February 2020
Retired judge served in two branches of military Keith Kraft is one of several U.S. Armed Forces veterans living at Heritage Manor senior apartments in Park Rapids. The 17-year-old Kraft was sworn into the U.S. Marine Corps on Feb. 13, 1945. “I don’t know why I wound up in the Marine Corps,” he said, “except that I remember the day that they bombed Pearl Harbor. I was really mad at the Japanese.” He laughed, adding, “Sneaky, little buggers!” The Iowa native was determined to do something about it, but World War II ended before he could get out of the country. After boot camp at Parris Island in Port Royal, S.C., Kraft found himself at Camp Pendleton, near San Diego, Calif. There he and his platoon from Parris Island received their orders. Everyone in the platoon was assigned to a post-war, peace-keeping mission in China, where the government and communists were shooting at each other. Everyone, but Kraft. “Everybody in my platoon got captured by the communists and locked up for a couple of weeks,” he
to play football,” he said. When he asked his superiors what would happen if he went to Annapolis and could no longer play football, they said, “You’ve got four years in the Navy.” “I said, ‘No, thank you. I don’t want to go to Annapolis with my leg the way it is,’” said Kraft. So, instead of going into the Navy, he took his discharge from the Marines at the rank of private 1st In this undated photo, Margaret and Keith Kraft are attending an event together with Keith in his Marine Corps League uni- class. form. (Submitted photo)
From laborer to judge
I had a lot of fun. I enjoyed every day. KEITH KRAFT
Keith Kraft of Park Rapids mustered out of the U.S. Marines as a private first class. By the time he retired from the National Guard, he was a major. (Robin Fish/Enterprise) said. “Then, they turned them loose. Someplace, there’s a Life magazine that shows all of these guys on the front page, being held by the Chinese communists.” Meanwhile, he went on, “When they came to my
name, they said, ‘You’re going to Great Lakes Naval Training Center.’” Kraft asked why this was. The officers said because of his high school football record and his interest in math – “I took a calculus course” – they wanted him in Chicago. “That’s where I played football for Navy,” he said. Likely because of that same math-football combination, he was eventually offered a place at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. “I had a bad knee that I had to have a brace on
Kraft said he asked acquaintances in the Chicago Bears organization, “You want a crippled football player?” They offered him $1,200 a year. “It probably wasn’t too bad, back at that time. But I said, ‘No, I’m not going to do that.’” Instead of warming a bench at Soldier Field, the ex-Marine went home to Ankeny, Iowa and got a job as a construction worker. Because he needed a little extra money, he also signed up for the Iowa National Guard. “They pay every month. It wasn’t too bad,” he said. Also, just for signing up, “they immediately made me a sergeant.” One chilly, misty day in October, he was working at a construction site in
Des Moines when a worker fell off the scaffolding below him and was taken away by an ambulance. “I said to myself, ‘Do I want to do this for 40 years before I can retire?’ I said, ‘No, no.’ So, I went and found out about the G.I. Bill of Rights,” said Kraft. Also known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, the 1944 federal law provided benefits to World War II veterans such as college tuition. Kraft went to Drake University in Des
Moines, graduating in 1950. He said he studied a “little bit of everything. I didn’t know where I was heading. I knew that I wanted to be a policeman. So, when I got out of Drake, another Drake graduate ran for clerk of court in Polk County. I went and talked to him, and he said, ‘Don’t do it.’ I said, ‘How’s come?’ He said, ‘Everybody in the sheriff’s office is on
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Inside this issue... 4 Savvy Senior: New tax form 5 Lost Italian: Continue postholiday detox 6 Growing Together: Rescuing trees and shrubs 7 Boomers on the Move: Healing power of pets
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By Robin Fish rfish@parkrapidsenterprise. com
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the take.’ And I said, ‘Oh, God! I don’t want to get mixed up in that.’” Instead, Kraft worked as an investigator with the state welfare department for about a year. “That was kind of fun,” he said. Around that time, his parents bought a resort on Ten Mile Lake in Cass County. During the summers, Kraft would come up and work on the resort – raking the yard, hauling ice, etc. “I really liked it. Great country,” he said. He started to think about how to move up to the area permanently. “One of the things I got from Drake was a teacher’s certificate,” he said. After talking with a local school superintendent, Kraft received a job offer to teach at the Park Rapids School. “I taught ninth grade business for two years, then I taught three years of senior social studies. I enjoyed every minute of it,” he said. Meantime, he transferred from the Iowa National Guard to the Minnesota National Guard. “It was pretty simple to do,” he said. “One day, I was over at the Armory. … One of the full-time people said, ‘Kraft, do you want to be an officer?’ I said, ‘Well, yeah! Officers make more than sergeants.’ So he says, ‘OK, here. Sign this.’ So, I signed a piece of paper and I was a second lieutenant.” One day, Kraft took a day off and went to the Park Rapids airport to greet the governor of Minnesota, who was visiting to discuss a local conservation issue. The governor took a shine to him and invited him to dinner that evening. Sitting next to him at dinner was State Sen. Normal Walls, who suggested that Kraft put his
hat in the ring for a probate judge position. “Here I am, 27 years old?” Kraft recalled thinking. “And what kind of resume do you have?” Nevertheless, he sent his resume to the governor’s office, and forgot all about it. Then, he said, “I was walking down Main St. in Park Rapids and a guy said, ‘Keith, what is going on?’ He said, ‘The FBI is in town asking about you.’ I said, ‘I don’t know!’” He didn’t realize until later that it was a background check. “Then, one day, I was in the teachers’ lounge – the smoking room, you know – and I was reading the Minneapolis paper, and up in the corner, a little bitty box, ‘Kraft appointed judge.’” He laughed. “Nobody called me.” Kraft sat as a county court judge from 1955 to 1985. Then, thanks to a change in state law, he became a district court judge until his retirement in 1989.
Judge Keith Kraft was pictured in a May 1989 newspaper story when he announced his retirement from the bench. (Submitted photos)
Once, Keith recalled, he brought Margaret to court with him to watch him work and had her sit in the jury box, which had the most comfortable seats. When the prosecutor asked who she was, he told him, “That’s my new wife. … She helps me in From private to these cases.” major “I was kidding with At the same time, he went to Guard training him, you know,” said This portrait shows Kraft at the time of his career as a judge. schools around the coun- Kraft. “Young fellow. I try and became a quar- said, ‘I watch her, and she tary funerals as a memtermaster officer. After either goes like this or like ber of the Marine Corps the Park Rapids Armory that’” – signing thumbs- League. To this day, he closed, he was assigned to up and thumbs-down. is also a member of the Camp Ripley and served The Krafts laughed. “He American Legion. as the supply officer for believed him,” said MarMargaret, meanwhile, the 34th Division. garet. “He’s now a judge,” has a daughter who was That “was a most inter- Keith added. in the Army and a grandesting job,” he said. “Had Between them, they daughter in the Navy. to make sure we had a lot have nine children – four “They both benefited of gasoline and jet fuel his, five hers – plus 20 from being in the serand so forth, for summer grandchildren. They’ve vice,” she said. training. … I had good stopped counting their Looking back on his people working for me.” great-grandkids. varied career, Keith said, Kraft retired from the Over the years, Keith “I had a lot of fun. I National Guard with the has participated in mili- enjoyed every day.” rank of major – a far cry from the Marine Corps private who majored in football. His first wife, Mary Ann, died of breast cancer in 1981. Four years later, Kraft married Margaret, whose first husband had also died. The couple is 1009 Hollinger Street still together.
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Kraft received this plaque upon his retirement after 34 years as a judge – which ran parallel to his decades-long service in the Minnesota National Guard. (Robin Fish/Enterprise)
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February 2020
Adjust caregiving routine for less-stressful new year Minding Our Elders CAROL BRADLEY BURSACK Columnist Dear Carol: My parents are both in their 80s and still living in their own home. They had two ER visits between them last year because of falls, with me as transportation and support. I take them to medical appointments, pick up their groceries, do their banking and try to stop in daily because I’d like to cheer up their lives. The thought of a new year has me depressed because even though their needs run my life, I can’t seem to make them happy. How do people handle caregiving over the years? Do they do it with a glad heart all the time, which makes me a terrible person, or do they have bad times, too? ~ HD. Dear HD: You’re a good person with human wants and needs and you have occasional thoughts about feeling snowed by life. That is all normal and takes nothing away from your good heart. Most long-term caregivers have experienced times when they’ve wondered if they could keep up the routine. I’ve been where you are, and over time, I worked out some things that have helped me carry on. Technology has stepped in to present more options
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and additional insight comes from fellow caregivers. Here are some suggestions for you to consider: ► Give yourself permission to be imperfect. No one ever gets caregiving right all the time. You aren’t responsible for your parents’ happiness. You can support them, which is what you are doing, but like everyone, they are responsible for their attitudes, even with the challenges that can accompany getting older. ► Be honest. They have each other for company, so tell them that at least for now, you need to cut back somewhat on daily visits. Encourage them to stay involved with friends, church or senior community activities for diversion. ► Determine priorities. In my mind, making yourself available for emergency and/or medical appointments would be a priority. This will matter quite a bit as time goes on. Grocery shopping not so much because… ► Groceries can often be delivered. Unless they live in a small town, you could likely have groceries delivered to them. You could help them with the online ordering if necessary and keep track of their delivery date. This would save you time. Alternatively, you or they could order the groceries for you to pick up. Some stores will offer this service even if they don’t have a delivery option. ► Most medication can be delivered. Mail service would cost something, but it’s worth the charge if
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Carol Bradley Bursack is a veteran caregiver and an established columnist. She is also a blogger, and the author of “Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories.” Bradley Bursack hosts a website supporting caregivers and elders at www. mindingourelders.com. She can be reached through the contact form on her website.
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you don’t have to be the person to shop for and deliver every single item. ► Get support. There are support groups online that can help you balance your focus to include your own mental and physical health with their needs. The Caregiver Action Network at caregiveraction.org and the Family Caregiver Alliance at Caregiver.org are two places to start. In-person support group access is spottier, but larger areas tend to have those, as well. Caregivers are everywhere if we look, so do reach out for their support.
What are floaters? The jelly-like fluid that fills the inside of your eyes is called the vitreous. Floaters are small, semi-transparent particles within the vitreous. They may appear as specks of various shapes and sizes, threadlike strands, or cobwebs. Since these particles are located inside your eyes, they will move as your eyes move, and will seem to dart away when you try to look directly at them. What causes floaters? During the development of your eyes, small pieces of protein or other matter can become trapped in the vitreous fluid. These particles are seen as floaters throughout your life. Aging can also cause floaters, as the vitreous fluid deteriorates over time. Certain injuries or eye diseases can also occasionally cause floaters. Will floaters harm my eyes? Most floaters are not harmful and rarely limit vision. However, these floaters can be indications of more serious problems such as a retinal detachment. If you see any sudden changes in floaters, experience an increase in floaters, or see flashes or sparks of light, you should see your optometrist for a dilated examination immediately. By looking at your eyes with special instruments, your optometrist can determine if what you are seeing is harmless, or if there is a more serious problem that requires treatment. Is there any way to get rid of floaters? A vitrectomy is a surgical procedure where the vitreous fluid (containing the floaters) is removed from the eye. This procedure has gotten more common than it was a few years ago. A vitrectomy may be indicated if your floaters are severely affecting your vision and have been stable for several months. If you have floaters that are having a negative effect on your vision, schedule an appointment and talk to us about your options!
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IRS introduces tax form for older taxpayers The Savvy Senior BY JIM MILLER Columnist
Dear Savvy Senior, A couple months back I read that the IRS will be offering a new senior-friendly tax form this tax season that will be easier to use. What can you tell me about this? ~ Paper Filer Dear Filer, It’s true. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has created a new federal income-tax form specifically designed for senior taxpayers, age 65 and older, that should make filing a little easier this year, particularly those who don’t file electronically. Here’s what you should know.
Form 1040-SR Created by the 2018 Bipartisan Budget Act, the new two-page simplified federal income tax form is called the 1040-SR. Similar in style to the old 1040EZ form that the IRS discontinued last year, the new 1040-SR has larger print and better color contrast that makes it easier to read. In addition, it also includes a chart to help older taxpayers calculate their standard deduction, which may help ensure that fewer seniors neglect to take the additional standard deduction that they are entitled to. For 2019, the additional deduction for those 65 or older or the blind is $1,300. The 1040-SR form also has specific lines for retirement income streams such as Social Security benefits, IRA distributions, pensions and annuities, along with earned income from work wages and tips. And, it allows a child tax credit for seniors who are still taking care of a dependent child or grandchild. You can also report capital gains and losses, as well as interest and dividends on this new form. Any of the tax schedules available to those using the standard form 1040 may also be used with the 1040-SR. You should also know that the 1040-SR doesn’t put a limit on interest, dividends, or capital gains, nor does it cap overall income like the old 1040-EZ form did. But, if you have to itemize because of state and local taxes or charitable giving, then you will not be able to use the new Form 1040-SR.
Paper filing advantage Seniors who use tax-preparation software to file their taxes will be able to generate a 1040-SR, but the new form will provide the most significant benefit to taxpayers who still fill out and file their
returns on paper. Last year, about 88 percent of the 153 million individual federal tax returns filed to the IRS were filed electronically. About 5 percent were prepared using tax software, then printed out and mailed to the agency, while about 7 percent were prepared on paper. To use the new 1040-SR tax form for the 2019 filing year, taxpayers, including both spouses if filing jointly, must be at least age 65 before Jan. 1, 2020. You also don’t have to be retired to use the form – older workers can use it too. But early retirees (younger than 65) cannot use 1040-SR. To see the 2019 draft version of the new 1040-SR form, go to IRS.gov/pub/irs-dft/f1040s--dft.pdf.
Tax preparation help If you need help filing your tax returns this year, consider contacting the Tax Counseling for the
Elderly (or TCE) program. Sponsored by the IRS, TEC provides free tax preparation and counseling to middle and low-income taxpayers, age 60 and older. Call 800-906-9887 or visit IRS.treasury.gov/freetaxprep to locate a service near you. Also check with AARP, a participant in the TCE program that provides free tax preparation at more than 4,800 sites nationwide. To locate an AARP Tax-Aide site call 888-227-7669 or visit AARP.org/ findtaxhelp. You don’t have to be an AARP member to use this service. Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070 or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
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February 2020
Loaded with vegetables and under 225 calories per serving, Sarah's Healthy Broccoli Cheddar Chowder is warm, comforting and nutritiously filling. (Photos by David Samson / Forum News Service)
Continue post-holiday detox with Healthy Broccoli Cheddar Chowder
ished with the addition of reduced-fat cheddar cheese and sour cream, as well as a healthy dash of Worcestershire sauce. The result is a savory, flavorful and creamy vegetable chowder that is rich in vitamins, protein, fiber and minerals, yet low in fat and calories. That’s what we call healthy deliciousness. For more ideas on eating healthy, follow along online with my 31 Days of Healthy Deliciousness series at goodfoodandwords.com.
Home with the Lost Italian BY SARAH & TONY NASELLO
Columnist
Our focus on eating well continues this week with my Healthy Broccoli Cheddar Chowder, a low-fat adaptation of the popular soup. Yes, it’s still possible to find comfort and flavor using low-fat alternatives to heavy cream and highfat cheese. Really. Making the soup starts off with the usual mix of onion, carrots and celery, and without the use of heavy cream, there are a few tricks you can employ to give this soup its chunky, creamy, chowderlike texture. First, to thicken the soup, this recipe includes one large potato, cubed, which brings heft and creaminess to every bite. Any potato will work, and I prefer the big, red creamer potatoes for this chowder. Next, a touch of flour is added, along with dry mustard and cayenne pepper. To remove any taste of flour, I cook it with the potato-vegetable mixture for about two minutes, stirring constantly, before adding the liquid. For the liquid, you can use either chicken or vegetable stock or broth, or a combination of each. When making soup, I always use a low or no-sodium broth or stock, which allows me to control the amount of salt. However, if you can’t find either, then be sure
Sarah’s Healthy Broccoli Cheddar Chowder
to taste the soup before adding the amount of salt included in the recipe. This soup uses both broccoli florets and the stems, which are added in two separate stages as the stems require more time to cook and soften. For convenience, I buy a crown of broccoli, which has already had the stalks removed, rather than a whole bunch. You can find the crowns in most supermarkets, or you can buy an entire bunch and simply remove the stalks, leaving about 2 inches of stems for use in the soup. Once the broccoli has been cooked into the soup, a portion of the mixture is removed and mashed into a thick, wet, almost pastelike consistency, then added back into the pan. This is an important step in achieving the chowder effect, and you can use either a food masher or wooden spoon to create the mash. At this stage, the soup can be refrigerated for up to two days or frozen for several months before finishing and serving. And for the final chowder effect, the soup is fin-
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 yellow onion, chopped 1 large carrot, diced 2 stalks celery, diced 1 large red potato, peeled and diced into half-inch cubes 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon dry mustard 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg, or ¼ teaspoon dried 1 quart low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth or stock 1 ½ cups water 1 broccoli crown (about 12 to 16 ounces) 1 cup reduced-fat cheddar cheese, shredded, divided ½ cup reduced-fat sour cream 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce ¼ to ½ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Scallions, finely chopped, to garnish
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Rescuing trees and shrubs before it's too late Growing Together BY DON KINZLER Columnist Winter is a peaceful time around the yard and garden, as we take a break from weeding, watering and mowing. Unfortunately, rabbits and other livestock seem to think it’s harvest time, making winter snacks of our trees and shrubs. You’ve got to give rabbits and deer credit. What other creatures could get away with so much plant destruction while being considered cute and picturesque? If they slithered and hissed while consuming our vegetation, there might be increased incentive to reduce the population. Even though it’s downtime for yard tasks, it pays to be vigilant. Several deadly tree and shrub issues can be avoided if caught early. ► Rabbit damage: If snow is shallow, rabbits can damage trees and shrubs at their bases. If snow is deep, rabbits have easy access to upper branches, which caused extensive damage during last year’s snowy winter. Certain trees and shrubs are especially flavorful to rabbits. Carefully monitor fruit trees (including apple, pear and plum), flowering crabapple, mountain ash, Canada red cherry, dogwood, rose, alpine currant, burning bush euonymus, sumac and evergreens, including arborvitae and juniper. Besides gobbling twigs in their entirety, rabbits sometimes just gnaw the bark from trunks and branches, exposing the white wood beneath. If bark is completely stripped in a continuous circle around the trunk or twig, termed “girdled,” the portion beyond the injury is usually killed. Not much can be done to repair such damage after the fact. Although trees can easily be killed by rabbit injury, damage to deciduous (leafy) shrubs is seldom deadly, since most can be rejuvenated by cutting them back to a few inches above ground level in spring before growth begins. Evergreen shrubs aren’t capable of this rejuvenation and can be ruined if inner twigs or trunks are girdled. Consumption of arborvitae and other evergreen foliage often leaves bottoms permanently empty, as bare evergreen branches aren’t normally able to regenerate foliage. If rabbit and deer damage hasn’t yet occurred, or is just beginning, protect susceptible shrubs with chicken wire or wire mesh hardware cloth. Tree trunks can be wrapped or protected with commercially available tree guards or black drain tile material. Repellents, dried blood, soap, mothballs, fox urine and hair are a gamble, working in some cases but not others. Liquid Fence and Plantskydd are among the most consistently reliable repellents, although not foolproof. ► Vole damage: Tailless field mice do their damage below snow, near ground level on lawns and woody plants. Shallow tunnels on lawn surfaces and girdling of trees and shrubs are revealed after spring melt.
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Rabbits love arborvitae foliage and it doesn’t regrow if eaten to bare branches. Wire mesh is the best protectant. Photos by Michael Vosburg / Forum News Service Little can be done now to prevent vole damage on a snow-covered lawn, but check the base of young trees and apply wire mesh hardware cloth snuggly, especially if voles have been active in past years. Remember to remove tight wrappings each spring. ► Sunscald injury: Young and thin-barked trees can suffer winter sunburn, called sunscald, similar to the winter sunburn of skiers. Sunscald is most common on the south and southwest trunk sides where angled winter sun is most intense, and happens most frequently in January and February. To prevent, wrap trunks or apply tree guards up to the lower branches. Symptoms of sunscald often aren’t immediately visible, but eventually show as cracked, peeled, raised and discolored bark, which is a gateway for rot and disease. ► Winter injury to evergreens: Browning of evergreen foliage is caused when winter winds desiccate needles. Sun reflecting from snow causes drying from freeze and thaw cycles. Prevent by shading foliage with burlap or similar screening material. ► Snow breakage of evergreens: Heavy winter snow can bend and break evergreen branches. Gently brush away as it accumulates.
► Exposed perennials: Most hardy perennials sleep through winter peacefully if tucked under a heavy blanket of snow. If the insulating snow disappears during midwinter thaws, especially on south-facing exposures, perennials can be left bare and vulnerable to deadly freeze and thaw cycles. BShovel extra snow over perennials, making a longer-lasting depth. If extra snow isn’t available by late winter, straw or bagged shredded bark mulch can be added over bare perennials. Many perennials are dam-
Tree wraps help reduce animal damage and sunscald on thinbarked trees.
aged just before spring if snow disappears too early. Don Kinzler, a lifelong gardener, is the horticulturist with North Dakota State University Extension for Cass County. Readers can reach him at kinzlerd@casscountynd.gov or call 701-241-5707.
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February 2020
The healing power of pets Boomers on the Move BY KARIN HAUGRUD Columnist Throughout history and all over the world, animals have brought love, laughter and companionship to the people whose lives they share. Today, many doctors, social workers and other health care professionals believe that companion animals are important in helping many people lead healthy, happy lives, especially elderly people. Many researchers are finding that the most serious disease for older persons is not cancer or heart disease – it's loneliness. Love is one of the most important health tonics we have and pets are one of nature's best sources of love. Dogs and cats help everyone overcome the pain of loneliness by supplying companionship and affection. For anyone who is consistently left alone, pets can also supply a sense of security and protection. Pets can make you laugh and divert your mind away from troubles. They also broaden your circle of friends and encourage good health through exercise. Studies show that pets can aid relaxation, lower one's blood pressure, promote health and prolong life. Some pet programs at nursing homes are credited with enabling patients to reach out beyond their own pain and isolation and start caring about the world around them once again. A lot of these patients have many losses, personal as well as some physical health problems. It's important for them to have something like a puppy that's so accepting, that doesn't care if you are in a wheelchair or if you can't walk, or if you've had an amputation. The puppy loves everybody and it means a lot to the patients. Many studies also show that pets are psychologically important to the elderly, as they help stimulate socialization by providing a topic of conversation with others where stories of happy moments with pets are shared. Although animals make great companions for people of any age, pets can have important benefits for seniors. But before adopting a new companion, seniors need to understand the amount of dedication that goes into caring for an animal. Seniors need to be sure they have the time and the means to care for a pet, both physically and financially. It's also important to consider the kind of pet to adopt. Animal care professionals often advise
Our alternative living environment is designed for the Senior adult who finds difficulty in living alone. • Private rooms, double rooms are available 37 - Sixth St. S.E. • • Nutritious meals Menahga, MN 56464 • Household service 218-564-4268 • Supervision as needed • Transportation A Caring & • RN on staff Supportive • Organized activities Assisted Living • A safe, protective environment. Community Public funds are available to assist those with limited income and resources.
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seniors to consider adopting an adult dog or cat. An older animal may be a better fit for their lifestyle than a puppy or kitten. If you are thinking about owning a pet, think carefully about how it will affect your life. Know how you will provide for the animal before you bring it home. Be honest with yourself. Don't take a pet because someone else feels that you should have one. And don't let well-meaning but overly protective friends or relatives convince you that you should not have a pet. You know better then anyone else what you want and what your abilities are. It's your decision! This article is made possible with Older Americans Act dollars from the Land of the Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging. Call the Senior LinkAge® One Stop Shop at 800-333-2433 to speak with an information specialist, or check out our website at MinnesotaHelp.info. MinnesotaHelp.info is an online directory of services designed to help people in Minnesota find human services, information and referral, financial assistance, and other forms of help.
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Suicide in the elderly The Family Circle LAUREL HED Columnist
This is a tough topic to start out this new year, but as family we need to be aware. According to an article written by the Aging Life Professionals from Jan. 31, 2019, suicide was the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S., and men 85 and older had the highest rate of suicide in the country. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration and Administration
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on Aging, there are distinct signs that can point to suicide risk which are the following: ► Depression ► Prior suicide attempts ► Marked feelings of hopelessness ► Co-morbid general medical conditions that significantly limit functioning or life expectancy ► Pain and declining role function ► Social isolation ► Family discord or losses ► Inflexible personality or marked difficulty adapting to change ► Access to lethal means ► Alcohol or medication misuse or abuse Impulsivity in the context of cognitive impairment. There are professionals available to help you if you are seeing any of these signs in your loved one or yourself. You will want to ensure that proper med-
and pepper, starting with ¼ teaspoon of each and adjusting as desired. From Page 5 Transfer soup to serving bowls and garnish with Transfer 3 cups of the mixture to a medium bowl the remaining cheddar cheese and a sprinkling of and use a food masher or wooden spoon to mash the scallions. ingredients into a chunky paste. Return the mash to Sarah’s tips the pan and stir to incorporate. Add ¾ cup of the cheddar cheese, all of the sour • If you can’t find low or no-sodium broth, wait to taste the soup before adding the salt, then adjust cream and Worcestershire sauce to the soup and conas desired. tinue to cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, • Use any potato in a pinch but look for creamy until the cheese is melted, and the soup is heated through, about 3 minutes. Taste and season with salt varieties like big reds or Yukon gold for extra
ical and mental health care is provided, work with the medical providers to ensure any pain is being managed, address any substance abuse, encourage and coordinate social connectedness, help to engage in meaningful activities, identify cognitive changes and find ways to help them cope and adapt to these changes. Don’t try to do this alone. Reach out to professionals for help and support. The National Suicide Prevention Hot Line: 1-800-273-8255 is available 24 hours a day. Don’t wait until it is too late. When our loved ones start to show any of these signs, it is a way of asking for help because they can no longer help themselves. We as family need to be okay stepping in and helping put the proper services in place.
Laurel Hed is a licensed social worker and geriatric care manager for the elder law attorneys of Thomason Swanson and Zahn Law Firm.
starch and creaminess. • For advance preparation, once the mashed portion has been added back into the soup, you can refrigerate it for up to 2 days, or freeze it for several months, until ready to serve. If refrigerated, reheat over medium heat until hot, then add the cheese, sour cream and Worcestershire sauce. If frozen, thaw first before reheating. “Home with the Lost Italian” is a weekly column written by Sarah Nasello featuring recipes by her husband, Tony Nasello. The couple owned Sarello’s in Moorhead and lives in Fargo with their son, Giovanni. Readers can reach them at sarahnasello@gmail.com.
