Senior Connection Hillsborough edition April 2011 by Lifestyles After 50 Magazine

VOLUME 22, NUMBER 4

The Wild Side of Quebec

The Cupid in Your Computer • Get A Job ... Your Age Can Help! • Parkinson’s Foundation Helps Families • Question About Social Security • Mom Always Loved You Best!

HILLSBOROUGH

APRIL 2011

Our Peers in Japan—Their Suffering and Comfort in the Tsunami Disaster

BY JANICE DOYLE Dear Readers,

ecause of modern technology, we are tied to the rest Janice Doyle, of the world through Editor instant visual images. As I observed the devastation caused by the tsunami in Japan, I couldn’t help thinking that thousands of those shown in shelters were my peers, people in their 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s whose desire for the comforts of home are very much like mine. Now they are without food, water and their own homes. Most have lost family members. All are suffering greatly. I have lived in Japan. It is a unique country in all ways, from geography to architecture and from art to the customs and personal discipline which make it “work” in spite of the dense population in such a small geographical size. One day I entered a middle school gymnasium to be a part of a program. The entire student body was being seated as I arrived. As the several hundred students came in, class by class in order, they each stopped quickly and quietly to remove their shoes. They weren’t kicking them off into random piles, either. As the first classes entered, they turned so the heels of their shoes touched the wall, toes pointed forward, until the wall was lined. Subsequent classes created lines of shoes in front of that, finally reaching several feet out into the gym. All the shoes were black and similar in style, yet at the end of the program, each pair was quietly claimed without a single problem. Last week I read that in the shelters in Japan all the shoes are lined up inside the door. It was easy for me to imagine. It would not have occurred to them to have done otherwise. And no one would have argued. A picture in the March 19 Wall Street Journal shows a group of Senior Connection • April 2011 • page 2

seniors in a shelter lined up doing stretching exercises. It is an integral part of their society to take care of the little things (like shoes and daily stretching exercises) with self discipline and then look after the big things as they arise. Big things —like recovering from a tsunami. In 2004, Hurricane Charley wreaked havoc on communities here in Florida. Some of our readers could detail from that experience the immediate frustrations the Japanese seniors face (except that the Japanese are cold instead of hot). Many of you could walk them through the decisions they have to make as they rebuild their lives.

Nuclear threat What Floridians didn’t face is the radiation from the nuclear power plants. All Japanese people know family stories of health problems from radiation exposure after the WWII bombings. They know the diseases well. They know what might happen. I have visited both Nagasaki and Hiroshima. I have seen the museums which tell the stories of August 1945 and the results of the bombs. The people of Japan made the transition then, quickly and boldly, from weapons of destruction to rebuilding their homes and communities. They will do it again, going from this natural disaster to rebuilding. Sometimes now, years after living in Japan, a sight, a smell or a sound takes me back in my mind to the community in southern Japan which I knew best. Because of that familiarity, I can picture the communities destroyed by the tsunami—the shops, the signs, the children, the food. One afternoon, my friend and I stopped to watch some boys about 10 or 11 years old playing baseball in a small corner of a park. Soon

they offered to let us take a turn at bat, and so we became a part of an American-Japanese baseball game, laughing with them as we ran bases, caught fly balls and pitched to them. Children having fun, like many caught up in the tsunami. But as I write this, I also remember the Buddhist temple I passed every morning and evening on my way to and from work, with its huge iron bell just inside the door. As the months passed, I witnessed people making daily offerings, and I was also witness to occasional weddings and funerals. Although I didn’t understand the words at funerals, I often stopped to sit on the steps and listen to the chanting of the sutra and smell the incense. It was such a contrast to my familiar Christian traditions.

Hillsborough, Pinellas/Pasco Published monthly by News Connection U.S.A., Inc.

Publisher, President: Kathy J. Beck kathy@srmagazine.com Editor: Janice Doyle Accounting: Vicki Willis Production Supervisor Graphic Design: Kim Burrell Production Assistant: Tracie Schmidt Customer Service: 1-888-670-0040 customerservice@srmagazine.com Advertising Sales: Hillsborough/Pinellas 1-888-670-0040 Tampa Bay Area Dena Bingham: (813) 653-1988 Pinellas/Pasco Judy Floyd: (727) 678-0315 Chuck Bingham: (813) 293-1550 Frank Zaccaro: (813) 388-3200 Sun City Center Judy Coleman: (813) 653-1988 Distribution 1-888-670-0040 Corporate Advertising Ofﬁce: P.O. Box 638 Seffner, Florida 33583-0638

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Rebuilding Life’s changes are often marked in cultures through religion. Although most Japanese claim no religion today, many of the living will help the country’s dead pass on to the afterlife in Buddhist temples. For the older generation of Japanese—my peers— the pain will be intense, the feeling of loss overwhelming. But they will find comfort in the familiar chants, in the burning of incense and in the deep, resonant ‘bong’ of the temple bell. Then they will begin to rebuild. My thoughts and prayers are with them.

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ATTENTION READERS: The articles printed in Senior Connection and Mature Lifestyles do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Editor or the staff. The Senior Connection/ Mature Lifestyles endeavors to accept reliable advertising; however we cannot be held responsible by the public for advertising claims. Senior Connection/ Mature Lifestyles reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement. Our advertising deadline for the May 2011 issue is April 15, 2011. Magazines are out by the 7th of each month. All rights reserved.

Straz Center Programming Holds Something for Everyone BY JANICE DOYLE

“I

f we build it, they will come” was the mantra in 1987 when the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center was built. More than 10 million guests later—and now named the David A. Straz, Jr. Center—a full schedule of programming continues to thrill area residents who make their way downtown. “This year has been really great,” said Program Director Aaron Zimmerman. “We have a variety of programming for everyone. And we’re expanding our programming in what we bring to the Straz Center and Tampa in general. We’ve been successful in working with the Tampa Theatre, the Ritz, and Opera Tampa (Straz Center’s opera company) is bringing Andrea Boccelli to the St. Pete Times Forum December 4.” This year in addition to Broadway, opera, comedy, music and dance performances, “The Straz” hosted a

National Geographic lecture series and TV’s “Pawn Stars Gold & Silver Road Show” will be on the stage in May. Big numbers yet to come include Broadway’s Hair and Mama Mia and family offerings Shrek and Madagascar. To develop the Straz Center’s programming, the staff travels to see shows, stays in touch with agents around the country and develops ideas on their own. They keep several things in mind, said Zimmerman who works on the more contemporary side of things. “Judith Lisi’s focus is the Broadway and she’s always checking the educational component which we can share with the community through the Patel Conservatory and Blake Performing Arts High School.” After they all put their ideas on the table, Zimmerman says, “There’s the negotiating. Our performances not only have to be considered monetarily, but they also have to make sense with our mission statement of creating

diverse programming for Tampa.” The marketing department also takes part, bringing in the financial side before decisions are made. The Board and staff are always aware of the desire to give back to the community as well, especially for students, he added. “The biggest thing last year for us was that we produced Wonderland here, and it is now about to open on Broadway,” Zimmerman says. “That was brought together by Judith Lisi (Straz Center President and Chief Executive Officer).” “Club Jaeb is one of the best offerings in the area,” Zimmerman said. Once a month they feature a big name guitar singersongwriter-type series. It’s kind of like Americana storyteller acts for $25. (April 11 and May 2 shows) As Zimmerman and the staff at the Straz Center wrap up programming for next year, he can hardly maintain the secrecy. “I promise the fall is going to be great. I’m excited. Okay, here’s my

tip for what’s coming,” he said. “Celtic Thunder will be the first show of the fall. And there’s Bocelli coming.” The Straz Center—they built it and people will keep coming.

Save Money at The Straz If ticket prices seem high, take some tips from my friends: Rose buys special senior-price tickets when available—half price the day of the performance at the box office only. Call to check. Jan saw West Side Story by buying $20 “obstructed view” tickets and got Jersey Boys tickets for about $30. Judy bought Billy Elliott tickets through a Groupon BOGO offer. Watch the website. And the wonderful volunteers get to see the performances when they work at the theater.

Senior Connection • April 2011 • page 3

The Cupid in Your Computer “W

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Senior Connection • April 2011 • page 4

• Be precise. “Think about who you are and what makes you unusual, and list both your successes and your failures,” says Dr. Browne. “Don’t allow yourself to wander into abstracts or use trite phrases. No moonlight strolls, walks in the park, or, ‘I’m a true romantic’; these descriptions of yourself are meaningless, overused and silly. Remind yourself that a focused intent is time-saving, practical and useful, so be thoughtful and specific. You want your ad to be honest, compelling, eye catching, reflective of who you are.”

• Use a fairly recent picture and avoid flattering glam shots because you want very little discrepancy between the picture and what you really look like. It’s much smarter to elicit a comment such as, “My goodness, you’re much better looking in person!” instead of, “Oh my God, is this what you really look like?” • Don’t even think about using a picture of yourself with your arm around somebody of the opposite sex (duh). A picture with a friend is also a mixed message. • Be careful about using props like a dog or a fancy car. This is about you, so it should be a good headshot of you alone.

• Women, don’t be tempted to be too sexy in your picture or you’re going to send the wrong message. And guys; keep your shirt on. Watch for more of Dr. Browne’s tips in future issues.

Around Town

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G A P R I L 2 0 1 1

hrough May 31 “Bugging Out” at MOSI plus IMAX film “Bugs! A Rainforest Adventure.” Regular adm. plus $3. MOSI.org or (813) 987-6300. “Caring for Our Community” Celebration. Dinner, dancing, comedy competition. $100 donation. 7 – 10 p.m. Wyndham Hotel, 700 North Westshore Blvd., Tampa. Proceeds to Communication Access. Contact (813) 814-7736 or TMT.Tess@Verizon.net. AARP Driving Course at Oldsmar Senior Center, 127 State St., Oldsmar. 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. $14/ non-AARP members. Call (813) 749-1155 to register.

Poet John Foster will read and discuss selections from his latest book, “Where There’s a Quill.” SouthShore Regional Library. Call (813) 273-3652 for information.

– 17 Festa Italiana in Centennial Park, Ybor City. Bocce Ball Invitational Tournament, Italian Idol competition, a Homemade Vino competition and tasting, Italian food. See festaitalianatampa. com or call (813) 342-3630.

Tampa Bay Symphony concert under the direction of Dr. Jack Heller, 4 p.m. Straz Center, Tampa. Tickets at door/$20. Call (727) 5228459 or visit tampabaysymphony.com.

“National Geographic Live! My Wild Life” with Mireya Mayor, wildlife conservationist at Straz Center For The Performing Arts. Call (813) 222-1275.

The Tampa area Parkinson’s Disease Group meets from 1 – 3 p.m. at Church of the Nazarene, Himes Avenue (between Sligh and Hillsborough). Info at (813) 931-1235. Directions: (813) 932-6902. No dues required.

Easter Bonnet Luncheon with the Brandon Christian Women’s Connection. Lunch, speaker. 11 a.m. $12. Reservations and details at (813) 740-0098.

White Elephant Sale by Brandon Homemakers Club at Brandon Community Center, Sadie Street. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Info: (813) 689-6265.

Orangutan Egg Hunt at Lowry Park Zoo. 11 a.m. Included with Zoo admission (seniors (60+) $21.95). Daytime admission includes unlimited amusement rides. Parking is free. For information, visit LowryParkZoo.com. – 29 The American Victory Ship Mariners Museum invites the grandkids over spring break. 12 and under free with one paid adult entrance. Seniors $8/adults $10. Visit americanvictory.org.

Norse Mythology Luncheon and speaker. Scandinavian Club of Sun City Center at 11 a.m. Redeemer Lutheran Church. $12/ person. (813) 642-0989 for reservations.

Mah Jongg Club Upper Tampa Bay Regional Public Library. 1 – 2 p.m. Call (813) 273-3652 for information.

Taste the Best of Tampa Bay at the Straz Center. Sample food and drinks from the Tampa Bay area’s best restaurants and caterers. Live entertainment. For info and tickets, call (813) 222-1275.

Tampa Bay International Dragon Boat Races. Starts in Fort Brooke Park, the Marriott Waterside. First race. 9 a.m. with a heat running every 10 minutes. The International Beer and Food Festival runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call (813) 223-3700 for details.

March of Dimes Fundraiser Walk. Starts at Plant Park at 8 a.m. For info, call (813) 287-2600 x 28 or visit marchofdimes.com/florida.

Send Around Town news to Senior Connection Magazine, 1602 S. Parsons Ave., Seffner, FL 33584; fax (813) 651-1989. News must be received by the 10th of the month prior to event (i.e. April 10 for May event.)

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Senior Connection • April 2011 • page 6

E N I

lowns are supposed to be funny, aren’t they? They work to entertain us, often by silly antics that make us laugh. An unbelievable number of them emerge, center ring, from a tiny car. They squirt water from a flower in some unsuspecting person’s face. They trip and fall, although it appears nothing is in the way. This is the humor of the unexpected that we knew and loved from the time we were children. But the idea of clowns in Nursing Homes puzzled me. Surely, in that setting, those unexpected behaviors would be inappropriate, maybe even dangerous. Nursing home residents are at an entirely different stage of life, often preparing for death. It’s hard to see what’s funny about that. It turns out that therapeutic clowns behave differently from those who entertain in the circus. Shobi Dobi, a world-renowned caring clown, author and teacher, explains the difference this way: “The circus…clown directs and entertains…the (therapeutic) clown listens to the (person) and then acts accordingly. The focus is on the connection. (Clowns) can be found sitting, quietly listening to a patient… whatever is needed at the moment.” According to Clown Patty Wooten who is also a nurse, author and leader in the ﬁeld of therapeutic humor, clowns in nursing homes are there because people need to know

stay fully absorbed in the moment. With a clown by your side, you are no longer alone on your path. And, with a clown by your side you may, for the moment, step away from any regrets of the past, fears of the future and pain in the moment. From the moment when you nod yes, inviting into your room that clown who is shyly peeking around the door, you are engaged in uis Campaneria a “now-time” heart of A-1 Magic to heart connection has entertained with magic that might, perhaps, and balloons full time for put a twinkle in the past 22 years. your eye or even a “At last count, I can make about smile on your face. 1000 different balloon animals, not So, please, to mention how many balloon hats Send In A Clown. and many other types of balloon Photos by Tina Brunner creations,” Luis says. “The smiles on seniors’ faces makes it worth every balloon that popped while learning this art. When I meet a new event I love to hear them H coordinator, G U comment, ‘Balloons? Does he LA E there aren’t going to be P L e’s a clown, know O any kids here?’ All I have to PE an actor, a say is, ‘watch!’” juggler and a friend who Visit his website at makes it his mission to bring A1magic.com. about the laughter that causes healing to the body, spirit and soul. He’s Charlie Chaplin, a unicyclist and a four-legged man who keeps seniors laughing wherever he goes. Fritzy, the one-man circus, is a regular at the Fun Fests and Senior Extravaganzas hosted by this publication. He says, “I’ve never met a senior I didn’t like. Seniors are never concerned about being the first one to laugh, and they also love to be hugged!” Once at a Fun Fest, he said out loud, ‘Free hugs today!’ and seniors “actually started a hug line. Don’t tell any of them, but it’s me who really needs all the hugs! They love attention and I’m just the guy to give it to them.” “I love them all!” says Fritzy, the clown who creates laughter that “does the heart good like medicine.” Visit Fritzy’s website at fritzybrothers.com.

ENT MA E RT K IN A

BY ANN THOMAS

that someone cares about them. Everyone needs a safe space where they can relax and feel nurtured. Therapeutic clowns are able to provide this safe space partly because they have no other agenda. They are not responsible for medications, meals or laundry. They are free of the “rush” and “fuss” that come with those other jobs. They are not there to “ﬁx” the person. They are there only to connect in a caring and loving way to wherever that person is at the moment. In this way their purpose seems to be similar to other caring visitors, including those of the four legged variety. So then, why are they in clown costume? Why go through the extensive training and expensive perfecting of costume when it seems it could be done in everyday clothes without training? The answer is that the costume changes things, both for the clown and the patient. The costume helps the clown move outside of their ego. They, like any actor, become someone else and are able to put aside personal needs and assume an open vulnerability, an open heart. And, for the patient, there is an instant recognition that the clown is not part of the staff and therefore not someone who either requires something of them or is intending to do something to them. The visual recognition says, without words, that the clown is someone who understands play and therefore, like anyone who knows how to play, is able to

ES V O RL

Senior Connection • April 2011 • page 7

Long-Term Care and the New Health Care Law BY RON POLLACK, Executive Director, Families USA

f you’re doing some financial planning, you will want to include long-term care needs you or your spouse might have in the future. You also need to consider the new Affordable Care Act—the new health care law signed into law in 2010.

Retirement Living Long-term care is expensive and Medicare does not cover the costs. And there are other reasons to plan ahead, to learn about your options for care before you need help. That way, if you need care suddenly, you and your family won’t have to scramble. Equally important, you won’t end up in a nursing home just because no one knew alternatives were available.

Long-term care isn’t only about nursing homes. There are many options for care and support that can help you stay at home longer or even avoid a nursing home altogether. The “home- and community-based services” that can help you stay at home range from homemaker help, such as help preparing meals, to care provided by health professionals like nurses, and a lot in between: personal attendants can help you with daily activities and adult day services and respite services can give family caregivers a needed rest. You may want training to learn new skills if, for example, you start having vision trouble, or perhaps home modifications can help you get around your house better so you can keep living at home. What services are available will depend on where you live. Many seniors rely on state programs, like Medicaid, for their care. In states whose Medicaid programs invest more on home- and community-based services, there are generally more of these services available

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Senior Connection • April 2011 • page 8

program, Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS), that will help pay for care. CLASS will be available to working adults, The Affordable Care Act The good news is that the Affordable regardless of age or health, probably in 2013. To be eligible for benefits, Care Act-the new health care law-includes several new programs that will you’ll first need to be enrolled for five help people who need long-term care years. After that, if you need long-term care, the program will provide an stay at home longer. New programs average benefit of at least $50 a day will give states financial incentives to expand the home- and community- ($18,250 a year), adjusted for inflation. based services they offer. Educational You can use that money to pay for assistance or other things you need grants will ensure that there is an to help you stay in your home. The adequate, and adequately trained, program pays as long as you need care. workforce to provide home care as You still need to do your homethe population ages. Starting in 2014, work – plan your finances and learn the spouse of someone receiving what’s available where you live. care at home will be protected from having to spend all the couple’s assets The Administration on Aging’s ElderCare Locator, at 1-800-677in order for their husband or wife 1116 or eldercare.gov, can help you to qualify for Medicaid; today, that find services in your community. protection exists only if the person You can learn more about the new opneeding care is in a nursing home. tions in the long-term services section of The law also includes a new volunFamilies USA’s website, familiesusa.org. tary federal long-term care insurance for everyone-even for people who don’t use Medicaid.

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tion runs two major programs that provide benefits based on disability: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and SSI. SSDI is financed with Social Security taxes paid by workers, employers and selfemployed persons. To be eligible for a Social Security benefit, the worker must earn sufficient credits based on taxable work to be “insured” for Social Security purposes. Disability benefits are payable to blind or disabled workers, survivors or adults disabled since childhood who are otherwise eligible. The amount

of the monthly disability benefit is based on the Social Security earnings record of the insured worker. SSI is a needs-based program financed through general revenues. SSI disability benefits are payable to adults or children who are disabled or blind, have limited income and resources, meet the living arrangement requirements and are otherwise eligible. The monthly payment varies up to the maximum federal benefit rate, which may be supplemented by the State or decreased by countable income and resources. To learn more about SSDI and SSI disability benefits, visit socialsecurity.gov and click the links along the top of the page for Disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

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Easter Egg Hunt Friday April 22nd at 11 a.m.

Veterans Corner

Tampa Woman Remembers Her Black Army Unit’s WWII Job: Sorting Mail BY JANICE DOYLE

From Your Friends At

Senior Connection • April 2011 • page 10

Tampa WWII veteran became a staff sergeant sorting mail. That’s right. In fact she helped sort out two and a half years’ worth of mail—millions of pieces— and get it where it belonged. Evelyn Johnson was part of the only unit of African Americans in the Women’s Army Corps to serve overseas during World War II, the all-black 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. In March, Johnson was a special guest when the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg hosted “In the Mood,” a concert of music from the 40s. The 855 women of the 6888th were given the task of sorting through millions of undelivered cards, letters and packages destined for the seven million American troops serving in Europe. The massive backlogs were piled from floor to ceiling in warehouses and airplane hangars. When they finished in Birmingham, England, they were sent to Rouen, France, where they found millions more pieces to sort. Led by Major Charity Adams Earley, the first African-American woman officer, the women worked around the clock in three shifts sorting mail. Problems they encountered included poorly labeled mail (things like “Buster Smith, Army, England”) and the constant mobility of the troops—soldiers often were on the way to another location by the time their mail caught up with them. Johnson said the biggest thing she learned in the military was “to listen!” Like others who have served in the military, training and service differed. She said, “When I crossed the ocean, I was a trained medical clerk. I didn’t know anything about the postal service. But I learned.” Dressed “to the nines” for her March outing to the Mahaffey, it was easy to believe Johnson when she talked about the uniforms in the 40s. “I love

Womens Army Corps Veteran, Evelyn Johnson.

fashion,” she said. “My mother saw to it that I wore the right kind of clothes and clothes that would make a statement. When military women came to our town (before she joined the WACs) in their uniforms, I was impressed. They were well tailored and well fitted. I liked them.” When she returned home to Buffalo, New York, after the war, she found that she was treated well, unlike the experience of many black women from the South. “My mother had taken my letters to the NAACP, my church, my friends. So they knew what I’d been doing.” Johnson said, “I’m an honorary, charter, lifetime member of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Washington.” She’s also a member of AmVets and the Tampa WAC Veterans group. After the war, Johnson used the GI Bill to train as a dental hygienist. In the 60s and 70s she was a professional model, at times posing with the Eiffel Tower and other French landmarks as a backdrop. Today, in her 90s, she is still very active. “I go wherever I’m invited. I exercise. I’m always planting or digging in my yard. I do exercises in the house and dance to music on the radio. I’ve gotta keep moving.” The National Postal Museum offers a brief history of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion on its website: postalmuseum.si.edu.

This Artist’s Signature Is on Eyes BY JANICE DOYLE

is patients have included babies as young as a week old, Vietnam veterans and a show horse. Frank Tanaka is an ocularist—he makes artificial eyes. Other patients have had eyes shot out by BBs or eyes removed because of diseases. Whatever caused the loss, Frank is an artist and the eyes he creates are exact visual replicas of the remaining “good” eye. Not long ago a veteran came in with an eye he’d had over 40 years, although he couldn’t remember who had made it. When Frank removed the man’s eye and looked at it, he recognized it as his own work. It was an eye made 47 years ago when he was a beginning technician in Chicago. “It’s my signature. I’d know my work anywhere,” he told me. Charles, another veteran, came to Frank’s Tampa office with a 40-year-old

hurt you because there are no nerve endings in the socket,” he commented. “If it had been your throat, you’d have been in the emergency room!” The old eye also had rough spots on the surface from long exposure to body enzymes. Now legally blind, Charles’s Frank Tanaka other eye had clouded over as meets with a he lost sight in it as well. Frank patient (left) prosthetic eye in said, “What color eye do you place. He had lost and hand-paints a prosthetic eye want?” He can make the iris (above). Right: a replacement one eye, parts of any color Charles wants. eye created for a show horse. his hand and most “Only in the movies are of both legs in Vietnam. The Haley VA glass eyes round,” Frank said. “In reality Hospital recently replaced his heavy the plastic eyes are shaped more like a wooden legs with new lightweight titani- curved button so they can go through the um ones, and a doctor there referred him buttonhole formed by the eyelid.” When to Frank for a replacement eye as well. the eyeball is surgically removed, the Frank kept up a lighthearted conversasurgeon inserts an orbital implant. The tion with the patient and his friend. prosthetic eye fits over the ball insert; After removing the artificial eye (which they are held in by the eyelid, and they Charles admitted he hadn’t taken out in don’t just “pop out” on their own. over five years), Frank commented on Frank said, “Nothing works better than the red and irritated socket. “It didn’t the process I’m using now,” and that’s

the same process he learned 47 years ago. His is not a fast-growing business since doctors don’t remove eyes that often and the plastic lasts long enough that an eye seldom needs replaced. Children who need artificial eyes must be fitted regularly to keep up with skeletal growth, infants as often as once a week. I asked Frank if people ever think they’ll be able to see out of their new eyes. He said yes, but if they don’t accept the fact that they are completely blind in the eye, he won’t take them on as patients. They must be convinced they’re blind, otherwise they may think “what I did had something to do with their becoming finally and completely blind.” There was his show horse patient, too. Once its cancerous eye was removed, Frank made a replacement eye for the horse and “the shows went on.” And that’s what he does best: He lightheartedly helps people get on with their lives, his signature eyes giving them look the most natural possible.

Senior Connection • April 2011 • page 11

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MASTERWORKS Brahms’ Violin Concerto Acclaimed by The New York Times as “a brilliant violinist,” Augustin Hadelich performs Brahms’ Violin Concerto on a program overflowing with gorgeous music: Berlioz’ Béatrice et Bénédict Overture, Barber’s symphonic prayer Adagio for Strings and Stravinsky’s lyrical Pulcinella Suite. Larry Rachleff conducts.

May 27 & 28

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3/7/2011 11:08:32 AM

BY JEFFREY SEWARD, JD, Ph.D Senior Vice President, Trust Services M&I Wealth Management

n the majority of the world’s countries, people are having fewer children and they are living longer. Even in the least-developed parts of the world, for the past 20 years fertility rates have been steadily declining while life expectancies have been on the rise. Although the financial markets are influenced by many forces, especially over short time periods, demographic forces can have a powerful pull on long-term market performance. Understanding how the three trends below may influence the performance of various investments may help you maximize your portfolio.

Finance Trend 1: More people around the world are in their prime earning years. Right now, the world median age is about 29, though it’s close to 40 in developed countries1. Middle-aged people in their prime earning years are more inclined to save than the young or old. Result: A large and growing number of people are socking away money for retirement. As populations age, the supply of capital is likely to continue to grow, helping tamp down interest rates and support prices of financial assets. What you can do: You may find it challenging to earn acceptable returns in a low interest rate environment. Step up your savings while you can in the highest-yielding investments with which you’re comfortable. Trend 2: People are living longer. The average life expectancy worldwide now stands at almost 68 years. In developed regions, it’s about 77 years. Result: Many people are postponing retirement and working longer. That, along with shaky public pension and healthcare programs, may motivate people to seek investments that retain the buying power of their money over time, even if it means taking on greater risk.

What you can do: Despite the poor performance of the past decade, equities have historically outpaced inflation more consistently than other investments. There’s a strong case for maintaining a portion of your assets in equities, even after retirement.

Trend 3: The retiree segment is growing. Not only is the world getting older, but the population of older persons is itself aging. Among those 60 years or over, the fastest-growing segment is age 80 and over. Result: Most people have an innate desire to minimize risk, and that tends to grow more acute in retirement when they start utilizing their savings and investments to maintain their lifestyles. A secular shift toward greater risk aversion would likely favor bonds over stocks. What you can do: Diversification and innovation are likely to become more important in coming years. Consider balancing your stock/bond portfolio with investment products that provide guaranteed income. While it’s good to be aware of the demographic trends that may affect the markets, don’t let them dictate your plan. Stay focused on your objectives and work with a financial professional to identify strategies most likely to help you achieve your personal financial goals. The source for the statistics cited in this article is the United Nations World Population Database. This article provides insights from M&I Wealth Management that may be useful to you in assessing risks and opportunities in the current environment related to your financial and wealth planning needs. The information contained herein should not be construed as tax, legal, or investment advice, and readers are encouraged to consult their tax, legal and investment professionals with specific questions applicable to their own financial situations. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance. 1

Senior Job Seekers…Your Age Is An Asset

BY DR. JOHN DRAKE

inding a job in today’s economy is tough; it’s even tougher for the 50+ crowd. While age discrimination is illegal, younger job competitors outnumber us and often are favored. Like it or not, age bias is prevalent in the job marketplace. The good news is that seniors have assets that younger job seekers often lack: broad work experience, maturity, strong work ethic and often a history of company loyalty. Seniors also bring stability to the job. “If seniors don’t let their age trip them up, most of them can make a FPGM_55882_41066_10x4.75:FPGM-55882_10x4.75 good case for being hired,” says John Drake, co-author of Finding A Job When Jobs Are Hard To Find. Here are some actions you can take to reduce age bias:

1. Overtly display energy and vitality. You will need to back up statements about your energy level by mentioning (in cover letters, applications and resumes) your participation in activities such as the sports you play, gym workouts, volunteer work. During job interviews, weave in comments about your activities and ability to work long hours (if that is true about you). Look vital. Sit erect and, without being “gushy,” express enthusiasm and excitement about the job in question and about the organization. For example: “I am really excited about the challenges this job offers” or “I can’t wait to get started on a project like that.” Practice in front of a mirror creating a more positive image by smiling more often and emphasizing thoughts via use of hand gestures. 2. Become computer/electronics with MS Word and Excel. If not, take a few computer classes. If you don’t have one, get a smart phone. Be conversant

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3. Don’t draw attention to your age. Be careful about numbers used in resumes, applications and during job interviews. Specifically: Don’t provide the years of your graduations, list only jobs from the past 15 – 20 years and try to avoid providing your driver’s license number. 4. Capitalize on your contacts. By far, the biggest slice of your job searching time should be spent on networking. 5. Psychologically prepare for your interview. Your interviewers will often be significantly younger than you and may come across as disrespectful of your age and/or achievements. By expecting such behavior and gearing yourself to “go with the flow,” you will be able to minimize any defensive responses. 6. Overcoming the “generation gap.” An issue of concern for many interviewers is your ability to fit in

with a much younger work group. You can counter this concern by subtly weaving into the interview how you are in touch with current lifestyles via your high school/college age children, your participation in groups comprised of younger members—civic, church, etc. and situations in which you successfully adapted to a quickly changing job demand or environment. The bottom line is that by making your job search your full time job and by thinking positively about your age and maturity, you can get ahead of the pack. Keep in mind that your age is not a handicap but rather an asset that brings with it strengths that younger candidates cannot offer. Author John Drake was CEO of the world’s largest outplacement firm and is co-author of “Finding a Job When Jobs are Hard to Find.” Dr. Drake is also author of the best selling “The Perfect Interview: How to Win the Job You Really Want.” Copyrighted 2011 by John D. Drake. All rights reserved.

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Type 2 Diabetes: From Old Dogmas to New Realities BY HOPE WARSHAW

any old dogmas about type 2 diabetes prevail even though recent research has led to new understandings and treatment options. The new reality? Take action early and often. Don’t delay; don’t deny. Here are four old dogmas dispelled and the new realities explained: Old Dogma: Type 2 isn’t the serious kind of diabetes. Typically diagnosed later in life, people just need to follow a healthy eating plan, lose a few pounds and perhaps over the years, they’ll need a “diabetes pill.”

New Reality: Recent research underscores that type 2 is a progressive disease and the progression is typically kicked off nearly a decade before diagnosis. Insulin resistance due to excess weight mixed with a positive family history is the common culprit. By the time of diagnosis, most people have already lost half

to three quarters of their insulin-making pancreatic beta cells. Expert guidelines now recommend starting individuals on a medication to treat the insulin resistance right out of the starting gate. It’s now known that insulin production will dwindle further over time. Most people will need a progression of blood glucose-lowering medicines over the years. The good news: research shows early, aggressive management to control blood glucose can slow this progression. Healthy eating, losing a few pounds and being physically active will always offer an assist.

Old Dogma: Blood glucose control is goal number one. New Reality: Having type 2 diabetes, it is said, carries a risk factor equivalent to having had a heart attack or stroke. The most common complications of type 2 are heart and blood vessel diseases, not eye or kidney disease, as is often thought. Focus squarely on the ABCs: A for glucose control,

B for blood pressure and C for cholesterol. Three quarters of people with diabetes have high blood pressure.

Old Dogma: People with type 2 diabetes must follow a low carbohydrate diet.

Old Dogma: Losing weight will always rapidly control blood glucose. The dogma people hear from their providers that, if you’d only lose weight, your blood glucose would be lower.

New Reality: Nutrition recommendations for people with type 2 diabetes from the American Diabetes Association and other health authorities echo the recently unveiled U.S. 2010 Dietary Guidelines for carbohydrate consumption: about 45 to 65 percent of our daily calories should come from carbohydrates.

New Reality: Research shows that the greatest impact of weight loss on blood glucose is in the first few years after diagnosis. In fact, the biggest bang per pound is in the prediabetes phase (when most people don’t know they have prediabetes). With loss of 5 – 7 percent of body weight and 150 minutes of physical activity, research has shown people can prevent or delay the progression to type 2. Once insulin production is on its dwindling course, weight loss will have less impact on glucose control. The reality is that if blood glucose is out of control, it’s time for medication.

To get and stay healthy with type 2 diabetes means facing the diagnosis promptly, taking action immediately and continuously tracking and controlling blood glucose, blood pressure and blood cholesterol. Don’t delay; don’t deny. Hope Warshaw, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator, is the best-selling author of eight books including Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy, Real Life Guide to Diabetes and Guide to Healthy Restaurant Eating. Learn more at hopewarshaw.com.

Senior Connection • April 2011 • page 14

Healthcare is Not Cheap! I

nsurers and consumers spent $52.2 billion on prescription drugs in 2008 for outpatient treatment of metabolic conditions such as diabetes and elevated cholesterol, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Metabolic medicines were the class of drugs with the highest level of spending in 2008. According to data from the federal agency, purchases of metabolic drugs by adults age 18 and older accounted for 22 percent of the nearly $233 billion spent overall to buy prescription medicines in 2008. Ranked by total spending, here are the four remaining top therapeutic classes of outpatient prescription drugs in 2008:

• Central nervous system drugs, used to relieve chronic pain and control epileptic seizures and Parkinson’s Disease tremors —$35 billion.

• Cardiovascular drugs, including calcium channel blockers and diuretics—$29 billion.

• Antacids, antidiarrheals and other medicines for gastrointestinal conditions—$20 billion. • Antidepressants, antipsychotics and other psychotherapeutic drugs —$20 billion.

Overall purchases of these five therapeutic classes of drugs totaled nearly $156 billion, or two-thirds of the almost $233 billion that was spent on prescription medicines used in the outpatient treatment of adults. (From Newswise)

How a Local Lady Podiatrist can Stop Your Foot and Joint Pain Now!

r. Bonnie Sanchez breaks from convention and says NO! to surgery and NO! to drugs. Most foot, ankle, knee, hip, back and even neck pain is caused by how you walk and stand. If you walk and stand with better posture, you can get rid of most of your pain. Your body is like a machine—a system of pulleys and levers—and good posture is the result of proper alignment. So, when the arch in your feet is out of alignment, you cannot develop the biomechanical “windlass effect,” also known as “the spring in your step.” A misaligned foot and arch makes your ankles, knees, back and neck overcompensate and rotate to different angles. These joints have to adjust to keep you from toppling over. This is right up to the highest joint in your body at the base of your skull. Misalignment strains your joints and wears them out, leading to joint damage, pain and injury. And without your feet in proper alignment, no amount of knee, ankle, hip, back or neck surgery will

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ever have you in proper alignment. To realign your foot you need a biomechanical corrective supportive insert. A cushy gel insert will not help correct your problems. You need to realign and support your feet in your God-given ideal arch position for each individual foot throughout its gait cycle. In my practice I use the most cuttingedge specialized 17 point methodology along with decades of experience to capture your ideal therapeutic arch position during your complete gait cycle. I have the only doctor-owned-and-operated lab using only the most advanced Space-age polymer technology to manufacture the finest Orthopedic Orthotics in the United States. This gives my patients complete support with the proper amount of flexibility and cushion for comfort in the insert while keeping the Orthotics’ corrective realignment function. I find this helps my patients walk with little or no pain, stand taller and improve their health and quality of life. Call (727) 824-5100 or (813) 645-1993.

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Improving Memory

Savannah Court

Savannah Court is an elegant yet comfortable community offering 24-hour access to a welltrained and friendly staff. The private or semi-private spacious suites offer sun-filled windows, kitchenettes and full private baths. • Restaurant Style Dining Experience • Housekeeping, Laundry and Maintenance Services • Vibrant Activities Program • Transportation for Outings and Medical Appointments • Cable is included within the monthly rental fee • Secured exterior doors and emergency call system for added safety • Day Service and Short Term Respite Program available

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Hearing Loss by the Numbers N

early two-thirds of white Americans age 70 and older have hearing loss, compared to one-third of those of black race, according to a new study led by Johns Hopkins and National Institute on Aging researchers. Researchers found hearing loss ranged from mild to severe and that older males were

Senior Connection • April 2011 • page 16

more likely to have hearing loss or more severe hearing loss than younger or female subjects. Despite the number of older adults with hearing loss, the study found that only one-fifth use hearing aids, with only three percent of those with mild hearing loss taking advantage of these devices. (Newswise)

ave you become more forgetful over the years? Rest assured that the minor memory lapses that occur with age are not usually signs of a serious neurological disorder, such as Alzheimer’s disease, but rather the result of normal changes in the structure and function of the brain. Want to keep your brain sharp? Keep learning and stay physically and mentally active. Those strategies boost your “brain bank,” improving the brain’s capacity to withstand damage associated with disease or injury. Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t affect everyone in the same way. In people whose brains are being damaged by the disease, some continue to function normally while others suffer severe memory loss and other problems. Two components help explain the difference. The first, called brain reserve capacity, is the number of nerve cells and nerve-to-nerve connections (synapses) in the brain. In theory, a person who has

more brain “hardware” is able to maintain memory and thinking skills even when some of the hardware is damaged. The second element, cognitive reserve, reflects the brain’s ability to develop and use alternative nerve pathways or thinking strategies when disease or injury damage parts of the brain. People whose brains have alternate networks or cognitive strategies are less likely to experience disruption in their mental processes. Many things can reduce brain reserve capacity, including strokes, injury and toxins, and there is little you can do to rebuild this genetically determined brain feature. But you can influence cognitive reserve. The bottom line: Virtually any activity that stretches your brain can bolster your cognitive reserve. Engaging your brain with intellectually stimulating activities will afford your brain greater protection down the road.

Medicare Answers D ear Marci, My sister and both of my parents have had glaucoma, and my doctor thinks I should get screened. Will Medicare pay for it? —Clayton

Dear Clayton, Yes. Medicare covers 80 percent of the cost of an annual (every 12 months) glaucoma screening if you are at high risk for glaucoma, after you pay your annual Part B deductible. The screening must be performed or supervised by an eye doctor who is licensed to provide this service in your state. If you are in a Medicare private health plan, you should contact your plan to see what rules and costs apply. In addition to people with a family history of glaucoma, those at high risk for the disease include people with diabetes or high blood pressure, African-Americans age 50 and older and

Hispanic-Americans age 65 and older. —Marci Marci’s Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center (www.medicarerights.org), the nation’s largest independent source of information and assistance for people with Medicare. To speak with a counselor, call (800) 333-4114. To subscribe to “Dear Marci,” the Medicare Rights Center’s free educational e-newsletter, simply e-mail dearmarci@medicarerights.org.

Foundation Supports Parkinson’s Disease Patients and Families

arkinson’s Disease is a chronic and progressive brain disorder named after the British physician, James Parkinson, who first accurately described its symptoms in 1817. Very simply, Parkinson’s is caused by a lack of the chemical messenger dopamine in the movement centers of the brain. Besides a lack of dopamine, PD can be aggravated by genetic factors, exposure to pesticides or industrial toxins and the process of aging itself.

Health The four primary symptoms of Parkinson’s are tremor or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw and face; rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia, or slowness of movement; and postural instability or impaired balance and coordination. Patients may also have difficulty walking, talking or completing other simple tasks.

New Patient Special

The disease is both chronic and progressive. Parkinson’s is not usually inherited. Early symptoms are subtle and occur gradually. Typically symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease begin on only one side of the body, although later they appear on both sides. Often the patient manifests slowness and difficulty of movement at first, then perhaps notices tremors in his hand when it is relaxed but which go away when he moves. Amanda Smith, Creative Director of the Parkinson Research Foundation in Sarasota, notes that there is no cure for the disease which affects as many as a million people in the U.S at this time. The newest method of treating the symptoms of Parkinson’s is DBS or Deep Brain Stimulation. This is a

surgically implanted, battery-operated medical device called a neurostimulator—similar to a heart pacemaker and approximately the size of a stopwatch—that delivers electrical stimulation to targeted areas in the brain that control movement, blocking the abnormal nerve signals that cause tremor and PD symptoms. The Foundation works to improve the quality of life for patients with Parkinson’s Disease. Smith says, “What sets us apart from other Parkinson’s Disease organizations is that we provide tools and resources for our patients who live with the disease. Michael J. Fox gives the disease a lot of exposure, but we work to help the patients.” The Foundation sponsors two cruises a year for patients and their

families and/or caregivers. Smith says, “We take experts in the field like neurologists and we invite patients and families. The best part is to see patients who when they have a tremor in the grocery store might be looked at funny, but on our first cruise we had 125 patients so when they all had a tremor no one even noticed. We see them come alive.” Presentations at sea, classes like yoga and voice aerobics, caregiver sessions and doctor availability make it a unique experience. Smith says, “It’s a strictly physical disorder and the mind is not affected. So they have great spirits and are eager to learn. We love providing them with a unique way to have access.” One Parkinson’s patient who thought his traveling days were over, said, “This cruise has given me back hope for the future.” Parkinson Research Foundation information at (941) 870-4438 or online at parkinsonresearchfoundation.org.

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Senior Connection • April 2011 • page 17

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Home Health Mates...Question & Answer Take The Guesswork Out of Finding the Best Home Health Care

BY BRUCE MUENTER

received many inquiries over the past month on how to select home health care and the questions that need to be asked to make an informed decision. Joe from Sun City asked; “I am bombarded with information, but all any agency seems concerned about is selling me services. In many cases, I am not sure what to ask.” Joe, believe it or not that continues to be the question that the majority of readers need answered. In an attempt to trim the information down, here are the top ﬁve questions any prospective client should be asking:

1. Is your agency licensed and accredited? Licensing and accreditation are the nucleus of any home health agency. Without licensing, they would cease to operate. Ask if they have had any violations, and what were the reasons. You should also go to the AHCA (Agency for Health Care Administration) for Florida. Here, you can look up past performance issues and see if they have been corrected. Accreditation is a little trickier as this has historically been an optional quality approval in Florida; but in 2010 it became mandatory for all new agencies. Regardless of whether the agency had to or not is irrelevant. Any agency concerned about quality will be accredited by one of three agencies: CHAP (The Community Health Accreditation

I would encourage you to e-mail me at bmuenter@homehealthmates.com or send your questions to: News Connection, USA, P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33584, Attn. Editor – Home Health Mates. I will answer all questions you may have, including the ones that we do not feature in Senior Connection magazine. Senior Connection • April 2011 • page 18

Program), ACHC (The Accreditation Commission for Health Care) and JCAHO (Joint Commission). If they said this is not really important, then they just told you enough about their concern for quality. 2. Is your plan of care supervised by a Director of Nursing? Your plan of care should be assessed in the beginning and evaluated monthly by a RN with no extra charge. If they charge you for this service, then you have not done your shopping. 3. Do you have hourly minimums? You should not pay for service that is not needed. If the agency tells you that a minimum amount of hours is needed for their services, then you have not shopped around for the right agency. Don’t buy more than you need. 4. How do you hire employees, and are they your employees?

What is their process for hiring (experience of minimum one year in home health care). Licensed? Bonded? Insured? Ask to see the certiﬁcate of insurance. Do they work directly for the agency or are they contract employees? Private caregivers also increase your liability…in other words, if they fall in your house while working, then you’re personally liable. 5. What separates you from other agencies? What is their customer satisfaction rating? Do they even know? What percent of their customers end up in the hospital or rehab with the agency’s care? Does the agency let you meet the caregiver free of charge prior to the initial visit? Do you have a choice? These ﬁve steps will allow you to make an informed decision. As always, feel free to call me at 813-884-5040 if you have any questions, or visit my website at: www.homehealthmates.com/ tampa.php. Have a great month!

Treating Leaky Bladders Can Help Improve Women’s Health

illions of women suffer from stress urinary incontinence (SUI), the leakage of urine when laughing, coughing or other activities. What many don’t realize is that SUI isn’t just an annoyance—it’s a medical condition that, untreated, can have serious consequences. Isolation, anxiety, and depression are some of the many health risks that can be associated with SUI. The condition can also limit a person’s participation in enjoyable activities. Leaky bladders make exercising difficult, which can lead to weight gain. Wet skin due to constant leakage may be associated with skin rashes and infections. SUI can also increase the risk of urinary tract infections. The health impact of SUI is often great enough that effective treatment can make a real difference. Sometimes, special exercises/lifestyle changes are suggested, but these options may not be enough. And many women don’t want the risks/ long recovery time associated with surgery. A new non-surgical treatment called Renessa® may be an option.

With Renessa, a small device is inserted into the urethra to gently heat small areas of tissue at the base of the bladder. This heating causes natural collagen in the tissue to become firmer, which can decrease leaks. Treatment can be performed in a doctor’s office in about an hour, and women can safely resume activities the same or next day. Treatment effect is typically seen within 60 to 90 days. Overall, about 75 percent of patients are improved. “My patients have been very happy with the treatment,” said Dr. David Jacob, a local physician. “Their symptoms are improved and they are able to return to their busy lives quickly.” Side effects of Renessa are typically mild and temporary and most resolve shortly after treatment. “The Renessa treatment changed my life,” said Evelyn R*, a 67-year-old Tampa resident. “Don’t wait. Get treated.” For info, visit www.Renessa.com or call Dr. David Jacob at (727) 248-0671. *Patient names have been changed.

Choose Healthy Snacks F

oods with a high glycemic index are digested more quickly than foods with a low glycemic index. Rapidly digested foods can flood your bloodstream with sugar. A quick surge of insulin to clear the sugar can leave your blood sugar too low after just a few hours, and when this happens you feel hungry; you’re apt to overeat and possibly gain weight. Fiber slows digestion and therefore lowers a food’s glycemic load. By increasing the bulk of foods and creating a feeling of fullness, fiber may also help you avoid overeating and becoming overweight. Snacking and eating healthfully needn’t be mutually exclusive. There are plenty of healthy foods that are quick and easy to eat such as fruits, veggie sticks and moderate amounts of nuts. Because typical snack foods like

chips, candy and crackers have a high glycemic load, these foods won’t keep you feeling sated for very long. So you run the risk of overeating. Here are some tips for choosing foods with a low glycemic load: • Look for non-starchy, non-sugary foods like raw vegetable sticks, bean dips and fruits such as apples, pears, peaches and berries.

• Low-fat yogurt is another good snack choice, but avoid yogurt with “fruit on the bottom,” which is basically sugar syrup. Add your own fruit instead. • When choosing grain-based snacks, look for whole-wheat crackers and natural granola.

Think before you choose a snack and stay healthy.

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Risks: Adverse events (complications) are typically mild and temporary and most resolve shortly after treatment. Reported complications include dysuria (discomfort during urination), hematuria (blood-tinged urine), urinary tract infection, and urine retention (inability to empty the bladder). Infrequently, worsening incontinence symptoms have been reported.

Volunteers Needed To Help Feed The Hungry V

olunteers are needed to deliver hot, nutritious meals to the homebound in the Clearwater area. If you have 1� hours, midday, to help in your own neighborhood, you could make a real difference in someone’s life. Currently, we have a desperate need for volunteers to deliver in the Clearwater area. Meals are picked

up at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Neighborhood Family Center (1201 Douglas Ave, Clearwater) and delivered to the homebound in that area (maps and directions are provided). Please call Pat Hazell from Neighborly Meals on Wheels at (727) 573-9444, ext. 4190 to start helping your community today.

Senior Connection • April 2011 • page 19

2011 Senior-Friendly Quick Facts About Aging Business of the Year Awards T T

he West Central Florida Agency on Aging (WCFAAA) has announced the winners of the 2011 Senior-Friendly Business of the Year Awards, with Publix Supermarkets taking the large business award and Home Instead Senior Care of Tampa/Brandon receiving the small business award. “We created this award as a way to recognize those businesses that go out of their way to treat seniors well,” said Patty Suarez, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for WCFAAA and coordinator of the awards process. “Our community has some shining examples of how business can and should be done as it relates to older workers, customers and clients. Publix and Home Instead have stellar records in all these areas.” Highlights of the Publix nomination included their dedication to older workers, rewarding longevity

of service, preparing employees for retirement and supporting charities that serve older adults, including the Polk Senior Games. Home Instead Senior Care’s mission is to enable seniors to live happy, healthy, and independent lives in their homes. The company also recruits older adults for employment, making whatever accommodations are needed for their social security allowances or their allotted hours. Home Instead’s nomination out-shone others due to their hiring practices for older workers and for spearheading the “Be a Santa to a Senior” project, where they collected and delivered gifts to 500 lonely and isolated seniors during the holiday season. For more info about the SeniorFriendly Business of the Year Award and other WCFAAA initiatives, call Patty Suarez at (813) 676-5616.

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Senior Connection • April 2011 • page 20

Walk Faster, Live Longer he speed at which you walk could determine how long you live, says a new study conducted at the University of Pittsburgh. Researchers looked at nine studies of 35,000 seniors and discovered that just 19 percent of the slowest 75-year-old male walkers lived 10 more years, compared to 87 percent of the fastest walkers. For women, the figure was 35 percent of the slowest walkers versus 91 percent of the quickest. The study results may lead some physicians to incorporate walking speed into a routine assessment since it can provide many clues about vitality. (“Your Walking Speed May Predict Your Life Span” The Boston Globe)

Working in Retirement As the New Normal Today, one in five workers age 50+ has retired from a previous career and has what is aptly called a “retirement job.” A report released by the Families and Work Institute in 2010 found that working in retirement is a new career stage. The majority of working retirees are full-time and enjoy what they do and 75 percent plan to keep working. The motivating factor was not necessarily the money, but rather making a contribution, being productive and keeping active. (“Working in Retirement: A 21st Century Phenomenon” Families and Work Institute) An Aging Population Prefers to Age in Place Older adults who wish to remain in their homes as they age are getting help from senior “villages” which are cropping up around the country. With 55 existing and another 120 planned, these communities provide their mem-

bers with medical, shopping, social services and activities. These villages are aimed at keeping people in their homes into their 70s, 80s, and possibly 90s. By 2020, the 55+ age American households are expected to reach 45 percent. (“Senior Villages Take Root As Movement Matures” usnews.com) Beatitudes Nursing Home: A Blessing for Alzheimer’s Patients There is no effective medical treatment for dementia, but at the Beatitudes Nursing Home in Phoenix, Arizona, the Alzheimer’s patients receive a good dose of unconventional, nonpharmaceutical care that calms them and can even make them smile. This seemingly revolutionary caregiving solution is giving them what they want. New research suggests that positive emotional experiences can diminish stress and behavior problems. The nursing home allows patients to eat what they want when they want it, take baths in the middle of the night and engage in activities that they did before they became ill. (“Giving Alzheimer’s Patients Their Way, Even Doses of Chocolate” The New York Times, Jan. 1, 2011)

Still Collecting a Paycheck in Her 90s Five hours a day, 98-year-old Rosa Finnegan reports for work on the production floor of a manufacturing company, Vita Needle in Needham, Massachusetts, where close to half of the employees are well past retirement age. Rosa says she didn’t expect she’d need a paycheck at this stage of life, but after becoming a widow in her 80s, she needed a new life plan. Along with her paycheck, working at Vita Needle has given her a new sense of community. (“In Their 90s, Working for More Than Just a Paycheck” NPR “Morning Edition) “Quick Facts About Aging” is from Met Life Mature Market Institute.

The Centenarian

Will Serve You Now

etirees make up the majority of volunteers at Meals on Wheels, a nationwide program that serves close to one million Americans. In Orange County, Florida, an organization called Seniors First counts on 350 delivery people, most of whom are in their mid 60s. One retired Florida volunteer, Irene Johnston, with a keen memory and passion for helping others has been helping out for years. Only her age sets her apart from most other volunteers. She is 100 years old. From Orlando Sentinel, January 24, 2011.

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What Is Photoaging? different ways. Some people have probBY DR. NORMAN lems with rashes, bumps, hives, blisters hotoaging refers to the damage that or red splotchy areas. Certain beauty is done to the skin from prolonged products and soaps may also make you exposure (over a person’s lifetime) more sensitive to the sun, including to UV-ultraviolet radiation. Most of perfumes, cosmetics and hair dyes. the skin changes that occur as we get Although there is a long list of drugs older are accelerated by sun exposure. that may make you more prone to a Examples of skin changes from sun allergy, some of the more common photoaging include hyperpigmentation, ones include the following: antibiotics wrinkles, poor elasticity, broken blood such as tetracyclines, thiazide diuretics, vessels, leathery skin and skin cancers. sulfonamides and chlorpromazine, depression medications, arthritis The three approaches to counter medications and blood pressure photoaging are as follows: medications. You should always check 1. Avoid the midday sun. with your doctor and pharmacist when you receive any new medication to see 2. Practice prevention by using how it may interact with what you’re photoprotective agents such already taking and whether or not you as sunscreen and clothing. should be extra careful when in the sun 3. Use skin rejuvenation treatments. or if you should avoid it completely. We offer excellent treatments for What about allergic reactions to photoaging and allergic reactions, the sun? Sometimes even after only a short time many of which are covered by your insurance. Call us today at (813) of sun exposure, allergies to the sun can develop and may present in several 880-7546 for an appointment.

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Senior Connection • April 2011 • page 21

Ask Boyette: Poisonous Substances BY DR. CLINTON COTTEN

read that grapes are poisonous to dogs. Are there other foods that are poisonous to dogs and cats?

Caring For Your Pet Yes, there are human foods, ingredients and other common materials that are poisonous to dogs and cats. There are text books full of poisonous materials, so I will cover a few of the most common poisons. 1. Xylitol: Xylitol is a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener in sugar-free gum, mints, nicotine gum, chewable vitamins, oral-care products and baked goods. Xylitol is well tolerated in many species of animals, but not well tolerated in dogs. Xylitol can cause low blood sugar, acute liver necrosis and liver failure. The most common first sign of xylitol toxicity is vomiting, followed by collapse and death.

2. Sago Palm: Sago Palm is a spikyleafed member of the Cycad family. Traditionally a southern palm, in recent years miniature versions have appeared as house plants in northern states. The palm tastes good to dogs and cats, so they will readily eat the leaves and nuts. The nuts are the most toxic part of the plant, but the leaves and bark are toxic as well. Signs of toxicity include vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, liver failure and death. 3. Cocoa Mulch: Cocoa mulch is the by-product of chocolate production. The toxin in mulch is methylxanthine. The mulch is sold as landscape mulch and has an attractive color, texture and flavor. The toxic signs of cocoa mulch include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, rapid heart rate, muscle tremors, seizures and death. 4. Methylxanthine: In addition to mulch, this toxin is also found in chocolate, caffeinated sodas, stimulants, coffee and tea. The toxic signs are the same as above, but the

mulch is 10 to 15 times more toxic. The toxicity of chocolate depends on what type of chocolate is ingested (i.e., milk chocolate, unsweetened chocolate). The toxic signs of chocolate appear 1 – 4 hours after ingestion. There are many more toxins other than the ones listed above. They can be found in household items, insecticides, rodenticides, over the counter medications, metals and prescription medications. If you have any questions about an item your pet may have ingested or contacted, please call your veterinary provider as soon as possible.

Ask Boyette Do you have a topic you would like to know more about? Send us your questions and we will answer them in this column. E-mail us at ask boyette@boyetteanimalhospital. com, or mail us at Ask Boyette c/o Boyette Animal Hospital, 10931 Boyette Rd., Riverview, FL 33569.

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Winners!

Senior Fun Fest, St. Petersburg Coliseum Lots of great photos were sent to Senior Connection magazine for the latest Grandkids Are The Greatest Photo Contest. Check out the winners that were selected at the Senior Fun Fest last month. The judges had a lot of fun looking through all of the photos and it was tough to pick the winners. Thanks to everyone who shared their memories with us!

Grand Prize

“Who’s The Guy?” Submitted by Dorothy Bouchard. She won $100! Senior Connection • April 2011 • page 22

First Prize

“Happy Kid” Submitted by Roland Dumaine. He won $75!

Second Prize

“I Love Elmo” Submitted by Geraldine Short. She won $50!

Third Prize

“Me and My Best Friend” Submitted by Tom Moran. He won $25!

Mom Loves You Best:

Siblings and Estrangement in Midlife Listless Siblings have little

interaction with each other as adults and are indifferent to each other. If there were a traffic light for siblings, they would be the blinking yellow. You do not show much interest in each other and are not sure exactly how to feel. You suspect something happened in your past to make you so uninvolved.

BY CATHY JO CRESS, MSW

e are all Shakespeare, and our family is our stage. Sisters and brothers are characters on that stage, acting out their lives. As years go by we become playwrights recounting life events through family stories. Most sibling tales are good yarns, but in some stories bad things happen. Some of those unhappy memories become “I Hate You” stories for midlife siblings. Siblings can be divided into several types. By going through this list, you can both tell what kind of relationship you have with your sibling and whether you just might be the type to have a sibling with an “I Hate You” story.

Beloved Siblings care deeply

about each other, see each other often and regularly and think of each other as best friends.

Buddy Siblings are like beloved

siblings, but the caring between you is feet deep instead of yards deep. You don’t see them every day but you really like them. They are not your best friends.

Reliable Siblings are close but usually live far way. You do not see or make contact with each other frequently. You have strong family bonds, and this sibling connection can be clamped into place in a family crisis and then released when things go back to normal. Reliable siblings are like an air mattress. They can be blown up at any time.

Seething Siblings are full of anger. You have a childhood hurt from a sibling that you feel deeply. You ignore him or her and don’t have much contact except perhaps on required holiday visits. You are not physical or violent with your anger, but it sometimes seethes inside.

Irate Siblings have a bone to pick with a sibling about something that happened when you were younger. It may have involved aggression or violence. Cain and Abel come to mind. Brothers and sisters who experienced sibling rivalry can fall into this category if violence and aggression and even sexual violence may have come into play. If you believe that you and one of your siblings are one of the last three types—Listless, Seething, or Irate—you probably have an “I Hate You” story. Even uninvolved or listless siblings can have extremely negative feelings toward a sister or brother. A listless sibling thinks about the sibling and feels something is the matter but can’t pinpoint the reason. If you have any of these last three sibling relationships, you can get to the bottom of your sibling story by forgiveness. Then, as you face the aging-parent-care stage in midlife, you’ll be able to field a family sibling team to solve a parent’s problems. This is a critical family step. Plus, reuniting with an estranged sibling gives you the rest of your life to spend with the longest, deepest relationship of your life. Senior Connection • April 2011 • page 23

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Simple Steps to Staying Safe

f you are a woman who travels alone frequently, there are a few simple steps you can take to help ensure your safety on the road and to protect yourself in a dangerous situation.

Selective parking: Whether it’s an outdoor parking lot or a covered garage, make sure the lot and space you are parking in are well lit. Avoid parking away from other cars and be aware of parking beside commercial vans without glass side panels, where potential attackers could be hiding. When you return to your car, quickly survey your surroundings. Have your keys in hand: Before you leave the store, take the time to find your keys and have them in hand as you walk to your vehicle. Time spent rummaging in your purse when you Senior Connection • April 2011 • page 24

BY ANN G. THOMAS

Patty takes pride in her service to the community, celebrating more than 45 years in Brandon and Sun City Center.

2 locations to better serve you.

There’s No One There

get to your car may leave you open to a potential attack. The keys in your hand can also be used as a weapon.

Avoid playing Good Samaritan: While your heart might be in the right place, it’s not a good idea to stop to help someone when you are by yourself. Call 911 and let the dispatcher know the location of the person who is stranded. Have a plan if trouble arises: If you are approached by a person in or around your car, drop any bags, run and make a lot of noise that will draw attention to you. Do not go with the person to another location regardless of promises that you won’t be hurt. If you feel you’re being followed by another car, call 911 and drive to a police station or hospital. (NAPSA)

don’t pretend to understand the logic of the business world, but I’ve always counted on the fact that the people who worked for any company I did business with would be helpful if I needed help. Although that’s been my experience in the past, it seems it’s no longer true. One company after another appears to have replaced their Customer Service Department staff with disembodied voices. My most recent interaction with a disembodied voice occurred when an unordered nationally known newspaper appeared at my door—well, actually it was thrown into my driveway. I assumed it must be a mistake, even though it came with an address sticker with my name. I told myself this must be a trial offer and after a ten-day-introduction the paper would go away. I was wrong. It was clear I had to do something. I found a phone number for their subscription desk. Their 800 number led to a disembodied voice offering a series of seven choices, one of which was for starting and/or stopping a subscription. I pushed that number, only to have eight new choices, which led me to another smorgasbord which finally led to instructions to enter my zip code followed by a number on the address label. Next I was instructed to push 2 if I wanted to cancel or suspend the subscription. I pushed the 2 although I’ve always understood the word ‘suspended’ to have a temporary flavor. I wanted the ‘cancel’ choice but there was no way to let them know, so I had to hope for the best. It took me 42 minutes to conduct this two-minute transaction, but I guess they felt they had handled the situation in an efficient and frugal manner. After all, the forty-two minutes were my time. My subscription did stop

but resumed after a week, letting me know that the voice had by-passed cancel in favor of suspend. I’m not really picking on this newspaper or their distributor, however, because the no-customerservice-employees rule appears to be widespread. It seems that everywhere, a message blocks access to a real person. Most of these messages also give multiple options. The ones I like best are the ones that instruct me to “listen carefully to the following choices because they have been recently changed.” I always wonder how many callers memorized the previous list of nine options and would push a wrong button if they weren’t listening carefully. Since their options are all new to me, I pay close attention, push the button that sounds closest to what I had in mind. I am frequently told, “Please hold. We are experiencing a high volume of calls but will be with you shortly.” I hold, and hold and hold until a different recorded voice comes on to say, “If you would like to make a call, please hang up and try again.” I explore my other options and decide writing a letter may be a better idea. As I’m writing, the phone rings. A real person I’ve never met is on the line, calling me by my first name or asking to speak to my long deceased husband in order to sell us something I neither want nor need. I keep answering the phone, however, hopeful that someone from that newspaper will give me a call. “No thank you,” I say to the caller, “but do you by any chance know who delivers The Wall Street Journal in my neighborhood?” No luck so far, but at least it’s good to know that some of those real people are employed somewhere. Ann Thomas can be contacted through her website online at: www.dr-annthomas.com.

Leave Well Enough Alone BY WILLIAM R. MUMBAUER, Attorney

www.ﬂwillstrustsprobate.com

reader asks: My husband recently died. Since our attorney was holding our original wills for safekeeping, and knowing that the law requires that a person’s will be deposited with the court after death, I contacted my attorney and advised him that my husband had passed away. Unfortunately, my attorney mistakenly deposited my will, not that of my late husband. When the error was discovered, my attorney apologized profusely and immediately deposited the correct will.

The Law And You When I inquired about getting my original will back from the courthouse my attorney suggested that doing so really wasn’t necessary. I’m now having misgivings about this. Could leaving my original will at the courthouse cause future problems?

Answer: Undoubtedly your attorney was extremely embarrassed by his mistake about which one of you actually died. Surprisingly though, depositing the wrong will occurs more frequently than one would think. At least your attorney corrected the error by immediately depositing your late husband’s will. Although I’m sure the primary reason your attorney recommended leaving your original will where it is is because he didn’t want to go through the time and trouble of retrieving it. I still agree with your attorney’s advice. After all, I can think of no safer place to keep an original will than at the courthouse. I would suggest, however, that you make a notation on your copy of the will as to its now permanent location. And should you decide to change the terms of your will, the fact that your original will is held at the courthouse is not a problem as any will you might make in the future would supercede and revoke the previous will. And should

Mr. Mumbauer, a fifth generation Floridian, has maintained a law practice in Brandon, Florida since 1980 with emphasis on estate planning. He takes special pride in representing the senior community by maintaining a sensitive and practical approach to problem solving. He is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar and is a participating attorney in the AARP Legal Services Network. He is also a Mentor in probate law and has been qualified by the Second District Court of Appeal in Florida as an expert witness in matters involving the drafting of wills. Mr. Mumbauer’s MartindaleHubbell Peer Review Rating for Legal Ability is High to Very High and his General Recommendation Rating is Very High. His articles are based on general principles of law and are not intended to apply to individual circumstances.

Don’t put off estate planning any longer. Call

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• Free, no obligation consultation. • Single will $150 • Husband and wife wills $200 Costs, if any, extra The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask the lawyer to send you free written information about his qualifications and experience.

Automobile Accidents

Silverliners to Meet

he Silverliners, former flight attendants of Eastern Airlines, will meet on Saturday, April 16, at noon at the Rusty Pelican Restaurant, 2425 Rocky Point N., Tampa. This is the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of Eastern Airlines Silverliners. Former flight attendants from other airlines are also invited to become members. Florida Gulf Chapter has adopted Southeastern Guide Dogs as their local philanthropy. The national organization has been responsible for a cabin at Paul Newman’s “Hole in the Wall Gang” Camp in Connecticut. Hillsborough County Silverliners may get information from Adrienne Love at (813) 677-2909. Pinellas residents may contact Barbara Bukata at (727) 785-3546.

you die residing in a different county, or even a different state, and a probate of your estate was required, obtaining a certified copy of your original will for this purpose would be fairly simple.

• Pre-Planning Available • Cremation • Local Burial • Out-of-State Burial/Transfer • Anatomical Donation • Grief Counseling/Grief Support • Spacious Chapel and Family Rooms • Children’s Play Room • Conveniently Located in Sun City Center • Hearing Impaired Service Available • Golf Cart and Wheelchair Accessible • Sponsor of Toys for Tots Program • Member of Apollo Beach, Riverview, Ruskin and Sun City Center Chambers of Commerce • We Accept all Insurance Funded Pre-Arrangement

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1851 Rickenbacker Drive Sun City Center, FL

(813) 634-9900 or 1 (877) 346-5600 Senior Connection • April 2011 • page 25

Summer in the Berkshires? How refreshing. Welcome to Jiminy Peak, the 4-season resort in the Northern Berkshires of Massachusetts. Each summer, we host lots of people who are looking for a great New England summer vacation. We offer short or long-term lodging – including 2-4 bedroom condos. The Berkshires is home to world class arts & culture, history, outdoor adventures and more. It’s more than a breath of fresh air. It’s a whole summer of it.

Call us at 1-800-882-8859 or go to jiminypeak.com

JP040 MatureLifestyle_qtrSQ.indd 1 Fishermen’s Village Presents

Rachmaninoff to Rockin’ Latin Dance Rhythms

t the next morning Coffee Concert, Alastair Willis conducts The Florida Orchestra in a “A Musical Tour of Vienna” featuring Principal Clarinetist Brian Moorhead performing highlights from Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto. The program also includes such Johann Strauss, Jr. favorites as Tales from the Vienna Woods and music by Beethoven, Gluck, Suppé and Brahms. Enjoy a pre-concert talk one hour before curtain time, complimentary coffee and Krispy Kreme doughnuts prior to the concert and commentary about the music throughout the performance. April 6 at 10 a.m. at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, and April 7 at 11 a.m. at Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg. The Raymond James Pops offers a sizzling salute to New York’s famed hot spot The Copacabana: “Hot! Hot! Hot! A Night at the Copa.” Featuring award-winning ballroom dancers Andrzej and Jennifer Przybyl,

Grammy Award-winning arranger Victor Vanacore and the orchestra will heat up the hall in a night of Latin dance rhythms. In the lobby prior to the concerts, dancers from the Fred Astaire Studios will be sharing fancy footwork for a variety of Latin dances. April 8, 9 and 10 in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater. At the next Masterworks concert, the orchestra and Music Director Stefan Sanderling are joined by Russian pianist Lilya Zilberstein in Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and the music of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius—En Saga and his Symphony No. 7. To find out more about the composers and stories behind the music, join Stefan Sanderling in the concert hall one hour before curtain time for a pre-concert conversation. April 15, 16 and 17 in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater. For tickets and info, call 1-800-6627286 or visit floridaorchestra.org.

12/21/10 5:30 PM

3rd Annual Southwest Florida

Bridal Show & Expo Free Admission! Brides Can Register: In Person at

Sunday, April 10th, 2011 12 noon – 5:00 p.m.

Charlotte Bridal

Located in Bell Plaza 2395 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte

Or Online at

CharlotteBridal.biz

Brides-To-Be Renewal of Vows Second Time Around Visit Us Online at www.FishVille.com Or Call 941.639.8721 Join Us At Fishermen’s Village 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda, FL 33950 Senior Connection • April 2011 • page 26

FEATURING: Informal Modeling by Shops At Fishermen’s Village and Charlotte Bridal Boutique Visit With Experts In The Bridal Industry Catering Service, Photography, Makeup, Invitations, Decorations, Music & More! Event Sponsors: Fishermen’s Village Charlotte Bridal Boutique & Formal Wear LarGlo Travel & Cruises itravel4less.biz Do-All Rental

Join the official Seniors Fan Club of the Tampa Bay Rays for only Season Ticket Holder Price $15 (excludes ticket vouchers)

$25!

All Rays fans 55 and older can join the Golden Rays and receive:

• Official Golden Rays T-Shirt • Official Golden Rays Tote Bag • Golden Rays Membership Card • Coupons for merchandise and concession items • Invitations to exclusive Golden Rays events • Special offer for discounted tickets for select Rays home games • Get 2 ticket vouchers to use for your choice of the games listed:

G R GR

One ticket for voucher #1

One ticket for voucher #2

April 21 vs. CWS

May 3 vs. TOR

June 27 vs. CIN

August 9 vs. KC

August 22 vs. DET

August 24 vs. DET

Taco Bell Creates Healthy Mexican Choices Need a New iRon? I I n 2008 the Taco Bell Fresco line (freshness) made the “run for the border” eating place a favorite for those wanting fast food without high calories. The book Eat This, Not That by David Zinczenko says, “After all these years, the Taco Bell warhorse, the hard-shell taco, is still the best option on the menu, especially now that it’s available Fresco-style.” The hard-shell variety weighs in at 450 calories for three tacos, 21g fat and 750 mg sodium. A close runner-up is the Fresco Ranchero Chicken Soft Tacos at 340 calories, 8g fat and 1,480 mg sodium. Running just a few more calories but less sodium is the half pound Beef Combo Burrito, and the lowest calorie menu item to fill you up is the Steak Gordito Supreme (just 290 calories, 13g fat and 55 mg sodium). Other good menu choices for those counting calories, fat and sodium include the following: Nacho Cheese Chicken Gordita and

Hey rs! o i n e S

t all began with an iPhone...

a Soft Chicken Taco (500 calories); two Fresco Rachero Chicken Soft Tacos (340 calories); the Pintos ‘n Cheese (180 calories). The danger at any restaurant—fast food or not—are the sauces and dressings. Avoid them if you can. For example, at Taco Bell, the Zesty Dressing on the Border Bowl can be replaced by an extra dose of salsa to save a whopping 240 calories. Do it!

At Taco Bell, the secret is to skip the nachos, which are deep-fried tortilla chips, taco meat and a covering of nacho cheese sauce. The problems lie in the fried chips, of course, but also in the fact that their cheese sauce is made with partially hydrogenated oil. Skip it! Taco Bell is quite a good place to enjoy fast food if you stick to the two-item combos, which are usually below 600 calories and 25 grams of fat.

Join Us .... June 30th For the 3rd Annual

March was when my grandson celebrated his 15th birthday and I got him an iPhone. He just loved it. Who wouldn’t? I celebrated my birthday in July and my wife made me very happy when she bought me the iPad I wanted. My granddaughter’s birthday was in August, so I got her an iPod Touch. September came, so for my wife’s birth-day I bought her an iRon. It was around then that the fight started. What my wife failed to recognize is that the iRon can be integrated into the home network with the iWash, iCook and iClean. This unfortunately activated the iNag app. Which led me to the iHospital and iGet out Thursday.

Presented by...

FREE

and

9 am – 2 pm

2202 W. Reynolds St. • Plant City, FL

Dancing•Live Music Free Health Screenings FREE BINGO•Games and Lots More!