primeSPOKANE.com
August - September 2013 #43
Having the time of your life in the Inland Northwest
Classic Style The secrets to looking great for Your age
Heart Attack Prevention Risk assessment and lifestyle education can keep the Big One at bay
Never Too Late to Date
Feeling lonely? Now may be the time to jump back into the dating pool
Sound Affects
Using music to lift the spirit and strengthen the mind
contents
Having the time of your life in the Inland Northwest
August / September 2013
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Editor’s Letter Masthead
features
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The Front Porch
Flying High
Veterans take flight with Ageless Aviation Dreams; AARP Message: Legislative wins for Washington’s seniors; Hollywood needs to make more adult movies; Wild about Huckleberries; DayTripping: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
20 It’s Never too Late to Date
Just because you’re over 50 years old and single, it doesn’t mean you have to be lonely. Whatever your age, the best way to jump back into the dating pool is to keep an open mind, focus on the things you have in common, and make your primary goal to simply have fun.
22 Looking Great at Any Age
As you age, you sometimes sacrifice style and beauty for comfort. When you sacrifice style, you also sacrifice self-esteem. The fun of being a “mature” woman is being creative and self-expressing through your personal style.
What’s your Hidden Heart Attack Risk? 28
Most people think they are not at risk of a heart attack if they control their cholesterol and blood pressure, but they aren’t aware of other major risk factors. The good news is that with the right information and strategies, heart attacks are preventable - even if heart disease runs in the family.
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5 Natural Habits that Add Years to Your Life
Do you want to live longer – and more healthily? Then start adding to your range of good habits that promote good health.
Sound Affects
No musician or music lover denies the transformative power of music. Music is good for the spirit. For seniors, music can bring about positive changes in emotional and spiritual wellbeing and cognitive abilities.
Inspiration 38
From peonies to peaches, from carrots to cantaloupe, the Spokane Farmer’s Market is the place to find the freshest flowers, fruits and vegetables.
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About the cover Come along on date night with three fashionably fun couples who prove that looking great has nothing to do with youth - in fact, with age comes maturity and an “advanced” sense of personal style.
August - September 2013
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editor’s letter By Darin Burt
Don’t act your age I believe in cultivating patient trust and empowerment through educated care. Olivia M Sementi, md Board Certified
Compassionate, comprehensive women’s health care, close to home.
In-Office AIUM Accredited 3D/4D ultra sound Accepting New Patients 509.924.1990
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T
o paraphrase Tina Turner, 73 years old, still looking fabulous and recently married for the second time, “What’s age got to do with it?” One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from editing this magazine is that age ain’t nothing but a number. We have all heard the statement, “Act your age!” My question is, what does that mean? Oh, I know we all say it to children who are acting like babies, but far too often people will continue to hear it as they grow into adulthood. Heck, I’m 45 and I hear it at least once a week. I asked some of my Facebook friends their reaction when somebody tells them, “Act your age,” and here’s a few of their comments: “Age only defines the body, not the mind.” “It’s hard to act my age when I never been this age before.” “I’m having fun!” “I assume that person is jealous of my awesome life.” “I STILL don’t know what I want to be when I grow up...so what’s in an age?” “What is the point in being grown up if you can’t act childlike once in a while?” “I take a Geritol and go to sleep.” Okay, that last smart aleck comment aside, people’s personalities certainly grow up a bit as they go through certain stages of life, such as getting married and especially becoming a parent or grandparent. But while our bodies grow older, our spirit stays young. People who don’t let their age limit them live fuller lives. Consider the people you are about to meet as you read this magazine.
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There’s a 91 year old WWII pilot who was so excited about a ride in a biplane that he bounded up into the cockpit as if he were back Europe ready to take on the Gerry’s. We follow a group of fashionable “chronologically advanced” ladies (and their equally hip husbands) as they head out for a date night, proving that like a fine wine, style only improves with age. We also talk to a “senior sexpert” about what it means to be back in the dating pool in your later years (it certainly isn’t about hanging out at the malt shop!). One thing is for certain, they were all full of energy and excited about life and looking forward to the future with great anticipation. With that comes greater attention to maintain a healthy body and mind. We take you to Spokane’s Heart Attack & Stroke Prevention Center, where doctors are helping people avoid “the big one” by assessing their risk factors and educating them to make informed lifestyle choices. We also get some insightful tips on how to extend your years through implementing some “natural” habits into our daily routine – for instance, did you know that the color of the food you eat will help you control stress? It’s true. Then we visit a senior care community where they are using music to boost memory function and bring comfort to residents in difficult times. Music, as they show, is “food for the soul and the mind.” So, if there’s a theme for this issue, it’s this: Live life to the fullest and whatever you do, don’t act your age! But it might not hurt to also take your Geritol.
Darin Burt, Editor darin@bozzimedia.com
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August - September 2013
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Family Dentistry
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Having the time of your life in the Inland Northwest
Vol. 7 Issue 4 August / September 2013
Editor Darin Burt • darin@spokanecda.com
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Business Development emily guevarra bozzi
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U.S. Air Force Veteran Orval Wood prepares for take-off.
Flying High
Ageless Aviation gives veterans the ride of a lifetime
O
rval Wood may be 91 years old, but you wouldn’t have thought he was a day over 50 the way he climbed onto the wing and into the cockpit of the blue and gold biplane on the tarmac at Felts Field Airport.
frontPorch August - September 2013
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front porch
Kathy Bryant Seniors Real Estate Specialist & Top Spokane Realtor
509-993-3538 Century 21 Beutler & Associates 41 W Riverside – Ste 310 – Spokane, WA kathybryant@21goldchoice.com www.YourMoveYourTerms.com
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Pilot Darryl Fisher extends his thanks to U.S. Navy Veteran Lloyd Wood.
Wood hadn’t been in a plane like this since flight school back in 1943. As a member of the Air Force during WWII, he went on to pilot a P-51 Mustang on top secret photo-reconnaissance missions over occupied Europe. “I ended up with a few holes in my airplane from flack once or twice. . .I had no guns, so I had to keep my head on a swivel, watching for other aircraft,” Wood said. “We were warned not to let the Germans get anywhere near us because they liked to get the photo-recon planes because we had the pictures.” This mission would be less dangerous. In fact, Wood wore a ear-to-ear grin as he donned a leather aviators cap in preparation for taking off for a ride courtesy of Ageless Aviation Dreams, a nonprofit organization dedicated to “giving back to those who have given.” The foundation and its supporters honor senior military heroes living in senior care communities by giving them a Dream Flight in a 1942 Boeing Stearman, the airplane used to train many military aviators in the late thirties and early forties. The layover in Spokane was arranged by Orchard Crest
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Retirement Community as tribute to two of their honored residents. “It was fun! I even took the controls and flew it a little,” Wood said. “It takes a little while to get used to the controls again. . .you just have to keep your nose up and watch your altitude and air speed.” “This is beautiful country,” he added. “It’s so amazing to see the big picture of God’s creation.” Lloyd Seahorn, 88, was the second passenger to spread his wings. A member of the Seabees 85th Naval Construction Battalion, Seahorn spent much of WWII building airstrips, bridges, roads, gasoline storage tanks, and quonset huts for warehouses, hospitals, and housing. Just 21 years old at the time, he had learned about electronics while taking classes at Lewis & Clark High School. While Seahorn wasn’t a pilot himself, his brother was an Aerial Engineer, taking care of aircraft in the Air National Guard. Diana Carter, Communications Director for Orchard Crest, said she was thankful Ageless Aviation came to town and helped provide her residents with a gift they’ll never forget.
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August - September 2013
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front porch
Comfort, Security, Peace of Mind What Seniors Desire Most
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Marathon legislative session delivers wins for WA seniors By Ingrid McDonald, AARP Advocacy Director The 2013 Washington State Legislative Session is over at last. It took a long time and we faced the threat of a state government shut down, but there were a number of positive outcomes that Washington seniors and their families can be proud of. This past fall, thousands of AARP members from across the state spoke with then Gov. Elect Jay Inslee on a special telephone town hall, where Inslee promised to increase funding for education but not at the expense of senior services. The budget he just signed does just that. Here’s a short list of some highlights and a few disappointments.
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Highlights: Medicaid was fully expanded giving 40,000 Washingtonians age 50-64 access to the health care coverage they need. Another 90,000 people is this age group will be eligible for subsidies and tax credits to help them purchase coverage they can afford through the Washington HealthplanFinder, the newly established health care marketplace More than 100,000 people age 50+ will have their Medicaid dental benefits restored. There were no cuts to the number of
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home care hours available to vulnerable adults who wish to remain in their own homes. The Kinship Caregiver Program was retained. There were no reductions to pensions or health benefits for retired state workers. Disappointments: The Office of Public Guardianship was reduced by half. There were no new investments in Adult Protective Services/Residential Care Services investigators There is no new funding for Complete Streets measures which allow for better navigation of our streets by all users (pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists). A New Focus on Preparing for the Age Wave The new budget signed into law also includes the establishment of a two year Committee on Aging and Disability. This Committee will be composed of four legislators from each party and four members of the administration and will convene by September 1st of this year. They are charged with identifying key strategic actions to prepare for the aging of the population in Washington. We’d like to thank legislative sponsors,
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Up to 30 pounds in 30 days! Senator Barbara Bailey (R-10th) and Representative Steve Tharinger (D-24th), for their leadership in creating this committee. Legislation Passed to Protect Consumers and Vulnerable Adults Here’s a short list of successful bills that AARP supported because they will protect our members and their families: Long Term Care Insurance Consumer Protections, SB 5216 Adult Family Home Resident Protections, SB 5630 Neighborhood Safe Speeds, HB 1045 Medication Access for the Uninsured, SSB 5148 Protections for Vulnerable Adults, SB 5510 A Little Progress on Tax and Budget Fairness Legislators failed to engage in meaningful discussion about structural tax reform and did not agree to close any of a long list of tax loopholes proposed by the Governor and House Democrats. They did however, take action on two tax measures including an estate tax fix (Bracken Decision) HB 1920 and a telecommunications tax parity bill ESSHB 1971. Together these two actions raised $269 million and along with the better than expected revenue forecast helped lawmakers close the gap and end their budget stalemate. The final budget also included ESSB 5882 which included a number of new tax breaks benefiting interests such as honey bee keepers, dance clubs and more, but notably also included new tax exemption transparency and accountability measures, including clear definitions of the intent, measureable outcomes and expiration dates for all new or extended tax preferences. The other key measure of progress on this front was the defeat of SB 5895 which called for an arbitrary spending limit on all non-education spending. AARP strongly opposed this bill which, if passed, would have triggered deep cuts in vital public services critical to all generations.
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August - September 2013
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front porch
Do you like Adult films? So you’ve had enough! You’re fed up with violent, too intense, crude, blockbuster or youth-driven movies that ignore your craving for uplifting, inspirational, real life or romantic stories that move you or fill your heart with love and joy, and whose protagonists are in your age group. Now’s your chance to tell Hollywood how you feel. New York Times bestselling author and award-winning filmmaker James Twyman is launching a movement under the banner of The Senior Cinema Circle to gather one million or more signatures to place on the desk of Hollywood’s decision makers demanding movies that appeal to the baby boomer and esteemed elder set. “Boomers were raised with classic films and actors like Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn,” notes Twyman. “They’re not as easily fooled by the latest Hollywood trends. They also would rather see a movie in a theater. The problem isn’t that boomers aren’t interested in seeing films. It’s that there aren’t enough movies they relate to anymore. Last year 7.9 million adults 50+ saw a film once a month or more. They support
films that resonate with them –“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” did $46 million business in the US and $90 million globally. Consider the box office success of “Hope Springs,” “The Bucket List” and “The Notebook” in recent years, films that appealed to audiences in multiple demographics. “Give people better films and they will come more often,” Twyman says. “Every person I know over the age of 50 is complaining that there is so little at the box office that is worthwhile spending money on.” “The movie industry must hear directly from seniors who want to see more films being made that suit their interests,” observes Twyman. “With the focus on mega-films based on comic book characters and action movies that cost $100 million or more, there doesn’t seem to be much room for story-driven movies based on mature themes. If we can gather at least one million names, it will show them that seniors are committed to paying to see films they believe in.”
Let Hollywood know you want more than popcorn and candy at the movies
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To fill out the survey and join the online petition, go to: www.seniorcinema.com
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recipes
Wild about
Huckleberries!
In the Northwest, August means the start of the picking season for the rare, but amazingly delicious huckleberry. This relative of the blueberry is elusive and hard to grow, so your best chance to enjoy this tart, sweet, juicy berry is to pick it yourself. That means a trip out into the wilderness. Wild huckleberry patches can be a well-guarded secret. Information that might only be passed on to a few select family members from generation to generation. But if you would like to pick your berries off the bush rather than at the farmer’s market stand, a call to your local ranger station might be the quickest way to hear about the best picking areas that day. Sandpoint and Priest Lake are both local areas known for their wild huckleberry patches. So strap on the hiking shoes, get out the gloves and get to picking! Huckleberry Freezer Jam
Huckleberry Cobbler
3 cups crushed huckleberries 6 cups sugar 2 Tbsp. lemon juice 2 (3 oz.) foil pouches liquid pectin Measure crushed berries, sugar and lemon juice into large bowl; stir until sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Stir in pectin quickly, but thoroughly. Ladle quickly into clean containers; cover tightly. Carefully wash outside of containers; let them stand at room temperature until set (up to 24 hours). Store in freezer. Yield: about 8 cups.
3 cups huckleberries 1⁄3 cup sugar plus 1⁄2 cup sugar, 2 tablespoon lemon juice 1⁄4 cup margarine 3⁄4 cup flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1⁄4 tsp. salt dash cinnamon dash nutmeg 1⁄2 cup milk Lightly grease an 8x8-inch baking pan. Combine huckleberries, 1⁄3 cup sugar and lemon juice; pour into pan. In a bowl, cream margarine and remaining 1⁄2 cup sugar. In another bowl, sift together, flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk to the creamed mixture. Pour over the berries in the pan. Bake in a 400°F oven for 40 minutes or until done.
Huckleberry Ice Cream sauce 4 cups huckleberries 1 cup sugar 1 cup water 11⁄2 tablespoons cornstarch Place huckleberries in a saucepan. Measure 1 cup water. Remove 2 tablespoons of the water to use with the cornstarch. Add sugar and remaining water to the huckleberries and heat to boiling. Make a thin paste of cornstarch and the 2 tablespoons of water and add slowly to huckleberries. Simmer 15 minutes or until thick.
travel
Coeur d’Alene Resort
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Coeur d’Alene Diamond Cup
Seasons Fresh Grill
Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course
The Cellar at 317 Sherman
I
t’s easy to think that Spokane is an island to itself, a long drive from anything resembling a getaway. Most of us head west to Seattle, but don’t forget that Coeur d’Alene is a little over a half-hour to the east and a world away. With over 135 miles of shoreline, Lake Coeur d’Alene is one of the largest, most pristine lakes in the Northwest. For boaters there are more than a dozen well-maintained boat ramps around the lake. Eight are close to town, and three are around Wolf Lodge Bay. Aside from the lake itself, Coeur d’Alene’s
Daytripping 16
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Getting there
From Spokane: 40 miles / 38 minutes Directions: Couldn’t be easier; you don’t even need GPS. From Spokane, head east via Interest 90. Take the Northwest Blvd exit (Exit 11) and turn right towards downtown.
most recognizable landmark is the Coeur d’Alene Resort. Towering over the northern part of the lake, the world-class resort offers luxury accommodations, quality restaurants and a relaxing spa. The resort’s golf course, ranked as the #2 resort course in the nation, second only to Pebble Beach, features an expansive lakeshore, a forested ridge, gently rolling woodlands and Fernan Creek - a revitalized trout stream. For the biggest challenge, take a swing at reaching the world’s only floating green. Attached to the resort via a sky bridge is The Shops, a resort mall packed with clothing boutiques offering both men’s and women’s fashions, specialty shops, candy stores, and art galleries. Downtown Coeur d’Alene is the perfect place for a stroll where you can visit antique stores and galleries displaying amazing works by Inland Northwest artists. When you’ve worked up an appetite, CDA offers a tasty menu of fresh, creative cuisine and area wines. Satay Bistro, Scratch, Seasons Fresh Grill, The Cellar at 317 Sherman and Ugly Fish Asian Bistro are just a few of the favorites. Java on Sherman, voted one of the “Must Visit Coffeehouses” in the United States by the prestigious ZAGAT guide, is the place for a great cup of Joe. August and September are great times to visit Coeur d’Alene. August brings the Taste of Coeur d’Alene, Art on the Green and the annual CDA Triathlon. The Coeur d’Alene Diamond Cup and H1 Unlimited Hydroplane boat racing returns to the lake over Labor Day Weekend. There’s never a shortage of things to do and see in Coeur d’Alene. And the best part is that it’s close enough that you can get home in time to sleep in your own bed and return again to experience more the following day.
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Restoring your smile's natural frame with the New "Facelift" Dentures There are three types of dentures available in today's market: Economy Dentures Traditional Dentures Facelift Dentures
Economy dentures are the least expensive choice. They are sometimes referred to as the "one-size-fits-all" denture. Traditional Dentures are the type of dentures that most general dentists make. They will usually fit better and look better than an economy denture. Facelift dentures are the newest, most customized dentures available utilizing the principles of Neuromuscular Dentistry. Even though they are the most expensive, they offer the best fit, function, comfort, and esthetics.
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When a person first gets their dentures made, their face (or picture frame) is as big as it's going to get. As time goes by, their teeth wear out, the jaw keeps closing up and their face continues to collapse between the nose and chin (that's the picture frame getting smaller). With Traditional Dentures, new teeth can now be made but in an "older looking face" (that smaller picture frame). Facelift dentures not only create warm, natural looking teeth, they enlarge the picture frame back to where it was before they lost their natural teeth.
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DrBrossoitRestoringLives.com | | www.primespokane.com
Dr. Doug Brossoit We all have been there. It is the end of an exhausting day and the only thing keeping you going is the thought of crawling into bed and slipping into a peaceful slumber. But what if you couldn’t sleep because of serious neck and facial pain, or searing headaches? For thousands of people, this is a constant, daily reality due to a condition called TMJ which is often associated with a bad bite. With almost 30 years of family dental practice behind him, Dr. Doug Brossoit has a thorough understanding of dental care, including how the head, neck and facial muscles can affect overall dental health. Proficient in the diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of jaw joint (TMJ) problems for over 14 years now, Dr. Brossoit helps his patients treat their condition with dramatic success, allowing them to return to a pain-free lifestyle. One of Dr. Brossoit’s patients, Debbie E., says, “I never would have thought my bite had anything to do with my headaches and neck pain, until Dr. Brossoit made the connection and treated it for me.” “After 10 years of migraine headaches and jaw pain and several jaw joint surgeries that did not help, I was referred to Dr. Brossoit. I am getting my life back and I wish I would have found Dr. Brossoit years ago,” says Shawn H. Dr. Brossoit’s dedication to dentistry is evident in his pursuit of continuing education. A graduate of the University of Texas Dental School in San Antonio, he has also completed hundreds of hours of advanced studies, and for 3 years he was a Clinical Instructor at the world-renowned Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI). Dr. Brossoit also has many years of training and experience in Periodontics, Orthodontics and Implantology, making him one of Spokane’s leading dentists. Using state of the art technology helps Dr. Brossoit provide the most accurate diagnosis possible for his patients. Some of this technology includes Sonography (joint sounds) Transcutaneous Electro-Neuro Stimulation or “tensing”, for precise muscle relaxation, Electromyography, to monitor muscle activity, and Computerized Mandibular (jaw) Scanning for motion analysis. “Neuromuscular dentistry has allowed me to see my patients from a much broader perspective,” says Dr. Brossoit. “Now I am looking at the person as teeth that are connected to the jaw, that is connected with muscles and also supports a tongue and airway. I also must consider the postural muscles that support the head, neck, and shoulders and how the body as a whole is going to be working and functioning.” With a depth of knowledge in cosmetic and complex adult dentistry, Dr. Brossoit has helped many patients enjoy a strong, comfortable bite, and a great smile at the same time. “I take the art and creativity of cosmetics and seamlessly combine it with the technology and science of Neuromuscular Dentistry to not only create terrific looking smiles, but to put those beautiful teeth into a solid bite that is much more comfortable, stable, and long lasting, than any of my patients ever thought possible,” says Dr. Brossoit. With this ideal combination, Dr. Brossoit is "restoring lives" for the Inland Northwest!
Douglas Brossoit DDS • Specializing in Cosmetics and Complex Adult Dentistry • Clinical Instructor at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dentistry (LVI)
“I had ground my teeth down over the years. With his technology, Dr. Doug rebuilt my bite and then gave me a TERRIFIC NEW SMILE!” -Mitch V. of Spokane
For more information, please contact Dr Brossoit at 888-999-9688 or visit his website at DrBrossoitRestoringLives.com
August - September 2013
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relationships
It’s never too late to date By Alyssa Williams
Y
ou might be too old for some things. But love isn’t one of them. Dating again after a divorce, death or just a long slump can be overwhelming. If the last time you went on a date was to the malt shop or the high school prom, you might be a little out of practice, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t somebody out there for you. Somebody who could be a friend, companion or maybe even more. “Nothing makes dating any easier, but we can expect it to be exciting,” comments author Joan Price, 59, who calls herself an advocate for ageless sexuality. “We just need to inform ourselves and go for it.” But where do you go to meet other singles your age? As Price points out
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when people were young, they could assume that pretty much everyone their age was single and available. Now, even though you may go places where there a lot of people from your generation, it can be a challenge to know whether these folks are available. One solution is to join activities that are structured for singles. Online dating sites singles events held by communities, and meet-up groups with people with similar interests are good places to start your search. “Get out and do the things that you enjoy doing and you will meet other people who enjoy doing them too,” Price says. “You’ve already got something in common, and even if you don’t end up with a date, you’ve still made some new friends.”
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If you’re looking for love, Price’s advice is to let your friends know that you’re interested in dating. But don’t just accept any old blind date, she says; make sure that you let people know some of the qualities that you are looking for in a partner. “Not just, I’ll go with anyone who is single and breathing,” Joan says with a laugh. “You can do better than that.” Online senior dating sites bring the benefit of a large list of potential partners in your area - far greater than any other resource available. Ourtime.com and Seniorfriendfinder.com are among the top sites as reported by “Consumer Reviews”. From the safety and convenience of your home computer, online senior dating allows you to browse through
hundreds of pictures and profiles of to say, ‘Whoa, slow down.’ If sex is not potential matches. By reading their an option at all, you need to be clear profile, you can learn about a potential about that too.” match and their background without Few people are aware that the fastest even asking any questions. This allows growing segment of the population you to quickly weed out any that aren’t a with HIV/AIDS are people over the good fit. You can find out an individual’s age of 50 years old. One of the reasons profile specifics such as age, marital for the infection rate in boomers and status, education, race, interests, and seniors is that so-called “women of personality before you ever speak with a certain age” first became sexually someone in person. active at a time when condoms were When writing your online dating used solely as a form of birth control. profile, Joan’s advice is Write your Complicating the issue for the baby description so that people who might boomer (and older) crowd is that many be interested in you will know the true of the early HIV symptoms - such as you. fatigue, memory loss and night sweats “Forget long walks on the beach . . - are often mistaken for other, more.who doesn’t like that? Make it sound general signs of aging. like one they’ve never read before Normal aging brings physical because you are unique and unlike changes in both men and women. anyone they’ve met before,” Joan says. These changes sometimes affect one’s “Be accurate in your profile, tell ability to have and enjoy sex with the truth, and don’t fall for the another person. If sex is in your future misconception that you have to this might be a topic of conversation subtract 10 years from your age and 30 with your partner. pounds from your weight. If you’re not “I wouldn’t suggest blurting it out authentic at the very on the first coffee beginning, when can date,” Joan says, There’s no reason to jump you be?” “but if there’s a into the fast lane of dating When it’s your spark, and you’re or do anything with which turn to pick people on your second you aren’t comfortable just who you might want or third date, to meet, Joan’s tip is because it’s supposed to be the you might say to make a list of nonsomething like, contemporary norm. negotiable qualities ‘Everyone has such as smoking their challenges habits, fitness level, education, etc. If and mine is this . . . “ you have nothing in common with a Even if you’re not headed to the person, there’s no way you’re going to bedroom, if your physical ailments have a future with them, let alone an limit your activity, it’s important to entertaining chat. bring that out. Say your date wants “You’re going to be rejected a lot, and to take a hike through the park, and you’re going to reject people too,” Joan you get tired after a short walk. There says. “You’re not auditioning people are always alternatives for things you to be the love of your life. You’re just can do together, and most people are auditioning them to have a first date, considerate of others’ needs. so don’t make it so Earth-shattering When Joan speaks to seniors at important.” workshops on relationships and dating, There’s no reason to jump into the she encourages them to, above all else, fast lane of dating or do anything see themselves as confident people who with which you aren’t comfortable still have a lot to offer. just because it’s supposed to be the “I want older people to get feel contemporary norm. entitled to get out there and be socially “There are some people who say that active and dating again,” she says. “At there’s no time to be lost, and there are the very least, you’ll have some good others who abstain from sex until they stories to tell.” are in a committed relationship,” Joan says. “Don’t be cute and cagey about it. To learn more sage dating and If a woman is on a date with a man who relationship advice, visit Joan Price’s blog: is coming on too fast, she has the right betterthanieverexpected.blogspot.com
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fashion
Photos by Rocky Castaneda Photography & Creative Solutions Models: (R-L) Cheryl and Mark Smith, Delfi and Denny Marit, Jan Tarter and Richard Keilborn Stylist: Cheryl Smith Hair | Makeup: Sharmaine Nichole Beauty and Barber (www.Sharmainenichole.com) Hair by Ariel | Makeup by Sharmaine Wardrobe: Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest Venue: Ugly Fish Asian Bistro (www.uglyfishasian.com)
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Date night
W by Cheryl Smith
hat does “act your age” mean in our prime years? As we “progress chronologically” - the term I use to describe the passing of years, our physical body changes. The question many of us have is: “how do I change with them, and still be true to the younger person who dwells inside me?” After all, we certainly don’t want to look like our mother, but we also don’t want to look like our adult daughter either. So, exactly how can we still look great, but not look as if we are trying too hard? After 30 some odd years of dressing women in all stages of life, I have come to this conclusion: there are some basic pieces we can carry through the years by simply re-styling them. And restyling, or re-purposing is “on trend” right now. Using classic pieces in your wardrobe, take a trip to a thrift store to shop the items, you’ll need to give your existing pieces a new life. What are you looking for? A great blazer - but make sure it’s not too trendy, choose one with a classic cut. A sheath dress - so versatile, it can go from daytime to evening simply by the use of accessories. And with so many styles you can be sure to find one that works for your body type. Every closet needs a pair of well -fitting black slacks; again something not too trendy so they can
Looking great at YOUR age August - September 2013
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fashion
carry you through many seasons. A nice white fitted blouse to pair with slacks and skirts is a necessary component of every woman’s wardrobe. Add to this a pencil skirt, a pair of dress khakis, a cute cardigan or two, and finally that LBD or little black dress. Now your closet hosts what we in the fashion industry refer to as timeless pieces. These can be re-purposed as time passes so they work for wherever you are in the stage of life. But, how do you keep your wardrobe fitting who you currently are? The answer to that is making sure you have defined the look you are going for. Are you hip and trendy, or is your look boho-chic? Do you feel most comfortable slightly understated, possibly even conservative, or is the look you feel best in; classic a more tailored look? In order to look put together you must first know how you want to appear to yourself and others, this is your starting point. I find that many women who are in the prime of their lives are challenged with the fun and trendy pieces, they want to embrace them but they are not sure how to do this. Remember that fitted white shirt in your closet? For a fun and trendy look, try pairing it with a pair of colored or print jeans then adding a cardigan over it, and completing your look with a thin belt. Hip and stylish in your new fabulous jeans that you weren’t sure how to wear. And bonus, you have successfully paired them with existing pieces in your wardrobe!! But if boho chic is more your style, you probably already have
fashion
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a “broomstick” or “peasant” style skirt in your closet. However, if it has been around a while, it’s probably a dated pattern. Pick up a new one in a fun, vibrant pattern and color. Slip into as pair of espadrilles and wide leather cumber band belt to bring it current and to say to the world “I’m both fun and stylish.” If it is a classic look you embrace, well fitting tailored piece’s, are your love. One of those embodiments is the pencil skirt. A pencil skirt is flattering on almost any body type, if you have not yet embraced one, now is the time. The new pencil skirts are not quite as reverse triangular in their shape as they have been. And they look hot paired with strappy heels or a pair of high heeled stilettos. What to do if conservative is what you are most comfortable in, and you love wearing sheath style dresses. You have since they first came in somewhere in the 50’s. And you still may even have some from those days, do not despair because we can bring it to current by first, insuring it is the right length and second styling it differently. Instead of the boxier jackets from the 50’s or 60’s try pairing it with a cute peplum style jacket. How does that work for you, cute and current and a dress that’s been in your closet for a couple decades? One last thing…lengths are super important and we must err on the side of caution. Too short can appear trashy, versus trendy, and too long can make you appear frumpy and way older than you really are. If you are not sure a safe bet is right at the knee or just slightly above it, this is good length for almost any woman. Cheryl Smith has over thirty years in the business of sales & marketing with a focus on the presentation process. In 1996 her “passion for fashion” led her to start “Positive Presentations” with a mission to help ladies uncover and develop a personal style. Visit her blog, chermaesday.wordpress.com, for more tips on looking great and embracing the beauty of who you are.
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health
Amy Doneen, co-founder of the Bale/ Doneen Method, and medical director of the Heart Attack & Stroke Prevention Center, reviews laboratory results with patient Melodie Raugust.
What’s your hidden heart attack risk? By Alex Ashley
“T
he current standard of care assumes that if your blood pressure and cholesterol are okay, then you’re fine,” explains Amy Doneen, medical director for the Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention Center in Spokane. “If and when something does happen, the patient is treated and they launch a ton of resources,” she adds. “What I do is different.” Doneen’s business cards and informative literature sport an eye-catching subtitle: “Breaking ground with the Bale/Doneen Method.” And for good reason. Everything about her approach to heart health, it might seem, laughs in the face of the current standard of care you would likely receive through our current healthcare system,
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founded on what she calls an “end-stage disease paradigm.”
The Current Standard of Care “It’s set up to treat after there’s been an event,” she explains. “It’s set up to rescue a patient, rather than to educate and prevent.” Doneen cites the June 19 death of famed Sopranos actor, James Gandolfini, as a perfect example. He died of a heart attack while on a vacation to Italy. He was just 51 years old. “Here’s a man,” she says, “who had no idea what his chances were for being the victim of a heart attack, or of cardiac arrest, and then suddenly he
The Bale/Doneen Method gets to the heart of the matter
was dead. My job is to prevent that from happening before a patient even realizes it could happen.” Doneen is certainly qualified for the job. Her C.V. is salted and peppered with honors, recognition and published work—all in the name of the work she admires: Preventative medicine. “I was working on my dissertation in school, and I was struck by the topic of heart attacks in women, and how the topic was so overlooked and being missed,” she says. “That discovery sort of led me into this field of study and practice.” Her interest in preventative medicine didn’t stop at a dissertation. She went on to team up with Dr. Bradley Field Bale, a renowned heart attack and stroke prevention specialist, and together they founded the Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention Center. The entire clinic is based around the “Bale-Doneen Method,” a world-renowned methodology for preventing vascular disease.
Segregating the Body One of the approaches that makes the Bale-Doneen methodology so successful is viewing the human body for what it is: a body. “The current medical system segregates the body. So you have a specialist for the nose, a specialist for the feet, a specialist for the eyes, and so on,” Doneen explains. “My specialty is the circulatory system, all the little cardiovascular pathways that connect throughout the body.” A problem occurs, however, when medical professionals fail to discern how one part of the body may be affecting another. “Part of how I work,” Doneen continues, “is that I lay all the pieces of the puzzle out on the table. Then, I begin to see how they do or do not fit together. I look for untreated risk factors that the standard healthcare system is not set up to address.” She cites the example of oral hygiene and health. “What if a patient has a periodontal infection [an infection of the gums]? It may not even be something you can see, yet such an infection can cover a space the size of the palm of your hand, without you even being able to necessarily see it. That sort of infection can actually lead to the development of a vascular disease.”
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August - September 2013
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A quick Carotid IMT Ultrasound Scan reveals arterial thickness in accessing a patient’s risk of heart attack and stroke.
At the Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention Center, Doneen runs test after test, covering all the bases. She does an extensive laboratory analysis; she analyzes the genetics of a patient; she looks for hidden vascular disease in the walls of the arteries. “It’s important to put all the chips on the table,” she points out, “and ask ‘what is the best possible course of action to take.”
Knowledge is Power Another key ingredient to the BaleDoneen recipe is focusing on education. “Knowledge is power,” Doneen says. “There’s a lot to misunderstand about vascular disease.” In line with that, Doneen and Dr. Bale have developed and implemented educational programs for both the public and the medical community that they hope will increase awareness in the area of vascular disease, as well as give healthcare providers a level of continuing education on how to identify and treat it. “Patients are capable of making educated decisions regarding their healthcare,” Doneen says. “But they need to be educated. They need to have a knowledge, for example, of how lifestyle choices affect vascular inflammation.” Aside from educating the public, Bale and Doneen both sport impressive resumes as public speakers and lecturers, traveling the world to present their methodology to healthcare professionals, giving countless talks on their subject of expertise. “They’re working within guidelines that are usually 20 years behind the research available,” states Doneen. “It takes time for evidence to mount up that will eventually prompt a revision in the
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system of how things are done.” Still, the practices of individual doctors and healthcare providers are benefiting from Bale and Doneen’s method of healthcare.
The Road Ahead In addition to their already impressive accomplishments, Bale and Doneen have many exciting medical ventures ahead, including the release of a book, which they co-wrote together, entitled: “Beat the Heart Attack Gene.” It will be released in January 2014. “I want to keep helping people, and educating people about the subject,” Doneen says. “People need to know it is their responsibility to seek out prevention, even if it isn’t covered by their insurance. It’s a couple hundred bucks to help prevent an attack, versus a couple thousand bucks to recover from an attack. “Also,” she says, “a lot of people are misinformed that vascular disease is ‘a normal stage of aging.’ The truth is, there is nothing normal about it. There is nothing okay about it. Not everyone has it, and nobody should have it.” She does give a word of caution. “Prevention is for everybody. Vascular disease is not choosy about who it selects as its victims. My oldest patient at the clinic is 97 years-old. My youngest patient is 19. It could be someone who’s morbidly obese, or someone who just ran the Iron Man competition. They could both be at risk. That’s why preventative medicine and research is so important.” But Doneen, in light of the all of her with, and that of her colleague, Dr. Bale, sums it all up in a single thought. “If I’m doing my job right,” she says, “you won’t know that you ever needed me.”
The Bale/ Doneen Method Built on the idea that heart attacks and ischemic strokes are preventable, the Bale/Doneen method involves a higher level of care than the current standard. Nine elements form the basis for the Bale/ Doneen Method:
Education: Having a basic knowledge about signs of a heart attack or stroke is essential for effective prevention.
Disease: When cholesterol buildup (disease) is found in a person’s arteries, treatment methods can be planned for prevention and the disease can be monitored.
Dr. Michael Oglesbay, D.O.
If you have any of these symptoms, we can help.
Call us for a consult! » » » » » »
Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Allergy Testing Neurotransmitter Testing Thermal Imaging Hyperbaric Chamber Advanced Lipid & Diabetes Testing
Fire: When the disease becomes inflamed (fire), heart attacks or stroke are triggered. Spotting the inflammation and monitoring it is vital. Roots: It is essential to identify the main risk factors of arterial disease in an individual so that the disease can be slowed down or stopped. Optimal: Setting goals based on risk factors, rather than the current standard of care, is key. Genes: Care should be individualized
so that it produces better results. The Bale/ Doneen method has used genetic testing for more than 10 years.
Individual Management:
The first six elements combine to form a personalized treatment program. Patients are regarded as individuals who require therapy designed specifically for them.
Risk Factor Response:
Practitioners who follow Bale/Doneen monitor the risk factors in each patient and make adjustments for optimal care.
Assessment of Disease Response: Arterial structural testing
is conducted annually to ensure that the treatment is working.
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August - September 2013
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health
5 natural habits that add years to your life
by Ken Close
We’ve all heard that stress
is bad. Stress will give you gray hair, increased blood sugar, depressed immune support, and stress will give you a heart attack. But why exactly? We age through a natural biological change to our cells, and stress has a huge influence on that process. Our body rebuilds itself all the time through cell division, but stress can cause higher cell turnover (division) and speed up aging. According to the US Center of Disease Control and Prevention, chronic stress affects about 80% of Americans and can lead to serious health consequences. So, what can you do? Control stress We truly do bring about what we think about. The key is our own Radicular Activating System (RAS), a part of the brain that senses the things around us and sorts them out, then based on the things we typically think about, it proves us right. If we have a negative, unhappy or deceptive nature, RAS is going to make conscious the things around us to prove us right. If we are positive, loving, trustworthy, and hopeful, RAS will sort through the 400 billion bits of information every second to draw to us that presence. Another method of stress control is meditation, and I’m not talking about sitting in the lotus pose for hours or with your ankles wrapped behind your neck. It’s as simple
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as focusing on our breath, clearing our minds and thinking about nothing. Add color to your diet It used to be that eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day was enough, but we get stuck in a routine. Today’s message has changed; it’s not so much about quantity, but the variety and color of fruits and vegetables that is important. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study citing a variety of fruit and vegetables reduce levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in our bodies. CRP increases when our bodies are stressed. Other useful benefit to various fruits and veggies is more fiber in your diet, foliate (a B vitamin) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). The phytochemicals, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals in fruits and vegetables are thought to protect the heart by reducing oxidative stress. Sleepy time When we wake up in the morning the day’s light passes through our eyes triggering a signal to a region of the brain called suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). This tiny area in the hypothalamus part of your brain is your “body clock”. The SCN sets the pace for millions of biological cadences, or circadian rhythms. These are natural functions that take place based on the cycle of the sun, and you can’t any more control or cheat those cycles as you can
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control the rotation of the earth. In a study by the Mayo Clinic, researchers found that insufficient sleep may lead to changes in eating habits and appetite, increasing calorie intake and causing weight gain. Science has also shown that in as little as one week of insufficient sleep activities, as many as 700 genes are altered. A number of these genes regulate circadian rhythms involved in metabolism, immune system response, and stress response. Keep in mind the body does all of its repairs during our sleep and the majority takes place during deep sleep between midnight and 2 am. No wonder we wake up so hungry. Change your breakfast When we wake from a restful sleep our bodies are dehydrated and hungry. An easy way to promote a good start to your day and boost energy is by drinking one to two 8-ounce glasses of purified water. Dr. Michael Colgan, an internationally renowned research scientist and well published author has written in his book “The AntiInflammatory Athlete at Any Age”: “As little as 3% dehydration results in about 10% loss in muscle contractile strength and 8% loss in reaction speed.” Now you know why you move so slow in the morning - instead of reaching for the coffee reach for the water first. Next is nourishment. Thousands of hungry proteins are waiting to see what they get to build your cells with.
What you eat or don’t eat determines what you’re made of today. Our bodies are very complex, so why would you feed it something as insignificant as coffee, danish, cereal, or even worse nothing at all? Dr. Colgan says the best dietary match for your body’s protein is undenatured whey protein concentrate. Undenatured whey protein from range-fed cows is not a simple food. It consists of eight different proteins, each composed of 21 amino acids, each with different effects on the body. Something as simple as an undenatured whey protein concentrate shake within 30 minutes of rising will greatly improve your years. Focus on your health It doesn’t take a doctor, scientist or nutritionist to tell you that if you’ve been adding three to five pounds a year, feeling exhausted by 3 pm and forgetting where you put the car keys, it’s time to change your habits. We tend to behave the same way as our parents did and in turn pass that same behavior on to our children. I often ask my wife, “what habits are we teaching our children that they will need counseling for as adults?” I ask this question as a self-evaluation of our habits to constantly remind us that as Steven Covey says in his book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”: “Habits constitute our second nature not our first, and good habits can be learned and bad habits unlearned”. The steps to good health are not leaps and bounds; they are baby steps, the same way you may have found poor health. Follow these few simple practices for a minimum of 90 days and see how your health improves. You have nothing to lose but good healthy years. Ken Close is the owner and master technician at TreadTech, a Wellness Solutions Company. Close is a Nutrition Coach and advocate of Natural Organic Nutrition. www.facebook.com/kenneth. close.16.
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aging
Music strikes a comforting note during difficult times
By Tanya Madden
W
hen he’s at work, Frank Skwara spends a lot of time playing music on his iPod. This activity, normally frowned upon in a place of business, is all part of his concerted effort to nurture aging adults through music. It’s a concept introduced by Skwara and adopted at The Open Door adult family home in Spokane.
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Frank Skwara, Resident Care Manager at the Open Door adult family home in Spokane, connects with and comforts residents using music and harmonic sounds.
Skwara, The Open Door’s Resident Care Manager, is among a growing group of professionals in the field of elder care who believe music holds great promise for nurturing and improving the well-being of the nation’s growing community of aging adults. He regularly employs music at The Open Door to soothe restless moods, to generate reminiscences and to help residents become more at home with states of awareness that aren’t so dependent on language and the functioning of short term memory and recall. The Open Door has embraced Skwara’s unique approach to supporting the home’s five residents. He doesn’t just play popular music from the era in which the residents were young; he also employs what he calls “modalities” of music and tone to create personal comfort, relaxation and peace. “Sound and music have capacities both to encode memory efficiently in multiple brain areas and to recover them in whole-body senses that don’t depend on language,” Skwara explains. “Certain choral performances and less structured, polytonal compositions are now being used with elders to recruit specific neural pathways and brain centers associated with senses of happiness, peacefulness and wellbeing. When combined with the
es,
servic ing, on din kets, salon e ! c i t mor event l and trave
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aging
kind and caring interactions that extra attention given to brushing happen at The Open Door, music someone’s hair and, of course, time and melodic tone provide a fantastic taken to just listen carefully to a opportunity to create a sense of resident can all provide entry into safety and well-being for older an inner world hidden away for all people who struggle with fear and too long.” failing memory.” On walking through the home, The Open Door co-owner, one can’t help to be struck by all Audrey Overstreet, says she feels the life that’s happening. In the lucky to have found a Resident Care living room a grand-daughter, Manager with Skwara’s background grandmother and her old friend are and passion for helping seniors. having a lunch snack and listening “Frank’s ‘first to some old music career’ was from the 1930’s in the arts together. and music.” Laughter is Overstreet coming from “Music and harmonic says. “Since the kitchen as sound have the then he’s Katie, one of potential to unlock become the caregivers, a family jokes with a inner doors, to bridge therapist and resident who states of mind, and a registered grew up in a create and to sustain nurse who New York City the relaxed attention has worked in apartment trauma units house during so helpful in one’s last and palliative the Great weeks and days, when care settings. Depression. so much of what the Clearly, the Another body has offered scientist resident, who in him has had been an through a lifetime is grown, but the artist in her now failing, “ artist has never youth, is being been far away. ‘tucked in’ His sensitivity for a nap by to the inner life her visiting of our elders is daughter, while a remarkable.” volunteer gives a foot-rub. Skwara is quick to point out And in the family room are that music is only one part of the the sounds of music, emanating caregiving equation at The Open from a big-screen TV tuned to Door. “There are so many ways to jazz standards. “Carefully chosen say ‘you’re safe here’, and ‘I really pieces of music that are related to care about you’,” he says. “ A gentle time periods of positive, happy word, a hand softly held, some memories can give soothing and
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reassurance to folks with failing cognitive function,” Skwara says. “Musical ‘life-tracks’ can support conversations, reminiscences and even therapeutic conversations with family members and helping professionals.” Skwara adds that music can even help with end-of-life transitions. “Certain harmonic sounds are now being employed in caring environments to support softening of trauma connected to illness and suffering, and to soothe folks who are finding their way to opening their hearts in their last weeks and hours of living,” he says. The compassionate presence of loved ones, the human language of touch and the presence of harmonic and expansive melody and tone can combine to powerfully facilitate the surrender and deep emotional release necessary to embrace the end of life process, according to Skwara. “Music and harmonic sound have the potential to unlock inner doors, to bridge states of mind, and create and to sustain the relaxed attention so helpful in one’s last weeks and days, when so much of what the body has offered through a lifetime is now failing, “ he says. Skwara feels strongly that opportunities to explore music and melodic tone should be a well-planned and carefully structured part of any elder home environment. “Kahlil Gibran has written that ‘Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life, bringing peace, abolishing strife.’ It’s difficult to argue with that wisdom.”
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inspiration
Sey Lo Smoot offers fresh-cut flowers at the Spokane Farmer’s Market. Located at 20 W. Fifth Avenue (between Browne & Division), the market is open Wednesday and Saturday from 8am - 1pm. Here you will find Spokane’s largest and freshest array of local vegetables, fruits and berries and fresh baked goods. Everything is sold directly by the folks who grew, baked, or wild harvested it.
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Who or what inspires you, brings a smile to your face or otherwise lifts your spirits? Send the story to editor@primespokane.com so we can share the good feelings with our readers.
August - September 2013
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