June 2013 DC Beacon Edition by The Beacon Newspapers

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When Fido needs a wheelchair

No longer “unadoptable” So they began Pets with Disabilities, a nonprofit organization that now houses up to 25 dogs and a handful of cats and seeks to find them appropriate homes. The dogs with the most severe disabilities, like Ernie, live with the couple in their house, which is handicapped accessible. Generally, those are not available for adoption. However, the majority of the pets may be adopted. While some dogs are placed with families with children, Darrell said she thinks older adopters who have more time to devote to the animals make an ideal match. The adoption fee is $275.

JUNE 2013

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PHOTO BY BARBARA RUBEN

By Barbara Ruben Ernie, a fluffy white Samoyed, bounds across the field, a buff-colored German shepherd named Annie at his heels. Megan, a tan and white hound, leaps in the air at the sound of visitors. Neither Ernie nor Annie have the use of their hind legs. But special adapted “wheelchairs” that attach to the dogs’ hips allow them to run through the large yard of their home in Prince Frederick, Md. Affable Megan, who is blind, serves as a kind of one-canine welcome committee for Pets with Disabilities — the only shelter in the country that exclusively houses dogs and cats that are paralyzed, missing limbs or blind. Pets with Disabilities was founded 10 years ago by Joyce Darrell and her husband Michael Dickerson. At the time, they had a German shepherd named Duke who, like Ernie, broke his back and became paralyzed merely as a result of landing wrong while playing as a puppy. “During surgery, the vet kept calling us and telling us it would be better to put Duke down. But there was no way we planned to do that,” Darrell recalled. As Darrell and Dickerson learned how to care for Duke, they came to meet other dogs like him, languishing in shelters because they were deemed unadoptable. Ernie, in fact, was just a couple of hours from being euthanized when Darrell first met him. “I saw that big white face, and when they said he was gong to be put to sleep, I just turned to Michael and said, ‘I don’t think so.’”

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SEE SPECIAL INSERT on Housing and Homecare Options following page 26

ARTS & STYLE Joyce Darrell (right) established Pets with Disabilities, a nonprofit shelter that helps find loving homes for dogs and cats who are blind, paralyzed, missing limbs or have other impairments. Sharon Sirkis is the group’s director of fundraising. The dogs in “wheelchairs” (left to right), Annie, Ernie and Dixie, can run as fast as dogs having the use of all four legs.

Darrell said that although she receives inquiries from across the U.S. and even internationally, she limits adoptions to the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. She said that’s because she wants to be able to drive to a home to retrieve a dog if an adoption doesn’t end up being a good match. But most are. Take hound mix Heidi, adopted in May by a family in Centreville, Va. The large white dog with a sprinkling of brown patches is missing toes on her left front paw. “Her paw looks deformed, although she is bubbly and happy, so it’s is not noticeable right away,” said owner Laurie Lett, in an interview conducted by text message because she is deaf.

“I know how often dogs with disabilities get overlooked by society because they are not perfect, just like some people do with me because I am deaf,” Lett said. Lett does not know if Heidi is missing toes due to a congenital deformity or because of abuse, but says the dog is adapting to her family well and already has learned two commands in sign language: sit and down.

Melissa Etheridge will rock at Wolf Trap this month; plus, Company looks at love Sondheim style at Signature Theatre page 45 FITNESS & HEALTH 3 k When hallucinations are normal k Foods that fight bad breath SPOTLIGHT ON AGING k Newsletter for D.C. seniors

LAW & MONEY 27 k Index funds trump managed ones k Inexpensive smartphones

Many ways to help out While Sharon Sirkis, of Silver Spring, Md., doesn’t have room in her houseful of pets for one with disabilities, she was so See PETS, page 12

LIFETIMES k News from the Charles E. Smith Life Communities

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Who will win this lottery? Recently, a friend brought to my attention card slots to higher skilled workers and ima relatively minor change being proposed to migrants with high-tech knowledge. Many businesses in Americurrent immigration law that ca today say they are unable to could have a significant impact find enough new employees on the daily lives of older with the education and skills to Americans and their families. perform sophisticated work. The Senate Judiciary ComToo few American students mittee recently approved new excel at math and science or legislation that would, among pursue those fields as a career. other things, eliminate the anSo we need to import the labor, nual green card (or “diversity”) the argument goes, and save lottery that allows into the U.S. our green cards for those with up to 55,000 people from a these qualifications. group of nations with other- FROM THE But don’t we also hear wise low rates of immigration PUBLISHER to the U.S. By Stuart P. Rosenthal from industries at the other end of the spectrum — those The lottery is for workers with a high school degree or two years’ that hire less skilled laborers and workers work experience (and without a criminal who care for our sick and elderly — who record) and their immediate families. The say too few Americans are willing to take vast majority admitted are unskilled or jobs paying low wages and involving delow-skilled workers from African nations manding or disagreeable physical labor and the Caribbean, though some are from (think: helping people with toileting or caring for a combative Alzheimer’s patient)? the Middle East and Asia. We need to import this labor force as well, These green cards are highly sought after. Nearly 8 million people abroad apply it is said, or we will have no one to perform each year for these 55,000 slots, and those the relatively menial (and demandingly comwho get one really do feel as if they have passionate) work of child and elder care. A significant portion of green card lot“won the lottery.” But this opportunity for ordinary people to tery winners, I am told, go into the latter come to America to work and start a new life jobs. I certainly have seen anecdotal evimay come to an end due to a bipartisan com- dence of that in meeting many certified promise that seeks to transfer those green nurses’ aides and home care aides hailing

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the less- or unskilled. So if we want to protect this source of essential labor — while also offering the opportunity of a new and better life to a diverse group of people who seek to escape crushing poverty, civil war or worse — I think we ordinary individuals will have to speak up. I encourage you to contact your political representatives. And please also send your thoughts to us as a letter to the editor via mail, email, or through our website, www.theBeaconNewspapers.com.

Hold the date I hope all of you will join us at this year’s Beacon 50+ Expos. We will be returning to Ballston Common Mall, in Arlington, Va., on Sunday, Oct. 6 from noon to 4 p.m. Our Montgomery County location is changing, however. As we are not able to return to White Flint mall (where we’ve held our Expo for many years), our 50+ Expo will take place on Sunday, Oct. 13 at the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza in downtown Silver Spring, Md. If you’ve never been to the Civic Building, you’re in for a treat — both due to the spacious, open design of the facility and its ideal location next to the Majestic movie theater and among numerous restaurants and shops. A parking garage sits across the street, with free parking on weekends. So please mark your calendars! And for those businesses that would like to exhibit at this year’s Expos, please contact our office at (301) 949-9766.

Letters to the editor

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The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Greater Washington DC area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Greater Baltimore, Howard County, Md. and Greater Palm Springs, Ca. Readership exceeds 400,000. Subscriptions are available via first-class mail ($36) or third-class mail ($12), prepaid with order. D.C. and Maryland residents: add 6 percent for sales tax. Send subscription order to the office listed below. Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns represent the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. • Publisher/Editor ....................Stuart P. Rosenthal • Associate Publisher..............Judith K. Rosenthal • Vice President of Operations ....Gordon Hasenei • Director of Sales ................................Alan Spiegel • Managing Editor............................Barbara Ruben • Graphic Designer ..............................Kyle Gregory • Assistant Operations Manager ..........Roger King • Advertising Representatives ........Doug Hallock, ................................................Dan Kelly, Cheryl Watts • Publishing Assistant ....................Rebekah Sewell

The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (301) 949-9766 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com Website: www.theBeaconNewspapers.com Submissions: The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the 10th of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 15th of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 51 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions.

from African and Caribbean countries. Visit any skilled nursing facility or assisted living community in this area and you will see what I mean. Not only do these immigrants fill a great need, they do so at a price that, while often beyond the means of those who need it, is still considerably less than the pay of the average American worker. Certainly the availability of inexpensive labor is an issue for industries other than elder care. And it is debatable whether having a class of immigrant workers earning such low salaries is a good thing. (Of course, many do gradually work their way up the income ladder, as immigrants to America have done for centuries.) But even viewed through this narrow prism, we can see that ending such a source of workers is likely to decrease the supply of home care workers even as demand for them increases, leading to a spike in costs and hardship for thousands who need the services. Keep in mind that Medicare does not cover custodial long-term care expenses. When these services are needed — and the need is growing leaps and bounds as our longevity increases — they must be paid for out of pocket. It is sad to me that, with a 7.6 percent unemployment rate in this country, we have to go abroad to find people willing and able to perform the highest and lowest paid jobs that keep our nation and families afloat. But this does seem to be the case. I am guessing the companies looking for hightech workers are investing more in lobbyists to expand immigration slots for their needs than are those companies that hire

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 barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Dear Editor: My elderly mother, now deceased, struggled with failing eyesight caused by macular degeneration. Gradually losing her sight was very difficult, but in my mother’s case, the problem was compounded by the visual hallucinations she also experienced. For several years, until she died at the age of 98, she had periods of several weeks’ duration when she would “see” yellow curls on everyone in the restaurant, nests of straw on our heads, four women standing by her bed, a sink full of flowers, etc. These were not dreams; she described what she saw in real time. Fortunately, my sister happened upon a book that identified such hallucinations as Charles Bonnet syndrome. Knowing that my mother’s experiences were not a sign of impending dementia was an enormous relief to her. It is sad to think that many folks with low

vision are keeping such experiences to themselves for fear that they will be thought to be mentally as well as physically impaired. Because there seems to be so little awareness of this problem, at least among patients and families we know, I have been writing people who may have contact with low-vision patients to ask for their help. The staff of the Beacon came to mind. Please consider publishing information about Charles Bonnet syndrome. You may well be helping many anxious folks feel more at ease with these strange experiences of visual hallucinations. Donna P. Mergliano Woodbine, Md. Editor’s note: Thank you for bringing this relatively unknown condition to our attention. Look for an article on Charles Bonnet syndrome on the facing page in our Health section this month. See LETTERS TO EDITOR, page 48

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Health Fitness &

FOODS THAT FIGHT BAD BREATH Some foods promote bad breath, but others destroy mouth bacteria ALLERGY OR SINUS INFECTION? How to tell which condition is causing your runny nose and congestion IS WHEAT BAD FOR YOU? Contrary to popular advice, wheat is not the culprit in weight gain, diabetes GOOD-FOR-YOU COCOA Cocoa can have all the antioxidants of dark chocolate, without the fat

Vision loss may lead to hallucinations People with Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) can vouch for the cliché that things aren’t always as they seem. This syndrome, named for the 18th century philosopher who first described it, is characterized by the periodic occurrence of hallucinatory visions. People with CBS may see anything from abstract patterns to birds to babies to white sandy beaches. Sometimes the hallucinations are very animated and detailed. They tend to occur when a person is awake, alone and in dim light, or when he or she is physically inactive or lacks distractions, such as television. They also frequently occur during down time — say, while getting a haircut or waiting in line at the store. Those who have these visions know they’re just mirages. That is, the images are illusions, not delusions. The difference is that a person with delusions is convinced that what she sees is real. Patients with CBS may initially second-guess themselves, but they ultimately accept that their perceptions have no substance.

The cause of this disorder is thought to be a misfire in the brain similar to the neurological mixup that occurs in patients with phantom limb syndrome. As vision wanes, the brain continues to interpret visual imagery in the absence of corresponding visual input, just as it sometimes continues to process pain signals from a limb that’s no longer there.

May be quite common When a person first has such visual illusions, he may wonder if he’s becoming mentally ill or developing senile dementia. He may hesitate to tell his doctors or loved ones about the problem for fear they’ll draw that very conclusion. For this reason, it is difficult to estimate how common the condition is, but it has been reported to occur in 10 to 40 percent of older patients with low vision, such as those with age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and other eye disorders. Turning on an extra lamp or two, staying physically and mentally occupied,

spending time with family or friends, and participating in social activities can reduce the frequency and vividness of the hallucinations. Each patient must learn what works for him or her. A positive attitude is the key. Your eye care professional is the best healthcare professional to diagnose this condition. In addition, your eye care provider will already be aware of any underlying vision disorders you have that may be associated with the syndrome. A thorough eye examination to rule out additional problems and a few targeted questions about your symptoms are usually all that’s needed to diagnose the syndrome. Sometimes consultation with a neurologist or other specialist is necessary to rule out any serious disorders that may mimic CBS, such as stroke and Parkinson’s disease. The diagnosis may be complicated by the fact that many patients have multiple medical problems, such as diabetes and heart disease, for which they take several medications.

Usually temporary Fortunately, the saying “This, too, shall pass” is also true for those with CBS. After a year or perhaps 18 months, the brain seems to adjust to the person’s vision loss, and the hallucinations generally begin to recede. In the meantime, of course, the underlying visual impairment should be treated or monitored. Idle time should be kept to a minimum. If the person is found to be depressed, therapy or pharmacologic treatment may be in order. Anti-seizure medications have been shown to calm the hallucinations in some patients, and anti-anxiety agents can be used in those who find the visions upsetting. For most patients, though, just knowing that they aren’t becoming mentally ill and that the symptoms will eventually subside is all the treatment they need. Based on information from Lighthouse International, an organization that fights against vision loss through prevention, treatment and empowering those with low vision or who are blind. For more information, see www.lighthouse.org or call 1-800-829-0500.

Medicare often won’t cover skilled care Lawsuits, appeals aim to change policy By Susan Jaffe After Lois Frarie, a 93-year-old retired teacher, spent four days at a California hospital while being treated for a broken elbow and pelvis, she went to a nearby nursing home to build up her strength. But her family was stunned to find out that they would have to pay thousands of dollars up front since she was considered to be “under observation” for two of the days she spent in the hospital. Under federal law, Medicare won’t cover a skilled nursing and rehab stay unless it follows a minimum three-consecutive-day stay as an “admitted” patient. “I assumed I was under the hospital’s care” for the whole four days, said Frarie. Advocates for seniors say the distinction is not fair to patients, especially since they are typically not informed by hospitals either of their status or of the Medicare rules. In May, the Center for Medicare Advo-

cacy took their argument to federal court in Hartford, Conn., for the first hearing on a lawsuit on behalf of 14 seniors seeking to have Medicare eliminate the observation label.

A hollow “right” to appeal Government lawyers argue in court filings that Medicare considers observation care an outpatient service, and if elderly patients think they should have been admitted to the hospital, they should file an appeal. Federal records and interviews with patients and advocates across the country show that many observation patients who call Medicare about the billing problem find out there is nothing that Medicare can do to help — as Frarie’s and other persistent families have learned first-hand. “People are often told there is nothing to appeal,” said Judith Stein, executive di-

rector of the Center for Medicare Advocacy. In April, Medicare sought to help observation patients who have lost nursing home coverage and who also pay higher hospital costs than admitted patients. The agency proposed changes to the hospital payment system that would require, with some exceptions, patients who stay in the hospital two days or less to be classified as observation patients, and those who stay longer would have to be admitted. However, the proposal has been criticized by patient advocates, the American Hospital Association and the American Medical Association because it would still maintain the three-inpatient-day requirement before patients would be eligible for nursing home coverage.

months of care came to $19,000. Her family took the first step in the appeals process, asking Medicare to count all four days in the hospital as inpatient so that she would have the minimum required for Medicare coverage for her nursing home stay. Then they hit a dead-end. A Medicare appeals coordinator, writing to Frarie’s niece Sherry Smith in February, said the agency could not accept the appeal because “the claim(s) or date(s) of service identified in your request have not been denied.” In other words, Frarie received, and Medicare paid for, the care the hospital determined she needed, including her two days as an observation patient. The letter didn’t say how to challenge this determination, information that is required whenever an appeal is denied. The government’s lawyers say the plain-

Catch-22s Frarie’s nursing home bill for nearly three

See MEDICARE, page 4

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Medicare From page 3 tiffs must go through the appeal process — all five levels if necessary — before they can file a lawsuit. “Indeed, to challenge coverage and pay-

ment determinations, the Medicare statute and regulations afford program beneficiaries extensive opportunities for review, including several levels of administrative review, and, potentially, judicial review,” government lawyers write in papers asking a federal judge to dismiss the suit.

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But hospitals are not required to tell patients they are under observation, Medicare officials have said. Another obstacle for seniors is that the three-day requirement is part of federal law. Once patients leave the hospital and then find out they were receiving observation services — when a bill arrives — it’s too late: Hospitals and physicians are prohibited from reclassifying observation patients as inpatients once they’ve been discharged, according to Medicare rules. If the federal judge won’t eliminate observation care, the seniors’ lawyers are asking that hospitals be required to tell patients when they are in observation and allow them to appeal that decision before they leave. [Marylanders have recently won some of these protections through state law. This spring, the Maryland legislature passed, and Gov. Martin O’Malley signed, a bill stipulating that hospitals must provide oral and written notice to patients of their outpatient status and the billing implications if the patient has received services at the hospital for more than 23 hours.] A Medicare spokeswoman declined to answer questions about appealing observation care because it is agency policy not to comment on pending litigation.

Observation cases skyrocket

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The number of Medicare patients receiving observation care jumped 69 percent in only five years, to 1.6 million in

2011, according to the most recent federal data. Even though Medicare recommends that hospitals decide within 24 to 48 hours whether to admit a patient, observation stays exceeding 24 hours have nearly doubled to 744,748. Few of those patients turn to the appeals process for help. Medicare officials would not disclose how many beneficiaries file observation care appeals. But buried in a document the agency submitted to Congress in April explaining its proposed budget request is a revealing figure: out of 3.2 million appeals received last year, seniors filed less than 10 percent. The rest come from hospitals, doctors, nursing homes and other providers. When seniors call Medicare to complain about observation status, the option to appeal is rarely mentioned. According to records of 316 complaints — the total Medicare said it received from beneficiaries or their representatives about observation since 2008 — a typical response was that Medicare “cannot intercede with hospital/physician regarding change of status.” In a response to one of dozens of congressional inquiries, officials “advised senators [Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services] cannot change a hospital stay classification.” In addition, information provided by officials about the scripts used by the 800See MEDICARE, page 5

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MEDICARE call centers to answer observation care questions also do not mention that callers can appeal the denial of nursing home coverage or their extra hospital charges, including non-covered drugs. “I called everyone and their grandmother,” said Arlene Roach in Lynn, Mass., who is trying to appeal her mother-in-law’s $33,000 nursing home bill after she spent three nights in the hospital for observation. “Medicare shows that no payment can be made because the services on the claim do not reflect a three-day qualifying stay for inpatient services,” wrote a Medicare contractor in Birmingham, Ala., last November in response to the first of two requests for coverage.

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This letter said nothing about appeals. But the denial of the second request included information on how to continue the appeal. “It’s like hitting my head against the wall,” Roach said. She was eventually referred to Diane Paulson, senior attorney at Greater Boston Legal Services, who is trying to get Roach a definitive decision from Medicare. “This is a basic denial of due process,” said Paulson. “People are entitled to a written, timely decision and notice of the right to appeal.” Provided by Kaiser Health News, www.kaiserhealthnews.org. Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan health policy research and communication organization not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

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Health Shorts Researchers inadvertently develop drugresistant bacteria Bacteria that resist antibiotics are a growing problem worldwide, but one we thought we could limit or even reverse by better control of the drugs. This may be a forlorn hope: Some bacteria that have never seen an antibiotic can evolve resistance, and even thrive on it. Bacteria usually become resistant if they’re exposed to drug levels too low to kill them off, but high enough to favor the survival of resistant mutants. Such resistance is growing and could make TB and other diseases untreatable again. The prevailing notion was that bacteria acquire and maintain resistance genes at a cost. So by carefully controlling antibiotic use, resistance should not emerge by itself — and should die out as soon as the antibiotic is withdrawn and resistance is no longer an advantage. Maybe not. Olivier Tenaillon, at Denis Diderot University, Paris, and colleagues were studying bacterial evolution by exposing Escherichia coli to high temperatures and little food. Unexpectedly, some bacteria spontaneously became resistant to the antibiotic rifampicin, even though they had never encountered it. The mutation that helped them deal with environmental stress (the higher temperatures) just happened to confer resistance to that antibiotic, which is used to treat TB and meningitis, according to an article in BMC Evolutionary Biology (see. www.doi.org/kks). “Our work suggests that selective pressure other than antibiotics may drive resistance,” said Tenaillon. Moreover, bacteria with the mutation grew 20 percent faster than otherwiseidentical bacteria — a first for a resistance mutation. It only had this beneficial effect in the heat-adapted strain, said Arjan de Visser, of Wageningen University in the Netherlands, who was not involved in the study. But, he added, “these results are a cautionary tale for the use of antibiotics — resistance may come without costs [to bacteria].” — New Scientist

A steering wheel that prevents accidents Worried that the sun in your eyes will impair your driving? For the first time, a vibrating steering wheel will tell drivers where to steer when headlights or other visual impediments leave them temporarily blinded, helping curb accidents.

Eelke Folmer and Burkay Sucu, at the University of Reno in Nevada, designed the steering wheel to help cut the accident toll caused by glare, especially in winter, when motorists are most likely to be dazzled by low sun and reflections from snow and ice. Cars with vibrating seats can already warn drivers when another vehicle is approaching in their blind spot. But the team’s design is the only one to help drivers steer using tactile cues. The system relies on car sensors like GPS and lane-keeping cameras to map the road ahead and work out where the vehicle is. When sensors detect the driver may be dazzled and drifting from their lane, the vibro-tactile system buzzes into action. The vibrations are tuned to 275 hertz, the frequency that our skin is most sensitive to. And the cues are directional, so if a driver drifts left, the left side of the wheel will vibrate — a signal to steer right until it

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stops vibrating, just like a rumble strip. “It’s fairly easy for the system to anticipate or sense glare conditions and activate itself,” said Folmer. The system worked well in tests with 12 volunteers in a simulator, but the drivers’ hands strayed from the left and right vibrators — so the devices may need to be more widely distributed around the wheel.

It’s promising work, said Paul Newman, who is developing a driverless car at the University of Oxford. “Touch is an extraordinarily rich sensory pathway and is an ideal way to provide safety-improving hints. In this case, the hints are felt at the very place action is required — on the steering wheel itself,” he said. — New Scientist

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J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Foods and drinks that fight bad breath By Gretel H. Schueller There’s nothing worse than meeting someone and realizing that your breath smells like the tuna you had for lunch, stale coffee, or worse. What you eat and poor oral hygiene are the main causes of

halitosis, or bad breath. When you think about it, the mouth is a dirty worksite: More than 600 kinds of bacteria live in the average mouth. Many produce smelly gases as they digest the tiny food particles lodged between your teeth

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and on your tongue. Some of the most offensive gases produced by mouth bacteria are sulfur compounds, which are formed during the breakdown of proteins. Garlic and onion also contain many sulfur compounds. A proper oral-hygiene routine, which includes brushing, flossing, rinsing, tongue cleansing and regular visits to the dentist, is an important first step to beating bad breath. But even with good dental hygiene your breath can still stink. About $1 billion a year is spent on breath-freshening products like gum and mints. However, these only work to temporarily mask odors. Fortunately, there are a few foods that fight the odor-causing bacteria promoted by other foods. Consider adding these to your arsenal in the battle against bad breath:

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1. Tea For tea-rific breath, try a cup of tea. Studies suggest that drinking unsweetened black or green tea may help ward off bad breath. Both types of tea contain antioxidants called polyphenols that can help destroy the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath, although green tea contains more because it’s processed in a different way. A study conducted at Pace University in New York, for example, found that green tea extracts were effective at fighting several types of oral bacteria by preventing their growth. Polyphenols also reduce those nasty sulfur compounds. 2. Probiotic yogurt Recent studies show that eating 6 ounces of unsweetened yogurt every day can reduce the level of odor-causing hydrogen sulfide in your mouth. The reason is that active cultures in yogurt, such as Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, compete with the bacteria in your mouth that contribute to bad breath. Accumulation of plaque and development of periodontal disease were also reduced in the study’s yogurt eaters. Eat a cup of plain yogurt with active cultures and make sure to avoid varieties with added sugars. (Sugars allow for bacterial growth in the body and especially the mouth.) 3. Water Wet your whistle — often. Most odorcausing bacteria are anaerobic, meaning they thrive in a dry mouth. Drinking water helps flush out food particles and bacteria stuck in your mouth. Drinking water also promotes the production of saliva, which acts as a cleansing agent. 4. Parsley and basil Nothing says stinky breath like garlic and onions. That’s because there are roughly 33 different smelly sulfur compounds that naturally occur in garlic and onions. They linger in your mouth and are absorbed in the bloodstream and expelled when you exhale. But parsley and basil help kick garlic breath. The polyphenols (compounds that act like antioxidants) in these herbs break down the sulfur compounds in garlic. For the biggest benefit, combine garlic and either basil or parsley in the same dish (think pesto!), though it may be possible See BAD BREATH, page 9

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Join Holy Cross Hospital and Kaiser Permanente in the battle to stay fit. On Mondays and Wednesday, they cohost Senior Fit, a free 45-minute multi-component exercise program for those 55 and older. Classes are offered at 23 different locations. For more information, call (301) 7547700. Physician consent is required for participation.

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Bad breath From page 8 to get the garlic-breath-fighting benefits of polyphenols by eating the herbs in dishes separate from the garlic, as long as they’re consumed during the same meal. 5. Apples and spinach While we can’t guarantee that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, research has shown that eating apples at the same meal as garlic can mitigate garlic breath. (Think pork chops with apples and garlic-mashed potatoes. Or if the thought of garlic and apples together doesn’t sound appealing, follow a garlic-heavy dish with an apple.)

The polyphenols found in apples break down the smelly sulfur compounds. Spinach is another polyphenol-rich food that’s good at breaking down stinky sulfur compounds. According to Sheryl Barringer, Ph.D., professor of food science and technology at Ohio State University, the polyphenols in foods like spinach and apples should be mixed with garlic to break down the sulfur compounds. Luckily, spinach and garlic are delicious together. 6. Cherries and lettuce According to nutritionist David Grotto, author of The Best Things You Can Eat (Da Capo Press, 2013) cherries and lettuce can also beat back bad breath. Studies have

shown that these two foods help remove the smell of methyl mercaptan, another odorous gas released by mouth bacteria as they digest bits of food. If halitosis is a persistent problem, talk with your doctor. It could be a sign of a

more serious condition. EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Online at www.eatingwell.com. © 2013 Eating Well, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

Unique signature lurks in your breath Our breath may be unique, just like our fingerprints. Compounds in exhaled air produce a molecular signature or “breathprint,” one that could be used to monitor disease or track how we respond to medication. Renato Zenobi at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and his colleagues sampled the breath of 11 healthy people four times daily over nine

days. Using mass spectrometry, they identified minuscule amounts of metabolites in the breath that remained “constant and clear” for each person, said Zenobi (PLoS One, www.doi.org/k3j). Early results from another study by the team show that breathprints can be used to diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. — New Scientist

Be Prepared for Changing Weather Use these helpful tips to be ready when severe weather strikes in summer.

#! !Make a Plan for Extended Power Outages

#! !Get Information

Know where you will go in the event of a power outage that could last multiple days. Most communities have a designated location with emergency back-up power. Make arrangements to stay with a relative, friend or neighbor who has power in case of an outage.

#! !Assemble an Emergency Storm Kit

Take a few minutes to gather important items to keep handy in the event of a summer storm. Your kit should contain bottled water, non-perishable foods, blankets, flashlights and extra batteries, a first-aid kit and prescription medications, special medical supplies, tools and other essential items.

#! !Register for the Emergency Medical Equipment Notification Program This program is important for customers who rely on electricity for lifesupport equipment such as respirators and kidney dialysis equipment in their homes. This program provides: !

Notification of scheduled outages

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Call 202-833-7500 and ask for a customer care representative or visit pepco.com/EMENP to learn more.

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We are committed to keeping you informed should an outage occur. Call 1-877-PEPCO-62 (1-877-737-2662) to report outages and downed wires, and please request a call back so we can verify if individual or small groups of outages still exist

Use our mobile app to get the latest news, report an outage, access outage maps of your area, call us directly and get estimates for when power will be restored – it’s free and available from your app store or at pepco.com/mobileapp Go online to pepco.com, click “Report/Get Outage Status” and enter your account information to get the latest news, report an outage, access outage maps of your area, get important contact information and estimates for when power will be restored – from anywhere you can access the Internet

Violent storms are more frequent in a changing world and restoring power safely takes time. Apply your energy now and be prepared.

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J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Which is it? A sinus infection or allergies? By Dr. Juan Guarderas Dear Mayo Clinic: I have long suffered from allergies. But there have been times when I

haven’t been sure if my symptoms are really from my allergies or may be caused by a sinus infection instead. How can I tell the difference?

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Answer: Allergies and sinus infections are often mistaken for one another. But they are two separate conditions. By paying close attention to the specific symptoms you have, you can usually identify which one is more likely to be causing the problem. A sinus infection, also called sinusitis, affects the cavities around your nasal passages. The infection causes your sinuses to become inflamed and swollen. The swelling makes it difficult for your sinuses to drain, and mucus builds up. You become congested and have trouble breathing through your nose. Sinusitis often causes thick yellow or green nasal discharge. A sore throat, cough or headache, as well as pressure or tenderness around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead, may also accompany sinusitis. In most cases, viruses cause sinusitis. These viral infections usually go away on their own within a week to 10 days. Selfcare measures such as extra rest and fluids along with over-the-counter pain relievers and decongestants can help. When sinusitis is caused by bacteria, the infection may not require treatment, either. But if it is persistent or severe, then antibiotics — such as amoxicillin, doxycycline and others — may be used to treat the infection.

Allergies can produce many of the same cold-like symptoms as a sinus infection, including sinus pressure, a runny nose and congestion. But the condition itself, called allergic rhinitis, is different. It is caused by an allergic response to allergens, such as pollen, dust mites or pet dander. This reaction happens when your immune system releases chemicals, such as histamine, into your bloodstream. These immune system chemicals lead to your allergy symptoms. One of the key ways to tell if you are experiencing allergic rhinitis is if you have itchy, watery eyes along with your other symptoms. Itchiness is rarely a symptom of a sinus infection. Another way to tell the difference is if you have very thick yellow or green nasal discharge. That’s more likely a symptom of a sinus infection. If you have seasonal allergies triggered by pollen or spores, then the timing of your symptoms may help you decide if they’re likely caused by allergies. For example, tree pollen is most common in the spring. Grass pollen is common in late spring and early summer, while ragweed pollen is prevalent in the fall. Mold and fungi spores are usually more plentiful See ALLERGY OR INFECTION, page 13

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You can have it all at Fox Hill — the amenities of a world-class hotel with the investment opportunity of condominium ownership in a cosmopolitan senior community. Savor four gourmet dining venues and our Kindred Spirits bar. Enjoy our luxurious full-service Sanctuary Spa and Salon. Stay fit with a personal trainer at our fitness center and indoor pool. Or pursue your passions in our Performing Arts Center, wine cellar and tasting room, and our art and recording studios. Our elegant condominiums overlook 16 wooded acres off River Road and I-495, where the world is at your doorstep.

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You can also meet her by appointment at either the Leisure World Plaza Weichert Office or the 2nd Office inside the community.

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J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Pets From page 1

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drawn to Pets with Disabilities after reading a story about the organization in the Ladies Home Journal five years ago, that she offered to volunteer immediately and is now the group’s director of fundraising. “All I could focus on — almost to the point of obsession — was how could I raise money to help these beautiful animals that had such a zest for life despite their disabilities,” she said. Pets with Disabilities costs more than $100,000 a year to run, with more than half of that going for veterinary care. Sirkis, who retired last year from a 35year career in communications with the federal government, organizes several fundraising events each year, including the annual Toast to Pets with Disabilities dinner and auction at the Running Hare Vineyard in Prince Frederick, Md. This year, the event will be held on June 14. Sirkis and Darrell are seeking volunteers who can help in other fundraising capacities, such as writing thank-you letters to donors and preparing grant applications. There is also a small cadre of volunteers who work in the shelter, helping Darrell with the day-to-day chores of mopping the floors, doing laundry and washing dog dishes. Darrell quit her job as a gym manager to run Pets with Disabilities. She now rises each day at 6:15 a.m. to care for the animals, often working until after sunset. She does not take a salary from the organization either — she is a more-than-full-time volunteer. Her husband drives to downtown Washington each day for his job as an elevator engineer, but he also helps out with the pets when he returns home every night.

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Karen Omohundro said she’s learned a lot from her blind dog Faith, a spitz mix, who “looks like an Arctic fox.” “She has a very brave soul and simply ‘sees’ the world with more than her eyes,” Omohundro said. “She has taught me resilience and the fact that despite the many setbacks you may have, you’re able to get up and go about your day. You’re stronger than you think. Almost every day she learns something new and comes through.” Omohundro said the biggest challenge for Faith was learning to negotiate the many steps in her home. But Omohundro patiently walked the dog up and down the stairs, telling her to “step up” or “step down” at each stair until she learned. She

The dogs that aren’t able to walk are strapped into their wheelchairs, which

See PETS, page 13

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provide two wheels in place of hind legs, for several hours each day. They propel themselves with their front legs and can run like the wind. “The younger they’re introduced to the wheelchair the better,” Darrell said. “Ernie had to have one of his legs amputated, but we got him in a wheelchair as soon as he got here, and he’s running all over the place.” While Tammy Linden’s dogs don’t need wheelchairs, both Patch and Trixie have a condition called valgus deformity in one of their front legs. “I call it a crooked leg. It doesn’t hurt their mobility. When people see them, they make these faces and say, ‘Oh, does it hurt?’ I forget it’s even there. I say, ‘No, he’s fine, they’re fine.’” Linden, who lives in Sykesville, Md., adopted Patch first. She recalls emailing Darrell with numerous questions before meeting Patch, and Darrell wrote back with a two-word reply: “He’s wonderful.” “And he is. I just adore this dog,” Linden said.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 3

Allergy or infection From page 10 in warm-weather months. The seasons for these allergens may be different, though, depending on the region of the country where you live.

Medications can help Over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines, can be quite effective in relieving allergy symptoms. If you are regularly bothered by allergies, ask your doctor if a prescription nasal corticosteroid may be right for you. These nasal sprays help prevent and treat nasal inflammation and congestion, while antihistamines treat the itching and runny nose that allergies can cause. Nasal corticosteroids can be particularly helpful if you have seasonal allergies and use

Pets From page 12 also placed textured stair treads at the top and bottom of the steps to alert Faith that the steps are coming. Omohundro’s chow mix named Raven has adjusted to her new canine companion as well. And Raven may be catching on that Faith is blind — she recently has been stealthily stealing nearby bones away from her. Helene Jorgensen also adopted a blind dog, Riley, a collie mix she describes as “sort of looking like a modern-day Lassie.” Riley, who is about 9 years old, lost his sight to untreated glaucoma. “At first he was pretty stressed and kept bumping into things in our house,” she said after adopting Riley 1 ½ years ago. Jorgensen, who has two other dogs and lives in Washington, D.C., said she covered the corners of chairs and the coffee table with blankets to help Riley avoid in-

them just as the allergy symptoms begin. That’s because when the season first starts, you need a lot of the allergen to cause symptoms. But as symptoms progress, lower amounts of allergen produce more symptoms. By starting the medication early, you might be able to diminish this effect and reduce your symptoms throughout the entire allergy season. If you suspect your nasal congestion and other symptoms are the result of sinus problems rather than allergies, you may just need to be patient, take care of yourself, and use over-the-counter medications as needed until the infection clears. However, if symptoms last for more than two weeks, or if they are severe, make an appointment to see your doctor. © 2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc. juries. She blocked the entrance to the stairs, helping guide him up herself. Working with Riley has inspired Jorgensen to contemplate a career change. Currently an economist, she’s now thinking about using her experience with Riley to start her own dog training business. For Sirkis, caring for dogs who are blind and that have other disabilities is a joyful experience she hopes more will get to share. “How heartwarming to see a blind dog running toward your voice, tail wagging; the deaf dogs watching you move as you throw them that ball for the 20th time; the wheelchair dogs as they race around….In our eyes, they are handicapped, but to them they are just living a different type of normal.” For details about individual pets available for adoption, how to become an “angel” and support one for a month or a year, or to purchase tickets for the June 14 fundraising event (ticket cost: $65), see www.petswithdisabilities.org or call (443) 624-9270.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 3

Leadership in aging award to be presented Seabury Resources for Aging will honor Seabury Resources for Aging is a nonJulie Potter, the former program coordinator profit that provides senior housing, transof the Sibley Senior Association, at its Lead- portation, care management and other ership in Aging Awards celservices to older adults in ebration this month. Washington, D.C. and the The Sibley Senior Assogreater Washington area. ciation, begun in 1987, is a The group began premembership organization senting Leadership in that provides discounts, Aging Awards in 2007 to lectures, trips and support recognize community and groups for those 60 and national leaders who have over. improved the quality of life When Potter, a licensed for the area’s older adults. clinical social worker, took Last year’s Leadership the helm of the group in in Aging Award was preJulie Potter 1990, 250 local seniors were sented to Beacon publishregistered members. By the time she retired er Stuart Rosenthal. in 2011, the membership was above 8,000. This year’s Leadership in Aging Awards Potter’s approach was to involve partici- ceremony will take place on Thursday, pants in planning events, supporting those June 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Katzen Arts Cenwho had ideas for programs or activities. ter at American University. The evening’s She also introduced the association to vari- Mistress of Ceremonies will be JC Hayous forms of wellness programs, including ward, noon anchor and vice president for tai chi, yoga, aerobics, intensive journaling media outreach at WUSA9 television. and support groups. Proceeds from the event will benefit the “My role was to empower the members more than 1500 older adults and caregivers to lead, make new friends, and create new Seabury serves each day, providing transconnections,” Potter said. portation, housing, care management, yard

work, house cleaning, meals, information and assistance, and social opportunities. For more information about the event,

to purchase tickets or make a donation, call (202) 414-6313 or visit www.seaburyresources.org.

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J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Take anti-wheat advice with a grain of salt By Sharon Palmer According to several popular diet books, such as Wheat Belly and The Paleo Diet, wheat is an unhealthful food, contributing to all manner of problems, including obesity, autoimmune disorders and even autism. Such diets claim that if you eliminate wheat from your diet, you’ll lose weight and “cure” many conditions, such as diabetes and rashes. This wheat-free diet trend is in lockstep with the current gluten-free fad, which finds healthy people avoiding gluten because they believe it will bring them better

health. (Gluten is a component of wheat and other related grains — such as spelt, kamut, rye, triticale and barley — and is harmful for people with celiac disease.) But is there any science to support the notion that wheat is a “bad” food you should avoid? Julie Miller Jones, Ph.D., distinguished scholar and professor emerita of St. Catherine University, St. Paul, Minn., believes wheat has become today’s diet scapegoat. Jones, an expert in the field of grain science, said, “There is no evidence that wheat is bad for you, with the caveat that you eat the

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right amounts as recommended, and make half of your grain servings whole grain. “There is a staple grain or starchy tuber in every culture; in our culture, it’s wheat,” Jones noted. “We’ve been cultivating and eating wheat for centuries, and perhaps the only bad thing about it is that for the last 50 years of eating wheat, we’ve been sitting down too much and not cultivating it ourselves. So, we’re attacking the wrong demons.”

Growing wheat One popular notion is that wheat has been genetically altered by humans to the degree that it’s no longer good for us. However, Jones explains that the common plant foods you eat every day — lettuce, tomatoes, corn — have been modified countless times over the years through traditional cross-breeding methods, which farmers use in order to bring out the best attributes of crops. “Your grandmother and grandfather were seed savers; they saved the biggest, sweetest seeds and planted them the following year,” added Jones. She dispels the myth that genetically modified wheat has given rise to “unique proteins” that are hazardous to health, and reports that there are no breeds of genetically modified wheat on the market, and no “unique proteins” found in wheat as a result of plant breeding. In fact, there’s no scientific evidence to link today’s modern wheat varieties to health risk.

Wheat and weight Perhaps the most popular concern over wheat centers on weight. Wheat-free proponents suggest that avoiding it can help you lose weight. If you eliminate wheat, you’re essentially on a low-carb diet. According to Jones, “Studies show that low-carb diets can cause rapid weight loss in the first six months, but that people weigh more in two

to three years, indicating that these diets are very hard to follow.” Any time you restrict your diet significantly by eliminating a major food group, such as wheat or dairy, calories typically drop and weight loss occurs. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that many wheat-free dieters report — anecdotally, without published scientific findings — that they have lost weight. Yet, a number of studies have found that people who eat more whole grains, including whole wheat, maintain a healthier weight. In a Tufts University study of more than 400 adults, whole grain and cereal fiber intake was strongly linked to lower BMI (body mass index), lower total percent body fat and lower levels of abdominal fat. However, if you eat too many servings of wheat or too many high-calorie products that combine wheat with fat and sugar (think donuts and chocolate chip cookies), it’s entirely possible to put on pounds.

Wheat and disease Wheat-free diets claim that humans were healthy before the cultivation of wheat, and that wheat is to blame for many health conditions — from diabetes to heart disease. But Jones reported, “Most chronic diseases didn’t occur in early times because life span was only in the 30s. If anything, you could say that diets with grains have enabled a longer life. “In the beginning of the 1900s, our lifespan was in the 50s and we were eating a lot of wheat. Our lifespan has continued to increase. This has to do with many factors, including diet.” Furthermore, a body of science indicates consumption of whole grains is associated with many health benefits, including decreased mortality and lower risk of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, hypertension, and certain types of cancer. Since wheat comprises about 94 percent

BEACON BITS

June 22

D.C. KIDNEY ACTION DAY

Get a free kidney health screening from the American Kidney Fund at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex, 8001 Sheriff Rd., Landover, Md., on Saturday, June 22, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also enjoy healthy cooking demos and food samples, interactive fitness demos, local entertainment, children’s activities, and the Kidney Action Day Walk. The event is free and open to all. For more information, visit www.kidneyfund.org.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 3

Wheat advice From page 16 of our grain intake in the U.S., you can link these health attributes with whole wheat consumption, according to Jones. Look no further than the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) — a dietary pattern with years of documented, proven health benefits, including weight loss, elimination of hypertension, and reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, heart failure, and certain types of cancer. The DASH diet is a nutritionally balanced diet that includes six to eight servings of grains daily, mostly in their whole grain form. “Unless you have a food allergy, if any diet tells you to eliminate a whole food group or category of foods, or promises

what seems too good to be true, stay clear of it,” Jones said. “What you want is variety; eat all kinds of fruits and vegetables and all kinds of grains.” The secret to eating wheat healthfully is to focus on minimally processed foods, such as whole wheat pasta, whole grain bread and crackers, and cooked wheat, such as wheat berries, kamut and spelt. Limit grain treats, like cake, cookies and butter crackers, to “occasionally.” And remember to pay attention to portion sizes. Today’s restaurants can dish up six to eight servings of pasta on your plate, and that’s just too much for anyone. Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC, at 800-829-5384 or www.EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2013 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

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Health Studies Page

J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Type 2 diabetics with heart disease sought By Barbara Ruben People diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are two to four times more likely to have heart disease or stroke than those who don’t have

diabetes. In fact, 65 percent of those with diabetes die of cardiovascular diseases. That’s because type 2 diabetics are likelier to have high blood pressure, high cho-

BEACON BITS

June 8

A LOOK AT AGING EYES

Former medical advisor to the Macular Degeneration Network, Dr. Richard Garfinkel, will discuss “The Retina Over 50” and its vulnerabilities to possible diseases/disorders. The event takes place Saturday, June 8 at the Friendship Heights Village Center, 4433 South Park Ave., Chevy Chase, Md., beginning with bagels and coffee at 10 a.m. and continuing with the lecture from 10:30 a.m. to noon. To register, call (301) 656-2797.

lesterol and be overweight, and because chronic high blood sugar can cause arteries to narrow. People with both diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors “are particularly vulnerable to heart attack and stroke, so we need to find a medication with fewer side effects [than current options],” said Dr. Nabil S. Andrawis. He and other researchers at Burke Clinical Research Center in Virginia are studying a drug called aleglitazar to see if it can help those who have both diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Aleglitazar is not yet approved by the Food and Drug Ad-

ministration. Aleglitazar belongs to a class of drugs called PPAR co-agonists. Andrawis said that these drugs, which affect both glucose and lipid control, offer a way to treat diabetes with fewer side effects. Older diabetes drugs could cause sudden, dangerous drops in blood sugar and also caused people to gain weight. Aleglitazar and similar drugs help keep blood sugar steady and even help patients lose weight, he said. Some other PPAR co-agonists have See STUDY, page 19

BEACON BITS

June 19

SEXUAL BEHAVIORS AND DEMENTIA Join the Charles E. Smith Life Communities’ “Remember This”

lecture series for “Sexual Behaviors and the Dementia Patient” with Jennifer FitzPatrick. Event takes place on Wednesday, June 19 at the Landow House theater, 1799 East Jefferson St., Rockville, Md. There will be a complimentary supper, which begins at 5:30 p.m. The lecture runs from 6 to 7 p.m. To register, visit www.cohen-rosen.org or call (301) 816-5052.

June 18

LEARN ABOUT SPINE SURGERY Considering spine surgery? Register for Holy Cross Hospital’s free lecture on a new, minimally invasive procedure on Tuesday, June

18 from 7 to 8 p.m. Dr. Philip Schneider, medical director of the Spine Center, will present information on small incision surgery, which has less pain and a quicker recovery time. To register, visit https://holycross.drsreferralservice.com/p-849joint-spine-lecture-series.aspx or call (301) 754-8800.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 3

Study From page 18 been implicated in causing a higher risk of heart failure. In previous studies, however, aleglitazar has not caused heart failure when given at lower doses.

offices in Manassas and Burke, Va. Patients will initially visit the office once every two weeks. Once they respond to the medication and are stable, they will visit the office once every three months for blood work, an EKG and other tests.

too high for it, then we can treat them with other medications at very low cost to them until their levels are low enough for the

study,” Andrawis said. For more information, or to volunteer to participate, call (703) 455-9711.

A double-blind random trial Who may volunteer? Andrawis is looking for people who have had a previous heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular disease, along with type 2 diabetes, for a study utilizing the oral drug. The study, dubbed Aleprevent, will last two to three years. Those participating in the study must be 40 or older and be managing their cardiovascular risk factors, such as by taking medications for high cholesterol or high blood pressure. They cannot take part if they are currently treating their diabetes with a thiazolidinedione (TDZ) or fibrate drugs, have symptomatic heart failure that is classified as NYHA class II-IV, or been hospitalized for heart failure in the last year. They also cannot have been diagnosed with or treated for cancer in the last five years, except for basal cell skin cancer or in-situ cervical or prostate cancer. Andrawis will conduct the study at his

BEACON BITS

June 22

RED HAT EVENT

Join the ladies of Red Hat Society, an international organization of women over 50, for a luncheon on Saturday, June 22. Red Hatters are invited to the Queen’s Luncheon being held at the Ft. McNair Officer’s Club at 4th and P St. SW, Washington, D.C., on Saturday, June 22. Space is limited, so register early! This is a glitzy affair — wear “bling” and a fabulous red hat. The cost is $40. For additional information, contact V. Queen Sara White at (202) 526-2955. If no answer, leave a message at (202) 529-0141 or email capitoldames@comcast.net.

Ongoing

TEACH COMPUTER SKILLS

Volunteer Solutions in Fairfax County is seeking computer instructors who will provide beginner and advanced beginner computer training to seniors. Training takes place at the Lorton Senior Center, 7722 Gunston Plaza, Lorton, Va. Classes for beginners are very basic, including how to write a letter, save work, access the Internet and download pictures. Advanced beginner classes include how to use Skype, pay bills online, shop online, find and use sites for seniors and use search engines. Class slots are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 2 p.m. If interested, contact Theresa Brown at Theresa.Brown@FairfaxCounty.gov.

Patients enrolled in the study will be randomly chosen to either get aleglitazar or a placebo that contains no active ingredients. Neither they nor the researchers will know who is getting the real drug until the end of the study. Participants will receive all medications, blood work and doctor visits free of charge. They will also get free diabetes supplies and will be screened and treated for such conditions as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. They will receive $40 to $50 for each visit to the clinic. “We encourage patients to see if they qualify. If their blood sugar is too low for the study, that’s good news for them. If it’s

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J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

All about healthy chocolate and cocoa Q: We hear so much about antioxidant compounds in chocolate. What about cocoa and chocolate milk? A: Chocolate’s flavonoid compounds are under study not only as antioxidants, but also for other health-protective effects like reducing inflammation and lowering blood pressure. Chocolate and cocoa-related products have highly variable flavonoid content, and cocoa content on labels can be tricky to decipher. Cocoa powder is made up of cocoa bean solids — which hold the flavonoid compounds — and cocoa butter. One to two tablespoons of natural cocoa powder provide a similar level of flavonoids as the amount

of dark chocolate used in studies suggesting health benefits. However, most widely available cocoa mixes contain cocoa treated with alkali (called Dutch cocoa), which removes most of the flavonoid compounds. Chocolate milk is also made with Dutch cocoa, because it mixes with cold liquids better. But that means chocolate milk is not a source of these potentially protective flavonoids. You may find some gourmet cocoa mixes made with natural (untreated) cocoa, and you can make a more flavonoidrich drink by using natural cocoa plus your own sweetener and milk. Overall, dark chocolate, which can run

from 50 to 90 percent cocoa, is higher in example. However, you can get to a point where flavonoids and has a more intense flavor it’s hard to meet nutrient than milk chocolate, although needs if you aim for a calorie milk chocolate does provide intake that’s too low. The some flavonoids, too. good news is that the reduced White chocolate contains amount of calories burned no cocoa bean solids and with age can be offset by intherefore is not a source of creasing physical activity. flavonoids. You may see white Doing 30 to 60 minutes chocolate labels stating a perdaily of moderate physical accent cocoa (or cacao) content, tivity — like brisk walking — but this is all present in the generally burns calories simiform of cocoa butter, which NUTRITION lar to the drop in metabolic does not contain flavonoids. rate that occurs. Q: It seems to be so WISE By Karen Collins, This activity doesn’t need to much harder to avoid occur all at once, but it needs weight gain as I’ve gotten MS, RD, CDM to be virtually every day and older. Is it true that metabolism slows down as we age? Is there needs to take you beyond an easy stroll where you could easily sing as you walk. anything to do about it? The really terrific news is that even as A: You’re right — if you eat the same as you did as a young adult, and remain just this activity is helping avoid weight gain, it as active, barring some unusual illness, exerts powerful metabolic effects indeyou will gain weight partly due to slowing pendent of weight that help to reduce diabetes and cancer risk with each and every metabolism. Research shows we burn fewer calories walk. The American Institute for Cancer Reas we age because of a combination of decreased physical activity, loss of lean mus- search offers a Nutrition Hotline, 1-800843-8114, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday cle tissue, and slower metabolic rate. On average, compared to total calorie through Friday. This free service allows you needs at age 20, at age 50 you need about to ask questions about diet, nutrition and 200 fewer calories per day, and at age 65 or cancer. A registered dietitian will return 70, about 400 to 500 fewer calories per day. your call, usually within three business days. Courtesy of the American Institute for One way to avoid or reduce age-related weight gain is to reduce calorie consump- Cancer Research. Questions for this column tion. Make “treats” a less common event, may be sent to “Nutrition Wise,” 1759 R St., reduce portion sizes, and don’t go back for N.W. Washington, DC 20009. Collins canseconds on anything but vegetables, for not respond to questions personally.

BEACON BITS

June 12

PROGRAM TO PREVENT ELDER ABUSE

In honor of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Montgomery County Elder/Vulnerable Adult Abuse Task Force has created a daylong event on Wednesday, June 12. Learn from a wide variety of exhibitors about services, and from providers who address issues faced by seniors and their families, including emergency preparedness, avoiding financial exploitation, and criminal investigations of abuse and neglect. The event takes place at the Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place, Silver Spring, Md., from 1 to 5 p.m. For inquiries, call Mario Wawrzusin at (240) 777-3851.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 3

Salmon & spinach salad, a one-dish meal Few things are better and more nutritious than salmon combined with fresh baby spinach. You get the taste of the sea and a treat from the garden. This dish starts with a marinade of soy sauce, vinegar and mustard to infuse the fish with flavor. The salad dressing has a lovely layering of flavors. Orange juice adds both sweetness and acidity and honey balances the vinegar. The additions of sesame oil and ginger impart a subtle Asian accent, while garlic and shredded carrots create a refreshing flavor and tantalizing texture. The salad bed of tender baby spinach pairs perfectly with the grilled salmon. And the inclusion of tomatoes and peppers add vibrant red color and additional nutritional punch. You can make this a meal by adding wild rice topped with lentils. Simply place the rice on a plate and spoon over several heaping tablespoons of cooked lentils heated with a bit of water or vegetable broth. Of course, you can always serve up some sides consisting of any vegetable leftovers you have handy. Then enjoy this late spring or early summer meal.

Marinated salmon and spinach salad Fish Marinade ¼ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce ¼ cup rice vinegar 1 tsp. mustard powder or 1 tsp. prepared mustard 1 lb. salmon, cut in four fillets

Salad Dressing 3 Tbsp. orange juice 3 Tbsp. rice vinegar 2 Tbsp. honey 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil ½ tsp. toasted (or regular) sesame oil 2 cloves garlic ½ cup shredded carrots 1 tsp. minced fresh ginger Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Salad 5 oz. baby spinach, rinsed clean 8 cherry tomatoes, halved 1 red bell pepper, sliced thin Whisk together marinade ingredients to combine well. In shallow dish, coat both sides of salmon with marinade. Cover dish and refrigerate for at least one hour. To grill salmon: Coat grill lightly with oil to prevent sticking. Remove salmon from marinade and discard remaining marinade. Place salmon, skin side down, on medium-hot grill. Cook about 6 minutes until skin is browned and crisp. Gently turn fillets over and cook additional 2-3 minutes until desired degree of doneness. Remove and set aside. To pan-fry salmon: Follow the same procedure with a lightly oiled frying pan over medium-hot heat. Combine dressing ingredients in food processor or blender and pulse or blend until well combined, about 1 minute. Arrange salad ingredients on four serving dishes. Drizzle half the dressing on salad. Place salmon on top and drizzle remaining dressing. Serve.

Makes 4 servings. Per serving: 280 calories, 13 g. total fat (2.5 g. saturated fat), 21 g. carbohydrate, 22 g. protein, 4 g. dietary

fiber, 403 mg. sodium. — Courtesy of the American Institute for Cancer Research

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J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

New sleep aid takes a novel approach Dear Pharmacist: I have taken Ambien for years, but I still can’t sleep well. What else do you recommend? — F.T. Dear F.T.: If you can’t sleep on Ambien, I’d try something different. If you have sleep deprivation, it increases the risk of depression, heart disease and infection, so sleep any way you can. But remember: Sleep aids are for short-term use, they are not a forever thing. A novel sleep drug is coming to the mar-

ket called Suvorexant, and so far, I like it. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is evaluating it right now. Merck & Co. manufactures the new drug, which supposedly does not induce memory loss, daytime fatigue or attention difficulties — all common side effects with benzodiazepines and Z drugs, which dominate the multi-billion dollar insomnia market. You know these other drugs by names like Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata, Xanax, Valium and Halcion. These drugs increase GABA levels — a neurotransmitter that induces sleep. Tick-

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le those GABA receptors, and you will fall respond compared with monkeys given a asleep, but also likely have cognitive prob- DORA blocker. We’re not monkeys, though the point is made. lems, full-body muscle relaxIs Suvorexant the next best ation, daytime fatigue and amazing sleep drug? Time bizarre hypnotic events. will tell. So far, headache is Suvorexant doesn’t affect the most commonly reported GABA at all. Rather than inside effect. ducing sleep, it turns off the Always use the lowest efswitch that keeps you awake. fective dose and for short It does this by reducing a terms. Never combine sleep hormone called orexin (a.k.a. drugs with sedatives or alcohypocretin). Interestingly, elehol. vated orexin levels are comAlso, clean your bedroom, mon in those prone to panic at- DEAR PHARMACIST turn off lights and implement tacks, and Suvorexant may By Suzy Cohen healthier sleep hygiene prachelp with those as well. tices. Go to my website to But Suvorexant is now being tested and marketed as a prescrip- read about natural remedies if those intertion sleep aid and should do very well. est you. One theoretical concern with SuvorexThere are well-designed, unbiased clinical trials to show orexin blockers improve ant is narcolepsy, since if you reduce orexin levels, you will go to sleep. Fortunately, sleep (and reduce panic). Orexins keep you awake. If orexin lev- late-stage clinical trials have not reported els suddenly drop, so do you, meaning you this side effect. However, more adverse rego to sleep! People with narcolepsy have actions may come to light after the medicaswinging orexin levels. Contrarily, if orex- tion is launched and more widely used. [Ed’s Note: An advisory panel of medical in is high, you might feel panicky, anxious, experts recommended last month that the wired or have insomnia. Suvorexant reduces orexin levels. It’s FDA approve Suvorexant as safe and effeccategorized as a “dual orexin receptor an- tive. The FDA is expected to issue its final tagonist” or a “DORA blocker” for short. decision on the drug later this year.] This information is opinion only. It is not “Dual” because it blocks both OX1 and intended to treat, cure or diagnose your conOX2 receptor sites. How do you feel if you wake at 4 a.m. on dition. Consult with your doctor before using your sleep medication? Researchers com- any new drug or supplement. Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist pared conventional GABA blockers to and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist DORA blockers to find out. Monkeys given popular GABA blockers and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To were much foggier, confused and slower to contact her, visit www.dearpharmacist.com.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 3

Issues arising after unhappy marriages © Helen Oxenberg, 2013. Questions to be Dear Solutions: Divorcing after all those years was prob- a big family celebration once in a while. I’m very upset about my younger sis- ably a big shock to those children. When a And if not, then ask the children to considered for this column may be sent to: ter. She’s in her 60s and marriage lasts so long, even if please understand that you will be too un- The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915. You may also email the author was in an unhappy marriage it’s bad, people stop thinking comfortable attending. for over 40 years. Now she’s about it and expect it to go on If all else fails, toss a coin. Please let me at helox72@comcast.net. To inquire about reprint rights, call (609) 655-3684. a widow and, luckily, was forever. know how it all turns out. left a lot of money. After a divorce, even grown Somehow, men she meets children seem to hold on to seem to know this, and she the fantasy that their parents thinks any man who’s interwill get back together some ested in her is after her day. Evidently, they want you money. She says she would two to at least be friends. be very gullible if she beYou have to choose your lieved they’re not just after SOLUTIONS priorities. If you can let go of By Helen Oxenberg, her money. any lingering resentment you So she keeps looking for MSW, ACSW may feel, and it’s important to someone else and keeps you to please your children, getting hurt. I don’t know how to stop then go to the party (you can decide about this or what to call this. the funeral later). Make it very clear to — Irene them first that this will not change your Dear Irene: marital status, but you are willing to attend I’d call it Gullible’s Travels, since she’s traveling from man to man. Since she was in a bad, emotionally abusive marriage, her self esteem is probably low, and she doesn’t trust that a man might be truly interested in her, not her money. So she needs help to build up her self worth and play down her financial worth. Encourage her to use some of this lucky financial means to pay for good therapy to help her feel good about herself and improve her ability to judge the real character of the men she meets. Dear Solutions: My former husband and I were married for more than 55 years before we got divorced, and it wasn’t a great divorce, either. Neither of us has remarried. Now my children and grandchildren are having a big party for him, and they keep insisting that I should come. Yes, they say, they know we’re divorced, but since I was married to 6/+165A!+I456 AN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY him for so long, I should be part of this party anyway because he’s pretty ! 6&9B<%!410-770-3070 ! "#$%&'(!)$&%'*!410-761-4150 old, and it may be the last one. I/5"45C!74@A18 ! ++(,($%&!-&$.!410-544-3411 I don’t really want to go, but I don’t want to disappoint the kids either. Do ! )(:!/>$!410-893-0064 )/0123456!7218 )/ you think I should go? I don’t know ! )<J!I>::!410-515-6115 ! /9*:&%;!1($$&'(!410-276-6440 what’s right or wrong anymore. For inI4H/5C!74@A18 ! 7<:;9=$>%?!410-542-4400 stance, just because we were married for so long, should I go to his funeral? ! 7<:<%>&:!0&%;>%?!410-796-4399 )/0123456!74@A18 — Unsure ! 7<:#EK>&!410-381-1118 ! 7&B<%9,>::(!410-719-9464 Dear Unsure: Not until he’s dead — and not unless he ! 6::>'<BB!7>BG!410-203-9501 ! C#%;&:.!410-288-5483 *Newly dies before you do! Of course, all of these ! 6::>'<BB!7>BG!22!410-203-2096 D! "#::($B<%!410-663-0665 Renovated! decisions are yours and yours alone.

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June 11

HOARDING HELP

Henriette Kellum, licensed clinical social worker, will define hoarding, explore its causes, describe intervention strategies, and provide information on where to get help on Tuesday, June 11 at 10 a.m. The event takes place at Walter Reed Senior Center, 2909 S. 16th St., Arlington, Va. This is a free event. To register, call (703) 228-0955.

! 3>$&E&$!0&%;>%?!410-391-8375 ! 5&%;&::9B<F%!410-655-5673 ewly * Rosedale 410-866-1886 Re*N novated! ! 1&G:<$!410-663-0363 ! 1<F9<%!410-828-7185 ! H<<;:&F%!410-281-1120

! 6E($9<%!301-483-3322 ! +%<F;(%!5>,($!410-290-0384 -52A76!L645L6M+!74@A18 NOW! D! ):&;(%9K#$?!301-699-9785 *55 or Better ! 0&#$(:!301-490-1526 ! 0&#$(:!22!301-490-9730

FFFN-&$.O>(F+(%><$0>,>%?N'<E Call the community nearest you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour or email seniorliving@sheltergrp.com. Professionally managed by The Shelter Group. www.thesheltergroup.com

J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFICE ON AGING

Spotlight On Aging VOLUME XXIV, ISSUE 6

A newsletter for D.C. Seniors

June 2013

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE By John M. Thompson, Ph.D., FAAMA Last month, during Older American’s Month, the District of Columbia Of fice on Aging (DCOA) hosted Mayor Gray’s “Second Annual Senior Symposium: An Age-Friendly City” at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines an Age-Friendly City as an inclusive and accessible environment that encourages active and healthy living for all residents by making improvements focused on eight domains of city life affecting the health and well-being of older people. These domains include: outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, and community support and health services. In addition to WHO’s eight domains, DCOA has added two domains: emergency preparedness and adult abuse, neglect and exploitation. The symposium drew nearly 600 seniors, caregivers, healthcare and social services providers, and top District of Columbia government of ficials. Mayor Vincent C. Gray delivered a rousing speech about his expectation for transforming Washington, D.C. into an age-friendly city and identified age-friendly D.C. ef for ts that are currently underway. The Mayor announced the District’s first-ever Silver Alert Program, which is similar to the Amber Alert System for alerting the public about missing children. Silver Alert establishes in the District a coordinated effort between the Metropolitan Police Department, Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, Depar tment of Transpor tation and DCOA to quickly inform the public of missing seniors and to mobilize resources to locate them. Statistics show that as people age, some will have Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Unfortunately, seniors with dementia are

prone to wander from their homes. The District’s Silver Alert System will actively address this issue and return more missing seniors to their homes safely. Additionally, Mayor Gray discussed the District’s Nursing Home Discharge Program, which also aligns with an age-friendly city. The purpose of this person-centered program is to identify and transition willing and able nursing home residents back into the community from nursing homes. Through this program, the DCOA transition care coordinators will work closely with the identified nursing home residents during their transition and will ensure that the appropriate home and community-based services are available to ensure their success in a non-institutional setting. The Mayor’s speech was followed by the morning plenary, facilitated by Dr. Ruth Finkelstein, senior vice president for policy and planning at the New York Academy of Medicine. Dr. Finkelstein led symposium attendees in a live sur vey to assess the District’s readiness to become an agefriendly city. Preliminar y findings show that 88 percent of survey participants agree that the District has dependable public transportation. However, an area for improvement through the age-friendly transformation is to ensure that all seniors, especially those with very limited income, have access to reliable transportation to medical appointments and other destinations to help them to remain an active part of society. One interesting statistic from the survey is that 18 percent of participants feel that they are treated like they are less capable or important because of their age when frequenting stores, restaurants and banks. As we transform Washington, D.C. into an age-friendly city through enhanced See EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, page 25

The Ms. Senior D.C. Pageant 2013 will be held on June 23 at the University of the District of Columbia, Building 46, 4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW. District women age 60 and older will compete for the opportunity to represent their peers across the city and at the Ms. Senior America Pageant. The contestants will be judged on a personal interview with the judges panel, their philosophy of life, talent and evening gown competition. For information or tickets, contact a member of the D.C. Seniors Cameo Club or Daisy Savage at 202-829-0423.

More than 500 seniors, caregivers, stakeholders and others attended the Mayor's Second Annual Senior Symposium. During the plenary session, Dr. Ruth Finkelstein moderated an interactive session that asked questions of participants. Participants used handheld devices to answer questions, and seconds later a compilation of the answers was displayed on large screens. The New York Academy of Medicine will compile a report and provide it to the office.

As part of Global Youth Service Day, representatives of City Year Washington, D.C. and second graders from Simon Elementary School assisted seniors at Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center with the "Congress Heights Youth and Senior Garden." The group built the flower boxes and planted flowers and vegetables on the grounds of the wellness center. Groundwork Executive Director Dennis L. Chestnut assisted with the project and provided in-kind labor. Supplies were donated by Community Forklift, Home Depot on Rhode Island Avenue NE and Frager's Hardware on Pennsylvania Avenue.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 3

D.C. OFFICE

AGING NEWSLETTER

Beware of Calls About Unsolicited Loans The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has made the Office on Aging aware of calls being made to District residents that begin with “your loan has been approved.” Seniors who have not applied for loans are receiving calls stating that their loans have been approved. There have been no recent complaints of any fraud taking place; however, residents should be very careful. The Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) advises residents not to respond to telemarketers who contact them with unsolicited loan approvals. Offers of pre-approved loans may or may not be fraudulent. Consumers should do their own due diligence before accepting any loan offers. DISB is available to verify if lenders are licensed to do business in the District of Columbia. Telemarketers are trained to be very persistent, especially with older persons on the phone. If you feel uncomfortable, you can just reply, “Thank you for your offer, but I must decline. Goodbye.” Another response could be to just hang up the phone without any regrets.

National Men’s Health Week is celebrated each year as the week leading up to and including Father’s Day, June 9-16, 2013

Goal of Men's Health Week

If you suspect you are a victim of fraud, call the MPD Financial Crimes and Fraud Unit at 202-727-4159 or send an email to mpd.fraud-unit@dc.gov. To verify lenders that are licensed in the District of Columbia, contact DISB at 202-727-8000. For more information, you may also contact our Information and Assistance Unit at 202-724-5626.

District Senior Wins National Contest Senior citizens in the District of Columbia and nationwide celebrated National Senior Health and Fitness Day during Older Americans Month under the theme: “Think Healthy, Eat Healthy, Act Healthy…Be Healthy!” This year’s theme was among 1,000 entries submitted by older adults across the country. The Mature Market Resource Center solicited the entries, and the winning theme was submitted by a local resident. Contest winner and Ward 1 resident Clarence “Buddy” Moore was presented with a plaque, a $250 cash prize and a tshirt bearing the winning theme. Because Moore lives this motto daily, he didn’t have to think twice when he wrote it down and submitted the entry. Moore, 75, is an active participant of the Bernice Fonteneau Senior Wellness Center, where he chairs the Outreach Committee, is coordinator of the Memoir Writing Workshops, and is a member of the walking club and the bowling and bas-

Executive director From page 24 programs and ser vices, we will also work to transform perspectives about seniors in the business community. As I know, seniors are filled with wisdom and have so much to offer society, and we should take the time to capitalize on their abilities. If you did not attend this year’s symposium, I hope that you can join me for the Mayor’s Third Senior Symposium, which will be held in May 2014. In the interim, I ask that you share your perspectives on how the District can transform into an age-friendly city for all seniors

NATIONAL MEN’S HEALTH WEEK

The purpose of Men's Health Week is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. Recognizing and preventing men’s health problems is not just a man’s issue. Encourage a senior male friend or relative to visit one or more of our senior wellness centers: Bernice Fonteneau Senior Wellness Center (202) 727-0338 3531 Georgia Avenue, NW

Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center (202) 563-7225 3500 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, SE Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center (202) 291-6170 324 Kennedy Street, NW Model Cities Senior Wellness Center (202) 635-1900 1901 Evarts Street, NE

Washington Seniors Wellness Center (202) 581-9355 3001 Alabama Avenue, SE Hayes Senior Wellness Center (202) 727-0357 500 K Street, NE

New Office on Aging Programs and Services CALL-IN TALK LINE - Fills the companionship need of seniors living in isolation and loneliness. During normal business hours, seniors can call into the office and talk with caring individuals who are willing to listen and provide friendship. Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) - Provides free nutritious food to low-income pregnant, postpartum, and lactating women; children ages 1 through 5 years; and residents 60 years and older. CSFP also provides nutrition education to assist participants to improve their health through better nutrition. DCOA Ambassador Program - An initiative to train community residents about the programs and services offered by the D.C. Office on Aging and its Senior Service Network. The ambassadors serve as points of contacts for distributing information about the programs and services available to seniors, persons living with disabilities and caregivers in their wards and communities.

ketball teams. Mr. Moore is also very active as a volunteer with the ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) Association. Congratulations, Buddy!

and ever yone living and visiting our great city. We will be scheduling community stakeholder meetings across the District to listen to your ideas and perspectives as we begin strategic planning to transform the District into an age-friendly city. Please stay tuned for more information on the times and locations of these meetings. If you are on Twitter, please follow us on @dcagingnews and @drjohnmthompson to stay current on upcoming AgeFriendly DC and other DCOA activities in your neighborhood. If you are not on Twitter, feel free to visit our website at www.dcoa.dc.gov or call us at 202-7245626 for more information.

Emergency Responders Program - In partnership with the Department of Health, the D.C. Office on Aging will train 100 volunteers as first responders. In case of an emergency or disaster, the first responders will assist local government responders in emergency preparedness, response and recovery, first aid and CPR, special issues dealing with seniors and persons living with disabilities. These trained certified volunteers will assist the Office on Aging and the city in their response to emergency situations.

Grade DC - This pilot program enables District residents to submit comments about DCOA and view how others graded the agency. The goal is to help residents better engage with their government, promote government transparency and assist government agencies in improving the quality of their services and customer service. Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) - Provides fresh fruits and vegetables seasonally (May -November) to senior citizens of the District of Columbia who are eligible for and participate in the CSFP. Senior Home Repair Program - The D.C. Office on Aging has partnered with YouthBuild Public Charter Schools to provide District seniors with free labor for small home repair, home improvements or painting projects.

500 K Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20002 • (202) 724-5626 • dcoa.dc.gov Government of the District of Columbia Vincent C. Gray, Mayor

J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

D.C. OFFICE

AGING NEWSLETTER

Community Calendar June events

ior Nutrition Site, 635 Edgewood St. NE. For more information, call Vivian Grayton at 202-5298701.

13th • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Department of Parks and Recreation and the Office on Aging will host the Annual Senior Picnic at Oxon Run Park, 900 Valley Ave., SE. Enjoy live entertainment, music, dancing and lunch under the tent. Demonstration bingo, information and resource exhibits, and health screenings will also be available. For reservations, contact your senior center or recreation site manager, or call 202-724-5626.

14th • 11:30 a.m. Learn about signs of stroke in men at a seminar at the Ft. Lincoln 1 Senior Nutrition Site, 2855 Bladensburg Rd. NE. For more information, call Vivian Grayton at 202-529-8701.

14th • 11:30 a.m. MedStar will teach participants about heart health at a seminar at the Edgewood Terrace Sen-

15th • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Advocates for Elder Justice, Hilda and Charles Mason Charitable Foundation, Inc., presents a symposium on elder abuse and exploitation at Living Word Church, 4101 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. SW. Topics include seldom-recognized signs of abuse, reporting requirements, medical, legal and social services resources, respite services, abuse and exploitation prevention. For more information, call 202-723-2939 or visit www.advocatesforelderjustice.org.

Daisy Savage at 202-829-0423 or 202-289-1510, x1171.

25th & 26th • 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Learn proven safety strategies to maintain your confidence behind the wheel with the AARP Driver Safety Course. Those who complete the class may qualify for a discount on their auto insurance premium (check with your insurance agent for details). The 8-hour course is held over two consecutive days, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cost is $12 for AARP members; $14 for non-members. Register by calling 202-291-6170. It will be held at the Hattie Holmes Senior Center, 324 Kennedy St. NW.

26th • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

23rd • 2:30 p.m. The Ms. Senior D.C. Pageant 2013 will take place at the University of the District of Columbia, 4200 Connecticut Ave. NW, Building 46. Witness the selection of Ms. Senior D.C. 2013 as women age 60 and older compete for the title. Tickets are $25. For tickets and information, call

Spend the day sailing on the Potomac on the Spirit of Washington for the Dept. of Parks and Recreation Senior Boat Ride. Enjoy entertainment, dancing, music and fun with friends. Tickets are $40 on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact Jennifer Hamilton at 202-664-7153 to reserve your ticket today.

New Nursing Home Transition Te am

Funds Available to Operate Senior Transportation Program DCOA has reissued the Request for Applications (RFA) for the Washington Elderly Handicapped Transportation Service (WEHTS). WEHTS provides quality curb-to-curb service for District residents 60 years of age and older to essential medical and life sustaining appointments. Operations also include transportation to sites and activities, the Call-NRide taxicab voucher program, and the Home Delivered Meal (HDM) Program. Federal and District of Columbia

appropriated funds are available for a single or collaborative applicant organization to operate one or up to four transportation services. The RFA is available on the Office on Aging’s website, www.dcoa.dc.gov and on the Office of Partnerships and Grant Ser vices’ website, www.opgd.dc.gov. The RFA submis-

SPOTLIGHT ON AGING Spotlight On Aging is published by the Information Office of the D.C. Office on Aging for D.C. senior residents. Advertising contained in the Beacon is not endorsed by the D.C. Office on Aging or by the publisher. 500 K St., N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002 202-724-5622 • www.dcoa.dc.gov John M. Thompson, Ph.D., FAAMA Executive Director Darlene Nowlin Editor Selma Dillard Photographer The D.C. Office on Aging does not discriminate against anyone based on actual or perceived: race, color, religion, nation-

al origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, source of income, and place of residence or business. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination which is prohibited by the Act. In addition, harassment based on any of the above protected categories is prohibited by the Act. Discrimination in violation of the Act will not be tolerated. Violators will be subjected to disciplinary action.

The Office on Aging is in partnership with the District of Columbia Recycling Program.

sion deadline is June 10, 2013 at 4:30 pm. No late applications will be accepted. For more information, contact Aurora Delespin-Jones or Brenda L. Turner at 202-724-8821.

Have you or a loved one been admitted prematurely into a nursing home or long-term care facility? Are you interested in returning to the community? If the answer to these questions is yes, contact the DCOA Nursing Home Transition Team. The team will begin the process of determining if residing in the community is the best option for you. For more information, call Mikaell Briscoe at 202-724-5626.

Senior Villages RFA Online

The Office on Aging is soliciting applications from qualified applicants to plan, develop, organize, implement and sustain “Aging in Place” programs for Wards 7 & 8 in the District. The programs should enable District residents 60 years and older residing in a specific neighborhood to enjoy safer, healthier and more independent lives in their own homes. Senior villages assist seniors living in neighborhoods by partnering with and connecting them to needed resources and service providers. As a nonprofit membership organization, the village can provide a variety of programs and services more cost-effectively than most conventional retirement communities are able to provide.

The RFA deadline for submission is June 7, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. To view the RFA and for more information, visit www.dcoa.dc.gov or www.opgd.dc.gov.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 3

SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION

Say you saw it in the Beacon

B-1

B-2

Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

How to decide whether to sell your home By Helen L. Flynn Selling a house one has lived in for 15 or 50 years is a major event. It is not like relocating for a job or moving up to a larger home. There are emotional, physical, spiritual, financial and social ramifications. And, it comes at a point in life when one’s physical and/or emotional strength may be depleted. Here are some questions to ask yourself if you are considering a move: 1. Is my home safe and convenient for my current and expected physical needs? Stairs: Do you have a steep flight of steps to enter the house or multiple steps in the house that are becoming increasingly difficult to navigate? Perhaps you are living only on one floor of your home or in a couple of rooms because it is difficult to move around. By the way, check that the railings are secure and that stairways are well lit. Sometimes our glasses create a hazard

with steps, not to mention the dangers of snow and ice. Bathrooms: They can be extremely dangerous due to the presence of water and possibility of slipping on hard surfaces. Can you maneuver in the bathroom if you should need a walker or other assistance? Showers can be retrofitted for safety, but perhaps the danger lies in using the bathroom alone without an emergency call system. Access: What is the proximity to neighbors and to emergency help? Living in the country or in the woods is lovely, but can someone get to you easily if necessary? How close are you to your doctors, church, friends, etc.? Is driving something that is becoming an issue? 2. What is the age and condition of your home? If major systems such as heating and air or the roof and windows need to be replaced, the cost can be considerable. Maintaining

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SENIOR APARTMENT COMMUNITY

The Oaks at Olde Towne 301-495-5700 9 Chestnut Street Gaithersburg, MD 20877 The atmosphere at The Oaks at Oldetowne is filled with gracious living. Here, you will appreciate not having to worry about maintenance chores. At the same time, you can take advantage of nearby shops, library, banks, and postal services as well scheduled trips on the Oaks at Oldetowne mini bus. Downtown Gaithersburg and the historical attractions of the area are just minutes away. Enjoy carefree leisure living at The Oaks at Olde Towne, an affordable senior apartment community for persons 62 or better. Call today for your tour!

the lawn and garden may have been a joy at one time, but it may become a burden. Likewise, cleaning and maintaining the interior of a home can become increasingly difficult, especially during times of illness or other incapacity. Little by little the house may deteriorate and its value diminishes. Do you get out of the house and interact with other people frequently and have regular physical activity? So often I see people gradually becoming prisoners in their homes; not being able to get out and not wanting visitors to come in. Loneliness can be a major problem for seniors, especially if they are living alone, and it has real physical consequences.

When should you move? People often wonder if they should wait until the market is better before they sell. You should consider selling when the answers to the above questions indicate that change is necessary. The answer also depends on when you purchased your home and how much equity you have. Most mature sellers have been in their homes for a number of years. Disregard the false equity of 2004-2006. It will be several years before we see a significant increase in home prices, even though the market at this time is improving. Discuss your options with family, doctors,

lawyers and accountants or financial planners to make the decision that is best for you. Then be aware that your decision may change in a month, a year or a moment. Thinking and planning ahead is so important. It puts you in control of your future circumstances, rather than letting circumstances control you.

Potential benefits of selling There are a number of benefits to selling your home that enter into the equation. • You may be able to diversify funds and receive a greater return on your money for the future. • You may be spending less without property taxes and insurance. You may reduce expenses for maintenance and upkeep of the property, not to mention the reduction of physical exertion and stress due to snow, leaf removal and yard work. • You may have more free time. • You may have less need to drive. • You may have more security in a medical crisis. • Your family members will have less worry. • You may have more freedom to travel. Excerpted from Selling Your Home: A Guide for the Mature Seller and Their Families. Helen L. Flynn is a real estate agent with Real Living Evergreene Properties in Ashburn, Va.

BEACON BITS

June 12

AVOID IDENTITY THEFT

Senior Services of Alexandria is sponsoring a special Speaker Series event on Wednesday, June 12, from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Charles Beatley Library, 5005 Duke St., Alexandria, Va. BB&T Bank and the Alexandria Police Department will lead a conversation about how seniors can protect themselves against identity theft and recent fraudulent schemes that have targeted Alexandria’s senior population. Attendees will also be able to talk to panelists. The event is free, and a light breakfast will be served. Register online at www.seniorservicesalex.org or by calling (703) 836-4414, ext 10.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 3

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

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Before you consider living with your kids Folks write poems about Mom, name their kids after her, and even sport tattoos praising her glory — and now the results of a new national survey should make moms feel even more special. The poll, commissioned by home care agency Visiting Angels, surveyed more than 1,100 adults, age 40 and older with both living parents. It reveals that 70 percent of adult children do not want their parents moving in with them. But if they had to choose, 67 percent would prefer to move in their mom over their dad.

Sorry, Dad Most say Mom would: • Help more than Dad with cooking and cleaning (86 percent) • Help more than Dad with the kids (79 percent) • Be neater (73 percent) • Be a better listener (64 percent) Most say Dad: • Has worse hygiene than Mom (75 percent) • Is more likely than Mom to say inappropriate things (75 percent) • Is sloppier than Mom (70 percent) • Is lazier than Mom (68 percent) • Would want to control the TV more than Mom (69 percent) When asked what they fear about one or both parents moving in, respondents say: • Not enough room (55 percent) • Lack of privacy (49 percent) • It would cause conflict (46 percent) • They fear they’d have less intimacy/sex with partner (21 percent)

Forty-one percent say they would prefer their parents remain in their own home with a caregiver, over moving them in to their home (31 percent) or moving them to an assisted living facility (17 percent) or nursing home (2 percent). More than half (58 percent) believe their aging parents would prefer to stay in their own home.

Money concerns Two-thirds (66 percent) of those polled say they cannot afford to move their parents in with them. Yet more than half (51 percent) say they would move them in anyway. And here’s some heartwarming news — 85 percent say money is no motivator; that they would NOT be more inclined to move parents in if they got more of the inheritance. And more than three-quarters of those polled (76 percent) say they would pay out of their own pocket if their parents needed care. “This survey shows children don’t want their aging parents to move in, but they will do whatever it takes to take care of them, even if it means picking up the tab,” said Larry Meigs, CEO of Visiting Angels, one of the country’s largest in-home senior care franchises. “People prefer their parents stay in their own home surrounded by the things that make them feel comfortable and safe.”

Little planning The survey reveals children mean to do well by their parents, though many have

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no game plan whatsoever. Almost three-quarters of respondents (72 percent) say they don’t have a plan for how they’ll care for their aging parents. More than half (54 percent) say they haven’t even had a conversation with their parents about the type of care they want as they age. Why? Many respondents say this question could cause a family feud. Forty-six percent predict some kind of conflict when deciding how to care for aging parents. Twenty-eight percent expect conflict with a parent, 25 percent with a sibling, and 11 percent with a spouse or significant other. So who bears the most responsibility for aging parents? Thirty-two percent say the child that lives closest, 27 percent say the child with the fewest other responsibili-

ties, (e.g., no spouse or children), and 19 percent say the child with the most money. Surprisingly, only 3 percent said the child who got the most growing up. “There can be a lot of conflict in families over how to care for aging parents. Part of the problem is that most families decide about their parents’ care in crisis, when it’s too late; emotions take over, and it’s difficult to think logically and clearly,” said Meigs. “You need to meet now with your parents and siblings to decide on a solution that appeals to everyone involved. Often the family will agree that the best solution is in-home care, where parents can stay at home and get the care they need without overly burdening anyone in the family.”

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703.494.3817 2133 Montgomery Avenue Woodbridge, VA 22191 www.potomacplace.com Coordinated Services Management, Inc. - Professional Management of Retirement Communities Since 1981

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INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Emerson House 301-779-6196 5999 Emerson Street Bladensburg, MD 20710 Emerson House Apartments is conveniently located on Emerson Street, just off of Rt. 450 and 57th Ave in Bladensburg, Md. A quaint residential setting, just minutes from neighborhood shopping, the community is convenient to Prince George's Hospital, a local library, public transportation and parks. Activities within Emerson House include: exercise classes, a Wii bowling league, arts and crafts classes, bingo, movie night, parties, bus trips and much more. Emerson House is a nine story, community designed for today’s seniors (62 and older). Our 220 one-bedroom units offer Section 8 rent subsidy for low- to moderate-income households. Please call today to request an application or make an appointment to tour our community. 301-779-6196. Monday – Friday 8:30 to 5:00.

CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

The Residences at Thomas Circle (202) 626-5761 1330 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington, DC 20005 www.ThomasCircle.com The Residences at Thomas Circles is an exceptional senior living community located in the heart of the district in Washington, DC. Here, residents enjoy a stimulating lifestyle filled with activities and entertainment as well as the company of a diverse group of interesting people. The excellent location means residents can easily visit area attractions, museums, theater, special events and more via the Metro or a short walk. In addition to independent living, The Residences at Thomas Circle is the only in-town senior living community to offer an on-site continuum of health services: assisted living, skilled nursing, and rehabilitative or memory care. Ask about our new respite program, Circle Stays: special spring savings in assisted living and memory care. Visit www.ThomasCircle to learn more or call 202.628.3844.

CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

The Village at Rockville 301-424-9560 9701 Veirs Drive Rockville, MD 20850-3462 www.thevillageatrockville.org At The Village at Rockville, our goal is to create assisted living that makes people more independent, not less. In beautiful private suites, residents will enjoy pampered comfort and just the right amount of help they need, under the watchful eyes of licensed nurses, available 24/7. Additionally, residents can bring their own furniture for a truly personalized new home, but, if needed, we can provide a bed, pillows, a bedside stand, a chest of drawers and a lamp. Our assisted living residences come with a generous package of services and amenities included: • Delicious dining, with three meals and snacks daily • Weekly housekeeping • Utilities • Laundry facilities • Maintenance and repair • Local transportation within a 10-mile radius • Stimulating programs for learning and enjoyment Call today for a tour!

J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Change is one constant with assisted living By Leslie Morgan Among my favorite truisms is, “All that remains the same is change.” In many dimensions of our lives, we expect — and sometimes even welcome — change. In contrast, our views about change shift in our roles as consumers. When we buy a car or select a cable service, we expect consistency in that product or service; we expect the features or options we chose at the time will not change. However, this sort of consistency cannot be expected in another important and costly “product” some of us purchase — assisted living care. While assisted living seems like a stable, known service with a set of listed services and options, research conducted by the Center for Aging Studies at UMBC in 18 varied assisted living settings shows that change, not stability, is the norm. As a result, assisted living consumers, whether residents, family members or friends, may be taken aback when changes occur. Based on more than nine years of research, this article shares some insights unlikely to be addressed if you tour assisted living communities trying to find the right place for Mom, your Uncle Bill or yourself. When the time comes to move, often because remaining at home is no longer practical or safe, an alternative must be identified — sometimes in a hurry. The learning curve is steep when the end of a hospital or rehabilitation stay, or a problem at home, triggers a search for an assisted living (AL) community. Searching involves reviewing lists of options, identifying those with available space,

quickly followed by tours intended to see rooms, observe care, and ask questions. The choice is based on the best fit to the person, the location, the cost and other personal preferences (e.g., religiously oriented, homey or “glitzy,” small or large, quiet or busy).

Changes to expect While you can learn a lot by visiting, the “purchase” of an assisted living setting is unlike other product selections you make, because you should expect the product to change. Change can affect the physical environment, the ownership or leadership, the turnover of staff, the change in the traits of other residents, or the type of services offered. A few of these change areas are detailed below. 1. Change in the business environment. Growth in the AL sector has, until recently, meant increasing competition. Competition drove a number of ALs in our studies to change their focus to specialize in dementia care. Others, in an effort to keep rooms filled, permitted people to remain longer with more fragile states of health or cognition, putting greater demands on limited numbers of staff. Future economic upturns may bring more potential clients, which then might prompt the ALs to push those with higher needs into nursing homes. This most recent recession has meant fewer people are able to afford AL housing, shrinking the ALs’ bottom lines, and in turn the number of staff or range of services provided. See CHANGE, page B-5

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 3

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Considering assisted living? Shop around You’re healthy enough to live in your own apartment, but perhaps you still need help with your medications, bathing or dressing. If you’d like such help whenever needed plus the added benefits of a full social life and meals in a comfortable dining room, an assisted-living facility may be a good fit. But navigating the assisted-living maze can be a challenge. First, there are all the options to consider. Some facilities house as few as 10 older adults in a home-like setting, while others are home to several hundred residents in a high-rise building. Care services can vary, as well. Facilities may offer advanced services such as physical therapy and skilled nursing — or

provide little care at all. Even the names differ from place to place: adult homes, retirement residences, board and care, and congregate care. Regulatory oversight also varies by state, leading to quality problems at some facilities. Issues range from outright abuse to medication errors. “I’m seeing some excellent quality of life and quality of care in assisted living, but we see some serious problems, as well,” said Alice Hedt, Maryland’s long-termcare ombudsman. Given the disparity in quality and services, prospective residents and family members must conduct their own due diligence before choosing a facility. That means visiting sever-

Change

ship, which may change leadership, the list of services, or significantly alter daily routines for staff and residents. Sometimes these changes bring improvement, but in other cases, they are disruptive and their outcomes are mixed or negative. During the time of our studies, many ALs in our sample changed ownership, leadership, or both — sometimes more than once. 3. Changes in the social context of everyday life. As each resident spends months or years in AL, they witness people arriving and leaving, sometimes including ones who’ve become friends. For those who remain, physical and cognitive health

From page B-4 2. Changes in ownership or leadership. A linchpin in many of the AL settings we studied was a leader or key staff person who made a great deal of difference in how daily life unfolded. For example, a “hands on” executive director, who knew staff members’ jobs and made herself widely available to everyone, differed dramatically from one who managed from an office and worried more about the bottom line. Any AL, if it is part of the dominant forprofit sector, can be bought by new owner-

Discover the Support You Need to Live the

LIFE YOU LOVE “I moved to The Solana® for the added security of supportive services and am happy to say I was the very first resident here! From the moment I saw my beautiful new home, with high ceilings and granite countertops, I fell in love, and moving everything into my spacious one-bedroom apartment was a breeze. Now, life is as busy as ever – whether I’m catching up with friends at happy hour, enjoying one of our many outings, or watching a movie in our in-house theater.” ~ Anne Kimball, First Resident at The Solana Olney

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al places, reading the fine print of residential agreements, and asking numerous questions of managers, aides and residents.

Assisted living basics One million Americans live in assisted living — a midway point between independent living and a nursing home. Typically, residents lease apartments — from a studio to a two-bedroom — by the month and eat in a common dining area. Facilities also offer healthcare monitoring and assistance with activities of daily living, and residents can participate in recreational and fitness programs. Even if a person doesn’t need much daily attention, “they benefit from the overall support — not having to cook, social may change their vigor, social engagement, or capacities in ways that reshape the experience of life. If those with dementia, whose families often prefer for them to age in place, remain for a long time, it may leave a mentally vigorous resident with few people able to converse or share in a card game. The social environment that seemed suitable when it was chosen may gradually transition into one that may be less suitable. As “people-intensive” organizations, ALs bring together many groups of people (residents, care staff, administration, etc.), each with diverse backgrounds and ages, and di-

contact, someone to notice if something is wrong,” said Suzanne Modigliani, a geriatric-care manager. After a stroke at age 80, widower Donald Campbell could manage fairly well at first but needed help with eating and household chores, said his daughter Elizabeth Campbell of Denver, Colo. “He could no longer stay at home, but didn’t need nursing-home care,” she said. Her father moved from North Carolina to an assisted-living community near Campbell’s home and lived there for nearly five years before he died in 2008. When her father became ill, Campbell See ASSISTED LIVING, page B-6

verse roles and goals. Given this diversity, as well as the unpredictability both within and beyond AL, users should anticipate and prepare for changes to take place during an AL stay and work with staff and family to make the most of the changes that will come. Leslie Morgan, Ph.D., is a professor in the UMBC Department of Sociology and Anthropology and co-director of the UMB/UMBC Ph.D. program in Gerontology. Morgan is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and charter fellow of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education. This article is based on research funded by the National Institute on Aging.

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INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Assisted living From page B-5

Greenspring 703-913-1200 or 1-800-788-0811 7410 Spring Village Drive Springﬁeld, VA 22150 EricksonLiving.com Situated in beautiful Springfield, Greenspring is the perfect place to enjoy an active lifestyle now, with added peace of mind for the future. Everything you need is right on campus, including continuing care services, should your health needs ever change. Greenspring is supported by the nation’s largest integrated health and wellness system for seniors. Nestled on 108 acres and bordered on three sides by wooded parkland, Greenspring is home to more than 2,000 residents. A refundable deposit guarantees there is no financial risk, and the monthly service package includes utilities, maintenance, and flexible dining plans you can use in any of the four on-site restaurants. On-site amenities include restaurants; stores; medical center with full time physicians; an all-season swimming pool; a fitness center with full-time trainers; barber shop and hair salon; bank; and a full-time, interfaith pastoral staff.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Ashby Ponds 703-723-1999 or 1-800-564-0155 21170 Ashby Ponds Boulevard Ashburn, VA 20147 EricksonLiving.com Ashby Ponds in Ashburn offers maintenance-free retirement living combined with a vibrant lifestyle--all in a beautiful, private and gated community. Without the worries of a house and yard, you can spend more time pursuing your passions. Travel, volunteer, take a college class and explore some of Ashby Ponds many clubs and interest groups. Campus restaurants offer a variety of delicious dining options, while security offers protection and peace of mind. Enjoy the stability of predictable monthly expenses and look forward to a healthy future with our health care and wellness services. Whatever your passions in life, you’ll find the freedom and opportunity to follow them at Ashby Ponds. Continuing Care at Ashby Ponds is under construction and opens in 2014 featuring assisted living, nursing care, post-acute rehabilitation, and memory care.

CONTINUING CARE & MEMORY SUPPORT

Brooke Grove 301-260-2320 18100 Slade School Road Sandy Spring, MD 20860 www.bfg.org This community hums with warmhearted camaraderie and a zest for living shared by residents and staff alike—in independent living, assisted living, memory support, rehabilitative care and nursing care. Experience all that makes Brooke Grove different. Beautifully designed residences in a truly picturesque setting. Unique LIFE® enrichment programming and choices to satisfy every palate. Unsurpassed continuing care and innovative memory support care. Come for a visit and see why Brooke Grove Retirement Village is one of the most sought-after continuing care retirement communities in the state and how living here is simply different … because what surrounds you really matters.

didn’t have much time to check her options. She visited several nearby facilities, relying on gut feelings. “Most of the places I went to didn’t feel good,” she said. Although her father was comfortable at the facility she chose, Elizabeth said she wishes she’d consulted a local geriatric-care manager for guidance and an elder-law attorney to sort out “a lot of the technicalities.” For instance, said elder-law attorney Michael Amoruso, contracts could give “the landlord more rights than tenants in terms of eviction,” compared with typical rental agreements. Another legal issue: If an adult child without a power of attorney signs an agreement on behalf of the parent, the child could be financially liable.

Ask the right questions When you start your quest, look only at facilities with a state license. Ask each center for its agreement outlining services, prices, extra charges and staffing. “Ask how much help is available, at what time and to what level,” Modigliani said. Facilities may differ on the amount of help they can offer with using the toilet, eating and other activities of daily living, for example. Seniors who have a particular concern with falling should make sure they can get extra help while they’re dressing or bathing. Make sure all special requirements and wishes, including favorite social activities, are documented in a personal-care plan. Eat a meal, and ask whether there are menu choices. Also note if staff members are attentive and kind to residents. Speak with residents and their visiting family members about their experiences. Find out about the training the center provides for its staff, and make sure the facility conducts criminal background checks on employees. Because of low wages, turnover is typically high industrywide. Compare the turnover levels for each center as well as the staff-to-resident ratio. Still, there are no hard-and-fast rules on staff levels. “Assisted-living communities are staffed based on the level of care and service needed by the residents,” said Jamison Gosselin, a senior vice-president of the Assisted Living Federation of America. For example, he said, there will be fewer caregivers per resident in a community that “serves a pretty independent group of seniors” than at one where residents need more assistance.

Review the contract’s provisions on the facility’s discharge policies. After a resident leaves for a stint in a hospital or rehabilitation, the facility will decide whether the resident can return. The resident could be charged for food or other services if gone for an extended period. “Even for death, a resident may owe a few months,” Modigliani said.

How much does it cost? Because assisted-living arrangements don’t provide round-the-clock skilled-nursing care, they typically run about half the cost of nursing homes. In 2012, the average “base rate” — a one-bedroom unit, at least two meals a day, housekeeping and minimal personal-care assistance — in Baltimore was $4,307 a month, according to the MetLife Mature Market Institute. But costs vary widely. Most facilities offer several pricing tiers, each with its own set of services. A resident needing little assistance would be at the lowest tier, or base price. You will need to find out what services are included in each tier, such as the number of meals each day, and how much it will cost if your relative needs more care in the future. As her father’s needs grew over five years, his monthly costs rose to $6,000 a month, from the initial $3,000, said Elizabeth Campbell. Eventually, her father needed help dressing and managing his medicines, and took his meals in his apartment. Because Medicare doesn’t pay assistedliving costs, most residents pay the entire tab out of pocket. Elizabeth said her father’s long-term-care insurance policy covered most of the costs. Regulatory oversight varies by state. Ask to review complaints made to state agencies, as well as all state-inspection reports. For information on your state’s regulatory agency, contact the Assisted Living Federation of America at www.alfa.org or (703) 894-1805. You can also find a state’s ombudsman at the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center, www.ltcombudsman.org or (202) 332-2275. Information on assisted living regulation in Maryland can be found at http://dhmh.maryland.gov/ohcq/SitePa ges/Home.aspx. The Maryland state ombudsman’s office can be reached at (410) 767-1108 or www.aging.maryland.gov/Ombudsman.html. The Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office can be reached at 1-800-552-3402. In Washington, D.C., contact the long-term care ombudsman program at (202) 434-2190. — Kiplinger’s Retirement Report © 2013, Kiplinger. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

FREE BILL PAYER PROGRAM

Senior Connection’s Volunteer Bill Payer Program matches seniors (62+ with an annual income that does not exceed $45,100) with a volunteer who will help to manage monthly income and expenses, organize paperwork and pay bills on time. Supported by the AARP Foundation, this program offers coverage that protects the client’s funds, which always remain within the client’s control. This is a free service that helps seniors feel more financially secure and enjoy the companionship of a new friend. There are volunteers available in the Silver Spring, Wheaton, Rockville and Bethesda areas of Montgomery County. Contact Mary Murphy at (301) 942-1049 or mary.murphy@seniorconnectionmc.org for applications or more information.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 3

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Another option for you: communal living boomers had few children, so group housing has the potential for people to provide for and support each other.”

Cohousing communities One option is cohousing, which can be multi-generational and emphasizes privacy but with social contact among members, advocates say. Residents live in private homes but share facilities such as a common house, courtyards, playgrounds or gardens. People typically gather at least once a week for a meal. There are about 100 such communities up and running across the country. “What’s the best thing about cohousing? We know our neighbors really, really well,” said Joani Blank, 75, of Oakland, Calif., a former board member of the Cohousing Association of the United States “What’s the worst thing? We know our neighbors really, really well.” There are at least a dozen cohousing communities in the Greater Baltimore and Greater Washington areas, according to the Cohousing Association of the United States. A directory of such communities across the country can be found at www.cohousing.org/directory. Most are mixed ages, but some include only older adult residents. One such community, ElderSpirit in the southwestern Virginia town of Abingdon, offers a nondenomina-

tional spiritual environment for its members. “We knew what we wanted, and we wanted to live in a self-managed community. It has worked out better than I ever thought it could, said Dene Peterson, 83, a founding member. She said she sought to create an environment where, “You know all your neighbors. You know them well. You feel secure.” Residents are encouraged to live simply and share their belongings, both to foster community and save money. ElderSpirit opened in 2006 and features 29 homes, a common house and a spiritual center. Another reason Peterson said she is drawn to cohousing is the ability to age in place with like-minded people, and “the possibility of dying at home” rather than in an assisted living or other traditional community. Others opt for mixed-age communities. In 2004, Joan and Ed King sold their home in Takoma Park, Md., to their daughter in favor of cohousing at Eastern Village in Silver Spring. They were the eighth couple that joined. Ed, 73, explained that they were drawn to cohousing because, “We have always been interested in the idea of community, being surrounded by people who would bring energy and joy to our lives.” As part of a 56-unit neighborhood, neighbors are never in short supply.

Many cohousing communities have opted for going green. Joan, 73, said this was a motivating factor because “we wanted to leave a smaller carbon footprint.” Eastern Village was named Green Project of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders in 2005. The community does not currently have “internal arrangements for aging in place,” but strategies are in the works to accommodate their aging residents, Ed said. Carroll County’s Liberty Village, in Libertyville, Md., is the closest cohousing community to Baltimore and the oldest in the region. The 15-year-old multigenerational community includes 18 energy efficient homes so far, with another 20 planned. Weekly optional community dinners take place in a common house, along with other social activities. Other Washington-area cohousing communities include Potomac Valley Cohousing in Gaithersburg, Md.; Takoma Village in Washington, D.C.; and Blueberry Hill in Vienna, Va.

Cooperative householding The concepts behind cohousing can also be scaled down to small groups sharing a single house. For three women from Mt. Lebanon, Pa., helping one another started with a cat. See COMMUNAL LIVING, page B-8

Mom has peace of mind—and so do I. with Extended Care at Riderwood. When the people you love need care, Riderwood in Silver Spring is here with compassionate Extended Care in a beautiful setting. Thanks to a team of full-time doctors and specialists and a licensed nurse on-site 24/7, Mom can continue to live a vibrant lifestyle with the support she needs. Your loved one doesn’t have to be a current Riderwood resident to come to our Extended Care neighborhood. Call 301-355-2293 today for your free brochure.

Silver Spring EricksonLiving.com 9217801

By Craig Smith A generation of Americans who embraced communal living in the 1960s is again considering that concept and other ways to coexist as they near retirement. This time, they’ve traded peace signs for dollar signs. “By force of sheer volume, the [baby boomers], who in 1968 thought they would change the world by 2028, actually will,” said Andrew Carle, founding director of the Program in Senior Housing Administration at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. Over the next three decades, one in five U.S. citizens will turn 65 or older, Carle said. They’ll control more than half of the discretionary income, influencing entertainment, travel, food, retail, technology and housing. Even now, seniors are redefining their living arrangements through cohousing communities, cooperative households and niche communities, experts said. Baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, might be more open to such ideas, having tried similar arrangements when they were younger, said Robert Schulz, director of the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Social and Urban Research. And there’s a practical side. “As baby boomers age, getting appropriate support will be a challenge,” Schulz said. “Traditionally, children supply that support for their parents, but baby

Independent Living t Inpatient and Outpatient Rehabilitation Assisted Living t Memory Care t Nursing Care t Respite Care

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Communities designed for military vets

ASSISTED LIVING

The Solana Olney 301-570-2611 2611 Olney-Sandy Spring Road Olney, MD 20832 www.brookdaleliving.com/solana-olney.aspx The Solana® Olney, in Olney, Maryland, provides Assisted Living and Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care options for seniors. Our community offers residents an intellectually stimulating, physically invigorating and emotionally fulfilling life. Those who desire to retain their independence but do not require the skilled nursing care provided in nursing homes will appreciate our friendly staff’s assistance with activities of daily living. We also provide speciallydesigned programs and care for those with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia-related illnesses. At The Solana Olney, you and your loved one will enjoy a stylish, comfortable and inviting community environment to share with neighbors and friends, along with all the features and amenities needed to enhance your personal lifestyle. We invite you to call to learn more.

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Riderwood 301-495-5700 3140 Graceﬁeld Road Silver Spring, MD 20904 EricksonLiving.com Ideally located in Silver Spring, Riderwood offers maintenance-free retirement living combined with a vibrant lifestyle―all in a beautiful, private community. Without the worries of a house and yard, you can spend more time pursuing your passions. Travel, volunteer, take a college class and explore some of Riderwood’s many clubs and interest groups. Multiple campus restaurants offer a variety of delicious dining options, while 24-hour security offers protection and peace of mind. Enjoy the stability of predictable monthly expenses and look forward to a healthy future with our full continuum of health care and wellness services.

INDEPENDENT LIVING

Sommerset 703-450-6411 22366 Providence Village Dr. Sterling, VA 20164 www.sommersetretirement.com THERE’S A REAL DIFFERENCE at Sommerset, the liveliest, friendliest retirement community in Virginia’s Sterling and Leesburg area. It’s a rental retirement community with no long-term commitment, no entrance fee and no buy-in expense. Plus, unlike retirement communities that include assisted living, Sommerset is all about savoring new freedom to live. Enjoy gracious dining, housekeeping, a Wellness Center, an excellent staff and a scope of activities plus free transportation to your own doctors and to Sterling and Leesburg shopping that is simply unmatched by any other retirement community in Loudoun County.

By Rebekah Sewell There are more than 9 million people age 65 and older in the United States who have served at some point in our military branches. Many are veterans of World War II, the Korean or Vietnam wars. Dozens of retirement communities around the country have been built to provide independent and assisted living for seniors who wish to live amongst fellow veterans, connected by their shared experiences. Several in this area are continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) that offer progressive levels of care, from independent living to long-term skilled nursing. (See “A primer on continuing care communities,” the Beacon, May 2013, p. B-3). Others are assisted living communities that provide help with activities of daily living (ADLs) similar to that of other communities. But communities designed for veterans may also offer health and wellness services targeted to their special needs, as the descriptions below indicate. Not everyone with a military connection may live in such communities, and eligibility varies according to community. General requirements are an honorable record and an age minimum or, for younger residents, an inability to work or disability. Fees depend on level of care. Some communities accept Medicare and Medicaid assistance. Below are brief descriptions of selected

retirement communities for veterans in the Greater Washington area. Maryland Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, managed by the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, is located in St. Mary’s County and is the only veterans home in Maryland. The continuum of care includes assisted living and comprehensive nursing home care. Specialized care is available for residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Care includes access to a physician, psychiatry, dental work, podiatry, optometry, and laboratory and radiology tests that are available through outside providers. Occupational and speech therapy are available if needed. In assisted living, care includes housekeeping, access to a psychiatrist or counselor, and sobriety maintenance if needed. Cost of care depends on the level of care required. Charlotte Hall is Medicare/Medicaid certified, and residents may receive a per diem subsidy from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which is applied to cost of care. Assisted living residents may receive an additional subsidy from the state of Maryland. Some private party insurance is also accepted. To be eligible, applicants must be 62 or older and have served on full time, active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. Certain

Communal living

can participate in school programs — from classes to concerts and sporting events. Perhaps 50 to 75 such communities currently exist across the country, said Carle, who is trying to confirm the number. The potential for their growth is large, since there are about 4,400 colleges and universities in the U.S. The Village at Penn State, an apartment and cottage complex within walking distance of the State College campus, caters to people in their 70s. It is the closest such community to Washington. “This is an active, vibrant community. The residents are so busy,” said Lucille DeFronzo, vice president of sales and marketing for owner Liberty Lutheran. “There’s a great camaraderie here.” Learn about some of the college-based communities built by the Kendal Corporation at www.kendal.org/living/communitiesincollegetowns.aspx. Niche communities are another emerging concept for which experts see potential. Grateful Dead fans? Someone could build a retirement community just for you. “These are not goofy ideas,” Carle said. “When you have 78 million [baby boomers], you have critical mass to do whatever you want.” — AP with additional reporting by the Beacon

From page B-7 Louise Machinist, Jean McQuillin and Karen Bush began their experiment in cooperative householding eight years ago when Bush, 64, a consultant, needed someone to watch her cat during a trip to the West Coast. Machinist, 66, a psychologist, volunteered to watch Beardsley. A one-month trip stretched into a year, and Bush began repaying her friend by taking her on trips. Before long, the three divorced, professional women — McQuillin, 67, is a nurse — established their “Old Biddies Commune.” They bought a house together and share the costs of maintenance, utilities and other bills. They hope their unique “intentional community” becomes a model. “We want people to learn from this,” said Bush, 64. So the women wrote a book, My House, Our House: Living Far Better for Far Less in a Cooperative Household. An updated, expanded edition of their book, published by St. Lynn’s Press, originally published in 2011, will be available June 15.

Academic community living University-based retirement communities offer people a chance to return to their alma maters or another campus where they

See VETS, page B-9

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 3

Vets From page B-8 members of the U.S. Armed Forces reserves, spouses of eligible veterans, and disabled veterans under the age of 62 may be eligible. Evidence of military service is required for application. For more information, visit www.charhall. org/Default.htm or call (301) 884-8171. Washington, D.C. The Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH), formerly the U.S. Soldiers’ & Airmen’s Home, is one of two AFRHs. The other community is in Gulfport, Miss. The D.C. campus is home to more than 400 veterans. Independent living, assisted living and long term care are available. Residents must be able to live independently upon entry. Other services are available as needed. Amenities include private rooms, a golf course, fishing ponds, fitness center, libraries, crafting shop, computer center, and movie theater. A wide variety of recreational and social activities are offered, including bowling, tai chi, bingo, cookouts and a music variety hour. Shuttle service is provided to Water Reed National Military Medical Center, VA Medical Center and Washington Hospital Center. To be eligible, veterans must have spent at least half of their service as an enlisted service member or warrant officer. Veterans must also meet one of these four eligibility requirements: be 60 years or older and served honorably for 20 or more years; be incapable of earning a livelihood due to service connected disability; served in a war theater and is incapable of earning a livelihood, or served in a women’s component of the Armed Forces before June 12, 1948. Both members of a couple must be eligible individually. For more information, visit www.afrh. gov/afrh/contact/contact.htm or call 1-800-422-9988. Knollwood is a continuing care retire-

ment residence that is owned and managed by the Army Distaff Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Located in Washington, D.C., the continuum of care includes independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing care and memory care. Knollwood is home to approximately 300 residents. The community offers one- and two-bedroom floor plans for independent living and a standard room for assisted living. The skilled nursing community is certified for Medicare and Medicaid and has shared and private rooms. Knollwood features a cafe, dining room, swimming pool, salon, library, music room and art studio. Wellness care includes physical therapy, fitness classes and a clinic. Free scheduled transportation is provided for shopping, trips, etc. Eligibility for Knollwood is open to retired military officers of the seven U.S. Uniformed Services and their families. The foundation provides financial assistance and uncompensated services to those in need, ensuring that no eligible person is denied residency. For more information on Knollwood, visit http://armydistaff.org/Knollwood or call 1-800-541-4255. Virginia Falcons Landing is a retirement community sponsored by the Air Force Retired Officers Community in Potomac Falls, Va. This community houses more than 300 senior veterans. The continuum of care includes independent and assisted living. Independent living features cottages and apartments. Assisted living offers one- or two-room apartments. Rehabilitation and respite care are also available. This community features a pool, art studio, cafe, formal dining room, chapel, library, and wellness and fitness centers. Residents enjoy access to a salon, massage therapist, and physical and speech therapy. Housekeeping and transportation assistance are available.

Faces of Friendship !"#$%&'("')*$+%,-.$/'0+**12+' 31-'(.+'4+-('(.$%&'5'+#+*',$,67 !"#$%!&$'(# !"#$%&#'(!$%')#!*+++! ,$-./'!/%(-!-%$!&.0 !1%2234

Friendship Terrace offers affordable senior apartments located only two blocks from the Tenleytown Metro stop. Schedule your visit today.

202-244-7400 (TRS 711)

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

Retired military officers, senior-level federal retirees and their spouses or surviving spouses may be eligible. Fees depend on level of care. Medicare is accepted. For more information, visit bit.ly/ContactFalconsLanding or call (703) 404-5151. The Fairfax is a Sunrise Senior Living Community located near Fort Belvoir, Va. Its continuum of care includes independent living, assisted living and memory care. This community offers one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans and cottages for independent living. Modifications can be made if a higher level of care is required. Residents enjoy formal and casual dining, activities, housekeeping, gardening and transportation services. Onsite features include a fitness center, cafe, golf course, pool, lake, bank, and salon and barber shop. Eligible residents include retired military officers and their spouses and members of

B-9

CIA, FBI, Foreign Service and other federal agencies. Parents of active and retired military members may also be eligible. To inquire about fees and further information, visit www.sunriseseniorliving.com/communities/the-fairfax/contact.aspx. Vinson Hall Retirement Community, a continuing care retirement community in McLean, Va., is home to more than 300 residents. This community features three buildings, Vinson Hall, the Arleigh Burke Pavilion, and the Sylvestery. Care includes independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing. Long-term and respite care is available for seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia. The Vinson Hall building houses independent living residents, while the Arleigh Burke Pavilion houses assisted living and See VETS, page B-10

COUNCIL HOUSE 

Providing Independent Living for Seniors 62 & older or handicapped. No Smoking Building. Now accepting applications for our Waiting List. Limited income rules apply. 3940 Bexley Place, Suitland, Maryland 20747

(301) 423-0228

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J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Selling a long-time home can be emotional By Helen L. Flynn Your home may hold precious memories of a family growing up. Sometimes the growth charts are still visible on a wall. Every room and everything in each room tells a story of one kind or another about the people who lived in the house. Visitors may see old-fashioned goldflocked wall paper, but to the homeowner it reflects a time of hope and family celebration as well as perhaps a dream fulfilled. The home may be a reminder of the presence of a deceased spouse. Pictures may be extremely important, not to mention burial flags. Usually there is a mixture of happy and sad memories; both are difficult to leave. If it’s time to sell, you might find it beneficial to video the house room by room, narrating stories as you film and then storing these on a CD. Moving may feel like, or be, a surrender

to the fact of declining health or mobility. Depending on the reason for the move, the seller may feel a tremendous loss of control. There may well be a great deal of fear associated with moving to a retirement community, a smaller residence, or in with adult children. The “what if’s” are tremendous. The move also involves letting go of “stuff,” which may have little or no monetary value, but much sentimental value. Each piece disposed of feels like another bit of life slipping away.

Vets

one of the other facilities and receive additional care. Both independent and assisted living offer efficiencies and one- or two-bedroom apartments. Memory care residents have private suites. The Vinson Hall building features a fitness center, health and wellness center, cafe, chapel, library, salon and barber shop, and access to a seamstress. Residents enjoy peer-organized activities such as woodcarv-

From page B-9 skilled nursing residents. The Sylvestery offers specialized care for residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Military service or affiliation is required for entry into independent living, but Arleigh Burke and the Sylvestery are open to all. As needs change, veterans living in the Vinson Hall building are able to move into

For the family member How do adult children or grandchildren deal with these emotions experienced by their parents? • Recognize and acknowledge the fear, sadness or loss of control. Telling a parent how happy they will be in their new home will not help. It eventually may be true, but

you need to acknowledge the feelings they have right now. • Be patient. You may be dealing with a health crisis, dementia or a death. Your parent is not going to reorganize and proceed at the pace you are. • Be respectful of their dignity. They may have always been in charge of their own affairs, and not to be so now is painful. • Ask for help. It just may not be practical for you to be in charge of downsizing or the move. It will likely require much more time than you have and result in frustration for all involved. There are professionals available to assist in every aspect of the transition. • Carefully assess options for the move. Involve your parents in the discussions and research as much as possible. • Listen to what your parents are saying. They may be adamant about staying in

their home. If so, help them to do so as long as possible, if this is a safe option. • Visit communities of all types and consult when necessary with professionals who can assist in finding the right residence. There are companies that specialize in this service. Geriatric care managers can be invaluable. • Seek help from an elder care attorney for important documents such as living wills, guardianships, powers of attorney, etc., as well as guidance on a variety of legal issues. • Seek help from a geriatric-care manager if you are dealing with serious health issues and multiple care providers. • Maintain balance in your personal life so you have the mental and physical resources to help your parents. Excerpted from Selling Your Home: A Guide for the Mature Seller and Their Families.

ing or painting. Assisted living residents have access to physical, occupational and speech therapy, which is billable to Medicare Part B and secondary insurance. Eligible residents include commissioned military officers and their immediate families, as well as GS-14 and above federal employees from certain agencies, such as the Department of Defense, CIA or Foreign Service. Some exceptions are made. Qualifications differ for independent

and assisted living. Application is required. Costs are privately paid. Arleigh Burke now accepts Medicare Part A. For more information about Vinson Hall or their qualifications, visit www.vinsonhall.org or call (703) 506-4240. To learn more about senior housing for veterans, see the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs’ website at www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/Guide/LongTermCare/index.asp and the National Association of State Veterans Homes at www.nasvh.org/index.cfm.

BEACON BITS

June 29

ADOPT AN ANIMAL AT FARMERS MARKET

The Washington Animal Rescue League (WARL) is hosting a rescue event at the Olney Farmers and Artists Market on Sunday, June 29. The farmers market takes place on the grounds of MedStar Montgomery Medical Thrift Shop at 18101 Prince Philip Dr., Olney, Md. Look for the adoption trucks at the farmers market. For more information, visit www.olneyfarmersmarket.org.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 3

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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 entire page to the Beacon. Please do not request info if you are not interested. All replies will have an equal chance to win.

HOUSING COMMUNITIES:

❑ Victory Court . . . . . . . . . . . .B-4 ❑ Village at Rockville . .B-4 & B-16 ❑ Willows at Victoria Falls . . . .B-7

MARYLAND ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

Brooke Grove . . . . . .B-6 & B-20 Collington . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-10 Council House . . . . . . . . . . .B-9 Covenant House . . . . . . . . .B-15 Emerson House . . . .B-4 & B-15 Homecrest House . . .B-2 & B-17 Kensington Park . . . . . . . . .B-12 Kentlands Manor . . . . . . . . .B-3 Oakes at Old Towne . .B-2 & B-18 Mrs. Phillipines Home . . . . B-15 Quantum Affordable Apts. . .B-15 Riderwood Assisted Living . . .B-7 Riderwood Village . .B-8 & B-18 Solana . . . . . . . . . . . .B-5 & B-8 Springvale Terrace . . . . . . .B-15

VIRGINIA ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

Ashby Ponds . . . . . .B-6 & B-18 Chesterbrook . . . . . . . . . . .B-17 The Fairmont . . . . . . . . . . .B-17 Greenspring . . . . . . .B-6 & B-18 Potomac Place . . . . . . . . . . .B-3 Quantum Affordable Apts. . .B-15 Sommerset . . . . . . . .B-8 & B-9

HOME CARE SERVICES ❑ Best Senior Care . . . . . . . .B-14 ❑ Caregivers Home Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-14 ❑ Options for Senior America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-12

NURSING/ REHABILITATION ❑ Arleigh Burke Pavilion . . . .B-10 ❑ Woodbine Nursing & Rehab B-16

MISCELLANEOUS WASHINGTON, DC ❑ Friendship Terrace . . . . . . . .B-9 ❑ Knollwood . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-16 ❑ Residences at Thomas Circle . . . . . . . . . . . B-4 & B-13 ❑ St. Mary’s Court . . . . . . . . .B-18

❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

A First-Class Move . . . . . . . .B-3 Dan Kugler’s Design . . . . . .B-19 Pack-N-Move . . . . . . . . . . . .B-5 Weichert Realtors/ Stan Moffson . . . . . . . . . . . .B-2 ❑ Wolf Trap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

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 also include the free info coupon on page 5. One entry per household please. Name __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________E-mail_______________________________________________ City _______________________________________________________ State ______________________ Zip ____________________ Phone (day) _______________________________________________ (eve) ________________________________________________ Please provide your telephone number and e-mail address so we may contact you promptly if you win the drawing.

TB 6/13

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J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Resources help fill a driving need for rides By Barbara Ruben While the vast majority of people want to remain in their homes as they age, one of the key factors keeping them from aging in place successfully is the lack of ability to get out and about. Maybe glaucoma has narrowed vision to a point where driving is dangerous, or arthritis limits the dexterity needed for safely navigating behind the wheel. Fortunately, a network of volunteers, discounted taxi service and public transportation can help people find a ride when they need one. Here is an overview of such services in the Greater Washington area.

Navigating the options Just finding out about the numerous transportation options that exist can be

overwhelming. That’s where a hotline and website called Reach A Ride can help. Created by the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, Reach A Ride provides information about specialized transportation options for people with disabilities, older adults, those with limited English proficiency, and low-income commuters. Information is in English and Spanish, along with links to programs and services. At its website, www.reacharide.org, residents of D.C., Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland can type in their address to find local transportation options. Its tollfree hotline number is 1-855-732-2427. Similarly, the Connect-A-Ride Transportation Resource Center is a free service of the Jewish Council for the Aging

Kensington Park Alzheimer’s & Memory Care Support Group Talk through the journey with our team and other caregivers Thursday, June 20, 2013 • 7:00pm-8:30pm Light refreshments, wine and cheese available Call Barbara at 301-946-7700 for more details and to RSVP t Kensington Park, an Join us at a free support group. independent, assisted living We’ll discuss such topics as: and memory care residence • juggling multiple tasks located in Kensington, Maryland, • managing guilt we understand memory loss is • enlisting family support a family affair. Our multifaceted • and communicating more program is geared to support not productively with your loved one only residents, but also those who love them.

301-946-7700 3620 Littledale Road, Kensington, MD 20895 www.KensingtonRetirement.com RSVP for you and a friend today to exchange coping skills with other caregivers of loved ones with memory loss

that helps seniors and disabled adults of all ages find the transportation they need. Certified information and mobility specialists help with schedules, benefits and eligibility requirements in Montgomery County and Northern Virginia. Connect-A-Ride also offers Ride Smart Workshops to help small groups of older adults learn to use public transportation options and otherwise navigate the National Capital Region, as well as Smooth Riding, a program that coordinates and confirms local transportation arrangements for older adults in Montgomery County. For information or assistance, contact Connect-A-Ride at (301) 738-3252 or (703) 323-6494.

Reduced-rate rides Persons with disabilities who are unable to take Metro buses and trains may qualify for MetroAccess, which provides door-todoor shared ride transportation in vans that can accommodate wheelchairs. MetroAccess fares are two times the fastest comparable Metro fare, with a maximum fare of $7 per one-way trip. For more information, call (301) 5625360 or see www.wmata.com/accessibility/metroaccess_service. The D.C. Office on Aging operates the Washington Elderly Handicapped Transportation Service. Arrangements are made to transport seniors to medical appointments, dialysis sessions, appointments with public benefits agencies, banks, etc. To use the service, riders must contact the Lead Agencies that serve the wards where they live. The main number for the service is (202) 715-7649.

Take a taxi Sometimes taxis can be the easiest way to get from point A to point B. But cabs are

the most expensive option. That’s why there are numerous discount programs for seniors. Regency Taxi offers completely free rides for Montgomery County residents age 70 and older. Seniors must provide proof of age. To reserve a ride, call (301) 990-9000 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. The Montgomery County Call ‘N’ Ride Program provides reduced-price taxi rides for low-income residents at least 67 years old or who have a disability. Starting in April, the service began using a swipe card system and has eliminated coupons. Riders can put up to $120 a month worth of rides on the cards at a discounted rate. For example, someone with an annual income between $17,000 and $20,000 would pay $40 for $120 worth of rides. For information on or eligibility requirements for the Call ‘N’ Ride program, call (301) 948-5409. District residents can also participate in the Call ‘N’ Ride taxi discount program, but it has different requirements. District participants must be at least age 60. The amount of the discount is based on a sliding fee scale, depending on income. For more information, call (202) 387-9000. Virginia offers several discount taxi services as well. Seniors-On-The-Go! in Fairfax County offers those age 65 or older coupon books good for $33 worth of taxi rides at a cost of $20. This program is limited to individuals with a maximum annual income of $40,000 for a single person or $50,000 for a couple. Call the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services at (703) 877-5800. Super Senior Taxi coupons are available for Arlington residents age 70 and older. They pay $10 for a coupon book See TRANSPORTATION, page B-15

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 3

The challenges and rewards of living alone strokes) were more likely to die if they lived alone than if they shared a home. Another study in the same journal found that people who were lonely — regardless of their living situation — were less able to care for themselves and more likely to die. There are a couple of reasons why living alone can be detrimental to your health, said Dr. Deepak Bhatt, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, director of the Integrated Interventional Cardiovascular Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and senior author of the REACH study. When you live alone, it’s easier to forget or neglect to follow the treatment regimens your doctor prescribed. You can also miss the signs that your health is starting to fail. “If there’s someone else at home — a caring spouse, child, or even a roommate — they can say, ‘Something must be wrong. I’m taking you to the doctor,’” Bhatt said. Not everyone who lives alone is lonely,

but those who are lonely can become anxious and depressed. “And those things aren’t good for overall health. They also aren’t good for mental health,” he added.

Preventing loneliness Even if you’re very independent, coming home to an empty house and spending hours on end by yourself can eventually make you feel lonely — and that’s exactly what you want to avoid. Salamon offers several suggestions for staying active and socially engaged when you live alone: • Join a senior center. Many senior centers host day-long activity programs that include social gatherings, as well as exercise and art classes. Often they will pick you up at home so you don’t have to drive. Your local library and community center might also have special programs for older adults.

• Volunteer. Donate your time to a cause that’s important to you. Not only will volunteering get you out of the house and help you meet new friends, but it’s also a rewarding way to spend your time. Senior Corps is one organization that can help match you with volunteer opportunities that fit your skills and interests. For more information, call 1-800-942-2677 (or visit seniorcorps.gov). • Ask for help. Have someone come in to help you cook or clean for a few hours a week, or hire a driver to take you to the store. If money is an issue, ask friends or family to stop by, or turn to a volunteer organization such as Meals on Wheels (mowaa.org). • Buy a computer. When you live alone, your computer can become a vital connection to the outside world. On the See LIVING ALONE, page B-14

BEACON BITS

June 10

ART AND FASHION EXHIBIT

Art historian Joan Hart will present “Impressionists and the World of Fashion,” an in-depth look at the connection between art and fashion, Monday, June 10 at 1 p.m. The event takes place at the Aurora Hills Senior Center, 735 S. 18th St., Arlington, Va. Illustrated with paintings, period costumes, accessories, fashion plates, photographs and popular print. The cost is $6. To register, call (703) 228-5722.

E IZ

After sharing everything from your bed to your meals with at least one other person for much of your life, living alone can be a wrenching change. But it can also feel empowering to be on your own. “Most women I see do not complain about being lonely. They rather enjoy their independence,” Salamon said. You can eat when and what you want, sleep when the urge strikes you, and have total control over the TV remote, just to name a few benefits. There are also downsides to being on your own. Safety is an issue for any woman who lives alone. Staying healthy can become a problem, too. A couple of recent studies noted increased health problems among people who live alone. In the REACH (Reduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health) study, which was published last July in Archives of Internal Medicine, people with or at risk for atherosclerosis (the cause of most heart attacks and many

Please Join Us!

The pros and cons of solo life

O D

Living on your own can be empowering, but you need to stay safe and socially involved. Many of us have always shared a home with someone else. We grew up with our parents and siblings, moved in with friends during college, and then created a household with our spouse or partner. Later in life, living arrangements change. Nearly 40 percent of older women (8.1 million) live alone — more than twice the number of older men in the same living situation, according to the Administration on Aging. Much of the reason for women’s solo habitation is longevity. “A lot of the women I see live alone because women live longer than men do,” said Dr. Suzanne Salamon, an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School and associate chief for clinical geriatrics at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. “But I also see a lot of divorced women and women who have never married.” No matter why you’re living by yourself, this lifestyle has its ups — and downs.

ROOFTOP POOL PARTY >

Tuesday, June 11, 2013 4 to 6 p.m.

At The Residences at Thomas Circle,

1330 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington, DC

stimulating companionship with neighbors from

you can explore something new every day, enjoy a variety of backgrounds, and live life your way. Right in the heart of the district.

There will be hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and steel drum entertainment! Complimentary Parking Available. th

RSVP by June 10 Call 202-626-5761 or visit www.ThomasCircle.com.

Come mix and mingle with those who live here while enjoying a menu as diverse as our residents.

Choose a lifestyle that lets you be you! The Residences at Thomas Circle.

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Living alone From page B-13 web, you can learn ways to improve your health, find job and volunteering opportunities, and connect with friends living all over the world via targeted social media sites like Gen Kvetch (genkvetch.com). • Get out of the house. Every day, try to get outside and exercise. Taking a 30-minute walk will help keep your body — and mind — in better shape. Find a workout buddy to provide some companionship along with your walks. Make a daily call. “Try to talk to somebody every day on the phone,” Dr. Salamon recommended. Just hearing the sound of someone’s voice can help you feel less lonely.

Staying alone safely Safety is a big issue, especially as we age.

“I think it’s very important for anyone living alone to have a medical alert system,” said Dr. Salamon. “If you fall down — which any of us can do in the shower — and you can’t move, you can literally lie there for many days without anyone finding you.” She recommends getting a medical alert system that you wear around your wrist or neck. If you fall or feel sick, you can summon help at the push of a button. Other safety steps you can take: Turn on a nightlight. Plug in nightlights upstairs and downstairs. They’ll help you find your way if you have to go to the bathroom or kitchen in the middle of the night. Install non-skid surfaces and grab bars. Reduce slips by adding these safeguards to your shower, tub and toilet. Keep a three-day supply. Stock your pantry and cabinets with everything you’ll need to sustain yourself if you get stuck at home in a storm or other emergency — in-

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J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

cluding canned food, bottled water, granola bars, flashlights, batteries, extra blankets, and your medicines. Get a pet. Having a pet is a big responsibility, but it’s one that can really pay off. For example, dogs provide love and companionship, and their bark can warn off potential prowlers. Have a family member or friend watch out for you. “It’s sort of a buddy system,” Dr. Salamon said. Arrange for your

“buddy” to call or email you every day to check how you’re feeling and make sure you’ve taken your medicine. “This method can go a long way toward making sure that somebody who is living alone isn’t just dwindling away until it’s too late,” Dr. Bhatt said. Stay on top of your own health. Make sure you’re seeing your doctor and specialSee LIVING ALONE, page B-15

Local resources Living alone and looking to get involved in the larger community? Try of one these resources.

Join a senior center The D.C. Office on Aging has an interactive website to search for senior services and centers by Zip code, http://geospatial.dcgis.dc.gov/agencyapps/dcoa.aspx. To inquire about Montgomery County senior centers, call their Resource Line at (240) 777-3000. For Prince George County senior centers, see www.pgparks.com/Things _To_Do/Senior_Activities.htm. For Arlington County senior centers, visit www.arlingtonva.us/portals/topics/TopicsSeniorsCenters.aspx or call the Office of Senior Adult Programs at (703) 228-4744. For a list of Fairfax County senior centers visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov /rec/senior_ctr. For senior centers in the city of Alexandria, visit www.alexandriava.gov /dchs/adultservices/default.aspx?id=5 0402.

Volunteer The Retired and Senior Volunteer Pro-

gram (RSVP) may be a good way to donate time and energy to a good cause, while meeting new friends. To learn more about RSVP in the Greater Washington area, call (202) 606-5000 or visit www.seniorcorps.gov/about/programs/rsvp.asp. Virginia has many organizations looking for senior volunteers. Visit www.vaservice.org/go/national/seniorcorps_program/C99/ for more information.

Ask for help Meals on Wheels Association of America provides nutritious meals for homebound individuals. They can also help with grocery shopping. The national office is located in Alexandria, Va., and there are many local branches in the area. For more information, call 1-888-998-6325 or visit www.mowaa.org/page.aspx. Elder Helpers is an online service that provides volunteers for seniors needing daily assistance with tasks or errands. There are volunteers in the Washington, D.C. area. Seniors can view online profiles and receive tips on finding the right volunteer to assist them. For more information, call (734) 330-2734, email help@elderhelpers.org or visit their website at www.elderhelpers.org. — Rebekah Sewell

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Transportation From page B-12 worth $20. For details, call the Arlington County Aging and Disability Services Division at (703) 228-1700. In addition, taxicab companies serving Arlington offer a 10 percent discount to older passengers and to persons with disabilities. Blue Top Cab Company offers a discount to passengers 55 and above who request the discount of the driver at the time of the trip. Call Blue Top at (703) 243-8294. Red Top and Yellow Cab companies sell coupon books that are used as fare and turned in at the time of the ride at a 10 percent discount for passengers 65 and above. For information or to purchase discount books, call (703) 522-3333. Alexandria residents who are at least 60 years old can take Senior Taxi rides to medical appointments, grocery stores and pharmacies for $2 within city limits; $2.50 for medical offices within five miles of city

Living alone From page B-14 ists for all of your regular check-ups. Also be sensitive to any changes in your health. “Be aware that if you’re starting to have symptoms, no one else is going to call the doctor,” Dr. Bhatt said. Don’t feel embarrassed to call 911 if you’re feeling very sick. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

When it’s time to move on You want to stay independent and in your own home for as long as possible, but eventually you might need to look at other options. Start to consider a move if your house is getting too big for you to handle, you’re less able to care for yourself, or you’re not in good health — for example, if you’ve already had a heart attack or stroke.

limits. For reservations, call (703) 8364414, extension 15. See www.seniorservicesalex.org/taxi.html for more information.

Volunteer services Volunteers with the Senior Connection help provide transportation and other services to those 62 and older in Montgomery County. Services include escorted transportation to medical appointments, as well as errand and shopping assistance. For transportation services, call (301) 962-0820 or go to www.seniorconnectionmc.org. Another organization using volunteer drivers is the American Cancer Society. Its Road to Recovery program matches volunteers from throughout the Washington area with cancer patients needing rides to medical appointments. For more information, call 1-800-2276333 or see www.cancer.org/treatment/supportprogramsservices/road-torecovery.

As a first step, hire someone to come in for a few hours each day to help you out. The next step may be to downsize your home, move in with family or friends, or consider a community setting. A continuing care retirement community can be a good bridge between your home and an assisted living facility. “You can go into your own apartment, and as the need arises you can move into the assisted living or nursing home part of the facility,” Dr. Salamon said. She recommends going to a place where some of your friends already live. Or, move when you’re still relatively young, so that you can start building a network of friends that you can take with you into the years to come. © 2012 Copyright Harvard Health Publications

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J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

How long do a house’s major systems last? By Patricia Mertz Esswein It’s a corollary of Murphy’s Law: When you are least able to afford a major expense, something big is bound to break

down. The solution: Take preventive action before a breakdown turns into an emergency. To help you plan ahead, we give you an

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overview of what to expect for six major items. (Note: Total cost is for a 2,000square-foot home or to install a single unit.)

Furnace/boiler Expected life: Boiler, 13 to 21 years; furnace, 15 to 20 years. Total cost: Forced-air furnace, $1,693 to $2,020; split system, $1,604 to $2,290; oil boiler, $2,773 to $3,069. It’s time if: You need frequent repairs or have rising energy bills, rooms that are consistently too hot or cold, humidity problems, or excessive noise. If your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old, an energy-efficient replacement will cut your utility bills. Where to start: Use search tools at the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (www.acca.org) and Plumbing-HeatingCooling Contractors Association (www.phccweb.org).

Hot water heater Expected life: 10 years for gas or electric; 20 years for tankless. Total cost: $548 to $915 for energy-efficient model; $739 to $1,240 for tankless; $2,658 to $3,443 for heat-pump water heater. It’s time if: The unit is 10 years old or more, leaks around the base, or works erratically. Where to start: Use the guide at EnergyStar.gov to determine what type will work best for you and to get buying guidance. You can buy from home-improvement retailers or plumbing contractors.

Roof Expected life: 20 for asphalt shingles. Cost per square foot: $5.43 to $7.05. It’s time if: You have cracked, curled or missing shingles, and you’re losing mineral granules (look in your gutters). In the attic, check the underside of the roof for stains or wet spots. Inside, you may see discolored plaster or drywall and peeling wallpaper. Where to start: Use the search tool on the website of the National Roofing Contractors Association (www.nrca.net) to find contractors who are members.

Central air conditioning Expected life: 10 to 15 years. Total cost: $2,460 to $3,245; split system (with interior and exterior components), $1,604 to $2,290. It’s time if: You need frequent repairs or have rising energy bills, rooms that are consistently too hot or cold, humidity problems, or excessive noise. Note: If your AC uses your furnace’s blower motor, you may also have to replace the furnace for your new AC to achieve its rated energy efficiency. Where to start: Look for equipment rated by Energy Star. Seek contractors who are certified by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America or who are members of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association. Patricia Mertz Esswein is an associate editor at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. Send your questions and comments to moneypower@kiplinger.com. © 2013 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

Save the dates: The Beacon 50+ Expos will be Sunday, Oct. 6 & Sunday, Oct. 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 — J U N E 2 0 1 3

B-17

How to buy and rent a home for extra income By Alex Veiga Low mortgage rates have made buying a home more affordable and turned rentals into an attractive option for investors. Throughout the downturn in the housing market, average investors, sometimes pooling their money, have bought foreclosures at a sharp discount and turned them into rentals. Many homeowners have also purchased a second home and rented out their first property. Although the housing market is showing signs of recovery, demand for rental housing is expected to remain strong. The national unemployment rate remains high at 7.6 percent, banks are still working through a backlog of foreclosures, and tight lending requirements prevent many renters from becoming homeowners. And the Federal Reserve has said it will keep its short-term interest rate, the federal funds rate, at a record low until U.S. unemployment falls below 6.5 percent, something many economists don’t expect to happen until late 2015 at the earliest. “In this market, at this point, it’s a sweet spot,’’ said Chris Princis, a senior executive at financial advisory firm Brook-Hollow Financial and owner of two rental properties in Chicago. “You’re getting the market where it’s just starting to rebound, but still at the bottom, with what’s looking to be a great recovery.’’ Here are six tips on becoming a landlord or investor in rental property: 1. Understand what it means to be a landlord Residential real estate generally provides three possible ways to get a return on your investment: when it’s sold, assuming it has grown in value, by collecting rent, and through tax savings, such as the mortgage interest deduction. So, if you elect to buy a property for the

long-term investment potential, the goal should be to ensure that the rental income covers the cost of your mortgage and monthly maintenance costs. If you buy a foreclosed home, you’ll have to factor in the cost of repairs to get the home ready to rent. And if you have a mortgage on the property, you’ll need to be prepared to cover the costs for however long it takes to find a tenant. “Real estate is a great investment if people are paying their rent,’’ said Princis. “If they’re not paying their rent, it’s a horrible investment.’’ 2. Buy in an area with a history of strong rental demand Neighborhoods near universities are a good option. For homes in residential areas, proximity to schools can be a good draw for families. Condominiums and similar properties in communities with a homeowners’ association can be a great option because the association arranges for upkeep on the property. But check the fine print on your mortgage and homeowners’ association rules to make sure turning your property into a rental isn’t forbidden. If you’re going to buy a foreclosure, be prepared to compete with other investors, many of them paying in cash. And because many properties require upgrades and repairs, expect that it will take longer until you’ll be generating rental income. Websites like Zillow.com and Trulia.com list foreclosures, as well as rentals in a given area. Foreclosure tracker RealtyTrac Inc. recently ranked U.S. metro areas with a population of 500,000 or more according to the supply of available foreclosures for sale and their discount versus other homes, among other criteria. Among the top 20 cities deemed the best places to buy:

Miami, Chicago, Philadelphia, El Paso, Texas, and Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Claire Thomas, a retiree in Phoenix who owns 10 rental condos in Las Vegas, said that landlords looking to keep their properties as income-generating rentals for many years should look into areas that are not too expensive. “I would rather have a middle-of-theroad rental that stays rented than a higherend (property),’’ she said. 3. Consider using a management firm Determine whether you want to select the tenant and handle property issues or hire a company to do it for you. If you take on the responsibility, you are obliged to fix any problems (leaky faucets, broken furnace, etc.) or find professionals to do it.

“Are you prepared to do all of this on your weekends or evenings or get calls while you’re at work because a pipe burst and it’s flooding?’’ asked Jim Warren, chief marketing officer for property management company FirstService Residential Realty. Hiring out the hands-on landlord job also makes sense if your rental property is not in the same city where you live. Property management firms can charge a percentage of the rent, sometimes 10 percent or more. 4. Do the math Although prevailing rental prices will go a long way toward determining what you can charge, getting the best return on See HOW TO BUY/RENT, page B-18

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B-18

Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Make your own custom fabric, wallpaper By Melissa Dutton Advances in printing have made it more affordable for companies to offer consumers the chance to create custom fabrics and wallpapers. They can now affordably create small runs and make high-quality products faster and cheaper, said Aaron Kirsch, president of Astek Wallcovering Inc. in Van Nuys, Calif. He sells wallpaper directly to consumers via his company’s website, DesignYourWall.com. Homeowners can cre-

ate their own wall covering for about $6.50 a square foot, he said. Custom fabrics run about $18 to $30 a yard, said Rysa Pitner, founder of Fabric on Demand in Los Angeles. Custom options appeal to “individuals who love to author their own stuff,’’ she said. You can upload photos, original artwork or computer-generated designs on her company’s website, www.FabricOnDemand.com. Some manufacturers have designers who help customers develop the look they want. Do-it-yourself designers can usually pre-

view the order online or order a sample piece. It normally takes less than a month for orders to be processed. The websites also have a wide variety of premade patterns available. Nile Johnson of Nile Johnson Interior Design in Kennett Square, Pa., said custom pieces help his firm accomplish its goal of creating spaces that reflect a client’s personality. “It really helps the interior show and breathe who they are,’’ he said. “It’s not just pretty. It’s not just functional. It really tells their story.’’

Johnson has used the custom printing process to create a window shade depicting a child’s favorite story book. He is currently creating wallpaper that corresponds to a client’s checkered dishes. Creating rolls of wallpaper for an accent wall or producing yards of fabric to make curtains, bedding or furniture covering allows homeowners to create layers of design that contribute to the look they are after, said Los Angeles designer Kate Albrecht, who runs the website www.MrKate.com. For more options, see: www.crashpaddesigns.com and www.nilejohnson.com — AP

How to buy/rent

Experts also recommend asking for a deposit equal to one month’s rent, plus extra if the tenant has pets. That will help cover any damage to the property, and protect you if a tenant moves without paying rent. Also, have a walkthrough of the unit with the tenant, and ask that they sign off on the condition of the property before they move in. That will help avoid conflicts over the security deposit if there are damages once they’re ready to move out. 6. Get familiar with landlord laws As a neophyte landlord, it’s important to know your exact responsibilities under the law. Two good resources for rental rules are the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Web site (www.hud.gov), and the Landlord Protection Agency (www.thelpa.com), which includes state-specific rental guidelines and standardized forms for rental agreements. An attorney or the Landlord Protection Agency also can help you craft a well-written lease, which is crucial to protect your property. It will help you evict a tenant or hold them accountable for damage if necessary. — AP

From page B-17 your investment starts with making sure you’re going to get enough rent to, ideally, cover expenses and costs. Princis’ formula is charging 15 percent above monthly mortgage and maintenance costs. So if those costs add up to $1,000, he’ll look to charge $1,150. Of course, flexibility might be called for if you’re unable to get a tenant in for months and months. Experts recommend starting with popular rental listings in newspapers or on Web sites such as Craigslist.com, Trulia and Zillow, to see what comparable apartments or rooms are going for. Another option is rent analysis website Rentometer.com. The good news: Rents for single-family homes rose 2.3 percent last year from 2011, according to Trulia. 5. Screen tenants thoroughly Once your rental starts drawing inquiries, it pays to screen prospective tenants by asking for previous landlord references and running a credit and a criminal records check.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Housing Options

B-19

B-20

Housing Options

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J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money Law &

BETTER OFF WITH INDEX FUNDS You can often net more from index mutual funds than managed ones TALK IS CHEAP A number of smartphones with many features are available for $50 or less MISPLACED TRUST Living trusts are often sold to people who don’t need them SHOULD YOU CO-SIGN A LOAN? Ways to protect your own credit when asked to co-sign a loan

Will Social Security changes affect you? There’s nothing like proand are in good health, it pays posed changes to Social Seto wait to retire until your full recurity limits to get readers of tirement age before you claim this column going. After benefits (and it’s even better if President Obama released you can delay until age 70). his fiscal 2014 budget, a While you can choose to tap number of you wrote in askinto the system as early as age ing, “What will this mean to 62, your benefit will be permame?” nently lower — for some as Well, let’s start with a much as 25 percent less, which quick refresher on the cur- RETIRE SMART also could affect a non-working rent system. To qualify for By Jill Schlesinger spouse, who also will claim based Social Security retirement on your work history. Unfortubenefits, you need to have worked and nately, many Americans can’t afford to delay paid payroll taxes for at least 10 years. You — they need the income as soon as possible. can check your online benefits statement There is one more part of the equation. at www.socialsecurity.gov/mystatement to The government adjusts the amount of determine where you currently stand. your retirement benefit annually to acFull retirement age varies from 65 to 67 count for rising prices. In 2013, the cost of depending on the year of your birth. The living adjustment, or “COLA,” was an ingeneral rule is that if you can afford to do so crease of 1.7 percent.

Running out of money? But let’s hit the pause button here. Social Security is not going broke any time soon. Yes, there are fewer workers paying into the system today than in the past, and indeed, more and more baby boomers retire every day. The Social Security 2012 trustee report projected that in 20 years (after 2033), payroll tax income would pay only about three-quarters of scheduled benefits through 2086. But the trustees’ report also offered a different way to think about Social Security — as a share of Gross Domestic Product, or the economy as a whole. Social Security costs equaled 4.2 percent of GDP in 2007, and the trustees project that these costs will increase gradually to 6.4 percent of GDP in 2035 before declining and will remain at about 6.1 percent of GDP from 2055 through 2086.

Many argue that 6 to 6.5 percent of GDP is a small price to pay to fund a program that provides about 37 percent of all income for Americans 65 and older, and a whopping 85 percent for those in the bottom 20 percent of incomes. That’s why legislators and pundits have been floating so many ideas for enhancing the current system, which include increasing full retirement age, raising the Social Security wage base from the current level of $113,700 of earned income, increasing the Social Security payroll tax for high earners, means-testing Social Security benefits for retirees who have incomes above a certain threshold, and/or changing the cost-of-living adjustment.

See SOCIAL SECURITY, page 29

Stable value funds help preserve capital Long-term investors should dicting higher interest rates not have a significant amount for many years and they obviof money invested in Treasury ously have been wrong. Bebills, money market instrucause of the weak economy, ments or garden variety savthe Federal Reserve has ings accounts. The reason is adopted an easy money polisimple: These options return cy, and as a result interest less than 1 percent per year, rates have remained very which means they don’t keep low. pace with inflation. However, there is no doubt that rates will rise at some Yet many people still park THE SAVINGS point, and there is no doubt their money in these vehicles, GAME that, when they do, investors simply for the sake of preserv- By Elliot Raphaelson holding intermediate and ing their capital. They remember 2008, when practically all other invest- long-term bonds and bond funds will take a hit. ments lost significant value. Are there other decent investment opWhat about bonds and bond funds? For the last few years, most bonds and bond tions for those who want to preserve capital? funds have performed very well. However, many analysts have pointed out that interest rates have nowhere to go Higher than money market yields One option is a stable value fund. The but up. When rates do eventually rise, bond prices, with the exception only of objective of stable value funds is to prevery short-term bonds and short-term serve the value of invested capital, perform better than money market instrubond funds, will fall in price. In many of my columns, I have recom- ments, and earn consistent, reliable remended that bond investors steer clear of turns. all long-term bonds for this reason. (I do The managers of stable value funds acso in my own portfolio.) complish this by investing in high-quality Of course, many analysts have been pre- fixed-income investments and investment

contracts with insurance companies and banks. Such contracts are designed to preserve capital regardless of market conditions. The investment portfolio consists of investment-grade securities — such as U.S. Treasuries, government agency bonds, mortgage-backed securities, other assetbacked securities and private-placed mortgage debt. Individuals who invested in these funds in recent years would have received returns much greater than the return of money-market instruments, but less than the returns from the majority of most intermediate and long-term bonds and bond funds. For example, over the last five years (as of December 31, 2012), the return of T. Rowe Price Stable Value Common Trust Fund F was 3.79 percent; for three years, the return was 3.36; for one year, 2.51 percent. According to Hueler Co., a Minneapolis research firm, at the end of March 2013, the average stable-value fund yield was 2 percent. The industry’s Stable Value Investment Association has indicated that these accounts are available in half of all definedcontribution retirement plans.

Some transfer restrictions It is important that investors review the restrictions associated with transferring funds out of stable value accounts. For example, you cannot transfer funds out of a stable value account into a money market investment unless you have maintained the stable-value account for at least 90 days. Generally, there are fewer restrictions if you want to transfer funds into an account other than a money market account. Long-term investors should not have a large amount invested in ultraconservative investments such as money market instruments. Investments in stable value funds will provide you with greater returns than a money market fund, allow you to earn consistent reliable returns, and avoid the short-term risks associated with long-term and intermediate-term bonds if interest rates do increase. However, investments in stable value funds will not provide you with long-term capital growth. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at elliotraph@gmail.com. © 2013 Elliot Raphaelson. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.

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J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Index funds often superior to managed ones By Jill Schlesinger “What does your fund manager do?” screamed the headline of the April 8 edition of Barron’s. All I could think was, “What, indeed!?” The article said some superstar fund managers “fly around the world, they crunch reams of data, they dissect industries” — and, for good measure, ultimately beat the index against which their funds are measured. Here’s the problem: Even if there are some diamonds in the rough (and believe me, it’s rough out there in managed mutual

fund land), it may not even be worth trying. The reason is that it is very difficult to beat the index after factoring in costs and fees. A recent survey by the London investment firm Style Research analyzed 425 global equity funds versus the MSCI World index. Without fees, 59 percent of the managers beat the index. However, after investor fees were included, only 31 percent beat the index last year. And it gets harder to beat year after year, because investors tend to pile into the good funds only after they have beaten their relative indexes. Once new money

flows into these funds, costs tend to rise and the funds can get too large and cumbersome for the manager, which together make outperformance more difficult to achieve in the future.

Fund fees fall a little There has been some good news on fees. According to the Investment Company Institute, mutual fund fees have been trending lower. The average expense ratios for equity funds have fallen from 0.99 percent in 1990 to 0.79 percent in 2011, a 20 percent decline. But a good chunk of that decrease may be attributable to the shift toward no-load (no commission) funds. Actively managed equity funds still have average fees of 0.93 percent, while index equity funds have average fees of 0.13 percent. How do you find the good ones? It will take some work. You will need to identify active investment managers with a proven track record who can consistently stick to an articulated and prudent strategy. You will also want to look for a fund with low investment costs as well as low administrative and advisory fees. Also watch out for costs due to portfolio turnover, commissions and execution.

The index fund alternative If you prefer to spend your time in other ways and want to make your investment life a little easier, there’s a simple solution. Instead of trying to beat the index, just buy the index! Last month, index fund pioneer Vanguard issued a research report comparing

index versus managed funds and noted “persistence of performance among past [managed fund] winners is no more predictable than a flip of a coin....Low-cost index funds have displayed a greater probability of outperforming higher-cost actively managed funds.” Index funds have been around since the early 1970s, but suffered from a definitive “un-cool” status for a long time. It was much more fun to think that some manager held the keys to the investment kingdom than to imagine that all you needed was a few index funds in different asset classes. And there was no massive brokerage sales force and marketing campaign blazing the trail for the stodgy index fund. Of course, the commission-based brokers who were touting managed mutual funds had a great incentive — only the expensive, loaded mutual funds would pay them. But in the aftermath of the financial crisis, boring has become more attractive. Many investors dumped their managed funds and decided that they would prefer to start the investing year with the extra 0.80 percent in their own pockets. According to fund-tracking firm Morningstar, assets in U.S. index mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) accounted for 34 percent of equity and 18 percent of fixed income funds as of year-end 2012. My hope is to see those levels steadily rise, as do-it-yourself investors wise up, or as investors who work with advisers choose fee-only or fee-based professionals who adhere to an indexing strategy. © 2013 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

You can buy a smartphone for $50 or less By Jeff Bertolucci Not long ago, cheap smartphones were, to put it not so mildly, junk. For less than $100, you pretty much got what you paid for: a low-resolution screen, a crummy camera and poky performance. No more. Today, you can find some excellent smartphones for $50 or less — as long as you’re willing to sign a two-year telephone service and data plan contract. If that’s a trade-off you can live with, these bargain handsets are worth checking out. The thin-and-light HTC One VX (99 cents in red, $50 in white with a two-year AT&T contract) features a 4.5-inch high-definition display; it runs Android 4.0, which may not be the newest version of Google’s mobile software but is almost as fast and powerful. In addition to 4G LTE wireless and 8 gigabytes of internal storage, the One VX has a microSD card slot for adding as

Social Security From page 27

Refiguring cost of living The president’s budget focuses on that last option by tinkering with the COLA calculation as a means to slow down the cost of Social Security over the next decade. The proposal would replace the current measure of inflation (a consumer price index for wage earners, or CPI-W) with one called “chained CPI,” which the government has only been calculating since 2002. Advocates claim that chained CPI is a more accurate measure because it takes into account the fact that consumers respond to the rise in the price of one good by shifting to cheaper alternatives. Chained CPI has shown an average rate of inflation that’s 0.3 percent lower than the government’s current measure, according to the AARP Public Policy Institute. The Obama administration said that this change in calculation would shave $110 billion from the budget over 10 years. However, what would be the net effect of this change on retirees? According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research, the switch to chained CPI could reduce benefits for the average worker who retires at age 65 by about $650 per year by age 75, and by over $1,100 per year by age 85. So, while some combination of these proposed changes could be made to bolster Social Security over the long term, many of them will shrink the already meager benefits of most retirees. Like it or not, this appears to be the new reality of retirement. We should all pay attention and plan accordingly. Jill Schlesinger, CFP, is the Senior Business Analyst for CBS News. A former options trader and CIO of an investment advisory firm, Jill covers the economy, markets, investing and anything else with a dollar sign. She welcomes comments and questions at askjill@jillonmoney.com. © 2013 Tribune Media, Inc.

much as 32GB of memory. It sports a decent 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and a low-resolution camera on the front. The Samsung Galaxy Victory ($50 after rebate with a two-year Sprint contract) is also a 4G phone that runs Android 4.0. It has a 4-inch HD display. Its 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera is fine for video chats, and the 5-megapixel rear camera is acceptable for casual shots. The Galaxy Victory boasts a few cuttingedge tools, notably Samsung’s S Beam, which in combination with the built-in Android Beam lets you share contacts, photos, videos and links by simply tapping two comparably equipped phones together. The Motorola Droid Razr M ($50 online with a two-year Verizon Wireless contract) packs a vibrant 4.3-inch HD display; an 8megapixel rear camera and low-res front camera; and 8GB of internal memory. Sur-

prisingly sleek and slim for a low-end phone, the Razr M runs Android 4.1, supports 4G LTE and includes Android Beam for wireless sharing. The HTC Droid Incredible 4G LTE ($50 online with a two-year Verizon Wireless

contract) runs Android 4.0, has a 4-inch LCD display, an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and a low-res front-facing cam. Despite its advanced age (in phone years) — See SMARTPHONES, page 30

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J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Why you probably don’t need a living trust By Sandra Block Living trusts are typically marketed as a way to avoid the cost and hassles of probate — the legal process used to determine that a will is valid and to ensure that your property is distributed according to your wishes.

All too often, though, they’re sold to people who don’t need them, said Sally Hurme, a project adviser for AARP. An estate plan that includes a trust costs $1,000 to $3,000, versus $300 or less for a simple will. What a living-trust promoter may not tell you:

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You don’t need a trust to protect assets from probate. You can arrange for most of your valuable assets to go to your heirs outside of probate. A home or other property that’s owned jointly with the right of survivorship goes directly to the joint owner when you die. More than a dozen states allow transfer-on-death deeds for real estate, said Mary Randolph, author of The Executor’s Guide, by Nolo. Likewise, pensions, retirement accounts and life insurance policies automatically transfer to the beneficiary. You can keep bank accounts out of probate by setting up payable-on-death accounts, which give the recipient immediate access to the money. Probate doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Many states have streamlined probate for small estates. In the District of Columbia, estates are considered small with less than

WHY RISK CLEANING ANOTHER GUTTER? PROBLEM

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$40,000 in assets; in Virginia, with under $15,000; in Maryland, with less than $50,000 (or $100,000, if the spouse is the sole heir). You must transfer property to a trust. For example, if you want your home to be included in a living trust, you need to record a new deed transferring ownership to the trust. This can be a hassle, but if you overlook this step, the living trust is a “worthless piece of paper,” Hurme said. There may be unforeseen consequences. When you create a trust, you name yourself as trustee so you have control of the assets. Most married people name their spouse as joint or successor trustee. This could create problems if you become incapacitated and your spouse develops, say, dementia. Randolph recommends naming another successor, such as an adult child, as trustee. Don’t believe anyone who said a living trust will make it easier to qualify for Medicaid. Assets in a living trust are “countable” for purposes of Medicaid eligibility. Sometimes a living trust makes sense. For example, if you own out-ofstate property, such as a vacation home, putting it in a living trust will save your heirs from probate in that state. And Danielle Mayoras, an elder-law lawyer, recommends living trusts to clients who want to leave more to one child than the others. Sandra Block is a senior associate editor at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. Kiplinger’s has a new service to pinpoint the ideal time to claim Social Security to maximize benefits. Visit http://kiplinger.socialsecuritysolutions.com. © 2013 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

Smartphones From page 29

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Verizon launched the Droid Incredible in July 2012 — it is a solid, dependable phone. Carriers’ so-called free handsets are usually older models making a final run before departing for handset heaven. (Of course, they’re not really free because the price of the phone is amortized over the life of the two-year contract.) Verizon’s menu of free phones includes the venerable Apple iPhone 4. Ahead of its time when it launched in 2010, the iPhone 4 is now old hat, with its 3.5-inch display and 3G performance. Still, it’s a beautifully designed phone, and Apple’s App Store is stockpiled with hundreds of thousands of helpful applications. [Ed.: Remember, what makes these phones “smart” is their Internet access, which requires a data plan typically running $20 to $50 per month on top of your telephone and texting services.] Jeff Bertolucci is a contributing editor to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. Send your questions and comments to moneypower@kiplinger.com. And for more on this and similar money topics, visit www.Kiplinger.com. © 2013 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 3

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

What to consider before co-signing a loan By Kaitlin Pitsker When all it takes to lend a hand to your child, relative or close friend is a few strokes of a pen, it can be difficult to say no. But co-signing for someone else’s credit card, lease or loan can pose a high risk to your hard-earned credit history. Co-signers are on the hook for repaying the debt if the primary borrower defaults. Late or missed payments would appear on your credit report and ding your score just as they would with any other debt. Even if the payment history is flawless, your higher debt-to-income and credit-utilization ratios after co-signing can affect your ability to get a loan.

Minimize your risks If the request comes from an adult child — say, to co-sign a car loan — the answer depends on your philosophy of children and money. Are you willing to support them, or is it time to let them sink or swim? If someone other than your child asks you to become a co-signer, consider why that person hasn’t been able to secure credit. “The bank is asking for a co-signer because it’s not comfortable doing business

with that person,” said John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education at SmartCredit.com. The borrower may have a thin credit report, bad credit or not enough income to meet the repayment criteria. If you decide to take on these risks, review the documents before signing and discuss your expectations with the primary borrower. Ask the borrower to refinance the loan or close the credit card (the only ways to get your name off the account) as soon as the borrower’s credit score improves or income rises.

After signing, closely monitor the account (you should have online access to statements) to ensure that payments are being made. If the primary borrower misses a payment, the lender typically contacts both borrower and co-signer almost immediately, said Ulzheimer. (It won’t affect your credit scores until the payment is more than 30 days overdue.) If the borrower stops making payments, be prepared to step in and make the payments in order to

SOCIAL SECURITY DISCUSSION

The Montgomery County Older Women’s League will be holding a meeting on the president’s proposal to cut Social Security cost of living for current and future retirees using the “chained” consumer price index on Wednesday, June 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. Staff from several U.S. senatorial offices will speak. The meeting will be held at the Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Dr., Silver Spring, Md. For more information, call (240) 833-8151.

June 9

Other ways to build credit are with a secured card, which generally requires a deposit of $300 to $500 (usually equal to the card’s credit line), or with a retail credit card in the child’s name. Kaitlin Pitsker is a reporter at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. © 2013 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

Stay on top of payments

BEACON BITS

June 26

avoid marring your credit. Parents may be able to avoid the co-sign question in the first place by helping their children build a solid credit record. For example, adding a child as an authorized user to one of your credit cards builds credit in the child’s name, even if your child doesn’t use the card, said Ulzheimer.

FOR FEDERAL WORKERS AND RETIREES

The workshop “Federal Health Insurance and Medicare” will explore options for federal employees or retirees nearing the age of 65. There will be information about Medicare Parts A and B as well as a comparison of federal health insurance and Medicare. Speakers include Leslie Fried, policy director of the National Council on Aging, and Hilary Dalin, an expert on federal programs for seniors. The event takes place on Sunday, June 9 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Kemp Mill Synagogue, 11910 Kemp Mill Rd., Silver Spring, Md. For more information, call (202) 331-4481 or email info@bikurcholimgw.org.

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J U N E 2 0 1 3 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

June 2013 — washington beacon

A Special Supplement to The Beacon newspaper

Recipe for Success

103rd Annual Meeting Page 4

June 2013/No. 29

Former NBA champion shoots for recovery at the Hebrew Home by Emily Tipermas At 6 foot 6, 210 pounds, Washington-born Ronny Watts smiles at the Hebrew Home’s Wasserman Residence as he recalls his days as a basketball phenom. He grew up learning dribbling maneuvers, catching rebounds and scoring for fun at the DC Jewish Community Center summer camps. Yet his true abilities emerged on the Wilson High School basketball team, sparking the attention of Red Auerbach, head coach of the World Champion Boston Celtics. Sensing promise, Auerbach helped Watts receive a full academic-athletic scholarship at Wake Forest University where the talented forward was twice named All-ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) in the early ‘60s. Watts went on to become a second-round pick for the Celtics, playing from 1965 to 1967, a period that included one championship season, with Auerbach and then Bill Russell as his coaches. Sports Illustrated later ranked the team as “the #1 Dynasty” in sports history. Leaving the Celtics, Watts served as a motivational speaker and then national spokesperson for AT&T. He partnered with famed Celtics co-player, coach and good friend Bill Russell to produce five national TV commercials. One of them, “Ron

Watts and Bill Russell Adlib AT&T Commercial,” garnered a Clio award for Best TV Commercial of the Year. Enjoy watching it on YouTube. Readers might be interested to learn he captained the gold medal-winning U.S. basketball team at the 1965 Israeli Maccabiah Games, ran a popular basketball camp at the JCC of Greater Washington where he was inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 and was later inducted into the International Jewish Basketball Hall of Fame. He also served as TV announcer for the NBA Washington Bullets Basketball, Georgetown Basketball and Maryland Basketball. Yet, apart from his own achievements, what Watts takes greatest pride in are his sons, Trent, owner of a media production company, and Russell, a senior executive with a leading IT marketing firm. Before retiring, Watts enjoyed a 25-year career as president and CEO of Ronald M. Watts & Associates; the company negotiated over $200 million in real estate transactions in Northern Virginia. Today, Watts undergoes rehabilitation in our Elsie and Marvin Dekelboum Therapy Center. He follows Winston Churchill’s urging: “Never, never, never, never give up.” He’s determined to walk again and enjoy life, and we’re striving to help him reach his goal. n

Ronny Watts played with the Boston Celtics in the 1960s when they dominated NBA basketball.

Hebrew Home of Greater Washington • Smith-KoGod & Wasserman Residences Cohen-Rosen House • Hirsh Health Center • Landow House • Revitz House • Ring House School teacher, former Soviet Union - age 91

Robots in your future?

Sex and dementia

What have these hands seen?

People in the news

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June 2013 — washington beacon

For 103 years, we have been here to provide care for the elderly in our community. You can help us today as we fulfill this important mission. We appreciate being named as the charity of choice when someone passes away. We also offer honor and memorial cards sent to the recipient of your choice. Please call 301.770.8329 or visit www.hebrew-home.org.

First person

Sharing our expertise

What would you do? A case study

Sharing our expertise in eldercare is an important and growing role for Charles E. Smith Life Communities. With 103 years of experience behind us, an exceptionally skilled staff onboard and access to nationally-recognized experts in the field, we have become a resource for Warren R. Slavin physicians, healthcare professionals and community caregivers. Among our endeavors: Educational symposium — In partnership with Suburban Hospital and Sibley Memorial Hospital, members of Johns Hopkins Medicine, our annual symposiums receive outstanding reviews as they tackle critical issues in senior care. For news from this year’s event, see page 4 to learn about HERB, a talented robotic butler, and turn to page 6 for a compelling case study. “Remember This” lecture series — The George and Tess Hurwitz Lecture Fund helps support both the symposium and a free lecture series focusing on crucial topics in memory care. The current series has addressed screening for cognitive loss and newest directions in Alzheimer’s care. It’s not too late to attend the June 19 session on dealing with senior sexuality. See page 15. Support groups — Support groups bring our resources to families on the front lines, coping with challenges. Check the calendar on page 15. Poster presentations — Two Quality Improvement projects were selected as poster presentations at the Maryland Patient Safety Center’s national conference this spring. The Hebrew Home is the only long-term care organization chosen by this national leader in patient safety. More than 1,200 healthcare providers attended this meeting to accelerate evidence-based outcomes. From providing continuing education credits for professionals in the field, to offering personal advice and support for families and seniors, and sharing information online, we are there.

Warren R. Slavin President, CEO

Page 2 | June 2013

The wife, 85, is dependent on oxygen; has a history of hospitalizations for falls and is very frail. The husband, 87, has had prostate cancer and is hard of hearing. He was anxious to bring his wife home from rehab, and that is where this case study begins. The wife’s lung disease is Symposium attendee Eileen Rodgers asks worsening. The husband, a panelists about the role of spiritual counseling. retired pharmacist, is fighting with their four children, sends caregivers away, and became such a nuisance that one doctor “fired” the couple. The expert panel that addressed this case at the April 19 Care Coordination symposium, included Dr. Joanne Crantz, a community- Luncheon panelists Dr. Steve Wilks and Dr. based physician and chief of Joanne Crantz tackle a case study. they are free to decide. Geriatrics at Inova Fairfax • Take a look at the husband’s Hospital; Barbara Jacobs, MSN, care. His irritability may signal RN-BC, who directs all aspects cognitive impairment or caregiver of nursing care at Suburban burnout. Hospital; Dr. Steven Wilks, medical • Reassure the family, if hospice director for Suburban Hospital’s is mentioned, that they are not Palliative Care Service; and Howard being abandoned by their familiar Gleckman, author of Caring for our caregivers? Parents. Their tips: • Make sure everyone has the same • Choose gentle language such as “We can’t cure this, but we can knowledge of the couple’s health keep you the best you can be.” issues and the outcomes they face. Or, “We’ve lost a little piece of the • Get everyone on the same side puzzle here and there, we lost a of the fence, meeting all together in bigger piece recently, and now the office. Turn the conversation to what is best for the wife. Assure the we don’t have enough to hold the puzzle together.” husband he is doing a great job or • Remember clergy and the conversation will shut down. psychiatric support can be a • This couple is free to make the positive influence for many decisions they want. As professionals, we may sometimes disagree, but families. n

June 2013 — washington beacon

When lifelong gardeners complain that aching backs and arthritic joints interfere with gardening pursuits, Generation to Generation offers tips. Read our May issue, “Gardening Pleasure for Seniors,” at hebrew-home.org, under Newsroom. While you’re there, check the Archives for 100+ topics relevant to seniors.

Generation to Generation Is there a robot in your future?

Initiatives

For 30 years, healthcare professionals and caregivers have used “tele-health” technology to check on patients by phone or computer, to maintain medical records electronically, to wire homes to monitor patients, and even to deliver medications using robots, or “nurse-bots.” But these innovations are primitive compared to cutting-edge developments, and have reportedly had minimal impact on rates of hospitalization or mortality. Recent advances According to Dr. Richard Schulz, keynote speaker at our recent symposium on care coordination we are now moving to more “symbiotic” systems that feature robots aware of both their environment and patients, and capable of adapting to cluttered homes and learning how to assist their patients. Dr. Schulz is director of the University Center for Social and Urban Research, University of Pittsburgh. His work, in collaboration with researchers at the Quality of Life Engineering Research Center at Carnegie Mellon University, where Dr. Schulz is professor of psychology, is funded by the National Science Foundation. The use of Quality of Life Technologies (QoLTs) Dr. Schulz is editor in chief of the Quality of Life Technology Handbook, published in 2013. He describes the growing importance of QoLTs to address the costs of healthcare, the growth in aging populations, and the increased survival of persons with disabilities. The ultimate challenge is to

get businesses on board with robotic technology; the path begins with identifying needs and culminates with bringing robots to the marketplace. Along the way, there is detailed analysis, laboratory prototypes, field tests, and steps to make the product commercially viable. Meet HERB Let’s peek into the lab at Carnegie Mellon and see what seven years of research has produced. HERB - Household Exploring Robotic Butler – is the lab’s most exciting invention. In the photo at right, HERB is about to cook lunch. Some of the challenges in developing HERB have been: • Teaching him to identify everyday objects and tell the difference between similarly shaped items (for example, a box of cookies and a book.) • Teaching him how to maneuver in a cluttered environment. • Teaching him how much strength to use when picking up an object (less for an egg, more for a rock). HERB demonstrates his skills in a YouTube video (search Herb Oreo), in which he separates an Oreo cookie from its cream filling,

saying as he works, “Apparently this is a big deal for humans.” Looking to the future There will naturally be hurdles to overcome. These include privacy issues, the acceptability of gathering data needed to “teach” a robot what to do, determining how much people would be willing to pay for services, and then urging them to be patient while waiting for a robot to execute tasks performed more quickly by a human assistant. One attendee at the symposium offered this comment: “My 89-year-old mother would probably not want a robot in her home, but my 9-year old grandson is ready now. Bring him on!” n

Charles E. Smith Life Communities was delighted to work together again with Suburban and Sibley Memorial Hospitals, members of Johns Hopkins Medicine, on our third symposium for physicians, healthcare professionals and caregivers. “Care Coordination for Your Older Patient” offered tracks focusing on intervention strategies, new models of care coordination and connecting doctors, patients and healthcare providers to services. For full backgrounds of the presenters and panelists, and to review many of the presentations online, visit www. hebrew-home.org/ 2013sym-posium. Perspective

“You just can’t differentiate between a robot and the very best of humans.” — Isaac Asimov, I, Robot

Turn the page for a Recipe for Success ... LifeTimes | Page 3

June 2013 — washington beacon

Pursue interests and passions in a warm, welcoming environment at our independent living residences, Ring House and Revitz House. Immediate openings.

Information: For Ring House, 301.816.5000. For Revitz House, 301.881.7400.

Attorney General Gansler speaks at 103rd annual meeting Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler was the guest speaker at the 103rd annual meeting of the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington and Charles E. Smith Life Communities on Wednesday, May 8. Gansler is serving his second term as Attorney Douglas Gansler General. Since taking office in 2006, he has earned voters’ respect for his environmental, consumer and safety initiatives. At the meeting, David Bruce Smith, left, the third generation of his family to be involved with the Hebrew Home, is also the third generation in his family to receive the Hymen Goldman Humanitarian Award, the Home’s top honor. In recent years, David Bruce Smith has been involved in two major projects on our campus. David has worked on the beautification of the SmithHyman Goldman Award honoree David Bruce Smith with his mother Kogod Residence grounds to ensure Clarice Smith. our landscaping brings pleasure yearround to our residents and visitors. David is also integrally involved in a project to create a permanent exhibit in the Wasserman board room memorializing his grandfather, Charles E. Smith. David’s grandfather Charles E. Smith served as chair from 19591962 and was influential in moving the Jewish agencies to the campus in Rockville. He received the award in 1985. In 2006, as our residences and services were united under the name Charles E. Smith Life Communities, the Hymen Goldman award was bestowed on Robert H. Smith (of blessed memory) and Robert P. Kogod. Marc F. Solomon was installed as chair of the Board of Governors. For a complete list of newly installed officers and board members, please see www.hebrew-home.org/Who We Are. The event was chaired by Joseph B. Hoffman, who was installed as chair-elect. n

Andrew Friedlander recognizes Jeffrey Pargament, who led the 2011-2012 Guardian Campaigns with Jeffrey Distenfeld, raising over $2 million in unrestricted funds.

Page 4 | June 2013

Past, present, future: from left, newly installed Chair-elect Joseph Hoffman, outgoing Chair Andrew Friedlander, and newly installed Chair Marc Solomon with CEO Warren Slavin. Photos by Randy Sager

Our “sweet 16,” representing 16 years of Board leadership. Pictured with incoming Chair Marc Solomon (center) at the May 8 annual meeting are past chairs Ivan Silverman, Hanita Schreiber, Ron West, Arthur Dykes, Don Garner, Irving Cohen and Andrew Friedlander.

Ring House residents and food services staff pose together to illustrate our “Recipe for Success” theme.

Photo by Richard Greenhouse

Campus news

June 2013 — washington beacon

I want to Remember This!

Name_______________________________________________________ Title_ _______________________________________________________ Affiliation____________________________________________________ Email_ ______________________________________________________

Event makers

Rabbi Sarah Meytin, program facilitator, left, with students participating in the 2013 H2YP class.

H2YP students announce grants The Harold and Shirley Robinson H2YP Youth Philanthropy Program awarded four grants to support programs at the Charles E. Smith Life Communities at their closing ceremony on Sunday, May 5. This was the fourth season for this remarkable program which gives local students the opportunity to act as a foundation board. With the total amount of grants requested exceeding the $7,750 available, the 11 participants learned, first hand, about the need to prioritize services and how charitable giving helps the Charles E. Smith Life Communities fulfill its mission. Using their own gifts and a donation from Bruce and Paula Robinson, the group funded a Spanish-language class at Ring House; the Snoezelen, a state-of-the-art sensory therapy device for residents with dementia; a new freezer for the Revitz House Café and tickets to musical and theatrical performances off campus for Recreation Therapy. 2013 Participants: Jessica Cohn, Richard Cohn, Stephanie Gans, Lauren Heimberg, Matt Lavine, Nicky Lindenberg, Allyson Meltzer, Brandon Robinson, Michelle Sandler, Matthew Smagin, Daniel Tomares. n

Is a 10k or 5k on your bucket list? Start training now for the annual Home Run 10k/5k and Fun Run on Sunday, September 29 at Federal Plaza on East Jefferson Street in Rockville, MD. What makes our race special? We have lots of free and convenient parking, prizes, delicious food for you and your family and great volunteers to cheer you on as you run! Once again we are pleased to team up with Fleet Feet Sports, Kentlands. Join their 10k training program this summer. Details at www. fleetfeetgaithersburg.com. The event is chaired by Marc Schlesinger. More details at www.hebrew-home.org/homerun n While the Hebrew Home partners with the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington on community issues, we are not a beneficiary agency and do not receive any of its funding.

REGISTER NOW I plan to attend: q June 19 Mail to: Jill Berkman, Cohen-Rosen House 1799 East Jefferson Street, Rockville, MD 20852

Remember This Jennifer Lubaczewski FitzPatrick closes the spring “Remember This” lecture series Wednesday, June 19. Founder of Jenerations Health Education, Inc., adjunct instructor at Johns Hopkins University and educational consultant for the Alzheimer’s Association, she will address “Sexual Behaviors and the Dementia Patient.” The “Remember This” series is being presented in conjunction with the opening of the new Cohen-Rosen House to provide professional and family caregivers, social workers, and admissions staff with answers to especially challenging aspects of memory care. The lecture is free, offers continuing education credit for social workers in Maryland and DC, and takes place in the Landow House Theater, 1799 East Jefferson Street in Rockville. A complimentary supper is available at 5:30 pm; the talk begins at 6. For more information on this expert series, sponsored by the Hurwitz Lecture Fund at the Charles E. Smith Life Communities, contact Jill Berkman at 301.816.5052 or reserve your place online at www.cohen-rosen.org.

Wellness Fair focused on falls prevention To help seniors avoid falls and remain active, Ring House recently hosted a Wellness Fair that focused on falls prevention. Panel discussions led by experts and an array of vendors at interactive booths provided seniors with product information and evidence-based advice. Call 301.816.5012 to learn more about living at Ring House.

Massage therapy: a helpful hand in dementia treatment We humans crave touch, from infancy onward. Thus, not surprisingly, research shows that even individuals living with dementia retain the capacity to recognize and respond to a caring touch. When used therapeutically a soothing hand or upper body massage can lead to a reduction in feelings of confusion and anxiety, build trust and help calm agitation. Massage has proven especially effective in decreasing problematic behaviors such as aggression, wandering, banging, yelling out and resisting care. Thanks to support from the Guardian Fund for Excellence, we now offer massage therapy to assist in the care of Hebrew Home residents with behavioral issues; at Cohen-Rosen House, our new memory care residence, families can arrange for this service. n LifeTimes | Page 5

June 2013 — washington beacon

“Flowers are the music of the ground. From earth’s lips spoken without sound” ~ Edwin Curran

If you’ve purchased a new set of wheels, consider donating

your used vehicle to the Hebrew Home. Proceeds directly benefit our elderly residents.

A gift of flowers for your favorite Hebrew Home resident is a lovely way to express affection. Order a colorful bouquet by calling 301.770.8333.

Call 301.770.8329 for details.

Lifelines aHome. My re at the Hebrew ay r aw he ul ed rf Dear Pat, ss de won elen Kreider pa u of just how yo rm fo My mother H in ss pa to r you is mily during he g this letter to d our entire fa an r advice son for writin he ve to ga e d er nce, an aides w tie e pa rs g, nu in d nd an ta nurses pathy, unders sy schedule to f showed em e out of her bu tim ok to ing. Your staf en tt ev family. Bridge to me and my e and was l. ra r’s fune Hebrew Hom he e ot th m at y e m er nd th atte still nely, ert Kreider, is ft my father lo le ob R , om er M th fa of y g M r. The passin like angels to ith my mothe ered together th ga f af living there w st ur Yo ecked in on great despair. to him, and ch e ok sp , m fearful, and in hi ed far as to give eds. They hugg They went so . ne s es hi ey t l or fu pp ch su ng wat rned with lovi fort him. him as he mou blanket to com d ing weight, an w llo pi r’s is strong, gain er th fa y him my mothe m r te e months la mself again. Now only thre and back to hi es iti tiv e outcome. ac al ci ul and positiv rf enjoying so de on w e th aff for t! I thank your st u all on 5 Wes God Bless yo d an u yo a Smith k an Th Sincerely, Chat

Family Council

By Carolyn Hirschman

With 500 residents and 840 staff, the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington is a community unto itself. Volunteering behind the scenes for that community is the Hebrew Home Family Council, an organization of family members and friends of residents that meets monthly. Although it is independent, the Council works closely with Hebrew Home Administrator Neal White and other managers to stay abreast of new and ongoing programs, to suggest improvements based on members’ experience and ideas, and to organize educational forums on topics of interest such as Medicaid planning and palliative and hospice care. “Our main goal is to promote and improve the quality of life of all residents,” says Council Co-Chair Toby Levin, who started the Council three years ago. “We want to support initiatives so that residents can have the best care possible.” “Hearing from the Home’s top staff helps us build relationships and stay in the loop on important initiatives,” says Carolyn Levine, Council co-chair. “We also rely on our members and Montgomery County’s long-term care ombudsmen for their perspectives.” The Family Council supports “person-centered care” initiatives in several ways, including a questionnaire on dining services, suggestions to improve care plan meetings for family members, placing a communications notebook at each unit that allows family members to record requests for staff, and support of the Shining Star Awards program to recognize outstanding geriatric nursing assistants each quarter. Check the calendar for upcoming meetings, or e-mail hhcouncil@ comcast.net to learn more. n

Newspaper journalist - age 91

Hands hold tales of a lifetime As part of our mission at the Charles E. Smith Life Communities, we strive daily to affirm our commitment to the dignity of each individual. One way we do this is by reaching out and getting to know our residents. As we listen to their stories, we discover how they earned livings, raised families, played a role in their communities, defied and survived 20th-century challenges and also how they are engaged today in the challenges imposed by advanced age. When we look at their hands we are led to wonder further about their life’s journey, about their accomplishments and disappointments, their hopes and regrets, and about the rewards and losses they have experienced. Elderly hands on our campus belong to residents who were once computer system analysts, civil servants, business executives, legal and medical professionals…and more. n

Artist - age 96

Accountant, stock broker, real estate agent & business owner - age 82

“We may see infirm or sick individuals who appear weathered by the years and tempered by hardship and struggles. We forget that their lives were also filled with the same joy, aspirations and happiness as ours are today.” — Donald Shulman, President/CEO, Association of Jewish Aging Services Holocaust survivor - age 84

Page 6 | June 2013

June 2013 — washington beacon

Photo by John Deamond

When Gathering Estate Planning Information… Our FREE booklet helps you orga-

nize and record important details regarding your assets and your wishes before meeting with your attorney. We offer more assistance, too, including an opportunity to discuss, without obligation, ways to include the Hebrew Home in your estate plans. Call 301.770.8342 or mail this form to:

Elana F. Lippa

Elana F. Lippa, Director of Gift Planning Charles E. Smith Life Communities 6121 Montrose Road, Rockville MD 20852

Name/s_ ______________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________ City/State/Zip___________________________________________ Phone_ _______________________________________________ E-mail ________________________________________________ For a personalized illustration showing how you can receive income for life, please list your birth date: LT 06/13

People in the news

Builders of the Future Society member Bess Hormats, left, graciously hosted a “Thanks to You” tea at her Chevy Chase residence for over 30 guests, all long-time supporters of Charles E. Smith Life Communities. Director of Memory Care Programs Patty Hagen gave a lively presentation on how to retain vitality via “Food, Fitness, Facts, and Fun.”

Each of our residents represents a piece of American history. Mr. Sam O’Dennis was a Tuskegee Airman during WWII. He went on to enjoy an engineering career. Read his fascinating story at www.hebrew-home.org under the Who We Are tab.

Meet a Shining Star At the April Employee Service Awards Banquet, General Manager for Food Services Bill Chambers presented Samuel Tetteh with an award for 25 years of outstanding service. “Sam is the embodiment of the values of this organization. He shows kindness, integrity, compassion, growth and, most of all, service excellence.” Sam delivers dinner meals to our residents who are ill and cannot come to the dining room and takes particular pride in preSamuel Tetteh paring their plates. Each room delivery is accompanied with a great smile. “He brightens their day and also exudes kindness that I can only assume helps to make them feel better,” Chambers adds. n

Russian-born resident Evgenia Gelfond beams with the attention of Sophia Presman, who directs programming for a Hebrew Home unit designed to accommodate Russian-speaking seniors. Happy 100th birthday, Sophie Lax! And, happy 78th birthday to her daughter Barbara Kaze. This close mother-daughter combo celebrates birthdays…and every day they can spend together.

Two teams, Revitz House Food Services and 5-West were singled out for the Shining Star Team Award at Employee Recognition Day. Pictured here are 5-West caregiving staff. LifeTimes is published quarterly by the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, Inc. The Hebrew Home is a registered charity in Maryland and Virginia. A copy of the Home’s financial statement is available from the Maryland Secretary of State or the Virginia State Office of Consumer Affairs. We are an equal opportunity employer and we provide access to community programs without regard to race, age, national origin, familial status, religion, sex or disability. Our services and programs are open to all in the community.

Marc F. Solomon, Chair Warren R. Slavin, President/CEO Marilyn Feldman, Editor © 2013 by The Hebrew Home of Greater Washington 6121 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852 301.881.0300 www.smithlifecommunities.org

Support the Hebrew Home through your gift to United Way

3 check 8111 or for CFC n 3 check 49705. n

High school student Noa West wants to “make spaces beautiful.” Melding a mitzvah with artistic talents, she designed and executed a stunning mural in the Wasserman Residence staff lounge. Noa clearly follows the West family tradition of involvement and support of the Hebrew Home.

Paula Akbar, left, first violinist with the National Symphony Orchestra, joined with Mike Kligerman, guitar in hand, to perform at a glorious 96th birthday party for his mother Lucille Kligerman, Smith-Kogod resident. As a dedicated volunteer, Akbar cheers Lucille with regular visits. LifeTimes | Page 7

June 2013 — washington beacon

Photo by Richard Greenhouse

Calendar of events JUNE

Hebrew Home Family Council 1 pm, Wasserman Residence Board Room Open to family members & friends of Hebrew Home residents

Professional Advisors Breakfast Seminar 7:30-9:30 am “How Charitable Lead Trusts Can Benefit Both Family and Charity: Practical Tips and Techniques for the Professional Advisor” with A. Christopher Sega, Esq., Venable LLP and Ted Leh, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs & Co. Location at Venable, 575 7th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004 RSVP by June 5th: 202.344.4042, AZWalford@Venable.com

“Remember This” Free Lectures with leading experts Sexual Behaviors and the Dementia Patient 5:30 pm dinner, 6 pm lecture, Landow House Theater Sponsored by George and Tess Hurwitz Lecture Fund RSVP: 301.816.5052 or www.cohen-rosen.org

The theme of the most recent annual report for Charles E. Smith Life Communities is “Recipe for Success.” Here, Jim and Joyce Lyman, who met and married at Ring House, pose for the cover shot. Read the report online at www.hebrew-home.org/Newsroom.

SEPTEMBER

Rosh Hashanah

Yom Kippur

Home Run 5k/10k/Fun Run Federal Plaza, Rockville Details online now at hebrew-home.org

Other Events

1st Sunday of the month Jewish War Veterans Ring House, 10 am Veterans and interested persons welcome.

800 people chose the Hebrew Home for rehabilitation last year. The impressive new Dekelboum Therapy Center is one reason. Learn more at 301.770.8476.

Photo by Richard Greenhouse

2nd Monday of the month Family Caregiver Support Group Presented jointly by Ring House and JSSA Senior Services Free, open to the community Ring House, noon-1:30 pm. Call 301.816.2635. For more information about community events, resident programs and news for families, visit www. hebrew-home.org and www.smithlifecommunities.org.

The newest residence on our campus, CohenRosen House, opened in January. Inquire about this very special program for memory care assisted living or place your name on the waiting list at 301.770.5050.

Online now at www.hebrew-home.org : • Gardening tips for seniors • Register for Home Run race • Sign up for free lecture on senior sexuality

Photo by Boris Feldblyum

How to Reach Us

While the Hebrew Home partners with the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington on community issues, we are not a beneficiary agency and do not receive any of its funding.

Page 8 | June 2013

n H ebrew Home 301.770.8476 Rehab and Long Term www.hebrew-home.org

n C ohen-Rosen House 301.816.5050 www.cohen-rosen.org

n H irsh Health Center 301.816.5004

House n Landow 301.816.5050 www.landowhouse.org

n R evitz House 301.770.8450 www.revitzhouse.org

n R ing House 301.816.5012 www.ringhouse.org

facebook.com/ceslc

twitter.com/hhgw

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 3

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Travel

Leisure &

Chincoteague and Assateague islands are home to more than 300 wild ponies. See story on page 43.

Portland’s small-town yet urban waterfront U.S. for Second Acts.” Bon Appetit dubbed it “America’s foodiest small town.” Never mind that Men’s Health listed it “dead last” on their tabulation of 100 hotbeds of sex.

Waterfront city Portland, the largest city in the Pine Tree State and founded in 1632, is known for its working waterfront. It sits on a peninsula jutting into Casco Bay and includes five islands that are part of the city. Mainers, mariners and non, promote the deep harbor that is ice-free year round. (History footnote: Canada had to use Portland for shipping before ice-breakers were invented.) You can stroll from a Picasso at the Portland Museum of Art to harbor seals near the ferry terminal. Compact, pleasant and easily walkable, Portland offers an urbansmall-town-waterfront experience, all in one. Local resident Sophia Booth, says “It’s impossible to be bored here,” citing events like the First Fridays Art Walk and GreenDrinks, a social networking group focused on environmental concerns. “And where else can you rent a ukulele from the public library?” she asked.

By Glenda C. Booth From my sixth floor hotel room in the middle of Portland, Maine, I stared at the waters of Casco Bay gently lapping the harbor and was 99 percent convinced I had a blurry sighting of the legendary Casco Bay Sea Serpent porpoising across the bay. I had just come from the International Cryptozoology Museum, where for two hours I pondered arcane objects and fuzzy images of Bigfoot, Yeti, the Loch Ness Monster and other mysterious creatures. Roaming around downtown, I had contemplated a snazzy purple chapeau at the Queen of Hats, savored an Eritrean lamb stew at Asmara’s Restaurant, and toured Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s boyhood home. Such is Portland, Maine, city of 70,000, a rich mix, pedestrian-friendly, urban center on the water and full of surprises. You might talk lobster prices with a crusty sea captain at Becky’s lunch counter or world events with a Somalian refugee at a fish market. You might be drawn into analyzing the feats of the Seadogs, Portland’s minor league baseball team, or guessing the essential ingredients of a true whoopee pie. Forbes magazine labeled Portland one of the country’s most livable cities, which is perhaps why actress Bette Davis had a home on the outskirts. Kiplinger’s Personal Finance said last year that Portland’s “the best city in the

Eclectic tours A bus or trolley tour (www.PortlandDiscovery.com) is a good starting point for getting to know the city. You’ll roll through THE GREATER PORTLAND + CONVENTION CENTER

Boats dock in Casco Bay along Portland’s waterfront. Portland, the largest city in Maine, dates back to 1632, when it became a British fishing and trading settlement named Casco.

The historic Portland Head Light overlooks the rocky entrance to Portland, Maine’s harbor. The 222-year-old lighthouse is the oldest in Maine.

stately Victorian neighborhoods and two parks designed by Frederick Law Olmstead that capitalize on scenic water views. No visit to Maine’s rocky coast is complete without a stop at the 80-foot Portland Headlight and Museum, Maine’s oldest lighthouse dating from 1791 and authorized by President George Washington. When the lighthouse was built, Portland was the closest port to Europe. Or try the Wicked Walking tour (www.WickedWalkingTours.com) for legends of haunted Portland. On the Culinary Delights (www.mainefoodietours.com) taste tour, you’ll sample local specialties like fiddleheads, seafood chowder (“chowdah”), clams, mussels, whoopee pies and, of course, the king of crustaceans — the Maine lobster. The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad (www.mainenarrowgauge.org) has daily summer trips along Casco Bay. You can while away a day in the Old Port area, especially along Commercial Street, one of the country’s most successfully revitalized warehouse districts. With gulls squalling overhead, ever ready to swoop down and steal morsels, you’ll find around 160 locally-owned shops and no chain retail stores (except one Starbucks that “snuck in”). Pick up some “moose poop” treats for your pup, or all things blueberry: jam, pancake mix, candy, even barbeque sauce fea-

tured on television’s Travel Channel. In the Maine Pantry, you can buy Cajun seasoning mixed in Maine. “Go figure!” says a sign. Be sure to duck into the no-nonsense Harbor Market for the real coastal Maine, human and piscine, where brawny seafood merchants help eager customers select fish fresh out of the ocean, from eels to haddock. It’s real.

Cultural pursuits Designed by I.M. Pei, the Portland Museum of Art (www.portlandmuseum.org) has more than 17,000 fine and decorative works of art, including paintings, sculpture, glass and ceramics and furniture dating from the 18th century. Works by Mainer Andrew Wyeth are favorites, but you can also see art by Rockwell Kent, Louise Nevelson, John Singer Sargent, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Edvard Munch and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. There’s a Winslow Homer collection, and the museum arranges trips to his Prouts Neck studio where he painted many masterpieces. This summer, the museum will feature an exhibit titled “Shangaa: Art of Tanzania.” The federal-style Longfellow House was built in 1786 by the poet’s grandfather and See PORTLAND, page 42

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Portland From page 41 was the first brick house in the city. The Maine Historical Society, the third oldest in the country and dating from 1822, has 15,000 photos and thousands of maps. The Portland Observatory Museum, a National Civil Engineering Landmark that has withstood many fierce storms, is the only remaining historic maritime signal station in the U.S. The 50-ton Kotzschmar organ in Merrill Auditorium can replicate virtually all the sounds of a symphony orchestra. Built in

1912, it has pipes ranging from the size of a pencil to some 32 feet long, plus 100 miles of wiring that connects the pipes to the keys. The study of the unknown, the unproven, the anecdotal and the supposed at the International Cryptozoology Museum (http://cryptozoologymuseum.com/) entices. There’s a model of the Feejee Mermaid, which turned out to be a hoax, a monkey sewn to a fish and mummified. There’s film footage of a big hairy, gorillalike beast loping through dense vegetation, and “evidence” of more mysterious Maine cryptids beyond the Casco Bay Sea Serpent.

Farmers Markets in the City of Fairfax Community Farmers Market Saturdays, 8 AM–1 PM West Street Parking Lot (West & Main Streets behind the Wells Fargo Bank)

www.FairfaxSaturdayMarket.com

Sunday Farmers Market Sundays, 10 AM–2 PM West Street Parking Lot (West & Main Streets behind the Wells Fargo Bank)

www.FairfaxSundayMarket.com Find out more at: www.visitfairfax.com

Bubbe would have wanted you to.

J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Food and drink For thirst quenching in a local brewery, tour the Shipyard Brewery Company, a microbrewery that flies a beer keg on the roof instead of a flag. It’s hard not to eat well in Portland. DeMillos on the harbor is a floating former car ferry loaded with nautical imagery where “diners are passengers.” Fresh lobsters, mussels and clams practically jump off the menu. “The clams you eat here today slept last night in Casco Bay,” the restaurant touts. J’s Oyster Bar on the waterfront is always crowded but worth the wait for oysters “raw and nude.” J’s makes chowders, lobster rolls and a scallop casserole to die for. Family-owned, downhome Becky’s Diner has whole-belly fried clams, clam cakes, homemade soups and freshly-made pies. A waitress told me the banana cream pie “weighs 20 pounds.” A regular customer commented, “The food is consistently good, and the waitresses are sweet.” If you really want a fresh lobster, catch one. Sail out with Lucky Catch Lobstering (www.luckycatch.com) and haul traps. You’ll learn all about hardshells, softshells, shedders, shorts, culls and keepers. The Portland Lobster Company restaurant on the pier will cook them for you. Prepare for drippy elbows.

Island hopping After traipsing around the city, relaxing on Great Chebeague Island is a refreshing respite. In 2006, Chebeaguers voted to secede from the town of Cumberland, and they carefully nurture a year-round community esprit de corps. “We don’t want to be a snooty, touristy Nantucket-type island,” the town historian told me, so they killed the construction of a bridge to the mainland. The island is four miles long and 1.5 miles wide, and the speed limit is 30 mph all over. There’s one grocery and one restaurant, sort of.

Historically known for stone sloops, boats that carried granite from quarries, Chebeague has 350 year-round residents. Proud islanders view Casco Bay as “the moat.” It separates and protects them from the city. While Chebeaguers eschew the touristy, locals are welcoming. Everyone waves to you. I arrived at the dock with a suitcase and no arrangements for transportation to the Chebeague Inn. As I watched my suitcase hoisted up and down by a crane, I befriended a woman waiting for her groceries to come off the ferry. When I asked how to get to the inn, she offered me a ride in her rusty 1970s Ford station wagon with floor “ventilation.” The Chebeague Island Inn (www .chebeagueislandinn.com), dubbed the “11th Best Small Hotel in the U.S.” by CondéNast Traveler, is a restored, Greek Revival-style 1920s hotel with wide relaxing porches and sweeping water views. From a comfy wicker chair, you can watch terns dive and great blue herons fish. If you need to move around, poke around in the tide pools. Rooms start at $166 per night, including breakfast. Casco Bay Lines (www.CascoBayLines.com) makes frequent daily trips from the ferry terminal to six Casco Bay islands. You can cruise around and absorb the scenery, day trip, or stop at one for a stay. For downtown lodging, the Hilton Garden Inn and Holiday Inn by the Bay are the most reasonably priced hotels. U.S. Airways has July flights from Reagan National (nonstop) for $199. United has a flight from BWI through Cleveland for $199. You can tour much of the city over several days without a car, but you need a car to venture beyond downtown. For more information, visit the Greater Portland Convention and Visitors Bureau, www.visitportland.com, and the Maine Office of Tourism, www.mainetourism.com. Glenda C. Booth is a travel writer based in Alexandria, Va.

BEACON BITS

June 12+

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BEAUTY PAGEANT AND MORE

The Solana of Olney invites the public to a resident beauty pageant featuring “Our Women Around the World” on Thursday, June 27 at 2 p.m. The categories will be poise, glamour, intellect and talent. Refreshments, including champagne, will be served. Free, but RSVP by June 20 to (301) 570-2611. The Solana also invites the public to a free Alzheimer’s Support Group. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 12, from 6-8 p.m. The Solana is located at 2611 Olney Sandy Springs Rd., Olney, Md.

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 3

Chincoteague known for ponies and more By Victor Block Mention Chincoteague Island, Va., and you’re likely to be asked, “Isn’t that the place where those ponies are?” The answer is “yes.” The narrow spit of land, and the larger Assateague Island nearby, became known to people around the country as home to a herd of wild ponies in 1947, when the popular children’s book Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry was published. A 1961 movie based on that story spread the ponies’ fame even further. The attention of the country was focused on the area again in March 1962, when a devastating hurricane flattened oceanfront dunes, crashed onto Chincoteague Island (pronounced Shink-a-tig by locals), and flooded the town beneath a wall of sea water. Misty, pregnant at the time, was saved by being sheltered in her owner’s home, which stood on high ground. The foal she delivered, appropriately named Stormy, served as the main character in another book by Henry.

Pony paradise During our recent visit, my wife Fyllis and I were immersed in stories about Misty, Stormy and the other ponies as soon as we arrived. Although known as Chincoteague ponies, two herds today actually roam free on Assateague Island — a wildlife refuge that is protected from development. A fence marks the Maryland-Virginia border that bisects that barrier island, and one group of the ponies hangs out in each state. The shaggy, sturdy animals, which are slightly smaller than horses, have adapted to their harsh seashore environment by learning to subsist on dune and marsh grasses and drinking from fresh water ponds. Pony lore begins with the mystery of how their ancestors came to the area. One scenario thought to be likely by many historians is that the horses are descendants of domesticated stock that farmers grazed on Assateague Island during the 17th century to avoid taxes and penning regulations on the mainland. Another is that Native Americans had ponies when the first European settlers ar-

rived. More intriguing, but more in doubt, is the colorful legend that the ponies’ forebears swam to shore from the wreck of either a Spanish galleon or an English vessel that sank offshore. No matter how they arrived, the animals’ fame has been spread not only by the books about Misty and Stormy and the subsequent motion picture, but also because of the annual pony penning and sale. Each summer since 1925, the ponies on the Virginia end of Assateague Island have been rounded up, and those strong enough to swim are herded into the narrowest part of the channel that separates Assateague and Chincoteague. After swimming across, they’re led through the Chincoteague town streets and into pens where they spend the night. The next day, the foals — those less than a year old — are sold at auction during some spirited bidding. The remaining ponies spend another night in town and swim back

to their home on Assateague Island home the following day. The money earned from the auction — which this year will take place July 24 and 25 — benefits the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company.

Observing the ponies If you’d prefer to see the ponies in their natural setting (and are willing to miss the large crowds that gather for the annual swim), there are plenty of opportunities to do so. For example, they often may be watched

as they graze near designated viewing areas in the Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge (which, despite its name, is on Assateague Island). Fyllis and I also enjoyed sightings from the water on Captain Dan’s Around the Island Tours. In addition to learning about the history of Chincoteague and Assateague from a waterman whose family has lived in the area since 1780, we passed clam and oyster beds in the shallows, spotted bald eaSee CHINCOTEAGUE, page 44

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Chincoteague From page 43 gles and other birds circling in the sky overhead, and saw a number of ponies on land. Captain Dan pointed out individual horses by name and explained the reason for each moniker. He noted that Woeful Willy, a somewhat depressed looking pony, usually hangs out alone. Rambling Rose, on the other hand, “keeps company” with several stallions. A dark tan horse with an unkempt blond mane is known as Surfer Dude. There also are other ways to get close up and personal with the ponies. At the Chincoteague Pony Center, descendants of Misty are among horses available for riding and lessons, and they star in occasional shows. Wildlife bus tours offered from April through November, which carry passengers into areas of Assateague closed to other ve-

J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

order to experience and enjoy their full flavor, Mike recommended eating the bivalves “raw and naked,” without sauce. A visit to Mike’s or any other oyster operation, and viewing the beds in the shallow waters surrounding the islands, provides an introduction to the process that transports oysters from their environment to dinner plates all over the country. And if you’re as lucky as I was, you may be treated to a tasting. Fyllis and I found equally engrossing the story of ornamental bird carving which, we were told, still has about two dozen practitioners on Chincoteague Island today. Long before European settlers arrived in the New World, Native Americans fashioned floating decoys from reeds and grasses that they used to attract waterfowl within reach of arrows and nets. Those lures gave way over time to simple carved wooden decoys and, later, manufactured plastic models. Some carvers began to fashion much more elaborate waterfowl, and what had

hicles, include pony sightings on every trip. Misty fans also won’t want to miss the Museum of Chincoteague Island. Exhibits there explore the local history, culture and people. They include what Fyllis and I found to be interesting stories about the oystering industry, which employs many island residents, and even more fascinating descriptions of ornamental waterfowl and land bird carving for which the area is equally well known.

Oysters and duck decoys Our introduction to the oystering industry came during a visit to the Chincoteague Shellfish Farms. Mike McGee, the jovial proprietor, explained that dredging for oysters as was done in the past has pretty much given way to present-day aquaculture. He proclaimed that the local waters surrounding Chincoteague and Assateague islands are “God’s country for the oyster.” In

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begun as a craft evolved into an art form. The best examples display every feather and other feature in intricate lifelike detail, and can take months to complete. Decorative carvings are available to see and purchase at a number of places around town. The best collection we discovered is at the museum-like store named Decoys, Decoys, Decoys, where more than 2,000 birds produced by both local artists and others from around the country surround visitors like a colorful aviary. While the highest known price paid for a decorative bird is $830,000, you won’t have to pay nearly that much to take home one of the magnificent figures. If you do, you’ll have a treasured keepsake to remind you of a very different kind of destination where life definitely moves at a leisurely pace. For more information about visiting Chincoteague and Assateague islands, visit www.chincoteaguechamber.com or call (757) 336-6161.

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 3

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Style Arts &

Company, with songs by Stephen Sondheim, takes a look at marriage through the eyes of five couples. See review on page 47.

Melissa Etheridge rocks again at Wolf Trap

Singing of her hometown Etheridge, who will perform at Wolf Trap on June 18, is best known for her bluesy rock hits like “Bring Me Some

Water” and “Come to my Window.” Etheridge’s latest album, released last October, takes her back to Leavenworth. Titled 4th Street Feeling after the town’s main drag, she recalls a simpler time “when everything I had could fit into my Chevrolet.” In another song, “Kansas City,” Etheridge sings about driving the 100 miles from her hometown to the big city fueled on “Lucky Charms and Tic-Tacs and mom’s amphetamines.” “I remember thinking in my hometown at 18, ‘This place is nothing. I just want to get out of here and all the troubles I have. Someday I’ll be famous. I’ll run away and won’t have any troubles,’” she said. “But, you know, we bring [troubles] with us. 4th Street Feeling is going back and allowing myself some forgiveness, some space, some, ‘you know what, I did the best I could, and that was good enough.’” Etheridge had a slow rise to fame in Kansas, starting to play her sister’s guitar when she was about 8. “I begged, ‘please, please’ for a guitar, even though my dad told me I was too young to learn. I practiced until my fingers bled.” She played in talent shows and local

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By Barbara Ruben Singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge may have won two Grammy Awards, been honored by Washington’s Women in the Arts Museum last year, and garnered a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011. But when she was a child in Leavenworth, Kan., a music teacher didn’t know what to make of her raw, gravelly voice. “My first choir teacher did tell me that my voice was so weird she had to sit me in the back because she didn’t know where to put me,” Etheridge, 52, told the Beacon in an interview that ranged from discussing her distinctive rasp, to her mega hits, to her breast cancer battle, to her early declaration that she is gay. As for that throaty voice, “I always think it’s like whiskey and cigarettes. But I never drank and I never smoked. It’s just the days and nights of singing over and over. I’m sure there was plenty of second-hand smoke in the bars, and that affected it, too.”

Melissa Etheridge, to perform June 18 at Wolf Trap, will sing old favorites like “Bring Me Some Water” as well as new material about her Kansas hometown from her most recent album, 4th Street Feeling.

groups, until she was signed by Island Records when she was 26. “I think of the artists now who are signed so young, and they don’t have that experience of playing and falling down, and writing something and saying that was stupid, and then writing something better,

company

the hit sondheim musical

really working at it. I loved the years I got before that,” Etheridge said.

Out of the closet Soon after her career took off, Etheridge See ETHERIDGE, page 46 A

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MUSIC & LYRICS BY STEPHEN SONDHEIM BOOK BY GEORGE FURTH DIRECTED BY ERIC SCHAEFFER

Photo of Company ensemble by Scott Suchman

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Etheridge From page 45 came out as a lesbian. “It was all anybody wanted to talk about, talking about my personal life over and over and over, really intense. It got me used to it so I could talk about it, so others won’t have to talk about it,” she said. Her orientation “has slowly just become another color crayon in my crayon box. It’s just part of what makes me me,” Etheridge said, noting that while she didn’t aspire to be a role model, many have looked to her as one. “The young adults who come up to me and say, ‘You saved my life. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be who I am. You gave me strength,’ that sort of thing makes everything worth it. I’m just so grateful for that,” she said. Over the years, Etheridge has quietly helped advocate for gay and lesbian issues.

Before last fall’s election, she helped raise money for the same sex marriage ballot question in Maryland, offering to meet with six fans backstage after her Strathmore Music Center concert as a prize for a fundraising contest. “I’m not out on the pavement and hollering or anything. But I do lend my name and my support to those who are really out there doing the work,” she said And she is excited that momentum has built across the country for marriage equality issues. “It’s beautiful being alive at this time in our country,” she said. “We got it to the Supreme Court….We’re at the tipping point.” “What makes America so great is its ability to handle diversity, the ability to believe that diversity is what makes us strong, and the belief that all men are created equal. Helloooooo? That’s the challenge here.”

J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Trials and triumphs On the personal relationship front, though, Etheridge has had a rocky time. After she and longtime domestic partner, “L Word” actress Tammy Lynn Michaels, broke up in 2010, they entered into a protracted legal battle over child support for their 6-year-old twins born to Michaels by an anonymous sperm donor. Etheridge also has two teens, who were adopted before the relationship with Michaels. But one of Etheridge’s biggest battles was her breast cancer diagnosis in 2005. She was in the middle of a tour when she was diagnosed, and canceled 11 shows. Soon after treatment, she was back on stage — sans hair. “Coming back, the first thing I did was go on stage and prove to myself that, hey, I can rock this. This is not going to knock me off anywhere. I’m better than I was before,” said Etheridge, who has been cancer free since finishing treatment. She said she works hard now to eat healthy, whole food and minimize stress. “Health is my responsibility. There’s no drug, there’s no doctor, there’s no special, amazing thing that’s going to come down and allow me to desecrate my body with stress or food. My body doesn’t live that way,” she said.

At home on stage And one of her incentives to stay healthy is to keep on performing. “The truth is, I love it, I love it, I love it.

It’s the favorite thing I do to take these songs I’ve crafted, these personal moments, these paintings I’ve made, and create them in front of you live. “And you get to scream and holler. It’s a ritual that we don’t have enough of in our culture any more, and I’m happy to provide it.” As for what’s on tap at Wolf Trap, Etheridge said, “I will always include the favorites, the songs that really rise to the top. I’m going to do ‘Come to My Window.’ I’m going to do ‘Bring Me Some Water.’ “And you know what? They’re a blast to play every time because people love them so much. I love them because people love them. It’s a wonderful experience to start those songs with people standing up and going, ‘That’s my song!’” Etheridge, who lives in Los Angeles, enjoys playing in the Washington area once or twice a year. “I love Wolf Trap. I just remember it being the most humid place I’ve ever played. But the more humid it is, the better my vocals are, actually,” she said of the area’s swampy genesis. “I love the whole area. I’ve been doing it for 25 years, and I look forward to it.” Learn more about the Wolf Trap show and buy tickets at www.wolftrap.org/ Find_Performances_and_Events/Performance/13Filene/0618show13.aspx or call 1-877-965-3872. Listen to Etheridge’s 4th Street Feeling and watch videos at her website, www.melissaetheridge.com.

You’re Invited! Seabury Leadership in Aging Celebration Thursday, June 6, 2013 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. The Katzen Arts Center at American University 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016 2013 Leadership in Aging Honoree: Julie Potter, MSW A Pioneer in Senior Wellness Former Program Coordinator Sibley Senior Association

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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 — J U N E 2 0 1 3

Love, Sondheim style at Signature Theatre

Musings on marriage Said story belongs to Bobby (Matthew Scott), a Manhattan bachelor about to

smash face-first into the age of 35. Apparently, being single at 35 in 1970 was seen as a social aberration, a disruption of the way things are supposed to be. But while Bobby says he wants marriage, he is unable (or is he unwilling?) to commit fully to a solid relationship. His best friends, five married couples weathering their own relationships, flit in and out of his presence, worrying about him, prodding him, and sometimes offering examples of why marriage is fraught with danger. Three girlfriends spend time with him, even as he barely seems to register their presence. There’s certainly no chemistry here. The book, once considered avant garde for its non-linear format, is broken into a series of vignettes happening as the Big 3-5 party looms. Any time Signature’s Eric Schaeffer directs a Sondheim show, it’s a noteworthy event for theater fans here and in New York. We long for it. Surprisingly, it has been three years since he has put a Sondheim production onstage, and his time away from the master shows. There’s little of his customary flair here, no new take on the material. A talented cast seems uninspired, with generally rote performances between the songs. Scenes roll out on Daniel Conway’s nonevocative and sterile set of glossy metal and

PHOTO BY SCOTT SUCHMAN

By Michael Toscano Can a show exploring attitudes toward marriage and relationships retain its relevance after more than four decades have passed, especially a show widely described as drenched in the zeitgeist of the moment when it was fresh? We get an answer with Signature Theatre’s current production of Company, the 1970 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, Best Original Music and Best Book for a musical. And it’s a mixed verdict. The witty, alluring Stephen Sondheim music and lyrics have retained all their charm. And then some. But George Furth’s book is now a stale period piece that needs firm placement in its period to pack any punch. The music gets a fresh and sprightly workout here, but the story is not anchored to its time and seems murky and unfocused as a result. Still, Sondheim’s luminous, if occasionally neurotic, songs make Company a delightful way to spend a few hours. Of course, if you could lose the past-its-sellby-date story between the songs, you’d have a dazzling one-hour experience, and probably more coherent story-telling.

The cast of Company at Signature Theatre performs memorable Stephen Sondheim tunes in his 1970 musical about love and marriage. Three of the actor-couples in the show are real-life couples.

glass, punctuated by Matthew Gardiner’s serviceable choreography. Some of the female cast members wear 1970-era hair styles, but the men sport modern dos. Nobody is dressed well. Frank Labovitz’s costumes, in various shades of gray and white (missing a defining black!), are generally not fixed in time. They are a boring, amorphous amalgam that blends into the monochromatic setting. So, if the time is anytime, and the place, supposedly Manhattan’s Upper East

Side, is really no place in particular, then there’s little ground for the actors to dig into.

Real-life couples Schaeffer, one of the most creative and busiest people in regional theater, may have relied too heavily on a gimmick that was probably fun during rehearsals but doesn’t translate into anything extra for the audience. He cast three married-in-real-life couSee SONDHEIM, page 48

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Sondheim From page 47 ples, including some of Signature’s most popular regulars, to play three of the married couples in the show.

J U N E 2 0 1 3 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Sherri Edelen (Xanadu) as Joanne and Thomas Adrian Simpson (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) as Larry, are really married. So are Tracy Lynn Olivera (Hello, Dolly!) as Sarah, and Evan Casey (The Hollow) as Harry. How about Erin Driscoll

(Hairspray) as Jenny and James Gardiner (The Last Five Years) as David? Yup, wife and husband. Schaeffer was apparently expecting the real life relationships to enhance an examination of marriage and happiness, and it might have done so if the show’s book provided a more structured narrative, or one with less emphasis on easy comedy. It would also have helped if Schaeffer fully embraced the original time period and its social culture, so Bobby’s angst might be more understandable. But all those crucial elements are missing here, and any significant commentary or insight proves elusive.

Classic Sondheim tunes

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But let us not forget the gifts Sondheim has given us. There are classics here, including “Another Hundred People,” “The Ladies Who Lunch,” “Being Alive,” and “Side by Side by Side.” The songs are a mix of yearning and heartbreak (“Barcelona”), broad comedy (the rapid-patter “Getting Married Today”) and acerbic observation (“The Ladies Who Lunch”). “Another Hundred People” is a keen look at the vibrant current of New York that still vibrates today. “Side by Side by Side,” which opens the second act on a high note, is smooth and old-timey, a vaudeville-inspired opportunity for the ensemble to strut and kick in a display of common purpose. The score takes us on delightful twists and turns, such as when the slightly dissonant and staccato “Have I Got a Girl for You” segues almost seamlessly into the lyrical and melodic “Someone is Waiting.” By the end of the show, when Matthew Scott’s Bobby sings the poignant ballad “Being Alive,” he finally opens up to genuine emotion, something the performer seemed to be squelching until that moment the night the show was reviewed. As the final applause begins to wash over him, Bobby is just beginning to come

Letters to editor From page 2

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Dear Editor: Thank you for printing in your May edition the article, “Some of the best urban areas for retirees.” A factor NerdWallet failed to take account in choosing its 10 best urban retirement cities is the environmental quality — overall cleanliness — of communities. Of the 10 “best” cities [they identified] for

to grips with his reality, it seems. It’s too bad the wait is so long. As the focus of all the other characters’ observations, concern, and affection, Scott’s Bobby is something of a cipher. For a guy on the prowl, he’s passive and lacks the heat of the chase. There is enough ambiguity in his persona and actions, mixed with a few clues in the dialogue, to hint there may be more to his bachelorhood than meets the eye. (Remember, this is 1970.) But much too much is just vapors, wisps of suggestion. Company remains a reliable machine, humming along and getting us from point to point on the strength of Sondheim’s songs. That alone makes it better than most musicals and worthy of your attendance, even if the story telling stalls. Company continues through June 30 at Signature Theatre’s MAX Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., in Arlington, Va. Performances are Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m. Signature is making available a limited number of $22 tickets to the performance on June 4. Discussion performances are scheduled for June 12 and June 18. Ticket prices begin at $40 and may be purchased online at www.signature-theatre.org, by calling Ticketmaster at (703) 573-SEAT, or by visiting the box office during business hours, weekdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from noon to 6 p.m. Use the code “Beacon” to obtain the best seats (normally $83) for $50. The theater is accessible for people with disabilities, and it is recommended that special seating needs be mentioned when tickets are purchased. Free listening devices are available. Free parking is available in nearby public garages. For general infor mation, contact Signature at (703) 820-9771 or visit www.signature-theatre.org. retirees, only four — Jacksonville, Tampa, Tucson and Nashville — do not appear in Travel+Leisure’s list of “America’s Dirtiest Cities” nor are located in an American State Litter Scorecard “worst” government for having poorest-kept public spaces. Washington State is the top “best” Scorecard entity, while San Diego is America’s most populated community not in the dirtiest cities list or a scorecard “worst” state. Steve Spacek Clarksburg, Md.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 3

FROM PAGE 50

ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick Detorie

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CASH FOR ESTATE BUYOUTS, estate cleanouts, jewelry to furniture, one item or whole state. Free Estimate, Will Travel. 301-520-0755.

CASH FOR JEWELRY: Buying jewelry, diamonds, gold, platinum, silver, watches, coins, flatware, etc. We make house calls. Ask for Tom. Call anytime 301-654-8678 or 301-654-0838.

FINE ANTIQUES, PAINTINGS AND QUALITY VINTAGE FURNISHINGS wanted by a serious, capable buyer. I am very well educated [law degree], knowledgeable [over 40 years in the antique business] and have the finances and wherewithal to handle virtually any situation. If you have a special item, collection or important estate, I would like to hear from you. I pay great prices for great things in all categories from Oriental rugs to Tiffany objects, from rare clocks to firearms, from silver and gold to classic cars. If it is wonderful, I am interested. No phony promises or messy consignments. References gladly furnished. Please call Jake Lenihan, 301-279-8834. Thank you.

WE PAY CASH for antique furniture, quality used furniture, early American art, pottery, silver, glassware, paintings, etc. Single items to entire estates. Call Reggie or Phyllis at DC, 202-726-4427, MD 301-332-4697. MILITARY ITEMS WANTED: Collector seeks to purchase military uniforms; flight jackets, patches, insignia, medals, etc. from the Civil War through Vietnam. Especially seeking U.S. Army Air Corps, USMC, Airborne, and German/Japanese/Italian items from WWII. ALSO BUYING old Boy Scout, Airline Items, Toys, Lighters. Call Dan, 202-841-3062. VINYL RECORDS WANTED from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-596-6201. BUYING MILITARY MEMORABILIA WW2, WW1, Civil War uniforms, weapons, photos and items associated with US, German, Japanese or items of other Military History. DAVE, 240-464-0958.

WANTED: ANTIQUE ELECTRONICS, engineers’ estates, Hi-Fi Stereo, huge old loudspeakers, ham radios, records, professional quality musical instruments, antique computers, scientific curiosities. 202-527-9501, vcvdc@msn.com. STAMP COLLECTIONS, AUTOGRAPHS purchased/appraised – U.S., worldwide, covers, paper memorabilia. Stamps are my specialty – highest price paid! Appraisals. Phone Alex, 301-309-6637. Stampex1@gmail.com. CASH FOR RECORDS & CDs. BEST PRICE GUARANTEED. Free appraisals. All types of music, 33, 45, 78 & CDs. Call Steve 301-6465403. Will make house calls.

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Puzzle Page

J U N E 2 0 1 3 — 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 Stringers by Stephen Sherr 1

21 24

50 56

Across

Puzzle answers on p. 49.

27 29

28 31

1. Regard 5. Citric Bacardi flavor 10. Model 14. Sea eagle 15. Addis ___ 16. Circle around the moon 17. Stringer on summer hiatus 19. “Pronto!” 20. Regular customer’s request 21. Jab at a stringer with flammable f lannels (with 30 Across) 23. “___ whiz!” 24. Pinnacles 27. They will really curl your hair 28. Memo heading 29. Meter starter 30. See 21 Across 35. Market measure, briefly 38. Flat line, to a mathematician 39. ___ asada (Mexican steak) 40. Good name for a DNA researcher 41. Mo. with the shortest days 42. Result of stringers gone amok 44. Singer Kristofferson 46. Big heads 47. The first hurricane of 1972 49. “Slowed to ___” (downshifted a horse) 51. Participated in Thanksgiving 54. Slogan for all of the stringers in this puzzle (with 59 Across) 56. Home to three NBA teams 58. Type of apple 59. See 54 Across 62. Where witches put kids 63. System of belief 64. Theater box 65. Egg container 66. Puts chips in the kitty 67. He puts chips in the cookie

Down 1. Correct a programming error 2. Correct a math error

3. Come next 4. Arizona’s third-largest city 5. SoCal team in box scores 6. Corp. founded in 1911 as the Computing Tabulating Recording Company 7. Maine ingredient 8. Plays “Simon Says” 9. The POV in first person lit. 10. Harpoon holder 11. Vehicle which produced Jack Nicholson’s first Oscar nomination 12. Unit of chili strength 13. Restrains cattle 18. Extended families 22. Fencing sword 25. Early spring bloomer 26. ___ work 28. “___ alive!” 29. Expecting 30. Tablet computer 31. Take off the payroll 32. Tom, Dick, and Harry 33. Part of TGIF 34. Type of beauty 36. Insufficient quantity for 52 Down 37. Itty-bitty 40. Nav. aid that came 500 years too late for Columbus 42. Naughty/nice identifier 43. ___ voce (softly) 45. Not from yore 47. It may say “Kiss the cook” 48. Fruit farm 49. Item in a squirrel’s stash 50. Core belief 51. “All men are created equal”, for example 52. Ballroom dance 53. Requirements for Superman costumes 55. Early Peruvian 57. Scat-singer Fitzgerald 60. Peace sign 61. Security guard’s request

Answers on page 49.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 3

CLASSIFIEDS

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Computer Services PROBLEM WITH YOUR PC/MAC OR NETWORK? Computer Systems Engineer will come to you with help. Call: D. Guisset at 301-642-4526.

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 at the right.

COMPUTER LESSONS – Personal Computer training at your home. Email, Internet, general computer use. Windows 8, Smartphone/tablet, digital camera. Learn at your own pace with gentle & patient tutor. We also troubleshoot problems & setup new computers. Teaching Seniors since 1996. Senior Discount. Call David, 301-762-2570, COMPUTERTUTOR.

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.

LEISURE WORLD® - $279,000. 3BR 2FB 1HB “M” in “Greens.” Table space kitchen, separate dining room. Large enclosed balcony. New paint and carpet. 1530 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert Realtors, 301-928-3463.

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 DO YOU LOVE DOGS? Do you find exercise rewarding? Pet Partner is a leader in dog care in Silver Spring, and we are growing. This is a fun, active, and rewarding job for a dog lover. We walk just one friendly dog at a time in the best Silver Spring neighborhoods. Flexible schedules, Monday through Friday, midday hours. Call/email: 301-920-2168, petpartners@starpower.net. www.thepetpartners.com. PART/FULL-TIME PHONE SALES for online grants/news service. Must be experienced closer, use email, like selling. Flexible weekday hours. Downtown Silver Spring. www.cdpublications.com. 301-588-6380 ext. 134. JOB SEARCH and career transition assistance with a Princeton and Yale educated professional. 25 years experience in the Washington Metropolitan Area helping individuals to make rewarding career moves. Whether you are a high school student in search of a first job or the managing director of a prestigious law firm seeking to develop a second career, I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you. Very reasonable rates. Feel free to give me a call anytime to discuss your situation in complete confidence. I look forward to speaking with you. Arthur C. Hamm (Art), ABetterCareer@comcast.net. Located at the juncture of Tuckerman Lane and Seven Locks Road in Potomac. Thank you! 301-351-5286.

Caregivers ELDERLY CARE – FEMALE provider. English speaking with car. I’m experienced in caring for people with Parkinson’s, MS, Alzheimer’s, and other health problems. I cook, clean and take to appointments. Excellent references. 301-275-7283. HOMECARE COMPANION – Compassionate lady will care for your loved one. Seniors/adults with disabilities welcomed. Own transportation, reliable, English speaking, 10 years experience with excellent references. Please call 240-426-3548 for more information, and kindly leave a message. CAREGIVER PART-TIME – 11.00 dollars, hourly work, 4 or 5 hours a day. Monday through Friday. Companion/sitter, will help with housekeeping, prepare meals, run errands. Experienced and very good references furnished. Call 301-758-5159. ASSISTED LIVING HOME – Compassionate, cost-effective, professional medical staff and in a home-like environment in Silver Spring. Maryland State Licensed. Transportation, recreation, shopping, and clinical support. Call 301-9444600. CAREGIVER – LOOKING FOR A LOVING, caring, compassionate, dependable and reliable one with years of experience and references for your elderly ones? Please call 301-908-9134.

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate

LEISURE WORLD® - $98,000. 2BR 1-1/2 BA “Elizabeth” Coop. Renovated and ready with wood floors and new carpet, gated patio.1308 sq ft., Stan Moffson, Weichert Realtors, 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® - $139,000. 3 BR 2 FB “Ellicott” with walkout patio to green space. Table space kitchen and separate dining room and separate laundry room. 1340 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert Realtors, 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® - RENTAL - $1300. 2BR, 1-1/2BA “C” in “Greens” New paint and carpet, move-in ready. 950 sq ft, Stan Moffson, Weichert Realtors, 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® - $69,500. 1 BR + Den (or 2 BR), 1-1/2 BA, “Arbor” model in “The Pines.” Spacious unit in move-in condition. 900 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert Realtors, 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® - $185,000. 2BR 2FB “B” in “Overlook.” Table space kitchen with pass through to separate dining room. Enclosed balcony with golf course view. 1035 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert Realtors, 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® - $279,000. 3BR 2-1/2BA “LL” model in the “Greens.” 1st floor with enclosed balcony and extended patio, easy access to outside exit and walking paths, table space kitchen, separate dining room, move-in ready. 1593 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert Realtors, 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® - $135,000. 2BR 2FB “F” in the “Greens.” New paint and carpet, table space kitchen with updated appliances. Enclosed balcony with view of fountain and treetops. 1115 sq. ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert Realtors, 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® - 269,000. 3BR 2-1/2B “M” in the “Greens.” Great space with enclosed balcony, new paint and carpet and separate storage room in basement. 1530 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert Realtors, 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® - $114,900. 2BR 2 FB in the “Warfield.” Top floor with cathedral ceiling, table space kitchen and separate dining room, enclosed balcony overlooking trees. 1043 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert Realtors, 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® - $139,000. 2BR 2FB “G” in “Fairways.” Table space kitchen with passthrough, separate dining room, new paint and carpet, enclosed balcony. 1014 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert Realtors, 301-928-3463. LOOKING FOR A QUIET AND FRIENDLY WOMAN between the ages of 55-70 to share my lovely home in a quiet area of Silver Spring, MD. Must be strict vegetarian, non-smoker, and non-drinker. The rent is $600/month including utilities. Call Carol at 301-754-1289 between 6:30PM – 8:30PM.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES Deadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 20th of each month. Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’s issue. Please type or print your ad carefully. Include a number where you can be reached in the event of a question. Payment is due with ad. We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nor do we accept credit cards. Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $15 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word. Business Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing business enterprise. Each ad is $35 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word. Note: Each real estate listing counts as one business text ad. Send your classified ad with check or money order, payable to the Beacon, to:

The Beacon, D.C. Classified Dept. P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227 For information about display advertising, or to request a media kit, call (301) 949-9766.

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate

Personal Services

LOOKING TO TAKE THE LEAP? I’ll take you on a tour of the community, show you floor plans, discuss campus amenities, & offer how to best coordinate your move. I will preview units & contact you with a match. I also offer exceptional service selling your home. I’m a Seniors Specialist, Buyer Broker, Top 1% of Agents Nationwide, and a Leisure World resident! You can see my current listings on page 10. Contact me: 301-580-5556, SueHeyman@aol.com, www.SueHeyman.com, Weichert, Realtors.

READY TO DE-CLUTTER? I can help. Sort, discard, donate. Reasonable rates. Call Jan, 301-933-7570. Leave message. BELIEVE IN MIND/BODY/SPIRITUAL connections? Free introduction sessions in Towson, Hunt Valley, Cockeysville. Thetahealing releases limiting beliefs, connecting to the Creator. To RSVP or ask for information, contact Jill, 443857-4419 or jill@thetahealingbaltimore.com.

For Sale

LADY WANTS TO CLEAN houses. Charges $70 a day. Help elderly or babysit at $15 an hour. Call Dorothy, 703-341-6722.

KING DAVID CEMETERY, Falls Church. 3 Lots, Section 41. All 3 for $25,000. Call Norman, 703-297-7703.

MOTHER WILL DRIVE you to your appointments, church, shopping and assist you. Honest, reliable. References. DC & Maryland. Bee, 301-949-4873.

PARKLAWN MEMORIAL PARK: three cemetery plots on gentle hill overlooking peaceful landscape with mature trees and flowering shrubs. $1,900 each or $5,000 for all. Email for photos: nikyu@yahoo.com. 703-338-9316.

VAN MAN – For your driving needs. Shopping, appointments, pick-up and deliver – airport van. Call Mike, 301-565-4051.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY home site, camping, horse, etc. lots near Shenandoah River. Breathtaking views of Skyline Drive and Massanutten mountains. Two- to eight-acre lots five miles north of Luray, VA. Chris Gindhart, 540-742-9804, cgindhart@cavalierfarms.com. Website: www.cavalierfarms.com. Request flyer: Chris Gindhart, 422 Cavalier Rd., Rileyville, VA 22650. FOR SALE – ANTIQUES, clocks, watches, dolls, dresser set, and many other items. Call Carrie Moore, 301-942-7473. 2 SALVADOR DALI woodblock prints from Dante’s Divine Comedy. Signed and framed. Asking $900 for the pair. Can email pictures if desired. Call Steve, 410-913-1653.

Health PAID RESEARCH STUDY – Participants needed for NIH-funded hearing experiments conducted at the University of Maryland, College Park. Seeking people ages 65-80 with normal hearing or hearing loss. Hearing evaluation included as part of the study. Participation time: ~10 hrs; $12/hr. Contact Erin or Hannah (301405-7454; hearingresearch@umd.edu).

Home/Handyman Services MGL CLEANING SERVICE Experienced. Same team every time. Licensed bonded, insured. Good references, free estimates. Our customers recommend us. Mario & Estela: 202-4916767 & 703-798-4143.

LEISURE WORLD – RENTAL. $1,895/Mo. Lovely, spacious, remodeled, 3 BR patio home with custom kitchen and upgraded baths, wood floors in DR, LR, and hall. New paint throughout. Patio w/ shed. Includes all utilities + cable + outside care + LW amenities (golf, pools, gym, clubhouses, restaurants and more). Handy parking. Avail. 6/1. 301-598-3247. (showmt@hotmail.com).

MICHAELS HAULING Clean-outs, scrap & debris removal yard waste, etc. Mulch, dirt & stone delivery, lite dump truck, 20’ trailer & bobcat. Fully insured. 240-388-1898.

LEISURE WORLD – RENTAL. $1,995/Mo. Lovely, spacious, remodeled, 3BR, 2FB, patio home w/2car garage. Custom kitchen w/all new appliances, remodeled baths, new tiled floors & carpet throughout. Fenced patio. Incl. all utilities (exc. Phone and Internet) + cable + lawn care + LW amenities (golf, pools, gym, clubhouses, restaurants, more). Avail. 6/15. 301-598-3247 (showmt@hotmail.com).

ABC CARPET Ship at home, 703-398-6040. Carpet with pad install $1.99/sqft. Hardwood install $5.99/sqft. Laminate install $3.99/sqft. All include with material and labor.

WE’LL BUY YOUR HOME Without the Hassles. Local Company in business since 2003. BBB Accredited. Call 877-948-3232 today for details. No Obligation or Fees.

NEED HOUSING CLEANING? Professional service at an affordable rate! Weekly, bi-monthly, monthly, or one time. Call Fulvia for a free estimate. 240-644-4289.

Miscellaneous SMALL CAR WANTED! Seeking to purchase a small, well-kept, used car with low miles. Will give fair price. Negotiable. Must be looked over by family mechanic. Serious sellers only, please. Call Rebekah, 240-638-6727.

WILL TYPE YOUR MEMOIRS, manuscripts, etc. For info and rates, call 703-671-1854.

Volunteer Opportunities COLUMBIA LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND, a nonprofit organization serving people of all ages in the Washington metropolitan area who are blind and visually impaired, is recruiting adult volunteers to serve as Readers and Friendly Visitors. Participants in the Readers & Friendly Visitors program are adult volunteers who are matched one-on-one with blind or visually impaired adults. Volunteers arrange weekly meetings with clients at their homes to assist with activities, such as reading mail, grocery shopping or running errands. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please contact Jocelyn Hunter at 202-454-6422 or jhunter@clb.org to attend an upcoming orientation.

Wanted PULP MAGAZINES WANTED. Paying Cash. The Shadow, Doc Savage, G-8 Westerns, Crime, Horror. Pulp drawings and paintings. Older comic books. Please call Larry, 240-533-1445. WE BUY OLD AND NEW COINS, Jewelry, Silver and Gold, Paper Money Too. Watches, Clocks and Parts, Military Badges and Patches Old and New. Call Greg, 717-658-7954. HIGHEST CASH PAID FOR ANTIQUES, ESTATES - Cash paid for antiques, estates. I’ve been in the antiques business for over 25 years. I live in Silver Spring and work in Bethesda. I’ve been selling on EBAY for over 15 years. I pay the most for your valuable treasures. Buying the following items: furniture, art, silver, gold, old coins, jewelry, wrist watches, military items including, guns, rifles, knifes, swords, medals, etc. also buying old toys, dolls, trains, books, tools, musical instruments, old sports items, memorabilia, gold, baseball, fishing, old photos, comic books, etc. Please call TOM at 240-476-3441, Thank you. STERLING SILVER will pay top dollar for your silver marked “Sterling”, “925” “800.” Please no silver plate. Want flatware, bowls, plates, candlesticks, etc. Call Richard 301-646-0101. OLD AND NEW WE BUY Sterling Silver Flatware, Tea Sets or Single Pieces., Furniture, Tools, Cameras, Good Glassware, Art Work Too. Toys From Trains to Hotwheels, Action Figures to Star Wars. Call Greg, 717-658-7954.

Classifieds cont. on p. 49

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