Pittsburgh 55+ Magazine Winter 2017 Issue by Northern Connection Magazine

FREE

Winter 2017

How to Create

Sue and Dave Hickey of YourOwnRetirement

YourOwnRetirement PAGE 6

Peripheral Neuropathy Sufferers Have HOPE with Chiropractic Family Health Center

Also in this Issue... Avoiding Scam Artists Maintaining Brain Health A Look Back to 1980

PUBLISHER’S NOTES

Welcome to the Winter issue of Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus magazine!

he holidays are rapidly approaching and it won’t be long before we say goodbye to 2016 and hello to 2017! I think most of us wish for a healthy New Year. With that in mind, this year Pittsburgh FiftyFive Plus magazine has teamed up with Dr. Joseph Maroon to provide our readers with a preventive health column in every issue. In this issue, Dr. Maroon will focus on tips to maintain and improve your memory in his article Maintaining Brain Health for a Lifetime. You don’t have to go far to enjoy the beautiful sights, scenes and sounds of this holiday season. Special and beautiful holiday attractions and happenings are in downtown Pittsburgh for you and your family to enjoy this year! In the Senior Profile article, we highlight what two very special people are doing in their golden years to help improve our community. They certainly are a great example of “it’s never too late to do the right thing.” Take a Step Back into 1980 and see how much you remember about this special year. Enjoy reading the Winter issue of Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus magazine and thank you for your continued support. We all truly appreciate the feedback, encouragement and phone calls. Please continue to send us story ideas and what you would like to see featured in our upcoming issues! All of us at Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus magazine wish you a very Happy and Healthy New Year! n

“Forget what we became, what matters is what we’ve become, and our potentials to overcome.” Aniekee Tochukwu Ezekiel

Find us on under Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus Magazine!

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P.O. Box 722 Wexford, PA 15090-0722

Phone: 724-940-2444 Fax: 724-940-2447 Email: info@PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com President & Publisher Marion Swanson Piotrowski Executive Editor Marianne Reid Anderson Managing Editor/Public Relations Coordinator Paula M. Green Marketing & Account Executive and Office Coordinator Laura Arnold Marketing & Account Executive Mary L. Simpson Design & Production Kostilnik & Assoc. Graphics, Inc. Distribution Dominion Distribution

Laura Arnold

Mary Simpson

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mlsspc@consolidated.net

Marianne Reid Anderson

Paula Green

info@PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

Pittsburgh Fifty Five Plus Magazine is published four times a year by Swanson Publishing Co., Inc. (P.O. Box 722, Wexford, PA 15090-0722, 724-940-2444) and is distributed free of charge throughout the Greater Pittsburgh region. Subscription can be purchased from the publisher at $25 for one year. The mission of the Swanson Publishing Co., Inc. is to connect the people of Pittsburgh by publishing the area’s finest senior publication, Pittsburgh Fifty Five Plus Magazine. The publication is dedicated to the people, communities, educational, religious, travel, health, and recreational needs of seniors in our area. The contents of Pittsburgh Fifty Five Plus Magazine may not be reproduced or copied in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Pittsburgh Fifty Five Plus Magazine reserves the right to refuse editorial or advertisements that do not meet the standards of this publication.

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2017

Contents 6

Cover Story: Your Own Retirement

Peripheral Neuropathy Sufferers Have Hope Dr. Shawn Richey, DC

10 Tip Sheet for Visiting Aging Parents Over the Holidays 11 Guardian Angel Home Care Services, Inc. Marianne Reid Anderson 12 Lose up to 30 Lbs. in 30 Days Dr. Michael Vactor, DC 15 TOP 10 REASONS to go to Beaver Valley Foot Clinic...

15 What Does It Mean to Live an Abundant Life®? Lutheran Senior Life 16 Senior Profiles: Tony Frochio and Ken Schmid 24 Using Techniques and Strategies to Help Cover the Costs of Age-Related Expenses Brian Catale 26 BEWARE: Unknown Phone Callers Can Be Scam Artists 29 Maintaining Brain Health for a Lifetime Dr. Joseph C. Maroon

In Every Issue... 2

From the Publisher Marion Piotrowski

18 Winter ’17 Happenings

20 Pondering Pittsburgh: ‘Twas the Season for Christmas Shopping and Holiday Window Decor in Downtown Pittsburgh Paula Green 22 The Good Old Days: Step Back into 1980 Paula Green 25 Remember When: A Warm-Hearted Welcome to Winter Joe Bullick

Winter 2017 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2017

COVER STORY

YourOwnRetir By Janice Lane Palko

“The No. 1 fear people have heading into retirement is running out of money,” said Susan Hickey, Senior Advisor at Your Own Retirement, LLC. Together, she and her husband David Hickey, Managing Director at Your Own Retirement, can help to replace that fear with peace of mind.

nlike other financial advisory firms, Your Own Retirement takes a holistic approach to retirement, creating written retirement plans. “We are not just advisors on money and investments, but retirement advisors, which is all encompassing and takes into consideration income, investments, social security your home, other assets, Medicare, health care, and life insurance,” said Dave, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the insurance and finance industry. “Earlier generations, like our parents, had pensions. But as Baby Boomers we have to save on our own with really no planning or educational help using old tools,” said Dave. “Often it’s a case of, ‘Here you go. You’re retired.’ And you don’t know what to do, how to make your money last, or how to make the life you want.” To help you make the most of your investments and retirement, Sue and Dave craft a written retirement plan.

Winter 2017 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

According to Dave, an effective written retirement plan must meet four criteria. First, it must be very tax efficient. “We strive to make sure that our clients are saving as tax efficiently as possible.” Second, it must establish objectives. “Based on expenses and your desires for the future, we devise a map that prepares the way to achieve your objectives.” Third, Your Own Retirement strives to assess their clients understanding of and acceptance of risk. “We consult with our clients about how much risk they are willing to accept and still have their investments grow. Everyone’s tolerance is different,” Dave said. Finally, they devise a

“I’ve had people just hug me because they are so relieved to have something in place and understand how their retirement will work,” said Sue. written downside protection plan. “We plan for the occasions when the market drops. Many people assume there’s nothing they can do when things take a downturn, but that is not true. We can strategize how best to weather those downturns,” Dave said. Sue and Dave take into consideration each individual’s life situation, not only their finances. “Everyone’s life is different. Some have elderly parents, kids in college, some have physical disabilities,” said Sue, who is especially trained to help women plan for their retirement. “For

single women, whether they are single by choice, divorce, or by being widowed, they are responsible for all of their retirement planning. Generally, women live a lot longer than men and run a greater risk of running out of money in retirement,” said Sue. Often times women don’t have a pension and sometimes their social security benefit is smaller, but Sue believes the sooner women take charge of their retirement, the better off they will be. “Women have to realize that no one is going do this for us. We have to be accountable and take responsibility for our own lives, but sadly, they don’t know who to turn to or where to go to get help,” she said. Your Own Retirement helps women to draft a written retirement plan so that you will never outlive your retirement funds.” The goal of never outliving retirement funds is not only an objective for women but for all of their clients. Married couples need to plan for both partners in retirement. Statistics tell us that for an average married couple age 65, one of them--typically the woman--will live to be 92. People who don’t plan face the fear of running out of money and

rement

living in poverty or of depending on family members and possibly becoming a burden to them. The first step to take to ensure that your retirement is everything you’d hoped it would be is to call Sue and Dave. They work together to assess the situation and make the best recommendations. “When we bring couples in, we often find that they haven’t really communicated well or shared what they expect with regards to their retirement,” said Dave. “I’ve seen instances where the wife says something like, ‘my husband loves his job and plans to work until he’s 70,” said Sue, ‘and then the husband speaks up and says, ‘If I could retire tomorrow, I’d do it.’” The old model for planning for retirement, often just involved a financial advisor who only wants to see your investment portfolio and manage your money. They may charge by the hour or a set fee. But Dave and Sue’s approach is different. “For the initial meeting, there is no fee and it focuses on getting to know you, your financial well-being, your family situation. During the second meeting, we arrive at joint decisions on how to best achieve your retirement goals and whether we can work together.” said Dave. Once your written retirement plan is in place, Dave and Sue don’t abandon you. “The retirement plan is fluid,” said Dave. “We meet at least yearly to tweak it if that is necessary. It’s not a one and done deal.” “Situations change all the time,” said Sue. “People experience career changes, changes in family situation, health changes. If you have $10 million in the bank, you can weather those types of changes without it affecting your retirement. However, most people don’t have that amount

of money saved, and we can help our clients adjust to whatever life throws at them to still achieve their retirement goals. It may take some compromises, or they may have to work harder, but we are there to help.” Their clients appreciate what Your Own Retirement has done for them. “Clients have told us that after putting their retirement plan into place, they can go to sleep at night without worrying about what retirement may bring. They experience less stress,” said Dave. “I always tell clients that I never want to be in the position of being in a grocery store and see them coming down the aisle and wanting to duck them because we’ve lost their money. We are not going to allow that,” said Dave. People have been so pleased with what Sue and Dave have helped them to achieve that Your Own Retirement often receives referrals from clients. “We see client’s family members coming to us wanting us to help them create their own individual retirement plan too. We have worked with children after their parents have referred them.” While their office is located in Cranberry Twp., Your Own Retirement offers services to people in Western Pennsylvania and all over the country. “Eighty percent of our clients are located in Western Pennsylvania, but we have dozens scattered throughout the country. We are happy to make house calls,” said Dave. In addition, Your Own Retirement offers information and educational seminars throughout the year. “Our passion in life is to help you achieve the retirement for which you have planned,” said Sue. “We want to give back to our community and help our neighbors live the retirement they dream.” n Investment advisory services offered through AE Wealth Management, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Adviser.

To learn more about how Your Own Retirement can help you construct a written plan for retirement, visit their website at: www. yourownretirement.com or give Sue or Dave a call at: 1-866-677-PLAN (7526) or 412-872-2151. www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2017

YOUR HEALTH

Peripheral Neuropathy Sufferers Have

HOPE Don’t Give Up!

Are you being told, “There’s nothing to be done?” or that, ”You need to learn to live with the pain?” Are you being over-medicated with pain medicines that don’t cure? Have you been through test after test with no result, explanation or treatment? Are you becoming discouraged?

specialized treatment protocol is available at the Chiropractic Family Health Center. It includes nine specific treatments that are designed to heal rather than just deal with the symptoms. This therapy has long been well-recognized internationally, and recent advancements offer hope for many more to live a more pain-free and enjoyable life. Peripheral Neuropathy occurs when nerves are damaged or destroyed and can’t send messages to the muscles, skin and other parts of the body. Peripheral nerves go from the brain and spinal cord to the arms, hands, legs and feet. When damage to the nerves takes place, numbness and pain in these areas may occur. Unlike laser therapy that does not address the involved damaged small nerve fibers or home light therapies that do not offer all the frequencies needed to heal them, our program utilizes state of the art technology with combined therapies to restore life to the dead nerves. Approximately 20 million Americans suffer from this debilitating disease. It is commonly associated with diabetes, however, neuropathy symptoms can also occur in

Winter 2017 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

patients with restless leg syndrome, sciatic neuropathy, and has been recently linked to statin drugs used to lower cholesterol. Although, there are also patients who just have neuropathy without a particular cause. Peripheral Neuropathy symptoms can include: n Sharp Pains or Cramps in the Feet or Legs n Burning Pain in the Legs, Feet or Hands n Extreme Sensitivity to Touch n Loss of Balance or Coordination n Feelings of Walking on Pins and Needles n Weakness in the Arms and Legs n Numbness and Tingling or Pain in the Toes, Feet, Hands, Arms and Fingers n Dependency on Medications Many patients are suffering from symptoms of painful cramping, burning and tingling, difficulty walking, numbness and even interruption of sleep. Dr. Shawn Richey (a member of the NeuroTCA) has seen hundreds patients suffering with peripheral neurop-

Here’s What Dr. Shawn’s Patients Have to Say... “I suffered from peripheral neuropathy for 17 years. It felt as if someone was constantly torturing my feet with electric shocks. Not only did it hurt to sit or take a drive anywhere, but night time was even worse. I could never get a good night’s sleep. No position eased the pain and I couldn’t stand the sheet or blanket to I am 90% touch my feet. When I would take without a shower, it felt as if I was being pain and electrically shocked with each some days, drop of water that hit my feet. I am 100% Test after test, doctor after doctor, pain free! there was no result or help. I was even told, “There’s nothing to be done; you’re just going to have to live with it.” I do not have diabetes. But, it was getting progressively worse over time. I had seen Dr. Shawn’s ad and realized I had nothing to lose. After only one treatment, I was able to get a good night’s sleep and was able to take a shower without pain! Now, having completed several sessions, I am 90% without pain and some days, I am 100% pain free! I have a new lease on life and am doing things I thought I could never do again. I am thankful for Dr. Shawn every day.” – Paul, Wexford

A dear friend of mine from Pittsburgh saw Dr. Richey’s ad in Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus magazine, the sister magazine to Northern Connection magazine. She sent it because one of the stories was just like I was experiencing. I had a reaction to my cholesterol medication where my feet were constantly burning and it was getting worse. They switched up my meds. They took me off I came up to the meds. I endured horrible, painful testing. Pittsburgh to Nothing helped. Finally, the doctors all just be assessed gave up. All the doctors said there was nothby Dr. Richey ing they could do and that I was just going and felt to have to live with it. I didn’t know what I relief after the first was going to do. The pin was getting worse treatment. and worse. So, the instant I saw the ad, I had hope. I had direction and a mission. I came up to Pittsburgh to be assessed by Dr. Richey and felt relief after the first treatment. I stayed in Pittsburgh for six treatments and then Dr. Richey helped me get a home kit for the rest of the treatments. I have continued on and I continue to get better. Now, my brother in Sacramento, who is also experiencing peripheral neuropathy, is going to get help too. Thank you Dr. Richey for helping us all and many thanks to my dear friend for sending Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus magazine to me in North Carolina. – Ron, North Carolina

Two Years Later... “I was in pain from peripheral neuropathy for 12 years before I found Dr. Shawn. I noticed a difference after the first treatment. I even danced my way into his office for my second appointment. I so believe in the treatment that I have become a neuropathy specialist and assist Dr. Shawn. I am so pleased to see wonderful results in patients that relieve them of the pain that I once endured myself.” – Lynn, Jeannette

I so believe in the treatment that I have become a neuropathy specialist and assist Dr. Shawn

athy. He has treated patients that have tried everything including potentially harmful medications and other painful testing and treatments. This can leave patients still struggling and wondering down the long road of endless disappointment. Now we are able to address the pain associated with peripheral neuropathy with a successful, non-invasive, drug-free approach that includes the use of light therapy to stimulate tissue repair. This ground-breaking treatment has achieved a 90% overall satisfaction rate. The treatment identifies the cause and enables nerve endings to regenerate and heal rather than remain damaged. As the treatments repair the nerve endings, pain is reduced, and patients regain balance and coordination. Dr. Richey has helped hundreds of sufferers of peripheral neuropathy throughout the region, he has expanded his practice to include Westmoreland as well as Allegheny Counties.

Chiropractic Family Health Center now has offices in both Sewickley at 2591 Wexford-Bayne Road, Suite 207 and Latrobe at 1901 Ligonier Street. “Our second location in Latrobe will be much more convenient for all our patients in Westmoreland County to receive their treatments and enable us to help additional sufferers of peripheral neuropathy, in both regions,” explains Dr. Shawn. n

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2017

For a FREE Consultation contact Dr. Shawn Richey at (724) 940-9000 and your appointment will be made at the location that is most convenient for you. To learn more, visit www.backnline.com.

55+ FEATURE

Tip Sheet for Visiting Aging Parents Over the Holidays

re you a long distance caregiver for an aging parent? Will you be visiting him or her over the holidays? Or are you a caregiver that lives nearby and regularly visits with your loved one? The following are check-in suggestions that can be helpful, should you question if your loved one might need extra assistance in the home environment or with their health. Take a look at your loved one and observe • Does your loved one look like he or she has lost weight? Does he or she have any bumps or bruises? Any changes in one’s physical appearance could be a reason to talk to your loved one and make sure that he or she is eating enough, whether he or she has fallen lately, or if he or she is feeling well, both mentally and physically. • Talk to neighbors and nearby friends • If you are feeling uncertain whether your loved one is managing well in their home, an option is to check in with neighbors and friends who visit him or her. Ask them if they have noticed any difference in social activities, health, or eating habits. • For neighbors, ask if they have noticed any difference in your loved one’s activities. For example, is your loved one getting his or her mail? Is he or she taking out garbage regularly? Do they notice any difference in daily activities? • Take a look at the home environment of your loved one • Does there appear to be any clutter in the home such as unopened mail, items piling up, or expired food in the kitchen? Any of these observations might present a reason to have a candid conversation with your loved one.

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When you notice that your loved one might need some help, it is important to ask and recognize what your loved one wants. Many older adults wish to age in place while others might actually prefer to move to a simpler setting such as a senior apartment or assisted living complex. We do not know until we ask. It is important to empower our loved ones. There are many resources that we can use to support our loved one’s wishes. If you are concerned about your loved one aging in place in his or her own home, some of these suggestions could be helpful: • Some counties offer companionship programs that have “friendly visitor” services. A friendly visitor could spend time your loved one once a week or so to just check in and socialize. Some programs offer daily reassurance calls. • Make an appointment with a geriatrician to learn from their expertise if there are any medical concerns that he or she has for your loved one. • Paid caregivers are also an option if your loved one has trouble managing a certain daily activity, such as bathing, grooming, etc. and needs extra assistance. This could allow your loved one to remain independent in his or her own home and offer you peace of mind. • Your loved one’s local Area Agency on Aging may have a care management program. A care manager could visit and call your loved one periodically to check in and see if he or she needs any resources, such as in-home services or transportation. A care manager could also touch base with you to address any questions or concerns. The Aging Institute is committed to supporting the specialized needs of our community’s aging population. If you have any questions, reach out to us at 866-430-8742, our website at aging.upmc.com. n

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Guardian Angel Home Care Services, Inc. Assisting the Elderly to Age at Home with Dignity Stacey L. Perry President/Owner

By Marianne Reid Anderson

uardian Angel Home Care Services is in their 16th year of caring for our elderly loved ones and has been voted Reader’s Choice “Top Home Care Agency in the North Hills” for the past two years. Inspired by the love for her own grandmother, owner Stacey Perry founded Guardian Angel Home Care Services, Inc. “We provide our clients with the loving care that a family member might give if they could be there at all times to help their elderly loved ones maintain their dignity and independence.” Being privately-owned, Guardian Angel Home Care Services is dedicated to the kind of care that each of us wants our loved ones to have and the kind of compassionate care that we want to receive as we, ourselves grow older. “We pride ourselves on going above and beyond for our clients,” comments Ms. Perry. “We customize our services on the clients’ individual needs and the needs of their family. We provide an extensive amount of additional training, certifications and background checks that go far beyond what is required by government agencies. For example, we hold quarterly training sessions to make sure our entire staff is up-todate on the latest equipment and care techniques.” Guardian Angel Home Care Services offers a full array of services that includes personal care such as assisting with bathing, dressing/grooming, meal preparation, and medication reminders. Companionship and home helper services such as light housekeeping, and transportation services for shopping and appointments are also provided, all by a very caring and compassionate team of caregivers. “At Guardian Angel,” continues Ms. Perry, “we also often work in tandem with hospice care, and Alzheimer’s/dementia care. Combined, we at Guardian Angel are devoted to providing the day-in, day-out care that is necessary to age at home and with dignity.” So, if you want dedication, compassion and assis-

tance in caring for an elderly parent or loved one within the home, the dependable, highly-trained and trustworthy staff at Guardian Angel Home Care Services is here to help. n

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2017

To learn more, call (412) 492-8290 or visit www.guardianangelinhomecare.com for an in-home assessment.

Lose 30 lbs. in 30 Days up to

as your weight loss plateaued? Do you eat right and exercise but the scale doesn’t move? Is your metabolism slowing due to middle age or over-eating? Are you having health-related issues due to your weight? Feeling aggravated, frustrated and helpless every time you get on the scale? With Dr. Michael Vactor’s innovative weight loss program, you can lose up to 30 lbs. in 30 days and learn to keep it off, permanently.

George from Port Vue, PA - Age 63 Lost 68 lbs.

Vickie from Mars, PA - Age 49 Lost 107 lbs.

How it Works: Unlike other weight loss programs, Dr. Vactor’s plan focuses on losing the weight and keeping it off through a safe, healthy system that is made up of ALLNATURAL INGREDIENTS with NO STIMULANTS. The system is, quite simply, designed to increase your metabolism. The system increases your metabolism by naturally invigorating your hypothalamus (responsible for your metabolism), without stimulants, while decreasing your hunger response. This way, your own fat-burning engine works at its optimum performance while re-acclimating your metabolism to first lose the weight and then adjust to your new body to keep off the weight. Unlike other programs that you may have experienced, where you lose weight but then gain it all back or even more, this program focuses on first weight loss, then helping you readjust to the thinner you. In addition, this program has consistent, predictable weight loss results where people also see a dramatic improvement in their overall HEALTH in about a month’s time. According to Dr. Vactor, “I have seen cholesterol numbers, blood pressure and blood sugar levels return to normal in 30 days. People who follow our program as outlined get great results! But I must be straight-forward about our system. You must be dedicated, committed and want results.”

oday marks our 14th day into our maintenance phase. We waited until now because we were interested in if we would continue to hold our weights. We are happy to report that this phase is keeping its promise just like the rest of the program. We started on December 6, my weight was 360 and Sue started at 219. I should mention that we were off the program from December 23 to January 2. We did not pig out over the holidays but did put a couple of pounds back on. We picked up the program on the same day number that we left and continued until day 40 plus the three day transition. At that time I weighed 310 (-50) and Sue weighed 195.6 (-23.4). After two weeks on maintenance, my weight is 212.2 and my wife’s is 195.4. Needless to say we are both very pleased and will go back on the program next week, my goal is 270 and Sue’s is 170. Everything with the weight loss was exactly as promised. People could not believe that we only ate such a limited number of calories but I can definitely state that I was never hungry. We have been on almost all conceivable diets over the last 25 years and although we lost some weight it was a struggle doing so and most called for and exercise program also. Let’s face it, when you are 50 to 100 lbs. over weight, exercise is not a good alternative. We really did not have good before pictures because who wants there pictures taken when that much overweight. I don’t have good pictures showing pants size because for the past two or more years I was constantly in stretchy sweats, it was a struggle to put on socks and all my shoes were slip-ons. 3XLT shirts were tight and I had trouble sleeping and did not enjoy going to movies or sporting events because I could not fit in the seats. All of that has changed. We cannot wait until our next 40 day program is over. Bob & Sue F., Washington PA

Winter 2017 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

and Keep it Off with Dr. Vactor’s Innovative Weight Loss Program! Several different products come with the plan, as well as, a simple, easy-to-follow meal plan that is based on normal food that you can get anywhere and prepare easily for yourself. In addition, they supply pH-balanced, ionized drinking water which is another important part of the system. Also, exercise is NOT required. Alternatively, the focus, is getting the weight off first, so that exercise programs will help tone and strengthen rather than contribute to the risk of over-exertion from carrying too much weight. Who is Dr. Michael Vactor, DC? Dr. Michael Vactor is a doctor of chiropractic, and a natural healthcare advocate in the north Pittsburgh area for over fifteen years. He is also an award winning expert in weight loss management and is frequently featured on KDKA-TV, WPXI, CornerstoneTV, radio shows and other public speaking venues on health and weight-loss issues. In addition, Dr. Vactor also cares for the players, coaches and families of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ and Pirates’ organizations. To date, 90-95% of his patients have achieved their weight loss goals. YES, 90-95% of patients have achieved their weight loss goals. Dr. Vactor is so absolutely sure of the results and outcomes of his program, that he offers a GUARANTEE of RESULTS! Dr. Vactor and his family have lived in the Cranberry and Mars area, where he is also devoted to his community and helping his patients reach their goals. Over fifteen years in this community, he would not and could not make any such guarantee claims for weight loss, if they weren’t true. How to Get Started: If you are serious about losing up to 30 lbs. of extraneous weight, inches off your waist and, most importantly, improving your health in about a month’s time, call for a FREE, in-office review of our revolutionary weight loss system. Our office is conveniently located at 673 Castle Creek Drive Ext., Suite 106, Seven Fields, PA 16046. http://www.drvactor.com Improve your health today! Call now, at 724-742-2700. If you are one of the first 25 callers to schedule your no cost/no obligation consultation and in office review, and mention you saw Dr. Vactor in the Winter 2017 Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus, you will receive a $50 discount good towards any of his guaranteed weight loss programs. Not valid with any other offers and new patients only are eligible. n

Here is my weight loss journey…

tried every fad diet out there and never got the results that I have with this plan!! I was at my heaviest weight and needed to do something, my clothes weren’t fitting anymore, and I was getting depressed and mad at myself! A good friend of mine told me about Dr. Vactor and what he had did for him in his own weight loss journey. So I called and made an appointment. The staff was very polite and very informative and answered all my questions and concerns. Dr Vactor was wonderful and made this plan sound so easy and explained how quickly I would see results if I followed through with it. Well let me tell you how RIGHT he was!! My starting weight was 365 lbs and I lost 50 lbs in 42 days!!! I did 2 courses of the plan and am now down 72 lbs!! I feel so much better health wise! No more back or knee pain anymore!! Would highly recommend this Plan to everyone!! Thanks Dr. Vactor and Theresa!! Bob J., McCandless PA

Guarantee can be reviewed in office prior to starting the program. Results may vary based on an individual’s health, diet, personal commitment, and adherence to the program. Information provided is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.

www.DrVactor.com 724-742-2700 Dr. Michael Vactor, DC

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2017

Call Beaver Valley Foot Clinic for help today 878-313-FEET (3338) or visit BVFootClinic.com

Winter 2017 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

ADVERTORIAL

TOP 10 REASONS to go to Beaver Valley Foot Clinic... 1. Plantar Fasciitis and Heel Spurs can now be treated through Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT), a gentle 18-minute office procedure that greatly relieves pain. 2. Wound Care is provided for acute and chronic wounds, including arterial, venous, diabetic, pressure lacerations, abrasions, punctures, incisions and burns. We keep wounds free of dead skin and infection and optimize the environment to expedite healing. 3. Ingrown and Infected Toenails caused by improper trimming, inherited nail deformities, injuries, fungal infections, or pressure. A simple 5-minute procedure permanently fixes this problem. 4. Laser Toenail Fugus Removal easily zaps away ugly brown or yellow spots and thick nails. This safe and effective anti-fungal laser successfully eliminates unsightly warts as well. 5. Gereatric and Fungal Toenails 6. Diabetic Nail Care and Foot Exams prevent complications due to foot injuries and help to prevent serious consequences, including amputation. We will give you an individualized, easy-to-follow plan to help keep your feet healthy. 7. Bunion and Hammertoe Surgery may be necessary if wider shoes aren’t giving you relief. Our simple, outpatient procedure can have you back in to your shoes in 2-6 weeks. 8. Broken Bones and Stress Fractures can happen whether you’re a 40-year-old woman who has just started a walking program, or a seasoned distance runner. Our treatment will help you return to the activities that you enjoy. 9. Vascular Lab Certified by the American College of Radiology (ACR) 10. Our Doctor is Board Certified by ABPS and has nearly 20 years of highly specialized experience in treating injuries. Plus other services: • Orthotics & Arch Supports • Ankle Sprains & Sports Injuries • Burning, Tingling & Numbness • Thick, Painful or Crumbling Nails • Tendinitis • Corns & Calluses • Diabetic Shoes • X-rays • Warts... and more! n

Call Beaver Valley Foot Clinic today at 878-313-FEET (3338)! BVFootClinic.com

What does it mean to live an Abundant Life®?

ore than anything else, living an abundant life is a feeling. Simply put, it is a positive, peaceful spirit filled with love, acceptance and compassion. This spirit lives within our hearts, minds and souls. It lives inside each and every one of us – and has the power to lift us up, regardless of our circumstances. This is the spirit that defines and guides Lutheran SeniorLife.

OUR MISSION “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” – John 10:10b Abundant Life ® is the mission of Lutheran SeniorLife. As a Social Ministry of a three-Synod region of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, it is the standard against which we measure all we do. At Lutheran SeniorLife, we’re honored to offer seniors so many choices, so many places, and so many ways to live life to the fullest. We provide a continuum of person-centered care featuring senior living communities, personal care, nursing care, Alzheimer’s care, home health and hospice, community-based programs and social and physician services throughout Western Pennsylvania. We offer a compassionate and complete care experience for every stage of the aging process. Here, seniors are valued and appreciated. They are empowered with opportunities to grow spiritually, emotionally, intellectually and creatively. At every moment of every day, we inspire seniors to live with abundance and a sense of purpose. Through a breadth of programs and services, we’re continually touching and changing the lives of seniors. It is our responsibility to offer the finest and most benevolent care so that they may create their unique version of a rich, full life.

WHO WE ARE CONTINUING CARE RETIRMENT COMMUNITIES Passavant Community, Zelienople St. John Community, Mars featuring: St. John Specialty Care Center / RoseCrest / Overbrook Pointe RESIDENTIAL LIVING COMMUNITIES The Commons at Stonebrook Village, McCandless Twp. Crown Pointe at Clearview, Butler Lindwood Crest, Greensburg COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS & SERVICES LIFE Programs / Valley Care / VNA, Western Pennsylvania BeHome™ Partners / Lutheran Service Society

Is an Abundant Life® calling you? At Lutheran SeniorLife, it’s our mission to offer an abundance of choices in senior living, health care and social services. To find out which of our many offerings will meet your needs, both now and in the future, please contact us at 724-776-1100. n www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2017

SENIOR PROFILES

Butler County Musician Tunes in and Gives Back to His Community

Volunteering to Maintain Homes Helps Retiree Find Fulfillment

By Paula Green

By Marianne Reid Anderson

“I

ony Frochio of Butler County believes in supporting and giving back to his community. Frochio is a local musician who is known in the region as, “Washboard Tony.” He earned this nickname back in 1993 when he bought a washboard and began performing with it. He also plays the drums, keyboard, tambourine, spoons, kazoos and other musical instruments. Frochio enjoys performing for various groups such as - Celebrate Recovery and Drum Circle for Healing. He plays with two different Christian bands called God’s Country and Friends of God. Frochio and his friend Jack Covert play for veterans twice a month at VA Butler Healthcare. There’s an old saying, “An apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.” This adage holds true for Frochio since he passed his musical talents on to his 20-year old son Nic Temple. “Nic plays the guitar and we perform together. Many of our concerts are outdoor venues such as Alameda Park, and Penn Township Community Days. We also play at churches and other places in the area. Music has brought Nic and I closer together. People like to see the father and son connection,” Frochio commented. Frochio is grateful to be able to perform since things were not always so uplifting for him. Back in 2004, he had a major health scare. He was not feeling well and when he went to the doctor it was discovered he had stage-four colon cancer. It was a very dark time for him. After several surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation, he is in remission. “At first, I was very angry and bitter, once I started getting out then I started to feel good about myself. I feel very blessed, and now I wanted to help others and give back to the community,” Frochio added. Frochio feels that music is therapeutic so he makes it a point to play annually at the Relay for Life for Cancer at the Butler Farm Show. In addition to performing for residents, Frochio has formed a local clean-up initiative called “Operation Butler Pickup.” “Every Saturday morning at 8 a.m. a group of us meet on Main Street and we go out and pick-up garbage in various areas. It’s a great town, it just needs to be kept clean,” Frochio noted. Currently, Frochio is working on making a CD which contains a combination of Christian and secular music. His dream is to go back and perform at his high school, (Lincoln in Ellwood City) with his son Nic by his side. n

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was retired for all of three days when I realized there was nothing on TV I wanted to watch. What I really wanted to do with my retirement was to serve the Lord,” explains Ken Schmid, a retired maintenance technician from Cleaning Systems, Inc in Mars which specializes in high pressure cleaning equipment. “Fifteen years ago, before I was even retired, Hosanna Industries came to my church to discuss their mission. I would take off one week in the summer to volunteer with them and once I retired, I started to volunteer even more. I have found Hosanna Industries and the kind of work they do to be the best conduit for serving the Lord,” comments Ken. For 26 years, Hosanna Industries has benefited those in need by providing home improvement and building services to the Greater Pittsburgh area and beyond. At 72 years young, Ken says “I like to keep busy. I have found that there is no more fulfillment than in helping others in this way. I like to work with my hands and the people you help are so grateful.” In addition to Hosanna Industries, Ken also volunteers at a few other places including to help haul food for a local food bank and do maintenance at the Seneca Hills Bible Camp. “Every Tuesday morning, me and a few other senior men gather at the camp for a half hour of bible study and then do any maintenance work that needs done on the cabins or the equipment that they have there. For Hosanna, I do whatever they need done. In addition to helping those in need with things like carpentry and home repairs, Hosanna has also acquired a large amount of equipment over the years and I help maintain the equipment.” Ken even plays Santa for Hosanna Industries at holiday events. He played Santa at the Festival of Trees event this past November and will be reprising his role on December 10 for the volunteers and families who gather for the Christmas Gift Delivery Day. Every year during this event, Hosanna Industries sends out volunteers to deliver Christmas gifts and groceries to the impoverished households in the region that they have helped this year. Many of these households will not receive any other gifts this season and this is a great family-friendly opportunity to serve. Since many of the volunteers are families with children, they all have a wonderful chance to meet with Santa prior to deliveries. If you would like to join Ken and the other volunteers at Hosanna Industries, the Christmas Gift Delivery Day is held on Dec 10, 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Pre-registration is REQUIRED.) For more information and to register to volunteer to deliver gifts, visit www.hosannaindustries.org/christmas-gift-delivery. Also, Hosanna is looking for more “Hosanna Helpers” like Ken, who might be available during the week to volunteer. Contact Hosanna Industries at 724-770-0262. n

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2017

WINTER ’16 H Free Services for Seniors through North Hills Community Outreach. Help with rides to medical appts., grocery stores, yard work. For info, call Cathy at (412) 3070069 ext. 3313 or Kerry at (412) 449-0151 to schedule an in-home registration visit. Home Instead Senior Care® is offering a unique approach to help area families in Northwest Allegheny County manage the challenges of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Free training is available for families at HelpForAlzheimersFamilies. com.

McKnight Meals on Wheels provides home delivered meals to the elderly, homebound and disabled. Services Ross Twp., Berkley Hills, Swan Acres & part of McCandless Twp. Call (412) 487-4088. North Country Meal on Wheels provides home delivered meals to the elderly, homebound & disabled. Services Marshall, Pine, Richland, Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, parts of McCandless, West Deer, Cranberry, Adams, Seven Fields, Mars & Valencia. Operated out of Cross Roads Presbyterian in Gibsonia. Call (724) 935-1877.

Pittsburgh OASIS Intergenerational Tutor Program is seeking volunteers (50+) to tutor in Pittsburgh and Woodland Hills School Districts in grade K-4, 411 Seventh Ave., Suite 525 (Duquesne Light Building) downtown Pittsburgh. For details, contact John Spehar, at (412) 393-7648 or jdspehar@ oasisnet.org. UPMC Senior Communities offers independent living & personal care. For details, call 1-800-324-5523.

Support Groups Alzheimer’s Support Group, 10 a.m., 1st Monday of each month, St. Catherine of Sweden Parish, 2554 Wildwood Rd. For details, call Suzie, at (412) 337-6731. Bereavement Support Group (for Widows/Widowers over 50), 1-2:30 p.m., 2nd & 4th Wed., St. Sebastian, Haber Hall. To register, call (412) 366-1300. Paramount Senior Living at Cranberry Alzheimer’s Affiliated Support Group meets 3 p.m., the 1st Mon., of every month, and 2 p.m., the last Friday. Contact Pam, at (724) 779-5020.

Entertainment & Social Join St. Barnabas Charities, as they honor the former Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, Thurs., April 27, Pittsburgh Marriott North, Cranberry Township. Seating is limited. Proceeds benefit St. Barnabas Free Care Fund. For

Winter 2017 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

info on corporate sponsorship packages, call (724) 6253770 or email St. Barnabas Charities. Legacy Theatre Movies, 2 p.m. Mondays, Dec. 12, Oliver; Dec. 19, Gigi; Jan. 9, Hello My Name is Doris, Jan. 19, The Legend of Tarzan, Jan. 23, Finding Dory, Jan. 30, Ghostbusters, 700 Cumberland Woods Dr., McCandless. Visit http://www. thelegacylineup.com/movies/ Legacy Theatres shows: 7:30 p.m., Dec. 11, Christmas Memories Featuring The Latshaw Pops Orchestra; Dec. 17, Johnny Angel & the Halos, 2 p.m., Feb. 26, The Tamburitzans. For tickets, 1-877-987-6487 or thelegacylineup.com. Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet and Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival, Mar. 24-26, David L. Lawrence of Convention Center. For details, call (412) 963-7030 or pghknitandcrochet@gmail.com. St. Alexis Over 50 trips: Erie Niagara/Salamanca Casino, Mar. 21-31, 2017; Cape Cod, Oct. 8-12, 2017. Cost $620, For info call Rose, (724) 7282563 or (412) 908-0124, or Janet, at (724) 869-5339.

Seminars Legacy Theatre senior seminars; 11 a.m., Jan. 17, Hollywood: Scandal, Lies & Cover Ups; Jan. 31, Incredible Penn Avenue: From Wilkinsburg to Point State Park, 700 Cumberland Woods Dr., McCandless Twp. Call, (412) 635-8080 or TheLegacyLineup.com.

HAPPENINGS Health & Wellness Healthy Start Café, 8:45 a.m., every Mon & Thurs, St. John Lutheran Church of Highland, 311 Cumberland Rd. Presented by Lutheran SeniorLife & St. John Lutheran Church of Highland. For info, call (412) 364-1606 or (412) 307-1797.

Senior Meetings AARP Chapter 2991 meets at noon, 3rd Thursday of each month, Sept.-May, no meeting in Dec., Northmont UP Church on Perry Highway. Refreshments served for a nominal charge. A business meeting follows the light lunch and includes a review of upcoming events and trips. Membership applications will be accepted at these meetings. Allison Park AARP Chapter 3736 meets at 7:30 p.m., 2nd Thursday of each month, Sept. thru May, St. Ursula School, Kirk Ave., Allison Park. For details, call Ruth at (724) 4430647, or Mary Ellen at (412) 486-3019 or Mike at (724) 444-8772. Cranberry Senior Citizens Club for residents 55+ meets at 1 p.m., the 2nd Tues., of the month in the Cranberry Municipal Center. Call (412) 415-1892 or (724) 538-4408 for info and programs. Friends and Fun 55+ Singles meet at 7 p.m., every 1st Friday, at St. Ferdinand’s, Rochester Rd., Cranberry Twp., Oldenski Hall, Upper Room. Call (724) 776-9274.

Friendship Groups for Visually Impaired, Men’s Group meets every Weds. 1-3:15 p.m., Knitting & Crocheting Circle meets every Weds., 1-3:15 p.m., Monthly Meeting 2nd Thurs. of each month 1:15-3:15 p.m., The Lunch Bunch meets 4th Thurs. of every month 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., The Talking Book Club meets 1st Mon. of each month 1-2:30 p.m. Call (724) 4440064. Primetimers, noon, first Thurs of the month, Christ Church Grove Farm, Ohio Twp. Call (412) 741-4900 or visit http:// www.ccgf.org.

Volunteer Opportunities: Hope Hospice is looking for volunteers to visit Hospice patients. For details, call (412) 367-3685. Neighborly Gnomes assist seniors with disabilities with yard tasks. For info, visit NeedsbyNeighborhood.org. North Hills Community Outreach’s In Service of Senior program matches volunteers w/seniors to provide rides to the doctors, help w/ groceries or yard work. For info, call Cathy, (412) 3070069 x3313 or clpschirer@ nhco.org. Olive Branch non-profit fair trade shop located at 11160 Perry Highway, Wexford is seeking volunteers. For info, call (724) 799-8700 or email info@olivebranchwexford.org.

Pittsburgh Friendship Group is looking for volunteers to help visually impaired seniors. No experience is necessary. Call (724) 444-0064.

Holiday/Seasonal

Ursuline Services’ Checks and Balances program assists those who have difficulty with financial affairs. To register, call (412) 224-4700 x113 or ktobin@ursulinesupport.org.

Social Groups Amazing Singles, for singles in the Pittsburgh region, visit, http://www.amazingsingles. com/pittsburgh.html. Association of University People (AUP), singles meet at social spots. They meet up at social spots. For details, visit http://www.aupsinglespittsburgh.org/about-us/. Catholic Alumni Club of Pittsburgh, this group has dances, retreats and plays various sports and other great events. Check out their website at http://www.cacpittsburgh.org/. Visit Pittsburgh Events & Festivals, this website is for everyone. It gives a list of upcoming events for singles, kids, and married folks. The info enlightens Pittsburghers on where to eat, where to shop, and other recreational events. Go to http://www.visitpittsburgh.com/events-festivals.

Little Sisters of the Poor are selling Christmas cards sketched by Sister Martha, lsp. For details, call (412) 307-1100 or visit www.littlesistersofthepoorpittsburgh.org. Senior Holiday Event, 12:15 p.m., Dec. 16, Seneca Valley Senior High School. The event is free, but reservations are required, call (724) 452-6040, ext. 0. The Sisters of Divine Providence are selling 2017 Lucky Number Calendars (a great holiday gift idea). The calendar is based on the day and evening Pick 3 PA Lottery game. To participate, call (412) 635-5401 or cdpsisters. org/2017/LuckyNumber. Village Garden Club of Sewickley is selling Fresh Christmas Greens, 6-8 p.m., Dec. 14 & 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Dec. 15-17, at Explore Sewickley, 418 Beaver St., Sewickley. For info, call (412) 741-7530 or http://www.exploresewickley. com.

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2017

PONDERING PITTSBURGH

‘Twas the Season for Christmas Shopping and Holiday Window Decor in Downtown Pittsburgh By Paula Green

The Christmas season is upon us, and nowadays folks run to local malls or shop online. Years ago people used to hop on the trolley car, train or public transit to holiday shop in downtown Pittsburgh.

he big attraction was the grand holiday window displays that were definite crowd pleasers. Some featured interactive pieces and moving toys that were ceremoniously unveiled on a certain day. The sights and sounds were so wondrous, that many families went to town just to look at the magical window decor. One such store was the Joseph Horne Co., located on Penn Avenue

at Stanwix Street. This large department store housed seven floors and was “The Best Place to Shop, After All.” Kids loved the unique Santa Shops where they got to shop without their parents and picked out cool gifts. Joseph Horne’s closed its doors in 1994. It was taken over by Lazarus, which shuttered in 2004. Another great shopping spot was Kaufmann’s. It featured

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the famous ticker where folks would say, “Meet me under the Kaufmann’s clock.” This retailer was the largest of the department stores with 12 floors that stretched an entire city block, located on Fifth Avenue and Smithfield Street. Kaufmann’s highlighted many train displays and had an extensive toy department that contained exclusive European toys. For kids the highlight of the store was the visit with good old St. Nick. Many children loved to go to Kaufmann’s just to sit on Santa’s lap. This retailer closed in 2006, at which time, Macy’s took over the Kaufmann’s store in downtown Pittsburgh. Macy’s closed this store in Sept. 2015.

Another large retailer that holiday shoppers like to visit was Gimbel’s on Sixth Avenue and Smithfield Street. This shopping hub housed 13 floors and contained a “bargain basement.” It was readily accepted by Pittsburghers and became one of the Steel City’s iconic department stores. It also displayed beautiful Christmas scenery in its windows. Gimbel’s department stores closed in 1987. A few other retailers that came and went in downtown were Boggs & Buhl which operated on Federal Street until its closure in 1958. Frank & Seder on the corner of Smithfield Street and Fifth

Avenue also went out of business in 1958. Rosenbaum’s was located between Liberty and Penn Avenues, it ceased operations in 1960. Some Five and Dime stores also ended their retail rein. They included – W.T. Grant Co., F. W. Woolworth’s, G.C. Murphy Co., McCrory’s and S.S. Kresge’s. Although all of these stores have faded into history books, the sparkle of the Christmas season is still prevalent in the ‘Burgh. The trees are beautifully decorated and the Pittsburgh Creche is a sight to behold. This larger-thanlife nativity scene is the world’s only authorized replica of the

Vatican’s Christmas crèche on display in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. Another seasonal highlight is Light Up Night which was held this past year on Friday, Nov. 18. The first Light Up Night took place in Pittsburgh on Nov. 21, 1960. It something that many folks look forward to as it ignites into the Christmas season. n Sources: http://www.thedepartmentstoremuseum.org/2010/05/kaufmanns-pittsburghpennsylvania.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/List_of_defunct_department_stores_of_ the_United_States#Pennsylvania http://www. lifeinwesternpa.org/viewDetail

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2017

THE GOOD OLD DAYS

Step Back Into...1980 A landslide in the presidential race A musical great is shot to death By Paula Green

he year 1980 ushered in a new decade. After 123 years, Mount St. Helens erupted in the state of Washington killing 34 people. On Dec. 8, Beatle fans mourned the assassination of John Lennon. Music was getting a shake up with a move away from the disco and singer-songwriter sounds of the 70s. Millions of TV viewers wanted the answer to one question – “Who Shot JR?” 1980 was also a leap year.

Average: The average income was $17,710.00. Cost of a new home $76,400.00. The average cost of a new car $5,413.00. Gasoline was $1.25 per gallon. A dozen eggs cost 91¢. A loaf of bread cost 48¢. The cost of gallon of milk was $2.16. Cost of a first-class stamp was 15¢.

Firsts: 3M begins sales of its latest product: Post-It Notes®. Rubik’s Cube® is sold internationally and becomes the world’s most popular toy.

An extremely harsh heat wave killed over 1,250 people in the United States.

Yellow ribbons were displayed for concern of the hostages in Iran.

CNN founded by Ted Turner was broadcast worldwide. Popular films – Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Nine to Five, Stir Crazy, Airplane, Any Which Way You Can, Private Benjamin, Coal Miner’s Daughter, Smokey and the Bandit II, The Blue Lagoon and The Blues Brothers.

World News:

Television:

Hurricane Allen devastated Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Texas, and St. Lucia killing 270 people.

Donahue becomes the most widely watched TV talk show in America. Popular TV shows - 60 Minutes, The Dukes of Hazzard, Private Benjamin, M*A*S*H, The Love Boat, House Calls, Taxi, The Jefferson’s, Little House on the Prairie and The Two of Us.

The Miracle on Ice occurred on Feb. 22; in this hockey game a scrappy U.S. team defeated the Russian juggernaut in the 1980 Winter Olympics semi-final game in Moscow.

The Pac-Man® arcade game is released.

Two consecutive earthquakes in Algeria claimed 3,500 lives.

CNN becomes the first 24-hour news station.

Over 9,000 were injured and 3,000 killed by a powerful earthquake in Italy.

The first successful balloon flight over the North Pole was by Sidney Conn and his wife, Eleanor. Voyager 1 probe sends the first high resolution images of Saturn back to scientists and confirms the existence of Janus, a moon of Saturn.

U.S. Events:

The Iran-Iraq war began on Sept. 22, 1980. It is also widely known as the First Persian Gulf War. The World Health Organization declared that smallpox was eradicated.

Summer Olympics were played in Lake Placid.

Entertainment:

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Songs: Popular songs Physical, Bette Davis Eyes, Endless Love, Eye Of The Tiger, Every Breath You Take, Flash dance...What A Feeling, Another One Bites The Dust, Say, Call Me and Lady.

Publishing: Popular books - The Bourne Identity, The Name of the Rose, A Confederacy of Dunces, Red Dragon, A People’s History of the United States and The Clan of the Cave Bear.

Sports: The Philadelphia Phillies, who hadn’t even won a pennant since 1950, won the World Series for the first time defeating the Kansas City Royals. Basketball champs: LA Lakers beat the Philadelphia 76ers. Hockey champions: New York Islanders beat the Philadelphia Flyers, Super Bowl champs: The Oakland Raiders defeat the Philadelphia Eagles.

Politics: President: Jimmy Carter, Vice President: Walter Mondale.

Quotes: “There you go again. Are you better off than you were four years ago?” – Ronald Reagan to Jimmy Carter during a TV debate “You see, we’re on a mission from God.” – Elwood Blues (Dan Aykroyd) from The Blues Brothers “I pity the fool!” – Mr. T Sources: http://www.liketotally80s. com/2007/08/80s-capsules-1980/, http://www.1980sflashback.com/1980/ Economy.asp, http://www.inthe80s.com/ prices.html, http://931jackfm.cbslocal. com/2014/05/06/top-20-things-that-happened-in-1980/, http://www.buzzle.com/ articles/1980s-timeline-important-events-ofthe-1980s.html

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2017

ADVERTORIAL

Using Techniques and Strategies to Help Cover the Costs of Age-Related Expenses By Brian J. Catale

uring our educational workshops, we discuss age-related expenses. I mention that in retirement, from the first social security check you receive until the last breath you and your spouse take on this earth, you will pay taxes and medical insurance premiums that will equal the amount you paid for your home plus what it would have cost to put your two children through college. After they laugh and think that I am joking with them, I explain the logic. If a couple receives $3,000 a month from social security, a $1,500 per month pension, and $2,000 per month from their 401(k)s, over 30 years, they will pay $15,000 per year in taxes for a total of $450,000. Over the same span, the couple will spend $2,520 per year for Medicare and $3,000 per year for supplemental insurance for a total of $165,600 in medical insurance costs. The grand total for taxes and

medical insurance (without inflation) is $615,600. This amount does not include co-pays, rehabilitation costs, prescriptions, assisted living costs, or nursing home costs. We have met with over 20,000 people in independent living, assisted living, and nursing homes over the last 11 years. We have seen it all. Fortune lost. Fortune spent. In a lot of cases even before assisted living or nursing home care is needed. Let’s assume a couple with $400,000 of retirement assets. Every year, they withdraw 5% for income ($20,000 per year). Their investment loses 25% of value (new value $300,000). Now, in order to generate an income of $20,000 per year, 7% needs to be withdrawn from their investment to keep the same income. Ten years later, a second decline of 25% occurs. 2% of the principle is used for income over the last 10 years. $250,000 now remains. After another

L to R, Tim Wheeler, Billie Jo Richman, Lanell Kimmel, Brian Catale, Kimberly Catale and Jody Catale

Retirement Planning and Wealth Preservation 910 Sheraton Drive Suite 240 Mars, PA 16046 Telephone: 724-591-8475 Toll Free: 800-794-0929 Website: Bcatale.com Brian@Bcatale.com

Winter 2017 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

25% loss in value, the couple is left with $187,500. Now, the client is 80-85 years old and medical expenses such as assisted living or nursing home costs start whittling away at the remaining assets. The husband passes away and his spouse loses all or part of his pension. She also loses her social security income, but keeps her husband’s social security. In a lot of the cases, we see that the spouse would have around $70,000 to $100,000 of the assets remaining. She will be broke after 10 to 14 months in assisted living or nursing home care or two to three years in her own home. This is a typical case, in almost every case, the kids would say “I wish we were introduced to you before my mom or dad was starting to get sick.” We would have been able to help this family preserve 70% of their assets. Traditional planning does not work anymore. The focus needs to be on the end of life costs or budgeting for agerelated expenses. The way we look at it at Brian Catale and Associates, just like when you planned for college for your children, you don’t start planning when they are 15 or 16, you start when they are one or two years old. The same thing applies with age-related expenses, you put a plan in place before or at the beginning of retirement to have funds that are designated to pay for these age-related expenses. If the funds are not or partially used, these funds can be distributed to the next generation with little or no cost. This can be the difference between living in poverty or living in dignity and possibly passing a legacy to your loved ones. n Brian Catale is known for Wealth Preservation and Retirement Strategies. At Operation Veteran Benefits and Brian Catale and Associates, We have been able to help hundreds of healthcare professionals with strategies and techniques that no other advisors have been able to accomplish before. You may have seen Brian and his team in your place of work. They are helping your patients, parents, family members, and friends. You may have also heard Brian on Pittsburgh Talk Radio on his show, Wisdom Keys for Retirement. Brian and his team have been able to compile an effective system to assist in the complete retirement planning stages, from when to start your first social security check, to disinheriting the government at your death.

REM EM BER WHEN

A Warm-Hearted Welcome to Winter By Joe Bullick

ello winter and good-bye fall. I hope you had a good October and November. The World Series was an exciting adventure; football is rushing through its season and hockey is in full swing. It is a great time for sports fans in our city. I hoped you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving. We always seem to put a few extra pounds on during the holidays. Winter is the coldest season of the year and has the fewest hours of sunlight. My dad always got ready for winter driving this time of the year. One of the most important things that we put on our car was a pair of chains for winter driving. When I was a young boy, it was not easy driving if there was a lot of snow, only the main roads were plowed. Route 19 was the main road. It and Route 8 were both plowed by the state highway. The county also took care of some of the main roads. There was no salt to put on bad roads. Instead, two men would be in the back of the truck and they would throw down cinders one shovel at a time. They didn’t have spreaders back then. Boy, it was no fun to do that on a cold winter night. The township now takes care of their roads and they do a great job! One of the biggest jobs was getting seven tons of coal. Ironically, the Cole brothers delivered it and dumped it in our yard. It was tough shoveling that into our basement, that was one of the jobs that I had to do when I got older. We didn’t have any forced gas furnace back then, we had a small gas heater in our living room. When we were kids, we were happy with a big snow fall, because it usually meant that school was cancelled. This was the time of the year that mom brought out the winter wardrobe, sweaters, boots, and jackets. We used to go sled riding on Old Perry Highway in Pine – it was great! I could hardly move since I had so many clothes on. For some reason, I loved winter and I loved that three inches of snow on the

lawn. It was a nice time for skiing, ice skating, tobogganing at North Park golf course. We built snowmen, had snowball battles and made snow forts. We enjoyed the snow time in the winter. Our house smelled great with homemade soups. Mom made the best chicken noodle, vegetable and tomato soups. Mom would always say Route 19 was a busy highway as people were on their way south to keep warm for the winter months. This time of the year was also a great for doing some indoor activities. We would listen to the radio and play games. The newspaper was important news source for us, now we have the

TV and computers. We would also read books. We would also go to the movies. I loved some of the songs for winter such as Frosty the Snowman and I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm. If you want to keep the kids happy on a cold winter night then rent some old movies, toast marshmallows, build a puzzle together. There always a lot to do in the winter. God bless, and I leave you with this – “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” Albert Camus

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2017

55+ FEATURE

Beware:

Unknown Phone Callers Can Be Scam Artists The IRS is urging the public to stay alert for scam phone calls!

he IRS continues to warn consumers to guard against scam phone calls from thieves intent on stealing their money or their identity. Criminals pose as the IRS to trick victims out of their money or personal information. Here are several tips to help you avoid being a victim of these scams: • Scammers make unsolicited calls. Thieves call taxpayers claiming to be IRS officials. They demand that the victim pay a bogus tax bill. They con the victim into sending cash, usually through a prepaid debit card or wire transfer. They may also leave “urgent” callback requests through phone “robo-calls,” or via phishing email. • Callers try to scare their victims. Many phone scams use threats to intimidate and bully a victim into paying. They may even threaten to arrest, deport or revoke the license of their victim if they don’t get the money. • Scams use caller ID spoofing. Scammers often alter caller ID to make it look like the IRS or another agency is calling. The callers use IRS titles and fake badge numbers to appear legitimate. They may use the victim’s name, address and other personal information to make the call sound official. • Cons try new tricks all the time. Some schemes provide an actual IRS address where they tell the victim to mail a receipt for the payment they make. Others use emails that contain a fake IRS document with a phone number or an email address for a reply. These scams often use official IRS letterhead in emails or regular mail that they send to their victims. They try these ploys to make the ruse look official. • Scams cost victims over $23 million. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, or TIGTA, has received reports

Winter 2017 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

of about 736,000 scam contacts since October 2013. Nearly 4,550 victims have collectively paid over $23 million as a result of the scam.

The IRS will not: • Call you to demand immediate payment. The IRS will not call you if you owe taxes without first sending you a bill in the mail. • Demand that you pay taxes and not allow you to question or appeal the amount you owe. • Require that you pay your taxes a certain way. For instance, require that you pay with a prepaid debit card. • Ask for your credit or debit card numbers over the phone. • Threaten to bring in police or other agencies to arrest you for not paying.

If you don’t owe taxes, or have no reason to think that you do: • Do not give out any information. Hang up immediately. • Contact TIGTA to report the call. Use their “IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting” web page. You can also call 800-366-4484. • Report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Use the “FTC Complaint Assistant” on FTC.gov. Please add “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.

If you know you owe, or think you may owe tax: Call the IRS at 800-829-1040. IRS workers can help you. n

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2017

55+ FEATURE

Maintaining Brain Health for a Lifetime By Joseph C. Maroon, MD

s a neurosurgeon I daily see the effects of aging and various diseases on brain function and how people’s lives and those of their family can be consumed by disability. I often imagine how diseases that impair the brain’s ability to remember, process and integrate information would affect my own life and work. My personal and professional research in this area reveals even simple changes in choices and lifestyle can help forestall this dementia and enhance brain function. Starting in our middle or even older age, we can reverse or slow many of the diseases of aging. There are many overlooked causes of poor brain function. One of these is lack of sleep. We sacrifice sleep at our own peril. This can result in most serious problems like car crashes but more commonly it impairs our ability to concentrate and assimilate

new information. We become more irritable and to compensate for the stress of lack of sleep the brain requires more glucose and we will often crave sweet tasting sugary foods to provide this lift. The associated weight gain and added sugar can lead to conditions like diabetes and even Alzheimer’s disease with associated mental decline. Speaking of stress, those exposed to high degrees of stress, from chronic illness, job or social issues are also predisposed to early memory problems. Higher than normal levels of a hormone called cortisol are released when we are under stress. Cortisol is generally released in only short bursts during intense periods of stress to allow our bodies to “gear up” for a flight or fight response. If released chronically it will cause significant vascular, brain and heart damage. Chronic stress will also release inflammatory chemicals that can directly impair our ability to remember new information.

So What Can I do? Many people and even some physicians view memory deficits and other impairments in brain function as an inevitable consequence of aging. However, new research has demonstrated that even older individuals may markedly improve their memory by making simple lifestyle changes like enhanced physical fitness, dietary adjustments, such as fewer sugars and saturated fats, memory exercises, stress reduction, increased social interactions and using various dietary supplements such as fish oil. There are other diseases that can effect brain function, like thyroid disorders, should be evaluated by your physician. But the majority of brain conditions, even Alzheimer’s disease, have been shown, in part, to be preventable. I often refer to exercise, a healthy diet, reducing stress and avoiding environmental toxins, such as smoking, as the four pillars of health. Over the next three issues I will explore each of these pillars in detail to provide you the best tools to “keep your brain in the game.” n Joseph C. Maroon, MD is a Board-Certified Neurosurgeon, Nutritional and Sports Medicine Expert. Dr. Maroon has written and lectured extensively on brain health and healthy life choices. As a competitive Ironman triathlete, Dr. Maroon practices what he preaches and is committed to the promoting healthy choices to his patients and readers.

Winter 2017 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2017

Yes, this is me,... ...the head of Dr. Chufo’s Weight Loss and Wellness. My husband was very sick and ultimately, died on Feb. 6th of this year. I went to food for comfort. I gained 30 pounds in a very short period of time. My clothes weren’t fitting. I was sad. I worked a lot. I have two, 20+ year old’s living at home. I sit all day. No time for consistent exercise. I had zero time to prepare food. And, quite frankly, I didn’t care. NO, NO, NO!!! I DID care. I was choosing those thoughts as excuses. So, what do I do??? Hello..I do what I do every day. I practice what I preach now and for the past 36 years. I quit feeling sorry for myself and started to eliminate excuses and took charge of myself. I share this with you, whether it’s a good idea or not, so you know that I am fully human and I slip, too. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how smart you are or what you chose as your career. Emotions get in the way. So, if you make any of these excuses that I used, JOIN ALL OF US and become the healthiest, best person you can be. Stop in, call, or visit us on the web. If you like regular food, need accountability with coaching, supplements that will curtail the appetite and give energy, and a lifestyle change that will keep you at your desired weight for the rest of your life, see me and I’ll get you there. If I can do it, so can you! The time is now!