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VOL.27, NO.6

Elder abuse often not reported

A safe haven “This is a very deep issue, both nationally and locally, and yet it’s decades behind in awareness. [It’s] where domestic abuse and sexual assault were before that,” said Tovah Kasdin, director of ElderSAFE, a nonsectarian program that opened last fall at the Charles E. Smith Life Communities in Rockville, Md. “For the average person, it’s inconceiv-

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By Barbara Ruben Not long ago, Arlington County Adult Protective Services received a call from friends of an older woman. They were concerned about her physical and mental decline, and about suspicious behavior associated with a woman she recently met at a restaurant. Investigators discovered the woman’s new companion had isolated her from her friends, and gained power of attorney in an attempt to sell the woman’s home and pocket the proceeds, as well as transfer funds from her bank accounts. Authorities were able to remove the woman from her abuser’s care and recoup her assets. But that story’s happy ending is an anomaly, said Reginald D. Lawson Jr., program manager of adult services/adult protective services for Arlington County. “This perfect ending doesn’t typically happen,” he said. “Many times, the most we can do is to stop the bleeding and protect from any further exploitation.” That was the case last month, when paramedics arrived at a home in Bethesda, Md., and discovered an 87-year-old woman with pressure sores so severe that her spine was exposed. Compression stockings were fused to her feet so tightly they had to be surgically removed. Police charged her 57-year-old son, who had run for Montgomery County Council in 2014 and with whom she lived, with two counts of felony abuse. Their house had no working toilets, mold, and hoarding that was considered a fire hazard. Across the Washington area and around the country, reports of elder abuse are on the rise. According to recent studies, for every case of physical abuse that’s documented, an estimated 23 go unreported. Similarly, it is believed only one out of every 44 cases of financial abuse is prosecuted.

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LEISURE & TRAVEL

Visit Earth’s last frontier — Antarctica; plus, a cool respite in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, and how credit card use overseas has changed page 49 TECHNOLOGY k Trim spending with apps

FITNESS & HEALTH 10 k Blood test to diagnose depression? SPOTLIGHT ON AGING k Newsletter for D.C. seniors

LAW & MONEY k ETFs vs. mutual funds

LIFETIMES 41 k News from the Charles E. Smith Life Communities ElderSAFE, a new program at the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, provides shelter, as well as medical and social services, to victims of elder abuse. Shown here are KerryAnn Aleibar (left), case manager, and Tovah Kasdin, the program’s director. While reports of elder abuse — which includes physical, psychological and financial exploitation — are increasing, it still goes unreported in the vast majority of cases.

able that you would hurt your grandmother or grandfather or an older person, whom societally we have a respect for. I think it’s taken a long time for people to recognize this [kind of abuse] is actually happening and that it’s a real problem that needs specialized and dedicated resources.” ElderSAFE (which stands for Safety, Advocacy, Freedom from abuse and Education) provides safe, temporary shelter at the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington — as well as counseling, medical services, case management, legal referrals and other assistance — to area older adults suffering from abuse. It is the first comprehensive program of its kind in the Washington region. Clients can stay from a few days to a few months without charge. Stays and servic-

es are paid for by grants and by funding from the Hebrew Home.

Abuse takes many forms Elder abuse can encompass a wide range of exploitation — from physical, sexual and psychological abuse and neglect, to financial exploitation, which is the misuse of an older adult’s money. Often, more than one kind of abuse is seen in a single case. “Perhaps the broadest category — and the most rampant — is psychological abuse. That is when you mistreat another person by putting them down and making them feel inferior,” Kasdin said. “You can do that in many ways: By calling See ELDER ABUSE, page 22

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J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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 passed 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 nurs-

ing 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 useful things — about myself and others — as a result. You see, though my wife and I started the Beacon more than 26 years ago, and have seen it grow into four monthly editions with a staff of 14 over the years, I have continued to be a very hands-on boss. (Let’s be honest, I’ve been a micro-manager.) Necessarily, I had to pull back from many tasks and daily decisions last year when caring for my parents, and in that way I learned that our staff was really quite capable of handling nearly everything without me. I should have known that, or at least attempted to discover it, before. But I didn’t learn it — or rather, I didn’t experience it — until I was forced to step back.

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Since then, I have felt myself freed to de- different possibilities. When Judy and I were raising our two vote more of my time to other efforts — children, they consumed much of our time some business-related, some not. I have, for example, started to focus and energy. Then, one day, we became empty-nesters, and we now more on my health, working consider ourselves lucky if out, changing my diet and losthey have time to Skype once ing some weight. I have starta week and text now and ed to read books outside of then. my usual Beacon-related interWhen my parents were ests. healthy and living independI have attended synagogue ently in Texas, I spoke with daily to recite the customary them weekly by phone. prayers and lead the services in memor y of my parents. When they became ill, their And I have returned after needs could be as consummany years to learning Jew- FROM THE ing as if they were newborns. ish texts and improving my PUBLISHER While we’re employed, fullHebrew, this time with a By Stuart P. Rosenthal or part-time, we are counted daily study partner. on to show up and carry our Who knew there were so many hours in weight at work. When the time comes to a day? consider retiring, our daily routine and Though my parents are sadly not here to sense of purpose can change drastically. see these transformations in my life, I give At each stage of our lives, it’s important them much of the credit for them. And I don’t to step back, consider what has changed, just mean because their illnesses took me and take stock of what that can mean for us. There are things (and people) whose away from work and showed me my busipassing we will mourn. There are ways in ness could survive and thrive without me. I also believe I can see their hands even which our thoughts and behaviors will be now directing me, and in some cases pro- modified. And there are myriad opportunividing me, with these opportunities for per- ties that can take us in new directions, if sonal growth. That’s especially true in the we allow them to. ways in which my spiritual life has changed for the better. At different times in our lives, we bear different responsibilities and encounter

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. Dear Editor: I just read your May issue. The article on the World War II veterans was well done, but I am surprised that there was no coverage of the 8th Air Force. It lost 30,000 men in combat, more than any other group in the Second World War. Our losses were high, but we helped to destroy Germany’s war effort by bombing its submarine pens, aircraft factories, munitions factories, petroleum depots, and even their leading scientists at Peenemunde. I am a World War II veteran who flew 30 combat missions in a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, including two on D-Day. Our group was the only one that flew two missions on June 6, 1944. August C. Bolino Silver Spring, Md. Dear Editor: First, thanks for the “Plane thoughts” column in the May issue, reminding us that “when you are given a glimpse into another human being’s deep sadness or depression. . . you will never forgive yourself

if you don’t at least ask, ‘Would you like to talk about it?’” What a kindly and important thing to point out! Second, an all-purpose thanks for the Beacon itself. It is always such a pleasure to sit down with the newspaper knowing I will both learn and enjoy. I do hope someday the paper will contain more news and articles involving Prince George’s County, where I live. But there must be good reasons why not at this time. Barbara Young Greenbelt, Md. Dear Editor: I also search for better synonyms for “senior” as Charles Kauffman does in his May letter. Unfortunately, any other term would require a legal change in all government laws and documents that specify “senior.” That would be a formidable and expensive challenge! An interesting alternative is “third age,” used in Cuba for older people. I visited the large third-age center Convento de Belen in See LETTERS TO EDITOR, page 61

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

Say you saw it in the Beacon

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 securi-

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Technology & Innovations | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Auto safety technology is cool, but costly 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.

Financial apps

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.

Older drivers less keen As the age of the driver goes up, the

From page 3 ty,” said Holly Perez, a Mint spokeswoman.

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Vision Matters Community Day Learn all you need to know about cataracts and how they impact one’s vision, plus hear from a leading retinologist. This event will includ de exhibits on vision support resources and techno ology. The Brady Lecture will feature

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sive 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 road, is an extra $2,260.

The app also continues to add features, most recently rolling out an option to receive 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.

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

See AUTO SAFETY, page 5

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

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

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9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Exhibitors 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Speaker pr pe esentations 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch & Resource Round-up

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 expen-

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 automatically 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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Montgomery County Libraries presents free computer tutoring with a volunteer tutor on Wednesday, June 10 from 9 a.m. to noon. Need assistance with internet, email or word processing? Make an appointment with a volunteer at the Rockville Memorial Library, located in Rockville Town Square Plaza, 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (240) 777-0140.

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June 10

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The Marilyn J. Praisner Library offers free e-book training every Tuesday from 1 to 3 p.m. for Kindles, Nooks, iPads and other electronic devices. No registration is required. The library is located at 14910 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, Md. For more information, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/library/branches/praisner.html or call (240) 773-9460.

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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

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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

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Auto safety

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Technology & Innovations

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

Technology & Innovations | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Beacon Links 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.

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

Links 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,

The website Dear Photograph features photos of people from around the world holding up a photo taken years earlier at 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

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J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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

Make your computer more accessible 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

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Get medication reminders Did you forget the pill you were supposed 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 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

BEACON BITS

June 15

WINDOWS 8 BASICS George Mason Regional Library presents “Tech 101: Windows 8

Basics” on Monday, June 15 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. This free class introduces students to Windows 8, the newest version of the Microsoft operating system featured on most new PCs. Learn how to create an account, set up your desktop and start screen, what a hot corner and charm bar are, how to download apps and more. Bring a charged laptop or tablet if you have one. For more information or to register, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library or call (703) 256-3800.

Technology & Innovations

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

Asbury Methodist Village 409 Russell Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 301-987-6291

JCA Bronfman Center 12320 parklawn Dr, Rockville, MD 240-395-0916

Get to Know winDows® 8.1 & winDows 10

CoMputeR BAsiCs with winDows® 7

Do MoRe with winDows® 7

Prerequisite: Windows 7 or Vista PC Fee: $85 6 sessions # 322 Mon May 4 — June 15

Limit: 10 9:30-11:30am

Prerequisite: Windows 7 or Vista PC Fee: $85 6 sessions # 323 Tues May 5 — June 9

Limit: 10 9:30-11:30am

Do MoRe with eMAiL

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $50 3 sessions Limit: 10 # 324 Fri May 8 — May 22 9:30-11:30am

expLoRe the weB with GooGLe® seARCh

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent and current access to the Internet Fee: $35 2 sessions Limit: 10 # 325 Fri May 29 — June 5 9:30-11:30am

AssisteD pRACtiCe

FREE sessions: an integral part of your learning. You must be registered for at least one class to participate. no Fee Wed May 6— June 10 9:30-1:30pm

Prerequisite: Windows 7 or Vista PC 6 sessions Limit: 8 Fee: $85 # 326 Thurs May 7 — June 11 10:00-12:00pm Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $85 6 sessions Limit: 8 # 327 Thurs June 25 — July 30 1:00–3:00pm

MiCRosoFt woRD: intRoDuCtion

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $35 2 sessions Limit: 8 # 328 Mon May 4 — May 11 10:30-12:30pm

MiCRosoFt woRD: the next LeveL

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $65 4 sessions Limit: 8 # 329 Mon May 18 — June 15 10:30-12:30pm

MiCRosoFt exCeL: spReADsheet

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent 4 sessions Limit: 8 Fee: $65 # 330 Wed July 8 — July 29 1:00-3:00pm

ipAD® FoR the LeveL CouRse

noviCe this is A BeGinneR

Prerequisite: iPad® needs to be updated to IOS 7 and have an Apple ID and password Bring fully charged iPad® to class Fee: $ 35 2 session Limit: 8 # 331 Wed May 13 — May 20 1:00-3:00pm # 332 Wed July 9 — July 16 10:00-12:00pm

GettinG stARteD with YouR ipAD®

Prerequisite: iPad needs to be updated to IOS 7 and have an Apple ID and password Fee: $65 4 sessions Limit: 8 # 333 Wed June 3 — June 24 10:00-12:00pm

10 AMAzinGLY useFuL weBsites You neveR Knew existeD

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $20 1 session Limit: 8 # 334 Thurs June 4 1:00-3:00pm # 335 Wed July 1 1:00-3:00pm iphone®,

An intRoDuCtion

Prerequisite: Bring fully charged iPhone® to class Fee: $20 1 session Limit: 8 # 336 Fri May 8 10:00-12:00pm # 337 Fri June 5 12:30-2:30pm iphone

photoGRAphY

Prerequisite: Bring fully charged iPhone® to class Fee: $ 20 1 session Limit: 8 # 338 Fri July 10 10:00-12:00pm

Technology & Innovations

JCA SENIORTECH

FACeBooK®, An intRoDuCtion

touRinG the inteRnet

Meet the teChnoLoGY GuRus! BRinG us YouR pRoBLeMs!

10 AMAzinGLY useFuL weBsites You neveR Knew existeD

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent 2 sessions Limit: 8 Fee: $35 # 339 Wed/Thurs June 10 & 11 1:00-3:00pm # 340 Tues/Wed Aug 4 & 5 10:00-12:00pm Fee: $30 per individual session Limit: 8 Experts available to help individuals with hardware/software issues. Topics: iPhone®/iPad®, backing up the cloud, laptop/desktop issues, photos/videos, PowerPoint® and more. # 341 Tues May 5 1:00-3:00pm # 342 Tues May 19 1:00-3:00pm # 343 Tues June 9 1:00-3:00pm # 344 Tues June 23 1:00-3:00pm # 345 Tues July 14 1:00-3:00pm # 346 Tues July 28 1:00-3:00pm # 347 Tues Aug 11 1:00-3:00pm # 348 Tues Aug 25 1:00-3:00pm

 NEW  NEW  NEW  teCh tuesDAY

Presentations on hot topics in technology

shouLD i tRAnsition FRoM the pC to the MAC? Fee: $20 # 349 Tues

1 session May 5

Limit: 25 10:00-12:00pm

usinG the inteRnet to pLAn AnD BooK tRAveL Fee: $20 # 350 Tues

1 session May 19

Limit: 25 10:00-12:00pm

oRGAnizinG, enhAnCinG AnD shARinG YouR DiGitAL photoGRAphs Fee: $20 # 351 Tues

1 session June 9

Limit: 25 10:00-12:00pm

Fee: $20 # 352 Tues

1 session June 23

Limit: 25 10:00-12:00pm

Apps to tRY BeFoRe You BuY – sAve on YouR puRChAses

BuYinG YouR next CoMpYteR oR sMARt DeviCe Fee: $20 # 353 Tues

1 session July 14

Limit: 25 10:00-12:00pm

CuttinG the CABLe – tv without the pRiCe oF CABLe Fee: $20 # 354 Tues

1 session July 28

intRoDuCtion to the CLouD Fee: $20 # 355 Tues

1 session Aug 11

Limit: 25 1:30-3:30pm Limit: 25 1:30-3:30pm

Crystal City

1750 Crystal Dr shops, suite 1638B Crystal square Arcade, Arlington, vA 703-941-1007

CoMputeR BAsiCs: intRoDuCtion to the peRsonAL CoMputeR

Prerequisite: Bring a flash drive to class Fee: $85 6 sessions Limit: 8 # 356 Tues May 5 — June 9 10:00am-12:00pm # 357 Tues July 7 — Aug 11 10:00am-12:00pm

inteRMeDiAte pC, winDows® 7 AnD winDows® 8.1

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $85 6 sessions Limit: 8 # 358 Wed May 6 — June 10 10:00am-12:00pm # 359 Wed July 1 — August 5 10:00am-12:00pm

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent 6 sessions Limit: 10 Fee: $85 # 362 Mon May 4 — June 15 1:00-3:00pm # 363 Mon July 6 — Aug 10 1:00-3:00pm Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $20 1 session Limit: 8 # 364 Tues May 12 1:00pm-3:00pm

GuiDe to BuYinG A peRsonAL CoMputeR (woRKshop) Fee: $20 # 365 Mon

1 session Aug 24

Limit: 8 1:00pm-3:00pm

Fee: $20 # 366 Mon

1 session June 22

Limit: 8 1:00pm-3:00pm

KeepinG YouR CoMputeR seCuRe

oRGAnizinG, eDitinG, AnD shARinG photos woRKshop

Prerequisite: Basic computer and mouse skills 2 sessions Limit: 8 Fee: $35 # 367 Tues Aug 18 – 25 10:00-12:00pm

woRKshop: sMARtphones AnD tABLets usinG the AnDRoiD opeRAtinG sYsteM(os) Prerequisite: None 1 session Fee: $20 # 387 Tues June 23

Limit: 10 1:00-3:00pm

tAMinG woRD (woRKshop)

Prerequisite: Basic computer knowledge and mouse skills Fee: $35 2 sessions Limit: 8 # 368 Tues June 16 – 23 10:00am-12:00pm

unDeRstAnDinG YouR AppLe ipAD® (woRKshop)

Prerequisite: Bring a fully charged Apple iPad® to class Fee: $50 3 sessions Limit: 8 # 292 Wed-Fri May 1 10:00am-12:00pm # 369 Tues-Thurs May 26 – 28 5:00pm-7:00pm # 370 Tues-Thurs July 21 - 23 1:00pm-3:00pm

usinG YouR AppLe iphone® (woRKshop)

Prerequisite: Bring fully charged iPhone® to class Fee: $50 3 sessions Limit: 8 # 371 Mon June 29 1:00pm-3:00pm # 372 Mon Aug 17 1:00pm-3:00pm

usinG sKYpe® to MAKe viDeo oR AuDio CALLs (woRKshop) Fee: $20 # 373 Thurs # 374 Thurs

1 session June 18 Aug 20

Limit: 8 10:00am-12:00pm 10:00am-12:00pm

viewinG Movies on YouR pC (woRKshop)

Prerequisite: Basic computer skills Fee: $20 1 session Limit: 8 # 375 Thurs June 4 1:00pm-3:00pm # 376 Thurs Aug 6 10:00am-12:00pm

winDows® 8.1 DeMonstRAtion

Prerequisite: None, you may bring your own laptop with Windows 8.1 Fee: $20 1 session Limit: 8 # 377 Thurs June 25 10:00am-12:00pm # 378 Thurs Aug 27 10:00am-12:00pm

GRAphiCs expLoReRs

Prerequisite: Knowledge of Photoshop® Elements 10 or 11 software Fee: $35 ongoing sessions Limit: 8 # 379 Mon May 4 - June 29 10:00am-12:00pm # 380 Mon July 6 - Aug 31 10:00am-12:00pm

J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

AssisteD pRACtiCe

no Fee Limit: 8 FREE sessions: An integral part of your learning. You must be registered for at least one class to participate. All practice sessions 10:00am-12:00pm. Spreak with your instructor for details.

Microsoft at Westfield Montgomery Mall 7101 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda, MD 301-765-3080

All classes at Tysons Corner are taught on the Surface Tablet (Microsoft) or you may bring a laptop computer. No Apple® products.

winDows® 8.1 An intRoDuCtion Fee: $35 # 381 Thurs # 382 Thurs

2 sessions Limit: 6 May 14 – May 21 8:30am-10:00am June 18 – June 25 8:30am-10:00am

Do MoRe with eMAiL

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $50 3 sessions Limit: 6 # 383 Wed Aug 10 – Aug 24 8:30-10:00am

Microsoft at Tysons Corner 1961 Chain Bridge Rd, McLean, vA 22102 703-336-8480

All classes at Tysons Corner are taught on the Surface Tablet (Microsoft) or you may bring a laptop computer. No Apple® products.

MiCRosoFt exCeL

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $65 4 sessions Limit: 6 # 384 Wed May 6 — May 27 10:00am-12:00pm

LinKeDin®, An intRoDuCtion

Prerequisite: Solid computer skills and an active email account Fee: $20 1 session Limit: 6 # 385 Wed June 3 10:00am-12:00pm

poweRpoint® pResentAtions

Prerequisite: Computer Basics or equivalent Fee: $35 2 sessions Limit: 6 # 386 Wed June 10 — June 17 10:00am-12:00pm

DISCOUNT! STUDENTS RECEIVE A 10% DISCOUNT WHEN BILL IS PAID IN FULL 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE START OF CLASS. If you have questions, call 240-395-0916 or email seniortech@accessjca.org

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

DESCRIPTION AND GUIDELINES

The Microsoft operating systems vary by site and include Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1. Classes are designed to help older adults, 50+, refresh or advance their computer skills and learn to use social media. Courses are taught by volunteer instructors and coaches. Courses are almost always “hands on” in which students practice skills and techniques on a computer during class.

ATTENTION:

Instruction, course materials and all computer language settings are in

English.

Courses are taught with Windows computers.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

SENIORTECH REGISTRATION FORM

COMPUTER TRAINING

WAYS TO REGISTER: BY MAIL:

Include your payment with form to JCA SeniorTech 12320 Parklawn Drive Rockville, MD 20852-1726

BY PHONE: Call 240-395-0916 with your credit card information

NOTE: ALL REGISTRATIONS ARE DUE 7 DAYS PRIOR TO START OF CLASS. Name: ___________________________________________________________________ Age: ________________ Address: _______________________________________________________________________________________ City: ____________________________________________________ State: _______ Zip Code: _______________ Phone#: ______________________________ Email: __________________________________________________ I have taken a JCA SeniorTech class before: ____ Yes ____ No

Student ID (Office use only)_______________

I WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER FOR: Class #

Class Title

Location

Start Date

Start Time

Fee

10% DISCOUNT WHEN BILL IS PAID IN FULL 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE START OF CLASS

TOTAL $ _________

PAYMENT METHOD:

Each JCA SeniorTech center follows the weather-related decisions of the public school system in its jurisdiction, except that if a school system is closed for even part of the day, the center will be closed the entire day. As soon as possible, your instructor will arrange to make up any classes cancelled due to inclement weather.

REFUND POLICY: students who wish to withdraw and receive a full refund must notify JCA at least 48 hours before the first class begins. A 50% refund is given after the first class.

For more information, call 240-395-0916.

WB6/15

❒ Master Card ❒ VISA ❒ American Express ❒ Check (Make Checks payable to JCA SeniorTech.)

Name as it appears on card: ____________________________________________________________

Card Number

____________ ____________ ____________ _____________

Exp. Date

______ /______

Sec. Code

__________

OFFICE USE ONLY Course #_____ Paid_____ Registration #_______ Date________

Course #_____ Paid_____ Registration #_______ Date________

NOTICE: WITHIN THE LIMITS OF ITS RESOURCES, JCA SERVES PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS AND FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. INDEED, WE TRY TO BE AS INCLUSIVE AS POSSIBLE IN ALL THAT WE DO. SOMETIMES, HOWEVER, JCA MAY DENY A PERSON OR GROUP THE OPTION TO ENROLL OR TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL OR PARTICULAR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO DO SO, AT OUR SOLE DISCRETION, SHOULD WE BELIEVE THAT OUR ACTION IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR PROGRAM OR FOR ANY OTHER REASON NOT PRECLUDED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

Each contribution or remittance of payment by check is considered authorization to convert that particular check into an electronic fund transfer. If your check is unable to be converted, it may be processed as a Check Replacement Document drawn against your account. When we use information from your check to make an electronic fund transfer, funds may be withdrawn from your account as soon as the same day you make your payment, and you will not receive your check back from your financial institution. You have the right to opt out of Electronic Conversion. If you choose to exercise this right, write the words ‘Opt Out’ in the memo field of your check and JCA will process it as a draft against your account.

✃

SeniorTech

Technology & Innovations

JCA SENIORTECH

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Health Fitness &

LETHAL LISTERIA This food-borne illness mostly affects older adults and those with low immunity NEED AN ADVOCATE? Patient advocates review medical bills and negotiate lower costs CANNED GOOD Canned fruits and veggies can be at least as nutritious as fresh ones TAKE HEART A new study finds that those with mild chest pain do not need CT scans

New blood test may diagnose depression By Marla Paul The first blood test to diagnose major depression in adults has been developed by scientists at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. — a breakthrough approach that provides the first objective, scientific diagnosis for depression. The test identifies depression by measuring the levels of nine RNA blood markers. RNA molecules are the messengers that interpret the DNA genetic code and carry out its instructions. The blood test also predicts who will benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy based on some of the markers. This could provide the opportunity for more effective, individualized therapy for people with depression. In addition, the test showed the biological effects of cognitive behavioral therapy — the first measurable, blood-based evidence of that therapy’s success. The levels of markers changed in patients who had

the therapy for 18 weeks and were no longer depressed. “This clearly indicates that you can have a blood-based laboratory test for depression, providing a scientific diagnosis in the same way someone is diagnosed with high blood pressure or high cholesterol,” said Eva Redei, who developed the test and is a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. “This test brings mental health diagnosis into the 21st century and offers the first personalized medicine approach to people suffering from depression,” she said. Redei is co-lead author of the study, published in Translational Psychiatry. Redei previously developed a blood test that diagnosed depression in adolescents. Most of the markers she identified in the adult depression panel are different from those in depressed adolescents.

Long search for simple lab test The search for a biological diagnostic test for major depression has been ongoing for decades. The current method of diagnosing depression is subjective and based on non-specific symptoms such as poor mood, fatigue and change in appetite — all of which can apply to a large number of mental or physical problems. A diagnosis also relies on the patient’s ability to report his symptoms and the physician’s ability to interpret them. But depressed patients frequently underreport or inadequately describe their symptoms. “Mental health has been where medicine was 100 years ago, when physicians diagnosed illnesses or disorders based on symptoms,” said co-lead author David Mohr, Ph.D., a professor of Preventive Medicine and director of the Center for Behavioral Intervention Technologies at Feinberg. “This study brings us much closer to

having laboratory tests that can be used in diagnosis and treatment selection.” The new blood test will allow physicians for the first time to use lab tests to determine what treatments will be most useful for individual patients. “Currently, we know drug therapy is effective, but not for everybody, and psychotherapy is effective, but not for everybody,” Mohr said. “We know combined therapies are more effective than either alone, but maybe by combining therapies we’re using a scattershot approach. Having a blood test would allow us to better target treatment to individuals.” Major depressive disorder affects 6.7 percent of the U.S. adult population in a year, a number that is rising. There is a two-to 40- month delay in diagnosis, and the longer the delay, the more difficult it is See DEPRESSION TEST, page 11

Medicare drug spending raises questions By Lauran Neergaard The most-used medicines in Medicare’s prescription drug program are generics, but the program spends the most on brandname drugs, led by the heartburn treatment Nexium, according to an unprecedented recent release of government data. That contrast sheds light on prescribing practices and how they might be used to save money, specialists say. More than a million healthcare providers prescribed $103 billion worth of medications under the popular Part D drug benefit for seniors in 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said. Of more than 3,000 drugs prescribed that year, AstraZeneca’s Nexium alone accounted for $2.5 billion of the spending, prescribed to nearly 1.5 million Medicare beneficiaries. GlaxoSmithKline’s asthma drug Advair Diskus accounted for $2.3 billion of the Part D program, followed by AstraZeneca’s cholesterol blockbuster Crestor at $2.2 billion. Contrast that with the 10 most-prescribed drugs for Part D beneficiaries that year: generics given to many times more patients but costing far less — from $145 million to $911 million for each. Six of the most-prescribed drugs were related to

heart disease risks such as blood pressure and cholesterol.

Generics go farther for less Specialists highlight the contrast as an example of why the data, released publicly for the first time, matter. Consider: the sixth-most prescribed Part D drug in 2013 was a close cousin of Nexium, a heartburn drug called omeprazole, given to nearly 6.4 million beneficiaries, noted Dr. Michael Steinman, a geriatrician and professor at the University of California, San Francisco. That’s more than four times as many patients as received Nexium, yet total spending on omeprazole was just $643 million. Omeprazole is a generic version of a Nexium precursor, not Nexium itself. Still, “from a practical perspective, there is no substantive advantage to giving someone Nexium over omeprazole,” said Steinman, who researches prescribing for older adults. “The main difference between them is cost — marketing, frankly.” He called the database “a tremendous opportunity for identifying how doctors are prescribing medications in the U.S. and finding places where we can be doing better.” When the government agency mapped

generic use, it found doctors in the West and Midwest prescribed cheaper generics for seniors far more than physicians in the rest of the country. Generic prescribing was lowest in parts of the South and along the East Coast. Deputy Administrator Sean Cavanaugh said the government was releasing the data for transparency. While Medicare officials have long analyzed such data in setting policy, “there are many, many smart minds in this country” that might uncover new insights from it, he said.

Data release is enlightening The government has been attempting to steer providers toward higher-quality, more cost-effective medicine in part by releasing data on payments to healthcare providers. Last year, Medicare opened its huge claims database, showing program payments to more than 825,000 providers for 2012, as well as data detailing drug industry payments to physicians, such as research grants and travel junkets. The Part D database identifies doctors by name, allowing searches of what they prescribe. But the Medicare agency cautioned against drawing too many conclusions from such individual data, noting that

sometimes a large practice’s prescriptions are recorded under one partner’s name. The American Medical Association echoed those cautions. “We are also troubled by the lack of context provided with the data that could help explain physician prescribing practices and pharmacy filling practices before conclusions are drawn,” AMA President Dr. Robert M. Wah said in a statement. But researchers will be interested in checking how often doctors in particular areas prescribe drugs known to be risky for seniors, said Dr. Adriane Fugh-Berman of Georgetown University, a critic of doctor-drug industry relationships. For example, the antipsychotic Abilify accounted for $2.1 billion in Part D spending in 2013, an amount Fugh-Berman found high. Antipsychotics are approved to treat such disorders as schizophrenia. But specialists repeatedly warn they’re used too often to calm seniors with dementia — despite Food and Drug Administration warnings that they can increase those patients’ risk of death. About 36 million people, or about twothirds of Medicare beneficiaries, are enrolled in the Part D program, which is delivered through private insurance plans. — AP

Depression test From page 10 to treat depression. An estimated 12.5 percent of patients in primary care have major depression, but only about half of those cases are diagnosed. A biologically based test has the potential to provide a more timely and accurate diagnosis.

How the study worked The study included 32 patients, ages 21 to 79, who’d been independently diagnosed as depressed in a clinical interview, and 32 nondepressed controls in the same age range. Some of the patients had been on long-term antidepressants but were still depressed. The patients, from Northwestern general internal medicine clinics, also were participating in a previously reported study comparing the effectiveness of face-to-face and telephone-administered cognitive behavioral therapy. At baseline before the therapy, scientists found nine RNA blood markers with levels significantly different in the depressed patients from those of controls. These markers were able to diagnose depression. After 18 weeks of therapy (face-to-face and telephone), the changed levels of certain markers could differentiate patients who had responded positively and were no longer depressed (based on a clinical interview and patients’ self-reported symptoms) from patients who remained depressed.

This is the first biological indicator of the success of cognitive behavioral therapy, the study authors said. In addition, the blood test predicts who will benefit from the cognitive behavioral therapy based on a distinct pattern or fingerprint of the levels of the nine marker levels at baseline in patients who recover from depression as a result of the therapy. The blood levels of these markers did not show this pattern in the patients who did not improve with the therapy “This distinction could be used in the future to predict who would respond to the therapy,” Redei said.

Clues to recurrence The blood concentration of three of the nine RNA markers remained different in depressed patients and non-depressed controls, even if the depressed patients achieved remission from depression after the therapy. This appears to indicate a vulnerability to depression. “These three markers move us towards the ultimate goal of identifying predisposition to depression, even in the absence of a current depressive episode,” said Redei, also the David Lawrence Stein Research Professor of Psychiatric Diseases Affecting Children and Adolescents. “Being aware of people who are more susceptible to recurring depression allows us to monitor them more closely,” Mohr noted. “They can consider a maintenance dose of

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

antidepressants or continued psychotherapy to diminish the severity of a future episode or prolong the intervals between episodes.” Next, Redei plans to test the results in a larger population. She also wants to see if the test can differentiate between major depression and bipolar depression. Marla Paul works at the Northwestern

University Feinberg School of Medicine. From WhatDoctorsKnow, 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.

BEACON BITS

June 23

VISION MATTERS COMMUNITY DAY

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington and the Prevention of Blindness Society present NIH Update: Vision Matters Community Day 2015 on Tuesday, June 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Birch and Sycamore Rooms at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, 9901 Medical Center, Rockville, Md. This event includes exhibits on vision support resources and technology. Keynote speakers are Dr. Rachel Bishop of the National Eye Institute/NIH Cataract Consulting Service and Dr. Steven Pappas, Jr., M.D., an Ophthalmologist/Retina Specialist. There will be a light lunch. Admission is free, but registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Debbie Sokobin at (301) 348-3760 or dsokobin@jccgw.org.

• House Call Service • Private Pay Service • Licensed in Maryland & D.C.

Dr. Allen J. Moien Call to set up your appointment today

301-441-8632 If no answer, please leave a message.

NOW IS THE TIME!

Find the perfect floor plan—and get it while you can! There’s never been a better time to enjoy your retirement in a beautiful, new home at an Erickson Living® community. Our predictable expenses and exciting lifestyle make living in one of our communities a smart decision for you and your loved ones.

Call 1-800-789-2013 for a FREE brochure and schedule your visit today.

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Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Food-borne listeria illnesses can be deadly By Mary Clare Jalonick Large food recalls have forced consumers to throw away hummus and ice cream that may be contaminated with the same potentially deadly bacteria — listeria. In April, tainted Blue Bell ice cream products were linked to eight listeria illnesses in Kansas and Texas. Three of those who contracted the illness died. Blue Bell has recalled more than two dozen of its products. Sabra Dipping Co. recently announced a recall of 30,000 cases of its Classic Hum-

55+ Inderjeet Jumani REALTOR® Senior Real Estate Specialist 703.472.8804 ijumani@LNF.com www.IJumani.com

mus due to possible listeria contamination, though no illnesses have been linked to that recall. Here’s a look at the listeria bacteria, and answers to questions that consumers may have: What is listeria? Listeria is a hardy bacteria found in soil and water that can be carried by animals. It is often found in processed meats because it can contaminate a processing facility and stay there for a long period of time,

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and it can grow in the cold temperature of a refrigerator. It is also commonly found in unpasteurized cheeses and unpasteurized milk, and it is sometimes found in other foods as well. For example, listeria in cantaloupes was linked to 30 deaths in a 2011 outbreak. What are the symptoms? When a person contracts the disease, it can cause fever, muscle aches, gastrointestinal symptoms and even death. Am I at risk? Listeria generally affects older adults, people with compromised immune systems and pregnant women. It can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature labor, and serious illness or death in newborn babies. Healthy, younger adults and most children can usually consume listeria with no ill effects or mild illness. What was recalled? Blue Bell ice cream recalled several products made on production lines in Texas and Oklahoma after the ice cream was linked to eight illnesses, including three deaths, in Texas and Kansas. The nationwide Sabra hummus recall came after a product sample collected by Michigan agriculture officials tested positive for listeria; there are no known illnesses related to that recall. A Sabra spokeswoman said the hummus was manufac-

tured at its plant in Richmond, Va. How did this happen? State and federal inspectors are still investigating the ice cream outbreak and have not released a cause. In past outbreaks, contamination has often been the result of dirty equipment or unsanitary conditions in a plant. I think I may have one of these products in my home. What do I do? The government’s motto is “when in doubt, throw it out.” If you throw something away that you think might be tainted, place it in a closed plastic bag in a sealed trash can to prevent animals or other people from eating it. The ice cream can have a shelf life of up to two years. How can I protect against listeria? In the case of the ice cream and hummus recalls, there is nothing you can do to prevent it — just throw away the food if you learn it has been recalled. Surfaces that come into contact with food should always been cleaned with hot, soapy water. With fruit, scrubbing is never a bad idea, but it may not rid produce of all contaminants. In the case of the cantaloupe, the listeria likely hid on the fruit’s thick, rough skin. Health officials think people See LISTERIA, page 14

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J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Patient advocates help trim medical costs By Matthew Perrone In today’s healthcare system, consumers are increasingly on their own when complex — and often costly — medical problems arise: A medical emergency leaves you with tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid hospital bills. Your health insurance company rejects coverage for an important medical test. An unexpected diagnosis requires you to find three new medical specialists. Primary care doctors once helped patients manage such situations, but many physicians now have 15 minutes or less for each appointment. It’s in this high-pressure environment that a new industry of patient advocates — sometimes called patient navigators — has emerged, offering to help guide patients

through knotty health situations. Driven by an increasing number of baby boomers dealing with chronic medical problems, the field has mainly taken shape in the last five to 10 years, according to Professor Theresa Cronan of San Diego State University. “People with chronic conditions use the healthcare system more. But the healthcare system has become so complex that it’s really hard for people to navigate,” said Cronan, who has studied the health advocacy industry. Here are some questions and answers about these businesses and the services they offer: What do patient advocates do? Patient advocates are hired to help solve

healthcare problems or help patients get the best care possible. Advocates can work for companies with hundreds of employees or operate as stand-alone consultants for a handful of clients. Some of the most common tasks health advocates work on include: • Negotiating discounts and payment plans for large medical bills; • Managing and filing insurance paperwork, especially appeals where companies deny coverage for expensive procedures or equipment; • Helping patients find and schedule appointments with medical experts who specialize in rare or hard-to-treat diseases. How can these businesses potentially save me money? Many patient advocates highlight their ability to help reduce medical bills or cut through insurance red tape. Health advocates can review patient records to spot billing errors that drive up costs. They can also coordinate care between a number of physicians, usually for patients with complex conditions, avoiding repeat billings and insurance payments. In other cases, advocates will help patients find the best price for an expensive test or procedures. Prices for common tests, such as medical scans, can vary by hundreds or thousands of dollars, even among

hospitals that are only a few miles apart, as demonstrated by payment records released by the government’s Medicare program. With many patients in high-deductible insurance plans that require them to pay substantial out of pocket costs before coverage kicks in, the difference between a $300 MRI scan or a $1,300 MRI scan can be significant. How much do these services cost? Patient advocates typically aren’t covered by insurance, so customers should expect to pay out of pocket. Many charge an hourly rate, ranging from $50 to $250 depending on the nature of the work, their location and background. Advocates charging the highest fees usually have a medical degree. Other services may use alternative fee structures. For instance, the medical bill saver service offered by Health Advocate of Plymouth Meeting, Pa., negotiates uncovered medical or dental bills of $400 or more at no upfront cost to the customer. Instead, the company takes a 25 percent cut of the recouped savings. So if the company negotiated a $10,000 medical bill down to $5,000 the company would earn a $1,250 fee. Health Advocate sells access to its bill saver service and other offerings through an annual mem-

Listeria

Why is listeria so deadly? Listeria is less well-known than other pathogens, like salmonella and E. coli, which cause many more illnesses in tainted food every year. But one in five people who get sick from listeria can die. The people who get sick from listeria are often already weaker and more vulnerable to disease. — AP

From page 12 may have been sickened when people cut into their cantaloupes, bringing listeria on the outside of the fruit to the inside. The government says the listeria bacteria can be killed by heating food to 165 degrees Fahrenheit or until it is steaming hot just before serving it.

See ADVOCATES, page 15

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

Extra oxygen may boost tumor-fighters By Lauran Neergaard A provocative study in mice suggests something as simple as breathing in extra oxygen might give immune cells a boost in attacking cancer. The immune system often can spot and destroy abnormal cells before they grow into cancer. But when tumors manage to take root, they put up defenses to block new immune attacks. The study takes aim at one of those shields. With the extra oxygen, “you remove the brake pedal” that cancer can put on tumorfighting immune cells, said Michail Sitkovsky, director of the New England Inflammation and Tissue Protection Institute at Northeastern University, who led the work.

A simple, low-cost treatment Here’s what happens: Tumors can grow so rapidly that they outpace their blood supply, creating a low-oxygen environment.

Advocates From page 14 bership fee of $25.95. About 10,000 companies also offer Health Advocate’s services as a benefit to their employees. What qualifications do patient advocates need to have? Currently there are no professional credentials required to be a patient advocate, so be careful about choosing a service. Several universities offer specialized courses and degrees in patient advocacy, including Sarah Lawrence College, the University of Miami and the University of Wisconsin. Such programs often combine training in medicine, health policy, economics and law. Other health advocates have backgrounds in nursing, social work, medicine and the insurance industry.

The lack of oxygen in turn spurs cancer cells to produce a molecule called adenosine, which essentially puts nearby tumor fighters called T cells and natural killer cells to sleep, explained pharmacologist Edwin Jackson of the University of Pittsburgh, who co-authored the study. Lots of research is under way to develop drugs that could block the adenosine effect. But Sitkovsky’s team wondered if just getting more oxygen to an oxygen-starved tumor could strip away that defense. So they put mice with different kinds of lung tumors inside chambers that mimic what’s called supplemental oxygen therapy. Air is about 21 percent oxygen, but hospitals can give patients concentrations of 40 percent to 60 percent oxygen through face masks to treat various disorders. The extra oxygen changed the tumor’s environment so that immune cells could get inside and do their jobs, the reBefore hiring a health advocate be sure to ask for references and information on training and experience. Customers should also receive a written contract specifying the services to be delivered and the fees. How can I find a patient advocate? Academic programs like University of Wisconsin’s Center for Patient Partnerships can provide contact information for graduates in the field. There are also several professional groups that offer online search tools for finding patient advocates, including: • National Association of Healthcare Advocacy, which requires members to sign a code of ethics: www.nahac.com • Alliance of Professional Health Advocates, which requires participants to have professional liability insurance: www.advoconnection.com/

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Combination therapy best Tumors shrank more in the high-oxygen group, especially when the researchers combined the oxygen with injections of extra tumor-fighting T cells, what’s called immunotherapy. Extra oxygen had no effect in mice genetically engineered to lack those immune cells. Immunotherapy is a hot field in cancer research, as scientists try to figure out how to spur the body’s own ability to fight tumors. The study is exciting, said immunologist Susanna Greer of the American Cancer Society, who wasn’t involved with the

research and cautioned that it must be tested in people. “If this works, there is the potential that what they’re doing could very easily synergize with other cancer immunotherapies that we know work,” she said. “The beauty is that oxygen per se is so w e l l - t o l e r a t e d , ” a d d e d D r. H o l g e r Eltzschig, an anesthesiologist at the University of Colorado in Denver, who studies low-oxygen effects and also wasn’t involved in this study. He said the data was compelling enough to start testing the approach by adding supplemental oxygen to certain cancer therapies. — AP

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Canned foods at least as nutritious as fresh By Kathleen Zelman, R.D Canned foods — fruits, vegetables and beans — are the ultimate convenience foods — nutritious, available year-round, and eco-

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availability all year long to prevent seasonal starvation. The canning process locks in nutrients when food is at its ultimate freshness. As a result, canned foods contain the same important nutrients as — and sometimes even more than — fresh foods, and they can help you fit more fruits, vegetables and seafood into your diet, at a lower cost. Despite these facts, many consumers desire fresh over canned foods, although it doesn’t always make nutritional — or seasonal — sense. “Fresh produce can lose lots of nutrients, especially during the winter when it travels hundreds or thousands of miles to get to your grocer, where it then sits on the shelf until you buy it,” said Elizabeth Ward, R.D., the author of My Plate for Moms. “Fresh local produce is impossible to come by in many parts of the country during winter, so relying on canned foods is a practical solution to have nutritious products year-round,” she said. Some fresh vegetables, such as spinach and green beans, lose up to 75 percent of their vitamin C within seven days of harvest. Yet canned fruits and vegetables are packed at peak ripeness to deliver the same consistent taste year round. Further, canned foods are environmentally friendly because the metal used in containers is the most recycled material in the U.S.

Low-cost nutrition A 2012 study published in the Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences showed that canned fruits and vegetables provide important essential nutrients, like vitamin C, often at a lower cost per nutrient than fresh, frozen or dried forms. And a study that analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that including canned fruits and vegetables in children’s diets improved overall diet quality. “Children who ate canned fruits and vegetables ate 22 percent more vegetables, 14 percent more fruit, and had better diet quality and increased nutrient intake,” said study co-author Marjorie Freedman. Some nutrients are even higher in canned foods. Lycopene, the antioxidant in

tomatoes, increases in bioavailability when heated, making it more potent in canned tomatoes than in fresh tomatoes. Canned pumpkin has less water than fresh, thereby increasing the concentration of vitamin A. Concerned about salt or sugar? While canned foods can be high in sodium, the leading sources of sodium in the American diet are not canned foods (nor is canned fruit among the top sources of added sugar), according to USDA data. You can avoid extra sodium and sugar in canned foods by choosing those labeled “no-salt” and “no-sugar added.” Rinsing also can help reduce salt and sugar significantly. Canned foods are the perfect addition to your favorite casseroles, soups, and salads. Not only do they help provide out-of-season fruits and vegetable for pennies on the dollar, but using canned foods saves preparation time by skipping the cleaning, chopping and cooking. Ward believes using canned vegetables — especially vegetables that take time to prepare, such as artichokes — can simplify cooking. Nothing lasts forever, even canned foods in your pantry; most are good for about one year. Check the “best by” date.

A possible concern Bisphenol A (BPA) is a structural component used to coat the interior of food cans, to prevent contamination and safeguard the food from microbes. While there have been many concerns regarding the safety of BPA, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration currently states that BPA is safe at current levels used in food containers and packaging; however, there is an ongoing safety review of scientific evidence. In the meantime, the FDA is conducting in-depth studies to clarify uncertainties about BPA. If you’re concerned, you can choose aseptic pouches and glass jars, which do not contain BPA. Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC. 800-829-5384. www.EnvironmentalNutrition.com. © 2015 Belvoir Media Group Distributed By Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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June 2015

UPCOMING SEMINARS & EVENTS at Brooke Grove retirement village

As experts in senior care and memory support, Brooke Grove Retirement Village is pleased to offer seminars and events that promote physical, spiritual and mental well-being. Alll sseminars and eevents Rehabilitation m n will be held at Brooke Grove ve Reh bi at n and Nursing Center, located at 18131 Sladee S School Road on the Brooke Village oo Grove Retirement V lla Campus. Please register wi with Toni Davis at 3 301-388-7209 or tdavis@bgf.org. g. Assisted Living open House June 9, 10 a.m.-12 noon Come explore our residential-style homes, gardens and secure walking paths. Discover our innovative approach and programss including i lu ng those designed to stimulate memory. Meet our em staff, trained in assisting those o with Alzheimer’s and memory loss. Enjoy oy our 220-acre campus and our live-in pets. pet Register by June 7. Alzheimer’s support group June 17, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association, this free group provides support, understanding and helpful information for caregivers and those touched by this disease. Confidentiality assured.

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J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Strategies can help manage dry mouth By Dr. Alan Carr Dear Mayo Clinic: Is there anything that can be done for dry mouth? I take a medication that lists this as one of the side effects, and I am having a hard time getting used to it. Before I consider changing medications, I’d like to know if dry mouth can be treated. Answer: Treatment is available for dry mouth. Before you switch to a different medication, there are a number of strategies you can try to reduce this bothersome condition. Because dry mouth puts you at higher risk for dental decay, along with treating your symptoms it’s important that you limit the amount of sugar in your diet and

take steps to maintain your oral health. The saliva in your mouth is made in the salivary glands. Those glands are located in front of your ears and near your jaw. Saliva serves a variety of useful purposes. It helps prevent tooth decay by neutralizing acids that bacteria make. It limits bacterial growth in your mouth. Saliva washes away food particles, and enzymes within saliva help with digestion. Saliva also enhances your ability to taste and makes it easier to swallow.

Can be caused by medications It is common for medications to trigger dry mouth — a condition sometimes called xerostomia. Dry mouth can be a side effect of hundreds of medications, in-

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cluding many over-the-counter drugs. The condition tends to be associated with drugs used to treat depression, nerve pain and anxiety. Dry mouth also is common with the use of some antihistamines, decongestants, muscle relaxants and pain medications. The severity of dry mouth due to medication varies significantly from one person to another. The main effect is usually a lack of lubrication to your tongue and cheeks that can make it hard to speak, chew or swallow. Other symptoms include dryness in your throat, saliva that seems thick and stringy, bad breath, a changed sense of taste, problems wearing dentures or gum irritation. Treating dry mouth usually involves both increasing saliva production and managing the effects of dryness on your daily activities.

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If gum is not enough, you may want to talk with your doctor about medications to increase saliva production. Prescription medications such as pilocarpine or cevimeline often are effective, but some people need to take them for up to eight weeks before they start to get relief. You can try managing dry mouth using a number of techniques to lessen the condition’s effect. For example, eating cool or cold foods that have a high liquid content — such as yogurt, cottage cheese, ice cream or popsicles — can make chewing and swallowing easier. Adding extra liquid to solid foods or blending your foods also can help. Drink water or other sugar-free liquids or suck on ice chips throughout the day to help moisten your mouth. Avoid beverages that contain alcohol or caffeine, as both can increase dry mouth and cause irritation. Drink plenty of liquids with your meals to make eating solid foods easier. Over-the-counter products are available that work as saliva substitutes. These products come in a spray that you squirt into your mouth. Although they can effectively add moisture to your mouth, the results usually do not last long. They tend to See DRY MOUTH, page 19

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

Keep fresh, free water with you all day By Gretel H. Schueller Recently, Concord, Mass., became the first U.S. town to ban the sale of singleserving plastic water bottles. There are plenty of reasons why more than 28 universities and other communities have enacted similar bans. By switching to a tap-filled reusable bottle, you’ll drink water just as pure, help reduce the global glut of plastic bottles, and save money: Americans spent $10.6 billion on bottled water in 2009 — paying up to 1,000 times the cost of tap water, according to Food and Water Watch. A test of more than 1,000 bottles of water commissioned by the Natural Resources Defense Council concluded that bottled water is not cleaner or safer than

Dry mouth From page 18 be most helpful when used to relieve symptoms for a short period of time, such as right before giving a presentation or before eating a meal. If dry mouth persists despite these measures and becomes a daily nuisance, then consider talking with your doctor about finding a suitable alternative to the medication you’re taking that’s causing

regular tap water. In fact, federal regulation of tap water is more stringent than that of bottled water. The review also noted that at least 25 percent of bottled water is just tap water. Still worried about drinking from the tap? Install a faucet filter.

Important to stay hydrated According to the Institute of Medicine, women should get about 91 ounces of water each day and men about 125 ounces. Most of your total water intake should come from beverages, but we do get about 20 percent from food. “Hydration stations” are beginning to appear in public spaces. These modernday water fountains are designed for refill-

able water bottles. The “TapIt” phone app offers a network of eateries across the country where you can fill up on water for free. Tired of plain water? Use a squirt of fresh lemon or lime juice to naturally freshen your water. Or try the Aqua Zinger, a stainless-steel water bottle with a built-in grinder cup that lets you infuse water with produce and herbs. Our favorite combo: watermelon and basil.

Clean your bottle carefully Water bottles provide an ideal home for mold and bacteria, which thrive in moist environments. Cracks and scratches in the plastic give bacteria places to grow. So

clean them carefully. Some bottles are dishwasher-safe. Use a bottlebrush to scrub hard-to-reach spots. Fizzy cleaning tablets, such as Bottle Bright by Clean Ethics, can naturally clean those recesses. Air-dry both the cap and bottle completely to prevent bacterial growth. Glass water bottles are the easiest to clean and most recyclable. Though glass is also the most fragile, most versions come with a protective silicone sleeve, Stainless steel is lightweight and dishwasher-safe, but can dent if dropped. Aluminum bottles look like stainless steel but See WATER BOTTLES, page 21

your dry mouth. — Alan Carr, D.M.D., Dental Specialties, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Mayo Clinic Q & A is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. E-mail a question to MayoClinicQ&A@mayo.edu. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.org. © 2015 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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Enjoy the health benefits of citrus fruit Oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just refreshing â&#x20AC;&#x201D; theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also supernutritious. One medium orange packs more than 100 percent of the recommended daily dose for vitamin C. Some research suggests organic citrus packs up to 17 percent more vitamin C than conventional fruit. Here are more healthy reasons to have a serving of citrus every day. Eating citrus can: 1. Calm a cold. Loading up on citrus and vitamin C wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t prevent colds, but high doses of C (400 to 500 mg.) may shorten the duration and lessen the symptoms. 2. Protect your heart. Oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes are rich sources of flavonoids. The predominant

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Water bottles From page 19 have a big difference: Aluminum reacts with acidic liquids, so theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re lined with an enamel or epoxy layer that can wear down. Not dishwasher-safe, some linings contain as much BPA as their plastic predecessors, according to a University of Cincinnati College of Medicine study. You can get a good gauge of whether the lining will leach BPA by looking at the color: a golden orange coating will; a white coat-

ing will not. (The new linings by Sigg do not.) Plastic bottles are typically inexpensive. And since 2010, most are BPA-free. (Keep in mind, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;BPA-freeâ&#x20AC;? label is not regulated.) They are not safe for hot liquids or microwaves, and health concerns with other leachable toxins in plastics still exist. (Independent studies indicate â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tritanâ&#x20AC;? plastic bottles by Nalgene donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t leach detectable BPA.) ÂŠ 2015 Eating Well, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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Elder abuse From page 1 them names, using slurs, or making threats, such as, ‘If you don’t do this, I’m not going to care for you ‘ It happens frequently, and I don’t think it’s recognized as [abuse].” On the other hand, some troubling situations don’t present clear cases of intentional abuse. For example, sometimes older people who care for a spouse suffering from dementia may treat him or her roughly, misinterpreting the effects of the disease as willful obstinacy. “Caregiving can be intense,” said Bar-

bara Antley, director of Fairfax County’s Division of Adult and Aging Services. “It can mean 24-hour supervision of someone with dementia who is at risk of falling or leaving home and getting lost. “Many caregivers may have...their own physical and mental health issues. Many are not able to manage complicated medication regimes, heavy physical care, and the emotional strain involved in caring for a frail older adult. So, not surprisingly, caregivers can become overwhelmed.” Another issue raised by encroaching dementia is how to determine what is abuse when older adults give their consent to

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something, said Bryan Roslund, a Montgomery County assistant state’s attorney and co-chief of the county’s Crimes Against Seniors and Vulnerable Adults Unit, which was formed last year. In a case Roslund is investigating, a 98year-old man’s credit card bills rose significantly — to an average of $5,000 a month. Was the home aide charging items that weren’t for the man she provided care for? If so, did the man give his OK? “In this case, the ‘victim’ has the right to make decisions, even dumb decisions, as long as they are rational decisions,” Roslund said. “What we’re investigating is the man’s capacity and if there was any coercion, force or threat by the caregiver to get access to credit card information.”

Still underreported, but rising It’s believed that a huge percentage of abuse goes unreported. There are many reasons for this: Victims and their families may be too afraid of the abuser to say anything. Some, like many victims of domestic abuse, are adept at hiding the fact that anything is amiss, so even close relatives remain in the dark. Shame and embarrassment are also factors, Roslund said. “In many cultures, it’s expected that as parents get older, their children will care for them. That worked fine if you were in, say, a small town in China. But here the children might not be so interested in caring for mom and dad,” he said. “The senior becomes embarrassed, See ELDER ABUSE, page 23

How to report elder abuse To make an elder abuse report, call the Adult Protective Services department in the jurisdiction in which the older adult resides: • Arlington County, (703) 228-1700 • City of Alexandria, (703) 746-5778 • Fairfax County, (703) 324-7450 • Loudoun County, (703) 777-0353 • Montgomery County, (240) 777-3000 • Prince George’s County, (301) 9092228

• Washington, D.C., (202) 541-3950

Additional resources: • National Center on Elder Abuse, U.S. Administration on Aging, www.ncea.aoa.gov • ElderSAFE Helpline, (301) 8165099, www.eldersafe.org • Kuehner Place for Abused and Neglected Elderly, (202) 797-8806, ext. 1311, http://some.org/senior-services

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Elder abuse From page 22 thinking, ‘My child is not doing what a child is supposed to do. But how do I bring further insult to the family by reporting this as a crime? I can’t bring to light my own failure that I didn’t raise my child better.’” Still, reporting of all kinds of elder abuse is on the rise, for several reasons. A recent federal law requires financial institutions to report suspected abuse. There is a slowly growing awareness of elder abuse. And the population of older adults is climbing. In Montgomery County, reports to Adult Protective Services grew from 571 in 2011 to 776 in 2014. Arlington County investigated 248 cases in 2013 and 269 last year. In Fairfax County, investigations of suspected abuse, neglect, and exploitation involving those 60 and over (as well as incapacitated adults from ages 18 through 59) rose from 993 in 2013 to 1,031 last year. Some of these calls are for cases of self-neglect, a category not usually viewed as part of the realm of elder abuse. (See box at end of story for a list of local

Adult Protective Service numbers to call to report abuse.) Fortunately, along with the growing number of reported cases, resources and programs are also increasing. In January, a D.C. program called the District’s Collaborative Training and Response for Older Victims (DC TROV for short) began training police detectives on how to recognize and investigate elder abuse cases. The team includes trainers from Adult Protective Services, AARP’s Legal Counsel for the Elderly and other groups. They plan to train all 350 detectives by July. But some efforts have been around for decades. The Kuehner Place for Abused Elderly, a program of So Others May Eat (SOME) once called Dwelling Place, has offered shelter for 30 years. The home in Southeast Washington has six bedrooms open to those 60 or over. The program also coordinates social and health services to assist them. Unlike ElderSAFE, Kuehner Place also offers a temporary place for homeless older adults to stay. “Unfortunately, we have a waiting list,” said John Gleason, senior director of sen-

ior services at SOME. “When you stop to think about it, when you have a waiting list to get into a program for abused and neglected elderly, that in itself tells you something about the tremendous unmet need.”

Be on the lookout for abuse Raising awareness of abuse is a vital step in curbing it, said Debbie Feinstein, a Montgomery County state’s attorney who works with Roslund in the Crimes Against Seniors and Vulnerable Adults Unit. “People need to look out for each other,” she said. “[Take note] if someone is withdrawing from the community where they may have always done a lunch once a month, or may have always joined in a mahjong game, and suddenly they’re not as participatory. Or they seem to be more isolated, or have unexplained injuries,” she said.

“What we’re saying is, ask the questions. Don’t shy away from it. The idea is just to normalize this conversation. If we’re all on the lookout for it, it’s going to decline.” While the job can be tough, ElderSAFE’s Kasdin said she feels a sense of optimism that more abuse victims can be helped. “Part of what we hope we do here is put measures in place to build back up their sense of hopefulness that they deserve to not be abused, and there are people who can help them live a safe and healthy life,” Kasdin said. “People say to me all the time, ‘How do you work in these fields — domestic violence, elder abuse? Aren’t you depressed?’ “And I say that I feel like every day I’m helping someone. When you feel you help someone in little ways, and sometimes big ways, that absolutely is inspiring.”

Elder abuse awareness events June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. This year’s theme focuses on financial abuse. Locally, there are two events: • “Senior Safety: Combating Financial Exploitation,” June 10, noon to 3 p.m., Holiday Park Senior Center, 3950 Ferrara Dr., Wheaton, Md. The event includes speakers and exhibitors on elder abuse, as well as police and fire department demonstrations, musical entertainment and blood pressure checks. For more information,

call (240) 777-1131. • “World Elder Abuse Day: First Global Summit,” June 15, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Securities and Exchange Commission Building, 100 F St. NE, Washington, D.C. This daylong program includes speakers from the Administration on Aging, Social Security, the White House and nonprofit organizations. For more information, see http://bit.ly/elderabusesummit or call (202) 333-5622.

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Health Studies Page

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Study seeks to break cycle of depression By Barbara Ruben After people have recovered from a period of major depression, most are still at risk to have two or more episodes over their lifetime. The more major depressions they’ve had, the more likely it is they will experience another one — and it may not respond as completely to the treatments that helped in the past. “What we’re realizing is that with each episode of depression you have an increased likelihood of getting further episodes, almost as if your resistance has been lowered,” said Dr. Louis Kopolow, a psychiatrist, and director of Potomac Grove Clinical Research Center in Gaithersburg, Md. “Another way of looking at it is that your brain has been traumatized, and then it’s more vulnerable to another trauma.” How vulnerable? According to Kopolow, after one depressive episode, patients have about a 50 percent chance of having a second episode. After two, they have a 70 percent chance of having a third. And after a third episode, there is a 90 percent likelihood of having further depressive episodes.

Breaking the cycle That’s why Kopolow and other researchers are looking for ways to prevent the cycle of depression, improvement and relapse. He is participating in a study of an FDA-approved depression medication to get patients better during a depressive episode and then see if it can keep further depression at bay. “Getting people better and keeping them better is so important because depression affects your thinking, your feel-

ings and your behavior,” he said. “It’s much more than just sadness. Our medications today are helpful but not perfect by any stretch of the imagination.”

Long-term study Participants will be in the study for one to two years because “it takes a good six to nine months after a depressive episode for the brain to finally heal itself,” Kopolow said. Those in the study must be 18 to 75 years old and currently be diagnosed with having a recurrent major depressive episode — meaning they are have been depressed for more than eight weeks but less than 18 months. They must have also have had at least two prior major depressive episodes. Study participants must have been taking an antidepressant for at least the past six months, and while the depression may be somewhat better, they are not yet well. During the study, all participants will take the study anti-depressant, which Kopolow declined to name. Those whose depression gets completely alleviated will continue into the next phase of the study. They will be divided into several groups, which will get varying doses of the study drug to help researchers determine what dosage of the drug best works to prevent further depression. A small group in the study will take a placebo, a drug without an active ingredient. Patients will be randomly chosen for each group. During the study, patients will initially visit Potomac Grove Clinical Research See DEPRESSION STUDY, page 26

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CT scans not needed for mild chest pain By Marilynn Marchione People checked with a heart CT scan after seeing a doctor for chest pain have no less risk of heart attack, dying or being hospitalized months later than those who take a simple treadmill test or other older exam, a big federal study has found. The results are a surprise: CT scans — fancy X-rays that give 3-D images of heart arteries — were expected to prove best, and instead turned out to be just a reasonable alternative. Doctors have used these scans for a decade without knowing whether they are better than traditional tests. The federal government funded the $40 million study — the largest ever of heart imaging — to find out.

Radiation exposure a concern The study also exposed how much medical radiation most patients like this — 4 million in the United States each year — are getting from the scans: equivalent to 500 to 700 regular X-rays! Radiation can raise the risk of developing cancer, yet few doctors are choosing heart tests that do not require radiation, the study revealed. “It’s such a bad reflection on American medicine,” said one independent expert, Dr. Eric Topol of the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California. “Look at how much radiation they gave these poor people,” he said. “That is despicable.” If more patients were told the radiation dose before agreeing to a test, more would

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end up with safer alternatives, he said. The study involved more than 10,000 patients in the United States and Canada. Results were revealed at a recent American College of Cardiology conference in San Diego and published online by the New England Journal of Medicine. Chest pain can stem from something as serious as a clogged artery or as harmless as indigestion. CT scans are widely used to diagnose heart problems in emergency rooms. But their value isn’t known for people who go to a doctor with new but stable, less severe symptoms suggesting hidden heart disease. In the study, half of the patients were given CT scans. The rest got whatever other test their doctor chose to evaluate how well their heart was working — a sign of whether it is getting enough blood from heart arteries. Only 10 percent of doctors chose the simplest test — monitoring the heart with an electrocardiogram (ECG) while the patient walks on a treadmill. It involves no radiation. About 23 percent got an echocardiogram — an ultrasound, which uses sound waves instead of radiation. A whopping two-thirds got nuclear stress tests, in which radioactive dye is injected to make the blood vessels show up on pictures. It’s the most costly test, and it involves even more radiation than a CT scan. The aim of the study was to see which test led to the best diagnosis and treatment, thereby preventing the most deaths, heart attacks and hospitalizations for heart-

related reasons over the next two years. Only 3 percent of patients had one of these problems regardless of what kind of test they got. It suggests that many of them may not need extensive testing at all — just medicines to address risk factors such as high blood pressure or cholesterol if their treadmill test was OK, Topol said.

Depression study

travel expenses. For more information about this study, or to see if you qualify, call Karen Phinney, R.N. at (301) 258-8858 or email clinicalstudy@ verizon.net. She will answer questions and help determine whether this study might be appropriate for you.

From page 25 Center weekly and then at least monthly. Participants will get psychiatric evaluations and medication free of charge. They will also be compensated for their time and

Some CT advantages CT scans had one advantage: more accurately guiding who needed appropriate follow-up testing and artery-opening procedures. CT scanning “more accurately detects blockages and also more accurately excludes them,” said Duke University’s Dr. Pamela Douglas, who led the study. Deciding on a test is “a choice that doctors and patients should be making together.” Radiation doses are falling as CT equipment improves, but the study “does expose that there are risks to many of these tests,” said Dr. Jeffrey Kuvin, one of the cardiology conference leaders and cardiology chief at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. CT scans cost roughly $400; a treadmill test, $175; echocardiogram, $500, and nuclear imaging, $946 to $1,132. But a financial analysis found total costs, including follow-up testing, were about the same. That result also may have been due to how many doctors chose nuclear imaging for patients not given CT scans. No information was available on how many doctors owned or had a financial stake in the machines they chose for patients’ tests. — AP

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Vitamins that boost mood; drugs to avoid

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acid, by the way. Up to 70 percent of depressed people have a genetic “personality” such that they have what’s called an “MTHFR” polymorphism or what we call a SNP (pronounced “snip”). This situation compromises your body’s ability to turn folate from your foods into L-methylfolate, which you need to make neurotransmitters, especially your passion hormone dopamine. Drug muggers of folate include

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What makes one person depressed and can lead to depression and anxiety, as well as another happy? weight gain, according to a study published Certain conditions are commonly associ- in the journal Neurology. Drug muggers of ated with depression, includthiamine include antivirals, oral ing hypothyroidism, Crohn’s contraceptives and hormone disease or colitis, migraines, replacement, raw oysters, diabetes, chronic infections antacids and antibiotics. and cancer. Lifestyles such as Niacin or B3 — Tryptophan drinking alcohol and smoking is metabolized in your brain into are also correlated. 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) But perhaps the biggest and goes on to form serotonin source of all is what I call and dopamine. You need niacin “drug mugging.” In my book for this biochemical reaction to Drug Muggers, I describe how occur. Acid blockers, antacids, DEAR certain prescription and OTC PHARMACIST cholestyramine and loop diuretdrugs “mug” you of vital nutri- By Suzy Cohen ics are drug muggers of niacin. ents that you need to produce Just so you know, serotonin is “happy” brain chemicals broken down at night to form called neurotransmitters. melatonin, which makes you sleepy. Today I’ll teach you what popular drugs Pantothenic acid — This B vitamin lead to depression just by the mere fact they makes for healthy adrenal glands; it’s often mug you of essential vitamins. No amount of low in people with hypoglycemia. (Blood Zoloft can replenish the stolen nutrients. sugar abnormalities cause mood swings.) You need this B vitamin to make noraMood chemicals in your brain drenaline as well as your memory moleThere are three primary neurotransmit- cule acetylcholine. Deficiencies in vitamin ters in your brain, serotonin, noradrena- B-5 are tied to decreased alertness, faline and dopamine. tigue, memory problems and depression. Serotonin is involved in emotion and Acid blockers, cholestyramine and antibimood control. Did you know that 95 percent otics are drug muggers. of your serotonin is in your gastrointestinal Pyridoxine or B6 — Pyridoxine is tract, not your brain? Noradrenaline, also found primarily in beans, legumes, meat, known as “norepinephrine,” is involved in eggs, fish and bread. But you can’t eat your “fight or flight” response. Dopamine is enough to make adequate levels of seropart of your inborn reward system, which al- tonin and dopamine. lows you to feel passion and pleasure. By improving the production and funcThese three neurotransmitters are made tion of serotonin and dopamine, you can in the body every second, and they depend reduce the severity of certain types of on adequate levels of B vitamins, which seizures, neuropathic pain and Parkinson’s you can get from eating right and keeping disease. Drug muggers are corticosyour gut healthy. Here are the Bs to know: teroids, oral contraceptives (estrogens), Thiamine or B1 — A thiamine deficiency loop diuretics and antibiotics. contributes to a decrease in serotonin, which Folate or B9 — This is folate, not folic

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Cancer risk is largely due to our choices Q: Can lifestyle really make much difference in cancer risk? Doesn’t cancer really come down mostly to heredity and luck? A: A healthy lifestyle can’t prevent all cancer, but it makes a big difference. Healthy eating habits combined with regular physical activity and a healthy weight can prevent about 1 in 3 of the most common U.S. cancers. By adding avoidance of tobacco and sun damage, today’s research says we could cut the number of cancers occurring in the United States every year nearly in half. Only about 5 to 10 percent of all cancers are thought to be caused by an inherited “cancer gene.” If you have a close relative

(mother, father, sister or brother) who has had cancer, or if you carry a cancer gene, it’s important to get periodic screenings on a schedule recommended by your healthcare provider. Even with a strong family history of a particular cancer, eating habits and lifestyle choices can influence whether cancer actually develops. Some people may inherit genes that make them especially sensitive to the effects of lifestyle choices.

How to improve your “luck” As for luck, it’s true that whenever cells divide and reproduce, there’s potential for mutations (damaged DNA) that can possibly lead to cancer.

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However, the body has mechanisms to re- and a great food to include in your diet eipair DNA and cause abnormal ther raw or lightly cooked. cells to self-destruct. Nutrients Cruciferous vegetables proand phytochemicals (natural vide many nutrients, but their compounds in vegetables, unique contribution is a group fruits, whole grains and other of compounds called glucosinoplant foods) provide important lates. When we chew or chop support for those processes. these vegetables, glucosinoMoreover, genes can be activatlates are exposed to an enzyme ed and deactivated (like switchstored elsewhere in the plant ing on or off their ability to send that converts these inactive signals), and the way we live incompounds to isothiocyanate fluences that. compounds, which studies sugBy limiting unhealthy foods NUTRITION gest may reduce cancer risk. WISE and avoiding tobacco smoke, exThe latest research shows By Karen Collins, cess alcohol, too much sun, or that you can get high amounts MS, RD, CDM exposure to high levels of cerof these protective comtain chemicals, you help reduce pounds if you blanch the vegchances of damage to genes. etables first. Blanching is a quick dip in Through healthy food and drink choic- boiling water, followed immediately by es, combined with physical activity and a cooling. healthy weight, you provide protective inYou can also preserve both nutrients and fluences both at the stage of initial cell the enzyme needed to form protective isothdamage (which starts the cancer process) iocyanates if you steam broccoli for three or and throughout stages that follow, reduc- four minutes (just until crisp-tender) or miing potential of any damaged cells to multi- crowave for less than one minute. ply and ever develop into a clinical cancer. Boiling broccoli or other cruciferous vegQ: Is broccoli more nutritious raw etables is not the optimal method, unless than when cooked? you’ll be consuming the cooking liquid (as in A: Actually, raw broccoli is not necessar- soup). Boiling leaches out the vegetables’ il more healthful than cooked. Broccoli is part of the cruciferous vegetable family See CANCER RISK, page 29

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A cancer-protective comfort food recipe Cauliflower is the new kale. So the headlines say. For sure, more and more people are finding creative ways to eat more healthfully by including this cancer-protective crucifer. Some are grilling “cauliflower steaks” while eating smaller portions of beef steaks. And others are roasting cauliflower florets to draw out a deeper, richer, sweeter flavor instead of just typically steaming them. In this recipe, we’ve taken an all-American favorite comfort food — mashed potatoes — and replaced the potatoes with cauliflower. Not that mashed potatoes can’t be part of a healthy diet if prepared with minimal added butter. But our Mashed Cauliflower is perfect for those looking for new ways to eat cauliflower, cut calories, and enjoy a comfort food with a twist. Like its cruciferous cousins — cabbage, kale and broccoli — cauliflower provides health-promoting compounds, such as indoles, isoflavones and isothiocyanates, not found in other vegetables. These seem to block cancer cell growth, repair DNA, in-

hibit inflammation that is linked to cancer growth, and boost immune function. Cauliflower is especially high in vitamins C, K and folate. Thought to have originated in Cyprus, this ancient vegetable was popular in Europe by the 1500s, but was not grown in the United States until the 1900s. Today, cauliflower is becoming more of a mainstay vegetable. It closely resembles broccoli in appearance, but is white due to the protective leaves that grow around its head. These leaves shield it from the sun, preventing the formation of chlorophyll. Although the white variety is the most popular type in U.S. supermarkets, it can be found in different colors, including purple. The onions and garlic in the recipe add depth to the flavor of this mash, but it is the almond milk that lends it a mild, nutty flavor and creamy quality. Almond milk is made from ground almonds and is frequently used as a substitute for dairy milk or cream. This simple recipe with mostly fresh ingredients allows you to make real food from whole foods while enjoying the quali-

Cancer risk

these compounds. When you want cooked broccoli, steaming or very brief microwaving are excellent choices. The American Institute for Cancer Research offers a Nutrition Hotline, 1-800-8438114, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This free service allows you to ask questions about diet, nutrition and cancer. A registered dietitian will return your call, usually within three business days. Courtesy of the American Institute for Cancer Research. Questions for this column may be sent to “Nutrition Wise,” 1759 R St., NW, Washington, DC 20009. Collins cannot respond to questions personally.

From page 28 water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin C and folate, as well as many of the glucosinolate compounds, which are water-soluble, too. Moreover, too much exposure to high temperatures destroys the enzyme that converts the inactive glucosinolates to active compounds. Serving broccoli raw is an excellent option, since it retains these nutrients and the enzyme that forms isothiocyanate compounds. Before serving on a relish tray or salad, quickly blanching and cooling allows you to get even a bit more of

Senior Nutrition Hotline Wednesdays 9 am - 11 am 240-777-1100

TRITION PR NU

RAM OG

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Speak with a Registered Dietitian about your food, nutrition and diet concerns.

ties of comfort food.

Mashed Cauliflower 1 medium cauliflower 4 green onions, sliced, including half green stems 2 to 4 cloves garlic 1/4 to 1/2 cup unsweetened plain almond milk 4 tsp. extra virgin olive oil, divided Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1 Tbsp. chopped chives Place cauliflower, onions and garlic in steamer basket and steam for 10 to 12 min-

utes or until very tender. Place cooked cauliflower, onions and garlic in blender or food processer. Add 1/4 cup almond milk and 2 teaspoons olive oil. Blend until desired consistency. For creamier consistency add more almond milk in 1 tablespoon increments. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to serving bowls. Drizzle with remaining oil and garnish with chives. Serve. Makes 4 servings. Per serving: 87 calories, 5 g. total fat (<1 g. saturated fat), 10 g. carbohydrate, 3 g. protein, 4 g. dietary fiber, 61 mg. sodium. — American Institute for Cancer Research

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J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

How to protect a bro from a gold digger Dear Solutions: people who are jealous of her good looks After 45 years of marriage, my brother and charming personality. is a very recent widower and Should I do anything to try retiree. Because he’s perto stop him from making a sonable and fairly affluent, bad mistake? People say he’s been called a “good whatever they do is their busicatch” among the senior set. ness, and not mine. I think He was recently intromy brother is my business duced to a woman I know a because I love him. I don’t little about, and he’s really know what her business is. fallen for her. This woman — Harriet has been married to wealthy Dear Harriet: men and divorced three Apparently, her business is times. I was told that she SOLUTIONS mergers and acquisitions. Your initiated the divorces and By Helen Oxenberg, fear is that her next merger got more and more money MSW, ACSW may lead to the acquisition of and jewelry each time from your brother’s life savings. each marriage. Since he’s so smitten with her, telling him I’m worried about my brother be- negative things about her will only make cause he really believes lies she’s told him defensive and angry at you. He will find him. He says the rumors are just from it insulting that you don’t trust his judgment.

YO U R

New

Tell him you’re glad he feels good about someone and about his future. You’re concerned, though, that he hasn’t allowed himself to mourn his terrible loss, and for the sake of his future, you believe he must deal with that loss or the undone grief work may come back to haunt him. It is unnatural not to mourn the loss of a spouse of 45 years. His almost immediate involvement with someone else is a way of avoiding the painful feelings that deep grief arouses. Remind him that all the professional literature about loss agrees that mourning must be experienced and dealt with before new emotional commitments can become healthy relationships. Suggest that he join a bereavement group to help him. You don’t have to belittle her to defend him. Dear Solutions: Grandchildren of my friends and

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neighbors are coming more and more often to my door to ask me to buy things like candy, small household items or novelties to raise money for various organizations. In the past, I’ve mostly bought, but now I’m having to pinch pennies, and I’m finding it hard to even buy things for my own family. I don’t want to lose friendships over this or hurt anyone’s feelings, especially children’s. How can I avoid buying useless things and not lose friends over it? — Embarrassed Dear Embarrassed: Cookies and trinkets may be for sale, but real friendships are not. You should not feel pressured — by yourself mostly — into buying things you can’t use and can’t afford. You should just say to the child, “Oh, you look terrific and it’s great to see you, but I’m sorry I really can’t use that now.” As for feeling bad for the child, you may actually be doing something good, as he or she must learn some disappointment in life — especially if his/her ambition is to be a good salesperson. Even the best ones can’t count on making every sale. And the friends? If they deserve the title, they will live up to it and still be there for you. Dear Solutions: My sister–in-law is having a big birthday, and we want to get her a gift that she’ll enjoy. She has a history of returning every gift she gets, but making all kinds of embarrassing excuses as she does it. If you ask her what she wants, she won’t tell. We don’t want to give her money, and we really, truly, honestly won’t feel insulted or annoyed if she exchanges our gift for what she wants. Is there any way I can get this across to her so she’ll believe it and stop this silly act that she thinks she has to put on all the time? — Bea Dear Bea: Enclose this note with the present: “We give this gift to you with love. Feel free to return both.” End of discussion. © 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.

See puzzles on p. 60. More at our website.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFICE ON AGING

Spotlight On Aging VOLUME XXVI, ISSUE 6

A newsletter for D.C. Seniors

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE By John M. Thompson, Ph.D., CPM, FAAMA It has been an extraordinary privilege and honor to serve the District of Columbia seniors, persons living with disabilities, and family caregivers since assuming my position as executive director of the Office on Aging in 2011. In addition to helping the District’s citizens, it is a blessing to meet so many wonderful people. One person that has been truly a delight is Ms. Sue Barnes, a resident of Ward 5 and a senior Olympian. Sue Barnes was born in St. Louis, Missouri on November 18, 1927. She attended Stowe Teacher’s College, LeMoyne College, and Howard University where she pledged Zeta Phi Beta in 1948. After college, Ms. Barnes was hired by the U.S. Corps of Engineers as a geodetic technician. A geodetic technician examines the measurement and representation of the Earth, including its gravitational field, in a three-dimensional time-varying space. She also examined geodynamical phenomena such as crustal motion, tides, and polar motion. As you can see, Ms. Barnes is a very intelligent person! While at the Corps of Engineers, her employer paid for her to complete cartographic school, which eventually led to promotions and a 31.5 year career with the agency, when she retired in 1982. However, retirement did not lead to Ms. Barnes just sitting back and allowing time to pass by her. In 1987, at the age of 60, she became a running enthusiast. She said she was inspired to take up this sport because people were beating her in tennis. In 1989, she returned to her birthplace of St. Louis to represent Washington, D.C. as a senior Olympian, where she competed in track and field. In addition to being so physically fit, Ms. Barnes is a great woman of wisdom who dedicates her time with so many organizations. Some of these organizations include Ward 5 Mini- Commission on Aging, George Washington University’s Health Insurance Counseling Project, Seabury Advisory Board, and Brooklyn Post Office Advisory Board. Additionally,

June 2015

Ms. Senior D.C. Pageant

she has served as a fitness instructor at Trinity College and at Fort Davis Recreation Center for a number of years. In addition to giving her time to large organizations, she also spends one-on-one time helping people. In fact, I happen to be one of those individuals! Ms. Barnes has taken on the role of being my physical trainer and life coach, as she frequently advises me on how to find the proper worklife balance by being more physically active and eating right.

Witness the selection of Ms. Senior D.C. 2015 as District women 60 years of age or older compete for the title. Judging is based on a personal interview, philosophy of life, evening gown and talent presentations. Her guidance, passion for helping others, and wisdom have been such a tremendous blessing in my life. As a result of Ms. Barnes’ coaching, I began exercising daily by walking and/or riding a bicycle. My purpose in spotlighting Ms. Barnes is to demonstrate to other seniors that you have so much talent to share with the younger generation. We are ready to learn from you! Whether you are interested in working with returning citizens or students at D.C. Public Schools, I am confident that we have a great opportunity for you. We are flexible about your time commitment and just encourage you to be engaged in your community, as it keeps you mentally stimulated and vibrant. Please call us at 202-724-5622 to learn about our intergenerational programs and other volunteer opportunities.

“The Women in The Mirror” Sunday, June 28 • 2:30 p.m. University of the District of Columbia 4200 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Building 46

Fee for parking in UDC Garage, street parking available

Donation: $20 For ticket information contact: Daisy J. Savage, 202-829-0423 Margaret Winston, 202-562-1291 Presented by the D.C. Office on Aging and the Senior Service Network DC Seniors Cameo Club

J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

D.C. OFFICE

New Brain Health Campaign The D.C. Office on Aging is launching its D.C. Brain Health Campaign in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association and memory screeners throughout the District of Columbia. This campaign comes at the perfect time, as June is also Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. Be on the lookout for DCOA’s Brain Health Day Tour, to take place at each of its Senior Wellness Centers throughout the District. Brain Health Day events will include seminars addressing the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s Disease and the importance of a healthy brain. Events will also include free memory screenings,

giveaways and prizes. Additionally, DCOA will be providing tips and resources on social media to help you understand and navigate Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD), and intensifying its efforts to implement the District’s Alzheimer’s State Plan. For dates and times of each Brain Health Day, see box on this page. For a list of DCOA’s dementia specific programming, contact DC Office on Aging at 202-724-5626. To review the District’s Alzheimer’s State Plan, check out the DCOA website at http://dcoa.dc.gov /publication/district-columbia-stateplan-alzheimers-disease-2014-2019.

AGING NEWSLETTER

June is Men’s Health Month! Anchored by a Congressional health education program, Men’s Health Month is celebrated across the country to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. This month gives healthcare providers, public policy makers, the media and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury. Visit or call a wellness center to see how you can participate!

Bernice Fonteneau Senior Wellness Center (Ward 1)

3531 Georgia Ave. NW • 202-727-0338 Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center (Ward 4)

324 Kennedy St. NW • 202-269-6170 Model Cities Senior Wellness Center (Ward 5)

1901 Evart St. NE • 202-635-1900 Hayes Senior Wellness Center (Ward 6)

500 K St. NE • 202-727-0357 Washington Seniors Wellness Center (Ward 7)

3001 Alabama Ave. SE • 202-581-9355 Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center (Ward 8)

3500 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE • 202-563-7225

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N â&#x20AC;&#x201D; J U N E 2 0 1 5

Age-Friendly DC Livability Survey #

Are you a DC resident 60 or older? Do you want to share your opinion on how age-friendly DC is? Questions in this survey were derived from a World Health Organization age-friendly indicator project that DC took part in along with 14 other cities across the globe. If you have any questions as you go through this survey, please call 202-727-7973 and ask to speak to an Age-Friendly DC staff member. Thank you for your feedback and assistance in helping transform DC into an age-friendly city. Please fill out the survey below and either drop off the entire page at any branch of the DC public library or mail it to: Age-Friendly DC, Office of the Deputy Mayor (HHS),1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 223, Washington, DC 20004. Or you may complete the survey online at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AFDCLivability

1. What type of housing do you live in? o Single-family o Multi-family o Other (please specify): _______________________ 2. Could you enter your house in a wheelchair without assistance? o Yes o No 3. How many individuals, besides yourself, live in your household? If you live alone, put 0 _______________________________ 4. Do you rent or own the place where you live? o Rent o Own 5. Has your house been adapted, or can it be adapted, to facilitate aging at home? o Yes o No 6. In your opinion, is housing in your neighborhood affordable? o Yes o No 7. Is walking without assistance easy for you? o Yes o No 8. In your opinion, how suitable is your neighborhood for walking, including for those who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids? o 5 (very suitable) o4 o3 o2 o 1 (not at all suitable) 9. In your opinion, how accessible are public spaces and buildings in your community for all people, including those who have limitations in mobility, vision or hearing? o 5 (very suitable) o4 o3 o2 o 1 (not at all suitable)

16. Do you have opportunities for paid employment? o Yes o No 17. Over the past year, have you had enough income to meet your basic needs without public or private assistance? o Yes o No 18. How do you typically find out about important health or safety information? o Word of mouth o Print o Web o Radio o TV o Other (please specify): _______________________ 19. Do you live in a household with Internet access at home? o Yes o No 20. How do you access the Internet? (check all that apply) o Home computer o Smart phone or tablet o Local library or community space o Other (please specify): _______________________ 21. How do you use the Internet? (check all that apply) o Emailing o Informational searches o Online shopping o Facebook or other social media o Sharing photos o Do not use o Other (please specify): _______________________ 22. How easy is it for you to find local sources of information about your health concerns and service needs? o 5 (Very easy) o4 o3 o2 o 1 (Very difficult)

10. In your opinion, are public transportation stops too far from your home? o Yes o No

23. Where do you find local sources of information about your health concerns and service needs (i.e., friends, family, government, publications, community centers, etc.)? ___________________________________________

11. How far are you willing/able to walk to reach a public transportation stop? (Can answer in distance or time) ___________________________________________

24. Do you have any personal care or assistance needs? o Yes o No

12. Please rate the level of accessibility of public transportation vehicles for all people, including those who have limitations in mobility, vision, hearing. o 5 (very accessible) o4 o3 o2 o 1 (not at all accessible) 13. Do you feel respected and socially included in your community? o Yes o No 14. Have you engaged in a volunteer activity at least once in the past month? o Yes o No 15. What is your employment status? o Employed full-time o Employed part-time, seeking full-time o Employed part-time, not seeking full-time o Not employed, seeking full-time o Not employed, seeking part-time o Not employed, not seeking employment

25. Are your personal care or assistance needs met in your home setting? o Yes o No o N/A 26. How are your personal care and assistance needs met? (check all that apply) o Private services o Government provided services o Volunteers o Friends o Family o N/A o Other (please specify): _______________________ 27. How would you rate your overall quality of life? o 5 (Very good) o4 o3 o2 o 1 (Very poor) 28. Do you have a disability tag or placard for your vehicle? o Yes o No o I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a vehicle

29. If you answered yes to the previous question, are designated priority parking spaces adequately designed and available? o Yes o No o N/A 30 Do you participate in group physical activities in your leisure time? o Yes o No 31. Over the past year, were you enrolled or did you regularly attend any education or training sessions, either formal or non-formal? o Yes o No 32. Are you involved in decision-making about important political, economic and social issues in your community? o Yes o No 33. Have you participated in any social or cultural activities at least once in the past week? o Yes o No 34. How safe do feel in your neighborhood? o 5 (Very safe) o4 o3 o2 o 1 (Not safe at all) 35. Do you have a neighbor or neighbors that you can rely on? o Yes o No 36. What is your age? _______________ 37. What is your gender? o Male o Female o Transgender o Other (please specify): _______________________ 38. Are you of Hispanic or Latino origin or heritage? o Yes o No 39. What race do you identify with? o American Indian and Alaska Native o Asian o Black or African-American o Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander o White o Other (please specify): _______________________ 40. What is your address? (optional) ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ 41. What ward do you live in? o1 o2 o3 o4 o5 o6 o7 o8 o VA o MD o Dont know o Other (please specify): ___________________________ 42.What is your zip code? _____________________________

J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

D.C. OFFICE

AGING NEWSLETTER

Community Calendar June Events 2nd • 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. Amanda Alleyne, RN, from MedStar Washington Hospital Center, will give a presentation titled “Healthy Heart” at North Capitol at Plymouth Nutrition Center, 5233 N. Capitol St. NE. For more information, contact Thelma Hines at 202-529-8701, ext. 222.

2nd • 1 to 3 p.m. John M. Thompson. Ph.D., CPM, FAAMA, Executive Director of the District of Columbia Office on Aging will host a town hall meeting at the Bernice Elizabeth Fonteneau Senior Wellness Center, 3531 Georgia Ave. NW. For more information, contact Alice A. Thompson at 202-535-1321.

2nd, 3rd, 12th, 17th and 18th A “Produce Plus Workshop” will be given by Dominique Hazzard, outreach specialist with DC Greens, at five nutrition centers: • June 2, 11 a.m. to noon at Green Valley Apartments Nutrition Center, 2412 Franklin St. NE • June 3, 11 a.m. to noon at KibarHalal Nutrition Center, 1519 4th St. NW • June 12, 11 a.m. to noon at North Capitol at Plymouth Nutrition Center, 5233 N. Capitol St. NE • June 17, 11 a.m. to noon at Petersburg (Fort Lincoln 3), 3298 Fort Lincoln Dr. NE • June 18, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 2900 Newton St. NE For more information, contact Thelma Hines at 202-529-8701, ext. 222.

4th • 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

16th • 10:45 to 11:45 a.m.

There will be a housing event at the Office of Disability Rights at the Old Council Chambers, 441 4th St. NW. For more information, contact Alice A. Thompson at 202-535-1321.

Monica Veney, a community outreach specialist with the U.S. Department of Justice, will present a talk titled, “Senior Exploitation” at the Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 2900 Newton St. NE. For more information, contact Thelma Hines at 202-529-8701, ext. 222.

5th • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. DCOA Executive Director John M. Thompson will host a town hall meeting at the Washington Senior Wellness Center, 3001 Alabama Ave. SE. For more information, contact Alice A. Thompson at 202-535-1321.

500 K St., N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002 202-724-5622 • www.dcoa.dc.gov Executive Director John M. Thompson, Ph.D., FAAMA Editor Darlene Nowlin Photographer Selma Dillard The D.C. Office on Aging does not discriminate against anyone based on actual or perceived: race, color, reli-

DCOA Executive Director John M. Thompson will host a town hall meeting at the Hayes Senior Wellness Center, 500 K St. NE. For more information, contact Alice A. Thompson at 202-535-1321.

18th • 1 to 3 p.m.

8th • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

17th • 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

DCOA Executive Director John M. Thompson will host a town hall meeting at the Vida Senior Centers at The Vida Senior Apartments, 1330 Missouri Ave., NW. For more information, contact Alice A. Thompson at 202-535-1321.

DCOA Executive Director John M. Thompson will host a town hall meeting at the Vida Senior Center, 1842 Calvert St. NW. For more information, contact Alice A. Thompson at 202-535-1321.

11th • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Attend a Seabury – Ward 5 Outreach & D.C. Hunger Solutions SNAP/Food Stamps Outreach event at the Rosedale Neighborhood Library, 1701 Gales St. NE. For more information, contact Thelma Hines at 202-529-8701, ext. 222.

Paula Stone will read her play Kitchen Sink, in which after a lifetime of cooking, a woman sells the contents of her kitchen in a yard sale. The reading takes place at Iona Senior Services, 4125 Albemarle St. NW. Admission is $5. To reserve a seat, call Patricia Dubroof at 202-895-9407.

18th • 10 a.m. to noon

24th • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The DC Office on Aging (DCOA) Ambassador Program is a FREE, interactive, member-based program designed to reach out to older adults and their caregivers to help them learn about the services and resources available to them

Model Cities Senior Wellness Center will hold a Men’s Health Day. The center is located at 1901 Evarts Street NE. Contact Stacie Thweatt at 202-635-1900 for more information.

Attend Senior Fest at Oxon Run Park, Wheeler Road & Valley Avenue SE. Contact Jennifer Hamilton at 202-664-7153 for more information.

17th • 2 to 4 p.m.

15th • 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. DCOA Executive Director John M. Thompson will host a town hall meeting at the Congress Heights Senior Wellness Center, 3500 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE. For more information, contact Alice A. Thompson at 202-535-1321.

DCOA Executive Director John M. Thompson will host a town hall meeting at Model Cities Senior Wellness Center, 1901 Evarts St., NE. For more information, contact Alice A. Thompson at 202-535-1321.

23rd • 7 p.m.

16th • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The 2nd Annual Senior Health Fair will be held at Vida Brightwood Nutrition Center, 1330 Missouri Ave. NE. For more information, call Rosa Rivas at 202483-5800, ext. 109.

SPOTLIGHT ON AGING Spotlight On Aging is published by the Information Office of the D.C. Office on Aging for D.C. senior residents. Advertising contained in the Beacon is not endorsed by the D.C. Office on Aging or by the publisher.

16th • 1 to 3 p.m.

through DCOA. If you are interested in expanding your network and educating older adults about the services and resources available to them, join us for our next Ambassador Training Workshop to learn about all of the programs and services that DCOA offers to the community and how you can become an Ambassador. All workshops are held at DCOA Headquarters and include: an overview of Office on Aging programs and services, information on how to access resources, and guidance on your role as an advocate. Call to register to participate, 202-724-5622.

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

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

Transport DC (formerly CAPS-DC) Transport DC (formerly CAPS-DC) is a pilot program that provides alternative taxicab transportation to MetroAccess customers. DC residents will receive transportation to and from healthcare appointments, and efficient, curb-to-curb taxicab or wheelchair accessible vehicle service, ensuring an improved transportation experience. MetroAccess customers are encouraged to try the Transport DC service any time travel is needed to an eligible destination for dialysis treatment or health services. Book your ride by calling 1844-322-7732 One-hour service: Flexibility to make a reservation one hour before a ride is needed. One stop pick-up and drop-off: No need to share a ride or make multiple stops before reaching the destination. Choice of pick-up and drop-off location: Trips can start/finish anywhere within the District of Columbia; eligible medical facility location must be either the pick-up or drop-off location.

Companion rider: Companions are welcome to accompany Transport DC participant at no additional charge. $5 each one-way ride: Each one-way trip is $5, which can be paid by cash, credit card or debit card; for many customers, this is less than the MetroAccess fare. Priority wheelchair accessible taxicab use: Priority use of wheelchair accessible vehicle is given to Transport DC participants. MetroAccess compatibility: Transport DC drivers require participants’ MetroAccess ID number at time of service. MetroAccess payment processes remain the same. Transport DC participation does not affect MetroAccess eligibility. Schedule your ride: Call 1-844-322-7732 Ride Status: Capitol Cab 202-3980500; Yellow Cab 202-544-0911 Your feedback is valuable: For Transport DC program issues, contact Karl Muhammad at 202-645-4435 or karl.muhammad2@dc.gov. For eligibility issues, contact WMATA at 202-962-1100 or access@wmata.com.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money Law &

ETFs OR MUTUAL FUNDS? Both stock and exchange-traded funds have been on a winning streak, but which is the better choice for you depends on fees and your investment style INFOMERCIAL TRICKS Products in infomercials may look enticing, but understand shipping and handling fees, payment plans and trial periods before you buy anything

Investment guru offers his take on stocks By Anne Kates Smith Russ Koesterich is Global Chief Investment Strategist at BlackRock, an investment firm with $4.8 trillion under management. Here are excerpts from Kiplinger’s recent interview with him. Kiplinger: How much life is left in this bull market? Koesterich: We’re definitely in the late innings. Stocks can go higher, particularly overseas, but that is likely to happen with a lot more volatility. I think the bull market will celebrate its seventh anniversary next March, and the next bear market can be pushed out to later in 2016 or 2017. But the risk will go up as the Federal Reserve Board continues to normalize monetary policy and investors lose this pillar of easy money propping up financial assets. Q: When do you expect the Fed to raise rates, and what will the impact be on stocks? A: The Fed will start to nudge rates higher in the fall. That won’t be the end of the world; the Fed will move at a slow and measured pace, and it’s starting from a

very low rate. But at the margin, a rate hike will change the environment, and that will be felt in greater volatility than we’ve seen in recent years. The odds of a correction — a pullback of at least 10 percent — go up the closer we get to liftoff. Q: Are stocks overpriced? A: Valuations are stretched — not obscenely stretched, but a bit above average. With low inflation and low interest rates, you’d expect valuations to be high. U.S. stocks are also expensive compared with those in markets outside the U.S. Whether you call stocks fully valued or just think prices are stretched, you’ve got to have more modest expectations for annual returns over the next five years — probably in the low- to mid-single-digit percentages, including dividends. Q: Should investors take some money off the table? A: In this environment, it’s perfectly reasonable to have more cash on hand. I’m reluctant to recommend that people do that, though, because they already have a lot of

cash on hand. The problem is that this has become a semi-permanent position for many people who never came back after the 2007-09 bear market. Holding a lot of cash yielding zero is a hard way to save for retirement. Q: Where do you see opportunity for investors? A: We came into the year talking about international diversification; most Americans simply have too much invested in the U.S. Prices in Japan are reasonable, and stock gains there have been driven by earnings growth, not by investors paying more for those earnings, as has been occurring here and in Europe. We still see opportunities in Europe, but investors should look for a fund that hedges out all or most of the currency risk. [See related story below.] People got frightened away from emerging markets. But Asian markets in particular are reasonably priced, and there have been promising structural reforms in China, India and Mexico.

It scares people even more to think about places like Bangladesh, Vietnam and sub-Saharan Africa, but these parts of the world will grow quickly over the next 10 years. People shouldn’t abandon emerging markets as an asset class; exercise caution, not abstinence. Q: What still looks good in the U.S.? A: Look for companies that will benefit from a stronger economic environment. We like technology companies, where we’re seeing some strong growth. Pockets of tech — small-company biotech stocks or social media companies — are very frothy. But a lot of what I call old tech — hardware, semiconductor and software makers — is reasonably valued, given how profitable many of these companies are. We even like some of the beatenup energy companies, particularly the large integrated companies that offer a decent dividend yield. Lastly, we like some of the large, global investment banks. There’s a noticeable diSee STOCKS, page 37

Worldwide funds that hedge currency risk By Stan Choe Here’s a trick question: Are Spanish stocks up or down this year? For someone sitting in a Barcelona cafe, the answer is obviously up. Spanish stocks have climbed 10.9 percent in euros. But for someone counting in U.S. dollars, each of those euros is worth less than at the start of the year, so the same MSCI Spain index is down 1.7 percent in dollar terms. Such is the conundrum for U.S. investors looking at markets around the world. The dollar’s value has climbed against the Argentine peso, the New Zealand dollar and almost everything in between. It hit its highest level against the euro last month in more than a dozen years. That has eroded returns for U.S. investors with foreign stock mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). A growing number of funds have been trying to blunt this effect. They’re called currency-hedged funds, and they’re suddenly some of the industry’s most popular investments. Proponents say they allow investors to focus on just the stocks they

want to buy — Japanese, European or otherwise — and largely ignore currency movements, which can be unpredictable. That’s particularly attractive now as investors make their stock portfolios less U.S.-heavy and take advantage of cheaper stock valuations in other parts of the world.

last month. It raked in $2.6 billion, and its assets have grown to more than $11 billion since its birth less than four years ago. Before jumping on this trend, investors should keep in mind that currency-hedged funds won’t always be on top and aren’t for everyone.

What to consider Two popular funds Consider the WisdomTree Europe Hedged Equity fund. It’s an ETF that invests in more than 100 European stocks, but it also invests in futures contracts to limit the effect of shifting currency values. It has returned 21 percent this year, more than double the 8 percent return of the average European stock mutual fund. Investors plugged $5 billion into the fund in April. Only one other fund attracted more, according to Morningstar. Another currency-hedged fund, the Deutsche X-trackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF, which invests in more than 900 stocks from 21 developed economies, also ranked among the most popular funds

When hedged funds shine: The appeal of currency-hedged funds is obvious when looking at returns over the last year. Consider two offerings from iShares that are nearly identical except for one thing. Both track the MSCI Japan index, but one hedges to reduce the effect of the dollar’s movements against the yen. The hedged ETF has returned 41.1 percent over the last year, versus 21.1 percent for the unhedged one. The difference is due to the fact that the yen has dropped against the dollar, due in part to the diverging paths the U.S. and Japanese economies have taken. The U.S. economy has strengthened enough that the Federal Reserve has

ended its bond-buying stimulus program. Most economists expect the Fed to raise short-term interest rates later this year. The Bank of Japan, meanwhile, is pushing stimulus to try to invigorate its economy. The European Central Bank has taken a similar position, which has sent the euro down against the dollar. Many expect the dollar to continue to rise, which would favor currency-hedged funds. Investors should bear in mind that the dollar tends to move in cycles that can last years. The dollar’s big move higher against the euro began only last summer. Against the yen, it started at the end of 2012. Why some stick with unhedged funds: Holding unhedged funds can improve diversification for a portfolio, said Fran Kinniry, a principal in Vanguard’s investment strategy group. But he suggests going unhedged only with stock funds. With bonds, the big swings in currencies can overwhelm the See HEDGED FUNDS, page 36

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J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Beacon honored for hiring older workers The Beacon Newspapers is one of three local companies receiving Experience Counts Best Practices Recognition awards, which honor workplaces whose policies and practices support and encourage older employees.

The awards are sponsored by Montgomery County’s Department of Economic Development, the Montgomery County Workforce Investment Board, and the Jewish Council for the Aging. “Winners of the 2015 Recognition

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June 16

MEDICARE 101 Fairfax County presents Medicare 101, a free seminar, on Tuesday,

June 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Learn the facts about health insurance for seniors. No registration is necessary. This event takes place at the Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Rd., Reston, Va. For more information, visit www.fairfaxcoun-

Awards have been selected because they recognize the critical role older workers play in Montgomery County’s workforce, and for implementing policies and practices that encourage older workers to remain productive members of our labor force,” said Sally Sternbach, acting director of Montgomery County’s Dept. of Economic Development. All but three of the Beacon’s 14 employees are over the age of 50. According to president and publisher, Stuart Rosenthal, “the Beacon actively works to recruit and retain older workers. We believe, with their added years of experience and strong work ethic,

older workers often make the best workers.” Other Experience Counts winners recognized this year were Dynaxys LLC and Social and Scientific Systems, Inc., both located in Silver Spring. Their awards were presented by County Executive Ike Leggett on June 1 at the 50+Employment Expo presented by the Jewish Council for the Aging. The Beacon is currently looking for an experienced sales representative to sell advertising throughout the Northern Virginia area. Send cover letter and resume to Alan Spiegel, Director of Sales, at Alan@TheBeaconNewspapers.com.

Hedged funds

If the dollar starts to weaken against the euro and other currencies, as it did from 2001 until 2008, investors would do better to hold unhedged funds. Now that the euro has already dropped more than 20 percent against the dollar over the last year, how much more can it fall? “If you want to be hedged, these funds are perfectly fine,” said Patricia Oey, a senior analyst at Morningstar. “But if you wanted the big exciting gains, that easy money has passed.” Over the really long term, say 20 years, it may not matter much anyway. Conventional wisdom says that changes in currency values eventually wash out. That means the more important question for long-term investors is likely whether a fund is wellrun and low-cost, rather than whether it hedges. — AP

ty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices/vicap.htm or call (703) 390-6157.

From page 35 relatively small, steady returns of those funds. Stocks, which are volatile on their own and have bigger expected returns than bonds, can more easily absorb currency movements. In the end, many investors agree that forecasting where currencies are heading is difficult. Consider a seemingly innocuous Thursday earlier this year. The Swiss National Bank shocked markets on Jan. 15, when it abandoned its minimum exchange rate of 1.20 Swiss francs to the euro. The Swiss franc spiked by about a third against the dollar within minutes, driving home how volatile and unpredictable currency trading can be.

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June 23

SMART NETWORKING WORKSHOP The Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA) presents a Smart Net-

working Workshop for men and women age 50+ on Tuesday, June 23 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Learn to network like a pro, how to promote your skills and talents,

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

Stocks From page 35 chotomy between these companies and traditional lenders, who are struggling; it’s hard to make money when rates are this low. On the flip side, we’ve seen a surge in mergers and acquisitions and currency trading; companies that have those operations have benefitted. Q: What advice do you have for fixed-income investors? A: Investors looking for yield should cast a wide net. Income-dependent investors face a difficult choice: Accept less income or take more risk. You don’t want to take more risk now by buying long maturity Treasury bonds, so you have to go further afield, with dividend-paying stocks — although in the U.S. they’re expensive, so I’d suggest a global or international dividend fund. Tax-exempt municipal bonds are attractive relative to taxable alternatives. Aggressive investors can consider a bit of

high-yield bonds. More-esoteric bond substitutes include preferred stocks and master limited partnerships. Q: Do recent wage hikes portend a dangerous rise in inflation? A: It may be a bit higher, but honestly, a little bit of inflation is not a bad thing. It’s a sign of a stronger economy, and it allows companies to raise prices. If inflation goes to 2 percent and stays there, that’s the sweet spot for the market. Q: What’s the biggest risk investors face now? A: The U.S. economy is not at risk of recession, but it may disappoint by not growing as much as people expect. It may be that the economy continues to trudge along at a 2 percent growth rate, and the earnings growth that investors have been expecting just doesn’t materialize. It’s a prosaic risk, but one we should all be aware of. All contents copyright 2015 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Ongoing

SUCCESSFUL BRAIN AGING BOOKLET The Dana Foundation published a free booklet on successful brain

aging. Staying Sharp: Successful Aging and the Brain starts at the beginning —

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June 24

HEALTH AND WEALTH CLASS

The Virginia Cooperative Extension presents “Small Steps to Health and Wealth,” a look at how the two impact each other, on Wednesday, June 24 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This class is designed to motivate participants to implement behavior changes that simultaneously improve their health and personal finances. The class covers 25 steps, including tracking current behavior, unloading childhood baggage and thinking balance — not sacrifice. This class takes place at Arlington Mill Senior Center, located at 909 S Dinwiddie St., Arlington, Va. For more information, visit www.ext.vt.edu.

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June 22

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Dupont Circle Village presents a seminar on emergency preparedness, as part of its monthly Live and Learn Seminar series, on

Monday, June 22 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Are you prepared for an emergency such as a power outage or severe snowstorm? What items should you keep in an emer-

t 3FDFJWF FREE information on Estate Planning. t 4DIFEVMF B FREE 30-minute consultation to discuss your personal plan in our offices or your home.

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gency kit? A panel of Village members will answer these and many more questions. Emergency information will also be distributed. The Village Live and Learn program will be held in at St. Thomas Church, 1772 Church St. NW, Washington, D.C. The talk is free for Village members and $10 for others. The building is wheelchair accessible. For more information or to register, contact Linda at (202) 2342567 or lindajkh@mac.com.

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J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Are ETFs or mutual funds better? Depends The last five years have been very good for diversified common-stock portfolios with mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The annual costs for both types of fund have never been lower. This has certainly made it easier for investors to have excellent results. I can’t forecast the future, but I believe it is prudent (even for retirees) to maintain a significant percentage of one’s portfolio in common stocks, rebalancing regularly. (I like to rebalance annually.) Most investors will be better off with the majority of their stock investments in index funds, mutual funds or ETFs.

Why index funds tend to win Readers who have managed accounts

with annual fees of 1 percent or more often ask me if it would be better to buy low-cost index mutual funds or ETFs from one of the leading mutual fund companies or from a discount broker. I never tell readers that paying 1 percent or more annually for actively managed funds is a mistake. But I point out that, in the long run, it is very difficult for managers to outperform low-cost mutual funds such as Vanguard’s Total Stock Market Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTSAX) or its Total Stock Market ETF (ARCA:VTI). Both have expense ratios of 0.05 percent (if you meet minimum investment requirements), so you’re starting out almost 1 percent ahead of managed funds. I suggest that investors compare the

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past performance of their managed acFor example, if you are purchasing an counts to the long-term performance of ETF, are you incurring a brokerage fee for each transaction? Is there a index mutual funds or ETFs bid-ask spread for each transunder consideration. The webaction? sites of all the major mutual If you are purchasing a mufunds have historical data you tual fund, is there a sales comcan access easily. mission, or “load,” either front For example, the performend or back end? Many good ance of Vanguard’s VTSAX folno-load mutual funds are availlows: able. Last year: 12.3 percent Under some circumstances, Last three years: 16.39 pera mutual fund will be better for cent THE SAVINGS you than an ETF with the same Last five years: 14.76 percent GAME annual expense ratio. For exLast ten years: 8.55 percent By Elliot Raphaelson ample, if you are investing The advent of ETFs has made it easier for investors to invest in di- each month, reinvesting all dividends and versified portfolios at low annual fees. For capital gains, using dollar-cost averaging can example, the average ETF expense ratio of be more advantageous. If your alternative is Vanguard’s 67 ETFs is 0.13 percent. The an ETF, that would incur commission costs industry’s average is 0.55 percent. each month, as well as a spread between the If you are interested in a specific index bid and ask price, which means a mutual ETF, such as the S&P 500 index, it is easy fund would be more cost-effective. for you to make a selection. If all other fees On the other hand, if you plan on using are the same, select the ETF with the low- techniques such as stop losses, investing on margin, limit orders, or investing a est annual expense ratio. smaller amount than you could with a muWhat’s better for you depends tual fund, then an ETF could be more adAlthough expense ratios are very impor- vantageous. tant, there are other fees you to consider Many investors avoid making their own when you are selecting either a mutual See ETFs, page 40 fund or an ETF.

Did you know?

You may qualify for assistance in paying your home phone bill. Discounts for basic telephone service are available to eligible District of Columbia low-income residents.

Verizon Washington, D.C. Lifeline Plans: Verizon Washington, D.C.’s Lifeline service, known as “Economy II,” offers reduced rates on Verizon’s monthly telephone bill and one-time discounts on the cost of installing phone service. Additionally, toll blocking is available to Economy II customers at no charge. Economy II Service*: $3.00 per month for unlimited local calling. Value-added services are not included (e.g., Call Waiting, Caller ID). No connection charges apply. Also, customers will not be charged for the federal subscriber line charge. Economy II customers who are 65 years of age or older can have this service at a further reduced rate of $1.00 per month. • Full terms and rates for these services, including terms of eligibility, are as set forth in federal and in Verizon’s tariffs on file with the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia. All rates, terms and conditions included in this notice are subject to change and are current at the time of printing. Contact Washington, DC Lifeline Program at 1-800-253-0846 to apply To learn more about the Lifeline program, visit www.lifelinesupport.org. Economy II is a Lifeline supported service. Lifeline is a government assistance program. Only eligible consumers may enroll. You may qualify for Lifeline service if you can show proof that you participate in certain government assistance programs or your annual income (gross and from all sources) is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guideline. If you qualify based on income, you will be required to provide income verification. Proof of participation in a government assistance program requires your current or prior year’s statement of benefits from a qualifying state or federal program; a notice letter or other official document indicating your participation in such a program; and/or another program participation document (for example, benefit card). Proof of income requires your prior year’s state or federal tax return; current income statement from an employer or paycheck stub; a statement of Social Security, Veterans Administration, retirement, pension, or Unemployment or Workmen’s Compensation benefits; a federal notice letter of participation in General Assistance; a divorce decree; a child support award; and/or another official document containing income information. At least three months of data is necessary when showing proof of income. In addition, the Lifeline program is limited to one discount per household, consisting of either wireline or wireless service. You are required to certify and agree that no other member of the household is receiving Lifeline service from Verizon or another communications provider. Lifeline service is a non-transferable benefit. Lifeline customers may not subscribe to certain other services, including other local telephone service. Consumers who willfully make false statements in order to obtain the Lifeline benefit can be punished by fine or imprisonment, or can be barred from the program.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

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J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Don’t fall for these five infomercial tricks By Joseph Pisani Infomercials that sell shampoos, zit creams and the latest weight loss gadgets can be hard to turn away from. But before you pick up that phone, you should know that the “low, low prices” and “easy monthly payments” advertised are not always what you’ll pay. “There are many problems with infomercials,” said Edgar Dworsky, the editor of consumer resource guide ConsumerWorld.org. “Not all of them are misleading, but many are.” Leaving aside whether the miracle products really work as well as advertised (some do, but always check out online reviews at Amazon.com or elsewhere), you have to be careful and aware that the $19.95 price touted often will wind up being a lot more. One popular tactic: adding high processing and handling fees. The company behind the Snuggie, Perfect Bacon Bowl and other “As Seen on TV” products agreed to pay $8 million in March to settle charges that it deceived customers. The Federal Trade Commission said costumers were led to believe they would be getting two $19.95 products for less than $10 each, but actually paid $35.85 when a processing and handling fee was added. Allstar Marketing Group said it always believed it followed the law and said that it has made changes to make costs easier to understand. Still, bad players are out there. Here’s what to look out for: 1. Stealth subscriptions Get real close to the TV and read the fine print: Some marketers will automatically put customers on a subscription plan. That means customers will be charged periodically to ship products. This is espe-

cially common from those hawking face creams, hair conditioners and other beauty products. In the infomercial, a warning is often written in tiny print under the price, said Dworsky, who also edits MousePrint.org, which exposes the fine print in advertising. 2. Easy payments — that add up Break out the calculator: Expensive gadgets are sometimes broken up into “easy payments” that makes the product seem cheaper. They might say, for example, that you’ll pay $39.95 in four easy payments, adding up to $160. 3. Buy one get one (not) free Freebies can be far from free. A “free second item” can sometimes come with high processing fees. Before making a purchase, customers should call and ask the company what the total charges will be, including shipping, handling and fees, said Dworsky. 4. Upsell! Upsell! Upsell! If you buy a product online or through the phone, you may be pushed to buy extra products you don’t need. If you fall for it, you’ll also likely pay extra processing, handling and shipping costs, pushing your bill even higher. 5. “Trial” period — for a price! Be aware that free trials aren’t forever (and sometimes trials aren’t even free). Ask what the cost will be if you decide to keep the product. “The price shown is often just the price of trying the product,” said Dworsky. “If you want to keep it, a much higher price is charged.” You should also be very clear on what you have to do if you decide to return the product. Who pays for return shipping, by when does it have to be returned, and how difficult will it be? — AP

ETFs

dustry has led to lower overall costs for investors, and this has put pressure on mutual funds to maintain lower fund costs as well. It has made it easier for investors to have a wide selection of alternatives for index funds and other funds at lower costs. And in the long run, minimizing costs is crucial to superior investment results. Elliot Raphaelson welcomes your questions and comments at elliotraph@gmail.com. © 2015 Elliot Raphaelson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

From page 38 selections and pay a manager an annual fee equal to 1 or 2 percent of assets invested. Unfortunately, it is not easy to outperform low-cost index funds or ETFs on a long-term basis. I hope your advisor has been outperforming the well-known indexes. I suggest you make the comparison yourself. Fortunately, the growth of the ETF in-

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Ongoing

SENIOR CENTER ASSISTANT NEEDED The Bailey’s Senior Center in Falls Church needs a volunteer office

assistant to answer phones, greet and check in participants, and complete data entry. For more information about this and other volunteer opportunities, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/olderadults and click on Volunteer Solutions or call (703) 324-5406, TTY 711.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

Say you saw it in the Beacon

A Special Supplement to The Beacon newspaper

Page 6 Senior discounts! June 2015/No. 37 March 2015/No. 36

Charles E. Smith Life Communities is home to the largest number of Holocaust survivors in the metropolitan area. Joel Appelbaum, co-chairman of the Progress Club Foundation, is committed to supporting the annual brunch in their honor.

Clara Miles, 91, survived the Holocaust and today lives at Revitz House. This pre-World War II photo of her with her mother and a brother was among the few family possessions remaining from that period.

Teaching lessons of the Holocaust For Clara Miles, born in Poland in 1924, the life she knew and loved as a child vanished in 1939 as the first German tanks rolled into her native country. Parents, siblings, grandparents, a beautiful home, and cultural and educational advantages — all were lost. Her father, a successful industrialist in Lodz, made every attempt to save the family, but it was to no avail. At age 17, Clara wound up a forced laborer at HASAG, a German armaments factory located in Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland. “I lived on one slice of bread per day there,” she recalls bitterly, as she describes the misery, deprivation, and cloud of death overhanging the camp. One chilling memory of that period stands out involving a Nazi guard staring into her eyes as she lay in quarantine, a victim of typhus.The next day, she says, he ordered the other patients killed — she alone was spared. Transferred later to a second HASAG camp, Clara was liberated in 1945 and returned to Lodz. Discovering that her family perished and Poles now occupied her house, she immediately left the city, and joined by an Auschwitz survivor, Abraham

Milewski, sought shelter at a displaced persons camp near Stuttgart, Germany. Shortly thereafter, the two survivors sailed to New York, marrying May 6, 1946, aboard their vessel. Changing their last name to Miles, Clara and Abe rebuilt their lives. Abe became a leading pattern maker for the fashion industry, and, once their children were grown, Clara joined the sales team at Alexander’s Department Store. In retirement, she devoted her energies to volunteer work. Clara moved to Revitz House in 2013. This year, she was a guest at the fifth annual brunch organized to pay tribute to Holocaust survivors residing at Charles E. Smith Life Communities. Hosted at Ring House by the Progress Club Foundation, with their co-chairman Joel Appelbaum as the driving force, the event has become an unparalleled opportunity for survivors, now in their 80s and 90s, to share stories with family and friends, and to celebrate the human capacity to regain joy and purpose in life. View our video from the brunch at www.youtube.com/c/hebrew-homeorg. n

Inside this issue

Meet Bruce Lederman

Ellen and Stuart Lessans, special ”menschen“

BeFit Brain Gym

HEBREW HOME • SMITH-KOGOD & WASSERMAN RESIDENCES • COHEN-ROSEN HOUSE ELDERSAFE CENTER • HIRSH HEALTH CENTER • LANDOW HOUSE • REVITZ HOUSE • RING HOUSE

Teens bestow grants

J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Read our newest annual report Moments that Matter online at www.smithlifecommunities.org.

Administration

First person

Meet the new COO

Amazing things happen when a community is actively engaged in an organization. The 105th annual meeting on May 6 provided an opportunity for me to review not only the accomplishments of the past year, but also to assess what has transpired during my 20 years as President/CEO. We have grown and thrived, strengthened our financial position, expanded our scope of services, become a center of expertise in aging, and solidified our structure into a respected healthcare system. I am filled with gratitude to the staff, volunteers, and supporters who have ensured our current position. I’d like to tell you about two individuals who exemplify the high caliber of our leadership. Joseph B. Hoffman, a partner in the Washington, DC law office of Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, was installed as chair in May. A Bethesda resident, Joe is an active member of Congregation Beth El of Montgomery County and has played a significant role here for many years. One important theme of his chairmanship will be to engage new individuals on our board and committees. Attorney Steven H. Oram, founding principal of Oram & Moss Chartered, was honored with the Chair’s Award for his deep commitment to philanthropy, Jewish community, and caring for those who are vulnerable. Informed and involved advocates truly shape the trajectory of an organization, and Steve exemplifies the impact they can make. I invite you to join these outstanding individuals and all of the board members, donors, and volunteers who are shaping our future today.

We are pleased to announce that Bruce J. Lederman has been named senior vice president, chief operating officer at Charles E. Smith Life Communities. With an impressive background in the senior care industry, Lederman possesses exceptional executive, operational, and strategic experience. He has served successfully in the financial services industry and as a volunteer leader at a major Jewish eldercare organization. He comes to us from Midwest Administrative Services Inc., a skilled nursing-care facilities operation based in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was chief strategy officer. Mr. Lederman earned a bachelor’s degree Chief Operating Officer, Bruce J. Lederman from the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, a law degree from DePaul University, and a Green Belt Certificate in Six Sigma, a performance-improvement management methodology. Please join us in extending a special welcome to Mr. Lederman. We look forward to the energy, new ideas, and fresh approach that he will bring to our campus. n

Photos by Randy Sager

105th Annual Meeting

Warren R. Slavin President/CEO Charles E. Smith Life Communities

Above, Warren Slavin and Steven H. Oram, recipient of the 2015 Chair’s Award. “The Hebrew Home – now Charles E. Smith Life Communities – has been a great personal fit for me,” said Joseph B. Hoffman, incoming chair. “It matches my passion for the elderly with a charitable mission in an organization where I’ve developed close friendships and been embraced by a community.” From left, Marc Solomon, outgoing chair and Joe Hoffman.

Enjoying the 105th Annual Meeting are Gary and Lori Saffitz, Bruce Lederman, and past Chair Hanita Schreiber.

In our mailbox Dear Mr. Slavin,

r appreciation for uld like to express ou wo I d an , sa en Sh yl r My sister, Cher m, Simi Goodman. Fo who cared for our mo ff sta e th r fo d an the Hebrew Home the Smith-Kogod in the 2 East Unit of ed liv mi Si e, lif r he the last six years of

hard life and while Residence. derstand. Simi had a un to n rso pe sy ea an Simi was not er feelings because didn’t reveal her tend e sh le, op pe r fo ly she could care deep but she could also be She could be sweet, g. on str be to d ha e she always felt sh the aides, nurses, es yelling. Somehow tim me so al, ion sit po ” Simi. demanding and op shell; they really “got rd ha s m’ mo r ou h ug ff saw thro really and housekeeping sta l with her, which she yfu pla n te of d an , ive ring, attent They were patient, ca ger had the energy in January and no lon g nin cli de d rte sta Simi’s liked. When Simi enjoyed and missed ey th ch mu w ho me members told to yell, several staff feisty ways. ial changes in a homes make substant ng rsi nu me so at th e We are awar are grateful to the ns out of money. We ru t en sid re e th en for her patient’s care wh eded help, for caring ne st fir e sh en wh cepting Simi Hebrew Home for ac changes when she her care without any ing inu nt co r fo d an these many years, pay to Medicaid. transitioned from fullSincerely, n Shensa as and Cheryl Goodma Meryl Goodman Thom

Page 2 | June 2015

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

Say you saw it in the Beacon

“We’ve made Charles E. Smith Life

Communities a beneficiary in our wills so that others can get the same great care our mother got.” — Ken and Marsha Braunstein To learn how you can do the same, contact Elana Lippa at 301.770.8342 or lippa@ceslc.org.

www.smithlifecommunities.org

Special menschen

Educational symposium Symposium sheds light on benefits of WHOLEistic Care for Seniors

Lessans gift endows annual symposium

‘‘

My mom and dad always impressed upon me the joys and benefits of study and learning, to value education, and to show the utmost respect for my teachers. I know they would feel extremely honored to have their names and legacy associated with this great educational experience provided by a truly remarkable institution. — Stuart Lessans, MD

’’

Dr. Lessans grew up in a close-knit Baltimore family steeped in Jewish values. His parents instilled in him the importance of charity and justice, a respect for learning, and a love of Jewish community causes. He once served as a volunteer ophthalmologist in the Home’s eye clinic, where he developed an appreciation for the “care and professionalism of the staff and their kindness and gentleness towards the elderly residents.” n

Noted integrative medicine expert and media personality Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH, FACP, shared some upbeat advice on April 24 at Charles E. Smith Life Communities’ Sara and Samuel J. Lessans Healthcare Symposium. WHOLEistic Care for Seniors: Strategies for Clinicians and Caregivers, emphasized the proven benefits of combining traditional and alternative approaches to address the mind, body, and spirit.

‘‘

It’s never too early, and it’s never too late to take steps to improve our bodies and minds.

Photo by Randy Sager

Retired ophthalmologist Dr. Stuart Lessans has attended all of our educational symposia, including April’s event. Designed to provide new perspectives for caregivers and healthcare professionals, these events have covered a range of critical topics including: New Frontiers in Dementia Care, Transitions in Care, Care Coordination for Older Patients, and Palliative Care. “As a physician, I am well aware of the effort that goes into planning and executing such a high-level learning experience,” said Dr. Lessans. “The fact that it is developed with the support of Suburban Hospital and Johns Hopkins Medicine for Continuing Medical Education credit gives it added prestige.” He and his wife, Dr. Ellen Lessans, a psychologist, have now taken the important step of making a substantial endowment gift to support and ensure the continuation of these programs. The renamed Sara and Samuel J. Lessans Healthcare Symposium will honor the memory of Stuart Lessans’ parents and set an inspirational example for the couple’s teenage twins Matthew and Faye. “It is with utmost pleasure that I thank the Lessans family for their generosity,” said Warren R. Slavin, Stuart Lessans, seated, with his wife Ellen and their children Matthew and Faye. President/CEO of Charles E. Smith Life Communities.

’’

Dr. Peeke delivered an informative and entertaining keynote address, engaging the 120 attendees with data and numerous insights for optimal aging and brain health, centered around three pillars of wellness that she labels the Three Ms: Mind, Mouth, and Muscle. Among the highlights: a rundown on the scientifically-proven benefits of physical activity, sleep, adaptability, social interaction, fun, daily learning, and a diet rich in greens, nuts, and berries. “There’s a reason walnuts look like your brain,” she joked. The morning began with Chair Joseph B. Hoffman announcing that Dr. Stuart Lessans with his wife Dr. Ellen Lessans made an extraordinary gift honoring his parents to support the continuation of this important educational series. The program also featured specialized tracks on incorporating alternative medicine into a patient’s overall care plan; guiding patients from acute illness to wellness through the village concept, use of health navigators, and prevention of readmission; and recognizing elder abuse. The symposium was presented by Charles E. Smith Life Communities, and Sibley Memorial and Suburban Hospitals, members of Johns Hopkins Medicine. It was sponsored by Minkoff Company, Inc., and Optum, and offered continuing education credits in many fields. n

Keynote speaker Dr. Pamela Peeke, center, with Drs. Ellen and Stuart Lessans. Arms up! Symposium attendees learned Tai Chi, a method of gentle movement to boost health and well-being.

LifeTimes | Page 3

J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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70 percent of our Post-Acute Care Center patients recover

and return home.

Call 301.770.8476 Specialized fitness Revamped Wellness Center opens at Revitz “Our wellness team provides innovative approaches to helping you open the door to a better quality of life,” announced Ann Matesi, director of Rehabilitation at Charles E. Smith Life Communities, at the opening of the Revitz House Rehabilitation and Wellness Center. This revitalized center benefits from a generous gift from Dr. Norman Rosenthal in gratitude for kindness to his mother-in-law at Revitz House, and in memory of his mother Esta Rosenthal. The sleekly redesigned two-room space features state-of-the-art equipment to enhance a wide variety of individualized and goal-oriented treatment programs aimed at “reshaping lives and restoring lost abilities after an illness or injury,” explained Matesi. These programs focus on balance, mobility, strengthening, pain reduction, low-vision compensation, memory re-training, driving re-training, and incontinence improvement. Clinical problems that can now be more effectively addressed are orthopedic, neurological, cardio-pulmonary, and cognitive in nature. The center’s popular holistic wellness program – Smart Moves – will also use the space to help seniors address body and mind through health education and fitness classes, safety clinics, personal training, and senior fitness testing. To learn more about independent living services at Revitz House call 301.770.8450. n The Revitz House therapy team, from left: Caryl Liao Aluben, physical therapist; Kristen Brown, occupational therapist; Crystal Key, wellness coordinator; and Ann Matesi, director of Rehabilitation at Charles E. Smith Life Communities.

The new center will help residents more effectively achieve improvements in health, flexibility, and mobility.

Page 4 | June 2015

“William Panton loves crossword puzzles,” said his therapist Janet Cartwright-Smith. “But, weakness in his right hand made writing too difficult.” At the BeFit Gym, he can use the computer to get back to his puzzles — and exercise his brain in the process.

The new BeFit Brain Gym The word “gym” conjures up treadmills, weights, and aerobics classes. However, the new BeFit Brain Gym, an extension of the Post-Acute Care Center at Charles E. Smith Life Communities, is, as its name implies, the opposite: it is a cognitive gym, designed to provide innovative memory programs for individuals who could benefit from specialized cognitive retraining and rehabilitation therapy. This gym is quiet. With modern sound-absorbing strategies for the walls and insulation, a calming décor, modified lighting, and gently-shaded windows, the gym’s soothing environment minimizes distractions to allow users to focus unhindered on memory improvement programs that have been customized to address their clinically-determined cognitive needs. Such needs may include problem-solving and reasoning skills, comprehension, organization and planning, time and money management, language and communication, functional mobility and safety, and independent living skills. Our clinicians implement attention and memory exercise regimens and compensatory strategies that increase the capacity for memory recall and the ability to retain new information. To learn more about the BeFit Brain Gym and its innovative services, contact Ann Matesi, director of Rehabilitation at Charles E. Smith Life Communities 301.770.8451. n

WHO CAN BENEFIT from Cognitive and Memory Management:

n n n n n

Individuals having difficulty with cognitive demands related to money and medication management. Individuals at risk for social isolation due to communication and cognitive difficulties. Individuals who are at risk for falls. Individuals who demonstrate behaviors such as wandering and memory loss that affect their safety and quality of life. Individuals whose cognitive deficits affect their ability to sustain proper nutrition and hydration.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Summer treat: toasted marshmallow shotglass Ingredients: Regular size marshmallows; Any flavor liqueur; for kids, use chocolate milk 1. Heat electric or gas burner to high. 2. Stick a fork in a marshmallow, being careful not to pierce the bottom. 3. Holding the marshmallow 2-3” over the burner, brown all sides, excluding the top where the fork is. Use a second fork to support the marshmallow while browning the bottom.

Volunteer appreciation

4. Slide the marshmallow onto a plate and let cool. The inside will implode naturally. 5. Pour liqueur or chocolate milk into the cooled marshmallow cup and enjoy immediately. If you wait too long, it will soak through the marshmallow. 6. Eat the marshmallow! See the video on YouTube.

Experiencing philanthropy

Shmooze Group leaders recognized

H2YP balances needs and resources

Israeli elections, a Justice Department nominee, the anniversary of the Selma marches — these were among the hot topics recently generating discussion at a gathering of the weekly Men’s Shmooze Group, one of the Hebrew Home’s most popular programs for residents. Retired lawyer Arnold Hammer became leader of the group in 2003, and a few years later enlisted Harold Schneiberg to be his partner. For their efforts to enrich lives and bring joy and friendship to residents, Arnie and Harold were honored with the 2015 Kitty Davis Volunteer Service Award at the April 17 Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. It is an award richly deserved. Every week, Hammer, 72, and Schneiberg, 79, fill the hour-long session with stories from headline news. “The goal,” Hammer says, “is to keep these guys current with what’s going on in the world and promote camaraderie.” A while back they added a feature called Bum of the Month, which never runs out of contenders. Meetings always end with This Day in History, in quizformat, and the group members love the challenge of remembering dates, names, and events of the past. They also get a kick out of sharing the occasional joke. To see group participants, often Arnold Hammer and Harold Schneiberg received the in wheelchairs, happily schmoozing 2015 Kitty Davis Volunteer Service Award. underscores the appeal of learning at any age — as well as the pleasure and satisfaction that comes from volunteering. “I love what I do here,” said Schneiberg. “It’s an upper.” “We’ve met many fine, very smart gentlemen who have been inspirational for us,” Hammer explained. “It’s uplifting to know that seniors coping with adversity can still retain a positive attitude — and gratifying to understand that we can make even one person’s day better.” n

Ten local high school students learned about balancing needs and resources to achieve the greatest philanthropic impact as participants in the sixth season of the innovative Harold and Shirley Robinson H2YP Youth Philanthropy Program. Working as a foundation board, students reviewed staff proposals and ultimately awarded $7,500 in grants to projects that serve campus seniors. Funds came from an endowment and contributions of $250 from each participant. On May 3, the students presented checks to these projects:

LifeTimes is published quarterly by the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, Inc., dba Charles E. Smith Life Communities. The Hebrew Home is a registered charity in Maryland and Virginia. A copy of the Home’s financial statement is available from the Maryland Secretary of State or the Virginia State Office of Consumer Affairs. We are an equal opportunity employer and we provide access to community programs without regard to race, age, national origin, familial status, religion, sex, or disability. Our services and programs are open to all in the community.

ll About Town: $2,150 – To help pay admission fees to various A cultural, sports, and entertainment events usical Memories: $1,794 – To purchase noise-canceling M headphones for use in music therapy to help stimulate memory recall in residents with dementia and hearing loss evitz House Community Garden: $1,576 – To purchase R plants and gardening tools ing House Opera Club: $1,300 – To support musical R enrichment with recorded and live opera performances alliative Care Resources: $680 – To purchase 200 books for P residents and families that address end-of-life issues. Martha Eseme of Blair High School said she particularly enjoyed meeting the Hebrew Home residents. “This gave my peers and me an opportunity to have real contact with the people we were trying to help.” Applications for the 2016 season will be available in the fall. n

Joseph B. Hoffman, chair Warren R. Slavin, president/CEO Abbey S. Fagin, v p, Development and Public Affairs Marilyn Feldman, director, Communication Hannah Buchdahl, assoc. director, Communication Emily Tipermas, communication specialist © 2015 by Hebrew Home of Greater Washington 6121 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852 301.881.0300 www.smithlifecommunities.org

While Charles E. Smith Life Communities partners with The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington on community issues, we are not a beneficiary agency.

Support us through a gift to United Way

3 check 8111 or CFC n 3 check 49705. n

Participants in the 2015 Harold and Shirley Robinson H2YP Program Back row: Sydney Geifman, Lauren Chmara, Martha Eseme, and Zelin Liu. Front row: Phoebe West, Stephanie Prussick, Sophie Lavine, and Rabbi Sarah Meytin, H2YP director. Not pictured: Jessica Cohn, Lauren Heimberg, and Nicky Lindenberg.

LifeTimes | Page 5

J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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Elder abuse triples the risk of premature death. The ElderSAFE Center is here to help. Referrals from community agencies are accepted at 301.816.5099 *Source: The Journal of the American Medical Association, “The Mortality of Elder Mistreatment”

Sharing our expertise

Caregiver Seminar – Tuesday, June 9 Adult children of aging parents may feel the tasks of caregiving are taking over their lives. Many often have difficulty balancing the needs of children, jobs, and friends. Moreover, there never seems to be enough energy for personal needs when days are consumed with concerns about what will make a parent happy, healthy, and safe. If this sounds familiar, come to the June 9 Remember This seminar titled, Know Thy Parent, Know Thyself: A Self Exploration Journey for Caregivers. Our speaker is Jennifer Fitzpatrick, MSW, LCSW-C, founder of Jenerations Health Education, Inc., adjunct instructor at Johns Hopkins University, and education consultant for the Alzheimer’s Association. The program, sponsored by the Hurwitz Lecture Fund, is free and begins at 6:00 p.m. at Landow House; a light supper is offered at 5:30 p.m. One CEU is available for social workers and assisted-living managers. Register online at www.smithlifecommunities.org or call Jill Berkman at 301.816.5052 to learn more. n

Creative residents earn exhibit spots at JCC More than two dozen residents from the campus of Charles E. Smith Life Communities had their works of art on display from May 10 to June 2 at the JCC of Greater Washington’s annual exhibit for senior artists. A Lifetime of Perspective: Art by Older Adults showcased art created by more than 100 nonprofessional, locally-based seniors, including centenarian Edith Bloom (right) of Revitz House. Thanks to the encouragement of our art instructors, Lee Hall, at the Hebrew Home and Revitz House and Deborah Rittenhouse at Ring House and Landow House, artistically-inspired residents stretched their imaginations and skills to create pieces to submit to the exhibit. A quick virtual tour of the exhibit is posted on our website at www.smithlifecommunities.org. n

Thrifty is Nifty! For a sixth year, On the Trail for Senior Discounts is back, with two suggestions. First, read Tips for Getting the Best Senior Discounts at www.theseniorlist.com. Next, check out our own updated list of local discounts, posted at www. smithlifecommunities.org. Help us expand the list with discounts you’ve discovered — or that your business offers. Email recommendations to info@ceslc.org or call 301.770.8371.

Consider us partners in the discount quest! Page 6 | June 2015

At Charles E. Smith Life Communities, we celebrated National Nurses Week. This year’s theme: Ethical Practice and Quality Care. “On this campus,” said RN Carol Shapiro, performance improvement manager, “our goal is to provide the very finest person-centered nursing care for each resident.”

Online now at www.smithlifecommunities.org: • Find local discounts for seniors • Read our newest annual report, Moments that Matter • Watch the Video: Charles E. Smith Life Communities

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N â&#x20AC;&#x201D; J U N E 2 0 1 5

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Several four-legged visitors from the not-for-profit Hero Dogs stopped by the Hebrew Home on May 26, to provide some extra-special rehab therapy. At left, therapy patient Harriet Hydro brushes the coat of a Hero dog named Teddy as her daughter Chris looks on.

People in the news

Charles E. Smith Life Communities has taken a big green step, replacing all fluorescent bulbs on campus with LEDs, which are brighter, last longer, and promise to lower energy costs.

Hebrew Home resident Myrna Fogel, 80, has accomplished what she never had a chance to do when she was 13: she celebrated her Bat Mitzvah. Clinical Pastoral Education intern Sabrina Sojourner, left, helped with her training.

Appreciation Luncheon At the 2015 Employee Appreciation Luncheon, Shining Star awards for exemplary service were presented to the Smith-Kogod 4 West staff, above, and to the Laundry Department, with Antoinina Bellamy and Ray Parks accepting on behalf of the group.

Rabbi James R. Michaels gave an eye-opening lecture about Jewish perspectives on medical ethics at Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nai Israel Congregation in April. Ring House residents in the audience said they gained a better understanding of the complexity of end-of-life care decisions. Nana-Bilkisu Habib, right, daughter of Environmental Services Supervisor Abdul Habib, and Nellie Vinograd (not pictured) daughter of Social Worker Mary Vinograd, were the two recipients of the Judge Milton Korman Scholarship Fund this year, each receiving $2,500 for college.

ElderSAFE Center Director Tovah Kasdin spoke April 14 before the Montgomery County Council when the Center was honored by Proclamation for offering shelter and referrals to victims of elder abuse. Presenting the award: Councilmembers Marc Elrich and Sidney Katz. Joining Tovah are Kerry Ann Aleibar, case manager, Barbara Hirsch, vp, Quality/Corporate Compliance, and Andrew Friedlander, Board of Governors, far right.

LifeTimes | Page 7

J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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Our calendar JUNE

SEPTEMBER

Hashanah 13 Rosh starts at sundown

Remember This Seminar for Caregivers Know Thy Parent, Know Thyself Jennifer Fitzpatrick, MSW, LCSW-C Jenerations Health Education, Inc. 5:30 p.m., light supper; 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., lecture, Landow House RSVP: 301.816.5052

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Co-sponsored by ElderSAFE Senior Safety: Combating Financial Exploitation; Noon – 3:00 p.m., Holiday Park Senior Center Call 240.777.1131

is: ber Th l ia Remearm uc cr addressing

Free semin ory care for entia and mem m de in cs pi to ity caregivers and commun al on si es of pr

ne 9 at 5:30 Tuesday, Ju ick, MSW, LCSW-C

tr Jennifer Fitzpa Inc. lth Education, ea H ns tio Jenera son Street er ff , 1799 E. Je se ou H ow Land 6:00 p.m. p.m., Lecture: 30 5: : er pp Light su

23 Yom Kippur

starts at sundown

OCTOBER

Home Run 10K, 5K and Fun Run Mark your calendar – start training! Online registration opens soon

President’s Circle Dinner - for major donors National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. By invitation

52 ll 301.816.50

To register, ca

Elder SAFE

Charles E. Smith Life Communities

Safeguarding senior s fr om abuse• www .elder safe.or g

Builders of the Future Society Luncheon for donors Wasserman Residence; 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.; Dedication of the new donor wall. RSVP: 301.770.8409

JULY

Summer Open House at Ring House Come in out of the heat, have some refreshments, and tour our beautifully renovated apartments! 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., 1801 East Jefferson St., Rockville, MD, 20852

AUGUST Jongg and Bridge for Fun at Ring House 12 Mah 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., $5 includes lunch;

Seminar & Complimentary Luncheon for Clergy Faith and Safety: Partnering with Faith Leaders to Support Older Victims of Abuse Speaker: Rev. Dr. Anne Marie Hunter, director Safe Havens Interfaith Partnership against Domestic Violence 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Wasserman Residence; Call 301.770.8409

OTHER EVENTS 1st Sunday of the month – Jewish War Veterans Meeting Ring House, 10:00 a.m., Veterans and interested persons welcome. 2nd Monday of the month – Family Caregiver Support Group Presented jointly by Ring House and JSSA Senior Services. Free, open to the community. Ring House, noon – 1:30 p.m. Call 301.816.2635

RSVP: 301.816.5052

Spend the day with

Dragons&Hearts 'k;l

Learn more about community events, resident programs, and news for families at www.smithlifecommunities.org

How to Reach Us n Cohen-Rosen House n ElderSAFE Center n H irsh Health ebrew Home n H 301.816.5050 301.816.5099 Center Post-Acute Care www.cohen-rosen.org www.eldersafe.org 301.816.5004 Center and long-term care n L andow House n R evitz House n Ring House 301.770.8476 301.816.5050 301.770.8450 301.816.5012 www.hebrew-home.org www.landowhouse.org www.revitzhouse.org www.ringhouse.org Page 8 | June 2015

Facebook.com/CESLC @CESLCHHGW www.youtube.com/c/hebrew-homeorg

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Travel

Leisure &

Cruise ships in Antarctica allow passengers to get close-up views of glaciers, penguins and humpback whales. See story on page 51.

A cool respite in N.H.’s White Mountains

PHOTO COURTESY OF OMNI MOUNT WASHINGTON HOTEL

when these 1,500-pound animals are upset, their back hairs stand up straight. There are bears, too. A flyer announces, “You’re in bear country. If you find yourself close to a bear, talk to it in a calm voice and slowly back away.” Welcome to “the whites” — the White Mountains. Since the 1800s, people have swarmed to this mountain landscape to escape the summer heat. In the cold months, winter sports enthusiasts descend. The wild terrain, rippling streams and clean air rejuvenate. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote of these, saying, “The good of going into the mountains is that life is reconsidered.” Poet Robert Frost had his “mountain interval” in the tiny town of Franconia, N.H. from 1915 to 1920. He roamed the woods and, sitting on his farmhouse porch, became a “fugitive from the world.” He went to these mountains “to fix myself,” he wrote. Whether it’s fishing for horn pout, enjoying a cool sprinkle under a waterfall, chugging up a mountain on a cogwheel train, or sipping Chardonnay on the longest veranda in New England, it’s all here in the Granite State — “friendly, laid back and peaceful,” as the clerk at Fosters Crossroads General Store in the tiny village of Carroll puts it.

The sprawling 113-year-old Omni Mount Washington Hotel is the only hotel in the U.S. with its own ZIP code. It has a 906-foot veranda, and the hotel’s Great Hall has 23-foot-high ceilings.

Towns, trails and more In poking around New Hampshire in the coming months, visitors are likely to happen upon some political hoopla. New Hampshire is front and center these days as U.S. Presidential candidates pop into towns to woo voters, as the state is the second to hold a primary next year (Feb. 9). The village of Dixville Notch is famous because people vote at the stroke of midnight on Election Day. The maple museum at Rocks Estate features the history and crafting of maple syrup in a working sugarhouse, as well as a virtual tour of the sugaring process.

By Glenda Booth When my ears started popping, I realized I was gently ascending, easing up into New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Rounding a curve, my eyes started popping too, as gigantic granite cliffs and rocky bulges suddenly protruded from the mountainside. A region of dramatic peaks and passes, the White Mountains cover one quarter of the Granite State and are home to the east coast’s highest point — Mount Washington (6,288 feet). The area is known as the “Swiss Alps of the Americas.” At almost 800,000 acres, White Mountains National Forest is a vast expanse of rugged terrain, clear streams, forests, ravines, over 100 waterfalls and “notches” — New Hampshire-speak for mountain passes. Cascades (translation: waterfalls) tumble down over bulging boulders. An old Yankee proverb: “The crop that grows best here is rocks.” It’s also moose country. It seems like there’s a sign every five miles or so warning that unlucky drivers can experience a moose meander. Game officials warn that

One of New Hampshire’s 54 covered bridges, the Albany Covered Bridge, spans a quiet creek in the White Mountain National Forest.

Not virtual is a syrup tasting complemented by the traditional sour pickle. Franconia is best known for its “notch,” but tucked away one mile off the interstate is “The Frost Place” — Robert Frost’s homestead and now a center for poetry and the arts on the National Register of Historic Places. You can see a video about his life and explore the home, a small museum, and a nature trail with Frost’s poems posted on plaques along the way. The town of Jackson has an iconic, red covered bridge, right out of a storybook. For materialistic adventures, North Conway booms with tax-free shopping at hundreds of outlets. More relaxing is the Conway Scenic Railroad, offering several excursions powered by a 1921 steam engine. At the Littleton Diner, a target of candidates, locals’ conversations about moose sightings, moose-car crashes and back porch black bear visits might be more interesting than candidates’ pitches. In the spot on the map called Carroll on Route 3, Fosters Crossroads General Store hawks a little bit of anything and everything, from Skittles to skillets, plus moose hats, plates and bowls and moose ear candy. The front porch is often loaded with firewood and geraniums. It’s a good place

to get a fishing license. The Appalachian Trail, which snakes along on the mountains’ spine, is popular in summer and fall for both day and longer hikes. Do your research on the strenuousness of the trails, assemble appropriate gear and supplies, and choose your hike. Staff at the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) Information Center at Crawford Notch, in a former train depot built in 1891 and restored in 1985, give information and tips. Geologically speaking, the White Mountains represent 400 million years of change, explains a film in Franconia Notch State Park’s Flume Gorge Visitor Center. Here you can learn about glacial erratics and potholes, pesky black flies of May and June, and summer’s delicate pink lady slippers, the state’s wildflower. And for another lesson in New Hampshire-speak, explore the flume, a narrow gorge with flowing water. A gravel path takes you to 90-foot granite walls, tumbling waterfalls, fern-covered ground, a covered bridge and more.

Chugging up and down Mountains are there to be conquered, of See NEW HAMPSHIRE, page 50

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

New Hampshire From page 49 course, and today’s version of a “conquest” is a climb via cog railroad or vehicle. Built in 1866 and dubbed “Railway to the Moon” by its skeptics, the Mount Washington Cog Railroad (www.thecog.com) is powered by 600 horsepower engines that push the coach up at three miles an hour and pull it down at six. At the steepest grade, the front seats are 40 feet higher than the back seats. In the hour-long trip, riders can see ravines, wildflowers, evidence of snow avalanches, cairns and a few gutsy hikers. The crooked Krummolz dwarf balsam and black spruce are shaped by the mountain’s harsh wind and ice. Lucky riders might

J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

see ravens, bobcats, weasels, foxes or the varying hare. P.T. Barnum called the 360-degree views from the top, “The second greatest show on earth!” Visitors go from short-sleeve, balmy weather at the foot to the chilly, windy summit at 6,288 feet, shrouded in clouds 70 percent of the time. Here it can snow any day of the year. The mountaintop gets 175 to 250 inches of snow a year, and the weather changes quickly. The highest wind speed recorded here was 231 mph on April 12, 1934. Best sellers at the summit’s restaurant are clam chowder and chili. While thawing out inside, visitors can tour the Extreme Weather Museum or try the snowcat simulator. Visit www.mountwashington.org. You’ve seen the bumper stickers: “This

BEACON BITS

June. 25

TOPIARY GARDENS DAYTRIP

Green Springs Gardens presents a daytrip to visit Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton, Md. on Thursday, June 25, which includes a tour of the house and gardens. Lunch is served on the grounds, and the trip ends with a stop at Putnam Hill Nursery to shop for annuals and perennials. The bus leaves at 8:15 a.m. and returns at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $96. Green Spring Gardens is located at 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria, Va. For more information or to register, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring and use code 290 290 0101 or call (703) 642-5173.

car climbed Mount Washington.” Some do take the white-knuckle drive, weather permitting (www.MtWashingtonAutoRoad.com). The Mount Washington Stage Line, a van, is another option (http://mtwashingtonautoroad.com/guided-tours).

A grand hotel Once, up to 50 trains a day took vacationers to the Omni Mount Washington Hotel at Bretton Woods, a “queen” in the Golden Era of Grand Hotels, from the late 1800s to the 1920s. Wealthy tourists descended for the summer — with their entourage of servants, nannies and tutors — to hobnob, take high tea, and spruce up in formal dinner attire. The hotel sits in a “bowl” at 1,000 feet, encircled by high mountains. From a distance, it rises like a white castle topped with cherry red roofs. It is famous as the site of the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference, where 700 delegates from 44 nations set the gold standard, which tied world currency to the U.S. dollar. They also created the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, efforts to help Japan and Europe rebuild. The hotel was secure then because people could get there easily only by train. On the National Register of Historic Places, its founder spared no expense when it opened in 1902. Then, each room had electricity and running water, services unheard of at the time. The hotel has a grand lobby, Tiffany glass, hand plaster and lamp chords covered in silky fabric. Rooms recall a bygone era with tall ceilings and windows you can open. Corner rooms have gas fireplaces. The resort also has 65 town homes, the Bretton Arms Inn (with 34 rooms geared to couples), and the Lodge, a more modest motel of 50 reasonably-priced rooms, with access to all the amenities. What’s to do here? The ski lift is free in

summer (until Columbus Day) up to the Latitude 44 Restaurant with terrific views. There’s 27 holes of golf, red clay tennis courts, three swimming pools, archery, horseback rides, hiking, ATV rides up a mountain, indoor climbing walls, fly fishing catch-and-release on the Anamoosic river, casting clinics, horse and carriage rides, a spa and, in summer, nightly entertainment. Rooms start at $179 a night. For more information, see www.omnihotels.com/hotels/bretton-woods-mount-washington or call (603) 278-1000.

If you go The White Mountains are popular in summer because temperatures are usually in the low 80s. Mount Washington’s cog railroad is huffing and puffing daily, and ski lifts offer top-of-the-mountain views. On the other hand, the mountains turn crimson and gold starting mid-September and traffic dies down. Winter is snowy but popular for winter sports, from skiing to dog sled rides. Many resorts make their own snow as well. The nearest airport is in Manchester, a two-hour drive. U.S. Airways is offering a roundtrip fare there from Washington Reagan National Airport for $260. Southwest Airline has several flights that start at $94 each way from BWI. Boston is 2.5 hours away. The Concord bus runs from Boston’s Logan Airport and South Station to several New Hampshire towns (www.concordcoachlines.com). In addition to the Omni Mount Washington Hotel, North Conway has many chain motels. Or find a B&B at http://www.nhbba.com. For visitor information: • White Mountains Visitors Bureau, www.visitwhitemountains.com White Mountain National Forest, www.fs.usda.gov/whitemountain • Jackson, N.H. Chamber of Commerce, www.jacksonnh.com

BEACON BITS

July 30

BAY LIGHTHOUSE CRUISE TRIP Arlington County presents a three-hour cruise on the Chesapeake

Bay on Thursday, July 30. See Thomas Point Lighthouse, Sandy Shoal and Baltimore Harbor Light. The trip includes a sandwich meal. Tickets cost $67 for residents; $70 for non-residents. Buses depart from the Thomas Jefferson Community Center, located at 3501 S. Second St., Arlington, Va. For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/ArlingtonTrips or call (703) 228-4744.

Contact MC311 for Montgomery County Government M Information and Services Call 311 to Get it Done! Tweet @311MC311 Visit MC311.com Call 240-777-0311

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

Visit Antarctica — the Earth’s last frontier By Luis Andres Henao They trekked snow-covered mountains, gasped at seals flopping along the coastline, and oohed at penguins waddling along on the ice. They even took in the spectacle of a humpback whale flapping its tail amid a sea of melting icebergs. But then the dozens of tourists — stranded on a cruise ship at the end of the world — could only stare up at the sky, waiting for several days of thick fog to clear so they could go home. “In Antarctica, you can plan all you like, but you can’t really schedule anything,” a local saying goes. It’s the last terrestrial tourism frontier that nature lovers, adventurers and explorers are rushing to visit. This tourist season, which runs November through March, more than 37,000 people are expected to visit the coldest continent on Earth — about 10 percent more than last season. While some tourists climb Mount Vinson, Antarctica’s highest point at almost 16,000 feet, others seek a chance to take in the views of other-worldly terrain or snap pictures of groups of penguins as they bop in and out of the water. Still others do extreme sports, like scuba diving in icy waters, or imagine themselves as early 20th-century explorers reenacting famous expeditions. High-profile visitors of recent years include Bill Gates and Prince Harry, while heavy-metal band Metallica rocked out for a small group of fans at the Carlini Argentine Base here in 2013. No matter the draw, a strong dose of humor, patience and humility — not to mention tens of thousands of dollars — are an essential part of any Antarctica vacation. Without fail, every year some tourists are left waiting for the sun to come out, or for a patchy Internet connection to work,

or even for help to get their stuck boots dislodged from the ice. “Was it worth it? Yes, of course it was,” said English tourist Christine Brannan, 65, recently holed up on the cruise ship. “But I would say to anybody who wants to do the flight and cruise to be aware of the unpredictability.” “It’s been fantastic,” chimed in husband John as the couple walked with other tourists to the airstrip. “It’s something we’ll never forget.”

Seeing a sliver of the continent Antarctica is roughly the size of the United States and Mexico combined. But tourists and the 4,000 or so scientists who live here part of the year mostly keep to areas that aren’t permanently frozen and where wildlife can be found. Those areas account for less than 2 percent of the continent. Most visitors arrive on the Antarctic Peninsula, accessible from southern Argentina and Chile by plane or ship. The next most popular destination is the Ross Sea on the opposite side of the continent, which visitors reach after sailing 10 days from New Zealand or Australia. The harsh environment requires vacationers to come with many essentials: water-resistant hiking boots, several layers of winter clothes, including long underwear and a parka, and powerful sun lotion and dark shades with extra ultraviolet protection. “I was awed by everything,” said Maria Estela Dorion, a retired nurse from Chile. “The snow-covered mountains, the sunsets, the sunrises. There are no words to describe Antarctica.”

Environmental concerns Although many tourists are well-heeled

retirees who mostly stay aboard cruise ships, conservationists worry about potentially devastating environmental damage from boat pollution and from the more adventurous visitors who hike or cross-country ski around sensitive sites, such as moss beds or bird breeding colonies during the Southern Hemisphere summer, when 24-hour daylight allows unrestricted access. Increasing foot traffic poses “particular risks of disturbance or contamination to

some of the last remaining essentially pristine areas on the planet,” said Alan Hemmings, an environmental consultant on polar regions. “We should not passively watch Antarctica being turned into a theme park.” Hemmings said several countries with territorial claims in Antarctica — including the United States, Great Britain, Argentina, Chile and others — have signed agreements to regulate tourism, but most are See ANTARCTICA, page 53

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J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Some advice if using credit cards abroad If you’re heading outside of the United New chip-based cards States this summer, get your plastic ready. Most of the developed world outside the And if you haven’t been out of U.S. has already switched to the country recently, you’ll “EMV” cards that use an emfind some changes — some to bedded chip to contain acyour benefit, some not so count information, while isgood. suers in the U.S. have stuck The longstanding basic with the magnetic stripe until “rule” remains valid: Put your recently. big charges on a credit card, Chip-card issuers outside and use an ATM (debit) card the U.S. have also adopted a for the local cash you need. system that requires users to Even with the fees, you lose enter a PIN (personal identifiTRAVEL TIPS less on foreign exchange cation number) rather than By Ed Perkins using plastic than by exchangsign their name when using ing currency. the card. Almost everybody considers the But some details have changed. chip-and-PIN system to be more secure

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You’ve probably noticed that more and more credit cards feature either no foreign transaction fee or a fee of only 1 percent to cover conversion costs by the MasterCard and Visa networks. If you don’t already have such a card, check with the various card comparison websites for a card that best meets your needs. Most large airports I’ve visited in Europe lately have replaced ATMs operated by legitimate banks, such as Barclays, Deutsche Bank, or PNB, with ATMs operated by foreign exchange companies. They prominently feature signs claiming “no withdrawal fee,” but instead they hit you with a really bad exchange rate — as bad as you get at the nearby exchange counter. Before you plan to use an airport ATM, check with your system’s online ATM locator to find ATMs operated by legitimate commercial banks, even if they’re outside the main terminal. Banks really hate to give consumers a good deal. So the Global ATM Network, which previously allowed Bank of America account holders to get foreign currency in much of the world with neither a fee nor an exchange surcharge, now charges a 3 percent conversion fee. And that means you’re better off with a debit card from one of the banks that absorb some or all foreign ATM transaction fees, including Ally Bank, USAA, several investment firm checking accounts, several online banks, and many small banks and credit unions. Send e-mail to Ed Perkins at eperkins@mind.net. © 2015 Tribune Content Services

CANOE TRIP

Montgomery County Senior Outdoor Adventures in Recreation (SOAR) presents a canoe trip through the Jug Bay Wildlife Sanctuary on Thursday, Aug. 13. Guided by a Park Naturalist, take a two- to threehour canoe tour through this 500-acre wildlife sanctuary bordering the Patuxent River in Anne Arundel County. The naturalist will discuss the waterfowl and plant life of the wetlands. The trip is for both experienced and less experienced canoeists. Bring a bag lunch. The trip costs $39 for residents; $54 for non-residents. The airconditioned van will depart from Olney Manor Park, 16601 Georgia Ave., Olney, Md. at 8:15 a.m. and return at 3:30 p.m. For more information, call (240) 777-4926.

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CROCHET AND KNIT

Yarn-Aholics is a crocheting and knitting group for adults. Join the group to discuss, learn and share knitting and crocheting ideas and projects. No registration is required. The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, July 1 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the George Mason Regional Library, located at 7001 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, Va. For more information, call (703) 256-3800.

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BEACON BITS

July 1

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than the old stripe-and-signature system. Most U.S. credit card issuers plan to switch to chip-enabled or “EMV” cards by October of this year, but your bank may not issue a new card in time for your trip. Many travel-oriented cards are now available with chips, and rather than wait for your bank to issue a new card, you can request an updated chip card. Your bank may not accommodate you, but you can certainly ask. Most U.S. card issuers have opted for a hybrid chip-and-signature system rather than chip-and-PIN, which, the experts say, is less secure than PIN cards. As a result, you may encounter compatibility problems even with a chip card. Apparently, the most serious problems occur when your only payment option is an unattended vending system. For the most part, your older signature credit card, stripe or chip, and magnetic-stripe ATM card will be accepted anywhere you interact with a salesperson. And in my recent overseas trips, I found most automated vending systems accepted my chip and stripe signature credit cards, and most bank ATMs accepted stripe debit cards. Only a few U.S. cards are chip-and-PIN. Among them, says CreditCardForum.com, are some credit cards from Barclays, Wells Fargo and Synchrony, along with a few debit cards. Recently, when a reader tried to buy a ticket online, the Norwegian Railway website refused his credit card because of “inadequate security” on U.S. cards. Instead, he had to use PayPal. I have no idea how widespread this problem is, but if you aren’t already signed up, PayPal can be useful when you run into credit card problems as well as for sending money. PayPal does, however, add

FARMERS AND ARTISTS MARKET

The City of Gaithersburg presents Main Street Farmers and Artists Markets on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Main Street Pavilion in Kentlands, Md. The event features local fresh produce, farm-to-table items, and unique handcrafted goods by local artists. Select farmers accept SNAP. Admission is free. For more information, call (301) 258-6350.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

Antarctica

the crew was rescued by a Chilean Navy cutter boat.

From page 51 nonbinding or nearly impossible to enforce. Many visitors are drawn here by the legacy of the so-called heroic era of Antarctic exploration from 1898 to 1915, when several adventurers braved harsh conditions, and sometimes died, to explore the mysterious continent. Some agencies even lead re-enactment expeditions of Ernest Shackleton’s desperate sea and land journey to a South Georgia Island whaling station in the southern Atlantic Ocean in 1916. After his ship was crushed by sea ice during an Antarctica expedition, Shackleton left 22 of his crew on remote Elephant Island and then set sail in a lifeboat on an 800-nautical-mile (1,482 kilometers) voyage to seek help. Thanks to Shackleton,

An expensive destination

Antarctica is not for budget travelers, and the sky is the limit when it comes to cost. At the top end, chartering a 35-meter yacht in Antarctica costs about $53,000 per week, while a 140-meter yacht runs more than $1 million a week, according to estimates by Superyachts.com. Tim Johnson, the founder of Londonbased TBJ Super Yachts, said demand is rising every year for clients wanting to explore “unchartered territory” in style. “This is the last frontier on the planet,” he noted. For those not quite part of the 1 percent, a 14-day expedition on the National Geographic Explorer ship costs between $12,000 and $24,000. A more affordable option is Antarctica XXI, which offers plane and cruise ship trips starting at $10,000 for six nights, which is on top of the cost to fly to southern Chile. Most tourists sleep on their cruise ships, which offer a bevy of fine-dinVisitors to Antarctica can view some of the nearly 600,000 Emperor penguins that inhabit the continent. Tourists travel to Antarctica in the Southern Hemisphere’s spring and summer months, from November to March, but even then weather can be unpredictable and brutally cold. Most tourists travel aboard comfortable cruise ships.

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ing options and onboard entertainment between several excursions to see the landscapes and animals. No matter how tourists arrive, weather delays are the norm. During the recent patch of heavy fog, for six days planes could not take off or land on King George, leaving guides to deal with more than 100 frustrated tourists. Despite the unpredictable weather and high costs, tourism in Antarctica has become increasingly popular since the 1980s, when on average fewer than 2,000 visitors came per year. The peak was in 2007-2008, when 46,000 people visited, according to the Rhode Island-based International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. “It’s definitely on many people’s bucket list,” said Steven Cowpe, who leads expeditions for Antarctica Bound, a United King-

dom-based travel agency. “You feel like you’re at the end of the planet because it’s so wild. And when you come back, you feel like you have achieved something great, even if you’re not an explorer.”

For more information Antarctica cruise and expedition ships: www.antarcticaxxi.com National Geographic expeditions: www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com/ expeditions/antarctica-cruise/detail Antarctica excursions from Chile: http://dap.cl/?lang=en Antarctica maps and tips: www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/an.htm Antarctica Tour Operators Association: http://iaato.org/home — AP

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J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Style Arts &

Say ‘Happy Birthday’ to columnist Bob Levey, who wants doctors to get all the credit. See page 59.

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 Rut-

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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.

ledge (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 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 paintSee 1776, page 56

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WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

Finding humor, pathos among oldest pros By Michael Toscano It’s evening on Memorial Day 2015, gently warm at sunset on the first night of what we think of as summer. It’s been a day of ceremonies, both solemn and joyous, and families. It’s time now to settle in at home and get ready for the shortened week ahead. But on this evening, in a multi-purpose room at Christ Lutheran Church on 16th Street in D.C., a family of another sort is at work. There are five actors, a director, and a pianist at work rehearsing a play. It is Paula Vogel’s The Oldest Profession, which as you might well imagine, could also be described as being about a non-traditional family of unconventional women. It’s being staged by Rainbow Theatre Project at Flashpoint’s cozy black-box theatre from June 4 to 21. The show is promoted as a “bawdy comedy with musical interludes.” But that doesn’t really capture its essence. Vogel, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of How I Learned to Drive has actually crafted a sharp look at the financial circumstances of women in a male society, circa the early 1980s.

Bawdy and brave

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Focusing on a group of geriatric prostitutes, she explores the need for economic security, particularly in old age, and how sexuality has so often been the source of female power. Anxiety about death is a cat-

alyst for action here. But, yeah, it’s bawdy, and there are songs. Director Elizabeth Pringle isn’t worried that audiences expecting just “bawdy comedy” will be unprepared for what Vogel delivers. “She’s so brilliant,” Pringle said of the writer. “She’s so accessible, which is what I initially loved about her. And at the same time, with so many layers of understanding and comedy throughout.” Pringle knows Vogel somewhat, having spent time with her at a “playwriting bootcamp” at Arena Stage in the late 1990s. The playwright’s trademark is delving, cleareyed, into uncomfortable topics (such as incest in How I Learned to Drive or the devastation of AIDS in The Baltimore Waltz) with an unexpected combination of tenderness and verve. Vogel’s empathy for her characters helps break down barriers between the people in the seats and the people onstage. “I find the best comedy has a root in real depth and real human suffering or passion,” Pringle explains. “And this [play] has a real root in history, ahead of where the car went off the road economically and politically in many ways. “And then you see, through the comedy, the strength and the redemption of the human spirit, of human relationships...

hrough the eyes of these aging whores.” Pringle laughs as she says that last earthy word, perhaps amused at the way it is juxtaposed against such lofty sentiments.

Historical and real, yet magical The play begins with the election of Ronald Reagan and charts the effect of “trickle-down economics,” as Pringle calls it, as well as a challenging social climate for five 70ish prostitutes. They cater to an older clientele, but that’s increasingly difficult to manage with competition from younger women. The pressures of gentrification are making it all but impossible for them to hold onto an apartment. The funny, ribald conversation about their business is also

mixed with concern about faltering health. As age begins to claim them, the warm comedy takes on a surreal tone. As each woman dies, she returns as her 20-something self, singing tunes of the 1920s and 30s. There’s a great jazz song from Bessie Smith here, one from Mae West there. What they may lack in uniform greatness, they make up for in edgy suggestiveness. The magical realism remains front and center as we shift back and forth in time, as the post-life setting — a bordello-style room of an earlier era — remains upstage for the rest of the play, sharing space with the living. See OLDEST PROS, page 57

BEACON BITS

June 28

GUIDED TOUR OF FORD’S THEATRE

Ford’s Theatre presents a guided tour of its theater on Sunday, June 28. These intimate tours recount the history of Ford’s Theatre and the events surrounding the assassination of President Lincoln. Guests will learn about the people who attended the theatre with the President and First Lady, find out why the president was unguarded that evening, discover how John Wilkes Booth’s plan to kidnap Lincoln evolved into the assassination plot, how Booth escaped, and more. The tour begins at 5 p.m., and tickets may be reserved at www.fords.org or through Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787. Tickets cost $28. Ford’s is located at 511 Tenth St. NW, Washington, D.C. For more information, call (202) 347-4833.

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1776 From page 54 ing,” 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. 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.”

J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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 compellingly 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 performances, 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 $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.

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

Oldest pros From page 55 It requires a finely-tuned ensemble to pull this off, and Pringle believes she has just what she needs onstage — “actors who bring three-dimensional characters to life and dance and sing.” Estimable local actor Charlotte Akin, whose resume includes productions at Studio Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, Keegan Theatre, Washington Shakespeare Company and a dozen others, is the most well known member of the cast. Tricia McCauley, whose work in the delightful On Approval at Washington Stage Guild was reviewed in this space last month, is there, too. They are joined by Desiree’ Dubose, Emily Morrison and Diana Bridge. Reenie Codelka, who is both a professor and opera stage director at George Mason University and a music director and conductor at Toby’s Dinner Theatre, accompanies the women on piano.

Working with the actors To engender a sense of comradeship among the ladies, Pringle has taken them through improvisational work, exploring the physicality of the characters and their connections to each other. They have re-

searched and discussed what she calls “the economic overlay” to the characters and their lives. She has taken pains to see that the cast walks a fine line. “The sexuality of [the play] is not so upfront. They are, sort of, ladies in their own way and they have a lot of self-respect, considering what they’ve done and what they’ve been through,” Pringle says. She hopes audiences will leave the theater thinking of the way shifts in society put into play in the early 1980s reverberate today, and also how maybe it’s time to decriminalize prostitution. Pringle is also hoping to entice Vogel to do more work with the Rainbow Theatre Project. Vogel, who is from Washington, now calls Cape Cod home. Her Twitter feed shows she has just been in Beijing for a premiere of How I Learned to Drive. Pringle is reaching out to her, hoping she might be interested in seeing a new production of a play she wrote over three decades ago. Would that put unbearable pressure on Pringle, herself a playwright, director, actor and teacher? “Oh, no, no, no!” Pringle insists. Vogel is “so generous and gracious and an amazing woman,” she exclaims. “And that’s why we go to the theater, to have a human experience.”

BEACON BITS

June 5+

JAZZ IN THE GARDEN

The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden presents its 15th season of Jazz in the Garden, with weekly performances on Fridays, through Aug. 28. The season has already begun, with the next performance on June 5, featuring Robert Jospé and Butch Taylor. This free concert series features local and nationally acclaimed musicians who perform a variety of musical styles, including blues fusion, Brazilian, be-bop, salsa, Latin, and Afro-Cuban from 5 to 8:30 p.m. in the Sculpture Garden, located between 7th and 9th Streets at Constitution Ave., Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/press/2015/jazzinthegarden.html or call (202) 737-4215.

BEACON BITS

July 16

GENEALOGY ONLINE

The Mount Vernon Genealogical Society presents “Genealogy Talk: The Treasure Chest Known as FamilySearch,” featuring speaker Carol Petranek, on Tuesday, June 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. The website FamilySearch offers images of original documents, online classes, and a venue of collaborative family trees at no cost. This event will take place at the Hollin Hall Senior Center, located at 1500 Shenandoah Rd., Alexandria, Va. For more information, call (703) 768-4101.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

Rainbow Theatre Project presents The Oldest Profession June 4 to 21 at Flashpoint, 916 G St., NW in Washington, D.C. Showtimes: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings at 8 p.m., except Sunday, June 21, when the performance is at 2 p.m. Ticket price is $35. Tickets may be

purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/873479. For more information, visit www.rainbowtheatreproject.com or write info@rainbowtheatreproject.org. For information about Flashpoint, visit www.culturaldc.org/ ?ref=flashpoint or call (202) 315-1305.

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J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

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Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

In praise of today’s medical profession Another birthday looms. This one ends patient caused his malady via smoking, in a zero. But I’m used to zeroes. My bank drinking, drugging or poor eating habits. No one trains longer than a doctor — balance has consisted of them for most of and no one runs up debts that my life. are more mountainous. Yet Yet, I can still make any the jokes persist — “Hey, mirror fog up. My life continDoc, it’s Wednesday, when’s ues. I’m getting old, but I’m your tee time?” Can we please getting even more grateful. file that one under “moldy and May I please rise in defense unfair?” of the much-maligned medNo doc who owes $250,000 ical profession? Without it, I is going to while away one day wouldn’t be writing this. Without it, our average life a week worrying over putts. And no doc who is conscienexpectancy wouldn’t have tious would want to, anyway. risen nearly ten years in just HOW I SEE IT the last 50. More patients than ever beBy Bob Levey fore are seeking treatment. Without it, we oldies would be fading snapshots on the piano rather Who will cure them if doctors won’t? Besides, doctors understand better than than involved, engaged grandparents. Without it, childhood diseases like polio any other professional that they are on and leukemia would still be claiming 90 duty all the time. Yes, lawyers and teachers and butchers percent of their victims, and adult diseases like breast cancer and arteriosclerosis and bakers carry phones that ding at all hours, with messages of high importance. might be claiming more than that. And yet, the doctors of 2015 are accused But if a doctor doesn’t answer his or her 3 of every sin in the world — those of omis- a.m. call, someone may die. Can any other professional say that? sion and those of commission. Ah, but look at the salaries that docs They are asked to perform miracle “saves” routinely. When they do, it’s ex- earn, I can hear you thinking. And look at pected. all the insurance they carry. Nothing can But when they don’t, they’re sued for ever upset their bountiful apple carts. millions, even when it’s obvious that the Wrong. A doctor who doesn’t perform

surgery correctly risks losing his or her license, not to mention costing someone an arm or a life. If you or I do a bad job one day, the boss is likely to slap our wrist. A doctor doesn’t get mulligans. One mistake, and he or she is likely to be scanning the want ads. And is that gusher of dollars really such a gusher? I know one doc who’s a solo practitioner. He employs six people. When you make an appointment to see him, you pay him and him only. He pays everyone else. But insurance plans don’t allow him to charge for overhead — at least not as such. So out of a pretty much pre-deter-

mined fee, he has to “carry” half a dozen other adults. How much do you think is left for the doc? Much less than you might think. Of course, some doctors do indeed prescribe zillions of tests that might not be necessary and that drive up costs. But what if those “unnecessary” tests find something wrong in YOUR lung? I don’t think you’ll be complaining. Of course, some doctors do hurry you through an office visit, and don’t listen to you as long or as carefully as they might. See BOB LEVEY, page 61

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

FROM PAGE 60 ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

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C O R A

O W E N

S P A R

H E L O

A B B C

A B O D E

B O T O X

C U T I E

F E N D S

F R A C T A B L A K A E R I L D O T S

S H E A S P S A E B E N D A M P E R T O A N G E

H O S T S E A R S C E N T

A P P L E

G E N E T I A C T O L M O L O L D E S

A R E W A A S A H N T L S A Y E O R V A E S R E

V I L L A

I T A L Y

D E N S E

I R O N

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J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Crossword Puzzle

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24 29

28 34

31 35

50 57

Across 1. Show disdain 6. The state dance of South Carolina 10. Enthusiastic 14. Superhero quality 15. Bill Clinton’s home town 16. Baptism, basically 17. Ice show locale 18. Staple of basic cable 19. Exuberance 20. Temporary architecture 23. Brand with motto “The Racer’s Edge” 24. ___ good example 25. Reply to a captain 26. ___ Na Na 29. Dead doornail divider 31. “Science ___ way of thinking more than a body of knowledge” (Carl Sagan) 33. Front half at a California coast 40. Actress Jessica 41. Be a judge on Iron Chef 42. Walked the golf course 43. Johnny B Goode, for example 48. Bob Gibson’s 1.12 in 1968 is the best in the past 100 years 49. Big bird, extinct about 600 years 50. Kim West, ___ Kardashian 51. 2, on a digital phone 54. Little demons 57. Ingredient in soap 59. Backpacker magazine’s “Best city to raise an outdoor kid” 65. Cartoon dog or busdriver 66. Pigeon-___ 67. Completely empty spaces 68. Just ___ (Nike slogan) 69. Elizabeth I’s mother 70. Elizabeth Arden ingredient 71. Elizabeth Taylor collected them 72. Understands the joke 73. Musical pauses

49 54

48 51

Scrabble answers on p. 59.

Down 1. Not just Jacuzzis 2. Mrs. Dithers in “Blondie” 3. John Irving’s A Prayer for ___ Meany 4. Wards (off) 5. Never-ending pattern 6. “A jolly good fellow”, sometimes 7. Talk radio employees 8. Newton’s inspiration, maybe 9. ___ discrimination (subject of the Affordable Care Act) 10. Carpet layer’s calculation 11. Fancy home in 12 Down 12. It surrounds Vatican City 13. Able to sink in water 21. Niche in a church 22. Deodorize a dog 26. Practice pugilism 27. Chopper 28. House of Cards was originally ___ show” 30. Like Goldilocks, near the end 32. Uninvited picnic guests 34. Prepare shoofly pie 35. Musical talent 36. The H or O in H2O 37. By mass, the most common element on Earth 38. Win count of the 2008 Detroit Lions 39. The end of the (flat) earth 44. Dry as dust 45. Conventioneer’s accessory 46. Relax on a La-Z-Boy 47. Brief visit to Atlanta, perhaps 51. Buckingham Palace, for the queen 52. Wrinkle reducer 53. Adorable infant 55. Lying facedown 56. Old Spice quality 58. Clear the blackboard 60. Quantity of love 61. Praiseful poems 62. Tries to appear innocent 63. Simon and Garfunkel creation 64. Canoe contraptions

Answers on page 59.

Jumbles: BLOOD BROIL TARGET TURKEY Answer: What the museum tour leader did when the fire alarm rang -- GOT THE "LED" OUT

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

Letters to editor From page 2

ONE BIG HAPPY By Rick Detorie

Havana last Christmas and found enthusiastic acceptance of the “third age” designation. Would Beacon readers like to be referred to as “third age,” I wonder? Gerald Schneider Kensington, Md. Dear Editor: I particularly enjoy the various websites you point out. Can you find someone who can do the same thing with some apps relevant to seniors’ life and well being? Thank you for providing many good sources of useful information. I look forward to reading it. D. Deepak Chadha Columbia, Md. From the Editor: Thank you for your suggestion that we include useful apps in our Technology & Innovations section. We have taken your advice and have added some in this month’s “Beacon Links” column, along with an article about some useful apps.

Bob Levey From page 59 But does your broker or your cab driver or your spouse always listen carefully? And of course, some doctors do refuse to change with the times. They don’t adopt digital record keeping. They look up symptoms in a creaky old volume that they bought when they were in medical school. They don’t know — or refer you to — any doctors who were born after 1940. But choosing a doc is a little like choosing an airline. I want experience in that cockpit. With an older doc, I get it. Computers and youthful zeal won’t necessarily make me well. Time in the trenches will. So as my big day approaches, please spare me the cake and the rendition of “Happy Birthday.” If you want to make my ending-in-zero birthday a happy one, thank

a doc today. He or she is the reason you can. Bob Levey is a national award-winning columnist.

BEACON BITS

June 11+

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN OPERETTA The Victorian Lyric Opera Company (VLOC) presents Ruddigore,

an operetta detailing the story of bad baronets and young love threatened by a witch’s curse. Performances are Thursday, June 11 to Sunday, June 21 at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 603 Edmonston Dr., Rockville, Md. Friday and Saturday curtain times are 8 p.m., and Sunday matinees are 2 p.m. A preview performance on Thursday, June will cost $12 per ticket. Regular tickets cost $24 for adults, $20 for seniors and $16 for students. Community Outreach matinees on Sunday, June 14, and Saturday, June 20 will feature backstage tours, talks, and demonstrations for patrons of all ages. For more information, visit www.vloc.org, or call (240) 314-8690.

July 7+

FREE ADMISSION TO DC MUSEUM The National Museum of Women in the Arts features free admission for the public on Sundays, June 7, July 5 and Aug. 2 from

noon to 5 p.m. The museum is located at 1250 New York Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. For more information, visit http://nmwa.org or call (202) 783-5000.

WB 6/15

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CLASSIFIEDS The Beacon prints classified advertising under the following headings: Business & Employment Opportunities; Caregivers; Computer Services; Entertainment; For Sale; For Sale/Rent: Real Estate; Free; Health; Home/ Handyman Services; Miscellaneous; Personals; Personal Services; Vacation Opportunities; and Wanted. For submission guidelines and deadlines, see the box on page 63. 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.

Caregivers CERTIFIED, LICENSED CAREGIVER for homecare job – honest, reliable and compassionate. Available 7 days per week, nights or day. Rates negotiable. Call Babeth at 240-351-7295. COMPANION FOR SENIORS with years of experience available to help with driving, errands and companionship. Excellent references available. Contact Brian at 301-529-3707. KIND, DEPENDABLE, EXPERIENCED caregiver for live-out care or live-in care for a flat rate. Hygiene care, Meal preparation, Housekeeping, Errands, Appointments, Medication reminders. Call 301-490-1146. “A” HOME HEALTH CARE – Experienced nurses, CNA, GNA are available 24/7. Cooking, companionship, personal care, housekeeping, driving. Full/Part-time or live-in. Flat rate for live-in care. 15 years experience. 240-533-6599. CHEVY CHASE HOME CARE – reliable certified caregivers at time of illness, infirmity, loneliness. Personal assistance, ALL AGES, 4- to 24-hour shifts, homes, hospitals, nursing homes. MD, DC, No. VA. Tel.: 202-374-1240. www.ChChHomecare.com. I WILL CARE FOR YOUR LOVED ONES night/day. Own transportation. Good references. Lots of experience. 301-502-2258. KIND, LOVING, HONEST, COMPASSIONATE & reliable individual is looking for live-in/out caring for your loved one. 22 years experience. Excellent references. Please call Julie, 301-221-7695. CAREGIVER ASSISTANCE – Provided by person with nursing skills. Dependable, dedicated, caring and honest. 20 years experience. Cares for elderly and all ages. Will provide excellent references. Available for work immediately! If interested, please call Sheba at 301593-3129 or 240-441-5109.

Computer Services PROBLEM WITH YOUR PC/MAC OR NETWORK? Computer Systems Engineer will come to you with help. Call: David G at 301-642-4526. COMPUTER LESSONS – Personal Computer training at your home. Email, Internet, general computer use. Windows 8, Smartphone/tablet, digital camera. Learn at your own pace with gentle & patient tutor. We also troubleshoot problems & setup new computers. Teaching Seniors since 1996. Senior Discount. Call David, 301-762-2570, COMPUTERTUTOR. SCHEDULED BUS SERVICE TO HORSE-

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J U N E 2 0 1 5 — WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N

Events

Miscellaneous

Wanted

PRIME TIME CENTER AT ST. PAUL’S – You are invited to join Prime Time for weekly fun, fellowship and a delicious, hot meal every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Programs include fine arts performances, musical entertainment, travel presentations and gentle exercise programs. The Center provides information on housing referrals, healthcare issues and social service referrals. Transportation will be provided if requested. Please RSVP to the office if you plan to attend at 202-9665489 or contact cbrown@stpaulslutherandc.com for further information.

THE GOLDEN NETWORK offers Jewish seniors and retirees a variety of engaging programs, including lectures, classes, one-on-one learning in person and by phone, concerts, singalongs and more! For more information and details about upcoming events, call 301-338-4810, email info@goldennetwork.org, or see goldennetwork.org.

BUYING MILITARY MEMORABILIA WW2, WW1, Civil War uniforms, weapons, photos and items associated with US, German, Japanese or items of other Military History. DAVE, 240-4640958.

For Sale/Rent: Real Estate LEISURE WORLD® – $199,000. 2 BR 2FB “B” with GARAGE in Villa Cortese. Spacious living room, separate dining room and table space kitchen. Large enclosed balcony, 1092 sq.ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors. 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – $269,000. 2BR 2FB “EE” model in “Vantage Point West”. Open floor plan, upgraded kitchen, separate dining room. Spacious enclosed balcony. 1260 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors, 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – $279,000. 2BR 2FB “FF” model in “Vantage Point East,” Open table space kitchen, separate dining room, enclosed balcony. 1305 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors, 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – $289,000. 2BR 2FB + DEN + Garage + Storage Rm. “K” in the “Greens”. New Kitchen with Granite and Stainless, enclosed balcony with golf course view through trees. 1480 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors, 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – $136,000. 2BR 2FB “Warfield” model, updated kitchen and baths, cathedral ceilings, balcony. 1116 sq ft. Stan Moffson, Weichert, Realtors, 301-928-3463. LEISURE WORLD® – $175,000. 2BR 2FB “J” model in “Greens”, 2 BR 2FB “J”in “The Greens”, golf course view from enclosed balcony, new paint and carpet,. 1317 sq ft. Stan Moffson. Weichert, Realtors, 301-928-3463. LOOKING TO TAKE THE LEAP? I’ll take you on a tour of the community, show you floor plans, discuss campus amenities, & offer how to best coordinate your move. I will preview units & contact you with a match. I also offer exceptional service selling your home. I’m a Seniors Specialist, Buyer Broker, Top 1% of Agents Nationwide, and a Leisure World resident! You can see my current listings on page 53. Contact me: 301-580-5556, SueHeyman@aol.com, www.SueHeyman.com, Weichert, Realtors. SILVER SPRING – 2 SPECIAL APTS! 2BR, 2BA, open contemporary, large glass-enclosed balcony with access from both bedrooms and living room, $259,500. 2BR, 2BA traditional apt. with table-space kitchen, separate dining room, living room, balcony, and it comes with a garage space, $174,200. Joan Brown, Weichert. 240777-3132, 301-681-0550. NEWLY RENOVATED BASEMENT APT in cozy Brookland and CUA area. Quiet, safe neighborhood close to Metro, bus line, and local hospitals. $875/month (utilities included). Nonsmoking/no pets allowed. Available immediately! If interested, contact Ms. Habermehl for details at 202-276-4958. TIME TO DOWNSIZE? OVERWHELMED by bill collectors? Want to sell quickly and easily? We buy houses cash! Any condition, any situation. Ask for Mike. 240-257-0051.

For Sale 2 SALVADOR DALI woodblock prints from Dante’s Divine Comedy. Signed and framed. Asking $900 for the pair. Can email pictures if desired. Call Steve, 410-913-1653.

Home/Handyman Services BILL’S LIGHT HAULING. Garage, basement, attic cleanouts. Junk to the dump, yard debris, storm damage, etc. No job too small. Call Bill, 240-876-1206. EXPERT ROOF REPAIRS and new installations. 40 years experience. 5-year warranties. Rated A on Angie’s List. See our photo gallery at RamboandRamboConstruction.com. MHIC# 8342. Call, 301-220-4222.

I AM A PROFESSIONAL FEMALE looking for a desirable housing arrangement. I am looking for a room in a SFH with a bath and kitchen privileges. I am a non-smoker with no pets. Quiet. I like music and seldom watch TV. Please call to discuss the terms of the housing agreement. 240-643-1281. Price range, $550-$600. MD, or DC or PG Co.

Personals HUSBAND OF BRAIN-INJURED WOMAN seeks Long-Term Relation with Marriage in Mind. In my late 60s, DC area, active and fit, gentleman. Wife in accident 2 years ago with major brain injury, mental and physical abilities poor, no communication or companionship. Relation reduced to caregiver. No immediate divorce now, but want relation with good lady. Marriage likely. Race irrelevant. Please contact Paul at saver7777@aol.com.

Personal Services HANDS-ON ORGANIZING – 20% SPRING DISCOUNT no contract, non-judgmental, confidential. Call Rose today! Let’s get started! 703-569-3001. READY TO DE-CLUTTER? I can help. Sort, donate, discard. Reasonable rates. Call Jan, 301933-7570. VAN MAN – For your driving needs. Shopping, appointments, pick-up and deliver – airport van. Call Mike, 301-565-4051. VIRGINIA PARIS SHUTTLE – PICK UP & DELIVERY service. If you need boxes, small furniture, appliances, packages or other items delivered to you or to another location, call Mr. Penn, 703-896-2545. “Spring Cleaning Time.” CHERYL’S ORGANIZING CONCEPTS LLC – Professional Organizing Services. Help with all aspects of home organizing. Experienced – References – Member NAPO. All work confidential. Licensed – Bonded. $25 discount on initial appointment. www.CherylsOrganizing.com. 301-916-9022. WILL TYPE YOUR MEMOIRS, manuscripts, etc. For info and rates, call 703-671-1854. INSTRUMENTAL IN-HOME MUSIC LESSONS in piano, flute, saxophone and clarinet from professional musician and pedagogue. Lessons carefully designed and implemented according to each student’s individual level and interest. Students of all ages from beginning to advanced level are especially welcome. Please call Dilyana at 202-352-4430 or email dilyanakirova@yahoo.com.

Wanted CASH FOR RECORDS & CDs. BEST PRICE GUARANTEED. Free appraisals. All types of music, 33, 45, 78 & CDs. Call Steve 301646-5403. Will make house calls. HIGHEST CASH PAID FOR ANTIQUES, JEWELRY, ESTATES. I have been advertising in the Beacon for 20 years. Montgomery County resident – will travel to D.C., MD, VA. Buying following items: Furniture, art, jewelry, gold, sterling silver, old coins, vintage pocket and wrist watches, old tools, books, camera, military items – guns, rifles, knives, pocket knives, swords etc. Also buying: old toys, dolls, trains, comic books, photographs, autographs, musical instruments, guitars, violins, etc. Also old sports memorabilia and equipment – baseball, golf, football, fishing etc. Please call Tom at 240-4763441. WANTED: OLDER VIOLINS, Guitars, Banjos, Mandolins, etc. Musician/collector will pay cash for older string instruments. Jack, 301279-2158. STERLING SILVER... TOP DOLLAR paid for silver marked “Sterling,” “925” or “800.” Want flatware, bowls, plates, candlesticks, etc. Please, no silver plate. Call Richard, 301-646-0101.

MILITARY ITEMS WANTED: Collector seeks to purchase military uniforms; flight jackets, patches, insignia, medals, etc. from the Civil War through Vietnam. Especially seeking U.S. Army Air Corps, USMC, Airborne, and German/Japanese/Italian items from WWII. ALSO BUYING old Boy Scout, Airline Items, Toys, Lighters. Call Dan, 202-841-3062. CASH FOR JEWELRY: Buying jewelry, diamonds, gold, platinum, silver, watches, coins, flatware, etc. We make house calls. Ask for Tom. Call anytime 301-654-8678 or 301-654-0838. STAMP COLLECTIONS, AUTOGRAPHS purchased/appraised – U.S., worldwide, covers, paper memorabilia. Stamps are my specialty – highest price paid! Appraisals. Phone Alex, 301309-3622. Stampex1@gmail.com. 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, 301-2798834. Thank you. CASH FOR ESTATE BUYOUTS, estate clean-outs, jewelry to furniture, one item or whole state. Free Estimate, Will Travel. 301520-0755. 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, 301-9100783. WE PAY CASH for antique furniture, quality used furniture, early American art, pottery, silver, glassware, paintings, etc. Single items to entire estates. Call Reggie or Phyllis at DC 202726-4427, MD 301-332-4697. 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. 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.

BEACON BITS

June 22

ONE-ON-ONE COMPUTER TUTORING

Montgomery County Libraries presents free one-on-one computer tutoring on Monday, June 22 from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. at Aspen Hill Library, 4407 Aspen Hill Rd., Rockville, Md. Their skilled tutors can assist with typing resumes, sending emails or using the Internet in 40-minute sessions. You can also bring a laptop or iPad. Sign-ups begin at 5:15 p.m. Bring library cards or sign up for one. Sessions are first-come, firstserved. Tutors also speak Spanish. For more information, call (240) 773-9410

WA S H I N G T O N B E A C O N — J U N E 2 0 1 5

BEACON BITS

June 30

NATIONAL DANCE OF PERU

The American Folklife Center presents the Homegrown Concert series. June’s concert features Marinera Viva!!! on Tuesday, June 30 at noon in the Coolidge Auditorium in the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress, located at 10 First St. SE, Washington, D.C. The music has Spanish, Moorish, Andean, and Gypsy rhythmic influences, while the dance includes Spanish, Incan and African elements. No tickets required. For more information, visit www.loc.gov/concerts/folklife/marineraviva.html or call (202) 707-2905.

June 23

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES Say you saw it in the Beacon

BLUES CONCERT

The Focus Music Series presents Guy Davis and Reggie Harris on Tuesday, June 23 7:30 p.m. at Ted’s 355 Diner, 895 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Md. Guy Davis (son of actors/writers Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee) is a composer, actor, director and writer, as well as a bluesman. He will be joined by Reggie Harris, who is best known for his inspirational musical storytelling with his wife Kim for over 30 years. Admission costs $18; $15 in advance. For more information, visit http://focusmusic.org/venue_rockville.php or call (301) 461-3600.

Deadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 20th of each month. Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’s issue. Please type or print your ad carefully. Include a number where you can be reached in the event of a question. Payment is due with ad. We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nor do we accept credit cards. Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $15 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word.

Business Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing business enterprise. Each ad is $35 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word. Note: Each real estate listing counts as one business text ad.

The Beacon, D.C. Classified Dept. P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227

Send your classified ad with check or money order, payable to the Beacon, to:

For information about display advertising, or to request a media kit, call (301) 949-9766.

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Research Studies

Diabetes Clinical Study . . . . . . . .25 High Cholesterol Study . . . . . . . .25 IDEAL Healthy Aging Study . .24, 26

Hearing Services Auditory Services, Inc . . . . . . . . .16 Sound Hearing Centers . . . . . . . .18

Home Health Care

Springvale Terrace . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Vinson Hall Retirement

Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Virginian, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Waltonwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Major Depressive Disorder Study .25

Advanced Care Management . . . .19

Computer Classes

Companioning the Dying . . . . . . .22

Care Patrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Holy Cross Home Care . . . . . . . .28

Legal Services

JCA SeniorTech . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-9

Dental Services

Friedman, Stephen, DDS . . . . . . . .6 Oh, Judy DDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Events

D.C. Housing Expo . . . . . . . . . . .56

Vision Matters Community Day . .4

Financial Services

Children’s National . . . . . . . . . . .37 Health Care Fraud . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Jefferson Mortgage Group, LLC .37

Funeral Services

Fram Monuments . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Going Home Cremation . . . . . . . . .6

Government Services

Age Friendly DC Survey . . . . . . .33

DC Office on Aging . . . . . . . .31-34 Montgomery County Aging and

Disability Services . . . . . . . . . .14

Montgomery County Information

& Services/311 . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Senior Nutrition Program . . . . . . .29

Best Senior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Elder Caring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Liv Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Options for Senior America . . . . .50

Housing Arbor Terrtace of Herndon . . . . . .21 Arden Courts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Ashby Ponds/Erickson . . . . . .11, 60

Brooke Grove Retirement Village . .17 Charles E. Smith Communities .41-48 Charter House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Chesterbrook Residences . . . . . . .28

Churchill Senior Living . . . . . . . . .4 Culpepper Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Housing Referral Service

Eleff Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Law Firm of Evan Farr . . . . . . . .36

Law Offices of Paul Riekhof . . . .37

Legal Counsel for the Elderly . . .22

Medical/Health Dupont Laser Institute . . . . . . . . .16

Medical Eye Center . . . . . . . . . . .22 Podiatry House Calls . . . . . . . . . .11

Stem Cell Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Pharmacies

Friendship Terrace . . . . . . . . . . . .29

CVS/pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Homecrest House . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Real Estate Services

Greenspring/Erickson . . . . .11, 21, 60

Olney Assisted Living . . . . . . . . .18

Rite Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Park View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Long & Foster/Eric Stewart . . . . .39

Quantum Property Management . .40

Weichert/Sue Heyman . . . . . . . . .53

Potomac Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Riderwood/Erickson . . . . . . . .11, 60

Solana of Olney, The . . . . . . . . . . .5 Sommerset Retirement

Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Long & Foster/Inderjeet Jumani . . .12

Restaurants Original Pancake House . . . . . . . .53 Wrap2Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Retail/Pawn/Auction

Four Sales LTD . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 G&G Pawn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Quinn’s Auction Galleries . . . . . .54 WOW! Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation

Communicare Health . . . . . . . . . .16 Health South Rehab Hospital . . . .11 Manor Care Health Services . . . .26 Village at Rockville . . . . . . . . . . .12

Subscriptions

Beacon Subscription . . . . . . . . . .61 Washington Jewish Week . . . . . . .52

Theatre/ Entertainment

British Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . . .54 Washington Ballet . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Wolftrap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Tour & Travel

Eyre Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Potomac Eagle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Tripper Bus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 US Navy Memorial . . . . . . . . . . .57 Vamoose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Utilities

Pepco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Verizon DC Lifeline Program . . .38

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