New Horizons A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging
December 2011 VOL. 36 • NO. 12
ENOA 4223 Center Street Omaha, NE 68105-2431
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID OMAHA NE PERMIT NO. 389
Brothers
Tom Hurst (middle) has young-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Three times a week, Tom – seen here with his wife, Kathy Tewhill – is visited by Ezequiel Roque (right), a native of Mexico, and a volunteer with ENOA’s Senior Companion Program. Nick Schinker’s words and photos illustrate the special bond Tom, Kathy, and Ezequiel have built. Pages 12 & 13.
Inside December events calendar .............. 3 Erna Clanton is honored .................. 6 ‘Read it & eat’ ............................. 8 New heart disease treatment ...........11 Enroll in Medicare Part D ...............16 ENOA health clinics ......................17
n o i t a r b e Cel Ramona Silva stands beside
La Catarina at the second annual Celebracion Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) at the Intercultural Senior Center.
Caregiving’s impact on labor force ....20
La Catarina is a symbol of the
Lowering your heating bills .............21
welldressed and wealthy in
Christmas at Union Station .............22
Mexican society.
National park passes for $10 ...........22
See page 4.
The right light bulb .......................23
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December 2011 events calendar 2 Ethnic Holiday Festival Durham Museum 5 to 9 p.m. $5, $6, & $7 402-444-5071
10 Holiday Lights Festival Dickens in the Market 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. FREE 402-345-5401
Yesterday and Today Through Dec. 31 Omaha Community Playhouse 402-553-0800
16 Omaha Symphony: Christmas with the Symphony Through Dec. 18 Friday @ 8 p.m. Saturday @ 2 & 8 p.m. Sunday @ 2 & 7 p.m. $15 to $80 402-342-3560
3 Cut! Costumes & Cinema Through April 29, 2012 Durham Museum $5, $6, & $7 402-444-5071 Holiday Air Affair: 501 Legion Stormtroopers Strategic Air and Space Museum 9:30 a.m. (Santa arrives @ 10 a.m.) $6, $11, & $12 402-944-3100 st
Holiday Happenings Also Dec. 4 Lauritzen Gardens Noon to 4 p.m. $3 & $6 402-346-4002 The Durham Museum’s Holiday Concert Series Saturdays and Sundays Through Dec. 18 $5, $6, & $7 402-444-5071 4 Christmas at Boys Town Through Jan. 14, 2012 Tree lighting @ 7:45 p.m. FREE 402-498-1141 6 Family Nights with Santa Through Dec. 20 Durham Museum 5 to 8 p.m. $5, $6, & $7 402-444-5071 9 Aspen Sante Fe Ballet The Nutcracker Through Dec. 11 Orpheum Theater 402-345-0606
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Penguins and Pancakes at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo Also Dec. 27 8:30 to 10 a.m. $15, $12, (free for under age 2) 402-738-2038 31 Holiday Lights Festival & Fireworks th 14 & Farnam streets 7 p.m. FREE 402-345-5401 New Year’s Eve at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free with zoo admission 402-733-8401 The Durham Museum’s Noon Year’s Eve Celebration 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. $4 to $8 402-444-5071
December 2011
New Horizons Club Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging 4223 Center Street Omaha, NE 68105-2431
I get the New Horizons regularly and don’t need to be put on the mailing list.
Supper with Santa at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo Through Dec. 19 6 to 8 p.m. $15 402-738-2092 26 Holiday Time Around the World Through Dec. 30 The Rose Theater Monday @ 2 & 4:30 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday @ 2 & 7 p.m. Thursday & Friday @ 4:30 & 7 p.m. $16 402-345-4849
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New Horizons New Horizons is the official publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. The paper is distributed free to people over age 60 in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Washington, and Cass counties. Those living outside the 5-county region may subscribe for $5 annually. Address all correspondence to: Jeff Reinhardt, Editor, 4223 Center Street, Omaha, NE 68105-2431. Phone 402-444-6654. FAX 402444-3076. 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 25,000 through direct mail and freehand distribution.
Editor..............................................Jeff Reinhardt Ad Mgr................Mitch Laudenback, 402-444-4148 Contributing Writers......Nick Schinker, Leo Biga, Barc Wade, & Lois Friedman Fremont Delivery.........................Dick Longstein ENOA Board of Governors: Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, chairperson; Ron Nolte, Cass County, vice-chairperson; Bob Missel, Dodge County, secretary; Jim Warren, Sarpy County & Jerry Kruse, Washington County. The New Horizons and the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging provide services without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, disability, or age.
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Day of the Dead celebrated at Intercultural Senior Center Strolling musicians, a variety of children’s activities, arts and crafts sales, and lots of delicious food were among the highlights as 700 to 800 participants and guests at the Intercultural Senior Center, 2021 U St., celebrated the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on Oct. 28. Altars (left) were erected to honor loved ones who have died. Francisco Salcedo (right) was among those who enjoyed the day’s festivities.
For All Your Mobility Needs…
Page 4
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December 2011
ENOA senior center menu December 2011 Thursday, Dec. 1 BBQ Rib Patty
Monday, Dec. 19 Herbed Pork Loin
Friday, Dec. 2 Chicken Strips
Tuesday, Dec. 20 Beef Chili
Monday, Dec. 5 Honey Baked Chicken
Wednesday, Dec. 21 Ham w/Raisin Sauce
Tuesday, Dec. 6 Beef Strip Patty Wednesday, Dec. 7 Turkey Chili Thursday, Dec. 8 Cheese Lasagna Rollup Friday, Dec. 9 Swedish Meatballs Monday, Dec. 12 Savory Beef Casserole Tuesday, Dec. 13 Turkey Fritter Wednesday, Dec. 14 Tuna Noodle Au Gratin Thursday, Dec. 15 Swiss Steak Friday, Dec. 16 Oven Fried Chicken
Thursday, Dec. 22 Chicken A La King Friday, Dec. 23 Veal Italiano Monday, Dec. 26 Closed for the holidays Tuesday, Dec. 27 Sausage, Onions, & Peppers on a Bun Wednesday, Dec. 28 Crunchy Pollock Thursday, Dec. 29 Cheeseburger Friday, Dec. 30 Garlic Rosemary Chicken
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Christmas caroling festivities scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 18
Y
ou’re invited to attend the 37th annual Omaha Holiday Caroling Festivities on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 2:30 p.m. at the Nebraska Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, 7410 Mercy Rd. “This enjoyable and rewarding community service project is open to entertainers, singers, and musicians of all talent levels and ages,” said event founder/director Vincent Leinen. Among those expected to attend are Santa Claus, members of the Omaha Chorus of Sweet Adelines International, The Country Kickers, Omaha city councilman Franklin Thompson, Irish folk singer Jill Anderson, former Omaha mayor Hal Daub, Joe “Mr. Memories” Taylor, magician Walter Graham, and Domesti-Pups therapy dogs. “It’s very fulfilling to give and receive joy, happiness, and holiday spirit to and from the residents, caregivers, and participants while enhancing one’s own perspective and appreciation of life, health, and family,” Leinen said. For more information, please call 818-342-9336 or log on the Internet to www.reachforthestars.com/caroling.
WHITMORE LAW OFFICE Wills • Trusts • Probate
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Erna Clanton honored for her zestful lifestyle Erna Clanton, a resident of Immanuel Village, 6803 N. 68th Plz., has been recognized in the honorable mention category in the LeadingAge’s Celebrate Age exhibit. Clanton was acknowledged for being a shining example of someone who is living life with extraordinary zest. She makes a difference by sharing her musical talents, serving others, and making her part of the world a better place to live. Clanton was born in 1920 with the gift of song and made a career out of this passion. Music continues to be an instrumental part of Erna’s life at Immanuel Village where she has lived for 14 years. At age 91, Erna is still
Erna Clanton is a resident of Immanuel Village.
shaping lives with the Chime Choir and as Immanuel Village’s choir director. She uses her gift of music to heal and delight.
LeadingAge is a national association of 5,600 not-forprofit organizations dedicated to expanding the world of possibilities for aging.
Do you, your spouse qualify for Aid & Attendance? By Catherine N. Swiniarski
ing during a period of war – is eligible to apply for the Aid & Attendance. A survivhe Aid and Attendance (A & A) ing spouse (marriage must have ended due pension provides benefits for vetto the death of the veteran) of a war-time erans and surviving spouses who veteran may also apply. The individual require the regular attendance of another applying must qualify both medically and person to assist them with eating, bathing, financially. dressing, undressing, toileting, etc. It also Applicants must have on average less includes individuals who are blind or livthan $80,000 in assets, excluding their ing in a nursing home because of a mental home and vehicles. or physical incapacity. Individuals receivThere is a lot of information that needs ing care in an assisting living facility also to be gathered and prepared when applyqualify for the A & A benefit. ing for A & A. It’s hard to speculate on what you’ll experience while filing for this pension. Each case is unique and carries Applicants must have its own set of challenges. It’ll also depend on average less than on which processing center will be han$80,000 in assets, dling the claim. For unknown reasons, some centers do a more efficient job than excluding their home others. How complete the application and vehicles. package is will also impact the process. It will take four to six months on averTo qualify for A & A your physician age for your application to be processed needs to establish that you require daily and for you to receive a determination letassistance to dress, undress, bath, cook, ter. Due to the current backlog of claims to eat, put on or take off of prosthetics, leave be processed this time frame can be much home, etc. You don’t have to require aslonger. sistance with all of these activities. There Many families can’t afford to pay for simply needs to be adequate medical evicare while waiting for the pension to be dence that you cannot function completely approved and funds to be released which on your own. places an additional burden on them. The A & A pension can provide up to Some assisted living facilities will work $1,632 per month to a veteran, $1,055 per with you if they know the resident qualimonth to a surviving spouse, or $1,949 per fies for A & A. Fortunately, all benefits are month to a couple. retro-dated back to the original filing date. Eligibility must be proven by filing the If you or your loved one is age 70 or proper Veterans Application for Pension older, you should request the application or Compensation. This application will process to be expedited. VA laws state aprequire a copy of DD-214 or separation plications for benefits for a veteran/widow papers, a medical evaluation from a physi- age 70 or older are to be given priority. cian, a list of current medical issues, net It’s advised you include a cover letter with worth limitations, and net income along the application noting this request. with out-of-pocket medical expenses. Although filing for Aid & Attendance If you’ve lost your original DD-214 and can seem to be a daunting task, it can be are receiving or have applied for disability a benefit that will allow the veteran or or educational benefits from the VA, they spouse of a veteran much needed funds may have a copy on file. At the very least, to pay for nursing care and assistance in if you’re receiving benefits (or did in the a nursing facility or their own home. It past), the VA should be able to provide a should always be considered when planStatement of Service which can be used ning for care for a loved one or the spouse instead of a DD-214. of loved one who served our country in Any war-time veteran with 90 days of the armed forces. active duty – one day beginning or end(Swiniarski is an Omaha attorney.)
T
December 2011
Nutritionist: Stay healthy this winter by eating properly, exercising, and getting adequate sleep By Carol McNulty During the winter, bears aren’t the only animals that hibernate. But unlike bears, humans tend to gain weight during the winter months. According to nutrition specialist Wanda Koszewski, Ph.D., there are three things most important in staying healthy during the winter. Eating healthy can go a long way in staying healthy. Often when people tire, they skip meals or eat high-fat meals. Be sure to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. To help make meals healthier and liven them up, barley and brown rice can be added to soup. Adding fruits and vegetables to meals can also help. Eating a variety of foods from all food groups and at an appropriate portion size will help get the most nutrient density. The second thing people can do is exercise. People don’t exercise as much during the winter because it’s cold outside. While the cold weather may put a stop on running or biking, other little things can be done to build up exercise. Walking halls at work or the mall, riding an indoor bike, or doing water aerobics all can help. Television show exercises can help motivate as well. Snowboarding and skiing also are great for exercise. Cross-country skiing burns up lots of calories, but even going sledding and walking up and down a hill can do a lot. Koszweski reminds us if someone does choose to exercise outside during the winter, it’s important to dress appropriately. Wearing layers and dressing for wind, cold, ice, and snow, including wearing breathable fabrics, helps. Also make sure to warm up and cool down and drink plenty of fluids when exercising. People may not always feel comfortable exercising in public. Some people feel intimidated or uncomfortable when work-
ing out around others. During the winter, exercise where you feel comfortable, but exercise. The third thing people can do is get the right amount of sleep. Adults need seven and a half to nine hours of sleep a night on average.
We’ve rediscovered the joy of living
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We loved our home, but never realized how time consuming it was. At The Wellington, the incredible staff handles all the maintenence, light housekeeping and laundry if we choose. We’re in charge of living life to the fullest.
The Wellington RETIREMENT RESIDENCE
People also can stay healthy by not contracting any illnesses. Washing hands and not sharing food or cups with sick individuals can help people from catching colds or the flu. One thing that further complicates staying healthy is Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as the winter blues. SAD is a mood disorder and can cause depression. A sun lamp can help with the disorder by exposing a person to bright light, employing the same therapeutic effect as sunlight. Koszewski says that people with questions about staying healthy should visit a local health care provider. If depression persists, go see a local doctor or physician qualified to deal with depression. For more information on a variety of subjects visit http://douglas-sarpy.unl.edu. (McNulty is an educator with the University of Nebraska Cooperative extension office in Douglas and Sarpy counties.)
Save money on your utility bills
N
ebraska homeowner/tenants who meet income guidelines (see below) are invited to sign up for a free home weatherization program that can save them money on their utility bills. The Nebraska Weatherization Assistance Program is administered statewide by the Nebraska Energy Office for the U.S. Department of Energy and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Nebraska homes will be inspected to identify the most effective energy and dollar saving improvements including: • Adding insulation to the attic, side walls, and floors. • Sealing cracks with caulking. • Adding weather stripping around windows and doors. • Cleaning, tuning, and adjusting all heating equipment. • Repairing or replacing primary doors and windows. • Installing or adjusting door thresholds and/or sweeps. The program will also repair or replace faulty or non-working heating plants. Homes will be disqualified form the program if they have leaky roofs, structural damage, pest infestation, or are a health
or safety risk to the owner/tenant. The project is managed by Weatherization Trust, Inc. (Douglas County), the Southeast Nebraska Community Action Council (Sarpy & Cass counties), and Goldenrod Hills Community Services (Dodge & Washington counties). For more information, please call 402342-1611 (Douglas County), 1-888313-5608 (Sarpy & Cass counties), and 1-800-445-2505 (Dodge & Washington counties). If a household member is receiving Supplemental Security Income, Aid to Dependent Children, or Energy Assistance payments from HHS, the household automatically qualifies for the project regardless of its income. Household Size 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Income Level $ 21,660 $ 29,140 $ 36,620 $44,100 $51,580 $59,060 $66,540 $74,020
Add $7,480 for each additional household member.
December 2011
TheWellingtonLife.com • Papillion, NE • 402-331-3101
Fontenelle Tours Omaha/Council Bluffs: 712-366-9596
Quoted prices are per person, double occupancy. For more information about our tours, please call Ward or Kathy Kinney at Fontenelle Tours at the numbers listed above. Plan to attend our “OPEN HOUSE” on Tuesday, January 17 @ 3 p.m. at St. Roberts Church (11802 Pacific Street) for information on all our trips and presentations on the following trips: • San Francisco with Lake Tahoe • Greece and its Islands • Alpine Christmas Call 712-366-9596 for details.
2012 Tours Early Winter in Laughlin (by Air). January 4 - 7. $329. Includes non-stop, round-trip airfare to Laughlin, Nevada, three nights lodging at the Riverside Resort and Casino on the banks of the Colorado River, and shuttle transportation to and from the airport. Register early…these winter trips fill up fast! Valentines Day in Laughlin (by Air). February 13 - 17. $349. Includes nonstop, round-trip airfare to Laughlin, Nevada, four nights lodging at the Riverside Resort and Casino on the banks of the Colorado River, and shuttle transportation to and from the airport. Register early! Kansas City Spring Fling. April 10 – 11. Come along with us and celebrate Spring! Includes “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” at the New Theater Restaurant, “The Importance of Being Earnest” at the American Heartland Theater, and more! Treasures of Panama. April 11 – 19. See the Miraflores Locks on your tour of Panama City. Enjoy a cruise through the rainforest to Monkey Island where you’ll see iguanas, toucans, and crocodiles. Spend four nights at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. Cruise through the Panama Canal. Enjoy the stunning scenery aboard the Panama Canal Railway. Visit an Embera indigenous village to learn their heritage and traditions, and overnight at a luxurious beachfront resort in Playa Bonita. Heritage of America. May 25 – June 3. Begin your trip with a tour of New York City. Visit Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Learn about and experience the Amish community lifestyle in Lancaster. Enjoy a guided tour of Gettysburg. Visit Shenandoah National Park, Monticello, Williamsburg, Mount Vernon, and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Enjoy a guided tour of our nation’s capital including the White House, Capitol, the monuments, memorials, and museums, visit the White House Visitor Center, Arlington National Cemetery, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Kennedy gravesites. Islands of New England. June 8 – 15. Enjoy a tour of Providence, Rhode Island and Newport’s historic mansions. Tour the Marble House, the exciting city of Boston, visit a cranberry bog, see Plymouth Rock, enjoy a New England lobster feast, tour Martha’s Vineyard, cruise to Cape Cod, ride the ferry to Nantucket, tour Hyannisport – home of the Kennedy compound, and enjoy dinner aboard an elegant dinner train. Canadian Rockies & Glacier National Park. July 17 – 24. Beginning in the Canadian province of Alberta – in the foothills of the Rockies – travel to Waterton Lakes National Park, then Glacier National Park where you’ll travel the “Going to the Sun Road” with its spectacular views. Spend time touring Banff, overnight at the “Castle in the Mountains.” Travel to Jasper by way of the unforgettable Icefields Parkway. See the Maligne Canyon, and visit the vibrant city of Calgary. San Francisco with Lake Tahoe. August 23 - 29. Enjoy a sight-seeing tour of San Francisco including the Twin Peaks, Seal Rocks, and Golden Gate Bridge. Visit Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square, ride a famed cable car, travel to Sonoma Valley to visit the wineries, visit Monterey to see one of the most breathtaking coastlines in the world, Pebble Beach, the California Railroad Museum in Sacramento, the old west town of Virginia City, and spend two nights at the Montbleu Resort & Spa in Lake Tahoe including a cruise on beautiful Lake Tahoe. Chicago and the Cubs. Early September. Dates will be based on the Cubs schedule. Explore Chicago with us! Details later. Greece and its Islands. September 23 – October 6. Visit Athens, the Olympic Stadium, the Acropolis, Santorini Island, and more. Nebraska Junk Jaunt. September 28 – 29. Join us on this fun-filled 200-mile long two-day garage sale adventure. Daniel O’Donnell in Branson during November. Enjoy a Christmas trip to several shows including Daniel O’Donnell. Details later. Alpine Christmas. December 4 - 11. Explore the Christmas markets of Austria and southern Bavaria. Stay in the Austrian Alps! Kansas City Christmas. Early to mid December. Enjoy theater, Christmas lights, some shopping, and a few surprises. More trips to come for 2012, including some one-day trips! Watch our website at www.fontenelletours.com
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Read it & eat By Lois Friedman readitandeat@yahoo.com
Some holiday treats and sweets With visions of sugarplums, cakes, cupcakes, cookies… thumbnail sketches of everything sweet for your holidays and then some…something for everyone on your list. From Chronicle ($19.95 each): Cake Pops By Bakerella
www.glassmanhearing.com
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Heat oven to 300˚F. Grease 15 x 10 x1 inch pan with shortening or cooking spray. In medium bowl, mix egg white and pecan halves until pecans are coated and sticky.In small bowl, mix sugar and cardamom, sprinkle over pecans. Stir until pecans are completely coated. Spread pecans in single layer in pan.Bake about 30 minutes or until toasted. Cool completely or serve slightly warm. Store tightly covered up to 3 weeks.
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1 egg white, slightly beaten 2 cups pecan or walnut halves 1/3 cup sugar 2 teaspoons ground cardamom
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Pretty Cupcake Kit By S. Faust & E. Klivans Very Merry Cookie Party By B. Grunes & V. van Vynckt Fat Witch Brownies By Patricia Helding (Rodale, $22.50) Fifty recipes you can make in one hour from this New York bakery including chocolatey, lemony, nutty, fruity, and yummy! Fabulous Party Cakes and Cupcakes By Carol Deacon (Tuttle, $16.95) Step-by-step instructions for fondant creations for every celebration. Cookielicious By Janet Keeler (Seaside, $19.95) One hundred and fifty recipes for anytime, sharing, chocolate, kids, and holiday cookies selected from the St. Petersburg Times archives. Intoxicated Cupcakes By Kate Legere (Running Press, $15) Forty-one tipsy treats, Oh-So-Decadent, A Bit o’ Southern, Fancy Pants, and Tooty-fruity all spiked with booze! Jiggle Shots By Rachel Federman (Abrams, $15.95) Seventy-five wiggly, jiggly recipes organized by color to add whimsy to your holiday parties. Betty Crocker Christmas Cookbook (Wiley, $19.95) Two-hundreda and fifty recipes for holiday entertaining. Everything from soup to nuts to serve or give as gifts. Make this easy recipe.
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December 2011
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Call Today for a Free Report: (402)-291-5005 or www.7DaysCash.com The Sierra Group LLC / We are a Professional Home Buying Company BBB Member Member of The Sierra Group LLC is a licensed real estate agent
Helping Nebraska grow stronger every day AARP works to help all Americans get the most out of life. In the Omaha metro area alone, the volunteer-run AARP Nebraska Information Center serves the community with an incredible amount of free programs and services, including:
• AARP benefit and program information
• Monthly educational and entertainment programs
• Referrals to other agencies that can answer questions or solve problems
• Latest AARP publications on health, Social Security, retirement planning, long-term care and more
• Volunteer opportunities at the Information Center
• Computer classes
• Free income tax preparation
• Homestead exemption filing assistance
• AARP Driver Safety refresher classes
• Free, unbiased Medicare Part D counseling
• Free annual document shredding event to fight ID theft
• Ta’i Chi classes
AARP Nebraska Information Center Monday – Friday | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The Center Mall 1940 S. 42nd St., Ste. 220 Omaha, NE For more information, call 402-398-9568 or email omnebraska@aol.com.
3-month Participation Special
Beaded Broads make holiday donations
NO ENROLLMENT FEE!
Once again this holiday season, members of the Beaded Broads – a group of 16 Omaha women who wear black and white beads to their monthly meetings and events – donated non-perishable food items and clothing to an area food bank and a homeless shelter. This year’s November event was called A Time for Caring and Sharing, according to group member Lee Tweedy. Throughout the year, the Beaded Broads have also donated Easter baskets and school supplies. For more information about the organization, please call Tweedy at 402891-1064.
$100 for an individual or $150 for a couple
WHOLE PERSON WELLNESS FOR ADULTS 50+ • Individualized fitness program based on current fitness level and goals • State-of-the-art equipment powered by air pneumatics insuring safety and ease of use • T’ai Chi, toning, low impact aerobics, and stretching classes • Health education programs • Educated, trained and certified staff
Home Instead Center for Successful Aging Leavenworth Street at 38th Avenue FREE Parking in Lot 16L on 39th St. (between Leavenworth & Jones) OPEN: Monday - Friday • 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
402-552-7210
www.unmc.edu/homeinsteadcenter/wellness.htm
The New Horizons is brought to you each month by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.
UNO gerontology students working to make the world a better place for older Americans
“It is a quality investment and a smart career move.” Those words came from a 22-year-old graduate student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. What is Lakelyn Hogan talking about? If you can believe it, she’s referring to a certificate in gerontology. Yes, a certificate in the study of aging in the last chapters of life. “The study (of gerontology) encompasses every aspect of living,” said Dr. Lyn Holley, an associate professor in the Department of Gerontology at UNO. “The physical, psychological, spiritual, social, financial, and environmental study of these aspects (of life) may be pursued within a number of disciplines including biology, physiology, neuroscience, psychology, and sociology.” “I learned about it by talking with the (UNO Gerontology) Department Chair, Dr. Julie Masters,” said Hogan. “She told me that if I were to go for my MBA (Masters of Business Administration degree), then the graduate certificate would be a better fit for me as opposed to a minor or undergraduate certificate.” According to Dr. Priscilla Quinn, an advisor and coordinator in the Department of Gerontology at UNO, the
The Art of Aging By Cathy Wyatt, CSA certificate consists of 18 credit hours of coursework in the field of aging. Fifteen of those credit hours or five courses are taught in the classroom and three credit hours account toward the 156 hours of a practicum. “The certificate can enhance an individual’s life in two ways,” said Quinn. “In the classroom – information learned and taught by professionals in the field of aging – will be invaluable. Outside the classroom with classes that include service-learning and the gerontology practicum, the students get the opportunity to have ‘hands-on’ and ‘real-life’ experiences again with professionals in the aging field.” UNO’s Department of Gerontology was established in 1972. The certificate was established in 1973 as the result of the U.S. Administration on Aging and Congress passing the Older American’s Act of 1965. This legislation was a response to concerns by policymakers and others about a lack of social services for older adults and other areas of aging such as educational programs in aging. “I have students from very diverse backgrounds,” said Quinn. “The one main thing they all share is they want to make this world a better place for older adults.” “Once I graduate from UNO,” said Hogan, “I hope to marry my passions for business and the elderly by working for a company that serves seniors on a daily basis. I ultimately would love to work for my parents’ business, Home Instead Senior Care.” Wherever she lands, the world is a better place because of Lakelyn and other young adults interested in pursuing this field. “It is heartwarming to know that these young adults may very well be taking care of me,” said Quinn. “They will have a huge impact on the care of older adults. Simply put, they ‘get it.’”
AARP offering driving class The AARP Driving Safety Program offers a four-hour refresher driving class that reviews the rules of the road and emphasizes driving strategies for persons age 50 and older. Fees are $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers. There are no exams or tests involved. Insurance discounts may apply. Here’s the class schedule:
Saturday, Dec. 10 1 to 5 p.m. AARP Information Center 1941 S. 42nd St. Call 402-398-9568 to register.
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December 2011
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A new way to treat coronary disease
painless, noninvasive medical procedure for treating heart disease called EECP therapy (Enhanced External Counterpulsation) has been cleared by the FDA and is now being used on heart patients in leading hospitals and medical centers around the country including the Mayo Clinic. Some researchers and physicians familiar with the therapy and the physiological benefits the therapy has on the patient’s circulatory system say EECP therapy could eventually replace most of the drugs and invasive surgical procedures currently used to treat cardiovascular disease. The painless treatment, done on an outpatient basis, has the patient recline on a padded table while three sets of inflatable cuffs are wrapped around his calves, thighs, and buttocks. Triggered by a computer program wired to ECG sensors monitoring the patient’s heartbeat, the cuffs are inflated with air during the heart’s resting phase (diastole), gently squeezing the lower body and pumping extra blood throughout the body, especially to the heart and coronary arteries. The cuffs are deflated during the heart’s pumping phase (systole), thereby significantly reducing the heart’s workload. “After having been applied successfully to several thousand patients, EECP treatment had been cleared by the FDA for the treatment of stable and unstable angina, cardiogenic shock, congestive heart failure, and acute myocardial infarction (heart attack),” says Dr. Ozlem Soran, associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at the Cardiovascular Institute of the University of Pittsburgh. HorizonAD-2010:HorizonAD-08 “The clinical safety and
efficacy of EECP therapy has been well documented in hundreds of peer-reviewed publications, with findings consistently showing a success rate of 75 to 80 percent.” Dr. Soran says EECP therapy benefits the patient’s cardiovascular health by forcing open collateral arteries in the patient’s body and heart, circumventing blocked arteries, and creating new pathways for blood to reach the heart as well as other organs and tissues. EECP creates additional blood flow through the arteries, which stimulates the endothelial cells lining the vessels, improving arterial health and actually reversing arterial inflammation, constriction, and hardening of the arteries associated with cardiovascular disease. Dr. Soran says EECP is often prescribed by cardiologists whose patients have undergone invasive procedures such as stenting and coronary bypass but still suffer from chest pains, other angina symptoms, and other symptoms of heart failure. “EECP can relieve pain and return mobility to patients who are ineligible to receive additional invasive procedures, but we feel that EECP can be an effective first option for millions suffering from certain types of coronary artery disease prior to any other interventional procedures,” she says.
Some of the proven benefits of EECP therapy include: • EECP is safe -- no side effects, no risk of complications. • EECP requires no preparation or recovery time. • EECP works -- over 160 peer-reviewed publications all document a high percentage of reducing/eliminating chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, improvement of ability to engage in physical activity, improved blood flow, and better quality of life. • EECP provides lasting benefits; positive effects last for years. • EECP is painless and non-invasive. Patients can read during the one-hour treatments. • EECP is covered by Medicare and private insurers. • EECP is right for virtually everyone regardless of age, size, and physical condition. • EECP is inexpensive. A full battery of 35 treatments costs approximately $6,000. “More than 66 billion dollars are spent annually on heart disease treatments. That amount could be reduced two- thirds if EECP was used on a wider scale,” Dr. Soran says. “The clinical studies show that EECP also reduces the number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations, which in turn reduces the health care costs.”
Dora Bingel Senior Center December 2011 events calendar You’re invited to visit the Dora Bingel Senior Center, 923 N. 38th St., this month for the following: • Dec. 5, 12, 19, & 26: Al-Anon meeting @ 7 p.m. • Dec. 6, 13, & 20: Grief Support Group @ 10 a.m. • Dec. 15: Red Hat Society meeting @ noon. • Dec. 16: Hard of Hearing support group meeting @ 10:30 a.m. • Dec. 21: Christmas and Birthday Party luncheon @ noon. Music by Johnny Ray Gomez. A $3 donation is suggested for the meal. Lunch is free if you have a December birthday. The center will closed from Dec. 26 through Jan. 2. A nutritious lunch is served on Tuesdays and Fridays. A fancier lunch is offered on Wednesdays. A $1 donation is suggested for the meals, other than $3 for Regeneration. Round-trip transportation is available for $3. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance for all meals. Other activities offered at the facility include: • Tuesdays: Tai Chi class @ 1 p.m. • Wednesdays: Crochet class @ 9:30 a.m.and a 1 p.m. Bible study. • Fridays: Bible study @ 1 p.m. For more information, please call 402-898-5854.
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New Horizons
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Ezequiel Roque has brought laughter back into Tom Hurst’s life
Tom Hurst (left) and his Senior Companion Ezequiel Roque.
By Nick Schinker
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Contributing Writer
hen he worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone Co., Tom Hurst pioneered the telecommunications firm’s evolution from analog to digital technology. As a service manager and engineer, he’d brilliantly articulate solutions to communication problems for some of the region’s largest companies. Today, because young-onset Alzheimer’s disease has stolen many of his communication and decisionmaking skills, it’s almost impossible for Hurst to answer the phone. “Sometimes when it rings,” says his wife, Kathy Tewhill, “he’ll hand me the TV remote control.” A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease affects more than one person. For Tewhill, caring for her husband in their west Omaha home has meant many changes and adjustments. Help comes from their daughter, Kristin Donovan, who lives with the couple. It also comes from the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Senior Companion Program, and a very selfless volunteer by the name of Ezequiel Roque. Though Roque’s visits three days a week have enabled Tewhill to continue working as a part-time instructor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s School of Communication, she says he gives her more than time. He provides peace of mind. “Ezequiel is my family,” she says. “He’s my brother. He’s my joint caregiver. I can teach knowing that Tom is not only being cared for while I’m gone, he’s having fun. “Having Ezequiel means I always have someone here who loves Tom as much as I do.”
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ary Parker is the coordinator of the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs at ENOA. She says the companion program does far more than simply provide older adults with some company a few hours a week. “Years ago, the idea behind the program was to get seniors out of their homes to socialize,” Parker says. “Today, with the segment of our older population growing so
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quickly, this program is having an impact on the community as well. The end result is delaying long-term care for many of our seniors. “The successes we’ve seen support research indicating that by keeping older adults in their homes longer, we lessen the strain on our social and health care systems.” The Senior Companion Program is funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service with local sponsorship and additional funding through ENOA. The funding pays for 67 volunteer positions working 20 hours per week. Volunteers must be age 55 or older and meet income guidelines. In return, they receive a tax-free stipend of $2.65 an hour, transportation and meal reimbursement, supplemental accidental insurance, and other benefits, Parker says. “Many facilities donate meals to the volunteer,” she says. “Some donate transportation expenses. Creighton Family Practice, for example, has conducted physicals for the Senior Companions at half the normal price.” Volunteers attend 20 hours of pre-service training and 20 more in a classroom setting with other new Senior Companions and Foster Grandparents. Each month, Senior Companions and Foster Grandparents also attend a four-hour in-service training session. Recruitment of volunteers is an ongoing process. A recent recruitment effort has yielded a waiting list for new Senior Companion positions. The program is popular among volunteers, Parker says. “Retention has never been an issue,” she says. “Our longest-serving volunteer will mark 20 years this year, and she’s in her 80s. Once people get involved, they want to stay with the program. They’re hooked.” Senior Companions typically don’t do housework or prepare meals. Their role is to spend time with their clients and do things that friends would normally do together such as swapping stories, discussing the news, reading mail, watching television, playing cards or games, running errands, or going for a walk. The program is available to older
New Horizons
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Ezequiel has been visiting Tom in his home for three years.
adults in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties. Volunteers visit clients in private homes, adult day services centers, hospitals, home care agencies, mental health centers, and rehabilitation facilities. The 67 volunteer companions serve more than 65,000 hours annually to an average of 400 clients. ENOA has sponsored the program for 35 years. When an older adult contacts ENOA about obtaining a Senior Companion, Parker says they aren’t always convinced it’s right for them. “Quite often they are nervous initially,” she says. “Usually the volunteer visits for four hours a day, and they’ll tell us they don’t know what they’ll do with this person in their house for four hours. “Then, after three or four weeks, they’ll call and ask for more time.”
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hen Tewhill suggested the idea of a Senior Companion to her husband, “he didn’t like the idea of having someone else in the house. He wants to be independent.” Hurst sits in his favorite chair beside Tewhill as she recounts their first meeting with Roque. Unable to speak complete sentences, Hurst smiles as he listens, and replies with a word or two when prompted by his wife. “Then, when you met Ezequiel, what did you think, Tom?” she asks. Hurst responds with a smile and a laugh. “Now what do you think of Ezequiel?” Tewhill asks. “Oh,” Hurst says, “my brother.” Sitting nearby, Ezequiel nods and smiles. “Yes,” he says. “We are like brothers.” Tewhill and Hurst met when both worked for Northwestern Bell and have been married 24 years. “His last job was service manager for large companies including Union Pacific and First Data,” she says. “If something would happen, Tom would be the one they’d call. I remember many nights he’d be paged at 2:30 in the morning. They’d explain the problem and Tom would be able to come up with a solution. “He is a very, very bright man.”
December 2011
She says they first noticed signs that something was wrong when Hurst was in his mid 50s. “He’d have trouble finding the right word to say, or he’d transpose letters,” she recalls. “Nebraska Furniture Mart would be Nebraska Murniture Fart. Things at the time we thought were funny.” The symptoms progressed, and Hurst would have trouble finishing a sentence. She advised him to go to a doctor, but he declined. “When he was 58 or 59, I noticed he couldn’t write his name well,” Tewhill says. “He always had beautiful penmanship.” When he was about 60, Hurst was diagnosed with expressive, and then receptive, aphasia, which according to the National Aphasia Association is an acquired communication disorder that impairs the ability to process language. Aphasia makes it difficult to speak and understand others, and can restrict the ability to read and write. “In my heart, I knew Tom had more than aphasia,” Tewhill says. “As I saw Tom’s memory decline and his decision-making skills vanish, I kept pressing for more testing and an accurate diagnosis. As his symptoms kept increasing, it was clear we were dealing with more than a language problem. “Today, enhanced PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans confirm the brain tangles and plaques consistent with Alzheimer’s.” Hurst is 69. He can’t remember a thought long enough to put it into words. He is unable to read or drive. It is difficult for him to understand directions and process information that involves more than one step. “Tom can’t be left alone for any length of time because he wouldn’t even be able to call 911 if he needed help,” Tewhill says. “I hate to think this smart man needs help putting on his shoes, but he does.” That’s why having a companion for Hurst is so important, she says. Roque, a former construction worker who moved to Omaha from Mexico to be with his daughter and grandchildren, has been Hurst’s companion for three years. In that time, he’s witnessed a deterioration in Hurst’s condition. --Please turn to page 13.
Tewhill: Senior Companion Program keeps loved ones at home longer
Tom Hurst and Kathy Tewhill, his wife of 24 years, relax in their west Omaha home. They met while working at Northwestern Bell.
--Continued from page 12. “When I started coming, he was really in good shape,” Roque says. “He’s lost 30 percent, maybe 40 percent since then.” He visits Hurst on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. They go together to the mall for coffee, and they tinker and repair things at the workbench in Hurst’s basement. “Because Ezequiel knew Tom when he was better, he knows sometimes what Tom needs without Tom being able to say it,” Tewhill says. The two men have forged a true friendship. “They tease each other a lot,” Tewhill says. “They tease me, too.” She tells of trips she has made to area hardware stores in search of a particular screw or other item the two men said they needed to repair something, only to return home and find they were already done. One day after she went back to her teaching job, she came home to find brightly-colored balloons strewn about the living room. “They told me they had a party.” Listening to her tell the stories, Roque and Hurst just chuckle. “Ezequiel brought laughter back into Tom’s life,” Tewhill says. “Alzheimer’s takes so much of that away from a person.”
E
NOA’s Parker says Senior Companions and their clients each benefit from the pro-
gram. “The companion brings their
world into the home of someone who might seldom see beyond their own front door,” she says. “They
may provide the only human contact for some individuals. With the intervention of Senior Companion
Tom and Ezequiel share a laugh while spending time in Hurst’s workshop during one of Roque’s three weekly visits.
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services, additional costly needs may be delayed and sometimes prevented, allowing people to remain in their own home.” She says volunteers gain satisfaction knowing they are helping others. “They have a purpose for those who so strongly rely on them. Many of our companions say they are healthier than when they didn’t volunteer and that they go to their doctor less often. Some even say it’s more satisfying than their careers.” Some volunteers say that the financial reimbursement from the Senior Companion Program has enabled them to become independent of government assistance such as food stamps. “I believe in this program 100 percent,” Parker says. So do Tewhill, Hurst, and Roque. “I understand Tom can’t be alone,” Tewhill says. “With Ezequiel and programs like Senior Companions, we keep people we love at home longer. If I couldn’t care for Tom, he would need to be in a dementia care unit. I can’t bear to think of him in a facility without his favorite chair. “Tom has been able to stay here longer because of Ezequiel.” Roque says being with Hurst is good for him, too. “He and I laugh,” he says. “When I came back from vacation, he gave me a big hug. He missed me.” Hurst puts his arm around Roque’s shoulder and smiles. “Happy,” Hurst says. One word that speaks volumes.
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NARFE groups meet
UN-L Law College, UNO partnering to create programs with degrees combining elder law, gerontology
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n response to an increasing demand for lawyers and professionals with specialized knowledge of laws that affect older adults – a field known as elder law – the College of Law at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Department of Gerontology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha have partnered to offer a set of dual-degree and certificate programs that combine law and gerontology. Beginning in the fall of 2012, students interested in the fields of law and gerontology will have the option to pursue a master of arts in social gerontology/juris doctor, a master of arts in social gerontology/master of legal studies, or a graduate certificate in gerontology/juris doctor. The program’s goal is to provide advanced courses of study that prepare students to serve the aging population more effectively. “Lawyers who represent seniors will benefit from a greater depth of knowledge about the social and psychological issues facing their clients,” said Susan Poser, dean of the College of Law. “And, likewise, nursing home administrators and other professionals in the field will benefit from having a sound knowledge of the legal issues that confront their patients and affect their institutions on a daily basis.” “We are thrilled to offer this inter-campus arrangement,” said Dr. Julie Masters, chair of the Department of Gerontology at UNO. “We believe it will be of great benefit to elders needing legal assistance throughout Nebraska.” Applications for admission are now being accepted. Students will need to apply to the UNO and UN-L programs separately. For more information, please contact Dr. Masters at jmasters@unomaha.edu or Kirk Kluver, assistant dean of admissions in the College of Law at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln at kkluver2@unl.edu.
We need your
The National Association of Retired Federal Employees’ Chapter 144 meets the first Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at the Amazing Pizza Machine, 13955 S. Plz. For more information, please call 402-333-6460. The National Association of 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 402-392-0624.
Access resource info through 211 network
The 211 telephone network has been established in parts of Nebraska to give consumers a single source for information about community and human services. By dialing 211, consumers can access information about human needs resources like food banks, shelters, rent and utility assistance, physical and mental health benefits, and employment support.
Traditional funding sources are making it more difficult for ENOA to fulfill its mission. Partnership opportunities are available to businesses and individuals wanting to help us. These opportunities include volunteering, memorials, honorariums, gift annuities, and other tax deductible contributions.
! t r o p p su
I would like to become a partner with the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, and help fulfill your mission with older adults.
ENOA
$30 = 7 meals or 1.75 hours of in-home homemaker services or 1 bath aide service for frail older adults. $75 = 17 meals or 4.75 hours of in-home homemaker services or 4 bath aide services for frail older adults. $150 = 35 meals or 9.5 hours of in-home homemaker services or 8 bath aide services for frail older adults. $300 = 70 meals or 19.25 hours of in-home homemaker services or 16 bath aide services for frail older adults. Other amount (please designate)__________________________ Please contact me. I would like to learn more about how to include the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging in my estate planning. Name:_____________________________________
Please ma donationil your tax deducti with this fo ble rm to: Easter
n Office oNebraska n Aging Address:___________________________________ Attention : Jef City:______________State:_____ Zip: __________ Phone:____________________________________
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New Horizons
f Reinha 4223 C rdt Omaha, enter Street NE 6810 5-2431 (402
) 444-665
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December 2011
Tips on fitness, nutrition By Peggy Buchanan Older adults are living longer, healthier lives due in part to better fitness and nutrition programs. With the number of Americans 65+ expected to reach 20 percent of the population by 2050, exercise and diet are more important than ever. These tips can help older adults enhance overall wellness into their later years. • Fight afternoon fatigue: Fatigue is a common problem among older adults, especially after lunch. Having a glass of water and a high-antioxidant food like a prune can revitalize the body and stimulate the mind. • Exercise from the neck up: Keeping the brain active and fit is imperative to the health of older adults. Not only does it stave off memory-loss illnesses like Alzheimer’s and dementia, but it also fosters executive function. Try word games and recall exercises. • Pole walk: Walking poles allow for more balanced mobility than walkers or canes. Walking with poles engages the muscles of the upper torso, which increases upper-body strength and cardiovascular endurance. Consult a physician before making the switch to poles. • Dine in duos: Those people who share meals with others eat less than those who eat alone. This is an easy weight-loss tactic and one that fosters social interaction and engagement. While this is easy for those aging in community, older adults aging at home can plan to have meals with family or friends at least several times a week. • Break routine: Routine limits brain stimulation. Introduce new foods or new ways of eating the same food. For example, replace canned peaches with freshly sliced ones. Also, try taking a different route to the grocery store or shopping center. • Sole Support: As people age, the fat pads on the bottom of their feet compress, creating fatigue and pain. Consider wearing supportive shoes or inserting foot pads for better stability and comfort or socks that have extra padding and a wicking agent to keep feet dry and comfortable. • Fats: Out with the bad, in with the good: Older adults with an increased genetic risk for dementia can reduce the risk by increasing the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids in their diet. These fatty acids, found in fish, nuts, olive oil, and green leafy vegetables, can reduce brain inflammation, a possible cause of Alzheimer’s disease. • Decrease salt and increase your salsa: High blood pressure that can lead to strokes and a significant decline in cognitive function often increases with age. As adults get older, the sense of taste also fades, leading to a desire for more salt on food to enhance flavor. Decreasing salt intake by putting down the shaker – and increasing exercise habits by shaking to a salsa beat – will enhance cardio and cognitive health. • Balancing act: In addition to exercises that build strength and improve flexibility and cardiovascular endurance, make sure to add balance activities to the daily routine. Good balance requires maintaining a center of gravity over the base of support. Tai chi, yoga, walking on challenging surfaces and water exercises enhance balance. • Dance like there’s no tomorrow: Older adults getting regular physical exercise are 60 percent less likely to get dementia. Exercise increases oxygen to the brain and releases a protein that strengthens cells and neurons. Dance involves all of the above plus the cerebral activity present in learning and memory. (Buchanan is the coordinator of vitality and wellness programming for Front Porch, a provider of retirement living communities in southern California.) Law Offices of Charles E. Dorwart 26 years of legal experience • Wills • Living Trusts • Probate • Healthcare and Financial Powers of Attorney • In Home Consultations • Free Initial Consultation 11414 West Center Road • Suite 344 Omaha, NE 68144 Office: (402) 558-1404 • Fax: (402) 779-7498 Cdorwartjd@aol.com
RSVP Retired and Senior Volunteer Program The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is recruiting persons age 55 and older for a variety of opportunities. For more information in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties, please call 402-444-6558, ext. 224. In Dodge and Washington counties, please call 402721-7780. The following have volunteer opportunities in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties: • The Omaha Visitors Center is looking for a volunteer Ambassador. • Mount View Elementary School needs a TeamMates mentor. • The Stephen Center Homeless Shelter wants volunteers for its thrift store. • Alegent Health Bergan Mercy Hospital needs volunteers for its information desks and as patient and family escorts. • The Omaha Police Department wants volunteers for a variety of assignments. • Boys Town wants volunteer mentors and a volunteer office assistant. • Lakeside Hospital needs volunteers for its Welcome Center and gift shop, as well as in its registration area, to visit patients, and to offer clerical support. • Project NEMO wants volunteers for a variety of duties. • The Douglas County Health Center wants volunteers for a variety of assignments. • The Omaha Children’s Museum wants volunteers for a variety of duties. • The Franciscan Centre is looking for volunteers for a variety of assignments. • The Fund Fighting Fibromyalgia is looking for volunteers for a variety of duties. • The Waterford at Miracle Hills needs volunteers for a variety of assignments. • The Omaha Home for Boys wants volunteer mentors. • The Ronald McDonald House Charities needs a receptionist and an operations volunteer. • The Domestic Violence Coordinating Council/ Family Justice Center is looking for volunteers for a variety of assignments. • ENOA’s Grandparent Resource Center wants
volunteers to help walk sheep associated with the Luv a Lamb Program. • Opera Omaha needs ushers. The following have volunteer opportunities in Dodge and Washington counties: • The Fremont Chamber of Commerce wants a volunteer for its visitors center. • The Blair and Fremont Car-Go Programs needs volunteer drivers. • CareCorps Inc. is looking for volunteers for a variety of duties. • The Building Blocks Boutique needs volunteers to help with young mothers and babies. • The Blair Auxiliary Closet needs help in its warehouse and gift shop. • The American Red Cross needs a receptionist. • The Hooper Care Center wants volunteers for a variety of assignments. • The May Museum is looking for volunteers to serve as tour guides and for its gift shop and garden. • The Washington County Recycling Center needs volunteers to handle quality control. • Nye Point Health & Rehab wants volunteers to help with a variety of duties. • The Fremont Friendship Center needs help with its Tuesday Supper Club.
‘The Nutcracker’ at Orpheum Dec. 9 to 11
Omaha Performing Arts presents the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s The Nutcracker at the Orpheum Theater on Friday, Dec. 9 through Sunday, Dec. 11. The production is highlighted by performances from nearly 100 young local dancers along with professional company dancers. The Nutcracker features choreography that combines traditional and contemporary elements, including cirque-style aerialists. Aspen Santa Fe Ballet brings energy and versatility to this timeless holiday favorite. Children of all ages will marvel at the magic of this production with its dazzling sets and an extraordinary cast of dancers, actors, and circus artists. Tickets start at $25 and are available to purchase online at TicketOmaha. com, by calling 402-3450606, or at the Ticket Omaha office inside the Holland Performing Arts Center, 13th & Douglas streets. For group sales call 402-661-8516 or toll-free at 866-434-8587.
Assistive technology offered by at4all.com
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lder adults may notice gradual changes in their hearing, memory, vision, and mobility that could create the need for assistive technology. Some of these older men and women may need a cane, a scooter, a listening device, or a lighted magnifier. One way to learn more about obtaining assistive technology equipment is by logging on to at4all.com, a free online service that lists and can help you find these devices in Nebraska. The service can help consumers borrow and try the equipment before buying,buy used and/or free equipment, and list items they want to share or sell. For more information, please call Assistive Technology Partnerships at (toll free) 1-888-806-6287.
Older adults have access to free legal information
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egal Aid of Nebraska operates a free telephone access line for Nebraskans age 60 and older. Information is offered to help the state’s older men and women with questions on topics like bankruptcy, homestead exemptions, collections, powers of attorney, Medicare, Medicaid, grandparent rights, and Section 8 housing. The telephone number for the Elder Access Line is 402-827-5656 in Omaha and 1-800-527-7249 statewide. This service is available to Nebraskans age 60 and older regardless of income, race, or ethnicity. For more information, log on the Internet to http://www.legalaidofnebraska.com/EAL.
Lights tour reservations due Dec. 10
You’re invited to enjoy a free bus tour of Omaha’s holiday lights on Tuesday, Dec. 20. Touching Hearts at Home and Bloomfield Forum are sponsoring the evening’s events. Buses will leave Bloomfield Forum, 9804 Nicholas St., at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Participants are asked to arrive at Bloomfield Forum for pastries and coffee 30 minutes before their tour bus leaves. Reservations, which are due by Dec. 10, can be made by calling 402-934-3303. Seating is limited. Corrigan Senior Center December 2011 events calendar You’re invited to visit the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St. this month for: • Monday, Dec. 5: St. Nicholas lunch, music by the Offuttaires, and bingo. • Thursday, Dec. 8: Personal Health Records Review. Here’s a great chance to have your prescription medications reviewed. Call 402-731-7210 for details. • Thursday, Dec. 15: Holiday dinner & Mega Bingo, The noon menu is roast beef w/gravy, baked potato w/sour cream, California blend vegetables, a tossed salad, a wheat roll, and apple pie. A $3 donation is suggested for the bingo with its $75 jackpot. The reservation deadline is noon on Tuesday, Dec. 13. • Monday, Dec. 19: December Birthday Party featuring the Michael Lyon Christmas Show sponsored by the Merrymakers @ 11 a.m. Bingo will follow lunch. Reservations are due by 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15. • Thursday, Dec. 22: Corrigan Christmas Party @ 11 a.m. Enjoy Christmas music, games, bingo, and a delicious noon lunch. Treats and appetizers are welcome. • Wednesday, Dec. 28: Trip to Ameristar Casino. The bus leaves Corrigan @ 11:30 a.m. and returns around 3:15 p.m. Casino goers can enjoy lunch at Corrigan @ 11 a.m. by making a special reservation. The center will be closed Dec. 26 for Christmas. The Corrigan Senior Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is served at noon. A $3 donation is normally suggested for the meal. Reservations are normally due by noon the business day prior to the meal you wish to enjoy. We offer card games, bingo, ceramics, exercise, woodcarving, and loads of fun! A T’ai Chi Movement Improvement For Seniors class is held at 11 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. For meal reservations or more information, please call Lynnette at 402-731-7210.
TLC Services, LLC
402-706-0290
Providing bath assistance, light housekeeping, & companionship, etc. 10-hour weekly minimum. North Omaha based. Accepting Medicaid Waiver Call 402-546-1870 for a referral.
Elmwood Tower Gracious, affordable apartment living designed for people over fifty.
Donna:
• Owned & operated by the residents • All utilities paid including cable • Monthly maintenance fee
An address of distinction
Here’s your ad as it will appear in the December 2011 New Ho801 South 52nd Street • Omaha, Nebraska rizons. Please make any changes you’d like, and then send the ad and a check for $100 by Monday, November 28 to:
402-558-3161
December 2011
New Horizons 4223 St. Horizons • Center New Omaha, NE 68106
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Millard Senior Center December 2011 events calendar You’re invited to visit the Millard Senior Center at Montclair, 2304 S. 135th Ave., this month for the following: Special events include: • Dec. 2: Health maintenance clinic. • Dec. 6: Trip to see the gingerbread houses at the Mormon Trail Visitors Center and lunch at the Golden Corral. • Dec. 7: Helping Hands Christmas tea, • Dec. 13: Lunch Bunch featuring roast beef. • Dec. 14: December birthdays. • Dec. 20: Christmas party and pinochle tourney. • Dec. 23: National Pfeffernuesse Day. • Dec. 30: New Year’s Eve party. The center will be closed on Monday, Dec. 26. The Millard Senior Center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30. A $3 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to enjoy. Round-trip transportation to and from the center is now available Center activities include a walking club, Tai Chi, Wii sports, chair volleyball, card games, and bingo. Knitting, crocheting, quilting, and embroidery classes are available. For meal reservations or information about transportation, please call Rita Mathews at 402-546-1270. Heartland Family Service Senior Center December 2011 events calendar You’re invited to visit the Heartland Family Service Senior Center, 2101 S. 42nd St. for the following: • Dec. 1, 8, & 15: Why Arts theater program with Kim @ 10:30 a.m. • Dec. 2: Visit from Heartland Family Services CEO John Jeanetta @ 10:30 a.m. • Dec. 5: Christmas entertainment by Physha from the Merrymakers @ 10:45 a.m. • Dec. 11: Decorate cookies and the center with members of the Student League. • Dec. 13: Trip to Fontenelle Forest to decorate Christmas centerpieces. The cost is $5 for the forest and $4 for the centerpiece. • Dec. 14: Birthday party, presents, and pictures with Santa. • Dec. 21: Red Hat Society meeting at Petros at 11:30 a.m. Bring a $5 to $7 Christmas present to exchange. • Dec. 29: Wear your sparkles and welcome 2012! The facility will be closed on Dec. 23, 26, and 30. The Heartland Family Service Senior Center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch is normally served at noon. A $3 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to attend. For reservations, call 402-553-5300.
Medicare Part D enrollment, plan reviews available through Dec.7 Older adults who want to enroll in a Medicare Part D insurance plan, have their current Medicare Part D plan reviewed, or change Medicare Part D providers are invited to visit one of the sites listed below on the dates and times shown. Free assistance from trained counselors will be available. To make an appointment, please call Volunteers Assisting Seniors at 402-444-6617. This year, the Medicare Part D enrollment dates run through Wednesday, Dec. 7. In 2012, there will be changes in the Medicare Part D insurance plans including some of the medications covered and in the deductible and co-payment amounts. When enrolling in Medicare Part D, to have your Medicare Part D plan reviewed, or to change Medicare Part D Thursday, Dec. 1 Volunteers Assisting Seniors 1941 S. 42nd St. • Suite 502 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 6 Papillion Public Library 222 N. Jefferson Street 12 to 4 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 2 Immanuel AgeWell 6801 N. 67th Plz. • Suite 100 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 7 Volunteers Assisting Seniors 1941 S. 42nd St. • Suite 502 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For an appointment, please call 402-444-6617 Sponsored by the DCHS
Dickens’ relation to perform ‘A Christmas Carol’ in Omaha The Douglas County Historical Society is hosting Mr. Dickens in Coming to Town on Friday, Dec. 16 and Saturday, Dec. 17. The festivities will feature four performances of A Christmas Carol, a one-man show by Gerald Charles Dickens, the great-great grandson of Charles Dickens. Here’s the schedule: • Friday, Dec. 16 Proper English Tea @ 2 p.m. Performance of A Christmas Carol Field Club of Omaha 3615 Woolworth Ave.
Inviting You to Become Part of Our Family
Dinner @ 8 p.m. Field Club of Omaha 3615 Woolworth Ave. • Saturday, Dec. 17 Book signing @ 10 a.m. The Bookworm 8702 Pacific St. Performance of A Christmas Carol 1 p.m. Field Club of Omaha 3615 Woolworth Ave. An Intimate Evening with Mr. Dickens 6 p.m. General Crook House 5730 N. 30th St. #11B
Welcome Home! Florence Home HealthCare | House of Hope Alzheimer’s Care Transitions Day Program | Royale Oaks Assisted Living | Unimed Community Pharmacy
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New Horizons
providers, beneficiaries should: • Gather a list of their medications (including doses and when the medications are taken), provide the names of their health care providers (physicians, pharmacies, etc.), and bring any notices they have regarding changes in their Medicare Part D policy from their provider, Social Security, or Medicare. • Be prepared to compare their Medicare Part D policy to other Medicare Part D policies based on costs, coverage (are your providers part of any plans you’re considering?), and customer service. • Bring their Medicare card and their Medicare Part D card (if they have one). Here are the dates and times trained counselors will be available to help older adults enroll in a Medicare Part D insurance plan, have their current Medicare Part D plan reviewed, or change Medicare Part D providers.
For more information, please call 402455-9990.
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December 2011
Intergeneration Orchestra seeking financial support The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha recently performed a concert for residents of Waterford Assisted Living, 11909 Miracle Hills Dr. What the audience members probably didn’t know was the IGO musicians and vocalists ages 25 and younger and ages 50 and older actually pay a $100 annual tuition fee to play in the orchestra. The young IGO members are tutored by the older ensemble members who, in turn, find new enthusiasm for their music. Each musician and vocalist also has the opportunity to work with the nationally renowned conductor Chuck Penington.
Intergeneration
THE
ORCHESTRA of Omaha
In its 27th season, the Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha operates on a slim, self-supporting budget supervised by a board of directors, a project director, and ENOA. The tuition fees paid by its members help meet the orchestra’s expenses, but fall well short of the necessary funds. As a result of this annual shortfall, the IGO and ENOA are looking for financial supporters to match the $100 each member pays to perform with the orchestra. Tax-deductible donations of any amount, however, are welcome and appreciated. For more information about donating to the Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha, please call Chris Gillette at 402-444-6536.
Ralston Senior Center December 2011 events calendar
ENOA health maintenance clinics
T
he Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging offers health maintenance clinics at 17 sites in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, and Cass counties. The clinic’s goals are to ensure that older adults have ongoing access to regular health screenings at a low cost. Services include vital signs and weight monitoring, foot and nail care, preparation and administration of medications (includes syringes and Medisets), injec-
tions, blood glucose monitoring, breast exams, nutrition and health counseling, diet monitoring, and referrals to health care providers. The maximum contribution request is $5 per visit. For more information, please call 402444-6444. Here’s a listing of the sites, addresses, days and times, and how to make an appointment.
DOUGLAS COUNTY To schedule an appointment, call Interim Healthcare @ 402-392-1818
DOUGLAS COUNTY (Cont’d) To schedule an appointment, call Interim Healthcare @ 402-392-1818
Camelot Senior Center 9270 Cady Ave. Wednesday 10 a.m. to noon
Underwood Tower 4850 Underwood Ave. Tuesday – Thursday 1 to 3 p.m.
Christie Heights Senior Center 5105 S. 37th St. Monday – Thursday 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
SARPY COUNTY To schedule an appointment, call Interim Healthcare @ 402-392-1818 Bellevue Senior Center 109 W. 22nd St. Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. to noon
Corrigan Senior Center 3819 X St. Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 9 to 11:30 a.m. Crown Tower 5904 Henninger Dr. Tuesdays – Thursdays 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Durham Booth Manor 923 N. 38 St. Wednesday 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Heartland Family Service Senior Center 2102 S. 42 St. Monday – Thursday 10 a.m. to noon
Florence Community Center 2920 Bondesson St. Tuesday 9:30 a.m. to noon
Jewish Community Center 333 S. 132nd St. Monday 9 to 11:30 a.m.
You’re invited to visit the Ralston Senior Center, 7300 Q St., Suite 100 (attached to the Ralston House Apartments). An annual membership is available to anyone age 55 or older for $10. Activities include games, cards, exercise classes, monthly birthday parties, speakers, line dancing on the second and fourth Thursday of the month at 10 a.m., entertainment, and bingo on the second and fourth Thursday of the month at 1 p.m. Visitors also have an opportunity to check out books from the center library. Trips to the WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa for $5 are tentatively scheduled to resume after Interstate 29 reopens following the recent floods. Each Wednesday a catered lunch from the Justin Thyme Café is available at the center for $4. Reservations – which are required by noon on Tuesday – can be made by calling Joan at 402-592-3362. A variety of volunteer opportunities are also available at the Ralston Senior Center. For more information, please call 402-339-4926. The New Horizons is brought to you by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.
Nicholas Halbur
Attorney & Counselor at Law
Papillion Senior Center 1001 Limerick Rd. First and third Wednesday of the month 10 a.m. to noon
13906 Gold Circle, Suite 201 Omaha, NE 68144-2336
DODGE COUNTY To schedule an appointment, call Interim Healthcare @ 402-392-1818 Fremont Senior Center 1730 W. 16th St. First and third Tuesday of the month 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
402-330-3060 Ext. 117
A Caring Community Called HOME! Independent & Assisted Living
• No Entrance Fee • Medicaid Waiver Approved • All Utilities & Housekeeping Included • Spacious 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments
CASS COUNTY To schedule an appointment. sign up at the centers listed below. Louisville Senior Center 5th & Elm Streets Third Tuesday of the month 9 a.m. to noon 402-234-2120
Millard Montclair Senior Center 2304 S. 135th Ave. First Friday of the month 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
St. Mary Magdalene Senior Center 1817 Dodge St. Tuesday – Thursday 10 a.m. to noon
Plattsmouth Senior Center 625 Ave. A Fourth Monday of the month 9 a.m. to noon 402-296-5800, ext. 1
December 2011
I am a Nebraska and Iowa attorney in the general practice of law including, but not limited to wills & estates, elder law, powers of attorney, guardianships & conservatorships, & planning for long-term care needs.
nick@thompson.law.pro • www.thompson.law.pro www.linkedin.com/in/nicholashalbur
Snyder Senior Center 2nd & Elm Streets Third Wednesday of the month 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Are you or a loved one entering a nursing home or in need of long term care? Please, come speak to me about your rights, key care issues, Medicaid, & other payment options.
49th & Q Street • 402-731-2118 www.southviewheightsomaha.com
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D
NACo is offering dental discount plan to Douglas County residents
ouglas County representatives recently announced a new dental discount card program available to county residents. Careington International Corporation administers the program in partnership with the National Association of Counties (NACo). This discount card can help Douglas County residents save five to 50 percent on their dental care services and 20 percent on orthodontic services. This affordable plan starts at $6.95 per month and $59 per year for individuals and $8.95 per month or $69 per year for families.. “The card is easy to use and will save people money,” said Douglas County Board Chair Mary Ann Borgeson. “Cardholders schedule an appointment with a participating dentist or specialist and present their card to receive a discount at the time of service. There are no forms to complete and everyone in the household is eligible to receive a discount.” With this discount card (which is not an insurance plan) participants will experience significant savings on dental cleanings, xrays, braces, dentures, crowns, root canals, and more. “Especially during these tough times, NACo is pleased to provide this discount dental program to our member counties,” said NACo President Lenny Eliason, Commissioner in Athens County, Ohio. The NACo Dental Discount Card Program can complement health insurance plans or work in conjunction with health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, and health reimbursement arrangements. It is also a cost-effective way for younger retirees to meet their dental needs. More information about the NACo Dental Discount Card Program is available at www.nacodentalprogram.com or by calling (toll free) 877-354-6226.
Do
you
Get help paying your phone bill You may be eligible to receive help paying for your telephone (land line or cellular) service thanks to a program administered by the Nebraska Public Service Commission. The Nebraska Telephone Assistance Program can reduce the cost of telephone service (one phone per household) up to $13.50 per month. The discount would appear as a credit on the phone bill within 60 days after enrollment into the program. No cash or checks will be distributed. The telephone bill must be in the name of, or include the name of the individual that qualifies for the program, according to NPSC member Anne Boyle. Any changes of address must be reported to the NPSC for the service to be uninterrupted. The program can also reduce the cost of installing landline telephone service by 50 percent or $30. In addition, NTAP provides a deferred, interest-free payment for the installation charges that may not be covered. To qualify for the Nebraska Telephone Assistance Program, applicants – who have phone service – must be enrolled in one of the following: Medicaid (not Medicare), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps), Supplemental Security Income, Federal public housing assistance, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Children’s Health Insurance Programs such as Kids Connection, SAM, MAC, or EMAC. To apply for NTAP, consumers can download an application form (in English or Spanish) from the NPSC’s Web site (www.psc.nebraska.gov), call 1-800-5260017 or 402-471-3101, or mail a request for the form to NTAP, PO Box 94927, Lincoln, Neb. 68509-4927. Completed forms should be returned to NTAP, PO Box 94927, Lincoln, Neb. 68509-4927. For more information, please call 1-800526-0017 or 402-471-3101.
HELP Adult Services moves to Center Mall
HELP Adult Services, which annually provides services to more than 6,000 older, disabled, and chronically ill individuals, has moved to the Center Mall – 42nd and Center streets. The Health and medical Equipment Loan Program provides items like bath chairs, crutches, wheelchairs, canes, commodes, grab bars, scooters, toilet seat risers, transport chairs, and hospital beds for under-insured or uninsured individuals as well as those who don’t qualify for Medicaid or Medicare. For more information, please call 402-341-6559.
New Horizons Club gains new members $25 Nancy Giordano Betty Schrier $15 Maryann Jove Darlene Miller $10 Julann Kroy
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$5 James Horton Carol Kasal Gertrude Heimann Reflects donations through November 23, 2011.
in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, or Washington counties?
Immanuel Affordable Communities
enoa.org
Immanuel Communities offers beautiful affordable independent apartment homes for seniors who are on a fixed income.
The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Web site includes information about: • • • • • • • • • • •
Bath aides Care management Chore services Community education Durable medical equipment Emergency food pantry Emergency response systems ENOA facts and figures ENOA Library ENOA senior centers Grandparent Resource Center
Call today to schedule a personal visit.
24 hours a day, • Homemakers 7 days a week! • Information & assistance telephone lines • Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha • Legal services • Meals on Wheels • Medicaid Waiver • New Horizons • Nutrition counseling
T
he Omaha Fire Department’s Public Education and Affairs Department is available to install free smoke and/or carbon monoxide detectors inside the residences of area homeowners. To have a free smoke and/ or carbon monoxide detector installed inside your home, send your name, address, and telephone number to: Omaha Fire Department Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Requests 10245 Weisman Dr. Omaha, NE 68134 For more information, please call 402-444-3560.
services
Log on to
OFD can install free smoke, carbon monoxide detectors
Please see the ad on page 3
have questions
about aging
Call 402-444-3560
• • • • • • •
Ombudsman advocates Respite care Respite Resource Center Rural transportation Senior Care Options Senior employment Support of adult day facilities • Volunteer opportunities
Income guidelines apply
Immanuel Courtyard 6757 Newport Avenue Omaha, NE 68152 402-829-2912
Assisted Living at Immanuel Courtyard 6759 Newport Avenue Omaha, NE 68152 402-829-2990
Affilated with the Nebraska Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
December 2011
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New Horizons
Trinity Courtyard 620 West Lincoln Street Papillion, NE 68046 402-614-1900
www.immanuelcommunities.com
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The Child Saving Institute honors Foster Grandparent Lula Gunnells
Lula Gunnells (center) – a volunteer with ENOA’s Foster Grandparent Program for eight years – was honored recently for her work with children and families at the Child Saving Institute. She’s seen here with Jana Habrock (left) and Dalhia Lloyd from CSI.
ENOA recognizes RSVP volunteers in Dodge, Washington counties
Volunteers enrolled in ENOA’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program were recognized recently at RSVP’s annual banquet in Fremont titled, The Experience of a Lifetime. These men and women volunteer at 37 sites in Arlington, Blair, Dodge, Fremont, Hooper, North Bend, Scribner, and Snyder. Mavis Lidberg, Leroy Lidberg, Bill Michaud, Neil Rosenbaum, Edith Cappen, and Marvin Cappen were honored for volunteering more than 1,000 hours during the past year.
New Cassel Retirement Center It’s Truly a Place to Call Home!
Come see our Christmas Village with train Wednesdays 1-3pm Free Cappuccino Tours available
Sponsored by the School Sisters of Saint Francis
New Horizons
equals $142,693. The estimated impact of caregiving on lost Social Security benefits is $131,351. A very conservative estimated impact on pensions is approximately $50,000. Thus, in total, the cost impact of caregiving on the individual female caregiver in terms of lost wages and Social Security benefits equals $324,044. • For men, the total individual amount of lost wages due to leaving the labor force early because of caregiving responsibilities equals $89,107. The estimated impact of caregiving on lost Social Security benefits is $144,609. Adding in a conservative estimate of the impact on pensions at $50,000, the total impact equals $283,716 for men, or an average of $303,880 for male or female caregivers age 50+ who care for a parent. “These family caregivers, the celebrated members of the sandwich generation, are juggling their responsibilities to their own families and to their parents,” said Gail Hunt, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving. “There is also evidence caregivers experience considerable health issues as a result of their focus on caring for others. The need for flexibility in the workplace and in policies that would benefit working caregivers is likely to increase in importance as more working caregivers approach their own retirement, while still caring for their loved ones.” “As the percentage of employees who are caregivers continues to grow, there will be greater demand on employers for help and support. There are many workplace resources and programs that can be made available that benefit all stakeholders since financial stress can negatively impact physical health and workplace productivity,” added Timmermann. The study contains implications for individuals, employers, and policymakers. It points out employers can provide retirement planning and stress management information and can assist employees with accommodations like flex-time and family leave. Individuals, it said, should consider their own health when caregiving and should prepare financially for their own retirement. Policymakers are made aware of the fact more states are considering paid family leave, especially as it’s accrued through workers’ compensation funds. On the federal level, a voluntary long-term care insurance program is part of the Affordable Care Act and will likely increase public awareness of the issue. (The MetLife Mature Market Institute provided this information.)
BlueCross & BlueShield of Nebraska Fremont Area Medical Center Ludvigsen Mortuary Moser Memorial Chapel Nebraska Medical Mart II, Inc. Platte Valley Bank Scribner Bank Washington County Recycling
900 North 90th Street / Omaha, NE 68114 www.newcassel.org
•
A
mericans who provide care for their aging parents lose an estimated $3 trillion dollars in wages, pension, and Social Security benefits when they take time off to do so, according to The MetLife Study of Caregiving Costs to Working Caregivers: Double Jeopardy for Baby Boomers Caring for Their Parents. Produced by the MetLife Mature Market Institute in conjunction with the National Alliance for Caregiving and the Center for Long Term Care Research and Policy at New York Medical College, the study reports that individually, average losses equal $324,044 for women and $283,716 for men. The percentage of adults providing care to a parent has tripled since 1994. The researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to determine the extent to which older adult children provide care to their parents. They also studied gender roles, the impact of caregiving on careers, and the potential cost to the caregiver in lost wages and future retirement income. “Nearly 10 million adult children over age 50 care for their aging parents,” said Sandra Timmermann, Ed.D., director of the MetLife Mature Market Institute. “Assessing the long-term financial impact of caregiving for aging parents on caregivers themselves, especially those who must curtail their working careers to do so, is especially important, since it can jeopardize their future financial security.” In addition, the study found: • Adult children age 50+ who work and provide care to a parent are more likely than those who do not provide care to report their health is fair or poor. • The percentage of adult children providing personal care and/or financial assistance to a parent has more than tripled over the past 15 years and represents a quarter of adult children, mainly Baby Boomers. Working and non-working adult children are almost equally likely to provide care to parents in need. • Overall, caregiving sons and daughters provide comparable care in many respects, but daughters are more likely to provide basic care (help with dressing, feeding, and bathing) and sons are more likely to provide financial assistance defined as providing $500 or more within the past two years. Twenty-eight percent of women provide basic care, compared with 17 percent of men. • For women, the total individual amount of lost wages due to leaving the labor force early because of caregiving responsibilities
ENOA thanks table sponsors for RSVP recognition event in Fremont
Daily / Weekly Worship Three Delicious Meals Weekly Housekeeping Scheduled Transportation Utilities / Cable Activities & Entertainment Computer Lab / Free Wi-Fi 24-hour Health Services Central Location Gift Shop / Beauty Salon
Call (402) 393-2277
Page 20
The cost of providing care
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December 2011
The health problems caused by obesity in older adult population
A
s the holidays approach, this is a good time to think about maintaining a healthy weight. For older adults, healthy eating is especially important. Being underweight has long been known as a red flag for possible health problems with older men and women. Geriatrics specialists today, however, focus equally on the dangers of being overweight. According to Dain LaRoche, assistant professor of kinesiology at the University of New Hampshire, the common image of a “bird-thin” older adult being at the highest risk of disability might not be accurate. “With two-thirds of Americans overweight or obese and the elderly population expected to double by 2030, we are going to see a large portion of people who are disabled due to the concurrent gaining of weight and loss of strength,” he said. Most people are aware of the nation’s obesity epidemic and are familiar with the connection between obesity and heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. During the past year, researchers have also confirmed the connection between excess body fat and other major health conditions including: • Osteoporosis: Geriatricians have long cautioned being underweight leaves older adults vulnerable to bone loss. A recent study shows excess body fat may also cause thinning bones. Miriam A. Bredella, a radiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, reported excess belly fat in particular puts older men and women at higher risk of osteoporosis. • Memory problems: Researchers from Chicago’s Northwestern Medicine linked obesity to decreased memory quality in older women. Their study showed for every one-point increase in a woman’s body mass index, her score on a standard memory test dropped by one point. Belly fat was also the main culprit in this study. • Dementia: The American Academy of Neurology reported people who are overweight in midlife have an 80 percent higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia in later life. Study author Weili Xu of Sweden’s Karolinska Institute reported, “Our results contribute to the growing evidence that controlling body weight or losing weight in middle age could reduce your risk of dementia.” • Arthritis: Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston discovered obesity increases the risk for osteoarthritis of the knee, a painful and debilitating condition that can reduce the length and quality of life. Arthritis, in turn, makes it harder to manage many health conditions. Noting the alarming rise in obesity during the last decade, study author Elena Losina, Ph.D., said reducing obesity to levels observed in 2000 would prevent 172,792 cases of coronary heart disease, 710,942 cases of diabetes, and 269,934 total knee replacements. For many older adults, maintaining a healthy weight is a challenge. Help is available in many ways including: • Meal planning: As we grow older, our metabolism slows down and we need less fuel for our bodies. Our need for nutrients, however, doesn’t decline. According to the USDA, most older Americans are having trouble fitting the recommended number of daily food group servings into their decreased calorie budgets. • Meal preparation: Grocery shopping and cooking can seem like trouble for older adults living with a mobility, sensory, or cognitive impairment. As time goes by, they may find themselves subsisting on frozen meals and packaged snacks. Prepackaged foods are often higher in fat and sodium and lower in nutrients than freshly prepared meals. • Encouraging physical activity: A healthy diet is half the strategy for maintaining a healthy weight. Exercise is the other half. Physical activity burns calories, builds muscle mass, and helps control appetite. • Companionship: Many older adults report they don’t eat healthy meals because it’s too much trouble to cook for one. Geriatricians have long understood that loneliness and isolation can result in an unhealthy weight loss for older men and women who live alone. They are now expressing a similar concern about obesity. Older adults may overeat out of boredom, skip meals, and then fill up on junk food. The National Institutes of Health warns as our population ages, healthcare costs in the U.S. will skyrocket. Obesity-related illness will account for $66 billion in additional costs by 2030. (Right at Home provided this information.)
Simple tips for lowering your home heating costs Here are some thoughts on how you could lower your heating bill without freezing your way through the winter: • Energy audit: The first step is to assess any problem areas. Ask if your utility company provides a free or low-cost energy audit that will identify changes you should make. If such audits aren’t available, there are still ways to ascertain problems for yourself and small projects you can accomplish without professional help. • Seek incentives: Some states offer improvement incentives including providing and installing a free programmable thermostat; paying a portion of insulation upgrades; or providing rebates on the cost of materials. Look for such offers at the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency. If you can’t find an applicable program, you can reduce the cost of supplies by finding coupons for major home improvement centers, hardware stores,
big-box stores and more at such sites as CouponSherpa. • Change furnace filters: Many of us think of changing our furnace filters just once or twice a year, yet experts say we should replace them every month during the heating season. Better yet, switch to a permanent filter you can clean regularly. • Dodge the draft: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can waste five to 30 percent of your energy use to heat the great outdoors through drafts. The simplest remedy is to place draft dodgers or snakes at leaking doors. You can use an old towel or make your own easily out of a leg of pantyhose stuffed with rice or sawdust and tied at both ends. To find air leaks, place a light candle in front of possible drafts, have someone blow through the crack from the other side, and watch to see if the flame wavers. • Weather strip thresholds: Draft snakes are fine
Enoa Aging
for cracks at the bottom of doors, but we often lose heat at the sides and top of doors and windows. Check out this Dummies.com video explaining how to install weather strips. • Install a programmable thermostat: A programmable thermostat allows you to keep the house cooler when it’s empty and automatically turn up the heat before you arrive at home or get up in the morning. Programmable thermostats can save you an average of 10 percent a year on your heating and cooling bill. • Upgrade your attic insulation: Roofs are energy vampires. They’ll suck rising heat right out of your home if not properly insulated. Types of insulation include the standard fiberglass, rigid foam board, spray foam, and cellulose. Unless you’re handy around the house, this is a project best left to professionals, but it’s the best investment you can make to reduce future energy bills.
New Horizons Newspaper
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Can taking vitamin C help you fight off colds?
By Stephanie Hadenfeldt t’s cold season again! Not just cold as in “time to turn on the furnace,” but cold as in sniffling, coughing, and sore throat sick. Besides the standard prevention technique of washing hands, maybe you’ve heard taking vitamin C can help keep you healthy. Is there any truth to this rumor? There is debate about whether or not vitamin C can help prevent or treat the common cold, but there is evidence to suggest it could help shorten the duration. Chemist Linus Pauling published a book called Vitamin C and the Common Cold in 1970. He promoted the use of vitamin C for the common cold and other diseases. Pauling took three grams (3,000 milligrams) of vitamin C daily himself, a much higher dose than the recommended daily/dietary allowance of 75 milligrams for adult females and 90 milligrams for adult males. He made vitamin C popular with the public, but caused debate in the medical community. Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid) is found naturally in many fruits and vegetables (i.e. oranges, tomatoes, broccoli, green & red peppers, strawberries, and sweet potatoes). One cup of orange juice contains about 97 mg. of vitamin C which easily meets the RDA. Supplements are also available in the
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form of tablets, lozenges, gummies, etc. for those who wish to get more than what’s in their diet. Because it’s a watersoluble vitamin (meaning the body will excrete whatever it doesn’t need), overdose is not a concern. However, there can be some adverse effects to taking higher doses such as stomach irritation (taking it with food can help avoid this), diarrhea, and a possibly increased risk of kidney stones. An upper limit of two grams of vitamin C daily is advised. Beyond the common cold, vitamin C has other potential uses. It’s proven effective for preventing and treating scurvy, a disease that plagued sailors and pirates in centuries past who ran out of fruits and vegetables while out on the seas for extended periods. It’s also effective for improving iron absorption, so if you take iron supplements for anemia, it may be helpful to take it with vitamin C. Other proposed (but not proven) uses for vitamin C include improving wrinkles, reducing the risk of gallbladder disease in women, slowing the progression of osteoarthritis, slowing age-related macular degeneration, boosting the immune system, and helping with depression. Before adding vitamin C supplements to your medication regimen, be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist about possible drug interactions. (Hadenfeldt is with Midwest Geriatrics, Inc. of Omaha.)
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Lifetime passes to America’s national parks available to older adults for $10 Lifetime passes to America’s national parks for older adults and Americans with disabilities are now available through the mail. National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis said the Senior Pass and the Access Pass will still be available at national parks, “But the option of receiving a pass by mail may better suit some people and any change that makes it more convenient to prepare to come to the parks is a change for the better. We want everyone to experience the amazing places in our care.
“National parks have a lot to offer,” continued Jarvis. “They are places to share with children, grandchildren, and other family members. They facilitate recreation and healthy living. Many parks, including Yellowstone, Shenandoah, and Denali, have trails that are accessible to people with limited mobility and to wheelchair users. We also have many accessible camping and picnic areas.” The Senior and Access passes provide admission to, and use of, federal recreation sites that charge entrance or standard ame-
Christmas show at Blue Barn Theatre Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and Then Some) will be on stage at the Blue Barn Theatre, 614 S. 11th St. through Dec. 17. Santa Claus and almost every other Christmas character in pop culture makes an appearance as three actors decide to retell every Christmas story ever told in 90 minutes. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 6 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for persons age 65 and older. For reservations or more information, please call 402345-1576.
nity fees. Pass users also receive a 50 percent discount on some amenity fees for activities like camping and launching a boat. They are available to citizens and permanent residents of the United States age 62 or older or those who have permanent disabilities regardless of age. The “Senior” and “Access” versions of the America the Beautiful Pass – the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass – are good for a lifetime. The Access pass is free and the Senior pass is just $10. There is a $10 processing fee to receive either pass by the mail. To get your Senior Pass through the mail just submit a completed application, proof of residency and age, and $20. The fee covers the cost of the pass and a document processing fee. You can print out an application at http://store.usgs.gov/pass/ index.html. Once the application package is received and the documentation verified, the
Enoa Aging Celebrate the holidays with a visit to Omaha’s Durham Museum You’re invited to visit Omaha’s Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St., this holiday season during Christmas at Union Station. This beautiful tradition began in the 1930s when the Union Pacific Railroad decorated and displayed large evergreens from the Pacific Northwest for Union Station travelers to enjoy. This tradition continues in 2011 with the region’s largest indoor Christmas tree and an exceptional line-up of family friendly events. Here are some of the scheduled activities: • Dec. 2 from 5 to 9 p.m.: Ethnic Holiday Festival. Learn how the world celebrates this joyful time of year. Local cultural organizations display their crafts and traditional dress while musicians and dancers perform. Hard to find ethnic foods and gifts will be on sale. • Dec. 6, 13, & 20 from 5 to 8 p.m.: Family Nights with Santa. • Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, & 18: The Durham Museum’s Holiday Concert Series. Visit www.DurhamMuseum.org for a listing of the performances. • Dec. 31: The Durham’s Noon Year’s Eve Celebration. • Through Dec. 31: Holiday Miniatures Exhibit.
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• Through Dec. 31: The Ethnic Holiday Trees Exhibit. Each tree is decorated by a local ethnic society and is accompanied by interpretative text explaining the meaning behind the various decorations and unique traditions within each culture. • Food Drive: The Durham Museum is teaming up with ConAgra Foods and KETV to accept non-perishable food donations throughout the Christmas at Union Station season. All donations will benefit the Food Bank for the Heartland. Admission to the Durham Museum is $8 for adults; $6 for seniors; $5 for children ages 3 to 12; and free for members and children age 2 and younger. For information about The Durham Museum including extended holiday hours, please visit www.DurhamMuseum.org.
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The lifetime passes are good for admission to places like Yellowstone National Park. pass will be mailed to you. The application for the Access Pass is also available at http://store.usgs.gov/pass/ index.html. To receive the Access Pass, mail the completed application along with proof of residency and documen-
tation of permanent disability plus the $10 document processing fee. Once the application package is received and verified, the pass and the documentation of permanent disability you provided will be mailed to you.
Report examines ways to treat urinary incontinence Do you have a drinking problem? Not alcohol; but water, soda, coffee, tea, or juice? While millions of Americans tote around bottles of water or chug down cans of soda, millions more are plagued with incontinence a problem they probably never talk about. Fluid management is a method that helps control urinary incontinence, the unintended loss of urine suffered by an estimated 32 million adults, according to the new edition of Harvard Medical School’s special health report titled, Better Bladder and Bowel Control. Incontinence is a medical condition that can progress to the point where it’s difficult to maintain good hygiene and carry on an ordinary social and work life. There are many causes of incontinence. Most often, it is the result of damage from childbirth in women and from prostate problems in men. A diagnosis from your doctor will help determine a course of treatment. For most people with urinary incontinence, some form of fluid management can help. You can use the following fluid-management techniques along with treatments recommended by your doctor: • Keep track of how much fluid you drink each day and at what time. • Try to drink only when you feel thirsty, and don’t exceed six to eight eight-ounce cups of fluid per day from all sources, including soup or milk in your cereal, unless you have a medical condition that requires more. Note that an eight-ounce cup is only two-thirds of a standard soda can. Here are some other tips: • Don’t drink more than 8 ounces at a time. • Don’t guzzle. The faster your bladder fills, the more likely you are to feel urgency to urinate. • Minimize caffeinated and carbonated drinks. • Decrease or eliminate alcohol consumption. • If you’re thirsty because it is hot or you have exercised, don’t hesitate to drink water. • Fill your glass only two-thirds as full as you usually do. One study showed this technique alone helped reduce episodes of incontinence. Better Bladder and Bowel Control also covers topics like treating urinary incontinence, neurological strategies for overactive bladder, and treating fecal incontinence. The report is available for $18 from Harvard Health Publications, the publishing division of the Harvard Medical School. Order it online at www.health.harvard. edu/Bladder2011 or by calling 1-877–649–9457.
Which is the best kind of light bulb for you to use
Monthly programs for older nature lovers
The Fontenelle Nature Association’s SUN (Seniors Just a decade ago, incandescent light bulbs were just Understanding Nature) about the only game in town, despite their inefficient use program has an activity of electricity to generate light and their primitive technolfor older adults the second ogy that hadn’t changed since being invented 125 years Tuesday of each month ago. But now that’s all changing fast, with phase-outs of at the Fontenelle Nature incandescent bulbs going on in Australia, Brazil, VenezuCenter, 1111 Bellevue Blvd. ela, Switzerland, and the European Union, with Argentina, North. Russia, Canada, and the U.S. following suit shortly. The programs, held from Legislation was passed in the United States in 2007 to 9:45 to 11 a.m., feature an increase the efficiency of light bulbs sold in the nation by indoor program, an optional 25 percent or more by 2014, and by as much as 60 percent nature walk, and refreshby 2020. ments. For decades, persons concerned with energy savings The cost is $5 per person have been touting the benefits of compact fluorescent lamps each month. (CFLs) over incandescent bulbs. CFLs use only one-fifth of On Dec. 13, stop by for the electricity of incandescent bulbs to generate the same Design with Boughs of amount of light and can last six to 10 times longer. But Holly with Jan Heiner. CFLs’ cooler color and inability to be dimmed have made While walk-ins are them less desirable. welcome, registration is preferred. To register, or for more information, please call Catherine Kuper at 402731-3140, ext. 240.
Basic computer skills made easy! Whether it’s a one-time lesson or ongoing instruction and support, learn how to use the computer with Dr. David M. Cohen, Ph.D., an educator and innovator who specializes in teaching computer skills to persons with little or no experience.
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How computers work. How to e-mail friends and family. How to use programs like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. How to use SKYPE for free video-conferencing with your children and grandchildren. • How to organize your addresses, phone numbers, & budget. • How to play games on the computer. • Shop, read newspapers & books, and watch videos online. Call today to see how we can tailor our services to meet your needs.
Cohen’s Computer Club
402-637-3935 www.CohensComputerClub.com Dr. David M. Cohen, Ph.D. dmc@ieee.org
CLASSIFIEDS Another hindrance to the widespread adoption of CFLs has been their higher cost (though most consumers would save in energy costs over the life of a bulb). Also, CFLs contain mercury, a dangerous neurotoxin that’s released when the bulbs break. And once CFLs burn out they must be disposed of properly to avoid releasing mercury into the environment. Given the issues with CFLs, LED (short for light emitting diodes) bulbs are beginning to come on strong. These highly efficient bulbs don’t generate heat like incandescent bulbs (which helps to keep air conditioning costs down as well) and can last five times longer than CFLs and 40 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Tiny LED bulbs have been around for years in specialized applications (such as stadium scoreboards), but lighting engineers got the idea to cluster them and use reflective casings to harness and concentrate their light for residential use. In recognition of the LED’s potential, the U.S. Department of Energy set up a special “solid-state” (LED) lighting R&D program to hasten the advance of the technology. In comparing the total cost to run three different types of 60-watt equivalent bulbs for 50,000 hours (factoring in the cost of the both bulbs and electricity), the EarthEasy Web site found LEDs would cost $95.95, CFLs $159.75, and incandescent bulbs $652.50. The 42 incandescent bulbs tested used up to 3,000-kilowatt hours of electricity compared to 700 and 300 for CFLs and LEDs, respectively. However, despite the savings most consumers are loath to spend $35 and up for an LED bulb (even though it will save more than $500 in the long run) when a traditional incandescent bulb right next to it on the shelf costs $1. There are other newer technologies in the works. Seattlebased Vu1 now sells highly efficient bulbs based on its Electron Stimulated Luminescence (ESL) technology, whereby accelerated electrons stimulate a phosphor coating on the inside of the bulb, making the surface glow. One of Vu1’s 65-watt equivalent bulbs retails for under $20 and uses a similar amount of energy as an equivalent CFL. Incandescent bulbs aren’t out of the efficient lighting race altogether just yet. Top bulb makers recently released new versions that use as much as one-third less electricity to operate (complying with 2012’s new federal standards) and are promising newer models still that will run on even less energy. (EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine.)
Will transfer your cassettes, LPs, & 8-tracks to CD. Also VHS tapes to DVD.
402-345-3232
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Buying or selling? Use the New Horizons
CLASSIFIEDS Please call 402-444-4148 or 402-444-6654 today to place your ad. Senior Citizens (62+)
Some of the nicest, newer 1 bedroom apartments. Elevator, w & d, heated parking garage. Small complex. By bus & shopping. No pets or smoking.
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OLD STUFF WANTED (before 1975) Postcards, photos, drapes, lamps, 1950s and before fabrics, clothes, lady’s hats, & men’s ties, pictures, pottery, glass, jewelry, toys, fountain pens, furniture, etc. Call anytime 402-397-0254 or 402-250-9389
Bellewood Courts 1002 Bellewood Court Bellevue (402) 292-3300 Managed by Kimball Management., Inc.
Tree Trimming Beat the falling leaves! Chipping & removal. Your prunings chipped. Experienced & insured. Senior discount.
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Integrity Builders Free estimates & inspections • Roofs • Windows • Siding • Gutters
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Best & honest prices paid for: Old jewelry, furniture, glassware, Hummels, knick-knacks, old hats & purses, dolls, old toys, quilts, linens, buttons, pottery, etc. Also buying estates & partial estates. Call Bev at 402-339-2856
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REPUTABLE SERVICES, INC. • Remodeling & Home Improvement • Safety Equipment Handrails Smoke and Fire Alarms
deFreese Manor Subsidized housing for those age 62 and over with incomes under $24,750 (1 person) or $28,250 (two persons) 2669 Dodge Omaha, NE 402-345-0622
We do business in accordance with the Fair Housing Law.
December 2011
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Accepting applications for HUD-subsidized apartments in Papillion & Bellevue. Rent determined by income and medical expenses. Monarch Villa West 201 Cedar Dale Road Papillion (402) 331-6882
POOL TABLES Moving, refelting, assemble, repair, tear down. Used slate tables. We pay CASH for slate pool tables.
With meals, laundry, errands, and household duties. Reasonable rates. Call 402-345-2596 John Bouska 1913 Farnam St. #708 68102-1915
Please call 402-444-4148 or 402- 444-6654 to place your ad
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• Painting Interior & Exterior • Handyman Services • Senior Discounts • Free Estimates • References • Fully Insured Quality Professional Service Better Business Bureau Member
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