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A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging
September 2019 VOL. 44 • NO. 9
ENOA 4780 South 131st Street Omaha, NE 68137-1822
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en oa. org
ing Serv
New Horizons old • er 74 adul ts since 19
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T.O. Photo courtesy of UNMC
In January, Tom O’Connor, or T. O., as he’s known to his many friends and colleagues, will retire after a 32-year career as senior associate director of public relations at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Nick Schinker examines O’Connor’s life and career on pages 8 & 9.
Author Father Clifford Stevens, who came to Boys Town at age 16, has recently written Legacy of Devotion, a book about Boys Town founder Father Edward J. Flanagan. See page 4.
Stepping out On a beautiful August morning, dozens of walkers participated in the fifth annual Step Out for Seniors, an event that raised money for ENOA’s 23 senior centers. See page 6.
Alzheimer’s Association offering free progams during September The Alzheimer’s Association’s Nebraska Chapter is offering three free programs this month. For more information, please call 402-739-8636. Here are the programs, their dates, times, and locations: Wednesday, Sept. 4 Effective Communication Strategies Kroc Center 2825 Y St. 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12 Understanding and Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior Think WholePerson Healthcare 7100 W. Center Rd. 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12 Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church 15353 Pacific St. 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
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Tomatoes ideal for salads, snacking, sauces By Melinda Myers
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mpress your guests with a garden, a container, and a dinner table filled with tasty and colorful winning tomato varieties. Smallfruited varieties are perfect for salads and snacking and those with larger fruit are ideal for slicing, canning, and sauces. These winning tomatoes were tested nationally by All-America Selections (AAS), a non-profit plant organization (all-americaselections.org). Volunteer judges evaluated the plants for flavor, improved performance, growth habit, productivity, or pest resistance in the garden. Only superior, new, non-GMO varieties receive the AAS winner’s title. Include a few Firefly plants when looking for the perfect snacking and salad tomato. It’s smaller than a cherry and larger than a currant tomato; just the right size to pop into your mouth without embarrassment. The extremely sweet pale white to pale yellow fruit will stand out in the garden, on
the relish tray, or in a salad. Join the foodie trend by growing the slightly larger striped Red Torch tomato. The one-and-a-half-inch oblong fruit are red with thin yellow stripes. Enjoy an early harvest and eat Red Torch tomatoes fresh from the garden or cooked into a sweet and sour cherry tomato sauce to serve on bread or over chicken and vegetables. Boost your early harvest season with Valentine grape tomatoes. You’ll enjoy the vivid deep red color and sweet flavor. Plus, this productive plant provides plenty of tomatoes for snacking, salads, and to share with friends. Add some purple to the mix with Midnight Snack. This cherry tomato ripens to red with a blush of glossy blackpurple. Judges declared Midnight Snack a big improvement in the flavor of purple tomatoes. Pot up one or more Patio Choice tomatoes for your patio, deck, or tabletop. Each compact 18-inch plant produces up to 100 yellow cherry tomatoes. Just one fruit-covered plant in a decorative pot creates as colorful a centerpiece as a bouquet of yellow flowers. Don’t forget to add Red Racer cocktail tomatoes to the mix. The fruit are about the size of ping pong balls and perfect for stuffing, flavorful enough for salads, and hearty enough for soups and stews. Dress up your salads, sauces, and sandwiches with colorful tomato slices. The six Chef’s Choice tomato varieties provide a rainbow of colors for the relish tray. Guests will have trouble deciding between the red, orange, pink, yellow, green, and now black-fruited varieties. These beefsteak tomatoes have the right balance between sugar and acid and are perfect for eating fresh or cooking. Consider mixing any of these winning tomato varieties in with your ornamental plants. A few tomatoes tucked into mixed borders or at the back of a flowerbed can add color, texture, and interest to any landscape. Just be sure there’s easy access for harvesting and use decorative obelisks and towers to support taller varieties in style. (Myers has written more than 20 gardening books.)
Study aims to improve leukemia survival rates
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he survival statistics of men and women over age 60 with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) – aren’t good due to age factors and the nature of the disease. A clinical research study at the University of Nebraska Medical Center is trying to improve survival rates. “This is a tough disease,” said Vijaya Raj Bhatt, M.D., UNMC associate professor and medical director of the leukemia program for Nebraska Medicine, UNMC’s clinical partner. “One of the biggest challenges is how to determine what treatment patients should get. “In the past, the question was which patient should get more aggressive chemotherapy versus less aggressive chemo. The more aggressive therapy can work faster, but it also can make people sick and not be able to tolerate it. That is the question our study revolves around.” Dr. Bhatt said the study’s goal is to find a systematic way to determine who may or may not tolerate intensive chemotherapy. He said in the last two years, the Food and Drug Administration has approved eight new medications to treat AML. “We have not known very well how to choose one treatment over another,” said Dr. Bhatt, principal investigator of the clinical research study. “Having new medicines adds complexity, so we will try to determine how to personalize treatment. Our goal is to translate into more people living longer and making their quality of life a bit better.” Dr. Bhatt said he and his team will consider a patient’s treatment depending on what type of AML they have – as well as their physical, mental, and social health. “On average, one in four older adults don’t get chemotherapy,” Dr. Bhatt said.
September 2019
“One of the concerns is that older adults might have more complications. But if we could personalize treatment and reduce toxicity, it may increase overall use of chemotherapy, which may mean an increase in survival.”
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esearchers plan to create an algorithm to tailor treatments as well as evaluate study participants’ quality of life, how much toxic effect they experienced with treatment, and survival. They hope to enroll up to 75 patients in the fiveyear study, which has been going on for more than 18 months. Dr. Bhatt said there are a few reasons why those 60 and older get worse leukemia than younger people. One is that chemotherapy is underused. Study participants can continue to see their local oncologist while enrolled in the study, he said, noting that UNMC is recognized around the world for its excellence in treating leukemias and lymphomas. “Curing leukemia in older adults is very difficult because of the nature of leukemia. How leukemia behaves is determined by genetic and mutation changes. Older adults are more likely to have negative genetic changes and mutations and are more likely to develop leukemia after treatment or radiation for a different cancer or they’ve had chronic blood cancer that becomes acute leukemia,” Dr. Bhatt said. “It’s difficult to attain remission and even if remission is achieved, many times it comes back. Hence, treatment of older adults should be tailored, and a blood or bone marrow transplant should also be considered as a part of treatment.” (UNMC provided this information.)
Five-year, $3.7 million grant
UNMC is partnering with ENOA, other agencies to address the shortage of nation’s geriatricians
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ne way to solve a looming estimated shortage of 27,000 geriatricians – physicians who specialize in the care of older adults – is to expand the access of primary care professionals to resources that assist them in addressing the unique and complex health issues of older adults. The U.S. Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) estimates a need for 33,200 geriatricians in the United States by 2025, but projections estimate the supply at 6,230, a deficit of about 27,000. Thanks to a five-year, $3.7 million grant from HRSA, the University of Nebraska Medical Center is poised to address this problem. Spearheaded by Jane Potter, M.D., professor in the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Medicine, the goal is to improve the health and health outcomes of older Nebraskans by educating teams of health providers in primary care settings to benefit patients, their families, and caregivers. “Almost all care for older adults occurs in primary care settings,” Dr. Potter said. “This grant will help create systems that integrate approaches to the special care of older patients. Health issues in older people are more complex, and a lot of training in medicine is not focused on issues important for older adults. As the population continues to grow and age, it is imperative that we help primary care teams fill the knowledge gap.” The grant will provide education to teams in primary care using a medical home (PCMH) model. PCMHs use a team of health care providers – including physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, mental health professionals, and social workers – to care for patients as a team when they’re sick, but also to keep them well. The grant also includes: • Education and support for caregivers of persons with dementia. • Addresses the social determinants of health. • Educates patients beginning to use opioids on the risks, benefits, and alterna-
Jane Potter, M.D., is a professor in the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Medicine.
tives of these medications. Al Fisher, M.D, Ph.D., chief of the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine’s Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Medicine, said the grant award reflects Dr. Potter’s expertise. “There are limited number of these programs nationally to compete for, and we are the only one in Nebraska,” Dr. Fisher said. “This is a HRSA program designed to increase the use of geriatrics principles in several partner community clinics along with the Nebraska Medicine primary care practices.” The Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Project will be a five-year partnership between UNMC, primary care practices in Omaha and 13 rural counties in Nebraska, the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, and the Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska Chapter. UNMC partners include the UNMC Colleges of Medicine, Public Health, Nursing and Pharmacy, OneWorld Community Health Centers, Inc., Nebraska Medicine, Ponca Indian Health, the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, and the Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska Chapter. The grant’s objectives include: • Partner with at least 10 primary clinics to create “age friendly” primary care practices. • Partner with the Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska Chapter to provide caregiver education and support through the primary care clinics and all 14 patient-centered medical home clinics at Nebraska Medicine. • Partner with the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging to address the social determinants of health for patients in the practices and provide more education about and access to community-based resources. • Use a new state law mandating patient education on the benefits, risks, and alternatives to opioid prescriptions to reduce the number of patients transitioning to the use of chronic opioids. (UNMC provided this information.)
September 2019
New Horizons New Horizons is the official publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. The paper is distributed free to people over age 60 in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Washington, and Cass counties. Those living outside the 5-county region may subscribe for $5 annually. Address all correspondence to: Jeff Reinhardt, Editor, 4780 S. 131st Street, Omaha, NE 68137-1822. Phone 402-444-6654. FAX 402-444-3076. E-mail: jeff.reinhardt@nebraska.gov Advertisements appearing in New Horizons do not imply endorsement of the advertiser by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. However, complaints about advertisers will be reviewed and, if warranted, their advertising discontinued. Display and insert advertising rates available on request. Open rates are commissionable, with discounts for extended runs. Circulation is 20,000 through direct mail and freehand distribution.
Editor....................................................Jeff Reinhardt Ad Mgr................Mitch Laudenback, 402-444-4148 Contributing Writers......Nick Schinker & Leo Biga ENOA Board of Governors: Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, chairperson; Lisa Kramer, Washington County, vice-chairperson; Janet McCartney, Cass County, secretary; David Saalfeld, Dodge County, & Jim Warren, Sarpy County. The New Horizons and the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging provide services without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, disability, or age.
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Former Boys Town resident pens book about Father Flanagan
Father Clifford Stevens said his ‘Legacy of Devotion’ is the first major book about Father Edward Flanagan written by someone who knew the man that founded Boys Town in 1917. The 430-page biography was published earlier this year by Boys Town Press. By Jeff Reinhardt New Horizons Editor
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lifford Stevens was born in 1926, the fourth of eight children raised in a hard-working Brattleboro, Vt. family. His father was killed in a granite factory accident when Stevens was age 10. “My mother gave me 15 cents, told me to go to church, light a candle, and pray for my father,” he recalled during a recent interview. For the several ensuing years, Stevens’ mother struggled putting food on the family table with the low wages she earned as a waitress. In 1942, Marie Dowd, a former Brattleboro resident, was buried in her hometown. Four years earlier, Dowd – a New Yorker – had donated $250,000 to build the Immaculate Conception Chapel on the campus of Boys Town, a safe haven for boys 10 miles west of Omaha. Father Edward Joseph Flanagan, who founded Boys Town in 1917, traveled to Vermont to attend Dowd’s funeral. While there, he met the 16-year-old Stevens who had learned about Flanagan and his work by viewing the 1941 film Men of Boys Town, a sequel to the 1938 movie Boys Town. Spencer Tracy won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Father Flanagan in Boys Town. Stevens told the priest about his mother’s financial plight and asked if he could re-locate to Boys Town. Flanagan agreed, and shortly thereafter, the Vermont teenager boarded
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a train headed west toward his new life and home in Omaha. Cliff was immediately impressed by Flanagan’s presence at Boys Town. “He was in the Dowd Chapel every morning at 4 a.m. I soon realized he was a truly great priest and a remarkable man,” Stevens said. “Father Flanagan had a powerful vision of what life was all about. He had a great sense of what human beings were and what they could be in the right situation,” Cliff added.
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ollowing graduation from Boys Town, Stevens enrolled at Creighton University majoring in literature. Years later, inspired by Flanagan and the other Boys Town clergy members he had met, Stevens was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1956. After assignments at Omaha’s St. Rose and St. Bernard’s parishes, he joined the Trappist Monastery in New Melleray, Iowa. While Father Cliff enjoyed a life immersed in prayer, he became disillusioned with the academic program there, and left the Iowa monastery after five years. The next phase of Father Stevens’ life took him to the United States Air Force where he served for seven years as a chaplain in locales like Itazuke, Japan and San Francisco. In 1969, then Maj. Stevens was assigned to a USAF desk job, so he decided to leave his military career. “I wanted to work with people. I didn’t become a priest to sit behind a desk,” he said.
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Father Cliff returned to Nebraska, and after a benefactor donated money for the land and buildings, Stevens followed his dream. In 1984, he built the Tintern Monastery near Oakdale in Antelope County. Tintern closed its doors in 1993. Stevens attributes the monastery’s closure to his advancing age and its location. “To be successful, a monastery needs to be secluded from the rest of the world,” he said. ext up was a move to Wyoming, where Stevens became a parish priest in a diocese run by longtime friend Coadjutor Bishop David Ricken, who today is the Bishop of Green Bay, Wis. Eventually, Father Cliff returned to Boys Town where he counseled residents and wrote several books about religion, religious history, and morality. His most recent project is the biography of Father Flanagan titled Legacy of Devotion. Published earlier this year by Boys Town Press, Legacy of Devotion was the idea of Boys Town Executive Director Father Steven Boes. “Father Clifford Stevens paints an insightful, inspirational, and enlightening portrait of the man who founded Boys Town and led a cultural revolution that forever changed the way children were viewed, valued, and cared for in society,” reads an overview of the 430-page hard cover book. “Legacy of Devotion is the first
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major book about Father Flanagan written by someone who knew him,” Father Cliff said proudly. Researching the book, Stevens visited places like Ireland (Flanagan’s 1896 birthplace), Japan, Austria, and Germany, where the Boys Town founder died following a heart attack in 1948. While writing the book, Stevens fondly recalled Father Flanagan’s outstanding character, mind, and ability to reach people. “He changed the world he lived in. My life would have been far different if I hadn’t known him.”
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rand Rapids, Mich. attorney Lawrence Mulligan came to Boys Town in 1949 at age 6 and stayed through 1961. He called Stevens “a man who went out of his way to show how much he cared for the young men he counseled.” During a recent Boys Town reunion in Omaha, Mulligan – part of the Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge law firm – bought a copy of Legacy of Devotion and had Father Cliff autograph the book for him.
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oday, Stevens, age 93, is a resident of Omaha’s Via Christe Assisted Living Community and Memory Care. Later this year, the facility will name its new library and social media center after Father Cliff. “We’re doing that as a way to honor all of his hard work in the Catholic church,” said Nate Jensen, Via Christe’s resident life director.
Notre Dame Housing/ Seven Oaks Senior Center
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ou’re invited to visit the Notre Dame Housing/Seven Oaks Senior Center, 3439 State St. for the following: • Second, third, and fourth Friday: Community food pantry @ 1 p.m. • Third Wednesday: Community food pantry from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. • Sept. 16: Presentation on nutrition by ENOA’s Susie Davern @ 1:30 p.m. • Sept. 19: Expand Your Horizon programs on Race Riots, the Immigrant Experience and A Boy’s Life in Omaha: 1919 by Theodore Wheeler, author of the novel King of Broken Things from 7 to 8:30 p.m. • Sept. 19: September birthday celebration with music by Paul Siebert sponsored by the Merrymakers @ 1:30 p.m. The following are also available this month: • Sept. 10: Program on Staying Healthy During Cold and Flu Season @ 1:30 p.m. • Sept. 12: Mobile Diabetes Center from 1 to 3 p.m. • Sept. 18: Medicare/ Medicaid Assistance from 10 a.m. to noon. • Sept. 18: Health clinic from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. • Sept. 18: Fair housing counselor from 10 a.m. to noon. Notre Dame Housing/ Seven Oaks Senior Center is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Lunch is served at noon. A $4 contribution is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by 11 a.m. the business day prior to the lunch you wish to enjoy. For meals reservations and more information, please call Brenda at 402451-4477, ext. 126.
Grants to ENOA total $12,500
Joel Bear, Cox Communications make donations to Meals on Wheels, Caregiver Support programs
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he Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging recently received two grants totaling $12,500 from two local businesses. Joel Bear, LLC donated $7,500 for ENOA’s Meals on Wheels program through proceeds raised from Fourth of July fireworks
any age diagnosed as having dementia. ENOA was one of 22 area organizations selected to receive funding through Cox’s Community Investment Grant program, according to Keri Menage, a spokesperson for Cox Communications. “Thank you for your commitment to making an impact in sales in 2019. the community,” Menage said. Each weekday, ENOA delivers hundreds of hot, nutri“On behalf of our Meals on Wheels and Caregiver Suptious meals to homebound older adults in its five-county port programs, I’d like to thank Joel Bear, LLC and Cox service area. Communications for their generous donations,” said Dennis Cox Communications’ Charities Program donated $5,000 Loose, ENOA’s executive director. “Government funding for ENOA’s Caregiver Support Program which offers speto our agency is stagnant, so receiving money from other cialized care management services to help caregivers who sources is greatly appreciated. The money will be put to are assisting frail loved ones age 60 and older or a person of good use by these two vital programs.”
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Florence AARP chapter
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he Florence AARP chapter meets monthly at Mountview Presbyterian Church, 5308 Hartman Ave. The programs begin each month with a noon lunch followed by a speaker. For reservations, please call Gerry Goldsborough at 402-571-0971. Rides to the meeting are available by calling Ruth Kruse at 402453-4825. Here’s the next in the series of monthly programs: September 16 Annual picnic
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Intercultural Senior Center
Fifth annual event held at Benson Park
You’re invited to visit the Intercultural Senior Center (ISC), 5545 Center St., this month for the following: • Mondays & Tuesdays: Tai Chi class @ 9:15 & 9:55 a.m. Basic Computer 101 class @ 10:30 a.m. • Wednesdays: Zumba class @ 9:15 & 9:55 a.m. • Thursdays: Salsa class @ 9:15 & 9:55 a.m. Spark Your Mind (games) @ 10:30 a.m. • Fridays: Exercise with weights @ 9:15 & 9:55 a.m. Let’s Learn Spanish class @10:30 a.m. • Sept 5 & 10: Zoo outings. • Sept 11: Nutrition class presented by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln @ 12:30 p.m. • Sept 12, 19, & 26: WhyArts clay classes @ 12:15 p.m. • Sept 19: Financial Literacy presentation by Lending Link. • Sept 26: Presentation on Alzheimer’s & Dementia @ 12:30 p.m. • Sept 27: The Merrymakers present music by Kim Eames @ 12:30 p.m. The center will be closed on Labor Day. The Intercultural Senior Center is open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. A light breakfast is served from 8 to 10 a.m. Lunch is served daily at 11:30 a.m. A voluntary contribution is suggested for the lunch. Reservations – which are due by 9:30 a.m. the day the lunch is served – can be made by calling 402-444-6529. Round-trip transportation can be requested through a member of the ISC’s Social Services department. For more information, please call 402-444-6529.
Dora Bingel Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Dora Bingel Senior Center, 923 N. 38th St., this month for the following: • Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30: Al-Anon meeting @ 7 p.m. • Sept. 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, & 27: Ceramics @ 9 a.m. • Sept. 4: Holy Communion served @ 10 a.m. • Sept. 12: Book Club @ 10 a.m. • Sept. 26: Birthday party luncheon @ noon. Eat free if you have a September birthday. Lunch is served @ noon on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. A $1 donation is suggested for the meals, other than $3 for Merrymakers. Round-trip transportation is available for $3. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance for all meals. Other activities offered at the facility include: Tuesday: Joy Club devotions @ 10 a.m., matinee @ 12:30 p.m., quilting @ 1 p.m. Wednesday: Devotions at 10:30 a.m., Tai Chi @ 11 a.m., bingo @ 12:30 p.m., and Bible study @ 12:30 p.m. Friday: Bingo @ 12:30 p.m. For more information, please call 402-898-5854.
Walk-a-Thon raises funds for senior centers
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ore than $4,800 was raised last month at the fifth annual Step Out for Seniors Walk-a-Thon. Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit activities, entertainment, programs, and other amenities at the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s 23 senior centers. ENOA’s congregate meals program provides nutritious midday meals for persons age 60 and older at sites in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties. The centers also offer friendship, support, access to community resources, and a wide range of fun and educational activities. Dozens of participants from a variety of ages walked around the lagoon at Benson Park, 7028 Military Ave. at the fundraiser which was sponsored by ENOA’s Nutrition Division and the City of Omaha’s Parks and Recreation Department. The festivities also included a raffle for 65 donated gift baskets, lunch, free massages, a line dance demonstration, Tai Chi, carnival games, shelter dogs from the Nebraska Humane Society, and a Lifestyle Expo featuring numerous products and services. ENOA’s Nutrition Divi-
Among those helping out at the annual Step Out for Seniors were (from left): Susie Davern and Christina Ochoa from ENOA’s Nutrition Division and Christina’s husband, Joel Ochoa.
sion wanted to thank the following sponsors: • Platinum: Akkase Home Health Care, United Healthcare, University of Nebraska at Omaha Gerontology, Care Builders at Home, and CHI Health at Home. • Gold: Immanuel Pathways. • Silver: Methodist Health System. • Bronze: Visiting Nurse Association. • Friend: Clear Captions and Dial Retirement Communities. • In-kind: Greater Omaha Keller Williams, Sherri Hinkel (provided bottled water), Company Kitchen (provided lunch). • Vendors: Orphans & Widows of Nebraska, Healthy for a Lifetime, Simple Senior Solutions, the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Weigel Williamson Low-Vision Center, Esprit Whispering Ridge, and Essential Care, LLC.
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September 2019
Educate yourself about falls, reducing the risks of falling By BevVan Phillips
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he first day of fall – Monday, Sept. 23 – is Fall Prevention Awareness Day. Falls often rob people of a happy and independent life. Each year, millions of Americans age 65 and older and people with a disability suffer a fall. One out of five falls causes a broken bone or a head injury. While some people recover following expensive rehabilitation, others are never able to do the important activities of life or live on their own again. An even bigger problem is the fear of falling. Often, people do the opposite of what’s best for them when they’re afraid of falling. Many men and women think if they limit their daily activities there will be less opportunities for them to fall. The result of this inactivity is physical weakness which actually increases their chance of falling. One of the best ways to celebrate Fall Prevention Awareness Day is to educate yourself and others about what can cause falls and what can be done to reduce the risk of falling. Pledge to do at least one thing that will keep you safer while you’re living a full life. Look at your risks for falling. While one of every four older Americans falls, only about half of those falls are reported to doctors. People who fall aren’t the only ones who hesitate to talk about falls. Often, we see people at risk, but we don’t say anything because we don’t want to embarrass them, hurt their feelings, or get into an argument. Some folks believe falling is a natural part of aging, so there’s nothing that can be done. Falling isn’t normal. Many falls are entirely preventable, but only if we reduce the risks. Here are some tips from the National Council on Aging to reduce the risk of falling: • Stay as mobile as possible. If you have a disability, have fallen, or have trouble moving, a movement specialist like a physical therapist can help. Physical therapists can improve your strength and balance. Exercise programs can help you stay fit. • Talk to your health care provider to get a professional assessment of your balance and risks. Review your medications and medication schedule with your physician or pharmacist regularly. • Have your vision and hearing tested. • Keep your home safe by getting free screenings such as the Omaha Fire Department’s Remembering When Program (402-444-3560). An in-depth home safety assessment and analysis of your fall risk by an occupational therapist may be covered by your insurance. • Talk to your family and friends about falling. Sharing tips and providing resources will make it easier to take action and get help. A major part of fall safety is knowing what to do if you fall. Develop a network of people to check on you. Learn about personal emergency response systems that summon help at the push of a button. Practice getting up off the floor and educate yourself about when to wait for help after a fall. A physical therapist or an occupational therapist can teach you safe techniques for getting up off the floor. (Phillips is an occupational therapist with Key Complete Therapies in Omaha.)
Millard Senior Center
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ou’re invited to visit the Millard Senior Center at Montclair, 2304 S. 135th Ave., this month for the following: • Sept 4: African dressmaking @ 9 a.m. • Sept. 4: Senior Out to Lunch Bunch Day @ 11 a.m. Sign up with Pat. Join us as we eat at restaurants throughout Omaha. Each member is responsible for his or her own meal and transportation. ENOA meals will be served at the center on Lunch Bunch days. • Sept. 6: Senior Field Day from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (No ENOA lunch today). • Sept. 10: Celebrate Betty Simmons’ 101st birthday. • Sept. 11: Board meeting @ 9:45 a.m. • Sept. 13: Presentation on Peter Sarpy and the History of Nebraska by Daryl Draper @ 10 a.m. • Sept. 18: P.A.W.S. meeting @ 10 a.m. • Sept. 24: Play canasta @ 1:30 p.m. • Sept. 25: Blood pressure checks @ 9:30 a.m. • Sept. 26: Bus to Kimmel Orchard in Nebraska City departs at 9:30 a.m. and returns around 2 p.m. Get apples, browse the gift shop, and eat lunch at Arby’s. Space is limited, so sign up by Sept. 18. The facility will be closed on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2. The center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch is served @ 11:30 a.m. A $4 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the meal the participant wishes to enjoy. Other center activities include walking, card games, dominoes, quilting, needlework, chair volleyball, and bingo. For reservations or more information, please call 402-546-1270.
THEOS
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THEOS, a social organization for singles age 60 and older, meets at 1:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at New Cassel, 900 N. 90th St. Older men and women are encouraged to meet for a fun afternoon and to sign up for other activities throughout the month. For more information, please call Dorothy at 402-399-0759 or Mary at 402-393-3052.
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 402292-1156. 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 402342-4351.
September 2019
Volunteers needed The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging is looking for volunteer drivers for its Meals on Wheels Program. Flexible weekday schedule delivering midday meals to homebound older adults in the greater Omaha area. Call Arlis at 402-444-6766 for more information.
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 4 – 7. $779. Enjoy The Duttons, Daniel O’Donnell, The Beach Boys California Dreamin’, Neal McCoy, the SIX Christmas Show, and your choice of either “Miracle of Christmas” at the Sight & Sound Theater or Christmas Wonderland.
Laughlin Laughlin in October. October 11 - 14. $329. Four days – three nights. Includes non-stop, round-trip airfare to Laughlin, Nevada, three nights lodging at the Riverside Resort and Casino on the banks of the Colorado River, and shuttle transportation to and from the airport. Entertainment during this trip includes “Cash, Killer, and The King” at the Riverside Resort—the Music of Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Presley, “Night at the Opera” at the Edgewater Casino, and the Method Race Wheels Laughlin Desert Classic. Laughlin in November. November 25 - 29. $329. Five days – four nights. Includes non-stop, round-trip airfare to Laughlin, Nevada, four nights lodging at the Riverside Resort and Casino on the banks of the Colorado River, and shuttle transportation to and from the airport. Spend Thanksgiving in Laughlin!!
Holy Land Pilgrimage Holy Land Pilgrimage. January 20 – 31, 2020. $2,995 plus airfare. 12 days – 11 nights. Join Fr. Glen Wilwerding to walk in the footsteps of Jesus at many of the most important and well-known biblical locations in the Holy Land, including daily Mass. Discover the sites with an expert local guide, enjoy sightseeing including a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, Holy Hour in the Garden of Gethsemane, visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, travel to Cana, Nazareth, Jerusalem, and more. Contact 952-388-2736 at Magi Travel to register.
In Partnership with Collette Vacations We started working with Collette in 2009 when we were looking for a way to offer international trips to our travelers. We wanted to find a company that shared our core values of providing quality tours, well hosted at a reasonable price. We were not looking for a low-cost alternative. Our first personal experience was when we took about 24 people on the "Shades of Ireland" tour. It was an incredibly positive experience! Since then we have helped others to experience Collette Tours on: Historic Trains of California; New York City; Canada’s Atlantic Coast with Nova Scotia; Pilgrimage to Fatima & Lourdes; Austrian Delight - Oberammergau (coming again in 2020); Pasadena Rose Parade; Islands of New England; Canadian Rockies & Glacier National Park; Islands of New England; Reflections of Italy; Canadian Rockies by Train; Tropical Costa Rica; Alaska Discovery Land & Cruise and others. Please call if you have one of Collette’s many destinations on your bucket list. We can help make it happen! Watch New Horizons and our website www.fontenelletours.com for our trip schedule. 2708 Franklin Ave, Council Bluffs, IA 51501
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PR ‘specialist’ retiring after 32 years at UNMC
With blueprints in hand, O’Connor visits the construction site of UNMC’s new ‘front door’ at 42nd and Leavenworth streets. By Nick Schinker Contributing Writer
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ew people know the University of Nebraska Medical Center as well as Tom O’Connor. On a campus filled with medical experts, O’Connor is a specialist at getting their stories of care, research, and discovery told accurately and completely. His field is public relations, and he has been the eyes, ears, and voice of “the Med Center” for more than three decades. He knows what makes a great news story, which UNMC doctor, administrator, or researcher should tell it, and which media outlets would do the best job presenting it to the world. And, he has the drive and dedication to follow each story through until the video is aired and the ink is dry. Harold Maurer, M.D. is professor of pediatric hematology/oncology at UNMC and served as its chancellor for 15 years. “Tom is a marvelous guy in every way; professionally and personally,” Dr. Maurer says. “He will sit with you during interviews and make certain everything comes out correctly, then go back and double check every date and figure. He is impeccably honest.” UNMC Vice Chancellor for External Affairs Robert Bartee echoes Dr. Maurer’s praise. “Tom is a thorough professional,” Bartee says. “He understands the message UNMC wants to share with the public, and he understands the media’s need for meeting deadlines. He is very passionate about UNMC and our mission, and he has been a marvelous ambassador for us.” The testimonials are hard-earned and well-deserved for O’Connor, who will retire in January from his post as senior associate director of public relations. Since 1987, he has watched UNMC grow in size and reputation, and has done all he
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can to keep the public aware of every new building and medical breakthrough. “The Med Center is truly Nebraska’s crown jewel,” O’Connor says. “From a public relations standpoint, it’s like I died and went to heaven. The challenge has been trying to figure out which stories to tell. There are so many good ones.”
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’Connor was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and moved with his parents and two brothers, Jack and Jim, to West Des Moines when he was 3 years old. His mother, Dorothy, was a homemaker while his father, Richard, worked for the Burroughs Corp., a manufacturer of revolutionary devices known as adding machines. He would visit banks and the
Tom became the 148th Face on the Barroom Floor at the Omaha Press Club in 2016.
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region and service the Burroughs machines. O’Connor lived in West Des Moines until the second grade, when the family moved to Sioux City. Six years later, they moved back to Des Moines, where he graduated from Dowling Catholic High School in 1968. Tom went on to study journalism at Creighton University, and served as sports editor and assistant managing editor at the university newspaper, the Creightonian. “I was a sports nut,” he recalls. “My goal was to be a sportswriter.” Married in October of his graduating year, 1972, to Karen Schneider, O’Connor’s dream of becoming a sportswriter didn’t materialize right away. After graduation, he first took a job in construction, then a night position at Data Documents. That left him free during the day to play basketball with friends on the outdoor courts at Creighton. One day, Dan Offenburger, the Creighton athletic director, saw O’Connor playing ball and pulled him aside. He told O’Connor that his brother, Chuck Offenburger, had just moved from their hometown of Shenandoah, Iowa to Des Moines to take a job as a columnist at the Des Moines Register. That meant the job of sports editor at the Shenandoah Evening Sentinel was up for grabs. O’Connor got hired and filled the job for a little over two years. “It was a fabulous experience,” he recalls. “I loved it. It was a fast-moving daily and I got to do everything: take photos, write copy, write headlines.” But, Omaha beckoned. “Karen was an Omaha girl and not small-town Iowa,” O’Connor says. In 1974, O’Connor went to work as an advertising copywriter for Mutual of Omaha. “I worked primarily in print advertising, writing --Please turn to page 9.
Former UNMC chancellor: Media trusts, respects O’Connor --Continued from page 8. headlines and copy for brochures,” he says. “But I knew I wanted to do public relations more than advertising.” In 1976, he moved on to become media relations coordinator at Mutual, a position he held until 1987 when his department was downsized. Just before he left Mutual, Tom saw a job description in The Omaha World-Herald for a public relations job at UNMC. “Karen and I knew nothing about UNMC,” he says. “I never took 42nd Street on my way to Mutual.” Still he applied for the job. “I met seven people in the interview process, and the farther I progressed, the more I knew I wanted to work here,” he says. “I was honored they picked me.” Thirty-two years later, he is still honored.
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’Connor has worked under five chancellors at UNMC: Charles Andrews, M.D., Carol Aschenbrener, M.D., William Berndt, Ph.D., Dr. Maurer, and the current chancellor, Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. The very first, Dr. Andrews, told O’Connor something Tom never forgot. “He said, ‘We are a state institution. We are an open book. We have no secrets,’” and then Dr. Andrews added, “Just don’t give me any surprises.” One of the duties O’Connor inherited was a weekly radio show on KIOS-FM (91.5), which he co-hosted for 20 years alongside UNMC’s William Gust, M.D. “We had a different guest every week,” O’Connor says. “It was a lot of work, but it was fascinating.
Tom during a recent new employee orientation session at UNMC.
O’Connor and UNMC physician Howard E. Gendelman, M.D.
I could almost get a medical degree from what I learned through that show. It was not only a great PR tool; it built my list of contacts across campus.” Tom has written countless press releases and articles, as well as a column titled, Time Out with T.O. He says he hopes to continue writing columns after he leaves UNMC in January. O’Connor has witnessed considerable progress in his 32 years at UNMC. Building space on campus has more than tripled, going from 2.3 million square feet in 1988 to more than 7.1 million square feet today. He has watched the development of an academic campus in which all colleges/academic facilities were situated on the east end of campus in close proximity to the Ruth and Bill Scott Student Plaza; and the creation of two research towers on the west end of campus – the Durham Research Center and Durham Research Center II – within steps of the $323 million Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, the largest construction project in the University of Nebraska’s history. “I’ve been fortunate to be here during a golden era for the Med Center. The immense growth here has so much to do with the tremendous philanthropy of the Omaha community,” he says. “Ruth and Bill Scott, Chuck Durham, Walter and Suzanne Scott, C.L. Werner, Gail and Mike Yanney, Dr. Stan and Dorothy Truhlsen, Dr. Lee and Dorothy Olson, and so many others have been incredibly supportive of the Med Center and its mission. They have made these fantastic things possible.” O’Connor has also built his own reputation in the public relations and media communities. He served as president of the Nebraska Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) in 1995 and as president of the Omaha Press Club (OPC) in 2001. Since 2002, he has served as chairman of the OPC’s Face on the Barroom Floor Committee, which
recognizes prominent Nebraskans for their contributions to society. Over the past 17 years, the Press Club has honored 76 Faces under his direction. In 2016, O’Connor was honored as the 148th Face on the Barroom Floor before a sellout crowd. He also is a member of the OPC Publications Committee and a former member of the OPC Membership and Marketing Committee. Tom is a frequent contributor to the OPC News monthly newsletter. He is a member of the Publications Advisory Board for the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), and serves as a PR volunteer with the Ancient Order of Hibernians – Father Flanagan Division. O’Connor has previously served on the boards of the Wellness Council of the Midlands (now called WELLCOM), the Neighborhood Center, the American Heart Association, and the American Cancer Society. Among his many honors and awards, Tom received the UNMC Gold “U” Award in 2005, and the UNMC Silver “U” Award in 2000 and 2012. He was named the PRSA Professional of the Year in 1994, and received the PRSA Special Achievement in Public Relations Award in 2013. He received the Communication Achievement Award in 2009 from the UNO
School of Communication. And yet, O’Connor is as humble as he is skilled. He credits the UNMC staff and administrators, his Department of Public Relations Director Bill O’Neill, his media relations colleagues Vicky Cerino and Lisa Spellman, and the media itself with playing key roles in building public awareness of UNMC. “Our faculty members have a unique blend of being able to treat the sickest patients, conduct cuttingedge research, and educate the next generation of physicians,” he says. “When you build a cadre of people wearing all three of those hats, you’ve got a very special place. “We look at the news media as our ally. The media started coming to UNMC because they knew we’d find them a reliable source of information – and we’d do it within the hour if they needed it.”
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he O’Connors have been married for 46 years and have two children – Andy, 45, and Kelly Raynor, 41 – and five grandchildren. Tom’s third-floor office in the 4230 Building along Leavenworth Street is lined with crayon drawings from those grandkids. Still a sports nut, he plays “mediocre golf,” is an avid fan of several teams, and is a longtime supporter of the Creighton Bluejays men’s basketball team. “We’ll keep moving,” O’Connor says of his pending retirement. “I won’t be bored.” Still, for so long, his life has revolved around his work. Public relations for a major academic medical center is more 24/7 than 9 to 5. “We work until the job gets done,” O’Connor says. “My favorite hour is from 5 to 6 p.m. It’s quiet. The phone stops ringing. I can read my email. It’s peaceful.” Dr. Maurer says O’Connor’s strong work ethic is just one reason he will be missed. “He knows everybody. He knows everything about this place,” Dr. Maurer says. “He knows the media, and they not only trust him, they respect him. “Qualities like that can’t simply be replaced. They have to be earned.” (Photos courtesy of UNMC.)
His retirement will give O’Connor more time to spend with (from left): daughter, Kelly Raynor; wife, Karen; and son, Andy.
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Anniversary celebration features Call 402-444-6536 toiletries donation to LifeHouse Volunteers age 21, older needed to join Long-term Care Ombudsman Program
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he 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. ENOA’s Long-term Care Ombudsmen volunteer in local long-term care facilities and area 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.
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n 2019, the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging is celebrating 45 years of providing programs and services for older adults in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties. Recently, as part of that celebration, ENOA employees, members of the agency’s advisory council, and Fremont Friendship Center participants collected 2,600 toiletry items that were donated to LifeHouse in Fremont. LifeHouse works with Dodge County families through its pantry, thrift store and rent-utilities program.
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efore 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 about ENOA’s Long-term Care Ombudsman Program, please call Beth Nodes at 402-4446536.
City of Omaha community centers Men and women age 75 and older are encouraged to use the City of Omaha’s community centers at no cost for open gym, weight areas, open and lap swimming, aquacise, and ice skating. Tai Chi classes are offered at the following locations and times: • Adams Park 3230 John Creighton Blvd. Mondays & Wednesdays 9:15 a.m. • Camelot 9270 Cady Ave Tuesdays & Fridays 10:30 a.m. • Florence 2920 Bondesson Ave. Mondays & Wednesdays 10:30 a.m. • Montclair 2304 S. 135th Ave. Thursdays 8:30 a.m.
For more information, please call 402-444-4228.
Living with vision loss? We can help! Continue doing the things you love! FREE resources and training to help you: Use computers and the internet — pay bills, read the news and stay connected Use a smartphone — arrange a ride, call or text family, get the weather Use magnification tools — read printed material Stay active with recreation and cultural programs
All ability levels welcome! Call 402.614.3331 or visit outlookne.org Page 10
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Help alleviate stress when relocating
Call 402-306-9055 for more information
Be prepared before moving into a nursing home By Ginny Czechut
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he decision to move yourself or a loved one into a nursing home can often come at a stressful time for both the individual making the move and their family. Having information before the decision needs to be made can alleviate some of that stress. People move into a nursing home for a variety of reasons. They may need the care provided in a nursing home an independent or assisted living can’t provide. They may also have recently experienced a fall, a serious illness, or surgery. Even if a nursing home move is planned and expected, it’s often a good idea to be prepared before the time arises. The nursing home will have a staff member assigned to help you navigate the process of a nursing home admission. However, knowing what will be asked of you or your loved one will help you be ready to answer questions and complete paperwork. By being prepared with the following information, the transition to nursing home living can be much smoother. • Physician’s order for admission: A doctor must confirm a patient actually needs nursing home care. This order is similar to writing out a prescription. Often, that order is sent to the nursing home directly from the hospital’s social workers or discharge planners. • Physician’s order for treatment and medication: Since you’ll have new caregivers, they need to know how to best provide the necessary care. • History and physical: The nursing home will need the most up-to-date information on your medical history and physical condition.
• Negative tuberculosis test (TB) or chest x-ray: Nursing homes need to make sure all residents don’t have or carry this communicable disease. Some nursing homes will provide the test for you. • Completed paperwork for admission to the care community: This paperwork can often be filled out on the day of the admission, usually with a nursing home staff member. The individual or their guardian/power of attorney may be required to sign several forms consenting to nursing home policies and treatment. As part of the application process, a Social Security card may be needed. • Completed financial obligations: This step makes sure you’re able to pay for the care you’ll be receiving. The process is similar to providing financial information for obtaining a mortgage. In both cases, you’re moving to a new home. You’ll need to disclose financial information and provide documentation on insurance enrollments, pension funds, retirement funds, assets, and enrollment in Medicare or Medicaid. They’ll also need to know information about your living situation. If you or a loved one are in the hospital at the time of the move to a nursing home, the hospital physicians will perform the first four items on the checklist. If not, it’s important to visit a primary care physician to complete these items. Being prepared before a move into a nursing home could be extremely beneficial for you or a loved one. Although there are many stresses associated with making a move to a nursing home, navigating the admission process shouldn’t be one of them. (Czechut is with Midwest Geriatrics, Inc. in Omaha.)
Polka Hall of Fame ceremony
s il Krajnik, Frank Kostka, Jr., Mike Brecka, and Frank Remar will be inducted into the Sokol Omaha Polka Hall of Fame on Sunday, Sept. 8 at the Sokol Auditorium, 13th and Martha streets. The doors will open at 2 p.m. Music by The Little Tavern Band begins at 3 p.m. The induction ceremony starts at 5:30 p.m. and the music resumes at 6:30 p.m. Food will be provided at this free event For more information, please call 402-3469802.
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September art show at Hot Shops
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ou’re cordially invited to attend an Old Master Style art show featuring the work of Omaha artist Constance Stillwell Sept. 1 through 30 at the Hot Shops, 1301 Nicholas St. Viewing times are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guests are asked to enter the Hot Shops through the back entrance. For more information, please call 402-342-6452.
DAV needs volunteer drivers
Respite network
he Disabled American Veterans need volunteers to drive veterans one day a week to and from the VA Medical Center, 4101 Woolworth Ave. in Omaha. While the volunteer drivers don’t need to be veterans, they do need a valid driver’s license, and be able to pass a drug screening and a Department of Transportation physical given at the VA Medical Center. Drivers will be given a lunch voucher on the day they volunteer for the DAV. For more information, please contact Command Sergeant Major (retired) Lance Fouquet at 402-505-1482 or sgmman1447@gmail.com.
Did you know there are more than 219,000 identified family caregivers in Nebraska? Family Caregivers need an occasional break and the Nebraska Lifespan Respite Network can assist with respite funding or finding a respite provider. Please contact your local respite coordinator at 1-866-RESPITE (1-866737-7483) or go online to nrrs.ne.gov/respite for more information.
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September 2019
Caregiver retreat scheduled for Oct. 9 at UNO’s Thompson Alumni Center Individuals providing care, support, or advocacy for another person are invited to attend the Take Time for You Caregiver Retreat on Oct. 9 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Thompson Alumni Center. The event will feature singer, speaker, and storyteller Peter Leidy who combines humor, wisdom, and experience to teach ways of strengthening the connections and support among people with disabilities and their caregivers. The $20 registration, which is due Oct. 1, can be made at caregiverretreat.com. The fee includes a morning massage, the speaker, lunch, and more. Limited scholarships are available. For more information, please call 402-306-6055.
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
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.
• 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.
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.
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) Third Monday @ 9 a.m. Intercultural Senior Center 5545 Center St. Offered in English and Spanish
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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.
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Workshops designed to assist families caring for a loved one with dementia
What it takes to become a sage
egistration is underway for free educational workshops that will help family caregivers understand how to provide the best possible care for their loved ones with dementia. The workshops are presented by Nancy Flaherty, a certified dementia practitioner and president of Flaherty Senior Consulting in Omaha. “These workshops provide caregivers with helpful information and opportunities to learn from and support each other so they can provide the best possible care to their loved ones,” Flaherty said. The schedule includes: • Saturday, Sept. 7: Is It Normal Aging or Something Else? Learn what’s normal aging and about the warning signs of dementia. Presented with Terese Jordan of CareMatrix. • Saturday, Oct. 5: Are There Different Types of Dementia? Explore the characteristics and symptoms of the different types of dementia including Alzheimer’s, Vascular, Frontal Lobe, and Lewy Body. Saturday, Nov. 2: Creating a Plan for Peace of Mind: Short Term and Long Term. Find out what resources are available to make a safe plan. Presented with Nolan Clare of Clare Senior Advisors. All workshops take place from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Servite Center of Compassion, 7400 Military Ave. (enter via 72nd Street and Ames Avenue). While there is no charge to attend, registration is required for each workshop. To register, contact Sister Margaret Stratman at 402-951-3026 or email scc@osms.org. For more information, contact Flaherty at 402-312-9324 or flahertyconsulting@cox.net.
hen I was a young, I aspired to be a teacher, a writer, or to have some great career. It never occurred to me to become a sage. Through my recent study, I’ve uncovered a wealth of creative thinking and research regarding the “third chapter of life.” I’ve been inspired to make this chapter the fulfillment of all that has come before. I want to become a sage. The dictionary describes a sage as one who is wise, discerning, judicious, and normally refers to an elder who displays these qualities. A synonym is a wise elder. However, not all old people make it to becoming a sage. It’s not automatic because it requires a mindset of openness and a willingness to grow and change. Wisdom is learning from decades of experience to discern that which has lasting value and meaning as opposed to that which is fleeting and unimportant. Mary Catherine Bateson describes the retirement years as the age of active wisdom in her book Composing a Further Life. This is the time for new psychological work—extending the learning from our youth and harvesting that learning. It’s a time to rethink and reshape our identity which is often intertwined with our occupations. It’s a time to revisit our need for intimacy and to learn to express it with loved ones in the changing circumstances of our lives. It’s also time to rediscover our generativity, that which we can contribute to others now that we’re not “working” at a full-time occupation. We rethink and reshape past learnings and decide how to contribute this wisdom to our world today.
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Free art classes WhyArts and the Munroe-Meyer Institute are offering Exploring the Arts, a series of free art workshops this fall for adults with developmental and other disabilities. Here’s the schedule: • Sept. 6 10 to 11:30 a.m. Painting and Drawing Hot Shops Art Center 1301 Nicholas St. • Sept. 20 1:30 to 3 p.m. Theater, Music, & Storytelling B Side of Benson Theatre 6058 Maple St. • Oct. 4 10 to 11:30 a.m. Writing, Bookmaking, and More Stories Urban Abbey 1026 Jackson St. • Oct. 18 1:30 to 3 p.m. Clay Hot Shops Art Center 1301 Nicholas St. • Nov. 1 6 to 7:30 p.m. Animation, Video, and Garage Band Weitz Community Engagement Center 6400 University Drive South UNO campus • Nov. 15 6 to 7:30 p.m. 3D Sculpture Weitz Community Engagement Center 6400 University Drive South UNO campus Each class can accommodate 25 to 30 people, so reservations are required. For more information or to register, please contact Ray at rachel.ray@unmc.edu. The program is funded through a grant from the Lincoln Financial Foundation.
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A sage isn’t the guru who sits on the mountain in isolation. However, sages do engage in the journey inward where they explore the soul or spirit. As we age there’s a natural tendency to explore the unseen: the question of the meaning of life. Paradoxically, the inward journey reveals the interconnectedness of all things and all people. Sages are not isolated.
Conscious Aging By Nancy Hemesath
Sages take the long view of life, thinking not just of immediate needs and satisfaction but what will benefit their children over the long haul. Bateson started the “Granny Voters,” a group of women who lobbied Congress for issues they believed would benefit their grandchildren. No matter the focus, sages aren’t sitting back and letting the world go by. They’re compelled to contribute their wisdom and gifts to benefit others, thus establishing their legacy. A source of stimulating ideas around the topic of becoming a sage is the association called Sage-ing International. It’s committed to transforming the current paradigm of aging to sage-ing through learning, community building, and service. Its website is a wealth of information and inspiration for those who want to make this shift. Clearly, to be a sage requires focus and a willingness to keep learning and growing. I realize the fullness of becoming a sage is a life-long process, one that’s ever developing. Therefore, I choose today to be a sage-in-training. (Hemesath is the owner of Omaha’s Encore Coaching which is dedicated to supporting people in the “third chapter of life.” Read her blog at lifencorecoaching.com. She also provides personal coaching and book studies for those in the retirement transition. She can be reached by email at nhemesath@cox.net.)
Omaha Fire Department
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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.
Elder Access Line
Healthy for a Lifetime
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.
The Lifestyle Heath Alliance is sponsoring a community event called Healthy for a Lifetime on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the CHI Health Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. Participants will have an opportunity to learn how to improve and maintain their health at all stages of life while avoiding or reversing chronic health conditions by using food as medicine. Guest speakers will include Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, two 85-year-old physicians whose life stories were featured in the documentary film, Forks Over Knives. For more information, please log on to healthyforalifetime.org.
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RSVP volunteer opportunities
he Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) has numerous opportunities for volunteers age 55 and older across Douglas, Sarpy, Cass, Dodge, and Washington counties. Volunteers can set their own schedule whether it’s a few hours a week or a few hours a day. There are many locations in your area that need volunteers like you including: • Girls, Inc. • LifeHouse • Food pantries • Thrift shops • Blair Car-Go Program • Fremont Car-Go Program • Habitat for Humanity …and many more. Use your life experience to make a difference in your community. Reach out to our volunteer coordinator at 402-444-6536, ext. 1024 for more information.
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211 Network
he 211 telephone network has been established in parts of Nebraska to give consumers a single source for information about community and human ser-
vices. By dialing 211, consumers can access information about human needs resources like food banks, shelters, rent and utility assistance; physical and mental health resources, employment support, support for older Americans and persons with a disability, support for children and families, volunteer opportunities, and donations. The 211 network is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The information is also available online at ne211.org.
Hearing loss group to meet on Sept. 10
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he Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America, a support group for hard of hearing adults, will meet next on Tuesday, Sept. 10 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 402-5586449 or verlahamilton@cox.net.
Mary Ann Borgeson sponsoring resource fair for older adults, caregivers on Saturday, Nov. 2
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ovember is National Family Caregiver Month in the United States. As part of the activities, Douglas County Commissioner Mary Ann Borgeson – with the support of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging – is sponsoring the Celebrating Older Adults and Caregivers Resource Fair on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will be held at the Eastern Nebraska Human Services Agency building, 4715 S. 132nd St. Guests are asked to enter the building on the west side. The fair will include a wellness center, resource people from area agencies, information on aging and caregiving, memory screenings, advice for ways to provide respite for caregivers, and tips for responding to the challenges of dementia. “From supporting home-based care and caregivers to building safe and accessible communities, counties are leveraging local, state, and federal resources to help our older adults and their families,” said Borgeson, who is also president of the National Association of Counties (see page 16). For more information on the Celebrating Older Adults and Caregivers Resource Fair, please call Mike Osberg at 402-444-6596.
Charles E. Dorwart Massih Law, LLC 38 years of legal experience • Wills • Living Trusts • Probate • Healthcare and Financial Powers of Attorney • Medicaid Planning • In-home consultations • Free Initial consultation 226 N. 114th Street • Omaha, NE 68154 Office: (402) 558-1404 or (402) 933-2111 chuck@massihlaw.com www.dorwartlaw.com
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Call 402-827-6000 for a personal tour OMAHASENIORCARE.ORG September 2019
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Ralston Senior Center
Corrigan Senior Center
You’re invited to visit the Ralston Senior Center, 7301 Q St., this month for the following: • Sept. 10: 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. • Sept. 11: The Merrymakers present music by Pamela Sue Kragt @ noon. • Sept. 11: Board meeting @ 10 a.m. • Sept. 12 & 26: Line dancing @ 10 a.m. Bingo @ 1 p.m. Other activities include exercise on Tuesday and Friday @ 10 a.m. The facility will be closed on Labor Day. Lunch is catered in on Wednesdays. A $4.50 contribution is requested. Reservations are due by noon the Tuesday before the meal you wish to enjoy. Call Diane @ 402-8858895 for reservations. The handicapped-accessible facility can be used for weddings, memorial services, reunions, etc. on weekends. For more information, please call Diane West @ 402339-4926.
You’re invited to visit the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St., this month for: • Sept. 11: Birthday lunch @ noon. • Sept. 12: Toenail clinic @ 9:30 a.m. • Sept. 19: Falling for Fall party featuring the Fremont Tritones @ 11 a.m. • Sept. 26: The Merrymakers present music by Billy Troy @ 11 a.m. The center will be closed on Labor Day. Other activities include jewelry craft and social hour Wednesday @ 10:30 a.m., bingo Monday and Thursday @ 1 p.m., ceramics class Wednesday @ 1 p.m., and the Happy Hands crochet group Tuesday @ 10 a.m. The Corrigan Senior Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is served at noon. A $4 contribution is normally suggested for the meal. Reservations are normally due by noon the business day prior to the meal you wish to enjoy. For meal reservations or more information, please call 402-731-7210.
invites you to celebrate
Fremont Friendship Center You’re invited to visit the Fremont Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St. (Christensen Field), for the following: • Sept. 5: Presentation by Elite Home Professionals on Blood Pressure and Glucose Testing: What do the Numbers Mean? @ 10 a.m. • Sept. 11: Music by the Links @ 10 a.m. followed by our monthly birthday party. • Sept. 18: Music by Pam Kragt @ 10:30 a.m. • Sept. 19: Supper club @ 5 p.m. The cost is $4 plus a side dish. The meat is provided. Music by Terry Smith @ 6:30 p.m. • Sept. 23: AARP driving safety class from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non AARP members. Reservations, which are required, can be made by calling 402727-2815. • Sept. 25: Music by Kim Eames @ 10:30 a.m. Walk in the main arena Tuesday through Thursday. 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 $4 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.
Program to focus on aging, I/DD
Sunday, September 8, 2019 • 12:30 p.m. to 3p.m. Clowns • Pony Rides • Petting Zoo • Face Painting Inflatable Obstacle Course • Bounce House Nachos • Hot Dogs • Popcorn • Sno-Cones Games • Prizes • Music • Raffle
RSVP to 402-345-5683 or lhild@stjoevilla.com. This event is complimentary and open to the public! 2305 S.10th Street • Omaha, NE 68108 www.delmargardens.com Page 14
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The University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe-Myer Institute and the Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands are sponsoring a Discussion on Aging and Developmental Disabilities on Tuesday, Sept. 17 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Community Engagement Center on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus. The event will feature a Sibling Panel Discussion: Planning a Smooth and Steady Process of Transitioning from Parent Care to Sibling Care for Adults with I/DD. Information will include assistance for families on guardianship, IEP/IPP, wills, financial topics, and more. Please send an RSVP to dsamidlands.org/events/calendar/2019/9.
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Omaha Computer Users Group
ou’re invited to join the Omaha Computer Users Group, an organization dedicated to helping men and women age 50 and older learn about their computers regardless of their skill level. OCUG meets the third Saturday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Swanson Branch Library, 9101 W. Dodge Rd. Participants will have access to a projector connected to a computer with Microsoft Windows 10 to show users how to solve their computer problems. For more information, call Phill at 402-333-6529.
Nebraska Brass Band performance The Nebraska Brass Band – in its third season – will perform its Brass & Voices at the Movies concert on Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Kroc Center, 2825 Y St.
Tickets to the 6 p.m. show are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors. For more information, please go online to nebraskabrassband.com.
Camelot Friendship Center You’re invited to visit the Camelot Friendship Center inside the Camelot Community Center, 9270 Cady Ave., this month for the following: • Sept. 5: VNA presentation on Shrug Your Shoulder Troubles Away @ 11:45 a.m. • Sept. 6: Senior Field Day & picnic at the Mockingbird Community Center. Please register in advance with Barb. • Sept. 12: Book Club @ 10:30 a.m. • Sept. 13: Senior Council meeting @ 12:15 p.m. • Sept. 17: Presentation on the Red Flags of Junk Foods by ENOA’s Michaela @11:45 a.m. • Sept. 19: Karaoke with Chuck & Joy @ 11:30 a.m. • Sept. 24: Craft day (Toilet Paper Pumpkins) @ 1 p.m. • Sept. 25: Music by John Worsham sponsored by the Merrymakers @ 11:45 a.m. • Sept. 26: Free blood pressure checks @ 10:30 a.m. The facility will be closed on Labor Day, Sept. 6, & 27. The center is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. A $4 contribution is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the meal you wish to enjoy. Regular center activities include chair yoga, Tai Chi, and chair volleyball. For more information, please call 402-444-3091.
Any size heating & air conditioning system installed for
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Emergency Heating & Air Conditioning Company
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FALL COLORS TOURS! • Fall Colors in Iowa’s Loess Hills Spend a day enjoying a guided tour of spectacular colors, apples, country churches, and more. Wednesday, October 23, 2019 Registration closes September 20.
• Wine and Bridges in Madison County Enjoy a day exploring famous bridges, tasting wine, and viewing beautiful fall colors. Monday, October 28, 2019 Registration closes September 27.
For reservations, call 531-777-2124 or register online at travelcattours.com email: info@travelcattours.com
Free yoga classes offered
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he Visiting Nurse Association’s Healing Motion Physical Therapy clinic and the Second Unitarian Church are partnering to offer free Tai Chi for Balance classes in the Omaha area. Tai Chi is a great way for older adults to improve their balance and strength, while decreasing their chance of falling. Physical therapist Kris Lausterer –a certified Tai Chi for Balance instructor for two years – will teach the ongoing classes which are open to everyone regardless of their experience with Tai Chi. The classes are held on Tuesdays at 5:15 p.m. at Second Unitarian Church, 3012 S. 119th St. Registration will occur immediately before the class. For more information, please contact Lausterer at 402-346-7772 or klausterer@vnatoday.org
AARP program on Sept. 10
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yan Sothan, outreach coordinator for the Consumer Protection Division in the Nebraska Attorney General’s office, will be the featured speaker at a free AARP program on Tuesday, Sept. 10. The 1:30 p.m. program will be held at the newly-remodeled AARP Information Center, Suite 220 in the Center Mall, 42nd and Center streets. The presentation will focus on Ways to Avoid Fraud and Scam in Your Life. Refreshments will follow. For reservations, please call 402-398-9568.
Health fair at Bennington Library
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ou’re invited to attend the Don’t Fall into Fall Health Fair on Saturday, Sept. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Bennington Library, 11401 N. 156th St.
Please see the ad on page 3
NH Club gains new members $50 Howard Roberts $25 Tom Cody Jacqueline Loth $5 Betty Ward Claire Von Tersch
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Best & honest prices paid for: Vintage, Sterling, Turquoise, & Costume jewelry, old watches, old quilts, vintage toys, old postcards, advertising items, military items, pottery, and antique buttons. Also buying estates & partial estates. Call Bev at 402-339-2856
September 2019
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ponsored by the Bennington 60 Plus Center, the event will feature a free gift for the first 25 guests who arrive and vendors. For more information, please call 402-238-2201.
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New Horizons
We do business in accordance with the Fair Housing Law.
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Mary Ann Borgeson selected to serve as NACo’s president
D
ouglas County Commissioner Mary Ann Borgeson was sworn in recently as president of the National Association of Counties (NACo) at the conclusion of NACo’s 84th Annual Conference & Exposition.
“With the simple message that counties matter, we will continue to advocate for federal policies that advance the interests of county government and our residents,” said Borgeson, who also serves as chair of the Eastern Nebraska Human Services Agency’s governing board.
“Whether fighting unfunded mandates or securing needed investments in critical county services, NACo is the voice for county government in our nation’s capital and beyond.” In her inaugural remarks, Borgeson touched on the importance of serving the needs of older adults. By 2035, for the first time in America’s history, the population of persons age 65 and older will outnumber children. With this as a priority of her presidency, Borgeson plans to lead NACo to new levels of serving all residents, including the most vulnerable.
Douglas County Commissioner Mary Ann Borgeson – who also serves as chair of the Eastern Nebraska Human Services Agency’s governing board – was sworn in recently as president of the National Association of Counties. “From supporting home-based care and caregivers to building safe and accessible communities for people of all ages, counties are leveraging local, state, and federal resources to help older adults and their families,” she said. Active in NACo for nearly a decade, Borgeson was elected second vice president in 2017 at the NACo Annual Conference in Franklin County, Ohio and became first vice president last year in Davidson County, Tenn. She has served as chair of the Health Policy Committee and vice chair of the Large Urban County Caucus and Healthy Counties Advisory Board. Borgeson is a former president of the Women of NACo Leadership Network. She was first elected to the Douglas County Board of Commissioners in 1994 and was re-elected to her seventh term in 2018. In 1997, Borgeson was the first woman elected to serve as chair of the Douglas County Board and has served in this capacity for several years. Held in Clark County, Nev., NACo’s annual conference attracted nearly 3,000 county leaders and partners from across the country.
RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN CELEBRATION
SATURDAY, OCT. 12 AT 7:30 PM | SUNDAY, OCT. 13 AT 2 PM HOLLAND CENTER Ernest Richardson, conductor Enjoy an “enchanted evening” as talented singers direct from Broadway perform showstopper after showstopper from The King and I, Oklahoma, The Sound of Music, and more!
DVOŘÁK'S NEW WORLD
FRIDAY, SEPT. 20 & SATURDAY, SEPT. 21 7:30 PM | HOLLAND CENTER Thomas Wilkins, conductor Dvorak’s fiery “New World” Symphony meets Grammy-nominated composer Zhou Tian’s brand new composition dedicated to the 150th Anniversary of the Golden Spike and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.
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MasterWorks Series Sponsor
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September 2019
402.345.0606