Lifestyles After 50 Sarasota Edition, August 2015

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THE RETIREMENT REVOLUTION

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Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 2

Moving On Up

Lee, & Charlotte Edition In thisCollier issue, you’ll find some helpful Published monthly by downsizing tips on how to do the same.

Newsin Connection Inc trouble s I’m writing this, They come handy if U.S.A., you have I’m surrounded by making decisions or letting go of certain President Reeves boxes. Boxes of every things, like I Richard do. (But I need all of those richard@lifestylesafter50.com size, filled with dishes kitschy coffee mugs.)

Publisher/Director Eventsis & Marketing and office supplies, This month’s ofissue all about Kathy Experts J. Beck at Kiplinger toiletries and pantry Tracie Lukens, retirement living.

Editor items, gadgets and lay out kathy@lifestylesafter50.com the pros and cons of renting linens. Some boxes are labeled “fragile,” versus buying, asEditor well as some of the Tracie Lukens packed with any of my memories top places to retire, based on their value editor@lifestylesafter50.com that happen to be breakable. Most are and healthy, active communities. (Guess Editorthe Emeritus labeled “books, books, books.” which state made list!)

Janice Doyle Harvey, my orchid, is safely cushioned We also talk about some of the new trends in my car and awaiting new digs and in retirementOffice livingManager that are popping up Vicki Willis sunnier windowsills. I can’t help but around the nation—from communities share his enthusiasm, if a plant can be that offervicki@lifestylesafter50.com subsidized housing in exchange said to have such a thing. for volunteering for families Administrative Assistant in need; For most of my adult life, I’ve lived in to seniors whoAllie areShaw starting their own one apartment after another, never settling “Goldenallie@lifestylesafter50.com Girls” houses and having the in one place for more than a year or two. time of their Supervisor/Graphic lives.

Production Design 813-689-6104 A first house is an exciting and terrifying thing; I’ve never been so broke and so On retirementDistribution Nancy Spencer: 941-244-0500 optimistic at the same time. But my Retirement is not just a chance to enjoy Tampa Bay nancy@lifestylesafter50.com husband and I are finally putting down some well-deserved leisure time, but also Dena Bingham: 813-293-1262 roots, planning for a family, a garden and an opportunity to use the freedom and dena@lifestylesafter50.com Advertising Sales other things that grow with time. any funds you’ve saved up to start a new Questions/Customer Service Working at this magazine, I know more career, reinvent yourself or do something 813-653-1988 • 1-888-670-0040 than a few people who are going through you’ve always dreamed of, if you so Kuehne: 239-822-6150 a similar process, but with a marked choose.Nancy In this issue, we share the stories nancyk@lifestylesafter50.com difference. They’ve hit retirement and are of four retirees who have done remarkable preparing for an entirely new lifestyle. things with their “second act.”

Our other editions: For some, this means downsizing and I’m learning that a retirement full of Sarasota Edition: transitioning to a smaller residence. It’s purpose is not just Sarasota/Manatee a goal to strive for, Bay Edition: Hillsborough County no small feat, going through a lifetime’s butTampa a necessity.

Barbara Morris, speaker Suncoast Edition: Pinellas/Pasco Counties worth of possessions and the memories and Lake author of anti-aging journal “Put Edition: Lake/Marion Counties that go along with them, trying to decide Old on Hold” (PutOldonHold.com) To learn more, call 1-888-670-0040 what you can take with you. shares why: I’m watching my parents go through News Connection USA, Inc. 638 ramifications this process as the last of their kids “RetirementP.O. hasBox deeper Seffner, Florida 33583-0638 leaves the house. They are paring than most people realize.

It is closure on down the clutter and finally getting to a lifetime Fax: of work into which you poured (813) 651-1989 some projects they weren’t able to get your heart and soul.

It’s a reminder www.lifestylesafter50.com that to before. the end of life is getting closer. Because

Dear Readers,

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the brain is no longer required to perform Pinellas/Pasco Edition Published monthly by cognitive at a consistent peak level, Connection U.S.A., Inc cliché, abilitiesNews begin to atrophy.

The “Use it or lose it” becomes reality.

President “Even moreRichard tragic is the loss to society Reeves richard@lifestylesafter50.com of a lifetime of acquired wisdom, skills, experience and education—a treasure trove Publisher/Director of Events & Marketing of precious assets abruptly Kathy J. Beck abandoned as valuelesskathy@lifestylesafter50.com and discarded in the pursuit of a lifestyle dedicated to leisure.

Editor “Assuming health is good, age 50 (if Tracie Lukens not before) is a good time to plan for editor@lifestylesafter50.com a productive second life. Keep in mind Emeritus that your ageEditor at retirement—whatever it Janice Doyle is, is not old. Disregard the ignorance of a backward culture that continues to Office Manager propagate the myth that age 60 is old, Vicki Willis vicki@lifestylesafter50.com or worse, elderly. Those who buy into that nonsense handicap themselves, Administrative Assistant preventing realization of their Allie Shaw full potential. allie@lifestylesafter50.com “Many, and perhaps even most people, Design doProduction not spendSupervisor/Graphic their work years doing 813-689-6104 what they really enjoy, and chances are you may be oneDistribution of those people. If there Nancyjob Spencer: 941-244-0500 is a dream or career that interests nancy@lifestylesafter50.com you, now is the time to start planning to make it happen.

Remember, Advertising Salesyou have a second life ahead that, at point, is a Questions/Customerthis Service blank canvas. You •are in control of the 813-653-1988 1-888-670-0040 kind of picture that gets painted on it.” other editions: Lifestyles Our After 50 wants to know: Tampa Hillsborough County how areBay youEdition: planning to spend your Lake Edition: Lake/Marion Counties retirement? What will you do, see or Sarasota create? Edition: Where Sarasota/Manatee will you live or Southwest Edition: Lee/Collier & Charlotte travel? Email a sentence or two to To learn more, call 1-888-670-0040 editor@lifestylesafter50 magazine and we’llNews share Connection them with ourUSA, readers.

Inc.

P.O. Box 638 Seffner, 33583-0638 Your secondFlorida act is just starting; may

your retirement everything you Fax: (813)be651-1989 dreamed it would be. www.lifestylesafter50.com —Tracie Lukens

Sarasota/Manatee Edition Published monthly by News Connection U.S.A., Inc

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President Richard Reeves richard@lifestylesafter50.com Publisher/Director of Events & Marketing Kathy J. Beck kathy@lifestylesafter50.com

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Editor Tracie Lukens editor@lifestylesafter50.com Editor Emeritus Janice Doyle Office Manager Vicki Willis vicki@lifestylesafter50.com Administrative Assistant Allie Shaw allie@lifestylesafter50.com Production Supervisor/Graphic Design 813-689-6104

Prod

Distribution Nancy Spencer: 941-244-0500 nancy@lifestylesafter50.com

Advertising Sales Questions/Customer Service

813-653-1988 • 1-888-670-0040 Our other editions:

Southwest Edition: Lee/Collier & Charlotte Tampa Bay Edition: Hillsborough County Suncoast Edition: Pinellas/Pasco Counties Lake Edition: Lake/Marion Counties To learn more, call 1-888-670-0040

News Connection USA, Inc. P.O. Box 638 Seffner, Florida 33583-0638

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Attention Readers: The articles printed in Lifestyles After 50 do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Editor or the staff. Lifestyles After 50 endeavors to accept reliable advertising; however, we cannot be held responsible by the public for advertising claims. Lifestyles After 50 reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement. Our advertising deadline for each issue is the 15th of the previous month. Magazines are out by the 7th of each month. All rights reserved.

Attention Readers: The articles printed in Lifestyles After 50 do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Editor or the staff. Lifestyles After 50 endeavors to accept reliable advertising; however, we cannot be held responsible by the public for advertising claims. Lifestyles After 50 reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement. Our advertising deadline for each issue is the 15th of the previous month. Magazines are out by the 7th of each month. All rights reserved.

Attention Readers: The articles printed in Lifestyles After 50 do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Editor or the staff. Lifestyles After 50 endeavors to accept reliable advertising; however, we cannot be held responsible by the public for advertising claims. Lifestyles After 50 reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement. Our advertising deadline for each issue is the 15th of the previous month. Magazines are out by the 7th of each month. All rights reserved.

Atte in Li refle staff. acce cann for a rese any dead prev the 7

As a reader of Lifestyles After 50, you are creating an established relationship with our advertisers. You may be contacted by email, telephone or mail as allowed by law.

As a reader of Lifestyles After 50, you are creating an established relationship with our advertisers. You may be contacted by email, telephone or mail as allowed by law.

As a reader of Lifestyles After 50, you are creating an established relationship with our advertisers. You may be contacted by email, telephone or mail as allowed by law.

As a crea our a ema

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 3

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 4

Around Town

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G A U G U S T 2 0 1 5

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ednesdays Learn International Folk Dances with the “Sarasota Grapeviners.” Join the circle and move to music from around the world. $6.

7 – 9:30 p.m. John Chidsey Bayfront Community Center, Sarasota. Learn more at 941-379-6302.

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hursdays “What the Bringback Brought.” Visit the works of Trenton Doyle Hancock. $23. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The Ringling John & Mable Ringling Museum, Sarasota. 941-359-5700.

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Free Blood Pressure Screenings from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at The Friendship Center, Sarasota. A complimentary healthy snack will also be available. 941-955-2122.

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– Sept 20 “The Swingaroos.”

Experience New York City’s underground jazz band with a suitcase full of original songs and Hit Parade covers from the 20s to the 2010s. $18/$36.

Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasota.

941-366-9000; floridastudiotheatre.org.

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hrough 16 “Kings of Country.”

Filled with stories from songs such as “Crazy” to “I Got Friends in Low Places,” these songs are woven into the fabric of American music history. $18 – $36. Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasota. Call 941-366-9000 or visit floridastudiotheatre.org for more info.

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hrough 23 “My Old Lady.” When a down-on-his-luck middle-aged man inherits an apartment in Paris, he plans to solve his financial woes by selling it. Much to his dismay, an elderly woman stops him in his tracks. $28.50. Jane B Cook Theatre, Sarasota.

941-358-5330.

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Summer Cabaret Festival. Talented performers entertain with a variety of music and comedy in a nightclub setting. $15. Venice Theatre.

941-488-1115. Dates, times and tickets at venicestage.com.

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– 15 Friends of the Library Book Sale. Find some great deals at North Port Library all day. For more info, call 941-861-1315.

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– 30 “Cats.” Experience this mesmerizing musical that tells the tale of the Jellicle cats as they compete for the honor to ascend to the Heaviside layer. $27 – $37.

7:30 p.m. (Sat. Matinee: 2 p.m.).

Manatee Performing Arts Center, Bradenton. 941-749-1111.

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and 16 “The Flying Dutchman.”

The Flying Dutchman has been cursed for eternity. Once every seven years he is allowed to come ashore to seek redemption. Then he meets Senta.

8/13 7 p.m.; 8/16 1:30 p.m. Sarasota Opera House. 941-328-1300.

– 23 “Not Our Time.” Set in 1969 rural south, a young AfricanAmerican football star must choose between what he wants for himself and what his best friend and mentor want for him. $15. 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.

(Sun. Matinee: 2 – 4 p.m). The Players Theatre of Sarasota. 941-365-2494.

Forbidden Cinema: A Pre-Code Hollywood Film Series. ilm professor Maryann Dahlen will be showing a series of films released prior to 1934 before the film production code went into full effect. A different film will be shown on the third Friday of every month at Gulf Gate Library in Sarasota at 1 p.m. More info: 941-861-1230

o n l y$249 00 pp

Aug 1-Aug 4 Aug 12-Aug 15 Aug 23-Aug 26 Sept 1 - Sept 4

**This offer is subject to availability and management reserves the right to change or cancel this promotion at any time without notice. Must be 21 or older to gamble and enter and remain in a NJ casino and participate in any Harrah’s Resort promotions. Resort fees of $27 per room per night are not included and paid upon hotel departure. Florida Seller of Travel Ref. No ST39092. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.

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– 30 “Some Enchanted Evening.”

Enjoy the best-loved music from Sinatra and Nat King Cole to Bennett and Buble. From the Broadway Stage to the Silver Screen, it’s music the way you remember it. $15. 2 p.m. Venice Theatre, Venice. 941-488-1115.

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What’s Blooming, Buzzing and Hatching? Join us and find out for a free, family friendly nature walk from 9 – 11 a.m. at Shamrock Park & Nature Center, Venice. 941-861-5000.

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Concert in the Park. A variety of music and entertainment, vendors, food and more. Free admission.

7 – 9 p.m. Centennial Park, Venice.

More info at 941-486-2626.

Send Around Town news to News Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583; fax 813-651-1989 or email your events to calendar@ srnewsconnection.com. News must be received by the 10th of the month prior to event (i.e. August 10 for Sept. event.)

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 5

A Word From Our Readers Van Wezel Takes You Back to the ‘60s at their Free Friday Fest I

n the editorial last month, Lifestyles After 50 asked for your thoughts: What makes Florida great? What is your favorite thing about living in or visiting the Sunshine State?

We heard back from Kathleen Walzl of Lady Lake, FL.: “Florida has the best of the old and new.

Both wonderful beaches and winding roads through wooded countryside beckon.

The exceptional Florida State Parks offer not only outdoor enjoyment but also the interesting heritage of the state’s eventful and colorful past. Lush vegetation and beautiful flowers abound under blue skies and Florida sunshine! Busy or laid back, whatever your style, it’s all here in Florida!”

Lifestyles After 50 Wants to Know: What Was Your First Car? In 200 words or less, tell us the make, model, year, how you came by it and why you love it!

Include your name and city if you desire, along with a hi-res photo of your car and email it to editor@lifestylesafter50.com so we can share it with our readers!

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 6

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an Wezel Performing Arts Center has been a Sarasota landmark since it first opened in 1970. But how well do you know its history?

The iconic theater was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright’s firm, Taliesin Associates Architects. It’s unique shape was modeled after two seashells from the Sea of Japan, which are on permanent display in the theater’s main hall.

The building’s purple color was a touch added by Olgivanna, Frank Lloyd Wright’s widow.

Van Wezel Performing Arts Center was named for its philanthropic founders, Lewis and Eugenia Van Wezel, and since its first performance, “Fiddler on the Roof,” the theater has been host to plays, concerts, dance and guest speakers—around 140 performances each year.

Explore: Tours of the Van Wezel backstage areas and the Fine Arts Society art collection are offered to the public the first Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m., October through May. Cost is $5; to learn more, call 941-953-3368.

This month: Enjoy their Free Friday Fest on the Bay on Aug. 21 at 5 p.m.

This outdoor event features Yesterdayze, a high-energy show band that performs your favorite ‘60s hits from Motown to the British Invasion, Elvis to Hendrix and Aretha to Joplin. Yesterdayze delivers a nonstop blast-from-the-past you’ll never forget!

For upcoming shows and more info, visit vanwezel.org.

The Retirement Revolution

By Tracie Lukens ging isn’t a straight line. We all age in different ways, with different needs at different times. And as more boomers begin to hit retirement age and beyond, many are rethinking traditional one-sizefits-all retirement communities. They’re demanding new solutions to the rising costs of care and housing. Creative minds are championing initiatives that will help give retirees more choice and control over their housing and lifestyle. As part of a year-long project that looks at 50+ living trends, Next Avenue (nextavenue.org) explores some of the newest models that are revolutionizing retirement: The Technology Model “My patients were telling me, ‘Don’t you ever think of putting me in a nursing home,’” said Dr. Allan Teel, a family physician and author. “But there were not very many options for these very fragile but very proud people.”

He realized that some of his elderly patients could avoid moving to an assisted living facility or nursing home if they had the right support at home. To help meet this need, he founded Full Circle America, a for-profit telemedicine program.

Full Circle America provides patients with user-friendly home health monitoring equipment and covers any healthcare and living needs with a combination of paid staff, family and volunteers, reducing the daily hours someone needs for personal care and supervision from 24 to just two, with 22 hours of monitoring via webcam and volunteers, Teel claims.

According to FullCircleAmerica.com, the program (of technology and paid caregiving) costs $100 – $400 a month depending on the level of monitoring, plus a start-up $500 for equipment. The telemedicine service is an additional $200 per month. Compared to the $2,500 and up monthly cost of an assisted living facility, however, Teel believes this model may be a more appealing option to those who prefer to age at home with as much independence as possible.

The Village Model A village is a not-for-profit organization of older adults in a community who join resources to help one another stay in their neighborhood as they age.

Each village member pays a yearly fee that the village uses to provide support and services, such as social clubs, weekly exercise classes, transportation to doctors’ offices and grocery stores, access to reduced-fee home medical care and

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home repair services. Villages The “Golden Girls” Model rely on volunteers and paid staff Shared housing has been growing members help them access the in popularity among boomers. In services they need to age in place. this model, two or more unrelated Beacon Hill Village in Boston, retirees live together for lower costs established in 1999, was one of and companionship; sometimes called the pioneer village communities, “Golden Girls” housing (from the hit TV as is Washington D.C.’s Capitol show). There are different arrangements: Hill Village (CHV). To give Some singles live in separate suites but you an idea of the membership share common spaces for group meals cost, CHV charges an annual and gatherings; some own/lease and fee of $530 for individuals manage a property equally, while others ($800 per household) to tap into live in a landlord/tenant arrangement. the services provided by the Brenda Krause Eheart, Generations of Hope founder. When a divorce left Bonnie Moore, now village, with financial assistance 70, living alone in a newly remodeled in Chiefland, Fla., where light pollution home in 2008, she searched for and found programs for those who qualify.

“I don’t want a so-called expert is low. Spruce Creek Fly-In, just south of four roommates to fill the empty bedrooms. determining how I should be treated or Daytona Beach, is a haven for aviators.

“Living with others at this stage in my life what should be available to me,” 72-year- Nalcrest, near Orlando, is one of the has been so much more fun and rewarding old Susan McWhinney-Morse, one of more unusual communities—composed than I ever imagined,” said Moore. “In Beacon Hill Village’s founders, told The mainly of retired mail carriers and their addition to contributing rent that makes New York Times. “The thing I most cherish families (and no dogs allowed!) my mortgage affordable, my roommates Meanwhile, university-based retirement have become an important part of my life. here is that it’s we, the older people, who community residents like those at Oak We throw parties together, get to know one are creating our own universe.”

Over 200 similar villages are part of Hammock in Gainesville, (oakhammock. another’s friends, and help each other out.” a nationwide organization called the org) can take advantage of campus events The success of this model depends Village to Village Network. Find a like concerts, sports and arts programs, on how well roommates communicate, or sit in on classes at low or no cost. village near you at vtvnetwork.org. so choosing the right one is important.

Senior artists colonies like the one in Resources like goldengirlsnetwork.com The Purpose-Driven Model Burbank, California (seniorartistscolony. and nationalsharedhousing.org offer In Rantoul, Illinois, a community named com) provide apartment rentals where shared housing tips and roommate finders.

Generations of Hope (generationsofhope. artists, writers, musicians and dancers org offers its senior residents subsidized can hone their crafts in open studios, take What’s next for retirement living? As housing to live in a community that needs workshops or perform for their neighbors. technology and social support networks their help. They pair families raising “The instructors are very professional,” grow, communities that are run by senior foster children with older residents who artist colony resident Nailah Jumoke residents rather than businesses are on volunteer at least six hours per week told USA Today. “We do yoga; we do the horizon. Retirees are sharing costs, doing such things as babysitting, tutoring, meditations. I’m learning I am also pursuing passions and giving back to their gardening or serving as a crossing guard. an artist. I ask myself, where did this communities like never before. Boomers The strength of this model is that the talent come from? I’m always finding have more choices about how to spend families with children who have special out more and more about myself at this their retirement, and where this enterprising needs get extra support, while the older beautiful age at 64.” generation goes, others will follow. residents who choose to live in the community benefit from a greater sense Senior Housing Options: How Do They Compare? of purpose and connection.

“It’s figuring out what’s in our hearts and Feature or Service Independent Living Assisted Living Nursing Home translating it to workable models,” says Approx. Monthly Cost $1,500 – $3,500 $2,500 – $4,000 $4,000 – $8,000 Mark Dunham, external affairs counsel for Generations of Hope. The model is Meals Per Day Meal Plan Options 3+ 3+ gradually expanding to other states.

Medication Management No Yes Yes The Niche Model Personal Care No Yes Yes Some retirees are joining communities Mobility Assistance No Yes Yes established by people who share a common Accepts Wheelchairs No Varies Yes identity, such as sexual orientation, labor union membership, artistic inclination or Alzheimers/Dementia Care No Varies Varies religious faith. The appeal comes from the On-Site Nurses No Varies Yes unity of like-minded retirees—a place to pursue one’s interests and lifestyle with Transportation Most Yes Most Yes Yes other enthusiasts, free of censure.

Incontinence Care No Yes Yes There’s a niche community out there for Housekeeping Varies Yes Yes almost every interest. Stargazing parties abound at Chiefland Astronomy Village Source: APlaceForMom.com Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 7

What’s Next? Creating Your Second Act R

eaching retirement age doesn’t mean it’s time to slow down. Once people hit midlife and beyond, they are filled with valuable insights and life skills with significant time to dedicate themselves to a project. Currently, 9 million of those age 65 years or older have already moved into “encore careers,” which are second acts made up of equal parts social impact, personal fulfillment and additional income. Here are four individuals who transformed their lives in their second act.

Innovation It’s never too late to pursue your passion of becoming an inventor. At age 84, George Weiss created and designed the board game Dabble in his Brooklyn, N.Y. home’s basement workshop. The fast-paced word game aims to improve a child’s vocabulary, spelling and quick thinking, according to its website.

“This may be my first real success,” Weiss said. “All through the years I never stopped inventing. Although, I never

really became successful.” Today, the need to see our involvement as game is available in 50 stores around the collaboration, not competition.” country as well as for mobile devices and as a computer game.

Volunteering “I taught school Business for about 36 years.

Monica Stynchula Then it was, ‘Oh, of St. Petersburg, what a delight!

FL was a medical Retire, read, social worker and watch movies and administrator who shop.’ I got bored decided to retrain in two weeks,” in electronic said Judy Weiphert of Tom’s River, NJ. health record She decided to look into volunteer (EHR) technology as an encore career. work at a local food pantry, and noticed As a long-distance caregiver for her a homeless man in need of good socks. parents, she saw a need for better “So every Wednesday, I came (to the communication between loved ones and pantry) loaded with white socks. Then I health care professionals. She worked started volunteering nearly full time and to develop a web platform for a virtual that was it. I was in,” she said. support network that others like herself Weiphert has been at the food pantry could use, and REUNIONCare was and clothing center—now a nonprofit born. (reunioncare.com) called the Tom’s River Community “We can synthesize our collective Church Outreach—for over 14 years, experience and apply them to new providing food, clothing, transportation industries. Longevity gives us the time and other services for anyone in need. and energy to solve social problems, “My volunteering gives back for all the leaving behind a legacy for generations times that people helped me earlier in my after us to embrace. Younger generations life,” Weiphert says. Someone will ask me:

‘Can I pay you for that?’ And I say, ‘Pay it forward to someone who needs assistance.’

I would say to other older adults—don’t fear retirement. I’m having a great time.”

Pursuing Passion “When I found out that 34 men in my senior community were WWII veterans, my film career was started,” said Michael Rothfeld of Elkton, FL. Since his retirement in 2000 from teaching Special Education for 35 years in a Brooklyn High School, he formed a nonprofit called Any Veteran to produce documentaries about local veterans.

He recorded their stories, sent them to the Library of Congress and premiered the WWII documentary at the Flagler College Auditorium to over 800 people.

“Older workers often have more life skills, background information and knowledge history. Given a chance, the older generation will surprise many with what they do to better educate the community.”

(Info from Bobby Grajewski, President of Edison Nation Medical; and Encore.org)

SOCIAL SECURITY Q&A

The Future of Social Security

By Daryl Rosenthal, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist

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ocial Security is there for you during all stages of life. Right from the beginning, we issue a unique Social Security number to most newborns when an application is taken at the hospital. This allows us to track your income over your working career and accurately calculate your retirement benefit. We provide disability benefits to injured and chronically ill workers and their families. We provide survivors benefits to widows, widowers and the minors of deceased workers. We also provide Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to those with low income and resources, and Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs for people who qualify.

In our decades of experience, Social Security has evolved to meet the fastpaced demands of the digital world.

Creating an online my Social Security account, for instance, lets you view your Social Security Statement, verify the accuracy of your earnings record and get estimates of future monthly benefits.

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 8

Once you begin receiving Social Security benefits, you can use your online account to manage your record, including changing your address and phone number, checking your benefit information, changing your electronic payment method, and obtaining an instant benefit verification letter or replacement SSA-1099/1042S. If you haven’t already, you can easily sign up for a my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

Safe and secure online services allow you to apply for retirement, spouse’s, Medicare and disability benefits from the comfort of your home. You can quickly complete an online retirement application at www.socialsecurity.gov/ applyonline.

Looking to the future, we recently released our Vision 2025, a strategic plan to help us shape the future of Social Security service delivery and maintain clear communication with you. For more information about our vision for the next ten years, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ vision2025. You can also see how Social Security has evolved over the years at www.socialsecurity.gov/history.

Downsizing Made Simple

By Elle Layne

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f you’re faced with the daunting task of moving an entire lifetime of memories and, well...stuff...to a smaller place, like me, you may be wondering where to start. These seven tips can help you cut the clutter fast and take the stress out of downsizing. Keep calm and move on!

Start now. Moving is hectic enough without the pressure of deciding at the last minute which of your most precious possessions you must part with. If you sort everything out ahead of time, you’ll have the instant benefits of less clutter and less to take care of (and maybe even some extra money in your pocket!) But most importantly, you’ll have peace of mind—especially if you’re ever faced with an emergency and have to relocate quickly or trust others to do it for you.

Break it up. A whole house is overwhelming. Take it room by room, starting with the one that contains items of the greatest sentimental value.

(These are the tough decisions.) Make four piles—keep, donate, give to family members and trash. Give yourself a few days for each room and keep a layout of your new residence handy as a guide for how much you can bring with you.

Let it go! Ask yourself these questions: Is it stained, damaged, worn or disfunctional?

Is it replaceable? Can someone else get more use out of it than me? If the answer is yes to any of these, throw it away or put it in the donate pile if it’s in decent condition. If you haven’t used it (or even looked at it) in the last two years, send it on its way. Multiple items? You only need so many pots and pans! Take the items you use the most and discard the extras. Try to avoid “maybe” piles. Handle an item once and make your decision—it will keep you from second-guessing yourself.

Keep the memory, not the material.

There may be years of memories in that collection of items, but if there’s no room to bring it all with you, try saving three to five of your favorite items and taking a photo of the rest to display.

If you have stacks of old photo albums, home videos or important documents, digitizing services can help you scan, save and preserve them on discs or online to help you save space.

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If it’s meant to be a gift or legacy, think about giving it now. You lose clutter and you get to see the recipient enjoy it! Involve your family. Do they even want the item? You may be holding on to something that will only be sold or discarded later.

If you have items of particular monetary or sentimental value, giving them away yourself can help curb conflicts later on and ensure they get to the right person.

Donate or sell. Choose your charity wisely. Furniture, clothing and household items in good condition can be donated for tax deductions to organizations like Goodwill, Salvation Army and ReStore.

Other items, like computers or historical memorabilia, may be better received by schools or museums.

Consider appraising antiques or larger items before selling them yourself, or use an auction house to get the highest price for your items. For junk: services like Bagster (thebagster.com) or 1-800-GOTJUNK will help you collect and dispose of materials at your house. For everything else: yard sale!

Get help. If the project is too much to take on yourself, a senior move manager might be an option. For a fee, professionals can help you through the entire downsizing, packing and moving process, stress-free. Visit www.nasmm. org to find a move manager near you.

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 9

Buy, Rent or Retirement Community?

I

t’s the downsizer’s dilemma that many face after retirement. Which option will give you more for your money or best meet your changing needs? Here’s the breakdown:

equity from a home sale and it’s invested at 6% a year, that’s $18,000 in earnings the first year. Even after taxes, that can go a long way toward rent, he says.

Renting Pros

• Stability: It’s a renter’s market right now, which means landlords can afford to charge more and be more selective about their tenants. With a mortgage, you can avoid the unpredictability of rent hikes or fluctuating prices. The housing market is just starting to rebound, and there are still good deals on homes to be found.

• Flexibility: Renting may be the better choice if you’re not sure where you want to settle long term. You avoid the hassle of buying and selling a home every three to five years and the added costs of closing and real estate broker fees. It also makes it easier to take extended trips, or to leave if the housing situation doesn’t work out.

Mortgage Pros

• Limited upkeep costs: Renting means less money spent on ownership-related expenses, such as remodeling, repairs and home/lawn maintenance.

• Ownership: Your decision will depend a lot on nonfinancial, emotional issues as well. If you buy, you have the satisfaction of owning your own place and fixing it up the way you want.

• More liquidity: If you sell your house and move to a rental property, you can add the extra capital from the house sale to your investments, which tend to grow at a faster rate than home value appreciates, according to Rich Arzaga, chief executive officer of Cornerstone Wealth Management, in San Ramon, Cal. “For example, if you pull out $300,000 in

• Long-term asset generation: Arzaga ran some calculations for Kiplinger’s Retirement Report. He looked at a hypothetical 65-year-old couple in the 25% tax bracket who sold a fivebedroom house this year and cleared $550,000 after expenses. He ran three scenarios: buying a $230,000 threebedroom house with cash, buying that

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 10

house with an 80% 30-year mortgage and renting a comparable three-bedroom house for $1,250 plus utilities.

Arzaga assumed that the couple’s investments—$100,000 in a traditional IRA and $100,000 in a taxable account (before the sale)—would grow at an annualized rate of 6.9% before inflation, and factored in ownership-related costs and annual rent increases.

The analysis showed that renting was a better financial option for the first ten years after downsizing. If the couple rented, they would have $576,202 in total assets (home sale proceeds and investments) 10 years later. If they bought the house with cash, they would have $542,800 (home equity and investments). The couple with a mortgage would end the 10 years with $572,071 (home equity and investments).

However, buying with a mortgage is the better option generally after 10 years. In year 11, the couple who bought with the mortgage had more in total assets than the renter—and the gap widened as the years went by, Arzaga says, “due to the tax-free growth of equity in the house, whereas the investment account is likely to be taxed every year.”

Keep Your Needs in Mind Buying may be the better plan if you are in good health and have a long retirement ahead of you. But if you think you might need assistance sooner, renting or moving to a retirement community may offer you more flexibility.

Independent living averages at $2,500 a month, while assisted living runs around $3,500. Though retirement communities are costlier than renting a standard apartment or making mortgage payments, the convenience of included services like meals, activities, health care or assistance with daily tasks can make it worth the price tag if it means extending one’s independence. Certain residences, like continuing care retirement communities, offer different levels of care and payment models that give you the option of transitioning to a different level of care within the same community, rather than relocating altogether.

There is a lot to consider when moving later in life. Weigh your finances, wants and needs carefully; only you can determine the best fit for you.

(Info from Kiplinger)

The 5 Best (And Worst) Places to Retire in the U.S. W here are the best places to retire in the U.S., and how does your home state rank? Kiplinger rated all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on health care, activities, cost-of-living, taxes, crime rate and the presence of a robust retirementage population. Here are their top five:

Top 5 Places to Retire 1. Delaware: The First State is tops for retirees. Delaware’s population includes a great number of residents who are 65+.

Delaware levies no sales tax and modest income taxes, from which Social Security benefits are exempt. City of choice: Milford.

Total population: 908,446 Share of population 65+: 14.9% Cost of living: 6.4% above U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $47,860

2. Florida: Warm weather and beautiful beaches may not hurt the state’s appeal, but the tax picture is the main attraction.

Florida has no state income tax, estate tax or inheritance tax, and it doesn’t tax Social Security or other retirement income.

Cities of choice: Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Vero Beach, Gainesville, Tampa.

Total population: 19.1 million Share of population 65+: 17.8% Cost of living: 4.6% above U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $45,144 3. West Virginia: For retirees hoping to explore the outdoors, West Virginia is almost heaven with its Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah River. If that’s not enough to get you singing “take me home,” perhaps the low cost of living can entice you. For homeowners age 65 and older, the median home value is just $91,400, tied with Mississippi for the lowest in the nation.

Rental costs are also rock-bottom for retirees. City of choice: Morgantown.

Total population: 1.9 million Share of population 65+: 16.5% Cost of living: 2.0% below U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $37,788 4. Pennsylvania: Though the overall cost of living is above average, housing for people 65+ is reasonably priced. The median home value is $149,300 for this age group, or $15,100 below average, and crime rates are safely below average. Plus, Pennsylvania’s tax laws help offset some costs for retirees: Social Security benefits and payouts from 401(k)s, IRAs, deferredcompensation plans and other retirement accounts are all tax-exempt. Cities of choice: Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

Total population: 12.7 million Share of population 65+: 15.8% Cost of living: 14.8% above the U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $43,356

5. South Dakota. Safety and affordability are two good reasons to retire here. Crime rates are low, and the median home value for residents age 65 and older is just $111,300, about one-third less than the U.S. median. Lifetime health care costs for an average, healthy 65-year-old couple in South Dakota are expected to total nearly $25,000 less than the national average. A favorable tax environment with no state income tax adds to the attractiveness.

Cities of choice: Sioux Falls and Rapid City.

Total population: 825,198 Share of population 65+: 14.5% Cost of living: 0.1% above U.S. average Average income for 65+ households: $37,102 5 Worst Places to Retire The following states might be great places to work, raise a family or visit, but they hold the least appeal when judged strictly as retirement destinations, with taxes and above-average living costs that can strain fixed incomes.

1. District of Columbia 2. California 3. New Mexico 4. New York 5. Minnesota

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www.VeniceRanch.com Hours: Mon.,Tues., Thurs. & Fri. 10:00 to noon and 1:00 to 4:00.

Closed Wed. Weekends by appointment only.

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• Shopping ...............................1/2 mile • Hospital ............................ 3-1/2 miles • Restaurants ............................1/4 mile • Banking .................................1/4 mile • Quaint, cultural, and BEST OF ALL … historic Venice Center ............... 3 miles • Homes starting at $2,000 and up, on larger • Four golf courses ...................1-3 miles than normal manufactured home lots • Beaches ................................... 4 miles • New solar heated pool • Interstate 75 ..........................3/4 mile • We have all kinds of clubs and amenities

To learn more, visit www.kiplinger.com.

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 11

Thrifty After 50: 8 Career and Learning Savings Tips

By Kerry Hannon, AARP Jobs Expert

T

hinking about going back to school or getting more from your career later in life? These tips can help you save at work, increase your earnings and get the education you need to change or further your career without taking a chunk out of your savings.

1. Know what you’re worth. Find out the typical pay for the job you seek, or before asking for a raise. Government salaries are posted on the Office of Personnel Management’s website.

Private-sector pay rates are found at PayScale and Salary.com.

(khanacademy.org), Class Central (class-central.com), edX (edx.org), and apps like iTunes U. Often offered by elite universities such as Duke, Stanford, Yale and MIT, MOOCs offer free online classes or bargains on courses from their instructors. You can learn at your own pace, and most sites have interactive quizzes and ways to connect with other students and the instructors.

6. Negotiate for a fast-track degree.

You may be able to reduce tuition by getting the college to waive some required courses because of your work and life experience.

2. Track your miles. The business rate for 2015 is 57.5 cents per mile. Use sites like MapQuest to calculate the distance for even short business trips and get reimbursed by your employer.

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3. Let your job send you to school. Around half of employers offer college education assistance, and you might not even need to be studying something directly linked to your work. Generally, you don’t have to pay federal income tax on the first $5,250 of assistance.

4. Check out the American Association of Community Colleges’ Plus 50 Initiative. It’s designed to help students 50-plus train for new jobs. (http://plus50.aacc.nche.edu) 5. Sign up for a MOOC (massive through portals (coursera.org),

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 12

free or mostly free open online course) such as Coursera Khan Academy

7. Snap up an older-student grant, scholarship or fellowship. Some groups and foundations offer them, though it may take some sleuthing to track down. Start your search at Fastweb.com and FinAid.org.

8. Get free or discounted college tuition. Nearly 60 percent of U.S. colleges and universities let older students take classes either tuitionfree or at rock-bottom prices. Inquire about specific residency, age and other requirements at schools in your area.

LivMD: Making Waves In The Research Community I f ten minutes per day and something the size of a bathroom scale could make you healthier, wouldn’t you try it? Marodyne Medical, a research and development company that specializes in interventions for illness, disease and injury, created LivMD, a device that uses low-intensity vibration to benefit your whole body—in just ten minutes daily.

Developed by Marodyne Medical’s Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Clinton Rubin, LivMD, cleared by the FDA as a Class 1 medical device, is designed to help you maintain overall wellness through the use of low-intensity vibration. By standing on LivMD for ten minutes daily, the low-intensity vibrations “...improve localized circulation during use, strengthen and recondition those under-going rehab, restore motion to joints, redevelop muscles, assist as an adjunct treatment for obesity and relieve aches and pains throughout the body,” according to Marodyne Medical.

“The vision of Dr. Rubin, the founder of Marodyne and scientist behind LivMD technology, is to offer the world

a safe, convenient, non-drug, scientifically proven approach to maintaining musculoskeletal health and wellness,” said Patrick Foote, Chief Operating Officer of Marodyne Medical.

LivMD has more than 25 years of scientific research developing low-intensity vibration technology from esteemed institutions such as NASA and National Institutes of Health. The research was “initially focused on maintaining and improving bone density and treatment of osteoporosis for various age groups,” Foote said.

The past ten years of research, however, have shown that lowintensity vibrations may aid in much more than bone health.

Dr. Clinton Rubin, Distinguished Professor and Chair “Most recent information is of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University showing that these low-level According to Marodyne Medical, vibratory signals may be helpful to improving neurocognitive challenges not only is LivMD the product of facing humans, helping to overcome nearly three decades of low-intensity neuromuscular weaknesses, particularly vibration research, the device or one of as a result of aging or infirmity,” its prototypes has been used in studies all over the world that focused on “maintain Foote said.

or improving bone quality, mobility and balance, back pain relief, and wound-healing.

Visit Marodyne.com or www.LivMD.US to learn more about low-intensity vibration technology and how Marodyne’s LivMD may improve your health.

“The vision of Dr. Rubin, the founder of Marodyne and scientist behind LivMD technology, is to offer the world a safe, convenient, non-drug, scientifically proven approach to maintaining musculoskeletal health and wellness...”

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 13

Insurance Discounts for Mature Drivers

Have a Florida’s Driver’s License and are 55 years of age or older?

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Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 14

VETERANS CORNER

Higher Education Options For Veterans

By Benjamin Albright

I

n 2010, 84-year-old Florida resident and World War II veteran Jack Slotnick felt something was missing.

His accomplishments were manyfold: he earned a Purple Heart after being wounded in service in the U.S. Army’s 66th Infantry Division. He was aboard the S.S. Leopoldville as it carried soldiers toward the Battle of the Bulge when it was sunk by a German U-boat’s torpedo on Christmas Eve, 1944. Around 800 of his fellow soldiers didn’t make it.

He struggled with PTSD, survived prostate cancer, traveled the world and became a successful businessman, but there was one thing he’d never finished. He attended night classes at Brooklyn College following the war, but never completed his degree.

Slotnick decided it was time to go back, so he applied to Lynn University in Boca Raton. He was interested in psychology and wanted to put his degree to good use counseling to young veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I think I can relate better to a returning veteran than somebody who has no concept of what being a soldier is,” Slotnick told the Palm Beach Post.

“Evidently, there is more stress or strain on the soldiers of today than when I was in the war. There is something drastically wrong with the amount of suicides [among] the current group of soldiers.”

He completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology in a year and a half, and received his master’s in 2013.

“There’s nothing you can’t do if you really want to do it,” he told City and Shore magazine.

Going Back to School Many veterans decide to further their education after military service.

Whether you recently left active duty or it’s been many years since you served, juggling the demands of school with the stress of civilian life can be challenging.

Here are a few tips from veteran support initiative “Make The Connection” (maketheconnection.net): • Reach out to other veterans on your campus for social support.

• Be prepared for questions about your service. Remember, you can respectfully decline to talk about things that make you uncomfortable.

“It bothered me when people would ask about my military experience in passing and then quickly become distracted with something else,” one veteran commented.

“Learning to say things like, ‘I’d love to tell you about it another time, over a meal or drink one day’ helped me to avoid situations that upset me and make sure that I was spending time with people who really wanted to listen.”

• Get to know your new professors.

Tell them you’re a veteran, and ask for advice on how you can be successful in the classroom.

• Participate in student activities to break down barriers and become part of the campus community.

“I was older than most of my classmates and didn’t see how any of them would ever be able to understand where I was coming from or what I had done. I really had to make an effort to explain how my experience changed my outlook on college,” one veteran told the organization.

Funding for Further Education If you’re thinking about going back to school but need financial aid, the federal government provides some funding— primarily to veterans who served post 9/11.

Those who served in the military before Sept. 11, 2001 still have a few options: • Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty • Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve • Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) • Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Educational Assistance Programs (VEAP) Through these programs, the VA helps pay for tuition and fees and other education expenses for colleges, universities, trade schools, on-the-job training, apprenticeships and flight schools.

Eligibility depends on when active service started, how long the veteran served and the discharge status. With REAP and VEAP, the service member made contributions during active duty.

Learn more at www.benefits.va.gov.

The GI Bill Comparison Tool (https:// department-of-veterans-affairs.github.io/ gi-bill-comparison-tool) can help you check out schools and programs as well as calculate any benefits you are elegible for.

Veterans can find further opportunities through private grants and scholarships.

Military.com and Schoolsoup.com are two of many comprehensive online scholarship finders. Higher Education For Military Veterans: (www.accreditedschoolsonline. org/resources/higher-education-formilitary-veterans) is another helpful guide to financial aid options, educational and social resources for any veteran thinking about returning to school.

Life’s an Adventure. Saddle Up!

F

or Sharon North Pohl, horses Sharon North Pohl have been a part of her life since she was young. This mother and grandmother has spent the past 30 years working with equines, so she knew that she wanted to spend her semi-retirement caring for them and sharing what she’s learned with others.

“My love for horses created my life long bucket list of horse adventures. I have been ticking that list off most of my life,” Pohl says. “That quest has taken me riding all over the world.

“I have felt the blistering heat and the desert wind in my face In 2000, Pohl founded Willow Pond as I galloped through the twisting and Farm, a sanctuary for unwanted horses. turning dry river beds in the Arizona and There, she worked with children--some Nevada deserts. I have trekked through handicapped and some at risk--and the Mustang Province of Nepal on their rescued and retrained horses for 13 years. rugged little mountain ponies bedecked Recently, Pohl created an online with beautiful, brightly colored, dragon community where she and other horse embroidered hand woven Tibetan saddle enthusiasts can share their experiences blankets. I rode through the forests and and stories. To learn more, visit green hills of Wales and walked with ZealousHorses.com the horses through the streets of London “Who says adventure ends when you dodging traffic near the Buckingham reach 65?” Pohl exclaims. “My life’s palace, following in the footsteps of her adventures with the horses continues to Majesty the Queen.” be a ‘zealous’ one!”

New Books “I See You Made An Effort”

By Annabelle Gurwitch Every seven and a half seconds, someone in America turns 50.

While some people like to say that “50 is the new 40,” actress, comedienne and New York Times bestseller Annabelle Gurwitch believes “50 is still F-ing 50.”

In her wickedly funny collection of essays, Gurwitch explores the hazards of reaching the half century mark, aging out of your wardrobe, outsourcing your endocrine system and falling in lust at the Genius bar. From the woman the Washington Post calls “hilarious,” this new book is the ultimate coming-ofmiddle-age story. Available on amazon.com.

“A Dying Trade: Memoirs of a Nursing Home Proprietor”

By William Webb When people send a loved one to a nursing home, they are literally entrusting their most cherished possession to people they hardly know.

While the dark side of nursing homes occasionally hits the headlines, they’re usually presented as the perfect place for someone to live out their final years.

In a fascinating new novel by William Webb, one nursing home owner bares all—details the public seldom become privy to. It all plays out in this hilarious, heartbreaking and hugely thought-provoking story, inspired by reallife events. Available on Amazon.com.

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 15

Could Stem Cells be the Next Penicillin?

By David Ebner, Staff Writer We will never forget the day that four young men from Liverpool, England walked onto the stage of “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1964. The bright stage lights and the squeals from the crowd rained down on the group, and that grainy black and white image was pinned as a significant moment in history.

The introduction of stem cell research to the world stage was not filled with as much fanfare.

There were no screaming fans when the first stem cell therapy was conducted through a bone marrow transplant in 1956. The long hours that scientists spent researching and studying cells in laboratories were not recorded in the pages of Life magazine. Even in 2012, when the two scientists who discovered the application of stem cells as the building blocks for human life won a Nobel Prize, the response was limited to the medical community.

However, the impact of stem cells on the healthcare and medical industry has been anything

but small. Adult stem cells live Medical Director, Dr. Burton all over the body, and if extracted Feinerman, said, “Stem cells are and reintroduced to the body, they important because they offer a can specialize as whatever type of different approach. Instead of just cell they are near. For example, if treating symptoms and making the stem cells were removed, isolated patient a little more comfortable, and reintroduced to the lungs of stem cells target the disease and the patient with COPD, the stem can repair the damaged tissue.” cells would become healthy lung Even though they don’t often cells. These new cells would be take center stage, life-changing disease free and would regenerate advancements in medical more disease-free lung cells, therapies, like stem cell treatments, inevitably increasing lung function. are occurring every day. The The discovery of penicillin was an Treatments like this could mean the people that have sought these early example of ground breaking difference between struggling for innovative treatments are already medical advancements changing the course of modern medicine. air and breathing easier. seeing these advancements in The staff at the Lung Institute action, and although there may not (lunginstitute.com) have successfully performed such be screaming fans, the stem cell fan base is growing procedures on over 800 patients. The Lung Institute’s every day with people that can now breathe easier.

MEDICARE ANSWERS

Can I Appeal a Hospital Discharge?

D

ear Marci, My father has Medicare and is in the hospital after a fall. His doctor and nurses say that he is ready to be discharged from the hospital, but he feels that he is not yet well enough to return home. He has some lingering health issues and wants to stay in the hospital for a few more days. Can he appeal a hospital discharge? —Fred (St. Louis, MO) Dear Fred, Yes, people with Medicare can appeal a hospital discharge if they are not ready to leave.

To appeal, first consult the Important Message from Medicare notice, which the hospital should provide you at least once during your inpatient hospital stay.

Among other things, the notice tells you how to request a review of your case by the Beneficiary and FamilyCentered Care Quality Improvement Organization, often called the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO).

The QIO is an independent body that reviews hospital discharge appeals for Medicare beneficiaries.

Know that while the QIO is reviewing the appeal, the hospital must also provide you a more detailed notice that explains

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 16

why it thinks you are ready to leave. This is called a Detailed Notice of Discharge.

In the meantime, the QIO will review your medical records and contact you for your opinion on the discharge.

The QIO should make its decision and call you within 24 hours of receiving all the information it needs. If the appeal to the QIO is successful, your care will continue to be covered.

If your appeal to the QIO is unsuccessful, you will not be held responsible for the cost of the 24-hour period while you waited for the QIO to make a decision.

If you remain in the hospital after that period, you may be responsible for the cost of your care if you do not win at a higher level of appeal.

You can choose to move to higher levels of appeal. To read about the higher levels of Medicare appeals for ending care, visit www.medicareinteractive.org. Be sure to follow rules and deadlines.

Keep in mind that there are also options for continuing your father’s care after he is discharged from the hospital. He may benefit from home health services or from care at a skilled nursing facility.

—Marci

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 17

RECIPE

Simple, Satisfying Summer Salads T

hese quick and healthy salads are perfect for picnics and cookouts.

Find more great recipes at HealthHub (http://health.clevelandclinic.org).

Watermelon, Tomato and Herb Salad With Feta This salad takes advantage of two of summer’s best produce options— watermelon and tomatoes! Served with fresh herbs, red wine vinegar, sliced almonds and feta cheese, the unlikely combination is full of flavor and low in calories.

Directions Combine watermelon, tomatoes, salt and toss to blend. Let stand for 15 minutes.

In a small bowl, mix vinegar, olive oil and basil, then pour over the watermelon and tomato mixture. Top with sliced almonds and feta cheese.

Serve chilled.

Ingredients 6 cups seedless watermelon, cubed 4 cups fresh tomatoes, cubed 1 tsp coarse salt (such as kosher or sea salt) 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1.5 Tbsp red wine vinegar ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped 2 Tbsp fresh mint, chopped ¼ cup sliced almonds ½ cup feta cheese

Fresh Mediterranean Bulgur Salad This salad offers the fresh taste of grape tomatoes, cucumbers and dill in an olive oil, lemon and vinegar dressing.

Kalamata olives give it zing and whole grain bulgur makes it satisfying.

Ingredients 1 ½ cups uncooked bulgur 1 seedless (or deseeded) cucumber, peeled and chopped 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved ½ cup kalamata olives, halved A few tablespoons of fresh dill

Tech Talk Giveaway: Lenzcase

Choosing the Right Sunglasses UVA, which is responsible for skin tanning and aging.

reading glasses at different strengths: + 2.0, +2.5, +3.0 and +3.5.

The Lenzcase will be available soon; preorder at www.lenzcase.com.

UVB, which is linked to sunburn and skin cancer; a large portion is absorbed by the atmosphere’s ozone layer.

To enter the giveaway, just email editor@lifestylesafter50.com or snail mail us at:

Attn: Lenzcase Giveaway News Connection USA, Inc. P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583

W

elcome to this month’s Tech Talk column, where we cover the latest apps, products and websites that make life a little easier.

This month, we’re giving away a Lenzcase—an iPhone 6 case that comes with a spring-loaded, built-in, backup set of reading glasses. Just a fingertip touch to the spring-loaded readers snaps them halfway open for a quick ten second read, or you can withdraw the lenses for hand-held normal reading.

When you’re finished, just slide the lenses back in until it locks home for safe and secure holding until next time.

The Lenzcase comes with a set of four Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 18

Send us your name, address and phone number by August 19. The drawing will be held on August 20, and the winner will be contacted and announced in the next issue of Lifestyles After 50. Look for more giveaways in upcoming editions. Good luck!

Congratulations!

To last month’s winner: Sandy Brand of Wimauma They won the Solar Shield Sunglasses!

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 2 Tbsp balsamic or red wine vinegar Juice of ½ lemon Salt and pepper, to taste Directions Heat a large skillet over medium heat; spray with a non-stick cooking spray. Add the bulgur and toast it for about 5 minutes.

Remember to keep the grain moving the whole time to prevent burning.

Add about 3 cups of water to the bulgur and cover it with a lid or some aluminum foil. Let the grain simmer for around 20 minutes or so, or until the bulgur is soft.

Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, combine the chopped cucumbers, grape tomatoes and olives. Add the vinegar, lemon juice, about 2 Tbsp of olive oil, and some salt and pepper to taste. Let the flavors marinate for a few minutes.

If there is any excess water left in the bulgur in the skillet at this point, drain it, then fluff the bulgur with a fork.

Combine bulgur with vegetables and dressing, then garnish with fresh dill.

Stir and let the flavors meld for an hour or so in the fridge. Serve cold.

S

unlight, specifically ultraviolet (UV) radiation, has been linked to several eye conditions, including cataracts and early onset age-related macular degeneration. It’s hard to avoid the sun, but it is easy to protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses. Sunglasses need not bear a designer label or cost hundreds of dollars to do their job properly.

As the eyes age, problems with vision become more common. Learn how to recognize the risk factors and symptoms of specific eye diseases— cataract, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy — and what steps you can take to prevent or treat them before your vision deteriorates.

Sunglasses are labeled according to guidelines for UV protection established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The two forms of UV light that affect health include:

Before buying sunglasses, look at the ANSI label; even inexpensive sunglasses can be effective.

Cosmetic: Lightly tinted lenses, good for daily wear. Blocks 70% of UVB rays, 20% of UVA and 60% of visible light.

General purpose: Medium to dark lenses, fine for most outdoor recreation.

Blocks 95% of UVB, 60% of UVA, and 60% to 90% of visible light. Most sunglasses fall into this category.

Special purpose: Extremely dark lenses with UV blockers, recommended for places with very bright conditions such as beaches and ski slopes. Blocks 99% of UVB, 60% of UVA, and 97% of visible light.

A darker looking lens may not provide better UV protection than a lighter lens.

If you aren’t sure what kind of sunglasses to buy, or think you may be at high risk for eye disease, check with your eye doctor. (Harvard Medical School)

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 19

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 20

Dogs Could Be Called Wonder Drugs

D

ogs can provide people with many things. Protection, friendship, and unconditional love top the list, but they may also provide health benefits, too.

A new study finds dogs can lower a person’s blood pressure, improve your psychological health, and even get you to exercise more.

“That dog can’t walk itself, so you have to get out and walk the dog. And by the nature of just walking—these people were moving for an hour a day. We know that walking an hour a day is going to have health benefits,” says Dr. Scott Bea, a psychologist at Cleveland Clinic.

Researchers at the University of Missouri’s Research Center for Human-

Animal Interaction looked at the benefits associated with having an animal companion. For 12 weeks, people were encouraged to walk on an outdoor trail for one hour, five times a week. Results show the older people who walked their dogs improved their walking capabilities by almost 30 percent compared to people who walked with a friend.

Researchers say they also had more confidence on the trail and increased their speed.

Human walking buddies tended to discourage each other and used excuses, such as the weather, to avoid the walks. The results show only a four percent increase in their walking capabilities.

Researchers say many of the same benefits can apply to other pets, too. Dr. Bea agrees.

“Human-animal interactions are full of good feelings. Animals respond to humans with a kind of unconditional acceptance; we don’t get that all the time from other human beings, so we see that it has a tension-reducing aspect to it. Just repetitive acts like petting an animal has tension-reducing properties,” he says.

(Cleveland Clinic)

Want to Fix New Information In Your Mind? Make Mistakes!

M

aking the right kind of errors while you’re learning can improve your aility to embed new information in your memory, but the mistakes must be related to what you want to learn, not just random guesses.

Research published recently in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory and Cognition suggests that both younger and older adults are better able to learn information if they have worked out the answer through trial-and-error guesses that have something in common with the correct answer. For example, participants who were asked to remember a target word (“a rose”) by being presented with its category (“flower”) and asked to guess at the possible answer were much better able to remember the word later than those who had been given the correct answer right away.

The study authors theorize that by guessing first, rather than reading the answer, participants had to think harder

and make connections that made it easier to remember the correct answer later.

Even making wrong guesses helped recollection, as long as the information was closely related. On the other hand, the research suggests that when guesses are not meaningfully related to the information to be remembered (such as guessing at “a word that beings with ro...”) and result in random guesses (“road, rope”), guessing appears to clutter up memory.

(From Massachusetts General Hospital: Mind, Mood and Memory) Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 21

THE HEALTHY GEEZER

FREE INFORMATION SERVICE

sz

News Connection USA, Inc. • P.O. Box 638 • Seffner, FL 33584

Personality Disorder, or Pain In The Neck?

Name:

By Fred Cicetti

Address:

Q

Lifestyles After 50 For information, please return completed form to:

State:

City:

Age:

Phone:

. A friend who uses a lot of psychobabble described a new woman in our retirement community as having a “personality disorder.” I would call this woman a pain the neck.

What’s the difference between a personality disorder and just a lousy personality?

Zip: Date:

E-mail: o Single o Married o Are you a Group Leader?

Please contact me by: o Mail o Phone o E-mail SEND INFORMATION ON AREA(S) CHECKED BELOW TRAVEL: o Cruises o Hotels/ Resorts o Local Attractions o Getaway Packages o Bus Tours o Land Tours LEISURE TIME: o Consignment/Thrift Stores o Gambling o Theater o Pets o Dining In/Out o Transportation o Music Performances PERSONAL HEALTH: o Physicians o Pharmacies o Prescription Drugs o Hearing Care o Fresh Produce o Dental Care o Hospitals o Skin Care o Cancer Treatment o Eye Care HOME IMPROVEMENTS: o A/C and Heating o Cleaning Services

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Win a $25 Gift Certificate to Chili’s!

When you complete this form and mail it back, your name will be entered to win a $25 gift certificate to Chili’s.

(Drawing held the 20th of each month.)

Last Month’s Winner Was: S. Vanchoff — Congratulations!

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 22

People with a personality disorder are more than just pains in the neck. They have serious trouble getting along with others. They are usually rigid and unable to adapt to the changes life presents to all of us. They simply don’t function well in society.

People with personality disorders are more likely to commit homicide and suicide and suffer from social isolation, alcohol and drug addiction, depression, anxiety, eating disorders and self-destructive behavior such as excessive gambling.

About one in seven U.S. adults has at least one personality disorder, and many have more than one. Personality disorders are usually first noticed around the teen years. However, personality disorders can surface at any time, including old age. About one in ten older adults living at home may have a personality disorder. This figure is even higher among adults living in nursing homes.

Childhood experiences and your genes play major roles in personality disorders.

However, personality changes can be brought on in older adults if they have trouble handling the losses of family and friends, other major life changes or their own medical problems.

Mental health professionals place personality disorders in three categories or clusters. People in Cluster A exhibit eccentric behavior. Those in Cluster B are dramatic, emotional or erratic. And those in Cluster C are fearful.

The following are some examples.

The descriptions are very brief because of space requirements. You could write pages to describe each disorder.

In Cluster A are schizoid, paranoid and schizotypal personality disorders.

Schizoid personalities are introverted

daydreamers who fear intimacy with others. Paranoid personalities don’t trust people and see them as deceitful or worse. Schizotypal personalities are eccentrics who act inappropriately and often claim they have supernatural gifts.

In Cluster B are antisocial, borderline and narcissistic personality disorders.

Antisocial personalities are belligerent rule-breakers who often get into legal difficulties and fall into substance abuse. Borderline personalities are unpredictable, self-destructive and often see things in black and white. Narcissistic personalities overstate their own importance and need constant attention.

In Cluster C are avoidant, dependent and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders. Avoidant personalities can’t handle rejection well and may have no close relationships outside of their family. Dependent personalities lack selfconfidence and rely on others to make decisions for them. Obsessive-compulsive personalities are unsatisfied perfectionists who are so detailed-oriented that they have trouble making decisions.

The symptoms of Cluster A and Cluster B personality disorders may diminish with age. Those with Cluster C personality disorders often experience worsening symptoms as they get older.

There’s no cure for these conditions, but psychotherapy and medication for symptoms such as anxiety and depression can help. The symptoms of some personality disorders also may improve with age.

If you would like to ask a question, write to fred@healthygeezer.com. All Rights Reserved © 2015 by Fred Cicetti.

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 23

The Players Performs Maria Callas Play “Master Class”

by Terrence McNally

F

rom August 6 – 16, The actors are The opera diva Maria also actual opera Callas (played by Seva singers that will Anthony), a glamorous, most likely have commanding, largerhad a teacher just than-life, caustic and like Maria. It’s not surprisingly drop-dead a musical, but it’s funny pedagogue is a play about music holding a voice master and there will be class at The Juilliard some masterful School (…actually, The (and “detestable”) Players Theatre). singing. “Master Alternately dismayed Class” won both and impressed by the the 1996 Drama students who parade Desk Award for before her, she retreats Outstanding New into recollections about Seva Anthony as diva Maria Callas Play and the 1996 the glories of her own Tony Award for life and career. Included in her musings Best Play. Let “Master Class” amaze, are her younger years as an ugly touch and entertain you! duckling, her fierce hatred of her rivals, Tickets are $18, and opening night the unforgiving press that savaged her includes a complimentary champagne early performances, her triumphs at La toast and “meet the cast” event after Scala, her affair with Aristotle Onassis the performance. Call 941-365-2494 or and sacrifice in the name of art. visit www.theplayers.org.

Day Escape: St. Augustine S

Question: What are the two flowers that represent July?

Your Answer: Send in the correct answer to be entered in a drawing to win a prize valued at $25 or more each month. Deadline for entries Aug. 16, 2015. Drawing held Aug. 20, 2015.

Name Address City

State

Email

Phone

Zip

Mail to: Lifestyles After 50, P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL, 33583

Last month’s answer is “Julius Caesar” Elaine Evans from Englewood is last month’s winner!

Play more trivia online and win more prizes at www.lifestylesafter50.com

Click on the Trivia Palooza button and answer a Trivia question each week for a chance to win a prize at the end of each month.

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 24

t. Augustine, the nation’s oldest European founded city, is celebrating its 450th birthday this year (though she doesn’t look a day over 400!) Established in 1565, this romantic city invites you to explore old Spanish castillos, historic sites and mythical fountains. And in honor of the St. Augustine City Hall and Lightner Museum city’s milestone anniversary, a week of festivities will be held from Sept. States. Take a tour and hear the cannons roar.

4 to 8. “Celebrate 450!” features a street $10. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily. 904-829-6506. and music festival, commemorative re-enactment, procession, Mass, cake St. George Street: Take a stroll cutting ceremony and many other events. on this beautiful historic street and For a complete schedule of events and browse gift shops and restaurants. (floridashistoriccoast.com) locations, visit staugustine-450.com.

The Fountain of Youth: Ponce de Leon’s Other Must-Sees: Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park Lightner Museum: This Victorian is the original site of the nation’s oldest hotel-turned-museum is full of Guildedcity and the home of the magical spring Age trappings, stately architecture and discovered by Ponce de Leon in 1513, a ballroom that was once the world’s according to tradition. You don’t want largest pool! $10/adults. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to leave without taking a drink! While daily. (lightnermuseum.org) you’re there, enjoy living history Castillo de San Marcos: This romantic exhibits and more. $15/adults, $14/ castillo on Matanzas Bay is the oldest seniors 60+. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. masonry fort in the continental United (fountainofyouthflorida.com)

TRAVEL

The Uniquely Gorgeous Gorge

By Andrea Gross; Photos by Irv Green

I

’m standing on a narrow footbridge, surrounded by moss-laden trees and listening to the rumbling sounds of Oregon’s Multnomah Falls. Looking up, I peer through the mist to see more than a thousand gallons of water per second cascading down the 620-foot falls that many consider to be the most beautiful spot in the entire 80-mile Columbia River Gorge.

Officially the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, which parallels the river from The Dalles in the east to the outskirts of Portland in the west, consists of 292,500 acres in southern Washington and northern Oregon. It’s possible to speed through it in an afternoon—a quick look here, a photo stop there—but it’s better to explore it more leisurely, whether cruising on a paddlewheeler like those that plied the Columbia River 150 years ago, or by driving along the aptly-named Historic Columbia River Highway.

Today, cruise companies operate paddleboats reminiscent of those that were used on the Columbia 150 years ago.

Multnomah Falls is one of the highest year-round waterfalls in the United States.

From either vantage point, water or road, the views are magnificent—4,000foot tall cliffs, towering mountains, abundant vegetation and more waterfalls than in any similarly sized area of North America. Why, there are more than seventy waterfalls just on the Oregon side of the river.

My husband and I stand on the bridge and consider our options. Do we want to see more waterfalls? If so, we have our choice of at least ten trails that will lead us through forests dotted with falls.

Or do we want breathtaking views? In which case, we can undertake the sevenmile trek to the top of Larch Mountain.

A woman at the visitor center suggests we drive. “That way you can see the views, hike around the mountain top and drive back down,” she says. This strikes us as a brilliant solution and is exactly what we do. It’s a clear day and, as the song goes, we can see forever.

There, across the river, are the two highest mountains in Washington: Mount Rainier and Mount Adams. Here, on this side of the river, we can see Oregon’s two tallest peaks, Mount Hood and Mount Jefferson, as well as Mount St. Helens, which is easily recognizable because it has no peak at all.

St. Helens quite literally blew its stack in the spring of 1980 when a massive eruption sent 1300 feet of mountaintop into the valley below. More than 200 square miles of vegetation were scorched, turning once lush forest into a barren moonscape. Today, thanks to extensive salvage and recovery efforts, green again covers the hills.

While all of these mountains are active volcanoes, it’s been 150 years since Mount Hood erupted, and the U.S. Geological Survey says an explosion is not imminent. Thus reassured, we cross our fingers and rent a rowboat so we can enjoy one of the mountain’s fish-filled lakes. We return in late afternoon, wet, sunburned and without a single fish.

Booneville Lock and Dam spans the Columbia to connect Oregon and Washington.

Mount St. Helens has undergone an extensive program of reforestation.

To see fish we go to Bonneville Lock and Dam, a complex that includes a fish hatchery and fish ladder as well as a spillway dam, powerhouse and navigation lock. Taken together, the center improves navigation along the Columbia, provides electricity to the Northwest and supports a fish production program that helps maintain the population of fish that would have otherwise been reduced by the construction of the dam.

But Mount Hood does more than provide recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. It also creates a protected environment for agriculture, blocking much of the rain that would otherwise destroy the fruits that make the nearby area one of Oregon’s most fertile regions. We stop in The Dalles, which is a major producer of the Royal Anne Cherries that are transformed into maraschinos. Try as we might, we can’t find a sweet shop that will make us an old-fashioned sundae topped with a bright red, decadently sweet cherry.

Therefore, we head over to the tasting room of Barnard Griffin Winery. There is more than one way to enjoy the fruits of the Gorge’s agricultural region!

Oregon is among the top five wine producing states in the U.S.

We intersperse our outdoor activities with visits to the numerous museums and interpretative centers that line the Gorge.

We learn about Gorge geology and step inside a mock volcano at the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center, see Indian artifacts and a raptor show at the Columbia River Gorge Discovery Center, learn about Oregon Trail pioneers at the Wasco County Historical Museum and visit a Lewis and Clark outpost at Fort Clatsop.

A great horned owl stars in the raptor show at the Columbia River Gorge Discovery Center.

We had come to the Gorge because we’d heard it was beautiful, and it is.

But we left having learned that it offers much more than a place to ogle and hike.

It’s a place where we could glimpse the geologic forces and historic events that have made the Northwest what it is today.

That’s a lot to accomplish in only eighty miles.

For more info, visit traveloregon.com.

American Cruise Line offers eightday trips through the Gorge on their 120-passenger paddlewheeler, Queen of the West. Visit americancruiselines.com to learn more.

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 25

August Sudoku

Sudoku requires no arithmetic skills.

The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers. Each row and each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9 as well.

The first correct answers selected from the drawing on August 20 will win. Good luck!

Last Month’s Answers

July Sudoku

Send your answers along with your name, address and telephone number to: NEWS CONNECTION USA, INC P.O. BOX 638, SEFFNER, FL 33583 WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES! (Sudoku must be received by August 20, 2015.)

Mystery Prize!

Word Search August In the grid below, twenty answers can be found that fit the category for today. Circle each answer that you find and list it in the space provided at the right of the grid. Answers can be found in all directions – forwards, backwards, horizontally, vertically and diagonally. An example is given to get you started. Can you find the twenty answers in this puzzle?

Marky Wineland is last month’s winner! Congratulations!

Word Search Answers From July

Adele Walter is last month’s winner!

Congratulations!

Send your answers along with your name, address and telephone number to: NEWS CONNECTION USA, INC. P.O. BOX 638, SEFFNER, FL 33583

The first correct answers selected from the drawing on August 20 will win.

MYSTERY PRIZE!

WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES!

MYSTERY PRIZE!

(Puzzles must be received by August 20, 2015.)

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 26_R

8 Free Things T

he best things in life are free, especially if you’re on a fixed income. The internet is a great place to find free or discounted services and entertainment if you know where to look. Here are eight free things every savvy boomer should take advantage of: 1. Coupons There are many coupon code sites on the internet, but a few particularly useful and reliable ones are RetailMeNot (retailmenot.com) and GoodRx (goodrx. com). RetailMeNot, accessible via website or smartphone app, lets you search for a particular store and displays all available coupons. Search GoodRx for your prescriptions and see price comparisons for pharmacies in your area and find coupons to ensure you pay the lowest price.

2. Music Never run out of new music to listen to with sites and apps like Songza (songza.com), Spotify (spotify.com), and Last.fm (www. last.fm). Songza provides music playlists according to your mood, and the options change depending on the time of day.

Spotify’s playlists are arranged by artist, song, album, genre and mood, and Last. fm offers personalized recommendations based on what you listen to.

3. Ebooks Get access to millions of ebooks for free through sites like Open Library (openlibrary.org) and Project Gutenberg (gutenberg.org). Open Library has ebooks available to read or borrow (just like you would at a regular library) with many classic titles. Project Gutenberg contains over 46,000 books, many of them more obscure titles whose copyrights have expired. If you prefer to listen to books, visit LibriVox (librivox. org) for free public domain audiobooks.

4. Fitness It’s easy to manage your weight and fitness even without gym memberships.

MyFitnessPal (myfitnesspal.com) is a website and app that lets you track your daily calories, fitness and water intake.

MyFitnessPal alerts you if you’ve come close to or gone over intake levels of things like sodium or cholesterol, and you can access forums for tips and discussions with other users. And with DoYogaWithMe. com, you’ll never miss (or pay for) a yoga class—just log on and choose a video based on your experience level and style of yoga you like best and do some sun

salutations in the comfort of your own home (or hotel room, or wherever).

5. Language Classes Learning a new language or brushing up on rusty language skills is easy with the app DuoLingo. Also available online, DuoLingo (duolingo.com) makes learning a language fun with game-like challenges. All lessons alternate between speaking, listening and translating questions. DuoLingo currently offers nine languages, including Spanish, Italian and French.

6. Shipping Supplies Never pay for shipping supplies like boxes and envelopes again. The USPS website offers supplies of all sizes that can be shipped free right to your front door.

Visit store.usps.com/store and scroll to the bottom, then click on “Free Shipping Supplies.” Note: these supplies can only be used to ship through the USPS, and not another carrier such as UPS or FedEx. 7. Sheet Music For the musically inclined, IMSLP. org (International Music Score Library Project) provides thousands of classical music scores and recordings that are in the public domain. Browse scores by composers (such as Beethoven and Mozart), time period, melody or instrumentation. Musopen (musopen. org) offers recordings and sheet music as well as educational resources.

8. A Listening Ear When you find yourself needing to talk to someone impartial but are unwilling or unable to shell out the money for a few minutes on a therapist’s couch, try 7 Cups of Tea (7cupsoftea.com) or Blah Therapy (blahtherapy.com). 7 Cups of Tea connects you to trained active listeners who are there to chat about your problems in life and your stresses.

You and your chats always remain anonymous, and you can choose to be connected to the first available listener, or browse and select a specific listener.

Blah Therapy offers a similar free and anonymous chat with others without requiring a sign up, and offers access to their community if you choose to sign up. For those dealing with depression, the MoodGym from the Australian National University (moodgym.anu. edu.au) is a training program that teaches “behavior therapy skills for preventing and coping with depression.”

Live Frank or Die Hard F

rank Sinatra was 73 years old when he was offered the lead role in the film Die Hard (yes, the Bruce Willis one).

This 1940s singer might not be the man who comes to mind when you think about the action-packed Die Hard movies. At the start of his movie-making career, Sinatra was cast mostly in singing roles, though he did manage to break away from being a “singer employed as an actor” and made a name for himself as an actor alone, winning a few Academy Awards and Golden Globes for his performances.

So how did Frank come to be considered for the role? It all started with an author named Roderick Thorp. You might not know it, but the Die Hard movie was based on a book called Nothing Lasts Forever by Thorp, which was published in 1979. Further, Nothing Lasts Forever is actually a sequel to a book called The Detective, published in 1966, which was made into a movie of the same name in

1968. The movie starred Frank Sinatra as the main character, Detective Joe Leland.

Die Hard wasn’t picked up by producers until 1988, nearly 10 years after the book it was based on was published.

Because the movie was technically a sequel, they were contractually obligated to offer Frank Sinatra the leading role. He was 73 years old at the time and gracefully turned the offer down. After Sinatra passed on the role, it was offered to Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the movie was pitched as a sequel to the actor’s 1985 film Commando rather than a sequel to The Detective. Schwarzenegger also turned it down, and instead Bruce Willis was cast in the leading role and the character was renamed John McClane instead of Joe Leland.

Of course, at 59 years old, and with the Die Hard franchise still going strong, we’re perhaps only a couple more sequels away from seeing a 73-yearold Bruce Willis in the role of John McClane. (From todayIfoundout.com) Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 27

FINANCE

Even With A Late Start, There Are Ways To Invest For Retirement

I

f you’re worried that you haven’t saved enough for retirement, you are not alone.

As they near retirement, many people find they are less than confident that their savings or monthly Social Security check will be adequate to meet their financial needs.

Fortunately, if you are in your 40s or 50s and have a decade or more before retirement, you still have time to take meaningful steps toward building your retirement nest egg.

To help, here are some tips from the experts at First Investors.

First Things First To start, you should evaluate the potential sources of your retirement income. Social Security is one traditional source. To get an estimate of your Social Security benefits, visit the program’s website at www.ssa.gov/mystatement.

Company pensions may be another source of retirement funds, although they are far less common today. Even if you will one day be a recipient of one or both of these programs’ benefits, they will likely provide only a portion of what you’ll need to live comfortably. That means that your personal savings and investments must generate a significant part of your retirement income.

Jump-Start Your Investments Since you’re getting a late start, you’ll want to get the biggest “bang for your buck” from your investments. Here are some strategies to consider: • Get with the program—It’s always a good idea to use tax-advantaged programs.

If your employer sponsors a retirement plan, such as a 401(k) or SIMPLE IRA, you should consider enrolling. If you’re self-employed, look into establishing a retirement plan such as a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP). Although plans differ in a number of ways, all offer tax-deferred contributions and growth, which help your funds accumulate faster than they would in a taxable account. Some companies even make Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 28

matching contributions to employee accounts, which is something you’ll want to take advantage of, if available.

• Open an IRA—Even if you contribute to an employer-sponsored plan, you may want to go one step further and open an individual retirement account (IRA).

Traditional IRAs offer tax-deferred growth and penalty-free withdrawals in certain eligible situations.

Roth IRAs offer tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified distributions. And don’t forget an IRA for your spouse.

• Go on automatic pilot—The old adage of “pay yourself first” is still a valid idea, particularly with investments. One way is to sign up for a systematic investment plan, whereby a fixed amount of money is automatically transferred on a regular basis from your paycheck or bank account into your investment account.

• Consider variable annuities—If you’ve reached the annual contribution ceilings of your employer-sponsored plan and IRA, you can further supplement your retirement funding with annuities. A variable annuity is a contract with a life insurance company that allows you to accumulate money on a tax-deferred basis. And, unlike other taxadvantaged vehicles, variable annuities do not have an annual contribution limit.

• Get the balance right—Getting the right mix of stock, bond and money market mutual funds is important. For growth potential, you’ll want to have an appropriate allocation of stock mutual funds in your portfolio.

Of course, pursuing faster growth entails greater risks. And with your compressed time horizon, you may have difficulty riding out and rebuilding your portfolio after the inevitable stock market downturns.

• Contact your financial representative—Whether it’s helping you to establish financial goals for retirement, selecting an IRA, offering advice on the right balance in your portfolio or helping you navigate complex risk and tax issues, there are a number of ways you can benefit from a strong relationship with a financial representative.

To learn more, you can visit www.firstinvestors.com. (NAPSI)

Last Month’s Answers

Enter to Win!

Enter To Win!

This month’s Last Month’s Winner Is Victoria Anderson winner is Congratulations!

Myron L. Guisewite Congratulations !!!

Last Month’s Answers

FILL IN ANSWERS & WIN MONEY!

Send your answers for a drawing. First correct answers selected from the drawing on Aug. 20 will receive $20 cash!

Send to: News Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583 I want information on: Travel / Cruises Recreation / Leisure Entertainment / Events

Insurance Elder Law / Financial Housing Options Reverse Mortgages

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E-mail Sara

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 29

BRIDGE BITES

A Self-Inflicted Wound

HOME

for

SALE!

Sarasota premier 55+ gated community of Lakeridge Falls. 3 spacious bedrooms, den, 2 baths, 2 car garage, whole house vacuum, lanai overlooking preserve, 2197SF. Move in ready with new refrigerator, new carpet in master, painted floor in garage, ceiling fans.

Community walking trail, pond, club house, pool. $365K. 4226 MacKay Falls Terrace.

By Brian Gunnell and the American Contract Bridge League

August Horoscope: Leo and Virgo Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22): Your horoscope predicts that this month will be spent with family and friends. Career, finance and professional decisions will be put on the back-burner by the Lions in August.

Virgo: (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) Your horoscope foretells a changeover from career issues to domestic and spiritual concerns. You will spend money on personal luxuries and on enjoying

SARASOTA Brian’s auto repair.............. 926-2526 suzuki of sarasota ............. 925-0376 Gulf Coast auto parts ...... 377-1199 MoBile teCh auto repair ... 925-2446 Jay & Dean’s auto repair .... 924-2708 swift auto repair................. 922-3011 sunset DoDGe ........................ 922-0285 toM Dion’s autoMotive .......926-4942 Dan’s MoBile v-twin..............806-8712 hap’s CyCle sales ................365-3443 aDvanCe auto works ..........924-1898 kesatie Motorsports.........378-1630

life to the fullest. You will spend lots of energy in improving your personal appearance.

This month, you have to review your past achievements and make strategies for the future. This might be a month of pleasures and enjoying good food and excellent wine, but you need to start saving right now for the rainy day. (sunsigns.org) For more horoscopes, visit our website at lifestylesafter50.com.

BRADENTON napa auto parts ....................746-4181 CoMe see CoMe save ...........748-5965 total Motorsports ............756-6500 BraDenton lawn & fun .......792-1122 the Bike shop .........................744-0400 aCtion Jet sports ................745-9521 usa transMission .................748-6961 Manatee sCooters ..............677-2668 h3 perforManCe ...................751-1949 rnr Marine ..............................840-1767 NORTH PORT aDvanCe auto parts ........... 429-0013 PALMETTO northsiDe auto parts .....722-4581 hhht auto Care ..................721-3888 napa auto parts................. 722-6618

PARRISH parrish Gen supply ..........776-2141 PORT CHARLOTTE BlaCk wiDow CyCles ........883-8000 VENICE auto worx of veniCe .......923-1438 aDvanCe auto parts .........484-6128 aDvanCe auto parts .........497-7970 aMeriCan iMports .............484-1340 enGlewooD svC Center..474-4900 ENGLEWOOD enGlewooD svC Center.....474-4900 stiver’s tire & auto ..........474-7660

If you or your business would like to get AMSOIL products at Wholesale CALL 941-586-3853

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 30 R

I

n last month’s Bridge Bite, the defense prevailed by forcing Declarer to ruff repeatedly, causing him to lose trump control in the process. This week’s Declarer suffered a similar fate but in this case he had no excuse, his defeat was entirely self-inflicted.

Against 4♥, West led the ♦K, won by Declarer’s Ace. Assuming that Clubs were breaking 3-2, and by taking a Diamond ruff in Dummy, Declarer could count 10 tricks (5 trump winners, ♦A and a Diamond ruff, and 3 Clubs).

The only losers would be a Spade, the ♥K, and a Club.

A pretty simple hand, eh? Well, not exactly! Declarer won the Diamond opening lead, ruffed a Diamond in Dummy, and cashed the ♥A. Declarer needed to get back to hand in order to draw trumps, and that would have to be done with a ruff.

So he lost a Spade, ruffed the Diamond return, and played the ♥Q, driving out East’s King. With West showing out of Hearts on the second round, and with East returning yet another Diamond, Declarer’s goose was cooked. He could ruff the Diamond and draw East’s remaining trumps, but then would be out of trumps himself.

When he later lost the third round of Clubs, the defense would cash a Spade for down one.

Where did Declarer go wrong? At Trick 2 he should have ruffed the Diamond with Dummy’s Ace! Now he can play a low Heart from the board, overtaking in hand if East plays low.

This avoids the need for one of those ruffs, trump control is thereby retained, and 10 tricks roll home.

Visit acbl.org for more about the fascinating game of bridge or email marketing@acbl.org. To find a bridge club in Florida, go to district9acbl.org /D9Clubsmap.htm. Bridge article provided courtesy of St. Petersburg Bridge Club: stpetebridge.org.

Free Summer Concerts 14

and 28 Enjoy a free Friday Night Concert Festival at the gazebo In Centennial Park, 200 W. Venice Ave., Venice.

Hear new bands and local favorites from 7 - 9 p.m. www.venicemainstreet.com.

15

Put on your cowboy hat! Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources is hosting a free summer

concert at Venice Community Center on Saturday, August 15 from 7 - 10 p.m.

This indoor concert will have concessions including BBQ, sliders and a cash bar available on-site.

No coolers allowed.

For more information, call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 941-861-5000, or visit www.scgov.net.

Lifestyles After 50 • August 2015 • page 31