2 ■ THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010
When is the right time to give up the keys? BY WILLIAM HAGEMAN of The Chicago Tribune
We all remember when we got our driver’s license. It’s one of life’s great moments, a giant step toward adulthood. Decades later comes a related rite of passage that generates considerably less enthusiasm: The day you stop driving. Most older drivers are aware when that time is approaching. They recognize their diminishing skills; maybe they have a close call or sometimes can’t find the way home. Most relinquish their keys or make concessions to age and adjust their driving patterns. But others, no matter how many times they get lost, blow stop signs or get honked at by fellow motorists, want to keep that grip on the wheel. “I think most people understand the point when it’s unsafe for them to drive,” says Moraine Byrne, senior vice president for Covenant Retirement Communities, a nonprofit organization that sponsors the Web site havingtheconversation.com. “They’re more often afraid they might hurt someone else. They make the decision on their own or cut way back.”
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Giving up driving can be difficult. People fear a loss of independence and the ability to participate in longtime activities. They worry about being able to do their shopping, visit friends or keep doctor appointments. All good points, all needing to be addressed during any family discussion. “Unless there’s a real emergency, I recommend the family plan to start the conversation slowly,” Byrne suggests. “Ask questions, (don’t) come in with a set plan in mind, but come in with an open mind so the parent doesn’t feel they’re being attacked. You really need to have several conversations, unless there is an emergency situation. You have to have respect for a parent’s position.” Jodi Olshevski, a gerontologist and assistant vice president of The Hartford Advance 50 Team, a group of experts on aging that works with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab, says that sometimes the conversation should not be about taking away the keys, but about finding ways to encourage safe driving. “We’re trying to promote options for people who are concerned about their
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driving,” she says. “I think that as gerontologists we realize that driving is such an important activity, a link to being independent and a social connection. And all of those things are necessary for an individual to age well.” Before any discussion or decision, it’s important to go for a spin with dad or mom to assess his or her driving skills. “Rather than assume the parent is an unsafe driver, ride with them,” Byrne says. “They may be doing much better than you think they are. Age doesn’t really have anything to do with this.” Also a good idea: an assessment by a trained occupational therapist. “There are two parts; it’s a pretty in-depth evaluation,” explains Olshevski, who says the Web site safedrivingforalifetime.com has a link to help find an occupational therapist. “The first part is a clinical assessment, and that includes an evaluation of a person’s cognitive abilities, their motor function, just their physical status. The second part involves an on-the-road test, where an occupational therapist gets in the car and observes the driving.
“Once those two pieces are done, the therapist sits down with the driver and talks about what can be done to keep them safe on the road for as long as possible.” When the evidence is in, the family may realize that stopping cold turkey isn’t warranted. If a person’s skills are only starting to erode, there are alternatives. Curtail higher-risk driving situations, for example. Recent research from the MIT AgeLab and The Hartford found that 69 percent of drivers older than 75 and 58 percent of those between 65 and 74 self-regulate their driving. That means avoiding driving at night or rush hour, taking only familiar routes, limiting trips to a certain distance, and keeping off expressways and highways. Then there are classes where older drivers can brush up on their skills. AARP (aarp.com) offers a classroom and online course aimed at older drivers. “I’ve known several people who have taken it who said it helped them remain focused and helped them to think differently,” Byrne says. “I’ve looked at the course work, and it looks like a tremendous program.”
THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010 ■ 3
Don’t let aches, pains slow you down this spring We all know the feeling that comes with the first great day of spring. When the sun is shining, the air smells sweet and fresh and the temperatures are warm, we all feel the urge to get outside and throw off the confinement of the winter months. No one is immune from the desire to get outdoors and do something active while enjoying the weather — and that includes people with chronic pain issues. Whether you’re dealing with arthritis or trying to treat carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), the threat of pain is one of the most challenging obstacles to overcome for those who want to live an active lifestyle. The important thing is to consult your doctor and to work out a plan together that will let you get the exercise you want and need without worsening your pain. For people suffering from CTS, supportive splints can provide the relief they need. One example, IMAK’s SmartGlove, features a comfortably flexible support splint that keeps hands in a good position without being stiff, and helps to relieve or prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. It’s ideal for active lifestyles because it is breathable and washable, and it’s an effective non-surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. — ARAcontent
Making end-of-life decisions now will help later BY KRISTEN JORDAN SHAMUS of The Detroit Free Press
Each of us comes with an expiration date. We just don’t know when it is. Death can steal you away in your prime, as it did my mother’s sister, Louise. She was driving on a country road on a summer day when a tire blew out on her station wagon. In an instant, she was gone. She left behind a husband and three small children — along with the lingering feeling that life isn’t fair or predictable. Death can wait until you don’t think you can’t bear another day of life, as it did with my father’s sister. Susan had suffered for months with pancreatic cancer, enduring chemotherapy and incredible pain. Just a few days before Christmas, her son told her that she didn’t have to keep on fighting through the holidays. He told her that if she wanted to let go, it was OK. They would be all right. And so she did. And it was merciful. Death answers to no one. My grandmother, who will be 92 next
month, says she’s lived as long as she needs to. She keeps asking us all to pray that God will take her soon. I can’t bring myself to do that. My grandmother was hospitalized with pneumonia this winter, and that’s when doctors realized just how poorly her heart is working. They asked her children whether, if the worst happened, she should be resuscitated. She made her wishes clear: “Get a big stick and hit me over the head.” Even knowing what she wanted, it was hard for her children to answer the doctors. Her daughters finally agreed to do as their mother asked. Not that they went into the woods looking for a hefty branch, but they did sign a do-not-resuscitate order. And yet, death continues to elude the woman who says she wants so very much for it to come. Her struggles have me thinking quite a bit lately about end-of-life issues — not the sort of thing anybody enjoys talking about over dinner, or anytime for that matter, despite the inevitability of it.
It’s something we all have to face. People we love will die, even when they have so much to live for. And sooner or later, death will take us, too. The truth is, you never know which approach death will take. It could be today or tomorrow, sudden or slow. It could be in another 50 years. But whenever it is, do the people you love the favor of making it as easy as you can for them. Have you prepared? Have you left your family in a good position so they’ll know your wishes — not just about who gets your fabulous crystal vase, but for what really matters, like your kids, your pets? If you don’t have a living will, consider addressing that now. If you feel strongly about being resuscitated or kept alive on a ventilator, put it in writing. Learn about power of attorney. For help, contact the nonprofit Care Connections at www.caringinfo.org or (800) 658-8898 or check out the AARP’s Web site, www.aarp.org/ families/end—life.
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• Anthocyanin 1, 2 and 3 have the potential to prevent inflammation and may inhibit the growth of colon cancer tumors. • Twenty cherries provide 25 mg of anthocyanins, which help to shut down the enzymes that cause tissue inflammation. • The anthocyanins also may protect artery walls from the damage that leads to plaque build up and heart disease.
GOUT AND CHERRIES Gout is a form of arthritis that mostly affects men age 40 and older. Cherries may help relieve the pain of gout. • Gout is associated with an abnormally-high concentration of uric acid in the blood...tart cherries contain compounds that may lower uric acid and thereby reduce inflammation.
FIBROMYALGIA AND CHERRIES Some people are finding that tart cherries can help relieve the pain of fibromyalgia when combined with a prescribed health regimen. • Fibromyalgia syndrome is a musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder that affects all the fibrous tissues of the body including muscles, ligaments and tendons. • Tart cherries may play a role in alleviating some of the pain and discomfort because they contain significant quantities of melatonin, which help regulate the sleep cycle. Sleep regulation is one key treatment of fibromyalgia. • In addition, the anthocyanins found in cherries contain high levels of Cox-1 and Cox-2 inhibitors, which function in the same manner as ibuprofen and may help with pain relief.
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4 ■ THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010
THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010 ■ 5
Six tax tips just for retirees If anyone needs a little extra tax help this year, it’s retired Americans. The value of investments and retirement accounts built-up throughout their careers have been halved or disappeared altogether, thanks to the recession, floundering employers and dead-in-the-water house sales. For example, many retirees may wrongly think they no longer need to file a 1040 form because they’re not earning a regular paycheck. It’s important to note deductions for medical expenses, retirement-account losses, and other 50-plus specific situations. Here are tips to help maximize deductions. 1. Who should file: Social Security income generally isn’t taxable, but there are exceptions. It all depends on outside income, such as dividends, earned income, pensions or other sources of money.Your annual Social Security statement provides additional directions and information. 2. Standard deduction: If you were 65 and older by the end of the year and aren’t itemizing, you’re entitled to a higher standard deduction.You get an additional $1,250 if you are single and not a surviving spouse and an extra $1,000 if you’re married or a surviving spouse. Those filing single receive a standard deduction of $6,250, instead of $5,000, and married couples filing married jointly — where
both spouses are 65 and older — can deduct $12,000 instead of $10,000. If you and/or your spouse are blind, you’re entitled to an even higher deduction. 3. Elderly or disabled tax credits: You may qualify for the Credit for the Elderly or Disabled if you and/or your spouse are at least 65 years or are considered permanently and totally disabled. This credit doesn’t appear on the short 1040-EZ form, so you must complete the long 1040 or 1040A forms. 4. Accelerated death benefits: If you own life insurance with cash value and become terminally or chronically ill, you might be qualified to use that cash value tax-free to pay medical and other personal expenses. 5. Annual changes: The Tax Code is constantly in flux, with changes that affect almost everyone. Recent changes involve retirement accounts and tax credits, with a prime example being the 2010 conversion rule for Roth IRAs. The AARP.org offers excellent aides to help you track these changes. 6. Get free help: Many community groups, senior centers, libraries and other non-profits offer free tax assistance to seniors. Call (888) 227-7669 or search AARP.com for assistance in your area. — Kate Forgach, http://www.freeshipping.org/blog/
6 ■ THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010
Boomers driving makeover of American volunteerism BY ROBERT ROSENTHAL of VolunteerMatch
Baby boomers have been rewriting American culture for decades. Now, as the first wave of retiring boomers leaves the work force and the next wave is reaching the 55-plus mark, they are redefining yet another great American institution — volunteerism. In 2002, Dom Gieras retired from his job with the State of New York after 30 years. Where once his volunteering revolved around his family’s needs — including stints managing his son’s baseball teams — today, he is a volunteer technology consultant with the Executive Service Corps of the Tri-Cities. Gieras consults on projects for local nonprofit agencies, is a volunteer Webmaster for a literacy organization, and the creator of the Capital District Nonprofit Technology Assistance Project, a Web site that serves as a reference guide to technology solutions for local nonprofit professionals. An avid reader, Gieras, now in his 60s, says his original plan for retirement involved just the tutoring and literacy work. “But when I discovered the state of their technology I decided they needed me more there,” he says. Now that baby boomers like Gieras
have more time of their own, they are increasingly looking for innovative ways to serve nonprofits in causes they care about, volunteering experts say. And, like Gieras, many are choosing opportunities that are deeply rooted in the skills and experiences they acquired in the working world. “Boomers came of age in an era of activism and involvement,” says Jill Friedman Fixler, an expert on boomer volunteering trends. “As boomers reach the later years of their work they are beginning to think about their legacy, how they will be using their time and skills to impact their community and skilled volunteering is the most logical way to contribute.” In 2009, Friedman Fixler partnered with VolunteerMatch, a nonprofit organization (www.volunteermatch.org), to release “Boomer Volunteer Engagement: Collaborate Today, Thrive Tomorrow.” The book helps charities recognize opportunities for deep engagement with older adults and reorganize their volunteer programs to support more skilled volunteering. More than 200,000 older adult volunteers currently use VolunteerMatch. Using just a few key words, volunteers can search for opportunities based on geographic region, cause, and the types of skills they have to offer.
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THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010 ■ 7
Use caution when taking medicine One of the common misconceptions surrounding poison centers is that they are aimed primarily at children who’ve gotten into something they shouldn’t have. While poison centers do take such calls, they also take plenty of calls from people who’ve made mistakes when taking their medicine. In 2008, 10.6 percent of all poison exposures occurred as a result of “therapeutic errors,” including taking the wrong medicine or inadvertently taking doses too close together. The American Association of Poison Control Centers offers the following tips aimed at taking medicine safely: ■ Never take medicine that isn’t intended for you, and never give a person medicine not intended for them. Do not use another person’s prescription, even if it is similar to one you may be taking. ■ Never use a household spoon to measure liquids because the volume in such a spoon could vary widely and the dose would not be accurate. ■ Make sure after refilling a prescription that the pills look the same as the previous month. If the directions are not clear or appear to have changed, ask the pharmacist or your doctor as soon as you notice it. ■ Some drugs include warnings that they should not be taken with certain drugs, supplements, foods or alcohol. Be sure you know if
this applies to your medicines. ■ Never take medicine in the dark, and use glasses or a magnifier to read the label if necessary before taking each dose. Some poison exposures occur when people accidentally take medicine intended for their pets. ■ Maintain an up-to-date list of all medicines for each family member, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as supplements. Show the list to your doctor at clinic visits, and verify each time you go to the pharmacy for refills or buy a new medicine. Be sure you have any allergies listed as well. Having this information when you travel is also very important. ■ When using medicine administered by a “patch,” take off one patch before applying the next one. In the case of topical products, wash off the skin before applying more. ■ Don’t flush old medicines down the toilet. Instead, hold them for a local medication disposal event, or mix them with an inedible substance like coffee grounds or kitty litter, then dispose of them in a sealed bag or other container in the trash. Call your local pharmacy to see if they have tips on proper disposal as well. Poison centers offer free and confidential services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you have a question, call your local poison center at (800) 222-1222. — American Association of Poison Control Centers
Whether your visit to Butte Convalescent Center is a short or long term stay, our goal is to share in the joy of the lives
we’ve touched ....that’s
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what
Did you know that with the help & encouragement from our dedicated team, over 75 individuals who visited our facility within the last year, have returned home or to a lesser level of care? Excellent State Survey History Montana Nursing Home Compare www.Medicare.gov/nhcompare/home.asp
• • • • • • • •
24-Hour Skilled Nursing Care Restorative Programs Out Patient Therapy Physical, Occupational, Speech & Recreational Therapy Medicare, Medicaid & VA Certified New Therapy Enrichment Area Respite Care, Hospice and Comfort Care On Site Transportation
Please feel free to stop by anytime, we look forward to visiting with you!
Butte Care and Rehabilitation Center
2400 Continental Drive Butte, MT 59701 406-723-6556
8 ■ THE MONTANA STANDARD, BUTTE, SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010
Con men prey on the elderly, so be alert BY TIM DARRAGH of The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.)
The scams: We’re reaching into the mailbag and covering the voice mailbox today. Maybe it’s the nice weather, but it seems there are more rip-off attempts out there. Here are a few. How it works: A man called on Bea, telling her she needed her chimney cleaned. A senior citizen, Bea couldn’t recall when her chimney was last cleaned. She set up an appointment, even though he didn’t inspect the chimney. Not a good idea. Another “salesman” went around telling elderly homeowners that he could get them a better electric rate plan. Other seniors called us to report that they were getting suspicious offers to lower their credit card interest rate, make payment plans for items they hadn’t purchased and follow instructions to collect
riches in lotteries they hadn’t entered. What to do: The common thread through all these reports is that the victims are elderly. Seniors are frequent targets for con men, so the first thing to do is remember: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t let a salesman talk you into something you don’t know if you need. If they want your business, legitimate salesmen will give you time to check their offer. And don’t believe “surprise” notices that you won money. You didn’t. The Office of Consumer Protection under the Attorney General’s office enforces Montana’s consumer protection laws and regulations related to: Deceptive and misleading advertising; unfair acts by a business; door-to-door sales; and telemarketing, including running Montana's do-not-call list, according to its Web site. For more information call (800) 481-6896 or go online to www.doj.mt.gov/ consumer/consumer/default.asp.