55 Plus of Rochester, #19: January – February 2013

EE

Remarrying Late in Life? Keep an Eye on Your Finances

FR Some Local Boomers Welcoming the Cold Weather

55 PLUS Issue 19 January / February 2013

For Active Adults in the Rochester Area

The

Reverend Mother How a real nun-turnedteacher-turned-comedian has become such a local sensation

Seasonal Kitchen Cooking School It’s still fascinating dinner guests in fourth decade

Inside: The Art of Picking the Right Pet

LOCALLY OWNED You will have peace of mind knowing that your mom or dad are living in a place where they are treated with respect and dignity by a dedicated team of service providers and that the communities are owned by a local family whose roots are Legacy congratulates Judge Gail Donofrio, entrenched in the Rochester Area.

ALL INCLUSIVE means that your mom or dad can enjoy all of the amenities that are available at our Legacy communities for no additional monthly costs or fees.

NO ENDOWMENT FEES means that many of our local competitors charge large upfront fees. You won’t have that expense at a Legacy community.

2012 Legacy Senior Living Award winner, demonstrating an unusual skill in dealing with the entire family, especially senior citizens.“Everyone at the Legacy Senior Living Communities joins in congratulating Judge Gail Donofrio for her decisive election to the State Supreme Court”

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January / February 2013 - 55 PLUS

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55 PLUS - January / February 2013

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55 PLUS

55 PLUS

January / February 2013

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14

CONTENTS

Got a story idea? editor@roc55.com

21

Real Estate 6 9 COOKING Financial Health 12 • Seasonal Kitchen Cooking School Long-Term Care 40

32 42 32 TECHNOLOGY

in Pittsford still fascinating dinner guests in fourth decade

• Former ad man discovers second career teaching computer literacy to seniors

14 ACTIVITIES

34 LIVING

18 VOLUNTEERING

36 STORY TELLING

21 PETS

38 HEARING

• Cabin fever? These boomers get out and enjoy

• Meet some of the volunteers at Lollypop Farm

• The art of picking the right pet

24 COVER

• The Reverend Mother: Laughter is the best medicine

• Senior living facilities feature solid security systems

• Webster mom gets first book published —at 59

• Not your mother’s hearing aid

42 LAST PAGE

• Gary Larder: A love for baseball and the Red Wings January / February 2013 - 55 PLUS

5

real estate

By Kimberlie Barrett

Why Now Is the Best Time to Sell or Buy

T

he Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Act in the wake of the housing crisis that started in 2008 resulting from bad underwriting of loans with the highest risk of default. As regulators attempt to transform the mortgage business into a fair and responsible market for sustainable home loans, they’ve introduced what they call QRM — or quality residential mortgage.

QRM could have a major impact on a borrower ’s ability to obtain financing.

As federal regulators consider setting new requirements on new mortgages, initial research indicates that stringent rules on lending could force a large percentage of creditworthy borrowers into loans at higher rates or exclude them from the market altogether.

Some criteria under discussion: • Rationing mortgage commitments based on credit (740 minimum credit score) • 10 percent to 20 percent minimum down payments • Mortgages with shorter amortization terms with rates changing every five years.

What’s the option — private mortgages that could range 1 percent to 3 percent higher? If buyers are worried about the longterm costs of owing a home, they should buy now and sellers should sell while they have a larger surplus of buyers who are financeable.

The bottom line is that borrowers who fail to meet the basic criteria for a QRM will have a harder time qualifying for a loan and may end up paying a higher interest rate.

Lenders claim that risk retention increases their operating costs so they will likely charge more for loans that are subject to regulation.

This is why consumers need to 6

55 PLUS - January / February 2013

55PLUS Editor and Publisher Wagner Dotto

Associate Editor Lou Sorendo

know about the new rules that will most likely take shape early 2013.

What is a reverse mortgage and how can it help you? — While regulators are shaking up the mortgage market with heated discussions about QRM, a reverse mortgage, according to reverse mortgage specialist Sharlene Nally, is a special type of home loan that allows homeowners to convert a portion of their equity into cash. The equity that they’ve built up for years by making mortgage payments can be paid back to them. Many seniors use it to supplement Social Security, meet unexpected medical expenses, do home improvements and more.

However, unlike a traditional home equity loan or second mortgage, reverse mortgage borrowers do not have to repay the reverse mortgage loan until they no longer occupy the home as their principal residence or fail to meet the obligations of the mortgage. To be eligible for a reverse mortgage, they must be 62 years of age or older, own their home outright or have a low mortgage balance that can be paid off at closing with the proceeds from the reverse loan, and at least one owner must live in the home.

A reverse mortgage is different than a second mortgage or home equity loan because it pays the borrower — there are no monthly principal or interest payments.

For more details about reverse mortgages contact Sharlene Nally, at Eastcap Mortgage 585-733-0831.

Kimberlie Barrett is president, broker and owner of Magellan®, Inc. Real Estate & Relocation located in Brighton. She has more than 31 years of experience serving the Rochester real estate market. Contact her at Kim@1Magellan.com.

Contributing Writers

Deborah Jeanne Sergeant, Ernst Lamothe Jr., Deborah Blackwell, Jason Schultz, Amy Cavalier, Richard Kiley Beth Emley

Columnists

Jim Terwilliger, Susan Suben Jim Miller, Kimberlie Barrett Joe Arena

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 © 2013 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

A Legacy of Love for Your Community, Annual Payments for You.

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You receive a tax deduction for the charitable portion of the gift.

You receive fixed annual payments for life, a portion of which may be tax free.

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For Free and Confidential Information or a personal illustration contact: John P. Gleason CFRE - Director of Gift Planning for The Salvation Army Phone: 888-434-1391 Email: John.Gleason@USE.SalvationArmy.Org January / February 2013 - 55 PLUS

7

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I

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.

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55 PLUS - January / February 2013

Join us for an Open House Saturday, February 16 10 a.m. to noon Woodland Village 1477 Long Pond Road

55+

cooking

Cooking with Class Seasonal Kitchen Cooking School in Pittsford still fascinating dinner guests in fourth decade

By Jason Schultz

W

hat started decades ago as a passion for entertaining dinner guests has blossomed into a thriving small business.

Ginger and Dick Howell are celebrating 36 years of hosting the Seasonal Kitchen Cooking School courses from their Pittsford home.

Ginger, whose ever-present smile and boundless energy belie her 83 years, said the roots of the couple’s Seasonal Kitchen Cooking School, which shows guests how to make seasonal, flavorful dishes in a dinner-party atmosphere, began with private parties and grew into a series of 15-20 cooking courses a year for approximately 10 guests at a time.

“I just always liked to cook, and I started by inviting one person for a dinner and cooking course,” she said. “Word spread after those first few people invited others, and now here we are today, bigger and better than ever.”

The couple, originally from Saginaw, Mich., was seemingly destined to be together, as the two were next-door neighbors growing up. The Howells went to high school and the University of Michigan together before tying the knot. Dick, 82, said they moved to the Rochester area so he could take a job as a chemist at Kodak, while Ginger was an airline stewardess.

With a friendly grin always sitting under his silver mustache,

Dick has made for a capable and personable sous chef to head chef Ginger for the past 27 years.

As the name implies, the Seasonal Kitchen prides itself on serving food with the seasons; not just with its ingredients, but also in terms of preparation and hosting of the dinner party itself. Ginger said in the summer, courses revolve around grilling outside and enjoying the scenery on their large wooded property. As the days shorten and the mercury plummets, cold bones are warmed with hardy winter soups and stews.

“Our menus change constantly, always using seasonal, fresh ingredients, and, hopefully, making life easy for the cook,” Ginger said January / February 2013 - 55 PLUS

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55+

cooking

A group of guests during a recent cooking class at Seasonal Kitchen School in Pittsford. Coordinating the gathering is Ginger Howell and her husband Dick Howell, who has worn the hat of sous chef for the last 27 years. of the goals of Seasonal Kitchen courses.

Capturing the vibe This harmony and awareness of the unique mood of each season was felt during the time the Howells were interviewed about the Seasonal Kitchen. The late October dinner event at their home, attended by a handful of special guests, focused on Thanksgiving-themed foods in anticipation of the fall food event.

With the freshly fallen leaves on their densely wooded yard forming a bright tapestry of yellow, red and orange, and the welcoming atmosphere of the Howell home 10

55 PLUS - January / February 2013

beckoning all to come inside, the event gave the impression of a holiday dinner at a beloved grandparents’ home.

Highlighting the night’s menu was a turkey and wild rice casserole, with the recipe coming from chef James Beard. Ginger said she has been preparing this Thanksgiving staple for 40 years and it has a flavor that never goes out of style.

Roasted shrimp cocktails (recipe courtesy of the Barefoot Countessa), apple ginger cranberry sauce, rosemary madeleines and cranberry cake with hot caramel sauce rounded out the dinner spread.

Dick, whose specialty is in crafting delicious cocktails, added a prosecco poinsettia (cranberry juice, triple sec and sparkling wine) to the mix.

Besides cooking dishes themselves, some of the best chefs in town stop by the Howell home to conduct guest demonstrations.

Ginger said the head chef from Pittsford seafood restaurant Black and Bleu would be stopping by that following week, and a chef even comes in all the way from Vermont twice a year to share tips on making gourmet cuisine.

For wine lovers out there,

Ginger Howell, 83, and her husband Dick, 82, are celebrating 36 years of hosting the Seasonal Kitchen Cooking School courses from their Pittsford home. the Seasonal Kitchen is a haven for oenophiles as daughter Holly Howell, who writes a bi-weekly wine column for the Democrat & Chronicle and has extensive experience as a sommelier, makes appearances at the Seasonal Kitchen to teach wine classes and expose guests to new and exciting tastes in the world of wine.

Comments from guests at the night’s event showed why the Seasonal Kitchen has thrived throughout the decades. All interviewed had been to the Howell homestead many times over the years and loved the experience so much they passed word on to their friends to join in the experience.

Love at first bite Ann Marie Race of Hamlin first attended a dinner seven years ago, and since then has been back “dozens and dozens of times” to experience something new and exciting in the world of food.

“I love everything about these dinners,” Race said. “Ginger and Dick are great dinner hosts and teachers. Their lessons are always informal, but still very educational, and the food pairings are always interesting and delicious. It’s also nice to see so many familiar faces around the table when I come for a class.”

Among Race’s favorite aspects of the Seasonal Kitchen are the Cape Cod themes the Howells use in the summer, as well as turning dinner

party recipes into staples at her own home, with the Howell’s recipe for New England clam chowder being a particular favorite.

One friend whom Race brought into the Seasonal Kitchen fold was Nan Zillioux of Greece, who has attended over 20 dinner events here in the past five years. Zillioux said she also loved the atmosphere and personalities of the hosts, and has benefited from attended each class.

“I’ve learned about many techniques and recipes from coming here that I wouldn’t have known about otherwise,” she said. “And that’s in addition to the dinner event itself, which always includes great food, wonderful conversation and an intimacy and closeness you can’t find in other cooking courses in the area. What [the Seasonal Kitchen does] is certainly unique to Rochester.”

Continuing the chain of wordof-mouth advertising, Zillioux herself recommended the course to her friend Theresa Passero of Greece, who was attending her third dinner with the Howells.

“I think my favorite part about coming here is the laid-back and friendly atmosphere,” Passero said.

“Dick and Ginger run the lessons so smooth and efficiently, and they are always open to questions. I think it is a perfect mix of education and entertainment and a cooking course, which is why people keep coming back and inviting friends and family to join them.”

With the holiday season now in full swing, the pair has a very merry Christmas feast planned. The course begins with cranberry pistachio goat cheese logs, which whet the appetite for rosemary mustard crusted rack of lamb, Brussels sprouts au gratin, rosemary orzo and parmesan cranberry salad with pear vinaigrette. Completing this decadent feast is buttermilk panna cotta with zinfandel-poached figs.

Events for the Seasonal Kitchen are hosted at the Howell’s home at 610 W. Bloomfield Road, Pittsford. More information on the couple’s course offerings can be found by visiting www.seasonalkitchen.com, sending an email to rhowell@rochester.rr.com, or by calling 585-624-3242.

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January / February 2013 - 55 PLUS

11

financial health

By Jim Terwilliger

Social Security Retirement Benefits FAQs

R

ecently, I authored a series of articles in this publication dealing with Social Security retirement benefits and suggestions for how and when to start receiving these benefits.

To say that I received dozens of communications from readers who wanted to learn more would be an understatement.

It might be helpful to review examples of the more frequentlyasked questions to illustrate some opportunities and pitfalls that are associated with Social Security claiming strategies.

I have been married for many years. Can I first claim a spousal benefit and then switch to my own benefit later?

Yes, in certain situations. This is known as the claim-now/claim-morelater strategy, whereby you claim a spousal benefit at full retirement age (FRA), then switch to your own enhanced maximum benefit at age 70.

The key to this strategy is that it must be done at full retirement age or later. If you file for Social Security early at 62, your own benefit is paid first, and it will be permanently reduced. If you are also eligible for a spousal benefit, it will be added on. But because you are already receiving your own benefit, it can’t be “switched” to your own benefit at 70.

A spousal benefit can only be taken if the other spouse has already filed for benefits.

Can I claim my survivor benefit now and switch to my own benefit later? Can I claim my own benefit now and switch to my survivor benefit later?

The answer to both is yes. But you 12

55 PLUS - January / February 2013

have to be strategic about it. The key is to claim the higher benefit last.

The beauty of this strategy is that by claiming either early say, at age 62, there is no permanent reduction imposed when switching to the alternate option later.

Can I suspend my benefit if I started collecting early?

Yes. Some people realize that starting Social Security benefits at age 62 was a mistake. They find themselves stuck with a permanently-reduced benefit and cannot take advantage of spousal benefits between 66 and 70 while their own benefit builds delayed credits. The good news is that if it’s been less than 12 months since you applied, you can withdraw the application at any age, repay benefits, and reapply later.

Further, if you are at FRA or older, you can simply suspend your benefits at any time and earn delayed credits from that point forward.

I remarried after age 60. Can I file for my divorced-spouse benefit?

No. A divorced-spouse spousal benefit is not available if you are currently married. You must be unmarried now, even if you had been through a series of marriages previously. The marital status of your ex-spouse plays no role in your ability to claim a spousal benefit as long as you were married for at least 10 years.

A divorced-spouse survivor benefit is another matter. You can get a divorced-spouse survivor benefit even if you are married, provided your remarriage took place after age 60 and your original marriage lasted at least 10 years.

Can my wife and I each claim a spousal benefit at the same time?

No. If you want to collect a spousal

benefit on your wife’s record, she will have to file for her own benefits. Once she files for her benefit, she may no longer restrict her application to her spousal benefit. Calculations can be done to determine which spouse should claim the spousal benefit. Only one spouse may claim it.

However, there is an exception. If you had been married for at least 10 years, divorced for at least two years and neither of you is remarried, it is possible for each to claim spousal benefits based on the other’s work record, while deferring the start of your own respective benefits until they max out at age 70. In this case, it is not required that either spouse file for own benefits.

A word of caution Please do not identify with any example above and apply the given answer to your situation. Each situation is different. Each has a number of underlying facts that are unique.

As always, be sure to consult with a knowledgeable and trusted adviser when it comes to developing a Social Security strategy customized for you.

Some advisers, although well versed in investments, are not prepared to help folks with these matters.

Fortunately, our team of 10 financial planners is well-equipped to guide CNB clients through the Social Security maze.

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.

Social Security

Q&A

Q: What can I do if I think someone has stolen my identity?

A: You should do several things, including: • File a report with the local police or the police department where the identity theft took place, and keep a copy of the police report as proof of the crime; • Notify the Federal Trade Commission (1-877-ID-THEFT or 1877-438-4338); • File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3. gov; and contact the fraud units of the three major credit reporting bureaus: Equifax (800-525-6285); Trans Union: (800-680-7289); and Experian: (888397-3742).

Learn more by reading our publication, Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number, at www. socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10064.html.

Q: I’m reaching my full retirement age and thinking about retiring in early 2013. When is the best time of year to apply for Social Security benefits?

A: If you are planning to retire in early 2013, you can apply now. You can apply as early as four months prior to when you want your monthly benefits to begin. To apply, just go to www. socialsecurity.gov/applytoretire.

Q: I am 57 years old and I currently receive Social Security disability benefits. Can I still get my regular Social Security retirement benefits when I reach full retirement age?

A: If you are still receiving Social Security disability benefits when you reach your full retirement age, we will automatically switch you from disability benefits to retirement benefits at that point. The money amount will remain the same. For more information, visit our website on disability benefits at www. socialsecurity.gov/disability.

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                 

      

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No Complaints About the Cold “During the winter, the cold air is invigorating as are the smells, sounds and images I encounter while outside,” said Chauncy Young of Victor. He is shown with a group of friends cross-country skiing at Victor Hiking Trails in 2005. Pictured are, from left, Chauncy Young, Jackie Morris, Carol MacInnis, Marie Heerkens and Larry Fisher.

Photo taken by David Wright.

Cabin fever? These boomers get out and enjoy

By Ernst Lamothe Jr.

D

avid A. Wright doesn’t want to hear anybody complaining about the cold.

Born and raised in Rochester, he thrives when the season starts changing colors, transforming summer into winter.

When it starts snowing, he starts cross-country skiing. When the flakes begin getting stronger, he transitions to snowshoeing.

And if the winter resembles last year, where snow only appeared sporadically, he enjoys hiking with friends as an inexpensive and invigorating activity.

“If you live in this area you can either go out and enjoy the elements or stay indoors,” said Wright, 66, of Victor. “When the sun is shining and 14

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the sky is blue, this area is beautiful in the winter.”

Wright is one of many local residents who don’t believe in hibernating just because the temperatures start cooling. He understands that sub-40 degree conditions aren’t ideal. But he doesn’t understand why too many people remain scared of taking up a winter activity.

“There are many residents who leave their home, get in their car, work or shop indoors, and never appreciate the great outdoors during the cold weather,” said Wright. “Perhaps they have never learned to dress for the weather.”

Trail blazing In Chauncy Young’s case, he is not your average winter enthusiast.

He doesn’t enjoy getting cold, and early on in his life, he didn’t feel comfortable doing activities in frigid temperatures.

However, that didn’t keep him from embracing his inner outdoorsman.

You can often see him biking and walking in snowy conditions as part of the Victor Hiking Trails, a nonprofit organization dedicated to getting people in touch with nature by creating and maintaining trails in the town of Victor.

Members lead monthly and special educational hikes throughout the year. When the organization began in 1992, there were no hiking trails open to the public and now there are more than 50 miles in town.

“During the winter, the cold air is invigorating as are the smells,

55+ sounds and images I encounter while outside,” added Young, 64, of Victor, who said the key is simply dressing warm. “I am a firm believer that getting in touch with your natural surroundings on a regular basis helps me stay healthier.”

His evolution into having an adventurous outdoor spirit first started with walking familiar trails at night without a flashlight or sleeping under the stars in a sleeping bag to raise his consciousness. As his confidence grew, he skied and began taking winter-related trips.

While Young gets his exercise at the local fitness center, communing with nature offers him a more relaxing experience. He said the more someone partakes in the outdoors, the more likely they will enjoy getting out in all types of weather.

“There are so many subtle changes each day that depending on the hour, the experience is different each time I venture out,” said Young. “One thing

activities

“If you live in this area you can either go out and enjoy the elements or stay indoors,” said David Wright, 66, of Victor. “When the sun is shining and the sky is blue, this area is beautiful in the winter.”

Doug Brugler, 60, of Chili, said it’s hard for him to leave Rochester in the winter because he would miss his favorite pastime: curling. He is shown at left playing with another member of the Rochester Curling Club.

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I love to do is explore frozen swamp areas that you couldn’t traverse any other time of the year.”

He understands that he can’t convince everyone to be a lover of winter.

Some people have cold-induced asthma and fear having an episode, while others fear doing something new out of their comfort zone. But he hopes the latter group gives winter a second chance.

“They are missing a beautiful time of the year to be outside,” said Young.

“You just need proper clothing, dress in layers and start out slowly. Maybe begin with snowshoeing or crosscountry skiing, and no matter what you choose to do, make it fun.

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12/5/12 9:39 AM

Doug Brugler, 60, lives just a few miles from the Rochester indoor curling facility, but didn’t even know it existed for years. He hadn’t heard of curling before.

A friend arranged a fatherdaughter session for seven families, and the fathers enjoyed it so much, they decided to join the curling club. Curling itself is a fascinating blend of teamwork, with four curlers who work together on every shot. It involves skill, balance and finesse.

“It is also good exercise and can be a good workout,” said Brugler of Chili. “But the other half of curling is the social aspect that occurs before and after the game. It is a great opportunity to meet new people from many walks of life. Curling is a lifetime sport as it does not put excessive stress on shoulders, knees or hips and is played by many in their 60s, 70s and beyond.”

For many, Brugler said curling is addictive. The club offers opportunity to leave town for weekend tournaments, including some in Canada.

“It always seems that the winter has just flashed by,” said Brugler.

“When the season ends in April, it is a long wait until October for the next season to begin. I find it hard to leave town in the winter if it would make me miss a curling match.”

9 Winter Activities You Should Consider

1

Skiing is always a popular event in a region where 100 inches of snow a year is considered an average winter. Ski resorts include Bristol Mountain Ski Resort, 5662 Route 64, Canandaigua. It features 34 alpine trails, two Nordic loops, two terrain parks, two lodges and an eatery available for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The snow skiing season usually starts on Thanksgiving Day and goes until the first week of April.

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There are snowmobile trails at Hill and Valley Riders Club in Honeoye.

The club has more than 100 miles of trails.

Ganondagan’s Winter Games & Sports, 488 state Route 444, Victor, is a celebration where area residents discover the Seneca ways of winter by enjoying traditional Native American winter activities as a spectator or a participant. Some of the activities include dog sledding

demonstrations where you can experience the thrill of watching a dog sled team racing across the snow. In addition, you can watch live demonstrations of crafts practiced by native people.

The New York Wine and Culinary Center, 800 South Main St. in Canandaigua, has a long history of educating people about wine.

People can taste superior wines and beers from all regions of New York state at the tasting bar.

The Cumming Nature Center, 6472 Gulick Road in Naples, offers a 900-acre preserve filled with groomed trails for hiking, snowshoeing and skiing in the winter months.

Bed and breakfasts: Nearly 100 unique bed & breakfast options are available throughout the Finger Lakes. Each B&B has a feel of its own, designed to make your stay

4 5 6

both comfortable and unique.

7

Cross country skiing: State parks and resorts account for more than 50 cross-country ski centers and thousands of miles of trails. Most trails are in the Catskills and Adirondack mountain regions. Belleyare Mountain and Minnewaska State Preserve are choices in the Catskills and Hudson Valley Region.

8

Ice fishing: At Lake George, winter enthusiasts can cut a hole in the ice and fish. They can fish salmon, lake trout and perch in the lake. Pike can also be found deep within the waters in shallow lakes and ponds.

9

Mountain hikes: Residents can hike 88.4 miles on the Appalachian Trail through New York. There is a stretch of trail that is wooded along with a mixed terrain from flat to rocky.

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The Volunteers at Lollypop Farm Giving from the heart, these help the Humane Society thrive

By Deborah Graf

T

he saying “a dog is man’s best friend” could not be more true than at Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester, where extraordinary bonds between animals and people are formed.

Built in 1873, Lollypop Farm’s compassionate mission to preserve and protect that special bond has grown into an organization. It supports as many as 1,000 animals at a time, 93 staff members, five locations, and 817 volunteers who give more than 45,000 hours of time each year, the equivalent of 20 full-time employees. It’s through these volunteers that Lollypop keeps the love growing.

“There are many volunteers who have been here longer than I have,” says Maggie Huff, volunteer coordinator and 14-year veteran of Lollypop Farm. “It’s interesting to work here, you can walk away every day feeling that you have helped somebody and their animals.”

The “unpaid staff,” as Huff calls them, are invaluable to Lollypop, providing services nearly identical to employees. There are 26 volunteer jobs ranging from customer service to transporting animals and supplies, to gardening on the grounds, to running the gift shop at its main facility located on 136 acres outside of Fairport.

Huff says two of the gift shop

volunteers have actually made a career there, buying the pet supplies and gift items. Marilyn Lucas of Ontario has been a gift shop volunteer for 13 years and Karen Martin of Fairport has volunteered for 10 years.

“We are nonprofit. We couldn’t possibly pay to have buyers for the gift shop, but that’s what Marilyn and Karen do,” says Huff. “They are such veterans. They run the gift shop.

It’s totally a profit center and all of the profits go to the shelters. These are lovely, retired ladies who give so much time.”

Each volunteer is asked to work a two-hour shift each week to help cover every hour the shelter is open.

Perspective volunteers are asked to fill out an application and then be interviewed by Huff, whose task is to match interests and availability with what jobs are available. She also likes to ensure it’s the right match for both the volunteer and shelter.

Haven for retirees

Maggie Huff, volunteer coordinator, talks with Marilyn Lucas, volunteer and gift shop buyer, who work together to fill the gift shop with many pet supplies to keep pets healthy, safe, and happy. Photo courtesy of Rick Murtha, Lollypop Farm.

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“My favorite thing is when someone calls up and says, ‘I am retired and would love to come help at Lollypop,’ so we can cover the hours between 9 and 5 when many people are working,” says Huff. “We really, really love retired people, who also have a maturity level to help with some of the harder jobs.”

For example, working in the clinic at Lollypop involves sterilizing equipment and properly putting things into an autoclave—a heavy device used to sterilize equipment with high heat and pressure. They also participate in an area of the shelter

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the counter and calling on every line of the phone. It takes ‘salt of the earth’type people. Nothing rattles them,” she says.

But not all volunteer roles are challenging at Lollypop. Some volunteers simply come in to play with the kittens each week. Others do data entry and administrative work. Still others feed the animals, or plant flowers and pull weeds on the grounds. For those who love to garden, this is a perfect position, Huff says.

Husband-wife volunteer squad

Karen Martin, volunteer and gift shop buyer, has been volunteering at Lollypop Farm for 10 years, and has made a career keeping the gift shop fully stocked with all the items pets and their owners need. Photo courtesy of Rick Murtha, Lollypop Farm. that deals with over 12,000 animals per year, including farm animals and pets, in a busy, hectic environment.

There are volunteer counselors with Lollypop’s Pet Peeves program, a behavior help line to assist with concerns about pets. Open 24 hours, the automated line records questions and specially trained volunteers and employees will listen to the messages, prepare for counseling, and return the call to address the issues, which range from house-training difficulties, barking, scratching and biting, to other issues.

Customer care personnel work in the front lobby at the reception desk taking care of visitors and adopters.

Huff says this is one of the most interesting areas for volunteers. She said this area is good for retirees from a retail setting where customer service activity can create a lively environment. It is also a resource center for the Humane Society.

“The front desk is Grand Central Station. You have people waiting at

Mary and Gary Wagner of Fairport have been volunteers at Lollypop Farm for a long time. Gary, 77, began 16 years ago cleaning cages and feeding and walking the animals.

He went on to assist in the clinic then went on to transport animals from the main facility to satellite offices. His wife Mary, 65, joined him 10 years ago feeding animals on holidays. She also worked on special events like the annual telethon, spring gala and Barktober Fest fundraisers. She works on special projects and also volunteers at the reception desk each week, and says there is never a dull moment.

“Because of the projects I am on, a firm work schedule is not required.

The staff is extremely supportive and offers me their time and the equipment I need to accomplish my goals,” Mary Wagner says.

She also finds it fascinating that employees who have offices are encouraged to bring their pets to work.

“This offers staff the opportunity to spend more time with their pets and requires them to take breaks to walk their dogs,” she says. “These mini-breaks I believe relieve stress and create a more productive work environment.”

Gary Wagner joined the volunteer staff in 1998 and has been there longer than Huff, who says he is one of the longest active volunteers at Lollypop and is fully dedicated to his role.

“I have two days a week that I have committed for transports,” he says. “I am also on call if needed for special runs. These could be picking up donations or even transferring animals to and from other shelters out of town. It’s interesting and can really be a lot of fun.”

Huff says the Wagners are a perfect

Gary Wagner, volunteer and transport specialist has done many jobs over 16 years as an active volunteer at Lollypop Farm. Photo courtesy of Rick Murtha, Lollypop Farm.

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example of the type of vigorous and positive retired people she loves to get on the volunteer team.

The core values of passionate service and commitment to animals and their welfare is reflected through the dedication of the volunteers, who help maintain the organization’s mission. According to Huff, the generous support from the community is also part of what makes Lollypop such a successful shelter.

Community steps up Funded only through donations, the staff at Lollypop is amazed

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Mary Wagner, volunteer for 10 years, answers the phone at the busy reception desk at Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester. Photo courtesy of Rick Murtha, Lollypop Farm.

daily at the generosity of time and money to keep the Humane Society supported.

“We’re very fortunate to have a supportive community and we don’t take that for granted. I’m familiar with other humane societies elsewhere in the country that don’t even have a building,” says Huff. “This is all about people getting together for the benefit of the animals. All you have to do is sit in the front lobby and see someone going out carrying a goofy dog on a leash or a box with a kitty in it going to its new home, and [realize] it’s all worth it.”

According to Huff, most of the volunteers who apply want to “give back” or are thankful to Lollypop for an animal they adopted in the past. Although they learn during their training it can be a hard place to work—like seeing many animals without permanent homes—she says there are so many wonderful things that happen every day, and she is always amazed at what volunteers are able to do.

“Volunteering at Lollypop is not just walking dogs or cleaning cat cages. If you have an interest, there is a job for you. There are gardens to be tended to, a gift shop that needs staffing, envelopes to stuff, farm animals that need attention, maintenance that needs to be done on the buildings, animals that need to be transported to satellite adoption centers, records that need to be filed, phones that need to be answered, pet care questions that need to be addressed, and the list goes on,” say the Wagners. “It never gets boring.

There’s always something new.”

For information on applying to volunteer or making a donation, visit www.lollypop.org, or call 585-2231330.

Besides its main facility at 99 Victor Road, Fairport, the organization also features a store in The Mall at Greece Ridge, PetSmart in Henrietta with adoptable pets including cats, small animals and birds, and Pet$aver Healthy Pet Superstore in Greece and Brighton/Pittsford, offering cats and rabbits.

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Christopher S. Fitzgerald, director of Rochester Animal Services with Seamus and Rooney.

Picking the Right Pet Your situation may change between now and 10 years from now.

Select a new pet accordingly, local experts say

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

F

ew would dispute the stressreducing effect pets offer.

Watching their amusing antics, stroking their soft fur and receiving unconditional attention all make pet ownership a satisfying pastime.

“The bond between animals and humans has developed over thousands of years of domestication and pet ownership,” said Christopher S. Fitzgerald, director of Rochester Animal Services. “People with pets experience decreases in blood pressure, reduced anxiety, and a general feeling of wellbeing. It is for these reasons

and the direct companionship that many seniors experience therapeutic benefits from their pets, particularly those seniors isolated from regular social interaction. It also seems to help reaffirm a purpose to one’s life by having another living creature to care for,” said Fitzgerald.

Whether you’re a first-time pet owner or have enjoyed dogs and cats your whole life, selecting a new pet at retirement age is a little different than earlier in your life. Since dogs and cats can live up to 15 years and in some cases beyond that, you have more considerations than when picking a

pet in your young adulthood. A lot can change in the next 15 years.

“We often tell anyone at any age to plan ahead for your pets,” said Adrienne McHargue, director of communication and outreach for Lollypop Farm in Fairport. “You might be going through changes where you might not have control over whether or not you can have that pet. Think about the age of the pet and whether or not they’ll be accepted where you’re living. At most senior living facilities and apartments it’s hard to be there with a larger dog.”

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energetic dog now; however, if your mobility decreases, could you control the animal?

“When we look at the size of the pet and behavior, it’s individual,” McHargue said. “Some small dogs are too much for people and some large dogs are couch potatoes.”

If you have your heart set on a large dog, you could invest in obedience training, which will make the dog easier to handle, or get help from others in exercising the dog.

Using a zip line near the backdoor, fencing the yard or installing an electronic “fence” can make it easier to contain the dog than using a leash while it eliminates.

Small dogs and cats are not without their hazards, too. Many older seniors find that smaller pets can become tripping hazards as the eager animals get underfoot or curl up in dimly-lit areas.

Selecting an adult pet over a kitten or puppy can also help ensure a less boisterous pet.

It may also help to select a breed of cat or dog that tends to possess a quieter demeanor.

“Some dog breeds will require more exercise than others,” Fitzgerald said.

Basset hounds, for example, are less active than Pomeranians. Maine coon cats play more than California ragdolls. You don’t need to pay for an expensive purebred from a breeder. The occasional purebred may be found at a shelter. The experts there can help you determine the activity level of a mixed breed pet, too.

The breed can also make a difference in coat upkeep and expense.

If you want to avoid grooming bills, select a short-haired cat or dog.

“Long haired dogs and cats require regular grooming,” Fitzgerald said.

You may be able to afford grooming expenses now, but later in your retirement, this may become more difficult.

Some shelter and rescue

operations work hard to train pets for living in their new households with socialization, fostering and basic obedience.

Training a dog to sit and stay can help keep it under control when it would ordinarily become over-excited and cause you to trip, such as feeding time or when a visitor comes. Crate training can help provide a place for a dog to calm down. You can form the habit of walking more carefully when your pet scurries around.

The animal’s coat color can also make a difference when it comes to tripping. It’s easier to see a lightcolored pet than one with dark fur.

Keep in mind that your living arrangements may change between now and 10 years from now. If you downsize from a large home with a big yard to a condo, would your new home accommodate your dog?

Consider the age of the pet. One who’s also a “senior” —about six years or older — can be a good choice.

Make arrangements for your pet’s care should you become unable to care for it. Since accidents happen, everyone should do this; however, since older adults

You may be able to walk a large, energetic dog now; however, if your mobility decreases, could you control the animal?

 The lifetime you are imagining can begin today! statistically have a greater chance of a health crisis, it’s even more important.

Older dogs will be past the puppy vaccinations, alteration and other medical expenses younger dogs experience, but “when the dog is older, will [the senior] be able to handle different medical issues?”

McHargue said.

Affording a pet’s veterinarian care, food and supplies may be easy now; however, after you retire, you may find these expenses more burdensome. You help mitigate vet bills by selecting a pet that has been screened for health conditions common to its breed. It also helps to feed a high-quality food to keep your pet in optimal health.

Don’t let your pet get overweight.

Just as with people, carrying too much weight leads to expensive health problems and lower quality of life. Feed the proper amount of food as your veterinarian recommends and provide exercise opportunities.

Walk the dog and play fetch. Most dogs merely tossed in the fenced backyard run for a few minutes, then lie down.

Some cats enjoy batting dangling toys, chasing balls, climbing a “cat tree” or tossing around toy mice.

Figure out what your kitty likes best and keep it fit.

Avoid feeding excessive treats and food intended for humans. You may have fed the family dog table scraps as a youngster, but a sedentary pet — as opposed to a dog owned by a young active family — may not burn off the extra calories. Some “people food” is not healthful for pets, too.

M a n y s h e l t e r s a n d re s c u e operations offer programs for seniors to make pet ownership more affordable.

Because of a grant, Lollypop Farm can offer free pet adoptions for pets aged 6 and older to people 60 and older.

The adoption includes all the aspects of a paid adoption, including spay/ neuter surgery, vaccinations, deworming, micro-chip implantation, flea treatment, free exam with a veterinarian, identification tag and more.

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Confessions Reverend Mother

Laughter is the best medicine if you ask nun-turned-entertainer Phyllis Lee Contestable

By Amy Cavalier

P

hyllis Lee Contestable entered the convent in 1964. However, it wasn’t until years after she left the order that she discovered her calling.

Through comedy, music and

compassion, entertainer Contestable has touched thousands of lives.

She’s a “genuine local hero,” said Downstairs Cabaret Theatre Director Chris Kawolsky.

“I’ve sometimes said she could have run for mayor of Rochester any time because so many people know and love her,” he said.

From national casino tours to longrunning gigs at area clubs and restaurants, Contestable’s musical talent and humor has taken her all over the country. Performing in a cabaret-style duo with Alan Jones for 32 years, they have opened for the likes of Phyllis Contestable in her old white habit after she Bill Cosby, Rich Little entered the Sisters of Mercy. and Jackie Mason, and

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they’ve appeared as guest artists with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra on three different occasions.

Contestable, 66, is now most recognizable, or unrecognizable as Reverend Mother, the lead character in the 1986 off-Broadway cast of “Nunsense” in Rochester.

“She has played that role many times, as have many actresses, but I think she took it to the next level when she created her own Reverend Mother persona and took her on the road,” said Jim Vollertsen, president and executive director of the Rochester Association of the Performing Arts.

“Phyl truly is the Reverend Mother.”

Reverend Mother has revived the art of roasting individuals, a fashion made famous by The Friars Club and Dean Martin in the 1960s and ‘70s. With her “spiritually fractured, outrageously irreverent, warmly wacky, endearingly devilish humor” and passionate commitment, she’s

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roasted people like Tom Golisano, former Rochester Bishop Matthew H. Clark, and she’s generated thousands of dollars and laughter for cancer and hospice organizations.

“It is not a coincidence, this nonsense with ‘Nunsense,’” said Contestable. “I believe in destiny and that things happen for a reason. This has become a ministry.”

Behind the habit Raised in a conservative Italian family in the Cobb’s Hill area in Rochester, Contestable’s family spent summers at their summer home on Lake Ontario in Hilton. From lipsynching on Eddie Meath’s “Dance Party” to playing the lead in school plays, it was clear from the start Phyl was destined for stardom, said her

sister Andi Contestable-Piazza.

“My sister is the person I’ve always tried to emulate but never really could,” Contestable-Piazza said. “She’s just a master.”

Phyl Contestable attended Blessed Sacrament Elementary School and graduated from Our Lady of Mercy High School for girls in 1964. She was the youngest female in her class to enter the congregation of the Sisters of Mercy at the age of 17.

“I thought I was my family’s ticket into heaven when I joined the convent,” she said.

Drawn to music from an early age, Sister Mary Giovanni, Religious Sisters of Mercy, as she was known by her religious name, would seek out any opportunity to learn.

“Sister M. Eric offered to teach me

Several quips from Reverend Mother: ■ On religion and spirituality: “I would say I’m very spiritual.

My relationship with God is so personal and very intense. I know who I am and I’m supposed to be doing this work.”

■ On being in the convent: “Part of being in the convent was to rid yourself of your secular identity and attachments. You took on a religious persona— another name, another look. We had to kneel and cultivate a spirit of humility to ask for personal things that we needed, like toothpaste and hygiene items. It was tough, like being in the Marines.”

■ On being a kid these days: • “It’s almost like a Catch-22 for young people today. Society puts so much pressure on them to be consumers at an early age. They’re almost victims of what they love— the clothes, the technology. You’re giving infants computers before 26

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to play,” she said. “We would hide out in the science wing of college and she would coach me on guitar,” she said.

As a student at Nazareth College, Contestable got a taste of what she was missing. She would sneak off to the dorms with friends she’d met in class.

“I would borrow a girlfriend’s sweatshirt and take off the headpiece,” she said. “Oh to be 21!”

After graduating, Contestable began what would become an over 25-year career teaching in Catholic schools, much longer than her career as a nun. Frustrated with the slow pace in which the church was responding to reform and modernization by Pope John XXIII, Contestable left the convent in 1970.

“It wasn’t happening fast enough,” she said. “Patience is not one of my virtues.”

Contestable’s decision came as no surprise to her sister.

“We were proud of her on one hand, but I don’t think any of us liked her being there because she was such a creative force,” said ContestablePiazza. “Not that it isn’t a wonderful vocation, but it wasn’t really for her.

It was too stifling. My sister is such an amazing entertainer.”

Bright lights, big cities

they can even talk. It’s feeding into the whole entitlement problem. I feel much of technology insulates kids instead of encouraging them to grow socially.”

■ Reverend Mother borrows from Dr. Seuss on aging: “I cannot see, I cannot pee, I cannot chew, I cannot ... well, it rhymes with chew. Oh my God what can I do? My memory shrinks, my hearing stinks. No sense of smell, I look like hell. My body’s drooping; I have trouble pooping. The golden years have come at last. The golden years can kiss my ... butt.”

Practically overnight, Contestable went from playing guitar as a nun at Immaculate Conception to playing at a club called The Nugget. It was the weekend of the big opening when she got a call from a panicked Lee Grills, the club owner who knew her from church, desperate for entertainment.

She and her sister put together a sing-a-long duo with hootenanny songs, complete with sing-along sheets.

“Before we knew it, we became a rock band called The Summerville Pier and stayed there as a regular act for over two years, playing three nights a week,” said Contestable.

Teaching music full-time at Good Shepherd Elementary School combined with singing for the Summerville Pier, Contestable strained her voice and developed vocal polyps, requiring her to have surgery twice. After

55+ she recovered, she started doing “lighter” music with her own lounge trio Three’s a Crowd for close to six years.

In 1979, she joined up with her sister, a Janis Joplin/Barbra Streisandtype, touring with her show band, The Apple Band. Doing the casino circuit—Atlantic City, Reno, Vegas— wasn’t glamorous by any means.

“We would be at the Bonaventure Hotel in Montreal for two weeks at a fabulous gig, and then we’d have the week off, but our next gig was in Key West, Fla., so you’d spend the money you had just made for expenses to get to Florida,” she said.

P e r f o r m i n g t h e g r a v e y a rd shift from midnight to 5 or 6 a.m., Contestable recalls rubbing elbows with the big stars performing in the main rooms—Cher, Tom Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, George Benson. She left the group after two years and followed her voice into cabaret, lounge singing and theater.

In 1980, she married John McNeill, a percussionist with the RPO. The couple was together for 10 years.

McNeil’s father Ken, a talent agent, introduced her to Alan Jones. The two formed a duo that she describes as “grand piano and two voices, naughty, bawdy and bold cabaret music, upclose and personal, light and lovely ballads, suggestive show tunes, and double entendre songs” like “He Can’t Fill Her Up Anymore.” It’s a song about a guy who owns a gas station during the gasoline shortage from the off-Broadway musical “What’s a Nice Country Like You Doing in a State Like This.”

Jones and Contestable have performed at resorts in the Thousand Islands and in Atlantic City over the years and at times, Reverend Mother will make a guest appearance.

Enter Reverend Mother In 1986, Contestable got involved in the off-Broadway productions of “Nunsense,” destined to open in Rochester. Her friend Corinne Aquilina, the music director, convinced a reluctant Contestable to audition.

Contestable recalls the director commenting, “You’re so real. You

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In the early days with artist Alan Jones. They have performed together in a cabaret style for more than 30 years.

do things with your hands and hold your body in such a way that establishes your credibility of this character. You’re doing things that other professional actresses just wouldn’t know to do. You must have really studied for this part.”

The director had not read her resume in advance of the audition and had no idea she had been a vowed member of the Rochester Sisters of Mercy.

“It was the right part at the right time with the right background,” she said.

Being a member of the cast earned her entry into the Actors’ Equity Association of the United States,

ranking her among professional actors. From 1986 to 1989, she starred as Reverend Mother in “Nunsense” at the Downstairs Cabaret. “ H i s t o r i c a l l y, n u n s h a v e been portrayed in an extremely sanctimoniously way,” she said.

“This show exposes the human side to church life.”

Although some might call “Nunsense” and Reverend Mother’s style of humor “irreverent,” Nancy Whitley, a sister of Mercy, said Contestable puts her heart and soul into everything she does, and it shows.

“She’s got the background,” said Whitley. “She grew up in the Catholic January / February 2013 - 55 PLUS

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tradition and experienced how sisters responded in classrooms. She can bring out the best of humor and also do it in good taste.”

Kawolsky met Contestable in 1992 when the Downstairs Cabaret Theatre brought back a revival of “Nunsense,” a production that he said has saved the Downstairs Cabaret Theatre several times.

“It’s really kept it alive,” he said.

“It’s more than just about selling tickets. ‘Nunsense’ is one of our signature productions. Certainly Phyl has had a significant role in that.”

Most of the “Nunsense” cast was from New York City. Rochester being Contestable’s hometown, she often went off script to include members of the audience, calling on people like Bishop Joseph Lloyd Hogan, who served as bishop of Rochester from 1969 to 1978, her superior Mother Mary Bride, the mayor, city officials,

friends from elementary school and other dignitaries.

“She was the heart and soul of ‘Nunsense’ playing the role of Reverend Mother,” Kawolsky said.

“Being a past nun, she was the inhouse expert on the Catholic religion and nuns in a convent. I think all of the girls that have floated through ‘Nunsense’ just looked up to Phyl.”

Teaching by day and appearing in three to seven shows a week, Contestable eventually left “Nunsense.” The show went on without her, becoming the longest running show in Rochester history.

Living a double life After she left the order, Contestable continued working in Catholic schools for 26 years, teaching general music and voice at St. James, St. Helens,

‘Phyl’ as seen through the eyes of others

P

hyllis Lee Contestable, also known as the Reverend Mother, has certainly impacted many people throughout her illustrious career. Here are some observations from those close to her:

the Catholic religion and nuns in a convent. I think all of the girls that have floated through ‘Nunsense’ just looked up to Phyl.”

— Chris Kawolsky

“I don’t think that we realized until we actually started working together that our voices had a blend that was unique. I certainly knew about her personality, showmanship and ability to work with an audience effectively. As we were working together, things just kind of fell into place and there was a chemistry there that revealed itself.”

— Alan Jones

“Everybody has their little oddities that people love them for and she somehow sniffs them out.

It’s always been in the best taste and in a very gentle and loving way.

— Suzanne Johnston

“She was the heart and soul of ‘Nunsense’ playing the role of Reverend Mother. Being a past nun, she was the in-house expert on 28

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“Despite the fact that she’s been doing this for 40 years, it’s still fresh, new and delightful between her and the kids. Every lesson is a story that’s unfolding and she has the ability to take that story and develop it to the fullest.”

— Joseph Hoff

Good Shepherd, Mercy High School and St. Joe’s in Penfield.

When she isn’t channeling Reverend Mother, singing with Jones, she’s “Ms. Phyl,” a full-time general music and integrated arts teacher in the Churchville-Chili Middle School. She has a K-12 master’s degree in vocal/interdisciplinary arts for children.

Joseph Hoff, a middle school educator and consultant, hired Contestable when he was a middle school principal in the ChurchvilleChili Central School District.

“She inspires and motivates other people and she also draws people who like to laugh around her,” said Hoff.

Contestable received the 2000 Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Music Teacher of the Year award as an outstanding creative classroom music specialist and has been featured as a Fox TV teacher of the week. The Italian-American Community Center honored her with the 2003 Women of the Year in the Arts award.

Contestable’s “holistic approach” to teaching, as she describes it, integrates theater, public speaking, music and arts.

Whether you want to pursue songwriting, show business or Web design, she encourages students to cultivate an appreciation for the importance of reading.

“I tell kids to read everything you can get your hands on—candy wrappers, cereal boxes—it doesn’t matter,” she said. “I once got through a roast about skateboarding by reading an article about Tony Hawk in the doctor’s office.”

Laughing through the years Five years ago, Contestable inherited her childhood summer home on Lake Ontario in Hilton.

At the suggestion of Susan Hodes, a friend who is an oncology nurse, Contestable offered her home as a place of solitude and refuge for cancer survivors or those struggling with the disease.

“It’s a place for people to come, recharge and meet other survivors,” she said.

55+ Terry Werth visited The Healing Place in the spring of 2010 during her own battle with breast cancer. She’s also brought friends there, some who have since died. A writer, Werth was inspired to write a poem “No Oars” after spotting a boat without oars at Contestable’s lakehouse.

“That’s what it felt like to be a cancer patient, to be in a boat with no oars,” said Werth. “That really struck me as contrary because it seemed to me to be sort of a defeatist attitude and I think I’ve been such a passionate fighter, emotionally, spiritually and physically. I couldn’t stand to be in a boat without any oars. I wouldn’t let that stop me from surviving.”

No money is exchanged, no appointment needed. Some mornings, Contestable said, she wakes up to several people sitting on her patio relaxing and enjoying the sun.

“I’ve lost too many friends and family to this devastating disease and I feel blessed to live here at the lake and I simply want to pay it forward,” Contestable said.

She said laughter is essential to maintaining a youthful spirit and positive outlook. Due to osteoarthritis, Contestable has undergone a number of joint replacements in the past few years—two knees, one hip and soon both her shoulders will be replaced, making her officially “The Bionic Reverend Mother,” she jokes.

“I take my own experience in physical therapy and use it in the show,” she said. “It’s the parts of real life that are so absurd. You can cry about it or find the humor in a situation. It’s healthier to laugh.”

She chuckles recalling the night she went into the freezer for ice packs for her shoulders.

“I woke up in the morning and smelled this sweet smell,” she recalls.

“I had put a frozen cannoli in my armpit. I had it for breakfast.”

Deb Wellington, orthopedic program director at Unity Hospital, said Contestable is like “the little engine that could.”

“With her, you throw an obstacle in her way and the only question is, ‘Am I going over it, around it or through it?” said Wellington. “That’s

the only choices. There’s never any stopping her.”

Looking forward to retirement, Contestable said she hopes Reverend Mother and cabaret entertainment with Jones will be a big part of the next phase of her career.

Wherever it is she is and whatever she’s doing, there’s one thing you can

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count on: She’ll have a smile on her face and a laugh to share.

“If you can laugh at yourself, you’re a balanced, healthy person and if you can’t, you have issues and I can’t lift you up,” she said.

“Remember, the 11th commandment is lighten up.”

Reverend Mother Still Rules

P

hyllis Lee Contestable created quite an impact during her tenure as the Reverend Mother in “Nunsense.”

Her fans, however, are not letting Reverend Mother die.

They started asking her to come into their homes to roast their family members, and now the Reverend Mother character has become larger than life.

Donned in a habit, Contestable performs roasts as Reverend Mother for everything from bar mitzvahs, retirement parties, stag and stagette parties, birthdays, divorce parties, at senior living communities, for cancer-free celebrations as well as fundraising events for the American Cancer Society, Wilmot Cancer Center, Breast Cancer Coalition and Gilda’s Club.

Suzanne Johnston, president of Our Lady of Mercy High School and former principal of Wilson Magnet High School, said Contestable has a way of winning people over and capturing the lightheartedness and uniqueness of people.

In a hospice setting, “pro-bono,” Contestable reviews people’s lives similar to the 1950s television show, “This is Your Life.” She credits the Sisters of St. Joseph with prompting her on the significance of humor in such an intense and sensitive setting.

“When you review someone’s life who is terminally ill with their family present, it is so powerful, because their family is part of their journey on this earth—who they are and what they did—and then you send them back laughing. To me it’s like being

on holy ground and reverencing that with that laughter,” she said.

No subject is off limits for Reverend Mother. “I touch on gay and social issues, age, divorce, illness,” she said. “The truth is the world is in a sad state and we need to laugh or it will kill us.”

Reverend Mother has traveled the country—Montana, New Mexico, Virginia, Toronto, Florida, and even on a cruise to roast a local millionaire.

She recalls details of challenging roasts, like the time she was hired to perform at a holiday party for New York City-based financial advisers Solomon Smith Barney in November 2001, shortly after Sept. 11.

“It was kind of a surreal party,” she said. “There were a lot of tears and pictures of people they had lost that would have been there. Despite the recent tragedy, it was a healing experience.”

Then there was the night Michael Keaton was in Pittsford at his brother Robert Douglas’ birthday party. Hired to perform a roast, Contestable was unaware of the connection until she got to the event and someone told her Keaton was there.

The Rochester Business Journal hired her to grill the top-50 millionaires “50 over 50,” such as Garth Fagan, the Wegmans, Golisano and the Wilmots.

She had two minutes to roast each person.

“Don’t tell me how wonderful they are, how many awards they’ve won, the same ol’ same ol’,” she said. “Let’s talk about the corporate executive who as a 6-year-old wore his sister’s tap shoes and outfit and danced in front of a full length mirror.”

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At Your

A Double-Dip Tax Deduction

By Joe Arena

O

ver the years, the IRS has closed most so-called “tax loopholes.” There is one type of charitable donation that allows you to capture a double benefit. Donating appreciated shares of a stock or fund to a qualified charitable organization will give you two different tax breaks. One, you can deduct the current value of the stock as a charitable donation. Two, you avoid paying capital gains tax on your gain.

For example: you bought 100 shares of XYZ for $10,000 five years ago and it is now worth $20,000.

Donating the 100 shares would give you a $20,000 write-off and you avoid paying tax on the $10,000 gain. This really is a double-dip deduction.

There are two caveats that I want to mention. First, make sure you have owned the stock over one year. The rules are very different if you donate a stock with a short-term gain. In the above example, if you had only owned the stock for 11 months and donated $20,000 worth of stock, your deduction would be limited to your cost basis or $10,000. You would lose half of your deduction.

The second caveat is that you should not do this with depreciated stock. If your stock has lost value since you purchased it, you should first sell it to capture the tax loss and then donate the proceeds to your charity. If you donate the stock in this case, you will lose the capital loss write-off.

As always, consult your adviser before making this type of financial decision.

Joseph Arena is the Director of Tax & Business Services at Brighton Securities.

He can be reached at 585-340-2200 or by email at jarena@brig htonsecurities.com.

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55+

technology

Helping Bridge the Digital Divide Former ad man discovers second career teaching computer literacy to seniors who range in age from 66 to 93

By Richard Kiley

A

fter more than two decades as a graphic designer and creative director in the advertising industry, Daniel Jones experienced an epiphany.

“I decided in the last several years that I wanted to work with seniors somehow—to contribute in some way—but I struggled with what to do and how,” Jones recalls. “Then a friend of mine encouraged me to enroll in the gerontology program through Lifespan and St. John Fisher College. I loved it and I have never looked back.”

While he was enrolled in the

college program, Jones discovered how he could work with seniors.

“Too often there’s a major gap in knowledge when it comes to technology for so many older adults,” Jones observes. “I decided I could apply my 25 years of personal and professional experience to help older adults break down the barriers of fear and intimidation when it comes to learning new technology.”

After earning his certificate in gerontology through the Lifespan/St. John Fisher program and

One of Daniel Jones’ most popular seminars — “Hip & Helpful Gadgets” — introduces a variety of fun and useful digital products available to seniors today.

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becoming a certified Eden alternative associate, Jones spent months conducting research and learning about the challenges associated with aging.

That’s when he decided to launch a business teaching basic computer skills to seniors called Daniel Te a c h e s

55+ (www.danielteaches.com), including courses on using and buying a computer, managing Internet security, and employing email and social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

As an independent consultant and instructor, Jones provides both inhome instruction on a one-on-one basis and leads small classes at various community centers, independent living and assisted living communities in the Rochester area.

“Everyone learns differently.

That’s why I’ve made all my courses and seminars a mix of presentations, videos, live demos, and handson learning,” Jones says. “And I purposely keep my class sizes small— no more than five or six students so I can provide hands-on attention.”

“So whether my students prefer a classroom setting or in-home instruction, they’ll learn the key basics to get themselves up and running with technology and have fun doing it at the same time,” he added.

Research reveals need Although some studies show the digital divide for older Americans is decreasing, it’s still a big issue for seniors across the United States, according to recent research from the Pew Internet and American Life Project.

While the study revealed for the first time that more than half of Americans aged 65 or older now use the Internet or email, social networking sites accessed on the Web or through “apps” are far less popular with merely 34 percent of seniors using them at all, and only 18 percent on a typical day.

J o n e s s a i d P e w ’ s re s e a rc h indicating that nearly two-thirds of seniors still either don’t go online at all or don’t do so on most days points to the fact that older adults are missing out on and seeking a greater understanding of the technology available to them.

Seniors also are especially lagging in their adoption of Internet-enabled mobile devices such as Smartphones and tablets, Pew found.

“Pew’s research shows there’s still a long way to go in helping seniors bridge the digital divide,” Jones

technology

said. “Until this happens, older Americans will grow increasingly disadvantaged in an increasingly digital and mobile society.”

A self-described “patient teacher of today’s technology,” Jones does not want to see that happen. He also points to research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham that shows older people Seen here with Ken (age 94) and his wife who regularly use the Inge (age 79), Daniel has found teaching this Internet are less likely to generation of adults to be the most rewarding and suffer from depression. fulfilling experience of his career.

The study finds that regular Internet usage in retired “Taking his courses here at the Lily Americans aged 50 and older reduces Café has enabled our members to depression by 20 to 28 percent and reconnect with family members, to friends, learn about social networking helps promote mental well-being. and be part of technology today.”

Breaking down barriers Jones’ students enthusiastically After months of preparation agree. building his curriculum, testing the “I wish everyone could have a model and teaching classes, Jones chance to learn this way. This has been developed a teaching method that like having a private tutor,” says Elly breaks down the barriers of fear and Mahler, who is 84. “He was interested intimidation that so many seniors feel in where we were so he could meet toward technology. our needs. I think that’s the whole “The keys to my method are crux of his classes: He meets his patience, passion, enthusiasm, and a students’ needs. What more can you true understanding of the needs of my ask than that?” students,” Jones says.

“Daniel is extremely patient Recently, in fact, he developed and his enthusiasm carries over. His computer, Internet and digital personal enthusiasm has created our technology pilot programs for enthusiasm,” says Ingle Morley, 79, Lifespan’s Lily Café—a newly who takes classes with her husband, developed progressive café for older Ken, 93. “He’s taken the fear and adults that is a collaboration among anxiety out of using the computer.

Lifespan, The United Way, Monroe It’s a new experience; it’s opened up County Office of the Aging and the a whole new world to us.”

YMCA. Jones also has given classes Jones said helping his students at Fairport Baptist Homes. has taken him back to one of his “Daniel’s service fits perfectly first loves—teaching. While living in into our model because we love to Greeneville, S.C., he taught design offer lifelong learning opportunities at the local Visual Arts Institute for a to our members,” says Kristine number of years. “I knew someday I Santillo, director of the Lily Café. would return to teaching, but little did She said the café promotes successful I know that my students would be 65 aging by providing an atmosphere and older,” he says. encompassing mind, body and spirit Jones adds thus far his youngest to combat isolation and enhance student is 66, while his oldest is 93. community.

“I have found teaching this “We have received the best generation of adults to be the most feedback from absolutely every class rewarding and fulfilling experience that Dan has given,” Santillo adds. of my career,” Jones says.

January / February 2013 - 55 PLUS

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55+

living

Safe & Sound Senior living communities feature solid security systems

By Ernst Lamothe Jr.

D

on Riley understands the enormous responsibility of the senior living communities he oversees.

With locations in Brighton, Chili, Henrietta, Greece, Irondequoit, Penfield and Victor, there are more than a thousand seniors living in apartments and townhouses at Legacy Independent Senior Living.

The staff ’s conscientiousness goes beyond mowing the lawns, shoveling snow, cooking meals daily and scheduling optional activities.

One of their main jobs is making sure re s i d e n t s re m a i n s e c u re a n d t h e i r family members continue to feel a s s u re d o f t h e i r safekeeping. “ Yo u h a v e t o have permission to visit someone and Riley we make sure that person has been vetted before they can walk in and visit one of our residents,” said Riley, who works for Mark IV Enterprises, which builds and operates seven Legacy senior living communities. “Our staff keeps close eyes on and begins to learn the people who routinely visit residents.”

Riley said the facilities have stateof-the-art security and fire systems, 34

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individual emergency call systems, and a 24-hour staff. The electronic doors are locked around 8 p.m. and anyone coming into Legacy must sign in and out. The facility also has wellplaced cameras meant to keep Legacy protected and not be invasive, along with other security measures that are known to only selected personnel.

“The only way in and out once the doors are locked is if a person who lives there lets you in. You can’t just walk in and walk upstairs,” said Riley. “We are constantly encouraging residents to let us know if they see something suspicious.”

Even though area police departments don’t keep specific figures on thefts or crimes at senior living communities, officials know elderly residents are often targeted because of their faith in strangers and not always locking up their possessions.

Many police departments give presentations several times a year to seniors about how to avoid being a victim of a crime and how to increase their overall security savvy. Because seniors feel inherently safe when they live in adult communities and are trusting to begin with, it can make them an easy target.

“We talk to our residents about identity theft and scams,” said Riley.

“We have seminars alerting seniors about the fact there are many unsavory

characters out there that are looking to take advantage of them.”

The reason why identity theft is starting to play a larger role is because the next generation of seniors has grown up during the computer era.

That means they are more likely to use the Internet for online banking or purchasing.

Security a priority At Rivers Run Active Adult Community in Rochester, residents are housed in cottages and apartments near the Genesee River, a half-mile from the Rochester Institute of Technology’s main campus. The developer and owner of Rivers Run designed the community to have well-lit roads, paths and entrances. Because of its proximity to the college, RIT campus security regularly patrols the facility, providing residents an extra sense of Tobin security.

Many of Rivers Run’s safety measures come in the form of emergency response systems, emergency power generators, automated doors, internal TV messaging and phone networks and alarm systems. All apartments are connected to a centralized security

system and all exterior doors are secured from the outside after a certain hour. In addition, the living community is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All visitors are asked to sign in and out at the reception desk and residents go through educational sessions.

“We believe a well-informed resident is a more secure resident, so all community members of Rivers Run are provided frequent security and emergency response training,” said Patrick Tobin, president of Living Communities, LLC, 50 Fairwood Drive, Rochester, the parent company for Rivers Run. “Community members are continually encouraged to communicate, suggest ideas and raise concerns with management.”

Rivers Run also has a community council intended to foster discussion forums on security and other essential interests.

“Rivers Run is very pet-friendly so there are a lot of dogs adding to the eyes and ears that are looking out for the community,” said Tobin. “We are committed to ensuring community

members feel secure so they can truly enjoy themselves.”

Looking out for one another Alison Miller, communications coordinator at Episcopal SeniorLife Communities, said the facility puts a high importance on the safety of its residents.

“Senior residents within our communities are encouraged to report any suspicious behavior to management immediately. All reports are investigated,” said Miller of the facility on 505 Mount Hope Ave., Rochester. “We feel it extremely important to keep our residents as safe and secure as possible. This is their home, and they entrust us to provide the assurance of safety and security each and every day.”

On the 40-acre campus of St. John’s Meadows in Brighton, officials have put together a comprehensive security plan in the form of phones, cameras, television screens and push button devices for those looking to enter the facility. When somebody knocks on residents’ doors, they can

look at a screen with four quadrants showing them who is outside.

The front-door receptionist also can view the activity on a television next to his or her desk. Security guards are present at various times throughout the day as part of the 24hour safety defense system.

Every home has an emergency call system and residents have a pager button to press if they feel unsafe in a situation. The calls go through the protective services team that regularly patrols the grounds and checks for unlocked doors.

But safety can’t simply be staff responsibility. Residents need to also keep an eye on each other.

“When someone doesn’t come down for dinner that regularly does or if someone sees a person walking around the building looking suspicious, we want them to tell someone,” said Riley. “This is their home and their community, and we have to have a system of neighbors watching out for other neighbors.”

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www.riversrunliving.com January / February 2013 - 55 PLUS

35

55+

story telling

Webster Mom Gets First Book Published 59-year old Sharon Swart, a former school secretary and nanny, writes about her experiences dealing with kids

By Beth Emley

S

haron Swart said she was always told to “write from the heart and write what you know.” For her, that was easy.

The stories of the adventures she had with her two sons, Keith, 28, and Justin, 30, are the basis for her new children’s book, “The Adventures of Matthew the Monkey,” which came out in

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October.

Swart, 59, a Webster resident and former school secretary and nanny, said she always wanted to write a book. One day, while building a fort with Matthew, a boy she was babysitting for, Swart said she sat down to put her thoughts on paper.

“I sat down at the table and wrote a story about me and my kids growing up together,” she said.

Swart said she decided to make the main character a monkey and she named him Matthew.

“He [the boy] liked the story and so I wrote another one and another one,” she said.

Swart said she made the stories an adventure because “we never knew where it would lead.”

“I wanted to show parents everything can be fun,” Swart said. “I wanted to bring back that innocence of childhood and the importance of family. A lot came from my heart and a lot was based on what my kids and I did.”

Swart said she wrote the book over a span of four months.

“I would come up with ideas in the middle of the night and my husband would just say, ‘Turn on the light and start writing,” she recalled.

Swart said the kids she was babysitting for were “guinea pigs” for her ideas. “I just kept writing

and writing and writing,” she said.

The stories she came up with were about the kinds of everyday situations kids get into. The titles include “Matthew Takes a Nap—or Not,” “Matthew Does Not Tell the Truth,” “Matthew Learns About Friendship,” and “Matthew Takes a Field Trip.”

Swart said when she was done, she pulled all the stories together and submitted them to Tate Publishing of Mustang, Okla. That was last October 2011.

Swart said it was a quick turnaround. She sent her book on a Tuesday, the publisher received it on a Thursday and on that Saturday, they called to offer her a contract.

The book is 98 pages with 21 chapters.

“They [readers] will hear the complete story in each chapter. Kids

will not get bored,” she said. “You don’t have to read them in order to get the lesson they have to teach.”

Swart said she’s grateful that getting the book published was a smooth process.

“I am totally blessed, I was told to get used to rejection and it would take years,” she said. “Someone else I know took 15 years to get published. I’m still pinching myself.

It’s just absolutely amazing. It’s like my baby.”

The book is now available at barnesandnoble.com and amazon. com and a commercial about the book is being developed for a cable network, she said.

There was a book launch party at the Webster Fire Department in August, and 200 books were sold.

“The cake was a book that opens up with a picture of Matthew the Monkey on the other side,” Swart said, smiling.

Since the book was published, Swart said she’s been sharing it with children she babysits and with friends who have grandchildren.

“I would come up with ideas in the middle of the night and my husband would just say, ‘Turn on the light and start writing.’”

Sharon Swart

“They get it, which is exactly what I want. I didn’t want anything too heavy,” she said. “Now I’m excited to start to read to other children in schools and libraries.”

Swart said she has started her next project, which is a collaboration

with the Webster Fire Department.

Swart said she is using the Matthew the Monkey character to talk about fire safety. The book, called “Matthew the Monkey Goes Bananas for Fire Safety,” was scheduled to be out by Christmas and is published by the same company, Tate Publishing.

Swart recently attended a fire safety program at the fire department and received good reviews on “The Adventures of Matthew the Monkey.” A little girl told her she has the book and the girl’s mom said she loves it.

“It brought tears to my eyes,” Swart said.

Swart said she foresees at least one more Matthew the Monkey book before she explores a new topic. She said she would like to write a budget book for adults on how to make ends meet.

No matter what the future holds, Swart said she’s grateful for the experience so far.

“This whole thing has been quite an adventure,” she said.

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55+

hearing

Not Your Mother’s Hearing Aids

By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I

f you’ve not updated your hearing aids recently, or have put off buying them at all, you may be in for a pleasant surprise.

The technology available today far surpasses that 25 years ago.

Clunky, whistling, hard-to-use aids are passé.

Today’s hearing instruments are sleek, user-friendly and offer clearer sound than ever.

Some people are afraid to try hearing aids because they think it will negatively alter their appearance.

But modern hearing aids are much more subtle than their predecessors.

Nearly contact lenses for the ears. The technology that makes this happen also helps deliver better sound that instruments that filled the ear canal or ones with cumbersome tubing.

Instruments with a receiver in the ear canal “have made hearing aids much more natural sounding and we can fit more patients. More are able to accept the amplification,” said Christine Stein, audiologist with 38

55 PLUS - January / February 2013

Professional Hearing Solutions in Victor.

If you’ve never tried hearing aids, you’ll likely have a much better experience by visiting an audiologist than trying a hearing amplification devices such as the ones that masquerade as a phone headset.

Although hearing aids may be purchased online and amplifiers are available in stores, “it’s not like picking a pair of shoes,” said Matt MacDonald, audiologist with Hart Hearing Center in Rochester.

“Patients just aren’t going to have the background and fundamental knowledge of hearing and hearing science to make great decisions.

People are always motivated in getting something cheap that works.

Bluetooth ones amplify all sounds equally. It’s the rare individual for whom that gives adequate hearing.”

Unfortunately, some people with hearing loss try an inexpensive amplifier, endure a bad experience, and jump to the conclusion that

hearing aids will not help them. Or if they tried hearing aids years ago, they may not realize new technology is available.

Whistling—known as “acoustic feedback” has been eliminated.

MacDonald explained that the development of active feedback cancellation technology is responsible for this advance.

“Years ago the only solution was to turn down the power or plug up the patient’s ear canal,” MacDonald said. “Now the hearing aid actually identifies the feedback and eliminates it without us having to turn down the power or plug up the ear. That was one of those very basic types of problems that until you solved it, you couldn’t proceed.”

Hearing well over the phone has always been difficult for people with hearing impairment. Hearing aids used to not help much. Today’s hearing aids make it much easier. By interfacing with Bluetooth technology, wearers can receive calls from their

phones and have the sound routed directly to their hearing aids.

The technology allows wearers to connect to other electronics such as televisions, tablets, and computers that use wireless technology.

“It’s made easy the difficult listening situations like restaurants,” Stein said.

The dining partner can wear a microphone and everything he or she says goes right into the hearing aid.

But the person wearing the hearing instrument can still hear the server and others around him.

“Both the external mikes on the hearing aid are active,” Stein said.

“What comes through the mike gets precedence, but you can still monitor what’s going on the environment.”

Not only do hearing aids help people communicate better, but the instruments themselves communicate with each other to help determine

which hearing aid has the stronger signal-to-voice ratio.

“That will cause the aid to pay more attention to it,” Stein said. “Both hearing aids are thinking about the environment at all times.”

Directional technology also helps wearers hone in on sounds in whatever direction they’re facing so that they can hear conversations better in a noisy environment.

One of the other recent advances, extended wear hearing instruments, are placed deep in the ear canal by a professional and stay there--24 hours a day--until the battery expires, about two to three months.

“They can sleep with it, shower with it, anything,” MacDonald said.

“When they battery gives up, we remove the old device and put in a new device. It’s something different for individuals who really want a hands-off approach to hearing aids.”

Signs You May Have Hearing Loss Matt MacDonald, audiologist with Hart Hearing Center in Rochester, offered a few warning signs of hearing loss: • “Friends and family telling you that they feel you’re having hearing difficulties. It’s usually people around you that are aware of it first. By the time someone’s feeling the effects of it, they’re well into being a candidate.

• “If you start to change your lifestyle, like avoid playing bridge or getting together at the coffee shop and you withdraw from these activities because you can’t hear well.

• “If you have ringing in your ears, tinnitus, that’s a sign of hearing loss. Hearing aids won’t eliminate it, but they can mask it very well by processing other sounds and lowering their awareness of tinnitus.

Three-quarters of patients with it get significant relief from hearing instruments. And even if it doesn’t help, it won’t hurt anything.

Christine Stein, audiologist with Professional Hearing Solutions in Victor, shared a few more: • “ N o t understanding people when they talk or the end of the sentence because someone’s trailing off.

• “If ‘everyone mumbles’ because not everyone does mumble.

Joseph Kozelsky, audiologist and president of Webster Hearing Center, offered more: • “If other people complain the TV is too loud. That’s almost always a good indicator that hearing loss might be present.

• “If you’re not sure if you have a hearing loss, keep track of how many times during the day you ask someone to repeat something.”

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39

long-term care

By Susan Suben

Your Caregiving Team

T

he health care and insurance industries are difficult to understand under the best of circumstances — they are even more confusing when you are caring for someone. It becomes urgent to get answers to questions that will make your situation more manageable and less stressful. Most often, you just can’t do it alone. It may be that you need to create a team of professionals that will help you ask the right questions to find the appropriate solutions.

Three professionals that you should consider having on your team are a geriatric care manager, a HIICAPP counselor and ombudsman.

What is a geriatric care manager?

According to the National A s s o c i a t i o n o f G e r i a t r i c C a re Managers, a geriatric care manager (GCM) is a health and human services specialist who acts as a guide and advocate for families who are caring for older relatives or disabled adults. A GCM assists clients in attaining their maximum functional potential while helping their families deal with caregiving issues more efficiently. A GCM will foster a client’s independence and address safety and security concerns. GCMs are unbiased and able to respond to a broad range of issues related to the well-being of their client. They will also have extensive knowledge about the costs, quality and availability of resources (facility placement, home care, etc.) in the community.

A GCM will do an assessment of the client’s functional and cognitive abilities as well as take an objective look around the house during an inhome visit. Is the client practicing good hygiene and dressing appropriately?

Is there food in the refrigerator? Are there safety issues such as too many area rugs that can prompt a fall?

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55 PLUS - January / February 2013

An assessment will generally take up to two hours and will include conversations with family members, the client and possibly the client’s doctors and attorney.

When is a good time to retain a GCM for assistance?

Research shows that working with a GCM before a crisis occurs will generally result in less hospitalizations and more time at home for the disabled individual.

When selecting a GCM look at their credentials, affiliations, and fees.

Usually a GCM is a licensed or certified nurse or social worker and is affiliated with the National Association of Geriatric Case Managers. You can search the site to find a care manager in your area.

The hourly rate for a GCM averages $50 to $120. After the GCM completes the initial assessment, it will be up to you to determine how often to stay in touch depending upon how much help you need.

It is important to conduct a personal interview and obtain testimonials from previous clients.

Ask the GCM what type of clients he/she works with; how they would respond to a particular situation; and how long they have been in the field.

You may have to interview several care managers before you find one that you feel comfortable with. This is extremely important because they will be getting involved in your family dynamics.

What is a HIICAP counselor?

HIICAP stands for the NYS Department for the Aging Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program. A HIICAP counselor offers free, unbiased information and confidential counseling and assessments to help solve health and medical coverage concerns.

Trained HIICAP counselors can help you through the “maze of Medicare, Medicaid, HMOs, Medigap insurance coverage, employer benefits, medical bills, insurance claims forms and long-term care. Other areas of expertise are veterans’ benefits, fraud and abuse, programs for low-income seniors, retiree health plans, managed care, hospice rights, and prescription drug plans.

All county offices for aging have a HIICAP counselor on staff.

The program receives federal funds from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. This is an invaluable source of information for any family that is confronted with health and insurance related questions.

What is a ombudsman?

If your loved one is already residing in a long-term care facility and has quality of care issues, you can turn to an ombudsman.

According to the Cortland County Area Agency on Aging, an ombudsman is a trained, certified volunteer who advocates for residents in long-term care facilities. The ombudsman helps resolve issues and complaints by residents and serves to educate residents, their families and the facility staff of resident rights. In addition, the ombudsman strives to enhance the resident’s quality of life and gives the resident the tools to advocate for him/herself.

You never have to feel alone as a caregiver. Form your caregiving team. Reach out to others. Surround yourself with family and professionals to give you support, structure and information.

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.

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Call (315) 986-4088 Community room, Planned activities, Fitness Center & walking paths all provide excellent opportunities for a healthy and happy lifestyle.

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20 Kingsford Lane Ogden, NY Ages 62+, 1 & 2 bedrooms

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P.O. Box 525, Victor, NY 14564

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By Ernst Lamothe, Jr.

Gary Larder, 71

G

A Love for Baseball and the Red Wings

ary Larder is the chairman of the board of directors for Rochester Community Baseball (Rochester Redwings). He was also president and CEO of the Red Wings and is the longest serving officer of the board in the team’s history.

Q. What is your role for the Red Wings?

A. I am responsible for providing leadership to the board, conducting meetings and reporting the activities of our baseball team. Our mission has always been tied to providing wholesome, reasonably-priced entertainment. I’m reminded of that every day that I go to work.

Q. What are some of the ways the Red Wings go about making it a family friendly environment?

A. We do everything we can to keep our ticket prices low. We know that families have a lot of things on their plates and they need their money to go further than ever before. We compare our prices to other minor and major league teams and make sure we are running lower than most.

We also compare our concession stands’ prices to other stadiums and movie theaters. We pride ourselves in offering more than just hot dogs and pizza. We offer tuna fish wraps, pasta and even a gluten-free stand so our fans can have the variety of foods they deserve. There’s a reason why we have groups of all kinds from schools to churches because we are familyfriendly and that is something we are proud of.

Q. Why do you enjoy going to Red Wings games?

A. I like talking with fans and seeing what we can do to improve their experiences. People seem excited when they are there and you can feel that throughout the crowd. I think that

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is one of the reasons we have been voted favorite local sports team for several years and Baseball America called us Baseball City USA. A lot of that has to do with our constant desire to satisfy our fans. We want people to view going to a game as a family event and not only care about if the team wins or losses. That is why we average 400,000 to 500,000 fans each year.

Q. How did you get your start with the Red Wings?

A. I was a long-time fan before joining the board of directors of Rochester Community Baseball as its treasurer in 1982. I worked at Xerox in a finance role for about 32 years.

When I had the opportunity to take early retirement from Xerox in 1996, it was a pleasure to start spending my full time work with the Red Wings.

Most companies’ sole mission is to maximize shareholder value and returning investments on their assets.

But the Red Wings are in the business of making people happy.

Q. How did you get your passion for the game?

A. My parents were not sports fans so I am not sure how I got interested in baseball. I began following the Cleveland Indians when I was a boy.

I remember saving money from my paper route and going to an Indians game. Baseball is an intriguing sport because it is a sport of individuals working in a team atmosphere.

You have to find the right mixes of individual players who bat, pitch and play defense who are willing to play well together. There is something about being in a ballpark that I love. I take my vacations in Florida to watch spring training baseball. I will always be a baseball person.

Q. What do you like about living in the Rochester area?

A . I am originally from

Canandaigua and I am the type of person who appreciates how wonderful it is to live here. It’s a great place to live. Even though I wish our winters were shorter, but I like the fact we have changing seasons.

Q. What do you do to stay in shape?

A. I have always been an active person. I go to work early in the morning so I make sure to do what my doctor tells me. I walk and jog outside, watch my diet and don’t smoke. I was previously diagnosed with colon cancer and had surgery.

I went through chemotherapy and everything has worked out well. I have been blessed and I am going to keep making sure I take care of myself.

Q. What is the best way for someone to get a permanent job within a baseball organization?

A. The first advice I would give them is to serve as an intern. Usually when there is call for a full time position, they look for someone who has already worked within the organization. You also want to be someone who can work well with others. Being friendly and liking people is something that has served many of us well.

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