55 Plus of Rochester, #05: September – October 2010 by 55 Plus: For Active Adults in Rochester

Why Women Live Longer: Are They Healthier Than Men? E E

FR Jim Terwilliger: Four Greatest Financial Risks Faced by Retirees

55 PLUS

Issue 5 September/October 2010

For Active Adults in the Rochester Area

Riding for a cause Many local bikers — like Mike Ryan, director of Rochester HOG — work to raise funds for nonprofit organizations

Best Way to Help Your Grandkids Pay for College

r u o y n o s st e u g e b r e v e n Will favorite late night talk show.

But to us, they’re the most important people on earth. Somewhere along the way, people forgot that being older should make you more important. Not less. But at St. Ann’s, we never forgot. So we do everything we can to provide seniors with exceptional care. We offer a complete continuum of services. We give our residents priority if you ever need the next level of care. And everything we do, we apply old-fashioned values stemming from our roots in the Catholic tradition. So yes, our approach is somewhat extraordinary. But at St. Ann’s, we believe we’re caring for the most important people on earth. For more information, call Mary Ellen at (585) 697-6311.

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your comprehensive resource to senior health and wellness

RochesterHealth.com This nonprofit community resource features content provided by local physicians, dentists, hospitals and allied-health professionals. In September, visit RochesterHealth.com’s new Senior Health Services page which will provide a comprehensive central resource for regional healthcare services dedicated to seniors. You will find helpful information about Alzheimer’s, arthritis, long-term care insurance and tips for talking to your doctor—as well as an extensive directory of local nursing homes, home care organizations, medical equipment suppliers, geriatricians, insurance companies and more.

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55 PLUS - September / October 2010

55 PLUS

September / October 2010

CONTENTS

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9 HealthWatch 6-8 My Turn 13 Long Term Care 29 Golden Years 30 Financial Health 32

9 STAYING YOUNG

• Former Rochester teacher, an avid bicycle rider who has pedaled tens of thousands of miles, has just published third edition of his bike tour guide.

14 TRENDS • Financially savvy seniors are most likely to be victims in investment scam

18 COVER SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE TO 55PLUS

Only $15. Check to 55PLUS P.O. Box 585 Victor, NY 14564

• Local bikers working hard to raise funds for various nonprofit organizations

23 AGING • Women live longer—does it mean they are healthier than men?

26 GRANDPARENTING • College savings plan is usually a great way to help get grandkids through college

34 LAST PAGE • Priscilla Minster, Head of Rochester OASIS, talks about what makes her program great for those who want to learn, stay active

September / October 2010 - 55 PLUS

55PLUS

HEALTH WATCH Dramatic Rise in the Proportion of Older Americans Admitted for Substance Abuse Treatment

new study reveals that between 1992 and 2008 the proportion of substance abuse treatment admissions involving older Americans (aged 50 and older) nearly doubled — from 6.6 percent of all admissions in 1992 to 12.2 percent in 2008. The study, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also shows a sharp rise during this period in the proportion of older Americans admissions related to illicit drug abuse — even though alcohol abuse is still the leading cause for admissions involving this age group. Among its more notable findings the SAMHSA study reveals that from 1992 to 2008 the proportion of admissions among this age group due primarily to: • Heroin abuse more than doubled — from 7.2 percent to 16.0 percent. • Cocaine abuse quadrupled — from 2.9 percent to 11.4 percent. • Prescription drug abuse rose from 0.7 percent to 3.5 percent. • Marijuana abuse increased from 0.6 percent to 2.9 percent. At the same time admissions primarily related to alcohol abuse decreased from 84.6 percent in 1992 to 59.9 percent in 2008. The proportion of older American treatment admissions involving multiple substance disorders has nearly tripled from 13.7 percent in 1992 to 39.7 percent in 2008. For example, the proportion of

55 PLUS - September / October 2010

admissions involving any alcohol abuse in combination with any cocaine abuse more than tripled — from 5.3 percent in 1992 to 16.2 percent in 2008. While the study showed that over three quarters of all older American treatment admissions initiated use of their primary substance by the age of 25, an increasing proportion of admissions involved substances that had only been initiated within five years prior to admission. In 2008, cocaine abuse was the leading primary cause of admissions involving substances initiated in the past five years (26.2 percent) among older Americans, with prescription drug misuse a close second (25.8 percent). “These findings show the changing scope of substance abuse problems in America.” said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde. “The graying of drug users in America is an issue for any programs and communities providing health or social services for seniors.” “The Administration on Aging supports healthy aging,” said Kathy Greenlee, assistant secretary for aging. “A critical aspect of senior health is the ability to be free of alcohol and drug addiction. It is troubling, therefore, to see an increasing number of older Americans struggling with substance abuse. This is a trend we must address for the benefit of each individual now as well as a generation of baby boomers on the doorstep of old age.”

Editor and Publisher Wagner Dotto

Associate Editor Lou Sorendo

Writer

Mike Costanza

Contributing Writers

Deborah J. Sergeant Deborah Graf, Beth Emley Ken Little, Jim Miller

Columnists

Jim Terwilliger, Susan Suben Bruce Frassinelli Harold Miller

Advertising

Marsha K. Preston, Ann Hare Marlene Raite

Office Manager

Laura J. Beckwith

Layout and Design Chris Crocker

Cover Photo

Chuck Wainwright 55 PLUS –A Magazine for Active Adults in Upstate New York is published six times a year by Local News, Inc., which also publishes In Good Health–Rochester–Genesse Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper.

Health in good

Rochester–Genesee Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

No material may be reproduced in whole or in part from this publication without the express written permission of the publisher. Third class postage paid at Syracuse, NY. Permit Number: 3071

How to Reach Us P.O. Box 525 Victor, NY 14564 Voice: (585) 421-8109 Fax: (585) 421-8129 Editor@GVhealthnews.com

HEALTH WATCH

Premium Quality & Workmanship Sets Us Apart

Cancer Rates Continue To Drop

ancer rates in the United States continue to decline, according to a recent report from the American Cancer

Society. Among men, deaths from cancer since 1991 decreased by 21 percent. Since 1992, the nation saw a 12-percent decline in deaths from the disease in women. The report credited declines in smoking, better treatments and earlier detection. The report predicted there will be 1,529,560 new cancer cases in 2010 (789,620 men and 739,940 women) and 569,490 deaths (299,200 men and 270,290 women). Lung, prostate and colorectal cancers continue to be the most

fatal for men, and lung, breast and colorectal cancers are still the deadliest for women. They account for half the total cancer deaths in both sexes. T h e t h re e m o s t c o m m o n l y diagnosed cancers among women in 2010 will be of the breast, lung and colon. Breast cancer alone will account for 28 percent of all new cancers in women, according to the report. Prostate cancer will account for one in four of all cancers diagnosed in men. But most of these cases are expected to be diagnosed at the local or regional stages, where the five-year survival rate is almost 100 percent. The report also states that the mortality rate for female lung cancer has not declined since 2003.

Eating Nuts Associated With Improvements in Cholesterol

onsuming more nuts appears to be associated w i t h i m p ro v e m e n t s i n blood cholesterol levels, a c c o rd i n g t o a p o o l e d analysis of data from 25 trials reported in a recent issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. “ R e c e n t l y, consumption of nuts has been the focus of intense research because of their potential to reduce coronary heart disease risk and to lower blood lipid [fat and cholesterol] levels based on their unique nutritional attributes,” according to background information provided in the article. Nuts are rich in plant proteins, fats (especially unsaturated fatty acids), dietary

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HEALTH WATCH Five superfoods for heart health

hen you’re paying attention to good nutrition, it’s easy to spend a lot of time focusing on what not to eat — all the stuff that clogs your arteries and expands your waistline. Now’s a good time to look at the things that you should eat and the things you can do t o keep your arteries healthy, and to fully understand why paying attention to arterial health is important. Some foods pack more punch than others. Here are five foods that have a lot of disease-fighting power, and it’s a good idea to regularly make room for them in your meals.

The five superfoods: • Salmon. As far as seafood goes, this delicious fish is one of your best food sources of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which can help keep your heart rate steady, lower your triglycerides — a type of blood fat — and slow the growth of atherosclerotic

plaque. You can bake it, broil it, roast it, poach it, or enjoy it smoked or in sushi. The FDA recommends that people eat up to 12 ounces of fish weekly. • Broccoli. It may not rank as the favorite food of kids, but as an adult you can probably a p p re c i a t e the health benefits that broccoli offers. Its mildly bitter taste comes from chemicals it contains that may provide cancer protection. Experts think anti-cancer substances in the green veggies may act as antioxidants or encourage enzymes that detoxify harmful chemicals in your body, according to the American Cancer Society. Since cooking may destroy some of the helpful compounds, cook it as lightly as possible. • Almonds. These tasty nuts are a good source of fiber and the

antioxidant vitamin E, and the fat they contain is mostly monounsaturated, which is considered a “good” type of fat that can help lower your cholesterol. They may also help control blood sugar and insulin levels. Research has shown that eating 2 ounces of almonds daily for 10 weeks didn’t cause people to gain weight. A daily serving size is the amount that you can fit into two sections of an ice-cube tray, suggests the American Dietetic Association. • Blueberries. These vivid little orbs are chock-full of antioxidants, which can help lower your risk of heart disease and cancer by neutralizing free radicals, rogue oxygen molecules that can contribute to atherosclerosis and damage your DNA. • Green tea. This drink contains chemicals called polyphenols, which act as antioxidants. One of these, called EGCG, may encourage cancer cells to die, though more research is needed to show whether drinking green tea can reduce your risk of cancer. However, it may also help control your blood sugar and lower your cholesterol. All these add up to plenty of good reasons to switch some of your daily servings of soda with green tea. Drink it iced or hot. It is delicious either way.

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staying young

Rolling Through the Years

Former Rochester teacher, an avid bicycle rider who has pedaled tens of thousands of miles, has just published third edition of his bike tour guide By Mike Costanza

Harvey Botzman holding the third edition of his book.

bicycle’s wheels can sing of adventure as they hum down the road — for those who listen. “It’s different when you’re on the road on a bicycle,” says 67-year-old Harvey Botzman, author of seven guides for bicycle touring in the greater Rochester region. “You’re accessible to everything that’s on the side of the road.” Botzman, a native of the Bronx, one of New York City’s five boroughs, first gave vent to his wanderlust at the age of 11, when he and some friends pedaled up a local route. “We did the Bronx River Parkway to Kensico Dam,” he says. He put 44 miles on his old-style coaster bike that day — though he kept it from his parents. “Sometimes, 11-year-olds and 12-year-olds and early mid-teens want something secret,” he says with a grin. In later years, more exotic places drew Botzman — and longer trips. After graduating from college with teaching credentials, he spent 1966 through 1969 with the Peace Corps, stationed in Butere, Kenya. Teaching high school in the African town gave Botzman the chance to feed September / October 2010 - 55 PLUS

55+

staying young

his desire for adventure again, this time with a trip across the continent. Racketing down rudimentary roads aboard buses and other forms of public transportation, he came to know local peoples in ways unavailable to most regular tourists. Though some places lacked accommodations for visitors, those living there often shared their homes and meals with the stranger from the US. “People would bring me back to their houses, which were not necessarily anything more than a round or square hut with a dirt floor and no windows,” he says. “They many times did not accept even a gift of going to the market and buying something.” Botzman said he did not encounter too many problems on his routes — some areas were dealing with civil unrest and were unsafe for ground travel. In those infrequent times, he took to the air, he said. “I did kind of get stuck in Timbuktu,” he says. “The winds come up and the sand comes through, and you’re in the middle of a sandstorm and the plane can’t get in.” Returning to the States, Botzman 10

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After bicycling 1,800 miles from Maryland to Florida in the early 1990s, Harvey Botzman hit on the idea of publishing a guidebook for long-distance bicyclists. He formed his own publishing company, Cyclotour Guide Books, and published his first book, “Long Distance Bicycle Touring Primer,” in 1995. attended graduate school in Rochester, acquired a master ’s degree, and eventually took a job as a substitute teacher for the Rochester school district. The modest pay left him with cars that were not in the best of condition. “ T h e y ’ d b re a k d o w n , ” h e explains. Botzman began using another

form of transportation—a $25 bike he’d bought at a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office auction—in place of a car. Pedaling to a teaching job, he’d change from his bicycling clothing to that appropriate for the classroom. “Occasionally, the PE [physical education] teacher would let me shower,” he says. Botzman was casting about for a way to spend his summer vacation at the end of a school year in the late 1970s, when an idea hit him. “I said, ‘Well, let me go ‘round Lake Ontario,’” he says. Loading his bike with panniers — essentially saddlebags — filled with camping equipment and supplies, he set off to travel the 600 miles of Ontario’s shoreline. The experience of coursing around nnrest of the world, was exhilarating. “It felt something new; something where I was totally free,” he explains, still carrying some of the wonder of that first trip in his voice. Without the restrictions imposed by automobile travel, he found himself able to get closer to all around him.

Cobtree Vacation Rental Homes “There’s nothing standing in the way,” he explained. “People and other things, including animals, are accessible to you.” As in Africa all those years ago, the people he encountered opened their doors to him. “I was meeting people, and they’d offer me a place to stay — a backyard, or someplace else,” he says. “They’d communicate with me.” Since that adventure, Botzman has pedaled tens of thousands of miles on a multitude of long trips. He’s circled most of the Great Lakes, toured the Finger Lakes, and cycled the length of the Erie Canal and the east and west coasts of the U.S., to name just some of his trips. Along the way, he began writing about his travels for bicycling newsletters and other publications, and giving workshops on bicycle touring. After bicycling 1,800 miles from Maryland to Florida in the early 1990s, Botzman hit on the idea of publishing a guidebook for longdistance bicyclists. He formed his own publishing company, Cyclotour Guide Books, and published his first book, Long Distance Bicycle Touring Primer, in 1995. “That was actually a small manual I gave as part of a talk about how to bicycle tour,” he says. The touring manual, which Botzman wrote on public library computers, formed the first 50 pages of each of his next six books on bicycle touring. Botzman’s latest book, “‘Round Lake Ontario: A Bicyclists Tour Guide, 3rd Edition,” details the delights of circling the lake by bicycle in a form that takes the guesswork out of the trip. Want to know the best routes around the lake, the equipment you may need for the trip, the foods you might carry, and the places to spend the night? They’re all in there, along with maps, suggestions for sightseeing, and little bits of information about the route that you can’t pull from a map. Most might not know, for example that the Canadian villages along the wine route from Niagaraon-the-Lake to Hamilton, Ontario are

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staying young

known for their bakeries, or that BWI — Bicycling While Intoxicated — is a felony in Canada. Botzman has also held or holds positions in a variety of non-profit organizations concerned with bicycling down through the years. He has served on a state panel on bicycle tourism and on various committees of the Rochester Bicycling Club, and is on the board of the New York Bicycling Coalition. “He seems to be an independent thinker,” says Richard Desarra, an avid bicyclist who got to know the author in the 1990s. “He seems to, for years, have done a lot for bicycling.” One cause close to Botzman’s heart is that of making Amtrak regulations more bicycle-friendly, so Harvey Botzman’s circled most of the Great that those who ride full- Lakes, toured the Finger Lakes, and cycled the sized bicycles in New York length of the Erie Canal and the east and west state can more easily travel coasts of the U.S., to name just some of his by rail to the places in which trips. they want to ride. “I like traveling with York Bicycling Coalition, pushing public transportation,” he says. for anything that’s bike-related,” Unfortunately, only one train that Managan says. travels through the state, the Lake Now retired from teaching, Shore Limited, is capable of carrying Botzman doesn’t have any health full-sized bicycles — and those only problems, and continues to put long under conditions that limit their use miles on his bicycles. He puts about off the train. The train travels daily 30 miles a day on local roads, just from Chicago to New York City. while running errands. When on long “They have to be boxed, and trips, he’ll cycle 50 miles or so, set up they’re carried in the baggage car,” his tent, and use a laptop to update says Karen Managan, president of the his books or work on other projects. Rochester Bicycling Club. Inevitably, he hears the refrain that has Botzman and Managan assert echoed through his journeys. that these restrictions discourage “I still hear, ‘I wish I was doing bicyclists from traveling the state by what you’re doing,’” he says. To that, train, and thereby tourism. Both have he has an answer: “Why don’t you?” supported more bicycle-friendly rail About 13,000 have bought storage regulations, Botzman going so Botzman’s books online. far as to give written comments to the state Department of Transportation. Managan says that the author has n Editor’s Note: To buy “Round Lake Ontario,” go to been involved in many such causes. “ H e h a s b e e n o n s e v e r a l cyclotour@cyclotour.com or call committees, like that of the New 585 244-6157.

my turn By Bruce Frassinelli

‘Very Close Veins’ and Other Mondegreens Many of us have fallen prey to the mishearing or misinterpretation of a phrase

ne of my students this past semester turned in an opinion paper where she had intended to say, “From the get go, it was obvious that the speaker was going to tell it like it is with no holds barred.” What she wrote, however, was, “From the gekko, it was obvious…” I commented on her paper that the tiny animal that’s the central figure in the Geico insurance commercials has nothing to do with that phrase. As many of us have over the years, she had fallen prey to a mondegreen, the mishearing or misinterpretation of a phrase. These situations generally occur where we have been using a phrase orally but never have seen it in printed form nor have we ever committed it to printed form, or, if we have, no one has bothered to correct us. My brother-in-law, who also teaches at the college level, contributed one he had received from a student who had complained about the amount of work she had to do. “Know a fence, Mr. Macaluso, but I think you are expecting too much work…” She meant, of course, “no offense.” I remember with great embarrassment when I was in third grade and during a question-andanswer session, I asked my teacher, Miss Bogel, who is Richard Stands. I could see the puzzlement on her face. “How do you know this person?” she asked me. Now I was confused, because I figured this man must be a great statesman, maybe even more important than George

Several years ago during the Christmas season, when she was 6, my granddaughter sang, “Fleas naughty dog.” (Feliz Navidad) Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin. After all, we spoke his name every day when we said the Pledge of Allegiance. Miss Bogel was really stumped now and asked me to recite the pledge, which I did happily and energetically. “…And to the Republic, for Richard Stands, one nation, indivisible…” My classmates and Miss Bogel burst out laughing, after which she set me straight: The line is “for which it stands,” not “for Richard Stands.” I became a fan of mondegreens that very instant, even though I didn’t know that what I had done had a name. Here are some of my favorites that I have accumulated over the years: • Another one from the Pledge: “I led the pigeons to the flag…” (I pledge allegiance to the flag…) • And another: “With liver tea and justice for all.” (With liberty and justice for all.) • From The Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, Who art in heaven/Harold be Thy name.” (…hallowed be Thy name) • From the 23rd Psalm: “Surely good Mrs. Murphy shall follow

me all the days of my life.” (Surely goodness and mercy…) The name mondegreen was introduced by author Sylvia Wright in a 1954 “Atlantic” magazine article. As a child, Wright had heard the lyrics of “The Bonny Earl of Murray,” a Scottish ballad. One line, she thought, says, “Thou have slain the Earl of Murray and Lady Mondegreen.” There is no Lady Mondegreen, Wright found out. The line really is: “Thou have slain the Earl of Murray and laid him on the green.” But the Mondegreen label stuck. When I was 8 years old, I heard my mother tell a friend that her brother had “very close veins.”(varicose veins) Several years ago during the Christmas season, when she was 6, my granddaughter sang, “Fleas naughty dog.” (Feliz Navidad) As a child, one of my sons sang, “Life is butter dream” as the last line of the round “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” A middle school student, who was taking catechism instruction, referred to Christ as “Cheeses of Nazareth.” Did you know that Davy Crockett was “killed in a bar when he was only 3?” (“killed him a bar — bear — …) And you thought Santa had only nine reindeer, counting Rudolph; well, how about, “Olive, the other reindeer, used to laugh and call him names.” I’ll never forget my classmate singing at the top of her lungs to the Laurie London recording, “He’s got the whole world in His pants.) (hands) September / October 2010 - 55 PLUS

55+

trends Heard About This Fantastic Investment?

Financially savvy seniors are most likely to be victims in investment scam By Ken Little

nternet and telemarketing scams spawned by the recession economy pose a special threat for seniors. “We’re not seeing a rash or increase of older people being victimized, but generally, seniors are more likely to be targeted in these scams,” said Luci deHaan, an AARP specialist in financial fraud. Law enforcement agencies try to keep abreast of fraudulent e-mail offers or telemarketing pitches that may sound enticing, but are geared toward ripping off the consumer. The FBI says these schemes can take many forms, including financial investments, funerals and cemetery plots, travel deals or bogus “antiaging” products. Common sense on the part of the consumer is the first line of defense, said Rochester Police Department spokesman Sgt. Gary Moxley. “When in doubt, hang up. Do not allow the scam artist to speak longer than necessary,” Moxley said. Criminals tend to follow the money. That rule holds true for con artists seeking victims on the Internet or through phone calls, deHaan said. “What we really find is the people who are more financially secure are the people being targeted by scam artists,” she said. Some scams center around persuading people to access their life savings for quick returns on shady investments. Many seniors are drawing on money for everyday

55 PLUS - September / October 2010

spending they should be saving for use later in life. “What we’re seeing is some people who are starting to take money out of 401ks and IRAs and stop saving, deHaan said. “What we’re advising now is not to make rash decisions and have a plan in place and consult with financial advisors qualified to help manage your finances.” Get-rich-quick schemes rarely work, she adds. deHaan said seniors should be wary in general of Internet solicitations, known as “phishing.” Some scams take the form of a communication from a supposedly legitimate financial institution requesting personal information so records can be updated. The same con can be done over the phone. “It’s just a way to get their personal information,” deHaan said. “The first time you receive [contacts] like that,

contact your bank first.” deHaan advised seniors to be wary of the “free lunch” seminars often advertised in newspapers and other media that lure individuals and couples into situations where they are pressured to participate in questionable investment plans. “That’s probably another area where people need to be careful to ask questions of a financial professional,” deHaan said. “They invite you there because they want you to buy their product. They’re pitched as a very soft-sell and when you have your lunch, it becomes a very hard-sell. “They key is not to make any commitments when you are there,” she said.

55+ Spokesperson Moxley said current scams reported to Rochester police include debt consolidation offers, lottery-sweepstakes pitches, magazine offers and other pitches that arrive via post card. “Shred those,” he said. Moxley offered some commonsense tips to avoid being ripped off by scam artists. Never give out personal information such as a Social Security number, date of birth or bank account number. “If someone asks you to call them back, check and see where the area code you are calling is located,” he said. Area code 876 is in Jamaica, where many scam calls originate, Moxley said. Another popular scam involves a call from a young person either claiming to be a grandchild who needs money, or from another person who claims to know the grandchild and is calling on their behalf for money. Be diligent with all bank accounts, Moxley added. “Check your accounts weekly to make sure they are accurate and no money is missing,” he said. deHaan offered this advice: “The old saying is if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. There is no such thing as a free lunch and there is no such thing as a free dinner,” she said.

The FBI says older Americans are more likely to have a nest-egg, own their own home or have excellent credit, all potential sources of money a thief will try and tap into. Those who perpetrate fraud focus their efforts “on the segment of the population most likely to be in a financial position to buy something,” according to the agency. As seniors plan for retirement, they can fall victim to investment scams. Some of the more common ones cited by the FBI include advance fee schemes, pyramid schemes and Nigerian letter fraud schemes. “People need to rid themselves of this notion of who the quintessential victim is for an investment scam. It’s often not the person living alone,” deHaan said. “It’s normally somebody who is financially savvy and considers themselves knowledgeable about their financial affairs.” People brought up in the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s “were generally raised to be polite and trusting,” qualities that can work against them in some situations, the FBI says. “The con man will exploit these traits knowing that it is difficult or impossible for these individuals to just say ‘no’ or hang up the phone,” according to the agency. Telemarketing scam artists often target those age 60 and over by trying to sell them bogus products or services by phone. Older women

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living alone are often singled out, according to the FBI. Telemarketing scams often involve offers of prizes, low-cost vitamins and health care products and travel offers. Warning signs include promises of “free” or “low-cost” vacations or get-rich-quick offers. Many scam artists try to pressure the person on the other end of the line to act immediately, send money or provide a bank account number in order to receive a gift, vacation or prize. It’s difficult to get a refund if you are cheated over the phone. The FBI offers the following tips to avoid being a victim of telemarketing fraud: • Don’t buy from an unfamiliar company. Legitimate businesses understand a person may want more information about their company and will readily comply. • Always ask for written material and wait until it is received before acting on any offer or charity solicitation. If you get brochures about costly investments, ask someone whose financial advice you trust to review them. Not everything in writing is true. • Always check out unfamiliar companies with your local consumer protection agency, the Better Business Bureau, state Attorney General, the National Fraud Information Center or other watchdog groups. • Obtain a salesperson’s name, business identity, telephone number,

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street address, mailing address and business license number before making a transaction. Verify the accuracy of the information. • Before giving money to a charity or making an investment, find out what percentage of the money is paid in commissions and what percentage actually goes to the charity or investment. • Always take your time making a decision. Legitimate companies won’t pressure you to make a snap decision. • Never send money or give out personal information such as credit card numbers and expiration dates, bank account numbers, birth date or social security numbers to unfamiliar companies or unknown persons. Many people, particularly senior citizens, are reluctant to report they have been the victim of a fraud scheme. “Very often, they are not reported,” deHaan says. Other scams that target seniors identified by the FBI fall into the category of health insurance fraud. Included on the list is medical equipment fraud, Medicare fraud, services that are billed but not performed and “rolling lab” schemes that involve unnecessary and sometime fake tests given to individuals at health clubs, retirement homes or shopping malls and billed to insurance companies or Medicare.

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Current scams reported to Rochester police include debt consolidation offers, lottery-sweepstakes pitches, magazine offers and other pitches that arrive via post card.

The FBI offers the following tips to avoid health insurance fraud: • Never sign blank insurance claim forms. • Never give blank authorization to a medical provider to bill for services rendered. • Ask medical providers what they will charge and what you will be expected to pay out-of-pocket. • Carefully review your insurer’s explanation of the benefits statement. Call your insurer and provider if you have questions. • Do not do business with doorto-door or telephone salespeople who tell you that services or medical equipment are free. • Give your insurance/Medicare identification only to those who have provided you with medical services. • Keep accurate records of all health care appointments. • Know if your physician ordered equipment for you. The FBI also advises seniors to be on guard against counterfeit prescription drugs. It asks consumers to: • Be mindful of appearance and closely examine the packaging

and lot numbers of prescription drugs. Be alert of any changes from one prescription to the next. • Consult your pharmacist or physician if your prescription drug looks suspicious. • A l e r t your pharmacist and physician immediately if you medication causes adverse side effects or if your condition does not improve. • Use caution when purchasing drugs on the Internet. Do not purchase medications from unlicensed online distributors or those who sell medications without a prescription, Reputable online pharmacies will have a seal of approval called the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site (VIPPS), provided by the Association of Boards of Pharmacy in the U.S. The bottom line in avoiding becoming a scam victim is to remain vigilant, deHaan said. “We’re advising people not to make rash decisions and if they are very worried [about personal finances] put together a plan and contact an expert. Get informed, learn about your portfolio and don’t be afraid to ask for help,” she said.

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RIDING FOR A CAUSE

Bikers raise funds to fight against cancer, help other causes By Beth Emley

t would be easy to join a motorcycle riding group just to ride, or just to give money to a charity without really doing anything. Not so for the Conesus Lake Riders, who have been together since 1949 and also have a long history of charity work. Since many of their members have been touched by cancer, they decided to make cancer one of their main fundraising focuses. Dick Rider, 60, of Dansville, the group’s past president and a member for about 15 years, said the group was especially inspired to take on the cancer cause after it lost two members to the disease, Gene Barber and Red Acker. In 2001, they started looking at options and then decided to help Camp Good Days and Special Times of Mendon, which runs a camp for

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children with cancer. Rider said the group has been impressed by the camp’s mission and its founder, Gary Mervis, whose daughter, Teddi, died from cancer. Mervis founded the camp 30 years ago. He said since its inception, Camp Good Days has brought over 47,000 kids to camp. “They run the whole organization through donations and fundraisers,” he said. He also notes that the camp is operated mostly by volunteers, which cuts down on administrative costs. This year, the Riders recently held their “Ridin’ for a Reason” to help Camp Good Days and raised over $4,000. The groups’ members like to get out and meet the kids at camp. They go there and eat dinner with them several times a summer. The

kids also get a chance to sit on their motorcycles. “It’s real personal, what we do,” Rider said. “It’s to broaden our understanding of what the camp is.” “It’s a great place and a wonderful event. The kids get the chance to just be kids. It does us good to have dinner with them.” Besides its work for Camp Good Days, the group has also become involved with raising funds for the Wilmot Cancer Center and recently for Teresa House in Geneseo, a hospice house. A dice run for Teresa House is coming up on Sept. 19. “Whether or not you think you need hospice, it will touch your life eventually,” Rider said. Other projects the group has participated in have included a Christmas Children’s Fund in Dansville. Last year, they helped

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Mike Ryan, director of Rochester HOG

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18 families by providing complete Christmas dinners for them. “There’s probably 18 different organizations or needs we donate to,” Rider said. “The Christmas fund made us feel as good as the families. I heard some pretty sad stories.” When Rider thinks of his volunteer work and helping others, he said he feels very positive about it. “It makes life more peaceful,” he said. “If you can make a kid smile, you feel wonderful. When you work on those charity events, most of our club members feel the same way.” HOG reaps rewards — The Rochester HOG has also played an active role in giving back to the community over the past few years. Rochester HOG is a licensed and chartered chapter of the national HOG and is sponsored by Harley Davidson of Rochester. Rochester HOG raises money annually for several causes, including the Mary Cariola Children’s Center. They have also participated in the Cycle Stop of Henrietta’s annual breast cancer benefit run to raise breast cancer awareness and raised money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Their biggest fundraiser for the past four years has been a motorcycle dice run for Mary Cariola Children’s Center in Rochester. Mike Ryan, 59, of Rochester, the group’s director, said Rochester HOG raised over $10,000 last year for Mary Cariola through private donations and corporate sponsorship. This year ’s recent run, called HOGS ‘n Roses, began at the Cycle Stop in Henrietta and ended at the Creekside Inn in Rush. “The community is very generous. People love to do this,” Ryan said. “It’s wonderful. You get more than you receive, they say. It’s a big undertaking and we love doing it.” Ryan said the group decided to raise money for Mary Cariola after an employee at the Cycle Stop encouraged the group to participate in a charity ride. “The motorcycle community is September / October 2010 - 55 PLUS

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The Conesus Lake Riders motorcycle group. extremely generous and it just seemed like a natural fit for us,” he said. Mary Cariola serves children with multiple complex disabilities that the public and private schools aren’t able to accommodate. “MCC doesn’t turn away any child. They take kids that mainstream schools don’t take and do whatever

it takes it provide care and education necessary. The exposure to that touched me deeply. This is a charity that is worthwhile and the response has been overwhelming,” he said. Ryan said it’s “hard to define” on a personal level how working with charities makes him feel. However, on a daily basis, “I’m

Dick Rider, past president of the group, with a camper from Camp Good Days and Special Times, announces a prize winner at one of the motorcycle runs. 20

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reminded of how lucky I am and how fortunate I am. It’s good to give back to people who are less fortunate. If you spend five minutes at the Mary Cariola Children Center you can see the love and perseverance the staff has for the children,” Ryan said “Having done this, I couldn’t not do it again,” he said. “I feel a pretty strong commitment. I get back more than I give and it’s nice to be needed.” Ryan, who has been a member of HOG since 2004, said the local chapter has been around for about 25 years. Many of its members are “60-ish baby boomers,” he said. He said many members realize how lucky they are so “how can you not do something?” for others, he asked. Vets reach out to their own —The Rochester chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America is like other chapters across the country—it raises money to help veterans and helps them with other issues such as benefits and healthcare. The Rochester chapter also happens to have a number of members who are bikers and besides raising money for veterans’ causes, they also do their part to help local charities by holding various events throughout the year.

55+ Ken Moore, 68, of Hilton is president of Chapter 20 that has existed in Rochester for 30 years. Each year, the group has an annual bike run and last year, the proceeds went to the Wilmot Cancer Center. “A lot of our members are suffering from the effects of cancer,” Moore said. Last year’s bike run raised $30,000 for the organization. T h i s y e a r, t h e g ro u p w i l l concentrate it efforts on raising money for veterans. The recent event saw participants “Ride to the Dakota Grill” in Hilton. The annual poker run often draws

more than 1,000 riders. Moore, a disabled veteran himself, said he hopes the run will bring awareness to all veterans and their health issues. He said the money raised will help the group “keep doing what it does. God only knows, the government doesn’t give us anything.” He added: “Never again should a generation forget another. We give a lot of thought to what’s going on, such as what do vets need and how can we support them. We think about not only the veteran, but his or her family members. We have done a lot

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with breast cancer because our wives have suffered the effects.” Since coming back from the Vietnam War in 1967, Moore has worked for Kodak and Monroe County. But he said he has made serving others a mission. Moore said he has a “passion” to want to help others and says he gets a lot of personal satisfaction from the work he does. Moore said he would like to see the day come where veterans who are injured in some way can be compensated “rather than argue with the federal government.”

Vets Helping Vets

Monroe County Veterans Court valuable resource for troubled soldiers By Beth Emley

en Moore, a biker from Hilton and a disabled veteran, does more for veterans than just serve as the president of the local Vietnam Veterans of America. He’s also a volunteer mentor for the Monroe County Veterans Court. He helps veterans who have been charged with non-violent felonies and their families get through the court system. “Sometimes they celebrate and end up with a DWI and need helping dealing with their goblins. That’s what we do up there,” Moore said. The court meets every Monday. Patricia Marks, Supreme Court, 7th District, is the judge. Moore said the veterans’ offenses include charges such as possession of narcotics or domestic violence. The goal is to get them into counseling or treatment and follow them through the system. Moore is among 15 men from the Vietnam Veterans of America

chapter who are helping mentor veterans. He said the court has seen a total of some 170 defendants, some of whom as suffering illnesses from war such as post-traumatic stress disorder. On a typical Monday, it will be 10 mentors with 20 to 40 defendants in court, he said. The veterans court works to help get certain charges reduced so the veterans can get on with their lives, Moore said. Some of the veterans don’t need to be in county jail,” he said. The veterans also help their families with other needs such as paying gas or electric bills and in some cases, providing necessities such as bus passes and phone cards. The money to buy those items is all raised by veterans’ groups. Recently, there was a veterans court graduation ceremony at the county court building, Moore said. He said 22 veterans were scheduled to graduate that day. Moore said the program has a

70 to 75 percent success rate. “They may start out in a bad position but then when we see them four to six months later, they thank the judge for saving their life. It’s incredible the ones who make it,” he said. Moore said there are some veterans who graduate from the program who want to be mentors. He said those people have told him: “’I want to do what you’re doing, I want to give back.’ What better example can you have than that?” Many of the defendants are people in their 20s while many of the mentors are men in their 60s. Moore said some have wondered how they would relate to the younger people. “What we found out over a year and a half ago is for some crazy reason, they look up to us. The age thing doesn’t really matter. It’s just a couple of vets talking about their problems,” he said. September / October 2010 - 55 PLUS

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Helping Cancer Causes By Beth Emley

s a member of the Conesus Lake Riders, Mike Backus helps raise money for Camp Good Days and Special Times. But the 56-year-old Dansville man has a deeper connection to the cancer cause than most. His son, Adam, 25, also a member of the motorcycle group, died last August after a year and a half battle with colon cancer. “We’re still coping with the overall loss,” Backus said. But he has fond memories of his son and his involvement with the motorcycle group and Camp Good Days. He said Adam was diagnosed with cancer while he was in the Air Force. He had been working as a jet engine mechanic at a military base in Anchorage, Alaska and was deployed for six months to Iraq where he served as a security policeman. After the diagnosis, he returned to the Rochester area for cancer treatments. He received those treatments at the Wilmot Cancer Center at Strong. Backus said his son still attended meetings of the Riders and last year, he helped buy doo rag bandanas to hand out to the kids at

Camp Good Days. “Once he came back (to the Rochester area), the group knew (about his cancer diagnosis) and voted him in as a life member as a gesture to him doing what he was doing,” Backus said. Adam was in remission and was scheduled to go to another work assignment in Oklahoma early last year when his cancer reoccurred. He was an avid sports fan and wanted to do several things before he died, Backus said. He did make it to a Red Sox game but wasn’t able to go to a Pro Football Hall of Fame game with former Buffalo Bill Bruce Smith. His illness had worsened so he watched it on TV instead, his father recalled. Sooner than the family had expected, “he passed away an hour after the (football) game,” Backus said. Backus said Adam is deeply missed. But having a Backus grandson, Christian Adam Joseph, carry his son’s middle name is a fitting tribute to the former Air Force mechanic and Conesus Lake Rider.

More Baby Boomers joining motorcycle clubs — for fun and to help various causes

he Baby Boomer generation is revving up the sport of motorcycling. Whether they call it a sport or a hobby, all biking enthusiasts would call motorcycling fun. Often referred to as Baby Boomer Bikers, they are the fastest-growing segment of America’s 6 millionmember motorcycling population, and their numbers are increasing 10 percent a year, according to an article which appeared recently on Time.

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com. This increase is due in part to the fact that the Baby Boomers make up such a large segment of the overall population, and many in that age group have the financial means now to afford a motorcycle. Many of them are returning to the sport after years spent raising families and building their careers. They might have ridden when they were younger, but got married and traded their motorcycles for sedans.

Fall Travel? Great Time to Get Discounts

By Jim Miller

verybody loves a bargain but in today’s tight economy, senior discount travel deals that have real value are getting harder to find. Here are some tips to help you find the best deals. • Senior Discounts? — When it comes to senior travel bargains, an important point to keep in mind is that the “senior discount” may not always be the best deal. Hotels, airlines and cruise lines, for example, offer advanced bookings along with special deals and promotions from time to time that may be a lower rate than what the senior discount is. Always ask about the lowest possible rate and the best deal available. • AARP discounts — If you’re a member of AARP, various travel discounts are available on hotels, rental cars, cruises and vacation packages. To find them see aarp.org/ travel or expedia-aarp.com, or call 800-675-4318. • Airlines — Southwest (southwest.com, 800-435-9792) has the best senior fare program, offering discounts on walk-up fares to passengers 65 and older. American (aa.com, 800-433-7300), Continental (continental.com, 800-523-3273), U.S. Airways (usairways.com, 800-4284322) also offer limited senior fares to passengers 65-plus to selected destinations. • Train discounts — Amtrak (www.amtrak.com, 800-872-7245), the nationwide rail network, provides a 15 percent discount to coach travelers age 62 and older. And a 10 percent discount to passengers 60 and older on cross-border services operated jointly by Amtrak and VIA Rail Canada. • Bus travel — Greyhound (greyhound.com, 800-231-2222), the largest provider of intercity bus transportation, offers a 5 percent discount on unrestricted fares to seniors over 62. Peter Pan (peterpanbus.com,

800-343-9999), which serves the Northeast region of the U.S., offers the same deal. Trailways (trailways. com, 800-776-7581), a privately owned bus company also provides senior discounts but they vary by location. And, most local bus lines and public transportation offer discounted senior passes. • Car rentals — Most car rental companies offer 5 to 25 percent discounts to customers who belong to 50-and-older organizations like AARP. Good discounts are also available to AAA (aaa.com) members. • Hotels — Most hotels in the U.S. offer senior discounts usually ranging from 10 to 30. Age eligibility will vary by hotel, usually starting at age 50, 55, 60 or 62. Hyatt (hyatt.com, 888-591-1234) offers the biggest hotel discounts — up to 50 percent off to seniors age 62 and older. • Cruising — If you’re interested in taking a cruise, there are lots of bargains available regardless of age. To find them use cruisecompete.com (800-797-4635), which can give you the lowest prices for the dates and ports you specify. In addition, some cruise lines offer seniors discounts on select cruises to passengers 55 and older. The best way to find these is to contact a travel agent (see cruising.org to find an agent who specializes in cruises), or check with a few cruise brokers like vacationstogo.com (800-338-4962), cruise411.com (899-553-7090), or ecruises.com (800-223-6868). • National Parks — One of the best travel deals available is the “America The Beautiful – Senior Pass” (www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm). This is a lifetime pass that will let you and anyone in your car into national parks, forests, recreation areas and monument grounds. It’s available to those 62 or older, and you can get it at one of the federal recreation sites for a one-time fee of $10. • Entertainment — In most cities, seniors over 60 qualify for reduced admission to theaters, museums, and other attractions. Be sure you ask! Savvy Tips: For an $8 annual fee, you can find thousands of discounts at seniordiscounts.com. Or go to Amazon.com and order a copy of the 2009 – 2010 book, “Unbelievably Good Deals and Great Adventures That You Absolutely Can’t Get Unless You’re Over 50” (McGraw-Hill).

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aging

Why Women Live Longer In general women outlive men five to 10 years—does that mean women are healthier than men? By Deborah Graf

hy do men die ealier than their wives — or before women, period? Gender roles or lifestyle habits? Biology or psychology? The debate about why men die before women continues. The life expectancy gender gap in the United States spans time. In the not so distant past, men worked more, smoked and drank more, and had more stress trying to be the sole supporters of their families. Is that what has generated men’s’ earlier demise? This is something that Dr. James Wood, associate medical director at Lifetime Care Hospice in Rochester, examines on a regular basis. His experience as a geriatrician offers insight into why women live five or more years longer than men. “Society has its own point of view about the “The bottom reasons we have line is that men evolved the way have a higher we have,” Wood says. “But the mortality rate bottom line is that than women,” says Dr. James men have a higher Wood, associate mortality rate medical director than women.” According at Lifetime Care to several Hospice.

Think you’ll hit 100?

How long will you live? Find out at www.livingto100.com using the “calculator,’’ a survey involving answers to health, medical, family history and lifestyle questions. sources, several factors play a role in mortality, including personality, environment, how and where we are raised, how we perceive ourselves, and how we preserve ourselves both physically and mentally. On average, men may smoke and drink more than women, but they also seem to be genetically programmed for an earlier death. Testosterone, an immunosuppressant, increases in the late teens and early 20s, which contributes to risky behaviors. Cardiovascular disease becomes prevalent in men around age 60, and for women not until age 70. Women are at an advantage as menstruation can deplete them of iron, which September / October 2010 - 55 PLUS

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plays a critical role in the production of oxidant materials. In other words, iron deficiency in moderation helps protect against some disease. According to Dr. Myles Spar, a medical columnist with the website huffingtonpost.com, men have a 60 percent higher chance of developing cancer and a 40 percent higher chance of dying from cancer than women, even when you don’t include gender-specific cancers like breast and prostate cancer. Spar, who is also the medical director of the Akasha Center for Integrative Medicine in California, says that of the top 10 causes of death in the United States, men are higher in nine of them. But it’s not just about physiology, say sources interviewed for this story. Men by nature internalize stress more than women. They deny symptoms, both physical and emotional, which contrasts to women, who don’t hesitate to go to the doctor or therapist. Men don’t take advantage of health promoting behaviors and therapies, where women by nature are more social and willing to make their personal needs a priority. “Ask a man how he is and he will say everything’s fine, ask a woman and everything comes out,” says Ken Marshall, a pastor with Greece Assembly of God in Rochester. “A man must be encouraged to share what he is feeling and look past the sociological reasons to not share. A healthy man will cry and pour it out.” Are women really healthier than men overall? They have more connecting relationships than men do. They will pour out their soul over a cup of tea. They love, laugh and create in all aspects of their lives, where men tend to hold themselves back in interpersonal relationships. Does this restrict men from feeling joy, which promotes good health? They work hard to provide for their families, but when it’s all said and done they may wish they had not held themselves back 24

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from taking more time to live life. What holds them back? Personality, upbringing, and our perception make up our psychological well being which has a direct effect on our physical state. “As a whole, a lot of it has to do with stress,” pastor Marshall

says. “I think men carry the load of being a man and being the head of the home, and they don’t express it. Psychologically they are under more stress. Gals give it a good cry. Men will put up with a whole bunch of stuff until it becomes too great, when they eventually break down.

Longevity and Gender: Why Women Live Longer This question is one of life’s great mysteries, one that has puzzled the medical community and gerontology experts for, well, ages. See what some experts say about it. “Women live longer than men because they are like the bamboo tree, which subsists under trying conditions due to its resilience, flexibility and strength. On the other hand, men are more like oak trees, growing straight and tall but lacking the capacity to bend, so under a heavy weight, will eventually snap and fall to the ground. That is one of the reasons why women live longer than men.”’ — A. Major, writing on the subject at www.Helium.com, a health and wellness website. You can read the essay at www.helium.com/ items/1000664

“They [men] smoke a lot more. They eat more food that leads to high cholesterol. And, perhaps related to that, men tend not to deal with their stress as well as women. They may be more prone to internalizing that stress rather than letting go — though that’s a fairly controversial point. Nonetheless, stress plays a very important role in cardiovascular disease.’’ — Tom Perls, founder of the New England Centenarian Study at Boston University and creator of the website www.livingto100.com.

“We socialize men differently. We tell them not to complain and ask them to perform some of the most dangerous jobs in society. They minimize injuries, in sports and in life in general. So it’s a combination of biological delicacy, if you will, and vulnerability and the rather heartless way or thoughtless way we socialize men, I think, that causes their earlier deaths.’’ — Dr. Marianne J. Legato, a professor of clinical health at Columbia University in New York City on a video. To see the video, go to www.5min. com/Video/Why-Women-Live-Longer-Than-Men-231377687.

The mental strain then results in physiological breakdown. I have seen it over and over and over again.” “Men feel hopeless and call it a day. Women tend to reach out and try to cope with mental health,” says Wood. But on the flipside, Wood says that when it comes to any life threatening illness there is not a big difference in coping mechanisms at the end of life. Men actually open up and become reflective. They realize that their more genderspecific habits like fast driving and risk taking, less healthy diets, exposure to industrial pollutants in the workplace, more hazardous occupations, and lower rates of selfcare, all contributed to their overall well-being and life expectancy. So how do women cope with the loss of their spouse or loved one leaving them too soon? Jenna Black of Irondequoit thinks it’s about one’s personality. “When a spouse loses their partner, there needs to be a determination to continue living. You must have a good attitude, live today and don’t worry about tomorrow.” Black says you have to figure out who you are as a woman when you are no longer a wife or partner. According to the U.S. Census bureau, half of women over age 65 are widows. Nearly 700,000 women lose their husbands each year. Women are marrying later and are remarrying less. Many more women are now working outside the home to help support their families and because they want to. As they establish themselves in new roles, they are not accepting the same lifestyle that men do. Women choose quality of life vs. men, who in traditional roles, allow their entire lives to become their career. Wood says there’s hope for statistics to change. “The gender gap is narrowing. Men are gaining more quickly in lifespan,” he says. “Men are using less tobacco, less alcohol, are getting more exercise and are learning to better deal with their emotions.”

Working with our seniors. Call today for a FREE, no obligation consultation of your real estate needs.

September / October 2010 - 55 PLUS

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grandparenting

Helping the Grandkids College savings plan is usually a great way to help get grandkids through college By Deborah Sergeant

ost people would agree that earning a college degree represents an important stepping stone toward a satisfying career. Soaring college expenses can make a college degree a difficult goal for many young people to reach. You can help secure your grandkids’ future by assisting with their tuition. In New York, anyone can open a section 529 college savings plan for himself or a beneficiary for as little as $25. The funds can cover tuition, room and board and other specified expenses related to earning a degree. Funds saved in the plan incur no tax penalty for qualified withdrawals. The maintenance fee is a modest .49 percent. Other fees apply depending upon the type of 529 plan selected and its size. The plan currently caps cumulative contributions at $375,000 for each beneficiary among all of his 529 accounts (if a student has more than one). The money may continue to earn dividends. The amount of money saved in a 529 plan does not impact a student’s New York Tuition Assistance Program status or any other state program. Helping the grandchildren can give you annual state tax deductions of up to $10,000 ($5,000 for a single), although federal tax still applies. For those who don’t itemize deductions, Jeffrey Feldman, a certified financial planner with Rochester Financial Services in Pittsford,

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recommends a different route. “ S i n c e [people who don’t itemize] won’t save anything with a 529 account, they can give it to their [adult children] and have them open an account for their g r a n d c h i l d re n , ” he said. “This is assuming the parents can use the tax deduction.” You can give tax-free gifts of up to $13,000 as a single and $26,000 as a couple annually. You and your spouse can give up to $52,000 by giving $26,000 to your child and another $26,000 to the spouse. If your grandchild lives in a d i ff e re n t s t a t e , c h e c k o u t t h e parameters of his state’s 529 plan. It may be better than New York’s and you don’t need to be a resident to contribute to the plan, nor does your beneficiary need to attend a school in New York or his state. For example, if your grandchild lives in California and attends school in Florida, you may still help with his college fund. If you’re a senior on a fixed income, helping the grandkids with a

huge gift is next to impossible. Many parents welcome monetary gifts toward their children’s 529 plans in lieu of birthday or Christmas gifts. (If the children really want toys or games, compromise with a token gift and hand over a check to Mom and Dad.) When they’re struggling to pay for their schooling, the extra financial help will matter more than a longforgotten toy. Thanks to a bevy of online savings plans, you can also contribute to the

kids’ college funds without touching your budget. UPromise (www.upromise.com), a program of SallieMae, and BabyMint (www.babymint.com) are examples of two free programs that donate a percentage of your purchases (usually 1 to 25 percent) to a Section 529 fund earmarked for your beneficiary’s higher education expenses. Basically, they reward you for making everyday purchases you would make anyway, such as gas, groceries and clothing. “This is a great way for grandparents on a fixed income to supplement their contributions,” said Greg Harrison, a financial adviser with Resource Financial Services in Rochester. All you need to do is sign up online and shop at the participating stores or use the participating services specified by the program. Some of these programs allow you to register your credit cards, debit cards or grocery store shopper card so that buying certain brands at any store will generate more savings. Some of the specified stores and services are online-only. These must be accessed by first opening the respective program’s website because that’s how your purchases are tracked. Other vendors allow for in-store purchases if you use debit or credit cards you have registered with the program. Still other vendors, such as McDonald’s, contribute to the fund only if you purchase a gift card in advance and then use it for purchases. Some of these programs offer their own credit card to help you really ratchet up the savings since the program will honor any purchase made on the card and not only ones with specified vendors. The percent contributed by using their credit card is usually higher, too. Just pay off the balance each month to avoid racking up interest, which would certainly outweigh the cash back or points benefit of paying for everyday purchases through the card. A few cents here and a few cents there may seem like pittance compared with the astronomical cost of college,

but if your grandchildren are small yet, those cents can add up over the course of 15 or 20 years. The two programs listed above allow you to designate a percentage to each beneficiary listed, so you can specify a higher percentage to go to the grandchild who is closer to graduation. With point programs such as MyPoints (www.mypoints.com), Memolink (www.memolink.com) or ThankYou Rewards (www.thankyou. com) you can earn cash to deposit into a college fund or gift cards you could use to outfit your collegebound grandchild’s dorm, fill his tank with gas, buy his school supplies and purchase books—all gestures any college student would really appreciate. These programs work similarly to UPromise and BabyMint, by rewarding you for using certain vendors but MyPoints also rewards members with points for clicking on advertisements and answering marketing surveys. You should also check with your bank’s debit card. It may offer a program that can be used to earn gift cards or cash back that can help your grandchildren. So why are all these companies so willing to shower you with cash and gift cards? It all goes back to loyalty. The preferred vendors featured in these programs want to win and keep customers. Offering a little cash back or points towards a gift card makes a sensible investment for them. Sites like MyPoints and Memolink can also offer companies inexpensive means of gaining consumer information via surveys. (Hint: register with an e-mail account you occasionally dump, not your email account you use for important correspondence. You’re going to receive a lot of spam by registering with MyPoints and Memolink.) The small amount of money you’re able to provide may seem insignificant in light of huge college expenses; however, any gift can help your college-bound grandchildren towards achieving their goals.

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September / October 2010 - 55 PLUS

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55 PLUS - September / October 2010

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long-term care By Susan Suben

‘The Best’ Is Not Always Better Understanding the variety of long-term care insurance

he opportunity to have “the best”, whether it is the best car, best home, best education or best job has always been the American dream. Knowing you have done the very best for yourself or your family produces that sigh of relief and peace of mind. The goal of having “the best” however, does not necessarily apply to long-term care insurance (LTC). What you need to strive for is comprehensive coverage that is affordable. It’s better to have basic coverage than no coverage at all, and you do not have to set your sights on that “Cadillac” policy in order to adequately and satisfactorily protect yourself and your family. There are many ways to accomplish this. The NYS Partnership offers four policies, two total asset protection plans — Total Asset 50 and Total Asset 100, and $2 for dollar plans: Dollar for Dollar 50 and Dollar for Dollar 100. If you exhaust your total asset protection benefits and still need care, you can apply for NYS Medicaid without having to spend-down any of your assets. If you exhaust your dollar for dollar benefits and still need care, the assets protected will equal the amount of benefits paid by the policy. Any assets above the amount protected are subject to Medicaid spend-down limits. Most people would want the total asset protection but the dollar for dollar policy may be perfectly adequate. Let’s take the example of a couple who has $300,000 in assets. They purchase dollar for dollar 50 plans that gives them each one and one half years of nursing home coverage or three years home care or assisted living coverage. Their daily benefit is $300. The initial amount of assets

protected will equal $164,400 ($300 x 548 days). Not known to most people is that in addition to the assets protected by the policy, the couple can also keep the Medicaid spend-down amount that in 2010 equals up to $109,560. Therefore, the initial asset protection for this couple is $273,960, which is slightly below their total asset base of $300,000. The partnership plan includes a 5 percent compound inflation factor that will increase the amount of assets protected each year. In 14 years, the daily benefit will approximately double to $600 or $328,800 in asset protection; in 20 years $796 or $435,810 in asset protection. The difference in premium for a total asset protection policy vs. a dollar for dollar policy is approximately $1000 – $1500 less per year. This provides affordable coverage, and leaves more discretionary income while still protecting assets. In order to know if the dollar for dollar partnership plan is an appropriate strategy, you should have a clear, fixed picture of your assets. A point to remember is to consider a higher daily benefit to have more asset protection. Another cost effective approach to purchasing LTC insurance is to select one of the many new inflation options available in the non-partnership plans. Some companies offer inflation protection based upon the Consumer Price Index. This may be a good alternative as opposed to purchasing a policy with 5 percent compound inflation. According to a 30-year study conducted by John Hancock ending in 2007, the CPI averaged 4.2 percent. A premium with CPI compound inflation can be approximately $1,000plus less per year. Still, an additional strategy

is to purchase a policy with GPO (Guaranteed Purchase Option) inflation. The LTC insurance carrier will periodically offer you the option to raise your daily benefit. There is no insurability requirement but the new premium will be based upon your attained age. This approach will substantially lower your initial premium but be cautious when accepting the offers. You don’t want your premium to become too high for you to manage. With the CPI Compound and GPO, consider purchasing a higher initial daily benefit to compensate for the daily benefit increasing at a slower rate than 5 percent compound or 5 percent simple. If discretionary income for the premium is really a concern, purchase a comprehensive policy with the daily benefit geared towards home care and assisted living. With this approach, select a daily benefit that provides four to eight hours of home care, and covers the cost of assisted living. If you’re to enter a nursing home, the policy will help offset the cost of care but you will pay more out-of-pocket. The premium for this policy will also be substantially less. Most individuals who don’t buy LTC insurance think it’s too expensive or they think they have to have “the best.” Work with an LTC insurance specialist who understands the products and can design a policy that meets your needs. Having the coverage is “the best” thing you can do. Susan Suben, a certified senior adviser, is president of Long Term Care Associates, Inc. and a consultant for Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Company. She can be reached at (800) 422-2655 or by e-mail at susansuben@31greenbush.com. September / October 2010 - 55 PLUS

golden years By Harold Miller E-mail: HMillerMOD@aol.com.

I Hate Exercise…

…however, I like active living much better than I hate working out at the gym or exercising

ank owns a family operated ski resort in New Hampshire but spends his winters in Florida. Thirty years ago he had a ski accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down—he couldn’t even wiggle his fingers. Gradually Hank regained control of his upper body and through the use of leg braces and a specially designed walker with tricycle wheels and handle bar, he has been able to escape the prison of a wheelchair. Most any day you can see him awkwardly hobbling and lurching around the gym where we go, and working out on the machines that will strengthen his arms, legs and torso. His positive attitude and indomitable spirit lights up the place and serves as motivation for the rest of us (what do we have to complain about?) When possible, he swims in the ocean buttressed on one side by his wife and on the other side by a friend. Although Hank’s exercise routine is not always comfortable, he absolutely refuses to give up and let life pass him by. Charlie was 85 but he didn’t look a day over 60. He had been widowed for more than 20 years and would have been quite a catch for the many widows who also attend the gym. However, he was content to live alone as long as he could socialize and exercise with his many acquaintances (not to mention a few girl friends). Just talking to him was a tonic for most. He had heart problems for many years and we lost him last year to a stroke. Most of us still feel the void. Still, he

55 PLUS - September / October 2010

extended his life for years because of his exercising and daily visits to the gym. Don, who never smoked, contracted throat cancer last summer “up north” (as us snowbirds refer to our summer sojourns to our homes). He had a rough go with chemo and radiation and was a little late arriving at his Florida condo, but immediately after arrival Don resumed his daily exercise at the gym. He realizes that his exercise routine is even more important now in order to keep his immune system strong and fight off any cancer cells still floating around in his blood stream. What you have here is a profile of an enlightened group of seniors who realize that in order to enjoy life in retirement, it is necessary to make an investment in daily exercise—every bit as important as our financial investments—in order to insure that we can continue to enjoy the golden years. A study published in the Health Psychology journal states that seniors like to work out together. The study also states that people trying to change a lifetime of unhealthy habits need something more than will power. Joining a group helps. The study also indicates that after eight weeks of regular exercising many people can settle into a long-term habit of working out. Incidentally, we interact with the young bulging biceps bunch very nicely—acting as a role model to them, as they act as a role model to us. One of America’s greatest health problems—particularly among us 55-Plusers—is a sedentary life

style. According to another study by Stanford University, only 48 percent of Americans say they meet the federal recommendation for exercising half an hour four to five times a week. Actually the number of people who meet the minimum requirement for daily exercise is probably far less then the reported numbers. I hate to exercise! It is totally boring and an interruption to my busy schedule. However, I like active living much better than I hate working out at the gym, and exercising in general. After my bout with cancer I started chemotherapy but could not tolerate the poison that invaded my digestive track. The doctor told me that my only defense against the return of this horrid disease was to strengthen my immune system, and this required proper diet and a healthier lifestyle, including regular exercise. Actually my favorite is swimming, which we do almost every day of the year since we live on Owasco Lake in the Finger Lakers region during the summer, and on the beach in Jupiter, Fla. during the winter season. Our second favorite exercise is bicycling, which we can also do almost every day of the year. Health statistics show that regular exercise that raises your pulse rate will extend your active life by at least 10 years. Most of the group we hang out with are in the 75‑85 age group and I can tell you from personal experience that the formula works. Old Chinese proverb: “The trip of 10,000 miles starts with the first step.”

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September / October 2010 - 55 PLUS

financial health By Jim Terwilliger

Four Greatest Financial Risks Faced by Retirees

hroughout our lives, we constantly face financial risks and challenges. Retirement, unfortunately, does not cut us any slack. T h e s i n g l e - l a rg e s t c h a n g e impacting our “golden years” is the evolving replacement of definedbenefit pensions with definedcontribution 401(k) and other similar employer tax-deferred savings plans. This is not all bad. Such a change favors folks who work for a number of companies in a variety of jobs over a career — the new norm for more and more workers. But the net impact is to replace a retiree’s guaranteed lifetime income stream by a sum of money which, if not invested wisely, can easily lose spending power or even disappear. The following summarizes some of the more-serious financial risks facing retirees, many of which are intensified by the above: Longevity Risk — Life expectancy continues to increase. Depending on gender, a 65-year-old retiree can expect to live another 15-20 years. For a 65-year-old couple, odds are 50-50 that one of the two will live to age 93. What is so bad about living and enjoying our retirement longer? The risk, quite simply, is outliving our money. Running out of money is the single-largest worry expressed to me by retirees. Some of the remedies can include a combination of deferring the start of full retirement, deferring the start of Social Security benefits (starting at age 70 vs. age 62 can result in a 75 percent higher benefit), investing in retirement and other savings wisely and in a disciplined manner, and considering the purchase of an

55 PLUS - September / October 2010

immediate fixed annuity to transform a portion of savings into a guaranteed lifetime stream of income. Inflation Risk — Consider a 20-40 year retirement with annual inflation of 3 percent. In 20 years, $100 will purchase only $55 of goods in today’s dollars and in 40 years, $31. Higher inflation rates, which are likely over this timeframe, only make matters worse. Fortunately, Social Security benefits are indexed for inflation. Most pensions and annuities are not. The most straight-forward remedy is to ensure that a portion of one’s savings is invested in a diversified mix of the world’s capital markets — domestic and foreign stocks, microcap to large cap. A diversified mix of stocks, over time, with dividends, has outperformed bond and cash investments, and there is no reason to believe this will change in the future. Holding stocks is one of the few ways to keep one’s investment assets ahead of inflation. For folks entering retirement, I generally recommend a stock fraction of about 50 percent, +/10 percent, depending on one’s goals and risk tolerance. Over the following 10-20 years, reducing stock exposure to about 30 percent is considered reasonable. Long-Term Care Risk — Increases in longevity coupled with an explosive increase in long-term care costs have created a perfect storm — but not so perfect if you are paying for it! The issue here is custodial care, not medical care related to recovery or rehabilitation. It may be care offered at home or institutional care in an assisted living or nursing-home facility. Local long-term care costs range from $20/hour for home care provided by an aide all the way to $350/day

($125,000-$130,000 annually) for nursing home care. Recent legislation has made it more difficult to transfer assets to family members in order to qualify for Medicaid assistance. Some attorneys offer approaches involving promissory notes to protect a portion of one’s assets prior to qualifying for Medicaid. The most effective and straightforward way to protect one’s family — in terms of care choices and asset protection — is to purchase long-term care insurance. We are fortunate in New York state to have a range of so-called partnership policies available, which offer full or partial asset protection. Also available are new hybrid life/long-term-care policies, which appeal to many people. A watch out: don’t procrastinate. Waiting to purchase insurance drives up annual premiums and increases the probability of a medical declination of coverage. I have had clients even in their 40s and 50s declined for medical reasons. “Going-it-Alone” Risk — This is perhaps the biggest risk. You only have one chance to get it right. Don’t mess it up. Partnering with a trusted financial adviser is critical — one who is capable of helping you with your entire financial picture, not just the investment piece. Such an adviser can help integrate the risks outlined above with others to give you the best shot at financial peace-of-mind while you enjoy a fruitful and well-deserved retirement. James Terwilliger, CFP®, is vice president of the financial planning, wealth strategies group at Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Company. He can be reached at (585) 419-0670 ext. 50630 or by e-mail at jterwilliger@cnbank.com.

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Reaching the Fastest Growing Population in the Rochester Area September / October 2010 - 55 PLUS

last

page

By Mike Costanza

Priscilla Minster, 67 Head of Rochester OASIS talks about what makes her program great for those who want to learn, stay active

nder her leadership, Rochester OASIS has grown from an educational nonprofit with a membership of just over 1,800 to one that counts about 8,500 on its rolls. In the fall trimester alone, about 1,300 members signed up for a total of 165 courses on subjects that ranged from the films of Alfred Hitchcock to sign language. The director of Rochester OASIS works her magic in its Monroe Avenue offices with only one full-time employee, over 100 volunteers, and a 2010 budget of just under $265,180.

Q. Before we get to the details, I have to ask: what does “OASIS” stand for? A. It doesn’t stand for anything, except “OASIS,” anymore. When it first began about 30 years ago, it was an acronym. Since then, they’ve (the nationwide organization) discovered it was pretty inaccurate, so they dropped it. Q. What does Rochester OASIS do for older adults? A. The whole OASIS concept, as it was started here, and everywhere, has been to offer challenging interesting courses to older adults. Our emphasis has always been on education, and on challenging people. Our classes are not considered recreational. They’re considered educational. A recreational class would probably be bingo, or something like that, or a kazoo band. Q. OK, no kazoo bands. Can

you tell us about some of the fall trimester’s classes? A. One of them is offered by Donald Hall, the retired director of the Strasenburgh Planetarium. He’s doing

55 PLUS - September / October 2010

a program on theater organs. It will be at the Auditorium Theater, and will feature the organ that used to be in the RKO theater downtown. Don is going to do a lecture and demonstration of all the different parts of the organ, and how they work, and the history of this particular organ. A famous west coast organist, Jerry Nagano, is going to do a concert. We also have a wonderful relationship that I have built up over the years with the [Rochester] Philharmonic Orchestra. We get tickets to the concerts at much discounted rates that we can offer to our members. A lot of our members take advantage of that. Our members have fun coming to our classes and meeting people. There’s a lot of laughter here, and people have a great time but they’re doing that with educational classes.

Q. Before you came to OASIS, you were president and owner of a local company, Precision Design Systems. Can you tell us about that? A. We made mostly identification signs for submarines and locomotives. We had four or five employees, but we did quite a lot of business. We did government contract work—I came to hate military specs. I turned my business over to my husband, because he had sold his business. Q. What do you like most about your job? A. Trying to find more, better, and more exciting classes for our members. I don’t stop and think, “Would older people like this?” It’s just, “Is this a neat class? Is this fun?” It’s creative, and I get to work with some wonderful people. I just so much enjoy the instructors and the members.

Q . Was Rochester OASIS different when you took over in 1991? A. Yes, very. The main change has been growth. When I came, we were located in Midtown Plaza. Our physical facility was much smaller, and there were much fewer classes. Right now, we have four classrooms here, and three offices, and a lobby area. I’m thinking that we take up a little less than 4,000 square feet. We also weren’t computerized. Q. What is Rochester OASIS’ relationship with Lifetime Care? A. When OASIS started they [the local organization] were all sponsored by different sponsors. One partner locally was identified as the administrative partner. They administered the program on behalf of other partners. Ours still follows the original pattern, and it works well here in Rochester. I’m a Lifetime Care employee. Q. What do you do for fun? A. I am a professional calligrapher.

Mostly I do the calligraphy for fun, or for charity, or for friends. I also love to read. Novels. I always have a book that I’m reading, and a book that I’m listening to in the car. I don’t think that my car would move if I didn’t have a book in it. I also love to travel.

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