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Elder abuse often not reported
I N S I D E …
PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER MYERS
By Carol Sorgen Ellyn M. Loy has seen a number of cases of abuse in her years as a licensed clinical social worker — first at House of Ruth, a shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, and now as director of SAFE: Stop Abuse of Elders. One of the most troubling cases Loy has seen recently is that of a 90-year-old woman who, though mentally “with it” and owning her own home, had been taken advantage of by her granddaughter, who lived with her and had become the payee for the woman’s Social Security benefits. The woman was kept isolated in her room, without access to her friends, her money, or any of her identification. Her family refused to take her to church or even to the store. In part because her family also withheld needed medication, the woman frequently became ill. After her second hospitalization, while recovering at a rehabilitation center, the woman begged a social worker to help, finally admitting that her daughter-in-law and granddaughter were abusing her. That’s when Loy and her staff from SAFE were called in. They investigated and confirmed what was happening, at which point they stopped the woman’s Social Security check from going to her family. “When the woman’s family found out that her Social Security check was no longer going to them,” Loy said, “they dumped her remaining belongings on the floor of her room at the rehab center,” and have made no further attempt to communicate with her. She is now finally in a safe situation. Elder abuse is a growing public health concern. So much so that there is an annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, this year taking place on Monday, June 15. Elder abuse takes many forms, said Barbara Korenblit, chief of the Division of Individual and Family Services of the Baltimore County Department of Aging (BCDA). Among them are physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and financial abuse. As in the example above, many situations involve more than one type at the same time, and in two out of three cases, the abuser is the victim’s child, grandchild or spouse, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse, Bureau of Justice Statistics.
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ARTS & STYLE Social worker Ellyn M. Loy counsels older adults and their families if they are concerned about physical, psychological, sexual or financial abuse. She is the director of SAFE: Stop Abuse of Elders, a nonprofit that raises awareness of the types and extent of elder abuse, and refers its victims and their families to agencies that provide support and safety.
As a result, victims frequently refrain from reporting such abuse, either to protect their family members, out of fear of reprisal, or because they don’t want to be taken from their home and family and sent to a facility. Even so, more than 2 million cases of elder abuse are reported each year. And surveys suggest that 10 to 20 times that number go unreported. Hence, the need for organizations like SAFE — which addresses the needs of women, men, children and elders who experience physical, psychological, sexual or financial abuse. The free, nonsectarian program was launched in 2013 by Jewish Community Services (JCS), Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital, and CHANA, a
program of The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore. SAFE provides crisis intervention, education and consultation, and also advocates for community awareness, safety and healing to help abused seniors in northwest Baltimore get the care they need. “The state of Maryland looks at SAFE as a model for addressing elder abuse in other communities around the state,” said Loy. “Members of SAFE’s staff consult with other social service agencies as to how to best develop a support system for vulnerable older adults.” “Those who are most vulnerable to abuse,” said BCDA’s Korenblit, “are those See ELDER ABUSE, page 28
The Dance Theatre of Harlem’s 40 years of firsts; plus, three Broadway tenors perform for a cause, and a musical that brings history to life page 29
TECHNOLOGY k Trim spending with apps k Auto safety technology
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Looking back and ahead A reader wrote me recently to say she clipped and saved the “Man of Valor” column I wrote last year as a eulogy to my late father, and that she has read it many times since. She suggested I reprint it in our upcoming editions as a Father’s Day column. I was touched by the request. I am not reprinting it here, however, as the column is available on our website at www.theBeaconNewspapers.com (enter “man of valor” in the “site search” box on the home page, or go directly to www.thebeaconnewspapers.com/blog/2014/03/02/man-valor). But in considering her request, I was led to think about how many things have changed in my life since my dad away in March 2014 and my mom passed away five months later.
The last few months of each of their lives were very intense for my brother and me. During our dad’s last period of illness, when our parents were still living in Texas, my brother and I took turns traveling back and forth to help care for him (and our mom) and to stay with him in the hospital. After he died, we moved my mother to this area, where she lived in a skilled nursing facility and endured five hospitalizations during her last months of life. Each of us visited her frequently at the nursing home, and also took turns staying with her in the hospital. For these reasons, our ordinary work schedules and family routines were upended for nearly a year. And while that was difficult, of course, I learned some extremely
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P.E.E.R.S. PROVIDE SUPPORT P.E.E.R.S. Seniors in Partnership with the Mental Health Associa-
tion of Maryland provides a network support group to help seniors in Baltimore County with mental health needs, including depression, grief, anxiety and isolation. Volunteers make one phone call or visit per week to a senior who may be homebound, depressed, anxious, or suffering a loss. For more information, visit www.mhamd.org or call (410) 235-1178.
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The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of the Greater Baltimore area, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Howard County, Md., Greater Washington DC and Greater Palm Springs, Calif. Subscriptions are available via third-class mail ($12), prepaid with order. 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.
useful things — about myself and others ness could survive and thrive without me. — as a result. I also believe I can see their hands even You see, though my wife and I started the now directing me, and in some cases proBeacon more than 26 years viding me, with these opporago, and have seen it grow into tunities for personal growth. four monthly editions with a That’s especially true in the staff of 14 over the years, I have ways in which my spiritual life continued to be a very handshas changed for the better. on boss. (Let’s be honest, I’ve At different times in our been a micro-manager.) lives, we bear different reNecessarily, I had to pull sponsibilities and encounter back from many tasks and different possibilities. daily decisions last year when When Judy and I were raiscaring for my parents, and in ing our two children, they that way I learned that our FROM THE consumed much of our time PUBLISHER staff was really quite capable and energy. Then, one day, we of handling nearly everything By Stuart P. Rosenthal became empty-nesters, and without me. we now consider ourselves I should have known that, or at least at- lucky if they have time to Skype once a tempted to discover it, before. But I didn’t week and text now and then. learn it — or rather, I didn’t experience it — When my parents were healthy and livuntil I was forced to step back. ing independently in Texas, I spoke with Since then, I have felt myself freed to de- them weekly by phone. When they bevote more of my time to other efforts — came ill, their needs could be as consumsome business-related, some not. ing as if they were newborns. I have, for example, started to focus While we’re employed, full- or part-time, more on my health, working out, changing we are counted on to show up and carry my diet and losing some weight. I have our weight at work. When the time comes started to read books outside of my usual to consider retiring, our daily routine and Beacon-related interests. sense of purpose can change drastically. I have attended synagogue daily to reAt each stage of our lives, it’s important cite the customary prayers and lead the to step back, consider what has changed, services in memory of my parents. And I and take stock of what that can mean for have returned after many years to learn- us. ing Jewish texts and improving my HeThere are things (and people) whose brew, this time with a daily study part- passing we will mourn. There are ways in ner. which our thoughts and behaviors will be Who knew there were so many hours in modified. And there are myriad opportunia day? ties that can take us in new directions, if Though my parents are sadly not here to we allow them to. see these transformations in my life, I give them much of the credit for them. And I don’t just mean because their illnesses took me away from work and showed me my busi-
Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or e-mail to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.
• Publisher/Editor ....................Stuart P. Rosenthal • Associate Publisher..............Judith K. Rosenthal • Vice President, Operations........Gordon Hasenei • Director of Sales ................................Alan Spiegel • Assistant Operations Manager ..........Roger King • Managing Editor............................Barbara Ruben • Contributing Editor ..........................Carol Sorgen • Art Director ........................................Kyle Gregory • Advertising Representatives ............Steve Levin, ........................................................................Jill Joseph • Editorial Assistant ........................Rebekah Sewell
The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (410) 248-9101 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com Submissions: The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 35 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions. © Copyright 2015 The Beacon Newspapers, Inc.
Dear Mr. Rosenthal: I was very moved by your column, “Plane thoughts.” It made me very sad because it hit home. We had an acquaintance who was at the depths of despair, but no one knew what he was going through. One day he asked his wife not to go to work. She apparently wasn’t aware of how depressed he was, and she went to work; he committed suicide that day. My cousin came home from the Korean War years ago with post-traumatic stress. Since he was always happy on the outside, his family didn’t know he was suffering from severe depression. He, too, committed suicide.
I’m a firm believer that rather than masking the root of the depression with pills, sincerely let them know someone cares and ask why they feel so hopeless and depressed. Most of the time, the cause is something in their life they aren’t able to change; they feel trapped. Knowing there is a reassuring, compassionate person to listen and care could save a life. Beverly Grossman Parkville, Md. Dear Editor: We do enjoy reading your paper. It is most informative. Keep up with your service. Landrus and Myra Stokes Baltimore
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Technology &
Innovations Financial apps to help you trim spending By Alex Veiga Joshua Levinson was about to splurge on some exercise equipment, but a personal finance app on his smartphone gave him a friendly reminder: He’d just recently dropped $150 for Valentine’s Day. “When I looked at that, I was like ‘OK, this has been an expensive week,’” said the 22-year-old college student. That notification, flashed by the Mint Personal Finance app, prompted Levinson to hold off on the $40 purchase. He credits the app, which he’s been using for about a year and a half, with helping him become more aware of where his money goes. He estimates it saves him from $50 to $100 a month. Keeping tabs on your spending is essential to getting your finances under control, but this can be a tedious process. As a result, many people don’t do it. A smartphone or tablet can help you see where your dollars are going, as a first step toward making a change. Apps for budgeting, expense tracking, paying down debt and other personal financial uses abound these days on Apple’s App Store on iTunes or on Google’s Play Store for Android phone users. Many bank accounts also now come with apps that let you see your balance, deposit checks by taking a photo, and view your transactions. You’ll want to try out a few to find out which one is the best fit for your needs. Some require users to enter spending data themselves, while others can siphon those details automatically from your checking
and credit card accounts. In the latter cases, you need to share your passwords so they can access your accounts online. What’s important is to have something that you will stick with and that’s generally simple.
Tracking accounts, spending One of the most-downloaded personal-finance apps is Mint Personal Finance, from Intuit. Mint requires little daily input from users. The app will automatically pull 90 days of transactions from your bank accounts, credit cards, auto loans, and other accounts. Credit card transactions often will have a category already assigned, based on the merchant. You can change that or add tags to help sort expenses. Users who like to pay for purchases in cash will have to enter those charges by hand, however. To make it work, though, users have to provide Mint with their username and passwords to those accounts. If that makes you uneasy, Mint notes that it uses the same encryption and security measures as major banking institutions. “We’re also verified and monitored by third-party experts such as TRUSTe, VeriSign and other stalwarts of online security,” said Holly Perez, a Mint spokeswoman. Despite a surge in high-profile cyberattacks on banks and retailers in the past year, Mint said its app continues to see year-over-year growth in downloads. The app also continues to add features, most recently rolling out an option to re-
ceive free credit scores that requires users to divulge their full name and Social Security number. Mint is free, but you’ll have to get used to seeing ads mixed in with the information you actually want. Similar apps: Pocket Expense Personal Finance, Money Manager Expense & Budget Just interested in tracking your spending without linking your checking and credit card accounts? Try Spendee and One Touch Expenser. Both make it easy to quickly enter an expense on the go, among other features.
Craft and stick with a budget Although Mint and similar apps have tools to track where your money goes, You Need A Budget (YNAB) puts more emphasis on crafting a budget and keeping tabs on how closely you’re sticking with it. YNAB uses a budgeting feature that mirrors the “envelope” system of money management. It involves assigning budget items like groceries or clothing an envelope with a set amount of money every month. If you overspend on groceries, for example, you can shift some of the funds in one of your other budget categories to cover the excess spending, keeping you within your overall budget limits. YNAB creates virtual envelopes you can track on your smartphone or PC. The app isn’t free and only works in conjunction with a $60 software you install on your personal computer. Users can link up their bank account to YNAB, but the app doesn’t automatically
pull in spending data. Users have to enter each transaction manually. “That one is a little harder to maintain if you’re not in a heavy change-my-life budget mode,” said Katie Brewer, a certified financial planner. “It forces you to focus on it.” Similar budgeting apps: Goodbudget, Mvelopes
Paying down debt You may be juggling multiple credit-card balances. Some apps can help you develop a strategy to minimize interest charges. Among them is Easy Debt Free, which lets users set up payment plans based on the avalanche method, that is, making debts with the highest interest rate the first priority, or the snowball approach, which involves paying off what you owe on the smallest accounts first. Similar apps: Debt Payoff Assistant, Debt Payoff Planner When sizing up financial apps, look for those that provide users plenty of options to customize spending categories. Seeing a detailed breakdown showing, say, just how much of one’s paycheck is going toward dining out can help add extra motivation to rein in spending, Brewer said. “I want people to be able to see what they have been spending money on, not as a guilt exercise,” said Brewer. “There’s always this big question mark: ‘I don’t really know where the money goes.’ That’s one thing a budgeting app can help with. You can look at the hard numbers.” — AP
Data breaches threaten patient records By Lindsey Tanner Your private medical information is under threat. That’s according to a study that found almost 30 million health records nationwide were involved in criminal theft, malicious hacking or other data breaches over four years. The incidents seem to be increasing. Compromised information included patients’ names, home addresses, ages, illnesses, test results or Social Security numbers. Most involved electronic data and theft, including stolen laptops and computer thumb drives. The study didn’t examine motives behind criminal breaches, or how stolen data
might have been used. But cyber-security experts say thieves may try to use patients’ personal information to fraudulently obtain medical services.
Honest errors and dishonest hacks Cases that didn’t involve malicious intent included private health information being inadvertently mailed to the wrong patient. Hackings doubled during the study, from almost 5 percent of incidents in 2010 to almost 9 percent in 2013. Hackings are particularly dangerous because they can involve a high number of records, said Dr. Vincent Liu, the lead author and a scientist
at Kaiser Permanente’s research division in Oakland, California. “Our study demonstrates that data breaches have been and will continue to be a persistent threat to patients, clinicians and healthcare systems,” Liu said. The study appeared in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. A JAMA editorial says there’s evidence that the incidents are leading some patients to avoid giving doctors sensitive information about their health — including substance abuse, mental health problems, and HIV status. “Loss of trust in an electronic health in-
formation system could seriously undermine efforts to improve health and healthcare in the United States,” the editorial said.
Don’t fall for phishing Patients should be alert to cyber threats, including “phishing” emails from hackers posing as doctors, hospitals or health insurance companies, said Lisa Gallagher, a cybersecurity expert at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. Those messages require clicking on a link to get information, which is how the See HEALTH RECORDS, page 5
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hackers get you to their fake websites where they can ask you to provide private information. Instead, patients who receive such requests should call the purported sender to verify whether the email is legitimate, she said Patients should also double check doctor bills and other insurance company information. “Don’t throw away your “explanation of benefits” forms. Take a close look at them,” Gallagher said. “If you see care [billed for] that wasn’t provided to you, or dates and names of providers that don’t make sense, go to the provider and report that.” For the study, Liu and colleagues analyzed an online database regulated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and containing mandated reports
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of breaches in health information protected by federal privacy law. Over the four years, 949 data breaches were reported across the country. The numbers climbed annually, from 214 in 2010 to 265 in 2013. Nearly 60 percent involved theft. Prominent cyberattacks affecting two health insurance giants happened after the study. Last May, a data breach hit Premera Blue Cross, affecting about 11 million customers and others. And between last December and late January, hackers accessed an Anthem Inc. database with information on nearly 80 million people. Authorities believe hackers in China may be behind both attacks, Gallagher said. She said cybersecurity was among key topics at her nonprofit group’s recent annual meeting. Members include doctors, hospitals, health plans and sellers of electronic health record products. —AP
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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations
BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2015
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JUNE 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON
Auto safety technology is cool, but costly By Dee-Ann Durbin Drivers want more collision-prevention technology in their cars, but there is a limit to how much they will pay. Blind spot detection, night vision and collision avoidance systems — which auto-
matically apply the brakes if the driver doesn’t react in time — are the top three technologies drivers want on their next cars, according to a study released recently by the consulting firm J.D. Power. Drivers are much less excited about
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fuel-saving features, like solar roofs or active grille shutters, which open and close to improve aerodynamics. They also show little interest in wellness gadgets, like seats that measure your blood pressure, or sensors that let drivers use hand gestures to control the car’s functions. Navigation systems also weren’t popular.
FRIDAY HIKES THROUGH THE PARK
Older drivers less keen
Baltimore County presents a local hike through Robert E. Lee
As the age of the driver goes up, the budget for new technology goes down. Generation Y buyers, who are 38 and younger, say they would spend the most — an average of $3,703 — for new technology. Generation X buyers would spend $3,007, while Baby Boomers are willing to fork over $2,416. Pre-Boomers, or those born before 1946, would spend $2,067. That might not be enough to get them all the features they want. High-tech safety features are often packaged together, and may only be available on more expensive trim levels. To get blind spot detection and emergency automatic braking on the $94,000 Mercedes-Benz S Class, for example, buyers must first upgrade to a $4,500 premium package and then spend $2,800 for a separate safety package. A night vision system, which uses sensors and heat-seeking cameras to warn drivers of obstacles in the
Park every Friday from 9 to 10 a.m. The terrain is varied, but mostly flat with some hills. Hiking boots are recommended. Bring water. Robert E. Lee Park is located at 1000 Lakeside Dr. For more information, call (410) 887-4156 or email releepark-rp@baltimorecountymd.govt.
road, is an extra $2,260.
Prices are dropping Prices are rapidly coming down, however, as cameras get cheaper and automakers spread out their costs by adding safety features to more and more models. Toyota said last month that automatic braking will be a $300 to $635 option on the 2016 RAV4 SUV. Right now, the company offers automatic braking on the Prius hybrid, but only as part of a $4,320 package. For the study, which took place between January and March, J.D. Power asked 5,300 recent car buyers to rank 59 separate technologies. Some, like the wellness car seats or a rear-mounted camera that projects images onto the rearview mirror, aren’t yet commercially available. Another technology that appealed to respondents — a paint that repairs small scratches itself — is uncommon but available on a handful of models from Nissan, Infiniti and Lexus. Kristin Kolodge, the executive director of driver interaction at J.D. Power, said prototype technologies were included in order to help automakers and suppliers decide what sorts of features to prioritize. “The auto industry is standing on its head to keep technology up to consumers’ new standards,” Kolodge said. —AP
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations
BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2015
Beacon Links/Apps By Barbara Ruben Editor’s note: We are adding free smartphone and tablet apps to our monthly feature on fascinating and helpful websites. To find them, type the app name into the search function on the app store on your phone.
Links
the same spot, so that the old photograph is surrounded by the modern-day site. In one, a woman holds up a black-and-white photo of her father from the 1930s as he rides a pony down the street against the backdrop of the street today in color. Another holds up a photo of the New York skyline with the Twin Towers still standing, next to today’s skyline. Anyone can submit a photo, along with a short explanation of the juxtaposed images. http://dearphotograph.com
posed to take at noon? The MediSafe Pills and Medication Reminder app will notify you on your smartphone when it’s time to take your medications. The easy-to-set up medication management app can be used to set up reminders for yourself or a caregiver, who can sync the app on their device. MediSafe also offers refill reminders, and can send data about your medications to your doctor. Medisafe
Find a DVD Make your computer more accessible
Find your family’s roots Many genealogy sites make you pay a fee, or they have very limited resources for research. Family Search offers access to census information, passenger ship lists, death notices, military registrations and much more for free. While the Mormon church is the “primary benefactor” of the site, anyone can use it, and it includes records for people of all religions and ethnicities. Once you’ve discovered your ancestors, you can begin to build a family tree on the site and add photos and documents, as well as link with other family trees. https://familysearch.org
Melding past and present The website Dear Photograph features photos of people from around the world holding up a photo taken years earlier at
Having trouble reading the print on your computer monitor? Learn how to change the text size on your screen with tips from Microsoft for users of Windows 7 and 8 and Windows Vista. Also find out how you can talk to your computer and how you can set it to read material out loud to you. The site also shows you how to adjust sound if you’re having trouble hearing alerts, and how to adjust the keyboard if you have tremors. www.microsoft.com/enable/aging/ tips.aspx
It’s Saturday night and you want to pop in a DVD and watch a movie. You go to the nearest Redbox, but all the copies of the movie you really want to see are gone.
With the Redbox app, you can reserve your movie choice ahead of time and can find other Redbox locations near you, including driving directions. Redbox
Ted Talks anytime Access riveting talks from some of the world’s most fascinating people, from business gurus, tech geniuses, medical mavericks and more. You can view thousands of TED Talk videos, with subtitles in many different languages. In addition, you can create custom playlists and bookmark talks to watch later, as well as download talks to watch when you are offline. TED
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FREE COMPUTER CLASSES The Enoch Pratt Free Library offers free computer classes at six
of its locations. For a schedule, visit www.prattlibrary.org/calendar or call (410) 545-0702. You must register to attend.
June 6
ICONNECT GENERATIONS EXPO An intergenerational community health resource fair will take place at Stadium Place, 1000 E. 33rd St., on Saturday, June 6
Apps Get medication reminders
(this is a rescheduled date). The event is presented by GEDCO, Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation and its community partners. For more information, visit www.gedco.org or call (410) 243-0188.
Did you forget the pill you were sup-
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Health Fitness &
BACK AWAY FROM PAIN Pinpointing the cause of lower back pain can help you get the most relief PREPARING FOR CARE How those facing dementia can make their future care choices known early FOODS THAT KEEP YOU FULL Aim to eat lower on the glycemic index to avoid spikes in blood sugar HELP FOR DRY EYES Humidifiers, plus supplements with fatty acids and vitamin A, soothe dry eyes
Specialty meds save lives, but at high cost By Tom Murphy Mati Munoz lost her liver to hepatitis C, and the virus was attacking its transplanted replacement last year when her doctor prescribed a drug combination that could save the organ. She just needed $7,000 for an initial payment not covered by her Medicare prescription plan. “I felt sunken,” the 65-year-old Woodbridge, N.J., woman said. “I thought, ‘How am I going to come up with this?’” Munoz is among roughly five million people in the U.S. who rely on a growing class of medications known as specialty drugs — advanced medicine for complex conditions such as hepatitis C, juvenile arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Doctors hail many of these therapies as breakthroughs, since they can conquer or control diseases that were once almost untreatable. But they can cost more than $80,000 for a single course of treatment, and bury patients in debt, even those with insurance. Patient advocates expect the problem to worsen as insurance coverage shrinks and use of specialty treatments grows.
Health Shorts Get second opinion with breast biopsy Here’s another reason for getting a second medical opinion: Biopsy specialists frequently misdiagnose breast tissue, potentially leading to too-aggressive treatment for some women and under-treatment for others, a study suggests. The results indicate that pathologists are very good at determining when invasive cancer is present in breast tissue, but less adept at making the right diagnosis with less serious conditions or when biopsied tissue is normal. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, involved 115 U.S. pathologists and 240 breast biopsy specimens. Their diagnoses were matched against those of three experts. It was an experiment and may not reflect what happens outside a research
Some states limit costs Legislatures in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Illinois, among other states, are considering bills that would limit prescription drug costs for patients, Six states, including Maryland, have already passed such measures. Last year in Maryland, lawmakers voted to limit copayments of certain specialty drugs to $150 per month. In its 2015 session, the Virginia General Assembly tabled a bill that would have limited co-pays. Rep. David McKinley, a Republican from West Virginia, will soon introduce a bill for Congress to consider. Some of these bills and laws restrict overall drug costs to patients, while others target specialty medications with measures that aim to keep their costs more in line with other drugs. Insurers warn that those limits will raise the cost of coverage for everyone. They say the high prices must be addressed in order to curb patient costs. Drugmakers, in turn, defend the costs, insisting the prices help them recoup the billions of dollars they pour into researching and developing the drugs. setting, but the authors say the results highlight the challenges of accurately interpreting tissue under a microscope. About 1.6 million breast biopsies are performed each year nationwide, typically after radiologists spot something suspicious on a mammogram. Tissue is withdrawn through a needle or from a surgically removed growth and examined under a microscope. Previous research has shown that interpreting mammograms can also be tricky and lead to under- or over-treatment. Among the new study’s findings: • Pathologists correctly diagnosed abnormal, precancerous cells about half the time, no better than a coin toss, said lead author Dr. Joann Elmore, a University of Washington researcher. Treatment for this condition typically includes frequent monitoring and sometimes medication. About a third of these cases were misdiagnosed as not worrisome or normal, while 17 percent were deemed more suspicious or cancer. Since as many as 160,000 U.S. women each year are diagnosed with this condition, the results suggest many may be getting inappropriate treatment,
While the debate churns, patients are left with no easy solutions. Sarah Cloud of Hurricane, Utah, needed leftover Christmas money to cover a $612 January bill for a juvenile arthritis treatment her son, Chris, needs to walk without crippling pain. Cloud says she “prays every day that they either find a cure or he goes into remission, and we just don’t have to do” another refill. Advocates say the problem is growing as coverage shrinks, particularly in plans sold on the public exchanges created by the healthcare overhaul. Use of the drugs also has grown since some blockbuster hepatitis C treatments hit the market.
High deductibles and co-insurance Some patients face $5,000 or $6,000 bills at the start of every year, said Larry LaMotte, a vice president with the Immune Deficiency Foundation. That’s when insurance typically renews and patients must pay off deductibles — the amounts that must be satisfied before most coverage begins. “There are a lot of people who cannot come up with that kind of cash right off the bat, and that problem really has not been Elmore said. • Pathologists mistakenly found something suspicious in 13 percent of normal tissue. • They had similar trouble with a condition called DCIS — 13 percent of these cases were misdiagnosed as less serious, while 3 percent were mistaken for invasive cancer. DCIS involves abnormal cells confined to a milk duct and is diagnosed in about 60,000 U.S. women each year. Cases have increased because of rising mammogram use, and it can sometimes spread, so usual treatment is surgery and radiation.
Tetanus vaccine may fight cancer Can a tetanus shot help treat brain cancer? A small study hints that it might. A dose of tetanus vaccine let patients live longer — in some cases, years longer — when added to an experimental treatment for the most common and deadly kind of brain tumor, researchers reported in the journal Nature.
addressed yet,” said LaMotte, whose foundation helps people born with no immune systems or severely malfunctioning ones. Benefits plans typically divide covered drugs into cost-related tiers. Insured patients can wind up with big bills if their prescription plan has a specialty tier, which can come with a coinsurance payment of 30 percent or more. That means the patient has to pay nearly a third of the drug’s cost after the deductible is met. A growing percentage of plans sold on the exchanges come with specialty tiers, according to the market research firm Avalere Health. That trend will probably spread to employer-sponsored health insurance. About 20 percent of employers had specialty tiers in their prescription drug coverage last year. Those tiers may become the norm in five years, Avalere CEO Dan Mendelson said. “It’s really all being driven by the need to control costs,” he said. Pharmacy benefits managers and insurers have warned for more than a year now about a jump in specialty drug costs, ever See SPECIALTY MEDS, page 10
It “put the immune system on high alert,” paving the way for the experimental treatment to work better in attacking the disease, said researcher Kristen Batich of the Duke University Medical Center. Dr. John Sampson of Duke, senior author of the report, called the results promising but noted the study was small (12 patients), and said bigger studies are needed to confirm the results. A follow-up study has already been planned but isn’t recruiting patients yet, Batich said. Brain cancer experts unconnected with the work were impressed. The results are “very exciting,” said Dr. Nader Sanai of the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. While he agreed more work is required, “what you have so far, it’s a very positive story.” Tetanus is otherwise known as lockjaw. Vaccines for it are routinely recommended for children and adults. The new study focused on glioblastoma, a brain cancer that killed Sen. Edward M. Kennedy in 2009. Even after surgery to reSee HEALTH SHORTS, page 11
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Research unlocks secrets of hearing loss The ability to discern pitch — to hear the difference between “cat,” “bat” and “hat,” for example — hinges on remarkable gradations in specialized cells within the inner ear. New research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine and the National Institute on Deafness and Communication Disorders has explained, for the first time, what controls these cells’ development and patterning. The findings are crucial to efforts to reverse hearing loss caused by age, loud sounds or other factors. The researchers have been studying the development of these cells in chickens, which, like many creatures, have a remarkable capacity humans lack: the ability to regrow the sound-detecting cells after suffering hearing loss. Jeffrey T. Corwin, Ph.D., of the Univer-
sity of Virginia’s Departments of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, noted that if both a human and a hen were to be exposed to a sound loud enough to destroy the ability to hear a certain pitch, the outcomes would be very different. “We would lose the ability to hear that sound for the rest of our lives,” Corwin noted. “The bird also would lose the ability, but within 10 days, it would have its cells back. They would hook back up to the nerves, and within a few weeks its hearing would be back and almost indistinguishable from before.” Understanding that process, then, may one day allow scientists to replicate it in humans. “Eventually, therapies will come about from this regenerative approach, and these new discoveries will be a critical
component,” Corwin said.
The ear hairs we need Pitch detection occurs within the cochlea, a small spiral structure within the inner ear. Inside the cochlea are specialized cells, known as hair cells. These are “tuned” to different sound pitches based, in part, on their locations along the cochlea’s spiral and the number and the length of their stereocilia — hair-like microscopic protrusions that give the cells their name. High-pitched sounds are detected by cells with shorter hair bundles, located closest to where sound enters the ear, while lower-pitched sounds are detected by cells with taller hair bundles located further in. That pattern progresses through the
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Senior Center will hold oral cancer and hearing screenings on Thursday, June 4.
The key to regeneration Until now, scientists have not understood what orchestrates the formation of this critical pattern of individually distinct hair cells. The researchers, however, have solved that mystery. They demonstrated that two specific See HEARING LOSS, page 10
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HEALTH SCREENINGS The Baltimore County Health Department and the Seven Oaks
several thousand hair cells that are essential for hearing. “When you hear different sounds, not every single hair cell in the cochlea is responding, only the ones that are sensitive to the specific sound frequencies,” explained Benjamin R. Thiede, Ph.D., lead author of a paper outlining the new discovery.
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Specialty meds From page 8 since Gilead Sciences Inc. introduced Sovaldi, a hepatitis C treatment that comes with remarkable cure rates and a now-infamous $1,000-per-pill price.
Pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts said nearly 32 cents of every dollar spent on prescriptions now goes toward a specialty drug. That’s up from 12 cents in 2009. Express Scripts Holding Co. runs prescription coverage for insurers and employers across the country.
JUNE 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON
The high-cost specialty tiers are less common at companies with more than 1,000 employees, said Shari Davidson, a vice president with the National Business Group on Health, a nonprofit organization that represents large employers. Some employers shield workers from financial harm by capping the amount they pay for a specialty drug at $100 a month, she said.
Help for patients That’s not the only protection from big bills. Many drugmakers will help pay for their drugs, and nonprofits also provide assistance. That’s what saved Munoz, the hepatitis C patient. The Patient Access Network Foundation (www.panfoundation.org) covered her initial $7,000 bill and more. She wound up paying only about $100 for a course of treatment involving Sovaldi and the Johnson & Johnson drug Olysio that essentially cured her. “I was beside myself with joy,” Munoz said. The assistance comes with limits, how-
Hearing loss From page 9 molecules, Bmp7 and retinoic acid, guide cells to acquire location-specific attributes. Bmp7 starts the initial patterning process, and retinoic acid regulates how the cells’ hair bundles grow to different lengths. Thiede found evidence that there are different levels of retinoic acid activity along the length of the cochlea. So he tried adding more retinoic acid in cells grown in a lab dish and found that they produced longer hair bundles. Then he used a drug to block retinoic acid’s activity, and found that resulted in shorter bundles. Thiede noted that when chickens regenerate damaged hair cells, the new cells develop with just the right characteristics for cells in those particular locations along the cochlea.
ever, especially for people who must take medications year after year. Some may not qualify for assistance programs and wind up skipping their medications or choosing cheaper alternatives. That means a juvenile arthritis patient who can’t afford the drug Enbrel might opt for steroids and naproxen, which don’t prevent long-term joint damage, said Dr. Diane Brown. She treats Chris Cloud, the Utah teen with juvenile arthritis who takes Enbrel. Sarah Cloud estimates that her family has piled up more than $12,000 in debt paying for Chris’ medication. Bills for the next several months will be covered in part because the Clouds will soon reach the out-of-pocket payment maximum on their coverage. That means the insurer will pick up the whole tab for a time. But then a $3,000 deductible payment hits in August, when the coverage renews. Steep monthly bills will return shortly afterward. The family, Sarah Cloud said, is “in a constant state of fundraising.” — AP
“So the question is, are developmental signals like Bmp7 and retinoic acid involved in reestablishing the pattern of hair cells and restoring hearing to the regenerating cochlea?” he asked. “If we look at the mammalian system, which can’t regenerate, are these signals lost? Does the mammal turn off these important signals once development is completed, so they’re not reactivated for regeneration?” That’s a matter for further investigation, but it suggests a tantalizing path for developing new treatments. WhatDoctorsKnow is a magazine devoted to information on health issues from physicians, major hospitals and clinics, universities and healthcare agencies across the U.S. Online at www.whatdoctorsknow.com. © 2015 Whatdoctorsknow.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Health shorts From page 8 move the tumor, it usually grows back and kills. The few drugs to treat these tumors have little effect. Half of patients die within about 15 months. The new work is an example of a longstanding effort to harness the immune system to fight cancer, an approach called immunotherapy. The specific strategy it used is called a dendritic-cell vaccine. Doctors remove particular blood cells from a patient and equip them with a chemical target found in the tumor. Then they return the cells to the patient’s body, where they train the immune system to go after the cancer. The 12 patients in the new study were treat-
ed with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. All patients got an ordinary tetanus-diphtheria shot and then three injections of their own cells, spaced two weeks apart. Then they were randomly divided into two groups. One group got a second, tiny dose of the tetanus-diphtheria vaccine at the place in the skin where the cells would be injected the next day. The other group got a dummy dose. The idea behind the tetanus mini-shot was that the immune system “gets revved up in this particular area” so that “the body will be more excited about what’s to come,” Sampson said. Cell injections continued monthly until brain scans showed their tumor growing. For the six patients who got the dummy shot, only one was still alive two years after diagnosis, surviving for about 3 1/2 years.
Still, overall results for this group indicated a small benefit from the cell injections alone, Batich said. The results were far better for patients
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who got the mini-shot of tetanus. Four surpassed two years. One of them lived almost five years and another nearly six years. — AP
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May 27
PUT THE GRAND IN GRANDPARENTING Dr. Frances Bond will discuss the joys and challenges of grandpar-
enting at a talk at the Catonsville Senior Center on Wednesday, May 27 at 10 a.m. The center is located at 501 N. Rolling Rd., Catonsville. For more information, call (410) 887-0900.
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SUPPORT GROUP FOR AMPUTEES Good Samaritan Hospital presents an ongoing support group for
amputees sponsored by the Amputee Association. For more information, call (443) 444-4600.
May 26
SUPPLEMENTAL MEDICARE PLANS A benefit specialist from the Benefit Solution Center will give a talk titled “Understanding Supplements to Medicare” at the
Parkvillle Senior Center, 8601 Harford Rd., on Tuesday, May 26 at 1:15 p.m. For more information, call (410) 887-5338.
WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY FORUM June 15, 2015
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Pinpointing the cause of lower back pain Lower back pain is among the most common complaints of older age. The lumbar or lower area of the spine can suffer from many different ailments. “You do most of your bending in the lower back, and that’s probably why the lower back tends to be affected more,” explained Dr. Jeffrey Katz, a Harvard Medical School professor and editor of the Harvard Special Health Report, “Low Back Pain: Healing Your Aching Back.” The key to finding relief starts with un-
derstanding the cause of your pain. See if any of these symptoms sound familiar, and address pain as soon as possible to keep it from getting worse:
Sprains and strains Together, sprains and strains are the most common cause of lower back pain. A sprain is an injury to a back ligament, which helps hold the bones in your spine together. A strain is an injury to a muscle or a tendon, which connects muscle to
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back bones. Symptoms: Forward or sideways benttrunk posture, limited motion, and spasms in your back muscles. What you should do: “Try to maintain everyday activities and stay physically active, while avoiding activities and postures that make it worse, such as lifting and twisting,” said Katz. “That alone should do the trick.” Healing can last days to weeks. Icing the injured area right after the injury, and applying wet heat thereafter, can help. So can stretching exercises and over-the-counter painkillers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). However, long-term NSAID use can cause stomach ulcers and bleeding, liver and kidney damage, and increased risk for heart attacks, so be sure to get your doctor’s approval before using them. If your pain gets worse rather than better, you may have a more serious condition that
warrants a doctor visit.
Disc problems The bones in your spine are separated by cushions called discs. Aging dries out the gelatinous inside of a disc and thins the outer layer, which may cause the entire cushion to deflate and bulge out of place. That rarely causes pain. However, if the soft inside protrudes through a crack in the outer layer, it can inflame the spinal nerves and cause pain. That’s called a herniated disc, sometimes referred to as a “slipped” disc. Symptoms: Sudden lower back pain or numbness that often travels into the buttock and down the leg, sometimes all the way to the foot (a condition known as sciatica). What you should do: “Don’t panic; this condition usually gets better on its own, but it may take a few months,” said Katz. He advises that you stay as active as you comfortSee LOWER BACK PAIN, page 13
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New ways to express future care wishes By Eleanor Laise Caring for someone with dementia can present a host of difficult questions. When should the patient be moved to a longterm-care facility? Would she want to participate in experimental drug trials? Under what circumstances would she want lifesustaining treatments? A growing array of advance-planning documents are helping seniors facing Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia gain a greater voice in answering such questions. Some of the documents can work hand in hand with existing advance directives outlining wishes for end-of-life care. Others focus on day-to-day decision-making, such as documenting the patient’s preferences for who
Lower back pain From page 12 ably can. Over-the-counter painkillers can help relieve backache and leg pain. If pain persists for weeks, see your doctor for imaging tests. You may need a prescription painkiller and a course of physical therapy. An epidural steroid injection has been shown to relieve leg pain from sciatica.
Spinal stenosis Sometimes the spinal canal — the channel down the spine that holds the spinal cord and nerve roots — can be squeezed or narrowed by bulging discs, thickened ligaments, or small growths called bone spurs. The narrowing is called stenosis. Stenosis puts pressure on the nerves and spinal cord. Symptoms: The pressure causes lower backache that’s especially painful when standing up straight, bending backward, or walking. The pain often goes away when
should provide care at home. The documents help address a major challenge for families and caregivers, who are often left to wonder whether they’re honoring an Alzheimer’s patient’s wishes. “When we talk to families, everybody wants to do the right thing, but they’re not always sure what the right thing is,” said Ruth Drew, director of family and information services at the Alzheimer’s Association.
Start early People completing these documents include those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, as well as those who have a family history of the disease or have provided care for a patient and seen its effects up close.
you lean forward or sit. Stenosis may also cause pain in the buttocks and legs. What you should do: Over-thecounter painkillers and physical therapy can help back pain, and an epidural steroid injection can relieve leg pain. “However, this pain is not likely to go away on its own,” said Katz. “You may need prescription medication for pain, and surgery to decompress the nerve roots.” Relieve back pain by strengthening your abdominal muscles. Lie on your back with your arms at your sides, knees bent, feet flat on the floor and hip-width apart. Exhale as you tighten your abdominal muscles as if pulling your navel toward your spine, and slightly tilt your pelvis, flattening your lower back on the floor. Hold. Return to the starting position. Repeat 8 to 10 times. — Harvard Health Letter © 2015. President and Fellows Of Harvard College. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
“Most people diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s have a window of capacity where they can still make legal documents and consider their future,” said Robb Miller, executive director of the Washington state arm of Compassion and Choices, a patient advocacy group. Miller’s organization recently started offering a “mental health advance directive” designed for people facing dementia. The document lets users communicate how they’d like to be cared for on a day-to-day basis as their disease progresses. This includes preferences for caregivers and how care should be financed. The document, available at www.compassionwa.org, conforms with Washington
state law on mental health advance directives but may not be legally binding in other states. Users may be able to adapt the document to conform with their own state’s laws, but they should first consult with an elder-law attorney, Miller said.
Settle future conflicts now The document’s primary value, however, may lie not in its legal weight, but in resolving potential disagreements among family members or care providers. Having your wishes documented “can be extremely helpful in a situation where conflict arises,” Miller said. Other advance-planning documents See FUTURE CARE, page 15
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Use glycemic index to feel less hunger By Dr. Jean Harvey-Berino, Joyce Hendley and Rachel Johnson All the carbohydrate foods we eat cause a release of glucose into the bloodstream — and a corresponding rise in insulin — but some raise glucose more than others. The glycemic index (GI) is a system of ranking foods containing equal amounts of carbohydrate according to how much they raise blood-glucose levels. Foods with a high GI value tend to cause a higher spike in blood sugar, and because high-GI foods are so quickly metabolized, they tend to make you hungry again sooner. By contrast, lower-GI foods are metabolized more slowly and are believed to keep your appetite on a more even keel. Most of the so-called “healthy” foods
you probably try to eat more of are low on the glycemic scale — like vegetables, whole grains, beans and other high-fiber foods. And the foods with higher glycemic values, like refined grains and sweets, are probably ones you aim to avoid anyway.
How to go low Here are five ways to eat lower on the glycemic index every day: 1. Don’t be refined. Watch your intake of foods and products made with refined grains — such as white bread or white rice, crackers, potatoes and pasta — and choose unrefined (whole-grain) versions of these foods whenever possible. It’s getting a lot easier. Just look at how many whole-grain pastas you can find
these days. Try mixing them half and half with their refined counterparts at first, then gradually phase in more whole grains as you become used to them. 2. Fiber up. Experts recommend that we get 25 to 30 grams of fiber daily, but most of us barely meet the halfway mark. Aim for that goal, and you’ll also be lowering the glycemic val-
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Maryland Access Point (MAP) of Baltimore County is part of a nationwide effort to streamline access to support, services and benefits to older adults, persons with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information, call (410) 887-2594 or email aginginfo@baltimorecountymd.gov.
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ues of your meals by making them move more slowly through your digestive system. Try reading labels and selecting packaged foods with highest fiber content; leave the peels on vegetables and fruits when they’re edible. Make your default breakfast a high-fiber cereal; shop around
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Glycemic index From page 14 to find a brand you like that provides at least 8 grams of fiber per serving. Try to eat beans, lentils, split peas or other legumes at least three times a week; snack on fiber-rich foods like popcorn, high-fiber crispbreads, and nuts and dried fruits in moderation. 3. Pair with protein. Whenever you’re eating a carbohydratebased meal or snack, make sure there’s at least a little protein in the mix — some chicken strips in your pasta bowl or a light smear of peanut butter on your English muffin, for example. Protein takes longer to digest than carbohydrates, so you’ll have a more gradual rise and fall of blood sugar — and you’ll feel fuller longer, too. 4. Drizzle with a little oil. Fats, like proteins, are broken down into large particles that take a longer time for the body to digest — so adding a little fat to a carbohydrate-rich meal can lessen its glycemic impact considerably. Drizzle bread with a little olive oil; toss carrots with a bit of tasty dressing.
Future care From page 13 help users communicate their views on a particular issue. The Alzheimer’s Association, for example, offers a “driving contract” that allows the patient to designate someone to tell her when it’s no longer safe to drive. Go to www.alz.org and enter “driving contract” in the search box. Some patient advocates also suggest that seniors consider augmenting a conventional living will — which communicates preferences for end-of-life care — with language that deals specifically with dementia. The reason: Many states’ standard living-will forms focus on scenarios where the patient is terminally ill or permanently unconscious, and don’t address situations where the patient may have dementia. Compassion and Choices offers a “dementia provision” that can be added to a standard advance directive to make it clear that the patient wishes the living will to take effect under specific conditions where she remains conscious but is unable to communicate, safely swallow food and water, and recognize other people. The document is available at www.compassionandchoices.org. Other forms, such as the “Five Wishes” document available on the Aging with Dignity Web site (www.agingwithdignity.org), leave space for users to describe specific conditions under which they don’t want life-sustaining treatment. Be sure to discuss your wishes with anyone you have designated to make healthcare choices for you when you are incapacitated. “People aren’t comfortable asserting their authority unless you’ve talked to them,” said Barbara Coombs Lee, president of Compassion and Choices. © 2015, Kiplinger. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Keep in mind, though, that fat calories add up more than twice as fast as those of protein or carbohydrate — so drizzle judiciously. 5. Double-check. Curious about the Glycemic Index/ Glycemic Load score of your favorite foods? It might be useful — and sometimes eye-opening — to know. So you don’t get bogged down in details, just focus on foods you eat most often, such as breakfast cereal or particular fruits. For a list of 100 common foods and their glycemic index and load, visit www. health.har vard.edu/healthy-eating/ glycemic_index_and_glycemic_load_for_ 100_foods. From “The EatingWell Diet,” copyright 2007 by Eating Well, Inc. Published by The Countryman Press, P.O. Box 748, Woodstock, VT 05091. EatingWell is a magazine and website devoted to healthy eating as a way of life. Online at www.eatingwell.com. © 2015 Eating Well, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
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BEACON BITS
Ongoing
CANCER SUPPORT GROUP The Baltimore Cancer Support Group meets on Mondays at 7
p.m. at Westminster United Methodist Church, 165 E Main St., and on Thursdays at 7 p.m. in Parkville at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 7910 Belair Rd. For more information, visit www.cancersupportgroup.org.
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JUNE 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON
Causes and treatments for dry eyes Gritty, scratchy, irritated, burning eyes, it feel dry and gritty. This is why you often excess watering and/or blurred vision are see promotions for fish oil to help with dry all symptoms of dry eyes. eyes. It can improve levels of Today I’m outlining some causoil in your body and serves as es (including some weird causa lubricant. es), as well as simple, affordThe causes for reduced able solutions. tear production vary. Among Blinking your eyes allows a them: complex mixture of oil, water Age matters. Anyone over and mucous to bathe the surthe age of 50 who has gone face of your eye. These tears through hormonal changes remove debris, provide lubri(both men and women) may cation, help reduce your risk experience more problems DEAR of infection, and keep the surwith dry eyes. PHARMACIST face of your eye clean. LASIK surgery. This is an By Suzy Cohen We take this vital function for unusual but possible cause of granted until we run out, or we dry, irritated eyes. develop an imbalance of the make-up of our Autoimmune disorders. It could be a ditear mixture. rect assault to the tear glands or collateral Lack of oil for your tears causes the wa- damage. Regardless, dry eyes are associattery layer of the eye to evaporate, making ed with many autoimmune disorders, in-
cluding Hashimoto’s, Sjogren’s syndrome, rosacea, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and lupus. Medication. There’s no shortage of drugs that can dry you out! There are literally hundreds. At the top are antihistamines, which are intended to dry you out. That one is no surprise. Also decongestants and many anti-depressants (especially the tricyclics, nortriptyline, amitriptyline and doxepin). Muscle relaxers are big-time dryers, like cyclobenzaprine and baclofen. Sleeping pills, blood pressure medications and thiazide diuretics such as HCTZ are other eye dryers.
A variety of solutions Palliative treatments such as natural tear drops are fine, but your real goal is to reduce the inflammation and discover the
Get to know …
MedStar Harbor Hospital
underlying cause. As noted above, it’s well known today that fish oils (omega 3 fatty acids) are helpful for dry eyes. But you can do better. The new dietary supplement “Chia Seed Omega” by Essential Formulas contains essential fatty acids from chia seeds, a superfood plus omega 3s. It’s powerful stuff, and sold without prescription at health food stores. What else can you try? Eat black currants or take a supplement of black currant seed oil. This significantly increases your plasma concentration of GLA (gamma linolenic acid), which is an omega 6. It also enhances immune function. Place a small humidifier on your nightstand and sleep with it turned on; it can work wonders. Vitamin A, especially good if you have a BCMO1 gene SNP. Warmth will help loosen up any hardened oil in clogged meibomian glands (which secret meibum, the oily component of tears). Apply a warm compress to your eyes for 10 minutes, morning and bedtime. Try a Thermalon moist heat compress for a better effect. Hyaluronic acid can also make a huge difference for your eyes and skin. It helps you hold onto moisture. This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement. Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To contact her, visit www.SuzyCohen.com.
BEACON BITS
June 20
FREE LEGAL ADVICE The Bar Association
of Baltimore, Maryland Legal Aid and other organizations are partnering to There’s comfort in knowing excellent health care is close by. After more than a century of healing, MedStar Harbor Hospital continues to offer the services of a large, regional medical center in a community-like setting. MedStar Harbor Hospital is the only hospital in the Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Delaware region to receive the prestigious Quality Excellence Award from the Delmarva Foundation an unprecedented ninth time. Our team of healthcare professionals is committed to providing quality, compassionate care.
host Pro Bono Day on Saturday, June 20 from 9 a.m. to noon. Pro Bono Day is a free legal clinic that gives attendees a chance to discuss their civil legal matters one-on-one with volunteer attorneys in areas including fami-
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and more. It will be held at the Maryland Legal Aid Baltimore City Office,
Ongoing
CALL CENTER CONNECTION Center Connection
links those 60 and older who need support to activities and services provided by Baltimore County Senior
855-546-2015 MedStarHarbor.org/GetToKnow
Centers. For more information, call (410) 887-2970.
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health
BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2015
17
When a divorce ends two relationships Dear Solutions: get used to the idea or explore or whatever I’m widowed. I’ve had a very close he needs to do. At the end of that time, get in and, I thought, loving relationship touch with each other again and see if what with someone I met over a you feel now is still there. year ago. He was married Don’t count on it. And don’t for a long time but has not wait around — do your own been living with his wife for exploring. many years. Dear Solutions: They finally just got diI’ve been remarried a vorced a few months ago, short time. My husband’s and suddenly I’m feeling like grandchildren, who are prehe’s withdrawing from me. teens and who lived with He keeps breaking dates him and his wife before she and making excuses. died (they now live with SOLUTIONS He just seems distant their mother, who is remarBy Helen Oxenberg, and won’t talk about it if I ried), come often to visit MSW, ACSW bring it up. I don’t know their grandfather. what’s going through his But they fight a lot. I head or what to do. tried to inter vene recently, and my — Anne husband told me to please stay out of Dear Anne: it. He feels it’s better if he handles his “Free at last, free at last, thank divorce grandchildren. almighty, I’m free at last!” That’s probably They come every couple of weeks, what’s going through his head. Even and I can’t stand to see them fighting. though he wasn’t living with his wife, he How should I handle this? was still married and never felt free. —Marge Now, finally, the reality of freedom has Dear Marge: hit him, and he probably wants to feel it. If Walk away — out of sight, out of fight. At you pressure him now, he’ll only move fur- this point, follow your husband’s request. ther away. Try to establish a friendly relationship with The best you can do now is suggest a the kids, but let him handle the rest until a “time-out” for about six months to let him time when he asks for your help.
Treating Difficulty Standing or Walking, attributed to Arthritis, Spinal Stenosis, Neuropathy, Poor Circulation or Poor Balance I am a patient who had severe foot pain for 2 years, with no relief in sight....by the end of the 4 days I was 85% pain free in both feet. I thank God for Dr. Goldman and his passion for research in healing people with foot and leg pain.
How fortunate I feel to have found a doctor who could not only diagnose an underlying problem that many specialists missed, but who has been able to find a painless and rapid method of relieving the worst symptoms.
– Alvin, Baltimore
– Susan, Baltimore
As a podiatrist with over 30 years experience, I have always focused on non-surgical treatment of foot and leg pain. I find that most people with foot or leg symptoms (arthritic, aching, burning, cramping or difficulty walking) , even those who have had other treatments, including surgery of the foot (or back), can be helped, usually in 1 or 2 visits. — Dr. Stuart Goldman
Stuart Goldman, DPM
Fellow American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
4000 Old Court Road, Suite 301, Pikesville
Author, multiple articles on Foot & Leg Symptoms
410-235-2345
Marquis Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare
H elP F orYour F eeT.C oM
Dear Solutions: A friend of mine with whom I used to be able to discuss cultural and political events and opinions that are important to me, now doesn’t want to talk about any of this anymore. We used to go to events and lectures together, but now she says it all makes her depressed. She says she prefers to just turn a blind eye to ever ything wrong that’s going on, and she thinks I and everyone else should do the same.
I’d like to remain friends with her, but what do I say to bridge this wide gap that’s growing between us? — Ellie Dear Ellie: If everyone turns a blind eye, everyone will be blind, and no one will see or try to change what’s wrong. Tell her to just open one eye long enough to write to a Congressional representative and voice some obSee SOLUTIONS, page 19
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Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com
Health Studies Page
JUNE 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON
THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS
Study helps those living with dementia By Carol Sorgen A new study sponsored by the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine is looking for participants who are 70 years of age or older, have memory problems, and live at home in the greater Baltimore area. The objective of the study, which is called Maximizing Independence at Home (MIND) Plus, is to find out if providing person-centered care — which focuses on care and knowledge of a patient over time, not on a visit-by-visit basis — will make it possible for these individuals to remain in
their own homes longer. Caring for individuals with dementia is a financial burden not only to the family but to society as well. In a 2013 federally-funded study conducted by the RAND Corporation and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers determined that the costs and the number of people with dementia would more than double in 30 years. According to the report, nearly 3.8 million people 71 or older then had dementia, and the authors estimated that number would grow to 9.1 million by 2040.
The authors further found that direct healthcare expenses for dementia, including nursing home care, exceeded those for either heart disease or cancer. Since we currently have no way to prevent, cure or effectively treat dementia, 75 to 84 percent of the associated costs involve caring for patients in nursing homes or helping them manage their basic daily activities at home as they become increasingly impaired, first cognitively and then physically.
medical problems, such as hearing or vision problems, high blood pressure or diabetes. The care team then developed a personalized care plan and worked with the family over time to oversee progress and attend to new needs that arose. The goal was to see if a dementia care coordination model that incorporated evidence-supported care practices could delay or prevent the need to move from home to other settings, such as nursing homes or assisted living facilities.
Building on earlier study The MIND at Home Plus study is a followup to an earlier Hopkins program, MIND at Home, which was completed last year. That 18-month pilot program brought resources and counselors to elderly Baltimore residents with dementia and other memory disorders. Those were found to significantly increase the length of time patients were able to continue living successfully at home, according to Hopkins researchers. “The project demonstrated that we were able to help such people age in place without sacrificing their quality of life,” said study leader Quincy Miles Samus, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The earlier trial involved 303 people 70 years and older with memory disorders — primarily dementia and mild cognitive impairment. One hundred and ten of them received an in-home visit from a memory care coordinator and nurse who assessed a range of care needs, including diagnosis of memory problems, review of medications, behavior problems, daily activities, and untreated
Nine more months at home In a report published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, the Johns Hopkins investigators said that those who got 18 months of care coordination with home visits were able to safely stay in their homes a median of 288 extra days, or around 9.5 months over a median followup period of about two years. “This can make a huge difference in terms of comfort, money and quality of life for those involved,” said Samus. The researchers found that participants who met regularly with coordinators were significantly less likely to leave their homes or die than those in the control group, who did not get these services. Also, they had fewer unmet care needs, particularly for safety and legal/advance care issues, and had improved quality of life. Because insurance does not always cover non-medical needs and coordinator services, Samus said her team’s research was designed to begin answering the quesSee DEMENTIA, page 19
Research Study Are you caring for someone with dementia at home? Do you need assistance managing their care? If so, your loved one may qualify to participate in the MIND (Maximizing Independence) at Home research study at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
For more information, please call the MIND staff at 410-550-6744 or email us at mindathome@jhmi.edu PI: Dr. Quincy Samus IRB00054802
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health
BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2015
Dementia From page 18 tion of whether care models like MIND can demonstrate the financial savings and value of community-based care in hopes that more health insurers might cover the cost of programs like this in the future. In the trial, coordinators checked for home safety, nutrition and food availability, and whether patients participated in meaningful or purposeful activities beyond simply watching television for much of the day. They also assessed whether patients should be evaluated for driving safety, whether they were at risk of wandering off and getting lost, and what local community resources were available to address unmet needs. Beyond such services, the program provided education about dementia and memory problems to caregivers and patients, as well as informal counseling and problem-solving. Legal issues such as advance directives and wills were also discussed, and coordinators contacted family members at least once a month. The memory care coordinators were community workers and did not have clinical backgrounds or prior training in caring for people with memory disorders, suggesting that the potential workforce that could acquire coordinator skills is large, Samus said. Coordinators received intensive training
Solutions From page 17 jections. After that, talk to her about other things. Surely, she must have some child who annoys her, or trouble with an in-law, or a book she loved or a movie she hates — things you can share.
over four weeks, including lectures, role play and observation of dementia patients in clinical settings. The care coordinators received hands-on support from a nurse and a physician, and the team met weekly to discuss cases. The results suggested that wider application of the homecare model should also be evaluated to determine whether it can provide a cost benefit to public insurers like Medicaid and Medicare, said Samus.
Joining the new study The current MIND at Home Plus study will attempt to do just that. Hopkins will implement the study through two community-based service agencies: Jewish Community Services and Johns Hopkins Home Care Group. Like the previous program, the study is a home-based care coordination program that focuses on persons with dementia living at home and their family caregivers. Its goal is to help persons age in place safely while increasing their quality of life. The 18-month-long program will assess and address unmet care needs of persons with dementia (such as home and medication safety, cognitive and behavior symptom management, meaningful activities, and legal considerations) and their caregivers. The care team will be made up of a memory care coordinator, nurse, occupa-
But beware: Accept the fact that with her blind eye, and your open one, you probably won’t see eye to eye much anymore. © Helen Oxenberg, 2015. Questions to be considered for this column may be sent to: The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915. You may also email the author at helox72@comcast.net. To inquire about reprint rights, call (609) 655-3684.
BEACON BITS
June 1
PEACE CORPS INFO SESSION The Central Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library will host an
information session on career opportunities with the Peace Corps on Monday, June 1 at 5:30 p.m. in the Poe Room, 400 Cathedral St. For more information, call (410) 396-5430 or visit www.prattlibrary.org.
tional therapist and physician. MIND at Home participants will receive an in-home needs assessment followed by up to 18 months of care coordination aimed at filling unmet needs. The study is enrolling 600 participants. All will receive the same care program. They must have a diagnosis of dementia, speak English, and have a study partner who can participate. Those in the study cannot be in hospice
19
or planning to move out of the area within six months. According to Samus, the communitybased model in the study is expected to improve outcomes within six months and result in an estimated net savings of $12.5 million over three years. To register or find out more about the MIND at Home Plus study, contact Dr. Quincy Samus at (410) 550-6744 or email gmiles@jhmi.edu.
Diabetes Research Study 50-80 year old men & women with Type 2 Diabetes are needed to participate in an exercise research study at the University of Maryland/Baltimore VA Medical Center. Parking and compensation for your time will be provided. Call 410-605-7179. Mention code: EPC-DM.
Want to Prevent Falls in the Elderly? Seeking Men and Women to participate in a research study at the University of Maryland & Veterans Affairs of Baltimore to better understand balance and the prevention of falls in aging individuals. You will receive:
• Health evaluation • Balance, step, strength, and/or flexibility exercises • Compensation for your time If interested call: 410-605-7179 & Mention code: LIFT at Baltimore VA/University of Maryland Gerontology Recruitment Line *You must be at least 65 years old and in good health *Participants will be seen at the Baltimore VA Medical Center and University of Maryland School of Medicine *You will attend approximately 41 visits for 1 to 4 hours each per visit
CALL TODAY!
20
JUNE 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON
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Money Law &
SOCIAL SECURITY FOR SINGLES There are different ways to maximize your Social Security depending on whether you’ve never been married or are widowed or divorced. We walk you through the complex rules BUILDING A NEW BUSINESS Look for capital for your start-up business using models where your customers fund you
Some brokers, banks will pay for accounts By Kathy Kristof If you want a great return on your money, forget about the interest rates and look for accounts that offer cash bonuses. In an effort to poach customers from their competitors at a time when interest rates are excruciatingly low, banks and brokers are offering cash giveaways. Although these bonus payments won’t make you rich, they do offer a certain return in an environment where a risk-free yield is otherwise elusive.
Stock and investment accounts Among those that have gotten into the act is Fidelity Investments, which recently launched an Individual Retirement Account matching program. If you transfer assets in a traditional, Roth or rollover IRA invested with another company to Fidelity, the Boston-based mutual fund giant will match a portion of your subsequent contributions for three consecutive years.
How much can you get? That depends on how much you deposit now and add to the account later. Fidelity’s match is only on new contributions — after your initial transfer — and the match ranges from 1 percent to 10 percent of the new contribution, depending on the amount of the initial deposit. If you transfer the minimum amount of $10,000, your match is 1 percent. To get the top 10 percent match, you must transfer at least $500,000 to Fidelity. At present, the government limits annual IRA contributions to $5,500 ($6,500 for those over age 50), so Fidelity’s match would range from $55 to $650 a year. Both TD Ameritrade and E*Trade offer deals that are based on the amount of money you shift into new accounts. If you transfer $250,000 or more, both E*Trade and TD Ameritrade will pay $600 and provide a number of commission-free trades. Motif Investing, an online brokerage, is offering a similar deal. Those who transfer
at least $5,000 to a Motif IRA before the end of 2015 can get a one-time bonus of $150. Note, however, that neither Motif nor Fidelity pay cash if you’re transferring assets from a company-sponsored retirement plan. You need to bring in money from a competitor. (TD Ameritrade and E*Trade make no such demand.)
Banking bounties And brokers are not the only ones trying to poach IRAs. Ally Bank is paying bounties of $100 to $500 for IRAs transferred from other institutions, depending on the size of the deposit. Ally’s program is set to expire at the end of May. Don’t need another IRA? You can get a bonus just for moving your checking and savings accounts. Open an “extra20” checking and savings account at Santander Bank and follow the program rules (which include paying at least two bills a month online and having money direct de-
posited monthly), and you’ll get $20 a month indefinitely. While Santander has a few branches in the area, they are slated to close at the end of May. But if you’re willing to bank online, you can still take advantage of the offer. Visit them at www.santanderbank.com/us. What are all the bonuses about? They’re a way to get customers to open “sticky” accounts — financial industry jargon for business that is impractical or hard to move to another firm. That gives the financial institution time to hook you on its service and win over more of your business, said Mark Schwanhausser, research analyst at Javelin Strategy & Research, a consulting firm in Pleasanton, Calif. “They want a chance to impress you,” he said. “It’s not a bet on an immediate profit. It’s a bet on a long-term relationship.” All contents © 2015 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
Small impact potential from Fed rate hike By Matthew Craft and Paul Wiseman Nobody knows when exactly, but the day will eventually come when the Federal Reserve nudges its benchmark lending rate from next to zero to something slightly higher. When that happens, it will put upward pressure on borrowing rates throughout the economy — for credit cards, mortgages and student loans. But that doesn’t mean the era of incredibly low interest rates will soon be over. The Fed’s chair, Janet Yellen, has taken pains to be cautious. In March, the central bank gave more signals that it will move slowly toward its first interest-rate increase in nearly a decade. By the end of the year, Fed officials expect the benchmark rate will reach 0.625 percent. It was a different world the last time the Fed began a series of hikes. Rates were already much higher than today. In June 2004, the Fed lifted its benchmark rate from 1 percent to 1.25 percent. By the time the Fed was finished in 2006, the rate had reached 5.25 percent. Nobody expects anything like that now. With the economy still growing slowly and inflation minuscule, rates will likely hover
near historic lows. The Fed doesn’t want to ratchet up the monthly payments on your credit card. It’s in no rush. “You’re going to see rates remain low for quite some time,” said Patrick Maldari, senior fixed-income specialist at Aberdeen Asset Management.
Mortgage rates to rise a bit Many expect mortgage rates to creep higher this year. The average 30-year mortgage carries a rate of 3.7 percent, according to Freddie Mac. That’s close to a record low of 3.31 percent and compares with an average rate of 5.9 percent a decade ago. Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com, thinks homeowners ought to lock in mortgage rates as long as they remain below 4 percent. If you haven’t refinanced already, in other words, consider it soon. Home loans won’t hinge on the Fed’s next move, though. Mortgage rates are closely tied to long-term interest rates, specifically the 10-year Treasury note. These rates are tethered to the Fed’s benchmark yet have plenty of wiggle room. The 10-year yield has actually been falling over the past year. The reason? The Treasury market is dominated by global
players. So when Europe’s economy runs into trouble, for example, traders around the world look for safety in the Treasury market, buying U.S. government bonds and pushing yields down. Another factor: The Fed is keeping a lid on yields by sitting on trillions of dollars of Treasurys following a huge bond-buying program that ended last year.
Savings interest remains paltry It’s been a tough time for people socking away money in savings. On average, savings accounts pay an annual percentage yield of 0.09 percent, according to Bankrate.com. A one-year certificate of deposit pays a paltry 0.28 percent. For every $1,000 saved, in other words, the bank will give you $2.80. Ka-ching! “Savings rates are nearly at zero and, unfortunately, I think depositors aren’t going to see much of a difference,” said Casey Bond, managing editor at GoBankingRates. The Fed has signaled that it will raise rates slowly and carefully. A series of hikes large enough to lift yields on savings accounts, however, could put the economic recovery at risk by curbing lending and business spending. “Anything that would give savers a real boost would be too disruptive,” Bond said.
“I think people need to be focused on other things, like avoiding bank fees,” Bond said. “Fees can wipe out your earnings because savings rates are so low.”
Credit card considerations Credit card rates could start to inch up once the Fed raises its benchmark federal funds rate — especially the low teaser rates credit card issuers use to entice people to sign up or shift credit card balances. McBride advises that borrowers “grab those zero-interest balance transfers and introductory credit card rates. As the Fed moves away from zero interest rates later this year, credit card issuers will too. Chip away at your variable-rate debt now before interest rates start to climb.” Credit card rates remain high — variable credit card rates average nearly 15.8 percent, according to Bankrate.com. But they could head higher if the fed funds rate goes up. That’s because credit card rates are based on the prime rate that banks charge their best customers, and the prime rate is based on the federal funds rate. See FED RATE HIKE, page 23
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money
BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2015
What should you ask a financial adviser? By Anya Kamenetz A reader wrote recently about a common conundrum. At 65, he and his wife are nearing retirement and had plans to meet with a financial consultant to discuss how to make their investments last. “I wish you could be there with us,” he wrote, “but since that isn’t going to happen, I would like to ask you: What are some of the most important questions we should be asking him? I want to be prepared to learn everything I can, and what to do to keep our money coming in.” I called up Alin Lozada of Sarasota, Fla. to find out. He’s been a financial adviser for 24 years and is a retirement income certified professional, a highly specialized designation from the American College of Financial Services. Here are five key questions to ask. 1) What’s your background? One of the first things to ask a new adviser is, how long have you been in business? You can check the background of a broker, adviser or other financial professional on the BrokerCheck page at the website of FINRA, the financial industry’s regulatory body. See http://brokercheck.finra.org. But it also helps to ask an adviser face-toface whether you’ll turn up any complaints or regulatory findings against them. 2) How do you get paid? Lozada said it’s also important to understand how your adviser’s bread is buttered. For example, a Series 7 and Series 6 license simply requires that a broker recommend “suitable” investments — not necessarily the best investments for you. This suitability clause can cover so-called wealth managers and certified representa-
Frank, Frank
tives (for example, the folks from your company’s retirement plan). Bottom line: brokers earn commissions and fees from the financial products you buy. It doesn’t mean they can’t give good advice, but it means they may have other priorities besides your wealth and security. A fee-based registered investment adviser, by contrast, has a “fiduciary duty” to put clients’ interest first, including full disclosure of all risks and fees. Once you’ve decided that you want to work with a particular adviser, and have established trust, the rest of the conversation should be all about you. 3) Am I paying too much in fees? High fees can torpedo your long-term returns. A good adviser will walk you through your current portfolio and be able to point out where you may be paying too much. The initial conversation, said Lozada, can take two hours. 4) Do my current investments match my risk tolerance? All too often, said Lozada, individuals nearing retirement have been steered into portfolios that are more aggressive than they should be. This can also happen when the account holder fails to rebalance their portfolio over time. In any case, a course correction may be in order to bring more predictable payoffs. 5) What should I do about long-term care? “Long-term care is the No. 1 thing that will devastate a portfolio,” Lozada said. Compare it to other situations we typically insure against. “You have a 2 percent See ASK ADVISER, page 22
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JUNE 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON
Social Security if you’re single or divorced By Sandra Block When it comes to Social Security, if you’re single, you have fewer options than your married friends. But you can still take steps to increase your lifetime benefits. And divorced people may still be able to
claim benefits based on their ex’s earnings. Here are some strategies to maximize your benefits. Single retirees who never married don’t need to concern themselves with survivor benefits. That gives single beneficiaries a
less compelling reason to postpone claiming benefits after full retirement age. But suppose you’re healthy and want to postpone taking benefits so you can earn delayed-retirement credits (that is, the extra 5.5 to 8 percent per year you get for delaying your receipt of Social Security benefits). You should still file at 66 and suspend your benefits. Here’s why: Ordinarily, Social Security will pay no more than six months’ worth of benefits retroactively. But if you file and suspend at age 66, you’re eligible to collect all of the benefits that accumulate after you file your claim. That could provide a significant cash reserve for unexpected expenses, such as a catastrophic illness or long-term care. This strategy also reduces the risk that you’ll die before you’ve had an opportunity to take advantage of delayed credits, said William Reichenstein, professor of finance at
Take a vacation without leaving your community.
Baylor University and a principal with consulting firm Social Security Solutions. (Kiplinger has partnered with Social Security Solutions to offer a tool to uncover the most advantageous time to start collecting your benefits; visit www.kiplinger.socialsecuritysolutions.com for details.)
Widows and widowers You’re eligible for a survivor benefit based on your deceased spouse’s earnings. You can claim this benefit as early as age 60, or 50 if you’re totally disabled. The amount is based on your late spouse’s benefit when he or she died. If your spouse died before claiming Social Security, the benefit will be based on 100 percent of the amount due at your late spouse’s full retirement age. Most widows receive a higher payment by claiming their husband’s monthly benefit instead of their own, according to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. And the age a husband chooses to start collecting his own benefit can have a significant impact on his widow’s ultimate survivor benefit. In order for you to receive 100 percent of your late spouse’s benefit, you must wait to claim until your full retirement age. Otherwise, the benefit will be reduced by a certain amount for each month you file before your full retirement age. Remarriage won’t affect survivor benefits as long as you’re 60 or older when you remarry. Don’t ignore your own benefits, though. If you expect to live a long time, it might make sense to claim survivor benefits, even if they’re smaller than your own, so your own benefits can continue to grow. Once you reach age 70, you can switch to See SOCIAL SECURITY, page 24
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chance of having your house burn down, a 6 percent chance of getting in a car accident, but a 70 percent chance of needing some type of care before you pass away.” Even those lucky enough to have a few million dollars in the bank, he said, can have it wiped out if both spouses have health issues for several years. Lately, Lozada has been innovating by having some of his clients put a portion of their IRA into a policy that rolls up longterm care insurance with an annuity and a life insurance policy. Depending on what life brings, you can draw the annual income from the annuity for a while, then convert to the care benefit, and finally leave the insurance policy to your kids. “It’s all about having a plan,” Lozada said. And ideally, a trusted adviser you can build a long-term relationship with to help you design and carry out that plan. Anya Kamenetz welcomes your questions at diyubook@gmail.com. © 2015 Anya Kamenetz. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money
BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2015
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Ways to fund your own small business Many people aspire to start their own options for small business owners who business. They may have an excellent busi- need financing, based on both research and ness concept, and the skills and knowledge his own success in establishing businesses. to excel, but founder on this Five options to consider reality: There is a very high He describes five models rate of failure for newly startthat help many small businessed small business. es overcome a lack of capital. One major reason for such They share a common characfailures is insufficient financteristic: The business owner ing. Too many individuals unuses his customer to provide derestimate how much capital the working capital before will be required early on. having to produce or fund his Most traditional financial inservice or product. stitutions will not lend money THE SAVINGS Here’s a summary of the to small businesses until GAME models: they’ve proven profitability. By Elliot Raphaelson Matchmaker model: The John Mullins, associate probusiness, with limited or no inifessor of management practice at the London Business School, has written tial investment, brings buyers and sellers an informative book, The Customer-Funded together, never owning the product being Business (Wiley), that discusses excellent sold. Some examples include real-estate
Fed rate hike From page 20 To judge by the stock market’s daily swings, investors fear the Fed’s first rate increase. Speculation that the Fed is preparing to move usually knocks stocks down. But the market has actually performed well in the face of rising interest rates. A recent report from UBS looked at the
Fed’s initial rate hikes going back to 1954. It showed that the Standard & Poor’s 500 index rallied an average of 7.6 percent in the following six months. Many investors are confident that as long as the Fed moves gradually, the stock market should be fine. That’s what happened in the last round of Fed hikes, in 2004. The S&P 500 finished that year with a 9 percent gain. — AP
brokers, eBay, Expedia and Angie’s List. They earn their commission as middlemen. The book presents the case history of
Airbnb — a website that started in 2008 and See SMALL BUSINESS, page 24
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Social Security From page 22 your own benefit, which will have been enhanced by the delayed-retirement credits.
If you are divorced Even if you haven’t spoken to your ex for years, you may be eligible for benefits based on his or her earnings record. If you left the workforce to care for children or aging parents, or simply earned a lot less than your former spouse, this provision could dramatically bump up your benefits. In order to claim either spousal or survivor benefits, you must have been married for at least 10 years and not be entitled to a
Small business From page 23 has grown into a global booking system that enables people with extra space in their homes to rent rooms by the night to travelers. The company now offers more than 800,000 listings and has served more than
JUNE 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON
higher benefit based on your own record. In addition, you must be at least 62 and unmarried. You’ll lose the spousal benefit if you remarry, although you can reapply if you get divorced again or your second spouse dies. You can collect spousal benefits even if your ex hasn’t applied for benefits, as long as he or she is at least 62 and you’ve been divorced for at least two years. (You don’t even have to tell your ex that you’re applying for benefits based on his or her record.) In addition, your spousal benefits will have no effect on the benefits your ex (or your ex’s new husband or wife) receives. You will, however, need to provide the Social Security Administration with a copy of your divorce decree, and it’s helpful to
have your ex’s Social Security number, too. As is the case with other benefits, you can increase your lifetime benefits by delaying your claim. If you wait until you reach full retirement age, you’ll be eligible for 50 percent of your ex’s benefits at his or her full retirement age. You can apply earlier, but your benefits will be reduced by between 7 and 8 percent for each year before your full retirement age. Divorced spouses who have their own work history can take advantage of the “restricting an application” strategy used by married couples — that is, after you reach full retirement age, claim 50 percent of your ex’s benefits, based on your former spouse’s earnings.
This will enable your own benefits to earn the delayed-retirement credit. When you turn 70, you can switch back to your own, now-larger benefits. Divorced spouses are also eligible for survivor benefits, as long as the marriage lasted 10 years or more. If your ex dies, you’re eligible for 100 percent of his or her payout. Remarriage won’t affect your eligibility as long as you’re at least 60 (or age 50 if you’re totally disabled). You can switch back to your own benefits at 70 (or earlier) if that would result in a larger monthly payment. Sandra Block is a senior associate editor at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. © 2015 Kiplinger’s Personal Finance; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
18 million customers in 192 countries so far. Pay-in-advance model: In some industries, customers pay suppliers in advance for at least part of the price of goods or services before receiving anything. Examples include consultants, architects, tax preparers and financial planners. The book discusses Via.com — an Indian trav-
el company that started in 2006 and has grown into India’s largest travel business with more than $500 million in sales. Subscription model: The customer agrees to purchase an item that is delivered repeatedly over an extended timeframe. Newspapers and magazines ask you pay up-front for subscriptions weeks, months or years in advance. Other examples are maintenance contracts on your cars, appliances and computers. The book cites India’s TutorVista, which helps more than 10,000 students per month with homework in their own homes. Scarcity model: What’s offered for sale is restricted to a limited quantity for a limited period, and the seller’s supplier is paid after the sale is made. After the merchandise is sold, no more is available. Mullins cites the “flash sales” concept pioneered in France by Jacques-Antoine Granjon, is which the unwanted inventory of high profile brands is sold. Using this concept, Granjon was able to create a business selling more than 200,000 items across eight European countries. Service-to-product model: Businesses start by providing a customized service and eventually use their expertise to deliv-
er stand-alone packaged solutions. A good example is Microsoft. Bill Gates and Paul Allen initially had a contract with IBM to develop an operating system for IBM’s personal computer. Subsequently, they won contracts with other PC manufacturers. Then they started delivering packaged software products, transforming their service business into a product business. Mullins’ book will be helpful to prospective small business owners lacking the needed start-up capital, as well as to established business owners looking to expand. I should add that if you are considering starting, enhancing or expanding a business, it also makes sense to contact your local chapter of SCORE, an organization dedicated to mentoring entrepreneurs. SCORE chapters are located nationwide and staffed by counselors who have been successful running their own business. I have volunteered with the organization and can attest that it has made a crucial difference for many fledgling enterprises. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at elliotraph@gmail.com. © 2015 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2015
Say you saw it in the Beacon
Travel
25
Leisure &
Find out what travel perks are worth splurging on. See story on page 26.
Dijon, France — much more than mustard Two “children” were added later, and they strike a smaller bell on the quarter hour. Wandering the warrens of this town amid timber framed buildings and Gothic imagery, you can easily stumble upon a café or brasserie emitting irresistible aromas of fine French cuisine. Of course, Burgundy has long been one of France’s main wine-producing regions, laced with vineyards famous for producing top-quality wines from grapes like pinot noir, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc in the area’s ideal wine-making climate, soils and latitude. For the French, wine is the water of life, which the Romans made here, then the Cistercian monks and, of course, the French, all with TLC. They made and still make wine to sell, taste, imbibe and savor. A tour through the countryside around Dijon, through pastoral mustard and currant fields and wine country, with stops in stone-built hamlets, offers a nice break from the town’s homage to dukedom.
© DABLDY | DREAMSTIME.COM - DIJON OLD TOWN URBAN VIEW PHOTO
By Glenda C. Booth You can leave Dijon loaded with travelready packs of Dijon mustard in multiple flavors, from raspberry to tarragon to chardonnay. But Dijon offers so much more than mustard. Dijon, the capital of the Duchy of Burgundy from the 11th to the 15th centuries, exudes a genuine medieval charm and mystery. Fortunately, it was spared bombing in World War II, so many buildings from the late Middle Ages still stand. The town, about 200 miles from Paris in eastern France, honors its dukes and duchesses at nearly every turn. The massive Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy was built on the site of a third century ramparts so the dukes could keep the barbarians out. Philip the Bold, a duke, rebuilt it in 1366, and in 1433, Philip the Good added kitchens with six fireplaces, each large enough to roast a wild ox. Dijon’s Gothic and Romanesque Notre Dame cathedral, dating from the early 13th century, was built to the “glory of the duke.” The church, with three levels of gargoyles leering over the entrance, has a vast transept and 13th century stained glass windows. The clock atop the church was a war trophy won from the Belgium town of Courtrai in 1383 by Phillip the Bold. It elicits oohs and ahs for its two automatons, fondly called Jacquemart and Jacqueline, that strike a bell with a hammer on the hour.
The Old Town area of Dijon, France dates back to medieval times, when dukes held power and protected the city from invaders. Tourists may visit many of the ornate ducal palaces and medieval churches in the area.
Owls, dukes and markets The Office of Tourism’s Owl’s Trail will quickly put you in a Medieval mindset. It’s an easily navigable walking tour with sidewalk owl symbols designating 22 sites. The owl symbol comes from a stone relief owl sculpture on the Notre Dame cathedral’s north corner. It is believed to bring good luck when people touch it with their left © DAVIDMARTYN | DREAMSTIME.COM - VINEYARD PHOTO.
The Burgundy region of France has been home to winemaking for 2,000 years. The slopes and soil are said to have the perfect grape-growing conditions. The vineyard and chateau of Clos de Vougeot, pictured here, is about 12 miles outside of Dijon.
hand and make a wish. Why the left hand? It’s closest to the heart. The beloved owl, worn smooth from so much affection, was damaged by vandals and restored in 2001. Dijon has several towers built to symbolize the dukes’ power and protect against invaders since the 4th century. Tour Philippe le Bon (yes, Duke Philip the Good again), is a 150-foot-high tower well worth the 316 steps up a winding staircase to the top where, on a clear day, you can see Mont Blanc. The monumental Palace of the Dukes and States of Burgundy overlooks the Place de la Libération, a huge public square built in 1686. Inside the palace today is city hall (Hotel de Ville). The eastern wing houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts), with rooms that are themselves works of art. The paintings and sculpture, from Egyptian to modern, include works by Monet, Manet, Gris and Roualt, plus Islamic glass, Korean stoneware and Tibetan and Indian sculptures. Today, the only hint of when the palace served as a residence is a tour of the ground-floor kitchen and underground cold storage. Around 300 people produced meals for the ducal family. The dukes memorialized themselves by
not only leaving their portraits, but also ordering statues to adorn their elaborate tombs, now on display. The Mourners — 38 medieval sculptures commissioned by John the Fearless, the second Duke of Burgundy — are alabaster figures of priests, monks, choirboys and family members in grief and pain, some looking toward heaven, some shrouded in draped clothing and hoods. For a rejuvenating escape from dukedom, mingle with the townfolk at Les Halles, the covered market on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Vendors offer loaf-size patés, foie gras, charcuterie, jelled hams, fig pastries, quiches, sausages, over 100 cheeses and more. You’ll see how the French can turn every part of an animal, including the head, tongue and foot, into delectable dishes. Outside, shoppers sort through mounds of underwear, shoes, umbrellas and other wares. If you prefer more American-style shopping, the Galleries Lafayette is a fivefloor department store.
Gastronomical nirvana Dijon is a great place to explore “terrior.” No, it’s not a national security threat or a breed of dog. The French might say that See DIJON, page 27
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JUNE 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON
When spending a bit more is a good idea You can obsess so much about finding hauling my large suitcase, as well as my the “cheapest” air ticket that you may over- notebook computer. look cases when you’d be betAnd, at least in my recent ter off spending a little more. experience, airlines have beChecked bag. You pay come really good at getting $25 to check a bag for most baggage to the claim area domestic trips these days, and quickly. sometimes that’s a good idea. Nonstop flight. On many Sure, you can schlep a big bag routes, you pay more for a to the gate and onto the plane nonstop flight than for a con— then fight with everyone necting itinerary. But connectelse for a spot in an overhead ing at a hub airport almost albin that’s already full — withways adds at least two hours TRAVEL TIPS out paying extra. to your total time, increases By Ed Perkins But avoiding those long the chances of encountering a schleps and the fight for space is often worth weather or other problem, and adds yet an$25, especially when you’re on an itinerary other level of hassle and stress. that requires connecting at a mega-hub such A nonstop flight is worth more than conas Atlanta or O’Hare. These days, I always nections — that’s why the airlines can check when I have to connect so I don’t have charge more for a nonstop. But the nonto race from one remote gate to another stop is often worth the money.
Fly JetBlue. JetBlue provides a measurably better coach/economy product than any other domestic airline. Its fares are usually competitive with other lines, but even when JetBlue is a little more expensive, the superior product is usually well worth the small difference. Fly Southwest. If you prefer to check a bag or two, Southwest’s “two bags free” policy means that it’s a better deal, even when its round-trip fares are $50 to $100 higher than the competition — and Southwest usually isn’t that much more expensive. Extra-legroom seats. American, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian (A330s only), and United offer a few rows of regular coach/economy seats with three to four extra inches of seat spacing. Everyone talks about “legroom,” but the real difference is room to read or work at the table and shoulder levels.
No more ups and downs in energy bills. your
summer
The cost varies by flight and demand, but it’s usually less than $100 on even a transcontinental flight, and that extra room can make a coach flight much less miserable than usual. Global Entry. When you return to the United States from a foreign country, membership in Global Entry permits you to bypass the long customs and immigrations lines you sometimes encounter. You have to pass a one-time screening process and pay $100 for five years of eligibility. But even if you travel internationally only once a year, bypassing the entry hassle each time can easily be worth $20 per trip to you. Trusted Traveler. Reserved security lanes at most big airports supposedly get Trusted Travelers through security screening more quickly than other travelers. In my experience, that advantage is problematic: I’ve been through airports where the Trusted Traveler lanes moved more slowly than the general public lane, and the actual screening process seems to be almost identical. I wouldn’t pay for Trusted Traveler by itself. But Global Entry automatically makes you a Trusted Traveler, so overall it’s a minor additional improvement. Real premium seats. The price differential between regular and premium economy on a long intercontinental flight is usually hundreds of dollars, and the difference between economy and business class is thousands. Both are hard to justify in terms of cost per hour. But sometimes you find special promotions for premium economy or business class than narrow the price gap to an acceptable level. Premium economy is a big improvement, and business class is a huge improvement over regular economy. So keep your eyes out for promotions that let you fly in comfort. The main downside is that you’ll never want to fly regular economy again. Contact Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net. © 2015 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
BEACON BITS
June 7
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tour of Camden Yards on Sunday, June 7 from 10 to 11:45 a.m. Learn
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about the history of the Yard, visit Visit BGE.COM/SummerReady, where you’ll find the tools and resources you need to
the dugout, locker room, press box
handle the summer heat. Now that’s smart energy.
and more. Provide your own transportation. Children are welcome (age
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10 and above). Tickets cost $10 per person. For more information, call (420) 484-5285.
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel
BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2015
Dijon From page 25 the concept doesn’t translate easily, but in general, it refers to food and wine and other factors that combine to make food and wine unique to each individual region. For gastronomes, three of Dijon’s restaurants have earned stars in the Michelin Guide — Restaurant Stéphane Derbord, Hostellerie du Chapeau Rouge and Le Pré aux Clercs. Less pricey but totally satisfying are Restaurant DZ’envies, near Les Halles for leg of fowl and raspberry mousse, and Restaurant L’Escargot for escargot de Bourgogne, chicken with mustard sauce, and an out-of-this-world tiramisu dusted with powdered chocolate. For lunch, try a bistro popular with locals, Chez Nous, for scrumptious croques — monsieur, madame and chevre — and bargain wine. And, as the French say, lunch without a glass of wine is unimaginable, especially in a place where an unbeatable glass of Cote du Rhone can be sipped for around $2. For a true splurge, you can honor the region’s black currants and a famous forefather who, alas, was not a duke, by topping off your meal with a kir de Bourgogne. Kir is a mixture of crème de cassis and Burgundy aligoté white wine, named for Félix Kir, who served as Dijon’s mayor from 1945 to 1968. A kir royale is made with champagne.
Wine country Burgundy wines have a 2,000-year history of expert oenology, Burgundians brag. The Romans made wine here in 52 BC. The monks of Cluny and Citeaux nurtured vineyards in the 11th century. Until the French Revolution, in fact, winemaking enterprises were owned by the Catholic Church — and not just to supply communion services. The region has perfect conditions for growing the perfect grape — the angle of the hills’ slopes, the minerality of the soils, and the summer sun and temperatures that support optimal grape maturation. Outside Dijon, vineyards stretch for miles, interspersed by small towns. Vintners lovingly tend to vines that are perfectly situated on gentle slopes to maximize exposure to the sun. (Vines grown on flat fields would shade each other, one winemaker explained.) They meticulously prune leaves to enhance air circulation and eliminate any shading by a single leaf. The most famous wine country tour is the Route des Grands Crus (www.road-of-thefine-burgundy-wines.com). Dijon’s tourist office can arrange wine tours for every taste and budget — motorized meanders through rural landscapes, hamlets, wineries and vineyards, some with stops at fromageries. A day trip to the walled city of Beaune, the “wine capital of Burgundy,” is popular with tourists. Back to mustard. In Beaune, the Fallot family has operated La Moutarderie, a family mustard mill since 1840. That’s not ex-
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actly medieval, but they still grind seeds in a grindstone to protect “all the gustative qualities of the dough.” Here you can delve into mustard’s history and its cultivation, and try “Burgundy Mustard,” a “product deeply rooted in Burgundian soil” and decidedly different from Dijon mustard, they tout. Whoever thought mustard could be so intriguing? Or dukes, for that matter.
If you go Contact the Dijon Tourism Office, www.visitdijon.com or email info@otdijon.com. Search for hotels, restaurants,
27
tours, events and major sights. Be sure to click on the British flag at the top to read the site in English. Getting around town is easy on foot or the tram, called Diviaciti. Dijon is 186 miles from Paris (nine daily trains). Visit RailEurope at www.raileurope.com/europe-travelguide/france/index.html for information on the TGV high-speed train network. Flight prices to Paris from BWI vary widely depending on when you buy them and the dates of your trip. The least expensive roundtrip flight at press time for an early July departure was $1,231 on U.S. Airways.
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Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com
Elder abuse From page 1 who are isolated and not in regular contact with family and friends.” She suggests that regular use of senior centers and adult day care centers is a good way to make sure that an older person has regular contact with others who can monitor any changes in behavior or physical or emotional condition.
Many kinds and signs of abuse Signs that an elder might be the victim of abuse are depression, unexplained cuts and bruises, secretive or withdrawn behavior, unexplained financial withdrawals, or change in financial situation. Besides the obvious personal impact on
the elder being abused, the ramifications extend to increased hospital and nursing home costs, as well as monies lost due to financial exploitation. For example, in one instance, an adult daughter living out of town called SAFE because she was concerned that her drugaddicted brother was using their mother’s money as well as her medications. Not all abuse is intentional, said Korenblit. During one home visit she conducted, she observed that the husband (who was elderly himself) was the sole caregiver for his wife, who had dementia. He was treating her roughly, tugging her with a belt to get her to move more quickly. Korenblit was able to teach him about the symptoms of dementia, including the fact that his wife just couldn’t respond to
BEACON BITS
Ongoing
DELAWARE PARK TRIPS
The Seven Oaks Senior Center presents bi-monthly Delaware Park trips. The next one is scheduled for Wednesday, June 24. The cost is $24 with a $30 casino rebate. The bus departs at 9:30 a.m. Sign up no earlier than May 21. Don’t forget to bring your player card and photo ID. For more information or to make reservations, call (410) 529-2341.
June 19
OPENING DAY AT RIPKEN STADIUM
Experience the first Aberdeen Ironbirds game of the season on Friday, June 19, at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $35 per person, which includes transportation from the Pikesville Senior Center, 1301 Reisterstown Rd., and ticket to the game. Children 10 and older are welcome. For more information or to reserve a spot, call (410) 484-5285.
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him as quickly as he wanted. “He became less frustrated and more the loving husband he wanted to be,” she said. And not all bruises, cuts and falls are caused by abuse, she added. One of the BCDA’s concerns is “rough behavior” in nursing homes, which is frequently reported by visiting family members or friends. In these instances, the county’s long-term care ombudsman will go out to visit and determine if any abuse or mistreatment is taking place. Part of the mission of SAFE is also to educate the public about this troubling situation. So Loy routinely visits senior centers in Baltimore City and County, as well as physicians, emergency rooms, community agencies and more. In addition to SAFE, there are a number of programs that provide services to elders who are victims of, or at risk of, abuse. Every county in Maryland, for example, has a division of Adult Protective Services within its Department of Social Services. For those living in a nursing home where there is suspected abuse, there are volunteer and career Long-Term Care Ombudsmen, trained by the Maryland Department of Aging and managed by local area agencies on aging. Calls to these agencies can be anonymous, and there is no penalty if your suspicions turn out to be unfounded. “It’s better to be safe than sorry,” said Korenblit.
Where to get help To report suspected abuse or to find out more about elder abuse and services available, contact: • Baltimore County Department of Social Services, Adult Protective Services at (410) 853-3000 or Baltimore City Department of Social Services at (410) 361-5000 • Baltimore County Department of Aging, Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at (410) 887-4200 • SAFE, (410) 234-0030 or www.chanabaltimore.org • Baltimore County Department of Health at (410) 887-2740 or (410) 8872754 • Baltimore County and City Police Departments at 911 for emergencies • Maryland Adult Protective Services at your local Department of Social Services office or 1-800-91-PREVENT (1-800-9177383) • Pro Bono Counseling Project at (410) 825-1001 On Monday, June 15, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, a public education forum will be hosted by BC-REST (Baltimore County Restoring Elder Safety Today), an elder abuse prevention coalition. The free event will be held at Perry Hall Library, 9685 Honeygo Blvd., from 10 a.m. to noon, and will feature speakers who will address the types and signs of elder abuse, and discuss how to identify, report and prevent it.
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JUNE 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON
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BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2015
Say you saw it in the Beacon
Style
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Arts &
Three tenors who perform on Broadway will sing hit tunes from favorite musicals in a benefit for the Myerberg Center. See story on page 30.
40 years for the Dance Theatre of Harlem
Breaking barriers Ballet memorabilia The inspirational story of the ballet company, as well as its social and artistic impact, is brought to life in this exhibition of costumes, historical photographs, set pieces and video excerpts.
The Dance Theatre of Harlem has paved the way for African Americans to be more visible and more accepted in the world of classical dance. A recent fulllength production of Swan Lake by the Washington Ballet, for example, featured
two African Americans in the lead roles — the first time that has happened in the United States. The event was called “overdue” by the New York Times, which said it resulted in “broken barriers.” Despite the progress, however, African Americans still remain a minority in classical ballet troupes. The New York City Ballet, for example, has just five African American dancers in its company of 94; American Ballet Theatre, which has 92 members, has even fewer. According to Saunders, Dance Theatre of Harlem continues to define and solidify its Baltimore native Keith Saunders performed with the Dance Theatre of Harlem for more than 17 years, and now serves as the ballet master for the company. An exhibit about the pioneering dance company is on display through August at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in downtown Baltimore.
Radio Flea Market Heard every Sunday, 7-8:00 a.m. on 680 WCBM
See HARLEM DANCE, page 31
We’ve got it all...Fact and Fiction!
7 6 17
Cars, boats, furniture, antiques, tools, appliances Everything and anything is sold on
role in the dance world. In light of the recent events in Baltimore, the company’s message is particularly poignant.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM
The objects represent two productions that are iconic to the company: Firebird and Creole Giselle. In addition to the costumes and performances, the exhibition includes artifacts such as original tour programs, letters from choreographers and dignitaries, magazine articles, design bibles, and original tour posters. The present-day company has a local connection, as Baltimore native Keith Saunders serves as Ballet Master. Saunders began dancing in 1971, while a student at Harvard University. His original career goal was to become a lawyer. But then “I took a dance class…and my whole path changed,” he said in an interview with Helen Yuen of the museum. He then decided to leave his studies to pursue dance. Saunders began his ballet training in 1973 at the National Center for Afro-American Artists in Dorchester, Mass. In 1975, he was selected to join the Dance Theatre of Harlem. He has performed a wide range of roles throughout the company’s repertoire for more than 17 years. He was appointed Dance Theatre of Harlem’s assistant ballet master in 1994 and ballet master in 1996.
CREDIT
An exhibit about the Dance Theatre of Harlem is currently drawing attention at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum. It highlights the many accomplishments of African Americans and other minorities who have defied stereotypes to pursue their passion for dance and pave the way for future generations of artists. When black dancers were told that African American bodies were not built for classical ballet, for example, they mastered classical repertoire like Giselle, then set it in Creole society in Louisiana, to give it a distinctly American twist. Central to the themes of the exhibition is the story of founder Arthur Mitchell, who was selected by legendary choreographer George Balanchine to join the New York City Ballet. As the only African American dancer of a major ballet company at the time, Mitchell’s rise was a historic achievement in pre-civil rights America. He became a principal dancer within the company, and then went on to found Dance Theatre of Harlem in 1969 in a church basement in the wake of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination. It was Mitchell’s way of giving back to his community in honor of the civil rights leader.
APRIL 23 - JULY 5
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Experience this funny, insightful, and compelling drama about the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the noble men behind it.
An entertaining classic about favorite fairytale characters where wishes are granted, but the consequences haunt them with disastrous results.
Based on availability. Due to the nature of theatre bookings, all shows, dates and times are subject to change.
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JUNE 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON
Broadway tenors to perform for a cause
BB6/15
CREDIT
By Carol Sorgen ler in the Broadway revival of Annie Get Three of musical theater’s leading men Your Gun, Tony in West Side Story, (his will bring some of Broadway’s favorite first Broadway musical, while still a stutunes to Baltimore when the Edward A. dent at Carnegie Mellon University), Myerberg Center presents the Broadway Charles Castleton in Dance a Little Closer, Tenors in Concert at its annual fundraising and Baron Felix Von Gaigern in Grand event on June 4. Hotel. Kyle Dean Massey, Brent Barrett and Barrett founded the Broadway Tenors John Cudia, the three award-winning in 2000, and over the years the group has tenors who will perform grown from three to at the concert, will showaround 15 performers. As case a night of musical most of the singers have theater hits from the other roles in theater or on Golden Age to moderntelevision, the cast is conday Manhattan. During stantly changing, dependthis fully staged and choing on who’s available for reographed theatrical concerts. show, the tenors will perform selections from Why musicals are so South Pacific, West Side beloved Story, The Phantom of the Musical theater has the Opera, Les Miserables, and ability to transform audiJersey Boys, plus arrangeences, said Barrett, whether ments written especially it’s through laughter, tears, John Cuida for them. or being encouraged to Brent Barrett is the founding member think about societal issues such as racism and producer of the Broadway Tenors. He (in musicals like Showboat and South Pacifrecently reprised his role as Billy Flynn in ic). the Tony Award-winning hit Chicago —The “Musicals can deal with those subjects in Musical for which he received a Los Ange- a non-violent way,” he said. “They can also les Drama Critics Award. Barrett’s other open up the imagination and move people Broadway roles have included Frank But- by something as simple as a melody.” For
example, Barrett observed that “The Music being the first and only actor to have perof the Night” from The Phantom of the formed as both the Phantom in The Phantom Opera is always a show-stopper. of the Opera and Jean Valjean in Les MisHe’s preparing to sing one of his favorite érables. He is emerging as a classical songs, Sondheim’s “Send crossover artist, with perin the Clowns,” in a memoformances as Alfredo in La rial to theatrical producer Traviata and Curly in the and director Hal Prince. Lyric Opera of Chicago’s “It’s sentimental and bitterproduction of Oklahoma! sweet,” he said. Kyle Dean Massey reOn the flip side (for those cently wrapped up a Broadwho remember vinyl!) is a way appearance in the title medley of Irving Berlin role in the smash revival of tunes that Barrett likes to Pippin, and is currently perform for their upbeat starring as Kevin Bicks on rhythm and lyrics. ABC’s “Nashville.” He preThough Barrett relishes viously starred on Broadhis Broadway career — and way as Fiyero, the male Brent Barrett still hopes to play in such lead in Wicked, and Gabe in classics as Man of La ManNext to Normal. He has cha, Music Man and Camelot — he also en- been on several television shows including joys the concert performances that the “The Good Wife,” “Inside Amy Schumer,” Three Tenors afford him. “Up All Night” and “Hart of Dixie.” “When you’re in a show on Broadway,” he Massey, who has been a member of the explained, “you’re singing the role as a char- Tenors for the past several years, enjoys acter. When you’re doing a concert, you performing on Broadway, he said, “behave to find a connection to the music that’s cause you get to tell the same story every not character-driven. “It’s just you in a solo night but in a different way.” spotlight, creating the magic all by yourself.” He also enjoys the interaction with the audience. “You’re creating a very particu-
Operatic and pop tenors, too John Cudia holds the distinct honor of
See TENORS page 31
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style
BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2015
Harlem dance From page 29 “Dance Theatre was founded in the wake of Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination. The message of Dance Theatre is still relevant in terms of showing a palpable sense that any child, given the opportunity, can succeed at whatever that child wants to succeed at,” Sauders said. “But that opportunity must be present. Once it’s present, one must undertake the education and training to compete on an international level. It’s also about inclusion, understanding, dialogue, and the ability of the arts to advance that understanding.”
The exhibit and events “Dance Theatre of Harlem: Forty Years
of Firsts” can be seen Wednesdays through Saturdays through Aug. 30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. In conjunction with the exhibition, the Dance Theatre of Harlem will perform on Saturday, June 20, at 8 p.m. at the Murphy Fine Arts Center at Morgan State University. For tickets, contact the box office at (443) 885-4440. In addition, the museum will hold a program about Broadway Dance on Sunday, May 31, from 3 to 4 p.m., with theatrical dances performed by local dancer CJay Philip. A class on line dancing will take place on Sunday, June 28, from 3 to 4 p.m. with local dancer Maurice Perry. The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture is located at 830 E. Pratt St. Gener-
al admission is $8. Admission for those age 65+, youth (age 7-17), and students (with ID) is $6. Museum members, children under the age of 6, and Maryland Public School teachers may enter free of charge.
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Tickets may be purchased at www.r flewismuseum.org, by calling (443) 263-1875, or in person. For more information about the exhibit, visit www.rflewismuseum.org/special-exhibition.
BEACON BITS
Ongoing
BALTIMORE RIOT PHOTOS The Maryland Historical Society has issued a public call for
images from professional and amateur photographers to document the Freddie Gray protests, unrest and cleanup efforts in Baltimore. “We believe this is an important topic for public history,” explained the society’s president Burt Kummerow. To submit images, send your name, email address, date and location the images were taken, and the camera type/model to Remembrance@mdhs.org.
June 10
HONORING MAYA ANGELOU The Baltimore City Health Department Division of Aging and Care Services presents a program honoring Maya Angelou as part of
Tenors
berg.org/broadway. Patron tickets, which include priority seating and an exclusive CD From page 30 signing and dessert reception with the Broadlar moment with them that you can’t cre- way Tenors immediately following the performance, are available for $125. ate again,” he said. For more information, call the MyerWhat he likes about performing with the berg Center at (410) 358Tenors is the more relaxed 6856 or visit www.myeratmosphere, which allows berg.org/broadway. for even more interaction Proceeds from the conwith the audience, as well as cert will benefit the Edthe opportunities to sing ward A. Myerberg Censongs that he might never ter’s programs and servicget to perform on Broades for older adults in Baltiway. “You don’t have to be more. Myerberg Center right for the role to sing a participants enjoy collegesong in concert,” he said in a level courses in history, recent telephone interview. literature and cur rent The concert will take events, music, art and fitplace at 7 p.m. on June 4, at ness classes, trips, and Baltimore Hebrew Congrespecial events. The Myergation, 7401 Park Heights Kyle Dean Massey berg Center also offers Ave. General admission tickets for the Broad- supportive and social services, including way Tenors in Concert are $50 and are avail- Baltimore City’s largest Eating Together able through Myerberg Center at www.myer- program.
its “12 African American Women Who Rocked the World” series on Wednesday, June 10. This event will take place at the Waxter Senior Center, 1000 Cathedral St. Lunch is included for seniors 60+. You must pre-register. For more information, call (410) 396-1324 or email Erika.DesRavines@baltimorecity.gov.
Ongoing
PRO BONO COUNSELING PROJECT The Pro Bono Counseling Project assures that all Maryland residents requesting mental health care, regardless of income, are
linked with volunteer licensed mental health professionals. For more information, call (410) 825-1001, ext. 102 or visit www.probonocounseling.org
Keeping older adults active, engaged and healthy regardless of their ability to pay.
Dynamic aging. Exciting choices.
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Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com
JUNE 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON
Musical presents our nation’s founding
More music and women needed It is not a perfect show, befitting the less-than-perfect union it celebrates, perhaps. The biggest flaw: there is a very long stretch in act one with no music to break up the occasionally dense and expository dialogue. The conversations and negotiations explore the intricate maneuvering that allowed 13 colonies with different cultures and values to forge a united mission.
It is important that this material be fully presented, but it is always something of a surprise that the writers did not break it up a bit more. When properly staged, however, it will hold your attention well enough until things pick up again. Even though we know how it will turn out, there is built-in suspense to be exploited before getting to what can be an intensely moving finale. Another awkward part of the show’s structure is that there are only brief appearances by the two female characters, Abigail Adams (Santina Maiolatesi) and Martha Jefferson (MaryKate Broulliet), the wives of two future presidents, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. So we have about two dozen male cast members working their way through Edwards’ score without much in the way of dance or chorus numbers to rely on. There’s a bit of old-man soft-shoe when John Adams (Jeffrey Shankle), Thomas Jefferson (Brendan McMahon) and Benjamin Franklin (John Stevenson) get together. And South Carolina delegate Edward Rutledge (Dan Felton) hops atop some of the furniture during his fervent song calling for slavery to be retained in the new nation. But mostly, it’s designed as a spartan production with little in the way of visual spectacle, relying on the very human story behind the history to keep us captivated. So it’s really up to the director to keep
CREDIT
By Michael Toscano Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia may be rushing the July 4th holiday a bit with its presentation of a history lesson put to (not enough) song — the classic musical 1776. But it will be performed right through the 5th of July, so you’ll have the chance to see this slightly fanciful look at the cobbling together of the Declaration of Independence as the holiday itself approaches. 1776, written by Peter Stone with songs by Sherman Edwards (and no, you don’t have to know who they are), has been with us since 1969 and remains one of the most frequently performed musicals in this area. It begins with a light look at the Founding Fathers (and two Founding Wives, not Mothers) that inexorably grows in intensity until reaching its conclusion on the fourth day of July in 1776 when, after years of labor, these fathers delivered a country.
John Dickinson (played by Darren McDonnell), a solicitor and politician known as the “Penman of the Revolution,” fights with John Adams (played by Jeffrey Shankle) in a scene from the musical 1776. The musical retelling of the birth of the United States is playing at Toby’s Dinner Theatre through July 5.
things moving, allowing for proper dynamics in the storytelling. And the drama can be importantly augmented with the proper stagecraft, in terms of set, lighting and sound design. The best that can be said about this is that Toby’s has done a workmanlike job managing the constraints of a theater-inthe-round presentation. Set designer David A. Hopkins necessarily gives us little to look at. The Philadelphia chamber is reduced to randomly scattered small desks at which the delegates to the Continental Congress sit, slouch, drink and argue. That cheats us of one of the clever openings often utilized on traditional stages. In many of those productions, the delegates are initially seen as stiff figures in an “oil painting,” who come to life before our eyes as flesh-and-blood men. And when the play concludes with the signing of the Declaration of Independence, they recede back into the “painting.” It can be a very effective and affecting set, but unfortunately, it is impossible
to pull off on a round stage such as at Toby’s. Furthermore, there is no real lighting design to speak of, and the sound design is actually a problem. The theatre’s ancient and muddy-sounding amplification system turns the combined music and singing into aural mush, obscuring lyrics.
Stellar casting That said, directors/choreographers Jeremy Scott Blaustein and Shawn Kettering have a strong cast in place. Shankle, as Adams, is one of Toby’s most reliable workhorses. With a strong voice and presence, he can be counted on to deliver an outstanding performance, and he does so here, despite being softer than the usually flinty character we see in this pivotal role. John Stevenson is fun as Franklin, played a tad broader than necessary, but with a vibrant authority that suits the role. Shankle and Franklin together onstage anchor the show with their warmth and bearing. See 1776, page 33
BEACON BITS
June 1
WWII PILOT LECTURE The Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum’s free Aviation
Speaker Series takes place at the Lockheed Martin Auditorium, 2323 Eastern Blvd. On Monday, June 1, at 7 p.m., musician Ellis Woodward will share stories from his father’s book, Combat Hell: Flying School, based on his father’s World War II piloting experiences. Admission is free, but a photo ID is required for entry into the facility. Following his presentation, Woodward will be selling copies of his father’s book. For more information, call (410) 682-6122.
Ongoing
GIFT BASKET AUCTION Arbutus Senior Center presents its third annual Silent Auction of more than 25 themed gift baskets. Bidding continues until Friday,
June 12. Donations or gift baskets are also welcomed; proceeds will benefit the center. Call (410) 887-1410 for a list of gift baskets.
Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style
BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2015
1776 From page 32 Toby’s newcomer Brendan McMahon gives us 33-year-old Jefferson as a truly golden boy, rather ethereal in both aspect and expression, his silky voice adding a tender burnish to his songs. It’s almost too bad it’s the curmudgeonly Adams and not this elegant Jefferson who gets to twirl Martha Jefferson around the floor in the show’s most graceful choreography, the waltz number “He Plays the Violin.” But the directors have not managed to deal effectively with the musical desert in act one; the pacing lags. And they have not paid attention to the dynamics of the final “signature” scene, where seamlessly integrated movement, sound and lighting are required to make the most of the moment. It’s an opportunity lost. The big act two song, the forceful “Molasses to Rum,” is also seriously compromised, a victim of the sound system. Its singer, Daniel Felton, provides the richest characterization of the show as South Carolina’s Edward Rutledge, a cunning manipulator. His presence in the deliberations is a constant slap of realism as he holds the birth of the nation hostage to defend slavery, the “peculiar institution” of his beloved South. But his impassioned accusation of hypocrisy and shared sin by the North as well as the South in “Molasses to Rum” is reduced to histrionics as he leaps about the furniture. Many of the words he is avidly singing get lost in an unpleasant mélange of incomprehensible sound. Quieter moments work better. Maiolatesi’s exquisite voice is nicely paired with Shankle’s robust baritone in their duet, “Yours, Yours, Yours.” What it lacks in sensuality, it makes up for in affectionate flirting. Likewise, Matthew Hirsch is compelling-
FROM PAGE 34 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE
ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD G A M M A
U B O A T
M O V I E T I E I N S
S P E D A S H I P E T O I N I R S E K E T U I D R C A C A B A L B R O I L S T O N Y
C O P I E R S
O D O M E T E R
S C K U E P E P O N
V E R A
E E S S S A K C R I D A I M O P I O N E D R N E W A M S E Q E D E I D E R B I V E M A I F E I T A D M E N I E S T T
S A Y U C E E E P F A M I L I A R I T Y
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ly poignant in the gripping “Momma Look Sharp,” as his young courier introduces the politicians to the harsh reality that their actions are paid for in blood. With direction lacking flair (and the stage lacking the “painting” effect), the final moments ticking toward our first Independence Day don’t live up to their full potential in this production. But the material — indeed, the history — is vibrant enough that it remains impossible not to be moved by the courage on display and the realization that much of what we hold dear a couple of centuries later was created in such a human fashion: chaotic, compromised and conflicted, but ultimately a triumph. 1776 continues through July 5 at Toby’s Dinner Theatre, 5900 Symphony Woods Rd., Columbia. The show runs seven days a week with evening and matinee performances. The doors open at 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday for dinner prior to the evening per-
formances, which start at 8 p.m. On Sundays, the buffet opens at 5 p.m. for the performance that begins at 7 p.m. Doors open for brunch Wednesdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m., prior to matinee performances, which begin at 12:30 p.m. Reservations are required. Ticket prices range from $39.50 (for children under 12) to
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$58 (depending on which performance is selected). Ticket prices include buffet dinner or brunch, tea and coffee. Specialty drinks and desserts are extra, and tips to the actor/waiters constitute much of their pay. For reservations and more information, call (410) 730-8311 or visit www.tobysdinnertheatre.com.
Classifieds cont. from p. 35 Wanted 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.
Wanted WE BUY JEWELRY, SILVER, GOLD, AND COSTUME. Coins, Paper Money Too. Watches, Clocks, Military Badges and Patches Old and New. Call Greg, 717-658-7954. COLLECTOR BUYING MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, weapons, rifles, shot guns, knives, swords, bayonets, web gear, uniforms, etc. from all wars and countries. Large quantities are okay. Will pay top prices for my personal collection. Discreet consultations. Call Fred, 301-910-0783.
Thanks for reading!
JUNE 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON
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Crossword Puzzle Daily crosswords can be found on our website: www.TheBeaconNewspapers.com Click on Puzzles Plus Mother May I by Stephen Sherr 1
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Answer: What the coach's positive feedback gave the swimmers -- GOOD "STROKES" Jumbles: STOKE LOOSE STURDY GROUCH
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1. Eats without teeth 5. Spot where a bay leaves 9. Tough type of test 14. Greeting from Little Bunny Foo Foo 15. Keats’ feats 16. A1 is one 17. Go from the city to the ‘burbs 18. Wasteful spending project 19. Weirdo 20. Cri for help 23. Swallowed a swallow 24. Take in a silent movie 25. Dancer, in Fantasia 26. Full Disk Encryption, to a techie 29. Commonaliti with Januari and Juli 33. Food with circumference about 3.14 times its radius 34. Homily, briefly 35. Salad dressing celebrity 36. ___ the water 38. 2014 Motor Trend truck of the year 40. Where to take a French dip 41. Worldwide, 8% are blue 43. Logician’s last letters 45. Center of ICELAND or IRELAND 46. Saturdai trophi race 49. Guards’ demands 50. Cry over spilled milk 51. “___ had it up to here!” 52. Part of a tool chest 55. One wai into New Jersei 58. Group of plotters 61. Hummus holder 62. “Regular or ___?” 63. Prepare a steak 64. A dog howling at midnight, to some 65. Target for “Tough Actin’ Tinactin” 66. Emotionless 67. Cozy den 68. Youngster
1. ___ ray (the source of The Hulk’s strength) 2. WWII terror 3. Happy meal toys, often 4. Drove too fast 5. Xerox products 6. Car part that only rolls forward 7. Aloe ___ 8. Arctic native 9. Jail-breakers 10. Hindu dress 11. Take to court 12. Half of a blackjack 13. “You betcha” 21. “I paint objects ___ think them” (Picasso) 22. Irish name meaning “brown” 26. Preceder of contempt 27. Subject of Elton’s John’s top-selling song 28. Feudal worker 30. Bank job 31. Mosul man 32. Major nerd 33. Scrutinized closely 36. Luau torch 37. Way to get on one’s nerves 39. Serves as a go-between 42. Fish also called a porgy 44. Not one of the normals 47. “___ truckin’” 48. Zebra of the gridiron 53. Total a Toyota 54. Like a ballerina 55. First person born in the bible 56. Play charades 57. Splice together 58. Home of WKRP in Cincinnati 59. Paul’s partner on “Mrs. Robinson” 60. Word in a ghost’s vocabulary
Answers on page 33.
BALTIMORE BEACON — JUNE 2015
CLASSIFIEDS The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on the right. CAVEAT EMPTOR! The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either. Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment. EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS: We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.
Business and Employment Opportunities LOCAL HOME IMPROVEMENT COMPANY is looking for Mature Responsible Adults to work part-time representing our company and products at home shows, fairs, festivals. Weekends or weekday work available. Paid training, hourly wage, mileage reimbursement, bonus program! Call 301-829-1313 or email info@marylandsunrooms.com.
Caregivers COMPASSIONATE, CREATIVE, CAREGIVING. Sensory stimulation, MS, ALS, special needs, environmental enhancement. Holistic program at home. Stress relief for family. Contact for a personalized plan. Pam, 410-9772040. Joyce, licensed counselor, 410-358-0977.
TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED
Say you saw it in the Beacon
Caregivers ABUNDANT KINDNESS AT-HOME Eldercare. Do you or someone you love need assistance with tasks such as shopping, transportation to appointments, meal planning/preparation, light housekeeping, personal care, help with daily activities and more? I provide compassionate, dependable care on a temporary or long-term basis. Call Jackie Lewis, 410-2452712.
Financial Services TAXES, ACCOUNTING, BOOKKEEPING, eldercare. CPA 38 years, reasonable rates. Call 410-653-3363.
For Sale/Rent: Real Estate
Deadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 5th 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 $10 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word. Business Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing business enterprise. Each ad is $25 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, Baltimore Classified Dept.
LARGE, CLEAN, QUIET, FURNISHED BEDROOM with private bath for rent on 2nd floor of private home. Refrigerator + microwave provided. Reasonable. 410-485-1702.
For Sale
Personals
LEATHER SOFA, EXCELLENT CONDITION. 8 months old, walnut brown, can email picture, 410-740-2261/410-978-1558.
WHITE MALE, 62, NON-SMOKER, living in AA County, seeks lady friend any age for movies, daytrips and massages. Call Alan, 304-240-5355.
For Sale
Home/Handyman Services
Personal Services
1 2-GRAVE LOT (T&B), Crypt #114, Abbey Gardens area at Dulaney Memorial Gardens. Asking $2,000. Call Jackie, 410-655-1439.
BALTIMORE’S BEST JUNK REMOVAL – Clean Outs: Whole House, Emergency, Attics/Basements. Furniture and Junk Removal, Yard Waste Removal, General Hauling, Construction Debris Removal. Free estimates. 10% Senior Discount. Licensed, Bonded and Insured. Call Jesse, 443-379-HAUL (4285).
LEARN ENGLISH – SPANISH – ITALIAN – FRENCH – PORTUGUESE Conversational. Grammatical. Private lessons. Reasonable Rates. Tutoring students. 443-352-8200.
LOUDON PARK CEMETERY – Frederick Ave. Single plot w/ vault, $1,000. Value about $4,500. Call Dee at 410-325-5467. PARKWOOD CEMETERY – TAYLOR AVENUE – Poplar Lot 831 – Site 2. Also includes one burial vault and one opening and closing of grave site – value $6,685. Sell for $3,300 or best offer, 410-529-1191. ONE CEMETERY LOT AND GRAVESITE Base 24 x 16. $1,200 plus transfer fee. Lakemont Memorial Gardens. 410-553-9763. CRYPTS SALES: A DOUBLE GARDEN CRYPT at Arbutus Memorial Park. Will accept a price lower than current cost. Call John & Bernice Walker, 410-788-0070.
Miscellaneous PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT ON CLUTTER – Looking for participants. Do you struggle with clutter? I am a photographer looking for people who are willing to have their cluttered or messy living spaces anonymously photographed. Compensation provided. Call 571331-9316 or visit everittclarkphotography.com for more information.
Wanted OLD AND NEW, WE BUY STERLING SILVER FLATWARE, Tea Sets, Single Pieces of Silver, Large pieces of Silver Plate. Attic, Basement or Garage. Call Greg, 717-658-7954. You have something to SELL, we are looking to BUY. CASH BUYER FOR OLD COSTUME JEWELRY – pocket and wrist watches (any condition). Also buying watchmaker tools and parts, train sets and accessories, old toys, old glassware & coins. 410-655-0412.
Classifieds cont. on p. 33
ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Research Studies
Dementia Study . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Diabetes Research Study . . . . .19 Elderly Falls Study . . . . . . . . .19 Gastrointestinal Study . . . . . . .19 HYPNOS Diabetic Sleep Study . . . . . .19 Maximizing Independence Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Memory Study . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Events
Broadway Tenors . . . . . . . . . .31 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Financial Services
Bennett Senior Services . . . . .21 Debt Counsel for Seniors and the Disabled . . .24 Golden Real Estate . . . . . . . . .22 JSR Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Salvation Army . . . . . . . . . . . .21
35
Hearing Services
Hearing & Speech Agency . . .10 Hear For You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Home Health Care
Companioning the Dying . . . .10 Options for Senior America . .13 Senior Companion Program . . .6 Seniors Helping Seniors . . . . .12
Housing
Blake & Sons Waterproofing .27 Briarwood Estates . . . . . . . . . . .6 Brightview Senior Living . . . . .3 Brookfield Homes . . . . . . . . . .15 Charlestown . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Gatherings at Quarry Place . . .22 Green House Residences . . . . .23 Heritage Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Homewood at Willow Ponds .28 Keller Williams/ Tyrone Maxwell . . . . . . . . . .15 Memorial Apartments . . . . . . . .7 Oak Crest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Park View Apartments . . . . . .33
Shangri-La Assisted Living . . .27 St. Mary’s Roland View Towers . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Westminster House Apts . . . . .24
Housing Referral Service
Senior Placement Service/Care Patrol . . . . . . . .31
Legal Services
Frank, Frank & Scherr Law Firm . . . . . . . . . .21 Nursing Home Justice . . . . . . .11
Medical/Health
Dr. Richard Rosenblatt, DPM . .13 Dr. Stuart Goldman, DPM . . .17 GBMC Urogynecology . . . . . .10 Maryland Laser, Skin & Vein . .5 MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital . . . . . . . .16 Mishpacha Dental . . . . . . . . . .17 Progressive Rehab Services . .11 Smart Pain Management . . . . .12
Pharmacies
Walgreen’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Retail
Wilkens Beltway Plaza . . . . . .30
Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation
CommuniCare Health . . . . . . .14 Holly Hill Nursing & Rehabilitation . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Manor Care Health Services . . .9
Theatres/ Entertainment
Hollywood Casino . . . . . . . . .36 Radio Flea Market . . . . . . . . . .29 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . .29
Tour & Travel
Eyre Bus, Tour & Travel . . . . .27
Utilities
BGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Volunteers
Baltimore City RSVP . . . . . . .17 Senior Companion Program . . .6
36
JUNE 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON
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