Sept 2014 nh pages by Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging

A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging

September 2014 VOL. 39 • NO. 9

ENOA 4223 Center Street Omaha, NE 68105-2431 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

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

New Horizons Gerontology

Photo by Emily Hardy

Nick Schinker takes an in-depth look at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Department of Gerontology and the role gerontology is playing in today’s changing world. Members of the UNO gerontology faculty and staff are seen here at their annual start of the semester picnic. Page 10.

Safety During the week of Sept. 22 to 26, volunteers will install safety equipment in the homes of 10 older adults identified by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging as part of the nationwide Good Samaritan Society’s Founder’s Day Service Project. Page 3.

Since 1943

Men and women like Pamela Bell (pictured) who are raising their grandchildren are encouraged to attend Tom and Margaret the Grandparents Mahoney, both age as 92, Parents Conference on celebrated their 71st Thursday, Sept. 18. wedding anniversary See page 5.this

summer. The Mahoneys have six children, nine grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and a third great grandchild on the way. Page 20.

Steps you can follow before an emergency

eptember is National Preparedness Month in the United States, a nationwide effort to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and schools. While everyone’s needs and abilities are unique, every individual should take steps to prepare for emergencies. By evaluating your own circumstances and making an emergency plan that fits those needs, you can be better prepared. This September, get a kit, have a plan, and be informed. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Ready Campaign, the first step to consider is how an emergency might affect your needs. Plan to make it on your own for at least three days. It’s possible you won’t have access to a hospital or even a drugstore. It’s crucial that you and your family think about what kinds of resources you use on a daily basis and what you’d do if those resources were limited or unavailable. Basic supplies: Think first about the basics for survival – food, water, clean air, and any life sustaining items you require. Consider making two kits. In one kit put everything you’ll need to stay in your home for a period of

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time. The other kit should be a mobile version you can take with you if you have to leave your home. Some basic emergency supplies should include: • One gallon of water per person for three days. • A three-day supply of non-perishable food items and a can opener. • An NOAA battery-pow-

If you undergo routine medical treatments administered by a clinic or hospital or if you receive regular services such as home health care, treatment, or transportation, talk to your service provider about their emergency plans. If you use medical equipment that requires electricity to operate, talk to your pro-

ered weather radio. • A flashlight and extra batteries. • A first aid kit. • A whistle to signal for help. • Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation. • A wrench or pliers to turn off utilities. • Local maps. • Pet food, extra water, and supplies for your pet or service animal. Be sure to include any medications and medical supplies. You should also keep a copy of your prescriptions as well as dosage or treatment information.

vider about what you can do to prepare for its use during a power outage. Additionally, if you use eyeglasses, hearing aids, or oxygen, be sure you always have extras in your home. Include emergency documents such as medical insurance cards, Medicare and Medicaid cards, family records, and other personal records such as tax documents and bank information. Be sure and keep these documents in a waterproof container. Also keep some cash in your kit in case you need to purchase additional supplies. --Please turn to page 7.

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New Horizons

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September 2014

Good Samaritan Society - Millard, ENOA collaborating on program to promote home safety for older adults

ach year one third of the Americans ages 65 and older are injured as the result of a fall. Falls have become the leading cause of both fatal and not-fatal injuries among older adults. Annually, falls account for an estimated $30 billion in direct medical costs. Fractured spines, hips, forearms, legs, ankles, and hands are the most common type of injuries suffered after a fall. Even if not injured, many people develop a fear of falling and limit their activities leading to reduced mobility and the loss of physical fitness. This in turn can increase their risk of falling. As one way of addressing this growing concern, volunteers from The Good Samaritan Society – Millard will install grab bars, raised toilet seats, lighting, shower chairs, and other safety equipment in the homes of 10 older adults over age 65 in the Omaha area during the week of Sept. 22 to 26. “This is a great way to help seniors in our community,” said Joanne Carlberg, director of resident and community relations for The Good Samaritan Society – Millard. “Instead of just being there for a senior who has fallen, we may be able to prevent a fall.” The Omaha effort– which is in its first year – is being done in conjunction with the Good Samaritan Society’s Founder’s Day Service Project. The Millard location is joining Good Samaritan facilities nationwide to organize these types of activities which will mark the organization’s 92nd anniversary. The service projects are the idea of David Horazdovsky, president of the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society that owns and operates more than 240 long-term healthcare centers, senior living communities, and home health care agencies in 24

21 Family Fiesta at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo Noon to 5 p.m. Requires paid zoo admission 402-738-2038 Omaha Symphony Variations: Music by Schubert, Vivaldi, and Ginastera Joslyn Art Museum 2 p.m. $36 402-345-0606 25 River City Rodeo and Stock Show Through September 28 Century Link Center Omaha Starting at $17 402-554-9600

“Voice for Older Nebraskans!”

states. This year, festivities will commemorate the Millard location’s 47th anniversary.

he service projects are part of Good Samaritan’s expanded vision of caring for older adults whether they live in their own homes or in a Good Samaritan facility, Carlberg said. The local home safety effort is being coordinated with Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging staff members who will provide the names of potential candidates to receive the equipment, according to Janelle Cox, director of ENOA’s Choices Division. In 2014, ENOA is celebrating 40 years of serving older adults in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties. A Good Samaritan team made up of a registered nurse, a physical therapist, and a maintenance man will do an in-home assessment of each candidate to determine which have the greatest needs and how the service project can best meet those needs, Carlberg said. Installing safety equipment is a simple solution than can be highly effective, Cox said. “Many people aren’t aware of just how helpful these devices can be as a way of enhancing home safety.” Carlberg said assessment teams will make follow up visits to the recipients’ homes in October to make sure the equipment is meeting the older adult’s requirements. “ENOA is pleased to partner with The Good Samaritan Society – Millard and we look forward to working with the organization in the future,” Cox said. To make a cash donation to the home safety project, please log on to www.good-sam.com/millard.

September 2014 events calendar 6 Saturdays at Stinson 7 to 10 p.m. Aksarben Village FREE 402-496-1616

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Membership includes a subscription to the New Horizons newspaper. New Horizons Club Send Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging 4223 Center Street to: Omaha, NE 68105-2431 I get the New Horizons regularly and don’t need to be put on the mailing list. I would like to start receiving the New Horizons at home. My address is below. NAME ADDRESS CITY/STATE/ZIP

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26 Omaha Symphony Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony Also Sept. 27 7:30 p.m. Holland Performing Arts Center Tickets start at $19 402-345-0606

New Horizons is the official publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. The paper is distributed free to people over age 60 in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Washington, and Cass counties. Those living outside the 5-county region may subscribe for $5 annually. Address all correspondence to: Jeff Reinhardt, Editor, 4223 Center Street, Omaha, NE 68105-2431. Phone 402-444-6654. FAX 402-444-3076. E-mail: jeff.reinhardt@nebraska.gov

27 ARTsarben Also Sept. 28 Aksarben Village 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. FREE 402-345-5401

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.

28 Zoo Run 8 to 11 a.m. Henry Doorly Zoo $25 for zoo members $30 for non-zoo members 402-738-2038

Editor....................................................Jeff Reinhardt Ad Mgr................Mitch Laudenback, 402-444-4148 Contributing Writers......Nick Schinker, Leo Biga, & Lois Friedman ENOA Board of Governors: Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, chairperson; Jim Warren, Sarpy County, vice-chairperson; Jerry Kruse, Washington County, secretary; Gary Osborn, Dodge County, & Jim Peterson, Cass 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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Please see the ad on page 3

NH Club gains new members $50 Howard Roberts

$10 Richard Foral

$25 Joann Scheiblhofer Lois Rohrbaugh

$5 Carolyn Kinsella Roberta Orchard Margie Driggs Viola Pignotti

$20 Leona Riter

Reflects donations received through August 22, 2014

$15 Marian Iversen

Millard Senior Center September 2014 events

ou’re invited to visit the Millard Senior Center at Montclair, 2304 S. 135th Ave., for the following: • Sept. 3: Join us for a tour of the Holy Family Shrine near Interstate 80. The bus will leave the Millard Senior Center @ 9:30 a.m. and return @ 2. Please arrive at the senior center by 9 that morning. After we tour the shrine, we’ll have time to take a walk and have lunch at the Schramm Park Recreational Area. The cost for the lunch is $3.50. Reserve your spot by calling Susan @ 402-546-1270.

Visit the Holy Family Shrine near I-80 on Wednesday, Sept. 3. • Sept. 5: Margaret Schaefer from Legal Aid of Nebraska will give a presentation @ 11:40 a.m. • Sept. 16: Sister Rita Pickhinke will give a presentation titled Seasons of Our Life during lunch. • Sept. 26: Health Fair from 9 to 11 a.m. • Sept. 26: Entertainment by Bill Chrastil @ noon. No Bingo that day. • Sept. 30: Chair volleyball tournament. Please call Susan @ 402-546-1270 if you’d like to participate.

he Millard Senior Center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30. A $3.50 donation (free on your birthday) is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to enjoy. Center activities include a walking club @ 8 a.m. (join and get a free t-shirt), Tai Chi class (Mondays and Fridays from 10 to 10:45 a.m. for a $1 suggested donation), chair volleyball (Tuesdays and Thursdays @ 10 a.m.), quilting (Thursdays @ 9 a.m.), card games, and Bingo (Tuesdays and Fridays @ noon). For meal reservations and more information, please call Susan at 402-546-1270.

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Examining your options for in-home care By Mark Kresl Close your eyes, tap your heels together three times, and say to yourself: “There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home.” While that may have worked for Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, the rest of us have to face the fact remaining at home in our later years can be challenging. It’s often not the big things that make living at home difficult; it’s the inability to do many of the smaller and simpler things necessary to live independently. Things like grocery shopping, bathing, and housekeeping may become impossible to handle alone. If you, a family member, or a friend have difficulties doing these things, what are the options? One popular solution has been having a family member take over the care of you or a loved one. That’s not always possible as family, work, and personal commitments often get in the way. Other local options include working with the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, in-home nursing care, assisted living residences, and nursing homes. In the past 20 years, non-medical in-home care agencies have also entered the marketplace. In-home care is one of the fastest growing industries in America. This rapid growth is fueled by the many advantages it offers. These services allow thousands of people to safely remain in their homes longer. Home care organizations can provide a variety of assistance including companionship, hygiene, personal assistance, and supervision in the comfort and convenience of home. They can also provide a muchneeded break in cases where family members are caring for a loved one, but need some time away. How do you know if in-home care is right for you or your loved one? There are resources to help you decide. Activities of daily living refers to bathing, dressing, transferring, using the toilet, eating, and walking that measure a person’s ability to care for themselves. The amount and severity of a person’s ADL assistance needs are often used as an assessment tool by ENOA or in-home care agencies to determine the extent of the services needed. It also helps providers establish charges for services and

allows them to appropriately staff assignments with qualified caregivers. Instrumental activities of daily living refers to light housework, preparing meals, taking medications, shopping for groceries or clothes, using the telephone, and managing money that enable the individual to live independently in their home. While there are differences in the terms used to describe aspects of in-home care or home health care, in reality, most older individuals needing one type of care will eventually need the other. An ENOA staff member or an in-home agency care manager can provide an assessment for each individual and consult with the family about the available options and whether in-home care is appropriate. There are many companies that offer in-home care services. It’s important that consumers deal only with home care providers who have measures in place to insure its employees are properly trained and equipped to provide the highest level of care. Care providers also vary widely in terms of services offered. It’s important you select a provider that’s the best match for your specific needs. There are questions you can ask to help ensure you hire the best provider for you or your loved one and the specific needs. • What training does it provide its employees to insure the highest standards of quality in the care provided? • What services does it provide? • Are its services and management available 24/7? • How long has the company been in the care industry? • Do they have minimum requirements regarding length or duration of the care provided? • Is the agency and its staff insured? In the end, there are services available to meet the needs of almost anyone. It’s up to the consumer to ask the right questions and hire the agency that most closely fits their individual needs. By doing so, individuals will be rewarded with the peace of mind that comes with knowing their loved ones are in the best hands. Remember, there’s no place like home. (Kresl is with Midwest Geriatrics, Inc. and Empower Home Care.)

Omaha World Adventurers opens Sept. 25 The 2014-15 Omaha World Adventurers film series begins on Thursday, Sept. 25 as musicians turned filmmakers Monty and Marsha Brown present their film Wales: Land of Song. Show times for the film are 2 and 7:30 p.m. at the Village Pointe Theater, 304 N. 174th St. Film lovers will enjoy the film’s images of Celts, choirs, castles, Cardiff, coalmines, and pastoral Welsh mountain valleys dotted with sheep. Armchair travelers will visit the eastern shore of the Irish Sea, Welshpool, Foel, Gower, Portmeirion, the Harlech Castle, and King Arthur’s Stone that has been undisturbed for 6,000 years. Tickets, which are avail-

able at the door, are $14. OWA’s 2014-15 season will also include: Oct. 16: Doug Jones and The Great Canadian Train Ride; Nov. 13: Rick Ray and The Promised Land, Adventures in the Middle East; Feb. 12: Sandy Mortimer and Ex-

ploring Costa Rica; March 12: Dale Johnson and China Rising; and John Holod and Route 66, The Mother Road on April 9. For more information, see the OWA ad on page 15 or call RJ Enterprises, Inc. at 1-866-385-3824.

A Caring Community Called HOME! Independent & Assisted Living

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49th & Q Street • 402-731-2118 www.southviewheightsomaha.com

Fontenelle Tours

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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

Nebraska Junk Jaunt…with a Twist. September 26 – 27. $265. Join us for this garage sale extravaganza, but with a new route and a new motel. This is truly a fun adventure, whatever you’re hunting for! Branson Christmas with Daniel O’Donnell. November 10 – 13. $749. Besides Daniel O’Donnell, enjoy “Jonah” at the Sight & Sound Theater, a backstage tour of Sight & Sound, Patsy Cline Remembered, The Brett Family Show with lunch, The Rankin Brothers, and #1 Hits of the 60s. “Christmas Belles” at the Lofte. December 7. $99. ($89 before 10/7/14). Come along to witness a church Christmas program spin hilariously out of control in this Southern comedy ........followed by a delicious dinner at the Main Street Café in Louisville. Kansas City Christmas. December 10 - 11. $319. ($299 before 10/10/14). Enjoy the New Theater Restaurant (“Sheer Madness” with Jamie Farr from M*A*S*H*), Webster House holiday lunch, Strawberry Hill Povitica Bakery, Pryde’s in Westport, “Christmas in the Park,” Country Club Plaza lights, Crown Center, Federal Reserve Bank tour, and Arabia Steamboat Museum.

In Partnership with Collette Vacations Quoted prices are per person, double occupancy, and do not include airfare. MORE DESTINATIONS AVAILABLE! Reflections of Italy ...................................................... 10 days from $2149 Shades of Ireland ........................................................ 10 days from $1799 Alaska Discovery with Cruise .................................... 13 days from $3031 Australia ....................................................................... 21 days from $4899 New York City ................................................................ 5 days from $1749 Hawaiian Adventure .................................................... 10 days from $2999 Canadian Rockies by Train.......................................... .9 days from $3099 Discover Switzerland .................................................. 10 days from $2049 African Safari ............................................................... 14 days from $3849 Rose Bowl Parade......................................................... 5 days from $1449 The Galapagos Islands ............................................... 10 days from $4359 Rhine River Cruise ........................................................ 9 days from $2599 Discover Scotland ....................................................... 10 days from $1849 Tropical Costa Rica ....................................................... 9 days from $1349 Discover Panama .......................................................... 9 days from $1699 San Antonio ................................................................... 5 days from $1149 Exploring Greece......................................................... 15 days from $2549 Complete South Pacific .............................................. 27 days from $6399 South Africa ................................................................. 13 days from $2499 British Landscapes ..................................................... 10 days from $2199 Flavors of Thailand........................................................ 4 days from $1549 Nova Scotia ................................................................. 11 days from $2949 Spain’s Classics .......................................................... 11 days from $2099 Beijing China ................................................................... 9 days from $899 Colors of New England ................................................. 8 days from $2299 Heritage of America .................................................... 10 days from $2199 Watch New Horizons and our website www.fontenelletours.com for our trip schedule. Our mailing address is: 2008 W. Broadway #329, Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501

Musicians, filmmakers Monty and Marsha Brown.

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RSVP Retired and Senior Volunteer Program The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is recruiting persons age 55 and older for a variety of opportunities. For more information in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties, please call 402-444-6536, ext. 224. In Dodge and Washington counties, please call 402721-7780. The following have volunteer opportunities in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties: • The Disabled American Veterans need volunteer drivers. • The Douglas County Health Center wants volunteers for a variety of assignments. • Alegent Creighton Health Bergan Mercy Medical Center is looking for volunteers to help in

several areas. • The Omaha Children’s Museum needs volunteers for its train ride program. • Rebuilding Together wants volunteers to work on home projects. • The Omaha Convention & Visitors Bureau is looking for volunteers for a variety of duties. • Partnerships in Aging wants volunteers to help at the Grandparents as Parents conference on Sept. 18. • Together Inc. needs an intake assistant. • Mount View Elementary School is looking for a TeamMates mentor. The following have a volunteer opportunity in Dodge and/or Washington County: • The Blair and Fremont Car-Go Program needs volunteer drivers. • The Fremont Friendship Center wants volunteers to facilitate classes. • The Danish American Archive Library needs volunteers to help with its archives. • The American Red Cross is looking for volunteers for a variety of duties.

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

Collect, donate your unwanted clothing to Omaha Sertoma Club

he Omaha Sertoma Club encourages area residents to collect used and unwanted clothing, shoes, hats, caps, belts, purses, bedding, and towels by cleaning out their closets and other places these things are stored.

The items should then be placed in bags and taken to and placed inside the donation bin at the Westside Community Center near 108th and Grover streets. The tax-deductible donations will be recycled and sent overseas to people who need them. By helping to collect an estimated 21 billion pounds of unwanted clothing and keeping it out of landfills, the Sertoma Club will receive funds for its programs that help people with hearing impairments. For more information, please call Nebraska Business Solutions at 402-2181299 or log on to www. sertoma.org.

Read it & eat By Lois Friedman readitandeat@yahoo.com

Try these delicious fall recipe ideas Fall is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors, go for walks, to go camping. Everything tastes better cooked outside. These cookbooks are filled with recipes and ideas to inspire you. Rao's on the Grill By Frank Pelligrino (St. Martin's Press, $35) Entertaining secrets, expert advice, and 80 recipes using the grill to the fullest. Appetizers through desserts inspired from the menu of Rao's restaurant in New York City. Braai Masters of the Cape Winelands Compiled by Wines of South Africa (Sundland) Easy-to-follow South African recipes reflecting hospitality from the grill and the cellar. Think Merlot, Shiraz to sip, nibble gemsbok, boar, boerewors, or even snoek plus sides, salads, and desserts. Smoke & Pickles By Edward Lee (Artisan, $29.95) Stories and 130 recipes this Southern chef makes for family and friends at home using ingenious techniques, Asian spices, and Southern flavors. From Andrews McMeel: Pickles, Pigs & Whiskey By John Currence ($40) Untraditional uninhibited approach to cooking with nothing fussy. One hundred and thirty recipes inspired by this Mississippi chef's love for his three favorite food groups. Chapters organized by 10 techniques. Smokin' in the Boys' Room By Melissa Cookston ($22.99) This world champion female in barbecue shares smoke and spice recipes, stories, tips, tricks, and more from slowcooked to fired-up burnt ends. Try this: Cayenne Grilled Peaches Serves 4 4 peaches 3 tablespoons light brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon cayenne Whipped cream for serving Prepare a hot grill. Cut the peaches in half and remove the pits. In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, vanilla, and cayenne. Place the peach halves in a baking dish cut side up, and spoon the sugar mixture over the peaches. Allow to sit for 20 minutes or until the sugar dissolves. Place the peaches on the grill skin side down and cook for about three minutes or until they develop some char and the sugar is slightly set. Turn over and grill for one minute, then quarter turn them to develop a nice diamond-shaped grill mark. Remove, place on serving plates, and serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

Please support New Horizons advertisers Law Offices of Charles E. Dorwart 33 years of legal experience • Wills • Living Trusts • Probate • Healthcare and Financial Powers of Attorney • In Home Consultations • Free Initial Consultation 6790 Grover Street • Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68106 Office: (402) 558-1404 • Fax: (402) 779-7498 cdorwartjd@dorwartlaw.com

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Emergencies... --Continued from page 2. The second step in getting prepared is to make a plan for what you’ll do during an emergency situation. Think through the details of your everyday life. If there are people who assist you on a daily basis, list who they are and how you’ll contact them during an emergency. Create a support network of other people who might be able to assist you during an emergency, such as a neighbor or close friend. Think about what kinds of transportation you use and what some alternatives might be if you’re unable to access your primary mode. Plan an alternate route for each aspect of your daily routine.

Depending on the nature of the emergency, the first important decision you’ll have to make will be to stay in your home or evacuate. Use information available to you from local authorities to help make your decision. In some cases, you may be ordered to leave your home. Plan how you’ll evacuate and where you’ll go. Choose several places in different directions, so you have options during the emergency. The third step in getting prepared is to be informed. Know the types of emergencies that are likely to happen where you live. When making your list of potential emergencies, don’t limit yourself to traditional emergencies such as winter storms, tornadoes, or floods, but also think about events such as a large-scale gas leak or possible terrorist activity. After the 9/11 attacks, Americans are now forced to think “outside the box.” Remember to stay calm, be patient, and think before you act. By getting a kit, being informed, and having a plan, you and your loved ones will be better prepared for emergencies The information and tips in this article are based on information developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, AARP, the American Red Cross, and the National Organization on Disability. For additional information on what you can do to prepare, visit www.ready.gov or call 1-800-BE-READY. (Sgt. Payne – who supervises the Omaha Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit – has been an OPD officer for 20 years.)

Submissions due Friday, Sept. 26

UNO, schools, library sponsoring intergenerational poetry contest

ubmissions are due by Friday, Sept. 26 for the sixth annual Intergenerational Poetry Contest, Poetry Across the Generations, sponsored by the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the Omaha Public Schools, and the Omaha Public Library. Poets are divided into two separate contests: one for students in grades seven through 12, and the other for men and women age 50 and older. In 2014, the poets will have two new topics. They are being asked to write a poem about how the world views and treats older people and another poem about how the world views and treats teenagers. First prize in both contests is $100. Second and third prizes in both contests are $50 and $25, respectively. Seven honorable mention poets will each receive $10. An additional $100 prize will be awarded in the age 50 and older category for poems that fit the “traditional, classic, and rhyming style.” The Dale Wolf family is contributing

this prize money in honor of their deceased loved one who was a longtime poet. The winning poets can collect their prizes on Sunday, Oct. 19 at a poetry recognition reception from 1 to 4 p.m. at UNO’s Milo Bail Student Center. The event will feature poetry readings, refreshments, and a poetry slam. Poets age 50 and older can submit their poems to Cindy Waldo, VP Sigma Phi Omega, Department of Gerontology, CB 211, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge St., Omaha, Neb. 68182-0202. They can also be sent online to www.omahapoetsplacenet. Teen poets may submit their poems to the Omaha Public Library, Bess Johnson Elkhorn Branch, Att: Karen Berry, 2100 Reading Plz., Elkhorn, Neb. 68022 or online to www.omahapoetsplace.net.

Dora Bingel Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Dora Bingel Senior Center, 923 N. 38th St., this month for the following: • Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29: Al-Anon meeting @ 7 p.m. • Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30: Grief Support Group @ 10 a.m. • Sept. 3: Holy Communion @ 11 a.m. • Sept. 17: Merrymaker’s Michael Lyon sings @ 11:30 a.m. The cost for the noon lunch is $3. • Sept. 24: Birthday party luncheon @ noon. Eat free if you have a September birthday. • Sept. 26: Hard of Hearing Support Group @10:30 a.m. A nutritious lunch is served on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. A $1 donation is suggested for the meals, other than $3 for Regeneration. Round-trip transportation is available for $3. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance for all meals. Other activities offered at the facility include: Tuesdays: Free matinee @ 12:30 p.m. Wednesday: Devotions @ 10:30 a.m., and Bible study @ 12:30 p.m., and Bingo @ 12:30 p.m. Friday: Joy Club @ 9:30 a.m., Tai Chi class @ 11 a.m., and Bible study @ 12:30 p.m. For more information, please call 402-898-5854.

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Tips to help eliminate bad breath Dealing with the heat

hether it’s a picnic, beach day, family gathering, or a night out with friends, now’s a time when people come together for fun. Unfortunately, there’s often a fly in the ointment when embracing the “fun season” – higher gas prices, forgetting your sunscreen, waiting in line for the rollercoaster, or that great social buzz kill; bad breath. “For a significant number of people bad breath, also called halitosis, is an unnecessary embarrassment caused by malodorant sulfur compounds created by putrefying bacteria in your mouth, primarily in crevices of your tongue,” says Dr. Bob Kross, an oral care scientist. Normal amounts of these bacteria will hardly affect your breath at all, but excessive levels can lead to bad breath and other serious oral problems, Kross says. “You don’t have to have a chronic condition for bad breath to be a problem,” he says. He suggests keeping the following in mind: Barbecue feeds more than your taste buds. While some bad breath may originate in the lungs and gut, 90 percent comes from the

mouth itself. For chronic sufferers of bad breath, excessive malodorant-producing bacteria are consistently present. For the average person however, the same bacteria thrive when fed by food particles and other debris lingering in mouth tissues. “It’s not pleasant to think about, but grilled meat can sit wedged in your teeth and tongue crevices for hours, and these particles feed the mouth’s bacteria, increasing the risk of embarrassment associated with bad breath,” Kross says.

eer breath is just one phase. Just as your favorite beer or cocktail leaves an unpleasant residual odor in your mouth, frequent and long-term alcohol consumption can throw your mouth’s bacterial balance out of whack from

dehydration. “Saliva acts as a natural barrier to germs – it creates an environment they can’t tolerate,” Kross says. “If you have a dry mouth, whether from dehydration related to alcohol consumption, heat, or a medication you’re prescribed, you lose that defense against germs. “We’ve all had those moments when we’re distracted from what someone was saying because of their bad breath,” Kross says. “It really can affect your social life.” Fresh breath can help kids’ social life. “No one is too young to experience bad breath, and school children of all ages who are seeking structure and acceptance can suffer a traumatizing setback if they’re teased about their breath,” he says. Make sure you practice good oral hygiene with regular brushing and flossing. If the problem persists, remember most traditional mints and sprays merely blanket underlying odors for the short term.

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound are coming to Omaha with the LIVE

Oh, What A Savior Tour

Thursday, September 11 at 7:30 p.m.

obody likes extreme and prolonged heat, but such conditions can be very dangerous and potentially deadly for older adults. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), heat is the number one weather-related killer in the United States. On average, excessive heat claims more lives each year than tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and lightning combined. “The elderly are often the most vulnerable to severe heat,” said Vicki Castleman, director of franchise operations for the Home Instead Senior Care® franchise office serving the Omaha metropolitan area. “Their bodies do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature, they are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes normal body responses to heat, and they are often on a prescription medicine that impairs the body’s ability to regulate its temperature or that inhibits perspiration.” The following are tips to help older men and women combat the heat: • Keep a glass of water in every room to quickly and easily access fluids. Drink plenty of fluids, even if you don’t feel thirsty. • Go through the closet and remove all heavy materials, long sleeves, and dark colors. Instead look for short sleeves, lightweight rayons or cottons, and light-colored clothing that reflect the heat. • Stay out of the sun during the hottest times of the day. Sunburn makes the job of heat dissipation that much more difficult. • Save household chores, particularly washing and drying clothes and operating the dishwasher, for evenings when the weather is cooler. • Relax indoors during high heat times – between 3 and 5 p.m. – in the afternoon. • Keep shades down and blinds pulled during the heat of the day. • Keep the house tightly closed so it is more energy efficient. • Take cool showers or baths to cool down. • Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Foods with a lot of protein increase metabolic heat production that can, in turn, increase water loss. • If increased use of a central air conditioning system causes higher utility bills that are a problem for your budget, consider purchasing a fan or small window unit that can cool down a home at a lower cost. However, do not rely on a fan as the primary cooling device during an extreme heat event. • Seek medical care immediately if your senior shows symptoms of heat-related illness like muscle cramps, headaches, nausea, or vomiting.

Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church 7706 S. 96th Street in LaVista General seating tickets are $15 for groups of 10+, $20 in advance ($25 day of the show), or $25 for the Artist Circle (reserved section closest to the stage). Children ages 5 and under will be admitted for free except in the Artist Circle.

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE IN PERSON AT: Divine Truth / 6905 S. 84th Street (LaVista) Parables / 11212 Chicago Circle (No group rate tickets are available at these stores. No service fees charged with cash or check at either location.)

TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED THROUGH THE MAIL AT: Trinity Communications PO Box 521, Fort Wayne, IN 46895 (No service fees – Include a selfaddressed stamped envelope.)

For more information, please call 1-260-484-1029 or visit TrinityCommunications.org

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(402)-291-5005

A variety of methods available to help you preserve produce By Melinda Myers The cucumbers have filled the vegetable drawer, you’ve run out of cabbage recipes, and your family is refusing to eat one more BLT. So what’s a gardener or shopper to do with all that remaining produce? Since properly stored vegetables will hold their flavor and nutritional value longer than those left in a plastic bag or set on the sunny kitchen counter, consider preserving produce using one of several methods. Storage orchard racks and slatted crates placed in a cool dark location have long been used to store squash, onions, and potatoes. The stackable nature of drawers provide ample storage space, so fruits and vegetables don’t touch. Keeping stored fruit separated prevents rot from spreading from one fruit to the next. Plus, the slatted sides allow airflow to extend storage longevity. People living in colder climates can store their carrots and parsnips right in the garden. Once the soil gets a bit crunchy, cover them with straw or evergreen boughs for easier digging in winter. Then dig as needed or harvest during the first winter thaw. If this isn’t possible or

not your style, try out a root vegetable storage bin. The root crops are layered in sand or sawdust and placed in a cool dark location. Just remove and use as needed. Drying is one of the oldest food preservation techniques. Expand your drying endeavors to include fruits and vegetables. The goal is to quickly remove moisture without cooking the food. You can make your own dehydrator or purchase one. Research has shown blanching vegetables and fruit before drying helps destroy harmful bacteria. Blanching involves a steam or boiling water bath followed by a cold water bath. Fermentation is experiencing a comeback. Cultures around the world have fermented fruits and vegetables for thousands of years. Fermenting cucumbers into pickles, cabbage into sauerkraut, and berries into preserves, are just a few options. The ingredients can be as simple as water, salt, and spices. All you need is a vessel, vegetables, and fermenting culture. You can jump start your efforts with a fermentation crock kit (gardeners.com) which includes the crock, cover, and weights to make sure your veggies stay safely submerged in water. Or quickly lock in the

flavor and nutrition of your fruits and vegetables with freezing. You’ll need airtight containers or bags that are durable, don’t leak, and won’t become brittle in cold temperatures. Some produce doesn’t freeze well and others may need to be blanched before they’re packed in the freezer bag or container. But frozen items can easily be retrieved from the freezer and included in your winter meals. Canning is a bit more involved, but can be lots of fun. This process preserves the food and keeps it safe by preventing the growth of undesirable bacteria, yeast, and mold. The sealed jars keep the flavor in and bad microorganisms out. So gather your produce, jars, pressure cooker, canner, and friends to create tomato sauce, salsa, jams, and jellies to enjoy or give as gifts. Whatever method you choose, do a bit of research before you start. You’ll have greater success and a lot more fun. The National Center for Home Food Preservation website, http://nchfp.uga.edu provides all the basic information for storage and food preservation. (Myers is a gardening expert, TV/radio host, author, and columnist.)

Beware of scams using pre-recorded ‘robocalls’

emember those bogus offers for a free medical alert device? That “robocall” scam, which went viral last year, has returned with a vengeance and features two new twists. A robocall is a phone call that uses a computerized autodialer to deliver a pre-recorded message, as if from a robot, hence the name. These free medical alert device robocalls now also promise you’re entitled to $3,000 in money-saving coupons. Others falsely claim the free device offer is being made on behalf of AARP. AARP uses robocalls to advocate for or against public policies, alert members about important community events, to seek member opinion through automated surveys, and to acknowledge important membership milestones. AARP does not ask for personal information, conduct financial transactions, promote contests or other commercial activities over the phone. So don’t be fooled. It’s the same old scam that tries to get your credit or bank account information for supposed monitoring fees for the “free” device that never arrives. Provide that info and you risk identity theft. In recent days, reports of both scenarios have flooded the Fraud Watch Network from AARP members and others who have received these robocalls. They report dozens of different phone numbers displayed on caller ID. The calls urge recipients to press “1” to get their free device by providing their address and credit card, or press “5” to opt out

from future calls and “alert your health care provider that you have refused the offer.” But don’t do either. Pressing “1” puts you through to a live operator and a hard sell with more scare tactics to get you to reveal your financial and personal information. Pressing “5” tells these crooks you have a working phone number that’s ripe for future nuisance calls. If this happens to you, follow these steps: • Hang up, without pressing any key. • On this or other robocalls, don’t provide any personal information including your name, address, and birthdate. Certainly don’t divulge financial accounts or Medicare and Social Security numbers. • Realize that displayed numbers are likely fake – easily done with Internet-based telephone systems or specialized software — but still report them and other do not call violations to 1-888-382-1222. • Contact your phone-service provider to block robocall numbers. Don’t pay for this protection, though, because caller ID-displayed numbers are changed frequently. Since this scam began in 2013, there’s no indication anyone has ever received a free device, as promised. But after providing financial account information, consumers report getting billed for bogus monitoring services, and even threatened with lawsuits if they didn’t pay. If you or someone you know has been a victim of identity theft or fraud, contact the AARP Foundation Fraud Fighter Center at 877-908-3360.

September 2014

Corrigan Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St. this month for: • Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30: Ellen’s Produce from 11 to 11:45 a.m. Shop for fresh veggies and fruit from her Nebraska City garden. Cash or produce vouchers only. Stay for a tasty noon lunch. • Sept. 4: Grandparents Lunch & Bingo. Bring pictures of or stories about your grandkids and let’s celebrate Grandparents Day early. A tasty noon lunch of Salisbury beef or a deli sandwich will be served before Bingo. • Sept. 8: Talk on Legal Issues for Seniors by Margaret Schaefer from Legal Aid of Nebraska @ 11:15 a.m. Stay for a noon lunch and Bingo. • Sept. 15: Birthday party with music by Billy Troy from the Merrymakers @ 11 a.m. • Sept. 18: Roast beef dinner & Mega Bingo with $75 in cash prizes to be given away. The suggested donation for dinner is $3.50 per person. The suggested donation for Bingo is $3 per person. The reservation deadline is noon on Friday, Sept. 12. • Sept. 29: River City Rodeo & Western Days party. Wear your favorite western wear and join us for a Wild West show with Omaha’s Country Kickers @ 11: 15 a.m. Then join us for a noon lunch. Stay for Bingo following lunch. Cooking Matters – a free class sponsored by the Visiting Nurse Association – will run on six consecutive Tuesdays from Sept. 16 through Oct. 21 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Call 402731-7210 for more information. New players are 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.

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New Horizons

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Page 9

UNO’s gerontologists putting a face on the aging process By Nick Schinker Contributing Writer

here are many words that bring to mind a mental image. The word “cold” makes some people think of snow or ice. The word “beach” prompts images of sand, an ocean, and waves. “Green” triggers images of grass and trees. Say the word “old” and it’s likely you’ll think of a person. Maybe it’s a grandparent, a neighbor, or a dear friend. It’s a face we think of, a face that is showing its age, careworn and touched by the passage of time. Maybe it’s the face you see in the mirror every morning. Putting a face on the aging process is what makes the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Department of Gerontology a special place. Whether it’s one of the hundreds of older adults the department serves through service learning, groundbreaking research, or its many outreach programs, people are what matter the most. “You can train someone to understand accounting or engineering or medicine,” says UNO Professor and Department of Gerontology Chair Julie Masters, Ph.D. “But you can’t train someone to love older people. That’s a talent that emerges. “What we’re doing here is transforming our students’ raw talent into a sophisticated understanding of the aging process.” Dr. Masters, her fellow faculty and staff recognize the study of aging is not so much about the past or the present as it is about the future – our inevitable future, and how we respond to it. Acknowledging the demographic shift in popu-

Student David Bolte with Dr. Julie Masters, chair of the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Department of Gerontology. The program was established in 1972 in response to the Older Americans Act. lation in our state, region, and nation, the Department of Gerontology today helps prepare an increasing number of practitioners and those who have chosen to become educators in the field and study of aging. The value of gerontology – the study of the physical, physiological, and social aspects of aging – is recognized throughout the University of Nebraska system, with Introduction to Gerontology being a general education requirement. A unit of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service, the Department of Gerontology illustrates the college’s statewide mis-

sion with courses taught at the University of Nebraska’s Omaha and Lincoln campuses as well as online. Programs include: • A Certificate in Gerontology at the undergraduate and graduate levels. • A Graduate Certificate in Gerontology with a concentration in interior design (for commercial and residential spaces that are geared toward older adults). • A Master of Arts degree in Social Gerontology. • A dual degree in Law and Gerontology. • A doctoral specialization in Gerontology. “We have also recently received approval from the

NU Board of Regents for a Bachelor of Science in Gerontology and are awaiting final approval from the PostSecondary Coordinating Commission,” Dr. Masters says. In addition, practicums are arranged at aging organizations throughout Nebraska and in some cases, across the nation. “In 1900 there were three million Americans over the age of 65,” Dr. Masters says. “In 2010, that number was 40.4 million. By 2030, it’s expected to rise to 88 million. “We are working as a department to respond to this demographic shift,

and the growing need for gerontologists to address the challenges of our aging population.”

stablished in 1972 with David Peterson, Ph.D. as its founding director, the UNO Gerontology Program was a response to the Older Americans Act, which provided funding to create university gerontology academic programs. Dr. Masters joined the program as an adjunct faculty member in 1988. She was working as the Senior Companion Program coordinator at the Eastern --Please turn to page 11.

Do you have a loved one in a nursing home? Do you have a loved one who will soon be going into a nursing home? Before you send another check to the nursing home, visit nebraskamedicaidplanning.com or call Chartered Advisor for Senior Living, Mark Guilliatt. Not affiliated with any government agency.

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14301 First National Bank Parkway Suite 100 • Omaha, NE 68154

630 North D Street Fremont, NE 68025

1-800-886-8673

402-727-4845

New Horizons

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September 2014

Sharing a commitment to education, older Nebraskans in the various aspects of the aging experience. “And we all share a very strong commitment to the needs of older Nebraskans.”

I The Department of Gerontology’s faculty and staff at UNO includes (from left): Brooke Clements, Dr. Christopher Kelly, Sara Young, and Dr. Paul Falkowski. --Continued from page 10. Nebraska Office on Aging which was founded in 1974, two years after the UNO program. “I walked into Jim Thorson’s office (then the chair of the UNO Gerontology Program), told him I had a master’s degree in gerontology and wanted to put it to work,” she recalls. “Either the same day or the next day, he called me back and I’ve been teaching here ever since. It’s been an absolute blessing; a true gift.” One year later, in 1989, the program was renamed the Department of Gerontology. Dr. Masters traces her interest in gerontology back to her youth and her fondness for older family members. “I spent a lot of time with my grandparents when I was growing up,” she says. “I liked being in their company. It was the same with several of my great aunts. I just liked being around older people.” As an undergraduate at UNO, she took a course titled Survey of Aging and Death. “That’s when the light bulb went off,” she says. “I found myself with likeminded people interested in the aging experience. I graduated, went to the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, and got my master’s degree in a year. Not because I had to, but because I wanted to.” In UNO’s Department of Gerontology, Dr. Masters is surrounded by a group of talented people. “We have a wonderful faculty and staff who believe so much in the value of educating students in the aging experience,” she says. “They really are amazing in their expertise and dedication.”

The department faculty includes Lyn M. Holley, Ph.D.; Kyle Kercher, Ph.D.; Christopher M. Kelly, Ph.D.; Julie Boron, Ph.D.; Paul Falkowski, Ph.D.; Bede Bolin, M.S., M.A.; and Stan DeViney, Ph.D. Retired faculty include James A. Thorson, Ed.D. Faculty with emeritus appointments include Bruce J. Horacek, Ph.D.; Karl Kosloski, Ph.D.; and Leo E. Missinne, Ph.D. There is also a roster of more than two dozen adjunct faculty members. Additionally, the department recently hired Brooke Clements, M.S. as advisor and practicum coordinator. Sara Young serves as the department’s staff assistant. Along with the faculty, both serve to advance the department’s mission and vision. Dr. Masters says the gerontology faculty members are recognized as experts

n addition to the educational opportunities it provides, the Department of Gerontology conducts significant research in conjunction with agencies that serve the public and respond to its changing needs. Research projects include profiling home care workers based upon U.S. Census figures, an in-depth analysis

of the relationship between depression and physical health, an examination of creative art therapies and their effect on Alzheimer’s patients, and a look at the aging population in the state’s correctional facilities which were built for a much younger population. For the faculty, staff, and students, the wide array of research and servicelearning projects takes on the added dimension of a human face. It’s the face of a loved one, a friend, or a subject in a study who two weeks ago was a stranger

but someone they now call by name. “It might be the free sample lady at Hy-Vee,” Dr. Masters says. “But through activities like interviews and service-learning, the students gain insight and see the value this person brings to the community.” Keeping a human face on the data provides uniquely relevant answers to the questions that government officials, caregivers, and families are asking every day. Ultimately, Dr. Masters says, this research furthers --Please turn to page 12.

Photo by Emily Hardy

The UNO Department of Gerontology’s annual start of the semester picnic helps its faculty and staff to prepare for a new crop of students. Among those in attendance were (front row, from left): Brooke Clements, Dr. Julie Boron, and Dr. Lyn Holley. Back row from left: Bede Bolin, Dr. Julie Masters, Dr. Paul Falkowski, and Dr. Chris Kelly.

Your home.Your care.Your pace.

Your home is best and Immanuel Pathways’ goal is to help you continue living in your home as long as possible. Our program provides a complete system of health care. The service is called PACE, which stands for: Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly. We provide primary and hospital care as well as prescription drugs, adult day services, transportation and so much more to our participants. Services are provided in the home, at the PACE Center and in the community. For complete program details and benefits, please call 402-991-0330.

5755 Sorensen Parkway | Omaha, NE 68152 | www.immanuelpathways.org PACE participants may be fully and personally liable for the costs of unauthorized or out-of-PACE program services. Emergency services are covered. Participants may disenroll at any time.

September 2014

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New Horizons

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UNO gerontology... --Continued from page 11. the department’s efforts to inform the community about challenges as well as opportunities relating to aging. For example, in response to an increasing demand for lawyers and professionals with specialized knowledge of laws that affect the rapidly-growing aging population – a field known as elder law – the Department of Gerontology has partnered with the College of Law at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to offer a set of dual-degree and certificate programs that combine law and gerontology. Launched in the fall of 2012, students interested in the fields of law and gerontology have the option to pursue one of three joint programs: a Master of Arts in Social Gerontology/Juris Doctor (J.D.), a Master of Arts in Social Gerontology/ Master of Legal Studies, or a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology/J.D. The goal is to provide advanced courses that prepare students to serve the aging population more effectively. Lawyers who represent older adults will benefit from a greater depth of knowledge about the social and psychological issues facing their clients. Likewise, nursing home administrators and other professionals in the field will benefit from a sound knowledge of the legal issues that confront their patients and affect their institutions on a daily basis. It is one of many ways the study of gerontology has changed to adapt to the changing population – and the way students learn. “Technology has evolved and enables us to know more about aging in 2014 than we ever did before,” Dr. Masters says. “Students are very engaged with technology and we’ve responded with how we teach and where – including online classes.” At the same time, the department has formed more partnerships with area organizations and agencies to help further the understanding of the aging experience. Aging Partners in Lincoln and ENOA in the Omaha area are just two prime examples, Dr. Masters says. “Our job is to prepare people so they get jobs,” she says. “ENOA is not only a fantastic resource for us, the agency also provides opportunities for our students. We’re indebted to ENOA. They hire our graduates.” The department and the agencies are complementary, Dr. Masters says, because they share similar missions and objectives. “We are interested not only in the quantity of years in a person’s life but also the quality of life,” she says. “With ENOA, we have been growing and developing together because we have the same goal in mind – to support older people so they can live life to the fullest.”

ou’re invited to attend a free series of educational classes this fall and next spring titled Learning to Live With Dementia. The classes will include information about dementia basics, living with different types of dementia, person-centered care, and compassionate care. Flaherty Senior Consulting is presenting the programs. Learning to Live With Dementia is designed for caregivers interested in learning more about dementia and how to manage its symptoms. The fall session will be held at the Servite Center of Compassion, 7400 Military Ave. Classes will run from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Thursdays, Sept. 4, Oct. 2, Nov. 6, and Dec. 4. The spring 2015 session will be held at St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church, 510 N. 93rd St. Classes will run from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays, Jan. 14, Feb. 11, March 11, and April 8. For more information, please contact Nancy Flaherty at 402-312-9324 or flahertyconsulting@cox.net.

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New Horizons

here’s no question wildfires are on the increase across the American west and other fire-prone regions of the world, and most environmental leaders agree global warming is largely to blame. In a recent study published in the journal, Geophysical Research Letters, researchers from the University of Utah analyzed a database of large wildfires in the western United States between 1984 and 2011 and found a significant increase in the number of large fires and/or the area covered by the blazes. From Nebraska to California, the number of large wildfires increased sevenfold per year over the study period, with the total area burned increasing by 90,000 acres a year on average. “Wildfire trends in the west are clear. There are more large fires burning now than at any time in the past 40 years and the total area burned each year has also increased,” says Alyson Kenward of the nonprofit Climate Central. “Over the same span, average spring and summer temperatures across 11 western states have increased by more than 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit, contributing to the higher fire risks.” What worries Kenward and others is the latest climate model projections that show temperatures rising an additional two to four degrees Fahrenheit over the next few decades. According to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), the hotter temperatures we are already experiencing increase fire risks for several reasons. For one, drier, hotter conditions increase evaporation rates and encourage desertification. Also, as snow packs melt earlier and summer temperatures rise to new heights, the length of the “fire season” is extending. Meanwhile, warming-induced insect infestations and other problems are ravaging many forests, turning once teeming ecosystems into tinderboxes. The increased frequency of lightning as thunderstorms become more severe only exacerbates the situation.

ot everyone agrees that global warming is causing the increase in wildfires. Professor David B. South of Auburn University points the finger at forest management and

fire suppression practices over the last century that have allowed “fuels” to build up on forest floors, making the fires that do get started that much harder to quell or contain. “Policymakers who halt active forest management and kill ‘green’ harvesting jobs in favor of a ‘hands-off’ approach contribute to the buildup of fuels in the forest,” South told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in May 2014. “This eventually increases the risk of catastrophic wildfires,” he said, adding that blaming carbon dioxide emissions for increased fire risk would be “simply unscientific.”

egardless of who is right, we can all help reduce or prevent wildfires. According to Smokey Bear, the federal government’s mascot for wildfire prevention since the 1940s, those of us living in or visiting fire-prone areas should take extra precautions when burning anything outdoors. The campfire safety page of Smokey Bear’s website outlines how to build and extinguish campfires properly to minimize wildfire risks, and provides lots of other relevant tips on how to stay vigilant. You can also help reduce the risk of wildfire by reducing your carbon footprint (drive and fly less, plant trees, etc.) and speaking up for legislation and other actions that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine.)

Fremont Friendship Center events calendar

Educational series on demetia care scheduled for fall, spring

Page 12

Experts debate if global warming is responsible for the increase in number, intensity of wildfires

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You’re invited to visit the Fremont Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St. (Christensen Field) this month for the following: • Sept. 3: News with Nye @ 10 a.m. followed by music by pianist Wally. • Sept. 4: Welcome Jim Rathbun @ 10:30 a.m. • Sept. 9: Welcome Dennis and Betty Neal @ 10:30 a.m. • Sept. 10: Listen to Rich Hayes @ 10:30 a.m. • Sept. 17: Music by Bill Niederhiser @ 10:30 a.m. • Sept. 18: Talk by Cathi Simpson on senior care @ 10 a.m. • Sept. 24: The Link Duo @ 10:30 a.m.

• Sept. 24: Toenail clinic. The cost is $10. • Sept. 25: Michaela from ENOA will discuss cooking for one or two people. • Sept. 30: A movie with Larry and popcorn @ 10:30 a.m. The Fremont Friendship Center is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. A $3.50 donation is suggested for lunch. Reservations must be made by noon the business day prior to the meal you wish to enjoy. Other free activities include exercising, card games, billiards, and access to a computer lab. For meal reservations and more information, please call Laurie at 402-727-2815.

September 2014

Crime, punishment focus of exhibition at Sarpy County Museum through Nov. 1

n exhibit titled, A History of Crime and Punishment in Sarpy County will be on display at the Sarpy County Museum – 2402 Clay St. in Bellevue – from Sept. 2 through Nov. 1. Visitors will learn more about moonshiners in Bellevue, escaped convicts in Gretna, and horse thieves in Papillion as they view photographs, police-related items, and more. “We are excited to have the Sarpy County Sheriff’s office partnering with us on this exhibit,” said Ben Justman, the museum’s executive director. The exhibit will also include a series of special presentations including: • Sunday, Sept. 7 from 1 to 3 p.m.: Cops and Robbers, a guided tour through Bellevue Cemetery that will

feature judges, law enforcement officials, and a few colorful law breakers. • Saturday, Sept. 13 from 2 to 4 p.m.: Deputy Lloyd Schoolfield will tell stories about the early days of the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Department and provide information on changes in law enforcement equipment. • Saturday, Sept. 28 from 2 to 4 p.m.: Cold Cases of Sarpy County. • Saturday, Oct. 11 from 2 to 4 p.m.: Talk on the history of the Sarpy County Attorney’s office. Some of the festivities will include refreshments, so visitors are encouraged to RSVP by calling 402-2921880. While admission to the Sarpy County Museum is free, donations are always welcome.

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Volunteer opportunities

he Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Foster Grandparent Program, Senior Companion Program, Ombudsman Advocate Program, and Senior Medicare Patrol Program are recruiting older adults to become volunteers. Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions must be age 55 or older, meet income guidelines, have a government issued identification card or a driver’s license, able to volunteer at least 15 hours a week, and must complete several background and reference checks. Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions receive a $2.65 an hour stipend, transportation and meal reimbursement, paid vacation, sick, and holiday leave, and supplemental accident insurance. Foster Grandparents work with children who have special needs while Senior Companions work to keep older adults living independently.

mbudsman advocates work to ensure residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities enjoy the best possible quality of life. Ombudsman advocates, who must be age 18 or older, are enrolled through an application and screening process. These volunteers, who are not compensated monetarily for their time, must serve at least two hours a week. The Senior Medicare Patrol program helps Medicaid beneficiaries avoid, detect, and prevent health care fraud. These volunteers, who are enrolled through an application and screening process, are not compensated monetarily for their time. For more information, please call 402-444-6536.

you

about

have questions

aging services

in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, or Washington counties? Log on to

enoa.org

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

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

September 2014

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24 hours a day, • Homemakers 7 days a week! • Information & assistance telephone lines • Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha • Legal services • Meals on Wheels • Medicaid Waiver • New Horizons • Nutrition counseling

• • • • • • •

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

New Horizons

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Page 13

Utilizing $10 million grant

AARP offering driving course

UNMC researchers working to slow MRSA

niversity of Nebraska Medical Center researchers have received a five-year grant for $10 million to continue work on a project to fight the growing threat of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA, a bacterium resistant to many antibiotics, is a big problem in hospitals and can cause wound infections to more invasive diseases. In 2011, about 721,800 health-care associated infections occurred in 648,000 hospital patients, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 75,000 patients died during their hospitalizations. Ken Bayles, Ph.D., UNMC’s principal investigator of the program project grant, said he and his team are working on four projects first funded in 2009 by the National Institutes of Health’s Allergy and Infec-

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:

tious Diseases. Projects will focus on biofilms produced by Staphylococcus aureus and understanding their role in causing infections of artificial devices. Biofilm is a natural biologic material that grows on surfaces – like the plaque on teeth before brushing. “Biofilm can affect any manmade device that is implanted into our bodies,” Dr. Bayles said. “With more and more people getting implanted devices, including stents, pacemakers, catheters, orthopedic devices like knee and hip replacements, all are targets for staph infections.” It’s estimated the rate of infection of implanted devices is between 1 and 5 percent. He said infections happen in medical devices usually through contamination of the surgical wound. “Getting rid of biofilm associated with implanted devices is difficult because biofilm bacteria are resistant to the antibiotics used to treat infections,” Dr. Bayles said. If antibiotics don’t work, the device will need to be removed, followed by extensive antibiotic treatment, and then replacement with a new device. It’s traumatic for the patient and adds a significant burden to health care costs, he said. (UNMC’s Public Relations Department provided this information.)

Saturday, September 13 12 to 4 p.m. AARP Information Center 1941 S. 42nd St. To register, call 402-398-9568

Friday, September 26 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Metro Community College 9110 Giles Rd. Class ID# AUAV-004N-70 To register, call 402-457-5231

Monday, September 22 9:30 am to 1:30 pm Corrigan Senior Center 3819 X St. To register, call 402-731-7210

Friday, September 26 12 to 4 p.m. Metro Community College S. 27th and Q streets Class ID# AUAV-004N-71 To register, call 402-457-5231

Making Medicare make sense Q: Now that I have health care coverage through the new Health Insurance Marketplace, are there materials available for me to understand how to use this new health insurance? A: Thanks to the health care law, millions of Americans now have quality health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. You may have health coverage for the first time or after going many years without coverage. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has launched a new nationwide initiative, Coverage to Care, to help you get the necessary information such as: • How to make the most of your coverage. • Finding the right doctor. • When and where to seek treatment. Emergency room care should only be used in the case of an emergency. • Why getting the right preventive services is important. To help answer questions about your new health care coverage and to use it appropriately, Coverage to Care has a number of tools available at marketplace. cms.gov/c2c. Many are available in English and Spanish. More resources will be developed over the

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next few months. The Roadmap to Better Care and a Healthier You includes eight steps which will walk you through everything you need to know to make the most of your coverage including what common health care coverage terms mean; how to prepare for an appointment with a provider; what to expect when visiting the doctor’s office; and how to take advantage of preventive services that can help you stay healthy. The Roadmap also has a lot of information you can refer back to as you journey to better health and well-being including a list of resources and a personal health screening log. Another tool is a series of videos that contain tips for you to navigate your new health plan and to fully enjoy its benefits. It’s great to have the security and peace of mind that comes from having quality health care coverage. But it’s important to fully understand when, where, and how to use it to get the right care in the right place at the right time. The Coverage to Care resources can help you do these things, help you to stay healthy, and make the most of your health coverage. (The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provided this information.)

Computer classes for older adults available

Older Nebraskans have free access to legal info

Computer classes for men and women age 50 and older are being offered this fall through the AARP Information Center and the Kids Can Community Center. The nine-hour classes, which are taught over three days, run from Sept. 3 through Nov. 7. The cost is $20 and participants don’t need to be an AARP member. Students will see how to turn a computer off and on, be introduced to Microsoft Windows 8.1, learn how to organize and file documents, back up data, insert clip art and photos into e-mails and documents, cutting and pasting, purchasing items online, buying computers and tablets, social networking, and virus protection, To register or for more information, please call 402398-9568.

Legal Aid of Nebraska operates a free telephone access line for Nebraskans age 60 and older. Information is offered to help the state’s older men and women with questions on topics like bankruptcy, homestead exemptions, collections, powers of attorney, Medicare, Medicaid, grandparent rights, and Section 8 housing. The telephone number for the Elder Access Line is 402-827-5656 in Omaha and 1-800-527-7249 statewide. This service is available to Nebraskans age 60 and older regardless of income, race, or ethnicity. For more information, log on the Internet to http:// www.legalaidofnebraska. com/EAL.

New Cassel Retirement Center Come tour and see our new Main Street (Park, Pub, Library, & Sweets Cafe)

§ Weekly Housekeeping § Scheduled Transportation § Safe and Secure Environment § Lots of Activities

§ Restaurant Style Meals § Assisted Services available § Daily Mass § Weekly All Faith Services

It’s Truly a Place to Call Home! Call (402) 393-2277/ 900 North 90th Street Omaha, NE 68114 / www.newcassel.org Sponsored by the School Sisters of Saint Francis

The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging is celebrating 40 years of serving older adults in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties.

Six-week series of financial programs scheduled for Sept. 9 through Oct. 14 You’re invited to attend a free six-week series of programs titled Find Peace of Mind by Organizing Your Financial Life. The programs will be held on Tuesday mornings from 10 to 11:30 at 1055 N. 115th St., Suite 200. The series will be offered Sept. 9 through Oct. 14. Here’s the schedule: • Week 1: Alzheimer’s Disease: The Road to a Diagnosis… and Beyond with Terry Johnson, a caregiver for his wife and an adjunct professor at Grace University. • Week 2: Legal Documents: What if Something Happens to Me? with Niel Nielsen from the Carlson Burnett Law Firm. • Week 3: Protecting your Assets: What to do When the Forecast Calls for Rain with representatives from Financial Visions, LLC. • Week 4: Family Dynamics: Expectations and Realities with journalist and caregiver Chris Christen. • Week 5: Community Resources: Industry Bestsellers with Michaela Williams from Care Consultants for the Aging. • Week 6: Your Plan B: A Reality Check for Caregivers with Cathy Wyatt, CSA from Financial Visions, LLC. For more information, please call 402-661-9611.

Genealogy conference set for Sept. 13 he Genealogy Group at the Center of Council Bluffs will host its fall conference from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13 at The Center, 714 Main St. in Council Bluffs. Topics will include Genealogy 101 by Beverly J. Rapouille, director of the Council Bluffs Family History Center, The Family Tree Detectives by Dennis and Tammy L. Bell, Tracing Family Trees: Techniques and Technology by Terry Latey from the Pioneer Research Library at the Winter Quarters Trail Center in Omaha, and Finding Females in Your Family Tree by Martha Grenzeback from Omaha’s W. Dale Clark Library. The cost, which includes lunch, is $20 for pre-registration or $25 at the door. For more information, please call 712-323-5995, ext. 226.

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NARFE groups meet monthly ‘Cooking Matters’ at the Corrigan Senior Center The National Association of 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 402-333-6460.

The National Association of 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 402-392-0624.

Omaha Computers Users Group recruiting new members age 50+ You’re invited to join the Omaha Computer Users Group (OCUG), an organization dedicated to helping men and women age 50 and older learn more about their computers. Anyone can join OCUG regardless of his or her computer skills. The organization’s 50 members meet the third Saturday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Abrahams Library, 5111 N. 90th St. Annual dues to OCUG, which has existed for 15 years, are $25. Members will have access to updated laptop computers with Microsoft Office 2010, the Microsoft 8 operating system, a Power Point projector, and a printer. Each month, OCUG meetings address members’ questions and teach new techniques. For more information, please call OCUG’s president Phill Sherbon at 402-333-6529.

National Drug Take-Back Day scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27

he Drug Enforcement Agency’s National Drug Take-Back Day is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The LiveWise coalition, local law enforcement, and community organizations will partner with the DEA to provide a safe, convenient way to dispose of unused and expired prescription and over-the counter medications. Cleaning out your medicine cabinets will help prevent the possible misuse, abuse, and potential overdose of prescribed and OTC meds. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the incident of prescription drug abuse is rising nationwide. Between 2001 and 2010, the number of poisoning deaths due to overdoses involving prescription and opioid analgesics nearly doubled in the United States. Visit the website http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov after Sept. 1 to locate a collection site in metro Omaha near you.

Betty Deepe stirs up the ingredients for her potato salad recipe.

Phil Holmes looks on during the ‘Cooking Matters’ class at Corrigan.

he knife in her right hand was moving like a piston as Betty Deepe chopped some garlic cloves. Deepe, a volunteer chef with the Cooking Matters program, put on a nutrition and culinary demonstration recently for the participants at the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St. Part of the national Share Our Strength program, Cooking Matters is designed to empower families at risk of hunger with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to make healthy and affordable meals, according to Anna Curry, who coordinates the effort locally for the Visiting Nurse Association which brought the program to Omaha. Curry said Cooking Matters – founded in 1993 – teaches its students how to shop smarter, use nutritional information to make healthier food choices, and how to create delicious, affordable meals on a limited budget. The demonstration at Corrigan was the kickoff for a free six-week series of nutrition and hands-on Cooking Matters classes at the south Omaha facility. Volunteer chefs and nutritionists from VNA will teach the 12-hour course. Corrigan’s manager Lynette Staroska said the class – which has a limited number of slots available – will run on Tuesdays from Sept. 16 through Oct. 21 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Her demonstration at Corrigan featured preparing potato salad using Dijon mustard instead of mayonnaise, and ratatouille made with a variety of ingredients including eggplant, scallions, zucchini, and red onions. She began the lesson by teaching the men and women how to use a sharp knife safely. “Always keep your fingertips back,” she said as she sliced a zucchini into sections. “You make it look so easy,” said a voice from the back of the class. Other Deepe tips included: • How to choose an eggplant. “Look for a shiny plant that has a good weight for its size.” • Keep the peels on the vegetables. “That’s where the fiber is.” • The importance of food presentation. “The first bite is taken with the eye. Even if you can’t cook, at least make it look good.”

Nebraska native who was a chef and restaurant owner in Harlem and Brooklyn, New York for 18 years, Deepe has volunteered with Cooking Matters for five years.

fter slicing up the ingredients and completing the potato salad and ratatouille presentations, Deepe and Curry placed the food on 25 Styrofoam plates, and served it to the students. Phil Holmes, a Corrigan regular who sat near the front of the class, enjoyed each bite. “It’s wonderful,” he said. Holmes plans to take the six-week cooking and nutrition class and said he believes the knowledge he gains will make “filling my menu a little bit easier each week.” To register for the 12-hour class at Corrigan, please call Staroska at 402-731-7210. For more information on other Cooking Matters programs in Omaha, please call David Kinney of the VNA at 402-930-4073.

Maplewood Estates

}

Lifestyle • Community • Convenience • Family Values

Move-in Specials Get 6 months of FREE lot rent for moving a single wide home into the park, or $3,500 moving expenses. Call for more information.

Amenities include: Playground Off street parking Clubhouse • Pool RV’s welcome

402.493.6000

Call: 12801 Spaulding Plaza www.maplewoodestatesonline.com Omaha, NE 68164

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VNA’s Anna Curry (left) helps Deepe during the cooking presentation.

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Holmes plans to take the six-week, 12-hour class at Corrigan.

Make your household move more efficient

ou’ve found the perfect neighborhood and the ideal new home. Before you can settle in and begin making your new surroundings feel like home, however, you have to cross one more dreaded hurdle: moving day. “Finding a new home is a wonderful and exciting experience, but moving can be overwhelming; juggling packing, moving essential belongings, and transforming your new house into a home,” said Wendy Froehlich, vice president of marketing at Homes.com. “Homes.com believes in providing the best tools and tips for consumers to make their lives easier. We’re proud to share best practices to make the moving process less stressful and more organized - ensuring a smooth move,” he said. One mistake many movers make is attempting to transport items that should actually just be replaced. A commonly overlooked example is mattresses, which can prove cumbersome and difficult to keep clean during a move. “Many people find moving is the ideal time to replace a mattress, especially if it has reached or surpassed the eight-year mark,” said Steve Stagner, chief executive officer of Mattress Firm, Inc. To help movers avoid unnecessary stress and reduce property damage, the experts at Mattress Firm and Homes.com have partnered to provide these tips: • Plan ahead: The key to executing a move that is both efficient and stress-free is to plan your move weeks before the actual day. A moving file and calendar are great ways to keep all of your moving information, such as your lease or mortgage contract, utility hook up, power documents, and other important information in one place. • Get organized: Organize boxes for their corresponding room in your new home, sealing them with colored duct tape to color code. • Don’t crack under pressure: Keep your plates in one piece by stacking plastic foam plates in between each one, and protect glasses by putting them inside pairs of clean socks. • Vacuum seal out-ofseason clothing: Don’t waste time fumbling through out-of-season clothing. Not only will it take up

Dance Wednesdays at Legion Post #1

ou’re invited to attend a dance each Wednesday afternoon from 1 to 4 p.m. at American Legion Post #1, 7811 Davenport St. Admission is $2. For more information, please call 402-392-0444.

Heartland Family Service Senior Center

less space and be a breeze to pack, it can go directly into storage in the new place. • Think of the little things: Keep sandwich bags handy to hold any small items you have to take apart, such as the screws for a mounted flat-screen television or your bed frame, and tape them to the backside. Label the bags accordingly to make unpacking and reassembling furniture a breeze. • Sweet dreams: Check the mattress tag; if a mattress is more than eight years old, it has accumulated dust, dust mites, and sweat that can make it practically double in weight. Avoid the hassle of moving it and arrange to get a new one delivered to your new home. If the mattress is still

in its prime, use a mattress protector to transport it safely to the new home. • Green thumb: Transport plants delicately by using a Christmas tree bag to keep all of the appendages safe and prevent snapping. • Survival kit: Make life easier when arriving at the new home by packing an easily accessible overnight bag with clothes and necessary toiletries. Don’t forget to include first day essentials, such as a box cutter, paper towels, trash bags, and power strips. • For additional tips to make your moving day run smoothly, visit www.mattressfirm.com or www.homes.com. (Family Features provided this information.)

You’re invited to visit the Heartland Family Service Senior Center, 2101 S. 42nd St. for the following: • Sept. 11: Rudi Mitchell will discuss the Native American culture @ 10:45 a.m. • Sept. 16: Red Hats meet at Fazoli’s @ 11:30 a.m. • Sept. 25: Presentation by Legal Aid of Nebraska’s Margaret Schaefer on wills and trusts @ 10: 45 a.m. • Sept. 26: Visit by Methodist College nursing students @ 10 a.m. • Sept. 28: Free concert from 4 to 6 p.m. by Cross Strung with Manzini’s tribute to Houdini at the Ralston Arena. Limited to the first 14 people who sign up. Call Karen @ 402-552-7480 for reservations. • Sept. 29: Birthday party with Billy Troy @ 10:45 a.m. The center will be closed on Monday, Sept. 1 for Labor Day. The Heartland Family Service Senior Center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch is normally served at noon. A $3 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to attend. Transportation is available within specific boundaries for 50 cents each way. Regular activities include free Tai Chi classes on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday @ 10:15 a.m., and a nurse visit Mondays from 9 a.m. to noon. Call 402-553-5300 for an appointment. For meal reservations or more information, please call Karen at 402-552-7480 or the front desk at 402-553-5300.

Zumba Gold is for anyone who:

• Prefers a slower Pace • Is just starting out • Is rebuilding after illness or injury • Needs to sit while exercising • Can’t jump or hop

at maxxfitt.net

or call 402-507-5306

MAXX FiTT “Fitness for Life”

Hard of hearing support group to meet Sept. 9 at Dundee Presbyterian Church

he Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America, a support group for hard of hearing adults, will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 9 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 who will summarize events at the National Hearing Loss Association’s convention. The Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America meets the second Tuesday of the month from September through December and from March through August. For more information, please contact Beth Ellsworth at ellsworth.beth@cox.net or Verla Hamilton at 402558-6449.

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Neuropsychologist suggests getting a Founders Manhart, Gill baseline assessment of your memory recall GOP audition tale

orgetfulness becomes more common with age for most of us. But even if your doctor says your memory is perfectly normal for your age, you may still be concerned about memory slips that seem new or unusual. Recent research suggests sometimes (but not always) these changes may be early warning signs of future memory decline. This merits a closer look, however, not a panic attack. “We don’t want to worry the public that if they forget where their keys are they are on the path to Alzheimer’s disease,” says neuropsychologist Rebecca Amariglio, an instructor in neurology at the Harvard Medical School. “But there is a growing appreciation we should not dismiss those concerns. It may be worth talking to a doctor and getting a baseline assessment.” Here are some potential signs of cognitive decline: • Getting lost in familiar surroundings. • Having trouble remembering important details of recent events. • Difficulty following the plot of TV program or book. • Misplacing items and being unable to locate them later. A recent study Amariglio worked on used information from the the Harvard-based Nurses’ Health Study to explore whether subjective memory complaints, or concerns about one’s own memory, could be used to identify people with cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment – sometimes called cognitive decline – is a catchall term that covers memory loss and worsening of basic thinking skills. Such impairment sometimes (but not always) progresses to dementia.

bout 17,000 women, mostly in their 70s, were involved in the study. Researchers asked the women if they had noticed any of seven different kinds of memory changes. Then they administered two standard tests to measure cognitive impairment. Women who reported noticing certain types of memory changes were more likely to also show signs of cognitive impairment. One such warning sign identified in the study is finding it hard to follow a group conversation or the story in a TV show. Another example is feeling that your memory skills are worse than that of friends your own age. However, some common memory concerns weren’t strongly associated with

cognitive decline in the women. One is forgetting things from one second to the next, for example, walking into a room and forgetting why you went there. Another is occasionally misplacing personal items like a wallet or car keys. Such minor memory slips are usually considered signs of benign age-related forgetfulness. In other studies, Amariglio and her colleagues have linked subjective memory concerns to having more beta amyloid in the brain. Beta amyloid is a protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease. “People who are completely normal, but who have a subjective sense their memories are changing for the worse, are more likely to have amyloid collecting in their brains, which is a risk factor for developing cognitive decline later,” Amariglio says.

sing self-reported memory changes to identify people who may be at greater risk of cognitive impairment is a new idea that needs to be tested more. Noticing memory changes doesn’t mean you’re definitely going to develop cognitive impairment or dementia. But don’t completely ignore them, either. “It could not hurt to check it out, if just to start a conversation with your doctor,” Amariglio says. Your physician could do a quick cognitive check in the office or possibly refer you for more extensive testing. That creates a baseline to compare later changes if they happen. In the meantime, there are many ways to compensate for memory slips once you notice changes. And though there is no medical treatment for cognitive decline, you can keep your mind sharper by exercising, eating right, and staying mentally active. Here are some easy memory helpers: • Keep your keys, phone, and eyeglasses in the same place every day. • Pay close attention when you need to remember details. • Do one thing at a time. Multitasking increases forgetfulness. • Repeat names of new acquaintances, silently or aloud. • Link a person’s name to a rhyme or a vivid mental image. • Repeat important facts back to people as you talk to them. • Eliminate distractions when you’re trying to learn something. • Read instructions more than once on different occasions.

In 1984, Dr. Mark Manhart, an Omaha dentist and his wife, travel writer Bonnie Gill started the Grande Olde Players. The GOP as it became known, was a community theater of live performances for older adults and those who enjoyed working with older men and women. Although the Grande Olde Players’ theatre doors closed at 2339 N. 90th St. a few years ago, the memories continue to live on. Dr. Manhart and Gill take New Horizons readers on a theatrical trip down memory lane. By Dr. Mark Manhart and Bonnie Gill

Grande Olde Player gets on stage and acts his age. The legendary actor Alec Guinness once said, “Don’t act, be the character.” We had lots of older adults who wanted to get on stage and just needed a little nudge in that direction. When teetering old Bob appeared at an audition once, he read with a shy, baritone voice that died at the second row of the house. “Hold it, Bob! Let’s start over,” I yelled from the back row of the theatre. “Can you make that a little louder?” “Sure. But that’s about as loud as I can do,” he grumbled, a bit out of sorts. “Well, no one’s going to hear this old guy,” I said to myself. So, I walked down and pulled him aside to keep this between the two of us. “What do you do, Bob?” With a growl he spit out, “Nothing I don’t want to do. I’m retired.” “Well, what do you do when you want to do something?” I inquired. “I play cards and wait to die,” Bob replied with a distinct period in his voice. Thoughts of “Whoa, we’ve got to find this gut a part in this play,” flashed through my head. “Ah Bob, what do you to just for fun, I mean besides play cards?” “I sing. I like to sing Ol’ Man River,” he bellowed out. “You know, those oldies.” “Well, can you get up there on stage and sing those lines?” I asked. “What for? You don’t sing the lines. This ain’t no opera.” “Yeah, but you’ve got to project those words.” “What do you mean project?” Bob asked. “You’ve got to throw them way out to the back row, to everyone. Like singing. Can you do that for me?” “Yeah, I suppose.” With the reluctance of a worn out old soldier, he found the page in the script and mumbled a few choice words at me. I headed back to my perch and before I could sit to listen to the old codger, Bob’s baritone lines thundered through the theatre. We all turned to hear, “Ol’ man river, you just keep rolling,” as if Bob was Porgy with Bess on the pier in Showboat. Bob learned what he already knew. He just had to be reminded. He went on to play and sing on stages all over town. Bob didn’t have to act, merely be himself and sing his heart out every chance he got. He even played cards once in a while.

Sept. 11 at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound coming to Omaha Ernie Haase & Signature Sound are coming to Omaha with the live Oh, What A Savior Tour on Thursday, Sept. 11 at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 7706 S. 96th St. in LaVista. EHSS – which have has offered its message of hope around the world – has also been featured in several Gaither Homecoming videos and television shows. General seating tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show are

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$15 for groups of 10+, $20 in advance ($25 day of the show), or $25 for the Artist Circle (reserved section closest to the stage). Children ages 5 and under will be admitted for free except in the Artist Circle. Tickets are available in person at Divine Truth, 6905 S. 84th St. in LaVista or Parables, 11212 Chicago Cir. No group rate tickets are available at these stores. No service fees will be

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charged with payment by cash or check at either location. Tickets also can be purchased through the mail at Trinity Communications, PO Box 521, Fort Wayne, Ind. 46895. No service fees will be charged. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope. For more information, please call 1-260-484-1029 or visit TrinityCommunications.org.

September 2014

Book review series begins Sept. 16 The Eclectic Book Review Club’s 65th season begins on Sept. 16 with retired Omaha police detective Brian Bogdnaoff’s Three Bodies Burning. The series is held at the Omaha Field Club, 3615 Woolworth Ave. A noon lunch is followed by the book review at 12:30 p.m. The cost is $13 per luncheon. Here’s the 2014 schedule: • Oct. 21: Retired Omaha attorney Steve Wolf on In Comet’s Tale: How the Dog I Rescued Saved My Life. • Nov. 18: Maggie Montclair (Janet Laird) on Surviving Widowhood and 79.4 Ways to Celebrate Your Old Age. For reservations or more information, please call Rita at 402-553-3147.

Alzheimer’s support groups available in Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy counties The Alzheimer’s Association Midlands Chapter offers several caregiver support groups and specialty support groups each month in Dodge, Douglas, and Sarpy counties. These support groups offer valuable space and educational opportunities for families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of dementia to engage and learn. Please call Elizabeth at 402-502-4301, ext. 205 for more information. DODGE COUNTY

• OMAHA

• FREMONT Last Wednesday of month @ 2 p.m. Nye Square 655 W. 23rd St.

Third Tuesday @ 5 p.m. Immanuel Pathways 5755 Sorensen Pkwy.

Second Tuesday @ 5:30 p.m. Shalimar Gardens 749 E. 29th St. DOUGLAS COUNTY • BENNINGTON Last Thursday @ 6 p.m. Ridgewood Active Retirement Community 12301 N. 149th Cr. • ELKHORN Third Monday @ 6 p.m. Elk Ridge Village Assisted Living 19400 Elk Ridge Dr. • OMAHA Every other Monday @ 7 p.m. Brighton Gardens 9220 Western Ave. Men’s Group Third Wednesday @ 11:30 a.m. Alzheimer’s Association office 1941 S. 42nd St. Third Tuesday @ 6:30 p.m. Fountain View Senior Living 5710 S 108th St. Third Wednesday @ 5 p.m. Immanuel Fontenelle Home 6809 N. 68th Plz. First and third Monday @ 1:30 p.m. New Cassel/Franciscan Centre 900 N. 90th St. Adult day services are provided on-site.

First Tuesday @ 5:30 p.m. Heritage Pointe 16811 Burdette St. Third Saturday 10:30 a.m. to noon Younger Onset Support Group For persons age 65 or younger and a loved one Methodist Hospital 8303 Dodge St. REGISTRATION REQUIRED First Thursday @ 6:30 p.m. Early Stage Support Group For persons age 65+ caregiver Security National Bank 1120 S. 101st St. REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Talk on scams, fraud Detective Rick Belik from the Omaha Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit-Fraud division will be the featured speaker during a program at the Volunteers Assisting Seniors (VAS) office, 1941 S. 42nd St. (Center Mall), Suite 312. The program, which will be held from 1 to 2 p.m., is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 3. Belik said the talk will be about scams and fraud trends affecting older adults locally. Topics will include typical behavior by scam artists, what to look for, and how to educate individuals to keep them from becoming fraud victims. Reservations are required. To register or for more information, please call VAS at 402-444-6617.

WHITMORE LAW OFFICE Wills • Trusts • Probate

Ask A Lawyer: Q — In addition to avoiding probate, what are some benefits of a trust? A — Gifts to minors can be held in the trust until they are ready to inherit, without court supervision. A trust provides you with more privacy than a will and is difficult to challenge. A trust can prevent unintentionally disinheriting a child, which can happen in a blended family even with a will. You can make provision for beneficiaries with special needs, or choose for professional management of your trust if you become disabled. The benefits of a trust are for everyone, not just for “rich people.” 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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• Handyman Services • Senior Discounts

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• Free Estimates • References • Fully Insured

Managed by Kimball Management., Inc.

Quality Professional Service Better Business Bureau Member

We do business in accordance with the Fair Housing Law.

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Enoa Aging September 2014

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Tom and Margaret Mahoney

• Quality living at an affordable price • Licensed nurse and certified staff on duty 24 hours a day • Located in scenic downtown Omaha

• Medication administration and daily living assistance • 1O spacious floor plans with large closets • Numerous educational, social, spiritual and wellness programs

Contact Saint Joseph Tower Assisted Living Community to learn more.

www.StJosephTower.com 22O5 S. 1Oth St.

Omaha, NE 681O8

(4O2) 952-5OOO

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Tom and Margaret Mahoney were married July 24, 1943 at Omaha’s Holy Angels Church.

hen asked about the secret to the success of the 71-year marriage of her father in-law and mother in-law, Tom and Margaret Mahoney, Jan Mahoney’s answer was simple, “They’re crazy about each other.” On July 24, Tom Mahoney, a retired Union Pacific Railroad engineer, and his wife, Margaret, who worked for the Omaha Public Library system, celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary with 20 family members present during a reception at Espirit Whispering Ridge in northwest Omaha. Tom and Margaret (Flearl) Mahoney – both doing well these days at age 92 – were classmates at Omaha’s Holy Angels Grade School and Sacred Heart High School. They started dating after graduating from high school in 1940, though Tom’s railroad work schedule didn’t allow him much time for a social life. “I went to work when the phone rang, night or day,” he recalled during a recent interview in the Mahoneys’ second-floor apartment.

uly 24, 1943 was a hot summer day in Omaha. So hot the cake was stored in the Holy Angels Church basement to keep it cool between the Mahoneys’ morning wedding and the couple’s evening reception. “They didn’t have air conditioning, so the basement was the coolest place they could find,” Margaret said laughing at the memory. “The cake turned out as well as could be expected.” Holy Angles pastor Father Patrick Flanagan, the brother of Boys Town founder Father Edward Flanagan, presided over the Mahoneys’ wedding. The newlyweds took a train to Denver where they looked the town over, saw its major points of interest, and stayed at the Brown Palace Hotel during their honeymoon. Tom’s 32-year career with the UPRR was interrupted by stints driving a train for the United States Army during WWII and the Korean War. The Mahoney’s first child, Kay, was born in 1945 while Tom was stationed in Europe. “I didn’t see her until she was 11 months old,” he said. Tom and Margaret have four daughters, two sons, nine grandchildren, two great grandkids, and a third great grandchild due in November. Before Tom joined the military, the Mahoneys rented a house near 31st and Sprague streets. Margaret said the rent was $45 a month. “It wasn’t much, but it was all I could afford,” Tom said. While Tom was overseas, Margaret lived with her parents. After the war, the Mahoneys bought their first home, a modest place at 2439 Browne St. In the early 1960s, the family – then with three children – relocated to a house near 45th and Fort streets. Earlier this summer, the couple moved to Espirit Whispering Ridge.

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he Mahoneys said the keys to a long and happy marriage are taking things one day at a time, setting a good example for your children, and having a good sense of humor. Tom and Margaret are the most generous – both with their love and their attention – in-laws anyone could ask for, according to Jan Mahoney. “They have mutual respect for one another and that carries on to their children,” she said. “With them, family always comes first.”

September 2014