Montana 55 Fall by Missoulian

Fall 2018

senior health healthy living

debt management

best life

the magazine for montanans in their prime

publisher mike gulledge

editor emily petrovski sales coordinator jacque walawander

For advertising information contact Jacque Walawander 406-523-5271, or email jacque.walawander@lee.net

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College class on memes explains to seniors creative ways people get ‘snarky’ online By Lisa Maria Garza, Orlando Sentinel (TNS)

WINTER PARK, Fla. — Nancy Shutts, 78, first encountered internet memes a couple of years ago when her grandson shared a term paper he wrote for a college class. She couldn’t understand what the big deal was about the silly social media images with text — usually related to current events. “I am so left-brained, this does not mean squat to me,” said Shutts, who has a degree in medical technology. “But I’m constantly looking at new things to expand my knowledge.” Shutts and five other seniors came together in a Rollins College classroom to learn about memes and other trending images on the inter4

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net from art historian Adrienne Lee. A meme is a still shot — typically from a movie, television show or ad campaign — “that takes on a new life but is rooted in a context that we all share,” Lee explained to the class, offered for people 50 or older through Rollins’ Center for Lifelong Learning. For example, an image of the late actor Gene Wilder as the title character in the 1971 movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” — with his top hat tipped upward, head resting on his hand and a smirk on his face — has spawned countless “condescending Wonka” memes.

Popular topics include mocking social media use, fad diets, and overused phrases. “You know to read those words in a snarky, sarcastic tone because of how he played that character,” said Lee, 39. “Memes are like organisms — they have a mind of their own, and they evolve and mutate.” The lecture series, also explores other art history topics in relation to modern concepts such as: Are smartphone selfies an electronic version of a self-portrait? Does posting pictures of your brunch on Instagram equate to a still-life painting? “It’s that idea that while the media has changed or evolved, the intent really hasn’t — that’s rooted in human nature,” said Lee, adding that she imagines Monet’s Instagram feed would be bursting with depictions of water lilies and haystacks. Most of Lee’s students said they reluctantly use Facebook to keep track of family and friends but don’t embrace other apps such as Twitter or Instagram. There’s a level of narcissism, they said, with

constantly sharing carefully crafted details of one’s life on social media. Apopka resident Yvonne King, who declined to give her age, balked at the idea of redefining art and comparing artists who painstakingly created masterpieces with people who use filters on their photos. “People that are participating in it to a great degree … they’re really not doing it for the art,” King said. “This is not an attack on anyone, but there’s quite an element of being very self-centered.” Lee countered with the notion that all artists are prideful because they’re putting themselves out there through their work. “All that art comes as a result of artists who are experiencing their world at a particular time … that’s the real reason we can’t brush off these pop culture references, these social media trends, memes — it’s our visual representation of what’s happening now.” “Art is for everyone, and through pop culture, I think we find ways to make it more accessible,” she said. MT55

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Fighting ID theft: Complex passwords, credit freezes can help stop criminals from stealing your ID By Treva Lind, The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.) (TNS)

Criminals often steal personal identity information because it’s worth money across the internet. That’s one lesson learned by Kathy Fleming, 77, at a June 14 seminar on “Taking Charge of Your Digital Security.” AARP Washington held the event for about 200 people in Spokane Valley. Although Fleming is careful when she uses her computer and guards her credit, she’s been the victim of identity theft more than once. “Your information is currency,” said Fleming, a local AARP chapter member. “I’ve been hit multiple times, but it never dawned on me that my information is a form of currency. “That’s what it is for people who buy and sell it; they can sell a social security number and name for $3 on the dark web.” The dark web is part of the internet used for illegal transactions that’s not accessible to ordinary browsers. Fleming said the seminar had two other takeaways: Do a credit freeze and use complex, 6

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varied passwords through a password manager service, which offers to generate and store a different password for each of a user’s online accounts. A credit freeze, also known as a security freeze, lets consumers restrict access to a credit report among the three major reporting agencies. The step makes it more difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts because most creditors need to see a credit report before approval. In recent years, Fleming said she was hit by personal record data breaches at Target, Rosauers and the consumer credit reporting agency Experian. About a year and a half ago, someone used PayPal to take $2,000 out of her checking account. Her credit union quickly investigated the incident and returned the money. “The best part is I don’t have a PayPal account,” she said. “The credit union is insured, so I did get my $2,000 back.” At a separate time, she got a call when some-

one in Las Vegas tried to buy a car using her credit. Another person had applied to get a credit card in her name from retailer Victoria’s Secret. “One of the best things I learned at the seminar is you don’t have to wait until you’re victimized and file the police report to do a credit freeze,” she said. Thanks to a new law, applying for a credit freeze became free in Washington state as of June 6. Starting this fall, the big three credit reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — will be required to let people freeze a credit file for free. Congress mandated free freezes in the wake of consumer outrage over the Equifax breach last September exposing the personal information of more than 146 million Americans. The free-freeze provision was included in a banking deregulation bill signed by President Donald Trump last month that rolled back some of the reforms put into place by the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010 after the Great Recession. Doug Shadel, AARP state director, told seminar attendees that after a credit freeze is in place, people can lift it if they need to buy a car or get a loan. However, they’ll need to provide the special pin number given when the freeze was put in place. “They give you a really long pin number, and you can’t lose it,” Shadel said. Shadel also promotes using different, complex passwords and closely monitoring financial accounts. “Criminals are lazy,” he said. “Avoid being the low-hanging fruit.” A Microsoft online safety and security expert, Jeff Lilleskare, told people at the seminar about fake pop-up screens, and how they can look like authentic security notices. Even clicking on an apparent red exit box can be risky, Lilleskare said. He suggested going to the computer browser to close any pop-ups. “No matter how much technology knowledge you have, you can be sucked into the moment,” he said. “Do your updates and let them happen automatically.”

According to consumer fraud experts, consumers should take three major steps to protect their personal information: Set up and monitor online banking and checking accounts often, freeze credit and strengthen online passwords and privacy settings. However, a recent state AARP survey indicates Washington state consumers are falling behind in the battle to protect their digital identities. The survey of Washington online users ages 18 and older showed a lack of awareness of online dangers. It found that 6 in 10 Washington adults failed a quiz testing their “Digital Identity IQ.” Only half of respondents, or 53 percent, knew that purchasing ID theft monitoring services doesn’t prevent thieves from stealing identity. Most ID theft monitoring services will notify individuals if someone is attempting to open new credit in their name, but that doesn’t prevent it. Among those surveyed, 6 in 10 people said that given the number of data breaches over the past five years, they feel it’s inevitable that criminals will use their stolen identity to exploit their credit, despite attempts to block it. About 45 percent of respondents reported using the same password for more than one online account. Younger adults are more likely to report doing this than seniors, with the age group 18-49 at nearly 50 percent compared with 65 and older at 33 percent. AARP said fewer than 14 percent of the adults overall reported having ever ordered a security freeze on their credit. Nearly half of respondents hadn’t set up online access to some or any of their bank or credit card accounts, citing fears their personal information will get stolen. “It’s ironic and unfortunate that fear and mistrust of the internet is actually putting people in greater danger that their personal information will be stolen and used by ID thieves,” Shadel said. “Crooks have told us that people without online accounts are the perfect targets. It allows the criminals to set up online access themselves, and to even set passwords and identifying information locking people out of their own accounts.” MT55 7 mt55mag.com

Don’t get tricked by these 3 heart-health myths By Mayo Clinic Staff

he food you eat can play a major role in your risk of heart disease. Here’s what you need to know to avoid popular misconceptions.

To reduce your chance of heart disease, you should avoid eggs and take an omega-3 supplement. Right? Not exactly. Heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women in the U.S. And a potent weapon to keep it at bay is to eat a healthy diet that gives you the vitamins, minerals and energy you need while keeping your weight, cholesterol and blood pressure in check. But beware of these popular nutrition myths that could steer you down the wrong path. Myth: Coconut oil is a heart-healthy cooking alternative. The argument: Coconut oil is extremely high in saturated fat — about 50 percent more than butter, even. But despite that saturated fat is known to raise cholesterol levels, linked with heart disease risk, proponents believe that some saturated fats in coconut oil (called medium-chain triglycerides) are less harmful and may actually raise levels of beneficial HDL cholesterol. The reality: Coconut oil has been shown to raise cholesterol levels — the good and the bad kinds — more than other plant-based oils like olive or canola. And in truth, medium-chain triglycerides make up only a small amount of the fatty acids in coconut oil. Plus, while other heart-healthy fats like olive oil, canola oil, or omega-3 fatty acids in nuts and seafood have been supported by a large body of evidence, coconut oil’s supposed benefits still haven’t been proved in large-scale hu8

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man research. Myth: It’s best to avoid eggs — or at least the yolks. The argument: Egg yolks contain lots of cholesterol. So, logically, eating cholesterol leads to high cholesterol. Right? The reality: Most of the cholesterol in the body is made by the liver, not delivered through diet. And while diet does matter, research has found that cholesterol levels have more to do with the fat you eat, namely saturated and trans fats, than cholesterol. And eggs contain healthy nutrients, including vitamins A and D, as well as protein. Long-term population studies show that eating an egg a day hasn’t been linked to higher rates of heart attack or stroke. But beware the side of bacon and cheese, which can raise your risk. Myth: Omega-3 fatty acid supplements will help your heart. The argument: Eating fish may lower your risk of dying of heart disease thanks to the unsaturated fatty acids in seafood, which may reduce inflammation and lower levels of blood fats called triglycerides. But if you don’t eat fish regularly (or at all), reaching for an omega-3 or fish oil supplement seems like a good shortcut. The reality: A major review of studies including nearly 80,000 patients found no link between omega-3 supplements and heart disease. The takeaway: While supplements probably aren’t harmful, you may be better off getting your omega-3s from your diet, rather than from a bottle. MT55

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Why we must preserve and protect Social Security By Ken Toole, for Montana 55

Not many of us remember the old county poor farms. A friend of mine recently told me his grandfather would often seek assurances from his family that they would care for him if he became indigent. His worst fear was that he would end up at the poor farm on the highway just west of Havre. Poor farms were universally feared by the elderly at the turn of the last century. In those days, if a person had not been able to save enough or lost their retirement savings, their only hope was family would take them in. Too often that was not an option, and the elderly ended up at the local poor farm. A Massachusetts report in 1910 found that only 1 percent of residents had entered poor farms before they were 40 years old. After age 60, the number jumped to 92 percent. Life in these institutions was miserable. In 1930 a commission in New York State reported, “Privacy, even in the most intimate affairs of life is impossible; married couples are quite generally separated; and all the inmates are regimented as though in a prison or penal colony. Private possessions, other than the clothes on the back, are almost out of the question, since individual bureaus, closets, tables or other articles of furniture, outside of a bed, are generally not provided.” The poor farm passed into the pages of history because Roosevelt’s New Deal created Social 10

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Security in the 1930s. It provided some financial protection to almost all working Americans. Social Security was conceived as a social insurance program to protect against poverty. From the beginning to this day, the worker and the employer pay an insurance premium into the system and receive a monthly insurance benefit after retirement age. Over the years the opponents to Social Security, which now includes Medicare, have portrayed Social Security as a “welfare” program. They imply that the person receiving the benefit did little to deserve what they are receiving. From the beginning, the architects of the Social Security system, including President Roosevelt, understood that public support for a pay-as-you-go social insurance program was critical to its success. Now the opponents of Social Security and Medicare are referring to “entitlement reform.” This is just one more focus-group-tested buzz phrase to make people think they want to cut a welfare program. Dorothy Slater summed up the feeling a lot of us have, “I have paid into [Social Security] for over 60 years and think I am ‘entitled’ to my measly $1,027 a month — I have also paid into Medicare for as long as it has existed and probably deserve the ‘entitlement’ of a yearly physical and the occasional x-ray.” Social Security and Medicare in America have been a huge success. These insurance

programs have dramatically reduced poverty, particularly among the elderly. Though we all like to gripe about bureaucracy, the truth is that Social Security has been remarkably efficient since the beginning. In 2017 the administrative cost of the Social Security Administration was 0.07 percent. You can bet that the administrative cost of private insurers and investment firms is higher than that … particularly when you add in the profits that go to their stockholders. After passing a huge tax cut which benefitted the very wealthiest individuals in the country in 2017, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan announced that “entitlement reform” was next on the agenda. The truth is that the Republican Party now controls the Congress, the Senate and the Presidency. The leadership, strategists and activists in the Republican Party have been on the front lines in attacking Social Security since the 1930s. They have been largely unsuccessful, but they are getting ready to take another run at it. We must organize to defend Social Security. Talk to your friends, ask candidates if they will protect Social Security and join groups like Big Sky 55+ that advocate for economic justice. We don’t have to wonder what the country would be like without a Social Security system. Next time you drive by Butte on Interstate 15 look down the hill below the Berkeley Pit. You will see a large, Victorian, brick building which now houses The National Center for Appropriate Technology, but it was originally the county poor farm. Imagine living there alone with only a bed for furniture. MT55 Ken Toole is the Vice Chair of Big Sky 55+, which was formed to engage Montanans 55 and older to advocate for forward-thinking policies such as health care and economic security for all. He also served on the Montana Public Service Commission and in the Montana State Senate.

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How to reset retirement plans to weather a downturn By Liz Weston, NerdWallet

The older the current bull market gets, the more stories you’re likely to read about how this is an awful time to retire. Yes, we’re due for a correction that trims 20 percent or more from stock values. That could be a big problem for people taking withdrawals from investment portfolios, since market losses early in retirement increase the chances of running short of money. The answer isn’t to cower in fear, but to plan for the inevitable downturns. Financial planners say the following actions can help make 12

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your money last.

MAKE SURE YOU’RE PROPERLY DIVERSIFIED

Stocks have quadrupled since March 9, 2009, the beginning of the current bull market. Meanwhile, returns on bonds and cash remain low. Investors who haven’t regularly rebalanced back to a target mix of stocks, bonds and cash probably have way too much of their portfolios in stocks. The time to rebalance is now, before markets

start bucking and making it harder to think rationally. The right asset allocation depends on your income needs and risk tolerance, among other factors, but many financial planners recommend having a few years’ worth of withdrawals in safer investments to mitigate the urge to sell when stocks fall. Certified financial planner Lawrence Heller of Melville, New York, uses the “bucket” strategy to avoid selling in down markets. Heller typically has clients keep one to three years’ worth of expenses in cash, plus seven to nine years’ worth in bonds, giving them 10 years before they would have to sell any stocks. “That should be enough time to ride out a correction,” Heller says. Near-retirees who use target date funds or computerized robo-advisors to invest for retirement don’t have to worry about regular rebalancing — that’s done automatically. But they may want to consider switching to a more conservative mix if stocks make up over half of their portfolios.

START SMALLER, OR BE WILLING TO CUT BACK

Historically, retirees could minimize the risk of running out of money by withdrawing 4 percent of their portfolios in the first year of retirement and increasing the withdrawal amount by the inflation rate each year after that. This approach, pioneered by financial planner and researcher Bill Bengen, became known as the “4 percent rule.” Some researchers worry that the rule might not work in extended periods of low returns. One alternative is to start withdrawals at about 3 percent. Another approach is to forgo inflation adjustments in bad years. Derek Tharp, a researcher with financial planning site Kitces.com, found that retirees could start at an initial 4.5 percent withdrawal rate if they were willing to trim their spending by 3 percent — which is equivalent to the average inflation adjustment — after years when their portfolios lose money. “You don’t actually cut your spending. You

just don’t increase it for inflation,” says certified financial planner Michael Kitces.

PAY OFF DEBT, MAXIMIZE SOCIAL SECURITY

Reducing expenses trims the amount that retirees must take from their portfolios during bad markets. That’s why Melissa Sotudeh, a certified financial planner in Rockville, Maryland, recommends paying off debt before retirement. She also suggests clients maximize Social Security checks. Benefits increase by about 7-8 percent for each year people put off starting Social Security after age 62. The more guaranteed income people have, the less they may have to lean on their portfolios.

IF NEEDED, ARRANGE MORE GUARANTEED INCOME

Ideally, retirees would have enough guaranteed income from Social Security and pensions to cover all of their basic expenses, such as housing, food, utilities, transportation, taxes and insurance, says Wade Pfau, professor of retirement income at the American College of Financial Services. If they don’t, they may be able to create more guaranteed income using fixed annuities or reverse mortgages, says Pfau, author of “How Much Can I Spend in Retirement?” Fixed annuities allow buyers to pay a lump sum to an insurance company typically in exchange for monthly payments that can last a lifetime. Reverse mortgages give people age 62 and older access to their equity through lump sums, lines of credit or monthly payments, and the borrowed money doesn’t have to be paid back until the owner sells, dies or moves out. Covering expenses with guaranteed income actually can free retirees to take more risk with their investment portfolios, which over time can give them better returns and more money to spend or leave to their kids, Pfau says. “They’ll be able to invest more aggressively and still sleep at night because they don’t need that money to fund their day-to-day retirement expenses,” he says. MT55 mt55mag.com

Managing debt in retirement takes some planning

By Liz Weston, NerdWallet

Owing money in retirement isn’t ideal — but most people do. Seventy percent of U.S. households headed by people ages 65 to 74 had at least some debt in 2016, according to the Federal Reserve’s latest Survey of Consumer Finances. So did half of those 75 and older. Paying debt usually gets more difficult on a fixed income. Mortgage debt, especially, can be a huge burden in retirement. Retirees may have to withdraw larger amounts from their retirement funds to cover payments on debt, which can trigger higher tax bills and increase the chances they’ll run short of money. 14

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People have the most options to deal with debt if they create a plan before they retire, financial planners say. Refinancing a mortgage, for example, is usually less of a hassle while people are still employed. It’s also typically easier to generate the extra income that may be needed to pay off debt. “It is much easier to keep working for another year or two than to try and come back into the workforce when they are older and the employer needs have changed,” says Linda Farinola, a certified financial planner in Princeton, N.J. Here are three loans to consider before you stop working:

REFINANCE (OR RECAST) YOUR MORTGAGE

Certified financial planner Rebecca L. Kennedy of Denver would prefer that clients pay off their mortgages before they retire. But paying off a mortgage may not be feasible or advisable, especially if it would mean taking a lot of money from a 401(k), IRA or other account. “Often the majority of the assets are pretax so it would require a much larger withdrawal to net the after-tax amount needed,” Kennedy says. People also could consider downsizing to eliminate or reduce mortgage debt, Farinola says. For retirees determined to stay put, refinancing or “recasting” the loan can lower payments, says Serina Shyu, a certified financial planner in Atlanta. While refinancing requires taking out a new loan, with substantial fees, recasting means keeping the same loan, but using a lump sum to pay down the balance and lower the payments. Recasting is offered by some but not all lenders and may not be good idea if the lump sum would come from retirement accounts. Another option, if the mortgage balance is less than half of the home’s market value, is using a reverse mortgage to pay it off. Reverse mortgages allow people 62 and older to tap their home equity without having to pay the money back until they move out, sell the house or die. “For many, that is a very viable way to increase cash flow,” says Chris Chen, a certified financial planner in Waltham, Massachusetts.

off debt might consider a personal loan with a fixed interest rate and fixed payments. If it would take over five years to pay off the debt, however, their debt load may be unmanageable. In that case, they should talk to a credit counselor and a bankruptcy attorney to better understand their options.

OPEN A HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT

A home equity line of credit is like a credit card that allows you to borrow against the value of your home. If that sounds dangerous — good. It should. HELOCs shouldn’t be used for frivolous spending, but they can be a good backup to an emergency fund. HELOCs also can fund home repairs or long-term care. A HELOC probably isn’t a good option for people who aren’t disciplined about their spending. HELOCs have another big pitfall: Payments on any borrowed money can spike after an initial interest-only “draw period” ends, usually after 10 years. Another product, a reverse mortgage HELOC, costs more to set up, but payments are optional. Some financial planners recommend reverse mortgage HELOCs as a potential source of cash in market downturns. The retiree can draw on the HELOC rather than selling stocks in a bad market, and pay the money back — or not — in good markets. “The key advantage is ability to choose if and when to make payments, and ability to access a growing line of credit,” says Tom C.B. Davison, a certified financial planner in Columbus, Ohio. MT55

CONSOLIDATE YOUR DEBT

Credit card debt indicates people may be living above their means. That’s not something that tends to get better when incomes drop in retirement, Farinola says. “I find that if people cannot pay off debt when they are working, they certainly cannot when they retire and the cycle just continues,” she says. People with good credit scores, and sufficient discipline, can use zero-percent balance transfer offers to consolidate and pay off their credit card debt. Those who need more time to pay mt55mag.com

Ready to downsize? A

three-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch house with a sprawling yard makes sense for families with kids and a dog and bikes and extra cars.

For empty-nesters, though, that big, beautiful house often just becomes a list of Saturday morning chores — mowing the yard, cleaning more bathrooms than you use on a regular 16

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basis and vacuuming bedrooms that no one is sleeping in but are filled up with old belongings you think about getting rid of but haven’t. Retirement offers a good opportunity to

downsize the house into something more manageable and less expensive. Kiplinger talked to experts about the questions to ask yourself and priorities to con-sider as you’re looking for a new place.

Consider what you want

Do you just want a smaller space? Or is locating closer to amenities or in a certain area your top priority? You may want to consider a townhouse or condominium or other property with a homeowner’s association to lessen the amount of upkeep you’re responsible for. If you want to spend less on a mortgage, you may have to compromise on location or amenities. Knowing what’s most important will make shopping easier.

Consider your timeline

If you’ve been in the same house for 30 years, you’ve likely accumulated 30 years of stuff. Give

yourself a reasonable timeline to pack, purge and clean your house to get it ready for sale. You should also look at the real estate market in your area and the area to which you’re relocating. If you hit a market slump, it could be worth waiting to see if the value of your home will increase. Talk to a Realtor about what you can reasonably expect to get for your home and how much it will cost you to sell and then buy a new home.

Look into adult communities

Active-adult or continuing-care retirement communities may be the right step. These offer lots of amenities and more of a community feel. CCRCs provide assisted living and skillednursing facilities. These offer different payment methods, such as simply paying for rent and then paying out-of-pocket for other care as needed or contracts with an upfront fee for lifetime care. MT55

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Become a Road Scholar R

etired and ready for your next adventure? Look no further than Road Scholar, a nonprofit organization that offers travel, educational opportunities and other experiences for seniors.

The program, started in 1975 as Elderhostel, offers more than 5,500 learning adventures, taking scholars on trips to 150 countries throughout the world, with the aim of educating, introducing people to each other and to different cultures. These trips are planned with different levels of fitness, finances and experience in mind, with the organization planning the itineraries. Each trip is staffed by faculty experts who take scholars to the usual and not-so-usual attractions of a city or region and let them experience the food, history, customs and lifestyle. Trips are available for solo travelers, couples or groups, and the cost includes lodging, many meals, gratuities and group transportation. On international trips, the organization takes care of airfare as well. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready to explore the world, Road Scholar offers nature hikes through Costa Rica, a maritime journey in Croatia and Slovenia, or hiking through the Canadian Rockies or Cinque Terre, Italy. For the more historically minded, explore the Caribbean island of Martinique or visit Cuba or the Chesapeake Islands in Maryland. If you want to stay closer to home or take 18

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a less expensive trip, learn about the ecology of the Channel Islands National Park off the coast of California or go on a five-day rejuvenation retreat. Want to explore a little further? Trips include time for independent exploration or optional learning adventures that you can add to your itinerary. Or, if you want to make Road Scholar an intergenerational experience, check out Grandparent Journeys, which allow you to take your grandchildren with you to swim with sea life in Mexico, go back in time at Colonial Williamsburg or explore the many facets of Paris. There are trips suitable for children as young as 4 years old. Of course, not everyone has room in their budget for an extended trip. There is financial aid available; Road Scholar offers scholarships to people who want to go on an adventure but cannot afford to. The organization also has caregiver grants to help those who are caring for a sick, disabled or elderly family member pay the costs of arranging substitute care. For more information, visit www.roadscholar. org. MT55

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Healthy living S

taying healthy and sharp as you get older will contribute to living a longer, more fulfilling life. While many of the habits that keep you healthier in your earlier decades will continue to serve you well as you get older, seniors need to be careful with high-impact exercises and should be aware of different risks.

Fall 2018

Eat right

The AARP actually suggests eating like you have diabetes — don’t eat after 7 p.m.; get rid of the bottom bun when eating hamburgers or other sandwiches; keep nuts in your bag or glove compartment so you have something healthy to snack; use mashed avocado in place of mayonnaise on sandwiches and use whole wheat bread; and replace noodles with quinoa or barley. Talk to your doctor about the number of calories you should be eating daily.

Find the right exercises

As long as you’re able to do it, brisk walking remains a great way to burn calories, get your heart rate up and keep your muscles and joints active. It’s not the only exercise that’s low impact and good for seniors, though. AARP suggests tai chi — a form of martial arts that combines slow, graceful movements and meditation that been connected to a variety of health and fitness benefits. The biggest of those benefits is the exercise’s ability to improve balance and prevent falls. A 2015 study also found tai chi can help seniors avoid osteoarthritis. Tai chi, as with all exercise, can help reduce stress as well as give you more energy for the rest of your activities.

If you have difficulty understanding words clearly over the phone, just fill out this form! You may qualify for free assistive telephone equipment through the

Montana Telecommunications Access Program!

Work with your doctor

As you age, your risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia increases, as does the risk for cancer, arthritis and many other conditions. Talk to your doctor about changes in your body or symptoms related to depression or other mental conditions. MT55

• Amplified telephones • Captioned telephones • Loud bell ringers TTYs • Artificial Larynxes • And much, much more!

Yes, I want to learn more about MTAP! Return form to: MTAP P. O. Box 4210, Helena, MT 59604 Name: Address: City:

State:

Zip Code:

Phone:

For more information just mail us this form or call toll-free 1-800-833-8503

TAKE CHARGE!

Keep your brain sharp

Memory slowing down is a normal effect of age. According to Healthbeat, a publication of Harvard Medical School, using the brain is critical to keep your memory sharp. Use all of your senses; repeat or write down information you want to retain; continue learning, either through classes, books, online programs, going to museums or joining a book club; or make a mnemonic device to help you remember things.

Equipment available through MTAP includes:

The Montana Telecommunications Access Program (MTAP) provides FREE assistive telephone equipment to those who qualify, making it easier to use the phone to do business or keep in touch with family and friends.

YOU can help stop Medicare fraud!

PROTECT: Don’t give out your personal DETECT: REPORT:

information.

Read all your medical statements If you suspect that you have been a target of any type of abuse, report it to Montana SMP!

For the SMP near you, contact:

1-800-551-3191

Montana SMP is a program coordinated by Missoula Aging Services and partnered with local Area Agencies on Aging. This project was supported, in part by grant number 90MP0233, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.

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Social Security basics

ost Americans who work pay into Social Security, which is designed to help people save for retirement. â&#x20AC;¨The payment is automatic, but applying for benefits takes some time and effort â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and lots of paperwork. The U.S. Social Security Administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website, www.ssa.gov, has a retirement estimator that helps users estimate their monthly benefits, learn their full retirement age and make informed decisions about the process.

When should I get social security? Workers who have paid into Social Security can get retirement benefits as early as 62 years old, but they will see reduced benefits if they cash in before full retirement age, which for most people is 66. Waiting until 70 to start benefits will result in increased benefits.

Fall 2018

The SSA recommends applying for benefits four months before you want those benefits to begin. You may want to do this even if you are still working when you reach full retirement age; it could mean more money for you. If earnings for the prior year are higher than one of the years used to compute your benefit, the SSA will redo that calculation and make the increase retroactive to January the year after you earned the higher way. This could result in higher survivors benefits as well. If you receive benefits while working, the amount you get may be reduced depending on your income.

What paperwork do I need?

To apply, you need your Social Security number, birth certificate, W-2 forms or self-employment returns for the previous year, military discharge papers, if applicable, and birth certificates and Social Security numbers for your spouse and children who are applying for benefits. The need for records doesn’t end when you’re receiving your benefits. Notify the SSA if you move, get married or divorced, change your name, adopt a child, have a change in citizenship status or start receiving a pension.

What benefits can my family get?

If your spouse or child qualify, they may receive a monthly payment up to half of your full retirement benefit. This will not cut your benefit amount. Children may qualify if they are minors, fulltime high school students who are 18 or 19 or have a disability that started before age 22. Spouses who have not paid into Social Security also may be eligible if they have reached full retirement age. MT55

You’re Retired. Your Money Isn’t. To learn why consolidating your retirement accounts to Edward Jones makes sense, contact your Edward Jones financial advisor today.

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Clark Fork Riverside Retirement Community

• 1 & 2 Bed Apartments • On-site Beauty Salon Overlooking the Clark Fork • No Smoking Facility River • City Bus Route Participant • Lunch & Dinner Offered Daily • Convenient Downtown • Housekeeping & Social Location Within Walking Activities Distance To Shopping, Doctor/ • Coin-Operated Laundry Hospital Facilities, Theaters & Services Churches Over the years you’ve cared for your family and others, doing what needed to be done. Now is the time to make good on the promises you made to yourself years ago - to enjoy an uncomplicated, yet full lifestyle.

301 W. Front St. Missoula, MT 59802 (406) 721-2439 • TTY Relay 1-800-253-4091

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What to know about Medicare

Fall 2018

edicare is a federal health insurance plan that working americans pay into through payroll taxes. It is a valuable benefit, as most americans’ health insurance is tied to their jobs, thus leaving a hole when workers retire, but enrolling in and navigating the program can be a daunting task.

The AARP has a Medicare Question and Answer Tool to walk people through the plans Medicare of-fers, what health care coverage you need and can afford, and the timeline you should expect as you are signing up.

Basics of Medicare

At age 65, Americans are eligible for Medicare. There are four parts: • Part A (hospital): Helps pay for the cost of hospital stays and time in short-term skilled nursing facilities, hospice and home health services. • Part B (medical): Helps pay for doctors, outpatient and preventive care and certain medical equip-ment. • Part C (Medicare Advantage): An alternative coverage option that puts all your Medicare benefits into one plan. • Part D: Helps cover the cost of outpatient prescription drugs. If you or your spouse have earned a minimum of 40 work credits through paying Medicare payroll taxes, you won’t pay monthly premiums for Part A insurance. Work credits aren’t necessary for Part B or D services, though there is a monthly premium for those. Like traditional health insurance, Medicare does not cover all health care costs. Plans have different deductibles, premiums and copays. Your income also may be a factor on how much you pay.

How to sign up for Medicare

Even after paying payroll taxes and turning 65, most Americans still must apply for Medicare. The initial enrollment period lasts for seven months, with the fourth month being the month you turn 65. You should sign up during this period if you have no other health insur-

ance or have insurance you bought yourself; you have retiree benefits from a former employer; you have COBRA coverage or veterans’ benefits; or you’re in a nonmarital relationship and covered by their insurance. If you enroll before your 65th birthday; your coverage begins on the first day of the month you turn 65. If you enroll after, there is a delay. A special enrollment period is available for people who have health insurance past the initial period and allows them to delay enrolling in Part B until their previous coverage ends. There also are exceptions for expatriates or people who are covered through a spouse’s insurance. MT55

Medicare Annual Election Period October 15th-December 7th It’s time to review your options! For a complete list of upcoming seminar dates, times and Western MT locations, go to MontanaMedicareExperts.com. • Medicare Advantage Plans • Medicare Supplement Plans • Medicare Prescription Drug Plans • Critical Illness & Recovery Plans • Dental Plans & Vision Plans

2409 Dearborn, Ste J Missoula, MT 59801 andersonhellmaninsurance.com Serving Western Montana

Give us a call at 406.829.2731

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Living your best life

Fall 2018

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mericans dream of retirement — time to sleep in, take naps, finally do gardening or projects or take trips. We imagine retirement offering all the opportunities working 40 hours a week detracts from. And you should definitely take time for all the relaxing you want, then find ways to fill those hours and allow you to enjoy your post-work life.

MarketWatch has a few suggestions for making the most of your senior years.

Get a job or volunteer

OK, maybe this isn’t your first stop. But a postretirement job may give you the opportunity to try something new and perhaps less stressful, or working a part-time position in something fun. It also provides additional income, which many Americans would benefit from during their retirement years. Volunteering also is a great way to be involved in your community. Libraries, schools, museums, hospitals and nonprofits are always looking for volunteers. You could even use your expertise acquired from working to help out a small business.

Travel

These might be jetsetting trips to Europe, Asia or Australia; or weekend trips to the local national parks, the cities around you, or visiting friends and family throughout the country. It could even be packing up a camper and driving the country, exploring the nooks and crannies of the United States that tourists often overlook. Why not use the freedom of retirement to scratch the travel itch? MT55

Where People Become Friends & Friends Become Family

Find (or rediscover) a new sport or hobby

A pickup basketball game after a long day of work when you work at home can be exhausting. A pickup game without that long day of work can be energizing and a lot of fun. Learn to golf, go fishing or boating, play tennis, go biking, join a team (check out the National Senior Games Association if you want some real competition) or reacquaint yourself with the local gym or hiking or walking trails. Regardless of your level of fitness, you can find some sport or exercise that fits. Retirement is also a great time to find a new hobby. If you’ve always been interested in cooking but never had much time to experiment, now you do. Take up gardening, learn to play the piano, take dance lessons or take up painting.

• Independent or Assisted Living • Large Apartments with Private Patios • Fellowship & Social Outings • Activities & Exercise • 24-Hour, Certified & Caring Staff Columbia Falls 375 Meadow Lake Blvd. Columbia Falls, MT 59912

406-892-3400

Havre 155 34th Ave. W Havre, MT 59501

406-265-3111

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Get paperwork in order

lanning for their own death is no one’s favorite activity, but having the right paperwork and information in  the right hands can make a difficult time somewhat easier for family members and the executor of your estate.

The National Institute of Aging offered a number of factors to think about, some of which most of us probably haven’t considered.

Collect your important papers and put them in one place Important papers include birth certificates, passports, wills and deeds to property but also account information for every bank account, including retirement accounts; insurance information; copies of Medicare and health insurance cards; information for safe deposit boxes; military records; living wills and other items. Make sure family members know where to find these.

Make a will, including a living will Regardless of how many assets you have, you should have a will. This allows you to designate the person you want your property to go after your death. A living will lays out your desires for health care if you become too sick to make your own decisions or make them known. You can state what kind of care you do or don’t want, such as how much treatment you want in the event of a terminal illness or if you want to be resuscitated. This will help your wishes be carried out and make the decision easier for family members faced with difficult decisions.

Talk to your lawyer and doctor To make things easier, talk to your doctor 28

Fall 2018

about what you would like to have happen with end-of-life decisions and give them permission to share information with a family member. Make sure your legal documents are up to date; have your lawyer look over wills, trusts and advance directives like a power of attorney.

Talk to your family Make sure someone knows where paperwork is kept and what you want with health care. This is also a good time to discuss potential funeral plans, including costs (many funeral homes will allow you to pay funeral costs with life insurance, which decreases the financial stress of a death), and take steps to allow a trusted person to have access to your assets. You may want to put a family member on one or more of your bank accounts, which will allow them to have access after your death. If not, those assets may be frozen for a time. MT55

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Earwax, of all things, poses unrecognized risk in long-term care By JoNel Aleccia, Kaiser Health News (TNS)

Fall 2018

Of all the indignities that come with aging, excessive earwax may be the most insidious. Don’t laugh. That greasy, often gross, buildup occurs more often in older ears than those of the young, experts say. And when it goes unrecognized, it can pose serious problems, especially for the 2.2 million people who live in U.S. nursing homes and assisted living centers. “The excessive amount (of earwax) can cause hearing loss or ringing in your ears. Some people experience vertigo, which increases the risk of falling,” said Jackie Clark, a board-certified audiologist who is president of the American Academy of Audiology. “Right now, we see some correlation between hearing loss and cognitive decline.” Earwax — which is not really wax at all, but a substance called cerumen that binds with dirt, dust and debris — is normally produced by the body as a way to clean and protect the ears. In most people, the self-cleaning process works fine. But in others — including about 10 percent of young children, 20 percent of adults and more than 30 percent of elderly and developmentally disabled people — the wax collects to the point where it can completely block the ear canal. Up to two-thirds of people in nursing homes may suffer from that condition, known as impaction, according to 2017 guidelines for removal of impacted earwax issued by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. In 2016, federal Medicare recipients logged nearly 1.7 million earwax removal services at a cost of more than $51 million, according to payment records analyzed by Kaiser Health News. “In elderly patients, it’s fairly common,” said Dr. Seth Schwartz, a Seattle otolaryngologist who led the most recent update of the guidelines. “It seems like such a basic thing, but it’s one of the most common reasons people present for hearing-related problems.” It’s so bad that Janie York, of Omaha, Neb., started Hear Now mobile hearing solutions, one of a growing number of businesses devoted to cleaning hearing aids and checking the ears of elderly people living in residential care settings. “It’s epidemic,” said York, whose clients now

include 10 local centers. “About 3 in 5 people I see have some degree of impaction and most are completely impacted.” Julie Brown, assistant director of nursing in the memory support unit at SilverRidge Assisted Living in Gretna, Neb., said impacted earwax can be a particular problem for patients with dementia. It exacerbates hearing loss, which can impede communication and worsen aggression and other difficult behaviors. “As soon as the earwax is cleared up, even their behavior has calmed down,” Brown said. Excessive earwax sends about 12 million people to see health workers every year, including about eight million who require wax removal, according to the otolaryngology association. That’s not counting the people who try DIY treatments to get rid of earwax, nearly all of which are frowned on by the professionals. “People put everything in their ears: Q-tips, bobby pins, pencils, fingernails,” Schwartz said. Usually, the best way to control earwax is to leave it alone, Schwartz said. But that advice can backfire when families or caregivers neglect to check the ears of elderly people in residential care. Hearing-aid users should have regular ear checks every three to six months, the guidelines suggest. People with dementia should also have earwax removed regularly. It can take a professional with an otoscope — a device that can look deep inside the ear — to tell if cerumen is blocking the ear canal. Usually, earwax can be safely removed by softening it with water, saline or commercial ear drops and then through gentle syringing or manual extraction with a device called a curette. The effects in the elderly can be immediate. A small 2014 study by Japanese researchers found significant improvements in hearing and cognitive performance in elderly patients with memory disorders when impacted cerumen was removed. Too often, though, earwax in the elderly goes unnoticed. “I’m seeing 15 people here, but what about the other hundred?” York said. “Nobody’s looking. I don’t know why it’s been neglected for so long.” MT55 31 mt55mag.com

Limited COMING Huge THIS FALL: opportunity. availability.

Get ready for The Villas at Buffalo Hill. We’ve been building toward this for years — and now, the end is within sight for the opening of our new community addition, The Villas at Buffalo Hill. These spacious new apartments have the features you desire along with priority access to assisted living, rehabilitation, memory support and nursing, should you need it. We’re currently accepting waitlist deposits for The Villas — so act quickly to be near the top of the list. If you prefer to get to know Immanuel Lutheran Communities first, consider our residential living rental option at Buffalo Hill Terrace. Watch for details on our expansion — and come grow along with us.

Call 888-256-7651 to learn more today. 40 CLAREMONT STREET KALISPELL, MT 59901

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Fall 2018