January 2015
A special supplement to The Daily Nonpareil
Better ng i v Li Caregiver’s Bill of Rights
Beware scams
Rent reimbursement for Seniors
See Page 2
See Page 3
See Page 4
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Dr. Michael K. Webb, Au.D.
421 E. Broadway dwa dwa way ay
Across the street from Jimmy Johnss and Great Wall Next to Blimpies Restaurant
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712-322-1885
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2 Friday, December 26, 2014
Better Living
The Daily Nonpareil
Prize, sweepstakes and international lottery scams
This must be your lucky day! Even though you didn’t enter any drawing, you’ve been notified that you won something big – perhaps cash or a prize. All you have to do is pay some sort of processing or handling fee, advance taxes or entry fee, and it’s all yours. It’ll be your unlucky day if you send any money. If someone asks you to pay in advance, wire money after receiving a “winnings” check, disclose account information, or buy something to better your chances of winning, it’s a scam.
It’s illegal to specify or even suggest that a purchase will increase your odds of winning something. Those who conduct or market a sweepstakes contest must disclose that entering is free, no purchase is necessary, and must disclose the odds of winning a prize. Further, they must indicate the nature and value of the prize. The sweepstakes disclosure should also include information about the start and end dates of the contest, and how contestants can enter. Be sure to look for this information in writing.
Don’t Pay to Collect Prize Legitimate sweepstakes and contests don’t cost money to enter, and don’t seek advance payment from winners to collect winnings. If you receive a check and someone asks you to send money through a wire transfer service, it is likely an international scam. The check may appear legitimate – even to a financial institution – but will eventually bounce. If you wired money to someone while waiting for the check to clear, which could take weeks, you’re responsible for the money you wired. And as soon as someone picks up the wired funds, the money is gone.
International Lottery Scams International lottery scams appear through email, direct mail and phone calls. The interstate or international sale of lottery tickets by mail or by telephone violates state and federal laws. There is no guarantee that a foreign lottery solicitor is actually entering lotteries on your behalf—these are often straight scams to take your money. It’s possible that solicitors who ask you to pay through bank account or credit numbers will steal funds or make unauthorized charges from your account.
Protect Personal Information If someone asks for Purchases Don’t Push personal information the Odds of Winning such as a driver’s license
or Social Security num- word “scam” or “com- able doing the research, ber for “tax purposes,” plaint” to see what comes ask someone you trust to don’t provide it, as you up. If you’re not comfort- help you. will pay taxes directly to THIS T TH HIS HI H SH HOLI HOLIDAY OLIDAY OLI Y SE SEASO SEASON ASON ASO N the government or the the e of GIVE GIFT FREEDOM sweepstakes company with ihM MOBILITY OBILITY will withhold the approPride Lift Chairs are priate taxes on winnings. Monday M Mon day - Friday available in several Most companies will seek 9am - 5:30pm beautiful fabrics Saturday nothing more than basic and styles to fit 10am - 2pm any decor. information such as your 2701 W. Broadway y name, address and teleCouncil Bluffs phone number. And no 712-328-2288 legitimate company will www.mobilismed.comm ask you for bank account or credit card numbers. ®
Do Research Use a familiar Internet search engine to research a company that claims you won something. In addition to entering the company name into a search engine, add the
Happy H olidays!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! 300 W. Broadway, Suite 114
Council Bluffs, IA 51503 • (712) 325-6802
Glenwood Hospice House
357 Indian Hills Drive • Glenwood, IA 51534 (712) 527-4660
www.hospicewithheart.org
Daniel J. Larose, M.D. | C. Kent Boese, M.D. Huy D. Trinh, M.D. Thomas M. Atteberry, M.D. Roy Abraham, M.D. | Caliste I. Hsu, M.D. Inderjit S. Panesar, D.P.M. Bradley B. Copple, D.P.M. Theresa Gallo, PA-C
Better Living
The Daily Nonpareil
Friday, December 26, 2014
A Caregiver’s Bill of Rights
I have the right . . . To take care of myself. This is not an act of selfishness. It will give me the capacity of taking better care of my relative. To seek help from others even though my relative may object. I recognize the limits of my own endurance and strength. To maintain facets of my own life that do to include the person I care for, just as I would if he or she were healthy. I know that I do everything that I reasonably can for this person, and I have the right to do some things for myself. To get angry, be depressed and express other difficult feelings occasionally. To reject any attempt by my relative (either conscious or unconscious) to manipulate me through guilt, anger or depression. To receive consideration, affection, forgiveness and acceptance for what I do for my
loved one for as long as I offer these qualities in return. To take pride in what I am accomplishing and to applaud the courage it has sometimes taken to meet the needs of my
Yearning to move on up? Check out the listings in the classifieds. There are openings for high-level positions in a wide range of career fields. Call to subscribe today for home delivery!
328-1811
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relative. To protect my individuality and my right to make a life for myself that will sustain me in the time when my relative no longer needs my full-time help.
To expect and demand that as new strides are made in finding resources to aid physically and mentally impaired older persons in out country, similar strides will be made
toward aiding and supporting caregivers. To _________________ ______________________ _________ (Add you own statement of rights to this list. Read the list to yourself every day.)
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4 Friday, December 26, 2014
Better Living
The Daily Nonpareil
Rent Reimbursement Program available for qualifying seniors The Iowa Department of Revenue’s Rent Reimbursement Program will again be available for qualifying seniors who rented during 2014. Qualified applicants can receive up to $1,000 under this program, based on income and rent paid. Forms for the program will be available on their website (www.tax.iowa. gov) beginning January 12, or materials can be ordered from the Department of Revenue after January 12 by calling 800-367-3388. Who is eligible? Iowa residents are eligible to file a claim for reimbursement of rent paid if the total household income is below $22,011 and they meet at least one of the following conditions: 1. Those 65 of age or older by December 31, 2014, or 2. Those totally disabled and 18 to 64 years of age by December 31, 2014 Examples of income include social security, wages, pension, and interest and dividend income. If a person gets a rent subsidy, the amount of the subsidy also counts as income. Married couples, if living together, are considered one household and may file only one claim and must combine their incomes. If they do not
live together they may file separate claims. If two or more persons live together and qualify for a reimbursement, each person may file a claim based on each person’s income and each person’s portion of the rent paid. Persons are not eligible if the rental unit or nursing home in which they resided was not subject to property tax during 2014. Tax status can be verified through the landlord, administrator or county or city assessor. able status can be used Only the rent paid dur- in computing the reiming the period of time the bursement. Rent Reimbursement property was in a tax-
Program applicants have until June 1, 2015 to file for 2014 reimbursement. For more information
on this program, contact Connections Area Agency on Aging 800432-9209.
SERVICE DIRECTORY These merchants offer genuine discounts to senior citizens. ATTORNEYS
F UNERAL H OME 1221 N. 16th Street Council Bluffs, IA
500 West Broadway, Suite 307 Council Bluffs, IA 200 - The Omaha Club 2002 Douglas Street - Omaha, NE 68102 Email: lpdbh@lpdbhlaw.com Office: (402) 898-7000 Web Site: www.lpdbhlaw.com Fax: (402) 898-7130
712-256-9988 www.HoyFuneral.com
Mike Hoy,
Funeral Director
The growth of our business is a symbol of our service.
Bud Kilnoski
Show your support for the seniors in our area by advertising your senior discounts in the Better Living Service Directory! Call Gay at (712) 325-5704
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Better Living
Friday, December 26, 2014
5
Be prepared: Travel with a winter safety kit
A breakdown or accident is bad any time, but worse during harsh winter weather. A few inexpensive items kept in your car during winter months can increase safety and reduce misery. Ideally, your emergency kit should fulfill four priorities: Get help, stay safe, stay warm, and stay occupied. The most logical place to store your emergency kit would be the trunk. But the problem is if you’re in a collision that damages the rear end of the car, you may not be able to get the trunk open. Consider carrying your kit in a small duffel bag and storing it in the passenger’s footwell, where it can be easily accessed by the driver (and where it won’t become a projectile in a collision). 1. Getting help Roadside assistance: may be available through your new car purchase agreement, auto insurance company or through AAA. Mobile phone and car charger: If you don’t have a mobile phone, consider a pre-paid unit to keep in your car so you can call for assistance. Make sure you have a car charger. OnStar: An option on many new cars, the OnStar system can get a live operator on the phone with the press of a button, and will automatically summon help if your car’s airbags deploy. OnStar relies
on the vehicle electrical system, so carry a cell phone as a backup. 2. Stay safe Emergency flares and/or hazard triangles, red piece of cloth: Winter accidents frequently result in damage to your car’s taillights, which means your hazard flashers will not work. In a snowstorm, other cars may not see a wreck until it’s too late to avoid it. Set out flares or hazard triangles to warn cars and avoid a second collision. In the event the car goes off the road in deep snow, these items or tying the red cloth onto your antenna can also help emergency services personnel locate you and your car. First aid kit : Bad weather may delay emergency workers, so it’s a good idea to carry a small, simple first aid kit in case of an accident. Small flashlight: Don’t rely on the vehicle’s electrical system for light נif it’s working, you want to conserve the car’s battery as much as possible. LED flashlights use much less energy than regular incandescent flashlights, making them a great choice for your emergency kit. Hand cranked flashlights produce light without draining battery power. Ice Scraper: enough said! 3. Stay warm
Emergency blanket: Most cars use the engine to produce heat, so if the engine conks out, so does the heater. Even if the engine is working – say, after an accident – running the engine is a safety gamble, because if the exhaust system has rust holes or damage, fatal exhaust fumes can seep into the passenger compartment. Besides, your car may not be the safest place to be in an emergency. Have extras if you frequently travel with passengers. Hats, mittens, scarves: Experts say that 30 to 40 percent of body heat can be lost through the head. Carry a few inexpensive beanie-style winter hats, big enough to cover the ears. Fleece is great for holding in warmth.
4. Stay occupied Non-perishable snacks: Munchies help pass the time and will keep your energy and morale up while you wait for help. A couple of granola bars, chocolate bars, and/or some dried fruit or nuts in a non-glass container will suffice. Emergency candles,
matches, and metal cup or can: In addition to giving light, the matches can be used to melt snow into water. Consuming frozen snow or ice can further lower body temperatures. Covered coffee can and toilet paper: The can serves as a portable, temporary toilet facility.
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community room pets allowed (restrictions apply)
Call now to schedule a showing!
(712) 755-3350
2004 Garfield · Harlan, IA 51537
www.Seldin.com
Better Living
6 Friday, December 26, 2014
The Daily Nonpareil
Focus is on glaucoma awareness in January
January is both National Eye Care and Glaucoma Awareness month. According to the National Institutes of Health National Eye Institute, “More than four million people in the United States have glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve and destroy eyesight. Unfortunately, nearly half of those with glaucoma are not even aware that they have it.” Are you one of them? You owe it to yourself to find out by getting a comprehensive dilated eye exam that includes having drops put in your eye. With its painless and gradual loss of vision, glaucoma may have no early warning signs, but it can be detected during a comprehensive dilated eye exam. Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., director of the
National Eye Institute (NEI), one of the National Institutes of Health, said, “NEI-funded research has shown that treatment during the early stages of glaucoma can control the disease and prevent future vision loss and blindness. This
is why NEI encourages people at higher risk for glaucoma to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam every one to two years.” Anyone can develop glaucoma, but those at higher risk for developing the disease include:
• African Americans over age 40 • Everyone over age 60, especially Mexican Americans • People with a family history of the disease During a comprehensive dilated eye exam, an eye care professional can see inside the eye to detect signs of glaucoma, such as subtle changes to the optic nerve, before any symptoms appear. This allows the eye care professional to determine if you have glaucoma or are at risk for it, to monitor your condition, to treat glaucoma as early as possible, and to look for other vision problems. Once symptoms appear, it may be too late to prevent vision loss and the progression to blindness. If glaucoma is detected early, treatments such as eye drops or surgery can
slow or stop vision loss. High pressure inside the eye, which may be associated with glaucoma, does not by itself mean that you have glaucoma. Only a comprehensive dilated eye exam and evaluation of the optic nerve by an eye care professional can tell you that. For more information, visit www.nei.nih.gov/ glaucoma.
Chapel of Memories “When Simplicity ma�ers” Phil and Suzanne Hardiman
9001 Arbor Building #111 Omaha, NE 68124
402-551-1011
www.omahachapelofmemories.com
Happy Holidays!
Your home.Your care.Your pace.
Asera Care would like to thank all Caring for Moments that Matter of the families who have allowed us to care hospice for their loved ones. Proudly providing services to southwest Iowa for years. It over is a20pleasure serving you!
Your home is best and Immanuel Pathways’ goal is to help you continue living in your home as long as possible. Our program provides a complete system of health care. The service is called PACE, which stands for: Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly. We provide primary and hospital care as well as prescription drugs, adult day services, transportation and so much more to our participants. Services are provided in the home, at the PACE Center and in the community. For complete program details and benefits, please call 712-256-PATH (7284).
1-800-591-2273 or 712-325-1751 www.AseraCare.com Equal opportunity provider of healthcare services. AHS-11371-14 M045
1702 N. 16th Street Council Bluffs, IA 51501 www.immanuelpathways.org PACE participants may be fully and personally liable for the costs of unauthorized or out-of-PACE program services. Emergency services are covered. Participants may disenroll at any time.
Better Living
The Daily Nonpareil
Friday, December 26, 2014
7
Senior Centers/Meal Sites Centers follow the menus on page 11 of the Better Living Courier. Please contact your local center or meal site for the suggested contribution rate for individuals age 60 or older. Please make meal reservations one day in advance. Menu available at your local senior center or meal site.
Region 1, Sioux City: Aurelia – (712) 279-6900; Akron – (712) 5683120; Centennial Manor Apts. – (712) 2796900; Cherokee Community – (712) 2796900; Correctionville City Hall – (712) 372-4791; Fairmount Park – (712) 279-6900; Ida Grove Comm. Ctr. – (712) 3642498; Le Mars Sr. Center – (712) 546-6740; Mapleton Comm. Center – (712) 8811032; Marcus Sr. Citizen Center – (712) 376-4495; Merrill Civic Center – (712) 938-2503; Moville Sr. Center
– (712) 873-3095; Remsen Beck Park Shelter – (712) 786-2044; Riverside Lutheran Church – (712) 279-6900; Sgt. Bluff Sr. Center – (712) 943-4669; Ute Senior Center – (712) 885-2228;
Logan – (712) 6442229; Malvern – (712) 624-8985; Missouri Valley – (712) 642-3215; Neola – (712) 4852179; Oakland – (712) 482-3353; Red Oak – (712) 623-3497; Sidney – (712) 374-3053; Stanton – (712) 826-2782; Villisca – (712) 826-5182; Woodbine – (712) 647-3011.
Region 2, Council Bluffs: Atlantic – (712) 243-3599; Council Bluffs at The Center – (712) 323-5995; Carter Lake – (712) 347-6102; Region 3, Clarinda – (712) Creston: 542-2932; Adair – (641) 742Dunlap – (712) 5202; 643-2244; Bedford – (712) Glenwood – (712) 523-3522; 527-4213; Harlan – (712) 755-2757; Irwin – (712) 7823367;
Clearfield – (641) 782-4040; Corning – (641) 322-4608; Creston – (641) 782-2447; Greenfield – (641) 743-8907; Lamoni – (641) 784-6123; Leon – (641) 4464433; Mount Ayr – (641)
464-2190; Orient – (641) 743-8907; Osceola – (641) 342-6221; Tingley – (641) 772-4499; Afton – (641) 7822447 or (641) 3402654; Lorimor – (641) 782-2447 or (641) 763-2883.
Bethany Heights Senior Living Community
Roger Carlon, Investment Representative
29 S. Main, Suite 2 Council Bluffs, IA 51503
(402) 449-0942 Rooted in the Past, Growing into the Future
11 Elliott St. 712-328-8228
www.rogercarlon.com
Member FINRA/SIPC
www.bethanylutheranhome.org
A Heritage of Caring for over
Boris’ owners always manage to find exactly what they are looking for and it is so easy. They simply pick up their newspapers, flip to the Classifieds and there it is: all the essentials, all in one place. ANY QUESTIONS? CALL THE CLASSIFIEDS, 325-5700!
“I GET MY PAPER EVERYDAY!” 535 W. Broadway, Suite 300 • 328-1811
90 years
Maher-Livingston 121 S. 7th Street | Council Bluffs, IA FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES
712-328-1144 | www.maherlivingstonfh.com
Better Living
8 Friday, December 26, 2014
The Daily Nonpareil
Keep warm indoors and out: Tips to help seniors beat winter chill If you are like most people, you feel cold every now and then during the winter. What you may not know is that being really cold can make you very sick. Older adults can lose body heat fast – faster than when they were young. A big chill can turn into a dangerous problem before an older person even knows what’s happening. Doc-
tors call this serious problem hypothermia. Hypothermia is what happens when your body temperature gets very low. For an older person, a body temperature colder than 95 degrees can cause many health problems such as heart attack, kidney problems, liver damage or even worse. Being outside in the cold or even in a very cold house can lead
Regional Office News & Events
Tips for bundling up if you have to
be outside: Dress for the weather if you must go out on chilly, cold or damp days. Wear loose layers of clothing. The air between the layers helps keep you warm. Put on a hat and scarf. You lose a lot of body heat when your head and neck are uncovered. Wear a waterproof coat or jacket if it’s snowy. New Sterling Ridge Location
REDUCED BOTOX RATES
Now Open!
$10 per unit or $9 per unit (with over 50 units)
Living Community, 1709 W. Prairie, Creston.
Council Bluffs The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group meets the 1st Monday of the month from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at Connections Area Agency on Aging, 300 W. Broadway, Suite 240, Council Bluffs. An Alzheimer’s Support Group meets the second Monday of the month at 9:30 at the Harlan Senior Center.
Sioux City First Friday Coffee: Welcome to Medicare is a monthly seminar held at the Sioux City office the first Friday of each month. This informational presentation is for new Medicare beneficiaries. Upcoming dates include January 2, February 6, and March 6, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Call 712-279-6900 to register. The Caregiver Support Group meets the 3rd Thursday of each month from1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Sunrise Retirement Community, 5501 Gordon Dr., Sioux City.
FEELING EXHAUSTED? Drumming up business is hard work. Take a quick catnap while we help you get the word out!
CALL TO ADVERTISE:
for keeping warm inside: Set your heat at 68 degrees or higher. To save on heating bills, close off rooms you are not using. To keep warm at home, wear long johns
under your clothes. Throw a blanket over your legs. Wear socks and slippers. When you go to sleep, wear long johns under your pajamas, and use extra covers. Wear a cap or hat. Ask family and friends to check on your during cold weather months.
We accept ALL Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Plans
Regional Office News & Events
Creston The Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group meets the 1st Wednesday of the month from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Prairie View Assisted
to hypothermia. There are steps you can take to reduce your chance of getting hypothermia.
325-5700
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• Patients of all ages • Saturday morning appointments available at our Omaha location Matthew A. Davey, M.D., FAAD James M. Shehan, M.D., FAAD Amy K. Price, PA-C • Open Mon.-Fri. (8am-4:30pm) & Sat. (8:30am-11:30am) Southwest Iowa: • Most advanced & up-to-date laser devices for treatment of unwanted Montgomery County Memorial Hospital | Red Oak, IA • Clarinda Regional Health Center | Clarinda, IA hair, rosacea, port wine stains & many other vascular conditions. • Omaha: New Sterling Ridge Location NOW OPEN • Most insurance plans accepted, including BCBS 12910 Pierce St. Suite 120, Omaha, NE 68144 (Just off 129th & Pacific)
928 Valley View Drive, Suite 1, Council Bluffs, IA 51503 (402) 933-3770 | midlandsderm.com
Better Living
The Daily Nonpareil
Friday, December 26, 2014
9
Better Living Better Living (Senior field, Vice-Chair; Michael Donlin, Le Tabor, Director; Connections AAA Courier) is a publication Karl McCarty, Prescott, Lorraine Davis, Ida Mars, Director; Board of Directors of The Daily Nonpareil Bonnie Godden, Bed- Director; Terry Amburn, Glen- Grove, Secretary; and Connections Area Ike Rayford, Sioux City, Gary Frederiksen, ford, Director; wood, Chairman; Agency on Aging. Christina Hankins, Director. John Twombly, Green- Council Bluffs, Treasurer; The publication is distributed by The Daily Nonpareil to approximately 17,000 households in Pottawattamie, Mills and Harrison counties. An additional 8,000 copies are distributed through a volunteer network to people age 60 and older in Cass, Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page and Shelby counties in Iowa. Address all correspondence to: Better Living/Courier Coordinator, Connections Area • JAMIE L. COX • LONNY L. KOLLN II Agency on Aging, 300 • LEE R. RANKIN • BENJAMIN J. WISCHNOWSKI W. Broadway, Suite 240, • FRANK W. PECHACEK, JR. Council Bluffs, IA 51503; OMAHA, NE TREYNOR, IA OAKLAND, IA HARLAN, IA CARROLL, IA CLARINDA, IA 712.322.6000 712.487.3444 712.482.6999 712.755.1111 712.792.0001 712.542.1070 or call (712) 328-2540 or 421 W. BROADWAY, SUITE 200, COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA 51503 toll-free at 1 (800) 432712.322.6000 OR WWW.WILLSONPECHACEK.COM 9209; or you can contact us via the Web at www. connectionsaaa.org.
LEGAL SERVICES DIRECTORY
Consult these local attorneys for all your legal needs.
Advertising Information The Daily Nonpareil of Council Bluffs represents the Better Living section. Advertising rates are available by contacting retail advertising at (712) 328-1811. The advertising deadline for the next issue is the 13th day of the month prior to the running of the ad.
TELPNER, SMITH, TELPNER,PETERSON, PETERSON, SMITH, RUESCH, THOMAS & SIMPSON RUESCH, THOMAS & SIMPSON, LLP
Attorneys At Law 25 Main Place, Suite 200 • Council Bluffs Charles L. Walter P. Thomas Charles L. Smith Smith Shannon Dell ‘Orfano Simpson Jack E. E. Ruesch Shannon Dell ‘Orfano Simpson Jack Ruesch Nicole Hughes Engelhardt Walter P. Thomas Nicole Aimee L. Lowe All Attorneys Licensed in Iowa & Nebraska
325-9000 • www.telpnerlaw.com
The determination of the need for legal services and the choice of a lawyer are extremely important decisions and should not be based solely upon advertisements or self-proclaimed expertise. This disclosure is required by rule of the Supreme Court of Iowa. A description or indication of limitation of practice does not mean that any agency or board has certified such lawyer as a specialist or expert in an indicated field of law practice, nor does it mean that such lawyer is necessarily any more expert or competent than any other lawyer. All potential clients are urged to make their own independent investigation and evaluation of any lawyer being considered. This notice is required by rule of the Supreme Court of Iowa.
10 Friday, December 26, 2014
Better Living
The Daily Nonpareil
Older patients encouraged to approach doctors with questions Strong communication between patients and physicians make for more accurate diagnoses and treatments. Patients sometimes mistake health issues with signs of aging. “Don’t think anything is related to old age until you talk about it with your doctor,” said Dr. Kavish Rohatgi, a physician at Alegent Creighton Clinic. Rohatgi suggested people look for changes in routine activities. “Whatever they’re concerned about their health, they need to discuss it with their doctor,” he said. Healthy patients ages 40 and older should visit their doctor once a year. Those with medical problems and take medication should see their doctor two to four times a year, Rohatgi said. “We can’t ask about each and every thing,” he said. For older patients, an annual physical exam will include tests for balance, depression, high blood pressure, diabetes, vision and hearing. A doctor will also provide information about cancer prevention and immunizations for illnesses such as influenza and shingles. A second opinion
helps eliminate the chance for errors in diagnosis, Rohatgi said. “We decrease the chances of error with more readings in research,” he said. Rohatgi said going to another doctor isn’t disrespectful to a patient’s current physician because it can offer another perspective. “Whenever you are not satisfied by the answer of your doctor, you should definitely get a second opinion,” he said. If the answers come
up the same, it means webchat. “Any disease is not more security for the black and white,” patient, he added. Rohatgi discour- Rohatgi said. “It’s a aged the use of unreliable online websites for medical information because they can cause extra anxiety for patients. Alegent Creighton Clinic offers a public webchat each week on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m., which helps patients with medical questions. For more information about the webchat or to ask questions, visit alegentcreighton.com/
spectrum, and that spectrum some people see the other end – the worst part of it.”
The Daily Nonpareil
Better Living
Friday, December 26, 2014
11
Help can be found to navigate the world of technology
Technology is a rapidly changing frontier; what was popular yesterday might not be used by anyone tomorrow. Keeping up with what is going on in all matters technological can be difficult for the most practiced gadget-head, but it can be even more intimidating for seniors who have never been inclined to adopt new technology. Whether it is Facebook, Twitter or an e-reader, tackling anything new can be difficult, especially with little computer knowledge to start. If you don’t know the difference between a tweet and a poke, there are people out there that can help. And the importance of an Internet connection and the ability to use technology becomes more important each day as services shift to strictly online availability. Connect Iowa released a 2012 report focusing on the challenges Iowa seniors face in embracing technology that can deeply impact their quality of life. According to Connect Iowa – which embraces widespread access, use and adoption of broadband to improve all areas of life for Iowa residents – high-speed Internet is becoming increasingly important for access to government services, healthcare resources and countless other personal tasks like banking,
shopping and communicating with family and friends. The issue of elderly technology adoption is especially important in Iowa because the state has the sixth largest share of residents over the age of 70 in the nation. According to the Connect Iowa research, 47 percent of Iowans age 70+ – approximately 169,000 – do not own a computer. Thirty-nine percent say they simply don’t understand how broadband is relevant to their lives; 24 percent say digital literacy is their problem and they don’t know how to use a computer or the Internet. However, of those Iowans over age 70 who do subscribe to home Internet service, 56 percent say they go online on a daily basis. “Broadband offers Iowa’s senior citizens new power and independence,” said Connect Iowa Program Manager Amy Kuhlers. “With an interactive link to family and friends, as well as increased access to healthcare information and services, broadband is empowering them to live more independently while enabling them to engage more fully with society.” Getting over that initial fear of the machines themselves can be the first step. In Council Bluffs, one source to help seniors tackle technology is the
Council Bluffs Public Library. Lynn Friesner, reference manager at the library, said seniors can benefit from basic computer instruction at the library four days a week through a program the library administers with West Central Community Action called “Senior Tech Time.” For a few hours, an instructor assists seniors in the library’s computer lab. “Anyone is welcome; the instructor starts each individual at their own level of comfort,” he said. Even if a senior has never touched a computer mouse, they can get assistance feeling out the computer. Friesner said the classes are usually well attended. “We usually have four or five seniors a day,” he said. “And they return until they get to the level they wanted to attain.” And that level varies from person to person, he said. Some just want to learn how to work on a keyboard better, while others want to learn how to do some basic Internet research. “When they get to the point they can use Face-
book or email to communicate with family, they usually are off and on their way,” Friesner said. The library also occasionally offers a traveling road show version of the class that visits senior centers and senior communities throughout the area. “We have a trunk with 10 laptop computers and we set up a lab on site,” he said. “It is really well received, they usually want us to come back.” Seniors that have already mastered computer and Internet basics, might want to step it up technologically. Those interested in learning more about e-readers can also find help at the library. Anyone thinking
about purchasing an e-reader, or who has received one as a gift and doesn’t know how it works, can attend an e-reader “petting zoo” at the library. Friesner said they have examples of tablets, IPads, Nooks and Kindles that attendees can try out, or they can bring their own gadgets to the class for help mastering. “We show people how to use the e-readers, and we have over a thousand titles they can check out at the library,” he said. While using technology can be intimidating, it’s about trying it out and finding what is comfortable. And there is plenty of help out there to get you to where you want to be.
12 Friday, December 26, 2014
Better Living
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