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VOL.33, NO.4

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Lobbying for cancer research Liza Fues, now 60, was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 25 and again at age 30. American Cancer Society volunteers with similar experiences came to her aid and encouraged her to get involved. Today, the Bethesda resident lobbies for access to treatment, funding for research, and laws that discourage young people from using tobacco products. Advocacy does not require special skills,

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PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAH HARRIS

By Glenda Booth In the 1990s, Sarah Harris was raising three children in Fairfax County when her husband was diagnosed (at age 53) with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. In the five years he lived with Alzheimer’s, he lost the ability to hold conversations or complete small tasks, like turning off the television. Harris’ experience inspired her to take action. Today, she is an Alzheimer’s Association ambassador to the Virginia legislature and U.S. Congress, advocating for more research funding and caregiver support. “Knowing I can go into my nation’s capital and speak with senators and congresspeople — it’s an awesome privilege,” said Harris, who has been speaking up for her late husband and others affected by Alzheimer’s for 24 years. Like Harris, many older adults have become advocates, activists, lobbyists, watchdogs or change agents. They see advocacy as a moral duty. They organize meetings, attend town halls, write emails and letters, make phone calls, circulate petitions, testify and even march in the streets. They may not have specific expertise initially, but they are committed volunteers who are driven to make a difference.

SEE SPECIAL INSERT Housing & Homecare Options following page 20

ARTS & STYLE Sarah Harris overcame her natural shyness in order to lobby Congress for more Alzheimer’s research funds after her husband died of the disease in his 50s. Harris is one of many local older adults who have become outspoken advocates, devoting years to fighting diseases, striving for equal housing, and protecting the environment, among other causes.

Fues said. “Just tell your story. Our voices are more powerful because we’ve lived it. “Elected officials really do want to hear from us,” she added. “You’d be hard pressed to find someone who has not been impacted by cancer. Imagine if we could finally cure it — the lives that could be saved.”

Cancer survivor Linda Cookingham, 70, was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer at age 61 and given three to five years to live. She lucked into a clinical trial that saved her life. See ADVOCATES, page 33

Ashby Ponds, Greenspring, and Riderwood—premier senior living communities. Here, you’re free to live the independent life you want with an added safety net of support.

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Decades of Sunday jazz with DJ Miyuki Williams; plus, Civil War books, and Bob Levey on going back to work page 32 TECHNOLOGY k How to get hacked

FITNESS & HEALTH 7 k Painkillers and vaccines don’t mix k Solutions for lower back pain SPOTLIGHT ON AGING k Newsletter for D.C. seniors

LAW & MONEY 24 k How to make your money last k ‘Experts’ who steer you wrong LEISURE & TRAVEL k Picturesque Portugal

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Life lessons learned If you’ve been reading the Beacon in re- out-of-body) experiences that were cent months, or if you participated in our first Esalen’s hallmark at the time. It was also there that DychtVirtual 50+Expo last fall, you wald first came to realize great will know something about Dr. wisdom could be gleaned from Ken Dychtwald, the respected older adults (at that point, older author of 18 books on aging, hippies) — a discovery that founder of Age Wave, and was to shape his entire career. world-traveled consultant and In the same direct and inpublic speaker on the topic. sightful way, Dychtwald shows We profiled him on the cover us how he (perhaps like many of our October 2020 issue, and Boomers) transitioned from he gave the keynote address at the anti-materialism of the 60s, our Expo. More than 1,000 visiFROM THE to a college education and tors watched his presentation early work life in the 70s, to a on our Virtual Expo website, PUBLISHER and we received many positive By Stuart P. Rosenthal “meteoric rise” as a business advisor and world expert in comments about it. I bring him up again because, at age 70, the 80s, to a multimillionaire venture capitalhe is publishing a memoir, Radical Curios- ist in the 90s, only to be briefly left bankrupt, ity: One Man’s Search for Cosmic Magic destitute and suicidal by the collapse of the and a Purposeful Life. He kindly sent me an whole enterprise due to unforeseen effects of the internet on his business plan. advance copy. It’s a wild ride in this book, from the Tao to It’s in the format of a collection of stories and essays, many of which build on each the Dow and back again. While a more conother, describing a number of intriguing, ventional autobiography might be more coexciting, emotional and educational experi- hesive and better organized, I like Radical ences, and some of the lessons they have Curiosity for its evident honesty, self-awareness and sense of humor, even if readers taught him. I vaguely knew that Dychtwald had a might imagine Dychtwald has a few more life colorful past centering on the Esalen Insti- lessons to learn before all is said and done. He invited me to print an excerpt from tute in Big Sur, California during the 1960s. But his memoir really puts readers the book in the Beacon, and I have chosen right in the midst of encounter groups and the following short chapter that made me other New Age and mind/body (even laugh out loud when I read it.

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Also, upon further reflection, I realized it contained one of the most valuable pieces of advice in the book. I hope you enjoy it: Learning from “the Best” Find out who you are, and do it on purpose. — Dolly Parton In the 1980s, with the arrival of cassettetape players in cars (replacing eight-tracks, but far before CDs, DVDs, podcasts, or the Internet), more and more people began to purchase audio self-help learning programs they could listen to while commuting to work. Usually there was a six-tape course, with each tape/module lasting around twentyfive minutes — which, handily, was the average commute time. The leading publisher in this audio-learning space was Nightingale Conant, based outside of Chicago, which produced an unending stream of self-help learning programs in conjunction with best-selling authors and sought-after motivational speakers. Since I was conducting seminars on bodymind, wellness, and peak performance, they reached out to me and commissioned me to produce a six-tape set, entitled The Keys to High Performance Living. It was fun to do. I recorded the six sessions in a studio, got them edited, and then sort of forgot about it. However, as a regular buyer of Nightingale Conant programs, I wound up on several of their targeted databases as the kind of guy who was interested in many self-improvement subjects. So, when a new program was released that might be up my alley (according to their database, which tracked my purchases), I usually received a direct-marketing brochure for the tape set and an offer to purchase the program in one of those customized form letters we all were getting used to receiving in that era. While I was conducting seminars on bodymind, holistic health, wellness, and peak performance, I had overloaded my life with more pressure and complexity than I felt I could handle. My exercise regime was faltering, and I had gained weight and was having trouble sleeping. Then one day, I received a brochure in

the mail from the president of NightingaleConant, Dave Nightingale, which read: Dear Mr. Ken Dychtwald: Do you feel you have lost control of your life? Are you suffering from too much stress? Are you finding it harder and harder to stay on your regular fitness program? Are you struggling to balance your work and family responsibilities? Do you feel that you are not achieving your highest potential? If so, then Dr. Ken Dychtwald can help you! In his new six-tape program, this wellknown expert on high performance living will help you solve all of your problems and take control of your life again. What? This letter was indicating that if I was out of control, then I could help me. Although I didn’t buy the six-tape Keys to High Performance Living, this existential message from me to me seemed strangely like a very good idea. After all, when most of us feel like we’re losing control, we probably don’t need some “expert” to tell us what to do. One of the nice things about growing up and growing older is that most of what socalled experts can teach you, you’ve already learned. The real challenge is often less about knowing what to do and more about doing what you know. Excerpted from Radical Curiosity: One Man’s Search for Cosmic Magic and a Purposeful Life by Ken Dychtwald, PhD, with the permission of Unnamed Press. © 2021 by Ken Dychtwald I’d like to know what you think about that pearl of wisdom, and what pearls of wisdom from your own life you would like to share with your fellow Beacon readers. Please email or write us, or send us a comment through our website, thebeaconnewspapers.com. We look forward to hearing from you! Copies of Radical Curiosity can be pre-ordered on Amazon.com, $28 hard copy, $11.49 Kindle. The book will be available April 6.

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email to info@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Dear Editor: The citizens of Maryland need to be aware that the Board of Physicians has “absolute authority” in Maryland. The Board favors the physicians and not the citizen. When a complaint is made, the Board operates in complete secrecy. The person making the complaint is not contacted during the process and cannot get any answers from the Board. There is no appeal process. Cecil B. Fulford, Col (Ret) USAF Columbia, MD Dear Editor: I enjoyed reading your February cover

story, “Unearthing Sugarland’s Story,” because it featured St. Paul Community Church, which I happened to come across while driving to visit family in Poolesville. To add a coincidence, I discovered the church was used in the film “Philomena,” starring Judi Dench. She portrays a reallife woman, Philomena Lee, who comes to America from Ireland to try to find her long-lost son, who was taken from her and put up for adoption because he was born out of wedlock. During her search Philomena attends St. Paul. Christopher Ivusic Washington, DC

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Innovations Here are some great ways to get hacked By H. Dennis Beaver Hardly a day goes by without a story of a major data breach on a business, government agency or individual. And, like seeing reruns of the same old television series over and over again, I think that most of us grow tired of being lectured for not paying enough attention to computer security. “Lana” felt that way, writing, “I ignored the advice about computer and mobile device security, feeling scolded every time I heard a recommendation. And then I got hacked, became an identity theft victim, and it took me two years to clean up the mess. “Dennis, with your sense of humor, why not write an article telling people how to be hacked? I’ll bet that will get their attention.” With that request in mind, I asked Paige Hanson, chief of Cyber Safety Education at NortonLifeLock, to explore the ways of getting hacked and becoming a victim of identity theft. “We are producing more data about ourselves than ever in the past, which leaves a digital trail that is vulnerable to being compromised,” Hanson said. If you’re not careful to clean up after

yourself, those digital breadcrumbs we leave behind could lead thieves right to your door. To help avoid that, Hanson highlighted some common ways we make it easier for fraudsters to take control of our digital world: 1. Take all those surveys of your likes and dislikes. Consequences: Fun quizzes often ask a series of personal questions to help you find out which Disney Princess you are, or ask you to share your yearbook graduation photo (along with what high school you attended and the year). Fraudsters find creative ways to use these quizzes to get you to answer the same types of questions used by banks and other institutions when setting up accounts — your first-grade teacher, your first car, your first pet. You are giving out the answers to your security questions without realizing it. Hackers then can build a profile on you. If the quiz requires you to provide your email to participate or get the results, the fraudster now has your email address. He can send a request to reset your password that looks like it came from your bank or

credit card company, and when prompted to “Answer these security questions,” he just may have all the information he needs to take over your account. 2. Keep your social media privacy settings set to “public.” Consequences: This will make sure everyone knows what you are doing, every photo you post, who your friends are, all of the personal details you share, and possibly where you live. A hacker will have complete access to your personal details, making you an easier target for identity theft. 3. Don’t update your phone’s operating system, home computer or apps. Absolutely do not keep your virus software current! Consequences: One of the most common ways cybercriminals gain access to your systems, aside from enticing you into clicking on malicious links, is through outof-date software. As software companies discover flaws in their systems, updates are issued. By not installing them, you are open to being hacked. Out-of-date software invites malware infections and other cyber issues,

such as ransomware. 4. Do not password-protect your smartphone or mobile devices. Consequences: You get coffee at a restaurant, leaving your device on a table. If it doesn’t have a password, anyone who steals it will have instant access to all your personal information. 5. Use the same username and password for all the websites you visit. Consequences: If fraudsters acquire that information, they will use it on popular sites in an effort to gain access to your online accounts. The solution is to use different passwords for each account, but most people don’t do this. A password manager such as LastPass or Keeper solves the problem. [For more about password managers, see our earlier article, “Secure passwords with less headache,” thebeaconnewspapers.com/secure-passwordswith-less-headache.] 6. Transact everything over public Wi-Fi so the Wi-Fi owner can see your online activity. See HACKED, page 5

Technology can help find your lost items Dear Savvy Senior, best is Tile (TheTileApp.com), which pairs Can you recommend any good devices with Apple and Android apps to help you lothat help with tracking down cate missing items. misplaced items? My wife All you do is attach a small, misplaces everything, inflat battery-powered Tile (about cluding her car keys, eye1.5” square) to the items you glasses, cell phone, purse want to keep track of with an adand more. hesive sticker, a key ring or by —Always Searching slipping the tile inside the item Dear Searching, (such as a purse). There’s actually a wide variThen, if a tagged item goes ety of tracking devices that can missing, you simply access help you and your wife find the app on your smartphone items that are commonly mis- SAVVY SENIOR or tablet to see how far away placed. Here are some top op- By Jim Miller you are from the item or last tions to consider, depending on known location on the map. If how tech savvy you are. you’re within 150 to 200 feet, you can make the Tile ring so you can follow the sound to Bluetooth trackers easily find it. If you or your wife uses a smartphone or Or, say your wife loses her phone. The tablet, you can easily track down lost or Tile works in reverse, allowing her to doumisplaced items like keys, a purse or wal- ble press the button on her Tile to make let, remote control, smartphone, tablet or her phone ring (even if it’s on silent) as even a laptop with a Bluetooth tracker. long as it’s nearby. While there are several different types of Tile also works with Google Assistant, tracker products on the market today, the Amazon Alexa or Siri to find misplaced

items. All you have to do is ask. To fit your tracking needs, Tile offers a variety of different sized trackers including the Tile Mate ($25) that’s ideal for keeping track of keys, purses or backpacks; Tile Slim ($25), which is the size of a credit card that can be put into a wallet or attached to a laptop; Tile Sticker ($40 for a 2-pack), the smallest finder that can attach to things like remotes, bikes and more; and Tile Pro ($35), which is the most durable tacker that has a 400-foot range and extra loud ringer.

Glasses tracker Since Tile doesn’t offer a glasses tracker, a great product to help your wife keep tabs on her eyeglasses is Orbit Glasses (FindOrbit.com; $40). This is a tiny rechargeable Bluetooth device that sticks to the inside arm of the glasses so it’s not noticeable. So, when your wife’s glasses aren’t on her head but are nearby, she can use the free Orbit app to make them ring so she can find them quickly. Or, if she’s out of Bluetooth range, she can check the last known location that will be shown on the map.

Radio frequency finders If you or your wife don’t have a smartphone or tablet, there are also radio frequency devices like the Esky Key Finders (EskyNow.com), sold through Amazon.com, that can help you find misplaced items. These devices come with an item locator remote and four to six tags with prices ranging from $20 to $30. Attach a tag to the items you want to keep track of with a key ring or adhesive. Each tag is color-coded and corresponds to a colored button on the finder. When an item goes missing, you simply press the colored button on the locator remote, and the tag will flash and beep. The signal will go through walls and cushions and have a tracking range of around 100 feet. Make sure you keep the finder fob in a safe spot, however, because if you misplace it, you won’t be able to find the tagged items. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

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Virginia ❏ Acclaim at Belmont Bay (See ads on pages B-7 & B-10) ❏ Ashby Ponds (See ads on pages 1, B-13 & B-15) ❏ Chesterbrook Residences (See ads on pages B-3 & B-14) ❏ Falcons Landing (See ad on page B-6 & 40) ❏ Greenspring (See ads on pages 1, B-12 & B-13) ❏ Gum Springs Glen (See ad on page B-8) ❏ Harmony at Chantilly (See ad on page 10) ❏ Harmony at Spring Hill (See ad on page 10) ❏ Herndon Harbor House (See ad on page B-8) ❏ Lockwood House (See ad on page B-8) ❏ Morris Glen (See ad on page B-8) ❏ Sommerset (See ads on pages B-4 & B-15) ❏ Tribute at the Glen (See ad on page B-16) ❏ Tribute at One Loudoun (See ad on page B-16) ❏ Vinson Hall (See ads on pages B-10 & 33) ❏ Virginian, The(See ads on pages B-2 & B-6) ❏ Wingler House (See ad on page B-8)

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The Seneca Valley Sugarloafers Volksmarch Club is hosting a 10k walk with two 5k options on Sat., May 1. The event has start times between 8 and 11 a.m. at Java Junction, 5 S. Summit Ave, Gaithersburg, MD. Visit sugarloafers.org for more information.

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❏ Chevy Chase House (See ads on pages B-4 & B-15) ❏ Friendship Terrace (See ads on pages 17 & B-12) ❏ Livingston Place (See ad on page 9)

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Learn about Twitter, YouTube and Instagram in free weekly technology workshops that take place via Zoom on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to noon. For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/TuesdayTechWorkshops. Call Lena Frumin at Around Town DC at (202) 894-9485 with questions.

Health Studies ❏ UMD Hearing Study (See ad on page 17) ❏ Ketogenic Diet for Parkinson’s Study (See article on page 17)

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One you have been hacked or had data stolen, here’s how to deepen your trouble: 1. Do nothing. Especially do not contact your lender, credit card company, bank or law enforcement. Remain connected to the internet. Consequences: Reporting a hacked or stolen debit card, credit card or credit card number before they have been used by a fraudster results in no liability on your

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Consequences: They send you a link concerning something that you were interested in, and you click. It is called “spear phishing,” and they’ve now obtained access to your digital life. 7. Store on your mobile device and physical wallet as much personal information about yourself and family as possible, including Social Security numbers for the family, driver’s license, home address, etc. Consequences: That way, if your phone is stolen, it will so much easier for the entire family to be hacked!

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part. But if you know your card has been lost or stolen and do nothing, you could take a hit. For credit cards, losses are limited to $50 under the Fair Credit Billing Act. But rules for ATM cards aren’t as forgiving. There are different time periods that apply as to when the card has been used that limit personal liability, but you must act quickly: If you wait more than 60 days after your statement is sent to you to report the loss, you could lose all the money taken from your account! Banks and credit card issuers will provide you with new cards and security codes, but do not enter these numbers online, as your activities could be followed. Change all your passwords, and do it from another computer; not the one that was hacked. 2. Do not back up your files to an external hard-drive, thumb-drive or cloud. Consequences: In the event of a ransomware attack, you could be paying the scammers a great deal of money to get your files back. Concluding our chat, Hanson offers this warning: “Anyone can become a target.” © 2021 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Health Fitness &

CANNABIS RISK Marijuana can raise your risk for heart attack, atrial fibrillation and stroke BACK TO BASICS Episodes of lower back pain frequently recur. Try these self-care solutions TO BE A LONG LIVER A fatty liver can be dangerous, but often has no symptoms. Weight loss helps THE EYES HAVE IT Quit smoking, control blood sugar and add spices to food for better eyesight

Have a penicillin allergy? Are you sure? By Kimberly Blumenthal, M.D. People with a penicillin allergy on their medical record are not given penicillins (or often their relatives, the cephalosporins) when they have infections. Instead, the antibiotics prescribed may be broader-spectrum, less effective, and/or more toxic. One recent national study from more than 100 U.S. hospitals with almost 11,000 patients demonstrated that if you have a reported penicillin allergy, you are five times more likely to be prescribed clindamycin than if you do not have an allergy. Clindamycin is an antibiotic that is highly associated with the potentially life-threatening Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) gastrointestinal infection. A study using comprehensive U.K. data recently confirmed that people with a documented penicillin allergy have a 69% increased risk of C. diff. When patients undergo surgery, a penicillin relative (cefazolin) is often used to prevent an infection at the surgical site. However, according to one study, in patients labeled with a penicillin allergy, cefazolin is routinely avoided in place of a less

COVID-19 News Don’t mix vaccine with painkillers It’s best to avoid taking painkillers before or after a COVID-19 vaccine, unless you routinely take them for a medical condition. Although the evidence is limited, some painkillers might interfere with the very thing the vaccine is trying to do: generate a strong immune system response. Vaccines work by tricking the body into thinking it has a virus and mounting a defense against it. That may cause arm soreness, fever, headache, muscle aches or other temporary symptoms of inflammation that can be part of that reaction. “These symptoms mean your immune system is revving up and the vaccine is working,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a recent news briefing. Certain painkillers that target inflammation, including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and other brands), might curb the immune response. A study on mice in the Journal of

effective substitute, resulting in a 50% higher risk of surgical site infections for people with a documented penicillin allergy. Confirming or ruling out a penicillin allergy through penicillin allergy testing could justify the risks of avoiding beta-lactams (the drug class that includes penicillins and cephalosporins), or potentially avert them by allowing doctors to prescribe beta-lactams when they are needed. Even some patients with severe penicillin allergy histories are able to take penicillins safely again, because penicillin allergy often does not persist for life. In all, about 95% of people tested for penicillin allergy in the U.S. are found not to be allergic.

What allergy testing entails Penicillin allergy testing often begins with an allergy history. In order to know if testing is appropriate, the clinician needs to know some details about the reaction, such as: When did it happen? What were the symptoms? How were you treated? If appropriate, the next step may be the penicillin skin test. This test involves prick-

Virology found these drugs might lower production of antibodies — helpful substances that block the virus cells. If you’re already taking one of those medications for a health condition, you should not stop before you get the vaccine — at least not without asking your doctor, said Jonathan Watanabe, a pharmacist at the University of California, Irvine. People should not take a painkiller as a preventive measure before getting a vaccine unless a doctor has told them to, he said. The same goes for after a shot: “If you don’t need to take it, you shouldn’t,” Watanabe said. If you do need one, acetaminophen (Tylenol) “is safer because it doesn’t alter your immune response,” he added. —AP

Older adults show resilience in pandemic Older adults have generally been viewed as among those at higher risk in a COVIDsaturated, increasingly isolated world. When it comes to mental and emotional

ing the skin and introducing a small amount of allergen. Anyone with a positive skin test to penicillin — there’s usually itching, redness and swelling at the site of the test — is allergic and should avoid penicillin. People who have no reaction to the skin test can undergo the amoxicillin challenge. In this test, the clinician gives the person amoxicillin (a type of penicillin), and observes for signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction for at least one hour. Allergists routinely perform penicillin allergy testing. Other types of doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and even pharmacists can be trained to perform penicillin allergy skin testing in the US. The amoxicillin challenge test can also be done by a variety of healthcare providers, as long as they are comfortable diagnosing and treating allergic reactions.

New clinical tools There are increasing numbers of clinical tools that can help your primary care doctor, or other non-allergist healthcare provider, assess whether you have a true

health, however, older adults in the United States are showing resilience and persevering despite struggles with loneliness and isolation, the latest self-reported results in an ongoing study suggest. The latest data from the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project, conducted by the social research organization NORC at the University of Chicago, is part of a longer-term study designed to track the physical and emotional well-being of older Americans over time. A majority of older adults reported good mental health. Only 9% of older adults reported having “fair or poor overall mental health” during the pandemic, similar to their previous answers. Nevertheless, the study found that general happiness has declined. About half as many older adults now report they are very happy or extremely happy, and an increasing number report occasional feelings of depression or isolation. “It should sensitize everyone to the reality of isolation’s impact, but also the reality that people are resilient — and maybe even more so older adults than younger adults,” said Louise Hawkley, principal research scientist at NORC and the lead re-

penicillin allergy. The first tool is a risk stratification scheme, published in JAMA and endorsed by multiple professional associations. The review encourages an amoxicillin challenge be prescribed for low-risk patients. Patients are classified as low-risk if their reactions occurred more than 10 years ago, and: were isolated and unlikely allergic (gastrointestinal symptoms, headaches); featured itching without rash; and did not include allergic symptoms such as hives, swelling, wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness. The JAMA review recommends that medium-risk and high-risk patients, including those who did experience one or more allergic symptoms or an anaphylactic reaction, undergo a skin test before completing an amoxicillin challenge. Another recently developed tool, called PEN-FAST, can be used by all types of medical providers to help decide if it is safe to give you penicillin, and potentially remove See PENICILLIN, page 8

searcher on the study. “They’ve been through things already. They know how to handle stress,” Hawkley said. “This is something we can learn from them — that there is survival.” The information comes from 1,284 respondents between the ages of 55 and 99, interviewed in September and October — all of them participants in a longer-term study that also collected data in person in 20152016. No margin of error was provided. —AP

Vaccinated people can meet without masks Fully vaccinated Americans can gather with other vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing, according to long-awaited guidance from federal health officials. The recommendations also say that vaccinated people can come together in the same way — in a single household — with people considered at low-risk for severe See COVID-19 NEWS, page 9

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Smoking cannabis may be bad for heart By Julie Corliss Now that marijuana is legal for medical or recreational use in many states, growing numbers of Americans — including older people — are imbibing this popular drug. In fact, the percentage of people ages 65 and older who said they used some form of marijuana almost doubled between 2015 and 2018, a recent study reported. Compared with prescription drugs, the health consequences of using marijuana are not nearly as well studied. But converging evidence suggests that the drug may be harmful for the heart, according to a review article in JACC: Journal of the American College of Cardiology. More than two million Americans with heart disease currently use or have used marijuana, the authors estimate.

Smoking cannabis vs. cigarettes Derived from Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plants, marijuana is most often smoked in joints or in a pipe. People also “vape” the drug in electronic cigarettes (ecigarettes), or consume it in foods or candy (called edibles) or as a tincture. Many people assume that smoking or vaping marijuana isn’t as dangerous as smoking cigarettes, said study co-author Muthiah Vaduganathan, M.D., a cardiologist at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “But when people smoke tobacco, they take frequent, small puffs. In contrast, smoking marijuana usually involves large puffs with longer breath holds,” he said. As a result, smoking marijuana may de-

posit as much or more of the chemical toxins into the lungs as when people smoke cigarettes, he said. And vaping any substance can be dangerous. Thousands of people in the United States have suffered serious lung injuries using e-cigarettes. As of this writing, 64 of them have died.

Heart-related risks Marijuana can cause the heart to beat faster and blood pressure to rise, which can be dangerous for people with heart disease. The risk of heart attack is several times higher in the hour after smoking marijuana than it would be normally, research suggests. Other studies have found a link between marijuana use and atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm disorder. And one survey suggests that smoking marijuana may raise the risk of a stroke. Most of the evidence about marijuana is

Penicillin From page 6 your allergy label (“delabel” you). The tool uses your allergy history to determine risk similar to the JAMA expert guideline. PEN-FAST stands for PENicillin allergy reported by the patient, Five years or less since the reaction (2 points), Anaphylaxis or Angioedema, Severe cutaneous adverse reaction (2 points), Treatment required for the reaction (1 point). You receive a score based on your responses to these four criteria, which reflects the likelihood that you have a true penicillin allergy. Although you are likely to know the “F” and “T” parts of FAST — when it happened and whether you were treated — the “A” and “S” reaction assessments should be discussed with your doctor.

based on studies of people who smoked it. But even if you ingest marijuana by other methods, such as edibles or tinctures, the drug can still affect your cardiovascular system. The plant contains more than 100 unique chemical components classified as cannabinoids. The two most prevalent are tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC (which is what gives people a high), and cannabidiol, or CBD. These compounds bind to specific receptors in the brain. “But cannabinoid receptors are found throughout the body, including on heart cells, fat cells and platelets, which are cells in the blood involved in clot formation,” Vaduganathan said. Cannabinoids can affect a number of medications used to treat or prevent heart disease — including blood pressure See MARIJUANA, page 10

Anaphylaxis is a bodywide allergic reaction, and angioedema is severe swelling under the skin. Along with the severe skinrelated adverse reactions, these are severe and potentially life-threatening reactions. Patients who are able to answer “no” to the four PEN-FAST criteria (0 points) have a very low risk of true penicillin allergy. A total score of less than 3 indicates a low risk of penicillin allergy. Both of these patient groups would be likely to tolerate an amoxicillin challenge. Of course, you and your doctor must be prepared for an allergic reaction prior to ingesting any medication to which there is a possible allergy. Kimberly Blumenthal, M.D., MSc, is a contributor to Harvard Health Publications. © 2021 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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COVID-19 News From page 6 disease, such as in the case of vaccinated grandparents visiting healthy children and grandchildren. The guidance is designed to address a growing demand, as more adults have been getting vaccinated and wondering if it gives them greater freedom to visit family members, travel or do other things like they did before the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world last year. “With more and more people vaccinated each day, we are starting to turn a corner,” said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. She said more activities would be okayed for vaccinated individuals once caseloads and deaths decline, more Americans are vaccinated, and as more science emerges on whether those who have been vaccinated may still get and spread the virus. The CDC is continuing to recommend that fully vaccinated people still wear wellfitted masks, avoid large gatherings, and physically distance themselves from others when out in public. The CDC also advised vaccinated people to get tested if they develop symptoms that could be related to COVID-19. Officials say a person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last required dose of vaccine. —AP

Restaurant dining may still be risky A new national study adds strong evidence that mask mandates can slow the spread of the coronavirus, and that allowing dining at restaurants can increase cases and deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the study in March. “All of this is very consistent,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a White House briefing. “You have decreases in cases and deaths when you wear masks, and you have increases in cases and deaths when you have in-person restaurant dining.” The study was released just as some states are rescinding mask mandates and restaurant limits. The CDC researchers looked at U.S. counties placed under stateissued mask mandates and at counties that allowed restaurant dining — both indoors and at tables outside. The study looked at data from March through December of last year. CDC officials stopped short of saying that on-premises dining needs to stop. But they said if restaurants do open, they should follow as many prevention measures as possible, like promoting outdoor dining, having adequate indoor ventilation, masking employees, and calling on customers to wear masks whenever they aren’t eating or drinking. —AP

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Mayo Clinic Q&A: Lower back pain issues By James Atchison, D.O. Dear Mayo Clinic: I am 45 and relatively healthy. But about a year ago, I hurt my lower back while working in the yard. I felt a sharp pain and could barely walk. It took about a month to heal. Then about a month ago, I hurt my back again — this time while lifting my young son. The pain does not seem to be getting better. Is there anything I can do to speed the healing process? How can I prevent this from recurring? A: Lower back pain episodes are common among adults, with about 80% of adults experiencing lower back pain at some point during their lives. Lower back pain is one of the top five reasons that individuals seek medical care. In many cases, lower back pain resolves on its own. Most people have significant improvement in their pain within 14 days, and

symptoms usually resolve in 4 to 6 weeks. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for lower back pain to recur. The biggest predictor of developing lower back pain is having a history of prior episodes. As many as half of acute lower back pain sufferers will experience another episode of back pain within a year. However, only a very small percentage of those people go on to develop chronic lower back pain.

Steps for self-care To ease your present lower back pain flare, there are a number of self-care steps you can take. First, maintain your usual activities as much as possible, but do be cautious with movements that sharply increase the pain. Second, consider taking a nonprescription pain reliever. Anti-inflammatory medication, such as naproxen and ibuprofen, may be of benefit for short-term use.

There are also some topical medications that people find effective at times, including counterirritants for heat/cold, lidocaine from numbing and anti-inflammatories for more local use. Many people take other nutritional supplements to help their pain, but no one supplement has been determined to be effective for everyone with lower back pain. However, most do not have a lot of side effects or risk. If over-the-counter medications are not enough, talk to your healthcare provider about a muscle relaxant to reduce symptoms. The use of these medications is not to eliminate your pain but rather to reduce it to allow you to resume more movements and activities. Be aware that prescription medications may have more side effects, such as nausea, sedation and/or constipation.

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Physical therapy helps Physical therapy during the acute episode can be an important part of treatment for lower back pain. It should involve teaching you to use heat and/or cold therapies, proper stretching exercises, and the safest strengthening exercises — especially for the abdominal core muscles. Practicing good posture and proper body mechanics also can help reduce pain. The benefit to starting a physical therapy program is to find out which approaches are best for you with your current symptoms and to learn the proper technique for the exercises. The goal is to acquire a regimen of stretching and strengthening to be able to do at home for long-term benefit. Additional passive interventions that may provide some short-term benefit for pain reduction in people with lower back pain include massage, acupuncture, low-level laser treatment and spinal mobilization. These soft tissue and/or joint mobilizations often are called manipulation, and may be done by therapists, chiropractors or osteopaths. Other, more active interventions to consider are yoga, Pilates or an aquatic exercise program. Talk with your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of these approaches, and whether they may be right for your situation.

To reduce future risk Once the pain goes away, take measures to reduce your risk of future lower back pain episodes. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions on how to bend, lift and move to ensure proper back biomechanics. When lifting heavier objects, it often is best to lift from the knees while you contract your abdominal muscles and keep See LOWER BACK PAIN, page 12

Marijuana From page 8 drugs, cholesterol-lowering statins, and drugs used to treat heart rhythm disorders, as detailed in the JACC study.

Use with caution for pain

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People use marijuana for a variety of reasons, including chronic pain, Vaduganathan said. “In my clinic, I ask people if they use marijuana, and most are quite open to these discussions,” he said. Although the evidence about marijuana’s potential harms is limited, people with heart disease should be cautious about using the drug, he said. However, the advice doctors offer should be individualized. For example, heart-related risks may be less relevant for people using marijuana at the end of life for palliative purposes, he pointed out. Julie Corliss is executive editor of Harvard Heart Letter. © 2021 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Which is better: Olive oil or coconut oil? By Emily Gelsomin, Harvard Health Blog Coconut oil has developed a cult-like following in recent years, with proponents touting benefits ranging from body fat reduction to heart disease prevention. Sadly for devotees, the evidence to support these assertions remains rather sparse. But there is plenty of research to suggest that other plant-based oils have advantages over their animal-derived counterparts, particularly when it comes to heart health. So, which oil is best? While no specific type should be hyped as a panacea, one variety isn’t getting the press it deserves: olive oil.

The case for olive oil Olive oil is a staple fat in the Mediter-

ranean diet, and its previously publicized benefits have largely relied on examining its use by European populations. This information is useful, but looking at olive oil within the context of American diets provides us with stronger data to guide dietary choices here at home. A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology looked at adults in the United States and found that replacing margarine, butter or mayonnaise with olive oil was associated with reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. This is particularly notable because Americans tend to consume less olive oil than Europeans. In the U.S., high consumers averaged a little less than one ta-

blespoon of olive oil a day, whereas daily intake in studies examining Mediterranean populations has been as high as three tablespoons. After taking demographic and lifestyle factors into consideration, those consuming more than half a tablespoon per day had a reduced risk of developing CVD compared to those using olive oil infrequently (less than once per month). Consuming more olive oil was also associated with a decreased likelihood of dying from CVD. Even slight increases in olive oil consumption, like replacing roughly a teaspoon of margarine or butter each day with a similar amount of olive oil, had advantages. Olive oil was also correlated with a reduction in inflammatory compounds that may

contribute to the progression of CVD. Olives contain plant chemicals called polyphenols that may help reduce inflammation. Virgin olive oil, which is extracted through mechanical rather than chemical means, is thought to offer higher levels of protective plant compounds than refined olive oils. Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a product of the preferred, mechanical processing. Though we need more research, these polyphenols may also extend benefits to other areas of the body, like the brain. For instance, along with other healthy diet habits like eating leafy greens, primarily using olive oil when cooking has been associated with combating decline in brain function as we age.

Lower back pain

Aerobic and resistance exercises also can help you reach and maintain a healthy weight. This may help to protect you from future lower back and other problems that can be associated with obesity. Finally, if you smoke, stop. Smoking accelerates spinal degeneration, and that contributes to the development of back pain. If you would like guidance or support as you work to quit smoking, talk to your healthcare provider. Various treatment options are available that can help. —James Atchison, D.O., Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. Email a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit mayoclinic.org. © 2021 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

From page 10 your spine straight. You should not bend and twist your trunk at the same time, and, as you lift, hold the object as close to your body as you can. You also may incorporate back-friendly practices into your daily life, such as using a chair that has good back support at work and at home, or using a desk that changes levels to move from sitting to standing intermittently. Regular exercise can strengthen your muscles, which makes it less likely you’ll have future lower back pain episodes. There are no studies, though, that indicate one exercise is better than another for prevention of future pain. General core exercises or aerobic exercises can be valuable. Proper warm-up and cool-down techniques may include more back-specific stretching maneuvers.

See OILS, page 14

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Slow weight loss can improve fatty liver By Irun Bhan, M.D. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common cause of liver disease in the United States, and is estimated to affect up to a quarter of adults in the world. It is defined by excess fat accumulating in the liver, and usually occurs in people with obesity, high blood sugars (diabetes), abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels, or high blood pressure. These disorders often run together and, as a group, are called metabolic syndrome. Non-alcoholic liver disease is becoming more prevalent as obesity becomes more common. It is also underdiagnosed, since it usually causes no symptoms.

How fat may damage the liver In some people, excess fat sits in the liver but may not cause any liver damage. However, in about one in 20 people, excess liver fat triggers chronic liver inflammation. This condition is called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH. As with other liver disease, such as viral hepatitis or alcohol-related liver disease, chronic inflammation can cause ongoing damage, which leads to liver scarring known as fibrosis. Severe fibrosis is called cirrhosis regardless of the cause. People with cirrhosis are at risk for liver failure and liver cancer and may need a liver transplant. The key to preventing complications of NASH is to catch it early and treat it before the liver has sustained significant damage. Early diagnosis is tricky; usually people have no symptoms from their liver disease. If you have been diagnosed with any of the components of metabolic syndrome, you should talk to your doctor about your risk of having NASH. The most accurate way to diagnose NASH is by liver biopsy. But blood tests and imaging tests can be used to determine who might be at low risk for NASH to avoid unnecessary liver biopsies. A useful, noninvasive test for some people is liver elastography, a special kind of ultrasound that estimates how much scarring there is in the liver. Elastography can help sort out who might benefit from further testing by liver biopsy. Regardless of whether NASH is present, exercising and eating a healthy diet can go a long way in treating metabolic syndrome and preventing complications down the road.

Weight loss, exercise are key For people who are overweight or have obesity, the best treatment for NASH is weight loss. A landmark study showed that losing 10% of one’s body weight can reduce liver fat, resolve inflammation and potentially improve scarring. More recently, in a meta-analysis published in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers combined data from 22 studies and confirmed that weight loss by behavioral programs, medications or weight-loss surgery can successfully treat NASH.

Diet and exercise are the first line of treatment. At least 150 minutes of heart-pumping activity per week is recommended. While it’s not clear which diet is best, those that emphasize vegetables and whole foods, such as the Mediterranean diet, are good options. If sufficient weight loss is not attainable with these steps, weight loss surgery, such as gastric sleeve or gastric bypass, can be considered. For certain people without diabetes, vitamin E can help treat NASH. For those with diabetes, certain medications that improve blood sugar, such as the thiazolidinedione drug pioglitazone (Actos) and the incretin mimetic drug liraglutide (Saxenda), may also have beneficial effects on the liver. Any decisions regarding medications for NASH, including the use of vitamin E, should be made with your doctor.

Individuals with NASH must also protect the liver from any other causes of liver inflammation. This means abstaining from alcohol, and making sure you are vaccinated against the hepatitis A and hepatitis B viruses. Finally, anyone with NASH should also

identify and treat individual components of metabolic syndrome they may have, in order to reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes. © 2020 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Dietary supplements: Useful or harmful? By Rozalina McCoy, M.D. Dear Mayo Clinic: Why does my doctor want to know what supplements I’m taking, even if I don’t have any health problems and don’t take more than the recommended amounts? A: It’s important to tell your healthcare provider about any dietary supplements you take. Although you don’t need a prescription for most supplements, that doesn’t mean they can’t significantly affect your health. Dietary supplements are useful in some situations — for example, calcium and vita-

Oils From page 12

How does coconut oil compare? Proponents of coconut oil cite the mediumchain fatty acids it contains as a benefit because of the unique way these fats are digested. It’s claimed these fats offer advantages related to weight loss and cholesterol, though these assertions remain controversial. Regardless, lauric acid — the primary fat found in coconut oil — is thought to behave differently from other medium-chain fats, and may not deliver as promised. In a recently published study in the journal Circulation, which compiled data from a variety of trials, coconut oil did not show

concern about supplements, though, is lack of oversight in their production, and claims manufacturers make about their benefits. Prescription and over-the-counter medications are closely regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA doesn’t regulate or oversee supplement content or claims to the same degree as it does for medications. Just because a supplement is approved for sale doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe or effective.

There are two general categories of dietary supplements: nutritional and herbal.

Nutritional supplements are designed to provide vitamins and minerals your body needs that you may not get enough of in your diet. Calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, iron and fiber are common nutritional supplements many people take. Herbal supplements, sometimes called botanicals, are supplements derived from plants that are touted as having health benefits. Popular herbal supplements include echinacea, ginkgo and flaxseed. People take dietary supplements to improve their health or prevent illness. One

benefits related to waist circumference or body fat compared to other plant-based fats. Coconut oil, a tropical plant oil, also did not fare as well as nontropical plant oils, like olive oil, with respect to reducing other cardiac risk factors. In fact, coconut oil increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol — the kind associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Coconut has been an important fat in a variety of traditional diets in Asia, and is touted to impart health benefits within these communities, including fewer cardiac complications and premature deaths. However, these diets often feature minimally processed coconut products, like coconut flesh, which are also higher in nutri-

ents like fiber. Lifestyle habits in these Asian communities also typically include eating more fruits, vegetables and fish than in many American diets. That said, extra virgin coconut oil, which can be purchased in the United States, is arguably less processed, and often refined in a manner similar to EVOO. A recent trial published in BMJ Open looking at extra virgin coconut oil did not show an increase in LDL cholesterol when compared to EVOO during a four-week period. (Both oils performed better than butter.) Unfortunately, there are not enough human studies involving extra virgin coconut oil to support its use as a primary fat in our diets. Nor do we have information about its long-term effects here in the U.S.

And the winner is…olive oil

min D for bone health, and iron for iron-deficiency anemia. But they also can be harmful, especially if taken in certain combinations, with certain prescription medications, or before surgery or other medical procedures. By knowing the supplements you take, your healthcare provider can ensure that they are a good fit for you.

Two categories

See SUPPLEMENTS, page 15

The benefits of using nontropical plantbased oils remain very promising, making olive oil a natural choice in the kitchen. Try oil and vinegar on a fresh summer salad, or in place of mayo in potato or tuna salad. Consider a drizzle of olive oil instead of a pat of butter or margarine when cooking vegetables. And keep coconut fat to occasional use, say, to enhance the flavor of a vegetable curry, or as a substitute for butter in baked desserts. Emily Gelsomin, M.L.A., R.D., L.D.N., is a contributor to Harvard Health Publications. © 2021 Harvard University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Supplements From page 14

Benefits come with possible risk Although supplements aren’t regulated in the same way medications are, they have active ingredients that can affect your body and your health. And keep in mind that anything strong enough to produce a positive effect — such as lowering cholesterol or improving mood — also is strong enough to carry potential health risks. That’s one of the key reasons it’s important to talk with your healthcare provider about your supplements. He or she can review the potential benefits and side effects, and evaluate if the supplement is safe for you. When you take your supplements can be a factor you need to discuss with your healthcare provider, as well. For example, the absorption of some supplements can be influenced by whether you take them

with food or on an empty stomach. Some supplements also can prevent the absorption or action of medications, so it may be important to take them separately. It is particularly important for you to review your supplements with your healthcare provider if you take more than one supplement, or if you take any prescription or nonprescription medication. In some cases, taking a combination of supplements or using supplements while taking certain medications could lead to harmful or life-threatening results. You mention that you don’t take more than the recommended amount of your supplement, and that is wise. Taking more than the recommended daily values can increase the risk of side effects. But be aware that vitamins and minerals are being added to a growing number of foods, including breakfast cereals and beverages. If you’re also taking supplements,

BEACON BITS

Apr. 10

DANCE FOR BRAIN HEALTH

Join the Kennedy Center for a free Zoom workshop that emphasizes physical and mental fitness. The event takes place Sat., April 10 at 10 a.m. Register by April 9 at 3 p.m. at bit.ly/DanceforBrainHealth. Call (202) 467-4600 with questions.

Apr. 14+

WEDNESDAY YOGA Do you need a relaxing break? Join Yoga District for a free virtual gentle yoga class every Wednesday at noon via the D.C. Library Facebook page. For more information, visit bit.ly/DistrictYoga.

you may be getting more of some nutrients than you realize. Your healthcare provider can help you evaluate your diet and decide if you need the supplements that you’re taking. The bottom line is that although nutritional and herbal supplements may be useful, they aren’t risk-free. By talking with your healthcare provider about the supplements you take, and discussing their po-

tential benefits and risks, you’ll gain a better understanding of the value those supplements have for your health overall. — Rozalina McCoy, M.D., Community Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota © 2021 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Apr. 21

HOW TO MAKE POWER BOWLS Power Bowls (grains topped with vegetables) make a delicious,

nutritious meal. Attend Brooke Grove Retirement Village’s free virtual lesson with its executive chef and nutritionist to learn how to make these trendy dishes. The event takes place via Zoom Wed., April 21 from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/BGPowerBowls.

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RESOURCES FROM

Ready to volunteer? You can start by searching our website for these and many more opportunities at www.montgomeryserves.org. If you need additional guidance in your quest to find a volunteer opportunity that fits with your experience and interest, the 50+ Volunteer Network may be able to help you. Learn more about this free program at http://bit. ly/50Volunteer or email 50plus@ montgomerycountymd.gov.

April is Global Volunteer Month The County’s COVID-19 vaccination clinics depend on volunteers to serve in a variety of roles, including as vaccinators, logistics and check-in support. Photo courtesy of Montgomery County Health and Human Services

Civic and Social Involvement The Montgomery County Volunteer Center promotes a culture of service by connecting people of all ages and stages with nonprofits in need of assistance. Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, volunteers throughout Montgomery County are finding ways to give back to the community, especially to help those who are most affected by the pandemic, while continuing to follow stringent safety guidelines. Here are a few examples: Assisting with countywide efforts to combat food insecurity by donating and preparing food and helping to distribute food to the thousands of county residents who need it

Driving

seniors to vaccination and medical appointments Helping students who may have fallen behind academically due to the difficulties of remote learning by providing tutoring and mentoring services

April is Global Volunteer Month, an opportunity to recognize the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges, to build stronger communities, and to be a force that transforms the world in the wake of COVID-19. Congratulations to all the volunteers in Montgomery County; you make a world of difference!

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Assisting

with vaccination sites – there are opportunities for licensed health professionals as well as those who want to help on the administrative end

Taking on professional consulting

projects to help resource-strapped nonprofits, such as grant writing, strategic planning or Board service Be it in-person or virtual, there are new opportunities every day!

For other county resources on aging, call (240) 777-3000 or visit www.montgomerycountymd. gov/senior.

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Health Studies

INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Study tests ketogenic diet for Parkinson’s By Margaret Foster Can a special high-fat diet help people with Parkinson’s disease? Although researchers haven’t found a cure for the degenerative disease, they’ve found ways to slow its progression — from medication to exercise such as boxing. This year, scientists at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke are studying the effects of a specific diet on Parkinson’s patients. It’s called a ketogenic diet — a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet in which the body, deprived of carbohydrates, is forced to burn fat. While people on the diet must avoid pasta, bread and sugar, they can eat plenty of butter, cream and nuts. “It’s a diet that has less carbohydrates and greater fats than a typical American diet,” said Dr. Debra Ehrlich, Chief, NIH Parkinson’s Disease Clinic and the study’s principal investigator. “We’re trying to look at using the ketogenic diet in a population of patients with Parkinson’s disease,” Ehrlich said. Several previous studies of the ketogenic diet in Parkinson’s patients have shown either improved motor functioning or improved memory or cognition. “Our first objective is to see if it’s feasible and well tolerated in patients with Parkinson’s. Our second objective is to see if there’s any improvement in Parkinson’s symptoms, such as cognition, mobility and motor function.”

Includes one-week hospital stay The four-week study is open to people 50 and older who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. It requires two outpatient visits to NIH’s Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and one inpatient hospital visit for seven days. Once enrolled, people will visit NIH’s campus in Bethesda for a four-hour screening appointment, where they will fill out surveys, get a physical examination, give a blood sample and take a 10-foot walking test. During the week-long hospital stay, participants will be divided randomly into two groups. One group will receive ketogenic meals and a special oil supplement; the other group will eat low-fat meals. While in the hospital, all patients will meet with a nutritionist. “They’ll receive coaching from our nutrition team,” Ehrlich said, and nutritionists will try to “work [participants’] own dietary preferences into the diet.” At home, participants will follow the prescribed diet for two weeks, logging their physical activities. Finally, they’ll visit NIH again for a four-hour follow-up visit. Compensation may be available. “We’re always looking for new things that can improve the function of people with Parkinson’s,” Ehrlich said. “This is a way to see if a particular diet might offer some clinical benefits.” For more information or to enroll, call 1800-411-1222 or email prpl@cc.nih.gov.

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The key to perfect pan-seared salmon By America’s Test Kitchen Pan-searing salmon sounds straightforward: Just add a little oil to a nonstick pan, get it good and hot, season a couple of fillets, and cook them until they’re cooked through and nicely browned on the exterior but still pink on the inside, right? There are two issues with this technique: The fish cooks unevenly, and the exteriors of the fillets end up more tough than crisp. We knew we could do better, so we set out to create a simple recipe that took advantage of the intense heat of the skillet to produce a golden-brown, ultra-crisp crust on salmon fillets while keeping their interiors moist. The solution to the dryness problem was relatively easy: salt. We salt and brine meat all the time, and both techniques apply just as well to fish. Beyond seasoning the flesh, the salt also helps keep it moist. A 15-minute brine did both, and as long as we patted the fillets dry with paper towels before cooking, we found that the treatment didn’t significantly inhibit browning. To make sure the fish browned nicely and cooked evenly, we started skin-on fillets in a cold pan and then turned on the heat. This allowed the fish to cook through gently as the pan slowly came up to temperature. We then flipped the fillets over after the skillet was good and hot so they could form a crust and finish cooking through. And the skin shed enough fat as it cooked that we didn’t need to add a single drop of oil to the pan. This salmon was excellent with just a squirt of lemon, but we also whipped up a mango-mint salsa to go along with it. The salsa’s bright flavors balanced the salmon’s richness, and it added mere minutes to this quick, weeknight meal.

Pan-Seared Salmon with MangoMint Salsa Serves 4 For the salmon: Kosher salt Pepper 4 (6- to 8-ounce) skin-on salmon fillets For the salsa: 1 mango, peeled, pitted, and cut into ¼inch pieces 1 shallot, minced 3 tablespoons juice from 2 limes 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint 1 jalapeño chile, stemmed, seeds reserved, and minced 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 garlic clove, minced ½ teaspoon salt Dissolve ½ cup salt in 2 quarts water in a large container. Submerge salmon in brine and let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, combine all sauce ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Remove salmon from brine and pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle the bottom of a 12-inch nonstick skillet evenly with ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. Place fillets, skin side down, in the skillet and sprinkle tops of fillets with ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Heat skillet over medium-high heat and cook fillets without moving them until fat begins to render, skin begins to brown, and the bottom ¼ inch of fillets turns opaque, 6 to 8 minutes. Using tongs, flip fillets and continue to cook without moving them until the centers are still translucent when checked with tip of a paring knife and register 125° F on a See RECIPE, page 19

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CFLs contain mercury? Be sure to dispose of CFLs* safely! RECYCLE CFLs at Montgomery County Transfer Station (16101 Frederick Rd Derwood, MD 20855)

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Learn more at bit.ly/recycleCFLs

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Natural ways to improve your eyesight Just imagine what it would be like to recipes, and even marinades. read with more clarity, and be able to focus 2. Consume more fresh spices. your eyes better and see the Carotenoids are natural leaves on the trees without dyes that impart orange color squinting! How about reading to fruits and vegetables. Two a book without discomfort? potent ones are lutein and We live in a time where we zeaxanthin, which sweep can correct many eyesight away poisonous free radicals problems with professional before they harm your eyes. help. For people with probFoods rich in lutein include lems like nearsightedness, farfresh spices like basil and parssightedness and astigmatism, ley. Other foods include leek, there are eyeglasses, contact spinach, red peppers and kale. lenses, LASIK and refractive DEAR 3. Limit or eliminate PHARMACIST surgery options. smoking. By Suzy Cohen Today, I’d like to share Smoking damages the eyes some other options, as well as and may lead to blindness besome controllable lifestyle factors that can cause of macular degeneration and help you protect your eyesight naturally. cataracts. If you’re smoking a pack a day, In particular, you should focus on retinal even cutting that in half would help! Smokand macular health, light and dark adapta- ers also need additional Vitamin C because tion, eye fatigue and strain, and crispness nicotine is a “drug mugger” of C. of vision. Maintaining eye comfort and 4. Control blood sugar. moisture is also important. Having hyperglycemia is a known risk Here are some valuable tips: factor for many eye problems, including a 1. Add saffron to your recipes. condition where the high blood sugar Saffron may improve retinal sensitivity, (which acts like an acid wash) causes damcolor perception and visual contrast, accord- age to the capillaries of the light sensors in ing to studies on supplements. You can add the back of the eye (the retina). It’s called this yellow spice to rice, soup and sauce diabetic retinopathy.

Recipe From page 18 meat thermometer, 6 to 8 minutes longer. Transfer fillets skin side down to a serving platter and let rest for 5 minutes before serving with salsa. Recipe notes: To ensure uniform cooking, buy a 1½ to 2-pound center-cut salmon fillet and cut it into four pieces. Using skin-on salmon is important here, as we rely on the fat underneath the skin as the cooking

medium (as opposed to adding extra oil). If using wild salmon, cook it until it registers 120° F. If you don’t want to serve the fish with the skin, peel it off after it is cooked. For 25 years, confident cooks in the know have relied on America’s Test Kitchen for rigorously tested recipes developed by professional test cooks and vetted by 60,000 athome recipe testers. See more online at americastestkitchen.com/TCA. © 2021 America’s Test Kitchen. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Hyperglycemia also contributes to glaucoma. Managing blood sugar through diet, exercise and herbal supplements is ideal. This topic is covered extensively in my book Diabetes Without Drugs. 5. Try tinted plastic reading sheets. There are many brands of reading filters available online, and the most useful colors are orange, yellow, blue and red. The sheets are placed on top of any reading literature (magazine, newspaper, novel, journal, etc.), and they reduce the harshness of bright paper. They may help with conditions that affect reading such as dyslexia, color blindness and/or autism-related reading issues. 6. Invest in good eye vitamins. Shamefully, the ingredients known to help eyesight are often put into commercial brands that don’t bother to encapsulate the

ingredients in acid-resistant capsules — a process known as enteric coating. If it doesn’t make it to your intestines because it degraded in your stomach acid, it’s not doing you any good. So, check your brand and/or upgrade it. Medications to treat eye conditions are always an excellent choice, so continue taking whatever your ophthalmologist has prescribed. If we take good care of our maculas, corneas and retinas now, we’ll have them for a lifetime. This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement. Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To contact her, visit SuzyCohen.com.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

PARK DIRECTORY

Nature can be just what the doctor ordered. Learn how parks can help you stay healthy and how to find parks in your area by visiting parkrxamerica.org.

Ongoing

WOMEN’S SOFTBALL LEAGUE

Are you interested in playing slow-pitch softball? Join the Golden Girls, a softball league in Vienna, Virginia, for women 40 and over. To learn more and to register, visit goldengirls.org.

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VILLAGE LIFE the following is excerpted from

All Brooke Grove Assisted Living Homes Achieve Zero-Deficiency Status During Recent Relicensure ll seven of Brooke Grove Retirement Village’s (BGRV) assisted living homes at The Meadows and The Woods achieved zero-deficiency status during recent relicensure surveys conducted by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Office of Healthcare Quality.

“The surveyor was impressed with our COVID-19 disaster binder and commented that she could see that we have done everything humanly possible to keep our residents safe,” said Administrator Karyna Balbuena. “She also indicated that the clinical aspect of the survey was flawless, which would not have been possible without the dedication and leadership of recently retired Director of Health Services Sue Goldstone, RN, and the contributions of the entire team. I am incredibly proud of each one!”

administrative, resident services, health services, culinary, environmental services, LIFE® enrichment, human resources, plant operations and support services staff who continually strive for The comprehensive survey included an examination of medical records; medication administration; resident service, quality assurance, excellence and a meaningful, empowered life for each resident. emergency and disaster plans; employee files including training “What an accomplishment!” added BGRV Executive Director records, background checks and licenses/certifications; menus; Patty Anderson. “This is particularly impressive during a worldwide manager and delegating nurse reviews; staff/resident interactions; the pandemic, which has presented so many challenges. We have an facilities’ COVID-19 response; and more. amazing group of staff members who care deeply about each of their roles and their residents. We are so grateful for them!” The exemplary survey results reflect the dedicated teamwork of

BGRV Completes COVID-19 Vaccination Process he two-step, COVID-19 vaccination process for Brooke Grove Retirement Village (BGRV) residents and staff — which encompassed Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (BGRNC), The Meadows and The Woods assisted living, The Cottages independent living community and all support services located on campus — is complete. The Pfizer vaccine was administered to participants through a partnership with CVS Pharmacy, which conducted several onsite clinics in December, January and February.

According to BGRV Executive Director Patty Anderson, “In independent living, the vaccination rate is 97% for residents and staff. In assisted living, we achieved a 97% resident vaccination rate and an 83% staff rate. At BGRNC, approximately 93% of residents and 63% of employees were inoculated during our clinics. We continue to educate and urge our team members to accept the vaccine to help INDEPENDENT LIVING

ASSISTED LIVING

protect themselves, their loved ones and our residents.” BGRV was included in Phase 1 of Maryland’s vaccine distribution program, which covered hospitals, emergency medical services, healthcare workers and skilled nursing facility residents. Maddie Drust, a LIFE enrichment coordinator in assisted living, receives her vaccine.

REHABILITATION

LONG-TERM CARE

MEMORY SUPPORT

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SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION

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A caring home for those with disabilities By Margaret Foster Carol A., a mother of an adult child with autism, worries about her son’s future. “After my husband’s cancer passing, I am often in private anguish about what will happen to my sweet son if anything hap-

pens to me,” she said. Parents of adult children with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) must plan ahead to secure a reliable, caring home for their children, who are living longer than ever before.

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“This is really the first generation of people with I/DD who are living such long lives, which is attributed to better healthcare, better nutrition, and being included in their communities instead of being sent to large institutions,” said Deborah Mark, communications director for The Arc Montgomery County. The Arc is a nonprofit that operates 35 group homes in Maryland for people with I/DD. “We have parents who are in their 90s, and we are caring for their adult children in their 70s. Parents want to know that their loved one will have a place to live and the support he or she needs to be successful,” Mark said. Thousands of group homes for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities exist in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. But you may not have noticed them because they’re “regular houses in regular neighborhoods,” said Betsy Schatz, former executive

IT’S VIRGINIAN THE

director of Langley Residential Support Services, a Fairfax County nonprofit that operates six such houses. (Schatz spoke with the Beacon before she died in March 2021.) “Hopefully, you’d never know that our house is a group home.”

Inclusive housing benefits all In addition to group homes, there’s a surging demand for what’s known as inclusive housing — buildings that reserve spaces for tenants with developmental disabilities. For instance, when the nonprofit Main Street opened its inclusive community building in Rockville, Maryland in August, more than 10,000 people were interested in its 70 apartments. One-quarter of the building’s 70 units are set aside for adults with disabilities, while the remaining apartments are affordable housing for all. How do you reserve one of those apartments or a room in a group home for your aging child with disabilities? Plan ahead, Mark suggests. Residents must apply to their state or city Developmental Disability Association (DDA) for funding to pay for housing. In Maryland, the DDA’s waitlist is formidable; currently the agency is only granting requests on an emergency basis.

Adapting as residents age

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The I/DD population tends to age at a different rate from the general population. “Typically, people with developmental disabilities tend to have earlier onset of diseases associated with aging, like dementia, diabetes and arthritis,” Mark said. With an aging population, The Arc and other similar providers must adapt their services. The Arc Montgomery has remodeled bathrooms and made other accommodations for their residents in its 35 group homes. In the same way, when Langley Residential Support Services noticed that some older residents were losing mobility, workers added chair lifts to the stairs, grab bars to the bathrooms, outdoor ramps and other accommodations. “We’ve always said at Langley that we are like a family. As a family, you adjust according to the circumstances,” Schatz said.

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Langley Residential took shape in early 1980s, when a church in McLean, Virginia, hosted a dance for adults with developmental disabilities, and members of two other churches joined to chaperone. “After meeting these men and women who came to the dance, they began thinking about what’s going to happen to these people when their parents pass away. Who’s going to take care of them?” Schatz recalled. So, the three churches formed a nonprofit and still provide support to the organization. Langley Residential’s 33 staffers are on duty in group homes in the early mornings See DISABILITIES, page B-4

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 2 1

B-3

Retire to a room of one’s own at the kids’ By Patricia Mertz Esswein When Cary Childre, 65, of Athens, Georgia, considered moving closer to her daughter, Eva Maudlin, of Decatur, an Atlanta suburb, she realized she couldn’t afford to buy “much of anything.” So, Maudlin, 31, researched building a cottage in her own backyard. In October, they made a deposit on a Craftsman-style design by a local architect who will manage the project from permits to completion. The 429-square-foot home will have one bedroom and bathroom, a galley kitchen and living area, and a small covered porch. Fueled by an aging population and a scarcity of affordable housing, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are a hot new trend in multigenerational living. You may know them better as in-law suites, garage apartments, carriage houses, casitas and granny

unit to more than $400,000 for one built above a garage. He offers a few rules of thumb wherever you live: The higher the cost of housing, the higher the cost of construction. And, converting existing space is cheaper than building a detached unit. But if you are building something separate, because of the fixed costs required to build a detached home of any size, a larger unit will be only marginally more expensive than a smaller one. So, he recommends building up to the largest allowable size. A prefab ADU is cheaper and quicker to install than one built on site, but a custom design lets you include aging-in-place features, such as a step-free entry, wider doorways and a curb-less shower. If you

flats. Freddie Mac said the share of for-sale listings with an ADU has risen 8.6% yearover-year since 2009. These units can be created by finishing a basement or attic, converting a garage, reconfiguring unused space, adding on, custom building a detached unit, or installing a prefab one. Over time, you could rent the ADU for income; house a parent, child or caregiver; downsize into it yourself and rent the main house, or make it into an office or guest quarters.

Wide variety of options How much you’ll spend varies by city, type and degree of customization, said Kol Peterson, an ADU advocate and consultant in Portland, Oregon. He said he’s seen the cost range from $20,000 for a basement PHOTO BY SIGHTLINE INSTITUTE MODEST MIDDLE HOMES LIBRARY

Once a garage, this cottage outside Seattle is an example of an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU. Younger homeowners who want to accommodate a parent — or older homeowners who want to create a space for a caregiver — may consider adding a tiny home or wing to their property, or redesigning a basement or attic space as an ADU.

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hire a design-builder, look for an aging-inplace specialist certified by the National Association of Home Builders.

Be sure to enable privacy An ADU in your existing home should allow its residents to have privacy so they will feel at home, not like a visitor or intruder, said Michael K. Lenahen, an architect and president of Aurora Builders, in Jacksonville, Florida. Consider creating a private entrance and adding soundproofing to the shared walls of an in-law suite. Sitting areas indoors and outdoors will allow you or a parent to enjoy solitude, entertain friends See ONE'S OWN ROOM, page B-4

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Disabilities From page B-2 and overnight. They help the four or six residents of each house report to their jobs at grocery stores, thrift stores or salons. “They can live and work in a community

One’s own room From page B-3 without asking for permission, and avoid feeling confined. Most homeowners pay for their ADUs with cash, home equity borrowing or a cash-out refinance. Other options include a construction loan or renovation mortgage for purchase or refinance backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. The simplest, but most expensive, op-

A P R I L 2 0 2 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

just like anyone else. They want to participate,” Schatz said. “That’s what Langley is all about: making sure that the people we serve have an amazing life. That’s what we strive to do.” This year, Langley Residential is raising money for upgrades to its six houses, as

well as for iPads and tablets so that every resident can keep in touch with family during the pandemic. In a way, residents and staff have become family, too. “I’ve known these people for 30-some years now; they’re part of my life story. I want the best for them,” said

Schatz, who worked at Langley since 1988. “They’ve fulfilled a need in me as much as I’ve been able to help them,” she said. “They keep me in stitches.” For more information or to make a donation, visit LangleyResidential.org or thearcmontgomerycounty.org.

tion is an uncollateralized personal loan of up to $100,000 from online lenders LightStream or SoFi. When Childre’s cottage is ready, she expects to sell her home for about $300,000, pay $190,000 for the cottage in her daughter’s backyard, and stash the rest for future needs. Mother and daughter look forward to living footsteps away. Before you invest your nest egg to create an ADU on a child’s property, consider how you will pay for the care you will in-

evitably need someday, said Lisa Mayfield, a certified care manager and past president of the Aging Life Care Association. You can’t sell the ADU to raise funds, and renting it out after you’ve moved elsewhere is unlikely to cover the cost of your care, said Angela Macey-Cushman, who practices elder law in Seattle. Plus, if you give a child money to build an ADU within five years (30 months

in California) of applying for Medicaid, you could be penalized with delayed coverage. Note: Accessory dwelling units are legal in Montgomery County, Maryland; Fairfax County, Virginia; and Washington, D.C. but not in the city of Baltimore. © 2021 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Apr. 11

ART CONFERENCE

On Sun., April 11, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., the American Visionary Art Museum hosts a free virtual conference of international experts. This year, the conference focuses on the transformational power of love. For more information or to RSVP, visit bit.ly/LoganVisionaryConference or call (410) 244-1900.

DRIVE UP

& Shred! FREE DOCUMENT SHREDDING EVENT! CO-HOSTED BY CAPITAL CITY NURSES & HOMECALL

Saturday, April 24, 2021 9 a.m.-Noon Mobile shredding truck and services will be provided by Shred Ace, who is NAID AAA-Certiﬁed for mobile destruction, the highest standard of security in the industry. Donations for the Parkinson's Foundation are appreciated. Shredding will take place behind the building accessible on Legation Street. WILL NOT SHRED: 3-ring binders, garbage of any kind, newspapers credit cards, CDs, cardboard, magazines, X-rays, hardcover books

SPACIOUS, FULLSIZED APARTMENTS | EXCEPTIONAL DINING GREAT LOCATION | INHOUSE PHYSICAL THERAPY AND REHABILITATION SOCIAL, WELLNESS AND LIFE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING

Call Our Team to Learn More (202) 905-0708 5420 CONNECTICUT AVENUE NW · WASHINGTON, DC 20015

www.chevychasehouse.com A MERIDIAN SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

Apr. 27

BLOGGING AND SEO

Want your business to stand out? Learn how to gain visibility in this free online workshop on search engine optimization hosted by the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland. This event takes place Tues., April 27 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/BBBWorkshopSE.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 2 1

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

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Sell the house, toss the junk and travel By Raphael Nolan Five years ago, my wife and I — then in our 60s and recently retired — sold our home in Connecticut and embarked on a worldwide adventure as nomads. To date, we have been to 36 countries on five continents. Our dream turned into a reality that has exceeded our wildest expectations. We did it. You can do it, too. During our 45 years of marriage, we enjoyed traveling, adventure and romance. We shared a wanderlust that I inherited as a young boy from my grandfather, an intrepid traveler who was always planning his next trip, often one with his grandson in tow.

A dawning reality How did we decide to sell our house and become residents of the world? It wasn’t a decision we arrived at quickly or easily. First, we realized that our beautiful Connecticut home of more than 20 years would not be our last. It was perfect for a couple in their 60s — maybe even in their 70s, but not beyond. Downsizing to a more manageable home would be smart, we realized, and sooner rather than later. Then a newspaper headline captured our attention: “Sell the Home. Travel the World!” Intrigued, we saved it. We talked about it. We researched and read books

about the idea. We returned to it regularly and often for more than two years. Increasingly, it became not just a dream but a plan we could actually accomplish. We were not rich, but we were comfortable, after working hard for more than 40 years, living modestly and wisely. Without the expenses of a mortgage, property taxes, insurance, maintenance and all the other costs of owning our own home, we figured we could travel well and often. Finally, two significant events moved us to act: Our daughter and her family, who lived 10 minutes away, relocated to Southern California, where our son and his family lived. Shortly after, the last of our four parents, my mother, passed away. Suddenly the bonds that tied us to Connecticut, where we met during high school, were loosened, freeing us to become nomads.

Get to know the locals After years of one- or two-week vacations, we have discovered the delight of slow travel. We seek out low-cost rooms on Airbnb and stay for a month or two. Sometimes we stay in friends’ second homes. We enjoy avoiding the tourist track and seeking out the locals — experiencing their traditions and culture; befriending

them and learning about their lives. We have had some eye-opening experiences, participating in a Buddhist celebration in Bali and a baby luau (a baby’s first birthday party) in Oahu. By far, the best and most memorable moments have been with the people we have met, the friends we have made. Each encounter has brought wisdom and growth and enhanced our understanding of the world. Social media has allowed us to remain in touch with some of those friends around the world. In Copenhagen, for instance, we shared a delicious plant-based dinner with David and Hara from Seoul. A year later we received a copy of their new book about their worldwide vegan adventure, which featured a photo of us. What a surprise!

Taking our time in each place Our preference would be to spend at least a month in each location — time enough to make friends and really experience the community and culture deeply. While we have spent as long as four months in a location, our slow travels continue to slow down even more (we are currently riding out the pandemic in Honolulu). The longer we continue this nomadic adventure, the longer and slower our travels grow. The question we have answered more than any has been, “What place(s) have

you enjoyed most?” We have seen some incredible vistas and places: Angkor Wat at sunrise. A green flash after a Mexican sunset. A leopard lounging in Sri Lanka. For me, the most enjoyable places were the Dolomites in the northern Italian Alps and the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. For my wife, New Zealand and Norway stand out. We are both “forest bathers” who enjoy the outdoors and all of nature’s magnificent creations, especially in Southeast Asia, Mexico, South America, Santa Barbara and Hawaii.

A new way of living: simply Beyond the people, the experiences, the places and the adventure, we’ve discovered unanticipated benefits, pleasures and new values. We had no idea how liberating it would be to jettison most of our 30+ years accumulation of “stuff”! (Well, maybe my wife knew, but it was a surprise to me!) For almost two years, we donated, sold and threw away a ton of belongings. We still have way too much in storage, but we have a greater appreciation for how freeing it is to live with fewer possessions. At first you own your stuff, but then See TRAVEL WORLD, page B-7

Residences at Glenarden Hills

SIGN LEASE IN APRIL, PAY NO RENT IN MAY! (Select units – call for information!)

Brand New Upscale Affordable Apartments for People 62 & Older, including: • Modern kitchen with dishwasher • Central heat & air conditioning • Ceramic tiled baths • Community room & fitness room

• Patio or porch in every unit • In Glenarden Hills, Prince George’s County’s newest walkable, green master-planned community

410-498-5502 3171 Roland Kenner Loop Glenarden, MD 20706 ResidencesatGlenardenHills.com

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INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Falcons Landing 703-293-5054 20522 Falcons Landing Circle Potomac Falls, VA 20165 www.falconslanding.org Falcons Landing, a Life Plan Community, welcomes all officers whether retired or honorably discharged, from all branches of service, as well as federal employees of GS-14 and higher, to include spouses and surviving spouses. Opening in Spring 2021, Falcons Landing presents The Terrace Home Apartments. 24 new units that fuse the best aspects of apartment and cottage living. Residents will enjoy generous square footage with social spaces to gather with neighbors. The Terrace Homes provide a fresh and exciting new take on senior living and are ideal for those that enjoy natural lighting, open floor plans, indoor/outdoor living, an active lifestyle and entertaining family and friends.

INDEPENDENT LIVING

Seabury at Springvale Terrace (301) 587-8717 8505 Springvale Road Silver Spring, MD 20910 www.seaburyresources.org/springvaleterrace

A P R I L 2 0 2 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Residences at Glenarden Hills 410-498-5502 3171 Roland Kenner Loop Glenarden, MD 20706 www.ResidencesatGlenardenHills.com Don't miss your opportunity to live in Prince George's County's newest 62+ community! The brand new, affordable apartments at Residences at Glenarden Hills feature open floor plans with bright, oversized windows, modern kitchens with dishwasher, large closets, ceramic-tiled baths, outdoor patios and more. The vibrant community also boasts top-notch community amenities, such as a wellness room and fitness center, theater room, community clubhouse, ample outdoor space and on-site management suite. The community is thoughtfully designed to create a safe, welcoming and independent living experience for residents. Visit our website to learn more or call 410-498-5502 Monday through Friday!

CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

Maplewood Park Place (301) 571-7441 9707 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, MD 20814 MaplewoodParkPlace.com 100% of our residents are fully COVID-19 vaccinated!

Discover Seabury at Springvale Terrace, inside and out. Enjoy the benefits of Independent Living just steps away from downtown Silver Spring. Within blocks, you will have access to the Silver Spring Civic Center, pharmacies, movie theaters, library, shopping, & restaurants. Come join us to dine and experience one of our chef inspired,delicious meals that are served restaurant style each and every single day. Enjoy a comfortable private studio apartment with care services available. Rents from as low as $835 per month with a signed lease before May 15th. Call 301 587-0190 or email svtadmissions@seaburyresoources.org for info and to schedule a tour.

Discover the best of all worlds at Maplewood Park Place, the area's premier resident-owned retirement community, with continuing care — all “under one roof.” We've redefined retirement living for active adults 60 plus. Enjoy a warm and charming community you'll be happy to call home. Take part in a broad array of social, cultural, educational, spiritual, and recreational events each month. Delight in five-star dining, beautiful amenities, outstanding services and attentive staff. Have peace of mind knowing a full range of health care options are available, when and if you need them. Come see for yourself why Maplewood has been the right choice for so many.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

The Virginian 703-259-6365

Emerson House 301-779-6196

9229 Arlington Boulevard Fairfax, Virginia 22031 liveatthevirginian.com

5999 Emerson Street Bladensburg, MD 20710

Located on a beautiful 32-acre wooded campus, just minutes from downtown Fairfax, The Virginian is the premier Independent Living community in the D.C. metro area, renowned for its exceptional healthcare and rewarding retirement lifestyle. Now, The Virginian is being totally reimagined from top to bottom to provide today's more active seniors with the area's most innovative and engaging independent living experience. With its beautiful new one and two-bedroom residences, four unique dining venues, breathtaking public spaces, on-campus spa, and more, The Virginian will seem more like an elegant resort than a typical senior living community. To learn more about all The Virginian has to offer, call today at (703) 259-6365.

Our community features bright onebedroom apartments in a nine-story elevator building for today’s active and independent seniors who are 62 or older. Emerson House is subsidized for low- to moderate-income households. Activities are yours to choose from: gardening, Bingo, Wii bowling league, movie night, parties, bus trips, exercise classes, learning to line dance — it’s all waiting for you and more! Emerson House offers an in-house Resident Service Coordinator to assist with finding helpful resources. Please call today for an appointment to tour our community or request an application; 301-779-6196 Monday-Friday from 8:30 to 5:00.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 2 1

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Reverse mortgage can be a financial tool By Patricia Mertz Esswein Note: This story picks up where our January Housing Options feature, “Tap into a home’s value with refi or loan” ended, with a reference to reverse mortgages. Over the past several years, reverse mortgages have begun to overcome a somewhat tarnished reputation through product changes and additional requirements for financial assessment that have corrected some potentially detrimental features. Retirement income researchers have established reverse mortgages as a viable tool, not just for financially strapped retirees but for well-heeled ones, too. “You may leave more to the kids if you strategically use a reverse mortgage,” said John Salter, a financial planner in Lubbock, Texas, who has studied reverse mortgages. Contrary to what you may have heard about reverse mortgages, consider these facts: —You remain the owner of your home and retain title to it.

—Because, in effect, you’re receiving loan advances, not income, the money is tax-free, and it won’t affect Social Security or Medicare benefits. —The loan comes due when the last surviving borrower dies, sells the home, or leaves it for more than 12 months due to illness. —After the borrower leaves the home, lenders must allow an eligible nonborrowing spouse or committed partner to stay. A surviving partner can’t take any more money from the reverse mortgage, but must continue maintaining the home and paying taxes and insurance. —You’ll never owe more than the value of your home when you or your heirs sell it to repay the reverse mortgage. If your home sells for more than you owe, you or your heirs keep any leftover equity. If your heirs want to keep the home, they can refinance the reverse mortgage, or they can pay the outstanding debt or 95% of the home’s appraised value, whichever is less.

Travel world

a band playing in a small city square, a memory we treasure. We agreed that we would never turn down an invitation, whether it was a week at a friend’s house or a meal with a stranger. We built in time for spontaneity, trying not to be too scripted in our travels. Had we not done so, we would not have found the Maldives. We would not have traveled to Cartagena and Santa Fe. Our travels have changed our lives in innumerable ways and strengthened our love, romance and 52-year marriage. They have made us more resilient, more compassionate, more courageous and smarter — and grown our hearts by six sizes!

From page B-5 your stuff owns you!

Making our own rules It has been exciting and challenging to create a whole new way of life. We established new mantras, new rules, new ways of living. Among them: We would make it a point to get lost almost every day. That pledge led us to some astounding discoveries, events and places we would not otherwise have experienced. Once, aimlessly exploring Parisian neighborhoods, we turned the corner to discover

Who is eligible? To be eligible for a reverse mortgage, borrowers must be at least 62 years old, own the property outright or have paid down a considerable amount of the mortgage, and occupy the home as their primary residence. Lenders will review your income and credit history to ensure you can sustain yourself, keep the home in good condition, and pay for property taxes, hazard insurance and homeowner association fees to avoid defaulting on the loan. If the lender determines you can’t handle those costs, it will set aside funds from your payout in an escrow account and pay those bills for you. The maximum payout, or principal limit, that you’ll qualify for depends on your age (or that of a younger co-borrower or a nonborrowing spouse, who must meet certain criteria to be eligible), as well as the current interest rate and the appraised value of your home, up to a maximum of $765,600 for a reverse mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration in 2020. Several lenders make proprietary jumbo reverse mortgages. The higher your age and home value, and the lower your current mortgage balance and the interest rate that you take, the greater your payout will be. If you have a mortgage, you must pay it off from the loan or other sources. You can

withdraw no more than 60% of your principal limit in the first year, though. Up to an additional 10% of the available funds can be tapped to pay off an existing mortgage debt or make repairs required by the lender.

Payout options A line of credit from a reverse mortgage typically gives you the most proceeds and flexibility. You’re only charged interest on the portion of the line used, and you can make payments at any time. Unlike a regular home equity loan (see January article), a reverse mortgage credit line will grow, because the untapped portion of the line compounds at the same rate at which interest and an annual mortgage insurance premium accrue on the balance. With many years and rising interest rates, the line of credit can increase to far more than the original amount. Borrowers who want guaranteed income can also choose to receive a fixed monthly payment for a set term or for as long as they live in the home. You’ll get the least payout and flexibility if you take a lump sum. Because you incur interest from day one, it makes no sense to take the money and sit on it. See REVERSE MORTGAGE, page B-8

5HVRUW VW\OH VHQLRU OLYLQJ ȴOOHG ZLWK IULHQGVKLS At Acclaim at Belmont Bay, you’ll rise every morning to a day bursting with possibilities. We offer resort-style living with beautiful views from your private balcony or patio, exceptional amenities and dedicated service – and we’d love to meet you. And, of course, we’re pet-friendly, because pets are family too. Discover senior living designed for you. To schedule a visit, call 571-336-0164. Independent Lifestyle 13875 Clear Lake Circle | Woodbridge, VA 22191 WWW.SENIORLIFESTYLE.COM

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Housing Options | Subscribe online! See how on p. 8

A P R I L 2 0 2 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Affordable Senior Communities Discover how great senior living is at one of our affordable apartment communities. Many of our communities feature 24-hour emergency maintenance, full activities programs, spacious floor plans, affordable rents, caring and dedicated staff, and much more. We are conveniently located near shopping, including grocery stores and pharmacies. Let us help you live life to the fullest. Call or visit our web site to view these communities: 600 North Madison Street, Arlington, VA 22203

Rent based on income

703-538-6000 Lockwood House 7010 Schoonmaker Court Alexandria, VA 22310

From $956

703-719-7268

Reverse mortgage From page B-7

Get professional advice Before shopping for a reverse mortgage, ask an adviser who has earned the retirement income certified professional designation from the American College of Financial Services. For a reverse mortgage calculator or to find lenders by state or company, visit the consumer website of the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association. Look for a loan officer who is a certified reverse mortgage professional. You must get financial counseling to ensure that you can meet your obligations as a borrower. To find a counselor certified by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, visit the department’s website and search by map or Zip code, or call 1-800-569-4287. A session costs $125 to $250 by phone or in person.

Various costs At closing, you’ll pay an initial FHA mortgage insurance premium equal to 2% of the home’s appraised value or the maximum limit — $765,600 — whichever is less. You’ll also accrue an annual mortgage premium of

BEACON BITS

Ongoing 873 Grace Street Herndon, VA 20170

From $1,010

703-904-9444

703-858-9507

From $975

Wingler House Apartments

7837 Richmond Highway Alexandria, VA 22306

From $1,056

703-780-9072

5999 Emerson Street Bladensburg, MD 20710

301-779-6196

18889 Waring Station Road Germantown, MD 20874

301-540-1162

Rent based on income

From $1,271 for 2 bedroom

5101 River Road, Suite 101 • Bethesda, MD 20816

301-941-8040 www.qpmgmt.com Professionally managed by Quantum Real Estate Management LLC T/A Quantum Property Management

HEALTHY HOMES

The average person spends 65% of their life inside their home, so make it a healthy environment. Johns Hopkins has tips to improve every room at homes.forhealth.org.

Apr. 15+ 20900 Runny Meade Terrace Ashburn, VA 20147

0.5% of the outstanding loan balance, which isn’t payable until the loan comes due. The insurance guarantees that you will receive your payout and you’ll never owe more than the value of your home. Lenders can charge an origination fee of up to $6,000, plus fees for third-party services. The fee is equal to the greater of $2,500 or 2% of the home’s value, up to the first $200,000, plus 1% of the amount over $200,000, up to the cap. You’ll pay a fixed interest rate on a lump sum payout and a variable rate on all other types of payouts. The average fixed rate was 3.26% and the variable rate was 2.91% for loans closed in December (the latest data available), according to HSH.com. Variable rates are based on an underlying index — such as the 1-Year Treasury Bill or the Libor — to which lenders add a margin of 1 to 3 percentage points. In general, the higher the margin you accept, the lower the origination fee. It pays to shop around because lenders vary in the margins, origination fees and closing costs that they charge. Get at least three quotes to compare margins, upfront costs and payouts. © Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

RADIO PLAY

Ford’s Theatre presents a radio adaptation of Necessary Sacrifices, a play that explores the two documented encounters between Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass. The play will air on WPFW Pacifica radio on Thurs., April 15 at 7 p.m. and Fri., April 23 at 3 p.m. To learn more, visit bit.ly/NecessarySacrifices.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 2 1

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FREE HOUSING AND OTHER INFORMATION For free information from advertisers in this special section, check off those that interest you and mail this coupon to the Beacon. HOUSING COMMUNITIES: WASHINGTON, DC

❑ Appleton at Spring Flats . . . .B-2 ❑ Chevy Chase House . .B-4 & B-15 ❑ Friendship Terrace . . . . . . . .B-12

MARYLAND

❑ Brooke Grove Retirement Village . . . . B-12, B-14 & B-15 ❑ Covenant Village . . . .B-8 & B-10 ❑ Emerson House . . . . . .B-6 & B-8 ❑ Homecrest House . . .B-7 & B-15 ❑ Maplewood Park Place . . . . . . . . . . .B-6 & B-11 ❑ Riderwood . . . . . . .B-13 & B-15

❑ Residences at Glenarden Hills . . . .B-5 & B-6 ❑ Springvale Terrace Asst. Liv. . . . . . . . . . .B-3, B-14 ❑ Springvale Terrace Indep. Liv. . . . . . . . . .B-6, B-11 ❑ Tribute at Black Hill . . . . . .B-16 ❑ Tribute at Melford . . . . . . . .B-16

VIRGINIA ❑ Ashby Ponds . . . . .B-13 & B-15 ❑ Acclaim at Belmont Bay . . . . . . . .B-7 & B-10 ❑ Chesterbrook Residences . . . . . . .B-3 & B-14 ❑ Falcons Landing . . . . . . . . . .B-6 ❑ Greenspring . . . . . .B-12 & B-13

❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

Gum Springs Glen . . . . . . . .B-8 Herndon Harbor House . . . . .B-8 Lockwood House . . . . . . . . . .B-8 Morris Glen . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-8 Sommerset . . . . . . . .B-4 & B-15 Tribute at the Glen . . . . . . .B-16 Tribute at One Loudoun . . .B-16 Vinson Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-10 Virginian, The . . . . . . . .B-2 & B-6 Wingler House . . . . . . . . . . . .B-8

GOVERNMENT SERVICES ❑ HIP Home Sharing . . . . . . . .B-8

HOME CARE SERVICES ❑ Best Senior Care . . . . . . . ..B-5

Check the boxes you’re interested in and return this entire coupon to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227. You may return our free info form on page 5 together with this coupon. Name __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________E-mail_______________________________________________ City _______________________________________________________ State ______________________ Zip ____________________ Phone (day) _______________________________________________ (eve) ___________________________________________

WB421

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Housing Options | Subscribe online! See how on p. 8

LIFE PLAN COMMUNITY

Vinson Hall Retirement Community 703-536-4344 6251 Old Dominion Drive McLean, VA 22101 www.vinsonhall.org Welcome to Vinson Hall, an active, vibrant senior living community located in the beautiful heart of McLean, Virginia. Here you'll discover a tight-knit community with all the amenities you could ever want alongside a full continuum of care. From independent living, assisted living, memory care support, nursing care, rehabilitative care, to respite care, our team is here to provide our signature gold standard of service. Although we have had to make many adjustments for safety this past year, our residents are thrilled to once again be able to access a variety of our exciting in-house activities such as art classes, fitness programs and happy hour events! To find out more about our available apartments, call us at 703-506-4240.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Acclaim at Belmont Bay 571-336-0164 13875 Clear Lake Circle Woodbridge, VA 22191 www.seniorlifestyle.com/property/virginia/acclaim-at-belmont-bay/ A Luxury Rental Senior Living Option Designed for You Located near beautiful Belmont Bay Harbor right next to the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Acclaim at Belmont Bay, formerly Aspire at Belmont Bay, is a rental community that offers a vibrant independent lifestyle. With beautiful scenery, accessible walking paths and thoughtful amenities that include an indoor pool, an outdoor patio and so much more, and all the excitement of Washington, D.C. just 20 miles away, there's something for everyone to enjoy. If you're looking for a senior living option that's a step above, discover Acclaim at Belmont Bay.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Covenant Village Senior Apartments 301-540-1162 18889 Waring Station Road Germantown, MD 20874 www.qpmgmt.com • Spacious 1 and 2 bedroom plans with washer/dryer in each apt. • Shuttle bus for shopping and local trips • On-site fitness, game, and craft rooms, movie theatre, library, beauty salon, and courtyard garden plots. It's about our residents, said Management staff, Debra and Shey. They always ensure that they have interesting and exciting things going on. Some of the fun includes: Garden Party Cookouts, Trips to Washington, DC to see the Cherry Blossoms, the Franciscan Monastery, and the National Zoo, Black Hills Pontoon Boat Ride, Low-Impact Fitness Classes, Resident Birthday Celebrations, Craft Classes and Potlucks. Also, many guest speakers are invited to speak to our residents on topics that are relevant to them.

A P R I L 2 0 2 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Housing News By Catherine Brown

Affordable/luxury assisted living opens in D.C. This month, Livingston Place at Southern, a 152-unit luxury assisted living community, will open in D.C.’s Ward 8, offering housing for residents 60 and older who require assistance with daily living activities and have low to moderate incomes. Gina Latture, Livingston Place’s director of sales and marketing, grew up in Ward 8 and is excited to help provide an opportunity for its older residents to live in a high-quality facility. “It’s very rewarding to serve the community from which I’ve come,” Latture said. “It feels like I’ve come full circle in my career to help seniors in Ward 8 access luxury assisted living. This kind of housing is much needed and deserved in this community.” Livingston Place’s five-story building includes 68 one-bedroom and 84 efficiency apartments with bathrooms and kitchenettes. The units have accessibility features, like grab bars in the bathrooms, lower countertops and emergency call systems. The community provides an opportunity for seniors to age in place affordably with access to onsite support, including medical, dental, rehabilitative and counseling services, plus three prepared meals each day, laundry and housekeeping services, and activities that keep residents engaged. Amenities include an onsite fitness center, library and barber shop/beauty salon. “Assisted living facilities are like cruise ships,” Latture said. “There is always something going on, including fun activities, educational programs, entertainment and day trips.” Unlike a cruise ship, however, Livingston Place staff will also assist with daily living tasks and meet residents’ medical needs. In order to qualify to live in Livingston Place, D.C. residents must have incomes that are 60% of the annual median income or less; qualify for Medicaid; require assistance with at least two activities of daily living, and have an Elderly and Persons with Disabilities Waiver (EDP), managed through the D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living. (The EDP Medicaid waiver pays for the benefits and services residents receive at Livingston Place.) Another program, the Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), reduces the cost of rent. In addition, the Optional State Supplemental Program helps subsidize the difference between what someone earns from Social Security and

the cost of the rental. “We’re excited to have figured out a way to supplement low-income residents,” Latture said. “We’re able to provide residents with benefits they normally wouldn’t be offered.” Livingston Place is the first Priority Life Plan Community in D.C. They operate another facility in Hyattsville, Maryland.

Early dementia program comes to Tribute locations The Cadence Living communities in the D.C. area — Tribute at One Loudon, Tribute at The Glen, Tribute at Black Hill and Tribute at Melford — have introduced a new program called Cadence Connections to support residents with a low-impairment dementia diagnosis. “Cadence Connections offers help for residents when they first become aware of difficulty recalling and retaining memories,” said Holly McMurray, vice president of culture and resident experience for Cadence Living. “The program is designed to mitigate symptoms, allowing residents to stay active and involved longer in their preferred environment.” When creating Cadence Connections, Cadence Living adopted BrainCheck, a CMS-recognized cognitive assessment tool developed from 20 years of research by Baylor University. Each day, staff use this quick test to assess memory, attention and executive function. Test questions change each day, providing a more nuanced look at cognitive functioning. Using data from assessments, the program director develops individually tailored engagement plans to help participants stay as engaged as possible in their communities and to slow cognitive decline. One type of group program is the Cadence drumming circle, which allows participants to create and then play their own drums. The drumming circle fosters creativity and taps into the benefits of music for those with cognitive impairment, including improvements in mood and executive function. Cadence Connections focuses on several facets of the participants’ lives, including sleep, diet and exercise, all of which play a role in mitigating cognitive impairment. “The program helps participants feel like they can have control over these parts of their lives,” McMurray said. It also incorporates activities that foster supported autonomy and brain stimulation, while addressing isolation and other lifestyle factors that can worsen dementia. The program is available at Cadence Living communities for $1,000 a month. That cost includes assessments, access to a dedicated team member and customized engagement plans.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 2 1

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

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Make your bathrooms safer, easier to use By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, What tips can you recommend for making a bathroom senior-friendly? My 78-year-old mother has mobility problems, and she fell getting out of the bathtub last month. —Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned, Great question! Because more accidents and injuries happen in the bathroom than any other room in the house, this is a very important room to modify, especially for those with mobility or balance problems. Here are some simple tips and product recommendations that can make a bathroom safer and easier to use. Floor: To avoid slipping, get non-skid

bath rugs for the floors. Or if you want to put in a new floor, get slip-resistant tiles, rubber or vinyl flooring, or install wall-towall carpeting. Lights: Good lighting is also very important, so install bright LED bulbs and get a plug-in nightlight that automatically turns on when the room gets dark. Bathtub/shower: To make bathing safer, purchase a rubber suction-grip mat, or put down adhesive nonskid tape on the tub/shower floor. And have a carpenter properly install grab bars in and around the tub/shower for support. If your mom uses a shower curtain, install a screw or bolt-mounted curtain rod, versus a tension-mounted rod, so that if she loses her balance and grabs the shower curtain the rod won’t spring loose.

For easier access and safer bathing, consider getting your mom a shower or bathtub chair so she can bathe from a seated position. In addition, you should also install a handheld, adjustable-height showerhead that makes chair bathing easier. If your mom has the budget for it, another good option is to install a curb-less shower or a walk-in-bathtub. Curb-less showers have no threshold to step over, and come with a built-in seat, grab bars, slip resistant floors and an adjustable handheld showerhead. Curb-less showers and walk-in-tubs run anywhere from $2,500 to $10,000 installed. Toilet: If your mom has trouble getting on or off the toilet, a simple solution is to purchase a raised toilet seat that clamps to

the toilet bowl, and/or purchase toilet safety rails that sit on each side of the seat for support. Or, you can install a new ADA-compliant “comfort height” toilet that is 16 to 19 inches high. Doorway: If your mom needs a wider bathroom entrance to accommodate a walker or wheelchair, an inexpensive solution is to install some swing clear offset hinges on the door to expand the doorway an additional two inches. Emergency assistance: As a safety precaution, you should also consider purchasing a voice-enabled medical alert system like Get Safe for her bathroom. This device would let her call for help by a simple voice command, or by pushing a button or pulling a cord. See getsafe.com.

PLAN YOUR

Springtime Move

TO MAPLEWOOD PARK PLACE

Experience the exceptional retirement lifestyle of Maplewood in Bethesda. Enjoy these special Springtime Move-In benefits:

Special pricing on residences Professional move manager package Custom interior upgrades Call 301-571-7441 for availability – some restrictions apply

9707 Old Georgetown Road | Bethesda, MD 20814

301-571-7441

MaplewoodParkPlace.com Real estate agent inquiries welcome. Readers’ Pick: Best Senior Living Community 12 consecutive years

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INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Greenspring Retirement Community 877-589-9570 7410 Spring Village Drive, Springﬁeld, VA 22150 GreenspringCommunity.com Greenspring offers independent and secure senior living Life at Springfield’s premier senior living community offers extraordinary benefits in uncertain times. A caring community to support you – Here, you gain a network of friends and neighbors, plus a caring staff including full-time doctors who specialize in senior health. A large, dedicated staff – At Greenspring, you’re free to live life on your terms while the committed staff takes care of the essentials. Financial stability in uncertain times – Greenspring is managed by Erickson Living®, a leader in senior living with 20 communities in eleven states. Learn more. Call 1-877-589-9570 for your free brochure or to schedule your in-person or virtual visit.

A P R I L 2 0 2 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

10 tax-friendly places for early retirement By Stacy Rapacon Retiring at a relatively younger age may mean needing to stretch your nest egg further. One way to do that is to find the right retirement destination. Where you live makes a big impact on your budget, as it helps determine your living costs, tax bills and income opportunities. Even if you retire, you may actually want to keep working a bit — whether to help pad your budget, pursue some passion project or just to stay busy. We crunched the numbers in search of a great place in every state for early retirees to settle in, focusing on areas with lower living costs and favorable tax situations, both specifically for retirees. For the full list of locales, see bit.ly/50placestoretire. Here is a varied selection of 10 such places:

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Seabury at Friendship Terrace 202-244-7400 4201 Butterworth Place NW Washington, DC 20016 www.friendshipterrace.org Act quickly. Save more. Exciting new savings are here at Friendship Terrace! Save $369 on leasing any new apartment for 1 month! Friendship Terrace is a welcoming, caring community for seniors, offering Independent Living that includes social events, seasonal activities, exercise programs, and opportunities to develop rewarding friendships. At our community, you will find a relaxing outdoor gazebo and landscaped courtyard perfect for gathering with friends or enjoying a book surrounded by beautiful mature trees. We offer Chef crafted, seasonally-influenced, restaurant-quality menu selections for lunch and dinner. You do not want to miss the opportunity to make Friendship Terrace your new home!

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Brooke Grove Retirement Village 301-637-8928 18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 www.bfg.org You’ll feel it as soon as you drive onto our 220-acre campus of lush pastures and hardwood forest—all that makes independent living at Brooke Grove different. Beautiful cottages in a truly picturesque setting. Maintenance-free living, with more time for what you really want to do. Personalized fitness programs, meals prepared by talented chefs, clubs and social events. Neighbors who share your interests and passions. Come for a visit and see why Brooke Grove Retirement Village is one of the most soughtafter retirement communities in the state. Living here is simply different … because what surrounds you really matters.

Huntsville, Alabama Total population: 444,908 Share of population age 45 to 64: 27.8% (U.S.: 26.1%) Retired cost of living: 5.4% below the national average Median income, age 45 to 64: $77,266 (U.S.: $69,909) State’s retiree tax picture: Tax Friendly As one of the 10 cheapest states to retire in, Alabama has many great spots for affordable living. And Huntsville, in northern Alabama, is one of the best. It offers all the lowcost, low-tax advantages as the rest of the state but with higher household incomes. Home to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, the Redstone Arsenal and the Huntsville campus of the University of Alabama, the city has a robust economy and a highly educated population. You can find plenty of cultural attractions, from a sculpture trail to a symphony orchestra, as well as opportunities for outdoor recreation (think bass fishing). In fact, Alabama offers many of Florida’s popular retirement attractions — warm weather, nice beaches and plenty of golf — all at a typically lower price.

Lake Havasu City, Arizona Total population: 204,691 Share of population age 45 to 64: 28% Retired cost of living: 0.2% below national average Median income, age 45 to 64: $44,328 State’s retiree tax picture: Mixed Lake Havasu City, situated on the eastern shore of a lake, is a popular spring break and snowbird destination — a testament to its attractiveness for a wide age range, making it a great choice for early retirees. Indeed, for the whole year, the local median age is 50.4, compared with 37.8 for the U.S. The area offers boating, fishing and swimming, as well as scuba diving and water skiing. But it’s more than just fun and games: Lake Havasu City’s regional

business growth and hot job market offer a strong economic base should you decide to un-retire.

Newark, Delaware Total population: 33,673 Share of population age 45 to 64: 16% Overall cost of living: 11.5% State’s retiree tax picture: Tax Friendly College towns typically offer strong economic bases and brilliant amenities. In Newark, home to the University of Delaware, retirees may appreciate the vibrant campus lifestyle, which includes sports, concerts and other events open to the whole community, as well as numerous restaurants and businesses. As residents age, they may appreciate the university’s continuing-education offerings, as well as the quality healthcare facilities. Plus, the First State is tax-friendly to residents of all ages, so young retirees don’t have to wait to take advantage of low taxes. Indeed, with no sales tax and low property tax, Delaware ranks among our top 10 Most Tax-Friendly States.

Tampa, Florida Total population: 3 million Share of population age 45 to 64: 27.3% Retired cost of living: 9.3% below national average Median income, age 45 to 64: $68,759 State’s retiree tax picture: Most Tax Friendly You can find plenty of great places to retire in Florida, but this area ranked best for young retirees, due to its particularly affordable living costs and younger-skewing population. Tampa is one of three major cities that make up the Tampa Bay area, which also includes St. Petersburg and Clearwater. The latter tends to be the most popular among seniors, who make up 21.4% of the population, compared with just 17.7% in St. Petersburg and 12.2% in Tampa. The area offers all the things you’d look for in a Florida retirement: white-sand beaches, warm waters, golf courses and generous tax breaks.

Savannah, Georgia Total population: 377,476 Share of population age 45 to 64: 24% Retired cost of living: 9.8% below national average Median income, age 45 to 64: $68,759 State’s retiree tax picture: Most Tax Friendly With its warm weather and low living costs, Georgia ranks third among our Best States for Retirement. And Savannah is particularly peachy, especially for early retirees. Living costs among retired people are among the lowest in an already lowcost state. See RETIREMENT PLACES, page B-13

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 2 1

Retirement places From page B-12 The historic city offers beautiful sights, including classic American architecture, town squares and riverfront views. You can enjoy an array of restaurants, museums and theaters in downtown Savannah.

Louisville, Kentucky Total population: 1.3 million Share of population age 45 to 64: 27.4% Retired cost of living: 6.8% below national average Median income, age 45 to 64: $65,005 State’s retiree tax picture: Most Tax Friendly The biggest city in Kentucky, Louisville is a solid blend of metropolitan attractions, southern and midwestern charm and affordability. Housing is particularly cheap, at 20.3% below the national average for retirees. The median home value in Louisville is $146,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, a bit pricier than the rest of the state (median: $130,000) but less than the national median of $193,500. Along with the affordability, you can also enjoy plenty of cultural attractions in Louisville. One is the Kentucky Center for the Arts, which hosts traveling Broadway shows, operas and performances by the city’s professional ballet company and orchestra.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Total population: 1.4 million Share of population age 45 to 64: 24.1% Retired cost of living: 13.9% below national average Median income, age 45 to 64: $65,355 State’s retiree tax picture: Not Tax Friendly The biggest city in the Sooner State charges residents little in living costs. Housing-related expenses are particularly affordable, at 27.3% below average. The median home value is $148,500, well below the nation’s median of $193,500. Thanks to the area’s downtown revitalization effort, everyone can find something to enjoy. The Bricktown Entertainment District has a variety of restaurants and nightlife options. And in neighboring Norman, the University of Oklahoma plays host to bigtime sporting and cultural events.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Total population: 2.3 million Share of population age 45 to 64: 28.9% Retired cost of living: 1% above national average Median income, age 45 to 64: $70,254 State’s retiree tax picture: Most Tax Friendly The Steel City is a good deal for your retirement. While overall living costs for retirees are slightly above average, housing and healthcare costs are decidedly below

average by 1.7% and 6.4%, respectively. Indeed, the median home value is just $108,500, compared with $170,500 for the state and $193,500 for the nation. Plus, the Keystone State offers some nice tax breaks for retirees: Social Security benefits and most other retirement income are not subject to state taxes. The city offers museums, a ballet company, a plethora of jazz joints, and all the offerings of local universities, which include Duquesne, Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh. And if watching all the collegiate and professional sports isn’t enough activity for you, you have plenty of opportunities nearby to golf, hunt, fish, bike, hike and boat.

Knoxville, Tennessee Total population: 862,490 Share of population age 45 to 64: 27.2% Retired cost of living: 17.4% below national average Median income, age 45 to 64: $58,303 State’s retiree tax picture: Tax Friendly The Volunteer State is another good choice for budget-conscious retirees, with below-average living costs throughout the state and a friendly tax situation for all residents. It ranks fifth on our list of best states for retirement, but the tax advantages kick in well before normal retirement age with no broad-based income tax. Housing costs for retirees in Knoxville

are the biggest factor bringing down costs, at nearly 30% below the national average. The city’s median home value is just $124,500 versus $191,400 in Nashville and $193,500 across the country. Indeed, Knoxville is one of the cheapest U.S. cities to live in.

Sherman, Texas Total population: 126,146 Share of population age 45 to 64: 26.8% Retired cost of living: 14.3% below national average Median income, age 45 to 64: $64,446 State’s retiree tax picture: Tax Friendly This small Texas city offers big savings for retirees with below-average costs in every spending category. It’s actually among the cheapest U.S. cities to live in. Housing costs are particularly cheap: 27.3% below the national average for retirees. The median home value in Sherman is $106,100, compared with $151,500 in Texas and $193,500 in the U.S. In town, you’ll find boutique shopping, unique restaurants (and many more chains), and community events throughout the year, including a free summer concert series. Nature lovers might also appreciate the local 12,000-acre Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. © 2020 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

“I love it here!

I couldn’t have made a better choice.” –Beverly B., a community resident

At Ashby Ponds, Greenspring, and Riderwood, you’re free to live the independent life you want with an added safety net of support. We’re the area’s premier choice for senior living! • Go freely about your life and pursue the activities you

love on our green and spacious campuses. • Be part of a connected community ﬁlled with friends, neighbors, and a dedicated staff.

14501100

• Gain time and freedom from the hassle and expense of house repairs.

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Call 1-877-575-0231 or visit DMVSeniorLiving.com for your free brochure.

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PERSONAL CARE/ASSISTED LIVING

Seabury at Springvale Terrace (301) 587-8717 8505 Springvale Road Silver Spring, MD 20910 www.seaburyresources.org/springvaleterrace Discover Seabury at Springvale Terrace inside and out. Our Assisted Living offers a price and lifestyle you will love, with personal care subsidies for those who qualify. Affordable value that can only be found at our community, providing personal care, exercise, music, a host of daily activities and social events. Starting at only $3,901/month including private apartment with private bathroom, three nutritious meals a day, medication administration, nurse oversight, housekeeping and laundry services. Come take a look at Springvale Terrace. Assisted Living Apartments are available now (Medicaid accepted). Call 301-587-0190 or email svtadmissions@seaburyresoources.org for info and to schedule a tour.

ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE

Brooke Grove Retirement Village 301-637-8928 18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 www.bfg.org This community hums with warm-hearted camaraderie and a zest for life shared by residents and staff alike. Experience all that makes assisted living at Brooke Grove extraordinary. Cozy, homelike dwellings with easy access to beautiful courtyards and walking paths. Caring staff trained in using memory support techniques, building independence and lifting self-esteem. Innovative LIFE® Enrichment Programming with meaningful activities and off-site adventures. Visit us to see why Brooke Grove Retirement Village is one of the most sought-after continuing care retirement communities in the state. Living here is simply different … because what surrounds you really matters.

ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY

Chesterbrook Residences 703-531-0781 2030 Westmoreland Street Falls Church, VA www.chesterbrookres.org Move to Chesterbrook Residences and enjoy the freedom and peace of mind offered in our caring assisted living community. Our residents and team members will be among the first individuals with the opportunity to receive the new COVID-19 vaccine early this year. You, too, can receive priority access to the new vaccine, along with all the wonderful amenities, exciting activities, and compassionate care that Chesterbrook is known for. Licensed nurses are available 24 hours a day, with additional care provided by visiting physicians and on-site rehabilitation services. Start the New Year in your new Chesterbrook apartment safely and securely knowing your health, happiness and well-being are our top priority.

A P R I L 2 0 2 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Pros and cons of golf community living By Eric Butterman Many retirees dream of a home in a golf course community, where connecting a shiny driver with a perfectly dimpled ball on a lush, green fairway is just another day in paradise. But a golf club membership isn’t a given at these communities and sometimes comes with hefty fees. When you buy a house in a golf community, it pays to understand exactly what you’re getting. Some golf courses may be owned by the community, while others may operate as an entirely independent business. Because the attraction of these communities is often tied to the golf club, make sure your big green neighbor is financially healthy. If its business suffers, so could your home values. Golf club membership scenarios run the gamut, said Cathy Harbin, president of OnCourse Operations, a golf management company based in Paris, Texas. “It can be a developer owns the club and pays your membership for you when you buy a home lot or, through a promotion, they buy your initiation fee and the first few years of your membership,” said Harbin, a former vice president of golf for ClubCorp, which operates private clubs. “Or, it can even be an optional situation, where you are offered a discount if you want to buy a membership. Of course, it can just be you buy the home separately, and the membership doesn’t have anything to do with your purchase.”

Public or private club? Generally, homeowners’ association fees and club costs are higher for private clubs, Harbin said. At Desert Highlands, a private golf course community in Scottsdale, Arizona, every homeowner must become a club member, said Joan Sykora, director of sales and member relations. That membership cost is a $75,000 initiation fee, and monthly HOA dues are $1,325. At Ridgeview Ranch in Plano, Texas, where the community’s golf club is public, members get unlimited range balls and discounts on rounds of golf at certain hours — with the number of times expanding depending on monthly membership fees, $49.95 or $69.95. There’s no initiation fee, and the HOA fee is a semiannual $254 with an extra $107 for one community neighborhood.

On the downside, crowded play is more likely at a public club, and the courses may not be as challenging as at a private club.

Home value tied to club’s success Still, membership fees may be the least of your problems if the golf club has financial difficulties. When the Sanctuary Golf Club in Beaufort, S.C., shuttered its doors in January 2019 and went into foreclosure, homeowners in the nearby Cat Island community had reason to fear the worst. Home values for communities with shuttered golf clubs can fall by more than 20% in an average economy, according to Jeff Pinckney, a Beaufort-based part-time commercial realtor. Cat Island residents were lucky because, although the golf club was closed for about a year, it eventually found a new buyer and has since partially reopened, he said. As a result, home prices weren’t as affected. Realtor Susan Akagi of Lakefront Living, On the Lake Realty, in Loudon, Tennessee, said prospective buyers can get a better idea of how a community golf club is doing by talking to the club’s chief financial officer. A golf course that’s been around a long time often “gives a greater sense of stability,” she said. Plus, most communities also include other amenities for family members who don’t play golf, which can help real estate values if something happens to the golf club.

Tennis, pickleball and other perks Are golf course communities worth it? To 60-something Janis Killion, they are, and she isn’t even an avid golfer. She makes her home in the Pine Mountain Lake community in Groveland, California, which, along with a golf course, also offers a pool, tennis and pickleball courts, hiking trails and a private lake for boating and fishing. A broker associate who sells real estate there and a former school district assistant, Killion finds the community’s connection to nature fits her personality. “Our children love to play golf, and it makes it even better when they come to visit,” she said. “Even though I don’t play, I want to. And living in a golf course community means it’s ready when I’m ready.” © The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

BOOKS BY MAIL If you live in Montgomery County and have a doctor or social

worker certify that you are unable to pick up books from your local library in person due to health issues, you can receive up to five library items a week in your mailbox. To apply for the program, Books@Home, call any library branch.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 2 1

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Chevy Chase House 202-905-0708 5420 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, DC 20015 www.chevychasehouse.com

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REHABILITATION

Brooke Grove Retirement Village 301-637-8928

We're celebrating the coming of Spring at The Chevy Chase House with new services and amenities: a state-of-the-art gym, offering a wide variety of classes, individualized cardiovascular exercise and balance training, plus PT, OT and Speech therapies and specialized Parkinson's programs from Fox Rehab on site. Our vast menu now offers a selection of NY Deli sandwiches. We enlarged our patio for visits with friends and family and to enjoy events later this year. What is not new is our commitment to the care and well-being of our residents. Our spacious apartments start at $3999 for a studio. Call 202-686-5504 to schedule a virtual or patio tour. We look forward to spending this season and many more years with you!

18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 www.bfg.org Imagine an extraordinary staff and the best therapies and equipment—in a beautiful environment that rejuvenates and restores. Physical therapy spaces bathed in sunlight. The quiet comfort of a garden walk or relaxing massage. Imagine getting back to the activities that matter to you. Our new, state-of-the-art rehab addition at Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center offers innovative therapy services for seniors, including NeuroGym® Technologies mobility training, the Korebalance system and much more. Visit us to see why Brooke Grove Retirement Village is one of the most sought-after continuing-care retirement communities in the state. Rehab here is simply different… because what surrounds you really matters.

INDEPENDENT & PERSONAL CARE COMMUNITIES

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

B’nai B’rith Homecrest House 301-244-3579 14508 Homecrest Road Silver Spring, MD 20906 www.homecresthouse.org

Ashby Ponds 877-664-5445 21170 Ashby Ponds Boulevard Ashburn, VA 20147 AshbyPonds.com

Homecrest House is a non-profit, affordable, subsidized community neighboring Leisure World. Our community offers 2 senior living options, and residents may qualify for rent & service subsidies based on eligibility. EDWARDS PERSONAL CARE BUILDING offers: onsite 24 hour staff, daily meals, weekly housekeeping & laundry services, assistance with bathing & optional medication administration. HOMECREST INDEPENDENT LIVING offers: dinner meals, full calendar of activities & scheduled trips. Our Computer Lab, Fitness Center, Salon & Convenience Store are just a few of the amenities our residents enjoy. Contact Princetta at 301-244-3579 or marketing@homecresthouse.org for a personalized tour or visit us at www.homecresthouse.org.

You can feel confident about senior living at Ashby Ponds. Life at Loudoun County’s premier senior living community offers extraordinary benefits in uncertain times. The size and strength to keep you safe – Ashby Ponds is managed by Erickson Living®, a leader in senior living with 20 communities in eleven states. The support of a caring community – Here, you gain a network of friends and neighbors, plus a caring staff including full-time doctors who specialize in senior health. The freedom to enjoy your retirement – At Ashby Ponds, you’re free to live life on your terms while the dedicated staff takes care of the essentials. Learn more. Call 1-877-664-5445 for your free brochure or to schedule your in-person or virtual visit.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Riderwood Retirement Community 877-742-4390 3140 Graceﬁeld Road Silver Spring, MD 20904 Riderwood.com Three reasons to choose senior living at Riderwood Life at Silver Spring’s premier senior living community offers extraordinary benefits in uncertain times. 1. The size and strength to keep you safe – Riderwood is managed by Erickson Living®, a leader in senior living with 20 communities in eleven states. 2. The freedom to enjoy your retirement – At Riderwood, you’re free to live life on your terms while the dedicated staff takes care of the essentials. 3. The support of a caring community – Here, you gain a network of friends and neighbors, plus a caring staff including full-time doctors who specialize in senior health. Learn more. Call 1-877-742-4390 for your free brochure or to schedule your in-person or virtual visit.

Sommerset Retirement 703-450-6411 22355 Providence Village Dr. Sterling, VA 20164 www.Sommersetretirement.com At Sommerset Retirement Community, located in the heart of Sterling, Virginia, you’ll experience exceptional independent living at its best, with a comfortable, fulfilling, secure and active lifestyle. Sommerset’s unique amenities include restaurant style dining, housekeeping, 24-hour front desk personnel and private transportation. Enjoy the convenience of being just minutes from medical services, shopping, banking and entertainment. Sommerset has been awarded with the Senior Advisor 2021 Best of Senior Living award, an award exclusively designated to only 3% of senior communities nationwide. Call us or visit our website to request more information or to schedule your tour.

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PULL OUT & KEEP THIS SECTION

A P R I L 2 0 2 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

I N D E PE N D E N T L I VI N G • A S S I ST E D L I VI N G • M E M O RY CA R E

ENJOY LIFE IN THE ® KE Y OF BE AUTIFUL W E I N V I T E YO U T O E X P L O R E T R I B U T E B Y C A D E N C E L I V I N G ® At Tribute, we offer enriching activities and programs designed to create beautiful living experiences. Each of our locations is managed by a team of professionals devoted to providing top-rated supportive services to help seniors live their best lives.

•

CONVENIENT LOCATIONS

•

DAILY EVENTS & PROGR AMS

•

BE AUTIFUL & SAFE COMMUNITIES

Ready to redeﬁne retirement? It’s time to make your best move and experience senior living reinvented!

TributeAtTheGlen.com (571) 554-1945 4151 Old Bridge Road Woodbridge, VA 22192

TributeAtOneLoudoun.com (571) 799-9497 20335 Savin Hill Drive Ashburn, VA 20147

TributeAtBlackHill.com (410) 403-0163 312 Baltusrol Drive, Germantown, MD 20874

Due to COVID-19, we are operating within the CDC guidelines.

TributeAtMelford.com (301) 389-5160 17300 Melford Boulevard Bowie, MD 20715

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 2 1

Village Life, cont. from p. 20

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Healthy Living Classes for Seniors rooke Grove Retirement Village’s (BGRV) Healthy Living classes continue this spring with six-week Everyday Balance, Mindful Meditation and Chair Yoga sessions offered online using a Zoom platform. All programs are instructed by BGRV Senior Fitness and Wellness Specialist Terrie Daniels, NASM-CPT. A popular speaker and teacher, Ms. Daniels is a certified fitness trainer, yoga instructor, post-rehab specialist and home safety specialist who has worked with seniors for more than 35 years.

Learn simple yet effective techniques to improve your balance and reduce the risk of falls during Everyday Balance classes each Monday and Wednesday, 11-11:30 a.m., April 19-May 26. Fee: $30. Register at bit.ly/BGEverydayBalance by April 16. Recent scientific studies have shown that Mindful Meditation changes the brain in astonishing ways promoting greater focus, reduced anxiety, increased compassion and improved well-being. Experience guided, mindful meditation each Wednesday, April 21-May 26, 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Fee: $20. Register at bit.ly/ BGMeditation by April 18. Chair Yoga* can improve mobility, increase energy, boost physical function and otherwise enrich your life! Take the road

toward better health with this class that is ideal for those with stiffness or movement limitations on Mondays and Wednesdays, June 7-July 14, 11-11:45 a.m. Fee: $30. Register at bit.ly/ BGChairYoga2 by June 4. *Seated poses may also be performed in a standing position.

Message from the Village From the desk of Dennis Hunter, president, Brooke Grove Foundation ongratulations to our assisted living (AL) team for seven zerodeficiency surveys. Way to go, TEAM! What does it take to get a zero-deficiency survey? How does a team get there? We can all imagine the details of compliance. Dot your “I’s” and cross those “T’s.” Prepare for scrutinization! But what about the intangibles?

I recently visited one of our AL residents. I was outside. She was inside. Glass between. After a short time, she began to cry.

For more information about Brooke Grove, call

301-637-8928 18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860

www.bgf.org INDEPENDENT LIVING

ASSISTED LIVING

This year’s been tough. Physical separation from those we love has created deep emotional challenges. One of the nursing assistants heard the crying and walked over, sat down, and wrapped her arms around my friend, giving a tender hug. The staff member kept embracing my friend while we finished talking. We said our goodbyes. While walking away, I turned to wave farewell one last time, and the assistant was still there comforting my friend. Let that moment of compassion soak in. Now, you more deeply understand what it takes to get a zerodeficiency survey. Not all surveys are perfect. I’m proud of our team. I’m proud of what they accomplished. I’m even prouder of who they are.

REHABILITATION

LONG-TERM CARE

MEMORY SUPPORT

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VOLUME XXXIII, ISSUE 4

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE By Laura Newland, Director D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living

Dear Seniors, Last month marked a year since the life of our community changed dramatically and persistently. This unprecedented time has been difficult for all of us and devastating for so many. We’ve lost family members, friends and neighbors. We’ve seen the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on our older residents and communities of color. This past year has changed much of the way we’ve supported our community including: Moving all dining site participants to home-delivered meals, and increasing meal delivery capacity to serve 6,600 District seniors! We’ve delivered more than 2 million meals in the past year. Launching the brand-new Call & Talk program, currently providing seniors with friendly check-in calls and conversations. Supporting citywide efforts with critical assignments, including to the Contact Trace Force, Citywide Hotline, and the Board of Elections. Launching the Seniors Stay Cool program, making sure that income-eligible seniors could stay home and stay cool during heat emergencies, with A/C repairs and replacements. In one month, the program served nearly 100 seniors. Launching the Senior Technology Pilot Program, providing iPads and technical support to low income, isolated seniors to allow them to stay connected to family, friends, healthcare, information and activities. Hosting the first-ever Virtual Mayor’s Annual Senior Symposium on Channel 16, which included a special meal delivery for more than 800 seniors. At the same time, we’ve continued to maintain critical life-sustaining services such as Senior MedExpress, providing transportation to essential medical services for eligible District residents needing to get to their chemotherapy or dialysis appointments in the safest way possible. Our Safe at Home Program also continued to operate, installing more than 1,000 in-home safety adaptations in FY20 and FY21 to date, while strictly adhering to health and safety guidance from DC Health. The risks of loneliness and isolation increased for all of us, and we’ve had to adjust and meet our emotional risks just as much as our public health risks. Like many of you, I’ve lost dear friends this past year. And I’ve talked with others over the phone and online as they’ve told me of their losses and of their grief. As we think about how to move forward, we know that there’s no going back to our pre-COVID lives. But this past year has also shown us that how we show up for each other is limited only by our own imaginations. We have an incredible opportunity to use our collective loss, our collective grief, to create a community that is stronger and more equitable for all of us. This past year gave us an opportunity to connect with thousands of seniors who weren’t connected with us before the public health emergency, and DACL has been better because of it. We’ve been making new connections every day. And we want to make even more. If you’re lonely and need connection, let us know. If you have an idea of how DACL can better support the community you want to see, we’d love to hear from you. Call us at 202-724-5626. My team and I can’t wait to chat soon. With gratitude, Laura

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A newsletter for D.C. Seniors

April 2021

DACL Partners with the Humane Rescue Alliance

DACL is excited to partner with the Humane Rescue Alliance to make connections with seniors and some of their pets in foster care. The goal will be to support our efforts in combating isola-

tion by enabling homebound seniors to interact with pets, whether virtually or in-person. If you or a senior you know is interested in participating, please email us at dacl.communications@dc.gov.

The D.C. Public Library to Host Monthly Talking Book Club Series Join the D.C. Public Library’s Center of Accessibility Talking Book Club! This book club is targeted toward participants who are blind or low vision, but is open to any book lover. The club meets on the second Wednesday of every other month.

The next virtual book club meeting will take place on April 14, from 11 a.m. to noon. For information on how to join the book club, please feel free to contact DCPL by email: DCPLaccess@dc.gov or phone: 202727-2142.

Join Age-Friendly D.C. for Their Next Task Force Meeting Age-Friendly D.C. is preparing for the next Age-Friendly D.C. Task Force meeting on May 18, from 1 to 3 p.m., with domain and pillar meet-

ings. To find out how you can participate and get information about additional meetings, please visit agefriendly.dc.gov.

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Spotlight on Aging

Call & Talk Success with Ward 8 Senior Denise Smith

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Director Newland Testified at Performance Oversight Hearing

On Monday, March 15, Director Newland represented DACL at our annual Performance Oversight Hearing. To review the Director’s full testimony, please visit dacl.dc.gov.

For the past five years, Ward 8 senior Denise Smith has struggled to find a new kidney, and the public health emergency didn’t make it any easier. “I was on dialysis for five years, and I had some rough times while I was on it,” explained Ms. Smith. But it wasn’t until she met Community Outreach Specialist Alice Thompson that she was able to turn those rough times around. During the public health emergency, Alice has communicated frequently with Ms. Smith through DACL’s Call & Talk program. “Times I might feel like I’m stressed out or something, I talk to Ms. Alice. I

feel so much better. Communication is a beautiful thing.” Thanks to Alice and the Call & Talk program, Ms. Smith looked forward to feeling a sense of hope during such an uncertain time. Today, not only has Ms. Smith been able to find a new friend, she’s also been fortunate enough to receive a new kidney. “Ms. Alice, I appreciate her. I never even met her, but I feel like I know her. She’s just a lovely person,” said an optimistic Ms. Smith. “You might not even know that person, but you don’t know how that person might make you feel through the end of that day. You’d be surprised.”

Director Spotlight on Aging is published by the Information Office of the D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living for D.C. senior residents. Advertising contained in the Beacon is not endorsed by the D.C. Department of Aging and Community Living or by the publisher.

Laura Newland

Editor DACL External Affairs

Photographer Richard Williams 500 K St. N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 724-5626 | www.dacl.dc.gov

Vacancies on D.C. Commission on Aging Are you interested in serving your community as an aging advocate? The District of Columbia Commission on Aging is a citizen’s advisory group to the Mayor, Council of the District of Columbia, Department of Office Aging and Community Living, and the general public on the needs and concerns of older Washingtonians. The Commissioners serve as advocates on behalf of the District’s more than 120,000 seniors, and ac-

complish their responsibilities through outreach to individuals and institutions, as well as to groups and governments. The Commission’s 15 members are appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council of the District of Columbia. To apply to become a member, visit the Mayor’s Office of Talents and Appointments website: http:// motaboards.theresumator.com.

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Money Law &

Your credit score may be wrong. Find out how to correct it on page 26.

Will you run out of money in retirement? By Andrew Kobylski and Caroline Whittaker Huggins You just left a meeting with your financial adviser, and your nest egg is looking bulletproof, with a projected worth of over $1 million at age 95. But wait a second: Are you sure about that? If your financial projections look too good to be true, they might well be, for a variety of reasons. When the pandemic hit in March 2020, the stock market crumbled, and many people saw their investment portfolios drop. Fortunately, the markets eventually recovered, but the sudden drop caused many people to review their investments. While reviewing a new client’s portfolio at that time, we learned that his previous adviser projected his net worth as double our estimate by age 70. Naturally, the client was confused by the different scenarios. We discovered that the underlying growth assumptions the former adviser used were far too optimistic, giving the client an unrealistic view of his financial future.

Be safe; plan for the worst It’s easy for any adviser to make a financial plan look unbreakable when using un-

realistic assumptions. The true value of a financial plan comes from testing its resistance under difficult conditions. To do this, financial advisers typically conduct a “stress test.” The test typically examines how a financial plan will fare during a future unexpected event, such as a recession or major geopolitical event, and allows you to adjust accordingly. For example, if you are near retirement and your portfolio is heavily weighted in stocks, an unexpected recession may send it plummeting by double digits. Although there may be no recession in sight, stress testing would allow you to adjust your portfolio in advance to safeguard it from potential future harm. It’s a good idea to consider asking your financial adviser to conduct this test. Here are four areas to discuss to ensure your plan will hold up:

your projection. Take this scenario: A 45-year-old has $1 million in investments and saves $20,000 annually. If we omit taxes and assume a realistic 5% annual rate of return, his portfolio will grow to around $4.3 million by age 70. However, if this person’s adviser assumes a higher return, the projections show a scenario that is likely unrealistic. For example, at a 9% annual growth rate, his investments at age 70 would be valued at $10.3 million. Our research shows that the average investor loses 4% of their annual returns from simple mistakes stemming from investment selection, fee management and emotional trading. Not accounting for this principle in your plan’s growth rate assumptions may inflate your projected future assets. Our advice: Lean toward conservative growth assumptions to ensure your financial plan can withstand the unpredictability of future market returns.

What’s the implied growth rate? Most financial advisers build a conservative growth rate into their projections — 5% annual growth is a common rate. While changing the growth by even a couple of percentage points may seem irrelevant, it can monumentally alter the trajectory of

Account for inflation It’s not surprising $100,000 had greater spending power in 1950 than it does today. This can be seen in something as simple as the price of milk, which in 1950 was 83 cents. Today, the average price per gallon

is around $3.60. As we know, some expenses can have higher cost-of-living adjustments than others, such as healthcare or even education costs. Due to the ever-growing cost of living, accurately depicting inflation is necessary when developing your financial projections. Otherwise, your projections may misrepresent your future reality. Our advice: Since the cost of living will rise in the future, make sure you account for this growth in your financial projections. For most general living expenses, we typically like to assume an inflation rate of 2.5%.

Check accuracy of your spending During a planning session, a client reported she was spending around $120,000 annually, or about $10,000 per month. But when asked to map her annual expenses for one year, she realized she was spending closer to $140,000. We discovered that the additional $20,000 primarily came from home improvement costs, roughly $500 a month on takeout/Amazon orders, and other miscelSee DON’T RUN OUT, page 25

Four financial ‘experts’ you shouldn’t ask By Liz Weston None of us knows everything we need to know about money, so we may turn to experts for help. But some money professionals who offer advice are not qualified to do so — nor are they required to put our interests ahead of theirs. Be cautious when accepting advice from the following sources: 1. A dealership about how long your auto loan should be A dealership wants to sell you a car. To make the payments more affordable, you may be offered a loan that lasts six, seven or even eight years. Longer loans can get you smaller monthly payments, but they cost more overall, since you’ll pay more interest. You’ll also likely spend several years “upside down,” that is, owing more than your vehicle is worth. As the car ages, you

could easily face big repair bills while still making payments. If you needed to sell the car, you would have to come up with money to pay off the loan. Alternatively, you could roll the negative equity into your next car purchase, but that would make your next loan even more expensive. A better approach: Limit your auto loans to a maximum of five years for new cars or three years for used cars. Making a 20% down payment can help you avoid negative equity. Consider getting pre-approved for a loan from your local credit union or bank or an online lender. That can help you withstand the dealership trying to pressure you into expensive financing. 2. Mortgage pros about how much house you can afford Good mortgage brokers or loan officers

can be invaluable in helping you navigate a complicated process and understand the guidelines that lenders use to determine how big of a loan you can qualify for. But they can’t tell you how big of a loan you can comfortably afford. Neither can your real estate agent, for that matter. True affordability will depend on a lot of factors that aren’t captured in your application, including when you want to retire and how much you want to save for other goals, such as a grandchild’s education. There’s also your comfort level. Some people are fine borrowing the maximum because they believe their finances will only get better. Others prefer to borrow more conservatively. A better approach: Use online calculators to estimate how much to save for retirement and other goals. Then include those figures in your monthly expenses when

using a mortgage affordability calculator. Or consult a fiduciary adviser, such as a certified financial planner, accredited financial counselor or accredited financial coach. “Fiduciary” means obligated to put your best interests first. Most financial advisers aren’t fiduciaries, so make sure to ask. 3. Stockbrokers about whether to roll over your 401(k) A stockbroker may tell you that rolling your old 401(k) account into an individual retirement account gives you many more investment options, and that’s typically true. But IRAs can cost you more, and 401(k)s have better consumer protections. Stockbrokers want to sell you investments that earn them commissions. Typically, they have no responsibility to make See ‘EXPERTS’, page 25

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Don’t run out

are bound to appear. The stress test can account for additional expenses that are typically overlooked, such as home upgrades, car repairs or any other unanticipated oneoff costs. Our advice: It’s a good idea to partially overstate your annual spending level to account for future, unknown costs. While everyone’s spending situation is different, grossing up annual expenses anywhere from 5% to 10% allows the plan to account for future unknown costs.

From page 24 laneous one-off expenses that tend to go overlooked. This difference is significant. Compounded over time, this spending rate will affect her income in retirement. Rather than lasting through age 95, her assets would be depleted at around age 80. Using this information, we were able to get her back on track toward meeting her financial goals. While taking the time to monitor your annual expenses is important, even with a budget in place, unaccounted-for expenses

Other uncertainties Whether it’s a forced early retirement or

‘Experts’

creases the longer you delay applying until it maxes out at age 70. Multiple studies have shown that most people will collect more over their lifetimes if they delay filing. It’s particularly important for the higher earner in a married couple to delay, because that benefit determines what the survivor will get once the first spouse dies. Unfortunately, Social Security Administration employees sometimes advise people to start early — even though Social Security employees aren’t supposed to give advice. Applicants have been told, for example, that it doesn’t matter when they start benefits because the amounts paid out over their lifetimes will be the same. That’s a misinterpretation of Social Security’s attempt to be “actuarially neutral,” or have the system pay out the same amount in total regardless of when people claim benefits. A better approach: A Social Security claiming calculator can help you figure out when to start benefits. AARP has a free one, while more sophisticated versions are available starting at $20 at Social Security Solutions or $40 at Maximize My Social Security. —AP/NerdWallet

From page 24 sure those investments are in your best interest. By contrast, a 401(k) administrator is a fiduciary, so it’s required to put your interests first and provide good investment options at a reasonable cost. Many 401(k)s offer access to ultra-low-cost institutional funds that aren’t available in an IRA. In addition, your entire 401(k) balance is protected from creditors. By contrast, your protections with an IRA depend on state law. Many states exempt only an amount “reasonably necessary for support” — which means, in some cases, creditors potentially could get it all. A better approach: Leave the money where it is if you like the old 401(k)’s investment options, or roll it into a new employer’s plan if that’s allowed. Otherwise, roll the money into an IRA at a discount brokerage. If you need help with how to invest it, consult a fiduciary adviser. 4. Social Security about when to claim benefits You can collect Social Security as early as age 62, but your monthly benefit in-

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a bear market, stress testing your financial plan will help account for other uncertainties in the future. It will not only test the plan’s strength, but also your individual financial flexibility. Knowing a plan can withstand a 30% market dip provides peace of mind. A test can also simulate the financial impact of taking a dream vacation or providing gifts to your favorite charity, giving you more freedom to spend your money in retirement. Navigating from your expected financial plan to these “Plan B” scenarios can display the robustness of your financial plan against unforeseeable risks.

Our advice: While it’s fine to look at the most likely financial scenario, consider a worst-case scenario, too. People often make their best financial decisions when they understand the potential consequences. There is no doubt that future events will have an impact on our financial future. By using realistic assumptions and mapping out all relevant scenarios, you can help make certain your plan can still deliver on your goals should these difficult conditions occur. © 2021 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Is your credit report wrong? What to do By Bev O’Shea Consumers filed complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in record numbers in 2020, according to a report released last month by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group. Credit reporting issues were cited in 282,000, or 63%, of the complaints. The majority noted “incorrect information” on credit reports or “information belongs to someone else,” the report said. Not only did complaints about credit report errors lead the list of consumer grievances, but the three major credit-reporting bureaus — Experian, TransUnion and Equifax — were the top three companies complained about.

Errors can endanger your score Accuracy matters since credit report errors can suggest identity theft or fraudulent activity on your accounts. And because credit report data provides the raw material for credit scores, errors can lower your score. Some of the volume of complaints may be an unintended consequence of payment accommodations mandated by the 2020 coronavirus relief bill and temporary concessions offered by lenders and credit card issuers. But credit report errors were common even before the pandemic, said Ed Mierzwinski, senior director of the advocacy group’s Federal Consumer Program and author of the report. Payment accom-

modations may have led more people to check their credit reports and find those errors, he said. Mierzwinski recommends that “any consumer with any credit account” check their credit reports. People who have common names may be at particular risk of a mix-up, he said.

Check credit reports for free Every year, you can get a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus by using AnnualCreditReport.com. You’ll be asked to provide personal identifying information — your name, Social Security number, birthdate and address. You will also be asked security questions to verify your identity. Some of those can be tough. If you aren’t able to answer correctly, call 1-877-322-8228 to request your credit reports by mail. You can also download and mail a request form to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

How to read credit reports

Your reports from the three bureaus won’t look exactly the same. Not every creditor reports to all three, and the bureaus present information in different formats. But you can use a similar procedure for reading your credit reports. First, check your identifying information. Errors such as misspellings of a former employer are unimportant, but something like an address you’ve never lived at could suggest identity theft. Next, check account information. Each credit account you have (and some that are closed) should be listed and include: — Creditor’s name, account number and date opened. — Type of account (credit card, loan, etc.). — Account status and whether you’re

current on payments. Accounts that were in good standing when pandemic-related payment accommodations began must continue to be reported that way until the accommodations end. — Whether you are a joint account holder, primary user or authorized user. — Credit limit and/or the original amount of a loan. — There may be negative information, such as collections accounts or bankruptcy records. Be sure that you recognize the information and that it is accurate.

How to dispute errors The Fair Credit Reporting Act holds both the creditor that reports to the credit bureaus and the credit bureaus responsible for making sure the information in your credit reports is accurate. If you spot an error in one credit report, check the other two for that error. Dispute the error with each bureau that’s reporting it. You can dispute by mail, phone or online — the credit report will include information on how to file your dispute. Credit bureaus must investigate and inform you of the result. You can also contact the business providing the incorrect information. It must inform the bureaus of the dispute and, if it finds the information was wrong or incomplete, ask the credit bureaus to delete it. If disputing the error doesn’t resolve the issue, Mierzwinski recommends filing a complaint with the CFPB and asking for an investigation. That can bring additional pressure to correct misinformation, he said. The CFPB’s acting director, Dave Uejio, has said one of his goals is “making sure that consumers who submit complaints to us get the response and the relief they deserve.” —AP/NerdWallet

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Reap cash rewards by referring friends By Lisa Gerstner Do you like your credit card or bank account enough to recommend it to a friend or family member? If so, you may be able to scoop up extra cash, rewards points or frequent-flier miles by making a referral — and your friend may get a bonus, too. Several major card issuers provide referral bonuses to eligible cardholders. Chase, for example, offers $100 cash back for each friend who signs up for a participating Chase Freedom card (up to $500 total per year), and 15,000 points for each friend who gets the Chase Sapphire Preferred card (up to 75,000 points per year). Chase also offers referral bonuses for some of its airline and hotel cards, including those that offer rewards from the United MileagePlus, Marriott Bonvoy and Southwest Rapid Rewards programs. For most of its cards, Discover offers a statement credit of $50 to $100 if you make a referral, and your friend gets a statement credit after making a purchase within the first

three months. (See discover.com/sharediscover for the amount available and annual cap.) American Express and Capital One have referral programs, too.

Checking account rewards, too For checking account customers, Chase offers $50 for each friend who opens a qualifying checking account (up to $500 per year). TD Bank provides $50 per friend that you refer to a personal checking account (up to $500 per year), and your friend gets $50 if he or she meets certain account activity requirements in the first two months.

Bonuses are taxable Beware the tax bite, however. Generally, credit card rewards are not taxed if you spend money to earn them (such as “percent back” awards). But because referral bonuses are not usually tied to spending, you may receive a Form 1099 from the card issuer reporting

BEACON BITS

Apr. 28+

FORECLOSURE MEDIATION CLINIC

The Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service hosts free virtual clinics where they provide brief legal consultations to homeowners facing foreclosure. This event takes place Wed., Apr. 28, as well as additional dates, from 3 to 6 p.m. To register, call Aja Mallory at (443) 451-4079. For more information, visit bit.ly/ForeclosureClinic.

the amount of rewards you claimed through referrals as taxable income. Similarly, you may pay tax on bonuses you receive for opening or referring a

Turning 65? Newly eligible for Medicare? Get correct answers to your Medicare questions at this free virtual program on Wed., June 23, at 3 p.m. Following the program, expert counselors will be available to answer your individual questions.

Visit www.shiphelp.org to learn more and register.

1-877-839-2675

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Travel Leisure &

For now, domestic travel may be safest. See story on page 31.

Portugal road trip reveals beauty, history

Golden beaches Cape Sãrdao’s windswept expanse is famous for its curious, century-old lighthouse, Farol Cabo Sãrdao. The red-capped tower was built facing inland instead of toward the sea. Here you can park, get a closer look at the lighthouse, and explore the cape’s picturesque trails. Unwilling to leave the beautiful coast, I cruised five miles to Praia de Almograve.

Come during low tide and you’ll delight in the wide crescent of golden sand at this beach, where black volcanic rocks pepper the sand and cliffs tower above. At high tide, surfers are attracted to the roiling ocean. A short drive away is Vila Nova de Milfontes, a picturesque village situated where the placid Mira River meets the turbulent Atlantic. Vila Nova is blessed with undeveloped beaches flanking both sides of the river that attract plenty of birds. You may spot a kingfisher plunging into the water to capture a meal, or glimpse a grey heron spreading its wings on the shore. In this village, Tasca do Celso is a homey establishment where the locals sit on cork stools at the bar. Black pork tenderloin is one of the many Alentejo specialties served at this eatery.

By Jeanine Barone Strolling a sandy lane atop tall sea cliffs in Portugal’s Cape Sãrdao with nary a hotel in sight, I found an idyllic, pastoral setting far away from the hustle and bustle of Lisbon, just two hours north. My only company was a white stork gliding overhead. Springtime is especially lovely in southern Portugal, with lavender and thyme blooming, and stork chicks squirming in nests built precariously on the cliff’s rocky ledges. Rockrose, heather and hottentot fig line the paths through the Natural Park of Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina — a protected land and sea area of more than 183,000 acres on the Atlantic coast. Meaning “Beyond the Tagus [River],” the Alentejo, Portugal’s largest province, is a precious landscape, ranging from pristine coastal sand dunes to a sun-baked interior region stretching to the Spanish border. Amid the Alentejo’s olive groves, cork trees and vineyards are fortified hilltop villages where the Romans and, later, the Moors once ruled.

Portugal’s west coast is known for sun and sand. In Portugal’s Alentejo region, south of Lisbon, all roads lead to beautiful beaches, ancient towns and authentic restaurants.

Roman ruins The next day, as I drove some 70 miles east, my route took me past what would become a familiar sight: clusters of gnarled cork oak trees. (Portugal is the world’s largest cork producer.) Above blond plains floats Beja, a whitewashed village surrounded by battlements. From its hilltop perch, Beja stands as a former key Roman outpost. In fact, the soaring Tower of Menagem, the most outstanding structure of Beja’s centuries-old castle, was built atop Roman ruins and is considered the symbol of the city. Roaming Beja’s streets, you’ll see elabo© AHFOTOBOX | DREAMSTIME.COM

The Mira River meets the Atlantic Ocean in the colorful village of Vila Nova de Milfontes, which lies within a national park.

rate Manueline detailing on the facades and doorways, as well as ornate door knockers. Twenty miles southeast is Serpa, a tranquil, whitewashed, ancient town renowned for both cheese-making shops and museums. The delectable sheep’s milk cheese bearing the same name as the town varies in texture and flavor depending on how long it’s been aged. The youngest is soft and creamy, while aging for two years produces a harder, pungent, but no less tasty, product. Among the museums, the most extensive is the Ethnographic Museum, which displays historic tools, instruments and machines, grouped by occupation, from blacksmith to basket-maker.

Monks and the macabre After navigating 60 more miles on roads flanked by farmland, I gazed in the distance, gaping at a white city, Évora, the region’s historical center and a UNESCO World Heritage site. I meandered Évora’s tangle of cobbled streets, checking out the many architectural and historical treasures. One of the city’s most talked about venues is the Capela dos Ossos, part of the Gothic 16th-century Church of St. Francis. The macabre chapel’s walls and columns are constructed from floor to ceiling with human skeletons — more than 3,000 skulls can be counted. It’s no wonder

Franciscan monks once meditated here on the meaning of life and death. Surprises are everywhere in Évora: The present-day city hall was built around the visible Roman baths, and at the Cathedral of Santa Maria stands a marble statue of a pregnant Mary. Just outside town is Convento do Espinheiro Historic Hotel and Spa, a converted 15th century convent where the monks once hosted Portuguese kings. Olive, one of several restaurants on the property, makes for an atmospheric dining spot. (It’s set in the kitchen once used by the monks.) Here you can dig into a scrumptious thin-crust pizza, such as one topped with mozzarella, cured ham and local figs. Those who decide to stay at this luxe property may not want to leave, not just because of the evocative setting and guest rooms with balconies overlooking the blooming gardens, but also the relaxing spa. Olive oil-based signature massages and other treatments relying on organically-grown botanicals are among the most popular options.

Hilltop hamlets I started the next day by driving an hour through a landscape carpeted with silvery olive trees, fields of lavender and vineyards toward Monsaraz — a wall-encircled See PORTUGAL, page 29

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Portugal From page 28 medieval village on a lofty perch high over the Guadiana Valley. As I wandered the hamlet along schistpaved streets, I noticed that this dark stone is just about everywhere, from the facades to the floors of houses festooned with bougainvillea. Dating to the 13th and 14th centuries, the dwellings are bedecked with immense wooden doors bearing iron door locks and knockers. Those who climb to the top of the castle have grand views of the pastoral countryside. There’s no need to leave the views behind if you have lunch at Sabores de Monsaraz, a cozy restaurant serving tasty, rustic cuisine. The scenic tables on the outdoor patio offer views over the vast Alqueva Dam. Two dishes worth trying are codfish migas (a traditional dish with bread that’s first soaked in water and then fried with garlic, olive oil and coriander) and the

roasted lamb. No trip to the Alentejo is complete without a visit to Marvão, almost two hours away. You’ll navigate twisty roads to get to this village, whose walls seem to be one with its rocky perch. On the western edge of Marvão, a 13th-century fortress huddles on the crown of a rocky outcrop. Checking out the strategically placed stone sentry posts and cannons along the bulwarks, I was treated to awe-inspiring views of the Portuguese mountains Serra de Estrella and Serra da São Mamede, a natural park dotted with Neolithic remains.

Remembering a Jewish past Arriving at Castelo de Vide, a castle-centered village just six miles away, I walked the hilly cobblestone paths, passing homes adorned with well-tended flower boxes. Roaming about narrow streets, I spotted ornate granite doorways in the former Jewish neighborhood, where ancient

stone portals are etched with evidence of their past: diagonal grooves for mezuzahs. Here is one of the oldest synagogues in Portugal, a 13th-century structure that’s now a Jewish museum. As I prowled the village’s network of streets, I was lost in thought, recalling the many discoveries on my Alentejo journey. It’s hard to believe that driving just two hours from Lisbon’s gleaming skyscrapers can transport us back centuries.

If you go As of press time, Portugal is open to travelers who present a medical certificate with a negative COVID-19 PCR test result issued within 72 hours of departure. Round-trip flights to Lisbon in April start at $345. In Évora, deluxe rooms at the Convento do Espinheiro Historic Hotel and Spa can be found for as low as $181/night. Pizzas

and most of the main courses served at its restaurant, Olive, start at $18. Massages and other treatments at the spa start at $120 to $160; see conventodoespinheiro.com. For those looking to stay overnight in Vila Nova, Casa da Eira Boutique Houses is convenient to both the historic town center as well as the beach and the Mira River. The rooms are minimalist and comfortable, some offering memorable views from a private balcony. At Casa da Eira, rooms start at $85 and apartments at $170/night; see villaeira.pt. At Tasca do Celso in Vila Nova, dishes are typically priced under $30 per person; see wonderful.land/tascadocelso. Entrees often range from $15 to $18 per person at Sabores de Monsaraz; see saboresdemonsaraz.com/eng. To learn more about the Alentejo, go to visitalentejo.pt/en.

BEACON BITS

Apr. 14

MODERN AMERICAN DESIGN How did early 20th-century immigrants shape modern American

BEACON BITS

design? Join decorative arts historian Elizabeth Lay for a free Zoom lecture about

Apr. 22

HOUSING RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

the work and teachings of architects and designers Mies van der Rohe, Walter

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Gropius, Lazlo Moholy Nagy, Eliel and Loja Saarinen and Joseph and Anni Albers.

Rights Center will present a talk about fair housing rights for people with disabili-

This event takes place Wed., April 14 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. For more informa-

ties. In this free Zoom talk, Adjami will cover the federal Fair Housing Act, local

tion and to register, visit bit.ly/MCPLDesign. Dial in by calling (301) 715-8592,

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ing. This event takes place Thurs., April 22 at 2 p.m. For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/HousingandDisabilities. Call (202) 727-0321 with questions.

Apr. 1

BUILD A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS Do you own a small business, or are you thinking of starting one? Join monthly workshops with the D.C. Small Business Development

Center and Howard University for free 90-minute webinars on the foundations of a successful business. This event takes place the first Thursday of the month at 2 p.m. For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/SmallBusinessFoundations.

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A P R I L 2 0 2 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 2 1

As travel reopens, what you can do now Everywhere you look, you see signs of a impose some form of quarantine on travelreopening of the travel world. Airlines are ers entering from at least some other states. ramping up schedules, and Most rules ease limits for destinations are actively seektravelers with COVID-19 tests, ing customers. but only three so far specificalUnfortunately, however, ly account for vaccinated travthe major stakeholders — elers. You still need to check airlines, destinations and for requirements for any outgovernments — have not put of-state trip, even a road trip. together coherent and uniFortunately, enforcement fied policies and procedures is feeble everywhere, and for reopening. If you want to more than half of U.S. states start thinking about spring assess no penalties for quaror summer travel, you still TRAVEL TIPS antine violations. have to navigate a minefield By Ed Perkins AARP’s continuously upof confusion and uncertainty. What medical evidence I can see suggests not even thinking about extended travel, anywhere, until after you have received a vaccine. Unfortunately, many U.S. residents won’t get vaccinated until summer — maybe even late summer. If you can’t wait that long, a domestic road trip is probably your best bet, but even that might face some limitations.

Quarantines and shutdowns The various states in our union are not even on the same chapter, let alone the same page, on policies about cross-border travel, either for residents or visitors. Currently, at least half of the 50 states still

dated website is a good place to keep up with current rules: bit.ly/quarantineAARP. Except for Mexico and North Macedonia, international travel is still difficult right now. As with domestic travel, rules everywhere are inconsistent, but no matter where you go, CDC currently requires a COVID-19 test for returning travelers on any international flight. IATA (the International Air Transport Association) posts an updated interactive world map detailing restrictions at iatatravelcentre.com/world.php.

Vaccination and testing Just about everyone in the travel busi-

ness expects that immigration services and airlines will soon start to rely on some form of uniform health “passport” that travelers can carry to verify vaccination and test status. It will most likely be implemented as a digital app, but maybe also a card or paper certificate, as well. IATA has developed a digital “International Travel Pass,” but to date only a few airlines and no governments have signed up for a trial [See “International travel pass in development” in the February Beacon]. American Airlines has launched VeriFly. Other proposals floating around call for linking health data electronically to passports. There’s no scarcity of ideas, but “soon” is a pretty nebulous estimate of the time frame for a system that authorities around the world will accept.

Fares and rates As with the pandemic, the rate outlook remains cloudy. Industry mavens predict leisure travel will rebound faster than business travel. On the one hand, you will see lots of enticing offers; on the other, airlines and hotels need to stop hemorrhaging cash. Thus, I see some great airfare deals to Europe, but Allegiant’s latest domestic “pro-

motion” features fares that are higher than they were before COVID. More than ever, that means you need to sign up for a few of the dozens of programs that notify you about deals. Some let you name specific routes or destinations; others show you everything and let you sort out what you want. Although the names of the deal websites focus on airfares, most also search hotels as well. And most work through apps as well as online. Here are some good ones: —Metasearch systems sweep hundreds of sources to locate deals; you buy direct or through an online agency. Most provide for notification, including AirfareWatchdog.com, FareCompare.com, Google.com/travel/ flights, and Skyscanner.com. —The big online travel agencies (OTA), such as Expedia.com and Priceline.com, also provide similar services. As I’ve been saying all along, plan as much as you want, but avoid nonrefundable prepayments. Domestic travel is likely to open up by summer; Europe and Asia maybe by fall. Email Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net and check out his rail travel website at railguru.com. © 2021 Ed Perkins. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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A P R I L 2 0 2 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Style Arts &

Read up on the Civil War this month, the 160th anniversary of its beginning. See book reviews on page 34.

D.C.’s queen of Sunday jazz for 36 years the radio. When he began having trouble with some of the records he was spinning, a listener called him with on-air complaints. The DJ told the caller, “If you think you can do a better job, come on in, and I’ll teach you.” Washington soon got another phone call — this time from Williams. “I have no idea where I got the nerve or the notion that I could do it, but at the next phone booth I got to, I called him and asked, ‘Mr. Washington, are you serious? Would you train me to be a DJ?’ He said, ‘Yes. Come here on Sunday.’” The rest is Washington-area jazz, blues and pop-classics history.

From Nina Simone to Eva Cassidy Williams not only hosts and programs her show, carrying on as a radio engineer as she spins CDs from her personal collection, but she also answers phone calls and raises funds for the station. When a recent Sunday fell on the birthday of Nina Simone, Williams featured two hours of the pianist-vocalist’s recordings, from her heart-rending rendition of “I Loves You, Porgy” to the classically

trained artist’s own compositions, including the sad, angry, rousing civil rights protest anthem, “Mississippi Goddam.” Among other highlights of Williams’ show are her tributes to Eva Cassidy, the legendar y vocalist, born and raised in the Washington area, who died of cancer in 1996 at the age of 33. Her par ents, Barbara and Hugh Cassidy, have appeared on the program, relating stories about their daughter, known for her beautiful, soulful recordings of “Over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIYUKI WILLIAMS

By Robert Friedman A recent radio show on WPFW began with a quote from Shakespeare’s Henry V, as the love-struck king woos his future wife. Then the great tenor sax player Ben Webster soloed with strings on “Come Rain or Come Shine,” the lyrics of which begin: “I’m gonna love you like nobody’s loved you.” All that amour aired on the aptly named “A Sunday Kind of Love,” the weekly noon to 2 p.m. program on Washington’s Pacifica Radio station. The program was hosted, as it has been for the past 36 years, by longtime D.C. resident Miyuki Williams. Williams, 64, chooses mostly timeless jazz for her sessions, with some exceptions. “I play on my program the music I love,” Williams said. “I’m most familiar with jazz, but I also love the blues. I love pop. I love the classics. Music is one of the wonderful elements in being alive.” Williams got her on-air training, she said in a recent interview with the Beacon, from the late disc jockey Jerry Washington, who was known as “The ‘Bama.” One spring day in 1981, Williams was driving her car along Minnesota Avenue in southeast D.C., listening to “the ‘Bama” on

A childhood on Army bases Williams said her appreciation of jazz began when listening as a kid to the records played by her father, a career Army soldier, at their home at Fort Dix, New Jersey. She remembers listening for the Miyuki Williams began her decades-long career as a DJ with a spontaneous phone call. The jazz aficionado hosts first time to vibraphonist“A Sunday Kind of Love” at noon on Sundays on WPFW band leader Lionel Hamp- 89.3 FM. ton and singers Dinah Washington, Roy Hamilton and Frank deemed national treasures. Then they can be expected to teach the next generation Sinatra, among others. Her father, who was African-American, their expertise, share their craft and premet Williams’ mother in Yokohama, Japan, serve the culture. I love that,” she said. and they married there in 1955. Later that year, Sgt. Williams returned with his Favorite artists Williams has several favorite jazz Japanese wife to the states, and Miyuki, a self-described “Japanese-Afro-American,” artists. First, there’s tenor and soprano saxowas born in Philadelphia in 1956. phonist John Coltrane. “He made me unFrom 1963 to 1967, when her father was derstand improvisation and appreciate it. once again based in the Pacific, Williams “I grew up hearing Julie Andrews sing lived in Japan. “Those were my formative years, when I ‘My Favorite Things,’ and singing it [mywas exposed to Japanese culture,” she self] in choir. When I heard Coltrane play it, jazz made sense. The journey he takes said. “One of the things I appreciate is how me on is familiar, then earth-shattering, the Japanese revere elders and artists. opening my ears and my heart.” Williams admires Billie Holiday for her Once artists reach a certain level of proficiency — at ceramic design, playing an inSee DJ, page 34 strument, painting, etc. — they can be

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 2 1

Advocates From page 1 Now, she lobbies elected officials for more research funding and access to biomarker testing. She also works to educate patients, healthcare providers and insurance plans. She goes to Congress and the Maryland state legislature every year. In 2020, she helped overturn the governor’s veto of a tobacco tax increase. “I will go a hundred times [to the legislature]. How can they say ‘yes’ if I don’t go [and ask for help]?” Cookingham asked. “I want to give cancer patients, survivors and their families a voice in public policy. We’re all one degree from cancer.” The word lobbying has negative overtones to some people, but not for Cookingham, who has seen results from her work. “We are [their] constituents,” she said. “When we see a veto overturned, a bill pass and budget increases — there’s tangible proof we are making a difference.”

Kayaker turned activist When kayaking several years ago, retiree Tom Blackburn of McLean, Virginia, got fed up with trash in rivers and along shorelines. “One day, I realized that being irritated was not fixing the problem,” Blackburn said. He saw advocacy as part of the solution, became involved with the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia and gained insight into environmental issues, and found a platform. Now, he’s president of the group. “Everyone should be an advocate for the things they believe are important,” Blackburn said.

“While sometimes people think that they are not important enough to make a difference, that is not actually the case. People arguing for change can make a big difference, especially for environmental issues. People have a moral obligation to advocate to protect and preserve their world.”

Fair, affordable housing Growing up in Detroit in the 1950s and 1960s, Mary Paden watched a prosperous but segregated city torn apart first by urban renewal and displacement of African Americans, then by riots fueled by long-festering rage and white flight to the suburbs. Today, along U.S. 1, the Fairfax County resident sees communities of color at risk of gentrification due to the county’s development policies. Chairing the South County Task Force for Human Services and the Fairfax NAACP Housing Committee, Paden advocates for fair and affordable housing. A current challenge is to save two mobile home parks, Engleside Trailer Park and Ray’s Mobile Home Colony, create a more equitable and vibrant community, and prevent current residents’ displacement as the county plans denser development along the corridor. “Making change is a powerful feeling,” Paden said. “Just know that change takes time, and get in for the long haul.”

Ending Alzheimer’s Tom Cox, a retired Fairfax County executive, had what he calls “a textbook marriage” for 40 years. At age 67, however, his wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

He tried to care for her at home, but when she started to wander, he had to acknowledge that he could not maintain a safe environment, and moved her to a memory care facility. “This is a horrible disease,” Cox said. “I don’t want anyone to go through it. If I can do anything to educate people about it, I will. People should not have to suffer.” Although Cox knew nothing about advocacy, he took the Alzheimer’s Association’s online training and became part of “an army” lobbying state legislators. Together, they convinced the Virginia General Assembly to create a case management demonstration program at the University of Virginia — services that he believes “saved my life.” Case managers help caregivers find healthcare, legal and financial advisors and make decisions. Cox also advocates for more Alzheimer’s research funding. Talking to elected officials initially felt daunting, but “It’s all about just telling your story,” Cox said. “People are human. You’re one voice out of a thousand, but it’s very rewarding.” Potomac resident Sue Wronsky started advocating in 2004, after coming to terms with her mother’s death. Sue was 28 with three young children when her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at age 63. Sue, with her six siblings, experienced 11 years of what she calls “a brutal time, when [my] mother was robbed of a huge

portion of her life…You never want this to happen to you or your family.” Noting there’s no treatment or cure, she’s pushing for more funding to support people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers, more dementia training for home care providers, and broader Medicare and Medicaid coverage. Advocating is easier now than when she started. “I found my voice in time,” Wronsky said, and getting involved “opened my eyes” to government at work. She has learned that “most elected officials want to do the right thing. They really want to hear from constituents,” she said. “You don’t know until you try, and if you think they don’t care, that’s all the more reason to advocate. I’ve gained as much as I’ve gotten. If you are passionate about something, you have to use your voice,” she said.

Overcoming shyness Sarah Harris, mentioned at the start of this story, calls herself “a shy little girl from Maine.” She initially found it difficult to discuss her personal experiences with her husband’s Alzheimer’s. But she became determined to share her story and remove the disease’s stigma. “Somebody had to speak for my husband, because things need to change. I don’t want other families to have to endure all that goes along with this disease,” Harris said. Her advice to potential advocates for any cause: “Speak from your heart.”

BEACON BITS

Apr. 23

MILITARY-FRIENDLY JOB FAIR

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Books revisit Civil War after 160 years The Civil War began on April 12, 1861, trations, photographs, editorial cartoons 160 years ago at Fort Sumter, in the harbor and artifacts. of Charleston, South Carolina. Chapters are short and One week later the first fatalipithy. They include eyewitties occurred in Baltimore, ness accounts of battles and Maryland. We are still reeling photographs of military and from its causes and afterefcivilian leaders. Learn about fects these many generations military ordnance deployed hence. in that era. Read sophisticated These recent books focus analyses of underlying local, our attention on the war and national and international poLincoln’s fight against slavery. litical forces. A Short History of the Civil Editorial consultant historiWar, edited by DK, 560 THE an James G. Barber is a reBIBLIOPHILE pages, DK hardcover, 2020 tired curator at the SmithsonBy Dinah Rokach With the vast archival mateian National Portrait Gallery. rial housed at the Smithsonian Four consultants from the NaInstitution at our fingertips, history buffs tional Museum of American History and and neophytes will enjoy combing the seven other historians contributed to this breadth and depth of the Civil War prodigious work of scholarship. through this book. Adding to the appeal of this volume for A Short History is organized in a com- local residents is an extensive listing of prehensive fashion. This remarkable histo- Civil War sites by state, including websites ry book features contemporaneous illus- and short descriptions. Twenty-two are in

nearby D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware. Check online before visiting during the pandemic. Battle Maps of the Civil War: The Eastern Theatre — volume 1, 112 pages; The Western Theatre — volume 2, 110 pages, by the American Battlefield Trust, Knox Press softcover, 2020 and 2021 These two large-format books of maps were ingeniously prepared by Steven Stanley. Diagrams of 31 battles in the Eastern sector appear in more than 60 color maps, and 28 battles of the Western theatre are illustrated in more than 70 color maps. The positions of troops on opposing sides and the maneuvers employed by battlefield commanders are shown in the pages of Battle Maps as an overlay on modern road maps. A one-page narrative accompanying each battle helps readers understand the conduct of the Civil War from a military perspective. Many of the battlefields in the Eastern

theatre are easily accessible to those of us residing in the greater D.C. area. Studying the maps and taking them along will surely enrich the experience. The books are three-hole-punched at the margin and perforated, so individual maps can be removed. Purchase these books and a three-ringed binder on the American Battlefield Trust online store: shop.battlefields.org. Proceeds help support the Trust’s work to save America’s battlefields. The Crooked Path to Abolition: Abraham Lincoln and the Antislavery Constitution, by James Oakes, 288 pages, W. W. Norton & Company hardcover, 2021 Civil War historian James Oakes provides a lucid account of the antislavery beliefs and actions of Abraham Lincoln as a lawyer, congressman, Whig politician, one of the founders of the Republican Party, candidate for the presidency and com-

church...She sacrificed for the greater good.”

much,” she said. “I want to show some hope — that it’s not all bleakness. Focus on the silver lining.” After a momentary pause, she said, “‘Look for the Silver Lining’ by [jazz trumpeter-vocalist] Chet Baker. I’ll play that record.”

From page 32 “unique voice that is so musical and expressive, creative in the use of time and timing — an exquisite master storyteller.” And the aforementioned Nina Simone,

she said, was an “immense pianist, [who,] thwarted in her dreams of becoming a classical pianist because of racism, perseveres and pushes through. “She was an incredible artist who was incited to become an activist because of the killing of four little girls in a Birmingham

Cheerier programs The pandemic, Williams noted, has led her to change her selection of songs for her weekly program. “I don’t play the heartbreak stuff so

W A K E

See BIBLIOPHILE, page 37

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 2 1

When the viral coast is clear, I plan to… As vaccinations become more common, place of employment for more than 12 years. and hope sprouts, your faithful correspon- But I really miss my officemates (even if dent got seized by an idea. they probably don’t miss me).” Since “normal” seems inWhy? I asked him, in a recreasingly possible fairly soon, turn e-mail. what is the first thing a newly “Because the bad jokes were vaccinated senior citizen plans actually very comforting in to do when the viral coast is their own way. Because the latclear? est news was always available I am no pollster, but I am around the water cooler. Bean accomplished e-mailer. So, cause nothing sharpens your I clicked the question out to thinking and your performance about 40 of my closest pals — like being around smart colboth genders, various ages, HOW I SEE IT leagues. widely varying personal histo- By Bob Levey “For the last year, I have often ries. felt as if my brain was made of mush. If I The most common response surprised could go back to the office, no more mush.” me — and might surprise you. Another friend, age 62, is still short of Many said they couldn’t wait — and retirement age. She, too, misses the office wouldn’t wait — to reconnect with grand- and the office crowd, but for a more practichildren in the flesh. Totally predictable. cal reason. Others said that travel beckoned. Just as “I’ve been working at home night and predictable. Still others said that eating at a day since the pandemic began,” she said. restaurant — indoors, and not under one of “I’ve done my job, and done it pretty well. those makeshift tents — would be very But not super-well. high on their list. Not shocking in the least. “What’s missing are those ah-ha moBut the largest vote came for getting ments when a colleague says something, back to the office. Even among some who in a casual encounter, and you suddenly are retired and no longer work at an office. see a way to do your job better. There are Sample quotes: no casual encounters on Zoom.” “I am 80 years old, and I haven’t braved A former colleague said that he not only rush hour traffic twice a day to get to my misses “all the comedians at the office,” but

also “that feeling of playing for the A-team.” When he arrived at that familiar downtown building, “it was like playing for the Yankees. I’d walk into the lobby and mentally pull on my big-league uniform. When the elevator doors opened on the fifth floor, it was as if the game was about to begin.” Then there’s the woman who told me that office life conferred a special benefit on her.

“Every weekday, I would dress carefully, fix my hair just so, even fuss for five minutes over which jewelry to choose. For the last year, I’ve been a total slug. Some days I don’t even make it out of pajamas. I really, really miss dressing up for work.” One of my more thoughtful — and more ambitious — friends says he misses the ofSee BOB LEVEY, page 37

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 36 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

B E R G

A X E L

L A V A

E G O S

M R N A

T A L L

A C R I D

B O I S E

A S C A N

E O M P E R E R I N Y D S U N T P Y A E S C T K O F I T O F E R A C S E

G A N G

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T A B L E

D R A W

E N D E W E M I S A B C B A M I S O T M I S S N S U M I S I D E C E E R

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A S I O N U R B O S I O N S E E E S I O N T O B E O W E S P A Y S

ANSWERS TO JUMBLE Jumbles: GOING ODDLY DEFIED SCENIC Answer: To get information before cutting hair, the salon owner did -- "DO" DILIGENCE

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A P R I L 2 0 2 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Crossword Puzzle

Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Impossible 1

By Stephen Sherr

14 17

23 28

27 34

46 50

47 52

32 37

54 59

Across

Jumble answers on p. 35

Scrabble answers on p. 35.

4. Manicurist’s material 5. Shares one’s feelings 6. Organized criminal group 7. Puerto ___ 8. Leg swelling 9. Many 11:00 PM TV shows 10. Sunglasses supporters 11. Unflinching 12. Stay after school to help out 13. Exhausted 18. “Getting ___ of a delusion makes us wiser than getting hold of a truth” (Ludwig Borne) 21. CRIBBING center 25. Prima donnas’ probable problems 26. Genetic component of some COVID vaccines 27. Long ___ Sally 29. Quick note 30. Parties in the gym 32. “They are not as smart ___” 34. Putin’s refutin’ 35. Tiger team 36. Recipients of May flowers 37. Colored eye part 38. Woodwind instrument used in I Got You Babe 39. “___ of your bee’s wax” 44. Hairdo 45. Board meeting participant 49. Pungent 50. State capital on Mountain Time 51. Give it ___ (try to read a barcode) 53. Restaurant assignment 55. ___ only as directed 56. Prevent legally 58. Afternoon socials 59. No-win situation Down 60. Mickey and Minnie 1. Titanic hazard 61. Where the Field of Dreams is located 2. Figure skating jump, named for its 62. Follow commands Norwegian creator 3. It destroyed Vacationland Hawaii in 2018 63. Suffix that turns an adjective into a noun

1. Neat stack of hay 5. Grimm villain 9. Rats’ habitats 14. Medical checkup 15. Stamp on an invoice 16. Devour 17. Deep respect 19. Created the lyrics 20. One on the top of the snubbed list 22. Component of a QB’s passer rating calc. 23. Laverne & Shirley network 24. PC monitor 25. CPR giver 28. Softball arbiter 31. Request to Little Bo-Peep 33. Give the thumbs up 40. “It’s ___ matter of time” 41. Cattle call 42. Supercharged 43. Basis of income, for some 46. Type of 21 of Muhammad Ali’s W’s 47. Box (a) on a W-2 form 48. Use a microscope or telescope 49. Legal org., founded in 1878 52. Put a square peg in a square hole 54. Take to court 57. Entry fee 64. Vegetable press 65. Star of the rehearsal dinner 66. One Newton 67. Tighten roller skates 68. Has a debt 69. Like a black hole 70. Lemonade pitcher 71. Decreases the debt

Answers on page 35.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 2 1

Bibliophile From page 34 mander-in-chief during the Civil War. The Crooked Path to Abolition focuses on Lincoln’s deft reading of the law while serving as president, sworn to uphold the Constitution. Lincoln’s policy called for enlistment of free African Americans in the Union Army. He created legal obstacles to the rendition of fugitive slaves by insisting on the due process rights of the accused fugitives. (As president, he was sworn to uphold the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.) When states seceded, he held that he could legally free slaves under rebellion. Lincoln believed he could not abolish slavery by fiat within the Union but could incentivize states to do so before the adoption of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished slavery. Many policy decisions and executive orders by Lincoln as a wartime president are not as widely remembered as the Emancipation Proclamation and passage of the 13th Amendment. The Crooked Path brings forward Lincoln’s abolitionist leanings and the political opportunities he seized to free enslaved people.

Bob Levey From page 35 fice for another important reason: Working from home is stunting his professional growth. “I’ve always been suspicious about this work-from-home mania, and the pandemic has only made me feel that way more acutely,” my friend said. “If I am not in the office between Monday and Friday, it’s as if the bosses have forgotten about me. I’m not as likely to be promoted, to get raises, to get pats on the back. I think there’s a lot of truth in the old line about see-and-be-seen.” One friend had a more sentimental take on being out of the office. He thinks he will never get his final dose of recognition. “I am about to turn 65, and I can retire on my birthday,” he wrote. “I’ve worked in the same place for 30 years. I was really looking forward to a little fuss on my last day — the gold watch, but also the cheesy grip-and-grin photo with the CEO. Now, I’ll probably get neither.” Finally, there’s my buddy Joe, the sports fan. He says he misses lunch time in the office cafeteria with his equally sports-mad colleagues. They would spend the first ten minutes of every meal criticizing the performance of some horrible home team, demanding that some bum be traded, insisting that some coach be fired. “It was a great stress-reliever,” Joe said. “Watching those sports highlight TV shows at home just isn’t the same.”

I know, I know, you can’t wait to hear how Your Faithful Correspondent would reply to this question. Wait no longer. The first thing I plan to do is to hug my 21-month-old grandson. Haven’t done it in a year. All he ever sees of my face are the parts above my mask. I can’t wait to crinkle my nose into a funny pretzel, to gnarl my mouth into a curlicue — and hear him giggle. I’ll leave the joys of the office to everyone else. Bob Levey is a national award-winning columnist.

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CLASSIFIEDS The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on page 39. CAVEAT EMPTOR! The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment. EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS: We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate. Business & Employment Opportunities SEEKING CAPABLE CARING SUPPORT PERSONS for developmentally disabled man who needs assistance with small non-profit yard work/gardening business. Please speak English well and be able to drive small van and have cheery manners with all. Hrs. F/T and P/T available 7 days wk. Pay range up to $21 - $22 per hour start based on experience plus bonuses for extra challenging work. Obtain CPR and First Aid online okay. Background Check by employer. Must complete new hire packet. Call Dee at 240-620-5101. A HOME HEALTHCARE- Experienced nurses, CNA, GNA are available 24/7. Cooking, companionship, personal care, housekeeping, driving. Full/Part-time or live-in care. Flat rate for live-in. 15 years’ experience. 240-533-6599.

Caregivers EXPERIENCED MALE ELDER-CARE PROVIDER Looking for live-in position (prefer suburban Maryland). Native of Bethesda, Master’s degree, responsible and kind, with a good sense of humor. Experience in providing care for both male and female clients. Offering companionship, help with meal prep, light housekeeping, laundry, etc. Excellent local references. Please call Michael @ 202-362-8676. CAREGIVER I WILL CARE for your loved ones. Night/Days good References/own transportation. Call 301-502-2258. A CARE AGENCY - Been in business for more than 10 years. Experienced nurses, CNAs, GNAs. Any hours you need. Flat rate for live-in. Duties include cooking, housekeeping, bathing, errands, etc. Tel: 667-231-8235 MOBILE HAIR AND NAIL SERVICES - WE COME TO YOU. Professional Licensed Stylist. Women and Men’s Services - All Hair Types. Covid precautions practiced. Shampoo, Cuts, Sets, Color, Perms, Mens Cuts & Facial Grooming, Manicures & more. 301-338-8251

Computer Services YOUR COMPUTER HELP - Need help with your computer setup, Security, Wireless network configuration, training, or transferring to a new computer and keeping all your files. Call Share Tech Solutions (703) 929-1451. https://www.ShareTechSolutions.com

A P R I L 2 0 2 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Computer Services

Home/Handyman Services

Wanted

PROBLEM WITH YOUR PC/MAC OR NETWORK? Computer Systems Engineer will come to you with help. Call David G. Computer Services at: 301-328-2112 or 301-642-4526.

SLOWING DOWN AFTER 39 YEARS OF CONTRACTING. Small to medium jobs, mainly residential but will do some commercial. $42.50 an hour from arrival on job. Will work all over DC area. Andy 703-906-5429.

TIRED OF POLISHING YOUR SILVER? Turn it into cash which does not tarnish. I will come to your home to give you a free evaluation of what I can pay. I buy all gold and silver jewelry, including broken pieces, all sterling silver, gold and silver coins, gold watches, etc. I am licensed with both Maryland and Montgomery County (lic. #2327). Gold 4 Good pays an additional 5 percent to all sellers who are veterans of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy or Marine Corps. And we extend the same courtesy to their spouses. We honor our servicemen (and their spouses). Gold 4 Good is a Maryland licensed precious metals dealership. Call Bob, (240) 938-9694.

Events GET IN SHAPE FOR A GREAT CAUSE! Run and support education for Palestinian students! Zoom Info sessions: *Wed, April 7 at 6:30 pm *Sat, April 10 at 1:00 pm Training begins May 8! RSVP: kirkcruachan@yahoo.com. www.Iqraadc.org

Financial TAX PREPARATION: All types of returns, reasonable rates. 34 years of reliable service. Located in Gaithersburg near Quince Orchard/Great Seneca Hwy. Diane Christen CPA, 240-355-1135 cell. Text or call! WESLEY FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC Timeshare Cancellation Experts. Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees cancelled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 855-6268703.

For Sale PUT ON YOUR TV EARS and hear TV with unmatched clarity. TV Ears Original were originally $129.95 - NOW WITH THIS SPECIAL OFFER are only $59.95 with code MCB59! Call 1-833-934-0843. GENERAC STANDBY GENERATORS provide backup power during utility power outages, so your home and family stay safe and comfortable. Prepare now. Free 7-year extended warranty ($695 value!). Request a free quote today! Call for additional terms and conditions. 1-866964-8106.

Legal Services APPLYING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY or Appealing a Denied Claim? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc. Our case managers simplify the process & work hard to help with your case. Call 1-866-970-0779 FREE Consultation. Local Attorneys Nationwide [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL (TX/NM Bar.)]

Personal Services MARYLAND SENIOR CONCIERGE SERVICES, LLC - Personal Services For Seniors. We offer a wide range of services including: transitions, moving, decluttering, packing, medical escort, help with shopping, bills and errands. Please let us know how we can serve you. We help you maintain your independence & gain control of your active life. www.mdseniorhelp.com Call: Christine Callahan, CSA - 301.452.5730. IN HOME HAIR STYLIST. Professional Licensed Stylist. Women and Mens Services - All Hair Types. Cuts, Sets, Color Perms. Clients with special needs. Call 240-593-7829. TENNIS LESSONS WITH MARK One hour, private lesson $25 at a Georgetown outdoor court. No age too young or old. harmonjacqueline47@yahoo.com

TV/Cable DIRECTV - Every live football game, every Sunday - anywhere - on your favorite device. Restrictions apply. Call IVS - 1-888-572-4953.

NATIONAL MEMORIAL PARK. Burial plots for sale by church organization at 50% discount. Premier cemetery in Northern Virginia. Inquire at 301-942-8266 or mail@cccadisciples.org

DISH NETWORK. $64.99 for 190 Channels! Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/mo. (where available.) Switch & Get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices. Call today! 1844-560-5837.

Health

Wanted

DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-844-366-1003 www.dental50plus.com/320 #6258.

CASH FOR ESTATES. I buy a wide range of items; Jewelry, Silver, Art, Rugs, Cultural Items, ETC., ETC. BUY OUT/CLEAN, 301-520-0755 WEBSITE: TheAtticLLC.com. I have my own trucks, my own crew & insurance.

LIFE ALERT. One press of a button sends help FAST, 24/7! At home and on the go. Mobile Pendant with GPS. FREE First Aid Kit (with subscription.) CALL 240-847-6732 FREE Brochure.

CASH FOR RECORDS, CDS AND DVDS. Best price guaranteed. Free appraisals. All types of music {33, 45, 78 & CDs.} Also buying turntables and stereo equipment. Will make house calls with CURBSIDE PICKUPS. Call or text Steve at 301-646-5403.

LOOKING TO BUY PRETTY THINGS. Favorites include Dresden, Herend, Royal Copenhagen and Shelley. English bone china cups and saucers, figurines by various makers and dish sets. Art, collectibles, pottery and sterling. Teak furniture. Serious collector of vintage Christmas and Halloween decorations. Please call (301) 785-1129. MD Precious Metal License 2753. CASH FOR JEWELRY: Buying jewelry, diamonds, gold, platinum, silver, watches, coins, flatware, etc. Ask for Tom. Call anytime, 301654-8678 (Reg. 883). TOP PRICES PAID FOR FINE ANTIQUES, artwork and decorative objects including decorated crocks and jugs, unusual antique clocks, music boxes and mechanical things, coin operated devices, furniture, rare antique dolls and toys etc. I am 67 years old , well educated, financially capable, and have over 40 years in this business. Why pay outlandish auction house, estate agent or consignment store commissions when you can get a fair upfront price for your pieces with no hassle? If you have something interesting or unusual, rare and valuable and are prepared to sell it I would like to speak with you. Please call Jake Lenihan, 301 279 8834. No calls after 7 pm please. ALWAYS BUYING OLD STUFF! Old Silverware, Flatware and Holloware (even some silverplate ), Old books (pre-1930), Costume Jewelry, Pinup magazines before 1970, Comic Books, Old School Rings, Old Coins: U.S. & Foreign, Dental Gold (Yellow or White), Pocket/Wrist Watches, Old Toys/Games, Broken Jewelry (damaged, missing stones, etc.), Sports Cards, Risque paperback books, Old Adverting Signs, Old Metal Lunchboxes & other old stuff. What do you have? Call Alex : 571-426-5363 ~ I’ll come to you! WILL BUY MILITARY, WWII, WWI, Civil War memorabilia items. Uniforms, weapons, helmets, photos, war souvenirs, medals, photos or any other items associated with U.S., German, Japanese or other military history. Call Dave (240-4640958) or email (david.obal63@gmail.com). WANTED: OLDER VIOLINS, GUITARS, BANJOS, MANDOLINS, UKULELES. Musician/collector will pay cash for older string instruments. Masks & safe distance. Jack (301) 279-2158, leave message.

MOBILEHELP, America’s Premier Mobile Medical Alert System. Whether You’re Home or Away. For Safety and Peace of Mind. No Long Term Contracts! Free Brochure! Call Today! 1240-650-9189

WANTED OLD MOTORCYCLES: 1970’s & Older. Any condition good or bad. Buying AS IS paying CASH & PICKING UP. Kawasaki Norton Honda Triumph BMW Yamaha Harley BSA Suzuki Ducati Etc. Call for cash offer 1(800)2209683, website: www.wantedoldmotorcycles.com

USED & RARE BOOKS WANTED. Quality books in all subjects. We also buy old maps, menus, post cards, advertising & travel brochures, posters, road maps, old magazines. Contact Dale 301-495-2732. Experienced seller since 1977

PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855-851-0949.

ANTIQUE ESTATES BUYER Montgomery County resident buying jewelry, gold, silver, watches. Also, Military items, firearms, old toys, art books, sports, old coins, etc. Call Tom for a free evaluation at 240-476-3441.

Thank you for reading the Beacon!

Home/Handyman Services READY TO MOVE OR DOWNSIZE? Do you feel overwhelmed and stressed? Downsizing Specialists is here to help! Our process helps you determine what to keep, gift, sell, donate, or discard with a compassionate specialist, while always remaining COVID safe. Services include downsizing, decluttering, moving prep, estate sales and consignment of antiques, jewelry, coins, and collectibles. We also buy estates, vehicles, and real estate. DownsizingSpecialists.com or call/text 301-219-3600 for details. THE BATHROOM OF YOUR DREAMS for as little as $149/month! BCI Bath & Shower. Many options available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Limited Time Offer - FREE virtual in-home consultation now and SAVE 15%! Call Today! 1-855-653-0087.

BEACON BITS

Apr. 18

CONSERVATORY CLASSIC JAZZ BAND

Weather permitting, the Potomac River Jazz Club will host an outdoor jam session with the seven-piece Conservatory Classic Jazz Band at Normandie Farms Restaurant, 10710 Falls Rd., Potomac, Md. Enjoy music from New Orleans and Chicago as well as swing and mainstream tunes. Students and jammers get in free; all other tickets cost $10. This event is scheduled to take place Sun., April 18 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit prjc.org/prjcevents.html. Call (301) 983-8838 with questions.

Apr. 22+

VIRTUAL EARTH DAY

The City of Alexandria and Alex Renew will celebrate Earth Day on April 22 with virtual activities and community engagement projects. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/EarthDay.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — A P R I L 2 0 2 1

BEACON BITS

Apr. 15+

THE NEW NORMAL

What impact will the pandemic have on the future of work, transportation, education and our cities? Explore these topics in small group conversations with Around Town D.C. These conversations take place via Zoom on multiple dates from 1 to 2:30 p.m. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/PandemicChats or call Lena Frumin at (202) 895-9485.

Apr. 22+

NATIVE AMERICAN VIRTUAL FESTIVAL

The National Museum of the American Indian will stream presentations on agriculture trends, innovations and sustainability in Native American communities in this virtual Living Earth Festival that takes place April 22 to 25. For more information, visit bit.ly/LivingEarth2021.

Apr. 30

COOKING DEMONSTRATION

Learn to cook dishes with lemon and tamarind in a free virtual demonstration hosted by the U.S. Botanic Garden. A nutritionist and cooking writer will prepare two recipes using the fruits, discuss how to keep the trees thriving in a home garden, and answer live questions. The demo takes place on Friday, April 30 from noon to 1 p.m. To register, call (202) 225-1116 or visit bit.ly.lemontamarind.

HOW TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD All classified ads must be submitted and paid for online, via our website, www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds Deadlines and Payments: To appear in the next issue, your ad text and payment must be entered by the 5th of the preceding month (for Baltimore and Howard County editions); by the 20th (for Washington and Richmond editions). Cost will be based on the number of characters and spaces in your ad: • $25 for 1-250 • $35 for 251-500. • $50 for 501-750 (maximum length). The website will calculate this amount for you. Note: Maryland contractors must provide a valid MHIC number. • Each real estate listing qualifies as one ad. • All ads are subject to publisher’s discretion. Payment will be refunded if unacceptable for any reason.

To place your classified ad, visit www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/classifieds

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Studies

Housing

UMD Hearing Study . . . .17

Acclaim at Belmont Bay . . . . . . . . . .B-7, B-10 Ashby Ponds/ Erickson . . .1, B-13, B-15 Brooke Grove Retirement Village .20, B-12, B-14, B-15, 21 Chesterbrook Residences . . . .B-3, B-14 Chevy Chase House . . . . . . . .B-4, B-15 Churchill Senior Living . . .8 Covenant Village . . . . .B-10 Emerson House . . . . . . .B-6 Enterprise Residential . . .13 Falcons Landing . . .B-6, 40 Friendship Terrace .17, B-12 Greenspring/ Erickson . . .1, B-12, B-13 Harmony Senior Services . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Homecrest House . . . . . . . .B-7, B-15 Homewood at Frederick .27 Livingston Place . . . . . . . .9 Maplewood at Park Place . . . . . . . . .B-6, B-11

Events 2021 Beacon Virtual 50+Expo . . . . . . . . . .7, 15 Blood Cancer Conference . . . . . . . . . .11

Financial Services AllianceBernstein L.P./ Joseph M. Brodecki . . . . .25

Funeral Services Going Home Cremation .37

Government Services DC Health . . . . . . . . . . . .14 HIP Home Sharing . . . .B-8 Montgomery Energy Connection . . . . . . . . .18

Home Health Care/Companion Services Best Senior Care . . . . . .B-5 Capital Caring Health . . . .9 Options for Senior America . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Quantum Property Mgmt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-8 Park View Apartments . . . .13 Residences at Glenarden Hills . . .B-5, B-6 Riderwood/ Erickson . . . .1, B-13, B-15 Sommerset . . . . . .B-4, B-15 Springvale Terrace . . . . .B-3, B-6, B-11, B-14 Tribute . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-16 Vinson Hall Retirement Community . . . . .B-10, 33 Virginian, The . . . .B-2, B-6

Real Estate Long & Foster/ Eric Stewart . . . . . .18, 34

Retail Quingo Scooter . . . . . . . .30 Wonder Book . . . . . . . . . .19

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Manor Care Health Services . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Oak Manor Center . . . . . .15

Subscriptions

Legal Services

Beacon Newspapers . . . . .8

Farr Law Firm . . . . . . . . .27 Law Offices of Nancy Feldman . . . . . . .26 Law Offices of Paul Riekhof . . . . . . . . .25

Technology

Medical/Health DialMD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Judy Oh, DDS . . . . . . . . .13 Medical Eye Center . . . . . .9 Stephen Freidman, DDS .17 VA Insurance Counseling & Assistance Program . .27

BeaconSilverPages.com .31 TechMedic4u.com . . . . . . .5

Theatre/ Entertainment Senior Zone . . . . . . . . . . .35 Toby’s Dinner Theater . . .33

Travel TravelWV.com . . . . . . . . .29

Volunteers & Careers JCA . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25, 26

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A P R I L 2 0 2 1 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

settle for

Falcons Landing is delighted to announce the opening of The Terrace Homes! With the best features of apartment ±ĹÚ ÏŅƋƋ±čå ĬĜƴĜĹčØ Ęå åųų±Ïå BŅĵåŸ Ņýåų ± ĹåƵ Ƌ±ĩå ŅĹ FĹÚåŞåĹÚåĹƋ XĜƴĜĹč üŅų ĵĜĬĜƋ±ųƼ ŅþÏåųŸ ƵĘŅ Ę±ƴå ĘŅĹŅų±ÆĬƼ served and senior level federal employees. No matter ĘŅƵ ƼŅƚ ŸŞåĹÚ ƼŅƚų Ú±ƼŸØ 8±ĬÏŅĹŸ X±ĹÚĜĹč čĜƴåŸ ƼŅƚ ƋĘå üųååÚŅĵ ƋŅ åĹģŅƼ ±ĬĬ Ņü ƋĘå ±ÏƋĜƴĜƋĜåŸ ƋĘ±Ƌ ÚåĀĹå ƵĘŅ ƼŅƚ ±ųåţ

ACT FAST, CALL (703) 293-5054 TO RESERVE YOUR NEW HOME TODAY! www.FalconsLanding.org Falcons Landing is proud to be a non-profit Life Plan Community.