New Horizons August 2023

New Horizons

Astronaut returns home to head SAC Museum

By Bob Glissmann Flatwater Free Press

Ed Burchfield knows the crucial role the Strategic Air Command played in the United States’ Cold War victory over the Soviets.

The retired Air Force colonel served for years at SAC headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base near Bellevue, oversaw nuclear missile silos buried in central Montana and worked on SAC-related projects at the Pentagon.

Burchfield is proud of that history. But the longtime board member of the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum –which he helped move to its current home near Ashland – now thinks the long-struggling SAC Museum needs to offer more than that history to survive.

The massive bombers, missiles

and sleek fighter jets simply don’t pull in young Nebraskans in 2023, he said. “As much as I love my brethren, who are old SAC guys, ‘Hey, guys, we ain’t around anymore,’ ” said Burchfield, 79.

“The command is gone. And we got

these big, greasy (aircraft) out here that are fun to watch and see and look at, but we’ve got to move on. And that’s why space fits in.”

The museum’s plan to place a greater emphasis on space travel came after the hiring of retired

astronaut and Ashland native Clayton Anderson. The focus on space has rankled some retired Air Force and SAC veterans. But Anderson and others think it presents the latest chance for the museum to thrive – or simply survive – after a quartercentury history that has included 10 different directors and recent financial woes.

Anderson, 64, was on the museum board but was living in Houston when museum leaders convinced him to take the job as president and CEO. He moved back to work in his hometown with the goal of making the museum “a gem of the Midwest.”

“The fact that the young boy that dreamed of being an astronaut three miles from where (the museum) stands is now back in that chair leading it — I think is important,” Anderson said recently while

--Museum continued on page 9.

By Andy Bradley Contributing Writer

They were coming for him. They were racing through the bush and along hot, narrow, dusty footpaths for him and his family. Walter Paul tells the harrowing story of his family’s desperate escape from Uganda in 1997, at the height of a dangerous and violent insurgency. Heavily armed soldiers, under the leadership of notorious warlord Joseph Kony, were coming for their village, torching homes and fields as they advanced.

In a panic, Walter’s mother hid and shielded him and his siblings until the raid passed and the sounds of terror and chaos faded. Mom, dad and eight children eventually navigated to safety in a crowded refugee camp, then immigrated to

the United States, settling first in Dallas, three years later in Omaha, when Paul turned nine.

After completing middle school at All Saints Catholic School, Walter enrolled at Creighton Prep, and as his haunting story became known. He joined the speech and debate team his sophomore year, and excelled in several events, even though Acholi, not English, was his native language. He was a state debate champion in 2012. In his senior year he decided to describe his family’s narrow escape from Uganda as the theme of his oratory. He qualified for the 2014 national high school speech tournament and reached the final round, delivering his powerful speech a half-dozen times in front of judges, contestants and spectators.

Although he didn’t win, he did merit Student of the Year honors bestowed by the National Speech and Debate Association at the

--Brown continued on page 8.

Swing your partner round and round: Square Dancing

Square

dancing has the benefit of being low-impact but a great aerobic exercise. It burns calories, strengthens bones, and helps the cardiovascular system. Learn more about where you can square dance around the Omaha area on Page 16.

COURTESY PHOTO

Brown

Richard Brown coaches high school students to speak up with confidence, eloquence

Alpha School school director and transition specialist retire

By Ron Petersen

Clint Reid and

Gail

Klimek are both stepping down from Alpha School at the same time in 2023.

Reid who was the Alpha School director for the past 15 years, decided after working at Alpha School for a total of 36 years, that it was a good time to retire.

“There have been no complaints – it’s been a good ride and I am ready to get off,” Reid said. “I appreciate the opportunity they give me to do this job.”

For the first 11 years at Alpha School, Reid was a teacher and then became a program coordinator for the next 11, before he took on the director role. Over the last 36 years, Reid has seen plenty of change including changes in the program and adding staff.

“When I started working here, there were 18 employees, but now there is 32,” Reid said. “I’ve tried to add staff almost every year.”

Along with working with the rest of the staff and kids that have gone through Alpha School, Reid have made plenty of memories including being promoted twice.

“It was a big move for me when I was promoted to my first administrative job because I was in the classroom for 11 years. I wasn’t looking at going into administration, but then the opportunity provided itself,” Reid said. “It was quite a turn going from a teacher to advising people I had been peers with. It was a good move and when the opportunity presented itself, I took it. It was great seeing kids make progress through the years.”

One of the people Reid worked with when he first became a director, was transition specialist, Gail Klimek.

“Gail’s been my right hand – he’s the stabilizing factor and I am a loose cannon,” he laughed. “He keeps me grounded and he’s helped me keep focus.”

Klimek has been working at Alpha School since May of 1984, where he started out as an intervention specialist and later became the transition specialist.

Klimek said he’s enjoyed working with Reid as his ‘right-hand man’ and he said Reid was one of his favorite directors to work with over the last 15 years.

“Clint’s been a great director – I would have to rank him right at the top of the directors that I have worked with,” Klimek said.

“We just work hand and hand – we know what each other is thinking and we bounce things off each other all the time.”

Klimek told Reid in 2022 that the 2022-2023 school year would be his last year at Alpha School, so the two both knew that 2023 was going to be the last year together.

“I’m just fortunate to be a part of Alpha School for so long. I’ve seen a lot of changes over the years with changing of offices and leadership,” Klimek said. “It’s been a good career and It’s been a good ride.”

Alpha School is already prepared to replace Reid and Klimek.

Jenni Allen, a former Alpha School employee, will take over as school director, while Kylee Starmer-Wilson will be the new transition specialist.

Volunteers needed for research study

The Department of Gerontology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha is looking for individuals who are 50 years and older that are currently serving as an unpaid, family caregiver to an individual with Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer’s Disease or Frontotemporal Dementia.

The study will involve one virtual visit for one hour and will be conducted over the internet. Compensation for study participation is available.

The experiment involves completing online questionnaires, interviews and computer tasks.

To be eligible for the study, you must be 50 years of age or older and currently serving as an unpaid family caregiver to an individual who is 40 years of age or older with Mild Cognitive Impairment, Fronto-

temporal Dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease, for five hours a week or more, for at least six months.

In addition, to be eligible you should have comprehension of written and spoken English and have completed a minimum of two years of high school or higher.

You are not eligible for the study if you have a diagnosis of a neurological or psychiatric disease (e.g., stroke), history of drug abuse, vision, hearing, cognitive, or motor difficulties, or if you are currently pregnant.

For more information about the study, please contact: Naomi Adjei at the Aging Brain and Emotion Lab (402-554-5961) in the Department of Gerontology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha or by email at (ABELabUNO@gmail.com).

COURTESY PHOTO Clint Reid (left) and Gail Klimek who have worked a combined total of 75 years at Alpha School, both retired at the end of July.

Keeping the brain healthy as you age

Experts used to think brain development peaked in late adolescence and it was all downhill from there. They believed if a person lost brain cells due to problems like a head injury, stroke, or substance abuse, nothing could be done to restore memory and brain function.

Now, thanks to discoveries in neuroscience, we know that the brain can grow new cells and form new neural connections. Like our muscles and other body parts, the brain can rebuild itself through repeated use and exercise.

There are several key lifestyle changes you can make right now to influence the health of your brain for years to come. The lifestyle changes includes:

EXERCISE

Among other benefits, we know that exercise spurs the development of new nerve cells and increases the connections between

brain cells (synapses).

DIET

A diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods (like the Mediterranean Diet) and low in sugar promotes healthy brain function.

MEDITATION

Spending time in quiet focus on your breath and thought patterns has been shown to have a profound impact on brain health and emotional regulation.

SLEEP

Getting at least 7-9 hours per night of sleep helps preserve the brain function, an increase emotional wellbeing and keep the immune system strong.

Submitted by Karen Rehm, Wellness Services Manager, Nebraska Safety Council. To schedule a “Healthier & Happier You” presentation, contact Karen at 402-4832511 ext. 102 or send an email to Krehm@ nesafetycouncil.org.

Pneumonia prevention

By Vanessa Dinogan, Pharm.D Candidate 2024, and David Kohll, Pharm.D

Pneumonia is an infection caused by streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus. This infection can become invasive, and may even lead to life threatening complications by migrating to different parts of the body, including:

• Pneumonia (lung infection)

• Bacteremia (blood infection)

• Meningitis (brain infection)

• Otitis media (ear infection)

• Sinusitis (sinus infection)

The CDC reports, “Pneumococcal pneumonia causes an estimated 150,000 hospitalizations each year in the United States. Pneumococcal meningitis and bacteremia killed approximately 3,250 people in the United States in 2019.”

Young children, older adults, and certain medical conditions increase the risk for pneumonia. Pneumonia vaccinations can help protect you against serious infections that are commonly caused by certain pneumococcal bacteria.

WHAT VACCINATIONS ARE AVAILABLE?

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines:

• Prevnar 13 (PCV13): helps protect against 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria

• Vaxneuvance (PCV15): helps protect against 15

types of pneumococcal bacteria

• Prevnar 20 (PCV20): helps protect against 20 types of pneumococcal bacteria

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine:

• Pneumovax 23 (PPSV23): helps protect 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria

WHAT MAKES PREVNAR 20 SPECIAL?

Unlike the other pneumonia vaccines, Prevnar 20 takes away the burden of receiving multiple vaccinations. Prevnar 20 only requires one shot, while the others may require more.

WHAT VACCINATION(S) SHOULD YOU RECEIVE?

Depending on your age, vaccination history, and medical conditions (e.g., chronic heart disease, diabetes mellitus) the CDC recommends which pneumonia vaccine(s) you should receive.

Adults aged 65 and over, who have not received a pneumonia vaccine or has an unknown vaccine history, should receive 1 dose of Prevnar 20 (or Vaxneuvance followed by Pneumovax 23, at least 1 year later).

For adults 65 and older, who have received both Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23 before turning 65, should receive 1 dose of Prevnar 20 (or Pneumovax 23) if it has been at least 5 years since the last vaccine.

Adults aged 19-64 with:

Pneumonia vaccinations may also be indicated for adults ages 19-64 with certain health conditions or risk factors, listed below:

• Specified immunocompromising conditions

o Chronic renal failure, congenital or acquired asplenia, congenital or acquired immunodeficiency, generalized malignancy, HIV infection, Hodgkin disease, iatrogenic immunosuppression, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, nephrotic syndrome, sickle cell disease or other hemoglobinopathies, solid organ transplant.

• The following chronic health conditions

o Alcoholism, chronic lung disease (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, and asthma), chronic heart disease (including congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathies), cigarette smoking, chronic liver disease, and diabetes mellitus.

• A cochlear implant or cerebrospinal fluid leak (refer to CDC website recommendations).

Children:

Younger than 2 years old:

• Prevnar 13 or PCV15 as a series of 4 doses:

o Give 1 dose at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12 through 15 months

Different recommendations exist for children ages 2-18 with certain medical conditions.

(David Kohll of Kohll’s RX)

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 five-county region may subscribe for $5 annually. Address all correspondence to: Ron Petersen, Editor, 4780 S. 131st Street, Omaha, NE 68137-1822. Phone 402-444-6654. FAX 402-444-3076.

E-mail: ron.petersen@enoa.org

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 9,000 through direct mail .

Editor................................Ron Petersen, 402-444-6654

Ad Mgr................Mitch Laudenback, 402-444-4148

Contributing Writers.........Leo Biga & Andy Bradley

ENOA Board of Governors: Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, chairperson; Angi Burmeister, Sarpy County, vice-chairperson; Lisa Kramer, Washington County, secretary; Pat Tawney, Dodge County, & John Winkler, Cass County.

The New Horizons and the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging provide services without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, disability, or age.

Kindness and goodness rules the world Conscious Aging

Watching the news is often disturbing to my spirit. Guns, bombs, hate speech, and incivility make me wonder where we are headed. I wonder how we can survive all the violence, hatred and meanness that appear to permeate our world.

Then I go about my daily routine, doing errands, shopping and interacting with the public. What I experience is more times than not, positive. I encounter polite servers, respectful bank tellers, and accommodating clerks. I see drivers allow me to change lanes without honking. Perhaps

By Nancy Hemesath

because of my age, oftentimes others hold the door for me. People are generally kind!

My conclusion is that there is more kindness and goodness in the world than vitriol despite what the media would suggest.

I believe the glue that holds us together is the loving kindness we extend to one another. Perhaps the reason that acts of hatred get

so much attention is because they are in sharp contrast to the backdrop of a normally respectful society.

A recent event caused me to reflect on this. On July 5th I attended the delayed July 4th celebration at the Gene Leahy Mall with the outdoor concert and fireworks display. Thousands gathered for an uplifting event.

The Omaha Symphony offered a wonderful performance at no charge. (Generous sponsors footed the bill.) People of many cultures and language groups enjoyed the program side by side. The atmosphere was joyous because people were having

fun. Strangers made room for one another as spaces filled in. I left the event with an enhanced feeling of gratitude for our democratic country and the people with whom I share it.

I am glad I allowed the joy of this event to eclipse the feelings I had over the holiday weekend when I heard of the numerous mass shootings that disturbed some celebrations. In the back of my mind, I had some apprehension about being in a large crowd. However, I made a choice not to allow fear to inhibit living as I wanted to live. I chose to focus on living life as I wished.

This means instead of focusing on hateful acts, such as rude drivers, impatient customers, name callers and other unhappy people, I choose to notice all the acts of kindness extended to me every day. This encompasses both strangers and those within my immediate circle. I have neighbors who water my plants when I am away, walk my dog when needed and remind me my garage

door was left open. These are real neighbors.

I also have wonderful friends who help me out with food when I cannot prepare it. Others provide technical support for my computer, edit my writing, invite me to their homes on holidays, and this list goes on. I suspect if we look for goodness and kindness, we will find it. Of course, this then inspires us to reciprocate.

Who needs my help today and will I give it?

I don’t turn off the news because I need to know what is happening in our world. The anecdote to allowing the bad news to pull me down is to “look for the helpers” as Mr. Rogers used to say and as Anne Frank said, “I believe people are really good at heart.” Let’s focus on that!

(Hemesath is the owner of Encore Coaching. She is dedicated to supporting people in their Third Chapter of Life and is available for presentations. Contact her at nanhemesath@gmail. com.)

Programs changing this month at AARP NE Information Center

By Tony Harris AARP NE Information Center

During August, the Information Center will not be offering a program on the third Wednesday of the month.

For future reference, they will offer programs of interest to seniors in the months of September, October and November. You will need to register in advance for these programs. More information will be coming out on that process. You do not need to be an AARP member to attend these educational offerings. Their first two programs since re-opening were very successful and full of helpful information.

The AARP Driver Safety remains very popular and monthly classes are held at the Information Center. The class in August will be held on Thursday, August 17th.

The class runs for approximately four hours. People wanting to participate must register prior to the date of the training.

To register, please call 402-916-9309 or 402-210-

3472. Participants are asked to arrive by 9:45 a.m. to be ready for the class to begin right at 10 a.m.

The cost for AARP members is only $20.00 and the cost for non-AARP members is only $25.00. Checks and cash are accepted but no credit cards. The class will end by 2 p.m.

Many insurance companies offer a discount for taking the class. You may check with your vehicle insurance carrier to see if they offer a discount. Even if they do not offer a discount, you will learn or re-learn great information to help you. This is really a great class – that is why it is so popular. AARP Driver Safety classes are also offered at some of the Metropolitan Community College branches. You may call 402-210-3472 to find out the exact dates and training locations.

The Omaha AARP Advocacy Committee will meet at the Information Center on

Millard Senior Center

You’re invited to visit the Millard Senior Center at Montclair, 2304 S. 135th Ave., this month for the following:

• August 2: Board Meeting @ 9:30 a.m.

• August 3: Ice Cream sundae social

• August 9: African Dress club @ 10 a.m.

• August 14: THEOS (To Help Each Other Socially) @ 12:30 p.m.

• August 22: Jar of chocolate kisses guesses

• August 25: Luau themed gathering

• August 28: Book Club, “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus @ 1 p.m.

• August 30: Sign up for P.A.W.S starts

• August 31: Huskers themed for Minnesota football game

Tai Chi on Mondays and Fridays @ 9:30 a.m.

MahJongg Wednesdays @ 1 p.m.

Chair Volleyball Thursdays @ 9:30 a.m.

Dominoes Thursdays @ 12:30 p.m.

For more information, please call 402-546-1270.

Camelot Friendship Center

You’re invited to visit the Camelot Friendship Center, 9270 Cady Ave., for regular activities, which include Chair Yoga, card games, Tai Chi, chair Zumba, Pinochle, 10 Point Pitch, and bingo, this month for the following:

• August 4: Music by Joe Taylor compliments of Merrymakers@ 11:45 a.m.

• August 9: Craft Day – Learning the art of loom knitting @ 12:30 p.m.

• August 11: Book Club @ 12:15 p.m.

• August 22: Tracey Reineke discusses mental health @ 11:45 a.m.

Every Wednesday – Chair Volleyball @ 10 a.m.

Every Monday – Card Game: Manipulation @ 10 a.m.

Every Monday – Pickleball @ 10 a.m.

Grab N Go meals are now available. For more information, contact Barb at 402-444-3091 or barbara.white@cityofomaha.org.

Thursday, August 10th. This is an on-going and a very important piece of work of AARP year-round.

The office hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. They have a lot of new and updated brochures and pamphlets ready to offer you when you come to visit – plus the AARP Bulletin and AARP Magazine – both of which are filled with great information. Come to the Center Mall, Suite 220, and visit and have a cup of coffee or a soft drink.

AARP is the largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age.

AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, personal fulfillment and financial stability.

For more information call the Information Center at 402-916-9309.

Volunteers needed

The CAPACITY Lab in the Department of Gerontology at UNO is seeking participants for a research study. The purpose of the study is to learn about the effects of the built environment on sleep.

The study will involve a series of online surveys about your environment, sleep, and caregiving support. This can take up to one hour, but most participants finish in less than 30 minutes. You may have to take a screening survey.

Compensation is available to those who complete the survey.

To be eligible for the study, you must live in Nebraska, be 19 years and older, identify as Nepali, Bhutanese, Burmese, Karen, Myanmarese, or Hindi-speaking, support and care for another South Asian adults, aged 50 and older and also provide care in informal and unpaid relationships, eligible participants might be a friend, family member, neighbor, or unpaid caregiver to the person they help or support.

If you are interested, please call 402-554-2951 or email us at UNOCapacity@unomaha.edu.

These

Please see the ad on page 3

Thank you to the New Horizons Club members

$25 David Kucera

$10

Rose Lengyel Kathleen Larkin

$5

Kathleen Koons Mike, K. Palmesano

Ralston Senior Center

You’re invited to visit the Ralston Senior Center, 7301 Q St., Suite 100 this month for the following:

• August 2, 9, 16 & 23: Bingo @ 12:15 p.m.

• August 4, 11, 18 & 25: Double deck pinochle@ 9:30 a.m.

• August 9: Board meeting @ 10 a.m.

• August 10 & 24: Bingo @ 1 p.m.

• August 30: Merrymaker’s Louis Watkins @ noon

Lunch is catered in on Wednesdays @ 11:30 a.m. A $5 contribution is normally suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon on Tuesday. Play games and bingo after lunch. Contact Diane @ 402-885-8895 for reservations.

The Ralston Senior Center will host a double deck pinochle every Friday from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Obtain an annual Ralston Senior Center membership for $10.

Contact Ron Wilson @ 402-734-3421 for further information.

The center may be used on weekends and evenings for various activities such as weddings, memorial services, anniversaries, family reunions, birthdays, baby shower, wedding showers, etc.

For more information, please call Darla @ 402-651-5009 or 402-331-1529.

River City Theatre Organ Society

The River City Theatre Organ Society is hosting its annual concert at the Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St., on Sunday, Aug. 6 at 3 p.m.

Theatre pipe organist Dave Wickerham will be the featured guest performer.

Through Aug. 1, prepaid and discounted tickets for older adults are available via mail for $15 each by sending a check made out to the RCTOS to RCTOS, 8825 Executive Woods Dr., # 85, Lincoln, Neb. 68512.

Tickets are available at the door the day of the concert for $20.

For more information, log on to rctos.com (Events) or call 402-421-1356.

Elder Access Line

Legal Aid of Nebraska operates a free telephone access line for Nebraskans ages 60 and older.

Information is offered to help the state’s older men and women with questions on topics like bankruptcy, homestead exemptions, powers of attorney, Medicare, Medicaid, and Section 8 housing.

The number for the Elder Access Line is 402-827-5656 in Omaha and 1-800-527-7249 statewide.

This service is available to Nebraskans ages 60 and older regardless of income, race, or ethnicity.

The Legal Aid of Nebraska hours of operation are 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to noon on Friday.

Six items to consider when downsizing to a new home

If you’re considering selling your house and downsizing, finding the right new home or apartment can be a challenge, especially when looking for specific properties, like having everything on one floor, a ground floor unit, apartments with particular amenities, etc.

These six items will help with finding the ideal property that suits your lifestyle.

LOCATION

One of the most important items to consider is the location of your new home or apartment. I often speak with people that want to sell their house and downsize, but want to stay in the same neighborhood.

If a person likes the neighborhood in general, has desired amenities like a grocery store, doctors, a church, etc. then it makes sense to stay in the same area.

Housing options often dictate whether this is possible. Sometimes, the desired new home or apartment just isn’t available where we’d like it to be, so moving to a new part of town is the only option.

ACCESSIBILITY

As we get older, accessibility becomes more important. Having everything on one level is or can become very desirable, or sometimes a necessity. Having wider doorways and hallways can become important. Having a garage or entrances to the house without stairs can be beneficial.

SIZE AND LAYOUT

Ensure the size and

layout of the house meets your needs. Most people that want to downsize usually want less space that requires less maintenance, less cost to heat or cool, less cost to insure. But ensure you have enough space for hobbies, or hosting family and friends if you enjoy those activities. Keep the layout in mind that allows for easy navigation and minimizes the need for excessive walking.

MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP

Most people that want to downsize their house want to reduce or eliminate the maintenance and upkeep tasks of the property. Do you want to eliminate items such as work with lawns and landscaping or snow removal entirely? Oftentimes, some or all of these tasks can be provided by companies that perform these services for your current home, allowing you to “age in place.”

AFFORDABILITY

Knowing what you want or are able to spend on your new housing arrangement is very important. If you’re buying a new home, you’ll want to consider the ongoing expenses such as property taxes (if applicable), homeowners association fees, insurance, utility costs, and maintenance and upkeep costs.

As mentioned in a previous article, if you have a house that has no debt, is it actually beneficial to stay in your current house? Sometimes making improvements and updates to “age in place” can be a good financial option. It may be beneficial to utilize the services of a financial adviser to help assess the financial implications of buying a new home or the expenses of an apartment.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

Although it can be a challenge to predict your future needs, it is important to consider the possible needs when looking at a new home or apartment. Does the home or apartment have the potential for modifications that might be necessary? Are you close geographically to healthcare facilities and other services that may become more critical in the future? By keeping these potential items in mind when choosing a new home or apartment, you can eliminate any unwanted or additional moves in the future.

By assessing the location, accessibility, size and layout, maintenance, affordability, and future planning aspects of a property, you can make an informed decision for your unique needs and desires.

Finding the right new home or apartment can be a challenge, but know that there are great resources available.

Services to help with your “stuff.” Services to move you from point A to point B. Real estate services to help find your new home or apartment. And real estate services to take care of your current property.

If you have questions on this subject and/or I can be of assistance, just call or text me at (402)-450-0199.

Ben Souchek is an author of the book Home Downsizing Secrets, and the owner and founder of Home Downsizing Solutions, a company that specializes in helping home owners transition from their current house to a new home, apartment, or other senior living community for more than 25 years.

Volunteers needed for research study

The Vascular Research Lab at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is looking for participants to take part in vascular research at UNO for the study titled Hydrogen sulfide as a biomarker in peripheral artery disease (IRB 0522- 22-FB).

The Vascular Research Lab is looking for four groups of participants, including patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD, ages 50-85) and healthy individuals (young: ages 19-34, middle aged: ages 3549, and aged matched to the PAD group: ages 50-85). Measurements will include a blood draw, non-invasive blood vessel function measurements, and a walking

test. This study will require two visits to the Vascular Research Lab at UNO for a total of 4.5 hours.

To be eligible for the study, you must be between the ages of 19-85, if you have high blood pressure or high blood lipids, they must be controlled for at least 6 weeks before starting the study, and you must have been diagnosed with peripheral artery disease (PAD) or you are otherwise healthy.

For more information about the study, please contact: Vascular Research Lab (402-554-3779) or by email at unovrl@ unomaha.edu.

Souchek

Working around buttons

Getting dressed and wearing what you want to, do not usually make the list of the things that helps a person feel good about themselves. However, people who have difficulty dressing realize it is very important for your well-being. Fortunately there are clothing modifications and dressing techniques that a person can use to make dressing easier. The modifications and techniques need to be selected based on what a person needs and what they can do. They may change over time.

Ed VanDevender has worked hard all his life and his hands and shoulders have paid the price. This impacts his ability to dress. Changes in his ability to move his shoulders and decreasing dexterity in his hands have caused him to become very creative since he prefers to be as independent as possible. Even as a child growing up on his family’s farm in Mississippi, he had a “cando” attitude. If there was a way to get it done, he figured it out.

Ed was the first of his family to go to a four-year college. It was there that he met and wooed the love of his life, Charlotte, in between classes, working at the college dairy, and doing odd jobs. After graduating he joined the Army. Listening to his stories about Ranger School, Jump School, and his experiences in Vietnam as well as in peacetime, one understands that this man embraced the old Timex byline of “Takes a licking and keeps on ticking.”

Ed and Charlotte both shared their resilient and independent outlook with their three children while touring the United States and the World. Their youngest child needed to start wearing a full-length leg brace just as he was entering the first grade. Charlotte sewed zippers along the length of his pants. This allowed him to dress by himself and to go to the bathroom by himself at school. Ed modified his bicycle so he could pedal with one leg. They told their son, “If

you want to do something and can’t figure it out, we’ll help you find a way to do it.” The way Ed and Charlotte helped their son live independently inspired their daughter to become an Occupational Therapist. When Ed and Charlotte retired from the military and Ed resumed farming, they were able to use information she had to build a wheelchair accessible home to accommodate their parents.

As farming and arthritis took a toll on his hands, Ed started finding that manipulating the small buttons on his favorite shirts was becoming irritatingly slow and difficult. It didn’t take him long to start trying out solutions. Snaps were fine, and he did enjoy a few western style shirts, but that wasn’t really his favorite style. Charlotte was able to adapt the clothes with bigger buttons, but that was noticeable. He started with a button hook and like many people felt like it was too time consuming at first. He tried Velcro closures which is a popular adaptation and works well for some people. Closers are either small tab or longer strips. Buttons are usually sewn over the closed opening, so the shirt looks like a regular button-down shirt. Ed recalled that the Velcro would latch to itself in the wrong places if he wasn’t meticulously careful.

“It was a real puzzle to get the Velcro to close in a straight smooth line and the fasteners sometimes felt like a porcupine,” he said.

Deciding Velcro closures weren’t for him, Ed developed skill with a button hook, and it worked successfully for many years. Button hooks have been around since at least the 1800s. Modern button hooks tend to have wider and sometimes softer handles to help make them easier to hold. The loop of the button hook is inserted through the button hole and around the button. The button is then pulled through the

button hole. This sometimes takes twisting the wrist and holding the fabric around the button hole taut.

This year Ed’s dexterity decreased further from new and old injuries around his wrist. Creatively he made the button hook work a little longer by holding the device in his mouth and using both hands to manipulate the shirt around the tool. He didn’t know it, but this is a method that Occupational Therapists may teach people with very limited hand function, such as people who have spinal cord injuries, to use a button hook if they really want to wear a button front shirt. It requires determination and can take a lot of time.

Their daughter suggested magnetic closures might be worth a try. Magnetic closures have been available commercially since around 2016 when Magnaclick products were licensed and distributed through large distributors such as Amazon, Silvert’s, and JC Penny. Magnet button kits can also be purchased for people who want to modify clothing they already own. The magnets are enclosed in plastic or other material so that they can be sewn in place inside the shirt’s placket. It took Ed significantly less time and effort to close one of the new shirts on his first try than it did to use the button hook he had developed so much skill with.

Ed mused that the problem solving process never ends. He and Charlotte used creative problem solving to help their son live fully despite physical disabilities. In the military a review was done at the end of each mission to see how the situation could be improved. He then took that mindset back to the farm where he worked for over another twenty years. It is harder to apply to his own independence, but he is a determined man, “It isn’t ever over.”

If you have a success story to share or want additional information about specific solutions mentioned in this article, feel free to reach BevVan Phillips at bphillipsotr@ gmail.com. BevVan Phillips is an Occupational Therapist with over 35 years experience helping people with home modifications and assistive technology.

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Phillips

PHILLIPS PHOTO Ed (left) and Charlotte VanDevender pose for a picture in 2023.

conclusion of the tournament in Overland Park, Kan. This was all accomplished under the guidance and support of the Creighton Prep speech and debate coach, Richard D. Brown.

Not all of Brown’s proteges have stories as captivating as Paul’s, but many of the hundreds of students he has coached in his 32-year career have gone on to successful careers, bolstered in no small measure by their ability to communicate with passion and competence in front of audiences large and small. And all thanks to the support, encouragement and prodding of Brown.

Brown, who turns 75 this month, has no plans to retire and will return to his part-time coaching position in August, starting his 15th year at Prep. Previously, he taught and coached at Millard South High School for 36 years. He is one of the longest-tenured speech and debate coaches in the state.

Although the North High School and University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) graduate never competed in speech or debate in school, he was eventually invited to coach the Millard South team. His first unit had four members.

Later, the roles burgeoned

to 60. He transferred to Creighton Prep upon retiring from Millard Schools in 2009.

Brown’s 1997 Millard South team captured the state championship, with two members securing individual gold medals. Those two would eventually marry each other and embark on successful careers in Omaha. Stephanie Gould is a Leadership Omaha graduate, and an executive vice president at American National Bank. Her husband, J.R., is the fine arts department chairman and music teacher at Brownell-Talbot School, where he has taught since 2002.

While a student at the University of Nebraska he helped lead the UNL speech team to a fifth-place finish in the national competition.

In 1996, Brown coached Ryan Syrek, who became the first national high school public speaking champion in Nebraska in 34 years, the first since George Sullivan nabbed the crown in 1962. Today, Syrek is a professional writer and journalist in Omaha. Sullivan, a Prep graduate, went on to become a Jesuit priest in 1975, graduated from Creighton’s Law School in 1981, before serving as Prep’s 27th president from 1982 to 1988.

Yvonnda Summers

competed under Brown’s tutelage all four years, qualifying several times for national tournaments. She graduated from the Creighton University School of Law in 2014 and is currently Creighton Law School’s associate dean of student affairs and equity, diversity and inclusion.

Brown believes participation in speech (also called forensics) and debate propels students toward success by enhancing their confidence and ability to articulate their thoughts and convictions. Additionally, participating in high school speech and debate contributes to elevating the caliber of social discourse, including political, which is often mired in negativity and

‘Wall of Honor’ ceremony held at Brookestone Village

acrimony.

One event, for example, is tailor-made for budding politicians. Student Congress mimics floor debates on Capitol Hill. Students draft, introduce and debate bills and resolutions throughout the season. Floor debates reflect current hot-button issues, which may include climate change, gun control and immigration.

Brown said many students opt to join speech or debate as an alternative to sports. For example, his assistant coach, Jimmy Miller, quit football his freshman year “and found speech and debate to his liking,” Brown said.

“More emphasis needs to be put on the importance of communication skills

in the schools,” argued Brown. “Unfortunately, many non-athletic activities we have are in danger of being significantly curtailed or outright eliminated because of a shortage of faculty sponsors or coaches, and the costs of operating what are commonly viewed as non-revenue-generating programs.”

While interscholastic speech and debate programs generally thrive in Omaha metro area suburban school districts (Millard North attracts 200 students to speech and debate every year), programs are becoming extinct elsewhere.

In addition to coaching, Brown has written several thousand articles for the Midlands Business Journal since its founding in 1975. He has also taught U.S. history and political science at Metropolitan Community College.

As for Walter Paul – after graduating from Prep in 2014, he attended Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., and later worked for the Urban League of Nebraska, before pursuing a law degree at Yale Law School. He graduated last year and now practices law at a global law firm in Chicago, far removed from the terrors of his childhood in Uganda.

Sarpy County Museum buys land for museum

Leadership of the Sarpy County Museum announced that they have closed on the land for construction of the new Sarpy County Museum in Papillion. The property is located on the southwest corner of Highway 370 and 90th Streets, located east of Trinity Church and across from the new Tower District development in Papillion.

Sarpy County Museum Executive Director, Ben Justman, said “Sarpy County is the fastest-growing county in the state. The county grew by 20% in the last decade, making the need for a quality state-of-the-art museum more important than ever.”

“We are excited for the Sarpy County Museum to make Papillion its home in this new highly visible, centralized location,” said Mayor David Black. “With Papillion’s history as an 1870s railroad town on the mainline of the Union Pacific Railroad, our community couldn’t be a better fit for the Wimmer Railroad Collection.”

A $15 million capital campaign is underway to fund the project. The three-acre site will feature a new museum with enhanced space for the museum’s current collection, traveling exhibits, administrative/education areas, and archival storage.

Brookestone Village celebrated 31 veterans from four branches during the “Wall of Honor” ceremony in June. Brookestone Village recognized Long Term Care Residents of Brookestone Village who have served in the Armed Forces. They had a pinning ceremony for the current residents who are veterans and their loved ones, while past veteran’s families received pins in honor of their loved ones. There were 14 Army, seven Navy, seven Air Force, and three Marines that were recognized.

The building will house the nationally renowned Wimmer Railroad Collection. This preeminent private railroad collection acquired by Bill and Judy Wimmer is comprised of more than 10,000 unique pieces of railroad history. The Sarpy County Museum’s permanent exhibits provide information and artifacts illuminating the history of early residents, agriculture, transportation, the military, and local communities.

The Sarpy County Museum protects, preserves, and promotes the rich history of Sarpy County. Located at 2402 Clay Street in Bellevue, the Sarpy County Museum is immediately adjacent to Offutt Air Force Base.

COURTESY PHOTO

Richard Brown (bottom right) poses with members of the Creighton Prep speech team at a 2023 speech tournament.

COURTESY PHOTO

sitting in his office on the museum’s upper floor. “I think it’s fateful. I think I’m supposed to be here doing this. “And do I know a lot about running a museum? No, but I didn’t know a lot about being an astronaut, either. And that turned out pretty good.”

Anderson first applied to become an astronaut in 1983 after graduating from Iowa State with a master’s in aerospace engineering and starting work as a NASA engineer. He would apply 14 more times before being picked to join the astronaut corps in 1998. In 2007, he worked for five months on the International Space Station, and in 2010, he spent 15 days in space on Space Shuttle Discovery. He retired from NASA in 2013. He now teaches parttime at Iowa State and has written five books, including an autobiography, “The Ordinary Spaceman,” and three children’s books, one of which comes out this summer.

SAC Museum attendance still had not recovered in 2022. Only 103,000 people came through the museum doors last year, much below normal annual attendance, which has ranged from 120,000 to 140,000 visitors.

In the recent pre-COVID past, Burchfield said, the SAC & Aerospace Museum was “making good money on events — a lot of events out there. And the (school) field trips that the Sherwood Foundation was funding were doing very well. And so things were looking good — and then COVID came along and ‘whack.’ ”

The museum did receive $500,000 in federal COVID relief aid, Anderson said. It also received a financial commitment from philanthropist Walter Scott Jr. just days before he died in September 2021.

As Burchfield tells it, Scott and some friends were on Scott’s yacht, the Ice Bear. Scott told Omaha investment banker Mike Yanney to make sure the museum survives. “And Mike said, it was reported to me, he said, ‘Walter, I’m not on the board. I don’t know anything about that.’ And, as Walter often said, ‘Mike, you’re not listening to me.’ That was the end of the conversation.”

Yanney confirmed Scott’s directive, saying that Scott was talking to him and Calvin Sisson, who runs

the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation and now serves as chairman of the museum board. Scott, Yanney said, “made a very solid point that we needed to get the (museum) back on track. And go do it.”

In 1995, Scott, who at the time was the chairman and CEO of Kiewit, and Robert Daugherty, the founder of Valmont Industries, decided the SAC Museum needed a new home.

The Air Force Museum, which owned the aircraft and missiles on display at the museum’s then home at Offutt, had inspected the museum and found major violations of the loan agreement. Air Force Museum officials said that the SAC Museum needed to either protect the artifacts or they would take them back.

Over its 25-year history, the museum has had 10 different directors, a figure that includes most of the interim directors. Each change has represented a shift of focus — some of them minor, others significant — that has slowed its momentum, according to a former longtime museum employee who declined to be named.

Anderson said he has been working to replace many of those positions, while some other jobs are being contracted out.

The museum’s location — midway between Omaha and Lincoln off Interstate 80 — always has been an issue, Burchfield said. “You need a reason to get off of I-80 at Exit 426 … gas, food, etc.,” he said. “We were never able to make that happen.”

the museum needs to stay current to succeed. “If you don’t stay relevant … with new exhibits, new ways of looking at things, you only get one, maybe two visits out of a person. But if you keep it relevant, they’ll come back and back and back.” One such traveling exhibit, “Above and Beyond,” opened at the museum in January. The interactive exhibit lets visitors design and pilot a drone, fly with a flock of birds, see the world from outer space and experience a flight to Mars.

you walked up to the exhibit and a hologram (popped up) and stood next to you and there I was in that flight suit talking to you about it. Or something.”

And now, he said, with higher gas prices and some people’s preference for working from home after COVID, it’s difficult to attract a staff who will drive out and back every day. Burchfield admits the museum has lost “a few good troops,” but said Anderson “is in the process of building his own team that will take on the work ethic of the leader.”

Gary Gates, the immediate past chairman of the museum board, said

Besides the traveling exhibits, which often are costly, Anderson plans to add more permanent interactive exhibits. “When I was a kid,” he said, “we went to museums and we read everything … It was all reading — there was no TV, there was no stuff to touch, no buttons to push, no iPad screens to slide on … Kids and adults, they are entertained differently (today).”

Anderson envisions one interactive exhibit that focuses on the three astronauts who formerly served at the Strategic Command, the unified command that succeeded SAC. He said he has spoken to all three, and they have agreed to help. Instead of just reading about them — or him, for that matter — “it’d be way more cool if

The museum’s former CEO and consultants came up with an $80 million plan that would have, among other things, continued the storyline of Nebraska’s role in SAC’s history. The plan also would have added a space and missile gallery and a planetarium. But it still was Cold War-focused. Anderson said he likes some aspects of the plan but wouldn’t spend that much money. Instead, he’s concentrating on linking SAC’s history of deterrence to space. “I think we’re a wonderful museum,” he said, “but I think we can be way more.

“It’s my belief that we can’t be stuck in the past and the Cold War. That’s not what sells tickets. What sells tickets is the future, the SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic. Robotics. Drones. Outer space. Space stations. So that’s my goal here … start us on that path where we build on the history, but we don’t just be history.”

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraska’s first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter. Learn more at flatwaterfreepress. org.

COURTESY OF CLAYTON ANDERSON/NASA

Ashland native, Clayton Anderson, spent five months on the International Space Station and 15 days on Space Shuttle Discovery. He is the only astronaut from Nebraska.

Volunteer Connect offers a variety of opportunities

Do you have some spare time, a skill to share, and wish to contribute to your community? Private and non-profit agencies are looking for your help.

Please contact Tia Schoenfeld with the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Volunteer Connect program at 402-444-6536, ext. 1045 for more information on the following volunteer opportunities:

• Quilters to create ‘Busy Lap Blankets’ for Duet, at their annual Winter Extravaganza.

• Knitter to create knit prayer shawls, hats mittens, for Duet residents, at their Winter Extravaganza.

• Volunteers to write greeting cards of encouragement to residents in skilled care assisted living facilities and Meal on Wheels recipients.

• Bellevue Senior Center is desperately looking for one/two Bingo Callers, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 12:30-2:30 p.m. Volunteers for occasional assistance

with lunch service 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity construction projects and the Homestore.

• Royal Oaks Assisted Living looking for volunteers to do a variety of things book clubs, gardening, arts.

• Siena Francis House, volunteers to assist with serving breakfast and lunch.

Flaherty Senior Consulting

Caring for a loved one is difficult, and the challenges are amplified during a pandemic. Join Flaherty Senior Consulting for a series of Solutions Group gatherings that will address the questions and challenges caregivers face.

Solutions Groups provide opportunities for caregivers to learn how to deal with various issues, obtain skills and knowledge, engage in discussions, and interact with others in similar circumstances.

Upcoming meeting dates and locations are:

• Sept. 12, Nov. 14

St. Vincent de Paul Church 14330 Eagle Run Dr.

• Tip Top Thrift Shop always needs volunteers on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. or 1-4 p.m. Tip Top is located at 5910 Maple Street in downtown Benson.

• Volunteers Assisting Seniors VAS Volunteers are needed to provide nonbiased Medicare Counseling and Homestead Exemption Application Assistance through Volunteers Assisting Seniors. Free training is provided.

• Aug. 16, Oct. 18, Dec. 13

St. Timothy Lutheran Church 93rd and Dodge streets

• Aug. 3, Oct. 5, Dec. 7

The Servite Center of Compassion 72nd St. and Ames Cr.

• Sept. 23, Nov. 18

Faith Westwood United Methodist Church 4814 Oaks Ln.

The Solutions Groups are facilitated by Nancy Flaherty, MS, CDP, president of Flaherty Senior Consulting. She has extensive experience working with family caregivers and caregiver groups.

Registration is required to attend each gathering. Masks are mandatory and social distancing will be observed. Visit flahertyconsulting.net or call 402-312-9324 for more information.

Flaherty also provides private consultations with family caregivers to help them develop individual plans for their loved ones.

For information on private consultations, Solutions Group meeting times, and/or to register to attend a Solutions Group, email Nancy at flahertyconsulting@cox.net or call/text her at 402-312-9324.

La Vista Senior Center

You’re invited to visit the La Vista Senior Center, located at 8116 Park View Blvd. The facility provides activity programs and meals Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please call 402-331-3455 for general Community Center hours.

Meals are served weekdays at 11:30 a.m. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the date the participant wishes to attend and can be made by calling 402331-3455.

A $4.25 contribution is suggested for the meal if you are age 60 and older. If you are under age 60, then the meal cost is $11.

In addition to meals being served daily, the La Vista Senior Center offers a variety of activities such as: Bingo, outings, cooking classes, computer classes, movies with popcorn, arts and crafts, a variety of card games, quilting, tai chi, exercise classes, musical entertainment and various parties.

Please visit our website at cityoflavista.org/seniors for updated information or call 402-331-3455.

Corrigan Senior Center

You’re invited to visit the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St. this month for a variety of activities.

The Corrigan Senior Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Lunch is served at noon. A $4.25 donation is suggested for the meal.

Bingo is played every Monday and Thursday at 12:30 p.m.

Cards and puzzles are played every day of the week at 8 a.m.

Call 402-731-7210 for more information.

New Surgeon General Advisory raises awareness about loneliness and isolation in the United States

The United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a new Surgeon General Advisory calling attention to the public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our country. Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately half of U.S. adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. Disconnection fundamentally affects our mental, physical, and societal health.

In fact, loneliness and isolation increase the risk for individuals to develop mental health challenges in their lives, and lacking connection can increase the risk for premature death to levels comparable to smoking daily.

The Surgeon General’s Advisory on Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation lays out a framework for a National Strategy to Advance Social Connection, which has never been implemented before in the United States.

It details recommendations that individuals, governments, workplaces, health systems, and community organizations can take to increase connection in their lives, communities, and across the country and improve their health.

“Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an underappreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health. Our relationships are a source of healing and well-being hiding in plain sight – one that can help us live healthier, more fulfilled, and more productive lives,” said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. “Given the significant health consequences of loneliness and isolation, we must prioritize building social connection the same way we have prioritized other critical public health

issues such as tobacco, obesity, and substance use disorders. Together, we can build a country that’s healthier, more resilient, less lonely, and more connected.”

The physical health consequences of poor or insufficient connection include a 29% increased risk of heart disease, a 32% increased risk of stroke, and a 50% increased risk of developing dementia for older adults. Lacking social connection increases risk of premature death by more than 60%.

In addition to our physical health, loneliness and isolation contribute substantially to mental health challenges.

In adults, the risk of developing depression among people who report feeling lonely often is more than double that of people who rarely or never feel lonely. Loneliness and social isolation in childhood increase the risk of depression and anxiety both immediately and well into the future.

This Surgeon General’s Advisory lays out a framework for the United States to establish a National Strategy to Advance Social Connection based on six foundational pillars:

Strengthen Social Infrastructure: Connections are not just influenced by individual interactions, but by the physical elements of a community (parks, libraries, playgrounds) and the programs and policies in place. To strengthen social infrastructure, communities must design environments that promote connection, establish and scale community connection programs, and invest in institutions that bring people together.

Enact Pro-Connection

Public Policies: National, state, local, and tribal governments play a role in establishing policies like accessible public transpor-

tation or paid family leave that can support and enable more connection among a community or a family.

Mobilize the Health Sector: Because loneliness and isolation are risk factors for several major health conditions (including heart disease, dementia, depression) as well as for premature death, health care providers are well-positioned to assess patients for risk of loneliness and intervene.

Reform Digital Environments: We must critically evaluate our relationship with technology and ensure that how we interact digitally does not detract from meaningful and healing connection with others.

Deepen Our Knowledge: A more robust research agenda, beyond the evidence outlined in the advisory, must be established to further our understanding of the causes and consequences of social disconnection, populations at risk, and the effectiveness of efforts to boost connection.

Cultivate a Culture of Connection: The informal practices of everyday life (the norms and culture of how we engage one another) significantly influence the relationships we have in our lives. We cannot be successful in the other pillars without a culture of connection. Surgeon General’s Advisories are public statements that call the American people’s attention to a critical public health issue and provide recommendations for how it should be addressed. Advisories are reserved for significant public health challenges that need the American people’s immediate attention.

(Information provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services).

Volunteers needed for research study

The CAPACITY Lab in the Department of Gerontol¬ogy at UNO is seeking participants for a research study. The purpose of the study is to learn about the effects of the built environment on sleep.

The study will involve a series of inperson surveys about your sleep quality and home environment. This can take up to one hour, but most participants finish in less than 30 minutes.

You may have to take a screening survey. Compensation is available to those who complete the survey.

To be eligible for the study, you must live in Nebraska, be 60 years or older, identify as Hispanic or Latino and can speak and understand Spanish.

If you are interested, please call 402554-2951 or email us at UNOCapacity@ unomaha.edu.

Intercultural Senior Center

You’re invited to visit the Intercultural Senior Center (ISC), 5545 Center St.

The Intercultural Senior Center facility – open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – offers programs and activities from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

The ISC offers a light breakfast, lunch, crafts, health presentations, fitness, language classes, technology, book club, photography club, chair volleyball, gardening and more.

The ISC will be closed on August 24 and 25.

Also, for more information about the 2023 ISC World Bash, visit: www.interculturalseniorcenter.org.

OneWorld Community Health Centers will offer the vaccination clinic in the ISC from August 7-11 @ 9 to 11 a.m.

Lunch reservations are due by 9 a.m. A voluntary contribution is suggested for the meal. Please call 402-4446529 for reservations.

Monthly food pantries are available for adults ages 50 and older.

ISC’s SAVE bus (Sustenance Assistance Vitality Engagement), can bring case management services to your doorstep.

For more information, please call 402-444-6529.

The FDA recognizes National Immunization Awareness Month

National Immunization Awareness

Month provides us an opportunity to think about how far the development and advancement of immunization science has come, and its impact on public health. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plays a key role in immunization by evaluating vaccines for safety and effectiveness before they are made available to the public.

Vaccines work by stimulating the body’s immune system to safely provide protection against viruses or bacteria that cause infection. After vaccination, the immune system is prepared

to respond quickly when the body encounters the diseasecausing organism.

Why are vaccines important? They help provide protection from an infectious disease and can lessen the severity of illness. If you are immune to a disease, you can be exposed to it without becoming sick. Simply put, because of advances in medical science, vaccines can help protect us against more diseases than ever before. Some diseases that once injured or killed thousands of people have been eliminated primarily due to vaccines.

As a medical doctor, I know all too well how

important vaccinations are throughout life, helping people of all ages live longer, healthier lives. The World Health Organization estimates that immunization currently prevents 3.5-5 million deaths every year from diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, influenza and measles and tens of millions of people are alive today because of the COVID-19 vaccines. Getting the right information about immunization in the digital age, however, can be like drinking from a fire hose. Most Americans are on the receiving end of a constant barrage of information coming at them through phones, laptops, TVs, and social media. Trying to filter fact from fiction can be a challenge, but oh so critical when it comes to public health.

APPROVED VACCINES

Vaccines to prevent infectious diseases are given to millions of babies, children, adolescents and adults, so it is critical that they are demonstrated to be safe and effective. Vaccines undergo a rigorous FDA evaluation of laboratory and clinical data to ensure their safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality. The FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) is responsible for regulating vaccines.

VACCINES SAVE LIVES

Specific to COVID-19 vaccines, CBER has been integral in overseeing the development of the vaccines to prevent COVID-19 and authorizing and approving the vaccines that are proven to meet criteria for safety and effectiveness. Working with manufacturers in order to get the vaccines to the public as quickly as possible, while adhering to the FDA’s rigorous scientific and regulatory evaluation process, has enabled one of the major achievements in the history of biomedical science. The FDA will only approve or authorize a vaccine for emergency use if it meets the agency’s standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality. Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccination is the best way to help protect against severe illness and hospitalization from COVID-19.

(Information provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration).

Benefitting from reading and writing

By Paula Crozier

Why Reading, writing and arithmetic are still essential for your overall health.

We know as we get older that we are all lifelong learners, but with all the technology and as the generation of the “boob tube,” we are not as well read anymore. We understand that; we know our parents and grandparents relied upon reading as their chosen form of entertainment so why not us?

There are several studies published about the benefits of daily reading of course, for children. The obvious benefit is increased literacy, but it goes beyond that. Reading books expands one’s vocabulary, excites the imaginative areas of the brain and aids in comprehension by connecting neurons in our brains that put logic and imagination both to work.

Reading 15-30 minutes a day has been shown to release dopamine, the hormone that increases happiness. Reading also calms things down as well, and the choice of reading media doesn’t seem to matter much on the brain’s side of connectivity.

Whether one is reading a physical book, a magazine or even on a tablet, reading is essential to our ability to take in information, sort it, make instant judgments on the information presented and also to increase the activity of neurons both in the brain and on our body.

It seems so easy to just turn a page, but there is a lot going on in the brain that allows us to physically decide to turn a page, or “swipe up, down, left and right.”

The actions we take through both our hands, eyes, even our body postures help to create

an increase of calmness, destressing, and increasing memory circuits.

“A study of 294 seniors published in Neurology found that those who engaged in mentally stimulating activities such as reading across their lifespan had slower rates of memory decline compared to those who did not. Engaging in frequent cognitive activity later in life reduced the rate of decline by 32 percent.”

(Life-span cognitive activity, neuropathologic burden, and cognitive aging

Robert S. Wilson, Patricia A. Boyle, Lei Yu, Lisa L. Barnes, Julie A. Schneider, David A. Bennett Neurology Jul 2013).

Additionally, reading has been shown to help release melatonin, a natural sleep hormone that allows us to fall asleep and keep us asleep. How many times have you read something only to realize you dozed off? Proof positive that some topics can really put you to sleep.

But what about those adventures, those page turners that you just can’t seem to put down? Well, subject matter does help determine which brain activity happens: Melatonin or dopamine. An exciting story excites us of course, while something else may just help us to become drowsy.

Becoming older doesn’t mean that we have to give up on our favorite past times, even when it becomes more difficult. Audio books have equal benefits to visual reading as well. So does reading with a partner. Book clubs are incredible social events that bring us together to discuss a plot and story line and how those books affect us in our everyday lives. And reading an old favorite doesn’t mean that you won’t find anything

new. Those are the best because when you read through the same story over again, not only does your memory kick in with the storyline, but you also just might remember smells, weather, a warm blanket, or a sun-dripped tree in a park where you first discovered the story.

So write down those favorites and read them again!

Mine are many, from my beginning, “The Poky Little Puppy”, all the Winnie-thePooh books, to Dragonwyk, Little Women, Jane Eyre, The Bobbsey Twins series, to The Joy Luck Club, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle stop Café and any Encyclopaedia Brittanica or biography of Saints. Share yours with loved ones. Form a book club or reach out to your family and friends to find existing ones. And of course, discover the “new classics” too!

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.”

George R.R. Martin (American novelist and short-story writer, screenwriter, and television producer. He is the author of the series of epic fantasy novels A Song of Ice and Fire, which was adapted into the Emmy Awardwinning HBO series Game of Thrones).

Paula is the Director of Marketing and Development at Florence Home Healthcare Center, Royale Oaks Assisted Living and House of Hope Assisted Living and Memory Care. In her spare time, Paula is rediscovering all the things she did as a child that she can still do like painting, coloring, hiking and bike riding. She also trips and fails forward happily at gardening.

Volunteers needed for research study

Researchers at Boys Town National Research Hospital are looking for healthy participants and those with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to participate in a brain imaging study.

The DICoN lab at Boys Town is looking to identify differences between healthy participants, those with mild cognitive impairment, and those with Alzheimer’s disease using a series of brain imaging tests.

This study will involve three (or four) visits, each lasting about 2.5-3 hours. The visits will include completion of: Several mental tasks (some during brain imaging), questionnaires, interview about your medical history, MRI scan, blood draw and you will wear an activity/sleep monitor on your wrist between visits. Additionally, those

ENOA is recruiting volunteers to become Ombudsman Advocates

The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging is looking for men and women ages 21 and older to join its Long-term Care Ombudsman Program, which is co-sponsored by the Nebraska State Ombudsman Program.

ENOA’s Ombudsman advocates visit residents in local long-term care facilities and assisted living communities to protect the residents’ rights, wellbeing, and quality of life.

Long-term Care Ombudsmen advocates must complete 20 hours of initial classroom training and 18 hours per year after the first year to remain certified.

During the training, the volunteers learn about residents’ rights, aging issues, Medicare, Medicaid, communication skills, how to investigate residents’ complaints, the importance of confidentiality, and federal and state rules, regulations, and laws regarding Nebraska’s longterm 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 Marsha Peters at 402444-6536.

Omaha Fire Department

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

To have a free smoke and/or carbon monoxide detector installed inside your home, send your name, address, and telephone number to: Omaha Fire Department Smoke/ Carbon Monoxide Requests at 1516 Jackson St. Omaha, Neb. 68102.

For more information, please call 402-444-3560.

with AD or MCI would also receive a PET/ CT scan which is valuable to confirm the disorder and is not often covered by insurance. There are no costs to participants in the study and they will also receive compensation. To be eligible for the study, you must be at least 55 years old and have not had a stroke or been diagnosed with any neurological or psychological disorders (other than Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment).

For more information about the study or to participate, please contact Cindy Beaumont at cindy.beaumont@boystown.org or by phone at 531-355-8945, or Grant Garrison at grant.garrison@boystown.org or by phone at 531-355-8929 or visit https:// diconlab.org/participate

1-833-422-1751

Nebraska Caregiver Coalition announces third presentation of 2023 Educational Webinar Series for the Family Caregiver

The Nebraska Caregiver Coalition is pleased to announce the third presentation for 2023 from the series of four virtual workshops, designed to provide training, education, support, and resources for family caregivers.

The upcoming educational workshop, “Positive Caregiving: Harnessing the Power of Positive Emotions in the Caregiving Journey” is presented by Dr. Sarah Teten Kanter, Ph.D. The presentation will be held via Zoom on Wednesday,

August 23 from 12-1 p.m.

The presentation will focus on the following points:

• How to harness the power of positive emotions in your caregiving journey.

• The four pillars of positive caregiving: perspective, savoring, reminiscence and growth.

• Incorporating gratitude, empathy, forgiveness, love, and awe into your daily routine.

• Positive practices for all caregiving scenarios: new/ sudden caregivers, parttime caregivers, full-time

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caregivers and caregivers to loved ones living in a care community.

• Practicing micro-moments of positive self-care for caregivers.

Sarah Teten Kanter, Ph.D., is on a mission to help people embrace the gift of growing older. She is the founder and CEO of Positive Caregiving™, a software and services firm focused on making caregiving and care receiving a positive experience and an opportunity for personal growth. She holds a doctorate and a

master’s degree in gerontology from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Prior to pursuing her passion in gerontology, she was the chief marketing officer and chief customer officer at Kenexa, now an IBM company.

Dr. Kanter has recently written a book titled ‘Positive Caregiving,’ which ‘offers an alternative, positive perspective and provides an accessible, researchbased path for people who want to make the most of the caregiving experience.’

For more information, visit

https://www.positivecaregiving.com/the-book.

To register for the August event, please visit: https:// go.unl.edu/caregivers. Additional 2023 presentations will be announced at the same link provided. There is no cost to attend any of these sessions, however registration is required.

The Nebraska Caregiver Coalition focuses on the needs and interests of caregivers of all backgrounds. Its goal is to develop and implement a statewide caregiver awareness program for State Senators, plan and implement statewide grassroots engagement, and identify resources and partnerships to develop and coordinate Nebraska Caregiver Coalition activities.

Summer travel surges

If you haven’t booked your summer travel plans yet, AAA said you better do it soon. The Auto Club Group is seeing very strong bookings for cruises, tours, hotels and flights.

“Travel demand has come roaring back this summer and we’re already seeing large crowds at popular domestic and international travel destinations,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group.

Fremont Friendship Center

You’re invited to visit the Fremont Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St. (Christensen Field). The facility is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

A meal is served weekdays @ 11:30 a.m. Reservations, which are due by noon the business day prior to the meal the participant wishes to enjoy, can be made by calling 402727-2815. A $4.25 contribution is suggested for the meal. This month’s activities will include:

• August 1: Craft Class (Small Tablet Portfolio) @ 1:30 p.m.

• August 2: Special Music with John Worsham @ 10:30 a.m.

• August 3: Presentation from Nye @ 10 a.m.

• August 8: Craft Class (Wooden Bird houses) @ 1:30 p.m.

• August 8: Health Presentation from Fremont Therapy and Wellness @ 10 a.m.

• August 9: Music with Ben Tomisello @ 10:30 a.m.

• August 10: Mobile Library @ 9:30 a.m.

• August 15: Craft Class (Clipboard) @ 1:30 p.m.

• August 16: Special Music with The Links @ 10 a.m.

• August 17: First Interstate Bank Financial Education @ 9:45 a.m.

• August 22: Board Meeting @ 1:30 p.m.

• August 23: Special Music with Julie Couch @ 10:30 a.m.

• August 25: Volleyball Match with Nye @ 10 a.m.

• August 29: Craft Class (Magnets) @ 1:30 p.m.

• August 30: Special Music with Bill Chrastil @ 10 a.m.

Tai Chi offered every Tuesday and Friday from 9:15-10 a.m.

If you can’t stay for lunch with our friends and you currently participate in any activity at the center, you may now order a Grab-n-Go Meal to take home for your lunch. Grabn-Go meals must be reserve the day before by noon and the person ordering the lunch must come in to the center to pick it up at 11 a.m. The number of Grab-n-Go lunches are limited to a first come first serve basis. Suggested donation is $4.25.

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

Eclectic Book Review Club

The Eclectic Book Review Club, founded in 1949, is announcing its fall 2023 schedule of author appearances. Each event includes readings and discussion by the noted book’s author.

The monthly meetings, which include lunch and the author book review, are held at noon at The Field Club of Omaha, 3615 Woolworth. The cost is $16 per person per month.

To reserve a seat, call Jo Ann at (402) 571-5223. Reservation deadline is the Friday morning prior to the Tuesday meeting.

Authors for fall 2023 include:

• September 19- Sean Doolittle, award winning suspense novelist will discuss Device Free Weekend, an intriguing, timely mystery.

• October 17- Pamela Carter Joern writes about the Great Plains with joy and compassion as she shares Toby’s Last Resort.

• November 21- Lori Lynn Ahrends, an international speaker in early literacy brings her “Overall Buddies” as she combines storytelling and singing in I’m a Pig.

Want to stay home, but can’t do it alone?

Stay safely in your home AND make sure you get the care you need - with Immanuel Pathways.You will have a team of caregivers and someone to manage and coordinate ALL your services.

For complete program details call 402.991.0330 or visit Immanuel.com

Immanuel Pathways PACE®: Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly

UNMC to host global health care simulation conference

The 2023 SimGHOSTS conference, hosted by iEXCEL at the Davis Global Center, will plan to attract some 250 simulation professionals from around the world. The UNMC Interprofessional Experiential Center for Enduring Learning (iEXCEL) has been announced as the host site for the 13th Annual SimGHOSTS conference in 2023. The SimGHOSTS Conference is a gathering of health care simulation professionals from around the world. UNMC expects approximately 250 simulation professionals to attend the event, which will be held Aug. 1-4.

Pamela Boyers, PhD, associate vice chancellor of clinical simulation and UNMC, said it is an honor for iEXCEL to be invited to host the 2023 conference at the Davis Global Center on the UNMC campus.

“This will be an opportunity for simulation centers to collaborate, share best practices and, above all, focus on how to provide the best training possible for all health care professionals,” Pamela Boyers said. “We will look forward to sharing success stories with each other, as well as addressing challenges faced as, collec-

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tively, simulation experts help create the future model for health professions education.”

Boyers said she was pleased to be able to display the iEXCEL program to other leaders in the simulation field but also to show off the city of Omaha.

“Participants in SimGHOSTS will have the opportunity to not only visit this forward-looking medical campus but also immerse themselves in the amazing, friendly and lively Omaha culture,” she said.

Since 2011, SimGHOSTS has aimed to empower the health care education simulation community by providing it with the opportunities to meet like-minded specialists and simulation industry representatives to share knowledge of health care, technology and simulation, as well as provide an opportunity to develop skills and further collaboration.

“Health care simulation continues to evolve,” Boyers said. “And in being selected to host this conference, UNMC and the iEXCEL program have the opportunity to play host to others from around the world who are at the forefront of this evolution and pushing it forward.”

Sharpen your mind, body and soul with square dancing

By Ron Petersen

Microphone in hand, square dance caller Darwin Barker cues up songs as groups of couples take their spot on the floor.

As the men and women grasp hands, the Omaha native leads a room of dancers through pass throughs, allemandes, spin chains and wheel arounds on the dance floor.

“It’s a niche — you’ve got to have some rhythm to make it work,” President of Square Dance Omaha, Darwin Barker said.

Square dancing has been defined as walking at a steady pace to a called pattern with musical accompaniment. This simple combination means that no dancing ability or rhythm is required to learn square dancing.

A 2-hour square dance can burn up to 500 calories or equivalent of walking several miles.

“It’s great exercise — it’s nothing more than walking,” Barker said. “It’s cognitive, so you’ve got to listen. It’s a great community atmosphere.”

Everyone on the dance floor responds similarly to the instructions given by the caller. These moves are universal to all square dance events, making it an easy way to connect with others and share an appreciation for good music and fun.

“People like to get together and they have a good time dancing,” Nebraska square dance caller, Lanny Weaklend said.

The health benefits of square dancing make it an ideal activity for people of all ages and physical capabilities. A dancer can expect to walk the equivalent of between two to five miles during an evening of dancing. Because the movements are low impact, the stress on joints is minimal.

“We dance to all kinds of music — I’ve danced for two and a half hours straight before,” Barker said. “Some people will dance every

dance.”

In addition to the physical benefits, the mental benefits of square dancing can mean enjoying a higher quality of life for an increased number of years. Square dancing has also been suggested to improve mood and decrease stress as the mind is too occupied with attention to calls and recalling movements to allow worry and anxiety while participating in the activity. With over 60 calls possible to learn and remember, square dancing provides ample material for the mind to ponder.

“It’s all part of timing — all eight people are in

a square work together,” Weaklend said. “The music makes you think and it makes you sharp.”

The social aspect of square dancing is evident whenever you observe a group of dancers gathered together. The camaraderie and enthusiasm shared by the participants adds to the experience that exercising alone cannot provide. The chance to have an activity to look forward to can give a sense of purpose and the feeling of learning the calls and performing them when instructed can provide a sense of accomplishment and pride.

“You don’t have to dance, and you can come socialize. The socialization aspect is the best part,” Barker said. “You can go into a dance and dance with different people, and you have an opportunity to make new friends. People just care about each other, and we are there to have fun.”

There are several square dance clubs around the

Omaha area and one in Missouri Valley. The square dance clubs in Omaha include Amazing 8’s, Belles ‘N’ Beaus, CO-OP Rounds, Crossfire Squares, Heartland Singles and River City Squares.

Each club hosts a dance on a different night of the week and prices may vary.

Mike Hogan, 60, has been calling square dances since he was a 13-year-old. He has seen a decline in participation in square dancing, but would love to see it return to what it once was in the 1970s and 80s.

“Society has moved from a club type of orientation to very individualistic and instant gratification type of society,” Hogan said. “We don’t have any control over that, so it’s resulted in a decline in the number of people who participate.”

During the coronavirus pandemic, the square dance community lost participants who have joined clubs around Omaha for years, along with losing interest in the brand of square dancing. Hogan who had a strong passion for square dancing as a teenager and has the same passion for the activity today, would like to see more people give square dancing a try.

“If people are looking to develop friendships and to get exercise, then square dancing is for them,” Hogan said. “If you are 75 and playing golf, then physically you are in a good spot to participate in square dancing. If you can walk without canes and you are able to take decent strides, then you can square dance.”

For more information about square dancing, visit the Nebraska’s square dance website at squaredancene. org or Omaha’s square dance website at squaredanceomaha.org.

Respite Across the Lifespan

Life can bring on stress for many of us. Finding ways to relieve stress are important to our overall health and wellbeing. 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.

First United Methodist Church

First United Methodist Church has some excellent adult curriculums available. They are free for any Christian group, which would like to study prayer, discipleship and beliefs.

Call First United Methodist Church at 402-556-6262 if you wish to receive more information about the list of the studies available.

COURTESY PHOTO

Square dancing has the benefit of being low-impact but great aerobic exercise. Square dancing is easy, reduces stress, it’s different than dancing on your own and there is no age limits.