AUGUST 2015
plus! The magazine for active, mature lifestyles
9 page
Home is where the art is
Manitowoc native returns to complete sculpture
INSIDE 2 3 4 6 9
Skin protection is important to your health The Savey Senior: Medicare Options for Retirees who Travel ADRC Support available for male caregivers How natural elements in the home make you healthier ON THE COVER:
HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS
ON THE COVER: Artist R.T. “Skip” Wallen, a native of Manitowoc, does facial detail work on one of the three American Indian figures in the Spirit of the Rivers monument at the studio in downtown Manitowoc. HTR Media file photo
50 plus!
Staff Dan Benson, Engagement Editor Gannett Wisconsin Media|Lakes Region 920.453.5125 | dbenson2@gannett.com Dale Mahloch, Advertising Manager 920-686-2124 | dmahloch@htrnews.com 50 Plus! is published monthly by the Herald Times Reporter Media. It also is distributed to select businesses in Manitowoc County.
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ASK A DOCTOR:
Skin protection is important to your health health By Bryan Mulheron, For HTR Media Question: My children are spending lots of time outdoors and at the pool this summer. Do you have any advice on sunscreen products? Answer: Skin protection is a very important part of everyday health and everyone needs to use sunscreen daily. Children are especially susceptible to the damaging effects of the sun. Early and severe sunburns — with blistering — in children are a risk factor for developing skin cancer later in life. More than 3.5 million skin cancers — non-melanoma — are diagnosed each year in more than 2 million people. Approximately 76,000 new cases of melanoma are reported each year, resulting in about 10,000 deaths annually. Many of these cancers could have been prevented with proper protection from the sun’s harmful rays. Sunscreen manufacturers can no longer claim a sunscreen is “waterproof ” or “sweat proof.” This is because all sunscreens eventually wash off. To reduce the risk of skin cancer and skin damage, sunscreens must offer both broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays and a sun protection factor of 15 or higher. Without both, the sunscreen only helps prevent sunburn. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends choosing sunscreens that offer broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays, have an SPF 30 or greater and are water resistant. Any sunscreen offering these features will protect the skin from sunburn, early skin aging and skin cancer. However, sunscreen alone cannot fully protect your children. Dermatologists also recommend they seek shade whenever their shadows are shorter than they are and protecting their skin by wearing long sleeves, pants,
a hat and sunglasses whenever possible. Did you know that the sun emits harmful ultraviolet rays year-round? Even on cloudy days, harmful UV rays can penetrate your skin. On cloudy days, up to 80 percent of the sun’s UV rays can pass through the clouds. Snow and sand increase the need for sunscreen. Snow reflects 80 percent of the sun’s rays and sand reflects 25 percent of the sun’s rays. Here are some tips for properly using sunscreen: Use enough sunscreen to generously coat all skin that won’t be covered by clothing. Apply the sunscreen to dry skin 15 minutes before going outdoors. Skin cancer also can form on the lips. To protect the lips, apply a lip balm or lipstick containing sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Re-apply sunscreen approximately every two hours or after swimming or sweating heavily, according to directions on the sunscreen. Regardless of which sunscreen you choose, apply it generously to achieve the UV protection indicated on the product label. Adverse effects of sunscreens are minimal and very little is absorbed into the body, if any. Topical reactions to sunscreens such as contact dermatitis, photoallergic reactions and urticaria are possible, but very rare. With rates of skin cancer increasing each year, daily use of sunscreen is one of the best defenses against developing skin cancer and to avoid premature skin aging. Dr. Bryan Mulheron is a family practitioner at Aurora Manitowoc Clinic
Jim Miller
Medicare Options for Retirees who Travel
Dear Savvy Senior, What are the best Medicare coverage options for retirees who travel a lot? Almost 65 Dear Almost, The best Medicare options for retirees who travel extensively depends on your destination. Let’s start with a quick review of the different coverage choices Medicare offers beneficiaries today. One option is Original Medicare, which has been around since 1966, and covers (Part A) hospital services and (Part B) doctor’s visits and other medical services. If you choose Original Medicare, you may also want to get a Medicare (Part D) prescription drug plan (if you don’t already have coverage) to cover your medication costs, and a Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policy to help pay for things that aren’t covered by Medicare like copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. Or, you could get Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, which is sold through private insurance companies, that covers everything Original Medicare covers, plus many plans also offer prescription drug coverage and extra services like vision, hearing and dental care all in one plan.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. To help you evaluate your options, the National Council on Aging offers an online tool at MyMedicareMatters. org, and your State Heath Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free Medicare counseling – call 800-6771116 for contact information. You can also shop and compare Medicare health and drug plans and Medigap policies at Medicare.gov/finda-plan, or call 800-633-4227. Also note that whatever Medicare plans you choose to enroll in, if you find that they are not meeting your needs or your needs change, you can always switch to a different plan during the open enrollment period, which is between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7. U.S. Travel If you and your husband are planning to travel domestically, Original Medicare provides coverage everywhere in the U.S. and its territories (this includes all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa) as long as the doctor or hospital accepts Medicare. But, if you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your coverage may be restricted. This is because most Medicare Advantage plans (which are usually HMOs or PPOs) require you to use doctors, hospitals and pharmacies that are in the plan’s network within a service area or geographic region. So if
you’re traveling outside that area, you may need to pay a higher fee, or your services may not be covered at all. Before enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan, check the benefit details carefully to see what costs and rules apply when traveling outside your service area. Traveling Abroad If you’re planning to travel abroad, Original Medicare does not provide coverage outside the U.S. including cruising, except in rare cases, and Medicare drug plans will not cover prescription drugs purchased outside the U.S. either. But, there are some Medigap policies that do provide limited coverage abroad. Medigap C, D, F, G, M, and N plans will pay for 80 percent of medically necessary emergency care outside the U.S., but only for the first 60 days of the trip, and you have to meet an annual $250 deductible first. There’s also a lifetime maximum benefit of $50,000, so you’d need to cover any costs above that amount. If you have a Medicare Advantage
plan, your coverage outside the U.S. will depend on the plan. Some plans offer emergency care coverage while others don’t. You’ll need to check your plan for details. If you want additional emergency medical coverage when traveling abroad, some good shopping sites are squaremouth.com and insuremytrip. com, which compare policies from major travel-insurance companies. Prices vary considerably, ranging from under $100 to several hundred dollars depending on your age, what they cover and how long you’ll be away.
Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend any tips to help me save on my medication costs? I currently take five different prescription medications that are very expensive even with insurance. Searching Susan Dear Susan, There are actually a variety of ways you can reduce your out-of-pocket medication expenses without sacrificing SAVVY SENIOR continued on page 5
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ADRC
Aging and Disability Resource Center
Support available for male caregivers By Cathy Ley The Aging and Disability Resource Center of the Lakeshore sponsors a Male Caregivers Support Group for gentlemen who are or were caregivers for their spouse or loved ones, either in their home or in a long-term care setting. The sessions are intended to provide an opportunity for male caregivers to connect with one another, provide support to one another, and to share their personal experiences and challenges that they face during their own caregiver journey. A representative from the ADRC facilitates the meetings and provides relevant information, resources and/or referrals. Meetings take place the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 9:00 am at the ADRC office, located at 4319 Expo Drive, Manitowoc. Please join us. $25 Senior Farmer’s Market Vouchers are still available at the ADRC office, located at 4319 Expo Drive, Manitowoc daily from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. Vouchers are only available to those who have not already received them in 2015. Eligible recipients will receive $25 worth of vouchers that can be used at the Manitowoc, Two Rivers and Kiel Farmers Markets, Wilfert Farms, Meyer’s Market, Red Belly Farms and many other places outside of Manitowoc County. They can be used to purchase Wisconsin grown fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. Eligibility requirements are as follows: • Age 60 & over • $21,775 income a year or less for a single person • $29,471 income a year or less for a couple Please bring proof of income, social security number and date of birth. Applications will be accepted on a first come first served basis. Vouchers will be distributed immediately and ADRC
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staff will explain how to use them. The following information was provided to the ADRC of the Lakeshore by the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources, Inc. Legal Team. Medicare does not cover most dental care including dental procedures, such as cleanings, fillings, tooth extractions, dentures, dental plates, or other dental devices. Medicare Part A will pay for certain dental services that you get when you’re in a hospital; however, that coverage is very limited. Due to the lack of Medicare coverage, many older Americans go without dental care. The Affordable Care Act offers premium tax credits to help low-income people purchase health insurance. However, the subsidies cannot be used to purchase dental coverage except as an addon to health coverage. About 1.4 million Americans have purchased dental coverage on health insurance exchanges since January 2014 when the law took full effect. No new dental benefit requirements were included for adults covered by Medicaid. Although the ACA does not make Medicaid dental coverage mandatory for adults, it gives states that have chosen to expand Medicaid a potential financial incentive to include dental benefits. In Wisconsin, Medicaid dental coverage for adults includes pain relief, infection treatment, tooth restoration, cleanings, fluoride treatments, crowns and fillings, X-rays, root canals, dentures and implants apart from preventive dental care checkups. Another barrier to dental care for lowincome adults is the relatively low reimbursement ratesoffered by state Medicaid programs. Extensive paperwork and oversight also limit the number of dentists willing to take Medicaid patients
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(the ACA calls for even more intensive oversight and audits). The result is poor access to preventive care for low-income Medicaid beneficiaries in much of the country, ultimately resulting in higher overall costs. Americans spend as much to treat dental disease — almost all of it preventable — as on thetreatment of all cancers combined according to DentaQuest, a research and advocacy organization and administrator of dental insurance plans, including Medicaid. Free or Reduced Dental Services in Wisconsin: Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services provides a list on its website of free or reduced dental clinics that can be accessed here: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ guide/freedental.htm
One such program is the Donated Dental Service. The program is for people who are unable to afford necessary dental treatment because of low income which is linked to a permanent disability, chronic illness, or advanced age (65 or older). Dentists involved in this program agree to volunteer their time to serve this population. A person needing dental services without coverage may also consider reaching out to local dentistry schools or area technical colleges to see if they offer reduced services with their students. Sources: www.medicare.gov/coverage/ dental-services.html http://khn.org/news/adult-dental-coverage-expanding-slowlyin-medicaid/ Cathy Ley is director of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of the Lakeshore.
SAVVY SENIOR
continued from page 3
cost alternative. Switching could save you between 20 and 90 percent. Pay for generics yourself: Most generic medications cost less if you don’t use your insurance. For example, chains like Target and Walmart offer discount-drug programs (these programs will not work in conjunction with your insurance) that sell generics for as little as $4 for a 30-day supply and $10 for a 90-day supply, while some insurance companies charge a $10 copayment for a 30day supply. Ask your pharmacy if they offer a discount-drug program and compare costs with your insurance plan. You can also find free drug discount cards online at sites like NeedyMeds.org, which can be used at most U.S. pharmacies.
Split your pills: Ask your doctor if the pills you’re taking can be cut in half. Pill splitting allows you to get two months worth of medicine for the price of one. If you do this, you’ll need to get a prescription from your doctor for twice the dosage you need. Try over-the-counter drugs: Ask your doctor if a nonprescription medication could work as effectively as a more expensive prescription drug. Many over-the-counter drugs for common conditions such as painrelievers, allergy medications, anti-fungals and cold-and-cough medicines were once prescription only. But be aware that if you have a flexible spending account or a health savings account, you’ll need to get a doctor’s prescription for the over-the-counter drugs (except insulin) to get reimbursed.
Shop around: Drug prices can vary widely from drugstore to drugstore, so it’s definitely worth your time to compare prices at different pharmacies. To do this use GoodRX.com, a Web tool that lets you can find prices on all brand name and generic drugs at virtually every U.S. pharmacy. Search for drug assistance programs: If your income is limited, you can probably get help through drug assistance programs offered through pharmaceutical companies, government agencies and charitable organizations. To find these types of programs use BenefitsCheckUp.org, a comprehensive website that lets you locate the programs you’re eligible for, and will show you how to apply.
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quality. Here are a few strategies that can help, whether you are covered by employer-based health insurance, a health plan on the individual marketplace, or a private Medicare Part D drug policy. Know your insurance formulary rules: Most drug plans today have formularies (a list of medications they cover) that place drugs into different “tiers.” Drugs in each tier have a different cost. A drug in a lower tier will generally cost you less than a drug in a higher tier, and higher tier drugs may require you to get permission or try another medication first before you can use it. To get a copy of your plan’s formulary, visit your drug plan’s website or call the 800 number on the back of your insurance card. Once you have this information, share it with your doctor so, if possible, he or she can prescribe you medications in the lowercost tiers. Or, they can help you get coverage approval from your insurer if you need a more expensive drug. You also need to find out if your drug plan offers preferred pharmacies or offers a mail-order service. Buying your meds from these sources can save you some money too. Switch to generics: Ask your doctor or pharmacist if the medications you’re taking are available in a generic form or a less expensive brand-name drug. About 75 percent of all premium drugs on the market today have a lower-
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Mother Nature knows best:
How natural elements in the home make you healthier (BPT) - When it comes to health and
the premise behind biophilic design - the
wellness, the design of your home may
idea that incorporating natural elements
prove to be just as important as your diet,
into your home, such as wood or plants,
sleep habits or exercise routine. This is
can actually improve overall health.
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In reviewing existing research from Canada and Austria on the health impact of wood and other natural elements, environmental psychologist Dr. Sally Augustin and researcher Dr. David Fell of FPInnovations found that humans automatically relax when they are surrounded by elements from the natural world. In fact, these materials have a pronounced effect on the autonomic nervous system, lowering blood pressure and stress levels. “When we experience things in a built environment that are similar to hospitable natural spaces that sheltered humans for thousands of years, we feel relaxed and de-stressed in a profound way,” Augustin says. “We are not as stressed in difficult situations and our lives are improved.” While most research on biophilic design has focused on schools and healthcare settings, both Augustin and Dr. Fell say the same principles apply to home building and design. “Everyone responds positively to natural materials. These are biological responses, not learned,” Fell says. Though we all can’t have sweeping views of the ocean or find the forest in our backyard, homeowners can make easy fixes to up the nature quotient in their homes. 1. Let the sun shine in According to Augustin and Fell, research links exposure to natural light to positive health outcomes, including weight loss and improved mood. Whenever possible, homeowners should minimize window coverings to let the
natural light shine in. 2. Use your green thumb The addition of green plants to any indoor space is the most literal way of bringing the outside in. Green, leafy plants can brighten up any room and inspire a relaxed and peaceful setting. 3. Make waves Water - particularly the sound of water - is soothing and relaxing. It’s easy to take advantage of that by incorporating a fountain or other water element into your home. 4. Go with the grain Whether purchasing a new home or remodeling, nature is easily incorporated into a home through a wood feature wall, ceiling, wainscoting or floors. “We’re talking about wood where we can see the grain. This really has a fundamental effect on the autonomic nervous system,” Augustin says. Unlike other natural elements, wood can also be used for a home’s structure and exposed beams still produce a stress-reducing response. 5. Admire the views Simply rearranging your furniture to take advantage of the best outdoor views or natural light can help improve your home’s overall atmosphere. If you can, orient furniture so that you have views of the outside and nature, as this should be the focal point of any room. “Looking at peaceful nature views distracts our minds from thoughts that make us cognitively exhausted,” Augustin says. “The mind has a chance to relax and refresh. When it comes to relieving stress and creating a soothing atmosphere, it turns out that you really can’t beat Mother Nature.”
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Crossword
sudoku
HOW TO PLAY: Each row, column and set of 3-by-3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 through 9 without repetition.
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Home is where the art is Manitowoc native returns to complete sculpture
By Joni Shavlik For HTR Media
When R.T. “Skip” Wallen left Manitowoc after high school, he never dreamed he’d return to work here. His sights were on Alaska. Right after graduating from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in zoology, he headed north, taking a position as a field biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, researching musk oxen, walruses, grizzlies, and sea otters. But what looked like a predictable life took several unexpected turns, bringing him back to Manitowoc 50-plus years later. First, his field sketches of wildlife caught the attention of the headquarters in Juneau and he was called in from the field to become the staff artist. Then he decided to become a full-time freelance artist and opened a hole-in-the-wall gallery in downtown Juneau, where he specialized in stone lithographs of Alaska native people and wildlife. He spent the next 17 years establishing a reputation as one of Alaska’s best print- TOP PHOTO: Skip Wallen holds a wooley mammoth tusk. Remains of the mammoths, which have been extinct for about 10,000 years are buried in the permafrost of Alaska and Siberia. makers before making another sudden turn. In 1984, Alaska celebrated its 25th anniversary of statehood. The Silver Anniver- BOTTOM PHOTO: Skip Wallen at work on the Windfall Fisherman sculpture to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Alaska statehood in 1984. Photo submitted by Skip Wallen. sary Committee was looking for a public art project to commemorate the milestone. Wallen, who had admired a bronze sculpture of a wild boar on a trip to Florence, Wallen has been invited back to Italy, was persuaded by his wife, Lynn, to submit a proposal for a sculpture of a lifeWisconsin to produce a monumental size bear to stand near the Capitol. His project was chosen, and he produced his sculpture for the Lake Michigan shorefirst bronze sculpture, Windfall Fisherman, a life-size Admiralty Island brown bear, line between Manitowoc and Two Rivresting on a Sitka spruce windfall with a chum salmon in its paws. He has been busy doing large bronzes around the world ever since. He was award- ers. The sculpture he is working on is ed an honorary doctorate in the arts by the University of Alaska in recognition of his work.
called “Spirit of the Rivers” (www.Spiri-
Although it celebrates the American Indian cultures of the Great Lakes region, the Native American theme is not new for Wallen. While in Alaska, he lived with the Inupiat Eskimos on Little Diomede Island in the Bering Strait while monitoring the walrus hunt for
toftheRivers.org).
WALLEN continued on page 10
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. AUGUST 2015 . 9
WALLEN
continued from page 9
the Fish and Game Department. Later, he was adopted by a Tlingit Indian couple in their tradition of adding adult family members through a tribal adoption ceremony. He and his wife, also adopted into a clan, have been part of that family for 40 years. These experiences with Alaska native peoples found their way into his art. His love for wildlife also found its way into his prints and sculptures. He and Lynn have traveled extensively in East Africa and Alaska, and Wallen has made two trips to the Russian Far East to study Siberian tigers. He has been involved in conservation projects in Alaska since he first moved there, working to establish the Chilkat Bald Eagle preserve, where 3,500 eagles gather in the winter, and the Admiralty Island National Monument in southeast Alaska, home to 1,500 brown bears, among other projects. Wallen’s roots in Manitowoc go deep on his mother’s side. In the 1880s his great grandparents built the house he and Lynn are living in. His mother was born in that house, and he and his brother, Robert, and sister, Catherine, were raised there. The children kept the house after their mother died, gathering there for holidays and vacations. Skip and Lynn now live in the family house, and Robert and Catherine have also moved back to Manitowoc since they’ve retired. Robert is serving as an assistant on the sculpture project. Wallen’s father, born in Norway, worked in the Manitowoc shipyard where submarines were built during World War II. His father placed a notice of his birth in the employee newsletter, called the Keel Block. The submarine under construction at the time was the USS Peto, the first of 28 subs built in Manitowoc. His dad announced “a new skipper for the Peto.” The nickname “Skipper” became “Skip,”
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An Inupiat eskimo stands on drift ice watching for whale, seals and walruses in the Bering Strait, 1965. The Russian Island of Big Diomede is in the background. Photo submitted by Skip Wallen.
which is how most people know him.
ing to create waterworks simulating the briny seawater cascading off a breaching He’ll be attending the 55th reunion whale. You can learn more about that online at www.AlaskaWhaleProject.org. of his Lincoln High School class next The Spirit of the month, but he shows no signs of retir- Rivers will take aning. He’s up and down ladders and other year or so to scaffolding all day long as he creates the complete, and Wal10-foot high figures for the Spirit of the len is happy to have Rivers sculpture. And he is still thinking the opportunity to be about how to devise a new tool or solve in Manitowoc for the an engineering problem at night. duration of the proj“There’s no blueprint for making a ect. Maybe longer. sculpture. Each one is a unique challenge,” he says of his projects. For example, he recently finished sculpting a life-size humpback whale to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Alaska statehood. This was his biggest sculpture to date and involves complicated interior plumb-
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Creating A Community of Caring When Shady Lane, Inc. was founded in 1951, its goal was to serve our community with a range of care at a reasonable cost under the direction of community leaders. Community leaders envisioned a not-for-profit organization dedicated to offering best care practices. Today, our board of directors is drawn from community leaders. We serve without stock-holders, only stake-holders who are dedicated to the needs of our community.
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