New Horizons December 2016

A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging

December 2016 VOL. 41 • NO. 12

ENOA 4223 Center Street Omaha, NE 68105-2431

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

New Horizons ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Senior care In 1994, Omaha residents Paul and Lori Hogan founded Home Instead Senior Care.

Today, Home Instead is the world’s largest senior care organization with more than 1,100 franchises in 12 countries. Nick Schinker’s profile of the Hogans begins on page 10.

Singer Joyce Torchia was a vocalist with ENOA’s Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha for four years. Since 2006, she’s entertained audiences singing for The Merrymakers.

See page 5.

Helping hands Don and Kay Kirschbaum volunteer at the Holy Name/St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry.The site is a volunteer station for RSVP which is celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2016.

See page 15.

Dora Bingel Senior Center

Cognitive training can impact driving ability

You’re invited to visit the Dora Bingel Senior Center, 923 N. 38th St., this month for the following: • Dec. 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, & 23: Ceramics @ 9 a.m.

• Dec. 2: Christmas party with music by Bill Troy from The Merrymakers @11:30 a.m. Lunch is $3.

• Dec. 5, 12, 19, & 26: Al-Anon meeting @ 7 p.m.

• Dec. 7, 14, & 21: Tai Chi class @ 11 a.m.

• Dec. 7: Holy Communion served @ 10 a.m.

• Dec. 12: Book Club @ 10 a.m.

• Dec. 16: Hard of Hearing Support Group @ 10:30 a.m.

• Dec. 21: Birthday party luncheon @ noon. Eat free if you have a December birthday.

• Dec. 21: Foot care clinic from 9 a.m. to noon for $10.

The center will be closed Dec. 24 through Jan. 3.

Lunch is served on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

A $1 donation is suggested for the meals, other than $3 for The Merrymakers day.

Round-trip transportation is available for $3.

Meals reservations are required 24 hours in advance.

Other activities offered at the facility include: Tuesday: Matinee @ 12:30, quilting @ 1 p.m. Wednesday: Devotions @10:30 a.m., Bingo @ 1 p.m., Bible study @ 1 p.m.

Friday: Joy Club Devotions @ 9:30 a.m., Bingo @ 1 p.m.

For more information, please call 402-898-5854.

Fontenelle Tours

Omaha/Council Bluffs

By Victoria M. Indivero

O

lder adults who participate in training designed to improve cognitive ability are more likely to continue driving over the next 10 years than those who do not, according to health researchers.

“Driving cessation has huge ramifications for seniors,” said Lesley A. Ross, a Penn State University assistant professor of human development and family studies. “It signals an end to freedom, acting as a concrete acknowledgement that you’re declining.”

Ross and her colleagues studied the effects of three different cognitive train-

ing programs – reasoning, memory, and divided attention – on driving cessation in older adults.

The researchers found the participants who completed either the reasoning or divided-attention training were between 49 and 55 percent more likely to still be drivers 10 years after the study began than those who did not receive training.

Randomly selected participants who received additional divided-attention training were 70 percent more likely to report they were still driving after 10 years.

Over 2,000 adults age 65 or older were randomly assigned to one of four groups: reasoning, memory,

AARP offering driving course

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

Kansas City Christmas. December 13 - 14. $379.

Webster House Holiday Luncheon, Strawberry Hill Museum with Christmas decorated ethnic exhibits, Crown Center, “Sister’s Christmas Catechism” performance at the indoor Starlight Theater, “Fabulous Lipitones” performance at the New Theater Restaurant starring George Wendt from “Cheers”, and a Christmas Party (just our group) at the New Theater before the luncheon show.

Black Hills “Ski for Light”. January 21 – 27, 2017.

Third annual trip to Deadwood, South Dakota. A very rewarding week-long event for blind and physically challenged persons to participate in skiing and/or other outdoor activities. If you know of someone who might want to participate, call us. Volunteers also needed to provide various types of assistance at the event.

Financial assistance also needed to make this event more affordable for participants. Motorcoach will pick up at various points across Nebraska. Contact us at 712-366-9596 for more details.

Winter Getaway! February 14 – 28, 2017. Designed for a small group! Furthest destination—South Padre Island. Call for details.

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: Saturday, Dec. 10 1 p.m.

AARP Nebraska Information Center 1941 S. 42nd St. #220 To register, call 402-398-9568

Friday, Dec. 16 11:30 a.m.

Metro Community College South Omaha campus 27th and Q streets To register, call 402-457-5231

Laughlin Laughlin in November. Nov 9 - 12. $299. SOLD OUT! But watch for the next one.

In Partnership with Collette Vacations Quoted prices are per person, double occupancy, and do not include airfare.

More destinations available!

Reflections of Italy. 10 days from $2449. Visit a land rich in history, culture, art, and romance including Rome, the Colosseum, Assisi, Perugia, Siena, Florence, Chianti Winery, Venice, Murano Island, and Milan. Extend your trip in Turin.

Irish Splendor. Eight days from $1699. Return to times gone by as you experience fabulous accommodations, stunning scenery, and sumptuous food visiting Dublin, the Guiness Storehouse, Blarney Castle, Killarney, Dingle Peninsula, Cliffs of Moher, Dromoland Castle, and Tullamore Whiskey Distillery. Extend your trip in Dublin.

Watch New Horizons and our website www.fontenelletours.com for our trip schedule.

11808 Mason Plaza, Omaha, NE 68154

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Volunteers needed for Tax-Aide Program

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he AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide Program needs additional volunteers to provide free income tax service. No prior tax service experience is necessary and AARP membership is not

required.

The focus is on assisting low to middle income taxpayers with special attention being paid to taxpayers age 60 and older.

The Tax Aide program has seven sites in Douglas County and three sites in Sarpy County.

Training for the new volunteers begins in December.

The training will include instruction in tax laws, completion of tax forms, and use of the computer software needed to complete tax returns. AARP and the IRS will provide all materials.

For more information please log on online to aarp.org/taxaide. Email your questions to Omaha.taxaide@gmail.com or call 402-398-9568.

December 2016

divided attention training, or no training. All of the participants were drivers at the start of the program and were in good health. The participants were evaluated seven times over 10 years.

Participants randomized to one of the three types of interventions each received 10 hours of cognitive training. Following the 10 hours of training, participants were randomly selected to receive additional “booster” training.

Both the reasoning and the memory training used pencil and paper activities, while the divided-attention training used a computer program. The reasoning exercise included brain teasers and taught the participants problem-solving strategies, while the memory training involved categorization of lists of words to help with everyday life, such as a list of errands or a grocery list.

The divided-attention or speed of processing training used perceptual exercises where participants were shown several objects on a screen at once for a very brief period of time and then asked questions about what they had seen. This program was adaptive, becoming more difficult after the first five exercises were completed.

Ross and colleagues plan to continue to study the effect of cognitive training, including the introduction of Xbox Kinect, a computer gaming platform, into future research.

(Penn St. University provided this information.)

Caroling festivities scheduled for Dec. 11

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ou’re invited to attend the 42nd annual Omaha Holiday Caroling Festivities on Sunday, Dec. 11.

At 2 p.m., carolers of all ages and talent levels will perform with Santa Claus at the Nebraska Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, 7410 Mercy Rd. At 3:15, the fun moves to the Alegent Creighton Health Bergan Mercy Medical Center, 7500 Mercy Rd. A post-caroling party will be held at 4 p.m. at Godfather’s Pizza, 2117 S. 67th St. For more information, please contact Vince Leinen at 1-818-342-9336 or bd754@LAFN.org.

Author shares her advice

Make a donation to help support the

The keys to successful goal setting

I

t’s estimated 45 percent of Americans usually make New Year’s resolutions while at least 24 percent of them fail to keep their resolutions every year. A study on goal setting showed participants who wrote their goals down, broke them into action steps, and shared them with friends were much more successful in achieving goals than those who didn’t.

These are among “5 P’s of successful goal setting” financial security expert and two-time New York Times bestselling author Pamela Yellen can share.

Yellen is a financial investigator and the author of two New York Times best-selling books including her latest, The Bank on Yourself Revolution: Fire Your Banker, Bypass Wall Street, and Take Control of Your Own Financial Future.

A study by Dominican University of California found among people who wrote their goals down, broke them into action steps, and shared them with friend, 62 percent achieved their goals or were halfway there.

Yellen’s “5 P’s” of successful goal setting can help people who have failed in the past at keeping their resolutions and achieving their goals. They are: • Passion: You’ve got to want the goal badly enough that you won’t allow yourself to become discouraged when the finish line proves hard to reach.

• Persistence: Cliché as it may be, if at first you don’t succeed, well just don’t give up. Any goal worth attaining is also well worth missing – as many times as necessary.

• Planning: The road to defeat is paved with good intentions. The surface of the road to success is smoothed with actual

planning. Successful businesses begin with a well-thought out business plan. Successful goal setters likewise require a carefully considered goal plan.

Each goal plan should include among its elements ways to break the main goal into smaller, easier-to-accomplish parts, a realistic timetable, strategies and resources (including mentors) you can utilize, a system for tracking your progress, and fallback positions for when you encounter potholes and detours.

• People: Family, friends, and coworkers can give you the extra boost you require to reach your goal. Whether they’re running alongside you, cheering you on from the sidelines, or handing you advice based upon their own scrapes and triumphs, enlisting the help of others dramatically increases your chances of success.

• Positivity: Mental attitude can carry you forward even when circumstances aren’t breaking your way. Is reaching for a goal a burden, a responsibility, a sacrifice, or even a punishment? Well, it can be if you decide to think of it that way. But you can also picture your path as an adventure, an opportunity, a competition, and a growth experience.

The task is the same regardless of how you view it. The outcome, however, is far more likely to be to your liking if you remain upbeat and optimistic at each step along the way.

You can receive your FREE copy of the New Horizons each month in any of ways!

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Pick up a copy at one of the more than 100 distribution sites (grocery stores, restaurants, senior centers, libraries, etc.)

Through the United States mail New subscribers should send their name, address, and zip code to: New Horizons, 4223 Center Street, Omaha, NE 68105.

Online on your computer* Log on to enoa.org, scroll down until you see the New Horizons cover, then click on click here for pdf version. * Online subscribers will not receive a hard copy of the New Horizons each month.

For more information, please call 402-444-6654.

“Voice for Older Nebraskans!”

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New Horizons New Horizons is the official publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. The paper is distributed free to people over age 60 in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Washington, and Cass counties. Those living outside the 5-county region may subscribe for $5 annually.

Address all correspondence to: Jeff Reinhardt, Editor, 4223 Center Street, Omaha, NE 68105-2431.

Phone 402-444-6654. FAX 402-444-3076.

E-mail: jeff.reinhardt@nebraska.gov Advertisements appearing in New Horizons do not imply endorsement of the advertiser by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. However, complaints about advertisers will be reviewed and, if warranted, their advertising discontinued. Display and insert advertising rates available on request. Open rates are commissionable, with discounts for extended runs. Circulation is 20,000 through direct mail and freehand distribution.

Editor....................................................Jeff Reinhardt Ad Mgr................Mitch Laudenback, 402-444-4148 Contributing Writers......Nick Schinker, Leo Biga, & Lois Friedman ENOA Board of Governors: Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, chairperson; Jim Peterson, Cass County, vice-chairperson; Gary Osborn, Dodge County secretary; Brenda Carlisle, Sarpy County; & Lisa Kramer, Washington County.

The New Horizons and the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging provide services without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, disability, or age.

December 2016

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Rising healthcare costs weighing heavily on caregivers of military personnel

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lder care costs are continuing to test the fiscal health of America’s career military members, where higher-than-expected expenses are weighing on the financial confidence of the service member families who provide this care.

The First Command Financial Behaviors Index reveals 36 percent of middle-class military families (commissioned officers and senior NCOs in pay grades E-5 and above with household incomes of at least $50,000) are or are antici-

pating providing care for an older parent or other family members.

Military families are or are anticipating providing elder care in a variety of settings, most commonly in the home (54 percent in their own home and 42 percent in the older person’s home).

Respondents expect to provide care by paying for home care services (18 percent), nursing home care (8 percent), and health care services (7 percent).

The cost of providing this care can be sizable. The 20 percent of survey respon-

dents who are already caring for an older family member estimate their average monthly outlay at $1,342.

Forty percent of people in this subgroup say costs are more than they expected, a revelation that’s reflected in their financial attitudes.

About one in three families (34 percent) who are or who are anticipating caring for an older family member say they feel extremely or very financially stretched month to month. In contrast, just 25 percent of all military respondents say they feel extremely or very

financially stretched.

“Again this year, the results of our annual survey of elder care costs underscore the financial stresses caring for an older family member can create for our men and women in uniform,” said Scott Spiker, CEO of First Command Financial Services, Inc. “Caregiver costs are higher than many people expect. The good news is almost half of military families who provide elder care took steps to prepare for these costs, and 36 percent say they work with a financial advisor,” Spiker continued.

“As more military families find themselves taking on the added responsibility of elder care, we expect to see growing demand for knowledgeable financial planning support.”

Get information via 211 network 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: • Human needs resources like food banks, shelters, rent and utility assistance, etc.

• Physical and mental health resources.

• Employment support.

• Support for older Americans and persons with a disability.

• Support for children and families.

• Volunteer opportunities and donations.

The 211 network is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The information is also available online at www.ne211.org.

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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December 2016

Torchia: It’s amazing what music can do for people

Joyce sings during her Veterans Day show at Crown Pointe.

J

oyce Torchia has a passion for improving things. That’s true whether she’s restoring furniture at her Cass County store or bringing a smile to the face of an audience member as Torchia sings at a retirement community.

“I like to take things that are crappy and make them happy,” she said.

Joyce, who attended elementary school at Omaha’s Our Lady of Lourdes, has been singing and dancing on stage since performing in My Fair Lady, West Side Story, and Show Boat as an Omaha Archbishop Ryan High School student.

After graduating from high school, Torchia was a United Airlines stewardess for four years. Based in Newark, N.J., Joyce said she flew a lot of “seven hoppers” where the plane would stop in exotic places like Dayton, Ohio and South Bend, Ind. for 25 to 30 minutes at a time before returning to the “friendly skies.”

United Airlines wouldn’t let its stewardesses fly when they were pregnant, so Torchia – who has a son, a daughter, and two granddaughters – worked for the airline as a customer service representative (ticket agent) from 1973 to 2005.

“When I retired in 2005, I decided I was going to do what I loved doing,” she said.

Joyce began performing in dramatic productions at

venues like the Rose Theater, the Jewish Community Center, and the Omaha Community Playhouse.

Torchia also spent four years as a vocalist with the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha, an ensemble that blends the talents of musicians and singers age 25 and younger and age 50 and older.

She loves singing for several reasons. “Music evokes good memories for the singer and the audience.

I get such pleasure watching the audience members clap their hands and tap their toes. It’s amazing what music can do for people.”

In 2006, Joyce began performing for The Merrymakers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to brightening the lives of older adults at retirement communities and skilled nursing facilities through quality musical entertainment.

These days, Torchia does 10 to 15 shows a month for The Merrymakers entertaining older adults along the Interstate 80 corridor from Des Moines, Iowa to North Platte, Neb.

O

n Veterans Day, Joyce did a Merrymakers performance at Crown Pointe, 2820 S. 80th St. in Omaha.

“Good afternoon everybody, let’s get this show started,” Torchia said at the outset of her production.

Torchia relaxes at Rejoyceables, her store in Louisville, Neb.

During the next 60 minutes, Torchia sang and danced to a medley of tunes ranging from songs by the Beatles to Patti Page, and from The Carpenters to Petula Clark.

“My goal is to put a smile on your face and a song in your heart,” she said as she moved gracefully throughout the room.

“Here’s some of that music we used to dance to,” Torchia said as she began to sing That Old Black Magic in her alto voice.

Toward the end of the popular 1950s tune, Joyce and a distinguished looking gentleman in the audience began dancing together.

Soon after, Joyce invited the men and women who filled the room to help her out by singing part of Nancy Sinatra’s These Boots Are Made for Walking.

“One of these days…”

Torchia sang.

“These boots are going to walk all over you,” the smiling audience sang in response.

The Veterans Day show also featured patriotic favorites like George M. Cohan’s Over There and You’re a Grand Old Flag as well as the Lee Greenwood classic God Bless the USA. The festivities concluded as Crown Pointe’s 32 veterans were honored. Those in attendance received a pin, a flower, and a plaque from the facility’s staff.

“We appreciate our vets,”

December 2016

Torchia said as the ceremony began.

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t the show’s conclusion, it was hard to tell who had enjoyed the performance more; Torchia or the Crown Pointe residents.

“These men and women are so receptive and appreciative,” Joyce said. “I make it a point to hold the hand of every person in the audience. It’s such a fantastic

feeling when they become part of the show.”

When not performing, Torchia enjoys painting, drawing, and operating Rejoyceables, a Louisville, Neb. store that for the last six years has renewed and sold “vintage furniture and the like,” Joyce said.

Going forward, Torchia would like to do more theater, and plans to be part of The Merrymakers “as long as I can sing and dance.”

Joyce Torchia retired in 2005 after a 36-year career with United Airlines.

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Camelot Friendship Center You’re invited to visit the Camelot Friendship Center inside the Camelot Community Center, 9270 Cady Ave., for the following: • Friday, Dec. 2 & 16: Movie Day @ 12:15 p.m.

• Wednesday, Dec. 7: Christmas party from 5 to 7:30 p.m. No lunch will be served that day.

• Thursday, Dec. 8: Book Club @ 10:15 a.m.

• Wednesday, Dec. 14: Music by John Worsham from The Merrymakers @ 11:45 a.m.

• Thursday, Dec. 15: Jackpot Bingo @ 12:15 p.m.

• Monday, Dec. 19: Chair volleyball @ 10:30 a.m.

Other activities include Tai Chi (Tuesday and Friday @ 10:15 a.m.), Bingo, pinochle, card games, other games, crafts, candy making, and scrapbooking.

The Camelot Friendship Center is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. A $3.50 contribution is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to enjoy.

For reservations or more information, please call Amy at 402-444-3091.

Heartland Generations Center You’re invited to visit the Heartland Generations Center – 4318 Fort St. – for the following: • Dec. 1: Presentation by Methodist College nurses @ 10 a.m.

• Dec. 6: Visit to the Mormon Welcome Center @ 10:30 a.m. to see the gingerbread houses.

• Dec. 11: Christmas cookie decorating with the Student League @ 3:30 p.m.

• Dec. 12: Christmas with WhyArts? @ 10 a.m.

• Dec. 13: WhyArts? Family Night from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

The fun features a macaroni and cheese dinner.

• Dec. 15: WhyArts? White Elephant Christmas Party @ 10:30 a.m.

• Dec. 20: Christmas Party with music by The Links @ 12:30 p.m.

• Dec. 28: Share your New Year’s resolution.

The center will be closed Dec. 23 to 26 for Christmas and Dec. 30 for New Year’s Day. The center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is normally served at noon. A $3.50 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to attend.

Bus transportation is available within select neighborhoods for 50 cents each way.

Regular activities include Bingo (twice on Monday, once on Friday), and chair exercises. Tai Chi resumes Jan. 5.

For meal reservations and more information, please call 402-553-5300.

Simply the BEST… Best Residents!

Beautiful Apartments!

Best Value in Omaha!

$300 off for first 3 months of rent *total savings of $900 1 bedroom Amherst and Colfax style apartments Monthly rates $1,149 - $1,549 (before discount) (other apartment styles available)

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

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he Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is recruiting volunteers age 55 and older to provide free transportation services for older adults in Fremont and Blair.

“We’re especially interested in providing transportation services for military veterans,” said Pat Tanner, who coordinates the RSVP for the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.

Sponsored locally by ENOA, RSVP is a national program of the Corporation for National and Community Service through the Senior Service Corps.

RSVP staff members who serve in Dodge, Washington, Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties realize many older men and women live alone, are on fixed incomes, are no longer able to operate their own vehicle, and don’t have family members available to drive them to their various appointments.

In response, RSVP’s Car-Go Project offers free transportation for men and women age 55 and older in Blair and Fremont through volunteers age 55 and older who use their own vehicles.

Free rides can be given to medical appointments, pharmacies, grocery stores, beauty parlors, barbershops, banks, and other personal business locations.

Rides for persons who use wheelchairs (must be able to transfer themselves) will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The Car-Go Project – which isn’t available to nursing home residents – operates in Fremont and Blair Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information on becoming a volunteer driver or to make a reservation (24 hours notice is required) for a ride, please call RSVP’s Fremont office at 402-721-7780.

M

edicare beneficiaries have the option to review and change their Prescription Drug Plans and their Medicare Advantage plans during the annual open enrollment period that runs through Wednesday, Dec. 7.

Each year, plans can change premiums, deductibles, and co-pays. Medications that were covered this year may not be covered next year. Doctors that may have been in network on a Medicare Advantage plan in 2016 may not be in 2017.

Medicare’s open enrollment period gives beneficiaries the ability to review their coverage and switch to another plan that offers better coverage or pricing.

Volunteers Assisting Seniors serves as the Nebraska Senior Health Insurance Friday, Dec. 2 VAS 1941 S. 42nd St. #312 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

402-444-6617

Sorry NO pets • SkylineRC.com

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You!

Wednesday, Dec. 7 VAS 1941 S. 42nd St #312 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

402-444-6617

Florence Home Healthcare

Rehab...renew return home!

CALL TODAY! 402-557-6643 7300 Graceland Drive • Omaha, NE 68134

Information Program regional office in eastern Nebraska. VAS provides free, unbiased information to area Medicare beneficiaries.

Below is a list of VAS sites where Medicare beneficiaries can sit down with a trained counselor for assistance in evaluating their Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage options for 2017.

Assistance is available outside the Omaha area by calling 800-234-7119.

VAS will also be able to help older adults review their Medigap Supplement plans after the Medicare open enrollment program concludes.

Here’s the VAS schedule including dates, locations, addresses, times, and the phone numbers needed to make an appointment.

Monday, Dec. 5 VAS 1941 S. 42nd St #312 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

402-444-6617

2 meals per day • weekly flat linen service • twice a month housekeeping • all utilities including cable • transportation to local shopping and medical appointments • full program of activities and religious programming, and so much more!

Independent Living Residences

N

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.

• Read Medicare summary notices carefully.

• Use a calendar or health care journal to record information from doctor visits.

• Compare your calendar or health care journal with your Medicare summary notices.

• Count prescription pills.

• Don’t speak to anyone claiming to be a Medicare representative about Medicare.

If you believe you may be a victim of Medicare fraud, please call 800-942-7830.

Medicare Part D open enrollment runs through Dec. 7

Included in your monthly rate:

“Simply the BEST!”

Nebraska Senior Medicare Patrol

Call 402-827-6000

www.omahaseniorcare.org

December 2016

Corrigan Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St., this month for: • Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30: Movie day and popcorn beginning around 9:30 a.m. Stay for lunch and pinochle.

• Dec. 6: Holiday indoor plants program by the Douglas County Extension Office @11 a.m. Learn about holiday varieties of plants and care to brighten the winter months.

Stay for a tasty meatloaf or a Greek salad lunch @ noon.

• Dec. 7, 21, & 28: Crafts & Social @10:30 a.m. Learn how to make recycled holiday cards, a holiday ornament, and a no-sew scarf. There’s a suggested donation of $2 per class. Sign-up for the classes by calling 402-731-7210.

• Dec. 8: Lunch & Learn program by the Visiting Nurse Association on urinary tract infections. Stay for a beef cabbage casserole or a deli ham and provolone cheese sandwich for lunch.

• Dec. 12: Birthday party with music by Kim Eames from The Merrymakers @ 11 a.m. Stay for a noon lunch and Bingo.

• Dec. 14: Christmas Tea Party @ 10:30 a.m. Bring a card with a personal holiday greeting to share. The tea is by reservation only, so please call 402-731-7210 by 11 a.m. on Dec. 9 if you’d like to attend. Enjoy a noon lunch of a garlic rosemary chicken breast or a ham with Monterey jack cheese sandwich with a pasta salad. St. Peter & Paul students will entertain us by singing Christmas carols @ 1 p.m.

• Dec. 15: Holiday Roast Beef Dinner & Mega Bingo.

T’ai Chi @ 9:30 a.m. and chair volleyball @ 11 a.m.

Seasonal door prizes. Snacks to share are always welcome.

Mega Bingo with a $75 shared pot. Reservations are due by noon on Dec. 9.

• Dec. 20: Foot and blood pressure clinic followed by a chili lunch.

• Dec. 22: Christmas party with music by Tim Javorsky @ 11 a.m. Noon lunch followed by Bingo. Enjoy door prizes, games, and more. Wear your favorite holiday attire. Reservations are due by noon on Dec. 16.

Everyone, including new players, is welcome to play chair volleyball every Tuesday and Thursday @ 11 a.m.

A noon lunch will follow.

Join us for Tai Chi – a relaxing and fun activity that’s proven to improve your balance – Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. in our spacious gym.

Bingo, ceramics, exercise, woodcarving, and loads of fun are also available.

The Corrigan Senior Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is served at noon. A $3.50 contribution is normally suggested for the meal.

Reservations are normally due by noon the business day prior to the meal you wish to enjoy.

For meal reservations or more information, please call Lynnette at 402-731-7210.

Tips for staying warm this winter

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s the cold weather settles in, staying snuggled up in your comfortable house around the clock may be tempting, but it’s not very realistic. So when you come back inside from work, running errands, or a quick snowball war with the grandkids, you’ll need some easy ways to warm up.

Heat yourself from the inside out with these ideas: • Take a bath with warm water to help you relax and return your body to a comfortable temperature.

Add a hint of lavender or another favorite scent for some aromatherapy. Start with a moderate temperature and gradually add more hot water as needed to avoid shocking your system.

• Toss blankets in the dryer before you head outside to play in the snow, get the mail, or shovel the driveway. When you get back inside, you’ll have a cozy, warm blanket to wrap yourself in and chase away the bone-deep chill.

• Stick with soup, especially one that you can

prepare and be ready to enjoy quickly.

• Add a layer of clothing.

Nothing says comfort like a favorite sweatshirt that has been worn and washed so many times it’s practically a second skin. When you come in from outdoors, dress in cozy layers and ditch the extras as your body temperature returns to normal.

• Rely on smart technology. While you’re outdoors or on the way home, access your smart thermostat – if you have one – remotely and give the indoor temps a nudge so you walk in the door to some toasty warmth. Just remember to program a reset to your normal climate so you don’t get steamed when you get the bill later.

• Bake your way warm.

If you rarely make time to indulge a hobby like baking, the heat from a busy kitchen may be all the excuse you need. Crank up the oven and get busy mixing up your favorite treats.

• Soak up the sun. Once indoors, away from the

r u o y d e e n e W

! t r o p p su I would like to become a partner with the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, and help fulfill your mission with older adults.

ENOA

biting wind and cold, the sun’s rays can boost your spirits and warm your body.

Take a note from the family cat and make yourself comfy in a ray of sunlight.

Find more ways to keep warm this winter at Idahoan. com.

Notre Dame Housing You’re invited to visit the Notre Dame Housing, 3439 State St. for the following: • Dec 7: Pet therapy.

• Dec 20: Strings of Joy. • Dec. 21: Food pantry from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Please bring a picture ID and a piece of mail from the last 30 days to show proof of your address.

Notre Dame Housing is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 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 meal reservations and more, please call Brenda at 402-451-4477, ext. 126.

Traditional funding sources are making it more difficult for ENOA to fulfill its mission. Partnership opportunities are available to businesses and individuals wanting to help us.

These opportunities include volunteering, memorials, honorariums, gift annuities, and other contributions.

*Donations go to support ENOA services. You may designate your donation to go to the ENOA General Fund or to a specific service.

ENOA General Fund In Home Services (Bath Aide, Homemaker, Personal Emergency Response System, etc.)

Nutrition Services ( Senior Centers, etc.)

Meals on Wheels Volunteer Services ( Senior Companion, Foster Grandparent, RSVP, SeniorHelp, etc.)

CHOICES (Care Management, Caregiver Support, Medicaid Waiver) Other: __________________________________________________________________ Please contact me. I would like to learn more about including ENOA in my estate planning.

$30

$50

$75

$100

Other _____________

* Your gift may qualify as a charitable deduction for federal income tax purposes.

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

City:______________State:_____ Zip: __________ Phone:____________________________________

December 2016

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Please ma il with thisyofour donation rm to: Eas

tern Office oNebraska n Aging Attentio n: Jef

f Reinha 4223 C rdt Omaha, enter Street NE 6810 5-2431 (402

) 444-665

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Alzheimer’s support groups

ENOA needs Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions

The Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska Chapter offers several caregiver support groups and specialty support groups each month in Cass, Dodge, Douglas, and Sarpy counties. These support groups offer valuable space and educational opportunities for families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of dementia to engage and learn. For more information about any of the groups listed below, please call (toll free) 800-272-3900.

CASS COUNTY • PLATTSMOUTH Second Tuesday @ 6 p.m.

First Lutheran Church (chapel) 1025 Ave. D DODGE COUNTY • FREMONT Second Tuesday @ 5:30 p.m.

Shalimar Gardens (second floor community room) 749 E. 29th St. DOUGLAS COUNTY • OMAHA Second Thursday @ 10 a.m.

Country House Residences 5030 S. 155th St. FREE on site adult day services are provided.

Every other Monday @ 7 p.m.

Brighton Gardens 9220 Western Ave. First & third Monday @ 1:30 p.m.

New Cassel’s Franciscan Centre 900 N. 90th St. FREE on-site adult day services are provided.

Third Tuesday @ 6 p.m.

Temple Israel (media room) 13111 Sterling Ridge Dr. Caring for Your Parents Second or third Saturday @ 11 a.m.

Call Teri @ 402-393-0434 for locations Spanish Language Support Group Second Tuesday @ 4 p.m.

Intercultural Community Center 3010 R St. SARPY COUNTY • BELLEVUE Third Monday @ 7 p.m.

Bellevue Senior Center 109 W. 22nd Ave. First Wednesday @ 1 p.m.

Eastern Nebraska Vets Home (Vets and non-vets welcome) 12505 S. 40th St. • PAPILLION Fourth Thursday @ 6 p.m.

Hillcrest Grand Lodge 6021 Grand Lodge Ave.

Third Tuesday @ 5 p.m.

Immanuel Fontenelle 6809 N 68th Plz.

The New Horizons is brought to you each month by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.

WHITMORE LAW OFFICE Wills • Trusts • Probate

Ask A Lawyer: Q — What rights does my domestic partner have at my death?

A — Your unmarried partner will not have any rights in your

property at the time of your death other than rights you specifically confer. Without a will, your children, if any, and siblings have priority over your domestic partner to inherit your assets and to the right to be named administrator of your estate. We advise unmarried couples to hold assets in joint tenancy or designate their partner as POD beneficiary to provide for them in case of an unexpected death. We also recommend unmarried partners name each other as power of attorney agent in both financial and health care instruments.

Have a question about estate planning? Give us a call!

AARP Legal Service Network • No Charge For Initial Consultation

7602 Pacific Street, Ste 200 • (402) 391-2400 http://whitmorelaw.com

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en and women age 55 and older who want to earn a tax-free stipend while making an impact in their community are encouraged to join the Senior Companion Program and the Foster Grandparent Program.

Sponsored locally by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, the SCP and FGP are national programs of the Corporation for National and Community Service through the Senior Service Corps.

Senior Companions help other older adults maintain their independence by visiting them at home to discuss the news, read mail, play cards, run errands, etc.

Foster Grandparents serve as positive role models for children who need special attention with education, healthcare, and

social development in schools, Head Start programs, and child development centers.

SCP and FGP volunteers must meet income guidelines and complete an enrollment process that includes references and background checks.

In exchange for volunteering 15 hours or more each week, Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions receive a $2.65 an hour tax-free stipend, mileage reimbursement, an annual physical exam, supplemental accident insurance coverage, and other benefits including an annual recognition luncheon.

The stipend does not interfere with rent, disability, Medicaid, or other benefits.

For more information, please call 402444-6536.

Try a few of these low-maintenance gardening ideas

By Melinda Myers

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ress up the holidays or give gifts that continue giving throughout the year with these low maintenance gardening trends. Just add a little fun, classic beauty, or style to make it even more memorable.

• Terrariums. These mini greenhouses continue to grow in popularity and are perfect for new or timid gardeners. Just plant a few small tropical plants, moisten the soil, close the lid, and you have a self-contained growing chamber.

Show off your green thumb with a modern, classic or vintage style vessel.

Use the Gazebo tabletop terrarium, classic bell jar, or other mini garden as a centerpiece for the dining table or buffet. Or create a miniature garden in glass to give as a hostess gift. When the party is over, it’s a great memento of a fun holiday

gathering.

• Succulents. Growing succulents is another low maintenance garden trend that’s perfect for busy gardeners during the hectic holiday season. Just place them in a sunny window and water whenever the soil is dry.

The small-scale cacti and succulents provide a multitude of opportunities for incorporating them into your holiday celebrations.

You won’t need much space to enjoy the subtle colors and dramatic form of these drought tolerant plants.

Just select containers that complement, but don’t overpower their charm.

Consider buying a few extras for guests to take home.

But first, use them to dress up the table by making them into place cards for your guests. Simply add a name to the decorative pot.

Or display them all together in a copper plant tray (gar-

Irreverent, zany Christmas show at Bluebarn Theatre through Dec. 18

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he Bluebarn Theatre – 1106 S. 10th St. – is proud to continue Season 28 with the irreverent, zany comedy The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged) directed by the Bluebarn Theatre’s Associate Artistic Director Randall T. Stevens, through Dec. 18.

Welcome to the annual holiday variety show and Christmas pageant at St. Everybody’s Non-Denominational Universalist Church, where all faiths are welcome because we’ll believe anything.

But there’s a problem: none of the acts scheduled to perform have arrived, so three congregation members are pressed into service.

The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged) is festive and funny as these Three Wise Guys celebrate our favorite holiday traditions.

Show times are Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11, and 18 at 6 p.m.

Additional performances are scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 7 and 14 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 4 and 18 and Saturday, Dec. 17 at 2 p.m.

Single tickets for The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged) are $30 for adults; and $25 for students, seniors 65+, and groups of 10 or more.

For tickets and more information, call 402-345-1576.

December 2016

deners.com), terra cotta saucer, or other shallow container to use as a centerpiece throughout the evening.

When the party is over, each guest can pick their own plant to take home.

• Air plants. Unique and amazing air plants are all the rage and could certainly be described as the definitive easy care plant. Many are native to rain forests where they grow in the canopy of trees, gathering water and nutrients that pass by.

No soil is needed for these versatile plants. Just hang them in a bright location and soak in tepid nonsoftened water once every week or two.

Display them in an open terrarium, shell, or another decorative container. They make great centerpieces or stunning displays.

• Pothos, philodendron, and ivy. These plants have long been low maintenance favorites of the indoor garden. This year, consider dressing them up for the holidays with sparkling garland, artificial flowers, berries, and greens.

Or display them in unique containers, baskets, or hangers.

Go retro and macramé a colorful hanger for your favorite hanging basket. Or place the pot in an earthy woven basket, sleek plastic pot, or classic round copper wire globe-hanging basket.

Add some fairy lights for a bit more sparkle on long winter nights.

Make this holiday season warm and memorable with the help of these low maintenance garden trends and plants. You, your family, and friends will enjoy their beauty, charm, and easy care nature throughout the new year ahead.

(Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience.)

Pick up your free copy of New Horizons each month The New Horizons is available at locations throughout eastern Nebraska.

Stop by and pick up a free copy each month at one of the following: Adams Park Senior Center 3230 John Creighton Blvd.

ENCAP 2406 Fowler Ave.

Life Care Center 6032 Ville de Sante Dr.

Ridgewood Apts.

6801 Spring St.

Aksarben Manor 7410 Mercy Rd.

Evans Tower 3600 N. 24th St.

Livingston Plaza Apts.

303 S. 132nd St.

Rorick Apts.

604 S. 22nd St.

The Ambassador 1540 N. 72nd St.

Florence Home 7915 N. 30th St.

Louisville Senior Center 423 Elm St.

Royal Oaks/House of Hope 4801 N. 52nd St.

American Red Cross 3838 Dewey St.

Florence Senior Center 2920 Bondesson St.

Lutheran Home 530 S. 26th St.

St. Bernard Church 3601 N 65th St.

Arlington (Neb.) Senior Center 305 N. 3rd St.

Fremont (Neb.) Friendship Center 1730 W. 16th St.

Mangelsen’s 84th & Grover streets

St. Bridget Church 4112 S. 26th St.

Maple Crest Condos 2820 N. 66th Ave.

St. Joseph Tower 2205 S. 10th St.

Mercy Care Center 1870 S. 75th St.

St. Joseph Villa 2305 S. 10th St.

Millard Manor 12825 Deauville Dr.

St. Mary’s Church 811 S. 23rd St. Bellevue

Bank of Nebraska 7223 S. 84th St. Bellewood Court Apts.

1700 Lincoln Rd. Bellevue Bellevue Library 1003 Lincoln Rd.

Friendship Program 7315 Maple St. Gold Coast Square 1213 Gold Coast Rd. Papillion Hallmark Care Center 5505 Grover St.

Millard Montclair Senior Center 2304 S. 135th Ave.

Bennington (Neb.) Senior Center 322 N. Molley St.

Heartland Family Service Senior Center 4318 Fort St.

Mission Vue Apartments 406 E. Mission Ave. Bellevue

Benson Tower 5900 NW Radial Hwy.

Hickory Villa 7315 Hickory St.

Bickford Cottage 11309 Blondo St.

Hillcrest Care Center 1702 Hillcrest Rd. Bellevue

Monarch Villa 201 E. Cedardale Dr. Papillion

Bellevue Senior Center 109 W. 22nd Ave.

Dora Bingel Senior Center 923 N. 38th St. Blumkin Home 333 S. 132nd St. Camelot 6 Apartments 9415 Cady Ave. Camelot Friendship Center 9270 Cady Ave.

Hooper (Neb.) Senior Center 208 N. Main St. Immanuel Courtyard 6757 Newport Ave. Immanuel Medical Center 6901 N. 72nd St.

Montclair Nursing Home 2525 S. 135th St. Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition 2240 Landon Ct. New Cassel 900 N. 90th St. Nehawka (Neb.) Senior Center North Bend (Neb.) Senior Center

Carter Lake Senior Center 626 Locust St.

Immanuel Trinity Village 522 N. Lincoln St. Papillion

Central Park Tower 1511 Farnam St.

Immanuel Village 6803 N. 68th Plz.

Oak Valley Apts.

12425 Krug Ave.

Christie Heights Senior Center 3623 P St.

Intercultural Community Senior Center 3010 R St.

OEA Apts.

122 S. 39th St.

Chubb Foods 2905 N. 16th St. W. Dale Clark Library 215 S. 15th St. Corrigan Senior Center 3819 X St. Croatian Cultural Society 8711 S. 36th St. Crown Pointe Retirement Center 2820 S. 80th St. Crown Tower 5904 Henninger Dr. deFreese Manor 2669 Dodge St. Dodge (Neb.) Senior Center 226 N. Elm St. Douglas County Housing 5449 N. 107th Plz. Durham Booth Manor 3612 Cuming St. Eagles Club 23rd & L streets

Jackson Tower 600 S. 27th St. Kay Jay Tower 25th & K streets Kohll’s Pharmacy 50th & Dodge streets Kohll’s Pharmacy 4230 L St. Kohll’s Pharmacy 2923 Leavenworth St. Kohll’s Pharmacy 12739 Q St. Kohll’s Pharmacy 3427 S. 84th St. Kohll’s Pharmacy 617 N. 114th St. Kohll’s Pharmacy 1413 S. Washington St. Papillion Kubat Pharmacy 4924 Center St.

Oak Grove Manor 4809 Redman Ave.

OEA Manor 320 N. 22nd St. OJ’s Mexican Restaurant 9201 N. 30th St. Omaha Nursing Home 4835 S. 49th St. The Orchards at Wildwood 7454 Gertrude St. Papillion Senior Center 1001 Limerick Ave. Park East Tower 539 S. 26th St. Park Tower North 1501 Park Ave.

St. Margaret Mary’s Church 6116 Dodge St. St. Vincent DePaul 5920 Maple St. Sarpy County Courthouse 1261 Golden Gate Dr. Seven Oaks at Notre Dame 3439 State St. Skyline Manor 7300 Graceland Dr. Snyder (Neb.) Senior Center 2nd & Elm streets Social Security Office 7100 W. Center Rd. Suite 200 Social Settlement 4868 Q St. South Omaha Eagles 6607 Sunshine Dr. Southview Heights 49th & Q streets Swanson Library 9101 W. Dodge Rd. Joe Tess Restaurant 5424 S. 24th St. Thrift Store 7328 Maple St. Trinity Cathedral 18th Street & Capitol Avenue Twin Tower Apts.

3000 Farnam St. Underwood Tower 4850 Underwood Ave. Veterans Hospital 4101 Woolworth St.

Petrow’s Restaurant 5914 Center St.

Ville de Sante Terrace 6202 Ville de Sante Dr.

Phil’s Foodway 3030 Ames Ave.

Village Inn 309 N. Fort Crook Rd. Bellevue

Phil’s Foodway 4232 Redman Ave. Pine Tower 1501 Pine St.

Eagle (Neb.) Senior Center 509 4th St.

LaVista (Neb.) Senior Center 8116 Parkview Blvd.

Plattsmouth (Neb.) Senior Center 308 S. 18th St.

Elmwood (Neb) Senior Center 144 N. 4th St.

Leo’s Diner 6055 Maple St.

Ralston (Neb.) Senior Center 7301 Q St.

Elmwood Tower 801 S. 52nd St.

Leo Vaughn Manor 3325 Fontenelle Blvd.

Remington Heights 12606 W. Dodge Rd.

JC Wade Manor 3464 Ohio St. Walgreen’s Pharmacy 5038 Center St. Weeping Water (Neb.) Senior Center 101 E. Eldora St. The Wellington 501 E. Gold Coast Rd. Papillion

Hogans have channeled their talents into helping others

By Nick Schinker Contributing Writer

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aul Hogan’s grandmother was living by herself but gradually became so frail it was clear she could no longer be left alone.

“There was a family meeting, and Mom said there would be no nursing home. She said, ‘Bring her to my house,’” Hogan recalls.

The family did, and not only did Hogan’s grandmother regain her strength – he says she regained her will to live. “That one year we thought she’d be with us,” he says, “turned into 11.”

It was one of many valuable lessons Hogan learned about family and successful aging. “I saw you don’t have to be a doctor or a nurse to have a huge impact, especially with older adults,” he says.

That lesson and others led Hogan and his wife, Lori, in 1994 to found Home Instead Senior Care. “We set out to do for others what my family did for my grandmother,” Paul says.

Today, Home Instead Senior Care is the largest home care company in the world. Still headquartered in Omaha, the company has more than 1,100 franchises in the United States and 11 countries around the globe.

The company’s franchise owners hire CAREGivers to go into the homes of older adults and offer companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, Alzheimer’s care, and personal care. There are more than 65,000 Home Instead CAREGivers serving a similar number of clients worldwide.

Beyond building a tremendously successful business, the Hogans have channeled their talents into finding more ways to help others.

In 2003, the couple established the Home Instead Senior Care Foundation to enhance the lives of older adults through charitable giving. The foundation awards grants to nonprofit organizations specializing in projects and programming that improve the quality of life for older adults.

In 2008, Home Instead Senior Care established the Home Instead Center for Successful Aging in partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Drawing on expertise from a broad spectrum of care providers, the center provides education to caregivers and offers older men and women preventative care to help them live fuller, healthier lives.

“We are always looking for ways we can improve the quality of service to our seniors and their families, our partners, our franchise owners, and the community,” Lori Hogan says. “We look at this as a mission for us – to make a profound difference in someone else’s life.”

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aul and Lori (Novicki), a former Miss Nebraska USA, met on a blind date while both were in college, he at the University

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Paul and Lori Hogan, graduates of UNL and UNO, respectively, have helped build Home Instead Senior Care into a company with more than 65,000 CAREGivers around the world. of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), and she at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). “A buddy of his was dating a sorority sister of mine,” says Lori, a lifelong Chi Omega.

Lori earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1984. A finance major who earned his bachelor’s degree in 1985, Paul was intrigued by the concept of franchising and the franchise studies program at UNL, where he became active in the university’s Franchise Club.

“The goal was to get internships for students, so we pitched franchisors to sponsor interns,” he says.

“Merry Maids was one of the franchisors, and I got that internship.”

Hogan did so well he was hired by the Omaha-based company and stayed with Merry Maids for nine years. “I fulfilled many roles, and I learned a lot about home services and franchising.”

In 1994, the Hogans combined their educational and professional experiences, and Paul’s personal experience with his grandmother, to found Home Instead Senior Care. Their first office was Hogan’s mother’s dining room table.

They served a handful of families in Omaha before granting their first

New Horizons

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franchise to Lori’s uncle in Lincoln.

In just six years, they granted their first international master franchise in Japan.

“I was amazed,” Hogan says.

“I had seen Merry Maids grow throughout the U.S., but I really did not have a vision for us outside the country.”

Lori attributes their personal and professional success to their four core values: • To honor God in all we do, • To treat each other with dignity and respect, • To encourage growth in ourselves and others, and • To build value in our service to others.

She says those core values resonate throughout all levels of the Home Instead organization.

“I love going out into the field to franchise offices to attend CAREGiver meetings,” she says. “I love listening to their stories. You can see the love and compassion, the true joy they get from caregiving.”

Paul says Home Instead CAREGivers don’t attempt to replace a client’s family. “We supplement the family. We help them improve the care situation for their loved ones.”

December 2016

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enior care is evolving. No longer do families have the time, or the room, to open their own homes to their aging parents. At the same time, older adults want to remain in their own homes as long as possible.

Looking forward, Paul Hogan says, reports indicate the need for some form of tax relief for those who provide senior care.

“Senior care is what child care was in the 1970s or 80s,” he says.

“The child care tax credit was enacted to help families offset the cost of caring for a dependent child.

Today, that same cohort is trying to meet the obligations of caring for their parents.”

He says another effort to reduce the cost of senior care in the home involves the increasing application of technology. “There is so much more available today in technology geared around wellness, brain health, sleep patterns, and activity levels,” he says. “We are constantly looking at how we can bring more technology into the home so we can end up reducing costs.”

The Hogans’ efforts to improve senior care extend well beyond their corporate business. Lori serves on --Please turn to page 11.

Paul, Lori are bestselling authors, proud parents of four

In 2016, Paul became a member of the World Dementia Council.

--Continued from page 10. the boards of Nebraska Family Alliance, The Home Instead Senior Care Foundation, The Home Instead Center for Successful Aging, Engaged Wellness, and Broadway Dreams, and is chair of American Heart Association Sweetheart Program.

Paul serves on the Board of Governors for the Global Health and Healthcare Partnership Community at the World Economic Forum, and previously served as the Vice Chair for the Global Agenda Council on Aging.

This year, he became a member of the World Dementia Council (WDC), which was formed after the G8 Dementia Summit. The WDC is an independent body and includes a total of 24 global leaders from business, science, philanthropy, industry, academia, government, nonprofits,

and advocacy groups.

The WDC will focus on five areas: finance, drug development, data sharing, care improvements, and risk reduction.

In recognition of his contribution to franchising, Hogan was named the Entrepreneur of the Year for 2006 by the International Franchise Association.

For their success in exporting the home care business concept to other countries, the Hogans were awarded the “E” Award by the U.S. Department of Commerce in May 2008. This award, which was presented at a White House ceremony, is one of the highest honors the federal government gives to individuals, firms, or organizations that have made a significant contribution to American exports. Earlier this year, Home Instead was honored with the “E Star” Award for sustained excellence in exporting.

Additionally, Lori wrote Strength for the Moment, a book to encourage and celebrate caregivers, while Paul and Lori co-authored Stages of Senior Care (published by McGraw-Hill), a USA Today Bestseller. Proceeds from the sales of each book go to the Home Instead Senior Care Foundation.

A former Miss Nebraska USA, Lori is the author of ‘Strength for the Moment’.

Jacquelyn, 21, is a student in the Nebraska Medicine nursing program and serves as a CAREGiver.

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onsidering all they do for other people’s families, it is no surprise the Hogans share a deep commitment to their four children.

Their eldest daughter, Lakelyn, earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing from UNL and her MBA from UNO and is completing her master’s degree in gerontology at UNO. She is employed at Home Instead.

Daughter Mickele, 24, is a graduate of the School of Performing Arts at New York University and is an actress and playwright living in New York City. She has channeled her experience as a CAREGiver at Home Instead into a play relating the impact of Alzheimer’s disease upon a family.

Martin, 23, is a UNL graduate and is working with an Internet startup company in Lincoln.

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he Hogans enjoy being outdoors; spending what little free time they allow themselves skiing and snowboarding. Mostly, they are committed to their work, which they both see as their true mission in life.

“We’re not just in a people business,” Paul says. “We are in a relationship business. We put considerable effort into matching our clients and our CAREGivers to make certain we foster a warm, healthy, and lasting relationship.

“We truly believe that the better the relationship, the better the care.”

It’s a belief that would make his mother and his grandmother proud.

Walnut Grove Retirement Community From all of us at Walnut Grove: Wishing you a warm, wonderful holiday season!

We’re in the Christmas spirit and all decked out for the season.

Call today to schedule a personal tour, and consider becoming a part of our remarkable community.

402-861-1611

4901 S. 153rd Street



Omaha, NE 68137



December 2016

WalnutGroveRetirement.net

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RSVP RSVP is recruiting persons age 55 and older for a variety of opportunities. For more information in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties, please call 402-4446536, ext. 224. In Dodge and Washington counties, please call 402-721-7780.

• The Together Inc. Food Pantry wants volunteers to help with a variety of assignments.

• The Blair and Fremont Car-Go Program needs volunteers to drive older adults to their appointments once or twice a week.

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NARFE

RSVP honors volunteers at Fremont recognition luncheon

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

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

Sarpy County Museum Visit the Sarpy County Museum – 2402 Clay St. – on Sunday, Dec. 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. during its annual Christmas Open House. More than 25 nativity sets from around the world and a dozen Christmas trees will be on display.

This year’s celebration will highlight more than a dozen trees decorated by nonprofit organizations, communities, and clubs throughout the county.

During the open house, there will also be a raffle of door prizes and the drawing for the winner of the 2016 raffle quilt. This year’s quilt was made and donated by Carece Harstad and long arm quilted by Vicki Corcoran. Tickets will be available until the drawing for all the raffle prizes is held.

Local folk artist Michael Murphy will provide entertainment during the festivities.

For more information, please call 402-292-1880.

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$100

Studios at $595 1 BR’s at $695 2 BR’s at $795

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Graceland Senior Apartments

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Holiday Savings OFF FIRST MONTHS RENT

55+ Apartments

• All utilities included • Laundry facilities • On bus line • Secure building • Club & fitness room

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delicious meal, musical entertainment by Tim Javorsky, and honoring two men and one woman who provided more than 1,000 hours of volunteer service during the last year were among the highlights of the RSVP recognition luncheon held Oct. 28 at the Gathering Hall in Fremont.

Mavis Lidberg, Leroy Lidberg, and Neil Rosenbaum were honored for providing 4,186, 3,994, and 1,390 hours of RSVP service, respectively, during the last year.

Sponsored locally by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, RSVP is a Corporation for National and Community Service program.

RSVP volunteers – who are age 55 and older – help out at a variety of stations including hospitals, nonprofits, schools, and nutrition sites.

To learn more about RSVP volunteer opportunities in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties, please call 402-444-6536, ext. 224.

In Dodge and Washington counties, please call 402721-7780.

Among the RSVP volunteers honored were Mavis and Leroy Lidberg for their 4,186 and 3,994 hours of service respectively, during the last year.

RSVP Advisory Council members and RSVP staff members who attended the luncheon included (left to right): Tom Lynch, Larry Thompson, Pat Tanner, Deb Marquardt, Michal Hume, and Carolyn Fisher.

Please see the ad on page 3

7350 Graceland Drive Omaha, NE 68134 • SkylineRC.com

New Horizons Club gains new members

Volunteers needed

$100 Sissy Silber

$400 Deposit Sorry, no pets

CALL TODAY

402-557-6643

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.

$20 Jerry and Bev Sanders $10 Lloyd Stuhr $5 Margaret Griffith Melvin Balaban Lavonna Bonney Michael Hagan Reflects donations received through November 23, 2016.

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December 2016

Older adults invited to Christmas dinner at St. Margaret Mary’s

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maha-area residents age 65 and older who otherwise will be alone on Christmas Day are invited to attend a holiday dinner and celebration at St. Margaret Mary’s Catholic Church, 6116 Dodge St. at 2 p.m. on Christmas Day. The St. Margaret Mary’s church and its parishioners are sponsoring the event.

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he program can also provide a home-delivered meal for older adults in the Omaha area who will be homebound on Christmas Day. For meal reservations, to arrange for round-trip transportation to the dinner, or for a meal delivery, please call 402-558-2255 by Friday, Dec.16.

Trial reveals a reversal of symptoms for persons dealing with chemobrain

Maximizing your holiday communications

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or the first time, symptoms of a cancer-related mental decline – often called “chemobrain” – were reversed in a large, home-based, randomized controlled trial using unique computerized brain exercises, according to a recent report in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Breast cancer support groups brought attention to “chemobrain” or “chemofog” in the 1980s. Many in the medical profession questioned its seriousness and existence. Studies on this condition didn’t begin until the late 1990s and there continues to be controversy over its causes.

Despite studies indicating that up to 70 percent of patients treated with chemotherapy experience cognitive decline; that such symptoms can persist for 10 or more years, and that the effects can interfere with maintaining employment, relationships, and daily independence, there are no broadly accepted treatments for cancer-related cognitive impairment.

Millions of patients are treated with chemotherapy each year and there are more than 35 million people with five or more years of cancer survival worldwide.

Researchers from the Survivorship Research Group at the University of Sydney in Australia conducted a randomized controlled trial among 242 cancer survivors who reported cognitive problems six to 60 months after completing chemotherapy.

All the study participants received a telephone consultation. Half were assigned to the control group and received standard care from their healthcare providers. The other half received standard care and were also asked to engage in a home-based intervention of online brain exercises for 40 hours (40 minutes, four times a week, for 15 weeks).

The study exercises came from a suite of five visual speed of processing exercises that are part of BrainHQ, an online brain-training service.

Researchers reported the intervention group, as compared to the control group, indicated significantly better Perceived Cognitive Impairment results immediately after the intervention and six months later.

The intervention group also had a significantly better performance on many secondary measures including stress measurements, fatigue, and anxiety/depression.

“The use of this web-based intervention led to improvements in cognitive symptoms that were sustained six months later,” said Dr. Janette Vardy from the University of Sydney, the paper’s senior author. “While this builds on prior work, to our knowledge, it’s the largest trial showing improvement in cognitive symptoms among cancer survivors after chemotherapy.”

“This is an important step forward,” said Dr. Diane Ah of Indiana University. Dr. Ah ran a prior study using the same intervention with similar results in a classroom setting. “The new study suggests this program can be used successfully in the home to address a serious problem that has too often been ignored trivialized, or even denied to exist.”

“We are excited by the addition of these independent research results to our body of knowledge,” said Dr. Henry Mahncke, CEO of Posit Science, the maker of the BrainHQ exercises used in the Australian intervention. “We plan to approach the appropriate regulatory agencies to explore the shortest path to getting a form of these exercises into the hands of patients who may be helped.”

Holidays bring get-togethers filled with music, food, and conversation. However, for those who experience hearing loss, the season often takes on a whole different sound. Those with hearing loss often end up feeling isolated from the festivities. There are ways, however, you can make sure they feel comfortable joining the fun.

A survey by Rayovac, which was conducted online by the Harris Poll, found that 56 percent of Americans say talking and catching up with family members is their favorite part of family gatherings.

But nearly one out of every five (19 percent) say they have experienced difficulty communicating with someone who is hard of hearing.

If you’ll be escorting a family member with hearing loss to a holiday event, be sure their hearing devices are in good operating condition with batteries that are able to power all of the device’s features.

The hearing aid battery company, Rayovac, has introduced the Gift of Hearing this holiday season, HorizonAD-2010:HorizonAD-08 a campaign in which a

portion of the proceeds from its battery sales benefit the Starkey Hearing Foundation.

This holiday season, make the most of the opportunity to share quality conversations with loved ones who have trouble hearing by following these simple tips from Shari Eberts of livingwithhearingloss.com: • Get their attention before speaking by saying their name or tapping them on the shoulder.

• Give some context as to the topic of the conversation to help them infer.

• Make sure they can see your lips. Stand in a well-lit area and be sure you’re facing them directly, with your hand away from your face while talking.

• Know that background noise can provide difficult distractions. If you’re hoping for more than a passing greeting, find a quiet place where you can visit comfortably.

• Enunciate as you talk, but avoid the temptation to speak overly slowly. Instead, speak at a moderate but steady rate.

• Be patient and be prepared to repeat or rephrase your comments.

• Remember if you’re feeling frustrated, your partner in conversation may be, too. Keep your sense of humor so you can enjoy the holidays together.

(Family Features provided this information.)

2/4/10

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December 2016

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New Horizons

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Page 13

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he Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America, a support group for hard of hearing adults, will next meet on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at Dundee Presbyterian Church, 5312 Underwood Ave. Participants are asked to enter the church on the Happy Hollow Blvd. (east) side.

The 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. meeting will feature social time and a speaker.

Little White Dog Rescue recruiting new volunteers

By Annie Wood

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ittle White Dog Rescue (LWDR) is a non-profit dog rescue organization that consists entirely of foster homes rather than shelters. A.J. Anderson founded LWDR in 2007 with only five volunteers. Today, it has more than 100 volunteers and is looking for more.

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he Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America meets the second Tuesday of the month from September through December and from March through August.

For more information, please contact Beth Ellsworth at ellsworth.beth@ cox.net or Verla Hamilton at 402-558-6449.

Marty, an 8-year-old Yorkie mix, was recently adopted through Little White Dog Rescue.

LWDR began as a West Highland Terrier rescue group, which is how it got its name. Now, the organization takes in small dogs of all kinds. Like all rescue groups, LWDR’s goal is to find loving, forever homes for small dogs who have been displaced through no fault of their own. Dogs can come to us in a variety of ways including high-kill shelters, other rescue groups, puppy mill auctions, owner surrenders, and former fosters.

Since LWDR doesn’t have a shelter, meet and greets are key to our organization. Meet and greets are the only way potential forever families can meet our dogs. Meet and greets are a fun way to stay connected and be social. Plus, there is the added bonus of puppy kisses.

We have many different kinds of volunteers from the Omaha area. Men and women can get involved in fostering, photography, travel coordination, application processing, sewing, and social media.

We’re always looking to add to our amazing group so if you, your friends, or relatives are looking to give back to the community and have a great time, please fill out a volunteer application at littlewhitedogrescue.org.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for upcoming events and news.

(Wood is LWDR’s communications and design specialist.)

Law Offices of Charles E. Dorwart 35 years of legal experience • Wills • Living Trusts • Probate • Healthcare and Financial Powers of Attorney • In-home consultations • Free Initial consultation 6790 Grover Street • Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68106 Office: (402) 558-1404 • Fax: (402) 779-7498 cdorwartjd@dorwartlaw.com

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December 2016

RSVP meeting community needs, providing volunteer opportunities

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Some of the 25 RSVP volunteers who help out at the Washington County Recycling Association.

n 1971, under the auspices of the United States Administration on Aging, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, now called RSVP, was established with a $500,000 federal government appropriation.

Later that year, RSVP was transferred to ACTION, an agency that oversaw federal volunteer programs across the country.

By 1988, RSVP had 750 projects nationwide – including in eastern Nebraska – supported by annual federal funding of nearly $30 million.

RSVP provides grants to agencies like the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging to sponsor programs and to engage men and women age 55 and older in volunteer service to meet critical community needs while providing a high-quality experience that will enrich the lives of these older adults.

In 1993, the National and Community Service Trust Act created the Corporation for National and Community Service which today oversees RSVP and other volun-

RSVP volunteer Neil Rosenbaum at the WCRA.

teer programs for older Americans including the Foster Grandparent Program and the Senior Companion Program.

RSVP – which is celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2016 – has 51 volunteer stations and more than 600 volunteers in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties. These volunteer stations include hospitals, congregate meal sites, museums, food pantries, the VA Medical Center, the American Red Cross, recycling facilities, and veterans service centers.

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group of 25 older men and women are RSVP volunteers at the Washington County Recycling Association in Blair.

In 2015, they provided 7,435 hours of volunteer service primarily on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Their duties include helping the recyclers’ unload their cars, and then sorting, bailing, and shipping the recycled items.

Established in 1990, the WCRA exists to reduce the amount of materials going into area landfills and to recycle materials into useable products. In 2015, the center recycled 255 tons of cardboard, 193 tons of newspaper, 67 tons of paper, 56 tons of glass, 26 tons of plastic, 14 tons of tin, and seven tons of aluminum.

In 2015, the WCRA had revenues of $52,634. After expenses, it netted $16,635, all of which was donated back to Washington County and used to finance local civic groups, churches, scouting programs, food pantries, parks, fire departments, and libraries.

“I’m so proud of these RSVP volunteers,” said Pat Tanner who coordinates the program for ENOA. “Their efforts are helping the environment and they’re making Washington County a better place to live.”

on and Kay Kirschbaum – married for 62 years – moved into the parish

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Don and Kay Kirschbaum with a bag of groceries at the Holy Name/St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in north Omaha. at Holy Name Catholic Church – 2901 Fontenelle Blvd. – in 1957.

Even though they moved out of the neighborhood in 2007, they remain dedicated to Holy Name, the religious community where they raised their six children.

For the last 25 years, Don and Kay, who have 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, have volunteered at the Holy Name/ St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, located in the church’s southwest corner.

“We love the people here and we love what we’re doing,” said Don, a retired aviation mechanic for the Union Pacific Railroad.

The Kirschbaums volunteer a combined 50 hours a month at the RSVP volunteer site. Their responsibilities include ordering and picking up items from the Food Bank of the Heartland, stacking the pantry’s shelves, and filling orders for the families who live within parish boundaries.

In 2015, the pantry provided food for more than 1,100 individuals. It also offers rent and utility assistance when the funds are available.

For more information about the Holy Name/St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, please call 402-4516622.

“I want to thank Don and Kay for

December 2016

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their quarter century of hard work on behalf of the Holy Name area families,” Tanner said.

To learn more about RSVP volunteer opportunities in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties, please call 402-444-6536, ext. 224. In Dodge and Washington counties, please call 402-721-7780.

Joe Schock has been a RSVP volunteer for three years.

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Program to assist elder abuse, financial exploitation victims

By Tim Lenaghan

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esearch suggests one in 10 Americans age 60 or older experienced abuse over the course of a year, and many experienced it in multiple forms.

As older adults comprise a growing proportion of the United States’ population, the number of cases of elder abuse and financial exploitation are expected to rise.

Elder abuse and financial exploitation are also widely underreported problems across the nation. One state study found for every elder abuse case known to programs and agencies, 23.5 were unknown. In the same study, researchers found for every case of financial exploitation that reached authorities, 44 went unreported.

In response to these growing concerns, Legal Aid of Nebraska has recently established the AmeriCorps Equal Justice Works Elder Justice Fellowship, a oneyear grant program focused on promoting justice for elder abuse and financial exploitation victims.

The fellowship program is run out of the Omaha office of Legal Aid and will work in partnership with Legal Aid’s elder services hotline,

Do

you

others with more resources take for granted.

Legal Aid may be able to help with cases involving family and consumer issues, housing, disability, public and employment benefits, wills, powers of attorney, health care powers of attorney, and living wills.

We do not handle criminal cases, personal injury cases, or workers’ compensation cases.

To qualify for legal services through the AmeriCorps Equal Justice Works Elder Justice Fellowship, a person must be low income, age 60 or older, and the victim of elder abuse or financial exploitation.

The types of legal services I can provide include changing powers of attorney, estate planning, obtaining orders of protection, filing lawsuits to recover money taken from victims, protecting housing and public benefits, and more.

Although I will be limited by the number of cases I can take, I will do my best to assist victims with their legal problems.

the Elder Access Line.

As the fellow, I will be connecting with organizations serving older adults, educating the community, and providing free civil legal services to victims of elder abuse and financial exploitation.

My work over the next year will involve giving presentations on elder abuse and financial exploitation and on how to spot and avoid victimization. My work will also include providing free legal representation for 15 to 20 victims and free legal advice to 160 more.

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egal Aid of Nebraska is the only statewide provider of direct and free civil legal services to low-income Nebraskans.

Legal Aid’s role is to help these Nebraskans get up and out of poverty and to achieve security and stability through the power of the law. Therefore, our entire goal is to provide direct legal services that help our clients achieve positive outcomes that measurably improves the quality of their lives.

Legal Aid works to provide low-income Nebraskans with the same legal advice and representation that

I

f you believe you or someone you know has been the victim of elder abuse or financial exploitation and need civil legal

?

have questions

about aging

services

in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, or Washington counties?

Log on to

enoa.org

The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Web site includes information about: • • • • • • • • • • •

Bath aides Care management Chore services Community education Durable medical equipment Emergency food pantry Emergency response systems ENOA facts and figures ENOA Library ENOA senior centers

24 hours a day, • Homemakers 7 days a week!

• Information & assistance telephone lines • Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha • Legal services • Meals on Wheels • Medicaid Waiver • New Horizons Grandparent Resource Center • Nutrition counseling

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Ombudsman advocates Respite care Respite Resource Center Rural transportation Senior Care Options Support of adult day facilities • Volunteer opportunities

December 2016

assistance, please call Legal Aid’s Elder Access Line at 402-827-5656 in Omaha or 1-800-527-7249 statewide.

Upon receiving a call, our staff will conduct an intake interview. If it’s determined the caller is a victim of elder abuse or financial exploitation, the call will be directed to me to assess the problem and to determine the services I can provide.

I’m also available for presentations to the community on elder abuse and financial exploitation. My goal is to educate providers of services for older adults, medical professionals, and older Nebraskans on risk factors, the types of abuse and exploitation, and the resources available to victims.

Tim Lenaghan To schedule a presentation or for more information, please send an email to tlenaghan@legalaidofnebraska.org.

(Lenaghan is the AmeriCorps Equal Justice Works Elder Justice Legal Fellow for Legal Aid of Nebraska.)

Study shows women have better memories than men

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n the battle of the sexes, women have long claimed they can remember things better and longer than men can. A new study proves middle-aged women outperform agematched men on all memory measures, although memory does decline as women enter their postmenopausal years.

The study was published online recently in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).

Founded in 1989, The North American Menopause Society is North America’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the health and quality of life of women during midlife and beyond through an understanding of menopause and healthy aging. Its multidisciplinary membership of 2,000 leaders in the field—including clinical and basic science experts from medicine, nursing, sociology, psychology, nutrition, anthropology, epidemiology, pharmacy, and education—makes NAMS uniquely qualified to serve as the definitive resource for health professionals and the public for accurate, unbiased information about menopause and healthy aging.

Memory loss, unfortunately, is a well-documented consequence of the aging process. Epidemiological estimates suggest that approximately 75 percent of older adults report memory-related problems. Women report increased forgetfulness and “brain fog” during the menopause transition. In addition, women are disproportionately at risk for memory impairment and dementia compared with men.

Despite these conditions working against them, middleaged women still outscore their similarly aged male counterparts on all memory measures, according to the study.

The cross-sectional study of 212 men and women ages 45 to 55 assessed episodic memory, executive function, semantic processing, and estimated verbal intelligence through cognitive testing. Associative memory and episodic verbal memory were assessed using a Face-Name Associative Memory Exam and Selective Reminding Test.

In addition to comparing gender differences, the study also found premenopausal and perimenopausal women outperformed postmenopausal women in a number of key memory areas. Declines in estradiol levels in postmenopausal women were specifically associated with lower rates of initial learning and retrieval of previously recalled information, while memory storage and consolidation were maintained.

“Brain fog and complaints of memory issues should be taken seriously,” says Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton, NAMS executive director. “This study and others have shown that these complaints are associated with memory deficits.”

(NAMS provided this information. To learn more about NAMS, visit www.menopause.org.)

THEOS

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HEOS, a social organization for singles age 60 and older, meets from 1 to 4 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at New Cassel, 900 N. 90th St. Older men and women are encouraged to meet for a fun afternoon and to sign up for other activities throughout the month.

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or more information, please call Dorothy at 402399-0759, Mary at 402-393-3052, or Joan at 402-393-8931.

Instructors needed for AARP driving classes AARP is recruiting men and women who have access to a computer to serve as volunteer instructors and coordinators for its Driver Safety Program.

To learn more about the AARP Driver Safety Program, log on to www. aarp.org/drive.

For more information about volunteering, log on to www.aarp.org/volunteernow or call 1-888227-7669.

OFD can install free carbon monoxide, smoke detectors

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

To have a free smoke and/or carbon monoxide detector installed inside your home, send your name, address, and telephone number to: Omaha Fire Department Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Requests 10245 Weisman Dr. Omaha, Neb. 68134 For more information, please call 402-4443560.

Omaha Computer Users Group

UNMC is recruiting volunteers for its mind and brain health registry

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he Mind & Brain Health Labs in the Department of Neurological Sciences at the University of Nebraska Medical Center are seeking volunteers for a registry of individuals interested in participating in mind and brain health research at UNMC. The registry’s goal is to foster research programs at UNMC that may improve understanding of the mind and brain in health and disease, said Matthew Rizzo, M.D., director of the labs, chair of the UNMC Department of Neurological Sciences, and lead physician of the Neuroscience Clinical Program at UNMC. Dr. Rizzo said an innovative, cutting-edge research program, which seeks to improve health and quality of life, depends on the participation of community members in registries like these.

“This initiative at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine will position the medical center as a leader and innovator in translational research aimed at improving patient care and safety, mind and brain health, mobility, and quality of life across the lifespan,” he said.

The registry is a list of people who are interested in being contacted about research studies for which they may be eligible. Being listed in the registry does not obligate people to participate in research. Volunteers may choose not to participate in any research study they are contacted about, Dr. Rizzo said.

He said people will not be compensated for participating in the research registry, but they potentially could be compensated for their participation in studies they were recruited for through this registry.

The research registry is open to men and women ages 19 to 99.

People interested in participating will be asked to complete a questionnaire about who they are and about their health. Their responses will allow the Mind & Brain Health Labs to determine which studies these individuals may be eligible for in the future. Information collected about these men and women also may be used for future, unspecified research.

For more information, contact the Mind & Brain Health Labs at 402-559-6870 or mbhl@unmc.edu.

(UNMC provided this information.)

Fremont Friendship Center You’re invited to visit the Fremont Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St. (Christensen Field), for the following: • Dec. 2: Music by DeJa Blu. • Dec. 3: 39th Annual Craft Show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. @ Christensen Field. The $1 admission will benefit our center. More than 150 crafters will be on hand displaying their work.

• Dec. 7: Helpful Hints @ 10 a.m. followed by pianist Wally.

• Dec. 9: Trip to the Westside Christmas Pageant. We’ll leave the center @ 5:45 p.m.

• Dec. 12: An Orphan Train presentation sponsored by Humanities of Nebraska @ 10:30 a.m. Fremont High School Chorale @ noon.

• Dec. 13: Annual cookie exchange @ 10 a.m. followed by A Christmas Carole Sing-a-long with Bob Furr.

• Dec. 14: Music with Kim Eames @ 10:30 a.m.

• Dec. 15: Ugly sweater contest. A prize will be awarded to the person with the worst ugly sweater.

• Dec. 21: Music with Wayne Miller @ 10:30 a.m.

• Dec. 28: Music with Prairie Sounds @ 10:30 a.m.

• Dec. 30: White Elephant Bingo @ 10 a.m. Bring a wrapped gift!

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.

December 2016

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ou’re invited to join the Omaha Computer Users Group (OCUG), an organization dedicated to helping men and women age 50 and older learn more about their computers.

Anyone can join OCUG regardless of his or her computer skills.

The organization 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.

Annual dues to OCUG are $25.

OCUG has a projector connected to a Microsoft Windows 7 computer and a Windows 8 computer to show users how to solve their computer problems.

Bring your questions concerning your computer problems to the meetings for answers.

For more information, please call OCUG’s president Phill Sherbon at 402333-6529.

Written by Amy Johnson

Letters soldier, his brother shared during WWII subject of new book

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rand Rapids, Mich. graphic designer Amy Johnson didn’t set out to write a book. It happened accidentally when her beloved grandmother passed away and Johnson inherited the somber task of emptying her grandparents’ basement.

There, she discovered the file cabinets where her grandfather had kept a trove of handwritten letters, including every letter he’d received from his brother during his service in World War II, along with copies of all the letters he’d sent back in reply.

“As I read through the letters, I saw a profoundly moving narrative emerge that I knew could not be suppressed any longer,” Amy said.

Putting her graphic design skills to work, Johnson crafted what became the book Letters Lost Then Found. Featuring the letters exchanged between 19-year-old Freddie, a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces who flew over 120 combat missions, and his older brother Willie, age 30 and the circulation manager of the Michigan-based Saginaw News.

The letters reveal the drama of battle, the daily life that goes on for both brothers, and the vital importance of family connections.

The letters can be read sequentially from cover to cover, but brief excerpts next to each correspondence form what Johnson calls “a sort of poetic series” when read one after the other.

The book also includes a “Day in History” section on each page that provides a glimpse of what was happening in World War II at the time each letter was written.

Published by Splattered Ink Press, Letters Lost Then Found is available for $35 from Amazon.com and letterslostthenfound.com.

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Dietitian’s book examines which foods benefit, harm brain function

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aggie Moon, a registered dietitian, has written and Ulysses Press has published a book that details the research findings on which foods and nutrients benefit and which foods and nutrients harm brain

function.

The simple message of the 304-page trade paperback book called The Mind Diet: A Scientific Dietary Approach to Enhancing Brain Function is to eat right and you’ll help keep your brain young and healthy.

The MIND diet is built upon a foundation of the Mediterranean and DASH diets.

“It’s a practical guide to crafting delicious and nourishing snacks, meals, and eating plans using the latest science in diet and dementia,” Moon said.

The Mind Diet: A Scientific Dietary Approach to Enhancing Brain Function is available from online booksellers for $14.95.

Symphony’s Christmas celebration scheduled for Dec. 10, 11, 15 to 18

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ou’re invited to attend the Physicians Mutual Omaha Symphony Christmas Celebration Dec. 10 and 11 and Dec. 15 to 18 at the Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Conductor Ernest Richardson will lead the symphony and a Broadway cast and chorus in Omaha’s beloved Christmas celebration.

Audience members can relish the magic, romance, and joy of the holidays in this singing and dancing treat for the whole family.

Tickets, which start at $19, are available online at www.orpheum.org or by calling 402-345-0606.

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Florence AARP chapter meeting The Florence chapter of AARP meets monthly at Mount View Presbyterian Church, 5308 Hartman Ave. Each meeting features a noon lunch and a speaker at 12:45 p.m. The cost is $8 per person each month.

Rides are available.

For more information, please call Ruth Kruse at 402-453-4825 or Marge Willard at 402-455-8401.

Here’s the schedule for December: December 12 Christmas music

Sertoma Club Members of the Omaha Sertoma Club encourage area residents to collect used and unwanted clothing, shoes, hats, caps, belts, purses, bedding, and towels by cleaning out their closets and other places these items are stored.

These items can then be placed in bags and taken to and placed inside the donation bin at the Westside Community Center near 108th and Grover streets.

These tax-deductible donations will be recycled and sent to people overseas.

For more information, please log on the Internet to www.sertoma.org.

December 2016

Tips on becoming prepared for your surgical procedure

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acing surgery can be a frightening, sometimes overwhelming experience. Thousands of surgeries are performed every day and some unfortunately, result in the patient contracting a surgical site infection (SSI).

According to the Centers for Disease Control, SSIs are the most common healthcare-associated infection (HAI), accounting for 31 percent of all HAIs among hospitalized patients. There are things you can do prior to a procedure, however, that can go a long way toward easing your mind and avoiding post-surgery complications.

• Do your research.

Learn about the procedure you’ll be having, including any short or long-term side effects. Find out what the professionals recommend for the recovery process.

Make sure you understand what your medical insurance covers and what your out-of-pocket responsibility will be.

• Select the right team. Choose an experienced surgeon that specializes in the procedure you need. Do your homework on potential candidates, including learning their qualifications, specialties, and the amount of similar procedures performed.

Pick a surgical team that you communicate well with, respects you, and makes you feel at ease. Websites such as HealthGrades can provide patient feedback on a surgeon’s performance.

• Ask questions. Since there are often several ways to perform a procedure, ask your doctor to explain the surgery. Discuss any risks, benefits, and/or alternatives to the preferred method. Sometimes physicians will provide a reference patient who can tell you about their experience with the same procedure.

• Choose the hospital or surgery center. Check out the facility where you’ll have your procedure. Hospital cleanliness will play a major role in your chances of avoiding an SSI as infections develop in about one to three out of every 100 patients who undergo a procedure, according to the CDC. While antibiotics can be used for treatment, sometimes another surgery is required to treat the infection.

Contact the facility and ask about how they clean the operating rooms (ORs)and recovery areas. You’ll want to go to the cleanest and most disinfected surgery center in your area.

• Select your surgery time. Requesting a day early in the week, but not on Monday, and a time early in the day can decrease your odds of being exposed to germs and bacteria. ORs are deep cleaned each night, with quick cleans between each surgery.

• Take care of home responsibilities. Prior to surgery, get your home in order by cleaning, paying bills, and running errands. Arrange for transportation to and from the hospital if anesthesia will be used.

Many factors influence the risk of getting an SSI, but patients have some control. To learn more about hospital acquired infections and how they can be prevented, visit Xenex.com/StopHAIs. (Family Features provided this information.)

Read it & eat

By Lois Friedman readitandeat@yahoo.com

Try these holiday recipes Visions of sugarplums, holiday cheer, peppermint candy canes, sleigh bells, and the recipes in these terrific cookbooks will add to your holiday cheer and gatherings for a few people, or many family and friends.

Icebox Cakes

By J. Sagendorph & J. Sheehan (Chronicle, $18.95) The darling of the 1950s is the old-school chocolate wafer cookies laced with whipped cream. In this updated version of this old-fashioned icon, make your own wafers, lady fingers, and graham crackers, add homemade pudding or whipped cream, set in the ’frig, and serve.

From Workman:

Cake Magic!

By Caroline Wright ($17.95) Flip through the pages of photos of irresistible cakes, select one of the seven mixes (with five ingredients), then add from the selections of syrups and frostings for a wild variety of more than 100 amazing cakes.

Sweetness

By Christy Jordan ($16.95) Leave joy in your wake. Offer family and friends a sweet slice of life and one of these 200 Southern recipes. From the Cookie Jar to Sweet Sippins to celebrate life.

Sweet Mornings

By Patty Pinner (Agate, $27.50) More than 100 sweet and savory recipes for your holiday gatherings. Brunch and breakfast which Grandma My My believes is the most important meal in a love affair. Other stories and goodies from Cousin Peach and Miss Lillian.

Maple By Katie Webster (Quirk, $22.95) From Vermont comes this ode to maple syrup with a short version of a long history. More than 100 delicious sweet and savory recipes to enjoy. Easy-Peasy Maple Spiced Pecans, Brie with Maple, Walnuts and Figs, Cinnamon Maple Punch, Gluten-Free, Paleo, Vegan, and other detailed and bulletproof choices like the following treat:

Maple Date Bread Pudding Makes 12 servings Active time: 20 minutes Total time: 1 hour and 40 minutes

1 cup dark pure maple syrup 3/4 cup nonfat milk 1/2 cup half-and-half 6 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon salt 8 cups bread cubes, hearty firm white or multigrain, crusts removed 1 cup chopped pitted soft dates 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Coat a two-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl, whisk syrup, milk, half-and-half, eggs, vanilla, and salt. Add bread and dates and stir to combine, breaking up clumps of dates. Transfer to the baking dish, cover with foil, bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until the center starts to puff.

Remove foil and sprinkle the top with turbinado sugar.

Increase heat to 350 degrees F and continue baking for another 13 to 17 minutes, until the top is golden and crusty.

Let cool for at least 20 minutes before serving.

Wednesday dancing at Legion Post

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ou’re invited to attend a dance each Wednesday afternoon from 1 to 4 at American Legion Post #1, 7811 Davenport St. Admission is $2.

For more information, please call 402392-0444.

CLASSIFIEDS Lamplighter II

Some of the nicest, newer 1 bedroom apartments. Elevator, w & d, heated parking garage. Small complex. By bus & shopping. No pets or smoking.

93rd & Maple • 402-397-6921

SUNSHINE CLEANING Professional. Friendly.

Affordable prices. Free estimates.

Senior discounts.

Serving Omaha and surrounding area.

402-359-3947

Call Judy

402-885-8731 REFRESH CLEANING

Lonergan Lawns

Mow, fertilize, aerate.

Trim trees & bushes.

Clean gutters.

Build walls. Haul junk.

Call Tim @ 402-612-3576

Support NH advertisers 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

HANDYMAN SERVICES

Big jobs or small, I’ll do them all!

[Bonded & insured]

deFreese Manor

Chipping & removal.

Your prunings chipped.

Experienced & insured.

Senior discount.

402-894-9206 Senior Citizens (62+)

402-658-1245

Accepting applications for HUD-subsidized apartments in Papillion & Bellevue.

GET RID OF IT!

1002 Bellewood Court Bellevue (402) 292-3300 Bellewood@KimballMgmt.com

rickfitzlerhomeimprovement.com

Haul away, garage, basement, rental clean out…

Johansen Brothers Call Frank

402-312-4000 REPUTABLE SERVICES, INC.

Bellewood Courts

Monarch Villas

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

• Remodeling & Home Improvement • Safety Equipment Handrails Smoke and Fire Alarms

TOP CASH PAID Best & honest prices paid for: Nice old vintage and costume jewelry, old watches, vintage toys, Fenton glassware, old postcards, advertising items, military items, pottery, and antique buttons.

Also buying estates & partial estates.

Call Bev at 402-339-2856

Tree Trimming Beat the falling flakes!

RICK’S

HOUSE CLEANING Always thorough.

Personalized service.

Satisfaction guaranteed.

Call 402-444-4148 or 402-444-6654 to place your ad

• Painting Interior & Exterior • Handyman Services • Senior Discounts • Free Estimates • References • Fully Insured Quality Professional Service Better Business Bureau Member

402-4 5 5-7 0 0 0 Buying or selling?

Use the New Horizons CLASSIFIEDS Call 402-444-4148 or 402-444-6654 to place your ad.

Subsidized housing for those age 62 and over with incomes under $25,250 (1 person) or $28,850 (two persons) 2669 Dodge Omaha, NE 402-345-0622

ENOA December 2016

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New Horizons

We do business in accordance with the Fair Housing Law.

Join us for the trip of a lifetime!

GENESIS JOURNEY In Williamstown, KY January 4 to 7, 2017 • ARK Encounter Explore a life-sized reconstruction of Noah’s Ark 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, & 51 feet high • Visit the Creation & Earth History Museum 75,000 square feet of Biblical history • $450 per person/ double occupancy • $540 per person/ single occupancy Trip includes deluxe motor coach, admission to both attractions, three hotel nights, three breakfasts, an on-board hostess, & luggage handling Call Elite Tours

TODAY at

1-800-488-2114

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Page 19

Assistance League donates books to ENOA’s Grandparent Resource Center

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Assistance League members involved in the book donation effort were (back row, from left): Cheryl Becker, Virginia Baye, Nita Frost, Elaine Craig, Barb Daughton (co-chair), and Rosella Squires (chair). Front row, from left: Ann Winans, Carolyn McDonald, and Lilly Holmes. Assistance League members not pictured are Sara Lorentzen, Sheila Kaczmarck, and Jill Floth.

embers of the Assistance League of Omaha, a nonprofit volunteer service organization whose members identify, develop, implement, and fund philanthropic programs to serve children and adults in the Omaha area, recently donated

dozens of books to the Grandparent Resource Center (GRC).

An Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging program, the GRC provides a wide range of services for grandparents age 55 and older who are caring for their grandchildren.

Its services include monthly support meetings, telephone support when a caregiver is in crisis or needs someone to talk with, assistance with transportation to GRC programs, information and referral to community resources, and access to ENOA’s programs and services.

“On behalf of the Grandparent Resource Center and the families the program serves, I want to thank the Assistance League of Omaha for its generous donation,” said Heidi Demuth who coordinates the GRC for ENOA. For more information about the Grandparent Resource Center, please call Demuth at 402-444-6536, ext. 210.

Your home. Your care. Your pace.

Our program provides a complete system of health care. The service is called PACE, which stands for: Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly. We provide primary and hospital care as well as prescription drugs, transportation and so much more to our participants. Services are provided in the home, at the PACE Center and in the community.

PACE participants may be fully and personally liable for the costs of unauthorized or out-of-PACE program services. Emergency services are covered. Participants may disenroll at any time.

Remember Pearl Harbor on December 7

For complete program details and benefits, please call 402-991-0330 or visit www.immanuel.com.

Serving Nebraska in the Counties of Douglas and Sarpy 5755 Sorensen Parkway | Omaha, NE 68152 | 402-991-0990

Make it Your Family Tradition!

1941 - 2016 Symphony Pops Series Sponsor

Additional Sponsors

Omaha Downtown/Old Market Area

HELP SHINE THE LIGHT ON HUNGER Please donate non-perishable food items at the Holland Center during November & December.

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New Horizons

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December 2016