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INDEX Contributors in this issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Taking care of yourself: The most important but difficult task for caregivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Caregiver resources in Linn & Benton counties . . .3 Enjoy the summer weather, but don’t forget the strength training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Book Review: Someday, we’ll have Paris . . . . . . . .4 Aunt Sadie answers Medicare questons . . . . . . . . .5 World of Ideas lecture series at Corvallis library . .5 Planning your European adventure . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 In my suitcase, I packed... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Exploring the ‘art and soul’ of travel with ARTrageous Adventures Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-9 Linking generations: Traditional living arrangements are new again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Puzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Tailor travel to fit you . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Focus on well-being during road trips . . . . . . . . .12 Summer 2013 Music Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Volunteer opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
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A quarterly publication of Cascades West Senior and Disabilty Services, local Senior Centers, and Retired & Senior Volunteer Programs
The Editorial Board Marilyn Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . .City of Albany 541-917-7507 Tarmara Rosser . . . . .Linn-Benton County RSVP 541-812-0849 Scott Bond . . . .Senior and Disability Services 541-812-6008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Corvallis Senior Center 541-754-1709 Jennifer Nitson . . . .Samaritan Health Services 541-768-4241
Senior & Disability Services 1400 Queen Ave. SE, Suite 206 Albany, OR 97322
For more information
Cyndi Sprinkel-Hart 541-812-6073 or email cyndi.sprinkel-hart@lee.net
Contributors in this issue Shirley Austin is Activities Planner for the Lebanon Senior Center. She has lived in various places including British Columbia, Colorado, and Florence, Italy but her roads have always led home to the Willamette Valley. Her many interests include karaoke, traveling, and staging community events. She can be reached at 541258-4224. Laurie Russell, Outreach Manager for Benton Hospice Service, has lived in the Willamette Valley since 1989. She is a graduate of Oregon State University and has worked in community development, public relations, marketing and marketing research for over 20 years. She is dedicated to improving the livability the community by serving on the Generations editorial board and volunteering for numerous community organizations. In her spare time, she likes to hike, garden and cook. Marilyn Smith is public information officer for the City of Albany. A former newspaper reporter, she has lived in the mid-valley all her life. She reads a lot, works out daily, helps her mom, and enjoys Airstream travel with her retired husband and their big yellow dog. She can be reached at 541-917-7507. Kim Sass is experiencing the joys of retirement after recently completing 32 years at Samaritan Albany General Hospital. She and her husband Claus own and tinker on an old house near downtown Albany. But she will tell you her most treasured assets are her amazing female friends who keep her exercising, reading, traveling – and praying! Lin Olson has coordinated marketing for LBCC Benton Center for the past 12 years. She is an avid gardener, hiker and bird lover. Lin and her husband, Jim, share six children and four grandchildren and live in the Lewisburg area north of Corvallis. Natalie Sullivan grew up in Corvallis and took French classes at Corvallis High School. She graduated in 2011 from Western Oregon University with a bachelor’s degree in Humanities (French and Spanish) and spent the following year teaching English at an elementary school in southwestern France. She lives in Corvallis and teaches French for Travelers and Beginning French Conversation for LBCC Benton Center. Kate Wilks, MD, practices family medicine at Samaritan Family Medicine, Geary Street, in Albany. In her free time, she enjoys reading and exploring with her family. She also likes to spend time sewing and taking photographs. Joshua Gustafson is operations manager of health and wellness at Samaritan Health Services and is a certified wellness practitioner, physical activity in public health specialist, and nationally certified personal trainer. He oversees operations of the 24-hour SamFit fitness facilities in Lebanon and Corvallis, as well as the population health programs offered by Samaritan Health Services. For more information about SamFit, visit AreYouSamFit.com. Betsy Meidinger is a freelance writer who lives in Albany. With nine years of experience in the field of health care, she often writes on topics of health and wellness. She enjoys adventure travel and hopes someday to hike the Inca Trail.
What would you like to see in Generations? 541-924-8421
or email AJOHNSON@ocwcog.org
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Taking care of yourself: The most important but difficult task for caregivers BY LAURIE RUSSELL Family caregivers provide care to a loved one and frequently suffer fatigue that causes a decline in their own health. This can creep up over time as the caregiver ignores his or her own health while caring for a spouse, child or other family member. One of the most important things a caregiver can do for the person they are caring for is to take care of themselves. When Jerry Ward was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, his wife Dale made a conscious decision to cut back on outside activities to spend time with Jerry. This began a gradual process that led to more and more isolation. As sole caregiver, she felt she was on call, ready to spring into action 24 hours a day, seven days a week. She likened it to being “a fireman who has his boots next to the bed so he can jump into them any time of the day or night to go fight fire; except, for [the caregiver] there are no days off.” However, years before, Dale heard a talk by gerontologist Vicki L. Schmall, Ph.D., about the importance of selfcare in caregiving. Dale kept that information in the back of her mind through the years. Many family caregivers are reluctant to ask for help. Some simply do not know that resources are available. Others are concerned with privacy and don’t want to reveal their situation or they feel guilty for needing help. Still others do not want to admit failure. Seeking help is anything but failure. It can be the best thing caregivers do. Dale Ward gradually reached out in many ways. Early on, she and Jerry together attended Parkinson’s symposiums and a local Parkinson’s Resource of Oregon support group. Later Dale attended a Powerful Tools for Caregivers class, and began
Jerry and Dale Ward at the coast. to regularly attend a caregiver support group, both offered by Benton Hospice Service. She and Jerry signed up for the Benton Hospice Transitions program, a free, non-medical program serving people who are living with a serious or chronic illness. Dale also hired professional caregivers to come in a few hours a week so she could take time to rejuvenate. As Jerry’s condition worsens, she increases the hired caregiving hours.
Linn and Benton counties have a variety of support groups and programs available to caregivers. The Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) program of Senior and Disability Services offers the public a single source for information and assistance on issues affecting older people and people with disabilities, regardless of income. Other sources for support include hospices, clinics, hospitals and senior centers.
Numerous non-profit organizations also offer services to help seniors and caregivers (see sidebar). Asking for help is a sign of strength, not a sign of weakness. When a family caregiver gets help and can get away for some self-care, he or she can come back rested and recharged: the best gift to give your loved one.
Caregiver resources in Linn & Benton counties Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) 541-967-8630 or 800-638-0510
Volunteer Interfaith Caregivers, Corvallis 541-757-0980
Family Caregiver Support Services 541-9678630 or 800-638-0510
Love INC of Benton County 541-757-8111
Transitions and Caregiver Support program at Benton Hospice Service 541-757-9616 or 800898-9616 Powerful Tools for Caregivers 541-757-9616 Grace Center for Adult Day Services 541-7548417 Volunteer Caregivers, Albany 541-928-2173
Love INC of Linn County 541-928-5683 Senior Companion Program - Benton and Linn counties 541-812-4185 Private in-home care businesses – call ADRC for a list: 541-967-8630 or 800-638-0510 Out-of-area help for long-distance caregivers: www.eldercare.gov
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Enjoy the summer weather, but don’t forget the strength training BY JOSHUA GUSTAFSON Finally, summer is here! Opportunities for outdoor activities are amplified by longer days, rays of sun and family outings. It is easy to engage in some form of physical activity during the summer, whether it is going for a brisk walk, playing with the dog, or chasing grandkids around the yard at a family reunion. All of these improve cardiovascular endurance and heart health while burning calories and decreasing the risk of heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Just 30 minutes of aerobic exercise five days per week, which increases heart rate and respirations, can produce amazing health benefits, and that 30 minutes can be just as beneficial broken into 10-minute increments throughout the day. According to the Mayo Clinic and the American College of Sports
Retired Samaritan Health Services employee Ken Ryker, 67, includes weight training in his fitness routine. Medicine, daily aerobic exercise does not have to be done all at once. Just 10 minutes of exercise that increases heart rate and respiration three or four times each day will produce tremendous health benefits. However, if the goal is to improve balance and coordination, decrease joint pain, increase mo-
bility, and sustain long-term weight loss, strength training cannot be forgotten. Strength training can be appropriate for all ages regardless of limitations. Two or three days each week of moderate strength training can speed up health improvement progress and make everyday tasks much easier to complete.
Those who want to add strength training to an exercise regimen should first check with a primary care provider to make sure strength training is appropriate, then determine individual needs and fitness goals. Strength training can be done at home by manipulating body weight or using over-thecounter exercise equipment, but individuals should also consider community fitness options. Experts are trained to produce results, fitness centers offer options to match individual budgets, and personal attention can ensure that exercise is done safely, effectively and appropriately. Incorporating different types of physical activity into daily life improves overall health and well-being, and it’s never too late to take up something new. Enjoy the sun and those family gatherings.
Someday, we'll have Paris BY MARILYN SMITH A good chunk of most days in July each year is spent in front of the TV chez Smith, watching the Tour de France. From the prologue to the final sprints on the Champs Elysees, we watch it all every uphill slog, crash, and toss of empty water bottle. We enjoy watching bicycle racing, being veteran bicycle tourists with far less urgent daily routes to traverse, but more than watching racing, we're watching France.
BOOK REVIEW
We spent 12 days in rural France in the spring of 1998: at the International Tandem Rally in Normandy, then visiting friends in Brittany. We flew into and out of Paris. Other than the taxi ride from airport to train station and back again, we saw
very little of the City of Light. I've promised Mr. Smith that we'll go back. We were tempted to do so this year to also attend a friend's 60th birthday party in England, but concluded we'll need another year to save. I've visited vicariously for months, though, reading one book after another about Paris. Find a table at the sidewalk café, order a café crème, and disappear here: • The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough. The story of a host of American artists, writers, doctors, diplomats, and inventors who went to Paris between 1830 and 1900 to study and improve their skills, hone talents, and savor everything. You'll recognize the names - Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Samuel F.B. Morse, Mary Cassatt, James
Fenimore Cooper, Charles Sumner. Their experiences changed American history. • The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. Fiction based on Ernest Hemingway's first marriage to Hadley Richardson. They spent those five years primarily in Paris with others in the famed "Lost Generation." • Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik. A long-time reporter and essayist for The New Yorker, Gopnik and his wife spend the first five years of their son's life, coincidentally the last five years of the 20th Century, in the city they love. Insightful observations of modern life there. • The Most Beautiful Walk in the World by John Baxter. An Australian writer is co-opted by desperate friends to lead tourists on walking tours of his adopted city. • Eiffel's Tower by Jill Jonnes. The story of planning and build-
ing Paris's enduring symbol intended as a beacon to the world Exposition of 1889, to be torn down after 20 years. The book is about the tower and about other aspects of the Exposition, notables who visited (the eccentric Shah of Persia, Thomas Edison, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show), and the politics of the day. • Paris - an Inspiring Tour of the City's Creative Heart by Janelle McCulloch. A quick and informative tour of each of the city's arrondisements (districts) and their neighborhoods, plus brief reviews and recommendations of places to shop for fabric, housewares, books, gifts, antiques, food; restaurants, bars and brasseries; and museums, all beautifully illustrated and designed. Too big to pack in a carry-on, but delightful for trip planning and wishful thinking at home.
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Aunt Sadie answers Medicare questions Dear Aunt Sadie, I am spending the summer in Indiana helping my daughter with her new baby and two-year-old. Will Medicare still cover me there? Grinning Grammy If you have only Basic Medicare (A and B) or Basic Medicare combined with a Medigap plan, you are set! You can see any Indiana doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare, and you will have benefits at the same level as if you were in Oregon. Routine or urgent—all are covered. The answer is trickier if you have an Advantage plan. For out-of-area routine care, you’re on your own with many (not all) Advantage plans. Appendicitis— covered. Annual blood work— not covered. If you break your leg careening down the slide with your toddler, Advantage will kick in, but we’re not advising it. Check with your Advantage plan to see if they have a relationship with any providers in Indiana that might improve this situation. If you’re gone for a summer, you need to anticipate drug needs, too. If the pharmacy where you buy meds has a branch in your daughter’s town, or even if there is different in-
Free new-to-Medicare classes 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 18, Albany Senior Center 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 17, LBCC Benton Center 10:00 a.m. Thursday, September 19, LBCC Lebanon Annex
plan pharmacy there, great! Use your usual benefits. But if you get routine or newly-prescribed drugs at a non-plan pharmacy, you will pay the full cost and you will not be reimbursed when you come home. Ask your doctor and pharmacist if you can stock up on enough routine meds to handle the whole trip. . . sometimes, but not always possible. Dear Aunt Sadie, my husband and I are planning our dream vacation to Europe — 11 countries in 15 days. What if one of us gets sick? Trotting Twosome My own strategy for international travel is prayer, Vitamin C, lots of sleep, avoiding sick people before I leave, obsessive hand-washing, and extreme care with what I eat and drink on the trip. That is: my plan is not to get sick. When that strategy fails . . . “Naked” Medicare (A & B, but nothing else) does not pay for medical care abroad, even in
emergencies, with rare and specific exceptions. However, you probably have either a Medigap plan or an Advantage plan. Either of these provides basic international emergency coverage, albeit with deductibles and limitations. Get on the phone with your insurance provider and confirm the details (noting date, your question, their answer, and with whom you talked). No drugs are covered abroad by any Medicare plan. Not ever. You pay. So avoid buying drugs abroad (a good strategy on many levels). Before you leave Oregon, request the advice of your doctor or pharmacist on developing a small emergency kit of meds: pain reliever, anti-diarrheal, anti-nausea, sleep aid, sunscreen, etc. (Remember, though, that Medicare won’t pay for any over-thecounter drugs). If your doctor prescribes it, a broad-spectrum antibiotic could save you duress if, say, you come down with a urinary tract infection or try that
yummy street food. Definitely pack all your routine meds, supplements, and emergency kit in your carry-on bag. Take enough to accommodate travel delays. Visit-worthy castles do not equate with visit-worthy hospitals. If your 11 countries include ones with sub-par medical systems, consider travel insurance, including evacuation. Are you really sure you want to go to 11 countries in 15 days? Aunt Sadie thinks you’re crazy. Aunt Sadie expresses the collective wisdom of the SHIBA volunteers of Benton and Linn counties. SHIBA is funded, in part, by Medicare to provide individualized information to beneficiaries. Do you need assistance understanding Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or Medigap insurance? From simple questions to filing appeals, we can help! Call 541-812-0849 to ask a question, register for class, or schedule a free appointment.
World of Ideas lecture series at Corvallis library Four free lectures, open to the public, are scheduled Tuesdays in July at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, 654 NW Monroe St., Corvallis. “The World of Ideas” is presented by Linn-Benton Community College Benton Center, Benton County Historical Society & Museum, John Croy of Edward Jones, and the library. Talks are scheduled from 12:10 1 p.m. July 9: Bringing History to the Masses, presented by Tiah Edmunson-Morton, archivist, Oregon State University. Learn how OSU Archives uses social media
tools to share programming events and historic photos from the Archive collections. July 16: Basket Weaving in the Grand Ronde, presented by Connie Graves, member, The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde. A personal history and the methods and materials used in basket weaving. July 23: Book Care – Restoration and Repair, presented by Susan Stogsdill, owner, Cyrano’s Book Binding & Repairs. The why, what, when and how of caring for books in personal collections. July 30: Overview and Management of our National Wildlife Refuges, presented by
Doug Spencer, president, Friends of the Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Discussion will include the establishment, history and management of Ankeny, Basket
Slough and William L. Finley national wildlife refuges. For more information about the series, contact LBCC Benton Center, 541-757-8944.
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Planning your European adventure BY NATALIE SULLIVAN World travel can be one of the most incredible and life-changing experiences a person can have. The sharing of cultures allows you to learn new things about others, but also discover new things about your own culture. Any traveler will tell you, however, that there are some things you can do before you leave to make your trip more enjoyable. One the most important pieces of advice for traveling abroad would be to pack light! You may have been told this many times, but it really is the key to a great trip. When touring France with a group of Americans, I witnessed the difficulty had by several members of the group each time we stopped for the night. While some of us just popped our backpacks on our backs and headed up the street to our hotel, they slowly and uncomfortably attempted to maneuver their over-large rolling suitcases down cobblestone streets, looking extremely unhappy and stressed. Don’t forget: when you’re traveling and meeting new people, they’ll never notice your limited wardrobe. Tourists from all over the world visiting large cities like Paris speak a wide array of languages. Many Parisians are fluent in several languages and the odds are fairly good that people you meet will know at least a little English. On the other hand, visiting smaller towns can be very fulfilling as you can glimpse a more real look at daily life in France. Fewer tourists often means the locals will enjoy getting to know you while sharing a bit of their culture. However, you may need to be more creative in your communication since many of them are not fluent in a second language. Before you head off to visit any new country, try to learn at least a few key phrases in the local language. Even if you can’t hold a conversation, they’ll see that you are making an effort. It’s always best not to assume
Jeannie and Natalie Sullivan dance on the bridge at Avignon, France, spring 2006. that everyone speaks English; use a phrasebook (I recommend Rick Steves) or gestures to get your message across. Even better, learn the most important travel words and feel comfortable pronouncing them. Taking a conversation-focused course before your departure can help you feel more prepared when you arrive at a new place. Be sure you’re studying the spoken language, not just the written, as that can lead to confusing pronunciation mistakes. For instance, one tourist in France was looking for the train station (la gare) and unfortunately turned out to be asking for the location of la guerre—the war. Obviously that led to confusion! Overall, the best way to prepare for a trip to any foreign country is to clear your mind of preconceived notions of what that country will be like. Allow yourself to make your own observations and come to your own conclusions about the culture, based on the experiences you have. If you’re heading to Paris, for example, don’t assume that all Parisians are snooty and rude, just because someone you knew heard that from someone they
Natalie Sullivan in Biarritz, France, fall 2011 knew—wait until you have genuinely met some. For all the many times I’ve visited Paris, I have always been treated politely and have often felt warmly welcomed by the Parisians I’ve met.
So, pack light, become acquainted with some of the daily customs, learn some key words and phrases for getting around, bring an open mind, and have an amazing and unforgettable trip!
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In my suitcase, I packed… BY LIN OLSON Pack light! This is the mantra of savvy, seasoned travelers everywhere. I have taken this bit of advice to heart as I plan a 3-week vacation to England in the fall. But, how can I pack light when I need so much? Determined to experience the perfect trip I have been promised if I pack less, I decided to lay out everything I wanted to take on my trip. I would simply see what fit and leave the rest at home. Armed with a list of all the things I know I need, and experts say I will need, I started packing. Several frustrating configurations later, I came to the realization that I will be leaving more than I am taking! Undaunted by my obvious materialism, I had a little talk with myself about letting go and consulted the list once more. I’ll probably have to burn all my clothes when I get home after wearing them day in and day out for 3 weeks, but by golly, I got everything to fit into a 26” carry-on suitcase and a small daypack.
This is what I want to take
Color scheme (essential for interchangeable outfits): Blue Black Grey Here’s my list: 3 long-sleeve cotton T-shirts 2 pairs waterproof wrinkle-resistant travel pants 5 pair cotton and wool socks 2 nightshirts 5 changes of underwear 1 hat 1 pair gloves 1 scarf 1 pull-over butter fleece sweatshirt 1 zip-up fleece jacket 1 waterproof rain jacket 2 pair walking shoes Toiletries First aid kit Vitamins Smart phone with international access and Skype Point-and-shoot camera
This is what will fit Chargers for electronics and plug adapter Money belt Debit and credit cards and cash Documents plus photocopies: – passport, driver’s license, railway pass, insurance details Empty water bottle
Earplugs Sunglasses Sealable plastic bags Laundry soap and clothesline Sewing kit Guidebooks and maps Address list for sending postcards Notepad and pen
Journal and watercolor pencils P.S. The experts also advise leaving room in your suitcase to bring back items from your trip. So maybe I’ll burn my clothes before I leave England so I can bring home trinkets for my loved ones.
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Exploring the ‘art and soul’ of travel BY SHIRLEY AUSTIN “One travels for many reasons, often to see more clearly the art of everyday life, the passion of creativity, the thrill of travel, the love of entertainment, and the joy of friendship,” Barbara Soto Gast says. That is the heartbeat and spirit of each ARTrageous Adventures tour. For many local lovers of art, it keeps them coming back to ARTrageous Adventures to experience the “art and soul” of every place they visit. Clients are arts lovers who are also passionate about travel and new experiences. Most are retired and seeking dynamic and inspired tours. Each trip explores a new area, its artists and events. ARTrageous never repeats a tour because many of its travelers return for each one.
arts impact the economy of a town and she really takes us into the planning of a trip. She is extraordinary and she gives us an unforgettable experience every time,” says McBride. “It is wonderful to be in her company.” McBride couldn’t name her favorite tour. “Each one is so unique, each stands out. If you asked me which my favorite is, I’d have to say it’s the one I am on. It is unforgettable each time; every one is a jewel.” Gast began by taking groups to local and regional arts events and places of artistic interest, finding behind-the-scenes experiences not available to most travelers. Searching for the art and soul of every place visited, hundreds of travelers have explored and experienced some of the most spectacular visual and performing arts of the world.
Barbara Sobo Gast, ARTrageous Adventures ARTrageous Director was founded in 1992 by Barbara Sobo Gast as an outreach arts-education travel program of the The opportunity to share adventures with Oregon State University Memorial Union friends with like-minded interests has always Craft Center where she was director. She debeen important. “I also like knowing I can just signed ARTrageous to be unique, personal, call the tour leader and speak to her personeducational and fun. The small group travel ally with my questions about each trip,” experiences provide for individual attention, writes Mexico traveler Pamela Ryan. “After friendship and opportunities to visit artists in five trips, ARTrageous has become my festive their personal spaces. traveling family.” Catering to the varying needs of senior clients, ARTrageous offers local one-day trips, regional 2-4 day trips, and extended national and international tours, focused on the visual and performing arts. Pre-trip presentations with Gast and other professionals give insight and background. Trips generally include 20-25 travelers, ages 50-90. From New York City to Mexico, the Southwest to Seattle, Santa Fe to Spain, Los Angeles to Vancouver BC, ARTrageous travelers have had an inside view of the arts through time with artists in their private homes, studios and performing venues. Each trip is thematically designed to include diverse arts events and experiences and created to be visually stimulating; give an overview of the area’s artistic climate; reach people of different interests; and make the day more fun. Former Corvallis music teacher Sally McBride is a repeat traveler and one of ARTrageous’ biggest advocates. McBride received the 2012 “Patron of the Arts” award for Corvallis and nominated Barbara Gast for Patron of the Arts in 2005. “Barbara stresses how the
Writer and musician Evelyn Frankzerda notes, “Barbara not only brings her travel groups to visual and performing arts events and venues, but she lovingly shapes their experience with the art. She books them in accommodations that are sublime, she invites experts along to explain the finer points most people miss, she blends nature and culture into the mix, and she includes curators, directors, teachers, city planners and artists who can share an enlightening perspective. No matter where or when a trip is planned, Barbara puts her heart into her art.” Raised in New York with parents who loved the performing and visual arts, Gast was exposed early to a culturally diverse life. All the Gast children ended up with careers in the arts. Gast holds degrees in art, arts education, adult education and museum studies. She considers it a great fortune to have found a way to combine her background and skills with things she loves and knows well: art, traveling, teaching, and a deep love of people. “Each tour is a creative work of art that combines the passion of the travelers,
artists and the vision of the tour leaders. We are a team. Without each other, the work is incomplete. We can’t raise the curtain on a fantastic piece of drama to no audience, we cannot learn about the creative process without the artists, and traveling without our devoted adventurers is not possible!” Gast designs and leads the tours together with arts educator and curator Saralyn Hilde of Corvallis, Assistant Director of ARTrageous for more than 10 years. “Her artistic vision, professional network, depth of artistic understanding, tireless efforts and passionate love of our travelers has made ARTrageous a re-
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with ARTrageous Adventures Tours
ARTrageous Adventurers dance with The Git Hayetsk Dancers in the Great Hall of the Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver BC. markable program,” Gast said. “These trips are so exciting, they enlarge my vision of the arts, and they are a source of fellowship with people who share my interest in the arts,” writes Betty McCauley, a longtime ARTrageous traveler. “That doesn’t mean we are necessarily sophisticated art connoisseurs, artists or educated critics – far from it. We are just curious about a variety of expressions of art, and we learn and enjoy together while traveling. Barbara makes sure we are comfortable wherever we come from, and that we have the background and guides to explain what we see.”
ARTrageous travelers come from all over Oregon. Any tour might include sets of mothers and daughters, parents, couples, friends, singles, siblings, or families. Although ARTrageous journeys often extend across the country, just as many highlight local and regional areas: Shakespeare Under the Stars in Ashland; Artmarks Along the Columbia; Passion in Portland; Artful Astoria: Along the Lewis and Clark Trail; The Arts & Lore of the Sea; and Glass on a Grand Scale (Dale Chihuly and contemporary glass art and artists in Tacoma and Seattle).
Upcoming ARTrageous tours Fall 2013: A Stitch in Time — Contemporary and Historic Baskets, Quilts and Harvest Delights. One-day tour includes a local basket maker in her studio; behind-the-scenes tour of the Archives and Collection of the Benton County Historical Museum; and harvest luncheon at Gathering Together Farm. Spring 2014: ARTrageous in Seattle — A Grand Tour of Art, Gardens and Glass. Travel to Seattle by train for four-day small group tour to explore the art, gardens, theatre and architecture that make the city unique. For more information, email bgast@peak.org or call 541-456-4331.
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Linking generations: Traditional living arrangements are new again being wheelchair dependent for several years during the 1960s and 1970s. Her husband died a few years ago.
BY KIM SASS Hand-crafted Christmas cards are a family tradition for the Cohen-Montoya families, stretching back as far as anyone can remember. But the most recent card featured a special announcement to their extended family and friends: three generations teamed up to live together in 2012.
“But a tumble last year left me with very few choices,” she says. “My four children have always been encouraging but it became obvious that I could use additional help. My two daughters and their husbands put their heads together to come up with this alternative.”
“Our card featured a patchwork multi-story house made from old Christmas cards,” explains Erin Montoya. “We were surrounded by a patchwork of friends and family as we created a basement apartment for my 84-year-old mother.”
“My mother lived with her mother and grandmother for many years and as a child I lived near family,” explains Happy. “It seemed reasonable to give this a try.”
Erin said their 29-year-old daughter Katrina also pitched in to help, then decided to stay. “She ingeniously remodeled the attic into two rooms and a bath of her own.” This Albany family is on the wave of a current trend making its mark across the country. Recent estimates indicate that 54 million Americans, including some 39,000 households in Oregon, live in multi-generational homes, a 15% increase over 2008. At the turn of the last century, nearly 60 per cent of Americans age 65 and older lived with their children, grandchildren or other relatives. But after World War II, veteran home loans and educational benefits plus new career opportunities stimulated the nuclear family’s autonomy and mobility. This combined with the availability of Social Security and Medicare enabled
Happy now has a two-room suite plus bath and a galley kitchen in the basement of the Montoyas’ 1920s historic home. She has her own entry and can manage her wheelchair without difficulty. She uses Call-A-Ride services to swim three times a week at a local pool. Erin also takes Happy to swim with her old pals in Corvallis once a month. The Cohen-Montoya family of Albany has three generations under one roof: seated in front, Happy Cohen; Erin and Anthony Montoya and their daughter Katrina. Family animals include cat Molly Ann (held by Erin) and (pictured) Katrina’s dog Hoopa. The Montoya’s older dog Ivy was camera shy and is huddled under the family’s legs. most elder adults to also live independently but often removed from their children. Today’s families are reviving intergenerational living arrangements because of underemploy-
ment, delayed marriage, student loan debt, expensive assisted living or personal caregiver help, longer life expectancies and immigration. Even though they had achieved ‘empty nest’ status, Erin and her husband Anthony did not hesitate to welcome Erin’s mom Happy Cohen. Erin works part-time in the Samaritan Albany General Hospital Clinical Laboratory and Anthony is a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the State of Oregon. Happy says she enjoyed a lifetime of independence despite
She has also polished her electronic communication skills over the past year. She keeps in touch with out-of-state family and friends through email, downloads library books on her hand-held reading device and has a cell phone. “Katrina helps me if I have an issue, and we often chat – basement to attic – on the computer.” Katrina holds a degree in environmental science and studied renewable energy technology. She also spent eight months as an AmeriCorps volunteer. Her goal is to work in natural resource conservation and management, but the recession left her with fewer opportunities. She works seasonally as a seed analyst and is researching graduate programs.
~ Continued on page 15
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Los Angeles Times Crossword Puzzle
QUOTE CRYPTOGRAM RY L F E KV F F D EY Z KVY R GY H L U Q X H L U D EY Z G H D O H W F . D H L M F H G H D O H W F GY H L U L F JV O E F N FV E Q X H L U , RY L F E H D X J L G E - UVY Z M XY R JV P
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P U Z Z L E S puzzle solutions on page 15
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Tailor travel to fit you BY BETSY MEIDINGER Dreaming of that trip to Bhutan? Maybe it’s Machu Picchu that beckons. The most important thing to do to ensure a pleasant trip is to be prepared. Start by choosing an itinerary that realistically reflects your health and current activity level. Conditions such as heart disease will limit strenuous activity. Age makes it more difficult to recover from jet lag and traveler’s diarrhea or adjust to extreme weather conditions or high altitudes. “A traveler may have underlying medical conditions that make him particularly susceptible to travel hazards,” said William Muth, MD, an infec-
tious disease specialist at Samaritan’s International Travel Clinic. “Pre-existing health conditions or medications might also pose risk of adverse reaction to vaccinations or prescriptions that we might otherwise recommend. It’s important that travelers receive expert advice in these matters.” Travelers who routinely take medications should pack enough for the entire trip in carry-on baggage in case checked baggage is lost. Consider purchasing travel health insurance (different from trip protection insurance). The minimal cost could help offset a more serious expense for travelers who need medical care while away from home. Many
health insurance plans including Medicare will not cover care received outside the U.S. Travel agencies specializing in overseas excursions can help identify travel medical insurance services. Muth also recommends that travelers make sure to be up-todate on routine vaccines such as diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and measles. “Travel-related risks can vary considerably depending upon destination, so it’s important to consult with a travel medicine specialist prior to traveling to less-developed parts of the world,” said Muth. “A travel medicine specialist can review your itinerary, offer recommen-
dations to prevent travel-related problems, and counsel you about ways to avoid food and insect-borne illnesses, as well as illnesses related to environmental exposures.” Travelers should also check the U.S. Department of State website at travel.state.gov for information about personal safety, crime, customs and immigration requirements of destination countries —very important details that should not be neglected. For more information about the International Travel Clinic, call Samaritan Infectious Disease at 541-768-5810 or visit samhealth.org/TravelClinic.
Focus on well-being during road trips BY KATE WILKS, MD If you’re heading out on a road trip with children or grandchildren this summer, it’s important to plan ahead to keep everyone healthy and happy. Long hours in a vehicle can cause stress and fatigue, and it can be easy to get off track with healthy habits. Consider these suggestions for keeping the family well on the road: 1. Pack smart. Be sure to pack sunscreen, bottles of water, tissues and protective clothing like hats and sunglasses. Bring all your medicines in their bottles. 2. Make sure the whole crew washes their hands regularly.
Don’t let germs spoil the trip. 3. Stick with healthy eating. It’s common to stop for fast food on a road trip. Encourage everyone to make healthy choices such as salads and grilled meats instead of fried. Avoid soda. If you visit a sitdown restaurant, share portions. Remember that a right-sized portion of meat is about the size of your fist. Restaurant portions are often double or triple that. If you do eat an unhealthy meal, make up for it by making smart choices the rest of the day. 4. Don’t skip breakfast. Get a good start on the day ahead by providing a healthy breakfast that includes some protein such
FREE SEMINAR “Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies” is a series of free seminars offered in Benton and Linn counties. From free CPR training to joint replacement options to meeting the newest doctors in the community, there’s a lot to learn at these seminars to help keep mind and body healthy. To register and see what topics are on the schedule, go to samhealth.org/BeHealthy. as an egg or Greek yogurt. 5. Sleep soundly. It’s best if everyone maintains regular sleep schedules as much as possible while on vacation. Have some wind-down time before bedtime, and the kids will be more likely to go down without complaint. Everyone will feel much better in the long run. 6. Take breaks often and get out of the car. Stop at a park for a walk or stretch when you pull in for gas. Let the kids run around. Meanwhile, if you are
planning strenuous exercise during your trip such as hiking or a long day at an amusement park, be sure to talk with your doctor ahead of time if you have any health concerns. Know when to call it quits by listening to your body. Road trips are a great opportunity to create family memories and experience new things together. But everyone will enjoy the trip much more and return home feeling much better if healthy choices are made along the way.
What would you like to see in Generations ? 541-924-8421 or ajohnson@ocwcog.org
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The Corvallis Community Band
Summer 2013 Music Events Here’s a quick guide to live music performances in July, August and September in Linn and Benton counties.
July Ongoing Sundays: 4 p.m. Jazz Jam, Cloud & Kelly’s, 126 SW 1st St., Corvallis, free Mondays: 7 p.m. Mondays @ Monteith concert series, Monteith Riverpark, 489 Water Ave. NW, Albany, free Tuesdays: 7 p.m. Corvallis Community Band, Central Park, Corvallis (July 2- Aug. 27), free 7:30 p.m. Salsa Dancing, Impulse Bar & Grill, 1425 NW Monroe St., Corvallis, free 6 p.m. Community Concerts in the Park, Ralston Park, Lebanon, free Wednesdays: Noon — Con-
certs in the Quad, Oregon State University, free 8 p.m. Acoustic Live, Les Cave, 308 SW 3rd St., Corvallis, free 8 p.m. Belly dance show, Old World Deli, 341 SW 2nd St., Corvallis, free Thursdays: 7 p.m. River Rhythms concert series, Monteith Riverpark, 489 Water Ave. NW, (July 4-Aug. 8) Albany, free Fridays: 7:30 p.m. Live music, Imagine Coffeehouse, 5460 SW Philomath Blvd., free Saturdays: 7:30 p.m. Live music, Imagine Coffeehouse, 5460 SW Philomath Blvd., free
Special Events July 3-4: Red, White & Blue Riverfront Festival, Corvallis, free July 11-14: Philomath Frolic &
The Corvallis Community Band COURTESY CORVALLIS COMMUNITY BAND The Corvallis Community Band is a musical organization open to anyone who plays a band instrument with at least high school level ability. The band’s purpose is to provide concerts for the enjoyment of the community and to be a friendly, highquality musical organization for people who want to continue playing music with other like-minded people. Members’ ages range from 15 to over 80. The band, a town fixture in the 1920s, was reformed in 1976 in connection with local Bicentennial celebrations. The group has continued to meet ever since. During the school year, the band rehearses weekly and presents several public concerts. In 1980, the band established a weekly summer concert series. Every Tuesday evening from mid-June to the end of August, the band plays a free public hour-long concert in Central Park. Audiences for these concerts fluctuate with the weather, but have ranged from 300 – 500 people. The band also plays stirring patriotic selections to a large crowd prior to the Fourth of July fireworks display on the Corvallis riverfront. Rodeo, Philomath Rodeo Grounds, Philomath $ July 18-21: Linn County Fair, Linn County Expo Center, Al-
bany, $ July 19-21: da Vinci Days Fes~ Continued on page 16
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Volunteer opportunities Linn & Benton counties Benton Hospice Service seeks volunteers who like to lend a hand to people facing serious illness. The next 2-day respite and companion training will be held 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.,Tuesday and Thursday, July 23 and 25. For information, call Jamey Suderman, 541-757-9616. Samaritan Cancer Resource Center is looking for volunteers to greet and direct patients as they enter the building; provide library and computer assistance; staff the salon (license required) and guide imaging patients to their rooms. The Center provides patients and families with information and support during their journey through cancer. Call 541-812-4158 for more information. The Senior and Disability Services Money Management Program seeks volunteers to help low-income individuals, including seniors and those with disabilities, manage their finances. Tasks may include assistance in budgeting, organizing financial papers, checkbook balancing, bill paying and banking. The effort helps these clients maintain peace of mind, independence, and protection
against fraud and financial exploitation. Training and ongoing support are provided. Contact Diana Hancock at 541-8122597 or via email mmp@ocwcog.org Linn County Volunteering to help terminally ill patients and their loved ones at Samaritan Evergreen Hospice could be an exciting new opportunity. Call the hospice volunteer coordinator at 541-812-4677 or email kmclain@samhealth.org for more information. Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital seeks volunteers for the Garden Grounds espresso stand, Caring Corner gift shop and patient assistance desks throughout the hospital. For more information, call the Volunteer Services Department at 541-451-7062, or email rsnyder@samhealth.org. RSVP seeks a dedicated volunteer leader for the VISIT program in Linn County. VISIT is a friendly-visitor program that connects RSVP volunteers with residents of long-term care facilities. Participants must be available at least four hours a month, including weekdays. The leader organizes, attends and leads
quarterly team meetings. Training is provided and a background check is required. Call 541-812-0849. Do you enjoy typing on a computer? RSVP needs a volunteer to do computer data entry a couple of times each month at the Albany office. The volunteer must be reliable and accurate. For more information, email rsvplb@ocwcog.org Meals on Wheels needs volunteer drivers in Lebanon, including someone willing to drive to Lacomb. Drivers must pass criminal background checks. Opportunities are available Monday-Friday, beginning at 11 a.m. Mileage reimbursement is available. Email Tori Hartman at thartman@ocwcog.org AARP Tax-Aide, the nation’s largest free volunteer-run tax preparation and e-filing service, seeks volunteer tax preparers. All ages and backgrounds are welcome. Tax counselors get free training and become certified by passing an Internal Revenue Service exam, then help taxpayers one-on-one at public sites. For more information, call Jan Huskey, 541-928-306; email janhuskey@gmail.com; or register online at www.aarp.org/taxaide Albany Call-A-Ride senior and disabled transportation program has openings for volunteer dispatchers and drivers. Dispatchers must be detail-oriented multi-taskers, have good telephone skills and some knowledge of computers. Drivers must have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record. Volunteers generally work one 4-hour shift per week. Cars and insurance are pro-
vided. Call-A-Ride is located at 112 10th Ave. SW, by the Amtrak station. For information, call Ted, 541-917-7638 or email ted.frazier@cityofalbany.net Volunteer Caregivers needs general help in the Albany office and drivers to serve Lebanonarea seniors who need transportation to out-of-town medical appointments. The car is provided and kept in Lebanon. Call 541-928-2173 or email Volcaregivers@aol.com Benton County RSVP seeks volunteers for VISIT, a friendly-visitor program that connects volunteers with residents of long-term-care facilities. Volunteers make weekly visits to help reduce residents’ isolation and loneliness. Training is provided and a background check is required. For more information, call 541-8120849. Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center is looking for dedicated volunteers in the Healing Garden; No One Dies Alone/Compassionate Companions program; and as baristas for the coffee cart and Sam’s Espresso Cabana. Call the Volunteer Services Department, 541-768-5083 or email GSRMCVolunteerServices@samhealth.org Benton Habitat for Humanity needs volunteers to help sort donations at the ReStore; lead a group to accomplish several small repair projects in the community; or welcome volunteers at construction sites and make them feel appreciated. Call 541752-3354 or email programs@bentonhabitat.org
GENERATIONS is published in part by
Senior & Disability Services A program of Cascades West Council of Governments 541-967-8630 or 1-800-638-0510
541-336-2289 or 1-800-282-6194
TDD/VOICE in Benton and Linn counties
TDD/VOICE in Lincoln County
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Linking generations: ~ Continued from page 10 “We have separate entrances and can carve out some privacy if we wish. I truly enjoy my family and we each have something to contribute for the good of all,” Katrina says. Katrina’s older brother Nicholas lives near Portland where she often visits with him. “We recently discussed that either he or I will have our parents living with us one day because this arrangement makes so much sense both economically and personally.” Happy reads the 2012 Christmas verse: here is our patchwork quilt home where all are welcome to call. No matter how far away you roam, there is love and room for all. “Really, you just have to love each other to make this work,” she says. “And we do.” AARP has developed a checklist to help families, and older family members in particular, achieve success: 1. Prepare your home. Does your home work for everyone, young and old? Can your house accommodate someone who might find climbing stairs a challenge or who might need a walk-in shower or a single-handle faucet? 2. Prepare your family. Have regular family conferences to discuss issues before they become problems. Before moving in together, ask family members of all ages to talk about how they expect life to change, including what they want, what they are excited about, and what they’re nervous about. 3. A place for everyone and everyone in their place. Decide how the living space in your home will be used. 4. Let them live their own lives. This is important whether older household members are highly active and independent or if they are being cared for.
Opportunities to see friends, continue activities they enjoy, and have downtime are important at any age. 5. Get in a groove. Consistency will help minimize the inevitable disruptions. Keep routines such as mealtimes and bedtime rituals. 6. Make a play date. Facilitate grandparent-grandchild interactions. 7. Don’t get caught in the middle. Often, parents have trouble trying to please the older and younger generations. You can’t
be expected to take care of everyone if you are running on empty. 8. Be realistic. Only so much furniture can fit in a house. People can only be expected to change so much over a lifetime. Teens will want to hang out with their grandparents only so much. Elders will be willing to handle only a certain volume level of music. There are only 24 hours in a day. And you can be in only one place at a time, no matter how much everyone needs you. 9. Make memories. Capitalize on the opportunities you have with multiple generations in the household. Have fun and treasure the time. Here is another resource if you are considering a move:
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All in the Family: A Practical Guide to Successful Multigenerational Living, by Sharon Graham Niederhaus and John L. Graham, offers positive commentary and solutions based in part on interviews with over 100 people. This is a book filled with ideas about how to design your living arrangements to fit your family’s needs in the coming decades. Topics covered include the financial and emotional benefits of living together; proximity and privacy; designing and remodeling your home to accommodate adult children or elderly parents; overcoming cultural stigmas about independent living; financial and legal planning; and making cohabitation agreements.
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Summer 2013 Music Events ~ Continued from page 13 tival, OSU lower campus and Central Park, Corvallis, $ July 31: Benton County Fair, 110 SW 53rd St., Corvallis $
August Ongoing Sundays: 4 p.m. Jazz Jam, Cloud & Kelly’s, 126 SW 1st St., Corvallis, free Mondays: 7 p.m. Mondays @ Monteith concert series, Monteith Riverpark, 489 Water Ave. NW, Albany, free Tuesdays: 7 p.m. Corvallis Community Band, Central Park, Corvallis (July 2- Aug. 27), free 7:30 p.m. Salsa Dancing, Impulse Bar & Grill, 1425 NW Monroe St., Corvallis, free 6 p.m. Community Concerts in the Park, Ralston Park, Lebanon, free
Wednesdays: Noon — Concerts in the Quad, Oregon State University, free 8 p.m. Acoustic Live, Les Cave, 308 SW 3rd St., Corvallis, free 8 p.m. Belly dance show, Old World Deli, 341 SW 2nd St., Corvallis, free Thursdays: 7 p.m. River Rhythms concert series, Monteith Riverpark, 489 Water Ave. NW, (July 4-Aug. 8) Albany, free Fridays: 7:30 p.m. Live music, Imagine Coffeehouse, 5460 SW Philomath Blvd., free Saturdays: 7:30 p.m. Live music, Imagine Coffeehouse, 5460 SW Philomath Blvd., free
860 18th Ave., Sweet Home $ August 23-25: ATI Northwest Art & Air Festival, Timber-Linn Memorial Park and Albany Municipal Airport, Albany, free
September Ongoing Sundays: 4 p.m. Jazz Jam, Cloud & Kelly’s, 126 SW 1st St., Corvallis, free Tuesdays: 7:30 p.m. Salsa Dancing, Impulse Bar & Grill, 1425 NW Monroe St., Corvallis, free Wednesdays: Noon — Concerts in the Quad, Oregon State University, free 8 p.m. Acoustic Live, Les Cave, 308 SW 3rd St., Corvallis,
free 8 p.m. Belly dance show, Old World Deli, 341 SW 2nd St., Corvallis, free Fridays: 7:30 p.m. Live music, Imagine Coffeehouse, 5460 SW Philomath Blvd., free Saturdays: 7:30 p.m. Live music, Imagine Coffeehouse, 5460 SW Philomath Blvd., free
Special Events September 28-29: Corvallis Fall Festival, Central Park, Corvallis, $ 8 p.m. Belly dance show, Old World Deli, 341 SW 2nd St., Corvallis, free Find other summer happenings here: albanyvisitors.com/ visitcorvallis.com/
Special Events August 1-4: Benton County Fair, 110 SW 53rd St., Corvallis $ August 2-4: Oregon Jamboree,
PUZZLE SOLUTIONS
CRYPTOGRAM: Money frees you from doing things you dislike. Since I dislike doing nearly everything, money is handy. ~ Groucho Marx