Editorʼs Desk
Personal Care Agencies Must be Licensed to Provide Care for Your Family When hiring a Personal Care Agency to provide care for a loved at home, under Nevada law those companies are required to be licensed with the state. Oftentimes companies will try to skirt the law and obtain only a city license. Don’t be fooled. Personal care companies operating without a license from the Nevada Division of Health Care Quality and Compliance are in violation of the law written under Nevada Revised Statutues. Under the state law, Personal Care Agencies are required to follow rules of compliance which include a health screening and background check on their employees. Another requirement surrounds hours of training. Caregivers are mandated to have initial training and continued training annually. Many states do not have this requirement and sometimes hire caregivers with very little caregiving experience, often placing the frail, elderly in jeopardy. Hiring experienced caregivers is very important when it comes to your loved one. Using a reputable company is also advised when opening your home to strangers. Licensed companies are required to be bonded and insured. Most caregivers are company employees and not independent workers. This makes a big difference in quality of care should there be a liability issue.
The Personal Care Association of Nevada (PCAN) defines the pitfalls of hiring caregivers who are not employees and may not meet the following criteria. ◊ Caregivers are legally in the U.S. ◊ Caregivers are properly trained, background checked, as well as current in CPR and First Aid. ◊ The agency is properly licensed protecting the referring facility from possible fines for directing care to unlicensed providers. Liability coverage and concerns of PCAN member agencies include: • Payroll taxes, unemployment insurance and workers compensation coverage are paid by the agency. • Professional liability coverage is maintained by the agency. • Caregivers are bonded and the agency has put up an additional bond to guarantee continued services until you can be reassigned to a new agency in the event of the agency closing. Quality care provided by Personal Care Agencies include in-home assessments, written care plans and supervisory follow-up. There are back-up employees to provide care if a caregiver cannot make a shift, and inhome supervisory visits occur with regularity. These things are important.
3 February 2015 CONTENTS THIS ISSUE
Page 34 - Resources
Page 4 - Elder Care Mediation
Page 35 - Crossword
Page 17 - Top 10 Scams
Page 36 - Tinseltown
Page 22 - Best Kept Secret for Longer Life, Active Lifestyle
HEALTH
Page 25 - Sanford Center
Page 10 - Community Giving:
Names Medical Director
Tax Day is Coming
Page 28 - Five Star Premier
Page 13 - CMS: Get Help
Residences Renovation
Paying Your Medicare Costs Page 15 - Center for Healthy
EVERY ISSUE
Aging: CARE ACT Page 23 - Ophthalmology
Page 6 - Opinion: Sen. Reid Page 7 - Opinion: Sen. Heller Page 26 - Calendar
FINANCIAL
Page 27 - Eclectic Observer
Page 8 - Bradly Anderson,
Page 30 - this ‘n that
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Page 32 - Seniors4Travel
- Anderson & Dorn
Senior Spectrum Newspaper P.O. Box 7124 • Reno, NV 89510 775-348-0717 SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com SeniorSpectrumnv@aol.com Publishers: Chris & Connie McMullen Column opinions are writers, not publishers. Copyrighted publication.
SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com / February / 3
Elder Care Mediation: Families can get along More often today families are electing to use Elder Care Mediation to help sort difficulties surrounding health care, finances, guardianship, Advance Directives and a host of problem areas surrounding the care of aging adults and end-of-live issues. Elder Care Mediation is an area where families can counsel with a trained, experienced mediator to resolve disputes, often plagued by emotions and broken relationships created in the past. Elder Care Mediation can work through economic circumstances, geographic distance, and family dynamics when the best care solutions for an
4 / February / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com
Connie McMullen
aging family member seems all but impossible. Jeanette Belz, of J.K. Belz and Associates, provides Elder Care and other mediation services in Reno, Carson City, and Lake Tahoe. With over 200 hours of mediation training including elder care, foreclosure, workplace, divorce and advanced mediation techniques, other specialities can be found in living arrangement planning, safety, caregiving arrangements, crisis communications, financial management and estate planning. She has also been selected to sit on various court mediation panels in the (Mediation page 24)
Editor’s Desk host Connie McMullen and Jeanette Belz, Belz and Associates, talk about Elder Care Mediation on Renegade radio.
Opinion Senator Harry Reid
Social Security is Important to Millions of Older Americans
Social Security is one of the most successful programs in the history of our country, and reflects Sen. Reid the best of our nation’s values. It rewards hard work, allowing America’s seniors to retire with dignity and providing vital support for Americans with disabilities. I have devoted much of my career to the preservation of Social Security. However, many in Washington remain hostile to the program despite its long history of success. On the very first day of the new Congress, House Republicans voted to block a routine technical correction that has been used many times in the past to ensure ade-
6 / February / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com
quate funding of promised benefits. This maneuver, which Republicans hoped would go unnoticed, now threatens a 20 percent cut in benefits for 11 million Americans who depend on Social Security Disability. That would impact the lives of nearly 50,000 Nevadans—12,000 of which are seniors, ages 65 and older. Social Security benefits are not lavish but they are profoundly important to millions of Americans. The average retiree benefit is less than $1300 month. Unfortunately, many in Washington seem to think that's too much for Americans who have spent a lifetime contributing to their communities. I could not disagree more. It is especially troubling that many of the same politi-
cians calling for benefit cuts then turn around and hand out lavish tax breaks for billionaires and corporations that ship jobs overseas. That’s not just wrong. In my view, it’s immoral. Working with my Democratic colleagues in the Congress, I will do everything I can to defend Social Security, and to oppose all attempts to undercut or privatize the program. In America, we believe in rewarding work and in keeping our promises. I am committed to those American values. And I will always fight for the men and women in Nevada and throughout our country who have worked hard to help make America great.
Opinion Senator Dean Heller
Important Programs to Consider in February
Many Nevadans have contacted me with regard to federal programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and veterans’ benefits. I believe each of these programs is essential to maintaining a positive lifestyle for seniors across the state. My seats on the Special Committee on Sen. Dean Heller Aging, the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and the Senate Finance Committee allow me to strengthen and protect these programs. While my staff and I are happy to assist you with any of these programs, you may also consider contacting the agency directly should you need further information on enrollment eligibility, your current status, or any other program questions that may arise. • Social Security Administration (SSA): o (888) 808-5481 o Logon to: http://www.ssa.gov/
o Logon to: http://www.medicare.gov/ • Veterans Benefits Administration: o (800) 827-1000 o Logon to: http://benefits.va.gov/benefits/ My offices continue to hear concerns about overpayment issues with Social Security. This occurs when a beneficiary receives more money for a month than he or she should have been paid. This is not always caught by the SSA in a timely manner, so it is important to know your benefits. When this happens, a notice is sent to the beneficiary asking for a full refund within 30 days. The notice does not mention other options. To address this, you can call the phone number mentioned above or contact my state office in Reno at (775) 686-5770. My staff and I look forward to working with you to ensure the continuity of these programs.
• Medicare: o (800) 633-4227
SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com / February / 7
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions Brought to you by Bradley B. Anderson Anderson, Dorn, & Rader, Ltd.
The New Year is here and now is the time to think about resolutions and look towards the future. One New Year’s resolution you should consider this year is to think very long term. Instead of just planning for how you can improve life in the upcoming year, the dawn of a new year is the perfect time to create a concrete plan to take care of your family after you are gone. Brad Anderson
Here are some statistics to think about: As many as 55 percent of adults in America have no will or estate plan in
8 / February / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com
The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys www.probatebusters.com • blog.wealth-counselors.com
place. For minorities, the number is even higher. A full 68 percent of African American adults and 74 percent of adult Hispanics have no Will. Without a plan in place, the state (not you) gets to decide how your assets are going to be divided. You’ll have no say over who distributes your assets, or over what happens to your property. (You could also cost your heirs some money or leave your heirs fighting about who inherits what.) So, why don’t more people have a plan?
Some don’t know how to create one, while others are hesitant to make the tough choices about how to distribute their assets among those they love. An estate planning attorney can help with the legal process of dividing your assets and can even offer advice on some of the decisions you’ll have to make when planning for life after your death. Creating Your Last Will & Testament There are lots of reasons why people need to create a comprehensive estate plan. Around 59 percent of people who
Decisions / page 8
plan for the future do so in order to avoid probate. Limiting family chaos is the second most important reason people cite for engaging in estate planning. Protecting children’s inheritances is a prime goal for around 39 percent of estate planners, while just 34 percent of people are motivated by minimizing estate taxes. Whatever your reasons for sitting down with an estate planning attorney, some of the key decisions you’ll need to make include: 1. How to distribute assets: Only 27 percent of Boomers think about how much money they will leave to others. For millennial children, 31 percent of whom expect an inheritance averaging over $350,000, this lackadaisical attitude by Mom and Dad may come as a big shock. 2. Who will make decisions after your death or disability: You may need to name a Trustee, a personal representative or an executor of your estate as part of your estate plan. You may also want to create a durable power of attorney and designate someone to act as your agent if you remain alive but unable to manage your own affairs. Both of these issues can be really contentious. For example, as Reuters explains, disinheriting a child could lead to a lawsuit to have your plan overturned (especially if the assets in your estate are large enough to make a case worthwhile). At the same time, sometimes leaving your kids an equal amount is not
going to be a fair choice either, especially if you have provided more for one of your children over the course of your life than for the others. One article on USA Today, for example, suggested that parents level the playing field at death if they paid more for one child’s education or if one child took care of them at old age. When it comes to naming a Trustee, a personal representative, or an executor, family fighting and chaos could also result if you are not clear on your wishes. Fortunately, an estate planning attorney can help you to overcome the challenges in creating an estate plan. As you consider the future and set your New Year resolutions, put it on your list to talk to your lawyer about how you can create a comprehensive plan that will give you control over your assets and avoid fighting among your loved ones after you are gone. So, this New Year’s, make your resolution one you can keep: resolve to make important decisions now about life after your death. About Our Law Firm The Law Firm of Anderson, Dorn & Rader 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. We offer comprehensive and personalized estate planning consultations. For more information or to attend an upcoming seminar, please contact us at (775) 823-9455 or visit us online at www.wealth-counselors.com.
SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com / February / 9
Community Giving
Tax Day is Coming By Chris Askin, President and CEO Community Foundation of Western Nevada
Chris Askin
Most of us usually don’t start thinking about April 15th until the end of January, as we receive our W2s, 1099s, 1098s, and other tax related statements.
For those people who employed great tax strategies in 2014, filing their taxes this year may be an almost pleasant experience. By combining charitable giving with good tax planning last year, many will save thousands in taxes this year. Although year-end is traditionally the time people think about charitable
10 / February / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com
giving, I encourage you to think about it as you are working on your taxes this year. I use TurboTax and after entering my income and the amount I had deducted in taxes, I begin to enter deductions. The number I owe, over and above that already deducted, shows in red; as I enter more deductions that number decreases. I am always hopeful that the red changes to green, indicating that I am getting a refund. Along with mortgage interest, property taxes, vehicle license fees, and a couple of other deductions, charitable deductions make a big difference. In addition to tax avoidance and deductions through charitable giving, charitable gift timing can be a big help in saving on your taxes. If you have paid
off your home mortgage, the minimum deduction may be greater than the deduction you can take by adding up your property taxes with your charitable gifts and other deductible expenses. But, if you combine certain expenses in one year, such as prepaying your property taxes and making a charitable gift to a donor-advised fund, you can take a greater charitable deduction. Then, in future years you can still take your minimum deduction while making your charitable gifts from your donoradvised fund. There are lots of ways to avoid taxes, but most of us don’t think about them until we get the tax bill. Did you know that the government deems itself to be a charity? (Tax Day page 12)
SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com / February / 11
Tax Day / page 10
The government is happy and willing to accept your donations, and sometimes the government is a good charity. A few years ago we were approached by a doctor who worked one day a week at a government-funded rural Nevada clinic. The doctor was a generous man and knew that the clinic needed a special x-ray machine. He wanted to make sure the clinic got exactly the equipment needed; so he bypassed the clinic’s required bureaucratic purchasing system. Instead of donating directly to the government-funded clinic, he made a gift to the Community Foundation. The Community Foundation bought the medical equipment and had it shipped to the clinic. This method even avoided sales tax since the Community Foundation is sales tax exempt. Nevadans care about water quality. Working with the Truckee Meadows Water Authority, through the Truckee
12 / February/ SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com
River Fund, the Community Foundation frequently makes grants to local governmental agencies. Truckee River Fund grants support projects to control sediments in the river, invasive species, and polluted runoff. These grants help reduce the cost of cleaning up our drinking water and improve the environment. Governmental entities often own the land and also have other resources to help, while the Truckee River Fund grants leverage public support. It is necessary to pay our taxes to the Federal government, but you and I most likely agree that we aren’t always 100 percent sure our taxes are doing as much good as the money we give to our local governments to improve our quality of life--and certainly not as much good as our favorite charities. As you’re working on your taxes this year, talk with your CPA or financial advisor. Ask about strategies you can employ that
will reduce your taxes when the bill comes due. At the end of the day, it’s a great feeling to pay less tax and increase your charitable giving. Charitable giving and tax planning… they go together. The Community Foundation of Western Nevada is a local 501(c)3 public charitable foundation that connects people who care with causes that matter. We have helped hundreds of people just like you make their giving effective, efficient, and enjoyable. To find out more, visit us at nevadafund.org or call 775-333-5499.
Get help paying your Medicare costs David Sayen, Regional Administrator Medicare Region 9
Did you know that you may be able to get help from your state paying your Medicare premiums? State-based Medicare Savings Programs also David Sayen may pay Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care. Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) deductibles, is an amount you may be required to pay as your share of the cost for services after you pay any deductibles. Coinsurance is usually a percentage (for example, 20%), coinsurance and copayments.
If you have income from working, you may qualify for these programs even if your income is higher than the income limits listed below. There are four kinds of Medicare Savings Programs: • Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program — Helps pay for your Part A and/or Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. • Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) Program — Helps pay your Part B premiums only. • Qualifying Individual (QI) Program — Helps pay your Part B premiums only. You must apply each year for QI benefits and the applications are granted on a first-come, first-served basis,
with priority given to people who got QI benefits the previous year. (You can't get QI benefits if you qualify for Medicaid). • Qualified Disabled and Working Individuals (QDWI) Program — Helps pay your Part A premiums only. You may qualify for this program if you have a disability and are working. The names of these programs and how they work may vary by state. If you qualify for a QMB, SLMB, or QI program, you automatically qualify to get Extra Help paying for your Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) plan. If you answer yes to the three questions below, call your State Medicaid (Medicare page 14)
SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com / February / 13
Medicare / page 13 office to see if you qualify for a Medicare Savings Program: • Do you have, or are you eligible for, Medicare Part A?
increase in 2015. But it's important to call or fill out an application if you think you could qualify for savings—even if your income or resources are higher than the amounts listed here.
• Qualified Disabled and Working Individuals (QDWI) Program
• Is your income for 2014 at, or below, the income limits listed below?
Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program: • Individual monthly income limit $993
• Married couple monthly income limit $5,329
Do you have limited resources, below the limits below? The amounts that follow may
• Married couple monthly income limit $1,331 • Specified LowIncome Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) Program
• Individual monthly income limit $1,187 • Married couple monthly income limit $1,593 • Qualifying Individual (QI) Program • Individual monthly income limit $1,333 • Married couple monthly income limit $1,790 14 / February / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com
• Individual monthly income limit $3,975
(Limits are slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii. If you have income from working, you may qualify for benefits even if your income is higher than the limits listed.) Resource limits for the QMB, SLMB, and QI programs are $7,160 for one person and $10,750 for a married cou-
ple. Resource limits for the QDWI program are $4,000 for one person and $6,000 for a married couple. Countable resources include money in a checking or savings account, stocks, and bonds. Countable resources don't include your home, one car, a burial plot, up to $1,500 for burial expenses if you have put that money aside, furniture, and other household and personal items. David Sayen is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Territories. You can always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
“Adding Life to Years�
CARE ACT: New Legislation needed! Dr. Larry Weiss Center for Healthy Aging
On February 2nd, the new Nevada Larry Weiss State Legislature began its task of passing state laws to make Nevada a better place to live. Clearly our legislators have a difficult job of trying to balance fair, necessary, and equitable services within a budget. One area that desperately needs our attention is family caregiving. The most recent estimate of the value of family caregivers' services in the U.S. is $306 billion annually (Arno, Economic Value of Informal Caregiving: 2004). In this study done 10 years ago, Nevada had 226,000 caregivers, providing 242 million hours per year, worth $2.4 billion. AARP has conducted a more recent study that states the numbers of family caregivers has grown to 532,000, providing unpaid care valued at about $4 billion annually. In the last 10 years the numbers have doubled, there is every indication that this will double again in the next 10 years. Certainly these statistics demonstrate a
tremendous need to deal with the family caregiving issue and just not take it for granted. As reported in previous articles, the Center for Healthy Aging performed a study on Washoe County employees several years ago that demonstrated that the stress of family caregivers who are employed, which equates to about 75 percent of all caregivers, has a significant impact on employers. In our study, we found that Washoe County employees cost the county over $1 million annually in lost productivity, not even including missed time at work and termination due to the caregiving responsibilities. This study collaborates with many studies done on caregivers and only reports the financial stress on the business. The impact of caregiving has
many other financial and emotional implications on the family caregiver, recipient, and actually the general public if you take into consideration what would happen to the needy elder and the use of public services. When there are no caregivers or the family cannot provide caregiving services the elders end up in nursing homes at a cost of $70-80,000 per year, most often on the public doles. Therefore, we need to provide support to our family caregivers. (Life to Years page 16)
SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com / February / 15
Life to Years / page 15
Why Nevada Needs the CARE Act ♥ Most care recipients (69%) did not have a home visit by a health care professional after discharge from the hospital. ♥ Almost half (46%) of family caregivers perform medical or nursing tasks for their loved ones with multiple chronic physical and cognitive conditions. ♥ Most family caregivers report that they received little or no training to perform these tasks.
Nevada AARP has taken family caregiving as their number one issue for the 2015 Nevada Legislature. They are proposing the CARE (Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable) Act to better support family caregivers and help elders stay at home and out of institutions. The CARE Act provides education and training to the family caregiver so that they can provide better care with medical needs.
conditions, these services are being placed into the hands of the family caregivers. Unfortunately, most family caregivers are ill prepared to provide such services to their loved one. The CARE Act will provide valuable information, instruction, and training to family caregivers to help improve the quality of care and keep their elders at home and reduce the frequency of them being readmitted to the hospital.
Key provisions of the CARE Act include having hospitals record family caregiver names when a person is admitted to the hospital, notify the caregiver of the elder being discharged or transferred, and providing information, explanations, and instructions as to the medical tasks associated with the discharge plan that need to be performed by the caregiver at home. Such issues such as medication management, injections, wound care, and transfers are included in the discharge planning and training. These medical/nursing tasks were once only provided by professionals in the hospital, but because of the hospitals being economically pressured to reduce hospital stays and home health care being limited to short-term treatment of acute
Family caregivers are now responsible for complex management of medications. The caregivers try to make sense out of multiple prescriptions that are new after hospitalization and about 25 percent of the time they are inappropriate for that elder – according to an observation by a certified geriatric pharmacist. In addition to medication management, the family caregivers are responsible for wound care, helping with assistive devices, preparing special diet meals, and operating needed medical equipment such as mechanical ventilators and tube feeding systems. Clearly these services that are becoming the responsibility of the family caregivers need to be discussed with the caregiver, providing explanations and instructions. This CARE Act should be a nobrainer for all of us to support families, professionals, health administrators, and the public. It will insure that our system provides better quality care for our elders, improves the family’s role as a caregiver, and reduce the health care expenses associated with poor post acute care, including readmissions to hospitals. What a great way to “add life to years”.
16 / February / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com
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.
Top 10 Scams Targeting Seniors National Council on Aging Financial scams targeting seniors have become so prevalent that they’re now considered “the crime of the 21st century.” Why? Because seniors are thought to have a significant amount of money sitting in their accounts. Financial scams often go unreported or can be difficult to prosecute, so they’re considered a “low-risk” crime. However, they're devastating to many older adults and can leave them in a very vulnerable position with little time to recoup losses. It’s not just wealthy seniors who are targeted. Low-income older adults are also at risk of financial abuse. And it's not always strangers who perpetrate these crimes. Over 90 percent of all reported elder abuse is committed by an older person’s own family members, most often their adult children, followed by grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and others.
Review our list of the top 10 scams targeting seniors. 1. Health Care/Medicare/ Health Insurance Fraud Every U.S. citizen over age 65 qualifies for Medicare, so there is rarely any need for a scam artist to research what private health insurance company seniors have in order to scam them out of money. In these types of scams, perpetrators may pose as a Medicare representative to get people to give them their personal information, or they will provide bogus services for the elderly at makeshift mobile clinics, then use their personal information to bill Medicare and pocket the money. 2. Counterfeit Prescription Drugs Most commonly, counterfeit drug scams operate on the Internet, where seniors
increasingly go to find better prices on specialized medications. This scam is growing in popularity—since 2000, the FDA has investigated an average of 20 such cases per year, up from five a year in the 1990s. The danger is that besides paying money for something that will not help a person’s medical condition, victims may purchase unsafe substances that can inflict even more harm. 3. Funeral & Cemetery Scams The FBI warns about two types of funeral and cemetery fraud perpetrated on seniors. In one approach, scammers read obituaries and call or attend the funeral service of a complete stranger to take advantage of the grieving widow or widower. Claiming the deceased had an outstanding debt with them, scammers will try (Scams page 18)
SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com / February / 17
Scams / page 18 to extort money from relatives to settle the fake debts. Another tactic of disreputable funeral homes is to capitalize on family members’ unfamiliarity with the considerable cost of funeral services to add unnecessary charges to the bill. In one common scam, funeral directors will insist that a casket, usually one of the most expensive parts of funeral services, is necessary even when performing a direct cremation, which can be accomplished with a cardboard casket. 4. Anti-Aging Products In a society bombarded with images of the young and beautiful, it’s not surprising that some people feel the need to conceal their age in order to participate more fully in social circles and the workplace. After all, 60 is the new 40, right? It is in this spirit that many older Americans seek out new treatments and medications to maintain a youthful appearance. Whether it’s fake Botox like the one in Arizona that netted its distributors (who were convicted and jailed in 2006) $1.5 million in barely a year, or completely bogus homeopathic remedies that do absolutely nothing, there is money in the anti-aging business.
18 / February / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com
5. Telemarketing Perhaps the most common scheme is when scammers use fake telemarketing calls to prey on older people, who as a group make twice as many purchases over the phone than the national average. With no face-to-face interaction, and no paper trail, these scams are incredibly hard to trace. Also, once a successful deal has been made, the buyer’s name is then shared with similar schemers looking for easy targets, sometimes defrauding
the same person repeatedly. Examples of telemarketing fraud include: • “The Pigeon Drop” The con artist tells the individual that they have found a large sum of money and are willing to split it if the person will make a “good faith” payment by withdrawing funds from their bank account. Often, a second con artist is involved, posing as a lawyer, banker, or other trustworthy stranger. • “Fake Accident Ploy” The con artist gets the victim to wire or send money on the pretext that the person’s child or another relative is in the hospital and needs the money. • “Charity Scams” Money is solicited for fake charities. This often occurs after natural disasters. 6. Internet Fraud While using the Internet is a great skill at any age, the slower speed of adoption among some older people makes them easier targets for automated Internet scams that are ubiquitous on the web and e-mail programs. Pop-up browser windows simulating virus-scanning software will fool victims into either downloading a fake anti-virus program (at substantial cost) or an actual virus that will open up whatever information is on the user’s computer. One example: E-mail/Phishing Scams A senior receives e-mail messages that appear to be from a legitimate company or institution, asking them to “update” or “verify” their personal information, such as e-mails that appear to be from the IRS.
7. Investment Schemes Because many seniors find themselves planning for retirement and managing their savings once they finish working, a number of investment schemes have been targeted at seniors looking to safeguard their cash for their later years. From pyramid schemes like Bernie Madoff ’s to fables of a Nigerian prince looking for a partner to claim inheritance money to complex financial products that many economists don’t even understand, investment schemes have long been a way to take advantage of older people. 8. Homeowner/Reverse Mortgage Scammers like to take advantage of the fact that many people above a certain age own their homes, a valuable asset that increases the potential dollar value of a certain scam. A particularly elaborate property tax scam in San Diego saw fraudsters sending personalized letters to different properties apparently on behalf of the County Assessor’s Office. The letter, made to look official but displaying only public informa-
tion, would identify the property’s assessed value and offer the homeowner, for a fee of course, to arrange for a reassessment of the property’s value and therefore the tax burden associated with it. Closely related, the reverse mortgage scam has mushroomed in recent years. As opposed to official refinancing schemes, however, unsecured reverse mortgages can lead property owners to lose their homes when the perpetrators offer money or a free house somewhere else in exchange for the title to the property. 9. Sweepstakes & Lottery Scams This simple scam is one that many are familiar with, and it capitalizes on the notion that “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.” Here, scammers inform their mark that they have won a lottery or sweepstakes and need to make some sort of payment to unlock the supposed prize. Often, seniors will be sent a check that they can deposit in their bank account, knowing that while it shows up in their account immediately, it will take a few days before the (fake) check is rejected. During that
time, the criminals will quickly collect money for supposed fees or taxes on the prize. 10. The Grandparent Scam The Grandparent Scam is so simple and so devious because it uses one of older adults’ most reliable assets, their hearts. Scammers will place a call to an older person and when the mark picks up, they will say something along the lines of: “Hi Grandma, do you know who this is?” When the unsuspecting grandparent guesses the name of the grandchild the scammer most sounds like, the scammer has established a fake identity without having done a lick of background research. Once “in,” the fake grandchild will usually ask for money to solve some unexpected financial problem to be paid via Western Union or MoneyGram. If you suspect you’ve been the victim of a scam, keep handy the phone numbers and resources you can turn to, including the local police, your bank, and Adult Protective Services (888-729-0571).
SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com / February / 19
The Best Kept Secret for a Longer and More Active Lifestyle By Dr. Lawrence Davis, Davis Chiropractic
Aging As we get older our muscles, tendons, ligaments and other soft tissues get stiffer. When they get stiffer they get weaker, making it difficult for us to stay as active as we like, for as long as we like. We become more fragile and vulnerable to new injuries. This is specifically true regarding the deepest soft tissue structures which support and operate our spine from the very top of our neck to our low back, hips and pelvis. Exercising and stretching are vital for our external muscles as we age. The fact is that these activities are not effective in improving or maintaining the deep ligaments, tendons and other soft tissue structures for our spine which actually control how flexible and strong our bodies can be. Mobility versus Range of Motion [or Flexibility] Doctors examining spines will measure what is called range of motion [ROM]. What we have discovered is that a patient may display a normal neck ROM [in this example we will use the neck although this is true throughout the spine] and can turn left and right approximately 80 degrees. It would be a misdiagnosis to assume that a normal ROM measurement also means the neck has normal mobility. Here is why: Each individual bone or vertebra in our neck must contribute its individual movement or mobility to make up the total measurement of the ROM. If one vertebra is working at 50 percent less mobility but several other vertebra are over compensating by over stretching to make up the difference we have several diagnostic issues which are not normal. We have a stiffening joint at one vertebra and we have over working joints at several additional areas. 22 / February / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com
Degenerative Disc Disease Stiffening joints can lead to loss of disc space and fusion. Joints are designed to allow motion up to a certain point. Keeping joints moving properly helps keep the joint healthy and it also helps keep the discs [which are like shock absorbers between the vertebrae] healthy. Discs rely upon motion in order to acquire their nutrition and hydration. Loss of normal mobility will lead to discs getting less nutrition becoming dehydrated. This leads to a painful and debilitating condition commonly referred to as degenerative disc disease [DDD]. Degenerative Joint Disease Overworking joints lead to pain. If a joint is not doing its job but is called upon to over work to compensate for stiffer neighboring joints it causes irritation leading to inflammation which we know is painful. A persistent state of damaging over use leads to what is commonly referred to as degenerative
joint disease [DJD]. X-ray shows bone spurs growing out from the afflicted vertebrae at a progressively accelerate rate compared to non afflicted vertebrae in the spine. The afflicted vertebral joints can eventually fuse together. Spinal Manipulative Therapy An effective treatment to address this extremely common situation in aging spines of DDD and DJD is spinal manipulative therapy [SMT]. There are a number of ways to safely administer this therapy to Senior age patients. Doctors of Chiropractic are highly trained in SMT and are considered the number one health care delivery profession to utilize this care. A spinal correction called an “adjustment� is delivered for the purpose of restoring proper mobility to individual spinal joints. This rehabilitates underperforming or stiff joints which alleviates the damaging stress on joints that (Staying Active page 22)
Ophthalmology
Staying Active / page 22
even alleviated pain levels and a general sense of well being similar to how they felt when much younger. With follow up care based upon progress exams many senior patients report that these benefits are very long lasting. Significantly important is that on follow up X-rays we see that the progressive accelerated DJD and DDD appear to stop progressing at an accelerated rate and in some cases we see healing and restoration evidenced by improved structures.
are over working to compensate for the underperforming joints. Diagnosis is performed using standard orthopedic tests to determine mobility as well as ROM and using X-ray to determine if there is absolute evidence of DJD and DDD.
Safety Spinal Manipulative Therapy can be safely delivered to even very advanced cases of DJD and DDD and does not need to involve what is traditionally thought of as twisting, popping or cracking. As part of a healthy lifestyle, as we age, I believe you will see that a visit to evaluate your level of progressive accelerated spinal degeneration and subsequent care to address these conditions can lead to a longer and more active lifestyle.
Uveitis Dr. Michael J. Fischer, M.D. Nevada Eye Surgery Center “Uveitis” is inflammation in the layer of tissue situated between the retina and the sclera (the white of the eye). Michael J. Fischer
This middle layer, the uvea, has three parts: the iris (the colored portion of the eye), the ciliary body (which makes fluid within the eye), and the choroid (a layer of blood vessels that nourishes the retina and other important parts of the eye). “Anterior” uveitis, the most common form, involves the iris and ciliary body. “Intermediate” uveitis affects mostly the vitreous humor (the clear gel that fills the eye), and “posterior” uveitis affects the retina or choroid at the back of the eye.
Spinal Rehabilitation Patients with DDD and DJD, following proper care, report greater ability to perform activities of daily living, greater endurance, significantly decreased or
Symptoms of blurred vision, eye pain, eye redness, photosensitivity, and dark “floaters” require immediate attention. It should be noted that uveitis can result in scarring and blindness if left untreated. If you would like further information on today’s topic, please call my office at (775) 882-1726. We are conveniently located at 3839 N. Carson Street, in Carson City, 89706. Hours open are 8-5 p.m., Monday through Friday by appointment. Master Card, Visa, and Medicare Assignment are accepted. SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com / February / 23
Mediation / page 4
Second Judicial District Court of Washoe County to provide mediation services in guardianship, custody, and dependency.
Belz, a lobbyist, decided to learn about mediation after listening to testimony in a legislative hearing. “There are always techniques to help when people are at an impasse and cannot move forward,” She explained. “People in dispute often engage each other by posturing or even pushing each other’s buttons. Things can degenerate pretty quickly.” And nothing can rise quicker to the surface that past fights of siblings who have carried a lifetime of grudges. “It sounds pretty simple but if they could figure out how to resolve their conflict on their own they would,” Belz said. There are many mediation techniques to resolve disputes, and the parent or family member of concern is invited to attend the sessions 24 / February / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com
unless there is a competency issue. The role of the mediator is: • To guide the process, not the outcome – that’s up to the parties. • Ask lots of questions – both to clarify issues as well as reframe. • Example: Party: My brother doesn’t listen to me. Mediator: I hear your frustration. What could your brother do to show he is listening? • People in conflict often describe their perspective in a negative manner. Party: Mary is taking advantage of Mom and using up all of her money. Mediator: What I am hearing you say is that Mom’s financial welfare is important to you. • Reframing is to re-word or re-state what the person has said more constructively. If mediation services are something that can help your family work through difficult issues regarding care and finances, contact J.K. Belz and Associates - Cell: 775-232-1662 / Office: 775-329-0119. Office location: 121 Washington Street, in Reno (by appt. only), or http://www.jkbelz.com/
Sanford Center names medical director for geriatric clinic Steven L. Phillips, M.D. has been named medical director of the new geriatric assessment and care management clinic at the Sanford Steven Phillips Center for Aging at the University of Nevada, Reno. In this role, Phillips will lead the development of the clinic’s services, protocols and policies, provide oversight of the clinical staff, as well as quality assurance and improvement. Phillips has worked in the field of long-term care medicine for the past 25 years as
a clinician, researcher and administrator. He remains involved at a local, state and national level with an interest in policy development, quality improvement and population based approaches. He is the founder and CEO/President of Geriatric Specialty Care (GSC) in Northern Nevada. GSC is an “Office Without Walls� serving the frail and homebound elderly residing in private residences, group care homes, assisted living facilities and nursing facilities. In addition, he serves as medical director for the HealthInsight Nevada Enhanced Care Coordination Program.
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CALENDAR Feb. 2 - AARP Driver Safety Class, 9-2 p.m., Reno Senior Center; Feb. 28, 9:30-2 p.m., Neil Road Recreation Center. Feb. 3 - Sanford Center for Aging Distinguished Speaker Series, Alive Inside, 6:30 p.m., Nightingale Concert Hall, register by Jan. 27, at http://aliveinsidereno. eventbrite.com. Feb. 2 - 14 - 2015 Senior Winter Games, Circus Circus rooms, registration, Archery, Baggo, Beanbag Baseball, Bowling, Cards (Cribbage & Poker), Cross Country Skiing, Hockey Slap Shot, Ice Skating, Pickleball, Ski & Snowboard Racing, Snowshoeing and Table Tennis, www.reno.gov/senior games. Feb. 6 - Dancing With The Stars, 8 p.m., Silver Legacy Resort, $67.75 - $77.75.
Feb, 6 8 Memphis, Broadway Comes to Reno, Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, Reno.
Feb. 7 - Todd Snider, Nugget, Sparks, $39. Feb. 7 - Radiation Screenings, UNR School of Medicine’s Family Medicine Center, 7:30 a.m. till 2:30 p.m., (702) 992-6887. Feb. 8 - Tribute Concert to Maytan Music Center, DG Kicks Band, Nightingale Hall, UNR, 3 p.m., free. Feb. 9 - Senior Day at Nevada Legislature, Commission on Aging, 7:30-5 p.m., Legislative Bldg., room 3100. Feb. 10 - Senior Tax Preparation Assistance, 9-11:15 a.m., NRRC, (775) 762-7146. Feb. 10 - SOS Education Talk, Jane Gruner, ADSD Administrator and Grady Tarbutton, Washoe County Senior Services, 10 - 11 a.m., UNR Laxalt Auditorium, (775) 784-7506 or Sinaw@unr.edu. FEB. 11 - Cooperative Extension training on pesticides, 4955 Energy Way, Reno, 7:30 a.m., (775) 3360247.
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Feb. 13 - 20th Annual Brew HaHa, Sierra Arts, Nugget, Rose Ballroom, 20 microbreweries, tickets $50, VIP $65. Feb. 14 - History in the Buff, 5 - 9 p.m., Wilbur D. May Museum, $40 per couple, (775) 785-5961. Feb. 14 - Valentines Day Feb. 17 - Senior Services Monthly Food Pantry, Gross Maximum Income --1 person $1,245 per month; 2 people $1,681 per month, 60 or older (or have spouse 60+), two bags per household, ID and proof of income, 9 a.m., Reno Senior Center, 1155 E. 9th Street. Feb. 19 - Food Truck (CSFP), Food Bank of Northern Nevada, third Thursday of each month 9:3011 a.m., (775) 331-3663 Feb. 19 - Rockapella Sings the Hits, Harrah’s Reno, dinner and show, 6 p.m., Reno Senior Programs. Feb. 21 - Los Lobos, Harrah’s South Shore Room, Lake Tahoe.
Feb. 21 - Registration closes for Adult Softball, City of Sparks Spring Adult Softball Program, games held in April through June, Golden Eagle Regional Park and Shadow Mountain sports complexes, call (775) 353-2385. Feb. 22 - 23 - Nevada Women’s Lobby/Grass Roots Lobby Days, 7:30-5 p.m., Legislative Bldg., room 3100.
Feb. 24 - Cooperative Extension Master Gardener, Liz Morrow, growing conditions and care, Bartley Ranch, (775) 784-4848. Feb. 27 - Nevada Health Day at Legislature, Legislative Bldg., room 3100, 7:30-9 a.m. March 16 – Alzheimer’s Advocacy Day, Nevada State Legislature, 8 - 4 p.m., Legislative Council Bureau Bldg.
THE ECLECTIC OBSERVER by Janet Ross
My friend Peggy died last January. Peggy had been a special part of my life since we first met in August 1973. At the time we had just moved to Sparks and I was fortunate to find a job at the Library there. Peggy was already on staff, younger than I, with two small children and a Jordanian husband. Far wiser than her years, it was Peggy's gentle intervention that saved me from permanently alienating another employee. It was Peggy, too, who listened to my anguish as my marriage dissolved. A few years later I was able to extend a helping hand to Peggy when she was in need of a job and I introduced her to the crazy world of seminar marketing. As the years passed we stayed in contact, but infrequently as friends sometimes do. When she moved to Las Vegas with her daughter's family a few years ago I looked forward to her annual Christmas letter and poem. Over the years I kept many of the poems Peggy shared; all reflected her unique view of life and our world. This year her family sent Peggy's last poem. I'd like to share it with you.
You can get on a bus If a bus stop is near Or you can hitchhike if abduction Isn't something you fear. You can also call a cab It's one option to be admired But you must plan ahead And substantial funding lis required. You can ask a friendly neighbor If they will give you a ride Or hold a sign on a corner If you swallow your pride. The solution for me Was the luckiest one I moved in with my daughter Who gets my errands done And she chauffeurs me around When I have to go So I traded my independence For a sweet row to hoe.
A Sweet Row to Hoe ‌ by Peggy Martin
I gave up my car Almost five years ago And there are things I have learned That I thought you should know. If you're a marathon runner When you don't have a car It's a fact of life You can't go very far.
SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com / February / 27
Five Star Premier Residences of Reno Showcases New Five Million Dollar Renovation A 14-month, five million dollar renovation of Five Star Premier Residences of Reno was unveiled on January 22, featuring new amenities and services. The senior living community, formerly Classic Residence by Hyatt, is centrally located in southwest Reno where it has provided independent and assisted living services for the past 26 years. In celebrating the “Grand Re-Opening,” new additions were introduced that include a movie theater, corner cafe, and expanded physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and Biodex Balance/Fall prevention
program. Showcased aminities include: • Corner Cafe - Serves Hub Coffee and Reno Provisions pastries along with Five Star soups, salads and sandwiches. The new dining venue
Five Star Theater for movies and lectures.
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The Piano Lounge offers a full service bar.
will be open seven days a week from 7-2 p.m. for residents, families, guests and staff. • The Piano Lounge - The long-established gathering spot now has a full service bar serving cocktails and wine (Five Star page 29)
(and non-alcoholic beverages), as well as tapas-style appetizers. The intimate lounge overlooks a garden courtyard and patio fire pit. • The Sagecrest dining room and private dining room. Scheduled soon to be delivering all day dining, residents and guests can enjoy gourmet dining and a full-service menu any time of day. Soon to be open from 7-7 p.m. • Five Star Theater - Watch favorite movies or enjoy a lecture from our extensive list of educators, world travelers, historians and other speakers. With state-of-the-art audio, video and web-based capability to enhance the viewing experience. • Five Star Wellness and Rehabilitation - Five Star Wellness and Rehabilitation offers a full range
The Biodex fall risk screening and conditioning program helps determine if residents are at risk to fall, and aids one to reduce risk factors and improve mobility.
of on-site wellness and rehabilitation services with a team of physical, occupational and speech therapists at the Vitality Center. The Five Star community has 170 independent and 35 assisted living apartments. SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com / February / 29
this ‘n that
Actively aging or aging actively?
By Anne Vargas annevargas3@gmail.com
W
hen a friend told me her gym was offering a new class on Anne Vargas aging, my admittedly smart-aleck response was: “I don’t need to take a class to do that, I’m aging quite steadily all by myself!” Her gym is also my gym, Sports West. I have been faithfully going there early every morning for years, assuring myself that my pre-dawn water bobbing in the pool was sufficient in way of exercise, even worthy of admiration; doesn’t a four a.m. workout sound impressive? But that “workout” doesn’t really involve much more than jumping around with water weights; there is no actual swimming because I don’t know how. For the remainder of my day I subscribe to Phyllis Diller’s philosophy: “My idea of exercise is a brisk sit," so I certainly wasn’t interested. Then I was given the opportunity to write this article about that new class in order to get the word out that something fresh and innovative by way of exercise was being offered. But in order to do that, I obviously had to attend some sessions so I reluctantly agreed to show up. Very reluctantly! I always think of any gym class as involving a lot of perspiration and way too much work. I was wrong about that; no huffing/puffing here. I also don’t like not being in control, 30 / February / SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com
which extends to feeling “trapped” in any kind of class, so what I initially liked best about this one was the fact that it was only 30 minutes (45 minutes is about an hour longer than 30 minutes as far as I’m concerned.) This class is called “Functional Fitness for Active Aging” and is quite delightfully different from what I had anticipated. Every morning on my way to the pool I see people (younger than I am people) enthusiastically grappling with a huge, alien apparatus. It is in steady use throughout the day by all those super fit athletic types, but gentle training for the rest of us in small group sessions is now offered, and that’s what I was there to find out about.
The apparatus is known as a Space Station and it looks very intimidating to a novice, which is why I had never even considered approaching it. It’s
designed for single or multiple users to perform body weight/suspended exercises in a safe (so you don’t fall) and purposeful manner. It vaguely resembles neighborhood jungle gyms of childhood days but it is a powerful training tool intended to produce maximum results with every workout, training muscles to work together by simulating common everyday movements. While using various muscles in the upper and lower body at the same time, the exercises also emphasize core stability. On this page of my calendar stability sounds good; my diminishing sense of balance is a new and unwelcome issue. Sandi Meyer is the Functional Fitness trainer at Sports West and I thoroughly enjoyed my introductory sessions with her; in fact I enjoyed them so much I decided to sign up for a series of classes, which says a lot. Sandi is well qualified to do what she does. She has a degree in Exercise Science from the University of Colorado, is certified by Aerobics and the Fitness Association of America (AFFA) and has a Seniors Fitness Certification from the American Senior Fitness Association. Most importantly, she has a special interest in working with those of us who are no longer 21, firm in her belief that the process of aging can be a positive one. She made a hopeful believer out of me. Despite my initial lack of enthusiasm, (Vargas page 31)
This is the second month of the New Year. I no longer make resolutions because breaking them, as I always do, is disheartening. A “goal” sounds much more do-able so I have set a couple. This will be the year of 75 candles on the cake so the first goal is to blow them out. The second is to make it the year of the body; treating it well so it will treat me well. So off I go, mindful of a couple of favorite quotes: “As soon as you feel too old to do a thing, do it.”
and “I don’t care about being big and strong, I just want to look good naked.”
I found the class to be fun and the exercises both easy and effective; muscles that had been taking a nap for a long while were awakened and energized. Not only did my body respond well, it seemed to be telling me it wanted more. These small group classes (maximum of eight participants) work well because the Space Station is designed for multiple users; everyone works on something different and then rotates to the next station, all under vigilant direction and supervision. The sessions I attended had only five or six people, which was ideal. We all worked within our own capability at our own pace and there is no sense of competition. Twelve 30 minute session cost $168 for Sports West members, $180 for nonmembers. Private sessions can also be arranged. There are other gyms in town that also may offer classes like this but I am not familiar with them. SeniorSpectrumNewspaper.com / February / 31
Bentonville, Arkansas Robert Boyd & Carolyn Prusa
A
recent travel column for Shermans Travel Company lists Bentonville,
Arkansas as one of five up-and-coming American cities gaining recognition in the areas of arts, food, and beverages. It’s not the first time the small Southern
city of Bentonville (population 34,000) has gotten accolades as a tourist destination. For a town once known only for being Walmart's headquarters, the community has much to offer. We’ve visited Bentonville on a few occasions – and will be heading that way again come spring. Full disclosure: daughter Ann and family live in the Bentonville area, giving us the perfect excuse to spend time in that scenic part of the country. Bentonville is in the northwest Ozark Mountain region near lakes, state parks, and numerous outdoor opportunities. Five or more public and private golf courses are in Benton County. Bentonville: Steeped in History Bentonville was established in 1836 as the first county seat in Arkansas. Steeped in history, the town has managed to maintain its charming, ancestral character. Within the city limits, there are no less than 72 historical buildings and homes. Within Benton County, there are 140 Civil War sites. The Battle of Bentonville, fought March 19-21, 1865, was the last full-scale action of the Civil War in which a Confederate army was able to mount a tactical offensive. This major battle, the largest ever fought in North Carolina, was the only significant attempt to defeat the large Union army of Gen. William T. Sherman during its march through the Carolinas in the spring of 1865. 150th Battle of Bentonville Reenactment Event Date: March 21 & 22, 2015 Address: 5466 Harper House Rd. Four Oaks, NC 27524
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The 150th Battle of Bentonville Anniversary reenactment will be held at (Seniors4Travel page 33)
Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site. The event is open to the public. For information: Friends of Bentonville Battle, phone: 910-594-0789; www.fobb.net/150th bentonville. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Thanks to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville is quickly gaining its reputation as a destination for art lovers. The building itself, a series of connected pavilions, two of which function as “bridges” over ponds built into the forest site, is considered a work of art. The name is borrowed from the nearby Crystal Springs. Three miles of pedestrian, sculpture and biking trails wind through the 120 acres of forests, gardens, and interactive education areas that surround the museum and connect to nearby neighborhoods and downtown Bentonville. The permanent Crystal Bridges collec-
tion features American masterworks dating from the Colonial era to contemporary times. We’ve found iconic images such as Asher B. Durand's Kindred Spirits, Rosie the Riveter by Norman Rockwell, and Andy Warhol's Dolly Parton. The Museum's collection also showcases major works by modern and contemporary American artists, Roy Lichtenstein, James Turrell, and Georgia O'Keeffe, to name a few. Van Gogh to Rothko: Masterworks from the Albright-Knox Art Gallery: February 21, 2015 - June 1, 2015 We are excited that a temporary exhibit, “Van Gogh to Rothko: Masterworks from the Albright-Knox Art Gallery”, will be at the museum during our visit. The exhibition features masterpieces by some of the most prominent names in art history including Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Georgia O’Keeffe, Salvador Dalí, Frida Kahlo, Andy
Rose Garden/Maria Oakey Dewing: 1901
Warhol, and Mark Rothko. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art was founded by Alice Walton, daughter of Walmart's founder, Sam Walton. She also serves as chair of the Crystal Bridges Board of Directors. The museum is open Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; closed on Tuesdays, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Admission is free. Crystal Bridges' trails are open from sunrise to sunset, every day.
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Tinseltown Talks By Nick Thomas
Rich Little Still Impresses
A
t age 76, veteran comedian and impressionist Rich Little is still zigzagging the country doing one-man shows. Impressions have been Little’s stock and trade since his school days in Ottawa, Canada. "I would answer teachers' questions in their own voices," said Little, from his home in Las Vegas. "Pretty soon, they stopped asking me questions!" That was over 60 years ago. Today, crowds still flock to see the man who claims a repertoire of over 200 voices. Unlike ordinary comedians, Little says impressionists have double-duty on stage.
Rich Little
Solution
from page 35
"You've got to do a convincing impression and also tell jokes in that character," he explained. "It's really all about concentration when you do impressions and becoming the person. Sometimes when I really get into Johnny Carson, I'll come off stage and find myself writing out an alimony check!" While Little's performances focus mostly on deceased actors, celebrities, and politicians such as John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, George Burns, and Ronald Reagan, he also tackles more contemporary personalities.
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"You have to keep it topical,"
he said. "I don't know what the future holds for me, but if Hillary becomes president, I may be in big trouble!" Although Little does some female impressions, such as Dr. Ruth, Carol Channing, and Jean Stapleton, he says Mrs. Clinton is tough to mimic. "She needs to develop a lisp or a rasp or twitch to make her a little more distinctive.” While he does a convincing Jack Nicholson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Willie Nelson, George Bush and Bill Clinton, impersonating today's younger stars is challenging due to their lack of distinguishing voices and body language. "So many of the stars of the silver-screen era had distinctive voices, walks, hand gestures, and facial mannerisms," noted Little. "But how do you do Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, or Leonardo Dicaprio? Their voices just aren’t that distinctive. Even Robert Redford is near impossible to do." In addition to his vocal talents, Little also draws sketches of celebrities. "I've dabbled in art all my life, charcoal portraits mostly," he said. "I've done hundreds of sketches over the years. I guess I have these people in my head and I can put that down on paper as well as voice. I've also done people other than the ones I (Little page 37)
imitate, like Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise. I did a pretty good portrait of Tom, but it wasn't easy because he kept bouncing up and down on the sofa!" Despite the strain impressionists place on their vocal chords, Little says his voice has held up well over the years. He has never taken voice lessons or studied the science of speech, relying on natural talent and hard work. "I just listen over and over again to a new voice and practice until I get it right.� And no, his voice is not insured. "I once contacted Lloyds of Rich Little and Friends: Left, Jack Nicholson, Humphrey Bogart, Richard Nixon, Jack Benny, and John Wayne. London, but they wanted something like $50,000 a year to insure my voice," said Little. So has Rich ever been tempted to use his talents to mimic a celebrity for personal gain? Well, sort of, he says. "Years ago when I was starting out, I ordered room service as Gary Grant – and found he got much faster service than Rich Little usually did. When the food arrived and they asked for Mr. Grant, I just took the food and said he was in the shower." Of course, not all his impressions commanded the same respect. "I once ordered a cheeseburger as Richard Nixon," he recalled. "I'm still waiting for it." To find out more about Rich Little visit Little's website at: www.richlittle.com.
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