New Horizons March 2018 by Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging

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A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging

March 2018 VOL. 43 • NO. 3

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

Anchor A Sidney, Nebraska native and a University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate, John Knicely has anchored the newcasts at WOWT in Omaha since 1992. Leo Adam Biga’s profile of Knicely begins on page 10.

Roses Debra Haug of Baker’s Supermarkets (left) and Arlis Smidt, who coordinates ENOA’s Meals on Wheels program, with some of the 100 roses Baker’s donated for delivery to meals recipients on Valentine’s Day. See page 15.

Consultant Nancy Flaherty of Flaherty Senior Consulting, specializes in helping caregivers of persons with dementia and other issues facing older adults. Learn more about Nancy and her Omaha practice. See page 20.

Omaha Computer Users Group meets at Abrahams Library ou’re invited to join the Omaha Computer Users Group, an organization dedicated to helping men and women age 50 and older learn about their computers regardless of their skill level. OCUG meets the third Saturday of each Fr

month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Abrahams Library, 5011 N. 90th St. Participants will have access to a projector connected to a computer with Microsoft Windows 10 to show users how to solve their computer problems. For more information, please call 402333-6529.

Free Annual St. Patrick's Day Food,

Celebration Friday, March 16, 2018

OPEN HOUSE TOURS OF SKYLINE INDEPENDENT LIVING WILL BE AVAILABLE

(near 72nd Street and Military Avenue)

2 p.m.

Musical entertainment by Jerry Stingley

“Simply the BEST!”

CALL TODAY!

Independent Living

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For men and women age 55+ and their guests.

The musical entertainment will be followed by a Pot-O-Gold raffle.

At Skyline’s six-story high-rise 7300 Graceland Drive

12 p.m. Lunch

friends, and fun!

7300 Graceland Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68134

402-557-6643 www.skylinerc.com

New Horizons

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RSVP by Monday,

March 12th

March 2018

Corrigan Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St., this month for: • March 7: Corrigan Council meeting @ 2:30 p.m. If you’d like to join the council or just want to listen to the meeting, please join us. • March 8, 15, 22, & 29: Why Arts? Join us from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. for some fun art time. • March 14: Concert Series DVD @11a.m. • March 15: St. Patrick’s Day program. Join us for music by Paul Siebert @ 11 a.m. • March 18 to 24: American Chocolate Lovers Week. Join us on Friday, March 23 @11 a.m. as we celebrate chocolate with chocolate puzzles and treats. • March 19: VNA presentation @ 11 a.m. • March 20: Toe nail clipping is available from 10 a.m. to noon for $10. Call for reservations. Free blood pressure checks are also offered during this time. • March 26: Celebrate the March birthdays with music by Tim J. from the Merrymakers @ 11 a.m. The Corrigan Senior Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is served at noon. A $3.50 contribution is normally suggested for the meal. Reservations are normally due by noon the business day prior to the meal you wish to enjoy. For meal reservations or more information, please call Michelle Jolley @ 402-731-7210.

Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge Nebraska to provide housing, amenities for cancer patients, their families The American Cancer Society recently welcomed its first patients to Hope Lodge Nebraska, 8030 Farnam Dr. The facility will provide free lodging and amenities for cancer patients who travel more than 40 miles for care at one of Omaha’s cancer treatment facilities. This year, approximately 9,200 people will travel to Omaha to receive cancer treatment. Now, not only will these patients have a free place to stay when they travel for treatment, they’ll also have a home away from home that’s committed to creating a healing and supportive environment for getting well. “The Hope Lodge was designed to provide both the patient and caregiver all the comforts of home,” said Dr. Bob Langdon, the Hope Lodge Campaign Cabinet chair. “We wanted to provide patients a relaxed, calming environment where they could concentrate on healing, and we wanted to offer caregivers a sense of community and support as they help their loved ones battle cancer.” Each of the 32 patient suites has a private bedroom and bathroom, and includes two beds (one twin, one queen), a television, a dresser, and wifi service. The facility is decorated with locally created artwork to make guests feel of home. Another key design of the Hope Lodge are the common living areas incorporated throughout the

facility to encourage interaction and sharing of experiences. These spaces include a fully-equipped kitchen that allows guests to prepare food, an adjacent dining room for guests to eat together, a spacious living room on each floor so guests can gather and share experiences with other guests, a healing garden where guests can unwind in an outdoor space for meditation and reflection, a shared laundry room on each floor, a contemplation room, a library, and other amenities to ensure life for the patient and caregiver can continue as normally as possible. “One of the most important keys to surviving cancer is access to treatment,” said Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society. “For some patients, a treatment facility in another city offers the best hope for a cure. The American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge network of more than 30 locations works to alleviate the burden of lodging costs associated with traveling for treatment. “Now, thanks to the generous donors and supporters throughout this community, more people will now have access to a treatment when traveling to Omaha. We look forward to welcoming patients and their caregiver to come stay at the Hope Lodge.” Hope Lodge Nebraska is expected to provide approximately 10,500 nights of lodging to patients and caregivers each year.

Return homestead exemption applications by June 30

pplicants whose names are on file in the assessor’s office in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties should have a homestead exemption form mailed to them by early March. New applicants must contact their county assessor’s office to receive the application. The 2018 forms and a household income statement must be completed and returned to the county assessor’s office by June 30, 2018. A homestead exemption provides property tax relief by exempting all or part of the homestead’s valuation from taxation. The state of Nebraska reimburses the counties and other government subdivisions for the lost tax revenue. To qualify for a homestead exemption, a Nebraska homeowner must be age 65 by Jan. 1, 2018, the home’s owner/occupant through Aug. 15, 2018, and fall within the income guidelines shown below. Certain homeowners who have a disability, are developmentally disabled, are totally disabled war veterans, or the widow(er) of a totally disabled war veteran – including those who have remarried after age 57 – may also be eligible for this

annual tax break. When determining household income, applicants must include Social Security and Railroad Retirement benefits plus any income for which they receive a Form 1099. The homestead exemption amount is based on the homeowner’s marital status and income level (see below). Maximum exemptions are based on the average assessed value for residential property in each Nebraska county.

he Douglas County Assessor/Register of Deeds’ office (1819 Farnam St.) is sending volunteers into the community to help older adults complete the application form. The volunteers will be located at sites throughout the county. A list of these locations will be included with your application. Assistance is also available by calling Volunteers Assisting Seniors (see page 6) at 402-444-6617. Here are the numbers for the local assessor’s offices: Douglas: 402-444-7060, option #2; Sarpy: 402-593-2122; Dodge: 402-727-3915; Cass: 402-296-9310; and Washington: 402-426-6800.

Household income table Over age 65 married income

Over age 65 single income

Exemption %

0 - $33,100.99 $33,101 - $34,900.99 $34,901 - $36,700.99 $36,701 - $38,400.99 $38,401 - $40,200.99 $40,201 - $42,000.99 $42,001 - $43,800.99 $43,801 - $45,600.99 $45,601 - $47,400.99 $47,401 - $49,100.99 $49,101 and over

0 to $28,200.99 $28,201 - $29,600.99 $29,601 - $31,100.99 $31,101 - $32,600.99 $32,601 - $34,000.99 $34,001 - $35,500.99 $35,501 - $37,000.99 $37,001 - $38,400.99 $38,401 - $39,900.99 $39,901 - $41,400.99 $41,401 and over

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

March 2018

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

Editor....................................................Jeff Reinhardt Ad Mgr................Mitch Laudenback, 402-444-4148 Contributing Writers......Nick Schinker, Leo Biga, & Lois Friedman ENOA Board of Governors: Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, chairperson; Lisa Kramer, Washington County, vice-chairperson; Janet McCartney, Cass County, secretary; David Saalfed, 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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ARE YOU FEELING OVERWHELMED! Thinking of selling your house and simplifying your life? If you are considering a move now or in the future, you owe it to yourself to be prepared. Receive your complimentary copy of our “Downsizing Made Easy” guide, when you schedule a FREE consultation with Michael and Marilyn Goure, CAPS, CSHP, SRES. Simplifying should Leave You OVERJOYED… Not Overwhelmed.

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402-578-2955

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“Upsize your life by downsizing your home!”

The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging has been providing programs and services for older adults in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties since 1974.

Florence Senior Center

Book takes a look at the aging brain

You’re invited to visit the Florence Senior Center, 2920 Bondesson St., on Wednesday, March 28 as nursing students from Clarkson College present a lunch and learn presentation on Mental Health and Normal Changes in the Senior Adult at 11 a.m. Topics addressed will include why you may not be able to find your keys, why you can’t remember names, and is memory loss a normal part of aging? To learn more, call Kathy at 402-444-6333.

Growing older is inevitable, but many of the afflictions associated with old age – including dementia, disability, and increased dependence on others – don’t have to be. If you could, would you choose to break the mold of aging? Psychiatrist and international speaker Timothy R. Jennings, M.D., may have some insights. Dr. Jennings prescribes simple, everyday actions we can all take to stave off disease, promote vitality, and prevent dementia and late-onset Alzheimer’s. “The choices we make now can help us to keep our minds sharp and maintain our independence as we age,” says Jennings. An easy-to-use guide to maintaining brain and body health throughout life, The Aging Brain, is based on solid, up-to-date scientific research, and the interventions discussed may help prevent progression toward dementia, even in those already showing signs of mild cognitive impairment. The recommendations also may help reduce disability and depression. “This book isn’t just for people hoping to slow the aging process,” says Jennings. “It’s also for anyone who is a caregiver to someone at risk of or already beginning to suffer from dementia. It offers a hopeful, healthy way forward.” Jennings maintains a private practice in Chattanooga, Tenn. He has spent more than two decades researching the interface between biblical principles and modern brain science. For more information about Dr. Jennings, visit www.comeandreason.com.

Hearing Loss Association

he Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America, a support group for hard of hearing adults, will next meet on Tuesday, March 13 at Dundee Presbyterian Church, 5312 Underwood Ave. Participants are asked to enter the church on the Happy Hollow Blvd. (east) side. The 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. meeting will feature social time and a speaker. For more information, please contact Beth Ellsworth at beth.ellsworth@ nebraska.gov or Verla Hamilton at 402-558-6449.

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March 2018

Examining the three stages of retirement By Jack Teboda

eople often view retirement as one more stage of life. That’s not exactly the case. Retirement isn’t just one stage; it’s at least three stages – although all three share something in common. “Every stage of retirement requires planning,” says Jack Teboda, president of Teboda & Associates, a financial services firm. “Otherwise, you could end up running out of money, or your health might take a turn for the worse and negatively impact your retirement savings because you hadn’t planned for it in those early years of retirement.” It’s not easy to put exact ages on each of the three stages of retirement. That likely will vary from person to person, depending on their finances, health, and family situation. But here’s what to look for in each stage: • Stage 1: Adjusting to a new lifestyle. Many new retirees brim with excitement when retirement begins. They can golf, visit museums, play with their grandchildren, travel, or catch up on their reading. Not everyone adjusts well, though. It’s not easy to flip the switch overnight after you’ve spent several decades reporting to

work every day. Also, if your retirement income is largely dependent on your savings you’ll want to be careful you don’t spend too much in those initial years. “Your adviser should be able to help you come up with a plan that will give you income for life, so you don’t have to worry about running out of money,” Teboda says. • Stage 2: Staying socially connected. As the years pass, many retirees move closer to their children or move into a retirement community because it makes them feel more socially connected. “Sometimes at this point, especially if they haven’t planned well, people may start to have even more worries they will outlive their money,” Teboda says. “One way they address that is to cut back on expenses. Some people even decide to get a part-time job to bring in extra money.” • Stage 3: Realizing you may need assistance. More than 70 percent of Americans age 65 and older will need long-term care at some point in their lives, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “When people map out their retirement, they need to plan for that possibility because the cost of long-term care can be devastating to your finances,” Teboda says. People need to consider a number of factors – taxes, longevity, and market risks, among others – to improve the odds of a joyful retirement, according to Teboda. “In each stage of retirement, it’s important to confer regularly with your adviser and to be ready to adjust your financial plans if necessary,” he says.

Florence AARP meetings

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 402-

453-4825. Here are the programs for the next two months: • March 19: Ivory Woods Education in Times of Civil Unrest • April 16: Ira Combs North Omaha Area Health

Creighton law students offering free advance directive document drafting Friday, April 6 at Millard Senior Center

tudents from the Creighton University Law School will be available to provide free drafting of simple wills, powers of attorney, healthcare powers of attorney, and living wills on Friday, April 6. The program – which is offered by appointment only to men and women age 60 and older – will be held at the Millard Montclair Senior Center, 2304 S. 135th Ave. Appointments will begin at 8:30 a.m. The documents will be prepared in advance following a consultation between the older adults and the Creighton University Law School student attorneys, and then finalized at the clinic during the scheduled appointment. The documents will be executed and notarized on site, and participants will leave the clinic with fully executed copies in hand. To register and to schedule an appointment, please call the Creighton University Law Clinic at 402-280-3068. The registration deadline is Tuesday, March 20.

Camelot Friendship Center You’re invited to visit the Camelot Friendship Center inside the Camelot Community Center, 9270 Cady Ave., for the following: • March 8: Book Club @ 10:15 a.m. • March 9: Blood pressure checks by students from Methodist College of Nursing. • March 14: Birthday party. • March 15: Program by the VNA @ 11:45 a.m. and Jackpot bingo @ 12:45 p.m. • March 15: Senior Council meeting @ 12:15 p.m. • March 16: Wear green for St. Patrick’s Day. • March 21: Music by Paul Siebert from the Merrymakers. Other activities include Tai Chi (Friday @ 10:30 a.m.), bingo, pinochle, card games, other games, crafts, candy making, and scrapbooking. The Camelot Friendship Center is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. A $3.50 contribution is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to enjoy. For reservations or more information, please call Nathan Kramer @ 402-444-3091.

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March 2018

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Eclectic Book Review Club

VAS can help file your Homestead Exemption applications

The Eclectic Book Review Club, founded in 1949, has announced its Winter/Spring 2018 schedule. • March 20: Omaha physician Dr. Lydia Kang will discuss her 2017 novel A Beautiful Poison. • April 17: Meredith Fuller will review her recent book Quarry. • May 15: Emily Getzschman from the Omaha Public Library will review Kathleen Rooney’s book, Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk. The monthly meetings, which include lunch and the book review, are held at noon at the Field Club, 3615 Woolworth Ave. The cost is $13 per person per month. To reserve a seat, please call Rita at 402-553-3147. The reservation deadline is the Monday morning prior to the Tuesday meeting.

AARP offering driving course AARP is offering a new four-hour, research-based Smart Driver Course for older adults. By completing the course, participants will learn research-based driving safety strategies that can reduce the likelihood of having an accident; understand the links between the driver, the vehicle, and the road environment, and how this awareness encourages safer driving; learn how aging, medications, alcohol, and health-related issues affect driving ability and ways to allow for these changes; increase confidence; know how to share the road safely with other drivers, and learn the newest safety and advance features in vehicles. The fee is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonAARP members. No tests or examinations are involved, course completion certificates are provided, and auto insurance discounts may apply. Here’s this month’s schedule: March 10 @ noon AARP Information Center 1941 S. 42nd St. #220 Call 402-398-9560 to register

he Nebraska Homestead Exemption program can provide relief from property taxes by exempting all or part of the home’s valuation from taxation (see page 3 for more information). Volunteers Assisting Seniors (VAS) is March 12 10 a.m. to noon Disabled American Vets 4515 F St.

April 16 10 a.m. to noon VAS (Center Mall) 1941 S. 42nd St #312

March 19 10 a.m. to noon Salem Baptist Church 3131 Lake St.

April 19 10 a.m. to noon Florence Rec Center 2920 Bondesson St

March 26 10 a.m. to noon VAS (Center Mall) 1941 S. 42nd St. #312

April 25 • 10 a.m. to noon Goodwill Industries 4805 N. 72nd St.

May 19 10 a.m. to noon VAS (Center Mall) 1941 S. 42nd St #312

April 26 10 a.m. to noon St. Andrews Church 15050 W. Maple Rd.

May 23 10 a.m. to noon Goodwill Industries 4805 N. 72nd St.

May 3 10 a.m. to noon IBEW Hall 8943 L St.

May 29 10 a.m. to noon Intercultural Senior Center 3010 R St.

May 4 10 a.m. to noon Benson Baptist Church 6319 Maple St.

June 1 10 a.m. to noon Iron Workers Union Hall 14515 Industrial Rd.

May 8 10 a.m. to noon Northwest Hills Church 9334 Fort St.

June 5 10 a.m. to noon Elkhorn Eagles 20276 Wirt St.

May 10 10 a.m. to noon Ralston Senior Center 7301 Q St.

June 8 10 a.m. to noon Faith Westwood Church 4814 Oaks Ln.

April 3 10 a.m. to noon St. John’s Church 322 N. Molly St. Bennington April 6 10 a.m. to noon Sheet Metal Workers Union 3333 S. 24th St. April 9 10 a.m. to noon Disabled American Vets 4515 F St. April 10 10 a.m. to noon Northwest Hills Church 9334 Fort St.

March 14 @ 9 a.m. CHI Health Midlands 11111 S. 84th St. Call 800-253-4368 to register

March 23 @ 9:30 a.m. Metropolitan Community College • Elkhorn campus 829 N. 204th St. Call 531-622-2620 to register

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available to help older Nebraskans file their 2018 homestead exemption applications at several Omaha-area sites. See below for a list of the sites, dates, and times VAS representatives are available. Please call 402-444-6617 to schedule an appointment.

March 2018

May 14 10 a.m to noon Disabled American Vets 4515 F St. May 17 10 a.m. to noon Florence Rec Center 2920 Bondesson St.

Read it & eat By Lois Friedman readitandeat@yahoo.com

Studies demonstrate that hot flashes may increase risk of serious health problems

ot flashes, undoubtedly the most common symptom of menopause, aren’t just uncomfortable and inconvenient, but numerous studies demonstrate they may There’s nothing like the aroma of homemade bread baking in the oven especially when March winds whistle down increase the risk of serious health problems, including heart disease. your chimne. Sharpen your bread making skills with these A new study suggests hot flashes (especookbooks which will appeal to novice and expert bakers cially when accompanied by night sweats) alike. Just think, all these recipes for the staff of life. also may increase the risk of developing diabetes. Results were published online The New Healthy Bread In Five Minutes a Day recently in Menopause, the journal of By J. Hertzberg & Z. Francois The North American Menopause Society (St. Martins Press, $32.99) Thousands of people are baking bread quickly and easily (NAMS). Data was analyzed from the more than because of their first cookbook. In this sequel the secret technique works with healthy ingredients, the authors’ pas- 150,000 postmenopausal women who participated in the Women’s Health Initiasion, and the next step in this revised and updated edition. tive (WHI) to confirm the occurrence of hot flashes was associated with an elevated The New Bread Basket diabetes risk. By Amy Halloran (Chelsea Green, $17.95) Jump on the local grain wagon and discover the exciting Of the total population studied, 33 peractivity farmers and bakers are inventing. Read the story of cent of the women had experienced hot flashes. Any incidence of hot flashes was aswheat, the people, and plants. Eat the Landscape is one of sociated with an 18 percent increased diabe12 chapters of how and who is redefining our daily loaf. tes risk, and this risk continued to climb on the basis of the severity and duration of the The Essential Home-Ground Flour hot flashes. Moreover, diabetes risk was the Book By Sue Becker (Robert Rose, $24.95) Part 1: Everything you need to know to home-grind flour, most pronounced for women reporting any type of night sweats but only if the onset of the benefits, history, equipment, milling, and baking techhot flashes occurred late in the menopause niques. Part 2: 100 recipes with helpful tips and sidebars. transition. Diabetes is a serious health risk affecting From Chronicle Books: 15 percent of women age 55 and older. Its incidence is expected to more than double The Bread Exchange By Malin Elmlid ($35) Lush photographs and stories of this around the world bartering trek. Join the journey and discover eye-opening tales of bread in exchange for anything. Experiences and ingredients. Included is My Simple Sourdough Bread recipe and all the details of this globe trotting adventure.

The smell of fresh bread baking

by 2050. Compared with men with diabetes, women with diabetes have a higher risk of being hospitalized for or dying from diabetes and its complications, which makes the timely identification and management of diabetes through lifestyle intervention or medical management critical. “This study showed that, after adjustment for obesity and race, women with more severe night sweats, with or without hot flashes, still had a higher risk of diabetes,” says Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton, NAMS executive director. “Menopause is a perfect time to encourage behavior changes that reduce menopause symptoms, as well as the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Suggestions include getting regular exercise and adequate sleep, avoiding excess alcohol, stopping smoking, and eating a heart-healthy diet. For symptomatic women, hormone therapy started near menopause improves menopause symptoms and reduces the risk of diabetes.” For more information about menopause and healthy aging, go online and visit www.menopause.org.

Muffins and Biscuits By Heidi Gibson ($19.95) Following Streusel, Biscuit, Muffin and Baking Basics are recipes for more than two dozen muffins, dozen and a half biscuits, and eight spreads and butters. All the recipes feature detailed instructions plus variations and a guide for thinning the recipes to make pancakes and waffles. Slather these muffins, biscuits, and pancakes with this creamy smear for a breakfast treat.

Honey Butter (Makes 5/8 cup)

1/2 cup salted butter, at room temperature 2 Tbsp honey In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or in a medium bowl with a wire whisk, whisk the butter and honey together until very smooth and light, about one minute. Serve immediately or store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or in the freezer for up to one month. Can be served cold, or let soften at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving. Variations: Maple Butter: Substitute pure Grade B maple syrup for the honey. Molasses Butter: Substitute dark molasses for the honey.

Bilingual resource information available through Care HelpLine

ilingual information about hospice care, palliative care, helping loved ones with grief and loss, and caregiving is available through the Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care

Partnership. The number for the Cuidando con Carino Compassionate Care HelpLine is (toll free) 1-877-658-8896. The service is offered weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Heartland Generations Center

Unloading the baggage that pulls you down

You’re invited to visit the Heartland Generations Center – 4318 Fort St. – for the following: • March 2: Presentation at the Millard Public Library branch on avoiding senior fraud. • March 6: Visit the Kaneko art gallery. • March 7: Senior Education Group & Movement with Courtney. • March 12: Why Arts? class on sculpting. • March 14: Merrymakers & Movement with Courtney. • March 20: Presentation by Shannon on social media and a birthday party with the Merrymakers @ 12:15 p.m. • March 21: Family Night @ 6 p.m. • March 21: Senior Education Group & Cyber Seniors at Do Space. • March 28: Movement with Courtney. Other center events include bingo Wednesday and Friday @ 10:30 p.m. The Heartland Generations Center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is normally served at noon. A $3.50 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to attend. Bus transportation is available within select neighborhoods for 50 cents each way. For meal reservations, please call 402-553-5300.

Fremont Friendship Center You’re invited to visit the Fremont Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St. (Christensen Field), for the following: • March 1: Presentation by ENOA registered dietitian Michaela @ 10 a.m. • March 7: Hints with Home Instead @ 10 a.m. • March 8: Presentation by Cathy Ross on performing CPR @ 10 a.m. • March 8: Presentation on diabetes (see page 18). • March 13: Free balance checks from 10 to 11 a.m. • March 14: Free blood sugar checks from 10 to 11 a.m. • March 14: Music by Pam Kragt @ 10:30 a.m. followed by a birthday party @ 11:30 a.m. • March 15: Presentation by Laura Hinrichsen from the YMCA on staying young @ 10 a.m. • March 21: Music by Johnny Ray Gomez @ 10:30 a.m. • March 22: Presentation by Alan Hauschild on estate planning @ 9:45 a.m. followed by music with The Brian Breitbarth Trio. • March 27: Vietnam War presentation @ 10:30 a.m. • March 28: The Old Rusty Minstrels @ 10:30 a.m. • March 29: Medicare insurance update @ 9:45 a.m. followed by Walking Club awards. The Fremont Friendship Center is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call Laurie at 402-727-2815.

By Nancy Hemesath

ave you ever gone on a trip and regretted all the stuff you dragged along? It may be a road trip with every space in the car jam-packed, causing frustration when looking for things while it all weighs your vehicle down. Or it may have happened at the airport, resulting in high prices for additional bags. Isn’t it so much more pleasant to travel light? In the February issue of New Horizons, I wrote about the first key to having a happy life after age 65; debunking the negative myths about aging. This month I share the second key: unloading the baggage that pulls us down. This time I’m not talking about physical baggage but about emotional baggage such as regrets, unresolved grief, grudges, and attachments. These are the things that interfere with a sense of peace and freedom we could enjoy in the third phase of our lives. Hospice workers have insight into typical regrets people express on their deathbeds. The following are among frequently expressed regrets. • I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. • I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings. • I wish that I had let go of grudges and let myself be happier. • I wish I hadn’t worked so hard to accumulate things, so I would’ve been freer to spend quality time with family and friends. Interestingly, the work that needs to be done to have a happy and peaceful death is the same work that insures a happy and peaceful third phase. The good news is we have some time to address these regrets. We’re capable of change, becoming our true self at every phase of life. By intentionally addressing our regrets, we open ourselves to more joy and a fuller life. For example, we may wish we had the courage to express our sad feelings. This suggests we have uncried tears. Grief is a part of every life and yet many of us deny these feelings, which, when stuffed, turn into anger, depression, or substance abuse. If we’ve suffered a death or other major life loss that has never been expressed, it’s not

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too late to find a way to do so. Finding compassionate companions on this journey eases the frightening prospect of releasing this burden. Grief support groups are invaluable in supplying this need, as are friends who simply listen. When expressed, the burdens of these emotions are lifted. Another emotional weight carried by many is that of old grudges. How many of our families are burdened by years of a lack of forgiveness over some slight that sometimes can’t be recalled? We hear stories of family members who haven’t spoken for years and then are reconciled when one is about to die. How sad that it takes a death to heal the rifts. In life it takes courage to let go of these resentments because the response of the other can’t be guaranteed. Still forgiveness of past hurts is certain to lighten our hearts and make room for peace that has been missing. By opening the door to reconciliation, we know we’ve done our part, an act that reduces the burden of old baggage. Surprisingly, another form of baggage may be a lot of good “stuff” from our past. It seems many of us spend the first two phases of our lives accumulating things and then the last phase trying to get rid of things; downsizing. This is good because it represents a healthy letting go. Those who can’t let go of things may not be able to let go of the past. What once was meaningful becomes clutter. We can waste a lot of time, energy, and money trying to maintain that which has served its purpose but no longer has importance in our later years. This is also true of non-material possessions such as titles, identities, and good opinions of others. We’re free when we no longer need to please or impress others. We travel lighter when we know who we are regardless of the trappings of status or possessions. Unloading this baggage or uncried tears, old grudges, and useless attachments is the second key of a joyous and peaceful life in the post-retirement years. Next month we’ll explore the necessity of having purpose in the third phase of life. (You can contact Hemesath at nhemesath@cox.net.)

Ombudsman Advocate Program

Omaha Fire Department

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

The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging is looking for men and women age 18 and older to join its Long-term Care Ombudsman Program which is co-sponsored by the Nebraska State Ombudsman Program. ENOA’s Long-term Care Ombudsmen volunteer in local long-term care facilities and assisted living communities to protect the residents’ rights, well-being, and quality of life. Long-term Care Ombudsmen must complete 20 hours of initial classroom training and 12 hours of additional training every two years. During the training, the volunteers learn about the residents’ rights, aging issues, Medicare, Medicaid, communication skills, how to investigate the residents’ complaints, the importance of confidentiality, and about the federal and state rules, regulations, and laws regarding Nebraska’s long-term care facilities and assisted living communities. Before being assigned to a long-term care facility or an assisted living community, new volunteers will make four To have a free smoke and/ visits to a site with an experienced Ombudsman Advocate or carbon monoxide detector to learn more about what the program entails. After a threeinstalled inside your home, month probationary period, the new volunteers are certified send your name, address, as Ombudsman Advocates. and telephone number to: Certified Ombudsman Advocates will be assigned to Omaha Fire Department a long-term care facility or an assisted living community Smoke/Carbon where they’ll visit for two hours a week to meet with adMonoxide Requests ministrators, residents, and the residents’ family members 1516 Jackson St. to address concerns. Omaha, Neb. 68102 For more information about ENOA’s Long-term Care For more information, Ombudsman Program, please call Beth Nodes at 402-444please call 402-444-3560. 6536. AARP offering free tax preparation

at area sites

The AARP Tax-Aide program provides free tax preparation services at 10 Omaha-area locations. The program is designed to assist low and moderate income older adults, but services are provided to a variety of clients, including students. With a few exceptions, each site will be open through mid-April. The names, locations, days, and hours of operation for these sites are listed below. Unless otherFriday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. AgeWell 6801 N. 67th Plz. Suite 100

Monday & Wednesday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bellevue Volunteer Firefighters Hall 2108 Franklin St. Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bellevue University Library 1000 Galvin Rd. S.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Crossroads Mall (west corridor) 7400 Dodge St.

Tuesday & Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays by appointment 5 to 7 p.m. Kids Can Community Center 4860 Q St. 402-731-6988

wise indicated, sites operate on a walk-in basis with no appointments needed or taken. Clients must bring to the tax preparation site a photo identification, all documents related to income, Social Security cards for all persons named on the tax return, and last year’s tax return. For more information, call 402-3989582 or go to www.nebraskataxaide.org.

Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday 3 to 7 p.m. La Vista Community Center 8116 Park View Blvd. Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Montclair Community Center 2304 S. 135th Ave. Monday & Tuesday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday 4 to 7:30 p.m. St. Martin de Porres Center 2111 Emmet St.

Sunday Noon to 4 p.m. St Joseph Villa Community Room 2305 S. 10th St. (not open on Palm Sunday or Easter Sunday) Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. AARP Information Center 1941 S 42nd St. • Suite 220 By appointment only: 402-398-9582

March 2018

Notre Dame Housing/Seven Oaks 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 @ 11 a.m. • Second and fourth Tuesday: Get help as a representative from American National Bank visits @ 10 a.m. • Third Wednesday: Community Food Pantry from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. • March 5: Presentation on the WISE (Wellness Initiative for Senior Education) program @ 1:30 p.m. • March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 3 & 10: WISE programs by April Dixon from the Creighton University School of Medicine from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. each day. • March 15: Expand Your Horizons program on the Omaha Area Sanctuary Network Welcoming Immigrants and Working for Immigrant Justice from 7 to 8:30 p.m. • March 22: Screenings by Creighton University School of Dentistry students from noon to 4 p.m. Call Barb Thomas @ 402-451-4477, ext. 129 to schedule a screening. 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 $3.50 contribution is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by 11 a.m. the business day prior to the lunch. For meals reservations and more information, please call 402-451-4477, ext. 126.

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 Morel Mushrooms and Wind (with a side of Mustard and Matchsticks). May 17 - 20. $739. ($779 after 03/8/18). Come along to a Morel Mushroom Festival and enjoy fried morels and mushroom brats, tour a wind generator farm to find out how those huge wind turbines work, tour the National Mustard Museum (some call it the “Condimental Divide”), “marvel” at the detailed scale matchstick models created by an Iowa artist, see the “House on the Rock”, and have lunch in the “Sistine Chapel”. Missouri Wine Country. July 19 - 21. TBD. Enjoy wine-tasting at four Missouri wineries including the Hermann area, spend time exploring, shopping, and dining. Enjoy the musical “Footloose” at Arrow Rock’s Lyceum Theater, plus lunch and a tour at the historical Elms Hotel in Excelsior Springs. “Mamma Mia!” at the New Theater. July 28. $135. ($145 after 5/28/18). On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past to the door of the church. Featuring the #1 hits of the legendary Group ABBA including “Dancing Queen”, “Knowing Me-Knowing You”, “Take a Chance on Me”, and many more. Nebraska Junk Jaunt. September 28 – 29. $279. ($299 after 7/1/18). Come along on our sixth "Junk Jaunt", covering more than 220 miles in central Nebraska. Participating towns have citywide garage, yard, and bake sales. Two full days of treasure hunting with lots of storage under the bus for our treasures! October Colors in Niagara Falls, Boston, and Cape Cod. October 9 - 20. $2,749. ($2,809 after 4/9/18). Dust off your passport and enjoy the beautiful Fall scenery as we travel across the Midwest to Niagara Falls, Boston, and Cape Cod, with several highlights including a cruise to the base of Niagara Falls, “ice wine” tasting, dinner atop the Skylon Tower, Strawberry Fields experience, Vermont Maple Museum, Plymouth, Salem, Cape Cod Resort, Sandwich Glass Museum, Hershey’s Chocolate World, and Amish Acres. Branson Christmas. November 5 – 8. $719. ($759 after 8/20/18). Enjoy the Legends in Concert (Elton John, Brooks & Dunn, Tina Turner, The Blues Brothers, and Elvis), Daniel O’Donnell, The Hughes Brothers, “Samson” at the Sight & Sound Theater, Hot Rods & High Heels, and Million Dollar Quarter. Kansas City Christmas. Dates and pricing TBD.

Laughlin (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.)

In Partnership with Collette Vacations Quoted prices are per person, double occupancy, and do include airfare. More destinations available! Canadian Rockies & Glacier National Park. Mid July 2018. Call for details. Spotlight London Holiday. December 2018. Call for details. Iceland’s Magical Northern Lights. Early March 2019. Call for details. Watch New Horizons and our website www.fontenelletours.com for our trip schedule. 11808 Mason Plaza, Omaha, NE 68154

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A steady presence in the ever-changing world of TV news By Leo Adam Biga Contributing Writer

nchormen are the mainstays of the local network affiliate television tradition that saw men, almost never women, read news on the air. Much has changed in TV in terms of gender equity. Women anchors, reporters, and news directors are common now. But there’s no getting around the fact that for a large portion of the viewing audience age 55 and above, a man delivering the news was the norm. Though men now often share newscasting duties with women as part of co-anchor teams, it’s still a male-dominated field. Just as there’s frequent turnover in other industries, people don’t stay put in broadcast journalism very long. In TV, where ratings and focus groups rule job security, and on-air personalities often look to bigger markets, station hopping comes with the territory. Plus, reportinganchoring is often a gateway to other careers such as in corporate public affairs. That’s why WOWT in Omaha co-anchor John Knicely is that rarest of creatures. He’s been the face of the Channel 6 news for 26 years. John’s presence on local TV extends back even further – all the way to 1974, when the Sidney, Neb. native and University of NebraskaLincoln graduate joined WOWT, not as a newsman but on the sports side. He was a popular Omaha TV sports figure through 1981, when he made a career move to do sports in St. Louis for three years. He returned to Omaha in 1984, still doing sports, only at WOWT rival, KETV Channel 7, where he was part of the top-rated local newscast team that also featured Carol Schrader, Michael Scott, and Jim Flowers. Then, in 1992 Knicely was part of a media shakeup that made headlines when he and Flowers left top-rated KETV for then doormat WOWT. John simultaneously made the unusual move from the sports desk to the news desk. WOWT’s ratings climbed and he’s remained in the news anchor chair ever since. “I had heard of another sports guy who made that transition in another market,” Knicely said of the sports to news switch. “As we thought about it – my wife and I – it was a way to advance and not have to move out of town. With five kids at home at the time it was really appealing. It was, I suppose, taking a chance because you’re known for 20 years in sports and then changing over to news. But we had a really good consultant then. He said, ‘Don’t try to be any different just because you’re doing news now – be yourself’ – which was great advice. You don’t have to be something else. “The biggest thing was meshing with my co-anchor Pat Persaud. I was always (doing) sports alone. I produced everything myself – went out into the field, did it, and it was

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John began his television career in 1974 doing sports at Omaha’s WOWT. After stints in St. Louis and at Omaha’s KETV, Knicely returned to WOWT as a newscaster in 1992. done. But in this case, you’re working with somebody, and there’s kind of a rhythm you need to develop and get into – and a trust. “For Pat, she had a sports guy coming in to do this. She’d had a couple of previous anchors she worked with. She was very gracious. My wife, Sue, and I made a point to go out to lunch with Pat, so she could get to know us better.”

n broadcast journalism, it’s all about connecting enough with viewers to make them feel comfortable having you, so to speak, in their living room, kitchen, or bedroom. “You make a connection if you’re genuine, if you’re real about who you are,” Knicely said. “There’s a comfort level I think that develops. Of course, not everybody’s going to like your style or like something about you, but that’s the business. “You think back to the first time

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you were on TV and how foreign that camera lens seemed to you. You’re wondering, ‘What am I talking to?’ There’s nothing talking back to you. I think pretty early on I was able to get that and be at ease doing it. If you’re at ease, then I think your viewer’s at ease, too.” John discovered his knack for communicating to others in a high school speech class. “I got in front of the class to give a speech and I just felt comfortable, right at home. I really enjoyed it. There was something about them responding to what I said. I usually did something that I thought was humorous. You got that instant feedback not unlike a stage performer. I was successful at it.” Just as many successful communicators imagine they’re speaking to one person in the audience, Knicely said, “I think in a way I do that. It’s almost like the camera becomes that individual. It’s the only thing out

March 2018

there. You don’t really think about the number of people you’re being seen and heard by. It’s definitely that projection right into that camera.” John realizes he’s not always at his best on the air. “I think some nights you don’t feel like you connected as well. Maybe the copy didn’t get in early enough for you to look at it and make some changes – because it has to be conversational. That’s really critical.” A good newscast presentation has to do with intangibles like charisma, chemistry, energy, and pace. Anything can throw the whole works off, whether a flubbed line, a technological glitch, or just not feeling yourself. Knicely’s consistently resonated with enough viewers – two generations of them – that he’s outlasted countless other local on-air talents. Along the way, he’s carved a niche --Please turn to page 11.

Knicely’s developed a sterling reputation for his integrity

Knicely’s son, John, is the TV news anchor at KIRO in Seattle.

Knicely is one of the few remaing television news anchors who still film, write, and edit their own stories. --Continued from page 10. as a participatory journalist. It started with the I Challenge John series he did at KETV and continued through the John at Work and the Knicely Done segments he’s become known for at WOWT. He’s also developed a sterling reputation for integrity. Off the air, Knicely often shares his values and faith at public functions where he’s asked to speak. He finds congruence between his on-air and off-air self. “If I didn’t have my faith, it would be a different story because I may have to be this person on camera but off the camera, a different person. But since I’m the same person in both places that really takes that kind of pressure off because it’s nothing I really have to worry about.” His professionalism doesn’t allow his personal views to leak through into his work as a journalist. “In regard to the stories you do, it’s always objective and both sides of the story. I understand there are different views and feelings and it’s not my job to give my views. If I’m speaking at an organization that invites me to come and speak, and they ask me to share my faith, I’m certainly able to do that.”

s Omaha’s version of the ageless Dick Clark, Knicely’s seemingly defied aging by still looking remarkably like he did when he started at WOWT. The former high school athlete – he played football, basketball, and golf – has always made fitness a priority, and he still exercises most days. At the station he gets in a workout between evening newscasts at WOWT’s subterranean workout room, complete with racquetball

court and basketball hoop. When his kids were young and visiting dad at work, they’d shoot hoops there with John. He’s gracefully aged into Omaha’s longest-living TV icon. John’s a grandfather several times over. He’s twice the age and has more experience than many of his colleagues. All of which make him the dean of area TV journalists. Still manning the anchor desk at age 66 means Knicely’s also defied a growing trend toward younger onair talent. His familiar face and age may actually be a plus for audiences since the demographic that consumes network affiliate programs tends to be older. Thus, he’s the face of a proven, trusted news organization. That matters in an era with a glut of online news and social media, much of it unreliable. Knicely has not only withstood TV’s ageism, he’s gone against the grain by shooting, editing, and writing his own stories in the field – a rare practice among anchors. It flies in the face of the stereotype that anchors are often talking “airheads” who can’t string two words together unless they’re scripted for them on a teleprompter, or in today’s studio world, on an IPad. “There aren’t many news anchors that go out and shoot a story, edit it, write it, and read it. (With) Knicely Done – I do all that myself. They’ve given me a camera to use. I know exactly what I want, and I know what makes a good story. I know the natural sound you’ve got to mix in, so I can shoot it and produce it. Some of that goes back to shooting sports. I was familiar with angles and shots,” John said. “But it’s a lot of extra work doing it that way. The typical way – you go do the interview, write the story,

then hand it off, and that’s all your involvement. But I don’t do it that way. My way, there is that accomplishment and the creativeness you get to express,” Knicely said. He’s heard the “airhead” jokes about anchor people. “I don’t think it applies to me because I’m involved in every aspect and want to be. I want to have a good product I present that has my name on it.” Filing his own stories for John at Work and Knicely Done has given John an opportunity to stand apart from the pack by getting his hands dirty and showing his personality. For the latter, he did everything from working on a garbage hauling crew to climbing a 2,000-foot television tower to being a middle school principal to flying with the United States Navy’s Blue Angels. “It keeps it fresh and new. You’re presenting something in a different fashion. News doesn’t always have to be serious. It can be informative and give you an idea of what’s going on in the community that you wouldn’t otherwise hear about. “There’s really good things about that approach. And it’s not about you, it’s the fact this is what’s happening behind the scenes with certain jobs or personalities in our community that you get to showcase.” Those segments also counter the frequent criticism leveled at TV news that it reports too much negativity. “You hear all the time, ‘Why do you guys only give the bad news?’ Well, we don’t. When the good news kind of goes by and you’ve watched it, I don’t know what happens to it. It’s like, ‘Did you forget that we did a good positive story?’ Knicely Done is always positive. It’s highlighting good works in our community,” John said. “Maybe because of the emphasis of the lead story at the top of the newscast, which is usually a serious story about an issue or some crime or disaster, the good news kind of gets lost. It’s kind of sad that’s the case. Also, you’re exposed to news throughout the day with the different mediums out there. You hear a

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lot of bickering and negative things going on and you kind of lump it all together with news in general. Maybe viewers are not as discriminating in thinking about it.”

nicely’s convinced local news broadcasts, whether over the air or streaming online, remain relevant. “The first thing would be breaking news because it’s happening now, and we can bring it to you right now. Newspapers have video and online services, so you can get it there, but not in the same capacity. Then there’s the local issues that develop we cover in real time. It could be the school board voting that night on the new superintendent. We capture the results and reactions on camera. We can bring you anything happening in the city – crime and scams going on right now, things you need to be aware of as a viewer.” On the lighter side, John’s a pretty good sport who doesn’t take himself too seriously, whether working someone else’s job or accepting a competitive challenge. “Yeah, you have to know how to fail and live with it. It’s always pretty much tongue-in-cheek. We make it fun.” He no sooner started the I Challenge John pieces, he said, then he was swamped with letters from viewers. “I couldn’t answer them all and I couldn’t do them all.” Many of the challenges he accepted were from kids. “I lost to a bunch of 9 and 10-year-olds.” Once, memorably, he played goalie and failed to stop youth ice hockey players from scoring on him. “My self-esteem just sank. But they were fun things.” Other memorable challenges include water skiing at Carter Lake where Knicely ended up underwater. Another time, he played chess at Brownell-Talbot School against its champion. “He played me with a paper sack over his head in front of the whole student body,” John said. Some challenges Knicely politely declined out of safety concerns. Para sailing was one. “I thought, --Please turn to page 12.

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Page 11

Participatory journalism has shaped Knicely’s career

Despite having a father and a brother who became attorneys, John followed his mother’s career path into journalism. --Continued from page 11. ‘I’ve got five kids, I can’t get up in that thing by myself.’” Perhaps the most personal story he ever filed was in tribute to his late father, Jack Richard Knicely, an Omaha native who co-piloted B-24s and C-46s in the China-BurmaIndia Theater during World War II. The son accompanied his father on an honor flight to Washington D.C. to visit the World War II Memorial. The trip meant a lot to both of them. “You won’t find anyone more loving of his country than my Dad was. In his late age he would get tearful when he would talk about the men and women who served. There was one very dangerous, almost desperate situation that his co-pilot pulled them out of that he would get tearful about remembering,” Knicely said. “That memorial visit was really fantastic because the plane was full of veterans. When we got to D.C., there was a gauntlet of people cheering as all these veterans walked through and, boy, it was emotional. Dad actually sat next to a guy who also flew B-24s. Pretty amazing. It was so special to see Dad’s reaction to what a great tribute they put together in their honor. It was humbling. It was just great to experience it with him.” John’s father’s passing offered another opportunity to pay respect to his service, which included years in the Air Force Reserves before retiring with the rank of colonel. “At his funeral they had a full military salute,” Knicely said. “As we drove into the cemetery I looked over at all these young military people standing at attention as the

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hearse drove by. They had the gun salute and folding of the flag and presentation.”

nicely’s unique brand of news reporting has its roots in a series he did at WOWT about two decades ago. John asked then news director John Clark if he could live in the north Omaha projects for three days. Knicely and a photographer lived in the Hilltop Housing project for two nights and three days, found and filed several positive stories about young women working hard to improve themselves and their lives. “We called it Three Days in the Jets because the people living there called the projects ‘The Jets’. I edited it and wrote it,” John said. “I used music. Back then, you could use music more. It makes a big difference in a story.” Hundreds of stories have followed. Knicely’s won recognition from his peers for his work. Yet, this nearly 45-year fixture of Omaha media wasn’t even sure he wanted a career in television as late as his graduation from UN-L with a broadcast journalism degree. “My dad was a lawyer. My brother’s a lawyer. Even right to the end of school I was still kind of thinking that, too.” There was already a journalist in the family. His mother, Betty, wrote a column called Panhandle Mother for the Sidney Star-Telegraph that John admired. Then fate or divine providence intervened. Coming out of college, Knicely had job offers doing TV in Sioux City and radio in Lincoln. “I took the one in Lincoln because I

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Knicely’s first job following his graduation from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln was at a Lincoln radio station. had a girlfriend in Lincoln,” he said. Three months later taking the advice of UN-L journalism professor Dr. Larry Walkin, John applied for a weekend sports reporting job at WOWT. “I had long hair back then. I got the job in like a week’s time. The opportunity just came. I really think God opened the door for me at that time. There was a sense about it that this is supposed to happen,” Knicely said. An aphorism from his old professor turned into words to live by once Knicely entered the real world of working media. “Dr. Walklin always told us ‘never assume anything.’ In college you didn’t understand what that meant, but, boy, when you get in the business you do.” Knicely joined a strong, veteran newscast at Channel 6. “Gary Kerr was the anchor. Dale Munson did weather. Steve Murphy was news director. Ray Depa was assistant news director. Wally Dean was there, too. They were so professional. True journalists. They were just a tremendous example. It was a real learning experience working around them. Wonderful guys.” In 1974, John was off and running in his career. But something was missing. “I’d probably worked here (WOWT) six months to a year. I had all these things going for me: a great job, friends, (and) fun activities. You’d think you’d be happy because you’re meeting all these goals. But I just had this shallowness inside me. The depth wasn’t there. I was kind of running from God and couldn’t get away. It was like He was saying, ‘John, I have

March 2018

a real purpose for your life,’ and it just resonated for me. “Things were happening in my family, too, with deeper walks in faith by my Mom, Dad, and brother. I grew up around church, but I realized, there was some depth they have that I don’t. Finally, I got down on my knees on Christmas Eve. I was working alone. I just said, ‘Alright, Lord, I give you my life. Use it the way you want to use it, and that’s my commitment to you. It was a very personal thing. God really spoke into my life. I started reading the Bible. It was jumping off the pages to me. That was 1975. It’s been a long time.” John’s faith was seriously tested before and after his born-again experience. In his teens, his mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor. “She had an operation and never really recovered from that. She was in a coma state. Before she passed away, we all came home, and she would acknowledge us. Spiritually, it was pretty dramatic for everybody in the family. With our Christian faith, we’re confident she was with the Lord and we’ll meet again one day.” John’s father later remarried a widow, Jan, with two girls of her own. They were married almost 40 years when he passed away at age 92.

ecades later, Knicely’s immediate family experienced a crucible. His daughter, Krista, was attending Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where she lived alone off campus. An intruder broke into her place one night and --Please turn to page 13.

John’s faith tested by daughter’s assault in Waco, Texas

Knicely almost became part of the on-field action from the sidelines as he filmed an Omaha Mustangs footall game. We’re still so thankful to this day.”

K A man of strong faith, Knicely said he gave his life to the Lord on Christmas Eve in 1975 while working alone. --Continued from page 12. began assaulting her before help arrived. She called her parents in Omaha, distraught after barely escaping with her life. “It was traumatic,” Knicely recalled. “The whole ordeal was a miracle of how she was saved. There wasn’t anybody around. There was no hope when this guy attacked. It was clear he was intent on harming her because she fought with everything she could. The first words she remembered saying when she realized this wasn’t some practical joke or something were: ‘Help me, Jesus.’” Two of Krista’s friends arrived on the scene and ran to get police officers. The attacker fled the apartment but was later arrested. The criminal justice process meant reliving the incident. “There was the whole ordeal of going through the trial,” Knicely said. “At the sentencing you have the opportunity to speak to the defendant. I wrestled all night with whether I was going to say anything or not. Then, in the courtroom the next thing I know I’m moving up to the stand and talking.” John believes what he said was inspired from on high. “I was able to address that guy and tell him ‘What you did is not going to have a hold over our family. We forgive you for what you did, it’s wrong, and you’re going to get the punishment you deserve.’ It just kind of released everything on behalf of my family and Krista.” While Krista has moved on with her life, there’s still repercussions. “She still has to work through

that,” Knicely said. “It’s not been the easiest healing. When she was able to forgive her perpetrator, it was a transformation. She went on to become Miss Nebraska. Her platform was bringing awareness about violence against women. We couldn’t have known all these positive things were going to happen.

nicely is in a decidedly young person’s game and he acknowledges, “I’m getting to the end of my career. I’m aware of that.” His son, John, surprised Knicely by following him into the business. John Jr. is a TV news anchor on KIRO in Seattle. “I told him even if he wasn’t my son, I’d watch him,” John said. “He does a good job.” Knicely, the “old man,” doesn’t concede anything. “I feel like I’m just as active as I ever was.” The work also hasn’t grown stale for him. “It’s still fresh in many ways and that doesn’t seem possible. But it might be because the content changes every night and there’s a change that happens as you sit down to go on camera and do the news. It’s an opportunity to connect

with viewers,” he said. “It’s the people you work with that make a difference. (Co-anchor) Mallory (Maddox) is full of life and fun to joke with. (Weatherman) Rusty Lord and (sportscaster) Ross Jernstrom are fun.” The only time Knicely left for a bigger market was to St. Louis in 1981. There were other occasions when he eyed a move. When still doing sports at KETV, he was the runner-up for the sports director slot at a station in Phoenix. “But being close to family and being comfortable raising my kids in this community won out and I just didn’t very actively pursue anything. If I was contacted by somebody, I considered it, but …” Home is where the heart. That’s why he’s likely here to stay. (Read more of Leo Adam Biga’s work at leoadambiga.com.)

At age 66, John said he still enjoys connecting each day with viewers on the WOWT newscasts.

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New Horizons

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ENOA recruiting men, women to become Senior Companions, Foster Grandparents

en and women age 55 and older who want to earn a tax-free stipend while making an impact in their community are encouraged to join the Senior Companion Program and the Foster Grandparent Program. Sponsored locally by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, the SCP and FGP are national programs of the Corporation for National and Community Service through the Senior Service Corps. Senior Companions help other older adults maintain their independence by visiting them at home to discuss the news, read mail, play cards, run errands, etc. Foster Grandparents serve as positive role models for children who need special attention with education, healthcare, and social development in schools, Head Start programs, and child development centers. SCP and FGP volunteers must meet income guidelines and complete an enrollment process that includes references and background checks. In exchange for volunteering 15 hours or more per week, Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions receive a $2.65 an hour tax-free stipend, mileage reimbursement, an annual physical examination, supplemental accident insurance coverage, and other benefits including an annual recognition luncheon. The stipend does not interfere with rent, disability, Medicaid, or other benefits. For more information on the FGP and SCP, please call 402-444-6536.

ENOA client testimonial

Older adults seen in emergency departments are less likely to be admitted to the hospital

eriatric patients seen by transitional care nurses in ENOA recently received the emergency department (ED) are less likely to be the following email from one admitted to the hospital, according to a study conof its clients regarding care ducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and manager Athena Walker. published recently in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Hello. I want to convey to These findings show interventions initiated during an you how much I appreciate older patient’s arrival through the ED can have a significant Athena Walker. This is not impact on care. just a job for her; she cares, According to the Emergency Care Research Institute, and you only have to spend geriatric adults (age 65 and older) account for up to 25 a short time with her to percent of all ED visits, but their needs may not be met in a know that. general ED. Programs like the Geriatric Emergency DepartI know I can call Athena ment Innovations in Care through Workforce, Informatics, and will be met with a carand Structural Enhancements (GEDI WISE) have been deing, positive attitude. When veloped to meet these challenges. It’s a model used at three she visits, it’s a very good large urban hospitals: Mount Sinai Health System in New day. I look forward to seeing York City; St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterher. I consider her a blessson, New Jersey; and Northwestern Memorial Hospital in ing in my life, and blessings Chicago. I do need. I thank God for GEDI WISE includes an ED-based transitional care her. nurse program to identify patients with geriatric-specific When you have an emhealth needs and coordinate their transition from ED to ployee who genuinely cares home. Transitional care nurses include nurse practitioners, and carries out her duties so ED nurses, and social workers. well, I believe she should be In this study, researchers evaluated the effects of tranfully appreciated. sitional care nurses on more than 57,000 patients age 65 and older who arrived between 2013 and 2015 at all three Thank you. medical centers. Ten percent of these patients were seen by a transitional care nurse who assessed for cognitive function, delirium, agitation, functional status, falls risk, and caregiver strain. Their score-based assessment determined the extent of the ED care delivered. For any given presentation of symptoms, triage severity, and illness severity, the ED was more likely able to discharge and not admit those patients seen by a transitional care nurse when compared to the same type of patient not seen by such a nurse. At all three medical centers, individuals who saw a transitional care nurse had on average a 10 percent lower chance of being admitted. At two of the three centers, inpatient admission rates remained lower over the subsequent 30 days for patients treated by a transitional care nurse and discharged from the emergency department. “These findings will allow hospitals and health care systems to focus on better geriatric emergency care programs for a vulnerable, aging population,” says lead investigator Ula Hwang, MD, an associate professor of Emergency Medicine and of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “At a time when the national average for emergency department admissions with older adults is on the rise, programs that can reduce hospitalization risk are crucial.” Hospitalization of older adults carries risks such as adverse drug effects, falls, cognitive decline, and ulcers. More than 30 percent of older adults develop a hospital-associated disability after an acute admission, and many don’t return to their previous functional state. Additionally, researchers say reducing inpatient admissions of older patients leads to cost savings for hospitals that are moving from a fee-for-service model to valuebased care. While hospital admittance is sometimes necessary, health care providers can lower costs by providing the bulk of care in ambulatory clinics or in a patient’s home. Further study is needed to evaluate ED revisit rates among geriatric patients seen by transitional care nurses. Law Offices of Charles E. Dorwart, J.D. 36 years of legal experience • Wills • Living Trusts • Probate • Healthcare and Financial Powers of Attorney • In-home consultations • Free Initial consultation 10104 Essex Court • Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 Office: (402) 558-1404 • Fax: (402) 779-7498 cdorwartjd@dorwartlaw.com

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March 2018

Nebraska ranks 33rd

Survey examines which states are the most wallet friendly

o help retirees find the safest, most enjoyable, and most wallet-friendly place to call home, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 41 key metrics. The data set ranges from adjusted cost of living to weather to quality of public hospitals. WalletHub says Florida, Colorado, South Dakota, Iowa, Virginia, Wyoming, New Hampshire, Idaho, Utah, and Arizona are the top 10 states for retirees. Nebraska ranked as the 33rd best.

RSVP is recruiting men and women age 55 and older for a variety of opportunities. For more information in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties, please call 402-444-6536, ext. 1024. In Dodge and Washington counties, please call 402721-7780. • ENOA’ Senior Centers are looking for volunteers. • The Boys Town Hall of History needs volunteers. • Together Inc. wants volunteers for its food pantry. • The VA Hospital is looking for volunteers. • The YWCA’s Reach and Rise Mentoring Program wants volunteers to work with children. • The Heartland Hope Mission needs volunteers for its food pantry. • The Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital is looking for volunteers. • The Low-Income Ministry wants volunteers for its food pantry. • The Blair and Fremont Car-Go Program needs volunteers to drive older adults to their appointments once or twice a week.

nce again in 2018, Baker’s Supermarkets – 5555 N. 90th St. – and its customers combined to purchase and donate beautiful roses which were donated to the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging for delivery to 100 of its Meals on Wheels recipients on Valentine’s Day. Over a two-week period each year, as part of its Heart to Heart campaign, Baker’s asks its customers to buy roses and balloons for men, women, boys, and girls involved in a variety of area programs including ENOA’s Meals on Wheels program. “On behalf of ENOA and the men and women we serve, I’d like to thank Baker’s and its customers for their incredible generosity,” said Arlis Smidt who coordinates the agency’s Meals on Wheels program.

ccording to WalletHub, the 10 worst states to retire are Alabama, Hawaii, New Mexico, Louisiana, West Virginia, Arkansas, Mississippi, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Kentucky. Here are some other facts: • Mississippi has the lowest adjusted cost-of-living index for retirees, 84.91, which is 2.2 times lower than in Hawaii, where it’s the highest at 185.73. • Louisiana has the lowest median annual cost of housekeeping for older adults, $34,320, which is 1.9 times lower than in North Dakota, where it’s the highest at $63,972. • Alaska has the highest share of the population age 65 and older still working, 23 percent, which is 1.8 times higher than in West Virginia, where it’s the lowest at 12.56 percent. • Florida has the highest share of the population age 65 and older, 19.1 percent, which is two times higher than in Alaska, where it’s the lowest at 9.4 percent.

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The importance of having a Power of Attorney By April Hauf

here are many challenges as we age. Some challenges or obstacles leave people without a way to communicate their needs or wishes during end of life care. Having a Power of Attorney in place or having an advanced

directive help during crisis situations or when people are not able to communicate their needs for whatever reason. Advance directives will help minimize stress, can reduce potential conflicts among family members, and help you plan for end of life care. A Power of Attorney is

Dora Bingel Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Dora Bingel Senior Center, 923 N. 38th St., this month for the following: • March 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, & 30: Ceramics @ 9 a.m. • March 5, 12, 19, & 26: Al-Anon meeting @ 7 p.m. • March 7: Holy Communion served @ 10 a.m. • March 12: Book Club @ 10 a.m. • March 21: The Merrymakers present music by The Links @ 11:30 a.m. Lunch is $3. • March 21: Foot care clinic from 9 a.m. to noon. Make an appointment by calling 392-1818. • March 28: Birthday party luncheon @ noon. Eat free if you have a March birthday. A nutritious lunch is served on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. A $1 donation is suggested for the meals, other than $3 for Merrymakers. Round-trip transportation is available for $3. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance for all meals. Other activities offered at the facility include: Tuesday: Joy Club Devotions @ 9:30 a.m., matinee @ 12:30 p.m., and quilting @1 p.m. Wednesday: Cooking class @ 10 a.m.; bingo @ 12:30 p.m., and Bible study at 12:30 p.m. Friday: Bingo @ 12:30 p.m For more information, please call 402-898-5854.

someone appointed to speak on your behalf and will act as your surrogate decision maker once you’re not able to make your own decisions. A Power of Attorney (POA) doesn’t go into effect until your physician has stated you’re no longer able to make decisions for yourself. You can set up a POA at any time and you can get a copy from your health care provider or state health department. You’ll want to choose someone who’ll honor your wishes during end of life care and someone you trust. Once completed, you should give a copy of the paperwork to your health care provider, nursing home, hospital, and family members. Advanced directives remain in effect until you change them. Advanced directives will help you with unwanted hospitalizations, limit unwanted or unnecessary medical procedures, and reduce stress associated with end of life decision making for your loved ones. This is a great way to avoid confusion and to let others know your end of life wishes. Don’t hesitate and start thinking about this today. (Hauf is the director of social services at Florence Home Health Care Center in Omaha.)

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)

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.

Volunteers Assisting Seniors For more than 41 years, Volunteers Assisting Seniors (VAS) has offered unbiased information, one-on-one counseling, and advocacy to help older adults in eastern Nebraska navigate complex government programs. VAS can review guardian and conservator files for the courts, assist with senior health insurance planning, help file for property tax relief, and provide estate planning workshops. What steps do you need to take to outline plans for your assets when you die? Have you designated who you want to handle your personal and financial affairs in the event you become incapacitated? If you already have an estate plan in place, do you know how often to review it? VAS is offering a basic estate planning workshop to help answer those questions. The workshop will cover lifetime planning (financial and medical powers of attorney, living wills, and succession planning), wills, living or revocable trusts, alternatives and supplements to wills, taxes related to death, and mistakes to avoid in your planning. A volunteer attorney will present the free workshop at the VAS office in the Center Mall, 1941 S. 42nd St., Suite #312. For more information on the next workshop, please call VAS at 402-444-6617. VAS needs volunteers to review the required annual reports submitted by guardians and conservators and report any discrepancies to the court. This opportunity is ideal for someone interested in working with numbers and a desire to assist the court in determining if the finances of vulnerable individuals are being managed in their best interest. For more information, please call 402-444-6617.

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March 2018

ElderCare Access Line Legal Aid of Nebraska operates a free telephone access line for Nebraskans age 60 and older.

Information is offered to help the state’s older men and women with questions on topics like bankruptcy, homestead exemptions, collections, powers of attorney, Medicare, Medicaid, grandparent rights, and Section 8 housing. The telephone number for the Elder Access Line is 402-827-5656 in Omaha and 1-800-527-7249 statewide. This service is available to Nebraskans age 60 and older regardless of income, race, or ethnicity. For more information, log on the Internet to http:// www.legalaidofnebraska. com/EAL.

National Safety Council of Nebraska is offering a three-hour driving class

he National Safety Council of Nebraska is offering a comprehensive three-hour driving assessment class for older adults by appointment. The Senior Driving Program, which costs $300, is designed to keep older adults driving safely on Nebraska’s roads for as long as possible. Participants will be able to assess and improve their driving skills to reduce risk to themselves, their passengers, and to other drivers. The classes, held at the National Safety Council of Nebraska’s office, 11620 M Cir., offer a driving skills self- assessment, behind the wheel driving with statecertified instructors, driving tips, and evaluation, and recommendations. To learn more or to register for the Senior Driving Program, please call 402-898-7371 or go online to safety@safenebraska.org.

Retired fed employees meet at Omaha eatery

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. Widowed Persons

Group of Omaha

The Widowed Persons Group of Omaha hosts a luncheon the third Monday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at Jericho’s Restaurant, 11732 W. Dodge Rd. For more information, please call 402-426-9690 or 402-493-0452.

The Sierra Group, LLC FREE Book & CD Call Us: (800) 309-0753

The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging has been providing programs and services for older adults in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties since 1974.

Dealing with Vision Loss? We Can Help! Continue Doing the Things You Love! FREE resources and training to help you: Use computers and the internet - pay bills, read the news and stay connected Use a smartphone - arrange a ride, call or text family, get the weather Use magnification tools - read printed material Stay active with recreation and cultural programs

All Ability Levels Welcome! Call 402.614.3331 or visit outlookne.org March 2018

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New Horizons

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Page 17

ENOA is offering free six-week series of Hibernians’ annual programs on living healthy with diabetes St. Patrick’s parade The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging is offering a free six-week series of programs designed to teach participants how to live a healthy lifestyle with diabetes. The program will run on Thursdays from March 8 through April 12 from 12:30 to 3 p.m. at the Fremont Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St. (Christensen Field). Developed at Stanford University, Living Well with Diabetes will help participants manage diabetes symptoms including fatigue and depression, use relaxation techniques, eat healthy, use medications effectively, and monitor blood sugar levels. For more information or to register for the program, please contact Laurie at 402-727-2815 or online at laurie.friendshipcenter@gmail.com.

Omaha World Adventurers

maha World Adventurers (OWA) will present two exciting travelogues in March at the Westwood 8 Cinema, 2809 S. 125th Ave., #297. On Thursday, March 8, enjoy Doug Jones’ film Cruising the Orient on the Queen Elizabeth 2 at 2 and 7 p.m. Dale Johnson’s film, Return to Sweden, will be shown on Thursday, March 22 at 2 and 7 p.m. Cruising the Orient on the Queen Elizabeth 2 will allow armchair travelers to accompany Jones who boards the QE2 halfway through her final world cruise in Sydney, Australia. Stops on the 40-day journey will include Melbourne, Manila, Hong Kong, Beijing, Tokyo,

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Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore. In Return to Sweden, OWA will take viewers to the land of the Midnight Sun. Visit Kiruna (drive into an iron mountain), Stockholm (the Venice of the North), and Goteborg (the home of Volvo cars). See a “ship that never sailed”, climb stone pyramids said to be Viking burial markers, observe Olympic-winning horse training, and explore forests and wildlife (lynx, elk, and reindeer). Tickets will be available at the door for $10 (cash or check). Save $2 on each ticket by bringing and using the OWA ad on page 8. For more information, please call 866-385-3824 (toll free).

New Horizons

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on tap for March 10 Join the Ancient Order of Hibernians’ (AOH) Fr. Flanagan Division for the first and one of the best parades of 2018. The 140th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is scheduled for Saturday, March 10 at 10 a.m. in beautiful downtown Omaha. The parade will have many dignitaries, organizations, and groups representing the best of the Omaha area including a Marine Color Guard, local police and firefighters, Miss Nebraska, Miss Douglas County, elected officials, drill teams, bands, creative floats, classic cars, and more. The AOH is excited to have Katie O’Connor as Grand Marshall of its parade. Immediately following the parade, the public is invited to the AOH postparade party at the Old Mattress Factory, 501 N. 13th St. The post-parade party will include food, drinks, and great Irish entertainment. The proceeds from the post-parade party will go to Irish Charities of Nebraska. To learn more, visit www.aohomaha.org/parade.

March 2018

THEOS to meet on March 12

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 are encouraged to meet for a fun afternoon and to sign up for other activities throughout the month. On March 12, the program will feature a speaker from Heartland Family Service. For more information, please call Dorothy at 402-3990759 or Mary at 402-393-3052.

Millard Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Millard Senior Center at Montclair, 2304 S. 135th Ave., this month for the following: • March 2: Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss. Wear a silly hat. • March 2: Wear blue for colon cancer awareness day. • March 7: African dressmaking @ 9 a.m. • March 8: Blood pressure checks @ 9:30 a.m. • March 13: International Awesomeness Day. • March 14: P.A.W.S @ 10 a.m., field trip, and lunch to follow at the center. Don’t forget to order a meal. • March 16: George and the Juniors @ 10 a.m. Wear green so you don’t get pinched. • March 27: Play “Horse” in the gym @ 9:40 and Canasta @ 1:30. Swallowing issues presentation @ 10:45 a.m. • March 30: Easter egg hunt @ 10 a.m. We’re looking for bridge players. Call Tamara Womack at 402-546-1270 for more information. The center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch is served @ 11:30 a.m. A $3.50 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the meal the participant wishes to enjoy. Other center activities include walking, card games, Tai Chi, dominoes, quilting, needlework, chair volleyball, and bingo. For more information, please call 402-546-1270.

Volunteer drivers are needed for Car-Go Program in Fremont, Blair

he Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is recruiting volunteers age 55 and older to provide free transportation services for older adults in Fremont and Blair. “We’re especially interested in providing transportation services for military veterans,” said Pat Tanner, who coordinates the RSVP for the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. Sponsored locally by ENOA, RSVP is a national program of the Corporation for National and Community Service through the Senior Service Corps. RSVP staff members who serve in Dodge, Washington, Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties realize many older men and women live alone, are on fixed incomes, are no longer able to operate their own vehicle, and don’t have family members available to drive them to their various appointments. In response, RSVP’s Car-Go Project offers free transportation for men and women age 55 and older in Blair and Fremont through volunteers age 55 and older who use their own vehicles. Free rides can be given to medical appointments, pharmacies, grocery stores, beauty parlors, barbershops, banks, and other personal business locations. Rides for persons who use wheelchairs (must be able to transfer themselves) will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The Car-Go Project – which isn’t available to nursing home residents – operates in Fremont and Blair Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on becoming a volunteer driver or to make a reservation (24 hours notice is required) for a ride, please call RSVP’s Fremont office at 402-721-7780.

Corrigan Senior Center’s Happy Hands are looking for new members to crochet, knit

Members of the Happy Hands at the Corrigan Senior Center – 3819 X St. – include from left: Joan Gradel, Janice Maristiller, and Margie Arauza. Elaine Wasser is not pictured.

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In the case of blended families (two sets of children), unmarried partners, and same sex couples, the default pattern does not work. For those who don’t fit the nuclear family mold, planning is very much more important, because the law doesn’t protect you. Don’t put it off.

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he Happy Hands, a group who knit and crochet year-round at the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St., is looking for new members. Each year, the Happy Hands make and donate items to the Open Door Mission and to the Lydia House. The knitting and crocheting begin each Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. For more information about the Happy Hands and the Corrigan Senior Center, please call 402-731-7210.

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Managed by Kimball Management, Inc. PO Box 460967 Papillion, NE 68046 www.kimballmgmt.com We do business in accordance with the Fair Housing Law.

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Best & honest prices paid for: Vintage, Sterling, Turquoise, & Costume jewelry, old watches, old quilts, vintage toys, old postcards, advertising items, military items, pottery, and antique buttons. Also buying estates & partial estates. Call Bev at 402-339-2856

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Cemetery Plots for Sale

Two cemetery plots sold as a pair. Concrete grave liners included. No need to purchase a vault. Westlawn Cemetery (Omaha) Section 23, Lot 67, Spaces 5 & 6. Retail price for the two plots and the vault is $9,580. Selling for $4,000.

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Nancy’s available to help caregivers for persons with dementia

early half the primary caregivers for loved ones who have dementia die before the care receiver does, according to Nancy Flaherty, MS, NHA, CDP, of Omaha’s Flaherty Senior Consulting. “Caregivers often run themselves into the ground,” she said. “It’s important for them to realize help is available.” Flaherty, a Syracuse, NY native, has a bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph College in Maryland and a master’s degree from Russell Sage University in New York. She’s also a certified dementia practitioner from the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. Nancy moved from Philadelphia to Omaha in 2004 to be closer to family members and spent the next eight years working as an administrator in area long-term care facilities. In 2011, Flaherty became the primary caregiver for a friend, and was quickly overwhelmed by the combined demands of her work and caregiving responsibilities. Knowing local caregivers had few places to turn for help, Nancy started Flaherty Senior Consulting later that year. “I threw a small pebble into the lake to see where the ripples might go,” she said recently during an interview in her office at the Servite Center for Compassion, 7400 Military Ave. “I try to connect people with whatever they need,” Flaherty said. “There’s no one size that fits all.” Nancy said caregivers face many challenges such as balancing work, family, and caregiving; feeling isolated, navigating the healthcare system, and caring for a loved one who is often not the same person as before. Flaherty facilitates ongoing Solutions Groups for caregivers, providing opportunities for participants to learn how to deal with different issues, obtain skills and knowledge, and engage in discussions with others in situations similar to theirs. Four Solutions Groups meet monthly in the Omaha area.

Additionally, the Living to Learn with Dementia educational series helps caregivers understand the unique challenges of caring for a loved one with dementia so they can provide the best possible care. A variety of other programs and services are available through Flaherty Senior Consulting including: • Consultations with family caregivers to develop individual plans for loved ones at home with a special emphasis on family members with dementia. • Consultations regarding placement options, especially when an unexpected transition occurs. • Facilitating free or low-cost workshops throughout the community on dementia-related topics. • Coordination between caregivers and service providers that help the caregivers navigate and access available resources. • General education, information, and referrals to senior care resources.

hile the reasons families turn to Flaherty Senior Consulting are many, the typical client is a daughter who doesn’t know how to help her mother who has dementia. Most initial consultations are held in person at Flaherty’s office or in the caregiver’s home. “I’m not the end of the road, I’m the beginning of the road,” Nancy said. “I let them know they’re not alone.” While Flaherty works with family caregivers of all ages, 90 percent of her clients are age 60 and older. Some of these individuals are referred to the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Caregiver Support Program which can provide programs and services that reduce the caregiver’s stress and help keep the care receiver at home. While results are sometimes hard to measure, Flaherty said she feels successful when caregivers give an affirmative answer to her question: “Do you feel better?” Sherry, a caregiver for a family member with dementia, is a Flaherty Senior Consulting client.

A Syracuse, NY native, Nancy Flaherty, MS, NHA, CDP, started Omaha’s Flaherty Senior Consulting in 2011. “Nancy was a lifesaver when my husband and I needed to quickly find a memory care facility for his mother. She helped us through the process and provided guidance and support.”

aking a living helping family caregivers puts Nancy in a unique position. “If I do well, I might work myself out of a job,” she said, smiling. “It’s all about helping each other and emotionally being there for someone else. I love what I do because I know I can make a difference.” Flaherty had some simple advice

for men and women caring for a loved one who has dementia. “Ask for help. Don’t try to do it alone.” For more information about ENOA’s Caregiver Support Program, please call Mike Osberg at 402-444-6536. To learn more about Flaherty Senior Consulting, its programs, services, and its upcoming support groups and workshops, please call 402-312-9324. The website address is flahertyconsulting.net. Nancy’s email address is flahertyconsulting@cox.net. “The good news is that I’m not going away. The bad news is that I’m not going away,” Nancy said.

The orchestra joins with authentic Irish music, dance, and storytelling to revive the majesty and charm of Celtic culture.

Symphony Pops Series Sponsor

“Danny Boy,” “Rocky Road to Dublin” “The Last Rose of Summer”

Concert Sponsor

Ernest Richardson, conductor Tomáseen Foley, storyteller  Susanna Perry Gilmore, violin Celtic Journey Band & Dancers

MARCH 10 AT 7:30 PM  MARCH 11 AT 2 PM HOLLAND CENTER

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New Horizons

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March 2018