SEPTEMBER 2012
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SINCE 1980 — VolUME 32 • NUMBER 9
Seeing through the Eyes of Dementia By Julie Heidelberg, Editor
5 LESSONS TO FUEL YOUR MIND & BODY
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Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. The two go hand in hand, but many families and caregivers can only make assumptions about what’s really going on with their afflicted loved one. Hoping to enlighten the community and caregivers, John Perkins, executive director at Pacifica Senior Living Sun City Center, has brought a virtual dementia tour to the Tampa Bay community. Through a prescribed set of sensory overload and sensory deprivation exercises, tour participants discover many surprising things that help them better understand what’s going on with the Alzheimer’s or dementia patient. Initially, tour participants are interviewed to establish what they think and know about dementia. Then they are prepped for the tour with the following impairments to simulate various symptoms of dementia: • Goggles that create a sense of tunnel vision • Headphones that produce a stream of sounds, including conversations, slamming doors and ringing phones • Gloves that simulate peripheral neuropathy in the fingers
• Inserts in the shoes to simulate peripheral neuropathy in the toes Accompanied by a nurse, the participants are escorted in pairs to a model apartment and instructed to complete a series of tasks in 10 minutes or less, including • Writing a letter See DEMENTIA, Page 3.
A September to Remember By Bohdan O. Szuprowicz
BUSY GRANDMOTHERS CAN LOOK GOOD TOO!
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COMPOSE YOUR OWN SERIES
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Whenever September rolls around, it reminds me of the very first hours of World War II. The powerful impression made that day on the mind of an 8-year old boy and the associated images are getting even sharper as time progresses. At dawn, on the first day of September 1939, Germany attacked Poland in a number of air raids on specific towns and strategic targets throughout the country. We lived in a civilian compound at the edge of a military base in Grodno where my father was an artillery officer in charge of an anti-aircraft unit. German aircraft from East Prussia, only minutes away, appeared over the town, bombing the bridges on the river Niemen and the military bases. We were among the first targets of that raid. It was the sound of the air raid siren on top of our building that jerked me out of sleep. It shattered the stillness of the early dawn, a violent and sudden reminder to take cover. Actually, we were used to it because we heard that siren on several prior occasions when they tested the system. But this time it was different. Other, more distant sirens joined in one by one. For several minutes they sounded like a monstrous, expanding orchestra chorus wailing out of sync and scattered all over town. Suddenly a different, howling whine became louder and louder. Then, unexpectedly, there was a blinding flash… I felt a
blow of air on my chest and heard the thunder of an explosion. The sound of shattered glass and bricks raining on cobblestones in the street below was then followed by a sudden silence… Only after a while did the drone of engines of the attacking bombers register in my consciousness. Anti-aircraft guns around the military compound opened up. Their staccato salvoes sounded like some big dogs barking in the distance. More thundering explosions followed further and further away. Then my heart started beating again. Someone switched on the radio: “Attention, attention, it’s coming. Ko, Ma, Three. Attention, attention…” This message repeated over and over again. Father ran along the corridor of our apartment. He tried to strap on the gun holster to the leather belt of his uniform. He shouted to Mother, “Take the children below. Under the stairs in the lobby. I have to report.” “Dress yourself quickly,” Mother said to me. She asked the maid to dress my younger brother while she took care of the two-week old baby. “The windows, “somebody screamed. “Close the windows. It’s gas. Poison gas.” “The windows are broken,” another voice answered. “All the windows are broken. Most of the glass is gone.” See SEPTEMBER, Page 7.
Senior Voice America…in print, on the web and on the air with Health, Wealth & Wisdom. Tune in to AM 1250 WHNZ Monday thru Friday, from 4 to 5 p.m. as Publisher Evan Gold brings you the information to live an active mature lifestyle. Visit our new website, Tampa Bay’s leading news source for seniors, www.seniorvoiceamerica.com.
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Senior Voice America
SEPTEMBER 2012
SEPTEMBER 2012
Senior Voice America
Health Roundup DEMENTIA, from Page 1.
• Setting the table • Folding the laundry and match clothes • Taking a phone call • Putting on a sweater Participants describe feeling frustration and anxiety during the exercise because they could not hear or remember the instructions (provided only once), or things took longer than expected due to the impairments. Observers watch for wandering, pacing and general reactions that indicate what the participant is experiencing. As Perkins explains, “The virtual tour provides a better understanding of the disease for the caregiver and illustrates how the disease can be all encompassing. It not only affects cognition and involuntary senses like hearing and seeing. Dementia also impacts motor skills, reflexes, dexterity, balance and mobility.” According to Perkins, participation in the virtual tour is now mandatory for all staff members at Pacifica Senior Living Sun City Center, and he encourages other professional and family caregivers to experience the tour as well. “The tour helps people understand why mom or dad forgot to eat, and why, if approached from the side, they are startled, scared and lash out,” Perkins said. “When you have tunnel vision or impaired hearing, you don’t even know someone’s approaching from the back or the side and it can be really jarring when someone suddenly appears.” The next virtual dementia tour will be held on Sept. 27 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The tour is free to the public and takes about one hour. The center is located at 3855 Upper Creek Dr., Sun City Center, FL 33573, and is home to 80 assisted living residents and 50 memory care unit residents who enjoy and safe and secure environment with a 7 to 1 staffing ratio. For more information, call 813-938-2246 or visit http:// www.pacificasuncity.com.
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Senior Voice America
SEPTEMBER 2012
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Senior Voice America, Inc. 8406 Benjamin Rd., Ste. G Tampa, FL 33634 Phone (813) 444-1011 • Fax (813) 422-7966 www.seniorvoiceamerica.com Staff Publisher: Evan Gold evan@seniorvoiceamerica.com Associate Publisher: Timm Harmon timm@seniorvoiceamerica.com Managing Editor/Broadcast Producer: Deb Goldman deb@seniorvoiceamerica.com Editor: Julie Heidelberg julie@seniorvoiceamerica.com Creative Director: Ed Luiso ed@seniorvoiceamerica.com Circulation Manager: Sharon Altman sharon@seniorvoiceamerica.com ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES • (813) 444-1011 Timm Harmon timm@seniorvoiceamerica.com Glenn Bornemann glenn@seniorvoiceamerica.com Ricardo Rincon ricardo@seniorvoiceamerica.com Join our sales team. For information about opportunities throughout Florida and North America, email timm@seniorvoiceamerica.com.
Contributors Henry Adams • Abne M. Eisenberg Ruth Fanovich • Judith Sabghir Gannon James Salvatore Giardina • Robert B. Harwood Audrey Hawley • Diane Houser • Ro Martinez Dr. John Michaelos • Eric Pfeiffer • Joe Pippen Maria Posani • Bonnie Quick • Kathleen Stasia Bohdan O. Szuprowicz • June Hurley Young Would you like to write for Senior Voice America? Please email editor@seniorvoiceamerica.com
Senior Voice is a Proud Member of Better Living for Seniors The Guardian Association of Pinellas County The Florida Assisted Living Association Senior Voice America is published monthly and is distributed free of charge, courtesy of its advertisers. Distribution area includes Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Sarasota and Manatee counties. Articles and advertising contained in this issue do not necessarily reflect the opinion or endorsement of the publisher, who does not verify advertiser claims and reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertising.
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Is Cable Television Ruining America? Let me preface this column with a clarification. When I say cable TV, I mean Fios, satellite, etc. Today, there are so many television “news outlets” vying for relevance that you can easily predict what position each will take on a topic, candidate or issue. What happened to the days when you could turn on your local news to learn what was happening in your community? Remember when the national news would provide objective snippets of what was happening around America? I really don’t recall hearing Tom Brokaw or Walter Cronkite spout off about how this candidate would be better than that candidate, nor did I find them taking sides on specific issues. They simply reported the news. And, while Hollywood would periodically make a movie or television show attacking something that was anti-American, like in WWII, I don’t remember television shows trying to sway Americans politically as much as they do today. I am disappointed. What was once a fantastic news channel to watch, CNN, is now just horrible. They are completely one-sided, somewhat like Fox, but even more so. Is it relevance that some of these supposed newscasters seek, or is taking sides what they have to do to garner an audience? Are we, as viewers, just looking for someone that will agree with our position? Years ago, we called it yellow journalism when a media outlet took a specific stance and touted it. Today it is the norm. Clearly, the news media has changed, but we have passively allowed them to taint our news and slant information as they see fit. Will you continue to stand by as you are fed this overly-processed information? The battle for the future of our country has spilled into the media and, unfortunately, it is broadcasters who feel they know best and assume responsibility for getting us to agree. It is time to tune them out and turn them off. The old term “more is better” has no place here. I regularly flip through hundreds of channels and find little to watch because I am so disgusted with the lack of balanced information. Maybe our society was better off when there were three major stations and a handful of minor ones. We went outside for walks, our kids played in the yard, we relied on the written word and we communicated via phone or face to face. We did not know that the President was a stoner in high school or that his opponent beat up a kid in high school 40 years earlier – and it did not matter to us. It was irrelevant then and still is today. Sadly, we cannot count on objective news reporting any more. Just because something is covered on TV does not make it news, and it is a sad reflection on society that we have to filter news reports to determine if there is any real news value, or if it’s just a report to hurt a public figure or promote a political agenda. Take back your life and turn off the television.
Evan Gold LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Evan, What happened to America? When did politicians become tattle-tale crybabies? And better yet, why do we, the voters, put up with it? Can you imagine not being able to stand with confidence, chest stuck out and being able to tell the people of Florida and the country all the good things you’ve done while you were in your elected office? Can you imagine not being able to tell voters how you made our state or the country better, and actually be capable of explaining it so the voters got excited and supported you? It happens on all levels… from local races to the Senate to the Presidency. In the Florida, we have a Senator that has been in office a long time (too long by term limit folks) and he doesn’t run ads touting his accomplishments. Even the President isn’t running ads on his accomplishments. Politicians have become the problem and don’t appear capable of getting out of their own way. In the last 30 years, we have had two Presidents that understood what it takes to lead. Ronald Regan and Bill Clinton both had a Congress lead by the other party. They both reached across the aisle and made concessions to make America better. Ronald Regan had Tip O’Neil and President Clinton had Newt Gingrich. But they both did what it took to make the country a better place. Politicians need to Lead… Follow… or Get Out of the way. It’s time for us to make that clear, vote out those that haven’t lead, vote out those that won’t follow ideas to get the country back to work, and vote out those that won’t get out of the way. Why have we allowed politicians to get re-elected when all they do is tear apart their opponent? Their ads are disgusting and seem to be getting worse. I would be embarrassed to say I am Joe Politician and I approved this ad. They forgot they work for us… when they are up for re-election, they should be convincing us why we want to re-hire them… not tell us what’s wrong with the other guy. We need to throw the bums out. It is time to send a message… TELL ME WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO… and let me make my decision based on that… not all the dirt you can scrape up about your opponent. Sincerely, Frank Krantz, Tampa, FL
SEPTEMBER 2012
Senior Voice America
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Health Roundup
Understanding and Treating Valve Disease Every year, about 5 million Americans learn they have heart valve disease, which can leave you short of breath and too weak for normal activities. In fact, valvular heart diseases are among the most prominent causes of heart failure and premature death. Early evaluation by a valve specialist like those at the Heart & Valve Center at Brandon Regional Hospital can mean a longer, more active and healthier life. Your heart valves lie at the exit of each of your four heart chambers and maintain one-way blood flow through your heart. The four heart valves, when normal, make sure that blood always flows freely in a forward direction and that there is no backward leakage. This pattern is repeated with each heartbeat, over and over, causing blood to flow continuously to the heart, lungs and body.
none at all and do not always indicate the seriousness of heart valve disease.
Risk Factors There are risk factors you can control and risk factors you cannot control. Advancing age and congenital heart problems (present from birth) are factors beyond your control. Factors you can control include infections and untreated strep throat, which can lead to rheumatic fever.
Diagnosis
Your doctor can detect a heart valve problem and find out the nature of your valve damage by talking with you about your symptoms and performing a number of tests. These tests may include • Listening to your heart to hear the valves opening and closing and the rush of blood through them. o When there is a valvular What Are the Types of Valve Disease? pathology, there is TURBU- There are several types of valve disease: LENT blood flow as the heart • Valvular stenosis. This occurs valve opens and closes. This when a valve opening is smaller turbulent blood flow makes a than normal due to stiff or fused sound a trained physician can leaflets. The narrowed opening hear, called a MURMUR. may make the heart work very leaky valve, and less blood may flow perform your normal activities. Of • Conducting an echocardiogram, hard to pump blood through it. to the rest of the body. Depending note here is that if you have changed which uses sound waves to produce This can lead to heart failure and on which valve is affected, the con your normal activities to accommo- detailed images of your heart valves other symptoms (see below). dition is called tricuspid regurgita- date your weakness or shortness of moving as your heart beats. Sometimes all four valves can be tion, pulmonary regurgitation, mi- breath, your activity is no longer • Ordering a magnetic resonance im- stenotic (hardened, restricting tral regurgitation or aortic regurgi- “normal.” aging (MRI) scan, which uses a blood flow). These conditions are tation. • Pressure or weight in your chest, magnetic field and radio waves to called tricuspid stenosis, pulmon- especially when you are active or get detailed images of the inside of ic stenosis, mitral stenosis or aor- Symptoms when you go out into cold air. your heart. tic stenosis. • Heart palpitations or a feeling that • Taking an x-ray image of your chest There are a number of symptoms that • Valvular insufficiency. Also called your heart is beating irregularly, to check your heart, its major vessels may indicate heart valve disease, in regurgitation, incompetence or skipping beats, or flip-flopping in and your lungs for abnormalities. cluding “leaky valve,” this condition occurs • Shortness of breath or difficulty your chest. • Using an ECG to measure the elec- when a valve does not close tightly. catching your breath, especially • Swelling in your ankles, feet or belly. trical impulses given off by your If the valves do not seal, some blood after you have been active or when Sudden weight gain with possibly as heart. An ECG gives your doctor will leak backwards across the valve. you lie down flat in bed. much as 2 to 3 pounds in 1 day. important information about your As the leak worsens, the heart has heart’s rhythm and its size. • Often feeling dizzy or too weak to to work harder to make up for the Symptoms can range from mild to Reference: Nkomo VT, Gardin JM, Skelton TN, et al. Burden of valvular diseases: a population-based study. The Lancet Online. August 18, 2006; Vol. 368; pp. 1005-1011.
About Brandon Regional Hospital The Heart & Vascular Center at Brandon Regional Hospital began its cardiac surgical program in 2002 and recently increased its focus on assuring that patients and their physicians are engaged in timely treatment of valve disease to avoid progression into heart failure and the associated repeated hospitalizations. In ten years, The Heart & Vascular Center’s cardiac surgical program has achieved the highest possible rating for quality and expert cardiac surgical care from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. This highest possible rating is achieved by only 12 percent of cardiac surgery programs in the United States. How was this accomplished in the suburbs of Tampa? First of all, this accomplishment represents a coordinated effort led by our cardiac surgeons Ignacio G. Duarte, MD and Bradley L. Bufkin, MD of Cardiac Surgical Associates. Since 2008, Drs. Duarte and Bufkin have added innovative cardiac surgical procedures such as minimally invasive mitral valve repair, stentless aortic valve replacement, off-pump coronary artery bypass, endoscopic radial and vein harvest and minimally invasive atrial fibrillation surgery to the program. Next, they hand-picked, trained and molded the operating room staff to ensure top-shelf help during cardiac surgery at The Heart & Vascular Center. This made the newest and state-of-the-art cardiac surgical techniques available in the Brandon Regional Hospital cardiac surgery program. These surgeons also believe in the significance of nursing in recovery after heart surgery. The Heart & Vascular Center has established “best practice” pathways to ensure compassionate and professional nursing care. The hospital’s cardiovascular intensive care unit and progressive care unit nurses specialize in the care of cardiac surgical patients. The cardiac surgery program at Brandon Regional is the only JCAHO accredited program in the Tampa Bay region at this time. If you have questions or need help finding a specialist, please call 1-855-MUR-MUR1 (1-855-687-6871).
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Senior Voice America
SEPTEMBER 2012
Health Roundup
Age-Related Macular Degeneration By Dr. John Michaelos of St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 55, affecting more than 10 million Americans. It is a condition in which the central portion of the retina (the macula) deteriorates. It is equally common in men and women and more common in whites than blacks. The cause is unknown, but the condition tends to run in some families. There are two forms of macular degeneration: atrophic (dry) and exudative (wet). Approximately 85-90% of the cases are the dry type. Both forms of the disease may affect both eyes simultaneously. Currently there is no cure, but here are some age-related macular degeneration treatments that could prevent severe vision loss or slow the progression of the disease considerably. • Anti-angiogenic drugs such as the recently approved Eylea, Lucentis, Avastin, and Macugen are injected directly into the eye and are often effective. • Laser therapy • Photodynamic laser therapy • Vitamins such as Lutein • Low vision aids • Several genetic tests are currently available and/or under development. Because some people with the dry form of age-related macular degeneration may develop the wet form, those with the dry form should monitor their vision daily and notify their retina specialist or ophthalmologist of any changes in their vision. Recently the FDA approved the new drug Eylea which treats patients with wet agerelated macular degeneration. If you have the wet form of macular degeneration, even if it’s been treated, you
should have your vision checked regularly to see if any blind spots grow bigger or if any new blind spots appear. New blood vessels can emerge months or years after you have had successful injections or laser treatment. People rarely lose all of their vision from age-related macular degeneration. They may have poor central vision, but they are still able to perform many normal daily activities. Macular degeneration cannot be prevented, but it may be controlled with the help of your ophthalmologist. The earlier you have macular degeneration diagnosed, the better the chance that treatment will help. See your eye doctor if you have any symptoms of age-related macular degeneration and make sure you keep regularly scheduled eye exams. • People older than 45 years with a family history of age-related macular degen- eration have a greater chance of developing the disease. • Use an Amsler grid to help detect subtle changes in your vision. Monitor your vision daily by posting it on your refrigerator. • Stop smoking, eat a balanced diet that includes leafy green vegetables, and protect your eyes from sun exposure with sunglasses that block ultraviolet (UV) sunrays. • Supplementation with antioxidants plus Lutein may decrease the likelihood of developing advanced age-related macular degeneration. Dr. John Michaelos started his practice in Largo and brought with him the skills needed for new technologies available for laser vision correction, improved techniques for cataract surgery and new cosmetic procedures. He stays current with the latest technology through continuing education. His specialties include General Ophthalmology, Refractive Lensectomy, Corneal Transplants, Cataract & Lens Exchange Surgeries and Cosmetic Procedures.
An Amsler Grid Can Provide Early Detection for Eye Diseases Normal View
An Amsler grid is a tool that eye doctors use to detect vision problems resulting from damage to the macula (the central part of the retina) or the optic nerve. The damage may be caused by macular degeneration, glaucoma or other eye diseases, so the Amsler grid is useful in detecting these problems.
Distorted View
How to Test Yourself with the Amsler Grid If you need reading glasses, please wear them while you use the Amsler grid. The grid should be at about the same distance from your eyes that any other reading material would be. Cover one eye, and then focus on the dot in the center. • Do any of the lines look wavy, blurred or distorted? (All lines should be straight, all intersections should form right angles and all the squares should be the same size.) • Are there any missing areas or dark areas in the grid? • Can you see all corners and sides of the grid? • Don’t forget to test both eyes.
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SEPTEMBER 2012
Senior Voice America
SEPTEMBER, Continued from Page 1. “It’s gas. I tell you it’s gas.” Mother moved. She told the cook to get a jug of water and find some linen napkins. In the kitchen she grabbed a bottle of vinegar. “Quickly, the water,” she said, “in case of gas.” she poured the vinegar into the water and wetted the cloth. Then she slapped the moist napkins over the mouths of the baby in her arms and my younger brother. She gave one to me. “Breathe through this…breathe, my God… .” The four year-old boy began to cry, irritated by the wet, sour and cold napkin on his face. Mother herded us out of the apartment. Our cook carried the jug with vinegar water and additional napkins. By the time we got down, there were several people already huddled under the concrete staircase of the lobby. “It’s safe here, it’s good,” they told each other. I do not remember how long we stayed there but several events made an impression on me during that time. Suddenly a doorway was flung open. Yellow dust hung in the air outside. It began to mix with thick, black smoke from roaring flames of a burning building across the street. A man appeared at the doorway. “Close the door,” someone shouted. “It’s gas. I know it’s gas.” “Close the door! Close the door!” yelled the crowd. “It’s gas. Close it. There are women and children here.” The man ignored the shouts and motioned to others outside. Several people came in from the street. “It’s safe here,” they said. “They have water. That’s good.” “You don’t live here,” shouted the people under the staircase. “Go away. Go to your own building.” “We are from the clinic across the street,” they answered. “It’s been hit. We
The sound of shattered glass and bricks raining on cobblestones in the street below was then followed by a sudden silence… are patients. Some of us are wounded and burned. There are also dead.” “Yes, and that bomb was supposed to hit your building,” another man added. “You are a military target. We were only a civilian hospital.” Mother held a wet napkin against the face of the baby and my brother who wanted to wriggle away from her. People looked at them and tried to understand. “I thought it was gas,” she explained. “I am a pharmacist. Vinegar solution is a filter.” An officer in uniform came into the lobby from the garden behind the apartment building that formed part of the military base. He overheard the conversation. “No,” he said. “The flag on our head-
quarters is red. For gas it’s green. There is no danger. By the way, the Germans missed all the military targets. The bombs mostly fell into the nearby streets and fields. But they will be back. Their airfields in East Prussia are only twenty minutes away. You better evacuate these buildings as soon as you can.” The doorway to the street flung open again. Two men staggered in covered with dust. One, frightened out of his wits or in shock, whined away all the time at his companion. “We shall die, we shall die, they’re going to kill us,” he repeated over and over again. “Don’t be silly,” the other answered. “You have nothing to worry about. The Germans are only bombing the Jews.” I took the wet napkin away from my
Page 7 face and looked at the man. An acrid smell and dusty air filled my nose and mouth. I felt a sour taste and grit between my teeth. The stranger noticed my stare and moved closer. “You have nothing to worry about, my boy,” he repeated and pointed his finger at my big blue eyes. He gave me a pat on the shoulder. Mother looked up from under the concrete staircase. She gave the stranger a fleeting smile and went back to comfort the baby in her arms. I could not understand what it was all about. It seemed that the people were now calmer than before but there was something at the back of my mind that bothered me. “How will the German pilots high above know who is who?” I thought. “Perhaps it’s one of those secrets that grown-ups don’t want the children to know.” It really did not matter. Things were happening. We did not have to eat the dreaded oatmeal for breakfast. That was good. No school, of course. No need to play in the sand box with other children of the compound. That was boring. There was an air of adventure in the air. That was exciting. But the most curious part of it all was that I was not afraid. On the contrary; life was becoming more than routine. It looked promising of something not quite tangible at the time but definitely interesting. When the “all clear” sounded most people in the lobby rushed back to their apartments. Others went out into the street. In all, it felt like a big disappointment. We walked back to our apartment where the radio continued with the same message. “Attention, attention, it’s coming….” It was September 1, 1939. World War II had just begun. – taken from a memoir in development by the author
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Senior Voice America
Health Roundup
CANCER ANSWERS
Hearing Loss May Be Sneaking Up On You!
Melanoma Is Curable If Detected Early What do reggae singer Bob Marley, Senator John McCain and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman have in common? Melanoma. McCain and Aikman underwent successful treatment for this potentially fatal skin cancer. For Marley it was too late — melanoma took his life. Many people are unaware that skin cancer can be deadly. But “melanoma is curable only when it is in situ,” says Frank Glass, M.D., a Moffitt Cancer Center dermatopathologist specializing in skin cancer. In situ means the earliest possible stage, before the malignant cells have spread beyond the original site. That’s when the cancer is most treatable and survival rates are best. Dr. Glass directs the new Moffitt High-Risk Dermatology Clinic, which opened earlier this year at Moffitt Cancer Center Screening and Prevention. The clinic offers ongoing monitoring of people at high risk for melanoma or other skin cancers. The goal is to raise awareness and save lives. Squamous cell, basal cell and melanoma – the three most common types of skin cancer – are on the rise in the United States. Dr. Glass is especially concerned about melanoma. The National Cancer Institute reports the incidence of melanoma has increased more than 60 percent over the past 30 years, with the most rapid jump among young women ages 15 to 39 and men over age 65.
New FDA Sunscreen Labeling Helps Protect Consumers
©photos.com
The first step in protecting yourself against skin cancers is preventing skin damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation). Avoiding sun exposure in the most intense part of the day, covering up when you’re in the sun and wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher can help reduce your risk of developing skin cancer. Not all sunscreens are equal, however. New FDA rules about how sunscreen products can be labeled went into effect this summer. Here is an overview of what you now see: • Only broad-spectrum products with an SPF of 15 or higher can claim they reduce the risk of skin cancer and premature aging. • Broad-spectrum products must protect against both UVB radiation and a percentage of UVA radiation. • Products that are not broad spectrum and have an SPF lower than 15 must be labeled with a Skin Cancer/Skin Aging Alert. • An SPF rating of 50 is now the highest allowed. • Products can no longer be labeled “sun block” or “waterproof.” Even the right sunscreen won’t work properly if you don’t use it correctly. This means using 1/4 ounce on your face (including your ears) and 1 ounce on your body. Apply 15-30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every 2 hours or after swimming, toweling off or significant sweating.
The ABCDE’s of Melanoma The second step in protecting against skin cancer is regular skin examinations – monthly self-exams and an annual skin examination by a dermatologist. The acronym ABCDE (see below for an explanation) is a useful tool for remembering the warning signs of melanoma. But people at high risk shouldn’t limit themselves to this guideline when examining their skin, says Dr. Glass. “Anything that looks new should be checked out,” he says. “Don’t wait a few months to see if it goes away. The lesion you least suspect can be the most dangerous.”
What does ABCDE stand for? • Asymmetry — one side of the mole looks different from the other half • Border - the edges of the mole are irregular, uneven or notched • Color - uneven color than can include shades of tan, brown, black, even blue • Diameter - the mole has increased in size • Evolving - the mole has changed in appearance over the past few weeks or months
ASYMMETRY
BORDER
(ABCDE Acronym Source: National Cancer Institute)
COLOR
DIAMETER
(Source of photos: Skin Cancer Foundation)
Are you at high risk for skin cancer? A physician referral is not needed for patients to be screened at Moffitt’s High-Risk Dermatology Clinic. For an appointment, call 813-745-6769.
SEPTEMBER 2012
By Audrey Hawley, HAS, BC-H.I.S. I am often asked why people wait so long to get their hearing tested and address their hearing loss. The answer? Hearing loss is sneaky. Though an estimated 26.7 million Americans age 50 and older have hearing loss, only about one in seven are using hearing devices to correct the problem. A person with hearing loss waits an average of 5-7 years before addressing their declining hearing problem. The reason is often because it takes several years to realize that a hearing loss is present and it’s usually a friend or loved one who provides encouragement to seek a professional evaluation. Hearing loss is not like a decline in eyesight. When we discover our vision is getting blurry, we immediately have an eye exam and determine if glasses are needed. If they are, we welcome the correction and rejoice in knowing that we can see clearly again. The tricky thing about hearing loss is that it is the only sense that is intangible. We can’t see it, touch it, taste it or smell it. How do we know what we are not hearing? We simply don’t know what we are missing. It’s not until a hearing loss gets bad enough to harm our communication with others that we begin to realize we have a problem. There are 3 issues that contribute to the delay in seeking help: • Denial – “It’s not that bad. I can manage. It’s no big deal.” • Vanity – “I don’t want people to know I have a hearing loss. How will hearing aids look? Only old people have hearing loss.” • Affordability – “Hearing aids can be expensive. How will I afford to correct my hearing?” The longer you wait to have your hearing corrected, the greater the odds of losing the ability to understand speech correctly once you introduce amplification to the ears. Our inner ear (the cochlea) has thousands of nerve cells that look like tiny little hairs, called cilia. These cilia receive sound and convert it to electrical signals that can be perceived as sound by the brain. When cilia die from untreated hearing loss, you lose your ability to understand speech. This condition is permanent. We hear and understand at the brain level, but the ears are the messengers. Amplification stimulates the nerves and allows the information to properly transmit the sounds correctly. This is how we can distinguish the sound of “sh” from “th.” If you don’t use these nerve cells, you will lose them permanently. The term “use it or lose it” has never been truer than with your hearing! As we age, we will all experience hearing loss. Ignoring it and putting it off only makes the situation worse. Living with hearing loss is exhausting …for you and everyone you communicate with. It doesn’t just affect you. Facts: • Everyone should have a baseline hearing exam beginning at age 50 and annually going forward. • Over 35 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss. • Hearing loss has a negative effect on earning power, socialization and general well being. It is also associated with poorer cognitive function and risk of dementia. • People living with uncorrected hearing loss retreat from enjoying TV, talking on the phone, socializing with friends and family and can often be misdiagnosed with early stages of dementia. Dementia and hearing loss share common symptoms. Doctors may think you can’t remember instructions or conversations but, in reality, you just didn’t hear or understand them properly because of the untreated hearing loss. • Living with an uncorrected hearing loss can be dangerous. Can you hear the siren of an emergency vehicle when you still have time to react, or do you not hear the siren until it’s right beside your vehicle? Can you hear a car drive up behind you when you are walking in a parking lot? Will you hear your grandchild if they cry? Hearing aids today are super small, discreet (many are completely invisible) and come in many different price levels to accommodate all budgets. Hearing exams are offered at no charge from many hearing healthcare professionals. Many even offer risk free trials. Don’t wait to address your hearing loss. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose! To learn more about hearing loss and hearing correction, or to schedule a free hearing test and consultation, call Sound Advice Hearing Solutions at 727-822-2132 or visit www.soundadviceflorida.com
SEPTEMBER 2012
Senior Voice America
Page 9
Health Roundup
Five Lessons to Fuel Your Mind and Body Daily ©bigstockphoto.com
By Bonnie L. Quick “Energize daily and calm as needed,” says Juli Steinocher, M.A., owner and creator of Mindbodylab.com. While this is valuable advice for any age, it is especially important for seniors to help achieve optimal health and enjoyment in later years. Steinocher is both a licensed mental health counselor and massage therapist/ bodyworker. In addition, she is a certified personal trainer (American College of Sports Medicine). “Nothing is more clear in the mind/body connection than the benefits that exercise can play,” she said. It is critical to the health of seniors and helps keep a wellness balance. “The choices we make daily affect how we think and how we feel,” she says. These choices include the foods we eat and whether or not we exercise. How we handle stress and the amount of sleep we get is of equal importance. “For the past few years I have been studying the field of Psycho-Neuro-Immunology (PNI) — how stress (or what we perceive as stress) affects our nervous system, immune system and ultimately our emotional and physical health,” says Steinocher. Counseling services can help you feel better both mentally & physically. “Women are notorious for putting others first and they become depleted,” she said. “Try to have fun or do something you enjoy everyday. Find some way of connecting with others. I mean face-to-face human interaction, not just by telephone or social media.” Here are Steinocher’s five important lessons that will help you learn to do things for yourself. Fill yourself up daily. Energy is medicine. Help your body to heal itself. Lesson One: You know what to do… but don’t…why? We all know we should eat right, exercise and get plenty of rest. But somehow “take care of yourself” gets put on the back burner. Take time to prioritize yourself. Lesson Two: Your body is talking to you … it is time to listen. Every organ is governed by its own emotion. The emotion of the stomach is anxiety, while the emotion of the lungs is grief. Take care to learn what they are telling you. Lesson three: You are no longer a victim of your genes. Making proper choices daily can either turn the genes on or off. You can control your own destiny. Lesson Four: Claim your power. Put yourself first so you can be of help to others. Steinocher calls it self-full rather than self–ish. Lesson five: Daily self-care. You have only one body, one mind and one life. Be aware of your own needs. Check the Mindbodylab.com website for additional topics to help you energize daily and calm as needed.
Affordable Apartments for Seniors in the Heart of Sunny Downtown Saint Petersburg. • Newly Renovated • Porches • Pet Friendly • Free Gardening Area • Free Basic Cable • Free Wireless Internet • Free Shopping Buses • Free Assigned Parking • Free Stunning Views • Country Store • 24/7 Front Desk Coverage 1035 Arlington Avenue North St. Petersburg, Florida 33705
Phone: 727-896-5148 TTY: 800-955-8771
Open: M-F 8am to 4pm EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
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Senior Voice America
SEPTEMBER 2012
Health Roundup
A Major Breakthrough in COPD Treatment
Most people have heard of stem cells and the promise they hold in the treatment of disease. Science has now begun to focus on the intricacies of the human adult stem cell healing system that resides in each one of us. Researchers long believed that adult stem cells caused healing by themselves by replacing injured cells with new ones; as stem cells are known to do. However, scientists have recently reported that stem cells are not the most important part of this healing system. Rather, it’s the special chemical substances produced by the stem cells (called cytokines) that do most of the healing. Stem cells produce these cytokine substances, which in turn activate and stimulate the body’s own natural resident stem cells to heal diseases by replacing sick and injured cells with healthy new ones. “We can now stimulate the body’s cytokine chemical substances so that healing will be accomplished by the patient’s own stem cells, which are found naturally throughout the body.”, says Matthew Burks, M.D. of
USA Stem Cells based in Sarasota, Florida. “This can eliminate the need to inject stem cells into the patient, which is not yet allowed in the USA.” Dr. Burks is now using these advanced treatment methods to treat COPD, a chronic, progressive, irreversible lung disease. Science has shown that COPD actually interferes with the cytokine chemical signals needed to activate the patient’s own adult stem cell healing system. To break this COPD cycle of interference, Dr. Burks uses various medications that are injected, inhaled, and given orally. His treatment method is designed to help create the cytokine signals needed to stimulate the patient’s own natural adult stem cells to help repair injured lung tissue. Dr. Burks also incorporates advanced laser therapy to the lungs by painless external exposure. Laser has been shown by recent medical research to activate cytokines which again stimulate the patient’s own stem cell healing activity. “We’re the only clinic we know of worldwide that uses such advanced stem cell stimulation procedures in attempts to ameliorate the ravages of this complex
disease,” states Dr. Burks. Dr. Burks became committed to working on COPD quality of life issues shortly after his own father was diagnosed with the disease. Using these advanced methods of stem cell stimulation, his father has managed to live a much better quality of life than most with the disease. Most of his patients reported some form of symptom improvements during recent telephone surveys. Many patients reported increased exercise tolerance, less shortness of breath, and reduced oxygen use. Some patients even reported they had stopped using oxygen and inhalers. Dr. Burks admits that not everyone is a candidate for this adult stem cell therapy and not everyone responds to treatment. Visit his website (www.USAstemcells.com) or call (877) 578-7908 to schedule a no cost telephone consultation. Find out if you are a candidate for this exciting advanced adult stem cell therapy.
SEPTEMBER 2012
Senior Voice America
The Art of Caregiving
The 3 Most Important Things Caregivers Must Do By Eric Pfeiffer, M.D. The Art of Caregiving is an occasional column in this publication. While Dr. Pfeiffer’s experience is primarily with caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, the principles he discusses apply to caregivers of many other chronic conditions.
©bigstockphoto.com
If you are the caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or someone with a similar chronic illness, there are three things you absolutely must do in order to survive the caregiver experience. No doubt you will agree that caregiving can be an overwhelming experience. Experts on caregiving and seasoned caregivers themselves recommend that you do at least these three things:
1. Join a caregiver support group as early as possible, and keep attending the support group throughout the caregiver experience. Participating in a caregiver support group will provide you with many benefits, and you will find out that you are not alone. Others are going through similar struggles. Members of a caregiver group can provide you with emotional support, recognition and much practical advice and how to cope with the changing circumstances of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease. You can find out where a caregiver group meets in your community by contacting your local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, the Parkinson’s Foundation, other disease-specific associations, or from the doctor or clinic that your loved one attends. Joining a caregiver group is not a luxury but a necessity, and generally there is no charge for participating in a group. 2. Begin to share the burden of care with at least one other person, sooner rather than later. You may feel that you are the only person who can care for your loved one. But that is not entirely true. Relatives, friends or someone you hire can relieve you of your responsibility for an hour, or several hours, or one day a week, so that you can attend to other parts of your life. Having help allows you to recover and return to caregiving with renewed zest and vitality. It also helps prevent caregiver exhaustion, depression or even burn-out. 3. Most important of all, take very good care of yourself. In order to thrive in the caregiver role, you must take very good care of yourself. You must attend to your own mental and physical needs and continue to have a life of your own by engaging in pleasurable activities, hobbies and social contacts. If you go “down the tubes,” your loved one is sure to follow. So do as they say on the airlines: “Put your mask on first before assisting others.” Caregiving is a demanding role to fill, but faithfully following these three recommendations should ease your journey as you care for someone you love. Dr. Pfeiffer is the author of “The Art of Caregiving in Alzheimer’s Disease.” It is an A to Z guide to the caregiver experience, available at http://eric pfeiffermd.com. Or you can go to Amazon.com where both the e-book and print copy of the book are available for purchase. Dr. Pfeiffer welcomes comments or reactions to his articles, and you can e-mail him at epfeiffe@health.usf. edu.
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Senior Voice America
SEPTEMBER 2012
LET’S TALK
It all comes down to the Money By Nurse Ruth A while back, I was reading the paper and a headline stood out to me. It was about two sisters fighting over lottery winnings. The article stated the amount of money was $500,000 and the sisters didn’t want to share it. They were both elderly and even if they lived to be 100, the likelihood of them living to spend it all was very low. The article went on to say that before this they had a wonderful relationship. Too often, I find this scenario in my case management practice. I come in as a liaison hoping to help “mend the fences.” When you get down to it, the major cause of many problems is “the money.” Recently, I thought I had an opportunity to help a wonderful family and their mother. I met with the client and had a good rapport and response from her. I was so optimistic until I received “the call.” All that I had started and planned to do to help the mother was now at a standstill; with the patient losing out on the assistance I could provide for her. Again, it came down to the finances. There were two sons involved. One son wanted what was best for his mother, while the son who held Power of Attorney did not want to discuss any options which would use his mother’s finances. Sometimes the money may be a lot. Sometimes it may run out in a few years. I understand the need to budget with the
economy as is it is today, but family is forever. Maybe someone can tell me why we don’t want to share. I see this more and more and I don’t understand. I think it is a shame to see families -- mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and brothers and sisters -- not speaking to each other because nobody wants to share their toys or somebody wants it all. Why am I writing this? I am writing because hopefully when you are planning for your future, making arrangements in your will for your relatives, family or friends, you will think long and hard about how money can change a relationship. It’s simple; try to think about what is fair. Fair to me is always splitting it down the middle. If you can’t or don’t want to do this for various reasons then talk about it within the family. Tell them why you are doing things a certain way so everyone is comfortable. There may have been favors done in life that compensate for the lack of monetary bequeaths at the end. This way when you pass on and one person receives a larger portion and another receives a smaller portion, they will understand your intentions and be less likely to have hard feelings. So, think about it. The Family Feud is a game show…not a way of life. If you have a concern, viewpoint or comment with regard to this subject matter, Let’s Talk! Ruth Fanovich, RN, LHRM, is the Owner of Care Placement Home Health Agency, Inc. and RMF Care Management, Inc. www.CarePlacementHH.com
SEPTEMBER 2012
Senior Voice America
SELP HELP
Your Inner Voice By Professor Abne M. Eisenberg Talking to yourself is normal. Day or night dreams are examples of your inner voice. Psychologists call it “self-talk.” St. Paul, on the road to Damascus in the year A.D. 36, reported that he heard the voice of Jesus say, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” Joan of Arc had a similar experience. The voice she heard said, “Jeanne, go to help the king of France and it is you who shall give him back his kingdom.” These inner voices have been reported throughout history by ordinary and extraordinary people. When superstition, magic and the supernatural were popular, people who claimed to hear voices were either taken to possess a special gift from God or, as in the case of the Salem Witch Hunts, were burned at the stake. These days, we have two choices when our inner voice speaks to us. We can either regard it as “brain static” or something in our subconscious that wants to be heard. Things we call premonition, clairvoyance, extra sensory perception or a sixth sense often masquerade as our inner voice. It would be closed-minded to deny the role our inner voice plays in our life. What we internally say to ourselves gives shape, character and meaning to our ego.
“Our conscience monitors what our inner voice tells us. It screens out the bad and keeps in the good.” Possibly, in the next century, scientists will invent a mind-reading machine capable of auditing the content of our inner voice. Psychoanalysts will no longer have to spend so much time trying to uncover its secrets. Our conscience monitors what our inner voice tells us. It screens out the bad and keeps in the good. We should bear in mind that, whatever messages we get from our inner voice, it is a line of communication that should always be kept open. A final word about your inner voice. It may actually be two voices. One from your mind, the other from your physical body. Ironically, the messages they send may not agree. For example, did you ever get the mental urge to do something and have your body refuse to do it? It may also work in reverse; your body sends you a message (goose pimples, shivers or sudden muscle tension) and your mind denies its meaning. However your inner voices reveal themselves, embrace Shakespeare’s line from Hamlet: “To thy own self be true.” To read more, you can order Professor Eisenberg’s book, “Perscriptive Communication for the Healthcare Provider,” by calling Trafford Publications at 1-888232-4444.
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Senior Voice America
SEPTEMBER 2012
SENIOR TO SENIOR
Wedding Bells Are Ringing By Maria Posani My name is Maria Posani. I am 44 years old and retired from an Ohio telephone company. My fiancée is Thomas Kish. He is 56 and a semi-retired property owner.
Here is our story. Having each been married twice before, we were hoping the third time would be a charm and, for me, answering this ad was the last attempt to try to find someone.
Maria and Thomas In August 2010, my mama was reading the “Senior Voice” personal ads when she called me in Columbus, Ohio to tell me she found 3 good ones I may like. There was something about Tom’s ad that seemed special, so I called and left a voice mail and waited. He called me a week later, and when I asked him why he waited so long, he said “I could not understand why someone from Ohio was interested and did not know about a long distance relationship.” The days and weeks turned into months as we began our friendship, then courtship. We sent numerous handwritten letters, made several phone calls and even tried to Skype. I was so pleasantly surprised with the wonderful personal ad that I had answered. Tom said he fell in love with my voice first, and he still has my voice mail message responding to the ad saved. Our first meeting in person was at Countryside Mall. Poor Tom -- not only did he get to meet me, but also my Mama and my four year old daughter Angelina. We were all so nervous but everyone got through it. Our first official date was on Clearwater beach, where we spent hours talking about our past and about my daughter Angelina, who has Cerebral Palsy. Though Tom had said he was ok with it and was willing to learn about her disability, I thought seeing her in person may have changed his mind, but it did not. Tom said “I am still interest-
ed. You’re not scaring me off.” Then he told me about his disabilities and past, and I looked him right in the eye and said the same back to him: “I am still interested. You’re not scaring me off either.” Shortly thereafter, Angelina was accepted into the Make-A-Wish program and got to fly to the “Give Kids the World” resort in Kissimmee, Florida. Tom drove from Clearwater to join us and it was a magical time for us all to be together to see how it may work. After our trip, we flew back to Ohio and then Thomas came for a visit. He got to see my work, our apartment and my hometown and meet some of my friends and family. It was on this trip that I knew I was starting to care for him more than just friendship. Over the phone, he told me he loved me, and though I loved hearing and knowing that, I was still not ready. Patiently, he waited and waited until our next meeting, and it was then that I professed my love for him. In June 2011, we packed up the UHaul and trailer towing my minivan and made the long move from Columbus, Ohio to Largo, Florida. It was a rough trip, to put it mildly, but we made it. In August 2011, on Sunset Beach in front of “Caddy’s on the Beach,” Tom got down on bended knee in the sand during sunset and with a ring in his hand he asked me if he could be Angelina’s father and if I would be his wife. I stared at him with tears in my eyes and thought, am I really dreaming? “Yes, I would be honored to have you as Angelina’s father and as my husband,” I said. The wedding date is Jan. 12th, 2013 and we will have a beach ceremony on Indian Rocks Beach. A big “thank you” goes out to you Senior Voice for having the personal ads. Now we all have what we’ve always dreamed of having -- “a family.”
Thomas, Maria and Angelina
SEPTEMBER 2012
Senior Voice America
SELF HELP Busy Grandmothers Can Look Good Too!
COST
By Ro Martinez As a grandmother, a more laidback fashion style may dictate your wardrobe choices, but busy grandmothers don’t have to trade comfort for style. A comfortable outfit in stretchy cotton can look stylish when paired with the right shoes and accessories. Afterall, no one says you have to go to the grocery store, doctors office or park looking unkempt or in an outfit that screams PJs! This busy group of ladies takes care of their young grandchildren and sometimes their elderly parents. They manage their homes, volunteer in classrooms, run errands and often work outside the home as well. All of us, not just grandmothers, should consider care, comfort and cost before we make a purchase to determine if we are about to make a good investment.
CARE For busy grandmothers on the go, making a trip to the cleaners is an additional errand to have to run. Washable fabrics are a solution that will eliminate the time and energy that you have to expend to drop off and pick up your garments, not to mention the money you will save by avoiding frequent and expensive dry cleaning.
COMFORT Cotton fabrics that breathe and Lycra that allows for stretch will make you feel more comfortable throughout the day. Busy grandmothers go from appointments to lunch dates, to errands, to chasing after their active grandchildren. They need to think about comfort and fit first, cost second and durability third.
For grandmothers who want to reduce their wardrobe budget as much as possible, prior planning before you shop will help you make wise decisions and reduce impulse purchases. Purchasing your clothes after each season is a great way to reduce your costs, overall, and it also helps to shop clearance racks, consignments shops, thrift shops and garage sales. Busy grandmothers have less time for themselves because they are too busy caring for the needs of their families. They often put the needs of everyone else before their own. Of course, the lifetime joy that comes from helping to raise grandchildren is well worth the effort and time invested. For those too busy to shop, shopping online is a simple solution and can be done while your grandchild naps or is at school. Just remember to keep care, comfort and cost in mind as you browse. Ro Martinez, holds modeling and acting workshops focusing on people of all ages, sizes, and ethnic groups, and guides them toward successfully entering the exciting and glamorous field of modeling. Her book “Modeling At Any Age” is a step-by-step, comprehensive, easy-to-read guide for modeling and how to flourish in the industry. For information on becoming a model or actress, visit www.modeling-beginningtobooking.net or email Ro at romartinezmodel@hotmail.com. Photo by Angela Mann Photography 727-518-4977 Hair and makeup by Monique McLaughlin www.hairandmakeupbymonique.com
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Senior Voice America
SEPTEMBER 2012
Senior Happenings Vision, general & specialty Contact Lens fitting, Light Photo-Therapy (Syntonics), and Nutritional and Functional Medicine Intervention. 6:30pm, FREE. For information call (727) 443-6703. Natures Food Patch is located at 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater 33755. SEPTEMBER 13
Hoe Down Picnic Pot Luck United Community Church For a great evening of food, fun, and entertainment join us at the United Community Church. The Fun Brigade is planning a special Hoe Down Picnic Pot Luck Dinner, just bring your favorite dish, and the Front Porch Pickers will provide music and entertainment and maybe some square dancing. The Men’s Famous SEPTEMBER 1-30 Bake-Off is also on board for the evening. Read that America’s Civil War again, yes, Gentlemen, put on your apron and bring Florida Museum of Photographic Arts your dessert creation for all to enjoy. 5:00pm, there is Photo credit: Studying the Art of War, circa 1866, no admission just your covered dish and smiles. For information call Paula Lickfeldt at (813) 633Courtesy of the Drapkin Collection & Larry West. For information call (813) 221-2222. The Florida 6739 or Karl Buffington at (813) 634-7062. United Museum of Photographic Arts is located at 400 N. Community Church is located at 1501 La Jolla Ave. Greater Sun Center 33573. Ashley Dr., Tampa 33602. SEPTEMBER 9
SEPTEMBER 13, 14
Music Fest by the Bay The Pier
Diabetes Self-Management Education Tampa General Hospital
Tampa General Hospital’s Diabetes Self-Management Education program is a two-day comprehensive program for adults with diabetes who want to learn more about their diabetes and how to stay healthy. The program is taught by Certified Diabetes Educators (CDE), Registered Nurses (RN), Registered Dieticians (RD), and Medical Doctors (MD). A referral/prescription from your primary care physician stating “Diabetes Class” is required to attend this class. Medicare and SEPTEMBER 11, 18, 25 most insurance companies cover diabetes self-management education classes. Registration for this class Upper Pinellas Singles “UPS” is required. 10:30am to 3:30pm. Our Lady of Lourdes For information call Renee Meehan at (813) 844Upper Pinellas Singles “UPS” meets Tuesday eve- 7091. TGH Community Health Education Center, 740 nings, 6:00 pm for a meal, program and to meet new S. Village Cir., Tampa 33606. friends ($7). All singles 50+ are welcome (we are nonSEPTEMBER 14, 21, 28 demonational). Monthly picnic the 2nd Saturday each month on the Dunedin Causeway at 6pm. Strawberry Singles Club For information call (727) 446-1619 or (727) 736Stardust Dance Center 0567. Our Lady of Lourdes is located at 750 San SalCome dance the night away with the Strawberry vador Dr., Dunedin 34698. Singles every Friday night. Bring a friend or just meet A nicer bunch of guys is hard to find! The Robert Harris Group, from Orlando, is a GREAT addition to The Pier’s line-up of musicians for the Music Fest by the Bay. Listen to their jazz and R&B sounds on Sunday, September 9th, from 1-4pm, as they perform their special numbers! FREE. For information call (727) 821-6164. The Pier is located at 800 Second Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg 33701.
SEPTEMBER 12
Medicare 101 Dunedin Public Library Medicare Information Seminar programs will be held during the Annual Election Period (AEP) for Medicare health prescription drug plans. 2pm No registration required.
someone new! 8-11pm, doors open at 7pm. Cost: Members $5, Non-Members $7. For information call Ken Miller 863-409-7714. The Stradust Dance Club is at 1405 S. Collins St., Plant City 33566. SEPTEMBER 14, 21, 28
Bachelors & Bells Friday Night Dances Zendah Grotto Hall
For information call (727) 298-3087. The Dunedin Come dance the night away on the Largest Wooden Public Library is at 223 Douglas Ave., Dunedin 34698. Floor in Tampa. Bring a friend or meet someone new. Snacks & Drinks Available. 7:30-11:30 pm, $7 for memSEPTEMBER 13 bers, $9 for non-members. Macular Degeneration Seminar For information call Bud Collins (813) 971-0817. ZeNatures Food Patch ndah Grotto is at 4402 W. Ohio Ave., Tampa 33614. This free seminar ‘s guest speaker is Dr. Nora Gindi SEPTEMBER 16, 23, 30 O.D. Dr. Gindi’s optometric experience over the last 20 years has encompassed a wide range of treatment moBay Area Singles Dance dalities including Vision Therapy, Glaucoma manageLargo Community Center ment, Dry Eyes therapy, Refractive Surgery (LASIK) Since 1997, Bay Area Singles Dance has been the management, Cataract evaluation & management, Low
best place for area singles and friends to meet. Every Sunday approximately 150 singles of all ages join us. We offer an extensive music library to fit every taste. Dress to Impress! 6:00pm-10:00pm. For more information call (727) 518-3131. The Largo Community Center is located at 400 Alt. Keene Rd., Largo 33711. SEPTEMBER 15
Organic vs. Non -Organic Nature’s Food Patch The Great Debate. Is there a difference between Organic and Non-organic foods? What is the dirty dozen? Does organic really taste better than non-organic? Come join us at 3pm for the Great Debate with Scott Gass. Menu: Raw Beet, Walnut & Goat Cheese Salad and Butternut Squash Quinoa Risotto. For information call (727) 443-6703. Natures Food Patch is at 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater 33755. SEPTEMBER 15
Antique Evaluation Saturday Henry B Plant Museum The Henry B. Plant Museum will host seven Antique Evaluation Saturdays from September through May. Bring your favorite treasures to be evaluated by one of our experts for $5 an item with a limit of four items. Tickets are sold from 10 to 11:45 am. Evaluations will begin promptly at 10 am. If furniture is too large, you may bring a good photograph. For information call Sally Shifke at (813) 258-7302. The Henry B. Plant Museum is located at 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa 33606. SEPTEMBER 15
Clearwater SINGLES 50+ Dance Colreavy Hall Join SCIPS for a fun evening, meeting new singles, listening to entertaining music and socializing. Time: 7pm. Cost: $5-$7. Live music by the popular “At Large” band. Door prizes will be awarded. Couples welcome. No reservations are necessary. You may bring your own snacks and beverages. Cups and ice are furnished, and sodas are available. Dress code: “dressy casual” attire. No shorts, jeans, beach wear. Monthly dances, featuring live music, are scheduled for the third Saturday of each month. Other fun activities include dining out, theater, movies, picnics, sporting events, visits to museums, etc. For information call (727) 446-1619 or (727) 4617104, or go to: http://scips.tripod.com. The Colreavy Hall is at 820 Jasmine Way, Clearwater 33756. SEPTEMBER 20
Square Dance Pinellas Park Senior Center Inexperienced dancers can learn to square dance at our lessons starting September 20th at 6pm. It is a fun way to meet people and to get exercise. For information call Mickey at (727) 789-3836. The Pinellas Park Senior Center is at 7625 59th St. N, Pinellas Park 33781. SEPTEMBER 21
The Art of Proper Estate Liquidation Tierra Pines Center This is a Largo Special CLE event presented by Dale
SEPTEMBER 2012
Senior Voice America
Page 17
Senior Happenings Smrekar 11:45am, Free lunch provided. ments, each was saved at great personal risk by Sala To RSVP call (727) 535-9833. Tierra Pines Center is Garncarz from the time she entered a Nazi labor camp in 1940 until her liberation in 1945. The collection prolocated at 7380 Ulmerton Rd., 33771. vides a remarkable first-hand view of the human draSEPTEMBER 21 ma that unfolded among Jewish victims forced to work as slave laborers. Sock Hop For information call (727) 820-0100. The Holocaust Stardust Dance Center Museum is at 55 5th St. S., Saint Petersburg 33701. Come join the Strawberry Singles Club for a good old fashioned Sock Hop!! 50’s music and attire–poodle SEPTEMBER 25 skirts, bobby socks, etc. 8-11pm, doors open at 7pm. Blackberry Smoke Cost: Members $5, Non-Members $7. Largo Cultural Center For information call Ken Miller (863) 409-7714. One of the few rising stars of country and southern The Stradust Dance Club is located at 1405 S. Collins rock music today, Atlanta-based Blackberry Smoke St., Plant City 33566. continues to grow into the premiere Southern Rock SEPTEMBER 21, 22 band of America. Over the last 24 months they have shared the stage with Zac Brown Band, ZZ Top, Bull Riding “The Dewalt Guaranteed Tough Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kid Rock, Jamey Johnson, Travis Invitational” Tritt and countless others. Their video “Good One CoTampa Bay Times Forum min’ On” was No. 1 on CMT’s Pure 12-Pack for two More than 30 of the top bull riders will compete on weeks and No. 3 for seven weeks straight. Come see the best bucking bulls for $125,000 in prize money at what the buzz is all about with Blackberry Smoke. this competition. Time: 8pm For information call (813) 301-6500. The Tampa 7:30pm, tickets $25 in advance and $30 day of show. For information and to purchase tickets, visit LarBay Times Forum is located at 401 Channelside Dr., goArts.com or call (727) 587-6793. The Largo Cultural Tampa 33602. Center is at 105 Central Park Dr., Largo 33711. September 22, 29 SEPTEMBER 26
Open Air Market Largo Community Center
Enjoy your Saturday morning browsing through a variety of vendors. The market will consist of local produce, crafters, food vendors, jewelry, artists and entertainment. Time: 9am-2pm. Interested vendors, call (727) 518-3131 or visit LargoCommunityCenter.com. The Largo Community Center is located at 400 Alt. Keene Rd., Largo 33711. SEPTEMBER 23
The Full Monty Largo Cultural Center The musical comedy hit “The Full Monty” comes to Largo Cultural Center. Tickets are $27. Sure to be a sellout, reserve your ticket by August 23, 2pm, optional dinner follows. Call Janet 461-7104. Center rows seats are reserved! For information call (727) 587-6751. The Largo Cultural Center is at 105 Central Park Dr., Largo 33771. SEPTEMBER 23
Jazz Concert Bilmar Beach Resort
Medicare Advantage Plans Dunedin Public Library
Pinellas Park 33782. SEPTEMBER 29
Balance Hormones Naturally Seminar Natures Food Patch This free seminar’s guest speaker is Dr. Mary Riggin. Dr. Mary is national board certified, a Licensed Acupuncturist (FL License AP725), Acupuncture Physician (FL) and Doctor of Acupuncture (RI). She is a published author and was featured in the book A Woman’s Guide to Vitamins, Minerals and Alternative Healing, writes and publishes educational newsletters and brochures, and was elected to serve two consecutive terms as President of the Florida State Oriental Medical Association. For information call (727) 443-6703. Natures Food Patch is located at 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater 33755. SEPTEMBER 29
Walk to End Alzheimer’s Curtis Hixon Park Register today for the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s, the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Help our Grandparents, parents, spouses, partners, brothers, sisters and friends living with this disease. Pre walk activities 8am. For information call (800) 272-3900 or (813) 6841296. Register on line www.alz.org/FLGulfCoast. Curtis Hixon Park is located at E. Zack St., Tampa 33602.
Medicare Information Seminar programs will be OCTOBER 6 held during the Annual Election Period (AEP) for Medicare health and prescription drug plans. 2pm, no Night in the Islands registration required. Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks For information call (727) 298-3087. The Dunedin Enjoy outdoor dining, Greek dancing and live music Public Library is located at 223 Douglas Ave., Dunedin featuring Ellada. 6-11pm, FREE. 34698. For information call (727) 942-5605. The Tarpon SEPTEMBER 27 Springs Sponge Docks are located at Dodecanese Blvd., Tarpon Springs 34689.
Volunteer Fair and Fun Fest Largo Community Center
Want to volunteer but don’t know where to start? If you are a senior, or a volunteer or director / manager of volunteers, this is the event for you. Come enjoy a day filled with fun, entertainment and give-a-ways. Light refreshments will be provided. Sponsored by VCAB & Largo Senior Advisory Board. Free, 9:00am-1:00pm. For information call (727) 518-3131. The Largo Community Center is located at 400 Alt. Keene Rd., Largo 33711. SEPTEMBER 28
The Art of proper Estate Liquidation The Suncoast Dixieland Jazz Society will present a Canterbury Tower September jazz concert by the Dick Maley Band on Sunday from 1-4 P.M. Admission $10-$15. This is a Tampa Special CLE event presented by For information call (727) 596-7142 The Bilmar Dale Smrekar. Time: 11:45am, FREE, lunch provided. Beach Resort is located at 10650 Gulf Blvd., Treasure To RSVP call (813) 837-1083 Canterbury Tower is Island 33706. located at 3501 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa 33629. SEPTEMBER 25
SEPTEMBER 29
Letters to Sala: A Young Woman’s Life in Nazi Labor Camps Holocaust Museum
Craft Fair Park Royale
There will be a craft fair at Park Royal Mobil Home This exhibit is based on a compelling collection of Park from 8am to 2pm. This event is sponsored by The rare Holocaust-era letters and photographs now in the Royale Pet Owners. For information call (727) 547-1676. Park Royale New York Public Library Dorot Jewish Division. From Mobile Home Park is located at 10611 66 Street N., handwritten postcards to photographs to official docu-
OCTOBER 10
Fall Foliage Tour- Georgia mountains SCIPS Singles Oktoberfest in the beautiful Georgia Mountains. This trip leaves Oct.10 for 4-day, 3-night motor coach tour. Stops in Dahlonega, first gold rush town, Bavarian town of Helen, quaint McCaysvillle, plus scenic mountain train tour. $399 double; $499 single. Includes all hotels, most meals, fees, tips & taxes. For information call Janet at (727) 461-7104 ASAP to reserve. Limited space. Deadline is 8/16/12.
Email Your Senior Happenings to: Happenings@Seniorvoiceamerica.com
The Deadline for the October Issue is September 14th
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Senior Voice America
SEPTEMBER 2012
JUDI’S GEMS
Summer Reflections
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By Judith Sabghir Gannon Summers have the potential to be enormously productive. If we have neglected our homes for a significant length of time, summers are great for working on our “to do” lists. For some of us, summers are a great time to forget bothersome projects and focus on seeing our families, or doing anything else that makes us happy. This year, I chose both avenues, seeing family and ad-
my home, so I had real motivation for getting things done. I spent hours organizing files, throwing out old papers, emptying closets and bookshelves, and making decisions about what to keep, donate, sell, consign or discard. By the end of the day, I was tired. Sometimes during the evening, I would sit in the comfort of my air-conditioned home and comb through the newspaper’s many advertisements and circulars. I religiously searched the web for that one huge sale that would change
I could proudly prance through the aisles of any retail establishment. dressing the chaos of a crowded garage. For me, the summer turned out to be extremely productive and heartwarming. In early June, I traveled to New York for my Aunt Miriam’s 100th birthday party. At least 200 people attended, and I had the good fortune of seeing many relatives I hadn’t seen for years. Most importantly, I saw my daughter, my dad and stepmom, my two brothers, several nieces and nephews, and even some brand new great nieces and nephews. Seeing many cousins and my niece from overseas made it especially joyous. After the festivities, my daughter and I drove to Connecticut to celebrate her birthday in her new apartment. Because of a broken foot, she had not fully unpacked, so I helped any way I could. Naturally she was grateful, and we really enjoyed our time together. Being in the “to do” mode was actually a blessing. With two more months left to summer, I knew I could keep busy with major household chores. Since being idle is not an option, I plunged into the miserable task of cleaning out the garage. I knew this job could take weeks. As it turned out, I also decided to sell
my life forever. Comparison shopping at home is much easier than hopping between stores in the brutal heat. I did plenty of that, too. I learned a lot from sifting through circulars and examining items on the web. Once I educated myself in appropriate technological jargon, I could proudly prance through the aisles of any retail establishment. My confident, nononsense demeanor alerted salespeople that I was their equal, not some clueless neophyte in unfamiliar territory. Needless to say, I did purchase several items. Ironically, my best bargain had nothing to do with research. One day I went to Sears for an “end of summer” clearance sale, held in July. Prior to going, I remembered that I had not redeemed a cash-back card. Having spotted a casual jacket I wanted to purchase, I triumphantly presented the card to the clerk. When the salesclerk told me that I owed 69 cents, I was totally shocked. Not even the dollar store can match that! I can honestly say that this summer has been truly rewarding and productive, in so many ways. And I hope my 69 cents helped boost the economy!
SEPTEMBER 2012
Senior Voice America
DID YOU KNOW
Happy Birthday Pinellas County! Pinellas County was born Jan 1, 1912. The county is celebrating Sept. 14-17, 2012 at Heritage Park and the Florida Gulf Coast Center for Fishing & Interactive Museum, 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo, Florida.
Hillsborough County and Pinellas County became official. St.Petersburg and Clearwater competed to become the new county’s seat. Clearwater won by building the first courthouse, and closed the deal. Happy 100th Birthday PinellasCounty.
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Jim Symons, Fishing Museum curator, heads the planning committee. The weekend will end with a Rays game at Tropicana Field on Sept. 17th. A look back in time reveals that the large Hillsborough County was created in 1834 and encompassed much of the land of West Central Florida. The county seat of Tampa, a bustling city of cigar manufacturers, received all of the tax dollars of the pioneer settlers of the large land mass. Tampa was politically organized to have a strong voice in Tallahassee when the state legislature met. Tax dollars were allocated to provide Tampa with a good transportation system of brick roads and modern amenities while the outlying areas of the county remained undeveloped. In early times, it would take a settler two days to travel to Tampa from St. Petersburg by horse and buggy. After the coming of the automobile, the journey was still two days. The sand and mud roads, and even creeks, were impassable in the rainy season. The settlers’ unhappiness increased when the flimsy bridge they were given with tax money soon fell apart. William Straub, the fiery St. Petersburg Times editor, made it his personal crusade to free the area from Tampa’s domination. It took five years to break the hold that the Tampa politicians had on the area. He put all the Florida legislators on the newspaper’s subscription list for a year and bombarded them with his plea for separation. Finally, when the vote was take in 1911, the county was severed from its former status as West
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
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Tune in to 1250am WHNZ. Monday – Friday From 4-5pm
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Senior Voice America
SEPTEMBER 2012
personal finances
Dealing with Inflation By Robert Harwood, President of Harwood Financial Group Saving the income you need for retirement is paramount to feeling secure and enjoying your future. But as you build a comfortable retirement income, don’t forget to include a buffer for inflation. Inflation is kind of a silent budget buster. You may not always notice it in the short-term, but in the long-term, inflation can reduce your real wealth and affect your ability to maintain a comfortable retirement.
What does inflation mean to us? When inflation increases prices, it decreases your spending power. If you’re concerned that you will outlive your money, then inflation should be a top concern on your list. If things cost more in the future, then your money will most probably not last as long, compounding your problem. When inflation occurs, it takes more of your money to buy the same thing you bought for less previously. As an example, I can remember when Coca-Colas were about 25 cents and we would get a nickel back for the bottle. Even more drastic, my dad used to tell me that at his first job out of col lege he made about $5,000 a year. He was an engineer, and back then that was a lot of money! Over time, inflation erodes your spending power. One thousand dollars today doesn’t go nearly as far in buying power as it did just ten years ago. A lot of my clients tell me that they paid more for the car they are driving now then they paid for their first house! Obviously, inflation is important to address, and it needs to be part of your financial plan. You need to be prepared for the reality of inflation and invest.
Whether this is true or not, inflation is present and affects each one of us differently. If you drive a lot, you are more affected by the rising cost of gasoline than someone who doesn’t drive very much. Similarly, healthy people are less exposed to the escalating costs of healthcare than someone who is ill or injured. One of the ways I like to fight inflation is to use investments that tend to do better in inflationary times. There are a lot of choices in this category, from owning securities that invest in things like energy, consumer staples and healthcare to owning TIPS (Treasury Inflation Protected Securities). No matter which strategy you choose, I suggest you avoid keeping too much money in cash. Cash products like bank CD’s and Money Markets don’t provide much opportunity to beat inflation, and this can hurt your long-term spending power. As you consider your future and plan for retirement, make sure that you include investments that are likely to help you beat inflation. A good investment plan will help you keep your income as secure as possible from things like bad years in the stock market and the long-term effects of inflation.
Stay Informed
INFLATION AHEAD
How to beat inflation The government tells us that we have very little inflation right now. The last number I saw was 2.3% annually and they tell us that the long-term rate of inflation is only 3.1%.
If you would like to receive f u-
ture articles from Robert Harwood or schedule a free second opinion to review your retirement portfolio, please call our office at (727) 524-1427 and ask for Celine, or email us at Info@ HarwoodFinancialGroup.com and we will schedule you at one of our four convenient locations in the Tampa Bay area.
Harwood Financial Group is an independent firm with securities offered through Trustmont Financial Group, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Trustmont Advisory Group, Inc., 200 Brush Run Road, Suite A, Greensburg, PA 15601 Phone: 724-4685665 Harwood Financial Group is not affiliated with Trustmont Financial or Trustmont Advisory Group, Inc.
SEPTEMBER 2012
Senior Voice America
ASK OUR ATTORNEY
Photo courtesy of Joseph f. Pippin & ASSOCIATES
Estate Planning For Widows
By Joe Pippen Q. What advice can you give a widow concerning her financial and estate planning problems? A. Every widow has unique problems as well as many common ones. For example, a widow with children living close by has completely different issues to face than a widow with children living far away, or a widow without children. One of the most important concerns facing widows is that of planning for incompetency. There are several planning techniques for this, including but not limited to durable family power of attorney, revocable trust, and irrevocable trust. Guardianship costs can be expensive, and a careful plan can eliminate or reduce these costs dramatically. Minimizing probate and administration costs may or may not be of concern. Widows with children are usually concerned about the high cost of probate while widows without children sometimes place a low priority on probate costs. Widows should remember that their last will and testament will be probated unless they make special arrangements. Those special arrangements should be made with an attorney specializing in estate work with a desire to help his clients avoid probate. Gifting can be reviewed in two ways as far as widows are concerned. Widows could be advised to exercise restraint in making gifts which would deplete the estate cash needed for income and security, or they could, with larger estates, be advised to maximize gifts to avoid income and estate taxation. Prenuptial agreements would probably be advisable for widows planning remarriage. Such agreements are helpful in solving after-death disputes between children and in solving problems that may arise if the marriage ends in divorce. A widow should seek the advice of more than one professional regarding what her investment portfolio should consist of. Often tax-free securities are appropriate as a means to reducing income taxation, and financial planning can result in a higher monthly income at a lower tax rate. In the way of non-legal advice, widows should join clubs and church groups and keep a variety of friends with which to socialize. Also, a good relationship with an attorney is desirous when quick legal information is needed or in order that action can be taken by an attorney who is familiar with the circumstances. For more information on trusts and other estate planning matters, call Joseph F. Pippin, Jr. & Associates at 727-586-3306 x216
Ask Our Attorney! This is a Regular Feature in Senior Voice America.
Do you have a legal question or concern? We are here to help.
Attorney Joe Pippen will answer your questions right here every month.
You can send your questions to us two different ways. Email: editor@seniorvoiceamerica.com or mail to Senior Voice, 8406 Benjamin Rd., Suite G, Tampa, FL 33634
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Senior Voice America
SEPTEMBER 2012
PLACES TO GO
The Best Way to Vacation By June Hurley Young In 1982, we discovered a new way to vacation. That’s when we bought our first timeshare package. In fact, we were so mesmerized that we bought two weeks at Camelot by the Sea in St. Pete Beach. What do you think got Photo courtesy JUNE HURLEY YOUNG our attention? It was when the salesman said, “You’re able to trade in your weeks and go to Hawaii.” He made good on his promise and we were in Waikiki Beach at the Kuhio in July. I was sold. The idea of going to Hawaii seemed like a far off, unattainable dream. Since then we’ve been there 20 times and we own a week at Pahio in
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Princeville on the island of Kauai. We look out at the world-famous Macaii Golf Course and the Pacific Ocean. Our friends tease us about how much we travel. However some come along with us. The secret of owning timeshare weeks is to use them regularly at your home resort or to space bank them and trade to go to places all over the world. RCI, Resorts Condominium International and II, Interval International, make trading possible for a fee. Japan, the Riviera, the French Alps, Austria, England, Argentina and Mexico are now memories for us. Our passport was trading what we owned and reserving countries where travel would otherwise be too expensive for us. The secret is no surprise: buy low, trade high. A while back, we paid for a package to stay in a hotel on the ocean in Ft. Lauderdale. We also booked a timeshare vacation in the same area to extend our vacation time. After one night in the hotel’s small room, where we had to pay to use the hotel parking garage, we checked out early and went to the timeshare. There we had a full suite with a balcony, hot tub, all kitchen amenities and entertainment. We’re used to the fine properties available. No more hotels or motels if we can find a timeshare anywhere in the area. For families, it’s the only way to afford to travel. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are always available. For families, it makes dollars and sense. Weeks are always available for sale at Destination Resort, where secondary market resales are listed at bargain prices. Many bargains are also available on eBay. Some resorts have a limited time use for a number of years but most come with fee simple deeds. A maintenance fee is charged each year. Your time share property is not an investment. It’s a guarantee that you will take a vacation. June Hurley Young is the author of five historical and biographical books, published by Partnership Press. Her articles about preserving the Don Cesar Hotel, St. Pete Beach attracted public attention and resulted in saving the historical hotel from demolition. Her book has sold 25,000 copies. She’s currently listed in Who’s Who in American Women 2008 to 2013.
SEPTEMBER 2012
Senior Voice America
FUN AND GAMES
Do You Play Mah Jongg?
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By Diane Houser Mah Jongg is one of the most popular games among seniors. It is a game of chance and skill similar to gin rummy and has been popular in the United States since the mid-1920’s. The National Mah Jongg League presently has 350,000 members. The players must be able to multi-task, since along with trying to concentrate on the engraved tiles with Chinese symbols, they also enjoy exchanging lively conversation, making wagers, and nibbling on snacks. Before long there is the anticipated shout, “Mah Jongg” from the ecstatic winner. But beyond the love for the game, studies have shown that strategy games such as Mah Jongg help develop a person’s decision making abilities and critical thinking skills. It is also believed to have a therapeutic effect as well since players typically form support groups over the years. “It’s cheaper than going to a therapist every week,” says one woman in the group who has been playing for over fifty years. Mah Jongg is a wonderful way to stay connected to friends and family. For many women, playing Mah Jongg is a way of keeping a family tradition alive.
Pictured left to right: Mah Jongg players, Marge Larrocca, Lisa Goodman, Diane Houser, Harriet Richman, and Bonnie O’Brien The game is not only for retirees and women with leisure time. It is experiencing a resurgence among young players that grew up watching their mothers and grandmothers play. There are many professional men and women that enjoy getting together to play a lively game of Mah Jongg every week, giving them relief from a demanding career. There is even a national Mah Jongg Maven that acts as a resource for resolving conflicts and clarifying rules. Today, anyone looking for fellow Mah Jongg lovers can find them with the click of a mouse. The traditional four player version can be played against real opponents. Win or lose, it’s the friendships established that makes playing fun.
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Senior Voice America
SEPTEMBER 2012
AROUND THE HOME
Home Insulation 101 Homeowners spend a lot of time and money making their homes comfortable, inviting places to live. But if you’re not putting some of that effort into what’s behind the walls, you could be missing out on comfort and savings.
Insulation is Key Heat naturally flows from warmer spaces to cooler spaces. Proper insulation decreases the heat flow and helps you keep your home at a comfortable temperature. “Good insulation can do a lot for your home and your family,” said Ed Reeves, building scientist with Icynene, makers of spray foam insulation. “It can improve indoor air quality, protect your home from winter damage, and, ultimately, save you money.” Reeves says that proper insulation can help in many ways: • Indoor air quality – Moisture HOUSE courtesy of Getty Images can build up in your walls, causing the interior to slowly rot. Not all insulations can prevent mold, however. Spray foam insulation forms an air barrier, which protects your walls against moisture. • Protection from ice dams in winter – In winter, as warm air from your home comes in contact with the inside edge of your roof, snow melts on that section. As it slowly trickles down, it refreezes, causing ice to build up. Water can then leak into your home, causing damage. Closing any insulation gaps with the right insulation can prevent ice dams from forming. • Saving money – Air leakage can run up your energy bills significantly. Making sure you close air leaks with weather stripping, caulking and insulation helps reduce your heating and cooling bills. The U.S. Department of Energy says that floors, walls and ceilings account for 31 percent of the air leakage in most homes. So good insulation is a must for lower energy bills.
NEUROPATHY &
OTHER FOOT PROBLEMS? YES, YOU CAN FEEL GREAT ABOUT YOUR FEET AGAIN! WE HAVE YOUR TREATMENT PLAN NEW DR. BONNIE SANCHEZ
EXPANDED HOURS FOR 2012
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Why suffer any longer? Come see us, your gentle touch Doctor of Podiatry.
Choosing Insulation There are a number of different insulation types to choose from. They all have what’s known as an R-value, which is the measurement of insulation’s resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation. Older insulation types such as fiberglass can settle or compact over time, decreasing their insulation properties. Compressed insulation won’t keep its full R-value. “Spray foam insulation such as Icynene has great long-term benefits,” says Reeves. “The others may have a cheaper up-front cost, but in the long run, spray foam protects better, lasts longer, and can reduce your energy bill by up to half as much as with older insulations.” Reeves recommends asking these questions to make sure you’ve got the right insulation for your home. • How well does the insulation control air leakage without the use of extra finishing materials (tape, gaskets, plastic wrap) and labor? • How quickly will the insulation pay for itself? Could the monthly savings outweigh the monthly cost of financing? • How does it compare in reducing air leakage in hard-to-insulate areas without extra materials? • Will it improve the air quality in your home by minimizing air infiltration to help keep out allergens, dust and other outdoor pollutants? • Can the insulation shift with the home as it settles and lose its R-value? • What happens if it gets wet? How well will the insulation dry out? Will it keep its insulating properties? • Can it help make your home quieter, suppressing plumbing, between-room and street noise? Learn more about insulation and how you can choose the right one for your home at www.icynene.com or www.insulationsmart.com.
SEPTEMBER 2012
Senior Voice America
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AROUND THE HOME
DID YOU KNOW
Does Your Kitchen Work Like a Dream? Make the Most of Kitchen Storage
Hyundai of New Port Richey Donates $100,000 to Fight Homelessness in Pasco County
Forget about the living room; the kitchen is the social hub of a home. Today’s homeowners want their kitchens to reflect their personal tastes and accommodate their daily lives; however, a kitchen that can do all this is in need of one thing — smart storage. According to renowned chef Curtis Stone, “A dream kitchen is one that’s designed for the way you live. The best advice I’d give anyone looking to remodel their kitchen is to think about how they will use it, and to choose the right storage features to suit their lifestyle.” Paul Radoy, manager of design services for Merillat cabinetry, agrees. “Everyone uses the kitchen to prepare food, but many homeowners use their kitchen for entertaining, crafting, or just spending time with their families. Each of these activities requires various storage options,” he said.
The Home Chef It’s important to keep cooking items organized and within easy reach. Storage solutions could include a pull-out spice rack next to the stove, perfect for cooks who like to experiment. A cutting board kit can neatly store knives within a drawer along with a cutting board. This feature, combined with a pull-out trash underneath, can make food prep a breeze. “People who love to cook often have a lot of pots and pans, and they are usually in a jumbled mess,” says Stone. “But using extra wide or deep drawers installed under a cook top helps a lot, and when you include peg dividers for the drawer it can be customized to neatly fit all your pots and pans as you like them. It’s not one-size-fits-all, so it can be nicely organized.”
The Entertainer One kitchen feature that helps make entertaining easier is an island. Not only can an island provide extra seating and serving space, it can include great storage. According to Radoy, “An island with a great focal point like wine storage is classy and practical. And adding spice drawers to hold napkins or small utensils like corkscrews is another great idea.”
The Mommy Soft-closing drawers and doors can protect against hurt hands, while keeping the contents from rattling. Deep drawers to store children’s items like a backpack, schoolwork and crafts are a big plus. And a pantry or utility cabinet allows the homeowner to store many different items in one central location and at different levels, making some things more accessible or inaccessible for children. Having an organized cleanup zone can minimize clutter and make any kitchen shine. Things like a tilt-out sink tray, which keeps soaps and sponges out of sight, an under sink tote and a pull-out waste basket help to keep things tidy. For more information about the latest in beautiful and intelligent cabinetry options visit www. Merillat.com.
Scott Fink, president and C.E.O. of Hyundai of New Port Richey, has given top priority to giving back to the community that supports his business. Particularly concerned about an issue that recently made national headlines— namely the fact that the Tampa Bay area incurs the highest homeless rate in the nation—Fink and his wife, Kathleen, recently made a personal donation of $100,000 to Metropolitan Ministries to help bring transitional housing and a residentoperated, public restaurant to Pasco County. “The facts and figures on homelessness are astonishing,” said Fink. “It’s hard to believe that so many people, many of them children, go without shelter each night, Kathleen and Scott Fink especially here in Tampa Bay. As a father of five children and local business owner, I cannot sit back and do nothing when an issue this staggering exists in our community.”
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Senior Voice America
SEPTEMBER 2012
Entertainment FAHRENHEIT 451
Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature at which paper ignites. This cautionary tale reminds us not only of the evils of government tyranny but of individual complicity and inaction. This powerful drama mixed with elements of both comedy and horror was adapted for the stage by Bradbury himself, inspired in part by Francois Trouffaut’s 1966 film. The Straz Center is located at 1010 N. Macinnes Pl. Tampa 33602. For ticket information call (813) 229-7827.
agers, Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto and Gianluca Ginoble, appeared on the popular Italian talent show Ti Lascio Una Canzone and dazzled television viewers with their flawless rendition of the Neapolitan standard “O Sole Mio.” The boys, who won the competition easily, decided their group needed a name. “Il Volo,” meaning “flight,” was chosen to signify the feeling that these three young tenors were about to spread their wings and fly. Tickets from $39.50, Time: 7:30pm. The Straz Center is located at 1010 N. Macinnes Pl. Tampa 33602. For information call (813) 229-7827.
HYSTERIA
GRAND FUNK RAILROAD
American Stage Theater Company September 12-October 21
Mahaffey Theater September 15
Straz Center For the Performing Arts September 5-30
“Freud, Dali and madcap madness…a laugh-out-loud comic romp laced with dark interludes. Just as it will make you laugh at life’s absurdities, “Hysteria” will also incite your intellectual curiosity to discover more.” The American Stage Theater is located at 163 3rd St. N., St. Petersburg 33701. For ticket information call (727) 823-7529. BAROQUE BITES
Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center September 13 The Sarasota Orchestra presents a feast of Baroque-inspired favorites. Monteverdi issued in the Baroque era with the world’s first opera, L’Orfeo. Shining melodies climb ever higher in this brass suite from the original opera of mythic love and tragedy. 5:30pm Holley Hall, $27-$35. The Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center is located at 709 N Tamiami Tr., Sarasota 34236. For information call 1 (866) 508-0611. GREEK MYTHOLOGY
Tarpon Springs Performing Art Center September 14-16, 21-23 THE ILLIAD, THE ODYESSEY, and all GREEK MYTHOLOGY in 99 MINUTES or LESS! All the silly decisions, the absurd destinies, and the goofy characters are presented lightning-bolt fast with hysterical results as the clock is stopped with only seconds to spare. $17-$20. Performing Art Center in Tarpon Springs is located at 324 Pine St. For tickets information call (727) 942-5605. II VOLO
Straz Center For the Performing Arts September 15 In May 2009, three fresh-faced teen-
longest-lasting Number One hits are “Beer for My Horses” (a 2003 duet with Willie Nelson) and “As Good as I Once Was” (2005), at six weeks each. 7:00pm, tickets $28.95 to $83.25. The 1-800 Ask Gary Amphitheatre is located at 4802 US Highway 301 N., Tampa 33610. For information call (813) 740-2446. THE GOGO’S
Mahaffey Theater September 19
Originating from Flint, Michigan in 1969, this top selling American rock group of the 70’s is “Comin’ To Your Town To Help You Party It Down”. Grand Funk Railroad is extremely excited to be touring in 2012 marking a 42 year milestone. After playing to millions of fans on the band’s tours from 1996 to 2011, Grand Funk’s 2012 Tour will continue to reach both new and long-time fans. 8pm, tickets $30-$50. The Mahaffey Theater is located at 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg 33701. For information call (727) 892-5798.
The high pop priestesses of the 80s, The Go-Go’s came, saw and conquered the world of pop culture and now they’re bringing their internationally loved kicky kitsch appeal and original line up to The Mahaffey. From their halcyon days as America’s sweethearts to their current status as superstars who pioneered a genre, The Go-Go’s preside over an amazing three-decade reign with a story that’s a punk version of the American Dream. The Go-Go’s cemented their place in pop culture by offering five feisty role models for a generation of ready-to-rock girls by playing their own songs without outside composers or creative compromise. Show time: 7:30, tickets $35-$60. The Mahaffey Theater is located at 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg 33701. For information call (727) 892-5798.
CHRIS ISAAK
APPLAUSE
Mahaffey Theater September 16
The Players Theatre September 20-30
Now, at long last, Isaak has acted on this lifelong obsession, magically recapturing the transformative hepcat brilliance of the classic sides cut by these greats at Sun with Phillips during the mid-’50s, while also getting down to the heart and soul of his own deeply rooted musical identity. Beyond the Sun will be available in both the 14-song standard set as well as a double album version that includes an additional 11 tracks. 8:00pm, tickets $39.50-$75.50. The Mahaffey Theater is located at 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg 33701. For information call (727) 892-5798.
The Tony award winning smash hit musical based on the classic Bette Davis movie “All About Eve.” At its center, Margo Channing is a veteran stage actress who innocently takes a fledgling actress under her wings, unaware that the ruthless Eve is plotting to steal her career and her man. Show time 7:30pm. The Players Theatre is located at 838 N. Tamiami Tr., Sarasota 34236. For ticket information call (941) 365-2494.
TOBY KEITH with BRANTLEY GILBERT
Evita brings to life the dynamic, larger-than-life persona of Eva Peron. Beginning with a young and ambitious Eva, the production follows her meteoric rise to sainthood. The story tells of the enormous wealth and power she gained and the means by which she became the beloved Evita. Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Manatee Players Club is located at 102 12th St. W., Bradenton 34205. For show times and ticket information call (941) 748-0111.
1-800-Ask Gary Amphitheatre September 16 This fabulous concert under the stars is sure to please young and old alike. Keith has released fifteen studio albums, two Christmas albums, and three compilation albums. He has also charted more than forty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including nineteen Number One hits and sixteen additional Top Ten hits. His
EVITA
Manatee Players September 20-October 7
BRIDGET JONES DIARY
South Florida Museum September 21 This entertaining story depicts a year in the life of a thirty-something “singleton” who shares her concerns about dieting, dating, drinking and self-improvement in this adaptation of Helen Fielding’s wildly popular novel starring Renee Zellweger. 6pm-8pm, $5 General Admission, $3 Member Admission. Seating is limited and reservations are recommended The South Florida Museum is located at 201 10th St. W., Bradenton 34205. For information and reservations, call (941) 746-4131, ext. 0. STEVIE NICKS
Mahaffey Theater September 24 Nicks, a multi Grammy Award winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, most recently toured on ‘The Heart + Soul Tour” with Rod Stewart. “In Your Dreams” has received glowing reviews including US Magazine who declared it “the best album of Nicks’ fourdecade career.” Nicks has enjoyed extraordinary success as a solo artist, live performer, and member of the legendary band, Fleetwood Mac. Her new single “For What It’s Worth” has been released by Reprise Records. Show time 7:30, tickets $65-$175. The Mahaffey Theater is located at 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg 33701. For information call (727) 892-5798. AMERICAN LEGACIES
Mahaffey Theater September 24 The Preservation Hall Jazz Band and The Del Mccoury Band together in concert, create a seamless blend of soul-lifting traditional harmonies as the high and lonesome sound of the Appalachians meets the hot and lively jazz of New Orleans. Audiences will thrill to this very special opportunity to witness the coming together of two legendary groups of musicians from two distinctly American musical lineages. Show time 7:30, tickets $45.50-$69.50. The Mahaffey Theater is located at 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg 33701. For information call (727) 892-5798. MODERN MINIATURES
Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center September 27 Emotions will fluctuate in this program of accessible 20th century pieces. Three are playful and jazzy, and two are serenely serious with a hint of the mys-
SEPTEMBER 2012
Senior Voice America
Entertainment terious. Show time 5:30 Holly Hall, tickets $27-$35. The Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center is located at 709 N Tamiami Tr., Sarasota 34236. For information call 1-(866) 508-0611. SACRED ARTS EXHIBITAION
Center for Gulf Coast Folklife Gallery at the Cultural Center of Tarpon Springs September 27-November 30 Religion has been the inspiration for a rich array of artistic creations. Whether conveyed through architecture, painting, music, vestments, needle arts, custom, or ritual, beauty in the expression of the Sacred is an important aspect of many religious traditions. The opening reception of the exhibit will take place from 5:30 to 7:30pm on Thursday, September 27. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9am-4pm. Opening reception: Thursday, Sept. 27, 5:30-7:30pm The Cultural Center is located at 101 S. Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs 34689. For information call (727) 942-5605. BRAD PAISLEY with the MCCREERY Boys
1-800-Ask Gary Amphitheatre September 28 Spend an evening listening to some fantastic country music when Brad Paisley and the McCreery Boys band take the stage at 4:30pm. Tickets $29.25 to 79.25. The 1-800 Ask Gary Amphitheatre is located at 4802 US Highway 301 N., Tampa 33610. For information call (813) 740-2446. WINTER’S BONE
Bishop Planetarium September 28 A seventeen year-old girl in the harsh environs of the Ozarks bravely faces threats of violence and poverty as she tries to track down her degenerate father in order to keep her family together in the only home they’ve ever known. 6-8pm, $5 General Admission $3 Member Admission. Seating is limited; reservations are recommended. The Bishop Planetarium is located at the South Florida Museum 201 10th St. W., Bradenton 34205. For information and reservations, call (941) 746-4131, ext. 0. FIONA APPLE
Ruth Eckerd Hall September 29 Fiona Apple McAfee Maggart is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. Apple met international acclaim for her 1996 debut album, Tidal, which was a critical and commercial success. Tickets $51.50 to $75.50, Show time 8pm.
Ruth Eckerd Hall is located at 1111 McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater 33759. For information call (727) 7917400. THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES
The American Stage Company September 30 Obie Award-winner Eve Ensler’s whirlwind tour of a forbidden zone. The Vagina Monologues introduces a wildly divergent gathering of female voices, including a six-year-old girl, a septuagenarian New Yorker, a vagina workshop participant, a woman who witnesses the birth of her granddaughter, and a feminist happy to have found a man who “liked to look at it.” 7pm, tickets $15. The American Stage Theater is located at 163 3rd St. No., St. Petersburg 33701. For information call (727) 8237529. THE BLUES BROTHERS
Bishop Planetarium October 5 In one of the great comedy classics from John Landis, ex-con Jake Blues (John Belushi) and his brother, Elwood (Dan Aykroyd), put the old band together to try to save the Catholic home in Chicago where they were raised… and the blues ensue. Show time 6pm, $5 General Admission, $3 member admission. Seating is limited; reservations are recommended. The Bishop Planetarium is located at South Florida Museum is located at 201 10th St., W, Bradenton 34205. For information call (941) 764-4131. CELEBRATION OF MR. HARRY BELAFONTE
Mahaffey Theater October 6 An Evening of The Arts In Celebration of Mr. Harry Belafonte. This inaugural event will launch the yearlong celebration of the Harlem Renaissance, a Tampa Bay initiative developed by The Studio@620 that will explore the artistic, cultural, and social history of this early 20th century new Negro movement. Show time: 8pm, tickets $35-$100. The Mahaffey Theater is located at 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg 33701. For information call (727) 892-5798. STOMPIN AT THE SAVOY
Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center October 11-13 We’ll make you feel like dancing in this concert of swinging jazz music. Enjoy Benny Goodman’s Stompin’ at the Savoy, a medley of hits including It Don’t Mean a Thing, ‘Round Midnight
and selections by George Gershwin. Holly Hall. Tickets $26-$47, call for times. The Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center is located at 709 N Tamiami Tr., Sarasota 34236. For information call (866) 508-0611.
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When It Comes to Entertaining
Beethoven to Bernstein
The Florida Orchestra “Opening Night” at 3 Venues October 12-14 “There is no more violent and explosive music than Beethoven,” wrote Basil Deane of the Coriolan Overture. The stormy music was taken by many of the composer’s contemporaries to be a selfportrait, and indeed the picture presented is parallel to the wind- blown, craggy likeness of him that has entered into the popular imagination. There is nowhere among his orchestral works a more pointed and succinct representation of this side of his personality. Tickets $15 to $45. Oct. 12th 8pm Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Oct 13th 8pm Mahaffey Theater, Oct 1 4th 7 :30pm Ruth Eckard Hall. For information call (727) 892-3331. The Straz Center is located at 1010 N. Macinnes Pl. Tampa 33602. The Mahaffey Theater is located at 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg 33701. Ruth Eckerd Hall is located at 1111 McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater YOU SAY TOMATO, I SAY SHUT UP!
Straz Center For the Performing Arts September 13-October 14 In the 75-minute tour de force, You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up! takes a humorous look at a relationship that seemed doomed by opposing personalities from the start. After trials and tribulations, they learn to navigate the conflicts that come with romance, money and children by embracing each other’s differences, taking on parenting as a competitive sport, and dropping out of couple’s therapy. Their delightfully crazy lifestyle has managed to keep their relationship intact, up-ending every idea you ever had about living “happily ever after.” The Straz Center is located at 1010 N. Macinnes Pl., Tampa 33602. For information call (813) 229-7827.
Get out from behind your mask and list your Event for Free right here on the Senior Voice ENTERTAINMENT PAGES! Email your event information no later than the 15th of the month for the following month listings to: entertainment@ seniorvoiceamerica.com
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Senior Voice America
SEPTEMBER 2012
ENTERTAINMENT
The Florida Orchestra: Compose Your Own Series The Florida Orchestra continues to engage the Tampa Bay community by making live symphonic concerts more appealing, affordable and accessible with a wide variety of concert packages. With music ranging from Mozart to Mahler and Beethoven to Bernstein, the Tampa Bay Times Masterworks has five series packages to choose from. There is also the relatively new Progress Energy Morning Masterworks series of just 3 concerts. Other matinee series include a Coffee series of familiar favorites from ballet, opera, symphony and more at the Mahaffey Theater and a Coffee series at Ruth Eckerd Hall. For those who enjoy popular music styles, the Raymond James Pops concerts offer Broadway, ballads, jazz, blues, Latin and more. Plus, the orchestra is kicking off its new Rock series showcasing the music by Simon and Garfunkel, Michael Jackson and The Doors. Need more choices? This year, you can build your own series of three or
“This year, you can build your own series of three or more concerts with a Compose Your Own series package.” more concerts with a Compose Your Own series package, mixing and matching Masterworks and Pops programs to fit your musical tastes and personal calendar.
Here are just a few possible combinations you could make with the Compose Your Own series. If you love symphonies, you might try Tchaikovsky’s 5th, Beethoven’s 7th and Mo-
PHOTO COURTESY FLORIDA ORCHESTRA
By Henry Adams
zart’s 35th. For a pops song package, you might pick The Gershwin Experience, Broadway Now and A Night at the Cotton Club. If you enjoy big emotional blockbusters, there’s Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde, Mozart’s Requiem and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. The combinations are almost endless. The price is also very affordable at $25 a concert for good seats, and although you do not receive the same seat for each concert, this is a good value and allows you to check out the concert hall from different locations. With a record 17 sold-out concerts this past season, now is the time to pick your favorites. With concerts from October through May, the orchestra regularly performs at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, Progress Energy Center for the Arts - Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, and Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. For a free season brochure or to order a series package, visit www.floridaorchestra.org or call 727.892.3337 or 1.800.662.7286, Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Sat & Sun, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
SEPTEMBER 2012
Senior Voice America
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SENIOR DATING
FINANCES
Dating Strategies For Senior, Single Gentlemen
Debt Reduction Solutions for Seniors, Vets and the Disabled By James Salvatore Giardina
Large numbers of senior citizens are amassing serious credit card, payday and student loan debt at an alarming rate—outpacing many other demographics. One of the reasons senior citizens are forced to into debt is the astronomical cost of health care. Out-of-pocket medical costs, such as prescription drugs, were blamed for $4,000 of the credit card debt currently held. More than a third use credit cards to purchase basic necessities like food. Professor John Pottow, a University of Michigan law professor, recently published an article about the rising num©bigstockphoto.com ber of seniors filing for bankruptcy. By Kathleen Stasia Excerpts from his article reveal: More than 20 percent of all bank Are you a senior single gentleman and still searching for that “right” lady? ruptcies in the United States are filed by Tampa/Sarasota/Naples Singles has the SOLUTION – a sincere, safe, and system- people 55 and older. atic method of finding eligible clients of the opposite sex quickly, easily and cost-ef• Seniors are often reluctant to talk fectively. about their circumstances or ask for Karl, a 65 yr. old single gentleman, was tired and weary of playing the dating help. Ten percent of them skipped food games, the bar scene and being lonely, so he set out to find the love of his life. He purchases before they filed for bankspent a lot of time and energy participating in his daily routine and searching for la- ruptcy. dies shopping at the same grocery store, going to the same bank and post office, • More expensive health care and working out at the same gym, and eating at a couple of his favorite restaurants. housing, the end of many private pen What happened when Karl saw someone he was attracted to and wanted to sions, and insufficient financial planning are pushing many seniors to meet? bankruptcy. Imagine, now the guessing games begin! The U.S. Department of Health and • Is she available to date? Human Services recently reported that • Should I act assertive or act reserved? 10 percent of people over 65 are below • Is she really who she says she is? the poverty line. Many of them are • Will she like me? drowning in debt and cannot pay be • Should I make the first move? cause they are living on Social Security, Sadly, Karl was always guessing and became very frustrated wasting his preveteran’s benefits and/or disability or cious time and money. He realized that the conventional ways he was meeting laretirement benefits. But, if they stop dies did not work well for him. paying their debts, they may be subject So, Karl contacted Tampa/Sarasota/Naples Singles for a personal interview. to the harassment and abuse of debt Here, he met Kathleen, a professional and personal executive matchmaker. Kathcollectors who may be violating the law. leen asked Karl, “Wouldn’t it be a lot easier to meet the right lady if you knew certain things about her ahead of time . . . like her dating eligibility, compatible lifestyles and interests, and her interest in meeting you?” At Tampa/Sarasota/Naples Singles: • Everyone is eligible • Everyone is qualified • Identification is verified • Criminal background check for felonies is conducted • Education and Employment are known • Everyone is here to meet the “right” person – no games, no one-night stands, no drama Karl was introduced to qualified and compatible ladies. Now, this senior single gentleman enjoys walks on the beach, playing tennis & golf, boating, attending the Tampa Bay Rays baseball games, playing bridge and romantic, candlelit dinners – sharing it all with his special lady, his best friend, his passionate partner. Kathleen believes that with Tampa/Sarasota/Naples Singles there is no longer an excuse for being lonely. The company does all the work for you, screening for drug and/or alcohol problems, criminal background checks for felonies and antisocial behavior. Your meaningful, committed, long-lasting relationship and the love of your life all begin with one phone call at 813-753-8230. The company offers complimentary interviews with a professional and personal executive matchmaker. You can also visit www.tampasingles.com for more information.
A recent report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) describes confrontations with creditors. • The FTC receives more complaints about the debt collection industry than any other specific industry. • Approximately 49.7 percent of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) complaints about thirdparty debt collectors claimed the collectors harassed them by calling repeatedly and incessantly. • Approximately 16.1 percent of the FDCPA complaints claimed that a collector used obscene, profane or otherwise abusive language. Debt Counsel for Seniors, Veterans and the Disabled (DCSD) protects clients under several federal statutes from harassment by collectors such as collection agencies, junk debt buyers and attorneys. DCSD helps protect their exempt income and eliminates the stress of having to deal with collection agents. In addition, DCSD advises third-party collectors that the client is represented by counsel and issues a cease and desist order directing them to cease contacting the client and to direct all contact to DCSD. If a creditor violates a client’s rights under federal statutes, DCSD works with a team of attorneys across the United States to litigate these violations on behalf of clients. Services like these have provided many seniors with the peace of mind they need to address their health issues rather than worry about their debts. Visit the DCSD website at www. debtcounsel.net for more information, or, call 800-992-3275 ext. 1701 for a free consultation.
LISTEN Monday thru Friday 4 to 5pm on 1250am WHNZ
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Senior Voice America
SEPTEMBER 2012
Senior to Senior Woman Seeking Man Nice looking D W C F ISO Gentleman who treats a lady as such. I am sincere, affectionate, and active. Tampa (813) 541-7759. S W F NS SD 60’s, looking for my soul-mate. 70 or younger for dancing, travel, LTR, maybe marriage. Please no ex-wife or children that interfere with us. Largo (727) 247-9253.
Meet that Someone Special with a FREE listing in Senior to Senior
Very attractive B S F C fun loving, active, looking for white male, 55-65, active, NS, intelligent, romantic, ISO LTR who can appreciate someone special. Tampa (813) 390-0727.
Senior to Senior Abbreviations M: Male F: Female S: Single D: Divorced WD: Widowed W: White B: Black H: Hispanic J: Jewish
C: Christian ISO: In Search Of LTR: Long Term Relationship NS: Non-Smoker ND: Non-Drinker SD: Social Drinker SOH: Sense of Humor
attractive petite lady with a vivacious personality. Clearwater (727) 474-5040.
man Seeking WOMan Lady seeking active, savvy gent. WD, W, C, F, NS, ND, R, 5’2” 70s FF (swims, concerts, hikes, day trips). Palm Harbor (727) 947-2191. W F WD LTR Anyone out there who is lonely? I love sports, Nascar, the beach. I want to share my feelings with you. Largo (727) 481-4842.
S W M 62 seeks F, 48-66. Race is not an issue. I enjoy life, want companion and more. 5’6” 158 lbs. Largo (727) 831-9966. ©bigstockphoto.com
58 W M ISO LTR, likes the beach, bowling, and first Fridays in St. Petersburg. I have supported living assistance. Must be patient. Please email at jc.redtruck@gmail.com.
Slender, active, love to travel and dance. ISO NS, ND, Hispanic or bilingual, tall, fit, financially secure 58-66. Friendship first. Tampa (813) 326-7071.
S W M 66 175 lbs. ISO Asian/white F NS,ND, communication, fun, smiles, affectionate, dining, happy hour. No Tampa. Tyrone Mall area. Seeking LTR/ marriage. St. Petersburg (727) 545-4148.
W F WD, NS, ND 69 ISO sincere gentleman for dating & friendship, day trips, shopping, dining out, honesty. Pinellas Park (727) 827-7240.
D W Gentleman, active, healthy, tall, slim, 60’s ISO attractive, honest, sincere, NS lady. Any nationality ok. Please call (727) 322-6197.
Attractive, European S W F, a “Snowbird”, 50’s, 5’5”, 105 lbs., formerly a gymnast, ISO a younger SWM for occasional dating. Must be honest, handsome, polite, healthy, optimistic. Clearwater (727) 238-2377.
Senior to Senior™ Mail to: Senior Voice America 8406 Benjamin Rd., Ste G, Tampa, FL 33634 Email: sr2sr@seniorvoiceamerica.com Fax: (813) 422-7966
SR F seeks humorous C guy, love to travel, many interests, blonde hair, blue eyes, 5’5”, curvy. Water person, boating, art galleries, ND, NS. St. Petersburg (727) 657-6904. S B F attractive, active, romantic, NS, love movies, all kinds, 5’7 ½” 165 lbs/. long black hair. ISO white male, NS, active 50-60’s, friendship/ LTR. Tampa (813) 390-0727.
W Italian man 68 ISO Lady for LTR to love and respect for life, age and looks not important, honesty is, house and financially secure is a plus. I will love forever, need to like animals, I am a good man. St. Pete (727) 498-6995. ISO ladies who are willing and able to accept the love and respect of me, a 65 year old Mexican-American man from Texas. I am all man, no games please. Educated, any age, nationality, looks, or weight will be accepted. Life is short, let’s get to know each other. Plant City (813) 520-1702.
Friend to Friend Sincere attractive blue-eyed lady loves going out on weekends, ISO honest guy with SOH for LTR. You must be 58-70 and enjoy life and be 5’10” or taller. Tampa (813) 962-2907. B F D ISO M, black or white, serious-minded about relationship, friendly, kindhearted, NS, 70-75 yrs. old. Miami (786) 222-3363. Gentlemen, enjoy life, you only have one. Are you 68 and no taller than 5’9”? Let’s go dancing and make the best of it and enjoy life. Largo (727) 2479253. S D W F looking for males that like to dance, bowl, movies, and dining out. I am 63, 153 lbs., dark brown hair. Very active in life, loyal, kind, honest. No games, all from the heart. Dunedin (727) 560-1201.
EMAIL: sr2sr@seniorvoiceamerica.com
DWF Seeking gentleman 50’s to 60’s who is outgoing with a great SOH. Enjoys dancing, travelling and must be financially secure. I am a very
English questing free spirit slim fit healthy S W M 74, into natural living/ healing, massage, creating miracles. Enjoys classical music/films, candlelight dinners, nature, seeks friend to explore/enjoy. St. Petersburg (727) 384-4908. S C NS F 56, desires friendship with another S C NS F in her 50’s with a car to go to certain places, in Pinellas county for fellowship. (727) 953-5209. Willing to put you first in life, beautiful inside and outside, good interests, good character, are 6270 years of age. If you want a friend, call me. (813) 850-3276. Looking for someone to practice bluegrass music with. Clearwater (517) 304-2697. WD W F, European, Educated, C ISO a friend, tall, nice looking, honest. Christian who enjoys, dining out, travel, good conversation, ND. Please mail picture. Tampa (813) 312-0167.
SEPTEMBER 2012
Senior Voice America
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Place your classified ad in the Senior Voice America today. Clean out your garage, sell that car, advertise your services. Ads are priced from $25 for up to 20 words, plus a phone number. Additional words are $5. To place your ad, call (813) 444-1011, or complete the form below and mail with a check payable to Senior Voice America, 8406 Benjamin Rd, Ste G, Tampa FL 33634. You can also email your ad to sharon@seniorvoiceamerica.com Deadline: 20th of the month for the next monthly issue. NAME _________________________________________________ ADDRESS _______________________________________________ CITY ______________________________ STATE ____ ZIP __________ PHONE __________________________________________________ EMAIL___________________________________________________ Heading______________________________________________ AD_________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________
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