A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging
November 2016 VOL. 41 • NO. 11
ENOA 4223 Center Street Omaha, NE 68105-2431
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID OMAHA NE PERMIT NO. 389
New Horizons ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Dr.Tom Osborne:
Nebraska leader on and off the field
Photo courtesy of NU Communications
After winning 255 games, 13 conference championships, and three national titles as head football coach at the University of Nebraska (1973 to 1997), Tom Osborne served three terms in the United States House of Representatives (2001 to 2007), and was NU’s athletic director from 2007 to 2013. Leo Adam Biga’s profile of this 1999 College Football Hall of Fame inductee begins on page 10.
Runner Bruce Deines, age 69, has participated in all 36 Omaha Corporate Cups, an annual 10K race that raises funds for the American Lung Association. See page 9.
What’s inside Outlook may influence longevity ........................ 2 Medicare Part D enrollment sites ....................... 3 Hope Lodge will help cancer patients ................. 4 ‘Read it & eat’ reviews cookbooks ..................... 6 Alzheimer’s slamming U.S. Latinos .................... 6 National Family Caregivers Month...................... 8 Cooking your Thanksgiving turkey ................... 15 iEXCEL is coming to UNMC ............................. 16 Check the safety of your water ......................... 17 UNO gerontologist honored ............................. 19
Author: Attitudes about aging have a profound impact on our longevity
W
hen it comes to aging, have confidence in your future. If you have a negative attitude about aging, odds are your attitude will have a profound impact on your later years, even on how long you’ll live, says Dr. Noelle Nelson, author of the new book Happy Healthy…Dead: Why What You Think You Know About Aging is Wrong and How to Get it Right. A 2014 University College London study interviewed more than 9,000 people with an average age of 65. Those who had an overall sense of well-being – defined as having control, doing something worthwhile, and having a purpose in life – were 30 percent less likely do die over the following eight years than their least well-being counterparts. “The findings raise the intriguing possibility that increasing well-being could help to improve physical health. There are several biological mechanisms that may link well-being to improved health, for example through hormonal changes or reduced blood pressure,” says UCL professor Andrew Steptoe, who led the study. “What do you value about getting older? If you say ‘Nothing!’ you’re in trouble,” says Nelson. “If what you see before you as you advance through your 70s, 80s, 90s, and beyond is deterioration, ill-health, and
The New Horizons is brought to you each month by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.
Start
your
&
shopping
early this year
while supporting two valuable programs in your community! The 23rd Annual Foster Grandparent Program’s and Senior Companion Program’s
Poinsettia Sale
raska.gov
@neb mary.parker
23rd Annual
Poinsettia Sale Company: ____________________________________________________________ Contact Name: ________________________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________ Phone: ___________________ City/State/Zip: _______________________________________________________ Email: ________________________________________________________________
Single Stem
Multiple Stem
(5-7 Blooms) $12.
(10-12 Blooms) $22.00
00
Red _____ Pink _____ White _____
form, and then is th te le p m o c e Pleas a check mail it back with t Program ) n re a p d n ra G r te s Fo (made out to the to:
Sale a i t t e s n i o P FGP/SCP Street 4223 Center 68105 Omaha, NE 246 . t x e , 6 3 5 6 444
decrepitude, well then, you’re in for a very unhappy time, and probably won’t live that long.” A 2015 UCL study found even further proof. After suffering a heart attack or angina, the most pessimistic patients were twice as likely to suffer from additional serious health conditions over the next four years than were optimistic patients. “If all you see before you is a depressing future, it’s not too late to change that perception,” says Nelson. “Take on an appreciative and optimistic attitude. Seek out what makes you happy and fulfilled. If you do, you’ll find plenty of reasons to live a long and purposeful life. “Be appreciative every day for who you are. Train yourself to talk differently, positively, to yourself. You’ll be amazed at just how quickly your mind responds, and how your experience of your life shifts into a much happier place, the precursor to a gratifying long-life.” This shifting perception is critical, says Nelson. “From birth, we are changing every second of every day. What society calls aging, is nothing more than another change in our life’s journey. Whatever your chronological age, maintain and practice appreciation. “As is true of any good habit and practice, the more diligently and sincerely you embrace appreciation, the more you will enjoy its physical and psychological benefits.”
Total _____ $12 = ______
Red _____ Pink _____ White _____ Tri-Color ______ Total _____ $22=_______ Total Price $___________
Plants will be delivered December 6 & December 7, 2016 Special Delivery Dates Available Deadline for Ordering: November 18, 2016 Order must be pre-paid. Upon ordering, please submit a check for payment to:
Foster Grandparent Program
4223 Center Street Omaha, NE 68105-2498 Email: mary.parker@nebraska.gov (402) 444-6536, ext. 246 Fax: (402) 444-6503
Order on-line at enoa.org.
(A $1.00 processing fee per plant will be charged for on-line orders)
Page 2
•
New Horizons
•
November 2016
Medicare Part D open enrollment runs through Dec. 7
M
edicare beneficiaries have the option to review and change their Prescription Drug Plans and their Medicare Advantage plans during the annual open enrollment period that runs through Wednesday, Dec. 7. Each year, plans can change premiums, deductibles, and co-pays. Medications that were covered this year may not be covered next year. Doctors that may have been in network on a Medicare Advantage plan in 2016 may not be in 2017. Medicare’s open enrollment period gives beneficiaries the ability to review their coverage and switch to another plan that offers better coverage or pricing. Volunteers Assisting Seniors serves as the Nebraska Senior Health Insurance
Information Program regional office in eastern Nebraska. VAS provides free, unbiased information to area Medicare beneficiaries. Below is a list of VAS sites where Medicare beneficiaries can sit down with a trained counselor for assistance in evaluating their Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage options for 2017. Assistance is available outside the Omaha area by calling 800-234-7119. VAS will also be able to help older adults review their Medigap Supplement plans after the Medicare open enrollment program concludes. Here’s the VAS schedule including dates, locations, addresses, times, and the phone numbers needed to make an appointment.
Wednesday, Nov. 2 VAS 1941 S. 42nd St #312 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 402-444-6617
Tuesday, Nov. 15 Arlington Senior Center 305 N. 3rd St. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 402-478-4774
Thursday, Nov. 3 Hooper Senior Center 208 N. Main St. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 402-727-2775
Wednesday, Nov. 16 Metro Comm. College 825 N. Broad St. Fremont 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 402-444-6617
Friday, Nov. 4 Metro Comm. College 829 N. 204th St. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 402-444-6617
Thursday, Nov. 17 Washington County Extension Office 597 Grant St. #200 Blair 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 402-426-9455
Monday, Nov. 7 VAS 1941 S. 42nd St. #312 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 402-444-6617
Friday, Nov. 18 Metro Comm. College 829 N. 204th St. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 402-444-6617
Wednesday, Nov. 9 VAS 1941 S. 42nd St #312 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 402-444-6617
Friday, Nov. 18 Washington County Extension Office 597 Grant St #200 Blair 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 402-426-9455
Thursday, Nov. 10 Eastern Nebraska Veterans Home 12505 S. 40th St. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 402-444-6617
Monday, Nov. 21 Sump Library 222 N. Jefferson St. Papillion 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 402-444-6617
Saturday, Nov. 12 VAS 1941 S. 42nd St. #312 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 402-444-6617
Monday, Nov. 21 Dodge County Extension Office 1206 W. 23rd St. Fremont 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 402-727-2775
Monday, Nov. 14 Goodwill 4805 N. 72nd St. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 402-444-6617
Tuesday, Nov. 22 Dodge County Extension Office 1206 W. 23rd St. Fremont 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 402-727-2775 Tuesday, Nov. 22 VAS 1941 S. 42nd St, #312 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 402-444-6617 Monday, Nov. 28 Goodwill 4805 N. 72nd St. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 402-444-6617
parent rights, and Section 8 housing.
The telephone number for the Elder Access Line
“Voice for Older Nebraskans!”
b u l C s n o z i r New Ho
Join the
Friday, Dec. 2 VAS 1941 S. 42nd St. #312 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 402-444-6617 Monday, Dec. 5 VAS 1941 S. 42nd St #312 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 402-444-6617 Wednesday, Dec. 7 VAS 1941 S. 42nd St #312 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 402-444-6617
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.
November 2016
today!
Membership includes a subscription to the New Horizons newspaper. New Horizons Club Send Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging 4223 Center Street to: Omaha, NE 68105-2431 I get the New Horizons regularly and don’t need to be put on the mailing list. I would like to start receiving the New Horizons at home. My address is below. NAME ADDRESS CITY/STATE/ZIP
Wednesday, Nov. 30 VAS 1941 S. 42nd St #312 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 402-444-6617
Elder Access Line Legal Aid of Nebraska operates a free telephone access line for Nebraskans age 60 and older. Information is offered to help the state’s older men and women with questions on topics like bankruptcy, homestead exemptions, collections, powers of attorney, Medicare, Medicaid, grand-
Make a donation to help support the
$5
$25
$10
$50
$15
Other _______
New Horizons New Horizons is the official publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. The paper is distributed free to people over age 60 in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Washington, and Cass counties. Those living outside the 5-county region may subscribe for $5 annually. Address all correspondence to: Jeff Reinhardt, Editor, 4223 Center Street, Omaha, NE 68105-2431. Phone 402-444-6654. FAX 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; Jim Peterson, Cass County, vice-chairperson; Gary Osborn, Dodge County secretary; Brenda Carlisle, Sarpy County; & Lisa Kramer, Washington County. The New Horizons and the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging provide services without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, disability, or age.
•
New Horizons
•
Page 3
Heartland Generations Center You’re invited to visit the Heartland Generations Center – 4318 Fort St. – for the following: • Nov. 2: Clarkson College nurses @ 10:30 a.m. • Nov. 9: Birthday party featuring music by Joe Taylor from The Merrymakers @ 12:30 p.m. • Nov. 10: Methodist College nurses @ 10 a.m. • Nov. 14: WhyArts? clay project with Richard Chong. • Nov. 23: Visit from Urban League of Nebraska students, crafts, and Bingo. • Nov. 29: Visit to the Durham Museum and soda foundation @ 10:30 a.m. The facility will be closed on Nov. 11 for Veterans Day and Nov. 24 and 25 for Thanksgiving. 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. Regular activities include Bingo (Wednesday @ 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and Friday @ 10:30 a.m.), and chair exercises Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday @ 11 a.m., For meal reservations and more information, please call 402-553-5300.
Annual Holiday Bazaar, Bake Sale, and Raffle!
By Melinda Myers
D
For further details call
402-557-6637
7300 Graceland Drive • Omaha 68134 • www.skylinerc.com
The Sierra Group, LLC FREE Book & CD Call Us: (800) 309-0753
•
New Horizons
T
he American Cancer Society recently broke ground for the $11.5 million Hope Lodge Nebraska facility at 8104 Farnam Dr. The American Cancer Society operates more than 30 Hope Lodge facilities nationwide. Each Hope Lodge offers cancer patients and their caregivers a free place to stay. Each year, an estimated 9,200 patients drive more than 40 miles each way to receive healthcare services in one of Omaha’s cancer treatment centers. A 32-room facility, Hope Lodge will save cancer patients an estimated $1.3 million annually in hotel expenses. Some patients spend days, weeks, even months away from home. The emotional and financial toll of the loss of income, medical bills, lodging, and dining out can be staggering. “Hope Lodge Nebraska promises to be one of the most tangible demonstra-
The 32-room Hope Lodge will save cancer patients an estimated $1.3 million a year in hotel expenses. tions of the Society’s commitment to improving the quality of life of cancer patients and their families by directly combatting the financial burden of the disease and offering unprecedented access to care,” said American Cancer Society Executive Vice President Danny Ingram. The Hope Lodge will include private guest suites, a library, a shared living room, kitchen and dining areas, a laundry room, and an activity room. Patients will also have access to free transportation services
to and from the area’s top healthcare facilities. At full occupancy, the Hope Lodge community will provide more than 10,500 room night stays for patients and their caregivers each year, with the average stay being approximately 35 nights. Methodist Hospital donated the land for the Hope Lodge so the facility would be conveniently located near many of the city’s top cancer treatment centers. (The American Cancer Society provided this information.)
Protecting your gardens from hungry deer
Thursday, November 10 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Page 4
Cancer Society’s $11.5 million Hope Lodge to provide free housing for patients, caregivers
•
on’t let your vegetable and fall flower gardens succumb to hungry deer. Even if you’re lucky enough to be deerfree now, be vigilant and prepared to prevent damage as these beautiful creatures move into your landscape to dine. Here are five tactics to help you in the battle against these hungry animals. Fencing is the best, though not always practical way to control deer. Install a four to five-foot-high fence around small garden areas. This is usually enough to keep out deer that seem to avoid small confined spaces. The larger the area, the more likely deer will enter. Some gardeners report success surrounding their garden or landscape with strands of fishing line set at 12 and 36 inches above the ground. Low voltage electric fencing or posts baited with a deer repellent are also options. Be sure to check with your local municipality before installing this type of fencing. Scare tactics are less effective on deer in urban environments. They are used to human scents and sounds. Many gardeners report success with motion sen-
November 2016
sor sprinklers. As the deer passes in front of the motion sensor it starts the sprinkler and sends them running. Be sure to turn off the sprinkler when you go outside to garden. Repellents that make plants taste or smell bad to deer can also help. You’ll find products containing things like garlic, hot pepper oil, and predator urine. Apply them before the animals start feeding for the best results. Reapply as directed on the label. Look for products like Deer Ban (summitchemical.com) that are easy to apply, odorless, and last a long time. Include deer resistant plants whenever possible. Even though no plant is 100 percent deer-proof, there are those the deer are less likely to eat. Include plants rated as rarely or seldom
damaged by deer. Be sure to provide additional protection if you include plants known to be frequently or severely damaged. Constantly monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the methods used. Deer often change their feeding location and preferred food. If the populations are high and the deer are hungry, they will eat just about anything. Be willing to change things up if one method isn’t working. Using multiple tactics will help increase your level of success. So don’t let hungry deer stop you from gardening. Be vigilant and persistent and send them elsewhere to dine. (Gardening expert Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written more than 20 gardening books.)
Adding high fences and using repellents can help keep deer from invading your gardens.
‘World-Herald’ writer featured at Nov. 15 book review club The Eclectic Book Review Club’s fall schedule concludes on Nov. 15 as Omaha World-Herald columnist Mike Kelly will review his book Uniquely Omaha. The monthly meetings, which include lunch and a 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, call Rita at 402-553-3147. The reservation deadline is the Monday morning prior to the Tuesday meeting.
Preparing for retirement’s experiences, expenses
R
etirees of all income levels are less satisfied with their life in retirement than they were 15 or even five years ago, according to studies from the Employee Benefits Research Institute and Insured Retirement Institute. Most of the work preparing for retirement is spent on finances, but little on getting ready for the retirement experience. For those who want to use their new freedom well, and for those who are avoiding thinking about retirement, a helpul book is now available. How to Decide What to Do Next When You’re Retired by Jean Risley provides new tools for those who want to use their time and energy on the things that matter. How to Decide What to Do Next When You’re Retired uses discussion, questions, examples, and worksheets to help retirees: • Uncover their personal meaning and values. • Plan for each stage of retirement.
• Consider the potential obstacles of aging. • Identify their personal goals and directions. • Create helpful habits. • Plan balanced days and weeks. • Recognize and appreciate their accomplishments. • Build consistency and flexibility into their planning. These tools can be used together or separately, so readers can pick those that best fit their situation and personal style.
F
aced with free time in retirement, Risley needed to decide what to do when she got up in the morning. She developed these planning tools to make sure the way she spent her time reflected her values and priorities. The approach she used to organize her suddenly available time turned out to be adaptable to many different ways of approaching (and avoiding thinking about) retirement. How to Decide What to Do Next When You’re Retired is available on Amazon.com and at RetireeAssistant.com.
ENOA is recruiting Senior Companions, Foster Grandparents
M
en and women age 55 and older who want to earn a taxfree 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 each week, Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions receive a $2.65 an hour tax-free stipend, mileage reimbursement, an annual physical exam, 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, please call 402-444-6536.
November 2016
•
New Horizons
•
Page 5
Alzheimer’s impact on Latinos in U.S. Unless a medical breakthrough is discovered that prevents, cures, or slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, the incidence and cost of Alzheimer’s on Latinos in the United States will grow exponentially by 2060, according to a report released recently by the University of Southern California’s (USC) Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging at USC’s Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, and Latinos Against Alzheimer’s. According to the report, Latinos & Alzheimer’s Disease: New Numbers Behind the Crisis, the number of U.S. Latinos living with Alzheimer’s disease is projected to increase by 832 percent between 2012 and 2060. In addition, the report showed Alzheimer’s in the U.S. Latino community would cost the nation’s economy $2.35 trillion in direct and indirect costs by 2060. The report’s data sparks renewed urgency to address health care disparities affecting minorities, particularly U.S. Latinos. Because of advanced age and socioeconomic determinants, U.S. Latinos are 50 percent more likely to get Alzheimer’s than nonLatino whites, yet are less likely to receive a diagnosis from a physician. Despite an increased prevalence for Alzheimer’s and other diseases, clinical trial participation among U.S. Latinos is extremely low at approximately 1 percent, punctuating the need for increased efforts to engage U.S. Latinos in clinical research. While U.S. Latinos are more likely to seek care options that are more affordable than non-Latino white Americans – for example, choosing adult day care vs. nursing home care – the total cost of Alzheimer’s on U.S. Latinos will still outpace the cost for non-Latino whites. “Latinos living with Alzheimer’s disease rely more heavily on informal care than
more expensive options like nursing home care,” said Shinyi Wu, co-author of the report and a senior scientist at USC. “Due to demographic and family structure shifts among Latinos, there will be a lower ratio of younger generations able to take care of older generations living with Alzheimer’s, placing significant societal and economic stress on Latinos,” Wu said. The study’s authors outlined a host of solutions that need immediate action: • Increase research funding for Alzheimer’s to at least $2 billion annually, the level experts recommended in 2013 to be the minimum needed to develop an effective treatment. • Collaborate with government, community, philanthropic, health, and industry partners on developing and implementing culturally tailored community engagement and education efforts to promote Alzheimer’s and brain health literacy and early detection among individuals, families, and community stakeholders. • Improve access to caregiver resources and informal training for caregivers in multiple languages. • Grow the enrollment of Latinos in clinical trials by developing recruitment strategies and trial designs that better reflect the demographic heterogeneity, social needs, and economic realities of Latino communities, some of which have lower health literacy, trust concerns, and difficulties finding transportation. • Recruit and train a more diverse health care provider workforce to address low diagnosis rates and improve treatment and care utilization of Latinos living with Alzheimer’s. • Advocate for federal and state-based action plans and goals for eliminating disparities in Alzheimer’s diagnosis, care utilization, and research participation rates.
Read it & eat By Lois Friedman readitandeat@yahoo.com
Family time recipes to try It’s that holiday time of the year when friends and family gather. These cookbooks are packed with festive recipes to inspire your cooking for few or many. A Southern Thanksgiving By Robb Dew (Bloomsbury, $18) This award-wining author shares her Louisiana holiday experiences and Southern recipes. Think Natchez and sun porches and follow her suggestions covering the details and timing so everyone has a good time and you “follow your own devices.” Southern Appetizers By Denise Gee (Chronicle, $19.95) Start a party with Southern flair. Sixty food and drink recipes with tips. Be the life of the next party by making these appetizers, nibbles, gin yummies, and more. Tasting Wine & Cheese By Adam Centamore (Quarry, $24.99) A guide on pairing wine and cheese for your next gathering. Wine details, the cheese that loves a wine, and matches made in heaven. Taste basics, flavor, smell, and more. Navigate the possibilities and follow your unique palate. Eat Your Drink By Matthew Biancaniello (Dey St., $22.99) From Amuse-Bouche to After Dinner. More than 50 recipes by this “liquid chef” combining beverages and goodies from the Farmers Market. Enjoy creative eating combined with drinking. A whole world of edible cocktails in this artistic guide to modern mixology. One Good Dish By David Tanis (Artisan, $25.95) Tasty, simple, and real recipes for snacks, hearty meals, and everything in between from this award-winning author and chef. Elegant recipes with photos to match. Bread Makes the Meal, A Dab of This and That, Strike While the Iron is Hot, and A Little Something Sweet are a few of the eight chapters. Nibble on this treat at your next event.
Cucumber Spears With Dill Serves 4 to 6
1 1/2 pounds small cucumbers, such as kirbys or Persians Salt and pepper 3 garlic cloves, very thinly sliced 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1/2 teaspoon thyme leaves 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 1 tablespoon chopped dill, tarragon, or parsley Juice of 1 lime Peel the cucumbers and cut them into spears. Put them in a porcelain, glass, or stainless steel bowl and season generously with salt and pepper. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, thyme, and vinegar and toss well. Let marinate for at least an hour, chilled. Just before serving, add the chopped dill and lime juice, and then toss.
T
Florence AARP chapter meetings
he Florence chapter of AARP meets monthly at Mount View Presbyterian Church, 5308 Hartman Ave. Each meeting features a noon lunch and a speaker at 12:45 p.m. The cost is $8 per person each month. Rides are available. For more information,
Page 6
•
New Horizons
•
November 2016
please call Ruth Kruse at 402-453-4825 or Marge Willard at 402-455-8401. Here’s the schedule for the rest of 2016: November 21 Music with Greg Owen December 12 Christmas music
T
You’re invited to attend the annual Holiday Boutique at the Harrison Heights Senior Village, 7544 Gertrude St. in LaVista, on Saturday, Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature crafts made by the Harrison Heights residents. For more information, please call 402933-8080.
Submit your love stories for possible use in book Award-winning author Jan Fowler is writing a book, and she encourages older adults to submit their love stories for possible inclusion in the book about how older couples met. New Horizons readers can send a 300 to 500 words story about how they met their sweetheart. Men and women who submit one of the 52 stories selected by Fowler’s editorial staff will be contacted for their permission to use the story in the book. Contributors will receive a complimentary signed copy of the book upon its release. To submit a story, send your name, email address, telephone number, mailing address, and a 300 to 500 words story by Nov. 30 to jan@janfowler.com. The stories can also be sent to Jan Fowler Senior Productions, 1554 Barton Rd., Suite 251, Redlands, Calif. 92373. For more information, please call 909-793-6419.
November 2016
T
he Acappella Omaha Chorus of Sweet Adelines International is presenting its 2016 fall show An Acappella Journey: A Lifetime Through Song on Saturday, Nov. 12. The 7 p.m. performance will be held at Papillion-LaVista High School, 84th Street and Centennial Road in Papillion. While there is no charge for admission, donations will be accepted. The 700 tickets are available through Acappella Omaha Chorus members or by calling 402-932-0155.
Fall Into Savings LL
SPEC
$50
Graceland Senior Apartments
I
L:
Holiday Boutique on Nov. 12
Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. “Caregivers are potentially at increased risk for adverse effects in virtually every aspect of their lives from their health and quality of life to their relationships and economic security. If the needs of the caregivers are not addressed, we are compromising the well-being of elders. “Supporting family caregivers should be an integral part of the nation’s collective responsibility for caring for its older adult population,” Schulz added. Family caregivers have higher rates of anxiety, stress, and emotional difficulties, the report found. Caregivers of significantly impaired older adults are at the greatest risk of economic harm because of the many hours of care involved. Despite the array of negative consequences, caregivers also report positive outcomes. For some, caregiving instills confidence, provides lessons on dealing with difficult situations, brings them closer to the care recipient, and assures them the care recipient is receiving good care. The report recommends the next U.S. president take immediate steps to address the health, economic, and social issues facing family caregivers of older Americans. This national strategy should include measures to adapt the nation’s systems for health care, workplaces, and long-term services and supports to engage family caregivers and their health, values, social and economic well-being. It should direct the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to implement provider payment reforms that motivate providers to engage family caregivers in delivery processes across all modes of payment and models of care. The strategy should also explore, evaluate, and adopt federal policies that provide economic support for working caregivers. As federal and state agencies move to develop new programs and supports to address the needs of family caregivers, it will be important to prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable caregivers and tailor eligibility appropriately.
A
he demand for family caregivers for older adults is increasing significantly and family caregivers need more recognition, information, and support to fulfill their responsibilities and maintain their own health, financial security, and well-being, according to a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Family caregiving can negatively affect caregivers’ mental and physical health as well as cause economic harm including loss of income and career opportunities. The report found by 2030, 72.8 million American – more 20 percent – will be age 65 or older. This estimate doesn’t include caregivers of nursing home residents. For most family caregivers, caregiving isn’t a short-term obligation. The median number of years of family care for older adults with high needs is five years. The proportion of older adults most likely to need intensive support from family caregivers – those in their 80s and beyond – is projected to climb from 27 percent in 2012 to 37 percent in 2050. Little action has been taken to prepare the health care and social service systems for this demographic shift, according to the report. While the need for caregiving is rapidly increasing, the number of the family caregivers is shrinking. Trends in family patterns including lower fertility, higher rates of childlessness, and increases in divorced and never-married statuses suggest a shrinking pool of potential caregivers. Older adults will have fewer family members to rely on, more likely will be unmarried, divorced, and living alone, and may be geographically more distant from their children. The report found family caregivers typically provide health and medical care at home, navigate complicated and fragmented health care and long-term services and support systems, and serve as surrogate decision makers. Although family caregivers play an integral role in the care of older adults they’re often marginalized or ignored in the delivery of health care and long-term services and supports. They also may be excluded from treatment decisions and care planning, while providers assume their availability to perform the wide range of tasks prescribed by the older adult’s care plan. Medicare and other payers’ financial incentives encourage shorter hospital stays expecting family members to support the older adult at home and manage the transition from hospital to home. In addition, providers expect family caregivers with little or no training to handle technical procedures and equipment such as feeding and drainage tubes and catheters. “Ignoring family caregivers leaves them unprepared for the tasks they are expected to perform, carrying significant economic and personal burdens,” said Richard Schulz, committee chair and Distinguished Service
Sweet Adelines show set for Nov. 12
FA
Family caregiver totals are shrinking
OFF FIRST 3 MONTHS RENT
$400 Deposit Sorry, no pets
Studios at $595 1 BR’s at $695 2 BR’s at $795 CALL TODAY
402-557-6643
55+ Apartments
• All utilities included • Laundry facilities • On bus line • Secure building • Club & fitness room
7350 Graceland Drive Omaha, NE 68134 • SkylineRC.com
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 “Twas The Night Before Christmas” at the Lofte. December 4. $105. “Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” But a mouse IS stirring because Santa missed his house last year! Before you can say “Merry Christmas!”, we’re off on the wild adventures of a mouse, an elf, and a spunky little girl who just won’t take no for an answer. This journey is an exciting one for the whole family. Dinner afterwards at the Main Street Café in Louisville. Kansas City Christmas. December 13 - 14. $379. Webster House Holiday Luncheon, Strawberry Hill Museum with Christmas decorated ethnic exhibits, Crown Center, “Sister’s Christmas Catechism” performance at the indoor Starlight Theater, “Fabulous Lipitones” performance at the New Theater Restaurant starring George Wendt from “Cheers”, and a Christmas Party (just our group) at the New Theater before the luncheon show. Black Hills “Ski for Light”. January 21 – 27, 2017. Third annual trip to Deadwood, South Dakota. A very rewarding week-long event for blind and physically challenged persons to participate in skiing and/or other outdoor activities. If you know of someone who might want to participate, call us. Volunteers also needed to provide various types of assistance at the event. Financial assistance also needed to make this event more affordable for participants. Motorcoach will pick up at various points across Nebraska. Contact us at 712-366-9596 for more details. Watch for upcoming details about a February winter getaway.... Laughlin Laughlin in November. November 9 - 12. $299. Includes nonstop, round-trip airfare to Laughlin, Nevada, three nights lodging at the Riverside Resort and Casino on the banks of the Colorado River, and shuttle transportation to and from the airport. It is a very affordable way to get away for a while. During this stay, you will have the option of seeing a performance of Aaron Tippin’s 25th Anniversary Celebration at the Riverside Resort and the Marshall Tucker Band at Harrah’s. SOLD OUT! In Partnership with Collette Vacations Quoted prices are per person, double occupancy, and do not include airfare. More destinations available! Reflections of Italy. 10 days from $2449. Visit a land rich in history, culture, art, and romance including Rome, the Colosseum, Assisi, Perugia, Siena, Florence, Chianti Winery, Venice, Murano Island, and Milan. Extend your trip in Turin. Irish Splendor. Eight days from $1699. Return to times gone by as you experience fabulous accommodations, stunning scenery, and sumptuous food visiting Dublin, the Guiness Storehouse, Blarney Castle, Killarney, Dingle Peninsula, Cliffs of Moher, Dromoland Castle, and Tullamore Whiskey Distillery. Extend your trip in Dublin. Watch New Horizons and our website www.fontenelletours.com for our trip schedule. 11808 Mason Plaza, Omaha, NE 68154
•
New Horizons
•
Page 7
Camelot Friendship Center You’re invited to visit the Camelot Friendship Center inside the Camelot Community Center, 9270 Cady Ave., for the following: • Nov. 2: Massage event @ 10 a.m. • Nov. 4: Movie Day @ 12:15 p.m. • Nov. 7: Foot clinic. • Nov. 9: Birthday Bash. • Nov. 10: Book Club @ 10:15 a.m. • Nov. 16: Nurses’ visit @ 11:45 a.m. • Nov. 17: Crafts @ 10:30 a.m. Jackpot Bingo @ 12:15 p.m. • Nov. 18: Music by Tim Javorsky sponsored by The Merrymakers @ 11:45 a.m. • Nov. 21: Chair volleyball @ 10:30 a.m. The center will be closed on Nov. 11 for Veterans Day and Nov. 24 and 25 for Thanksgiving. Other activities include Tai Chi (Tuesday and 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 Amy at 402-444-3091.
Volunteers needed The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging is looking for volunteer drivers for its Meals on Wheels Program. Flexible weekday schedule delivering midday meals to homebound older adults in the greater Omaha area.
‘Take Care to Give Care’ during National Family Caregivers Month
N
ovember is National Family Caregivers Month in the United States. The theme for the 2016 celebration is Take Care to Give Care. The first rule of taking care of others is to take care of yourself first. Caregiving can be a rewarding experience, but it’s also physically and emotionally demanding. The stress of dealing with caregiving responsibilities leads to a higher risk of health issues among the nation’s 90 million family caregivers. Family caregivers need to remember to pay attention to their own physical and mental wellness and get proper rest and nutrition. Only by taking care of themselves can caregivers
be strong enough to take care of their loved ones. • Caregiving can be a stressful job. Most family caregivers say they feel stressed providing care for a loved one. With all of their caregiving responsibilities – from managing medications to arranging doctor appointments to planning meals – caregivers too often put themselves last. • The stress of caregiving impacts their own health. One out of five caregivers admit they have sacrificed their own physical health while caring for a loved one. Due to stress, family caregivers have a disproportionate number of health and emotional problems. They’re twice as likely to suffer depression and are at increased risk for
Open House & Tours Tour our apartments and enjoy a slice of pie and coffee! Live Saturday, November 19th 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Music RSVP to 402-557-6643
Skyline Independent Living
7300 Graceland Drive, Omaha 68134
Call Arlis at 402-444-6766 for more information.
You can receive your FREE copy of the New Horizons each month in any of ways!
1 2 3
3
Pick up a copy at one of the more than 100 distribution sites (grocery stores, restaurants, senior centers, libraries, etc.) Through the United States mail New subscribers should send their name, address, and zip code to: New Horizons, 4223 Center Street, Omaha, NE 68105. Online on your computer* Log on to enoa.org, scroll down until you see the New Horizons cover, then click on click here for pdf version. * Online subscribers will not receive a hard copy of the New Horizons each month.
For more information, please call 402-444-6654. Page 8
•
New Horizons
many other chronic conditions. • Proper nutrition helps promote good health. Ensuring caregivers get proper nutrition is key to help maintaining their strength, energy, and stamina, as well as strengthening their immune system. Maintaining a healthy diet is one of the most powerful things caregivers can do to take care of themselves and keep a positive attitude. • Ensuring good nutrition for loved one helps make caregiving easier. As many as half of all older adults are at risk for malnutrition. Good nutrition can help maintain muscle health, support recovery, and reduce the risk for re-hospitalization that may help make caring for a loved one easier. • Remember: “Rest. Recharge. Respite.” People think of respite as a luxury, but considering caregivers’ higher risk for health issues from chronic stress, those risks can be a lot costlier than time away to recharge. The chance to take a breather, the opportunity to re-energize, is vital in order for people to be as good a caregiver tomorrow as they were today.
•
November 2016
Deines enjoys the health, social aspects of running By Jeff Reinhardt New Horizons Editor
O
n a wall in his basement office inside the southwest Omaha home of Bruce Deines hangs a photograph of a runner ogling a long and winding road ahead. This sentence is featured near the top of the framed photo: The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running. Perhaps no truer words have ever been written or spoken for Deines, age 69, a retired IBM salesman who has been running on courses around the world for more than four decades. Bruce has run in 49 of the 50 United States (all but Vermont) and more than 25 countries. San Francisco is his favorite place to jog, while the Red Square in Moscow is among the most interesting venues where Deines has pounded the pavement wearing track gear. “When I travel, the first thing I pack are my running clothes,” he said. Deines is proud to have run in all 36 Omaha Corporate Cups, an annual 10K race that raises funds for the American Lung Association. On Sept. 25, 2016, an estimated 6,000 participants ran and walked the course that began at Aksarben Village with a goal of raising more than $300,000. “The Corporate Cup is well run and it’s for a very good cause,” Bruce said.
A
graduate of what is now the University of NebraskaKearney, Deines also has a graduate degree in math and science from Creighton University. The Clay Center, Neb. native taught math at Omaha’s Arbor Heights Junior High School for four years before spending 36 years at IBM, retiring in 2009. Whether teaching, selling, or traveling with Dottie, his wife of 43 years, Bruce has always found time to run. “I do it for the health of it, and it’s a great way to clear your mind,” he said. For the last 20-plus years, Deines, and a group of friends, have run a four-mile course through their neighborhood every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On Saturdays, they’re joined by a half dozen other joggers ranging in age from 40 to 82 for a six to seven-mile run. “We work up a pretty good sweat,” Bruce said. We’re not plodding along.” While the course location varies each weekend, there’s always one common denominator. “We make sure there’s a restaurant nearby so we can have breakfast,” Deines said. Bruce plans to continue jogging and entering the Omaha Corporate Cup as long as he’s physically able. “I enjoy being around like-minded people,” he said.
Bruce Deines, age 69, has run in 49 of the United States (all except Vermont) and in more than 25 countries.
November 2016
•
New Horizons
•
Page 9
Nebraska legend Tom Osborne still winning the game of life at 79
Photo courtesy of NU Communications
Members of the Nebraska football team carry Osborne off the field following the Huskers’ win in the 1995 Orange Bowl. By Leo Adam Biga
as a star athlete at Hastings High Contributing Writer School and Hastings College, where his grandfather had captained the hat do you say about a football team more than a halfliving legend that’s not al- century earlier. Tom’s father loved ready been said? When it athletics and vicariously enjoyed his comes to former University of Neson’s exploits. Osborne won both braska football coach Tom Osborne, state high school and college athlete his life story and career are already of the year honors. delineated in print and online. That He played three years in the exposure comes with the territory National Football League as a wide from being a 1999 College Football receiver before joining the Huskers’ Hall of Fame inductee from a big football coaching staff as a gradutime program like Nebraska. ate assistant under Bob Devaney in Next fall marks 20 years since 1964. Osborne earned a master’s Osborne last patrolled the Huskers’ and a Ph.D. in educational psycholsidelines as coach. He misses some ogy while serving in the Nebraska aspects of it and others not so much. National Guard. “I miss the game. I miss the Tom’s intelligence soon showed strategy, but the main thing is the itself. In less than a decade on relationships,” he said recently, still NU’s full-time staff he moved from looking fit at age 79. “It didn’t mean receivers coach to offensive coorwinning wasn’t important because dinator and then to head coach in if you didn’t win a fair amount you 1973 when Devaney handpicked the weren’t going to stay employed, so then 35-year-old as his replacement. that was something always in the Osborne successfully followed the back of your mind.” winningest coach in school history NU couldn’t have found a betand eventually surpassed Devaney’s ter fit than Osborne. The native son 101 victories. grew up in small town Nebraska “He knew Tom was the right guy
W
for the position,” said Frank Solich, the man whom Osborne passed the baton on to when he stepped down as NU’s head coach following the 1997 season. “He (Devaney) had a great deal of trust in him and just turned the program completely over to him. I think there remained a great relationship between the two and it made it an easy working relationship for Tom.” There was symmetry to Osborne’s leaving coaching. Just as Devaney retired on top following the 1972 season, so did Osborne 25 years later. He followed precedent by handing the reins to Solich, his longtime assistant coach. The former Ohio prep star played fullback at NU from 1963 to ‘65. After finding success as a high school coach in Omaha and Lincoln, Solich led the Husker freshman team for four seasons before joining NU’s varsity coaching staff in 1983. Osborne said he had planned for the 1996 season to be his last. He promised Solich five years earlier that he was quitting. But when top players Tom expected to declare for the NFL draft instead returned to NU for their senior season, Osborne felt obligated to stay. “I kind of felt like I couldn’t back down from what I told him – that was the primary reason I left,” he said. “Also, I developed atrial fibrillation that year, which I thought was a little bit of a physical sign. But even if I hadn’t had the atrial fib, I felt at that point I had to turn it over to Frank.” Unlike Devaney, who stayed on at NU as athletic director, Osborne made a clean break initially. He refused at least two opportunities to remain near or in the game. “When I retired from coaching I was given the chance to go on the radio and be a color commentator. I refused simply because anything I would say could be interpreted as
critical of Frank Solich or as somehow going overboard in his favor, and I didn’t want to be put in that position.” Osborne could have coached again if he’d wanted. “When I got out of coaching, Michigan State offered me the job up there. I knew the president of the school. I was tempted. It would have been quite a bit more money than I made here (Lincoln). But my grandchildren were here. I knew (my wife) Nancy’s heart was here. And I just didn’t know if it would be a good idea. So I stayed here. I felt I needed to end my career as Nebraska coach.” Osborne then “decided to do something different” by entering another competitive field – politics. Tom ran for and won Nebraska’s 3rd District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000. During his six years in office he made an unsuccessful bid to be Nebraska’s governor in 2006. He returned to NU as athletic director in 2007 following Steve Pederson’s removal. Just as Devaney didn’t meddle when Osborne led the program, Osborne took a hands-off role with Bo Pelini, whom he hired as the Huskers’ head football coach in 2008. Tom appreciated Devaney giving him free reign during his early years as NU’s head coach. “I’m sure he had thoughts on who ought to be playing and what plays we ought to run but he never made public his speculating or criticizing, so I’ve pretty much taken that approach. Unless you’re in every meeting and you know the injury report and you’re at every practice, you really don’t have enough information to intelligently comment on what’s going on. I have views on things but it’s something I won’t necessarily talk about. “It’s about respecting the coach’s --Please turn to page 11.
Your home. Your care. Your pace. Our program provides a complete system of health care. The service is called PACE, which stands for: Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly. We provide primary and hospital care as well as prescription drugs, transportation and so much more to our participants. Services are provided in the home, at the PACE Center and in the community. PACE participants may be fully and personally liable for the costs of unauthorized or out-of-PACE program services. Emergency services are covered. Participants may disenroll at any time. For complete program details and benefits, please call 402-991-0330 or visit www.immanuel.com.
Serving Nebraska in the Counties of Douglas and Sarpy 5755 Sorensen Parkway | Omaha, NE 68152 | 402-991-0990
Page 10
•
New Horizons
•
November 2016
Hearing loss group The Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America, a support group for hard of hearing adults, will next meet on Tuesday, Nov. 8 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. The Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America meets the second Tuesday of the month from September through December and from March through August. For more information, please contact Beth Ellsworth at ellsworth.beth@ cox.net or Verla Hamilton at 402-558-6449.
For Tom football was more about the journey than wins, losses --Continued from page 10. right to be able to function without somebody like me looking over their shoulders and commenting, so I kind of stay away from that.”
T
oday, three years removed from his AD duties, Osborne’s a Husker icon with no official active ties to NU. Administrators, athletic officials, coaches, fans, and former players, however, continue to hold the respected patriarch and beloved former CEO in high esteem. “He’s been a model of values, consistency, and integrity,” said Turner Gill, a former Husker quarterback who is now the head football coach at Liberty University. True to Osborne’s deep Christian beliefs, football was always more about the journey, not the won-loss record. He even wrote a book titled More Than Winning that took its cue from an earlier coaching treatise. “I read a book by John Wooden (the late UCLA hoops coach) years ago and he talked about the fact he never mentioned winning to his players. He always talked about the process. How you put your socks on so you didn’t get blisters, how you bend your knees on free throws, and those kinds of things. “We kind of broke the game down to the fundamentals we felt you needed to accomplish each day. The main emphasis during the week was on how we prepared, it wasn’t so much on winning games. So if we did the little things and the details correctly, the winning would take care of itself.” That formula worked to the tune of 255 wins in 25 seasons. Osborne weathered the pressure and armchair critiques that come with the territory. He endured under heavy fire from 1973 to 1979 when he went 1-7 and 3-4 against chief Big 8 Conference rivals Oklahoma and Missouri, respectively. It got so bad Osborne seriously considered bolting NU to take the head coaching job at Colorado. But he stuck it out and finally got over his OU and Mizzou nemesis and can’t-win-the-big-game albatross. During that stretch Osborne was befriended by an important figure in his life. “(D.B.) ‘Woody’ Varner was the chancellor at UNL when I was starting out as a head coach. We had good teams but we lost to Oklahoma the first five years and that was wearing very thin on people. It wasn’t just a matter of having a winning season and going to a bowl game, it was, ‘Did you beat Oklahoma?’ If you didn’t beat Oklahoma you didn’t have a good year, no matter how many you won. “But Woody was always very supportive. Quite often he’d come over after one of those tough losses. He probably had a lot of other things as chancellor he could have been doing. He was a very good friend and mentor.” What Osborne misses least about coaching the Huskers is the win-at-all-costs mentality. “Just the fact there were times when it became a one-game season and some of the public reaction. You know, if you win a game you’re the greatest and if you lost a big game then people were mad at you. You’d get all kinds of crazy mail. “So the unevenness of the experience – you’re either up or down and not too much life in the middle. Most people live most of their lives somewhere in the middle and in coaching sometimes there isn’t a whole lot of middle.” The pressure to keep up with the competition invited scenarios where some coaches were willing to cut corners. “I remember one of our coaches came to me and said, ‘You know, if we can’t beat them, maybe we ought to join them.’ He was referring to some things happening in recruiting that
Photo courtesy of NU Communications
Tom and his wife, Nancy, started the Teammates Mentoring Program in 1991. weren’t entirely ethical. Schools were bending the rules and on occasion we were losing players to those schools. “I said ‘No.’ We may get fired, but we’re going to go out of here with our heads up by doing things the right way. “I felt essentially in coaching your primary duty is that of a teacher and if you were conveying to young people that bending the rules was the way to get ahead, you weren’t really fulfilling your academic mission. I wanted to be consistent in what we were saying and what we were doing.” The big money, recruiting excesses, and unrealistic expectations that surround college football
give Osborne pause. He finds much of the business side of the game to be unpleasant. Like any good teacher, Osborne took the most satisfaction in helping young people develop. “I remember Tom Landry (the Dallas Cowboys coaching legend) telling me one time he didn’t feel he made a difference in any player he coached in the NFL in regards to their character because by the time they came to him at (age) 23 or 24, their character was pretty well formed. I didn’t feel that way in college. “I saw a lot of players come to us as one person at 17, 18 who left a somewhat different person at age 21, 22. That was one reason why I was never that interested in going into professional athletics because I felt there was more going on in college in terms of education and culture and those kinds of things.” Solich, the man Osborne selected to succeed him and the current head coach at Ohio University, said, “Tom was way ahead of the game in terms of looking after our players academically. It was as important to him that we had success in the classroom as well as on the football field. “He wasn’t just after the wins. He was also about doing what he could to help his players get ready for what was out there in the real world. He was able to cover both of those bases and his players appreciated it and his coaches appreciated it.”
T
he buttoned-down Osborne has always played things close to the vest in public but he’s regarded by friends as a warm person in private. “He’s a very caring person,” said Solich. “I think there’s no question his players as well as his coaches knew he cared for them beyond just playing the game and coaching the game. That --Please turn to page 12.
Elite Professionals Home Care is focused on helping our clients maintain their independence. Elite’s RN staff members are on call 24 hours per day, 7 days a week!
Full Service Home Health Care • MEDICARE/MEDICAID & insurance certified • Bathing, skilled nursing & therapy services
• Homemaker/Companion Program • Customized to fit YOUR lifestyle • 24 hour care with only 3-4 caregivers to reduce anxiety Care provided to clients range from 1 to 24 hours per day!
November 2016
•
New Horizons
•
Page 11
Solich: Osborne developed loyalty with his players, coaches value them then they are much more responsive because they feel whatever you’re asking them to do is to promote their long-term interests,” Osborne said. “It’s important the leader be able to model the behavior and be consistent. If somebody has to take the hit for something negative that happens, you don’t point the finger at somebody else, you accept responsibility,” he added. Former Husker and 1972 Heisman Trophywinner Johnny Rodgers recalls Osborne as always doing what he was saying. “It was clear what his values-base was.” Osborne said effective communication is key to leadership. His often-subdued personality didn’t fit the popular coaching stereotype. “You do a lot of listening. You try to understand what it’s like to walk in people’s shoes. You can’t be telling or ordering people around. You have to have good communication skills. Being positive is important because the best way to change behavior is to catch somebody doing something right and reinforcing it. “So often people equate coaching to hollering, Photo courtesy of NU Communications screaming, (and) swearing. When you’re conTom Osborne became the Huskers’ head stantly on people’s backs, they begin to tune you football coach in 1973 at age 35. out, so I tried not to coach that way.” --Continued from page 11. When Osborne saw a need to correct, he did it came across all the time. subtly. “He’s a very loyal guy. He developed loyalty “People want to be treated with respect. They within his players and especially his coaches. A want to be given a clearly defined job and then lot of us hung around (NU) a long time and obvi- the autonomy within that area to operate. I don’t ously there were reasons for that. Number one think I ever walked around and interfered with was how Tom treated people. a drill or second-guessed a coach in front of the “He looked after his players and coaches. He players. If I had something I felt I needed to talk wanted people to succeed and reach their highest about, I did it privately.” potential and did everything he could in order to As Osborne’s teams often demonstrated charhelp us reach our individual goals. He developed acter, hard work, and love can trump talent. such relationships that those players and coaches “There’s no question maybe the most imwould do anything for him. portant thing your team can have is good team “He’s just a special guy that I think would have chemistry and unity of purpose and that essenbeen special in anything he went into. He’s still tially is a very spiritual act. You focus on physihelping people now with Teammates (mentoring cal skills, you focus on the mental side – knowprogram). I think that’s embedded in him – to ing assignments and making sure you understand help people – and so he continues.” what it is you have to do in an actual game. Solich said he tries emulating his old boss. “But I think there’s also a spiritual side, too, “Just as you could always go to him, I have and the transformational leadership develops that an open door policy here for my players and my sense of people caring for each other and for the coaches. They can always come to me I hope shared task at hand.” and feel comfortable in doing that and be able to Osborne said coaching is about moving people really discuss anything. Tom was very much that away “from thoughts that it’s all about me to way for the people that worked for him.” making this organization, program, or team the Gill quarterbacked Osborne’s 1981 to 1983 best it can be.” high-octane teams that contended for three Longtime (1974 to 2003) NU offensive line straight national titles. coach Milt Tenopir – who died in September – “He always told people their value. He has a “was a really good teacher and a good represenunique way that whenever he meets anybody, tative of the kind of things I’m talking about,” even for the first time and for a few minutes, he Osborne said. makes them feel like they’ve know this man for a Tom acknowledges picking up traits from Devlong time,” Gill said. aney that helped make him a better coach. “He has that presence about him. He has that “I learned something from Bob about good unbelievable way of being able to touch people people skills and a good sense of humor. He had and make them feel valued.” a good feel for when to lighten up on the playGill felt such a kinship with Osborne that he ers and tell them a joke or whatever and when asked him to be in his wedding party. he should bear down on them a little bit. So it “I just wanted him to know how I really bewasn’t always grinding and it wasn’t always lieved in him and felt about him for me to ask the same all the time. He had a good touch with him,” Gill said. “I was pleasantly surprised he people.” accepted. It’s just a fond memory and special moment not just for my wife and me but also for sborne inherited a program where many all the people there who witnessed it. players walked onto the roster without a “We’ve known each other in a deep way and scholarship and he expanded the tradicontinue to value each other. I feel privileged and tion. Tom saw how the work habits of hungry honored to continue our relationship to this day.” student-athletes motivated to be Huskers could rub off on the scholarship players. sborne said as coach he practiced trans“I think every organization develops its own formational leadership where “the leader culture and some of that depends on the values essentially serves – your main objective system and principles of the leadership. But I is to have the best possible outcome.” His best think in a very real sense the walk-on players teams bought into that theory and became almost had an awful lot to do with shaping the culture of unstoppable forces. Nebraska football because these guys constituted “If people know you care about them and about 50 percent of our football team.
O
O
Page 12
•
New Horizons
•
November 2016
Former Husker Lawrence Phillips. “They were mostly from Nebraska, so they grew up wanting to play at Nebraska. Most of them would give up scholarships at other schools, usually smaller institutions, to come play,” Osborne continued. “Almost by definition they were overachievers. They would go the extra mile, work a little bit harder, be a little bit more loyal, be willing to sometimes be on the scout team for three or four years just to have a chance to get a letter and maybe run down on a kickoff and be part of the program. “As a result I think the attitude of these walkon players began to permeate those who came from outside of Nebraska or maybe came for other reasons. Sometimes players came to be part of a high profile program, be on TV more, and maybe get a faster avenue to the National Football League. But I often talked to those guys and they would mention that the work ethic and attitude of the walk-ons really began to affect them.” Many walk-ons came out of obscurity and buried deep on the depth chart, to work into the starting lineup, even stardom at Nebraska. “In every case they had a great deal of determination, a great work ethic, and good character,” Osborne said. “I think that made all the difference. Character is always a big ingredient.”
M
ake no mistake, Osborne not only knew how to motivate and lead, he knew Xs and Os as well as anyone. He was an offensive innovator and a risk-taker. He called memorable trick plays in critical situations. He boldly converted from a pro style offense to an option-based spread attack with dual-threat signal-callers. Rather than settle for a tie and probable share of the national title in the 1984 Orange Bowl, he went for two points and the win in the heartbreaking 31-30 loss to Miami. As surprising as those moves were, his sudden announcement he would retire following the 1997 season shocked almost everybody. That’s because it came in the midst of a historic five-year run of excellence. Counting what his final team did in going 13-0 and winning a share of the national championship, Osborne led the Huskers to an unprecedented 60-3 record and three national titles in that 1993 to 1997 span. Though a head coach 25 seasons, Tom was still only age 60 when he retired. Many of his veteran peers went on to coach into their 70s. Yet here he was calling it quits just as NU became --Please turn to page 13.
Tom advocates for engaging in activities requiring service, sacrifice --Continued from page 12. the dynasty program of an entire era. In his usual casual way, Osborne articulated well arrived at reasons for stepping away. None of them eased the pain of Husker fans losing the man who brought Nebraska to the pinnacle. But he methodically and dispassionately explained his decision to leave was the result of fulfilling promises he made. He also assured the program would be handed off to trusted colleagues who would maintain the carefully developed culture at NU. One of his biggest disappointments came when Pederson unceremoniously fired Solich in 2003 after six seasons and 58 wins. “I left the program in good shape and in good hands and we had good teams under Frank. He had some injuries that first year, then two 10-win plus seasons, played for a national championship, won the Big 12 (Conference). He won 76 percent of his games, which is what some of the great coaches of the game did. “Frank’s teams played at the top level, went to several bowl games, (and) played for a national championship. If you’re around for only six years and you do that, you’re a good coach, so it was unfortunate he was let go.”
Osborne said. “Lawrence got the feeling there was no way he was going to get out of prison, so he took his own life. It’s a very sad story because he had a lot of things going for him, but he just wasn’t able to overcome his previous experience.” Phillips was not the first or last NU player from a troubled past. Osborne earlier helped Rodgers stick to the straight and narrow after a gasoline station hold-up Johnny was charged with came to light. “We ran a lot of laps together,” Osborne wryly noted. Osborne was Rodgers’ position coach at NU. “We were already hooked at the hip and then we had to get a little deeper because things got a little bit more complex. He gave me direction. He was my mentor and he’s been one of my mentors ever since,” Rodgers said. Osborne wrote the foreword for a new book by Rodgers. Reading the book, Osborne said, “there were some things in his background I had not realized he went through. He came up from a difficult circumstance – pretty much without a dad and with a very young mother,” he said. “Johnny sometimes required a little discipline but we stayed with him and it’s been a journey. But he’s certainly made considerable strides in esides losing a beloved former player, his lifetime and done some good things.” Brook Berringer in a fatal 1996 plane Osborne went into some rough neighborhoods crash, perhaps Osborne’s greatest disaprecruiting potential Husker student-athletes. pointment in coaching was Lawrence Phillips. “I went to a lot of inner city areas and there The tragedy that became the former Husker run- would be times when the mother would make ning back’s life and death haunts the ex-coach. sure the player was down at the curbside to walk “Lawrence had some issues, primarily with me up (to the home) because if I walked up into rejection and abandonment. Somehow his mom the housing project unaccompanied it could be a had chosen a boyfriend over him and he (Lawpretty dicey situation. But you did what you had rence) was kicked out of the home when he was to.” 10. He was pretty much homeless for two years. The longer he coached, the more products of Then he got put in a group home. It was a pretty broken homes Osborne saw. rough place. Everyone was there for criminal “We began to see a lot of changes in family activity. He was 12 when he went in and I think structure. In the ‘60s you very seldom ran across there was some abuse. a player who didn’t have both biological parents “He was pretty well crippled. He didn’t have a living under the same roof with them. By the lot of trust for people. We knew Lawrence had a time the ‘90s began to unfold you began to see difficult background but we also knew the people more and more kids who were in families that at the group home said that he had not committed had split up and a lot of them that didn’t have any crime, and that he was very adamant against fathers. drugs, alcohol, and gangs. “Some of these young persons quite often were “The coaches at his high school were very not familiar with discipline and how to relate to complimentary of him, too. He completed two authority and those kinds of things. years of school in his senior year because he “Many of them had mothers struggling just to missed most of two years. He tested out as keep their head above water financially and not academically gifted. He had the characteristics always able to devote a lot of time to their kids.” of a very good player – unselfish (and a) great Other societal-cultural trends added to the work ethic. So we weren’t necessarily out there challenges of being a college football coach. recruiting a problem.” “Talk radio and social media started to come Osborne said when Phillips was charged with along. With the influence of technology a lot of two misdemeanors in 1995 for entering a female kids don’t have the same emotional intelligence. student’s apartment and dragging her down three So much of their communication is electronic flights of stairs, he was kicked off the NU team anymore. It used to be when you got on an with conditions for possible reinstatement. airplane or a bus there was a lot interaction, “He met all the conditions, including going to people talking, and now it’s sometimes dead counseling. When he went to the NFL I told his silent. People have headphones on or else they’re agent he needed to stay in counseling.” texting someone maybe three or four feet in front Phillips stopped going to counseling and beof them. tween the lack of mental health support, the big “That kind of communication doesn’t have the money, and the rejection of being cut and susemotional content. It’s very much scripted and pended in the NFL, he spiraled downward. as a result some people don’t have the ability “He attracted a certain group of hangers-on, to carry on a conversation or understand where most of who were from that group home, and I somebody’s coming from, what they’re feeling, don’t think they did him any great service,” said so they’re blunted emotionally.” Osborne, who remained in contact with Phillips. Osborne’s interest in giving young people a “One thing led to another. Primarily he experi- solid emotional footing led him and his wife, enced rejection. He had a lot of that going on and Nancy, to form the Teammates Mentoring Prohe didn’t handle it well, so he went to prison.” gram for at-risk youth in Nebraska in 1991. In prison, where Phillips was accused of killing “We feel you can’t always legislate strong his cellmate, he later committed suicide in Janu- families but you can provide a mentor. In many ary 2016. Prison officials ignored Lawrence’s cases it’s the difference between life and death insistence that he not be given a gang member and some pretty serious outcomes. We’re in our for a cellmate. 25th year.” “There was a fight and the other guy died,” Of the program’s first 22 students, 20 gradu-
B
November 2016
•
ated from high school on time and 18 went on to higher education – trade school, community college, or four-year universities. One went to Oxford. “We thought, well, maybe there’s something to this, so we expanded the program, first in Lincoln, and we began to mentor young men and young women from third grade through high school,” Osborne said. “We ended up last spring mentoring 8,000 kids. We’re in 45 school districts across Nebraska, into Iowa, and some in Kansas. So it’s grown a lot and that’s where I spend most of my time.” He actively recruits mentors who are needed now more than ever. “We’re growing and trying to get over 12,000 matches over the next few years.” To learn more about Teammates, please call 402-390-0883. Osborne strongly advocates volunteering for retirees who have time on their hands. “Retirement is tricky. Some people don’t last very long after they retire. I think you’ve got to feel that life still has purpose and meaning and you still can make contributions. Most people can contribute in some way until the day they draw their last breath. It can be as simple as making a few phone calls to people who are hurting, delivering Meals on Wheels, teaching Sunday school, or mentoring a young person. Osborne said he’s learned some things about retirement. “You always hear stories of people who look forward to retirement and then they find out it isn’t what they thought it was going to be. Playing golf every day and traveling is OK for a while but then at some point you wonder what it means. “Making a contribution and living with meaning and purpose is important. It think it’s really important if you retire that you have some hobbies and a willingness to engage in something that requires service and sacrifice for somebody else. Otherwise it becomes a very self-absorbed lifestyle, which I don’t think is particularly healthy.”
U
niversity of Nebraska at Omaha Department of Gerontology professor and chair Dr. Julie Masters has tapped into Osborne’s experience by asking him to speak to her students about aging and end of life issues. “I asked him to share his thoughts with the death and dying classes I teach for our department at UNL. I also have him share the benefits of serving as a Teammates volunteer,” Masters said. “Each semester he wows the students with his wisdom and insight about life and living and meaning and purpose.” She likens his sage advice to that of the late Morrie Schwartz in Mitch Albom’s 1997 book Tuesdays with Morrie. “Students see this required book come alive in Dr. Osborne’s words. I greatly admire him for his wisdom and compassion. He is an extraordinary example of someone who is aging with grace and dignity. Indeed, he is a role model for young and old alike.” Osborne walked away from coaching with few regrets and appears quite satisfied with the quiet place he’s landed. He still talks regularly with former players and coaches and enjoys catching up with their lives. “We talk about a little bit of everything,” Gill said. “If he says he’s going to do something, he’s going to do it. He’s not going to vary off of it. You don’t have to write it down, you can just count on it, because he understands his true purpose each and every day.” (Read more of Leo Adam Biga’s work at leoadambiga.com.)
New Horizons
•
Page 13
Corrigan Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St., this month for: • Wednesdays, Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30: Crafts & Social with Anita @ 10:30 a.m. Make a fall pumpkin Thanksgiving centerpiece, a fall wreath, and more. No experience needed. All supplies furnished. A $2 donation is asked. Stay for a noon lunch. • Thursday, Nov. 3: Turkey bowling for prizes and a chicken lunch @ 11 a.m. Ovenfried chicken or a deli roast beef and Monterey jack cheese chef salad will be served. • Monday, Nov. 7: Gizmos & Gadgets @ 11 a.m. Learn about the latest devices to make life a lot easier. A BBQ pork ribette or a deli tuna salad in a pita pocket will be served. Stay for 1 p.m. Bingo. • Wednesday, Nov. 9: A salute to veterans by students from St. Peter & Paul School @ 1 p.m. Grades 4 to 6 will sing and dance. Enjoy a hot roast beef or a deli Oriental chicken salad for lunch. • Thursday, Nov. 10: Veterans Week Celebration begins @ 11 a.m. with a special surprise guest speaker. Noon lunch and Bingo at 1 p.m. Bring pictures of the veterans in your life. A turkey ham and white beans hot lunch or a deli roast beef with Swiss wrap sandwich will be served. • Monday, Nov. 14: Birthday party with
Call 402-398-1848
music by Paul Siebert from The Merrymakers @ 11 a.m. The reservation deadline is noon on Thursday, Nov. 10. • Thursday, Nov. 17: Turkey dinner, Mega Bingo, and music by accordionist Dave Salmons beginning @ 11 a.m. Turkey theme Bingo will follow lunch. The reservation deadline is noon on Nov. 10. • Wednesday, Nov. 23: Corrigan Family Thanksgiving Dinner @ 11 a.m. Thanksgiving trivia game for prizes. Noon turkey breast dinner. The center is closed on Nov. 11 for Veterans Day and on Nov. 24 and 25 for Thanksgiving. Everyone, including new players, is welcome to play chair volleyball every Tuesday and Thursday @ 11 a.m. Join us for Tai Chi Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. Bingo, ceramics, exercise, woodcarving, and loads of fun are also available. 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 Lynnette at 402-731-7210.
‘ElderCare Resource Handbook’ available in a book format, online
I
magine having the answers to your senior care questions in the palm of your hand. It’s possible thanks to Care Consultants for the Aging. The 12th edition of the Omaha ElderCare Resource Handbook for 2016-2018 became available recently in both the book format and online. The handbook serves as a valuable resource for information about services offered to older adults in the Omaha area. The handbook list options divided into five tabbed sections: • Government, Financial, & Legal. • Medical Support. • Home Health Care & Support Services. • Living Options. • Senior Services. It also includes an index of services and companies to make the right business or organization easier to find.
T
he ElderCare Resource Handbook is updated every two years and used by social workers, medical professionals, pastors, human resource professionals, police officers, and the general public. “The handbook is my ‘go-to’ place to start any search for senior services and solutions,” said Carol Schrader of Nebraska Realty. “Nothing else compares to this valuable resource.” You can obtain the handbook any of five ways: • For $8 at the Care Consultants for the Aging office, 7701 Pacific St., Suite 100. • To have a copy mailed to you, send a check or money order for $12 to Care Consultants for the Aging, 7701 Pacific St., Suite 100, Omaha, Neb. 68114. • Call 402-398-1848 with a credit card to have a copy mailed to you for $12. • Log on to www.careconsultants.com and click on the ElderCare Resource Handbook link to view a copy for free or to have a handbook mailed to you for $12. • Copies are also available at Kubat Pharmacy, Nebraska Medicine’s CornerStone gift shop in University Tower, the Clarkson Hospital gift shop, and Think Whole Person pharmacy. For more information, please call 402-398-1848.
PARKSIDE SMOKE FREE
Independent apartment living for persons age 55+ • Spacious 1 & 2 bedroom apartment homes • Elevator • Washer/dryer in every apartment • Garage included in rent • Beautifully landscaped grounds • Within walking distance of Ralston Park
PARKSIDE
• Emergency alarm system • 24-hour emergency maintenance • Controlled access entry • Community areas on every floor • Microwave • Icemaker • Window blinds furnished
Call today to view your new home in the park!
7775 Park Drive • Ralston, Nebraska
402-339-9080
Page 14
•
New Horizons
•
November 2016
Fremont Friendship Center You’re invited to visit the Fremont Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St. (Christensen Field), for the following: • Nov. 2: Helpful Hints from Home Instead @ 10 a.m. followed by pianist Wally. • Nov. 3: Presentation on Understanding Hearing Loss @ 9:45 a.m. • Nov. 7 to 14: Help us fill a box for the Low Income Ministry. • Nov. 9: Music with the LINKS @ 9 a.m. • Nov. 15: Presentation on staying healthy during the cold and flu season @ 11 a.m. • Nov. 16: News with Nye @ 10 a.m. • Nov. 16: Music with Bill Chrastil @ 10:30 a.m. • Nov. 23: Music with Jim Rathbun @ 10:30 a.m. followed by our Thanksgiving dinner. • Nov. 30: Music with The Old Rusty Minstrels @ 10:30 a.m. The facility will be closed on Nov. 24 and 25 for Thanksgiving. The Fremont Parks and Recreation Department’s 39th annual craft show will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3 at Christensen Field. Proceeds from the $1 admission charge will benefit our center. The Fremont Friendship Center is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. A $3.50 contribution is suggested for lunch. Reservations must be made by noon the business day prior to the meal you wish to enjoy. For meal reservations and more information, please call Laurie at 402-727-2815.
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: Friday, Nov. 4 @ 9:30 a.m. Metro Comm. College 829 N. 204th St, Call 402-457-5231 to register
Saturday, Nov. 12 @ noon AARP Information Center 1941 S. 42nd St. #220 Call 402-398-9568 to register
Friday, Nov. 11 @ 10 a.m. Immanuel Village - AgeWell 6801 N. 67th Plz. Call 402-829-3200 to register
Wednesday, Nov. 30 @ 9:30 a.m. CHI Health Midlands Hospital 11111 S. 84th St. Call 800-253-4368 to register
Tips for cooking your Thanksgiving bird
Y
our Thanksgiving turkey deserves special attention, and not just to maximize the great taste. As with any meal, food safety is a concern, and turkeys are notoriously difficult to cook. To keep that turkey from turning your Thanksgiving into a foodborne illness disaster, the Douglas County Health Department suggests a few basic rules to make a holiday meal that will keep everyone smiling. Start by thinking B-I-RD: • Buy fresh turkeys only one to two days in advance. • If you buy a frozen turkey, make sure you have storage space. • Roast the turkey at 325 degrees until it reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees. • Defrost your frozen turkey in the original wrapper, in the refrigerator, at or below 41 degrees. Also, keep in mind you should: • Wash your hands before
and after handling food. • Always use soap and water to wash utensils, kitchen sinks, and anything else that comes in contact with raw turkey and meat juices. Washing the turkey before cooking only spreads bacteria around the kitchen. • Thaw a frozen turkey in a container to hold dripping blood and juices. • Allow about 24 hours of thawing time for each four to five pounds of turkey. Thawed turkeys can be kept in the refrigerator for one to two days. • There are some things you can do if you forget to thaw your turkey. Submerge the turkey in cold water and change the water every 30 minutes, allowing about 30 minutes defrosting time per pound of turkey. Then immediately cook the bird. • It’s safe to cook a turkey from the frozen state. The cooking time will take at least 50 percent longer than recommended for a fully thawed turkey. Remember to remove the giblet packages during the cooking time. • Leftover turkey should be refrigerated within two hours and stored in small portions less than two inches thick to adequately cool. Leftovers should be reheated to 165 degrees before eating. Even turkeys with pop-up thermometers should be tested under the wings and thighs to make sure they’re thoroughly cooked. Be sure to remove all the stuffing from the bird before storing leftovers. Remember, your turkey will slice more easily if you let it stand for 20 minutes and the juices are allowed to settle. It’s also important you refrigerate leftovers within the first couple of hours after your dinner. Happy Thanksgiving from the Douglas County Health Department.
r u o y d e e n e W
! t r o p p su
I would like to become a partner with the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, and help fulfill your mission with older adults.
ENOA
Traditional funding sources are making it more difficult for ENOA to fulfill its mission. Partnership opportunities are available to businesses and individuals wanting to help us. These opportunities include volunteering, memorials, honorariums, gift annuities, and other contributions.
$30 = 7 meals or 1.75 hours of in-home homemaker services or 1 bath aide service for frail older adults. $75 = 17 meals or 4.75 hours of in-home homemaker services or 4 bath aide services for frail older adults. $150 = 35 meals or 9.5 hours of in-home homemaker services or 8 bath aide services for frail older adults. $300 = 70 meals or 19.25 hours of in-home homemaker services or 16 bath aide services for frail older adults. Other amount (please designate)__________________________
Law Offices of Charles E. Dorwart
Please contact me. I would like to learn more about how to include the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging in my estate planning.
35 years of legal experience • Wills • Living Trusts • Probate • Healthcare and Financial Powers of Attorney • In-home consultations • Free Initial consultation 6790 Grover Street • Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68106 Office: (402) 558-1404 • Fax: (402) 779-7498 cdorwartjd@dorwartlaw.com
Please ma il with thisyofour donation rm to: Eas
tern Office oNebraska n Aging Address:___________________________________ Attention : Jef Name:_____________________________________
City:______________State:_____ Zip: __________ Phone:____________________________________
November 2016
•
f Reinha 4223 C rdt Omaha, enter Street NE 6810 5-2431 (402
New Horizons
) 444-665
4
•
Page 15
Alzheimer’s support groups
iEXCEL center will teach health pros new skills
P
The Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska Chapter offers several caregiver support groups and specialty support groups each month in Cass, Dodge, Douglas, 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 (toll free) 800-272-3900. CASS COUNTY
Third Tuesday @ 6 p.m. Temple Israel (media room) 13111 Sterling Ridge Dr.
• PLATTSMOUTH Second Tuesday @ 6 p.m. First Lutheran Church (chapel) 1025 Ave. D DODGE COUNTY • FREMONT Second Tuesday @ 5:30 p.m. Shalimar Gardens (second floor community room) 749 E. 29th St. DOUGLAS COUNTY • OMAHA Second Thursday @ 10 a.m. Country House Residences 5030 S. 155th St. FREE on site adult day services are provided. 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. FREE on-site adult day services are provided.
Caring for Your Parents Second or third Saturday @ 11 a.m. Call Teri @ 402-393-0434 for locations Spanish Language Support Group Second Tuesday @ 4 p.m. Intercultural Community Center 3010 R St. 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.
Third Tuesday @ 5 p.m. Immanuel Fontenelle 6809 N 68th Plz.
The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging has been providing programs and services for older adults in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties since 1975.
lans for the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s new medical simulation training facility have taken another step forward. The University of Nebraska Board of Regents recently received the intermediate design review report and then approved the design for the Global Center for Advanced Interprofessional Learning, which will house the activities of UNMC’s iEXCEL (Interprofessional Experiential Center for Enduring Learning). The $102 million facility is the centerpiece of an initiative that will create up to 325 well-paying jobs and is estimated to generate as much as $137.7 million annually in economic impact for the city and state economies. “This new facility will transform the way all health professionals learn new skills and acquire new knowledge,” said UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. “UNMC is a leader in the transformation of health sciences education. Our programs in ‘real-life virtual reality scenarios’ and 3-D content creation truly define our global leadership. We
Do
about
enoa.org
Ask A Lawyer:
The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Web site includes information about:
Q — Aren’t trusts just for rich folks? A — That’s one of the most common misconceptions, the “rich kid with a trust fund.” Actually a living trust is a simple way for your home, belongings, accounts, and/or investments all to seamlessly transition to your spouse, children or other person(s) of your choice upon your death, without the delay, cost, and frustration of probate. Many people assume a will does this, but they are surprised to find that it does not, and that a great deal of trouble could be avoided with a living trust. A trust is appropriate for most people who own a home, property, or have any investments.
• • • • • • • • • • •
Have a question about estate planning? Give us a call!
AARP Legal Service Network • No Charge For Initial Consultation
7602 Pacific Street, Ste 200 • (402) 391-2400 http://whitmorelaw.com
New Horizons
aging services
Log on to
Wills • Trusts • Probate
•
?
have questions
in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, or Washington counties?
WHITMORE LAW OFFICE
Page 16
you
will see the benefits of this state-of-the-art center as it continues to improve the performance of health care professionals, in Omaha, throughout Nebraska, and far beyond. This will translate into more effective and more efficient health care.” While based at UNMC’s Omaha campus, the center will benefit the entire state, including UNMC campuses in Lincoln, Kearney, Scottsbluff, and Norfolk, as well as UNMC’s primary clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine, and its regional health partners. It also will serve as a resource to Nebraska’s state colleges and the military, while bolstering continuing education and statewide education and training for all of Nebraska’s health care practitioners. Groundbreaking is expected early next year with completion in summer 2018. The 183,742-gross-square foot facility will be built on the southeast corner of 42nd and Emile streets. It will be connected to adjacent facilities – the Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education to the north and the Lauritzen Outpatient Center to the east – via skywalks. “This center will position UNMC, our local communities, and the state of Nebraska as the site for cutting-edge health care education,” said Pam Boyers, Ph.D., UNMC associate vice chancellor for interprofessional education and experiential learning. In September, the Omaha City Council approved a request for $5.2 million in redevelopment bond proceeds and $5.5 million in capital improvement program funds. In 2015, the Nebraska Legislature and Gov. Pete Ricketts approved $25 million toward design and construction of the iEXCEL Global Center project. They subsequently approved additional funds annually for operations and maintenance of the new facility. Additional capital funding support for iEXCEL will come from other private and public sources. (UNMC provided this information.)
•
Bath aides Care management Chore services Community education Durable medical equipment Emergency food pantry Emergency response systems ENOA facts and figures ENOA Library ENOA senior centers
24 hours a day, • Homemakers 7 days a week!
• Information & assistance telephone lines • Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha • Legal services • Meals on Wheels • Medicaid Waiver • New Horizons Grandparent Resource Center • Nutrition counseling
November 2016
• • • • • •
Ombudsman advocates Respite care Respite Resource Center Rural transportation Senior Care Options Support of adult day facilities • Volunteer opportunities
Is your tap water safe?
C
hances are your tap water is fine. A recent survey of public data by the non-profit Natural Resources Defense Council found 95 percent of the U.S. population lives in areas without any past or present water contamination issues. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, most of us get our water from a community or public water system that provides its customers with an annual water quality report, also known as a Consumer Confidence Report. Typically this report comes out once a year—often with your July water bill. These reports contain information on contaminants in the system and in the water’s source—and what the potential health effects could be. Your water utility should also be able to provide this report on request. Public water systems in the U.S. must provide customers with an annual water quality report disclosing contaminants and potential health effects, but if you’re still concerned, you can order a home test kit that screens for heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxins. If your water provider’s report doesn’t bring you solace, or if you are suspicious about the water pipes in your house, you can order a home water test kit and analyze the water for common contaminants yourself. National Testing Laboratories is one of many companies that will mail you a complete test kit that you can use to test for various contaminants. NTL’s basic kit to evaluate water from your public water supply retails for less than $150. It tests for the most common contaminants in public water supplies including
five metals and minerals such as copper and lead, seven inorganic chemicals including fluoride and nitrates, four physical characteristics including pH and hardness, and 16 disinfectants and disinfection by-products. Meanwhile, NTL’s deluxe option costs another $100 but includes tests for dozens of additional contaminants including arsenic, mercury, benzene, MTBE, and even Glysophate (RoundUp). If you’re among the 15 percent of the U.S. population deriving their water from a private supply such as a well on your property or a common source shared by a small neighborhood, it behooves you to test your supply on an annual basis. Test more frequently if you have a new well or recently replaced or repaired pipes, pumps, or well casings to watch out for coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and unhealthy pH levels. Your local health department can refer you to testing labs that can provide sample containers or even come out to your property to take their own samples. If your water supply is contaminated, contact your city, town, or county health agency to find out what you can do to remedy the situation. In the meantime, boil any water you intend to drink or get bottled water. If you are on a public water supply, chances are your home isn’t the only one affected, so band together with neighbors and demand your water utility clean up its act. The silver lining to the Flint, Mich. water debacle is that Americans no longer take safe water supplies for granted. Hopefully that will translate into more public vigilance regarding end-of-the-faucet monitoring of our precious water. (Earth Talk provided this information.)
Armchair travelers can tour Taiwan as travelogue visits the island Nov. 17 Omaha World Adventurers presents the third travelogue in its 2016-17 season, The Treasures of Taiwan on Thursday, Nov. 17. Produced and presented by former San Francisco talk show host Buddy Hatton, the film can be seen at the Village Pointe Theaters, 304 N. 174 St. Show times are 2 and 7 p.m. Discovered in 1542, the Portuguese called the nation Formosa, “the beautiful island.” In 1684 the name was changed to Taiwan, the Chinese word for island. Slightly larger than Maryland, Taiwan has more than 23 million residents. The nation recently elected its first women president, Tsai Ing-Wan. Hatton found a world of contrasts in Taiwan. Taipei, the capital, is a bustling metropolis with 2.7 million people and a fast-paced technological future. The film will show many spectacular natural wonders, plus the temples, and some of the smaller Taiwanese towns. Hatton enjoys gourmet dining, attends many of the island’s exciting festivals, and visits the nation’s vibrant art scene. Tickets are available at the door for $15. For more information on The Treasures of Taiwan, please call (toll free) 866-385-3824.
Florence Home Healthcare
Rehab...renew return home!
Smoke, carbon monoxide detectors
T
he Omaha Fire Department’s Public Education and Affairs Department can install free smoke and/or carbon monoxide detectors inside the residences of area homeowners. To have a free smoke and/or carbon monoxide detector installed inside your home, send your name, address, and telephone number to: Omaha Fire Department Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Requests 10245 Weisman Dr. Omaha, Neb. 68134 For more information, please call 402-444-3560.
November is a great time to thank, help family caregivers By Ruth Hamlin
N
ovember is National Caregivers Month. It’s a time to acknowledge the important role those families, friends, and neighbors play in caring for chronically ill, frail older and disabled friends and family members. The typical family caregiver is a 49-year-old woman caring for her widowed 69-year-old mother who doesn’t live with her. The typical family caregiver is married and employed. Approximately 66 percent of family caregivers are women. More than 37 percent have children or grandchildren age 18 or younger living with them. Caregivers have a tendency to fall into routines and do what it takes to get through the day. On those days when everything seems to be falling apart, it’s easy to lose sight of our blessings. During the Thanksgiving season we’re reminded to step back from our daily routine and think about all we have to be grateful for. It’s a time to remember even though things may not be the way we hoped or planned for, we still have many blessings that fill each day. It’s also an opportunity for those of us who aren’t in the immediate caregiving role to reach out a hand of kindness to someone who may need a little support. During the holidays caregivers are often torn between being exhausted and the desperate need to keep family traditions alive. Here are a few ideas to consider as you reach out to honor the caregivers in your life this holiday season: • Offer a few hours of time to a caregiver so they can take a break to visit with friends, run errands, or relax. • Send a Thinking of You card or a bouquet of flowers to brighten a caregiver’s day. • Offer to help a caregiving family clean their home in preparation for guests or help decorate for the holidays. • Spend an afternoon visiting and helping address envelopes for their holiday cards. • Bring over pizza and a movie to watch while you spend a fun evening relaxing. • Make a friendly phone call weekly to say you’re thinking about them. • Ask if there’s anything you can pick up at the store while you’re shopping. • Offer to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for a caregiving family in your community. • Assist a family caregiver with finding information and resources, completing paperwork, or making phone calls. • Sit with the ill person so their caregiver can attend a local support group. I hope you’re able to take some time this month to count your blessings. Have a happy Thanksgiving.
Maplewood Estates Lifestyle • Community • Convenience • Family Values
Move-in Specials Get 6 months of FREE lot rent for moving a single wide home Amenities include: into the park, or $3,500 for • Playground • Off street parking doublewide for moving expenses. • Clubhouse • Pool • RV’s welcome Call for more information.
Call 402-827-6000
402.493.6000
Call: 12801 Spaulding Plaza www.maplewoodestatesonline.com Omaha, NE 68164
www.omahaseniorcare.org
November 2016
•
New Horizons
•
Page 17
Dancing
The 211 network offers information
T
he 211 telephone network has been established in parts of Nebraska to give consumers a single source for information about community and human services. By dialing 211, consumers can access information about: • Human needs resources like food banks, shelters, rent and utility assistance, etc. • Physical and mental health resources. • Employment support. • Support for older Americans and persons with a disability. • Support for children and families. • Volunteer opportunities and donations. The 211 network is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The information is also available online at (www.ne211.org).
MedIcations look promising for physicians, persons with Alzheimer’s, their caregivers
Y A ou’re invited to attend a dance each Wednesday afternoon from 1 to 4 at American Legion Post #1, 7811 Davenport St. Admission is $2. For more information, please call 402-392-0444.
THEOS THEOS, a social organization for singles age 60 and older, meets from 1 to 4 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. For more information, please call Dorothy at 402399-0759, Mary at 402-3933052, or Joan at 402-3938931.
NARFE
RSVP
The 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.
RSVP is recruiting persons age 55 and older for a variety of opportunities. For more information in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties, please call 402-4446536, ext. 224. In Dodge and Washington counties, please call 402-721-7780. • The Together Inc. Food Pantry wants volunteers to help with a variety of assignments. • The Blair and Fremont Car-Go Program needs volunteers to drive older adults to their appointments once or twice a week.
A Caring Community Called HOME! Independent & Assisted Living
• No Entrance Fee • Medicaid Waiver Approved • All Utilities & Housekeeping Included • Spacious 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments
new analysis of the Phase II Alzheimer’s drug pipeline conducted by Researchers Against Alzheimer’s revealed 57 new Alzheimer’s drugs. This diverse pipeline is important as it will give physicians, people with Alzheimer’s, and their loved ones new ways to combat the disease in the future. The findings show as the development of these compounds moves forward and the science behind Alzheimer’s drug development continues to advance policy makers, clinical researchers, drug developers, and other Alzheimer’s drug partners must build new clinical trial infrastructure and designs that allow for rapid recruitment and testing, consistent high-quality data, and prompt data disclosure. Alzheimer’s has no treatments that stop, slow, or prevent the progression of the disease. “Just as combination treatment proved effective for HIV/AIDS, a similar approach to developing a ‘cocktail therapy’ for Alzheimer’s disease used by several of these compounds may provide the hope and medical progress that millions of people are demanding,” said Us Against Alzheimer’s Co-Founder and Chairman, George Vradenburg. “These potentially gamechanging drugs on the horizon may make Alzheimer’s a manageable disease. To assure our best shot at success, we must ensure the necessary investments are being made to build a 21st century infrastructure to test their effectiveness and an innovation-friendly path to market to those in need,” he said. According to the first
49th & Q Street • 402-731-2118 www.southviewheightsomaha.com
Page 18
•
New Horizons
•
November 2016
RA2 analysis released in March, there were 17 Alzheimer’s drugs in clinical trials on course to launch in the next five years. Since the initial pipeline report was issued, however, a number of Alzheimer’s drug candidates have moved from Phase II to Phase III clinical trials. The most recent analysis indicated there are 23 Alzheimer’s drugs in Phase III clinical trials, and Researchers Against Alzheimer’s estimate 19 drugs could reach the market in the next five years. The Alzheimer’s scientific and commercial field is increasingly turning its focus on disease-modifying prevention drugs such as those that can be administered to people at risk for disease before Alzheimer’s symptoms appear. This could potentially prevent or delay the development of dementia symptoms. This is similar to an approach used in HIV/AIDS to prevent those who are HIV positive from developing AIDS symptoms. Such drugs represent an approach that’s different from so-called symptomatic drugs, which are administered after symptoms appear in order to treat Alzheimer’s symptoms such as agitation, cognitive loss, hallucinations, or depression. According to the analysis, which was reviewed by academic research experts and select RA2 members, a diverse pipeline of both prevention and symptomatic drugs requires changes that include: • A standing, high-performance clinical trial infrastructure that allows for rapid testing and thus a fast failure or success. • Robust biomarkers – or measurable indicators of the presence, severity, or progression of a disease – which are able to assess the effectiveness of drugs in populations without any symptoms, thereby potentially preventing the development of symptoms altogether. • New endpoints for trials. Many of the currently used clinical trial scales in Alzheimer’s trials won’t be effective in people in early stages of the disease, as certain symptoms like cognitive decline may occur later. • Greater understanding of biomarker research so researchers and clinicians can better “fit” the right medicine with the right population. • Proactive information sharing mechanisms by which clinicians and researchers communicate what treatments work best with certain patient populations. • Innovative clinical trial design that increases flexibility for drug developers, including adaptive trials or trials that are modified based on patient outcomes and trials for novel-novel combination treatments where two new drugs are tested together. “I am encouraged to see such a range of approaches to treating Alzheimer’s in Phase II development,” said Dr. David Morgan, CEO of the University of South Florida’s Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute. “There is much work that still needs to be done, but the drugs in Phase II clinical trials offer a great deal of hope for the future.”
New Cassel Foundation fundraiser honors advocates for older adults
CLASSIFIEDS SUNSHINE CLEANING Professional. Friendly. Affordable prices. Free estimates. Senior discounts. Serving Omaha and surrounding area. 402-359-3947
Please call 402-444-4148 or 402- 444-6654 to place your ad
Lamplighter II
Some of the nicest, newer 1 bedroom apartments. Elevator, w & d, heated parking garage. Small complex. By bus & shopping. No pets or smoking.
OLD STUFF WANTED (before 1975)
402-208-0596
D
r. Julie Masters, PhD. – chair of the department of gerontology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha – was the recipient of the 2016 Spirit of St. Francis Award, the New Cassel Foundation’s highest honor at the Life is Sweet dinner on Oct. 13. The award was given to Masters for embodying the true spirit of St. Francis of Assisi and for her lifetime of gracious giving and selfless commitment to older adults. Paul and Lori Hogan, co-founders of Home Instead Senior Care received the New Cassel Distinguished Community Service Award that evening for advocating for older adults, while Hy-Vee Food Stores earned the Lempka Leadership Award for its spirit of giving to New Cassel. Proceeds from the dinner benefit New Cassel residents and the older men and women who receive Franciscan Centre Day services.
Lonergan Lawns
TOP CASH PAID Best & honest prices paid for: Nice old vintage and costume jewelry, old watches, vintage toys, Fenton glassware, old postcards, advertising items, military items, pottery, and antique buttons. Also buying estates & partial estates. Call Bev at 402-339-2856
Accepting applications for HUD-subsidized apartments in Papillion & Bellevue.
Bellewood Courts
New Cassel Foundation President Cindy Petrich (far left) and New Cassel Retirement Center President & CEO Julie Sebastian (far right) with award winners (from left): Lori Hogan, co-founder of Home Instead Senior Care, Marty Stokes, director of Hy-Vee’s 7918 Cass St. store, and Dr. Julie Masters from UNO.
Please see the ad on page 3
New Horizons Club membership roll grows
RICK’S
HANDYMAN SERVICES
Big jobs or small, I’ll do them all! [Bonded & insured]
402-658-1245 rickfitzlerhomeimprovement.com
Tree Trimming Beat the falling flakes! Chipping & removal. Your prunings chipped. Experienced & insured. Senior discount.
Please support NH advertisers Senior Citizens (62+)
Call Judy
402-885-8731 REFRESH CLEANING
All types. Chuck’s LLC
Mow, fertilize, aerate. Trim trees & bushes. Clean gutters. Build walls. Haul junk. Call Tim @ 402-612-3576
Always thorough. Personalized service. Satisfaction guaranteed.
93rd & Maple • 402-397-6921
RETAINING WALLS
Spirit of St. Francis Award recipient Dr. Julie Masters (center) with New Cassel Foundation President Cindy Petrich (left) and Julie Sebastian, President & CEO of New Cassel Retirement Center.
HOUSE CLEANING
Military, political, toys, jewelry, fountain pens, pottery, kitchen ware, postcards, photos, books, and other old paper, old clothes, garden stuff, tools, old household, etc. Call anytime 402-397-0254 or 402-250-9389
Buying or selling? Use the New Horizons CLASSIFIEDS Call 402-444-4148 or 402-444-6654 to place your ad
GET RID OF IT!
402-894-9206 REPUTABLE SERVICES, INC.
Johansen Brothers
• Remodeling & Home Improvement
1002 Bellewood Court Bellevue (402) 292-3300 Bellewood@KimballMgmt.com
• Painting Interior & Exterior
201 Cedar Dale Road Papillion (402) 331-6882 Monarch@KimballMgmt.com
• Handyman Services • Senior Discounts • Free Estimates
We do business in accordance with the Fair Housing Law.
Call Frank
402-312-4000
• Safety Equipment Handrails Smoke and Fire Alarms
Monarch Villas
Managed by Kimball Management, Inc. PO Box 460967 Papillion, NE 68046 www.kimballmgmt.com
Haul away, garage, basement, rental clean out…
• References • Fully Insured Quality Professional Service
deFreese Manor
Subsidized housing for those age 62 and over with incomes under $25,280 (1 person) or $28,850 (two persons)
Better Business Bureau Member
402-4 5 5-7 0 0 0
2669 Dodge Omaha, NE 402-345-0622
$25 Jacqueline H. Nunez $15 Mary Ann Sorensen $5 Parkinson’s Nebraska Eileen McPeak Evelyn Van Horn Reflects donations received through October 21, 2016.
ENOA November 2016
•
New Horizons
•
Page 19
Maple Ridge Retirement Resort How will you spend this Winter?
Every day of your life should be special. Often, we get so caught up in our day-to-day routine, that we lose sight of doing the things we truly love. Here at Maple Ridge, we take great pride in bringing you peace-of-mind through our all-inclusive community to make sure every day of your life is special, like you.
Loads-of-Fun
Peace-of-Mind Emergency Response System 24 hour Professional Staff/Live-in Managers Professional Chefs Valet Parking Weekly Housekeeping
Weekly Happy Hours 150-seat Theatre Full Weekly Activity Calendar Health and Wellness programs Live Performances Fitness Center
Winter is coming. Call to set up your tour today, before the snow starts falling.
Maple Ridge Retirement Resort:
402-614-3160 3525 N. 167th Circle
Omaha, NE 68116
MapleRidgeRetirement.com