Maryland Senior Living by Maryland Senior Living

serving the baltimore metropolitan area • winter 2011

Don’t Let Others Make You Old page 24

Over 50 and ‘Friending’ on Facebook page 6

Reverse Mortgages can be Expensive and Complicated page 12

Movies for Grownups

Thrilling, New Flicks on Video this Holiday Season page 2

an Inside Look

At Peregrines newest facility,

Woodholme Gardens

page 22

winter 2011 • mdseniorliving.com

Letter from the Publisher

Dear reader, The holidays are here, winter has come and the New Year is upon us. We get together with family and friends, cherishing the special moments in our lives that we hope will last forever. We think about the past year and realize our accomplishments, recognize our failures, and create our goals for the future. Over the past year, we have created a magazine to serve the growing 55+ community in the Baltimore metro area. Of course it is you, the reader, whom we have to thank. Maryland Senior Living can now be picked up in over 200 locations, including supermarkets, pharmacies and senior centers. We print over 30,000 issues every quarter and have a goal of doubling that number over the course of the next year. Because we are a free magazine, we rely solely on advertiser revenue to be able to bring you the most informative and entertaining articles you have grown accustomed to. In fact, it is the articles and design that set us apart from any other publications in the marketplace. The growing support of the magazine is directly affected by your patronage of our advertisers, and for that, I thank you. Whenever you use one of our advertiser’s products or services, please be sure to tell them you saw it in Maryland Senior Living. I wish you all a great New Year—may it be one of health and happiness. Sincerely, Gabe publisher@mdseniorliving.com P.S. We are still running our Win a Kindle contest. Enter at www.mdseniorliving.com. The winner will be announced in the spring issue.

Maryland Senior Living • 1498 Reisterstown Rd. #197 • Pikesville, MD 21208 • office 410.878.2212 • fax 410.864.8908 • mdseniorliving.com

maryl and senior living •Winter 2011

Contents Health 24

Finance 12

Reverse Mortgages can be Expensive and Complicated

Don’t Let Others Make You Old Wina Sturgeon is a nationally recognized expert in helping boomers stay younger. She’s also an athletic boomer who ski races, ice skates and races BMX.

Inside Look 22

Peregrines Newest Facility, Woodholme Gardens

Lifestyle 6

Over 50 and ‘friending’ on Facebook Just a few short years ago, Facebook was the exclusive province of postmillennial college undergraduates. Well, move over. The Woodstock generation—and their parents—are moving in.

entertainment 2

Movies for Grownups: Thrilling, New Flicks on Video This Holiday Season

publisher Gabe Silverberg sales coordinator Devora Hawkins

A ls o

creative director Austin Hamby

Your Grandkids are Watching 18 Family Caregiving: A 24/7 Job You’re Not Alone 26

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

Family

Finance

The Benefits of Bartering 17

Health

Growth Through Relapses 4 Avoiding Falls A Challenge as You Get Older 16 Like a Face-lift, but Without Surgery 20 Lifestyle

Museum Looking for Stories, Artifacts from Legendary Woodstock Festival 8

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

Thrilling, New Flicks on Video this Holiday Season by bill newcott,

Entertainment Editor, AARP The Magazine

hree outrageously imaginative movies from three eras—each of which pushed the boundaries of film beyond anything anyone had seen before—highlight the pre-Holiday home video lineup in the coming weeks. Sherlock Jr. Nov. 16 In 1924, the movies were already America’s most popular form of entertainment, but Buster Keaton was thinking they were something much more than that. His astonishingly original comedy starts out as the rather conventional story of a daydreaming movie theater projectionist who wants to be a detective— but about 20 minutes in, all bets are off as the projectionist falls asleep at the switch and finds himself walking into the film that he’s showing. What follows is one of the most mindblowing scenes in movie history: Keaton strolls into the theater screen expecting to knock on a front door, but as the “film” cuts from one scene to another, he’s suddenly on a busy street, then on a mountaintop, next in a jungle, and finally in a desert (nearly run down by a train). Eventually he enters the film’s story, helping solve a mystery of stolen pearls. In these few minutes—at once deliriously funny and strangely disorienting—Keaton demonstrates the unprecedented power of the moving image, the almost spookily invasive medium that makes you believe

anything, but anything, can happen. Keaton was so funny, and his gags so breathtakingly sharp, it’s easy to forget that while he made the world laugh, he was also helping create an art form.

Fantasia/Fantasia 2000 Nov. 30 The gall! Walt Disney, lowbrow creator of Mickey Mouse, illegitimate father of the Seven Dwarves, aspired to capital”A” Art with “Fantasia,” his animated take on classical music. (The nerve!) He got Leopold Stokowski, that showboating conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra (Philly! Can you imagine?) to clamber up that impossibly high podium and direct truncated versions of several orchestral warhorses—most notably switching around the sections of Rite of Spring (Well, I never!). Animators had matched music to images before—even to abstract shapes like those Walt used for Fantasia’s opener, Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. But no one had ever gambled on the American moviegoing public actually embracing such an audacious vision. Perhaps

predictably, the public did not. Fantasia flopped and nearly cost Walt his studio. But precisely because of its commercial failure, Fantasia remained a one-of-akind artifact until the studio went to the well one last time, producing the 2000 sequel that is also included in this set. Fantasia 2000 is a worthy successor, with moments of absolute genius. All that’s missing is a secret ingredient, the one that makes the original irreplaceable: Walt Disney’s touch of madness. If you’re on the fence about checking out this set, this oughta push you over: The DVD includes “Destino,” the 58-years-in-the-making animated collaboration between Disney and Salvador Dali, finished in 2003 by Walt’s nephew Roy.

Inception Dec. 7 By definition, you rarely get to leave a first-run theater telling yourself, “That is one of the best movies ever made.” But I believe that will be history’s verdict for Inception, Christopher Nolan’s labyrinth of a film about a corporate saboteur (Leonardo DiCaprio) who steals competitors’ secrets by entering and manipulating their dreams. Part science fiction, part caper, part philosophical treatise, Inception is mostly thrilling, a film that propels its story, incongruities and all, like a train barreling down a city street. Nolan’s dream worlds are masterpieces of heightened

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reality, and his movie concludes with a final frame that can legitimately be mentioned in the same breath as “Rosebud.”

also new on dvd The Lightkeepers Nov. 16 Richard Dreyfuss and Blythe Danner make an irresistible screen couple in one of the most engaging grown-up love stories to come to the screen in years. He’s a turn-of-the-20th-Century Cape Cod lighthouse keeper who swore off women ever since the collapse of his marriage decades before. So guess who comes to stay for the summer in the little cabin near his female-free outpost?

equivalent of a rocket-fuel-laden tanker truck plowing into the mixing room of a nitroglycerine factory. Shotgunned bodies bisect with alarming ease, severed limbs fly like shrimp at Benihana, fireballs erupt as if the very gates of Hell have been cracked open. Besides writer/director/star Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Jason Stratham and Terry Crews provide the muscle; the wonderful Mickey Rourke checks in with a bit of actual acting, in a lovely vignette as a reformed hellraiser.

Eat Pray Love Nov. 23 Julia Roberts’ star power blazes at first magnitude as she treks from New York City (leaving behind a heartbroken ex-

hubby and devastated ex-boyfriend, and you would be, too, if Julia Roberts dumped you) to Italy to discover the art of pleasure. Then she’s off to an Indian ashram to discover the secrets of spiritual devotion, and finally to Bali to find a way to balance the two. There’s some love along the way, and little bit of praying, but really, it’s the “Eat” of the title that gets the most attention, like a flashing neon sign in the window of an all-night diner.

Cairo Time Nov. 30 We seem to have a rash of movies about middle age women becoming disenchanted with domestic life and finding comfort in the arms of another man these days (Tilda Swinton in I Am Love and Julia Roberts in the above-mentioned Eat Pray Love come to mind), but Patricia Clarkson brings special qualities of urgency and vulnerability to the part here. Plus, director Rubba Nadda’s lush, romantic images of Cairo create a sensuality all their own.

The Kids are All Right Nov. 16 Annette Bening and Julianne Moore shine as a couple managing to raise a son and a daughter without a lot of drama—until the kids decide to track down the guy who provided the genetic material to conceive them. Mark Ruffalo plays the quirky guy whose presence upsets the family’s delicate balance.

The Expendables Nov. 23 Sylvester Stallone’s over-the-top story of middle-age mercenaries heading out for one last job delivers precisely what it promises, which is to say the cinematic

mdseniorliving.com

Health 4

Growth

Through Relapses

by amy sherman, www.basilandspice.com

f you’re trying to improve yourself by changing some unhealthy habits, you’re on the right path. However, sometimes things don’t go as smoothly as you’d like and you wind up relapsing into your old behavior. Whether you’re working to stop smoking, cut out alcohol, temper your anger issues, reduce your excessive spending, drop 20 pounds or just watch less TV, it’s not uncommon to slip and fall back into the bad behaviors you are trying to change. The most important thing to do when this happens is to get right back on track. You should never let your relapse be an excuse to give up or to forget what momentum you have already made. Instead treat the relapse as a learning experience and a chance to further your growth. Try to look at what happened before the relapse and use the information as a springboard to make further changes. The next time something like this happens, you’ll be primed to behave differently. For example, if there was a strong trigger that kept you from implementing an effective coping strategy, add that trigger to your “red flag” list and make note that you have to be especially cautious. So, when friends drop over with a huge pizza and you want to lose 20 pounds, what alternatives are there? Can you eat only one slice, instead of the usual two or three? Can you have a huge salad while everyone eats the pizza? Decide beforehand how you’ll like to handle things, so you’ll be better

prepared and won’t succumb to temptation next time. In other words, your old ways of behaving need to be replaced with more carefully planned behaviors. It’s always good to avoid problems like this before they happen by soliciting help from supporters. The more people who know what you are trying to do, the more successful you will be. Furthermore, the warning signs of a relapse happen way before the actual relapse. Your friends may be the best indicators that you are in trouble and need to increase your awareness. Remember, you do not want to give up on the work you have already done because of a sudden relapse. You have so much to gain by continuing. It takes time and consistency, but if you can successfully practice new behaviors for 21 days, you will create a new habit that becomes much easier to implement. How do you keep practicing these new behaviors for three weeks straight without slipping? Here are some suggestions to keep in mind:

1 2

Always keep your thoughts on your goal, with a strong visual image of what you want to attain. Redesign what you tell yourself as you go through your day. Create powerful declarations that support your focus on success.

By thinking success, your entire nervous system is set up to establish your new habit. Think of it as a way to tone and strengthen your mental vision.

Don’t put yourself in situations where you may fail. Remind yourself of how you feel when you relapse. The feelings of guilt, shame, anger and disappointment are not pleasant. It’s much better to feel pride, confidence, satisfaction and joy in your new behaviors than feel the negative emotions associated with your setback. A relapse is just a momentary postponement in your progress, not a sign of failure. When you give up, that is when you make a temporary condition, permanent. Therefore, be kinder and gentler with yourself and you’ll find your relapses will come less frequently and your successes will be easier to achieve. π Amy Sherman is a licensed mental health counselor and trainer. She is the founder of Baby Boomers’ Network, a resource designed to give baby boomers the insights, information and inspiration they need to live their best lives. To learn more, go to www.bummedoutboomer.com. Sherman is also the co-author with Rosalind Sedacca of “99 Things Women Wish They Knew Before Dating After 40, 50 and Yes, 60!” Go to www.99-series.com/index. html for more information. to advertise call 410.878.2212

P R

I C K E R S G I L L

E T I R E M E N T

O M M U N I T Y

Value. Independence. Security. Common threads in the fabric of retirement freedom For more than two centuries, Pickersgill Retirement Community has had one vision—providing value, independence and security for seniors. Our desirable West Towson location, 16-acre setting and small, intimate size promote a peaceful campus atmosphere with personalized attention, yet quick and easy access to a host of opportunities and services in the region. We are the area’s only rental, continuing care community,with no entrance fee or turnover of assets, and a not-for-profit mission that allows us to deliver extraordinary value. Access to onsite rehab and two levels of assistance promotes ongoing independence, with a strong sense of security coming from the knowledge that higher levels of care are available right here on campus.

Value. Independence. Security.

Call us at 866-694-9332 to arrange a personal tour. 615 C HESTNUT AVENUE , TOWSON , MD 21204 • mdseniorliving.com

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MDSG11

866.694.9332 5

Lifestyle 6

Over 50

and 'Friending' on Facebook by mike swift, San Jose Mercury News

“I enjoy it,” Brandse said recently of Facebook. “I know how to open everything, but I don’t know how to put up my own pictures yet.” In April 2009, just 22 percent of Americans 50 and older were using sites such as Facebook, MySpace or LinkedIn, according to the Pew study. But by May of this year, 42 percent of Americans 50 and older were logging onto social networks. A near majority—47 percent—of people from the age of 50 to 64 are now using social websites, with 61 percent of people in their 30s and 40s, a group that includes the youngest cohort of baby boomers, belonging to Facebook or other networks.

ust a few short years ago, Facebook was the exclusive province of postmillennial college undergraduates. Well, move over. The Woodstock generation—and their parents—are moving in.

The phenomenal growth of Facebook, Twitter and other social sites in the past year has come in part because of a surge in adoption by older members, with a national poll released Friday providing a surprising new measure for how fast baby boomers and seniors are adopting online social networks to bridge generations and geography.

While a near-universal 86 percent of people age 18 to 29 regularly use social networks, the new survey says the share of people in their 50s, 60s and older are joining up at a much faster rate. Whereas the share of Americans 18 to 29 who belong to social networks grew by 13 percent in the past year, the share of people age 50 to 64 who use those services grew by 88 percent, Pew said.

The survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project shows that the share of Americans older than 50 using social networks doubled in the past year, with a virtual majority of baby boomers, and about one-quarter of the nation’s seniors, now using the sites to stay in touch or reconnect with long-lost friends.

Facebook, a service that launched in 2004 for undergraduates at a few elite universities, may turn out to be a unique way to bridge the generation gap, said Mary Madden, author of the Pew report. She said social networks are one of the very few places—either online or offline— where parents, teenagers, grandparents, friends and neighbors regularly communicate.

Take 71-year-old Pat Brandse, of Palo Alto, Calif., whose 42-year-old daughter turned her onto Facebook about six months ago to help Brandse stay in touch with grandchildren and other relatives scattered in California, Oregon, Colorado and the Netherlands.

“I think just having a shared understanding of how these spaces function, and the role they play in younger people’s lives, I think that can be a pretty powerful conversion starter,” said Madden, a senior research specialist for Pew. “Certainly, older adults have a very long way to

“

...the new survey says the share of people in their 50s, 60s and older are joining up at a much faster rate.

go to catch up to young adults, and email is still at the center of their daily communication patterns, but I do think that the trickle-up effect of younger relatives (bringing in older members) is quite powerful.”

include PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, hopes to soon extend its membership to West Coast schools such as Stanford and the University of Southern California.

Still, not everyone wants to accept a “friend” request from Mom, Dad or Grandma.

“The original use for Facebook was really a place for students to connect and share and interact with friends,” he said in a recent interview. But with Facebook now so universal that it’s “sort of like the telephone book,” college-aged users “also want an additional place to interact with other students, without parents and potential employers” looking in.

Betting that college-aged users want a social network like the original Facebook, where parents and potential employers are locked out, New Yorkbased entrepreneur Josh Weinstein in August launched CollegeOnly.com, a social network limited to people with a .edu e-mail address. Initially, the site is serving students at Yale, Cornell and Weinstein’s alma mater, Princeton, but the network has been besieged by requests from students as far away as Norway, Brazil and Japan to join. Weinstein said CollegeOnly, whose investors

Pew’s findings come from a nationwide telephone survey of 2,252 American adults who were interviewed on landlines and cell phones, and have a margin of error between two and three percentage points. While the Pew report found that social network use among seniors

”

65 and older doubled in the past year, not everyone is jumping aboard. “If I want to talk to people, I pick up the phone or I go visit them,” said Bob Nikkola, 66, who owns a Palo Alto printing company. “Facebook seems like such a silly thing.” Scottie Brooks, 75, a retired mathematician from Woodside, Calif., who worked on the Apollo missions to the moon, said that after 40 years working with computers, she’s moved onto other things. “I just don’t want to add that one more thing that keeps me sitting down,” she said. π

Accepting patients in Baltimore, Carroll & Frederick Counties

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Lifestyle 8

Museum looking for stories, artifacts from legendary

Woodstock Festival by diane w. stoneback, The Morning Call

Baby boomers and Woodstockers...you’re wanted by The Museum at Bethel Woods.

If you attended the 1969 Woodstock Festival or came of age during the 1960s, you can help the museum tell even more of the story about the legendary event and a turbulent decade. Located where Woodstock happened—in rural Sullivan County, N.Y.—the museum is making several new attempts to draw attention to its collection and get “veterans” of the Sixties to add more to it. A recently opened exhibition, Collecting Woodstock: Recent Museum

Acquisitions, will run through Jan. 2, 2011. It contains festival artifacts, images from five photographers and a new video compilation of rare Woodstock footage.

dance, since we’re in a pretty remote location,” says Wade Lawrence, the museum’s director.

Anyone who attended Woodstock (or tried to attend) as well as volunteers and other people who participated in some way are asked to join the Woodstock alumni registry.

“Young people can get a sense of what their parents and grandparents went through and accomplished and realize they, too, should take part in the political process and debates rising from it.”

Finally, 1960s enthusiasts who have artifacts from the festival of the decade are being asked to consider donating them to the museum. The museum has attracted 60,000 visitors a year since opening in 2008. About 450,000 young people made their way to this same location for Woodstock, which was advertised as “three days of music and peace.” “We’re pretty happy with our atten-

“We not only want to have great exhibits. We also want to become a research center for those studying the Sixties.

Visiting the museum will give “boomers a chance to remember the days of their youth, recall the good times, and remind them that they have helped change the world,” Lawrence says. Some of the most exciting additions in the Collecting Woodstock exhibition? A 38-minute video that shows performances that weren’t included in other Woodstock movies or documentaries, as well as a clip of a home movie featuring three young women

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Lifestyle 10

“

We not only want to have great exhibits. We also want to become a research center for those studying the Sixties.” attending the event. “Before leaving home, they created a personal flag to fly over their campsite, so they could find it. We have the movie showing the flag flying over their campsite and their flag. It’s a very personal story and it’s one of my personal favorites,” Lawrence says. Another thrill for him is having the small notebook Kevin Marvell used for a journal. “Kevin sat 10 rows back from the stage and didn’t miss a single performance. Every time a band came on, he recorded the name, the

songs they sang and added his comments about their performance. It answers questions about the order of the performances that have been debated for 40 years.” Among other items in the exhibit: Woodstock festival photographs—including one of participants on the Watch Tower, taken by 18-year-old Doug Lenier, who had grabbed his girlfriend and his Nikon for the trip to Woodstock; a James Shelly photo showing an umbrella-holding Woodstocker; and another weatherrelated Woodstock photo by Richard

Gordon showing his muddy feet. Other items include armbands (“red rags”) worn by members of the Hog Farm Commune who worked or volunteered at the festival; a security guard Tshirt; a rare and psychedelic Woodstock poster created by David Byrd; and a milk crate, creamery hat, bottle cap and syrup pitcher from the dairy farm owned by Max Yasgur, who rented his fields to Woodstock promoters after they decided to move the concert from its original location. “We’d like all 450,000 attendees to go to our alumni register,” Lawrence says. His realistic goal is for 100,000 registrants who’ll provide information about their ages, level of education, where they came from, what days and groups they saw, why they were there, their most memorable Woodstock experience, their favorite act and Woodstock’s impact on their lives. π

Accepting patients in Baltimore, Frederick & Carroll Counties

Adding life to their days.

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in Senior Care

& Announcing A new AlliAnce in Senior cAre in BAltimore 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. 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.

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. 8911 Reisterstown Road Pikesville, MD 21208 (410) 486-5500 pikesville@springhouse-al.com 5532_SHPikesville_8x9.75_1.indd mdseniorliving.com

11/29/10 2:12:35 PM

finance 12

Reverse Mortgages can be

Expensive and Complicated by paul muschick, The Morning Call

n an attempt to protect aging homeowners from being scammed or given bad advice, some states want mortgage lenders to take additional steps before they issue reverse mortgages. With people living longer, officials in Pennsylvania expect reverse mortgages to become more popular because they can give seniors the opportunity to stay in their home and still use their home’s value to pay for living and medical expenses. No problems have been reported with people being ripped off through reverse mortgages, officials say, but there’s always the possibility, especially during these sorry economic times.

reverse mortgages with input from the state Department of Aging. “It can do a lot of good for a person or an older couple in the right situation, but it may not be appropriate in some other cases.”

To qualify for most reverse mortgages, you must be at least 62 years old and have paid off your home, or have substantial equity. A reverse mortgage is a loan that works just as it sounds—instead of you paying a lender, the lender pays you. You can collect the money all at once or through monthly payments or a line of credit, and can use the money for anything you like, including buying a new home.

There are plenty of former subprime lenders out there trolling for new business. Seniors who own their homes outright and are eligible for reverse mortgages make up a potential pool of customers who could be sweet-talked into doing something they don’t understand. “Because reverse mortgage products are specifically designed for—and marketed to—older residents, we feel a particular responsibility to safeguard their interests by making sure that they are not unfairly taken advantage of,” Pennsylvania Banking Secretary Steve Kaplan said in a statement. Last year, Consumer Reports identified reverse mortgages as one of five troublesome offers being heavily promoted in the lagging economy. “It’s extremely important that it’s explained adequately,” said Dan Egan, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Banking, which drafted a new state policy on

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“ How much you can borrow typically depends on how old you are and how much your home is worth. The money doesn’t have to be repaid until the borrower dies, sells the property or moves out.

A reverse mortgage is a loan that works just as it sounds—instead of you paying a lender, the lender pays you.”

The most common reverse mortgage is a Federal Housing Administration Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (known as HECM). These loans come with some built-in protections, including federal insurance that protects the lender in case home value drops during the life of the mortgage and the sale doesn’t cover the loan amount; limits on some fees; and requirements that the borrower undergo counseling to make sure they understand the terms.

There are some proprietary reverse mortgages that don’t carry those protections.

Unlike a traditional mortgage, where your loan balance diminishes over time, your loan balance in a reverse mortgage will grow the longer the mortgage is outstanding because fees, interest and insurance premiums will accumulate. You should consider factors such as that the income could affect your eligibility for Medicaid or public assistance payments. It won’t affect your Social Security or Medicare payments, and isn’t taxable. As always, shop around to get the best deal. π

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Overlea Caterers More than a Meal

It can be difficult for seniors to cook healthy, well-balanced meals, as it may be impossible for them to get to the grocery store on their own. Decreased hand-eye coordination can make it tough to operate kitchen appliances safely, and for those with poor vision, cooking becomes a dangerous chore. However, there is an alternative to cooking at home or eating out. Food delivery services offer healthy meals that simply need to be heated in the microwave or oven. Meal delivery has several benefits for seniors. First, it ensures that nutritional needs are met. Since the elderly are generally not as active as their younger selves, they don’t need to consume as many calories as they once did. Prepared meals have a healthy 300-500 calories per serving and are low in fat. Additionally, meals delivered to your loved one’s home eliminate the need to go grocery shopping, which is great for those who can no longer drive and don’t have easy access to public transportation. Food experts have created diabetic friendly and low-sodium meals. Both meal types have nutritionally balanced portions, ensuring that your loved one gets the nutrients he needs to feel his best. All nutritional information is available, making it easier for diabetics to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Additionally, eating diabetic friendly meals is healthier than relying on medication alone to control diabetes. Low-sodium

meals are also offered by home delivery services. Many seniors aren’t as sensitive to taste as they once were, so they tend to add salt when cooking on their own. However, seniors should limit their sodium intake. These specially prepared meals rely on herbs and spices to flavor food, reducing the need for salt. Prepared meals are delicious and have plenty of variety. Meat options include chicken Florentine, sliced ham with cranberry sauce, and stuffed pork chops. Vegetable sides include butternut squash, an asparagus medley, and broccoli. Breakfast is also offered, and select options include apple blueberry compotes, tomato basil omelets, and cinnamon apple oatmeal. Seafood, pasta, and Mexican dishes are also offered, as are vegetarian options. There really is something for everyone. Having meals delivered to your home really does make life easier, especially for seniors. The food is both nutritious and tasty. Plus, cooking time is ten minutes or less. Ordering prepared meals is the perfect way for caregivers to help someone who is living at home while simplifying their own lives at the same time. For more information about senior meal delivery, visit Susan Love’s site, homecaregiverstore.com, where you will find a wide selection of elder care products and services.

Honoring Life ~ Offering Hope

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.

phone 866-693-4067 • fax 877-820-2756 • www.honoringlife-offeringhope.org Serving Baltimore City, Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Howard, Carroll, Harford, Cecil and Prince George’s County to advertise call 410.878.2212

MORE THAN A MEAL

By providing nutritious and budget conscious meals to people who are homebound due to age, disability or choice; Overlea Caterers promotes independent living and quality of life for individuals who wish to remain in the comfort of their own homes. Overlea Caterers not only deliver meals, we make sure that the meals are properly rotated and stored in the client’s refrigerator and/or storage area. Overlea Caterers has

WHILE EVERYONE ELSE TALKS; WE DELIVER!

been in the food service business for over 30 years and we have the experience and resources necessary to provide your food service needs in many areas including:  Home Delivered Meals  Adult Day Services  Specialty Meal Services  Emergency Meal Services  And More

Phone: (410)668-6065 Fax: (410)668-9908 6809 Belair Road, Baltimore, MD 21206 WWW.OVERLEACATERERS.ORG

Health 16

Avoiding falls a challenge as you get older by wina sturgeon, Adventure Sports Weekly You’ve heard the statistic so many times, your eyes glaze over. But it’s true. The biggest cause of injury and disabling trauma to baby boomers are falls. Not big spectacular ones, like tumbling down stadium steps, but simple ones at home—a slip in the tub during a shower, where you get a brain injury from hitting your head on the faucet. A sprained ankle from getting out of bed and tripping over something on the floor. One reason we fall more as we get older is that balance deteriorates. You need muscles for good balance, and a lot of boomers get physically lazy as they age. They do less physical activity, and the vicious cycle begins: less exercise means weaker muscles and weaker bones. So there’s not enough muscle for good balance, and the bones also get so much weaker that they are more prone to break in a fall.

“

I won’t waste your time or mine by encouraging you to join a gym or go for a daily walk. If you’re not already exercising, you probably won’t start. But I will quote the wise words of orthopedic surgeon and multi-gold medal Olympian Eric Heiden, who says, “Be proactive. Do things to prevent falls and stop them from happening. For example, one place where a lot of people fall are on throw rugs. Don’t have those in your home, or if you do want an area rug, tape it down firmly.” He mentions using the double sided tape made especially for loose little rugs.

Be proactive. Do things to prevent falls...

”

Another danger to eliminate, according to Dr. Heiden, is the slippery bottom of the tub. “Put a rubber mat on the tub floor, and make sure it won’t slip around. If the mat is secure, you’ll have a lot less chance of slipping and falling,” he says. Of course, remember that if the mat isn’t scrubbed every so often, it will get slippery from dirt and the oils in conditioners and shower gels—and if it’s slip-

pery, the only thing the mat will be good for is to cushion your fall a little bit when it happens. It may also be a good thing to take a second look at the area around your bed. Are there spindly little tables that will collapse if you fall on them? Sharp-cornered tables very close to the bed? Top heavy lamps that can fall over easily—perhaps on you? Dr. Heiden says to move anything that can cause injury so it isn’t right beside your bed. By taking steps in advance to prevent falls, you keep your physical ability. Heiden says you may never be the same after a fall. “Where you were once active outside and at home, afterwards, you may only be able to be active at home—you have to be more cautious outside; perhaps even use a cane,” he says. If you do fall, NEVER stick your arm out straight to stop the fall. That will only dislocate your shoulder or break your wrist. Instead, bend your arm, holding your hand close to your body. That will allow most of the impact to be shared over the larger area of your body, rather than the three bones of your narrower arm. By thinking about falls BEFORE they happen, you can do a lot to minimize or even eliminate them. As you get older (You DO plan on getting older, right?) you’ll be very glad you did. π Wina Sturgeon is an active boomer based in Salt Lake City who mountain bikes, rides BMX, skates on both ice blades and wheels, lifts weights and skis to stay in shape.

to advertise call 410.878.2212

17 Finance

The benefits of bartering by joseph s. maresca, www.basilandspice.com

he technical definition of bartering involves trading one commodity for another. Sometimes, bartering may have a cash component or even a service component.

cy, it is required by law to keep records and report them to the government in the form of a 1099B. In the case of barter, the barter agency must report sales as though they were cash.

Often a home needs repairs as couples get older. The alternative is to utilize extra space in exchange for services. An extra garage space can be bartered for services like painting, concrete repair, roof repair and many other chores that older people find tedious or dangerous.

The things you “purchase” in exchange are of no consequence because the government assumes you would purchase those items whether or not your sale was in cash or trade. The exception is for a business-related item being traded. In that case, you may deduct it from your taxes as a cash expense.

Sometimes, people receive unwanted gifts that they would like to trade for things they actually need or must have. Or space next to a building can be bartered for free services from contractors seeking to promote a neighborhood ad campaign.

Every January, as required by law under TEFRA, all of the approximately 500 organized trade exchanges in the U.S. provide the IRS with statements showing the total amount of barter credits deposited into each and every member’s account during the previous calendar year.

Students can barter services with local bookshops in order to get books for school. The list of barter transactions is limited only by your imagination.

(Your trade exchange also provides this information to you in the form of 1099Bs, “Proceeds from Broker and Barter Transactions.”)

Sometimes, bartering can occur through an informal verbal agreement or via a formal exchange, like the International Monetary System (www.imsbarter.com). The company assisting with a formal exchange may charge a fee for the service, but experts may be available to help with organizing the transaction and getting parties together if they don’t live nearby. Formal exchanges are useful for big-ticket items, like swapping a car for a motorcycle.

Some of these barter deposits may not be taxable income. Here are examples:

A formal exchange like the International Monetary System requires that you register and log in each time a transaction occurs. There is also a tax component to using a barter agency. When you make barter arrangements through an agen-

mdseniorliving.com

A taxpayer may be permitted under the law to give any other taxpayer up to $10,000 during a tax year, with no tax consequences of any kind to the donor or to the recipient. According to Barternews.com, if a trade exchange member gives barter credits to another member (as a gift), the amount of the donation is posted in the account of the recipient. And there is no way for the barter company to recognize the tax nature of the deposited funds, any more than your bank can identify which of your cash deposits are taxable. π

Family 18

Your grandkids are watching

by charlotte latvala, Grandparents.com

ven when you don’t say a word, you’re teaching lessons to your grandchildren. So think twice before tossing a candy wrapper out the car window or gesturing at the driver in front of you. “Everything you do reflects your values, and kids pick up on it,” says Scott Haltzman, professor of psychiatry at Brown University and author of “The Secrets of Happy Families”. Even when you think they’re not paying attention, kids are watching—and listening. So be careful out there. DISPLAY HEALTHY HABITS Grandparents who reach for fresh fruit and oatmeal instead of coffee and a doughnut are planting seeds for a lifetime of healthy eating, says Maureen Schuster, a licensed social worker in Atlanta who specializes in olderadult services. Staying physically active sends a message, too. “Playing a game of catch or taking a nature walk shows children that even though you are older, you are still vital and fun,” she says. As for smoking or drinking in front of the kids, Schuster recommends this rule of thumb: “If it’s something you don't believe your grandchild should do, don't do it yourself.”

SHARE THE LOVE Grandparents are in a unique position as role models, Haltzman says: “They typically discipline less than parents or teachers, and are full of unconditional love. They can give grandchildren so many positive messages about family and loved ones.” Betty Ann Krischan, 59, of Buffalo, N.Y., frequently takes her 6-year-old grandson, Josh, to visit his 88-year-old great-grandmother. “He’s learned a great deal about sympathy and caring as he watches my sisters and I care for our ailing mom,” Krischan says. “I’m totally honest about some of the things that are happening to her—why she doesn't remember how to do things, why we don’t leave her alone and why it’s important for us to help her.” BET ON BOOKS One of the most influential acts you can perform in front of a small child? Turning off the TV and picking up a book. “Whether it’s sports or American Idol, television tends to draw our attention away from everything else— and sometimes we don’t even notice it’s on,” Haltzman says. “By reading, doing crossword puzzles, and using five-dollar words—even if kids don’t understand them— you’re showing that books are important and language has power.” Fostering a love of reading will help boost your grandchildren’s confidence, and maybe even raise their grades.

to advertise call 410.878.2212

TAKE THEM TO WORK To give her grandson a taste of the grownup world, Krischan occasionally lets Josh visit her office. “It’s helped him to learn patience,” she says. “For instance, he has to be quiet when Grandma is working, talking on the phone or meeting with people.” If you're retired, show your grandchildren the benefits of giving back to the community by letting them see you do volunteer work. “Kids pick up on whatever signals you’re giving off,” Haltzman says. “It’s up to you whether you give off a Mr. Rogers vibe—or a Scrooge one.” TAME YOUR TONE Think about how you treat other people every day. Do you snap at a waitress who forgets your salad dressing, or chew out the cashier who doesn’t ring up the discounted price of an outfit? Kids notice rudeness—even in small exchanges. “If you want your grandchild to be generous, thoughtful and gracious, demonstrate those traits,” Haltzman says. “Show patience, and the message your grandchildren take away is: ‘Here’s someone I admire handling a tough situation with a sense of humor.’”

Similarly, watch what you say about other people, especially your grandchildren’s parents, whenever the kids are in hearing distance. “Grandchildren tend to blend into the background,” Haltzman says. “We think they’re not listening, but they hear everything. And if you’re talking negatively about your son-inlaw, or the neighbor you don’t like, kids will pick up on it. Being negative just generates more negativity.” And that’s one thing grandchildren don’t need to learn from you. π

“

Everything you do reflects your values, and kids pick up on it,”

Best Active Adult Living in the Center of it All

REINVENT YOURSELF

THE EVERGREENS.

LUXURY RENTAL APARTMENTS AT COLUMBIA TOWN CENTER .

Quit taking care of that big house and enjoy yourself at The Evergreens. This is the finest in active adult living. Located in the heart of Columbia, you have easy access to shopping, restaurants, golf, walking paths, the library, hospital, the movies... you name it. 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.

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directions: 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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Health 20

Like a face-lift, but without surgery by karen deer, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

I thought I would never say these words: cosmetic surgery.

LaBoube. “Microcurrent improves facial circulation and skin exfoliation.”

I’m 51, and the lines are creeping up, around my eyes and lips. I’ve even spotted extra skin under my chin (OK, call it what it is, a saggy jowl).

Actresses, such as Vanessa Williams (in the April 2010 Prevention magazine), swear by the procedure to reduce lines and tighten the skin.

And I can’t help thinking about how to slow down this inevitable aging process.

Here’s how it works:

I’m not willing to go under the knife or even look at a needle. In fact, when I was 5 years old, my mother says four nurses held me down for one little shot before my tonsils were removed. There must be another option to cosmetic surgery. I found it: a microcurrent face-lift that works like surgery but isn’t. It’s a nonsurgical, noninvasive cosmetic technique. “This new alternative is the buzz in the holistic medical field,” says Zach LaBoube, board certified chiropractor at the InsideOut Wellness and Acupuncture Center in Clayton, Mo. The face-lift procedure is safe and effective, delivering results at a fraction of the cost of traditional cosmetic procedures, he says. The procedure was approved for medical professionals by the FDA in 1999 for pain and healing, but it has not been approved as a cosmetic procedure. “A microcurrent face-lift can be performed to improve muscle tone in the face and neck, lift jowls and eyebrows, reduce and eliminate fine lines and wrinkles,” says

A microcurrent face-lift uses gentle electrical stimulation to trigger the body’s natural skin enhancement. The face-lift procedure itself takes about an hour and is virtually painless (actually, I slept through some of my sessions and gabbed through the rest). A microcurrent technician will use two wands that disseminate the current with a conducting lotion. The procedure requires no anesthesia and no recovery time. To achieve the ultimate benefits, you’ll need 10 to 12 treatments within four to six weeks. I did 10 sessions. Follow-up treatments, every four to six weeks, are also recommended to maintain your results. LaBoube says, “The best candidates for a microcurrent facelift are patients from 30 to 65.” Younger patients select this treatment as a proactive measure, while older patients (like me) see improvements in their muscle tone and elimination of fine lines and wrinkles.

of Otolaryngology at Washington University School of Medicine, specializes in cosmetic procedures such as mini face-lifts, traditional face-lifts, brow lifts and eyelid surgery. Branham says, “Mircocurrent appears to be safe, so it’s not going to harm anyone. The procedure is designed to stimulate the underlying muscle, so in theory, when you work out a muscle, it will build up and develop tone.” He adds, “If you’re looking for something long-lasting, this may not be the type of procedure you would choose. However, the microcurrent facelift would be a reasonable choice for a shorter-term goal.” As for my procedure, I see an improvement around my lips (fine line reduction), and the skin around my cheeks looks and feels softer. Looking at my before and after photos, LaBoube says this: “The sagginess under Karen’s chin is significantly improved, and the lines of the neck are much thinner. Her cheeks are also a lot smoother and the lines around her mouth are reduced. You can also see improvement in her brow. Karen could use a couple more treatments to further lift the jowls.” π

Dr. Gregory Branham, division chief of facial plastic surgery in the Department

to advertise call 410.878.2212

Life is Simply Better Here!

Roland Park Place is a unique boutique-style continuing care retirement community in the heart of northern Baltimore City.

410-243-5700 TDD: 1-800-735-2258

830 West 40 Street Baltimore, MD 21211 th

A Not-for-Profit Life Care Community

www.rolandparkplace.org mdseniorliving.com

Inside Look 22

It’s Time for a New Beginning! W

oodholme Gardens Assisted Living and Memory Care is open in the heart of Pikesville, near your friends, your family and your memories! Woodholme Gardens is a brand new retirement community in Maryland with a solid reputation. Locally owned, and operated by Peregrine Health Management Companies, based in Syracuse,New York, we are able to provide

quality care for seniors who may need a little assistance on a daily basis. As we provide complimentary laundry, housekeeping, and medication administration services, Woodholme Gardens proves to be THE premiere retirement community. Our goal has always been to provide luxury living at affordable prices. Dedicated to maximizing the independence of seniors, Woodholme Gardens will meet the needs of those interested in a luxurious lifestyle. Our spacious private apartments are designed for those who require assisted living, memory care or senior behavioral health services. On site physicians and medical professionals are there to cater to your needs. Complimentary transportation to local medical appointments are available several days a week! Woodholme Gardens is located in beautiful, historical Pikesville. A lovely town full of speciality shops, gourmet delis,bakeries, restaurants, synagogues, churches,and most of all, a lot of smiling faces! The culture of Woodholme Gardens Assisted Living and Memory Care exhibits the feel of strong sense of family and local traditions. Myra Taliaferro R.N., Executive Director, believes that,” Our community is very family oriented and we encourage family and friends to join us in the celebration of life. Spirituality is a prime component of our community and we are thrilled to have Rabbi Jonathan Brown on staff for your needs. My vision is to provide the residents of Woodholme Gardens an enjoyable, safe, loving, and active community to support their intellectual, physical, social and spiritual needs.”

to advertise call 410.878.2212

New Beginnings at Woodholme Gardens! Rabbi Brown, a graduate of Yale University, magna cum laude, and ordained at the Reformed rabbinate at the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati in 1961. In his 43 year career, he has served many congregations nationally, including Johns Hopkins Hospital as their Chaplain Resident, serving patients of all faiths. In addition, on a local level, Rabbi Brown,worked with Jewish Family Services, visiting those in nursing homes and hospices in the area. A published author, an accomplished musician, a loving husband, and an adored grandfather, he is a wonderful asset to our staff and, most of all, our residents! His role as Spiritual Director will include conducting Friday and Saturday services for our residents of the Jewish faith. Communion will be offered to our residents of the Christian faith as we celebrate the diversity of our community!

Our staff shares our strong beliefs and commitments. Their dedication and compassion is evident daily by their kindness and attention to detail. Taking a moment to assist a resident with her purchases after a fun outing at the mall, listening and laughing at a gentleman’s story about his grandson, or enjoying a lively debate about a favorite book or play is part of everyday life. Activities and programs play an vital role at Woodholme Gardens. Cultural outings, educational seminars, cooking demonstrations, a lively game of poker or canasta,or a sing-a-long are just of the few activities that keep the place hopping! Are you looking for a large space to host your mah jong game, or bridge tournament? We will roll out the red carpet for you and your guests! Call 443.204.9928 and we will arrange all of the details!

Our fresh seasonal cuisine, with several different daily entrees, only enhances the upscale dining experience! Respectfully, on Friday evenings, our Executive Chef specialities include a delicious roast chicken or brisket, challah and other delicacies. Scrumptious breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are served daily. Invite your friends to join you for brunch! We are located off of Old Court Road on Woodholme Avenue in Pikesville, Maryland. Woodholme Gardens, is in the heart of Pikesville, near your family,your friends, and your memories! Experience the finest life has to offer! Live your dream! Contact Sherille Otto, Director of Marketing, at 443.204.9928, for a personal tour of our great community!! Remember our mission! The Peregrine Way”...our passion is to enhance the life experience of our residents!

Woodholme Gardens Assisted Living and Memory Care 1700 Woodholme Avenue • Pikesville, Maryland 21208 410.580.1400 • www.woodholmegardens.com

mdseniorliving.com

Health 24

Don’t Let Others Make You Old

by wina sturgeon, Adventure Sports Weekly

his often happens to me, and it’s probably happened to you: You do something the rest of the world considers youthful ‘for your age,’ and people react with a snicker or an expression of amazement. Often, the next thing is a disparaging remark, usually disguised as a joke. Many of you know that I ride and race BMX. I’m the oldest person in the country, male or female, that does so. The next oldest woman is 23 years younger than I am. We are both classified in the same group, and I had never even come close to her. I trained very hard to beat her at the Utah State BMX Championships on Sept. 11. The training worked. But just as I passed her, on my way to victory, I made a freak mistake and had an extremely bad crash, ending up in the hospital (not unusual in the tough sport of BMX, for any age). When I got out, heavily bandaged and black and blue, I was surprised at the reaction of neighbors I barely knew and strangers who asked how I’d broken my arm. When I explained that it happened in a BMX race, a surprising number said either “At YOUR age?” or “I’ll bet you won’t be doing THAT again.” The sad part is, I’ve been around badly injured younger athletes, and the response to their temporary down time is always something to the effect of, “Hope you’re back in the game soon, good luck.” Many of you probably have boomer friends who are in excellent shape. You yourself may move and think much younger than your age would indicate. But watch the way younger people react

to a youthful boomer. There’s an obvious expectation that this person will be slower and more physically fragile. If there’s a complicated mental task required, it will be automatically assigned to someone younger. The reality of the fact that the boomer doesn’t fit the stereotype of age is ignored. If it is acknowledged, it’s usually with some kind of sarcasm—like a boomer has no right to be youthful. When I was in my 30s, I had a much older woman friend who was very active and physically hardy. She recycled newspapers to add to her income, picking up heavy stacks of papers that would be left for her twice a month (this was before public recycling). As time went on, I noticed her enthusiasm for her lucrative sideline was diminishing. “So many people try to ‘help’ me,” she explained when I asked her what was wrong. “Men, even younger women, seem to feel that they should carry the papers over to the van for me. One lady dropped the stack, and I had to go chasing papers all over. They make me feel old,” she said bitterly. My friend Alma finally gave up the money from gathering and selling the newspapers because she didn’t want strangers aging her. One of the big buzzwords for the past decade or so has been “diversity.” There’s a strong push to accept diversity.

But while this may work when it comes to race, religion or gender, it has yet to be addressed where age is concerned. As soon as someone becomes a boomer— at age 50—the bias, often disguised as kindness, begins. Strangers want to help carry your groceries, younger friends offer to do the driving. Everyone offers you food first at the holiday dinner table, as if you’ve suddenly become too helpless to help yourself. Whenever you see any of these subtle signs that others are pigeonholing you as “old,” stop it immediately. That attitude is contagious—for you. If someone expresses surprise at your level of activity, tell them age really is nothing but a number. If someone offers to do a task for you and you are capable of doing it yourself, politely reject the offered help with its subtle message of “Let me help you because you’re old.” This will do two valuable things: it will avoid the possibility of having an attitude rub off on you that age makes you helpless, and it will start setting people straight—one by one—that age in these modern times truly is just a number. π Wina Sturgeon is a nationally recognized expert in helping boomers stay younger. She’s also an athletic boomer who ski races, ice skates and races BMX. to advertise call 410.878.2212

Senior Apartments LIVE WELL FOR LESS Roland View Towers • One- and Two-Bedroom as well as Efficiencies • Rents from $433-$728 * Utilities Included! • 24 /7 on-site Maintenance and Reception Desk • Beauty/ Barber Shop on premises • Rooftop Restaurant • Bus Trips and Social Events and many more amenities!

Mention the Beacon for First Month’s Rent Free! For your personal tour contact Arthur or Laura Ruby at

410-889-8255 St.Mary’s Roland View Towers

3838/3939 Roland Ave • Baltimore MD 21211

www.smrvt.com

*All residents must meet specific income guidelines.

Family 26

Family Caregiving:

AYou’re 24/7 Job Not Alone by marina tompkins,

Keswick Multi-Care Center

his time of year is very enlightening for children with elderly parents. The holidays provide a time to visit, reconnect with family and give everyone a chance to catch up on the year gone by. But it is also a good time for children of aging parents who may live out-of-state to gain greater insight into just how well their parents are aging in place. So what happens if the family get-together illustrates that mom and dad are really no longer able to live on their own and are ready for more full-time caretaking? How do you explore which caretaking options are best? Do mom and dad automatically move in with you? Are you equipped to handle them? Can you afford to hire a fulltime caretaker? The questions are endless and may be dictated by emotional, financial and physical restraints. Interestingly enough, one of the side effects of the recent economic downturn is that a growing number of adult children who have become primary caretakers of elderly parents. And while family caregiving is an affordable alternative to

nursing home or in-home care, it also comes with its own set of unexpected issues. Whatever the reason for having mom or dad move in – cognitive issues, physical illness or the death of a spouse – it is unhealthy and unrealistic for grown children to expect that they can and should incur all of the caretaking responsibilities themselves. Recent studies illustrate that family caregivers are at an increased risk of physical and

mental health issues due to the stress involved in this 24/7 job. This number increases if Alzheimer’s, dementia or physical disabilities are at play. Fortunately, the Baltimore area offers a variety of resources and facilities that can assist families in helping mom and dad age in place with dignity. Adult day programs are one affordable and sensible solution to consider. They provide a comfortable and safe alternative to other

types of senior care, enabling caregivers to have a respite for as much or as little time as needed. A qualified adult day program becomes a partner, helps to relieve some of the stress and provides an added layer of love, care, medical attention, stimulation and engagement for seniors. What’s even more beneficial to families is that adult day providers are trained to deal with progressive health issues, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, which can be very isolating. It is critical that both seniors and family members have a support system such as that which an adult day program offers. By example, Keswick Multi-Care Center, a senior-care facility located in Baltimore offers an adult day program which has been in existence for more than 20 years. Everyday, 70 participants from around the Baltimore metropolitan area visit Keswick from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. where they are stimulated and engaged. Keswick employs a Montessori approach to programming, which focuses on maintaining dignity and incorporates a “no fail” approach to activities so participants are met at their cognitive level. A program like Montessori, recognizes that all seniors function differently and activities are designed for high and low functioning individuals. The facility has the look and feel of a home so a participants’ transition is smoother, and soon there will be the addition of Molly the dog. A program like Keswick’s doesn’t just give families a respite, but it offers an added layer of medical attention that is important for seniors at this time of life. Physical disabilities are far easier to diagnose than emotional or mental ones in seniors. Family caregivers are not medically trained to recognize, for example, if a loved one is falling into depression or another type of emotional

to advertise call 410.878.2212

BEST VALUE

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Affordable • Locations • Services

Independent Living For Those 62 or Better

Anne Arundel County • Park View at Furnace Branch: 410-761-4150 • Park View at Severna Park: 410-544-3411 Baltimore City • Park View at Ashland Terrace: 410-276-6440 • Park View at Coldspring: 410-542-4400 Baltimore County • Park View at Catonsville: 410-719-9464 • Park View at Dundalk: 410-288-5483 • Park View at Fullerton: 410-663-0665 • Park View at Miramar Landing: 410-391-8375 • Park View at Randallstown: 410-655-5673 • Park View at Rosedale: 410-866-1886 • Timothy House (Towson): 410-828-7185 • Park View at Taylor: 410-663-0363 • Park View at Woodlawn: 410-281-1120

Eastern Shore • Park View at Easton: 410-770-3070 Harford County • Park View at Box Hill: 410-515-6115 • Park View at Bel Air: 410-893-0064 Howard County • Park View at Colonial Landing: 410-796-4399 • Park View at Columbia: 410-381-1118 • Park View at Snowden River: 410-290-0384 • Park View at Ellicott City: 410-203-9501 • Park View at Ellicott City II: 410-203-2096 • Park View at Emerson: 301-483-3322 Prince Georges County * Park View at Bladensburg: 301-699-9785 • Park View at Laurel: 301-490-1526 • Park View at Laurel II: 301-490-9730

NOW! *55 or Better

Call 410-246-7499 or Email SeniorLiving@sheltergrp.com to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a private tour. Professionally managed by The Shelter Group. www.thesheltergroup.com The Shelter Group is committed to Equal Housing Opportunities for people of all races, religions, ethnic groups, and disabilities and all other groups protected by federal, state, or local law.

Finance 28

“

Recent studies illustrate that family caregivers are at an increased risk of physical and mental health issues due to the stress involved in this 24/7 job.” state. Adult day caregivers know signs to look for and can often guide the family. Such was the situation with a recent Keswick adult day participant who just wasn’t himself for several days. The director of adult day alerted the family, who sought medical attention and learned that their father was in the midst of a depression. The participant was treated properly and returned to his normal behavior soon after. So, how do you know if an adult day program is right for your family? Visit the program and get a sense of if your loved one will thrive in this setting. Engage with staff to determine their level of compassion, engagement and training. And then ask yourself the following questions: Is the adult day group too big or too small for your loved one and do they offer activities and programming that your loved one may enjoy? Does

the program offer flexible participation days and will it adapt as your loved one’s disease progresses? And does the program offer support groups for families and participants? This is most important because families need to be engaged and guided throughout the aging process, too.

Identifying and designing a care giving path is a very personal and overwhelming task. Decisions are never easy, but must benefit the entire family in the long run. π Marina Tompkins is the director of Adult Day programming at Keswick Multi-Care Center. She is responsible for the successful administration of a 70 person medical adult day program which specializes in serving individuals with cognitive impairments. Tompkins is a licensed graduate social worker. She is also a member of the Johns Hopkins Mental Health advisory board as well as the Johns Hopkins Memory and Aging Community Advisory Board.

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Pre-Planning

Pre-Planning will express your wishes... Relieves your family from making decisions at a time of emergency and Pre-Planning discounts save you money.

Start your Pre-Planning process now. Call us at 410-256-3600

www.schimunekfuneralhomes.com Baltimore

Bel Air

9705 Belair Rd. at Forge Rd.

610 W. MacPhail Rd. at Rt. 40

410-256-3600

410-638-5360

to advertise call 410.878.2212

Making a difference in the lives of Marylanders every day. Contact us to learn why the difference truly matters. T h e C o M M u n I C a r e Fa M I ly o F C o M pa n I e s our World Class Centers...

Bel Pre

Fort Washington

Silver Spring • (301) 598-6000

Fort Washington • (301) 292-0300

Ellicott City

Liberty Heights

Ellicott City • (410) 461-7577

Baltimore • (410) 542-5306

Fayette Health

Marley Neck

Baltimore • (410) 727-3947

Glen Burnie • (410) 768-8200

Forestville

South River

Forestville • (301) 736-0240

Edgewater • (410) 956-5000

Fo r M o re Infor mat ion V isit:

www.comm u n ica re h e a lt h .co m o r Ca ll: 8 0 0 .9 8 9 .7 3 3 7

introducing

Pikesville’s Newest Assisted Living and Memory Care Community Opening October 2010

Luxury Living at Affordable Prices. Be one of the first to start a new beginning with us. Enjoy lectures, seminars, and activities while still being close to your loved ones. We have on-site physicians, if you need them, as well as a Rabbi on staff for your spiritual needs. Mention this ad and we will waive the $1,000 community fee!

Contact Sherille Otto for a personal tour 443.204.9928

A Peregrine Health Management Company 1700 Woodholme Avenue • Pikesville • 410.580.1400 • www.woodholmegardens.com