Northwest Adventures: Aging In Place?:
Life & Death In Assisted Living Fraud: What Are The Red Flags?
Dupont & The Nisqually River Delta
You Can Rule Over Fear 6 Ways To Be ProActive With Your Health
Encore Life Š | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com | 1
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Encore Living - A radio show that talks about Better Living In The Second Stage of Life. Hosted by Joyce Joneschiet (Encore Living Interiors/Encore Life Magazine) with Aaron Murphy (ADM Architecture LLC/ Empowering the Mature Mind). Special features include: • Interior design tips • How interior design & architecture can help you age in place • The newest products for your home • Best travel destinations for baby boomers • What is a referral agency and how can they help you with your options • Nutrition for Adults Only • How in-home care is not a luxury • Easy no-cook meals • Encore careers • Inspirational baby boomers • And so much more! | Encore Life | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com 22| Encore Life ©© | Fall 2013 | encorelifemag.com
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CONTENTS
Encore Life
volume two FALL/WINTER 2013 “Be proactive with your health. Remember, you only get one body. Don’t simply extend your years in life, but MAXIMIZE the life in those years!”
features
41 Fraud: What Are The Red Flags? 30 Check Your Blind Spot: How Shaving My Legs Taught Me A Lesson In Awareness
transitions & aging in place
8 A Moving Story (Part 6) Jane & Tom’s Moving Day 20 Healthy Downsizing? Planning Ahead Will Bring Freedom 46 Life And Death In Assisted Living
travel & career
12 Northwest Adventures: Dupont and the Nisqually River Delta 44 Vacation: A Time To Rest, Rejuvenate, and Refocus
spirituality & caregiving in every issue
Contributors 4 Editor’s Letter—From Me, For You 6 Online Glimpses 3 Nutrition For Adults Only 8 Encore Careers 44 Encore Travel 12 From You To Us 5 On Our Bookshelf 7 Subscription Info 52 Advertising Info 6 In The Next Issue... 52
10
35 You Can Rule Over Fear 37 The Importance of A Kind Word Or Gesture 22 Are You Wearing Your Oxygen Mask? 50 Seasons Of Washington: A New Kind Of Non-Profit
health & nutrition
38 6 Ways To Be Proactive With Your Health 28 Turmeric: Root Cure Of Inflammation? 24 How Is Your Balance? 31 Charles Matthaei and Roman Meal
37 Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com | 3
CONTRIBUTORS
Encore Life
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46
30
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22
24
38
12,28,31
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4 | Encore Life Š | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com
Watch Our Before And After Video!
From You To Us
L etters from our readers are always appreciated and welcomed. We hope to hear from
you about this issue and want to get your feedback on what you would like to see in future issues. This helps us tailor this magazine to your needs so we can provide the content that you’re looking for. If you’ve received a benefit from a particular article or video, tell us about it! We will be using this page to mention your letters and emails and we are looking forward to hearing from you! Please send all your letters to: Encore Life Magazine 1911 SW Campus Dr, Ste 487 Federal Way, WA 98023
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Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com | 5
From Me To You Just A Note...
A
nd now we come to my favorite time of year - Thanksgiving and Christmas! I look forward to it each year with plans to make this year more fun, more organized, more yummy, and more beautiful. I’ve written an article to help you do just that! Be sure to check it out and our favorites from the Bookshelf on the next page. The books also link to lots more gift ideas for you, so click there now! We hope that this holiday season is your best and brightest! Make sure to have your friends and family sign up for a FREE subscription today so you can each have access to all the good stuff that is coming your way! Click here to sign up!
Joyce
Here’s to your Encore Life!
Joyce Joneschiet (Jonah-shite) Publisher & Editor in Chief 6 | Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com
from JOYCE JONESCHIET
On Our Bookshelf
Click on the book images for more info...
Christmas Comedy Collection (Elf / A Christmas Story / National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation) Warner Bros.
NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION The movie with a squirrel in the Christmas tree and a house full of nuts. Traditions are disasters waiting to happen in this gleeful laughfest. It’s a Griswold family holiday , deal with it! Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid. A CHRISTMAS STORY All Ralphie wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder BB-Gun. How he goes about getting it is the focus of a comedy treasure that’s both a yuletide tale and a warm look at 1940s Americana. Peter Billingsley, Darren McGavin, Melinda Dillon. ELF He was an orphaned infant who slipped into Santa’s sack one Christmas Eve and was raised as an elf at the North Pole. Only he isn’t an elf, and now sunny, naive human Buddy comes to the cynical Big Apple to find his birth father. Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel.
Matthew Mead’s Christmas All Through The House By Matthew Mead
Christmas with Southern Living 2013 Oxmoor House
From unique and whimsical wreaths, to sparkly handmade gift wrap, to deliciously simple confections, stylist Matthew Mead makes the holidays special and stress free. Step-by-step photos and instructions for personalized gifts, creative decor, and elegant edibles will make the season memorable. About the Author Lifestyle and entertaining expert Matthew Mead is the author of FLEA MARKET FINDS, RECYCLED STYLE, ENTERTAINING SIMPLE, and MATTHEW MEAD’S HALLOWEEN. He is a contributor to many shelter publications, including BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS, REAL SIMPLE, INSTYLE WEDDINGS, and COUNTRY LIVING.
Christmas with Southern Living is ALL NEW for 2013. Included are special holiday menus and over 100 recipes especially designed for holiday cooking, baking, entertaining, and gift-giving. Dozens of photos, kitchen tips, and entertaining ideas add extra value to the recipe pages, which make up more than half of the book. The balance of the book shows big, beautiful, idea-packed photos of homes that are decorated for the season in styles that are creative, not costly; also included are lots of simple decorations and gifts to make. Holiday table setting and centerpiece ideas, mantels, wreaths, and natural decorations are prominently featured. Over 200 fullcolor photos delight and inspire.
Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com | 7
A MOVING STORY (Part 6) Jane & Tom’s Moving Day By Sue McGuire
O
n Jane and Tom’s moving day, the movers loaded their truck with boxes and furniture. Because Jane and Tom were moving just a short distance, the move management company filled coolers with frozen and refrigerated food. The movers loaded the coolers onto the truck last so they could be emptied into the new refrigerator immediately on arrival at the new apartment. Then Jane and Tom, the movers, and moving crew headed to Jane and Tom’s new home. First off the truck were the refrigerator and freezer coolers, the patio plants and the clothing. The move management company immediately started filling the refrigerator and freezer and hanging up Jane and Tom’s coats, blouses, suits and pants. Using the floor plan as their guide, the movers efficiently placed each piece of furniture in its proper place. Once the furniture was unloaded, the movers carried in the labeled boxes. By glancing at the labels, the movers knew exactly where to put the boxes. Cheryl, the move management company project manager, had planned so efficiently that the unpacking and setting up of Jane and Tom’s new apartment took only a few hours. Careful labeling ensured, for example, that the shelves and the shelf pins for the china cabinet were found quickly. As soon as the movers reassembled the bed, the moving crew plugged in the electric blanket and made up the bed with the mattress pad, fresh sheets, bedspread, and pillows. Careful dismantling of the computer system ensured it could be set up quickly. The floor plan took into consideration the location of the wall hookups so the electronics were placed to minimize visible wires. Next the move management company unpacked and reassembled and plugged in the lamps, each with its proper lampshade. The crew dusted the china cabinet and carefully unpacked all of Jane and Tom’s crystal, figurines, and
8 | Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com
other memorabilia—using reference photos to put everything back in the same place. Since Tom did most of the cooking, he supervised the unpacking of the dishes, glassware, flatware, and appliances, directing where he wanted them placed in the cabinets and drawers. For the first time, Jane and Tom each had their own bathroom. Jane wanted to set up her bathroom herself, so the crew left the boxes for her to unpack. The move management company had stuffed the dresser drawers with paper to protect the contents, so after the movers placed the furniture, the crew removed all the paper, and reorganized the drawers. They also set the clocks and the answering machine. After unpacking all the wrapped artwork from the special boxes designed for pictures and mirrors, it was time to hang the artwork. Jane and Tom had a few ideas on where they wanted their artwork, but let the move management company use their judgment and creativity to “mix it up” a little. For example, artwork that used to be tucked away in the guest room of the old house found a new home in the entry. Jane and Tom enjoyed seeing their favorite pieces in a new light. The moving crew removed all the boxes, paper, and other packing materials from the apartment as Jane and Tom headed down for their first dinner in their new home.
stepped into a neat and orderly apartment filled with all their familiar belongings— complete with fresh flowers on the coffee table—Jane and Tom turned to each other and smiled. They were home.
SUE MCGUIRE heads up the South Sound office of Segue. She has lived and worked in the Tacoma area for 35 years. She has a Masters degree in planning and over 30 years experience providing business management, marketing, and project management services to private and public clients. Sue has run her own consulting business, managed By taking notes throughout the moving process, by snapping reference photos, by relying on a good visual memory, and by listening to Jane and Tom, Cheryl and the members of her team were able to recreate each room. When Jane and Tom returned from dinner and
a private-non-profit social service agency, and was marketing director for the Tacoma office of a national engineering firm. Click on the website icon for more information.
Encore Life Š | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com | 9
21 Stress-Free Holiday Ideas! By Joyce Joneschiet, Publisher Here are some ideas and tips I use to make the holidays much easier! Hope they help you too.
1.
When Thanksgiving comes, have everyone draw a name of the one they’ll give a Christmas gift to. Have a budget for how much you’ll spend on each gift and stick to it.
2. Have out of town family post their wish list on popular retail sites, such as Target or Amazon, etc.
3. Make a list of all the gifts you’ll get before you leave to go shopping. Put them into categories such as toys, clothes & electronics so you won’t shop aimlessly.
4. If you dislike addressing your cards, have a party
where everyone brings over their cards & address books and you can turn the chore into a fun evening. Put on a favorite CD, light the tree and open a bottle of wine or have hot cocoa.
5. Wrap gifts early & write in pencil or with a sticky note who it’s for. Then add ribbon & tags later. Or find out if your store offers free gift wrapping. Otherwise, many non-profits have a gift wrapping booth where you can help out a charity while having someone else take care of this.
6. For last-minute gifts, have a few boxes of candy, jars of local jam or honey, & bottles of wine handy to give out when someone comes to the door with an unexpected gift.
10 | Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com
7. Another option instead of gift-giving is to
provide an experience or special moment instead. What if you gifted time with you such as breakfast at a fancy hotel or a holiday show? This type of gift will be treasured more than a wrapped one.
8. If you’re traveling to a loved one’s home, travel light by bringing gift cards. Or shop online and have the gifts shipped directly to your destination so you won’t have to bring them. Stock up ahead of time – 9. Pantry: stock up on pantry goods early so you won’t
have to make extra trips to the store. Have the basics for baking on hand, like flours (unbleached white & whole wheat), white & brown sugars, baking soda & powder, butter, vanilla, yeast, and chocolate.
10. Wrapping Supplies: stock up on wrapping essentials
early like extra wrapping paper, tags, ribbon & bows, gift bags & tape. The leftovers can always be used next year. Then plan on buying after Christmas when they’re on sale so you’re all ready for next year!
11. Take it easy on yourself with decorating and just pick one color and run with it. For example: Pick red and have red bows on the tree and red candles on the mantelpiece. Or use blue or white for a peaceful, tranquil look. 12. Look at your calendar now and schedule in
times for yourself for personal time, whether it’s going to a movie, spa or lunch with your favorite book. Take a starlit nighttime stroll to see your neighborhood’s holiday lights or take a drive. Call now & purchase the tickets or schedule with your manicurist to solidify that time away. Read a Christmas story to your children or grandchildren. Take a moment to look around you at all
your blessings with gratitude and savor the memory.
19. If you’re wondering what you should tip those that
13. Pull out a favor-
20. When you’re out shopping or just running your nor-
ite cookie recipe (like a simple sugar cookie – here’s one from Martha Stewart), make the dough ahead and add some new variations to it (like jam, zest or dried fruit & nuts), then freeze them to bake later when you need a quick gift or potluck dessert. Most of the work will already be done.
14. When preparing for a holiday party, plan on mak-
ing some of the food ahead of time & shop early. Set the table the morning of so if unforeseen delays happen, you’ll be ahead of the game. Don’t hesitate to ask for help from guests – they’d love do a small task & take coats or take a drink order.
15. You don’t have to make all the food yourself for parties and holiday dinners – it’s ok to order that pumpkin pie from the bakery or that appetizer tray from the deli. It’s even ok to order the whole dinner from your favorite restaurant! 16. As the best Christmas gift to yourself, why not have
a cleaning service help you get your house sparkling and shining while you tackle more important things!
have dutifully served you and yours, here’s a handy tip guide from Martha Stewart: Click here.
mal errands, make sure to take along a positive attitude. You can set everyone around you grumbling or lift everyone’s spirits.
21. Most of all – be happy with
whatever you accomplish. Remember that your Christmas efforts are “good enough.” Decide in advance how much you’ll do and stick with it! Don’t say “yes” to events & obligations that will bring unneeded stress and time away from what is the most important way you want to spend the holidays. You can say, “I already have a commitment at that time.” You don’t have to say that commitment is for yourself or your family time. Guard the moments you have set aside and make them precious! Take notes of what worked this year and what you might do differently next year. Keep a journal or notebook of all your notes, shopping list, addresses, and recipes in one place so you’re not looking everywhere next year. Write down YOUR secrets for a safe, sacred and stress-free Christmas!
17. If friends or family are too busy to get together, why
not set a date for after New Year’s? You’ll be more relaxed then and you’ll have something to look forward to after all the presents have been opened.
18. Take some time to remem-
ber the sacred and spiritual side of this holiday season. Whatever your faith is, don’t forget to acknowledge the meaning it holds for you and observe it accordingly.
Joyce Joneschiet, Publisher, Interior Designer
Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com | 11
Northwest Adventures:
DuPont and the Nisqually River Delta By Don Doman
W
hat a joyous weekend of laughter, beautiful locations and weather, good food and relaxation. The plan was to stay in Dupont and enjoy ourselves. Once we made plans they expanded on their own, but still left us plenty of time for fun. Most people would take I-5 from Tacoma to Dupont, but we took the back way, a short-cut via Chambers Bay and Steilacoom. We left north Tacoma about nine in the morning and the day was already gorgeous. We stopped off at Chambers Creek and Chambers Bay to enjoy the natural beauty. Chambers Creek empties into Chambers Bay via a spillway/dam and curves around to join Puget Sound. 12 | Encore Life Š | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com
Chambers Bay is the home of a waste water treatment plant, which supplies gray water to the Chambers Bay Golf Course, home of 2015 U.S. Open. The gray water is the win-win partnership that enables the greening of the wonderful links course of Chambers Bay.
We continued our trip through Steilacoom, which was the first incorporated settlement in Washington State in 1851. We drove past the Hampton Inn in Dupont and joined I-5 for a short drive through the Nisqually Delta and up the hill to Lacey, Washington. Our 12-year old grandson Riley was playing in a baseball tournament in Lacey. Lacey was once a bedroom community of Olympia, but has been building up over the past several years. The excellent baseball park featuring four fields and individual bleachers are an example of the desire of the townsfolk to offer top-notch facilities.
Riley had a nice single, but was thrown out trying to steal second base. This was the third call that went against his team within thirty minutes. Unfortunately they lost that game and the one that followed and were eliminated from the competition. We had to leave for a client meeting fifteen minutes away, back across the freeway but still in Lacey. After our meeting we leisurely drove back through Nisqually, home of the Medicine Creek Treaty. We left the freeway and entered the long driveway on Center Street, the “Main Street”of DuPont. We had no idea where to have lunch. Peg saw McNamara’s and said, “We had a P.E.O. (her women’s group that raises money for postsecondary education for women) birthday lunch there. It was excellent.” I don’t need much more prompting than a general recommendation and a promise of good food. The brick, wood and stucco exteriors of the new buildings as well as a soft day in the mid-eighties made me feel like I was in Tucson. Well, a Tucson filled with members of the U.S. Army, perhaps. I didn’t know what to expect at the restaurant, but I did see a framed neighborhood award in the lobby for McNamara’s Pub and Eatery and Farrelli’s. Farrelli’s is a small, local franchise that delivers good service and good food, primarily but not limited to
pizza. It turns out that the two restaurants are part of the same ownership. It’s a great pairing. In addition to the mid-American offerings of comfort food and hamburgers, McNamara’s specializes in Irish food. Soup of the day was corned-beef chowder. I ordered a cup, just to sample of course but ended up eating it all. I chose the black and bleu burger with sweet potato fries while Peg ordered the meatloaf. I traded a little bit with Peg. I gave her half my burger and received most of the meatloaf with tasty Guinness gravy. I cleaned up on the veggies: sliced carrots, parsnips, and shallots. Although the burger and the meatloaf were very good, I really enjoyed the vegetables. Peg cancelled her order for a baked potato, which would have been a substitute for colcannon (mashed potatoes with cabbage and shallots). Peg doesn’t like mashed potatoes. My half burger and veggies including a few sweet potatoes filled her up. I sipped on endless refills of Shirley Temples with four cherries each time. As I sipped I looked out the window and watched groups of Rangers leave the Farrelli’s restaurant directly across the street. It was fun watching them. As they came out onto the sidewalk they all placed and adjusted their Ranger berets in unison.
The service at McNamara’s was impeccable. We were greeted warmly and soon, and had our needs checked on throughout lunch. Chris, our server was always there to suggest , assist and chat. I figured that we’d be back for dinner that evening, but it never happened. I guess we’ll have to return on a future trip. For dinner after the McNamara’s comfort food feast, we decided to have salads that night at Farrelli’s. While I paid the bill that night, Peg went back across the street and bought two slices of McNamara’s key lime pie for an evening snack. Yum! When we return to McNamara’s, we have selections in Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com | 13
Kathy doesn’t like to ship chocolate-coated toffee in hot weather. During the summer months she travels around southwest Washington selling her English toffee at fairs, shows, and farmers markets. She likes to either sell from a booth in the mornings or from a building where the sun doesn’t beat down on the product. We’ll have to plan on a weekend stay in Puyallup again, so we can see her in action at the Puyallup Farmers Market. We bought over fifty dollars worth of toffee from her on
mind to order from both the main and dessert menus, plus, I now know where I can get Irish food. This will save me from having to drive to the Galway Bay in Ocean Shores for some soda bread and a Guinness. Our next stop on the way to our hotel was PJ’s Sweet Factory. PJ’s is located in the last industrial complex in DuPont before joining the Steilacoom DuPont Road. PJ’s originated in Modesto, California in 1996. Kathy Trotter purchased PJ’s and now they are locally produced in the Pacific Northwest’s small town, DuPont. They specialize in making incredibly delicious handmade toffee, which is available covered in milk or dark chocolate and with or without nuts. Their products are made with the finest, freshest ingredients available. No preservatives or
Friday and put it all in our refrigerator at the hotel after we checked in. We had no idea what to expect at the Hampton Inn. You could say all of our expectations where met or exceeded! The room was huge. We had two queen beds. The room stretched a good thirty feet from the hall way to the window. We could have brought in a whole van’s worth of boxes and luggage. Our two suitcases took up hardly any room. The only thing lacking was an easy chair with a good light for Peg to sit in to read. She could have used the desk chair, but there wouldn’t have been a light in the right place to read. In addition to the desk/office chair there was a straight back side chair as well, which I could have used at the desk where I set up my laptop.
artificial colors are added. Kathy is a DuPont city councilmember. She is a one person PR committee for her community. She suggested several places to eat lunch. One was Happy Teriyaki, located within yards of our hotel, the Hampton Inn. 14 | Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com
The bathroom had a nice wooden vanity, but what I really enjoyed seeing was the tub/shower safety handle. I generally prefer showers, but every once in a while I like to soak in a tub. In many hotels this is almost impossible. Small tubs with no hand-holds can leave you at the mercy of bad knees and the help of your spouse. Although, the little complex where the hotel’s located
the internet for events and entertainment in the area. A search of DuPont and Lacey showed a BBQ competition in Lacey, just minutes away from our hotel. I let Peg sleep in, then she had some yogurt and fruit at the free hotel breakfast buffet. We decided to stop in at the event and see what they had to offer, take in a movie, and return after the film to eat.
was probably stripped bare of trees and bushes for construction, they’ve put a lot of effort into the landscaping. From the freeway side of the hotel you look out onto the parking lot and I-5, but you can also see majestic Mt. Rainier. Dividing the parking lot are strips planted with wild grasses. I’ll be interested to see how they grow over the next few years. The Hampton Inn also provides electric car charging stations for five or six cars. The connections wouldn’t work with our ZENN Car, however; the ZENN uses a standard 110 household connection plug-in.
Once we arrived at the competition I realized I knew some of the people involved - Hawks Prairie Rotarians. I knew they’re hosting thePacific Northwest Mushroom Festival in late July, but didn’t know that some of their members were also involved in BBQ. The Rotary Club of Hawks Prairie was chartered in 2002; they’re a fun group. One year as an auction item at the Rotary Club of Tacoma #8 (my home club) the Hawks Prairie Rotary bought the right to chair one of Tacoma’s meetings.They ran the meeting and entertained us as well. The BBQ competition featured a number of booths selling everything from jewelry to survival gear, but come to think of it, jewelry could be classified as survival gear. Various forms of jerky as well as spices and mixes were available. Peg bought a whole wheat bread mix. I can hardly wait.
Our room looked out onto recently planted trees and a new Starbucks. You can walk out the side door of the hotel lobby and be inside Starbucks in about sixty paces. Just around the corner from Starbucks is Happy Teriyaki. If you walked from the hotel lobby it might take eighty paces to their front door. Just across the street from Happy Teriyaki is a small courtyard of benches, so you can dine outside and enjoy the northwest weather. Several people mentioned Happy Teriyaki, so they are very well thought of by the community; perhaps, next time we’ll try them out. A few paces from the courtyard and again a very short distance from the hotel, is the Better Business Bureau and across the street from the electric car charging station is Subway with, again, outside dining. This complex is very well thought out. You can stay at the hotel, exercise in their fitness center, swim in their pool, run across the street for the best coffee in the world, use the hotel business center, report a bad business dealing to the BBB AND choose between two restaurants for a business lunch. How convenient is that? Before we start out on a new adventure, I like to search
One of the booths was selling empanadas and cookies. I’m guessing it was a family operation. It looked like a grandfather and his granddaughter running the booth. Since Peg and I were going to a movie (Regal 16 in Lacey), I thought we could buy some snacks to sneak into the theater. We bought a mango and a lime pastry. Those lasted until we were about a two blocks away. We managed to save a key lime cookie for the show. It was gone before the previews were over. We should have bought several of the cookies. It was a sugar cookie, dyed pastel Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com | 15
green, with a thumb print filled with lime curd. It went well with my raspberry tea. I’ve loved Sandra Bullock since she co-starred in Love Potion No. 9 with Tate Donnovan in 1992. This time out she was co-starring with Melissa McCarthy in The Heat. The story: “Uptight FBI special agent Sarah Ashburn is paired with testy Boston cop Shannon Mullins in order to take down a ruthless drug lord. The hitch: neither woman has ever had a partner -- or a friend for that matter.”
We made it back in time for blackened hot dogs (both beef and regular). They were crusty which is how I like them, eaten as finger food. Peg got a pulled pork sandwich and I chose six ribs as well as pulled pork without a bun. We squirted some
We thought that Melissa McCarthy was a riot in the Bridesmaids and Identify Theft. Partnered with Sandra Bullock, this buddy film has moments of sheer lunacy. Their bonding scene with drinking and dancing was hilarious. We’ll see this movie at least one more time. We returned to the BBQ competition in a great mood and ready for some ribs, dogs, and pulled pork. Evidently, we missed the excitement. A small whirlwind came through the lot and picked up a couple of vendors’ canopies and spun them around and dashed them to the ground. It
sauce on our meats and had them wrapped up in aluminum foil to keep them warm. Matt brought over a bacon bit which he had saved for me. He was putting them together (hamburger, onion, and spices wrapped with bacon) when we first stopped by. I could have popped about a dozen of those puppies in my mouth. We grabbed a bunch of napkins, a couple of sodas and took them to the car. I asked Peg if she’d like to picnic at the Nisqually Delta Wildlife Refuge. She beamed! In less than ten minutes we were pulling off the freeway, winding a few hundred yards into the delta. We stopped in the parking lot of the visitors’ center and enjoyed our ribs and pulled pork. If you’re not licking your fingers after you eat BBQ you’re doing something wrong. Of course we didn’t have enough napkins, but fortunately we always travel with paper towels.
was no Oklahoma, but Matt (Jimbo Jitsu) nearly acted it out for us. Luckily, no one was hurt. The grandfather/ grandaughter team had their canopy well secured so they were completely safe. The high heat (for Washington) was probably the culprit. The large, dusty vacant lot where the event was held was probably a co-conspirator. 16 | Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com
While Peg went to pay for parking and a bathroom to wash up, I wandered around taking photographs. The place is beautiful. Over the past several years the farmlands of the delta area have been allowed to return to their estuarine beginnings, forming backwaters and wetlands across the Nisqually River delta. On every pathway in the reserve you can see wildlife and enjoy nature at work. When Peg returned from the center she brought me a damp paper towel to clean up the sauce
still on my fingers. Back at the hotel I stripped down, showered and cooled off. As a reward for a wonderful day we sampled Kathy Trotter’s PJ’s Sweet Factory English Toffee. Oh, it was soooooooo good. Sunday morning I let Peg sleep in. I decided to wander around the area on my own. I left the room about 5:30 a.m. Fog was floating everywhere. I decided to start with the river. I’ve fished the Nisqually a number of times, but don’t recall really catching anything. I used to fish with a schoolmate from the University of Puget Sound. Yes, he was another fine art student. He taught me to use periwinkle snails as bait. They are tiny and cling to the rocks along the edges of rivers. You can peel back the shells and take out the snails to spear on the hooks. The snails are
so small I think they’re the reason I never caught a trout longer than six inches. I think what I enjoyed most about fishing was walking in the cool water. The Nisqually is fed by the Nisqually Glacier on Mt. Rainier. I’ve always loved the mountain and that’s probably why I enjoy the river. As I looked along the early-morning banks I saw an empty lawnchair on one side and a fisherman casting his line on the other. Fog floated in the upper branches of the nearby trees. Leaving the river I drove across the delta and then crossed back over the freeway along the Nisqually heights looking for some viewpoint where I could overlook the delta. I found some houses that must have great views, but at six-ish in the morning I didn’t see anyone I would start up a conversation with. Eventually, I found a sign mentioning boat launching. I finally found the road sloping down towards the water. I found myself alone looking out across the delta. I could still see fog covering parts of the waters and the wetlands. The peak of Mt. Rainier stood out behind the trees. Swallows dipped and circled as they nabbed insects for their morning repast. I stood looking over the delta as well as back across Puget Sound to the Olympic Mountains in the northwest. It was a quiet morning, peaceful and simply wonderful. Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com | 17
Before leaving the boat launching area I memorized the roads that got me there. Our next time we’re staying in DuPont I’ll roust Peg from her slumbers and we’ll go sight-seeing. I entered the freeway at the delta entrance and took the next exit to visit the Ft. Lewis Golf Course. It’s only recently that non-government golfers can play at this wonderful course. In the ‘90s a partner and I
lent courses nearby. Hawks Prairie has a beautiful course that shows off views of Puget Sound. The American Lake Veterans Golf Course is a Jack Nicklaus designed course for veterans and wounded warriors. The golf course at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club is always a joy to play. Both American Lake and the Country Club are located ten minutes away in Lakewood, Washington. Chambers Bay Golf Course in located along the shores of Puget Sound on the edge of the town University Place. Each course has its own beauty. Peg and I chose to end our Dupont and environs adventure with lunch in Steilacoom. This small town has picturesque ferries operating between the mainland to Anderson and McNeil islands. McNeil used to house a federal penitentiary. I visited it several times. It would not have been a good place to live. From Steilacoom you can see the Olympic Mountains, the Washington Key Peninsula, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, and the golf course at Chambers Bay.
were corporate members of the DOD (Department of Defense) Association. The course is fantastic with many wonderful holes. I’ve seen deer, rabbits and eagles, but the most extraordinary sight was a Russian war bird. For those of us who grew up in the days of the Berlin Wall, the sight of a Soviet military plane flying over a U.S. Army installation brought a lump of wonder to our throats. It was something we never thought we would see in our lifetime. The Ft. Lewis Golf Course is only one of several excel18 | Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com
In Steilacoom, we chose the Topside Bar & Grill for lunch. We were the second group of people seated when they opened at 11 a.m. We got our choice of wonder-
and smiled. We had a great time. The hotel was excellent, the people we met were nice and friendly, the food was great, the toffee incredible, and the joy immeasurable. We shalll return to DuPont and its neighbors Lacey, Hawks Prairie, and Steilacoom. Who wouldn’t?
ful tables. The Topside has rooftop dining. The view is awe inspiring, and the food isn’t bad, either. Peg had a new beer for her, Pyramid Curveball Blonde, while I ordered my usual Shirley Temple; however, I did feel shortchanged with only one cherry. Our crab cakes appetizer
was served brown and crunchy with apple slices and lemon aioli. A squeeze of lemon made them absolutely perfect. Crab cakes, scallops, oysters, clams, steelhead, trout and salmon are just a few of the reasons for dining in the Pacific Northwest. I ordered the Crabby Patty, a crab cake on brioche. Peg ordered a salmon fillet on brioche. My cup of clam chowder was insipid, but the sweet potato fries where dark orange-brown and perfect. Even if the food had been only passable, it couldn’t have ruined our experience. As we sat with a commanding view of Puget Sound we held hands and talked about the adventure. We didn’t run out of things to say, but we often just looked out across the water and the mountains
DON AND PEGGY DOMAN are published authors, professional
industrial video producers, and marketing experts. They write stories of their adventures and travels in the Pacific Northwest with play reviews as well as food and restaurant reviews (http://nwadventures.us). In August 2012 they launched a website featuring articles about nutrition (http://.live2agewell.com), based on scientific studies from the Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Institute (http://lpi.oregonstate.edu) in Corvallis, Oregon. The site is sponsored by the Roman Meal Company (http://romanmeal. com), makers of Natural Whole Grain Goodness ®.
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Healthy Downsizing?
Planning Ahead Will Bring Freedom By Linda Hunt
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here is no “downsize by” date attached to anybody’s life. Thank goodness for that. Graduating college, getting married and other life transitions can happen in our lives at any age. The decision to start downsizing is very individual and personal. I would tell you that when the lifestyle you want to keep is slipping or the lifestyle and freedom you want to attain is in need of work, it may be time to downsize. Here is how it goes.
alize that you can expect them and they won’t be such a shock when they happen. Downsizing has all the bittersweet feelings of watching your child get married. It has all the fear and excitement of the first day of kindergarten. It can bring on a flood of memories like reminiscing at your 25th anniversary party. I know that the stuff of our lives is often connected with memories and emotions that run deep. There are many
Your home: You have a certain way you like to have your home kept and you start noticing that it is getting harder to reach up and put things away in the closet or the vacuum cleaner seems very heavy and hard to use. Your lifestyle: When you would rather be out and about pursuing a hobby, lunching with friends or shopping and you have a lot of housework to do, clean up etc. The freedom offered by downsizing may be what you need to get that level of doing what you want in your life. Smaller spaces or downsizing in place, require you to streamline your possessions. That is the start of freedom. Your safety: You or your family may notice that stairways are becoming a falling concern for you. Poor lighting, unlevel floors and other similar things can put your safety in danger. Lifestyle here again- it is slipping when you cannot live the way you want. The emotions tied to this transition are so many. Just re20 | Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com
proactive and positive ways to deal with this during the downsizing process. In doing so, the circumstances and emotions surrounding this life change are more in your control. The outcome for you will be better also. The very best outcome will make you feel “at home” no matter where you may live. Years ago, a dear friend who moved frequently with his job, shared with me his philosophy about “home”. I have taken his words to heart. In my own moves, I found his words to ring true. He said “It does not matter where my house is located. What matters is that when I close the door and settle in for the night, I know I am home-happy and safe.” That is good
advice. Good downsizing/aging in place design will help you and your loved ones to feel “at home” regardless of where they live. Feeling at home leads to more happiness and contentment in your lifestyle and that is what we all crave in order to make this downsizing move a positive life event. Many want to keep their home through this life transition but find that it can be a challenge. Sometimes, it is not possible at all. Many families come to the realization that downsizing is the answer for themselves or their loved ones. Talking about downsizing can be overwhelming and scare people away from taking the steps necessary to get the ball rolling on making this life transition. Downsizing can be exciting and filled with great anticipation. The “Healthy Downsizing” approach will give you and your loved ones a path to travel down to make this transition a positive experience.
for items that are no longer needed. Possessions throughout the house, up in the attic and down in the basement all need to be addressed. Thoughtful advance planning will allow sufficient time for making good choices about your loved one’s possessions. Giving no longer needed possessions to family members now can be very rewarding. In the end, they will be better prepared when they want to or have to move. In the next 2 articles of this series we will focus on safety, comfort and style for senior living “with ease”.
You should expect to have mixed feelings and contrasting emotions at the same time while addressing downsizing. You need to know this so you can keep it from tripping you up. It will be daunting and rewarding, nostalgic and bittersweet, and guilt feelings mixed in with great relief. Knowing how to get the best out of the downsizing move is so important for a good outcome. You will find that there are many tough choices to be made. Sorting through the “stuff of our lives” makes it hard to pick what goes and what stays. Though that can be draining, there is a silver lining to be found in that process. Sifting through a lifetime of things can evoke fond memories. You will want to share those special reminisces with family and friends and enjoy them once again. Set a doable pace, have family members join in and the can often become a bittersweet journey. If there will not be family to help, senior move managers and organizers are invaluable. They are pros at preparing for a move and then packing things up and unloading them at the new residence. Be sure to allow more time than you think you will need to get these projects completed. Remember this is a lifetime of stuff that needs to be worked on, sold, or donated and will require a large chunk of time to complete.
Linda Hunt
is a WFCP Specialist Certified interior designer with 25 years of experience working on residential design and is an active member of International Furnishings and Design Asso-ciation. She specializes in custom window treatments and downsizing design for over 20 years. She’s written several e-books on interior decorating topics.
How does one sort through possessions collected over a lifetime? It isn’t easy, but the key to making it work is to develop a plan and then get the process as early as possible. It takes time to make decisions and find “homes” Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com | 21
Are You Wearing Your Oxygen Mask?
Family Caregivers Must Apply the Oxygen Mask First to Themselves By Michael Bloom
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here are several different types of family caregivers: people caring for life partners/spouses who become ill or disabled, parents caring for children with disabilities, adult children caring for aging parents, family members caring for an injured veteran who returns from war, or to a loved one who suffers a traumatic brain injury after a car/industrial accident or is the victim of gun violence. Many caregivers even perform more than one caregiving role such as providing care to an elderly parent with dementia and to a child with a disability – also referred to as a sandwich generation caregiver. Due to their dedication, limiting beliefs, and desire to do it all, many caregivers are at great risk for burnout that puts their loved ones and themselves at risk.
of their loved one and every troubling word of the doctor. They are left feeling sad and helpless much of the time.
Almost every family caregiver throughout the world assumes her/his role accidentally and without preplanning. The role emerges as a result of an unexpected family member illness, injury, or disability. When duty calls, the caregiver jumps in to support the loved one in need without hesitation and puts other parts of their life on hold or on the back burner. Extremely busy days are the norm for caregivers. They may feel as if they are swimming upstream to get all family tasks and needs met. Caregivers often put the needs of the loved ones receiving care ahead of their own desires and goals. They pass on job opportunities, decrease work hours, or even leave jobs, which can diminish their own financial security. They may stop focusing on personal health and wellness and gain or lose a significant amount of weight, which increases their risk for serious illness or disease.
As the disappointments and painful moments accumulate, the caregiver can become consumed with fear and believe they are living under a perpetual dark storm cloud. Although most caregivers perform heroically and show a positive face to support their friends and loved ones, they can break down physically and emotionally if they dwell too much on what they cannot control.
Because the caregiving road is filled with potholes of medical and financial setbacks, caregivers often live in a state of crisis and fear. The caregiver walks hand in hand with their loved one through doctor appointments, blood tests, medical scans, and associated therapies and treatment regimens. Although the patient is the one that directly experiences the physical and emotional pain through treatment, the caregiver cringes with every moan
Caregivers usually devote little or no time to having fun with friends or intimate partners. They can become bored and depressed with increasing isolation. They may give up personal hobbies and recreational activities that previously provided great fulfillment and joy. Stress and worry dominate thoughts throughout each day and the caregiver can even feel as though they are at the brink of collapse under the heavy burden of re-
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sponsibilities. Basically, the life of a caregiver can sadly transform to one of all work, no play, and no joy. If you are a family caregiver and experience some or all of the characteristics described above, you are not alone. Many people are experiencing increasing caregiving responsibilities and committing all of their time and effort to provide support to their loved ones. There are approximately 65 million caregivers in the United States who provide an annual estimated $450 billion value in services to their family members and friends. These numbers are expected to continue to grow rapidly with the aging population (The National Alliance for Caregiving, 2012). The good news is that with a renewed commitment to self, it is possible to recharge your caregiving energy now and save your own life in the process. Think about it this way. Before an airplane takes off, the flight attendant shares emergency instructions. One of the primary directions is that when the oxygen masks drop overhead, it is vital for parents to place them on themselves before applying to the children. Otherwise, they run the risk of passing out which could lead to death for both the parent and child. The same principle applies to effective caregiving. Apply the oxygen mask first to yourself and then apply it to your loved one. For caregivers, the key to accessing your oxygen mask and recharging caregiving energy is to assess one’s level of burnout risk. You can access a free caregiving burnout risk assessment at http://www.bloomforcoach.com. If you are a caregiver in need of a life-saving boost, apply your oxygen mask, take a deep breath, and take the journey to a life filled with more satisfaction while providing high quality care you can be proud of. After all, you deserve it!
Since 2011, Certified Professional Coach and Energy Leadership™ Master Practitioner A. Michael Bloom has helped to energize the careers of hundreds of family and professional caregivers with practical, tactical soul-saving coping strategies that support them in saving lives - including their own. Bloom walks the talk as he served for several years as the primary, live-in caregiver for both of his parents during their end-of-life journeys. He is on a mission to support fellow caregivers to avoid burnout so they can provide dedicated care to their loved ones free from regret. Whether you work with Michael in a private mentoring program, choose emergency roadside assistance coaching, or engage with him in one of his compelling and practical group workshops, you are sure to immediately recharge your energy and take inspired action towards achieving the life of abundance and joy that you so richly deserve.
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How is Your Balance? By Kim Nartker ccording to the (Centers for Disease Control) each year, one in every three adults ages 65 and older experience a fall. Falls can cause moderate to severe injuries, such as hip fractures and head injuries, and can increase the risk of early death. Fortunately, falls are a public health issue, that are largely preventable.
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Do you ever question your balance? Have you experienced near falls or fallen in the past six months? Do you feel wobbly while walking, going up or down stairs, or standing on one leg? 24 | Encore Life Š | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com
Falls Are A Problem alls can be very harmful to your self-ﾂｭ 窶親steem. Injuries that result from falls include: fractured bones (wrist, pel is and hip), head injuries, chronic pain, functional impairment, premature
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nursing home admissions, These injuries can make it and in some cases loss of difficult to move around life. or live independently, and may increase the risk of earStatistics from the CDC ly death. Many people who state that 20 to 30% of fall (even if they do not get people who fall suffer from injured) develop a fear of moderate to severe injuries. falling.
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How To Prevent Falls xercise regularly. You should focus on hip and leg strength, balance, and flexibility. The exercises should get more chal enging in order to build muscle. Sufficient forms of exercise include strength training, endurance, obstacle courses, as well as balance activities. Classes should be designed specifically for Senior’s. For example, Tai Chi is a great form of exercise that can help improve balance.
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What Can You Do To Prevent A Fall? onsult with your Doctor or Pharmacist if you have questions about the medications you are taking. Review the side effects of your medications; be sure that the medicine you are taking does not include side effects such as dizziness, which can increase the risk of a fall.
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Also, make a point to get your vision and hearing tested every year, and update your eyeglasses regularly, in order to maximize your vision. Lastly, make your home safe by removing tripping hazards. Add lighting in dark areas, add grab bars to showers and bathrooms, and add railings on both sides of stairways. Add outdoor railings on both sides of stairs and add non-‐skid material to steps to allow for traction on rainy days.
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o lower your risk of fracture, consult with your doctor to see if you have Osteoporosis. Consume adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin-‐D from food and supple and set aside time to focus on weight bearing exercises.
Physical Therapy is an option for you.
Also, make it a point to drink plenty of water. Good hydration has been suggested for those who struggle with postural hypotension (dizzi ess upon rising from a lying down position or from sitting to standing).
4851Wunnenberg Way, Suite C, D West Chester, Ohio 45069 www.stretchphysicaltherapy.com 1-‐513-‐874-‐8800
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Contact our office if you have any questions or if you would like to schedule a FREE Fall Risk screening. Call Stretch Physical Therapy & Total Wellness today!
Physical Therapy often plays a vital role in helping you decrease your risk of falls. If you or someone you know is at risk for falling or has fallen in the past, contact your Doctor and ask if
Physical Therapist Assistant & Founder of Stretch Physical Therapy & Total Wellness, Kim Nartker has been practicing Physical Therapy for 14 years in the area of Orthopedics, Skilled Nursing and Home Care. Graduating from University Of Hawaii’s Kapi’Olani Community College 1999, she was the Class President of the Physical Therapist Assistant program. She has specialized training in Wellness, Orthopedics, Osteoporosis, Fall prevention, Sport related injuries, Fibromyalgia, MFR, and kinesotaping. Kim is married and has 2 children. She and her family enjoy boating & biking activities with family and friends. Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com | 27
Turmeric: Root Cure of Inflammation? By Don & Peg Doman
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n the plane from SeattleTacoma to Honolulu, Peg spotted an article in the in-flight magazine entitled Healing Garden. The article mentioned olena (turmeric), which I knew was one of the superfoods.
I had never seen turmeric in its native state, but I thought the odds were in my favor to find the plant at one of the local markets we would be visiting on Hawaii’s Big Island. I searched and found it.
Hawaiian song, Pua `olena (written by Jimmy Kaholokula), about the turmeric flower falling asleep in the forest. What a nice way to meet someone. `Olena blossom, blossom sleeping In the forest, sleeping here The misty summer rain Awake and show now Your beauty `Olena blossom, `olena blossom U’I went on to explain the difference between Indonesian turmeric which has purple flowers and Hawaiian turmeric which has golden or yellow flowers. “The powder created from both roots is golden, however.” She told me that several vendors at the market sold turmeric root, “But you can grow them from a little piece of root.” A few booths away I found orange turmeric roots - $2 a bag. Turmeric is one of the canoe plants, meaning that it was brought to the Hawaiian Islands with the original Polynesian settlers. It’s part of the ginger family and one of the main ingredients in curry. Hawaiian healers say that the plant offers relief from a variety of diseases and that it fights inflammation.
I wandered through the stalls of the huge Maku’u Farmers Market in Pahoa looking for turmeric and Hawaiian shirts in my size.
(Editor’s Note: Take a look at the “Healthy Twists on Traditional Sandwiches” video at the bottom of the page for an excellent suggestion on an egg salad sandwich using curry powder.)
In one of the stalls I met U’I Pai. She was there to sell her coconut oil, another herbal remedy. I asked her if turmeric plants were available. She said, “No. This is the dormant time of year for the plant.” She then sang me a
Victoria J. Drake, Ph.D., a research associate from the Linus Pauling Institute writes in her article Two Faces of Inflammation, “Several human diseases are inflammatory in nature, including asthma, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid
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arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, tendonitis, bursitis, laryngitis, gingivitis, gastritis, otitis, celiac disease (gluten intolerance), diverticulitis (infection of the diverticula in the colon), and inflammatory bowel disease. Additionally, a number of chronic diseases have inflammatory components, such as atherosclerosis, obesity, diabetes, cancer, and perhaps even Alzheimer’s Disease.” Healers mention turmeric and ginger aiding digestion and quieting upset stomachs. “A few reports suggest that the spices turmeric (curcumin) and ginger, as well as the herb Boswellia serrata, may inhibit the pro-inflammatory lipooxygenase or cyclooxygenase pathways; however, scientific data supporting anti-inflammatory properties are largely lacking. Catechins, polyphenolic compounds found in tea, have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Further, data from animal models suggest that alpha-lipoic acid, when provided as a dietary supplement, has anti-inflammatory properties.” Several days into our Hawaiian vacation Peg wasn’t feeling well. I made a chicken broth reduction with onions, garlic, carrots and grated turmeric. I served it with ramen noodles and, to dunk, whole grain toast made from Roman Meal bread, a favorite whole grain bread in the Islands. Her dinner, a new family favorite, calmed her stomach
and put a smile on her face.
In looking up turmeric recipes I found a couple for whole grain breads with turmeric as an ingredient. I need to try turmeric bread, which supposedly has a beautiful golden color and a wonderful aroma. The result, turmeric whole grain toast; I want some, now! We should experiment with Roman Meal Baking Cereals for food that tastes good, looks good, and is good for you. This is food to savor and benefit from. c. 2013 - Live2AgeWell.com This free healthy aging and living article is made possible by the Linus Pauling Institute and the Roman Meal Company.
The following video might help you understand what you can do to improve your health as you age:
DON AND PEGGY DOMAN are published authors,
professional industrial video producers, and marketing experts. They write stories of their adventures and travels in the Pacific Northwest with play reviews as well as food and restaurant reviews (http://nwadventures.us). In August 2012 they launched a website featuring articles about nutrition (http://.live2agewell.com), based on scientific studies from the Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Institute (http://lpi.oregonstate.edu) in Corvallis, Oregon. The site is sponsored by the Roman Meal Company (http://romanmeal.com), makers of Natural Whole Grain Goodness ®.
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Check Your Blind Spot:
How Shaving My Legs Taught Me A Lesson In Awareness
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By Stephanie Owens
he road to awareness takes some surprising twists and turns. I never thought it would include a detour that would involve me learning a powerful lesson in awareness from shaving my legs. I live in the Pacific Northwest where we go several months in the winter and early spring with very little evidence that the sun will ever shine upon us again. However, when we enjoyed an unseasonably warm stretch in early May I, like so many other Seattleites, eagerly traded in jeans and sweaters for short sleeves and capris. It was such a treat to let my all-too-white skin soak up some solar energy and feel the warmth of the sun. However, imagine my embarrassment when I looked down at the back of my ankle during a meeting and saw two hairs nearly a half a centimeter long! Then it dawned on me…I would have had to miss those two specific hairs at least a dozen times for them to grow unfettered and reach that length. How could it be that I’d been so careless as to miss the same ones so many times? The answer to this question doubles as a less in awareness: I’d not been present enough in the moment to notice they were in my blind spot. In the case of my less than vigilant hygiene regimen, the area in question was in my blind spot. The back of my ankle isn’t easily visible and easy to miss. As a result, I didn’t notice the slow progression of what was building up. By not remaining aware, I repeatedly missed these two pesky follicles until the results were undeniable. This is so much like life. When you are not awake and aware now and then, you can probably get away fairly unscathed. However, when you neglect the same area over and over the effects really add up! The stuff that is easiest to neglect is the stuff that’s in your blind spot. When we move through life without awareness, you may be asleep to old patterns, deaf to selfdefeating beliefs and blind to destructive behaviors that are sabotaging your happiness and success. Instead of striving for awareness, the ego wants to keep this stuff in your blind spot, enticing you to blame others, abandon responsibility, lose faith or take on the role of martyr. Without awareness, you can’t see the ways you’re slowly, but steadily contributing to your own dissatisfaction. Perhaps you continue to operate in relationships in ways
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that repel others or creates disharmony, but don’t see you part in it. Maybe you run into the same obstacles in your career time and again, but instead of being aware of your role in creating your circumstances you throw up your hands, convinced that “nothing works out for me.” Or you could be one of the millions that swear Monday morning marks the start of the diet and exercise routine you’re really going to stick with this time, then by noon you’re mindlessly munching on something unhealthy. However, if you consciously move through life and adopt a habit of mindful awareness, you can side step the landmines. Rather than the residue of an unhealthy habit stacking up, you’ll be awake enough to deliberately choose in favor of your best life!
STEPHANIE OWENS is a coach, speaker and trainer. She teaches her clients how to bridge the gap between where they are and where they want to be to create a life they fall in love with. She coaches purpose-driven, high-performance people to achieve not only success but deep personal satisfaction. A small business owner for over a decade, Stephanie blends her experience in the business world with a Masters in Counseling. Whether coaching privately with clients or speaking to groups, Stephanie teaches participants how to stop fear from sabotaging success and unlock their full potential. Stephanie is a recurring guest host on the radio show Chat With Women. and author of a book entitled Be A No Pro: How to Say No, Set Better Boundaries and Reclaim Your Joy. Stephanie lives a peaceful happy life with her husband and two wonderful children.
Charles Matthaei and Roman Meal
By Don Doman
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few years before the First World War, Dr. Robert Jackson moved from Vancouver Island , British Columbia , to Tacoma , Washington . He apparently was suffering from a vitamin and mineral deficiency. As an amateur historian, he was fascinated with stories of the Roman Legions. The doctor learned that these conquerors of the ancient world could march, fight battles, construct bridges across raging rivers, level entire forests to build fortifications where none had existed, and did it all on a simple daily ration of whole grains. He believed that through a healthy diet and exercise he could improve his health. It was a case of “Physician heal thyself.” Dr. Jackson created his Roman Health Meal, a hot breakfast cereal of whole grain wheat, rye, bran, and flaxseed. Dr. Jackson not only improved his own health, he also began prescribing the cereal to his patients. Soon demand for his breakfast cereal required him to build a small factory in Tacoma . In 1927, William Matthaei bought the Roman Meal Company. The Matthaeis are a family of bakers with roots going back hundreds of years. Using the basic formula developed by Dr. Jackson, William Matthaei created Roman Meal Bread. William’s son Charles was about seven years old at the time. Today, Charles Matthaei is the Chairman of the Board for the Roman Meal Company. He recently celebrated his 93rd birthday and the 100th Anniversary of the Roman Meal Company. When he speaks, which is very softly, people listen. He is known by most as Mr. Matthaei. To me, Charles Matthaei is my friend Chuck. He grew up in Tacoma and was a member of the Sea Scouts. He loved boating and fishing from his early youth. His degree is in chemical engineering. When the Second World War broke out, he volunteered for the
navy. The classic reason to join the navy was “to see the world,” and he did. He served on the U.S.S. Missouri, which took him to the east coast where he met Helen, his future and beloved wife. The Missouri sailed to the Pacific where Chuck’s gun crew battled Kamakazi suicide attacks and protected the giant battleship through victory. He was there, on the U.S.S. Missouri, in Tokyo Bay , for the signing of the surrender of the Japanese empire. After the surrender, the Japanese population was starving to death as a result of the deprivations of war. The occupation forces began baking bread to distribute to help overcome this problem and the people became healthier as a consequence. After the war Chuck and Helen married, and in 1947 he joined the family business. In the 1950s Chuck studied business leadership at Stanford.
It was during the Second World War that people began to realize the importance of good nutrition. When young men just out of high school couldn’t pass the basic physical examinations for the draft, the American Bakers Association began a campaign to raise the standards for baked Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com | 31
goods by enriching the ingredients for improved nutrition. The ABA ’s tagline was “Bread is the Staff of Life.” Chuck became the driving force behind the Roman Meal Eating Plan, which was one of the first diets based on the initial U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Dietary Guidelines. This effort established the foundation of whole grains as an essential element in a healthy lifestyle. He also was the catalyst for taking Roman Meal products
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across the US and to international markets in Japan , Hong Kong , Thailand , Singapore and Malaysia . Roman Meal has grown to partner with more than 90 bakeries internationally. These partners bake and distribute quality Roman Meal breads locally, assuring the freshest product possible. You can’t talk about Roman Meal and Chuck without mentioning his wife Helen, who passed away in the summer of 2012. They were a formidable team for their family, for their business and for their community. They were good will ambassadors, traveling the world visiting their bakers and creating more baker relationships. In the local community they donated to organizations as individuals and as a corporation. Most of the organizations they helped fund were groups that strengthened both character and bodies. Boy Scouts and scouting saw their assistance for well over fifty years. Chuck continues with this today. Roman Meal remains a sponsor of the Sound to Narrows , a 12K race, which encourages exercise. Proceeds from Sound to Narrows benefit the Multicare Center for Healthy Living, a leadingedge, not-for-profit, integrated health organization made up of four hospitals, including Allenmore Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and Tacoma General Hospital and a network of primary, specialty and urgent care clinics. Chuck and Roman Meal are also funders of the Linus Pauling Institute and their Healthy Aging Program at Oregon State University. Additionally, they maintain an active interest in the Chef ’s in Motion program
of KidSpirit on the campus that emphasizes exercise and healthy eating. Kids start with fun exercises and then repair to Oregon State University’s old Home Economics building to cook a healthy meal baking with whole grains. I usually can’t resist a good pun or at least saying something that amuses me . . . and sometimes others. When I was president of the Rotary Club of Tacoma in 1996/97 my favorite part of the job was “True Confessions.” For a small fine (which was used for community support) my fellow Rotarians could mention their business, their latest vacation, their grandkids or virtually anything else they had to share. As president this was an opportunity for me to interact and joke around with club members. I saw Chuck in line and then as he approached the standing microphone at the ballroom in the Murano Hotel (then the Sheraton Tacoma), I interrupted him and asked him to turn around and return to the waiting line and start the short trip again to the microphone. The big movie blockbuster of the year was “Dead Man Walking” starring Susan Sarandon. In TV spots and trailers part of the commercial was a baritone voice announcing “Dead Man Walking.” I motioned Chuck to approach the microphone and as he walked towards it I leaned into my lectern mic and in a serious baritone voice announced “Bread Man Walking.” The crowd of about 250 people roared and Chuck beamed. Like Dr. Jackson, Chuck has used grains, vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients to fight
his own ailments. His diet helped him survive an earlier bout with cancer. Currently he is under care for a broken hip, but that hasn’t dulled his spirit nor his mind. He still works everyday. His room at the care center is becoming filled with files. We hold team meetings in the visitor center. His iPad© is an active part of his day as he devours articles and scientific studies on health and healthy aging. Chuck is a member of the American Association of Cereal Chemists, The American Bakers Association and the American Society of Baking. In 2008, Chuck was inducted into the American Society of Baking Hall of Fame. In 2013, the Roman Meal Company is beginning their second hundred years and in seven years Charles Matthaei, my friend Chuck, will do the same.
Don and Peggy Doman are published authors,
professional industrial video producers, and marketing experts. In August 2012 they launched a website featuring articles about nutrition (www. live2agewell.com), based on scientific studies from the Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Institute (lpi.oregonstate.edu) in Corvallis, Oregon. The site is sponsored by the Roman Meal Company (www.romanmeal.com), makers of Natural Whole Grain Goodness ®.
Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com | 33
Making Every Life a Living Legacy
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO REMEMBER BEFORE YOU FORGET?
Spending less than an hour a day you can easily create your personal Living Legacy LifeBook that will: -Help you process and harvest a lifetime of memories. -Serve you as a memory aid when memory becomes problematical. -Become a living Legacy and posterity for your family and scholars for generations to come. -Offer you many hours of enjoyment with family and children as they listen to you tell and retell life and stories.
You will have:
-Spent hours upon hours with your spouse, children, and your friends listening to you as you tell and retell your family, life, and times. -An enhanced sense of self and of your own achievements -A memory aid for when your memory becomes problematical. A Living Legacy that will last for generations to come. Oral History, a true immortality. So that is it and much more. A flexible structured document of documents an easy, enjoy-able, satisfying, step by step, do it at your own pace, Living Legacy LifeBook. Your life is worth far far more than a 100 word obit in the local paper… Give the gift of a Living Legacy LifeBook to yourself, your spouse, your children, your best friends – then work it with them. A gift that never ceases giving.
The Living Legacy LifeBook.
-An answer to what you talk about after “Fine.” (How are the kids, fine, work, fine, your health, O R D E R Y O U R S T O D A Y ! fine…) 34 | Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com
You Can Rule Over Fear!
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hat would you think if I told you that you could be the master over fear? You can control fear and even use it as a tool to your advantage. Would you really believe me despite what you’ve heard on the news today with all the upheaval around you that you could be in a space of peace? Sounds impossible, right? Unrealistic to say the least?
By Darvi Mack ing up in fear based thoughts, beliefs and reactions. It challenges the promises of God with fear, causing one to shrink back and not go for the greatness the Divine intended for you. You see, you were created to have dominion in the earth. Just look at all the good things that
Well no! Actually, I’ve learned through experience you can have perfect peace in the midst of some trying circumstances. You see the type of fear I am talking about is more than a reaction to external circumstances and situations. You may find yourself linked into these, either due to your own or someone else’s action or inaction. It is a spiritual force that begins on the inside of your mind. It can be highly destructive. When people are unaware of the spiritual or energetic forces operating all around us, we become vulnerable to the force of fear. This force creates all kinds of havoc in our lives including our business, career, relationships, finances, health, and so on. The key to ruling over fear is through the force of faith. Fear is a tool that the enemy of our soul uses to destroy our life and steal all the good that God, the Divine has for us. You see fear is a primary weapon the enemy uses to rob you of the joyously abundant life the Divine intended and provided for you. The enemy of your soul is able to move in your life through the spirit of fear show-
have been created by people because we were created in the image and likeness of the Creator. We have the potential to do anything. Fear is a force that stops us. While faith is a powerful force that propels us forward. Let’s take a look at a biblical example of Peter where he literally walked on water. He was in total faith! When Jesus invited Peter to come to Him on the water, he started walking on the water, no problem. It wasn’t until Peter started focusing on the turbulence all around him by taking his eyes off of Jesus – his goal, that he beEncore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com | 35
came afraid and began to sink. His fear thoughts caused doubt and he lost his faith. What does this mean for us in our lives and how do we experience peace in the midst of fear? Well let’s examine what enabled Peter to walk on water. First he possessed faith in the Word, Jesus. The Bible tells us Jesus is the Word and that faith provided the energy to step out of the boat and take those steps. As long as his focus was on the Word, his intention to get to Jesus as he walked, he was fearless and in peace. The moment he lost sight of his intention-- to reach Jesus and began focusing on the circumstances and the situation, out in the sea in a tumultuous storm, he became full of fear and began to sink. It is no different for us. Where ever you place your attention that is your thought energy; that is where your energy will flow. When you focus on the thing you are afraid of, you open the door for everything fear attracts. You see it wasn’t the wind or the water that defeated Peter, it was his thoughts. By his looking at and focusing on his circumstances, he gave into fear thoughts and the result was defeat. If Peter had kept his thoughts, his focus on Jesus, his intention to get to him – the force of faith would have carried him all the way to his destination and nothing would have stopped him. All the turbulence and craziness around any of us could
cause us to abandon faith. Your circumstances may appear impossible but I am encouraging you to get your thoughts focused on what the Word promises. In situations like the one you may be facing, hold fast to the force of faith. Don’t allow the enemy to cause you to get caught up in worry which is the partner of fear. Rather, get caught up in meditating on the promises of God and your intention, the partner of the force of faith, will watch yourself walk on water. God never promised us an easy life but we were promised victory. Take your victory by using the shield of faith and thinking and speaking words of faith. Take action and fear will depart. Remember, you were not given a mind filled with fear, worry and defeat. You have been given power, love, and a sound mind. Use them to stay in peace and stop the fears in your situations. Mathew 14; 2 Timothy 1:7 Let me help you unearth those hidden beliefs. Want to explore one on one private or group coaching support, then send me a note: mailto:info@darvimack.com or call 253 -946-1757. Let’s schedule a strategy session to move you forward. Need a Speaker for an upcoming meeting? Email us here or call us at 253-946-1757. Like us: and follow us at https://twitter.com/#!/DarviMack
DARVI MACK, Speaker, Success Achievement
Mentor, Breakthrough Coach, Minister, and Author earned MA, BS, Certified NLP, Dream Coach, Spiritual Coach and Trainer takes your inspiration and turns it into practical results so you achieve success and make the positive impact you were uniquely designed to make.
36 | Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com
The Importance of a Kind Word or Gesture
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By Carolyn Osborne
ith the cold and unfeeling world of the internet and all the technology, it seems more important than ever to extend a kind word, a kind gesture or a simple smile to those around you. You may not even know those people but that little bit can truly mean so very much at that given moment.
With Facebook, I started posting positive comments, quotes, pictures, etc. I feel that being positive and kind is very important. And I have found that although what I post is typically related to something going on with me personally…….so many others have reached out to me and thanked me because you “made my day” or “that meant so very much to me at this moment”. Daily I receive messages thanking me for posting the things that actually mean something to me, because it changed their day. This proves to me over and over that those very small kind words or thoughts or smiles re-
ally make a difference to others and is so needed. Our world is filled with so much negativity and that “breath of fresh air” is something we need as human beings to fill back up. So tomorrow, for no reason, smile at the person walking towards you. Put your hand out to shake someone’s hand. Tell someone that they “look pretty in that outfit” or that you love them or something they said means something to you. You, at that very moment, may turn that person’s day around! And it doesn’t cost you a thing. CAROLYN OSBORNE of Sacred Embers, is primarily self-taught, although she attended the Art Institute of Seattle. Her talents cover many types of media: charcoal, watercolor, fused glass, Sacred Embers cremation jewelry, one-of-a-kind jewelry, and hand painted glassware. Pretty much anything she can get her hands on. She enjoys creating beautiful things. Her surroundings, a mood, colors, children, old people, dreams, nature, all are things that inspire and excite her flow of creativity.
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6 Ways To Be Proactive With Your Health by JENNIFER BECK
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any Americans believe that there are only 2 levels of health, either healthy or sick. If you feel ok, good or great, that is the way you should be. Once you get a major symptom that disrupts life that is when you are sick. The majority of Americans accept that they have to deal with whatever is happening in their body if it something small that does not seem to warrant a trip to the doctor. This may be because they do not know that reversing it is possible.
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Detoxification
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Digestion
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Immune system
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Transportation of nutrients
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Joint health/function
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Energy
Many doctors admit when a patient comes to them with symptoms, their primary focus is treatment or relief of symptoms.
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Body temperature regulation
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Protect our spinal column and brain
Some are embarrassed that even though they know and understand the positive impact diet and exercise can have on our health, they do not take the time/ make the time to discuss it. Some Doctors have expressed that they believe that conversation was often falling on deaf ears. This is why it is important for us to become our own health advocates and learn how we can prevent disease or how we can help reverse it. There are many small, yet significant things to do to provide support and healing to the body. First and foremost in prevention and healing is to drink water. There is nothing more important that you can do other than this. Our bodies are made up of 70% water, yet close to 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. Water is needed for many different functions in the body including: 38 | Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com
Water is a main component of all the cells in our body, without it we would not exist, nor would any other living thing. Second, supplement your diet with probiotics. You could eat Activia like Jamie Lee Curtis does, but I don’t know that you want to put that much sugar and/or hormones in your body trying to eat three servings a day. (If you did not know, unless you are eating organic yogurt and/or other dairy products, you are ingesting the hormones and anti-biotics given to the cows as they are being raised.) I would recommend supplementing with a live probiotic that has multiple strains. Consuming a probiotic is something that most Americans should be doing daily. Our digestive system has a delicate balance of elements in it and is also where our immune system begins. When a person’s diet is filled with acidic foods, sugar, alcohol, junk food, fast food and empty calories, that delicate balance is crushed. This results in a weakened immune system and subsequent illnesses. Many times when you are sick, the doctor will give you an antibiotic which kills both the bad bacteria, and the good (probiotics) bacteria. Antibiotics weaken your immune system further, resulting in additional susceptibility to other colds, flu and illnesses you come in contact with. Having an unhealthy digestive system can also re-
sult in long term illness, auto-immune diseases and chronic inflammation. This can be linked to Leaky Gut Syndrome, where whole food molecules leak through the gut wall and the body believes it to be a virus or other damaging bacteria. It sends out the immune system to fight the battle, but it is in fact, fighting us. This further declines our health and creates more symptoms.
own.
Many people start out with digestive problems and ignore them thinking it is just some gas, what’s the harm? Unfortunately, poor digestion can become a slippery slope and create more issues long term in a short amount of time. Do not ignore the small signs of an imbalance. Correct the damage before it progresses into something more extreme like GERD, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s Disease or worse. If you are experiencing digestive issues already, you may want to strongly consider switching to a gluten free diet. A gluten free diet has become somewhat of a trend these days, but there is some definite truth to the fact that gluten does obstruct our health in a variety of ways. I have had many clients that were dealing with IBS, Crohn’s, GERD and other digestive issues that switched to gluten free (the right way) and began to feel better within a couple weeks. I say the right way, because even though something is considered gluten free, does not mean it is healthy for you. There are gluten free cookies, ice cream, even Fruity Pebbles are gluten free. That does not make them healthy though. We will talk about gluten free do’s and don’ts another day and the why behind making the switch to gluten free. There is a multitude of things to do to stay healthy and live without major illness. The last thing I will share today is to drink a green smoothie each and every day. If you make it with berries, spinach or kale and almond milk, you get a variety of fabulous health benefits. You will receive antioxidants which help to stave off cancer and Alzheimer’s, dark leafy greens that help to alkalize your blood, decreasing your risks of cancer, not to mention help to transport oxygen throughout your body and cells. The almond milk provides you with calcium and adds a little healthy fat to the mix to build brains cells, eye tissue and help to regulate your hormones, like insulin. Check out the recipe on the next page to make your
Do your part and keep yourself well. If you do get sick, look for ways to help you heal faster like: •
Avoid sugar
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Drink more water
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Take a good quality multi-vitamin (Like Ultravitality from www.symmetryCincinnati.com)
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Get more rest
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Take a pro-biotic. (Just don’t do this while on an antibiotic. They will cancel each other out.)
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Drink a green smoothie everyday
Be proactive with your health. Remember, you only get one body. Don’t simply extend your years in life, but MAXIMIZE the life in those years!
JENNIFER BECK is a Reg-
istered Nutrition Consultant, corporate health coach, speaker, and author. She is passionate about helping individuals optimize their health, shed unwanted pounds, and live a long life of vibrant great health, medication free! She helps individuals break through the confusion around “eating healthy”, discover and eat for their personal Metabolic Design and supports individuals in crafting a plan to incorporate healthy eating into a busy lifestyle allowing them to create a true sustainable lifestyle change. She is the owner of Advanced Wellness Coaching and offers wonderful tools, resources and practical advice to create Simple Wellness for Life! Don’t forget to grab your Free gift...10 Simple Things You Can Do to Maximize Your Health Now!
Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com | 39
Chocolate Berry Delight 1 cup spinach ½ cup frozen berries 1 Tbl. Almond Butter 1 scoop chocolate whey protein powder (I recommend Jay Robb) 1 cup water or Almond milk (unsweetened) Blend and enjoy
40 | Encore Life Š | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com
Fraud: What Are The Red Flags? By Steve Geertz, CPA, CFE
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n the last issue, I chose to focus on signs of victimization, i.e. how to identify someone who may have been a victim of fraud. I thought it best to start there because it is important that a fraud victim’s well-being is addressed first. As I noted then, some very intelligent
people are victims. They’re embarrassed and ashamed of what has happened. This causes unnecessary stress on a person and may lead to physical issues also, so it’s important to recognize and help those who have been victimized. For this issue, the focus is on recognizing warning signs of a scam. It’s not always easy to recognize these so-called
red flags when you’re dealing with a skillful scammer. Every scam involves some sort of warning sign. After all, hindsight is 20/20. However, when you’re in the middle of a scam, these red flags are difficult to notice. This is especially true when there are hundreds, if not thousands of scams out there and they evolve all the time. In order to best remember these, I borrowed from the comedian, Jeff Foxworthy, who is famous for his “You May Be a Redneck” shtick. I also narrowed the red flags down to ten of the most common. These can be found in every scam. You just need to be aware. It May be a Scam if there is an Urgent Request for Money – The fraudster will tell you a story about why you need to send them money right away. Maybe you have a grandchild in jail or in the hospital or a friend who is travelling and was mugged. Maybe you need to pay taxes, insurance or storage fees before you can collect your million dollars and new Mercedes. Virtually all scams involve a request for funds or access to your funds. Despite what the caller says, verify the legitimacy of the situation prior to sending funds. Make a rational decision, not an emotional one. It May be a Scam if you are asked to Wire Funds / Provide a Prepaid Debit Card Number – Because the request for funds is normally urgent, as noted in the prior point, there is normally a request to provide funds in the most expeditious manner. Sometimes the fraudster will even tell you where to go to wire funds, or where to go for your nearest Western Union or MoneyGram location, or where to go to purchase the Green Dot card or other prepaid card. The purpose of using these methods is to ensure that once the transfer has been made, the chance of recovering your funds is remote, i.e. when it’s gone, it’s gone. It also makes tracing the funds difficult for law enforcement. It May be a Scam if you are asked to Open a New Bank Account or Add Someone as a Signor to an Existing Account – Anytime a stranger or even a family member or friend asks you to open a new account and include her as a signor or add her to an existing account, stop to think why am I being asked this question or told to do this. Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com | 41
You should always keep your bank account information confidential. Even if the caller claims to be from your bank and is requesting information to verify a transaction. If the call is really from your bank, they have all the information already. Never give out your account information or personal identification number (PIN) to anyone you do not know. This includes your credit card information. This also applies to someone asking to be your power of attorney (legal ability to act on your behalf ). It May be a Scam if you are Asked too Many Questions or Asked for too Much Information – If you receive a call, asking you to provide information, be suspicious. Everyone knows to protect your social security number, but also protect your bank account and credit card numbers, your address, names of your children, grandchildren, etc. All of this can be used to put together a profile about you that can be used on a future call or to gain access to your account or steal your identity. Protect your personal information. Consider the following hypothetical scam where you are asked to donate to a charity. In this example, let’s say The USA for Dogs (fictitious charity) contacts you via telephone. The caller already knows certain information about you before the call because he called you several months ago and found out that you have a black lab. Coincidently, the caller happens to have a black lab also. In short, the cold call has just become a warm call and
the caller is a step closer to building that affinity or that feeling that you and the caller have something in common and therefore can be trusted. This is especially true with religious, educational and political affinities. It May be a Scam if the Contact is Unsolicited – You should be in control and initiate the contact. Although cold calling is part of sales and we all receive calls from dare I say, legitimate, telemarketers, if you receive a call or e-mail and are told that you won something, such as a lottery or sweepstakes, beware, you may be dealing with a scammer. If you ever need to verify the caller is legitimate, look up the number yourself. Do not just call the number the caller gives to you or go to the website the caller provides. A simple Google or Bing search should provide you with the contact information for the legitimate agency or company. If the company is not familiar to you, check with your State Attorney General’s Office or the Better Business Bureau to make sure they are legitimate. It May be a Scam if the Caller is Aggressive or Pushy – You many receive a phone call from someone who just does not accept “no” for an answer. The caller may even imply that you are an absolute idiot for passing up this million-dollar opportunity. After all, John, down the street, just signed up. The caller may even want to make up your mind for you because it is such a “no-brainer”. All the fraudster needs is your debit card number. In these cases, just hang-up the phone. You should never
If you are a fraud victim and would like assistance or have questions about fraud, fraud victims, and/or victim assistance, the following are some resources: AARP – Fraud Fighter Call Center Phone: 1-800-646-2283
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Phone: 1-877-382-4357 Website: www.ftc.gov
Adult Protective Service (APS) Phone: 1-866-ENDHARM (1-866-363-4276)
WA State Attorney General’s Office Phone: 1-800-551-4636 Website: www.atg.wa.gov
Note: None of the above agencies in any way endorse Mr. Geertz or BG & Company LLC. These are provided for informational purposes only. 42 | Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com
have to put up with someone who is abusive, threatening or who cannot take “no” for an answer. If the caller persists or you ever fear for your safety, call the police. It May be a Scam if it is a Limited Time Offer or Quantities Are Limited – This is common among home shopping scams. In fact, limited time offers and limited quantities are a tactic legitimate home shopping channels rely on heavily. Have you ever seen the clock on television counting down the minutes until they move on to the next item or the quantity purchased? Those tactics work and work well. Unfortunately, what is good for legitimate businesses is also good for fraudsters. It May be a Scam if you are Notified You Have Computer Viruses – If you’re like me, a computer just works. How it works is beyond me. If someone told me something was wrong, I probably would believe them, especially if I received an e-mail from someone claiming to be from Microsoft. Be suspicious. If you are asked to click on a link or open a file, think to yourself, do I really know who this person is? Did I initiate the contact? Be especially aware of someone wanting to “take over” your computer. This pretty much gives them access to everything on your computer, so I would suggest using a reputable, well researched firm or person to handle tasks requiring such access. It May be a Scam if it is Too Good to Be True – Before acting on anything, think to yourself, does this make sense or is it too good to be true. Consider the example of an investment that earns a return of 10% each year, guaranteed, in today’s market. Really? Why is the investment earning a return so much better than the current market rate? Why do I have access to such a return? Why am I special? This may have been a good question for the victims in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme. It May be a Scam if it is Foreign – When I use the term foreign, I do so thinking of two circumstances. First, lotteries, sweepstakes or investments may be foreign. The lottery may be Canadian, Jamaican, Dutch, Costa Rican, Panamanian, or any country out there, even some that don’t exist. Investments may be in a foreign oil field, property, currency or even the inheritance from that wealthy Nigerian prince. All are common scams. You should immediately be aware of the foreign nature of these items and recognize them as scams. Second, foreign wire transfers are a clear sign of a potential scam. Anytime, you are asked to send funds outside the United States, you should seriously ask yourself if you really know the recipient and I’m not just talking about the nice guy on the phone you’ve been chatting with for the
past several weeks. You don’t need to pay your “Friends”. It’s up to all of us to be aware of the basics. Be suspicious. Ask questions and do some follow-up. As I write this article, I’m hoping everyone reads it and says, “Oh yeah, I know that one.” I’m also hoping that you are discussing them with your friends. The biggest challenge we have is education. I speak with fraud victims regularly and often am told that there should be some sort of commercial saying what to watch for or things to look out for when dealing with a criminal looking to take advantage of someone. Well, consider this an attempt to be that commercial.
STEVE GEERTZ, CPA, CFE BG & Company LLC www.bgco-llc.com
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VACATION: A Time To Rest, Rejuvenate, And Refocus By Mel West
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his is one of my favorite times of the year, not only is the weather great here in the Pacific Northwest, but I put a lot of miles on my motorcycle riding around the country looking for low traveled roads with awesome scenery. As I am writing this, I am just returning from a weeklong trip with my wife
where we enjoyed the back roads to and from South Dakota. When we ride, we always have a destination in mind, but it is never really about the destination. It is really about the journey and often the destination may change along the way. I approach most of my vacations this way, but for my wife who is always planning; this approach to vacationing was a stretch and somewhat 44 | Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com
stressful in the beginning. To her credit, there has been a few times where we have coasted into the pumps on fumes or had to ride another hour to find lodging after riding ten or more hours. As I explained to her, we are too connected and planned out during the rest of our life with work, family, other commitments, we should enjoy the vacation, as we would like to. It is during this time of being free with the wind in our faces, that we are able to rest, rejuvenate, and refocus. How long has it been since you took a vacation and really unplugged for more than five days? Vacation is a great time to relax, clear your mind, reflect on the past, but really begin to focus on the future. According to a news report on the radio other day, it takes an average of three days to clear your mind and start to relax on vacation. A vacation gives you the freedom to have fun doing what you want. You do not have to wake up at a certain time, follow a strict schedule, and deal with unruly employees or customers. This is part of the stress free diet we all would like to achieve. What would be the worst thing that would happen if you were out of contact for more than five days? Often times, I hear from business owners who state that they cannot afford to take a vacation or their business wouldn’t run without them there. It is important to unplug and I would argue that you can’t afford not to take a vacation. I have a client who swears by his two-week vacations each year in the tropics as being the single most important thing that has allowed him to grow his business and choose the work he wants to do instead of the work he has to do. This didn’t happen overnight, but it starts with planning. If you are unable to get away for at least a planned week of vacation, it is time to look at your business strategy
and the overall management of your business. Do you have the correct people in place and have the ability to let go of control? If you do, you will see more accountability and ownership at the employee level. It starts with clear communications and training to help them manage your small business. Most likely, this is more about training you then about training them, but you will need to let go before someone else can do it. Help your key players develop a list of top priorities to establish accountabilities of running the office before you leave. What does your second in command need to know or do while you are gone? Does everyone understand the required procedures and chain of command while you are absent? Meet with your second in command and share each other’s concerns. Part of this discussion should include an emergency plan if you do not already have one. The first step is to determine what an emergency is. You may be laughing, but the number of “emergencies” that comes up to disrupt an otherwise perfect vacation would surprise you. A contingency plan is the best way to have peace of mind while on vacation. This plan should include when your employees will contact you and how. Will you call in occasionally? Will you receive a summary email of issues, concerns, or key project milestones? In some cases, you can take the office with you, but this isn’t my recommended approach, but sometimes it is necessary. If you are still concerned about the operations of your business, put your plan into action, by first trying a day or two out of the office. Running a business while on vacation may take a bit of work in advance, but as you let go of control, you will see your employees and business thrive. Not only is a vacation an excellent time to rest, rejuvenate, and refocus, but it is also a perfect opportunity to test the abilities of your employees to handle the business while you focus on the future of your business.
perspective and expertise to help companies increase their revenues, improve their profitability, and strategically lead their organizations more effectively through his hands on approach to coaching and consulting. He earned his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from St. Martin’s University and his Bachelors of Science Degree (BS) in Workforce, Education, and Development from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Mel is a U.S Navy Submarine Veteran and a past co-host on the BizTech Talk radio show focusing on business and technology trends. A Past President of the Pierce County Chapter of Credit Unions, he was honored with the 2009 Credit Union Professional of the Year Award. He also holds his Credit Union Compliance Expert (CUCE) designation and is a graduate of Western CUNA Management School. He has also been recognized with several other career distinctions and certifications.
Mel West is President of West Business Concepts, Inc., a performance-consulting firm in Tacoma, WA. He has a passion for helping people succeed both in their personal and professional lives. He relates his work to being in the logistics business, where he helps his clients identify and achieve success, so they can go from where they are to where they want to be. Mel brings over 20 years of management experience with leadership roles in the financial services industry, manufacturing, and the military that includes operations, marketing, sales, finance, human resources, compliance, and quality management. His insight provides a unique Encore Life © | Fall/Winter 2013 | encorelifemag.com | 45
Life And Death In Assisted Living By Aaron D. Murphy, CAPS My thoughts and reflections on the recent PBS Frontline Expose’ of the CCRC care experience
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n July 30th the assisted living communities across the U.S. braced for an hour long story about their industry, with a huge focus on the pitfalls and horrific outcomes of seniors that have moved in. Stories that focused on avoidable deaths and disgusting levels of client neglect and resulting lawsuits
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abound. First of all, I would absolutely suggest that you watch the episode in its entirety. Here is the link to that video story: So, as a licensed Architect and CAPS “Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist” who advocates that we do what 89% of those polled by AARP would LIKE to do, which is exactly the opposite of the CCRC facility options, to stay in their OWN HOME as long as possible – what are my take-away feelings and action items from this explosive exposure story that recently hit the airwaves? First of all, let me say that I honestly felt for BOTH SIDES of this story. I too have heard first-hand from my own clients and people I speak to when presenting on stage or co-hosting our radio show, about horrible outcomes and fallouts from placing a loved one into the continuum of facility and campus style care. People who were previously outgoing and social that became reclusive and mentally absent. People that used to host holiday parties, who out of fear and disorientation in a facility, quit taking care of their hygiene and ended up shunning visitors and getting infections that led to unneces-
sary surgeries. People who were completely capable and independent, who were placed with much less mentally stable occupants after a fall, during rehab, that eventually due to their surroundings became themselves unstable and even committed suicide. And I see the flip side as well. In an industry that lacks regulation and oversight, I see staff in these facilities who are exactly the types of people you would want to be caring for your parents or spouse. People that choose a career in this field at the employee level are typically of the “social worker” mentality, which I refer to (along with teachers) as “Big Heart, no Paycheck”. They do what they LOVE and are PASSIONATE about, which in this case is caring for seniors, and they are not at the employee level, in it for the money. Yes they want and need to make a decent wage and a living for their own family, but they chose this avenue of service because they CARE. It appears from this expose that just aired, it isn’t their HEART that’s the issue, it’s their HANDS – they are TIED by a broken system. A system in assisted living and the CCRC infrastructure which puts PROFITS above PEOPLE, OVERHEAD cutting above ETHICS, MARGINS that lead to MARGINAL behavior due to understaffed facilities and undertrained employees. It sounds like the changes need to come from the TOP DOWN, with a focus on LEADING by example, LONG TERM relationships as a goal with families and clients, MORALS over short term MONEY in their pocket, ETHICS over ECONOMY of scale from a “put heads in beds” just fill the building mentality. Until those things happen, I think I’m safe to continue with my opinion and take-away thoughts. I believe that the preaching, teaching, public speaking – basically the “hollering from the mountaintops” about Aging-in-Place is truly my calling, and is still the right thing to do as a passion I have to educate a nation. It’s what the vast majority of us want, especially the massive demographic sector of Baby Boomers, or that “Silver Tsunami” as it’s being called, those 10,000 people now turning 65 years old EVERY
DAY. It makes sense for our HAPPINESS, our SAFETY (with good design and in-home care), and it makes sense FINANCIALLY when you see the cost of the alternative options in the CCRC facility Aging in Place MAKES SENSE for your HAPPINESS For as long as it is safe and it makes sense for all family members, “Aging-in-Place” should be your primary goal for you, your spouse, or your family member. Our parents don’t want change for change’s sake, they want what’s familiar – that’s their HOME. They want their own spaces, their own things (all of them), their memories, their pet, and their garden. This is HOME; let’s keep them there as long as it makes sense. Aging-in-Place home design and modifications can lengthen this stay by years and even decades. The expose PBS aired spoke of clients who immediately after moving in were witnessed by family members as changing and deteriorating very quickly emotionally under the “oversight” (Hhhhmm, that vocab word really has TWO significant meanings in that context, doesn’t it?) of the facility care staff and management. Stay home, stay happier. Aging in Place MAKES SENSE for your SAFETY Good design can increase your longevity at home, with Universal Design elements and smart fixtures and appliances, better lighting, flooring, materials and contrasts between them, smart appliances – the list goes on. A CAPS professional can make your home work better for EVERYONE. This includes your loved one with changing abilities, as well as a caregiver, family member, and even the guests and the kids too! Universal Design is
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about making homes better and more intuitively userfriendly for anyone and everyone, regardless of ability, height, weight, posture, age, or any other factor. There are great products out there to help facilitate this extension of safe living at home, and there are great contractors (also CAPS certified ones) that can make it come to frui-
We wrote a paper recently titled “There’s $500,000 Hiding In Your Home” (go to our website and sign up for our newsletter at www.EmpoweringTheMatureMind. com and you’ll get a copy as your FREE GIFT). This paper spells out for financial planners and their clients how financing a remodel for Aging-in-Place, even when
tion in the built form. The DESIGNER (in my case a licensed architect as well) is the KEY and the BRIDGE to SUCCESS. They play “quarterback” on the team, making your vision a reality on paper and working through the client’s wants, needs, and even addressing their fears and concerns, to work through a solution that makes the most sense for each individual client. When you compare this idea to the PBS show information about understaffed wings in facilities in “off-hours” (when a man with dementia wandered the halls and drank a cleaning solution that KILLED HIM) and under-trained staff overseeing occupants with very severe needs and elevated risks to themselves and others, you can see why we believe and preach what we do about staying in your own home longer. Aging in Place MAKES SENSE for your FINANCES
coupled with 20 hours per week of professional in-home care assistance, would SAVE YOU over $30,000 per YEAR compare to the costs of the alternative living situations in the CCRC continuum of care facilities like assisted living or a nursing home. This PBS show confirms the research and findings I’d done about those costs, stating that they charge anywhere from $4,000 to $7,000+ per MONTH for a single bed unit on their campuses. It was clear in that PBS show that at the executive levels, the only finances the facility is worried about is THEIR OWN. “Fill the house” and “heads in beds” seemed to be the mantra, at the “EXPENSE” of client care (pun intended). Making your home work better in preparation for your changing needs can easily keep you home for many years longer, and with those numbers for costs savings when you are moving into a fixed income phase of
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your life in retirement, it’s easy to see why Aging-in-Place makes sense for your financial future as well Aging in Place MAKES SENSE for your INDEPENDENCE Regardless of what you call our second half or last third of life, be it the “golden years” or “retirement” or “the silver age” or any other title for the timeline segment, we’ve added another 30 years to our lives in the last 100 years due to technological and medical advances since the industrial revolution. 2/3 of all people that lived to 65 years old are still here and alive today! This is a new venture, a new time in our lives, and we all feel by the time we reach this segment in life we deserve to be IN CHARGE. We want to be FREE, INDEPENDENT, able to do what we want and when we want to. This is critical to our happiness in life. Not planning for Aging-in-Place can take all of those wants away, in an instant. Being in denial and not planning to make your home work better for you in that stage of your life, if avoided long enough, will eventually result in an acute occurrence like a fall or illness. BOOM! That instant, your life is changed forever potentially, and the future you had envisioned is gone. If you break your hip, or fall and hit your head, suddenly YOU are NOT making your own decisions anymore. Your children and choosing your next housing solution from another state or city, people are flying in and changing your life FOR YOU. Your independence, your freedom, your control over your situation has been compromised in a moment’s notice. This is the potential outcome of procrastination and denial about how your future may look different for your abilities. This can be avoided, and you CAN stay IN CONTROL, by PLANNING AHEAD. This is what we wish for you, for our nation, and for all of the clients we get to work with every day that get in touch with us to start this process toward successful “Aging-in-Place”. So, here at ADM Architecture and EmpoweringTheMatureMind.com, we’ll keep on “hollering from the mountaintops”, and believing in our passion and our purpose of educating a nation about their options and the many potential advantages of “Aging-in-Place”. I hope that the CCRC facility industry can survive the fallout of this PBS expose, and they can also come away with a clear need of where things need to change. There IS a place and a time for the continuing phases of “live-in” facility care for most of us at some point in the future. I hope when we get there it’s been revised and regulated in a way that makes us willing and accepting of that time and phase in our lives. But until then, we’ll keep helping the
nation stay at home, where they say they want to be – longer, happier, safer, and financially better off.
Aaron Murphy, CAPS is a licensed architect with over 15 years of experience and has worked on both commercial and residential projects. He is a part of many associations and civic groups in Kitsap County, WA. He speaks widely on the subjects of “Aging in Place” and “Empowering the Mature Market.” You can contact Aaron at the following: (Click on the images to be linked to his sites)
Pre-order Aaron’s new book! “Aging in Place: 5 Steps to Designing a Successful Living Environment for Your Second Half of Life” Click on the book now!
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Seasons of Washington: A New Kind Of Non-Profit By Erica Norton
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y name is Erica Norton, and I am the founder and Executive Director of Seasons of Washington. We are a non-profit foundation that provides free housekeeping, home modifications, and companionship to lower income senior citizens. This is the story of how my vision was given to me. I have always had a deep affection for senior citizens. As a child I treasured hearing stories about life in times before mine, learning about values and ways of living that I admired. As an adult I look forward to my time with elders. I still enjoy hearing stories about the depression, hard work, and adventures of the people I hold in high esteem. Now that I’m a mother and business owner, I appreciate this generation of citizens even more than ever. The senior citizens of America took a country on the brink of collapse and literally carried it on their backs into success. I have a deep love and respect for these people, because I would not have the opportunities I enjoy today if it wasn’t for their hard work and dedication. I own a housekeeping company. I get to help many seniors who cannot physically do what needs to be done in their homes so they can be comfortable. I love it. Not
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only do I get to be of service to a group of individuals of whom I think highly, but I also get to know and create intimate relationships with them. I clean their homes, and I also change light bulbs, move heavy objects, transplant flowers, and just about anything my clients ask me to do, because I really enjoy helping them. It’s been a wonderful experience, and I treasure my time with my elder clients. I’m aware of the hardships seniors experienced after the crash of 2008. Many of them woke up one day and their retirement accounts simply disappeared. When Washington Mutual collapsed, one of my clients lost every penny she had except Social Security. It was devastating. I felt terrible for them. These were the hardest workers I’d ever known. This was a generation of planners and frugal spenders. They’d done everything according to plan, and the promise that they were given was broken by greed. Some of my senior clients could now only afford my help when they were expecting company, and would call me in a panic because they needed a cleaning before their visitors arrived. I found myself wishing I could do more for them.
Earlier this year, my senior clients were very excited because they were to receive a COLA for the first time in years. Several of my clients live in a beautiful retirement community. The apartments are well maintained, they enjoy private backyards, and the safety of a gated complex. Many of my clients were making plans on how they’d use the meager increase. It meant the world to them. However, this joy was quickly brought to an end when they received a notice from their landlord. He was raising rent, effective immediately, by the exact amount of many of my clients’ COLAs! I was aghast. It was openly predatory, and it broke my heart. I wondered,
how could I help these people who couldn’t seem to catch a break? The final straw was when my very first client informed me that she simply could not afford cleaning any longer. I’d already reduced her cost by 25%. I always stayed later than scheduled, because I knew she needed more time than she requested. I couldn’t think of anything else to do except clean for free. That’s when I began to pray. I prayed every day for a week, asking God, “Please tell me how to help these people I love!” Finally, my prayers were answered. I was given very clear instructions. I was told to start a non-profit company. I would provide free housekeeping and companionship to those who need it. That was in April. It is now August, and I’ve followed directions. The journey has not been easy, but worth every bit of effort. Seasons of Washington was created out of love and respect for our elders. Our team is highly experienced in serving senior citizens, and we all love what we do! Our purpose is to provide in home services, companionship, and home modifications, so our clients can stay home and avoid entering assisted living facilities, which are a financial, emotional, and spiritual hardship. Each client and household is given an in-depth interview so that their specific needs will be met. Each client is assigned one housekeeper and one companion. The housekeepers and companions alternate visits once a week, so someone will be in our clients’ homes every week. This practice will provide continuity and consistency. This will also allow our clients and representatives to create and maintain trusting relationships. Every person that works for Seasons of Washington has demonstrated a true passion for serving “seasoned” citizens. We want our clients to know that they are appreciated. We are also providing free home modifications to homeowners who may need ramps, shower modifications, or any other home design that would assist our clients in staying in their homes. A good friend of mine who owns a local roofing and gutter company has offered free gutter cleaning and minor roofing repairs to those who need his services. We are currently accepting names for prospective clients. Please feel free to contact me via email at: seasonswa@yahoo.com
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