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Fiscal Cliff Ends: Falls Short on Senior Concerns
s President Obama prepares to sign the agreement Congress passed ending the fiscal cliff, many older Americans remain concerned. President Obama said the plan would possibility avert a recession in the slowly recovering economy. For Americans there will be more taxes for the wealthiest two percent, and give the middle class a tax break. However for retirees the agreement fell short and pushed aside entitlement spending for a future debate. In a prepared statement President Obama said, “I want to make this point: as I’ve demonstrated throughout the past several weeks, I am very open to compromise. I agree with Democrats and Republicans that the aging population and the rising cost of health care makes Medicare the biggest contributor to our deficit.” Mr. Obama adding, “we’ve got to find ways to reform that programme without hurting seniors, who count on it to survive.” Republicans have vowed to approach significant spending cuts and reforms to entitlement
programs. However, President Obama said everyone will need to “pay their fair share.” Unemployment benefits for some two million Americans will be extended for another year, assisting those without jobs in many hard hit states like Nevada. The agreement also prevents cuts in payments to doctors who treat Medicare patients. Many doctors have threatened to cutback on accepting new patients or stop seeing existing Medicare patients. The cut to Medicare service providers included doctors, hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities, scheduled for a 2 percent reduction in reimbursements. A 2 percentage point temporary cut in the Social Security payroll tax, originally enacted two years ago to stimulate the economy, expired with the end of 2012. In the negotiations, “neither President Obama nor Republicans made a significant effort to extend it.”
January 2013 This Issue
page 3 - Fiscal Cliff Ends: Falls Short on Senior Concerns page 4 - Fiscal Cliff: A Good Deal for Small Business page 5 - Opinion: Fighting for Disabled Senior Veterans page 6 - Opinion: Working for Nevadans in 2013 page 14 - Tobacco Settlement Brings Additional $21 Million to Nevada page 16 - SSA/SSI: A Raise for People Who Get Social Security page 21 - Analysis: Nevada Seniors Face $20 Million Reduction in Medicare Nursing Home Care page 23 - Shaping Up Your Body and Brain in 2013 page 25 - HealthInsight to Reduce Avoidable Hospitalizations page 31 - Holiday Tidbit
Every Issue
page 26 - Biggest Little City page 27 - Calender
page 27 - Crossword
page 28 - Eydie Scher - Excerpts page 30 - this ‘n that
page 33 - Seniors 4 Travel
Health
page 8 - Dr. Marion: Caregiving page 10 - CMS: What’s New in Medicare in 2013 page 12 - Plan for Change in the New Year
Dr. Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D. Center for Healthy Aging page 17 - Ophthalmology: Dr. Michael Fischer, M.D. page 18 - Get Up & Go! Goals
Financial
page 7 - Three Simple Steps
page 24 - Eclectic Observer
for Managing a Windfall
Senior Spectrum Newspaper P.O. Box 7124 • Reno, NV 89510 (775) 348-0717 e-mai l : S eni orspectrumnv@aol . com S eni orspectrumnewspaper. com Publishers: Chris & Connie McMullen
Senior Spectrum is a monthly publication dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain. Publication of advertising contained does not constitute endorsement. Signed columns are the opinion of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publishers. Copyrighted publication. All rights reserved.
January • 2013 • 3
“Fiscal Cliff ” Deal Good for Small Business, but More Needs to be Done John Arensmeyer, CEO Small Business Majority
The small business community and the nation breathed a sigh of relief as lawmakers reached a bi-partisan 11th hour deal to avert the “fiscal cliff,” while taking significant steps to reduce our budget deficit. However, more work must be done to put our country on a responsible path toward long-term economic growth and fiscal sustainability. Small business owners have been very concerned about the fiscal cliff and nearly every tax and spending component surrounding it, according to scientific opinion polling Small Business Majority released in November. Specifically, the
4 • 2013 • January
majority of small employers overwhelmingly agree that tax cuts for the middle class must be extended, but that, in light of our budget crisis and the need to target fiscal policies directly to America’s job creators, tax cuts should expire for the wealthiest 2 percent making more than $250,000 per year. We appreciate the president’s strong stand in support of this policy, but we accept the need to reach a compromise at a higher income level in order to get a deal and avert a fiscal crisis. We also are pleased with the agreement to permanently fix the Alternative Minimum Tax and maintain
other tax provisions that will keep more money in middle class taxpayers’ pockets. And, we are pleased to see that the agreement maintains renewable energy incentives, the R & E tax credit and other business tax incentives, including Section 179 depreciation, while staving off draconian across-the-board spending cuts. But, we are disappointed that a key policy that small business owners strongly supported—the extension of the temporary payroll tax cut—was not included in the final agreement. By more than a 3:1 ratio, small business owners said they are worried about employee payroll taxes going
back up. This is a necessary stopgap measure. But, it defers important decisions about our nation’s fiscal future. We now urge Congress to come together to address other vital long-term tax policies, including corporate tax reform, and take other important action to balance the need for long-term deficit reduction with targeted policies designed to ensure that our fledgling economic recovery continues. Our elected leaders need to put the needs of the American people over politics and do what is right for the economy and the nation.
Opinion
U.S. Senator Harry Reid
Fighting For Disabled Senior Veterans The challenges disabled senior veterans face are immense Sen. Harry Reid and this year I was pleased to help honor combat-disabled military retirees. By securing passage of an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, our nation’s veterans will now receive proper combatrelated disability and retirement benefits. This amendment will become law once the president signs it at the end of the month. These individuals, and all others who have honorably served in the Armed Forces represent the very best our nation has to offer. Shortchanging these heroes is a disservice and we must be there for these veterans and their families in every way we can. This is a solemn vow that I fight to uphold. With the growing number of combat-disabled veterans returning home, we had to make changes to existing laws to provide them with the compensation they have earned. Under current law, the Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) program awards
injured military retirees an amount equal to their service-earned retired pay in addition to their VA disability compensation. Unfortunately, an unanticipated flaw in the current statutory CRSC formula can actually cause a reduction in their compensation amount when the VA increases their disability rating. We should never deny these veterans who have honorably served our nation with honor the rights of their serviceearned retirement pay simply because they became disabled in the line of duty. The amendment that I worked hard to pass eliminates the “glitch” in the CombatRelated Special Compensation program. This legislation will bring to an end this wrong doing and it will ensure retired military men and women receive the proper compensation proportional to their length of service and disability level. I fought to make sure all of our senior veterans, from Nevada and every other state, have every chance to succeed. I am pleased we can now provide these remarkable men and women who sacrificed so much for our country with the benefits they have earned and deserve.
January • 2013 • 5
Opinion
U.S. Senator Dean Heller
Working for Nevadans in 2013
As Nevadans begin a new year, it’s impor tant that we recog Sen. Dean Heller nize our nation’s most pressing con cerns. This year I am com mitted to a number of ini tiatives I believe will move the Silver State in the right direction. While it’s true that Nevada seniors are fac ing a great deal of uncer tainty during these tough economic times, Congress can help turn things around by working together.
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We can start right now by passing a budget. January 8th marks 1,350 days since the Senate last passed a budget. While Nevada has led the nation in unemployment for more than three years, this coun try’s debt has risen well above $16 trillion. Passing a budget is one of Congress’ most important responsibil ities, yet they continue to kick the can down the road. Refusing to address the problem now jeopardizes the future of our children and grandchildren. For all of these reasons, I
have been advocating my No Budget, No Pay legisla tion for nearly two years. This bill calls on the House and Senate to pass a con current budget each year, before the beginning of the fiscal year. Failure to do so would result in the loss of pay until Members of Congress take their jobs seriously and craft a budget. I have no doubt that by working across the aisle, we can move Nevada and the entire nation forward. The only way to build a better, stronger future is by com ing together and finding a
solution on which both Democrats and Republicans can agree.
I am optimistic that the New Year can bring greater certainty to Nevada seniors, but first, Congress must commit to prioritizing poli cy over politics. I look for ward to working with my Democrat and Republican colleagues in the 113th Congress to make the changes necessary to ensure the security for Nevadans of all generations. In the meantime, I wish all Nevadans a prosperous New Year.
Three Simple Steps for Managing a Windfall
Brought to you by Bradley B. Anderson Anderson, Dorn, & Rader, Ltd.
We’ve all dreamed of suddenly becoming wealthy by winning a lottery jackpot, receiving an unexpected inheritance, or some other happy accident. However, few of us consider what steps we would take to manage a windfall. Without careful management, your dream come true could quickly turn into your worst nightmare. What steps should you take to ensure that you stay out of trouble – and that your windfall is there to enhance your lifestyle for many years to come?
The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys www.probatebusters.com • blog.wealth-counselors.com
Step One: Seek Solid Tax Advice You don’t have to pay income tax on every type of windfall. For instance, inherited money is not subject to income tax (although there will likely be other tax issues to be aware of). Lottery winnings or a casino jackpot, on the other hand, are taxable income and must be reported to the IRS. It’s crucial to know the rules. Running afoul of the IRS can spell financial and personal disaster. That is why, when you
come into money, whether expected or a surprise, your first order of business is to find out whether you owe a portion to the IRS. CPAs and Tax Attorneys are educated in the details of these kinds of tax issues, can tell you whether you owe income tax, and, if so, how much. Step Two: Put Your Money to Work After you’ve figured out the details of your tax situation, you may be tempted to go on a shopping spree, buying everything you’ve always
wanted. Or – if you’re a little more altruistic – to start sharing your newfound fortune. Before you take either of these steps, make an appointment with a financial planner. He or she can assess your age, your overall financial situation, and your financial goals and help you decide how to best invest your money to maximize your returns. Putting your money to work in this way will help your wealth grow, giving you and your family long-term financial security. (Windfall page 22)
January • 2013 • 7
Ask Dr. Marion
Dr. Marion Somers. Ph.D.
Caregiving Your Aging Parent
My 76-year-old father used to laugh all the time, but ever since he started having problems with his health, he stopped smiling and laughing. How can I get him laughing again? Craig, 52, Texas I use a concept called Dr. Marion Somers humor therapy quite often since it has proven to be a very effective device for most of my elderly clients. Good things happen when some one enjoys a belly laugh. It’s like an internal massage for the soul. Humor can take your father away from his aches and pains and concerns, even if it’s just for a moment. That should be the goal of any caregiver. Each person is different,
8 • 2013 • January
so you have to read the sit uation. There is no one way to get someone to laugh again, but it usually works if you draw on his or her past likes. For example, one of my clients was a big Lucile Ball fan, so I bought her a compilation DVD of old “I Love Lucy” shows. We made a date to watch them, and then sat there laughing together for hours, even though we’d both seen the episodes more than a few times before. Another one of my clients used to love telling
jokes, so I bought him a joke book. We spent a good part of one day reading the book. From then on, he would have a joke or two to tell me every time I visited, and the jokes always lifted his spirits. We also watched standup comedy shows on cable television. So try using humor therapy. I’m sure your father will be smiling again in no time. It’ll also provide you with some lighthearted moments, and I know you probably need that as well right now.
Dr. Marion (Marion Somers, Ph.D.) is the author of "Elder Care Made Easier" and has over 40 years of experience as a geriatric care manager, caregiver, speaker, and expert in all things elder care. She offers practical tools, solutions, and advice to help care givers everywhere through her book, web site, iPhone apps (Elder 411/911), crosscountry speaking tours, and more. Visit www.DrMarion.com for more information.
January • 2013 • 9
What’s New in Medicare for 2013 David Sayen, Regional Administrator Medicare Region 9 The Affordable Care Act strengthened Medicare in important ways. Signed in 2010, the federal health law already has provided free preventive health benefits to millions of people with Medicare, and saved billions of dollars for those who hit the gap in their Part D prescription drug coverage. David Sayen
In 2013, discounts on prescription drugs for people who reach the Part D “donut hole” will increase, and Medicare will cover screenings and counseling for alcohol misuse, behavioral therapy for cardiovascular disease, counseling for obesity, and more. If you reach the donut hole in 2013, you’ll pay only
47.5 percent for covered brand-name drugs and 79 percent for generic drugs. Thanks to the Affordable These discounts will gradually increase until the hole is closed in 2020. In 2013, Medicare will cover one alcohol misuse screening per year for adults with Medicare (including pregnant women) who use
alcohol, but don’t meet the medical criteria for alcohol dependency. If your primary-care doctor or other primary-care practitioner determines you’re misusing alcohol, you can get up to four face-toface counseling sessions per year (if you’re competent and alert during counseling). A qualified primary-care doctor
For more information, call 1.775.858.1900 or visit www.gentiva.com
10 • 2013 • January
or other primary-care practitioner must provide the counseling in a primary-care setting such as a doctor’s office. Medicare also will cover one visit per year with your primary-care doctor to help lower your risk for cardiovascular disease. During this visit, your doctor may discuss whether taking aspirin is appropriate for you, check your blood pressure, and give you tips to make sure you’re eating well. If you have a body mass index of 30 or more, Medicare will cover intensive counseling to help you lose weight. This counseling may be covered if you get it in a primary-care setting, where it can be coordinated with your personalized prevention plan. In 2013, Medicare also will cover screenings for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and Hepatitis B. These screenings are covered for people with Medicare who are pregnant and/or at increased risk for sexually transmitted infection. Medicare covers these tests once every 12 months or at certain times during pregnancy. In addition, Medicare covers up to two highintensity behavioral counseling sessions each year for sexually-active adults at increased risk for sexually transmitted infections. Medicare covers this counseling only in a primarycare setting. Counseling in an inpatient setting, like a skilled nursing facility, isn’t covered as a preventive service. You pay nothing for any of the above services if your primary-care doctor or other qualified primarycare practitioner accepts
Medicare’s payment amount. Medicare now covers one depression screening per year, too. The screening must be done in a primary-care setting that can provide follow-up treatment and referrals. You pay nothing for this test if the doctor or other qualified provider accepts Medicare payment, but you generally have to pay 20 percent of the visit. Besides these services, Medicare covers a long list of preventive benefits – often at
no cost to you – to help you stay healthy and detect disease in its most treatable stages. Medicare-covered preventive services include tests and screenings for breast, prostate, cervical, and colon cancer; screenings for conditions that may trigger heart attack or stroke; checks for diabetes and glaucoma, and counseling to help you stop smoking. You’re also entitled to a one-time “Welcome to Medicare” checkup during
the first 12 months after you take Medicare Part B, and wellness visits with your doctor each year after that. These visits are free. Shots to protect you against flu and pneumonia also are free. The Affordable Care Act eliminated deductibles and co-pays for most Medicare preventive services in order to encourage people to use them more. Please take advantage of them!
January • 2013 • 11
Adding Life to Years
Plan for Change in the New Year Dr. Larry Weiss Center for Healthy Aging
Can you Larry Weiss believe 2013 is here? The world did not end on December 21st, as predicted by some who interpreted the end date of the Mayan calendar as the end of the world. I am still kicking, what about you? It is a New Year. What is your resolution? Lose weight, exercise more, be patient, volunteer, give more to others, laugh more…all admirable goals, all attainable goals if you plan it and achieve a healthy balance. Of course, you have to work at it as well! These goals do not just happen, they require intention and perseverance.
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What better time than the start of a new year to set some concrete goals for yourself and feel that self gratification as you succeed. So what are your goals for the New Year? In order to start any change of lifestyle behavior, you have to put a plan together. Often people don’t plan and they only begin to think about changing their lifestyle behaviors when they experience crisis or pain. At that point they start wanting change so they begin thinking differently and planning to make a change. Unfortunately, most of the time, when a person
reaches the crises point, it may be much harder to change. For example, you experience a heart attack or stroke, then you start thinking about what you eat and how much exercise you get, and that’s when you begin making changes in your lifestyle. That was my father. He was 300 lbs., had a heart attack, and then decided to lose weight. He changed his lifestyle, his eating habits, and he lost half his body weight! This change gave him another 26 years of life. But, why wait for that kind of event? The critical element here
is change. Personal change and development include activities that improve awareness and develop identity, talents, and potential. Ultimately, this building of human capital enhances quality of life and contributes to the realization of dreams and aspirations. In order to accomplish change, outside of experiencing a crisis or pain, you need to set a goal, make a plan, and get started. Our health depends on our genes and our lifestyle. Rowe and Kahn (1998) in their book, Successful Aging, report on the MacArthur Foundation study that
lifestyle (70%), more than heredity (30%), determine your health and vitality. You may think that if you focus on your genes, then not much can be done. However, knowing what’s in your genepool, especially if there is disease, can help you set a goal for prevention. Then, you make a plan to change your lifestyle and get started on maintaining and/or improving your health. Maintaining physical and mental health is critical to our quality of life and our longevity. The more time we spend on our physical and cognitive fitness, and on what and how much we eat, the healthier lifestyle we will have. Those who choose to participate in any kind of physical activity on a weekly basis are generally healthier than those who don't. Stress and anxiety creates depression. Depression leads to
poor lifestyle habits which promote ill-health. Our modern television and computer technology have created a much more sedentary lifestyle, which in turn lead to ill-health. One needs to take into consideration these influential elements or “habits” when working towards change. So what can be done? We start with personal planning. This is a process of creating an action plan based on awareness, values, and goalsetting which will lead to change in lifestyle and selfimprovement. The plan includes a statement of one's aspirations and goals, strengths or competencies, any needed information or education, timeline, and stages or steps to indicate how the plan is to be realized. You should also solicit social support from your
loved ones and friends. Share your aspirations and plan jointly if you can. For example, if you plan to walk as part of your exercise, walk with a friend. Your friend will encourage and motivate you when you do not want to walk and vis-a-versa. Make it enjoyable and fun. Before you throw the towel in, commit yourself for a period of time (e.g., one month). If you follow these simple guidelines, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish. You will impact your whole life and improve the quality of life. You will achieve more happiness and enjoyment of the possibilities of your life. The beginning of the New Year is a great time to make some realistic resolutions. Do it with a personal action plan, not just words. If you want to feel good, take charge of your lifestyle, make
that change. Dr. Wayne Dyer said, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” I follow this very powerful advice. Change and personal development may be perceived as daunting – so, change the way you look at them. I actively encourage you to focus on yourself and your relationships; plan for change in order to discover more joy, more reality, more connectedness, more accomplishment and more opportunities to grow. What better way to “add life to years”. Lawrence J. Weiss, Ph.D. is CEO of the Center for Healthy Aging. Dr. Weiss welcomes your comments on this column. Write to him at larry@addinglifetoyears.com or c/o Center for Healthy Aging, 11 Fillmore Way, Reno, NV 89519.
January • 2013 • 13
AG says Tobacco Settlement Agreement Brings an Additional $21 Million to Nevada
Here’s a welcome new addition to our heart team. Heart specialist John C. Evans, MD, has joined a group of 21 cardiologists. Dr. Evans received his medical degree from Wayne State University, completed his fellowship training at Stanford University before practicing medicine in Portland, Oregon. He is board certified in Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiovascular Medicine and Internal Medicine. Free webinar on abnormal heart rhythms Tuesday, January 8 t Noon Register at renown.org/onlinehealthseries
14 • 2013 • January
Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto says Nevada, and 16 other states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, has reached an agreement with the nation’s largest tobacco companies to resolve ten years of dis putes regarding terms in the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). The agreement will pro vide Nevada an additional $21 million in 2013. Masto says it also assures that the state is no longer risking more than $440 million in liability were these dis putes to continue. “Since 2003, Nevada has received approximately $40 million in payments per year which would be at risk if a settlement was not reached,” said Masto. “Today’s agreement will continue to provide fund ing to support important programs for Nevadans, such as the Millennium Scholarship and projects run through the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services.” HHS programs funded with tobacco settlement funds in the Aging and Disability Services Division (ADSD) and the Grants Management Unit (GMU) total $26,683,480 for fiscal year 2014, and $23,860,128 for FY 2015. Programs funded include Senior Independent Living Grants, Senior Rx and Disability Rx, Nevada 211, autism, traumatic
brain injury, and Family Resource Centers. “It’s too soon to tell how or if this will impact pro grams funded through the Master Tobacco Settlement, including the Fund for a Healthy Nevada and the Millennium Scholarships,” said Laurie Olson, Chief, Grants Management Unit, Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. “We’ve been in contact with the Attorney General’s Office and the State Treasurer’s Office, but details are not yet available. My under standing is that some of the required legal steps will not occur until the latter part of January.” In 1998, the major tobacco companies agreed to pay states money every year to settle lawsuits over the health care costs asso ciated with smoking. For the past ten years, there has been a dispute between the tobacco com panies and the states over provisions of the MSA and the payments received by the states. On December 17, 2012, the settlement was agreed upon by 17 states including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming. The states were joined by the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Social Security Administration
A Raise For People Who Get Social Security
Rita Meier Public Affairs Specialist
As we ring in a new year, we can expect to see a number of changes. Social Security is no exception: in 2013, people who receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments will see their benefits increase. Beginning in 2013, a 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) was applied to all Social Security and SSI payments. The average monthly Social Security benefit for a retired worker in 2013 is $1,261 (up from $1,240 in 2012) and the average monthly Social Security benefit for a disabled worker
16 • 2013 • January
in 2013 is $1,132 (up from $1,113 in 2012). These changes were reflected in SSI payments dated December 31, 2012 and Social Security payments dated in January 2013. For people who receive SSI, the maximum federal payment amount has risen to $710 (up from $698). Other Social Security changes in 2013 are worth noting. For example, a worker now pays Social Security tax on up to $113,700 of annual income (up from $110,100 in 2012). A worker earns one credit after paying taxes on $1,160 in earnings
in 2013 (up from $1,130). As always, a worker may earn a maximum of four credits each year and a person generally needs forty credits (or ten years of work) to be eligible for retirement benefits. To learn more about these and other changes for 2013, visit the Social Security website at www.socialsecurity.gov, and read our fact sheet about the changes at www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/factsheets/colafacts20 13.htm. Social Security Cards And Numbers Do you know where your
Social Security card is located? Hopefully, it’s in a safe place, tucked away securely with your other important papers. It certainly should not be in your purse or wallet and should not be carried with you every day since it can be more valuable than cash to an identity thief. Do you know your Social Security number? Chances are you have it memorized. If you know your number, you may never need your card again. It is the number, not the card, that is most important. In the event that you lose (Social Security page 17)
Ophthalmology
Inflamed Eyelids Michael J. Fischer, M.D. Eye Physician & Surgeon
The inflammation of the eyelids known as “blepharitis” is often confused with conjunctivitis (pink eye) because their symptoms appear to be so similar. However, unlike conjunctivitis, blepharitis, which is characterized by inflamed, itchy, red eyelids, is not contagious. The inflammation is caused by excessive oil being produced by the glands near the eyelid, which results in an overgrowth of bacteria that normally reside on the skin. Allergies may also cause the crust that forms along the eyelash line. Once the condition is properly diagnosed,
Social Security / page 16
your Social Security card and really need a replacement, you can find out all the details on how to obtain a replacement card and what specific documents you need to provide at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber. Each situation is unique, but in most cases you simply need to print, complete, and either mail or bring the application to Social Security with the appropriate documentation (originals or certified copies only). If you need to apply for a Social Security card and number for your grandchild, you can do that the same way, and get the specific information at the same website. Why does a small child need a Social Security number? There are a number of reasons, but the main one is
treatment involves careful daily cleansing of the edges of the eyelids, which removes the skin oils that cause the bacteria to overgrow. Continued attention to eyelid cleanliness helps prevent further episodes of blepharitis. Note - A sty, which is a bacterial infection on the eyelid that resembles a pimple, can be a complication of blepharitis. If you would like further information on this topic or an appointment, please call my office at 775-882-2988. We are conveniently located at 3839 N. Carson Street. Hours are 8-5 p.m., Monday through Friday by appointment. M/C, Visa, Medicare Assignment accepted.
so that you can claim your grandchild as a dependent on your tax return in the event that you are raising them. As you prepare for tax season, just around the corner, make sure the kids (and all the dependents) that you list on your annual tax return have Social Security numbers. Note that all dependents listed on your federal tax return also include a dependent parent who lives with you and receives support from you. Learn more about Social Security at www.socialsecurity.gov. And learn more about your Social Security card and number at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber, where you can print out an application and find out everything you need for your specific situation.
January • 2013 • 17
Committing to Exercise Through Goal Setting
Natalie Hilbert, Fitness Director Cascades of the Sierra
I
t has become quite apparent that regular physical activity is an important component of a healthy lifestyle. In 2007 the American Heart Association
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reported that 31 percent of Americans participate in regular leisure time physical activity. Modest amounts of activity, such as walking and gardening, have been shown
to reduce the overall risk of several chronic diseases, giving us reason to promote activities of all types (functional, recreational or exercise specific), and opening the door for everyone to add physical fitness to their lives, regardless of their age or history of exercise. Once you recognize the importance of fitness for your own well-being, the challenge is to establish new health and exercise habits that you can commit to overtime. It only takes 30-60 days to create a new habit, but you will need to set clear goals to keep you motivated through this crucial time period. Committing to exercise is rarely easy. You need to find that internal power that can motivate you toward your selected fitness goals. Personal motivation is only possible when your goals are meaningful and attainable. The most common mistake you can make is choosing a goal that doesn’t give you personal gratification in a timely and measureable way. You need to consider both long-term and short-term goals when devising your exercise plan. The single long-term goal needs to really excite you when you think about achieving it. It needs to be grand enough to make it worth all your work over
the next year or so. It needs to create a sense of want and excitement without seeming unrealistic or overwhelming. To achieve that ultimate goal, you must determine a number of short-term goals, or action steps that can be met on a daily or weekly basis. Step One: • Choose and evaluate your long-term fitness goal(s). • Evaluate your goal by listing five benefits to your life that will result from achieving that goal. • If these benefits don’t excite you choose a new goal. Utilize the SMART system • SMART stands for Specific, Measureable, Action-orientated, Realistic and Timed. • Defined specific goals are much easier to focus on than vague statements. • Example: “I want to get in shape” versus “By participating in physical activity three
when it comes to your health plan,
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*Based on 2011/2012 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Health Plan ratings and Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Study - Medicare & You Handbook. **Based on comparison of plans provider networks offered in northern Nevada counties. ***Based on comparison of Medicare Advantage plans offered in northern Nevada counties. ****Based on CMS Medicare Advantage/Part D Contract and Enrollment Data for October 2011.Senior Care Plus is a 4-Star Rated Plan. Plan performance summary star ratings are assessed each year and may change from one year to the next. Senior Care Plus is a health plan with a Medicare contract, available to anyone with both Medicare Parts A and B. A member must be a resident of Carson City County, Churchill County, Douglas County, Lyon County, Storey County or Washoe County and continue to pay his or her Medicare Part B premium. John Tyson is a paid spokesperson for Senior Care Plus. Material ID: Y0039_2012_SeniorSpectrumJan File & Use: 01032012
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A Medicare Advantage Plan from Hometown Health. January • 2013 • 19
Goal Setting / page 18
times a week and watching the number of calories I eat; I will lose weight and get in shape in 10 weeks.” Step Two: • List three short-term goals to work on over the next month. • Short-Term goals need to
bring you closer to your long-term goal, while being very realistic and achievable. Examples of Long/ Short-Term Goals. • Long-Term Goal: Lose 30 Pounds. • Month: January • Short-Term Goals: • Make an appointment for
a physical exam. • Lose one to two pounds per week. • Contact a friend that can meet 3-4 times per week. Step Three: • Track your plan on a monthly calendar. • Log each short-term goal and its completion date on a special fitness calendar. • Upon completion of each action step, replace it with a new one to work on the following month. • Studies show that people who write down and track their goals are 90 percent more successful in achieving them. Step Four: • Reward yourself on a regular basis. • Always recognize small achievements along the road to lifelong changes. • A massage, new outfit, or simple treat can make each step worth the extra effort. • The end of the week would be a good time to reward your success and plan for the week to come.
20 • 2013 • January
Now it’s time to face the challenge of committing to your exercise goals. As stated above, committing is not necessarily easy, but the results are truly worth the efforts. Begin enjoying a lifestyle change that is the right track to a HEALTHIER YOU! To learn more about living a healthy lifestyle contact, Natalie Hilbert, fitness director at Cascades of the Sierra. The EverFit Club, located at Cascades of the Sierra, is available for monthly gym memberships and is a Silver & Fit® provider. For more information call Natalie at (775) 424-5400, ext. 155.
Exercise Tips • Mix functional exercise with traditional training: use a walk to the mail box or an outdoor activity as your workout one day. Go back to your regular workout the next. • Find a friend to work out with to keep motivated. • Reward yourself! • Have at least one athome in-door exercise option that you can use when the weather doesn’t permit you to go out for a workout. • Try working out at different times of the day. Log how you feel to determine the best time for exercise. • Focus on how you feel rather than on what size clothing you wear or your physical shape. • Balance soft and hard workouts-stretch or practice yoga on days between jogging or weight training. • If you’re intimidated about getting started in public, try private home videos for tips and techniques that will help with your coordination, and base fitness level. • Plan a session with personal trainer. • Put your exercise routine at the top of your to do list. • Look for opportunities to join a fitness quest with others - join a local non-profit organization on a walk to raise money. • See fitness as a lifelong commitment built on small daily habits.
New Analysis:
Nevada Seniors Face Estimated $20 Million Reduction in Medicare Nursing Home Care PRNewswire-USNewswire --
Nevada nursing homes and the patients under their care face a $20 million cumulative reduction in Medicare funding due to several federal budgetary actions and regulatory payment changes made by Congress and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Nationally, nursing homes and patients face nearly $4 billion in reductions in 2013-14, and a staggering $65 billion reduction over 10 years, according to Avalere Health, an independent health policy advisory firm. Nursing homes, technically referred to as skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), are Nevada's second largest health facility employer. Alan G. Rosenbloom, President of the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care, said that with approximately 70 percent of facility expenses related to staffing, the impact of federal Medicare cuts combined with a fragile state Medicaid system causes significant difficulties in regard to hiring and retaining the direct care staff. "More Medicare cuts from Washington – which are imminent -- undermine Nevada facilities' ability to continue sending more and more patients home as quickly as possible. The unintended consequences of these cuts
and regulatory payment changes will affect patient access, quality and require that care increasingly be rendered in settings that actually increase the cost to government. This makes no sense, and is wrong for seniors, providers, taxpayers and the future of our entire U.S. health care system." The Avalere analysis, the first retrospective national and state-by-state look at recent reductions in Medicare payments to facilities, projects the 2013-14 budgetary impact on Nevada, based on the following major government actions since 2009: - Affordable Care Act (ACA) productivity adjustment ($7 million cut in 2013); - Case-Mix Adjustment in FY 2010 CMS Rule ($7.3 million regulatory reduction in 2013); - Forecast Error Adjustment in FY 2011 CMS Rule ($1.3 million regulatory reduction in 2013); - Sequestration provision of Budget Control Act ($4.3 million cut on January 1, 2013 ); - Bad Debt provision in March 2012 Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act ($2.1 million cut 2012-14 beginning October 1, 2012 ). Cumulative state-bystate breakdown and methodology notes available at www.aqnhc.org.
You have the power to influence. Immunize Nevada wants to remind you the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones against the flu is to get vaccinated. This season, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are recommending that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine. To learn more, visit InfluenceNevada.org
SNIHC
Southern Nevada Immunization and Health Coalition
Funding provided by the Nevada State Health Division by Grant Number 5H23IP922549-10 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
January • 2013 • 21
Windfall / page 7 Ultimately, this will result in more money for you to spend, give away, or use as you see fit. Step Three: Create or Update Your Estate Plan Wealth does not mean
much if you don’t have a plan for taking care of your family (not to mention your finances) in the event of your death or disability. After you establish a financial plan, you should meet with an estate planning attorney. At the very least, you’ll need a basic estate plan including documents such as: • A Financial Durable Power of Attorney allowing you to appoint someone you trust to manage your finances on your behalf in case you become incapacitated. • A Power of
Attorney for Healthcare allowing you to appoint someone you trust to make medical decisions in case you are sick or injured to the point that you cannot make such decisions for yourself. • A Revocable Living Trust to provide for the management of your property in the event of your incapacity during life and to allow for the smooth transfer of your assets to your designated beneficiaries, without the need for probate, after your death. • A Will to appoint a guardian for your minor children. If you already have an estate plan, it is just as important to meet with your estate planning attorney to ensure it is current and updated to take into account your new financial wealth.
If you have received a large windfall, your estate planning attorney may also recommend that your estate plan include advanced planning and asset protection options. This includes taking steps to minimize gift and estate taxes and to protect your assets from creditors during your lifetime. You may also want to use strategies to shield your beneficiaries’ inheritances from creditors, predators, and mismanagement after your death. Part of managing your financial good fortune is seeking expert advice to help you grow and protect your windfall, ensuring that it will be there when you and your loved ones need it. An estate planning attorney can give you the advice that will put you on the road to a secure future. The Law Firm of Anderson, Dorn & Rader, Ltd. is devoted exclusively to estate planning. We are members of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys and offer guidance and advice to our clients in every area of estate planning. For more information or attend an upcoming seminar, please contact us at (775) 823-9455 or visit us online at www.probatebusters.com. This article is written by the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.
22 • 2013 • January
Shaping Up Your Body and Brain in 2013
New Year's Resolution Can Bring Lifelong Benefits, Delay Dementia
PRNewswire -- At the time of year many people resolve to shape up their bodies, there's added incentive to follow through: Doing so can also boost mental fitness, potentially delaying the onset of dementia. With the number of new cases of Alzheimer's disease in the U.S. projected to increase by 130 percent in 2030 compared to 2000, it should be an important motivator to make your good intentions a reality, says Dr. Paul Nussbaum. Nussbaum is the director of brain health for Emeritus Senior Living and clinical neuropsychologist and adjunct professor of neurological surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Research cited in the National Institute of Health supported journal "Health and Social Work" shows that learning and other measures can foster new neurons and new neural connections even into one's senior years. "Knowing that brain fitness practices have the potential to delay dementia's onset, I encourage everyone to begin the New Year by making brain fitness part of their lives," Nussbaum said. Starting an exercise program is a key first step.
"Walking daily, dancing and other forms of aerobic activity help blood flow to the brain," Nussbaum said. Adopting a healthy diet is also important. Nussbaum recommends cutting down on processed foods in favor of those that nourish the brain. "Fruits and vegetables are beneficial for cognitive health," he said. "So are foods rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, such as certain fish and nuts, and antioxidants, which are foods containing vitamins A, C or E." In addition to physical fitness, Nussbaum says three other practices can have a positive impact on your brain: Socialization: Make an effort to connect and spend (Brain Health page 25)
January • 2013 • 23
THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER by Janet Ross
T
here’s one New Year’s Resolution I need to set in concrete for 2013 ... to sort through everything - contents of drawers, cupboards, shelves, files and closets. This is something I meant to do last year but, as with most “should do’s,” it became an embarrassment of inaction. Beginning on my desk, there’s a file marked “Misc.” I’ve long had a habit of picking up what appears to be interesting, informative literature. The challenge is using that information. This summer at a Gem & Mineral Show I was intrigued with a display by the University of Nevada and the Nevada Bureau of Mines and
24 • 2013 • January
Geology. If you’re any kind of rock-hound, our State is loaded with sites for Geotripping. From “Ancient Lakes and Volcanoes” near Fallon to a “Great Highway 50 Rock Tour”; details on these self-guided excursions are available at http://www.nbmg.unr.edu/Sc ienceEducation/Geotripping. html, or call (775) 682-8766 for more information. Other possibilities for a close-to-home road trip are in Douglas County. There’s the charming Courthouse Museum in Genoa, location of Nevada’s first settlement. Open from May through October, the Museum has exhibits featuring the Pony Express, the Emigrant Trail,
Snowshoe Thompson and Washo Native American artifacts in a building dating to 1865. A second area museum, the Carson Valley Museum and Cultural Center in Gardnerville will take visitors on a walk down Main Street (early 1900s), exploration of an authentic Basque sheepherder’s camp, plus the Van Sickle research library. (Call (775) 782-2555 for winter open hours or visit http://www.genoanevada.org /history.htm.) While enjoying the California coast this fall, an afternoon at the Monterey Bay Aquarium produced a handful of brochures to take home and digest at leisure. One I saved is a pocket-sized “Seafood Watch” of West Coast sustainable seafood. According to the publication, “Worldwide, the demand for seafood is increasing. Yet many population of the large fish we enjoy eating are overfished and, in the U.S. we import over 80 percent of our seafood to meet the demand ... By purchasing fish caught or farmed using environmentally friendly practices, you’re supporting healthy, abundant oceans.” Sounds
Genoa Courthouse Museum Photo:Brent Cooper
good to me. Some fish listed to avoid include Chilean Seabass, Cod, Monkfish, farmed Salmon and Bluefin Tuna, while those recommended have farmed varieties of Catfish, Clams, Scallops and Tilapia. For those of us with young grandchildren, the Sierra Nevada Kids Directory is a small booklet full of big bargains. The issue I brought home had a list of restaurants where “Kids.Eat.Free” (there are time restrictions on many, however), discount coupons for ice cream and services, and many activity ideas. Check the website if you can’t find a copy of the brochure: www.SierraNevadaKids.com If you’re in search of arts information, check the racks opposite the Nevada Museum of Art’s theater as brochures for many galleries and special events are represented here. The folks at the Homage Bakery were out of business cards or bakery menus the day I visited but, if like me you’re hostage to a sweet tooth, this is the place to indulge before making a start on your New Year’s Resolutions. Homage is at 519 Ralston in Reno, open seven days; call (775) 3238952 for hours.
HealthInsight Nevada to Reduce Avoidable Hospitalizations of Nursing Facility Residents HealthInsight Nevada is leading the initiative to Reduce Avoidable Hospitalizations among Nursing Facility Residents. The initiative, “Admissions and Transitions Optimization Program,” will test models to improve the quality of care and help reduce avoidable hospitalizations by 67 percent in 25 of Nevada’s Medicare-Medicaid certified eligible nursing facilities by 2016. Nursing facility residents often experience potentially avoidable inpatient hospitalizations. These hospitalizations are expensive, disruptive, and disorienting for frail elders and people with dis-
abilities. Nursing facility residents are especially vulnerable to the risks that accompany hospital stays and transitions between nursing facilities and hospitals, including medication errors and hospital-acquired infections. “We are thrilled with this opportunity to work, in a new and more clinical way, with nursing facilities across the state, including our rural communities,” said Deborah Huber, HealthInsight Nevada Executive Director. “This Initiative will enable nursing facilities to receive clinical resources to reduce avoidable readmissions and enhance the care experience for nursing home residents.”
Brain Health / page 23
time with other people, in person rather than virtually. Research shows that isolation and loneliness increase the risk of developing dementia. Mental stimulation: The phrase "Use it or lose it" applies to the brain, which craves stimulation and challenges. Engage in mental activities that aren't initially easy for you, whether it's learning a new language, taking up Scrabble or another pastime you haven't tried before. Doing so will stimulate the cortex and build brain reserve. Spirituality: Research suggests that stress, which has been shown to adversely affect animal brains, is also detrimental for those of
humans. It's important to slow down and take the time to engage in spirituality in the way that is most comfortable for you, whether its through daily prayer and regular formal worship or by meditating and reflecting. "The statistics about Alzheimer's disease are alarming and they demonstrate how crucial it is to adopt a brain fitness program," Nussbaum said. "As 2013 begins, please resolve to incorporate brain health into your daily life. Besides knowing you are engaging in an important practice with lifelong benefits, I think you will find you truly enjoy it." More information on brain health, including a survey and activities, are available at Emeritus.com/newyear's-brain-health.
January • 2013 • 25
BIGGESTlittle City Harry Spencer
R
ecently departed advertising and civic leader Roy Powers was honored by the G.O.D.
26 • 2013 • January
Remembering Roy Powers
(Good Old Days) Club when the “Community Hero Award” was presented to him posthumously. The event occurred during the regular monthly meeting at the Tamarack Junction Casino & Restaurant. Accepting the award was Powers’ widow Jackie. In addition to the commemorative plaque, a proclamation from mayor Bob Cashell was read by outgoing Reno City Councilman Dan Gustin. The proclamation proclaimed December 21st as “Roy Powers Day.” Speaking on the Roy Powers legacy were his brother-in-law, Don Manoukian and Bill Wallace, Chairman of the Hawkins Foundation. Manoukian lauded Roy’s legacy particularly when it came to the Reno Air Races, while Wallace noted how effective Roy was when he served on the Hawkins Foundation. Emceeing the entire event was G.O.D. Club co-founder Bob Carroll. The club was first formed about 20 years ago, when a dozen or so publicity men and newspaper types gathered for the initial meeting on the east side of the airport at Amelia’s Restaurant. The object Planning ahead puts your mind at ease and was to tell some inter ȱ ȱ ȱ ěȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ esting and never before Call us today to set up a free consulation published stories about ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ Reno in its heyday. Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ǯȱ Among the charter 775.323.7189 | www.waltonsfuneralhomes.com members, were Powers, famed newspaperman
Ty Cobb, Sports Illustrated stringer Guy Shipler, Photographer Don Dondero, broadcaster Carroll, PR man Mark Curtis, newspaperman Charlie Welch, Chamber of Commerce’s Judd Allen and the writer. As word got out about the new club, more and more people joined. Originally designed as a stag organization, the gender line was finally broken by Betty Stoddard-Muncie. Her attendance was followed by a number of females and the organization quickly doubled in size. Larger and larger quarters were sought for the meetings, which ended up at the Reno Elks Club before it was closed for remodeling. For the past several years, the G.O.D. Club has met on the third Friday of each month at the Tamarack Junction. Last week’s meeting featured an outstanding Christmas-themed program in addition to the Powers award. Long-time member Burt Bonaldi screened a DVD of a Christmas program that he and his late partner Ron Gaylord had performed. The day’s program started out with Larry Hornung’s rendition of the Star Spangled Banner and Pledge of Allegiance. The proceeding were interspersed with numerous free raffles which is a custom of the G.O.D. Club’s Christmas program. Club Treasurer Bill Berrum noted the large attendance was the highest on record and resulted in standing room only. The G.O.D. Club’s primary objective has been to preserve the history of the Biggest Little City history by those who actually lived it. Attendance is open and persons interested in receiving notification about the monthly meeting can send $10 to Treasurer Berrum. January’s speaker is Karl Breckenridge.
Jan. 17 - E-Book Help, Northwest Reno Library, 5 - 6:30 p.m., (775) 787-4100. Jan. 1 - Feb. 10 - The Light Circus: Art of Nevada Neon, Nevada Museum of Art, Reno. Jan. 8 - Reno Youth Jazz Choir, 4 p.m., Arbors Memory Care Community, Sparks, (775) 331-2229.
Jan. 18 - Bridge Group, South Valleys Library, 1 - 4 p.m., call for
information, (775) 851-5190.
Showroom, (775) 786-5700.
Jan. 19 - Riverwalk Merchants Association Wine Walks.
Jan. 24 - Senior Book Club, 10 a.m., Neil Road Recreation Center, (775) 626-3267. (Calendar page 29)
Jan. 22 - Magique, Eldorado
Answers p.31
Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29 - Senior Music Workshops with Colin Ross, $15 per month or $5 per day, 2 - 3:30 p.m., Neil Road Recreation Center, (775) 689-8484. Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29 - 55+ Snowshoeing & Lunch, 10 - 2 p.m., $16, w/LVGID Pass $13, Incline Village Recreation Center, (775) 832-1310. Jan. 11 - Art Afternoon: Workshop & Social for Seniors, 1 - 3 p.m., light refreshments, $7 / $6 for Museum members, Nevada Museum of Art, Reno. Jan. 13 & 27 - Reno Senior Dance Club, DJ Felipe Leon, instruction 1:15 p.m., dance 2 - 5 p.m., Neil Road Recreation Center, $5, (775) 689-8484. Jan. 15 - Lifescapes Senior Writing Program, Spanish Springs Library, 2 - 4 p.m., (775) 424-1800. Jan. 17 - Reno’s Mad Men: Celebrating the Oral Histories of Old Reno in Sound, Light, and Image, 6 - 8 p.m., Nevada Museum of Art, $10/ $8 Museum members, Reno. Jan. 17 - Monthly Support Group, 4 p.m., Arbors Memory Care Community, Sparks, (775) 331-2229. January • 2013 • 27
Eydie Excepts
Outtakes
A New Year begins and it’s a very Eydie Scher special one for David and me. We will be married 50 years in March and yes, you will learn more about that in the coming months. Before I get to that, I want to clear up some of the things David accomplished in 2012. Well accomplished isn’t exactly the right word but I’ll let it stand. Just a quick note: We are taking our entire family, all 14 of us, kids, wives, grandkids and ourselves on a cruise to Mexico. When you read this, we will be back. Christmas week is the only time everyone is off. Scheduling for our actual anniversary in March was a nightmare. Yes, I will be writing about the cruise though I’ll focus on family and hopefully it will be all good. I bet you can’t wait to compare our family with yours.
28 • 2013 • January
Paying it Forward: Please hold the accolades. We don’t want any. I’m just doing a brief report on one sad aspect of our community, the Homeless. Each year for the past three years, we have been bringing bags of McDonalds to a homeless area in Reno. The first time, we actually had to wait for People to show up and partake of our goodies. Now it seems there are more and more individuals in need. This past holiday season was the worst. Hands reached out to us and we gave away 65 bags of
burgers, fries and cookies in under 5 minutes. Sadly, some did not receive anything, even counting the additional cookies we had. It’s a painful sight and it keeps growing. Children are hanging out with their parents. Reaching out in person means a lot to us. The thank yous are certainly treasured words. That’s it. Now I’m lightening up! Moving on… I’m going to mention the man of my material, my husband David. Yes, he takes the brunt of my stories. Well, since we’ve been together so long, who better to deride than the person I love most? This excerpt is entitled: Backyard Boating. First I have to relate the preliminary stuff. September morphs into October and it is time. One last outing on the lake would be our last for the season. Fabulous weather walks on the Lake. David opens the covers on the boat and uh oh, he hears a rip. Okay, that can be fixed. The engine purrs to start. Inching forward, the boat stops. Not again I think. The propeller is caught in the buoy line and has to be untangled by hand. After his unsuccessful attempt to unravel the line, I get in the dinghy and get the job done. Off we speed until he glances at the gas gauge. It screams empty. Maybe someone stole our gas. At $6 a gallon, gas is more than what we pay on land. Fifty-dollars barely makes a dent. Our favorite dock at Chambers Landing is taken so he maneuvers (Outtakes page 32)
Calendar page 27
Jan. 23 - AARP Chapter Monthly Luncheon, Ed Watson, national AARP board of directors, is the guest speaker, Gold-N-Silver Casino, Reno, $16, social hour, 11 a.m. Lunch at noon. For reservations, please call Rosemary at (775) 787-2684 by Jan. 20. Jan. 23, 30 - Pinochle, 1 - 4 p.m., Neil Road Recreation Center, 50-cent drop in fee. Jan. 24 - Dietary Wisdom, Bari Caine, Reno Chapter Leader, Weston A. Price Foundation, 1 - 2 p.m., Neil Road Recreation Center, 50-cent drop in fee, (775) 6898484. Jan. 26 - AARP Driving Safety, 10 - 2:30 p.m., Neil Road Recreation Center, $12 members, $14 non-members, call (775) 786-3509 for reservations. Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26 - 55+ Snowshoeing, 10 - 2 p.m., $16, w/LVGID Pass $13, Incline Village Recreation Center, (775) 832-1310. Feb. 7 - AARP Tax Assist Program, 9 - 9:45 a.m., 9:45 - 10:30 a.m., 10:30 - 11:15 a.m., Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center, free, (775) 334-2262. Feb. 7 - Senior Services Monthly Food Pantry, 60+, distribution third Tuesday monthly, 7:30 a.m., Reno Senior Center, call (775) 328-2575. Feb. 7 & 21 - Lada Trimble Watercolor Class, 9 - noon, $20 per class, Sparks Senior Center., (775) 353-3113. Feb. 9 - Valentine’s Pops, 8 - 10 p.m., Kip Wilborn and Sal Viviano, $26 - $66, Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, Box Office, (775) 686-6600. Feb. 14 - Movie Day, craft room, Sparks Senior Center, (775) 353-3113. Feb. 20 - Blood Pressure Checks, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Sun Valley Senior Center, (775) 673-9417. January • 2013 • 29
this ‘n that
by Anne Vargas
annevargas3@gmail.com
Post Christmas Potpourri
(a full disclosure of my penchant for sentiment) You are reading this in January but I am writing it on the last day of December, wondering when or whether I will get around to putting the decorations away. Instead, I am rereading the Christmas cards and reflecting on holiday happenings. I’m also wondering whether I will get our own missives into the mail before Groundhog’s Day. The holidays can be poignant in the best of circumstances, without the beyond-words sadness of the Newton tragedy. In the days since then there have been many things I have read or heard about or witnessed that further pushed my emotional buttons. Some of them came to me via the internet so many of you may have already seen what I include here but I want to share a few things that made me reach for the tissues. - A YouTube video about a loving dog taking care of little boy with Down’s 30 • 2013 • January
Syndrome that has now gone viral. I’m showing my age, but didn’t that word used to have something to do with having the flu? Now it apparently means something on the internet has become so popular that people are emailing it to the masses but if you weren’t among the masses & haven’t yet seen it, go to Google and type in: dog taking care of boy. Quite simply not to be missed. - The long line at St. Vincent’s Dining Room as the waiting visitors shivered in the bitter cold, eagerly anticipating the hot soup inside. The good news was that I was there to deliver an enormous pile of warmth generously donated through a coat drive; the sad news was that there wasn’t nearly enough. - The look on my 3-year old granddaughter’s face as she watched the Nutcracker for the first time; she was so enchanted she didn’t move an inch and never took her eyes off the stage, clasping her hands in delight. - The look on her 5-year old brother’s face as he climbed on my lap and seriously and solemnly told me he was very worried that Santa might forget to come.
- The incredulously excited voice of his young cousin on the phone when he called to ask whether that was REALLY Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus I was seated next to on the plane. (Of course it was!)
(our friends). Noah wasn’t expected until March but chose December 27th as his birthday. He weighs barely three pounds and will be in the hospital here for quite awhile but is doing well.
- Watching the uniquely wonderful singers from the McQueen High School music class perform at a December function and the resulting smiles/ tears. What amazing talent, what joy they bestowed.
- The very young man in a wheelchair, a double amputee. He was in the waiting room at the VA hospital, laughing with his companions (wife? buddy? brother?) as they happily discussed their plans for Christmas Eve. Rather put things in perspective.
- The forlorn faces of residents at a senior citizens residence as they waited silently in the lobby, eagerly looking up each time the door opened, hoping the next visitor might be for them. - The miraculous birth of tiny Noah Elija Filkin, whose parents traveled from Germany to Reno to spend the holidays with Noah’s great-grandparents
- And finally, for the internet savvy with ten minutes to spare: www.YouTube.com, type in: TEDxSF Gratitude. The resulting video gives new meaning to gratitude and beauty as we usher in a new year.
Happy New Year.
Holiday Tidbit... Lakeside Manor Senior Retirement Community was chosen by the Dolan Automotive Group to be Santa’s For Seniors this past holiday season. Sandy Horner, Business Manager of Reno Mazda-Kia, diligently gathered suggestions for gift ideas for every resident, then purchased, wrapped, and handed them out at a holiday gathering.
“I was so privileged to be a part of this project! We forget that the seniors in our lives paved the way for all of us!” she said. Crossword p.27 “On behalf of Lakeside Manor, the residents, and their families, I would like to say a huge thank you to Tom and Ryan Dolan and the
entire Dolan Automotive Group for all they do in the community,” said Ashley Ruppert, Lakeside, executive director.
January • 2013 • 31
Outtakes / page 28
the boat to a higher one. He steps on the glove compartment to get to the ladder and
32 • 2013 • January
squish, the glove compartment smashes under his feet. That too, can be fixed. He makes a mental note. It’s back to the buoy. The buoy is nowhere to be seen nor is the dinghy. A second sighting takes us to the right area and we are reunited with both buoy and dinghy. Okay, this boat is ready for removal. The job of taking the boat out of the Lake requires David to go in the water and get his shorts and feet wet. Now,
this is a guy who refuses to set foot in the Lake on the hottest of a simmering summer day. The boat trails home with relative ease. Now the hard part awaits us. The paved driveway ends and rocks take over. I frantically wave my arms and try to direct him but to no avail. Crunch. That’s the boat and shed shaking hands. He realizes the error and pulls forward. Backing up again, the boat almost knocks into the garage that is attached to the house. I cringe and escape the disastrous scene. Where are my blood pressure pills? Replacement arrives in the form of our neighbor. Finally the boat is in the backyard where it will remains until some time in 2013 when it will again hit the pristine waters of Lake Tahoe. Yes, there is a boat in our backyard. Distracted Driving: I don’t profess to be a great driver. David usually does the long hauls. Like many men, he makes me nervous with his corrections and comments although I’ve never gotten a ticket or caused an accident in my more than 50 years of driving. David might debate the cause factor but it’s true. I am not distracted. Eyes are peeled on the road and radio songs soothe my nerves. All right, I know what he is
going to say. When someone pulls up alongside me, I totally ignore them or am oblivious to their presence. Let’s get back to his driving that is usually quite good. At 6:30 one Friday morning, he drops Bella, our puppy, off at an animal hospital to be spayed. As soon as I come home from subbing at school, he admonishes me to get ready immediately. The Yankee playoff game is on TV. TV switches to radio. On 395 or 580 as it is called, he listens attentively to the game. Oh no, bases are loaded for the opposing team. Yes, they only score one run and the Yankees are still ahead. I ask where we are and he says, “I have no idea!” We pull over and he tries to input the address into his GPS. “Why isn’t Langley Lane coming up?” “That’s because it’s Longley Lane,” I tell him. The GPS leads us to Longley Lane. “This doesn’t look right,“ he sighs. He turns the corner and there is the animal hospital. Bella is happy to see us. The vet labels her rambunctious. Shouldn’t listening to sports while driving be labeled as a distraction similar to talking on a hand-held cell or texting? I certainly think so! What about you?. I hope you have a very Happy New Year! Comments always appreciated: eydies@aol.com
Seniors4Travel
Robert Boyd & Carolyn Prusa
The Science Museum of Minnesota
N
o matter how frequently and far we travel, we can never completely absorb all of the world’s many wonders. That's why museums were created.
one exhibit to another, absorbing as much information as time and energy permitted. If you're ever in the Twin Cities for a few days, we
highly recommend checking it out. Founded in 1907, the Science Museum's building is 370,000 square feet, built into the bluffs overlooking the
Mississippi River. The 70,000 square feet of exhibition space includes a 10,000square-foot temporary exhibit gallery and five permanent galleries covering the topics of paleontology,
In the United States there are over 16,000 museums. We try to include at least one day of museum-going whenever we’re on the road. Some, like the museum we visited in the small community of Delta, Utah this summer, can consume an hour or less of the day. Nevertheless, we learned a lot about the history of the Delta area in that short time, and were happy we spotted it in a nondescript storefront on our drive through town. At the other end of the spectrum, both in size and number of stimulating exhibits, is the Science Museum of Minnesota in downtown St. Paul. We spent Thanksgiving week with family in the Minneapolis suburbs. One day of our visit, our three generational family, from 12-year-old Emmalee to 88-year-old Robert, piled into two roomy vehicles and set out for the world-renown museum. We spent a long but happy day going from January • 2013 • 33
physical science and technology, the human body, people and cultures of the Mississippi River, and the museum's collections. The Mississippi River flows outside, past ten acres of outdoor museum exhibits and programming space. There are exhibits appropriate for all ages. The museum became the third in the world to have a fully mounted Triceratops dinosaur on display. It was discovered by museum paleontologist Bruce R. Erickson in the Montana Badlands and mounted in the building's concourse. In 1978 the Science Museum of Minnesota completed a major expansion program which included the William L. McKnight-3M
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Omnitheater. The Science Museum's Omnitheater was the second in the world to be completed. We saw Tornado Alley at the theater (showing through June 20, 2013). The film follows storm chasers on their attempt to record one of Earth's most awe-inspiring events - the birth of a tornado. The movie brought back memories for us of years we lived in the Midwest, and the numerous frightening times spent watching the stormy skies as tornado sirens blew their warning. Somehow the tornados always passed us by. Some of our neighbors were not so lucky. Omnifest 2013 May 10 - June 20 The museum started the hugely successful, annual Omnifest in 1996. This coming summer, each and every
day for six weeks five films will be screened on the Omnitheater's 90foot domed screen. Check the website for film titles which will be announced soon. Senior Tuesdays: The red carpet treatment for seniors—every 1st and 3rd Tuesday. Special discount pricing: $17 for seniors ages 60+, $14 for senior groups of 15 or more. Special pricing includes a small coffee and bakery item from Java Lab in the museum lobby. Tickets are available at the Box Office or by telephone at (651) 221-9444. Coming Soon Body Worlds & The Cycle
Credit: Science Museum of Minnesota.
of Life - Opens January 18, 2013 The Human Body - Opens January 18, 2013 Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed - Opens June 21, 2013 Contact Info: The Science Museum of Minnesota, 120 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55102 Tel. (651) 221-9444, (800) 221-9444. Email: info@smm.org. www.smm.org
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