October 2015 | Baltimore Beacon

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Sharing homes, lives with vets

A welcoming new home One of the veterans benefiting from this innovative program is Peter Samaras, a disabled 61-year-old U.S. Army veteran who served in Thailand from 1972 to 1975.

Samaras, formerly a resident of a veteran’s long-term care facility, now lives full-time in the Edgewood home of caregiver Patrice Taylor, along with another veteran.

“I really like it here,” Samaras said. “I get good meals, I get along with the other veteran, and I get treated well.”

Like all vets in the program, he attends adult day care two days weekly, and gets regular field trips provided by Taylor or the program.

Samaras also receives any necessary supplementary care from the VA itself by a Home-Based Primary Care Team whose staff makes regular visits to the home.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION

By Dahna M. Chandler Like other aging adults with disabilities, Maryland’s military veterans — whether or not their disabilities were acquired in service — often require specialized, round-the-clock, long-term care. In many cases, they receive this care in institutional settings like nursing homes and hospitals.

That is especially true of those requiring care for dementia, strokes and other major health challenges.

But for veterans who are eligible, there is an alternative. The Veteran’s Administration Medical Foster Home program makes it possible for veterans across the nation to get care in a private home.

“Veterans are carefully matched with rigorously qualified private caregivers who have opened their homes specifically to care for veterans,” said Nicole Trimble, coordinator for Maryland’s Medical Foster Home Program. “Since the formation of the program, 21 Maryland veterans have been placed in five homes between Baltimore and Cecil County.”

The program provides a safe home-like environment with a caregiver, and is an economical long-term care alternative for veterans who are unable to live independently. The VA began the Medical Foster Home Program in 1999, and it has expanded to 80 areas. The Maryland program began in June.

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SEE SPECIAL INSERT Housing & Homecare Options following page 14

A Veterans Administration program helps vets with disabilities find foster caregivers who will house and care for them at a reasonable cost. The program has recently expanded to the Baltimore area, which was a help for Richard Meleski, whose wife is no longer able to care for him herself. Homeowner/caregivers are also being sought for the program.

Each team consists of a nurse practitioner, nurse, social worker, nutritionist, psychologist, pharmacist and kinesiotherapist (who provides exercise therapy and helps get vets adaptive equipment and devices).

“Anytime I or the veterans need anything,” said Taylor, “the VA is right there. I don’t have to wait days to hear from somebody. They respond to me right away and get us whatever we need.

“The VA has really tried to support and wrap services around the caregivers to meet our needs, too. They always have someone to call for assistance.”

Like family Trimble, in addition to holding a master’s degree in social work and serving as

the program’s coordinator since 2012, serves as its recreational therapist. She began working for the agency in 2004.

Her grandfather also worked for the VA. “All of the men in my life were veterans,” Trimble said. “So I’ve always been drawn to giving back to the men and women who have put their lives on the line for our country.”

Foster home caregiver Taylor — who is a medication-certified CNA (certified nursing assistant) with nine years of caregiving experience, including caring for veterans — feels the same way as Trimble.

“I’ve always been a caregiver, and it’s a special honor to serve those who served our See VETERANS, page 10

L E I S U R E & T R AV E L

Why the Balkans, now at peace, are worth a visit; plus, unusual ways to enjoy fall foliage page 19 FITNESS & HEALTH 4 k Poor sleep linked to dementia risk k Cardiac care super-specialists LAW & MONEY 15 k Earn dividends every month k Why sell your life insurance?

ARTS & STYLE k Belly dancing fun k Baltimore premiere

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Get expos-ed in October While the month of May is known as a.m. to 4 p.m.) at the Cow Palace on the U.S. Older Americans Month, the month fairgrounds. of October is the metro area’s The event features everyMonth of 50+Expos. thing but cows. There will be Over a 12-day period this hundreds of exhibitors, nuOctober, there will be 5 days merous speakers and exerof entertaining and informacise demonstrations, vaccinative events within easy drivtions and health screenings, ing distance of Baltimore resian art fair, an employment dents who are over 50 or love fair, and a Veteran Resource someone who is.

Muster, with resources and Toward the end of the referrals for veterans wantmonth, the Baltimore County ing to know more about their Department of Aging pres- FROM THE benefits. ents its annual two-day extrav- PUBLISHER Enter tainment includes By Stuart P. Rosenthal aganza at the Maryland State music for dancing as well as Fairgrounds in Timonium. for listening, including the The Baby Boomer and Senior Expo will Mahoney Brothers, who will be impersonattake place Wednesday, October 28 (9 a.m. ing the Beatles, Neil Diamond, Elvis, Elton to 7 p.m.) and Thursday, October 29 (9 John and more on Oct. 28 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Admission is $2; free with your donation of two cans of nonperishable food. For more information, see the ad on the back page of this issue.

In Howard County Just next door in Howard County, on Friday, Oct. 16, is the Howard County 50Plus Expo, taking place at Wilde Lake High School in Columbia.

Thousands attend the event each year, to speak with representatives of over 150 organizations and businesses who exhibit and provide free information and giveaways.

There are also speakers on a variety of topics, all-day entertainment, flu vaccines, health screenings and more.

The expo runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $1 (new this year), and there is a free shuttle bus from parking areas at the Columbia Mall.

Beacon Expos

BEACON BITS

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MARYLAND RENAISSANCE FEST Step back into medieval times at the annual Maryland Renais-

sance Festival, 1821 Crownsville Rd. in Annapolis, through Oct. 25. Tickets start at $20 for those 62+. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.rennfest.com or call (410) 266-7304.

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• Publisher/Editor ....................Stuart P. Rosenthal • Associate Publisher..............Judith K. Rosenthal • Vice President, Operations........Gordon Hasenei • Director of Sales ................................Alan Spiegel • Assistant Operations Manager ..........Roger King • Managing Editor............................Barbara Ruben • Contributing Editor ..........................Carol Sorgen • Art Director ........................................Kyle Gregory • Advertising Representatives ............Steve Levin, ........................................................................Jill Joseph • Editorial Assistant ........................Rebekah Sewell

The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915 (410) 248-9101 • Email: info@thebeaconnewspapers.com Submissions: The Beacon welcomes reader contributions. Deadline for editorial is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. Deadline for ads is the 1st of the month preceding the month of publication. See page 27 for classified advertising details. Please mail or email all submissions. © Copyright 2015 The Beacon Newspapers, Inc.

And the Beacon is proud to present our 16th annual 50+Expos, taking place at locations in Maryland and Virginia. And, unlike the events above, these occur on the weekends, for those of you who may work or are otherwise occupied during the week.

On Sunday, October 18, our 50+Expo will be at the Silver Spring Civic Center in downtown Silver Spring from noon until 4 p.m.

As at the other expos around the region, you can obtain health screenings and a flu shot, pick up information from (and ask questions of) dozens of government agencies and nonprofit organizations, and visit booths of area businesses providing services and products of special interest to

older adults and their families. Many of them will also be offering free giveaways and holding prize drawings. And we will have live entertainment and door prizes as well.

Microsoft will be offering an opportunity to learn to use its Surface tablet device in our computer education lab, and our keynote speaker, Tammy Darvish, will be speaking about mid-life career change.

Our N. Virginia expo takes place the following Sunday, October 25, again from noon to 4 p.m., on the third level of Ballston Mall (near the movie theatre) in Arlington, Va. Almost everything from our Silver Spring Expo will be found at our Ballston event: nonprofit and government resources, businesses, entertainment, health screenings, etc.

Our keynote speaker there, however, will be Gail Sheehy, journalist, lecturer and best-selling author of 17 books, including Passages — named by the Library of Congress as one of the 10 most influential books of our times.

Sheehy will be speaking about her latest book, a memoir called Daring: My Passages. She will also speak about her new Daring Project, for which she is interviewing women from around the country about their most daring moments and where they led.

So much to see and do in October! I hope you will look for the Beacon at all these events, and I invite you to visit one (or both) of our own 50+Expos this year. If you do, please come up to me to say hello.

Letters to the editor Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day.

Mail your Letter to the Editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or e-mail to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com.

Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification.

Dear Editor: Great to know we have an advocate in Annapolis, Rona Kramer, Maryland’s Secretary of Aging. (“Secretary off to a running start,” August cover). Her efforts on behalf of Maryland’s older residents is to be commended.

But she is missing an important point — namely, we seniors still have so much to offer.

I’m tired of being marginalized at a time when we baby boomers might once again contribute to the general welfare of the state of Maryland, our country and the world. It is getting tiresome to peruse the many articles about my demographic, dismissing or ignoring our contributions to today’s lifestyle. We still have much to teach and achieve.

Rona Kramer’s brother pointed out that

his “main focus” was the “protection of our state’s seniors.” Too bad he didn’t say his focus was communication with Maryland’s older demographic, discovering ways to make us part of the conversation.

Throughout history, seniors have been listened to and respected. Sadly, in today’s commercial lust for the consumer dollar, our voices, opinions and concepts are drowned out in the name of profit.

It’s time older folks, who have been through so much and who have been responsible for so many of the benefits today’s Millennials enjoy, have their voices returned.

Hopefully, Secretary Kramer will read this letter. I definitely plan to volunteer — please stay posted.

Rosalind Ellis Heid Baltimore

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OCTOBER 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Health Fitness &

NEW BRAIN FINDING Recently discovered lymphatic system in the brain inspires new thinking NOT IN YOUR HEAD Chronic fatigue patients show signs of distinct immune system changes NATURAL PAIN RELIEF Ginger and other alternatives to ibuprofen can help quell joint pain safely MUSIC THERAPY Parkinson’s patients needed for a study on singing and voice problems

Better sleep may lower Alzheimer’s risk

By Lauran Neergaard To sleep, perchance to... ward off Alzheimer’s? New research suggests poor sleep may increase people’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease by spurring a brain-clogging gunk that, in turn, further interrupts shut-eye.

Disrupted sleep may be one of the missing pieces in explaining how a hallmark of Alzheimer’s — a sticky protein called betaamyloid — starts its damage long before people have trouble with memory, researchers reported at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference recently.

“It’s very clear that sleep disruption is an underappreciated factor,” said Dr. Matthew Walker of the University of California, Berkeley, who presented data linking amyloid levels with people’s sleep and memory performance. “It’s a new player on the scene that increases risk of Alzheimer’s disease.”

Sleep problems are treatable. A key next question is whether improving sleep can make a difference in protecting seniors’ brains. “Sleep is a modifiable factor. It’s a new treatment target,” Walker said.

Enough sleep is important for good health generally — seven to eight hours a night are recommended for adults. When

it comes to the brain, scientists have long known that people who don’t get enough sleep have trouble learning and focusing.

And anyone who’s cared for someone with dementia knows the nightly wandering and other sleep disturbances that patients often suffer, long thought to be a consequence of the dying brain cells.

Preventing memories The new research suggests that sleep problems actually interact with some of the disease processes involved in Alzheimer’s, and that those toxic proteins in turn affect the deep sleep that’s so important for memory formation.

“It may be a vicious cycle,” said Dr. Miroslaw Mackiewicz of the National Institute on Aging, who wasn’t part of the new work.

Walker’s team gave PET scans to 26 cognitively healthy volunteers in their 70s to measure build-up of that gunky amyloid.

They were given words to memorize, and their brain waves were measured as they slept overnight.

The more amyloid people harbored in a particular brain region, the less deep sleep

they got — and the more they forgot overnight, Walker said. Their memories weren’t transferred properly from the brain’s short-term memory bank into longer-term storage.

What’s the risk over time? Two sleep studies tracked nearly 6,000 people over five years, and found those who had poor sleep quality — they tossed and turned and had a hard time falling asleep — were more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment: early memory problems that sometimes lead to Alzheimer’s, said Dr. Kristine Yaffe of the University of California, San Francisco.

Sleep apnea doubles risk Sleep apnea — brief interruptions of breathing that repeatedly awaken people without them realizing — caused a nearly two-fold increase in that risk, Yaffe said.

She recommended that people at risk of Alzheimer’s be screened for sleep disorders, especially apnea, for which there are effective treatments.

“There’s a lot of evidence that we need to pay more attention” to sleep in seniors, she said.

Animal studies give clues to the biology

behind these changes. Dr. David Holtzman of Washington University in St. Louis reported a series of mice experiments that found amyloid production is highest during waking hours and lowest during deep sleep.

Depriving mice of sleep spurred toxic amyloid build-up and, intriguingly, once those deposits began, the mice stayed awake longer on their own. Holtzman also checked Alzheimer’s other bad actor — the protein tau that forms tangles in the brain — and found the same effect on deep sleep.

Another hint came a few years ago, when University of Rochester scientists reported that the brain uses sleep to flush out toxic debris. They injected mice brains with amyloid and watched it clear faster while they slept.

The work comes as researchers hunt ways to prevent a coming wave of Alzheimer’s as the population ages, driven by the baby boomer generation that begins turning 70 next year. More than 5 million Americans already have Alzheimer’s, a number expected to more than double by 2050.

Changes that lead to Alzheimer’s can begin 20 years before memory lapses, and See BETTER SLEEP, page 5

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2015

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scientists are studying drugs in people at high risk in hopes of finding preventive treatment.

But so far, lifestyle changes are the main recommendation, and starting early seems important. Yaffe also reported that younger adults who get little physical activity have worse cognitive functioning by middle age.

In Sweden, Karolinska Institute re-

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From page 4

searchers tracked down seniors’ long-ago report cards to find that school performance at age 9 or 10 predicted who was already building a better “cognitive reserve” to guard against later-in-life decline.

“There are lots of risk factors we might be able to change. Sleep is one,” said Alzheimer’s Association chief science officer Maria Carrillo. Together, she said, the new research emphasizes how “sleep is critical as we age.”

— AP

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Better sleep

• Other heart super specialists include cardio-oncologists (for patients with heart issues as a result of cancer treatments), adult congenital doctors, and specialists in certain heart diseases such as Marfan syndrome.

When facing surgery, finding a surgeon with a lot of experience performing the procedure you need helps assure a better outcome. © 2015 Whatdoctorsknow.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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• Electrophysiologists are the “electricians” of the heart and most often care for patients with heart rhythm — or pacing — problems such as arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation, tachycardia or bradycardia.

They also care for heart blocks, or disruptions in the electrical pathway of the heart.

When we talk about heart disease, we

form all heart surgeries, but will often have a special interest in certain malfunctions of the heart. A thoracic (or cardiothoracic surgeon) is a medical doctor who performs operations in the organs of the chest, including the heart, lungs and esophagus.

• Vascular surgeons specialize in diseases of the vascular system, or arteries and veins, and they provide medical therapy, minimally-invasive catheter procedures and surgical reconstruction.

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A who’s who of specialists

also need to keep in mind the vascular system. It is the vascular physicians who specialize in the blood vessels, which circulate blood throughout the body.

They often treat peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the legs, coronary artery disease (CAD), fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) (poor formation of arteries that leads to their narrowing and chance of stroke), and deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

• Heart failure physicians provide specialized care for patients with progressive heart failure. They ensure that patients are on the right medications and are making the correct lifestyle changes. And they can advise on the need for surgery or a device to improve heart function.

• Inter ventional physicians use catheters to do less invasive procedures to treat the heart and arteries and close congenital heart problems.

• Imaging physicians focus on structural problems of the heart. They look at the heart’s structures and function using MRI, Echo or CT technology, and they handle problems of the heart valves (valve specialists), the septum, the heart chambers and the pericardium, the sac in which the heart sits.

• Preventive cardiologists are the ones to see when you want to stay ahead of heart disease, or don’t want your heart disease to get worse. Patients who see preventive cardiologists include those who have heart risk factors, people who’ve had a heart attack, and others who want more aggressive management of their heart health or risk factors.

• Cardiovascular surgeons can per-

F R E E

When you or a loved one is in need of heart care, the prospect may feel overwhelming. You know you need to see a heart specialist, but which one?

Having heart disease can lead you in a number of directions. Many people go to a cardiologist because they want a specialist, but even in the world of cardiology there are “super-specialists” — doctors highly specialized in a specific area of cardiology.

“These ‘super-specialists’ are involved with research, education and practice using the most up-to-date information, guidelines, diagnostic testing and modes of treatment,” said Dr. Benico Barzilai, section head of clinical cardiology at Cleveland Clinic. “In many cases, the super specialists work together to solve complex patient problems.”

For example, Barzilai said, a patient may visit an electrophysiologist due to atrial fibrillation and find out that they also have heart valve disease. Or a patient with heart failure may find that they require a special pacemaker to make sure that both sides of the heart pump in synchrony.

In these cases, a team approach may provide the best care available.

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Fitness & Health | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Health Shorts Lymphatic system found in the brain Finnish researchers report a surprising finding that challenges current anatomy textbook knowledge: Linings of the brain have a lymphatic vessel network that has direct connections to the systemic lymphatic network elsewhere in the body.

Lymphatic circulation forms a network that covers almost the whole body and is especially important to the clearance of fluids from tissues as well as for immune defense mechanisms. Until now, the central nervous system was considered not to be part of the lymphatic system.

“We were stunned to find such an extensive network in connection to the brain. This incredible finding completely changes our understanding of how to brain is cleared of excess fluid, and gives a chance to look at brain diseases from a completely new angle,” said Aleksanteri Aspelund, a researcher at the Wihuri Research Institute and the University of Helsinki.

The findings were published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.

Researchers say that lymphatic clearance of the brain is important in many neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease.

How did the lymphatic vessels manage to escape notice until now?

“Lymphatic vessels are collapsed structures, and if one does not know how to look for them, they cannot be found. Although we had already found the vessels, it took some time to develop good imaging methods to vi-

OCTOBER 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON

sualize these vessels, said medical student Salli Antila, who has also been working with the project.

— University of Helsinki

Stomach-filling balloon for weight loss Federal health regulators have approved an inflatable medical balloon that aids weight loss by filling up space in the stomach.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared Reshape Medical's balloon as another option for millions of obese Americans who have been unable to lose weight via more traditional methods.

The balloon is inserted into the stomach using an endoscope and then filled with saline solution. Patients are sedated during the procedure, which takes less than 30 minutes, according to an FDA release.

The FDA previously approved another balloon device for weight loss, but it was withdrawn in 1992 due to a safety issue. “The new device aims to address the design failings of the earlier device,” said FDA spokeswoman Deborah Kotz, in an emailed statement.

The balloon is approved for obese adults with a BMI between 30 and 40 who have at least one complicating condition and have been unable to lose weight through diet and exercise alone.

In company trials, patients treated with the balloon lost about 7 percent of their total body weight over six months, compared with 3.3 percent weight loss in patients who didn't get the balloon. But six months after the devices' removal, patients in the balloon group regained about onethird of the weight they had lost.

The effect seen with the balloon is smaller than that associated with gastric banding — a stomach-shrinking technique that limits food intake, but can cause esophagus irritation, infection and vomiting, in some cases. Patients can lose as much as 17 percent of their total body weight with banding devices, such as the LAP-Band, although about 20 percent of patients regain nearly all the weight within three years.

More effective is gastric bypass surgery, a permanent procedure in which a small pouch is stapled off from the rest of the stomach and connected to the small intestine. Studies of that technique show patients typically lose about 30 percent of their weight.

— AP

Stronger warnings for pain relievers Federal health regulators are bolstering warning labels for popular pain relievers, See HEALTH SHORTS, page 8

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2015

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Chronic fatigue isn’t only in your head Researchers at the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health have identified distinct immune changes in patients diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome — known medically as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) or systemic exertion intolerance disease.

The findings could help improve diagnosis and identify treatment options for the disabling disorder, in which symptoms range from extreme fatigue and difficulty concentrating to headaches and muscle pain.

These immune signatures represent the first robust physical evidence that ME/CFS is a biological illness as opposed to a psychological disorder, as well as the first evidence that the disease has distinct stages.

Results appear online in the new journal from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Science Advances.

With funding to support studies of immune and infectious mechanisms of disease from the Chronic Fatigue Initiative of the Hutchins Family Foundation, the researchers used immunoassay testing methods to determine the levels of 51 immune biomarkers in blood plasma samples collected through two multicenter studies.

They represented a total of 298 ME/CFS patients and 348 healthy controls.

They found specific patterns in patients

who’d had the disease for three years or less that were not present in controls or in patients who’d had CFS for more than three years. Short-duration patients had increased amounts of many different types of immune molecules called cytokines.

Associated with viral illnesses The association was unusually strong with a cytokine called interferon gamma that’s been linked to the fatigue that follows infection with many viruses, including the Epstein-Barr virus (the cause of infectious mononucleosis). Cytokine levels were not explained by symptom severity.

“We now have evidence confirming what millions of people with this disease already know — that ME/CFS isn’t psychological,” said lead author Mady Hornig, M.D., director of translational research at the Center for Infection and Immunity and associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia’s Mailman School.

“Our results should accelerate the process of establishing the diagnosis after individuals first fall ill, as well as discovery of new treatment strategies focusing on these early blood markers.”

There are already human monoclonal antibodies on the market that can dampen levels of a cytokine called interleukin-17A, which is among those the study shows

were elevated in early-stage patients.

Before any drugs can be tested in a clinical trial, Dr. Hornig and colleagues hope to replicate the current, cross-sectional results in a longitudinal study that follows patients for a year to see how cytokine levels, including interleukin-17A, differ within individual patients over time, depending on how long they have had the disease.

Immune response won’t stop The study supports the idea that ME/CFS may reflect an infectious “hit-and-run” event.

Patients often report getting sick, sometimes from something as common as infectious mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr virus), and never fully recovering. The current re-

search suggests that these infections throw a wrench in the immune system’s ability to quiet itself after the acute infection. People don’t return to a homeostatic balance; their immune response becomes like a car stuck in high gear.

“It appears that ME/CFS patients are flush with cytokines until around the three-year mark, at which point the immune system shows evidence of exhaustion and cytokine levels drop,” said Dr. Hornig. “Early diagnosis may provide unique opportunities for treatment that likely differ from those that would be appropriate in later phases of the illness.”

See CHRONIC FATIGUE, page 8

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Health shorts From page 6 adding information about the risk of heart attack and stroke in the short term.

The changes apply to prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammator y drugs, or NSAIDs, including arthritis treatments like Celebrex. The agency said it plans similar changes to over-the-counter drugs in the same class, such as Advil and Motrin.

Language on the pills currently warns that

Chronic fatigue From page 7 The investigators went to great lengths to carefully screen participants to make sure they had the disease. The researchers also recruited greater numbers of patients whose

they can increase the risk of heart-related problems if used long term.

However, the FDA's new warning states that heart attacks and strokes can occur in the first few weeks of taking the drugs. The agency also warns that the risks increase with higher doses of the drugs. The updates are based on an FDA review of recent studies and recommendations by outside advisers.

“In general, patients with heart disease or risk factors for it have a greater likelihood of heart attack or stroke,” the agency noted in

the announcement.

The labeling change is the latest step in the FDA's ongoing safety review of the drugs, which stretches back to 2004. That's when Merck & Co Inc. pulled its blockbuster pain reliever Vioxx off the market because of links to heart attack and stroke.

In 2005, the agency added boxed warnings to all prescription NSAIDS, including Pfizer's Celebrex and high-dose versions of ibuprofen and naproxen. Celebrex is the only drug from the same class as Vioxx that remains on the market. Prescription NSAIDs are gener-

ally used for long-term chronic pain conditions like arthritis.

The agency also added similar warnings to lower-dose, over-the-counter NSAIDs like Aleve and Advil. Those drugs currently warn patients to take the lowest dose possible for as short a period as possible. They are not intended to be used for pain longer than 10 days, according to their labels.

[For more on this topic, see our Dear Pharmacist column, "Natural joint pain relief, without ibuprofen," on page 11.]

— AP

diagnosis was of relatively recent onset.

Patients’ stress levels were standardized as well. Before each blood draw, patients were asked to complete standardized paperwork, in part to engender fatigue.

The scientists also controlled for factors known to affect the immune system, includ-

ing the time of day, season and geographic location where the samples were taken, as well as age, gender and ethnicity/race.

“This study delivers what has eluded us for so long: unequivocal evidence of immunological dysfunction in ME/CFS and diagnostic biomarkers for the disease,” said Dr. Lipkin, senior author of the current study and the John Snow Professor of Epidemiology at Columbia’s Mailman

School. “The question we are trying to address in a parallel microbiome project is what triggers this dysfunction.”

WhatDoctorsKnow is a magazine devoted to up-to-the minute information on health issues from physicians, major hospitals and clinics, universities and health care agencies across the U.S. Online at www.whatdoctorsknow.com. © 2015 Whatdoctorsknow.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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BEACON BITS

Sept. 23

FALL INTO FITNESS

Waxter Senior Center, in recognition of National Fall Prevention Month, will host “Fall into Fitness” on Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Free activities include vision screening, nutritional assessment, medication review, Zumba classes and more. For more information, call (410) 396-1324.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2015

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Veterans From page 1 country. It’s my way of giving back to them,” she said.

While many vets are housed with complete families, including kids, and up to two other veterans, Taylor’s household consists only of her and the two vets for whom she provides full-time care.

She gets down time when the vets are in adult day care or on outings with VA staff, but said, “I often take them with me on errands or even vacation,” she said. “They’re like family to me.”

Qualifying for the program Qualifications for entry into the program are stringent for both caregivers and veterans.

For caregivers, it starts with State of

Maryland licensing. “After they are licensed by the state, they contact us and start the application process with our program,” Trimble explained.

It consists of an application, specific documents and references. It includes home visits by a VA nurse as well as a dietitian and a fire safety inspector.

Once the home passes all inspections and provides required documentation, the application is reviewed. Caregivers cannot have full-time jobs, as their job will be to care for the veterans placed in their home.

In some cases, the program cannot approve applications. Reasons may include the home’s structure (it has too many stairs, for example) and location of the home, which must be owned by the caregiver. “We approve homes based on demand for them in an area,” Trimble said.

Caregivers are paid standard monthly

OCTOBER 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON

room and board, and receive perks like free annual training to maintain their state license.

The veteran application process begins with the veteran or their family contacting their VA social worker or Trimble to learn, first, if there is an available home for the veteran. The vet must be disabled and require full-time care.

“We reach out to homes to see if they’re interested in the applicant, and then schedule a home visit to make sure the veteran is a good fit for the caregiver and will get along with the caregiver and others in the home,” said Trimble.

After a home is identified, the veteran completes the application process to determine if they are income eligible. If their own income doesn’t support the cost of the program — which ranges from $1,000 to $3,500 monthly paid by the veteran directly to the caregiver — they can apply for the “non-service connected pension with aid and attendance” program.

“They must have served in a war and

have other income, like a Social Security check or service-related compensation, to cover the complete cost of the program, since that program doesn’t [come with separate funding],” Trimble explained.

If a vet can’t be matched to a provider immediately, Trimble refers them to other community services, and contacts them when there is an opening.

But for those vets who are matched to a caregiver, she said, “This program gives veterans an opportunity to remain in a homelike environment in the community rather than going into an institution. We’re [also] always looking for qualified caregivers, so those interested should reach out to me, too.”

If you’re a veteran or family member interested in the program, talk to your VA social worker or contact Trimble in her office at (404) 642-2411, x 6094 or on her cell phone at (443) 845-6484. Also see www.maryland.va.gov/services/Medical_ Foster_Home_Program.asp for more information.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

COUNTYRIDE SERVES CITY HOSPITALS

If you are a client of CountyRide, you can use the service to go to the following Baltimore City hospitals: Good Samaritan, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, the Johns Hopkins Health System, Kennedy Krieger Spine Center, Mercy Medical Center, St. Agnes Health Care, Sinai Hospital, Union Memorial Hospital and University of Maryland Medical Center. For more information, call (410) 887-2080.

Oct. 1

DETECTING PROSTATE CANCER

The earlier prostate cancer is caught, the more likely treatment will be successful. Prostate cancer surgeon Christian Pavlovich will discuss new noninvasive tools that provide early diagnosis of prostate cancer, including new blood tests, MRI screenings and image-guided biopsies, online on Thursday, Oct. 1, from 7 to 8 p.m. To register, visit www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthseminars or call (877) 546-1009.

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2015

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

11

Natural joint pain relief, without ibuprofen Many people have aches and pains that take NSAIDs for a long time, are older in require ibuprofen, and no one would be- age, have poor health, or who drink three or grudge you for taking this pill for an acute more alcoholic drinks per day while taking ibuprofen. migraine or severe pre-men“If you experience any of strual cramps. the following symptoms, stop I’ve been asked if I believe in taking ibuprofen and call your ibuprofen and I do, but only for doctor: stomach pain, heartoccasional use. I’ve even recburn, vomit that is bloody or ommended a 200 mg. tablet of looks like coffee grounds, ibuprofen be taken along with blood in the stool, or black a cup of coffee (to enhance efand tarry stools.” fect). But that’s only for a select type of headache pain, or for mild post-operative pain.

Safer alternatives exist DEAR Sounds crazy but combin- PHARMACIST NSAIDs reduce inflammaing caffeine with ibuprofen By Suzy Cohen tion by suppressing an enzyme in your body called cycan provide pain relief better clooxygenase-2 or COX-2. But than the ibuprofen alone. A recent article discussing this was just pub- they also inadvertently block COX-1 enlished in The Cochrane Database of Sys- zyme, which is needed for a healthy stomach lining. This is why NSAIDs like tematic Reviews (July 2015).

But I definitely don’t recommend chron- ibuprofen, naproxen and others can cause ic, daily intake of ibuprofen because a) it gastritis, and even a bleeding ulcer.

Here are two safer choices for you: masks the pain, and b) it can be harmful Boswella: It’s also known as frankincense, long term. It’s better to find the underlying cause of pain, and even if you can’t, I still and it’s a 5-LOX (5-lipoxygenase) inhibitor. recommend natural inflammation fighters This reduces leukotrienes which are inover NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflamma- volved in inflammation, asthma and allergies. tory drugs) like ibuprofen.

Another compound in boswellia, called inAccording to Medline Plus, “NSAIDs censole acetate, blocks NF-Kappa B, which such as ibuprofen may cause ulcers, bleed- would otherwise pour out tons of pain-causing or holes in the stomach or intestine. ing cytokines. This compound acts like an These problems may develop at any time anti-anxiety and antidepressant pill. during treatment, may happen without Boswellia also reduces interferon gamma warning symptoms, and may cause death. (IFN-g), another pro-inflammatory cytokine.

“The risk may be higher for people who Honestly, boswellia is kind of awesome!

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Ginger: We know this helps with nausea and vomiting, but it’s also a strong antiinflammatory herb, capable of reducing pain-causing compounds such as TNF , COX 2 (just like Celebrex), and 5-LOX. As an added benefit, compounds in ginger target and kill H. pylori, the bug most famous for stomach ulcers, but also involved in rheumatoid arthritis.

Hyaluronic acid: I am not referring to injectable Restylane or Juvederm for wrinkles! I’m referring to natural supplements

of this, which can “lube” your joints.

Arthritic joints are often extremely deficient in hyaluronic acid, which makes the cartilage less squishy. Supplements may help.

This information is opinion only. It is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Consult with your doctor before using any new drug or supplement.

Suzy Cohen is a registered pharmacist and the author of The 24-Hour Pharmacist and Real Solutions from Head to Toe. To contact her, visit www.SuzyCohen.com.

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Health Studies Page

OCTOBER 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON

THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION ON AREA CLINICAL TRIALS

Can singing help Parkinson’s patients?

The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Peabody Institute have joined forces in a new initiative, called the Johns Hopkins Center for Music and Medicine.

The mission of the new center is to bring music and medicine together for two purposes: to involve music and rhythm in the treatment of illness, and to improve the health of musicians worldwide.

The center is co-directed by Dr. Alexander Pantelyat, assistant professor of neurology at the School of Medicine, and Dr. Serap Bastepe-Gray, director of the Peabody Institute guitar ensemble program.

The center’s participating faculty from multiple departments in the School of Medicine and Peabody Institute seek to achieve their goals in several ways:

• by developing music and rhythmbased interventions that improve quality of life and help slow the course of a number of diseases — including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, stroke and autism, • by working to discover and treat the underlying causes of disorders affecting musicians, and • by exploring neural mechanisms underlying the perception of music in health and disease.

Voice problems in Parkinson’s Several studies are already recruiting participants, including the Parkinsonics trial for voice-related and quality of life outcomes in Parkinson disease.

Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after

Alzheimer’s disease. It affects at least 1 million people in the United States (5 million people worldwide), most commonly striking people 60 and older.

Because the general population is aging and there are no current medications to prevent Parkinson’s, its prevalence is predicted to skyrocket over the next 30 years.

While the classic symptoms of the condition include tremor, loss of fine motor coordination, muscle stiffness and walking/balance difficulty, patients often experience significant impairment in their quality of life due to a number of other symptoms.

Speech volume and clarity are frequently impaired, limiting and frustrating communication, and adding to what is frequently a growing sense of isolation from others and the world at large.

The established intervention for voice impairment in Parkinson’s disease is called the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment — an intensive speech therapy program that requires a significant initial time commitment.

Furthermore, the exercises learned in this program must be practiced continuously in order to maintain benefit, and many patients find it difficult to motivate themselves to continue performing the exercises as the disease progresses.

Choir-based singing involves exercising the muscles involved in speech production, and the establishment of Parkinson disease choirs around the world in recent years suggests that patients are deriving some benefits from choir singing. However, several existing trials intended to assess the effects of singing on voice quality in Parkinson’s disease have been inconclusive and limited by several design flaws.

Study seeks volunteers The Johns Hopkins Parkinsonics trial, led by Pantelyat, aims to study the effects of group singing on voice, movement, mood, memory, and both voice-related and overall quality of life.

See PARKINSON’S, page 13

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

VARICOSE VEIN SCREENING Johns Hopkins offers varicose vein screenings for those consider-

ing treatment or surgery. For a list of dates and locations, visit www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthseminars.

Sept. 28+

LIVING WELL WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS UM St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson will offer a six-week workshop on coping with chronic conditions such as diabetes,

heart disease, COPD, arthritis and stroke on Mondays from Sept. 28 to Nov. 2, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. To register, call (410) 337-1337 or visit www.stjosephtowson/events.

Ongoing

WEEKLY YOGA CLASSES UM St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson offers an ongoing weekly yoga class on Thursdays from 4 to 5:15 p.m. Donation is $5 per

class. To register, call (410) 337-1479.

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2015

Parkinson’s From page 12 Because it is important to control for the social interaction aspect of group singing (that is, to evaluate whether any benefits derived from singing relate to the singing itself, as opposed to the social interaction of being in a group setting), the trial will include a control group that will not sing, but rather will participate in a facilitated discussion of topics relevant to Parkinson disease.

Approximately 20 participants with Parkinson’s disease will take part in 12 weekly choir rehearsals, each lasting about one hour. At the same time, about 20 participants will meet for the support group discussion.

The participants will then switch groups and participate in the other part of the study for a total of 24 weeks.

Before starting the trial — and at six other times during the 48-week study — participants will be asked to complete tests of speech, movement and function, as well as self-report about mood, efficacy of

participating in the choir and support group, and quality of life.

In the choral music part of the study, after an initial orientation, patients will participate in weekly rehearsals leading up to a group performance.

Choir participants do not need to be able to read music or have any prior musical experience. Audio recordings will be provided, so participants will be able to learn the music entirely by ear.

The choir will sing a variety of music — including American standards, folk, blues, pop songs and group requests.

The study is currently recruiting up to 40 patients with a diagnosis of idiopathic (unknown origin) Parkinson’s disease.

Caregivers are welcome to attend.

The location and timing of the weekly rehearsals have not yet been determined, but rehearsal space will be accessible with easy parking and near public transportation.

For information, contact Becky Dunlop, RN, research coordinator, at rdunlop@jhmi.edu or (410) 955-8795, or Aathman Swaminathan, research assistant at aswamin2@jhmi.edu.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Fitness & Health

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Send a letter to the editor.

BEACON BITS

Sept. 25

FLU SHOTS AT SEVEN OAKS CENTER

Flu shots are available at no cost to Medicare B beneficiaries and Aetna participants at Seven Oaks Senior Center, on Friday, Sept.

25, from 1 to 3 p.m. Pneumonia shots are also available at no cost to Medicare B beneficiaries. You must bring your Medicare or insurance card. Cost to all others: $30/flu, $95/pneumonia. The center is located at 9210 Seven Courts Dr. For more information, call (410) 887-5192.

Oct. 1

GARDEN CLUB HALLOWEEN EVENT

Lutherville Garden Club is holding a meeting on Thursday, Oct. 1, with a Halloween-themed program with guest speaker Ellen Frost, floral designer and owner of Local Color Flowers, who will provide hands-on instruction on making a ‘take home’ pumpkin floral design. This meeting will be held at the Ag Center on 1114 Shawan Rd. in Cockeysville. The club meets on the first Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. with a brief business meeting, followed by lunch and an informative program. Other than October’s meeting, the meetings are held at Providence United Methodist Church Hall, 1320 Providence Rd. For more information, call (410) 252-5925 or (410) 252-7648.

Oct. 4

BALTIMORE BUDDY WALK

The Chesapeake Down Syndrome Parents Group (CDSPG) and the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) will hold the second annual Buddy Walk and 5k Race on Sunday, Oct. 4, at Rash Field at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor Promenade, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Details can be found at www.cdspg.org

Seeking Men and Women The University of Maryland & Veterans Affairs of Baltimore are conducting a research study to better understand balance & prevent falls as we age.

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consider us on call. to navigate the death of a loved one. That’s why Dignity Memorial providers offer each family we serve unlimited, complimentary access to our Compassion Helpline . We’re here for you if you need us, so don’t hesitate to call.

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With your participation you will receive: • Health evaluation • Balance, step, strength, and/or flexibility exercises • Compensation for your time

For Information, please call the Baltimore VA/University of Maryland Gerontology Recruitment Phone Line

410-605-7179 Mention code: LIFT *You must be at least 65 years old and in good health *Participants will be seen at the Baltimore VA Medical Center and University of Maryland School of Medicine for approximately 41 visits for 1 to 4 hours of time per visit

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OCTOBER 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Insulted by computerized greeting cards Dear Solutions: I am in a second marriage, and so is my husband. I am divorced. He’s a widower. I have tried to be warm and friendly to my husband’s former family since he wants to remain in touch with them, but I don’t feel it returned.

Each time there’s an occasion to send a greeting of any kind to us, his former in-laws send me a computer card. It’s all very cute and even pretty, but there is no personal message. All it says is that if I want to reply I should push a button, and the company behind all this will send one from me. I don’t even have to sign it.

Well, I don’t want to send one of these, and I feel a little insulted by the

impersonal feeling from this. My husband says I’m out of touch with this modern world, and he wants me to push the right buttons and respond to them.

Is he right? Am I wrong to feel this way?

— Lila Dear Lila: Feelings are neither right nor wrong.

But they are honest — and this sure is pushing the wrong buttons in you.

If you want to answer these messages in a way that is comfortable for you, write a personal answer in your own handwriting and mail it.

Yes, as your husband points out, this is the world of the computer now, but it’s up to you how far you want to step into it.

It’s also up to you to think about why Dear Solutions: This involves my mother-in-law, and you find this insulting, and to deal with those feelings. Lots of things were “nicer” I’m hoping for your advice. I’m a fairly new bride, and we just finin the old days, but that’s anished furnishing our other story. home. I invited my mothSo, get ready, Lila, the roer-in-law over to see everybots are coming! Oh, are they thing and to finally visit already here? “officially.”

Dear Solutions: She came in and slowly My friend was living with walked through each room a man for the last three without saying a word. years. She was always arThen finally she turned to guing with him, complainme and said, “Oh, you like ing about him, and trying SOLUTIONS modern.” That was all she to get him to move out.

By Helen Oxenberg, said about anything.

Now he suddenly died, MSW, ACSW and she keeps talking about I’m so angry and hurt, but how charming and caring he I didn’t say anything, and I was and so on. don’t know if I should.

Should I say something to her? Peo— Puzzled ple who know her scoff at this. It’s re- Dear Puzzled: ally amazing.

I don’t like mother-in-law jokes, but this — Nan sounds like one. So try to just laugh at the Dear Nan: whole thing — with your husband, if possiWhat’s really amazing is how much peo- ble. ple improve after death! © Helen Oxenberg, 2015. Questions to be Say nothing. She’s helping herself deal considered for this column may be sent to: with her guilt, and protecting her new sta- The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915. You may also email the author tus as grieving “widow.”

Besides, for her, it’s probably true that at helox72@comcast.net. To inquire about reprint rights, call (609) 655-3684. he was never really charming till he died!

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

HELP A NEIGHBOR IN NEED

Register Today for CHAI’s Adopt-a-Neighbor program, which focuses on the community’s most vulnerable population of low- to moderate-income seniors and adults with disabilities. Volunteers of all ages and skill levels are needed two to four times during the year to help those in need in a meaningful way. One of the greatest benefits to those served is companionship.

Duties will include weatherization of windows and yard maintenance. Volunteer on your own schedule, individually or as a VolunTeam. For more information, contact Chava Ball at (410) 500-5319 or email cball@associated.org.

Do you feel like you are missing out on the conversation?

Connect with Maryland Relay.

Multiple Calling Options: For anyone who has difficulty using a standard telephone Captioned Telephone: Displays every word your caller says, as you listen Maryland Accessible Telecommunications (MAT) program: FREE assistive equipment to qualified applicants Get a FREE evaluation to find the solution that’s right for you.

Call 800-552-7724 or 410-767-6960 (Voice/TTY) 443-453-5970 (Video Phone) or visit mdrelay.org to get started.

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2015

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OCTOBER 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Moving my mother into assisted living

By Jill Joseph If I could pick one word to describe my mother, it would be “independent.” But as she has aged, chronic orthopedic issues and COPD slowly claimed her ability to move comfortably.

We recently made the difficult decision that the best living situation for her is in an assisted living community. This is the story of how she found her new home.

While I have always stood by, ready to help in any way I could, it was only after my mom had a mild stroke in 2013 that she and my stepdad began to accept my offers of assistance.

When her back surgery in April 2014 resulted in multiple nerve issues, her mobility decreased even more. Mom then began to drag her right foot, and I became very concerned about her safety.

Her gait was unbalanced, and she was having trouble navigating the tight spaces in the house. I suggested we hire a home care service to assist her, but she rebuffed the idea.

Through my work at the Beacon, I’ve become acquainted with many committed people who serve seniors. The friends I’ve made in the industry all testify that most people won’t get the help they need until “Something” happens. And, indeed, something happened. My mother fell and broke her hip.

During post-surgery rehab, Mom was adamant that she intended to return home.

I was equally adamant that — if she was not able to walk safely and consistently — her home was unsafe.

A change of plans At first, she began to make enough progress in therapy to make her move back home seem feasible, if not ideal in my eyes, and we were given a discharge date. Then her progress stalled, and the therapy team revised the recommendation: She would need assistance during all waking hours.

Unfortunately, my stepdad is not physically strong enough to help her move, and I knew I would need to help her and hire a home healthcare aide for times I could not be there. [For more on this subject, see “Finding caregivers to help you at home,” on page B8.]

I originally focused on keeping mom in her home and didn’t consider assisted living options. But it turned out that staying in her home would quickly become detrimental — to all of us: My mom was readmitted to the hospital Sunday morning, not even two days after coming home.

The hours before that were exhausting for both of us, emotionally and physically.

At times over the weekend, she was incapable of moving her legs and feet, and was clearly terrified of falling in her tricky

home environment. I was scared she would get hurt on my watch.

Tearfully, I told her, “I can’t do this by myself.” I also couldn’t help but think of the impact on my own life. I have a wonderful husband and work for very understanding employers, but meeting Mom’s needs in her home would require time and focus, depleting my energy for work and a life of my own.

Minutes before her aide arrived Sunday morning, I heard my mother moaning in her bedroom. She was unable to communicate what was wrong, and could or would not cooperate when I tried to get her out of bed. I called 911 shortly after our aide arrived.

This time, my mother and stepdad both agreed that coming home after her hospitalization and rehab stay was not an option.

I contacted Care Patrol, a senior housing referral agency, which gathered information on Mom’s health, financial and location needs. This tremendously streamlined the process of finding assisted living.

Choosing the right place There were several factors I knew would be important to my mother — a private space, wheelchair transportation and good meals. Because she is mostly wheelchair-bound and incontinent, she needed a community offering Level 3 assisted living,

so some local options were eliminated.

There were also factors that were important to me. I wanted a non-institutional environment for Mom, and an activity schedule to help her meet people and engage more in life. Though the final choice was obviously hers, I knew my enthusiasm for Brightview in Baltimore affected her decision to move there.

Fortunately, she and my stepdad were able to spend some time there prior to her move. We visited as a family, met the staff, had lunch, and she chose the studio apartment in which she would live. It helped dissipate her nerves and sadness about living without my stepfather. Overall, though, her attitude was positive.

We are still in the early stages of Mom adjusting to life in assisted living. My husband and I have spent a lot of time giving her apartment a home-like feel, and my stepdad is comfortable during his daily visits.

There are some staff members Mom enjoys greatly and some she doesn’t particularly care for, but that is the case for other residents as well, and no doubt for those in other communities, too. I try to help her put things in perspective and encourage her to speak up when she has needs that aren’t being met.

She also participates in activities at See ASSISTED LIVING, page B-4

YOU’RE

WELCOME TO

Stay & Play Welcome to our family. At Senior Lifestyle, we take family seriously. After all, we’re family-run, and have been for all of our 30 years. Live in our resort-style communities and you’ll be part of our family, too.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2015

INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

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INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY

Oak Crest 410-877-6624

Charlestown 410-988-4070

8820 Walther Boulevard Parkville, MD 21234 www.ericksonliving.com

715 Maiden Choice Lane Catonsville, MD 21228 www.ericksonliving.com

One-bedroom apartment homes available NOW! The perfect space for retirement at Oak Crest.

Due to overwhelming demand for maintenance-free retirement, Oak Crest is 99% sold out! Luckily, we have a few units available for immediate reservation. OUR BEST VALUE! The Brighton — our best-selling one-bedroom apartment home — is available in extremely limited quantities. Reserving a Brighton means you’ll also enjoy access to hundreds of on-campus amenities and services exclusive to Oak Crest. Don’t delay! With this unprecedented demand, NOW may be your last chance to reserve a Brighton. Only TWO Brightons left! Call 410-877-6624 TODAY to schedule your tour.

What makes Charlestown different? Year after year, Charlestown continues to be Baltimore’s first choice for retirement living. Bigger is better. The 110-acre campus is home to a wealth of activities and amenities, including six restaurants. Yet, it retains the warmth of a small town. A charming location. Residents are surrounded by nature trails, mature trees, and stunning views of the historic Our Lady of the Angels Chapel. The value of experience. For 31 years, Charlestown has provided financial security with their Refundable Entrance Deposit*. Learn more. Call 410-988-4070 for your brochure, or schedule a visit.

ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY

INDEPENDENT & ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY

Shangri-La Senior Living of Catonsville 410-744-8433 6348 Frederick Road Catonsville, MD 21228 www.ShangrilaSeniorLiving.com At Shangri-La Senior Living of Catonsville (previously Paradise Assisted Living), we combine comfortable living with compassionate, yet affordable care. From our comfortable interiors to our smiling residents and exceptional staff, there is an aura of warmth and caring that sets us apart. Shangri-La of Catonsville offers three levels of assisted living care to our residents. In addition, we are happy to provide: spacious, private, and semi-private rooms; delicious meals and snacks with special diet requests available; daily assistance with bathing, dressing, and management of medications; daily offerings of social, educational and recreational activities; weekly religious services offered; housekeeping and laundry services; regular wellness visits by a licensed nurse; emergency call system with secured environment; hospice services; and respite, short-stay care.

LENDING SERVICES

GSF Mortgage Corporation 410-255-3217 4487 Mountain Road Pasadena, MD 21122 www.lendingbylee.com Reverse mortgage specialist Lee Spencer has a 15-year track record of helping seniors improve the quality of their lives by leveraging the equity they have built in their homes. Lee’s clients refer her to their friends and family because she gives sound advice and takes great care to educate seniors and help them realize their goals. Lee offers in-home, no obligation consultations free of charge. Call Lee today at 410-255-2317 to schedule an appointment.

Licensed number 1018.

*Carefully read the Residence and Care Agreement for the conditions that must be satisfied before the Provider is required to pay the Entrance Deposit Refund.

Heartlands at Ellicott City 410-461-9494 3004 North Ridge Road Ellicott City, MD 21043 Situated on 48 beautifully landscaped acres, Heartlands Senior Living Village at Ellicott City is a full-service, resort-style senior living community offering spacious and elegantly furnished independent living with multiple apartment options, including cottage/duplex living and assisted living apartments with kitchenettes, as well as outpatient rehabilitation services and respite/short stays – all in one location.

Our many exceptional services and amenities include restaurant-style dining, a wide range of social and recreational activities, indoor pool, fitness center, well-stocked library, 24-hour staff, full-service beauty salon/barber shop, game room, wireless Internet, comfortable sitting areas, weekly outings, laundry, and housekeeping. Heartlands has been providing service to families in the area for over 27 years.

Call us for a complimentary lunch and personal tour.

INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING

Weinberg Senior Living 410-753-3976 Weinberg Senior Living provides quality, affordable apartments for people 62-plus and those younger than 62 with disabilities.

Our communities have been designed from the ground up to meet the needs of our residents and provide them the opportunity to live an active and social lifestyle. Our communities feature amenities such as libraries, community rooms and dining areas where residents may enjoy meals, group activities and visits with friends and family. Additionally, our communities offer a variety of floor plan designs, services and programs that support Weinberg Senior Living’s mission to help people age in place, gracefully.

Our staff members are friendly, supportive, professional and eager to assist residents. More than just employees, they enjoy what they do and take pride in the communities where they work.

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OCTOBER 2015 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; BALTIMORE BEACON

Choices abound for independent living

By Carol Sorgen How and where we live is a major decision for many of us as we get older and our lifestyle changes. For those who do not require the care offered by assisted living facilities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; such as help with bathing, dressing, and keeping track of medications â&#x20AC;&#x201D; independent living communities are an attractive option.

Independent communities are designed to make their residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; day-to-day lives a bit easier by typically offering onsite activities, recreation schedules, transportation services and more.

While there is much diversity and variety among the choices, all independent living communities have a few things in common.

First, they have been developed to accommodate the preferences and needs of active seniors â&#x20AC;&#x201D; sometimes defined as residents over 55, but in many cases geared to those 62 and older.

These communities are for people who are able to take care of their personal needs, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want the trouble and chores of maintaining a house and yard. So they offer a variety of practical services, either included in the rent, for an additional monthly fee, or on a fee-for-service basis.

Security, activities and more Among the most important services offered at independent living facilities is 24-

hour security. Those on sprawling campuses are often gated communities. Individual buildings also typically have controlled access.

In addition, a residential counselor and/or activities coordinator is typically on staff. The former can help with a wide variety of concerns, while the latter is responsible for planning social and cultural events and outings.

They also tend to offer their residents a variety of amenities â&#x20AC;&#x201D; such as beauty salons, exercise rooms, movie theaters, business centers and more. Some communities are particularly luxurious, with amenities like swimming pools and golf courses, while others come with less in the way of frills.

Communities also come in all shapes and sizes. There are high-rises and lowrises, detached homes and villas. Some are in the heart of downtown areas, while others are in more suburban or even rural areas. Some have freestanding homes or apartment units you purchase, but most offer apartments for rent.

Making the move Marian Cranshaw, who moved to Park View at Randallstown earlier this year, decided that she â&#x20AC;&#x153;needed a changeâ&#x20AC;? after having lived in another apartment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have been helping and taking care of other people for so long. I just wanted to relax

and take care of me for a change,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Cranshaw, who is 66, said that at Park View, everything is convenient and â&#x20AC;&#x153;there is always something going on.â&#x20AC;? The apartment has all the amenities she wants and the senior center across the street keeps her busy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They never give you a chance to get bored,â&#x20AC;? she said.

She likes that the building is quiet, the people are friendly, there is always something going on â&#x20AC;&#x201D; such as bowling nights and barbecues â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and she always has something to do. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is nothing I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love everything about this building.â&#x20AC;?

Staying social Freda Vaughn is also happy with her decision to move into an independent apartment. Vaughn lives at Kessler Park in Lansdowne, operated by Catholic Charities.

After her husband died, Vaughn, 70, decided she could no longer afford the house they had shared together. She began looking at apartments run by Catholic Charities, since her mother had lived in one and had been happy there.

Kessler Park was the first community to respond to her application, and once she saw it, she decided it was â&#x20AC;&#x153;perfectâ&#x20AC;? for her.

Vaughn lives in a one-bedroom apartment in the three-floor elevator building. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s homey and roomy and near a lot of things,â&#x20AC;?

Assisted living From page B-2

Personally Tailored Rehabilitation & Nursing Care &OR OVER YEARS 4HE .EIGHBORHOODS AT 3T %LIZABETH HAS BEEN PROVIDING INDIVIDUALLY TAILORED CARE TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS REACH THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL 3O IF YOU ARE PLANNING AN ELECTIVE SURGERY OR lND YOURSELF IN NEED OF WORLD CLASS NURSING CARE CONSIDER 4HE .EIGHBORHOODS AT 3T %LIZABETH 9OU LL INSTANTLY UNDERSTAND WHY FAMILIES CHOOSE 3T %LIZABETH FOR THEIR REHABILITATION AND NURSING CARE NEEDS GENERATION AFTER GENERATION

Featuring:

s On-site Board Certified Geriatrician s )NDIVIDUALLY TAILORED

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s ACRES OF PRISTINE OUTDOOR SPACE s /N SITE #HAPLAIN AND 0ASTORAL CARE TEAM

s "ENSON !VENUE s "ALTIMORE -$ WWW CC MD ORG 3T %LIZABETH

Brightview, such as bingo, â&#x20AC;&#x153;happy hours,â&#x20AC;? and some of their exercise classes. She even bought a bathing suit in preparation for bus trips to the local YMCA. Mom has always liked to stay in her comfort zone, which has gotten smaller

she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s independent living, but there are also a lot of things to do in the building such as classes, bingo, clubs and trips.â&#x20AC;?

A â&#x20AC;&#x153;social butterfly,â&#x20AC;? Vaughn said she knows everyone in the building and loves living at Kessler Park. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be happy anywhere else!â&#x20AC;?

Howard Groves, who moved to Saint Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Roland View Towers in Baltimore City three years ago, was living in a large home in Eldersburg. While visiting a friend, he saw an ad for Roland View in the Beacon and thought, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to live there.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I visited the model apartment, looked out at the view, and decided right then to move there,â&#x20AC;? said Groves, who is 68. His apartment (an efficiency with alcove) is â&#x20AC;&#x153;perfectâ&#x20AC;? for him, as is the convenience of being able to walk to grocery stores and the shops and restaurants of nearby Hampden.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even a restaurant in the building â&#x20AC;&#x201D; open to the public â&#x20AC;&#x201D; for those occasions when Groves doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to make his own meals.

Groves is an active participant in Roland View life. He serves on the Board of Directors and is president of the Residents Association. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really fun,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made a lot of friends and you meet all kinds of people.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not planning on moving from here anytime soon.â&#x20AC;?

Additional reporting by Tamar Janus.

and smaller over the years. But I am hopeful that with time she will find a better quality of life in her new environment.

And although I am still struggling with some guilt about being unable to help her remain in her home, I certainly sleep better knowing she is safe.

Jill Joseph is a Beacon advertising representative.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2015

Enjoy More Great Days Before You Make a Choice, Visit Vibrant Lifestyle

Vibrant People

High-energy fun to quiet relaxation, to a social life as full as you want it to be; get-togethers with friends, old and new; lifelong learning; volunteer programs

Caring and fun staff providing a full complement of services; positive, neighbors where everyone shares a spirit of vibrant living; programs to keep your mind, body and spirit at their best

Vibrant Place Great gathering places to connect and engage; transportation services offering you the freedom to get out and about; hassle-free living in your own private home

Vibrant Company Baltimore-based company; high standards, a proven track record and outstanding resident and associate satisfaction ratings; a solid value for your dollar

Independent, Assisted Living & Dementia Care Brightview Avondell • 410-638-8100 | Brightview Mays Chapel Ridge • 410-628-2100 Brightview Perry Hall • 410-529-1903 | Brightview Rolling Hills • 410-744-7101 Brightview Severna Park • 410-544-1605 | Brightview Westminster Ridge • 410-871-2225

Assisted Living & Dementia Care Brightview Bel Air • 410-893-2202 | Brightview Catonsville • 410-788-5001 Brightview South River • 410-956-7310 | Brightview Towson • 410-296-3320 Brightview White Marsh • 410-668-1588

www.BrightviewSeniorLiving.com

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OCTOBER 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON

A step-by-step guide to downsizing

By Eric Stewart As we get older, may people consider downsizing to a smaller residence. However, downsizing can be particularly overwhelming when you think of letting go of cherished items and memories of them you’ve accumulated over a lifetime.

Here are some tips to help make downsizing a less intimidating experience.

Change your mindset Downsizing should not be a considered something negative. In fact, when I dis-

Ask the Expert– Making Your Wishes Known John Evans, General Manager Schimunek Funeral Homes

Q: What are the benefits of making my final wishes known in advance?

A: !"# $"%"&'(# )*# +,-%%.%/# -!"-0# 1-%# $"# .22"%("3#4.'!#'!"#!",+#)*#-#+5)*"((.)%-,6# '!"5"#-5"#7"58#(.2+,"#('"+(#8)9#1-%#'-:"#')# +,-%#"7"58'!.%/#.%#-07-%1"#-%0#.%#0"'-.,3#;# *9%"5-,#)5#2"2)5.-,#("57.1"#%)'#)%,8#/.7"(# 8)95# ,)7"0# )%"(# -# ("%("# )*# 1,)(95"6# .'<(# -

cuss downsizing with my real estate clients, I call it “rightsizing” — which is the process where you adjust your current home or relocate to a new home to fit your needs and empower yourself to live your preferable future.

You want to be in a living environment where you are not held back or burdened by your home and possessions, but rather live where your home and possessions suit your needs now and in the future.

Through a simple exercise contained in my Rightsizing Guide (see http://bit.ly/

1","$5-'.)%#)*#8)95#,.*"3#=5)2#(+"1.-,#29(.1# -%0#>)?"5(#')#*))0#-%0#(+"1.-,#2"2"%')(6# 8)9#1-%#0"(./%#-#$"-9'.*9,#-%0#2"2)5-$,"# "7"%'#'!-'#-,,)?(#*-2.,8#-%0#*5."%0(#')#(-8# /))0$8"#.%#-#9%.@9"#?-8#-%0#:%)?#'!-'#'!"8# !-7"#1-55."0#)9'#'!".5#,)7"0#)%"<(#?.(!"(3 If you have more questions, visit your local funeral provider. They are a good source of information for funeral, cremation and cemetery options.

John Evans is a fourth-generation funeral director with over 30 years of experience in funeral service. John has spent the better half of his life serving families with compassion and !"#$%%&"'()&%*+ (,+ "'$+ "#+ ,-$+ *"%,+ .&#/01),+ times in their lives. To learn more, please visit SchimunekFuneralHomes.com.

A.1"%("0#*9%"5-,#"('-$,.(!2"%'#.%#'!"#B'-'"#)*#C-58,-%03

rightsizing_guide), you can start to envision how the future you want may look, and how downsizing can help achieve those goals.

Preserve memories If you’ve lived in the same house for 30 to 40 years, various household items associated with family events that occurred there may have meaningful significance, but may not be used or needed on a regular basis.

How can you preserve the memories without retaining all the possessions?

Make a movie!

With a digital video camera (and perhaps the help of your children), you can go through your home and film it just the way it is, recalling out loud memories of particular possessions or life milestones.

Set aside old photos to be put in a scrapbook or to be scanned digitally and saved.

These are cathartic activities that will help ease the downsizing process, and the video and scrapbook can become gifts to pass on to younger generations.

Separate the wheat from the chaff Now, it’s time to start sorting through your accumulated possessions. I recommend allocating a room in the house to be your staging area, or what I call your loading zone. Within the loading zone there will be five different areas:

The first area, or category, are the items that you will take with you when you move.

These will most likely be family heirlooms, photos, books, etc.

The second category will be things that other family members might benefit from or want to keep. Allow them to come and take turns choosing items.

If there are tables full of stuff, you may want to try the following idea: Each family member gets a number. Give the first choice of item to the person who drew number one, then let number two choose, and so on until everyone has had one pick.

The next round starts with number two and ends with number one. Next round, start with number three and so on, until everything is gone.

The third category is for items with intrinsic monetary value, but little or no sentimental value, that can be sold. I recommend hiring an appraiser or estate sale company to help you determine the value of items you no longer need or want.

The fourth category is for giveaway items. Donate to charity things that neither you nor your family has any use for, but might be of use to someone else.

The fifth and final category is the most important of all: Trash! Don’t be afraid to throw away things that you have not used See DOWNSIZING, page B-7

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2015

B-7

When home inventories can be of help

By Katherine Roth Wild weather has become more common with climate change, the experts say.

And other occurrences, such as home fires or leaking pipes, can wreak havoc with your possessions.

Homeowners can prepare in advance for such events by making home inventories — detailed lists of household belongings and their approximate value.

Making a home inventory is made easier by inexpensive or free services, apps and software. But there are low-tech ways to do it as well.

“Just going around your home with a pen and paper taking notes — or making a video with your smartphone of yourself walking around your home and describing the things around you — can make a world of difference when you need to make an insurance claim,” said Jeanne Salvatore of the New York-based Insurance Information Institute, a non-profit that helps educate the public about insurance.

“The format is not nearly as important as just having some kind of list.”

Everyone needs one And home inventories aren’t just for the rich.

“Regular people, whether they’re homeowners or renters, need home inventories way more than the wealthy, because they need the [insurance] money more,” Salvatore said.

“People always say they don’t have a lot of stuff. But if you add up the cost of your bed, with your mattress, mattress cover, bed frame and maybe a few suits hanging in your closet, some high-tech items or small appliances, and your bike or golf clubs, it easily adds up to thousands of dollars. And you’re going to really depend on that money to get up and running again after a disaster.”

The industry estimates that less than 40

percent of households have a detailed inventory of their belongings, and that having one may halve the time it takes to process a claim, or even mean the difference between being reimbursed for a loss or not.

Inventories also can help you determine whether you have enough insurance cov-

erage. If you find your insurance doesn’t cover everything, a home inventory can facilitate applying for aid or deducting unreimbursed losses from your taxes in the event of a disaster, Salvatore said.

See INVENTORY, page B-8

Take a vacation without leaving your community.

Downsizing From page B-6 in years. If you don’t need it and it has no sentimental value, you can probably toss it.

If you are unsure whether an item should be kept or discarded, ask yourself the following three questions: Do you need it? Do you love it? Do you use it?

If you can answer “yes” to two or more of those questions, keep it. If you only answer “yes” to one question, then offer the item to family members, and if they don’t want it, sell, give, or throw away the item.

Another idea is to use color-coded sticky notes to tag items as you sort through them. For instance, a green sticky note would be for items you plan to take with you, yellow sticky notes are items for family members, orange sticky notes are items to be sold, etc.

Quick move-in homes available!

Don’t go it alone If there are not enough family members or friends to help with downsizing, and you have the financial means, you may want to consider hiring a senior move manger.

They are equipped to help you through the scaling down and moving process.

Senior move managers can assist with: sorting through your possessions in your current home, mapping out where everything should go in your new home, packing and transporting the items and furniture you plan to take with you, and unpacking everything and putting things in their proper place after the move.

Moving is never easy. But with the right approach and a good plan for dealing with your furniture and years of accumulation, it doesn’t have to be so difficult.

Eric Stewart is an associate broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in the Greater Washington area, and is also a Senior Real Estate Specialist. For more information, visit www.ericstewartgroup.com.

Gatherings at Quarry Place - from the $260s 601 Quicksilver Court, Reisterstown, MD 21136 (intersection of Franklin Blvd. and Nicodemus Road)

55-and-better condominium homes overlooking a beautiful 30-acre quarry lake.

• Elevator-served, secured entrance buildings which provide extra security, peace-of-mind and low-maintenance living • Large, private garages with additional storage spaces available for purchase • Resort-like community amenities including a clubhouse with fitness and swimming pool, dog park, community garden, and more • Shopping, dining and modern conveniences planned minutes from your front door • One-mile walking path around the 30-acre quarry lake

Visit or contact us today: 410-630-1371

GET MORE IN A NEW HOME *Pricing, features and availability subject to change without notice. See New Home Counselor for complete details. © 2015 Beazer Homes MHBR No. 93 6/15 125896

©

B-8

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OCTOBER 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Finding caregivers to help you at home “Homecare” is a simple term that encompasses a wide range of health and social services. These services are delivered at home to recovering, disabled, chronically or terminally ill persons in need of medical, nursing, social or therapeutic treatment and/or assistance with the essential activities of daily living.

Generally, homecare is appropriate whenever a person prefers to stay at home but needs ongoing care that cannot easily or effectively be provided solely by family and friends.

More and more older people, electing to live independent, non-institutionalized lives, are receiving homecare services as their physical capabilities diminish.

Homecare services generally are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Depending on the patient’s needs, these services may be provided by an individual or a team of specialists on a part-time, intermittent, hourly or shift basis.

Types of homecare providers include home health agencies; homemaker and homecare aide (HCA) agencies; staffing and private-duty agencies. There are also registries that refer workers with various skills to those needing help. And, of course, one may hire one’s own caregiver directly.

Here are descriptions of the ways in which these different types of agencies and referral sources work, and the degree of regulation and legal liability each one is subject to, if any.

Home health agencies

Inventory

Put one in a safety deposit box or other secure, off-site place, and send the other to a trusted friend in another part of the country.

While software programs are plentiful and free or inexpensive, there are advantages to hiring a home inventory company to get the job done — and the cost (generally between $500 and $800) can save thousands of dollars in potential losses.

“The benefit of a having an experienced third party do the inventory is there’s no dispute of claim. There’s so much fraud out there, and having a third party eliminates that burden of proof that it’s not

fraud,” said Carrie Mitchell, founder of the Colorado-based TWS Home Inventory (http://twshomeinventory.com), with offices in New York and Florida.

Know Your Stuff (www.knowyourstuff. org/iii/login.html) is a free phone application put out by the Insurance Information Institute, and a wide range of software and services is also available from insurance companies and independent home inventory companies.

While it’s helpful to include your insurance policy number and insurance agent’s phone number on the list, it isn’t necessary to send the list to your insurance company unless you want to be sure you have adequate coverage.

“Most insurance companies don’t require receipts so much as just knowing you had a leather couch, what kind it was, and what sort of condition it was in,” said Scott Spencer, worldwide appraisal manager for the Warren, New Jersey-based Chubb Personal Insurance company.

Update your home inventory annually, he said. “If you do it at the same time every

From page B-7

Ways to take inventory To put together a basic home inventory, just make a list of your belongings and their estimated value and store it in a safe place.

Get in the habit of taking photos and saving receipts when buying valuable items. If you don’t have a receipt, a copy of a credit card bill is helpful, as are serial numbers and photos, or even notes about where an item was purchased.

Once you have a list, make two copies:

Educate Yourself about today’s retirement living options

Brought to you by Erickson

Living and the Tribune

Se nio r Liv ing

SPECIAL REPORT Celebrating the CCRC

pes about Smashing the stereoty America’s best—and most nt living option. misunderstood—retireme to senior rental rom Active 55 communities villages, today’s senior properties to retirement when it comes to has a wide range of choices retirement. One of the most where they will live after options is the continuing commonly misunderstood (CCRC). People often care retirement community nursing homes or assisted categorize CCRCs with them with a loss of living facilities and associate this is far from freedom and personal identity—but

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active, independent lifestyle today, ace peace with added p of mind that ve off g levels higher h diily d adily adil ea rreeadily are readily ar a e are are care cca available, should they need ever be needed.

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3

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The term home health agency often indicates that a homecare provider is Medicare certified. A Medicare-certified agency has met federal minimum requirements for patient care and management, and therefore can provide Medicare- and Medicaid-reimbursed home health services.

Individuals requiring skilled homecare services usually receive their care from a home health agency. Due to regulatory requirements, services provided by these agencies are highly supervised and controlled.

Often these agencies deliver a variety of homecare services through physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, homemakers and HCAs, durable medical equip-

ment and supply dealers, and volunteers.

Other home health agencies limit their services to nursing and one or two other specialties. Home health agencies recruit and supervise their personnel; as a result, they assume liability for all care.

Homemaker and homecare aide agencies Homemaker and HCA agencies employ homemakers or chore workers, HCAs and companions who support individuals through meal preparation, bathing, dressing and housekeeping.

Personnel are assigned according to the See HOMECARE, page B-11

year it’s easy to remember. I usually update mine around my birthday.”

Attics, basements and clothing Among the most challenging areas to inventory are attics, basements, closets, and other storage areas where things are stashed in boxes.

“Take a look at your garage and ask yourself what you’d want to claim if it went up in smoke. It might be as simple as detailing and photographing gardening and sporting equipment,” said Salvatore.

The most commonly underestimated area is the wardrobe, Spencer said. Most people wear the same few outfits over and over again, but the value of everything in your closet can add up to a lot.

Also, be sure to include sentimental or irreplaceable items, like art, he said. “Even if you can’t replace that $500 painting on your wall, documenting it will allow you to replace it with another $500 painting, as opposed to a poster. There are way more things than diamonds that have real value.”

— AP

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OCTOBER 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Childless or not, we all need a safety net

By Susan B. Garland Childless and divorced, Linda Wiesman, 67, is apprehensive about her future. With two knee replacements, the retired accountant is having trouble negotiating the stairs in her three-story townhouse in Gaithersburg, Md. Wiesman said she and several friends

who live in different cities have “seriously thought of communal living” — a Golden Girls arrangement of mutual help. [See “Share your home like the Golden Girls did,” July Beacon, housing section.]

Not long ago, Wiesman witnessed a bit of what life could hold in store for her.

When her single and childless uncle broke

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his back several years ago, he turned to Wiesman and her sister for help. They moved him into a nursing home near his house in North Carolina.

After he recovered, they sold his house, brought him to an independent living facility in Maryland, and hired caregivers. Following a fall and a fractured hip, he moved into a group home, where he died a year later.

Who will care for her, Wiesman now wonders. “I worry about dementia and longevity because they run in the family,” she said. Perhaps, she said, she can turn to her three nieces.

Who will help when needed?

Aging seniors face all sorts of uncertainties. But older childless singles and couples are missing the fallback that many other seniors take for granted: adult children who can monitor an aging parent and help navigate a complex system of healthcare, housing, transportation and social services.

As baby boomers age, the number of childless seniors, both couples and singles, is rising. Close to 19 percent of all women ages 80 to 84 will fall into that category in 2050, up from 16 percent in 2030, according to a study by the AARP Public Policy Institute. Recent research by a geriatrician at the North Shore-LIJ Health System in New York coined a name for these seniors: “elder orphans.”

People without children “need to start thinking early about their future housing and future caregiving,” said Lynn Feinberg, senior strategic policy adviser with the AARP institute and a co-author of the study. She suggests that they consider “what life will be like when they can’t live without assistance.”

To be sure, even those with progeny can’t always count on their adult children to lend a hand. For those parents as well as for childless seniors, it’s essential to start weaving a safety net that can last for years to come.

The support system could include a network of friends and relatives who can keep tabs on you, advocates to help negotiate the healthcare system, a team of legal and financial professionals, and senior-friendly housing.

Choose your legal “agents” One of the first steps aging adults should take is to draft legal documents that will protect them if they become incapacitated.

On the financial front, you should create a durable power of attorney and choose an agent who will manage your financial, legal and tax affairs should you become unable to handle these tasks yourself.

Childless seniors often pick a niece or nephew to whom they are close — or a trusted friend, cousin, sibling or clergy. Because of the potential work involved, “include in the document that the person should be compensated,” said Wynne Whitman, an estate-planning lawyer at Schenck, Price, Smith and King, Florham Park, N.J. If you don’t have someone reliable who

can take on the job, you could set up a revocable trust and assign a bank or trust company as trustee, said Martin Shenkman, an estate-planning lawyer in Paramus, N.J. You would move your assets to the trust, and the company would eventually take on financial tasks you assign to it — including paying bills and caregivers, processing medical claims, and overseeing your home if you’re hospitalized or in a nursing facility.

Whether you use an institution or a power of attorney, it’s essential to build in checks and balances. You could direct the trustee or agent to send monthly statements to your accountant. If you create a revocable trust, you can appoint a cotrustee or, in many states, a “trust protector,” who may be given the power to monitor, and perhaps override, a trustee’s decisions.

Healthcare directives You’ll also need to draw up healthcare directives. One is a living will, which will define your healthcare wishes under certain medical conditions. You’ll also need to name a healthcare proxy, who will make decisions on your medical care if you become incapacitated.

As you age, the proxy’s role could intensify. He or she must keep an eye on your mental and physical state, hire caregivers, and arrange for you to move to new housing if necessary.

Your proxy “should be someone you have ultimate faith in and connection with,” said Elinor Ginzler, senior director of the Center for Supportive Services at the Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington, in Rockville, Md. If you don’t have someone who can pick up the role, you may be able to hire a professional. Some elder law attorneys can become a healthcare proxy. And depending on the state where you live, you may be able to hire a professional fiduciary to oversee your affairs.

Wiesman’s sister is her financial agent and healthcare proxy, but her sister at some point could become too old to continue in that capacity. Wiesman is close enough to her three nieces to consider asking one of them to take over in the future — perhaps moving to the city where the niece lives.

It’s a good idea for those who don’t have children or close relatives to widen their circle of potential helpers — people and organizations that can keep an eye on you and pitch in if need be. Your network could include friends, volunteer organizations you work with, neighborhood groups and senior centers.

Turn to a team of experts A cornerstone of your support system should be a professional advisory team.

The team would include a certified public accountant, a financial planner, an estateSee SAFETY NET, page B-11

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2015

Safety net From page B-10 planning lawyer or elder law attorney, and perhaps a geriatric care manager, said Lynn Evans, president of Northeastern Financial Consultants, in South Abington Township, Pa. The financial planner would develop a blueprint to pay for long-term care and other services. A care manager could look for signs of dementia and arrange for services, such as home care. (You can find a care manager at the website of the Aging Life Care Association at www.aginglifecare.org.)

You could direct team members to exchange information, especially if your mental capacities decline. They could also

Homecare From page B-8 needs and wishes of each client.

Some states, including Maryland, require these agencies to be licensed and meet minimum standards established by the state.

Most homemaker and HCA agencies recruit, train and supervise their personnel and thus are responsible for the care rendered.

Staffing and private-duty agencies Staffing and private-duty agencies generally provide individuals with nursing, homemaker, HCA and companion services. Most states do not require these agencies to be licensed or meet regulatory requirements.

Some staffing and private-duty agencies assign nurses to assess their clients’ needs to ensure that personnel are properly assigned and provide ongoing supervision.

These agencies recruit their own personnel. Again, responsibility for patient care rests with each agency.

Registries Registries serve as employment agencies for homecare nurses and aides by matching these providers with customers and collecting finder’s fees. These organizations usually are not licensed or regulated by government.

Registries are not required to screen or background-check the caregivers they refer customers to, but some do undertake these tasks routinely. In addition, although not legally required to, some registries offer procedures for patients to file complaints.

Customers select and supervise the work of a registry-referred provider. They also pay the provider directly and must comply with all applicable state and federal labor, health and safety laws and regulations, including payroll tax and Social Security withholding requirements.

Independent providers Independent providers are nurses, therapists, aides, homemakers and chore workers, and companions who are privately employed by individuals who need such services.

Aides, homemakers, chore workers and companions are not required to be licensed or to meet government standards except in cases where they receive state funding. In this arrangement, the respon-

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B-11

You also should visit various types of senior housing to get an idea of the kind of place where you’d feel comfortable living.

File the information in a folder that you or your designated helpers can use in the future.

Wherever you live, you’ll need easy access to health facilities, transportation and

senior-related services. That may involve moving to a new location that “provides the support that enables you to live the way you want to live,” AARP’s Feinberg said.

More than 350 communities have been designated as aging-friendly by the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging, a think tank in Santa Monica, Calif. (Check http://successfulaging.milkeninstitute.org.)

Criteria include senior housing options, hospitals offering geriatric services, and investment in public transportation. You can assess your own community’s aging friendliness and compare it to others by using AARP’s Livability Index at www.aarp.org. [See “What factors make a community ‘livable,’ in the July Beacon, for this area’s rating.]

If you want to live at home alone, build in extra support to preserve your independence as long as possible. A care manager can conduct a periodic assessment.

If the time comes for more help, the care manager can work with your healthcare agent to find a home aide, assisted living or a nursing facility.

You also can install medical-alert technology, which will notify a designated person if you fall, or if you don’t seem to be following your normal routine.

Another option is to live in one of 200 “villages” — neighborhood groups that, for a membership fee, provide residents with services such as transportation to doctor appointments, home repairs and meal delivery.

sibility for recruiting, hiring and supervising the provider rests with the client.

Finding back-up care in the event that the provider fails to report to work or fulfill job

requirements is the client’s responsibility.

Clients also pay the provider directly and must comply with all applicable state and federal labor, health and safety requirements.

Excerpted from the website of the National Association for Homecare and Hospice.

For more information, see www.nahc.org or call (202) 547-7424.

watch out for financial elder abuse.

Your safety net should include an array of aging-related community services.

While you may not need resources now, you can start investigating what’s available. Services could include care managers, visiting chefs, handyman firms, escorted transportation, home aide agencies and senior centers.

Find the right place to live

See SAFETY NET, page B-12

B-12

Housing Options | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Safety net From page B-11 The Baltimore area has two such villages: Northwest Neighbors Connecting, (410) 500-5319, http://www.chaibaltimore.org/nnc, and Village At Home, Inc., (410) 235-3171, http://www.villageathome.org.

(Learn more about these villages in the July 2014 Beacon article “Aging in place villages continue to grow” on page B-8 at http://bit.ly/aging_in_place_villages.

Find other villages at the website for the Village to Village Network: www.vtvnetwork.org.)

OCTOBER 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON

You could consider, as Wiesman is, living with friends in such a village. But understand that these are “interim steps,” said Andrew Carle, director of the Senior Housing Administration program at George Mason University, Fairfax, Va. “Over time, a lot of people will outgrow what the villages are capable of offering,” he said. And shared living arrangements may fall apart as housemates become infirm or develop dementia, he said.

If you can afford it, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) may be the best option for childless seniors to establish a support system, Carle said.

Instead of hiring different people to, say,

prepare meals, do housekeeping and find a nursing facility, by moving to a CCRC, Carle said, “you can buy all the services in one package.” [See “CCRCs pair housing with health benefits,” in the January Beacon Housing and Homecare section.]

CCRCs typically charge an entrance fee and then monthly fees that cover an independent living unit, meals, recreational ac-

New services, if you qualify Those looking to establish a safety net to plan for their future can turn to one of a growing number of companies that offer elder-related services.

One is Life Management Services, a division of Wells Fargo’s Private Bank, now offered in Maryland and more than 30 other states. The service, available to clients with at least $2 million in investable assets, will assess clients starting in their 60s or so and arrange for assistance as their needs change.

A client in her 60s or 70s may start off just having Wells Fargo review and pay medical bills. As time goes on, a Life Management specialist could develop a plan of care, and set up meal preparation, physical therapy and other assistance.

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tivities and other amenities. The community may move you (either at no extra charge or for an increased monthly rate, depending on your choice of entrance plan), to an on-site assisted-living unit or skilled-nursing facility if you need care. © 2015, Kiplinger. All Rights Reserved.

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If the specialist determines a client needs assisted living, the specialist would find a suitable facility, coordinate the move and check in on the client regularly.

Anne Tinyo, national manager of the program, recalled one client who at 90 took a fall after driving to a florist. She called her specialist, who visited her in the hospital and arranged to move her to a rehabilitation facility. He also had her car picked up.

Fees for such services are typically a percentage of assets under management. Wells Fargo’s fee starts at half of one percent (for those investing $2 million. The percent declines as investments rise.) The fee is in addition to any management fees for the investments.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2015

B-13

Helping your child buy a home? Some tips

By Alex Veiga Rising prices and a dearth of homes for sale in many markets have made it harder for many looking to buy their first home.

One of the biggest obstacles many are facing is saving up for a down payment, particularly in hotter markets where competition for the more affordable homes can quickly drive up prices and put pressure on buyers to bring more cash up front.

That trend is prompting many parents to step in, some opening their wallets, others welcoming their adult children to live with them again temporarily while they save money or pay down debt.

Some 13 percent of parents with children between the ages of 20 and 38 helped their child buy a home in the last five years, according to a survey conducted by GfK Custom Research North America for lender loanDepot.

Of those, 65 percent contributed the down payment and 24 percent assisted with closing costs. The survey included responses from 1,000 parents and has a margin of error of 3 percent.

Whether it’s a cash gift or another form of aid, it pays for parents to consider how to best aid their children without placing their own financial well-being at risk.

Here are some factors parents should weigh when helping their children buy a home:

If you’re under 59 1/2, avoid withdrawing funds from individual retirement accounts (IRAs). Generally, the IRS will tack on a 10 percent tax for anyone who withdraws funds from their IRA if they’re under 59 1/2 years old. But there are exceptions, including one allowing parents to withdraw up to $10,000 toward their child’s first home purchase.

Even so, you’ll have to pay taxes on that $10,000 at your normal income-tax rate. So if your child needs $10,000, you’ll end up paying more to cover the portion lost to taxes.

A loan or a gift?

Some parents may decide they can’t afford to give their children a large sum of money, instead preferring to do it as a loan.

But that can have an impact on the borrower’s ability to qualify for a mortgage.

Mortgage lenders generally allow borrowers to use funds received as a gift from

a relative to cover their down payment, closing costs or to add to their savings.

But if the money is being borrowed, the homebuyer is required to disclose that loan to the bank, which could alter their evaluation of the borrower’s debt-to-income ratio. That’s a calculus banks use to help determine the borrower’s ability to pay back a mortgage.

If the funds are given as a gift, they don’t count as debts that have to be repaid.

Parents can help give their children a financial leg up on their home purchase, but there are other ways to do so beyond just giving them cash.

Local charities sometimes offer firsttime buyers incentives to save by offering matching contributions. That’s also a good approach for parents to take, say, by offering to match their children’s savings toward a down payment.

Another option is to make sure their

children are exploring down-payment assistance programs run by state and local housing authorities.

These programs can be found in all states, and provide an average down-payment assistance of $11,565, according to an analysis of 2,290 such programs by real estate data firm RealtyTrac.

Most of the programs essentially lend the borrowers the money for the down payment, collecting on the loan when the home is sold, said Rob Chrane, CEO and founder of Down Payment Resource, which tracks the programs.

“There may be some programs that are targeted to certain census tracts or certain neighborhoods, but basically there is something out there for everybody who qualifies,” he said.

Search down payment assistance programs in your area: http:// downpaymentresource.com/are-you-eligible.

— AP

Assess your finances Parents may be tempted to pitch in financially to help get their children into their first home, but they shouldn’t do so before going over their own finances and ensuring they can they can afford to live without the funds.

This is particularly important if the parents are close to retirement, when they will have to live on their assets, savings and investments.

“Do not in any case put your retirement security at risk just to get your child into a home,” said Elizabeth Grahsl, a private banker at Prosperity Bank in Dallas. “He or she will have plenty of chances to own real estate, but you probably don’t have time to catch up if your retirement is derailed.”

An accountant or financial adviser can help figure out whether you can afford to make a sizeable contribution to your children’s homeownership fund.

Another option is to use an online retirement calculator to estimate the impact that any big withdrawals would have on your retirement savings.

Try this one from Bankrate: http:// www.bankrate.com/calculators/retirement/ retirement-plan-calculator.aspx

Go with cash If you decide to kick in some money toward your child’s down payment or other costs, it’s best to go with discretionary cash, say, from a savings account. That’s because it’s likely not earning much in the way of interest, so you’re not losing much in potential gains on the money.

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More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com | Housing Options

B-15

Not all energy efficiency steps are worth it

By Jonathan Fahey Home efficiency measures such as installing new windows or replacing insulation deliver such a small fraction of their promised energy savings that they may not save any money over the long run, according to the surprising conclusion of a University of Chicago study.

The study, which used data from a random sample of 30,000 low-income Michigan households that were eligible for an Energy Department home weatherization program, found that the projected energy savings were 2.5 times greater than actual savings. As a result, energy bills didn’t decline nearly enough to eventually pay for the initial cost of the upgrades.

“The problem is that the real world is screwy,” said Michael Greenstone, an energy economist and head of the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. “The models project much larger savings than are realized by homeowners.”

The study, conducted by Greenstone and economists from the University of California at Berkeley, Meredith Fowlie and Catherine Wolfram, has not yet been reviewed by a panel of peers. And energy efficiency experts who were shown the study say the authors’ broad conclusions about energy efficiency in general aren’t justified after a study of a single program in a single state focused only on low-income households.

But Greenstone said he is finding similar results in a second study of middle-income homes in Wisconsin. If his findings are correct, they could undermine the rationale for billion-dollar federal and state efficiency programs and call into question a long-held understanding that making existing homes and businesses more energy-

efficient are among the cheapest ways to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide.

States are expected to expand efficiency programs like the federal weatherization program in the coming years to meet regulations now in development at the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce emissions from power generation.

“It’s urgent we find out which (programs) reduce carbon emissions at least cost,” Greenstone said.

10 to 20% energy savings The researchers found that while homeowners saw their energy use fall by 10 to 20 percent after the upgrades, that put them in position to save just $2,400 in energy expenses — far less than the $5,000 the upgrades in the study cost on average.

The researchers calculated that it cost the federal program $329 for every ton of carbon dioxide it saved. The government estimates the cost to society of a ton of carbon dioxide is $38.

The Energy Department said in a statement that the program — which it said has upgraded more than 7 million homes and is saving families $300 million a year — has been shown to work by previous national studies.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is set to release its own study on the program that “should show that families are still saving more money in energy bills than money spent updating their homes,” according to Energy Department spokesman Eben Burnham-Snyder.

Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, said that weatherization programs for low-income households are typi-

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cally among the least cost-effective energy efficiency measures. That’s partly because it is so difficult to get low-income homeowners to sign up that, once they do, workers are encouraged to do as much work as possible on the homes, even if it has only marginal energy benefits.

On the other hand, Nadel said, the study neglects to factor in other benefits these homeowners receive, including lower maintenance expenses, reducing the likelihood of missed utility payments, and a more comfortable home.

It is well-known among efficiency experts that weatherization programs that replace windows, boilers and other equipment while the equipment is still in working order are particularly expensive.

But other fixes, such as patching leaks in ducts and replacing light bulbs, have shown a clear benefit. And it is still almost certain that buying more efficient windows and appliances or light bulbs when it’s time to replace them pays off in the long run.

To read the full report online, go to http://bit.ly/energy_efficiency_report.

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B-16

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Say you saw it in the Beacon

Money Law &

15

COLLECT YOUR OWN LIFE INSURANCE You may be able to pocket part of the payout from your life insurance while you’re still alive, but understand all the costs

AVOIDING PROBATE Brokerage accounts typically pass through your will when you die, but there are ways to avoid probate

Earn dividends every month of the year Jeffrey R. Kosnett A regular paycheck isn’t the only way to ensure a steady flow of income. Whether you are already retired or simply planning ahead for retirement, by carefully selecting stocks that pay dividends on the right schedule, you can build a portfolio that guarantees you cash every month. Here are a dozen great stocks that do just that.

January: Occidental Petroleum Yield: 4.1 percent 52-week high: $104.48, 52-week low: $67.30; 5-year dividend growth rate: 16.9 percent Last dividend increases: 12.5 percent in February 2014 and 4.2 percent in October 2014 Also pays in: April, July, October Occidental Petroleum (OXY) is primarily a domestic oil and gas producer, with much of its exploration in California and in shale formations in Texas and North Dakota. It differs from some other large oil companies in that it doesn’t have a lowprofit refining and marketing business. It also said, emphatically, in its investor presentations that increasing its dividend is a higher priority than making acquisitions, buying back stock or piling up reserves.

February: Realty Income Yield: 4.7 percent 52-week high: $55.54, 52-week low: $40.56; 5-year dividend growth rate: 5.7 percent Last dividend increase: 0.3 percent in March 2015 Also pays in: Every month This real estate investment trust pioneered the strategy of buying or building free-standing drugstores, restaurants, cinemas, fitness centers and similar buildings and leasing them to familiar chains, which pay the rent, maintenance and taxes. Realty Income (O) pays dividends every month and raises the rate several times a year, though slowly and usually by small amounts. The REIT is safe and consistent, with more than 500 consecutive monthly dividends to its credit.

March: Intel Yield 2.9 percent 52-week high: $37.90; 52-week low: $25.74; 5-year dividend growth rate: 8.8 percent Last dividend increase: 6.7 percent in January 2015 Also pays in: June, September, December Intel (INTC), which makes semiconduc-

tors and processors, is one of tech’s most committed dividend-payers. Intel is fighting slowing growth in sales of desktop and laptop computers — its largest sources of sales and profits — and as it makes inroads into smartphones and tablets, its cash flow will grow and higher dividends should follow.

April: McCormick Yield 2.1 percent 52-week high: $78.70; 52-week low: $64.92; 5-year dividend growth rate: 9.0 percent Last dividend increase: 8.1 percent in November 2014 Also pays in: January, October, December The world’s leading maker of spices and flavorings, McCormick (MKC) grows steadily in part by taking over competitors’ brands and introducing American favorites to the rest of the world. Its profit margin is more than twice that of the meatpackers whose steaks and chops star in McCormick’s recipes. Plus, the company has little debt.

May: Procter & Gamble Yield 3.2 percent 52-week high: $93.89; 52-week low: $77.29; 5-year dividend growth rate: 6.6 percent Last dividend increase: 3.0 percent in April 2015 Also pays in: August, November, February Procter & Gamble (PG) is the archetypal solid, predictable, low-stress growth stock.

It is so huge that a single-digit dividend growth rate may be all you can expect — but that’s good enough considering that it usually yields more than 3 percent.

June: WisdomTree MidCap ETF Yield 2.3 percent 52-week high: $87.34; 52-week low: $73.63; 5-year dividend growth rate: 26.6 percent Last dividend increase: 17.3 percent in March 2015 Also pays in: Every month Smaller and mid-sized companies have joined the rush to pay higher dividends, and WisdomTree MidCap ETF (DON) is a convenient way to sample 400 of them — spanning the economy from utilities to REITs to energy to retail. The fund pays dividends each month, joining Realty Income as 12-time payers in this model portfolio.

July: Kimberly-Clark Yield 3.2 percent 52-week high: $119.01; 52-week low: $99.23; 5-year dividend growth rate: 5.9 percent Last dividend increase: 4.8 percent in

February 2015 Also pays in: October, January, April The maker of Kleenex, Huggies and Scott paper products resembles Procter & Gamble in that it makes familiar household products and sells them in more than 100 countries. Kimberly-Clark (KMB) has raised dividends every year since the early 1970s, and aims to maintain a higher dividend yield than most other industrial and consumer-product companies.

August: Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Yield 4.7 percent 52-week high: $38.58; 52-week low: $31.39 5-year dividend growth rate: 30.6 percent; Last dividend increase: 8.6 percent in January 2015 Also pays in: November, February, May Potash is fertilizer, and this Canadian firm could be spreading it on its dividends to produce bigger and higher checks for investors’ pockets. Five years ago Potash (POT) paid 1 cent a quarter. Now the dividend is 38 cents, four times a year. The world doesn’t have many sources of this essential resource, and while the price can swing like any mineral, the dividend is secure.

September: Johnson & Johnson Yield 3.0 percent 52-week high: $109.49; 52-week low: $95.10; 5-year dividend growth rate: 6.8 percent Last dividend increase: 7.1 percent in April 2015 Also pays in: December, March, June A blue-chip cash machine with a great group of global health businesses, Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) grows just enough to raise dividends between 5 and 10 percent a year, while the shares almost never misbehave.

This is the way the stock market is supposed to work for patient, loyal investors.

October: Automatic Data Processing Yield 2.3 percent 52-week high: $90.23; 52-week low: $67.12;

5-year dividend growth rate: 7.6 percent Last dividend increase: 2.1 percent in April 2014 Also pays in: January, April, July Automatic Data Processing (ADP) is a giant payroll processor and also administers employee-benefits programs. It also profits by investing money it holds for employers before paychecks are cashed and deposited, so even a small rise in interest rates would make it richer. ADP is a financial fortress with $2 billion of its own cash and little debt.

November: General Dynamics Yield 2.0 percent 52-week high: $146.13; 52-week low: $111.08; 5-year dividend growth rate: 10.4 percent Last dividend increase: 11.2 percent in March 2015 Also pays in: February, May, August A defense industry powerhouse, General Dynamics (GD) also makes private jet planes and offers information-technology management services. Cuts in the military budget (whether rumored or actual) haven’t stopped it from raising dividends briskly every year.

December: American Electric Power Yield 3.7 percent 52-week high: $65.38 ; 52-week low: $49.06; 5-year dividend growth rate: 4.8 percent Last dividend increase: 6.0 percent in October 2014 Also pays in: March, June, September American Electric Power (AEP) is one of the safest traditional regulated utility stocks because the chain operates in 11 states, which spreads the risk from storms and other controversies. AEP also pays a reasonable 59 percent of its earnings as dividends, which gives it scope to raise the payment even in slow years and makes the chance of cuts extremely low.

All contents © 2015 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

NEW UNITED SENIORS OF MARYLAND WEBSITE

The new United Seniors of Maryland (USM) website is www.unitedseniors.net. On the new website, you can find information about USM, what it does, board membership, member organizations, forum details, membership payment, general meeting topics and the yearly events calendar. The site will provide newsletters, updates on the USM forums, by-laws, future archived history and individual testimonies. You can also find links to information about Maryland Resources and information on becoming a USM member.

16

Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

OCTOBER 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Should you sell your life insurance policy?

By Eleanor Laise A growing number of seniors are looking to sell their life insurance policies to investors. But there is significant risk for older people getting involved in these “life settlement” transactions — whether they are selling their policy or investing in those of others.

In a life settlement, a policyholder sells his policy in exchange for a lump-sum cash payment. The buyer makes all the future premium payments and gets the death benefit when the insured person dies.

For seniors who find their policy is no longer needed or affordable, a life settlement can be a better option than letting the

policy lapse.

But a life settlement will bring the seller just a small fraction of his policy’s face value.

All too often, insurance experts say, seniors agree to life settlements without exploring alternatives that could bring far greater value to themselves or their beneficiaries.

Life settlements are also a gamble for investors. If the insured lives much longer than expected, the investor’s return will plunge.

Lawsuits filed in recent months by the Securities and Exchange Commission accuse some investment firms of misleading investors about life settlements’ risks. In one case, a firm allegedly told customers that life settlements were “guaranteed”

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

BUSINESS NETWORK FOR SENIORS, CAREGIVERS

The Maryland Senior Resource Network, Inc., (MSRN) is a network of select business professionals who offer products and/or services to seniors and caregivers to help seniors remain safe, comfortable and as independent as possible. If you or your loved one plans to age in your home or choose to move to a senior living community, members can help you every step of the way. For more information, visit www.mdseniorresource.org or contact (410) 828-5564 or info@MDSeniorResource.org.

and as safe as certificates of deposit, while in fact life settlements offer no guarantees.

Although life settlements can make sense in certain situations, for both sellers and investors, “there are so many ways of being taken advantage of,” said Glenn Daily, a fee-only insurance adviser in New York City.

The life-settlement industry said it’s providing a better alternative to seniors who often let policies lapse or continue paying premiums they can’t afford. [It also allows a policy holder to obtain cash from an asset they otherwise cannot access while alive, except by borrowing against it.]

Costs of sale add up If you are over 65 and have a life insurance policy with a death benefit of more than $100,000, you may be a candidate for a life settlement. You can go to a life-settlement broker, who will solicit bids from multiple buyers.

Or you can go to a life-settlement “provider” — a company that buys policies either for its own investment purposes or to sell to third-party investors. The provider will review your medical records and get life-expectancy estimates before

making a bid. You can find licensed brokers and providers at www.lisa.org.

But before selling a policy, you should understand the costs and complexities of life settlements. The amount of cash you can receive depends on your remaining life expectancy, your policy’s annual premiums and death benefit, the rate of return the buyer demands, and other factors.

Sellers typically receive more than the policy’s cash surrender value but far less than the death benefit. The gross purchase price — before deducting taxes, commissions and other transaction costs — is often 10 percent to 25 percent of the death benefit.

And transaction costs can consume a big chunk of the gross purchase price — often 10 percent to 20 percent, Daily said.

The broker’s commission can be as much as 4 to 6 percent of the policy’s face value.

The provider also collects a fee, which is generally not disclosed to the seller.

What’s more, with a life settlement, “there’s a tremendous loss of tax advantage,” said Scott Witt, a fee-only insurance adviser in New Berlin, Wis. See LIFE SETTLEMENTS, page 17

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LOOKING FOR A LOW-COST, LEGAL ALTERNATIVE TO BANKRUPTCY? Are you a Senior, Veteran or Disabled Person Living on Social Security, Disability, Pensions or Veteran’s Benefits?

Federal law protects your income from creditor garnishment. Debt Counsel for Seniors, Veterans and the Disabled (DCSD) can protect you from creditor harassment. If you can’t pay your credit card or medical bills or your student loans or payday loans, you can stop paying them without filing for bankruptcy.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2015

Life settlements If you hold on to the policy, your beneficiaries get the death benefit tax-free. In a life settlement, the seller must pay tax on at least a portion of the amount he receives, and the buyer also owes tax on the death benefit — another factor that pushes the offer price lower.

Still, life settlements can make sense for some seniors. One of Daily’s clients, a 74year-old woman, has a policy with a face value of about $500,000. Because of her relatively short life expectancy of about five years, Daily estimates that the gross price she can receive in a life settlement is unusually high — about $250,000. After deducting transaction costs and taxes, she might pocket roughly $180,000. Since the client needs money now, a life settlement makes sense for her, Daily said.

To determine whether a life settlement is a good option for you, ask a fee-only insurance adviser to help value your policy (find links to nine advisers at www.glenndaily.com).

ask your beneficiaries to take over the premium payments, said John Skar, an actuary who works with Daily. A whole life insurance policy is “a valuable family estate asset that you’re getting rid of [through a life settlement] for pennies on the dollar.”

Ask if you can borrow against your policy, or if the policy can be revised so that no future premiums are owed and the death benefit is reduced. People with short remaining life expectancies may be eligible for accelerated death benefits.

If you no longer need the policy, some community foundations and large charitable organizations may be willing to accept donations of life insurance.

Also, keep an eye on a new charitable alternative that aims to smooth the process of donating an insurance policy. Insuring a Better World Fund (www.iabwf.org), launched last year, pools all donated policies and pays the premiums. As death benefits roll in, it makes pro rata distributions to the charities named by the donors. The donor receives a tax deduction for the fair market value of the policy.

Other options to consider

Investing can be risky

From page 16

If your policy has become unaffordable,

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Law & Money

settlements as investments, the best policy is to stay away. In some cases, a person invests in a single policy. More often policies are pooled into life-settlement funds.

Investors’ returns depend on the accuracy of life-expectancy estimates, and “it doesn’t take very many [people] who dramatically outlive life expectancy to really put a crimp in your returns,” Witt said.

In addition, insurers may refuse to pay death benefits if they suspect that a policy

17

was initiated by an investor, rather than the insured person. In these “stranger-originated life insurance” arrangements, investors pay seniors to buy life insurance and then turn the policies over to investors.

Without examining every policy in a fund, it can be hard for investors to be sure they’re avoiding such situations.

All contents © 2015 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

For older investors who are pitched life

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

DISCOUNTED ONLINE CLASSES AVAILABLE AT CCBC CCBC is offering discounted online classes for seniors. Cost per

six-week class is $89. For more information, visit www.ed2go.com/CCBC/online or call (443) 840-4700.

Ongoing

VOLUNTEER TAX RETURN PREPARERS NEEDED The AARP Tax Aide Program is looking for volunteers to assist in preparing income tax returns for senior and low- to moderate-in-

come residents. A training course will be held in December at the Parkville or Arbutus Senior Centers. For more information, contact Hugh Hoffman at (410) 6680236 or Hoffmankh102@gmail.com.

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Law & Money | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

OCTOBER 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Bypass probate for brokerage accounts

By Kimberly Lankford Q: I need to designate a beneficiary for my brokerage account. Is a transferon-death account a better option than adding a joint owner to my account or including the account in my will?

A: Life insurance, IRAs, 401(k) plans and other retirement accounts pass directly to the beneficiaries you designate outside of your will.

Brokerage accounts, on the other hand, generally pass to your beneficiaries through your will and must go through probate first, which can be time-consuming, public and expensive in some states.

A transfer on death (TOD) registration is a way to designate beneficiaries for your brokerage account so the money will pass

directly to them and avoid probate.

If you add a joint owner, that person will inherit the account outside of probate but can also change the investments and access the money while you’re alive. Joint accounts are also subject to the claims of both owners’ creditors.

With a TOD, you maintain total control over the account and can change the beneficiary designation at any time.

TODs trump wills A TOD makes it very clear who inherits the account, rather than the account becoming one of many assets passed through your will. “It can avoid disputes,” said Gerri Walsh, senior vice president of investor education for Finra (Financial Industry Regu-

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latory Authority), an independent regulator for securities firms. “If you have the account set up with a designated beneficiary, that trumps whatever is in the will.”

However, if you want to split your estate among several beneficiaries, you may want to transfer the account through your will instead.

Say you have three children and want to leave them equal shares of your estate.

You could make one the TOD beneficiary of your brokerage account and leave comparable amounts of money to the other children. But if the brokerage account increases or decreases in value before you die, that child could end up inheriting a very different amount than the siblings.

With a will, on the other hand, you can split up the total assets equally.

When to use trusts If you have more complicated wishes — such as if you want your heirs to use the money for a particular purpose or not to receive the funds until a certain time —

you may want to set up a trust instead, said Eleanor Blayney, a certified financial planner and consumer advocate for the CFP Board.

Contact your brokerage firm if you’d like to set up a TOD designation for your account. Most states have similar TOD rules (Louisiana and Texas do not offer this option). If you move to another state, ask your brokerage firm if you need to make any changes.

For more information about TOD designations and other ways to transfer your brokerage account to your beneficiaries, see Finra’s investor alert Plan for “Transition: What You Should Know About the Transfer of Brokerage Account Assets on Death” at http://bit.ly/brokerage_transfer.

For more information about estate planning options, see “8 Smart Estate Planning Steps to Die the Right Way” at http://bit.ly/ estate_planning_steps.

All contents © 2015 The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2015

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Travel

19

Leisure &

View fall foliage from a new vantage point, such as a balloon, river raft or covered wagon. See story on page 21.

Balkans, now at peace, are worth a visit They also served as reminders that, not long ago, bitter warfare raged in the region.

But the only shooting we did was with our cameras, and taking pictures of scenery as dramatic as that which surrounded us, the results had to be outstanding.

Forest-clad countryside lies in the shadow of craggy mountain peaks. Ancient walled cities and tiny hillside towns are rich with life and allure. Mother Nature displays her handiwork in scenic gems that include inviting beachcdafdafdsaes, stunning coastal scenery, and cascading waterfalls that compete in beauty if not size with Niagara.

The pre-departure Information I received referred to the trip as “Crossroads of the Adriatic,” and to the four compact countries on the itinerary — Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Slovenia – as “multicultural lands of forgotten beauty.” We did not visit Serbia and Macedonia, which were also once part of Yugoslavia.

The tiny sizes of our destinations — the four together have a total area about equal to New York State – made traveling between them convenient. At the same time that similarities became evident, so did differences based in part upon divergent ethnicities and cultures.

PHOTO BY VICTOR BLOCK

By Victor Block As I strolled along ancient ramparts that encircled the small medieval city, the view changed with each twist and turn. On one side was a labyrinth of narrow streets lined by tile-roofed stone buildings. In the other direction were stunning views of the Adriatic Sea. Not very far away, the setting was very different. In an area about the size of Connecticut, I traveled through a varied terrain of rugged mountains, deep canyons and inviting beaches.

And mountain villages, rolling meadows, and a city that ranks high on many a traveler’s favorites list greet visitors to an adjacent country that shares a history with its neighbors.

Few trips I have enjoyed anywhere included as much diversity and diversion as my “Crossroads of the Adriatic” tour with Overseas Adventure Travel.

Crisscrossing four miniscule countries that once were part of Yugoslavia, I delved into intriguing chapters of history, cultures and religions, oohed and aahed at a kaleidoscope of magnificent scenery, and checked out local life in both tiny towns and magnificent cities.

Tiny but diverse lands Border checkpoints through which my trip group passed reminded us that we were traveling between independent nations.

Dubrovnik and Zagreb Major cities, as well as charming towns and villages, are among the attractions.

PHOTO BY VICTOR BLOCK

The Old Bridge in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina was originally built in the mid-16th century. After it was destroyed in the Bosnian War 20 years ago, this exact replica of the historic bridge was built.

Ban Jelacic Square in Croatia’s capital of Zagreb is a gathering spot for locals. Zagreb’s history dates to Roman times, and today the city has a population of about 800,000.

Dubrovnik, which clings to a narrow stretch of land at the southern tip of Croatia, is one of the most prominent tourist resorts of the Mediterranean. It doesn’t take long to understand why.

Its Old Town neighborhood exudes a Middle Ages atmosphere from when it rivaled Venice in wealth and power. A number of palaces and other prominent landmarks date back to that golden era.

The main feature is ancient fortified walls that encircle the city, set off by a series of turrets and towers. Walking along the top of the fortification provides dramatic views of the architectural treasures in the Old Town, and an understanding why Dubrovnik is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Zagreb, the capital of independent Croatia since 1991, has been a cultural center since the Middle Ages and boasts an inviting array of museums. A number of them are perched in the hilly, historical Upper Town, which visitors may reach on foot or by a 55-second ride in what’s said to be the shortest funicular in the world.

The pedestrian-friendly Lower Town has inviting squares and parks. The center of action is Ban Jelacic Square, where locals gather to stroll, socialize and sip refreshments at outdoor cafes.

Despite the appeals of Croatia’s major cities, it was the capital of tiny Slovenia that became the new favorite European metropolis of many in my tour group.

Ljubljana (pronounced Loo-blee-AH-na) is a bustling urban center with broad promenades and inviting pedestrian walkways.

A section of stone wall, statues and mosaics are among reminders that this was the site of a Roman town dating to the year 14 C.E. Overlooking the setting from a hilltop is Ljubljana Castle, which dates back to the early 12th century and was reconstructed following an earthquake in 1511.

Visiting villages Small in size but no less interesting are towns and villages scattered about the Balkans. While many have attractions worth exploring, several stand out in my mind.

Karanac, a village of about 1,000 people in Croatia, exemplifies rural charm. It’s located in what’s known as the Bread Basket of Croatia. Grapes have been grown on the surrounding hills since Roman times. Another claim to fame is its multi-ethnic population of Croats, Serbs, Hungarians and See BALKANS, page 20

20

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Balkans From page 19 Germans who live together in harmony.

Tiny Hum is little more than a dot on maps. A 2001 census counted 17 residents, but I was told that a mini-population explosion has increased the number to 25. Documents date the settlement to the early 12th century, and some houses are built into defensive walls that were constructed to protect the town.

Mostar follows a stretch of the Neretva River in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and has a history as one of the most ethnically diverse towns in the region. Its attractions range from graceful 16th and 17th century mosques to crowded shop-lined streets.

The Old Bridge over the river is one of the country’s most recognizable landmarks. Originally built by the Ottomans in the mid-16th century, the graceful stone span stood for more than 400 years before being destroyed during the Bosnian War.

OCTOBER 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Visitors today see an exact replica.

If any city may be said to share both a happy and tragic past, it is Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina. For several hundred years, it was a cultural and religious haven where Serbs, Croats, Turks, Muslims, Jews and others lived in harmony. That peaceful picture came to an end during the fierce ethnic fighting that followed the death of Marshal Tito and only ended in the 1990s.

Visitors to Sarajevo receive stark reminders of the bitter warfare that took place when the city was surrounded and its mostly Bosnian population came under constant attack by Serbian forces.

The most dramatic introduction is in the Tunnel of Life, a mile-long underground passage that residents began building in 1992. By the end of the siege, nearly four years later, men, women and even children had made more than five million trips through the low tunnel carrying food, medical supplies and small weapons.

Beautiful beaches and lakes Very different and much happier settings are encountered at water-related attractions in the Balkan countries. For those seeking a sun-and-sand respite, Croatia has beautiful beaches along its southern Dalmatian Coast. More than 120 beaches line the short shoreline of Montenegro.

More dramatic scenery awaits visitors to Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia.

Water that fills a line of 16 lakes separated by natural dams spills down hillsides in a series of cascades toward a river at the bottom.

Adding to the portrait-like setting are the colors of the water — sky blue, emerald green, rock gray — that reflect the surroundings.

Equally magnificent in a different way is Lake Bled in Slovenia. Overlooking the lake from a steep cliff is Bled Castle, which dates back to the early 12th century.

On a small island in the lake, which may be reached in a pletna boat (the local version of a gondola), is a small but graceful 17th-century church. The little house of

worship is a popular wedding venue, and a good luck tradition calls for the groom to carry his bride-to-be up the 98 stone steps to the building, and for the couple to make a wish and ring the bell so it will come true.

By the time I pulled the bell rope, my wish had already come true. I was experiencing four intriguing countries that are small in size but large in terms of attractions and appeal.

If you go Overseas Adventure Travel lives up to its motto of “Learning and Discovery.” In addition to the must-see attractions of a destination, its itineraries include lesservisited but equally inviting places. In addition, guides have flexibility to alter plans in order to take advantage of unexpected opportunities that crop up.

On my trip, these included stopping at a tiny 18th-century church whose parish priest served blueberry strudel he had made, and accompanying a truffle hunter and his dog on a search for that prized fungus.

For information about OAT trips throughout the world, call (800) 955-1925 or log onto oattravel.com.

With learning and discovery, both accommodations and food become part of an OAT trip. We spent one night in a traditional century-old farm house in Karanac, meeting the resident livestock and enjoying a hearty homemade breakfast.

We also stayed in a city hotel built adjacent to the remains of a 16th-century inn that once provided overnight shelter to caravan drivers.

Our food discoveries focused on the specialties of wherever we happened to be.

We became used to hearing our guide, Ivana, insist, “You can’t leave (name of town or area) without sampling the (gastronomic specialty).”

Among treats for our taste buds were truffles that aficionados rate among the best in the world, Slovenian sausage, dietbusting Croatian custard cake and heartshaped gingerbread cookies, and locally made brandies just about everywhere.

BEACON BITS

Oct. 24

CRAFT SHOW AT ARBUTUS SENIOR

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p.m. at the Arbutus Recreation Center, 865 Sulphur Spring Rd. More than 40 vendors will be participating. Admission is free. Door prizes,

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homemade candy and light lunch available. For more information, call (410) 887-1410.

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Leisure & Travel

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2015

21

New ways to encounter, enjoy fall foliage

Ballooning over New England The ride that the Kellys enjoyed is operated by aptly named Balloons Over New England, located in Vermont. The flight has been likened to an aerial nature walk that skims

over two river valleys and offers distant views of the Green Mountains. The treat for the eyes is followed by one for the taste buds, with a champagne, fruit and pastry repast.

As with any excursion planned to view fall foliage, the peak period can change a bit from year to year. In Vermont, color usually begins in late September and lasts to mid-October. For more information, call Balloons Over New England at 1-800-788-5562 or log onto www.balloonsovernewengland.com.

Rather than gliding gently over treetops, Mark and Marylee Sutherland alternated opportunities to enjoy vibrant color along river shorelines with frantic paddling as the raft in which they traveled shot through heart-stopping rapids.

Trips offered by the Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina and Tennessee pass through steep gorges and mountain backdrops that are blanketed with trees that burst into color during September. Those who prefer to view the foliage in a more leisurely way have a choice of less challenging rivers. For more information, call (828) 785-5082 or log onto www.noc.com.

As avowed landlubbers, the Goodmans found a covered wagon ride at the Buena Vista Ski Area in Minnesota to be the perfect way to enjoy the fall colors. They jounced over a route that was traveled by Native Americans, early explorers and pioneers.

BEACON BITS

Ongoing

CCBC SETS 2016 TRAVEL CALENDAR CCBC has a number of trips scheduled for the 2015-16 academic

year, including day trips to New York, Philadelphia and Peddler’s Village, among others, and longer trips to Sicily, Iceland and Eastern Canada. For more information, call (443) 840-1717 or visit www.ccbcmd.edu/travel.

Oct. 14

HOLLYWOOD CASINO TRIP Bykota Senior Center invites you to join them on Wednesday, Oct. 14, on this day trip to Hollywood Casino at Penn National. Cost is

$26, with $25 free play (photo ID required) and $5 off buffet. Call Bykota Senior Center Travel at (410) 887-1691 for details and reservations.

Activities at this year’s annual Fall Color Festival, Sept. 19 and 20, will include square dancing, blacksmith demonstrations and chainsaw carving. Wagon rides are available at any time with advance reservations. Call 1-800777-7958 or log onto www.bvskiarea.com.

A variety of other conveyances awaits those seeking a new and different way to view foliage.

The Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad offers a chance to view not only foliage, but bald eagles as well. The four-hour ride, which leaves from Romney, W.V., uses vintage locomotives from the 1950s, and includes several open-air cars for optimal eagle spotting as the train passes prime habitat. The railroad also PHOTO COURTESY OF BALLOONS OVER NEW ENGLAND

By Victor Block As they gently sail above the treetops, Jill and Bill Kelly enjoy the scenery passing below their hot air balloon.

The ride is very different for Mark and Marylee Sutherland as they help steer a rubber raft through a stretch of rock-strewn river and over a 12-foot-high waterfall.

Meanwhile, Nancy and Victor Goodman travel at a much slower pace, in a horsedrawn covered wagon rolling along a high ridge that early explorers called the “top of the world.”

These disparate experiences seem to have little in common, but all three couples share a common goal. They sought, and have found, new ways — and places — to enjoy the annual fall foliage show that is among Mother Nature’s most magnificent handiworks.

“Leaf peepers” seeking to enjoy the annual Technicolor display have many more choices than a drive along a traffic-clogged road or a hike through the woods. They also can find surprising places around the country to take in the multihued spectacle, and imaginative ways of doing so.

The company Balloons Over New England offers aerial views of fall leaves in Vermont.

offers special 1½-hour fall foliage trips from Petersburg, W.V., on selected dates in October.

See FALL FOLIAGE, page 22

22

Leisure & Travel | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Fall foliage From page 21 Trains depart twice daily on Saturdays in September and daily in October, with a number of departures on Saturdays and Sundays. To learn more, call (304) 4240736 or see http://www.potomaceagle.info.

Or how about a thrilling flight in a World War II-era open cockpit airplane that can carry two passengers? Training planes

and fighter aircraft fly low over rolling hills and California vineyards. Those who are adventurous and brave enough may ask the pilot to take them through aerobatic maneuvers.

The color of grape vines at ground level don’t pack quite the visual wallop of a tree canopy, but the red and yellow leaves against a backdrop of green have a beauty all their own. For more information, call (707) 9382444 or log onto www.vintageaircaft.com.

BEACON BITS PENNSYLVANIA FARMER’S MARKET AND SMORGASBORD

Oct. 15

Essex Senior Center will host an excursion to Shady Maple Smorgasbord and Gift Shop and Bird-in-Hand Farmer’s Market and Bake Shop in Pennsylvania from 8:45 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15. Cost is $60. For more information, call (410) 687-5113.

YULETIDE TOUR AT WINTERTHUR GARDENS

Dec. 9

Reserve now for a tram and Yuletide tour of Winterthur Gardens in Wilmington, with lunch at the Dupont Hotel, on Wednesday, December 9. Cost is $100. Call Bykota Senior Center Travel at (410) 887-1691 for more information and reservations.

Ongoing

Oct. 10

SENIOR CRAFT GALLERY SEEKING VOLUNTEERS The Senior Craft Gallery, 1801 Glen Keith Blvd., is looking for volunteers as well as consignees and shoppers. Call (410) 661-2128 for more information.

FALL FESTIVAL AT CROMWELL VALLEY PARK

Head “Down on the Farm” at Cromwell Valley Park for the annual Fall Harvest Festival on Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11, from noon to 4 p.m. each day. The park is located at 2002 Cromwell Bridge Rd. For more information, call (410) 887-2503 or visit www.cromwellvalleypark.org.

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OCTOBER 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Zip lines and ski resorts It’s true that zip lines don’t go as high or fast as airplanes, but zipping though and above treetops clad in a coat of many colors can be just as rewarding. One place among many to enjoy this experience is the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, which has the largest stand of old-growth forest east of the Mississippi River.

The kaleidoscope of autumn colors there lasts for several weeks, beginning in September at the highest elevations and moving down mountainsides into November. The diversity of trees adds to the spectrum of vibrant hues. Information is available from the Tennessee tourism office at 1-800-462-8366 and www.tnvacation.com.

While a number of ski resorts throughout the country operate their lifts during the foliage season, Snowmass in Colorado does most of them one better — and then some.

There’s a reason the town it’s in is called Aspen. The trees of that name turn the 2.3 million acres of surrounding national forest a brilliant shade of gold. It’s no wonder that Travel + Leisure last year ranked it among America’s Best Towns for Fall Colors.

More than 50 miles of hiking trails pass through groves of golden aspens. Jeep and horseback tours are available for those who would rather ride than walk, and a gondola carries bikers to a high perch from which they follow downhill or cross country trails to the bottom. Those who take the chair lift to its 11,000-foot top are rewarded with a

panoramic view of the rugged Elk Mountain range. For more information, call 1-800-6793151 or log onto www.gosnowmass.com.

If, after considering the alternatives, you still prefer the tried and true ways of enjoying the changing leaves, you still might find some surprises.

For example, how many people are aware that leaves of dogwood, maple and red alder trees in Oregon display a rainbow spectrum of color? An autumn hike in the Rogue River National Forest passes through old growth trees that provide a variety of fall shades, and the Santiam Pass Scenic Byway leads past waterfalls and a volcanic landscape set off by vibrant colors. For more information, call 1-800-5477842 or log onto www.traveloregon.com.

When planning a leaf peeping driving getaway, would you be likely to head for Arkansas? Yet that state experiences a color extravaganza that begins in October in the northern Ozarks, moves slowly south and peaks in late October and early November.

A favorite route is the Boston Mountains Scenic Loop (yes, in Arizona), which traverses nearly undeveloped mountain areas and tree-covered canyons. The Talimena National Scenic Byway, which winds along forested mountain tops in one of the highest ranges between the Appalachians and Rockies, offers a series of breathtaking panoramas. For more information, call (501) 6827777 or log onto www.arkansas.com.

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2015

Say you saw it in the Beacon

Style

23

Arts &

The funny/sad play Detroit makes its Baltimore premiere this month.

See review on page 24.

Belly dancing offers healthy fun for all exclusively, a female art form — is a “girl thing.” That’s especially gratifying given that she shares a home with her husband, a houseful of sons, and “even a male dog!”

Exotic, in a good way For the uninitiated, belly dance is a torsodriven dance, which emphasizes movement of the hips. Unlike many Western dance forms, such as ballet and jazz, the focus of belly dance is on relaxed, natural isolations of the torso muscles, rather than on movements of the limbs through space.

There is no formal vocabulary of belly dance moves, as there is, say, in ballet. But belly dance does have a variety of styles — from Modern Egyptian, American Tribal and Folkloric Belly Dance to the new Goth Fusion.

While belly dancing has a reputation as a provocative dance, historically its undulating style was not intended to entertain men. Rather, one school of thought is that belly dancing was originally performed for other women during fertility rites.

Belly dancing first became widely seen in the United States as part of the 1893 World’s Fair, where it was called “danse du ventre,” which literally translates to belly dancing.

Jeanne Gary, 60, is one of the members of Amaya’s dance troupe. She was first introduced to belly dancing 10 years ago when a younger friend talked her into going to a class. “I didn’t want to,” Gary recalled, “but I fell in love with it. It was just a bug that bit me.”

OCT102015

SHOSTAKOVICH’S FIFTH 7:30 PM JIM ROUSE THEATRE SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 5

HIGDON: Oboe Concerto Katherine Needleman, oboe THEOFANIDIS: Dreamtime Ancestors Maryland Premiere Tickets range from $10-$25 $3 service fee may apply Call 410-465-8777 or visit www.columbiaorchestra.org for ticket information

PHOTO COURTESY OF NINA AMAYA

By Carol Sorgen Like many single moms, Nina Amaya was stretched to the limit. Her primary care physician wrote her a prescription to “have fun.” On a lark, Amaya signed up for a belly dancing class at her local Y. Twenty-some years later, Amaya, now 52 and living in North Baltimore, is still having fun. So much so, in fact, that she now teaches belly dancing herself and is the founder of the 10-member dance troupe Aubergine, and their accompanying band, Brinjal (Hindi for eggplant).

What Amaya found she most enjoyed through belly dancing was self-expression.

As time went on and she became more proficient, she also enjoyed the ability to entertain others.

Add to those aspects both the physical and mental health benefits of belly dancing, and you have the whole picture.

“I used to have a bad back, and that soon went away,” said Amaya, explaining that belly dancing strengthens abdominal, pelvic and back muscles.

In addition, it is a good form of stretching and toning, and a means to develop grace and self-confidence, as well as acceptance of your body, no matter what shape it’s in.

Though belly dancing is not a weight loss program, being more aware of your body often leads dancers to become more aware of what they eat, she noted.

Amaya also appreciates the fact that belly dancing —predominantly, though not

Dancers of all ages participate in the belly dancing troupe Aubergine, which performs throughout the area, accompanied by its own dancer/musicians. Founded by Nina Amaya, the group helps women stay in shape and have fun at the same time.

Gary admits that her initial impression of belly dancing was that it was exotic dancing — “and not in a good way,” she said. But it didn’t take long for her to learn to appreciate the strength and control that

the dance calls for. “I came to see it for the true art form it is,” said Gary.

Soon after she began taking classes, Gary See BELLY DANCING, page 25

24

Arts & Style | More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

OCTOBER 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON

Suburbs implode in Baltimore premiere

Love thy neighbor?

Excitement enters their boring lives when a couple moves into the vacant house next door. Desperate to break out of their isolation,

Mary invites them over, but Sharon (Rachel Roth) and Kenny (David Shoemaker) are not what the buttoned up preppies expect.

They met in rehab and may or may not be clean and sober. Sharon may or may not work answering phones. Kenny may or may not work in a warehouse.

Just as Detroit may or may not be the actual setting. Just as Ben and Mary may or may not be as staid and cautious as they first appear. Uncertainty hangs over everything like a storm cloud ready to burst.

A comedy of mishaps occurs in this awkward meeting of the classes. At first, the four seem to have nothing in common.

Clumsy attempts to connect soon give way to a mutual sense of shared desperation.

Mary presents as the controlled and collected hostess/career woman — until she starts oversharing about her plantar wart while repeatedly refilling her drink.

Webber unravels her character’s good sense with hilarious results. She is every middle class woman, if every middle class woman was one drink away from a nervous breakdown.

Jericho presents an amiable front as Ben, who is a man-cave and a Miley Cyrus song away from total regression.

Meanwhile, the newcomers ooze sexiness. They are devil-may-care free spirits.

Roth is delightfully disturbing as Sharon,

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In the play Detroit, the lives of suburban residents, Ben (played by Greg Jericho) and Mary (Beth Weber), in the center of the photo, undergo a seismic shift in their relationship when new neighbors Sharon (Rachel Roth, far left) and Kenny (David Shoemaker) move in. The tragi-comic play continues at Fells Point Corner Theater through Oct. 4.

who ricochets between gleeful child and sexy wild woman like a pinball in cowboy boots. Shoemaker is thoroughly engaging as he channels Matthew McConaughey in laconic, laid back Kenny.

They have neither roots nor ambition.

But their lack of pretense is so refreshing, it’s easy to ignore the danger they represent. Or perhaps it is more dangerous to deny, repress and sink into subterfuge like the middle class that flee and never look back — until trouble moves in next door.

Set designer, Bush Greenbeck, shifts smoothly between each house, one hanging onto suburban bliss, the other already abandoned. As Mary keeps pointing out, “They have NO furniture.”

The homes, like their inhabitants, are falling apart. The props (managed by Kate Smith-Morse, Crystal Sewell, and Jennifer Marin) are secondary bumbling characters who, like the human ones, are coming apart at the seams. The umbrella won’t stay up, the sliding door gets stuck, and the deck starts to collapse.

Avenues of escape

digital fantasies, and that refuge of naturalists everywhere: camping. Well, at least, the two women concoct the idea that they can run away and live off the land like overgrown Girl Scouts.

The two men, on the other hand, crank themselves up to go where there are countless women and endless beers. The women barely make it past the gas station, and the men never leave the porch. Such are the half-baked ideas of half-lived lives.

Stuck in place, they decide to party like it’s the end of the world. When Rome is falling, play a fiddle and have an orgy. Free spirits revel in the face of destruction. Let the bacchanalia begin.

When it goes up in flames, the burn out is expertly done by lighting and sound design (Charles Danforth III and Chris Allen, with Mike Zemarel, respectively).

The last scene is such a sharp denouement, it seems tacked on like a fuzzy afterthought. Kenny and Sharon have skidded on to the next party. Kenny’s uncle (Larry Levinson), who owns the vacant house, appears out of nowhere, to expose the interlopers.

He seems to have stepped out of a Nor-

Problem-solving is a skill all four lack.

Their escape options include alcohol, drugs,

Spectacular View

See SORRY SUBURBS, page 25

Cars, boats, furniture, antiques, tools, appliances Everything and anything is sold on

For your personal tour contact Arthur or Laura Ruby at

410-889-8255

PHOTO BY CHRIS HARTLOVE

By A.K. Collins Suburban dysphoria has rarely been so entertaining. In the award-winning play, Detroit, the suburban sanctuary has finally met its expiration date. The city it circles has gone up in flames, and now the sparks are nipping at the heels of the middle class in their clapboard houses.

Playwright Lisa D’Amour excels at welldrawn characters caught up in fast-paced funny conversation. In this Baltimore premiere at Fells Point Corner Theatre, director Michael B. Zemarel and his perfectly cast actors serve up a juicy cut of American life made even more topical by recent events.

We encounter Ben (Greg Jericho) and Mary (Beth Webber) on their comfortable back patio. Despite their material comforts, they are the leading edge of the anxiety-ridden Millennial generation, now dubbed Generation Stress.

Having lost his job as a loan officer, Ben is trying to reimagine himself as a techie, while his wife supports the household as a paralegal. They are a few bad choices and turns of luck from disaster. They are painfully aware, but complacent.

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Belly dancing From page 23 met Amaya (a former Spanish teacher), who was looking for dancers to perform at Artscape, Baltimore’s annual summertime arts festival. Gary was reluctant at first, but another dancer persuaded Gary to perform, and she hasn’t stopped since.

She now appears with Amaya’s company as often as she can (as she still works fulltime for the State of Maryland), performing at festivals such as the annual Renaissance Festival, at nursing homes, private parties, fundraisers and more.

The band is a relatively recent addition to the troupe. Two flutists, a bass player and a

Sorry suburbs From page 24 man Rockwell painting, reminding us of how it used to be when the suburbs were filled with happy families doing happy things.

Ben and Mary stand sheepishly amidst the debris of their flirtation with debauchery. They seem rather too calm and forgiving toward their sexy Pied Pipers. Or maybe it’s shock.

My theater companion lamented how Americans romanticize the rebels, no matter how much destruction they leave behind. Perhaps America’s prolonged love affair with adolescence will finally end.

Perhaps our golden childhood will be exposed as a gold-plated tarnished past.

It’s time for the national psyche to mature.

We had our last party, our final blow-out of a prom-night. It’s time to clean-up, grow up and get a real life.

drummer accompany many dances, but some dancers, including Amaya, also play instruments, and some musicians also dance.

Performances include some musical interludes, including songs from Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Armenia and Israel, and some “modern melting-pot songs.”

ceive from the younger women.

Along those lines, Amaya hopes to begin teaching belly dancing in senior centers, saying, “It’s never too late to start.”

Nina Amaya offers private and group classes. Contact her at ninadances@gmail.com or visit her website at www.ninaamaya.com.

The Community College of Baltimore County offers classes through its continuing education program. Visit bit.ly/bellydanceCCBC, call (443) 840-CCBC (2222), or email contact@ccbcmd.edu.

For a list of other private teachers, visit http://bellydancebaltimore.com.

FROM PAGE 26

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD

Never too late to learn One of the attractions of belly dancing for Gary is the bond she finds among those who practice the art. “There’s a sense of community and of sisterhood among us all,” she said.

In particular, as one of the older dancers in the belly dancing community, she appreciates the respect that older women re-

B A L D

ANSWERS TO SCRABBLE

N O V A

D R A D E L S L E

Detroit runs at the Fells Point Corner Theater, located at 251 S. Ann St., through Oct. 4.

Tickets are $15 on Sundays; $20 on Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, call (410) 276-7837 or go to www.fpct.org.

Collins is a Baltimore freelance writer.

YO U R

A P E R

D O D G E

New

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A R A B I A

G R T E E W C O H B W Y O E I D S O U T W T H R E W A B A E B D S E

P R O N O U N S E D U C E D

LIFESTYLE BEGINS HERE

R O T C

O U T L A R W E L T I R C U E B B R L A U G E

S T O U T E R A R A L

A PA RT M E N T H O M E S F O R T H O S E 6 2 A N D B E T T E R

EASTERN SHORE

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Ellicott City II 410-203-2096

Miramar Landing 410-391-8375

Emerson 301-483-3322

Randallstown 410-655-5673

Snowden River 410-290-0384

Rosedale 410-866-1886

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY

CASH BUYER FOR OLD COSTUME JEWELRY – pocket and wrist watches (any condition). Also buying watchmaker tools and parts, train sets and accessories, old toys, old glassware & coins. 410-409-4965.

BEACON BITS

Nov. 1

FREE ORCHESTRA CONCERT

The Har Sinai congregation in Owings Mills is hosting a free concert with the Howard County Orchestra with the theme “Our Beautiful Planet” on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 3 p.m. at the Har Sinai, 2905 Walnut Ave., Owings Mills. The concert includes “Earth Day Suite” by Vivian Adleberg Rudow; “William Tell Overture” by Gioachino Rossini, and Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons,” featuring violinist Jonathan Carney. For more information, email nrosenthal517@yahoo.com or call (410) 484-6284.

Taylor 410-663-0363

55 AND BETTER!

A C A S I O A P P I S N T T A R E B A L D A B

R O C O C O

C A N N O N

T E S T S

I D E I E R I N S A L T O

T E E N

H Y D E

ALL COMMUNITIES ARE SMOKE FREE

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

VINYL RECORDS WANTED from 1950 through 1985. Jazz, Rock-n-Roll, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Reggae and Disco. 33 1/3 LPs, 45s or 78s, Larger collections of at least 100 items wanted. Please call John, 301-5966201.

25

Say you saw it in the Beacon | Arts & Style

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2015

Bladensburg 301-699-9785

Towson 410-828-7185

Laurel 301-490-1526

Woodlawn 410-281-1120

Laurel II 301-490-9730 = NEWLY RENOVATED

www.ParkViewSeniorLiving.com Call the community nearest you to inquire about eligibility requirements and to arrange a personal tour or email parkviewliving@sheltergrp.com.

Professionally managed by The Shelter Group. www.thesheltergroup.com

26

OCTOBER 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Crossword Puzzle

PUZZLE PAGE

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

by Stephen Sherr 1

2

3

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5 13

17 20

6

27

28

18

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49

34 37

44

50

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Across 1. Play the drums with aggression 5. Athletes with agents 9. Piece of a rainbow 12. Toward the left side, at sea 14. 2-0 soccer score, some may say 15. Hair of the dog 17. Word in the chorus of American Pie 18. ___ von Bismarck 19. Possible side-effect of steroids 20. Art assignment for a detective 23. Sex and the City network 24. From ___ Z 25. Camper’s sleeper 26. Art assignment for a soldier 32. Corn beef concession 33. Dir. from San Fran. to Oakland 34. University in Troy, NY 35. Rosebud, and others 37. Speech and Language Therapy, briefly 39. Not at all complimentary 43. No longer closeted 45. 401(k) alternative 47. Echelon 48. Art assignment for a home decorator 53. It makes a galley go 54. Embarrassed 55. “A kiss is a secret told to the mouth instead of the ___” (Ingrid Bergman) 56. Art assignment for a spa worker 63. Wisecrack 64. Fast-drying paint (abbrev.)

65. Area in tennis or bowling 66. Oklahoma city named for an Arthurian character 67. Steady fellow 68. Estimated the age of 69. Composition of 4 of the 8 planets 70. Slight advantage 71. Part of a porterhouse 1. Worn (as tires)

41

42

60

61

62

47

63

Down

40

55

57

69

BB10/15

39

52

54

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Scrabble answers on p. 25.

38

51

53

16

31

33

43

11

25

30

36

10

22

29

35

9 15

21

32

48

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14

23 26

7

71

2. Mimic 3. Fish, sold at a 32 Across 4. Acted like a weed 5. You and I 6. Campus military grp.

7. Bandit 8. More tubby 9. Berry often used in health supplements 10. French art style that sounds like it got caught in an echo chamber 11. Ground force weapon 13. Member of the “Geek Squad” 16. Cricket matches 21. Reed instrument 22. Daytime dramas 26. Letters on a dentist’s diploma 27. Topic of the 1st Amendment 28. Brewpub offering 29. Golden Girl Rose or Blanche (but not Dorothy) 30. Goal for Indiana Jones 31. Columbus’ fastest ship 36. Kama ___ 38. Extremely loyal 40. Last Star Wars episode directed

by Lucas 41. Daniel in the lions’ ___ 42. Mothers and fathers have them; aunts do not 44. Home run king 46. Shrinking Asian sea 48. Avoid the question 49. ___ to go (enthusiastic) 50. Lawrence’s location 51. Drew out 52. “Don’t ___ on Me!” 57. Takes a vow 58. Pump up one’s resume 59. Spills the beans 60. Part of a choir 61. Holder of a Learner’s Permit, most likely 62. Jekyll : good :: ___ : evil

Answers on page 25.

BALTIMORE BEACON — OCTOBER 2015

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

CAVEAT EMPTOR! The Beacon does not knowingly accept obscene, offensive, harmful, or fraudulent advertising. However, we do not investigate any advertisers or their products and cannot accept responsibility for the integrity of either.

Respondents to classified advertising should always use caution and their best judgment.

EMPLOYMENT & REAL ESTATE ADS: We will not knowingly or intentionally accept advertising in violation of federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or handicap in connection with employment or the sale or rental of real estate.

Business and Employment Opportunities NEED EXTRA INCOME? SELL AVON! Avon is the #1 Beauty company. $15 start-up, be your own boss. Call 410-236-6023 or email: btheavonlady@gmail.com. Website: www.youravon.com/bright1.

Caregivers CERTIFIED NURSE AIDE, HOME CARE AIDE, medication technician. CPR and First Aid. 20 years experience. References. Available 24/7. Call 443-466-9884.

Financial Services ACCOUNTING, TAXES AND BOOKKEEPING, eldercare. CPA 38 years, reasonable rates.

Call 410-653-3363.

For Rent CARE FROM CARING HOME ASSISTED LIVING. Room available for you or your loved ones.

Looking for a place just like home? Call us today, 443563-2695 or 443-844-1444. Affordable rates available.

Say you saw it in the Beacon

For Sale BALDWIN DVP-50 ELECTRIC PIANO, Cherry with bench. Good condition, $900. 4’8” length, you move it. 410-833-2546.

H E R M L E G R A N D F AT H E R C L O C K 09109N90451. Cherry, 72” tall, good condition, $900. You move it. 410-833-2546.

PARKWOOD CEMETERY – TAYLOR AVENUE – Poplar Lot 831 – Site 2. Also includes one burial vault and one opening and closing of grave site – value $2,795. Sell for $1,400 or best offer, 410-529-1191.

GOLF SETS, 2 COMPLETE with bags. Excellent condition. $40 each set. Right hand. 410529-7117.

DULANEY VALLEY MEMORIAL GARDENS – Field of Honor section. 2 cemetery lots, value $3,700. $2,500 or best offer. Ken, 410-3217025.

FURNITURE: MAHOGANY, DINING ROOM, bedroom, living room, sofa, 4 chairs, cedar closet, antique sewing machine, portable closet. All $4,000 or individual pieces. 410-828-7552.

2 GRAVE SITES – PARKWOOD CEMETERY. Lot 102, two plots with vaults. $7,000 value, will sell for $4,500. 410-661-2698.

VISION AID, OPTELEC CLEARVIEW+ – 19” color video magnifier, includes base, camera and monitor. Paid $2,895 in Sept. 2010. Call Robin, 410344-0734.

2 SALVADOR DALI woodblock prints from Dante’s Divine Comedy. Signed and framed.

Asking $900 for the pair. Can email pictures if desired. Call Steve, 410-913-1653.

Health MOBILE EYE EXAMS – Comprehensive and/or low vision eye exams provided to Baltimore seniors with limited mobility. Visit www.HomeEyeOD.com or call 443-802-9920 for more information.

WHY LEAVE THE HOME YOU LOVE? Local Acorn Dealer offers affordable pricing and installation on your new stairlift. Free home evaluation for fall risk, safety. 410-978-7764.

Home/Handyman Services SANFORD & SON HAULING & RECYCLING. Trash + Junk removal, house & estate cleanouts, garage+ basement cleanouts. Demolition – Shed, deck fence + pool removal. Licensed + insured. Free estimates over the phone. Call 7 days a week, 7 am to 7 pm. 410746-5090.

TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED Deadlines and Payments: Ad text and payment is due by the 5th of each month.

Note: Only ads received and prepaid by the deadline will be included in the next month’s issue. Please type or print your ad carefully. Include a number where you can be reached in the event of a question. Payment is due with ad. We do not accept ads by phone or fax, nor do we accept credit cards.

Private Party Text Ads: For individuals seeking to buy or sell particular items, or place a personal ad. Each ad is $10 for 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word.

Business Text Ads: For parties engaged in an ongoing business enterprise.

Each ad is $25 for 25 words, 50 cents for each additional word.

Note: Each real estate listing counts as one business text ad.

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

The Beacon, Baltimore Classified Dept.

P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915-2227 Home/Handyman Services

Wanted

BALTIMORE’S BEST JUNK REMOVAL – Clean Outs: Whole House, Emergency, Attics/Basements. Furniture and Junk Removal, Yard Waste Removal, General Hauling, Construction Debris Removal. Free estimates.

10% Senior Discount. Licensed, Bonded and Insured. Call Jesse, 443-379-HAUL (4285). www.baltimoresbestjunkremoval.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, 301-279-8834. Thank you.

Miscellaneous PIANO LESSONS – BRUSH UP on old skills or begin a new one. Experienced, patient teacher, taking age 5 through senior. Private lessons – piano or keyboard. Near Towson. Call Linda, 410-532-8381.

Personals

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.

MATURE, TALL, SLIM, WELL-EDUCATED white man in Timonium looking for a fun-loving, mature woman to play. Please contact me at sunandfun1094@gmail.com.

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.

Personal Services

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.

GREEK/ENGLISH TUTORIALS – Conversational programs specified to your personal requirements. Call Kellie, 410-363-4246 or 410520-2246.

FREE PLANNING GUIDE & WILL KIT with informational meetings at Glen Haven Memorial Park. Traditional/cremation burial, mausoleum entombment. Call Marty Haft, prearrangement specialist, 410-340-3716.

Classifieds continued on page 25.

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE Clinical Research Studies

Balance & Falls Study . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Brain Imaging Study . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Dementia Behavior Study . . . . . . . . .13 Falls Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 HYPNOS Diabetic Sleep Study . . . . .12 Parkinson’s Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Education

CCBC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Roland Park Country School . . . . . . .22

Events

Alzheimer’s Walk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Baby Boomer/Senior Expo . . . . . . . .28 Beacon 50+Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Financial Services

Bennett Senior Services . . . . . . . . . . .17 Debt Counsel for Seniors and the Disabled . . . . . . . .16 GSF Mortgage . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-3, B-7 JS Richardson Insurance . . . . . . . . . .17 Maryland School for the Blind . . . . .21 Security and Integrity . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Funeral Services

Schimunek Funeral Homes . . . .13, B-6

Hearing Services

Hearing & Speech Agency . . . . . . . . .10 Hear For You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Maryland Relay/711 . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Taylor Listening Center . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Home Health Care

Genesis SelectCare . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-8 Independent Home Care . . . . . . . . . .11 Options for Senior America . . . . . . . .16 Seniors Helping Seniors . . . . . . . . . . .5

Housing

Atrium Village . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-2, B10 Briarwood Estates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Brightview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-5 Brookdale Senior Living . . . . . . . .B-13 Charlestown . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-3, B-8 Cove Point Apts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-11 Evergreen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-11 Gatherings at Quarry Place . . . . . . .B-7 Greenhouse Residences . . . . . . . . .B-12 The Greens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-11

27

Heartlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-3 Homewood at Willow Ponds . . . . . .B-6 Linden Park Apts. . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-15 Oak Crest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-3, B-8 Neighborhood at St. Elizabeth . . . . .B-4 Park Heights Place . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-15 Park View Apartments . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Shangri-La Assisted Living . .B-3, B-10 St. Mary’s Roland View Towers . . . .24 Weinberg Senior Living . . . . .B-3, B16 Westminster House Apts . . . . . . . .B-12

Housing Referral Service

Oasis Senior Advisors . . . . . . . . . .B-15 Senior Placement Service/Care Patrol . . . . . . . . . . . .B-4

Legal Services

Disability Support Services . . . . . . . .11 Frank, Frank & Scherr Law Firm . . .17

Medical/Health

Baltimore County Dept. of Health .B-12 Cologuard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Dr. Richard Rosenblatt, DPM . . . . . . .7 Hamilton Foot Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Mishpacha Dental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Skin Cancer EB of Maryland . . . . . . . .4 Stem Cell Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Pharmacies

Professional Pharmacy Group . . . . . .14 Walgreen’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Remodeling

Blake & Sons Contracting . . . . . . . .B-6

Retail

WOW! Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-14

Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation

CommuniCare Health . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Holly Hill Nursing & Rehabilitation . .11 Manor Care Health Services . . . . . . .18

Theatres/ Entertainment

Columbia Orchestra . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Radio Flea Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Toby’s Dinner Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Tour & Travel

Eyre Bus, Tour & Travel . . . . . . . . . .21

28

OCTOBER 2015 — BALTIMORE BEACON

More at TheBeaconNewspapers.com

Nourishing Mind, Body and Spirit

Wednesday, October 9, 2013 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Thursday, October 10, 2013 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Timonium Fairgrounds ADMISSION: $2 or two cans of non-perishable food.

Free Gift

Sponsored by BGE & GBMC

Discover the Power of Age Wednesday, October 28, 2015 • 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Thursday, October 29, 2015 • 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Timonium Fairgrounds ALL AGES WILL ENJOY THE VARIOUS FEATURES OF THE EVENT INCLUDING: • Connect with over 300 exhibitors with information and specialty products • Delight in two days of continuous entertainment on the Main Stage • Energize by trying a new exercise class in the Senior Center Demonstration Area (free) • Discover a treasure in the Silent Auction by being the highest bidder • Crown the best local artist in the Power of Age Art Show/Exhibit Special performance by • Benefit from free preventive health screenings and flu/pneumonia vaccinations MAHONEY • Learn the best in County resources available in Baltimore County BROTHERS • Investigate career and training opportunities at job fair Wednesday, October 28 4-7 p.m.

• Visit the Veteran Resource Muster for resources and information

! !

410-887-2594 • www.seniorexpoonline.com