New Horizons July 2019 by Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging

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A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging

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July 2019 VOL. 44 • NO. 7

ENOA 4780 South 131st Street Omaha, NE 68137-1822

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

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New Horizons old • er 74 adul ts since 19

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Omaha arts In 2002, Joan Squires became president of Omaha Performing Arts, the entity that coordinates programming and manages the Holland Center and the Orpheum Theater. Prior to coming to Nebraska, Squires worked with orchestras in Cleveland, Tampa, Houston, Milwaukee, Salt Lake City, and Phoenix. Nick Schinker chronicles Joan’s life and career beginning on page 8.

Serving older Nebraskans for 45 years

July 1974 to

July 2019

Serving older adults in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, & Washington counties. enoa.org

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Since 1974, the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging has provided a variety of programs and services in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties. This year, the agency celebrates 45 years of keeping older Nebraskans living in their own homes with dignity and independence for as long as possible.

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Fremont organization donates $60,000 NH Club gains new members to UNMC for Alzheimer’s disease research See the ad on page 3 $50 Lois Olsen $25 Jeanne Nistl Margaret Keenan $15 Terry Winkler Monica Taylor Gabriella Castro $10 Frances Mahaffey Sandra Murdoch Charles Averill $5 Sharon Manzer Peterson Kathleen Koons Emily Lett Reflects donations received through 6/21/19.

Fontenelle Tours

Omaha/Council Bluffs

712-366-9596

Quoted prices are per person, double occupancy. For more information about our tours, please call Ward or Kathy Kinney at Fontenelle Tours at the number listed above.

Motorcoach Mahoney Melodrama & Dinner. July 14. $60. Relax and enjoy a pleasant Sunday afternoon drive to Mahoney State Park to see the melodrama “Rose of Dismal Flats”. (You know, the kind where you throw popcorn at the villain!) After the play, stop in Springfield for a delicious dinner at the Wicked Hen Farmhouse. Branson Christmas. November 4 – 7. $739 ($779 after 8/4/19). Enjoy The Duttons, Daniel O’Donnell, The Beach Boys California Dreamin’, Neal McCoy, the SIX Christmas Show, and your choice of either “Miracle of Christmas” at the Sight & Sound Theater or Christmas Wonderland.

(There are currently no Laughlin trips available out of Omaha. Check with us for updates on these very reasonably priced charter flights to Laughlin, Nevada. They typically sell out fast.) Holy Land Pilgrimage Holy Land Pilgrimage. January 20 – 31, 2020. $2,995 plus airfare. 12 days – 11 nights. Join Fr. Glen Wilwerding to walk in the footsteps of Jesus at many of the most important and well-known biblical locations in the Holy Land, including daily Mass. Discover the sites with an expert local guide, enjoy sightseeing including a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, Holy Hour in the Garden of Gethsemane, visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, travel to Cana, Nazareth, Jerusalem, and more. Contact 952-388-2736 at Magi Travel to register. In Partnership with Collette Vacations We started working with Collette in 2009 when we were looking for a way to offer international trips to our travelers. We wanted to find a company that shared our core values of providing quality tours, well hosted at a reasonable price. We were not looking for a low-cost alternative. Our first personal experience was when we took about 24 people on the "Shades of Ireland" tour. It was an incredibly positive experience! Since then we have helped others to experience Collette Tours on: Historic Trains of California; New York City; Canada’s Atlantic Coast with Nova Scotia; Pilgrimage to Fatima & Lourdes; Austrian Delight - Oberammergau (coming up again in 2020); Pasadena Rose Parade; Islands of New England; Canadian Rockies & Glacier National Park; Islands of New England; Reflections of Italy; Canadian Rockies by Train; Tropical Costa Rica; Alaska Discovery Land & Cruise and others. Please call if you have one of Collette’s many destinations on your bucket list. We can help make it happen! Watch New Horizons and our website www.fontenelletours.com for our trip schedule. 2708 Franklin Ave, Council Bluffs, IA 51501

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New Horizons

“Marv has been the driving force behind the FAAC’s success,” said Dan Murman, M.D., professor and vice chair of clinical and translational research in the UNMC Department of Neurological Sciences. “He’s been tremendously supportive. His commitment to the battle against Alzheimer’s disease is truly inspirational.” The latest FAAC grant will support UNMC’s Alzheimer’s research in developing screening biomarkers and exploring novel treatment approaches. Dr. Murman said the screening biomarkers include cerebrovascular measures, retinal measures, and blood and saliva samples. Each of these screening biomarkers is noninvasive and relatively inexpensive, he said. These novel biomarkers would be compared to more traditional biomarkers such as using an MRI scan to measure brain neurodegeneration or a PET scan to determine the amyloid plaque accumulation in the brain. The grant will provide additional support for several clinical trials at UNMC, Dr. Murman said, including a study of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (r-TMS) as a treatment to improve memory in subjects with very mild Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, the FAAC funding will allow UNMC to recruit subjects for several new clinical trials of promising new medications. “We can’t thank the FAAC enough for its support,” Dr. Murman said. “The ongoing contributions from the FAAC allow us the flexibility to try new things and seek new advances. We are honored to use their funding to look for answers to this incredibly difficult disease.” (UNMC provided this information.)

Douglas County Health Department offers tips for safe summer grilling

Laughlin

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The Fremont Area Alzheimer’s Collaboration (FAAC) has donated $60,000 for Alzheimer’s disease research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The donation marks the sixth grant the FAAC has donated to UNMC since 2014 and brings the group’s total contribution to more than $215,000. Marv Welstead, a 98-year-old Fremont man who lost his wife, Jean, in 2009 after an eight-year battle with Alzheimer’s, is the honorary chairperson of the FAAC. The money raised by the FAAC is donated to the University of Nebraska Foundation, which distributes it to UNMC and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It’s raised through a variety of channels including a walk, a golf tournament, a bowling tournament, online gifts, and memorials, Welstead said. The FAAC is a component fund of the Fremont Area Community Foundation. “We’ve received tremendous support from the various groups in Fremont,” Welstead said. “It’s unbelievable. We’ve been getting some very generous memorials from families who have been impacted by Alzheimer’s.” Welstead thanked Dan Kauble, a retired executive from Hormel who has been assisting him in raising money for Alzheimer’s disease. He also saluted Riley Faulkner, president of the FAAC, and Cathi Sampson, the FAAC’s vice president. “We love to raise money locally and then keep the money in Nebraska by giving it to UNMC and UN-L,” Welstead said. “We know the University of Nebraska is doing some outstanding research with Alzheimer’s disease.”

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ookouts in Nebraska generally start as soon as possible in the spring and some people never stop. The idea is to gather people around the grill and dinner table to share food and fellowship. Most people don’t plan for a family trip to the emergency room. It can happen, however, if proper food safety practices aren’t followed. Foodborne illness is a major public health concern, and while not every case involves a cookout, about 48 million Americans every year – one in six – will suffer a foodborne illness. In recent years well more than half the illnesses most often associated with outdoor grilling were diagnosed from May to September. Most of the recommendations for safe grilling may also apply to your daily cooking. The Douglas County Health Department suggests these guidelines to help your cookout be successful and healthy. • Clean your grill between

July 2019

each use. • Use a meat thermometer to ensure you thoroughly cook meat and poultry. • Beef and pork should be “rested” for three minutes after being removed from the grill to allow the heat to spread and kill more contaminants. • Make sure you keep the cold foods cold, 41 degrees or below, and the hot foods hot, above 135 degrees. • Promptly refrigerate any leftovers. Grilled meat needs special attention. You can avoid cross-contamination by putting cooked meat on a clean platter and not reusing a plate that was used earlier for raw meat. If you used a sauce to marinate meat, don’t reuse that same batch of sauce on cooked food. Wash your hands, utensils, and cutting boards if they were in contact with raw meat or poultry. The internal temperature of cooked meats should be: • Beef and pork, steaks, roasts, & chops: 145 degrees. • Hamburger and other ground meats: 155 degrees • Poultry: 165 degrees. If you are reheating any precooked foods, they should be warmed to 165 degrees The only way to be certain meat is safe to eat is by using a food thermometer. You can’t tell if meat is safe to eat simply by looking at it. (The Douglas County Health Department provided this information.)

Anger may lead to chronic illnesses

nger may be more harmful to an older person’s physical health than sadness, potentially increasing inflammation, which is associated with such chronic illnesses as heart disease, arthritis, and cancer, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association. “As most people age, they simply can’t do the activities they once did, or they may experience the loss of a spouse, or a decline in their physical mobility, and they can become angry,” said Meaghan A. Barlow, MA, of Concordia University, lead author of the study, which was published in Psychology and Aging. “Our study showed anger can lead to the development of chronic illnesses, whereas sadness did not.” Barlow and her coauthors examined whether anger and sadness contributed to inflammation, an immune response by the body to perceived threats, such as infection or tissue damage. While inflammation in general helps protect the body and assists in healing, long-lasting inflammation can lead to chronic illnesses in old age, according to the authors. The researchers collected

and analyzed data from 226 older adults ages 59 to 93 from Montreal. They grouped participants as being in early old age, 59 to 79 years old, or advanced old age, 80 years old and older. Over one week, participants completed short questionnaires about how angry or sad they felt. The authors also measured inflammation from blood samples and asked participants if they had any age-related chronic illnesses. “We found experiencing anger daily was related to higher levels of inflammation and chronic illness for people 80 years old and older, but not for younger seniors,” said study co-author Carsten Wrosch, PhD, also of Concordia University. “Sadness, on the other hand, was not related to inflammation or chronic illness.” Sadness may help older adults adjust to challenges such as age-related physical and cognitive declines because it can help them disengage from goals that are no longer attainable, said Barlow. This study showed not all negative emotions are inherently bad and can be beneficial under certain circumstances, she explained. “Anger is an energizing emotion that can help motivate people to pursue life goals,” said Barlow. “Younger seniors may be able to use that anger as fuel to overcome life’s challenges and emerging age-related losses and that can keep them healthier. Anger becomes problematic for adults once they reach 80 years old, however, because that’s when many experience irreversible losses and some of life’s pleasures fall out of reach.” The authors suggested education and therapy may help older adults reduce anger by regulating their emotions or by offering better coping strategies to manage the inevitable changes that accompany aging. “If we better understand which negative emotions are harmful, not harmful, or even beneficial to older people, we can teach them how to cope with loss in a healthy way,” said Barlow. “This may help them let go of their anger.”

New Horizons New Horizons is the official publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. The paper is distributed free to people over age 60 in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Washington, and Cass counties. Those living outside the 5-county region may subscribe for $5 annually. Address all correspondence to: Jeff Reinhardt, Editor, 4780 S. 131st Street, Omaha, NE 68137-1822. Phone 402-444-6654. FAX 402-444-3076. E-mail: jeff.reinhardt@nebraska.gov Advertisements appearing in New Horizons do not imply endorsement of the advertiser by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. However, complaints about advertisers will be reviewed and, if warranted, their advertising discontinued. Display and insert advertising rates available on request. Open rates are commissionable, with discounts for extended runs. Circulation is 20,000 through direct mail and freehand distribution.

Editor....................................................Jeff Reinhardt Ad Mgr................Mitch Laudenback, 402-444-4148 Contributing Writers......Nick Schinker & Leo Biga ENOA Board of Governors: Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, chairperson; Lisa Kramer, Washington County, vice-chairperson; Janet McCartney, Cass County, secretary; David Saalfeld, Dodge County, & Jim Warren, Sarpy County. The New Horizons and the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging provide services without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, disability, or age.

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Tips to help you prevent stroke

Dora Bingel Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Dora Bingel Senior Center, 923 N. 38th St., this month for the following: • July 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29: Al-Anon meeting @ 7 p.m. • July 3, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, & 31: Ceramics @ 9 a.m. • July 3: Holy Communion served @ 10 a.m. • July 3: The Merrymakers present music by Cynthia Zeisman @11 a.m. Lunch is $3. • July 11: Book Club @ 10 a.m. • July 31: Birthday party luncheon @ noon. Eat free if you have a July birthday. The center will be closed on July 4. Lunch is served on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. A $1 donation is suggested for the meals, other than $3 for Merrymakers. Round-trip transportation is available for $3. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance for all meals. Other activities offered at the facility include: Tuesday: Joy Club devotions @ 10 a.m., matinee @ 12:30 p.m., quilting @ 1 p.m. Wednesday: Devotions at 10:30 a.m., Tai Chi @ 11 a.m., bingo @ 12:30 p.m., and Bible study @ 12:30 p.m. Friday: Bingo @ 12:30 p.m. For more information, please call 402-898-5854.

he American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association – the world’s largest voluntary health organization fighting heart disease and stroke – shares seven habits to help prevent stroke. Up to 80 percent of strokes can be prevented by not smoking, making healthy food choices, getting enough physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and treating conditions such as high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. • Don’t smoke. If you smoke, STOP, and if you don’t smoke, don’t start. Smoking can increase your blood pressure among many other health issues and it’s the leading controllable risk factor for stroke. Cigarette smoking, vaping, and tobacco products in general, are dangerous for your health. Quitting is one of the best things you can do to improve your health and add years to your life. • Manage blood pressure. Nothing causes more strokes than uncontrolled high blood pressure. Of the 116.4 million people in the United States who have high blood pressure, fewer than half have it under control, putting them at increased risk of stroke. Lowering your blood pressure by just 20 points could cut your risk of dying from a stroke by half. A good blood pressure should be less than 120/80. • Be physically active. A good starting goal is at least Corrigan Senior Center 150 minutes of physical activity a week, but if you don’t You’re invited to visit the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 want to sweat the numbers, just move more. Find forms of X St., this month for: physical activity you like and will stick with and build more • Tuesdays: Trivia competition @ 10:30 a.m. opportunities to be active into your routine. Now is a great • July 3: Independence Day celebration @ 10 a.m. time to begin a new exercise routine. • July 9: Sugar Cookie Day. • Eat a healthy diet. Healthy eating starts with healthy • July 10: Craft a fringe flag @ 10:30 a.m. food choices. You don’t need to stop eating your favor• July 12: The Merrymakers present music by Pam Kragt ite meals, just use substitutions to make them healthier. @ 11 a.m. Learn what to look for at the grocery store, restaurants, • July 12: Open house celebration @ 10 a.m. your workplace, and other eating occasions, so you can • July 17: Craft a solar luminary jar @ 10:30 a.m. confidently make healthy, delicious choices whenever and • July 18: Polk-a-dot Party with music by Red Raven @ wherever you eat. 11 a.m. • Maintain a healthy weight. The benefits of main• July 24: Craft a clothespin wreath @ 10:30 a.m. taining a healthy weight go beyond improved energy and • July 30: Cheesecake celebration @ 11 a.m. smaller clothing sizes. By losing weight or maintaining a • July 31: Craft a display tray with CD art @ 10:30 a.m. healthy weight, you’re also likely to reduce your risk of The center will be closed on July 4. heart disease and stroke. There’s no magic trick to losing Other activities include craft and social hour Wednesday weight and keeping it off, but the majority of people who @ 10:30 a.m., Tai Chi Monday & Friday @ 10 a.m.; are successful, modify their eating habits and increase their bingo Monday and Thursday @ 1 p.m., ceramics class physical activity. Wednesday @ 1 p.m., and Happy Hands crochet group • Control cholesterol. Having large amounts of LDL Tuesday @ 10 a.m. cholesterol in the blood, the bad cholesterol, can cause The Corrigan Senior Center is open weekdays from 8 build up and blood clots, which leads to a heart attack or a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is served at noon. A $4 contribution is stroke. Reducing your fat intake, especially trans fats, more normally suggested for the meal. Reservations are normally often found in fried foods and baked goods, can help reduce due by noon the business day prior to the meal you wish to your cholesterol. Adding more foods with omega-3 fatty enjoy. acids like fish and nuts, as well as soluble fiber and whey For more information, please call 402-731-7210. protein helps in managing bad cholesterol. • Control blood sugar. By managing your diabetes and working with your health care team, you may reduce your risk of stroke. Every two minutes, an adult with diabetes in the United States is hospitalized for a stroke. At age 60, someone with type 2 diabetes and a history of stroke may have a life expectancy that’s 12 years shorter than someone without both conditions. Not all strokes can be prevented and people who have had a stroke are at higher risk of having a second one. In fact, about one in every four stroke survivors will have a second stroke. Stroke survivors should work with their doctor on a plan to reduce their secondary stroke risk factors as there may be lifestyle changes and medications such as aspirin, that may help prevent blood clots and reduce the

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risk of a second stroke. It’s important to talk to your doctor before starting an aspirin regimen, because aspirin may not be appropriate for everyone. Each year, almost 800,000 people have a stroke. Knowing how to recognize a stroke emergency is key to getting life-saving medical attention when every minute matters. Use the acronym F.A.S.T. to remember the most common signs of stroke: • Face drooping. Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven? • Arm Weakness. Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? • Speech Difficulty. Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” • Time to call 9-1-1. If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared. Through the American Stroke Association’s Together to End Stroke™ initiative patients and caregivers can find information to prevent, treat, and beat stroke.

Free Tai Chi classes The Visiting Nurse Association’s Healing Motion Physical Therapy clinic and the Second Unitarian Church are partnering to offer free Tai Chi for Balance classes in the Omaha area. Tai Chi is a great way for older adults to improve their balance and strength, while decreasing their chance of falling. Physical therapist Kris Lausterer –a certified Tai Chi for Balance instructor for two years – will teach the ongoing classes which are open to everyone regardless of their experience with Tai Chi. The classes are held on Tuesdays at 5:15 p.m. at Second Unitarian Church, 3012 S. 119th St. Registration will occur before the class. For more information, please contact Lausterer at 402-346-7772 or klausterer@vnatoday.org.

Study indicates women underreport prevalance, intensity of their snoring

Step Out for Seniors

The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging and the City of Omaha are presenting the annual Step Out for Seniors omen underevaluation.” Walk-a-Thon on Friday, Aug. 16 at Benson Park, 7028 report their Snoring is a respiratory sound generated in the upper snoring – both airway during sleep. The intensity of snoring may vary and Military Ave. The walk will start at 9 a.m. with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. the prevalence often will disturb the bed partner’s sleep. It is also a red Proceeds from the walk and intensity – compared flag for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a chronic disease will benefit ENOA’s 24 to male snorers, according that involves the repeated collapse of the upper airway to a new study by Benduring sleep that can cause death. According to the website senior centers in its fivecounty service area. Gurion University of the Sleepapnea.org, 22 million Americans suffer from sleep The cost to walk is $15 Negev (BGU) and Soroka apnea, and 80 percent of the cases of moderate and severe for adults and $10 for University Medical Center OSA are undiagnosed. children, or $10 per person for groups of seven or more. Researchers. Registration includes access to the Lifestyle Expo fea The new study which n the research, participants completed a questionnaire turing Tai Chi in the grass, massages in the pavilion, a was published recently in rating snoring and severity. During a sleep study that the Journal of Clinical Sleep lasted a full night, objective snoring volume was quan- line dancing demonstration, a hot dog lunch, vendors with information on health and wellness, and a raffle of baskets Medicine involved 1,913 tified using a calibrated digital sound survey meter. patients with an average age Snoring intensity was classified as mild (40 to 45 decibels), donated by local businesses. For more information, please call Christina Ochoa at of 49 that were referred to moderate (45 to 55 decibels), severe (55 to 60 decibels), or 402-444-6513. sleep disorder centers for an very severe (60 decibels or more). evaluation. Results showed that 88 percent of the women snored, but “Although we found no only 72 percent reported they snore. Among men, however, Camelot Friendship Center gender difference in snorobjective snoring (92.6 percent) and self-reported snoring ing intensity, women tend (93.1 percent) were nearly identical. to underreport the fact they The study also revealed women snored as loudly as You’re invited to visit the Camelot Friendship Center snore and underestimate men, with a mean maximal snoring intensity of 50 decibels inside the Camelot Community Center, 9270 Cady Ave., the loudness of their snoramong women and 51.7 decibels among men. Women also this month for the following: ing,” says professor Nimrod underestimated the severity of their snoring. Approximately • Mondays: Chair yoga @ 10:30 a.m. Maimon, M.D., M.H.A., 49 percent of the women had severe or very severe snoring • Wednesdays: Chair volleyball @ 10:30 a.m. principal investigator and of 60 decibels or more, but only 40 percent of the women • Thursdays: Sit & Fit chair exercises @ 10:30 a.m. lecturer at BGU’s Faculty rated their snoring at this severity level. • July 8, 15, 22, & 29: Savvy Seniors @ 11:45 a.m. Get of Health Sciences and the The researchers concluded social stigma most likely some help with your electronic devices. head of internal medicine at plays a role in unreliable answers provided by patients, • July 9: Make a flip flop wreath @ 1 p.m. Soroka. and that it’s of great importance to physicians who want to • July 10: Music by the Links sponsored by the Merry“The fact women reportknow how to best screen for OSA. makers @ 11:45 a.m. ed snoring less often and Physicians need to have greater awareness about the • July 11: Book club @ 10:15 a.m. followed by a VNA described it as milder may prevalence of this disorder among women, the authors said, presentation @ 11:45 a.m. be one of the barriers preand be on guard for additional symptoms reported by pa• July 12: Council meeting @ 12:15 p.m. venting women from reach- tients, including daytime fatigue, depression, chronic pain, • July 16: Presentation on What’s on the Label and What ing sleep clinics for a sleep and headaches. Does it Mean with Michaela from ENOA @ 11:30 a.m. • July 19 & 23: Presentation on Social Media 101 @ 11:45 a.m. • July 25: Presentation on help for caregivers @ 11:45 a.m. • July 26: Celebrate Grandkids Day @ 11:30 a.m. • July 31: Music by Aaron Shoemakers @ 11:30 a.m. ocial Security benefits have still months of consumer price index data The facility will be closed July 4 and 5. lost 33 percent of their buying to be collected before the Social Security The center is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. power since 2000, according Administration announces the COLA in Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. A $4 contribution is suggestto the latest Social Security October. ed for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business Loss of Buying Power Study Those participating in The Senior Citiday prior to the meal you wish to enjoy. released recently by The Senior zens League’s annual senior survey said Regular center activities bingo, art classes, and card Citizens League. monthly household expenses made steep “One would think that a higher cost-ofincreases over the past year, far in excess of games. For reservations or more information, call 402-444-3091. living adjustment in 2019, combined with the dollar amount their COLAs increased relatively low inflation, would lead to an benefits. The 2.8 percent COLA raised the improvement of buying power in Social average Social Security benefit of $1,400 Security benefits,” said study author Mary by about $39 per month this year. Yet more Johnson, a Social Security policy analyst for than 78 percent of survey participants rethe League. “Any improvement was offset port their household spending rose by more The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging by spiking costs of essentials, including out- than $39 per month in 2018. of-pocket spending on prescription drugs.” “When costs climb more rapidly than is looking for volunteer For roughly 10 million older Americans benefits, retirees must spend down retiredrivers for its Meals on who have been retired since 2000, the buyment savings more quickly than expected, ing power of their Social Security benefits and those without savings or other retireWheels Program. only improved by one percent. The loss ocment income are either going into debt, or curred even though beneficiaries received a going without,” Johnson said. 2.8 percent annual cost of living adjustment Of the 39 household items the study Flexible weekday (COLA) for 2019. analyzed, 25 exceeded the percentage of schedule delivering This year’s study of retiree costs found increase in the COLA over the same period. between January of 2000 and January of “This study illustrates why legislation is midday meals to 2019, Social Security COLAs increased So- needed to provide a more fair and adequate homebound older cial Security benefits by 50 percent, but the COLA,” Johnson said. “To put it in percosts of goods and services purchased by spective, the same $100 worth of groceries adults in the greater Omaha area. typical retirees rose more than twice as fast that a retiree household could buy in 2000, (100.3 percent). Food and medical costs, can only buy $67 worth today.” particularly for fresh fruits and vegetables, A majority of the 60 million older and Call Arlis at 402-444-6766 and prescription drugs, were among the disabled Americans who receive Social for more information. most rapidly rising costs over the past year. Security depend on it for at least 50 percent As an indicator of low inflation, based on of their total income, and one–third of all consumer price index (CPI) data through beneficiaries rely on it for 90 percent or April of this year, Johnson estimated the more of their income. COLA for 2019 will be about 1.7 percent. For more information, please go online That number could change, since there are to seniorsleague.org.

SS benefits are losing their buying power

Volunteers needed

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Notre Dame Housing/ Seven Oaks Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Notre Dame Housing/Seven Oaks Senior Center, 3439 State St. for the following: • Second, third, and fourth Friday: Community food pantry @ 1 p.m. • Third Wednesday: Community food pantry from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. • July 5: Lunch & Learn program on Give65 @ 12:30 p.m. • July 15 & 29: Games with students from St. Philip Neri School @ 10:30 a.m. • July 17 & 31: Veggie truck @ 9:30 a.m. • July 25: Country Dancers @ 1 p.m. • July 31: Birthday party with music by Billy Troy sponsored by the Merrymakers @ 1:30 p.m. Other programs you can enjoy this month

Medical Reserve Corps

include: • July 9: Beat the Heat Hydration @ 1:30 p.m. • July 17: Fair housing counselor @ 10 a.m. • July 17: Medicare/Medicaid assistance @ 10 a.m. • July 17: Monthly health clinic @ 10 a.m. Notre Dame Housing/Seven Oaks Senior Center is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Lunch is served at noon. A $4 contribution is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by 11 a.m. the business day prior to the lunch you wish to enjoy. For meals reservations and more information, please call Brenda at 402-451-4477, ext. 126.

Medical and non-medical professionals are needed to respond to emergencies and to support non-emergency community needs by joining the Medical Reserve Corps. Participants will receive low-cost training and education, opportunities for CEUs, as well as the opportunity to make their community healthier, more resilient, and better prepared. For more information on the Medical Reserve Corps, please call 402-717-2621, visit MRC.HHS.gov or MRCCoord@gmail.com.

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Participants needed for UNO, UNMC study

esearchers at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the University of Nebraska Medical Center are looking for healthy adults and caregivers for an older adult with a chronic disease (e.g., dementia, cancer, or cardiovascular disease) to participate in a research study. The study involves two visits of 3.5 hours each. Compensation for study participation is available. The experiment involves completing questionnaires and computer tasks, taking samples of saliva for hormone analyses, and undergoing brain imaging. To be eligible for the study, participants must be 19 to 75 years of age, have comprehension of written and spoken English, the mobility to travel to the UNO campus, and have completed a minimum of two years of high school or higher. You’re not eligible for the study if you have a diagnosis of a neurological or psychiatric disease (e.g., stroke, schizophrenia), vision, hearing or motor difficulties, or if you are pregnant, have metal implanted in your body, or are taking an antidepressant medication or glucocorticoid-based oral medication or cream (e.g., cortisone). For more information, contact Janelle Beadle, Ph.D. at 402-554-5961 or ABELabUNO@gmail.com.

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July 2019

Legal Aid of Nebraska operates a free telephone access line for Nebraskans age 60 and older. Information is offered to help the state’s older men and women with questions on topics like bankruptcy, homestead exemptions, collections, powers of attorney, Medicare, Medicaid, grandparent rights, and Section 8 housing. The telephone number 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 legalaidofnebraska.com/EAL.

How to break your bad habits Bad habits prevail in the United States. One report found more than 70 percent of adult Americans have at least one unhealthy behavior associated with chronic health problems. Breaking bad habits isn’t easy, but sometimes the best answer is replacing them with empowering new habits that bring positive changes to one’s daily life. “We often have habits that hold us back, like smoking or eating food lacking in nutrition,” said Dr. Rob Carter III, co-author with his wife, Dr. Kirti Salwe Carter, of The Morning Mind: Use Your Brain to Master Your Day and Supercharge Your Life. “A great way to start every day is with a series of empowering habits. Morning, in fact, according to some researchers, is the best time to start making these kinds of changes in your life,” he said. Dr. Carter has six ways you can create new, empowering habits: • Prioritize habits. Take some time to think about what kind of empower-

ing habits you’d like to establish. Consider health, wealth, relationships, job, hobbies, self-esteem, interpersonal skills, positive thinking, time management, and life purpose. • Focus on one habit at a time. Because we have a limited amount of willpower in the morning, it’s very important how we use that energy. By focusing on just one habit you would like to change you can concentrate that willpower on the task at hand until it becomes a habit. • Be reasonable with yourself. The time it takes to establish the new habit depends upon how much resistance a person has. Sometimes developing a new habit represents a long leap from where one stands. Break it down into more achievable steps. Incremental improvements add up to a big transformation and are often more powerful. • Commit specific time toward the goal. Nail down a detailed timeline and commit a full effort toward formation of the new habit within that time span. Write down what you hope to achieve, how many times a week you’ll practice the new habit, and when and where you’ll do it. Having a specific goal helps keep you accountable to yourself. • Reward success. Have a reward in place to celebrate performing your new habit. It has to be something that will motivate you to complete your habit. • Stack habits. The neural pathways of your pre-existing habits are well-traveled routes in your brain. You can take advantage of this by building a new habit and associating it with an old one that’s well established. This is a quicker way to create new habits than if you started from scratch. For example, if you want to create a new habit of exercising in the morning, and you have a habit of reading the newspaper every morning, tie these activities together by exercising immediately before you read the paper. Reading the paper becomes your reward. When you learn how simple it is to change habits, you’ll want to make adjustments to all areas of your life. (Carter is a Lt. Col. in the U.S. Army, and an expert in human performance and physiology.)

Ralston Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Ralston Senior Center, 7301 Q St., this month for the following: • July 9: Bus trip to WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa. The bus leaves @ 7:30 a.m. and returns around 4 p.m. The cost is $5. Call Dorothy @ 402-553-4874 for reservations. • July 10: Board meeting @ 10 a.m. • July 11 & 25: Line dancing @ 10 a.m. Bingo @ 1 p.m. • July 31: The Merrymakers present music by Kim Eames @ noon. The center will be closed on July 4. Other activities include exercise on Tuesday and Friday @ 10 a.m. Lunch is catered in on Wednesdays. A $4.50 contribution is requested. Reservations are due by noon the Tuesday before the meal you wish to enjoy. Call Diane @ 402-8858895 for reservations. The handicapped-accessible facility can be used for weddings, memorial services, reunions, etc. on weekends. The center will be closed on any day the Ralston Public Schools are closed due to the weather. For more information, please call Diane West @ 402339-4926.

Fremont Friendship Center

You’re invited to visit the Fremont Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St. (Christensen Field), for the following: • July 2, 23, & 30: Bingo @ 12:30 p.m. • July 3: Hints with Home Instead @ 9:30 a.m. followed by music from The Links @ 10 a.m. • July 5 & 15: Chair volleyball @ 9:30 a.m. • July 17: Cinnamon rolls with Nye @ 8:45 a.m. and music by Tim Javorsky. • July 19 & 26: Bingo @ 10:30 a.m. • July 22: Movie Monday with Marv’s marvelous popENOA needs vols to serve as Higher education associated with corn @ 9:30 a.m. • July 24: Board meeting @ 9:15 a.m. followed by muLong-term Care Ombudsmen delayed onset of cognitve decline sic by George and the Juniors @ 10:30 a.m. he Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging • July 31: Music by Johnny Ray Gomez @ 10:30 a.m. Exercising the brain by learning and is looking for men and women age 21 thinking is known to improve cognition. The center will be closed on July 4 and July 8 to 12. and older to join its Long-term Care Walking in the main arena Tuesday through Thursday Now a new study by Stony Brook UniverOmbudsman Program which is co-sponfrom 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. is encouraged. sity researchers reveals higher education is sored by the Nebraska State Ombudsman The Fremont Friendship Center is open Monday through associated with later onset of Alzheimer’sProgram. Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to related accelerated cognitive declines. ENOA’s Long-term Care Ombudsmen Their findings were published online in the 1 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. A $4 contribution is volunteer in local long-term care facilities suggested for lunch. Journal of Gerontology. and assisted living communities to protect Reservations must be made by noon the business day The research was sponsored by the Nathe residents’ rights, well-being, and quality tional Institute of Health’s National Institute prior to the meal you wish to enjoy. of life. For meal reservations and more information, please call of Aging. Long-term Care Ombudsmen must comLaurie at 402-727-2815. In summarizing the study, lead author plete 20 hours of initial classroom training Sean Clouston, PhD, Associate Professor of and 12 hours of additional training every Family, Population and Preventive MediA Caring Community Called HOME! two years. During the training, the voluncine at the Renaissance School of Mediteers learn about the residents’ rights, aging cine at Stony Brook University, says “On issues, Medicare, Medicaid, communicaaverage, those who had four years more of Independent tion skills, how to investigate the residents’ education had 2.3 years of longer healthy & Assisted complaints, the importance of confidentiallife expectancy without Alzheimer’s-related Living ity, and about the federal and state rules, symptoms than those with less education.” regulations, and laws regarding Nebraska’s The study took a representative cohort of • No Entrance Fee long-term care facilities and assisted living U.S. residents and their levels of education. • Medicaid Waiver Approved communities. The cohort consisted of more than 28,000 • All Utilities & Housekeeping Included Before being assigned to a long-term care individuals from the Health and Retirement • Spacious 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments facility or an assisted living community, Study (HRS). Alzheimer’s disease was new volunteers will make four visits to a determined by an accelerated rate of decline site with an experienced Ombudsman Advo- in episodic memory consistent with sympcate to learn more about what the program toms of the disease. The researchers looked entails. After a three-month probationary at episodic memory results from the cohort period, the new volunteers are certified as starting at age 50 plus then every two years Ombudsman Advocates. for up to 20 years of observation. Certified Ombudsman Advocates will Clouston and colleagues concluded the be assigned to a long-term care facility or results are consistent with cognitive reserve an assisted living community where they’ll theory, which suggests activities challengvisit for two hours a week to meet with ing the brain improve the brain’s ability administrators, residents, and the residents’ to stave off symptoms of Alzheimer’s and family members to address concerns. related diseases. For more information about ENOA’s Further study, suggest the authors, 49th & Q Street • 402-731-2118 Long-term Care Ombudsman Program, should involve research that seeks to differplease call Beth Nodes at 402-444entiate between specific dementia types in www.southviewheightsomaha.com 6536. large scale population models.

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Joan works behind the scenes to bring the arts center stage By Nick Schinker Contributing Writer

he lead role Joan Squires has played the past 17 years as the one and only president of Omaha Performing Arts puts her work center stage but keeps her forever behind the scenes. And she likes it that way. From where she stands, Squires hears the thundering applause for every amazing performer and Broadway production Omaha Performing Arts brings to town. She has witnessed the power of The Lion King as it parades down the aisles and fills the stage at the majestic Orpheum Theater, and listened to every lilting note of jazz legend Wynton Marsalis at the stateof-the-art Holland Performing Arts Center. Her place to watch is not the front row but the very back of each theater. Nothing escapes her there. “I love every aspect of my job,” Squires says, “but being in the back of the hall, watching the audience respond to the great art and performers we present is extremely gratifying.”

quires was born in Shippensburg, Pa., and has a twin brother, John. Their father, Jack, was the third generation to run a business that started as a jewelry store and evolved into a music store, then one that sells appliances and electronics. Her dad also performed in a jazz band for several years after college, while her mother, Mildred, was a homemaker. Joan started playing the piano in second grade and the organ in

seventh grade. She recalls a busy childhood as an accompanist for her school choruses, musicals, and show choir. Professionally, Squires has a resume that could fill a theater program. After earning her bachelor’s degree in music education from Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania, Squires taught elementary and high school vocal music in her hometown for three years. She went on to the University of Michigan, where she became the first student to earn a dual master’s degree in business administration and arts administration. “I really enjoyed the arts administration portion of the degree program,” she recalls. “I was exposed to some really good behind the scenes opportunities in Ann Arbor. I liked being part of the team that was helping artists present their work to an audience.” Squires says she had no desire to perform. “Helping those people perform – that was my calling.” Upon graduation from Michigan, Squires was one of eight people accepted into the League of American Orchestras’ fellowship program, where she learned by serving with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Florida Orchestra in Tampa, and the Houston Symphony. “I was doing everything: marketing, development, finance,” she says. “I had exposure to the entire operation. It was a very high-level internship, and it was wonderful.” She followed that experience working with orchestras in Houston and Salt Lake City, eventually

Squires with actor and Millard South High School graduate Adam Devine. In November 2018, Devine received the Mayor’s Proclamation during Adam Devine Day in Omaha.

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Joan and the late advertising executive and philanthropist Richard Holland, a founding board member of Omaha Performing Arts. Holland died in 2016 at age 95. filling leadership positions with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Phoenix Symphony. It was while she was working in Phoenix that she got a call from a headhunter. There was a marvelous job available; the founding of a performing arts organization. The headhunter offered plenty of details about the position, but she would not tell Squires the name of the city. Apparently, the headhunter thought Omaha might be a tough sell. “I had heard of Omaha, but I was not quite sure where it was,” Squires recalls. “I had to look it up on the map.” With the new millennium came a resurgence of hope and growth in Omaha, particularly along the riverfront and downtown. There were huge projects underway or planned, including the Gallup University campus, an arena and convention center, and the Union Pacific Center. There was also an as-yet unnamed project in the planning phase that held particular promise. In 1999, community leaders had engaged Heritage Services to work with HDR, Inc. on a design for a possible performing arts center. One year later, Omaha Performing Arts Society had become a registered nonprofit organization. The same year, Ennead Architects was engaged to work with HDR on design of the performing arts center, while acousticians Kirkegaard Associates of Chicago and theater consultants Fisher Dachs Associates of New York were hired to provide advice on the project and a renovation of the Orpheum Theater. In 2001, the Omaha Performing Arts Society (which would evolve into Omaha Performing Arts) announced a fundraising campaign that would eventually exceed $107 million. Hearing about all this, Squires was definitely intrigued. “The more I found out, especially when I saw the world-class design

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team and tremendous community support, I became very excited to be part of what was happening here,” she says. “That, and the fact that there was no other major performing arts presenter in town.” She accepted the job in 2002 and hit the pavement running. Three years later, the Holland Performing Arts Center made its debut. Omaha Performing Arts, which in 2004 launched Ticket Omaha, has its administrative offices on the second floor at the Holland. In the years that have followed, neither Squires’ momentum, nor her vision for performing arts presentations, education, and outreach, have slowed one bit.

n the late 1980s, Squires met Tom Fay, a professional musician who had played second oboe for the Pittsburgh Symphony before moving on to arts administration and then academics. They were married in 1991. Fay served as vice president of the Arizona State University Foundation before moving with Squires to Omaha, where he took a similar position with the College of Saint Mary. After battling Lewy body dementia for many years, Fay died in 2016. Squires fills the majority of her time with her work. Even her volunteer activities are focused on the performing arts. She is a voting member for Broadway’s Tony Awards and was recently elected to the Broadway League Board of Governors, where she also serves as co-chair of the Audience Engagement Committee. Joan is active in numerous professional organizations and has spoken at conferences. Squires was selected by National Arts Strategies as one of 20 international arts leaders to participate in the inaugural year of the Chief Executive Series. She has served regularly as a panelist for the Na--Please turn to page 9.

Squires, OPA helping to raise the quality of life for Nebraskans

Squires with two Radio City Rockettes during their 2014 visit to Omaha where they danced at the Orpheum Theater.

Joan in New York City at the Tony Awards. Squires was recently elected to the Broadway League Board of Governors.

Joan and Carol Burnett after the legendary comedienne’s performance at Omaha’s Kiewit Concert Hall. --Continued from page 8. tional Endowment for the Arts. She is a trustee of the Business Ethics Alliance, a board member for the Nebraska Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, and a past board member of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce. Squires has also been honored many times for her arts management career. A past president of the Performing Arts Center Consortium and past president of Arts Omaha, she is a recipient of the Governor’s Arts Award, was named to the AkSar-Ben Court of Honor for her leadership role in the arts, and was named one of Musical America’s 30 “Movers and Shapers” for 2017. She received the Samuel J. L’Hommedieu Award for Outstanding Achievement in Presenter Management from the Broadway League in 2017, and served as a 2018 co-chair for the national Broadway League Spring Road Conference. Most recently, she was recognized as “Midlander of the Year” for 2018 by The Omaha World-Herald and was named a “Woman of Distinction” by the Midlands Business Journal. She has also been recognized as a Women’s Center for Advancement “Woman of Distinction.” A runner who has participated in half-marathons, Squires sets a pace for herself – and for Omaha Performing Arts – that few others could match. “I am so proud of the depth and breadth of the programs we offer for all ages, all communities, all people,” she says. “So many op-

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portunities exist today for students across the state that never existed before Omaha Performing Arts. Can we still accomplish more? Yes. Let’s keep going.”

quires is eager to guide Omaha Performing Arts down a road that has no speed limit. From expanding outreach and educational programs, to adding nearly $48 million to the Omaha economy every year, to the anticipation surrounding the Broadway blockbuster Hamilton on stage at the Orpheum this September, Squires continues to prove that anything is possible. “Omaha Performing Arts is more than a presenter,” she says. “Not everyone can get to New York to see great performers and musicians, but we can bring them here. We help raise the quality of life here, and that is an important aspect of what we do that often gets missed. “There is nothing that replicates a live performance, and I believe today more than ever we need that shared experience.” What comes after Hamilton? Squires will only smile. “There are always shows to bring in,” she says. “We are constantly determining the next phase, how we can better serve all parts of our community. I can’t imagine doing anything else.” Seventeen years of sold-out performances and standing ovations. It’s a run any Broadway star would appreciate. Even from behind the scenes.

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Hearing Loss Association

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The Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America, a support group for hard of hearing adults, will meet next on Tuesday, July 8 at Dundee Presbyterian Church, 5312 Underwood Ave. Participants are asked to enter the church on the Happy Hollow (east) side. The 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. meetings feature social time and a speaker. The Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America meets the second Tuesday of each month from September through December and March through August. For more information, please contact Verla Hamilton at 402-558-6449 or verlahamilton@cox.net.

Outdoor concert The Nebraska Wind Symphony and its affiliated swing band, the Swingtones, will perform a free outdoor concert on July 4 at 6 p.m. The 80-piece community band, directed by Larry MacTaggart, and the 18-member Swingtones, led by Brian Lund, will perform at the SumpTur Amphitheater, 11691 S. 108th St. in Papillion. Wind Symphony music will include John Phillip Sousa’s Semper Fidelis and Nobles of the Mystic Shine. Swingtones’ selections will include classics made famous by a variety of popular big bands. For more information, please call 402-216-0122 or visit nebraskawindsymphony.com.

Omaha recreation centers

en and women age 75 and older are encouraged to use the City of Omaha’s community centers at no cost for open gym, weight areas, open and lap swimming, aquacise, and ice skating. Tai Chi classes are offered at the following locations and times: • Adams Park 3230 John Creighton Blvd. Mondays & Wednesdays 9:15 a.m.

• Camelot 9270 Cady Ave Tuesdays & Fridays 10:30 a.m. • Florence 2920 Bondesson Ave. Mondays & Wednesdays 10:30 a.m. • Montclair 2304 S. 135th Ave. Thursdays 8:30 a.m. For more information, please call 402-444-4228.

Alzheimer’s support groups The Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska Chapter offers several caregiver support groups and specialty support groups in Cass, Douglas, Washington, Dodge, and Sarpy counties. These support groups offer valuable space and educational opportunities for families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of dementia to engage and learn. For more information about any of the groups listed below, please call 800-272-3900. DODGE COUNTY • FREMONT Second Tuesday @ 5:30 p.m. The Heritage at Shalimar Gardens 749 E. 29th St. DOUGLAS COUNTY • OMAHA Second Thursday @ 10 a.m. Second Thursday @ 5:30 p.m. Country House Residences 5030 S. 155th St. Call Christina @ 402-980-4995 for free adult day services. Every other Monday @ 7 p.m. Brighton Gardens 9220 Western Ave. First & third Monday @ 1:30 p.m. New Cassel’s Franciscan Centre 900 N. 90th St. Call Melanie @ 402-393-2113 for free adult day services. Third Tuesday @ 5 p.m. Immanuel Fontenelle First floor classroom 6809 N 68th Plz. Second Tuesday @ 6:45 p.m. For caregivers of individuals with an intellectual disabilty/dementia. Barbara Weitz Center 6001 Dodge St. (UNO campus)

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First Thursday @ 6:45 p.m. King of Kings Lutheran Church CORE Conference Room 11615 I St. Call Karen @ 402-584-9088 to arrange for adult day services. Third Tuesday @ 6 p.m. Temple Israel 13111 Sterling Ridge Dr. SARPY COUNTY • BELLEVUE Third Monday @ 7 p.m. Bellevue Senior Center 109 W. 22nd Ave. First Wednesday @ 1 p.m. Eastern Nebraska Vets Home (Vets and non-vets welcome) 12505 S. 40th St. • PAPILLION Fourth Thursday @ 6 p.m. Hillcrest Grand Lodge 6021 Grand Lodge Ave. WASHINGTON COUNTY • BLAIR Third Wednesday @ 6 p.m. Memorial Community Hospital Howard Conference Room 810 N. 22nd St.

Dentistry features 10 specialties Collaboration is a key to success in many fields, and it’s no different or less important in dentistry. Your family dentist is the fulcrum of your oral treatment – the one you see annually for checkups and general dental care. But numerous specialists may also be involved to address specific areas of treatment, and in the process, recommendations and information sharing between specialists and/or the family dentist may be required for optimal patient results. There are 10 dental specialties recognized by the American Dental Association. For specialized or complex cases, your dentist may interact with one or more of those different providers while on the overall mission of comprehensive patient care. “Part of the reason for collaboration is to ensure a smooth transition in care,” says D. Douglas Depew, a Georgia-based orthodontist and author of Change Your Smile, Change Your Life: Your Guide to Orthodontic Treatment (depewsmiles.com). “It also lets us educate other providers about what we do, and about where they can send patients whose problems are outside their scope of experience and expertise. I meet monthly with several dentists and specialists to discuss these more complex cases and develop treatment plans. “We want those connections so we can do the same for patients in referring them to other specialists, giving patients good options for different treatments. By meeting with other providers and sharing knowledge, we’re able to continually improve patient care across the industry.” Depew notes five types of dentists and specialists in particular whose teamwork with orthodontists and other dental professionals is important in overall patient care: • General dentists. “They monitor overall oral health and seek assistance for the more advanced procedures,” Depew says. “They do so much – performing cleanings, fillings, crowns, bridges, and more – yet one of their most vital skills is communicating with the network of specialists at the outset of a problem. The communication and collaboration between the general dental team and the orthodontic team are important to achieving successful outcomes.” • Endodontists. “Patients are often referred to an endodontist by their family dentist,” Depew says. “They primarily perform root canals to help save teeth from extraction when the pulp becomes diseased.” • Oral and maxillofacial surgeons. These specialists perform procedures such as extractions, implants, and jaw alignment surgery. “They specialize in treating issues impacting the hard and soft tissues of the jaw, face, head, and neck,” Depew says. • Periodontists. “They deal with diseases or conditions that affect the tissues of the mouth that support the teeth,” Depew says. “Moving teeth requires healthy gums, so some patients with issues such as gum disease or bone damage that threatens the loss of a tooth will work with a periodontist before getting braces. Periodontists are also trained to place and maintain dental implants.” • Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ) and sleep-therapy specialists. “Sometimes during an exam, we find out that a patient is dealing with problems associated with a TMJ disorder or sleep disorders,” Depew says. “These are complex issues that are challenging to fit into a busy orthodontic practice since they usually need multidisciplinary care. Depending on the diagnosis, there can be orthodontic solutions or referrals to specialists of other therapies or even surgeries. “Training and experience make all the difference in any specialist and for a patient,” Depew says. “It matters who is providing your care depending on the issue you are dealing with.”

DAV needs volunteer drivers The Disabled American Veterans need volunteers to drive veterans one day a week to and from the VA Medical Center, 4101 Woolworth Ave. in Omaha. While the volunteer drivers don’t need to be veterans, they do need a valid driver’s license, and be able to pass a drug screening and

a Department of Transportation physical given at the VA Medical Center. Drivers will be given a lunch voucher on the day they volunteer for the DAV. For more information, contact Command Sergeant Major (retired) Lance Fouquet at 402-505-1482 or sgmman1447@gmail.com.

Parents/grandparents using retirement funds to purchase homes for younger family members

n 2018, more than one million American parents and grandparents ponied up $41 billion to help younger family members buy a first home. Fifty-four percent of these funds came out of the parents/grandparents’ cash savings for retirement. Almost one in six of these “Bank of Mom and Day (BoMaD)” lenders are accepting a lower standard of living, according to research sponsored by the Legal & General Group, a global asset management company. The recently released study found 29 percent of U.S. parents and grandparents surveyed provided financial assistance to children and grandchildren who were purchasing property. However, 15 percent believe they’re financially worse off as a result; and 14 percent said they feel their financial future is now less secure. Seven percent of BoMaD lenders postponed retirement after helping family get onto the housing ladder, 39 percent of these by three or more years. “The Bank of Mom and Dad is playing a major role in the U.S. housing market, but the generosity and support many people choose to provide family members is compromising their own quality of life,” said Nigel Wilson, chief executive for the Legal and General Group. “This generation is helping kids and grandkids purchase property throughout the country, but it would appear many don’t really have sufficient wealth to do so without impacting their own retirement plans. It’s disturbing to see some Moms and Dads have had to postpone retirement to help.” The number of lenders accepting a lower standard of living was higher in the MidAtlantic states, with more than a quarter of respondents from this region also feeling less financially secure. Despite this, BoMaD lenders still help younger family members navigate the property market, using savings or, as 15 percent of respondents reported, taking out loans to do so. Other sources of funding BoMaD lenders have used, or would consider using to assist family members, include raiding their IRAs or their 401(k)s (8 percent each). Seven percent refinanced their homes, and 6 percent downsized to a smaller property themselves.

Omaha Computer Users Group

ou’re invited to join the Omaha Computer Users Group, an organization dedicated to helping men and women age 50 and older learn about their computers regardless of their skill level. OCUG meets the third Saturday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Swanson Branch Library, 9101 W. Dodge Rd. Participants will have access to a projector connected to a computer with Microsoft Windows 10 to show users how to solve their computer problems. For more information, please call Phill Sherbon at 402-333-6529.

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aving reached a deserved stage of rest after a long life of work, and in many cases having already substantially helped their kids through college, 5 percent came out of retirement to help their kids toward a lifestyle they may have come to expect growing up in the relatively greater affluence of previous decades. The BoMaD study also found that lenders – operating on an emotional basis – were unlikely to take professional advice when helping their kids and grandkids financially. Before gifting or loaning the money, 48 percent of respondents wouldn’t seek any professional advice about their choice. “Whatever the source of their funds, only a quarter of BoMaD lenders sought advice before they helped their kids financially. That number is surprisingly low,” Wilson said. “As an industry, we should encourage more people to seek advice to make sure helping younger family members won’t leave them short of money in later life or concerned about their own financial future.” Other key findings from the study include: • 37 percent of BoMaD lenders give the money outright, meaning they don’t expect to recoup any of the funds. Another 33 percent provided a loan with no interest. • 23 percent of parents and grandparents helped first-time buyers, while 4 percent helped those upsizing. • Those unable or unwilling to help family members financially cited three main reasons: low income (25 percent of respondents); the belief family members should be self-reliant (20 percent); and a lack of their own savings (13 percent). • 51 percent of lenders think it’s harder for younger generations to buy a home than it was for them, citing out-of-sight property prices (71 percent) and incomes not increasing (63 percent). (The Legal & General Group provided this information.

WHITMORE LAW OFFICE Wills • Trusts • Probate

Ask A Lawyer: Q — What is the difference between a Power of Attorney and an Executor? A — The holder of your Power of Attorney can act for you only during your lifetime. It can be effective immediately or only after you become incapacitated. The power can be quite broad or limited to specific areas, such as banking. It ends at death or if you should become able once again to act for yourself. An Executor (or Personal Representative) is the person who is responsible for settling the estate after death, carrying out the last wishes of the deceased. Have a question about estate planning? Give us a call!

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Know the differences between normal aging, early signs of Alzheimer’s By Ginny Czechut

orgetfulness is a normal part of aging. You may forget someone’s birthday or why you went into a room. Sometimes forgetfulness can be an indicator of a more serious concern such as Alzheimer’s disease. Normal changes that occur with aging can be confused with the signs of early Alzheimer’s disease. Maybe you forgot the day of the week but remembered it later, or you transposed numbers when balancing your checkbook. Sometimes you might need help to understand new or unfamiliar tasks, or you misplace items from time to time. Knowing what’s typical of aging and not a sign of Alzheimer’s can ease your fears as you get older. There are early signs a person is developing Alzheimer’s disease. If you notice these signs, please visit a physician and seek early treatment. • Memory loss. One of the most common signs of

early Alzheimer’s disease is forgetting information that was recently learned. Other signs include forgetting important dates, having to be reminded of information over and over, or relying on someone to help you remember information you were once able to remember on your own. Questions become repetitive. • Planning or problem solving becomes difficult. It may take you more time to make a decision than it did previously. Sometimes following a recipe or working with numbers may cause trouble. • Difficulty completing familiar tasks. You may find it difficult to concentrate or complete routine tasks. The ability to drive, for example, is compromised. • You can’t make a decision. You may find yourself unwilling to bathe or change your clothes daily, or you find yourself making poor financial decisions. • Time or place is confused. You may have a difficult time remembering

how you got somewhere. You may also be confused about the time of year, or even lose track of the passage of time. Planning an event is a struggle. • Vision is impaired. Judging distance or determining colors while driving or reading is increasingly difficult. • Speaking or formulating words becomes difficult. Following or joining a conversation may present a problem for individuals with Alzheimer’s. You may forget how to continue a conversation once it’s started or forget how to finish a sentence. You may also have issues with vocabulary and use the wrong word for a common item. • Interest is lost in work or social activities. Because of the changes experienced, a person with Alzheimer’s may distance themselves from social situations, work, or favorite hobbies. • Items are lost, and steps can’t be retraced. Common items are often put

away in strange places, such as putting the keys into the freezer. • Mood and personality may change. With all the changes happening to an individual facing Alzheimer’s disease, it’s easy to understand why they may become confused, anxious, irritable, fearful, or suspicious. One, several, or all of these signs could indicate you’re in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. The best course of action is to visit a physician as soon as possible. Keep specific notes of the types of behavior you’re

experiencing and talk with a physician about them. Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease allows for the best opportunities for treatment, support, and planning for the future. There are many resources available locally for support. While there’s no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, symptoms can sometimes be treated, and some medications can help improve memory loss. Your doctor is your first and best ally in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. (Czechut is with the Florence Home Healthcare Center in Omaha.)

Omaha Fire Deparment The Omaha Fire Department’s Public Education and Affairs Department will install free smoke and/or carbon monoxide detectors inside the homes of area residents. 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 1516 Jackson St. Omaha, Neb. 68102 For more information, please call 402-444-3560.

Millard Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Millard Senior Center at Montclair, 2304 S. 135th Ave., this month for the following: • July 3: African dressmaking @ 9 a.m. • July 5: Treat Day. • July 9: Visiting Nurse Association presentation on Getting Back on Track @ 10:45 a.m. • July 10: Board meeting @ 9:45 a.m. • July 11: Dominoes @ 12:30 p.m. • July 17: Indoor picnic follows a 10 a.m. presentation on the Henry Doorly Zoo. Sign up by July 12. • July 23: Movie outing. Time and movie we’ll attend will be announced later. • July 23: Blood pressure checks @ 9:30 a.m. • July 30: Alzheimer’s Association presentation on the Early Warning Signs @ 10 a.m. The facility will be closed on July 4. The center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch is served @ 11:30 a.m. A $4 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the meal the participant wishes to enjoy. Other center activities include walking, card games, dominoes, quilting, needlework, chair volleyball, and bingo. For reservations or more information, please call 402546-1270. Charles E. Dorwart Govier, Katskee, Suing, & Maxell, PC, LLO 37 years of legal experience • Wills • Living Trusts • Probate • Healthcare and Financial Powers of Attorney • Medicaid Planning • In-home consultations • Free Initial consultation 10404 Essex Court • Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 Office: (402) 558-1404 or (402) 391-1697 chuck@katskee.com

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July 2019

Cigarettes impact your health, the environment By Kate Harveston

hoosing to smoke cigarettes results in a score of unpleasant side effects such as increased chances of developing upper respiratory infections, COPD, and lung cancer. While many smokers attempt to quit due to their knowledge of the potential health risks, few people consider the impact cigarettes have on the planet. Cigarettes pose significant risks to the air, the earth, and the water supply. They release toxic chemicals into the atmosphere, and most contain filters that won’t biodegrade for decades. Those concerned about saving the environment can keep the threat to the planet in mind as an additional motivating factor to help stop smoking. Cigarettes release particulates into the air just as car exhaust does. One sobering research study suggests cigarette smoke emits toxins at rates higher than diesel emissions. Cigarettes contain known carcinogens such as formaldehyde and benzene. Additionally, the smoke contains toxins like ammonia, carbon dioxide, and cyanide. These toxins do irreversible damage to physical health and to appearance. In fact, one study found smokers can lose anywhere from one to three teeth every 10 years due to tobacco. Research also reveals many cigarettes contain radioactive elements which may influence why many smokers stand a higher risk of developing other forms of cancer outside the lungs. These radioactive emissions may also impact the genetic code of non-human animals exposed to secondhand smoke. Just as human babies born to mothers who smoke run higher risks of suffering birth defects, newborn animals exposed to smoke may face problems due to changes in their DNA. Smokers who switch to e-cigarettes continue to harm the air everyone breathes. Even though these devices cut down on the amount of sticky tar that turns smokers’ teeth yellow, they nevertheless release toxic chemicals into the air. For the past 32 years, the number one type of waste collected by those in beach cleanup crews was cigarette butts. Cigarettes make up a larger percentage of ocean pollution than plastic straws, wrappers, and bottles. Even when smokers dispose of cigarettes by flushing them down toilets, storm drains carry them to the sea. The materials in cigarette filters prove deadly to many aquatic animals. Animals such as fish and turtles mistake the butts for food, resulting in a build-up that blocks the digestive tract leading to painful death by starvation. Because the plastics used in cigarette filters take a full decade or more to biodegrade, even if every smoker kicked the habit today, the unnecessary deaths will continue for years to come. The production of cigarettes requires the chopping down of trees. Many of these trees come from the rainforest, where deforestation for other purposes has already eradicated irreplaceable plant and animal species. Furthermore, the production process cigarettes undergo also release toxins into the air and soil. Soil degradation due to industrial pollution renders otherwise arable land unfit for planting crops. Given that approximately one in seven humans struggle to get enough to eat, destroying land that could be used to raise corn or soybeans squanders limited resources and contributes to world hunger. Cigarettes create physical and mental addictions, meaning simply going cold turkey causes unpleasant side effects that revert many to their prior ways. The average smoker tries to quit 30 times before finally kicking the habit for good. Fortunately, ample free resources exist to help smokers banish the butts. In the U.S., the government devotes resources to phone and text support lines that help smok-

Widowed Persons Group of Omaha

he Widowed Persons Group of Omaha hosts a luncheon the third Monday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at

Jerico’s Restaurant, 11732 W. Dodge Rd. For more information, please call 402-278-1731 or 402-493-0452.

ers stay the course when the temptation to return to the habit grows too much to handle. Online support groups and social media networks offer additional ways for those trying to quit to get the help they need. Those with a serious physical addiction to nicotine benefit from patches that gradually reduce the amount of the toxin in their blood, easing side effects. Certain antidepressants such as Chantix help those wishing to quit overcome the psychological need for tobacco. Other smoking cessation aids include chewing on toothpicks to overcome the need to have something in the mouth. Replacing smoke breaks with non-toxic water cooler gossip sessions also help. Those men and women who are struggling to kick the cigarette habit can take comfort in the fact their efforts will have a positive environmental impact. Some may find additional motivation to quit from knowing how their habit harms far more than their own health. By educating consumers about the consequences smoking has on the planet, our society may finally break free from tobacco addiction. (E the Environmental Magazine provided this information.)

Lifespan Respite Network Did you know there are more than 219,000 identified family caregivers in Nebraska? Family Caregivers need an occasional break and the Nebraska Lifespan Respite Network can assist with respite funding or finding a respite provider. Please contact your local respite coordinator at 1-866-RESPITE (1-866-737-7483) or go online to nrrs.ne.gov/respite for more information.

RSVP RSVP is recruiting men and women age 55 and older for a variety of volunteer opportunities. For more information in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties, please call 402-444-6536, ext. 1024. In Dodge and Washington counties, please call 402-721-7780. • The VA Medical Center needs volunteers. • Partnership 4 Kids is looking for volunteers to mentor students. • Food Bank for the Heartland needs volunteers to help with the SNAP program. • The Fremont Low-Income Ministry wants volunteers for its food pantry.

Central High Class of ’53 reunion The Omaha Central High School class of 1953 will reunite on Friday, July 19 at Jerico’s Restaurant, 11723 W. Dodge Rd. The event – which begins at noon – will feature fun, games, memories, food, entertainment by Yesterday’s Kids, and prizes. For more information, please call Connie Stillwell at 402-333-6460.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

edicare beneficiaries can elect to have their Medicare Part D premiums and Medicare Advantage premiums automatically deducted from their Social Security checks which the Social Security Administration then pays directly to the plan administrators. In early 2019, the Social Security Administration failed to properly withhold these premiums or make payments to the plans for thousands of Medicare beneficiaries. While the issue has been resolved, beneficiaries continue to face the risk of coverage loss and confusion. This issue impacts beneficiaries who newly enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan or in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan in January 2019 who requested their premiums be automatically withheld. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) estimates there are 250,000 individuals who may be impacted. Low-income beneficiaries who don’t pay premiums aren’t impacted by this issue. Impacted beneficiaries will receive a bill from their Part D or Medicare Advantage plan requesting payment for the unpaid premiums. Plans are required to provide the beneficiary with a grace period at least equal to the length of the delay in billing. For more information, beneficiaries can call their plan directly or (toll free)1-800-MEDICARE.

July 2019

• The Blair and Fremont Car-Go Program needs volunteers to drive older adults to their appointments once or twice a week. • Care Corps Family Services is looking for volunteers Thursdays from 1:30 to 5 p.m. • Fremont’s Habitat for Humanity wants volunteers for a variety of duties. • Fremont Health needs volunteers. • Nye Legacy Health & Rehabilitation is looking for volunteers to help with its bingo games Tuesdays @ 2 p.m. • Premier Estates of Fremont wants volunteers to assist its activity director.

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Keeping History Alive

Wings of Freedom coming to Eppley Airfield July 19 to 21

he Collings Foundation is bringing its Wings of Freedom Tour to Omaha’s Eppley Airfield July 19

to 21. The event will allow visitors to tour five famous restored WWII bomber and fighter aircraft. Participants will also have an opportunity to fly and/or to get some “stick time” aboard the planes. Guests will get an up-close look at the B-17 Flying Fortress, a B-24 Liberator, a B-25 Mitchell, a P-51 Mustang, and a P-40 Warhawk. Show times at Eppley’s TAC Air, 3737 Orville Plz., are 2 to 5 p.m. on July 19, and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 20 and 21. Walk-through tours are $15 for adults and $5 for persons age 12 and younger. Proceeds, which go to the Collings Foundation’s Keeping History Alive program, are used for the continuing operation of these historic aircraft. For more information, please call 800568-8924.

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Brain exercises can help slow cognitive decline, risk of dementia By Dr. John DenBoer

ment helps to improve memory and mental prohe term “dementia” refers to a progressive, accessing abilities. The Guardcelerated aging of the brain. Those with demen- ian referenced multiple tia gradually lose their memory and their ability studies which demonstrate to perform everyday tasks which results in a learning a musical instruloss of independence, dignity, and time. I’ve ment increases the capacity seen my grandmother go through dementia, so I know how and strengthens the longincredibly sad it is to see loved ones lose their precious range connections between memories, vibrancy, and abilities to recognize even their various regions of the brain. family. It also referenced research Since there’s no cure for dementia, it can seem hopeless which showed musical to try and stave it off. However, we can mitigate cognitive training also enhances verdecline and the risk of developing dementia. All it takes is a bal memory, spatial reasonbit of brain exercise. ing, and literacy skills, such Your brain is like a muscle – to keep it strong and resilthat professional musicians ient – you need to flex it. usually outperform non-muEssentially, the aim of the game is to release glutamate, a sicians on these abilities. key brain transmitter associated with learning and memory • Enjoy some brain that’s released when we learn new and novel information. games: Games are, by Glutamate plays a critical role in cognition and in forming nature, fun, but can also and maintaining memories, so triggering its release is a sure be transformative for our way to keep your brain in shape. brains. They’re also easier Let’s look at some of the most effective ways to help than learning Sanskrit or the this: violin. • Learn a new language: Learning a language forces Challenging brain games you to think in a completely new way and has been shown are a hugely effective way to improve memory, attention span, and significantly reduce to increase the production of the risk of age-related cognitive decline. glutamate, and in-turn mitiThe Eton Institute highlighted fascinating research from gate dementia and memory Toronto’s York University, which found that bilinguals may loss. have a resistance to the onset of dementia, being diagnosed, When it comes to chooson average, 4.5 years later than aging peers who speak just ing brain games, masterone language. ing your local newspaper’s • Learn a new instrument: There’s arguably an artist crossword, or working your inside all of us, but we don’t often give ourselves the time way through a book of suto unleash our creative streak. Learning a musical instrudoku won’t cut it. To work ment isn’t only effective in appeasing your inner rock star effectively, you’ll need to or orchestral virtuoso, but also for improving your memory choose a variety of different and other cognitive skills. brain games that work the Several studies have shown learning a musical instrubrain’s different cognitive

THEOS

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

Elder Justice Training scheduled for Aug. 20

are encouraged to meet for a fun afternoon and to sign up for other activities throughout the month. For more information, please call Dorothy at 402399-0759 or Mary at 402393-3052.

NARFE

he National Active and Retired Federal Employees’ Chapter 144 meets the first Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at the Amazing Pizza Machine, 13955 S Plz. For more information, please call 402-292-1156. The National Active and Retired Federal Employees’ Aksarben Chapter 1370 meets the second Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at the Amazing Pizza Machine, 13955 S Plz. For more information, please call 402-342-4351.

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New Horizons

functions. For example, choose games that test memory, attention, and concentration, processing speed, executive function, mood, psychological, and/or speech, and language. Some games will focus on just one area, others will cover several. The key is to ensure all these areas are exercised or trained through the games you play. During my neuropsychological studies at the Boston University School of Medicine and Harvard University, I conducted a randomized clinical trial between 2004 and 2007 into the effects of cognitive intervention – essentially brain exercises – on mitigating and helping to prevent or delay the onset of dementia. The results showed brain games were so effective in staving off dementia that it inspired me to create Brain U, a program specifically designed to delay the onset of dementia with more than 20,000 cognitive exercises. This collection flexes the five main cognitive functions of the brain: processing speed, executive function, speech and language, memory, and attention and concentration. Another study published in JAMA Psychiatry which involved more than 15,000 older, dementia-free, Chinese adults also suggested taking part in intellectual activities such as reading books, newspapers, or magazines, and playing board games during later life was associated with a lower risk of dementia. • Look after your physical health: Your brain and body are deeply connected, so keeping your body healthy, particularly your heart, is crucial to keeping your brain healthy. As such, it’s important to get enough exercise, don’t smoke, eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep, and keep stress levels low. Keep doing the things that make you happy and find ways to incorporate some of the science-backed methods which keep your mind healthy into your everyday life. (Dr. DenBoer is the founder of SMART Brain Aging, a healthcare technology company delivering the world’s first science-backed online cognitive training program, Brain U Online. Brain U’s program, offers more than 20,000 new and novel brain exercises. For more information, log on to smartbrainaging.com)

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he Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services’ State Unit on Aging, AARP Nebraska, the University of NebraskaOmaha’s Department of Gerontology, the Creighton University School of Law, the Nebraska Bankers Association, and Legal Aid of Nebraska are co-sponsoring the 2019 Elder Justice Training on Tuesday, Aug. 20. This 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. session is open to profes-

sionals including long-term care facility adminsistrators, attorneys, bankers, law enforcement officials, and medical professionals. The program will be streamed live from Lincoln by the Nebraska Educational Television Network and is available for viewers at the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, 4780 S. 131st St. The training will encompass a variety of topics including advance directives, a high-profile financial exploitation case review, legal services available to older

Caregiver workshop Flaherty Consulting of Omaha is sponsoring a free workshop titled Creating a Plan for Peace of Mind Short-term and Long-term on Saturday, July 27. The 10 to 11:30 a.m. session will be held at Faith Westwood United Methodist Church, 4814 Oaks Ln. Nancy Flaherty of Flaherty Consulting and Nolan Clare from Clare Senior Advisory will discuss creating short and long-term plans for caregivers and their loved ones. While there’s no fee to attend the program, a free-will offering is requested. Registration, which is required, can be done by sending an email to flahertyconsulting@cox.net.

July 2019

Nebraskans, pharmacy-related issues, and how to deal with fraud and scams. The closing remarks will be given by Kathy Greenlee, president & CEO of Greenlee Global, LLC. Ms. Greenlee is the former Assistant Secretary of Aging in the Administration for Community Living within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The training is free, but registration is required. Visit dhhs.ne.gov/agingtraining to register and for more information.

St. Pius X to host annual garage sale, clothing sale

he Human Needs Committee at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 6905 Blondo St., is sponsoring its 29th annual Ann’s Attic Clothing Sale and its annual parish garage sale July 11 to 13. Most of the used clothing items – which include coats, suits, shoes, belts, ties, socks, and purses – will be sold for less than $2 each. The garage sale offers furniture, games, books, dishes, holiday items, and collectibles. For more information, please call the St. Pius X rectory at 402-558-8446.

Luncheons honor Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions

The 57 Foster Grandparents honored by ENOA recently serve as positive role models for children who need special attention with education, healthcare, and social development in schools, Head Start programs, and child development centers.

ore than 100 older adults who volunteer with the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) and the Senior Companion Program (SCP), were honored recently during separate recognition luncheons at the DC Centre. Sponsored locally by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, the FGP and SCP are national programs of the Corporation for National and Community Service through the Senior Corps. The 57 Foster Grandparents honored serve as positive role models for children who need special attention with education, healthcare, and social development in schools, Head Start programs, and child development centers. The 54 Senior Companions recognized help other older adults maintain their independence by visiting them at home and reading to them, discussing current events, sharing stories, playing cards, etc. Festivities at the luncheons featured a delicious meal and music by Kim Eames (FGP) and the R.D. Stars Entertainment featuring DJ Rod (SCP). The guest speakers were Julie Nash (SCP) and Toni Rupe (FGP) from the Corporation for National and Community Service. For more information about the FGP and the SCP, please call Mary Parker at 402-444-6536.

Florence AARP chapter

he Florence AARP chapter meets monthly at Mountview Presbyterian Church, 5308 Hartman Ave. The programs begin each month with a noon lunch followed by a speaker. For reservations, please call Gerry Goldsborough at 402-571-0971. Rides to the meeting are available by

calling Ruth Kruse at 402453-4825. Here’s are the next two programs: July 15 Shelby Janke Nebraska League of Conservation Voters August 19 Tri-Faith Initiative

The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging recently recognized this group of 54 Senior Companions for their volunteer efforts during the last year. The luncheon was held at the DC Centre.

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July 2019

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Page 15

More than 100 honored

New Cassel Foundation’s ceremony salutes veterans, veterans’ spouses

he New Cassel Foundation’s annual Honoring Our Veterans celebration recognized 50 United States military veterans and 63 spouses of United States military veterans recently

during a standing room only ceremony at the New Cassel Retirement Center, 900 N. 90th St. “The New Cassel Foundation was proud to salute these men and women who live at New Cassel

Guest speaker Steve Jordon passed out gifts to the veterans assisted by New Cassel Foundation President Cindy Petrich (left) and New Cassel Foundation Administrative Assistant Maureen Naumann (middle).

or who are participants at the Franciscan Adult Day Center,” said Cindy Petrich, president of the New Cassel Foundation. “From the youngest to the oldest, we all owe our veterans more than we could ever afford to give,” Petrich continued. “The least we can say is ‘thank you’ on this special day.” Steve Jordon, who retired recently after spending 52 years as a reporter and editor with The Omaha World-Herald, was the guest speaker at the event. Jordon spoke about his life as a military brat and about his father’s Army Air Corps career as a B-24 pilot in England during WWII. Each honored veteran – who served in WWII, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War – received a patriotic gift while each spouse of a veteran was given red, white, and blue flowers courtesy of the Nebraska chapter of Honor and Remember. The festivities concluded with the emotional playing of Taps by members of American Legion Post #1.

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ummer is usually a time for enjoying picnics, swimming, and grilling outdoors. It can also be a time for more poisonings because the days are longer and people are outdoors more. As the seasons and weather change, so do the types of calls to the Nebraska Regional Poison Center. Some examples of calls to the poison center in the summer include bites, stings, insect repellents, hydrocarbons, glow sticks, fireworks, food poisoning, and swimming pool chlorine. • Bites and stings: This category can include bee stings, spider bites, and snake bites. Close observation for an allergic reaction is important, especially in the first hour after a sting. Ice is fine for most stings and bites, with the exception of snake bites. Some of the old wives’ tales about treating bites and stings aren’t correct. Always call the poison center for assistance. • Insect repellents: Only use insect repellents that are meant to be used on the skin. Avoid over-application. The long word for DEET is N,N-diethyl-mtoluamide. Most labels will have the long chemical word listed. Use concentrations of less than 20 percent. A higher concentration doesn’t mean the product will work better. Rather it means it will be effective longer. Use repellents only when outdoors and wash skin with soap and water when coming inside. Picaridin is an odorless synthetic ingredient found in some bug repellents and is a safe alternative to use on children. Follow all label directions. • Hydrocarbons: This category can include gasoline, kerosene, lighter fluids, and torch fuels. The hydrocarbon group is slick and oily. One of the main risks with ingestion is that it may “slip” into the lung causing a chemical pneumonia. Store these products in the original container out of the reach of little hands. • Glow sticks: Glow sticks are a common call to the poison center. The liquid on contact with mouth, skin, and eyes can be irritating. • Fireworks: Fireworks may contain a number of toxic chemicals and can be dangerous if swallowed. Always call the poison center for case specific recommendations. • Food poisoning: When firing up the grill or heading to a picnic, it’s important to take some precautions. Remember to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. The USDA recommends fully cooking all meats to ensure bacteria are destroyed to prevent food poisoning. Meats should be cooked to 160 degrees. Always use a food thermometer. • Swimming pool chlorine: When too much chlorine is added to water in a swimming pool, contact with the skin and eyes may result in redness and a burning sensation. If you suspect an overly chlorinated pool, rinse your skin and eyes immediately, contact the lifeguard/pool manager, and call the poison center. Chlorine from an indoor pool or opening a container of chlorine pool tablets may cause coughing or tightness in the lungs. Seek fresh air immediately. (Call the Nebraska Regional Poison Center at 1-800-2221222 and talk to a registered nurse or pharmacist 24/7/365.)

River City Theatre Organ Society of Omaha

The

New Home Features:

Nebraska Regional Poison Center

New Horizons

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July 2019

The River City Theatre Organ Society of Omaha’s annual concert is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 18 at the Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. The 3 p.m. performance will feature world-renowned theater organist Brett Valliant and the Sing Sing Swing Big Band. Tickets are $20 at the

door the day of the concert or $15 by mail through Aug. 8. To order tickets by mail, send your check – made out to the RCTOS – to Jerry Pawlak, 8825 Executive Woods Drive, #85, Lincoln, Neb. 68512. For more information, please call 402-421-1356 or go online to rctos.com.