A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging
August 2015 VOL. 40 • NO. 8
ENOA 4223 Center Street Omaha, NE 68105-2431 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
New Horizons
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID OMAHA NE PERMIT NO. 389
Holocaust memories
In 1939 the Nazis invaded Poland. Thus began a horrific journey for Milton Kleinberg marked by bitter cold, forced labor, struggling to find food, and the death of loved ones. Despite these enormous battles, Kleinberg survived, and today he’s the CEO and owner of Senior Market Sales, Inc. in Omaha. Nick Schinker chronicles Kleinberg’s amazing life beginning on page 10.
Food, money donated to ENOA Last month, ENOA’s Meals on Wheels program received a food donation from Beardmore Subaru. (Left) Beardmore Sales Manager Marcus McLean with ENOA’s Arlis Smidt. In July, ENOA’s Nutrition Division received a check for $2,000 for its emergency food pantry from Woodmen Life. (Right) Woodmen’s Community Outreach Manager Jennifer M. Shirk (left) with ENOA’s Susie Davern and Dennis Loose. See page 14.
Camelot Friendship Center You’re invited to visit the Camelot Friendship Center inside the Camelot Community Center, 9270 Cady Ave., for the following: • Aug. 4, 11, 18, & 25: Tap class @ 1:30 p.m. • Aug. 7, 14, 21, & 28: Walking club @ 10:15 a.m. • Aug. 12: Birthday bash. • Aug. 13: Book club @ 10:15 a.m. • Aug. 19: Music by Johnny Ray Gomez from the Merrymakers @ 11:45 a.m. • Aug. 20: Jackpot Bingo @ 12:15 p.m. • Aug. 21: Movie day @ 12:15 p.m. • Aug. 24: Chair volleyball @ 10:15 a.m. Other activities include Bingo, pinochle, card games, other games, crafts, candy making, and scrapbooking. The Camelot Friendship Center is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. A $3.50 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to enjoy. For reservations or more information, please call Amy at 402-444-3091.
Millard Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Millard Senior Center at Montclair, 2304 S. 135th Ave., for the following: • Aug. 3: Lauritzen Gardens tour. • Aug. 25: Entertainment by Billy Troy @ noon. The Millard Senior Center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30. A $3.50 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to enjoy. Center activities include a walking club @ 8 a.m. (join and get a free t-shirt), quilting day (Thursdays @ 9 a.m.), Mahjongg on Wednesdays @ 1 p.m., Tai Chi class (Mondays and Fridays from 10 to 10:45 a.m. for a $1 suggested donation), chair volleyball (Tuesdays and Thursdays @ 10 a.m.), card games @ 9 a.m., and Bingo (Tuesdays and Fridays @ noon). During Bingo, we have baked goodies from Baker’s or Panera to give away as prizes. For meal reservations and more information, please call 402-546-1270. We handle the maintenance, landscaping, and snow removal, so you can enjoy
presentation OPEN HOUSEst byRealtor Real Estate Solutions
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A 55+ Calamar Community
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August 2015 events calendar 1 Beer & Bacon Festival The Old Mattress Factory 3 to 7 p.m. 501 N. 13th St. $30 www.omahabeerandbacon.com Omaha Czech Festival Aksarben Village 1 to 5 p.m. $60 in advance $75 at the door 402-850-6776 4 The Women Who Would Be King Durham Museum 6:30 to 8 p.m. $6 to $9 402-444-5071 7 Bridge Beats: Maha Music Festival Showcase Bob Kerrey Bridge 6 to 9:30 p.m. FREE 402-444-4640 9th Annual Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival Also Aug. 8 Coventry Campus Near 204th and Q streets Friday 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday 3 to 11 p.m. $5 to $12 402-346-8003
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8 Sweet Corn Festival Also Aug. 9 Lauritzen Gardens 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $5 and $10 402-346-4002
11 Tempo of Twilight at Lauritzen Gardens Dance of a Parrott Head 6 to 8 p.m. $5 and $10 402-346-4002 15 Maha Music Festival Aksarben Village Noon to Midnight $50 402-496-1616 21 Bridge Beats: Eckophonic Bob Kerrey Bridge 6 to 9:30 p.m. FREE 25 Tempo of Twilight at Lauritzen Gardens 6 to 8 p.m. $5 and $10 402-346-4002
Our one and two-bedroom units include a fully equipped kitchen, full bath, walk-in shower, central air, and stackable washer/dryer hookups.
Call Stephanie at 402-575-9896 Page 2
8 Going Buggy at Wildlife Safari Park 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. $5 to $7 402-944-9453
August 2015
Physical therapist Lisa Kramer is representing Washington County on ENHSA governing board
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isa Kramer, a physical therapist, wife, mother, and the District 2 representative on the Washington County Board of Supervisors, said she entered public service in 2015 because “I believe it’s important to serve my community.”
Kramer owns Performance Physical Therapy, P.C. in Bennington. Kramer represents Washington County on the Eastern Nebraska Human Services Agency’s Governing Board. The ENHSA Governing Board consists of an elected official from Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties. Board members oversee the activities of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, ENCOR, the Alpha School, and Region VI Behavioral Healthcare in its five-county service area. ENOA provides programs and services designed to help keep men and women age 60 and older living in their own homes with
independence and dignity for as long as possible. ENCOR serves individuals of all ages who have developmental and intellectual disabilities. The Alpha School’s mission is to help students with behavioral and emotional conditions that have been unable to maintain a traditional school placement. Region VI Behavioral Healthcare organizes and provides a system of behavioral health programs including mental health, substance abuse prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services. Lisa, age 40, lives in Kennard with Kyle Kramer, her husband for 14 years and their two children. She graduated from Millard South High School in 1992 before earning her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1998 and a Master’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2001. Since 2005, Kramer has owned and worked as a physical therapist at Performance Physical Therapy, P.C. in Bennington. As a member of ENHSA’s Governing Board, Kramer said she’s focused on being “an advocate for Washington County residents in need of behavioral health services and those whose taxes assist in providing those services.” She sees ENOA’s role as providing supportive services to older adults in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties. “I believe the greatest future challenge for ENOA will be meeting the needs of the growing aged population,” Kramer said. “ENOA will need to find new ways to engage community partners.”
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August 2015
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Membership includes a subscription to the New Horizons newspaper. New Horizons Club Send Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging 4223 Center Street to: Omaha, NE 68105-2431 I get the New Horizons regularly and don’t need to be put on the mailing list. I would like to start receiving the New Horizons at home. My address is below. NAME ADDRESS CITY/STATE/ZIP
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New Horizons New Horizons is the official publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. The paper is distributed free to people over age 60 in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Washington, and Cass counties. Those living outside the 5-county region may subscribe for $5 annually. Address all correspondence to: Jeff Reinhardt, Editor, 4223 Center Street, Omaha, NE 68105-2431. Phone 402-444-6654. FAX 402-444-3076. E-mail: jeff.reinhardt@nebraska.gov Advertisements appearing in New Horizons do not imply endorsement of the advertiser by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. However, complaints about advertisers will be reviewed and, if warranted, their advertising discontinued. Display and insert advertising rates available on request. Open rates are commissionable, with discounts for extended runs. Circulation is 20,000 through direct mail and freehand distribution.
Editor....................................................Jeff Reinhardt Ad Mgr................Mitch Laudenback, 402-444-4148 Contributing Writers......Nick Schinker, Leo Biga, & Lois Friedman ENOA Board of Governors: Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, chairperson; Jim Peterson, Cass County, vice-chairperson; Gary Osborn, Dodge County secretary; Brenda Carlisle, Sarpy County; & Lisa Kramer, Washington County. The New Horizons and the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging provide services without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, disability, or age.
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AARP offering driving course AARP is offering a new four-hour, research-based Smart Driver Course for older adults. By completing the course, participants will learn research-based driving safety strategies that can reduce the likelihood of having an accident; understand the links between the driver, the vehicle, and the road environment, and how this awareness encourages safer driving; learn how aging, medications, alcohol, and health-related issues affect driving ability and ways to allow for these changes; increase confidence; know how to share the road safely with other drivers, and learn the newest safety and advance features in vehicles. The fee is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonAARP members. No tests or examinations are involved, course completion certificates are provided, and auto insurance discounts may apply. Here’s this month’s schedule: Saturday, August 8 1 to 5 p.m. AARP Information Center 1941 S. 42nd St. #220 Call 402-398-9568 to register
Saturday, August 22 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Premier Group 11605 Miracle Hills Dr. #205 Call 321-7244 to register
Fontenelle Tours
Omaha/Council Bluffs
712-366-9596
Quoted prices are per person, double occupancy. For more information about our tours, please call Ward or Kathy Kinney at Fontenelle Tours at the number listed above.
Motorcoach Michigan Lakeshores & Resorts. September 19 – 25. $1449. Explore Michigan’s east lakeshores and resort towns including the Saugatuck Art and Craft Galleries, guided Sand Dune Buggy Ride, Holland Windmill Island Gardens, dinner cruise on Lake Michigan aboard the Holland Princess, Castle Farms in Charlevoix, Mushroom Houses guided tour, Music House Museum, private Tall Ship Sail in Grand Traverse Bay, Old Mission Peninsula guided tour, Grand Traverse Winery and Wine Tasting, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, The Cherry Republic—largest cherry store in the world, Silver Beach Carousel & Amusement Park Museum, and two nights (and a full day to relax) at the Marina Grand Resort. Branson Christmas. November 9 – 12. $729. ($689 before 8/9/15.) Enjoy SIX–The Knudsen Brothers, Dixie Stampede, Shoji Tabuchi, Pierce Arrow, Dublin’s Irish Tenors with the Celtic Ladies, Mickey Gilley, and the Trail of Lights, as well as Landry’s Seafood House. (Call by August 9.) “Dear Santa” at the Lofte. Dec 13. $99. ($89 before 9/13/15.) This play is composed of a number of short scenes that range from the hilarious to the touching. Many views of Santa are seen—from the point of view of the child who alphabetizes her Christmas list and sends it out in August as well as that of children at various stages of belief—and disbelief. Followed by another delicious dinner at the Main Street Café in Louisville. (Call by September 13.) Kansas City Christmas. December 2 - 3. TBD. Enjoy “Out of Order” at the newly remodeled New Theater Restaurant, Webster House holiday lunch, and we’re working on more holiday surprises!
Laughlin Laughlin in September. September 14 - 18. $259. Includes nonstop, round-trip airfare to Laughlin, Nevada, four nights lodging at the Riverside Resort and Casino on the banks of the Colorado River, and shuttle transportation to and from the airport. It is a very affordable way to get away for a while.
Thoracic Society offers sleep guidelines
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he American Thoracic Society has released a policy statement with recommendations for clinicians and the general public on achieving good quality sleep and getting an adequate quantity of sleep. “Sleep plays a vital role in human health, yet there is a lack of sufficient guidance on promoting good sleep health,” said Sutapa Mukherjee, MBBS, PhD, chair of the committee that produced the statement. “In this statement, with an eye towards improving public health, we address the importance of good quality sleep with a focus on sleep health in adults and children; the effects of work schedules on sleep; the impact of drowsy driving; and the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia.” Major conclusions and key recommendations of the statement include: • Good quality sleep is critical for good health and overall quality of life. • The amount of sleep needed by an individual varies significantly with age across the lifespan. • Children are not merely smaller adults with regard to sleep and differ importantly from adults, thereby requiring specific attention to sleep maturational processes. • Disparities exist in sleep health related in part to modifiable factors for adequate sleep quality and quantity. • Short sleep duration (six hours or less per 24 hour period) is associated with adverse outcomes including mortality. • Long sleep duration (more than than nine to
10 hours per 24 hour period) may also be associated with adverse health outcomes. • The optimal sleep duration for adults for good health at a population level is seven to nine hours, although individual variability exists. • Drowsy driving is an important cause of fatal and non-fatal motor vehicle crashes. We recommend all drivers (occupational and non-occupational) receive education about how to recognize the symptoms and consequences of drowsiness. • Adolescents may be a particularly susceptible group to drowsy driving; therefore, we recommend inclusion of sleep awareness during their driving education. • Occupational demands are a frequent cause of insufficient sleep and can contribute to accident risk in the workplace. We recommend better education for the general public and health care providers regarding the impact of working hours and shift work on sleep duration and quality and the association of sleepiness with workplace injuries. • Sleep disorders are common, cause significant morbidity, and have substantial economic impact, but are treatable. • Many individuals with sleep disorders remain undiagnosed and untreated. • We recommend better education of professional transportation operators regarding obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), other sleep disorders, and medications that may interfere with alertness. • Health care providers receive very little formal education on the importance of sleep to health or on the evaluation and management of common sleep disorders. • For children, we suggest age-based recommendations for sleep duration be developed. These should enable the child to awaken spontaneously at the desired time through implementation of regular wake and sleep schedules. • For adolescents we suggest school start times be delayed to align with physiological circadian propensity of this age group. • We recommend health care providers receive a greater level of education on sleep hygiene and encourage patients to maximize their sleep time. • We recommend public education programs be developed to emphasize the importance of sleep for good health. • We recommend better education/awareness for the general public and physicians regarding the importance of early identification of high-risk OSA groups (in children and adults) due to the profound public health implications of untreated OSA. • We recommend better education of physicians as to the effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia rather than immediate implementation of hypnotics and sedatives, and recommend structural changes to increase access to this treatment including training of a wider range of health care providers and insurance coverage. “These recommendations are based on a comprehensive review of the literature and the experience of a panel of clinicians and scientists with expertise in sleep health,” said Dr. Atul Malhotra, MD, president of the American Thoracic Society and a member of the team that produced the statement.
In Partnership with Collette Vacations Quoted prices are per person, double occupancy, and do not include airfare. More destinations available! Classic Danube. 11 days from $3349. Features a seven-night Danube River Cruise visiting Wurzburg, Rothenburg, Munich, and Passau in Germany, Wachau Valley, Emmersdorf, and Vienna in Austria, Bratislava in Slovakia, and Budapest in Hungary. Reflections of Italy. 10 days from $2449. Visit a land rich in history, culture, art, and romance including Rome, the Colosseum, Assisi, Perugia, Siena, Florence, Chianti Winery, Venice, Murano Island, and Milan. Extend your trip in Turin. Irish Splendor. Eight days from $1699. Return to times gone by as you experience fabulous accommodations, stunning scenery, and sumptuous food visiting Dublin, the Guiness Storehouse, Blarney Castle, Killarney, Dingle Peninsula, Cliffs of Moher, Dromoland Castle, and Tullamore Whiskey Distillery. Extend your trip in Dublin. Alaska Discovery Land & Cruise. 13 days from $3069. Featuring a seven-night Princess Cruise. You will visit Anchorage, Mt. McKinley, and Denali National Park, ride a luxury domed railcar to Whittier to board the Princess ship, cruise past the Hubbard Glacier, through Glacier Bay, to Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, through the Inside Passage, and into Vancouver. Then fly home from Seattle. Watch New Horizons and our website www.fontenelletours.com for our trip schedule. Our mailing address is: 2008 W. Broadway #329, Council Bluffs, Iowa
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Aging with Passion and Purpose Conference scheduled for Oct. 9 on UNO’s main campus
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he fifth annual Aging with Passion and Purpose Conference is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 19 at the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center on the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Dodge Street campus. Check-in begins at 7 a.m. and the program runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The registration fee is $75 before Sept. 21 and $100 on Sept. 21 or later. The cost includes the conference, materials, continuing education credits, lunch, parking, and refreshments. The registration deadline is Oct. 9. Generations Working Together is the theme for the 2015 Aging with Passion and Purpose Conference. The theme recognizes the fact the American work force comprises
August 2015
several generations of workers, each with its own social, economic, and cultural contexts and values. Participants will learn instead of casting blame or taking sides, employers and employees should try to understand the differences, find commonalities, and develop strategies for improving the interaction among the workplace’s generations. The keynote speaker will be human resources expert and business advisor Libby Sartain who was named one of the 25 most powerful women in human resources by Human Resources Executive magazine. More information about the conference will be available in future issues of the New Horizons.
Elder Access Line Legal Aid of Nebraska operates a free telephone access line for Nebraskans age 60 and older. Information is offered to help the state’s older men and women with questions on topics like bankruptcy, homestead exemptions, collections, powers of attorney, Medicare, Medicaid, grandparent rights, and Section 8 housing. The telephone number for the Elder Access Line is 402-827-5656 in Omaha and 1-800-527-7249 statewide. This service is available to Nebraskans age 60 and older regardless of income, race, or ethnicity. For more information, log on the Internet to http:// www.legalaidofnebraska. com/EAL.
Published in “Neuroscience’ magazine
Study examines changes in right-hand, left-hand dominance
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recent Neuroscience magazine article sheds more light on how right or left-hand dominance changes in mature adults. It suggests while that dominance changes over time, the reasons for that change involve more than a person’s chronological age. Dr. Sydney Schaefer, a researcher from the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services at Utah State University, is the paper’s sole author. She studied asymmetry between one-handed tasks performed with left and right hands by people ages 65 to 89. Her expectation was that the “young old” participants – those younger than age 80 – would demonstrate more asymmetry than those who were older than age 80. Instead, the difference between the two hands’ performance was not significantly less pronounced in the “old old” test subjects. The findings shed more light on how the aging brain compensates for the loss of function. Other researchers have established that left or right-handedness is less pro-
nounced in aging populations, though to date the published research has only compared the performance of young adults to that of older adults. The theory is that as tasks become more difficult for an older person to do, the brain’s two sides cooperate more, and asymmetry between the two hands becomes less pronounced. As they participated in simulated dressing and feeding tasks, the 44 healthy, right-handed adults ages 65 to 89 demonstrated less asymmetry than Schaefer would have expected in young adults. The “old old” adults also took longer to complete the tasks than the “young old” subjects. But the difference between the two hands’ performance remained fairly constant. The reason may be that the test subjects were predominantly healthy and their brains had less need to compensate for decreased brain function. The findings underscore the need to identify other means to quantify neural decline than just chronological age, Schaefer said.
Volunteer opps The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Foster Grandparent Program, Senior Companion Program, and Ombudsman Advocate Program are recruiting older adults to become volunteers. Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions must be age 55 or older, meet income guidelines, have a government issued ID card or a driver’s license, able to volunteer at least 15 hours a week, and must complete several background and reference checks. Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions receive a $2.65 an hour stipend, transportation and meal reimbursement, paid vacation, sick, and holiday leave, and supplemental accident insurance. Foster Grandparents work with children who have special needs while Senior Companions work to keep older adults living independently. Ombudsman advocates work to ensure residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities enjoy the best possible quality of life. Ombudsman advocates, who must be age 18 or older, must serve at least two hours a week. For more information, please call 402-444-6536. VOTES WANTED PLEASE GO TO
www.lightthebridge.org 100% non-profit addressing hunger VOTES TO DATE • For: 2,612 • Against: 90 • Please vote today to address hunger.
August 2015
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Corrigan Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St., this month for: • Aug. 5, 12, & 26: Crafts & Social with Anita @ 10:30 a.m. Make a fun craft and plant an herb garden this month. Stay for the noon lunch. • Aug. 6, 13, 20, & 27: Mudder’s Farms Produce Market @11 a.m. Meet Cynthia and see her organic vegetable market. Bingo at 1 p.m. • Aug. 10: Talk by Mary Ann Eusebio about ENOA’s programs and services. Order a chicken breast or Asian pork salad (deli) for lunch. Bingo at 1 p.m. • Aug. 13: Dog Days of Summer Party. Bingo, dog trivia, and ice cream floats will follow the noon cheese lasagna or chef salad (deli) lunch. • Aug. 17: Birthday party with music by Hal Cottrell from the Merrymakers @ 11 a.m. The noon lunch features turkey breast or a ham/provolone tortilla (deli). Bingo @ 1 p.m. • Aug. 20: Tropical Theme Dinner & Mega Bingo. Wear your favorite island clothes. The noon lunch includes a chicken breast or crab macaroni salad (deli). Mega Bingo after lunch. The reservation deadline is Friday, Aug. 14. • Aug. 24: Aloha Hawaiian Party. Johnny Ray Gomez will entertain @ 11 a.m. Wear your beach clothes and we’ll provide the leis. Beach ball blast, Bingo, and more games at 10 a.m. Door prizes. Don’t miss the fun. Call today to attend. The noon lunch includes BBQ beef or tuna macaroni salad. Everyone, including new players, is welcome to play chair volleyball every Tuesday and Thursday @ 11 a.m. A noon lunch will follow. Join us for Tai Chi, a relaxing and fun activity that’s proven to improve your balance Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. in our spacious gym. Bingo, ceramics, exercise, woodcarving, and loads of fun are also available. The Corrigan Senior Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is served at noon. A $3.50 contribution is normally suggested for the meal. Reservations are normally due by noon the business day prior to the meal you wish to enjoy. For meal reservations or more information, please call Lynnette at 402-731-7210.
Midwest Geriatrics, Inc. and Senior Health Foundation 22nd Annual Golf Benefit September 25, 2015 Quarry Oaks Golf Club Ashland, NE
Panel of medical experts make recommendations to enhance the cognitive health of older adults
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n expert panel convened by the Institute of Medicine clarified the cognitive aging process by making a distinction between Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and provided recommendations to enhance cognitive health in older adults. An article published recently in Annals of Internal Medicine highlights key points of that report and serves as a guide for health care professionals seeking to improve the quality of life of older adults by maintaining their brain health. Practitioners define “cognition” as mental functions encompassing attention, thinking, understanding, learning, remembering, problem solving, and decision-making. As a person ages there is a gradual, but noticeable change in these cognitive functions that is referred to as “cognitive aging.” “Cognitive aging is not a disease or a level of impair-
PIA, Boy Scouts sponsor food drive
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he Partnerships in Aging Network sponsored a food drive on Saturday, July 11 that benefitted the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s emergency food pantry. The PIA Network – which meets monthly – is organized by Partnerships in Caregiving, Inc. Its mission is to bring together a variety of local organizations that specialize in elder care to inform area caregivers and older adults about the available resources that can help promote healthy aging. Despite the hot and humid conditions, volunteers from the PIA Network and Boy Scouts Troop 395 braved the conditions from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to collect food items from customers at the 72nd and Cedar streets Walmart location. The donated items included dry and evaporated milk, canned fruits, vegetables, and tuna, as well as raisins, soup, and crackers. ENOA’s emergency food pantry is available to men and women age 60 and older when other area food pantries aren’t open. To learn more about the PIA Network, please call Janet Miller at 402-996-8444. HorizonAD-2010:HorizonAD-08
Help us care for Omaha’s senior citizens by supporting our golf outing.
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Monthly support group for widows, widowers
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HEOS, a group for older widows and widowers, meets at 6 p.m. the second Monday of each month at the Presbyterian Church of the Cross, 1517 S. 114th St. The organization offers weekend activities, Wednesday night dinners, and pinochle twice a month. For more information, please call Dorothy at 402399-0759, Mary at 402-3933052, or Joan at 402-3938931.
William E. Seidler Jr.
www.seidler-seidler-law.com 10050 Regency Circle, Suite 525 Omaha, NE 68114-5705
402-397-3801
Senior Health Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit serving the elderly of Omaha since 1906.
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• Conduct a formal cognitive assessment to detect cognitive impairment. • Screen for risk factors such as alcohol use, smoking history, and diet. • Promote the benefits of physical exercise, lifelong learning, social engagement, and adequate sleep. • Highlight the importance of reducing cardiovascular risks such as hypertension and diabetes. • Identify persons at high risk for delirium before or at a hospital admission and institute preventive strategies. • Minimize prescription of inappropriate medications. The article also covers cognitive health as it relates to driving safety, financial decision-making, the use of nutraceuticals, and the effectiveness of brain games among older adults. “There is still more to learn about the biological process involved with cognitive aging, but there are interventions that can be made now,” says Dr. Inouye. “Health care professionals play a vital role in working with older patients and their caregivers to maintain optimal brain health,” she adds.
Attorneys at Law
For player and sponsorship information, contact Mark Kresl @ 402-827-6051 or mkresl@shf.org
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ment—it is a lifelong process that affects everyone,” explains lead author Dr. Sharon K. Inouye, Director of the Aging Brain Center at the Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife in Boston, Mass. and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. “Given the sizable number of adults approaching older age, understanding the impact of cognitive aging has become a significant health concern,” she says. Older adults seem to share the same concerns about their health as a 2014 survey by AARP found that 93 percent of respondents said maintaining brain health was a top priority. In response, the Institute of Medicine committee created recommendations that focus on prevention and intervention opportunities, seek to educate health care practitioners, and help raise public awareness of cognitive health. Action areas for practitioners include:
Delivering quality legal services since 1957.
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August 2015
Learning to cope with life’s detours
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he loss of a job; a bad break-up; a nasty accident; a new, obsessive habit; a big move to a new town; or health problems experienced by you or a loved one. These are some of the many things that can turn your life upside down. These are life’s detours that you don’t expect. Could there be a good way to respond to such turns in life? Is it honest to look on the bright side? Isn’t the root feeling hurt? “I don’t think most people could ask you to deny your feelings, but you don’t have to be led by the nose by feelings, which have a primary characteristic of being temporary,” says Steve Gilliland, a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame and author of the recently released Detour, the follow-up to his widely acclaimed Enjoy The Ride. “Life is change – it’s axiomatic. Most of us accept this on an intellectual, abstract basis. But when it comes to experiencing change, we often resist it. Fear of change causes immense yet unnecessary suffering. Personal growth and maturity are based largely on how you respond to life’s unexpected detours,” Gilliland says. Gilliland summarizes a few basic steps to dealing with life’s detours: • Ask yourself about opportunity. We don’t like most of life’s detours because they force us out of our comfort zone. New duties at work or a request from a spouse may not only pique our defenses but also make us wonder, “Can I do this?” Fear and anxiety may push us to focus on our weaknesses and convince us of what we cannot do. When we make a simple shift in mentality, however, we can empower the beginning of personal growth by seeing unprecedented challenges as opportunities. • Are you willing to change? If not, then you can’t see opportunity. Change is inevitable, growth is optional. If your wife asks you for a more patient attitude, for example, will you grow with an open heart or dig your heels in. She may not divorce you if you remain stubborn, but your relationship will likely flounder. Seeing a challenge as an opportunity
enables self-improvement. And, when it’s time to ask something of your wife, you’ll have currency with which to work. The same principle applies to work. If you’re asked to take on a new responsibility and respond well, you will gain leverage in your career. • Can you envision something better? In the process of internally negotiating change, a positive vision can help you tilt the scales of change as something positive. The vision can be specific. If you don’t know how to use software at work that you need to use, imagine how much better your time will be spent once you learn. What will it take to get there? Practice. It may not be effortless, but you’ll have mapped out a solution. The vision can be broad, too. Is it possible to be more patient in general toward life’s detours? Indeed. Simply having more patience toward loved ones, for example, will improve your relationships tremendously.
Fire Department can install free smoke, carbon monoxide detectors The Omaha Fire Department’s Public Education and Affairs Department is available to install free smoke and/or carbon monoxide detectors inside the residences of area homeowners. To have a free smoke and/or carbon monoxide detector installed inside your home, send your name, address, and telephone number to: Omaha Fire Department Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Requests 10245 Weisman Dr. Omaha, NE 68134 For more information, please call 402-444-3560.
Heartland Intergeneration Center You’re invited to visit the Heartland Intergeneration Center, – 4318 Fort St. – for the following: • Aug. 4: WhyArts? music, arts, & BBQ night from 6 to 7:30 p.m. • Aug. 6: Watch the movie, Fried Green Tomatoes @ 10 a.m. • Aug. 12: Birthday party with music by The Links from the Merrymakers @ 1 p.m. • Aug. 14: Presentation by Joy Johnson @ 12:45 p.m. • Aug. 20: Watch the movie, Fault in Our Stars @ 10 a.m. • Aug. 27: End of summer picnic @ 10 a.m. Please bring a side dish and lawn chairs. The center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is normally served at noon. A $3.50 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to attend. Transportation is available within select neighborhoods for 50 cents each way. Regular activities include Tai Chi classes (Tuesday and Thursday @ 10:15 a.m.), a walking club (Monday and Thursday @ 10:15 a.m.), Bingo (Wednesday @ 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and Friday @ 10 a.m.), crafts, cards, games, speakers, and musical programs. For meal reservations or more information, please call 402-553-5300.
Theatre organ show scheduled for Aug. 9
Older adults with asthma at a higher risk for treatment failure
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lder patients with asthma are at an increased risk for treatment failure, particularly those patients being treated with inhaled corticosteroids, according to a new study. “Asthma morbidity and mortality are known to be increased in middle-aged and older patients, and gender may also affect the incidence and course of the disease, but the impact of age and gender on asthma treatment response is not well understood,” said study author Michael E. Wechsler, MD, MMSc, professor of medicine and director of the Asthma Program at National Jewish Health in Denver. “In our study of 1,200 patients with mild-to-moderate asthma, the risk of treatment failure was increased in patients age 30 and above, and these failure rates increased proportionally with increasing age above age 30 across our study cohort. We also found the rate of treatment failure did not significantly differ between males and females.” The findings were published in the American Thoracic Society’s American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Study subjects were drawn from Asthma Clinical Research Network data on patients participating in 10 trials from 1993 to 2003. Treatment failures were observed in 17.3 percent of patients 30 years old and above, compared with 10.3 percent of those under age 30. Lower lung function measurements and longer duration of asthma were associated with a higher risk of treatment failure. A greater proportion of patients over age 30 receiving controller therapy experienced treatment failures. When stratified by specific treatment, failures increased consistently for every year above age 30 among those patients using inhaled corticosteroids. Patients age 30 and older who were treated with inhaled corticosteroids, either alone or in combination, had more than twice the risk of experiencing a treatment failure compared with patients younger than 30. Males and females had similar asthma control measures and treatment failure rates. “Our novel finding of decreased responsiveness to asthma therapy with increasing age may involve not only biological mechanisms such as differences in the type of airway inflammation in older patients, but may also involve socioeconomic, geographic, or treatment adherence differences between older and younger patients,” said researcher Ryan Dunn, MD, of National Jewish Health in Denver. “Further research is needed to elucidate the causes underlying our observations and to examine whether older patients might benefit from a unique treatment approach.”
The River City Theatre Organ Society’s summer concert is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 9 at the Rose Theater, 20th and Farnam streets. Titled, Let’s Get Lost in the Music, the 3 p.m. show will feature a silent film accompanied by Dave Wickersham at the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ. Omaha Street Percussion will be the special guest performers. Tickets, which are $15 through Aug. 3, are available by sending your check made out to RCTOS to RCTOS, 2864 Katelyn Cir., Lincoln, Neb. 68516. Tickets are also available at the door on Aug. 9 for $20 for adults and $5 for students. For more information, please call 1-402-421-1356 or log on to www.rctos.com.
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Alzheimer’s support groups The Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska Chapter offers several caregiver support groups and specialty support groups each month in Cass, Dodge, Douglas, and Sarpy counties. These support groups offer valuable space and educational opportunities for families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of dementia to engage and learn. Call Elizabeth at 402-502-4301 for more information. CASS COUNTY
• OMAHA
• PLATTSMOUTH Second Tuesday @ 6 p.m. First Lutheran Church 1025 Ave. D
Third Tuesday @ 5 p.m. Immanuel Fontenelle 6809 N 68th Plz. Second Tuesday @ 5:30 p.m. Heritage Pointe 16811 Burdette St.
DODGE COUNTY • FREMONT Last Wednesday @ 2 p.m. Nye Square • 655 W. 23rd St.
DOUGLAS COUNTY
First Thursday @ 6:30 p.m. Early Stage Support Group Security National Bank 1120 S. 101st St. REGISTRATION REQUIRED
• BENNINGTON Last Thursday @ 6 p.m. Ridgewood Active Retirement Community 12301 N. 149th Cr.
Second or third Saturday @ 11 a.m. Caring for Your Parents Call Teri @ 402-393-0434 for location
• ELKHORN Third Monday @ 6 p.m. Elk Ridge Village Assisted Living 19400 Elk Ridge Dr.
• RALSTON
Second Tuesday @ 5:30 p.m. Shalimar Gardens 749 E. 29th St.
Third Monday @ 9:30 a.m. Ralston Senior Center 7301 Q St. Suite 100
• OMAHA
SARPY COUNTY
Second Thursday @ 10 a.m. Country House 5030 S. 155th St. Adult day services provided.
• BELLEVUE Third Monday @ 7 p.m. Bellevue Senior Center 109 W. 22nd Ave.
Every other Monday @ 7 p.m. Brighton Gardens 9220 Western Ave. Third Wednesday @ 3 p.m. Fountain View Senior Living 5710 S 108th St. First & third Monday @ 1:30 p.m. New Cassel/Franciscan Centre 900 N. 90th St. Adult day services are provided on-site.
First Wednesday @ 1 p.m. Eastern Nebraska Vets Home 12505 S. 40th St. Fourth Thursday @ 6 p.m. Hillcrest Health Services 1804 Hillcrest Dr. Second Tuesday @ 5:30 p.m. Heritage Ridge 1502 Fort Crook Rd. South
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Ask A Lawyer: Q — Should I put my child’s name on my home title? A — Let’s look at the pros and cons of this. Pro — It will avoid the need for probate on your home. Con — You would make a gift of a share of the property, and your child would become an owner (joint tenancy). Your child and his/her spouse would have to sign if you ever wished to borrow against your home or sell it. If you ever need Medicaid, you would be subject to a penalty period. Your child would also have to pay capital gain tax on the difference between your original cost and the value at the time of your death. You can avoid these negative factors by use of TOD Deed or a simple trust. We can help with that, so please call. Have a question about estate planning? Give us a call! AARP Legal Service Network • No Charge For Initial Consultation
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Twenty percent of older adults are financial exploitation victims
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illions of dollars in life savings are lost each year due to the financial exploitation of older adults. Perpetrators include scammers, professional caregivers, unethical businesses, and family members. No federal agency tracks elder exploitation cases on an ongoing basis, but 20 percent of Americans age 65 and older reported having been taken advantage of financially in a survey compiled by the Investor Protection Trust. A 2011 study in New York found that only one in 44 cases of elder financial exploitation is ever reported to authorities. “Setting aside any issue of aging, older adults are at the greatest risk for theft simply because they have a lifetime of savings at risk,” said Howard Tischler, founder and CEO of EverSafe. “Older adults and the people who care for them need to be cognizant of the risks and common ways they are targeted for abuse,” he added. Elder financial exploitation also imposes costs on family members after a victim’s resources have been exhausted. Victims often don’t want to tell anyone what happened because they fear family members will believe they’re no longer capable of independence. “For seniors, financial abuse affects not only their bank accounts, but their emotional well-being and even their longevity,” said Liz Loewy, EverSafe general counsel and former chief of the Elder Abuse Unit in the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. “I have seen older victims pass away shortly after learning they were exploited with their families reporting they simply lost the will to live,” she added. EverSafe offers 10 tips to help prevent elder financial abuse: • Have multiple trusted advocates. The “sentinel effect” discourages misconduct by letting those helping to manage an older adult’s funds know their actions are being observed. Having a family member or family members as well as a lawyer, a power of attorney, or a financial advisor, all of whom have visibility into financial accounts can help ensure no one person is able to take personal advantage. Transparency is critical and is a deterrent in and of itself. • Communicate with family members about your future plans. You have a vision for how you want to live as you age.
Share it with your family so they understand your views. Consider discussing your will and potentially a power of attorney with loved ones. This will enable people to be aware of your intentions and plans in case you start to lose capacity. If you have financial advisors, communicate your wishes with them as well. • Understand and talk with loved ones about the most common scams targeting older adults. Learn about common scams like income tax fraud or the “Grandma & Grandpa Scheme,” where an individual calls and pretends to be a grandchild needing money to escape serious trouble. • Only give money to entities you have approached. Never provide your personal financial information over the phone to someone who called you first – not even if they claim to be with a company or charity with which you’ve previously engaged. Adding your phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry also makes it illegal for most telemarketers to call you, though charitable organizations are exempt from these restrictions. • Be cautious about operating with joint accounts. These can be a good way to allow someone you trust to assist with financial tasks, but naming anyone as a joint account holder gives them direct control over the funds in that account. Joint accounts also make your resources subject to the joint account holder’s creditors in the event of liens. • Protect online accounts. In many cases, online banking is much safer and more convenient than paper statements, but it’s not without risk. Use and protect strong passwords. • Don’t provide your account information to anyone who contacts you about a recent data breach. Hackers raiding unsecured databases for personal information are an unfortunate reality of modern life, as are scammers who try to exploit news of these instances by calling or emailing and “phishing” for the information needed to steal your identity. Remember that financial institutions and the IRS don’t call or email to ask for personal information. • Watch all of your accounts closely. Any unauthorized charge – even something as small as a few dollars – could be a test to see if credentials work and how much attention you’re paying. Watch for any unexpected debits or changing patterns of spending. • If someone is helping you with fiHearing loss association nancial decisions, have them document all spending. Family relationships can be will convene on Aug. 11 wrecked by suspicion as much as outright theft, even in the closest of families. Prohe Omaha Area Hearing Loss Asviding visibility into spending helps ensure sociation of America, a support everyone is clear on how funds are used. group for hard of hearing adults, Of course, require the same documentation will next meet on Tuesday, Aug. from non-family caregivers as well. 11 at Dundee Presbyterian Church, 5312 • Rely on helpful technology to fill gaps. Underwood Ave. Participants are asked to enter the church on the Happy Hollow Blvd. Researchers have found financial decisionmaking ability starts to decline by the (east) side. middle age 50s. When you notice financial The 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. meeting will featasks becoming more difficult or taking lonture social time and a speaker. ger, consider a technology service that can The Omaha Area Hearing Loss Associamonitor accounts and identify suspicious tion of America meets the second Tuesday activity. Having younger and older famof the month from September through Deily members involved in monitoring each cember and from March through August. other’s accounts makes sense and provides For more information, please contact the most protection. Beth Ellsworth at ellsworth.beth@cox.net (EverSafe provided this information.) or Verla Hamilton at 402-558-6449.
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August 2015
Read it & eat By Lois Friedman readitandeat@yahoo.com
Warm weather, delicious treats Grab a glass of lemonade, find a comfy chair in the shade, and enjoy these readable treats. Delicious page turners filled with all things food and a recipe or two. From W. W. Norton: The Language of Food By Dan Jurafsky ($26.95) Tickle you tastebuds with this book of foods, culinary customs, and their origins written by a Stanford linguistics professor who teaches the “interconnectedness of civilizations and the vast globalization or EATymology.” Learn linguistic clues, answers hidden in plain sight, what is borrowed from neighbors, and more. Growing a Feast By Kurt Timmermeister ($15.95) From farm-to-table meals comes the story of growing your own meals and farming originally on four acres (13 acres now), gardening, raising livestock, cookhouse dinners, friends and neighbors, and local ingredients used in everyday cooking. A full-time farmer shares some of his home-grown meal recipes. Comfort Me With Offal By Ruth Bourdain (Andrews McMeel, $19.99) Inspired by the great James Beard to write this book, Bourdain uses her “deep knowledge of gastronomy” and award-winning humor. Three decades in the making. Chapter 1: A Brief History of Gastronomy with priceless comparisons, humorous comments, Ruth’s Rules, imagination, and “GQ” quiz...gastronomical quotient. Eat Like a Man Guide to Feeding a Crowd By Esquire Magazine (Chronicle, $30) Also covers cooking for family, friends, and spontaneous parties and camaraderie for late morning, afternoon, night, dinner, and anytime reliables complete with tactics, colorful graphics, photos, and chefs’ recipes with level of difficulty: Try this worth the effort, reasonable, and easy example:
The Sauce for Every Fish (Sauce Vierge) This sauce, called “virgin” because it’s uncooked, works on any fish any style. Serves four. 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 ripe tomato, cut into small dice 1 tbsp finely chopped sweet onion, such a Vidalia 1 tbsp small (nonpareil) capers, drained 1 tbsp finely chopped black olives, preferably Moroccan pulp of 1/4 lemon, diced 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh basil 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh tarragon 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh chives 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts* (optional) In a small, dry pan over medium heat, toast the pine nuts until just fragrant, less than a minute. Stand by the stove. You don’t want to burn them. Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl 15 minutes before serving so the flavors meld.
NARFE Chapters 144, 1370
Retired federal employee groups meet monthly at Omaha eatery The National Active and Retired Federal Employees’ Chapter 144 meets the first Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at the Amazing Pizza Machine, 13955 S Plz. For more information, please call 402-292-1156.
The National Active and Retired Federal Employees’ Aksarben Chapter 1370 meets the second Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at the Amazing Pizza Machine, 13955 S Plz. For more information, please call 402-342-4351.
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Nebraska Regional Poison Center
any parts of the country had a very wet spring in 2015; therefore mold and mildew are common problems in these areas. This time of year the number of calls to the Nebraska Regional Poison Center concerning bleach exposures rises. Bleach has many uses around the house but it can cause problems if it gets into the eyes or is swallowed. Bleach should never be used with other cleaning products. When it comes in contact with other cleaners that contain acids or ammonia - a dangerous gas can form causing serious breathing problems. As the weather warmed up, the Nebraska Regional Poison Center received a lot more calls about bites and stings. The bee population has increased and will be at its peak until the first freeze. Persons who are stung should call the poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Close observation for allergic reaction to the bite or sting is important, especially in the first hour. With the very wet spring questions about the proper use of insect repellents will be a common call to the poison center. DEET containing insecticides should be applied sparingly to exposed skin and clothing. Remember, lower concentrations of less than 10 percent have been found to be just as effective as higher concentrations. Days are longer and children are out of school spending more time outdoors where they can be exposed to poisons. Hydrocarbons found in gasoline, kerosene, lighter fluids, and torch fuels are among the top causes of childhood poisoning deaths in the United States. Make sure you store these items up and out of reach after use. It’s important to take some precautions when firing up the grill or heading to a picnic. Remember to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. The USDA recommends fully cooking all meats to ensure bacteria are destroyed to prevent food poisoning. Meats should be cooked to 160 degrees. Always use a food thermometer, as you can’t tell if meat is fully cooked by just looking at it. Summer is the busiest time of the year for the poison center and the nurses are always available to answer
August 2015
your questions at 1-800-222-1222. Program the poison center’s telephone number into your phone before you leave for vacation. By calling 1-800222-1222 anywhere in the country you will reach a poison center. Call the poison center before you head to the emergency room for a poisoning. The call is free and you’ll be given expert advice and possibly save yourself some money. (The Nebraska Regional Poison Center provided this information.)
Study: Most cataract patients have improved vision, better lives Individuals considering having cataract surgery take heart – a new study found almost all patients who undergo the procedure are satisfied with their improved vision and increased quality of life.
the procedure is becoming increasingly performed on individuals younger than age 65. Patient satisfaction rates with cataract surgery were very high in several areas reviewed in the study: • 99.7 percent said they would recommend the pro“Every day we cedure to friends or relatives hear from with cataracts. • 96 percent reported their patients who have vision was better post-surimproved quality gery, while two percent said it was the same. of life thanks to • 98 percent said they this procedure.” were comfortable during the procedure. The Accreditation Associ• 98 percent said they ation for Ambulatory Health were comfortable postCare Institute for Quality discharge. Improvement (AAAHC In• 96 percent returned to stitute) collected more than normal activities of daily 1,200 surveys of patients living within one week of who had recently underthe procedure. gone cataract surgery from • Only 4 percent reported 59 ambulatory health care post-surgical contact with organizations. The surveys their health care providshow that almost all patients ers for reasons other than – 99.7 percent – said they routine, scheduled followwould recommend the proup, to address issues such cedure to friends or relatives as blurred vision, eye/eyelid suffering from cataracts. irritation, pain, prescrip “The patient survey data tion clarification, and vision clearly shows that patients problems. find value in cataract sur“The satisfaction numgery and are generally very bers in this study show how pleased with the outcomes worthwhile cataract surgery of the procedure,” said is for so many individuals,” Naomi Kuznets, Ph.D., vice said Kris Kilgore, R.N., president and senior director AAAHC Institute board for the AAAHC Institute. member and administrative Cataracts occur when director of Grand Rapids protein builds up on the lens Ophthalmology Surgery of an eye, making the perCenter, in Grand Rapids, son’s vision cloudy. They Mich. are usually a normal part “Every day we hear from of aging. During cataract patients who have improved surgery, a surgeon makes a quality of life thanks to this small incision to remove the procedure. This study bears cloudy lens, and then reout empirically the wonderplaces it with a clear, manful anecdotes we hear from made lens. patients every day.” By 2030, 38 million Americans will suffer from VOTES WANTED cataracts, a number which PLEASE GO TO will increase to 50 million www.lightthebridge.org by 2050, according to the National Eye Institute of 100% non-profit the National Institutes of addressing hunger Health. VOTES TO DATE While cataract surgery is • For: 2,612 • Against: 90 most commonly associated • Please vote today to with older adults, a 2013 address hunger. Mayo Clinic study found
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Kleinberg: We looked at hardship as something to overcome By Nick Schinker Contributing Writer
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efore he was 10 years old, Milton Mendel Kleinberg witnessed the horrors of war and genocide, the terror that comes from loved ones being separated, the heartbreaking death of two brothers, and the persistent pain of having to go hungry day after day. His family was uprooted from their home in Poland and forced by the Nazis on a harrowing journey to live in the Soviet labor camps in the desolation of Siberia. Surrounded by hatred and anti-Semitism, Kleinberg saw the worst brutality humans can inflict upon another – and he learned how he would react to it when his only choices were to fight or die. Today, at age 78, Kleinberg is a successful Omaha businessman, a loving family man, and a proud American. And, he says he is still witnessing the vile brutality of hatred in the world being directed against people simply because of their ancestry, their race, or their faith. “Absolutely, ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and alSham) is the new Nazis,” he says. “There is a holocaust taking place in the Middle East and, just like 70 years ago, no one is speaking out. The same thing happened before Hitler started marching across Europe.” Kleinberg believed he had put the memories of his frightening past behind him. But over the years, his children and grandchildren began asking questions. Bit by bit, some of the stories would come out. Eventually, he began to write his life’s story. In 2010, he self-published his memories in book form, titled Memories of My
Childhood During and After the Holocaust. He produced 500 copies in English and 200 in Hebrew, giving them to family, friends, and clients. He also offered copies to Holocaust museums in the U.S. and Israel. “I really didn’t think it would be of interest to anyone beyond my family and friends,” he says. He was wrong. In 2014, he partnered with Omaha’s Concierge Publishing and worked to republish his story, this time titled, Bread or Death. Kleinberg consulted with the Institute for Holocaust Education to develop a teacher’s guide, glossary, and study questions, and to weave historical events of the time within his chapters. It has since been very well received, he says. “I never wrote it to make any money,” says Kleinberg, a philanthropist whose generosity benefits many local, national, and international organizations. “I wrote it specifically for this time and this period in our world’s history. “Now more than ever, we need to be reminded.” Excerpt from Bread or Death:
“When I came to America, I made a pledge to myself that I was going to put the war behind me, that I was not going to dwell on the past, and that I was going to start a new life in America. My whole attitude was that the past was the past and I didn’t care to look back. “It’s a terrible thing if you feel like a victim. I had a friend who was a survivor and he lived the Holocaust every day because he felt he was a victim. My attitude about people is simple – all people are essentially the same, the only difference among them is how they
Kleinberg believes education is the key to overcoming hatred in the world.
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In 1990, Milton Kleinberg bought into a company that has become Senior Market Sales, an insurance marketing firm that employs about 250 people. see the world. If you think you are a victim, then that’s what you are. Victimhood is paralyzing. If you think you can’t do something, then you won’t try.”
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ilton Kleinberg lost two brothers during the war. The first was his infant brother, Velvel, who died in his mother’s arms on the train to Samarkand, Uzbekistan in 1941. The second was his beloved brother, Hershel, who died of malaria in 1943 at age 5. Kleinberg fought many fistfights with other boys to protect his younger, frail brother. Later, as a father, he named his son, Hershel in tribute. “We never considered ourselves victims,” he says. “We looked at hardship as something to overcome. No matter how my mother was struggling to keep us safe or fed, whenever she found someone in dire need, she would help.” To this day, the bond of a family remains very important to Kleinberg. He has two children, six grandchildren, and eight “and three-fourths” greatgrandchildren, all of whom live in Israel. The wallpaper on the computer screen in his office at Senior Market Sales, Inc., an Omaha-based insurance marketing compa-
August 2015
ny where he still works each day as chairman and CEO, is a photo of him holding one of his great-grandchildren. His work is also important. Kleinberg started his insurance career in the 1960s as a field agent in Milwaukee, where he lived after coming to America in 1951. He then began R-K Insurance Associates of the Midwest in Milwaukee, and later MMK & Associates in Mequon, Wis. In time, his reputation as an expert in the Medicare market led to what he thought would be a temporary business opportunity in Omaha. An insurance broker here had landed a contract distributing Medicare Supplement insurance for Colonial Penn, and needed Kleinberg’s help getting the program launched in 1985. The temporary move became permanent in 1990 when Kleinberg bought into the company. Today, it is Senior Market Sales, a worldwide business employing about 250 people. He is proud of the company he has helped build, and of his adopted homeland. “I have been all over the world,” he says. “I have seen the good of it and I have seen the evil of it. People say America is not the best it can be, but I can tell you this: nobody of my
background could have the kind of success I have anywhere but in America.” Bread or Death Pages 101-102: “I remember once saying if I ever had enough to eat, I would never ask for anything more. True hunger is like an urge you have in your mind and body that never goes away. You think about it all the time. Hunger is a pain you can never satisfy as long as you lack enough to eat. When you finally do get satisfied, it is a feeling you never forget.”
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any passages in Kleinberg’s book recount how precious little food he and his family had and how close they were to the brink of death. He says he still hasn’t forgotten what it means to be truly hungry. “Food today is unfortunately too big a part of my life,” he says, smiling as he touches his hand to his waistline. “I am a founding member of the Clean Plate Club. Seriously, we feel very guilty in my house if we ever throw food away. Usually, we eat the leftovers until they are all gone.” He and his wife, Marsha, are active supporters of --Please turn to page 11.
Milton sharing his story through book, speaking engagements
Milton Kleinberg, age 14, in the USA. --Continued from page 10. several religious and charitable causes including the Jewish Federation of Omaha, Chabad House of Nebraska, The Salvation Army, Beth Israel Synagogue, Friedel Jewish Academy, Bellevue University, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), United Way, the Omaha Public Library, and the Omaha Food Bank.
“The problem is education. If a child learns to hate, it stays with them and is passed on to the next generation.”
In 2009, five generations of Milton Kleinberg’s family gathered in Wisconsin. Today, his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren live in Israel.
Kleinberg’s class photo taken in the Wasseralfingen Displaced Persons camp in West Germany in 1948. Kleinberg is the third person from the right in the first row.
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“Supporting the food bank is our way of helping others to not go hungry,” he says. He also has become a proficient public speaker, sharing his life story with a wide array of groups, schools, and clubs. In September, he will address the history department and Thompson Scholars at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. In October, Kleinberg will return to Milwaukee for a speech. He says his message is both historical and timely because he recounts his personal experiences, the hatred that underscored World War II and the Holocaust, and how he believes it continues to plague the world today. “Most people aren’t haters,” he says. “The problem is education. If a child learns to hate, it stays with them and is passed on to the next generation.” Kleinberg believes this is behind the unrest in many regions of the Middle East. “People are being hated because of false narratives created for the purpose of seizing power and control,” he says. “ISIS, for example, is creating false narratives as teaching tools and then using children as gunpowder.” Hatred as a driving force can be defeated, Kleinberg says. “If you focus on the right thing, and that is the education of our children. When a parent teaches a child to hate, or a school teaches a child to hate, or a government or a group or a religious leader teaches a child to hate, it is like infecting them with a disease and they become a carrier. “No matter what country, no matter what religion, hatred doesn’t belong in education,” he says. “Until we change that, there will be no peace.”
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RSVP
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is recruiting persons age 55 and older for a variety of opportunities. For more information in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties, please call 402-444-6536, ext. 224. In Dodge and Washington counties, please call 402721-7780. The following have volunteer opportunities in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties: • The Disabled American Veterans need volunteer drivers. • The Douglas County Civic Center/Hall of Justice wants volunteers to host tours. • The American Cancer Society is looking for volunteers to assist walk in guests and for other duties.
• Bergan Mercy Medical Center is looking for volunteers to help in several areas. • Rebuilding Together wants volunteers to work on home projects. • Catholic Charities Christ Child Center North wants volunteers to help older adults with crafts, outings, and other activities. • The Livingston Plaza Apartments need a volunteer teacher. • HELP Adult Services is looking for volunteers to serve as family care companions and for other duties. The following have a volunteer opportunity in Dodge and/or Washington County: • The Blair and Fremont Car-Go Program needs volunteer drivers. • The Fremont Friendship Center wants volunteers to facilitate classes. • The Danish American Archive Library needs volunteers to help with its archives. • The American Red Cross (Dodge County chapter) is looking for volunteers for a variety of duties.
Get information through 211 network The 211 telephone network has been established in parts of Nebraska to give consumers a single source for information about community and human services. By dialing 211, consumers can access information about human needs resources like food banks, shelters, rent and utility assistance, physical and mental health resources, employment support, and support for older Americans and persons with a disability. The 211 network is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Jeannie, her family benefitting from PACE program Though Jeannie has had surgeries for Ms. McIntosh is a few months into the eannie McIntosh brings her positive ather condition, she relies on a power chair program and she loves it. She and her titude and a strong faith with her to the JImmanuel for mobility. Despite this, Ms. McIntosh is family are pleased they made the deciPathways PACE (Program of All inclusive Care for the Elderly) Center every day. At age 64, Ms. McIntosh has dealt with Cerebral Palsy all her life. This has made the daily activities of living difficult for her, especially as she gets older. Immanuel Pathways is an approved PACE organization. The program offers a complete health plan for eligible individuals providing a personal and comprehensive way of receiving health and social care. The goal is to help participants continue living in their own home and community for as long as safely possible. Ms. McIntosh’s wonderful family, including five children, provides help and support for her on a regular basis. Looking for additional support and coordinated care, Jeannie enrolled in the Immanuel Pathways PACE program on May 1. Jeannie is picked up by Immanuel Pathways’ transportation service every morning and heads to the PACE Center.
sion to enroll into the program. Having transportation to get out of her home is one of the things Jeannie likes best about PACE because she has no car and uses a power chair. She feels that coming to the center allows her to stay on track with her health, to make new friends, learn things, and play games, especially bingo! Ms. McIntosh has a very unique type of Cerebral Palsy. Each of her five children also has the disorder, along with half of her grandchildren. Jeannie has taught her children that although they may be physically challenged, it’s important to build their minds and their faith. She’s instilled the importance of education and staying out of trouble in her children. Her strong faith compels Jeannie to continuously advocate for others and remind people we all have a special purpose in life. -- ADVERTISEMENT --
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able to readily participate in activities at the PACE Center. She feels that joining the PACE program has been a great experience and she really enjoys the friendly staff. She also is comforted to know that medical care and therapy are readily available if and when she needs them. “Everything comes to us, which makes things easier for us,” Jeannie said. She and her family love the PACE program. They all believe Immanuel Pathways has been positive for Jeannie’s physical and emotional health. To learn more about the Immanuel Pathways and the PACE programs, please call 402-991-0330.
Keeping an eye on the West Nile Virus
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osquitoes that don’t take flight will never bite. That’s why the Douglas County Health Department is putting out larvicide briquettes to kill mosquitoes in ponds where they breed. The DCHD has also resumed West Nile Virus surveillance, and no one can be certain what to expect in 2015. “There are two keys to tracking the West Nile Virus in any community,” said Dr. Adi Pour, the DCHD’s health director. “Those are birds and bugs.” Using funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the DCHD traps mosquitoes every two weeks to check for population estimates and to learn what species are active. The captured mosquitoes are sent to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to be tested for the West Nile Virus. The department also uses larvicide briquettes to control the mosquito population, including nuisance mosquitoes and those that carry the West Nile Virus. The DCHD is collect-
ing dead birds to be tested for the virus. Those of greatest interest are crows, black-billed magpies, and blue jays. Red-tailed hawks, peregrine falcons, and owls also can be infected. The collections will stop once the county records two positive tests. Birds must appear to have died within 24 hours if they’re to be used for testing, and they must not be decomposed. Here are some ideas from the DCHD to help prevent mosquito bites: • Apply a mosquito repellant that includes DEET. The CDC also has approved picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus. The CDC generally recommends applying the sunscreen first when using sunscreen and repellant. Products that combine sunscreen and repellant are not recommended. • Wear loose, long-sleeved shirts, plus pants, shoes, and socks when outdoors. • Avoid outdoor activity around dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are the most active. • Remove standing water or report it to the DCHD for treatment. The West Nile Virus can be spread to people if they’re bitten by mosquitoes that picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Only a small percentage of mosquitoes carry the virus. “We have no way to know how many West Nile cases we’ll have in Douglas County this year,” Dr. Pour said. “We do know how to reduce the threat.” In recent years, the number of West Nile virus cases in Douglas County has ranged from 69 in 2003 to two cases a year later. In 2014, the county reported five cases of West Nile virus infection. For more information, please call the Douglas County Health Department at 402-444-7481. (The DCHD provided this information.)
Dementia, managing its symptoms topic of programs through December
Douglas County Health Department has tips to keep you cool in summer
A free educational series of programs that will help caregivers of persons with dementia understand how to provide the best possible care for their loved ones will be offered this fall. Called Learning to Live with Dementia, the presentations focus on the various types of dementia and how to manage symptoms. The series takes place Sept. 9, Oct. 14, Nov. 11, and Dec. 9 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Servite Center of Compassion, 7400 Military Ave. To register, contact Sister Margaret Stratman at 402-951-3026 or scc@osms.org. Registration is limited so persons who sign up are asked to attend all four sessions. The four components of the program are: • Dementia basics focusing on four types of dementia. • Mystery and reality of living with different dementias covering the symptoms, behaviors, and preserved skills of the four types of dementia. • Person-centered care discusses the importance of short-term and long-term individual planning for both the caregiver and the care receiver. • Compassionate care outlines resources available for support and talks about the Compassionate Journey. “Taking care of a person with dementia presents unique challenges, and this series provides caregivers with helpful information and also provides a forum for caregivers to learn from and support each other,” said Nancy Flaherty, president of Flaherty Senior Consulting. For more information, contact Nancy Flaherty at 402-312-9324 or online at flahertyconsulting@cox.net.
t feels like summer, but that’s not all good. On the average, heat is – by far – the biggest weather killer in the United States, and with high temperatures in the works these days, the Douglas County Health Department wants everyone to take it easy and use some simple steps to prevent heatrelated illness. “Outdoor living is popular, but the heat could make for potentially deadly conditions, ” said Douglas County Health Director Dr. Adi Pour. Some ideas to help you avoid heat-related problems include: • Never leave a person or an animal in a closed, parked vehicle. • Drink plenty of fluids before you get thirsty, and avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine. Water is the best drink during hot weather. • Take advantage of air conditioning as much as possible. • Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. • Outdoor activities should be limited to the cooler morning and evening hours. Athletes participating in outdoor activities need special attention. • Those 65 years of age or older and children are more at risk during hot weather. You can help by checking on these individuals during the day. • A sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher should be used when you’re outside. “Please don’t become a heat-related injury statistic,” Dr. Pour said. “It doesn’t need to happen to you.” (The Douglas County Health Department provided this information.)
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August 2015
The right exercises can help reduce pain, stiffness in your hands, wrists
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f you find daily tasks difficult to do because you suffer from stiffness, swelling, or pain in your hands, the right exercises can help get you back into motion. Therapists usually suggest specific exercises depending on the condition. Some help increase a joint’s range of motion or lengthen the muscle and tendons via stretching. These exercises are helpful for osteoarthritis as well as tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow; but not when the joints are inflamed or painful. Other exercises strengthen muscles around a joint to generate more power or to build greater endurance. These are helpful for inflammation of the tendons (tendinitis) and nonpainful arthritis conditions. Below you’ll find some commonly recommended exercises for hand and wrist problems. However, if your hand condition is painful or debilitating, it’s best to get exercise advice from a physical therapist. All exercises should be done slowly and deliberately to avoid pain and injury. If you feel numbness or pain during or after exercising, stop and contact your doctor. Your muscles and tendons move the joints through arcs of motion, as when you bend and straighten your fingers. If your normal range of motion is impaired – if you can’t bend your thumb without pain, for example – you may have trouble doing ordinary things like opening a jar. These exercises move your wrist and fingers through their normal ranges of motion and require all the hand’s tendons to perform their specific functions. Hold each position for five to 10 seconds. Do one set of 10 repetitions, three times a day. • Place your forearm on a table on a rolled-up towel for padding with your hand hanging off the edge of the table, palm down. • Move the hand upward until you feel a gentle stretch. • Return to the starting position. • Repeat the same motions with the elbow bent at your side, palm facing up. • Stand or sit with your arm at your side with the elbow bent to 90 degrees, palm facing down. Rotate your forearm so that your palm faces up and then down. • Support your forearm on a table on a rolled-up towel for padding or on your knee, thumb upward. Move the wrist up and down through its full range of motion. • Begin with your thumb positioned outward. Move the thumb across the palm and back to the starting position. (The Harvard Medical School provided this information.)
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Dora Bingel Senior Center
Woodmen, Beardmore donate to ENOA
You’re invited to visit the Dora Bingel Senior Center, 923 N. 38th St., this month for the following: • Aug. 3: Book Club. • Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31: Al-anon meeting @ 7 p.m. • Aug. 4, 11, 18, & 25: Grief support group @ 10 a.m. • Aug. 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, & 28: Ceramics. • Aug. 5: Holy Communion @ 11 a.m. • Aug. 14: The Merrymakers present music by Cynthia Ziesman @ 12:15 p.m. Lunch is $3. • Aug. 19: Nurse visit. Call 402-392-1818 for an appointment. • Aug. 26: Birthday party @ noon. Eat free if you have an August birthday. • Aug. 27: Red Hats meeting @ 11 a.m. • Aug. 28: Hard of Hearing Support Group @ 10:30 a.m. Lunch is served on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. A $1 donation is suggested for the meals other than $3 on Merrymakers Day. Round-trip transportation is $3. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance for meals. Other activities include Tuesday: Matinee @ 12:30 p.m. Wednesday: Devotions @ 10:30 a.m., Tai Chi @ 11:15 a.m., Bible study @ 12:30 p.m., and Bingo @ 12:30 p.m. Friday: Joy Club Devotions @ 9:30 a.m., Bible study @ 12:30 p.m., and Bingo @ 12:30 p.m. For more information, please call 402-898-5854.
Fremont Friendship Center You’re invited to visit the Fremont Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St. (Christensen Field), this month for the following: • Aug. 5: Music by Jim Rathbun @ 10:30 a.m., • Aug. 6: Music by the Breitbarth Trio @ 10:30 a.m. • Aug. 7: Traveling pitch tournament @ 9:30 a.m. • Aug. 12: Music by Wayne Miller @ 10:30 a.m. • Aug. 13: Presentation by ENOA nutritionist Michaela Howard @ 10 a.m. • Aug. 19: Music by Joe Taylor @ 10:30 a.m. • Aug. 25: Potluck supper at 5:30 p.m. The cost is $3 plus a side dish. Music by The Neals @ 6:30 p.m. • Aug. 26: Music by pianist Wally @ 10:30 a.m. • Aug. 27: Presentation on Three Rivers’ services @ 10 a.m. The Fremont Friendship Center is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. A $3.50 donation is suggested for lunch. Reservations must be made by noon the business day prior to the meal you wish to enjoy. For meal reservations and more information, please call Laurie at 402-727-2815.
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he back end of the 2015 Subaru Forester was filled with a variety of products including boxes of uncooked spaghetti, rice, and potatoes, tubes of jelly, and cans of vegetables. A nearby table was covered with similar items that couldn’t fit inside the vehicle. Beardmore Subaru in Bellevue donated these items to the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Meals on Wheels program as part of the nationwide Subaru Loves to Help effort. During June, Beardmore’s customers brought the products to the dealership, according to Marcus McLean, Beardmore Subaru’s sales manager. Each weekday, ENOA delivers approximately 700 hot, nutritious meals to homebound older adults in the Omaha area. The agency also provides items like those donated by Beardmore Subaru to clients with additional nutritional needs. “I want to thank Beardmore Subaru and its customers for the generous donation,” said Arlis Smidt, who coordinates ENOA’s Meals on Wheels program.
Mizzou study examining improved kidney function
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s advances in medicine allow individuals to live longer, people are facing unique age-related health challenges. As men and women age, organs such as the kidneys become more susceptible to injury and their ability to self-repair is decreased. Researchers from the University of Missouri have found a cellular signal that causes kidney cells to die, making the kidneys prone to injury. This finding could lead to improved kidney function among older adults. “The kidney is a remarkable organ,” said Alan Parrish, Ph.D., associate professor of medical pharmacology and physiology at
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kills cells that are no longer needed or that pose a threat to the organism,” Parrish said. “But when this self-destruct sequence is activated due to a lack of alpha (E)catenin, healthy cells end up being destroyed. We don’t know why the aging body doesn’t produce enough of this protein. However, we’ve found how this selfdestruct message is being communicated.” By identifying how the self-destruct message is being received, the researchers are hopeful they can find a way to interrupt this message and ultimately improve the health and function of the kidney. “Now that we have identified this communication pathway, how do we manipulate this pathway to protect the kidney?” Parrish asked. “We know that as we age we’re losing alpha (E)catenin, so we hope to find out how we can either prevent that loss or substitute for its function. That’s what we will study next.” (The U. of Missouri provided this information.)
Members of the Omaha Sertoma Club encourage area residents to collect used and unwanted clothing, shoes, hats, caps, belts, purses, bedding, and towels by cleaning out their closets and other places these items are stored. These items can then be placed in bags and taken to and placed inside the donation bin at the Westside Community Center near 108th and Grover streets. These tax-deductible donations will be recycled and sent to people overseas. The Sertoma Club will receive funds for its programs that help people with hearing impairments. For more information, please call 402-218-1299.
402-339-9080
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the MU School of Medicine and co-author of the study. “If it is injured, it has a pronounced ability to repair itself. But as we age, many individuals have a reduced production of a protein known as alpha (E)-catenin. When this protein isn’t produced, cells inside the kidney undergo an abnormal type of cellular suicide known as apoptosis. This causes kidney cells to die in excess numbers, putting the organ at risk for acute kidney injuries.” Catenin proteins serve a number of functions in the cell, such as maintaining the cell’s shape. The proteins also regulate how quickly cells multiply. When the protein is lost, cells grow more quickly, leading to an increased production of kidney cells. A signal in the cell is then activated for these extra cells to be destroyed, causing unregulated apoptosis. When too many of these cells self-destruct, kidney function can be compromised. Apoptosis is vital to the health of organs, because it
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n March, Woodmen Life held a Vegas Night as a way to raise money for ENOA’s emergency food pantry. Then last month, Jennifer M. Shirk, the company’s community outreach manager, donated a check for $2,000 to ENOA Executive Director Dennis Loose and Susie Davern, who coordinates the agency’s congregate meals program and its emergency food pantry. Shirk said the Vegas Night was part of Woodmen Life’s nationwide campaign to raise money to fight hunger in the United States. ENOA has a network of 28 senior centers in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties. More information is available at enoa.org. A small food pantry is available for ENOA clients when other local food pantries are not operating. “The $2,000 donation will fund our emergency food pantry for an entire year,” Davern said. “I want to thank Woodmen Life on behalf of ENOA and the older men and women that benefit from our emergency food pantry.”
August 2015
Please see the ad on page 3
New Horizons Club membership roll rises $25 Kem and Joy Cunningham Anonymous Kathleen Best William Collins $20 Mary Brady $10 Willie Jewel Stigger Doris Klingemann James Steele Art Goodwin Frank Kratzer, Jr. Donna Almgren Betty Beecham $5 Isabelle Clinkenbeard Pat Camenzend Mary Ann Matteson Norm Quist Reflects donations received through July 24, 2015
Maplewood Estates Lifestyle • Community • Convenience • Family Values
Programs on aging through Nov. 17
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he University of Nebraska Medical Center’s EngAge Wellness program and The Art of Aging are co-sponsoring a series of free programs the third Tuesday of each month through November. The 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. presentations will be held at the Home Instead Center for Successful Aging, 38th Avenue and Leavenworth Street. Here’s the schedule: • Aug. 18: Swallowed by A Snake — Everyone Grieves with Joy Johnson, founder of Centering Corporation and Ted E. Bear Hollow. • Sept. 15: Age to Age: When Do We Need a Geriatrician? with Elizabeth Harlow, M.D., from UNMC. • Oct. 20: On the Move! Successfully Getting from One Home to Another with Mike Fujan of True North. • Nov. 17: Home for the Holidays: A Recipe for Peace with Diane Hendricks from UNMC. To register or for more information, please call 402-552-7210 or log on the Internet to www. artofaginginc.com.
The Blue Barn Theatre releases ‘15 - 16 slate The 2015-16 schedule for the Blue Barn Theatre has been announced. The 27th season will be the Blue Barn Theatre’s first in its new location at 1106 S. 10th St. TRUBLU membership season ticket prices are $110 for adults and $90 for seniors and students. • Sept 24 to Oct. 18: The Grown Up by Jordan Harrison. • Nov. 27 to Dec. 20: Little Nelly’s Naughty Noel by Tim Siragusa and Jill Anderson. • Feb. 4 to 28: Frost/Nixon by Peter Morgan. • March 24 to April 17: The Christians by Lucas Hnath. • May 19 to June 19: Heathers – The Musical by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy. For more information, please call 402-345-1576.
Computer group for older adults meets monthly at Abrahams Library
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ou’re invited to join the Omaha Computer Users Group (OCUG), an organization dedicated to helping men and women age 50 and older learn more about their computers. Anyone can join OCUG regardless of his or her computer skills. The organization’s 50 members meet the third Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon at the Abrahams Library, 5111 N. 90th St. Annual dues to OCUG, which has existed for 15 years, are $25. OCUG has a projector connected to a Microsoft Windows 7 computer and a Windows 8 computer to show users how to solve their computer problems. Bring your questions concerning your computer problems to the meetings for answers. For more information, please call OCUG’s president Phill Sherbon at 402-333-6529.
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Pick up your free copy of New Horizons each month The New Horizons is available at locations throughout eastern Nebraska. Stop by and pick up a free copy each month at one of the following: Adams Park Senior Center 3230 John Creighton Blvd.
Evans Tower 3600 N. 24th St.
Life Care Center 6032 Ville de Sante Dr.
Ridgewood Apts. 6801 Spring St.
Aksarben Manor 7410 Mercy Rd.
Florence Home 7915 N. 30th St.
Livingston Plaza Apts. 303 S. 132nd St.
Rorick Apts. 604 S. 22nd St.
The Ambassador 1540 N. 72nd St.
Florence Senior Center 2920 Bondesson St.
Louisville Senior Center 423 Elm St.
Royal Oaks/House of Hope 4801 N. 52nd St.
American Red Cross 3838 Dewey St.
Fremont (Neb.) Friendship Center 1730 W. 16th St.
Lutheran Home 530 S. 26th St.
St. Bernard Church 3601 N 65th St.
Mangelsen’s 84th & Grover streets
St. Bridget Church 4112 S. 26th St.
Maple Crest Condos 2820 N. 66th Ave.
St. Joseph Tower 2205 S. 10th St.
Mercy Care Center 1870 S. 75th St.
St. Joseph Villa 2305 S. 10th St.
Millard Manor 12825 Deauville Dr.
St. Mary’s Church 811 S. 23rd St. Bellevue
Arlington (Neb.) Senior Center 305 N. 3rd St. Bank of Nebraska 7223 S. 84th St. Bellewood Court Apts. 1700 Lincoln Rd. Bellevue Bellevue Library 1003 Lincoln Rd.
Friendship Program 7315 Maple St. GOCA 3604 Fowler Ave. Gold Coast Square 1213 Gold Coast Rd. Papillion Hallmark Care Center 5505 Grover St.
Millard Montclair Senior Center 2304 S. 135th Ave.
Bennington (Neb.) Senior Center 322 N. Molley St.
Heartland Family Service Senior Center 4318 Fort St.
Mission Vue Apartments 406 E. Mission Ave. Bellevue
Benson Tower 5900 NW Radial Hwy.
Hickory Villa 7315 Hickory St.
Bickford Cottage 11309 Blondo St.
Hillcrest Care Center 1702 Hillcrest Rd. Bellevue
Monarch Villa 201 E. Cedardale Dr. Papillion
Bellevue Senior Center 109 W. 22nd Ave.
Dora Bingel Senior Center 923 N. 38th St. Blumkin Home 333 S. 132nd St. Camelot 6 Apartments 9415 Cady Ave. Camelot Friendship Center 9270 Cady Ave.
Hooper (Neb.) Senior Center 208 N. Main St. Immanuel Courtyard 6757 Newport Ave. Immanuel Medical Center 6901 N. 72nd St.
Montclair Nursing Home 2525 S. 135th St. Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition 2240 Landon Ct. New Cassel 900 N. 90th St. Nehawka (Neb.) Senior Center North Bend (Neb.) Senior Center
Carter Lake Senior Center 626 Locust St.
Immanuel Trinity Village 522 N. Lincoln St. Papillion
Central Park Tower 1511 Farnam St.
Immanuel Village 6803 N. 68th Plz.
Oak Valley Apts. 12425 Krug Ave.
Christie Heights Senior Center 3623 P St.
Intercultural Community Senior Center 3010 R St.
OEA Apts. 122 S. 39th St.
Chubb Foods 2905 N. 16th St. W. Dale Clark Library 215 S. 15th St. Corrigan Senior Center 3819 X St. Croatian Cultural Society 8711 S. 36th St. Crown Pointe Retirement Center 2820 S. 80th St. Crown Tower 5904 Henninger Dr. deFreese Manor 2669 Dodge St. Dodge (Neb.) Senior Center 226 N. Elm St. Douglas County Housing 5449 N. 107th Plz. Durham Booth Manor 3612 Cuming St. Eagles Club 23rd & L streets
Jackson Tower 600 S. 27th St. Kay Jay Tower 25th & K streets Kohll’s Pharmacy 50th & Dodge streets Kohll’s Pharmacy 4230 L St. Kohll’s Pharmacy 2923 Leavenworth St. Kohll’s Pharmacy 12739 Q St. Kohll’s Pharmacy 3427 S. 84th St. Kohll’s Pharmacy 617 N. 114th St. Kohll’s Pharmacy 1413 S. Washington St. Papillion Kubat Pharmacy 4924 Center St.
Oak Grove Manor 4809 Redman Ave.
OEA Manor 320 N. 22nd St. OJ’s Mexican Restaurant 9201 N. 30th St. Omaha Nursing Home 4835 S. 49th St. The Orchards at Wildwood 7454 Gertrude St. Papillion Senior Center 1001 Limerick Ave. Park East Tower 539 S. 26th St. Park Tower North 1501 Park Ave.
St. Mary Magdalene Church 1817 Dodge St. St. Vincent DePaul 5920 Maple St. Sarpy County Courthouse 1261 Golden Gate Dr. Seven Oaks at Notre Dame 3439 State St. Skyline Manor 7300 Graceland Dr. Snyder (Neb.) Senior Center 2nd & Elm streets Social Security Office 7100 W. Center Rd. Suite 200 Social Settlement 4868 Q St. South Omaha Eagles 6607 Sunshine Dr. Southview Heights 49th & streets Swanson Library 9101 W. Dodge Rd. Joe Tess Restaurant 5424 S. 24th St. Thrift Store 7328 Maple St. Trinity Cathedral 18th Street & Capitol Avenue Twin Tower Apts. 3000 Farnam St. Underwood Tower 4850 Underwood Ave. Veterans Hospital 4101 Woolworth St.
Petrow’s Restaurant 5914 Center St.
Ville de Sante Terrace 6202 Ville de Sante Dr.
Phil’s Foodway 3030 Ames Ave.
Village Inn 309 N. Fort Crook Rd. Bellevue
Phil’s Foodway 4232 Redman Ave. Pine Tower 1501 Pine St.
Eagle (Neb.) Senior Center 509 4th St.
LaVista (Neb.) Senior Center 8116 Parkview Blvd.
Plattsmouth (Neb.) Senior Center 308 S. 18th St.
Elmwood (Neb) Senior Center 144 N. 4th St.
Leo’s Diner 6055 Maple St.
Ralston (Neb.) Senior Center 7301 Q St.
Elmwood Tower 801 S. 52nd St.
Leo Vaughn Manor 3325 Fontenelle Blvd.
Remington Heights 12606 W. Dodge Rd.
JC Wade Manor 3464 Ohio St. Walgreen’s Pharmacy 5038 Center St. Weeping Water (Neb.) Senior Center 101 E. Eldora St. The Wellington 501 E. Gold Coast Rd. Papillion
Gathering at 7180 N. 60th St.
AARP Florence Chapter 2269 is meeting on Monday, Aug. 17
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he Florence AARP Chapter 2269 meets each month at the Olive Crest Methodist Church, 7180 N. 60th St. (one mile north of Sorensen Parkway.) The meetings begin at noon with a lunch that costs $7 per person each month. Here’s the schedule of programs for the rest of 2015: • Aug. 17: Picnic. • Sept. 21: Compassion in Action with Teela Mickles. • Oct. 19: Immigration turmoil with Joann Feller. • Nov. 16: DJ music and karaoke with Jonathan Kellerk. • Dec. 14: Christmas music program. For more information, please contact Ruth Kruse at ruthkruse@cox.net.
Monthy programs, speakers at Walnut Grove through Dec. 8
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ou’re invited to attend a free series of monthly programs with speakers through December in the theater at the Walnut Grove Adult Living Community, 4901 S. 153rd St. • Tuesday, Aug. 11: A Health Change: Assessing the Situation with Jan Hannasch from ElderLife Consultants. • Tuesday, Sept. 8: Safe Environment Training: Starting with Fall Prevention with BevVan Phillips from Total Home Access Solutions. • Tuesday, Oct. 13: 55+ Community Resources and Support with Michaela Williams from Care Consultants for the Aging. • Tuesday, Nov. 10: Swallowed by A Snake:
Everyone Grieves with Joy Johnson from the Centering Corporation and Ted E. Bear Hollow. • Tuesday, Dec. 8: The Sandwich Generation: Caring for Family with Cathy Wyatt from the Art of Aging. Each program begins at 1 p.m. To RSVP or for more information, please call 402861-1611. VOTES WANTED PLEASE GO TO
www.lightthebridge.org 100% non-profit addressing hunger VOTES TO DATE • For: 2,612 • Against: 90 • Please vote today to address hunger.
Bilingual resource information offered Bilingual information about hospice care, palliative care, helping loved ones with grief and loss, and caregiving is available through the Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Partnership. The number for the Cuidando con Carino Compassionate Care HelpLine is (toll free) 1-877-658-8896. The service is offered weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Quilts displayed at the Sarpy County Museum More than 75 quilts will be on display at the Sarpy County Museum, 2402 Clay St. in Bellevue through Aug. 15 as a part of the Great Sarpy County Quilt Exhibit. The museum is open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, go to www.sarpymuseum.org or contact the Sarpy County Museum at 402-292-1880 or info@sarpycountymuseum.org.
Dancing on Wednesday afternoons
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ou’re invited to attend a dance each Wednesday afternoon from 1 to 4 at American Legion Post #1, 7811 Davenport St. Admission is $2. For more information, please call 402-392-0444.
Series of life-changing programs runs Sept. 12 through Oct. 17 A session of Because Life Changes, a complimentary, six-week series is being offered on Saturdays during 2015 at the St. James Parish Center, 4701 N. 90th St., from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Sessions are scheduled for Sept. 12 through Oct. 17 • Week 1: Dementia & Other Chronic Illnesses: The Road to a Diagnosis and Beyond with certified care manager Jan Hannasch. • Week 2: L.T.C. Planning: A Process; Not a Product with Cathy A. Wyatt. • Week 3: Legal Documents: Have Them, Have Them Up to Date, Have
We need your
! t r o p p su
I would like to become a partner with the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, and help fulfill your mission with older adults.
ENOA
Them Accessible with estate planning attorney Niel Nielsen. • Week 4: Safe Environment Training: At Home & In the Community with occupational therapist BevVan Phillips and mobility expert Mark Zach. • Week 5: The ‘Moving’ Parts: Successfully Getting from One Home to Another with real estate broker Mike Fujan. • Week 6: Community Resources: Know What You Don’t Know with Michaela Williams of the ElderCare Resource Handbook. For more information, call: 402-661-9611.
Traditional funding sources are making it more difficult for ENOA to fulfill its mission. Partnership opportunities are available to businesses and individuals wanting to help us. These opportunities include volunteering, memorials, honorariums, gift annuities, and other contributions.
$30 = 7 meals or 1.75 hours of in-home homemaker services or 1 bath aide service for frail older adults. $75 = 17 meals or 4.75 hours of in-home homemaker services or 4 bath aide services for frail older adults. $150 = 35 meals or 9.5 hours of in-home homemaker services or 8 bath aide services for frail older adults. $300 = 70 meals or 19.25 hours of in-home homemaker services or 16 bath aide services for frail older adults. Other amount (please designate)__________________________
TRAINING
Would you like to provide a respite for someone who is caregiving for a loved one with special needs but don’t know where to start?
Please contact me. I would like to learn more about how to include the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging in my estate planning.
Consider this to be a great training opportunity that is being offered at NO CHARGE.
Name:_____________________________________
Partnerships in Caregiving is conducting REST Training Thursday, August 6, 2015 • 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Home Instead Senior Care Training Center 622 N. 108th Court, Omaha NE 68154
City:______________State:_____ Zip: __________
Please ma il with thisyofour donation rm to: Eas
tern Office oNebraska n Aging Address:___________________________________ Attention : Jef Phone:____________________________________
4223 Ce f Reinhardt Omaha, nter Street NE 6810 5-2431 (402
Please contact Ellen at (402) 996-8444 to get more information or to register. You may also email: edbenne@gmail.com
August 2015
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Older adults who give up driving more likely to be depressed
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lder adults who have stopped driving are almost two times more likely to suffer from depression and nearly five times as likely to enter a long-term care facility than those who remain behind the wheel, according to a new report released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and Columbia University. The study examined older adults who have permanently given up driving and the impact it has on their health and mental well-being. The importance of understanding the effects this lifestyle change has on older adults is essential, as the number of drivers age 65 and older continues to increase in the United States with nearly 81 percent of the 39.5 million men and women in this age group still behind the wheel. “This comprehensive review of research confirmed
the consequences of driving cessation in older adults,” Peter Kissinger, president and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “The decision to stop driving, whether voluntary or involuntary, appears to contribute to a variety of health problems for seniors, particularly depression as social circles are greatly reduced.”
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he AAA Foundation’s report on Driving Cessation and Health Outcomes for Older Adults examined declines in general health and physical, social, and cognitive functions in former drivers. With the cessation of driving, the study found: • Diminished productivity and low participation in daily life activities outside of the home. • The risk of depression nearly doubled. • A 51 percent reduction
Alzheimer’s Association programs run third Tuesday through October The Alzheimer’s Association is sponsoring a series of free caregiver education sessions the third Thursday of each month through October. The 5:30 to 7 p.m. programs will be held in the boardroom at the Visiting Nurse Association, 12565 W. Center Rd. Walk-ins are welcome to attend. Here’s the class schedule: • Aug. 20: Living with Alzheimer’s Disease Mid-Stage Caregivers. • Sept. 17: Effective Communication Strategies. • Oct. 15: Understanding and Responding to DementiaRelated Behavior. • Nov. 19: Holiday Tips for the Caregiver. For more information, please contact Elizabeth at 402502-4301 or echentland@alz.org.
NEED A BREAK? Are you caring for a loved one with special needs such as a developmental or physical disability or a chronic health concern? Could you use a break to relax, go to church, go grocery shopping, visit a friend, or see a movie?
Call us at 402-996-8444
to learn more about respite care (short-term relief).
Partnerships in Caregiving, Inc.
Covering the Eastern Region of the Lifespan Respite Network Law Offices of Charles E. Dorwart 33 years of legal experience • Wills • Living Trusts • Probate • Healthcare and Financial Powers of Attorney • In Home Consultations • Free Initial Consultation 6790 Grover Street • Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68106 Office: (402) 558-1404 • Fax: (402) 779-7498 cdorwartjd@dorwartlaw.com
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in the size of social networks over a 13-year period. • Accelerated decline in cognitive ability over a 10year period. • Former drivers were five times as likely to be admitted to a long-term care facility as drivers. “Maintaining independence by continuing to drive safely is important to overall health and well-being. When the decision is made to relinquish the keys, it is vital to mitigate the potential negative effects through participation in programs that allow seniors to remain mobile and socially connected,” said Kissinger.
developed by AAA to help older driver’s measure certain mental and physical abilities important for safe driving. In as little as 30 minutes, users can identify and get further guidance on the physical and mental skills that need improvement—all in the privacy of their own home. Established by AAA in 1947, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, publiclysupported charitable educational and research organization. Dedicated to saving lives and reducing injuries on our roads, the foundation’s mission is to prevent crashes and help save lives through research and education about traffic safety. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has funded more than 200 research projects designed to discover the causes of traffic crashes, help prevent them, and minimize injuries when they do occur. Visit www.AAAFoundation.org for more information on this and other traffic research. (AAA provided this information.)
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s a leading advocate for driver safety for older adults, AAA provides many programs and resources for older drivers including Roadwise Review. Roadwise Review Online is a free, confidential screening/self-assessment tool
Unique dental treatment program could be the answer to your chronic headaches
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or millions of people, the pain of frequent headaches is no small matter. In fact, the National Institutes of Health estimates about 80 million Americans suffer from symptoms that could be described as “headaches”. These painful signs include chronic headache, migraines, tinnitus (ringing of the ears), vertigo, or temporomandibular (TMJ) dysfunction. Many sufferers have seen multiple specialists to try to identify the cause of their symptoms. Few, however, have asked the medical professional who might be most likely to help them – their dentist. For many patients, the only answer has been the use (and overuse) of over the counter pain medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen. Others have been prescribed more powerful pain medications. However, while these pharmaceutical approaches may temporarily ease the pain, they don’t resolve the underlying cause – often untreated damage from trauma. Many doctors are learning that dentomandibular sensorimotor dysfunction (an imbalanced or improper bite often resulting from head, neck, face, or jaw trauma affecting not only the teeth, but also the muscles, tendons, nerves, and ligaments) is often the cause of these longterm pain symptoms. This condition is often evident in patients who have experienced some type of minor or major head trauma years ago. Something as simple as a minor auto accident, a fall, or playing sports could be the underlying cause of the pain. Unfortunately, these causes often go undiagnosed by many medical specialists. But dentists can often provide the answer
August 2015
using a painless diagnostic procedure that can quickly determine if their symptoms could be dental force related.
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entists and orthodontists began using the TruDenta system of care more than five years ago to successfully treat these patients. The treatment uses a combination of proven sports medicine technologies and advanced dentistry to rehabilitate the damaged muscles, tendons, nerves, and ligaments of the head, neck, face, and jaw. Thousands of patients have found lasting relief from chronic pain symptoms with properly trained and equipped dental professionals. The system uses no drugs or needles and patients often see immediate results even after the first treatment. “My wife suffered from chronic headaches for more than 10 years. We visited every specialist with no answers. After her first treatment, she has not had another headache,” said Dr. Jeff Mastrioianni, an orthodontist in Glen Carbon, Ill. who uses TruDenta for many of his patients. Patients eligible for the treatment will typically exhibit one or more of the following signs: • Limited mouth opening. • Restricted cervical range of motion (the ability to tilt, turn, and tip their head). • Clicking or popping of the jaw or clenching and grinding their teeth at night. The treatment is available nationwide and may be covered by insurance. To learn more and find a doctor near you, visit www.TruDenta.com/family or call 855770-4002. (Family Features provided this information.)
Lawyer, author offers guidance for dividing the family inheritance
WILL TRANSFER
The recently deceased don’t always ingratiate themselves with their survivors when it comes time to read the will. “People want to control things from the grave, not just throw a bunch of money in a beneficiary’s lap,” says family wealth guru John Pankauski, author of the new book, Pankauski’s Trustee’s Guide: 10 Steps to Family Trustee Excellence. It’s their money so that’s their right. But family members aren’t always crazy about how the deceased divided up the money or, if the inheritance was put into a trust, the restrictions that are placed on how the money is spent.
Call: 402-218-7551
“I deal with sibling rivalries, petty jealousies, and childhood grudges played out by adults who are decades older, but no more mature.” Often ill feelings among family members can bubble to the surface when money is at stake. “I deal with sibling rivalries, petty jealousies, and childhood grudges played out by adults who are decades older, but no more mature,” says Pankauski, founder of the Pankauski Law Firm that specializes in trust and estate law. “It makes me think part of my job is to be a wealth psychologist.” Often, an inheritance isn’t doled out immediately. Instead, it’s placed in a trust with a trustee to oversee it, making decisions on when and how to distribute the money based on the terms of the trust. In many situations, that works out fine. But in seriously dysfunctional families, that can make a bad situation borderline intolerable. Pankauski says any number of factors can lead to family feuds or general disgruntlement over an inheritance. Here are just a few: • Sense of entitlement. Many beneficiaries have a misplaced sense of entitlement to an inheritance. They expect Mom or Dad will leave them money or property. In their minds, it’s what they have coming to them. “The truth is, you can dispose of your property any way you want,” Pankauski says. “There is no right to an inheritance and just about anyone can be disinherited.” So if people want to leave their money in a trust for a family pet, or bequeath everything to a neighbor, a mistress, or a charity, they have every right to do so, assuming they are competent and know what they are doing. “It’s their money,” Pankauski says. “They can do with it as they wish.” Other than dealing with a spouse, there are almost no restrictions. • The audacity of the trust. Family members often become frustrated and angry when they realize they inherited money, but it’s in a trust and there are strings attached. “The beneficiaries view trusts as handcuffs on their money,” Pankauski says. “A trust takes all those family members’ personal feelings and emotions, all that baggage, and adds money to create a financial stew into which the beneficiaries are thrown.” Often, because beneficiaries don’t like it that a trustee gets to make decisions on when and how they get a portion of their inheritance, family members will seek counsel and try to “bust the trust.” • An implied accusation of financial irresponsibility. At some point it may begin to dawn on beneficiaries that one reason the inheritance was placed in a trust is that the deceased didn’t view them as responsible with money. “That may seem insulting, but it doesn’t have to be,” Pankauski says. “Many would argue that most people are irresponsible with money, particularly a large sum of inherited money that appears out of the blue, much like winning a lottery.” Sometimes at least a portion of the family animosity might be avoided by better planning when the will is being written and the trust created. “When beneficiaries don’t get along,” Pankauski says, “it may make more sense to cut their financial ties by either creating multiple separate shares within the trust or creating separate trusts altogether.”
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ENOA Aging and New Horizons August 2015
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A special message for Grandma, Grandpa
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he Grandparent Resource Center – a collaborative program of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging and Partnerships in Caregiving – is focused on supporting grandparents who are raising their grandchildren in
their homes through support groups, pantry services, and transportation to support group meetings. Here’s a story the GRC staff received recently from a grateful grandchild who was raised by his grandparents more than five decades ago.
GRC conference on Sept. 17
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he Grandparent Resource Center in conjunction with the Nebraska Children’s Home Society, the Children’s Respite Care Center/Kroc Therapy Center, the Nebraska Family Support Network, and the Dreamweaver Foundation are sponsoring the second annual Grandparents as Parents Conference on Thursday, Sept. 17. The Grandparent Resource Center is a collaborative program of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging and Partnerships in Caregiving. The free conference, which begins with an 8:30 a.m. check-in and continental breakfast, will be held at the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus, 6001 Dodge St. Attorney Molly Blazek will present the keynote address at 9 a.m. Her topic will be Parenting Your Grandchildren: Your Legal Rights & Your Legal Options. The conference – which ends at 3 p.m. – will include breakout sessions on a variety of topics in the morning and afternoon and a luncheon featuring humorist Mary Maxwell as the guest speaker. The Grandparents as Parents Conference is designed for any grandparent raising their grandchildren in their home. Reservations – which are required by Thursday, Sept. 10 – can be made by calling Janet Miller at 402996-8444 or emailing her at jlmiller809@gmail.com.
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t’s hard to remember things from when I was 4 years old. However, there are a few memories left since those days over 50 years ago. I remember my twin sister and I living in a big, dark, and drafty house that smelled funny. I remember being dirty. I remember being hungry. I remember Mother being gone a lot. For what reason I don’t remember. I remember whenever she was around; it was always with a different boyfriend. I knew we were living in conditions that were not very nice, but what does a 4-year-old kid need? I had my Sis and that was enough. One night, a couple of nice men in a station wagon came for a visit. They loaded Sis and me into the back of the wagon saying we were going to Grandpa and Grandma’s house. I remember it was a long drive in the dark. I don’t recall being scared, just curious about where we were going and what it would be like when we got there. When we arrived, I remember my Grandma making a big fuss, giving us big hugs and immediately throwing us into the bathtub for a good scrubbing.
The 2015 National Veterans Golden Age Games PATRIOTS on the PLAINS are coming to Omaha August 8 to 12 Volunteers are needed to support more than 800 veterans from across the country as they come to Omaha to compete in the 2015 National Veterans Golden Age Games. Volunteer opportunities include registration assistance, photographers, greeters, award presenters, and to help with hospitality. Volunteers are also needed to help with sporting events including air rifle, badminton, bowling, cycling, dominoes, golf, horseshoes, nine ball, shuffleboard, swimming, table tennis, track and field, basketball, blind disc golf, racquetball, and a road race.
Sign up to volunteer at www.veteransgoldenagegames.va.gov
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August 2015
I remember the water in the tub didn’t stay clean for long because we had a lot of dirt on us. Grandma had new clothes laid out for us and we never saw the clothes we came with again. Grandma told us years later that the clothes we were wearing when we arrived smelled so awful, she burned them. I remember feeling tired, but happy because I got to stay up late and eat lots of cereal. I didn’t know it at the time, but we had arrived at our new permanent home; Grandma and Grandpa’s house. I had no idea what happened to our mother, and our father was never around. A 4-year-old would not know what a court order was or that it officially placed my sister and I in the custody of Grandpa and Grandma, but that’s what happened. The year was 1962. My Grandma was 54 and Grandpa was 58. Even though they were relatively young, they had one eye on retirement. The house was paid for and for the most part, they were empty nesters with the Golden Years just around the corner. Unfortunately for them, but most fortunately for Sis and me, the course of their lives took a drastic change. They became parents again and for the next 15+ years, they were there for us. They were there for our first and last days of elementary school, junior high, high school, and college. They were there through every sniffle, cold, and bout with the flu, plus the removal of tonsils and an appendix. They insisted we do regular chores around the house. They helped the best they could with homework, complaining loudly about the “new math.” They guided us through puberty, dried our tears when the family cat was killed by a car, and made sure we had clean clothes to wear, plenty of food to eat, presents under the Christmas tree, and bought me my first drum, purchased with S & H Green Stamps. I never felt cheated because I didn’t have a Mom or Dad around, I had Grandpa, Grandma, and my sister, and that was enough. Grandpa and Grandma gave up a lot to create a world we would never have had otherwise and I can never repay them for what they did. I can only hope their Golden Years were still good, just in a different way than they originally planned. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma. Thank you very much. I miss you and will always love you. Thanks for giving Sis and me a chance at life.
Poetry contest entries due Sept. 21 Submissions are due Monday, Sept. 21 for the seventh annual intergenerational poetry contest, Poetry Across the Generations. The University of Nebraska at Omaha, the Omaha Public Schools, and the Omaha Public Library are sponsoring the competition. Poets are divided into two categories: Men and women age 50 and older and students in grades seven through 12. Each competitor is asked to write a poem about how the world views and treats older adults and a second poem about how the world views and treats teenagers. First prize in both categories is $100. Second and third prize in each contest is $50 and $25, respectively. Seven honorable mention poets in each age group will receive $10 each. The $100 Dale Wolf prize will also be awarded in the
age 50 and older category for the poet whose work fits the “traditional, classic, and rhyming style.” Wolf’s family is contributing the prize money to honor Dale who was a longtime poet. The winning poets can collect their prizes on Sunday, Oct. 18 at a celebration that will be held at the Milo Bail Student Center on the UNO campus. Poets age 50 and older can submit their poems to the Department of Gerontology, CB 211, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge St., Omaha, Neb. 68182-0202. They can also be emailed to www.omahapoetsplace.net. Teen poets should send their entries to the Omaha Public Library, Bess Johnson Elkhorn Branch, Att: Karen Berry, 2100 Reading Plz., Elkhorn, Neb. 68022. The can also be emailed to www.omahapoetsplace.net.