FOCUS ON SENIORS Supplement to The Oklahoman, March 16, 2011
HEARING
CHARITY
When left untreated, hearing loss can lead to reduced earning power, disruptions in family life and can cause a wide range of other psychological problems. Learn how to choose a hearing aid that’s right for you.
As you begin to comb through and update your winter wardrobe for spring, consider giving your old clothes new life by donating them to those in need.
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INDEX Insurance help A zest for life Estate plans Irish food Food for women Raising grandkids
2 4 6 7-8 9 10
Pre-existing conditions are focus of new plan BY JOSE M. OLIVERO Social Security Administration
Not eligible for Medicare yet? Do you find it hard to obtain health insurance due to pre-existing conditions? You may be eligible for the new Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan — a program for people who have a pre-existing medical condition and have been without health insurance coverage for at least six months. People with pre-existing conditions face daunting challenges — and high costs — when they shop for health insurance. This new plan covers physician and hospital services and prescription drugs. Premiums vary by state. Annual out-ofpocket expenses for enrollees are capped. Details about the program and how to apply may vary depending on what State you live in. In some states, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with the help of the U.S. Office of Person-
nel Management and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Finance Center, will run the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan; other States have asked to run the program themselves. Regardless of which state you live in, to qualify for the program you must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident, and you must have been uninsured for at least six months. In addition, you must have a preexisting condition or have been denied insurance coverage because of a medical condition. For more information, call the PreExisting Condition Insurance Plan tollfree at (866) 717-5826 or on TTY at (866) 561-1604 between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Central Time. Or, visit www.pcip.gov and select “Find Your State” to learn about eligibility and how to apply. Jose Olivero is public affairs specialist with the Social Security Administration office in Shepherd Mall, 2615 Villa Prom, Oklahoma City, OK 73107. The office phone is 1-866-331-2259, extension 12561, or 606-8062.
FOCUS ON SENIORS Focus on Seniors is published three times a year as a promotional supplement to The Oklahoman and is produced by OPUBCO Communications Group.
STAFF CREDITS
ON THE COVER
Vice president, News and Information Center Kelly Dyer Fry
Loretta Oden is an accomplished individual. She has authored cookbooks, hosted and produced an awardwinning film and is a volunteer who contributes time and effort to many projects. Her optimism and zest for life are contagious. See story, Page 4.
Director of presentation and custom publishing Yvette Walker
PHOTO BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
ONLINE
Section coordinator Don Gammill Senior news editor Amy Raymond
Retirement For information relating to retirement and senior living, check out “know it: Retirement.”
Section designer Jennifer Wilcox
KNOWIT.NEWSOK.COM/RETIREMENT-OKLAHOMA
Director of photography Doug Hoke Advertising senior account executive Jama Patton
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Choosing a hearing aid FROM FAMILY FEATURES
One in every 10 Americans has hearing loss. Yet research indicates that most wait up to 10 years before seeking help. While 95 percent of Americans with hearing loss could be successfully treated with hearing aids, only 22 percent currently use them. Modern hearing aids are small, comfortable, nearly invisible and work with digital technology to ensure better sound quality and even wireless connectivity. There are two basic types of hearing aids. Custom models are made to fit the shape of your ear canal for maximum benefit, cosmetic appeal and the best possible comfort. These models are suitable for mild to severe hearing loss.
Behind-the-ear models are available for all degrees of hearing loss and can be worn comfortably behind the ear. Incoming signals are amplified and transmitted into the ear via very small, unobtrusive tubes. Here are three steps to choosing a hearing aid that’s right for you. Step 1: Consult with a hearing health professional or ear, nose and throat doctor. When deciding what hearing aid is best for you, it is important to consider the degree of hearing loss you have, the shape of your ear canals, your personal needs, your taste and your budget. Your local hearing health professional or ENT doctor can help you answer these questions. Step 2: Have your hearing aids fitted. Your
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hearing health professional will adjust your hearing aid to your hearing loss and your hearing preferences. Over the first few days, you should wear it for a few hours per day to familiarize yourself with it. Take note on how you feel in different hearing situations. Additional fine-tuning might be necessary after your initial fitting. Step 3: Use your new hearing aids. A hearing aid can feel strange at first. This will change. Give yourself a little time to get used to it. You will learn how to make the best use of your hearing aid and soon will be enjoying all the benefits it has to offer. However, if you experience any problems or pain, contact your local hearing health professional.
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Lust for life keeps chef feeling young BY HEATHER WARLICK MOORE Staff Writer hwarlick@opubco.com
It seems Loretta Oden has discovered the Fountain of Youth. The vibrant Oklahoma City woman almost bubbles over with life as she talks about gardening, cooking and teaching others to cook. Her zest for life is evident in all she does — and she does a lot. At 68, Oden does more than many women half her age. I first met the chef, food historian and writer through a contest for The Oklahoman’s Mood section. We wanted to find three women for Short and Sassy Hair Makeovers. We asked women who wanted to change their style for the New Year to send us a short letter describing why. “I still make a lot of public appearances and feel it’s time to quit looking like a ‘wise ole elder’ and more like a HOTTIE!” Oden wrote in her entry letter. A member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Oden had about 18 inches of straight, silver hair that was as untamed as she is. She allowed Estrella Evans, owner and stylist of The Velvet Monkey Salon, to braid the locks and cut off the braid to be donated to Locks of Love. “If I see some little girl running around with silver hair, I’ll know where she got it,” Oden joked as Evans placed the shimmering silver braid in a drawer full of other people’s donations waiting to
be sent to the organization that makes wigs for children who’ve lost their hair due to illness. Oden’s willingness to make such a radical change in her appearance was a hint at the fearlessness with which she approaches her life. She doesn’t seem to care about pushing 70. It’s clear that in her mind, she’s a fiery 30something with her teeth firmly sunken into life and all it has to offer. So what is her secret? She stays busy, stays true to her native roots and appreciates the littlest things in life — a beautiful butterfly, a glass of good red wine, the feel of warm earth on her bare feet, the kiss of a cool breeze. Oden has an impressive resume — in 2007, she won a Boston/New England Chapter Emmy for “Seasoned With Spirit: A Native Cook’s Journey,” a five-part PBS series she wrote and hosted. In the series, she traveled to various locations where Native Americans live removed from the hustle of modern America. She shared their customs, cultures and methods of cooking the indigenous foods they’ve been eating for generations. Among a long list of guest appearances, she was a guest chef in the Robert Mondavi “Great Chefs” series and on Barbara Pool Fenzl’s PBS series, “Savor the Southwest.” This month, she’s headed to Phoenix to participate in an anniversary show for “Savor the Southwest” she said likely
will air on PBS within about six months. From there, she’ll travel to Taos, N.M., where she regularly volunteers with the Taos Community Economic Development Corporation (TCEDC). “We work with community members that have a product or something wonderful that they prepare, like a salsa ... some ladies do tamales ...,” she said. “We teach them how to do it so it will meet FDA approval so they can sell these things in grocery stores. “We’ve managed to get some of our people’s products into Whole Foods in Santa Fe and Wild Oats ... really some nice outlets for these people to make some extra money.” Then, when she comes home, she’ll concentrate on writing a new cookbook and on some upcoming cooking demonstrations — one for Oklahoma State University’s OLLI “Let’s Get Cookin,’ ” at The Tasting Room and at Artspace Untitled. Dates for these demonstrations are yet to be announced. A big part of Oden’s outlook on cooking and her native heritage is her devotion to gardening and cooking with fresh, organic ingredients. “Gardening is really near and dear to my heart. I love it and I think everyone should do it if for no other reason than that it’s therapeutic,” she said. “It just heals the heart and the spirit when you connect with the earth.” She insists that you must garden barefoot.
Loretta Oden works on a catering menu in the kitchen of Artspace at Untitled, 1 NE 3. PHOTO BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN
And she detests the thought of genetically modified foods. During growing season in Oden’s garden, you will find chilies and tomatoes of all kinds, lettuces and corn, beans and lots of herbs. She loves herbs because many are perennial and come back year after year. But this year, she’ll be starting from scratch on her garden since she’s recently moved into a new home in The Paseo District.
“My garden is waiting for me to get busy,” she said. As a single woman, she has a little more advice, especially for women who are aging and have lost their husbands. “We notoriously outlive our spouses and it’s very easy to get lonely,” she said. “You must stay active and you must really surround yourself with great friends and hobbies. Swim and walk and breathe in the air, get the sunshine.
“You can never, ever, ever give up hope because there’s always a new day tomorrow and something lovely and beautiful to look forward to. Even if it’s just a bird that catches your eye ... or a butterfly or a lovely tree. “We all go up and down and have problems in our lives but, you know, if you can find one thing to smile about a day, hey, you’ve got it made. I think a smile a day adds another year to your life.”
Leaving an inheritance for your children BY LARRY PARMAN Parman & Easterday
When creating an estate plan for clients, we eventually discuss the distribution of remaining assets to family members — who gets what and when do they get it? In the early days of my practice, people would say, “When I’m gone, just split it up and give it to them” — equal shares, immediate distribution. This is commonly referred to as an “outright” distribution. However, after a few questions and more careful thought, many clients would change their view. In recent years, clients frequently ask us what can be done to stretch distributions out over a longer period, or what can be done to protect their children’s inheritance in the event one of them is sued or going through divorce. Here are a few points to keep in mind when deciding this important question.
During childhood If you pass away before your children reach adulthood, you must take special care with their inheritance. A minor child cannot receive an inheritance outright. If you have minor children the two most important decisions you can make in your estate plan are: 1) Who will serve as the guardian of your minor child? and 2) Who will oversee the financial assets you leave for their benefit? The guardian will serve as the child’s caregiver while the trustee manages the assets of any trust you create for their benefit. The smartest approach is to be sure your estate plan officially designates both. Of course, you may
select one person to serve in both roles. Just be sure they have the requisite care-giving skills and financial acumen. If you do not have a plan that names a guardian and trustee for your child, then the court will do it for you. The process can create family turmoil as relatives petition the court in an adversarial hearing, each arguing they are the ones best suited to fill this important responsibility. Worse, it could be someone who has no knowledge whatsoever about your family or children, or someone your children have never met. And, the expense of a court supervised guardianship will eat away at some of your child’s inheritance funds until the child receives the trust assets, typically upon reaching age 21 or another age you specify.
During adulthood When you leave funds via a Revocable Trust or a Testamentary Trust created in a Last Will and Testament, your children will receive their inheritance when they reach adulthood, traditionally an age you stipulate in your plan before receiving their separate share of the remaining balance. But, is this the smart way to handle the money? There are other distribution triggers you should consider. What if you have a spendthrift child? If you worry that they may not be able to properly manage an inheritance at the beginning of adulthood, you may want to stipulate that the child’s inheritance be held in a trust for some period of time or until the child reaches a more advanced age. These trusts
offer flexibility to fit your child’s inheritance to your assessment of their maturity, capability and needs. The trust can provide regular payouts even into your child’s adult years. A common distribution pattern is what we call a staggered distribution pattern. In this case the trust might pay the child income generated from the trust and allow the Trustee to make additional discretionary distributions for the child’s education, support and medical needs. The trust would require the Trustee to make mandatory distributions at specific ages, say 30, 35 and 40 at which time the trust terminates. Other questions remain. What can be done to protect a child’s inheritance in the event of their divorce? Can you create a trust to benefit children and generations beyond them? Can creditors take their inheritance if they are involved in litigation? In our firm, our Access Trust provides protection of a child’s inheritance in the event of divorce. What if you wish to create a trust that benefits your children and grandchildren? If the parents believe it is in the best interest of the family to create multigenerational planning you can also create a generationskipping trust. Your children can receive distributions from the trust and benefit from the property placed in it — for example living in a house that is property of the trust. When this kind of Irrevocable Trust is structured properly, the children don’t own the assets so no estate tax is levied and these assets cannot be tar-
geted by creditors and lawsuits against your children. When the children pass away, your grandchildren assume ownership of the assets and the estate tax is levied just once, though the resources were utilized through two generations of your family.
This article only touches on the tip of the estate distribution iceberg. There are many, often smarter, choices for distributing your estate other than “give it all to them now.” You should carefully explore these options with an estate planning attor-
ney and determine the best options for your family. Larry Parman is founding attorney at Parman & Easterday in Oklahoma City. His firm has been involved in this practice since 1985. For more information on this and other areas related to senior concerns, contact Parman & Easterday, 13913-B Quail Pointe Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73134, call (800) 725-6100, or go to the firm’s website, www.ParmanLaw.com.
From Irish pastures comes a pot of gold FROM FAMILY FEATURES
Yes, there’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It’s found in each blade of grass growing in Ireland’s lush pastures. Small herds of cows graze freely, and the milk, rich in beta-carotene from the grass, produces butter and cheeses of an exceptionally golden hue. Thousands of years before the Irish discovered potatoes, dairy cows, milk and butter were being woven into the fabric of Irish society, according to the Cork Butter Museum in Cork City, Ireland. The Cork Butter Exchange, a market created
by the merchants of Cork City in 1769, was in its time, the largest butter market in the world, exporting as far away as Europe and America. Today, dairy products continue to play an important role in Irish cooking. Cooperatives of farmers, creameries and cheesemakers provide delicious Irish butter and cheeses throughout the U.S. under the Kerrygold label. To learn more about Kerrygold, and for information on where to buy products, go to www.kerry gold.com/usa. Here is an iconic recipe, using Kerrygold cheeses and butter.
Dubliner Shepherd’s Pie Makes 4 to 6 servings “Our family loves a hearty shepherd’s pie after a long day working on the farm. Because our cows produce milk to make Kerrygold Dubliner Cheese, we like to add some shredded Dubliner to the potato crust.” — Donal Murphy, Kerrygold dairy farmer, Bandon, County Cork, Ireland Ingredients for potato topping: 1 1⁄4 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cubed 2 tablespoons Kerrygold SEE IRISH, PAGE 8S
Irish: Recipe features dairy FROM PAGE 7S
Irish Butter ⁄3 cup milk 1 cup shredded Kerrygold Dubliner Cheese 1 ⁄2 teaspoon salt 1
Ingredients for filling: 1 pound lean ground beef 2 tablespoons Kerrygold Irish Butter 1 medium onion, chopped 4 small carrots, peeled and sliced 1⁄4-inch thick 2 tablespoons flour 3 ⁄4 cup Guinness Stout 3 ⁄4 cup beef stock 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 ⁄2 teaspoon salt 1 ⁄2 cup frozen peas, thawed Instructions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and lightly butter an 11- x 7-inch baking dish. Cook potatoes in boiling water for 15 minutes or until very tender; drain well. Mash with butter and milk until smooth, then stir in cheese and salt and set aside. Crumble beef into a medium skillet and
cook until no longer pink; remove from skillet and set aside. In same skillet, melt butter. Add onion and carrots; cook for 10 minutes over medium heat to soften, stirring occasionally. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute more. Add Guinness, stock, thyme and salt; cook and stir until mixture is slightly thickened then stir in peas and cooked beef. Spoon into prepared baking dish then spread potato mixture over the top. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until top is lightly browned.
Women urged to try soy for better health FROM FAMILY FEATURES
Many women make food choices based on their desire to lose weight. While eating the right foods to maintain a healthy weight is a good thing, women also need to eat the right foods to promote their overall health. Heart disease and breast cancer affect millions of women each year. Knowing what to eat to keep your body healthy is extremely important. Whole soy, which provides a number of important nutrients, including protein, fiber, antioxidants, potassium, magnesium and calcium, can have beneficial health affects for those who con-
sume two servings a day. In September 2009, leading soy science experts reviewed the current body of evidence and worked to clarify the benefits and risks of whole soy consumption. The resulting articles, published in the December 2010 Journal of Nutrition Supplement, shed light on the role of soy in women’s health. Heart health: Soy consumption can be part of a dietary pattern that reduces the risk of heart disease. Data indicates that consuming two to six daily servings of soyfoods, based on 20-133 grams of soy protein per day, can result in a 7 to 10 percent reduction in cholesterol. According to
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the Food and Drug Administration, incorporating 25 grams of soy protein per day as part of a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease. Breast cancer: Soy can be protective against breast cancer when consumption starts before puberty and appears to be safe for women at risk for or with a history of breast cancer. A review of data suggests that there is no increased risk of breast cancer linked to soy consumption. The American Cancer Society suggests that up to three servings a day of soy foods is safe for women at risk for or with a history of breast cancer.
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Grandparents raising grandkids BY SHERMAN HUFF
While grandparents rearing grandchildren is certainly not anything new, it does appear to be increasing rather rapidly. Depending on which studies you read, we can safely say that today there are about 6 million grandchildren being reared by about 4 million grandparents. This is not an event confined to any one race or socio-economic group. In fact, it manifests itself in all areas of our society. However, Meredith Minkler, a professor at the University of California, describes the typical grandparent rearing a grandchild as “a white, married woman living modestly but above the
poverty line.” She goes on to say the median age for grandparent caregivers is 59.3 with more than half over the age of 60. She further states at sometime in their life, one in ten grandparents will be faced with rearing a grandchild for at least six months and typically longer. According to several studies, the reasons for the increase in grandparents rearing their grandchildren are multifaceted. However, some of the ones that contribute the most are: The increase in drug abuse and, especially, the use of cocaine, crack and meth. Divorce, teen pregnancies, and the increase in single-parent house-
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holds tend to increase the need for grandparents to become involved. The increase in HIV/ AIDS. We tend to think of this affecting mostly men, but Minkler’s studies show that AIDS had claimed as many as 150,000 mothers by the year 2000. Increases in the number of women who are incarcerated. More than half the children of incarcerated mothers are raised by grandparents. And, finally, parental abuse and neglect seem to be on the rise. Various studies show different numbers, but it has been found in both national and smaller scale studies that these grandparents generally suffer higher rates of depression
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and more chronic health problems than do grandparents who are not caring for their grandchildren. In fact, studies have shown these grandparents will typically characterize their health as being worse than will grandparents who are not rearing grandchildren. One national study showed that 32 percent of grandmothers who were caring for their grandchildren met the definition of being clinically depressed. However, only 19 percent of grandmothers who were not caregivers met this definition. It has also been noted that grandparents who are caregivers tend to wind up socially isolated. They no longer share the same interests as their friends
and are not free to go to the movies or out to eat on a moment’s notice. Also, most of their friends are not interested in having children tag along on social outings. Financial problems can also rear their head. While grandparents may have planned well for their own retirement years, they have not necessarily planned for the additional expense of a child or children. Food, clothing, medical, and entertainment expenses can rapidly increase. Also, grandparents may now begin to struggle with how they are going to pay for school and, especially, college expenses. I personally know some grandparents who have gone back to work
Sherman Huff
after they retired just to cover the expense of taking on a grandchild. Legal issues can also set in, especially if you do not have a full guardianship or something similar in place. Without proper legal documents there may be trouble securing health insurance or even problems in making medical decisions for the grandchild. Sherman Huff is CEO of Spanish Cove Retirement Village and holds a master’s degree in gerontology. He can be seen each Tuesday at noon on KWTV-9 discussing various senior issues. If you have a question for Sherman, e-mail him at shermanhuff@cox.net.
Clean out your closet, give back in style FROM FAMILY FEATURES
Many of us can relate to having an overstuffed closet or trunk filled with clothes in great condition that we rarely wear. But as you begin to comb through and update your winter wardrobe for spring, consider giving your old clothes new life by donating them to those in need. To help people clean out their closets for a good cause, The Glad Products Company has teamed up with style editor and author Bobbie Thomas to share tips on maximizing the purging process to benefit those who need it most. “Twenty percent of U.S. children live in poverty and one in 10 has needed to borrow or receive a donated winter coat for their
child,” said Bobbie Thomas. “So it’s important to give back through charities like One Warm Coat, a national nonprofit that provides free coats to people in need. Winter fashion may change from year to year, but giving back never goes out of style.” Bobbie suggests these tips to help you clean your closet, de-clutter and refresh your wardrobe in 2011: Find motivation for your mission — Gather inspirational images from magazines and catalogs and collect them in a folder, or create an easy-to-find desktop file filled with photos from surfing the web. This will help you develop your own spring style, giving you a fresh perspective on what you should keep in your closet, what you
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should store or donate. Include a list of most-wanted items that stand out, and basics that seem to repeat in your inspirational images. You may already have similar items in your closet, and if not, this list will keep you on track through the season. Start with a section — Make sure to be realistic with your time and schedule. Plan to clean your closet in shifts, and zone in on one area or category. For example, focus on one drawer or just your dresses since they are easiest to slip on and off. After all, it’s always less overwhelming to tackle one thing at a time. Organize by color and length. You’ll want your wardrobe to welcome you the way a beautifully merchandised
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department store does. Donate and do good — The reward of feeling freshly organized is fantastic, but you’ll feel even better knowing that your unused items are helping others in need. Although warmer days are on the way, One Warm Coat is
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still eager to help your old favorites find new life. Beyond coats, the organization also accepts clothing and has teamed up with Glad’s Bag Bank. Go to TheBagBank.com to find out how you can receive free Glad ForceFlex trash bags to donate your un-
wanted clothing and accessories. There are still more than 150,000 trash bags available on a first-come, firstserve basis through May 30, 2011. So now is the time to pass forward those extra blazers, button-downs, rain jackets and more.