Cumberland County Edition
July 2014
Vol. 15 No. 7
Green-Thumb Therapy Horticultural Therapy Helps Seniors Grow Well-Being By Megan Joyce In horticulture therapy, a very tangible activity is used to create intangible healing. Much more than simply planting flowers, horticulture therapy is “the engagement of a participant in horticultural activities facilitated by a trained therapist to achieve specific and documented treatment goals,” according to the American Horticultural Therapy Association. Increasingly, this type of therapy is a highly effective practice for both seniors and adults with mobility challenges. Physically, the therapy strengthens muscles and boosts coordination, balance, and endurance. And when it comes to those improved intangibles, horticultural therapy has been shown to increase memory, cognitive abilities, task initiation, language skills, and socialization. Paula Swearingen, M.Ed. and owner of Floral Touch Horticultural Therapy and Floral Design, is a registered horticultural therapist who has seen the evidence firsthand. “Like most horticultural therapists, I came into this vocation as a secondary career path,” she said. Swearingen spent 17 years as a mental health and special education professional, working with children, youth, and adults with various disabilities. please see GREEN-THUMB page 14 Registered horticultural therapist Paula Swearingen, seated, often treats seniors and people with mobility issues using a ground garden or raised garden table, such as these offered by certified square-foot gardening instructor Joe Manotti, standing.
Inside:
Special Focus: Celebrating Life page 8
How Reverse Mortgages Work in 2014 page 13
The Squint-Eyed Senior
Baseball Today Theodore Rickard few weeks ago the news marked the 100th anniversary of the opening of Wrigley Field in Chicago. Wrigley was and still is the home of the so-often last-place Chicago Cubs. Despite this, Wrigley still retains a sacred, cathedral-like status to anybody raised, as I was, on Chicago’s Northside during the ’30s and ’40s. Summer days with the Cubs in town were special. On game days, the front car on the Rapid Transit “El” trains bore detachable metal signs that read, in capital black on white, “BASEBALL TODAY.” For kids, the best baseball day was a weekday since there’d be lots of empty seats, even in the bleachers. This was the ’30s. The baseball fans who had jobs were at work and the ones that didn’t have jobs didn’t have any money either. My baseball buddy, 10 years old as I was, was David Schwarzen, who went by
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the name of “Yankee.” His parents had come from someplace in central Europe and his repeated insistence on his citizenship as a nickname seemed somehow related to that. In the ’30s, 10year-olds were not exactly flush with pocket money. Most were thankful their fathers were wielding shovels on WPA projects while their mothers waited for the precinct captain to bring the next “Kelly basket” full of canned goods, oatmeal, and flour so she could cook something for dinner. My baseball buddy and I were lucky.
Our fathers had jobs. And so did we. Yankee had a break-of-dawn paper route and I had developed a group of regular customers to whom I sold the Saturday Evening Post every Thursday. When the Post went from 5 cents a copy to 10, the commission on each copy bounded from 1.5 cents to 3 cents. I was simply rolling in the stuff. The alternative to walking 20 blocks was to ride the El to the Addison Street station, a block east of the Wrigley Field bleachers. Half fare on the El was only 3 cents, but you had to be accompanied by an adult.
The trick, of course, was to wait in the El Station until an adult came along and then to follow immediately behind and plunk down the three pennies at the cashier cage and just keep going. Somehow we convinced ourselves that the cashier didn’t guess what we were doing. Once past the cashier, we’d dash to the platform and pretend to be breathless with having escaped pursuit, even though we knew there really was none. On game days, the old wooden cars built for the 1892 Columbia Exposition would be put into service and we would ride on the open platform of the last car. From here, to the passing world, we’d whoop cheers for the Cubs on our way to Wrigley Field. The game would have started before we got there. There was no point in please see BASEBALL page 14
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Resource Directory This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made an extended commitment to your health and well-being. CCRC Church of God Home 801 N. Hanover St., Carlisle (717) 866-3204
Hearing Services Duncan Nulph Hearing Associates 5020 Ritter Road, Suite 10G, Mechanicsburg (717) 766-1500
Emergency Numbers American Red Cross (717) 845-2751
Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY
Central PA Poison Center (800) 521-6110
Home Care Services Home Care Assistance Serving Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties (717) 540-4663
Cumberland County Assistance (800) 269-0173 Energy Assistance Cumberland County Board of Assistance (800) 269-0173 Eye Care Services Kilmore Eye Associates 890 Century Drive, Mechanicsburg (717) 697-1414 Funeral Directors Cocklin Funeral Home, Inc. 30 N. Chestnut St., Dillsburg (717) 432-5312 Furniture Sofas Unlimited 4713 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg (717) 761-7632 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020 American Diabetes Association (800) 342-2383 Arthritis Foundation (717) 763-0900 CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400 The National Kidney Foundation (800) 697-7007 PACE (800) 225-7223
Hospice Services Homeland Hospice 2300 Vartan Way, Suite 115, Harrisburg (717) 221-7890 Housing Assistance Cumberland County Housing Authority 114 N. Hanover St., Carlisle (717) 249-1315 Property Tax/Rent Rebate (888) 728-2937 Salvation Army (717) 249-1411 Insurance Apprise Insurance Counseling (800) 783-7067 Nursing/Rehab Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902 Personal Care Homes Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902 Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com
Social Security Administration (Medicare) (800) 302-1274
Services Cumberland County Aging & Community Services (717) 240-6110
Healthcare Information Pa. HealthCare Cost Containment Council (717) 232-6787
Meals on Wheels Carlisle (717) 245-0707
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Mechanicsburg (717) 697-5011 Newville (717) 776-5251 Shippensburg (717) 532-4904
Organ Donor Hotline (800) 243-6667 Passport Information (888) 362-8668 Smoking Information (800) 232-1331
Toll-Free Numbers Bureau of Consumer Protection (800) 441-2555 Cancer Information Service (800) 422-6237
Social Security Fraud (800) 269-0217 Social Security Office (800) 772-1213 Travel Wheelchair Getaways Serving Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, and Southern New Jersey (717) 921-2000
Consumer Information (888) 878-3256 Disease and Health Risk (888) 232-3228 Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233
Veterans Services American Legion (717) 730-9100
Drug Information (800) 729-6686
Governor’s Veterans Outreach (717) 234-1681
Flu or Influenza (888) 232-3228 Health and Human Services Discrimination (800) 368-1019
Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon (717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771
Internal Revenue Service (800) 829-1040
Veterans Affairs (717) 240-6178 or (717) 697-0371
Liberty Program (866) 542-3788 Medicare Hotline (800) 638-6833
Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.
National Council on Aging (800) 424-9046
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July 2014
Marine General ‘Chesty’ Puller Made Him an Offer He Couldn’t Refuse Robert D. Wilcox
L
uke Wise grew up in a family of six boys and six girls. All the boys but Wise went in the
Army. His oldest brother served in the artillery in World War II, and at Fort Sill he trained under Marine artillery officers. So he gave his kid brother some sage advice that Luke never forgot: “If you ever go into the military, choose the Marines.” So when Wise was 21, that’s exactly what he did. The Korean War was on, so after his basic training at Parris Island, S.C., he shipped out to Korea. There, he was to have an experience that every Marine might have dreamed about. He was to hear, “Wise, the general wants to talk to you.” The general was the legendary Marine “Chesty” Puller, who had earned an unheard-of five Navy Crosses for valor in combat— although he was best known for his comment, “We’ve been looking for the enemy for some time now. We’ve finally found him. We’re surrounded. That simplifies things.” Now, “Chesty” wanted to see Sgt. Luke Wise. “The only thing that came to mind,” Wise says, “is, ‘What could he possibly want to talk to me about?’” He was about to find out. “Sergeant,” the general said, “they tell me your IQ is off the charts … and that you have a photographic memory. I have a hazardous assignment that I won’t order you take, but I’m sure hoping you’ll volunteer for it.” He then explained that they needed someone to make repeated forays behind enemy lines and report details of ammunition dumps the enemy had spread out over several miles (and one even across the Yalu River in Manchuria). What did Wise say? “What do you think I said? You think I could stand in front of a man like ‘Chesty’ Puller, who had specifically asked for me, and tell him, ‘No, General, I think I would
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really rather not’?” So then, how many missions did he run, and what were they like? “Well, there were 15 of them in all, and they were all pretty hairy. They always meant moving only at night, because the North Korean troops were everywhere. I was forbidden to make notes … everything had to be memorized. I
Sgt. Luke Wise upon his return to the U.S. in 1953.
was to zero-in on the ammunition dumps that our air observers could see but could not come close enough to target on. “When I got back from missions, the general had me use my code name, ‘Sgt. Dutch,’ and send the exact coordinates for best bombing to the carrier, USS Oriskany (“The Mighty O”). Her aircraft would then fly the missions to flatten those ammo dumps. We could often see the dumps erupt in terrific blasts.” Wise had to extend his tour to finish the job, and he says, “When it was over, Gen. Puller asked me what kind of assignment I’d like next, saying, ‘You name it, and you’ve got it.’ I figured I ought to go for it, so I said, ‘Sir, I’d like to chauffeur for an admiral.’ “And the next thing I knew, I was assigned to the USS Pocono, the flagship for the Commander, Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet. Sure enough, I was the admiral’s chauffeur and in charge of the ship’s orderlies.”
One more thing about Gen. Puller: Wise later got a personal letter from the general, thanking and commending him for the work he did in his clandestine missions. Aboard the Pocono, Wise toured the Caribbean, with stops at many exotic ports, from Jamaica to Trinidad. And yes, he was the admiral’s chauffeur whenever the admiral was ashore. Wise left active duty in July 1954 but stayed in the Reserve until 1959 as a staff sergeant. He then returned to Central Pennsylvania and worked in construction and cabinetry before retiring in 1999. In retirement, he had one almost unbelievable “small world” experience. He was shopping one day at a local farmers market, wearing his Marine Corps cap. A man stopped him and said, “We sure needed you Marines in Korea.” When Wise asked him how he knew about that, the guy said, “I was flying off the Oriskany, bombing the ammo dumps that you guys pinpointed for us.” When Wise asked him if he could remember the code name of the spotter who gave him the info, the guy said, “I’ll never forget it. His code name was ‘Sgt. Dutch.’” To which Wise said, “Well … I’m Sgt. Dutch.” Wise laughs and says, “You should have seen that guy’s jaw drop. He couldn’t believe he would ever actually run into Sgt. Dutch. And at the [farmers market], of all places. Turned out he was from Florida, just passing through. What were the chances of that? Maybe one in a billion.” Wise now lives in retirement with his wife, Collette, in a comfortable retirement community in Central Pennsylvania. But he keeps a collection of Marine Corps caps that he wears … always glad for the chance to meet other vets with whom he swaps stories of those terrible— but wonderful—days in the Marines. Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in Europe in World War II.
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The Way I See It
My Workshop Mike Clark here’s a place just off our family room that I like to call my workshop. Workshop is a misnomer, however. There’s hardly room to move in there, let alone do work. It’s become a place where I go only to look for tools when something in the house breaks, leaks, or falls apart. Sometimes I even think about making stuff—until I turn the lights on. I look there because I know I put tools in there at one time or another. I just don’t remember which ones or where. I store tools in other places, too (which exacerbates my problem), but the shop is the principal place for the essential implements that I need to maintain our home. Halloween decorations and paint cans (filled to various levels with paint and dried paint scum) are out in the open on a shelf toward the back of the workshop. I haven’t used either in years, but at least they are easy to find. I don’t know why Halloween decorations are in there. I certainly didn’t make them. And the paint colors are outdated. Easily finding things that are no longer of any use to me indicates another problem, as of yet undefined. Hoarding? But specific tools, when I am in urgent need of them, are hard to find. Not all tools, mind you, are hard to find; large, cumbersome tools are difficult to misplace, after all. There’s a 10-inch table saw right about in the center of the shop. It acts as an anchor and is a symbol of the possibilities and potential of what could someday be a viable workshop. To get to it, I must step over a chain
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saw, a circular saw, a jigsaw, and a router. All these power tools are in their original, molded-plastic cases, which enhances the size of each obstruction. Therefore, they offer a challenge when trying to climb over them. The router, by the way, is brand new; I forgot I had it. I also forget why I bought it. I would like to move everything aside while walking to my table saw and the workbench beyond, but pushing these ungainly objects to and fro just jams them more tightly against other articles that should not be on a workshop floor. These power tools can only be stored in the spaces in which they sit. I pick them up, and I set them down. Hand tools are not always so visible, however. And therein lies the gist of my troubles. Any relatively flat surface in the vicinity of a job I’m doing is a potential storage spot for a small hand tool. It is also a convenient spot to deposit wood scraps, bent nails, stripped screws, and other, larger tools. It happens often enough that a significant supply of important hand tools can end up concealed under mounds of things that should have been discarded long ago. Oh, the tools and gadgets that I’ve taken the time and care to hang on my large, brown peg-board are fairly neat and in order. I attribute that to the fact that I seldom use those things. They consist of screwdrivers, chisels, nut-drivers, pliers,
wrenches, hand saws, hand drills, leftover plumbing supplies, and miscellaneous doodads that are all the wrong sizes and types for the tasks that I need to tend. I must have needed them at one time. I mean, why else would they be there? I have often searched an inordinately long time for a tool that I know I have. And in my frustration, I give up looking. Then I go to the hardware store and buy a new tool. It saves me a lot of time, and the tool I need is usually inexpensive. The hours I waste looking could be spent repairing, I always say. In the latest episode, my garbage disposal jammed. You’ll have to ask my wife why, though. Fine, it could have happened to anyone (as she says). So I
went down to my workshop to fetch a quarter-inch Allen wrench to jog the flywheel back and forth, which usually clears the jam. I searched until I found an array of Allen wrenches lying scattershot in a place far from where they should have been. There was no quarter-inch wrench in the pile, although I know I have one— somewhere. In the meantime, I went to the hardware store to get a new one. Someday I’ll clean out and organize my workshop. And when I do, I’ll more than likely find two of everything. I’m going to plan a yard sale. Mike Clark writes a regular column for The Globe Leader newspaper in New Wilmington, Pa. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in organizational behavior/applied psychology from Albright College. Mike lives outside Columbia, Pa., and can be contacted at mikemac429@aol.com.
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Tinseltown Talks
Here’s to You, Mrs. Robinson Nick Thomas hen NASA honored June Lockhart last October, it would have been quite fitting to borrow the above lyrics from a popular Simon and Garfunkel song to salute the 89-year-old actress. Best remembered by sci-fi fans for her role of TV space mom Maureen Robinson in the ’60s series Lost in Space, Lockhart told me recently that the NASA recognition was a highlight of her long career, which includes a Tony Award, an Emmy nomination, and a couple of stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “I was presented with the Exceptional Public Achievement Medal for my work with the space agency,” she explained. “I’ve been to two space shuttle launches and worked with NASA since the 1970s, addressing their employees and traveling on NASA’s behalf to promote the agency.
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The1960 cast of Lassie. Pictured are June Lockhart, Hugh Reilly, Jon Provost, and Lassie. Publicity photo of Guy Williams and June Lockhart promoting their roles on the television series Lost in Space.
Edgar Buchanan as Uncle Joe, June Lockhart as Janet Craig, and Higgins from Petticoat Junction.
“So I’m absolutely thrilled by this recognition,” she said. “No other actress has received this honor.” One of her memorable experiences occurred during a space shuttle mission in 1992. “I called NASA one day and spoke with astronaut Ken Reightler and told him I had a good wake-up song for them to use,” recalled Lockhart. She was referring to “The World is Waiting for the Sunrise,” a catchy ’50s hit by Les Paul and Mary Ford. The song held special significance because the lyrics were written by her father, beloved character actor Gene Lockhart. “So I went to mission control in Houston, and at around 2 a.m. they played the song for the crew of the Columbia mission,” she explained. “Then a voice from space came over the speaker: ‘Some of us up here want to know what Lassie’s mother is doing in
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mission control at 2 o’clock in the package Mr. Cratchit brings home. “We morning!’” all shriek with laugher when we watch it Lassie, one of TV’s longest-running now.” shows (1954-1973), was Lockhart’s other In addition to being an advocate for big hit in which she dispensed maternal NASA and many other causes, Lockhart wisdom, this time continues to work for six seasons as a and co-starred in farm mom. Later, the comedy spoof she morphed from Zombie Hamlet, matriarch to medic which had its as Dr. Janet Craig world premiere at for three seasons on the 2012 Palm Petticoat Junction. Beach “Petticoat International Film Junction was a Festival and was delight to do with released on DVD wonderful scripts,” in December said Lockhart. “It 2013. Photo courtesy of June Lockhart In 2013, she was great playing Family portrait. Gene, Kathleen, appeared in the comedy after Lost and June Lockhart, 1953. interactive movie in Space, which was series Tex Murphy, more dramatic, and a gaming platform Lassie, which didn’t that combines have many laughs.” animation with On the big full-motion video screen, 12-year-old of real actors. Lockhart made her “That was a debut in the 1938 new experience, holiday classic A and I really Christmas Carol, enjoyed it. And in alongside both her December, I also parents, Gene and National Symphony Orchestra Conductor Emil de Cou, right, listens to celebrated my 80th Kathleen Lockhart, Lockhart introduce a set of spaceyear as a paid who played the themed music during the “Salute to performer in the Cratchits. Apollo” ceremony at the Kennedy business! I made While she went Center for the Performing Arts. my debut at the on to costar with age of 8 in Peter greats such as Gary Ibbetson at the Metropolitan Opera Cooper in Sergeant York and Judy House.” Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis, A While actors are used to receiving Christmas Carol is special since it was the accolades for career milestones, Lockhart only time she appeared with her parents in a motion picture. admits to still being quite overwhelmed But it was memorable for other by the NASA recognition and is, she reasons, too. says, “over the moon about it!” “My daughter, Junie, and Congratulations, Mrs. Robinson! granddaughter, Christianna, have never Thomas’ features and columns have appeared let me forget that the first words I ever in more than 300 magazines and newspapers, spoke in movies were: ‘I know, I know– and he is the author of Raised by the Stars, sausages!’” said Lockhart, referring to her published by McFarland. He can be reached on-screen guess for the contents of a food at his blog: http://getnickt.blogspot.com
There’s room for you at our table.
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Celebrating L i f e Living Will vs. Durable Healthcare Power of Attorney — What You Should Know By Lori M. Myers Whether you are a caretaker for a family member or the person putting your own personal papers in order, it is important to realize the importance of two basic documents: a living will and a durable healthcare power of attorney. There are similarities between the two, but there are also some differences you should know about. Both the living will and the durable power of attorney for healthcare allow an individual to specify their wishes for the type and extent of medical care they wish to have if they should become unable to speak on their own. Both allow you to choose someone you trust to make certain medical choices on your behalf. You must be at least 18 years of age to create either document and be of sound mind, meaning that you are able to understand what the document means, what it contains, and how it works. No
one can coerce you into creating either document. Together they are often called an advance directive. Now let’s look at how the two are different. The living will details the type of care you want or don’t want if you become incapacitated. It answers the question whether or not life-prolonging measures are to be given if there’s no hope of recovery. Such procedures typically include transfusions of blood and blood products, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, diagnostic tests, dialysis, administration of drugs, use of a respirator, and surgery. We’ve all read instances of patients who are brain dead or have a terminal illness, and how heartbreaking it could be for family members who become emotional, perhaps guilt-ridden, when no living will is present and they are forced to make this ultimate decision for a loved one. Having this document would avoid this scenario.
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While the living will generally covers very specific issues like “do not resuscitate,” it may not deal with other important medical concerns that arise. That’s where a durable power of attorney for healthcare comes into play. This document covers all healthcare decisions and lasts only as long as you are incapable of making decisions on your own. You would appoint someone you trust to be your healthcare agent to make any necessary healthcare decisions for you and to make sure that doctors and other healthcare providers give you the type of care you wish to receive. The healthcare durable power of attorney allows the agent to consent or refuse consent to any medical treatment that affects your physical or mental health, hire or fire medical personnel, make decisions about the best medical facilities for you, visit you in the hospital even when other visiting is restricted, gain access to medical records, and get
court authorization if for any reason a hospital or doctor does not honor your living will or the authority of the healthcare agent. Under a durable healthcare power of attorney, most of the agent’s authority ends upon your death, but more and more states give the agent permission to oversee the disposition of the body, including authorizing an autopsy or carrying out any wishes for organ donation. If you want your agent to have these powers, you should say so in your power of attorney document. A good thing to do is to consult with your attorney, your physician, and your family about your advance healthcare directive documents. The advantages of making these decisions early and putting them in writing are that you have a greater assurance your specific wishes will be carried out and that family conflicts can be avoided.
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Celebrating L i f e Help Through Hospice By Lori M. Myers Hospice has become a way to die with dignity and receive appropriate care in the last phase of life. It has become part of the care continuum for patients, and medical interns and residents are being made aware of this option and the necessary empathy needed toward not only the patient, but also the family. Hospice is not a place. It is a special kind of healthcare focused on keeping the patient comfortable once the patient and physician have decided that the underlying disease, despite all efforts, can no longer be treated or cured. It helps the patient, their families, and other caregivers during a most stressful time; it is care that could take place in a variety of settings and is focused on the belief that quality of life is as important as length of life. But it’s more than reassuring family members or providing emotional and spiritual support. Hospice staff members
also help manage pain and symptoms and can make those last months, weeks, or days more comfortable. The patient is relieved of discomfort, yet still alert enough to enjoy the people around them. According to the American Cancer Society, all hospices must provide certain services, but they have different approaches and types of support offered. Along with pain and symptom control, the hospice can arrange for inpatient care and will stay involved in your care and your family. Spiritual care can be arranged to meet the patient’s specific needs and/or requests. It might include helping you look at what death means to you, helping you say goodbye, or helping with a certain religious ceremony or ritual. A hospice nurse or social worker also sets up regularly scheduled family conferences to keep family members informed about your condition and what to expect. These conferences give
“A Continuing Care Retirement Community.”
everyone the opportunity to share feelings, find support, and realize stress relief. Hospice is a seven-days-a-week, 24hours-a-day service that may also include other community professionals such as the pharmacist, clergy, and doctors. This “team” can be contacted at any time — someone is always on call to help or answer any questions, assuring you and your family that you are not alone during this time. If a doctor has certified the prognosis as not longer than six months, an individual is eligible for hospice. This applies to anyone of any age, with any type of illness, including Alzheimer’s disease. It generally costs less than inpatient care in a hospital, nursing home, or other facility because with home hospice, you pay only for the specific care that you need. In addition, volunteers may be able to provide many services at little or no cost. Medicare, Medicaid, and most private
insurance plans cover hospice services. Medicare regulations require that your hospice care be provided at home, with only short stays in an inpatient facility. In order to qualify for the Medicare hospice benefit, your physician must recertify you at the beginning of each benefit period, and you must sign an elective statement indicating that you understand the nature of your illness or condition and of hospice care. By signing the statement, you surrender your right to other Medicare benefits related to your illness. If you are unable to sign the document, a family member may sign the election statement for you. While patients usually pay out of pocket for any services not covered by insurance, hospice services are generally provided without charge if you have limited or nonexistent financial resources. Don’t think of hospice as simply dying. Think of it as dying with dignity, grace, and support.
“A Community Outreach of Homeland Center.”
Provider and leader of quality healthcare in Central PA for more than 147 years.
Exemplary personalized care that enables patients and families to live each day as fully as possible.
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717-221-7902
717-221-7890
1901 North Fifth Street • Harrisburg, PA 17102
2300 Vartan Way, Suite 115 • Harrisburg, PA 17110
www.homelandcenter.org
www.homelandhospice.org
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July 2014
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Celebrating L i f e Funeral Preplanning – Emotional and Financial Security for Loved Ones By Lori M. Myers We planned our careers, our children’s lives (much to their chagrin), and our travels. But thinking about planning for own death makes us uneasy. We know we should preplan, get it down on paper, and make it official. It’s important. But why? First, it removes the burden of doing so from our loved ones. A death can be an emotional time without the added stress of organizing and paying for those final arrangements while in the midst of grief. It’s even worse if the death is a sudden one, leaving loved ones unprepared and confused. They may rush to pay for a cemetery plot or grave without careful thought. Second, it ensures our own specific wishes will be carried out. Preplanning allows us to have the funeral reflect who we are and what we want. Do you want to be cremated or buried? If cremated, how should the remains be scattered and where? Who
should keep them? If buried, where do you want your final resting place to be? What sort of memorial service do you want? Do you wish something simple with only close family in attendance? Or is more of a large celebration something you feel comfortable with? Are there favorite songs or readings you wish to share with those who are present? Are there photos you want displayed as mourners enter the service? Depending on one’s religious beliefs, some funerals have to be conducted within 24-48 hours. Others have a little bit more time. Funeral preplanning saves a family much time agonizing over what they “think” your wishes could be as well as how to pay and who will pay. According to the Federal Trade Commission’s consumer information, you may wish to make decisions about your arrangements in advance but not pay for them in advance.
COCKLIN
FUNERAL HOME, INC. Dillsburg, Pennsylvania
• What happens to the money you’ve prepaid? States have different requirements for handling funds paid for prearranged funeral services.
If you decide to take this route, keep in mind that over time, prices will fluctuate and businesses may close or change ownership. It’s a good idea, they say, to review and revise your decisions every few years, and to make sure you communicate any and all plans and changes of those plans to your family. Any preferences should be put in writing and copies given to family members and your attorney, with one copy in a place where it can be easily found. Avoid putting the only copy of your preferences in a safe-deposit box in the event arrangements have to be made on a weekend or holiday before the box can be opened. According to the Federal Trade Commission, if you do prepay some or all of the funeral expenses, it’s important to consider the following:
• What happens to the interest income on money that is prepaid and put into a trust account? • Are you protected if the firm you dealt with goes out of business? • Can you cancel the contract and get a full refund if you change your mind? • What happens if you move to a different area or die while away from home? Some prepaid funeral plans can be transferred, but it could be at an added cost. Whatever planning you do, let your family know the details. Let them know where the documents are filed, whether or not you have prepaid. You may also wish to consult an attorney on the best way to ensure that your wishes are followed.
• What are you paying for? Are you buying only merchandise, like a casket and vault, or are you purchasing funeral services as well?
For more than 18 years, 50plus LIVING has been the guide to living and care options. Will they find your services there? Your guide to choosing the right living and care options for you or a loved one: • Active adult and residential living
Scott D. Brenneman
Becky J. Cocklin
Funeral Director, Supervisor
Funeral Director
• Independent and retirement living communities • Assisted living residences and personal care homes • Nursing and healthcare services
Serving Dillsburg and the Surrounding Area Since 1935 • Pre-Arrangement Counseling • Cremation 30 N. Chestnut Street Dillsburg, PA 17019 (717) 432-5312
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July 2014
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Call about Early Bird Savings! Must reserve by Aug. 29, 2014 To include your community or service in the 2015 edition or for a free copy of the 2014 edition, call your representative or (717) 285-1350 or email info@onlinepub.com www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Savvy Senior
How Reverse Mortgages Work in 2014 Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about reverse mortgages? I was considering one last year, but now I hear they are more difficult to get. – Ready to Reverse Dear Ready, That’s correct. Tighter rules on reverse mortgages that have recently gone into effect have made them harder to get, especially for seniors with heavy debt problems. The reason the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) made these changes was to strengthen the product, which has suffered from a struggling housing market and a growing number of defaults by borrowers. Here’s a rundown of how reverse mortgages now work in 2014. Overview: The basics are still the same. A reverse mortgage is a loan that allows senior homeowners to borrow money against the equity in their house. The loan doesn’t have to be repaid until the homeowner dies, sells the house, or moves out for at least 12 months. It’s also important to know that with a reverse mortgage, you, not the bank, own the house, so you’re still responsible for property taxes, insurance, and repairs. Eligibility: To be eligible for a reverse mortgage, you must be at least 62 years old, own your own home (or owe only a small balance), and currently be living there. You will also need to undergo a financial assessment to determine whether you can afford to make all the necessary tax and insurance payments over the projected life of the loan. Lenders will look at your sources of income, your assets, and your credit history. Depending on your financial situation, you may be required to put part of your loan into an escrow account to pay future bills. If the financial assessment finds that you cannot pay your insurance and taxes and have enough cash left to live on, you will be denied. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Loans: Nearly all reverse mortgages offered today are home equity conversion mortgages (HECM), which are FHA insured and offered through private mortgage lenders and banks. HECMs also have home-value limits that vary by county but cannot exceed $625,500. See the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development online (hud.gov/ll/code/llslcrit.cfm) for a list of HUD-approved lenders. Loan amounts: The amount you get through a reverse mortgage depends on your age, your home’s value, and the prevailing interest rates. Generally, the older you are, the more your house is worth, and the lower the interest rates are, the more you can borrow. A 70-year-old, for example, with a home worth $300,000 could borrow around $170,000 with a fixed-rate HECM. To calculate how much you can borrow, visit the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association’s website (www.reversemortgage.org). Loan costs: Reverse mortgages have a number of upfront fees, including a 2 percent lender origination fee for the first $200,000 of the home’s value and 1 percent of the remaining value, with a cap of $6,000. There is also a 0.5 percent initial mortgage insurance premium fee, along with an appraisal fee, closing costs, and other miscellaneous expenses. Most fees can be deducted for the loan amount to reduce your out-of-pocket cost at closing. In addition, you’ll also have to pay an annual mortgage insurance premium of 1.25 percent of the loan amount.
Payment options: You can receive the money in a lump sum, a line of credit, regular monthly checks, or a combination of these. But in most cases, you cannot withdraw more than 60 percent of the loan during the first year. If you do, you’ll pay a 2.5 percent upfront insurance premium fee.
H
Counseling: All borrowers are required to get face-to-face or telephone counseling through a HUD-approved independent counseling agency before taking out a reverse mortgage. Some agencies are awarded grants that enable them to offer counseling for free, but most charge around $125 to $250. To locate a counseling agency near you, visit HUD’s Home Equity Conversion Mortgages for Seniors webpage (hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/ hecmhome.cfm) or call (800) 569-4287. Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org
Veterans’ expo and Job Fair H November 14, 2014 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Eden Resort 222 Eden Road, Lancaster
2 events — 1 location Market your product, service, or job opportunities to military personnel of all ages and their families. Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available
Reserve your space today! Please contact your account representative, call (717) 285-1350, or email info@onlinepub.com
www.veteransexpo.com
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Calendar of Events
Cumberland County
Support Groups
Free and open to the public.
July 1, 7 p.m. CanSurmount Cancer Support Group HealthSouth Acute Rehab Hospital 175 Lancaster Blvd., Mechanicsburg (717) 691-6786
July 8, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Carlisle Area Men’s Cancer Support Group The Live Well Center 3 Alexandria Court, Carlisle (717) 877-7561 sirbrady12@gmail.com
July 3, 6:30 p.m. Too Sweet: Diabetes Support Group Chapel Hill United Church of Christ 701 Poplar Church Road, Camp Hill (717) 557-9041
July 9, 1 p.m. Parkinson’s Support Group HealthSouth Rehab Hospital 175 Lancaster Blvd. Mechanicsburg (717) 877-0624
July 15, 1 p.m. Caregiver Support Group Mechanicsburg Church of the Brethren 501 Gale St., Mechanicsburg (717) 766-8880
Senior Center Activities
Big Spring Senior Center – (717) 776-4478 91 Doubling Gap Road, Suite 1, Newville Mondays in July, 9:30 a.m. – Health Matters Series Wednesdays through Aug. 13, 2 p.m. – Tai Chi Summer Session July 11, 10 a.m. – Summer Olympics Shippensburg Area Senior Center – (717) 300-3563 Christ United Methodist Church, 47 E. King St., Shippensburg Fridays, 9 to 11 a.m. – Farmers Market Vouchers Distribution July 15, 9 a.m. – Hand and Foot Tourney July 23, 8:30 a.m. – Shippensburg Fair
Community Programs
Free and open to the public.
Mondays and Wednesdays, noon to 12:45 p.m. Silver Sneakers Class: Muscular Strength and Range of Movement Living Well Fitness Center 207 House Ave., Suite 107 Camp Hill (717) 439-4070
July 9, 11:30 a.m. NARFE West Shore Chapter 1465 VFW Post 6704 4907 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg (717) 737-1486 www.narfe1465.org Visitors welcome; meeting is free but fee for food.
July 4, 10:30 a.m. New Cumberland Town Band Performance New Cumberland Public Library 1 Benjamin Plaza New Cumberland www.nctownband.org
July 9, 6:30 p.m. Amputee Support Team Annual Picnic HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital 175 Lancaster Blvd. Mechanicsburg (610) 867-9295 dehoss67@comcast.net www.astamputees.com
If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.
AARP Driver Safety Programs For a Safe Driving Class near you, call toll-free (888) 227-7669 or visit www.aarp.org/findacourse. July 1 and 2, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – AARP Driver Safety Program, Camp Hill Borough Building, 2125 Walnut St., Camp Hill, (717) 737-4548 July 9 and 10, 1 to 4:30 p.m. – Seniors for Safe Driving Program, Carlisle Brethren in Christ Church, 1155 Walnut Bottom Road, Carlisle, (800) 559-4880, www.seniorsforsafedriving.com
PA State Parks in Cumberland County July 5, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. – Old-Time Mountain, Folk, and Coalmining Songs, Colonel Denning State Park July 6, 2 to 3 p.m. – The Park Before The Park: Jackson Fuller’s Amusement Park at Pine Grove Furnace 1878-1900, Pine Grove Furnace State Park July 12, 9 a.m. to noon – Volunteer Workday, Kings Gap Environmental Education Center
Please contact your local center for scheduled activities.
Cumberland County Library Programs Bosler Memorial Library, 158 W. High St., Carlisle, (717) 243-4642 July 7, 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. – Monday Bosler Book Discussion Group July 9, 1 to 2 p.m. – Wicked Wednesday Book Discussion Group July 25, 1 to 2 p.m. – Just Mysteries! Book Club Cleve J. Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, (717) 761-3900 Tuesdays through Aug. 26, 6 to 7 p.m. – 2014 Master Gardener Plant Clinics July 11, 4 to 7:30 p.m. – Blood Drive July 14, 7 p.m. – Summer Concert Series: Christopher Dean Band New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland, (717) 774-7820 July 4 – Community July Fourth Independence Day Celebration July 9, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Great Books Discussion Group: The Highest Good by Aristotle July 19, 11 a.m. to noon – Couponing for Extreme Savings: How to Get Free Gas All Summer
What’s Happening? Give Us the Scoop! Please send us your press releases so we can let our readers know about free events occurring in Cumberland County! Email preferred to: mjoyce@onlinepub.com
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July 2014
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Deal Me In By Mark Pilarski
Did This Player Deserve to Be Tossed from the Casino? Dear Mark: I was asked to leave a casino by security for, if you can believe this, playing someone else’s leftover $12 worth of credits that they had left on a slot machine and didn’t cash out. Although not banned for life, I was rudely told it was against the law, made to return the $12, and told not to come back for 30 days. You have got to be kidding me! Whatever happened to “finder’s keepers, loser’s weepers?” – Matt N. For starters, Matt, the casino made you give back the money simply because it didn’t belong to you. “Finder’s keepers, loser’s weepers” is not a defense for taking credits discovered on a slot machine. You are basing your newly found booty on the premise that when something is abandoned, whoever finds it can claim it. Unfortunately, within the casino walls, this raises ethical and legal challenges. On the casino floor, credits left on machines do not belong to the person who finds them, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that they belong to the casino either. Casinos, as well as some gaming jurisdictions, have specific policies on how to handle abandoned credits. The children’s rhyme, “finder’s keepers, loser’s weepers” may apply in children’s games but doesn’t pass muster in gambling establishments. Like a pair of sunglasses left at a blackjack game, in the joints where I
worked, we regarded credits left on a slot machine specifically as “lost property” and did our best to find their rightful owner. Today, especially if one uses his or her Player’s card, it is relatively easy to track the previous player. Nevertheless, a tip to you and other slotplaying patrons: before you walk away from any slot machine, don’t forget to press the cash-out button. As for you being 86’d from the casino, well, that might have been a bit over the top. I have never heard of any leftovercredits-playing player being given the heave-ho. That said, that doesn’t mean there are not swindlers who make a living scavenging the millions lost each year by gamblers who forget their stored credits (winnings). The pretender who purposively circles the casino floor looking for orphan credits on a slot machine, or even change on the floor for that matter, can warrant the dreaded permanent 86 for making a full-time occupation of cruising the casino eyeing easy pickings. I will buy, however, that you weren’t a credit conniver looking for an easy score. So, playing slot manager for just a
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moment, my casino-management style would not have even warranted a wrist slap. I was one to operate more in the spirit of the law, not the letter of, although, I must acknowledge that every gaming supervisor will handle your scenario their own way. All I would have told you was that the next time you find credits remaining on the machine, you should inform some slot-floor personnel, and then I would have gone on my merry
way. Had we found the previous player, I just would have credited him or her $12. Now let’s look at the positive here, Matt, of which there is one. For the next 30 days, you won’t be playing on a machine that has a house edge of up to 20 percent. Gambling Wisdom of the Week: “I have seen a pregnant woman stand at a 21 game, oblivious to labor pains, until we thought we were going to become midwives, and leave only when we summoned an ambulance.” – Harold S. Smith Sr., I Want to Quit Winners (1961) Mark Pilarski is a recognized authority on casino gambling, having survived 18 years in the casino trenches. Pilarski is the creator of the bestselling, award-winning audio book series on casino gambling, Hooked on Winning. www.markpilarski.com
Who Has the Best Bites in Central PA? 50plus Senior News readers have spoken! Here are the Cumberland County dining favorites for 2014! Breakfast: Carlisle Fairgrounds Diner
Fast Food: Wendy’s
Lunch: Snapper’s Bar & Grill
Seafood: Red Lobster
Dinner: Black N Bleu
Steak: Texas Roadhouse
Ethnic Cuisine: Bangkok Wok Thai Restaurant
Outdoor Dining: Duke’s Bar & Grille
Celebrating: Progress Grill
Romantic Setting: Theo's Bar & Grille
Bakery: Pennsylvania Bakery
Smorgasbord/Buffet: Fire Mountain
Coffeehouse: Dunkin’ Donuts
Caterer: Wegmans
Winner of $50 Giant Food Stores Gift Card: Sharon Gettel Congratulations!
50plus SeniorNews ›
July 2014
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GREEN-THUMB
from page 1
“As the new millennium approached, it became more important to me to create a more balanced life—one where I could experience joy and pleasure while still serving others.” More than a decade ago, Swearingen resigned her job as an assistant director of special education in a public school district, sold her house, and started from scratch working as a landscape gardener at a local retirement community. After completing coursework and interning under the direction of a horticultural therapist, Swearingen earned a certificate in horticultural therapy from Temple University, effectively combining her background in human services with her love of plants and flowers. The therapeutic benefits of gardens and gardening have been documented for centuries, but it was Dr. Benjamin Rush, the “father of American psychiatry” and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, who first recorded the positive effects the therapy had on patients with mental illness in the 1800s. In the mid-20th century, horticultural therapy was used to aid the rehabilitation of hospitalized war veterans, expanding the practice beyond the confines of mental-illness treatment. “Seniors often find themselves facing loss of all types,” Swearingen said. “They may often find that they are offered fewer opportunities to contribute to the happenings within their family, their churches, or their communities.” Swearingen cited the example of a pastor’s wife named Jane who had created the flower arrangements for her church for 40 years. After her husband died, she moved to a skilled nursing care community and her health deteriorated. She also became withdrawn and clinically depressed, refusing to leave her room for months until she gradually
BASEBALL
July 2014
of some deep-rooted plants like potatoes or garlic, which need more than 6 inches of soil. Raised garden beds—both ground gardens and garden tables—have become important elements of horticultural therapy, enabling horticultural therapists to bring the practice to patients with physical limitations. “Seniors and those with limited mobility love the garden tables! It enables them to enjoy gardening again,” Manotti said. Manotti shared the story of a Central Pennsylvania woman with severe arthritis in one knee that prohibited her from kneeling to tend to a vegetable garden. As a result, she had not had a garden for many years and missed it greatly— until her son told her about square-foot gardening and purchased her a garden table, which quickly yielded so many vegetables she was able to share them with others. Swearingen noted that horticulture therapy is often used as a complement to traditional therapeutic treatments. Therapists, she said, are trained to support participants who have physical limitations through the use of adaptive tools and proper body mechanics. “Horticultural therapy is unique in that it involves tangible outcomes that are valued by the participant and the community. The activities provide opportunities for decision making, creative expression, and contribution to others,” she said. Avid gardeners as well as those who have never tended a garden in their lives can benefit from horticulture both in and out of a therapeutic setting. “Plants are not influenced by poverty or wealth, by age or ability,” said Swearingen. “Nurture them, and they will grow. The same is true for us—if we nurture ourselves, we will grow. It is never too late.”
least that’s how they looked to us. Louis would cut the hot dog in half for us. We always ordered “ever’thing on it.” Usually by the time we’d polished off the hot dog and licked the last of the “ever’thing” off our fingers, the ushers had given up and we slipped into the stadium and up the stairs that led to bleacher seats along the right-field foul line. We were convinced that lefthanded batters hit most homeruns and by being past right field, we would have
shirtfront full of Plow Boy or Red Man Plug. These treats cost at least 15 cents each. The display of such adult extravagance was a wonderment to both of us. In fact, there are moments when it still seems so — at least to me.
from page 2
getting there earlier since the bleacher ushers didn’t abandon their posts until sometime in the sixth inning. Then they would wander into the stands to watch the game or simply sit on the steps and smoke cigarettes. But before dashing in, Yankee and I would pool our financial resources to patronize Louis’s hot dog wagon. Louis’s hot dogs were 15 cents. This was a premium price for a hot dog, but Louis’s were extra long as well as extra fat, or at
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began participating in flower-arranging perfect height for those unable to bend programs. over to garden. “Eventually, she proudly found her Manotti was inspired to offer raised designs on display in the main lobby. She garden beds after his aging father, a became recognized by the entire lifelong gardener, had not gardened in 15 community for her beautiful creations,” years due health issues and limited Swearingen mobility. recalled. “She “Two years improved ago, we built emotionally him a garden and physically table, and this to the point has enabled that she was him to do what able to leave he had done the skilled care almost all of his community life, and that and move in was to grow his with her own family.” vegetables,” Swearingen Manotti said. also recounted “We thought, if her experience he needed this, with three men so did a lot of who regularly other people.” Seniors gardening in raised garden beds. grew and Your Garden harvested Solution’s vegetables for the local food bank, raising garden tables are created by local Amish many pounds of food for their craftsmen out of Douglas fir, sassafras, community “despite having ailments and cedar woods. Manotti recommends a such as congestive heart failure, technique called square-foot gardening, dementia, and limited mobility,” she where the 4-foot by 4-foot garden bed is said. filled with 6 inches of soil and “They grew all of their vegetables in subdivided into 16 square-foot sections. raised garden beds, harvesting from the Each square foot grows different comfort and stability of their chairs.” vegetables or flowers, enabling a gardener Raised garden beds are the specialty to grow a lot of plants in a small space. A and passion of Joe Manotti, certified square-foot garden bed typically yields square-foot gardening instructor for Your many more vegetables than traditional Garden Solution, with locations in row gardening and with fewer weeds. Camp Hill and Harrisburg. These “The average person quits gardening gardens consist of soil enclosed by a after 2.5 years. Why? Because of the square frame, usually made of wood, maintenance involved, such as weeding,” which is raised above the surrounding Manotti said. “Raised beds eliminate soil. much of the maintenance since the soil Raised garden beds are available in [we offer] is formulated to provide plants two types: a ground garden is raised with the optimal growing environment.” about 8 inches off the ground, and a Manotti said that garden tables can garden table stands on legs 3 feet high, a grow most vegetables, with the exception
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a better chance of retrieving a homerun ball. But we never did. The Cubs right fielder was Bill Nicholson. You could yell “Hi, Bill” to him from the bleachers. “Big Bill” was considered a homerun threat, although we never saw him hit a homer. He was said to be fond of chewing tobacco. Avid adult fans would throw packages of chew to him in dull moments, and at the end of a slow inning, he’d trot back into the dugout with a bulging
A collection of Ted Rickard’s family-fun essays is titled Anything Worth Knowing I Learned from the Grandkids. It is now available in paperback on Amazon.com.
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“A Community Outreach of Homeland Center”
Provider and leader of quality healthcare in Central PA for more than 147 years.
Exemplary personalized care that enables patients and families to live each day as fully as possible.
50 renovated Personal Care Suites.
Focused on pain relief, comfort, and support for patients and families.
Applications being accepted for a limited number. Skilled Nursing Care Unit accommodates 92, including a 21-bed Alzheimer’s Unit.
Providing hospice care in Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, York, Adams, Franklin, and Juniata counties. Call us for details on our full array of services.
717-221-7902
717-221-7890
1901 North Fifth Street Harrisburg, PA 17102 www.homelandcenter.org
2300 Vartan Way, Suite 115 Harrisburg, PA 17110 www.homelandhospice.org
Our Flag Students Take in ‘Greatest Show’
When I look at our flag and see the red, I think of the blood the patriots shed, The pains they suffered, the freedoms they sought. They risked their lives in the battles they fought. The white in the flag means purity. They fought for freedom and security, The right to attend the church we admire, To speak without fear the words we desire.
Messiah Lifeways’ Pathways Institute for Lifelong Learning recently brought 70 of its students to the morning performance of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey’s Circus in Hershey. The trip capped off Pathways’ class about the history of “The Greatest Show on Earth.” The trip was coordinated by Dr. Ken Markley, the Pathways class instructor, with the assistance of members of the outreach department of the circus. Pathways Institute for Lifelong Learning offers lifelong learning opportunities to engage in mental, cultural, and spiritual activities for anyone 55 and better in South Central Pennsylvania.
In the blue sky, a new constellation Came together to make a great nation. A nation today that leads the crowd; A nation that is happy and proud. Our flag, it is a glorious thing, For all the history it does bring. For all the freedoms we adore, May it on high forever soar. Written and submitted by John McGrath
If you have local news you’d like considered for Around Town, please email mjoyce@onlinepub.com
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