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A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging
October 2018 VOL. 43 • NO.10
ENOA 4780 South 131st Street Omaha, NE 68137-1822
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID OMAHA NE PERMIT NO. 389
en oa. org
ing Serv
New Horizons old • er 74 adul ts since 19
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Classical cowboy
Semi-retired University of Nebraska at Omaha professor Hadley Heavin has lived a remarkable life. In addition to teaching music at UNO, he’s a classical guitarist mentored by the Spanish maestro Segundo Pastor, a rodeo cowboy, a Vietnam War veteran, and a former University of Kansas football player. Leo Adam Biga examines Heavin’s amazing journey beginning on page 10.
Open enrollment The open enrollment period for Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage coverage runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.
VAS is scheduling appointments to help Medicare beneficiaries review their plans. See page 7.
What’s inside Funds lagging for Meals on Wheels. ................ 3 Benefit for Outlook Nebraska ........................... 4 Studying age-related hearing loss.................... 4 Sleep deprivation impacts caregivers .............. 5 PT offers an option to pain meds ..................... 7 Nancy Hemesath’s ‘Conscious Aging’ ............. 8 Why retirees return to work ............................ 13 Health and Wellness Conference ................... 13 The keys to feeling young .............................. 18 Spirit of St. Francis dinner Oct. 4 ................... 20
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Making life at home a bit easier
Detoxing your residence There’s truly no place like home. Our homes are our sanctuaries, a place to de-stress and rejuvenate. Unfortunately, many of us aren’t aware of the toxins and synthetic chemicals lurking throughout the house. Health and Wellness advocate and Good Home Company founder Christine Dimmick has taken a dive into the toxins found in our homes and how you can limit your exposure to take control of your health. In her book, Detox Your Home: A Guide to Removing Toxins from Your Life and Bringing Health into Your Home, Dimmick explores how to improve health by empowering choices about our clothing, food, and cleaning products. She unveils what manufacturers won’t, so you can avoid exposing your family to the hidden toxins eating away at America’s health and wellness. Detox Your Home explores and explains the labels that inform our purchasing decisions and the regulations that govern what consumer goods are available in shops and supermarkets. From food, water, and kitchen goods to personal care and cleaning products, clothing, and common household items like phones, furniture, and children’s toys; Dimmick uses the most recent scientific evidence to expose the harmful toxins lurking in our environments. “Detox Your Home tells us how to keep ourselves and our families as free as possible from toxic chemicals. When we purchase laundry detergents and household cleaners, cosmetics, personal care products, food, clothing, toys, and more, we can use this vital information to lead healthier and safer lives,” said Margaret Cuomo, MD, a board-certified audiologist and author of A World Without Cancer. Published by Rowman & Littlefield, Detox Your Home: A Guide to Removing Toxins from Your Life and Bringing Health into Your Home is available in hardback for $32 at bookstores and online book dealers.
By Lisa M. Cini s we get older, daily tasks can become increasingly difficult. There are many gadgets on the market that can make life easier for baby boomers. The following are a few interesting gadgets to consider. • Have a security system installed: Being home alone can be scary for many people. A security system can help give peace of mind a homeowner is as safe as possible at all times. The system will help ensure no one gets inside the house when the homeowner is away and provides an easy way to get emergency assistance if needed. • Have a Wi-Fi smart thermostat installed: There are many older individuals living on a fixed income. They need to save money and reducing electricity costs can be a great way to do that. A Wi-Fi smart thermostat may be the best way to decrease heating and cooling costs. Once the thermostat is installed, a homeowner can lower or raise the temperature on the thermostat to a cost-effective degree. Twenty to 30 minutes before coming home, a homeowner can go to an app on their phone to set the thermostat to a temperature they feel is more comfortable. This means the house will be at a comfortable temperature by the time they arrive, but they won’t have to pay to maintain that temperature.
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• Wear a smart wearable device: A smart wearable device allows consumers to track their sleep cycles, heart rate, and the steps they take each day. It can also help them know how many calories they’re burning throughout the day. Smart wearable devices connect wirelessly to a cell phone, so consumers can look at the results on a larger screen and track the data for an extended period of time. This can be great information to have when going to see doctors. • Add voice-controlled devices to the home: There are many times it can be difficult to do things at home because they require reading small print. Instead, homeowners can have voice-controlled devices in place that will make their life easier. Televisions can be voice controlled, so viewers can find any programming they want and even change the volume with their voice. There are also devices that can be used to research a topic of interest, listen to favorite music, or have a recipe read aloud. Trying new gadgets may seem overwhelming or scary to many older people. It’s important to realize most devices on the market are designed to be easy to use and don’t take long to master. Manufacturers know anything too complicated won’t be popular. These gadgets can help older men and women live a more fulfilling, comfortable life for as long as possible. (Cini has more than 25 years experience developing home interiors.)
Funding is stagnant for rapidly-growing Meals on Wheels programs across America
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unding sources for local Meals on Wheels programs like the one offered by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, vary based on the needs and resources of the community. For more than 50 years, the Older Americans Act (OAA) has been the primary piece of federal legislation supporting the social and nutritional needs of our country’s most at-risk older adults. According to Meals on Wheels America, in 2016, the OAA funded 38 percent of the cost to provide nutritious meals, safety checks, and friendly visits to more than 2.4 million older Americans who receive Meals on Wheels nationally.
wide that it did in 2005 because food, transportation, and other costs have increased while funding remains stagnant. The chart below illustrates that over a 12-year period, OAA funding for Meals on Wheels went up 16 percent while food costs increased by 61 percent. The impact of having fewer OAA dollars available to support ENOA’s Meals on Wheels program forces the agency to make difficult decisions on which of its other programs and services have to be limited or restricted. Aging issues are often forgotten, with less than 2 percent of all corporate, community, and family philanthropy going to organizations like Meals on Wheels. Together, we must invest more fully in Meals on Wheels Programs – both local-
In Fiscal Year 2016-17, the OAA funded 27 percent of the cost for ENOA to provide 199,434 home-delivered meals to approximately 1,900 older men and women in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties. This funding model makes Meals on Wheels a successful public-private partnership that needs to be bolstered to keep up with the demand. Despite decades of broad bipartisan support, funding for Meals on Wheels programs continually fails to keep pace with the rapidly-growing need for this vital service. Today, Meals on Wheels serves 16 million fewer meals annually nation-
ly and nationally – which enable vulnerable older men and women to remain healthier and happier at home, avoiding more costly healthcare services.
New Horizons
Please call 402-444-3560 to learn more
Omaha Fire Department can install free home smoke, carbon monoxide detectors
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he Omaha Fire Department’s Public Education and Affairs Department will install free smoke and/ or carbon monoxide detectors inside the residences of area homeowners. To have a free smoke and/ or carbon monoxide detector installed inside your home, send your name, address, and telephone number to: Omaha Fire Department Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Requests 1516 Jackson St. Omaha, Neb. 68102 For more information, please call 402-444-3560.
New Horizons is the official publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. The paper is distributed free to people over age 60 in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Washington, and Cass counties. Those living outside the 5-county region may subscribe for $5 annually. Address all correspondence to: Jeff Reinhardt, Editor, 4780 S. 131st Street, Omaha, NE 68137-1822. Phone 402-444-6654. FAX 402-444-3076. E-mail: jeff.reinhardt@nebraska.gov Advertisements appearing in New Horizons do not imply endorsement of the advertiser by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. However, complaints about advertisers will be reviewed and, if warranted, their advertising discontinued. Display and insert advertising rates available on request. Open rates are commissionable, with discounts for extended runs. Circulation is 20,000 through direct mail and freehand distribution.
Editor....................................................Jeff Reinhardt Ad Mgr................Mitch Laudenback, 402-444-4148 Contributing Writers......Nick Schinker, Leo Biga, & Lois Friedman ENOA Board of Governors: Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, chairperson; Lisa Kramer, Washington County, vice-chairperson; Janet McCartney, Cass County, secretary; David Saalfeld, Dodge County, & Jim Warren, Sarpy County. The New Horizons and the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging provide services without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, disability, or age.
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Creighton U. researchers looking for Get tickets at outlookne.org/vbs treatment of age-related hearing loss Outlook Nebraska event
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ge-related hearing loss is among the top three chronic conditions affecting adults age 65 or older, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Creighton University research may hold the key to unlocking a cause and finding a treatment for age-related hearing loss. Creighton University Professor David Zhi-Zhou He, MD, PhD, recently received a $1.9 million grant from the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIDCD/ NIH), to research what causes age-related hearing loss. His research, Mechanism of Biological Aging of Cochlear Hair Cells, will continue until July 2023. He believes the secret to unlocking the cause of age-related hearing loss could be related to the hair cell degeneration in our ears. Much of He’s research will focus on inner and outer hair cells, the two types of receptor cells that convert sound into electrical impulses in the auditory nerve. He will compare the changes at the cellular and molecular levels of hair cells between young and aging mice to determine age-related changes in gene expression, ultrastructure, and cellular function. He’s research has three goals: • Identify what causes the sensory receptor hair cells to degenerate. • Determine why age-related hearing loss occurs from high frequencies to low frequencies. • Determine why outer hair cells degenerate before inner hair cells. The research also will look closer at the CLU gene, or Clusterin, known to play a role in degeneration of neurons in the brain, to determine if the gene also plays an important role in hair cell aging. “Loss of hearing in the elderly also can contribute to social isolation and loss of autonomy, and is associated with anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline. There is no medication available to treat or postpone age-related hearing loss,” He says. “We hope to identify genes and pathways that control the aging process in hair cells, especially outer hair cells, which are more subject to aging, noise, and ototoxic drugs. Hopefully, the knowledge gained will be useful for developing therapeutic treatment to postpone age-related hearing loss.” (Creighton University provided this information.)
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Guests enjoy Dessert in the Dark at an Outlook Nebraska’s Vision Beyond Sight Gala. The 2018 event will be held at Embassy Suites in LaVista.
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ou’re invited to attend a special night of inspiration at Outlook Nebraska’s Vision Beyond Sight celebration on Friday, Nov. 2. The 6 to 9 p.m. fundraiser will be held at the Embassy Suites Conference Center, 12520 Westport Pkwy. in LaVista. Guests will have an opportunity to meet successfully employed visually-impaired associates, hear their stories, and learn how Outlook Nebraska’s technology, training, employment, recreational, cultural, and educational programs impact Omaha-area clients of all ages. The guest speaker will be women’s basketball coach and TV analyst Vera Jones. A single mother to a blind son, Vera will share her captivating story of discovering a greater purpose in the challenges of life and talk about winning against adversity. While Vera enjoys a career broadcasting
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Dean Kent Beltone Hearing Care Professionals
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scheduled for Nov. 2
October 2018
Basketball coach and analyst Vera Jones will be the featured guest.
televised sports, she passionately pursues her purpose by empowering individuals and teams to “play through the foul of adversity and win the game of life.” Her leadership approach has been aided by working on the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind’s school improvement committee. Jones is on a mission to uplift people to overcome adversity with the power of faith, unity, perseverance, and purpose.
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he evening will also include a gourmet meal, Dessert in the Dark, a raffle, prizes, and honoring Outlook Nebraska’s award winners and nominees. All proceeds from the event support Outlook Nebraska’s enrichment programs. Registration and sponsorship opportunities are available online at outlookne.org/vbs.
RSVP
Are you getting enough quality sleep?
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ore than 90 percent of people caring for a family member with dementia experience poor sleep, according to new research by the University at Buffalo School of Nursing. The study found most participants got less than six hours of sleep each night, accompanied by frequent awakenings as often as four times per hour. These disruptions can lead to chronic sleep deprivation and place caregivers at risk for depression, weight gain, heart disease, and premature death, says lead author Yu-Ping Chang, PhD, Patricia H. and Richard E. Garman Endowed Professor in the UB School of Nursing. “Though memory loss is the best-known symptom of dementia, more than 80 percent of people with dementia will also experience sleep disturbances, anxiety, and wandering” says Chang. “These disruptions have negative effects on caregivers’ health, which in turn will diminish their ability to provide optimal care.” Nearly 6 million people are living with Alzheimer’s disease. However, the effects are felt by the more than 16 million people, often family members, providing unpaid care, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Past research has found between 50 and 70 percent of caregivers have sleep complaints, but the data used in those studies was self-reported. Few researchers have taken objective measurements to gain a more accurate picture of caregiver sleep quality, says Chang. The study, published in July in Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, analyzed the sleep of 43 people serving as the primary caregiver for a family member with dementia. Participants were given an actigraphy watch (a sensor worn on the wrist) to measure sleep time, efficiency, and awakenings in their home over seven days. Caregivers were also required to complete a sleep diary for themselves and their care recipients, and self-assessments on depression, burden of care, sleep quality, and sleep hygiene — behaviors that may interfere with sleep such as daytime naps, exercise, and watching television before bed.
The researchers found nearly 92 percent of participants experienced poor sleep quality, awoke frequently, and slept less than six hours per night — below the recommended total of seven or eight hours per night. Poor sleep hygiene was found to increase sleep latency, or the amount of time it takes to fall asleep. Although caregivers self-reported taking an average of 30 minutes to fall asleep, data collected from the actigraphy watches showed a longer sleep latency of 40 minutes. The results, says Chang, highlight the gap between caregivers’ subjective perception and objective measurements of their sleep quality. “Understanding how well caregivers are sleeping and the variables that affect them is an important first step toward the development of tailored and effective treatment,” says Chang. “This would help the millions of caregivers receive the optimum sleep needed to protect their health and continue to provide quality care.” (The University of Buffalo provided this information.)
October 2018
RSVP is recruiting men and women age 55 and older for a variety of volunteer opportunities. For more information in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties, call 402-444-6536. In Dodge and Washington counties, call 402-721-7780. • The VA Medical Center needs volunteers. • Partnership 4 Kids is looking for volunteers to mentor Pre-K through high school students. • Heartland Hope Mission needs volunteers to help with its food pantry. • The Fremont Low-Income Ministry wants volunteers for its food pantry. • The Car-Go Program needs volunteer drivers. • Care Corps Family Services is looking for volunteers Thursdays from 1:30 to 5 p.m. • Fremont’s Habitat for Humanity wants volunteers. • Fremont Health needs volunteers. • Nye Legacy Health & Rehabilitation is looking for volunteers to help with its bingo games Tuesdays @ 2 p.m. • Premier Estates of Fremont wants volunteers.
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Dora Bingel Senior Center
Arizona study examining Alzheimer’s risk
You’re invited to visit the Dora Bingel Senior Center, 923 N. 38th St., this month for the following: • Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29: Al-Anon meeting @ 7 p.m. • Oct. 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, & 31: Ceramics class @ 9 a.m. • Oct. 3: Holy Communion served @ 11 a.m. • Oct. 8: Book Club meets at 10 a.m. • Oct. 17: Foot care clinic from 9 a.m. to noon. Call 402392-1818 for an appointment. • Oct. 26: Music by Rich Patton from the Merrymakers @11:30 a.m. Lunch is $3. • Oct. 26: Hard of Hearing support group @ 10:30 a.m. • Oct. 31: Birthday party luncheon @ noon. Eat free if you have an October birthday. A nutritious lunch is served on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. A $1 donation is suggested for the meals, other than $3 for Merrymakers. Round-trip transportation is available for $3. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance for all meals. Other activities offered at the facility include: Tuesday: Joy Club Devotions @ 10 a.m., matinee @ 12:30 p.m., & quilting @ 1 p.m. Wednesday: Devotions @ 10:30 a.m.; bingo @ 12:45 p.m., and Bible study at 12:45 p.m. Friday: Bingo @ 12:45 p.m. For more information, please call 402-898-5854.
Holiday Soup Supper 5:30 to 7 p.m. | Friday, Nov. 30 Keystone Villas Independent Living 7300 Graceland Drive | Omaha, NE
Choice of three soups, salad, bread, dessert, & beverage RSVP BY THURSDAY, NOV. 29 Please bring an unwrapped toy for a child or make a monetary donation to support Angel Tree & Adopt a Family
For more information, please call
402-557-6637
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esting how well people remember past events in their lives could help medical professionals make early predictions about who is at risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study from the University of Arizona. Researchers administered an “autobiographical memory” test to a group of 35 healthy adults, about half of whom carry the gene variant APOE e4 — a known genetic risk factor that nearly doubles the chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease. As a group, those with the genetic risk described memories with much less detail than those without it. Sometimes called a disease with a clinically silent beginning, Alzheimer’s is difficult to detect early even though changes in the brain related to the disease may begin to happen years or even decades before an individual starts to exhibit memory difficulties, said UA neuropsychologist Matthew Grilli, lead author of the new research, which is published in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. “This raises a huge challenge for developing effective treatments,” said Grilli, an assistant professor and director of the Human Memory Laboratory in the UA Department of Psychology. “The hope is that in the near future we will have drugs and other treatments that could potentially slow down, stop, and even reverse some of these brain changes we think are the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. The problem is that if we can’t detect who has these hallmarks early enough, these treatments may not be fully effective, if at all.” Grilli’s goal is to help pick up on brain changes much earlier, before they begin to have an obvious effect on cognition and memory. He and his UA colleagues Aubrey Wank, John Bercel, and Lee Ryan decided to focus on autobiographical memory, or people’s recollection of past events in their lives, because this type of memory depends on areas of the brain that are vulnerable to early changes from Alzheimer’s disease. “When we retrieve these complex types of memories that have multimodal details, they’re highly vivid or rich; they come with narratives, context, and backstories,” Grilli said. “We’ve learned through cognitive neuroscience that the ability to recreate these memories in your mind’s eye depends on a widely distributed network in the brain, and it critically depends on regions of the brain that we know are compromised early on in Alzheimer’s disease pathology.” In autobiographical interviews, study participants, who ranged in age from early 50s to 80, were asked to recall recent memories, memories from their childhood, and memories from early adulthood with as much
detail as possible. The interviewers – who didn’t know which participants had a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s – recorded and scored participants’ responses, evaluating which details added to the richness and vividness of the memories and which did not. Those with the genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease as a group, described memories with much less vivid detail than those without the risk factor, despite the fact all study participants performed normally and comparably on a battery of other, standard neuropsychology tests. “None of these individuals would be diagnosed with dementia or mild cognitive impairment,” Grilli said. “They are clinically normal, they are cognitively normal, but there’s this subtle difficulty one group has with retrieving real-world memories, which we think is because there are more people in the group who are at a preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s disease.” Not everyone with the gene variant APOE e4, which is present in about 25 percent of the population, will develop Alzheimer’s disease, and not everyone who develops Alzheimer’s has the gene. “From this study, we can’t identify one person and say for sure this person is in the preclinical phase of Alzheimer’s disease. That’s the next stage of work we need to do,” Grilli said. “But we know as a group there probably are more people in the e4 carrier group that are in the preclinical phase of Alzheimer’s disease, and we think this is why they had a harder time generating these memories.” Grilli said the next step is to study brain activity in the people who struggle to generate vivid autobiographical memories to see if they have observable changes in brain structure or activation of the regions of the brain affected early on by Alzheimer’s. The hope is the work could lead to the development of a clinical test sensitive enough to the preclinical brain changes of Alzheimer’s disease that could be used to identify people who should undergo more extensive testing for early Alzheimer’s disease pathology. “The tests for early signs of Alzheimer’s disease pathology are invasive and expensive, so this new cognitive test potentially could be used as a screen,” Grilli said. “It also could be used to help clinical trials. At the moment, it’s very difficult and expensive to conduct clinical trials of new drugs because it takes a very long time to determine whether that drug has had an impact on memory. If we have more sensitive measures, we might get answers sooner, especially if we’re trying to administer drugs before obvious signs of memory impairment are detectable.” (The University of Arizona provided this information.)
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10404 Essex Court • Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 Office: (402) 558-1404 or (402) 391-1697 chuck@katskee.com
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October 2018
Art studio
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rtists – who work in any medium – are encouraged to join an open art studio that meets Mondays from 1 to 3 p.m. at Presbyterian Church of the Cross, 1517 S. 114th St. For more information, please call Claudine Myers at 402-496-4330.
Medicare open enrollment period is set for Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 Medicare’s annual open enrollment period will start on Monday, Oct. 15 and run through Friday, Dec. 7. This is the time of year to review your Medicare Part D coverage or your Medicare Advantage coverage, and if needed, switch to a different plan for 2019. Even if you’re satisfied with your coverage you should review your options for next year to see if there’s a plan that will better meet your needs. Medicare beneficiaries could find a different plan that would cover their medications at a lower cost and/or with fewer restrictions. Last year, Volunteers Assisting Seniors (VAS) helped 1,852 people in eastern Nebraska review their coverage during Medicare’s annual open enrollment period. The people who reviewed their options with a VAS certified Medicare counselor in 2018 and switched to a less expensive plan averaged a $752 savings in their prescription drug costs for 2018. VAS will be scheduling appointments at various locations throughout the Omaha area to assist Medicare beneficiaries with Part D and Medicare Advantage plan reviews again this year. See the schedule below. Please remember the annual open enrollment period pertains to Part D and Advantage plans only. Medigap supplement policies aren’t subject to an annual open enrollment period. To schedule your appointment, please call VAS at 402444-6617. Monday, Oct. 15 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Southeast Comm. College 537 Main St. • Plattsmouth 402-444-6617 Tuesday, Oct. 16 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. VAS 1941 S. 42nd St. #312 402-444-6617 Thursday, Oct. 18 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Baright Public Library 5555 S. 77th St. 402-444-6617 Tuesday, Oct. 23 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. VAS 1941 S. 42nd St. #312 402-444-6617 Wednesday, Oct. 24 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. SUMP Library 222 N. Jefferson St. • Papillion 402-444-6617 Friday, Oct. 26 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. North Bend, NE Library 110 E. 13th St. 402-727-2775 Tuesday, Oct. 30 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. VAS 1941 S. 42nd St. #312 402-444-6617 Wednesday, Oct. 31 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Doane College (Omaha) 4020 S. 147th St. #100 402-444-6617 Friday, Nov. 2 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Goodwill Industries 4805 N. 72nd St. 402-444-6617 Monday, Nov. 5 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fremont Friendship Center 1730 W. 16th St. 402-444-6617 Tuesday, Nov. 6 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hooper, NE Senior Center 208 Main St. 402-727-2775 Wed., Nov. 7 & Thurs., Nov 8 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Washington County Extension Office 597 Grant St. #200 Blair 402-426-9455 Thursday, Nov. 8 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Washington County Extension Office 597 Grant St. #200 Blair 402-426-9455 Thursday, Nov. 8 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern NE Vets Home 12505 S. 40th St. 402-444-6617
Friday, Nov. 9 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. VAS 1941 S. 42nd St. #312 402-444-6617 Saturday, Nov. 10 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. VAS 1941 S. 42nd St. #312 402-444-6617 Tuesday, Nov. 13 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. VAS 1941 S. 42nd St. #312 402-444-6617 Thursday, Nov. 15 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Baright Public Library 5555 S. 77th St. 402-444-6617 Friday, Nov. 16 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Doane College (Omaha) 4020 S 147th St. #100 402-444-6617 Monday, Nov. 19 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dodge County Extension Office 1206 W. 23rd St. Fremont 402-727-2775 Tuesday, Nov. 20 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. VAS 1941 S. 42nd St. #312 402-444-6617 Tuesday, Nov. 20 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dodge County Extension Office 1206 W. 23rd St. Fremont 402-727-2775 Tuesday, Nov. 27 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. VAS 1941 S. 42nd St. #312 402-444-6617 Thursday, Nov. 29 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. VAS 1941 S. 42nd St #312 402-444-6617 Monday, Dec. 3 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Doane College (Omaha) 4020 S. 147th St. #100 402-444-6617 Tuesday, Dec. 4 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. VAS 1941 S. 42nd St. #312 402-444-6617 Thursday, Dec. 6 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. VAS 1941 S. 42nd St #312 402-444-6617 Periodically By appointment 16919 Audrey St. #140 402-444-6617
PT may actually work better
Studies show physical therapy can be an effective alternative to using pain meds
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n the context of the national conversation about pain and the use and overuse of opioids, studies continue to show using physical therapy instead of prescription medication is an effective and safe pain-relieving option for older adults, according to Bellevue physical therapist and geriatric certified specialist Paul Gardner. In 2016 the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention issued a prominent report that lists physical therapy and exercise as options for managing chronic pain that “may actually work better” than oft-abused opiate painkillers like Vicodin and OxyContin – and with fewer risks and side effects. Older adults are at an increased risk of the side effects associated with these opioids due to polypharmacy and other changes of normal aging. “Pain is perceived as harmful, so we want a diagnosis to explain the cause of the pain and then an immediate way to alleviate it,” said Gardner, director of Home and Community Rehabilitation for Hillcrest Physical Therapy in Bellevue. “This is why opioids are often a first choice. But if we reframe the discussion about pain and educate patients that pain, at times, is normal and necessary, we can help influence pain in a positive direction with less need for medication.” Chronic pain is generally defined as pain that lasts longer than three months and may be caused by injury, an ongoing illness like cancer, or in some cases, there may not be any clear cause. As pain persists, various factors come into play that need to be dealt with to have a successful outcome. Physical therapists are experts in pain, movement, and exercise. They provide a comprehensive evaluation to identify causes of pain and rule out harmful red flags to ensure safe progression of activity. They not only evaluate strength and flexibility, but also fear and avoidance of activity to help get people back to doing the things they love. To move forward, the physical therapist and patient will discuss goals, design
DAV needs vols to drive vets to VAMC one day per week The Disabled American Veterans need volunteers to drive veterans one day a week to and from the VA Medical Center, 4101 Woolworth Ave. in Omaha. While the volunteer drivers don’t need to be veterans, they do need a valid driver’s license, and are able to pass a drug screening and a Department of Transportation physical given at the VA Medical Center. Drivers will be given a lunch voucher on the day they volunteer for the DAV. For more information, please contact Command Sergeant Major (retired) Lance Fouquet at 402-5051482 or online at sgmman1447@gmail.com.
October 2018
a treatment plan, and begin activities to address movement, flexibility, and functionality. Education is provided to empower patients to take control of their pain. Research overwhelmingly shows having increased knowledge about chronic pain as well as incorporating exercise/physical activity into treatment helps to decrease pain and improve overall function. “With chronic pain we are trying to change patients’ mindsets, so they understand that despite having pain they can move forward,” Gardner said. “The more they understand their pain, the less afraid they will become, and they can start moving and build hope.”
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physical therapist is an optimal professional to help instill this knowledge and provide sound activity recommendations to start them on their way to reclaiming their life in a safe and healthy manner. A study undertaken by researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle and George Washington University in Washington, D.C. found patients who saw a physical therapist before trying other treatments had an 89 percent lower probability of eventually needing an opioid prescription, a 28 percent lower probability of having any advanced imaging services, and a 15 percent lower probability of making one or more visits to the emergency room. Despite the mounting evidence that physical therapy can reduce or eliminate dependence on opioids, Gardner expects it to be an ongoing conversation well into the future. “Although pain is normal, living with persistent pain should not be,” he said. “Dealing with this issue can be very complex in nature and is not always easy. It will take a lot of hard work from the patient as well as the medical community to tackle the opioid epidemic; however, physical therapy may be a good place to start.” (Hillcrest Health provided this information.)
Caring for loved ones with dementia
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laherty Senior Consulting is offering three free programs to help caregivers understand how to provide the best care possible for their loved ones with dementia. • Learning How to Live with Dementia Saturday, October 13 • 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Servite Center for Compassion 72nd Street and Ames Circle • Is it Depression or Dementia? Friday, October 26 • 9:30 to 11 a.m. Servite Center for Compassion 72nd Street and Ames Circle Dr. Steven Wengel, M.D., professor of psychiatry at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, will discuss the signs, symptoms, and treatment of depression and how it relates to dementia symptoms. • Is it Normal Aging or Something Else? Saturday, November 10 To register, please contact Sister Margaret Stratman at 402-951-3026 or scc@osms.org.
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The value of writing an ethical will
Corrigan Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St., this month for: • Oct. 3: Toenail clinic from 9:30 a.m. to noon for $12. Call 402-731-7210 to sign up. Space is limited. • Oct. 3: Flu shots from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sign up in advance and bring your insurance card. • Oct 4: UNMC nursing students visit @10 a.m. • Oct.10: Blood pressure checks by Methodist nursing students @ 10:30 a.m. followed by a Perry Como video @ 11 a.m. and the Corrigan council meeting @ 2 p.m. • Oct. 11: Corrigan Melodrama @ 10:30 a.m. • Oct. 15: Music by Tom “Woody” Strohmyer sponsored by the Merrymakers @ 11 a.m. • Oct. 18: Oktoberfest with the Red Raven Band @ 11 a.m. Reservations are due by noon on Friday, Oct. 12. • Oct. 22: Presentation on flu season @ 11 a.m. • Oct. 31: Halloween celebration @ 11 a.m. Prizes for the best costumes. The center will be closed on Columbus Day. 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, call Michelle @ 402-731-7210.
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 Branson Christmas. November 5 – 8. $759. Enjoy the Legends in Concert (Elton John, Brooks & Dunn, Tina Turner, The Blues Brothers, and Elvis), Daniel O’Donnell, The Hughes Brothers, “Samson” at the Sight & Sound Theater, Hot Rods & High Heels, and Million Dollar Quartet. Laughlin Laughlin in November. November 18 - 22. $339. Five days – four nights. Includes non-stop, roundtrip airfare to Laughlin, Nevada, four nights lodging at the Riverside Resort and Casino on the banks of the Colorado River, and shuttle transportation to and from the airport. Entertainment during this trip includes “Cash, Killer and The King”, a tribute to Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Presley, and “Sinatra Forever” starring Rick Michel, a Salute to Frank Sinatra---both shows at the Riverside Resort. In Partnership with Collette Vacations We started working with Collette in 2009 when we were looking for a way to offer international trips to our travelers. We wanted to find a company that shared our core values of providing quality tours, well hosted at a reasonable price. We were not looking for a low-cost alternative. Our first personal experience was when we took about 24 people on the "Shades of Ireland" tour. It was an incredibly positive experience! Since then we have helped others to experience Collette Tours on: Historic Trains of California; New York City; Canada’s Atlantic Coast with Nova Scotia; Pilgrimage to Fatima & Lourdes; Austrian Delight - Oberammergau (coming up again in 2020); Pasadena Rose Parade; Islands of New England; Canadian Rockies & Glacier National Park; Islands of New England; Reflections of Italy; Canadian Rockies by Train; Tropical Costa Rica; Alaska Discovery Land & Cruise and others. Please call if you have one of Collette’s many destinations on your bucket list. We can help make it happen! Watch New Horizons and our website www.fontenelletours.com for our trip schedule. 2008 W. Broadway #329, Council Bluffs, IA 51501
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R
ecently, I was cleaning out a drawer of material that had been untouched for many years. I found a “gem” that made me laugh and cry. My father wrote a story about me when I was 4 years old. The gist is that I overslept one summer morning, and when I awoke at about 11 a.m., my mother suggested I skip breakfast and just have lunch. I threw a fit, so I was given my puffed wheat first. This trivial little tale is only meaningful because my father described it in detail and with much humor. It felt like a piece of him is still alive, as indeed it is. While my memories of him live in me every day, I was thankful he wrote this story that renewed a memory that had slipped away. In last month’s New Horizons column, I wrote about the legacy we leave which has nothing to do with material things. Rather, it’s the memories people carry with them about us. Some elect to assist their posterity to know them better and remember them more accurately by providing a document called an “ethical will.” This document allows one to pass on to heirs an expression of values and meaning. Often an ethical will takes the form of a letter written for posterity. The following is a partial example of an ethical will written by a 58-year-old father and grandfather. He describes his purpose as follows: “It is my hope in writing my ethical will that I will be able to record for posterity some of my values and visions for the future. I hope this will help each of you as you plan and carry out your life. In my studies of leaving a legacy, I was reminded how important it is for
parents and grandparents to share and record what is important to them. For posterity’s sake, I have attempted to record some of my experiences and what I believe in, some history of what I have done with my life, and lessons I have learned along the way.”
Another way to share your ethical will is to describe the highlights from your life. What are your fondest memories and greatest achievements? What external events impacted your life and changed you? What were the greatest sorrows and biggest chall-
Conscious Aging By Nancy Hemesath
The act of writing an ethical will is as valuable for the writer as it is for posterity. It’s an opportunity to raise our consciousness about the meaning of our lives and reconnects us with events from our personal history that have formed us. Such a document can take numerous forms. Topics may include stories, experiences, values, beliefs, lessons learned, and wishes for the future. One need not be a creative writer to do this project. It may be helpful to begin writing about favorite things such as places visited, books, movies, sports teams, hobbies, foods, or artists. This can be the starting place to share some memories or stories related to each item and include why these are your favorites. Another theme may be family. Record some memories of grandparents, parents, siblings, spouse, and/or children. What did you learn from your family members and what values were passed down to you that you want to pass on to your children or grandchildren? You might give a work history from your first job forward. Which was your favorite job? Least favorite? Why did you choose your career path? Are you glad you did?
enges? How did you cope with these? It’s fitting to include some fundamental beliefs that have shaped your life. What values do you carry that you hold dear? How have these values and beliefs developed or changed through the years? What do you know now you wish you’d known when starting out in life? What do you hope you’ll be remembered for? Finally, share your hopes and dreams for your heirs. What kind of lives do you hope they’ll enjoy? What lessons do you want to pass on to them? If you had three wishes for them, what would they be? All these ideas may seem too daunting and could discourage you from even starting. Don’t let that happen. In the future, someone would cherish any piece of this suggested list. I remind you one little story written by my father deeply touched my heart. For most people, this will be a work that will be cherished years from now by offspring who will be grateful you took the time to share your life story with them. (Hemesath is the owner of Encore Coaching, which is dedicated to supporting people in the third chapter of life. Her email address is nhemesath@cox.net.)
ENOA recruiting Senior Companions, Foster Grandparents Men and women age 55 and older who want to earn a tax-free stipend while making an impact in their community are encouraged to join the Senior Companion Program and the Foster Grandparent Program. Sponsored locally by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, the SCP and FGP are national programs of the Corporation for National and Community Service through the Senior Service Corps. Senior Companions help other older adults maintain their independence by visiting them at home to discuss the news, read mail, play cards, run errands, etc. Foster Grandparents serve as positive role models for children who need special attention with education, healthcare, and
October 2018
social development in schools, Head Start programs, and child development centers. SCP and FGP volunteers must meet income guidelines and complete an enrollment process that includes references and background checks. In exchange for volunteering 15 hours or more per week, Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions receive a $2.65 an hour tax-free stipend, mileage reimbursement, an annual physical examination, supplemental accident insurance coverage, and other benefits including an annual recognition luncheon. The stipend does not interfere with rent, disability, Medicaid, or other benefits. For more information on the FGP and SCP, please call 402-444-6536.
Read it & eat By Lois Friedman readitandeat@yahoo.com
Brighten your landscape by planting tulips
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By Melinda Myers
elebrate the National Garden Bureau’s Year of the Save the date: The 8th annual culinary conference will Tulip in a be the first weekend in November and you won't want to big way by planting double miss this one. The theme this year is I scream, you scream, flowered tulip varieties this we all scream for ice cream. fall for a showy display next These new cookbooks will inspire you to make your own spring. Flower arrangers ice cream, toppings, and to go to the Read It And Eat Culi- love the big bold blossoms nary Conference at the Downtown Omaha Library. that resemble peonies and you’ll love their impressive Cake & Ice Cream, Part of the Good Times Series blooms in your garden and (Chronicle, $14.95) containers. Consider any of these 17 recipes, or make ’em all. A phoStart and end the tulip to with each recipe and a delightful little book to browse. season with these beautiful spring-flowering bulbs. Jenis Plant double tulips in small By Jeni Bauer (Artisan, $23.95) informal clusters of seven The award-winning author and ice cream shop owner or more bulbs scattered from Ohio shares Ice Cream Parlor, Bake Shop, Sundae throughout your gardens. Bar, and The Basic recipes. Dessert doesn’t get any better Or combine them with other than this. From Atta Girl Sundae to Zucchini Lady Cake. types of tulips, spring flowering bulbs, and perennials. Sweet And be sure to add extras to By Yotom Ottolenghi & Helen Goh (Ten Speed, $35) enjoy as cut flowers. Celebrate the sweet things in life and abundance with Plant the early-blooming seven chapters from his London restaurant. More than 100 variety Margarita with grape show-stopping recipes with mouth watering photos. hyacinths for multiple layers of color and fragrance. Milk Street These violet-purple double By Christopher Kimball (Little Brown, $40) tulips are ideal for perenKimball has years of kitchen talent and experiences. Fol- nial gardens and after they low along in his new cookbook with 125 recipes featured bloom, the perennials will and adapted for new home cooking and arranged by dishes help mask the declining with his most useful techniques. bulb foliage. Add even more impact by pairing them with French Desserts other early-flowering pink By Hillary Davis (Gibbs Smith, $30) and red tulips. For everyone not off for a holiday in Paris. French recTurn up the heat with the ipes: Baba au Rum, Strawberries Romanoff, Peach Melba warm tones of honey gold, and Left Bank Liegeous. Sorbet and ice cream recipes, too. apricot and peach found Desserts as only the French know. Fabulous color photos.
Enjoy these ice cream recipes
in Foxy Foxtrot. This tulip looks great when paired with purple, pink, and even red flowers. Like other doubles, it makes a great cut flower. Enliven the spring garden with double tulip Monte Orange. Its brilliant tangerine blossoms have a sunny yellow center and the flowers get even showier as they mature. Combine this variety with yellow daffodils for greater impact and a longer display. Fill in the mid-spring garden with some classic Darwin Hybrid tulips such as Blushing Apeldoorn, Apricot Impression, and Ad Rem. Then create a grand finale of blooms by planting a few of the late spring double tulips. Include Crème Upstar with its sweetly fragrant pastel blooms that change from cream and pale yellow to apricot, pink, and rose. It’s an exceptional cut flower for your spring bouquets. Or add an array of jewel tones with a designer collection of double late tulips. The Parade of Pink Mix includes four varieties of fragrant double late tulips. Say a cheery goodbye to spring with the Yellow Pomponette/Sun Lover combination. These double late tulip varieties pair lemon yellow with blood orange and together they make a nice addition to any sunny spots. Check out Longfield Gardens’ article (longfield-gardens. com/article/tulips-by-bloom-time) for a list of tulips by bloom time. Then make your selections so you can enjoy six weeks or more of tulip blooms in your spring garden. Be sure to order early for the greatest selection of tulip and other spring bulb varieties. For best results, purchase large firm bulbs from a reliable source and store them in a cool dark place until you are ready to plant. Grow tulips in a sunny or partially shaded location with good drainage. Keep in mind those shady spots in the landscape may provide sufficient sunlight for your tulips in spring before the trees leaf out. Wait for the soil to cool to begin planting. This is usually mid to late fall after a hard frost and before the ground freezes. Place the bulbs four to five inches apart on center and about six to seven inches deep in properly prepared soil with good drainage. Add a low nitrogen, slow release fertilizer and water thoroughly. Then relax and enjoy your fall garden and all the beauty winter brings as you wait for the eruption of color in your garden and containers next spring. (Myers has written more than 20 gardening books.),
Matcha By Jessica Flint & Anna Kavaliunas (Dovetail, $25) Everything you want to know about this powdered green tea, the darling of the fashion models, millennials, movie stars and business gurus that “epitomizes health and fitness” and has its roots in ancient Asia. A calming stimulant. Matcha 101 from lip and teeth stain, ideas, equipment, how toos, and this rich, velvety textured ice cream recipe. Salted Matcha Ice Cream (Makes 5 cups) 4 large egg yolks 1 cup sugar 1 tablespoon matcha, sifted 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 2 cups whole milk 1 cup heavy cream 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 teaspoons flaky sea salt Place the egg yolks in a small saucepan and whisk to combine. Add 1/4 cup of the sugar and whisk until combined with the yolks. Repeat, adding 1/4 cup sugar at a time and whisking until the mixture forms a thick paste. Stir in the matcha and salt until smooth. Stir in the milk, then place the pan over medium heat. Cook the custard, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until it thickens slightly and coats the back of the spoon (or reaches 180 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer), about eight to 12 minutes. Pour the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, stir in the cream and vanilla, and let cool completely. refrigerate the custard until chilled, at least four hours. Pour the chilled custard into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions. During the last 10 seconds of churning, add the flaky sea salt so that it mixes evenly into the ice cream but doesn’t dissolve. Scrape the ice cream into a container and freeze until solid, at least four hours, before serving.
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Music is a legacy, salvation for horseman Hadley Heavin
Heavin, who has taught classical guitar at the University of Nebraska at Omaha since 1982, grew up in the Ozarks. By Leo Adam Biga Contributing Writer
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adley Heavin encountered a personal crossroads in the 1970s. He was a Vietnam War veteran with a background playing blues-rock guitar and competing in rodeos; pursuits he thought he’d left behind. Little did he know he was about to embark on an improbable road less traveled as a classical cowboy. Heavin’s taught classical guitar at the University of Nebraska at Omaha since 1982. He also taught at the College of St. Mary, Creighton University, Union College, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He’s given countless master classes, residencies, and recitals. He and his band Tablao were fixtures on the local music scene. Forty-five years ago, Hadley was adrift. It was a dark period. The light in his life returned when he discovered classical guitar. He no sooner taught himself to play when, in storybook fashion, he was discovered by the Spanish master classical guitarist Segundo Pastor. The maestro passed on to his protege the art form’s direct lineage from its multi-generational source. Heavin lived nearly a year in Madrid, where daily lessons and hard work with Pastor made this country boy weaned on American roots music a virtuosic classical guitarist. The men’s lives were intertwined
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for a decade. Hadley healed and reinvented himself as a performer and educator, taking up riding and roping again. Heavin’s life has a way of coming around in full circles. Growing up an all-around athlete and a musician in the Ozarks, he became known for both his horsemanship and musicianship. His grandfather, father, and uncles all played swing and jazz guitar professionally. Young Hadley emerged as the family prodigy, playing with his father’s band before gravitating to blues and rock. He played some drums, but guitar was his destiny. “Making music was just something we did,” Heavin said. “I was a little freak because I could play really well. I grew up in an environment thinking everybody was like this. I couldn’t believe it when a kid couldn’t sing, carry a tune, or do something with music.” About his father, E.C. Heavin, Hadley said, “I haven’t heard anybody any better than he was. I had a lot of admiration for the kind of music he played. He knew the guitar perfectly. He couldn’t read music, but he could walk up on stage and play anything. He was amazing.” Uncle Charles “Frog” Heavin still cuts some mean licks at age 90. Athletic ability was another family birthright. Frog played pro baseball as did Heavin’s mother. Hadley made the football team at the University of Kansas as a walk-
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Hadley said he fell in love with horses at age 4 watching movies starring screen legends Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. on in the 1960s and showed promise on the Midwest rodeo circuit. Then he got drafted into the U.S. Army. His carefree existence vanished. Trained to be a killing machine, he fulfilled tours of life or death duty. The searing experience made the music inside him stop. He was unsure if it would ever return. As a forward observer and artillery fire officer with the 1st Field Force, he shuttled from one hot Landing Zone (LZ) to another with an M 79 grenade launcher. “I would work with all different units. They would just send me wherever they needed me. I was on hilltops, some I can remember like LZ Lily. We were surrounded for like 30 days. I was in the jungle the whole time, mostly in the north, in Two Corps, close to the border of Laos and Cambodia. I saw base camp twice.” Wounded by an AK 47 round in a fire fight, Hadley came home to recover. Stationed at Fort Riley, Kan., he impulsively entered the bareback competition at a local rodeo. “I drew a pretty rank horse, plus I hadn’t ridden in years, and I was still sore from my war injuries. The horse came out and bucked towards the fence. My spur hung in the fence and hung me upside down, facing the opposite way. He was kicking me in the back as he was bucking away. I got hurt. I could hardly walk that night. When I got back to base they were mad at me
October 2018
because I couldn’t pull my duty. Here I was a decorated combat vet, and they were going to court-martial me.” Cooler heads prevailed and Heavin completed his military service with an honorable discharge. Like so many combat brethren, however, he returned home broken. “I was having bad PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). I didn’t know where my life was going. I wasn’t necessarily a violent person but that’s what I was used to. It kind of becomes no big deal at some point in your life. It becomes a big deal after the fact when you’ve got PTSD.” Heavin resents the military orders he followed. “Emotionally, I was a mess from the war just as much for the atrocities I was forced to commit than what actually happened to me because there’s always collateral damage. You see that, and you see you’re responsible for it. It doesn’t turn off. It never does. “I had some years where I had a hard time because I felt I was part of something that was wrong.” Then there’s the physical toll from the war. “I have a broken immune system because of Agent Orange. It became hard for me to travel. I started getting sick in my 50s. Every time I’d fly somewhere to play a concert I’d play with a fever or something. That --Please turn to page 11.
Guitar was a healing thread for Hadley following Vietnam War --Continued from page 10. got really old. It’s curtailed my travel.” Heavin is critical of the Veterans Administration. “I’m just shocked this country doesn’t treat its veterans very well. I’ve been to the VA hospital. It’s not like going to a normal hospital. These patients are the guys that fight for their country. They should have the same health care as everyone. Everybody says thank you for your service. Well, that doesn’t help very much.”
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n his post-war funk Heavin quit music, roping, and riding. But those passions kept calling him back. “I suffered because by then my father was gone (deceased) and my mother couldn’t support me. Somehow I played guitar and kept myself fed.” Hadley was working a job unloading trucks in Springfield, Mo. when, on a whim, he went to see a classical guitarist perform. It changed his life. “I was enthralled, and it just came over me like that,” he said, snapping his fingers. “Right then and there I knew what I was going to do with my life. The feeling that came over me
fulfilled me more than anything else ever had up to that time. A part of it was, I needed something. Classical guitar was the thread that gave me something to hang onto just to get through life and the pain.” Heavin taught himself the classical guitar via recordings and books. “As soon as my hands could take it I practiced six to eight hours a day working a full-time job,” he said. Attending college on the GI Bill, Hadley convinced the music dean at then-Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State) to start a degree guitar program for him. “I had such a passion for it that I was going to find a way – whatever it took,” Hadley said. Then, a meeting changed his life again. Touring Spanish classical guitar legend Segundo Pastor saw Heavin play a concert on the SMSU campus. He asked to meet Heavin, complimented the talented beginner, and told him what to work on. Pastor returned to Missouri a year later to instruct Heavin for two weeks and then offered to take him on as his only student in Spain. Dumbstruck and flattered by this once in a lifetime opportunity, Heavin still needed thouPlease turn to page 15.
Heavin with the maestro Segundo Pastor near Cuenca, Spain in 1974.
Hadley said his father, E. C. Heavin, could play anything on the guitar.
Using recordings and books and practicing six to eight hours a day, Hadley taught himself how to play the classical guitar while holding a full-time job.
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Heavin with a M 79 grenade launcher during the Vietnam War in 1969.
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Fraud prevention seminar on Oct. 19 U.S. Bank is sponsoring a free Senior Fraud Prevention Seminar on Friday, Oct. 19 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, 4780 S. 131st St. Topics will include avoiding telephone and Internet scams, how to safeguard your personal data, common types of elder financial exploitation, and ways to protect your bank accounts. To RSVP or for more information, please contact Mike Whitman at michael.whitman@usbank.com or 402-5365190.
Please see the ad on page 3
NH Club membership rises $15 Phyllis Tefft Judith Benecke
Florence AARP
Notre Dame Housing/ Seven Oaks Senior Center
he Florence AARP chapter meets monthly at Mountview Presbyterian Church, 5308 Hartman Ave. The programs begin each month with a noon lunch followed by a speaker. For reservations, please call Gerry Goldsborough at 402-571-0971. Rides to the meeting are available by calling Ruth Kruse at 402453-4825. Here are the remaining 2018 programs:
You’re invited to visit the Notre Dame Housing/Seven Oaks Senior Center, 3439 State St. for the following: • Second, third, and fourth Friday: Community food pantry @ 11 a.m. • Second and fourth Tuesday: Get banking help as a representative from American National Bank visits @ 10 a.m. • Third Wednesday: Community food pantry from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. • Oct. 9: Program on What is Cultural Awareness? by the City of Omaha’s Human Rights & Relations Department @ 1:30 p.m. • Oct. 11: Presentation on protecting your hearing @ 1:30 p.m. • Oct. 11: Dental screenings by students from the Creighton University School of Dentistry from 1 to 4 p.m. • Oct. 11: Program on Adult Protective Services presented by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services @ 10 a.m. • Oct. 16: Program on getting help for depression and anxiety presented by Angel’s Care Home Health @ 1:30 p.m. • Oct. 16: Fontenelle Forest presentation on brainy birds @ 10 a.m. • Oct. 18: Expand Your Horizons presentation on Medicaid expansion @ 7 p.m. • Oct. 24: October birthday party with music by Tim Javorsky sponsored by the Merrymakers @ 2 p.m. • Oct. 29: Presentation on empathy and compassion @ 1:30 p.m. Notre Dame Housing/Seven Oaks Senior Center is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Lunch is served at noon. A $3.50 contribution is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by 11 a.m. the business day prior to the lunch. For meals reservations and more information, please call 402-451-4477, ext. 126.
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• October 25: Tim Neal Nebraska Organ Recovery
$10 Paricia Adams $5 Terry Slawson Mary Tuner Deborah Rezac
• November 19: The Big Garden • December 10: Greg Owen Holiday Music
Reflects donations through 9/21/18.
Bilingual resource information offered
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ilingual information about hospice care, palliative care, helping loved ones with grief and loss, and caregiving is available through the Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Partnership.
Thursday, November 29 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Holiday Bazaar
Shop local, shop small
Free entry & Bake sale Holiday crafts & Hand-made items
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he number for the Cuidando con Carino Compassionate Care HelpLine is (toll free) 1-877-658-8896. The service is offered weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sloppy Joe lunch for $5
Jewelry
Raffle prizes
Avon
Keystone Villas
Independent Living
More than 20 vendors 7300 Graceland Drive 402-557-6637 & much more
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October 2018
Survey: Retirees likely to return to work
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roviding insight into the changing postretirement landscape, a new survey by Home Instead, Inc. revealed that 53 percent of workers approaching retirement in the next five years believe they’ll likely return to work. In terms of their next move, the majority of both those approaching retirement (68 percent) and those who have “unretired” and returned to work (65 percent) said they’ll change or have changed industries. What’s more, nearly 80 percent of both groups said they want to make a meaningful impact in their communities in their postretirement years, such as through volunteerism or a role involving caregiving, teaching, or giving back. “Finding a fulfilling post-retirement career can be incredibly valuable for an older adult,” said John Hudnall owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Dodge, Washington, and Saunders Counties. “For some area men and women, that fulfillment comes from being a professional caregiver, but many find new career or volunteer opportunities that help serve their skills, passions, and life goals, and challenge them in a way their previous
career might not have.” According to the survey, important motivators for returning to work for those who have retired were fighting boredom (44 percent) or keeping their minds sharp (22 percent), while finding new challenges and fulfillment were the most common motivators for those pending retirement. Catherine Collinson, CEO of Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, reaffirms with people living longer than ever, it’s important to focus more on maintaining a sense of purpose than holding on to the outdated hallmark of retiring at age 65. “With Boomers blazing the way, full retirement is no longer a point in time. The transition could be a decade or more and involve shifting gears and working in a different capacity or finding a flexible arrangement, all with more time for family,” Collinson said. So, what are the some of the hottest post-retirement jobs? Tim Driver, CEO of RetirementJobs.com said today’s older workers are considering a wide array of flexible options, including at organizations that meet the criteria for age-friendly workplaces. “Retail sales clerks and bank tellers are among the most popular options, as are jobs that allow you to work from home, such as online tutoring. Caregiving is often a job where creativity is rewarded – giving you the ability to create activities for older adults and get a peek into what older life looks like,” Driver said. To help workers start thinking about how to make the most of their post-retirement years, the Home Instead Senior Care network is introducing tips and resources including an online career assessment tool that asks users questions about their interests, skills, and ideal work environment before recommending categories of jobs that might suit them. “Whether you are looking for an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, share your expertise, network with new people, or create something new, our hope is the career assessment tool will help spark ideas and conversation around what a rewarding next chapter could look like,” Hudnall said.
Call 402-559-6345 for more information
Omaha Women’s Health and Wellness Conference is scheduled for Oct. 12 at LaVista Conference Center
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he 21st annual Omaha Women’s Health and Wellness Conference will be held Friday, Oct. 12 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the La Vista Conference Center, 12520 Westport Pkwy. The conference theme, All About You – Shaping Your Wellness Perspective, will feature three main sessions and six health education sessions. The conference offers new health insights, encouraging and empowering messages, health screenings, exhibits, and fellowship. The conference, which is hosted by the Olson Center for Women’s Health, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medicine, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and WELLCOM, will kick off with a continental breakfast and a morning health fair with more than 40 vendors offering health screenings, education, demonstrations, massages, consultations, and products available for purchase. The registration deadline is Oct. 5. The cost is $59, which includes lectures, exhibits, breakfast, lunch, afternoon refreshments, and door prizes. Continuing nursing education credit is available for an additional $30. Low-cost screenings including a lipid and glucose profile and complete blood count, will be available for $17, and a thyroid-stimulating hormone test will be available for $7. Flu shots will be offered for $20.
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reakfast keynote speaker will be Marcia Adler, Ph.D., R.N., instructor at the UNO School of Health and Kinesiology. Her talk, How to Design a Peak Performance Body Using the Eight Dimensions of Wellness, will provide insight and strategies for dealing with life’s challenges and achieving personal goals using a life balance approach. General session speaker will be Sheila Ryan, Ph.D., R.N., professor and director of international programs at the UNMC College of Nursing. In her talk, Cultural Humility…What It Is and Isn’t, she’ll share insight into her world travels and how to make the most of humility and curiosity. The closing session speaker, Angie Jorgensen, will share her story of hope following her experiences as a heart attack, stroke, and tumor survivor in an inspiring talk titled, From Flatlining to Silver Lining. Attendees will have three morning breakout sessions and three afternoon breakout sessions from which to choose. Register for the conference online at OmahaWomensHealthandWellness.com. For more information, please contact the Olson Center for Women’s Health at 402-559-6345.
October 2018
Ralston Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Ralston Senior, 7301 Q St., this month for the following: • Oct. 1 & 15: Korean community activity @ noon. • Oct. 3: Music by Paul Siebert sponsored by the Merrymakers @ noon. • Oct. 9: Bus trip to WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa. The bus leaves @ 7:30 a.m. and returns around 4 p.m. The cost is $5. Call Dorothy @ 402-553-4874 for reservations. • Oct. 10: Board meeting @ 10 a.m. • Oct. 11 & 25: Line dancing @ 10 a.m. • Oct. 11 & 25: Bingo @ 1 p.m. • Oct. 17: Flu shots by Walgreens @ 10 a.m. Sign-up at the center is required. Other activities include exercise on Tuesday and Friday @ 10 a.m. Lunch is catered on Wednesdays. A $4.50 contribution is requested. Reservations are due by noon the Tuesday before the meal you wish to enjoy. Call Diane @ 402-8858895 for reservations. The center is available for weddings, parties, etc. on weekends. For more information, please call Diane West @ 402339-4926.
Millard Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Millard Senior Center at Montclair, 2304 S. 135th Ave., this month for the following: • Oct. 3: African dressmaking @ 9 a.m. • Oct. 4: Beginner quilting class with Sherri and Sharon @ 9 a.m. • Oct. 5: Treat Day. Bring a treat to share and wear your favorite football team’s colors. • Oct. 10: Board meeting @ 9:45 a.m. • Oct. 11: Methodist College nursing students will perform blood pressure checks and answer health questions. • Oct. 15: Shemaiah Davis will discuss the various Medicare plans available @ 10 a.m. • Oct. 16: Blood pressure checks. • Oct. 18: Visit Cloisters on the Platte and have lunch at Cracker Barrel. Sign up by Oct. 10. Bus leaves @ 9:30 a.m. • Oct. 19: Mission Bell Singers @ 10:30 a.m. • Oct. 23: Presentation on the flu and how to prevent it @ 10:45 a.m. • Oct. 25: PAWS @ 10 a.m. • Oct. 30: Celebrate Halloween. The facility is closed on Oct. 8 for Columbus Day. The center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch is served @ 11:30 a.m. A $3.50 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the meal the participant wishes to enjoy. Other center activities include walking, card games, Tai Chi, needlework, chair volleyball, and bingo. For reservations or more information, call 402-546-1270.
WHITMORE LAW OFFICE Wills • Trusts • Probate
Ask A Lawyer: Q — What is the difference between a will and a living trust? A — Both a Will and a Trust state your wishes for transfer of your property at your death. A Trust can avoid the need for the delay and expense of probate, which is needed if you transfer your property by Will. A Trust also provides protection for you if you should become disabled and unable to handle your financial affairs, at which time the Trust provides management of your assets for your benefit until you recover. Have a question about estate planning? Give us a call!
AARP Legal Service Network • No Charge For Initial Consultation
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Long-term Care Ombudsmen
Car-Go transporation program
The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging is looking for men and women age 21 and older to join its Long-term Care Ombudsman Program which is co-sponsored by the Nebraska State Ombudsman Program. The Ombudsmen volunteer in local long-term care facilities and assisted living communities to protect the residents’ rights, well-being, and quality of life. Long-term Care Ombudsmen must complete 20 hours of initial classroom training and 12 hours of additional training every two years. During the training, the volunteers learn about the residents’ rights, aging issues, Medicare, Medicaid, communication skills, how to investigate the residents’ complaints, the importance of confidentiality, and about the federal and state rules, regulations, and laws regarding Nebraska’s long-term care facilities and assisted living communities. Before being assigned to a long-term care facility or an assisted living community, new volunteers will make four visits to a site with an experienced Ombudsman Advocate to learn more about what the program entails. After a three-month probationary period, the new volunteers are certified as Ombudsman Advocates. Certified Ombudsman Advocates will be assigned to a long-term care facility or an assisted living community where they’ll visit for two hours a week to meet with administrators, residents, and the residents’ family members to address concerns. For more information, call 402-444-6536.
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is recruiting volunteers age 55 and older to provide free transportation services for older adults in Fremont and Blair. Sponsored locally by ENOA, RSVP is a national program of the Corporation for National and Community Service through the Senior Service Corps. RSVP staff members who serve in Dodge, Washington, Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties realize many older men and women live alone, are on fixed incomes, are no longer able to operate their own vehicle, and don’t have family members available to drive them to their various appointments. In response, RSVP’s Car-Go Project offers free transportation for men and women age 55 and older in Blair and Fremont through volunteers age 55 and older who use their own vehicles. Free rides can be given to medical appointments, pharmacies, grocery stores, beauty parlors, barbershops, banks, and other personal business locations. Rides for persons who use wheelchairs (must be able to transfer themselves) will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The Car-Go Project – which isn’t available to nursing home residents – operates in Fremont and Blair Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on becoming a volunteer driver or to make a reservation (24 hours notice is required) for a ride, please call 402-721-7780.
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Widowed Persons Group
he Widowed Persons Group of Omaha hosts a luncheon the third Monday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at Jericho’s Restaurant, 11732 W. Dodge Rd. For more information, please call 402426-9690 or 402-493-0452.
Alzheimer’s support groups The Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska Chapter offers several caregiver support groups and specialty support groups in Cass, Douglas, Washington, Dodge, and Sarpy counties. These support groups offer valuable space and educational opportunities for families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of dementia to engage and learn. For more information about any of the groups listed below, please call 800-272-3900. DODGE COUNTY • FREMONT Second Tuesday @ 5:30 p.m. The Heritage at Shalimar Gardens 749 E. 29th St. DOUGLAS COUNTY • OMAHA Second Thursday @ 10 a.m. Second Thursday @ 5:30 p.m. Country House Residences 5030 S. 155th St. Call Christina @ 402-980-4995 for free adult day services. Every other Monday @ 7 p.m. Brighton Gardens 9220 Western Ave. First & third Monday @ 1:30 p.m. New Cassel’s Franciscan Centre 900 N. 90th St. Call Melanie @ 402-393-2113 for free adult day services. Third Tuesday @ 5 p.m. Immanuel Fontenelle First floor classroom 6809 N 68th Plz. Second Tuesday @ 6:45 p.m. For caregivers of individuals with an intellectual disabilty/dementia. Barbara Weitz Center 6001 Dodge St. (UNO campus)
First Thursday @ 6:45 p.m. King of Kings Lutheran Church CORE Conference Room 11615 I St. Call Karen @ 402-584-9088 to arrange for adult day services. Third Tuesday @ 6 p.m. Temple Israel 13111 Sterling Ridge Dr. SARPY COUNTY • BELLEVUE Third Monday @ 7 p.m. Bellevue Senior Center 109 W. 22nd Ave. First Wednesday @ 1 p.m. Eastern Nebraska Vets Home (Vets and non-vets welcome) 12505 S. 40th St. • PAPILLION Fourth Thursday @ 6 p.m. Hillcrest Grand Lodge 6021 Grand Lodge Ave. WASHINGTON COUNTY • BLAIR Third Wednesday @ 6 p.m. Memorial Community Hospital Howard Conference Room 810 N. 22nd St.
Heartland Generations Center You’re invited to visit the Heartland Generations Center – 4318 Fort St. – for the following: • Oct. 3: Krafts with Kina @ 10 a.m. • Oct. 4: Traditional Mexican Dance performance at Metro Community College. Leave the center @ 12:30 p.m. • Oct. 9: Show and Share @ 11a.m. • Oct. 10: Visit by Methodist College nursing students @ 11 a.m. Manicures by Wanda @ 10 a.m. (also on Oct. 24). • Oct. 15: Taste of Culture. Leave the center @ 11 a.m. • Oct. 16: Birthday party with music from the Merrymakers @ noon. • Oct. 17: Family Night from 6 to 7 p.m. • Oct. 19: Visit Vala’s Pumpkin Patch. Leave the center @ 10:30 a.m. • Oct. 22-26: Themed Week. Call the center for details. • Oct: 31: Halloween party @ 11 a.m. The center will be closed on Columbus Day. Enjoy bingo on Wednesdays and Fridays @ 1 p.m. and Movement with Tisha Tuesday and Friday @ 10:45 a.m. The Heartland Generations Center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is normally served at noon. A $3.50 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to attend. Bus transportation is available within select neighborhoods for 50 cents each way. Call 402-553-5300 for meal reservations.
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Working with Pastor gave Heavin everything he needed --Continued from page 11. sands of dollars to take advantage of Pastor’s offer. He approached SMSU school department heads. Each passed Hadley off onto someone else. His last resort was the head of religious studies, Gerrit tenZhthoff, a Dutch war hero who had resisted the Nazis. “I told him my story – that I played for this man (Pastor) who’s the best in the world and I would be his only student. He (tenZhthoff) got me the scholarships, got me everything I needed. He even made it so that I kept getting (college course) credit while I was away in Spain.” Heavin leaned on tenZhthoff for more than funding. “I used to go and tell my problems to him. He was always there for me. He was just a great guy. I owe my existence in the way I’ve lived my life to people like him and to the maestro (Pastor).” Heavin said his time in Spain was his salvation. “The guitar saved me. When I arrived, there was an apartment for me. The maestro’s wife was like my mom. His son was like my brother. I realized shortly after I got there I was his only student. He rarely took them. “He put all of himself into that one student. It was really like a fairy tale.” Heavin struggled with why he should be so fortunate. “The thing that’s odd about it is that I had only been playing about a year when the maestro invited me to Spain. It was confusing because there were Spanish boys who could play better than I.” It nagged at Hadley the entire time he was there. “I kept asking, ‘Why did you pick me?’ And he would never answer. I suspected he may have felt sorry for me because I was a Vietnam vet, I wanted to play guitar, and he saw the gleam in my eye.” Then, the night before his study-abroad fellowship was up and he had to return home, Heavin walked with Pastor down a wet, cobblestone street in Old Madrid. “He said, ‘You keep asking why I picked you over all the Spanish boys. Well, truthfully, the Spanish boys are good guitarists and will always be good guitarists.’ Then he put his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘But you will be a great guitarist.’ “Until then, I was too naive to know if I was any good or not. But he knew. It gave me everything I needed to go forward.” Not only did Pastor give him a career, he gave Heavin back myself. “He became like my father. We got really close,” Heavin said.
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astor opened doors to Hadley in Spain that otherwise would have been closed. “What surprised me mostly when I got there is that he would have me go with him to these recitals he performed for the governors of the provinces in these beautiful concert halls. He would introduce me to very stately, formal people with diamonds on their cigarette holders. I was out of my league. “What he was doing was introducing me to the fact I didn’t need to be intimidated. Deal with the people you have to deal with and try to understand them so that nobody’s offended. To him a concert was there to make everyone feel better, no matter who they were.” The jovial Pastor charmed the upper crust in one setting and street people in another. With Pastor’s help, Heavin regained his own sense of humor. He found acceptance in Spain even after his ally and teacher died. “After he passed away I did a tour with my friend Pedro, who was also a guitarist, playing
Among the many lessons Heavin learned from Segundo Pastor was that concerts are designed to make people feel better no matter who they are. the maestro’s music. We played in some of the same places the maestro had taken me. Almost all the music was what the maestro played or wrote. It was a homage to his life,” Hadley said. Earlier, Heavin toured Spain and America with Pastor. They once played Carnegie Hall together. He even brought Pastor to perform in Omaha. Memories of Pastor are embedded in him. He absorbed the maestro’s mannerisms. The way Heavin plays and teaches, he said, is “very similar” to Pastor.
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eavin’s escape from academia is still the great outdoors. “The cowboy thing comes from when I was 4 years old watching Roy Rogers and Gene Autry movies. We grew up with a real simple outlook on how life’s supposed to be from these good guy and bad guy Western values. It’s pretty complex now. There’s a lot of variables that I
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think are hard for people to deal with,” Hadley said. “I loved horses. I always wanted a horse from the time I was 4. When I was in high school I couldn’t afford a horse, so I started rodeoing – riding bareback broncs and bulls.” He fell head over spurs for being a cowboy. “It was a short-lived career because I went into the Army.” Hadley eventually got back into riding and roping. Today, he mostly enters team roping jackpots and Western horse shows. He has lots of stories. Like the time he was on a gelding at Kent Martin’s horse farm in Elkhorn. “I backed him in the box and I roped two or three steers. A steer was getting away from us. The next thing I know I went over the front of his head and landed on my shoulder. He stepped on the other shoulder as he was bucking over the Please turn to page 16.
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Hadley: Similarities in training horses, teaching students --Continued from page 15. top.” As Heavin lay sprawled in the dirt sore and dazed, Martin came riding up on his horse, not to offer sympathy, but good-natured cowboy sarcasm. “‘I’m going to charge you a tanning fee if you lay there any longer,” Martin said. Heavin took the ribbing in stride. “That’s the way cowboys are. Everybody gets bucked off and everybody gets injured. It’s no big deal.” Martin concedes that Hadley “rides pretty good.”
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ust as in Spain, Heavin travels in many circles in Nebraska and gets along with everybody. It’s bred in him. “My whole family were Southern Democrats. We had all kinds of friends, even in the South.” As a progressive living in a Red State like Nebraska, he’s used to debating his Republican friends. “Luckily they tolerate me because I stand up to the stuff they say. We argue. They say things like, ‘We should kick him out of this roping club.’” Few of Hadley’s students and fellow faculty know he’s a Vietnam vet. “I don’t tell those people much about this stuff,” he said. For Heavin, music offers an escape from daily worries, world affairs, and partisan politics. He’s been teaching classical guitar almost as long as he’s playing. “I started teaching as an undergraduate privately in Missouri. While studying for my masters at the University of Denver, I taught all the undergraduates in guitar and coached the ensembles.” Heavin said combining performing with teaching is tough. “One robs you of the other. If I were out there performing a lot I wouldn’t be as good a teacher. I would have to be very selfish. I wasn’t a very good teacher back when I toured because I wasn’t around as much. I’d go off on tour to play and then I’d come back and try to do makeup lessons. It’s really hard to do. “Touring robs you of putting energy into other people when you have to have that yourself to go on stage and play as perfectly and as musically as you can. It’s a lot of energy, especially with classical guitar. It’s just a difficult instrument to play. After I started winding that down, teaching became more and more important. It’s a high priority for me. “I’ve got former students out there teaching now and they teach kids that eventually come to me. It’s all coming full circle.” Some former students are accomplished players, such as Ron Cooley, who plays with Mannheim Steamroller. For years Heavin only taught adults, but now he also enjoys teaching younger people.
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He also teaches older than average students. “I’ve got a 72-year-old lady, Sue Russell, that takes lessons and she’s really good. She’s been studying with me for probably 20 years. She plays Flamenco and classical. She’s awesome. “I have a cardiologist, John Cimino, who’s studied with me for 20 years. He’s amazing. He practices every day despite his busy schedule.” Long-ago graduated students still rely on Hadley’s expertise to fix technical problems others can’t. One former student came to him after his new teacher couldn’t explain how to correct a flaw with his guitar fingering. “I explained to him the physiology of it and how he could make it work, and he just sat there and did it. That’s what other teachers miss and that’s from 40 years of teaching. Expressive guitar playing is big with Heavin. One of his all-time guitar idols, the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, exemplified that style. “Musically I’m really big into the emotional side of playing. I’ve got a good balance between the physical and emotional. But it’s really hard to teach guitar. You can give all kinds of exercises to do. Some guys will do the work and nothing ever really happens. There has to be a thought process in a student’s head to actually make that happen.”
Heavin rarely imparts the classical lineage he represents. “I’m a little careful with that. I don’t just hand that to everybody. It’s not just me they’re getting it from, they’re getting it from all of us in the line. The students that figure that out and treasure that are the ones that go off to other schools and blow everybody away.” His world-class level instruction fits well within a UNO Music Department Heavin said has risen to “a high level.” “Hadley’s exceptional professional experience enhances our programs in a unique way,” said UNO School of Music Director Washington Garcia. “Visiting guest artist Manuel Barrueco, one of the greatest concert guitarists of all time, left Omaha raving about the talent of our students, all due to Hadley’s work and unconditional commitment to their artistic and academic development,” Garcia continued. “As an artist, Hadley carries that tradition of many great masters and is a reflection of talent at its best.”
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adley’s cowboy friends know about his classical music side. His recitals in Omaha and western Nebraska draw roping cronies. Asked if he’s ever played guitar on horseback, Heavin deadpanned, “I don’t mix the two genres.”
Hadley enjoys socializing with people but if he had his druthers he’d just as soon hang out with horses. Training a horse and a person is not so different. “There’s a process you go through that’s not always exactly whispering. It’s more of making the wrong thing difficult and the right thing easy, so that the horse believes this is what I need to do. That’s where the trust comes in,” Hadley said. With students, Heavin uses a lot of horse analogies, like trying too hard and getting too tight. “I’ll back them off and say, ‘You’re kind of like a horse that’s nervous in the box. If you try too hard, you end up beating yourself up. I wait till the horse relaxes.” Similarly, with students, he said, “I slow everything way down so they can think about every move they make. And it works.” Maestro Segundo Pastor’s loving instruction won Heavin’s trust. Forgiveness freed Hadley to share with others the sublime gift of his music and lineage. It’s been quite a ride. Heavin doesn’t consider his story anything special. In his best Western wit, he sums up his life this way: “A guy’s got to do something between living and dying.” (Read more of Leo Adam Biga’s work at leoadambiga.com.)
Kent Martin on Rosie (left) and Heavin on Baley, enjoy a ride on Martin’s Elkhorn horse farm.
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The benefits, side effects of using medical marijuana By April Hauf Medical marijuana has been legalized in about half the United States (not Nebraska) but is still under a federal ban. The medical variety uses the marijuana plant or the chemicals in the plant to treat certain diseases and ailments. There haven’t been enough trials done to make medical marijuana FDA approved or for it to be considered a safe and effective treatment. This being said, there have been proven benefits or relief of symptoms for those suffering from some chronic or life-threatening diseases. Medical marijuana can be used to help treat a variety of different ailments which affect older adults including Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, pain, glaucoma, Parkinson’s disease, and certain mental health conditions. You may be wondering how medical marijuana can help these diseases. “Cannabinoids – the active chemicals in medical marijuana – are similar to chemicals the body makes that are involved in appetite, memory, movement, and pain,” according to WebMD.com. Research has suggested medical marijuana can help lessen pain, help alleviate nausea and vomiting as-
sociated with cancer treatments, help reduce anxiety, kill cancer cells, and slow the growth of tumors in the body. Like with any drug, there can be side effects using medical marijuana including depression, dizziness, low blood pressure, blood shot eyes, and hallucinations. Patients will need to be cautious on how medical marijuana would affect them. Patients need a written prescription from a licensed doctor in a state in which medical marijuana is legalized. The closest state to Nebraska in which a patient could get a prescription for medical marijuana is Iowa. Not all physicians are willing to write prescriptions for medical marijuana. There are many people and organizations still trying to legalize medical marijuana in many different states. One policy is the “The Right to Try Act” for terminal patients, which is available at the Mayo Clinic and has given Mayo Clinic the ability to perform trials or to investigate how various drugs, including marijuana may help patients. For more information, visit Web MD.com. (Hauf is the Director of Social Services at the Florence Home in Omaha.)
National Safety Council The National Safety Council of Nebraska is offering a comprehensive three-hour driving assessment class for older adults by appointment. The Senior Driving Program, which costs $300, is designed to keep older adults driving safely on Nebraska’s roads for as long as possible. Participants will be able to assess and improve their driving skills to reduce risk to themselves, their passengers, and to other drivers. The classes, held at the National Safety Council of Nebraska’s office, 11620 M Cir., offer a driving skills selfassessment, behind the wheel driving with state-certified instructors, driving tips, evaluations, and recommendations. To learn more or to register for the Senior Driving Program, please call 402-898-7371 or go online to safety@ safenebraska.org.
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, grandparent rights, and Section 8 housing.
The telephone number for the Elder Access Line is 402-827-5656 in Omaha and 1-800-527-7249 statewide. This service is available to Nebraskans age 60 and older regardless of income, race, or ethnicity. For more information, log on the Internet to http:// www.legalaidofnebraska. com/EAL.
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THEOS
HEOS, a social organization for singles age 60 and older, meets at 1:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at New Cassel, 900 N. 90th St. The Oct. 8 meeting will feature a visit by Katy the Comfort Dog. For more information, please call Dorothy at 402399-0759 or Mary at 402393-3052.
Local veterans have access to orthopedics, prosthetics at VAMC
ife can bring on stress for many of us. Finding ways to relieve stress are important to our overall health and wellbeing. Caregivers are not immune to this stress. Please contact Respite Across the Lifespan at 402559-5732 or edbennett@unmc.edu to find out more about respite services and to locate resources in your area.
By Jennifer Scales or many military veterans – including those seen in the Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System – orthopedics and prosthetics have allowed them to live a good life even if they’ve lost a natural limb in service to this country or they suffer from a medical condition. Orthopedic medicine is concerned with joints, muscles, and ligaments while prosthetics deals with the artificial devices that replace the missing body parts. Adam Jacobsen, an orthopedic and prosthetic supervisor at the Omaha VA Medical Center – 4101 Woolworth Ave. – prides himself and his staff for having same day access and walk-in availability at the VAMC’s Orthopedic & Prosthetic Clinic. “A veteran can come in and get custom items made here on site instead of having them made at another location,” he said. These custom-made items may include limb impressions and molds of hands, feet, legs, and arms. Like most referrals made at the VAMC, visits to the Orthopedic & Prosthetic Clinic must begin at a primary care clinic. Once it’s determined the veteran has a specific medical need, the VAMC’s Orthopedic & Prosthetic Clinic may be the next stop. According to Jacobsen, 50 percent of veterans need some type of prosthetic device. “It doesn’t have to be a limb. We can also assist in their acquisition of beds, oxygen, ramps, some home projects, or other auto-adaptive devices due to the loss of a limb.” Clothing may also fall into that category. A person with an artificial limb may need special clothes that fit over the device. Wear and tear on their regular attire may require them to have a clothing allowance. Raymond Lines – a certified orthotist at the Omaha VAMC – operates special equipment. One piece allows the patient to place his foot into a device. A computer image showing the person’s foot specifications is generated. From this, arch supports can be custom made and picked up within two to three days. Veterans requiring foot orthotics can visit the VAMC’s Orthopedic & Prosthetic Clinic. Diabetic and orthopedic shoes are available on site or can be acquired for veterans using the facility. Veterans with foot deformities will also be able to get the help they need at the clinic. “Though we still make metal braces for patients, each orthotic device is made to the specifications of the patient,” Jacobsen said. Making quality products for the comfort of the patient is one of the goals at the VAMC’s Orthopedic & Prosthetic Clinic. With more than 1,000 patients coming through annually, the VAMC’s Orthopedic & Prosthetic Clinic is growing rapidly. It’s all about improving the quality of life for our veterans, according to Jacobsen and Lines. (Scales is the public affairs officer at the Omaha VA Medical Center)
NARFE
Nebraska Senior Medicare Patrol
Hearing Loss Association The Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America, a support group for hard of hearing adults, will meet next on Tuesday, Oct. 8 at Dundee Presbyterian Church, 5312 Underwood Ave. Participants are asked to enter the church on the Happy Hollow (east) side. The 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. meetings feature social time and a speaker. The Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America meets the second Tuesday of each month from September through December and March through August. For more information, please contact Verla Hamilton at 402-558-6449 or verlahamilton@cox.net.
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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 402-3424351.
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ebraska Senior Medicare Patrol, a Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services program that works to educate and empower older adults to help prevent health care fraud, offers tips to help you avoid Medicare scams. • Don’t provide your Medicare number to anyone except your trusted health care provider. • Shred important documents before discarding them. • Read Medicare summary notices carefully looking for possible mistakes. • Count your prescription pills. If the total is less than expected, go back and tell the pharmacist. • Don’t speak to anyone claiming to be a Medicare representative about Medicare. Medicare loses billions of dollars each year. It’s up to you to help fight fraud. If you believe you may be a victim of Medicare fraud, please call the Nebraska Senior Medicare Patrol at 800-942-7830.
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Annual torsk dinner on Oct. 21 at the Croatian Cultural Center You’re invited to attend the Sons of Norway Elveby Lodge #1-604’s 30th annual torsk dinner on Sunday, Oct. 21. The dinner will be held at the Croatian Cultural Center, 8711 S. 36th St. in Bellevue. The menu will feature torsk with melted butter or shrimp sauce, meatballs with gravy, potatoes, cucumbers, pickled herring, pickled beets, cranberry sauce, carrots, rolls, desserts, and lefse. Tickets are $18 for adults and $6 for children ages 3 to 11. Children under age 3 will be admitted at no cost. Seating will be offered at 4, 5, and 6 p.m. Advanced registration is requested by Oct. 1. Carry out will be available. For tickets and more information, please call 402-8802066 or go to torskdinner@gmail.com.
Eclectic book review club
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he Eclectic Book Review Club, in its 69th year, will meet this fall at the Field Club, 3615 Woolworth Ave. The cost for the noon meetings – which includes lunch and the book review – is $13 per month. Here’s the fall schedule: • Oct. 16: Theodore Wheeler will review Kings of Broken Things. • Nov. 20: Brooke Williams on Someone Always Loved You. To reserve your place, please call Rita at 402-553-3147 by the Monday prior to the meeting you wish to attend.
Programs for family caregivers are scheduled for October, November
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ou’re invited to attend a series of educational programs for family caregivers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The sessions will be held at the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center (near the clock tower) on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus, 6001 Dodge St. The classes are scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. • Oct. 18: This is Me! • Nov. 15: Now What? For more information or to register (which is required), please contact Janet Miller from the Munroe-Meyer Institute at janet.miller@unmc.edu.
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Personalized care and assistance with your daily care needs
• House of Hope Memory Care Assisted Living
Memory care for individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia
WWW.OMAHASENIORCARE.ORG Call 402-827-6000
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Some facts from the Nebraska Poison Control Center
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he Nebraska Poison Control Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center provided the following information: • Plant and mushroom poisonings: The initial hazard with plants and mushrooms is choking. Remove any piece from the mouth, but don’t induce vomiting. Teach children never to put any part of a plant, including berries, in their mouths. A tip for indoor plants is to write down the name of each plant you have on a clean popsicle stick and put it in the soil. If an ingestion should occur, you’ll know the plant’s name. This is especially helpful if someone else is caring for the child and an ingestion occurs. Mushrooms may look very interesting and enticing to young children. There are several varieties. Often the typical yard mushroom is a stomach irritant. • Gasoline/motor oil/lighter fluid/paint thinners: The hydrocarbon group is slick and oily. One of the main risks with ingestion is chemical pneumonia. Store all of these products in the original container well out of the reach of little hands.
• Insect repellents: Only use insect repellents that are meant to be used on the skin. Avoid over-application. Follow all label directions. Look for the word DEET on the label and use concentrations of less than 20 percent. A higher concentration doesn’t mean the product will work better, it means it will be effective for a longer period of time. Use repellents only when outdoors and wash skin with soap and water when coming inside. Picaridin, an odorless synthetic ingredient found in some bug repellents, is a safe alternative to use on children. • Bites and stings: One of the main risks with bites and stings is an allergic reaction. Local reactions are common and can often be treated at home with Poison Center recommendations. Types of calls to the Poison Center include questions about bee/wasp, spider, snake, and insect bites. For more information, call the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. You’ll talk immediately to a registered nurse or pharmacist 24/7/365.
Strategies to make you feel younger
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ould increasing your physical activity or feeling more in control of your life be the secret to staying young? Employing these simple strategies may help older adults feel younger and that, in turn, could help improve their cognitive abilities, longevity, and overall quality of life, according to research presented recently at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association. “Research suggests a younger subjective age, or when people feel younger than their chronological age, is associated with a variety of positive outcomes in older individuals, including better memory performance, health, and longevity,” said presenter Jennifer Bellingtier, PhD, of Friedrich Schiller University. “Our research suggests subjective age changes on a daily basis and older adults feel significantly younger on days when they have a greater sense of control.” Bellingtier and co-author Shevaun Neupert, PhD, of North Carolina State University, enlisted 116 older adults (ages 60 to 90) and 106 younger adults (ages 18 to 36) and had them complete surveys daily for nine days. Participants were asked to respond to a series of statements on the level of control they felt they had each day (e.g., “In the past 24 hours, I had quite a bit of influence on the degree to which I could be involved in activities,”) and were asked how old they felt that day.
October 2018
The researchers found significant day-to-day variability in subjective age in both groups over the course of the study. They also found a significant association between perceived level of control each day and subjective age in the older adult group but not the younger group. “Shaping the daily environment in ways that allow older adults to exercise more control could be a helpful strategy for maintaining a youthful spirit and overall well-being,” said Bellingtier. “For example, some interventions could be formal, such as a regular meeting with a therapist to discuss ways to take control in situations where individuals can directly influence events, and how to respond to situations that they cannot control. Smartphone apps could be developed to deliver daily messages with suggestions for ways to enhance control that day and improve a person’s overall feeling of control,” said Bellingtier. An intervention could also be something as simple as giving nursing home residents the opportunity to make more choices in their daily lives so they can exercise more control. In addition to increasing perceived control, another strategy for maintaining a younger subjective age and enjoying the benefits that go with it may be as simple as increasing physical activity, according to another study presented in the same session. “Our results suggest that promoting a more active lifestyle may result in a more youthful subjective age,” said Matthew Hughes, PhD, from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, who presented the study. Hughes and his colleagues recruited 59 adults in the Boston area between ages 35 to 69 who weren’t engaged in routine physical activity. All participants were given a FitBit fitness tracker and researchers monitored their daily step counts for five weeks. Individuals with greater increases in their step counts at the end of the study reported lower subjective ages, the researchers found. While promising, the results are still preliminary, according to Hughes. “As this was part of a pilot study, our sample size was small,” he said. “While the results suggest walking may contribute to feeling younger, further research with a larger sample in a more controlled setting is needed to confirm.”
AARP offering driving course
211 network
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:
The 211 telephone network has been established in parts of Nebraska to give consumers a single source for information about community and human services. By dialing 211, consumers can access information about resources like food banks, shelters, rent and utility assistance, and support for older Americans and persons with a disability. The 211 network is open 24 hours a day, seven days a HorizonAD-2010:HorizonAD-08 week.
Thursday, Oct. 11 @ 10 a.m. Metro Community College Do Space 7205 Dodge St. Call 531-622-5231 to register
Saturday, Oct. 13 1 p.m. AARP Information Center 1941 S. 42nd St. #220 Call 402-398-9568 to register
Saturday, Oct. 13 9 a.m. The Premier Group, LLC 11605 Miracle Hills Dr. Call 402-934-1351 to register
Friday, Oct. 26 @ 9 a.m. Metro Community College Sarpy Center 9110 Giles Rd. Call 531-622-5231 to register
Omaha Computer Users Group You’re invited to join the Omaha Computer Users Group, an organization dedicated to helping men and women age 50 and older learn about their computers regardless of their skill level. OCUG meets the third Saturday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Abrahams Library, 5011 N. 90th St. For more information, please call Phill at 402-333-6529.
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ou’re invited to attend Acappella Omaha’s Turn Your Radio On performance on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. in the Ralston Community Theatre (inside Ralston High School), 8969 Park Dr. The event will feature Acappella Omaha and the guest quartet Fever. Turn Your Radio On will reflect old-time radio shows and feature a mystery play. While the show is free, tickets are required for admission. Tickets are available from any Acappella Omaha member or by calling 402-932-0155. 2/4/10 8:00 AM Page 1
Attorneys at Law William E. Seidler Jr.
Fremont Friendship Center You’re invited to visit the Fremont Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St. (Christensen Field), for the following: • Oct. 3: Hints with Home Instead @ 10 a.m. followed by pianist Wally. • Oct. 4: Updates on Medicare @ 10 a.m. • Oct. 10: Music by The Links @ 10 a.m. followed by our monthly birthday party. • Oct. 17: Nye Square cinnamon rolls @ 9 a.m. followed by music with Billy Troy @ 10:30 a.m. • Oct. 18: Bingo @ 9:30 a.m. followed by music from the Brian Breithbarth Trio. • Oct. 24: Board meeting @ 9:15 a.m. followed by accordion music by Wayne Miller @ 10:30 a.m. • Oct. 30: Movies with Larry featuring Marv’s special popcorn @ 10:30 a.m. • Oct. 31: Halloween costume contest ($10 grand prize) @ 10:30 a.m. and Halloween bingo. The facility will be closed on Columbus Day. 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.
Acappella Omaha performance on Nov. 3 at the Ralston Community Theatre
www.seidler-seidler-law.com 10050 Regency Circle, Suite 525 Omaha, NE 68114-5705
402-397-3801
Delivering quality legal services since 1957.
CLASSIFIEDS WE BUY HOUSES 402-639-8891
www.sellyouromahahousenow.com
OLD STUFF WANTED (before 1975)
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
Cartagena Painting Service
Commercial/Residential Interior/Exterior/Insured Free estimates/BBB member 402-714-6063 cartagenapainting@yahoo.com
Haul away, garage, basement, rental clean out…
Big jobs or small, I’ll do them all!
Accepting applications for HUD-subsidized apartments in Papillion & Bellevue.
402-658-1245
1002 Bellewood Court Bellevue (402) 292-3300 Bellewood@KimballMgmt.com
PLACE YOUR AD TODAY
Monarch Villas
Best & honest prices paid for: Vintage, Sterling, Turquoise, & Costume jewelry, old watches, old quilts, vintage toys, old postcards, advertising items, military items, pottery, and antique buttons. Also buying estates & partial estates. Call Bev at 402-339-2856
October 2018
A+ Heartland Concrete Const.
Driveways, garage floors, sidewalks, retaining walls. patio specialists since 1985. Insured/references.
23-year BBB member
402-731-2094
Call Frank
HANDYMAN SERVICES
TOP CASH PAID
93rd & Maple • 402-397-6921
Johansen Brothers
402-312-4000
rickfitzlerhomeimprovement.com
Lamplighter II
Some of the nicest, newer 1 & 2 bedroom apartments. Elevator, w & d, heated parking garage. Small complex. By bus & shopping. No pets or smoking.
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RICK’S
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Please call 402-444-4148 or 402- 444-6654 to place your ad
For sale
Used piano. Perfect for beginners.
Senior Citizens (62+)
Bellewood Courts
201 Cedar Dale Road Papillion (402) 331-6882 Monarch@KimballMgmt.com
Managed by Kimball Management, Inc. PO Box 460967 Papillion, NE 68046 www.kimballmgmt.com
$300
402-218-0067
Subsidized housing for those age 62 and over with incomes under $28,600 (1 person) or $32,650 (two persons)
We do business in accordance with the Fair Housing Law.
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deFreese Manor
New Horizons
2669 Dodge Omaha, NE 402-345-0622
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Tickets are $100
Annual Spirit of St. Francis dinner is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 4
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New Horizons
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October 2018
ew Cassel Retirement Center – 900 N. 90th St. – will celebrate 45 years of care as it hosts its annual Spirit of St. Francis dinner on Thursday, Oct. 4. That night, the New Cassel Foundation will honor people and organizations who have been instrumental in providing a dignified life for older adults and the disadvantaged in our community. The 6 p.m. dinner will be held at the Scott Conference Center on the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Pacific Street campus. This year the School Sisters of St. Francis will receive the highest honor – the Spirit of St. Francis Award – for embodying the true spirit of St. Francis of Assisi through their lifetime of gracious giving and selfless commitment to the aging person. Kay Bennett, an Ignatian Volunteer Corps member, will receive the Lempka Leadership Award for her outstanding voluntary leadership and spirit of giving to New Cassel’s mission and ministry. Creighton Preparatory High School will receive the New Cassel Distinguished Community Service Award for advocating for the aging person in our community. Dr. Al Power, a national expert on culture change in long-term care, will be the guest speaker. Tickets are $100. Corporate tables of eight are available for $1,000. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information, please contact Cindy Petrich at 402-390-5317 or Maureen Naumann at 402-390-5308.