55 and Better – July 27, 2021 by Current Publishing

Issue 7 | SUMMER 2021

AND BETTER

S TAY I N G

AC T I V E

Dancing keeps PrimeLife Enrichment Center members fit

Get convenient access to Indiana’s top cardiologists. Call 317.962.0500 to book your consult today.

Linda Grube participates in the LaBlast class at PrimeLife Enrichment Center. (Photo by Mark Ambrogi)

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55 AND BETTER Summer 2021

Exercise may be difficult but necessary for physical, mental health Commentary by Valerie J. Weesner

act: Regular exercise is beneficial for physical, emotional and mental health. Fact: Despite our knowledge and good intentions, we do not always engage in behaviors that support this intent. Why is that? As a clinical psychologist, I have often addressed the ageold question, “How do we get ourselves to do the things we know we should do, and that we even want to do, but can’t seem to make ourselves do?” Experience has shown me that some, or all, of the following five tips will help you be successful in establishing your exercise program: Small, reasonable goals: In the psychological world, we talk about the concept of “building mastery” to improve mood. Mood is not only enhanced just by having fun – we get a surge of positive emotion from setting small, reasonable goals and achieving them. For me, I was excited when all those “farmer carries” at the gym allowed me to carry in a bag of water softener salt in each hand. This satisfaction motivated me to continue my exercise program. Habit, habit, habit: Set a time and place and go exercise because it is on your schedule. The challenge is to not think about what else you could be doing during that time. Remind yourself that this is the time earmarked by you, for you, to take care of you. It makes all the other things on your to-do list easier – you feel better, your mood is better, and you have more energy. Balance: Maintain a good balance of activities in life. Exercise is important, but too much of a good thing is

still too much. It is important to include other enjoyable and meaningful activities along with your weekly exercise routine. Support and accountability: It feels great to exercise in a supportive environment. In my gym, the community of members, staff and trainers makes me feel important and successful. They expect me to show up and may even feel a little disappointed if I don’t. They call if I don’t show up, or better yet, text before and say, “Hey, I’ll be there, are you coming?” In short, they care about my success. Enjoyment: Many of us don’t actually like to exercise. What can we do about that? We can find an environment that we like, with people that we like, and go there. We can find exercise that doesn’t actually feel a whole lot like exercise because it is fun. Laughing a little, or a lot, while groaning, sweating and moving our bodies just feels good. It dumps stress and puts a smile on our faces. Behaviorism 101 suggests that the things we get reinforced for, we do more often. With self-care as my goal, I have a great reinforcer — walking into Motion 4 Life Fitness, meeting up with people I enjoy, working out hard, laughing and goofing around. I leave feeling better than when I walked in. My suggestion for you — find the place, the people and the activity that works for you.

Valerie Weesner, Ph.D., HSPP, is a staff psychologist for Motion 4 Life Fitness.

Set a time and place and go exercise because it is on your schedule. The challenge is to not think about what else you could be doing during that time.

Medicaid myths and misconceptions Commentary by Carol Applegate

any of my clients come into the office knowing a little about Medicaid, but they also have heard myths and misconceptions about the program. Medicaid is a federal program, administered by the state of Indiana, that is designed to help lower-income and older Hoosiers cover health care expenses. Here are some common misconceptions and the actual facts about the Medicaid program. Myth 1: I won’t qualify for Medicaid because I own my house Most states exempt a primary residence from an applicant’s countable resources when determining eligibility when one spouse is still living in the home and the other is in a nursing home or long-term care facility. If both are in a facility or there is an unmarried person applying, then the house is not exempt. It’s also important to know that the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program, or MERP, can file a claim against your estate after your death to seek reimbursement for expenses paid on your behalf while you were alive – which could put your house at risk after you die. However, careful planning with an elder law attorney may prevent this scenario. Myth 2: I have Medicare, so I don’t need Medicaid Most Americans become eligible for Medicare to cover their health care expenses at the age of 65. However, Medicare usually does not cover longterm care or assisted living expenses. Unless you have a long-term care insurance policy, it is likely you will need Medicaid to help with the huge costs of long-term care if you ever require it. Myth 3: My spouse and children will be left with nothing if I go on Medicaid The Medicaid program does require that you spend down any financial resources you have at the time of application in order to receive benefits. However, it is possible to transfer those assets into a trust in the years before you may need Medicaid

in order to protect them. The time to consult an elderly law attorney to protect your assets for your heirs is well before you may need long-term care. There also are Spousal Impoverishment Rules in place that allow the spouse of a nursing home resident to retain half of a couple’s countable resources up to a maximum value, all of his or her own income, and even some of the applying spouse’s income if needed to maintain basic standards of living. The rules mean the spouse not in a nursing home can keep the residence and its contents, a vehicle and their half of other assets. Myth 4: I’ll just transfer my assets to my kids in order to qualify There was a time when this was a valid strategy to reduce a Medicaid applicant’s assets so they could qualify for the program. That time is long gone. Medicaid now uses a five-year look-back period that prevents asset transfers in anticipation of the need to qualify for benefits. Your finances will be reviewed by the Medicaid program at the time of application. Any transfers made in the past five years for less than fair market value will likely be added back into your net worth for the purpose of determining your eligibility for benefits. Also, any transfer of assets within the five-year look-back period may result in a penalty period. That means the individual would have to pay privately from their own funds during that timeframe. Many people just don’t have the private funds to pay for care during that penalty period. This is one case where you SHAWN GANN shouldn’t try to wing it. Seek profes(317) 516-5200 sional help before you think you may need it. SycamoreReserve.com Carol Applegate is an attorney at Applegate & Dillman Elder Law. The firm specializes in elder law and Life Care Planning, a holistic approach to deal with legal, financial, medical and emotional issues involved in growing older. The firm has offices in Indianapolis, Carmel and Zionsville. Find out more at applegate-dillman.com.

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Facts on foot, ankle arthritis Commentary by Dr. David Sullivan

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55 AND BETTER Summer 2021

rthritis is a common condition I see in my practice. I’ll explore this condition, and how to manage and treat the symptoms of arthritis. What is arthritis? Arthritis is a condition characterized by inflammation and swelling; it impacts the cartilage and the lining of the joints, which leads to joint pain and stiffness. There are many different forms of arthritis, with different causes and treatments. Each foot has 33 joints, and there’s no good way to keep weight off those joints, which is why foot arthritis can impact mobility. Causes of foot arthritis • Genes • Past foot and ankle injuries • Bacterial, viral or fungal infections that reached your joints • Colitis or other irritable bowel conditions Symptoms of foot arthritis • Swelling in one or more joints • Joint pain or tenderness • Joint redness or warmth to the

touch • Mobility limits • Stiffness • Rashes, growths and other skin changes The forms of arthritis include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Patients have better outcomes with early arthritis diagnoses because cartilage damage may be delayed, but it can’t be reversed. If arthritis is suspected, a physical exam should be completed, and follow-up tests may be scheduled. Treatment may include physical therapy and exercise. Medication may also be recommended starting with over-thecounter options. MLS Laser Therapy may be an option to reduce pain and inflammation. Orthotics may also help manage mobility problems. A board-certified foot surgeon and wound specialist, Dr. David Sullivan is the owner of Westfield Foot and Ankle, LLC. Contact him at drs@westfieldfoot.com.

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Staying engaged at every age Commentary by David Morgan

e are made to create, to engage and to live significantly. That does not need to end when our primary career is over. In the book “Improving with Age: God’s Plan for Getting Older and Better,” authors Jill and Stuart Briscoe remind us that aging happens to everyone. It’s perfectly normal and life should be lived fully at every age. I couldn’t agree more! We have witnessed the best of intentionally living for more than 25 years, providing personalized companion care for older adults. This companion care supports hobbies, travel and everyday life, all while helping individuals stay active and find meaning and purpose. Simple tips for living fully at every age • Stay engaged and contribute your talent to things that are important to you. • Try a second career after retirement (or volunteering) to bless others. • Practice gratitude and embrace change. • Encourage others, never take yourself too seriously and laugh often. • Stay in touch with friends and loved ones; be available for grandkids. • Listen well to those in your life and share your life experiences. As active and engaged lives are important for older adults, it’s equally important for their caregivers to live significantly and stay engaged with things that are important to them. With flexible hours and the unique skill set of a caregiver position, many retired nurses, homemakers and teachers continue their passion for serving others as in-home caregivers. When I think about an engaged caregiver, Alison Brown comes to mind. A long-time Carmel resident, Mensa member and opera singer in Europe, Alison has found extreme joy in serving others as a caregiver for Senior Home Companions for more than a decade.

David Morgan is president of Senior Home Companions. For more, visit seniorhomecompanions.com.

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55 AND BETTER Summer 2021

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IU HEALTH CARDIAC ELECTROPHYSIOLOGIST ADDRESSES ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

r. Antonio Navarrete, cardiac electrophysiologist at IU Health North and Saxony Hospitals, answers questions about treatments for atrial fibrillation What is atrial fibrillation? “Atrial fibrillation or AF is an abnormal rhythm in the atrium (top chamber of the heart) which results in the upper chamber of your heart beating extremely fast. This causes an irregular rapid heartbeat which lead to a decrease in the heart function.” What are the signs and symptoms? “The most common symptom of AF is palpitations, “flip flops, drum rolls, pounding (feeling of your heartbeats) and irregular heartbeats. The other common symptoms are feeling tired (fatigue) and shortness of breath. Patients wear out easily and need more breaks to perform common tasks and they wrongly attribute these symptoms to aging. There are some people that have chronic AF with no symptoms.” A minority of patients will present with a TIA/ stroke and afterwards they find they are atrial fibrillation.” What are the causes of AF? “AF is an age-related condition. It is rare in young people and becomes more common the older you get. For example, at age 80, one in 10 people have AFib. It is also common with other heart disease like valvular heart disease, heart attack or heart failure (poor pump function). Conditions that can increase the risk of AF are elevated blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, obesity, obstructive sleep apnea and alcohol abuse.” Is AFib hereditary? “Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder and thus, having some relatives with the same arrhythmia is not uncommon. As you get older it is more likely your atrial fibrillation is related to comorbidities rather than a genetic condition.” What are the treatment options? “The first thing is assessing the risk of stroke form AFib. In general, having atrial fibrillation increases your risk of having a stroke by five folds. Not all people are at the same risk for a stroke. In high stroke risk people, a blood thinner is given to lower the risk of stroke. In patients not considered good candidate for long-term anticoagulation because of other underlying medical conditions, concomitant use of incompatible medications or life-style choice

55 AND BETTER Summer 2021

implanting a Watchman device is a good alternative. The device is implanted through a vein in the groin in the same fashion of heart catheterization. In order to treat symptoms and improve the heart function There are medicines that control the irregular and fast heart rate or restore the normal rhythm. Finally, a procedure to cauterize the atrial fibrillation (called ablation) is usually considered in highly symptomatic patients. This procedure is quite effective when AFib is diagnosed early.”

If you suspect AFib or experience a long episode of irregular or fast heartbeat, you need to be evaluated by your doctor. Untreated AFib can result in a stroke or heart failure. The diagnosis is usually easy and can be done by ECG or a heart monitor. Nowadays, there are available commercial wearable devices (Apple watch, E-Kardia mobile) FDA approved that can recognize an abnormal rhythm and with the help of Medical supervision detects early in time atrial fibrillation which is key in restoration of normal rhythm.

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Summer 2021

S TAY I N G

AC T I V E Dancing keeps PrimeLife Enrichment Center members fit

Bill Moore works out on a yoga mat. (Photo courtesy of PrimeLife)

By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

estfield resident Jerzy Kowalczuk finds the PrimeLife Enrichment Center’s LaBlast dance cardio classes to be, well, a blast. “This is fantastic,” Kowalczuk said. “I don’t know how we would survive COVID without this place. The atmosphere is great. People like each other and support each other. I would recommend that for everybody.” Kowalczuk, 74, has been taking the exercise classes for about six years at PrimeLife in Carmel. His wife, Marie, started four years prior to that. The LaBlast classes are part of Revel Fitness. Revel Fitness started in its own spot in Carmel in 2010. It moved into PrimeLife, renting space in 2016 and became a program for PrimeLife nearly two years later. “It’s mostly dance fitness,” said Revel Fitness founder Cindy Schembre, now an assistant director of PrimeLife. “But it’s a little broader range of ages. Our sweet spot for our evening and weekend classes, it’s about (the) 30- to 50-age range, mostly all women. During the day, we have the LaBlast class, which is based on ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ That group is our largest fitness class. We have 15 to 17 people a week. The average age is 72 to 73.” LaBlast, which was developed by “Dancing with the Stars” fan favorite Louis van Amstel, is partner-free with a variety of music. Linda Grube, 72, has been taking the dance classes for four years, but joked she is still in the back row. “It keeps us moving and keeps our joints better,” the Carmel resident said. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, PrimeLife offered Zoom platforms for many of their classes, including dance and exercise, in 2020. In May, the classes opened more fully in-person. “We could do the virtual classes but it’s not the same as being with our friends,” Grube said. Noblesville resident Joyce Clancy, 74, has been taking classes for seven years. “If I keep doing this, then I’ll stay in shape,” she said. Indianapolis resident Bill Moore, 79, takes part in

55 AND BETTER Summer 2021

Jerzy Kowalczuk participates in the LaBlast class at PrimeLife Enrichment Center. (Photo by Mark Ambrogi) yoga, balance, strength building, aquatics, plays volleyball and walks on the track. “I average 18,000 steps a day,” he said. “I love this place. It’s a fantastic place to be.” Twelve times around the indoor walk track is a mile. There are exercise machines donated by St. Vincent. In addition to dance and exercise classes, Julie Barnes, PrimeLife’s community engagement and activities coordinator, said there are card-playing classes for bridge and euchre. “We have a card-making group where they make paper cards artistically,” said Barnes, a Westfield resident. “We have art groups that meet every week.” There are book clubs, including Your Good Life, a literary community for seniors by seniors. “Our aquatics classes are super popular,” Barnes said. “We have a warm-water pool that is 87 to 92 degrees, so it warms your bones.” The Second Helping lunches are on Wednesdays and Fridays.

“They are free, free to anybody in the community,” Barnes said. “If you’re not a senior and you’re hungry, fine, come in. Wednesday, we have a lunch and learn. We always have a speaker, someone from the community or somebody who has a cool idea, or someone involved with seniors or someone who performs. For 30 minutes, they interact, they entertain, it’s a joy. On Fridays, we’re hoping to have groups afterwards with bereavement, dementia. We do have our caregivers support group once a month that is sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association.” Hot meals are offered on other days, with $3 a meal from CICOA. The computer and game room also are available to those with a basic membership. Basic membership for PrimeLife is $20 a month. The enhanced membership is $40 a month and includes aquatics and exercise or dance classes. The basic membership is covered by some insurance programs. For more, visit primelifeenrichment.org.

Lundgren had enriching career By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

alph Lundgren’s career path proved to be an enriching experience. The Barrington of Carmel resident retired as vice president for education for the Lilly Endowment in 1999. Lundgren, now 86, served 26 years at Lilly Endowment. Lundgren “My main responsibility dealt with education, and within that context, principally higher education,” Lundgren said. “This applied to institutions that would apply for financial grants, both public and private. It was a very rewarding and enriching experience, working with a lot of very bright people and covering a wide range of interesting and topical areas.” Besides serving on national advisory boards, Lundgren participated on many boards, including Carmel Symphony Orchestra, Carmel Clay Public Library, Carmel Clay Education Board, Volunteers of America and Service Corps of Retired

Executives. Lundgren and his wife, Nancy, moved to The Barrington’s independent living section seven years ago. They previously lived approximately 2 miles away in Carmel. “The activities are most ample,” Lundgren said. “We both participate if they have speakers come in. They are some things we do individually. You have to participate in something just to be a part of the group. It’s very well organized. There are social actives like card games, like bridge that go on all the time. It has been an exceptionally good fit.” Lundgren said even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic because they could see people. “If we were in our private home during the pandemic (shutdown), we would not have had that same opportunity,” he said. “We were blessed in that sense.” The couple has three children, Craig, Jennifer and Eric, all Carmel High School graduates. The couple also has nine grandchildren.

I finally found a podiatrist I can trust.

Ruth Buhrt, Wound Care & MLS Laser Therapy Patient

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55 AND BETTER Summer 2021

Beware of retirement misconceptions Submitted from News and Experts

any people look forward to retirement and all the enjoyment it can bring after having worked so hard for decades. But from a distance, whether a few years or many years away from retirement, it’s not easy to clearly see what retirement will look like. It’s a bit misty, because, after all, there is a lot of uncertainty about the future, and how much money someone will need during retirement and have on hand is subject to numerous variables. But in the process of looking ahead, some people miscalculate, in part because they are not fully informed, said Dariusz Godlewski, a licensed investment advisor representative and the president of Financial Wealth Alliance. “Some of the things people assume to be true about money matters in retirement actually are not, and some financial points they think they grasp instead require a deeper dive,” Godlewski said. Godlewski said that one of the biggest misconceptions people have is that they will pay less in taxes in retirement,

but for many, that’s not true. “For one thing, they won’t have many deductions anymore,” he said. “If they were itemizing, a lot of those deductions go away. Most of the money Americans have is in tax-deferred accounts such as IRAs and 401(k)s, and they’re going to pay taxes on those distributions. Therefore, they need to strategize to lower their tax bill in future.” One strategy, Godlewski said, is doing partial Roth conversions on their IRAs and 401(k)s. “Roth IRAs offer tax-free growth on both the contributions and the earnings that accrue over the years, and the other big benefit in retirement is you won’t pay taxes when you take the money out,” he said. “When current tax rates are relatively low, it’s a good window of opportunity to partially convert to a Roth.” Godlewski said tax diversification also is important – having a portion in taxable accounts, another amount in tax-free accounts, and some in tax-deferred accounts.

Start your fall gardens now By Anna Skinner anna@youarecurrent.com

vegetables in.” espite the heat of late July, Hancock County Master Gardener Snider said the end of July or early August is the best time to plant Emily Snider said it’s not vegetables such as beets, cartoo early to start a fall garden. rots, kohlrabi and radishes – veg“Right now, your summer vegetables that grow below ground. etables are the height of it, so I have the tomatoes and stuff like But because the heat might be too much for some cool-season that growing, but now is when I vegetables that grow above start working in the cooler vegground, she suggests waiting etables like carrots and beets,” Snider until the end of August to plant said Snider, a Fortville resident vegetables like lettuce and kale. and owner of Emily’s Backyard Blooms, a local flower and plant shop. Gardeners also can strategically use Snider said gardeners don’t have to rid shade and water to make sure their fall garden doesn’t get too hot in the late their garden of the summer vegetables summer heat. that are still producing. Instead, start fall “It is still hot out, and Indiana weather items in containers and transplant later is finicky, so be mindful of the weather,” or, in the case of root vegetables that Snider said. don’t transplant well, keep in containers Fall also is the best time to plant flowthroughout the fall season. er bulbs for tulips, daffodils and other “That’s perfect for people who are spring flowers, as well as transplanting limited on space or don’t have the best peonies, cone flowers or Shasta daisies. ground to grow in because you can still “Once the weather has cooled off, grow in containers,” Snider said. “I use they take root faster,” Snider said.  For larger buckets or milk crates to make more, visit emilysbackyardblooms.com. impromptu pop-up gardens to plant my

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55 AND BETTER Summer 2021

ncore is the perfect place, at the but truly moving forward and enjoying perfect time for me! life. They help us make an encore that For the past 20 years, is worthy of applause. my husband Ed and I lived One of my greatest joys is in a lovely three-bedroom the new friends I’m making bungalow on a small pond at Encore. The community in Fishers, until his untimely is a wonderful mix of human passing last year. After 55 beings who would probably years of marriage, six chilnot have been neighbors in dren, 12 grandchildren and other circumstances. Those five great grandchildren, of us seeking an “encore” to Benz moving to Encore 55+ Boulife are a marvelous fusion of tique Apartments was the best thing ages (all over 55 years of age; but still I could have done to get on the road a broad range); races; religions; occuto recovery and my “encore.” I’m pations; political parties; socio-econever going to like that my sweet hus- nomical backgrounds; interests; band Ed is not sharing this with me, hopes; and dreams. The one common but my family, friends (old and new) denominator seems to be a true deand the wonderful staff here will help sire to help each other get back up me make it. on life’s stage to play out that second, Our property wasn’t large, but it third, fourth, or even fifth act of life – was becoming too large for me to whatever it may be. maintain by myself financially, physEncore 55+ Boutique Apartments ically, socially, and emotionally, so provides the “stage,” “script,” “cosI knew it was time to move. There tumes,” and “props” for the next act, were many fine communities for the whatever it may be. Sometimes, we ever-growing number of us who are don’t have any idea what that is, but struggling to find suitable places to at Encore, through a pleasant, but spend our extended life expectancies, not fussy environment and low key however, Encore was a bit different opportunities, we are offered enough from the others. And that difference challenges to find out. The amenity made all the difference. I enjoyed most the first days was The Encore community is equipped my balcony because it wasn’t filled for the needs of an active ager popwith boxes to be emptied. That, of ulation; but they do not look old and course, has changed and continues to depressing. In other words, residents change. What I enjoy most is probaare encouraged to continue living bly the ever-changing opportunities. autonomous lives, knowing that every Our community events are wonderful effort will be made to assist them as and I feel very comfortable meeting new or temporary needs arise. I can’t new people in a “safe” environment. say enough positive things about the Little by little, because nothing is staff. They know our personalities, forced, Encore, the community, the our needs, our joys, our downs, our staff and the environment, is becompleasures, and, they try to put them ing “home” — even without my sweet together into a great life “ENCORE” husband Ed. so that we are not just marking time;

After 55 years of marriage, six children, 12 grandchildren and five great grandchildren, moving to Encore 55+ Boutique Apartments was the best thing I could have done to get on the road to recovery and my “encore.”

Midge Decker and Hal Schimmelpfennig (Photo courtesy of Marquette Manor)

Residents find love at Marquette Manor By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com

idge Decker and Hal Schimmelpfennig weren’t looking for love, but the couple found it at Marquette Manor. Schimmelpfennig, who has lived at Marquette Manor for five years, retired from Eli Lilly in 1987, working in the international management division. Schimmelpfennig, 89, lived in Iowa before Lilly moved him to the Indianapolis area in 1980. Decker moved from Huntington to Marquette Manor three years ago. Both of their spouses had died before moving to Marquette. “Marquette has a culture of people getting to know each other,” Decker said. “I was invited to sit with him by different people and we got acquainted that way. We started doing things together that Marquette sponsored and went from there. It turned into something wonderful. It’s something I was not looking for when I moved here, but it’s wonderful. It’s made life really great.” Decker, 78, is a retired pharmacist, so she said that was one thing they had in common. “We realized how much we were alike and things we liked were so similar. It just really clicked,” she said. “We started playing pickleball together. That’s a new activity. Marquette sponsors a lot of experiences where we go on day trips and meals and things like that. We do a lot of walking and working out together.” Schimmelpfennig said the community has an outstanding workout room with a variety of equipment. “We use a lot of different machines but do it at the same time together,” he said.

For luxury Independent living in the Indianapolis area, the choice is yours. Whether you’re looking to live independently on a sprawling 300-acre campus with high-end amenities throughout, or in a luxury urban setting with everything you need under one roof, Hoosier Village and The Barrington of Carmel allow you to choose the community that checks all your boxes. At the two leading Life Plan Communities in the Indianapolis area, you can live as independently as you’d like with the assurance that, should your needs change, we provide all the support you need. Whichever community you choose, we promise to exceed your expectations. BHI Senior Living Communities are well known for their luxury, stability and unrivaled quality. We are proud to offer two superb communities in the Indianapolis area so that you can choose your perfect fit.

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bhiseniorliving.org 55 AND BETTER Summer 2021