rn
ka Offc e
o g in g •
• E a st e
bras
nA
Ne
A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging
November 2018 VOL. 43 • NO.11
ENOA 4780 South 131st Street Omaha, NE 68137-1822
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID OMAHA NE PERMIT NO. 389
en oa. org
ing Serv
New Horizons old • er 74 adul ts since 19
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
The voice of Husker hoops
This month, Kent Pavelka begins his 32nd season of broadcasting University of Nebraska men’s basketball on the radio. A Lincoln native and a University of Nebraska graduate, Kent was a radio color analyst on Big Red football games from 1974 to 1983 and the play-by-play announcer for Husker football from 1984 to 1996. Since 2006, he’s run his own advertising and marketing firm, and in September, Kent became the 158th Face on the Barroom Floor at the Omaha Press Club. Nick Schinker chronicles Pavelka’s life and career beginning on page 10.
Meals on Wheels Arthur (right) with Jack, his Meals on Wheels driver. To Arthur, the hot food is only part of what makes the meals program an important part of his life. Page 9.
Thanks Duane Duane Wilcox was honored recently for his many years of public service for older adults in Washington, Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, and Cass counties. Page 20.
.
Dora Bingel Senior Center
Call 402-341-6559 for more information
You’re invited to visit the Dora Bingel Senior Center, 923 N. 38th St., this month for the following: • Nov. 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 28, & 30: Ceramics class @ 9 a.m. • Nov. 5, 12, 19, & 26: Al-Anon meeting @ 7 p.m. • Nov. 7: Thanksgiving meal. • Nov. 7: Holy Communion served @ 11 a.m. • Nov. 7, 14, & 28: Tai Chi @ 11 a.m. • Nov. 12: Book Club @ 10 a.m. • Nov. 14: Music by Woody from the Merrymakers @11:30 a.m. Lunch is $3. • Nov. 28: Foot care clinic from 9 a.m. to noon. • Nov. 28: Birthday party luncheon @ noon. • Nov. 30: Hard of Hearing support group @ 3:30 p.m. The Dora Bingel Senior Center will be closed the week of Nov. 19 to 23. A nutritious lunch is served on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. A $1 donation is suggested for the meals, other than $3 for Merrymakers. Round-trip transportation is available for $3. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance for all meals. Other activities offered at the facility include: Tuesday: Joy Club Devotions @ 10 a.m., matinee @ 12:30 p.m., & quilting @ 1 p.m. Wednesday: Devotions @ 10:30 a.m.; bingo @ 12:45 p.m., and Bible study at 12:45 p.m. Friday: Bingo @ 12:45 p.m. For more information, please call 402-898-5854.
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 Branson Christmas. November 5 – 8. $759. Enjoy the Legends in Concert (Elton John, Brooks & Dunn, Tina Turner, The Blues Brothers, and Elvis), Daniel O’Donnell, The Hughes Brothers, “Samson” at the Sight & Sound Theater, Hot Rods & High Heels, and Million Dollar Quartet. Laughlin Laughlin in November. November 18 - 22. $339. Five days – four nights. Includes non-stop, round-trip airfare to Laughlin, Nevada, four nights lodging at the Riverside Resort and Casino on the banks of the Colorado River, and shuttle transportation to and from the airport. Entertainment during this trip includes “Cash, Killer, and The King”, a tribute to Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Presley, and “Sinatra Forever” starring Rick Michel, a Salute to Frank Sinatra---both shows at the Riverside Resort.
HELP rents, sells medical equipment By Becky Snedeker
T
hirty-five years ago, Omaha’s First Presbyterian Church dedicated a closet within the church to store used medical equipment for persons in need. This community-wide effort eventually outgrew the closet’s confines as the need to help older adults, the mobility-challenged, medically-fragile individuals, and their families increased. Today, this program – known as HELP – assists more than 7,000 people each year at its 1941 S. 42nd St., Suite 200 location. Any family can be significantly impacted by a healthcare crisis. HELP, a local nonprofit, can alleviate some of the financial and emotional stress high healthcare costs can impose on families. More than 9,000 pieces of quality, gently used, refurbished medical equipment have been donated to HELP. Before being kept in a warehouse and a client showroom for public viewing, the items are assessed and sanitized. Medical equipment such as canes, walkers, wheelchairs, commodes, hospital beds, and lift chairs are rented for a fraction of the retail cost by thousands of Omaha area families annually. Recently, Max used HELP. “I wanted to bring my wife home. To make this happen we needed to add some medical equipment to our home. HELP was there to support us. Once the equipment was delivered and set up, she was able to come home. I want to thank HELP for all it does.” Conveniently located inside the Center Mall, HELP also sells items like adult briefs, nutritional supplements/tube feeding, ostomy supplies, and CPAP supplies. Modestly-priced delivery service for larger items is available.
In Partnership with Collette Vacations We started working with Collette in 2009 when we were looking for a way to offer international trips to our travelers. We wanted to find a company that shared our core values of providing quality tours, well hosted at a reasonable price. We were not looking for a low-cost alternative. Our first personal experience was when we took about 24 people on the "Shades of Ireland" tour. It was an incredibly positive experience! Since then we have helped others to experience Collette Tours on: Historic Trains of California; New York City; Canada’s Atlantic Coast with Nova Scotia; Pilgrimage to Fatima & Lourdes; Austrian Delight - Oberammergau (coming up again in 2020); Pasadena Rose Parade; Islands of New England; Canadian Rockies & Glacier National Park; Islands of New England; Reflections of Italy; Canadian Rockies by Train; Tropical Costa Rica; Alaska Discovery Land & Cruise and others. Please call if you have one of Collette’s many destinations on your bucket list. We can help make it happen! Watch New Horizons and our website www.fontenelletours.com for our trip schedule. 2708 Franklin Ave. Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Page 2
•
New Horizons
•
November 2018
In addition, HELP provides a planning program for men and women seeking longterm care or in-home services in Nebraska. Its program manager will assist with the assessment process including completing Medicaid applications, identifying options, and going on community tours with families as they decide the next steps. HELP’s services are made possible through tax-deductible donations (both financial and equipment) from community members. Karen said making a difference in the lives of others is what helps build a strong community. For more information about its programs and services, or to donate to HELP, please call 402-341-6559 or log on to www.helpequipment.org (Snedeker is the executive director of HELP.)
Exercise is critical to managing arthritis
S
evere arthritis can result in chronic pain, an inability to perform daily activities, and difficulty in walking or climbing stairs. While all these symptoms may suggest limiting activities to avoid aggravating the joints, Bellevue physical therapist and geriatric certified specialist Paul Gardner disagrees. “On the contrary, exercise is critical to managing arthritis,” said Gardner, the Administrator of Community Rehab for Hillcrest Rehab Services in the greater Omaha area. For example, exercise: • Strengthens muscles around the joints, lessening the stress on the joints. • Maintains bone strength. • Increases energy and stamina. • Controls weight (weight can significantly impact affected hip, knee, and ankle joints). • Improves balance, reducing the potential for falls and missteps. “Overall, exercise enhances the quality of life, even for older adults suffering from arthritis,” Gardner said. According to the Arthritis Foundation, more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children have some form of arthritis, making it the leading cause of disability in the United States. There are many types of arthritis, but they have in common an inflammatory response to deteriorating cartilage in the joints. Symptoms include swelling of the joints, pain, stiffness, and a decreased range of motion ranging from mild to moderate to severe. Physical therapy’s role is to teach people with arthritis how to do activities with an eye to protecting the affected joints and to help them be aware of their limitations,
Gardner said. An exercise program designed by a physical therapist may recommend a combination of range-of-motion movements to relieve stiffness and improve flexibility, as well as strength building (i.e., weight training) to build or maintain muscle tone. The program may also include low-impact aerobics to improve cardiovascular health, control weight, and increase stamina, as well as practices such as yoga or Tai Chi which help improve balance, posture, coordination, and relaxation. The physical therapist will also encourage clients to follow through with activities of daily living such as mowing the lawn, walking the dog, or cleaning the house. “Movement is important on every level,” said Gardner, who offers the following recommendations: • Low-impact exercises such as riding a stationary bike to keep joint stress low while moving. • Heat (warm towels or a warm shower) to alleviate pain before beginning an exercise. • Gentle, slow movements, taking care to respect movement limitations. • Ice after exercise if joints are swollen or particularly painful. Finally, Gardner suggested keeping in mind not all pain is harmful. “Muscle soreness after an activity is good,” he said. “It’s a positive response, showing that muscles groups are working and gaining strength.”
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, 4780 S. 131st Street, Omaha, NE 68137-1822. 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; Lisa Kramer, Washington County, vice-chairperson; Janet McCartney, Cass County, secretary; David Saalfeld, Dodge County, & Jim Warren, Sarpy 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.
November 2018
•
New Horizons
•
Page 3
Ralston Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Ralston Senior, 7301 Q St., this month for the following: • Nov. 8: Line dancing @ 10 a.m. • Nov. 13: Bus trip to WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa. The bus leaves @ 7:30 a.m. and returns around 4 p.m. The cost is $5. Call Dorothy @ 402-553-4874 for reservations. • Nov. 14: Board meeting @ 10 a.m. • Nov. 14: Presentation by ENOA on holiday food safety @ noon. • Nov. 28: Music by Pamela Sue Kragt sponsored by the Merrymakers @ noon. The center will be closed Nov. 12 for Veterans Day and Nov. 22 for Thanksgiving. Other activities include exercise on Tuesday and Friday @ 10 a.m. Lunch is catered on Wednesdays. A $4.50 contribution is requested. Reservations are due by noon the Tuesday before the meal you wish to enjoy. Call Diane @ 402-8858895 for reservations. The center is available for weddings, parties, etc. on weekends. For more information, please call Diane West @ 402339-4926.
Fremont Friendship Center You’re invited to visit the Fremont Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St. (Christensen Field), for the following: • Nov. 1: Music by Paul Siebert @ 10:30 a.m. • Nov. 2: Group game of Catch Phrase @ 10:30 a.m. • Nov. 5: Assistance with Medicare Part D from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 402-444-6617 to make an appointment. • Nov. 14: Music by Bill Chrastil @ 10:30 a.m. followed by our monthly birthday party. • Nov. 15: Learn about volunteering with Serene Care Hospice @ 10 a.m. • Nov. 21: Nye Square cinnamon rolls @ 9 a.m. followed by music by Pam Kragt @ 10:30 a.m. • Nov. 28: Music by Kim Eames @ 10:30 a.m. • Nov. 30: Group game of holiday trivia @ 10:30 a.m. The facility will be closed on Nov. 12 for Veterans Day and on Nov. 22 and 23 for Thanksgiving. Our annual craft show is scheduled for Dec. 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the main arena at Christensen Field, 1730 W. 16th St. The $1 admission helps support the Fremont Friendship Program. 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 $4 contribution is suggested for lunch. Reservations must be made by noon the business day prior to the meal you wish to enjoy. For meal reservations, call Laurie at 402-727-2815.
WHITMORE LAW OFFICE Wills • Trusts • Probate
Ask A Lawyer: Q — What rights does my domestic partner have at my death?
A — Your unmarried partner will not have any rights in your
property at the time of your death other than rights you specifically confer. Without a will, your children, if any, and siblings have priority over your domestic partner to inherit your assets and to the right to be named administrator of your estate. We advise unmarried couples to hold assets in joint tenancy or designate their partner as POD beneficiary to provide for them in case of an unexpected death. We also recommend unmarried partners name each other as power of attorney agent in both financial and health care instruments. 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
Page 4
•
New Horizons
•
Learn the facts about brain injuries There are two types of brain injuries: traumatic and acquired. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by a bump, blow, jolt, or penetration to the head that disrupts the brain’s normal function. Not all blows or jolts to the head result in a TBI. TBIs range from mild – a brief change in mental status or consciousness – to severe, an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury. An acquired brain injury (ABI) is an injury to the brain which isn’t hereditary, congenital, or degenerative, that occurs after birth. This includes anoxia (lack of oxygen), aneurysms (a weak bulging spot on the wall of a brain artery), infections to the brain, and stroke. ABI can occur after other significant health problems such as a heart attack. Brain injury is often called the “invisible injury” as you can’t always see the result. Often evidence of a mild brain injury doesn’t show up on brain scans. “Because brain injury is an invisible injury, it is important to know and look for the signs and symptoms,” said Peggy Reisher, Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska’s (BIANE) executive director. “If you suspect a brain injury has happened, it is important to be seen by a doctor.” Committed to creating a better future for Nebraskans with brain injuries, BIA-NE works to secure and develop communitybased services, provide support groups, and access to pertinent information, medical resources, and service referrals. Due to the complexity of the brain, an injury’s consequences are unpredictable. A brain injury affects who a person is and how they think, act, and feel. Physical symptoms of a brain injury include headache, fatigue, dizziness, sensitivity to light and/or noise, nausea, and balance problems. Cognitive symptoms of a brain injury may include difficulty remembering or concentrating and feeling slowed down or in a fog. Irritability, sadness, feeling more emotional, and nervousness may be the emotional symptoms of a brain injury, which might also feature drowsiness, sleeping more or less than usual, and troubles falling asleep. Symptoms might not occur until 48 hours after the injury, and not all the symptoms outlined above may be present, making brain injuries difficult to diagnose. “Brain injury affects everyone differently,” Reisher said. “Some experience depression if they don’t fully recover, as they will often long for the way things used to be. Additionally, sometimes family and friends are unsure how to interact with the individual if their personality has changed due to the brain injury. This too, leads to social isolation and depression.” TBI is responsible for more than 80,000 emergency department visits annually in people age 65 and over, and three-quarters of those visits result in hospitalization as a result of the injury. During the aging process, the brain shrinks, making older adults more likely to suffer a brain injury. The leading cause of traumatic brain injuries to older adults are falls and motor vehicle accidents. Many brain injuries aren’t properly diagnosed in older adults due to a limited understanding and their coinciding with additional medical conditions. “If a person has dementia, it is incred-
November 2018
ibly difficult to diagnose a brain injury knowing they already have diminished activity,” Reisher said. “And that resiliency to bounce back isn’t there.” Thirty years ago, 50 percent of individuals diagnosed with TBI survived. Today, that number is 78 percent due to medical advancements. Recovery is different for each person and is dependent upon many factors such as the severity of the injury, the individual’s age, and the support and management of the injury. “For those with mild brain injury (or concussion) recovery starts with rest and slowing activity level based on how the individual is feeling,” Reisher said. “If your symptoms are increasing, take a break. Rest might be lying on the couch or watching TV.” Brain injury recovery is a long and slow process for people of all ages, but for individuals age 50 and over, the process can be more difficult because of a variety of pre-existing conditions (i.e., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, renal disease, endocrine disorders, etc.) that are common in this age group and the deconditioned state of some due to the aging process. Complicating the injury even further, medications used to treat these pre-existing conditions often act as a barrier to an individual’s recovery from a brain injury. For example, a person may take a blood thinner for their cardiovascular disease, but that blood thinner complicates the bleeding in the brain that may occur after a blow to the head. While it’s important that individuals on these medications continue to take them as prescribed, it may be helpful to visit with their doctor about possible options. It’s important to remember brain injuries affect the entire family. Family members will need to provide support, as it may be difficult for the individual to care for themselves. “If the individual with the brain injury had been living by themselves, they may need help with things like medication management, meal preparation, paying bills, and so on,” Reisher said. Family members can help the individual by encouraging him or her to rest, setting up their medications, and checking in frequently. Among older American, 155,000 cases of TBI are diagnosed annually, leading to 12,000 deaths. The monetary cost associated with TBI in Nebraska was more than $413 million in 2009 alone. That includes fatal and nonfatal injuries, medical costs, and productivity losses. The estimated lifetime cost of caring for an individual with a mild brain injury is $85,000; more than $940,000 for a moderate injury, and $3 million for a severe brain injury. There are ways to help minimize the risk of falling. These include removing rugs and other trip hazards, monitoring the use of medications, regular vision checks, and participating in activities like Tai Chi for balance. To learn more about BIA-NE and for more resources on brain injuries, visit www.biane.org. (This is an edited version of an article previously published in Living Well, Summer 2018, a publication by Aging Partners in Lincoln.)
Buffalo U. research: Increased walking can lower heart failure risk among older women
A
new University at Buffalo study has shown for the first time that walking more can significantly lower the risk of heart failure in older women. The study of more than 137,000 postmenopausal women ages 50 to 79 is the largest and most comprehensive to date that has evaluated physical activity within the context of heart failure prevention. The findings were published recently in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Heart Failure. In addition to reducing overall heart failure by 25 percent, increased physical activity benefitted two heart failure subtypes defined by cardiac function: reduced ejection fraction, which typically has a worse prognosis, and preserved ejection fraction, which is more common in older adults, especially women and racialethnic minorities. “This is the first study to report physical activity levels are related to a lower risk of developing heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in older adults, particularly in women,” said Michael LaMonte, PhD, the study’s lead author and a research associate professor of epidemiology in the UB School of Public Health and Health Professions. “This is pretty important from a public health standpoint, given the poor prognosis this type of heart failure has once it’s present,” he added.
H
eart failure disproportionately affects older adults, with about 80 percent of cases occurring in people age 65 and older, an age group for whom heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization. Reduced ejection fraction heart failure typically
occurs in individuals who’ve had a heart attack. The heart becomes a poorer pump, which leads to related complications, including the failure of other organs and, in a worstcase scenario, the need for a heart transplant or even sudden cardiac death, LaMonte said. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction tends to occur in people who haven’t had a heart attack but do have high blood pressure or diabetes. “The heart muscle more or less wears out and becomes an inefficient pump, although not to the extreme seen with reduced ejection fraction,” LaMonte said. LaMonte and colleagues examined self-reported physical activity information from 137,303 participants in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), a long-term prospective study that has yielded important findings on death and disease risk in postmenopausal women. They looked at a subset of 35,272 women who had either reduced ejection fraction or preserved ejection fraction heart failure. Over an average 14-year follow-up, there were 2,523 cases of heart failure.
A
s part of their analysis, researchers accounted for heart attack development prior to the heart failure diagnosis. That’s critical because a heart attack after the completion of the physical activity assessment, but before the diagnosis of heart failure, could lead to biased results by suggesting a stronger relationship than would be the case. “By accounting for this, our results are likely not being influenced in this regard,” LaMonte said. “We also showed the protective relationship between physical activity and heart failure development held when we examined changes in physical activity levels over time.” The cumulative incidence of overall heart failure was lower with increasing physical activity, compared to women who reported no physical activity at baseline. Each additional 30 to 45 minutes per day of activity was associated, on average, with a risk reduction of 9 percent for overall heart failure, 8 percent for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and 10 percent for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Physical activity and walking were inversely associated with the development of heart failure, whereas intensityspecific (mild, moderate, and intense) physical activity was not. That suggests it’s the amount – not the intensity – of physical activity performed that can help prevent heart failure later in life, researchers said. “The finding that walking showed a protective association with heart failure and its subtypes is particularly important in a public health context,” LaMonte said. “This is especially relevant given that walking is by far the most commonly reported physical activity in older adults.” The findings are also significant considering that the population of people 60 and over in the United States is expected to double by 2035, with women outnumbering men 2 to 1. “Because heart failure is much more common after age 60, and because its treatment is very challenging and costly, the possibility of preventing its development by promoting increased physical activity levels, and specifically walking, in later life could have an important impact on the overall burden of this disease in an aging society,” LaMonte said. He said the take home message is “move more, sit less,” which is probably prudent advice for us all. (The University of Buffalo provided this information.)
Florence AARP
NARFE
The Florence AARP chapter meets monthly at Mountview Presbyterian Church, 5308 Hartman Ave. The programs begin each month with a noon lunch followed by a speaker. For reservations, please call Gerry Goldsborough at 402-571-0971. Rides to the meeting are available by calling Ruth Kruse at 402-453-4825. Here’s the next program:
The National Active and Retired Federal Employees’ Chapter 144 meets the first Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at the Amazing Pizza Machine, 13955 S Plz. For more information, please call 402292-1156. The National Active and Retired Federal Employees’ Aksarben Chapter 1370 meets the second Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at the Amazing Pizza Machine, 13955 S Plz. For more information, please call 402342-4351.
• November 19: The Big Garden
November 2018
Medicare open enrollment period runs through Friday, December 7 Medicare’s annual open enrollment period runs through Friday, Dec. 7. This is the time of year to review your Medicare Part D coverage or your Medicare Advantage coverage, and if needed, switch to a different plan for 2019. Even if you’re satisfied with your coverage you should review your options for next year to see if there’s a plan that will better meet your needs. Medicare beneficiaries could find a different plan that would cover their medications at a lower cost and/or with fewer restrictions. Last year, Volunteers Assisting Seniors (VAS) helped 1,852 people in eastern Nebraska review their coverage during Medicare’s annual open enrollment period. The people who reviewed their options with a VAS certified Medicare counselor in 2018 and switched to a less expensive plan averaged a $752 savings in their prescription drug costs for 2018. VAS will be scheduling appointments at various locations throughout the Omaha area to assist Medicare beneficiaries with Part D and Medicare Advantage plan reviews again this year. See the schedule below. Please remember the annual open enrollment period pertains to Part D and Advantage plans only. Medigap supplement policies aren’t subject to an annual open enrollment period. To schedule your appointment, please call VAS at 402444-6617. Friday, Nov. 2 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Goodwill Industries 4805 N. 72nd St. 402-444-6617
Friday, Nov. 16 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Doane College (Omaha) 4020 S 147th St. #100 402-444-6617
Monday, Nov. 5 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fremont Friendship Center 1730 W. 16th St. 402-444-6617
Monday, Nov. 19 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dodge County Extension Office 1206 W. 23rd St. Fremont 402-727-2775
Tuesday, Nov. 6 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hooper, NE Senior Center 208 Main St. 402-727-2775 Wed., Nov. 7 & Thurs., Nov 8 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Washington County Extension Office 597 Grant St. #200 Blair 402-426-9455
Tuesday, Nov. 20 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. VAS 1941 S. 42nd St. #312 402-444-6617 Tuesday, Nov. 20 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dodge County Extension Office 1206 W. 23rd St. Fremont 402-727-2775
Thursday, Nov. 8 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Washington County Extension Office 597 Grant St. #200 Blair 402-426-9455
Tuesday, Nov. 27 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. VAS 1941 S. 42nd St. #312 402-444-6617
Thursday, Nov. 8 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern NE Vets Home 12505 S. 40th St. 402-444-6617
Thursday, Nov. 29 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. VAS 1941 S. 42nd St #312 402-444-6617
Friday, Nov. 9 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. VAS 1941 S. 42nd St. #312 402-444-6617
Monday, Dec. 3 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Doane College (Omaha) 4020 S. 147th St. #100 402-444-6617
Saturday, Nov. 10 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. VAS 1941 S. 42nd St. #312 402-444-6617 Tuesday, Nov. 13 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. VAS 1941 S. 42nd St. #312 402-444-6617 Thursday, Nov. 15 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Baright Public Library 5555 S. 77th St. 402-444-6617
Tuesday, Dec. 4 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. VAS 1941 S. 42nd St. #312 402-444-6617 Thursday, Dec. 6 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. VAS 1941 S. 42nd St #312 402-444-6617 Periodically by appointment 16919 Audrey St. #140 402-444-6617
Flaherty Senior Consulting Flaherty Consulting is offering a free program to help caregivers understand how to provide the best care possible for their loved ones with dementia. • Is it Normal Aging, or Is It Something Else? Saturday, November 10 • 9:30 to 11 a.m. Servite Center of Compassion 72nd Street and Ames Circle To register, please contact Sister Margaret Stratman at 402-951-3026 or scc@osms.org.
•
New Horizons
•
Page 5
L
Elder Access Line
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 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.
Hearing loss group to meet at Dundee Presbyterian Church
T
he Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America, a support group for hard of hearing adults, will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at Dundee Presbyterian Church, 5312 Underwood Ave. Participants are asked to enter the church on the Happy Hollow (east) side. The 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. meetings feature social time and a speaker. The Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America meets the second Tuesday of each month from September through December and March through August. For more information, please contact Verla Hamilton at 402-558-6449 or verlahamilton@cox.net.
RSVP RSVP is recruiting men and women age 55 and older for a variety of volunteer opportunities. For more information in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties, please call 402-4446536, ext. 1024. In Dodge and Washington counties, please call 402-721-7780. • The VA Medical Center needs volunteers. • Partnership 4 Kids is looking for volunteers to mentor Pre-K through high school students. • The Food Bank for the Heartland needs volunteers. • The Fremont Low-Income Ministry. • The Blair and Fremont Car-Go Program needs volunteers to drive older adults to their appointments. • Care Corps Family Services. • Fremont’s Habitat for Humanity wants volunteers for a variety of duties. • Fremont Health needs volunteers. • Nye Legacy Health & Rehabilitation is looking for volunteers to help with its bingo games Tuesdays @ 2 p.m. • Premier Estates of Fremont wants volunteers to assist its activity director.
Volunteers needed for Ombudsman Program The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging is looking for men and women age 21 and older to join its Long-term Care Ombudsman Program which is co-sponsored by the Nebraska State Ombudsman Program. ENOA’s Long-term Care Ombudsmen volunteer in local long-term care facilities and assisted living communities to protect the residents’ rights, well-being, and quality of life. Long-term Care Ombudsmen must complete 20 hours of initial classroom training and 12 hours of additional training every two years. During the training, the volunteers learn about the residents’ rights, aging issues, Medicare, Medicaid, communication skills, how to investigate the residents’ complaints, the importance of confidentiality, and about the federal and state rules, regulations, and laws regarding Nebraska’s long-term care facilities and assisted living communities. Before being assigned to a long-term care facility or an assisted living community, new volunteers will make four visits to a site with an experienced Ombudsman Advocate to learn more about what the program entails. After a three-month probationary period, the new volunteers are certified as Ombudsman Advocates. Certified Ombudsman Advocates will be assigned to a long-term care facility or an assisted living community where they’ll visit for two hours a week to meet with administrators, residents, and the residents’ family members to address concerns. For more information, please call Beth Nodes at 402-444-6536.
Page 6
•
New Horizons
•
November 2018
Millard Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Millard Senior Center at Montclair, 2304 S. 135th Ave., this month for the following: • Nov. 2: Music by Rich Patton @ 10 a.m. and Treat Day. Feel free to bring a treat. • Nov. 7: African dressmaking @ 9 a.m. • Nov. 8: Methodist College nursing students will answer health questions @ 9:30 a.m. • Nov. 9: Veterans Day program with Montclair Elementary School students @ 10 a.m. • Nov. 14: Board meeting @ 9:45 a.m. • Nov. 15: Trip to the Dillard’s outlet store leaving @ 12:15 p.m. Space is limited, so please sign up. • Nov. 20: Blood pressure checks. • Nov. 27: Canasta @ 1:30 p.m. • Nov. 28: P.A.W.S. @ 10 a.m. • Nov. 29: Presentation by Methodist College nursing students @ 10 a.m. The center is closed on Nov. 12 for Veterans Day and on Nov. 22 and 23 for Thanksgiving. The center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch is served @ 11:30 a.m. A $4 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the meal the participant wishes to enjoy. Other center activities include walking, card games, Tai Chi, dominoes, quilting, chair volleyball, and bingo. For meal reservations, please call 402-546-1270.
Please see the ad on page 3
New Horizons Club membership roll rises $25 Marjorie Sambasile
The growing problem of hearing loss The American Academy of Audiology is urging the public to be conscious of hearing health. The number of Americans with hearing loss is at an all-time high. The National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders says approximately 28.8 million people could benefit from the use of hearing aids. While age is often cited as a factor, there are growing numbers of younger people also reporting hearing loss. In addition, a study published by the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care cited nine risk factors as closely correlated to dementia. Midlife hearing loss is listed as one of those risk factors. The report also stated dementia typically starts many years before it’s recognized. Hearing impacts the brain and cognitive thinking. One of the factors in maintaining healthy hearing is being conscious of the degree and amount of loud sound exposure. Keeping track of sound exposure can protect hearing. Many cases of deafness are caused by damage to the tiny hair cells in the inner ear. The damage can be caused by too much noise, and it’s permanent. Noise-related hearing loss is usually irreversible; however, steps can be taken to prevent this damage. The simplest factors to protecting your hearing is to avoid loud noise or to wear ear protection. Outdoor activities can pose a threat to hearing health. More than 40 million Americans, age 20 to 69, have some type of
hearing loss with approximately 10 million of those attributable to noise-induced hearing loss and exposure to loud noise. The American Academy of Audiology says lengthy or repeated exposure to noise above 85 decibels, can damage hearing. To put that into perspective, noise from fireworks can reach up to 155 decibels. A jet plane taking off is estimated to be 150 decibels. Shooting a gun is around 140 to 175 decibels. A rock concert, an MP3 player with the volume turned all the way up, a clap of thunder, and ambulance sirens are all around 120 decibels. Movie action scenes in the theater have been known to reach 100 decibels. Compare these with normal conversation that’s around 60 to 65 decibels. Some Americans are exposed to loud noises on the job. Landscape professionals, construction workers, and road workers all experience exposure to loud equipment. If you work or frequently spend time in a noisy place or often listen to loud music, you could be losing your hearing without even realizing it. It isn’t just the noise level, it’s also the length of exposure. The louder the noise level, the less time you should be exposed to it. Lawn mowers are around 85 decibels but it’s the length of exposure at that level that can be damaging. Chain saws are around 115 to 120 decibels. Recreational loud noise is increasingly impacting younger people. Earbuds, concerts, music in bars and restaurants, and --Please turn to page 8.
$15 Elaine Burger Linda Bircher $10 Jacqueline Nunez Ardeth Henderson $5 Kathy Renner Carol Clement
Reflects donations through October 26, 2018.
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: Friday, Nov. 2 @ 9:30 a.m. Metro Community College 829 N. 204th St. Call 531-622-5231 to register Friday, Nov. 2 10 a.m. Immanuel Village AgeWell 6801 N. 67th Plz. Call 402-829-3200 to register
Saturday, Nov. 10 Noon AARP Information Center 1941 S. 42nd St. #220 Call 402-398-9568 to register Friday, Nov. 16 @ 9 a.m. Metro Community College 2709 Edward Babe Gomez Dr. Call 531-622-5231 to register
November 2018
•
New Horizons
•
Page 7
Corrigan Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St., this month for: • Nov. 7: Toenail clinic from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Space is limited, so please call 402-731-7210 for an appointment. • Nov. 7: Veterans Day program by St. Peter and Paul Elementary School students @ 12:45 p.m. • Nov. 14: Watch a Perry Como DVD @ 11 a.m. • Nov. 14: Corrigan Council meeting @ 2 p.m. • Nov. 15: Dinner dance featuring music by Bill Chrastil @ 11 a.m. • Nov. 19: Presentation on VNA services @ 11 a.m. • Nov. 29: Music by Joe Taylor sponsored by the Merrymakers @ 11 a.m. The center will be closed on Nov. 12 for Veterans Day and on Nov. 22 and 23 for Thanksgiving. Other activities include bingo Monday and Thursday @ 1 p.m.; and chair exercises Tuesday and Thursday @ 10 a.m. The Corrigan Senior Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is served at noon. A $4 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 contact Michelle Jolley @ 402731-7210 or michelle.jolley@nebraska.gov.
REHAB, RENEW AND
Return Home
Florence Home Healthcare specializes in rehabilitation to help you recover from an illness or injury so you can safely transition back home.
Call 402-827-6000 for more information!
OMAHASENIORCARE.ORG
Preventing hearing loss... --Continued from page 7. fireworks can all be contributing factors. You can lose some hearing after being exposed to loud noises for too long, for example by standing close to speakers at a nightclub. Or hearing can be damaged after a short burst of explosive noise, such as gunshots or fireworks. Home movie theaters are also dangerous to hearing because owners typically turn the volume up. The best way to avoid developing noise-induced hearing loss is to keep away from loud noise as much as possible. The second way is to make sure you protect your hearing. Here are some tips to help protect your hearing: • Use ear protectors: Everyone should carry a set of ear plugs with them and use them, no matter how silly they may feel. In major cities, pedestrians are often exposed to damaging street construction noise. If you have to walk through a construction zone, use ear plugs or ear muffs and get away from the noise as quickly as you can. If you’re forced to remain in a venue that’s exceptionally loud, take breaks and get away so your ears can rest and recover. • Turn down the volume: Don’t turn your MP3 player up loud enough to drown out background noise when you’re wearing earbuds or headphones. If the music is uncomfortable to listen to, or you can’t hear external sounds, it’s too loud. If you feel as if you have to shout over the television, it’s too loud. Turn music and television down to the lowest volume possible where you can still hear it and enjoy it. Keep volume low in home movie theaters as well. • Take ear breaks: If you use earbuds or noise cancelling headphones to listen to music, take regular breaks and be sure not to use them for hours on end. Some people wear earbuds all day, even while working. They shouldn’t be worn more than 60 minutes without taking a break. Ears and hearing need break time to recover, even when the sound is low. • Always use the manufacturer’s recommended ear protection: Lawn care equipment, construction equipment, various types of machinery, and some sporting equipment come with manufacturer’s recommendations to use ear protection.
Always read and follow the instructions. If you shoot a gun, hunt, fly a plane, participate in motorcycle or auto track racing, or are simply a spectator, you should always use appropriate ear protection. • Take ear protection when attending special events: Sports stadium noise can be loud and damaging. For any type of outdoor event or indoor concerts, take hearing protection along. • If you think you have hearing loss, see an audiologist: Audiologists are experienced professionals with the ability to perform diagnostic testing and make recommendations. Some signs of hearing loss may include ringing, buzzing, or hissing noises in the ear after the fireworks; difficulty understanding people speaking to you; difficulty with phone conversations and understanding the other person, an inability to hear household sounds, and ear pain. “There’s no doubt people are concerned about their health. Many people conscientiously wear sun screen when going outdoors, and sunglasses to protect their eyes. However, few people think about using hearing protection at concerts, at the gym, or when using a loud hairdryer,” says Jackie Clark, Ph.D., president of the American Academy of Audiology. “An audiologist educates patients about safe versus unsafe levels for listening. They utilize tools and share resources that empower patients to protect their hearing. Additionally, they perform hearing evaluations and facilitate aural rehabilitation efforts for hearing loss, tinnitus, and certain balance problems,” she continues. “Anyone who even suspects that his or her hearing has diminished, should see an audiologist and get tested.” The American Academy of Audiology has audiologists listed on its website by location at www.audiology.org. Click on “find an audiologist.”
Camelot Friendship Center
Holiday Soup Supper 5:30 to 7 p.m. | Friday, Nov. 30 Keystone Villas Independent Living 7300 Graceland Drive | Omaha, NE
Choice of three soups, salad, bread, dessert, & beverage RSVP BY THURSDAY, NOV. 29 Please bring an unwrapped toy for a child or make a monetary donation to support Angel Tree & Adopt a Family
For more information, please call
402-557-6637 Page 8
•
New Horizons
•
You’re invited to visit the Camelot Friendship Center inside the Camelot Community Center, 9270 Cady Ave., this month for the following: • Nov. 5, 19, & 26: Exercise the Mind @ 10:30 a.m. • Nov. 7 & 28: Westroads Walk @ 10:15 a.m. • Nov. 8: Book Club @ 10:30 a.m., line dancing @ 10:30 a.m., and House on the Rock by Chuck @ 11 a.m. • Nov. 9: Council meeting @ 12:15 p.m. • Nov. 13: Music by Woody Strohmyer sponsored by the Merrymakers @ 11:30 a.m. • Nov. 14 & 26: Swap a Story @ 11:30 a.m. • Nov. 16: Take a field trip to the Joslyn Art Museum from 9:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. • Nov. 20: Thanksgiving Games & Goodies @ 12:30 p.m. • Nov. 21: Music & Memories @ 10:30 a.m. The facility will be closed on Nov. 12 for Veterans Day, as well as on Nov. 22 and Nov. 23 for Thanksgiving. The center is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. A $4 contribution is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the meal you wish to enjoy. Regular center activities include chair volleyball, Tai Chi, bingo, art classes, and card games. For meals reservations or more information, please call 402-444-3091.
November 2018
Poison Center offers important information on carbon monoxide The Nebraska Regional Poison Center shares some things you should know about carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and dangerous gas. It can be produced by burning charcoal indoors, gas-fueled water heaters, heating a home with a gas stove, an improperly functioning gas furnace, vehicle exhaust, and wood stoves. CO poisoning can mimic other illnesses such as the stomach flu or food poisoning. Symptoms may include headache, feeling sick to your stomach and/or vomiting, drowsiness, and dizziness. For more information, please call the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.
For recipients, MoW program is more than a meal
E
ach year, millions of hot, nutritious, and delicious meals are delivered to thousands of older Americans through the nation’s Meals on Wheels programs. During 2017, 202,000 Meals on Wheels were enjoyed by older adults in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties. While the food itself is enjoyed and appreciated by the clients, the program is a lot more than just a meal, according to Arlis Smidt, who coordinates the Meals on Wheels program for the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. “The daily visits by the drivers delivering the meals help combat the recipients’ isolation,” she said.
A
rthur – an ENOA Meals on Wheels recipient in Omaha – said he looks forward to the weekday visits from his driver, Jack. “He’s a blessing from God.” Jack, who retired after a career in human resources and career counseling, said in many cases, he’s the only person the men and women on his route see on any given day. “I don’t think the meal is the most important part of the program, the human contact is,” he added. The ENOA drivers – some are paid while others are volunteers – are a set of eyes and ears that enter the clients’ homes where they’re able to identify potential safety hazards like loose rugs, faulty wiring, and poor lighting. “This safety net can provide additional peace of mind for the meals recipients as well as their family members,” Smidt said.
Jack (left) said the human contact between the drivers and the meals’ recipients is the most important part of the Meals on Wheels program. Arthur (right) said his driver, Jack, is a ‘blessing from God.’
“In some cases, the client forgot to tell us he or she had a medical appointment or another reason for being away,” Smidt said. For food safety purposes, the drivers are instructed to not leave the meal behind when the client doesn’t answer the door. The Meals on Wheels America report indicated aving a daily the meal deliveries make 90 visit from a percent of the recipients feel home-delivmore secure. ered meals “Meals on Wheels is the driver helps only federally supported keep the 80 percent of the program designed specifirecipients who have prevically to meet the nutritional ously fallen from falling and social needs of older again, according to a report Americans,” Smidt said. from the national Meals on “ENOA is proud to operWheels America program. ate this important service If the client doesn’t answer the door when the meal that features a safety net for hundreds of older Nebrasarrives, the driver is asked to call the ENOA office. An kans.” For more information ENOA employee will call about the Eastern Nebraska the client, and if necessary, Office on Aging’s Meals on the client’s family member later to determine the reason Wheels program, please call 402-444-6766. for the absence.
H
Meals on Wheels programs facts, figures comparing nation, ENOA Nationally
ENOA
Recipients age 75+
59%
65%
Women
69%
64%
Live alone
59%
64%
Take 3 or more meds daily
82%
74%
New Horizons
•
November 2018
•
Page 9
Broadcasting NU sports is right where Kent belongs
Drawing by Jim Horan/Courtesy of the Omaha Press Club
During the 2018-19 season, Kent Pavelka will call the play-by-play for his 1,000th Nebraska men’s basketball game. By Nick Schinker Contributing Writer
T
here it is, frozen in time, hanging on the wall in Kent Pavelka’s home office. It’s not a work of art. But it is a masterpiece. It is Pavelka’s “spotting board” from the 1996 Nebraska Fiesta Bowl game. The game when the Huskers defeated the University of Florida 62-24 to win its fourth of five national collegiate football championships. The fifth title followed the 1997 season. The January 1996 Fiesta Bowl would be the last Husker football game Pavelka broadcast for Omaha’s KFAB radio and the Husker Sports Network. The last time he yelled his trademark, “Touchdown! Touchdown! Touchdown!” so loud it didn’t need a microphone to be heard all the way from Arizona back to Nebraska. Framed and surrounded by the media passes for each game from that 1995 season, the Fiesta Bowl spotting board lists names that still resound in the minds of most Husker fans: Tommie Frazier, Jeff Makovicka, Christian Peter, Jason Peter, and Grant Wistrom. Part magician, part journalist, and part Husker fan, Pavelka saw it and did his very best to bring it to life without the benefit of cameras or instant replay. And he underscored it with enthusiasm. Today, Pavelka is still the voice of Husker men’s basketball. The enthusiasm, and the team he prefers, are still obvious. “This is a Husker broadcast,” he says. “I know who my audience is, and I know what they want to hear. I never say, ‘us’ or ‘we.’ I call them the Huskers. I think my choice of words in doing play-by-play is ob-
Page 10
•
jective for the most part, but when the Huskers make a basket, you can tell by the inflection in my voice which team means more to me.”
K
ent Pavelka is a Husker fan because he grew up that way. Born in Lincoln on April 19, 1949, his father, Edward, was a real estate salesman and home builder, “a regular one-man shop,” while his mother, Elner (Olsen), worked at the University of Nebraska’s Love Library until her retirement. Pavelka lived two blocks from Lincoln Northeast High School. “Northeast was our rallying place,” he recalls. “As soon as you were in grade school, you wanted to be a Rocket.” He also attended Husker football games. “They had the knothole section, where you could get in for 50
On Sept. 13, 2018, Pavelka became the latest Face on the Barroom Floor at the Omaha Press Club. cents,” he says. “There were bleachers behind the south end zone, mostly filled with kids. Behind the bleachers was a big open space, and we’d play football during the game.” He witnessed history, not knowing it at the time. “I saw (University of Kansas halfback and Omaha native) Gale Sayers’ 99-yard run,” Kent recalls, a feat that set an NCAA record for longest run from scrimmage in the 1963 game that Sayers and the Jayhawks lost to Nebraska 23-9. “I watched it from the end zone. I was probably 20 feet away when he got the handoff.” Pavelka graduated from Lincoln Northeast High School in 1967 and went on to the University of Nebraska where he found a major that seemed made just for him: broadcast journalism. “I toyed around with the idea
Pavelka with the spotting board from the 1996 Fiesta Bowl game, Kent’s final broadcast of Big Red football.
New Horizons
•
November 2018
of being an attorney, but I think I always knew what I wanted to do. I used to sit in front of the TV with a recorder and a microphone and do play-by-play. We had a neighbor who had some sort of microphone and public address system built in to his stereo, and I’d use that to practice. I still have that in my office.” Pavelka graduated from college in 1971 and started his career broadcasting Fremont high school and Midland College games. Three years later, he joined KFAB’s Husker football broadcast team, serving as a color analyst alongside Lyell Bremser from 1974 until 1983, then as the play-by-play announcer from 1984 to 1996. “After Fremont, going to KFAB’s Husker team was a pretty big deal,” he recalls. “They threw me in the booth with Bremser, and I started dreaming about one day having his job.” Broadcasting 257 Nebraska football games over 22 seasons, Kent’s partners in the broadcast booth included Jack Payne and Gary Sadlemyer. Early on, Pavelka realized he was right where he belonged. “If you stay with one job, you earn a level of, I don’t know the right word; familiarity, maybe. You become like a comfortable pair of old shoes. Not respected necessarily, but you are appreciated somehow. You have to stay in one place to be a Lyell Bremser, so I guess I wanted to stay here. When you get to do playby-play where everybody, almost everybody, listens to you, that’s a pretty unique place.”
A
six-time winner of the Nebraska Sportscaster of the Year award, Pavelka also served as morning show host and --Please turn to page 11.
Pavelka’s career has included stints on morning radio, media campaigns --Continued from page 10. operations manager at KFAB from 1974 until 2001, and as morning show host at Omaha’s KKAR from 2001 until 2005. He has also broadcast more than 990 Nebraska men’s basketball games over 31 seasons, from the 1974-75 campaign to the 2017-18 season, with 13 seasons off. “At this point, I take it year to year,” he says. “I feel good. I’m healthy. I think I’m still on top of it, calling the games. I probably enjoy the broadcasting more than ever – but not the relentless preparations.” He has seen many changes, both in the sports he covers and the radio broadcasting industry, since he first sat behind a microphone. “There used to be The Omaha World-Herald, three TV stations, and four or five radio stations covering events. Now I travel with 18 to 20-yearolds who don’t know what a radio station is; (or) what a newspaper is.” He has also seen the proliferation of options available on the Internet. “There are so many places you can get so-called information,” Pavelka says. “The trouble is, people can’t differentiate between objective journalism and the blog they agree with.” As a broadcaster, Pavelka says, he has always understood the difference between enthusiasm and
interjecting his opinion – especially in the off-color ways that permeate today’s social media exchanges. “But if you only knew the stuff that goes on when the microphone goes off,” he says, smiling. “With morning radio, especially, it’s amazing something pretty salty hasn’t gotten on the air inadvertently. You just can’t let yourself say ‘#*&#’ when the microphone is on.”
P
Kent relaxes in the backyard at his Omaha home.
November 2018
•
avelka met his wife, Lu, when both volunteered in a bachelor and bachelorette fundraising auction for Cystic Fibrosis. They have been married 30 years. He has two children from a previous marriage, Alissa and Aaron; along with three grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren. After Lu retired from a career at Northwestern Bell/U.S. West, the couple opened a photo studio near 72nd and Cass streets. Since 2006, his company, Kent Pavelka & Associates, has crafted media campaigns, often utilizing his on-camera and voice services. Of his many honors and awards, the most recent (September 2018) was being immortalized as a Face on the Barroom Floor at the Omaha Press Club. Depicted in headphones and a colorful bow tie, Pavelka was pictured alongside Husker football --Please turn to page 20.
New Horizons
•
Page 11
The importance of belonging to communities Inexpensive, simple ways to add curb appeal to your home
O
ften people “think big” when looking for ways to enhance the curb appeal of their homes. According to the experts at Hy-Lite, there are five specific ways homeowners can add to the curb appeal of their houses without breaking the bank or investing too much time. “There’s no reason to ‘reinvent the wheel’ and do a whole exterior makeover to improve the look of a house,” says Roger Murphy, president of Hy-Lite, a U.S. Block Windows Company. “Curb appeal can be achieved by making some easy, yet distinct changes. Best of all, small changes can make a big impression when talking about improving the look of a home exterior.” According to Murphy, there are five specific things that can be done to improve a home’s street side appearance. • Make the outside new again. Replace the old hardware on your entry door. Change out the numbers on your house. Add a new mailbox. Replace light fixtures with upgraded versions. Install solar or low-voltage outdoor lighting. Take a look at your home’s exterior to see what’s looking tired and worn out, then replace those items. • Add colorful flowers. You don’t have to be a landscaping expert to add potted colorful flowers to the front steps of a home. Flowering baskets can also be added to the porch or trees. Easiest of all, place decorative plant stands within your landscaping and then place pots or baskets of flowers strategically within the front yard. • Replace an old window with a privacy window. Whether a decorative glass or acrylic block unit, a new privacy window adds sparkle to the outside of the home and an attractive look to the home interior. Eye catching and unique, select a privacy window that opens (like a casement or sliding window) or a fixed, non-operable unit. • Paint the front door. Add a pop of color that contrasts yet complements the home exterior. Painting a front door is an easy project that has lasting impact. Add new door hardware for the icing on the cake. • Attack the bushes. Trim bushes and remove weeds. Rake out all dead leaves underneath the shrubbery in front of the house. Not interested in tackling this DIY project yourself? Then hire local teenagers or a church youth group to get your bushes back in shape. “When it comes to curb appeal, it’s all about first impressions,” says Murphy. Whether you’re looking to improve your home’s appearance for resale or to welcome family and friends, now’s the ideal time to make some small changes that can have a big impact. (Hy-Lite supplied this information.)
A Caring Community Called HOME! Independent & Assisted Living
• No Entrance Fee • Medicaid Waiver Approved • All Utilities & Housekeeping Included • Spacious 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments
When I meet coaching clients at a favorite coffee shop, I’ve noticed a gathering of men who sit at the same table at the same time each week. It’s a ritual for them and obviously they’re having a good time talking, laughing, and solving world problems. I smile inwardly, knowing they’re meeting one of their human needs— the need for community. One challenge encountered by those who are making the transition from career to retirement is the loss of social interaction with co-workers. For most, working relationships were the source of support and stimulation on a day-to-day basis. For some, work also provided companions and friends for leisure activities. When these people are no longer a part of everyday living, there’s an inevitable sense of loss. It’s necessary to find social connections to substitute for the workplace relationships. Some find new friends at exercise classes, at church, in service organizations, coffee shops, or volunteer settings. Without such interactions, there’s a danger of becoming isolated, a situation that leads to a decline in physical, emotional, and intellectual well-being. It’s essential to have people, family, and friends whom we care about and who care about us.
They remind us that our lives matter. We need a variety of groups that supply different social needs. Families are important to our rootedness and our desire to share our lives with future generations. Golfing buddies and bridge clubs meet our recreational needs. Volunteer organizations allow us to contribute our time and talent in the company of others. Another need that may be overlooked is the need to share our stories with peers in order to explore the meaning of life in the Third Chapter. Dialogue with others who are in the same phase of life is a powerful way to gain support in our personal growth. Some may be fortunate enough to have friends with whom they can talk in depth about life questions and others might want to seek out groups with whom to share the inner quest for wisdom.
Conscious Aging By Nancy Hemesath
I have the opportunity to lead book studies with those who are seeking to grow in their Third Chapter. The discussions are provocative as people share their journeys, discovering aspects of themselves and being enriched by the support of their peers. One of my current participants said it this way, “I joined the group at Nancy’s invitation, kicking and screaming because I thought I had already made a fine adjustment to retirement. However, I found that by reading the books and sharing with others in a safe, trusting environment, I have learned so much about myself, leading me to make positive changes that will benefit me for life. It has been one of the best things I have ever done for myself.” Reading a thought-provoking book can be a great benefit. However, one cannot overstate the importance of exploring life questions with others. We discover we aren’t alone in our questions and challenges. We’re enriched by the perspectives of others who are companions in the journey. If you would like to participate in a book study, I will be forming a new group after Jan. 1. Please contact me if you would like to participate. (Hemesath is the owner of Encore Coaching which is dedicated to supporting people who are in the “third chapter of life.” If you wish to participate in her book study, email her at nhemesath@cox.net.)
At the Ralston Community Theatre
Acappella Omaha show set for Saturday, Nov. 3
Y 49th & Q Street • 402-731-2118 www.southviewheightsomaha.com
Page 12
•
New Horizons
•
ou’re invited to attend Acappella Omaha’s Turn Your Radio On performance on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. in the Ralston Community Theatre (inside Ralston High School), 8969 Park Dr. The event will feature Acappella Omaha and the guest quartet Fever. Turn Your Radio On will reflect old-time radio shows and feature a mystery play. While the show is free, tickets are required for admission. Tickets are available at the door, from any Acappella Omaha member, or by calling 402-932-0155.
November 2018
Korean War vet, Marine Jerry Naughton is honored during hospice pinning ceremony
Drivers are needed Computer users group DAV needs vols to for Car Go Program meets each month at take vets to VAMC
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is recruiting volunteers age 55 and older to provide free transportation services for older adults in Fremont and Blair. “We’re especially interested in providing transportation services for military veterans,” said Pat Tanner, who coordinates the RSVP for the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. Sponsored locally by ENOA, RSVP is a national program of the Corporation for National and ComAmong those honoring Naughton (center) at the munity Service through the event hosted by Compassionate Care Hospice were Senior Service Corps. Korean War veteran Marion Sharon (left) and RSVP staff members who VFW Post 2503 Commander Mike Rosso. serve in Dodge, Washington, Douglas, Sarpy, and special veteran’s pinning ceremony for Gerald (JerCass counties realize many ry) Naughton, a former U.S. Marine and a Korean older men and women live War veteran, was hosted recently by Prime Home alone, are on fixed incomes, Care and Compassionate Care Hospice where Naughton is are no longer able to operate receiving care. their own vehicle, and don’t “A hospice veteran’s pinning is special because it can have family members availbe very personal for the veteran and is often the last opable to drive them to their portunity to pay respect and show appreciation for his (or various appointments. her) military service to our country,” said Lisa Dempsey, In response, RSVP’s Prime’s volunteer coordinator. A hospice veteran’s pinning is performed to acknowledge Car-Go Project offers free transportation for men and the military service and sacrifices made by the veteran and women age 55 and older in his (or her) family. It’s also a time when the veteran may Blair and Fremont through share part of his (or her) story, Dempsey added. volunteers age 55 and older Naughton earned a Korean Service Medal, a National who use their own vehicles. Defense Medal, and a UN Service Medal. Free rides can be given Beside Jerry’s wife, Jean, their children, and many famto medical appointments, ily members, also in attendance at the pinning ceremony pharmacies, grocery stores, were VFW 2503 Commander Mike Rosso and Marion beauty parlors, barbershops, Sharon, a former Marine and a Korean War veteran. banks, and other personal Notre Dame Housing/ business locations. Rides for persons who Seven Oaks Senior Center use wheelchairs (must be You’re invited to visit the Notre Dame Housing/Seven able to transfer themselves) Oaks Senior Center, 3439 State St. for the following: will be considered on a • Second and third Friday: Community food pantry case-by-case basis. from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. The Car-Go Project – • Second and fourth Tuesday: Get banking help as a which isn’t available to representative from American National Bank visits the nursing home residents center @ 10 a.m. – operates in Fremont and • Third Wednesday: Community food pantry from 10 Blair Monday through Fria.m. to 2 p.m. day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Nov. 6: Medicare counseling from 10 a.m. to noon. For more information on Learn more about choosing a Medicare Part D plan. becoming a volunteer driver • Nov. 13: Program on Keeping Your Heart Healthy with or to make a reservation (24 Life’s Simple 7 @ 1:30 p.m. hours notice is required) for • Nov. 14: Health clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Offera ride, please call RSVP’s ing free blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and PSA Fremont office at 402-721(prostate cancer) screenings. 7780. • Nov. 15: Expand Your Horizons program on Racism: An Omaha Experience @ 7 p.m. Guest speakers will THEOS be Omaha City Councilman Ben Gray and Mona Yath, a HEOS, a social Sudanese-American medical student and mother of four. organization for • Nov. 16: Birthday party celebration with music by Tom singles age 60 Strohmyer sponsored by the Merrymakers @ 1:30 p.m. and older, meets • Nov. 27: Medicare information session @ 2 p.m. at 1:30 p.m. on • Nov. 29: Fair Housing and the Disabled program @ the second Monday of each 1:30 p.m. with Joe Garcia from the Fair Housing Center of month at New Cassel, 900 Nebraska. The center will be closed on Monday, Nov. 12 for Veter- N. 90th St. Older men and women ans Day and on Thursday, Nov. 22 and Friday, Nov. 23 for are encouraged to meet for a Thanksgiving. fun afternoon and to sign up Notre Dame Housing/Seven Oaks Senior Center is open for other activities throughweekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Lunch is served at noon. A $4 contribution is suggested for the meal. Reserva- out the month. For more information, tions are due by 11 a.m. the business day prior to the meal please call Dorothy at 402you wish to enjoy. For meals reservations and more information, please call 399-0759 or Mary at 402393-3052. 402-451-4477, ext. 126.
A
T
November 2018
T Y
the Abrahams Library
ou’re invited to join the Omaha Computer Users Group, an organization dedicated to helping men and women age 50 and older learn about their computers regardless of their skill level. OCUG meets the third Saturday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Abrahams Library, 5011 N. 90th St. Participants will have access to a projector connected to a computer with Microsoft Windows 10 to show users how to solve their computer problems. For more information, please call Phill Sherbon at 402-333-6529.
he Disabled American Veterans need volunteers to drive veterans one day a week to and from the VA Medical Center, 4101 Woolworth Ave. in Omaha. While the volunteer drivers don’t need to be veterans, they do need a valid driver’s license, and be able to pass a drug screening and a Department of Transportation physical given at the VA Medical Center. Drivers will be given a lunch voucher on the day they volunteer for the DAV. For more information, please contact Command Sergeant Major (retired) Lance Fouquet at 402-5051482 or online at sgmman1447@gmail.com.
Volunteers needed The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging is looking for volunteer drivers for its Meals on Wheels Program. Flexible weekday schedule delivering midday meals to homebound older adults in the greater Omaha area. Call Arlis at 402-444-6766 for more information.
Thursday, November 29 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Holiday Bazaar
Shop local, shop small
Free entry & Bake sale Holiday crafts & Hand-made items
Sloppy Joe lunch for $5
Raffle prizes
Jewelry Avon
Keystone Villas
Independent Living
More than 20 vendors 7300 Graceland Drive 402-557-6637 & much more
•
New Horizons
•
Page 13
Get resource information through 211 network The 211 telephone network has been established in parts of Nebraska to give consumers a single source for information about community and human services. By dialing 211, consumers can access information about human needs resources like food banks, shelters, rent and utility assistance, etc., physical and mental health resources, support for older Americans and persons with a disability. The 211 network is open 24 hours a day.
For Allan Nelson, Andra Humphrey is a Senior Companion, loyal friend
T
Family caregivers program on Nov. 15
Y
ou’re invited to attend an educational program for family caregivers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities on Thursday, Nov. 15. The 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. program – titled Now What? – will be held at the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center (near the clock tower) on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus, 6001 Dodge St. For more information or to register (which is required), please contact Janet Miller from the Munroe-Meyer Institute at janet.miller@unmc.edu.
Heartland Generations Center You’re invited to visit the Heartland Generations Center – 4318 Fort St. – for the following: • Nov. 1: Krafts with Kina @ 10 a.m. • Nov. 6: Show and Share @ 11a.m. • Nov. 7 & 21: Manicures by Wanda @ 10 a.m. • Nov. 8: Methodist College nursing students @ 10:30 a.m. • Nov. 15: Attend a program Planning and Goals as We Age at the VNA. We’ll leave the center @ 11 a.m. • Nov. 16: Pre-school Read and Feed @ 10 a.m. • Nov. 19: Taste of Culture. Leave the center @ 11 a.m. • Nov. 20: Birthday party with music sponsored by the Merrymakers @ noon. • Nov. 27: Natural Healing Meeting @ Denny’s. We’ll leave the center @ 10:45 a.m. The center will be closed on Veterans Day and on Nov. 22 and 23 for Thanksgiving. Play bingo on Wednesdays and Fridays @ 1 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Enjoy Movement with Tisha Tuesdays and Fridays @ 10:45 a.m. unless otherwise noted. The center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is normally served at noon. A $4 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to attend. Bus transportation is available within select neighborhoods for 50 cents each way. For meal reservations, please call 402-553-5300.
o outsiders, it might appear that Allan Nelson and Andra Humphrey have been friends for life. In actuality, these retired military veterans – Allan was in the U.S. Navy while Andra served in the U.S. Marine Corps – have only known each other since February 2017.
“When you give to somebody you give back to yourself. If you join the Senior Companion Program, you’ll never be disappointed.” Nelson and Humphrey meet at Allan’s north Omaha apartment Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as part of the Senior Companion Program (SCP). Sponsored locally by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, the SCP is a national program of the Corporation for National and Community Service through the Senior Service Corps. Senior Companions – who are age 55 and older – help other older adults maintain their independence by visiting them at home to discuss the news, read mail, play cards, run errands, etc. SCP volunteers must meet income guidelines and complete an enrollment process that includes references and background checks. In exchange for volunteering 15 hours or more per week, Senior Companions receive a $2.65 an hour tax-free stipend, mileage reimbursement, an annual physical examination, supplemental accident insurance coverage, and other benefits including an annual recognition luncheon. The stipend does not interfere with rent, disability, Medicaid, or other benefits.
Volunteer Andra Humphrey (right) and Allan Nelson meet every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as part of ENOA’s Senior Companion Program. University, is the father of three and grandfather of two. He learned about the SCP watching a television news story. These days, he’s on disability, and looks forward to Humphrey’s thrice-weekly visits. “They keep me from being bored and lonely.” Andra – who is a Baptist deacon – takes Allan grocery shopping when necessary, and the men often enjoy visiting the Adams Park Community Center. Allan said Andra brings consistency and honesty into his life. “The way he gives back to me is a blessing. He’s a true child of God.”
I
n addition to being a Senior Companion, Humphrey has served on the SCP Advisory Council for three months. One of his goals is to recruit more men and women into the program. His sales message to potential volunteers is simple: “When you give to somebody you give back to yourself. If you join the Senior Companion Program, you’ll never be disappointed.” For more information about becoming a Senior Companion, please call 402-444-6536.
H
umphrey, who has six children and 13 grandkids, retired twice after careers will Allied Van Lines and the Friendship Program. He became a Senior Companion because he wanted something productive and worthwhile to do with his free time. Nelson, who earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Kaplan
The Sierra Group, LLC FREE Book & CD Call Us: (800) 309-0753
Page 14
•
New Horizons
•
November 2018
Nelson (left) said Humphrey’s visits bring consistency and honesty into his life.
Get a flu shot today
Eclectic book review series ends Nov. 20
Artists are encouraged to join open art studio
Volunteers are needed to join the Hug-A-Bears
Flu season has arrived, and with it comes recommendations from most medical groups reminding the public to get their annual flu shot. The 2017-2018 influenza season was record breaking with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting more than 900,000 people were hospitalized last year with influenza. The virus was also responsible for more than 80,000 deaths. That’s a shocking statistic. Now that we’ve entered another flu season, our goal is to reduce the number of influenza cases. The best way to prevent influenza is by receiving a flu shot. The old adage “prevention is the best medicine” rings true in this case. Influenza – referred to as the flu – is a viral illness that affects the respiratory tract. It’s much different than the common cold, but the two diseases are often confused. Below is a chart that illustrates the differences in symptoms which helps differentiate between the two diseases:
he Eclectic Book Review Club will conclude its 69th season on Nov. 20 at the Field Club, 3615 Woolworth Ave.
rtists – who work in any medium – are encouraged to join an open art studio that meets Mondays from 1 to 3 p.m. at Presbyterian Church of the Cross, 1517 S. 114th St. For more information, please call Claudine Myers at 402-496-4330.
Volunteers are needed to join the Hug-A-Bears, an Omaha organization whose members have created and donated more than 40,000 stuffed bears to local charities since 2000. The Hug-A-Bears meet Tuesday mornings at the Maple Ridge Retirement Community, 3525 N. 167th Cir. Volunteers are needed to help stuff and sew the bears. For more information, please call Stephen Dawkins at 402-740-2475.
Comparing influenza, cold symptoms Symptom onset Influenza: abrupt Cold: gradual
Sneezing Influenza: sometimes Cold: common
Fever Influenza: Often 100 degrees + Cold: rare
Stuffy nose Influenza: sometimes Cold: common
Body aches Influenza: often severe over whole body Cold: slight
Sore throat Influenza: sometimes Cold: common
Chills Influenza: common Cold: uncommon
Cough Influenza: common dry, tickly Cold: sometimes hacking
Fatigue/weakness Influenza: usual Cold: sometimes
Headaches Influenza: common Cold: rare
T
A
Respite care
The cost for the noon meeting – which includes lunch and the book review – is $13. Here’s final program: • Nov. 20: Brooke Williams on Someone Always Loved You. To reserve your place, please call Rita at 402-5533147 by the Monday prior to the meeting you wish to attend.
L
ife can bring on stress for many of us. Finding ways to relieve stress are important to our overall health and well-being. Caregivers are not immune to this stress. Please contact Respite Across the Lifespan at 402559-5732 or edbennett@unmc.edu to find out more about respite services and to locate resources in your area.
Widowed persons The Widowed Persons Group of Omaha hosts a luncheon the third Monday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at Jericho’s Restaurant, 11732 W. Dodge Rd. For more information, please call 402-426-9690 or 402-493-0452.
The CDC recommended an annual flu vaccine for everyone six months of age and older by the end of October. It takes about two weeks after the vaccination for the body to produce enough antibodies to provide protection against the influenza infection. The vaccine benefits include: • Reduced risk of influenza for yourself. • Decreased risk of flu associated with hospitalizations in children, working adults, and older adults. The CDC estimates flu vaccines prevent thousands of hospitalizations annually. • Protects women during and after a pregnancy. Data shows a decreased risk of flu related to acute respiratory infections in pregnant women by 50 percent when they’re vaccinated. Pregnant women that are vaccinated pass that immunity on to their newborn baby. • Provides protection to people around you, including the most vulnerable to serious flu illnesses including babies, young children, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions. The side effects from the flu shot are minimal. Since the vaccine is an inactivated form of the virus, you can’t get influenza from the flu shot. Side effects that can from the vaccinations include soreness, redness, swelling at the injection site, a low-grade fever, and aches. These side effects should be mild and short lasting. It’s very rare to have a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine. More specific information about side effects can be found on the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/vaccinesafety.htm Do your part in flu prevention and get your flu vaccine today. (Midwest Geriatrics Inc. provided this information.)
LL
SPEC
OFF FIRST 3 MONTHS RENT
L:
$50
Graceland Senior Apartments
I
A
FA
Fall Into Savings Studios at $595-$650 1 BR’s at $695-$750 2 BR’s at $795- $850 CALL TODAY
402-557-6643
55+ Apartments
• All utilities included • Laundry facilities • On bus line • Secure building • Club & fitness room
7350 Graceland Drive Omaha, NE 68134 • KeystoneVillasLiving.com
November 2018
•
New Horizons
•
Page 15
Should top CEOs pay more taxes?
Safety Council is offering a Senior Driving Program
T
he National Safety Council of Nebraska is offering a comprehensive three-hour driving assessment class for older adults by appointment. The Senior Driving Program, which costs $300, is designed to keep older adults driving safely on Nebraska’s roads for as long as possible. Participants will be able to assess and improve their driving skills to reduce risk to themselves, their passengers, and to other drivers. The classes, held at the National Safety Council of Nebraska’s office, 11620 M Cir., offer a driving skills selfassessment, behind the wheel driving with state-certified instructors, driving tips, an evaluation, and recommendations. To learn more or to register for the Senior Driving Program, please call 402-898-7371 or go online to safety@safenebraska.org.
Alzheimer’s support groups The Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska Chapter offers several caregiver support groups and specialty support groups in Cass, Douglas, Washington, Dodge, 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. For more information about any of the groups listed below, please call 800-272-3900. DODGE COUNTY
First Thursday @ 6:45 p.m. King of Kings Lutheran Church CORE Conference Room 11615 I St. Call Karen @ 402-584-9088 to arrange for adult day services.
• FREMONT Second Tuesday @ 5:30 p.m. The Heritage at Shalimar Gardens 749 E. 29th St. DOUGLAS COUNTY • OMAHA Second Thursday @ 10 a.m. Second Thursday @ 5:30 p.m. Country House Residences 5030 S. 155th St. Call Christina @ 402-980-4995 for free adult day services. Every other Monday @ 7 p.m. Brighton Gardens 9220 Western Ave. First & third Monday @ 1:30 p.m. New Cassel’s Franciscan Centre 900 N. 90th St. Call Melanie @ 402-393-2113 for free adult day services. Third Tuesday @ 5 p.m. Immanuel Fontenelle First floor classroom 6809 N 68th Plz.
Third Tuesday @ 6 p.m. Temple Israel 13111 Sterling Ridge Dr. SARPY COUNTY
A new analysis from The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) takes a look at what the Social Security Trust Fund might collect in payroll tax revenues from just a few of the highest paid American workers. “In a sampling of 20 CEOs from the Fortune Top 80 companies, the analysis found total base salaries and performance pay not taxed for Social Security is expected to total $121.5 million in 2018, averaging more than $6 million per CEO sampled,” according to Mary Johnson, a Social Security policy analyst for TSCL. Employers withhold 6.2 percent in Social Security taxes from workers’ earnings — an amount that employers match for a total of 12.4 percent. That money goes to the U.S. Treasury and is used to pay benefits to today’s retirees. Nearly 85 percent of all employees pay Social Security taxes on every dollar earned. But that’s not the case for about 12 million employees with the highest salaries in the country. Unlike the Medicare payroll tax which applies to all earnings, Social Security payroll taxes apply only to the first $128,400 in earnings. Neither the employees who earn more than $128,400, nor their employers, pay Social Security taxes on earnings in excess of that amount. “That’s a problem for Social Security’s financing,” Johnson said. In its June 2018 Long-Term Budget Outlook, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected earnings will grow faster for higher-income people than for others over the next 30 years. The CBO expects that trend to lead to a decrease in the amount of payroll tax receipts that otherwise would flow into Social Security, as a greater share of earnings will be above the maximum amount subject to Social Security payroll taxes.
• BELLEVUE Third Monday @ 7 p.m. Bellevue Senior Center 109 W. 22nd Ave. First Wednesday @ 1 p.m. Eastern Nebraska Vets Home (Vets and non-vets welcome) 12505 S. 40th St. • PAPILLION Fourth Thursday @ 6 p.m. Hillcrest Grand Lodge 6021 Grand Lodge Ave. WASHINGTON COUNTY
Second Tuesday @ 6:45 p.m. For caregivers of individuals with an intellectual disabilty/dementia. Barbara Weitz Center 6001 Dodge St. (UNO campus)
• BLAIR Third Wednesday @ 6 p.m. Memorial Community Hospital Howard Conference Room 810 N. 22nd St.
Charles E. Dorwart Govier, Katskee, & Maxell, PC, LLO Charles E.Suing, Dorwart Govier, Suing, & Maxell, PC, LLO 37 Katskee, years of legal experience • Wills • Living experience Trusts • Probate 37 years of legal
• Healthcare and Trusts Financial Powers of Attorney • Wills • Living • Probate • Medicaid Planning • Healthcare and Financial Powers of Attorney • In-home consultations • Medicaid Planning • Freeconsultations Initial consultation • In-home • Free10404 Initial consultation Essex Court • Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 10404 Essex Court • Suite 100 Office: (402) 558-1404 or (402) 391-1697 Omaha, NE 68114 chuck@katskee.com Office: (402) 558-1404 or (402) 391-1697 chuck@katskee.com
Page 16
•
New Horizons
•
November 2018
Johnson selected 20 companies for her sample and downloaded each company’s public 2018 proxy information which contains Executive Compensation Tables required by the Security Exchange Commission. The analysis used only the actual salary and performance pay, both of which are subject to Medicare and Social Security payroll taxes up to the limit. No stock awards were included. Major findings included: • Of the 20 CEOs, annual income not taxed for Social Security totaled $121,545,322 and averaged $6,077,266 per CEO. • The revenues that would be collected based on the 12.4 percent Social Security tax was $15,071,619 and averaged $753,581 per CEO. • The total revenues in the sample could pay the Social Security benefits of 897 retirees, with an average monthly benefit of $1,400, for an entire year. Or, that revenue could be used to provide a modest boost to the COLA of 448,560 retirees in the first year, by tying the annual inflation adjustment to the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E). • The average CEO in the sample would pay enough Social Security revenues to cover the entire benefit of 45 retirees with an average benefit of $16,800 for a year or boost the COLA of 22,428 retirees with average benefits in the first year. “According to the Social Security Administration, there will be 12 million people who earn above the taxable maximum in 2018,” Johnson said. • According to a recent survey by The Senior Citizens League, 74 percent of survey participants favor applying the 12.4 percent Social Security payroll tax to all earnings. For more information, please visit www.SeniorsLeague.org.
Study examines physical, emotional impact of living with atrial fibrilation
F
ive million Americans have atrial fibrillation, or “Afib,” – the most common heart rhythm disorder. For them, living with the condition and the increased risk of stroke has both a physical and an emotional impact. According to a new national survey of more than 400 people age 45 and older living with Afib, 56 percent reported they’re constantly worried if they have a stroke, they’ll be a burden on their families. Further, 71 percent said when thinking about managing their Afib, reducing their risk of stroke is most important. The online study was conducted on behalf of StopAfib.org and Boston Scientific Corporation. If you have Afib, your risk of stroke is five times greater, yet oral anticoagulants (blood thinners) – the most commonly prescribed treatment to reduce that risk – can lead to serious complications, such as bleeding. However, 41 percent of people with Afib said they rarely or never discuss the risks of oral anticoagulants with their healthcare provider and 40 percent wish their physician talked with them more about it. These findings suggest the importance of discussing all available stroke risk reduction options with your doctor to determine the approach that’s best for you. Another interesting finding was while 95 percent of people taking oral anticoagulants said they believe the
benefits of using the treatment outweigh the risks, 81 percent wish there was a treatment as effective at reducing their risk of stroke without such risks. Plus, 38 percent of those taking oral anticoagulants said they feel trapped between their fear of having a stroke and their fear of the risks associated with oral anticoagulants. “The survey results reinforce that being diagnosed with Afib can be life-changing, particularly knowing that it significantly increases the risk of stroke,” said Mellanie True Hills, founder and chief executive officer of StopAfib.org. “The good news is there are highly effective options for reducing that risk. My advice for those with Afib is to work with your healthcare providers to identify options that fit your needs and lifestyle.” If you have a history of serious bleeding while taking blood thinners, have a lifestyle, occupation, or condition that puts you at risk for bleeding, or take warfarin and have trouble staying within the recommended blood clotting range, device alternatives may be an option. However, according to the survey, 85 percent of people with Afib are unaware of device alternatives available to reduce their risk of stroke. “One of my highest priorities is to ensure my patients understand every treatment option available to them, as well as any associ-
ated risks,” said Dr. Christopher R. Ellis, MD, FACC, FHRS, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “What’s right for one person with Afib might not be right for another – and it takes a two-way dialogue between physicians and patients to determine the optimal treatment plan to help reduce the risk of a stroke.” The survey is part of the Watch Us Now initiative, which aims to empower people living with Afib to learn about treatment options.
Outlook Nebraska providing jobs, training for the visually impaired
S
evere vision loss affects 15,0000 metropolitan Omaha area residents. That’s triple the number of the community’s homeless individuals. Like most people living with a visual impairment, Kenny Blackman wasn’t born blind. He experienced the gradual loss of vision from diabetes; one of the leading causes – along with aging – for vision loss. Through his job at Outlook Nebraska, Kenny has retained his confidence and independence. He has also avoided the plight of many blind Americans: 70 percent are unemployed, and 30 percent live in poverty. One in four adult Americans is at high risk for serious visual impairment, a severe reduction in vision that cannot be corrected with standard glasses or contact lenses and reduces a person’s ability to function at certain or all tasks. What would vision loss mean to the quality of life for you, a family member, or a friend? Could you still enjoy recreational activities, hold a job, or navigate your way around the city?
O
utlook Nebraska provides free education and training for our visually-impaired community members and their families, helping them navigate the challenges of vision loss and understand The Omaha Fire Departthe resources available to them. ment’s Public Education Whether learning to use a computer to check email, and Affairs Department will enjoying a theater performance with audio description, or install free smoke and/or biking with a guide as their eyes, those living with visual carbon monoxide detectors impairment gain confidence and independence through inside the residences of area Outlook Nebraska’s enrichment programs. homeowners. Outlook Nebraska also provides meaningful employment To have a free smoke and/ that improves self-sufficiency for those with vision loss. It’s or carbon monoxide detector the only agency of its kind in a seven-state area that offers installed inside your home, job opportunities through production of paper products and send your name, address, at its business support center, Outlook Business Solutions. and telephone number to: Private insurers and Medicaid don’t cover the costs of Omaha Fire Department services, tools, and technology that help those experiencing Smoke/Carbon vision loss connect with their communities and enjoy life Monoxide Requests to the fullest. Outlook Nebraska relies on donor support to 1516 Jackson St. fund its enrichment, recreation, and adaptive technology Omaha, Neb. 68102 training programs. For more information, Visit www.outlookne.org/donate to quickly and easily please call 402-444-3560. support those in our community living with vision loss.
Omaha Fire Department
November 2018
•
New Horizons
•
Page 17
Cast, crew, audience enjoy melodrama at Corrigan Senior Center
M
erriam-Webster defines a melodrama as a work (such as a movie or play) characterized by extravagant theatricality and the predominance of plot and physical action over characterization. To the cast, crew, and audience at the Corrigan Senior Center – 3819 X St. – that definition might also include a show featuring a somersault by an 85-year-old cast member, smiles, and lots of laughter on and off stage. It was hard to tell who was having more fun as the actors and crew performed and the audience watched a recent melodramatic production of The Fair Maiden Rejects Villain Lord Stinker. Laura Jean O’Connor, who also served as the play’s director, spent
20 hours re-writing its script. “I wanted it to fit the Corrigan Senior Center,” she said. The Fair Maiden Rejects Villain Lord Stinker’s plot involves two men Sir Handsome Mug (Tom Fitzgerald) and Villain Lord Stinker (Jerry Kenny) who are both in love with the somersaulting Fair Maiden (Marilyn Siebler). The maiden’s mother, Duchess (Lynda Tomasello), stays busy throughout the production sorting out the affair. At the play’s outset, O’Connor instructed the audience on its role. “Sigh when Fair Maiden is on stage, clap when Sir Handsome Mug is present, boo when the Villain Lord Stinker comes on stage, and clap when the Duchess comes on stage.” As the production proceeded, O’Connor narrated the plot, Carolyn
The cast and crew included (front row, from left): Brianna Geis, Cathy Huynh, Hannah Barkdoll, and Laura Jean O’Connor. Back row, from left: Dave Keister, Lynda Tomasello, Marilyn Siebler, Tom Fitzgerald, Carolyn Kay, and Jerry Kenny.
A Christmas dinner for older adults at Our Lady of Lourdes
Y
ou’re invited to attend and enjoy a free Christmas dinner at 2 p.m. on Christmas Day at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 2110 S. 32nd St. Reservations, which can be made by calling Marty Smith at 402-689-4800, are requested by Friday, Dec. 15. Round-trip transportation is available by calling 402689-4800. Arrangements to have a hot, delicious Christmas Day dinner delivered to homebound individuals can be made by calling 402689-4800.
Page 18
•
Nebraska Senior Medicare Patrol Nebraska 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 tips to help you avoid Medicare scams. • Don’t provide your Medicare number to anyone except your trusted health care provider. • Read Medicare summary notices carefully looking for possible mistakes. Medicare loses billions of dollars each year. If you believe you may be a victim of Medicare fraud, please call the Nebraska Senior Medicare Patrol at 800-9427830.
New Horizons
•
Carolyn Kay held up the signs which instructed the audience how to respond to the action.
The Duchess (Lynda Tomasello) with Sir Handsome Mug (Tom Fitzgerald).
Kay held up the appropriate audience instructions, the actors acted, and Dave Keister walked amongst the players with a variety of props including an iron, a yardstick, a lantern, and a water pail. University of Nebraska Medical Center nursing students Brianna Geis and Cathy Huynh – who are helping out at Corrigan this fall as part of a class – wore lampshades on their heads during the melodrama as Dim and Dimmer lights. O’Connor’s granddaughter, Hannah Barkdoll, helped out during the show in a variety of capacities. In the end, Sir Handsome Mug wins the Fair Maiden’s hand, and the audience applauds. After the show, O’Connor handed out awards to the cast and crew. “They all did a great job, and everyone had a good time,” she said.
She also thanked the audience for its participation. “Raise your right hand and pat yourself on the back.”
Playwright and director Laura Jean O’Connor.
Session begins at 4:30 p.m.
End of life planning seminar is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 19
M
ost end of life planning only takes place when a crisis forces the issue. Wouldn’t it be better to have these conversations as a family before a crisis occurs? Think Whole Person Healthcare is offering a free educational seminar on how to initiate these difficult conversations and what steps to take to plan them in a calm and comfortable manner on Monday, Nov. 19 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Theater on Level 2 at
November 2018
Think Whole Person Healthcare, 7100 W. Center Rd. The seminar will be led by Amy Marie Haddad, a professor emerita at Creighton University where she served as the Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Endowed Chair in the Health Sciences and Director of the Center for Health Policy & Ethics from 1995 to 2016. She also served as the program director for the online graduate Master of Science in Health Care Ethics program. To RSVP, go to ThinkHealthcare.org/Event/AdvanceEnd-Life-Planning-Families
TSCL: Huge price differences between Medicare Part D plans for same meds
A
new analysis by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) of the highest and lowest prices for 10 of the most frequently prescribed brand name drugs found extreme price variations among Medicare Part D drug plans. “One look at the price comparison chart illustrates why Medicare beneficiaries need to check and compare drug plan prices during this fall’s Medicare open enrollment (now through Dec. 7),” said Mary Johnson, a Medicare policy analyst for TSCL. There can be more than $1,000 in price differences among drug plans for the same drug, the analysis found. In addition, due to recent legislative changes that limit the co-insurance charged during the “doughnut hole” stage of coverage, some brand name drugs are now less expensive in the “doughnut hole” than in the initial coverage stage, where costs are typically the lowest. “Because Medicare isn’t negotiating prices on our behalf, there’s no consistency in drug pricing among Medicare Part D drug plans,” said Johnson, who performed the comparisons using the Medicare website’s Drug Plan Finder. The disparity in pricing is highest when the drug isn’t listed on the plan’s formulary (a list of covered drugs). The diabetes drug Novolog Flexpen, for example, had a low price of $37 and a high of $2,012 in a plan where the drug isn’t on the formulary. A monthly supply of Lyrica, which is used to treat fibromyalgia and seizures, costs a low of $37 and a high of $178. The $178 is higher than what drug plan enrollees would pay ($155) in the “doughnut hole” coverage-gap phase. In 2019, enrollees will pay a 25 percent co-insurance for covered brand name drugs in the doughnut hole. However, in several plans, initial coverage co-insurance for top formulary tiers can be as high as 50 percent, which is twice as much as the doughnut hole in 2019. In one case, the comparison found the drug’s cost was driven up when the high drug plan premium was factored in. For example, Voltaren Topical Gel ranges from $28 to $37 per month. However, the plan in which the drug costs the least had an unusually high premium. Once the premium of $159 was added to the $28, the total cost was $187 ($28 + 159), versus $63 for the lowest-costing plan ($37 + 26). “Most people 65 and over take more than one prescription drug. To get the lowest cost and best plan, people need to compare plans based on all the drugs they take,” Johnson said. “The Medicare Drug Plan Finder shows the combined cost of drugs and the premium with the lowest costing plan shown first. In addition, consumers should carefully compare prices between in-network walk-in and mail-order pharmacies. Those prices can also vary.” Information on all drug plans, premiums, and drug costs can be found on the Medicare Drug Plan Finder at www.Medicare,gov. The drug plan finder allows personalized searches based on the drugs one actually uses. Comparing plans doesn’t have to be a mind-numbing chore. Medicare beneficiaries can get free one-on-one counseling from Volunteers Assisting Seniors (see page 5).
CLASSIFIEDS Please call 402-444-4148 or 402-444-6654 to place your ad.
RICK’S
Lamplighter II
Some of the nicest, newer 1 & 2 bedroom apartments. Elevator, w & d, heated parking garage. Small complex. By bus & shopping. No pets or smoking. 93rd & Maple • 402-397-6921
A+ Heartland Concrete Const.
Driveways, garage floors, sidewalks, retaining walls. patio specialists since 1985. Insured/references.
23-year BBB member
402-731-2094 Senior Citizens (62+) Accepting applications for HUD-subsidized apartments in Papillion & Bellevue.
Bellewood Courts
1002 Bellewood Court Bellevue (402) 292-3300 Bellewood@KimballMgmt.com
HANDYMAN SERVICES
Big jobs or small, I’ll do them all! [Bonded & insured]
402-658-1245
Managed by Kimball Management, Inc. PO Box 460967 Papillion, NE 68046 www.kimballmgmt.com
Commercial/Residential Interior/Exterior/Insured Free estimates/BBB member 402-714-6063 cartagenapainting@yahoo.com
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
rickfitzlerhomeimprovement.com
GET RID OF IT! Haul away, garage, basement, rental clean out…
Johansen Brothers Call Frank
402-312-4000 deFreese Manor
Monarch Villas
201 Cedar Dale Road Papillion (402) 331-6882 Monarch@KimballMgmt.com
Cartagena Painting Service
TOP CASH PAID
Best & honest prices paid for: Vintage, Sterling, Turquoise, & Costume jewelry, old watches, old quilts, vintage toys, old postcards, advertising items, military items, pottery, and antique buttons. Also buying estates & partial estates. Call Bev at 402-339-2856
Please support New Horizons advertisers
Hairstylist Needed
Subsidized housing for those age 62 and over with incomes under $28,600 (1 person) or $32,650 (two persons) 2669 Dodge Omaha, NE 402-345-0622
We do business in accordance with the Fair Housing Law.
The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging has been providing programs and services for older adults in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties since 1974.
For current clientele. Hair coloring, perms, haircuts, & some back-combing.
Aksarben Hairstylists 919 S. 48th Street (Near UNMC campus) Call for more information
402-553-7287
AARP’s Tax-Aide program
V
olunteers are needed for AARP’s Tax-Aide program which provides free tax-preparation services for low to moderate income older adults in the Omaha area. These volunteers – who don’t need to be AARP members – will receive materials from AARP and the IRS for reference and self-study, attend training sessions in December and January, and then prepare tax returns a few hours a week during the tax season alongside experienced volunteers. Men and women are also needed to serve as greeters and to provide administrative and technical support for AARP’s Tax-Aide program. More information is available at nebraskataxaide.org or by calling 402-398-9568. Callers will be asked for their name, telephone number, and email address. The information will be passed on to the local supervisor who will contact potential volunteers.
November 2018
•
New Horizons
•
Page 19
Kent Pavelka... --Continued from page 11, coaches Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne, as well as Husker football and basketball players. The evening of the unveiling, Pavelka was “roasted” by some familiar names and voices: Nebraska men’s basketball coach Tim Miles, former Husker football player and fellow broadcaster Matt Davison, KFAB partner Gary Sadlemyer, and Dan Whitney, also known as “Larry the Cable Guy.”
ENOA honors Duane Wilcox for his work benefitting older Nebraskans
Kent with pal Brady snuggled on his leg. “That’s the value of all this,” Pavelka says, reflecting on the Press Club roast and his career. “You develop meaningful, lasting relationships. Not only with players and coaches, but with all sorts of people. So many people have listened to me for so long, it’s like we’ve all become friends. I feel like we’re all connected somehow. “I learned early on that if you want to be thought of highly, you don’t necessarily have to be good, but you have to stick around. I feel that I’ve evolved in that respect, and hopefully, it’s made me better at what I do. It’s really kind of a kick. Maybe that’s why I’m still doing it.” Or maybe it has to do with that spotting board from the 1996 Fiesta Bowl, and the masterpiece Pavelka painted in the minds of everyone who listened that night. The one he’ll paint again the next time he sits behind a microphone.
Page 20
•
New Horizons
Duane Wilcox (center) flanked by ENOA Executive Director Dennis Loose and Lisa Kramer, vice-chair of the ENHSA Governing Board.
I
n a ceremony held last month at the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s office in Blair, Duane Wilcox – a member of the Washington County Board of Supervisors from 1990 to 2010 – was honored by ENOA and the Eastern Nebraska Human Services Agency for his many years of dedicated service to better the lives of older adults in Washington, Douglas, Sarpy, Cass, and Dodge counties. Wilcox, who lives in Kennard, served 12 years on the ENHSA Governing Board. He remains an active member of ENOA’s Advisory Council. Duane retired in 1999 after a 45-year career at Holmquist Grain and Lumber in Blair. During the Oct. 23 ceremony, Wilcox received
•
November 2018
a plaque and a resolution from ENOA and ENHSA, as well as handshakes and congratulations from friends and relatives on hand for the event. Among those in attendance were ENHSA Governing Board Vice-Chair Lisa Kramer, ENOA Executive Director Dennis Loose, ENOA Advisory Council Chair Dr. Julie Masters, Blair Mayor Jim Realph, three generations of Wilcox’s family members from Blair, Omaha, Lincoln, and Le Mars, Iowa; and ENOA staff members Laura Shillito, Mary Ann Eusebio, Lezlie McPherson, and Chris Casey. “On behalf of ENOA and its staff, I want to thank Duane for all of his hard work which has helped make eastern Nebraska a great place for older men and women to live,” Loose said.