New Horizons December 2017

A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging

December 2017 VOL. 42 • NO. 12

ENOA 4780 South 131st Street Omaha, NE 68137-1822

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

New Horizons ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Happy Holidays

Dr. Kilie Donovan – a fellow in the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Hospital Medicine/Geriatric Medicine Combined Fellowship – with patient Janet Butts during a recent examination. Nick Schinker takes a closer look at this innovative program.

See page 10.

Meals Deanna Freitag was an integral part of the home-delivered meals program in Fremont for two decades, serving as director from 2000-17. Last month, ENOA began operating its Meals on Wheels Program in Fremont.

See page 3.

Advocates Beth Nodes coordinates ENOA’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, a project that works to address the concerns of residents of long-term care facilities and assisted living communities.

See page 20.

New Horizons readership survey Our staff and advertisers are working to make the New Horizons the best publication possible. To that end, we want to hear from you.

Please take a few minutes to review and answer the questions below. Please mail your responses to New Horizons, 4780 S. 131st St., Omaha, Neb. 68137.

If you have any questions, please call New Horizons Editor Jeff Reinhardt at 402-444-6654.

Thanks for your time and assistance.

• On a scale of 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest), please rate the New Horizons.

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• What types of New Horizons articles do you like best ( human interest, healthcare, available programs and services, other)?

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December 2017

You’re invited to visit the Dora Bingel Senior Center, 923 N. 38th St., this month for the following: • Dec. 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, & 22: Ceramics @ 9 a.m.

• Dec. 1: Music by Billy Troy from the Merrymakers @11:30 a.m. Lunch is $3.

• Dec. 4, 11, & 18: AlAnon meeting @ 7 p.m.

• Dec. 6: Holy Communion served @10 a.m.

• Dec. 11: Book Club @ 10 a.m.

• Dec. 13 & 20: Tai Chi @ 11 a.m.

• Dec. 15: Hard of hearing support group @ 10:30 a.m.

• Dec. 20: Foot care clinic from 9 a.m. to noon for $10.

Call 402-392-1818 to make an appointment.

• Dec. 20: Birthday party luncheon @ noon. Eat for free if you have a December birthday.

A nutritious lunch is served on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. A $1 donation is suggested for the meals, other than $3 for Merrymakers. Round-trip transportation is available for $3.

Reservations are required 24 hours in advance for all meals.

Other activities offered at the facility include: Tuesday: Joy Club Devotions @ 9:30 a.m., matinee @ 12:30 p.m., and quilting @1 p.m.

Wednesday: Devotions @ 10:30, bingo @ 1 p.m., and Bible study at 1 p.m. Friday: Bingo @ 1 p.m.

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

Free phone access to legal information

• Do you pass your copy of the New Horizons on to another reader?

Name

Dora Bingel Senior Center

Zip code

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 1-800-5277249 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.

ENOA meals program comes to Fremont

The Fremont Meals on Wheels staff features (left to right): Intake and Client Services Specialist Kortnie Williams and Route Supervisor Sandee Camp.

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uring November 2017 – the first month the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging operated its Meals on Wheels program in Fremont – the selection of daily entrees included sliced roast beef with gravy, shredded BBQ chicken, country fried steak with gravy, baked cod, and Swedish meatballs.

“The food is delicious,” said Fremont meals recipient Joyce Ball, who will celebrate her 90th birthday next month. Ball retired in 1984 after a 25-year career as a bursar at Midland University.

Joyce, who uses a cane after breaking her hip in January 2016, said she appreciates ENOA’s homedelivered meals program. “I don’t have to buy as many groceries and the volunteers who deliver the meals are wonderful.”

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eginning in 1970, hot midday meals were delivered weekdays to homebound older adults in Fremont through Meals on Wheels of Fremont. The program was funded by the meals’ recipients and donations from local chari-

ties and churches. The food was prepared and packaged at Arbor Manor (now called Premier Estates of Fremont) and delivered by a network of volunteers.

Then in the summer of 2017, Premier Estates decided to end its role with the home-delivered meals program.

“They felt like doing the meals was just too much for them,” Deanna Freitag, who directed Meals on Wheels of Fremont from 2000 through mid-2017, told The Fremont Tribune newspaper.

Freitag – a widow who has three daughters, seven grandkids, and seven great-grandchildren – joined Meals on Wheels of Fremont in 1997 following retirement from a 29-year career as a Fremont High School English teacher.

After being shut down for three weeks in July, Fremont’s home-delivered meals program signed a contract with Treat America Food Services, and resumed meals delivery in August under the direction of Freitag with help from Sandee Camp and volunteer treasurer Sharon Carlson.

The meals were prepared in Treat America’s Omaha kitchen, packaged at the Providence Place in Fremont, and delivered by volunteers.

Eventually, Freitag realized the program needed to be run by a “bigger entity”, so she contacted the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.

On Nov. 13, ENOA began delivering hot, midday meals to 30 to 40 older adults in Fremont weekdays between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Arlis Smidt, who coordinates ENOA’s Meals on Wheels program, thanked Freitag for her two decades of service with the Fremont meals program. “I’d like to commend Deanna for her leadership, hard work, and dedication to this program which has played such a vital role in the lives of older adults in Fremont.”

Smidt also appreciates the efforts of the Fremont volunteers – both past and present – who deliver the meals each weekday. “This has been a wonderful community project for nearly a half century.”

She said the volunteers save ENOA funds which the agency uses to provide additional programs and services for older adults in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties.

T Photo by Aaron Hegarty/ Fremont Tribune

Fremont meals recipient Joyce Ball.

he food for the Fremont Meals on Wheels Program is prepared and packaged in Treat America’s Omaha kitchen and delivered to ENOA’s Fremont Office at Christensen Field, 1730 W. 16th St. The Fremont meals office is staffed by Route Supervisor Sandee Camp and Intake and Client Services Specialist Kortnie Williams. The meals are delivered by a dedicated force of 25 volunteer drivers.

Homebound Fremont residents age 60 and older who are interested in receiving home-delivered meals will need to go through an intake process by calling Williams at 402721-8262 weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Volunteers interested in delivering meals in Fremont can call Camp at 402-721-8262.

December 2017

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

Address all correspondence to: Jeff Reinhardt, Editor, 4780 S. 131st Street, Omaha, NE 68137-1822.

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

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

Editor....................................................Jeff Reinhardt Ad Mgr................Mitch Laudenback, 402-444-4148 Contributing Writers......Nick Schinker, Leo Biga, & Lois Friedman ENOA Board of Governors: Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, chairperson; Lisa Kramer, Washington County, vice-chairperson; Janet McCartney, Cass County, secretary; David Saalfed, Dodge County, & Brian Zuger, Sarpy County.

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

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VAS is offering assistance

Medicare open enrollment period runs through Dec. 7 Medicare’s annual open enrollment period started Sunday, Oct. 15 and runs through Thursday, Dec. 7.

This is the time to review your Medicare Part D coverage or your Medicare Advantage coverage, and if needed, switch to a different plan for 2018.

Even if you’re satisfied with your coverage, you should review your options for next year to see if there’s a plan that will better meet your needs in the upcoming year. Research shows people with Medicare prescription drug coverage could lower their costs by comparing plans annually as there could be another plan that would cover the medications they take with fewer restrictions and/or lower prices.

Last year, Volunteers Assisting Seniors (VAS) helped more than 1,800 people review their coverage during Medicare’s annual open enrollment period. Individuals who reviewed their coverage options with a VAS certified counselor last year and switched to a less expensive plan averaged a $720 savings in their prescription drug costs for 2017.

VAS has scheduled appointments at its Center Mall location to assist Medicare beneficiaries with Part D and Medicare Advantage plan reviews. See the list below for dates, times, and the number to call to schedule an appointment.

Please remember the annual open enrollment period pertains to Part D and Advantage plans only. Medigap supplemental policies aren’t subject to an annual open enrollment period.

To schedule your appointment for a plan review, or if you have questions about Medigap policies, please call VAS at 402-444-6617.

Monday, Dec. 4 VAS 1941 S. 42nd St #312 Center Mall 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

402-444-6617

Wednesday, Dec. 6 VAS 1941 S. 42nd St #312 Center Mall 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

402-444-6617

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

402-444-6617

OFD can install free smoke, carbon monoxide detectors The 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 1516 Jackson St. Omaha, Neb. 68102 For more information, please call 402-444-3560.

Bilingual resource information

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

The number for the Cuidando con Carino Compassionate Care HelpLine is (toll free) 1-877-658-8896.

The service is offered weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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

Read it & eat

By Lois Friedman readitandeat@yahoo.com

Cookbooks for the holidays Ho-ho-ho. Lucky for you, you’ve been nice and your stocking will be full of an international array of cookbooks for holiday ideas, festive recipes galore, vicarious travel, and gifts for everyone. Happy holidays. Enjoy the season.

The Good Fork

By Sohui Kim (Abrams, $29.95) The chef/owner with her carpenter husband in Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY, where they live down the street and work at their restaurant, the Good Fork. The eatery serves flavorful family home cooking with secrets learned along the way from memories. From mom-and-pop shop to serving food day dreams. Five chapters with delicious photographs.

Coastline

By L. Galletto & D. Dale, (Interlink, $35) Italian, French, and Spanish Mediterranean food, stories, and who does what best debates, with more than 100 recipes. Discover the best from Valencia around the coastline to Florence. Fabulous images, too.

Hartwood

By E. Werner & M. Henry (Artisan, $40) The Yucatan Peninsula, Gulf of Mexico, and the jungle of Tulum, Mexico were hacked by these New Yorkers to build their dream restaurant open to the sky, stars, food, smoke and everything else. Beautiful photographs, stories of ingredients, people, and jungle therapy.

Baco

By J. Centeno & B. Hallock (Chronicle, $35) Angelenos beat a path to the five Centeno’s downtown Los Angeles restaurants. Cuisines of the world in eight chapters, menus constantly evolving, international flavors, moms, and great grand moms cooking. More than 130 recipes reflecting the heart of diversity. Chapters from spicy/ salty/pickled/preserved to bubbly/sweet/sour/vivid with photographs to match.

Red Rooster Harlem

By Marcus Samuelsson (Houghton, $37.50) Named for this historic neighborhood speakeasy. Essays, interviews, stories of food and hustle, and great photos along 125th Street from river to river. From The Pantry to It’s Always Sweet in Harlem from this award winning cookbook author.

Brooklyn Rustic

By Bryan Calvert (Little Brown, $30) Essays, quotations by the famous, and advice from life experiences such as “keep a cool head, and be crafty.”

Country simplicity with urban complexity at his restaurant, James. Tips and careful shopping will allow you to share handmade dishes and witness the pleasure of great food.

Bring the best of the borough to your table with more than 125 recipes and lush food photography.

Free Christmas dinner for older adults available at St. Margaret Mary’s

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December 2017

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 event is sponsored by St. Margaret Mary’s church and its parishioners.

The program can also provide a home-delivered meal for older adults in the Omaha area who will be homebound on Christmas Day. For reservations and to arrange for round-trip transportation or meal delivery, please call 402-558-2255 by Friday, Dec. 15.

Heartland Generations Center

Quilters meet Tuesdays at Washington Library

You’re invited to visit the Heartland Generations Center – 4318 Fort St. – for the following: • Dec. 3: The Nutcracker @ the Orpheum @ 2 p.m.

• Dec. 6, 19, & 20: Senior education group.

• Dec. 10: Student League Christmas.

• Dec. 11: Sculpture class with Tom McLaughlin.

• Dec. 14: Visit the Mormon Trail Visitors Center gingerbread house display @ 11 a.m.

• Dec. 18: Community Alliance Singers @ 10:45 a.m.

• Dec. 19: Krafts with Kina @ 10:30 a.m.

• Dec. 21: Christmas party @ noon.

• Dec. 29: Toast in the New Year.

The center will be closed on Dec. 22, 25, & 26 for Christmas.

Other center events include bingo Wednesday @ 12: 30 p.m. and Thursday @ 10:30 a.m.

The Heartland Generations Center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is normally served at noon. A $3.50 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to attend.

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

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

Fontenelle Tours

Omaha/Council Bluffs

712-366-9596

Quoted prices are per person, double occupancy. For more information about our tours, please call Ward or Kathy Kinney at Fontenelle Tours at the number listed above.

Motorcoach

Quilters We Are members include front row, from left: Irma Johnson, Gloria Smith, Judi Lee, and Linda Hartman. Back row, from left: Dalma Seitelbach, Jackie Whitaker, Adele Harris, Linda Washington, Vera Jackson, Shirley Coffey, Michele Jones, Cathy Forte, and Charlesetta Cox.

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or a visitor at a recent Tuesday night gathering of the Quilters We Are group at Omaha’s Charles B. Washington Library – 2868 Ames Ave. – it was difficult to determine which was brighter: the smiles on

the faces of the quilters or the colors of the materials the ladies were using to create their beautiful quilts.

Quilters We Are is a multi-racial group of women ranging in age from 10 to 87 that meets Tuesday nights to make quilts that are donated

Gloria Smith, 87, has been quilting for four years.

to local charitable organizations.

“We are friends who care about and support each other through good times and bad,” said Quilters We Are member Cathy Forte.

“We enjoy what we do. It’s kind of like our ministry.”

In November, the organization donated 34 quilts to the New Visions Homeless Services, a nonprofit agency that recently built 26 transitional living units for honorably discharged veterans in Omaha.

“This was our opportunity to give something back to our warriors and to thank them for their service,” Forte said.

Gloria Smith, age 87, is a long-time seamstress who took up quilting four years ago. She enjoys being a member of Quilters We Are. “I like meeting new people, and we’re constantly learning about quilting from each other.”

The Quilters We Are members want to thank the Omaha Public Library system and Washington branch library manager Joanne Ferguson for providing a room to hold the weekly quilting sessions and storage space for the materials.

For more information, please call Forte at 402-6375492.

December 2017

Kansas City Christmas. December 13 – 14. $399. Come along with us to Kansas City and enjoy some Christmas spirit including “Funny Money” at the New Theater Restaurant. National Toy and Miniatures Museum, holiday luncheon at the Webster House, and “Smoking Hot Homicide”, a murder mystery comedy dinner.

“The Forgotten Christmas Carols”. December 17. $79. Enjoy the Lofte Community Theater’s matinee production. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will raise your Christmas spirit! Dinner following the play, then a tour of the beautiful residential Christmas lights in Omaha.

Black Hills “Ski for Light”. January 20 – 26, 2018. Fourth 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 someone who might want to participate, call us.

Volunteers are 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.

Morel Mushrooms and Wind (with a side of Mustard and Matchsticks).

May 17 - 20. $739. ($779 after 1/17/18). Come along to a Morel Mushroom Festival and enjoy fried morels and mushroom brats, tour a wind generator farm to find out how those huge wind turbines work, tour the National Mustard Museum (some call it the “Condimental Divide”), “marvel” at the detailed scale matchstick models created by an Iowa artist, see the “House on the Rock”, and have lunch in the “Sistine Chapel”.

Duluth and the North Shore. June 17 - 23. (Call for pricing). Explore the western edge of Lake Superior (called the “north shore”) from Duluth up to Grand Portage at the Canadian border, with many stops along the way.

Enjoy a dinner cruise on Lake Superior, Canal Park, smoked fish shop, Split Rock Lighthouse, Gooseberry Falls, North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum, mountain tram ride, art galleries and shopping, ferry ride to Isle Royale National Park, an optional charter fishing trip. Many more highlights.

“Mamma Mia!” at the New Theater. July 28. $135. ($145 after 5/28/18).

On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past to the door of the church.

Featuring the #1 hits of the legendary Group ABBA including “Dancing Queen”, “Knowing Me-Knowing You”, “Take a Chance on Me”, and many more.

October Colors in Niagara Falls, Boston, and Cape Cod. October 9 - 20. $2,689. ($2,809 after 1/5/18). Dust off your passport and enjoy the beautiful fall scenery as we travel across the Midwest to Niagara Falls, Boston, and Cape Cod, with several highlights including a cruise to the base of Niagara Falls, “ice wine” tasting, dinner atop the Skylon Tower, Strawberry Fields experience, Vermont Maple Museum, Plymouth, Salem, Cape Cod Resort, Sandwich Glass Museum, Hershey’s Chocolate World, and Amish Acres.

Branson Christmas 2018: Dates and pricing TBD. Kansas City Christmas 2018: Dates and pricing TBD.

Laughlin Laughlin in January. January 5 - 8. $309. Four days – three nights. Includes non-stop, round-trip airfare to Laughlin, Nevada, three nights lodging at the Riverside Resort and Casino on the banks of the Colorado River, and shuttle transportation to and from the airport. Entertainment during this trip includes an Elvis tribute, “Happy Birthday to the King”, at the Riverside Resort.

In Partnership with Collette Vacations Quoted prices are per person, double occupancy, and do include airfare. More destinations available!

Discover Panama. February 22 – March 2, 2018. Details to follow.

Canadian Rockies & Glacier National Park. July 2018. Details to follow.

Spotlight London Holiday. December 2018. Details to follow.

Iceland’s Magical Northern Lights. Early March 2019. Details to follow.

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

11808 Mason Plaza, Omaha, NE 68154

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Books can guide readers through Medicare, Social Security programs

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o get the most from Medicare and Social Security, you need accurate information that steers you clear of bad advice and costly pitfalls. Two newly updated books from AARP and Wiley – the third editions of Medicare for Dummies and Social Security for Dummies – will guide you through these systems with easy-to-understand explanations and details so you make the most of your benefits.

Whether you’re applying for yourself or for a loved one, you can trust these guides from the nation’s top experts.

Approximately 58 million Americans receive Medicare benefits. Nearly 61 million Americans receive Social Security benefits. According to Social Security Administration estimates, 97 percent of Americans ages 60 to 89 either receive or will receive Social Security. Clearly, there’s a huge and pressing need for plainspoken, commonsense advice, and up-to-date information on both programs.

Written by Patricia Barry, a nationally recognized authority on Medicare and Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, Medicare For Dummies addresses the complexities of Medicare and helps those eligible for benefits maneuver the claims process.

Readers will get tips on reducing out-of-pocket expenses, information on their rights and protections, and ways to choose the best policy.

They’ll also learn how to avoid costly mistakes, determine the best time to enroll, evaluate and compare various policy benefits to find the best policy, find out what’s covered and what isn’t, reduce out-of-pocket expenses, and use the new Medicare card coming in 2018.

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or many, Social Security forms the foundation of their retirement income. Social Security for Dummies provides readers with the information they need to take charge and successfully navigate the Social Security Administration.

This easy-to-access guide, written by award-winning journalist Jonathan Peterson, offers sound, trusted guidance. It provides a clear understanding of when and how to apply for Social Security so you can rest easy knowing you and your family are getting the benefits you’ve earned.

Readers will learn how to incorporate Social Security into their financial plan, start collecting at the right time, protect dependents, manage the appeals process, help a loved one apply, and find out how Social Security and Medicare work together.

Medicare for Dummies and Social Security for Dummies are available at bookstores and online book dealers.

WHITMORE LAW OFFICE

Aromatherapy

By Melinda Myers Ease into the hectic holiday season with the help of aromatherapy. The fragrances of plant-derived essential oils have long been used to improve the health of our mind, body, and spirit.

Boost your energy and increase your focus as you work to balance work, family, and holiday fun.

Peppermint has long been prized for this and so much more. You’ll find it also helps relieve headaches and indigestion.

Freshen your home with the scent of grapefruit. It’s the perfect solution when unexpected guests drop by for a visit.

Use eucalyptus essential oil in the fight against colds and flu this winter. Just place a few drops into a diffuser on your desk at work, in your bedroom, or family room. The diffusers come in a wide array of shapes and sizes. Some use heat, ultrasonic vibrations, fans, or wood wicks to disperse the fragrance throughout the room.

Others, like the Eden Aroma Diffuser, allow the fragrance to seep through the porous portion of the diffuser pot and into the room.

Use a eucalyptus eye mask to help relieve sinus pressure and sooth tired eyes.

Just gently heat or cool the mask, cover your eyes, and relax into a bit of relief.

End your day with relaxing lavender. It helps reduce anxiety, relieves headaches, and improves sleep. Turn up the heat and fragrance with the Ultimate Lavender Wrap (gardeners.com).

Simply pop the flax, rice, and lavender infused insert into the microwave. Place it back into the cloth cover and drape it over your neck and shoulders. This can provide relief for those suffering from tense or aching muscles and winter chills.

Encourage a good night’s sleep by tucking a lavender-filled sachet under your pillow. Or set a bundle of dried lavender stems in the bathroom or bedroom.

When you incorporate some aromatherapy into your routine you’ll find yourself smiling and more relaxed. The boost in energy and reduced stress will help you navigate the many gatherings, rich food, and busy schedules ahead.

Consider giving the gift of aromatherapy to someone you love.

(Myers has written more than 20 gardening books.)

Wills • Trusts • Probate

Ask A Lawyer: Q — I have had my Will and other estate planning documents prepared by my attorney. What’s next?

A — Because an original Will is usually needed by the probate court, it makes sense to store it in a strategic location. We normally recommend a fireproof safe or lock box at the client’s home. If your executor has access, a safety deposit box in a bank might be the solution. Sometimes it may be wise to file your Will with the Probate Court, if there is concern about the Will not being given effect by family members. You’ve taken the trouble to protect your assets and loved ones by creating an estate plan. Don’t leave its discovery to chance. Ensure that your executor or trustee can easily and reliably find it when the time comes to put it into effect.

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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December 2017

Harvard forum adresses the stigma of diabetes People at risk for diabetes and its complications may resist getting care because of the perceived stigma around the condition.

At a recent Harvard University forum, a panel of experts discussed advances in technology, policy, and information for diabetes prevention and treatment, including ways to address concerns about this stigma and helping patients take charge of their care.

Here are four ways to help address the perceived stigma around diabetes: • Understand that stigma can be hazardous to your health. “The stigma causes shame,” said panelist LaShawn McIver.

“People feel like they caused it themselves, and so it interferes with the treatment and management of the disease.”

Even after diagnosis, some patients keep their diabetes a secret, hesitating to share potentially life-saving information with family and co-workers, added panelist Elizabeth Halprin.

• Empower with information. “There is a lot of emotional baggage that comes along with the diagnosis of diabetes,” Halprin said, citing the judgement implied in terms like “good” and “bad” foods.

She said we want to educate people so they can make good food choices for themselves by engaging a team of nurses, nutritionists, and exercise experts to empower individuals with useful, practical information.

• Coach, don’t command. Cloud-connected monitoring devices can help advance a model of care that gives patients personalized insights into how to manage their diabetes,” said panelist Howard Wolpert.

“The current care model is very prescriptive. The patient is told what dose they should take, (and) what they should eat, which is not only patronizing, it’s actually rarely effective,” he added.

Wolpert described a new model in which smartphones and connected insulin pens plug into the Cloud to help patients take control of their own care with expert guidance.

• Reframe. “We are living in environments which strongly promote over consumption of food and too little activity, and it’s that constellation of factors that’s driving the joint epidemic of diabetes and obesity,” said panelist Sara Bleich. Bleich studies policies like sugary beverage taxes and menu labeling that can make it easier for people to make healthier choices.

ENOA is recruiting older adults to join Senior Companions, Foster Grandparents

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

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

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

Foster Grandparents serve as positive role models for children who need special attention with education, healthcare, and social development in schools, Head Start programs, and child development centers.

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

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

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

For more information on the FGP and SCP, please call 402-444-6536.

Vols need for gerontology study

AARP’s Tax-Aide program

The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Department of Gerontology is looking for healthy younger and older adults and for caregivers of patients with dementia to participate in a research study about cognition and emotion.

Study participants – who may be compensated – are asked to make a one-time, two-hour visit to a laboratory on UNO’s Dodge Street campus. The experiment involves paper and pencil questionnaires and computer tasks.

Free parking will be located a short walk from the building where the experiment will take place.

Participants must be age 19 to 35 or 55 to 90, able to comprehend written and spoken English, have transportation to the UNO campus, and must have completed a minimum of two years of high school.

Participants may not have received a diagnosis of neurological or psychiatric disease (e.g., stroke, depression), have vision, hearing, or motor difficulties, or are pregnant.

For more information, please contact Janelle Beadle, Ph.D. at 402-554-5961.

Volunteers are needed for AARP’s Tax-Aide program which provides free tax-preparation services to the community with a focus on older adults with low to moderate income. AARP membership isn’t required.

Men and women are needed at the nine sites in the Omaha area that provide tax preparation services. No experience is needed other than knowing how to operate a computer and having done your own income tax returns.

Volunteers – who’ll work with experienced volunteers – will receive materials from AARP and the IRS for reference and self-study, attend training sessions in December and January, and then prepare tax returns a few hours a week during the tax season.

AARP also needs greeters, administrative help, and technical support personnel who aren’t directly involved in the tax preparation.

For more information log on to nebraskataxaide.org or call 402-398-9568 and provide your name, phone number, and email address.

The New Horizons is an Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging publication.

Florence AARP Chapter 2269

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ARP’s Florence Chapter 2269 meets monthly at Mount View Presbyterian Church, 5308 Hartman Ave. The meetings feature a noon lunch for $8 followed by a program at 12:45 p.m.

The meetings are open to both AARP members and non-members.

Transportation is available by calling Ruth Kruse at 402-453-4825 or Marge Willard at 402-455-8401.

Here’s the schedule for the rest of 2017: • December 12 Christmas music

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Fremont Friendship Center

Alzheimer’s chapter support group

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You’re invited to visit the Fremont Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St. (Christensen Field), for the following: • Dec. 2: Fremont Parks and Recreation Department’s 40th annual Craft Show in Christensen Field’s main arena ($1 of the admission price goes to the Fremont Friendship Center).

• Dec. 6: Hints with Home Instead @ 10 a.m. followed by pianist Wally.

• Dec. 12: Slide show on WWII by Rich Hirshman @ 10:30 a.m.

• Dec. 13: Music by Bill Chrastil @ 10:30 a.m.

• Dec. 15: Christmas cookie exchange @ 10:30 a.m.

Please bring four dozen homemade or bakery cookies plus a container for you to take cookies home.

• Dec. 20: Music by Wayne Miller followed by a Christmas dinner.

• Dec. 27: Music by Billy Troy.

The facility will be closed on Christmas Day. Walking in the main arena Tusesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. is encouraged.

Keep track of your miles in our walking book.

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.

he Alzheimer’s Association has a new support group in Omaha dedicated to families and friends of persons with intellectual disabilities and dementia.

The group is designed for individuals concerned about changes they may be witnessing in the person with the disability.

It’s also for those who have received a dementia diagnosis and want to be with other persons going through the same experiences.

The group meets from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center on the main campus of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6400 Dodge St. For more information, contact Janet Miller at jlmiller809@gmail.com or 402-639-8037.

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Corrigan Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St., this month for: • Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29: Movie day with popcorn. The movie begins around 10 a.m. Stay for lunch and pinochle after lunch.

• Dec. 6, 13, 20, & 27: Crafts & Social @ 10:30 a.m.

Learn how to make recycled holiday cards, a holiday ornament, and more. A $2 donation is suggested for each class.

Sign-up for the classes and lunch by calling 402-731-7210.

• Dec. 7: Nicholas Celebration by St. Peter & Paul Elementary School students @ 1 p.m. Bingo @ 1:30 p.m.

• Dec. 11: Christmas treats and music by the Bellevue Singers @ 11:30 a.m. Bring a treat and a greeting card to share. Make your reservation today for a lunch featuring an Italian penne pasta casserole or deli pecan cranberry chicken salad.

• Dec. 14: Lunch & Learn about Tips for Keeping Your Mind Sharp with the Visiting Nurse Association @ 11 a.m.

Lunch is a shredded BBQ chicken sandwich or a deli roast beef salad.

• Dec. 18: Birthday party with music by Paul Siebert from the Merrymakers @ 11 a.m. Country fried steak or a deli Denver omelet salad for lunch. Bingo after lunch.

• Dec. 21: Christmas Party featuring music by the Arthrighteous Brothers. Join us for T’ai Chi @ 9:30 a.m. and chair volleyball @ 11 a.m. A roast beef dinner will be served @ noon. Wear your holiday clothes and accessories. Seasonal door prizes.

Snacks to share are always welcome. Play Mega Bingo with a shared pot of $75. Lunch reservations are due by noon on Friday, Dec. 15.

The center will be closed on Christmas Day. 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.

South Australian project using robots Lunch honors Dodge, Washington County RSVP vols to assist older adults in their homes group of four women

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niversity of South Australia computer science Ph.D. candidate Kalana Ishara Withanage has teamed up with engineering and health experts from the university to work on a project in which pressure sensors located in the floor of an older person’s home will be used to alert a robot that an event has occurred, and then direct it to help.

Withanage said the algorithm being developed would allow the companion robot to track an individual’s progress as they stand up and, using the robot’s onboard cameras, provide corrective guidance if the person tried to undertake an unsafe movement.

“There could be camera and floor sensors in the home to roughly identify that something has happened, but it doesn’t necessarily mean a fall,” Withanage said. “The robot could then go to the area to see what has happened – whether a fall or something else – and differentiate an incident from an emergency.”

The robot would seek out the older person and then call a healthcare professional, if necessary.

Withanage said the robot would also be equipped to monitor heart rates remotely and converse with the fall victim using voice recognition software.

He said there are about 80,000 falls by older adults in Australia annually, some of which result in death or serious injury.

“The robot can detect sub-activities such as rolling to the side or crawling. If the person is moving, the robot can take steps backwards or forwards. It can also push supporting structures towards the person to help them get up,” Withanage said.

The research began when project supervisor Dr. Ivan Lee recognized the need after speaking with fall prevention expert Shylie Mackintosh, an associate professor at the University of South Australia.

Withanage said the technology could also be adapted to provide real-time guidance for athletes or to assist victims and emergency workers in disaster environments.

“We could see this used in natural disasters, for example after a tsunami. The robot could go into the environment and see whether the person needs any assistance and provide it as required.”

Although the robot technology is still in early stages of development, the research team is confident a full prototype will be completed by February 2018.

“A few years ago, we didn’t expect to see robotic vacuum cleaners or lawn mowers, but now they are appearing in the market – so likewise, it could take another decade, but in that time, people will have their own robots in home environments,” Withanage said.

“My thought was, we have robots but it’s a shame they can’t assist people in trouble.”

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Recipients of the 700+ Hour Club Award included front row (from left): Louise Snyder, Mavis Lidberg, and Bernie Buckley. Back row (from left): Leroy Lidberg and Gary Bobbitt.

and three men – each of whom volunteered more than 700 hours during the last year – were among the honored guests at the annual Dodge and Washington County RSVP recognition luncheon.

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 at a variety of stations including hospitals, nonprofits, schools, and nutrition sites.

Recipients of the 700+ Hour Club Award were Gary Bobbitt, Neil Rosenbaum, Louise Snyder, Bernie Buckley, Rose Gude, Leroy Lidberg, and Mavis Lidberg.

A special thanks to sponsors Don Peterson & Associates, Fremont Health, Ludvigsen Mortuary, Nye Health Services, and Washington County Recycling.

For more information about RSVP, call 402-4446536 in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties, and 402-7217780 in Dodge and Washington counties.

Volunteers needed The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging is looking for volunteer drivers for its Meals on Wheels Program.

Flexible weekday schedule delivering midday meals to homebound older adults in the greater Omaha area.

Call Arlis at 402-444-6766 for more information.

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Program designed to bring compassionate care to older adults

By Nick Schinker Contributing Writer

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hile fading eyesight is just one of many medical issues for an increasingly aging population, it is the clear vision of a new fellowship educational program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center to bring older adults more proactive, personalized, and compassionate care.

UNMC’s Chief of the Division of Geriatric Medicine, Jane Potter, M.D., says the new Hospital Medicine/Geriatric Medicine Combined Fellowship program has an opportunity to be as rewarding for its medical fellows as it will be for the patients they serve.

“Geriatrics is a wonderful field of medicine,” Dr. Potter says. “There are studies that indicate geriatricians are among the most satisfied of all physicians. Programs like this respond to a pressing need to find ways to increase the number of geriatricians and geriatric experts in the workforce.”

The new fellowship combines a greater understanding of care for the aging along with specialized hospital care. “A hospital stay can be lifesaving, but may create other problems for older people,” says Dr. Potter. “The older a person gets, the greater is the risk for complications and problems that occur during hospitalization and that can last much longer than the illness for which they were originally hospitalized.”

She says each person has a different physical reaction to illness or injury and that complications can appear when a body is stressed.

“These risks rise dramatically with age,” she says. “Simple things that may be a part of a normal hospital routine, as well as the number of medications an older person is taking can create complications. With older folks, it doesn’t take much.”

For example, an 85-year-old person who breaks a hip and is hospitalized is at risk for developing other common complications such

Fremont, Neb. native Dr. Kilie Donovan – one of the first two fellows in UNMC’s Hospital Medicine/Geriatric Medicine Combined Fellowship program – with patient Janet Butts. as acute confusion or delirium, she says.

“In geriatrics, we know ways to prevent a significant portion of these spells of confusion,” she says. “The trend is to have a geriatric expert in the hospital working side-by-side with the fracture surgeons, as well as with the other providers of preand post-operative care. Our new program acknowledges and builds upon that trend.”

The goal is to have two fellows enrolled in the program at all times.

The first two fellows began the program July 1.

One of the two fellows spends the first six months concentrating on a variety of areas of geriatric study, learning to treat and prevent common medical issues and conditions, followed by six months of internal medicine or “hospitalist” practice, then another six months of geriatrics training. The second fellow completes the program in a reverse order. Each geriatric session is honed to accommodate that particular fellow’s specific needs and interests, Dr. Potter says.

K Dr. Jane Potter is Chief of UNMC’s Division of Geriatric Medicine.

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ilie Donovan, M.D., is one of the first two fellows in the Hospital Medicine/ Geriatric Medicine Combined Fellowship program. Born in Fremont, Neb., Dr. Donovan graduated from Wayne State College before earning her medical degree in 2014 from the UNMC College of Medicine. She completed her Internal Medicine

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residency at UNMC in June and is in her first six months in geriatric study as part of the new fellowship program.

“It’s eye-opening, how complex care can be for older adults,” Dr. Donovan says. “People are living so much longer, and we are able to treat diseases that just a few years ago some patients simply wouldn’t survive. To be able to look at older adults from a functional status and to actually improve their quality of life, that’s the beauty of geriatrics.”

Dr. Donovan has firsthand experience in the complicated nature of senior care. “My Grandpa, Gilbert Hubert, had a very complex medical history,” she recalls. “He had polio and had several cardiac issues before he passed away a year ago.

Every time they went to their doctor, he and Grandma would put me on speakerphone so I could help them ask questions and explain things to them.”

Her grandmother, Vera Jean, is 77 and continues to rely on Dr. Donovan’s advice and counsel on medical questions. “We talk all the time,” Dr. Donovan says. “She was in the hospital earlier this year, and she would call me every day and we’d go through her meds and any other questions she had.

“When I joined the fellowship program and explained the concentration in geriatrics, my whole family was happy I was doing this.

It’s giving me a completely different perspective. I can’t stress how im-

December 2017

portant programs like this are, and how grateful I am to be a part of it.”

Dr. Donovan, whose husband, Tim Donovan, M.D., is currently enrolled in an Interventional Radiology fellowship program at UNMC, says the geriatric fellowship program’s flexibility provides the opportunity to help direct her own study course. “They asked me what my interest is regarding the rotations we will do,” she says. “They really want to know what I want to get out of this.”

And, she has already seen the benefits.

“I feel I am doing a better job of what I was already doing because of this program,” she says. “I look at what the patient wants and compare it to what I now know is safe for them. I am more aware and better trained to help them live the life they want to and do it safely.

“As our older population increases, we need more trained physicians to take care of the complex, multiple morbidities that accompany aging,” she says. “This fellowship has given me the opportunity to take better care of older adults.”

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r. Potter completed her internship and residency at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., followed by two years at the Gerontology Research Center, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore City Hospitals in Baltimore, Md. --Please turn to page 11.

UNMC adding fellowship combining internal medicine, geriatrics --Continued from page 10.

While in Washington, she was visited by Michael Sorrell, M.D., who would soon take on the role of chairman of the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine. Dr. Sorrell had a plan to join the UNMC Section on Clinical Gerontology – one of the first in the nation within a Department of Internal Medicine – with the medical center’s Aging Studies Section.

In 1982, Dr. Sorrell recruited Dr. Potter to Nebraska to serve as Chief of the Section (now Division) of Gerontology and Geriatrics at UNMC. UNMC has taken an even larger role in the study of gerontology and geriatrics since the opening of the Home Instead Center for Successful Aging, 730 S. 38th Ave. The only freestanding, comprehensive care center in the region linked to an academic medical center and focused on aging, the Home Instead Center for Successful Aging offers specialized services aimed at helping older adults age better and live healthier lives.

UNMC’s Hospital Medicine/Geriatric Medicine Combined Fellowship program is based in the Home Instead Center for Successful Aging, 730 S. 38th Ave.

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r. Potter says UNMC is recruiting for a second new fellowship program, co-sponsored by the Division of Geriatrics, where participants commit to three years of internal medicine study with a fourth year in geriatrics, and as a result become board certified in both fields.

“During those three years of internal medicine, they will participate in a specified number of geriatric clinics,” Dr. Potter says.

“Each year, they are presented new opportunities to learn geriatric skills. When finished, they are akin to junior geriatricians with a number of career options.

Some may go on to work in nursing homes. Others may go into training positions, faculty development, or clinical research.”

With both UNMC fellowship programs, the ultimate goal is improved care for older adults.

“The idea is for older people to leave the hospital in the best shape possible,” Dr. Potter says. “Geriatric training gives doctors the insight to keep people physically active, mentally fit, and at the lowest risk of other complications.”

It is a vision of the future all older adults would love to see.

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SS COLA adjustment near 1.8 percent in 2018

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ocial Security recipients can look forward to receiving an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of about 1.8 percent in 2018, according to an estimate released recently by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL).

“A COLA of that amount would make it the highest since 2012 — but even at 1.8 percent, the raise is less than half of the 4 percent COLAs averaged from 2000 to 2009,” says TSCL’s Social Security policy analyst Mary Johnson.

That estimate is based on consumer price index (CPI) data through August. Estimating the 2017 COLA has been far more challenging than in previous years due to the impact of hurricanes

Harvey and Irma which are affecting the prices of gasoline, food, housing, and other costs.

“We’ve got a hurricane wild card this year,” Johnson says.

The COLA calculation is based on the percentage of difference in the average third quarter change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Clerical Workers and Wage Earners (CPI-W) from one year to the next. In late August 2005, Hurricane Katrina knocked out petroleum production, causing gasoline and other consumer prices to surge in September.

The CPI-W shot up an astonishing 1.5 percent between August and September of that year. Since Katrina, the CPI-W has

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.

increased .042 percent on average from August to September. “Even if costs were to rise as much as they did after Katrina, the COLA for 2018 would still be about 2 percent,” Johnson says.

Over the past eight years COLAs have been at record lows, averaging just 1.1 percent. During three of those years there was no COLA at all, and in 2017, the COLA was just 0.3 percent. Inflation, especially for the goods and services used by older Americans, has continued to grow more quickly than annual COLAs. A recent TSCL study, which examined the price changes in the goods and services typically purchased by retirees, found Social Security benefits lost 30 percent of their buying power since 2000. The loss of buying power jumped 7 percent in one year, rising from 23 percent in 2016 to 30 percent in 2017. The steep one-year loss of buying power occurred as costs rose far more rapidly than the COLA. It’s an early indication the COLA for 2018 will likely be higher than usual.

TSCL is working for legislation that would provide greater retirement security for older Americans as well as strengthening financing for Social Security. To learn more, go online and visit www.SeniorsLeague.org.

Please see the ad on page 3

New Horizons Club gains new members $25 Tom Bartek $15 Phyllis Christensen Barbara J O’Connor $10 Grace Royston $5 Mary Longwell Reflects donations received through 11/22/17.

AARP offering driving course AARP is offering a new four-hour, research-based Smart Driver Course for older adults.

By completing the course, participants will learn research-based driving safety strategies that can reduce the likelihood of having an accident; understand the links between the driver, the vehicle, and the road environment, and how this awareness encourages safer driving; learn how aging, medications, alcohol, and health-related issues affect driving ability and ways to allow for these changes; increase confidence; know how to share the road safely with other drivers, and learn the newest safety and advance features in vehicles.

The fee is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonAARP members.

No tests or examinations are involved, course completion certificates are provided, and auto insurance discounts may apply. Here’s this month’s schedule: Dec. 9 @ 1 p.m.

AARP Info Center 1941 S. 42nd St #220 Call 402-398-9568 to register

Millard Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Millard Senior Center at Montclair, 2304 S. 135th Ave., this month for the following: • Dec. 6: African dress making @ 9 a.m.

• Dec. 6: Bit of Bronze Bell Ringers @ noon.

• Dec. 9: Christmas Spectacular Symphony. The bus loads @ noon. Concert begins @ 2 p.m.

• Dec. 14: Visit the Mormon Trail Visitors Center’s Gingerbread House @ 9 a.m.

• Dec. 18: Blood pressure checks.

• Dec. 20: P.A.W.S. visits @ 10 a.m.

• Dec. 22: Sing along with Bud and Fran @ 9:30 a.m. Bring treats to share for the Christmas party.

• Dec. 26: Canasta at 1:30 p.m.

We’re looking for bridge players.

Call Tamara Womack at 402-546-1270 for more information.

The facility will be closed on Christmas Day. The center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lunch is served @ 11:30 a.m. A $3.50 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the meal the participant wishes to enjoy.

Other center activities include walking, card games, Tai Chi, dominoes, quilting, needlework, chair volleyball, and bingo.

For reservations or more information, please call 402546-1270.

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December 2017

Written by hiker, daughter

New book aims to guide Boomers interested in taking up backpacking Exercise is important to more than 67 percent of Baby Boomers, according to a recent U.S News Baby Boomer Report.

To help these active men and women stay fit, author and hiking expert James Klopovic shares his knowledge of hiking and how to get more out of life in his new book, The Honest Backpacker: A Practical Guide for the Rookie Adventurer over 50.

Published by Affinitas Publishing, the book features James and his daughter/co-author Nicole Klopovic showing readers how being with nature is a vehicle for living, for growing as a person, and for getting more out of life.

“I believe the trail is there for everyone at every phase of life,” said National Geographic magazine’s Adventurer of the Year Jennifer Pharr Davis. “The Honest Backpacker fills a much-needed void with vivid anecdotes and practical step-by-step instructions for folks over age 50 who are hitting the trail for the first time.”

The Honest Backpacker: A Practical Guide for the Rookie Adventurer over 50 is available through Amazon and other booksellers.

Notre Dame Housing

You’re invited to visit Notre Dame Housing, 3439 State St. for the following: • Monday & Wednesday: Tai Chi class @ 4 p.m. North entrance.

• Dec. 7 & 19: Get banking help as an American National Bank representative visits at 10 a.m. North entrance.

• Second, third, & fourth Friday: Saving Grace @ 1:30 p.m. East entrance.

• Third Wednesday: Food pantry from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

East entrance. Bring a current photo I.D. such as a driver's license or a state issued ID, and proof of residency such as a utility bill or a piece of mail no more than 30 days old.

Bills or mail must be in the name of the client who’s seeking the assistance. Individuals will only be allowed to pick up items for their own household.

• Dec. 12: December birthday celebration @ 1:30 p.m. with music by Paul Siebert from the Merrymakers. North entrance.

Notre Dame Housing will be closed on Christmas Day. Notre Dame Housing is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Lunch is served at noon. A $3.50 contribution is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by 11 a.m. the business day prior to the lunch you wish to attend.

For meal reservations and more information, please call Brenda at 402-451-4477, ext. 126.

Car-Go Project

Hearing loss group to meet Dec. 12

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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, call RSVP’s Fremont HorizonAD-2010:HorizonAD-08 office at 402-721-7780.

The Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America, a support group for hard of hearing adults, will next meet on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at Dundee Presbyterian Church, 5312 Underwood Ave. Participants are asked to enter the church on the Happy Hollow Blvd. (east) side.

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

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

You’re encouraged to like the Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America on Facebook.

For more information, please contact Beth Ellsworth at beth.ellsworth@nebraska.gov or Verla Hamilton at 402558-6449.

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

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

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

The Heritage at Shalimar Gardens 749 E. 29th St.

Spanish Language Support Group Second Tuesday @ 4 p.m.

Intercultural Community Center 3010 R St. First Thursday @ 6:45 p.m.

King of Kings Lutheran Church CORE Conference Room 11615 I St. Call Karen @ 402-584-9088 to arrange for adult day services.

Third Tuesday @ 6 p.m.

Temple Israel 13111 Sterling Ridge Dr.

DOUGLAS COUNTY • OMAHA Second Thursday @ 10 a.m.

Second Thursday @ 5:30 p.m.

Country House Residences 5030 S. 155th St. Call Christina @ 402-980-4995 for free adult day services.

Every other Monday @ 7 p.m.

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

New Cassel’s Franciscan Centre 900 N. 90th St. Call Melanie @ 402-393-2113 for free adult day services.

Third Tuesday @ 5 p.m.

Immanuel Fontenelle First floor classroom 6809 N 68th Plz. Second Tuesday @ 6:45 p.m.

For caregivers of individuals with an intellectual disabilty/dementia.

Barbara Weitz Center 6001 Dodge St. (UNO campus) 2/4/10

8:00 AM

SARPY COUNTY • BELLEVUE Third Monday @ 7 p.m.

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

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

Hillcrest Grand Lodge 6021 Grand Lodge Ave. WASHINGTON COUNTY • BLAIR Third Wednesday @ 6 p.m.

Memorial Community Hospital Howard Conference Room 810 N. 22nd St.

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December 2017

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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.

Rorick Apts.

604 S. 22nd St.

Aksarben Manor 7410 Mercy Rd.

Evans Tower 3600 N. 24th St.

Livingston Plaza Apts.

303 S. 132nd St.

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

The Ambassador 1540 N. 72nd St.

Florence Home 7915 N. 30th St.

Lutheran Home 530 S. 26th St.

St. Bernard Church 3601 N 65th St.

American Red Cross 3838 Dewey St.

Florence Senior Center 2920 Bondesson St.

Mangelsen’s 84th & Grover streets

St. Bridget Church 4112 S. 26th St.

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

Fremont (Neb.) Friendship Center 1730 W. 16th 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. Bellevue Senior Center 109 W. 22nd Ave.

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

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

Heartland Family Service Senior Center 4318 Fort St.

Benson Tower 5900 NW Radial Hwy.

Hickory Villa 7315 Hickory St.

Bickford Cottage 11309 Blondo St.

Hillcrest Care Center 1702 Hillcrest Rd. Bellevue

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.

Millard Montclair Senior Center 2304 S. 135th Ave. Mission Vue Apartments 406 E. Mission Ave. Bellevue Monarch Villa 201 E. Cedardale Dr. Papillion 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 Oak Grove Manor 4809 Redman Ave.

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.

OEA Apts.

122 S. 39th St.

Christie Heights Senior Center 3623 P St.

Intercultural Community Senior Center 3010 R St.

OEA Manor 320 N. 22nd 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 Valley Apts.

12425 Krug Ave.

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

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

LaVista (Neb.) Senior Center 8116 Parkview Blvd.

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

Leo’s Diner 6055 Maple St.

Remington Heights 12606 W. Dodge Rd.

Elmwood Tower 801 S. 52nd St.

Leo Vaughn Manor 3325 Fontenelle Blvd.

Ridgewood Apts.

6801 Spring St.

Ralston (Neb.) Senior Center 7301 Q St.

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

Day of the Dead celebrated at ICC

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ive music, delicious food, an altar display, children’s activities, friendly conversation, and lots of smiling faces highlighted the annual Day of the Dead celebration at the Intercultural Community Center (ICC), 3010 R St.

Salvador R. and Margarita R. were among the guests who attended the Day of the Dead celebration on Oct. 27 at the Intercultural Community Center, 3010 R St.

The Dia de los Muertos festivities on Oct. 27, honored the memories of our deceased love ones.

Weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the ICC hosts a variety of activities that specialize in creating a welcoming, supportive place for older adults from around the world.

Monday through Friday, lunch is served at the facility at 11:30 a.m.

For more information about the ICC, please call 402-444-6529.

Things that lower, raise a body’s vibrations

By Tommy Rosa & Stephen Sinatra, MD Everything in the human body – every cell, every organ, every system, every thought, and every emotion – vibrates to its own natural rhythm. When our energy vibrates at a high level, we attract better health. When it vibrates at a low level, the opposite happens. Pathogens and toxins are more likely to enter the body and make us sick.

The good news is, we can avoid behaviors, attitudes, and circumstances that lower our vibration and embrace others that raise it. Tommy Rosa and Stephen Sinatra, MD, coauthors of Health Revelations from Heaven, offer a quick list to consider: According to Rosa and Sinatra, things that lower your vibration include: · Telling a lie (or knowingly not telling the truth). · Thinking negatively and/or pessimistically. · Lacking love. · Remaining isolated and being lonely. · Lacking faith. · Having aggressive behavior. · Being selfish. · Staying angry. · Lacking a life purpose. · Unresolved grief or sadness. · Not forgiving self or others. · Envy · Greed. · Laziness. · Lacking physical movement. · Drug use. · Drinking alcohol.

· Eating GMO (genetically modified organism) foods. · Consuming excess sugars. · Overexposing yourself to the chaotic, unseen frequencies of cordless and cellular phones, Bluetooth monitors, cell phone towers, computers, and other wireless technologies that create the invisible toxicity surrounding the Earth.

According to Rosa and Sinatra, things that raise your vibration include: · Having faith. · Loving yourself and others. · Forgiving yourself and others. · Gratitude. · Creating biological and spiritual family connections and building romantic relationships. · Letting go of anger, fear, ego, grief, and selfishness. · Spending time with children and animals. · Praying and/or meditating. · Mind/body interactions like Tai Chi, qigong, and yoga. · Positive thinking. · Volunteering. · Not using illegal drugs and limiting alcohol intake. · Pursuing a favorite hobby. · Listening to music. · Being flexible and fluid. · Drinking clean water with minerals, preferably out of glass containers. · Eating a clean, non-GMO, organic foods-based, non-inflammatory diet. · Grounding by walking barefoot on sand, grass, or even concrete as often as possible.

December 2017

From measuring cups to magnifiers

Outlook Nebraska has holiday gift ideas for persons with vision loss

By Rachel Carver Every year, the same thought process happens. I can’t believe November went so fast, and what exactly am I going to buy for everyone on my Christmas gift list? This year you might have a gift to buy for someone who doesn’t see as well as they once did. At Outlook Nebraska, we want to be a resource for people with vision loss and their families, so we’ve put together some holiday gift ideas to fit a variety of lifestyles and budgets.

If you’re looking for a gift for a family member who likes to cook, consider some measuring cups and spoons with enlarged numbers. MaxiAids has a Big Number Measuring Cups set equipped with E-Z Read numbers that are color coded for easy readability.

These cups have a pour spout for easy pouring and are available in one-quater, one-third, one-half, and one-cup sizes. You can add the matching measuring spoon set, and your gift recipient will be able to measure ingredients for their favorite recipes with ease.

A digital magnifier allows a person with limited vision to read restaurant menus, labels in the grocery store, and the mail at home. The Pebble Mini-Portable Electronic Magnifier comes with adjustable magnification from two times to 10 times and a three-inch high resolution LCD display that makes print easier to read. It can be carried in a purse or in a pocket.

For someone who can’t see or can’t see well, remembering where an object was set down in certain situations can be challenging. A locator like the Personal Pager Chiming/ Vibrating can help solve this problem. This device can mark your towel on the beach or tell you where the basketball hoop is in your yard. It can even act as a luggage locator when you travel. The receiver can be set to beep or vibrate approximately 100 feet away from the object.

A blind person on your gift list always needs assistance reading prescription labels. Consider making sure they get the medication instructions they need with a prescription reader like the ScriptTalk Station. This system uses text-tospeech and RFID technologies to allow the visually impaired to hear their prescription information.

A talking label is securely fastened to any medication container, and a pharmacist can transfer the data onto the label through a computer program. At home, the customer uses a tabletop reader to hear elements like dosing instructions, drug name, and prescription number.

There are many items designed with the visually impaired in mind that would make perfect gifts this season.

Remember these gifts also include smartphones with apps to read print, take pictures of people, objects, etc.

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Sarpy County Museum

ou’re invited to visit the Sarpy County Museum, 2402 Clay St., on Sunday, Dec. 3 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 decorated by Sarpy County nonprofit organizations and

clubs will be on display.

During the open house, there will be a raffle for door prizes and a drawing for a king size quilt donated

by Charlene Gustin. The quilt was hand stitched and appliquéd by an Amish community in Lancaster, Penn.

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

Law Offices of Charles E. Dorwart, J.D. 36 years of legal experience • Wills • Living Trusts • Probate • Healthcare and Financial Powers of Attorney • In-home consultations • Free Initial consultation 10104 Essex Court • Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 Office: (402) 558-1404 • Fax: (402) 779-7498 cdorwartjd@dorwartlaw.com

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Camelot Friendship Center

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ou’re invited to visit the Camelot Friendship Center inside the Camelot Community Center, 9270 Cady Ave., for the following: • Dec. 5: Foot care clinic @ 10 a.m.

• Dec. 6: Special barbershop performance @ 11:45 a.m.

• Dec. 7: Book Club @ 10:15 a.m.

• Dec. 12: Visit by the VNA @ 11:45 a.m.

• Dec. 13: Birthday Bash.

• Dec. 14: Ollie the Trolley Christmas party from 4 to 8 p.m. No lunch served.

• Dec. 20: Music by Billy Troy from the Merrymakers @ 11:45 a.m.

RSVP

• Dec. 21: Jackpot bingo @ 12:15 p.m.

The center will be closed on Christmas Day. Other activities include Tai Chi (Friday @ 10:30 a.m.), bingo, pinochle, card games, other games, crafts, candy making, and scrapbooking.

The Camelot Friendship Center is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. A $3.50 contribution is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to enjoy.

For reservations or more information, please call 402444-3091.

Camelot hires Kramer as its new manager In November, Nathan Kramer became the new manager of the Camelot Friendship Center located inside the Camelot Community Center, 9270 Cady Ave. Kramer grew up in Colorado then moved to Nebraska 35 years ago. He graduated from Dana College with an art degree. His resume includes stints at the Christie Heights Community Center, the Motto McLean Ice Arena, Dana College, and Creighton University, as well as working as a web developer.

His interests include classical music, culinary arts, sculptures, gardening, and history.

Nathan is married and has no children. He’s working on writing a cookbook about home entertaining and food.

RSVP is recruiting men and women age 55 and older for a variety of opportunities. For more information in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties, please call 402-444-6536, ext. 1024.

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

• The Corrigan Senior Center is looking for volunteers.

• The Boys Town Hall of History needs volunteers.

• Together Inc. wants volunteers for its food pantry.

• The VA Hospital is looking for volunteers.

• The YWCA’s Reach and Rise Mentoring Program wants volunteers to work with children 8 to 15.

• The Heartland Hope Mission needs volunteers for its food pantry.

• The Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital is looking for volunteers for a variety of assignments.

• The Low-Income Ministry wants volunteers for its food pantry.

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

• ENOA’s senior centers want volunteers for a variety of assignments.

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.

For more information, please call Dorothy at 402399-0759 or Mary at 402393-3052.

Friendship Center manager Nathan Kramer.

Florence Home Rehabilitation Rehab, renew, return home.

More than 400 individuals have safely transitioned to their home.

New Horizons

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By Neerav Padliya, Ph.D. t’s certainly not a secret that most people lose muscle mass as they age. The progressive loss of lean muscle mass, quality, and strength as we age is known as sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is a complex disease with multi-factorial causes that include inflammation, hormonal changes (i.e. low testosterone), poor nutrition, limited physical activity, and reduced motor neurons.

Because we depend upon muscles for our mobility, losing muscle mass can have a detrimental impact on our quality of life. Further, we also rely upon muscles to maintain our balance. Therefore, losing muscle mass can significantly increase the odds we may suffer a fall-related injury. Such injuries can be devastating when we get older, particularly if they result in a head injury.

Simple exercise such as walking can go a long way in terms of helping preserve lean muscle mass, but to build muscle mass, performing resistance training two or three times per week is vital.

Most people are aware it’s also important to consume enough protein daily to build muscle mass. The recommended daily allowance for protein is 0.8 gram per kilogram per day. Hence a person that weighs 165 pounds needs to consume 60 grams (20 grams each at breakfast, lunch, and dinner) of protein per day for their body to function optimally as it relates to building muscle.

However, research published by Dr. Stephanie Chevalier at McGill University in Montreal, Canada has demonstrated it’s not only the quantity of protein that’s consumed throughout the day that’s important but also the distribution of the protein consumption.

Dr. Chevalier and co-workers found an even distribution of protein intake was associated with increased muscle mass and strength in men and women relative to those with a less even protein intake distribution.

The problem is that in the United States, breakfast tends to be relatively light on protein as cereals, pastries, muffins, and bagels contain little protein but are high in carbohydrates. We tend to over compensate for protein intake during lunch and dinner.

Dr. Stuart Phillips from McMaster University has suggested we may need to acknowledge older adults have a higher requirement for protein and perhaps even on a permeal basis.

Making simple changes to your diet such as swapping out your breakfast croissant for a protein bar or a cup of Greek yogurt in combination with some regular resistance training can go a long way in terms of maintaining and building muscle mass.

(Dr. Padliya is vice president of Research Alliances at Qurr.)

We want to hear from

you!

• Do you have questions about the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, its programs or services?

• Do you have a comment about the agency and how it serves older adults in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties?

• Maybe you have a story idea for the New Horizons?

DHHS.ENOA@nebraska.gov We appreciate your interest in ENOA and the New Horizons.

www.omahaseniorcare.org

•

Quantity, distribution of protein vital to maintaining muscle mass

Send your questions,comments, story ideas, etc. to

Call 402-827-6000

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McGill University study

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December 2017

Black History Museum exhibit features photos, artifacts of local police officers, firefighters The staff of the Great Plains Black History Museum – 2221 N. 24th St. in Omaha – invites you to visit the new African American Police & Firefighters exhibit through Dec. 31.

The exhibit will highlight photos and artifacts of local African American police and firefighters who served Omaha.

There is no admission charge to visit the museum which is open to the public Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.

The Great Plains Black History Museum’s mission is to preserve, celebrate, and educate the public about the contributions and achievements of African Americans throughout the Great Plains.

The center is one of 81 museums nationally focused on African American history.

For more information, please call 402-932-7077 or follow it at Facebook@greatplainsblackhistorymuseum.

Managing your blood pressure during the holiday season, winter

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anaging blood pressure can be difficult, especially during the holidays and winter months. A change in routine, family visits, traveling, illness, holiday menus, and financial concerns can all conspire to derail your best efforts at keeping chronic conditions like high blood pressure under control.

If you’re one of the millions of older Americans with high blood pressure, it’s vital to keep your blood pressure stable. Drastic changes can put you at risk for heart attack or stroke.

Here are three ways to control your blood pressure through the holiday season and winter from the American Heart Association: • Be wary of decongestants: Decongestants are in many over-the-counter cold and flu medications but they have some harmful side effects. They can raise blood pressure and decrease the effectiveness of some prescribed blood pressure medications. It’s best to use them for the shortest duration possible and avoid them if you have severe hypertension. Consider alternative therapies such as nasal saline, intranasal corticosteroids, or antihistamines, when appropriate.

• Keep track of medications: Winter tends to bring an increase in both heart attacks and strokes. According to research from the Journal of the American Heart Association, a 4.2 percent increase in heart-related deaths occurs away from a hospital from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7.

“Factors like cold weather, sudden increase in activity like shoveling snow, stress, and dietary indiscretion can contribute

to a chain of events leading to more stress on the heart during the winter months, potentially triggering a heart attack or other cardiac event,” said Jorge Plutzky, M.D., director of Preventive Cardiology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a volunteer with the American Heart Association.

It’s vital to keep track of your medications and take them as prescribed by your doctor to decrease chances of heart attack and stroke.

The American Heart Association’s Check Change Control Tracker is one way to monitor your health, as it allows you to set up text message reminders, text in blood pressure readings, connect with volunteers or providers, and receive messages from volunteers or providers.

• Maintain healthy eating habits: The holidays can be a bad influence on healthy eating habits. However, it’s important to stay active during these times and continue eating healthy.

While you’re enjoying holiday feasts with family, be aware of sodium often found in seasonal foods like bread, cheeses, and prepared meats, which can increase blood pressure. Don’t feel like you can’t indulge a little, but make sure to incorporate healthy meals.

Staying active while traveling can be a challenge, as well. Try bringing simple exercise equipment like a jump rope or resistance band with you. Consider walking to sites or restaurants nearby, or finding a local park or indoor walking path.

For more information and tools about blood pressure management, go online and visit heart.org/hbp.

Book aims to help Fed employee groups meet monthly older adults stay fit The National Active and he National Active

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ccording to a report in the New York Times, remaining physically fit as you age decreases the onset of debilitating diseases and provides a higher quality of life in the early post-retirement years.

The report also says your life is lengthened by seven minutes for every minute you exercise after age 35.

To help older Americans stay fit, Joshua Kozak has written and DK has published a new book titled, Stay Fit for Life: More than 60 Exercises to Restore Your Strength and Future-Proof Your Body.

The book provides a training program featuring 62 functional exercises, targeted workout routines, and a trio of four-week fitness programs.

Kozak’s guide empowers readers to move with ease and efficiency when performing functional movements such as bending, twisting, pushing, pulling, and reaching. This makes every day activities like running, gardening, and playing with grandchildren easier and more enjoyable.

Stay Fit for Life: More than 60 Exercises to Restore Your Strength and FutureProof Your Body, a 192-page paperback, is available from bookstores and online book dealers for $19.95.

December 2017

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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.

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.

Survey looks at what Americans know about their Medicare Part D

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ussell Research has recently released a report titled The Medicare Matrix Survey. The executive summary by Express Scripts is designed to evaluate Medicare beneficiaries’ concerns, knowledge, and behaviors regarding Medicare Part D, the nation’s Medicare prescription drug program for older adults.

Russell Research conducted more than 1,000 online interviews with Americans age 65 and older who are eligible to receive Medicare. Half of the respondents were males and half were females.

At a 95 percent confidence level, a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent applies to the sample.

Here are some of the report’s highlights: • Nearly two-thirds of respondents use Medicare Part D at least once every three months.

• More than 80 percent of older Americans say the most important attributes of Medicare Part D are making medications more affordable and accessible. Additionally, 81 percent of older men and women say they’d have trouble paying for their meds without Medicare Part D. • Of that 81 percent, almost a third of the women and respondents with annual incomes under $50,000 say it would be impossible to afford their medications without Medicare Part D. • More than half of the survey respondents say they don’t find Medicare Part D to be confusing.

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Solutions support groups

Study examines women’s sleeping problems

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any menopausal women complain about poor sleep. Should the problem be blamed simply on menopause or a more serious underlying sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?

What, if any, is the connection between hot flashes, which can also lead to cardiovascular risk, and OSA? New study results published online recently in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS), examine that relationship.

Up to 80 percent of midlife women experience hot flashes or night sweats.

Although there’s a known association between hot flashes and sleep disturbances in midlife women, it has proven difficult to distinguish those sleep disturbances directly related to menopause from those because of OSA and other sleep disorders.

Obstructive sleep apnea, which is more common in men than women, occurs more frequently as women age, gain weight, and reach perimenopause and postmenopausal status. A sampling of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women who experienced disturbed sleep showed 53 percent had a sleep disorder such as

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OSA, restless leg syndrome, or both.

The OSA diagnosis in women can be more challenging because their symptoms are different from the more obvious ones men experience such as loud snoring. Symptoms for women more often include insomnia, headaches, fatigue, depression, and anxiety.

Despite the challenges, the identification of OSA is important because it’s associated with a significantly increased risk of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, depression, and death.

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s part of the study, 1,691 women from the Mayo Clinic completed questionnaires. Of these women, 24.9 percent were classified in the intermediate and high-risk categories for OSA. These women were likely to be older and have a higher body mass index and a greater incidence of hypertension, among other findings.

More pertinent to the results of this study was the fact women reporting severe hot flashes in midlife were at a higher risk for OSA—1.87 times higher than in women with mild or no hot flashes.

“Sleep disruption is a common complaint at menopause. It is important to recognize the high number of undiagnosed sleep disorders, including OSA,” says Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton, NAMS executive director. “Early morning headaches or excessive daytime sleepiness should raise concern for OSA and signal a possible need for sleep apnea testing.”

For more information about menopause and healthy aging, visit www.menopause.org.

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

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December 2017

Omaha’s Flaherty Senior Consulting offers four monthly groups that support family caregivers, with a focus on those caring for loved ones with dementia.

These Solutions Groups provide opportunities for participants to learn how to deal with different caregiver issues, obtain skills and knowledge, engage in discussions, and meet other caregivers facing similar challenges as theirs.

“Caregiving can be a 24/7 job, and challenges may include balancing work and family life with care for a loved one, feeling isolated, navigating senior care and medical systems, caring for a loved one who is not the same person as before the disease, and more,” said group facilitator Nancy Flaherty, MS, a certified dementia practitioner.

Each Solutions Group sets its own topic for discussion each month based on members’ needs, and the facilitator provides information on the subject. Group members also share their experiences and learn from each other.

The monthly meetings are free, but registration is required. The following Solutions Groups meet: • Omaha: First Thursday, The Servite Center of Compassion, 7400 Military Ave. • Omaha: Third Wednesday, St. Timothy Lutheran Church, 510 N. 93rd St. • West Omaha: Second Tuesday, St. Vincent de Paul Church, 14330 Eagle Run Dr. • Papillion: Fourth Saturday, Trinity Family Life Center, 520 W. Lincoln St. For additional information or to sign up for a Solutions Group, contact Nancy Flaherty at 402-312-9324 or online at flahertyconsulting@cox.net.

Subtle, but effective things to do

Tips for making the holidays enjoyable for persons who have hearing difficulties

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he holidays are a time for family meals and conversation. It can be loud, raucous, and problematic for those with hearing loss. In fact, it’s estimated at least 50 percent of holiday meals will include someone with untreated hearing loss.

To make gatherings enjoyable for all, Beltone, a provider of hearing aids for more than 77 years, offers these tips for hosts to make your gathering hearing friendly. If you’re the holiday host, consider implementing these subtle, but effective ways to create mealtime scenarios that can make it easier for your family member with hearing loss able to catch every word.

• Seating: Circular tables make it easier to see everyone, but 94 percent of homes have rectangular tables. Seat the person with hearing loss at the head of the table so he or she can

see when someone is speaking. Seat them away from the chatter of the children’s table and the clatter in the kitchen.

If you know your guest has a “good side” for hearing, make sure he or she is seated accordingly, with most other guests on that side. Consider seating him or her beside a friend or relative who can repeat or interpret any portions of missed conversation.

• Sightlines: Make sure the room is well lit so faces can be seen. Centerpieces and candles should be low to avoid impeding views.

• Noise reduction: Turn down the TV and music volume, or turn them off altogether during mealtime.

Close drapes to cut down glare and improve sound dampening in the room.

With these better hearing suggestions in place, the family get together can be frustration free for everyone in the group.

Justice Department working to control ID theft, healthcare fraud

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riminals are increasingly targeting people age 65 or older for personal identity theft. In 2014 alone, there were 2.6 million such incidents among older adults, according to the Department of Justice.

A growing offshoot of identity theft is healthcare fraud, which can result when someone unlawfully uses another person’s Medicare number. Medical identity theft can lead to inaccuracies in medical records, which in turn can result in delayed care, denied services, and costly false claims.

That’s why Medicare works with the Department of Justice, taking aim squarely at wouldbe thieves. In the largest law enforcement action against criminals fraudulently targeting the Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare programs, 412 people around the country, including 115 doctors, nurses, and other licensed medical professionals, were charged in 2017 with bilking U.S. taxpayers out of $1.3 billion.

The next big fraud-fighting push, that’s well underway, is focused on protecting the personal information of older adults by removing their Social Security numbers from Medicare cards.

People with Medicare don’t need to take any action to get a new Medicare card. Beginning in April 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will mail out newly designed Medicare cards to the 58 million Americans with Medicare. The cards will have a new number that’s unique for each card recipient. This will help protect personal identity and prevent fraud because identity thieves can’t bill Medicare without a valid Medicare number.

To help with a seamless transition to the new cards, providers will be able to use secure look up tools that will support quick access to the new card numbers when needed.

Healthcare fraud drives up costs for everyone, but healthcare consumers can be an effective first line of defense against fraud. Follow these tips to help protect yourself: • Treat your Medicare number like a credit card.

• When the new card comes in the mail next year, destroy your old card and make sure you bring your new card to your doctor appointments.

• Be suspicious of anyone offering early bird discounts, limited time offers, or encouraging you to act now for the best deal. That’s an indicator of potential fraud because Medicare plans are forbidden from offering incentives.

• Be skeptical of free gifts, free medical services, discount packages, or any offer that sounds too good to be true.

• Only give your Medicare number to doctors, insurers acting on your behalf, or trusted people in the community who work with Medicare, like staff members with your State Health Insurance Assistance Program.

• Report suspected instances of fraud.

• Check your Medicare statements to make sure the charges are accurate.

• Don’t share your Medicare number or other personal information with anyone who contacts you by telephone, email, or approaches you in person, unless you’ve given them permission in advance. Medicare will never contact you uninvited and request your Medicare number or other personal information.

• Don’t let anyone borrow or pay to use your Medicare number.

• Don’t allow anyone, except your doctor or other Medicare providers, to review your medical records or recommend services.

• Don’t let anyone persuade you to see a doctor for care or services you don’t need.

• Don’t accept medical supplies from a door-to-door salesman.

Learn more about how you can fight Medicare fraud at Medicare.gov/fraud, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800633-4227).

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WE BUY HOUSES

Some of the nicest, newer 1 & 2 bedroom apartments. Elevator, w & d, heated parking garage. Small complex. By bus & shopping. No pets or smoking.

402-331-4663

93rd & Maple • 402-397-6921

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Lonergan Lawns

OLD STUFF WANTED

Mow, fertilize, aerate.

Trim trees & bushes.

Clean gutters.

Build walls. Haul junk.

Call Tim @ 402-612-3576

(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

Please support NH advertisers 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!

Chipping & removal.

Your prunings chipped.

Experienced & insured.

Senior discount.

402-894-9206

Senior Citizens (62+)

BUYING? or SELLING?

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

Bellewood Courts

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

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 We do business in accordance with the Fair Housing Law.

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402-312-4000 deFreese Manor

Subsidized housing for those age 62 and over with incomes under $26,250 (1 person) or $30,000 (two persons) 2669 Dodge Omaha, NE 402-345-0622

ENOA

December 2017

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Volunteers working to protect the rights of residents in long-term care facilities, assisted living communities

I

n Sweden, the term “ombudsman” is synonymous with the words representative or advocate. In Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties, the term ombudsman is synonymous with volunteers who work in local long-term care facilities and assisted living communities to protect the residents’ rights, wellbeing, and quality of life.

The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging has 14 volunteers in its Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, and it’s looking for more.

“These men and women work to improve the care and quality of life for the residents through an emphasis on empowerment, problemsolving, and conflict resolution,” said Beth Nodes who coordinates the program for ENOA. The local project is co-sponsored by the Nebraska State Ombudsman Program.

After undergoing a screening process, individuals age 18 and older interested in volunteering with ENOA’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, must complete 20 hours of initial classroom training and 12 hours of additional training ENOA’s Beth Nodes meets with Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program volunteer Frank Herzog. every two years. During the trainregarding Nebraska’s long-term care family members to address any con- working in a long-term care faciling, the volunteers learn about the cerns. During a typical month, more ity or an assisted living community residents’ rights, aging issues, Medi- facilities and assisted living communities. than 1,000 residents will meet with care, Medicaid, and the federal and may be stressful and conflicts can “They also learn communicaENOA’s Ombudsman Advocates. state rules, regulations, and laws arise. His role, when necessary, is to tion skills, how to investigate the “The residents are encouraged serve as a third party to help resolve residents’ complaints, and about to speak for themselves, but when these issues. the importance of confidentiality,” needed, the volunteers can interFrank said Ombudsman AdNodes said. vene and act as a third party to help vocates should take pride in their Before being assigned to a longresolve issues,” Nodes said. role in resolving important matters. term care facility or an assisted “You have to be willing to accept living community, new volunteers rank Herzog, whose small victories and ignore your will make four visits to a site with resume includes stints defeats.” an experienced Ombudsman Advoas a social worker, city Nodes agreed with him and said cate to learn more about what the administrator, and real being an Ombudsman Advocate program entails. After a three-month estate developer, has been gives the volunteers a great sense of probationary period, the new volan ombudsman advocate for ENOA purpose in their lives. unteers are certified as Ombudsman since 2006.

Herzog encouraged others to join Advocates.

Each week, he visits St. Joseph ENOA’s Long-Term Care OmbudsA certified Ombudsman Advocate Villa – 2305 S. 10th St. – for two or man Program. “You meet some will be assigned to a facility where more hours to talk with the facility’s wonderful people and you become they’ll stop by weekly for two hours administrator, staff, residents, and an important part of their lives.”

Herzog visits St. Joseph Villa to meet with administrators, staff residents’ family members.

For more information, please call weekly for two or more hours. members, residents, and residents’ Herzog said at times living and/or Beth Nodes at 402-444-6536.

F

TICKETS START AT

$19

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Please donate non-perishable food items at the Holland Center during November and December.

DEC. 9 -17

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HOLLAND CENTER

Ernest Richardson, conductor | Broadway Cast & Chorus

Ernest Richardson and the Omaha Symphony celebrate the magic of Christmas with Broadway singers and tap-dancing Santas performing classics and contemporary favorites. A fun and festive Yuletide treat!

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402.345.0606

OMAHASYMPHONY.ORG

December 2017