Senior attitude

Attitude

Senior

Making your senior years everything they can be

tips to save money the next time you travel October 31-November 1, 2015

Aging into financial flexibility Reporter-Herald – ReporterHerald.com

empower yourself with your healthcare Senior Attitude

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5 tips

to make Medicare Open Enrollment easier (BPT) - Medicare Open Enrollment, which happens every year from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, marks an important time of year for people older than 65 to change their health plans and prescription drug coverage for the upcoming year. HealthCare Partners, the leading independent medical group in America with nearly 1,000 physicians across the country, provided these tips to help seniors who are reviewing their health plans.

1. review changes to health plans

Seniors have many details to keep in mind during Medicare Open Enrollment. There are often changes to Medicare health plans from year to year, which is why seniors should carefully review their plans and understand changes that might affect their coverage. HealthCare Partners encourages seniors to consider the costs, benefits and choices of doctors and providers available. Seniors should also identify whether all of their necessary health care services and prescription medications are still covered under their current plans.

2. Know your enrollment period

It is important to distinguish Medicare Open Enrollment from other health-related enrollment periods. Some people might confuse Medicare Open Enrollment with the open enrollment period for the state and federal exchanges. These are different enrollment periods and are not associated with each other.

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3. Consider Medicare Advantage

Medicare Open Enrollment serves as a valuable opportunity for seniors to change their coverage plans. Many might want to explore Medicare Advantage plans, which may fit their health care needs better. These plans could serve as good alternatives to Medicare Fee-For-Service.

Medicare Advantage plans typically offer access to coordinated care - where primary care doctors and specialists work together as a team. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicare Advantage plans can also provide protection against high out-of-pocket expenses. Some of these plans also offer personalized telephone care management, health coaching, and education and support from health care professionals.

4. identify costs beyond premiums

Seniors should consider all of the costs associated with a plan, not just the monthly cost, also known as a premium. This includes co-pays, co-insurance and

deductibles to understand how much will be spent on health care for the year.

5. Consider access to coordinated care

HealthCare Partners advises seniors to thoroughly review their coverage options to determine whether their coverage will provide access to coordinated care, a value-based form of health care in which a team of providers work together to promote preventative, high-quality care.

HealthCare Partners has successfully used this coordinated, patient-focused approach for years in an effort to provide its patients with the highest quality of care. This approach provides patients with access to a team of primary care physicians, specialists, care managers and other professionals who work together to manage all aspects of patients’ care and overall health.

This model of care has a strong focus on prevention and helping patients make the most of their health insurance benefits.

HealthCare Partners encourages seniors to learn more about

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Medicare Open Enrollment by visiting www.medicare.gov.

You can also learn more about HealthCare Partners’ services at www.healthcarepartners.com.

QuestiONs? Confused about your medicare options? there’s no need to be. Local Medicare Colorado agent, Darleen West, is happy to answer any questions you may have. Darleen can help you navigate successfully through the many Medicare and supplemental options.

Contact her today at 970.290.2137 to find out more information, over the phone, make an in-home appointment, or attend a community seminar, or visit MedicareColorado.com to learn more.

October 31-November 1, 2015

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October 31-November 1, 2015

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Senior Attitude

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6 Money Saving

TRavel Tips

By Adam Martin, for Reporter-Herald

Modern day travel really is a thing of beauty. You could catch a flight today and be sight-seeing on the other side of the world in less than 24 hours.

There’s just one potential hang-up.

Jet-setting can be a lot of fun, but it can also be expensive.

To help curb the costs, here are six ways to get a little more bang for your vacation buck.

1. it’s All About timing

Kristy Osborn is the owner of Travel Leaders, a full service travel agency right here in Loveland. Her first money-saving tip is dead simple. Book your vacation during the off-season.

“We always give options for travelers if we know their destination for the cheapest time of year to go,” Osborn said.

Specifically, she recommends the first two weeks in December if you’re booking a Caribbean cruise. The down time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is usually more affordable, and the weather is great. For an Alaskan cruise, plan on mid-May or mid-September. European trips are typically cheapest during the “shoulder seasons,” so schedule overseas vacations for the spring and fall.

Osborn also recommends midweek flights, as these tend to have more competitive fares.

2. Book Well in Advance

When arranging a vacation

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through a travel agency, Osborn advises booking as far out as possible. Even a year in advance isn’t too early. That way you have the most available options, and most travel companies will lower your price if a package you’ve already booked goes on sale before your trip.

3. Look for a Good Vacation Package

Cruises are wildly popular for good reason. Most of the expense is baked into the ticket price, including your room, meals, non-alcoholic drinks, and more than enough activities to keep you occupied. However, glass of wine with dinner will run you extra, as will any excursions at each port of call.

If you’re looking for a truly all-inclusive deal, Osborn recommends resorts in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. There are surprisingly affordable packages for these luxury resorts that include everything—your flight, room, meals, drinks, non-motor

water sports, activities, and even tips.

4. Consider a Condo

If they’re available at your destination, Osborn also suggests checking the prices of condos. “A lot of times, [a condo] is less than the cost of a hotel room,” she said. Plus, you’ll have more space, and you’ll have a kitchen where you can prepare some of your own meals, further reducing the expense.

5. Snag travel necessities on the Cheap

“Marshalls and TJ Maxx offer great deals on nice luggage,” Osborn said. While the selection can vary a bit from store to store, it’s not uncommon for these retailers to carry high quality, name brand luggage at significantly reduced prices. For other travel needs, like passport holders, adaptors, and even travel-sized toiletries, Osborn said Target and Walmart are the way to go. Both chains have

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travel sections in every store and offer all the odds and ends needed for your trip.

6. take to the open road Shifting gears a bit, another travel saving option is to forgo flights and stick to the road.

Kim Rivera with RV World in Fort Collins is a big fan of RV vacationing. “The biggest money saving things with RV’s is you’re not in hotel rooms,” she explained. Additionally, you have a kitchen at your disposal, you can bring your pets with you at no additional cost, and you have more room while in transit.

Travel can be both fun and fulfilling. The trick is to find creative ways to cut your costs without giving up any of the things that make it worthwhile.

Stick with these travel tips to get the most out of your next vacation without breaking the bank.

October 31-November 1, 2015

tHE MAN FROM ARkANSAS: Finding Answers to Nerve Pain dr. James Anderson, DPM, ABFAS, FAENS I recently had the opportunity to help a man from Arkansas.

He had been experiencing pain and numbness for several years and had been diagnosed with neuropathy. He was taking medication to reduce his symptoms but was experiencing the marked side effects of feeling spacey and not alert.

After his evaluation, he decided to stay for treatment which, in his case, included a one hour surgical procedure. Within a week he returned home. The symptom relief he experienced inspired him to return six weeks later for a repeat procedure on his other leg. He was able to

realize his goal of reducing or eliminating his mediation which, among other things, allowed him to fly his plane safely between construction job sites.

I hear many stories like this from patients and even their doctors who often have low expectations for their own or their patient’s future. Hope for improvement is low as they have been told all they can do is take the medication. They frequently give up.

My patient from Arkansas refused to give up and demanded help and hope and has realized a much improved life for himself.

WHAt ABout neuroPAtHY? Nerve pain in the lower extremity can be categorized into

several types of problems, many with familiar names like neuropathy, restless leg syndrome and dropfoot. These problems cause numbness, pain, weakness and falls. Drugs are frequently used to help patients sleep or deal with the stress of their pain.

So what is the alternative treatment for neuropathy?

Treating the problem at its source—directly. Customized treatments based upon the stage of neuropathy a patient is in, are the basic starting block. These treatments and research are behind a new door of opportunity that most neuropathy sufferers are not aware of. Exploring and developing treatments for what the actual causes of neuropathy are the next steps in creating an

maintaining drug-free treatments. My hope is for others who have not had the experience of the man from Arkansas, to find similar hope and symptom relief and reversal.

ANDERSON PODiAtRy CENtER

Anderson Podiatry Center for nerve pain has been treating nerve pain in the lower extremities for 13 years, offering non-drug options for treatment. Because of these comprehensive options as well as cutting edge research being conducted with Colorado State University, they’ve been selected to be part of an international consortium to bring the best of western medicine to other regions of the globe to create centers of excellence in multiple hospitals half a world away.

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Senior Attitude

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RetiRed but NOt tiRed:

the four things every senior-preneur must do (BPT) - For some Americans, the best part of life starts at retirement. In a perfect world this new stage of life means no more answering to upper management, battling a 40 hour work week or being stuck in rush hour traffic. They can come and go as they please. And while spontaneous trips to the shore and the relaxing mood of an empty house may be a draw for some, for others, the novelty wears off quickly and there is an undeniable void. They feel a need to get back to work and often become entrepreneurs as a way to balance their desire for independence and their passion for success.

Contrary to popular belief, entrepreneurship is not just for the millennial generation. In fact, people over 50 are one of the fastest growing groups of entrepreneurs in the U.S., according to a recent Gallup study.

But what does this booming sector of the country need to know before making the leap postretirement? Here are four tried and true tips for a successful entrepreneurship later in life.

Pick your passion Make sure your new business is something you actually love to do. This is true at any age, really. Whether you want to start your own consultancy firm, become a furniture craftsman, open an art studio or run an action-adventure tourism service, the possibilities are endless.

Why waste your time and money starting a business you’re going to hate in two years? Did you know 70 percent of Americans are unhappy about their jobs?

Don’t become a statistic. Instead become happier and healthier doing something you love.

Be realistic Sure, you might have a strange affinity for dressing your cats up in wacky outfits, but does that mean there’s a huge demand for kitty-couture? Probably not.

Before moving full steam ahead on your business idea, start by asking a group of colleagues, mentors or advisors if your idea has weight. Friends and family can help, too. You can even form a focus group or crowd

source market research to test your concepts and get feedback.

If you discover nine out of 10 people would shell out beaucoup bucks for a feline fedora, you could be onto something. Otherwise, back to the drawing board.

Stay fresh and current Social media and technology’s influence on businesses aren’t going away anytime soon.

So make sure you brush up on your digital skills. Whether you need to develop an app to better communicate your service or product to consumers, or you simply need to keep your finger on the pulse of the marketplace through Twitter and Facebook, it’s wise to embrace all platforms and keep up-to-date on what’s out there.

Plan and protect Starting a new business can be, well, risky business. It’s important to protect the nest egg you created prior to retirement, in addition to safeguarding your new business venture. When making the decision to exit retirement and enter the workforce, be sure to get all your paperwork in order.

“New business owners in their later years should always be prepared for the unexpected,” says Erie Insurance Vice President

6 Senior Attitude

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and Product Manager, Commercial Insurance, Leo Heintz.

“The right insurance policy is a must-have. It can help support your family if something happens to you. It can also ensure your business can continue to operate, which benefits employees and their families. Everyone benefits.”

It’s essential to have the right kind of business insurance, too, to protect against personal and business liability (think lawsuits) and damage from storms, fires and other natural disasters. It’s also worth considering coverage for owned, rented or personal vehicles you drive “on the job” as well as workers’ compensation coverage for any employees you bring on board. If under or uninsured, these types of unwanted situations can leave new business owners with empty pockets and full of regret.

While starting a new business can be an exciting and rewarding endeavor, it’s essential to talk to an insurance agent to get all your important questions answered. He or she can make sure you’re financially covered and protected. And don’t forget to surround yourself with supportive friends and family members as you enter this new, thrilling stage of life.

October 31-November 1, 2015

FiNaNcial agility improves with age report working as compared to 21 percent of respondents who retired 11-15 years ago.

Many retirees say they deferred taking Social Security retirement income until 10-15 years into retirement, according to the study. Deferring Social Security benefits increases payments by 8 percent a year until age 70.

Sarsynski recommended that pre-retirees take steps to realistically project their expenses before retirement: • Connect with retirees to better understand their lifestyles and how they fill their days.

• Track all purchases, especially when on vacation, to better understand the cost and feasibility of activities you enjoy.

(BPT) - When it comes to retirement, practice makes perfect.

Retirees become increasingly adept at managing their expenses and income as they age, according to new research.

Retirees report becoming better at controlling spending, feeling more financially secure and finding creative ways to cut expenses without giving up activities they enjoy, according to the study sponsored by MassMutual.

“Satisfaction with life in retirement actually increases, indicating a high degree of adaptability by most retirees,” says Elaine Sarsynski, executive vice president of MassMutual Retirement Services. “Retirees typically adjust their spending as well as their sources of income, relying more on Social Security and qualified savings such as IRAs and pensions as they spend more time retired.”

The study is part of a larger research project conducted on behalf of MassMutual by Greenwald & Associates. The research culled information from 905 responses from retirees within 15 years of retirement. Respondents had a minimum of $50,000 in October 31-November 1, 2015

retirement savings.

Of the study respondents who retired 11-15 years ago, 83 percent say they feel financially secure and 62 percent report being “very satisfied” with their lifestyle, the study found. Comparatively, 77 percent of respondents who retired fewer than five years ago say feel financially secure and 56 percent report being “very satisfied” with their lifestyle.

In most instances, retirees’ expenses are about what they expected or lower than expected before they retired, according to the study. In general, 40 percent of retirees say their expenses are lower than expected, with 30 percent reporting “much lower” expenses. One in five (22 percent) retirees report higher than-expected expenses, reinforcing the importance of sound financial planning. Sarsynski encouraged pre-retirees to work with a financial advisor to project their expenses and income in retirement to ensure they are not left with a gap.

Retirees say their ability to manage expenses improves the longer they are retired. Of those

retired 11-15 years, nearly four in 10 (38 percent) report doing an “excellent” job of managing expenses compared to 23 percent for those retired for fewer than five years. Seventy-seven percent of longer-term retirees say they are doing an “excellent” or “very good” job handling expenses compared to 58 percent of more recent retirees.

“Retirees adapt to living on a fixed income by finding creative ways to cut expenses without forgoing activities they enjoy,” says Mathew Greenwald, president of Greenwald & Associates, which conducted the research.

“During our focus groups, for example, retirees mentioned taking part-time jobs at theaters or with orchestra groups in order to get free tickets. Many also seek out cheaper alternatives of activities, such as events at senior centers or community theaters.”

Sources of income shift for retirees the longer they are retired, the study shows, and few retirees report actually working, especially in later years. Only 36 percent of survey respondents who retired within five years

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• Look for alternative ways to participate in activities you enjoy at lower costs, such as taking in local community theater in lieu of professionally produced shows.

• Reconnect with your spouse, children and friends to help bolster your social networks.

QuestiONs? For assistance in planning for your future financial agility, contact investment centers of america in loveland. their team of advisors can help you develop a plan or evaluate your current path.

Visit their office at 300 east 29th street, call 970.622.2366, or find them online at helpwithmyinvestments.com.

SENIOR ATTITUDE

7

EmpOwERiNg SENiORS through preventive healthcare Laura Hobbs, for Reporter-Herald No matter your age, preventive care is an important part of staying at the top of your game. And while these services are important at every stage of life, they’re especially important for seniors. By preventing problems or identifying them at an early stage, you’re more likely to live a longer, healthier and more satisfying life.

As medical technology advances and our life expectancy increases, preventive care recommendations and decisions are becoming more complex. Health issues like proper nutrition, regular physical activity and smoking cessation are no-brainers, but what about the things we tend to take for granted, like our hearing, vision and day-to-day activities? Through regular healthcare screenings, we can stay healthy, vibrant and unimpaired.

Listen up Hearing loss happens gradually, so it’s essential to catch it early. Kyle Doerfler, BC-HIS at Loveland’s Connect Hearing Clinic, says the FDA recommends an annual hearing screening. “That’s a good time

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now, about those eyes.

According to the American Medical Directors Association (www.amda.com), seniors between 65 and 75 have a fourto-five percent increased rate

of visual impairment; and this number increases to a whopping 21 percent after age 75. As our life expectancy increases, visual impairment is projected to increase dramatically by 2020.

Dr. Jennifer Cecil, in Loveland, is an excellent place to start. She and her team can help you preserve and enhance your vision through detailed care.

It’s important to have a complete eye exam with your eye doctor every year after age 65 to check for age-related eye diseases like macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts and other diseases. Chronic eye conditions, outdated prescriptions or improperly fit glasses can contribute to poor eyesight and health.

Stay Well In addition to healthy eyes and ears, doctors recommend an annual wellness exam, where

you can talk about any health issues or symptoms, have your vitals checked, measure your body mass index (BMI), and order any necessary blood tests or screenings. For women, regular mammograms and pap smears are important to promote healthy aging. And for men, regular screenings for prostate and/or colorectal cancer are equally important.

What’s more? Medicare now covers preventive care, as long as your care is provided by a doctor who accepts Medicare.

This care includes annual wellness visits, help for how to quit smoking, flu shots, mammograms, bone density tests, cholesterol screenings and cardiovascular tests. With Medicare’s automatic coverage of preventive care, it makes it even easier to prevent health problems or catch them early.

It’s also a great idea to bring all of your current medications

to your scheduled wellness exam. There can be possible side-effects in combining certain drugs, some drugs can be misused, and others can be out of date. Through a comprehensive review of your prescription and over the counter drugs, your doctor can help you create a proactive personal health plan.

There are other proactive steps you can take to stay on top of your health. Work closely with your doctor, openly discuss any lifestyle changes, ask your doctor about any recent studies or medical advances, and put together your medical history and immunization records to keep on hand for both you and your doctor.

While staying healthy is a collaborative effort between you and your doctor, it starts with your personal and proactive commitment to your health.

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frame, because it tells you whether things have changed within the past year,” Doerfler says.

If your hearing needs improvement, be sure to ask your doctor about the severity of your hearing loss, and which treatments are available. “Tell your doctor about the lifestyle situations where you’re experiencing the most hearing loss, and be sure you understand all of your treatment options, he adds. “If left unchecked, hearing loss can lead to isolation from social situations, which keep your brain active and engaged,” Doerfler continues. “Your hearing is like a muscle: if you don’t use it, you lose it.”

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Connecting Peoplle ~ Through h Life ~ Through h Loss

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Senior Attitude

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5 suRpRisiNg supeRfOOds for baby boomers

(BPT) - An estimated 77 million baby boomers represent the largest generation of Americans born in U.S. history. Many are embracing their golden years and taking a proactive approach to their well-being. If you are a boomer, you understand nutrition is fundamental to maintaining your health. But do you know some foods are particularly powerful in helping you age well?

“Certain foods provide nutrients that are extremely beneficial for baby boomers,” says Kristen Johnson, registered dietician, nutrition expert at On Target Living, and author of the newly released cookbook “Target To Table: Healthy and Delicious Meals One Superfood at a Time.” “Eating these superfoods regularly is one of the easiest yet most impactful things boomers can do for their health.”

Johnson’s top five superfoods for baby boomers include: Fresh cold water fish “On top of being a delicious

10 Senior Attitude

lean protein, fish is loaded with omegas-3s that keep our brains healthy as we age,” says Johnson. “EPA and DHA are the type of omega-3 fat found in fish and are especially important for a healthy heart, hormonal balance, energy and mood.”

Since most of us don’t have access to fresh, wild-caught or cold-water fish on a daily basis, she suggests taking a high-quality cod liver oil daily, like Nordic Naturals OrangeFlavored Cod Liver Oil. “There’s no fishy smell and a quality you can taste,” says Johnson. “Also, cod liver oil naturally contains vitamin D, which is needed to absorb calcium.”

Super seeds Certain seeds, like flax, chia and hemp seeds, have extensive health benefits and more boomers are incorporating them into their daily meals and snacks.

“Flaxseeds and chia seeds are high in omega-3s and fiber and contain antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties,”

says Johnson. “Hemp seeds are high in healthy omega-6s, along with being high in protein.

These super seeds help balance hormones and can also help with digestion.”

Easy ways to start incorporating seeds into your daily routine is to add them to smoothies or sprinkle on yogurt or oatmeal.

Super vegetables “Vegetables provide many nutrients, including potassium, fiber, folate, vitamins A, E, C and are alkalizing, meaning they neutralize acids in the body and help your body thrive and stay mineralized,” says Johnson.

Try to get a variety of super vegetables into your daily diet including leafy greens, bok choy, broccoli, mushrooms, beets, celery, carrots, onions and garlic.

Leafy greens and broccoli are especially high in calcium and vitamin C needed to keep your immune system healthy and prevent sickness. Beets and celery are extremely detoxifying. Garlic is part of the onion family and

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contributes to a healthy immune system while helping to lower inflammation.

Super fruits “Fruits are packed with flavor and are high in vitamins, minerals, fiber, cancer-fighting antioxidants, and are extremely alkalizing,” says Johnson.

Strive to get a variety of super fruits in your daily diet including strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, lemons, limes, apples and bananas. Dried fruits like figs, dates, goji berries and raisins are high in the calming mineral magnesium which helps to relax the mind and body and aid in digestion. organic virgin coconut oil Lately there has been a lot of buzz about coconut oil and for good reason, explains Johnson.

“Coconut oil is a healthy saturated fat high in lauric, capric and caprylic acids which have antiviral and antifungal properties contributing to a healthy October 31-November 1, 2015

digestion,” she says. “Coconut oil also contains mediumchain fatty acids that can aid in a healthy metabolism.”

Try using coconut oil in baked goods or to replace other oils when saut√©ing or stir-frying. It’s also a fantastic butter substitute on toast and other foods.

Start the day on the right foot with this easy-to-make smoothie that features several of Johnson’s recommended superfoods. This recipe can be found on Johnson’s blog at www.targettotable.com.

Rise aNd sHiNe smOOtHie serves 3 iNgRedieNts: 2 cups carrot juice 1 cup kale or spinach 1 banana 2 cups frozen or fresh berries 2 tablespoons chia or flaxseeds 2 tablespoons hemp seeds 1 tablespoon Nordic Naturals Orange Flavored Cod Liver Oil diReCtiONs: mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth.

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Jennifer Cecil, MD, LLC 669-8998 Kevin Dunnigan, CFP

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Investment Cen nters of Am mericca,, Inc. (ICA) member FINRA/SIPC an nd a Registtered Investme ent Ad dvisor, iss not affiliatted with Home State e Bankk. Securities, advisory services an nd inssura ancce pro oductss fe ered d thro ough h ICA and afffi fillia ated d insurance agencies are *not insured by the e FDIC of any othe er derral ove ern ent agen ncyy *nott a de epositt or other obligation of, or guaranteed by an ny ban nk or th heir afffi filliate es bject to risks includ ding g the possiible loss of principal amount inve ested d. Certified Finan ncia al Planner *sub Bo oard off Sta andards Inc. ownss the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIE ED FIN NANCIIAL PLANN NER™ an nd in th he U..S.

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Becky Haley, OD

Optometrist, Contact Lens Specialist

SENIOR ATTITUDE

11

Skill SwaP:

How grandparents and grandkids can learn from each other (BPT) - Known for their wisdom and patience, grandparents pass down skills, knowledge and stories to both their children and grandchildren. Conversely, grandparents can also learn from their grandkids, especially when it comes to technology. Traditional skills and new trades and tools alike, both grandparents and grandchildren have a talent to bring to the table.

Whether they live in the same city or must rely on technology to communicate, grandparents, grandchildren and even parents can come together to learn from each other. In honor of Grandparents Day and celebrating family all year round, Intel offers some suggestions on activities for a grandparentgrandchild skill swap:

Savvy SkillS fROm gRaNdcHildReN: Capturing memories.

Grandparents are all about capturing memorable moments in photo form. While they most likely know how to use a point and shoot camera, the may not have mastered the art of a tablet or smartphone camera. Grandkids are experts when it comes to technology and will love spending time teaching grandma and grandpa how to take pictures, edit and create digital albums with them.

Friendly competing.

Many grandparents love playing cards and board games.

Some even join clubs where they get together with friends to play games like Bingo and Bridge.

Grandparents may also enjoy the digital games that their grandchildren are always playing.

Then, even when families are miles apart, they can still enjoy a little friendly competition 12 Senior Attitude

through group or one-on-one digital games.

reading redefined.

Grandparents grew up in a world of hard copy newspapers, magazines and books and aren’t always familiar with today’s e-books and digital reading platforms. Grandkids can help Grandma and Grandpa set up a digital library on their tablet, All-in-One PC, 2 in 1 or smartphone and download a few of their favorite books, magazines or newspapers.

PaSSed dOwN PaStimeS fROm gRaNdPaReNtS: real home cooking.

Make sure your secret family recipes are kept within the family. Grandkids can create a digital archive of grandma and grandpa’s recipes on their tablet, PC, 2 in 1 or smartphone while grandparents teach them how to create the delicious feast from scratch.

Spotlight storytelling.

Grandparents can spread their family history and make their life story last for generations when they share it with their grandchildren, interview style. As they talk about their childhood, school, career and more, the kids can take notes on their device or record the story, pairing anecdotes with photos to eventually create a digital memory book. The whole family will be able to look back and enjoy these memories for years to come.

Learning lost arts.

There are certain skills learned in the grandparents’ generation that some would consider “lost arts” today. Boy Scouts, etiquette class and home economics are not as common as they used to be. Grandparents can spend time teaching their grandkids these valuable skills, such as tying their favorite knots learned in scouts, sewing a button or a

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patch on a pair of pants, table manners and the art of writing a well-crafted thank you card.

Grandkids can take notes as they learn to help them remember in the future.

Family time is precious. Take advantage of these ideas to broaden your horizons as both a grandparent and a grandchild.

For more ideas and inspiration on family skill swapping, visit http://intel.ly/1LJdO9h.

learning new skills together can also be a wonderful way for grandparents and grandchildren to bond. consider taking a class together at the chilson Recreation and Senior center at 700 e 4th St. in loveland.

October 31-November 1, 2015

PUt yOUR gaRdEN tO BEd

By Carol O’Meara, Colorado State University Extension, Boulder County We’ve passed the tipping point in fall when the vegetable gardens are getting quiet due to cooler night-time temperatures and shorter days.

And as the gardens settle into fall, the folks at the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado are encouraging all of us to clean up before putting the gardens to bed.

There may still be a few green tomatoes and beans and other veggies that can be left to ripen until there’s threat of frost, but cover them with frost cloth when nights are predicted to get cold. When tenting your vegetables, make sure the cloth drapes completely to the ground to capture the warmth from the soil.

Tomatoes may still be ripened indoors or stored for later use. Pink-blushed tomatoes will ripen at room temperature, but green tomatoes can hold for months until you need them. Only mature fruit stores well – full-sized light green or white. Deep green tomatoes won’t ripen and should be fried, relish, or stewed immediately.

Foraging critters such as squirrels, skunks, and raccoons are getting into mischief in the squash and pumpkin patches.

October 31-November 1, 2015

They’re intent on fattening up for winter and, as I learned from a particularly bold squirrel over the weekend, won’t stand on courtesy when it comes to raiding gardens – even when you’re working in them. That rascal muscled me out of the way to pluck a ripe tomato from the ground at my feet.

If you’re seeing evidence of them being active in your yard, harvest as much as you can as soon as you can. If your pumpkins or squash need a few more days to finish ripening, cage them to keep the marauding creatures away.

As you put your garden to bed, ALCC suggests doing four sustainable things before pitching debris into the trash or compost pile:

Ask, “What have i got for fall décor?”

Look for interesting shapes, textures, and color found in squash, pumpkins, gourds or corn stalks and use them for fall decorating.

Harvest herbs to use over the winter.

Cut thyme, oregano, chives, basil, etc., and bring them in to dry. Store them in a cool, dry place. Or freeze herbs in water in ice-cube trays and pop them out as needed to

flavor soups and stews.

Gather seeds to plant next year.

They should be heirlooms in order to produce the same plant. Hybrids are a gamble because squash and pumpkins, for example, might cross over and next year’s crop could look and taste much different than this year’s harvest.

Make a map of where everything was planted this year.

After the spring thaw, you may not remember exactly where you planted the peas.

Having a map is important so that crops can be rotated yearly in order to keep the soil fresh and lively.

Compost garden debris, with some precautions.

If you had disease such as powdery mildew or early blight, put these plants into a bag in the trash and use bleach to sterilize containers they grew in or the cages and trellises they grew on. Avoid composting seed heads from weeds; they don’t break down easily and can spread over the garden in the compost next year.

Check out more advice from ALCC at their website, alcc. com.

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Loveland Public Library hosts Night With the Author The Loveland Public Library will be hosting Colorado author and winner of the Colorado Book Award for Historical Fiction, Jack Maness, for a special Night With the Author. Stop by on October 29 at 7 p.m. to hear Maness discuss his novel Song of the Jayhawk.

——————————————— “Before there were red states and blue states, there was Kansas.

A place that divided the nation like never before, or since. A place where mayors were generals and journalists were terrorists. A place where drunken guerrilla armies roamed the prairies, threatening farmers and rigging elections. A haunted place where mysterious beasts led settlers into undiscovered countries.Follow two young families as they they struggle with rattlesnakes, tornadoes, ice-storms, childbirth and morality in a wartorn land. A growing love between them, built over holiday ham and whiskey, is threatened as they are drawn into the territory’s cycle of political violence. They must ultimately decide if they are friends or foes, and it isn’t long before they all have blood on their hands.This is a story of loyalty and betrayal, courage and despair. Set in the 1850s, the dilemmas faced by the Dugan and Hawkins families are similar to those faced by every generation in a long-divided America.

It asks how ordinary people cope with extraordinary times, why they sometimes turn to violence, and more importantly, why they usually do not.”

- Wooden Stake Press, publisher Senior Attitude

13

ESTaTE plaNNiNg fOR fidO: Providing for your pets after you’re gone

By Corbie Hill, The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) (TNS)

Four years ago, Pam Miller went to the home of a woman who was dying of cancer. The woman had lived a full life and was in home hospice care. She was no longer aware of her surroundings, which meant it was time for Miller to come for her cats.

The cats were nervously hiding under couches, and Miller admits she felt sad taking them from the house before their owner passed.

(Two days later, the woman died.) Miller took the cats to SAFE Haven For Cats, a Raleigh nonprofit, non-euthanasia cat shelter and adoption agency she founded 23 years ago and has run since. Eight weeks after removing the cats, Miller reports with satisfaction, they were in new homes.

Miller doesn’t want to think about what would have happened to the animals otherwise.

“In a (traditional) animal shelter, the older cats, any cat with a medical issue, a cat that may not be quite perfect … most of the time they end up dying,” she says.

One way pet owners can prevent that is to

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October 31-November 1, 2015

take the steps those cats’ first owner did: She included her pets in her estate planning, and Miller was simply fulfilling her wishes. Taking in and finding new homes for the pets of the recently departed is something SAFE Haven does relatively often — granted there’s a plan and funds set aside.

It takes preparation, and it isn’t necessarily cheap, but more and more people are making assurances that their animals will be taken care of after the owners die.

It’s a sacred trust, says Miller, and she is honored to take it on.

“It comes up every week,” she says. “There are a lot of people who don’t have kids. There are people whose kids are all over the country or are overseas.

There are people whose kids are allergic to cats.”

In the fallout from a loved one’s death, too, there are so many things to take care of — the funeral, the house, and all the usual arrangements that come along with the grief — that it’s easy to forget that something needs to be done with the pets.

To that end, Miller says, put a card in your wallet. It should say how many pets you have and where they are, and it should include the numbers of a vet, a pet-sitter and a trusted friend to whom you’ve spoken about caring for your pets in case the worst happens. Anyone can do this.

If you have the means to leave a trust for your pets, talk to a lawyer with experience in pet trusts. Shirley Diefenbach, a member attorney at the Durham, N.C., law firm Walker Lambe, works with SAFE Haven regularly and holds two information sessions annually on estate planning for pets.

“When I talk in a group setting, inevitably people who don’t have pets will chuckle a little bit when you introduce the concept,” says Diefenbach. But she says she works with a few people monthly who want to leave a trust fund for their pets.

Pets, being animals, can’t legally inherit money as a child, niece or nephew could. DieOctober 31-November 1, 2015

fenbach explains it in terms of beach houses. If you have a vacation home you want taken care of for the next 30 years, she says, you put your money in a trust to pay for the expenditures of that property. A pet trust is similar, but the money goes to the care and feeding of the pet. After the animal dies, the remainder can go to a person or to a nonprofit, though some pets live longer than others (Diefenbach recalls one trust she did for a parakeet with a hundred-year life expectancy).

Finding an attorney who knows how to include pets in an estate plan isn’t the hardest part, says Claudia Mangel of Chapel Hill, N.C., though finding the right lawyer can take a little effort. Mangel wants to be sure her two dogs, older mixed breeds with chronic medical needs, are provided for and kept together. It’s essential, then, that she work with a lawyer who understands and is responsive to this need.

“I had asked our estate planning attorney if he had a dog, and he recounted in detail how his dog had just emerged from two weeks in the ICU of their veterinary hospital and was finally doing better,” Mengel says.

“So I knew our attorney would understand why we wanted to plan for the long-term care and well-being of our dogs after we could no longer care for them.”

In Mengel’s trust, it’s her veterinary hospital that’s the trustee. There’s enough money in the trust to provide for boarding and medication until the two can be adopted together. If anything remains in the trust after her dogs pass, that amount goes to help homeless dogs get adopted.

But this isn’t just an end-oflife decision. Couples of all ages, Miller says, ask about providing for their pets. James Smith and his wife, Irena, are in their early 50s, and they travel often. What would happen to their five cats, the Durham couple wondered, if their plane goes down? They have no children and no relatives live nearby.

“It’s a morbid thing to think of,” Smith admits, but he and

Irena feel better with a plan in place.

The Smiths have been SAFE Haven volunteers and annual donors since 2007, so it made sense to approach Miller about it. She helped them work out a plan. If anything happens, their animals go to SAFE Haven, where the average stay between intake and adoption is two months.

“I like to say that when they come here, all their troubles are over,” Miller says. “It’s good things from here on out.”

Here are some tips on getting started: The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty for Animals) has a good primer online for setting up a trust. Here are some of the highlights.

trusts for each pet.

• Be detailed about the type of care required for your pet, and require that the new caregiver will provide regular veterinary care.

• Determine the amount of money needed to cover your pet’s needs and the amount of money needed to administer the trust.

• Choose a beneficiary for funds not used by the pet trust.

On choosing a custodian: Mondy Lamb at the SPCA of Wake County, N.C., gives this advice: “The people named in your pet trust should know that they have been named and should be someone you would trust to love your furry one the same way you would.” Talk to friends or family members who may be interested, but you may also want to reach out to local rescue groups or your veterinarian.

• Consult an attorney who specializes in estate planning to make sure pet trusts are allowed where you live.

• It’s recommended that your trust cover all pets in your life, rather than settingup separate

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October 31-November 1, 2015