55 Plus of Rochester, #15: May – June 2012 by 55 Plus: For Active Adults in Rochester

Jim Terwilliger: Who Will Provide Your Retirement Paycheck? E E

William Shatner: At 81, No Signs of Slowing Down

PLUS Issue 15 May / June 2012

For Active Adults in the Rochester Area

END OF AN ERA Grandparents: How to Become a Super Sitter English Country Dancing is Alive in Rochester An Elder Wondering What’s Out There

At 69, Tony Bannon is retiring as the head of the George Eastman House, a job he held longer than any of his predecessors. What’s next for him? For one, a brand new job at Buffalo State.

ALSO INSIDE Golﬁng Gardening Rowing Hiring a Contractor

. ip h y m d te a it il b a h e r They

s. er h ot of s es n d in k e th in f ie el b y And m Having a great hospital is important. But so is having a great transitional care facility. That’s why it’s critical for you to choose one of the very best: St. Ann’s Community. At St. Ann’s, we provide the most comprehensive and advanced rehabilitation services in the area. And 99% of our patients rated our rehab therapists “Excellent/Good” in 2010. So whether you are recovering from a stroke, heart surgery or joint replacement, you can rest assured that you will get the support and encouragement you need. But here’s the most important thing to know: you can plan ahead for your rehab. Just call St. Ann’s at 585-697-6311 for your free Transitional Care Planning Kit. The choice of a transitional care facility is totally up to you. So why leave that choice up to someone else? Because a great transitional care facility does more than make you feel healthy again. It makes you feel good about life again.

TRANSITIONAL CARE PROGRAM

Yo u r F i r s t C h o i c e F o r C a re

www.StAnnsCommunity.com

Caring for the most important people on earth.

��

t’s funny to watch what so much choice does to our residents. Even the most particular grandpa will love choosing between three meals a day or just one. Between full-time transportation or twice-aweek shopping. When you have choices, like you get at The Villages, you have control. You determine what you pay, what services you want, how you save. So if you’re notoriously picky, consider all your choices here. It’s a wonderful life at The Villages.

Live it up. VillagesSeniorLiving.org (585) 723-7442

Join us for an Open House Saturday, June 9 10 a.m. to noon Woodland Village 1477 Long Pond Road

May / June 2012 - 55 PLUS

Seniors: If you do not need the level of care provided by nursing homes or assisted living, why not consider sharing with a relative?

Our booklet, “Shared Housing” explains all that needs to be considered about the topic and provides six actual Floor plans! For a free copy of this booklet, email a request to jalbright@albrightbuild.com or call 585-230-4280 Albright Remodeling Your Certiﬁed Aging in Place Specialists

Reaching the Fastest Growing Population in the Rochester Area Rochester’s ﬁrst magazine to celebrate life after 55. Don’t miss the next issues. Subscribe today to have it delivered right to your door! Subscribe today and get 55 PLUS magazine mailed to your home! Name ____________________________________________________ Address __________________________________________________ City / Town ________________________State ________Zip ________

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00 low-cost advertising, For information on our low lowcost advertising ddvertising, call 585-421-8109

55 PLUS

May / June 2012

CONTENTS

Got a story idea? editor@GVhealthnews.com

8 14

16 22

HealthWatch 6 8 GRANDPARENTING Real Estate 7 • How to be a super sitter Financial Health 11 14 GOLFING My Turn 33 • Golﬁng is a four-season obsession Long-Term Care 35

for “Driller”

16 Last Page 42 ENTERTAINMENT

• English country dancing still alive in Rochester

20 CAREGIVING

• The Sandwich Generation is getting bigger and busier

40 22 PROFILE PERSONALITY

• John Bernﬁeld teaches people to row

• At 81, William Shatner shows no signs of slowing down

24 COVER STORY

• Tony Bannon retiring from George Eastman House

28 ADVICE

• How to hire a trustworthy contractor

30 DANCING

• Tapping the OASIS

38 GARDENING

• Early bloom for area green thumbs

38 CARING

• Changing the way we see nursing homes

May / June 2012 - 55 PLUS

HEALTH WATCH

55PLUS

Why Some People Live to 110 ‘Supercentenarians’ appear to have built-in protection against disease, study finds

eople who live 110 years or longer have as many disease-associated genes as those in the general population, but they may also be blessed with protective genes that help them live so long, researchers report. The team of U.S. scientists noted that supercentenarians, as they are called, are extremely rare, with only one per 5 million people in developed nations. There is growing evidence that genetics play a major role in living to such an old age. In what they describe as a ﬁrstof-a-kind study, the researchers analyzed the whole genome sequences of a man and a woman who lived past the age of 114 and found that they had as many disease-associated genes as other people. For example, the man had 37

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55 PLUS - May / June 2012

genetic mutations associated with increased risk for colon cancer. “In fact, he had presented with an obstructing colon cancer earlier in his life that had not metastasized and was cured with surgery. He was in phenomenal cognitive and physical shape near the time of his death,” study senior author Thomas Perls, director of the New England Centenarian Study, said in a Boston University Medical Center news release. The woman had numerous genetic variations associated with age-related disease, such as heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. She did develop congestive heart failure and mild cognitive impairment, but these conditions didn’t become evident until she was more than 108 years old. “The presence of these diseaseassociated variants is consistent with our and other researchers’ ﬁndings that centenarians carry as many disease-associated genes as the general population,” Perls said. “The difference may be that the centenarians likely have longevityassociated variants that cancel out the disease genes. That effect may extend to the point that the diseases don’t occur — or, if they do, are much less pathogenic or markedly delayed towards the end of life, in these individuals who are practically living to the limit of the human lifespan.” The study was published Jan. 3 in the journal Frontiers in Genetics.

Editor and Publisher Wagner Dotto

Associate Editor Lou Sorendo

Contributing Writers

Deborah Jeanne Sergeant Ernst Lamothe, Jeanne Gehret Jason Schultz, Kathy Gunio Jessica Spies

Columnists

Jim Terwilliger, Susan Suben Jim Miller, Bruce Frassinelli

Advertising

Marsha K. Preston, Marlene Raite Donna Kimbrell

Ofﬁce Manager

Laura J. Beckwith

Layout and Design Chris Crocker

Cover Photo

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

Health in good

Rochester–Genesee Valley’s Healthcare Newspaper

Mailing Address PO Box 525 Victor, NY 14564 Subscription: $15 a year © 2012 by 55 PLUS – A Magazine for Active Adults in the Rochester Area. 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

real estate By Linda Roth

Who Needs Those Stairs?

as this ever happened to you? You hear your cell phone ringing, but it is downstairs and you are upstairs. You rush down and just at the moment you get there it stops! Or you need something from upstairs, you run up, and promptly forget what it was you wanted! It happens to all of us. But when you have physical limitations those stairs may present a formidable obstacle. Even so, it may be hard to make a change. After all, your house holds fond memories—this is where you have lived for many years and where you have raised your children. The fact is that 39 million Americans (or almost 13 percent of the population) are over 65 and many (one third of women and one quarter of men) report physical problems, according to www. agingstats.gov. Debbie and Allen thought they would never leave their rambling two-story dream home. They resisted moving until the upkeep became too costly, and the stairs inconvenient. Once in their new home, with bedrooms and bath on one level, they were delighted not to have stairs and wondered why they hadn’t moved sooner. Judy and Jack found living in a one-level home made it easier for their elderly parents to visit. After realizing they preferred a home with less upkeep altogether, they decided to move to a one level condo where they wouldn’t have to do any exterior maintenance. It made sense for the future when their physical needs might be different, and to move while they were still able to. They also felt that it would allow them to age in place, without anyone telling them where and when they would have to move.

Some one-level living options available in Rochester are: Ranchstyle home with all living spaces on one floor and a backyard for gardens or where visiting grandchildren can play; patio home similar to ranch style, but with a small lot, therefore a small backyard; apartment-style condo which may be ideal if you are away a lot. Usually in multistory buildings with elevators, often there is a door person to assist with packages, and exterior maintenance usually is taken care of by the building association. The idea of moving seems daunting at first—you may have a house to sell, need to choose the area you would like to live in, and the type of home you would prefer to buy. The right real estate professional can be of great assistance by helping you find the most suitable property available, by giving you suggestions on preparing your home to sell so that you get the best price possible, and by referring professionals to assist you with de-cluttering, cleaning, and minor repairs. Remember, life is an adventure! Moving at this stage of life can be just as exciting as when you bought your first home. Helen Keller wrote: “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.” Linda Roth is a licensed associate real estate broker at Magellan® Inc Real Estate and Relocation. She has been marketing and selling properties in the Rochester area for over 27 years. Having had polio as a child and a hip replacement in recent years, Roth specializes in working with people who want to purchase a one-level home. Contact her at linda@1Magellan. com or 585-729-5456.

By 2020, One Quarter of the Labor Force Will Be 55 and older “In 1990, 11.9 percent of the labor force was 55 years and older. Over the 1990-2000 timeframe, the share of the older labor force increased to 13.1 percent. In 2010, the share increased again, to 19.5 percent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the share of the 55-years-and-older labor force will increase to 25.2 percent in 2020,” according to a 2012 analysis of census data by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Fewer Older Workers Expect to Retire at 62 or 65 According to a 2012 analysis of data from the Health and Retirement Survey, “a declining percentage of Americans are expecting to retire at 62 and 65. In 2006, 7.4 percent of people [over the age of 50] said they plan to stop working at 62, but by 2010 it had dropped to 4.9 percent. In 2006, 16.1 percent people expected to retire at 65, but in 2010, 14.6 percent planned to do so. Conversely, expected retirement at 66 has increased from 2.9 percent in 2006 to 4 percent in 2010.”

Early Retirement More Likely When Retiree Has Health Insurance When employers offer retirement health insurance, the probability of early retirement increases. “Retiree health coverage has its strongest effects at ages 62 and 63, resulting in a 3.7 percentage point (21.2 percent) increase in the probability of turnover at age 62 and a 5.1 percentage point (32.2 percent) increase in the probability of turnover at age 63; it has a more modest effects for individuals under the age of 62,” according to a 2011 analysis of employee retirement data. May / June 2012 - 55 PLUS

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55+

grandparenting

Learning How to Be a Super Sitter Many of the rules you knew and used with your kids have changed—how to stay on top and be a great sitter By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

re you new to grandparenting? I f y o u r ro l e a s a n occasionally “Granny Nanny” is just starting, you may not be up to speed on new safety recommendations. Of course, you can competently do the job, but there’s wisdom in following the tips your adult children pass on to you. Jan Walker, a developmental pediatrician with Rochester General Wayne Medical Group, put her babies to sleep on their stomachs 30-plus years ago like you probably did. “In the early 1990s, this changed when clear research showed sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) was more likely with a child on his abdomen,” Walker said. Now the rule is “back to sleep” through 6 months. The crib itself can pose a hazard if it’s an old crib with too-wide slats (babies’ bodies can slide between them and strangle) or one coated with lead-based paint (usually ones from before the early 70s are the ones at highest risk). In recent years, numerous reports documented infants being injured or killed by malfunctioning dropsided cribs. Bob Simon, owner of Simon’s Baby Furniture in Rochester, said, “Any

crib with a moveable part is illegal to sell, even at a yard sale. You can’t donate it to charity. You have to put it out on the curb for the trash in pieces so people won’t pick it up.” Using a portable crib can save money, provide a mobile rest/play area and will work until 12 to 18 months. Be careful about wobbly, tippy high chairs or those that feature the tray that ﬂips over the child’s head for “pinch and amputation hazards,” Simon said. He admits that this style was used relatively safely for 100 years or more, but accidents can happen. Pay attention to what goes to bed

with baby. Walker said that seemingly harmless objects can be smothering hazards. Babies need only a properly fitting crib mattress with a fitted crib sheet. “Nothing soft goes in the crib,” Walker said. “No blankets, no pillows. There was a change from crib bumpers. A blanket sleeper is all you’re ‘allowed.’ No co-sleeping.” Some blanket sleeper suits are fashioned like a nightgown closed at the bottom for easy diaper changes. Watching a sick grandchild? Baby aspirin may seem safe for a little one, but it’s not. “In the 1980s we often saw a life threatening illness, called Reye’s syndrome, that often left survivors with significant damage to the nervous system,” Walker said. “It was found to be more common in children and adolescents who had been given aspirin for influenza or chicken pox than in other children.” Infant or children’s versions of Tylenol or acetaminophen are used for pain relief or fever reduction. For sickies with a cough and cold, avoid decongestants, even those meant for children, if they’re less than age 6. “Very young children can develop circulatory collapse — shock — as a side effect of decongestants,” Walker said. You may want to consider not treating it. “Cough is a natural defense mechanism that actually protects the lungs by preventing many upper a i r w a y i n f e c t i o n s f ro m entering the lungs and helps clear the lungs of infection that may have settled there,” Walker said. “Suppression of cough can actually make an illness more dangerous than it would be otherwise. “Honey is probably safe in older children, often served 1:1 with lemon juice, but can contain spores that can cause botulism in children under 1 year old,” Walker added. Above all, check the package for proper dosing, May / June 2012 - 55 PLUS

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grandparenting

use a standard measuring spoon (not a table spoon) and contact the parents or pediatrician if you’re unsure. Don’t rub whiskey on a teething tot’s gums for relief, Walker advises parents. “Even the baby teething products that are sold are really toxic and can be a problem,” she said. “The only safe thing to do is to hand baby a cold, wet washcloth or safe toy.” If you frequently watch your grandchildren, you may want to have the parents sign a waiver enabling you to seek medical care for the children. Otherwise, if you’re unable to reach your children, medical personnel may withhold treatment until they obtain parental approval unless it’s a lifethreatening issue. Keep emergency numbers programmed into your cell phone and posted by your landline. One of the best ways to avoid needing emergency care is proper c h i l d p ro o f i n g a n d h o u s e h o l d maintenance. Ask your grown children to look through your home at a child’s eye level to ﬁnd potential hazards. “Small children are not going to respect their grandparents’ privacy,” Walker said. “Everything that can be opened could be opened.” Loose nails on trim, chipping paint (especially old, lead paint), or exposed extension cords may not be problematic for an adult but can harm small children. Look for head injury dangers such as dangling tablecloths that they could tug and pull dishes onto their heads, unstable furniture such as unsecured bookcases or tippy tables, and sharp corners. Venetian blind cords can be choking hazards, as can any small, breakable objects. Use outlet covers and cupboard safety latches where any dangerous substances are kept. Lower your water heater ’s temperature to 120 degrees and be careful about ﬁreplaces, space heaters and small, hot appliances like curling irons or kitchen appliances. Children grow quickly and the things they could not reach last week may be within their grasp this week. Small children can drown in very 10

55 PLUS - May / June 2012

little water, including mop buckets and bathwater. A toilet latch prevents curious little ones from falling in. Keep all matches, poison, cleaning products, first aid items, vitamins, supplements and over-the-counter or prescription medication in a locked cabinet out of sight, even if it’s in “childproof” packages. Never allow children to play with empty pill bottles since it teaches them that medication is okay for them to handle. Give children only age-appropriate toys. The recommendations help make sure toys are developmentally useful and safe. Any small object that could ﬁt through a toilet paper roll could be a choking hazard, as can broken balloons, cellophane packaging, and plastic bags. Don’t give grandchildren solid food until their parents say it’s OK. Even though you may have given your kids thin rice cereal in a bottle at two months, the pediatrician has likely advised your children as to what is right for the grandchildren. Young children can easily choke on blobs of peanut butter, gum, hard candy, nuts, whole hotdogs, and whole grapes. Don’t expose the children to cigarette smoke. “I hear all the time ‘we grew up with second-hand smoke’ but this really, tremendously increases the chances of ear infections, cough and cold and if the child is sick, the chance of hospitalization,” Walker said. “The grandparents just won’t listen to that as an issue.” New York state law requires restraining children in a sizeappropriate safety seat or, if they’re large enough, booster seat until eight years old. Most car seats for infants are rear-facing until they are a few months old. The safer place for children to ride is the back seat. Front seat airbags can injure or kill children. Mary Jo Kohl, branch manager Safety Council of Central and Western New York, said that although grandparents are usually quite willing to use car safety seats, “anybody who tries to use car seats — parents and grandparents — needs help.”

This is because every brand and style of car seat is different and often vehicles’ safety belt system is a little different. “Make sure the harnesses are done properly: snug and used correctly,” Kohl said. “Many seats are installed too loosely. When they make an appointment to check the seats, we show them and have them install the seats themselves.” She said that some grandparents start out fundamentally unsafe by purchasing used car seats. “We don’t recommend it,” Kohl said. “We don’t know the history of the seat if it’s been in a crash or taken apart and put back together incorrectly.” A seat that has been passed on from someone you trust who says the seat was never in a wreck may be fine. Otherwise, go with new seats. Car seats six years and older should not be used. Modern car seats have expiration dates on the bottom. “The plastic starts to deteriorate and compromise the safety of the seat,” Kohl said. Although you can research at car seat manufacturer websites to check for recalls, you may not know if the previous owner had a recalled seat replaced or properly fixed. Get professional help installing and adjusting your car safety seat at Simon’s Baby Furniture. Just bring both the child(ren) and seat(s) along. Or, in Monroe County, visit www.monroecounty.gov/safetychildsafety.php and click on “Monroe County Fitting Station List.” In Ontario County, check for fitting stations by visiting www.co.ontario.ny.us/sheriff and clicking on “Child Passenger Safety Program.” In Wayne County, call 315-946-5786 for upcoming events. Transporting an unsecured child can result in three violation points on the driver’s license and up to a $100 fine. All children up to age 18 must wear helmets for inline skates, scooters, bikes and skateboards. Set a good example and do so when you bike, too.

financial health By Jim Terwilliger

Who Will Provide Your Retirement Paycheck?

ost of us rely on ongoing paychecks from employers during our working years. But many folks preparing to retire don’t give much thought to the “paycheck” that will provide a dependable, steady stream of monthly income during their post-employment years. Planning the sources of that “paycheck” is as critical as accumulating retirement assets in the ﬁrst place.

What income sources do you have? Your retirement “paycheck” will likely be funded, in part, from sources providing regular monthly payments: Social Security, one or more pensions for those fortunate enough to have employer-sponsored defined benefit pension plans, and perhaps an immediate fixed annuity using a portion of your accumulated assets. A second source of regular income, at least temporarily, might come from part-time employment following retirement from a primary career. This is becoming a more popular option as life expectancies increase and people find that they enjoy some sort of transition between fulltime work and no work. F i n a l l y, d i s t r i b u t i o n s f r o m employer-sponsored — 401(k) 403(b) 457 — plans, individual retirement accounts (IRAs and Roth IRAs), and after-tax investments/savings can help supplement your regular income sources. A combination of all of the above will constitute your “paycheck.” Experts used to suggest 70–80 percent of pre-retirement income as a rule-of-thumb target. Many planners today recommend closer to 100 percent. While it is true that pre-retirement expenses associated with Social Security withholding and savings contributions will be lower (or even zero) in retirement, other expenses associated with increased

travel/leisure activities and health care needs may be correspondingly higher. Most retirees today prefer to maintain their pre-retirement standard of living throughout retirement. If this is your goal, you will need to determine the monthly dollars required to support your desired lifestyle, including taxes, and use that as your target “paycheck” amount. Most important: be sure that what you want is consistent with what you can afford. A balanced cash ﬂow must be planned for. Living above your means does not work anytime, particularly in retirement!

What asset allocation should you maintain in retirement? Studies have shown that a balanced portfolio — somewhere in the 50 percent stocks and 50 percent fixed income (bonds-cash) range — is about right for retirement. Your personal risk tolerance might drive this ratio up or down a bit. Such a mix recognizes that regular distributions will be taken from the portfolio during retirement, a much different situation from the preretirement accumulation phase when a higher fraction of stocks is generally more appropriate. Such a mix also enjoys reduced volatility, since stocks and fixed income investments typically move in different directions during bear and bull market cycles. Lower volatility helps preserve capital in accounts from which distributions are taken regularly. It is important that both the stock and fixed income portions of the portfolio be broadly diversiﬁed across a wide spectrum of U.S and foreign investment asset classes in order to achieve the best risk-adjusted return.

How much can you afford to withdraw from your nest egg? Retirement experts lean toward a conservative withdrawal rate. They

don’t all agree on what withdrawal rate is “safe,” but 4–5 percent is a common recommendation. The objective is to ensure that you don’t outlive your money. One suggested approach is to start distributions at this level, then increase the distribution each year by inflation. By doing so, annual distributions provide constant spending power. Another approach is to take a distribution each year equal to 4–5 percent of the balance at the end of the previous year. This method results in a more-choppy distribution schedule but can provide greater peace of mind by tying the distribution to market performance. Paul Merriman, a well-known financial adviser, recently published a study comparing these two approaches in the 4–6 percent range. Both work better for portfolios having a higher stock proportion — as long as the stock portion is globally diversified. As one would expect, the second approach will never run out of money. Experts concur that you should not regularly withdraw the amount you expect your portfolio to earn, on average. If you do, year-to-year market volatility increases the probability that you will run out of money and it is likely you will not keep up with inflation. Developing a retirement “paycheck” plan that is right for you depends on your goals and unique financial and personal situation. As we always recommend, consider partnering with a trusted financial planner to help chart your path forward. James Terwilliger, CFP®, is senior vice president, Financial Planning Manager, Wealth Strategies Group, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Company. He can be reached at 585-419-0670 ext. 50630 or by email at jterwilliger@cnbank.com. May / June 2012 - 55 PLUS

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55 PLUS - May / June 2012

55+

grandparents

Grandparents Open Their Wallets AARP survey also shows grandparents providing more care, advice

new poll of grandparents by AARP ﬁnds that they have spent $500, on average, on their grandchildren in the past 12 months. And that money is going beyond traditional gifts: In addition to educational expenses, grandparents are helping to shoulder the cost of everyday living expenses and medical or dental costs. Sixteen percent are providing daycare for their grandchildren while the parents work or go to school, and 11 percent of those surveyed have a grandchild living with them. AARP’s telephone survey included 1,904 grandparents aged 50 and older with a 2.2 percentagepoint margin of error. It was released in March.

Spoiling is Role No. 1 Surveyed grandparents were asked about their roles and the importance of their relationships with their grandchildren. Spoiling the grandkids is by far the tops (36 percent) — that view has stayed consistent over the years. It’s the only role that grandparents seem to think is more theirs than that of parents or shared between grandparents and parents. Coming in second is teaching their grandchildren about family history (28 percent), although 66 percent see sharing family history as a dual role between parents and grandparents. Another role grandparents see for themselves is giving special treats and gifts (28 percent).

Money and the economy Results show that grandparents still spend significant dollars on their grandchildren: 40 percent report spending more than $500 on their grandchildren over the last 12 months. The most common reason grandparents say they spend money on grandchildren is birthdays and holidays (95 percent). No big surprise there. But a significant number of grandparents also provide necessities and critical needs of their grandchildren, which creates a safety net for grandchildren when parents can’t quite take care of the basics, including: • 53 percent contribute to education costs • 37 percent help with everyday living expenses • 23 percent pay medical or dental bills

Providing care N o t o n l y d o g r a n d p a re n t s provide a ﬁnancial safety net, they’re providing a great deal of care for their grandchildren: Nearly one in six grandparents p ro v i d e d a y c a re s e r v i c e s f o r grandchildren when their parents work or are at school, and on average expect to provide care for about six years. Many provide “back up” care such as before/after school, holidays, summers and sick child care. • Thirty-six percent have provided such care in the recent past. Nearly half said they provided care just because they wanted to.

6 Simple Steps To Prevent Falls

• Eleven percent have a grandchild living with them; this jumps to 13 and 19 percent for Latinos and African American grandparents, respectively. • Thirty-ﬁve percent have had grandchildren living with them more than five years, and 47 percent also have the grandchild’s parent living with them.

(Easy & Fun To Do)

May I have this dance?

Communication Grandparents aren’t just telling silly jokes these days. More than half report conversations with their grandchildren include meaningful topics such as morals and values (78 percent), religion and spirituality (66 percent), and illegal drugs and alcohol (50 percent). Even 37 percent talk about dating or sex with at least one of their grandchildren. They also talk about key issues such as staying safe (73 percent) peer pressure and bullying (53 percent) and health/obesity (61 percent) .Almost half (45 percent) talk about issues their grandchildren have with their parents. A grandparent can be the caring adult who loves unconditionally and provides that listening ear that all kids need, which helps shape who they become as adults.

And how are they talking? More than 80 percent report speaking to their grandchildren on the phone at least once a month or more often, with almost 60 percent phoning at least once a week. A surprising 32 percent never send “snail mail” to grandchildren, such as cards and letters, although 23 percent do so once very few months. More than a one-third have moved into the technology age — they communicate t h ro u g h n e w such as Facebook, Skype, email and text messaging at least once a month.

A Book by Betty Perkins-Carpenter, Ph.D.

percent). But they do engage in more traditional activities like cooking/ baking (58 percent) and attending religious services (47 percent).

Other highlights • Average age of a first-time grandparent is 47; about half are under age 50 when their ﬁrst grandchild was born • Average age of a grandparent surveyed is 69

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Activities and fun The main activity grandparents report is watching TV and videos (75 percent) with the grandkids. They also love shopping (63 percent), outings such as movies and museums (55 percent) and playing video games (35

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golfing

Golf a Four-season Obsession for Locust Hill Legend For “Driller” cold weather not an impediment to playing golf By Jay Scott

James Infantino, 73, of Greece, at Locust Hill Country Club near Rochester. The periodontist, known as “Driller” at the club, has a passion for the game that is legend at Locust Hill. He will play in nearly any weather any time of year as long as snow is not covering the course. Photo by Jay Scott. 14

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ames Infantino’s obsession for the game of golf began early in life in the shadow of his father and after thousands of games and countless drives, chips and putts, his fire for the links is as strong today as his first day on the green in 1948. In rain, sun or snow, in heat of summer or cold of winter, if there is a way to play this 73-year-old periodontist, known around the Rochester area as “Driller,” will be on the course practicing, brushing up his skills and playing his favorite sport. “He is a legend in Rochester,” said Steve Barber, head golf pro at Locust Hill Country Club in the towns of Pittsford and Henrietta. “He’s a junkie and will play even when others will not.” On a recent Saturday morning in March, the sun was still rising out of the east and with temperatures in the 40s when Infantino met his golfing buddies at Locust Hill. It was too cold to play for some, but with a little mist was rising from the fairways on a crisp late winter day, it was another good day for golf for the Greece resident.

In fact, Infantino has played every month this winter. “People go skiing in the winter and they go fishing, why not go golﬁng,” he said. “As long as it’s 35 degrees and there is no snow on the course, guys will play.” The golf is an important part of Infantino’s routine and has been since he was a kid on the city’s east side. Each week he works at his practice, Periodontal Health Specialists in Irondequoit, two days a week and teaches at the University of Rochester’s Eastman Dental Center on Thursdays. Much of the rest of the week is devoted to golf. He plays Thursdays after his teaching gig, and likes to be one of the ﬁrst groups on the course Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. And if that is not enough, he shoots nine holes on Monday to brush up his skills and practice new shots and clubs. At 73 he is still shooting 80 on the championship course that each year hosts the LPGA Championship presented by Wegmans. In the past Infantino has won the one city senior championship and two state senior

55+ state championships and had so many trophies that he removed the plaques and donated the rest to the club’s youth program. Infantino’s stepson made a collage from the plaques. But one of his fondest wins was the two times he won the club championship, the last time when he was 70 years old. Friend, golﬁng partner and fellow dentist, Vincent Bingo, said on the day he won the club champion he played more like a 50-year-old than a 70-year-old. “This was like he was revisited by youth,” he said. “To be honest it brought a tear to my eye. This is what movies are made of, but this was the real thing.” This is exactly the kind of story that draws people to golf and keeps them playing into their senior years. It is a game that can be bittersweet, frustrating and wonderful. According to the National Golf Foundation more than 28 million people play golf, including golfers 50 and over who represent about 33 percent of the players. And get this; golfers spend more than $24 billion on equipment and fees each year. People are also drawn to the sport because of the health beneﬁts of staying active and exercise. There is also the social side of the game. “It’s such a good routine in my life,” Infantino said. “In the early days I would come out and play by myself because I wanted to get better and I wanted to practice. I hit a thousand balls a day a few years ago. But as you get older and start making friends, that becomes part of the game.” Every player comes to the game from a different angle and story. Many people pick up the sport as a part of the business world or as a replacement for other more strenuous sport of competition. Infantino discovered the game when he was 10 years old. He said his father, a salesman, won 10 free lessons of Oak Hill Country Club through a company promotion. Every Saturday he would tag along with his father to the course and that spark lead to a lifetime of passion for the game. “I would go with him every

Saturday and pull his cart and watch him play,” said Infantino. “Then at the last hole at Genesee Valley he would give me a club and a ball and tell me to hit it. I lived for that moment.” By 13, Infantino was riding his bike with his golf bag strapped to his back from his home in Irondequoit to play baseball at Kodak Park and then off to Genesee Valley Park to play golf. He would also get on the bus with his clubs. But Infantino said for a long time he kept his passion for golf a secret from his friends until high school when he was on the golf team. But as he got older more and more of his friends were playing and would often ask him for help. “If you played golf you were a country clubber and that was certainly a far cry from my beginnings,” he said. “All my buddies would bust my chops over the years. But guess what, little by little they would come to me and I would give them my old clubs and now they are all playing golf.” For their part, Infantino’s golﬁng buddies love playing the game with a guy who loves the game so much. And for the most part it takes them back when they see how well he plays. “Just watching him play at the level he plays year in and out, I don’t know if there is anybody who plays that well,” said Vincent Bingo. “To play well in your 40s is nothing, 50s is nothing, but once you hit 60 you start to see a fall. Remember he won the club championship with he was 70.” Infantino will admit that his game is not what it used to be. He now shoots the course at Locust Hill in the

golfing

80s and there was a time a few years ago when he shot close to par. But his passion is still healthy and it all goes back to when he was a kid. “I was at Oak Hill watching this tournament and hundreds of people were following these guys around and it was a whole different thing from sandlot baseball and football,” he said. “And I just fell in love with the game.”

Working with our seniors. Call today for a FREE, no obligation consultation of your real estate needs. www.irmgardhahn.com May / June 2012 - 55 PLUS

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entertainment

English Country Dancing 17th-century tradition is still alive in Rochester

By Jeanne Gehret

re you tired of virtual communication and hungry for face-time with real people? Longing for a kinder, gentler time? Then stash your smartphone and enjoy an evening of English country dancing, the kind you see in “Pride and Prejudice” movies. There you will smile into the eyes of new friends whose outstretched hands pull you into intricate patterns danced to lilting, live music. With a caller giving moment-by-moment instructions and the tune setting the rhythm, your mind is free to revel in the melodies and the warmth of your fellow dancers. At the regular meetings of English country dancing (ECD) in Rochester, you don’t need to go with a partner or wear any special dress other than comfortable shoes. It’s customary

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to dance with a different person every dance. Seasoned dancers seek out beginners to help them more quickly learn the steps, introduced by a leisurely walk-through without music. Each couple dances with one or two other couples, usually moving down long lines of similar pairs. Speciﬁc patterns of steps are combined in endless variations to make up a dance. Rochester is fortunate to have the talent to keep alive this 17th-century tradition. The city boasts a handful of callers and musicians and is home to a national expert on Jane Austen customs and style of dress. The dance reaches its full ﬂower every spring with a Jane Austen Ball at one of Rochester’s premier ballrooms. On this occasion, members not only dance the part but also dress in the style of English gentry.

ECD provides a great workout for the brain. Curiously, those who understand it well enough to call the steps are often software writers or professors. Richard Sauvain, who describes his computer scientist years as “writing precise instructions for machines to follow,” is no exception in this regard. In addition to calling many of the Rochester dances, he founded the group, does the publicity, and schedules the musicians and visiting callers. To give good instructions, Sauvain explains, callers really have to understand the phrases of the music and the dance. “I sit for 30 minutes or so with the music on and try different words to describe the dance, especially if there are unusual moves. Most people cannot learn a new dance just by

55+ listening to words; they also need to walk to the music that will be used for the dance.” This genre of music has many moods and tempos, says keyboard player Barb Seppeler of Newark. “Some tunes in three-quarter time are so lilting that dancers just float through them. Some in 6/8, like a jig, drive dancers forward. Others in 3/2 time are stately.” Despite her three decades giving lessons and leading choirs, Seppeler finds ECD music a delightful challenge. That’s because the written tunes provide little more than an outline of what to play, giving only 32 bars of the melody and chord names without accompaniment. In a band that might consist of keyboard, oboe and violin, the players take turns playing melody or harmony and improvise their own arrangements. “When you have to play the same 32 measures ten times, it gets boring, so you tweak it each time to make it sound a little different,” explains Seppeler. In addition to improvising, ECD musicians must make the tunes danceable. “Music that’s danceable has a lift to it that drives dancers forward. That’s magical.” Recently she composed the song “When Jacqueline Smiles” for a dance that her husband Dan (yes, a software writer) choreographed. These new dances composed on old patterns make ECD a living art form, says historian Lisa Brown, who recently provided costumes from her collection of reproduction clothing for a Jane Austen era production offBroadway. Six years ago, when the local dancers decided to host their first period ball, they called upon Brown to help them create or buy the clothing they wanted to make the event more authentic. Formal dress in the English regency period is encouraged but not required for the ball. Early each spring Brown hosts a class where she shows samples of both men’s and women’s clothing from Austen’s era. For men, the costume somewhat resembles that worn by America’s founding fathers, with knee-high breeches, a fullsleeved shirt, and a jacket cut away

entertainment

in front to reveal a long decorative vest. Women’s long, straight dresses were a throwback to Grecian times, with soft draping, low necklines, and short puffy sleeves. Many of the local dancers make their own outfits for the Ball, and others rent from Brown’s collection that she brings to the classes and sells on the Internet. With a sardonic smile she observes, “It’s the only period in history until the 1920s when women are wearing less clothing than men.” This spring, Rochester’s English country dancers will offer ball preparation classes to introduce the specific repertoire for the big event. Then on May 6, they will convene in a wood-paneled ballroom at one of Rochester’s most elegant country clubs for a morning of review before eating a catered lunch and donning their finery. Back on the dance floor, they’ll line up in pairs for the grand march, a stately procession whose purpose is for participants to see and be seen. Before long the afternoon will fly by, leaving a memory of melodies so beautiful that they echo through the dancers’ dreams.

Getting Involved Rochester ’s group of English country dancers welcomes beginners and meets from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. the ﬁrst, third and fourth Sunday of each

Keyboard player Barb Seppeler and her husband Dan in their Jane Austen Ball ﬁnery. month at the First Baptist Church, 175 Allens Creek Road, Rochester. Visit www.CDRochester.org for more information and details about this May’s Rochester Jane Austen ball.

Dancing Jane Austen Style Rochester’s English country dancing group goes back to the mid 1970s, when Richard Sauvain learned to call three dances for his wedding and a few months later organized a monthly Sunday dance. I n E n g l a n d , h o w e v e r, i t stretches back to before 1650, when dancing was the only opportunity for single women and men to interact without chaperones. Thus the dances embody gracefulness and gallantry, affording partners many brief opportunities to touch, to meet each other’s eyes, to move away, and to return—in other

words, to flirt. “Today, when everyone plays along tongue-incheek, it adds to the fun,” historian Lisa Brown observes. English novelist Jane Austen wrote of many romantic encounters on the dance floor, especially in Pride and Prejudice. Five decades after her 1817 death, her work regained popularity. English country dancing followed a similar path. Beginning in the second half of the 20th century, Jane Austen societies have cultivated an appreciation for not only the literature and dances of Austen’s period but also the dress. May / June 2012 - 55 PLUS

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May is Older Americans Month

Seniors in Numbers

meeting with the National Council of Senior Citizens resulted in President John F. Kennedy designating May 1963 as Senior Citizens Month, encouraging the nation to pay tribute in some way to older people across the country. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter’s proclamation changed the name to Older Americans Month, a time to celebrate those 65 and older through ceremonies, events and public recognition. Here are some ﬁgures from the U.S. Census Bureau: 40.3 million— The number of people who were 65 and older in the United States on April 1, 2010, accounting for 13 percent of the total population. In 2010, this age group was larger than in any other decennial census, up from 31.2 million in 1990 and 35.0 million in 2000. 17.3 — Percentage of people 65 and older living in Florida in 2010, the highest of any state, followed by West Virginia (16.0 percent), Maine (15.9 percent), Pennsylvania (15.4 percent) and Iowa (14.9 percent). 85-94 — The fastest-growing age group among the older population in 2010, increasing from 3.9 million to 5.1 million. $31,408 — The real median 2010 income of households with householders 65 and older. Since 2007, real median household income declined for all age groups except 65 and older. The income of this group increased by 5.5 percent between 2007 and 2010. The corresponding real median for all households was $49,445 in 2010. 6.7 million — Number of people 65 and older who were in the labor force in 2010. Projections indicate that by 2018, the number will reach 11.1 million. 16.1 — Percentage of people 65 and older in the labor force in 2010.

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caregiving issues and the Sandwich Generation, took the term even farther, and breaks the sandwich down as follows:

What’s on the menu

The Sandwich Generation More people taking care of their parents as well as own children

By Kathi Gunio

was reminded of a conversation recently I had with my friend, Linda. Linda was living in Kissimmee, Fla. at the time, with her three children and parents—all in the same house. Linda told me it was the best scenario offered to her while she recovered from her divorce. Her parents’ house was big, she could help with cooking, her kids could help with the chores, and she would be able to have live-in childcare for her kids. But a few years into the living arrangement, the matter of who was taking care of who changed when Linda’s 72 year-old father was diagnosed with lung cancer. In addition to transporting her kids to their school concerts and after-school baseball practices, Linda was now taking her father to all of his appointments. Her mother never learned how to drive and her father was too uncomfortable and weak to 20

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do so. When Linda’s mother hurt her back in the interim, Linda suddenly found herself being caregiver to not only her own children, but her father and mother as well. “Everybody wants a piece of me,” I recall her telling me, laughing ironically as she did so. “I feel like I’m a sandwich.” She was. Linda had become a member of what society refers to as the “Sandwich Generation.” It’s a term that was coined by author Dorothy Miller in 1981 in her book, “The Sandwich Generation: Adult Children of the Aging.” Simply put, the term refers to an individual who is “sandwiched” between and taking care of members from two generations—that of their kids and elderly parents. It is a term that Merriam-Webster ofﬁcially added to its dictionary in July 2006. H o w e v e r, C a r o l A b a y a , a nationally recognized expert and journalist on aging and elder care

• Traditional sandwich: those sandwiched between aging parents who need care and their own children. • Club sandwich: the most popular sandwich with those in their 50s or 60s sandwiched between aging parents, adult children and grandchildren. Many are in their 30s and 40s, with young children, aging parents and grandparents. • O pen faced: any one else involved in elder care. Whatever way you look at it, or whatever sandwich you may consider yourself, being part of any of these “sandwiches” is not easy. In addition to the trials and tribulations of raising one’s own children, members of the Sandwich Generation also struggle to provide the necessary care and needs for an aging loved one. Taking on both these endeavors is one of the most difﬁcult balancing acts to perform. Ironically, this balancing act is one that occurs in more American homes than you might expect. It has been estimated that approximately16 million Americans—more than all the people living in New England—are feeling the squeeze of being sandwiched between two generations. B ro k e n d o w n , t h a t m e a n s approximately one out of every eight Americans between the ages of 40–65 is raising a child as well as caring for an aging parent (or parents) and the number is on the rise. According to a CBS News report in 2009, in 25 years, that number will increase to an overwhelming 60 million Americans or one in every four. My friend Linda had become one of those statistics. Just a few short months ago, so did my husband and his family. It’s why I remembered that conversation I had with my friend Linda because I found myself in that same position. M y f a t h e r- i n - l a w ’ s h e a l t h suddenly began to decline, and in the midst of taking care of our four kids (two of whom are out on their own),

55+ we found ourselves unexpectedly taking care of Dad. We drove dad to his doctor ’s appointments, and accompanied him to several tests. When Dad insisted on staying home, his children abided by those wishes. Everyone wanted to make Dad feel as comfortable as possible. It did not make things any easier.

caregiving

take care of a parent. Whether it’s ﬁnding an appropriate residence— assisted living center, long term care facility, or hospice—it is something of which we baby boomers were not thinking. Scheduling a parent’s doctor ’s appointment around our child’s wasn’t either. However, the reality is that our parents will age and people are living longer. Therefore, when the tables are Family needs to step up turned so to speak, providing care to We all had kids. Jobs. Houses. an aging parent, while admirable, can But since my mother-in-law had be tough. It can also be frustrating, passed away six years ago, there sorrowful and stressful. But no one was no one to be with Dad 24/7. The should take it on alone, and no one responsibility to provide him with has to. care fell on the family, whether we The good thing about being chose to provide direct care ourselves, sandwiched is that there are excellent or sought the services of someone else services to ease the burden. Whether to do so. There was no doubt about it: or not you choose to do in-home care, We were a club sandwich, and were or place your parent in another facility, deﬁnitely “sandwiched” in. in Monroe County alone, there is an To be honest, it can become a extensive list of agencies, programs, burden. While taking care of our kids and services available to members of is our understandable obligation, the Sandwich Generation. no one is ever really prepared to These programs and services  

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will not only help you in the care of your elder parent, but there are also programs to help you and your children stay focused on day-to-day issues while adding to the care of an aging parent. These days, all one needs to do is simply Google “elder care,” or ask a friend or co-worker. Chances are he or she has probably been where you’re going. Knowing that can be comforting, too. It can also be comforting, rewarding, and satisfying providing care to your aging parent. During the last week of Dad’s life, my husband was there around the clock, positioning Dad so he could look out the window; making Dad comfortable by placing the pillows just right in bed; sharing conversations with Dad that are now sacred; and seeing to it that Dad had his favorite Scotch nearby (even if he didn’t drink it). I was so proud of my husband, who wouldn’t have changed those seven days for anything.

Just one…the one who needs you.

You’ve got what it takes to make a difference in the life of a child.

Call 271-4050 or visit www.RochesterMentors.org A message from the Boomer Mentor Project of Rochester Mentors at Lifespan.

May / June 2012 - 55 PLUS

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personality

Age is No Number for William Shatner At 81, he shows no signs of slowing down and is continually surprising his audience and fans with his unexpected career moves. By Jessica Spies

y mom and I made a trip to New York City in March to see William Shatner’s one-man show, “Shatner’s World: We Just Live In It.” We went on a whim after we saw a segment with Shatner on a morning talk show. My mom has been enamored with Shatner since his Captain Kirk days and suggested the tickets could double as her birthday present. As the daughter of Trekkies (Star Trek fanatics), I know who William Shatner is. But I didn’t know if he could sustain a 100-minute one-man show. My mom assured me he would be fascinating. I went willingly only because I don’t mind the occasional trip to New York City. The show turned out to be the highlight of the trip for both of us.

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Sure, we saw Times Square and the American Museum of Natural History, but Shatner was the cherry on top of the proverbial sundae. After dinner and a slice of strawberry shortcake cheesecake from Junior’s on 45th, we headed across the street to the site of Shatner’s show, the Music Box Theater. I’ve never been to a one-person show so I didn’t know what to expect. As Shatner himself explains in the Playbill: “A one-man show by deﬁnition is one man. I know we are all alone in life, and as much as we try to reach out to other people, fall in love, have children and keep social contacts alive, still we are alone and we die alone. Our life is pretty much a one-man show. And yet...we mask it with our ﬂurries of activities and meetings, and texting and jokes and gossip and Pilates, all of it to hide our

essential aloneness.” The stage was mostly bare except for a giant moon projected on a screen in the middle of the stage with two desks on either side. Shatner sprinted onstage to deafening applause. He looked as debonair as ever in a suit coat and pushed a wheeled computer chair which doubled as a prop onto the stage with him. He was full of energy as he launched into an abridged version of his life story. The Canadian actor got his start in Shakespearean theater appearing in the Stratford Festival of Canada and found prominence in his iconic role as Captain James T. Kirk in “Star Trek.” The three-year run of the series spawned a feature film franchise where he returned as Captain Kirk in seven “Star Trek” movies, one of which he also doubled as the director.

55+ In the 2011 documentary “The Captains,” Shatner interviewed Sir Patrick Stewart who played the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” When Shatner is interviewing Stewart, they agree that despite Stewart’s extensive theater acting, he will likely be most remembered as Captain Picard. “I have a lot of respect for Patrick Stewart, and [it was seeing] the gravitas that this great Shakespearean actor gave to his role that I suddenly realized that this guy is taking Capt. Picard every bit as seriously as Macbeth,” Shatner told National Public Radio. “And I used to. And I stopped. And what the hell’s the matter with me? It was a great piece of work. Everybody contributed to it for three years, and it has lasted 50. It’s a phenomenon. Why aren’t I proud of it? And that’s when I had a moment.” B u t f o r S h a t n e r, there was life after “Star Trek.” He went on to star in T.J. Hooker in the ‘80s and has continued to stay in the spotlight over recent years, appearing on “The Practice” as the eccentric Denny Crane, an Emmy-winning role that he would carry over to and relish in “Boston Legal” until 2008. He even appeared on a Comedy Central Roast in which roastees are “lovingly” mocked mercilessly. During his one-man show, Shatner showed footage of the roast and also of his appearance in the 2005 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to George Lucas. Shatner critiqued his appearances in an honest and shameless way — a treat for his fans in the audience. Shatner has become

personality

somewhat of an ironic superhero, and he poked fun at his role as “Priceline Negotiator” for the past 14 years, a gig that recently ended. Shatner ’s career has taken so many paths because, as he told the audience, he’s never been afraid to say “yes.” In a March 6 interview with National Public Radio, Shatner says: “It’s very easy to say ‘no’ to leaving the house. I’m happy with what I got. No, I’m not going there. No, I don’t want a new idea — the old idea is ﬁne. No, I don’t want a new thing — whether it’s a president, an idea, a concept. No. And you’re safe. You’re right in your little hole; you haven’t moved. And what you’re doing before

is what you’re doing now. And that’s safe. That’s comforting, and you’re going to die that way. ‘No,’ and you’re put in your hole and that’s fine and you’re dead. ‘Yes’ requires you to move out of that hole. ‘Yes’ is like those little animals that pop their heads out and look around. But some of them don’t go.” Shatner also touched on death calling it “the final frontier,” a take on the opening line of “Star Trek” — “Space: The Final Frontier.” “Love is the difference between the cold light of the universe and the warmth of the human spirit. And life doesn’t have to end when love is present,” he said. While watching Shatner on stage, I couldn’t help but be struck by his vigor, animation and joie de vivre. At 81, Shatner shows no signs of slowing down and is continually surprising his audience and fans with his unexpected career moves. In addition to finishing the run of his one-man show, Shatner has more recently interviewed other celebrities in “Shatner’s Raw Nerve,” which is currently appearing on Bio; released his fourth studio album “ S e e k i n g M a j o r To m , ” and has written almost 30 books, the most recent being “Shatner Rules.” He is married, has three children, and is a philanthropist and longtime horse breeder. For someone in their 20s or 30s, juggling this many commitments would be a challenge. But for someone in their 80s, it’s admirable. Shatner is an inspiration to young and old alike. In a way, he has transcended age and continues to amaze us all. Jessica Spies is a 55 PLUS contributing writer who lives in Hamlin. May / June 2012 - 55 PLUS

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End of an Era

Tony Bannon retires after 16 years as the head of the George Eastman House By Ernst Lamothe

efore you meet Anthony Bannon, you would figure that he must be one of the biggest Hollywood movie buffs, lavishing in the golden era of cinema. Red carpet leads to this office and right before his entrance way stands a large framed “Gone with the Wind” poster featuring Clarke Gable passionately carrying Vivien Leigh in his arms as the city burns around them. Yet that would be a wrong and one-dimensional observation of a man who has spent his life creating art through written words, the lens of photo and video cameras and a leadership quality praised by his peers. The 69-year-old culture enthusiast has led the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film in Rochester for the past 16 years and will leave on May 11. Then three days later, he will begin a new, previously unplanned adventure in Buffalo, the frontier of his early career. “There was a part of me that thought I was too old to start another full-time position in another industry,” says Bannon, of Brighton, who was

hired on April 8, 1996 and became the seventh and longest serving director of the George Eastman House. “But then, I thought that is not really my philosophy. Everything I do I bring energy, vigor and high expectations.”

Rave reviews During his tenure at Eastman House, Bannon supervised the creation of three postgraduate preservation schools, alliances with museums, universities, and collectors’ clubs in large United States cities. He championed various wellattended exhibitions and oversaw the digitization of collections and aggressive social-media campaigns to share Eastman House’s collections with the world. One of his major acquisitions included the Technicolor Corporate Archive, dating from 1915 to 1974, and including rare cameras, documents and drawings, photographs, printers and processing machines that represent the history of Technicolor’s groundbreaking contributions to motion pictures. It completes the museum’s holdings of the largest Technicolor ﬁlm collection and rare documents—

research papers, camera technology, and the world’s largest collection of Technicolor camera negatives, including “The Wizard of Oz” and “Gone With the Wind.” “ To n y h a s r e s t o r e d t h e international brand and leadership reputation of George Eastman House,” says Susan Robfogel, Eastman House board trustee. “It has been a great privilege of mine to have worked with Tony. We all owe him a deep debt of gratitude for his skillful and tireless efforts, vision, and leadership as director.” In addition, he helped launched the L. Jeffrey Selznick School of Film Preservation, the world’s first permanent school of film preservation. The graduate program is connected with the University of Rochester and another program was created for the Ryerson University in Toronto. In his later years, he set the groundwork for future Eastman House satellite schools in South Korea and Qatar. “He has brought the museum into the digital era by reinstating vigorous touring exhibition, loan, and publishing programs,” says Thomas Jackson, George Eastman board trustee. “He created degree and certificate programs with three May / June 2012 - 55 PLUS

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universities in New York and Canada; added important collections in every archive; led endowment, capital, and operations campaigns; and created formal alliances and collaborations. He increased the Eastman House’s face globally through his world travels and service as a speaker.”

Bannon’s opening act He began his career writing for The Buffalo News, serving as a theater and dance critic from 1969 to 1985. After reviewing others’ work, he decided to become the object of others reviewing his. He began making films about various genres from religion to sports. Jokingly calling his art films pretentious and his documentaries less pretentious, Bannon dappled in many cinema forms. His sports films included a piece on O.J. Simpson for NFL Films, short stories on hockey stars and tales of the Buffalo Braves, an Upstate professional National Basketball Association team before they moved to California and became the Los Angeles Clippers. They were one of three franchise teams in 1970 with the other two teams—the Portland Trailblazers and Cleveland Cavaliers—still remaining in their same cities today. Becoming a filmmaker gave him a new eye on culture. 26

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“The key is not to preconceive something before you work on it,” says Bannon. “In the flow of being creative, you can discover through the process something you didn’t know before.” Being behind the camera continued to tilt his culture preference to more avant-garde experimental films. And to no surprise, his music interests also include out of the norm selections like Gavin Brier, an English jazz composer and double bassist who thrives on free improvisation, minimalism and experimental music. When it comes to photography, his love of the form is showcased by large, framed photos throughout his office, whether it’s one of a San Francisco setting or a roaring Niagara Falls landscape which stands above a miniature bronze sculpture of “The Thinking Man,” the famous marble sculpture by Auguste Rodin. While none of his personally shot photos hang in his office, his book “Photo Pictoralists of Buffalo” won the American Photographic Historical Society’s merit award. “Culture has always had a huge impact on me and it should on everyone,” says Bannon. “Culture has an impact on whatever you chose to do or not to do and what you choose to do well and do poorly in your life.”

Life’s best-laid plans are often destroyed by circumstances. In Bannon’s case, it was an intriguing opportunity to go home again that sprung his new prospect. Several years ago, he planned to use the latter years of his life writing. Publishers rang with multiple book offers, including following a photographer for three months to India or traveling around the world and writing about all he saw. Then there were lecture series proposals, personal book initiatives and an ingenious idea from his wife, Elizabeth Stewart, which would de-clutter their home. “I have thousands of vinyl records and a large number of books and she wanted me to open up a store where I could sell them,” says Bannon. “But she suggested I price the books and vinyl records incredibly high so as to discourage sales, but people would come into the shop and I would have wonderful conversations with them and that would be my life. She knows how much I would love to spend my days just talking and listening to my records.” While day dreaming about that venture, he received a call from SUNYBuffalo. Newly appointed president Aaron Podolefsky wanted his services. The idea was to bring Bannon to the college in two forms. One was as a liaison to the president’s ofﬁce where he would help oversee how the college could play a role in impacting Buffalo’s needs like poverty, immigration and culture. In addition, he would become director of the Burchfield Penney Art Center, a museum dedicated to the art and vision of American watercolorist Charles E. Burchﬁeld and other distinguished artists of Buffalo, Niagara and Western New York. “It all happened very suddenly and I was surprised,” says Bannon. “I also was intrigued.” His new position allows him to delve deeper into one of his interests, which is creating cultural civic solutions. It also had some of the

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Thoughts about aging and can that brings you joy? It is not On dissecting all culture, relaxing at all to me to simply do even those that might not be starting a new career at 69: nothing. I would find that tiring. I “You can’t let anyone tell water ski and find that exhilarating familiar at first: you that you can’t do something. Age should never have anything to do with why or when you do something. I don’t believe you ever close a chapter in your life because it is just one continuous open book leading to the next page.”

On keeping active: “You have only a certain amount of time on this Earth so why not do everything you same elements when he worked at the college under then-Buffalo State College President F.C. Richardson. In the late ‘80s and ‘90s, Bannon oversaw initiatives on how to make the campus a more racially friendly environment under Richardson. He believed his work was essential because higher learning should be a hospitable place for civilization and rich ideas to grow. “Culture is part of who we are and how we present ourselves whether you are talking about social interaction with family and friends, neighbors or at the work place,” says Bannon, who has a doctorate in cultural studies. “It’s learning your environment and adapting to it and even changing it when necessary.”

A grand encore His work for the museum will be a return to familiar fare. Bannon’s ﬁrst tenure as director of the Burchﬁeld Penney was from 1985 to 1996, right before accepting a job at the George Eastman House. His time was marked by significant growth and pivotal acquisitions to the collection, including 1,485 objects from collector Charles Rand Penney. Four years ago, the Burchfield Penney expanded from its location in Rockwell Hall to a new $33 million freestanding facility in the heart of Buffalo’s Museum District. “The Burchfield Penney Art

to move across still water.”

On being married for 17 years to Elizabeth Stewart: “It’s wonderful to have someone in your life that you can share so much with. She understands what I need and she is someone with a giving heart working with adults with developmental disabilities.”

Center is crucial to Buffalo State’s efforts to improve the quality of life in our community through the arts, and Anthony Bannon will be an exceptional leader in these efforts,” says Podolefsky. “I know he will be a tremendous force for good in Buffalo’s cultural corridor.” Those who worked with him the first time described his stint as revolutionary in bringing the Burchfield Penney Art Center into a nationally accredited museum with international importance. “Tony Bannon’s vision for the museum—its exhibitions, collections, and community outreach—supports Buffalo State’s ambitious goals and the mission of the Burchfield Penney Art Center,” adds Jackie Culliton, chair of the Burchfield Penney Board of Trustees. “Over the past 16 years, both Tony and the Burchfield Penney have independently achieved great things, and the timing is perfect for the two to reunite.”

Not quite a ﬁnal curtain Even when he looks at the long list of accomplishments during his tenure at the Eastman House, he shies away from the adulation. “It’s difﬁcult to say the word ‘I’ about anything that has been done. It was a ‘we’ kind of effort among the staff, the board and the community we serve that made so many things possible,” adds Bannon. “We serve

“You have to be open minded to respect every cultural form and then you can appreciate it. I didn’t think I would enjoy hip-hop music until I attended a panel discussion in Los Angeles with writers and rappers. You can discover so much if you view anything as simply a means for people to express themselves in an artful voice.”

the world and we are sustained by the world because we are a nonprofit organization. We have to defend ourselves and our value to the degree that we must serve our public the right way and we get their gratitude through their generosity.” Throughout his years in the Flower City, he has gained an intense connection for Rochester. Despite Eastman Kodak’s Co. recent misfortune, city unemployment, the fast ferry implosion and other issues specific to the city, he views the citizens as steadfast and diligent. “Rochester is a remarkable city in that we try harder than most to find a way to live well together,” says Bannon. “We tend to appreciate the person who is working hard but we also enjoy our leisure in creative ways. We care about the place we live, and while we have challenges, we work hard to attend to them.” He doesn’t know how long he will serve in these two roles in Buffalo, but he plans to take pleasure in the journey. “Yes I will miss being at the George Eastman House, but Rochester is only an hour away,” says Bannon. “I will come to town and see my friends and experience the city and vice versa. Life is not about looking at the past but eternally focusing on what we are doing on Earth now and using that to keep being relevant in the future.” May / June 2012 - 55 PLUS

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advice

Hiring a Trustworthy Contractor By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

f you need home remodeling work done, you’re in good company. The Home Improvement Research Institute said that around $272 billion was spent on remodeling projects in 2010. As any homeowner knows, keeping up with repairs is key to retaining your home’s comfort and value. But finding a competent and trustworthy contractor can make the difference between project results you love and being ripped off. Before you begin looking for a contractor, outline what your project entails to control costs. Research at a home store to know what is available and figure out what you want and how much you will have to spend. Jim Albright, owner of Albright Remodeling in Canandaigua, advises homeowners to avoid contractors who fail to show a certificate of insurance or “those who claim they do not need to show a certificate of insurance because their homeowner’s insurance will cover them,” he said. “Make sure the certificate comes from the contractor’s insurance carrier directly. Otherwise he could copy off an old form and fill in the right date.” Be wary of contractors who want to be paid a substantial amount of the estimate up front. The Better Business Bureau recommends the “3-3-3 rule” which means you pay one-third up front, one-third at a pre-determined half-way point and one-third at the completion of the work. If someone comes to your home selling contracting services, it may likely be a scam. “General contracting is one of the top 10 complaint areas for Better 28

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Business Bureaus across the country,” said Peggy Penders representing the Better Business Bureau Upstate. “Contractors don’t build their businesses [going door to door]. You might remember the era of when people sold door to door but that is rare nowadays.” Oftentimes, that friendly young man who stops to chat about your home repair project will offer a very low price, pressure you to buy today or claim he cannot do the work unless you agree that day. “High pressure sales is also a sign or using a ploy to justify why they’re in the area or have leftover materials or a low price today,” Penders said. “Have your guard up when someone starts spinning a tale.” He may say he knows someone you know and throw out a few familiar-sounding names; however, it’s not that hard in a small community to make a good guess. And if he riﬂed through your mail while waiting for you to answer the door, searched for your name online or noticed your neighbor’s name on his mailbox, the fraudster may have a good idea of who you know.

Trustworthy contractors allow you to take your time in making a decision. They maintain a local brick-and-mortar location and offer a telephone number. “You don’t want to use someone who operates out of a Post Ofﬁce box,” said Carmen Santora, president of the Better Contractor ’s Bureau in Rochester, a referral service for consumers seeking contractors. “Make sure that they do a New York state legal contract. The customer has to get what’s in the contract. It’s the law that the customer has the right to cancel and any money the customer give the contractor must go in escrow towards that customer’s job.” L e g i t i m a t e contractors do everything by the book: the law book, that is. If they say they can save you money by using a loophole in the law or building in a way that hides cheaper, substandard work from an inspector or that your project won’t require any inspection, you should be very concerned. Contact your local building inspector to ﬁnd out if your project needs permits and inspections. Shop around because price matters. But if one contractor’s bid is too low, it can be a bad sign. A very low price may not guarantee the contractor is scamming, but might indicate a person who is trying to continued on page 35

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Senior tap-dance troupe still wowing crowds with skill, enthusiasm By Jason Schultz

he OASIS Tappers senior tap-dance troupe shares the gift of song and dance with fellow seniors, showing it’s never too late to start moving and keep moving. The Tappers are part of the Rochester OASIS branch, which is a part of the national OASIS network, which promotes lifelong learning, health and wellness activities and volunteer opportunities to those 50 years and older. Since its founding 30 years ago, the organization has endeavored to help seniors pursue vibrant, healthy, productive and meaningful lives. Since the dance team’s founding over 15 years ago, the group has performed hundreds of shows at area venues, from senior living homes to the Dome Arena and an annual spring show at the atrium at city hall. In its latest performance, the group performed at the Episcopal Senior Life Community in Rochester. Pat Andrews, 82, of Irondequoit, 30

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has been a member of the Tappers for 10 years, having joined the group to spark her love of tap and other kinds of dance. She said she came back to tapping after line dancing for many years. “If you’ve danced as a kid, you still have those steps ingrained in your memory somewhere, and though you may think you can’t dance anymore, you can,” she said, adding she has realized many health beneﬁts since joining the group. “It’s great for your mind because you have to remember the steps to many different songs during the show. Honestly, it’s harder on the brain than it is on the feet.”

Forever young Andrews said her doctor not only condones her regular exercise, but demands it: “My doctor says if I’m dancing like this at my age, I’ll never have Alzheimer’s.” She said the group kicks up its heels at the TNT Dance Studio in Irondequoit, as well as at the OASIS

Shown are senior member Marion Fahy (center) along with the rest of the Tappers at the end of a recent show. ofﬁces at the Old Sears Building on Monroe Avenue downtown. Before their show that afternoon, 16 of the 20 members of the troupe were at the OASIS ofﬁces, being put through their paces by dance instructor Erika Atkinson of Webster. Atkinson, who works full time as a dance instructor at TNT Dance Studio, has worked with the Tappers for 12 years, having taken over the mantle from OASIS Tapper founder Kayla Allen. “This group makes me feel younger,” she said after the lastminute practice for the day’s show. “I like that I don’t have to treat them any different than my younger students. They all work hard and want to be here, otherwise they wouldn’t do it.” Proving she doesn’t hold back with dancers at least twice her age,

Atkinson’s approach is very blunt, to put it mildly. When the group’s attention broke down during the end of the rehearsal, Atkinson admonished the seniors like a group of unruly elementary schoolchildren. Despite her appearance as a taskmaster, Atkinson said her charges appreciate the tough-love approach. “They really respond well to directions,” she said. “I think they respect that I don’t treat them with kid gloves and push them to do their best. In general, senior citizens can often do more than people give them credit for.”

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Oldies but goodies Though the group does a number of contemporary songs, Atkinson said its repertoire focuses on the Big Band and jazz standards of the ‘40s and ‘50s. “The audiences we play for really like to hear numbers from their era, so we try to perform some of their favorites,” Atkinson added. Barbara LeFebvre, 70, of Webster, has been a member of the Tappers for seven years, after hearing a recommendation from a friend and fellow clog dancer, which was her previous avocation. She said the experience has been very rewarding, especially the shows for fellow seniors. “It’s really entertaining to perform at the senior homes,” she explained. “They always tell me they used to dance, and how they loved hearing songs they danced to with their sweethearts many years ago.” The age range of the group spans from 65 year olds to the two senior members: Nancy Welch, 90, and Marion Fahy, 94. Welch has been a member of the group for 12 years and said dancing has kept her healthy and happy all those years. “The practice keeps your mind and body young,” said the Perinton native. “It’s a little more difﬁcult to move, but I can remember all the steps just ﬁne.” Fahy, talking after the rehearsal, said she originally joined OASIS to take line dancing classes, but stayed for the tap dancing. Despite the typical health problems that come with age, Fahy said she still feels the need to keep

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The OASIS Tappers rehearse at their downtown headquarters shortly before their recent show at the Episcopal Senior Life Community in Rochester. moving. “My balance is tougher to keep, but my memory is as sharp as ever,” said the diminutive Rochesterian. “It keeps me going and keeps me healthy. My doctor told me not to stop dancing, even if I break my leg to keep going, because once you stop moving, that’s when you see problems.”

Keeping the ﬂow going

Nancy Welch performs a solo rendition of “Pineapple Rag” during the troupe’s recent show. 32

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The day’s show would not go smoothly without a personality to relate to the crowd and transition between songs, which is where the Tapper’s master of ceremonies steps in. Filling this role admirably during the show was Mike Bellavia, who has been the group’s emcee for the past four years. From sharing news of the next dance number to cracking wise with the crowd (“In that last number, there were two new hips and a couple of knees,” was one of many quips), Bellavia draws on his training as an Off Monroe Player to lend gravitas to the day’s performance. He said the inspiration he gets from being a part of the Tappers is all the payment he needs. “This group really motivates me,”

he said. “To see dancers in their 90s going out there show after show, puts things in perspective and reminds me to keep moving and never stop growing and learning.” The show, performed for dozens of Episcopal residents at the center’s chapel, was an overwhelming hit, with the group performing old hits such as “Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” Bennie Goodman’s “Goody Goody,” Glenn Miller Band’s “Little Brown Jug” and the “Pineapple Rag,” as performed in a solo by Welch. Though the center ’s residents were not available for comments, director of therapeutic recreation Keri Cuyler said the show was greatly appreciated. “ We a l w a y s l o v e h a v i n g entertainers like the Tappers come here,” she said following the show. “Especially when [the entertainers] are seniors themselves. The residents here are encouraged to see their fellow seniors healthy and active and act as role models for what people in their golden years are capable of.” More information on the Tappers and OASIS can be found at www. oasisnet.org.

my turn

By Bruce Frassinelli Email: bruce@roc55.com

An Elder Wondering What’s Out There

s I have officially joined the ranks of the “elderly,” I admit to a certain ﬁxation on and fascination with the

hereafter. Once we pack it in, what is out there? As best as we can determine, no one has come back to give us a ﬁrsthand account. Quite frankly, being a journalist, I would love to get the scoop on that story. An interview with the Big Three — God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit — would be awesome. If I don’t wind up there, though, interviewing the devil would be kind of neat, too. He probably would have some great quotes and anecdotes. Reality being what it is, I don’t expect that bucket-list item will come to pass. We are pretty much left to try to ﬁgure it out on our own, but instead of clarity we are faced with ambiguity from the passages of the Bible, Koran and other holy books. The Christian doctrine says: Live a good life, and you’ll enjoy the fruits of paradise. But if you don’t, you’re a candidate for eternal damnation in hell. We probably have our version of what this perfect state would be like. Suppose I love the idea of spending eternity with my wife, but she wants no part of it. “Being with him on earth was plenty long, thank you,” she might say. What happens in a case like that: Does God toss a coin? Poof, there goes somebody’s paradise. Then there is the whole issue of space. Where has God put all of the good people who have died and gone to heaven over all of these years? Presumably there must be millions and millions of them. Since the weather is perfect, do they all live outside instead of in a home as most of them do on earth? In the 23rd psalm, however, we see: “…and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” That must be some house! The gospel of

‘Quite frankly, being a journalist, I would love to get the scoop on that story. An interview with the Big Three — God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit — would be awesome.’ John even refers to the Lord’s “many mansions.” Did you ever wonder if they have electricity, and, if so, how did the utility company string those lines up there? On the other hand, if we somehow wind up in the other place, it seems as if everlasting hellfire will be our fate. Matthew refers to a “furnace of fire that will cause us weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The book of Revelation says evildoers will be “tormented by fire and brimstone… day and night.” I wonder whether Satan might have a personalized hell for each of us? For example, let’s say you can’t stand the sound of someone raking his fingers down a blackboard, will that be your hell — hearing it over and over and over again, each time as if it were the first time? Suppose you are claustrophobic: Would your hell involve being confined to a small space, such as being buried alive (even though you’re dead)? Of course, many believe that all of this is a fantasy, that there is no hereafter. When you die, that’s it. Done. Finished. But isn’t that thinking heresy? After all, if there is no “penalty” for

doing bad stuff during our lifetime, what’s to keep us on the straight and narrow? Remember Maude’s (Bea Arthur) warning to her husband, Walter: “God’ll get you for that.” Then there was Flip Wilson, who, after doing something mischievous, would sheepishly admit that “the devil made me do it.’’ True believers are preparing for the great beyond now by their actions on earth. They are looking for that super payoff — life eternal with the supreme being. I wonder how much time each of us will get to spend with God, especially since so many will be expecting his company and undivided attention. Wouldn’t it be a lot easier if the Big Guy called a news conference and made it official: “Hey, it’s no hoax; there really is life after death, so get your act together, or you’ll be checking in at you-know-where, and you won’t be checking out.” That would really get people in line in a hurry. The way it is now, we’re left to interpret translations of words that were presumably uttered or written more than two centuries ago. Did you ever hear of something “getting lost in translation?” As a kid in a classroom full of students, we would whisper a phrase from one to another? By the time it passed through the 25 class members, the phrase was nothing like the original. We’re left with the contradiction of a kind and loving God exacting absolute and unspeakable vengeance on his people for their sins. That punishment isn’t for a day, a month or a year but for all of time — billions of years, even longer, much longer. Forget life in prison; this is eternity with cruel and unusual punishment, without pardon or parole and no appeals process. Ouch! How fair is that? May / June 2012 - 55 PLUS

long-term care By Susan Suben

Partnership or No Partnership? That is the Question…

f you’re thinking of purchasing longterm care insurance, you should carefully consider the advantages of the NYS Partnership policies. Created in 1993, the NYS Partnership was intended to heighten individual awareness to plan for long-term care and at the same time help lower NYS Medicaid expenditures. NYS has the highest Medicaid costs in the country. This double goal was meant to benefit individuals specifically and taxpayers generally. The original Partnership policy, now known as Total Asset 50, offered three years of nursing home care or six years of home/assisted living care. If a policyholder exhausted his/her benefits and still needed care, he/she could apply for Medicaid Extended Coverage without having to spend down assets, and assets could be transferred without any lookback or penalty periods. However, once on Medicaid, income must be contributed to the cost of care according to Medicaid guidelines. This year, Medicaid requires that couples spend down their assets to $113,640 in order for the disabled spouse to apply for Medicaid. The community spouse can keep $2842 a month income and contribute 25 percent of anything over that amount. An individual can retain $13,800 in assets and $50/month income. Currently, the NYS Partnership has over 72,000 policies in force, and added three new options for a total of four plans: two total asset protection polices (Total Asset 50 and Total Asset 100); and two partial asset protection policies (Dollar for Dollar 50 and Dollar for Dollar 100). The partial asset protection plans are geared toward couples or individuals with more modest asset and income levels. The amount of assets protected equals the amount of benefits paid out by the policy plus the Medicaid asset limit levels. Any unprotected assets are subject

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to Medicaid liens and look-back periods. For example, if a dollar for dollar plan paid an individual policyholder $200,000 in benefits then $200,000 of assets is protected plus the allowable $13,800. The Partnership policies have several advantages over traditional or nonpartnership plans. The most important being the inclusion of a 5 percent compound inflation factor in every policy that only becomes optional for a buyer aged 80-plus. Due to low interest rates and lapse ratios, many companies have almost doubled the premiums of their non-partnership policies when a 5 percent compound inflation factor is added as a rider. The trend is to gear individuals toward purchasing 3 percent or 4 percent compound inflation. This could cause the policy to lose value when you need to use the benefits in the future. Partnership premiums are generally lower because many of the enhancements and riders built-in or available with traditional policies are not available with the Partnership. For example, you cannot purchase a shared care rider whereby one spouse can tap into the policy of the other spouse should he/she exhaust his/her benefits. Many non-partnership plans offer a monthly benefit, more respite days and caregiver training. Some have cash components that allow a policyholder greater flexibility to have anyone take care of them, anywhere. Although partnership coverage is more basic, it is not necessarily less comprehensive and there are available riders. Partnership policies include all levels of care found in traditional policies – home care (skilled, custodial and personal care), adult day care, assisted living, nursing home care, case management and respite care. Some Partnership plans even allow use of independent home care providers, or care by friends or family members. Survivorship riders, limited payment

options, and coverage for medical equipment, emergency response systems and specialized transportation may also be available. One possible drawback of the Partnership plans is the loss of asset protection if you move out of NYS. This has been a factor for many people who decided against the plans. You can use your Partnership benefits anywhere in the country, but if you exhaust your beneﬁts and still need care, you must return to NYS and apply to NYS Medicaid to protect your assets. As a practical matter, the Partnership may still be a very good choice even if you relocate. With a traditional policy, if you move out of state, exhaust your beneﬁts and still need care, you will have to spend your assets for additional care. The same scenario will occur with a Partnership policy if you move out of state. However, by choosing a Partnership plan, you will probably pay less in premiums over the years, and will always have the option to return to NYS to take advantage of the asset protection component. Moreover, under the Deficit Reduction Act of 2006 which allowed for the creation of partnership plans throughout the country, we are starting to see reciprocity between state Medicaid departments. If you are thinking of purchasing long-term care insurance to protect your family and assets, but need or wish to be economical and are not concerned about having the “bells and whistles” found in non-partnership plans, then one of the Partnership policies may be a very sound alternative for you. Susan Suben, MS, CSA, 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 email at susansuben@31greenbush.com.

55+ Hiring a Trustworthy Contractor from page 28

build a portfolio using your project as practice. Albright has found that the attrition rate in contracting is second only to the restaurant industry. “They should give at least six references who may be contacted by phone,” he said. Ask for references you can contact and see the ﬁnished work. Talk with these former clients to see how long ago the work was completed, if the job was done right, if the estimate was on target, how clean the job site was at the end of the day and, overall, how well they liked working with the contractor. “Believe it or not — it sounds so simple — the easiest thing is word of mouth advertising,” said Rick Herman, CEO of Rochester Home Builders Association. “There are so many contractors out there who are good and bad. Just because they belong to an organization like ours or the BBB doesn’t mean they’re all right.” Herman recommends finding contractors who have certiﬁcation in home repair and remodeling and who continue their education. Contact the Rochester Home Builders, Better Business Bureau or Better Contractors Bureau. Absence from a consumer organization’s “bad list” doesn’t mean a contractor is arrow-straight, but a contractor’s presence on such a list should disqualify them from your project. Also check for feedback on sites like superpages.com, yelp.com and search google.com with the contractor’s name or business name to see what others have been saying about him. Look for contractors that are listed with your local chamber of commerce, which can indicate community involvement. Ask about their professional credentials and their most recent education class. For example, if you’re

having your home remodeled to make it more accessible, a certiﬁed aging in place (CAPS) designation indicates special training for this type of work. Since residential construction isn’t a licensed industry in New York, anyone can perform this type of work; however, because it is so regulated, it’s important to ﬁnd a contractor with credentials and training so you can be assured he is aware of the latest changes in building codes, methods and materials. Ask about the contractors’ warranties. Make sure you can pay by personal check. A contractor who operates on a cash-only basis is hiding something. Albright advises people seeking a contractor to ask how about the ratio of direct employees to subcontractors. Although using some subcontractors is not necessarily a bad sign, it’s important to know if the contractor simply brings in people from other companies to do all the work and therefore charges more. “They must be up-front with that,” he said. “The subcontractors should have insurance, too.” Make sure you obtain contact information in case of a problem or question. Find out how often workers will be on your property. Albright said that some companies leapfrog from project to project. “Ask how your property will be protected during construction,” Albright advised. Dust barricades can prevent damage to your possessions, for example. Find out how the contractor will deal with any damage to your property, too. As you select a home contractor, work out a written agreement because any verbal promises are non-binding. “New York state law requires that home improvement contracts must be in writing, include a description of the work, and materials used,” Penders

advice

said. “You must receive a copy before work begins.” It also helps to include the timeline, estimate, and warranty on the work. Don’t bother with extended or “lifetime” warranties since things will likely go wrong soon after construction is complete, not five years down the road. And with the turnover rate in the construction industry, who knows if the company you use will still be in business? If the contractor does not live up to the agreement, you may file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, which will follow through with arbitration even if the company is not accredited with the BBB. The fee for beginning arbitration is about $75. The Better Contractor’s Bureau also offers help. Their mediation program solves the problem in 95 percent of the cases, according to Santora, the organization’s president. In the few cases where it doesn’t, the case goes to formal arbitration. “We have inspectors that will go out to check the job to see that the contractor or homeowner is right and mediate the problem to prevent it from going to court,” Santora said. “It is a situation where when we get the inspector’s report, we send a copy to the contractor and homeowner. Sometimes it’s a monetary settlement. Sometimes the contractor is right.” The only other recourse you may have is to take him to court. Even if you win you may not get paid, so it’s best to hire the right person in the beginning. The Better Business Bureau offers a free Request-a-Quote program for anyone who needs a home contractor. The program helps consumers identify accredited businesses and find the right person to do the job. Visit our. bbb.org/buffalo/Public/Quote/ or call 800-828-5000. The Rochester Home Builder’s Association offers a program though its national affiliate, National Association of Homebuilders (www. nahb.org) to help homeowners find certified “aging in place” specialists who can modify homes to make them more accessible. May / June 2012 - 55 PLUS

55+

living

Early Bloom for Area Green Thumbs By Jason Schultz

ith the beginning of spring March 21, the 2011-12 winter season in Rochester was one for the record books. It was the ﬁfth-warmest winter in history of the Flower City, with an average December, January and February temperature of 32 degrees. March saw the mercury rise even more, with the month averaging 13 degrees above average. The unusually mild winter led to a snowfall of only 56 inches this year, well below the 100 inches that is typical for the area. These numbers were music to the ears of area green thumbs, who were eager after last year’s deluge of snow to begin the planting season a little earlier in 2012. Now that spring is here to stay, the time is ripe for Rochester’s gardeners to ensure a bumper crop this summer. One gardener ready to hit the sod running is Ann Haber, 69, of Webster. Haber is a member of the Country Gardeners of Webster. A former president of the club, she is also the current sectional chairwoman of the Federated Garden Clubs of New York. She said her relationship to

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Webster gardener Ann Haber gets an early start to her garden. horticulture began at birth, as she grew up on a farm in her native Wisconsin. “I helped on my family farm and hated it at the time, but came to like gardening when my own kids got older,” Haber said. She said her passion for gardening grew out of her time working with special education students in Rochester and Webster. “Working in special education brings with it unique challenges, and I found gardening gave me an outlet for think and decompressing from the stresses of work,” said the now-retired Haber. Haber ’s primary focus in her garden is flowers, especially perennials, over vegetables, as it is too difficult to keep hungry critters out of her vegetable patch. “It’s much less frustrating to grow flowers, and I don’t need any added aggravation at this point in my life,” Haber said. With the short, mild winter and unseasonably warm start to spring, Haber said she has been able to get a jump on the planting season for once. “I’m much further ahead in terms of cleaning up the yard than in years

past,” she said. “I’ve done some pruning and grass cutting already, and plan on putting down mulch by next week. All in all, everything is sprouting about a month earlier than normal.” Along with the warmer weather comes the temptation to go crazy with yard work and planting, but Haber said she has resisted the urge to do too much, too soon. “It’s dangerous to plant certain things too early, especially some of the summer bulbs in my garden,” Haber said, adding that the recent cold nights have taken a toll on her early-blooming magnolia blossoms. She has brought what plants she could back indoors, and plans on holding off on putting in delicate plants until the nights stay above freezing. Walking through her garden, Haber pointed out some plant specimens which have made an early appearance. he said her primrose plants have ﬂowered earlier than usual, along with her pink dogwood tree blossoms and many budding daffodils. Flowers can also be found on her yard’s pear tree, which usually doesn’t happen until mid April, and sometimes as late as Mother’s Day, she said. On a related

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55+ note, Haber said she has noticed the goldfinches which alight in her yard are turning their namesake gold earlier in the year. “Our club does a Mother’s Day sale, and that weekend always seems to be cold; I don’t think we’ll have that problem this year,” she said of the warming trend this year. “The seasons definitely seem to stretch longer into the fall, and begin earlier in the spring compared to decades ago. I’ve learned to adjust my planting schedules based on the weather I’ve experienced.” Haber said the warmer Rochester weather has been noted nationally, as the United States Department of Agriculture changed the hardiness zone for plant life along the Lake Ontario shoreline this year. A hardiness zone is a geographic area where specific plant life is able to grow, as defined by climatic conditions, including the minimum expected temperature in that zone. Haber said the hardiness zone was changed this year from 6a to 6b. This means the minimum expected

temperature range for the Rochester area has been raised from -10 through -5 degrees, to between -5 degrees and 0 degrees. She added her old Farmer’s Almanac guide recommended planting non-hardy specimens after May 30 in this climate, and new guidelines have now been revised that date to May 15. Haber said the recent winter and spring weather has only confirmed in belief in global warming, and citing other odd weather events such as extended hurricane seasons and tornadoes in Vermont. Fellow Webster gardener Joyce Petz, 76, said she has been gardening for 45 years, and this winter and spring has been different from any she can remember in all her years of tilling the soil. “The mild winter and early spring has certainly brought the plants on faster,” said Petz. “Of course, the bulbs like daffodils and crocus seem to handle the sudden cold after the 80degree weather. In fact, staying cool

helps them stay beautiful longer, as in the forsythia.” Petz said the unexpected warm spell has caused some problems for her garden’s early bloomers, as her blossoming magnolias have some brown spots due to the overnight freeze. She added that she is offschedule with some of her pruning, and will need to tend to that to ensure her plants bloom as intended. She added that not only was she too busy to work the land the past few weeks, she, like Haber, knew better than to start planting too early, as she has learned from experience that eager gardeners are not always rewarded for their premature efforts. “It’s not good to work the soil and rake too early, or to compress the soil when it is soft and wet,” she explained. She said despite the unusual weather, her goals for the season remain the same; to get the garden cleaned up and to see her plants bloom at the right time.

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55+

caring

A national movement to deinstitutionalize nursing homes began right here in Rochester By Amy Cavalier

hen you imagine a nursing home, which one of these two scenarios comes to mind? Do you picture a hospital-like setting, wheelchairs and medicine carts lining the halls, heavily-medicated patients, an activity calendar and regimented meal routine with lights out by 10 p.m.? Or does it conjure up the image of a home-like setting ﬁlled with plants and the occasional pet, with residents helping prepare meals, which they eat together at one large table, after which they retire to their full-size adjustable bed in their private bedroom to have a glass of wine and watch the late show? The latter scenario is gradually becoming the standard thanks to a national movement that began here in Rochester to deinstitutionalize nursing homes. From their inception nursing homes were modeled after acute hospital care which has meant that all too often they lack individuality, spontaneity, and autonomy for both residents and staff. Good caring people work in nursing homes, said Rose Marie Fagan, co-founder of the Pioneer Network and project director of “Take it on for Mom.” The problem is not the people — it is a culture that is driven by rules, regulations and getting tasks done. “Moving into a nursing home shouldn’t mean leaving your familiar routines and everything that represents home to you at the door,” said Fagan. “You should have control of your life and be able to remain the person you’ve been all your life. It’s a disgrace

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to institutionalize someone when we know they could be living in comfort in a home setting. There is a better way.” Re-inventing nursing homes by changing the way people live and work together has been commonly referred to as the person-centered care movement in long-term care. The values and principles of person centered care apply to all senior residential settings and services. “Facilities that are transforming themselves into home settings undergo deep organizational change as well as changes in the physical environment,” said Fagan. “It doesn’t require building a new building. It is more about the life inside--living a meaningful life and being in relationship with staff and other residents.”

Starting the Movement The impetus for starting the movement came when Fagan was hired as an ombudsman by the Regional Council on Aging in the early ‘90s, which is now Lifespan. The ombudsman program is a federally mandated program, which provides resident advocates for people in longterm care. About three months into the job, Fagan and her boss Sharon Boyd responded to a call from a nursing home which was having difficulty with a resident who was urinating in the plants. What she saw when she entered the home still sticks with her. “It was the most inhospitable environment,” Fagan says. “There was no one to greet me, I wasn’t offered a

cup of coffee, resident rooms didn’t even have a chair for a guest to sit in. I could hear screams from faraway places. There were residents out in the hallways like turtles on a rock, in these geriatric chairs, flailing and crying out.” When she finally interviewed the resident, she asked him why he was urinating in the plants. He responded ‘It got you here didn’t it? I want to get out of here. This is not home.’ Fagan left that day determined to find a new approach to long-term care. “I was very fortunate to have a supervisor who encouraged me to pursue this as part of my job,” she said. About this same time, Fagan partnered up with Carter Williams, a certified social worker who knew some people around the country who were doing pioneering work in nursing homes. Together Fagan and Williams approached Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation and in 1997 received a small grant to bring these “pioneers” to Rochester to discuss their work. The list quickly grew to include doctors, care providers, advocates, regulators, researchers and eldercare attorneys for a total of 33 people – all interested in discussing a new approach to longterm care. After meeting for three days, a new philosophy began to emerge. At the core were common values and principles. “It was a call to action and we were compelled to go forth and find

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kindred spirits and start a national Lifespan as project director for Take It wallpaper, a bird in the lobby and a movement,” said Fagan. cat running around,’ Fagan said. “We On For Mom. The group went on to form the want to help people look beyond the Change on the horizon Pioneer Network which is “dedicated cosmetics that are covering up the Quality of life includes having same old institutional culture.” to making fundamental changes in values and practices to create a purpose and meaning in life, rather According to the Nursing Home culture of aging that is life-affirming, than just having your blood pressure Reform Law of 1987, Fagan said, it is satisfying, humane and meaningful.” taken, said Ann Marie Cook, president/ a civil right that if you or your loved Headquartered in Rochester, Lifespan CEO of Lifespan. There has been one has to go to a nursing home, they became the incubator of the fledging some change, according to Cook, have a right to live a normal life. organization. Fagan was the first both in the look of nursing homes “It’s not enough to be warehoused and the requirements set forth by the and to be kept safe and clean,” she executive director of the Network. The Network serves as the umbrella government to the way nursing homes said. “We have to teach consumers not organization for the movement to re- are designed. to settle and to raise the bar on their “They really are homes for people, expectations.” invent nursing homes and promotes approaches in person centered care, and as such, we should make the Throughout the month of May, such as the Eden Alternative and the quality of life as important as the Take It On For Mom will present a Green House. In addition to being quality of care,” said Cook, who also series of workshops about dementia, the clearinghouse organization, the serves on The Pioneer Network Board caregiving and reinventing nursing homes, featuring nationally recognized Pioneer Network conducts research, of Directors. In spite of all that has been done experts. Topics include “Dementia helps form state coalitions and also is the convener and educator to long- to raise awareness and facilitate Beyond Drugs,” “Old Age in a New term care CEOs and administrators, change, very few of the 16,000 nursing Age — The Promise of Transformative consumers and family caregivers, homes in the country provide person- Nursing Homes,” and “How to Choose doctors and nurses, direct care centered care. The impetus has to come a Person-Centered Nursing Home.” “ T h e s e t h o u g h t - p ro v o k i n g providers, and others who care about, from consumers, Cook said. “We see this as the next step in the workshops will open our eyes to and care for, the aging. Each year, the Pioneer Network journey when you tell consumers you a different way to provide care in hosts an annual conference. The first have the opportunity to choose what nursing homes and ultimately, create in 1999 drew 365 people from 23 states. type of home you want your loved the consumer demand that will Last year they attract well over 1,000 ones to live in,” Cook says. “There are encourage traditional nursing homes people from 48 states and Europe. different types of homes with different to change.” Fagan said. Join Lifespan and Writers & Books With 33 state coalitions behind them, types of philosophies and they should the Pioneer Network uses grants really understand the differences and are sponsoring several programs related to dementia , caregiving and to conduct case studies on nursing similarities in those homes.” changes in nursing homes. For more homes taking on person-driven care. Take It On For Mom The group has developed manuals This spring, Lifespan of Greater information and dates, call 585-287and tool kits to help service providers Rochester launched Take It On For 6424 or visit www.TakeItOnForMom. and nursing home operators adopt the Mom, an effort to educate consumers so com. culture-change philosophy, and have they can be informed shoppers, ask the Continue the Discussion formed national partnerships with right question and make observations The Pioneer Network, the Green Centers for Medicaid and Medicaid when it comes to choosing a home House and Eden Alternative are Services, the reimbursement and for their parents or themselves which helping drive the long-term care oversight arm of nursing homes. embraces person-centered care. Fagan c u l t u r e - c h a n g e m o v e m e n t b y “Back when we started, we were is project director. advocating for improvements in the new kid in the national sandbox, The website is loaded with practice, services, public policies, challenging the status quo,” said information and resources including Fagan. “We had to become a credible, a “smart guide” with key questions research, by educating care providers well-respected player in the sandbox, to ask when shopping for nursing and consumers about alternatives, and guiding organizations through the and that we’ve accomplished.” homes. process of change. Fagan turned over her “A smart shopper will not be In the next issue of 55 Plus, learn responsibilities as executive director of fooled by an advertisement, or pretty about the Eden Alternative and the The Pioneer Network in 2007, staying Green House approaches on for three years as director of and hear from some of the special projects. In December For More Information Rochester-area nursing homes 2010, the Pioneer Network • Take it on for Mom: www.takeitonformom.com/ moved its headquarters to • The Pioneer Network: www.pioneernetwork.net/ that are leading the way in reinventing long-term care. Chicago. She is now back at • The Eden Alternative: www.edenalt.org/ May / June 2012 - 55 PLUS

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profile

Passion for Rowing John Bernfield of Spencerport teaches people how to row and coaches adult rowers in recreational programs By Ernst Lamothe

ohn Bernﬁeld gave Rochester six months to act or never see him again. Back in 1970, Bernﬁeld came to the Flower City to train at an Olympic development center for rowers. Having just graduating from Purdue University, he traveled to Rochester looking for a job as an athletic trainer and to continue his rowing regime. At the height of his career, he won more than 20 national championships. J.B., as he is known, started rowing after high school in Indiana and dreamed of a life dedicated to athletes. But life has gone better in ways that even he couldn’t envision when deciding his major in college. His path toward athletic training began early. 40

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As a young boy in Monticello, Ind. attending Purdue University games, he revered one man who sometimes appeared only when something unfortunate would happen. That man, William E. “Pinky” Newell, was the chief Purdue athletic trainer from 1949 to 1976. He was the founder of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and was a leader in the development of formal educational programs in athletic training. Newell was seen as the father of modern athletic training. “If you grew up in Indiana, you knew who Pinky was,” said Bernﬁeld, 64, of Spencerport. “Seeing him on the ﬁeld, I knew early on what I wanted to spend my life doing. When he was in college, less than a dozen schools nationwide had an

ofﬁcial athletic training curriculum. And once he graduated, he knew coming to Rochester without a job was a risk. He planned to enjoy rowing for a short time, applying for jobs as a trainer. Holding steady to his sixmonth deadline, he began feeling like his risk would not be worthwhile and he would soon be heading home to Indiana in hopes of creating a plan B. Then, he received a call. The university with the largest sports enrollment in town was interested in making him its first full time trainer for their entire athletic department After a thorough interview, he became head athletic trainer at the University of Rochester in 1970. “This was something that I always

55+ wanted to do and I knew I could handle the challenge of taking care of all their sports,” said Bernfield, who held the position for 26 years and later became president of the New York State Athletic Trainers Association. “It was gratifying but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t very difficult, and I had long hours.” At that time, Bernfield was the only athletic trainer at the school covering multiple sports that would play in the same season, such as football and soccer in the fall or hockey and basketball in the winter. Soon he began mentoring student trainers who would become his helping hands wrapping players’ ankles and other minor injuries so he wouldn’t spread himself too thin. “I pride myself in teaching students the profession because I knew they were the next generation. At one point I counted 13 of my former trainers who were now working as physicians,” said Bernfield. After his stint at University of Rochester, he went back home to take care of his ailing mother. While there, he coached the Purdue University women’s varsity crew team for four years. It was an opportunity to spend quality time with her before she passed away. Not sure what to do after that, Rochester came calling again. University Sports Medicine, which handles athletic injuries and education, asked him to work as a clinical athletic trainer, assigned to Pittsford high schools, and later became the sports performance director. With his three children living in Rochester, he decided to come back. He also became an athletic trainer for Pittsford schools and has coached rowing locally at the University of Rochester, Pittsford Crew and Mercy High School. “Whether you are treating athletes in high school or college they are pretty much the same,” said Bernfield. “They know they have to practice on Thursday or Friday to be eligible to play during weekend games so they do everything they can to make sure that happens. The only difference is that there is more parental involvement

in high school.” Bernfield is both a board certified athletic trainer and a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the National Strength and Condition ing Association. Three years ago, Karen Morgan injured her back rowing, aggravating her muscle. In order to bounce back quicker, she went to the University Sports Medicine and heard about the good work that Bernfield does. For three months, they worked together strengthening her core. He soon became Morgan’s coach. “He has made me such a better rower and my rowing technique has increasingly improved,” said Morgan, of Rochester. “He works hard to help athletes perform better in whatever sport they compete in whether it is for fun or for competition. He understands that a good body is something that can benefit you the rest of your life.” She said what has made Bernfield successful in his life is his easy going personality and his thorough method of teaching. When dealing with adults, it’s important not only to teach but explain. “One thing he does is always talks to us about why we are doing something. It could be a particular exercise or a routine, but his motto is that if he can’t explain why we are doing something then we shouldn’t be doing it. JB gives you confidence that you can still compete at any age and still have fun,” added Morgan. Today, he remains the head coach of the Genesee Waterways Center. He teaches people how to row and coaches adult rowers in recreational programs. “Rowing is something that you can do when you are young or old. And it’s something that can get you into great shape,” said Bernfield. “It takes a lot more work than people think to do a repetitive motion and be as precise as you have.” An accomplished rower himself, he remains competitive winning many national titles in his career. Still competing at an elite masters’ level, he finished second last year at the prestigious Head of the Charles in

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Bernfield training with kettlebell Boston, as well as a first place medal the year before. At this point, he has won more than 30 rowing National Championship medals and more than 400 medals and trophies overall. JB can often be seen sculling on the Erie canal near his home in Spencerport. And he said he won’t rowing stop anytime soon. “Rowing will always be one of the most relaxing things I can do in my life,” said Bernfield. “I’m not done rowing yet.” May / June 2012 - 55 PLUS

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By Ernst Lamothe

Bob Volpe, 69 President of the Eastman Kodak Retiree Association Q . What is the purpose of EKRA? A. The Eastman Kodak Retiree Association develops and provides objective pension and benefit information and alternatives to our members so that they can make better decisions about their financial risks and security. It also uses this information to advocate for our members’ interests with Kodak and government. We formed in 2009 and as the first president we wanted to give Kodak retirees the resources they need. Many of us rely on Kodak to provide all of our benefits for the rest of our lives and that doesn’t look like it is going to happen. Q. Where you surprised about the bankruptcy? A. A lot of us thought that Kodak would be bought out by some other business or some merger would take place. We didn’t see bankruptcy as a realistic action. We knew something was on the horizon when Kodak announced that they would eliminate dental and life insurance benefits for those employees who left after 1991. While we are saddened by the Kodak bankruptcy filing, we will now execute the plans that we have already prepared in anticipation of bankruptcy to fight for retirees’ pensions and benefits. I want to assure retirees and their families that EKRA will work diligently with its own attorneys as well as advisors from the National Retiree’s Legislative Network to stand up for the interests of retirees in bankruptcy proceedings Q. What does the future hold for Kodak retirees? A. We have to talk with Kodak and find out what they are going to be able to afford. We are happy that the courts 42

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upheld our objection about Kodak eliminating health care benefits. We need to take a holistic look at all the benefits and figure out a compromise. The Kodak of today is in no way able to provide us all our benefits and we have to educate our members about finding other alternative forms away from dependency on Kodak. Q. What are some of the members saying? A. The opinions of the members are mixed. Some people are very upset. They say the company made a promise that they are not keeping and that we should hold their feet to the fire. Others are more restraint and see that the company has changed, the world has changed and that means we need to change as well. There are 56,000 retirees. You can’t expect the company to carry the burden of everyone on its financial back. It cost $3 million a year in retirement benefits. Q. What do you think is the legacy of Kodak? A. With the George Eastman legacy, Kodak has always had a commitment to the community. It was bigger than just putting money into its own pockets. It produced good products that affected people’s lives. I think all of us feel a little sadness for the change to what is happening to a once glorious company. It was a Fortune 500 company with a world wide recognizable brand for quality. It was one of the few companies that wiggled its way into your personal life. The idea that I am sitting here looking at a picture of my grandson and photos are the things that trigger our memories. To have Kodak not at its pinnacle is a loss not just for me but for everyone. I just want the company

to do what it needs to survive and hopefully it can be successful. Q. How long did you work at Kodak and what did you do? A. I was there for 32 years and did a variety of jobs working in corporate benefits, worked as a human resources director, a corporate recruiter and at the end of my career I was a lobbyist in public affairs. Q. What did you enjoy about working at Kodak? A. I am the son of a Kodak employee so I grew up with the company being part of my life. It was challenging work but you always felt that it was a secure place to be. You were proud to be associated with it. Q. Why did you leave Kodak? A. Around 1998, you could see the early stages of Kodak beginning to shrink and it wasn’t as much fun anymore. Not only did the workforce decrease but also you started seeing the benefits shrink and I knew it was time to start doing something new. Q. What was your next career move? A. I started working for a few different companies that involved a lot of traveling which was a great time. I went from working for one of the largest companies to working as a consultant for smaller businesses. I helped provide training, complex negotiations and leadership development for not for profit and start up businesses.

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