New Horizons April 2020 by Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging

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Celebrating 45 Years

April 2020

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New Horizons A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Offce on Aging

VOL. 45 • NO. 4

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

old • er 74 adul ts since 19

Children’s CEO In July 2019, Rodrigo Lopez was named interim president and chief executive officer at Omaha’s Children’s Hospital & Medical Center. A native of Colombia and a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Rodrigo’s resume also includes stints as an architect, a commercial and mortgage lender, and a real estate developer. Leo Adam Biga’s profile of Lopez begins on page 8.

Coronavirus The Douglas County Health Department’s COVID-19 information telephone line can help answer your questions in Spanish and English weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The number is 402-444-3400. See page 2.

Hit man Despite being legally blind, Mark Wetzel, age 70, is a baseball hitting instructor who works with kids, college, and professional players at his home in the Ponca Hills. See page 11.

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Information available at 402-444-3400

Protecting yourself against the coronavirus

he Douglas County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention want Nebraskans to prepare for the rapidly changing course of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak and its potential spread. Families need to deal with the COVID-19 just as they do with flu outbreaks, tornadoes, and floods. That means everyone should have at least a two-week supply of food, bottled water, and medicine on hand. The DCHD has been in emergency planning mode for weeks, setting up a structure to address its role. Working with its colleagues at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine, the DCHD has: • Created a COVID-19 information line at 402-444-3400. The information line will be open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Callers will be able to have their questions answered in Spanish and English. • Monitored travelers who have returned to the area from China. • Communicated with local physicians on awareness and treatment options. • Reviewed pandemic plans from previous outbreaks. • Reached out to schools and businesses to provide assistance with planning. “Our website and social media platforms will continue to provide the best and most current information,” said Douglas County Health Director Dr. Adi Pour.

OVID-19 symptoms include a fever, cough, and shortness of breath. They may appear as soon as two days or as long as 14 days following exposure. Illnesses have ranged from mild to no symptoms to others experiencing severe illness. A small percentage of those who become ill have died. Dr. Pour said the best advice to avoid the COVID-19 is

to practice good hygiene like you would with the seasonal flu. Good hygiene includes: • Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Hand sanitizer is a second option. • Don’t touch your mouth, nose, or eyes, especially with unwashed hands. • Avoid contact with people who are sick. • Stay home while you’re sick. • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing. Don’t cough or sneeze into your hands. • Frequently clean and disinfect your home, car, and workplace. A COVID-19 vaccine isn’t available yet. Most people have recovered by drinking lots of fluids, resting, and taking pain and fever medication. If symptoms worsen, medical care might be needed. Dr. Pour said the DCHD is partnering with the Three Rivers Health Department and the Sarpy/Cass Health Department. “Our top priority is to protect and promote the health of our communities, and local public health is coming together to do that,” said Terra Uhing, executive director of the Three Rivers Health Department in Fremont. “The coronavirus information line is another good example of how local public health departments work together to ensure the needs of all our residents are met,” said Sarah Schram, director of the Sarpy/Cass Health Department. (The DCHD provided this information.)

The National Active and Retired Federal Employees’ Aksarben Chapter 1370 meets the second Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at the Amazing Pizza Machine, 13955 S Plz. For more information, please call 402-206-7786. 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. • Volunteer opportunities. The 211 network is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The information is also available online at ne211.org.

Report: Health care system needs to address concerns of isolated older adults

lder adults who are experiencing social isolation or loneliness may face a higher risk of mortality, heart disease, and depression, according to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Despite the profound health consequences and the associated costs, the health care system remains an underused partner in preventing, identifying, and intervening for social isolation and loneliness among adults over age 50. For individuals who are homebound, have no family, or don’t belong to community or faith groups, a medical appointment or home health visit may be one of the few social interactions they have, according to the report. The report outlines goals the health care system should adopt to help address the health impacts of social isolation and loneliness. It also offers recommendations for strengthening health workforce education and training, leveraging digital health and health technology, improving community partnerships, and funding research in understudied areas. “This is a big issue,” said Juliann Sebastian, Ph.D., dean of the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing, a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee that did the study and released the report. “It was stunning to become more and more aware of all of the research that shows associations between social isolation, loneliness, and health problems, and even mortality,” she said. “One of our key conclusions was that we need to make people more aware of this problem. Social isolation and loneliness don’t fit neatly within our typical health care environment. We also want to be certain all health professionals know we should assess and identify people who have problems with social isolation and loneliness.” Whereas social isolation is defined as an objective lack of social relationships, loneliness is a subjective perception. Not all older adults are isolated or lonely, but they’re more likely to face predisposing factors such as living alone and the loss of loved ones, the report says. The issue may be compounded for LGBT, minority, and immigrant older adults, who already face barriers to care, stigma, and discrimination.

Social isolation and loneliness may also directly stem from chronic illness, hearing or vision loss, or mobility issues. In these cases, health care providers might be able to help prevent or reduce social isolation and loneliness by directly addressing the underlying health-related causes. “Loneliness and social isolation aren’t just social issues — they can also affect a person’s physical and mental health, and the fabric of communities,” said Dan Blazer, J.P. Gibbons Professor of Psychiatry Emeritus and professor of community and family medicine at Duke University, and chair of the committee that wrote the report. “Addressing social isolation and loneliness is often the entry point for meeting seniors’ other social needs — like food, housing, and transportation,” he said. The report’s recommendations represent a vision for how the health care system can identify people at risk of social isolation and loneliness, intervene, and engage other community partners. Improving clinical care delivery may include: • Conducting assessments to identify at-risk individu-

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als. Using validated tools, health care providers should perform periodic assessments, particularly after life events that may elevate one’s risk (such as a geographic move or the loss of a spouse). • Including social isolation in electronic health records (EHRs). If a patient is at risk for or already experiencing social isolation, providers should include assessment data in clear locations in the EHR or medical record. • Connecting patients with social care or community programs. Several state Medicaid programs and private insurers have launched efforts that target the social determinants of health. These programs can be more intentionally designed to address social isolation and loneliness, the report says. For example, health care organizations could partner with ride-sharing programs to enable older adults to travel to medical appointments and community events. As more evidence becomes available, roles health care providers are already performing — such as discharge planning, case management and transitional care planning — can be modified to directly address social isolation and loneliness in older adults. Other interventions the health care system might consider include mindfulness training, cognitive behavioral therapy, and referring patients to peer support groups focused on volunteerism, fitness, or common experiences such as bereavement or widowhood. The report said schools of health professions and training programs for direct care workers (home health aides, nurse aides, and personal care aides) should incorporate social isolation and loneliness into their curricula. Technologies that are designed to help older adults – including smart home sensors, robots, and handheld devices – might exacerbate loneliness and social isolation if they aren’t easy to use or attempt to substitute for human contact. (The University of Nebraska Medical Center provided this information.)

Funds from the National Institute on Aging

Grant funds used to perfect treatment to help regulate sleep, reduce depression in persons with Alzheimer’s

ith the support of a recent $3 million grant renewal from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), Mariana Figueiro is perfecting a treatment she developed for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias that helps regulate sleep and reduces symptoms of depression. The treatment requires no drugs, only light. Figueiro, the director of the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York, has demonstrated that providing light exposure of certain amounts and qualities throughout the day improves sleep patterns, sociability, and agitation, while decreasing symptoms of depression. “What we have proven is that light therapy is a non-pharmacological intervention that makes a significant difference in the overall health of older adults living with Alzheimer’s and dementia,” she said. “People we talk to are hoping to be able to reduce the number of pills these individuals must take every day. We tend to forget how hard this disease is on caregivers. In addition to helping the patient, finding ways to help caregivers is very important.” The NIA, which is a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), awarded Figueiro $3 million in 2010 to begin her research with older Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, followed by a first grant renewal in 2015 to continue her work.

ith this latest grant renewal, Figueiro and her team will fine-tune their approach to dosage of light, working in long-term health care facilities to find the optimum brightness and duration that makes a quantifiable difference in a patient’s daily life. “It validates the research we’ve done in the past, and it’s a step forward on being able to embark on large clinical trials,” she said. Figueiro’s work has shown that exposure to bright, blue-hued light throughout the day signals to the body’s internal clock that it’s daytime, promoting wakefulness. Then as evening approaches, dim, warmer orange-hued light tells the body it’s time to

rest. The flat, constant light found in most nursing homes isn’t strong enough to properly regulate the body’s circadian rhythms. “What’s happening with Alzheimer’s patients is they are in constant biological darkness when it comes to their circadian systems,” she said. “They have enough light to see, but lighting in nursing homes is typically too weak to contribute to good health.”

igueiro uses two ways to increase the amount of light in an environment. One is to increase the intensity, and the other is to tune it to a more bluish color, because people are more sensitive to that shade. She envisions a future in which all rooms in assisted-living facilities and nursing homes have bright lights automatically providing patients with the light therapy being perfected. The concepts being developed through her work aren’t solely applicable to populations in those settings. Whether a patient has a traumatic brain injury, cancer, or some other type of malady, Figueiro’s findings have shown that light is a key factor in establishing and maintaining the body’s circadian rhythms which are critical to overall health. “The science is solid. The work with the Alzheimer’s patients is where we’re learning everything about how we can implement these solutions,” she said. “I think the future is to expand the range of applications by utilizing our research in a wide spectrum of populations,” she said. Her team at the LRC is already investigating other uses. For example, they’re testing personal sensors and apps that can be used to prescribe optimum lighting schemes to maintain an internal routine. Beyond that, she sees the science behind light therapy applied to the general population as a kind of “light fitness.” “It could be very similar to your personal trainer,” she said. “I think that’s where we’re going in the future. The key is understanding how light affects different individuals and different populations and using our engineering and technical background to develop solutions for people.”

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 ENOA Board of Governors: Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, chairperson; Janet McCartney, Cass County, vice-chairperson; Lisa Kramer, Washington County, secretary; David Saalfeld, Dodge County, & Angi Burmeister, 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.

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Study shows early hardships can impact your later life

rom being raised by an emotionally cold mother to experiencing violence, war, and bereavement, difficult life events have a profound effect on our physical and mental well-being in later life, according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the United Kingdom. A new study showed how a range of life inequalities and hardships are linked to physical and mental health inequalities in later life. These stressful and often heart-breaking life inequalities included having emotionally cold parents, poor educational opportunities, losing an unborn child, financial hardship, involvement in conflict, violence, and experiencing a natural disaster. The research team found people who experienced the greatest levels of hardship, stress, and personal loss were

five times more likely to experience a lower quality of life, with significantly more health and physical difficulties in later life. Those raised by an emotionally cold mother were also significantly less likely to experience a good quality of life and more likely to experience problems in later life such as anxiety, psychiatric problems, and social detachment. The researchers said policies aimed at reducing

Return homestead exemption applications by June 30

pplicants whose names are on file in the assessor’s office in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties should have had a homestead exemption form mailed to them by early March. New applicants must contact their county assessor’s office to receive the application. The 2020 forms and a household income statement must be completed and returned to the county assessor’s office by June 30, 2020. A homestead exemption provides property tax relief by exempting all or part of the homestead’s valuation from taxation. The state of Nebraska reimburses the counties and other government subdivisions for the lost tax revenues. To qualify for a homestead exemption, a Nebraska homeowner must be age 65 by Jan. 1, 2020, the home’s owner/occupant through Aug. 15, 2020, and fall within the income guidelines shown below. Certain homeowners who have a disability, are developmentally disabled, are totally disabled war veterans, or the widow(er) of a totally disabled war veteran – including those who have remarried after age 57 – may also be eligible for this

annual tax break. When determining household income, applicants must include Social Security and Railroad Retirement benefits plus any income for which they receive a Form 1099. The homestead exemption amount is based on the homeowner’s marital status and income level (see below). Maximum exemptions are based on the average assessed value for residential property in each Nebraska county. Here are the numbers for the local assessor’s offices: Douglas: 402-4447060, options #2; Sarpy: 402-593-2122; Dodge: 402-727-3911; Cass: 402-2969310; and Washington: 402-426-6800.

Household income table Over age 65 married income

Over age 65 single income

Exemption %

0 - $34,500.99 $34,501 - $36,400.99 $36,401 - $38,300.99 $38,301 - $40,100.99 $40,101 - $42,000.99 $42,001 - $43,900.99 $43,901 - $45,700.99 $45,701 - $47,600.99 $47,601 - $49,400.99 $49,401 - $51,300.99 $51,301 and over

0 to $29,400.99 $29,401 - $30,900.99 $30,901 - $32,500.99 $32,501 - $34,000.99 $34,001 - $35,500.99 $35,501 - $37,100.99 $37,101 - $38,600.99 $38,601 - $40,100.99 $40,101 - $41,700.99 $41,701 - $43,200.99 $43,201 and over

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

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inequalities in older age should consider events across the life course. “Everybody lives a unique life that is shaped by events, experiences, and their environment,” said Dr. Nick Steel, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School. “We know inequalities in exposure to different events over a lifetime are associated with inequalities in health trajectories, particularly when it comes to events in childhood such as poverty, bereavement, or exposure to violence. “While the impact of adverse childhood events is well recognized for children and young people, the negative events that shape our entire life courses are rarely discussed for older people,” Dr. Steel said. “We wanted to better understand the effects of events over a life course – to find out how adverse events over a person’s lifetime affect their physical, mental, and social health in later life. As well as looking at single life events, we also identified groups or patterns of events.” The research team studied data taken from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging, a study of adults over 50 in England.

“We found people who had suffered many difficult life events were significantly less likely to experience a good quality of life than those who had lived easier lives.”

articipants were invited to answer a life history questionnaire. The research team took into account responses from 7,555 participants to questions that represented broad topics in life history. Some of these questions involved their upbringing such as whether a parent had been emotionally cold and the estimated number of books in their home at age 10. Other questions focused on events in adult life such as whether they had fought in a war or lost an unborn child. The researchers analyzed the responses to identify patterns of life events, and also took into account factors like age, ethnicity, sex, and socioeconomic status. “We looked at the life history of each participant and compared it to their quality of life and how well they can perform activities like dressing, bathing, preparing hot meals, gardening, and money management,” said lead researcher Oby Enwo, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School. “We also studied whether the participants had a longstanding illness or suffered from anxiety, depression, or other psychiatric problems like schizophrenia and psychosis. “Participants were also asked about their social networks, friendships, and general health,” she added. “We started to see some really strong patterns and associations emerging between exposure to life events that affect physical and mental well-being in later life.” The researchers grouped the participants into four main groups: those who reported few life events, those with an emotionally cold mother, those who had experienced violence in combat, and those who had experienced a number of difficult life events. “We found people who had suffered many difficult life events were significantly less likely to experience a good quality of life than those who had lived easier lives. “They were three times more likely to suffer psychiatric problems, twice as likely to be detached from social networks, and twice as likely to have long-standing illness. “People raised by an emotionally cold mother were also significantly less likely to experience a good quality of life, were more likely to report psychiatric problems and be detached from social networks compared to people who had experienced few difficult life events,” Enwo said. The researchers would like clinicians working with older people to consider the impact of life course events on health and wellbeing as part of a patient-centered approach. They said policy makers should also take a long-term perspective and target life events which could be changed like teaching and improving parenting skills to avoid emotionally negative experiences, and targeting gun and knife crime to limit people’s exposure to violence.

Omaha Fire Department

he Omaha Fire Department’s Public Education and Affairs Department will install free smoke and/or carbon monoxide detectors inside the residences of area homeowners.

Omaha Hearing Loss Association

The Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America – a support group for hard of hearing adults – normally meets the second Tuesday of each month 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. For more information, please contact Verla Hamilton at 402-558-6449 or To have a free smoke and/ verlahamilton@cox.net. or carbon monoxide detector installed inside your home, send your name, address, and telephone number to: Omaha Fire Department Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Requests 1516 Jackson St. Omaha, Neb. 68102 For more information, please call 402-444-3560.

Assistance completing the 2020 Census form is available

mericans should have received a census form by email or through the United State Postal Service in mid-March. Since this year’s census will be the first to be completed largely online, some people are concerned older adults may face challenges in participating. Thankfully, there are multiple ways to complete the 2020 Census including online, on paper, by phone, and in different languages. People can choose the method they are most comfortable with. Support is available for

the older adults at DisabilityCounts2020.org. Older men and women should be encouraged to fill out the census form and send it back as soon as they receive it, even though the “official” census date is April 1. The information people share with the Census Bureau is confidential and protected by law. Only statistics are reported. If a resident isn’t counted, their needs may not be met. Critical funding for public libraries, early childhood education, school lunch programs, health services, affordable housing, and special education depend on an accurate census count. The same is true for programs older adults rely on like Medicaid and Meals on Wheels. For more information, call Justice in Aging at 202-2896976 or go online to DisabilityCounts2020.org

NEED A BOOST?

Bilingual resource info Bilingual information about hospice care, palliative care, helping loved ones with grief and loss, and caregiving is available through the Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Partnership. The number for the Cuidando con Carino Compassionate Care HelpLine is (toll free) 1-877-658-8896. The service is offered weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

More than

40 LIFT CHAIR OPTIONS!

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Elder Access Line Legal Aid of Nebraska operates a free telephone access line for Nebraskans age 60 and older. Information is offered to help the state’s older men and women with questions on topics like bankruptcy, homestead exemptions, collections, powers of attorney, Medicare, Medicaid, grandparent rights, and Section 8 housing. The telephone number 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. Its hours of operation are 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 1 to 3 p.m. Friday. For more information, log on the Internet to legalaidofnebraska.com/EAL.

Stop by any location to try one out.

Largest selection at Millard store, 127th & Q Streets. Delivery options available.

Shop the nation’s largest mobility showroom located at 127th and Q.

KohllsRx.com • 402-408-1990 $199 off sale applies to in-stock chairs priced $1399 and up. Sale is valid through April 30, 2020.

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April is National Volunteer Month Thanks to these individuals who make Eastern Nebraska a better place to live! OMBUDSMAN Margaret Beckwith Carol Booze Eva Christian Jean Cline Jerry Colwell Jane Condon Eileen Davis Mary Evans Mary Fischer Alpha Gaines Frank Herzog Lavern Holdeman Pat Holstein Cindy Jones John Kaspar Dan Kauble Nancy Kenny Suzanne Kolesik Tom Lund June Mourgis Jerry Nielson Carmen Ochoa Daniele Reichert Debra Richardson Barb Sterup Fred Suarez John Timmermier Shirley Tingley Selaba Travis Addie Whitmore Bob Brozek Sheila Johnson John Oltman SENIORHELP Bob Abel Katie Adams Catherine Adams Colin Andersen Jenn Andrade Greg Andrade Annette Andres Tess Anisco Dawn Bailey Kristen Bangtson Patti Banks Rick Bell Caroline Berthelsen James Betts Park Blaine Rhonda Boger Jon Bolkema Becky Bonacci Nate Bonacci Mark Booker Ronald Bousquet Alexis Boyd Carl Bradley Nicole Burns Nikki Burrell Geoff Burt Mina Bush Kennedy James Busse Barb Cabrera Dave Carl Kim Castor David Ciaccio Rebekah Clausing Jared Cloudt Dwight Cole Lara Compton Dusty Cook Nancy Cooke Connie Cordell Jason Cosgrove Jeff Crnkovich Reggie Croom Jennifer Crouch Jim Dale Jeanne Dale Alicia Dau Mutke Shannon Davis Joseph Doherty David Dow Dee Doyle Andrew Ervin Michelle Ethington June Faulkner Bob Fields Roger Filter Heidi Fostvedt

Joyce France EJ Gentry Joseph Glime Dede Gould Sarah Gray Raymond Griggs Sherri Griggs Pat Gromak David Haggart Barbara Haggart Doug Halbur John Hancock Kathy Hardenbergh Rod Hardenbergh Jimmy Harding James Harding Tiffany Harvat Bob Hautzinger Larry Heck Steve Helinski Diane Heller Tom Heller Douglas Henry Vikki Henry Everett Henry Linda Hinton Richard Hirschman Robert Hoffman Mary Hoffman Gail Houghton Geri Howell Rosalie Hunter Janice Jensen Cindy Jones Bennie Jones Sue Jones Mike Kaipust Debby Kaipust Arnold Kash Barbara Kash Brad Kearney Mary Kelly Laura Kenny Steph Kim Katie Kiper Michael Klapperich Magee Kopecky Stephen Kotopka Bonnie Kratina James Krueger Sarah Krueger Shirley Kucirek Dave Kucirek Joan Kunes Paul Kunes Antoniette Laguzza Khadijah Lane Ruth Larsen Bill Larsen Nancy Lech Miranda Leslie Pam Lewis Sarah Lindau Arlene Logan Ken Long Ellen Long Melanie Lusk Bob Lykke Mary Lykke Kobey Lyons Jamie Majurinen Mark Mankin Barbara Mckenna Mitch Mckenzie Cherie Mertz Alyce Miller Dann Miller Laura Moore Ashley Moore Page Moore Cathleen Morrison Susan Narducci Warren Narducci Melissa Newkirk Lonnie Newkirk Frank Oldenhuis Vicki Ostrander John Otto Catherine Parrish John Pavalis Bart Pawlenty Dave Persing

Carol Petersen Jeri Petersen Marie Pletka Margaret Pribil Joseph Quattrocchi Vickie Quattrocchi Andy Quick Tom Reed Gene Rhodman Kris Rhodman Sue Rice Linda Rogge Sherry Rydberg Linda Safranek Curt Safranek Larry Sand Bob Sanders Fatoumata Sawadogo Susan Scholl James Schulte Rich Schwartz Samantha Scott Jan Sebby Bob Sebby Jamie Sharp Cindy Shimerda Alex Simonsen Joe Siracusano Uma Sivakumar Ryan Smith Jeanne Smith Rebecca South Cortney Stanislav Karla Starman Randy Steffen Raef Steffen Sheradan Steffen Susan Stensland Steven Styers Joseph Swafford Tammy Thomas Katie Thompson Susan Thomsen Jane Thurston Rob Tiedgen Darlene Trotter Cheryl Vacek Richard Wajda Thomas Walsh Bill Waters Katherine Waters Katie Weinert Thomas Welch Jennifer Wellendorf Cory Wernimont Lisa Wheelock Kathy Widman Kevin Wills Mandy Winterstien Kelley Wirges Daniel Witt Lashawnda Woods Kelli Yost David Zapata Brenda Zapata Mike Zimmerman Lutz Financial Group Sojern Group St Matthews Group FGP Patricia Bass Rosa Benson Leta Blakely Dorothy Blankenship Aloma Bowman Uester Briggs Aurora Bryant Lelia Bryant Betty Burton Mary Cain Jo Carman Rita Clayton Linda Cornejo Cassie English Frances Erwin Joann Fairs Margaret Franklin Bonnie Gipson Gloria Gordon Marina Grados

Johnnie Hawkins Wanda Henseler Debra Highshaw Debra Holloway Louis Jackson Yvonne Jackson Jeanne Jones George King Joe Mattox Gilbert McCabe Sr Patricia McCormick Valarie McJunkin Myra Meadows Michael Micek Karen Milner Mary Mires Dianna Moore Jean Moore Louise Neal Rosemary Onyia Lula Porter Tonia Reese Eva Richards Sue Schnepel Lillian Scott Karen Sheldon Bill Smith Mildred Spoon Dollie Thomas Jerome Thomas Otto Toney Sue Trisler Frances Tyler Mary Valentine Andrew Washington Barbara Watson Evelyn Weathersby Michael Webster Sedell Wells Betty White Essie White Edna Wilson Emma Woodfork

Helene Cartwright Carolyn Caywood Cynthia Christensen Mari Alice Christensen Rita Christianson Marcella Chudomelka Marguerite Church Gaile Clark Gene Clark LaMar Clark Peggy Clark Bryce Clifton Jean Coburn Donald Cook Kay Corbin Hebert Coulter Dorothy Crawford Don Croston Sally Cvetas Ardith Daehling Barbara Daniel Phyllis Davidson Elvera Davis Patricia Davis Dolores Dirkschneider Julia Dirkschneider Peggy Dixson Donald Dostal Mildred Dostal Patsy Doughty Eric Driggs William Duckworth Sr. Carol Duheme Sharon Dunaway Faith Dunn Trisha Eaton Robert Eckerman Georgia Eckert LeMara Eicke Coletta Eikmeier Judy Ellis Duane Emanuel Milton Emry Carole Enfield RSVP Mary Evans Joan Ackley Ruth Evans Lori Adams Shirley Ewing Theresa Adams Kevon Faulhaber Bernard Anderson Jean Fauver Joyce Anderson James Fay Sharon Anderson Darlene Featherstone Sherri Anderson Carol Fennessy Sarah Andrade John Fink Bonnie Apley Ray Fisher Phillip Apley Thomas Fitzgerald Margaret Arp Kathryn Forke Fred Baedke Edna Franklin Lois Barnes Irene Franzluebbers Armond Bartsch Lillian Franzluebbers Karen Bartsch Sharon Freeman Dorothy Bechdolt Charles Gallup Dennis Behrens Margie Gargett Sheila Bell Nancy Gaukel Marie Belsky Karen Gay Patricia Bentsen Kenneth Gehring Rosemary Bernatow Coralee Gerdts Tom Bernatow Gerald Getzfrid Harriet Bloemker Jane Gibney Lowell Bloemker Nancy Girmus Deborah Bobbitt Judy Glover Gary Lee Bobbitt Robert Glover Darrel Boesiger Robert Godek Doris Boettner Donna Golder Anna Bohnet Tom Goodwin Barbara Branco Marilyn Gordon Charles Brau Elizabeth Gotch Carol Brazier Joan Gradel Mary Ann Breister Marlene Green Bonnie Brown Cindy Grefe Janice Brown Robert Grell Marie Antoinette Beverly Greunke Bryson Eloise Greunke Erin Buelt Shirley Grothe Cecilia Buettner Jerald Grove Bonnie Buhl Mary Grovijohn Connie Buller Donald Grow John Buller Rose Gude Izitta Burgan Janice Hagedorn Antoinette Burk Lorraine Hamel Rene Campbell Marilyn Hammang Marcia Carlson Josephine Hammond Wayman Caron June Hansen

Janice Marstiller Mary Ann Hansen Edward Martin Linda Hanson Mary Martin Bernard Harms Herlinda Martinez Mary Harms Teresa McBride Thomas Harvat Fred McCoy Ellen Haskins Barbara McGuire Lois Heckmann Charles (Chuck) Joan Heffner McLain Arlene Heimann Annie Meeks Connie Heisler Walter Meier Joyce Hellbusch Ornitha Meiergard Rebecca Henige Janet Meyer Karin Henkens JoAnn Milhan George Hermone Connie Miller Sylvia Hermone DeEtta Miller Jordan Hettinger Pauline Hightower George Miller Harold Miller Kathryn Hilbers Opal Miller Jean Hill Richard Hirschman Rudi Mitchell Jo Mitteis Darlene Hoffman Joanna Mondragon Roger Hohensee Rosemary Holeman Marilyn Montoya Karen Moore Beth Holland Mary Ann Moseke Annette Holtam Cletus (Wayne) Muff James Holtam Sandra Murdoch Darnell Hood Kathleen Murphy Joy Horn Charlene Myers Curtis Hougen Mary Nelson Rosemary Hroch Janice Newhouse Joanie Huetter Ann Nicholson Ann Hull Mark Nicholson Michal Hume Jerry Nielsen Carol Iverson John Nielsen Margaret Jackson John Niemoth Patricia Jackson Myrna Niewohner Judith James Raymond Nohrenberg Lorraine Janecek Janice Novotny Margaret Janssen Laura Jean Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor Rose Jimenez Bernard Oerman Connie Johannes Joyce Oerman Beverly Johnson Gene Ohrt Deborah Jones Crystal Olson Katheleen Jones Stanley Olson Pauline Joons Mertin Opfer Lois Justus Marie Kampschneider Lorraine Ortmeier Gary Overfield Eileen Karmann Carole Panning Charles Karrick Leslie Parr Connie Kaup Lenore Peatrowsky Lorraine Kavan Larry Peek David Keister Alice Pelander Cindy Kerstetter Hannelore Perl Geri Kessler Evelyn Perry Marilyn Kilbourn James Peterson Dennis Klein Mary (Beth) Pettit Mary Ann Kluthe James Phillips Ann Knippelmeir Sharon Phillips Deborah Koertner Richard Pineda Carol Kolb LaRae Plessing Marty Koolen Ted Pratt Patricia Kubik Jeanette Prenzlow Clarence Laaker Duane Prorok Emily Laaker Ramona Puente Donald Laird Kathleen Quigley Doris Laird Lillian Radtke Sharon Landholm Laurence Raether Gloria Lang Burton Langendorfer LaVerne Raether Darlene Langendorfer Kathleen A. Rahe Martha Rasmussen Carol Larimer Zella Rathbun Sharon Larsen Donald Rathjen Carol Larson Brenda Ray Sandra Lasovich James Reardon Charlene Lawless Joyce Reed Muriel LeBreton Lynn Retzlaff Barb LeCrone Carol Richardson Diane Leiker Ray Rickards Jack Lennemann Robert Ridder Thomas Lichliter Verena Ridder Joan Licht Eric Riley Leroy Lidberg Mary Riley Mavis Lidberg William Lippincott William Rizer Judith Robak Douglas Lorence Neil Rosenbaum William Love Dona Roy Janet Lowe Greg Ruhe Virginia Mach Margaret Ruskamp Norma Mackey Mary Ann Ruskamp George Madsen Alta Russell Joyce Marlenee Raymond Ruwe Bernadean Marr

John Ryan Mary Sagau Charleen Sager Stan Sass Edith Satterfield Tom Sauser Norma Schaffer Emilee Scheer Mary Jo Schiefelbein Clifford Schildt Jayme Schlueter Joan Schlueter Cathy Schmaderer Charlotte Schmidt Joseph Schock Frank Schmacker Mary Schumacher Phyllis Schurman Sharon Scott Marion Sell A J Sellhorst Diana Semper James Shaw Dorothy Shonka Flora Shukis Marilyn Siebler Joyce Siems Donna Sievers Helen Silva Katheleen Simmons Ed Siudzinski Donald Skaw Ardath Smeal Diane Smith Marlene Snell Vera Snide E. Louise Snyder Mildred Snyder Patricia Snyder Elaine Sohl Sandra Sonderman Allegra Sorensen Marilyn Spenner Ardeth Sperling Pamela Spevak Kathryn Spracklin Violet Stanley Eugene Stara Liz Stawycznyj Paulette Steffensmeier Delphine Stepanek Arlene Stork Nancy Strauss Edith Strong Norma Stubbert Bernice Stubbs Lorence Stumpe Vernice Stumpe Ruth Sturgeon Nancy Suey Carmen Tabor William Taylor Wilma Taylor Pamela Thompson Sharon Thompson Delores Thorell Kevin Throne Ernest Tillotson Mary Townsend Sandra Trehearn Bertha Troester Donna Turner Charles Tweedie Gloria Umland Karen Vande Stowe Marjorie Vandenak Marlene Vecera Dorothy Vogt Lois Von Seggern Betty Vondenkamp Juanita Vopalensky Karen Waage Dennis Warner Kathy Watson Paul Watson Mary Weberg Priscilla Wells Marlene Werner Glen Westerman Ellen Whitaker Nadine Wilcox Gary Williams

James Willis Norma Jean Willis Kathy Willnerd James Windeshausen CiCi Winningham Mary Wisnieski Wallace Wolfe Patricia Wooden Ruby York Julie Young Kathleen Zelazny Frances Zeleny Allan Ziesemer Bonnie Zurst SCP Lafayette Alston Brigette Baskin Robert Bass Terri Beck Sandra Bell Trudy Berkey Linda Boatman Yvonnie Boatman Frank Booth Ernie Boykin Carl Bradley Rosie Brooks Debbie Butler Cathy Cleveland Landzie Cooper John Covington Penny Covington Norma Crocker Janis Dallman Gordon Dickey,Jr. Hattie Donaldson Harold Ehrlich Ada Fields Lucille Frizzell Karen Gamble Lavell Gooch Rene Gunn Jean Hamman Bernice Harris Louis Hernandez Carrie Holbert Andra Humphrey, Sr. Gerry Hunter Deborah Jackson Ivan Jackson Sharon Johnson Terri Jordan Sandra Kyle Arlea Lebahn Valora Mapp Shirley Marion Tammy McDonald Mary Miller Betty Molacek Gloria Morrison Rose Nebbia Doris Obilor Janice Philmon Bettie Rahn Morgan Rankins Phillip Reis Glenette Robinson Mary Sayre Doris Shelton Lena Solomon Trish Stoudamire Barbara Strong Brenda Strong Cheryl Thornton Stu Totzke Galina Tsed Joann Turner Frances Tyler Cindy White Lechristal Whitmore Bertha Williams Pearl Williams Willie Mae Williams Carlette Winrow Violet Wooten Betty Jo Zollicoffer

Garden to feed your tastes, needs By Melinda Myers We’ve all gotten overzealous in spring and overplanted or planted the wrong varieties of fruits and vegetables for our tastes and needs. Prepare a list before placing your catalogue order or making that first trip to the garden center. Without a bit of preplanning our carts end up filled with more seeds and plants than space available or varieties that aren’t suited to our growing conditions or our family’s taste. Make sure each plant you select provides the greatest return on investment by including winning varieties with a visit to the AllAmerica Selections website (all-americaselections.org). Review your favorite recipes and consider growing the ingredients you need on a regular basis. Salad lovers may want to plant a container of greens that can be harvested daily. Sandy Lettuce and colorful mild flavored Red Kingdom Mizuna are slow to bolt, extending the harvest into warmer months. Add some

super nutritious Prizm kale for your morning smoothies and salads. Fill a corner of the garden or container with a smallfruited tomato or two for salads, snacking, and other daily treats. Red Celano grape tomato (a determinate for containers) and the light-yellow sweet Firefly tomato (an indeterminate for vertical or staked gardens) are attractive and very productive, ensuring more than enough for your whole family to enjoy. Add crunch and color by growing Roxanne radishes. Don’t forget the cucumbers. Green Light cucumbers are seedless, sweet, and prolific – great for salads or a refreshing summer drink. Keep a constant supply of these ingredients by making small plantings throughout the season. Grow several containers of tasty and attractive Delizz strawberries. These everbearing plants will provide a pretty pot of fresh strawberries throughout the summer for your morning oatmeal or afternoon glass of wine. Plant unusual vegetables you can’t purchase at the grocery store. Roulette pepper has the look and citrusy flavor of a habanero without the heat. You won’t find anything like Yellow Apple tomato at the store. It has small unique apple-shaped fruit with a citrusy sweet flavor that’s perfect for snacks or stuffing with cheese. Dedicate some space for those vegetables that are more expensive to buy than grow. Green peppers are a bargain in the summer, but the yellow, orange, and red ones can cost two to three times more. Reduce the wait time and increase your enjoyment with early maturing colorful peppers like Orange Blaze or the yellow sweet peppers like Cornito Giallo, Escamillo, or Just Sweet. If you plan to freeze, dry, or can your harvest, make sure to reserve some time during harvest season for picking and preserving. Select disease resistant productive varieties like Early Resilience Roma Tomato so you’ll have plenty of produce to preserve. (Myers has written more than 20 gardening books.)

Long-term Care Ombudsman Program

Senior Companion Program Foster Grandparent 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 about ENOA’s Long-term Care Ombudsman Program, please call Beth Nodes at 402-444-6536.

Men and women age 55 and older who want to earn a tax-free stipend while making an impact in their community are encouraged to join the Senior Companion Program and the Foster Grandparent Program. Sponsored locally by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, the SCP and FGP are national programs of the Corporation for National and Community Service through the Senior Service Corps. Senior Companions help other older adults maintain their independence by visiting them at home to discuss the news, read mail, play cards, run errands, etc. Foster Grandparents serve as positive role models for children who need special attention with education, healthcare, and social development in schools, Head Start programs, and child development centers. SCP and FGP volunteers must meet income guidelines and complete an enrollment process that includes references and background checks. In exchange for volunteering 10 hours or more per week, Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions receive a $3 an hour tax-free stipend (effective April 1), 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. For more information on the FGP and SCP, please call 402-444-6536.

April 2020

AARP Nebraska Information Center

ue to the coronavirus outbreak, AARP will not host its monthly program set for April 9. It will try to re-schedule the Dancing Grannies Troupe for a later date. Due to guidance from the AARP Foundation, AARP’s Tax Aide Program has also been cancelled for the remainder of the 2020 income tax season due to the pandemic. Volunteers are needed to work threehour shifts at the Information Center’s front desk. Responsibilities include answering the telephone and providing information to callers and visitors. Training and orientation are provided. Please call 402-3989568 or Betty at 402-393-2066 for more information. At this time, AARP is still planning to conduct its annual shredding event on Saturday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please limit the number of cardboard boxes you bring to the event for shredding. We’re asking participants to consider a gift of non-perishable food items or a cash donation for the Stephen Center. More details and an update will appear in the May issue of New Horizons. Call 402-398-9568 with any questions.

More to serve you better.

We have expanded our services and now have 10 additional openings to better serve you.

More to serve you better.

Please call Florence Homeand Healthcare Center a We have expanded our services now have 402-827-6000 or to visit omahaseniorcare.org 10 additional openings better serve you. for more information. Please call FlorenceWe’re Homehere Healthcare to helpCenter you! at 402-827-6000 or visit omahaseniorcare.org for more information. We’re here to help you!

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Ask A Lawyer: Q — Should I put my child’s name on my home title? A — Let’s look at the pros and cons of this. Pro — It will avoid the need for probate on your home. Con — You would make a gift of a share of the property, and your child would become an owner (joint tenancy). Your child and his/her spouse would have to sign if you ever wished to borrow against your home or sell it. If you ever need Medicaid, you would be subject to a penalty period. Your child would also have to pay capital gain tax on the difference between your original cost and the value at the time of your death, losing the benefit of the step-up in basis at death. You can avoid these negative factors by use of Transfer on Death Deed or a by creating a trust, which may be the best way to avoid probate, while allowing you to pass your assets to your children.

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Rodrigo Lopez is a ‘coming to America’ success story By Leo Adam Biga Contributing Writer

span of ocean separates Cali, Colombia from Superior, Neb. As if the cultural and language differences of these disparate locales weren’t enough, there’s the stark contrast in geography and climate. One is a South American tropical coastal perch warmed by the equator. The other is a lost highway road stop in the landlocked Great Plains. Where Cali is a vibrant, densely populated city surrounded by beaches, forests, and mountains, Superior is a sleepy, dusty, rural town tucked amidst endless rows of flatland crops. Yet the sparse, south-central Nebraska prairie is precisely where an educational exchange program sent 17-year-old Cali native Rodrigo Lopez to finish his schooling in 1971. He couldn’t imagine then this Midwest state obsessed with college football – the year he arrived saw the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers secure their second consecutive national gridiron title – would end up being where he’d make his home, his life, and his career. Rodrigo graduated from UN-L, earned an executive MBA from the University of Nebraska at Omaha – where he’s a College of Business Administration Distinguished Alum honoree – and became a U.S. citizen. Lopez, 66, trained as an architect and began his professional life in that field. Though he retains the aesthetic eye, dapper appearance, and meticulous manner of a creative person, he left that pursuit behind four decades ago to reinvent himself as a mortgage lending expert. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, he then launched his own Omaha-based company, AmeriSphere Enterprises, which he led to great success. Even after making his mark in business, Lopez continued making Nebraska home. It’s where he met his wife, Mary, a former educator at UNO, and where they raised a family together. Though Rodrigo grew up in a big city in Colombia, he came to identify with his first American adopted hometown of Superior and its rural values. Mary claims her own small-town roots in Avoca, Iowa. Lopez sold his company in 2015. He and Mary, who retired after a long career in UNO’s School of Public Administration, then formed a real estate development company. In 2018, the couple built the Capitol Place, a $27 million, six-story condo and retail building in downtown Omaha. They reside in a penthouse suite there. “We acquired the land from the City of Omaha. The Capitol District group had the option to buy the land. We bought the option, exercised it, and then built the condo-retail building,” Ro-

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Besides his familiarity with Children’s and its operations, Lopez developed a personal, emotional stake there that influenced his decision to serve. “When our daughter, Anna, was 15, she was a patient in our hospital for treatment of a very rare autoimmune disease that so far there is no cure for,” Lopez said. “Since that time (she’s 29 now and a first-time mother) she continues to be on a drug treatment like chemo that keeps the autoimmune disease in remission.” Anna’s medical crisis first took her to an adult hospital in the city before she got the help she needed at CHMC. “They really didn’t know what to do for her,” Lopez said. “They said your only choice is to take her to Children’s. We did, and we are fairly confident that Children’s saved her life. “The individuals that asked me to join the board were not aware of the experience we had with our daughter. But because of that it was not very difficult for me to immediately agree I would serve on the board. It was an intriguing opportunity. “As with any board I serve on I became very involved. I served for 10 years. Eventually I became chairman of the board. I stepped down as chairman in December 2018. The immediate past chair serves one year, attends four board meetings, and then goes on into retirement. But that Lopez moved from Cali, Colombia to was not to be.” Superior, Neb. in 1971 at age 17. CHMC weathered negative headlines leading up to Dr. Azizkhan’s resignation and Lopez drigo said. assuming the interim leadership post. Rodrigo’s Besides, the couple are bullish on downtown immediate task was changing the narrative by Omaha. “We wanted to live downtown and we couldn’t find a building that had what we wanted, focusing on the positives Children’s brings to the community. so we built a building and put our home on top “I knew the institution well enough to know of it. that two things were not being represented well “There’s excitement in taking a risk and I’ve always done that,” he said. “I hope I continue do- through hearsay or the news media. One was the quality care we provide. That has never been ing that because it energizes you when you take compromised in this institution, never. We are risks. Hopefully, the risk you take you manage.” very proud and rightly so of not only the quality odrigo has leveraged his international ex- of pediatric care we provide to our patients but perience and business acumen to serve the also the degree of safety we apply. Safety is front and center of everything we do. Omaha community. He and Mary invest “Our financial status was and remains very their wealth in the state through development strong. In fact, our balance sheet would be the and philanthropy. It’s their way of giving back envy of any organization, let alone any hospiand paying forward what Nebraska has given tal in this country. They would love to have the them. At UNO they’ve established a fellowship income statement we have.” for Professional Development and a College of Thus, Lopez felt confident he was steering a Business fund. Mary Lopez manages Capitol Place today. Ro- well-run ship when he took over last year. “I knew I would be entering a situation we drigo is the interim President and CEO at Omaha Children’s Hospital & Medical Center (CHMC). didn’t have to turn around because there was nothing to turn around. But we did need to make Lopez had served on its board, so when asked last July to lead the institution following the sud- sure we collaborated with the institutions in our community to continue to deliver pediatric care den resignation of its then-embattled head, Dr. --Please turn to page 9. Richard Azizkhan, he accepted.

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April 2020

Lopez, CHMC working to offer quality care, build partnerships --Continued from page 8. and really concentrate on our mission, which is to improve the life of every child. “Four fundamental elements are the underpinnings of our mission: pediatric care, education, research, and advocacy. We do all four of them. Good pediatric hospitals have characteristics. One of them is that they’re independent – and we are. Another element is strong academic affiliation, and we have that. “We are the teaching hospital for the University of Nebraska College of Medicine and the Creighton University School of Medicine. So, we have all the characteristics of a successful institution. We are a successful institution.” Under Rodrigo’s direction, CHMC has recently solidified and extended its partnerships with both the Nebraska and Creighton Schools of Medicine, and more partnerships are in the works. “That’s very important,” he said. “That establishes the structure for us to enter into a series of collaborative efforts with not only the College of Medicine but with the College of Nursing, the College of Dentistry, and the College of Public Health. Through those actions we’re demonstrating we’re going to collaborate and enhance our position as the only pediatric hospital where high acuity care is delivered in this community. No one else does what we do in our region, and we will maintain that place by collaborating with others.”

erving at Children’s is the latest example of Lopez immersing himself in community matters. He serves on the boards of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company, Mutual of Omaha Bank, Lamp Rynearson & Associates, and the Omaha Performing Arts. Parlaying his higher education connections, Rodrigo serves on the board of the University of Nebraska Foundation, the donor development arm that raises money for all four campuses. He’s also on the national advisory board of UNO’s College of Business Administration. “I maintain significant involvement in all four campuses,” Rodrigo said. His wife has also been deeply involved in the community. Both have served on the United Way of the Midlands board. Together, they chaired its annual campaign. Mary also served on the Omaha Housing Authority Commission and the city’s master plan committee. He served on the Omaha Planning Board. They’ve also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. “We’ve had the opportunity to really get to know the community through our community service,” Lopez said. He traces this passion for service to the 12 years of Jesuit education he received in Colombia. “There is a fundamental Jesuit philosophy of service for others. I grew up in that environment. It was not an obligation, but you naturally did that. Every Friday afternoon we would collect produce and Saturday morning we would deliver it to poor neighborhoods. That’s where I began my interest in community service. That really has helped me significantly in connecting with a lot of different groups. “That evolved into becoming very involved in professional service. Ultimately, I became chairman of the national Mortgage Bankers Association. The root of all that service to others was that Jesuit education.”

odrigo and his three sisters grew up in a well-to-do family. His father worked middle management for a U.S. company, Container Corporation of America, and a chemical company. Lopez was a bright student with an engineering or architectural career in mind. He figured going away for an American education and learning English would benefit him. He took the opportunity to participate in an exchange program. “Several of my classmates from the Jesuit school I attended actually did the same thing. For all of us, our plan was to come to America, spend four or five years in college, and then go back to Colombia. Almost all of them went back, but I stayed here.” It was one in a series of calculated moves involving some risk he’s made during his life. “I graduated from high school in Colombia and then I did the last year of high school over again in Superior (Neb.).”

Rodrigo serves on several area boards including the University of Nebraska Foundation.

Every five years he tries making it to class reunions in Colombia and in Superior. “I still look forward to them.” Small town America, he said, was “a culture shock” between the tiny population and the absence of anyone fluent in Spanish. The lack of Spanish-speakers worked to his advantage, Rodrigo said, because it forced him to learn English, which was the purpose for his being in Nebraska. He said whereas some friends from Colombia who also ended up in rural U.S. communities couldn’t take it and asked for a change,

Lopez thought it was absolutely great. “It gave me an opportunity to really get to know a part of America that otherwise I would not have.” Rodrigo came to America in an era not unlike today, of sharp division and polarization. Student unrest, antiwar and civil rights protest movements dominated the news. “It was the same everywhere. The United States was not unique in that. Certainly, where I grew up there was a lot of student unrest. Unfortunately, in Colombia, that was also the beginning of significant negative

impact on the entire country by leftist groups and some right-wing groups that created a civil war that lasted for decades.” A guerrilla movement led by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia waged war on the ruling government and its institutions. “That also was the beginning of drug trafficking. The rebel groups needed money, so they allied with the drug dealers.” Drug cartel funds purchased arms and bribed corrupt officials. “This created a lot of chaos. There were years I did not go to Columbia because it was not safe. Now it’s a lot different.” The urbanite didn’t know country life before living in Nebraska, but he soon got first-hand familiarity with the lifestyle. “During college in the summers I went to work on a very large farm owned by one of the families I lived with. I learned how to irrigate corn, how to run tractors, how to take care of 1,000 pigs, 300 head of cattle. I did all of that. I’d get up at 5 in the morning to go hook up the tractor, feed the cattle, grind the feed for the pigs, then clean their water fountains, (and) castrate hogs. --Please turn to page 16.

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April 2020

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New Horizons

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Page 9

CMS, CDC working to protect nursing home residents against the COVID-19

he Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced critical new measures designed to help keep America’s nursing home residents safe from the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). The measures take the form of a memorandum which is based on the newest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It directs nursing homes to significantly restrict visitors and nonessential personnel, as well as restrict communal activities inside nursing homes. The new measures are CMS’ latest action to protect older Americans who are at the highest risk for complications from COVID-19. While visitor restrictions may be difficult for residents and families, it’s an important temporary measure for their protection. “As we learn more about the coronavirus from experts on the ground, we’ve learned that seniors with multiple conditions are at highest risk for infection and complications, so CMS is using every tool at our disposal to keep nursing homes free from infection,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “Temporarily restricting visitors and nonessential workers will help reduce the risk of coronavirus spread in nursing homes, keeping residents safe. The Trump Administration is working around the clock to ensure the continued safety of America’s health care system, particularly nursing homes.” The new measures CMS announced, which supersede prior CMS guidance, constitute the agency’s most aggressive and decisive recommendations with respect to nursing home safety in the face of the spread of COVID-19. They include: • Restricting all visitors with exceptions for compassionate care, such as end-of-life situations. In those cases, visitors will be equipped with personal protective equipment like masks, and the visit will be limited to a specific room only. • Restricting all volunteers and nonessential health care Charles E. Dorwart Massih Law, LLC 38 years of legal experience • Wills • Living Trusts • Probate • Healthcare and Financial Powers of Attorney • Medicaid Planning • In-home consultations • Free Initial consultation

personnel and other personnel. • Cancelling all group activities and communal dining. • Implementing active screening of residents and health care personnel for fever and respiratory symptoms. CMS’s guidance is based upon CDC recommendations informed by real-time information being gathered from experts in areas with large numbers of COVID-19 cases, like Washington and California. According to CDC, older adults with multiple health conditions are at the highest risk for complications. With large congregations of that particularly vulnerable population, nursing homes are extremely susceptible to a quick spread of the virus. There have already been reports of large numbers of cases of COVID-19 spreading quickly through nursing homes such as the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Wash. The spread of COVID-19 in a nursing home can amplify or seed further spread to other facilities when patients are transferred and when staff and visitors come and go. According to CDC, visitors and health care personnel who are ill are the most likely source of the introduction of COVID-19

226 N. 114th Street • Omaha, NE 68154 Office: (402) 558-1404 or (402) 933-2111 chuck@massihlaw.com www.dorwartlaw.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.

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April 2020

into nursing homes, necessitating the changes in guidance to restrict visitors and personnel. CMS understands the vital importance of keeping nursing home residents connected with their loved ones. However, the rapid spread of COVID-19 and its transmission through visitors and health care workers – as well as nursing home residents’ high risk – has made it necessary to restrict nonessential visitation in order to protect the health and safety of residents. In lieu of visits, CMS encourages nursing homes to facilitate increased virtual communication between residents and families. CMS also encourages nursing homes to keep residents’ loved ones informed about their care. This could include assigning a staff member as a primary contact for families to facilitate inbound communications, as well as regular outbound communications. Nursing homes are expected to notify potential visitors to defer visitation until further notice through signage and other outreach such as emails and phone calls. CDC has made several additional recommendations for nursing homes as they work to keep their residents safe. Nursing homes should put alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60 to 95% alcohol in every resident room – both inside and outside the room if possible – and in every common area. Additionally, nursing homes should ensure sinks are well-stocked with soap and paper towels for hand washing. They should make tissues and facemasks available for people who are coughing. Finally, they should ensure hospital grade disinfectants are available to allow for frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces and shared resident equipment. This guidance, and earlier CMS actions in response to the COVID-19 virus, are part of the ongoing White House Task Force efforts. To keep up with the important work the Task Force is doing in response to COVID-19 go online to coronavirus.gov.

Batters hone their swings under watchful eyes of ‘The Blind Guy’ Hills. Mark and Judy, his wife for 48 years, have two daughters, a son, and 10 grandkids. Wetzel got back into baseball as a coach for his then 10-year-old son, Lance’s team in 1985. Mark soon realized he had some talent as a hitting coach and began working with the Omaha Northwest High School teams in the late 1980s. Some parents of players from other teams impressed by the Huskies’ offensive skills, asked Wetzel to teach hitting to their children. Word spread in the Omaha baseball community about this “unique” batting coach, and in the late 1990s, Wetzel was invited to help coach the Omaha Royals. Mark recalled working with infielder Kit Pellow who was battling a hitting slump at one point in the season. “I saw where his hands were, made an adjustment, and his next at bat he hit a ball over the scoreboard at Rosenblatt Stadium,” Wetzel said as he pulled an unlit cigar out of his coat pocket. hese days, Wetzel – age 70 – teaches hitting to players ages 7 and older in two batting cages located inside a red metal building a few steps from his front door. Softball and baseball players from as close as just down the block to as far away as Florida, New York, and Oregon are taught by this man who is legally blind. “I can see two fingers from two feet away,” Wetzel said. Instead of looking directly at the hitters he’s coaching, Wetzel turns his head and watches the batters from the corners of his eyes.

T Sami MacDonald has been working with Wetzel for five years.

By Jeff Reinhardt New Horizons Editor

ark Wetzel grew up playing baseball on the sandlots of north Omaha. At age 13, however, he began having problems tracking and hitting the ball. Wetzel was diagnosed with macular degeneration and forced to stop playing the game he loved. A 1968 Omaha North High School graduate, Mark’s work history includes driving a truck for his family-owned portable toilet company, guiding duck and goose hunting trips, as well as boarding, raising, and training Labrador retrievers on 20 acres of land he owns in the Ponca

sign near the cages reminded visitors who was in charge during the 30-minute hitting sessions which cost $55. Parents stay behind line, and please NO COACHING. Another sign on a wall told the hitters they’d need to work hard to improve their swings. Saying I can’t usually means I don’t want to very badly. Wetzel’s approach to teaching hitting is simple. He wants to minimize head movement, maximize lower body usage, and keep the batter’s front elbow in the right position. “I look for a good swing and can immediately see any flaws” he said. A typical half-hour session includes 100 to 150 swings, interrupted by Wetzel’s comments, encouragement, and suggestions. “I know what does and doesn’t work,” he said. Mark is pleased when he sees a player’s batting average rise. “If the kid’s hitting doubles and smiling, that really makes my day.”

Mark refines the hitting technique of 13-year-old Cameron Wilkins. Sami has worked with Wetzel for five years. “I’ve hit so much better since I came here,” she said. MacDonald has earned a softball scholarship to play third base next season at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa.

etzel is proud of his 40-plus years as a hitting instructor. “I found something I was good at and worked hard. My eyesight is slipping but I never give in because I can still do what I love.” For more information, call 402-451-8054 or log on to blindguyhitting.com.

During a 30-minute session, Cameron Wilkins will take 100 to 150 swings.

n a recent Wednesday evening, 12-yearold Nick Cimino stepped inside one of the batting cages, picked up an aluminum bat, and began working with Wetzel and Mark’s grandson, Nolan Larson. “I want 10 more pounds on the back foot,” Wetzel instructed. “Can’t you feel the bat speed when you do things right?” Nick’s grandpa, John Cimino, said Nick’s swing has improved under Mark’s tutelage. John knows something about the sport. In 1949, he played minor league baseball for the Independence (Kan.) Yankees alongside future Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle. John is a big fan of Wetzel’s. “He’d be a great batting coach anywhere including the major leagues,” he said. Once Nick’s session ends, Sami MacDonald – a senior softball player from Blair High School – stepped into the cage. The room soon filled with loud noises as MacDonald sprayed line drives into the netting beyond the pitching machine.

April 2020

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Although his sight continues to slip, Wetzel plans to continue coaching.

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Information available for parents, guardians for adults with an IDD

By Janet Miller f you’re a parent or guardian caring for an adult loved one who has an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD), you may have questions about available community services and supports. Perhaps you’d like to meet other caregivers in a similar situation, learn more about acronyms used by area service providers, or find out what’s involved with participating in yearly planning meetings. I’m working to offer evening informational/educational events held approximately every other month in collaboration with the Munroe-Meyer Institute and the Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands. The events are held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Community Engagement Center, located between the UNO library and the Performing Arts building. Parking is available in the lot near the UNO clock tower on the campus’ Dodge Street side.

n addition, a caregiver Facebook page has been established for those interested in communicating with other caregivers. The Facebook site is called Nebraska Caregivers of Adults with Developmental Disabilities. Men and women caring for an adult with Down syndrome who have questions or concerns about noted changes in behaviors or a decrease in skills, can also reach out to me at jmiller809@gmail.com.

Vols needed for study about memory aids

r. Beth Lyon from the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Psychology Department and her students are working on a research study to learn more about people’s reliance on memory aids and opinions of people that use them. Dr. Lyon has created an online survey that takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete asking for views, opinions, and information about the usage of various tools often used to help remember task completion. The survey – open to everyone over age 18 – can be found online at https://bit.ly/39A8CWt. Please follow this link if you’re willing to help with the research study. If you have any questions about this study, please contact Dr. Lyon at 402-5542580 or online at bethanylyon@unomaha.edu.

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.

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April 2020

Available in a variety of sizes, styles

Lift chairs are a great option for those with limited mobility, balance issues By David Kohll, Pharm. D.

ift chairs are an ideal solution for anybody who has difficulty transitioning from a seated position to standing due to limited mobility or balance issues. However, the benefits extend far beyond assistance with sitting down and standing up. Lift chairs can help users sit without having to crash down into the chair. While they don’t double as beds, lift chairs may be used as a quick napping option depending on the chair you get and how far it reclines. Most models can be reclined to a flat position and modified to different angles and elevations for maximum comfort. For individuals who must keep their legs elevated while they sit or sleep, lift chairs are an ideal solution. Lift chairs can be used to recline in a variety of positions while watching your favorite television programs, using a computer or telephone, reading, or engaging in other recreational activities. With optional heat and massage features, lift chairs provide therapeutic benefits to those with stiff and sore joints, back pain, arthritis, and other conditions. They provide excellent, affordable alternatives to expensive bathtub modifications for those who require heat and massage therapy. Besides heat and massage, some lift chairs come with a cup holder, a magazine holder, or a speaker system so you don’t have to play the TV so loud. There are three main types of lift chairs: • The two-position lift chair is the simplest type. It offers the standard 90-degree upright angle and a 45-degree recline so your legs are elevated and your back is reclined 45 degrees from its upright angle. The reclining motor and leg elevator are attached to one motor, so as the chair reclines, the leg support elevates. • The three-position lift chair features an upright angle and a 45-degree angle. It also has a reclining angle that goes almost entirely flat allowing you to take even more pressure off your back and joints. • The infinite-position variety is the most flexible style of lift chair. The infinite-positions allow you to set your chair in a variety of ways to find the most comfortable position. You can sit upright, lay completely flat, or have your back at a 45-degree angle and your legs completely elevated. Some infinite-position chairs allow your legs to raise above the angle of your head when laying completely flat. These chairs are also known as zero-gravity chairs. They can reach infinite positions because the back recliner and leg elevator run on two different motors, so they don’t work as a single device. While they’re often the most expensive chairs, the infinite-position style also gives you the most flexibility to find what’s comfortable. When choosing a lift chair, it’s important to sit in multiple chairs to determine which is the most comfortable and fits you best. There are many sizes and cushion arrangements you’ll want to test. The price of lift chairs range from $800 to $2,800 depending on the bells and whistles you prefer. Check with your insurance coverage to see if your policy will pay for a lift chair. Insurance won’t cover a lift chair if they’ve paid for a wheelchair in the past or if you’re wheelchair bound. There may be a waiting period before your physician provides the documentation the insurance company needs before approving payment for a lift chair. If you have a physician’s prescription for a lift chair, most states don’t charge a sales tax since it’s a medical equipment item. It’s time to consider a lift chair if you’re unsafely getting up from a regular chair. Lift chairs look great and they’re an excellent solution to keep you safely in your residence for as long as possible. (Kohll is with Kohll’s Rx in Omaha.)

No need for you to give up the joys of gardening

UNMC study

University of Nebraska Medical Center nurse reBy Ginny Czechut, MSPR searcher is looking for men and women to volunteer 90 pring is here, and the flowers will start blooming and minutes for a study. displaying their vibrant colors any day. Gardening is She’s trying to recruit enjoyed by 78 million Americans, according to the volunteers age 60 and older National Gardening Association. That means many of us who have experienced modwere busy planning which seeds we’ll sow this year as soon erate pain and volunteers as we saw the first glimpse of spring weather. age 19 and older who have While you might believe you should give up gardening been a caregiver for a famas you age, there are many benefits to continuing this favor- ily member who has experiite hobby. Gardening often provides a relief from stress, a enced moderate pain. way to connect with nature, and improves our mental and Participants must be able physical health. A few simple tips and modifications can to read and speak English make gardening a possibility at any age. and not have memory loss. The volunteers will meet once with the researchers to participate in an interview. Volunteers who complete the study will receive compensation for their time. For more information, please contact Dr. Marcia Shade at 402-559-6641 or marcia.shade@unmc.edu or Rasila Soumana BSN, RN at 402-559-2954.

RSVP

he Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is partnering with Boys Town to offer new volunteer opportunities. Volunteers are needed to assist with light office work, organizing papers, archiving photos and documents, and with other projects at Boys Town’s Hall of History. Men and women are also needed to volunteer at Boys Town’s café, Garden of the Bible, visitors center, gift shop, and with the world’s largest ball of string. For more information, please call RSVP’s volunteer coordinator at 402-444-6536.

VAS’ Homestead Exemption assistance suspended • Paint garden tools with a bright color. This allows you to easily locate them in a potting shed. It can also help you avoid tripping on them as they lay in your garden. • Use a vertical garden or trellis. This helps you grow plants without having to stoop or bend over. If gardening in the ground, use a stool or bench to sit on while planting or weeding. • Keep your garden simple. Pick a theme (such as vegetables or roses) and stick to it. Using hanging baskets or planters can keep your garden size manageable and easier to care for. • If you’re just starting a garden or would like to make improvements, consider raised beds or standing gardens. They can include a place to safely sit and garden or the vegetables, plants, and flowers can be lifted to a height where you can stand while you work. • Garden during the early morning or late in the day, avoiding the afternoon heat. Wear lightweight clothing, sunscreen, a hat, and gardening gloves to protect yourself from the sun’s damaging rays. Be sure to drink plenty of decaffeinated fluids to prevent dehydration. • Be aware of your limitations. Stretch before working in your garden and allow time for breaks during long sessions of weeding or harvesting. Everyone, no matter what age, can enjoy the benefits of gardening. With these simple gardening tips, you’ll be reaping the bounty of your vegetables, fruits, and flowers in no time. (Czechut is with Midwest Geriatrics, Inc. in Omaha.)

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Douglas County Assessor/Register of Deeds office has suspended its Homestead Exemption help site visits through Thursday, April 16. These sites may reopen on Tuesday, April 21. The 2020 Nebraska Homestead Exemption program can provide relief from property taxes for persons who qualify by exempting all or part of their home’s valuation from taxation. See page 4 for more information. If the sites resume on April 21, Vol-

unteers Assisting Seniors will be available to help older Nebraskans file their 2020 homestead exemption applications. See below for a list of the sites and dates the VAS representatives may be available. All appointments will be scheduled to be held between 10 a.m. and noon except those appointments scheduled at Notre Dame Housing, 3439 State St. These appointments will be scheduled to be held between 9 and 11 a.m. Please call 402-444-6617 to schedule your appointment.

Thursday, May 7 Faith Westwood Church 4814 Oaks Ln

Tuesday, April 21 Mockingbird Community Center 10242 Mockingbird Dr.

Thursday, May 14 St. Andrews Church 15050 W. Maple Rd.

Tuesday, April 21 Goodwill Industries 4805 N. 72nd St.

Tuesday, May 19 Goodwill Industries 4805 N. 72nd St.

Tuesday, April 28 Elkhorn Fraternal Eagles 20276 Wirt St

Thursday, May 21 VAS 1941 S. 42nd St #312 Thursday, May 28 Salem Baptist Church 3131 Lake St.

Thursday, April 30 Ralston Senior Center 7301 Q St #100 Tuesday, May 5 DAV 4515 F St. HorizonAD-2010:HorizonAD-08

2/4/10

8:00 AM

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Tuesday, June 2 Douglas County Extension Office 8015 W. Center Rd. Thursday, June 11 Northwest Hills Church 9334 Fort St. Saturday, June 13 Sheet Metal Workers Hall 3333 S. 24th St. Thursday, June 18 VAS 1941 S. 42nd St. #312 Call 402-444-6617 to make an appointment.

TRAVEL CAT SPRING TOURS

Orange City Tulip Festival

Spend the day enjoying Dutch dance performances, crafts, parade, street scrubbing, authentic cuisine, quilts, shopping, and more. Thursday, May 14, 2020 Hurry! Registration closes soon! Upcoming Travel Cat Tours • May 27: Saints & Sinners Mystery Tour • June 9: Great Platte River Archway • June 29: Willa Cather - NE Authors Tour • Aug. 17-19: Swedes & Cowboys in Kansas

For reservations, call 531-777-2124 or register online at Travelcattours.com Email: info@travelcattours.com

Attorneys at Law William E. Seidler Jr.

www.seidler-seidler-law.com 10050 Regency Circle, Suite 525 Omaha, NE 68114-5705

402-397-3801

Delivering quality legal services since 1957.

April 2020

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THEOS THEOS, a social organization for singles age 60 and older, normally meets at 1:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at New Cassel, 900 N. 90th St.

Map out your own way

Older adults can meet for a fun afternoon and to sign up for other activities. To learn more, call Dorothy at 402-399-0759 or Mary at 402-393-3052.

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 • 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. Second Tuesday @ 6:45 p.m. For caregivers of individuals with an intellectual disabilty/dementia. Barbara Weitz Center 6001 Dodge St. (UNO campus) Third Monday @ 9 a.m. Intercultural Senior Center 5545 Center St. Offered in English and Spanish

First Thursday @ 6:45 p.m. King of Kings Lutheran Church CORE Conference Room 11615 I St. Call Karen @ 402-504-9088 to arrange for adult day services. Third Tuesday @ 6 p.m. Temple Israel 13111 Sterling Ridge Dr. SARPY COUNTY • 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 • BLAIR Third Wednesday @ 6 p.m. Memorial Community Hospital Howard Conference Room 810 N. 22nd St.

The importance of maintaining equilibrium in your life during the coronavirus pandemic

n spite of everything going on during the coronavirus pandemic, I had to chuckle at this posting I read online: “I did not plan to give up this much for Lent.” My sentiments exactly. I’m struck every day with the implications of “social distancing” and what it means for me, my family, my friends, and my church. Like everyone else, I’m trying to figure out how to handle all the changes without losing my equilibrium. What can I do for myself and others so I cannot only survive but thrive through this challenge? Here are some of the strategies I’m using. First, I’m beginning every day with some quiet time. I call it meditation. Others may call it prayer, reflection, deep breathing, or a quiet time to think. This is a centering practice that allows me to stay focused when I encounter unforeseen events through the day. Second, I choose to experience some beauty in my day. It may be watching birds on the feeder, reading a poem, listening to lovely music, or focusing on a piece of art. Beauty feeds our souls so being conscious of the beauty all around us is life giving. There’s no lack of beauty but only a lack of consciousness. To open our eyes to beauty helps us to balance out the worries we face. Third, I need to have some project or goal to ac-

complish each day. It may be cleaning a drawer or a closet. It may be writing this column or cleaning out my car. Personally, at the end of the day, I feel better if I can point to some accomplishment albeit small. Fourth, I need to reach out to others socially. At this time, I think of others who are alone or may be most affected

Conscious Aging By Nancy Hemesath

by the threat of the coronavirus. A funny card to a friend quarantined in a senior living center seems like a good idea. Phone calls and emails allows us to maintain and build our relationships. We’re in this together in a way our society hasn’t experienced in our lifetimes. If we all reach out, no one will be left behind to face this alone. As we care for others, we’re being cared for ourselves.

Fifth, I want to laugh every day. This need may be met through watching a funny television program, reading the comics, looking for clever postings online, or talking to humorous friends. If we have the gift of humor, let’s share it with others. Heard a good joke lately? We all need comic relief in these serious times. Lastly, I’m taking care of my physical needs. It’s so easy to eat my way through the stress. That, of course, is counterproductive. Mindless eating doesn’t help my mood. Going for a walk does lift my spirits and this is my substitute for going to the gym. As we face this pandemic, we each must map out our own way. This calls us to be conscious on how we’re handling these difficulties. May we be wide awake to our own needs and the needs of those around us. (Hemesath is the owner of Encore Coaching in Omaha. She’s dedicated to supporting people in the Third Chapter of Life. Contact her at nhemesath@cox.net.)

AARP’s Florence Chapter

Please see the ad on page 3

New Horizons Club gains new members

he Florence Chapter of AARP normally meets monthly at Mountview Presbyterian Church, 5308 Hartman Ave. The meetings begin with a noon meal followed by a program. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the schedule of monthly programs, however, is uncertain at this time.

$35 Norma Harrow

$25 Warren Taylor Nanci Salistean Carole Buczkowski ASCO, P.C. $20 Carole Yanovich $10 Karen Jackson Carol Burns

Please call Gerry Goldsborough at 402-571-0971 for more information. Transportation can be arranged by calling Ruth Kruse at 402-453-4825.

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April 2020

$5 Kathleen Koons Frank Marek Kathy Rieb

Reflects donations received through 3/20/2020.

UK research findings could adjust prostate cancer treatment

esearchers at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom have discovered why some prostate cancers are more aggressive, spread to different parts of the body, and ultimately cause

death. It’s hoped the discovery could transform patient treatment for prostate cancer. The findings come after the same team developed a test that distinguishes between aggressive and less harmful forms of prostate cancer, helping to avoid sometimes damaging and unnecessary treatment. The new study shows how the number of aggressive cells in a tumor sample defines how quickly the disease will progress and spread. The findings also reveal three new subtypes of prostate cancer that could be used to classify patients for different treatments. “Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. It usually develops slowly, and the majority of cancers will not require treatment in a man’s lifetime. However, doctors struggle to predict which tumors will become aggressive,” said Colin Cooper from UEA’s Norwich Medical School. “This means many thousands of men are treated unnec-

Free Tai Chi for Balance classes The Visiting Nurse Association’s Healing Motion Physical Therapy clinic is offering free Tai Chi for Balance classes. Tai Chi is a great way for older adults to improve their balance and strength, while decreasing their chance of falling. Physical therapist Kris Lausterer –a certified Tai Chi for Balance instructor for two years – will teach the ongoing classes which

are open to everyone regardless of their experience with Tai Chi. The classes are normally held on Wednesdays at 5:15 p.m. at the Visiting Nurse Association building, 12565 W. Center Rd. Registration will occur before the class. For more information, please contact Lausterer at 402-346-7772 or klausterer@vnatoday.org.

Respite Across the Lifespan

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 edbennett@unmc.edu or 402-559-5732 to find out more about respite services and to locate resources in your area.

essarily, increasing the risk of damaging side effects, including impotence from surgery.” The team developed a test to distinguish aggressive prostate cancers from less threatening forms of the disease by applying some complex math known as Latent Process Decomposition. “By applying the Latent Process Decomposition process and analyzing global prostate cancer datasets, we discovered an aggressive form of prostate cancer known as DESNT which has the worst clinical outcomes for patients,” said Vincent Moulton from UEA’s School of Computing Sciences. In the latest study, the

team studied gene expression levels in 1,785 tumor samples. They found the amount of DESNT subtype cells in a sample is linked with the likelihood of disease progression – the more DESNT cells, the quicker the patient is likely to progress.

“Many thousands of men are treated unnecessarily, increasing the risk of damaging side effects, including impotence from surgery.” “If you have a tumor that is majority DESNT you are more likely to get metastatic disease, in other words it is more likely to spread to other parts of your body. This is a much better indication of aggressive disease,” said co-lead researcher Dr. Daniel Brewer. “We also identified three more molecular subtypes of prostate cancer that could help doctors decide on different treatment options for patients. “This research highlights the importance of using more complex approaches for the analysis of genomic data,” Brewer added.

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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

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Cartagena Painting Service

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April 2020

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Willingness to accept risk key to Rodrigo’s success --Continued from page 9. “Other summers I did railroad work for a cement company that had eight miles of track between the cement plant and the limestone quarry. They bought surplus rails and ties from railroads to lay down those tracks. I was on a crew of four that replaced the ties and rails and fixed the tracks.” The work motivated Lopez to study hard to find a whitecollar profession. “I didn’t want to have to do that for the rest of my life, especially taking care of pigs,” he said. Superior holds a special place in Rodrigo’s heart for the welcome it gave him. “I try to go once a year. I have a lot of friends there.” Attending UN-L made sense since some of his Superior classmates went there and it offered a College of Engineering and a School of Architecture. “I was always interested in engineering and architecture. I studied architecture and after I graduated, I got hired by a Lincoln architectural firm.” Lopez worked on commercial and institutional projects. He never anticipated switching careers but did when a unique opportunity presented itself. “If you talk to my colleagues in the mortgage banking industry almost all of them will tell you they never planned to be a mortgage banker. They became a mortgage banker by accident. My story is much the same. In my case, I was project architect for a parking structure that one of my clients - Woodmen Life – built downtown (Omaha) next to the Woodmen Tower. “A project like that takes a long time and I got to know the folks at Woodmen. A series of events occurred where they ended up needing an analyst in their mortgage loan and real estate group, so I joined them.” Always a quick study and up for any challenge, Lopez took to his new profession with such acuity that he became chief lending officer for Woodmen Life, responsible for investments in commercial mortgage loans and real estate properties. “I was with them for about 11 years when I decided to start my own mortgage banking company. At the time I figured if it didn’t work, I was young enough to go back to work and be OK. If it worked then I would be OK, and it did work. I was lucky that Mary was teaching at UNO, so there was at least one steady paycheck coming into our household and the benefits that went with it. Our kids were already in school.” He launched his original business, AmeriSphere Financial in 1997 from his bedroom, playing stay-at-home-dad for his kids between phone meetings and writing reports. “I would stop whatever I was doing somewhere around 4 every afternoon and fix supper. I would take care of the kids until they went to bed, and then I went back to work. That was a routine in the early days of the mortgage company. Eventually that changed when we went from in essence originating and servicing loans for financial institutions to having the opportunity to become a lender – taking risk upon the loans that we originated.” Lopez built the business to 55 employees with loans in 39 states and a portfolio worth close to $500 million. That caught the attention of Fannie Mae executives, who sought to originate more loans in middle America, The business not only provided commercial mortgage banking services but also international consulting – assisting other companies such as HDR Inc., in the development of projects and enterprises in Latin America. Mary Lopez was part of the consulting team. Lopez’s company was invited to become a Fannie Mae Delegated Underwriting and Servicing Lender. As one of only 25 such lenders nationally, it engaged in originating, underwriting, closing, and servicing multifamily mortgage loans throughout the country. “We built a great team of underwriters. We made sure we established a very strong credit culture but also a strong culture of ethics. “In that entire time with Fannie Mae we only had to write one check for $900,000 which I think remains probably a record with Fannie Mae for having such a clean portfolio. That was based on constantly making sure all of us understood we had to pay attention to testing those credit limits but never, ever deviating from doing the right thing.” In 2000, Lopez partnered with McCartney Group in Omaha and in 2005 with NorthMarq Capital of Minneapo-

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Lopez built AmeriSphere Financial from a business launched in his bedroom into a firm with 55 employees and a portfolio worth nearly $500 million. lis. “We grew it and when we sold it four and a half years ago, we had a $5.5 billion portfolio.” At that time, ethics were in short supply in the unregulated finance industry, according to Lopez. “Too many people were doing whatever they could do to make a buck, putting people in homes they couldn’t afford, financing apartment complexes nobody else would do to get the loan, and make a profit. That’s going beyond poor underwriting – it’s doing the wrong thing,” he said. “By not following the crowd on bad underwriting and not doing anything unethical, we thrived.” Business leaders reached out to Rodrigo for his take on how the financial markets went astray. “For a long time, I was asked by institutions to talk about what happened. I was glad to. There was plenty to talk about.”

s an executive, Lopez developed a servant leader approach he applies wherever he takes the helm of a board or business. “Most people look at institutions or entities as a triangle with management at the top. I flip it around to view it as management being at the bottom of the triangle supporting and serving everybody, and I hope to always do that. “The characteristics of a servant leader are something I write in notebooks that I keep so that I don’t forget them. One of the skills a servant leader has is listening, understanding what you

April 2020

hear, and then acting on what you heard. That’s probably most important. It’s served us well at Children’s.” Education has been key to Rodrigo’s professional life and it’s why he’s such a staunch supporter of learning. “It’s one of our most important economic engines. There’s no question about that and we have to continue to make sure our legislature understands that. As citizens of Nebraska and taxpayers we must support education because we really need the skills developed in our higher learning institutions. “We know here at Children’s how difficult it is to find individuals with certain skills. Nurses, for example. If we don’t invest in higher education and really do our best to attract students, we’re undercutting our future. When we bring them here, they’re likely to remain here, but it’s very difficult to attract young professionals to the state. We need far more than we have, so we’ve got to continue to invest in education.” He said educational support is needed from early childhood programs to elementary and secondary schools to community colleges and four-year colleges. “We may not need rocket scientists because we don’t have any rocket facilities around here, but we definitely need neurosurgeons. We need engineers, programmers, welders, plumbers, construction trade, and manufacturing professionals, too. The entire working spectrum. We need people being ready to be in apprentice environments so they can be good skilled laborers and highly trained professionals.” Rodrigo and Mary Lopez are big believers in fostering inclusion in education and the workplace. They share a passion for creating pathways for minorities to have access to spaces where diversity is lacking. “Through the support we provide to the University of Nebraska we’re fortunate we’ve been able to endow opportunities for students to benefit and continue their education without regard for their background,” he said. When it comes to recruiting and hiring with inclusion in mind, Lopez said you have to be intentional. “Yes, there is a benefit for those who join your team that may not have opportunities readily available to them, but the institution or the company is going to benefit because of the diversity of perspective all of us bring from our different backgrounds. “If you’re good at being inclusive, you’re automatically diverse. You don’t do it just to meet some diversity quota. You do it to be inclusive, and then everything else works out.”

oing on half a century since he came to America, Lopez has much to look back on with gratitude. “I’ve been blessed with a lot of opportunities. The only smart thing I’ve done is that when opportunities presented themselves, I’ve taken them and I’ve done something with them, and so far, it’s worked out. You do have to accept risk though.”