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Phase Two of Your Life

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VOL. 30 NO. 10

INSIDE....

Stuettgen’s path inspired by MOTHER TERESA

BY JIM MCLOONE

eptember 4, 2016, may be a date that many people observed as allocated to accomplishment of their ordinary activities. But this was a most meaningful date to those who knew and loved the late woman known to millions throughout the world as Mother Teresa. Her path to sainthood in the Catholic Church came to be on that day. Especially cognizant of this date and that momentous occasion, and still enthralled by it, Jeffry (Please forget the e and most people know him as Jeff) Stuettgen, Hartland, had every reason to be excited by Mother Teresa’s canonization as a saint in the church. After all, Jeffry and Mother Teresa had worked together and crossed paths numerous times while Jeffry was a volunteer to and later a member of the Missionaries of Charity, a now worldwide religious organization that is dedicated to caring for the poor and the indigent.

October 2016

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Page 2A

NEMOVITZ

Perspective shifts with changing seasons

Page 5A

SPORTS PLUS

Kaufman, Swiecichowski elected to Hall of Fame

Page 16A

Caregiver’s OF SOUTHEASTERN

STUETTGEN continued on page 20A

guide

WISCONSIN Page 1B

WISHING STUETTGEN WELL: As Jeffry Stuettgen was preparing to return to Hartland, leaving the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa found Jeffry among the crowd at a religious conclave in Rome, Italy. Her message was that Jeffry had experienced God’s presence in his work. “You will know, Jeffry, that the Lord some day will be waiting to greet you and thank you.”

A Better Way of The Same Old Way? AGING ISSUES

By Tom Frazier

Over the last few months, Paul Ryan and House Republicans have come out with a series of policy papers on issues such as Poverty, National Security, Deregulation, Health Care, and Taxes, and, I believe, there’s one more

to come. All have been under the heading “A Better Way”, including health care which is the one I want to focus on now. Of course, the health care paper starts with all the reasons that

Obamacare (The Affordable Care Act) is a disaster and, therefore, must be repealed and replaced. But the replacement sounds all too familiar: More Health Savings Accounts, limFRAZIER continued on page 3A

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Why this Democrat wants a strong Republican Party No single perspective or ideology has all the answers. We need strong parties to generate solutions to the issues we confront that can get vetted in Congress, and be amended and reshaped to reflect the realities of a divided country. I’ve been a Democrat all my life. I believe in the party’s values. I’m pleased when its candidates win elections, and I’m persuaded the country is better off when Democratic ideas get a fair shake in the public arena. But none of this means that I favor a weak Republican Party. Indeed, just the opposite. Before my Democratic friends drum me out of the party’s ranks, let me explain why. The short answer is, our nation is stronger and our representative democracy healthier when we have two strong parties. A single political party that’s able to dominate public policy-making undermines the give-andtake that’s crucial to effective policy and leaves us weaker as a country. Why is this? Let’s start with the big picture. If you think about the issues we confront — from the impact of climate change to the fight against terrorism to rebuilding an economy that serves poor and working families as well as it does the wealthy — it’s hard to argue that a single perspective or ideology really has all the answers. None of us, and FRAZIER continued from page 1A

it the amount that victims of medical malpractice can sue for, prevent federal funds being used for abortion, give health care providers “the freedom to exercise their conscience”, block grant Medicaid, and “reform” Medicare by creating a “premium support” (which the plan claims “is not a voucher program”), “reinvest” in Medicare Advantage (MA) supplemental insurance plans, and raise the eligibility age for Medicare to match Social Security. The authors of the plan would maintain the ACA prohibition on pre-existing conditions and allow kids to continue on their parent’s health care plans to age 26, managing to act as if it was their idea instead of a part of the hated Obamacare. However, it doesn’t really maintain the ban on pre-existing conditions: a person must maintain continuous coverage after a special

ON CONGRESS

By Lee Hamilton neither political party, has a monopoly on wisdom. Moreover, this country is huge and varied, and the legitimacy of the political system rests on its ability to give voice to the multitude of concerns and attitudes held by the American people. Some prefer the GOP’s approach, others the Democrats’, but it’s important they all have a political party to turn to. The more people feel that no one represents them or their views, the more alienated they become from the democratic process. So the country benefits when two robust parties face off — in elections, in Congress, and in the 50 legislatures. When they can present their views, defend them, adjust them, and negotiate, compromise, and move forward, we’re being well served. Which brings me to the Republican Party of today. I don’t want to get into the split between backers of Donald Trump and the traditional Republione-time open enrollment or lose the pre-existing condition protection. I find a number of interesting and conflicting ideas about a better way to provide “consumer-directed health care.” The emphasis on expanding Medicare Advantage programs is somewhat puzzling. The plan railed against the infamous $800 billion cut in Medicare when Obamacare was passed. A big chunk of that cut was from Medicare Advantage plans that were supposed to be less expensive than fee-for-service Medicare but, in fact, were more expensive. Despite that cut, enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans has been increasing. Surely Paul Ryan does not want to “reinvest” in something that is already working and go back to over paying MA plans? And, does he want to reopen the “doughnut hole” in Medicare Rx drug coverage by repealing the ACA? Premium supports

• 3A

can leadership — that’s for the GOP to sort out, and they certainly don’t want the advice of an old Democrat. But there’s no doubt that the Republican Party has reached a crossroads. If Trump wins the presidency, he’ll be the chief actor in determining the future of his party and what it stands for. If he loses, the GOP will more than likely move back toward its more traditional views as a party that embraces the free market, advocates for a muscular approach to national security, believes in American exceptionalism and our role in leading the world away from chaos, is filled with fiscal hawks who think that we have to curb entitlement programs, and pays attention to a business community that believes trade wars — especially with Mexico or China — would be catastrophic. I suppose I’m showing my biases here, but I believe that a robust Republican Party will strengthen its willingness to improve and broaden the policy debate and move it away from steps to impede it. This would be a GOP that advocates for limited government, wants to reform our unwieldy tax code, and is determined to remain fiscally responsible so that deficits don’t explode. I want to see Republicans tackle our healthcare system by reforming it using market mechanisms. I want Republicans to confront regulations that

hamper the formation and growth of businesses, especially small businesses. And I want them to remain inclined toward devolving power away from Washington, giving states more control over such basic responsibilities as highways, welfare, and education. Each of these issues has been at the center of the national agenda for many years, suggesting their difficulty. We need proposals from both sides that are realistic, coherent, and based on numbers that add up. We need parties that are at the top of their game, generating solutions to the issues we confront that can get vetted in Congress, and be amended and reshaped to reflect the realities of a divided country. And we need parties that are prepared to negotiate to move us beyond our current gridlock. This can best happen when a healthy Republican Party is competing with a healthy Democratic Party. And at the moment, that’s not what we’re seeing. Lee Hamilton is a Senior Advisor for the Indiana University Center on Representative Government; a Distinguished Scholar, IU School of Global and International Studies; and a Professor of Practice, IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years.

would be adjusted to provide higher payments for low income people while “wealthier seniors would assume responsibility for a greater share of their premiums” potentially turning Medicare into a welfare program. A better way for Medicaid is by “empowering states and increasing flexibility” which are code words for giving states the power and flexibility to cut Medicaid health care funding for the poor. It’s ironic that the plan complains about all the fraud and abuse in the state-run Medicaid program, and decries “the perverse incentive for state politicians to spend more money just to acquire more federal funding.” Yet these are the people who will be counted on to reform it. The plan would also reform Medicaid waiver programs to require federal waivers to be budget neutral. I have news; federal waivers are already required to be budget neutral.

In my opinion, what first appears to be a serious policy paper is at best a rehash of old ideas, and, at worst, a potential disaster waiting to happen if a new Congress actually attempts to enact it. Can you imagine trying to transition 20 million people who now have real health insurance and attempt to “replace” that with a collection of political ideologies? The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that there would be 20 million people without insurance in the first year after repeal of Obamacare. Or as someone summarized it: “Speaker Paul Ryan wants to replace 20 million people’s health insurance with 37 pages of talking points.” Repeal and replace should be replaced by renewing our commitment and to repair what needs to be repaired to provide health care for all Americans.

4A • 50PLUS • OCTOBER 2016

EDITORIALS

Life without the postal people This particular Monday not only was the fifth day of September, but it also was the second day in succession without delivery of mail. Yes, we were able to survive the lack of mail that day, but can you even attempt to think about being a citizen of the United States without having mail six days a week, 52 weeks of the year, with the exception of federally recognized holidays? The U.S. Postal Service is to most of us the most important service that our government provides. There have been efforts to cut it back one day a week and other efforts to privatize many of its services.

It Makes Me

Still, thank goodness, the USPS prevails. Congressional people wishing to cut it back have not derailed its services. The USPS is one of our oldest and most trusted agencies and one that affects every residence with a mail receptacle and every business every day. Yes, a bit of postal reform may be necessary, but the agency has served us so faithfully for almost 240 years and this is regardless of rain, sleet, snow, you name it. Without the USPS, the wheels of industry might not stop, but the overall business climate of the country certainly would be slowed down. Thanks, postal people, keep up the good work.

CRABBY

I continue to attempt to move in a forward direction, as a person cannot achieve success by standing still. But I do become crabby when I realize that I cannot expect problems that confront

me to just vanish into thin air by my wishing them to do so. There is no way that “wishing” accomplishes anything.

As the man at the entrance to the parking lot said at the autumn festival, “The old folks parking is over on the left. Pull up as tightly to the curb as possible.” Well-meaning people so often take unintended potshots at the members of the older generation. You might believe they think anyone who can remember World War II is bound to be slow, frail, absent-minded and a bit slow on the verbal draw. But regardless of advancing age, there are more than a few of us who know the stars are seen at night and still have the true grit to enjoy them. Ageism is not something that is difficult to escape. As older folks, we very often have age-related thoughts about those in the younger generations, whom we claim are more wasteful of their time and talents. We can still hear it said, “Why, when I was that age I was driving a team of horses twice a day to the creamery with the 20 milk cans full of my pulling and squeezing efforts on the cows.” Despite the possibility of a few misperceptions, older people may for-

get a previously valued truth a time or two, but dementia, for most of us, is over that high hill down the road a ways as we trod our paths through life. Healthy lifestyles are something most of us were brought up with and, more or less, are ingrained in our daily live. Being recognized as old-timers does not mean that we have to step aside in the travels of life. Many of us still have financial interests, a hobby or two, grandchildren to nourish and appreciate and children, God bless them, who believe we need more assistance in various ways than we really do. Being able to email, blog, tweet or just write coherently are among ways to demonstrate that we are not over the hill; we are still gaining on the way to its crest. We read newspapers. We watch television. We know the score. Who knows more realistically than we do that living life in the fast lane may get a person to his destination quicker? But we know as old-timers what our ultimate destination is. With decent health and a bit of wealth, there’s no need to rush there.

Ageism

Family Ties

Too often do we hear of this sibling or that one not getting along with another one. It is too bad. Isn’t it? Family members share kinship and culture as well as the same set of relatives. Brothers, sisters, or mom and dad should not be taken for granted. Some who happen to be more successful than others should not laud that over their kin and neither should

SENIOR ANSWER MAN DEAR SAM: I suspect that my blood pressure is skyrocketing sometimes, especially when I know that some person is not being truthful with me. Would this feeling possibly make my blood pressure elevate? Questioningly, Bradley Brouser

the kin be jealous of the others’ good fortunes. It is important that family relationships remain strong throughout life regardless of how complex their lives become. If you and others seem to be having difficulties, even if only verbal, step back; think things out, reexamine the problem if there is one. Is it really bigger than your family?

DEAR BRADLEY: Since I normally do not deal in systolic or diastolic numbers, I honestly cannot tell anything about medical details. I will tell you that if I were you, I would have my blood checked about once yearly or more often if your blood pressure usually runs about 80 and 120. Higher is not good. Without a good answer, Senior Answer Man

Killing TIME WITH JIM MCLOONE When your Chinese Fortune Cookie’s advice is counter to that of your horoscope as printed in the daily newspaper, should you hide out and go back to bed or laugh about it and enjoy the day? j j j j We have heard the phrase about someone going to hell in a hand basket. How can that be when such a size basket would be very small? j j j j The real story of Dick and Jane concerns not allowing weeds to grow anywhere in their condominium development, not just in their dreams. j j j j How do we decide that we wish to outlive our available money? This sort of reminded me of the story about the fellow standing at the foot of the hill and waiting until it shrunk in size to climb it. j j j j Life’s journeys take us to many different places. But we still will not go to movies about robotic races. We were kids way back prior to all movies

KILLING TIME continued on page 21A

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Perspective shifts with changing seasons

We are so affected by changing seasons. Fall has arrived and you can feel a shift not only in tree colors but by the way you see the world. Just think back to the spring with flowers just beginning to grace us with their beauty. We get that sense of renewal along with a burst of energy. Our homes shed signs of winter wear and we think about improvements and the summer ahead. So many of my clients will call in winter and tell me it is definitely the last cold season they will ever spend in their home. Then by May all is out the window and the thought of leaving becomes a distant memory. Fall arrives and thoughts of winter begin to creep into our thinking. For many older adults, winter can mean isolation and sadness. The sidewalks become slippery and many are less confident in their balance. So staying home becomes a daily habit by necessity. We are all connected to others in so many ways. Our families and friends are a life line and a joy. So often when confined in our homes for the winter it can feel like hibernation. Health can take a major hit if we are

MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

By Bruce Nemovitz not moving and mobile. Our bodies require constant exercise so that we can remain relatively strong and our bodies supported. When living in an environment where we are not interacting with others, depression and lack of movement can settle in. That is not a healthy situation especially for those who require assistance. Try to think ahead to the coming winter months. For the children of older adults, having a parent living in isolation can be distressing and overwhelming. We love our parents and it hurts to see them living a life of solitude and loneliness. Change is so difficult not only for the parent living in their long time home, but also for a child who wants to honor mom and

dad’s wishes to stay at home. Conversations can be difficult for all parties and the subject of a move can provoke intense emotion by all parties involved. Winter is a few months away, but planning can start now. The real estate market is strong and typically prices do well until Thanksgiving. So there is still time this year for a move from one’s long time home. Is the home a labor of love or has it become just a labor? If the latter is the case, it may be a good time to begin a dialogue with family so that preparation can be made now to begin the search for a senior apartment or condominium. Change is so difficult that we will remain in an unhealthy situation rather than move to a safe and healthy home. It is our nature to resist a known unhealthy living situation with one that is new and uncertain. Waiting too long to make a move can have tough outcomes. Try to visualize the coming winter and how you have done in the past. Ask questions of yourself and loved ones so that a dialogue can begin. Will you interact on a daily basis with others if you are living alone? Is your home matching

OCTOBER 2016 • 50PLUS

• 5A

your health needs such as stairs, bathroom and transportation? Is your family becoming divided over the current housing situation? These are questions that can evoke a healthy conversation for you living in the home or for those of you who are worried about your parents. Winter is coming and change is tough. Gather information as to housing options available as well as preparing a home for a future sale. There is no harm in a healthy discussion. There is potential heartache by avoiding life’s challenges. Winter can be a beautiful peaceful time of year if the proper planning has been done. Enjoy the fall colors and know that your future happiness is dependent on realistic planning as well as gathering important insight and advice from those whom you love and trust. Bruce Nemovitz is a Senior Real Estate Specialist, as well as Certified Senior Advisor. Bruce has sold residential homes in the four county Milwaukee-Metro areas for 35 years. He has published a book called “Moving in NEMOVITZ continued on page 7A

Take advantage of the slow winter months to prepare for a spring move! The winter months are the perfect time to educate yourself on what your home is worth, improvements needed and to create a game-plan for a spring move! Research senior apartments, condos and senior communities at the same time so you are ready to go during the best time of the selling season, March through May!

WE CAN HELP YOU GET A GAME-PLAN STARTED! Contact Bruce & Jeanne Nemovitz today for your FREE consultation: (262) 242-6177! INTEGRIT Y

www.BrucesTeam.com | Bruce@BrucesTeam.com | Jeanne@BrucesTeam.com

6A â&#x20AC;˘ 50PLUS â&#x20AC;˘ OCTOBER 2016

Be certain your debt is survivable BY MARY HUNT

For years Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been telling my readers that there are two kinds of debt: safe debt and toxic debt. Safe debt is secured debt; it has collateral connected to it. Your home mortgage is a safe debt. You had to qualify for it, so at least one person decided that you can afford it. And if you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford it or you change your mind and want out of the debt, you can get out of it. You can sell the collateral, or just hand it over to the lender and call it even. Safe debt gives you a way out. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the equivalent of a safety valve, so you

donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ruin your life. Toxic debt, on the other hand, is stupid debt you get on your signature without qualifying, without a wise professional considering whether or not you can afford it. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s debt you develop because of an impulse. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the debt you create over time by swiping your credit card and then turning around and only making the minimum monthly payment. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the terrible reality of spending sprees and frivolous decisions. Toxic debt is the result of stupid thinking and stupid actions. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just plain stupid! Now we learn there is a third kind

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of debt. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not safe, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more than stupid. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s downright scary. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s called survival debt. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the result of paying for groceries with credit and allowing that balance to roll from month to month, gathering large amounts of high-rate interest. Survival debt is the result of putting your rent on a credit card because the bonus didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come through or the rent money went to repair your car or pay the utility bill or buy clothes and diapers for the kids. Safe debt is manageable. Toxic debt is reversible because you can stop making stupid choices. But survival debt? Once you start paying for dayto-day expenses with credit because you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the cash, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve crossed a serious threshold. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re caught in a vicious cycle. You may believe you have no other choice but to keep adding to the gathering debt. But thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not true. You do have a choice. But you may need a major intervention to stop the out-ofcontrol, downward spiral.

If you are trying to manage survival debt, wise up. You will not be able to carry on like that for long. You are trying to outrun an avalanche, and you cannot run fast enough. Soon it will bury you. My best advice is to immediately get in touch with consumer credit counseling services. Call 1-800 3882227 to be connected to the office closest to you. Or visit the National Foundation for Credit Counseling website to learn more about credit counseling and be assured you are dealing with a reputable and reliable organization (there are lots of lookalike credit counselors out there that are not legitimate). Mary invites questions, comments and tips at mary@everydaycheapskate. com, or c/o Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Suite B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually.

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NEMOVITZ continued from page 5A

the Right Direction”, A Senior’s Guide to Moving and Downsizing. Bruce has just written his second book for the children of seniors, “Guiding Our Parents in the Right Direction”, Practical Advice about Seniors Moving from the Home They Love. This book is now available

at www.GuidingOurParents.com. Past articles about moving and downsizing and other important information can be found at www.BrucesTeam.com. Bruce received the 2010 “Realtor of the Year” from the 3,800 membership of the GMAR (Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors). Bruce is a featured

speaker at several senior communities in the Milwaukee-Metro area. His discussions center on the challenge of moving from a long time home into a senior apartment or community. He has been listed in Milwaukee Magazine’s 5-Star Agents list for the last three years in a row. As such, he’s one of only a handful

Fred Keller, at one time, Mr. Sussex Sun Fred Keller, a modest Sussex resident, who lives along a quiet lane, uses his ingenious ways to promote others; in his soul there’s determination to be of aid to others, especially humans. Could this be the path he has chosen, assisting others, as his soul’s working? In life, Fred worked for the Village of Sussex and was the chief reason for the continuous success of The Sussex Sun from the time in 1976 that he donned his writer’s eyeshade and vowed he’d put those Marquette-learned English writing talents into play promoting others as

individuals and still beyond, explaining the who, when and why fore of the villages, township and schools in the circulation area of the Sussex Sun. Keller, who stands about 6 ft., 4 inches tall, often is spoken of so highly that people, not personally acquainted with him, might believe him to be at least 8 ft. tall. But as of about a month to six weeks ago, The Sussex Sun no longer rises to shine on Sussex on Tuesdays. This occurs regardless of the esteem Keller had for the publication that he has poured many hours of time

into by attending events, interviewing participants, writing stories and promoting its readership. Possibly not intentionally diminished, the Sun now shines only as part of the combined Germantown, Menomonee Falls, and Sussex weekly in a publication known as NOW. Keller, only in his middle 80’s, has a younger wife, June, but he is greatly interested in older things and, as such, is the spark that ignites interest in the local museum and its to be newly developed facilities. At present, it is in the 1910 built railway building.

• 7A

of Realtors who are continually included in the top 7% in client satisfaction in the Milwaukee Metro area. He’s rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau, and was a finalist for Concordia College’s Ethical Business Leadership Award. He works with his wife, Jeanne, at Realty Executives Integrity.

Somewhat of a balding man, Keller is proof that grass never grows on a busy street. A few comments from his Bald Facts weekly column are as follows: “The funny thing is that a $5 bill looks so big when you place it in the collection box at church and still so small when you take it to the grocery store.” “Self-made people often worship their creator.” “I have noticed that I am very generous at giving advice.”

EDITORIALS

Advance Physical Therapy What’s your net worth? Services, LLC Physical Therapists can help reduce and manage pain, for various musculoskeletal conditions specifically including low back pain, which affects up to 80 percent of Americans during their lifetime. Physical therapy interventions which facilitate mobility of the spine along with specific exercises for strengthening help to alleviate the pain and can have long-lasting effects. If you are at risk of heart disease, the American Heart Association encourages seeing a physical therapist for the initial treatment of pain resulting from tendinitis/bursitis, degenerative joint problems (osteoarthritis), and inflammatory joint problems (rheumatoid arthritis), rather than prescription pain medication. Physical therapists are a great alternative to medication and surgery for musculoskeletal pain due to their extensive knowledge in anatomy correction of faulty posture. Research shows individuals who receive active physical therapy experience greater improvement in function and decreased pain intensity. Physical Therapists are also involved in managing and treating patients with other chronic illnesses and diseases such as diabetes through exercise and wound management; cancer through lymphedema and pain management. No matter what your injury or illness, a Physical Therapist can help you alleviate or manage pain without costly medication or other invasive methods, and while instructing one how to optimize their function and mobility so an individual may achieve their goals. Let the experienced staff of physical therapists at Advance Physical Therapy Services, LLC provide you with the quality interventions needed to help manage your musculoskeletal concerns.

We’re certain that you have found out as you have gone through life that money does not grow on trees like bananas regardless of what your grandfather told you when you were a small child. So are you at all interested these days to know your net worth? What it was 10 years ago or when you first applied for Social Security might be entirely different from what it is today. First, consider your assets. Add these up. Cash on hand or in bank, certificates of deposit, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, auto value, collectibles, real estate as an investment. Add to the amount of these, any retirement income such as IRA’s, an-

nuities, deferred compensation if any. Next, consider the cash value (What it is worth today) of any insurance, your home, auto, or loans receivable (Money you have lent out) Total all these up and these amount to your total assets. Now, let us consider your liabilities such as any mortgages, money you owe to others, plus unpaid taxes, unpaid monthly bills, credit card debt. Subtract the total of liabilities from assets and this is your net worth. If you believe we have neglected something, do add it in the appropriate place.

Did you ever wonder who it was that first not only put the golden rule into practice in merchandising, but developed it as a way of life: Do onto others as you would have them do onto you? Would you be surprised to find out that it was JC Penney, the son of a Baptist preacher, who knew and fol-

lowed the Bible as he entered the retail business that today still bears his name and follows his principles? Believing in The Golden Rule, Penney’s first several stores were started under that name and later the stores in his retail chain were changed to bear his name.

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8A • 50PLUS • OCTOBER 2016

Let’s no longer leave our Veterans waiting for care BY CHUCK NORRIS

For our veterans to have to wait long periods of time to receive care is not only unacceptable to us, but to elected officials as well. When faced with evidence that some vets were left waiting an average of 115 days for an appointment, that veterans had died waiting for care, Congress acted. It passed the Veterans Choice act, a well-intended $10 billion program to end this problem by providing veterans a card that would let them see a nonVA doctor if they were more than 40 miles away from a VA facility or they were going to have to wait longer than 30 days for a VA provider to see them. In an effort to end an inexcusable problem as quickly as possible, Congress gave the Veterans Administration just 90 days to set up the necessary infrastructure and build the network needed to put the program in place. With resources stretched to the max, the only solution was to outsource, so the VA went shopping. It approached 57 companies to gauge their interest in taking on this monumental task. Only four responded. Two were eventually contracted. From the outset, the program was confusing and complicated. Veterans didn’t understand it, doctors didn’t understand it. Even VA administrators struggled to figure it out. Mired in bureaucracy, with performance measures they could not reach, some VA schedulers were told to falsify data. As I noted earlier this month, employees at 40 Veterans Administration medical facilities in 19 states and Puerto Rico began to regularly falsify veteran wait times, in effect “zeroing” them out. VA rules also created obstacles. Until recently, the VA would not let the

contracted companies call veterans directly to schedule an appointment. No, that would make too much sense. The veteran seeking care had to call them. Of course, they first had to find out who “them” was; so much for the concept of streamlining the relationships between local VA medical centers and community providers. In this process, it wasn’t just veterans continuing to be bogged down in the process of waiting by the phone to get authorization for care, doctors who signed on to the program are waiting as well -- for payment. While the VA believes it finally has a network of doctors large enough to handle the patient load for the Veterans Choice program, those relationships could be in jeopardy. According to a report by NPR, in North Carolina more than 30 doctors’ offices in the program are dealing with payment problems -- some which have lasted more than a year. Since adopted, the Choice program has seen progressively longer and longer wait-times and, according to care providers, progressively worse follow-through by the program in managing the steps and insuring payments are made. Congress is currently working on a solution to the original fix of the problem and a bill is expected to clear Congress by the end of the month. Meanwhile, according to Reuters, the VA’s two-decades old ban of coverage for in vitro fertilization for U.S. military veterans who are infertile as a result of combat or training-related injuries may finally be overturned as early as this week. As I reported earlier this month, injured veterans unable to have children naturally (due to spinal cord and other injuries) currently

must pick up the cost of this treatment, which can run $10,000 or more. The VA funds in vitro fertilization for active duty-troops, but not covered are service members forced into retirement due to their injuries, who seek the treatment after leaving service. This disparity can affect the recovery and reintegration into civilian life for an estimated 1,800 veterans who have suffered damage to their reproductive organs in the past decade. Army veteran Matt Keil is but one example of why this policy needs to change. Speaking before members of Congress, he explained the sad irony of his situation. Shot and paralyzed during his second tour in Iraq, he noted how he would have been covered when he was “on a ventilator” at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2007. Yet when he was well enough to move home to Colorado, this benefit was no longer available. Relying on savings, credit cards and community fundraisers, Matt and his wife, Tracy, spent $32,000 in 2009 for two cycles of in vitro fertilization. As a result, they delivered twins in 2010. “My husband was not whole again until the day he held his son,” Tracy told Reuters. “That’s what he needed to carry him through this life in which every day he’s stuck in that wheelchair.” One of the measure’s most ardent supporters is the House of Representative member from Illinois, Tammy Duckworth. She is a former Black Hawk helicopter pilot who lost her legs in Iraq. Duckworth and her husband were able to pay for the in vitro treatment that led to the birth of their daughter. “Our country shouldn’t force the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much already to also sacrifice

Veterans’ questions to ponder Do you believe that the beneficial programs available to veterans are sufficient? Do you believe that every young person should serve time training in the Armed Forces? Are you aware that about one-fifth

of all veterans leaving the service become homeless people? Do you agree that veterans should receive free medical aid whether or not the need arises due to service connected problems? Should businesses receive a finan-

cial subsidy for hiring a veteran and training that veteran for a particular position? Do you believe that women should serve in active duty positions? Would you want your daughter serving on the front lines?

hope of having children of their own,” she noted. This leads me to my final point. While women veterans who have completed their military service face many of the same issues and challenges faced by military men in returning to civilian life, they also face issues that are unique and often unrecognized. According to a 2014 study, benefits and service programs operated by the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs “tend to lag behind in serving women.” Many VA clinics lack staff to provide adequate treatment for women. As a result, women veterans tend to underutilize VA care in a world of what they perceive to be male-oriented programs, according to a National Health Care for the Homeless Council report. Among other issues, female veterans are also more likely to be single parents, the VA says, which can make it more difficult to find adequate housing. In 2015, women veterans represented more than 10 percent of the total U.S. veteran population. Their specific needs and their service cannot be allowed to be short changed. As we look at the many problems we face in treating our veterans in a manner befitting their service and sacrifice, it’s time we commit ourselves as a nation to applying the kind of resources and military precision necessary to finally make things right. Write to Chuck Norris (info@creators.com) with your questions about health and fitness. Follow Chuck Norris through his official social media sites, on Twitter @chucknorris and Facebook’s “Official Chuck Norris Page.” He blogs at http://chucknorrisnews.blogspot.com.

Should there be a greater incentive for people to enlist in the Armed Forces? Do you think flag burners or flag desecraters should be arrested for their actions? Today, such actions are considered as free speech?

OCTOBER 2016 • 50PLUS

• 9A

Learn about age related macular degeneration Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness among Americans age 65 and older. AMD attacks central vision, resulting in blurring and blind spots while sparing peripheral vision. Central vision loss impacts many of our most common daily activities including reading, driving, watching television, and even the ability to recognize the faces of friends and loved ones. There are two types of macular degeneration, wet and dry. Most people diagnosed with macular degeneration have the dry form. In dry AMD the normal processes that maintain retinal health break down which lead to the accumulation of waste products, called drusen, under the retina. As dry AMD progresses, the retina thins and degenerates. Vision loss tends to be gradual in dry AMD, and monitoring the central vision for changes is important. A special chart called an Amsler grid has been developed to monitor for changes in central vision. If you experience sudden changes in your central vision, it is important to see your eye doctor

INSIGHT WITH MILWAUKEE EYE CARE ASSOCIATES

By Jason Edmonds, MD immediately for further evaluation. “Unfortunately at this time there is no medical treatment for dry AMD, but in a large study, a specific vitamin supplement has been shown to reduce the risk of progression,” states Dr. Nicholas Frame. The second type of macular degeneration is known as wet or neovascular AMD. In wet AMD abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina in a process called choroidal neovascularization. These abnormal blood vessels can leak blood or fluid into the retina causing sudden distortion or blurring of central vision. Vision loss is often faster and more obvious than in dry AMD. It is important to receive evalu-

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10A • 50PLUS • OCTOBER 2016

Aftercare in hearing devices, get checkups

My colleagues and I have struggled with a question for some time: “How can we make our potential clients aware of all the lifetime service we provide without turning them off the idea of hearing devices completely?” In other words: “How do we assign value to ‘free lifetime care’ without making the process feel like a burden?” If ever I have had the opportunity to do just that, it’s with this column. Perhaps the most important questions one can ask before agreeing to wear a company’s hearing aids: “What do I get? Is this price the hearing aid and only the hearing aid?” Beltone, a hearing device, is a delicate piece of electronic equipment that will spend the majority of its time in a hot humid hole in the side of your head. While that may be an off putting concept, it’s true. Hearing aids are subjected to ear wax, sweat, rain, dirt, dust, hair products, etc. These are generally speaking very destructive conditions for electronic devices. In fact, just about every piece of electronic technology you can

HEARING MATTERS

By John Dykstra purchase will come with strong warnings to avoid some or all of these conditions at all costs, otherwise they will be destroyed and the warranty will be voided. The very first thing you are instructed to do with hearing aids is to place them directly into these conditions. This is not due to the fact that hearing instruments are indestructible; they are not. Rather it is a testament to what can be achieved with proper care, and a regular inspection and maintenance schedule from a hearing care professional. Many people, unfamiliar with the relationship they will develop with their hearing care professional to keep

them going on that journey, assume hearing aids are like glasses. Once you have them you just give them a good wiping every now and then and they will be all set to go with no intervention by the professional from whom they were purchased. Nothing could be further from the truth. We will be partners in your journey. Knowledgeable, empathetic counseling will be equally as important as the sophisticated computers sitting just inside or behind your ears. You will be best served if your partner is the type of professional for whom this is what they do and this is all they do. They will help you along your journey of improved hearing through the latest and most proven technology, along with the most customer-oriented service philosophy in the industry. So what does all of this mean? What is the level of commitment to the end user? I want to see all of my patients quarterly. Every three months I want to do a visual inspection of their ears, examine and clean the hearing devices

and replace all filters and “disposable” parts. Supply them with batteries to last them the next three months. This is a minimal checkup. This will take no longer than 10 minutes. If the client reports any issues, we may also want to take a moment to adjust the settings of the devices. Once a year I want to do a new hearing evaluation and assess if any adjustments need to be made to accommodate further hearing loss. This level of care is shown to all clients. If a patient is unable to get to the office, we can arrange home visits. This is what COMPLETE hearing care service looks like. This is the level of hearing care a company should provide. John Dykstra Hearing Instrument Specialist- State License #1287 See this and previous Hearing Matters articles at: www.beltonewi.com/news/

OCTOBER 2016 • 50PLUS

• 11A

The original Social Security law was not so great

BY TOM MARGENAU

: I think there are far too many people getting Social Security benefits. So I have a plan. I believe that in order to save the program, we need to take Social Security back to its original intentions. If we went back to the very first Social Security law, can you tell me who would no longer qualify for Social Security benefits?

: Well if you really mean when the program first started, in other words, the original Social Security Act passed in 1935, then all we would have is retirement benefits for people 65 and older who were totally retired. That’s it. Period. Nothing else! That means we would have no early retirement benefits at age 62. Those millions of people getting early retirement benefits could kiss their checks goodbye. It also would mean we would not pay benefits to anyone 65 and older if they were still working. The original Social Security law required that you must be completely retired to collect benefits. So tough luck for all the working seniors out there. Oh, and there would be no extra bonus for people who delay taking benefits until a later age. Millions of seniors currently plan to work until 70 to get a 32 percent bonus added to their checks. Your plan would turn off that incentive to delay retirement. There would be no benefits for spouses or widows or widowers. And if a young worker dies and leaves small children, then the kids are outta luck. No government benefits for them. And there would be no disability benefits. So if you have a heart attack at age 60 and can’t work, well, that’s just too bad. You would have to wait five more years to collect your Social Security, assuming you live that long. I could go on and on. There are tens of millions of people getting Social Security benefits today who would not qualify for anything under the original Social Security law. So do you really think your plan is a good one? I will answer that question. No it is not! But sadly, you are not alone in

your thinking. I hear from many people who say we should go back to the “good old original Social Security.” As another person said to me in a recent email: “When it comes to Social Security today, Congress has added on too many goodies for too many undeserving people.” But I would make the point that Social Security expanded over the years not because Congress was looking for ways to give handouts to freeloaders, but because a caring and compassionate society should provide for its citizens’ legitimate needs. That’s why today we have Social Security benefits for working seniors, for spouses and widows, for orphaned children, for divorced women and for disabled workers.

older and widowers age 65 and older. 1956 amendments: Lowered the age at which a woman can get retirement benefits to 62. Also lowered the

age at which a husband or wife can get spousal or widow’s benefit to 62. Added disability benefits to disabled workers between ages 50 and 64.

: I am doing a research paper on the growth of Social Security over the history of the program. Can you provide me with a list of all the changes that have been made to Social Security over the years?

: Obviously, I used your question in this column because it dovetails nicely with the first question. I don’t think you want me to give you a list of “all” the changes because that list could fill a book. That’s because Congress passes amendments to the Social Security law almost every year. But most of those are relatively minor or technical changes that really have no significant impact on the program or the benefits paid. But I will give you a short list of the major amendments to the Social Security Act and what those changes wrought. 1935, the original Social Security Act: Provided benefits for retirees at age 65 and nothing else. 1939 amendments: Added benefits for dependent wives age 65 and older and for the minor children of retirees. Also added benefits to widows age 65 and older and to surviving minor children of a worker who died. And included benefits for widows at any age if caring for a minor child. 1950 amendments: Added benefits for dependent husbands age 65 and

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12A • 50PLUS • OCTOBER 2016

Everything’s changing, but what’s the big deal? BY ANNIE LANE

DEAR ANNIE: After 24 years of marriage, my husband wants to split up. I have had health issues for a few years, and now he says he is tired of dealing with them. We have been living with his parents and our three kids for about a year and a half. I have been

given a deadline to move out -- alone. Everyone else is welcome to stay. I have been trying to find a place I can afford while staying near my elderly father. Moving in with him is not an option. I may have found a room in a house and am going to check it out tomorrow.

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Suddenly, reality is hitting me. I won’t see my kids every day. I won’t have my cats, who are 9 and 13, because I can’t find a place that allows pets. I have been crying all day. I’m trying to keep busy packing, but every time I see my cats, it starts up again. I have a psychiatrist, as well as a counselor. I don’t have time to see them before I have to leave but plan to make appointments soon after I move. No one in my family is acting as if this major life change is a big deal. I’m just looking for some validation. -Crushed in California DEAR CRUSHED: You have 100 percent of my validation and then some. I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I would encourage you to keep looking for a place that allows pets. They can be so therapeutic. It’s especially important to take care of yourself during a major life trauma such as this, so I’m glad to hear you have a plan in place to see your doctor and therapist. It sounds as if you are taking all the right steps to build a healthier, happier life. Just give it time. DEAR ANNIE: I now have had two occurrences in two years in which my husband and I were invited to a family event at the very last minute. We were invited to a wedding three days in advance and a significant birthday party 1 1/2 days in advance. These invitations were from two women in my extended family, both of whom are in their late 20s. And in both instances, the women used email to ask whether we’d be attending.

My husband and I didn’t go to the wedding or the birthday party. I am upset but don’t know whether I am being selfish for resenting that I would have had to run out and get a card and gift for an event we were invited to at the last minute. I feel like leftover lunch from two days ago. We are in our 50s. Is this the new way of doing things? Should we be more flexible and get with the program? -- Upset by These Little Things DEAR UPSET: Though your adaptability is admirable, you don’t need to get with the program if it means leaving behind all expectations of common courtesy. It is becoming more commonplace for budget-conscious couples to have “standby” guest lists. It’s not ideal, etiquette-wise, but the tactic isn’t so offensive if done so discreetly that people don’t even realize they were on the B-list. But inviting someone to your wedding three days before it happens? That’s a faux pas in the first degree. If you feel comfortable, perhaps ask each woman individually -- without a smidgen of accusation in your tone -- whether there was a reason the invitation came so late. Each one may have a perfectly reasonable answer; you never know. But it’s probable that neither will, and your question will at least prompt both of them to think of being more courteous next time. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. To find out more about Annie Lane and read features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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OCTOBER 2016 • 50PLUS

• 13A

Giving Grandparents

BY DOUG MAYBERRY

: We are a 75-year-old married couple with two grandchildren attending college. We help support one of them because her mother is divorced and can’t support her fully. We are blessed to be able to help out. However, our successful son has recently told us that he also needs some financial assistance. We have always attempted to be fair to both of our children, but he is jealous. How do we solve this problem?

: Oh, that eternal jealousy! As much as grandparents would like to make things fair and equal, it rarely happens in most families. Even the matter of which

grandchild will receive great grandmother’s diamond ring will be a source of contention. If you have the funds, you are able to help your son out, too. However, if you don’t have the money to support both of them, I recommend that you and your wife open up the discussion of inheritance. Perhaps you could help your son out with some funds from your estate. Obviously, no two children go down the same path in life, marrying a lifelong partner, having a similar work ethic, etc. The bottom line is your money belongs to you. Regardless of your relationship with your kids, choose how you share your money without guilt, prejudice or intimidation. -- Doug

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14A • 50PLUS • OCTOBER 2016

For Judy Fare, it was always only Ken BY JACK PEARSON

Any story about noted athletes without accompanying commentary about their wives, assuming they are married, of course, is not really complete. As a writer it has always impressed me how important the little lady back home is to the success of any sports figure. This wifely support and behind the scenes backing does not merely occur prior to and during an athlete’s career. As the following article reveals, it can also take place after death. Ken and Judy Fare, for example. During his lifetime, Ken was an avid golfer and also one of the top dartball players in the state. Judy, his wife, was always his number one fan and the one

a most commendable and heartwarming tale. Judy, now 59, lives in the southwest suburban area of Waukesha, where I spoke with her recently. She told me of how it all began. “I was a teenager when my parents moved into their new home in Milwaukee,” she recalled. “On the first day there, when we were unpacking, I saw the boy next door. He was tossing a football around with a couple of his pals. On the spot, without meeting him or even talking to him, I fell in love. I told my sister that he was the one I was going to marry. It sounds crazy and silly, but it’s true. That’s exactly what happened. That boy was Kenny. For me, there was no one else.” And yes, they were married. They

Ken and Judy Fare at a dinner engagement not too long before his death who made it all possible. Theirs was an idyllic existence, in many ways. Tragedy, however, often strikes when least expected. Ken died of a heart attack when he was only 53 years old, at the height of his life. What Judy has done since then, to perpetuate his memory and also to raise funds for the Heart Association and in so to help others, is

had two daughters, Jenn and Katie, and Ken became a sales rep in the food business. He was also an active sportsman; in golf, a member of the Muskego Lakes Country Club, an excellent dartball player as evidenced by the fact that he was elected to the Wisconsin Dartball Hall of Fame, and a league softball player. In golf, he was out on the course every chance he could manage, often playing 36 holes in one day. He was a seven to eight handicapper, which put him among the elite of the game. There was and is another Wisconsin golfer who happened to be a Hall of Fame dartball player, the legendary Archie Dadian. That the two should meet and become close friends and sometime teammates had to be preordained. “I met Ken at a dartball match,” Dadian recalled. “He was an excellent player; I could see that right away. He had exceptional eye to hand coordination. Although we played in different

leagues, whenever someone was putting a tournament team together to compete someplace else in the country, often they’d put us together on the same squad. Something else about him was that the tougher the opposition, the better he played. He seemed to thrive on competition, and I guess that’s what made him so good. That, and the little lady back home you’re talking about who was always there for him, win or lose, whatever. You’re right about the importance of wives. It doesn’t get all that much ink, but it should. Ken had a good one. I do, too, by the way.” I asked Judy if there had been any indication of anything physically wrong with Ken prior to his death. I could tell it was difficult for her to bring it all back into focus. “Not really. There was some history of heart problems in his family, I found out later,” she said. “But in our years together, he never had any problems. He didn’t drink or smoke, and other than carrying a few extra pounds, seemed in fine shape. There was nothing. I still remember that last day; it’s vivid in my mind. He had played two complete rounds of golf the day before, and on that day had just finished another. It was quite hot. As he came in he gave me a kiss and said that he was tired, and was going to lie down for a while. A little later I went into the bedroom to wake him up. I touched his shoulder; I still have nightmares about it. He didn’t move. He was dead.” That was in the fall of 2009. Later that year a few of Judy’s friends invited her to accompany them on a skiing jaunt upstate. “Everyone was always trying to cheer me up,” she recalled. “That day, when we were through skiing and sitting having dinner, someone said we should do something in Ken’s memory. One thing led to another, and we finally decided on a golf outing. What would be more appropriate? Golf was what Ken loved. But we decided that it wouldn’t be just a social event, that we’d use it to raise funds for the Heart Association, and to raise the awareness of heart disease.” She stopped and thought for a moment. “And not simply just that, but to also encourage people to care for themselves properly in that regard, and to have annual checkups. As I said, Kenny always seemed to be

perfectly healthy, but there obviously was something wrong with his heart, that was completely hidden. If he had gone in for periodic checkups, which might have pointed out something correctable, he might still be alive today.” Because of his work, coupled with his intensive involvement in different sports, but most of all because of his exceptional and outgoing personality, Ken Fare was a very popular man. If anything, that’s an understatement. Would you believe that more than 1,400 people attended his funeral? “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a line of mourners as long as that at a funeral,” commented Jim Hinckle, owner-editor of the Dartball News publication. “It was as if it had been the governor who had died, or a well known national figure.” By the way, it was Hinckle who suggested this story. “Because Kenny had so many friends I didn’t think we’d have too much of a problem with getting the golf outing going,” Judy said. “But even so, the enthusiasm and acceptance of the event was so overwhelming I couldn’t keep from crying.” For that first outing in 2010, nearly 140 people signed up at $100 a head to play in the event. Those fees, plus other donations and sponsorships, enabled Judy and her friends to raise nearly $12,000. In the six Ken Fare Memorial Golf Outings since then, more than $70,000 has been raised and turned over to the Heart Association. Did the outings have winners or champions, I asked Judy. “Sure,” she said with a big smile. “Everyone there was a winner and champion.” Judy also started to give me a list of the many people who have helped her with the outings over the years, but the list was so lengthy plus the possibility of forgetting someone caused me to not use it. Everyone who has helped with the event did not do so to be noted for it, anyway. August 4, was the date of the Seventh Annual Ken Fare Memorial Golf Outing at Muskego Lakes CC. The goal this year, Judy said, was to top $15,000.

OCTOBER 2016 • 50PLUS

• 15A

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Kaufman, Swiecichowski Elected To Senior Olympics Hall of Fame Athletic Hall of Fame inductions have certainly been in the spotlight recently. Last August, for example, there was extensive media coverage of the NFL’s annual Hall of Fame ceremony. (Actually, it provided a welcome albeit brief relief from all the yucky news foisted on us lately.) Interest in that NFL Hall of Fame ceremony was really intense here in Wisconsin since one of the inductees was former Green Bay star quarterback Brett Favre. 50 Plus, as its name implies, how-

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One that invariably fits all the criteria is the Wisconsin Senior Olympics Hall of Fame. At their recent Celebration of Athletes Dinner, conducted as always at the Knights of Columbus Hall in West Allis, two athletes were inducted: Margaret Kaufman of Madison, and Cy Swiecichowski of Jackson. With respect for etiquette as well as being alphabetically correct, we’ll begin our narrative with the lady from Madison, Margaret Kaufman. She is, most assuredly, an incredible athlete, in more ways than one. Start with her recent induction into the Wisconsin Senior Olympics Hall of Fame. Only the very best athletes, in any sport, are ever accorded that honor. But then consider the sport, and especially the portions of the sport in which she specializes. That sport is track & field and she competes in the 100 and 200-meter races and the long jump. Margaret is now 73. If you had watched any of the world Olympics recently, you may have noticed that competitors in those race events, no matter where they were from, were usually in their

teens or 20s. The few in their 30s were considered “old fogies.” Watching a 73-year-old, and a female at that, whizzing down the lane and winning a dash race was about like imagining your grandmother playing quarterback for the Packers as successfully as Favre did. In the 2006 Wisconsin Senior Olympics, Margaret not only won the 200 meters in her age group (60-64), she set an all-time record at 36.40 seconds. In the 2008 Senior Olympics, she won the 100-meter dash in the 6569-age class in 17.14 seconds, also a new Senior Olympics record. Then in the 2009 games, she took the gold in the 200 meters in 36.99, again setting a new WSO record in that race for her age group. All told, running in eight Wisconsin Senior Olympics, she won 21 medals, 19 of which were gold. She also competed in three National Senior Olympics, winning two medals, one of which was a gold. In addition to her competition in the state and national Senior Olympics, she has also competed in the USA Nationals, and

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in 2005 took the championship in the long jump. The story is quite impressive, I’m sure you’ll agree. But by far the most impressive aspect of all this lady has accomplished is that she did not begin running competitively until after her 61st birthday. Think of that., 61, not 51, not 41. Can you think of any successful athlete, anywhere in the world, who started his or her career at that advanced age?

When I asked her about that, she laughed. “You know, you’re making me out to be some kind of a character out of the comics,” She said, “who all of a sudden explodes into a sort of Superman, or Superwoman, I’m just little old me. But I’m just kidding. I know you need some background, so I’ll try to recall some things. “First of all, I’ve always been blessed with the ability to run fast. As a youngster we’d have races all the time, OLYMPICS continued on page 18A

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18A • 50PLUS • OCTOBER 2016 OLYMPICS continued from page 17A

and I always beat all the other girls, and most of the boys, too. One time there was some kind of a citywide race contest for kids, a 50-yarder. All the kids in town that thought they were fast entered, boys as well as girls. And would you believe I won? I remember getting a big hug from my mother. “Where the problem came in was that neither the grade school or high school I attended offered sports for girls. Even later, when I went to college at Tufts University, whatever sports they offered, didn’t include track and field. So even though I could run faster than just about anyone I knew, there was no place I could utilize that ability. Margaret followed up her degree in English Literature at Tufts with a Masters degree at Stanford Univer-

sity. She and her husband, Paul, a research physician at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, have one daughter, Alison, and one granddaughter, Lycia. “The little darling must have inherited the same running genes I have, as she can run like the wind,” Margaret said. “Whenever we get together we have a little race. I can still beat her, but I don’t think I’ll be able to do so for long.” As to her recent involvement in the Wisconsin Senior Olympics, she noted that it was about 1994, after she’d passed her 50th birthday, that it all began. “A friend told me to check out the United States Masters Track and Field organization,” she recalled, And I did.” She paused and smiled. “I discovered how out of shape I really was. I hadn’t run competitively in

Capitol Hill Classic Race—3K May 2015 Paul and Margaret Kaufman and their granddaughter, Lydia Adcock, age 5 more than 40 years. But I worked at it, and after a while, the old skills came back. About that same time I heard about the Senior Olympics, so I signed up with them, too.”

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After eight Senior Olympic competitions, there won’t be any this fall. She and Paul are leaving for an extended stay in Great Britain. But we’ll be back,” she promised.

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20A • 50PLUS • OCTOBER 2016 STUETTGEN continued from page 1A

Stuettgen, now age 60, is a prayerful and modest person, who grew up in Hartland and resides there again with his wife of two years, Colleen. He is the

in her lifetime found inspiration in the various ways people were called to Jesus and the manners in which they responded. Jeffry says that his time with the Missionaries of Charity taught

He was inspired by his then church pastor, Fr. Robert Graves at St Charles in Hartland. Fr. Graves must have told him to “go for it whatever it is or never be satisfied.” son of Bernie and Sharon Stuettgen, now of Pewaukee. So what’s the big deal about Stuettgen? Jeffry studied commercial art at MATC after high school and while doing so was not only quick with his thinking, but also with his legs as he was a member of the then championship track squad that dazzled even the sports writers in competition in New York City. But while he was gainfully employed as a commercial artist by Miller Brands in Milwaukee doing billboard artistry, Stuettgen was unsettled in his thinking towards the future. He was inspired by his then church pastor, Fr. Robert Graves at St Charles in Hartland. Fr. Graves must have told him to “go for it whatever it is or never be satisfied.” Stuettgen meditated. Could he see himself as a helper of the downtrodden, of those in need of material help as well as spiritual guidance? Could he really deliver this? Wait a moment. Who is this story really all about? I will confess that as this story continues, it will be difficult to separate Jeffry Stuettgen from Mother Teresa, who now is known in the church as Saint Teresa. Jeffry Stuettgen, since his return to Hartland, not only found his lovely wife, Colleen, but also was stricken with stage four cancer in the larynx. While medical doctors do not openly agree, Stuettgen is quite certain that Saint Teresa interceded for him with the Heavenly powers and yes, he’s not only in remission, but cured. Is it any wonder that he is a promoter of Saint Teresa? But what about this person known as blessed Teresa and now as Saint Teresa? Born in 1910 in Macedonia, the diminutive nun deceased in 1997, but

him that each of us has our own path through life and that we must follow it to reach inner peace. But more about Mother Teresa, the new saint and founder of the religious order. She definitely came to know the glories of the world and also of its troubles and needs. Mother Teresa claimed that she saw Jesus treading the paths through life with others - there to help when and if they stumbled. Jeffry says that of all the times when he witnessed Mother Teresa facing a problem, she never frowned or showed weaknesses. If there was pain, it was not to be a

Jeff Stuettgen

Jeffry says that of all the times when he witnessed Mother Teresa facing a problem, she never frowned or showed weaknesses. If there was pain, it was not to be a painful experience. The pain is meant to be endured. painful experience. The pain is meant to be endured. While Mother Teresa was active, she began her work of a charitable nature as a teacher in Ireland, but soon realized her real calling was to help the poor and needy. This is when she organized the Missionaries of Charity and spread aid to the needy in numerous countries regardless of their own religious beliefs. Stuettgen, who had been a volunteer in the Milwaukee area whenever and wherever he could along with his job, prayed for guidance and obviously it arrived, but only after Jeffry and a friend had attended the Olympics in Canada. Before that, Jeffry had studied a semester in Italy. In a way, Jeffry’s religious fervor possibly coupled with his desire to travel, and so he felt himself more than ready to tackle the job

of helping others regardless of where it might call him. Stuettgen worked pennilessly with the Missionaries of Charity for a total of 15 years, moving from a volunteer to a member of the order and from being a helper to being in charge of the needy people’s food and lodging. He did this in places like Italy, war-torn Albania, France, Italy and in the United States

in New York City and Gallup, NM. Stuettgen, more than just somewhat of an artist, did seven different portraits of Mother Teresa. She personally signed three of them with salutations to Jeffry such as “God likes you,” “The hand of God must guide yours,” “Even with a broken pencil, you have done a good piece.” Jeffry was privileged to bring his parents to know Mother Teresa. He is especially grateful to have been able to spend three or four days close with her before she died in 1997. He was determined to follow Mother Teresa’s lead after seeing her when she visited Milwaukee in 1981 to receive a humanitarian award. Stuettgen began yearning for home and old friends. He then was stationed

Stuettgen, more than just somewhat of an artist, did seven different portraits of Mother Teresa. She personally signed three of them with salutations to Jeffry such as “God likes you,” “The hand of God must guide yours,” “Even with a broken pencil, you have done a good piece.”

OCTOBER 2016 • 50PLUS

• 21A

“I never have had one moment when I feared my decision was wrong.” in Italy and the 15 years of selfless service was beginning to wear on him. His next assignment could be in India, or he could go home? Jeffry decided that homeward he would go and left the order with the gracious thanks of Mother Teresa for his 15 years of service. Now at home in Hartland, Jeffry is appalled at the amount of human suffering all about him and does his best to help those whom he sees in need. Two aunts both are dealing with serious cancers. Jeffry and Colleen are there for them as they can be when called into action. Having given 15 years of his life almost totally to works of charity, what does Jeffry feel today? “I never have had one moment when I feared my decision was wrong.” He can’t really share his inner drama, but his works on a daily basis prove that God’s glory more than counteracts any human weaknesses that Jeffry may have in attempting to bring Jesus into the lives of everyone he comes into contact with. The artist does not have a business office, but works on assignment whenever and where needed. His advice: “Live out your call in life and do it enthusiastically. Regard-

less of the day or the problems facing her, Mother Teresa never wavered in her forward thinking or feared that the hand of God would not be there when needed.” Yes, Jeffry’s portraits do capture inner peace.

KILLING TIME continued from page 4A

want to teach my students how to live this life on earth. To face its struggles and its strife and to improve their worth. To understand eternal truth and to know right from wrong. For if I help the world to grow in wisdom and in grace, then I shall feel as I have won and God let me do my part for character and confidence and for happiness of heart.” j j j j When Columbus sailed the ocean blue and arrived in the new world in 1492 could he ever have envisioned what we have today? In fact, could we really envision what he had that day? j j j j We’re told that men marry women knowing they will never change from being beautiful, compassionate, great cooks and so understanding. Women, however, marry men knowing that they can and will change them. j j j j As the men and ladies grow older,

having soundtracks. Laurel and Hardy were comic characters, not political contenders. j j j j Whoever thought of a name for an edible chunk of cheese to call it a curd? j j j j Success is a seven-letter word. Lose only has four letters. It proves that you have to try longer for success. j j j j Some politicians are great talkers. Personally, I’d rather have a doer. j j j j Can you imagine a maternity shop not being open on Labor Day? j j j j Old-time butchers like Skip Brickham and Eddie Miller are retired. They no longer “meat” the needs of their customers. j j j j I recently read a Teacher’s Prayer. I won’t put it all here, but a few of the lines are certainly worth repeating. “I

ABOUT JEFF STUETTGEN

Jeff Stuettgen, Hartland, and his time in service to Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity. Jeff, who we have known since he was a little boy, is now age 60 and has returned home after 15 years of donated efforts to the care of the poor and otherwise needy at various sites in the United States and several foreign countries. Still active in assisting those in need when and if the challenge comes to his attention, you will find compassion with Jeff after reading his story.

STUETTGEN: Mother Teresa, as the tip of a pencil broke while she was writing a note to Jeffry, Mother Teresa wrote, “We are like a pencil in the hands of the Lord.” On another occasion, Mother Teresa wrote to him, “Keep the joy of loving the poor and share the joy with all you meet. Remember that works of love are works of peace. God bless you.” many take on new shapes as they gain weight. Men become apple-shaped; women, pear-shaped. I guess these shapes are better than being in watermelon shape. j j j j I guess a bit now and then won’t kill you, but smoked fish and meat in great quantities can be harmful to your health. The burning wood produces carcinogenic carbon compounds. There goes my stash of canned smoked oysters. j j j j Psychological factors are said to play a big part in unexplained weight losses. The list includes bereavement, loneliness, depression, and loss of income. You get the picture. Just don’t put yourself in it if you can avoid it. j j j j Coronary angiography is said to be a waste of time and much money for many people who undergo it plus shooting the patient with 600 to 800

times the radiation that a normal x-ray would cause. It is recommended for those people with chest pains, shortness of breath, high blood pressure, and smoking. j j j j Seeing all the hay in big round bundles in fields these days makes me wonder about the cows getting square meals. j j j j Speaking of cows, the large daily farms would be hard-pressed for milking time labor if all of the illegal Latinos were sent to their home countries. Our approved immigration laws need improvement, not fences. j j j j After watching Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump as they wage a war of words while seeking the presidency, I suspect that weeds may be beginning to even grow along Sesame Street.

22A • 50PLUS • OCTOBER 2016

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Emma has a very interesting story today The frost is on the pumpkins in the morning and Henry looks at those in our garden every day. He expects, I guess, to win some kind of a prize at his club for having grown the largest pumpkin among all the members. Well, I guess this is not quite true. The greatest number of seeds in the contest entries will determine the contest winner so I just figured out all by myself that the largest pumpkin would have the most seeds. Having a positive attitude towards the numbers of seeds probably won’t help Henry win the prize - a membership for next year. The pumpkin seed contest will be decided at the special meeting in October. Can you even imagine how long it will be for each contestant to carve his pumpkin seed entry, place the seeds in countable fashion on a table and wait for his dream entry to be judged? Alicia, the auxiliary president, proclaimed that she would be the judge. There have been more than a few evenings when Alicia might not have been able to count to 10. This perhaps is why a Sunday afternoon has been chosen for the event. Of course, if the Packers are on TV, they’ll perhaps be kicking field goals like mad. I only hope that Alicia doesn’t kick over any tables and that she brings along her calculator, no, that is not her husband, but an electronic machine. The husband, I’m sure, will only be calculating how many free drinks she gets from hopeful contestants as she

APRON STRINGS

By Aunt Emma weaves her way through the room. In our next edition, I’ll let you know who won the contest, how many seeds were in the victorious pumpkin and how the seeds were roasted and put on the tables as appetizers. I fear commenting on the weather, as the weather people on television so often are wrong. Just think of the few possibilities I have of getting the weekend weather forecasted as it will then occur? I still recall the old-time weatherman of the sixties, who was accused of just licking his forefinger and then sticking it up in the air to determine which way the wind was blowing from and whether it was warm or cold. Henry came home with a new idea for a hobby for me, gemstones. Hubby Henry came across a story in some goofy magazine that told all about gemstones. He got interested in them as one of the fellows from the club showed him a few that he was rubbing around in his hands. The man claimed that the gemstones had healing properties. I asked Henry what I was to do with the gemstones and where was I

to find them? Well, he told me that I could create jewelry from them. I said I would then also have to be talented enough of an artist to fashion the stones somehow with metal of some type. Now, I am not really into brass things, but sterling silver is exciting. I have yet to figure out how the gemstones are going to heal and exactly what they will heal. Henry left me mighty short of any possibility of a spiritual experience with stones. His suggestion that I go walking by the

OCTOBER 2016 • 50PLUS

• 23A

shoreline of Lake Michigan kind of leaves me cold, and that’s not just because the weather is changing with the Fall season just ahead. My path through life with Henry has always been a bit rough, but I doubt that I’ll find any gemstones along the way. Still, don’t forget that life really is what you make of it - nothing more, nothing less. But, why is it that the sun is often shining much brighter on the other side of the street?

Pumpkin Drop yOu’re InvITed TO The 4Th annual

Thursday, OcTOber 27 aT 3-5pm JOIN US FOR A “SMASHING” GOOD TIME! • Witness 100-year-olds chucking pumpkins off a 4th story balcony • Cheer on our resident teams playing pumpkin bullseye • Bring your family and friends for festive games & decorations FREE! No RSVP necessary. Questions call (414) 607-4167.

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STARS and STRIPES: The voluntary Stars and Stripes organization in Southeastern Wisconsin has sent paid-in-full over 4,000 former military service personnel to view the monuments in Washington, D.C. A group of the enthusiastic veterans is pictured above as they visited the famous Iwo Jima Memorial.

24A • 50PLUS • OCTOBER 2016

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Senior golf winners The top players in the Senior Par Plus Golf League at Nagawaukee Golf Course in Waukesha County were grouped this year, with handicap, according their ages. The four top players in each age grouping are printed herewith. Youngsters among the nine-holers: Ed Creamean. Ron Staley, Frank Cali and Bob Miller. Tops among the older nine-holers (age 76 and up) were Bob Jurci, Karl Kroeplin, John DiLallo and David Bray.

The 18-hole standings, with handicap, were in four groups: Kids: Al Johnson, Bob Murray, Peter Pochowski and Jim Krug. Youngsters: Gary Davis, Lowell Tim, Jim Butler, Tom Starks. The second highest group: Paul Warner, Al Greco, Bill Listwan, and Gordon Heilert. The oldest players: John Whettam, Bob Ranus. John Fabina and Jay Mays.

The Senior Par Plus Golf League completed its handicap season at the end of August at Nagawaukee Golf Course, Delafield, plus 92 members of the league competed for prizes Sept. 12 in the annual year-ending tournament. Top league golfer was John Whettam. Guiding the league through another successful year of play were the following officers: Dale Stimac, chief coordinator; Bill Gouge, trea-

surer and flag events; Dave Gramins, tournament luncheon; Peter Musante, handicap functionary; Ed Matarrese, website. While he was not present at the tournament, Matarrese was given a thunderous round of thankful applause for the numerous years he has selflessly served the organization. Stimac, the lead coordinator, just completed his second year at the helm.

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October Poem

I see much work to be done today. Yes. Getting it done is life’s real way. We do what’s right even when tough. As golfers do, stay out of the rough. There’s ample time to do what must be. Getting it right is only what I see. There’s still light for an early P.M. walk. If my partner comes along, we’ll also talk.

OCTOBER 2016 • 50PLUS

• 25A

Footballs fill the air as many kids do play. Have fun while you can. It is life’s way.

But as October’s 31 days do progress There is still so much fun, I do confess.

Chewing on sticks is not as good as gum. I have an extra stick for the street bum.

Clean the window, put on the storm. Don’t squirm. Do keep a happy form.

If all goes as well as I believe I can see Smiling and happiness will be without fee.

Many birds head southward on wing. Geese gather when flying as they almost cling.

Leaves to rake, then bundle or burn, Harry, Larry and Mary each take a turn.

Before month’s end there might be a chill. You won’t be able to hide over the hill.

Winning is not the only result of play. Some have other reasons, or so they say.

Leaves are falling here, there, all about One got caught in Fido’s snoopy snout.

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414-529-0100 www.TudorOaks.net Tudor Oaks Senior Living Community is owned and operated by American Baptist Homes of the Midwest, a not-for-profit provider of senior housing and healthcare since 1930.

26A • 50PLUS • OCTOBER 2016

EVENTS

Calendar

October 1 – 30, Tues. – Sunday, 5:30 – 10 pm (closed Mondays) CHINA LIGHTS: BOERNER, BRIGHTER THAN EVER Boerner Botanical Gardens, Whitnall Park, 9400 Boerner Drive, Hales Corners A celebration of Asian culture, featuring 40 larger-than-life sculptural lantern displays—from a threefoot baby panda in Panda World to a three-story Chinese palace pagoda— and stage performances highlighting folk-culture entertainment by acrobats, dancers, and jugglers. Admission is $15 for adults (age 18–59) and $10 for seniors (age 60 and up) and children (age 5-17). Children under age 5 will be admitted free. For more information, visit chinalights.org. October 2, 1:00 – 4:00 pm APPLEFEST New Berlin Historical Society, 19765 W. National Ave., New Berlin This fun free event is for all ages! There will be lunch plates and homemade desserts for sale. Kids can crank a corn sheller, press apples for cider and ride the barrel train through the orchard. Take a step back in time in the historic buildings and Museum while enjoying new exhibits. You can buy local products such as apples, pumpkins, honey and corn stalks. For additional information, visit www. newberlinhistoricalsociety.org. October 5, 7:00 pm VAGABOND SKI & SOCIAL CLUB Knights of Columbus Hall, 1800 S. 92nd Street, West Allis Vagabond ski & social club is an active group for singles and married couples. Join others at 7 for a group meeting followed by a dance featuring Andrea & The Mods. Admission is $5. Bring a friend. Visit www.vagabondskiclub.com for more information about this social group.

October 8 & 9, 11 am 9TH OKTOBERFEST IN CEDARBURG Cedarburg Community Center parking lot, W63 N641 Washington Ave., Cedarburg A huge tent will be erected covering the bands, dance floor and tables, and lending a true Oktoberfest feel. Oktoberfest means authentic German music and this year’s entertainment features Pommersche Tanzdeel Freistadt Dancers, Tuba Dan, the Alte Kameraden Band, D’ Lustig’n Wendlstoana Dancers and the Cedarburg Civic Band, plus a wooden dance floor for Polka fans. There will be numerous German foods and beers, not forgetting German desserts. Silly contests with prizes include Best Lederhosen/ Dirndl attire (male and female); Sauerkraut Eating Contests and Sunday’s German Spelling Bee from Ault to Zither (A-Z). On Sunday, from 1-4 pm, there will be a Sheepshead (Schafskopf) Tournament in the Senior Center Building. There will also be a merchant’s marketplace on the grounds. Arts will be highlighted all weekend long. Approximately 20 members of the Milwaukee Region Porsche Club of America will be showing their cars from noon to 3pm on Sunday. There is free admission and parking. October 9, 2:00 pm AUTHOR DAVID FANTLE Sarah Chudnow Community, 10995 N. Market Street, Mequon Join celebrity author David Fantle as he tells his stories of interviewing such film legends as Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, George Burns, Bob Hope and more. Get ready for a little classic Hollywood trivia and some prize giveaways! Fantle, with co-author Tom Johnson, penned “Reel to Real: 25 Years of Celebrity Interviews from Vaudeville to Movies to TV.” For additional information, please contact Becca at 414-721-9224. October 11, 11:30 - 12:30 pm GARDEN TALK ProHealth Waukesha Memorial Hospital, 725 American Ave, Waukesha

“Composting: Garden Gold.” Is it time to close up your garden for winter. A master gardener will share research-based information about turning your garden waste into garden gold. Registration is required for this free event by calling 262-928-2745. October 12, 7 pm WIDOW AND WIDOWERS CLUB, W.O.W. Moose Club, 5476 S. 13th Street (Grange Ave.), Milwaukee This club is exclusively for the widowed and their mission is to offer friendship to those who have lost a spouse. The group meets monthly on the second Wednesday at the Moose Lodge. The meeting is first and usually is followed by dancing or entertainment. Some of the general activities include: fish fries, cards, golf, pizza parties, bowling, baseball games and day trips. Guest fee is $5. Call 262521-1342 with questions. October 15 & 16, 9 am – 3 pm RUMMAGE-A-RAMA Washington County Fair Park, 3000 Hwy. PV, West Bend Enjoy an indoor flea-marketrummage-sale featuring: hobby items, crafts, antiques, and collectibles from local dealers overstock, closeouts, and flea-market finds from local business owners personal rummage sales by everyday people Rummage-A-Rama! features a collection of over 100 different sellers and a wide variety of items. Admission is $5. October 19, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm LUNCH & LEARN WISCONSIN BARNS & QUILTS WITH TOM LAUGHLIN Three Pillars, Village on the Square Community Room, 375 State Road 67, Dousman Tom Laughlin will share his stories about American barns focusing on Wisconsin barns. He has produced three programs for PBS. The first old barn program premiered on Wisconsin Public Television in 2006. Since then the program has aired to over 50 million PBS households across the country, and is now considered a classic. He will have a short discussion about Wisconsin barns and then show

the newest PBS program in the American Barn Series called “Barn Quilts and More.” Lunch begins at 11:30 AM in the Community Room - Village on the Square. Presentation begins at 12:15PM. Cost: $9 for lunch. To register, please contact Micaela at 262.965.7322 October 20, 8:30 – 10:00 am PROHEALTH SENIOR BREAKFAST CLUB Tuscan Hall, 409 Delafield St., Waukesha Enjoy a light breakfast, socialize with other seniors and learn about an educational topic. Learn the basic parts of Medicare (A, B, C, D) and how they work. Information will be provided on how to enroll, available insurance options, and the drug coverage requirement. ProHealth Care’s Senior Breakfast Club meets the third Thursday of every month, and is open to anyone over 60 years old. To register for this free event, call 262-928-2745. October 21, 11:30 am preshow lunch optional & 12:30 pm concert FRIDAY AFTERNOON MONTHLY CONCERT Spring Creek Church, N35 W22000 Capitol Drive, Pewaukee This month’s concert features Gino DeLuca a life-long singer, pianist, and improvisational artist, Gino performs a wide variety of repertoire styles including Cabaret, Musical Theatre, Jazz Standards, Popular Songs, Operetta, and Opera. Please call 262-695-2211 with questions or to register. October 28, 2:00 – 3:00 pm LEARN MICROSOFT WORD – BASIC CLASS Brookfield Public Library, 1900 N. Calhoun Rd., Brookfield Learn the basics of Microsoft Word in this hands-on class. Keyboard and mouse skills required. This class has two parts. Please register for both at 262-782-4140, option 1.

OCTOBER 2016 • 50PLUS

• 27A

We Saw You At .….The Oconomowoc Festival of the Arts BY MARGARET PEARSON

Beautiful Fowler Lake Park in Oconomowoc was again the scene of this wonderful event, the largest and most popular art festival in the state. More than 130 artists from all over the

country and perfect weather made this 46th annual two-day festival a huge success. Here are a few from the capacity crowd who will agree with those statements.

Kathy Kangas of Dousman and Cathi McDonald of Oconomowoc.

Phil and Patricia Wawrzyn of Iron Ridge with John Wawrzyn of Friendship. Jill Kowalkowski of Oconomowoc, Russ Rick of Vernon and Donna Armstrong of Pewaukee.

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Caregiver’s 2016-2017

Guide

OF SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN Published by

In cooperation with

news

50PLUSmagazine What’s New for

Phase Two of Your Life

1 9 7 5 - 2 0 1 5

ALSO INSIDE . . . . . . . .

Home Health Care DIRECTORYpage 18

2B • 50PLUS • CAREGIVERS GUIDE • OCTOBER 2016

Caregiver Stress Warning Signs

The Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation – www.leezasplace.org The first step in dealing with caregiver stress is to recognize the signs. Common signs that stress may be affecting your health include:

PHYSICAL SIGNS • Disturbed sleep • Back, shoulder or neck pain, muscle tension • Headaches • Stomach/digestive problems (upset or acid stomach, cramps, heartburn, gas, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea)

• Loss of hair • High blood pressure, irregular heart beat, palpitations • Weight fluctuation (gain or loss) • Chest pain • Fatigue • Perspiration

• Skin disorders (hives, eczema, psoriasis, tics, itching) • Periodontal disease, jaw pain • Reproductive problems/infertility • Weak immune system suppression: more colds, flu, infections • Sexual dysfunction, lack or libido

EMOTIONAL SIGNS • Anxiety • Depression • Moodiness/mood swings • Butterflies • Feeling out of control

• Irritability, easily frustrated, road rage • Argumentative • Feeling of isolation • Memory problems and lack of • Job dissatisfaction concentration • Increased substance abuse • Phobias

FOR MORE INFORMATION Please visit www.leezasplace.org and to take a Caregiver Stress Assessment, please visit

We Can Help.

FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT NETWORK (414) 220-8600

www.living-options.org • www.caregiversupportnetwork.org • www.interfaithmilw.org

OCTOBER 2016 • CAREGIVERS GUIDE • 50PLUS

• 3B

Caregiver’s TABLE OF CONTENTS Caregiver’s Guide Listings..........................................3 Adult Day Services.................................................... 5 Alcohol and Substance Abuse..................................... 5 Alzheimer’s and Memory Loss..................................... 5 Animals/Pet Care...................................................... 5 Assisted Living........................................................... 5 Caregiver Education..................................................5 Consumer Protection.................................................. 5 Dental...................................................................... 7 Driving..................................................................... 7 Employment Services................................................. 7 Elder Abuse..............................................................7 Faith/Spirituality........................................................ 9 Financial Issues.........................................................9 Funeral and Burial..................................................... 9 Geriatric Assessment.................................................. 9 Geriatric Care Management and Support.................... 9 Grandparents and other Relatives Raising Minors....................................................... 9 Grief Resources........................................................9 Health Care Clinics.................................................... 9 Hearing Resources................................................... 10 Home Maintenance / Chores................................... 10 Home Safety........................................................... 10 Homemaking and Healthcare................................... 10 Hoarding...............................................................10

Published by

Guide

Hospice.................................................................. 10 Housing.................................................................. 11 Insurance- Medicare................................................ 11 Legal Matters.......................................................... 11 LGBT Caregiving.....................................................11 Lifelines- Medical Alarms.......................................... 11 Long-Distance Caregiving.........................................11 Medicaid/ T-19....................................................... 12 Medical Equipment.................................................. 12 Mental Health and Counseling.................................. 12 Nursing Homes....................................................... 12 Nutrition-Dietitians, Home Delivered Meals................. 12 Older Adult Services-ADRC and Volunteer..................13 Older Adult Services by Volunteers............................13 Podiatry.................................................................. 13 Publications............................................................. 13 Relocation/Moving.................................................. 13 Respite Care........................................................... 13 Silver Alert Program................................................. 13 Socialization........................................................... 13 Support Groups....................................................... 14 Transportation......................................................... 14 Veterans Benefits ..................................................... 14 Visions Resources.................................................... 14 Websites................................................................. 14

In cooperation with

news

50PLUSmagazine What’s New for

Phase Two of Your Life

For advertising information on this Caregiver’s Guide or 50 Plus News Magazine, please call: 262-367-5303 Ext. 12. 1 9 7 5 - 2 0 1 5 128 Cottonwood Ave. • PO Box 230 • Hartland, WI 53029 • www.50pluspubs.com

4B • 50PLUS • CAREGIVERS GUIDE • OCTOBER 2016

The “I” In Caregiver

member of the Family Caregiver Support Network Advisory Committee once said that as a caregiver people always ask how your mother or father, husband or wife is, but rarely ask how you are doing, so, how are you doing? You are the I in caregiver and only you can answer that question. Caregiving even for the most independent individual can be and most often is lonely. It is lonely at times even when we have help because it is such an individual thing. Let’s take the two sisters both willing to assist mom with her groceries. One believes in getting her out and into the store as an outing while the other cannot handle the amount of time it takes to read the new product labels so she prefers to shop for her mother. Sound familiar? Lonely is not a bad thing as long as the feeling of being alone does not create the stress associated with feeling isolated. Caregiving brings change into our lives. Change brings on stress and impacts our lives in ways we may not even realize. The type of stress we live with depends on whether we have selected a role as victim, survivor or navigator. Which role do you think you are? Navigator is where you need to strive to be. A critical thing to understand about “caregiver stress” is that it is not for sissies. (Wow? A double whammy of i’s.) Stress cannot be taken lightly if we want to remain both healthy and our body actually respond in predictable ways:

z All of our senses are heightened. z Our hearing can be more acute and our eyes can dart from side to side. z Our blood pressure and pulse increase and our heart can race. z We breathe more quickly but with more shallow breaths. z Constant stress lowers our immune system. z Our thyroid speeds up and we can feel jittery. z Because we are jittery we can lose weight or because we do not take time to prepare meals, we gain weight from eating out more and/ or not exercising. z We do not produce as many sex hormones so our sex drive decreases. z W e put out more insulin and no longer metabolize sugar well so we have an increased tendency towards diabetes. z Our cholesterol increases which can lead to an increased chance of stroke and heart disease. We need to listen to what our bodies are saying to us. The following five suggestions will go a long way to help maintain physical, emotional and spiritual well-being: Exercise is the easiest and most beneficial thing we can do to help our bodies. A regular exercise routine of even 20 minutes a day helps us feel better physically and mentally. It allows us to be alone with our thoughts and we can concentrate on our bodies so we stay well. We get busy as caregivers and we may not take the time to think about our nutrition, what we are putting into our own bodies, even though we watch what our loved

ones eat very carefully. We may eat out more, eat more fast food or snack more. We may be upset, lose our appetite and eat less. We feel tired and need energy so we eat more sugar and caffeine. We often forget that it is as easy to cut up an apple as it is to dig into the ice cream, and that a glass of water will go a long way toward keeping us hydrated. In addition, it is important to consume enough vitamins, especially from fruits and vegetables. Taking care of our mental health lets us blow off steam. There is no road map to caregiving; at times it is constant change. Most caregivers say that only other caregivers get it. So how do we hold our emotions in check? How and to whom do we express our anxieties and still feel safe? Who will listen? For some caregivers, the answer is to join a caregiver support group. For others, it is seeing a therapist. (Our office has lists of both.) We once asked a large group of caregivers at a conference what helps them through their days? 85 percent said their “faith.” Most believe they do not walk their journey alone and without spirituality, they would not make it through most days. Prayer can be a form of meditation. It causes mental relaxation. People also find their strength through worship, prayer, song and fellowship. Prayer and meditation help to counteract many of the negative symptoms of stress. Lastly, reclaim you life to include caregiver but not to be only a caregiver. You are the daughter or son, wife or husband, who is now also a caregiver. Write down all the

roles that you now have and remember you should have no more than seven, including that of caregiver. Once you have done that, can you …Take a class? Plant a garden? Walk your dog? Go fishing? Get a job? …and somehow remember there is no i in stress….only in caregiver. Interfaith Older Adult Program’s Family Caregiver Support - 414.220.8600 – www.interfaithmilw.org www.living-options.org www.caregiversupportnetwork.org

Caregiver’s Code I need to… Take care of myself physically, emotionally, spiritually; Accept my limitations and be satisfied with doing my best; Recognize and get help, no matter how difficult that may be; Enjoy time away without guilt; Maintain relationships with friends, family, co-workers; Set goals, pursue dreams and remember to live life. A prepared, informed and supported family caregiver provides better self and older adult care.

OCTOBER 2016 • CAREGIVERS GUIDE • 50PLUS

declines to a diversity of past or www.ebhs.org Adult Day Centers are designed present medical conditions, nutri- Waukesha..................262-542-8851 www.hawspets.org to service adults who are experi- tional deficiencies or medication encing a decrease in physical, men- side effects. If you or your loved Washington...............262-677-4388 www.wchspets.org tal and social functioning and who one is experiencing trouble with may need the protective environ- memory, discuss the problem with Ozaukee.....................262-377-7580 www.wihumane.org ment when their caregivers are at your physician. Refer to your yellow pages for work or in need of respite. Full and half day services are usually avail- For 24/7 information and refer- pet related services such as in home able. Range of services may include ral helpline (English and Spanish), veterinary care, pet sitting, groomrecreational therapy, meals, social contact Alzheimer’s Association ing and yard clean up. These serservices, transportation, personal Southeastern Wisconsin chapter at. vices have often been the answer to care, including bathing, hair and ................................ 1-800-272-3900 a number of older adult pet owners’ needs. www.alz.org/sewi nail care, nursing services, rehaWisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute bilitation therapy and medical services. Fees for Adult Day Services – Milwaukee Project: Education, ASSISTED LIVING Assisted living facilities are for vary based on what services are in- services, research opportunities, cluded in the fee. Some centers may and resources for Milwaukee’s Afri- people who need assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), be able to offer low income persons can American Community but wishing to live as independent...................................414219-5083 a reduced fee based on ability to ly as possible. Assisted living exists www.wai.wisc.edu pay. Most centers offering the wide to bridge the gap between inde(WAI Milwaukee tab) range of services are licensed by the pendent living and nursing homes. State. Those that are more informal Dementia Care Specialist The services provided may include Milwaukee County Department with more of a recreational model but are not limited to meals, assison Aging are not licensed. ....................................414-289-5792 tance with bathing, dressing, launiShould you need community ser- dry, housekeeping and assistance iContact your local county vices and or respite, contact your with medications or medication resources. local county resource. monitoring. Memory Cafe ALCOHOL AND Share your stories and socialAssisted Living options include: SUBSTANCE ABUSE ize with others who have worries Residential Care Apartment Alcohol and Substance Abuse is at epidemic proportions among with memory. There are a number Complex (RCAC) independent the elderly. It remains for the most of Memory Cafes in Southeast Wis- apartment units that can provide up to four hours of skilled and/or part, unreported, undiagnosed, or consin. Alzheimer Association of SE supportive care per day. ignored. Most drinkers who start. ................414-479-8800 Wisconsin. Community Based Resed late are affected by social isolawww.alz.org/sewi/ (click on idential Facility (CBRF) state lition and physical health problems Memory Cafe) censed supportive living facilities which may include grief or loss, housing, marital or mental health Partnership Memory Cafes............. where five or more adults reside. ....................................414-289-5792 They are staffed 24 hours per day problems. and can provide three hours of For a facility locater in WisconANIMALS/PET CARE skilled nursing care per week. sin go to: www.theagapecenter. Whether you are looking for Adult Family Homes (AFH) a com/treatment-centers/wisconsin listings of animal friendly land- place where three or four adults reor refer to your local yellow pages under Alcoholism information and lords, information on the impor- side and receive care, treatment or tance of spaying and neutering, services that may include up to sevtreatment centers. You may also available options when you are no en hours per week of nursing care. choose to talk to local county longer able to care for your pet and resources.i nutrition programs to provide food iCall Family Caregiver Support for pets of individuals with low in- Network – Living Options service ALZHEIMER’S AND come, contact your local Humane for more information, MEMORY LOSS call 414-220-8600 or Problems with memory can Society. 800-449-4481 or visit have many causes that may range Milwaukee.................414-264-6257 www.living-options.org or call www.wihumane.org from normal age related memory your local County resource. Elmbrook...................262-782-9261

ADULT DAY SERVICES

• 5B

iLOCAL RESOURCE FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS

Milwaukee County....................414-220-8600 Ozaukee County.......................262-238-8120 ...............................................262-284-8120 Walworth County.....................262-741-3400 Washington County..................877-306-3030 Waukesha County....................262-548-7848 Waukesha County Toll Free.......866-677-2372 State Wide Toll Free..................866-843-9810

To file a complaint or ask about State regulations contact the Office of Quality Assurance ....................................800-642-6552

CAREGIVER EDUCATION

Caring for an older adult can be highly demanding work. Throughout your caregiving journey, you will have questions related to the many aspects of caring for your loved one. The following websites and phone numbers will provide you with the education, information and support you need. www.caregiversupportnetwork. org www.strengthforcaring.com www.caregiver.com www.caregiving.org www.caregiver.org www.CAREgivinghelp.org i Contact your local county resource for caregiver education that may be available in your community.

CONSUMER PROTECTION

Consumer Protection works to eliminate unfair or deceptive marketplace practices. To file a complaint against a business contact the Better Business Bureau at................ 1-800-273-1002 ....................................414-847-6000 or www.bbb.org To file a complaint against a nursing home or assisted living facility contact the Office of Quality Assurance at ....................................414-227-5000 Concerns with inappropriate marketing and sales practices of Medicare Advantage plan agents contact:

6B • 50PLUS • CAREGIVERS GUIDE • OCTOBER 2016

Advocacy 101

hen caring for someone who is vulnerable, whose wellbeing may be compromised, or whose rights as a person are not being honored, it may become necessary for family members or friends to speak up for them or take action on their behalf. This is known as being an advocate.

Are You an Advocate?

z Have you arranged a doctor’s appointment or called a pharmacist on behalf of someone you care for? z Have you spoken to a friend or neighbor to ask for their help with things like snow shoveling or yard work? z Have you accompanied a loved one to the hospital or to a doctor’s officer in order to ask questions and help get information? z Are you watching out for someone you care for to ensure that they are getting the best care possible? z Have you spoken for someone you care for at a time when they were unable to speak for themselves? If you answered yes to any of these, you are an advocate. You may not have ever used that word to describe yourself, but if you find yourself speaking up for someone else, or speaking out about something important, then advocate is exactly what you are. Advocating comes easily to some caregivers but for others being assertive or speaking up to those in positions of authority may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable. However, if carried out correctly, advocating for those we care for will result in better care for them and greater peace of mind for you.

7 Advocacy Skills That Can Help You Help Others:

z KNOW YOUR REASONS: Advocacy is ultimately an act of love and respect for the person you care for. If you don’t protect your loved ones rights and dignity, who else will? Keeping this in mind may help bolster your confidence as you face challenges. z DISCUSS THE TOUGH STUFF: Make sure you know what your loved one wants. There may be times when you as the caregiver do not agree with the choices of your loved one, but honoring their wishes shows respect for the person. That in itself is advocacy. z GET THE FACTS: The more information you have, the more powerful you become. Get names, dates, times, amounts,

etc. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and do some research. Find out what experts and other people in your position are doing and saying. z DOCUMENT EVERYTHING: Keep a journal or notebook and write down everything you do on behalf of your loved one. Record all visits, appointments and phone calls with the date, place or person you are calling, the name of the person you spoke to. Keep all important papers together in a safe place. z “I” VERSUS “YOU” STATEMENTS: Consider the difference between the two following statements: z “Why does it always take you so long to respond to my mom after she presses her call light?” And z “I am very concerned because my mother tells me she waits a long time after pushing her call light.” “You” messages can sound accusatory and critical. They tend to derail problem solving because people become defensive rather that cooperative. Using “I” messages, on the other hand, will often produce the opposite effect. It may take some practice to master the difference, but this is an excellent skill to have. z ASSERTIVE VERSUS AGGRESSIVE: Advocacy requires both courage and patience. It helps to be forthright and passionate about your loved one’s care, however if you want others to listen to your concerns, it is important to manage frustration and other volatile emotions and to treat others with the same respect you are trying to establish for yourself and your loved one. z ASK FOR HELP: Start with Family Caregiver Support Network, 414-220-8600. We are here to assist and support you in your role as your loved one’s advocate. We have information you may need and we know the challenges you face and the emotions that you must wade through on any given day. Just as you are an advocate for your loved one, we are an advocate for you.

OCTOBER 2016 • CAREGIVERS GUIDE • 50PLUS

The Medigap helpline at ................................ 1-800-242-1060 Wisconsin No Call List prevents telemarketers from calling for two years...................... 1-866-966-2255

DRIVING

DENTAL

Driver Services Medical Division at.............1-608-266-2327 For Driver Safety contact www.AARP.org

As we age, our dental care becomes critical to our over all health and well being. Cost is one of the main reasons older adults do not seek dental care. Below is a list of dental clinics that offer services based on income or at discounted rates.

Driving is affected by a variety of health issues. If you have concerns about your loved one’s driving abilities contact:

For a Comprehensive Driver’s Readiness Evaluation, contactAurora Rehabilitation Centers: West Allis Memorial Hospital Milwaukee: ....................................414-328-6633 AIDS Resource Center of WI/ Sinai Medical Center Dental Clinic ............414-233-6800 ....................................414-219-5241 www.arcw.org/dental-clinic/ Guadalupe Dental Clinic, Inc The Alzheimer’s Association ....................................414-643-8787 has a variety of information and materials. Independent Care Health Plan For 24/7 information and referral (ICare)........................414-223-4847 helpline- contact Alzheimer’s AssoToll Free.....................800-947-3329 ciation at ............... 1-800-272-3900 Marquette University Dental EMPLOYMENT SERVICES Clinic..........................414-288-6790 Significant numbers of workSpanish.......................414-288-1520 ing caregivers often need to make www.mu.edu/dentistry adjustments to their work life, from reporting late to work, reducing MATC Dental Hygiene Clinic hours or giving up work entirely. ....................................414-297-6573 For information on all State of Wisconsin Job Centers St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Dental www.wisconsinjobcenter.org/ Clinic..........................414-383-3220 directory/ www.columbia-stmarys.org/ Milwaukee Ann_Seton_Denta Milwaukee County Residents/ caregivers of any age can get job iContact your local County search assistance at the following resource for another clinic in your locations: community. Northeast Comprehensive Job Center For a list of Title 19 dentists in your 1915 N. Martin Luther King Dr area, contact the Greater MilwauMilwaukee, WI 53212 kee Dental Association at ..............................414-267-3291 ....................................414-276-9911 Outside the Milwaukee area Job Center Central contact ................... 1-800-362-3002 4030 N. 29th Street Mobile Dental Care Milwaukee, WI 53216 ...........................262-786-4819 x222 ..............................888-258-9966 Job Center Northwest ..............................414-760-6060 ..............................414-385-6920

Hire Center www.milwaukeewib.org/ job-seekers/the/hire-center Job Center Southeast 2701 S. Chase Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53207 ..............................414-389-6600 Job Seekers age 55 and over can get assistance at the following locations: Mature Worker Resource Center Washington Park Senior Center 4420 W Vliet Street Milwaukee, WI ..............................414-931-0253 Interfaith Older Adult Programs 600 W. Virginia, Suite 300 Milwaukee, WI 53204 ..............................414-291-7500

Ozaukee

Workforce Development CenterOzaukee County 5555 West Highland Road (P.O. Box 547) Mequon, WI 53092 Phone..................262-238-2880 FAX......................262-238-2890

Walworth

Walworth Job Center 10 E. Centralia Street Elkhorn, WI 53121 Phone..................262-741-5180 FAX......................262-741-5275

Washington

Workforce Development Center Washington County 2200 Green Tree Road West Bend, WI 53095 Phone..................262-335-5300 FAX......................262-335-5321

Waukesha

Workforce Development Center Waukesha County 892 Main Street Pewaukee, WI 53072 Phone..................262-695-7800 FAX......................262-695-7890

• 7B

iLOCAL RESOURCE FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS

For individuals 55 years of age and older call: Southeastern Area Agency on Aging, Inc. Attn: Older Worker Coordinator 125 N. Executive Drive, Suite 102 Brookfield, WI 53005 Phone:................ 262-821-4444 Southeastern Area Agency on Aging serves all four counties. They also have a caregiver support program that can supply additional information. iContact your local county resource for Family Caregivers for employment or caregiver reimbursement options.

ELDER ABUSE

Wisconsin Statute 46.90 states that “Elder adult at risk” means any person age 60 or older who has experienced, is currently experiencing, or is at risk of experiencing abuse: Physical Abuse Emotional Abuse Sexual Abuse Treatment without Consent Unreasonable Confinement or Restraint Financial Exploitation Neglect Self-Neglect For Definitions of each of the above: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/aps/ public/definitions.htm#adultatrisk To report a suspected case of elder abuse or neglect, call your county resource center.i For Milwaukee County call the Aging Resource Center at ....................................414-289-6874 www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/aps/index.htm

8B • 50PLUS • CAREGIVERS GUIDE • OCTOBER 2016

Questions to Ask When Considering In-Home Care

here are several options when trying to find in-home help to care for your older adult. The key is to find reliable help that you and your older adult feel comfortable with and meets the specific care needs. “Home care” is defined by the type of care needed – homemaking, hands-on personal care (i.e. bathing, toileting), and supportive medical care. If basic visiting or homemaking for a couple hours is needed, there may be free faith-based or community resources where care is provided by a volunteer who have undergone background and criminal history checks. Or, you may hire a care worker independently or through a home care agency. If you are hiring someone who is not part of a home care agency, contact the Family Caregiver Support Network for resources and tips on how to hire a worker. When considering a home care or home health agency, there are some questions to ask in advance that can assist you in getting help that is best suited for your older adult. Before hiring an agency, ask:

z Is the agency certified for participation in Medicare and Medicaid programs or private insurance? z Does the agency accept payment from Long-term Care policies, Family Care or Community Care? z How long has the agency been serving the community? z Is the agency accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP), the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or other recognized accrediting body? • Does it state this in its agency literature and contracts? z Does the agency provide an initial assessment to determine if the patient would be appropriate for home care and what those services might be? z Is there a fee for an initial assessment? z Does the agency provide all services needed?

z Can it provide flexibility to meet the patient’s changing health care needs? z How does the agency choose and train its employees? • Are criminal background checks made? • Are employees given drug screens? • Does it protect its employees with written personnel policies, benefits packages and malpractice insurance? • Are the employees bonded and insured? z Does the agency provide literature explaining its services, eligibility requirements, fees and funding? z Does the agency have arrangements in place for emergencies? • Are the agency’s caregivers available 24 hours per day, seven days per week or on what limited time basis? •How quickly can they start? z Are references from former clients available? z What types of programs does the company have in place to ensure quality care is provided?

z Will the agency advocate for you if your insurance company, Medicare or Medicaid fails to cover a claim you and the agency thought should be covered? For more information about personal care or home health agencies that serve older adults in Milwaukee County, contact the Family Caregiver Support Network at (414) 220-8600. For information about agency certification for Medicare and/or Medicaid, results of state inspections of agencies, complaints filed against agencies within the last two years, or to make a complaint against an agency, call the Wisconsin Home Health Hotline at 1-800-642-6552 Interfaith Older Adult Program’s Family Caregiver Support 414.220.8600 – www.interfaithmilw.org www.living-options.org www. caregiversupportnetwork.org

OCTOBER 2016 • CAREGIVERS GUIDE • 50PLUS

FAITH/SPIRITUALITY

iFor information on how to talk As a caregiver you may draw with your loved one about funeral your strength each day from your arrangements, contact your local church, synagogue, mosque or oth- county resource for Family Career faith based groups to help you givers. manage your daily caregiving chalTalk with your funeral home of lenges. choice about the burial assistance program offered through your iContact your local county resource for Family Caregivers for county. Caregiver Retreat Information or iFor more information, contact to find out about respite options your local county resources. that would allow the caregiver to attend church. In Milwaukee contact the Benefit

FINANCIAL ISSUES

As seniors age, many struggle to keep up with their finances. Some pay their bills late or forget entirely. It is uncomfortable for children— no matter if they are 30, 40 or 50— to ask if their parents are struggling to pay their bills. Below is a list of tools and resources available that will assist the caregiver with financial issues.

Specialists of Legal Action for burial trust information......414-278-7722

GERIATRIC ASSESSMENT

Progressive memory loss, a decline in eating or isolation from family or friends is not a normal part of the aging process, and often family members are the first to notice that something is wrong. Early detection and intervention is crucial as many symptoms are reversible. A Geriatric Assessment For information on services that offers a comprehensive approach to may be available through Medicare dealing with the problems, which and Medicaid and information on include a multidisciplinary team all benefit programs in Milwaukee to diagnose and treat all types of County, contact Senior Law Benefit memory and health issues. Below Specialist of Legal Action at is a list of geriatric clinics or talk ....................................414-278-1222 with your family physician about options available in your area. iContact your local county resource for Family Caregivers Froedtert Memory Disorders or for Benefit Specialists in other Program ....................414-805-3666 counties.

iContact your local county resource for a list of Care Managers in your area. Consumers may locate geriatric care managers throughout the Untied States by visiting www.aginglifecare.org

GRANDPARENTS AND OTHER RELATIVES RAISING MINORS

Researchers tell us that grandparents and other relatives raising children 18 and under are one of the fastest growing types of families in America. This is due to a number of reasons - death, divorce, mental health, crime/jail, drugs and alcohol. The courts would prefer to remove a child from their biological parent(s) and place them with a family member if at all possible. This situation knows no racial or economic boundaries. It is estimated that 1 in 12 children are being raised by a ‘grandparent’. The National Family Caregiver Program has been asked to work with Grandparents 55+. iContact your County Aging / Family Caregiver Program for possible respite options, support groups, workshops and other local resources.

• 9B

iLOCAL RESOURCE FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS

GRIEF RESOURCES

It is natural to grieve the death of a loved one before, during and after the actual time of their passing. The process of accepting the unacceptable is what grieving is all about. For support groups and to learn about resources for anticipatory grief, ambiguous loss, grief at death, chronic illness and loss, symptoms and stages of grief and helping those who are grieving, visit: www.cargiver.org

Caregiver Education Fact Sheets; caregiving issues and strategies; grief and loss. If you have been involved with a hospice program, take advantage of their grief education and support. Or contact Horizon Home Care and Hospice Grief Resource Center ....................................414-586-8383

HEALTH CARE CLINICS

Many times individuals earn just enough income to be ineligible Also in Milwaukee, contact: for Medicaid coverage, yet do not Grandparents Support Group receive health insurance through ....................................414-220-8600 their employers and cannot afford Aurora Center for Senior Health Money management services are ....................................414-219-7300 Kids Matter to pay for “out of pocket” health available through Aurora Center ....................................414-344-1220 insurance. Often, these individuals for Financial Wellness at www.kidsmatterinc.org GERIATRIC CARE MANare forced to seek treatment at local ....................................414-482-8801 AGEMENT AND SUPPORT Legal and social service information emergency rooms and become sadGeriatric Care managers AARP dled with medical bills that they are FUNERAL AND BURIAL w w w. a a r p . o r g / f a m i l i e s / not able to afford. Free or reduced can provide coordinated care Preplanning a funeral allows grandparents management for caregivers who fee medical clinics fill the gap in an individual to express their views live near or far. They have exten- Parenting Network Helpline healthcare access for the uninsured. in the selection of services that sive knowledge about quality, costs, best fit their beliefs and desires. and availability of services in your ....................................414-671-0566 iFor a list of free or reduced fee Preplanning can save a family 50% www.theparentingnetwork.org clinics in your area contact your community and can connect you or more on funeral and burial arThe Women’s Center - Waukesha county aging services or 211. with the services that will be right rangements. for you or a loved one. Profession- ....................................262-547-4600 For a list of free medical clinics in your area contact al Geriatric Care Managers generwww.freemedicalcamps.com ally charge a fee and can be found throughout the country.

10B • 50PLUS • CAREGIVERS GUIDE • OCTOBER 2016

You ARE a Caregiver If... o You are concerned about an older adult who lives nearby or at a distance, either at home or in a facility. o You regularly help with grocery shopping, housekeeping, transportation, appointments, or finances. o You regularly assist with feeding, bathing, dressing or moving an older adult. o You worry about someone not bathing properly, wearing clean clothes, eating enough, or taking medications correctly.

o You regularly provide home repairs or maintenance, mow the lawn or shovel the snow for someone. o You are using your own sick leave or vacation days at work to help care for someone in need. o You are paying out of pocket for someone’s food, medicine, or other living expenses. Many people are caregivers and don’t know it. For many people, looking after an older adult or a loved one with dementia or other disability, or raising a grandchild

doesn’t seem like anything special. It’s just the right thing to do, and providing what is needed for the people around them is a meaningful and rewarding aspect of their lives. However, even with the satisfaction that caring for others can bring, there is no question that being a supportive spouse, family-member, friend or neighbor can also be demanding. It takes time, energy and resources. No matter what it is called, being a Caregiver is hard work. The good news is that if you checked

HEARING RESOURCES

resource information:

HOMEMAKING AND HEALTHCARE

At least 25% of individuals over the age of 65 report problems with hearing. Persistent failure to understand what is being said can lead to frustration, discouragement and embarrassment. Two of the most common consequences of hearing impairment in the elderly are depression and withdrawal. Contact the Center for Communication, Hearing and Deafness for information on the wide variety of services offered................................... 414-604-2200

HOME MAINTENANCE / CHORES

Although the average elderly individual would prefer to remain in their own home; frailty, chronic illness, and disability often prevent this dream from materializing. Below is a list of programs available to help the elderly remain in their homes.

Volunteer chore services and

Independence First (main office) i ....................................414-291-7520 For volunteering see older adult services on page 15B. iA resource serving people with disabilities in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, Waukesha Counties: Your county resource may have other options available to you.

HOME SAFETY

Today’s older adult wants to grow old at home, the place he/she feels most comfortable. Assistance with homemaking, personal needs and transportation can help an older adult maintain independence. iContact your county resource to discuss options or for resources for homemaking and healthcare providers.

any of the boxes above and are caring for someone in your life, you don’t have to do it alone. There are classes, programs, financial resources, retreats, support groups and other kinds of community support available in our area. For more information about Caregiving and supportive Caregiving resources, please contact Interfaith Family Caregiver Support Network at 414-220-8600 and ask to speak with one of our Resource Specialists.

iLOCAL RESOURCE FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS

some underlying factors including: OCD, ADHD, Psychosis, and Dementia. Catholic Charities in Home Support Program......414-771-2881 Covers Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties.

Each year older adults are inHOARDING jured in and around their homes. Hoarding is generally characMany of these injuries result from terized as obtaining and refusing iContact your local county rehazards that are easy to overlook to throw out a large number of souce for assistance. but easy to fix. For information, resources and items that would normally appear to be worthless, hazardous, or un- professional tools visit iContact your county resource for www.milwaukeehoarding.weesanitary. Living spaces become a list of agencies that will do home bly.com safety assessments and offer home significantly cluttered and prevent activities for which those spaces safety check lists. were designed. Hoarding can be HOSPICE The hospice philosophy Contact the family caregiver a contentious issue among family recognizes death as the final stage support network website at www. members adding stress and frus- of life and seeks to enable patients caregiversupportnetwork.org for tration to an already sensitive issue. to continue an alert, pain-free While the exact underlying causes a home safety check list. of hoarding are unknown, there are life and to manage other symp-

OCTOBER 2016 • CAREGIVERS GUIDE • 50PLUS

toms so that their last days may be spent with dignity and quality, surrounded by their loved ones. Hospice care can be given in the patient’s home, a hospital, nursing home, or private hospice facility. Typically, an interdisciplinary health care team of doctors, nurses, social workers, home health aides, clergy, therapists and trained volunteers care for you. iSee your local yellow pages under “Hospice” or talk with your County resource.

................................ 1-800-242-1060 programs, long term care, estate Provides Information on Medi- planning, advance directives and care Insurance, Long Term Care guardianship issues. Your local Insurance Home Health Care Insur- county resource may have a list or ance and other health insurance that call: might be available prior to Medicare. Milwaukee Bar Association’s Community Insurance Referral Service....... 414-274-6768 www.findmilwaukeelawyers.org Information Center May discuss legal matters and 700 West Michigan Street, or seek a referral to an attorney Suite 350, 53233 ....................................414-291-5360 in Milwaukee and surrounding counties. Information on car, home (non Medicare) health and renters’ National Academy of Elder Law insurance. Hours are Mon. 1:00 Attorneys...................703-942-5711 HOUSING www.naela.com p.m-4:00 p.m. Tues.- Thurs.8:00 Southeastern Wisconsin has a.m.-4:00 p.m. a wide variety of housing options. LGBT CAREGIVING Contact your county resource to Railroad Retirement Board As American’s live longer, greatdiscuss the options available to you. 310 West Wisconsin Avenue er attention is being paid to the conContact the County Resource Suite 1300 cerns facing aging adults and care– Living Options Services for infor- 53203 givers. Some unique considerations mation on all types of living options ....................................877-772-5772 arise for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and for older adults Retirement unemployment and Transgender (LGBT) people deal....................................414-220-8600 sickness program ing with aging. For information on ................................ 1-800-449-4481 topics such as finding supportive www.living-options.org Senior Care............ 1-800-657-2038 health service providers, dealing Prescription drug assistance prowith your employer, and caring for Contact United States gram for Wisconsin residents 65+ an LGBT spouse, domestic partner Department of Housing and Urban who meet eligibility criteria. or friend, the following resources Development (HUD) for area may be helpful: information on low income housing. Veterans’ Insurance Information ....... ....................................414-297-3214 ................................ 1-800-669-8477 The Milwaukee LGBT Community Veterans’ Affairs Regional Center........................414-271-2656 For information on housing Office ...................................292-3070(SAGE) available for individuals with 5000 W. National, www.mkelgbt.org/programs/ disabilities contact Independence Milwaukee, WI 53295 adults First at .......................414-291-7520 .............................. 1-800-827-1000 www.caregiver.com iSee your local yellow pages under “Hospice” or talk with your county resource.

INSURANCE - MEDICARE

For information on different types of insurance options, see the list: Medicare information, ordering Medicare booklets, and information about health plans, contact ................................ 1-800-633-4223 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Medigap / HMO Hotline / Spousal Impoverishment.................................

• 11B

iLOCAL RESOURCE FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS

subscriber is unable to respond. Contact telephone monitoring agency for listing of other monitoring services offered as well. iContact your county resource for more options.

LONG-DISTANCE CAREGIVING

If you are providing care or assistance to a person who lives an hour or more away, you are “long-distance caregiving”. You may be paying bills on line, arranging for services and appointments over the phone, communicating with service providers; a care center, the bank, a pharmacy, neighbors, friends, relatives or even driving or flying in when there are appointments or “emergencies”. Please know that you are not alone in your efforts. There may be as many as 7 million people caregiving at a distance in the US. Programs and services are growing in the understanding of your efforts and dilemmas. Don’t be afraid to seek out the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) in your community or the community Under caregiver education fact of your care receiver for informaWisconsin Medicaid For assistance with Title 19 and sheets, “Special Concerns of LGBT tion, assistance to access services, education, support, respite and SSI-E applications and financial Caregivers” supplemental services. assistance for individuals 60 and older, contact the Benefit Specialist LIFELINES - MEDICAL Wisconsin Caregiving ALARMS through your County resource. Telephone monitoring systems ................................ 1-866-843-9810 www.wisconsincaregiver.org assist seniors in their home in case LEGAL MATTERS There are a variety of personal of a medical emergency. When a Eldercare Locater legal matters regarding health and subscriber activates a monitoring ................................ 1-800-677-1116 www.eldercare.gov finances which need to be taken pendant, the monitoring agency care of. This can best be done by immediately contacts the subscrib- Publication: So Far Away an Elder Law Attorney. Elder Law er as to inquire the type of assis- National Institute on Aging # 10Attorneys specialize in age related tance needed. Emergency Medical 5496............................800-222-2225 www.nia.nih.gov (search for legal matters and problems includ- Technicians and personal emering qualifying for public benefit gency contacts are notified if the So Far Away)

12B • 50PLUS • CAREGIVERS GUIDE • OCTOBER 2016 Geriatric Care Managers www.caremanager.org iContact your local county resource for NFCSP services, additional suggestions and assistance in seeking help to move someone closer to you.

Independence First Assistive Technology ....................................414-291-7520 www.independencefirst.org

Experienced staff has information on assistive technology and adaptive equipment. The Try-AGadget Center offers 700+ items to try. Formal and informal assessMEDICAID/ T-19 ments, advocacy, information and For assistance with Title referral, and equipment trials are 19 and SSI-E applications and services available through this profinancial assistance for individuals gram. 60 and older, contact the Benefit Specialist through your county iContact your county resource for Aging and Disability Resource more options. Centers (ADRCs). For those 18-59 contact your ADRC. See MENTAL HEALTH AND “Older Adult Services ” ADRC COUNSELING section in this directory. For both the caregiver and or You may apply for Medicaid the care receiver. by mail, telephone or in person. To Nearly 20% of those who are 55 obtain an application or apply in years and older experience mental person, contact your county aging disorders that are not part of norservice number. mal aging. Most common disorFor information on the Medicaid program contact their website at http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/medicaid/index.htm

If you are unsure of where or how to obtain an application or need help in completing an application, call Recipient Services at................. . ................................ 1-800-362-3002

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

The Independence First Mobility Store, formerly Wheelchair Recycling Program (WRP), is a non-profit program that offers low cost, refurbished and sanitized mobility and medical equipment to those who lack the resources to acquire new equipment. It also offers a selection of low-cost new equipment. Greater Milwaukee Area, 3720 N. 124th Street, Unit F Wauwatosa ..............................414-988-5333 gma@ifmobility.org

for people with mental Illness and their families. NAMI also has educational programs. Everything is free of charge. iContact your local county resource for Family Caregivers for other counseling services within your community.

NURSING HOMES

Nursing Homes and Health Care Centers are skilled nursing facilities designed to meet the needs of persons convalescing from illness or surgery or to provide longterm care which is not appropriate for a hospital or available through other alternatives. All persons entering a nursing home do so under physicians’ orders. Their care is supervised by nurses and other professionals under the direction of a physician. Facilities may offer special programs in rehabilitation, mental health, developmental disders are anxiety, severe cognitive abilities, Alzheimer’s, hospice and impairment and mood disorders. subacute care. Along with meeting The rate of suicide is highest among long term care needs they may ofolder adults compared to any other fer outpatient services for rehabilitation, respite care (1-28 days) and age group. Nearly one out of every four short term or recuperative care (1U.S. households provides care to a 90 days). relative or friend aged 50 or older. Studies show that caregivers expe- Family Caregiver Support Network: rience a sense of burden and esti- Living Options services mated 46% are clinically depressed. ....................................414-220-8600 ................................ 1-800-449-4481 Assists when exploring options Center for Psychological Services ....................................414-288-3487 or needing to select a facility by providing Federal and State inspection at Marquette University report information, touring check Mental Health Association in Mil- lists and more information on facilwaukee County.........414-276-3122 ities (size, rates, smoking, a religious affiliation) in southeastern WisconResources for prevention in mental sin. health. Ombudsman Program – State of Wisconsin.............. 1-800-815-0015 NAMI Wisconsin, Inc. “Ombudsman” means ‘advoGreater Milwaukee Office cate’. Ombudsman acts as advocate ....................................414-344-0447 State Office............ 1-800-236-2988 in licensed facilities such as nursWaukesha Office.......262-524-8886 ing homes on behalf of residents and/or their families. Leave a meswww.NAMIwisconsin.org NAMI is an advocacy, refer- sage including the facility name so ral and support group, founded that your call can be routed to an

iLOCAL RESOURCE FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS

Ombudsman assigned to the facility you are referring to. State of Wisconsin Office of Quality Assurance................. 414-227-5000 Call to ask questions about nursing home regulations or file a formal complaint about a facility in southeastern Wisconsin. Medigap Hotline ................................ 1-800-242-1060 Information on spousal impoverishment, nursing home insurance and other ways nursing home care may be paid for. Nursing home inspection reports/ provider search website www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/bqaconsumer/search.htm

NUTRITION-DIETICIANS, MEALS ON WHEELS/ HOME DELIVERED MEALS

A significant number of elderly fail to get the amounts and types of food necessary to meet essential energy and nutrient needs. There is evidence that good nutrition promotes vitality and independence whereas poor nutrition can prolong recovery from illness and lead to a lesser quality of life. iContact your county resource 211 or Milwaukee County 414-289-6874 for a list of meal sites and providers of home delivered meals.

Outside Milwaukee

For aging and caregiver resources anywhere in the country contact the Eldercare Locater number at ............. 1-800-677-1116 www.eldercare.gov www.wisconsincaregiver.org ....................................866-843-9810

OCTOBER 2016 • CAREGIVERS GUIDE • 50PLUS

ping, chores and other “neighbor50 Plus News Magazine ly” activities. Organized through P. O. Box 230 churches and other community Hartland WI 53029 Aging and Disability Resource ..............................262-367-5303 Centers (ADRCs) provide accu- groups, older adults are assisted to remain independent in their rate, unbiased information on all Today’s Caregiver aspects of life related to aging or homes. www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/adrc/ ..............................800-829-2734 living with a disability. ADRCs are Milwaukee Interfaith Older A bi-monthly publication profriendly, welcoming places where viding information, support and anyone - individuals, concerned Adults Program ....................................414-291-7500 guidance for family and professional families or friends, or professionals caregivers. working with issues related to ag- Ozaukee - Interfaith Caregivers of ing or disabilities - can go for inforiContact your local county remation tailored to their situation. Ozaukee County The ADRC provides information ....................................262-376-5362 source for Family Caregivers to on a broad range of programs and Waukesha - Interfaith Senior subscribe to a free caregiver newsletter within your community. services (home care/chores, home Programs delivered meals, transportation, ....................................262-549-3348 housing, financial assistance, el- Washington County - Interfaith RELOCATION/MOVING Making the decision to relocate der abuse and much more), helps Caregivers of Washington County people understand the various ....................................262-365-0902 (move) can be a welcome decision long term care options available to Wisconsin InterFaith In Action or a traumatic one. Many procrastinate because the thought of all the them, helps people apply for pro- Network work to move, even where to move, www.wifian.org grams and benefits, and serves as is overwhelming. There is a comthe access point for publicly-fundplete series of resources available to ed long term care. These services PODIATRY Foot care is of utmost impor- provide assistance all along the way. can be provided at the ADRC, via telephone, or through a home vis- tance in older adults because of the County social workers and other it, whichever is more convenient to need for ambulation and mobility. professionals can help determine Circulation to the lower portions the best level of care. Placement the individual seeking help. www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/adrc/ of the body tends to decrease with services, most of which do not age. Decreased circulation, coupled charge a fee, can assist in finding a with diminished sensation, can new ‘home’. A number of realtors Milwaukee County DRC............................414-289-6660 lead to skin breakdown and infec- have chosen to be certified as a Se(age 18-59) tions. Older adults are less agile nior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) ARC............................414-289-6874 and may experience difficulty in and other companies are available (age 60+) maintaining good hygiene of the to assist with packing, and all the Ozaukee County.......262-284-8120 feet. Many times podiatry services details of moving. Walworth County.....262-741-3400 are covered by insurance, depend- iContact your county resource. ing upon your medical condition. Washington County ....................................262-335-4497 At home services are also available. Family Caregiver Support Network Waukesha County....262-548-7848 – Living Options Service For aging and caregiver re- iContact your county resource for ....................................414-220-8600 sources anywhere in the country more information or talk with your ................................ 1-800-449-4481 primary care physician. contact the Eldercare Locater RESPITE CARE ................................ 1-800-677-1116 PUBLICATIONS Respite service allows caregivAARP - American Association www.eldercare.gov ers to have free time for themselves of Retired Persons while their loved ones receive assisYearly membership & receive the OLDER ADULT SERVICES tance when needed. Respite sermonthly newsletter “Bulletin” and BY VOLUNTEERS vices are available in a variety of opThere has been a long stand- the “Modern Maturity” magazine, tions, ranging from a few hours to ing tradition of “neighbor helping free brochures & discounts. several weeks. They can be offered Membership Processing Center neighbor” in Wisconsin. Because within the home, group home or P. O. Box 199 of active lifestyles, it is often volunnursing home, depending upon the Long Beach, CA 90801 teers who assist with friendly visits, level of care needed. Each service phone calls, transportation, shophas a different rate of cost, some

OLDER ADULT SERVICES ADRC AND VOLUNTEER

• 13B

iLOCAL RESOURCE FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS

services offer a sliding scale fee. iContact your county resource for respite services and or a list of facilities that offer respite. Facilities that offer respite, you do not need to live in Milwaukee County. St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care ....................................414-977-5000 Based on assessment, provides both adult day and overnight services to people 18 years and older who have disabilities and special needs. Care is provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week for up to 20 days. Reservations accepted.

SILVER ALERT PROGRAM

Wisconsin’s Silver Alert law (Act 264) took affect August 2015. Similar to an Amber Alert, Silver Alerts will go out by e-mail, cell phone, text, or fax through the Wisconsin Crime Alert Network to notify the public that an adult with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other permanent cognitive impairment is missing. Anyone may subscribe on-line to receive Silver Alerts and Crime Alerts for free by e-mail, cell, text or fax. Visit www.wisconsincrimealert.gov

SOCIALIZATION

Exposure to social and physical activity improves cognitive performance and sleep quality in the elderly. Maintenance of social engagement and avoidance of social isolation are important factors in maintaining cognitive vitality in old age. There are many opportunities for social interaction which include adult day programs, senior centers, friendly visitors, and telephone reassurance, to name a few.

14B • 50PLUS • CAREGIVERS GUIDE • OCTOBER 2016 iContact your county resource to discuss appropriate options or for a list of programs in your area.

SUPPORT GROUPS

For both the caregiver and the care receiver, support groups can help with the well being of one’s physical and mental health. A support group is one way to share your troubles, exchange ideas and gain new information. It can offer an atmosphere of understanding and support. iContact your local county resource for information on the many support groups in your area. Alzheimer’s Support Groups ....................................800-272-3900 www.alz.org/sewi

TRANSPORTATION

Without effective transportation, many individuals cannot access medical appointments, shop for necessities and may be isolated in their home. This presents health and safety risks for some and may result in the elderly being forced from their homes before they need to be, solely because of the lack of transportation. iContact your county resource for transportation options in your area.

VETERANS’ BENEFITS

Eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions. Active service means full-time service as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. Generally, men and women veterans with similar service may be entitled to the same VA benefits. Benefits will also be based on conflict, time served and if a sustained injury had occurred.

Kenosha County Veteran’s Service Office 8600 Sheridan Rd., Suite 700 Kenosha, WI 53143-6516 ....................................262-605-6690 Milwaukee County Veteran’s Service Office VA Hospital Grounds, Bldg. 6 6419 W. Greenfield Ave. West Allis, WI 53214 ....................................414-266-1234 Ozaukee County Veteran’s Service Office 121 W. Main St., Rm 237 PO Box 994 Port Washington, WI 53074-0994 ....................................262-238-8326 Racine County Veteran’s Service Office 1717 Taylor Ave. Racine, WI 53403 ....................................262-638-6702 Walworth County Veteran’s Service Office PO Box 1001, 100 W. Walworth Elkhorn, WI 53121 ....................................262-741-4222 Washington County Veteran’s Service Office 432 E. Washington St. Rm 2006 West Bend, WI 53095 ....................................262-335-4457 ....................................800-616-0446 Waukesha County Veteran’s Service Office 500 Riverview Ave., Rm. G138 Waukesha, WI 53188-3680 ....................................262-548-7732

....................................414-286-3045 ................................ 1-800-242-8822 Sends books postage free, loans cassette players and much more at no charge. Vision Forward ....................................414-615-0100 Local outlet for equipment, offers advocacy and organizations for the blind. iContact your County resource for services in your area.

WEBSITES

Interfaith www.interfaithmilw.org (support for family caregivers tab) Family Caregiver Support Network www.caregiversupportnetwork. org County Aging Services:

Milwaukee

www.county.milwaukee.gov/Aging

Ozaukee

www.co.ozaukee.wi.us/Aging/

Walworth

www.co.walworth.wi.us

Washington

www.co.washington.wi.us/adrc

Waukesha

www.waukeshacounty.gov/adrc Living Options www.living-options.org Elder Locator www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare/ Public/Home.asp VISION RESOURCES Social Security As we age, the quality of our www.ssa.gov vision diminishes naturally. Most Medicare changes typically are not severe, www.medicare.gov/caregivers and a new prescription for glasses AARP or a few adaptations, such as im- www.aarp.org/families/caregivproved lighting, may be all that is ing needed. Eye care is important. Only National Alliance for Caregiving a doctor can detect certain vision www.caregiving.org changes when you cannot—before National Caregiver Alliance symptoms become noticeable. www.caregiver.org Wisconsin Caregiver Wisconsin Regional Library for the www.wisconsincaregiver.org Blind and Physically Handicapped

NOTES

OCTOBER 2016 • CAREGIVERS GUIDE • 50PLUS

• 15B

Keeping Older Adults Safe at Home

oor vision or less stability in walking can increase an older adult’s chance of stumbling and being injured. Having a house that takes into account these frailties and offers easy accessibility to light fixtures and supportive devices can help prevent injuries and make life easier for an older adult. It can also give you, the family caregiver, peace of mind when you are away from the person you care about. The checklist below can be useful in reviewing any home, including your own for safety.

OUTDOORS z Sidewalks and steps in good repair z Railings full-length of any steps z Yard free of loose boards, ground holes and other hazards

LIVING SPACE/LIFESTYLE z Doorways adequately wide, especially for walker or wheelchair needs z Chairs’ seats sufficiently tall for ease of sitting down and getting up z Shoes, boots and slippers with low heals and nonslip soles

HOUSEKEEPING z Clutter-free clear paths to cross within FLOORS rooms and from room-to-room z Non-skid wax used on wax floors z Frequently used items on shelves are within easy z Non-skid backs on rugs reach z Slope-free floors and carpet z Sturdy ladders/step stools with grip bars z All carpet edges tacked down z All carpet and rugs free of worn spots and rips LIGHTING/ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT z All carpet with short, dense pile z Light switches near every doorway z Good lighting to eliminate shadowy areas z All stairways are well lighted z Light switches at the top and bottom of stairways

STAIRWAYS z Securely fastened handrails extending the full stairway z Stairways with no broken or sloping steps z Stairways free of any stored items z Non-skid plastic covering on stairway carpeting z Stair steps with no extruding metal edges z Rug-free area at top and bottom of stairs

BATHROOM z Grab bars in bathtub, shower and around toilet z Toilet seats high enough to get on and off easily z Rubber mat or non-slip decals in tub or shower z Night light in bathroom z Soap and wash cloths easy to reach BEDROOM z Bed at good height to easily get in and out z Light and telephone within reach of bed z Night light in bedroom z Obstacle-free, well-lighted path to bathroom

16B • 50PLUS • CAREGIVERS GUIDE • OCTOBER 2016

Staying at Home Responsibly Cost Sheet/Expenses Family Caregiver Support Network For Family Members and Friends Who Help or Care For Older Adults Compare the costs of bringing private pay services into the Home vs. Assisted Living at $2,200-$5,000 a month and Nursing Home care at $5,000+ per month.

Service Provided*

Home Delivered Meals (1-2x/day, 7 days a week)

Cost Per Day/Hour/Service

$6.00/Meal

Cost Per Week

Total $57.00-$99.00 $57.00-$78.00

$168.00-$336.00 +$60.00 Shipping (If shipped weekly) Total $228.00-$396.00 $228.00-$312.00

$18.00-$34.00

$72.00-$136.00

$7.00 Round Trip (Taxi Rides Transportation Using Milwaukee County’s Transit Plus May Exceed This Amount) (2x/week) (414) 343-1700

$14.00

$56.00

Adult Day Service (2x/week)

$100.00-$150.00

$400.00-$600.00

1x Installation Fee of $50.00-$99.00 (Sometimes Waived) Chore Service for Snow, Leaves $10.00-$25.00 etc. (1x/week) Medication Monitoring System 1x Installation Fee of $99.00 through Life Line

$7.00-$9.00

$35.00-$45.00

$10.00-$25.00

$40.00-$100.00

$12.50

$50.00

Grand Totals

$275.50-$421.50

$1,109.00-$1,695.00

Homemaking and/or Personal $19.00-$26.00 Care (1x/week) (Usually 3 hr. Minimum) Bathing Service (1x/week)

Life Line Alert Service

$18.00-$34.00/Bath

$50.00-$70.00/Day

$42.00-$84.00 + $15.00 shipping/week

Cost Per Month

Don’t forget to add up the other costs of living at home such as utilities, taxes, home maintenance etc. in addition to these supportive services. Then compare the total to a facility that offers it all under one roof. The Family Caregiver Support Network’s Living at Home Expense Sheet (Next Page) can be helpful in adding up the costs you already incur living at home.

Remember that with supportive in-home services you can adjust the type and amount of care to your needs. Your monthly totals may be different than the example above based on which services, how many and how much you choose or can afford to use. *There may be government assisted or volunteer services available to help offset the costs of some of these services. Contact the Family Caregiver Support Network (414) 220-8600, or the local Aging Resource Center of Milwaukee County (414) 289-6874 for more information on what may be available. **As supportive care needs increase to skilled care needs or if 24-hour care becomes necessary, a higher skilled assisted living or nursing facility may be a viable alternative to meet the senior’s needs safely.

OCTOBER 2016 • CAREGIVERS GUIDE • 50PLUS

Living at Home Monthly Expense Sheet Family Caregiver Support Network For Family Members and Friends Who Help or Care For Older Adults Supportive In-Home Care

Home

Mortgage/Rent Property Tax Homeowners/Renters Insurance Association Fees Home Security Home Maintenance/Repairs Invisible Mortgage* Monthly Total

Meals Homemaking/Personal Care Transportation Adult Day Services Life Line Alert Service Chore Services (lawn, snow, etc.) Medication Monitoring System Monthly Total

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Entertainment

Utilities

Water Electricity Gas/Fuel/Oil Trash Groceries, Cleaning Supplies and Hygiene Items Monthly Total

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

Cable TV, Internet, Phone Hobbies Shopping-Hair/Skin/Nail Care/Clothing Dining Out Gifts (birthdays/holidays etc.) Monthly Total

$ $ $ $ $ $

Monthly Totals

Home Utilities Entertainment In-Home Care Monthly Grand Total

$ $ $ $ $

*The “Invisible Mortgage” or “Lost Interest” is 5% of the selling price of your house divided by 12 months. If you stay at home you are losing X amount of investment income, per month.

We Can Help. (414) 220-8600 www.living-options.org www.caregiversupportnetwork.org www.interfaithmilw.org

• 17B

18B • 50PLUS • CAREGIVERS GUIDE • OCTOBER 2016

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Caregiver’s & Home Health