50 October 2013 | The magazine for active, mature lifestyles
plus!
FALL LAWN CaRE can keep Your yard looking great year- round
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SaVvy Senior
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ADRC: Health insurance ‘marketplaces’ won’t impact Medicare
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HEALTH Column: Vigilant screening leads fight against breast cancer
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Jennifer Ladwig
Veterans of Foreign Wars post 659 Senior Vice Commander Harold Kummer, left, poses for a portrait with Adjutant Julie Rozum at the American Legion building on Jay Street in Manitowoc. Membership is down in the VFW, which now shares a location with the American Legion. Matthew Apgar/50 Plus
6 They Never FEATURE STORY:
Stop Serving
50 plus!
Staff
Pat Pankratz, 50 Plus! Editor 920-686-2138 ppankratz@htrnews.com
FALL LAWN CaRE
can keep Your yard looking great yearround
Dale Mahloch, Advertising Manager 920-686-2124 dmahloch@htrnews.com 50 Plus! is published monthly by the Herald Times Reporter. It also is distributed to select businesses in Manitowoc County.
Falling temperatures and shorter days don’t mean you can retire from lawn care for the year. In fact, the fall season is a critical time to nourish lawns and care for plants so they can survive winter and emerge even more vibrant when next spring arrives. Before you store your lawn and garden supplies, consider these fall lawn tips that keep your yard looking great year-round: ■ Fertilize: Your lawn may not look like it’s doing much above ground during cool months, but below ground root systems continue to grow. That’s why most lawn care professionals recommend fertilizing once or twice in the fall - grass will store and use the extra boost of nutrients throughout winter. Fertilizers high in nitrogen are ideal for fall feedings. ■ Sweep: Leaves and other foliage left on the ground can rot and deprive grass and other plants of moisture and sunlight. If you dread raking, a blower/vac is the ideal tool. ■ Water: Watering during fall is important to foster root growth and give plants a healthy drink before winter arrives. If you’re not experiencing at least 1 inch of rainfall a week, supplement with a sprinkler. Continue the same eco-friendly watering strategies you
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used throughout summer, such as watering in the mornings to reduce evaporation. ■ Seed: Have a few sparse areas in your yard? Fall is a great season for grass seed to germinate due to the cool, moist weather. Plus, because most seasonal birds have left, the seed is less vulnerable to being eaten. Over-seeding now not only fills in open areas, but it increases grass density to help prevent weeds next year. Loosen and prepare the soil, choose a high quality grass seed and water the area plenty so seeds reach maturity before winter. ■ Trim: Fall is a good time to trim trees and shrubbery before the harsh weather of winter hits. ■ Aerate: Aerating your lawn in the fall helps to open compacted soil and break down thatch that built up over the summer. The small soil plugs removed by the aerator loosen the ground so oxygen and water can better reach the grass roots. Aerators are available for rent at most rental stores and the job can typically be done in a few hours, depending on yard size. ■ Mow: As the weather cools, grass slowly goes dormant. Before winter hits, continue to mow as needed. When your lawn seems to have almost completely slowed its growth rate, mow one final time for the year, but set your mower at a higher height. This helps keep grass healthy until warm weather returns. Recommended mower heights for a final mow are 2 to 2.5 inches. Rather than retreating from the crisp fall air, use the time to enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature while helping keep your yard looking its best. A few simple steps now will help your lawn look great today and into next year. BrandPoint
Help for seniors who are drowning in clutter My 67-year-old mother’s house has become a cluttered mess. Since my father died a few years ago, her house is so disorganized and messy with stuff that it’s becoming a hazard. I think she has a hoarding problem. What can I do? Worried Daughter
overlooking bills and missing medications that are hidden in the clutter; and suffering from the environmental effects of mold, mildew and dust, and even living among insects and rodents.
Jim Miller members who will use them.
What to do To get a handle on your mom’s problem, the Institute for Challenging Disorganization offers a free “Clutter Hoarding Scale” that you can download off their website at challengingdisorganization.org.
■ You
Compulsive cluttering is a problem that effects up to 5 percent of Americans – many of whom are seniors – with problems ranging anywhere from mild messiness to hoarding so severe it may be related to a mental health disorder like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Here’s what you should know, along with some tips and resources that can help your mom.
If you find that your mom has only a mild cluttering problem, there are a number of things you can do to help.
If you need some help with the decluttering and organizing, consider hiring a professional organizer who can come to your mom’s home to help you prioritize, organize and remove the clutter. The nonprofit group National Association of Professional Organizers has a directory on the website at napo.net to help you locate an expert in your area.
Why people hoard: The reasons most people hoard are because they have an extreme sentimental attachment to their possessions, or they believe they might need their items at a later date. Hoarding also may be a sign that an older person is depressed, or showing early symptoms of dementia.
■ If
Dear Worried:
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Common problems for seniors who live in excessive clutter are tripping, falling and breaking a bone;
■ Start
by having a talk with her, respectfully expressing your concern for her health and safety, and offering your assistance to help her declutter. she takes you up on it, most professional organizers recommend decluttering in small steps. Take one room at a time or even a portion of a room at a time. This will help prevent your mom from getting overwhelmed.
■ Before
you start, designate three piles or boxes for your mom’s stuff – one pile is for items she wants to keep and put away, another is the donate pile and the last is the throwaway pile. You and your mom will need to determine which pile her things belong in as you work. If your mom struggles with sentimental items that she doesn’t use, like her husband’s old tools or mother’s china for example, suggest she keep only one item for memory sake and donate the rest to family ■
will also need to help her set up a system for organizing the kept items and new possessions.
Find help
If she has a bigger, more serious hording problem (if her daily functioning is impaired, or if she is having financial difficulties, health problems, or other issues because of her hoarding) you’ll need to seek professional help. Antidepressants and/or talk therapy can help address control issues, anxiety, depression, and other feelings that may underline hoarding tendencies, and make it easier for her to confront her disorder. To learn more and find professional help see the OCD Foundation (ocfoundation.org/hoarding) which provides a hoarding center on their website that offers information, resources, treatments, self-help groups, and more. Also see hoardingcleanup.com, a site that has a national database of qualified resources including cleaning companies and therapists that can help. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Send your questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.
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ADRC: Health insurance ‘marketplaces’ won’t impact Medicare BY JUDY RANK
within 30 days or the extra help may end on Dec. 31.
The Affordable Care Act requires that a Health Insurance Marketplace be set up to help people who don’t have health insurance to choose a plan that’s best for them. Individuals on Medicare have health insurance through Medicare. The Marketplace will not have any impact on Medicare coverage.
Others may get a letter telling them that they no longer automatically qualify for extra help. These individuals should reapply using the application and postage-paid envelope that was enclosed. By Sept. 30, all people who qualify for extra help, and who do not need to reapply, will get a Low Income Subsidy (LIS) rider from their plan telling them how much help they’ll get in 2014 towards their Part D premium, deductible and copayments.
Current Medicare benefits will not be changing. It is against the law for someone who knows that you have Medicare to sell you a Marketplace plan. Please be aware that the Medicare open enrollment period is a time when there’s a higher risk for fraudulent activities. Medicare open enrollment begins Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7. This is the time when all people with Medicare are encouraged to review their current health and prescription drug coverage, including any changes in costs, coverage and benefits that will take effect next year. For those who want to change coverage for 2014, this is the time period to do so. Some people, who have been getting extra help from the government in paying for prescription drug coverage or reduced co-payments, may have received a letter in early September informing them they were selected for a review to see if they still qualify for extra help. The enclosed form in this letter must be returned
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The Aging & Disability Resource Center will once again be offering help to those who need assistance in reviewing their current Part D plans. A listing of your current drugs, along with your name, address, phone number and Medicare number may be dropped off or mailed to the ADRC office for review prior to the enrollment date. Once reviewed, a trained Part D counselor will call back to discuss the review and set up an appointment if needed. The mailing address for the ADRC is P.O. Box 935, Manitowoc, WI 542210935. The ADRC will be hosting a training for those interested in learning how to check their own Medicare Part D plans. The training will be hands-on, so please bring your laptop if you have one, along with your list
of medications. The training will be held from 1 to 3:30 p.m. and again from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24 at the ADRC office in Manitowoc, 4319 Expo Drive. This same training will be held Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. and again from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the ADRC’s Kewaunee office, located at 810 Lincoln St.
Affordable Care Act enrollment For the 16 percent uninsured and eligible Americans, open enrollment in the Affordable Care Act will begin Oct. 1 and run through March 31, 2014. Individuals who are on the state’s high risk insurance, HIRSP, should have received a letter from the state stating their coverage will end on Dec. 31. Some individuals who are receiving insurance benefits through one of the BadgerCare programs may also have received a letter from the state saying their coverage will end Dec. 31. The letter should be directing these individuals to enroll in the Marketplace. While the open enrollment in this insurance is a sixmonth period ending March 31, 2014, it is important for individuals losing HIRSP or BadgerCare to enroll in a plan by Dec. 15. Any enrollment after this date ADRC continued on page 10
Vigilant screening leads fight against breast cancer Health Jennifer Ladwig is an advanced practice nurse practitioner at Aurora Health Center in Valders. Her office can be reached at (920) 775-4111.
Most women are aware that early detection of breast cancer can save lives through regular mammography screenings and clinical breast exams. Women should consult with their health care providers to discuss their individual risk factors for breast cancer and to develop a personalized schedule for breast cancer screening. Those at increased risk (women with a family history, genetic tendency or past breast cancer) may benefit from starting mammography screenings earlier, having additional tests such as a breast ultrasound or MRI, or more frequent exams. Most national guidelines for the early detection of breast cancer continue to recommend: ■
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Yearly mammograms starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman remains in good health. Clinical breast exams every three years for women in their 20s and 30s, and every year for women age 40 and older. Women should report any breast changes promptly to their health care provider. Monthly breast self-exams are recommended for women, starting in their 20s.
Women are more likely to notice a change in their own breasts by doing monthly exams, versus only having
ADRC:
them checked at an annual exam. Aurora Health Care offers a Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool to gauge the likelihood that a woman will develop breast cancer. This is an interactive tool designed by scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) to estimate a woman’s risk of developing invasive breast cancer. It is based on a statistical model known as the “Gail Model.” It was designed by researchers as a tool for health care providers to calculate a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer within the next five years and within her lifetime (up to age 90). It takes into account seven key risk factors for breast cancer. ■
Age
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Age at first period
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Age at the time her first child was born (or has not given birth) Family history of breast cancer (mother, sister or daughter) Number of past breast biopsies Number of breast biopsies showing atypical hyperplasia Race/ethnicity
Although the tool has been used with success for women with strong family SCREENING continued on page 10
50 plus! . October 2013 . 5
Allen Karl
Julie Rozum
They never stop serving By Joni Shavlik | 50 Plus correspondent Harold Kummer recalls the pride he felt seeing his dad, Emil C. Kummer, in uniform marching in parades. Having served in the Army infantry in France, his father joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) upon his return. During the Depression years, it was a source of fun and an occasional banquet since his mother, Carrie Kummer, also joined the ladies auxiliary. It was the camaraderie that attracted members.
In Company H, 145th infantry regiment, 37th division, Kummer was in a heavy weapons unit for 18 months of combat in the Philippines, firing 81mm mortars and 30cal water cooled machine guns. His hearing was damaged during the conflict. He was honorably discharged in December 1946 and was “recommended for further military duty,” but they didn’t call him up again.
Harold Kummer finished high school in 1944 and was drafted shortly thereafter. He served as an Army infantry corporal and had his basic training at Camp Blanding, Fla.
Kummer returned to the US and attended his exgirlfriend’s wedding shortly thereafter. It all worked out for the best, however, as he met his wife, Evelyn Strauss, while roller skating at the Rollaire Skate Center. He joined the VFW, which requires the member to have served in a combat zone during wartime, in 1947.
“I was a replacement in the company for the guys that got killed,” he said. “I really respected the older guys in the company.”
He considers it an honor to serve with his fellow vets on the firing squads of the VFW, AMVETS and the American Legion.
Granted, the “older guys” were probably only four years older than Harold and were lucky enough to survive. Two weeks prior to finishing basic, one of his company troops was accidentally shot in the head and killed during a walking live artillery drill. Seeing his possible mortality, Kummer broke up with his girlfriend, sending her a letter advising her to move on.
“They’re not just members, they’re friends,” he said.
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New officers of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 659 include, from left, Junior Vice Commander Fred Blashka, Adjutant Julie Rozum, Quartermaster Allen Karl, Senior Vice Commander Harold Kummer and Commander Randy Ayotte. Matthew Apgar/50 Plus from about 500 in the 1950s and 1960s to less than 200 today. Oftentimes members from one organization will call upon another so that they have enough members for a 21-gun salute at funerals for fallen comrades. “I’m 87 years old and still cleaning rifles!” Kummer marvels.
Numbers declining
Kummer says a color guard of seven service members firing off their military salute — three shots each followed by “Taps” — is a solemn reminder of what this now fallen soldier had pledged to sacrifice when he or she enlisted. It is their right to have this at their funeral, he said. Kummer also wants every vet to know that if they have served in combat infantry or had a medical badge, they are eligible for the bronze star.
There are fewer “friends” in traditional veteran organizations these days. According to Allen Karl of the Manitowoc County United Veterans Council, membership in the Manitowoc VFW Post 659 has gone
The VFW was established in 1899. It’s most popular benefit was to give free phone calls to family members from troops serving overseas. They currently provide assistance to veterans, lobby on their behalf, mentor
youth, run food kitchens, hold blood drives, visit vets in hospitals, and provide youth scholarships. The local chapter marches in parades, though many members are aging and ask the local 377th (located just south of Silver Creek Park) to help with carrying their flag while they follow in the car. They raise money for vets who need assistance and run community benefits as well. During the holidays, the local VFW auxiliary goes to area retirement homes and find out what the vets would like for a gift, and hold a party for them. “One gentleman who was in a wheelchair asked for a radio,” Kummer said. “When the party was done he headed back to his room with his radio on his wheelchair seat playing his music and he was pushing the wheelchair behind it all happy-go-lucky. I’ll never forget that sight.”
Younger members Julie Rozum is one of the younger members of the VFW. She served as a sergeant in the Army and was twice deployed to Iraq. “You are deployed for six months to a year where you are constantly on your guard, always thinking ‘Am I
gonna’ get shot?’ When you return home, you don’t sleep well. You hear a car backfire or a door slam and you jump. You have joined an institution and you work to get institutionalized, but then it’s hard to get back into society,” she said. Rozum knows that everyone at the VFW has had experiences like hers, and they understand. She knows that if she ever needed anything, they would find a way to help, and she has their back, too. She joined because she felt a sense of responsibility, and she knew she could help. Of the color guard duties she says, “They’ve sacrificed months, maybe years to serve. I can afford an hour of my time.” Rozum knows that the elder members came from an era of volunteerism; they will always serve as long as they can, but new members are needed. “Unless they are a military family, many Americans don’t grasp what is going on at war,” Rozum said. “People are being killed and maimed on a daily basis.”
Much to offer Even those who have recently served may feel that
they have done enough to serve their country and aren’t looking to continue by joining a post-military organization. But these organizations have much to offer, besides pride and camaraderie, financial support, and help with a difficult claims filing process, she said. Allen Karl served in the Army as a sergeant in the Korean War for a motor company infantry. He drove 2 ½-tons trucks from the lines to the rear to get ammo for howitzers and bring it back to the lines. Karl is on continued on page 8
Color Guard Capt. Harold Kummer, from the Manitowoc VFW Post 659, plays the bugle during a Veterans Day program at St. Francis of Assisi Elementary School, Waldo Worship Site, in Manitowoc in November 2011. Sue Pischke/50 Plus file photo Members of VFW Post 659 meet in the back room of the American Legion building on Jay Street during a meeting on Sep. 11 in Manitowoc. Membership in many local veterans’ organizations is down as members age. Matthew Apgar/50 Plus
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continued from page 7
the Manitowoc County United Veterans Council, which coordinates VFW, AMVETS, American Legion and Vietnam War vets. He joined in 1952. He noted the lobbying that the veterans organizations do for veteran’s rights. “The more members you have in an organization, the more power the organization has,” he said. “That’s why we need all of the new members from ‘the sand box’” (troops returning from the Middle East).
Group fell apart Jamie Aulik is serving his 16th year in the Army Reserve. Currently with the 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion out of Green Bay, he is an Iraqi vet. Upon returning from Iraq he formed the Veterans of Modern Warfare. They met monthly and had speakers that can help members with their benefits. “Most of the people returning from Iraq are lower on the totem pole at work; they have young families, they are just too busy to get involved,” Aulik said. The group fell apart, but Aulik knows the nature of a vet. “I’d give them about 10 years, then they will have more time, and will probably be looking for another way to serve,” he said. The communication gap with established veterans organizations is a factor in declining memberships, he said. Many of them haven’t caught up with email, texting or social media. “Organizations need to have an Internet presence; it’s important to be able to reach these new guys,” Aulik said.
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Register for services Karl suggests that all veterans register at the local Veterans Service Office, 4319 Expo Drive, to see what services the office can offer. Jane Babcock, Manitowoc County Veteran’s Service Officer, is a veteran as well as being an expert in helping vets get benefits they have coming to them. She said veterans often need help with filing claims for pensions and benefits. “If it’s done right, a claim can take as little at 100 days to process, but could be drawn out to 1 to 2 years if the whole packet isn’t done properly,” she said. You may fill out a seven-page claim form from the VA website, and they then tell you that you are now eligible for benefits and to please fill out these other four forms.” She knows what has to be filed and how to do it all correctly the first time, and how to expedite medical claims if there is an emergency. As a state and national certified veteran’s service officer, she has the training and up-to-date knowledge to get the job done. It’s a free service. “There are 6,800 vets in our county who received $25 million in benefits last year,” Babcock said. “Send them all to me! I can help. More information for veterans is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays on cable channel 20 in Manitowoc, with the presentation of “American Veteran Services.” These short videos chronicle ways we are caring for our veterans. Harold Kummer’s hearing loss has since been taken care of with hearing aids through the VA. He’s been through combat, and through the VA, and continues to serve his country and fellow vets through the VFW.
Crossword: FALL IN THE AIR
sudoku 48. Motion picture type 50. *Nut droppers 52. Distress signal 53. Chicken ____ 55. *Halloween time 57. *Apple orchard activity 61. Re-use old ideas 64. Bloodless 65. Fed. procurement group 67. External 69. Armrest? 70. Singular of #50 Across 71. “The Barber of Seville,” e.g. 72. Religious offshoot 73. Clinton ___ Rodham 74. Tina Fey’s Liz
ACROSS 1. *What a harvester does 6. On #2 button 9. Lyme disease carrier 13. The N of U.S.N.A. 14. Romanian money 15. Languidly 16. Got up 17. “The Lord of the Rings” character
18. Distinguish oneself 19. *Fall TV time 21. *Colorful autumn attraction 23. Eggs 24. Not mint 25. Rare find 28. Means justifiers 30. Comment 35. Lyric poems 37. Bit
39. Musical show 40. Tangerine grapefruit hybrid 41. *Autumnal feeling in air 43. ___ Verde National Park 44. Capital of Morocco 46. It’s capped 47. At a previous time, archaic
DOWN
Fill in the blank squares in the grid, making sure that every row, column and 3-by-3 box includes all digits 1 through 9. Crossword and Sudoku solutions on page 11.
1. Nucleic acid 2. Lobe holders 3. Assert 4. Leisurely walk 5. *Fall’s usually the time for a long one 6. Hoppy beers 7. “Fresh Prince of ___Air” 8. Some have links 9. Curbside call 10. Famous Peruvian group 11. Horsefly 12. Actor ____ MacLachlan 15. Metal-worker 20. Bank run, e.g. 22. “___ the land of the
free...” 24. Sir Peter _______, English actor 25. *Natural decoration 26. Degas or Poe 27. Peach _____ dessert 29. “____ Diaries” book series 31. Same, in French 32. Certifies 33. Actress Rene 34. *”To Autumn” poet 36. Thailand, formerly 38. Seaward 42. Superior grade of black tea 45. “There for the
______” 49. Wrath, e.g. 51. *It starts all over 54. Incite 56. Greyish brown 57. Forward move in football 58. ____ of Man 59. All the rage 60. Cigarette brand 61. *Used for gathering 62. Flower supporter 63. Deli offering 66. Sigma Alpha Epsilon 68. Campaigned
50 plus! . October 2013 . 9
ADRC
screening
in December will not be processed until January, which would leave individuals without insurance for the month of January.
histories of breast cancer, more specific methods of estimating risk are appropriate for women known to have breast cancer-producing mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.
continued from page 4
Individuals may compare plans based on price and coverage by going to www. Marketplace.cms.gov. Starting Oct. 1, consumers can apply for health coverage on www.HealthCare.gov or by calling the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596.
‘Powerful tools’ The ADRC will be holding a “Powerful Tools for Caregiving” six-week program beginning Monday, Oct. 7, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Aurora Medical Center. This is for the family caregiver, helping them better understand the role of caregiving and how to maximize self-care. Adult day services are available for the care recipient.
‘Stepping On’ Two “Stepping On” programs will begin in October. This is a seven-week program for those who have had a recent fall, have a fear of falling, or are at risk of falling. An evening class will be held at River Wood Estates, beginning Thursday, Oct. 10, from 6 to 8 pm. A daytime class is set to start Tuesday, Oct. 29, from 1 to 3 pm. Pre-registration is requested for all of the classes. Please contact the ADRC at (920) 683-4180 or 1-877-416-7083. A security deposit of $20 is requested, which is refundable to those who attend all seven classes during the program. Judy Rank is executive director of the Aging and Disability Resource Center of the Lakeshore. When we’re young, we want to change the world… when we’re old, we want to change the young. -Garth Henrichs, book publisher Source: just-one-liners.com
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continued from page 5
Even with its current limitations, this Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (Gail Model) can be useful. However, it is not a perfect predictor of individual risk. The model can estimate a woman’s risk, but it cannot tell definitely whether or not she will get breast cancer during her lifetime. Hopefully, women have received the life-saving message that early detection of breast cancer saves lives through a three-pronged approach that includes regular selfexams, mammography screening and clinical breast exams. Some encouraging news for all women is that increased mammography screening and improved treatment options have greatly improved the long-term outlook for thousands of breast cancer survivors. In the future, new technology and refined assessment tools may hold the promise of even better detection and subsequent treatments, but for now regular mammography screening and vigilance remain at the forefront in the early detection of breast cancer.
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