New Horizons

A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging

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January 2015 VOL. 40 • NO. 1

ENOA 4223 Center Street Omaha, NE 68105-2431 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID OMAHA NE PERMIT NO. 389

New Horizons Dr. Gold’s phot

ograph is cour

The Gold standard tesy of UNMC

On Feb. 1, 2014, Dr. Jeffrey Gold became chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. As UNMC’s CEO, Dr. Gold oversees an annual operating budget of more than $640 million, a staff of nearly 5,000 men and women, and 3,600 students. Nick Schinker profiles Dr. Gold and chronicles his career.

See page 10.

Voice Whether singing for an appreciative audience or serving as local host of NPR’s Morning Edition, Michael Lyon’s voice has become well known in eastern Nebraska.

Learn more about this transplanted Brit.

See page 17.

101

Men and women like Pamela Bell (pictured) who are raising their grandchildren are encouraged to attend Maudlean Brown with the Grandparents as one of the poinsettias Parents Conference onshe received last month Thursday, Sept. 18. on her 101st birthday.

See page 5.

The plants were purchased by an anonymous donor through the annual SCP/FGP fundraiser.

See page 20.

Know the dangers and how to prevent poisoning from carbon monoxide

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he Nebraska Poison Center saw a 24 percent increase in calls related to carbon monoxide in 2014 compared to the previous year. Annually more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning, 20,000 are seen in emergency rooms, while another 4,000 are hospitalized.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranked Nebraska as one of the states with the highest mortality rate from carbon monoxide. It’s imperative the citizens of Nebraska understand the dangers, the symptoms, and how to prevent poisoning from carbon monoxide.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include sleepiness, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, shortness of breath, and convulsions. The first step in treating carbon monoxide poisoning is getting the victim to fresh air. Then seek medical attention immediately.

Carbon monoxide is a gas produced when fuels burn incompletely. It has no color, taste, or smell. The major causes of carbon monoxide poisoning include: • Using heating equipment that is in poor repair.

• Lack of ventilation inside a car.

• Using a charcoal grill indoors.

• Using unvented space heaters.

The Poison Center offers the following suggestions to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning: • Inspect all fuel-burning equipment yearly.

• Vent fuel-burning heaters to the outside.

• Do not use a gas range or an oven for heating a room.

• Never use a charcoal grill or hibachi inside. Install carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home.

• Never leave a car running in an attached garage, even with the garage door open.

• Have the vehicle muffler and tailpipes checked regularly.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning resemble those associated with other health conditions that are common among older adults, especially in the winter. The carbon monoxide death rate is highest among people age 65 and older.

The Nebraska Regional Poison Center offers tips on carbon monoxide poisoning prevention as a free community service. If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning or if you have any questions, contact the Nebraska Regional Poison Center toll-free at 1-800-222-1222.

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New Horizons

An ounce of prevention

By Sgt. Erin Payne Omaha Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit

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very year millions of people make New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, exercise more, or eat healthier. Why not make it your resolution in 2015 to protect your home and safeguard your property.

January is the perfect time to make a record of all of your valuable property with identifying information. There are many ways to protect you from becoming a crime statistic. However, if you do find yourself to be a property crime victim, there are many ways of improving the odds of getting your property back.

Each year, Omaha citizens lose millions of dollars of personal property due to theft. Many of the items could be recovered and returned if the citizens would record the serial numbers of the property, take pictures of the property or otherwise mark the property so it can easily be identified. By taking a few minutes to record these identifying characteristics, citizens can protect their property and provide a valuable tool for police to use in catching thieves and returning the stolen property.

According to Sgt. Tina Jennum with the Omaha Police Department’s Pawn Unit, the best way to help police catch thieves and recover your property is to be as detailed as possible. She advises citizens to keep a record of the make, model, and serial number of all items in their home. Take a picture of the items and keep them handy, so they can be turned over to police.

If an item doesn’t have a serial number, then mark it with some other distinguishing mark such as engraved initials, or a telephone number.

Sgt. Jennum says she’s recovered property for victims, simply because they painted nail polish on several places of a piece of equipment. While a thief might be able to scratch some of the polish off, they don’t usually get it all.

Sgt. Jennum also advises to be as descriptive as possible when reporting items without serial numbers. If you’re describing a bicycle, for example, don’t just say a bike was stolen; tell us what kind of bicycle it was and be descriptive. Tell us it was a 26-inch men’s bicycle with a blue seat and green handle bars. Additionally, pictures of the bicycle and a picture of the serial number are also helpful.

The same holds true for jewelry, she says.

Be specific about what kind of jewelry it is, the weight of the jewelry, and definitely include pictures of the jewelry.

If you have unfortunately been the victim of a burglary, someone broke into your home by force or non-force and took property, call 911.

If you’ve been the victim of a theft, someone took property from your yard or your car for example, call the police department’s non-emergency number. If you’re not sure, call 911 and they can assist you in deciding the most appropriate course of action.

In Omaha, the non-emergency number is 402444-4877. Due to call volume, it can sometimes take up to 36 hours for them to return the call.

When you do speak to a call taker, be sure and ask for your report number and write it down.

Sgt. Jennum says once they’ve obtained a report number, they can follow up with the Pawn Unit by emailing them at opdpawn@cityofomaha.org.

If you have pictures of the items that were taken, they can also be emailed to the pawn unit or taken to OPD headquarters at 505 S. 15th St. Documenting your personal property is a simple but effective way of assisting the police in their efforts to protect your home and property.

If you have questions about documenting your property or any other crime prevention questions, contact me at 402-444-6517 or send an email to erin.payne@cityofomaha.org.

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January 2015

Learn about the benefits of becoming a volunteer

By Mark Kresl

D

id you know you could possibly lengthen your life by becoming a volunteer? By volunteering your time, you can reduce your chances of heart disease, depression, and anxiety. In addition to these direct health benefits, volunteering can also result in higher levels of happiness, life satisfaction, self-esteem, and a greater sense of control over your life. Did you know these health benefits are often even greater if you volunteer beyond age 60?

It has been proven that volunteering offers social benefits as well as personal satisfaction.

Studies have shown men and women were likely to continue volunteering well into their 60s and 70s.

When older adults volunteer, they not only help their community, but also experience better health themselves in later years in terms of greater longevity, higher functional ability, or lower rates of depression. Volunteering just a couple of hours a week has the potential to make a difference in the volunteers’ health.

With all this in mind, why don’t more people volunteer? While there are several answers to that question, the two that seem to surface most often are: “I don’t have the time” and “I’m not sure how to get started.”

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et’s look at these two concerns more closely. When it comes to time, the good news is everyone is apportioned the same 24 hours a day. If you’re still working full-time, try to find a couple of hours a week to volunteer. If you’re retired, consider volunteering more hours to keep yourself busy and your mind sharp.

A host of volunteer opportunities are available through the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. The agency’s volunteer staff can guide you through the process and customize your activity to an area of interest for you. These possibilities include the Senior Companion Program, the Foster Grandparent Program, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, and the SeniorHelp Program.

Here are some other volunteer ideas: • Crafts: If things like quilting, cross-stitching, sewing, or knitting are hobbies of yours, you might lead a group in your craft of choice at a senior center or retirement community.

• Games: Checkers, dominos, cards, and board games are always a hit. You’ll find many residents of senior communities who are waiting for someone to take the time to play a game with them.

• Photography: Most organizations and communities that work with older adult have special events throughout the year. By photographing those events, you preserve the memories for them. If portrait photography is your forte – as it is mine – you’ll find older adults love getting their pictures taken so they can share the photos with friends and family members. I’ve had a dozen older adults lined up at a time, waiting for their turn in front of the camera. You don’t have to be a professional photographer to do a job that is sure to make them happy.

These are just a few ideas to get you started.

The important thing is to know you do have something valuable to share whatever your hobbies or levels of experience. The important thing is to take that first step. The people you help will be glad you did, you’ll be pleased you did, and you may live a longer, happier life.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities available through ENOA, please see pages 8 and 13.

(Kresl is with Midwest Geriatrics in Omaha.)

Study examining new Alzheimer’s medication The University of Nebraska Medical Center is among 50 centers nationally participating in a new Alzheimer’s disease (AD) clinical research study evaluating the potential benefits of an investigational medicine when taken by people with mild-to-moderate AD who are already being treated with donepezil (Aricept).

Titled NOBLE, the trial is evaluating an investigational drug, T-817MA, which may have the potential to modify the pace of the disease in those who are suffering with mild-to-moderate AD. The advent of NOBLE comes at a time when the AD clinical research community is moving to prevention-oriented trials that don’t include those already diagnosed with the disease. An estimated five million Americans already suffer from mild-to-moderate AD, with those numbers growing at an alarming rate.

However, the United States Food and Drug Administration hasn’t approved a new drug for the treatment of AD since 2003. The NOBLE study was launched to potentially help address this gap in treatment.

“The impact of Alzheimer’s disease both for sufferers and their loved ones is staggering, and many people living with mild-to-moder-

ate AD may feel left behind when it comes to options that could slow the pace of the disease,” said Daniel Murman, M.D., a professor in the UNMC Department of Neurological Sciences and the lead investigator on the clinical trial at UNMC. “We are proud to take part in this important study to evaluate a treatment that may contribute to changing the game for people suffering with AD and their families in the future, and to advance the research around breakthrough therapy options for Alzheimer’s disease.”

AD develops when nerve cells in the brain no longer function normally, causing a change in one’s memory, behavior, and ability to think clearly.

The NOBLE study will explore the potential of T-817MA, a neuroprotectant agent designed to protect against neuron loss. Neuroprotectants are used for many central nervous system disorders including stroke and Parkinson’s disease.

During the mild-to-moderate stage, people with AD begin to show significant decline in cognitive function, from forgetfulness about one’s personal history and becoming moody and withdrawn in social situations to an inability to identify the day of the week or where they are. As a result of this decline, sufferers with mild-to-moderate AD often require around the clock care.

In consultation with family caregivers, UNMC clinicians are now seeking eligible candidates for NOBLE. Potential volunteers should live with or be in regular contact with a partner or family caregiver who can assist with their consideration of participation and accompany them to study visits.

To be eligible to participate, people must be between age 55 and 85 with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease, have been taking donepezil (Aricept) for at least six months, and have a study partner who has regular contact with the candidate and is able to attend study visits.

(UNMC’s Public Affairs Department provided this information.)

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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 Warren, Sarpy County, vice-chairperson; Jerry Kruse, Washington County, secretary; Gary Osborn, Dodge County, & Jim Peterson, Cass 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.

January 2015

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New Horizons

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WHITMORE LAW OFFICE Wills • Trusts • Probate

Ask A Lawyer: Q — What is the difference between a Living Trust and a Living Will?

A — A Living Trust is about your property and finances. It takes care of your assets, both while you’re alive and after your death, and makes sure your wishes are carried out. A trust can avoid the need for a court-appointed conservator if you are disabled and can help avoid probate if you die. A Living Will is a directive to healthcare providers about your medical wishes. It makes sure that if you are not capable of speaking for yourself, your wishes are known and will be carried out.

Have a question about estate planning? Give us a call!

AARP Legal Service Network • No Charge For Initial Consultation

7602 Pacific Street, Ste 200 • (402) 391-2400 http://whitmorelaw.com

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

The 2015 trip schedule is currently being developed.

Laughlin Laughlin in January. January 14-17, 2015. $289.

Includes non-stop, round-trip airfare to Laughlin, Nevada, three nights lodging at the Riverside Resort and Casino on the banks of the Colorado River, and shuttle transportation to and from the airport. The Kingston Trio will be entertaining at the Riverside Resort during your stay. This vacation is a very affordable way to get out of the cold winter for a few days!

In Partnership with Collette Vacations Quoted prices are per person, double occupancy, and do not include airfare. MORE DESTINATIONS AVAILABLE! Hawaiian Adventure. 10 days for $2999. Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbor, Oahu’s famous North Shore, Kilohana Plantation, Waimea Canyon, Kauai Coffee Company, Iao Valley Monument, Lahaina, Polynesian Luau! Visit the islands of Maui, Oahu, and Kauai. There is an option to extend this trip by three days to include Hawaii, the “Big Island.”

Reflections of Italy ...................................................... 10 days from $2149 Shades of Ireland ........................................................ 10 days from $1799 Alaska Discovery with Cruise .................................... 13 days from $3031 Australia ....................................................................... 21 days from $4899 New York City ................................................................ 5 days from $1749 Discover Panama .......................................................... 9 days from $1699 Canadian Rockies by Train.......................................... .9 days from $3099 Discover Switzerland .................................................. 10 days from $2049 African Safari ............................................................... 14 days from $3849 The Galapagos Islands ............................................... 10 days from $4359 Rhine River Cruise ........................................................ 9 days from $2599 Discover Scotland ....................................................... 10 days from $1849 Tropical Costa Rica ....................................................... 9 days from $1349 Rose Bowl Parade......................................................... 5 days from $1449 San Antonio ................................................................... 5 days from $1149 Exploring Greece......................................................... 15 days from $2549 Complete South Pacific .............................................. 27 days from $6399 South Africa ................................................................. 13 days from $2499 British Landscapes ..................................................... 10 days from $2199 Flavors of Thailand...................................................... 14 days from $1549 Nova Scotia ................................................................. 11 days from $2949 Spain’s Classics .......................................................... 11 days from $2099 Beijing China ................................................................... 9 days from $899 Colors of New England ................................................. 8 days from $2299 Heritage of America .................................................... 10 days from $2199

New Horizons

were selected from Livability’s overall best places to live metrics with special attention paid to specific concerns of older adults and Boomers.

In addition, the editors looked at census data and data from Esri’s consumer segmentation system, Tapestry, to find areas with heavy concentrations of older men and women and businesses and services that cater to them. They analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to find areas with low unemployment for older adults and used data from Kiplinger to find cities located in states with retireefriendly tax benefits.

“Not all seniors will move when they retire, but for those who do Livability wanted to suggest a range of options,” says Livability editor Matt Carmichael. “As retirement itself is changing for many beyond a traditional idea of warm weather and golf, so too have our ideas of what makes a great retirement city.”

Livability’s best places to retire 2014 are: • Springfield, MO • Knoxville, TN • Bellevue, WA • Largo, FL • Wheat Ridge, CO • Honolulu, HI • Albuquerque, NM • Tucson, AZ • Missoula, MT • Coeur d’Alene, ID

We need your

! t r o p sup

I would like to become a partner with the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, and help fulfill your mission with older adults.

ENOA

•

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)__________________________ Please contact me. I would like to learn more about how to include the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging in my estate planning.

Please ma il with thisyofour donation rm to: Eas

tern Office oNebraska n Aging Address:___________________________________ Attention : Jef Name:_____________________________________

Phone:____________________________________

Our mailing address is: 2008 W. Broadway #329, Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501

•

E

ach day nearly 10,000 Baby Boomers are turning age 65, and retirement is within their reach. Nearly four in 10 Boomers plan to move to a new location when they retire.

With this in mind, Livability.com has named its Best Places to Retire for 2014. These cities offer access to affordable and quality health care, practical cost of living, retiree-friendly businesses and services, as well as several amenities to help keep residents active.

Livability’s editors used data from Esri and the County Health Rankings to find cities with access to a large number of hospitals and doctors and yet still have low healthcare costs.

Housing affordability measured by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Location Affordability Index was also taken into account.

Several measures including overall cost of living, natural amenities, climate, number of golf courses, walk score, and crime rate

City:______________State:_____ Zip: __________

Watch New Horizons and our website www.fontenelletours.com for our trip schedule.

Page 4

Website lists its best places for retirees to live

January 2015

f Reinha 4223 C rdt Omaha, enter Street NE 6810 5-2431 (402

) 444-665

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Millard Senior Center

Looking to identify potential Alzheimer’s patients Seeking to stem the rapid increase of Alzheimer’s disease, Cedars-Sinai has launched a new Alzheimer’s Prevention Program to help identify patients at risk of developing the neurological disorder and to reduce the impact on those diagnosed with the slow-moving condition.

The program represents a concerted effort by clinicians, researchers, patients, families, caregivers, and community agencies to address an approaching “tsunami” of Alzheimer’s disease care. Medical authorities expect the number of cases nationally to triple by 2050, inundating the healthcare system with patients and costing more than $1 trillion annually.

“We know that we can have a major impact on this disease if we take bold action,” said Dean Sherzai, MD, and PhD, director of the program. “If Alzheimer’s is detected early enough, we can take steps to slow or even prevent its progression.”

Sherzai said the first goal of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Program will be to identify patients in the early stages of the disease when interventions and treatments can have the biggest impact. The second goal will be to provide patients and families with comprehensive, long-term care and education in a well-established center that combines research and clinical services with a network of support in the community.

Sherzai said Cedars-Sinai’s comprehensive approach eventually may serve as a model that can be implemented elsewhere, with interventions, treatments, and care plans built around each patient’s background and interests.

“If we tell patients they have Alzheimer’s, prescribe the drugs that exist right now and send them out without providing any other resources, all we’ve done is create

chaos in their lives,” said Sherzai, a faculty member in the Department of Neurology and the Department of Neurosurgery.

“We have to give them counseling and direction. We can help make the journey much less painful, becoming one in which families get closer rather than being torn apart by tensions and financial burdens.”

The Alzheimer’s Prevention Program will serve as the hub for a clinical trial site for experimental Alzheimer’s drugs, including several being studied at Cedars-Sinai.

Sherzai said about 50 drugs have worked in animal models of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease but failed when applied to humans.

Researchers believe the drugs did not work in patients because their disease was too advanced. Indeed, existing drugs treat symptoms without slowing the onset of the disease, Sherzai said.

Although genetic and environmental factors influence the development of the disease, Sherzai said that lifestyle changes, especially if made early, can alter its course.

If applied early enough, nutrition, exercise, and certain kinds of mental activity not only affect quality of life but its length as well.

“This is remarkable, because none of the drugs we have can do that,” he said.

Sherzai and other Alzheimer’s researchers see reasons for hope. The solution, he said, lies in education and early detection through efforts such as the Alzheimer’s Prevention Program.

“The studies going on at Cedars-Sinai are very exciting, and we’re looking forward to helping patients participate in clinical trials,” he said. “Empowering patients – especially empowering them to take control of their own health through lifestyle changes and preventive measures – is one of my passions.”

You're invited to visit the Millard Senior Center at Montclair, 2304 S. 135th Ave. On quilting day (Thursdays @ 9 a.m.) we’ll be making Quilts of Valor for our veterans.

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 (free on your birthday) 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), 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.), quilting (Thursdays @ 9 a.m.), card games, and Bingo (Tuesdays and Fridays @ noon). During Bingo, we have baked goodies from Baker’s or Panera we give away as prizes.

For meal reservations and more information, please call Susan at 402-546-1270.

Assisted Technology Partnerships offering canes, scooters, etc.

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lder adults may notice gradual changes in their hearing, memory, vision, and mobility that could create the need for assistive technology. Some of these older men and women may need a cane, a scooter, a listening device, or a lighted magnifier.

One way to learn more about obtaining assistive technology equipment is by logging on to at4all.com, a free online service that lists and can help you find these devices in Nebraska.

The service can help consumers: • Borrow and try the equipment before buying.

• Buy used and/or free equipment.

• List items they want to share or sell.

For more information, please call Assistive Technology Partnerships at (toll free) 1-888-806-6287.

MovingOn

UNMC’s ice skating rink to remain open through Saturday, January 31

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he University of Nebraska Medical Center’s ice skating rink will remain open through Saturday, Jan. 31.

The rink is located just east of 42nd Street, midway between Emile Street and Dewey Avenue on the north side of the Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education building.

The site features concessions, music, and seasonal decorations.

Admission, which includes skates, is $7 (cash or credit card only). No checks or debit cards will be accepted.

The hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday through Friday and noon to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.

The rink will be closed on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. It’s also closed on Monday nights for the UNMC student broomball league tournaments.

Free parking is available in Lot 04 (southeast corner of 42nd and Emile streets) and Lot 15S (surface lot on 40th Street between Dewey Avenue & Emile Street) located on the north and east sides of the Student Life Center.

The ice rink will be closed if the wind-chill is 0 degrees or below, based on the Weather Channel. In the event of extreme snow, please call 402-559-0697 in advance to make sure the rink is open.

This year, the Skate-a-thon for Parkinson’s set for Jan. 23 and 24. For more information contact Candace Peteler at 559-5192.

Katie Wray

Owner-Operator

Whether moving to a new home, apartment, retirement community, or out of state like Bill and Mary; “MovingOn” will sort, pack, and arrange to move your belongings.

As a senior, or a child of a senior, life is busy and handling a household liquidation or estate sale can be overwhelming and confusing. “MovingOn” decreases stress as it acts as your on-site advocate by taking care of all the details.

Our services include: • Plan, schedule, and coordinate the move. Bill & Mary • Arrange for utilities, cable, and mail delivery changes.

• Pack and unpack household contents, making the new home feel comfortable.

• Make arrangements for an estate sale, auction, donation pickup, or even shipment.

• Arrange for temporary storage.

• Coordinate cleaning, staging, and preparing the home prior to listing or closing.

Happy New Year from Call today for a free estimate!

402-651-2711

movingon@cox.net www.movingonomaha.com

January 2015

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New Horizons

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Corrigan Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St., this month for: • Monday, Jan. 5: Tim Javorsky will entertain us with his fabulous saxophone and songs @ 11 a.m.

• Thursday, Jan. 8 and 15: Work on a group mural project with artist Michael from WhyArts? Stay for lunch and Bingo.

• Thursday, Jan. 15: New Year’s month dinner and Mega Bingo. This is your chance to win part of the $75 Bingo cash jackpot. The noon meal is a breaded chicken patty with chicken gravy, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans almondine, a lettuce salad, a wheat roll, and apple pie. A $3.50 donation is suggested for the meal. A $3 activity fee donation includes three Bingo cards. The reservation deadline is noon on Friday, Jan. 9.

• Thursday, Jan. 22: Senior nutrition challenge by Micheala Howard, an ENOA registered dietitian @ 11 a.m.

Stay for a chicken breast lunch and Bingo.

• Monday, Jan. 26: Birthday party with music by Johnny Ray Gomez from the Merrymakers @ 11 a.m. Stay for a turkey a la king lunch and Bingo.

• Thursday, Jan. 29: Trivia @10 a.m.

Bring your trivia questions to stump your fellow older adults.

Talk on sleep apnea by Carole Lainoff @ 11:15 a.m. Enjoy a hearty lunch of beef stew and a biscuit @ noon, followed by Bingo.

The center will be closed Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day and Jan. 20 for the Martin Luther King holiday.

New players are welJohnny Ray Gomez come 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

Introducing

402-557-6869 www.empowerhomecare.com

New Horizons

11 Bach: More or Less Witherspoon Concert Hall @ Joslyn Art Museum 2 p.m. $36 402-345-0606 13 Shun Yun 2015 Show Also Jan. 14 Orpheum Theater 7:30 p.m.

402-345-0606 15 Jose James Holland Performing Arts Center 7:30 p.m. $22 and up 402-345-0606 Outland Trophy Award Dinner Double Tree

by Hilton Hotel 7 p.m. $75 402-346-8003

18 Omaha Symphony Symphonic Space Odyssey Holland Performing Arts Center 2 p.m. $15 402-345-0606

“Empowering the individuals we serve to live life to the fullest.”

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8 Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays Through Jan. 17 Blue Barn Theatre $25 402-345-1576

17 Omaha Symphony A Night at Woodstock Holland Performing Arts Center 7:30 p.m. $22 and up 402-345-0606

• Companionship • Light housekeeping • Cooking • Grocery shopping/Errands • Personal hygiene/Care • Personalized transportation • And more…

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January 2015 events calendar

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January 2015

21 Ballroom with a Twist Orpheum Theater 7:30 p.m. $18 and up 402-345-0606 23 Buffalo Bill’s Cowboy Band Through Feb. 8 The Rose Theater Friday @ 7 p.m.

Saturday @ 2 & 5 p.m.

Sunday @ 2 p.m. $18 402-345-4849 Buffalo Train LIVE Orpheum Theater 7 p.m. $9 and up 402-345-0606 Northern Lights Festival Also Jan. 24 Holland Performing Arts Center 7:30 p.m. $19 and up 402-345-0606 27 Camelot Through Feb. 1 Orpheum Theater $26 and up 402-345-0606 31 Omaha Symphony The Music of Marvin Hamlisch: One Singular Sensation Holland Performing Arts Center Saturday @ 7:30 p.m.

Sunday @ 2 p.m. $22 and up 402-345-0606

New study: It’s better to be an overweight non-smoker than a normal weight smoker A study conducted by the University of Nebraska Medical Center found it’s better to be an overweight ex-smoker than a normal weight smoker when it comes to the risk of dying.

The study was published recently in Tobacco Control, a British Medical Journal publication. The journal is an international peer review journal covering the nature and consequences of tobacco use worldwide.

Weight gain is one reason some smokers continue smoking or relapse after quitting.

The study’s objective was to answer which is more detrimental; being a normal weight smoker or quitting smoking and becoming overweight or obese.

Among women, researchers found the risk of dying was 26 percent lower in obese ex-smokers than normalweight smokers and among men the risk was 37 percent lower.

Researchers looked at conditions that could lead to death including certain cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, and type II diabetes. They used data from 1997 to 2004 from about 53,000 people from the National Health Interview Survey linked to

records in the National Death Index.

People were followed between two to 20 years for information on mortality and cause of death.

“The main message to be given to smokers is that even if they gain weight because of quitting smoking, it is still a healthier option than continuing to smoke,” said Mohammad Siahpush, Ph.D., professor in the UNMC College of Public Health and the study’s principal investigator.

Study results found the risk of dying was higher among normal-weight smokers than overweight or obese ex-smokers in all of the conditions except in men with diabetes. Among women there was no difference in risk of dying from diabetes.

Dr. Siahpush noted the magnitude of the increased risk was larger among men than women for all cancers combined, lung cancer, and respiratory disease. In contrast, the magnitude of the increased risk was larger among women in the case of mortality from cardiovascular diseases.

He said the majority of ex-smokers gain between six and 22 pounds within eight years of quitting – most of which occurs in the first three months after quitting.

Smoking cessation interventions can use information from the UNMC study to tailor their messages to negate the fear of weight gain that is associated with quitting, Dr. Siahpush said. It’s important because being overweight or obese has some of the same risks as smoking.

Dr. Siahpush said being overweight or obese puts exsmokers at a risk for a variety of diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disease, and various types of cancer.

(UNMC’s Public Relations Department provided this information.)

The American Bar Association publishes guide to help law enforcement officials identify elder abuse

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lder abuse is one of society’s most pervasive social problems, and also one of the most difficult for authorities to alleviate. Some help, however, is on the way. The American Bar Association’s Commission on Law and Aging has just published Legal Issues Related to Elder Abuse: A Pocket Guide for Law Enforcement.

ABA Senior Attorney Lori Stiegel developed the guide.

Elder abuse is often used as a general term that includes physical, sexual, and psychological abuse; neglect; and financial exploitation. It harms millions of older people each year and victims may face increased risk of death, physical or emotional injury, and financial ruin. Elder abuse costs society billions of dollars annually in lost income and assets, and in health care, social services, and legal system expenses.

The pocket-sized Legal Issues Related to Elder Abuse: A Pocket Guide for Law Enforcement addresses legal concepts, documents, and tools that may be misused to commit elder abuse or used properly to remedy it, as well as issues and actions that justice system professionals should consider if they suspect such abuse has occurred.

The 55-page, laminated guide is small enough (five inches by four inches) to carry with other equipment or be attached to a vehicle’s visor.

The guide provides brief, simple explanations of: • Legal concepts and tools, and why they are relevant

to elder abuse victims. For example, how they may be used to commit or redress elder abuse.

• Issues that justice system professionals and other service providers should consider.

• Actions justice system professionals and other service providers should consider taking.

An innovative series of colored tabs allows users to quickly access specific background information, or legal documents and tools.

Italicized terms in the text indicate there’s a tab devoted to that topic.

Information about ordering copies of the pocket guide, at no cost, can be found online at www.ambar.org/ElderAbuseGuides.

The ABA Commission on Law and Aging published the guide with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, an entity of the U.S. Department of Justice.

January 2015

Alzheimer’s support groups available in Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy counties The Alzheimer’s Association Midlands Chapter offers several caregiver support groups and specialty support groups each month in 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. Please call Elizabeth at 402-502-4301, ext. 205 for more information.

DODGE COUNTY

• OMAHA

• FREMONT Last Wednesday of month @ 2 p.m.

Nye Square 655 W. 23rd St.

Third Tuesday @ 5 p.m.

Immanuel Pathways 5755 Sorensen Pkwy.

Second Tuesday @ 5:30 p.m.

Shalimar Gardens 749 E. 29th St. DOUGLAS COUNTY • BENNINGTON Last Thursday @ 6 p.m.

Ridgewood Active Retirement Community 12301 N. 149th Cr. • ELKHORN Third Monday @ 6 p.m.

Elk Ridge Village Assisted Living 19400 Elk Ridge Dr. • OMAHA Second Thursday @ 10 a.m.

Country House 5030 S 155th St. Adult day services are provided on-site.

First Tuesday @ 5:30 p.m.

Heritage Pointe 16811 Burdette St. Third Saturday 10:30 a.m. to noon Younger Onset Support Group For persons age 65 or younger and a loved one Methodist Hospital 8303 Dodge St. REGISTRATION REQUIRED First Thursday @ 6:30 p.m.

Early Stage Support Group For persons age 65+ caregiver Security National Bank 1120 S. 101st St. REGISTRATION REQUIRED • RALSTON Third Monday @ 9:30 a.m.

Ralston Senior Center 7301 Q St. • Suite 100 SARPY COUNTY • BELLEVUE

Every other Monday @ 7 p.m.

Brighton Gardens 9220 Western Ave. Men’s Group Third Wednesday @ 11:30 a.m.

Alzheimer’s Association office 1941 S. 42nd St. Third Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m.

Fountain View Senior Living 5710 S 108th St. First and third Monday @ 1:30 p.m.

New Cassel/Franciscan Centre 900 N. 90th St. Adult day services are provided on-site.

Third Monday @ 7 p.m.

Bellevue Senior Center 109 W. 22nd Ave. 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

Please support New Horizons advertisers

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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 American Cancer Society is looking for volunteers to assist walk in guests and for other duties.

• The Douglas County Health Center wants volunteers for a variety of assignments.

• Bergan Mercy Medical Center needs volunteers to help in several areas.

• Rebuilding Together wants volunteers.

• The Omaha Convention & Visitors Bureau is looking for volunteers for a variety of duties.

• Together Inc. needs an intake assistant.

• Mount View Elementary School is looking for a TeamMates mentor.

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) want volunteers for a variety of duties.

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.

• Support for older Americans and persons with a disability.

• Volunteer opportunities.

The 211 network is open 24 hours a day.

Program can help consumers prevent Medicare fraud

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ebraska Senior Medicare Patrol, a Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services program that works to educate and empower older adults to help prevent health care fraud offers 10 tips to help you avoid Medicare scams.

• Don’t provide your Medicare number to anyone except your trusted health care provider.

• Ask friends and neighbors to pick up your mail while you’re away from home.

• Shred important documents before throwing them away.

• Read Medicare summary notices carefully looking for possible mistakes.

• Use a calendar or health care journal to record information from doctor visits.

• Compare your calendar or health care journal with your Medicare summary notices.

• Count your prescription pills. If the total is less than expected, go back and tell the pharmacist.

• Medicare Part D plans change annually.

• Don’t speak to anyone claiming to be a Medicare representative about Medicare.

• Medicare loses billions of dollars each year.

It’s up to you to help fight fraud.

If you believe you may be a victim of Medicare fraud, please call the Nebraska Senior Medicare Patrol at 800-942-7830.

Dance Wednesdays at Legion Post #1

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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.

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January 2015

Fremont Friendship Center January 2015 events calendar

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ou’re invited to visit the Fremont Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St. (Christensen Field) this month for the following: • Jan. 2: Music by the Youth Polka Band @ 10:30 a.m.

• Jan. 7: News with Nye @ 10 a.m. followed by music with pianist Wally.

• Jan. 14: Music by the Links Duo @ 10:30 a.m.

• Jan. 20: Slide presentation on New England by Rich @ 10:30 a.m.

• Jan. 21: Dance to the music of Al Knoell @ 10:30 a.m.

• Jan. 23: Black Jack is back @ 10:30 a.m.

• Jan. 26: Celebrate

Steve’s 70th birthday with ’70s Day. • Jan. 27: Movies and popcorn with Larry @ 10:30 a.m.

• Jan. 28: Music by Roger Webb @ 10:30 a.m.

• Jan. 28: Toenail clinic. The cost is $10.

Call 402-727-2815 to make an appointment.

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.

Other free activities include exercising, card games, billiards, and access to a computer lab.

Transportation to and from the center is available.

For meal reservations and more information, please call Laurie at 402-727-2815.

(402)-291-5005

The New Horizons is brought to you each month by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.

Attorney Darren R. Carlson writes humorous, enthusiastic book about estate planning

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othing will inspire a big yawn quite as effectively as telling your friends you’re reading a book about estate planning. And nothing will amaze them more than hearing you laugh out loud while you’re doing so.

Omaha attorney Darren R. Carlson takes up the challenge to write a book about estate planning that “isn’t boring” with enthusiasm. He does so by using the television series families we all knew and loved during the 1960s. These families became his examples of how estate planning can provide for family members and preserve assets for the future.

Carlson cites his own family’s situation as why estate planning should not be delayed. Carlson’s father put off planning his own estate until the grandfather died. Then Carlson’ father passed away just eight days later, without a good estate plan.

Estate planning is a serious topic everyone should be interested in, and Carlson does a great job of using the television families, some traditional and some very complex, to illustrate the use of wills, trusts, life insurance, tax laws, and partnerships in creating plans for future generations.

In addition, to the traditional two-parent family of Ward and June Cleaver with their sons Wally and the Beaver in Leave it to Beaver, Carlson uses The Brady Bunch to show how a making a few changes in language can make sure the blended family of Mike and Carol Brady will be provided for in the future.

Carlson guides the Jed Clampett clan on The Beverly Hillbillies to use a corporate trustee to keep his oil money out of the hands of Granny, Elly May, and Jethro.

Using the wealthy Thurston Howell from Gilligan’s Island as an example, Carlson explains estate tax acts and federal, Nebraska, and Iowa laws. Your eyes my glaze over a bit here, but keep reading and you learn about Presidential linens.

Remember “Meathead” in All in the Family? We know how Archie Bunker felt about him. Carlson’s imagined interview with Archie and Edith teaches us how to protect hard-earned assets from their “meathead” son-in-law. While the real-life dynamics faced by these fictional kin may seem exaggerated, they do reflect to--Please turn to page 15.

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Dr. Jeffrey Gold looking for opportunities to change the world

Photo courtesy of UNMC

At one of his first outreach efforts after becoming UNMC’s chancellor in February 2014, Dr. Jeffrey Gold (facing camera) met with about 50 community leaders in north Omaha at a reception at Love’s Jazz & Arts Center, near 24th and Lake streets.

By Nick Schinker Contributing Writer

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s chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and chairman of the board of its primary clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine, Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. says he starts each day knowing he has “the opportunity to change the world.”

For the rest of the day until he returns home that evening, Dr. Gold tries to do just that.

“I spend my life paying it forward, to help people live their dreams,” he says. “I measure my success purely by the success of others around me.”

Dr. Gold left the University of Toledo, where he served as chancellor of the university’s health sciences campus and dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, to become UNMC chancellor on Feb. 1, 2014.

As UNMC’s chief executive officer, he is responsible for all aspects of campus administration including its annual operating budget of more than $640 million, a staff of about 5,000, and 3,600 students. In addition, the Nebraska Medicine clinical enterprise has 6,500 employees and an operating budget of more than $1 billion.

He welcomed these lofty responsibilities with an insatiable enthusi-

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asm that has served him well. Only seven months into his tenure, the world focused on UNMC as Nebraska’s first Ebola patient arrived for treatment at the medical center’s biocontainment unit. Three weeks later, the world watched Dr. Gold declare “Nebraska 1, Ebola 0” as the patient, Dr. Rick Sacra, successfully completed treatment and was allowed to go home.

Soon afterward, Dr. Gold was addressing members of Congress regarding the need for improved facilities and more programs to educate medical professionals and the public about Ebola and other infectious diseases.

Warm, friendly, and genuinely brilliant, Dr. Gold has quickly acclimated to Nebraska, able to quote facts and figures about the state and UNMC as though he’s known them his entire life.

And though he likes much of what he sees, he says there is considerable room for improvement.

“Our goal is to make Nebraska one of the healthiest states in the country,” he says. “We will accomplish that not only through high quality health care but also through education.

“That’s why academic medicine is so important. We engage communities. We are very focused on rural health but also concerned with underserved urban areas. Our medical center should offer solutions to

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health issues affecting our state’s citizens, first and foremost, and be a thought leader in affecting healthy change as a national model.”

Healthy and lasting change, he adds, that is heavily dependent on attitudes.

“If I could alter one thing about health care today, it would be the way people view personal responsibility for their health and the health of their family,” he says. “People need to take on more responsibility for the way they live so we can provide more preventive care.

“I want to see us move away from ‘health care’ and more toward ‘health.’”

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r. Gold, age 62, is the eldest of two sons born to Arthur and Geraldine Gold, who lived in New York City. Arthur Gold worked in the retail industry while his wife was a dress designer. Dr. Gold’s brother, Peter, is an attorney and consultant in Philadelphia.

Growing up in Manhattan and attending public schools, Dr. Gold says he saw a wide cross section of humanity, “from affluence to abject poverty. And yet, married to that was incredible opportunity.”

The invitation to learn was everywhere, he says, from the multitude of fine art and history museums to the parks and other recreational of-

January 2015

ferings.

“We traveled as a family to museums and on trips to the rural parts of New York state, the farming communities, and other smaller urban areas,” he recalls. “I learned from my parents that you can have a really wonderful family life without a lot of resources.”

From his mother and her battle with multiple sclerosis, Dr. Gold learned how to care for another person and how, as conditions worsen, people can come to depend so much on others. He and his brother helped care for her as she was wheelchairbound, then bed-bound for much of her life. She died when Dr. Gold was 25.

“Her care taught me a great deal about family values,” he says.

His parents also instilled a healthy respect for education. “They taught me that education was a key not only to a successful life but also a fulfilling life,” he says.

He and his brother were the first in their family to attend college. Dr. Gold graduated from the Cornell University College of Engineering, where he majored in theoretical and applied mechanics. He went on to earn his M.D. from the Weill Cornell College of Medicine.

A board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon who specializes in adult and pediatric cardiac surgery, Dr. Gold completed his general surgery --Please turn to page 11.

Gold, wife enjoy art, music, family time, doing crossword puzzles

Photo courtesy of UNMC

Dr. Jeffrey Gold (far left), chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, interacts with a group of UNMC students.

--Continued from page 10. residency at The New York Hospital and Memorial Hospital, where he served as the administrative chief resident; and his cardiothoracic residency training at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School.

He initially pursued engineering because an uncle who was an engineer had suggested, with the growth at the time in aerospace and other industries, that there would be a number of scholarships available.

The switch to medicine was not really a surprise, Dr. Gold says. “I had been on a path to medicine as far back as I can remember,” he says. “Our family physician was a role model and a personal hero.”

Witnessing how medical treatments affected his mother’s quality of life also influenced him. “I was impressed by the magic that health care could bring to change someone’s life,” he says. “The study of medicine offered me an opportunity to play a small role in that magic, and the lure of research and discov-

Photo courtesy of UNMC

Dr. Gold (left) with Ruth and Bill Scott at the recent groundbreaking for a new addition and renovation of two floors of the UNMC Student Life Center.

The Scotts donated $6 million for the project.

ery.”

Today, Dr. Gold looks back upon the lessons from his parents as he assesses the quality of the work being done at the medical and academic institutions he leads.

“I measure the quality of health care by the health care my own family would receive,” he says. “I believe you can do that with the quality of education and the quality of science.

“If you personalize it in that way, it’s pretty easy to understand what quality is.”

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r. Gold and his wife, Robin, met while attending Cornell University’s College of Medicine. They have been married 40 years.

Dr. Gold’s wife practiced general ophthalmology for 30 years in New York City, where the couple still has a home. Their son, Matthew, 31, is an executive with Google in California. Their daughter, Stephanie, 26, is a third-year medical student at Cornell and has not yet picked a medical field. “She is very much like me, so I imagine she’ll have a hard time deciding among the many wonderful specialties,” Dr. Gold says.

UNMC and Nebraska Medicine business fills Dr. Gold’s days and many evenings, leaving little room for free time. “Life is so complex,” he admits. “It’s a rare evening I am

January 2015

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not fundraising or doing something for the university.”

When they do get away, it is most likely family-related, such as visiting his children or his wife’s mother in New Jersey.

The Golds are avid art enthusiasts and enjoy galleries and museums.

While their interests include paintings of all styles, Dr. Gold admits a fondness for 19th Century Hudson River School landscape painters.

They also enjoy music and attend the New York Philharmonic when they can. And they do crossword puzzles together. “We just complement each other,” he says.

Dr. Gold’s service has included more than 50 professional committees and more than 100 national organizations, volunteer boards, and government/public health councils. He was recently elected to the American Medical Association’s Council on Medical Education and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.

“I have lived my life in 10-year tranches,” he says. “I believe if you reinvent yourself once a decade, it keeps me younger, sharper, and more engaged.”

If he did select another career, he says it would not be far from the field of academic medicine.

“That’s where the future of health care is,” he says. “Academic medicine not only educates, it is a safety --Please turn to page 12.

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UNMC’s Dr. Jeffrey Gold...

Please see the ad on page 3

New Horizons Club gains new members $30 Donald Kluge $15 Thomas Cody Gladys Boeckner $10 Marilyn Crane Myrna Carter Sue Beem $5 Edith O’Conner Rose Kobza Annabelle Keene Bill Graskowiak Helen Kay Kava The Hemmingsens Pearl Rewolinski Elvera Egger

Photo courtesy of UNMC

Dr. Gold (center) participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge in 2014 to raise money for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

Reflects donations received through December 23, 2014.

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--Continued from page 11. net for the community. We take care of all patients.”

The research being conducted at UNMC and other academic medical centers concerns more than extending lifespans, Dr. Gold says.

“What we do has to be about quality of life plus quantity,” he says. “Being dependent on multiple medications that completely deplete someone’s resources is not what most people would consider high quality of life.”

As the population ages, the study of geriatrics becomes increasingly important for all physicians and medical caregivers.

“Most people over 65 have a chronic disease and many have two or more, and that affects quality of life,” he says. “We can keep people out of hospitals by improving their quality of life.”

Dr. Gold disagrees with those who say the search for cures to cancer and other diseases depends upon the whims of pharmaceutical companies rather than the work of scientists and researchers.

“I know hundreds of clinicians and research physicians trying to cure cancer,” he says. “Our care for people diagnosed with cancer continues to get better and better.

Over the course of my career, a diagnosis that was a six-month death sentence when I was a student is now a condition that can be treated allowing people to live fulfilling lives.”

Doctors have learned that each tumor is different and requires equally unique treatments. “It is about the personalization of the health care we deliver to personally treat every patient,” he says. “There is no single magic bullet.”

Treating cancer is similar to what is done for other life-threatening diseases and conditions, he says.

“We don’t cure diabetes or high blood pressure or asthma,” he says. “We successfully treat it and allow people to live longer and better.”

Here in Omaha, Dr. Gold says he has found a community that cares deeply about the quality of education and that takes great pride in the work being done at the medical center.

“There are limitless opportunities here,” he says. “For me, it’s just a matter of prioritizing them.”

Each one is an opportunity to change the world, Dr. Gold says.

Today and every day, he’ll try to do just that.

Photo courtesy of UNMC

Dr. Gold (right) meets with the two UNMC infectious disease physicians, Dr. Phil Smith, M.D. and Dr. Angela Hewlett, M.D., who are in charge of the Biocontainment Unit at Nebraska Medicine prior to a news conference regarding one of the medical center’s Ebola patients in 2014.

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Solar power becoming more affordable

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ooftop solar panels on homes have always been the province of wellto-do, eco-friendly folks willing to shell out extra bucks to be green, but that is all starting to change. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the cost of putting solar panels on a typical American house has fallen by 70 percent over the last decade and a half. And a recent report from Deutsche Bank shows solar energy has already achieved so-called “price parity” with fossil fuel-based grid power in 10 U.S. states.

Deutsche Bank goes on to say solar electricity is on track to be as cheap or cheaper than average electricity bill prices in all but three states by 2016 assuming the federal government maintains the 30 percent solar investment tax credit it offers homeowners on installation and equipment costs.

But therein could be concerns. The federal tax credit for residential solar installations expires in 2016, and it’s anybody’s guess whether and to what extent Congress will renew those tax credits.

Legislative analysts report while Congress is unlikely to abandon the program entirely; big cutbacks could be on the way.

Deutsche Bank maintains even if the credit is reduced to 10 percent, solar power would still achieve price parity with conventional electricity in 36 states by 2016.

Meanwhile, homeowners in states where additional local incentives are available and there’s lots of sunshine – such as across the Southwest – may already be able to power their homes cheaper with the sun than from the traditional electrical grid.

Homeowners looking to go solar should check out the Database of State Incentives for Renewable and Efficiency (DSIRE), a free online database of all the different state and local incentives for solar and other

Group for older widows, widowers meets second Monday of the month

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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.

HEOS, a group for older widows and widowers, meets the second Monday of each month at the Presbyterian Church of the Cross, 1517 S. 114th St. The organization offers

According to the NREL the cost of putting solar panels on a house has fallen 70 percent in the last 15 years. forms of renewable energy.

Prices for solar electricity are expected to keep falling as technologies improve and financing becomes more affordable. Solar leasing has helped thousands of Americans realize the dream of going solar without breaking the bank. The companies behind such programs take care of installation, maintenance, and upgrades while the customer ends up paying about as much for clean, green power as for grid power from coal or other fossil fuels.

Of course, solar is still a bit player in the scheme of things in terms of U.S. and global electricity production. But with costs coming down, we can expect to see a lot more solar panels going up on rooftops across the land in the coming decade.

Environmentalists concerned about our changing climate say the sooner the better, as our dependency on coal and other fossil fuels for electricity is a big contributor to global warming.

(EarthTalk® is written and edited

by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine.)

Midlands Eldercare Network members bring holiday music to local facilities

ENOA offers a variety of volunteer opportunities The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Foster Grandparent Program, Senior Companion Program, Ombudsman Advocate Program, and Senior Medicare Patrol 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 identification 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, are enrolled through an application and screening process. These volunteers, who are not compensated monetarily for their time, must serve at least two hours a week.

The Senior Medicare Patrol program helps Medicaid beneficiaries avoid, detect, and prevent health care fraud. These volunteers, who are enrolled through an application and screening process, are not compensated monetarily for their time, For more information, please call 402-444-6536.

PARKSIDE FIRST MONTH FREE!

Independent apartment living for persons age 55+

• Spacious 1 & 2 bedroom apartment homes • Elevator • Washer/dryer in every apartment • Garage included in rent • Beautifully landscaped grounds • Within walking distance of Ralston Park

Members of the Midlands Eldercare Network – professionals whose mission is to enhance the lives of older adults and their families through networking, education, and collaboration – went Christmas caroling last month at several local retirement and health care communities. For more information about the Midlands Eldercare Network, please call Cathy Wyatt at 402-661-9611.

January 2015

PARKSIDE

• Emergency alarm system • 24-hour emergency maintenance • Controlled access entry • Community areas on every floor • Microwave • Icemaker • Window blinds furnished

Call today to view your new home in the park!

7775 Park Drive • Ralston, Nebraska

402-339-9080

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Intercultural Senior Center moves to new location

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, Jan. 10 Noon to 4 p.m.

AARP Information Center 1941 S. 42nd Street To register, please call 402-398-9568

Computers group for older adults meets third Saturday of the month

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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 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Abrahams Library, 5111 N. 90th St.

Annual dues to OCUG, which has existed for 15 years, are $25.

Members will have access to updated laptop computers with Microsoft Office 2010, the Microsoft 8 operating system, a Power Point projector, and a printer.

Each month, OCUG meetings address members’ questions and teach new techniques.

For more information, please call OCUG’s president Phill Sherbon at 402333-6529.

We want to hear from

you!

• Do you have questions about the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, its programs or services?

• Do you have a comment about the agency and how it serves older adults in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties?

• Maybe you have a story idea for the New Horizons?

Send your questions,comments, story ideas, etc. to

DHHS.ENOA@nebraska.gov We appreciate your interest in ENOA and the New Horizons.

Page 14

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New Horizons

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Among those in attendance at the Intercultural Senior Center’s open house last month were (from left): ENOA Executive Director Dennis Loose, ISC Executive Director Carolina Padilla, ENOA Nutrition Services Director Susie Davern, Omaha City Councilman Garry Gernandt, and Leslie Spethman, chair of the ISC’s board of directors.

A

ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Omaha city councilman Garry Gernandt, Silent Night sung by the participants in Spanish, a blessing by Pastor Juan Carlos Veloso, a variety of snacks and desserts, and a lot of fellowship were among the highlights of the open house held last month at the new Intercultural Senior Center, 3010 R St. The Intercultural Senior Center is a nonprofit organization supported by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging that strives to improve the dignity, quality of life, and physical well-being of older adults from around the world through advocacy, education, access to social services, and cultural enrichment activities that benefit the entire community.

“We envision an Omaha that values the wisdom and experience of our diverse elders and creates opportunities for them to embrace and enhance their community,” said ISC Executive Director Carolina Padilla.

The center will be open weekdays from 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. with lunch being served at 11:30 a.m. Limited transportation will be available.

A variety of educational programs and services will be available at the ICS including: • English, citizenship, and literacy classes.

• Basic computer classes.

• Workshops to promote self-esteem, health, and nutrition.

• Tai Chi, Zumba, and Salsa classes.

January 2015

• Sewing and crafts classes.

The ISC staff includes Carolina Padilla, executive director; DeAna Lara, administrative assistant; Sarah Gilbert, fund development specialist; Lourdes Lopez, nutrition program supervisor; Teresita Ayala, assistant program coordinator; William Ayala, driver and program assistant; Tanya McFarlin, refugee program coordinator; Emma Hoffman, refugee program assistant; Kristina Subba, Bhutanese community liaison, and Swi Win, from the Karen Community Liaison Center.

Board members are Leslie Spethman (chair), Dr. Mary Lee Fitzsimmons (secretary), Alex Wachholtz (treasurer), Vivian Ayuso-Sanchez, Mary Harrison Zlomke, Aura Whitney Jackson, Graciela Machado, Kristina Jordan, Carol Russell, Julie Knutson, Cesar Garcia, Bob Herrera, and Cindy Kimpson.

For more information on the Intercultural Senior Center, please call 402-444-6529.

The ISC open house guests were able to enjoy a delicious piece of cake.

Volunteers are needed for AARP’s Tax Aide program

A

ARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers provide free income tax service primarily for low to middle income taxpayers age 60 and older who are in need of tax help. However, no one is turned away from the tax counseling program because of income or age. In fact, many young and middle-aged clients and even some students receive Tax-Aide service.

The Tax-Aide program in Omaha has 10 sites, seven in Douglas County and three in Sarpy County. Representatives also make visits to assist clients in nine senior living facilities.

To maintain and hopefully improve service, the local program needs more volunteers; especially tax preparers who work directly with taxpayers to complete individual tax returns. Prior tax or accounting experience is preferred but not required. In fact, most volunteer preparers began with no more experience than completing their own tax forms. AARP membership is not required either.

Training (instruction in tax law, completion of tax forms, and the software needed to complete a return) for new and returning volunteers begins soon.

To volunteer with AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, go to aarp.org/taxaide.

You can e-mail questions to omaha.taxaide@gmail.com or call 402.398.9568.

Alzheimer’s Association offering free classes in January, February The Alzheimer’s Association is sponsoring free Caregiver 101 education sessions in January and February.

The classes will be held at the Visiting Nurse Association, 12565 W. Center Rd., Suite 100.

Here’s the schedule: • Thursday, Jan. 15 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.: The Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.

• Thursday, Feb. 19 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.: Legal and Financial Planning for Alzheimer’s disease.

For more information, please call Elizabeth at 402-5024301 or e-mail her at echentland@alz.org.

How to avoid ‘bag lady syndrome’

N

early half of all American women, no matter their background, share a fear that may seem odd given the wealth of some. They are afraid of losing their financial independence. This fear is known as “bag lady syndrome,” according to a study.

Of those who harbor BLS anxiety, 60 percent were the primary breadwinners for their households, according to the Allianz poll of 2,200 women ages 25 to 75.

“Financially, women’s needs are different from those of men, and the financial industry isn’t meeting them,” says Lance Drucker, CEO and president of the New York City-based Drucker Wealth Management.

“Women typically live longer than men, so they need more retirement savings. Further compounding the problem is the fact, in many cases, women are paid less for the same job as men,” he continued. “Finally, many have fewer earning years because they dropped out of the labor force for a time to have and raise their children.”

Drucker, author of How to Avoid Bag Lady Syndrome (BLS): A Strong Woman’s Guide to Financial Peace of Mind, offers seven action steps that women can do to address their financial insecurity: • Identify your pain as well as your goals. Answer the following questions: What keeps me up at night? What worries me most about my money and my future?

What do I want to do with the rest of my life? When can I afford to retire? Can I afford to stay retired? Can I travel; change careers, or go back to school?

• Create a budget that includes fixed and variable monthly costs as well as one-time expenses. Based on your budget,

Do

about

?

have questions

aging services

in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, or Washington counties?

Estate planning book...

--Continued from page 9. day’s diverse familial situations.

Significant life events examined in Little House on the Prairie, Bonanza, and The Big Valley illustrate the need for suitable estate planning solutions for an array of distinct family circumstances.

Carlson does readers the favor of including an Appendix of examples of the fictional wills for selected characters from the series families as illustrations. Easy to understand definitions of legal terms are in Author Darren R. Carlson the glossary.

you

start building a cash cushion that will cover six to nine months of fixed expenses. The ultimate goal of retirement planning is to create an income stream that’s sustainable and will support your retirement needs.

• Create a balance sheet of savings and investments. This includes your savings account, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, investment real estate, cash value life insurance, annuities, retirement accounts, individual retirement accounts, 401 (k) plans, and other assets. Then further break it down by pre-tax and post tax-accounts.

• Review insurance coverage and needs. Are you supporting anyone else? Is there a need for life insurance? Who will take care of you if you get sick? Do you have long-term care insurance? Younger and healthier women may be tempted to overlook the importance of this step, but failure to anticipate potential health issues can be very expensive.

• Address your estate-planning needs.

Do you have a will, a durable power of attorney or a health care proxy? Have you updated your beneficiary designations on your retirement accounts? Does it make sense to put your assets in a trust to avoid probate?

Answers for these questions are important.

• Develop your investment strategy.

Is there a purpose to your investment approach or are you just accumulating funds?

Drucker recommends something called a “Four Bucket Approach to Purposeful Investing” that has been designed with the help of a Wharton Business School professor.

• Hire a Coach. Studies have shown those investors that utilize a high quality financial advisor feel more confident, optimistic, and significantly more likely to stick to their plan versus do-it-yourself investors.

Log on to

enoa.org

The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Web site includes information about: • • • • • • • • • • •

Bath aides Care management Chore services Community education Durable medical equipment Emergency food pantry Emergencyresponsesystems ENOA facts and figures ENOA Library ENOA senior centers

24 hours a day, • Homemakers 7 days a week!

• Information & assistance telephone lines • Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha • Legal services • Meals on Wheels • Medicaid Waiver • New Horizons Grandparent Resource Center • Nutrition counseling

January 2015

•

• • • • • •

Ombudsman advocates Respite care Respite Resource Center Rural transportation Senior Care Options Support of adult day facilities • Volunteer opportunities

New Horizons

•

Page 15

Report examines rate of older Americans who have a disability

N

early 40 percent of Americans age 65 and older had at least one disability, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report that covered the period between 2008 and 2012. Of those 15.7 million people, two-thirds of them say they had difficulty in walking or climbing.

Difficulty with independent living, such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping, was the second-most cited disability, followed by serious difficulty in hearing, cognitive difficulty, difficulty bathing or dressing, and serious difficulty seeing.

While populous states such as California, Florida, New York, and Texas had the largest number of older people with a disability, high disability rates were seen in southern United States counties, especially in central Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta.

Older Americans with a Disability: 2008 to 2012, a report based on data collected during the American Community Survey, examines disability status by age, sex, and selected socio-economic characteristics, such as marital status, living arrangement, educational attainment, and poverty status.

“The statistics provided in this report can help anticipate future disability prevalence in the older population,” said Wan He, a demographer from the Census Bureau’s Population Division. “The figures can be used to help the older population with a disability, their families, and society at-large plan strategies and prepare for daily life tasks and old-age care.”

Here are some of the report’s highlights: • More than half (54.4 percent) of the older population who had not graduated from high school had a disability, twice the rate of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher (26 percent). This inverse relationship between educational attainment and likelihood of having a disability was found across age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin.

• More than one-third of those age 85 and older with a disability lived alone, compared with one-fourth of those ages 65 to 74.

• About 13 percent of the older household population with a disability lived in poverty; in contrast, 7 percent of those without a disability were in poverty.

• The older population with a disability was disproportionately concentrated among that age 85 and older. This group represented 13.6 percent of the total older population but accounted for 25.4 percent of the older population with a disability.

• Women age 65 and older were more likely than men age 65 and older to have five of the six types of disability included in the American Community Survey, especially ambulatory difficulty. Older women’s higher rates for disability are, in part, because they live longer than men.

• Older men’s higher likelihood for having a hearing disability may reflect the lifelong occupational differentials between men and women, where men may be more likely to have worked in industries that cause noise-induced hearing loss.

• Disability rates were lower for married older people than for those widowed or in other categories of marital status.

Page 16

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New Horizons

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Tips for a heart healthy lifestyle

W

hen it comes to recognizing and responding to the signs of a heart attack, early action can make the difference between life and death.

But action even earlier to improve lifestyle and eating habits can make a big difference, too.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports about 25 percent of all deaths each year in the United States can be attributed to heart disease, making it the single largest killer of both men and women. Taking a preventive approach and making healthy choices can help manage your risk for a heart attack and other forms of heart disease.

Help protect your heart with these healthy lifestyle tips from the CDC: • Manage medical conditions. Certain diseases and health conditions are known to put you at greater risk for developing heart disease, including diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Follow your doctor’s guidance to gain control of any medical issues early.

• Pay attention to what you eat. This means not only eating plenty of healthy foods like fruits and vegeta-

bles, but also reducing or eliminating less healthy options.

Foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in fiber can help prevent high blood cholesterol.

One good option to start your day right is whole grain cereal. In fact, according to a recent survey, nine out of 10 doctors would recommend Post Shredded Wheat as part of a low sodium, healthy diet to help maintain a healthy heart, reduce the risk of heart disease, and support healthy blood pressure levels.

• Maintain a healthy weight.

Exceeding your ideal weight range for your height puts you at greater risk for heart disease.

Check with your doctor to determine whether your weight is in a healthy range.

This can generally be determined by calculating your body mass index (BMI).

If you are in an overweight or obese range, seek help from nutrition specialists to establish an eating plan that works best for you.

• Get moving. Exercise not only helps with managing your weight, it can also help with other problems like high cholesterol and high blood pressure. While adults should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise at least five days a week, you should consult your doctor before starting any exercise plan.

• Eliminate or reduce unhealthy habits. Smoking tobacco products raises your risk of heart disease. If you are a smoker, a physician can assist you in finding a smoking cessation program for your needs, and many insurance companies now cover these treatments. Similarly, excessive alcohol consumption can raise your blood pressure, which in turn escalates your chances of heart disease.

(Family Features provided this information.)

Legal Aid’s Elder Access Line

L

egal 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

January 2015

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.

Michael Lyon balancing careers as vocalist, radio host, realtor

Michael does as many as 12 shows per month for older adults as part of the non-profit Merrymakers program.

By Jeff Reinhardt New Horizons Editor

M

ichael Lyon’s vast musical repertoire includes songs from shows as diverse as Madame Butterfly and Carousel, and features tunes sung by legends ranging from Luciana Pavarotti to Frank Sinatra. Quite a collection for a man born in England and now living in Omaha, with a 19-year layover in Los Angeles.

Lyon has become a popular entertainer on the local “senior circuit” singing for older adults at as many as a dozen shows per month at area nursing homes and retirement communities. Many of these performances are arranged through the Merrymakers, a non-profit organization dedicated to brightening the lives of older adults through quality music.

The son of Irene and Tom Lyon, a homemaker and office manager, respectively, Michael was born in 1954 in Manchester, England. Lyon was raised in Liskeard, an English dairy farming community where his father served on the city council and as its mayor.

In his late teens, Michael became enthralled with opera the first time he heard an aria. “A light bulb went off in my head and I said to myself, ‘that’s for me,’” Lyon recalled with a slight British accent still present during a recent interview.

He auditioned for and was selected to join the Bristol Opera Compa-

ny in 1976 by singing an acappella rendition of Summertime from the George Gershwin opera Porgy and Bess.

The following year, Michael sang the lead role in the Bristol Opera Company’s Jewels of the Madonna

by Wolf and Ferrari.

A less than stellar review of that opera by a London Financial Times critic made Lyon realize he needed some formal voice training.

To help pay for this musical education and to offset his daily living expenses, Michael worked as an RN for 10 years in British hospitals.

After years of studying with some of the world’s finest opera coaches and vocal instructors, Lyon sang the lead in operas such as Tosca, La Boheme, Aida, and Pagliacci.

A fondness for sunshine led him to move to Los Angeles in 1981.

While living in the “City of Angels,” he met fellow vocalist and Omaha native Kristin Clough. Two years later the couple was married.

The Lyons have one son, Max, age 28, a stockbroker for TD Ameritrade in Omaha.

ichael earned a living during his early California days by singing with Kristin in opera and musical theater venues, driving a cab on the 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. shift, selling active wear as a street vendor, and assembling lights in a factory. While not wishing to elaborate, Lyon said he has “some interesting stories” to tell from those

M

Lyon said he doesn’t think of himself as a radio guy who sings but rather as a singer who finds himself in radio. years in the Golden State.

Realizing he needed to “get serious about a career,” in 1984, Michael secured a job as a technical writer for American Savings, one of the nation’s leading savings and loan firms. Three years later, he was recruited to join the real estate operations division of Home Savings of America. He eventually became vice-president of the bank whose assets totaled more than $50 billion.

Lyon’s successful banking career allowed him to moonlight as a singer, and in 1998, he performed as a soloist in Perry Beach’s oratorio Then Said Isaiah at Carnegie Hall.

He smiles at the memory of those special nights in New York City.

“It was absolutely fantastic to be on that stage and to pour out my voice into that large, but not intimidating place,” Michael said.

In 1999, Washington Mutual purchased Home Savings of America, and eliminated Lyon’s position. A month later, Kristin lost her job with a medical auditing company.

The Lyons passion for music led the couple to careers teaching music. Michael gave lessons in the family’s Sierra Madre home, while Kristin taught at Max’s grade school.

L

ooking for a “nicer place to raise a family,” the Lyons moved to Omaha in 2000.

Michael and Kristin have been sales agents for CBS Home Real Estate for 14 years. Kristin is also a nurse at the Veterans Affairs

January 2015

•

Medical Center, while Michael has served as the local host of National Public Radio’s Morning Edition weekdays from 5 to 10 a.m. on KIOS (91.5 on your FM radio dial) for nine years.

“I don’t think of myself as a radio guy who sings but rather as a singer who finds himself in radio,” he said.

While selling real estate – but with music seemingly always on his mind – Michael enjoyed listening to singers like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Michael Buble as he drove from one potential sale to another.

“I developed a real taste for that type of music, so I decided to indulge myself,” Lyon recalled.

In 2008, he began entertaining older adults as part of the Merrymakers program. “From that first show I was hooked on performing for seniors,” Lyon said. “It’s not about the music, it’s about the people.”

He and his tenor voice also stay active these days singing at weddings, corporate events, cocktail and private parties.

For two seasons, Michael was a member of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha, a musical ensemble made up of musicians and singers age 25 and younger and age 50 and older.

“It’s fantastic,” Lyon said of the IGO. “I admired the concept even before I joined.”

His father-in-law, Wayne Clough, --Please turn to page 19.

New Horizons

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Page 17

Author, 85, provides women with tips for staying enviable youthful

B

arbara Morris is the 85-year-old author of the new book The Expert's Guide to Strut Your Stuff! Also the editor of the Put Old on Hold Journal, Morris is often asked by women, “Barbara, how do you stay so young?”

“Nobody stays young, and anyone who says you can is selling snake oil,” Morris says. “However, women can stay enviable youthful.”

Here are her tips to put old on hold: • Don’t retire without having a plan for balanced lifelong growth and productivity. Without a plan you’ll automatically become part of the traditional declineoriented retirement lifestyle.

It’s a toxic culture of deterioration. That sounds harsh but it’s true. Having a plan and following through with it can be the start of something grand or just plain fun.

• No disparaging namecalling, please. Calling yourself an old bag, an old broad, or other demeaning name isn’t cute. You are what you say you are, so go ahead and tell the truth; you’re a vibrant guy magnet.

• Don’t tell your age and don’t dwell on it. Don’t allow your age to determine what you should or shouldn’t do at your age.

The more you talk and think about your age, the more power you give it to rule or even ruin your life.

Do what you want and can do. Chronological age is a measure of how long you’ve lived, not an indication of how competent you are.

• Be picky about choosing your friends. We adopt attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of those we associate with most often, so choose as friends those who support your youthful mindset and lifestyle.

• Try to avoid becoming a burden. Friends and family love you, but may not want to be your caretaker.

Exercise consistently to stay strong and look good. If you are having a love affair with X-rated food, learn to love a healthy diet instead.

• Don’t toss a lifetime of experience and education into the retirement dumpster. Find ways to share the expertise stored in your brain. The more you give, the more you get. Sharing what you know keeps you youthful.

• Don’t whine or expect special treatment just because you’ve lived so long.

Accept help when needed but don’t expect others to do what you can do for yourself.

• If you want to fix your face or other body part, ignore women friends who insist you look fine just the way you are. Friends who say you don’t need to improve your appearance may not want you to look better than they do. If your guy discourages you, he is probably insecure and afraid of losing you. Don’t ever change your appearance to please anyone but you.

• Read my new book, The Expert's Guide To Strut Your Stuff! For more information, please call 760-4802710.

A Caring Community Called HOME! Independent & Assisted Living

• No Entrance Fee • Medicaid Waiver Approved • All Utilities & Housekeeping Included • Spacious 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments

49th & Q Street • 402-731-2118 www.southviewheightsomaha.com

Page 18

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New Horizons

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I

What to do when the check engine light illuminates

t’s a situation that has likely happened to you. You’re driving down the road when out of nowhere a light comes on and the words “check engine” illuminate from the dashboard. While this glowing symbol may cause you to panic, there are a few things you should know about this common issue.

“Motorists should not get spooked when the check engine light comes on,” said Rich White, executive director of the Car Care Council.

“When illuminated, the check engine light usually means a vehicle system, such as the ignition, fuel injection, or emission control, is not operating properly.”

Some of the common causes for your “check engine” light coming on in your car include a faulty oxygen sensor, mass air flow sensor, or spark plugs and wires. If the light flashes, the condition is more critical and must be checked immediately to prevent severe damage that may include

catalytic converter damage.

“Even if the vehicle appears to be running normally, ignoring the warning light could result in more costly repairs,” said White.

“At the very least, the light could be alerting you to an engine problem that is negatively impacting fuel economy and costing you money.”

When scheduling service, make sure the repair shop that examines your vehicle has professional technicians who are trained and certified in OBDII diagnosis and

repair. The technician will connect your vehicle’s computer system to a diagnostic scan tool, which will provide trouble codes indicating why the check engine light was activated. Once the problem is identified and the repair is made, the car’s computer is then reset.

For more information about the check engine light and other maintenance information regarding your automobile, visit www.carcare.org.

(Family Features provided this information.)

The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging is celebrating 40 years of serving older adults in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties.

Getting the max from each galllon of gas

A

s gasoline prices continue to drop, motorists should take advantage of their savings at the pump and invest it back into their vehicles. By spending a little now to increase fuel efficiency, drivers can multiply fuel savings and save more money at the pump, according to the Car Care Council.

Here are a few simple steps for motorists to be car care aware to improve fuel efficiency and save money in the long run: • Engine performance: Keep your car properly tuned to improve gas mileage by an average of 4 percent.

• Tire pressure: Keep tires properly inflated and improve gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent.

• Motor oil: Improve gas

January 2015

mileage by 1 to 2 percent by using the grade of motor oil recommended by the manufacturer.

• Air filters: Replacing clogged air filters on older vehicles can improve fuel economy and will improve performance and acceleration on all vehicles.

• Gas cap: Damaged, loose, or missing gas caps allow gas to vaporize into the air.

For more tips to increase savings and fuel efficiency for your vehicle, visit www.carcare.org.

(Family Features provided this information.)

Michael Lyon....

Retired fed employees meet at Omaha eatery

The National Association of Retired Federal Employ--Continued from page 17. ees’ Chapter 144 meets the played the tuba in the Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha first Wednesday of each for several years. month at 11:30 a.m. at the At times, Michael misses his Amazing Pizza Machine, days in the opera, but said he December 22, 2014 13955 S Plz. prefers entertaining older men Dean Hayes and women.

3404 Daniell St “Engaging the minds of these Bellevue, NE 68123 Someday this button might save people is a great thing,” he conEastern Nebraska a Office on Aging • 4223 Center Street • Omaha, NE 68105 tinued. “I’m constantly aware your life. For now, it sets you free. of how special every member Dean, With Lifeline by Immanuel, you can enjoy an independent lifestyle in your of that audience is to me.” own home—knowing you can getissues. help if you ever need it. In a fall or Here’s your ad for the classified section for the January andthatFebruary To learn more about Lyon or emergency, every second counts.

Lifeline

by Immanuel with AutoAlert is a Please letFor me more knowinformation, if this is okay. Your cost is $16.00 for each month, total to book him for a performance, medical alert pendent that can automatically call for help, even if you can’t cost will be $32.00 for January & February run.

Per yourGetting request we will tosend please call 402-333-6460. log on the Internet to push your button. you connected someone with access to your www.michaellyon.info or you bill aThe bill.National Association medical history, someone who can evaluate your situation and immediately send help. To learn more about the security and peace of mind provided of Retired Federal EmployMichael Lyon www.merrymakers.org.

by Lifeline, call (402) 829-3277 or toll-free at (800) 676-9449. ees’ Aksarben Chapter 1370 Thanks! meets the second WednesMitch Laudenback of each month at 11:30 @ Newday Horizons a.m. at the Amazing Pizza Machine, 13955 S Plz. December 10, For2014 more information, www.immanuellifeline.com please call 402-392-0624.

Terri Please call 402-444-4148 Here’s your ad for the classified section for the January issue. I fit your copy into a444-6654 or 402two inch ad which will be $32.00. Please look this over and let me know if this willyour ad to place work for you. If you have any questions, please call me @ 402-444-4148.

CLASSIFIEDS

Thanks! Tree Trimming Mitch Laudenback @ New HorizonsBeat the

falling flakes!

Chipping & removal.

Your prunings chipped.

Experienced & insured.

Senior discount.

402-894-9206 Lyon is the local host of NPR’s ‘Morning Edition’ weekdays from 5 to 10 on KIOS (91.5).

Special event at Blue Barn Theatre A special event titled Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays will be on stage at the Blue Barn Theatre – 614 S. 11th St. – Jan. 8 through 17.

Show times are Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

All tickets are $25.

For reservations or more information, please call 402345-1576, ext. 3 or log on the Internet to www.bluebarn.org.

Program about Platte River set for Jan. 13

Y

ou’re invited to attend a free program by historian Harland Seyfer about the discovery of the Platte River on Tuesday, Jan. 13. The 1

p.m. lecture will be held at Second Unitarian Church of Omaha, 3012 S. 119th St. For more information, please log on the Internet to www.2uomaha.org.

Law Offices of Charles E. Dorwart 33 years of legal experience

OLD STUFF WANTED (before 1975)

Military, political, toys, jewelry, fountain pens, pottery, kitchen ware, postcards, photos, books, and other old paper, old clothes, garden stuff, tools, old household, etc.

Call anytime 402-397-0254 or 402-250-9389

Pride 4-Wheel Mobility Scooter Good condition.

Can be used outdoors $800.

402-293-9028 for details

93rd & Maple • 402-397-6921

Terri’s Kitchen Let Us Help...

• Having trouble standing to cook?

• Recovering from surgery?

• Dietary changes due to health issues?

Made from scratch, home style frozen dinners for pick up or delivery.

8806 North 30th St.

REPUTABLE SERVICES, INC.

402-393-7552

• Remodeling & Home Improvement

Senior Citizens (62+)

• Safety Equipment Handrails Smoke and Fire Alarms

Accepting applications for HUD-subsidized apartments in Papillion & Bellevue. Rent determined by income and medical expenses.

• Handyman Services • Senior Discounts • Free Estimates • References • Fully Insured

402-4 5 5-7 0 0 0

Buying or selling?

Use the New Horizons CLASSIFIEDS Call 402-444-4148 or 402-444-6654 to place your ad.

PAID THRO July 2014 TOP CASH PAID Best & honest prices paid for: Nice old vintage and costume jewelry, old watches, vintage toys, Fenton glassware, old postcards, advertising items, military items, pottery, and antique buttons.

Also buying estates & partial estates.

Call Bev at 402-339-2856

Monarch Villa West 201 Cedar Dale Road Papillion (402) 331-6882 Bellewood Courts 1002 Bellewood Court Bellevue (402) 292-3300 Managed by Kimball Management., Inc.

Quality Professional Service Better Business Bureau Member

Big Red Billiards 402-598-5225

Lamplighter II

Some of the nicest, newer 1 bedroom apartments. Elevator, w & d, heated parking garage. Small complex. By bus & shopping. No pets or smoking.

* Calorie, Carb & Sodium counts on all dinners.

• Painting Interior & Exterior

POOL TABLES Moving, refelting, assemble, repair, tear down. Used slate tables.

We pay CASH for slate pool tables.

We do business in accordance with the Fair Housing Law.

• 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

January 2015

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New Horizons

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Page 19

Maudlean Brown’s 101st birthday gifts include poinsettias

R

ighteous living is the secret to a long life, according to Maudlean Brown, an Omaha resident who turned 101 last month.

A resident of Salem Village, 3502 Lake St., Brown celebrated the special occasion by enjoying a catfish dinner with family on her birthday and at a reception with friends a few days later at Salem Village.

Maudlean’s Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging care manager delivered two colorful poinsettias to Brown on her birthday. The beautiful yellow and red plants were purchased by an anonymous donor through ENOA’s annual Senior Companion Program and Foster Grandparent Program fundraiser.

“I think they’re beautiful,” Maudlean said as she viewed the plants from across the room. “I’m blessed to be thought of by someone who doesn’t even know me.”

Another highlight of the festivities was a phone call Brown received on her birthday from great granddaughter, Karissa Johnson, an English as a second language teacher in Saudi Arabia.

A

Kansas native, Brown and her four brothers and three sisters were raised by their father – a gardener and homebuilder – and their homemaker mother.

Maudlean and Walter, her husband for 44 years, moved from Kansas to Omaha in 1951. The couple had four children. Unfortunately, all but daughter, Drusilla Simmons, of Kansas City have passed away.

Great granddaughter, Karieta Johnson, said she takes great pride in telling people about and spending time with Maudlean. “It’s a blessing to have her alive,” she said.

W

hile righteous living and a loving family are the keys to her longevity, Maudlean also appreciates the four-hour visits she receives three days a week from her Senior Companion Program (SCP) volunteer JoAnn Turner.

“JoAnn’s a great help to me,” Brown said. She’s a wonderful person.”

Sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service, Senior Companion Program volunteers provide support and friendship to frail older adults in homes and adult day service facilities.

Senior Companions must be age 55 or older and able to meet income guidelines.

In exchange for volunteering 15 to 40 hours a week, Senior Companions receive a tax-free stipend, transportation and meals reimbursement, supplemental accident insurance coverage while volunteering, and a variety of other benefits.

To learn more about the SCP, call 402-444-6536.

Salem Village resident Brown with her great granddaughter, Karieta Johnson, on Maudlean’s 101st birthday.

Donate clothing items to the Sertoma Club

M

embers 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.

The 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.

By helping with this effort, the Sertoma Club will receive funds for its programs that help people with hearing impairments.

For more information, please call 402-218-1299.

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New Horizons

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January 2015