4438 www.houstonhighwaycu.com Houston Highway Credit Union is a full-service financial institution that can put you on The Road to Financial Success. We offer products and services that meet the needs of our members throughout their lives. Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, or worships within 10 miles of our branch location on Washington Avenue. We would love to serve you and your family with products like FREEway Checking, Savings Accounts, Money Market Accounts, Certificates of Deposit, and Loan products for New and Used Auto Loans, Personal Loans, RV Loans and more. Plus, we offer a wide range of free money management services, called me-SERVICE$ that allow you to keep track of your finances by phone, computer, smartphone, or tablet anytime 24/7. We believe in the benefits of Credit Union Membership, and we work to maintain personal service and efficiency for you and your entire family. R. Jack Cagle Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner 1731 Hugh Rd. Houston, TX 77067 281-893-3726 www.hcp4.net/senioradultprogram Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner R. Jack Cagle is committed to providing mature adults with special services through the Precinct 4 Senior Adult Program and its nonprofit organization Fun4Seniors. These services include: • Community center classes, programs, and activities • Educational and recreational activities • Information, referral, and outreach services • Special events including free and discounted tickets

See BUSINESSES, P. 12

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Former Oak Forest residents enjoy living independently By Julia Pena For The Leader

Earl and Emma Cooke are 93 and 90, and still living independently. Although, they have

moved to the suburbs of Houston, they were both lively characters in Oak Forest for almost 35 years. They met at St. James Lutheran Church as widow and widower, and eloped in

He went off to Europe to ﬁght against Germany’s Nazi regime. While there, Earl saw Belgium, Poland, Germany, and the beaches of Normandy. He said it was an honor to serve. Earl’s favorite decade was the 1960s, a time of vast self-expression and growth of the middle class. He lived the American Dream during his time in Oak Forest. Emma, once married to a World War II pilot, used to be very involved in Oak Forest.

1998. Emma used to sing in the merry choir at St. James, and Earl was a dedicated churchgoer for nearly 20 years. Earl moved to the Oak Forest area almost 55 years ago with his ﬁrst wife, Gloria. and became President of the Shepherd Forest Civic Club. He’s seen the community change with the recent spurt in real estate activity. Earl studied at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago but had to put his education on hold to serve his country in World War II.

Since opportunities back then were limited for women, Emma took advantage of the role of motherhood and dedicated herself to raising her daughter. That is why the 1950s were Emma’s favorite decade, because it was the most eventful chapter in her life. Emma also liked to go out to the trendiest restaurants and have a good laugh with her friends — I guess one could say she was a bit of an Oak Forest socialite. Both Emma and Earl experienced extreme sorrow

when their longtime spouses passed away. But they attended St. James, and found comfort in each other. Even after all these years, they are still married and living on their own. If Earl and Emma could give advice to all of those younger than them it would be to put forth your best effort. Julia Pena is a junior at Waltrip High School

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Heights Senior Expo ad_Layout 1 4/4/14 11:24 AM Page 1

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Page 8 • SENIOR EXPO • April 12 , 2014

The Purple Heart — Lost memories ﬁnd return By Michael Sudhalter michael@theleadernews.com

Stuart Vaughn was sifting through the items in the attic of the Shepherd Park Plaza home he and his wife, Margaret, had just purchased in the summer of 2010. It was one of those August days that Houstonians begrudgingly tolerate. Hot and sticky. Even more so, in an attic. But the Vaughns managed to ﬁnd joy that day in an unexpected discovery – a box that included a Purple Heart from World War II, accompanied by military documents and wartime letters. “It was heart-wrenching and exhilarating at the same time,” Stuart said. “This is the leaves dropping off a family’s life.” The Purple Heart was posthumously awarded to Guy Norris, a public teacher from

Shepherd Park Plaza residents Stuart and Margaret Vaughn discovered a Purple Heart and other World War II-related items in a box when they moved into their home four years ago. With The Leader’s help, the couple was able to contact the nephew of the late soldier who posthumously earned the medal. They sent it to the soldier’s nephew in Ohio last week. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter)

Belmont County, Ohio was killed when a German U-Boat torpedoed an American ship en route to the Battle of the Bulge on Christmas Eve 1944. The tragedy resulted in the

death of 700 plus American military personnel. Norris’ widow, Helen Norris, didn’t receive conﬁrmation See Purple Heart, P. 9

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Guy Norris, a public school teacher from Belmont County, Ohio, was posthumously awarded the above Purple Heart in 1945 after he was killed while serving in World War II. A Shepherd Park Plaza family found the Purple Heart in their home and sent it to Norris’ 81-year-old nephew in Ohio last week. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter)

Page 9 • SENIOR EXPO • April 12 , 2014

Celebrating 94th at MANNA By Elizabeth Villareal elizasgarden@outlook.com

The Leader area is full of neighbors making a difference on a daily basis, quietly working each day behind the scenes to make the world a better place. And longtime Oak Forest resident Val Smith is one of them. Smith, who celebrated her 94th birthday on March 31, is a tall, lovely lady you will ﬁnd behind the cash register at MANNA at W. 43rd St. and Rosslyn. While she volunteers there as head cashier at least four days a week, Val also volunteers at Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital a few days a week as well. Besides her remarkably full volunteer schedule, which she began with both the hospital and MANNA in the same month 24 years ago. Valora Smith was born in 1920 near in Oldenburg – a small town between Houston and Austin – back in the day when families were still making their own soap, growing their own vegetables, and sewing their own clothes. Smith was the middle sibling in a family of four children; she was raised with an older brother and younger twin brothers. She said that back in that era, neighbors knew one another well and supported each other in many ways. Smith has obviously carried that ethic along with her throughout her life and her volunteerism is a wonderful example of her love for her neighbors. Having volunteered for long stints in both Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital’s cardiac rehab center and outpatient testing center, Smith has

that her husband had died until almost four months later. She continued to write him letters during that time, hoping that he was still alive somewhere. “I love Guy so very much,” Helen wrote. “God please bring Guy home.” Ironically, the Purple Heart was issued to Mr. Norris on the couple’s fourth wedding anniversary. After the war, she re-married a bricklayer named Herb Witsaman and moved to Houston with him. The Vaughns said none of the neighbors knew that Helen Norris Witsaman, who passed away during the 1980s, had been married before. They didn’t know if Vaughn had opened the box while she had lived in the home. The box contained a certificate from the U.S. Army, honoring Norris’ Purple Heart as well as several letters of correspondence between the couple. There were a number of - Stuart Vaughn photos included as well. “It’s something tangible,” Stuart said. “It’s not tweets and e-mails. The foundation of this country is built on men like (Guy Norris).” While fascinated by what they had found, the Vaughns tried to find a surviving relative of Guy or Helen. They’d also considered sending it to the school where Mr. Norris had been a teacher. They contacted The Leader last month and went through the collection in the box. A pair of items related to the Norris’ 1941 wedding showed evidence of two children who were witnesses to the nuptials. Those children, Dolores and Junior Rumskey, were believed to be Helen’s niece and nephew, respectively, and that was later confirmed. The children were 10 and 8 years old, respectively, in 1941. After meeting with the Vaughn’s, Leader editor Michael Sudhalter did a google search for Dolores Rumskey in Ohio. A 1940 census showed that her brother’s name is Lawrence Rumskey Jr. Dolores Rumskey has passed away, but Lawrence Jr. is 81 years old and lives in Twinsburg, Ohio with his wife, Elaine. Sudhalter contacted the Rumskeys and put them in touch with the Vaughns. The Rumskeys didn’t know that such family history still existed, but they gladly accepted the Vaughns’ offer to have the box sent to them.

“It was heart-wrenching ... This is the leaves dropping oﬀ a family’s life.”

Oak Forest resident Val Smith, who volunteers at MANNA and Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital, celebrated her 94th birthday on March 31 with friends and family at MANNA. (Photo By Michael Sudhalter)

also worked in just about every other volunteer position possible at the hospital and has touched many lives, including those of the doctors and staff there, including Lindsay Barber, Manager of Volunteer Services. “Val is not only helping the patients and I know that’s what she loves to do. but the staff loves her, too,” Barber said. “She is like another employee and they’ve come to depend upon her. She is the most consistent volunteer we have and I can count on her for anything. It is rare to get feedback on employees and volunteers, but people who come here for possibly the worst

day in their life are going home and writing a note or sending me an email to acknowledge Val’s outstanding customer service and ability to make them feel comfortable. She goes above and beyond she’s all we could ever ask for. She’s a huge asset to the hospital and we adore her.” Evelyn Yurgensen of MANNA enjoys working alongside Smith. “Her kind manner makes her a wonderful leader and one just automatically wants to please her,” Yurgensen said. “The dedication to her volunteer positions is hard to emulate. She displays a wisdom

Volunteering Makes a Difference in the Lives of the Young and the Young at Heart St. Joseph Medical Center accepting applications for Junior and Adult Volunteer Programs When you walk into almost any hospital, one of the first faces you are likely to see greeting you from behind a desk might belong to volunteer. Hospital volunteers provide invaluable services to patients, visitors and staff and in turn, volunteers have the opportunity to give back to their communities, meet new people and help bring a smile to everyone they encounter. Each April, hospitals across the nation celebrate National Volunteer Week and

Purple Heart, from P. 8

this year, St. Joseph Medical Center (SJMC), is not only recognizing their current volunteers, but is also actively seeking new volunteers for both their junior and adult programs. Opportunities are available at the main campus located Downtown on St. Joseph Parkway as well as SJMC in the Heights on Ashland Street. Anyone interested in becoming a SJMC volunteer must be able to commit to a minimum of four hours of service each week. Many volunteers choose to come

in on multiple days, but that is not required. Volunteers currently serve in many areas of the hospital including: information desks, spiritual care, human resources, waiting areas, emergency department, our womenís medical center, medical staﬀ oﬃce and medical records, to name a few. They can also be found making items for newborns, delivering reading materials to patients and escorting visitors throughout the campus.

Page 10 • SENIOR EXPO • April 12 , 2014

FBA performance helps editor remember grandparents Genocide, fear and extreme discrimination are difficult things for adults to examine. That’s what made the March 28 performance of “The Hiding Place” by First Baptist Academy students so amazing. The students, between fifth and eighth grades, showed depth and understanding far beyond their years in portraying how faith, hope and love was present in some courageous families during one of the darkest periods in the history of the world. “The Hiding Place” is the true story of Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch woman whose family risked their own lives to hide Jewish people during the Nazi Holocaust. First Baptist drama director Wayne Cherry Jr. knew it would take a special group of actors and actresses to perform a play with such a heavy subject matter. And he credited this group with handling it well. They did. Their performance was on par with many high school productions I’ve seen in the past. Corrie and her sister, Betsie ten Boom, were imprisoned, and then sent to an extermination camp, for their actions when the Nazis discovered what the ten Boom’s helped the Jewish people. While suffering in the camp, the sisters turned to their faith to find strength. Betsie died in the camp, but Corrie survived and told their story until she passed away at age 91 in 1983. The subject matter struck a personal note with me. My maternal grandparents,

MICHAEL SUDHALTER Editor

Rose and Nathan Murra, were Polish Jews, born in the early 1920s. For many generations, their families were dedicated to their Polish homeland, and according to family lore, Nathan’s father was awarded a medal by the Polish Army during World War I. My grandparents were just teenagers when Nazi Germany invaded Poland. All of their family members were murdered at the hands of the Nazis, with their belongings seized and destroyed. My grandparents spent time in several extermination camps. Like the ten Booms, their faith and determination played an important role in their survival. Long story short – they miraculously survived the camps, relocated to the Boston area, opened a successful bakery, put three children through college and lived to enjoy their ﬁve grandchildren. Traumatic experiences affect everyone differently. My grandfather’s memories were too painful to share. My grandmother felt it was necessary to speak about the pain, so she could continue the message of “Never Again” when it comes to the horrors of genocide. She spoke of the impor-

See SUDHALTER P.17

Elderly people must take precautions in the heat, especially in a city like Houston where heat is a serious problem.

Staying safe in the heat

Many people might choose a nice, hot day over a blustery, cold afternoon. However, excessively hot days can not only feel uncomfortable, but they can also prove lifethreatening. Elderly men and women, in particular, are susceptible to the effects of hot temperatures. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people ages 65 and older are more prone to heat stroke and heat-related stress than those of other ages. Seniors’ bodies are not able to adjust to sudden changes in temperature as quickly as younger people’s. A chronic condition that affects the body’s response to heat, as well as taking certain prescription medications also may play a role in seniors’ susceptibility to the heat. The City of Sacramento Department of Parks and

Recreation says that around 370 deaths from heat-related illnesses occur across the United States each year. Nearly half of those deaths are people who are 65 and older. Prolonged heat exposure can take quite a toll on the average person. Factor in the more delicate health of many seniors, and the hot weather can be quite dangerous. Further compounding the problem is higher energy costs. Seniors living on ﬁxed incomes may not be able to afford to turn on air conditioners because of the power draw. There are different types of heat-related injuries, though heat exhaustion and heat stroke are the most common. Here are signs that a person may be experiencing one or the other.

Heat Exhaustion * weakness * tiredness * heavy sweating * paleness * dizziness * nausea * vomiting * fainting * fast, weak pulse rate * headache * fast and shallow breathing Heat stroke * extremely high body temperature (over 105 F) * red, hot and dry skin * absence of sweat * throbbing headache * dizziness * nausea What to do Friends or family members should check in with an elderly relative or friend when the weather is especially warm to

ensure they’re safely handling the heat. In addition, people of all ages can take the following precautions to keep cool when the temperatures rise. * Drink cool, nonalcoholic beverages. Water and diluted fruit juices can help rehydrate the body quickly. * Restrict physical activity. * Take a cool shower or bath or wipe yourself down with a damp cloth. * Seek an air-conditioned environment. For those who won’t or can’t turn on the air conditioning, visit a shopping mall or library to keep cool. Some towns and cities also make cooling centers available in extreme heat. * Wear lightweight clothing. * Try to remain indoors during the hottest hours of the day.

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Page 12 • SENIOR EXPO • April 12 , 2014

BUSINESSES, from P. 4 • Transportation to day trip locations • Volunteer opportunities Precinct 4 partners with more than 400 senior adult groups including churches, civic associations, gardening clubs and community service organizations. Participants ages 50 and older enjoy a variety of ongoing activities such as festivals, museums, plays, concerts, theatrical and sporting venues, and day trip destinations within a 150-mile radius from Houston. For more information, please call the Senior Adult Program at 281-893-3726 Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the website at www.hcp4.net/senioradultprogram. Right at Home In Home Care and Assistance 6300 W. Loop S., Ste. 410 Bellaire, TX 77401 713-838-0100 www.houstonrah.com We are an in-home personal care and assistance agency that

provides private duty caregivers for seniors and disabled adults, as well as adults requiring caregivers to assist them with activities of daily living, companionship, or respite care for family members. We have seven locations in the Houston metropolitan area as well as more than 300 locations that serve tens of thousands of clients across the United States, Canada, the UK, Brazil, Ireland and China. Right at Home is one of the largest, most reputable, providers of quality non-medical home care companies in the world since 1995. While we have multiple locations, each oﬃce is licensed, and independently owned and operated; assuring that every client receives a personal touch. We do everything we can to attract and retain the very best private caregivers in the city. All of our caregivers must pass a rigorous background and screening process before they are hired and come into contact with any of our clients. Once on

board, they are covered under our liability insurance and bonded for our client’s safety and protection. We also handle all of their taxes and workers’ compensation insurance. Caregivers receive ongoing training from the Right at Home University courses they are required to complete regularly. We make it simple for our clients to trust that any caregiver they receive in their home (wherever they call home) from Right at Home is providing quality care, and is trustworthy, and reliable. Right at Home understands that independence is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. We tailor in-home care to individual needs, including: • Companionship for an afternoon • A helping hand with laundry, groceries and other errands • Personal care assistance with grooming/bathing • Monitoring of medications and medication reminders •Assistance with doctor visits and follow-up care Memorial Hermann Northwest 713-222-CARE(2273)

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As a full-service 260-bed hospital located at the intersection of 610 North and Ella Boulevard, Memorial Hermann Northwest runs one of the busiest Emergency Centers in Houston, recently ﬁnishing a major expansion and renovation designed to help expedite patient care. Approximately 52,000 patients pass through the doors of the Emergency Center each year, and many are admitted to the 260-bed hospital, which been recognized nationally and regionally for its quality and safety record, Best in Texas Quality Award from the TMF Health Quality Institute and Healthgrades America’s 50 Best Hospitals Award for the ﬁfth consecutive year (together with Memorial Hermann Southeast, Memorial Hermann Southwest and Memorial Hermann The Woodlands hospitals). The hospital’s Chest Pain Center is accredited by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care, which developed the accreditation process to ensure accurate diagnosis and fast treatment of patients with symptoms of heart attack. The hospital also includes a

Cancer Center, accredited Joint Center, an outpatient Wound Care Center, outpatient Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation clinic and many more specialty services. Harris Health System 2525 Holly Hall, Ste. 120 713-566-6487 harrishealth.org Harris Health System is the region’s most progressive healthcare system for the nation’s third most populous county, and is staﬀed by faculty and residents from nationally ranked medical schools, Baylor College of Medicine and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). Harris Health is the recipient of the prestigious National Committee for Quality Assurance designation for its network of patient-centered medical homes. Harris Health comprises three hospitals, 16 community health centers, 14 homeless shelter clinics, six school-based clinics, ﬁve mobile health units, two multi-specialty ambulatory clinics, a dialysis center and a freestanding dental center. In 2013,

Harris Health had nearly 37,000 hospital admissions, delivered 7,662 babies, and provided care for more than 1.7 million total outpatient visits. On a typical day in Harris Health, a baby is born every 1 hour and 15 minutes, 488 people are seen and treated in our emergency centers, 100 patients are admitted for hospitalization, and nearly 2,800 people receive primary or specialty care through a network of clinics and health centers located throughout the community. To “improve the community’s health by delivering high quality healthcare to Harris County residents,” the system is committed to operating a clinically balanced platform, improving processes, promoting the use of its health centers, creating same-day clinics, reducing competition for services and redesigning service areas to maximize available resources. To accomplish this, Harris Health is focused on doing the right work, in the right place, at the right time, with the right

See BUSINESSES, P. 15

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For more information, call 713-744-8670, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in your local time zone (TTY users call 711) 7 days a week. 1Tier 1 and Tier 2 as deﬁned in the plan’s drug list. 2Medicare-approved lab work. TexanPlus® HMO is a Health plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in

TexanPlus® HMO depends on contract renewal. The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. You may enroll in the plan only during specific times of the year unless you qualify for a Special Election Period (SEP) or Initial Coverage Election Period (ICEP). By calling the number provided, you are contacting a licensed agent of TexanPlus® HMO. Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated each year and may change from one year to the next. Y0067_LM_SEPGENDM_0314 CMS Accepted 03/24/2014

Page 13 • SENIOR EXPO • April 12 , 2014

Yoga not just for youngsters Yoga is big business, attracting more and more people each year. Designed to promote physical and mental health, yoga has helped millions of people across the globe control their stress and improve their ﬂexibility, and studies have shown that yoga is only growing in popularity. According to a study conducted by the Harris Interactive Service Bureau, roughly 20 million Americans practiced yoga in 2012, marking a 29 percent increase from just four years earlier. Yoga can pay numerous dividends for the over 50 crowd.

• Yoga can help alleviate hypertension. Also known as high blood pressure, hypertension is a potentially dangerous condition that makes the heart work harder to pump blood to the body. Hypertension contributes to a hardening of the arteries known as atherosclerosis, and can even contribute to the development of heart failure. A person’s risk of developing hypertension increases as he or she ages, so it’s important that men and women over 50 take steps to reduce their risk of hypertension, and yoga can help them do just that. The study’s

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authors feel that the slow, controlled breathing that’s essential to practicing yoga decreases nervous system activity, helping the body manage its blood pressure levels. • Yoga helps practitioners maintain healthy weights. While yoga may not help men and women shed weight as effectively as more vigorous activities, it can help them maintain healthy weights. Many men and women over 50 ﬁnd vigorous or strenuous physical activity too demanding, and might not be able to perform such activities with the frequency necessary to prevent

weight gain. • Yoga promotes strong bones. Osteoporosis is a medical condition in which tissue loss leads to brittle and fragile bones. Aging is a signiﬁcant risk factor for osteoporosis, and women are at even greater risk than men. The National Osteoporosis Foundation notes that women can lose up to 20 percent of their bone mass in the ﬁve to seven years after menopause, so it’s important that women (and men) take steps to strengthen their bones. The nature of yoga makes it an ideal activity to promote healthy bones.

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Page 14 • SENIOR EXPO • April 12 , 2014

Things to consider before downsizing your home Once their kids have left the nest, many men and women over 50 begin to consider downsizing their homes. Downsizing to a smaller home can be beneficial for a variety of reasons, including less home to clean and maintain, more affordable utility bills and lower property taxes. But the decision to downsize is rarely black and white, and men and women often struggle with that decision. Perhaps the most difficult part of the decision of whether or not to downsize to a smaller home concerns the sentimental attachment many homeowners, especially those with children, have to their homes. The home might be too big for your current needs, but it also was the same place where your son took his first steps and where your daughter lost her first tooth. Saying goodbye to a place that was home to so many memories isn’t easy.

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This information is available for free in other languages. Please contact our Customer Service number at 1-800-846-2098 (TTY 711), 7 days a week, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Esta información está disponible de forma gratuita en otros idiomas. Favor de contactar a nuestro Departamento de servicio al cliente llamando al 1-800-846-2098 (TTY 711), 7 días de la semana, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Cigna-HealthSpring is contracted with Medicare for HMO, PPO and PDP plans and with select State Medicaid programs. Enrollment in Cigna-HealthSpring depends on contract renewal. ©2013 Cigna Y0036_13_8806 Accepted 07082013

But there’s more than just sentimental value to consider when deciding whether or not to downsize. Personal finances Your financial situation merits significant consideration when deciding if the time is right to downsize your home. If your retirement nest egg is not as substantial as you would like it to be, then it would seem as though downsizing to a smaller, more affordable home is a great opportunity for you to start catching up on your retirement savings. But that’s only true if your new home won’t incur any additional expenses that are already taken care of in your current home. For example, your current home may be fully furnished, while a new, smaller home may require you to buy all new furniture because your existing items simply won’t fit. The cost of such furnishings can

be considerable. If you plan to move into a condominium, you can expect to pay monthly homeowners association fees, and such fees are often substantial. So while the condo itself might be smaller, the additional expenses associated with the property may end up making the smaller home more expensive. Real estate market There are seller’s markets and there are buyer’s markets, and ideally you would like to sell your home in a seller’s market. But keep in mind that this might be the same market in which you hope to buy a new home. The nature of the real estate market depends on a host of factors, including geography. If the city or town where you currently live is in the midst of a seller’s market and you are planning on moving to a location where buyers have the upper hand, then now

might be a great time to move. But if you currently live in a buyer’s market and hope to move to a seller’s market, then you may end up paying a steep price, even when downsizing to a smaller home. Things may even themselves out if you want to downsize to a smaller home within your current community, but do your homework nonetheless, researching the time of year when you’re most likely to get the most for your home and ﬁnd the best deal on your next place. The advantage men and women considering downsizing have is that they are rarely in a rush to move out of their current home and into their next one. This gives them ample time to make the real estate market work for them. Downsizing a home is something many men and women over 50 consider after their children have moved out. Such a decision is rarely easy.

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Page 15 • SENIOR EXPO • April 12 , 2014

Heights native recalls inﬂuence of Bear Bryant By Michael Sudhalter michael@theleadernews.com

During the drought-influenced summer of 1954, a young Texas A&M football coach named Paul “Bear” Bryant wasn’t Heights native Bob Easley’s favorite person in the world. Bryant, who was 40 years old that summer, was still seven years away from the first of his six national championships. Bryant’s summer training camp in Junction, on the west tip of the Texas Hill Country, has been etched into college football lore by Jim Dent, who wrote the “Junction Boys,” the true story of how a take-noprisoners football camp. There were long practices in the hot sun, where players’ only hydration was a single lick from a wet towel. As described in the book, one player nearly died from the difficult conditions. One hundred and twenty players started the camp, and only 30 finished, with Easley, a 1951 Reagan High graduate, among them. “It was grueling,” said Easley, an 81-year-old real estate developer who lives on a 400 acre ranch between Brenham and Giddings. “You can’t imagine how it was. I made my

Bob Easley, a 1951 Reagan High graduate, was one of Bear Bryant’s Junction Boys in the summer of 1954. He now lives on a 400 acre ranch between Brenham and Giddings. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter)

mind up. I wasn’t going to quit. Quitting is easy, but it’s long lasting. Quitters don’t look at the consequences.” Easley, who played fullback and linebacker for the standout Bulldog teams of the late 1940s and early 1950s, said the Heights of yesteryear helped him develop toughness. A bruising ball-carrier at 6feet, 200 pounds, Easley was also a sprinter, believed to be

among the fastest prep athletes in Houston. He was a high-school AllAmerican known around the neighborhood as “The Bull”, and he was so popular that he did advertisements for Harold’s in the Heights. While quaint, the Heights wasn’t the gentriﬁed neighborhood it is today when young Easley was growing up at 311 Cordell.

“The Heights used to be rough,” Easley said. “You had to ﬁght to hold your own growing up. We had great teams, and it was a great school. We were one of the largest schools at the time. It was a wonderful experience.” Even the toughness of the Heights couldn’t fully prepare Easley for Bryant. He lost 25 pounds in 10 days and tested his body on a daily basis dur-

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and the State of Texas. The precinct contains a population of approximately 675,500 residences. The Precinct One Constables Office is very unique and is different from all other Harris County Constables Offices, as it serves all the Mental Health Warrants for the entire county, serves all Juvenile Warrants for the entire county, and investigates Environmental Crimes and Animal Cruelty cases for the entire county, in addition to those important functions, the Precinct One Constable’s Office has a Patrol Division, Civil Division, and Criminal Warrants Division and manages the security for all downtown Harris County Buildings. Under Constable Rosen’s leadership, the

ing that stretch. “We were sweating in the Texas heat, while the quitters were sipping an ice cold Coca Cola in town,” Easley said. Although he didn’t realize it at the time, Easley said he owes much of his success and work ethic to Bryant, who left A&M for the University of Alabama in 1958 and went on to lead the Crimson Tide to six national championships and 14 Southeastern Conference titles. “If it hadn’t been for him, I don’t know if I would have had the tenacity and drive to help me in business, marriage and everything else,” said Easley, who’s been married to his wife, Sadie – a fellow Reagan graduate – for 61 years. Easley fondly remembers how Bryant was competitive in everything – even when he invited his players, along with their wives and girlfriends, to his home for a game of charades. “Even in charades, he was (intense),” Easley said. Easley and his teammates got to visit with Bryant during Junction Boys reunions throughout the years. Bryant passed away at age 69 in 1983, but the Junction Boys still hold reunions. “We’re legends,” Easley said. “They won’t let this thing die.”

They were honored on the field during halftime of the 2012 Texas A&M-Alabama game in Tuscaloosa, Ala. and will have a 60th reunion this August in Junction. “When he got to Alabama, he realized he made a dire mistake – he apologized to all of us,” Easley said. “He became tough but fair and he’ll probably go down as the greatest college football coach ever. I just came along during his learning curve.” Easley had the potential to play professional football, but he played through injuries and that doomed those plans. He had both of his knees replaced with metal and chose to use his Education degree to teach biology and coach football in Odessa, Dallas, and eventually, Reagan in the early 1960s. Eventually, Easley entered the real estate development field and built several other businesses as well. He and Sadie now live on Solid Rock Ranch, named as such to credit the couple’s strong Christian faith. They have eight lakes and the state’s largest cattle guard on a property that spreads over three counties. Easley’s office, located in a converted horse stable, proudly displays much of the Junction Boys memorabilia.

Precinct One Constable’s Oﬃce has made numerous ﬁrst within Precinct One agency’s history. Constable Rosen is dedicated to bridging and improving the gap between law enforcement and the community.

Lucy and her staﬀ provide tender loving care, home cooking and professional care to those who are no longer able to stay in a nursing home system. They are allowed to spend their last years, living in dignity and comfort of a home-style setting. They assist with techniques to help manage disruptive behavior, proper nutrition and hydration control, methods for enhanced safety and fall avoidance, and prevent wandering. The services they provide are incontinence care, medication supervision, meal preparation, housekeeping, personal hygiene, health and beauty care, and daily

BUSINESSES, from P. 12 people and doing so while providing good value to the public and our patients. With an operational budget of more than $1.3 billion, Harris Health is one of Houston and Harris County’s largest employers and plays an important role in the region’s economy. The system actively pursues and works with others in the community including healthcare institutions, academia, civic/community leaders, foundations and non-proﬁt organizations to better facilitate access to healthcare for the residents of Harris County. Beal Hearing Aid Centers Connect Hearing 3924 N. Shepherd Dr.

Oﬃce of Alan Rosen Harris County Constable, Pct.1 1302 Preston Houston, TX 77002 713-755-3372 The Harris County Constable’s Oﬃce, Precinct One, is one of the largest precinct in Harris County

Shady Acres Personal Care Home 1119 W. 21st St. Houston, TX 77008 713-862-3889 wecare@shadyacres-pch.com Personal care homes provide digniﬁed, one-on-one care in a home-like environment. We provide a viable alternative for aging or handicapped seniors requiring living assistance to complete supervision.

See BUSINESSES, P. 16

Page 16 • SENIOR EXPO • April 12 , 2014

BUSINESSES from P. 15 stimulation and exercise. MANNA 1806 W. 43rd St. Houston, TX 77018 713-686-6440 Ministry Assistance of the Near Northwest Alliance (MANNA) whose mission is to serve the basic human needs of persons in the near Northwest quadrant of Houston, who because of aging, education, illness, lack of income, or other crisis, cannot sustain themselves or their families. Since 1989, MANNA has responded to the needs of our community, providing emergency rent and utility assistance, food from the food pantry, a vision station and a resale store that provides discounted clothing and household wares. St. Joseph Medical Center in The Heights 1917 Ashland St. Houston, TX 77008 713-969-5400 sjmcheights.com St. Joseph Medical Center has been caring for Greater Houston area families for more than 125 years. They provide a wide range of medical and surgical services, in the Downtown location and also in the Heights including: • 24-Hour Emergency Department • Diagnostic Imaging Services • Endoscopy and Surgical Services • Inpatient and Outpatient Care • Laboratory Services. For a physician referral, call 713-757-7575.

Resident enjoy Line Dancing at the YMCA By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

It was a love of line dancing - minus the country music - that led Candlelight Plaza’s Shirley Hammonds to the W. 34th Street YMCA for classes. “I had done it other places and heard that the Y had a class,” said Hammonds. “We do the cha-cha and the rumba too, a lot of stuff with a Latin beat. You have to use your mind as well as your body to remember all the steps.” Hammonds notes that there is no partner required in line dancing and said that the 20-25 students are so busy dancing, there’s not a lot of time to visit until after class is over. About seven years ago, Hammonds also got involved in the YMCA’s Silver Sneakers classes. She primarily does the stretching class on Tuesdays

and Thursdays, although there are Silver Sneaker cardio classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They do a lot of chair exercises and also work with a ﬁtness ball. Although Hammonds would describe herself as an indoor person, she thinks it’s important to stay active. “I don’t generally like to exercise, but [Silver Sneakers] is great for getting your body moving and it keeps your muscles and joints from freezing.” Hammonds said that she goes to the YMCA as much for the fun as for the ﬁtness. She gets together for lunch and sometime parties with the people in her class. Hammonds attributes some of the class camaraderie to instructor Joy Horn, who “is great and has a lot of energy.” In addition to Horn’s work

as an instructor, she also helps again — Zumba. “I slipped coordinate the AOA — or Ac- out in the middle of the class tive Older Adults program and the instructor later asked — which takes seniors on day me where I went,” said Hamtrips, including a recent one to monds. “I think I’ll stick with the painted churches in Schul- line dancing.” enburg, Texas. As a result of her ﬁtness classes, Hammonds said that she is more conscious of how she does things and how she sits. “I slouch less,” she said. Her husband Kenneth is a regular in the Wellness Center at the YMCA. The couple has lived in Candlelight Plaza for 45 years now, and although their children live elsewhere, they are committed to staying. “We’ve always loved it here,” she says. “It’s convenient to everything.” Candlelight Plaza resident Shirley One class she Hammonds stays active by participatprobably won’t try ing in various YMCA classes. And her preferred remains line dancing.

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Page 17 • SENIOR EXPO • April 12 , 2014

SUDHALTER, from P. 10 Nathan Murra, left, and Rose Murra – Leader editor Michael Sudhalter’s maternal grandparents – pictured on their wedding day, March 18, 1946. The Murras were Polish Jews born in the early 1920s who lost their entire family in the Nazi Holocaust. They survived and met each other shortly after they were liberated from the concentration camps. (Submitted photo)

tance of reaching people of all cultures and faith traditions. She wanted them to understand how the Nazi regime murdered six million Jews, as well as political opponents, disabled people and many others. I grew up learning about the Holocaust, and I’ve had the privilege of meeting many survivors. Sunday, April 27 is Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), and I look forward to honoring my ancestors on that sacred day. In 1997, my grandmother spoke at my high school and shared her experiences with the entire junior and senior

classes. Listening to that speech was one of the most touching experiences of my life. Another one was last week when I watched these students carry on the lessons instilled in me by my grandparents. They passed away in 2003 and 2006, respectively, but last week’s performance conﬁrmed the spirit of what they hoped for others to understand is alive and well. Kudos to all of the actors, actresses, teachers and administrators involved in making this a successful performance and a memorable evening.

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Aging may impair driving ability The number of drivers 70 and over is predicted to triple in North America over the next 20 years. Research indicates that the older a person is, the higher the risk of driver accident or fatality. The risk posed by older drivers and the inevitable increase in older drivers on the road over the next two decades has sparked debate as to whether or not such drivers should be reexamined to ensure safety on the road? An 86-year-old man unin-

tentionally killed 10 people and injured more than 70 when he drove his car through a crowded farmer’s market. Though the debate about older drivers ﬁgures to remain a hot topic, the National Highway Trafﬁc Safety Administration notes that aging can affect drivers in a number of ways. The physical and mental changes that accompany aging can have a profound impact on a person’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

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Improving heart health need not be difﬁcult Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death across the globe. According to the World Health Organization, ischaemic heart disease, in which blood supply to the heart is reduced, is the leading cause of death in middle- and high-income countries and the fourth-leading cause of death in low-income countries. Perhaps the most troubling fact about the prevalence of heart disease is that it can be largely preventable. The American Heart Association

notes that there are several ways to easily improve heart health and avoid becoming one of the millions of people to succumb to heart disease. • Embrace aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise is essential to cardiovascular health. Daily aerobic exercise, which can be as simple as walking around the neighborhood, can help men and women lower their blood pressure, maintain a healthy weight and lower their bad cholesterol, which can circulate in the blood and cause blockages that can lead to heart attack. • Adopt a low-sodium diet that’s also low in cholesterol. Diet can be a friend or foe with regards to heart disease. A heart-friendly diet that’s low in sodium and cholesterol can help you maintain healthy cholesterol levels as well as a healthy blood pressure. • Monitor your blood pressure. A blood pressure reading is a staple of many doctor visits, but men and women should monitor their blood pressure even when they aren’t visiting their physicians. High blood pressure does not

always produce symptoms, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t potentially deadly. High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke and can contribute to

heart and kidney disease. So be sure to monitor your blood pressure and discuss with your physician ways to lower high blood pressure.

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Helping one adapt to a nursing home

for aging men and women to socialize with others their age while receiving the care and attention they need. When discussing the move to a nursing home, focus on these positives and your relative will be more likely to follow your lead. • Choose a nursing home that’s close to home. One of the more difﬁcult parts of transitioning to a nursing home is the notion that men and women are leaving their lives behind once they move into a home. Choosing a nursing home that’s close to home and makes routine visits from friends and relatives possible enables men and women

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maintain a connection to their current lifestyle. A home that is miles and miles away from a person’s support system can foster feelings of isolation and loneliness. • Plan trips with your loved one. Just because an aging relative lives in a nursing home does not mean he or she can no longer travel. If a relative is healthy enough to travel, include them on family trips and outings. This includes more routine events like weekly Sunday dinners, kids’ sporting events and other extracurricular activities. The more involved your aging relative are in the daily life of your family,

the more likely they are to see the advantages of living in a nursing home. • Encourage your loved ones to take some personal items with them. When moving into a nursing home, men and women must leave behind many of their possessions. This is a simple space issue, as the rooms in a typical nursing home cannot accommodate a life’s worth of keepsakes and possessions. But that doesn’t mean men and women have to leave everything behind. Encourage your loved one to bring along some possessions, such as his or her family photos, a favorite chair or smaller mementos from places he or she visited throughout his or her life. Such items can make a nursing home seem less antiseptic and more like a home. • Set up an e-mail account for your loved one. If your loved one still has his or her mental health, then set him or her up with an e-mail account. This allows your loved one to maintain daily contact with family and friends. Many of today’s nursing homes provide facilities where residents can access the Internet.

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Many older men and women find the transition to a nursing home somewhat difficult. Men and women tend to see a move to a nursing home as a step toward surrendering their independence, and this can be a difficult hurdle for seniors and their loved ones to overcome. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that many men and women move into nursing homes because their physical or mental status requires the help of a professional nursing staff, leaving family members with little to no recourse when aging relatives protest the move. But there are ways to ease a loved one’s transition into a nursing home. • Keep a positive attitude. The stress of moving an aging relative into a nursing home can be significant for all parties involved. But focusing on the positives of nursing homes, such as around-the-clock care and daily activities, can help aging relatives look at nursing homes in a new light. In addition, family members who familiarize themselves with nursing homes will begin to see they are often great places

Page 20 • SENIOR EXPO • April 12 , 2014

Shedding pounds after 50 is worth the eﬀort Losing some weight is a goal for many people regardless of age. While youngsters and young adults might be able to get away with a few extra pounds without suffering any signiﬁcant consequences, older adults carrying some extra weight might be putting their overall health at considerable risk. Shedding weight after the age of 50 is not always easy. As a person ages, muscle mass tends to dwindle while body fat has a tendency to increase. Since fat burns fewer calories than muscle, weight gain as a person ages is bound to happen. But that doesn’t mean such weight gain is inevitable. Diet Men and women need fewer calories as they age. For example, men and women in their 40s may need as many as 200 calories more per day than they will when they reach

their 50s. Counting calories might seem difﬁcult, so men and women in their 50s and older who don’t think they can count calories can try to eat more low-calorie foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Consuming fewer calories often requires changing dietary habits, not only with regard to what you’re eating but also how you’re eating and even how you shop for food. Men and women used to dining out for lunch every day can start bringing their own lunches so they can gain greater control of their daily caloric intake. For those who ﬁnd they’re frequently too exhausted to cook each night, they can prepare meals in advance to have healthy, homemade meals waiting instead of always ordering takeout or delivery. Exercise Exercise is another essen-

tial component to shedding pounds after 50, though men and women over 50 should always consult a physician before they begin a new exercise regimen. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points out that regular exercise can help older men and women prevent the onset of a host of ailments, including

heart disease and diabetes. In addition, the CDC notes that regular physical activity as one ages helps muscles grow stronger, which increases the chances that an individual will be able to perform necessary daily activities without the assistance of others. Maintaining that independence into older adulthood is a goal for many.

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Page 22 • SENIOR EXPO • April 12 , 2014

How to catch up on retirement savings track to reach just 81 percent of their retirement income needs. Those needs include food, shelter and medical care. The study also found that 40 percent of participants across all generations were saving less than 6 percent of their salaries for retirement. That’s especially troubling when considering ﬁnancial planners often advise men and women to save 10 to 15 percent of their salaries for retirement. Some simple arithmetic and an examination of assets, including retirement accounts and savings, can shed light on how rosy or bleak a person’s retirement looks. The following are a handful of ways men and women can catch up on retirement savings. • Start spending less. The easiest way to catch up on retirement savings is to start spending less. Men and women over 50 know that the sand in their earnings hourglass is

running out, and those behind on retirement savings need to make the most of their earnings in the years ahead. That means cutting out any unnecessary expenses so that money can be used to save for retirement. Examine all of your monthly and annual expenses to find ways to trim some fat. You many want to downsize your vehicle to a less expensive and more fuel-efficient make and model. Slashing spending won’t be easy, but doing so is the first step toward catching up on your retirement savings. • Contribute more to your employer-sponsored retirement plan. If you have not been contributing the maximum amount to your employer-sponsored retirement plan, start doing so. This is especially beneficial if your employer matches your contributions. Contributing more to such plans should not drastically affect your take-home pay now

Keeping marriage going strong into your golden years The trend of long-married couples calling it quits has been growing. However, there are some steps couples can take to keep their relationships going strong. According to the AARP, divorces among people over the age of 50 have doubled since 1990. According to Susan Brown, codirector of the National Center for Family & Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University, one out of three Boomers will face their golden years unmarried. There are a number of reasons why divorce rates have skyrocketed among the over50 set. Understanding just why these divorces are taking place and taking proactive steps to alleviate some of the divorce triggers can be a recipe for a happy marriage that continues

throughout a couple’s golden years. • Get things out in the open. A major reason for a failed marriage is years of avoiding significant issues rather than addressing problems. Couples should make time to talk to each other about anything that might be bothering them rather than letting too many things slide. If these conversations turn into shouting matches, there is always the option of bringing in a third party to serve as a mediator. • Spend time apart. After retirement, couples may find themselves spending hours upon hours in each other’s company. While togetherness can be beneficial, too much time spent together may lead to feelings of suffocation and the perception that each mem-

ber of the relationship is no longer his or her own person. Individuals can remedy this by doing more things on their own, whether spending time apart with friends or engaging in hobby time without your spouse. • Recommit to your vows. After 30 or more years, the vows you shared on your wedding may be a distant memory. Some people may have different views on the permanence of vows, putting personal happiness ahead of the happiness of the couple. Take stock of what you promised one another on your wedding day and stick to those words. • Practice selﬂessness. Sometimes all that is needed to rekindle a relationship is a selfless act that shows how much you care for your partner.

if the plan is a pre-tax plan like a 401(k). • Make IRA catch-up contributions. The Internal Revenue service allows men and women over the age of 50 to make annual catch-up contributions up to $5,500. Learn more at www.irs.gov. • Postpone retirement. Though it’s not ideal for men and women with a target retirement date in mind, postponing the day you call it quits is another way to catch up on retirement savings. Postponing retirement allows you to build a more substantial retirement portfolio while also decreasing the amount of time you will need to rely on that money. This gives you more ﬂexibility in retirement. In addition, Americans who work longer can increase their Social Security beneﬁt because working longer should allow them to delay the day they start taking Social Security payments.

EVENT

SENIOR EXP

The virtues of saving for retirement are extolled from the moment young men and women begin their professional careers. Such advice is sound, and though retirement is a long way off from the start of one’s career, those professionals who heed these words of wisdom and start saving early are bound to beneﬁt down the road. But even the best advice can fall on deaf ears from time to time, and many people simply don’t save enough for retirement. A 2013 survey from Fidelity Investments revealed just how much ﬁnancial trouble the average American is likely to be in upon retirement. The survey asked more than 2,000 participants a range of questions on topics, including their health, retirement and saving habits, and found that the average baby boomer, which includes those born between 1946 and 1964, was on

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