serving the baltimore metropolitan area • summer 2011
The
Medicare Issue Everything you want to know about Medicare
summer 2011 • mdseniorliving.com
Letter from the Publisher
maryland senior living •Summer 2011
Contents
Finance 10
The “M” Word and How It Affects You
Dear Reader,
page.10
Since becoming publisher of Maryland Senior Living, one of my goals has been to become a part of an organization that really serves the senior community and speaks to the population as a whole. I have realized my goal with United Seniors of Maryland.
Health 18
38%
Sincerely, Gabe P.S. Be sure to “Like” us on Facebook! Search for “Maryland Senior Living.”
food 4
cover/feature illustration Michele Feldmann mfeldmann@mica.edu
Wolfgang Puck’s Kitchen A Fresh and Healthy Side for Grilling Season page.4
publisher Gabe Silverberg
A ls o
sales coordinator Devora Hawkins
Entertainment
creative director Austin Hamby creative consultants Neil Cotterill Emily Hauver contact 1498 Reisterstown Rd. #197 Pikesville, MD 21208-3842 info@mdseniorliving.com www.mdseniorliving.com phone 410.878.2212 fax 410.864.8908
Maryland Senior Living • 1498 Reisterstown Rd. #197 • Pikesville, MD 21208 • office 410.878.2212 • fax 410.864.8908 • mdseniorliving.com
Who will care for the onslaught of aging baby boomers? page.18
Together, the member organizations reach out to more than 2.5 million Marylanders. Member organizations include state and local governments, non-profits, associations, area agencies on aging, unions, provider groups interested in the welfare of seniors, retirement communities, and other consumer groups. They, along with hundreds of individual members, can, and will, affect the well-being of Maryland seniors.
I urge you all to become members immediately to increase our numbers and our voices, to let our legislators know that we stand together as one. You can join online and learn more about our cause at www.unitedseniors.net.
Boomers volunteer at the highest rate of any generational group page.24
Founded over 30 years ago, United Seniors of Maryland is a consortium of organizations and individuals that advocate to preserve and enhance the mental, physical, and financial well-being of Maryland seniors. USM has continually played an effective and important role as an advocate of Maryland seniors. USM is a key player on important issues and legislation regarding seniors, as well as state boards, commissions and task forces.
Recently, I had the honor of being elected Vice President of Membership for United Seniors of Maryland. I know that there are many organizations that support seniors in the United States. I also know that working alone we can only do so much. Working together with organizational members like AARP and NARFE, as well as individual membership and input from you, we can play a vital role as the premier advocacy group for all Maryland seniors.
Lifestyle 24
Movies for Grownups page.2
Finance
Lifestyle
Don’t let age close you off page.22 Looking younger at 50
page.28 Why Raising Social Security’s Retirement Age Is a Benefit Cut For All page.6 Retire Smart page.14
Copyright 2011 by Maryland Senior Living LLC. All rights reserved. Maryland Senior Living is published 4 times a year. Ad rates are available by request. The publisher cannot guarantee the
accuracy of information in this publication. π All real estate advertising herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination
based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitation, or discrimination. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate that is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.
entertainment 2
Movies for Grownups
The war to end all wars on film by bill newcott,
Entertainment Editor, AARP The Magazine
T
he last combat veteran of World War I, 110-year-old Claude "Chuckles" Choules, died a couple of weeks ago in Australia. With him passes the only first-hand memory of what it was like to don a helmet and go to war against The Kaiser, and so the responsibility of passing that legacy on falls to historians—and the movies.
Not nearly enough films have been made about that conflict. Barely had the mustard gas cleared when Hollywood became more interested in inspiring America to beat first the Great Depression and then the Nazi-Japanese Axis. But there are a few truly great World War I films, and watching one is a fitting way to remember not only Chuckles Choules, but the millions of doughboys who went before:
Le Grande Illusion 1937
Paths of Glory 1957
Jean Renoir’s astonishingly human portrait of Germans, French and British encountering each other in a prisoner of war camp— and the collapse of the class structure that had plunged the continent into war countless times before—remains one of the greatest films ever made. Erich Von Stroheim’s performance as the rigidly class-conscious German officer will haunt your dreams.
The irony in Stanley Kubrick’s epic WWI tale begins with the title. Kirk Douglas, in his greatest performance, plays a French colonel whose men resist what can only be described as a suicide mission. The final scene, of the men in a tavern listening to a young German girl sing—tears filling their eyes as they recall the loss of their own innocence—forever gives the lie to the notion that Kubrick couldn’t touch emotional heartstrings.
All Quiet on the Western Front 1930
Also on DVD
The 1979 version starring Richard “John Boy” Thomas isn’t bad at all—directed by the Oscar-winning Delbert Mann. But the original edition, made just a few years after the guns fell silent, has the immediacy of a documentary. Like virtually all the films here, it’s a heartbreaking story of one doughboy’s descent from flag-waving war enthusiast to disillusioned shell.
The Rite May 17
Biutifl May 31
Anthony Hopkins is haunting as an exorcist who just might have dabbled with the devil one time too many. Director Mikael Hafstrom bravely avoids the expected cinematic cliches: “What did you expect?” Hopkins matter-of-factly asks a young priest (Colin O’Donoghue) who tags along on a few cases. “Spinning heads? Pea soup?”
In my opinion, this film should have won Best Foreign Film at this year’s Oscars. Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men”) brings a palpable sadness to his character: a single father who flirts with the fringes of the law to make ends meet—even after he’s been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Wings 1928
Dino’s NBC series was a surprise smash in the 1960s, and although some of the material hasn’t aged particularly well (musical production numbers seldom do, unless someone named Busby is involved). Still, there are more than an few unforgettable moments, like Martin, Jimmy Stewart and Orson Welles sitting under hair dryers gossiping about how Rock Hudson and Tab Hunter wore the same sweater to a party the other night.
An even earlier film about the war, this Oscar winner (the first) avoids the navel-gazing (and even the necessity for a decent plot) in favor of truly astonishing dogfight scenes.
Johnny Got His Gun 1971 The single most sobering anti-war film ever made stars Timothy Bottoms as a doughboy completely incapacitated on the last futile day of World War I. It’s written and directed by Dalton Trumbo, who also wrote the 1939 novel.
Yankee Doodle Dandy 1942 This bioflick covers the whole life of George M. Cohan—unforgettably played and sung and danced by James Cagney—and for once a movie manages to capture the patriotic fever that swept the country at the outset of its involvement in the war. Those World War I monuments that stand in every U.S. home town aren’t for nothing— Americans marched off to Europe truly believing they were embarking on the War to End All Wars. Cohan’s infectious “Over There” had a lot to do with it.
The Best of The Dean Martin Variety Show May 24
Gettysburg and Gods and Generals May 24 Director Ronald Maxwell’s sprawling 1993 epic “Gettysburg” was an instant classic; his follow-up a decade later, “Gods and Generals,” ran nearly four hours, including an intermission, and was seen by virtually no one. Thank goodness, the DVD era allows us to savor films like “Gods and Generals” in bite-sized chunks. The battle scenes are astonishing in their detail, but the spectacle is overshadowed by Robert Duvall’s soul-searching performance as Robert E. Lee, especially in a bravely honest monologue in which the God-fearing general patiently attempts to explain his endorsement of slavery.
The Great Dictator May 24 The joke in the early ‘30s was that this Hitler fellow looked a lot like Charlie Chaplin’s Tramp. In 1940, Chaplin ingeniously turned that resemblance insideout, playing both his beloved character (in this case as a Jewish barber) and a scary/hilarious Hitleresque despot named Adenoid Hynkel.
Stanley Kubrick: The Essential Collection May 31 If you add the previously mentioned “Paths of Glory” to this monumental set of all Kubrick’s post-1960s films, you’ll have his greatest works on one shelf. It’s bookended by two of his weaker major films, 1960’s “Spartacus” and 1999’s “Eyes Wide Shut,” but oh, what a run of genius in between: “Dr. Strangelove”; “2001: A Space Odyssey”; “A Clockwork Orange” (also available in a 40th Anniversary single set); “Barry Lyndon”; “The Shining”; and “Full Metal Jacket.”
Another Year June 7 The winner of the Movies for Grownups Best Actress Award this year was Lesley Manville for her turn as flighty, self-involved Mary in Mike Leigh’s slice-of-life midlife drama. Slowly, irresistibly, Manville peels away Mary’s layers to show why her ex-hubby was drawn to her (her bubbly vivaciousness, her hot-blooded yearning for affection), and why he later headed for the hills (ditto).
Duck Soup June 7 Universal is releasing all the Marx Brothers’ early films on this day, but if you get just one, make it this breathlessly paced high-water mark of Marxist Anarchy, still one of the funniest movies ever made.
The Company Men June 7 Another Movies for Grownups Award winner—for John Wells’ searing script—this knowing, intimate portrait stars Tommy Lee Jones, Chris Cooper and Ben Affleck as proud executives who suddenly find themselves on the wrong side of a corporate cost-cutting equation. The biggest surprise: Kevin Costner’s heartfelt portrayal of a cynical blue-collar working stiff.
Still have an itch for more information on the Civil War? Check out www.aarp.org/magazine to test your knowledge of some of the war’s most fascinating facts.
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3
Food 4
summer rice salad Serves 4 to 6
WOLFGANG PUCK’S KITCHEN
Summer Rice Salad Good cooking and good eating are all about contrast and balance. You’ve probably seen me talking about combining hot and cold, tender and crispy, salty and sweet, cooked and raw. One of the best examples of what I sometimes call the yin and yang of cooking is especially important at this time of year, as grilling season begins. And that is the need to complement a rich and robust main course with a light, healthy, and tasty side dish.
Chef Wolfgang Puck, the host of “Wolfgang Puck’s Cooking Class.”
When planning their menus for meals cooked outdoors, most people start with the burgers, sausages, steaks, or chicken: something meaty and hearty. Then, more often than not, they add something else that’s rich and heavy: a big homemade potato salad, or cole slaw with a creamy dressing.
Now, please don’t get me wrong. I like those traditional side dishes. I’m also aware, however, of today’s widespread and growing interest in eating more healthfully. And I myself am always on the lookout for side dishes that are lower in calories, higher in fiber, and packed with the vegetables of which we all know we’re supposed to get five servings a day. That’s why I’m so happy to share with you here my recipe for Summer Rice Salad. Based on fiber-
rich brown rice cooked in vegetable broth, it has enough earthy flavor and chewy texture to make you forget about potato salad. But it also features an abundance of red bell pepper, cucumber, red onion, and green onion, all cut up into tiny pieces that toss beautifully and evenly with the rice. A zesty lemon-and-olive-oil dressing and chopped fresh herbs complete the fresh, flavorful combination. Even better, the salad is simplicity itself to prepare. Cook the rice. Then, spread it out on a baking sheet to cool completely while you prepare the vegetables and dressing. Finally, toss everything together, adding the herbs. The only tip I would add to ensure success is to season the rice when it cooks, and then season the salad again to taste when you toss it. Beyond that, you can get as creative as you like with the recipe. Add different crunchy or crispy vegetables. Spice things up with some diced chili pepper, if you like. Include other fresh herbs in place of or along with the cilantro. Toss in some toasted nuts or seedless raisins. You don’t have to make the same exact salad twice. And you can prepare it up to a day ahead if that’s more convenient, just being sure to add the herbs at the last minute to keep their taste fresh.
1 Put the rice, broth, salt, and cinnamon in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat; then, cover, reduce the heat to very low, and cook for 20 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside, still covered, until the rice is done to your taste, 10 to 20 minutes longer. (Alternatively, cook the rice in the broth in an electric rice cooker, following the manufacturer’s instructions.) 2 Uncover the rice and spread it on a clean baking sheet. Leave it at room temperature to cool completely. 3 While the rice is cooling, prepare the dressing and the vegetables. 4 For the dressing, first thoroughly wash the lemon and dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Finely grate the zest, the thin outermost yellow layer of the peel, into a large mixing bowl. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice into the bowl
through a fine-meshed strainer. Add the olive oil and stir well. 5 Halve, trim, and peel the red onion, cut it into small dice, and transfer the onion to the mixing bowl. Peel the cucumber and cut it in half lengthwise; with your fingertip or the tip of a teaspoon, scoop out the seeds from each half; then, cut the cucumber into small dice, and add to the bowl. Halve, stem, seed, and devein the bell pepper; cut into small dice and add to the bowl. Trim both ends of the green onions; cut them crosswise into thin slices and add them to the other vegetables. Set aside. 6 Add the cooled rice to the vegetables and dressing. Toss until thoroughly mixed. Taste and adjust the seasonings with more salt, if necessary, and freshly ground black pepper.
ingredients 1 pound brown rice 2 cups organic vegetable broth 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon Juice and grated zest of 1 lemon 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 small red onion 1 large organic cucumber 1 red organic bell pepper 1 bunch organic green onions 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves Freshly ground black pepper
Serve the salad at room temperature or cold, stirring in the cilantro just before serving. Get involved in the discussion
Chef Wolfgang Puck’s TV series, “Wolfgang Puck’s Cooking Class,” airs Sundays on the Food Network. Also, his latest cookbook, “Wolfgang Puck Makes It Easy,” is now available in bookstores. Write Wolfgang Puck in care of Tribune Media Services Inc., 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, N.Y. 14207
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Wolfgang Puck • What is your favorite grilling food? • Gas or Charcoal? • Try these tips and let us know what you think and how to improve on it.
Try it with your next cookout, and you can go on making it all summer long. Happy grilling season!
Rice salad would be a perfect light side dish for any backyard barbecue
4
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5
FinancE 6
Senior Living Why Raising Social Security’s Retirement Age Is a Benefit Cut For All by mark miller
W
e’re all living longer, so raising the Social Security retirement age is a no-brainer-right? It’s an article faith among many economists and policymakers debating ways to “reform” Social Security in the context of cutting the federal budget deficit. And it sounds reasonable. Most recently, the higher retirement age idea was trotted out by a series of speakers at a conference sponsored by the Milken Institute, founded by Michael Milken, the junk bond king who went to jail back in the 1980s for securities fraud. President Obama’s deficit commission also embraced a higher retirement age in its final report late last year. The commission’s logic: Higher retirement ages are just and fair because we’re all living longer and will need to work longer as a result. I have several problems with this argument. First, the longevity argument tends to mask the fact that a higher retirement age results in a substantial across-theboard benefit cut - no matter when you retire. For illustration, consider the Social Security reforms enacted in 1983. That package implements over many years changes that ultimately cut benefits about 19 percent. The biggest change, by far, is an increase in the age when full benefits are available, from 65 to 67 in 2022. At that point, benefits claimed at ages 65 or 66 will be about 13 percent lower than they would had the retirement age not been boosted.
Assisted Living Here’s an example of what happens when the full retirement age rises. If you were born between 1943 and 1954, your full retirement age is 66. “If you decided to take benefits early at 65, you would no longer get a full benefit, but a fraction of a full benefit,” explains Virginia Reno, vice president for income security at the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI). “On the other hand, by waiting until 66, you used to get more than a full benefit when the full retirement age was 65-now you don’t.”
Independent Living
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The Obama commission calls for increasing Social Security’s full and early retirement ages, “based on increases in life expectancy.” The changes would effectively reset full retirement age to 68 by 2050 and 69 by 2075; the early retirement age would rise to 63 and 64 in those same years. That approach may sound reasonable and gradual, but it’s not if you’re age 29 or younger. You’ll bear the brunt not only of the 1983 cuts, but yet another round of reductions on the order of 20 percent.
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What about the rising longevity argument? If we’re all living longer, shouldn’t we be required to work longer, too? It’s key to understand that longevity gains aren’t spread evenly across the population, due to differences in healthcare, lifestyle and other factors. For example, in the past three decades, men in the top half of income distribution enjoyed a six-year gain in life expectancy from age 65, while lower-paid men had a 1.3-year gain, according to NASI. Paul Krugman, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, sums it up the longevity gain argument this way: “(It basically says)
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Finance 8
“
Social Security does have a long-term problem, in that its huge surplus will be depleted around 2035...” that janitors should be forced to work longer because these days corporate lawyers live to a ripe old age.” Finally, finding gainful employment is extremely difficult for workers in their 50s and older. The national report on unemployment in April showed that the average length of job searches for workers over age 55 remain at record high levels, and were much longer than those for younger workers. For example, workers between the ages of 55 and 64 searched for 43.9 weeks, just under a year. Social Security does have a long-term problem, in that its huge surplus will be depleted around 2035, absent any other changes. But the program isn’t a cause of the deficit, and even in 2035, Social Security would be able to fund 78 percent of promised benefits from current revenue.
Social Security benefits already are modest - average annual benefits are a bit under $15,000 per year. And, they’re getting smaller no matter what we do now. So let’s not slash the future benefits of today’s younger workers. A better way to get the program back into longterm balance is to lift the cap on payroll subject to Social Security taxes, currently set at $106,800. That, plus a handful of other modest changes, can keep Social Security strong over the long haul. Get involved in the discussion Visit mdseniorliving.com!
Retire Smart • Ask the expert for local financial planning services for retirement
“Life ’s
too short.
Visit our new website, go to mdseniorliving.com! • Dedicated to the boomer+ community • Connect with local boomers+ just like you • Local activities calendar • Add your own events • Share your stories • Share your photos • Stay informed on local legislation and topics • Extensive business directory • Daily deals
You hear that all the time, but it isn’t until the end that you realize just how true it is. I’m thankful to Carroll Hospice for adding a few more precious moments to life.
”
Carroll Hospice offers in-home hospice care in Carroll, Frederick and Baltimore Counties, and inpatient care at The Dove House. Our staff provides expert medical care as well as emotional and spiritual support for every family member. We make the time that is left as comfortable and memorable as possible, and prepare our patients and their family members for a peaceful and dignified ending to our patients’ final days.
For more information, please call 410-871-8000 or visit www.CarrollHospice.org. 292 Stoner Avenue | Westminster, Maryland 21157 CC-4093 Hospice_MDSL_8x4.75.indd 1
An affiliate of Carroll Hospital Center 6/15/11 9:24 AM to advertise call 410.878.2212
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9
Finance 10
The “M” Word and How It Affects You Complete Guide to Understanding Medicare by harry burstyn
A
h, yes, the Golden Years. The time in our life when we retire and do all the things we always wanted to but never had time for. Most of us are finding when we get there however, that we are not prepared for all the other things that come with it. Did I save enough for retirement? Grown children returning to live with us due to economical occurrences or divorce who bring children with them can also add additional expenses that were unexpected. Then there’s the senior healthcare issue, or the “M” word. Medicare can be so confusing with the ever changing laws, payments to physicians and fine print that we begin to wonder, where is the fun stuff? What if you haven’t reached age 65 and need health coverage? Medicare is available for some disabled people under age 65 and people of all ages with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure treated with dialysis or a transplant). This article will briefly discuss what we consider to be some of the most important information you need to consider when applying for and choosing your coverage. While it will not answer all your questions in one sitting, it will help you begin the decision making process and help guide you to choose the correct answers for your personal situation. It’s always much easier to get it right the first time than it is to go back and make corrections later.
Getting started is easier than most people realize. To register for benefits or verify if you are eligible for benefits, you can go to www.medicare.gov. Registration for benefits can be done online on this site, and the eligibility questionnaire on the site is helpful in determining if you are eligible for benefits. Completing the eligibility questionnaire does not mean that you are guaranteed benefits. The Social Security Administration will make the final decision on your eligibility and enrollment status. Many people look at registering for benefits as a loss of personal freedom. The freedom to continue to use doctors in your network or continue the level of care that you are currently receiving depends on the type of coverage that you choose, much as it has always been with employer provided health coverage. It is important to review the coverage carefully and make sure that you choose the best coverage plan(s) for your individual needs. It is also extremely important that you speak with your current health care providers and ask if they accept the coverage you plan to choose prior to making any final decisions on your coverage or changing a health insurance plan you already have in place.
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Medicare • What have your experiences with medicare been like • Ask all of your medicare related questions with our “Ask the expert” • Direct Links to help you locate local services and medicare coverage options.
The amount of benefit provided, and monthly premiums are affected by the personal finances of the individual applying for benefits. Benefits vary from complete
coverage, to no coverage, to all levels between. Usually the amount of retirement funds and other sources of income an individual has are used to determine qualification for these benefits. Even if a person doesn’t qualify for the most coverage it may still be a good idea for them to use the coverage as a supplemental plan. It is important to remember that there are restrictions on how much of the coverage you can use. The federal government has set yearly limits on the coverage that cannot be surpassed. It may still be necessary to use some of your own personal money when those limits have been reached, however there are programs available through federal and state government with funding based on availability and necessity. If you plan to delay receiving benefits because you are working and have health coverage through your employer, you should still register for benefits three months before reaching age 65, regardless of when you plan to retire and begin receiving benefits. Otherwise, your Medicare medical insurance as well as prescription drug coverage could be delayed and you could be charged higher premiums as a result of not registering.
Parts, Parts, Parts...Which Parts Cover What? Part A: Hospital Coverage or Acute Coverage Covers your inpatient care in hospitals, critical access hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities. It also covers hospice care and some home health care. You must meet certain conditions. Part B: Medical Insurance or Provider Coverage Helps cover your doctors’ services, outpatient hospital care, and some other medical services that Part A does not cover, such as some of the
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services of physical and occupational therapists, and some home health care. Part B helps pay for these covered services and supplies when they are medically necessary. You pay the Part B premium. Part C: Medicare Advantage Plans This coverage is offered by private insurance and managed care companies. A Medicare Advantage plan would be used instead of a Medigap plan. With Part C plan, you would
actually leave the Part A and Part B programs, but will receive all of the coverage offered by Part A and Part B, plus extra coverage offered by the Part C plan. You are guaranteed the right to enroll in any Part C plan open to new enrollees in your state, regardless of pre-existing conditions, as long as you apply within six months of first enrolling in Part A and Part B. It is important to note that in order to qualify for a Part C plan you must first have Part A and Part B coverage, and you must enroll with six months of first enrolling in Part A and Part B.
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Finance 12
Part D: Prescription Coverage Anyone who is entitled to join Part A or enrolled in Part B can join a Part D prescription drug plan. This can be a stand-alone plan that complements Part A and Part B coverage, or it can be part of a Part C Advantage managed care plan that rolls together hospital, medical, and prescription drug insurance. It is important to note that while Part D is optional, if you fail to register for Part D you will be penalized and lose 1% of your total monthly Part A benefit allotment.
Medigap insurance policies or Part C plans fill some of these gaps by covering some costs and services that Part A and Part B do not. To help you better determine if additional coverage is needed, here is a partial list of items not covered by Part A and Part B. This list is meant as a guide to help you think about things that may not come readily to mind when considering what you may need in the future.
Specific needs obviously vary from person to person, depending on health status and genetics. If you have a history of longevity in your family, then you need to consider if you will need custodial care at some point that may not be covered by Part A and Part B. Most everyone will need prescription drugs of some kind in the future and those are not covered by Part A and Part B either.
• Acupuncture.
When it comes to making determinations about future health it is often wise to sit down with a benefit consultant who specializes in Medicare benefits. Individuals who specialize in this area are knowledgeable of changing laws and the little things that could make a huge difference long term in your coverage. The knowledge that these individuals possess can save us many headaches with the “M” word, and help us get to the fun stuff a lot sooner.
• Deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments when you get health care services.
You also have the option to obtain supplemental coverage known as Medigap Insurance. This is a private health insurance policy, regulated by the federal government, and specifically designed to cover the gaps in Part A and Part B coverage. This coverage would function much like Part C Advantage does. The main difference between the Medigap and Part C coverage, is that the government does not regulate what the insurance companies can charge for Medigap policies, so premiums differ widely from policy type to policy type, and from company to company. It is, more often than not, less expensive to have Part C Advantage than it is to have the premiums incurred with Part B and a Medigap policy. If you’re enrolled in a Part C Advantage managed care plan, you do not also need a Medigap policy. In fact, you may only have either Medigap or Part C, not both.
• Dental care and dentures (in most cases).
Part A and Part B coverage together pay only about half of all medical expenses for seniors.
• Certain screening tests.
• Cosmetic surgery. • Custodial care (help with bathing, dressing, using the bathroom, and eating) at home or in a nursing home. • Health care you get while traveling outside of the United States (except in limited cases). • Hearing aids and hearing exams. • Orthopedic shoes. • Outpatient prescription drugs (with only a few exceptions). • Routine foot care (with only a few exceptions). • Routine eye care and most eyeglasses (see exception above for one pair of standard frames after cataract surgery with an intraocular lens).
The information contained in this article has been provided to you as a general guide and is not specific to everyone’s individual needs that may be reading this information. If you have specific questions regarding the information contained in this article, or pertaining to your current coverage and would like to contact the author of this article, he can help you address your specific needs.
• Routine or yearly physical exams. • Certain shots (vaccinations).
The author is Harry Burstyn, and Harry is a Benefit Consultant Specialist in Medicare coverage. Harry is located at 2833 Smith Ave., Suite 118, Baltimore, MD 21209. His contact phone number is (410) 340-2241 and he can be reached via email at harryburstyn@hotmail.com. Harry Burstyn has spent twenty seven years honing his abilities to successfully marketing and selling Healthcare and insurance products. He has worked hard to remain educated on the market-
place and has succeeded in changing markets and in different work environments. Consistently, he has demonstrated a consultative style approach to selling which has helped him maintain strong relationships with clients, colleagues, subordinates, and managers. Additionally, he has a reputation for his understanding of the entire marketing and Healthcare processes that fill individual needs. His initiatives and leadership skills have helped contribute significantly to consistently satisfied clients.
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UNITED SENIORS OF
MARYLAND
Maryland Senior Living is a member of United Seniors of Maryland...are you? Visit http://unitedseniors.net/join-pay.htm to become a member.
MEMBERSHIP The benefits of membership:
1) Have a voice by supporting and being part of the premier coalition of individuals and organizations that advocate for Maryland seniors 2) Be informed about what happens in Annapolis and the State that affects seniors. 3) Participate, to whatever level you desire, in discussions, committees, task forces, and other activities.
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The cost is modest; the consequences great — just $10 for an individual, and $50 for most organizations. Charging dues on our web site gives us the information needed (name, email address, phone number, and address) . Organizations that sign up on the web need to send a list of who they want added to our email list.
NEW MEMBERS CAN SIGN UP ON OUR WEB PAGE ALL MEMBERS CAN PAY DUES ON LINE http://unitedseniors.net/join-pay.htm
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Finance 14
gram costs; taxpayers foot 75 percent. Seniors subject to the new income thresholds will see that subsidy fall by the end of the decade to just 20 percent. “The examples everyone mentions are Bill Gates and Warren Buffett,” says Cubanski. “Why subsidize rich Medicare beneficiaries?”
Retire Smart
Kaiser estimates that the higher premiums will save taxpayers $25 billion for Part B from 2010 to 2019, and $10.7 billion for Part D.
by mark miller
Why Medicare Premiums Are Rising for Affluent Seniors
The ACA does provide important new benefits to retirees that should at least take the edge off the higher expenses over time.
T
The Medicare D prescription drug doughnut hole will be closed. That’s the coverage gap that starts when a beneficiary’s annual drug spending hits $2,830, and resumes at the catastrophic level ($4,550). This year, phar-
he new health-care reform law aims to cover nearly all Americans and to get our exploding national health-care tab under control. But reform also calls for some upfront investment, and someone needs to foot the bill. Wealthy retirees—it’s time to grab your wallets. Starting this year, the most affluent seniors are shouldering steep increases in Medicare premiums mandated under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This year, the surcharges affect individuals with $85,000 or more in annual income, and joint filers with income over $170,000.
ries subject to the surcharge. The ACA freezes the threshold at 2010 levels through 2019, starting this year.
siderable sum, considering that the base Part B premium for most people this year is $96.40,” she says.
While $85,000 may not sound stratospheric, keep in mind that income typically falls in retirement after paychecks stop arriving. Social Security, pensions, and retirement account withdrawals are the usual income sources.
And the ACA also extends the income threshold formulas to Part D prescription drug enrollees for the first time. The changes will affect just 5 percent of Medicare enrollees this year, although that figure will rise to 14 percent by 2019 as more seniors jump past the frozen income threshold levels, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
The most affluent seniors have been paying higher income threshold Medicare Part B premiums (doctor visits and outpatient services) since 2007. But until now, the income threshold was indexed to inflation annually to keep level the percentage of beneficia-
High-income seniors who pay both Part B and Part D premiums could see their combined premiums rise anywhere from $300 to $700 per month by the end of the decade, according to Juliette Cubanski, associate director of Kaiser’s Medicare Policy Project. “That’s a con-
The new income thresholds also affect people who choose a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), which often covers prescription drugs. Advantage enrollees typically pay the monthly Part B premium plus a supplemental premium to the Medicare Advantage plan; now, these premiums are being adjusted to factor in the higher-income amounts for Part B and Part D coverage, where applicable. The policy aims to help offset the cost of health-care reform by reducing taxpayer subsidies on Medicare services for seniors who don’t really need the help. The standard Part B premium is set annually to cover 25 percent of pro-
Go ahead. Get comfy. Quality care in the comfort of your home. When you are not feeling well, recovering from a major illness, surgery or injury, Carroll Home Care comes to you. As the only home care provider affiliated with Carroll Hospital Center, we bring high-quality health care right to your door. From skilled nursing to physical therapy, we offer a variety of in-home services— all from Maryland’s most compassionate team. Services include: • Skilled nursing • Nutrition education • Infusion therapy • Wound care • Palliative care services
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6/15/11 2:35 PM
Finance 16
How to Cope With Higher Medicare Premiums and Rising Health Care Costs maceutical companies are providing a discount of 50 percent on brand-name drugs to low- and middle-income beneficiaries who find themselves in the gap. Then, the doughnut hole itself will shrink a bit every year, ultimately disappearing entirely in 2020. The law also contains some important improvements to traditional Medicare aimed at boosting preventive care. Medicare patients now receive an annual wellness visit-with no co-payment or deductible-that includes a comprehensive health risk assessment and a long-term personalized prevention plan. Deductibles and co-payments also were eliminated for most preventive care services. But the new income threshold premiums arrive at a time when rising outof-pocket health insurance costs pose a growing threat to retirement security for all retirees-affluent or not. Cubanski says the median out-of-pocket premium expense for Medicare beneficiaries as a share of income rose from 11.9 percent to 16.2 percent between 1997 and 2006 (the most recent year for which data is available). While Medicare provides strong financial protection for basic services, coverage gaps force beneficiaries to pay relatively high out-of-pocket costs. Kaiser reports that Medicare covered just 48 percent of total per capita medical and long-term care expenses, which averaged $17,231 in 2006. The out-of-pocket expenses are distributed between premiums, long-term care, prescription drugs, and other costs. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) boosts the income-threshold premiums for individuals with $85,000 or more in
annual income, and joint tax filers with income over $170,000. The surcharges apply to Medicare Part B and D, and also impact seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage. The higher premiums come against a backdrop of dramatic increases in the overall cost of health care in retirement. The Employee Benefit Research Institute reports that a man with median drug expenses will need $124,000 in savings in order to have 90 percent certainty of meeting lifetime expenses; for women, the figure is $152,000 (ladies, that’s because you live longer than the guys). But smart planning and management of your health-care expenses can help offset the impact of the higher premiums. Here are seven strategies to consider that can help you control premiums, and also hold down overall health care out-of-pocket costs in retirement: 1 Avoid the surcharge. “The surcharges on Medicare premiums starting in 2011 can be steep,” says Christine Fahlund, senior financial planner at T. Rowe Price. “It’s important for retirees to work with their tax advisors to try to avoid them each year, or as often as possible.” One possible strategy is to take portfolio withdrawals from a Roth IRA, which are not counted in Social Security’s definition of taxable income. Or, alternate withdrawals from taxable accounts so you don’t have to pay the surcharge every year. 2 Challenge the surcharge. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will determine if you must pay the premium surcharge using your most recent tax return-in most cases, 2010. Eligibility
is determined using your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), which is the total of your adjusted gross income and tax-exempt interest income. If your MAGI is higher than the income threshold in any given year, you’ll get a letter from the SSA indicating your premium. If your income has fallen since your tax return was filed, you may be able to appeal under certain circumstances. For more information, download a free guide to the income threshold at the SSA’s website here: http://1.usa.gov/ hFJO6Q.
g0bX7S; more personalized help is available from your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program, a network of non-profit Medicare counseling services http://bit.ly/8NtGXI. The Medicare Rights Center also offers free counseling by phone 1-800-333-4114. If you’re willing to pay to get advice and help with paperwork, hire an independent, fee-based counseling service such as Allsup. For $200 to $300, Allsup assigns an adviser who will provide a written personalized plan analysis and offer phone consultations. 5 Consider long-term care. A long-term care (LTC) insurance policy can help protect against an outsized nursing expense that can wreck your retirement plan. The LTC insurance market is undergoing a shakeout as some big insurance companies leave the market and others have been putting through double-digit rate hikes, so look for carriers with a history of stable premiums. Self-insurance is an option if you have $500,000 to $750,000 in retirement assets available to fund an LTC need. 6 Buy Medigap insurance. Insurance companies sell Medigap policies to supplement Medicare’s basic coverage.
Typical policies cover deductibles and co-insurance for long hospital stays and outpatient services. All Medigap plans insure against the risk of high out-of-pocket Part A and Part B co-insurance costs. Beyond that basic coverage, Medigap plans provide escalating levels of coverage-and higher premiums-as you move through the alphabet of options http://bit. ly/bvMyN0. 7 Practice prevention. This last one may sound like momand-apple-pie, but exercising more and losing weight will not only make you feel and look better but also help reduce your risk of expensive chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease. Take advantage of the new Medicare prevention benefits by getting regular checkups and recommended screenings for diseases such as cancer. Mark Miller is the author of “The Hard Times Guide to Retirement Security: Practical Strategies for Money, Work and Living” (John Wiley & Sons/Bloomberg Press, June 2010). Subscribe to Mark’s free weekly eNewsletter at http://retirementrevised.com/ enews. Contact him with questions and comments at: mark@ retirementrevised.com. Twitter: @retirerevised
3 Work longer. Staying on the job even a few years longer than planned is one of the best overall ways to improve retirement security-and health insurance is one of the key reasons, because it means more years of employer-sponsored health insurance and delayed Medicare enrollment. If full-time work isn’t possible, try to stay on part-time if that will allow you to stay insured. 4 Shop the plans annually. Unfortunately, seniors need to re-shop prescription drug or Advantage plans annually to ensure that they’re getting the best price and appropriate coverage. Insurance companies often change their offerings year-to-year in ways that can increase premiums by thousands of dollars, or make it difficult to get certain drugs. And your health needs may change, too. The annual enrollment window runs from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31, and with dozens of plans available in most parts of the country, shopping can be a complex chore. For the computer-savvy, the Medicare website offers an excellent Plan Finder tool http://1.usa.gov/ mdseniorliving.com
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Health 18
Who will care for the onslaught of aging baby boomers? by ana veciana-suarez, McClatchy Newspapers
A
“Are we ready for the baby boomers growing older?” asks Iveris Martinez, a gerontologist and assistant professor at Florida International University’s medical school. “The consensus is no. We simply don’t have enough health professionals with specialty training in geriatrics.” It’s not just the elderly who will be affected by this shortfall, however. Experts predict that fewer medical practices will accept new patients and people will face longer waits to see physicians—if they see them at
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all. Instead, more nurse practitioners and physician assistants will provide front-line care. Consider some recent predictions that warn of an upcoming health crisis brought on by an aging population: • If current graduation and training rates continue, the United States could face a shortage of about 130,000 physicians by 2030, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. The physician shortage will likely be exacerbated by two storms at the same time: the aging population, which uses more health care, and the possibility of having as many as 32 million newly insured Americans by 2014 under the new national health plan. • About 7,100 physicians are certified geriatricians nationwide—or about one specialist for every 2,546 older Americans, according to a study by
38% Boomer Population
t a Miami Dade College class for home health aides, students learn a variety of skills, from standard hygienic practices to how to take a patient’s blood pressure. But perhaps the most beneficial lesson they might pick up in the 75-hour certification course is how to communicate with and care for the elderly. With the U.S. population growing grayer, job prospects for home health aides—and every worker providing health care to seniors, for that matter—are quite rosy. As the 78 million baby boomers live longer with more chronic illnesses, the country will face a shortage of professionals trained to meet the special needs of the elderly.
Percentage of Boomer’s Based on 2008 U.S. Population
the Institute of Medicine (IOM), an independent nonprofit organization that analyzes and provides advice on health care. By 2030, when all the boomers will have turned 65, an estimated 36,000 geriatricians will be needed, a figure unlikely to be reached considering that the number of geriatricians has dropped by 25 percent in the past decade. • About 4 percent of social workers specialize in geriatrics, one third of the number needed. And less than 1 percent of physician assistants, pharmacists and registered nurses are certified in geriatrics, according to the IOM. Besides the geriatric specialty, the general health care workforce is inadequately prepared to deal with the complex issues of elderly patients, according to the IOM study, released about three years ago.
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57%
70%
Doctor’s Visits
“We need to change the way we educate our workforce,” says Jack Rowe, a geriatric physician at Columbia University and the Institute of Medicine’s committee chair for the report. “The quantity and quality that exists (in geriatric training) now is too little.” The American Geriatrics Society has recommended that elder care be added to the list of six core areas that are part of medical school training. Currently, most medical school students do rotations in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, surgery and obstetrics/gynecology. Geriatrics is usually folded into family medicine and internal medicine. But some schools balk at the idea of adding another core area because they lack the time and money to add a separate rotation. Various foundations, as well as the Association of American Medical Colleges, have awarded millions of dollars to schools to integrate geriatrics throughout the curriculum, not just in a separate rotation. But some believe that’s not enough. Lodovico Balducci, a Tampa geriatric oncologist and member of the American Geriatrics Society, says society is in “general denial” of what it will take to maintain a growing number of older people in the community. A study released last fall by the National Center for Health Statistics showed that people 45 and older—boomers are 45 to 65 years old— made up 38 percent of the U.S. population in
Prescribed Medication
2008. But they were responsible for 57 percent of doctor’s office visits and 70 percent of prescribed medication. What’s more, in comparison to other life stages, there’s a dearth of data on aging. “Clinical studies are not done on older people,” Balducci adds, “so we’re not getting the necessary information to the doctors.” In South Florida, schools that train physicians, nurses and other health care providers are trying to take novel approaches to meet demand. Part of the mission for FIU’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine is to prepare doctors to practice in demographically diverse and underserved communities. Medical students spend the second of their four years completing a “geriatric clerkship” at Leon Medical Centers, a leading health care provider for Medicare patients in Miami-Dade. Most medical schools provide geriatric training in the fourth year, as part of an internal medicine or other rotation. FIU students learn more than science. “One of the best things you can give a patient, in addition to medicine, is a smile and an ear to listen,” says student Hanadys Ale of her just completed rotation at Leon Medical Center. “They need someone who treats them humanely as well as medically.”
Health 20
This is an important lesson in caring for the typical elderly patient, whose medical needs tend to be different than his younger counterpart—including chronic conditions that require management, not cures; the possibility of overmedication to treat those conditions and the resulting effects on balance, cognitive understanding and independence. Dr. Rafael Mas, medical director at Leon, puts it this way: “They don’t necessarily come here because they feel bad. Sometimes they come here because they need other kinds of support.” At the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine, a four-week separate geriatric rotation is required in the fourth year. The school is also increasing its class size by 20 percent in the next five to six years, says Laurence Gardner, executive dean for education and policy at the school. Training more physicians, however, won’t solve the problem “if there is no increase in residency posts,” Gardner adds. “That’s when you hit a bottleneck.” Residency is the minimum, three-year period when medical graduates train in hospitals and clinics. Because teaching hospitals rely heavily on Medicare funding for residencies and federal money is tight, those slots have not increased in years. And there’s no financial incentive to enter primary care or practice as a geriatrician. These physicians make far less money than specialists. In the nursing field, accrediting agencies have put forward “essential nursing actions” for elderly care, including analyzing care risks and benefits with an interdisciplinary team, understanding common diseases in older adults and managing chronic conditions to maximize function and maintain independence. At Miami Dade College, School of Nursing administrators are working to incorporate these recent recommendations in their curriculum. Students already must complete a rotation in a long term care facility for the elderly.
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But that is far from a solution, says MDC dean Amy Pettigrew, because few nursing students are attracted to geriatric care. “There aren’t the bells and whistles you find in pediatrics or acute care,” she says. The same holds true for future social workers. Debra Lacey, an associate professor of social work at Barry University and an expert on aging, says about three-fourths of her students indicate they do not want to go into geriatric social work though exposure to the subject matter is sprinkled throughout the school’s curriculum. Lacey also teaches an elective that focuses on the complex needs of older patients, including an “experiential exercise” that requires the student to wear special glasses, gloves and shoes that mimic the effects of aging. While these assignments are eyeopening for students, they don’t always attract potential workers.
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Who will care for baby boomers
95
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in Senior Care
• Ask people how they care for their parents, whats gone well, what would they have gone differently?
&
• How do you care for your loved ones?
Announcing A new AlliAnce in Senior cAre in BAltimore
• What advise would you give our readers for assistance in caring for an elderly parent?
GBMC Greater Geriatrics is a group of 10 ABMS Board Certified physicians and nine nurse practitioners that care for the elderly and their families. Greater Geriatrics provides direct patient care, from home to hospital to rehab to assisted living. We are proud to have the GBMC Greater Geriatrics team join the Springhouse of Pikesville family. Dr. Michael Ankrom is the new Medical Director at Springhouse of Pikesville. In addition, he is currently appointed as the assistant professor in medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Geriatrics Medicine.
She blames society at large. “Increasingly young people are not connected to older adults,” she laments. “More and more, I see students who are exposed to older people only when they’re in class.” In the end, many health care workers who choose a geriatric specialty do so because of personal experience—they’ve cared for a parent or grandparent and discovered they enjoy it.
Dr. Ankrom also serves as the Chief of Geriatric Medicine at GBMC. He is board certified in internal and geriatric medicine and is an esteemed member of a number of professional societies including the American Medical Association and the American Geriatric Society. Please join us in welcoming, Dr. Ankrom to our community, for he will be a huge asset to our residents and their families.
Irene Vargas, MDC program coordinator for the Saturday home health aide class sponsored by the Wal-Mart Foundation in an effort to put dislocated workers back to work, says that her students are on the front lines of the aging revolution, providing most of the day-to-day hands-on care. Yet, the average salary of a home health aide is $10.12 an hour— often less than an office or house cleaner.
Michaeline Yaffe, MSN, CRNP, is a graduate of the University of Maryland Geriatrics Nurse Practitioner Program. She has provided care as a nurse practitioner to Baltimore’s senior community since 2002. She joined GBMC Greater Geriatrics in 2009 and now serves as part of Dr. Ankrom’s medical team at Springhouse. Michaeline previously worked in critical care, emergency care, psychiatry and home care. In addition to her serving as a CRNP, “Mickie”, as she is well known, is a member of the American Geriatrics Society and the American Diabetes Association.
Call 410-486-5500 to discover how Springhouse and our health care team from GBMC can help with your senior care needs.
People who care for the elderly “like taking care of people,” Vargas says. “They go into it because they like it, because they feel they’re needed. Like taking care of children, this has to be a calling.”
8911 Reisterstown Road Pikesville, MD 21208 (410) 486-5500 pikesville@springhouse-al.com to advertise call 410.878.2212
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Lifestyle 22
Don’t let it stop once you meet a new friend. Find a way to meet THEIR friends and contacts. Socializing can spread in a viral way; once you start meeting people, each person becomes a link through which you can meet other people. It may take a while, but eventually, the isolation will be gone and you’ll have a life filled with new contacts and friends.
Don’t Let Age Close You Off
by wina sturgeon, Adventure Sports Weekly
“
It happens to a lot of people as they hit boomer age, often without them even realizing it. They don’t work at meeting new people, and their usual crowd dwindles as friends move away or lose touch. Retirement means there’s no more daily contact with a group of co-workers. Many boomers are reluctant to go out alone, and there’s really no place for the 50-and-over crowd to meet new friends; no club scene like younger people frequent, no social connection from schools or professional organizations.
It becomes all too easy to spend more and more time watching TV, reading or surfing the Internet.
It becomes all too easy to spend more and more time watching TV, reading or surfing the Internet. After a few years, with no one new coming into their lives, many of these boomers are beset by a feeling of emptiness— and an emotion they may not even be able to identify—extreme loneliness.
”
Yes, it can happen to those in their 30’s and 40’s as well, but there are many more social outlets for those who are younger than boomer age. There are just not as many social opportunities for, say, a woman in her 60’s. Sitting alone in the evening, she knows she can’t go to a bar and start talking with strangers; she doesn’t want to go to a senior center and participate in some craft project—it’s just easier to stay home and remain lonely. A man in the same situation may be more able to meet and befriend women, especially if he’s wealthy; but even a middle aged man often has trouble making new friends. It takes courage to get out and socialize—but even with courage, where can the boomer go? There are solutions to getting away from a life of isolation. Here are a few. First, if you’re a boomer who hasn’t socialized in a while, you have to get rid of your rust. There’s a certain rhythm that comes with
“Less housework leaves more time for fun!”
frequently interacting with others. If you’ve lost that rhythm, learning to socialize again can be awkward and uncomfortable. You can be plagued by unnecessary self-consciousness and timidity, or the opposite, the rejectable act of trying too hard. The way around this is to start by going out alone to restaurants and movies, quietly moving among others without attempting to make contact at first. The plan is to get “synched,” to absorb that social rhythm by watching the subconscious cues of strangers interacting with each other. Next, find out which local groups hold regular gatherings, and select those that interest you. It may be political organizations. It could be volunteer groups. There may be special social occasions, like a monthly “Irish Fiddle Night” at a local pub that caters to an older crowd. It doesn’t matter if you have no interest at all in the reason for the gathering—any occasion where people go for socializing will work. Be friendly to everyone, regardless of gender. You might make a connection your first time out, or it might take several occasions before you meet someone with whom you exchange phone numbers or make plans to do something together.
–Gustie Widmer, Erickson Living resident
We offer a variety of floor plans designed to fit your life—all 100% maintenance-free! Learn more about our vibrant, affordable lifestyle. Call for your free Guide to Erickson Living® at Charlestown or Oak Crest.
Two warnings, however: remember that spending time alone may have become a comfortable habit, one it’s easy to slip back into—you may have to force yourself to go out and socialize until that too becomes a habit. Secondly; beware of anyone who wants to get too friendly too fast. Be wary of giving out your address before you know someone, and never, never lend a new friend money or give them access to your financial information, no matter how good a reason they give you to do so.
Charlestown Catonsville 410-988-4967
Wina Sturgeon is an active boomer based in Salt Lake City who snowshoes, skates on both ice blades and wheels, lifts weights and skis to stay in shape.
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Enjoy spacious apartments, large club room, heated pool and spa, fitness center, and some of the most fun friends you’ll ever find. Availability is limited. Call or stop by.
Don’t Let Age Close You Off • Check out www.mdseniorliving.com for a list of local groups and events. • Do you love to discover new things? Contact us online to write for us and share your adventure with our readers.
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Take Route 29 to Route 175 West towards Columbia Town Center. Route 175 West becomes Little Patuxent Pkwy. At the split, bear right onto Governor Warfield Pkwy. Turn left at the first traffic light to community entrance on right. Professionally Managed by Community Realty Company, Inc. We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing throughout the nation. The Evergreens at Columbia Town Center is an active community intended for those 55 and older available to all regardless of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.
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Lifestyle 24
Boom time
Boomers Volunteer at the Highest Rate of Any Generational Group
“Boomers,” says Robert Rosenthal, a spokesman for VolunteerMatch.org, an online service that helps connect volunteers and causes, “are like other generations in their desire to help people, but the ways they want to help are different.” Baby boomers “look for organizations to partner with. It’s all about sharing the skills they’ve acquired over a lifetime,” he said. Robert Holloman, of Miramar, Fla., retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 2009. During his almost 30 years there, the former Marine and father of three managed to volunteer in the youth mentoring program at his church as well as at his sons’ youth sports leagues. Raised by an aunt who was a school principal and fierce advocate of giving back, Holloman, 63, believed “you have to walk the walk if you’re going to talk the talk.”
by ana veciana-suarez, McClatchy Newspapers
Every Tuesday, Andrea Downs takes two buses and a train from her home to the public library in downtown Miami. There, the retired teacher with a master’s degree in education tutors a woman who never attended school in her native Haiti. “I do it because I enjoy it,” Downs says. “I feel I’m improving the life of another person and in the end I get back as much as I give.” Downs, 63, is typical of the 78 million-strong baby boomer generation that, for the most part, still wants to change the world. Forty years after marching on Washington and staging sit-ins on campuses, they’re turning their attention to homeless shelters, literacy programs, animal rescue organizations, arts cooperatives—anything that sparks a passion. And they’re doing it more than anyone else. About 33 percent of all boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964—volunteer on a regular basis, the highest rate of any generational group and four percentage points above the national average of 28.8 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The volunteer rate for young boomers, ages 46 to 57, is 30.9 percent, significantly higher than the 25.3 percent recorded by the same
With children grown and hours to spare, he wanted to continue giving back. At the suggestion of a fraternity brother, he began working in the mail room of Camillus House, a full-service organization helping the homeless in Miami.
age group in 1974 and the 23.2 percent recorded in 1989.
BABY BOOMER VOLUNTEERING FACTS About 33 percent of baby boomers volunteer, the highest rate of any generational group and four percentage points above the national average of 28.8 percent _ The volunteer rate for younger boomers ages 46 to 57 is 30.9 percent, significantly higher than the 25.3 percent recorded by the same age cohort in 1974 and the 23.2 percent recorded in 1989. The most popular volunteer opportunities for boomers are religious groups, followed by educational or youth service organizations.
_ A typical boomer volunteer serves 51 hours a year. The type of volunteer work influences whether boomers stay with it over time. Retention is highest when boomers are involved in professional or management activities. _ Informal volunteering is growing in popularity. In 2003, 34 percent of boomer volunteers reported volunteering on their own and not through an organization. In 2009, that spiked to 57 percent. SOURCES: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Corporation for National & Community Service, AARP
The CARE you need, in the COMFORT of home.
“This goes along with the idealistic, change-the-world feelings of their youth,” says Yolanda Rodriguez, who serves on the executive council of AARP in Florida. “For many, it’s about pursuing a lifelong passion.”
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This is true for Downs. As a teacher, she believes an education can be life-changing. When she worked, she always volunteered for committees at school. In retiring two years ago, she wanted to continue that commitment to her community but in a different setting. So when a librarian friend told her about Miami-Dade County Public Library’s Project L.E.A.D. (Literacy for Every Adult in Dade), she immediately called them.
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“Perfect fit,” she calls the arrangement. Like so many other facets of society they have influenced, boomers want to make the biggest splash possible wherever they donate their time. Instead of stuffing envelopes, they prefer to offer professional, managerial and marketing talent. Experts call it “strategic volunteering.”
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Lifestyle 26
“
For many, it’s about pursuing a lifelong passion.”
Using his knowledge as a letter carrier and supervisor, he immediately organized the mail room, starting a system that guarantees safe storage and distribution of hundreds of letters, bills, checks and court orders that arrive for the homeless who use Camillus as a permanent postal address.
I feel especially close to her when working to help the organization.” Whether it’s to carry on a family tradition or to reconnect with youthful passions, boomers also seem to understand that volunteering is good for the heart—figuratively and literally. Studies have shown that even small amounts of volunteering contribute to healthy aging because of the social interaction and the physical activity involved.
Three days a week, he helps sort and purge the mail, storing it alphabetically in bins stacked against the wall and across a counter. “I’m a Christian,” Holloman says, “and I’ve learned that if you want to be great, you must be a server.” Though his main duties are in that small mail room, he likes to leave its air-conditioned confines and mingle with the men and women who line up around the downtown facility. He listens to their stories and has been touched that so many are veterans like he is. “It makes you appreciate exponentially what you have, all these amenities that we take for granted,” he adds. Matching volunteer talent with the right kind of work is
“
example—are the most likely to volunteer from year to year, with an almost 75 percent retention rate, according to the Corporation for National & Community Service, a federal agency that oversees a variety of civic engagement projects. On the other end, those engaged in general labor are the least likely to return, with a retention rate of 55 percent.
About 33% of all boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964—volunteer on a regular basis” a win on both sides, says Thomas Endres, vice president for civic engagement at the National Council on Aging. Boomers want volunteer projects with a mission, not a task. “They want autonomy,” Endres says. “They don’t want to reinvent the wheel, but they want assignments with responsibilities and authority to get it done.” Boomers who volunteer in a professional or management capacity—marketing or strategic planning, for
Erwin Tan, a physician and geriatrician, is director of Senior Corps, a government group that connects people 55 and older with community organizations that need help. When patients complain they feel sluggish, disconnected and without purpose, he suggests they volunteer. “It keeps you sharp,” he says. “It’s an excellent way of keeping mentally engaged. Having a purpose in life, having a reason to get up in the morning, is good for one’s health.” Holloman, the retired post office worker, couldn’t agree more. He says he gets as much as he gives for volunteering at Camillus House. “It’s like therapy for me,” Holloman says. “At home, I’d be alone and not really doing anything. You can easily get depressed that way.”
Luisa Murai, an architect, is a diligent volunteer. She co-chaired and sat on the city of Miami’s Historic and Environmental Preservation Board and serves on the building and grounds committee for Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart, her alma mater. Recently, she redesigned and performed construction administration for two residential fourplexes across from Centro Mater, a nonprofit that provides child care, education, health services and after school programs.
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Matching volunteer talent • How has volunteering impacted your life? • What’s your favorites organization for volunteering? Why? • Are you a non-proft? Be sure to add your business listing and tell us about how volunteers help you serve • Have you volunteered recently? Where did you volunteer? • Looking to volunteer? Volunteermatch.org widget helps you find local volunteering opportunities!
The project involved months of work and site visits. But when asked how many hours she has put in, Murai replies, “I didn’t keep track of the hours. I spent as much time as was necessary to get the project done well.’’
Honoring Life ~ Offering Hope
Murai, 62, has been involved with Centro Mater since she was a teenager. In 1968, her mother joined a group of Cuban women and Mother Margarita Miranda to raise funds for an affordable childcare center in the area.
Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care provides support when you need it most. We recognize that individuals and families are experts in their own care. We provide a circle of care with specialists who focus on the patient and family by providing symptom control and enhancement of the quality of life.
“It’s a wonderful project, and what I can offer them is my skills,” Murai said. “There’s also the added dimension that Centro Mater was my mother’s favorite project, and
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Lifestyle 28 Victoria’s way: Victoria admits that age
Looking Younger at 50 by rhonda w. day, www.myturn.com
You’re as old as you feel? Please. You’re as old as you look. Women know that other people judge them by how they look. If you look tired, haggard and worn, you also look old, and you feel older, too. Women 50 years and older are definitely facing a battle with the aging process. They are often more socially and psychologically satisfied, but their bodies are beginning to show the outward signs of age.
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However, Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, a noted Yale professor of psychology, concludes from studies on older women that women’s lives get better with age, not worse. So why not make your appearance better than ever as well?
studies on older women [shows] that women’s lives get better with age, not worse.”
Today’s Older Woman
If you are allowing your mental perception of the “older woman” to dictate how you look and dress, then maybe you need to think again. The grandmothers of today are very different than our grandmothers. Instead of a plump little woman dressed in a calico apron with cropped gray hair, today’s grandmothers and older women fit a different mold. With more education, greater access to beauty services and a desire to lead an active, vigorous life, today’s older woman can be more beautiful and vibrant than ever. How? It’s really simple. It’s all about taking care of yourself and allowing yourself to be beautiful. Don’t hide behind your age; allow your beauty to shine. Many women approach the age of 50 with apprehension, thinking they must cut their hair shorter, wear longer skirts and higher shirts, and hide their body. After all, is it appropriate for a grandmother to take the grandkids to the park looking youthful? Absolutely.
Remember, how a woman looks is a self-fulfilling prophecy, allowing her to act and feel better because she looks better.
Make it Happen So, how do you make it happen? Conversations with three women who have overcome the age barrier give us great insights. Susan’s highlights: Susan is 58 years old, and she
says it’s all about hair. “Hair is your crowning glory at any age, so make it work for you as you get older. No longer do women have to cut their hair as they age.” With hair slightly below shoulder length and vibrantly highlighted, Susan has found a style that works for her. “The ritual of cutting your hair off when you get older is now outdated,” she explains. Instead, she recommends trying several different hair lengths to find what works for you. Longer hair can be easier to manage and style. It can even spark more intimacy with your husband or partner. “And by all means, do not shy away from color, highlights and other color-enhancing processes. With today’s hair products, you don’t have to worry about damaging your hair when you consult a qualified professional stylist. Hair has always been a mark of beauty, and a longer style may be just what you need to look and feel younger,” she emphasizes. Marlene’s vision: At 53, Marlene believes that “eyes are the window to the soul,” as the saying goes. “Eyes are also an indication of how old you are—or how old people perceive you are!” she explains.
“It’s important to treat the eyes carefully and use a good quality moisturizer designed especially for use around the eyes. And if you’re looking for a real eye lift that erases years from your face, try gold eye shadow.” Consult with a make-up professional at a local department store or day spa to get tips on how to brighten your eyes and look younger. Check out these top 10 beautiful eyes to see how older women use eyes to their advantage: http:// www.toptenz.net/top-ten-most-beautiful-eyes.php.
usually causes some changes in body shape and form, and that was her primary concern as she approached her 50th birthday. She decided to shed an unwanted 22 pounds before she turned 50 and succeeded. Victoria warns, “Unfortunately, many women ‘allow’ themselves to add extra pounds as they get older because they believe it is OK. But don’t fall into this trap. Even women 50 and older can have a beautiful body, and the secret is to take better care of yourself. I don’t have the body I had at 18 years of age, but I am happy with the body I do have and I think I look younger because I manage my weight well.” Eat healthy, drink plenty of water and get exercise at least five days each week to have a healthier mind and body. Victoria also recommends that women highlight their assets and play down those notso-great-features. For example, long legs can be shown off with shorter skirts, or a long neck can be highlighted with a v-neck shirt. She laughs as she explains, “There is nothing wrong with showing legs or cleavage after
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It Takes More Than One All three of these women agree that you must focus on every aspect of your body to look and feel younger. You can’t focus on one area and neglect another. It takes a little more effort to look younger, but it’s worth it when it comes to relationships, intimacy, energy and self-confidence. Once you start taking better care of yourself, highlighting your assets and positively breaking through the age barrier, you will look and feel better. Grandmothers and women over the age of 50 no longer have to look their age—they can look, feel and act younger than ever before. Once you try it, you’ll be hooked on taking better care of you.
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Looking Younger at 50 • What are your favorite local boutiques to get age appropriate but youthful looking clothes • Do you have any fashion or beauty tips that you’ve picked up that make you feel younger • What sort of diet tips also make you feel younger? • What are some of things that you have attempted to do to look younger that just didn’t work?
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50!” She recommends “Dressing Nifty After Fifty” (Willcott & Corn Books, $15.95) as a great resource to help women dress better for a particular body type and highlight a woman’s most beautiful assets. “This book helped me realize that wearing long skirts and pants was not playing up my most beautiful and youthful assets—my legs!”
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